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"The Company then marched to the Council Chamber, from whence they escorted the Commander in chief & other Gentlemen to the Old Brick Meeting House, where a Sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Bentley of Salem. They then proceeded to Faneuil Hall, where a sumptuous entertainment was provided as usual. After dinner the Company marched into the Common, where they made choice of the following gentlemen as Officers for the year ensuing, viz: Mr Thomas Clark [1786], Captain; Captain Benjamin Russell [1788], Lieutenant; Mr John G. Doubleday [1790], Ensign; Messrs Daniel Messenger [1792], Samuel Hill [1794], Samuel Perkins [1791], and Jonathan Loring, Jr. [1792] Sergeants; Col. John Winslow [1786], Treasurer; Mr George Blanchard [1794], Clerk. Voted, that the Commissioned Officers, with the Treasurer, be a Committee to wait on the Rev. Mr. Bentley with the thanks of the Company for his Sermon this day delivered, and request a copy for the press. Voted, Unanimously, that the Thanks of the Company be given to Col. Davis [1786] for the elegant Standard presented this day by his direction for their use. Voted, Unanimously, that the thanks of the Company be given to Miss Catherine Davis for the elegant manner in which she presented the Standard, by direction of her honoured father, Col. Davis [1786], to the Company. Attest. THOMAS CLARK, Clerk. "Monday Sept 5th 1796. The Company paraded as usual, performed the duties enjoined by their Charter, commanded by Capt. Thomas Clark [1786]. "Attest. GEORGE BLANCHARD, Clerk.

Friday, October 7, 1796. Monday last being unsuitable weather, the Company paraded this day, and performed a great variety of manoeuvers, with much military adroitness, to the satisfaction of numerous spectators and honor to themselves.

"Attest. GEORGE BLANCHARD, Clerk."

The one hundred and fifty-eighth anniversary of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company was observed on Monday, June 6, 1796. To the usual military arrangements was added the presentation of a standard by Quartermaster-Gen. Amasa Davis (1786). The corps first proceeded to the residence of Gen. Davis (1786), where the presentation was made, and thence to the council chamber, where his Excellency the governor, and other guests, were received. They were escorted to the Old Brick Church, where Rev. Mr. Bentley delivered the anniversary sermon. After service, the Company escorted its guests to Faneuil Hall, where a sumptuous entertainment was provided; after which, sixteen Federal toasts were offered. In the afternoon the election was held; the officers-elect were commissioned by the governor, who was then escorted to his residence, and the Company returned to its armory. To the usual decorations in Faneuil Hall was added that of a "trophied urn," raised on a pedestal, bearing the words, "To the memory of those brave men who have fallen in the cause of liberty"; and, on the pedestal, these words: "Hic manus ob patriam pugnando vulnera passi." This decoration received the highest praises of the guests.

An ode, written for the occasion, was sung by mentbers of the Artillery Company, under the direction of Capt. Edmund Bowman (1793). Singing, in these years, was an art in which several members of the Artillery Company were very proficient. Not only at the dinner and social gatherings of the Company were members repeatedly called upon to sing the songs of "ye olden time," but they also performed with grand effect the more stately music in church service. If music was to be written, Ensign Oliver Holden

(1794) was equal to the task; if a director of music was desired, Capt. Edmund Bowman (1793), the leader of the Boston Singing Society, was ready for duty; and the records inform us that Messrs. Bowman (1793), Messinger (1792), Phillips (1790), Wells (1786), and others were soloists, who were repeatedly called upon, on anniversary occasions, to sing some favorite song.

ODE

WRITTEN FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ARTIllery Company,

JUNE 6, 1796.

Tune,-"RULE COLUMBIA."

REAR'D to the BRAVE, who sleep in dust,

Be trophied urn and marble bust;

While weeping laurel shade their tombs

And incense-breathing spring perfumes!

Sleep, ye Heroes! Repose, ye Patriots brave!
Glory blossoms on your grave!

When grim Oppression's gorgon eye
Gloom'd with its frown this western sky,

His rage Columbia's sons withstood,

And seal'd their triumph with their blood.

Sleep, ye Heroes! Repose, ye Patriots brave!
Glory blossoms on your grave!

Blest, sainted shades! your sacred sod

Shall be by pilgrim heroes trod,

And BREED's immortal hill shall be

The Mecca of the brave and free.

Sleep, ye Heroes! Repose, ye Patriots brave!
Glory blossoms on your grave!

Tho' school'd in war, 'tis ours to raise,

By social arts, our Country's praise;

Nor will BELLONA's storms assail

While VALOR tills his native vale.

Sleep, ye Heroes! Repose, ye Patriots brave!
Glory blossoms on your grave.

Rev. William Bentley, D. D., of Salem, delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1796. He was a son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Paine) Bentley, and was born in Boston, June 22, 1759. He graduated at Harvard College in 1777, and afterwards was a tutor there for three years. He was called as colleague of Rev. James Diman, pastor of the Second Church in Salem, and, having accepted, was ordained Sept. 24, 1783. Mr. Diman died in 1788, when Mr. Bentley became sole pastor. The beginning of Mr. Bentley's ministry marks the transfer of this church from allegiance to the Westminster Assembly to that liberal faith afterwards called "Unitarianism." He "dispensed at once with the wig and creed of which it had so long been the symbol." He was a man of scientific and literary attainments, of pure life, strict integrity, and unbounded philanthropy; also an ardent patriot. "When the United States frigate 'Constitution' was driven into Marblehead Harbor by the British cruisers 'Tenedos' and 'Endymion,' on

Sunday, April 3, 1814, and a messenger brought the news to the church, Dr. Bentley promptly dismissed the congregation, and hastened to the scene of the expected attack." He died in Salem, Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1819. The discourse at his funeral was delivered by Prof. Edward Everett, who delivered the Artillery sermon in 1821, and became an honorary member of the Company in 1836.

1797.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1797 were: Samuel Todd (1786), captain; Jonas S. Bass (1789), lieutenant; Joseph Lovering, Jr. (1788), ensign. William Walter, Jr. (1791), was first sergeant; Edmund Bowman (1793), second sergeant; Robert Homes (1792), third sergeant; John Howe, Jr. (1792), fourth sergeant, and James Phillips (1790), clerk.

Increase Sumner, who was inaugurated as governor, June 2, 1797, was in the vigor of life, a contrast in this respect to his immediate predecessors. Gov. Hancock was so infirm with the gout that his servants made an arm-chair and carried him from his carriage up the stairs to the council chamber in the Old State House. Mr. Adams, also, was somewhat bent with years, and showed his infirmity when he walked in State processions. When his successor, Gov. Sumner, at the head of the legislative body, on its return from hearing the election sermon at the Old South Church, passed in at the door of the Old State House where the apple-woman sat, she was heard to exclaim, “Thank God, we have got a governor that can walk at least."

Gov. Sumner dressed in uniform on all military occasions. His uniform became his portly and commanding figure, and his first appearance in it on the Common, a few days after his inauguration, to deliver the commissions to the officers of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, met the public approbation. The ceremonies in 1797 were very imposing. It took a brave soldier to march up to the governor thus gorgeously arrayed, in the public presence, to resign or receive his commission. It tended to efface from memory the soldier's well-prepared address. On this first occasion of the governor's appearance, his commanding air, in his military costume, added to the trepidation sometimes evinced by the advancing officer. It was not always attended with irremediable embarrassment, for, in one instance, it was the cause of one of the best extemporaneous speeches ever addressed by a soldier to the governor. After the ensign had marched up, quite out of breath, and stood dazed before the governor, the latter, in his address, charged him with his duties, spoke of the courage and good conduct expected and required of him who bore the standard of the corps, etc., and delivered the colors to his trembling hand. The prepared address of the ensign forsook him. He began : "May it please your Excellency!" but the next sentence failed to come to his lips, and he repeated, "May it please your Excellency," then still failing to recall his chosen words, he made a bold effort to rid himself of his embarrassment, and, suiting the action to the words, exclaimed, "I have got this standard and I will keep it!" 1

The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1797 were: Seth Adams, Jotham Barnes, Edward Brinley, Elijah Davenport, Peter Gilman, Ward Jackson, William Jepson, John Kennedy, Charles Nolen, Peter Osgood, Edward B. Walker, Benjamin West, Jonathan Whitney.

New Eng. Hist. and Gen. Reg., 1854, p. 121.

Seth Adams (1797), son of Seth and Ann Adams, was born in Boston, April 1, 1767. His residence was No. 15 Franklin Place.

Jotham Barnes (1797), merchant, of Boston.

Edward Brinley (1797), merchant, of Roxbury, son of Edward and Sarah (Tyler) Brinley, was born in Roxbury, Oct. 16, 1765. He was never married. He was a merchant, whose place of business was on the north side of the market. The firm was Francis and Edward Brinley, Jr. He died Dec. 20, 1823.

Elijah Davenport (1797), merchant, of Boston, brother of Rufus (1795), was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1801, and ensign in 1804. He became a member of the Old South Church, Jan. 9, 1825.

Peter Gilman (1797) was a tailor, and became a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association in 1800. He died in Boston, April 12, 1807, aged forty-two years, and his remains were buried on Copp's Hill. His gravestone bears the following verse:

"Stop, my friends, and in a mirror see

What you, though e'er so healthy, soon must be.
Beauty, with all her rosebuds, paints each face;
Approaching death will strip you of each grace."

Ward Jackson (1797), housewright, of Boston, lived on Temple Street. He was a deacon of the Third Baptist Church.

William Jepson (1797), housewright, of Boston, son of Samuel and Lydia Jepson, was born in Boston, Oct. 20, 1770. He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1801, and ensign in 1806, and was a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association. He died Nov. 12, 1820, at his residence on Temple Street, Boston, aged fifty years.

John Kennedy (1797) was a merchant of Boston, whose residence was on Court Street, and his place of business was No. 46 Long Wharf.

Charles Nolen (1797) was a merchant of Boston. The Boston Directory of 1796 gives his name as Charles Noland. He was born in 1768. He was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1803. He removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he died March 20, 1838.

Peter Osgood (1797), bricklayer, of Boston, son of Hooker, Jr., and Susanna (Sawyer) Osgood, was born at Lancaster, Mass. (baptized), Jan. 13, 1771. He came to Boston in 1790 with his friend and schoolmate, Mr. Jonathan Whitney (1797), with whom he formed a partnership. They did an extensive business, but finally became seriously embarrassed, and the firm was dissolved.

Col. Osgood (1797) was followed by pecuniary misfortunes, and Mr. Whitman (1810), in his history of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, says "he was supported by the industry of his wife," and "owed his military distinction to his neutrality in politics." In 1803 he became captain in the First Sublegion of Infantry, from 1804

to 1809 was first major of the same, and from 1810 to 1814 was lieutenant-colonel of the Second Regiment of Boston. He was second sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1802, lieutenant in 1806, and its captain in 1809. He was elected an honorary member of the Company, Aug. 12, 1816, and was honorably dismissed March 31, 1828. He died in 1833.

Edward B. Walker (1797), of Boston, is recorded in the "Annals of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association" as being a housewright, when, in 1796, he joined that association. He was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1802.

Benjamin West (1797), a merchant of Boston, is said to have been engaged in the sugar-refining business. He was a son of Rev. Mr. West, who delivered the Artillery election sermon in 1794. He became a member of the Hollis Street Church, and served it in the office of deacon. Mr. West (1797) was third sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1801. He died at Charlestown, N. H., March 25, 1829, aged fifty-three years.

Mr. West (1797) "possessed a highly cultivated mind, uncommon strength of intellect, with a rare talent of communicating his thoughts. As a man, a neighbor, a friend, he possessed the confidence and esteem of all around him in a remarkable degree."

Jonathan Whitney (1797), bricklayer, of Boston, son of Jonathan and Mary (Wyman) Whitney, was born in Lancaster, Mass, March 27, 1771, and served an apprenticeship with a bricklayer in Claremont, N. H. In 1790 he removed to Boston and formed a partnership with Col. Peter Osgood (1797), which continued many years. It was dissolved only when embarrassments made dissolution indispensable. Mr. Whitney (1797), however, having taken up the stone and lime business, pursued that successfully, and acquired a handsome property. He married a daughter of Capt. Stutson (1765). He was identified with the militia for many years, declining to accept a commission until in high party times he was elected captain of a Boston company by one vote. The election was contested, but Capt. Whitney (1797) was successful, and accepted. He was captain in the Second Regiment, Legionary Brigade, from 1809 to 1813, major in 1814, lieutenant-colonel in 1815, and colonel in 1816 and 1817, succeeding, as lieutenant-colonel, Col. Peter Osgood (1797). He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1803, ensign in 1807, lieutenant in 1810, and captain in 1813, and was strongly attached to the institution. He represented Boston in the State Legislature, and was an ardent Federalist.

Mr. Whitney (1797) was admitted a member of The Massachusetts Lodge, A. F. and A. M., April 5, 1802, and was master of that Lodge in 1813 and 1814. He was one of the most respected and highly esteemed members of the Lodge. On the evening of Friday, Jan. 25, 1839, the Lodge voted unanimously, "that the usual habiliments of mourning be placed in the hall, as a mark of respect entertained by this Lodge for our highly esteemed brother and past master, Jonathan Whitney, Esq. [1797].”

Mr. Whitney (1797) was a man of great, but not ostentatious, charity. He died at Brookline, in January, 1839.

Jonathan Whitney (1797). AUTHORITIES: Whitman's Hist. A. and H. A. Company, Ed. 1842:

Annals of Mass. Char. Mech. Association; Records of The Massachusetts Lodge.

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