The record of the Artillery Company for 1790 is as follows:

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"April 5th 1790. The Company met agreeable to Charter, Common by Brig. Gen. Hull [1788], performed firings, &c. Voted, The Commissioned Officers & Treasurer be a Committee to request of the Rev. Mr. Homer of Newtown to preach the Sermon on their next Election then returned to the Hall & partook of refreshment as usual. Voted, That Col. John May [1786], by his request, be dismissed the Company and his name be put on the Honorary List.

"April 13th The Company met at Faneuil Hall on account of the death of Col. Joseph Jackson [1738], Treasurer of the Company, Voted, the Company will attend ye Funeral of their late Treasurer under Arms. Voted, to have ye Band of Musick & they with the drums & fifes of said Company be put into mourning; the expence of which was defrayed by the Heirs of the late Treasurer by their particular request: after which the Company received the Thanks of the family for the Honour done them & the deceased. Through the Clerk their Compliments were conveyed to ye Company.

"May 3d. Monday. The Company met agreeable to Charter: most of ye members being sick with the Influenza, the Company did not proceed to the Common, but performed their exercise at the Hall. The Commissioned Officers acquainted the Company that ye Rev. Mr. Homer had accepted their invitation to preach their next Election Sermon. Voted, That the Treasurer pay thirty pounds out of the principal & interest due the Company from ye town of Charlestown towards defraying the dinner on Election in June next.

"May 24th. Voted, That the Commissioned Officers, with the Treasurer, & Clerk be a Committee to make arrangements and provide for the public Dinner in June next. "May 26th. The list of Gentlemen presented by the Committee to be invited to dine at the Hall with the Company the first Monday in June next was accepted by the Company in whole. Voted, That the same Committee that arranged the list of persons to be invited to dine, be ye Committee to compleat & provide all ye necessaries for Election. Voted, That Capt. John Stutson [1765] be dismissed the Company agreeable to his request, and that his name be put on the Honourary List.

"Attest, SAMUEL GREENOUGH, Clerk.

"Monday, June 7th 1790. The Company paraded at the Old South Meeting House, commanded by Brig. Gen. William Hull [1788]; escorted His Honor the Lieut. Governour and Council (His Excellency the Commander in chief being Indisposed) to the Old Brick Meeting House, where an Excellent & well adapted discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Homer of Newtown. The Company then proceeded to Faneuil Hall & partook (with their guests) of an elegant entertainment. The weather being excessive Stormy, the Company proceeded to the Choice of their Officers for the year ensuing in the Hall, when the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen. Mr. Robert Jenkins [1756], Captain; Capt John Johnston [1786], Lieutenant; Capt Israel Loring [1768], Ensign; Col. John Winslow [1786], Treasurer; Mr. Thomas Clark [1786], Clerk; Mr. Samuel Todd [1786], Mr. Benjamin Russell [1788], Capt Lemuel Gardner [1787], Mr. John Bray [1788], Sergeants. After which the Commissioned Officers repaired to the house of the Commander-in-chief, with the Officers elect, where the former resigned the badges & the latter received them from His Excellency. Voted That the Commissioned Officers with the Treasurer be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Homer, return him the Thanks of the Company for his Services this day delivered, and request a copy for the press. The meeting was then adjourned to the 14th inst.

"Monday Evening, June 14th 1790. Voted, That the Clerk procure & present the Rev. Mr. Homer with fifty printed copies of his Sermon and assess the Company for their amount in September next. Voted, That Gen. Lincoln [1786], Col. Waters [1769], Gen. Hull [1788], Col. Winslow [1786] and Capt Jenkins [1756] be a Committee to collect & report a state of facts respecting the exchanging the badges between the old & new officers the past and present year.

"Monday, Sept 6th 1790. The Company made their publick appearance commanded by Capt. Jenkins [1756].

"Monday, Oct 4th 1790. The Company being under Arms commanded by Capt. Jenkins [1756], Voted, That the Clerk purchase four Swords for the use of the Sergeants & assess each member of the Company three shillings, & every new member the same sum on his Admission.

"And your committee further report, that on Wednesday the 2d day of June A. D. 1790, the Officers of the said Company waited on His Excellency, Governor Hancock, Lieut Gov. Adams and the Hon. Council with the respectful compliments of the Company, and requested the honor of escorting them on the day of Election to the Meeting House to attend Divine service and likewise requested the honor of their company to dine at Faneuil Hall on that day. His Excellency replied, that if his health would admit, he would do himself the pleasure to dine with the Company and should be ready at the Council Chamber to be escorted as proposed. His Honor, the Lieut. Governor and the Hon. Council accepted the invitation without any qualification. That on the morning of the 7th of June A. D. 1790, the day of Election, the Commanding Officer of the Company received a message from His Excellency, the Governor, that his state of health was such, that he should not be able to attend Divine Service, or dine with the Company, but, if possible, he would attend on the Common, there to receive the badges from the old officers and invest those who were to be elected with them. But if his health was such as to be unable to attend on the Common, he had directed his Honor, the Lieut. Governor to receive and deliver the badges. The Commanding Officer observed to the Adjutant General that as the Lieut. Governor held no military rank, he conceived it was improper to pay him military honors: that as the chair of Governor was not vacant by reason of his death or absence from the Commonwealth, or otherwise, the Lieut Governor had no right to perform the duties of Governor or exercise the powers and authorities which by the Constitution the Governor is vested with, when personally present. The Adjutant General made no other reply, than that he was not directed to return any message to His Excellency, the Governor. The Company proceeded at the usual hour and escorted His Honor, the Lieut. Governor, and the Hon. Council to the place of Divine service and afterwards to Faneuil Hall.

"While at dinner His Honor, the Lieut. Governor, observed to the Commanding Officer, that if the Governor's health would not permit him to attend on the Common, His Excellency had ordered him to perform the duties incumbent on him, and particularly to receive the badges from the old officers and invest those who were to be elected with them. The Commanding officer made the same reply to His Honor, as to the Adjutant General, with this addition, that he hoped His Honor would not consider it as a personal, but merely an official objection. That was Mr Adams - Governor, or had a right to exercise the powers of Governor, the Company would pay him the honors with the same pleasure as they would Mr. Hancock, but that under the existing circumstances, it was improper, unprecedented, and contrary to military propriety. His Honor replied,

that it seemed to be a Constitutional question, and asked what tribunal should decide it? That his orders from the Governor were positive and he could see no other alternative than performing the duties. The Commanding officer replied, that he could not consent to a measure unauthorized by custom, by the Constitution, or by military propriety. Much more was said on the subject, but these were the general principles advanced on the occasion.

"After dinner, His Honor and the Hon. Council withdrew, and the Commanding officer ordered Major Cunningham [1786], the Lieutenant of the Company, to wait on His Excellency the Governor, and to inform him that the Company was then at the Hall, and although the rain was severe, yet, if His Excellency's health was such that he could meet them, he would march them to the Common according to ancient custom, there to elect their officers and perform the ceremonies usual on the day of their election. If that mode was not convenient, that the Company would proceed to the choice of their officers, at the Hall, and the old and new officers would wait on His Excellency at such place as he should appoint to exchange the badges; or, that the Company would proceed to the choice of their officers, and send their names to His Excellency for his approbation, and when approved would exchange the badges between themselves in presence of the Company; or, if His Excellency would appoint the eldest Major General present to perform the duties, that mode would not be unprecedented. His Excellency returned for answer that his health was such, and the storm being severe, that he could not meet the Company on the Common. That if the Company would proceed to the election of the officers, he would be happy to receive the old and new officers at his house, and there receive the badges and deliver them to the new elected officers. The Company proceeded accordingly to the election of their officers at the Hall, and the old and newelected officers waited on His Excellency the Governor, at his house, where the ceremonies were performed, the badges delivered, and the new officers invested with them."

On the first Monday in June, 1790, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company paraded at ten o'clock, in the Old South Meeting-house; at twelve o'clock, it marched to the council chamber, from whence it escorted his Honor the lieutenant-governor (his Excellency the governor being indisposed), the honorable council, and several military officers, to the Old Brick Meeting-house, where a sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Homer, of Newton. After the religious ceremonies of the day were over, a procession was formed, viz. :

Lieut-Gov. Adams, Hon. Mr. Bowdoin, honorable council and senators, speaker and members of the House, president of the university, clergy, - among whom were Abbé Rousselet and Mr. Thayer; consuls of France, Holland, and Sweden; selectmen of Boston, gentlemen, and strangers of distinction; adjutant-general, officers of Cadets, Castle William, Artillery, and Fusileers, in uniform; honorary members, etc., who were escorted by the Company to Faneuil Hall, where a sumptuous dinner was provided. After which the following toasts were drank : :

2. "The Vice-President

1. "The President of the United States" (three cheers). and Congress of America." 3. "The Governor and Commonwealth of Massachusetts " 4. "The Powers of Europe, in Alliance with the United States." 5. "Agriculture, Manufactures, Fisheries, and Commerce." (His Honor the lieutenant-governor then gave the following toast: "Prosperity to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.") 6. "The King of France" (clapping of hands). 7. "The Marquis de Lafay

ette." 8. "The National Assembly of France: may they rightly distinguish between the evils of licentiousness and the blessings of good government." 9. "Chief-Justice Jay." 10. "Gen. Knox." 11. "Mr. Hamilton." 12. "Mr. Jefferson." 13. "May the inhabitants of America exercise the same wisdom in preserving as they have in erecting the Federal Dome."

The Hall was beautifully decorated. The entrance formed an arch, supporting the orchestra where the band performed during the dinner. At the head of the Hall was a grand arch, from the key-stones of which hung a golden fleur-de-lis. In the rear of this, in the front window, was placed an obelisk, finely executed by Mr. Johnston (1786). The base was formed by a bust of the President of the United States, encircled with a glory, and the inscription, "The lustre of his actions shines with triumphant brightness, and spreads a glory around him." Over this, at the top of the obelisk, was the All-Seeing Eye, with an inscription, "Fideles Protego" (I protect the faithful) over it. In the centre, a winged cherub was represented as crowning the President with a chaplet of laurel. Thousands of people visited the Hall to see the elaborate decorations.

After dinner, the Company proceeded to the choice of their officers, and unanimously elected Robert Jenkins (1756), captain; John Johnston (1786), lieutenant, and Israel Loring (1768), ensign, for the ensuing year. The heavy rain preventing the Company from parading as usual on the Common, the old officers and the officers-elect went in carriages to the house of his Excellency the governor, where the former resigned the insignias of their offices, and the latter were invested therewith.

At sundown, his Honor the lieutenant-governor and council, on invitation of Capt. Jenkins (1756), went down to the Hall and partook, with many other guests, of the second entertainment usually given on that anniversary, which concluded with thirteen sentimental, political, and philanthropic toasts, with which the anniversary exercises were closed.

Rev. Jonathan Homer, D. D., of Newton, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1790. He was a son of Michael Homer, Jr. (1789), a grandson of Michael Homer (1768), and was born in Boston, April 15, 1759. He married Anna, a daughter of Obadiah Curtis, of Boston, by whom he had an only child, Jonathan, who died Sept. 4, 1804, aged twenty-one years. Mr. Homer graduated at Harvard College in 1777, at the age of eighteen years. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Brown University in 1826. He was ordained pastor of the church in Newton, Feb. 13, 1782, and in that relation he spent his life. His ministry covered a period of sixty-one years. He was sole pastor forty-five years, till November, 1827, and then had a colleague.

Mr. Homer was very scrupulous in the performance of his official duties. At the funeral service of Gen. Hull (1788), having accidentally omitted to mention in his prayer one of the relatives of the family, he prayed a second time, lest he should be deemed guilty of a failure, or give occasion for grief or offence. Dr. Homer died Aug. 11, 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of his age, and the sixty-second of his ministry. He published a history of Newton, "The Columbian Bible," "Reports of the Middlesex County Bible Society," and six sermons delivered on various occasions.

Jonathan Homer. AUTHORITY: Smith's Ilist. of Newton.

1791.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1791 were: Josiah Waters (1769), captain; Zechariah Hicks (1786), lieutenant; Nathaniel Call (1774), ensign. Joseph Eaton (1773) was first sergeant; Joseph Loring (1788), second sergeant; John Coolidge (1786), third sergeant; Samuel Hastings (1786), fourth sergeant, and Thomas Clark (1786), clerk.

At the services held by the Legislature in May, 1791, the officers of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company had the post of honor, among the military guests, in the procession which was escorted by the Independent Fusileers. The governor and Legislature were conducted from the State House to the Old South Meeting-House, where a sermon was delivered by Rev. Chandler Robbins, and thence to Faneuil Hall, where a sumptuous entertainment was provided by the State.

In October, 1791, Lieut. Samuel Bradlee (1765) was chosen captain, and Lieut. Wild (1773) captain-lieutenant, of the Boston artillery, vice Capt. Johnston (1786) and Capt.-Lieut. Sturgis (1786) resigned.

The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1791 were: Robert Ball, Shubael Bell, John Gardiner, John Peck, Samuel Perkins, William Walter.

Robert Ball (1791) was probably a grandson of Robert Ball, of Charlestown in 1728, and of Concord in 1746. His father, Robert, was a sea-captain, and married, (2) or (3) Aug. 6, 1767, Melicent Harris.

Robert Ball (1791) was born Sept. 17, 1769. He was first lieutenant of the Ward 4 company in the Boston regiment from 1794 to 1796, and fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1794. He became a member of The Massachusetts Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Feb. 12, 1795.

Shubael Bell (1791), housewright, of Boston, was born in 1766. He was twice. married: (1) July 26, 1789, to Joanna Smith Masters, and, (2) Oct. 6, 1808, to Anne Hewes, but died without issue.

For some years he worked at his trade in Boston, but as other fields of toil and usefulness opened to him, he entered them. April 19, 1797, the Columbian Centinel announces that "Capt. Shubael Bell [1791] is appointed deputy sheriff of the county of Suffolk," and adds: "A gentleman, whose suavity of manners, humanity of disposition, and integrity of heart, will render him a valuable acquisition to the executive departpartment." He was afterwards appointed sheriff, and, in 1810, jailer of Suffolk County. "Here," says Mr. Knapp, "he had full exercise for all his patience, forbearance, and good feelings. I have seen him when he visited the cells of crime and wretchedness, and at his approach, profaneness was dumb, and despair grew calm. I have seen him with the broken-hearted debtor, who was weeping at the recollection of his disheartened wife and helpless, suffering children, and as he came nigh the prisoner he seemed a sort of electrical conductor, to convey away the agonies of the wounded soul."

He was a very zealous Episcopalian, and was senior warden of Christ Church from 1812 to 1819. He was a pillar of that church during its state of feebleness after the death of Dr. Walter. Mr. Bell (1791) was the principal agent in the establishment of St. Matthew's Chapel, South Boston. His subscriptions for the assistance of the Episcopal church were liberal in the extreme.

Robert Ball (1791). AUTHORITIES: Wyman's Charlestown Genealogies and Estates; By-Laws of The Massachusetts Lodge.

Shubael Bell (1791). AUTHORITIES: Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842; Hist. of St. Andrew's R. A. Chapter.