Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
Mr. Hancock & Mr. S. Adams have Concluded to go to Philadelphia togather by Springfeild Rhoad. Mr. J. Adams is undetermined, but if he goes thro Rhode Island will be at your house by Monday night or on Tuesday next. I shall go in a Sulky & as my Family is to reside at Providence I believe I shall be oblidged to go there to make Preparations for them, & design to be at your House on Monday night or Some time on Tuesday next When I hope to have the pleasure of your Company to Philadelphia. I would not have you wait longer than that time as Mr. Hancock & Mr. Adams design to sett out on Monday next & if I go your way shall be there be sure by Tuesday next. Pray send me line by the first oppertunity, whether you shall be able to sett out at that time.1 Your Humble Servant
RTP left home to return to the Continental Congress on Apr. 22. As he noted in his diary for that day, “abt. 9 oClock set out from Taunton accompanied by Richd. Dean as a waiter & Capt. Dean of the Troop & 10 more Troopers fine weather. Stopt at Lanes in Newton, thence to Morris in Wrentham & dined, thence to Mendon quite dark. Found the Tavern full of soldiers from East Hartford, under Col. Pitkin. Wth. difficulty got lodging put up at Keiths Tavern.” Armed guards from various towns accompanied his progress through western Massachusetts to Connecticut. The Massachusetts delegation gathered at Hartford and from there progressed together. On May 5, RTP took time to stop in Norwalk, Conn., “to see Mr. Edward Arnold & saw his Museum a very large Collection of Birds, Insects, Fossills Beasts Fishes &c. wch. he has been 7 yrs collecting.” On May 6, they “Rode under the same escort to Kings Bridge there met by No. of Gentlemen from NYork din’d thence to NYork the last 7 miles under the Escort of a Grenadier & Ranging Company & 600 Militia & a vast Crowd of Gentlemen & People in Carriages, on Horse back & foot went to Francis Tavern.” Escorts continued through New Jersey, and on May 10 the party “proceeded to Philadelphia, met 5 miles out of Town by a Great No. of Gentlemen & military Companys, one of Riflemen escorted by music to City Tavern, dind at Mrs Yards where we put up. PM met in Congress at the State House, chief of the Members arrived. Chose a President Mr.
We1 had advices from Boston last night at twelve o’Clock which undoubtedly you are acquainted with. We are all in high spirits spirits & Swear by the departed Spirits of the first Settlers of New-England we will not sheath the sword till our Liberties are fixed upon a firm & stable basis. We shall have our Minute men ready to march by tomorrow day-break; but mean to regulate ourselves by your advice. If you think it is improper for them to go for Boston, we shall endeavour to restrain them tho’ it will be with difficulty. Any late accounts from Boston or Marshfield we shall be obliged to you for. At this Time you must excuse our troubling of you as we do. I am with the greatest respect, your frd. & hbl. Servt.,
| Guns | Boy | Box | fli | Poud | Ball |
|
|
| Capt. Pits2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1/2 | 20 | 1 |
| Joshua Phillips. Jur. | 1 | 6 | 24 | ||||
| Zak Austin | 1 | ||||||
| Nat Austin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |||
| Ben Pegley | 1 | 1 |
Dr. William Baylies (1743–1826), a 1760 graduate of Harvard College, was the first settled physician at Taunton, but he moved to Dighton and represented that town in all three provincial congresses. Shortly after his election to the House of Representatives from Dighton in 1775, Dr. Baylies moved back to Taunton and the home of his late father-in-law, Samuel White. After the war he remained active in politics, as well as in scientific and literary circles (
Sibley’s Harvard Graduates
, 14:552–555).
This is a partial roster for Capt. Peter Pitts’s company, Col. Timothy Walker’s regiment. Joshua Phillips, Jr., Nathaniel Austin, and Ebenezer Austin all enlisted as privates on May 2, 1775. The final name on the list was probably Benjamin Pigley (Pigsley), who did not appear on this muster list although he did serve in other county units later in the Revolution (Massachusetts Soldiers & Sailors of the Revolution, 1:356, 359, 12:324, 389).