Waldron (1806), fourth sergeant; John Winslow (1786), treasurer; Thomas Clark (1786), clerk, and Samuel Todd (1786), armorer.

The member of the Artillery Company recruited in 1808 was Asa Ward.

Asa Ward (1808) was a merchant, 28 State Street, Boston, and held the office of fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1811. He was a son of Asa and Hannah (Heywood) Ward, of Worcester, where he was born April 19, 1772. He married Sally White, of that town, in 1802. After a short business career in Boston, he returned to Worcester in failing health, and died in October, 1812, in his forty-first year.

The Artillery Company paraded April 4 and May 2, 1808, under the command of Capt. Bowman (1793). At the former meeting, the Rev. Leonard Woods, of Newbury, was chosen to deliver the anniversary sermon in June following. At the May parade, the Company marched to Charlestown, and was entertained by Oliver Holden (1794). Special meetings were held April 25 and May 16. The usual programme was followed on the anniversary day. The officers elected for the ensuing year were: Capt. Melzar Holmes (1798), captain; Mr. Benjamin Coates (1796), lieutenant; Mr. Dexter Dana (1798), lieutenant; Capt. Thomas Dean (1806), Mr. William Bowman (1806), Mr. David Forsaith (1805), Mr. Samuel Waldron (1806), sergeants; Gen. John Winslow (1786), treasurer; Capt. Thomas Clark (1786), clerk.

The newspapers of Boston add the information that it was past six o'clock before the Company could parade on the appropriate square on the Common, on account of severe showers. At the conclusion of the drill, election, and review, the Company escorted the governor to his residence, after which the Company returned to Faneuil Hall.

The Company observed its public drills, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3, 1808, under the command of Capt. Holmes (1798).

At the meeting held Sept. 5, 1808, Capt. Holmes (1798), Lieut. Coates (1796), Ensign Dana (1798), Capt. Dean (1806), Major Osgood (1797), Messrs. William Howe (1806) and Jonathan Loring, Jr. (1792), were appointed a committee to take into consideration the propriety of exempting gentlemen from fines who had "served in the Company."

years

Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., delivered the Artillery election sermon of 1808. He was born in Princeton, Mass., June 19, 1774, and was installed as the third pastor over the Fourth Church, in Newbury (West End), Dec. 5, 1798. His father intended him to be a farmer, but being too frail, he turned his attention to a profession. He studied first with the pastor of his native town, then attended the academy at Leicester for a short term, and completed his preparatory studies under Ebenezer Adams, afterward professor at Dartmouth College. Mr. Woods graduated at Harvard College in 1796. After leaving college he taught school in Medford eight months, then studied theology, and was approbated to preach in 1798. He settled immediately in Newbury, and held that pastorate until Sept. 28, 1808, when he was inaugurated professor of

Asa Ward (1808). AUTHORITY: Ward Genealogy.

Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D. AUTHORITIES: Coffin's Hist. of Newbury; Sprague's Annals of American Pulpit.

theology at the newly founded Andover Theological Seminary. closed in 1846, and he died in Andover, Aug. 24, 1854.

His professorship

A collective edition of his works was published in five volumes (fourth edition) in 1860.

1809.

The officers of the Artillery Company elected in 1809 were: Peter Osgood (1797), captain; Jeremiah Gardner, Jr. (1801), lieutenant, and Isaac P. Simpson (1801), ensign. David Francis (1806) was first sergeant; Andrew Sigourney (1806), second sergeant; Caswell Beal (1806), third sergeant ; James Penniman (1806), fourth sergeant; John Winslow (1786), treasurer; Thomas Clark (1786), clerk, and Samuel Todd (1786), armorer.

The members of the Artillery Company recruited in 1809 were: Ephraim French, Jr., and Meshack Shattuck.

Ephraim French, Jr. (1809), trader, of Boston. In 1820, Ephraim French (1809) kept a West India goods store on Bromfield Lane, and lived on School Street. He was fourth sergeant of the Artillery Company in 1812.

Meshack Shattuck (1809), silk dyer, of Boston, son of Simeon and Lydia (Jewett) Shattuck, was born in Fitchburg in 1782, and was drowned by falling from Charlestown bridge, Dec. 17, 1811. He was one of the firm of Barrett & Shattuck, who established and owned the silk dye-house in Malden, now known as the "Barrett Dye-House." His place of business was on the corner of Union and Hanover streets, Boston. He married, in 1804, Rebecca Marshall, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca H. Marshall, of Dorchester, who, with several children, survived him.

The Company records inform us that a meeting for business was held Saturday evening, Feb. 4, 1809. The Company paraded on April 7, 1809, under Capt. Holmes (1798). The Rev. John Foster, of Brighton, was invited to deliver the Artillery election sermon in June following. Also a public parade was made May 1. On the 15th of May the committee appointed to consider what exemptions from duty and fines are proper and necessary to be made the members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company reported as follows:

"Ist That all members who have served, and all members who shall hereafter have served twenty years in the Company, and are exempt from military duty by law, shall, at their own request, be excused from all fines and assessments, except the assessment for the anniversary dinner; which shall be paid by every member of the Company.

"2d That all members who have served and all members who shall hereafter serve fifteen years in the Company, and shall have held commissions therein, and are exempt by law from military duty, shall, at their own request, be exempt from all evening fines, except the evenings next preceding the anniversary Election of officers in June: at which meetings they shall be bound to attend."

The above report was read, and unanimously adopted.

Also it was voted: "That Capt. Holmes [1798], Major Russell [1788], Gen. Winslow [1786], Mr. A. Sigourney [1806], and Major Phillips [1790], be a committee to Meshack Shattuck (1809). AUTHORITY: Wyman's Charlestown Genealogies and Estates.

enquire into and ascertain the rights and privileges of the Company, which are secured to them by their charter, and to be invested with power to apply to the Legislature of this Commonwealth, if they think proper, to have a clause inserted in the new militia law that shall define their rights in such manner as shall prevent in future all disputes with the officers of the militia, or any other company." 1

A special meeting was held May 29, when a vote was passed that "every member of the Company who shall absent himself from exercise either of the three evenings next preceding the day of election in June annually, shall pay a fine of two dollars for each evening he may be absent."

Monday, June 5, 1809,2 being the anniversary day, on which the election of officers was held, the usual exercises were observed. His Excellency Christopher Gore, commander-in-chief, his Honor Daniel Cobb, lieutenant-governor, the honorable council, and other guests, were escorted to the First Church, where a sermon was delivered by Rev. John Foster, of Brighton. The Company proceeded thence to the Exchange Coffee-House, where dinner was provided. The weather being unpleasant, the remaining duties of the day were performed in the area of the Exchange Building. The following-named gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year: Major Peter Osgood (1797), captain; Mr. Jeremiah Gardner, Jr. (1801), lieutenant; Mr. Isaac P. Simpson (1801), ensign;' Messrs. David Francis (1806), Andrew Sigourney (1806), Caswell Beal (1806), and James Penniman (1806), sergeants; Gen. John Winslow (1786), treasurer; Thomas Clark (1786), clerk, and Capt. Thomas Todd (1786), superintendent of the armory. At this time the funds of the Company amounted to three thousand and seventy-two dollars and twenty-two cents, including one hundred dollars presented to the Company in June, 1809, by William Phillips, Esq, of Boston.

Business meetings of the Company were held July 17 and Aug. 28, 1809. Sept. 4, the Company paraded under command of Major Osgood (1797), also on the second day of October.

On the morning of election day special honors were paid to Gov. Christopher Gore. A large cavalcade of citizens of Middlesex waited on his Excellency at his residence in Waltham, presented him an address, and requested permission to escort him to Boston. A cavalcade from Boston, with the same purpose of showing their respect and esteem for

1 Mr. Whitman (1810), in his History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, edition of 1842, pp. 373, 374, says:

"One Capt. Gleason insisted that, by virtue of his commission, he had a right to membership [in the Artillery Company]. On a field-day, while the members were parading in upper Faneuil Hall, he appeared on the stairs. The commander, expecting such an occurrence, placed Gen. John Winslow [1786] as sentinel on the stairs. Gleason was hailed, and refused a pass. He attempted to proceed, when the general charged, throwing open his pan. Gleason said, 'I will pass.' The general said, 'You must then enter at the muzzle and come out at the touch-hole.' Gleason sneaked off, and thus the controversy ended."

Mr. Whitman (1810) continues: "The last clause of the tenth section, and the whole of the eleventh section, of the militia law passed by Congress, May 8, 1792, were introduced at the instigation of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln [1786] with special reference to the Artillery Company, viz. :

"And whereas sundry corps of artillery, cavalry, and infantry now exist in several of the said States, which by the laws, customs, or usages thereof have not been incorporated with, or subject to, the general regulations of the militia.

"Section II. Be it further enacted, that such corps retain their accustomed privileges, subject, nevertheless, to all other duties required by this act, in like manner with the other militia.''

2 "Brief sketch! Monday was a day which in Boston, and in our almanacks, is called 'Artillery Election'- -a day set apart to see a company of Infantry, (who are stiled 'Ancient and honorable Artillery'!) go through a few unimportant and uninteresting ceremonies. To witness and to countenance this bagatelle, His Excellency the governor throughout a whole day 'stoops to folly'; and both branches of our great and General Court throw aside business as early as II o'clock." Boston Patriot, quoted in Chronicle, June 8, 1809.