1754
Martin How and Arthur Tucker of Brookfield enlisted June 26, and Levi Hamilton, Nov. 9, in Capt. John Wright's Co., expedition to the Eastern Frontiers. In the same expedition, in Capt. Jos. Wilson's Co., Apr. to Nov., were John Tute and Wm. Hair of Brookfield. In the same expedition, in Capt. Eleazar Melvin's Concord Co., were Rich. Burk (then of Ware River), Wm. Brabrook, Caleb Dodge, Ephraim Hayward, Levi and Seth Hamilton, Joseph and Thomas Waite and Corp. Nathaniel Woolcott, out from May to Nov. David Hinckley, John Tute, and Jona. Waite were at Coleraine, Aug. '54 to March '55.
1755
Four Military expeditions were planned in the spring of this year; one against the French in Nova Scotia; a second against Fort Du Quesne; a third against Crown Point; and a fourth against Niagara.
Brookfield furnished her full quota for the Crown Point expedition.
Name |
Dates Served |
| Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin | |
| William dorothy | March 27 to Sept 8 |
| Corp. Jos. Waite, William Brabrook and John Tute were in Capt. Is. Williams' Co. | |
| Comfort Barns was in Capt Luke Hitchcock's Springfield Co. | April 11 to Oct 1 |
| Corp Thomas Barns, Jos. Gilbert, John Green, Thomas Stevens, Eleazar Warner enlised in Capt. Samuel Robinson's Hardwick Co. | |
| Sergt. Jos. Hamilton, Abraham Adams, Nathan Hamilton, John McClure, Phinehas Slayton, Solomon Rood, and Jacob Wood were in Capt. Andrew Dalrymple's Petersham Co., | August 9 to December |
| Peter Harwood was ensign in Capt. Ephm. Doolittle's Co., | August to December |
| William Blackmor was Capt. Benj. Johnson's Woburn Co., | August 9 to December 27 |
| Col. John Murray: Jona. Abbott, Obed Abbott (of Bedford), Daniel Ainsworth, Joseph Barr, Adoniram Bartlett, Daniel Bemon, Samuel Bliss, Thomas Cheney, Henry Chadwick, James Clark, Robert Clark, Josiah Cutler, Robert Cutler, Samuel Dorothy, Josiah Farrell, Ebenr. Foster Jr., William Galloway, David Getchell, Nathan Gould, Jason Hinds, Ephm. Hayward, Abraham How, Jr., Amos Marsh, Joshua Morris, Joseph Old, William Ranger, Isaac Rice, John Rice, Daniel Walker. | September |
| Dr. Benj. Gott was surgeon's mate on the staff of Col. Josiah Brown and remained at Fort William Henry with Col. Bagley till March 31, '56. **see petition. | Sept 9 to Dec 15 |
Comfort Brabrook enlisted in Capt. Whitcomb's Co., and died at Sheffield on his return. Nathan Thompson was in Col. Titcomb's regiment; was sent out in the detachment under Col. Ephraim Williams to intercept the French under Dieskau, Sept. 8,; was wounded by 3 shoots, two of which broke his left arm in two places, the third went through his lungs, by which he was rendered helpless; granted a pension of £4, for 3 years. Samuel Barns, Uriah Gilbert and Joseph Walker enlisted in Capt. Daniel Brewer's Co.; were all sick; Gilbert died.
**Dr. Benj. Gott petition: "I was at Fort William Henry last winter and know that Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin dealt out from his private stores, Rum, brandy, sugar, coffee, tea, wine, etc., to the sick in the Hospital, the Commissary being destitute: After the army was disbanded in Nov., your petitioner volunteered to stay and garrison the fort, and did so under Col. Glazier after Col. Kingsbury left in Jan., and staid till May."
1756
The plan of the campaign this year embraced the reduction of the forts at Crown Point and Niagara. Massachusetts raised an army of near 7,000 men; but through the incapacity of General Abercrombie, the British commander, "the summer passed in fruitless labor."
Capt. Jabez Upham, by direction of the town, bought in Boston 200 wt. of Powder, to recruit the town stock, at the cost of £17.13.4 lawful money. The whole stock was 300 lbs. Powder, 600 lbs. lead bullets, 900 flints.
Brookfield sent into the service this year:
Name |
Dates of Service |
| Ens. Joseph Waite, Sergt. Thomas Riggs, Breed Batcheller, Jedediah Deland, Jona. Dodge, Walter Dorothy, John Goldsbury, Abraham Hair, William Ranger, John Tute and John Woolcott, | Capt. John Burk's Falltown Co., Februrary 18 to December 17 - under Col. Joseph Dwight, which took part in the Crown Point expedition. |
| Gideon Abbott, | Capt. James Reed's Co. February to December |
| Lieut. Eph. Hayward, Ens. Joseph Hamilton, Drummer Thomas Weeks, William Ayres, Jr., Edward Ayres, Eliphalet Hamilton, Abraham and John Adams, Ebenr. Davis, Jona. Dodge, Solo. Flagg, Nathan Hamilton, Abner Old, Jos. Rutland, Daniel Walker, Benj., Jacob and Joseph Wood, | Capt Edmund Bemis' Spencer Co., February to December - under Col. Joseph Dwight, which took part in the Crown Point expedition. |
| Corlis Hinds, Jedediah How, Arthur Tucker, Simeon, Levi and Sylvanus Walker, Joseph Witt and Josiah Wood | Capt Solo. Keyes' Co., March to December |
| Sergt. Jona. Gilbert, (died Dec. 9), Corp. Oliver Woolcott, Corp Silas Walker, Joel Abbott, Onesiphorus Ayres, Samuel Barns, Stephen Blackmor, Simeon Brooks, John Davis, Oliver Evens, David Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, Ebenezer Hayward, Caleb How, Joseph Hatfield, Philip Reed, Henry White, John Williams, Ezekiel Woodbury, Obadiah Wright | Capt. Daniel Brewer's Concord Co., July 10 to December 31 |
| Daniel Gilbert, Philip Goss, John Green, Samuel Hair | Col. Thatcher's regiment in July |
| Corp. Ephm. Brown, (aged 21) enlisted at Deerfield | Capt Colton's Co., July 26 |
Names |
Born |
Age |
Residence |
| Sergt. Thomas Riggs | 35 | Brookfield | |
| Corp. Joseph Davis | Brookfield | 30 | Brookfield |
| Breed Batcheller | Wenham | 16 | Brookfield |
| Jedediah Deland | Brookfield | 23 | " |
| Jona. Dodge | Beverly | 16 | " |
| Walter Dorothy | Brookfield | 20 | " |
| Benj. Emmons | Brookfield | 18 | Hatfield" |
| Noah Emmons | Brookfield | 25 | Greenwich |
| John Goldsbury | Brookfield | 17 | Western |
| Abram Hair | Brookfield | 26 | Brookfield |
| William Rainger | boston | 25 | Brookfield |
| John Tuffs | Ireland | 45 | Brookfield |
Descriptive Roll of Captain Samuel Robinson's Co. at For Edward
Name |
Born |
Age |
Residence |
| Sergt. William Dorothy | Worcester | 25 | Brookfield |
| Corp. David Getchell | Hardwick | 21 | Brookfield |
| Robert Claflin, Jr. | Westboro | 18 | Brookfield |
| Samuel Church | Hardwick | 40 | Brookfield |
| Thomas Cook | Concord | 26 | Brookfield |
| Philip Gilbert | Brookfield | 21 | Brookfield |
| Thomas Lamson | Ipswich | 27 | New Braintree |
| Benj. Stevens | Andover | 22 | Brookfield |
| Ephm. Kellogg | Brookfield | 45 | Peterboro, NH |
| John Peacock | Ireland | 45 | New Braintree |
| Samuel Buckminster | Framingham | 23 | Brookfield |
| Simeon Walker | Brookfield | 26 | Spencer |
Gideon Abbott, Seth Banister, Timothy Bowen, Eli Gould, Isaac Stone, Roger Stevens, enlisted for Crown Point September 6.
Muster Roll of Capt. Obadiah Cooley's Company, Sept. 20 to Nov. 24, 1756
Name |
Residence |
| Capt. Obadiah Cooley | Brookfield |
| Lt. Joseph Stone | Brookfield |
| Ens. David Keyes | Western |
| Clerk, Moses Barns | Brookfield |
| Sergt. Benoni Banister | Western |
| Sergt. Silas Walker | Brookfield |
| Sergt. Cornelius White | Brookfield |
| Corp. Moses Jennings | Brookfield |
| Corp. Daniel Matthews | Brookfield |
| Corp. Nathaniel Paige | Brookfield |
| Corp. Francis Stratton | Western |
| Drummer Philip Deland | Brookfield |
| Jabez Ayres | Brookfield |
| Asa Bacon | Brookfield |
| Christopher Banister | Brookfield |
| Joseph Banister | Brookfield |
| Matthew Bartlett | Brookfield |
| Moses Bragg | Brookfield |
| Jabez Crosby | Brookfield |
| Obadiah Deland | Brookfield |
| Caleb Dodge | Brookfield |
| Josiah Dodge | Brookfield |
| Joseph Gilbert | Brookfield |
| John Goss | Brookfield |
| Samuel Gould | Brookfield |
| Ebenezer Hayward | Brookfield |
| Peter Hill | Brookfield |
| Caleb How | Brookfield |
| Ebenezer Killen | Brookfield |
| John Rainger | Brookfield |
| John Rich | Brookfield |
| Thomas Slayton | Brookfield |
| Nathan Smith | Brookfield |
| Elijah Temple | Brookfield |
| Adoniram Walker | Brookfield |
| Joseph Walker | Brookfield |
| Reuben Walker | Brookfield |
| Jeremiah Woodbury | Brookfield |
| William Wright | Brookfield |
| John Barrows | Western |
| Abner Brooks | Western |
| Phinehas Brooks | Western |
| John Davis | Western |
| George Hayward | Western |
| John Hayward | Western |
| Cyrus Rich | Western |
| Adonijah Marks | Western |
| John Smith | Western |
John Walker was in Capt. Moseley's Co. at Lake George, and died at Sheffield on his return.
1757
This was a year of disasters to the English and American forces, and was remembered and spoken of by our fathers for three generations, as the year of "The Great Alarm about the taking of Fort William Henry."
The expedition planned against Crown Point and Ticonderoga was popular; many of the last year's men re-enlisted, and new men were readily secured. But by order of Lord Loudon, then commanding in the Provinces, the bulk of the army was drawn off in an expedition against Louisbourg, which proved a failure. Only about 7,000 men -- 4,000 under General Webb at Fort Edward, 3,000 under Col. Munroe at Fort William Henry -- were left for the defense of the north-western frontiers.
Gen. Montcalm, with an army of 11,000 French and Indians concentrated at Ticonderoga, and August 3rd, invested Fort William Henry. Col. Munroe had an effective force of only 2,372 men; but gallantly held the great army at bay for six days, and surrendered August 9th. By the terms of capitulation, Col. Munroe and his troops were allowed to march out with the honors of war, retaining their arms and baggage. But the Indians attached to Montcalm's army, without hindrance from the French officers, plundered the most valuable stores, and murdered in cold blood about 300 officers and men.
The alarm of the peril of our troops reached the town before the surrender; and our companies began the march for relief, August 9th. Finding themselves too late, the men returned for home.
The Brookfield soldiers in service this year were:
| Major Is. Williams, Jan to Nov |
| Joseph Perry |
| Amos Tute |
| Peter Harwood |
John Gilson, under Lieut. Joseph Blake; Jabez Ayres, Samuel Barns, John Goss, Eliphalet Hamilton, Caleb How, Asa Lamson, and William Virgin aged 60, (then Chelmsford); Breed Batcheller, Josiah Banister, Jedediah Deland, Samuel Gould, Reuben Hamilton, and David Palmer; Christopher Banister, in Capt. Learned's Co.; and those that turned out on the "Alarm" were:
| Capt. Eleazar Warner's New Braintree Co. |
| Jonathan Pellet, then of Sheffield |
| Joseph Barns |
| David, Jr. Jedediah and Solomon Gilbert |
| Eliakim Spooner |
| James Thompson |
Muster Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Woolcott's Co. that marched August 9th, and was out 16 days:
Capt. Nathaniel Woolcott John Goodale Lt. Abraham How Jeremiah Gould Ens. Benj. Adams Nathan Gould Sergt. John Witt Samuel Gould, Jr. Sergt. Thomas Taylor John Hair Corp. Aaron Bartlett Timothy Hall Corp. William Watson Joseph Hatfield, Jr. Corp. William Ayres Oliver Hayward Corp. Daniel Gilbert Corlis Hinds Moses Ayres Caleb How Onesiph. Ayres Elijah How William Ayres, 3d Ephraim How John Baker, Jr. Abner How Jacob Ball Jedediah How, Jr. Thomas Ball Silas How Aaron Barns Nathaniel Jones Adoniram Bartlett Asa Lamson Joseph Bartlett John Lamson Matthew Bartlett Daniel Matthews Nathaniel Bartlett Daniel Potter Zachariah Brown Joseph Stone Samuel Chapman Arthur Tucker Benjamin Cooley David Witt Nahum Eager John Woolcott Solomon Flagg Oliver Woolcott Joseph Gilbert William Wright
Muster Roll of Captain Jabez Upham's Co., that marched August 9, and was out 17 days.
| Capt. Jabez Upham | Sergt. Nathan Hamilton |
| 1st. Lt. Obadiah Cooley | Sergt. William Old |
| 2d. Lt. John White | Sergt. Benjamin Rice |
| Ens. Benj. Walker | Corp. James Brigham |
| Sergt. Ebenr. Jennings | Corp. Josiah Hobbs |
| Corp. Ezekiel Old | Daniel Rolf |
| Corp. Philip Deland | John Rainger |
| Gideon Abbott | Ephraim Rice |
| Abraham Adams | John Green |
| Abraham Adams, Jr. | Stephen Green |
| David Aiken | Josiah Hamilton |
| Joseph Banister | Jonas Rice |
| Seth Banister | Oliver Rice |
| John Belenger | Solomon Rice |
| Moses Bragg | Samuel Rogers |
| David Bridge | Phinehas Slayton |
| Uriah Bush | Thomas Slayton |
| James Converse | Josiah Stephens |
| Jebez Crosby | Roger Stephens |
| Ebenezer Davis | John Wait, Jr. |
| Daniel Deland | Abraham Walker |
| Obadiah Deland | Adoniram Walker |
| Thomas Dodge | Joseph Walker |
| Amos Hamilton, Jr | Edward Walker |
| Eliphalet Hamilton | Phinehas Walker |
| Ezra Hamilton | Reuben Walker |
| Thomas Hamilton | Daniel Walker |
| Samuel Hinckley | John Woolcott |
| John Jennings | Ithamar Wright |
| Moses Jennings | Obadiah Wright |
| David McClure | Richard Vorce |
| John McClure | John Hamilton |
| Comfort Old | William Henshaw |
| Reuben Old | Ebenezer Hayward, Jr. |
| Asa Partridge | Benjamin Jennings |
| Asahel Peters |
Muster Roll of Capt. Jacob Abbott's Co. that marched August 9th
| Capt. Jaboc Abbott | Walter Dorothy |
| Lt. Thomas Gilbert | Abner Gilbert |
| Ens. Abner Brown | John Gilbert |
| Clerk, Jona. Abbott | Othniel Gilbert |
| Sergt. Joseph Wood | Philip Gilbert |
| Sergt. Robert Chaflin | Seth Gilbert |
| Uriah Abbott | John Goss |
| Caleb Dodge | Peter Hill |
| Josiah Dodge | Joseph Loring |
| Abraham Martin | Thomas Rich |
| Stephen Martin | James Roaff |
| David Palmer | Charles Rice, kill by indians |
| John Peso | William Tuffs |
| John Phipps | John Watt |
| William Ranger | Samuel White |
| Moses Rich | Jeremiah Woodbury |
| Philip Rich |
1758
The plan for the campaign this year included the investment of Louisbourg and expeditions against Ticonderoga and Fort Du Quesne. The first and last were successful; the Ticonderoga was a disastrous failure.
The Brookfield men in the service this year were:
Capt. Jacob Abbott Gideon Abbott Josel Abbott Jacob Ainsworth Jabez Ayres Asa Bacon Capt. Jeduthan Baldwin Josiah Baldwin Daniel Ball Thomas Ball Breed Batcheller William Batcheller Nathan Barns Thomas Brown Samuel Chapman Ebenezer Davis Jedediah Deland Jona. Dodge Josiah Dodge Charles Dorothy David Getchell Thomas Gilbert 3d Abraham Hair Amos Hamilton, jr. Elisha Hamilton Benj. Harwood Peter Harwood Zachariah Harwood William Henderson Elijah How Samuel Joslin Asa Lamson Andrew Kimball Thomas McClure Abner Old David Palmer William Parkman David Patrick Thomas Rainger William Rainger Abner Rice Asahel Rogers William Tuffs Gideon Walker Jacob Walker Isaac Walker Silas Walker Samuel White Daniel Wyman April 28, 1758
The House of Representatives "Ordered, that the selectmen of Leicester be allowed to remove from said town to the town of Brookfield, Jaques Morris, with eleven of his family, being French Neutrals (so called) placed in Leicester in 1756, by order of the General Court; and the selectmen of Brookfield are hereby required to provide for said French people."