THE FRENCH and INDIAN WAR

This is condensed from Chapter XXVII of the History of the Town of Norton by George Faber Clark.

Called the OLD FRENCH WAR, but more commonly known as KING GEORGE'S WAR. Early in the year 1745, by a majority of one vote, a company of soldiers was raised in Norton and vicinity to go on an expedition to Louisburg, a strongly fortified place on the Island of Cape Breton. Under the command of Major Joseph Hodges and Ensign Caswell of Norton (who was soon promoted to Lieutenant to fill that vacancy), the following enlisted from Norton: Drummer, Thomas BRAMAN; Phillip ATHERTON, Jeremiah CAMBELL, Micajah DORMAN, Abijah FISHER, John FISHER, Eleazer FISHER, John FORRIST, Isaiah FORRIST, Samuel FORRIST, Thomas GROVER, Zepheniah LANE, Ephraim THAYER. Seven men were transferred from Major HODGES' to Nathaniel WILLIAMS' company. Three of these - John FINNY, John FINNY, jun., and Johnathan LANE are supposed to have belonged to Norton.

From this expedition Major HODGES never returned. One account says, "He died in the early part of the war, when stationed on the lines between the present state of Maine and Canada." Another account says, "that, on his returning voyage (from Cape Breton) in a French vessel, he died suddenly; and there was suspicion that he was poisoned." He is represented "as a man of a brave, chivalrous spirit." Muster Rolls at the State House, Boston have nothing relating to the company under the command of Major HODGES.

After a peace of only a few years', England and France formally declared war in 1756, although hostilities in the English Colonies in America had been ongoing since 1754. Norton furnished her quota of officers and soldiers. In Captain Nathaniel PERRY's company of Easton, on service from the middle of June to the middle of September, 1754 are listed the following: Jonathan EDDY, William ROGERS, Levi LANE, Samuel PRATT, Elijah SMITH, John THAYER, George WETHERELL, Elisha THAYER, and Ephraim BRIGGS.(Muster Rolls, 1749-55).

In the autumn of 1755, an expedition to Crown Point included the following Norton men:Samuel EDDY, Eleazer EDDY, Nicholas WHITE, jun., Benjamin BAILEY, Joseph MITCHELL, Seth GILBERT, Ephraim BRIGGS, John COBB, Daniel TIFFANY, Nathan LAWRENCE. From a muster-roll of Capt. HODGES' company, dated Boston, May 5, 1756; and also from a return of said company, dated at Albany, May 29, 1756 (expedition against Crown Point) were the following: Capt. Joseph HODGES; Ensign Gideon BASSET*; Sergeants Oliver EDDY, John THAYER; Corporals George BRAMAN*, Obediah EDDY*; Thomas WINCHEL, John WHITE, Martin DASSANCE, Joseph TUCKER, Samuel BRINTNELL*, Jospah KING, Joseph BRINTNELL, Jonathan NEWLAND, Jotham BASSET, Elkanah WELLMAN, Elisha THAYER, Isaac DAY*, David COLESON*, John HOLMES, John MARTIN*, Thomas NICHOLS, David SMITH, Jacob GROVER, James PEARSON.(*men supposed to have been killed with Capt. HODGES).

Captain HODGES was son of Major Joseph HODGES, and was the first child baptized here after the church was gather. He was a man of "desperate bravery". While on an expedition termed as Indian Scout, he and his whole party fell into the hands of Indians and were all killed, Sept. 19, 1756, except one man, William MERRY, who was held prisoner for 5 years until his escape and return to relate the fate of his fellow men.

From the return of Benjamin WILLIAMS' company of Easton from Crown Point dated Fort Edward, July 26, 1756 were: Clerk, John BASSET; Nathaniel WHITE, William MERRY, Ebenezer TURNER, Nicholas SMITH.
This Captain Benjamin WILLIAMS was great-grandfather of Rodolphus H. WILLIAMS, Esq. In the return of Captain David WHITE's company of Mendon, also at Crown Point in 1756 were: Lieutenant Nathan HODGES, Josiah TUCKER, Thomas RAY, Joseph WOODARD, Joseph MITCHELL, Robert CRAIG, Job TUCKER*. *Deserted.
Phillip White was in an expedition for the reduction of Canada in 1758; and George Wheaton was surgeon's mate in Thomas DOTY's regiment for the same purpose the same year. Four men from Norton went on an expedition to Crown Point in Capt. Thomas COBB's company of Taunton; the time of service, from May 11, 1759 to Jan. 2, 1760. First Lieutenant Ephraim LANE; Nathaniel LANE, Simeon COBB, Abiel LANE.
From May 12, 1759 to Jan. 2, 1760, Capt. Nathan HODGES was out with a company of men including: Second Lieutenant Elijah HODGES; Ensign John KING; Sergeants, Ephraim HODGES, Silas COOK, Israel TROW, Abiel EDDY; Corporals, William PUFFER, Hezekiah KING; Privates, Elkanah BISHOP, John COOK, William DEAN, Record FRANKLIN, David FISHER, Joseph HART, David HODGES, Abraham MARTIN, Benjamin MOREY, Soloman TROW, Ebenezer TITUS, Nathan WOOD, Benjamin WILLIS, Josiah WHITE, Nathaniel WOOD, Henry WHITE.

John HALL of Norton was out in Captain BURT's company of Milton. In Captain Job WILLIAMS' company of Taunton, from Feb. 13 to DEC. 26, 1760, there were, belong to Norton: Benjamin BRIGGS, Benjamin COLE, Jonas CASWELL, hezekiah DRAKE, Jacob GROVER< Joseph MITCHELL, Stephen RANGER, Isaac TUCKER, Henry WHITE. In 1760 and 1761, there enlisted for the total reduction of Canada: Isaac TUCKER, Jacob HOOR, Joseph MITCHELL, Daniel WETHERELL, William DEAN, jun., Henry WHITE, jun., Jonathan CASEELL, Samuel RANGER, Obediah BRINTNELL, and Abiel CASWELL.

.....A more thorough search of the Muster Rolls would possibly add some names to the list. It must be borne in mind, that Mansfield, during this war, had not been taken from Norton; and therefore some of these persons belonged in that part of the town.
.....Hon. Cromwell LEONARD tells that his father, Jonathan Leonard was in Nova Scotia in the army the day he was twenty-one years old. this would have been April 17, 1759.
.....This includes pages 384 - 390.

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