258 History of Hingham. 



In the mean time the raising of the new army went on, The 

 method was to call for volunteers, but if the requisite number did 

 not appear a draft was made, by the colonels of the militia regi- 

 ments, of enough men to supply the deficiency. This will explain 

 some facts to be hereafter related. A bounty of six dollars was 

 offered to stimulate enlistments, and the pay of private soldiers 

 was one pound and six shillings a month. If a man brought a 

 gun his bounty was increased two dollars. If not, one was sup- 

 plied, for which he was to account, as well as for powder-horn, 

 knapsack, canteen, blanket, etc. Subsequently a coat of blue 

 cloth, a soldier's hat, and breeches of red or blue were supplied. 

 Probably this was the first American force of any considerable 

 size wearing a uniform, although some regiments had done so 

 previously ; it will be noted that the color was the same which 

 has since become enshrined in the affections of the armies of the 

 republic who have succeeded these troops. The regiments gen- 

 erally were composed of ten companies of fifty men each. Besides 

 their rations each man was promised and insisted upon having, a 

 gill of rum daily. The troops mustered at Albany, and soon 

 encamped a short distance up the Hudson. 



One of the regiments was commanded by Richard Gridley, 

 afterwards conspicuous for his services at Bunker Hill ; its major 

 was Samuel Thaxter, who, in accordance with the custom of the 

 time, was also captain of a company. This latter was from Hing- 

 ham. There are several rolls in existence at different periods of 

 its service. The first bears date of May 4, 1756, and contains the 

 following names of men from this town : — 



'» 



Samuel Thaxter, major and captain, Robert Tower, 



Joseph Blake, lieutenant, Win. Hodge, 



Jeremiah Lincoln, ensign. James Fearing, 



Jonathan Smith, Knight Sprague, Jr., 



Caleb Leavitt. Daniel Stoddard, 



George McLaughlin, Abel Wilder, 



Elijah White, Joseph Loring, 



Joshua Dunbar, George Law, 



Israel Gilbert, Joshua French. 

 Thomas Slander, 



A roll of about the same time added the names of 

 Thomas dishing, Zebulon Stodder. 



Another roll, bearing date Oct. 11, 1756, gives the following 

 names of Hingham men, in addition to those previously mentioned : 



Noah Reals, George Lane, 



Isaac Gross, John Lincoln. 



We also learn from it that Ensign Lincoln was killed or taken : 

 an account of his capture and escape is given later ; that John 



