sent these few lines to the Honored Gov' and Counsell, and Representatives if present, for yo' consideration and establishment if you so please; and so rest your Humble Servents, praying and beseeching God to Bless, Guide, and direct you in all the great and weighty affairs of this Commonwealth, so as may be for the glory of God and publick weal.

"JOHN TRUMBLE, Ensign,*

SAMUEL MIGHILL, Clerk,

JOHN PALMER, Sergeant,

EZEKIEL NORTHEND, Constable.

"The Gov' and Counsell, approved."

July 15, 1689. Captain Moses Bradstreet and Samuel Mighill, Clerk, send up to the Governor and Council the nomination of Ensign John Trumble, as a lieutenant, and Abell Platts as an ensign for the Rowley foot company. At the same time informing the Governor and Council, that after the nomination of Moses Bradstreet as captain in June last, Lieutenant Nelson did then plainly declare he would no longer serve the company as a lieutenant, he having been superseded.

1690. The companies of Ipswich, Rowley, Gloucester, Wenham, Topsfield, and Boxford, formed one of three regiments in Essex County.

1699. The town built a watch-house, which stood upon the high land near where the powder-house now stands.

* Philip Nelson was Lieutenant, and superseded; not having one vote.

In times of danger, the town kept up a watch, to guard against sudden attacks from the Indians.

For a number of years previous to the commencement of the French war, in 1744, the principal Indian difficulties were with the Norridgewocks and other Eastern Indians, who were no doubt very much stimulated and set on by the French in Canada.

In 1723, 1724, and 1725, Jeremiah Hopkinson and others, of Rowley, were at Norridgewock, under command of Captain Samuel Wheelwright.

From 1725 to 1748, it is believed men from Rowley were constantly stationed at Castle William, now Fort Independence, in Boston Harbour. The command of this fort devolved upon the Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts Bay. The names of Jonathan Wheeler, James Bayley, Richard Woodbury, and Samuel Stickney, are found upon the rolls.

In 1744, news of war between France and Spain being received, forces were raised to attack Nova Scotia. Governor Shirley projected a plan for taking Louisburg, on Cape Breton Island. Its fortifications, it is said, had employed the French troops twenty-five years, and cost thirty million livres. Colonel William Pepperell, of Kittery, commanded the land forces, and Commodore Warren the English squadron. The troops,

about three thousand eight hundred in number, landed the last of April, 1745. The transports were discovered from the town, on the morning of the day the troops landed, which was the first notice they had of the design. On the night of May 2d, a party of English, of about four hundred men, burned the warehouses containing naval stores, &c. The French being alarmed, spiked their guns, flung their powder into a well, and abandoned

the fort and fled to the city. On the 17th of June, the garrison capitulated, but the French flag was kept flying, which decoyed into the harbour ships of the enemy to the value of £600,000 sterling. The weather during the siege was fine, but, the day following, rains began, which continued ten days, and must have proved fatal to the provincial troops, had not the capitulation taken place. The people of New England were deeply affected, it is said, by this interposition of divine providence.

What number of men from Rowley were engaged in this expedition, the records do not show; nor can the rolls be found which bore their names.

But the town records tell us, that James Jewett was killed by a cannon ball, Moses Platts died of a wound, Moses Davis, Jr., John Platts, Humphrey Woodbury, Joseph Saunders, Samuel Smith, and Richard Harris, all died at Cape Breton, during the years 1745 and 1746. In 1754, Stephen Boynton was out under Captain John Lane. Lieutenant Benjamin Plumer, Sergeant Moses Richards, Sergeant Thomas Johnson, Privates, Nathaniel Getchell, Mark Creasey, Joseph Wallingford, Samuel Duty, and Jonathan Trask, were all out under Captain Nathan Adams, at the eastern frontier.

In 1755, an entire company (or nearly so) was raised in this town, who performed their duty at Lake George and vicinity, consisting of,

Captain.

*Thomas Gage.

Lieutenant.

Israel Davis.

* This Thomas Gage was a grandson of that Lieutenant Thomas Gage, who was killed by a cannon ball, (in 1707,) at Port Royal, Nova Scotia.

This company was in the service from August 7th to December 17th, 1755.

November 16. Captain Thomas Gage was promoted to Major. A private's wages was $4.50 per month. The Captain received £ 17.9. 8; Lieutenant, £ 9. 5. 2 ; Ensign, £8. 14. 10; for the whole term.

1755, May 8. Jacob Blackledge, of Rowley, entered the service under Captain Moores, of Haverhill, and died at Crown Point, September 29, 1755. Simeon Chapman also died at the same place, the same year; Thomas Johnson and Samuel Stacy both died at Menis.

This year the French of Nova Scotia were subdued, and took the oath of allegiance to the British crown; they were soon after accused of furnishing support and intelligence to the Indians and French, and annoying the colonies; and some of them being found in arms, it was determined to remove them, about two thousand souls, to New England, and distribute them among the various towns. Rowley had fourteen to provide for, viz. Alexander Reshaw and wife, aged about seventy years. Peter Dupee and wife, aged about thirty-five years, and two children, one of which died in town.

Charles Lower and wife, aged about twenty-seven years, and one child.

Bezaleel Leblong and wife, aged about thirty years, and three children. The wife died in town.

Bradford had eleven as their proportion.

Boxford had fifteen a part of the time, but in March (1758,) six of them were removed to Middleton.

The selectmen of the several towns were authorized by law to bind them out to service. It is not known that any of those in Rowley were bound out. The Province was charged with the expense of their board.

After the peace of 1763, the town, March 17, 1767, made a grant of £ 13. 6. 8, to aid them in returning to the place of their nativity.

A writer of that day says of these neutral French, that they were remarkable for the simplicity of their manners, the ardor of their piety, and the purity of their morals; that the cloud of their sorrows was never dispelled; in a land of strangers, many of them pined away and died.

July 26, 1756. Captain John Pearson, of Rowley, enlisted a company of troops to serve under him