Chapter 8 - Bellingham and the Revolution

As we have seen, what should be paid to entice men to volunteer for service and how to reward those who have already served, was a continuous subject. It would continue to pop for a number of years.
 

The June 24, 1777, Town Meeting was pivotal in establishing the pattern for future pay to the men enlisting. An Article asked "to see if the Inhabitants will grant any further sum or sums of money to pay men that may inlist into the Continantal Army and to see what sum or sums of money Said Inhabitants will ordor to be assessed on Polls and Estate to pay said inlisted men and to see what allowance shall be made to men that have done service in the Present War so that Each one may do his due proportion thereof and to act any other thing or matter relating thereto that may be thought proper."
 

The first vote was "Voted to add five pounds to what has been all ready granted for any man that will inlist into the Continental Army for three years or during the war for this town."
 

It was then "Voted to chuse a committee comsisting of 7 men."
 

"Voted to add 2 men more to the above committee to report what is to be allowed the men that have been in the service the present war and to lay their Report before the town at the adjurnment the meeting."
 

 

The report of the committee was given and accepted at the July 7, 1777 meeting. It established that each trip by the militia would be paid by the Town but would be paid as the Town Meeting established. The militiamen of 1775 finally received a financial reward. (See Exhibit C for a full Account of the vote. Also included are later meeting articles that voted on militia pay)
 

Of interest in that vote is the mention of fining of men. The men were the older men of the town and not likely soldiers. The fine was more like a tax on those not able to serve. There was also money paid to those who hired men to go into the service.