William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

The selectmen in 1861 were Joseph Ross, Ira Worcester, Richard T. Dodge; in 1862, Aaron Cogswell, Frederick Willcomb, Joseph Cogswell; in 1863, Frederick T. Dodge, Frederick Willcomb, Randal Andrews; in 1864, Joseph Ross, Richard T. Dodge, Frederick Willcomb; in 1865, John D. Cross, Thomas H. Lord, Joseph Farley.

The town-clerk in the years 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864, was Alfred Kimball;¹ in 1865, Wesley K. Bell. The town-treasurer during all the years of the war was Jeremiah Lord.

1861. The first legal town-meeting, to act upon matters relating to the war, was held on the 8th of July, at which it was voted to appropriate three thousand dollars for the payment of State aid to the families of volunteers.

1862. A special meeting was held on the 13th of January, when two thousand dollars were appropriated for the payment of State aid. At a meeting held on the 17th of March, the treasurer was authorized to borrow ‘whatever amount of money might be necessary for the payment of State aid.’ On the 22d of July the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for three years, and be credited to the quota of the town. Another meeting was held on the 4th of August, when the town voted to increase the bounty to two hundred dollars. On the 25th of August the bounty to each volunteer for nine months service was fixed at one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

1863. At a meeting held on the 2d of November, the town voted ‘to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each volunteer who may enlist and be credited to the quota of the town.’

1864. No action appears to have been taken by the town, in its corporate capacity, in relation to the war during this year; although recruiting was continued, and also the payment of bounties to volunteers and State aid to the families of enlisted men.

1865. A town-meeting was held on the 15th of March, at which it was voted to appropriate twenty-five hundred dollars