length a cart was procured, in which he was conveyed beyond the limits of the town.

In one instance, the tories in Barnstable availed themselves of liberty-pole discipline. Mr. C. and sons had rendered themselves odious to the people by their active zeal in the royal cause, and a vindictive temper towards the whig party; a widow woman frequently indulged herself in applying to them the epithet tory, and even intimated a liberty-pole exhibition. This indiscretion was not to be passed with impunity; a number of men in disguise entered her chamber in the night, took her from her bed, and after the application of tar and feathers, she was, by a rope round her body, hoisted almost to the top of the pole which had been erected by the whigs. Her dreadful shrieks soon collected a throng of people, but the poor woman could obtain no other redress than that bestowed by her friends, who kindly shaved her head, and cleansed it of tar and feathers.

An innocent trick was devised by some persons in this town, which occasioned at that time a general surprise and agitation, An egg was produced with the following words imprinted on the shell by the artifice of some tories. O America, America, Howe shall be thy conqueror.' The egg being taken from the hen roost of Mr. H. and exhibited to a concourse of people assembled for public worship excited the greatest agitation, and the meeting was for some time suspended. The tories affected to believe that the phenomenon was supernatural, and a revelation from heaven favoring their cause and predictions; and some whigs were ready to fall into the delusion, when one less credulous, observed that it was absurd to suppose that the Almighty would reveal his decrees to man through the medium of an old hen. Thus ended the farce; but the story of the egg was the subject of newspaper speculation in various parts of the country, and the alarm which it occasioned in the minds of some people here was truly astonishing.

town.

In the year 1775, General Gage ordered a company of king's troops, called the Queen's guards,' commanded by captain Balfour, to be stationed at Marshfield, for the protection of some royalists. Captain Balfour, and his officers soon made themselves acquainted with the friends of the royal cause in this Their visits here were not pleasing to the tories, as the whig party was known to be in a state of such ferment, that a small spark might kindle a blaze, and create a fatal collision. They were, however, invited to dine with Edward Winslow, Esq., in company with a number of respectable gentlemen of their party in town. Captain Balfour desired to have the opinion of the company present, on the expediency of marching

D

his company of guards into Plymouth. In discussing the subject, one of the gentlemen, Mr. John Watson, was observed to be silent. Captain Balfour took him aside, and said, 'Mr. Watson, I observed that you gave no opinion respecting my proposal, I should be glad to have your opinion and advice on the subject.' Mr. Watson replied, 'It is my opinion that it will not be prudent to bring your company here, for the people are in a state of great excitement and alarm.' 'Will they fight?' says Balfour. Yes,' replied Watson, like devils. On further consideration, the plan was wisely abandoned, from an apprehension of the consequences. Had the company marched into town, they would have found a large majority of its inhabitants proud of the seat and character of their ancestors, and determined to transmit them to posterity, that they may inhale with their earliest breath a love of liberty and the people's rights. Under such circumstances, it is highly probable that a collision would have taken place, and the first battle been fought at Plymouth instead of Lexington. While stationed at Marshfield, Captain Balfour and his officers frequently visited their friends at Plymouth. On one of these visits, umbrage was taken by some of the watchful sons of liberty, one of whom asserted that an officer had menaced, with a drawn sword, an individual in the street a numerous collection of people soon were prepared to avenge in a spirited manner the insult, whether real or pre'tended. The officer was obliged to retreat and enter an apothecary's shop occupied by Dr. Hicks, a tory, for safety. The shop was soon surrounded, and the officer's sword peremptorily demanded. So resolute were the assailants that the sword was forced from the officer, and instantly cut into several pieces. These particulars have recently been related to the author by captain W. Weston, who was standing by at the time, and who preserved a piece of the sword, and thinks it may still be found. This account is essentially confirmed by R. Cotton, Esq. and others who were present.

*

Capt. Balfour, with his company remained at Marshfield for several weeks unmolested, but the day after Lexington battle, governor Gage, apprised of their danger, took off his troops, by water, to Boston,

At this period, minute companies were organized in town, and immediately on hearing of the bloodshed at Lexington, Col. Theophilus Cotton, of this town, marched to Marshfield with a

*The shop occupied by Dr. Hicks, was the one attached to the house of Captain Cornelius White, now occupied by Dr. N. Hayward.

detachment of militia under his command. There were at the' same time about sixty fishing vessels with their crews on board at anchor in Plymouth harbor. The fishermen voluntarily left their vessels, and speedily marched, to Marshfield with their arms resolutely determined to attack the company of British troops. When arrived at Marshfield, their numbers had increased to near one thousand men, collected from the different towns, burning with the feelings of revenge: they might have surrounded and captured the whole company before they could get to their vessels, but were restrained by Col. Cotton, who it is said had received no orders for the attack, A company of fifty men belonging to this town was enrolled under the command of Capt. Nathaniel Morton, jr. who with other companies formed the detachment under Col. Cotton, which, after the affair at Marshfield, marched to Roxbury and joined the provincial army stationed there, where they continued through the year. They formed a part of the detachment ordered to throw up entrenchments on the heights of Dorchester, on the 4th of March, 1776, where the author was present in the capacity of surgeon's mate. From this period, through the whole revolutionary war, this town contributed its full proportion of officers and men for the continental service, a considerable number of whom were victims to the cause of their suffering country; and it would be gratifying could their names be transmitted to posterity, but no research. in the writer's power could effect the desirable object.

Col. Theophilus Cotton was the son of Josiah Cotton, Esq.. of this town, noticed in page 147. He was a zealous and active whig and patriot, served some time in the provincial army, and died February, 1782, aged sixty-six, leaving many children; one only, the widow of Capt, Charles Dyer, is still living in

this town.

The colonies were now involved in actual hostilities with one of the most powerful nations in Europe, whose fleets and armies were at our doors. Our means of defence scarcely adequate to a single exigency, and opposition was considered by many as. the extreme of folly and presumption. But appealing to Almighty God for the justness of their cause, the people resolved to buckle on their armor, and the motto, Liberty or Death, was every where displayed on their banners. The colonies had virtually absolved themselves from all British authority and laws, and were, by that authority, declared to be in a state of actual rebellion.

1776. The momentous subject of independence, from Great Britain now called forth all the wisdom of our councils, and demanded the united energies and co-operation of the whole peo

ple. Unanimity of sentiment, on a subject of such infinite importance, was not to be expected. Some, even of the wisest and best patriots, were extremely reluctant to exchange a noble, ancient edifice, ever held in honor, for simple materials of a novel structure, liable to be deracinated by uncertain contingencies. But hear the high-toned voice of our town on this great

occasion.

May 10.-Instructions to the town's representatives in Provincial Congress

GENTLEMEN: We, in the most solemn manner, charge you, that you use all your influence, that you exert every power in you vested, in defence of the rights, the liberties, and property of the American colonies in general, and of this colony in particular, in opposition to the efforts of the proud and imperious court of Great Britain, which seems to be lost to all sense of justice, and determined to deluge all America in blood and carnage, unless we, by a tame, unmanly submission, will put ourselves in their power, to be controlled by them as they please in all cases whatever. We, your constituents, resenting such insolent and notoriously unjust demands of the British parliament, and of their tyrannising king, instruct you; 1. That you without hesitation, be ready to declare for independence of Great Britain, in whom no confidence can be placed, provided the honorable the continental congress shall think that measure necessary, and we, for our parts, do assure you, that we will stand by the determination of the continental congress in the important, and, as we think, necessary measure, at the risk of our lives and fortunes. 2. We wish you to use your influence, that such a form of government may be adopted as may appear most salutary, and which may bid fairest to ensure a permanent harmony to the colonies, and the real happiness and prosperity of America, to the latest posterity. In particular, we recommend it to you to use your influence, that executive and legislative offices in the government do not meet in the same person.'

A British armed brig, commanded by Captain Dawson, appeared in our outer harbor, when two small privateers, one commanded by Captain Corban Barnes, the other by Captain Charles Dyer, both of this town, attempted to reconnoitre her; a number of shots were exchanged, but they finally separated without much damage on either side.

There is in Kingston a hill of great elevation, usually called Monk's Hill. In the early part of war, a tall mast was erected on this hill, on the top of which was placed a barrel of tar and other combustibles, as a signal of alarm on the approach of the enemy. Captain Manly having captured a number of British

prizes, made his appearance with other privateers like a formidable fleet in the bay. It is his majesty's fleet coming to burn the town,' said the tories. Fire the beacon and call in our country friends,' said the whigs: All was confusion and alarm, military music was heard in the streets, the minute-men were summoned to arms, and sentinels were posted at their stations. A man was despatched to Monk's Hill to fire the tar-barrel, the light and smoke ascended to the clouds, and spread the alarm far and wide: soon the town was filled with armed men, who crowded into private houses, claiming to be fed as the defenders of the town, and were provided for accordingly. The agitation and bustle continued through the night, and in the morning the joyful tidings were proclaimed that the valiant Manly had entered the harbor with a number of valuable prizes!

1777 and 1778.—The town experienced unexampled privations and sufferings in consequence of the loss of commerce and fishery, the whole sea coast and harbor being completely obstructed by the British armed vessels. The seamen of the town were driven almost to despair, some of them engaged as soldiers in the continental army, others shipped on board of privateers, leaving their families destitute, while the vessels belonging to the town were perishing at the wharves. Here were numerous examples of poverty without hope of relief; the community embroiled in party excitements, families and friends at variance and the glorious cause of our country in a state of awful suspense; still, however, the noble spirit of patriotism remained unbroken, and the fortitude and patience of the majority of the people were truly remarkable.

At this distressing period, complaints were made against several of the most respectable inhabitants, as being inimical and disaffected to the common cause, as appears recorded in the town's book as follows.

"To Thomas Mayhew, Esq., one of the justices of the peace of the county of Plymouth. I, the subscriber, clerk of the committee of correspondence, inspection and safety for the town of Plymouth, hereby represent to you a justice of peace in the county aforesaid, that there is in the opinion of said committee sufficient reason to suspect that the following persons, naming them, nine in number, residing in said town of Plymouth, within the state of Massachusetts Bay, are inimical to the United States; and you are requested upon this representa

*The reader of Scott's novels will be reminded of the consternation produced among the good citizens of Fairport, by a similar mistake of Caxton and Edie Ochiltree.—Antiquary, vol. ii.