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The town of Norton took an active part in the war from the battle at Concord and Lexington in 1775 till the surrender of Lord Cornwallis in 1781.
The Stamp Act of 1765 seems to have been the first in the series of tyrannical edicts that aroused the public indignation. They felt it was a wicked and unjust law and refused to obey the unrighteous decree.
Autumn of 1774, a Continental Congress, composed of deputies from 11 colonies met at Philadelphia, and agreed upon a declaration of rights and recommended the non-importation of British goods into the Colonies.
January 16, 1775, a committee was chosen, consisting of John KING, Benjamin MOREY, William SMITH, Isaac SMITH, and Israel TROW. Later were added James HODGES, Noah WISWALL, Eleazer WALKER, Elkanah LANE, Benjamin PEARSON, David LINCOLN, Isaac HODGES, and Eleazer CLAP. The committee was directed to take particular notice of all persons that should have dealings (England) with a view to distress the inhabitants of Norton.
No hostilities until April 19, when the battle of Concord and Lexington began. The alarm reached Norton some time during the day and the next morning Captain Silas COBB and Capt. Seth GILBERT, each with a detachment of men, were on their march to join with others in repelling the invasion.
All of Capt. COBB's company left home April 19; and their term of service varied from 4-10 days. Serving were: John ALLEN, 2nd lieut.; Nathaniel PRIOR, serg.; Nathaniel STONE, corp.; John HODGES, corp.; Abner TUCKER, drummer; Abiel HODGES, Tisdale HODGES, Isaac HARADON, Abiel LINCOLN, Jonathan FRANKLIN, Noah WOODWARD, Josiah WOODWARD, Joseph HODGES, Abiajah FISHER, Phillip HOR, Josiah HODGES, Samuel HODGES, David HODGES, privates.
Capt. GILBERT's men served from 4-12 days, most left with him on April 19. (parentheses note dates others left) Included were: George MAKEPEACE, 1st lieut.; Noah WISWALL, Seth SMITH, Eleazar CLaP, WilliamMAKEPEACE, sergeants; David CLAP, Jonathan LEONARD (20), Samuel HUNT (27), corporals; privates, Isaac SMITH, John HALL, Seth SMITH, Jun., Jacob SHEPARD, Seth SHEPARD, Stephen JENNINGS, Noah WISWALL, Jun., Jacob SHAW, Antha. NEWLAND (21), Eben WETHERELL (21), William COPELAND, Noah CLAP (20), Stephen BRIGGS, Phineas BRIGGS, Levi BABBIT, Nathaniel WHITE, Elisha COBB, Edw. Kingman, John COOK (21), Joseph NEWCOMB (21), John CRANE, Jun. (22), Samuel NEWCOMB 2nd (27), Simeon WETHERELL, 2d (26), William CLARK (26), Solomon WETHERELL, Timothy BRIGGS, 2d (20), Jona. BRIGGS, Elijah BRIGGS, Israel TROW, Seth WILLIAMS, Simeon BRIGGS, Elijah DANFORTH, Eleazer WALKER, Samuel COPELAND (20), Edward BABBIT, Reuben TISDALE (27), James BOLDERY, Jun. (27), John AUSTIN (27), Abijah LINCOLN (27), John NEWCOMB (27), Samuel GODFREY (27), Joel BRIGGS (27), Nathan BABBIT, 2d (27), William COBB, Jun., (26).
Nortonians who served each year of the war include: Capt. Silas COBB's company made Oct. 6, 1775. The men were enlisted for 8 months. (*=uncertain of length of service)
Officers - Silas COBB, captain; Isaac SMITH*, lieut; Isaac FISHER, ensign.
Sergeants - Edmund HODGES, Nathaniel LANE, Jonathan HODGES, Nathaniel WHITE
Corporals - Jonathan FRANKLIN, Richard COBB, Stephen JENNINGS
Drum & Fife - Abner TUCKER*, Jabez BRIGGS
Privates - JoshuaATHERTON, Jacob ALLEN, John AUSTIN, Stephen BRIGGS, Phineas BRIGGS, James BOLDERY, John BOLDERY, Isaac BASSET, Benjamin BRAMAN, Leve BABBIT, Elisha COBB, John CAPRON, Abiel(?) DERBY, Abner DERBY, Abijah FISHER, John HODGES, David HODGES, John HODGES 2d, Lanson (?) HODGES, Isaac HARRIDON, Stephen KELLY, Abiel LINCOLN, Rufus LILNCOLN, Amos MARTIN, Joseph PRATT, Daniel PRATT, Joshua POND, Oliver SMITH, Abiathar SMITH, Seth SMITH, Nathan SHAW, Jacob SHAW, Abiathar SHAW, Abel WETHEREL, Noah WISWALL.

Captain Masa WILLIAMS' company of Easton (8 mos service):
Officers - Samuel LANE*, lieut; John COOK, ensign; Samuel COPELAND, serg.; Benjamin MOREY, corp.
Privates - James NEWCOMB, James COOK, Abiel KNAPP, Robert HAGIN, Edward KINGMAN, Amos TUCKER, Moses DOWNING, Jedediah TUCKER, Zepheniah NEWLAND, Isaac MOREY, Daniel MOREY, William MERRY, John NEWCOMB, Acors HEWITT.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR