The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-03-18
UProN.s MINUTE MEN.
An Interesting Historical Document
Brought TO Light.

1
| An Interesting Historical Document
| Brought TO Light.
| There has just been discovered at the
public library q brief document which
has more than a passing interest for
the antiquary or the student of our To-
cal and town history of ante-revolutlon-
airy days. 1t is the roll of the minute
men of the town of Upton, with the OBJ
legations Of the officers and privates,
and bears date: Upton, Sept 10, 1773. "
1t opens as follows:
1--WE that have been made choice of
officers to learn and instruct you in the
! military art, we do promis severaly that
for ourselves we will meet you at time
aud place that shall be appointed for
said purpose and that we will instruct
you to the best of our capacity, and if
we do not appear on said Days we that
are your head officers hereby become
obligated to pay fine of three Shillings
each if we cannot give Sufficient Rea-
sons therefor to the Satisfaction Of the
Committee chosen for that purpose.
1--WE, the Clerk aud Sergeants, do
likewise promise to pay fine of two
| Shillings each for our absence on said
days, upon our not offering Sufficient
Reason to said Committee.
ALSO, we do promise that neither of
| us will go to the tavern on said days, if
we do we thereby become liable to pay
the above said fine; in witness whereof
we have hereunto set our hands.
"Signed) Capt Thomas Mar. Baker,
Lieut. Levi Legg, Ensign Francis Bow
man, Clerk David Kelley, Sergt. Moses
Hayward, 'Sergt Arthur Palmer, Sergt.
Benin Sadler, Sergt Benz. Potter"
Then comes the obligations of the
'shigh privates," which takes on this
form:
1--WE, the subscribers, whose names
are underwritten, do bind ourselves to
the due observance of the following ar
ticles, being in full force for the space
of one year, viz:
"First-We promise to obey our Off
GERS when under. arms We promise
also to behave ourselves decently to-
ward one another.
selves as decently as our circumstances
will admit of, and to appear at time
and place that shall be agreed upon.
'Thirdly-We promise not to shoot
any powder when we are embodied, or
after we are dismissed that night, with
out the express order or leave of our
officers.
"Fourthly-We promise not to go to
the tavern after we are dismissed that
night to spend our time and money.
''Fifthly-And if any of us be found
guilty of the breach of any of these ar
ticles he or they shall be fined shill-
ing, unless he or they shall give suffi-
cient reason therefor, and to be deter
mined by the committee chosen for that
purpose.
''Sixthly-We do empower the clerk
of this company to collect such fines as
shall be due, as above said, within 10
days, to buy or repair such warlike in
struments as said committee shall think
proper, in whereof we have hereunto
set our hands
Signed, Joseph Pearce. Robert Fisk,
Sherebrick Baker, Joshua Tenney,
Eleazer Hogg, Benjamin Fisk, Jr.,
James Flagg, Jr. Nathan Bracket, Jo-
mas Warren, Sd, Seth Sadler, Temmas
Barnes, James Hayward, Elisha Brad
ish, Moses Wood, Jr., Aaron Wood,
Samuel Addans, Jonathan Gay, Enoch
Furbush, Peter Furbush, Daniel Wood,
Jr., Jonathan Bracket, Aaron Warren,
Jr., Elisha Warren, Abiel Sadler, Jr.,
Samuel Furbush, Jonathan Warrin,
Seth Warren, James Bracket, Stephen
Warren, Obadiah Bates
Francis Boman, Robert Fisk, Moses
Hayward, Benjamin Fisk, Thomas Mar
shall Baker, committee for said COM
pany.
Upton, September, 10. 1i73."
1t will be noticed that the grammat-
ical construction of some of the SEN
fences is trife loose, but, no doubt.
the men in those times that tried mems
souls fought just as we'll as If they were
familiar with the rules of grammer as
was the late Lindley Murray himself
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