Walpole, Massachusetts, in the American Revolution
Even before the Revolution began in earnest, Walpole was prepared to join forces with American patriots to prevent a usurpation of the people's rights.
On September 21, 1768, the town of Walpole "Voted that they Send one Person to join the Committees at Faniuel Hall.
[1] The next day, Clapp joined representatives of 96 towns and eight districts to consider measures for the peace and safety of Massachusetts citizens.
"[3] The town then appointed a committee – composed of Ensign Seth Bullard, Enoch Ellis, Dr. Samuel Cheney, George Payson, and Aquila Robbins – to draft instructions to guide their future representatives.
[4] The document was the most revolutionary product the Colonies had produced at the time, and the only one of the 19 resolutions in which members of committees or towns were named included Walpole: "15.
That under our present Circumstances it is incumbent on us to encourage Arts and Manufactures amongst us by all Means in our Power, and that Joseph Palmer, Esq.
; of Braintree, Mr. Ebenezer Dorr of Roxbury, Mr. James Boies and Mr. Edward Preston of Milton, and Mr. Nathaniel Guild of Walpole, be and hereby are appointed a Committee to consider the best Ways and Means to promote and establish the same, and report to this Convention as soon as may be.
[7] Several days later, on December 19, Walpole appointed Dr. Samuel Cheney, Enoch Ellis, Nicholas Harris, John Boyden, Phillip Robbins, Ensign Theodore Mann, and Nathaniel Guild to the Committee of Inspection.
"[8] Walpole formed its minutemen on January 9, 1775, where the town voted "one Quarter Part of the Training Band Soldiars Should be Inlisted in the Province Service to be Ready at a miniutes warning.
[9] A few days before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Walpole resident Philip Robbins took a trip to Boston.
While at tavern, Robbins overheard a group of British soldiers claiming it would be easy for General Gage to march through the country from Boston to New York.
"[13] These soldiers most likely did not participate in any action as Smith's men arrived in Cambridge after the day's fighting concluded.
[14] Among the Walpole minutemen included Levi Lindley, John Laurence, Elias Mann, Peter Lyon, Daniel Morse, Jeremiah Smith, James Fales Jr., Benjamin Carroll, and Andrew Willett.
[14] By April 21, 1775, 20,000 Americans flanked Boston and many of the Rhode Island and Connecticut soldiers came through Walpole on their way.
Jeremiah Smith's company of 64 men marched from Walpole to Boston to fill the places of departing Connecticut troops.
[19] As 1775 drew to a close, Walpole men could be found in camps at Roxbury and Prospect Hill, present day Somerville.
[20] These men had enlisted on January 27, and helped to fortify the works on Dorchester Heights, which forced Gen. Howe to evacuate Boston on March 17.
"[22] In December 1776, Rhode Island called an alarm as the British anchored in Newport Harbor and had taken control of the colony.
