Walpole, Massachusetts in the Revolution

The town of Walpole, Massachusetts participated in the years leading up to and through the Revolutionary War in various ways.

Even before the Revolution began in earnest, Walpole was prepared to join forces with American patriots to prevent a usurpation of the people's rights. On September 21, 1768, the town of Walpole "Voted that they Send one Person to join the Committees at Faniuel Hall." The town agreed to send Joshua Clapp as its representative. The next day, Clapp joined representatives of 96 towns and eight districts to consider measures for the peace and safety of Massachusetts citizens.

After the British sailed into Boston Harbor on September 28, 1768, Walpole took a new interest in the affairs outside her own boundaries. Walpole elected its first representative, Capt. Seth Kingsbury, to the General Court on May 29, 1769. He was succeeded the following year by Clapp.

Early in 1773, the town called a special town meeting for the "Consideration of the Many Grievances that the Province and Colonies Labour under . . ." On January 12, 1773, Walpole voted "That it is the opinion of this Town that our Rights and liberties are Infringed upon which is a great Grievance." The town then appointed a committee - composed of Ensign Seth Bullard, Enoch Ellis, Dr. Samuel Cheney, George Payson, and Aquila Robbins - to draft instructions to guide their future representatives.

In August 1774, town meetings became illegal in Massachusetts, but Walpole defied authority and held one on August 29, 1774. At this meeting, the town chose "Deligats" to meet committees of other towns in Suffolk County "in order to Consult what measures is Proper to be taken for the Safety of the County." Nathaniel Guild, Enoch Ellis, and Dr. Samuel Cheney were chosen.

After a series of deliberations between the representatives of Suffolk County, all met on September 9, 1774, at Daniel Vose's home in Milton to adopt the Suffolk Resolves. The document was the most revolutionary product the Colonies had produced at the time, and it should be noted that the only one of the 19 resolutions in which members of committees or towns were named included Walpole: "15. That under our present Circumstances it is incumbent on us to encourage Arts and Manufactures amongst us by all Means in our Power, and that Joseph Palmer, Esq.; of Braintree, Mr. Ebenezer Dorr of Roxbury, Mr. James Boies and Mr. Edward Preston of Milton, and Mr. Nathaniel Guild of Walpole, be and hereby are appointed a Committee to consider the best Ways and Means to promote and establish the same, and report to this Convention as soon as may be."

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