ELEAZER BROOKS PAPERS, 1776-1793
"The sevral Drafts of men since Novr 1777" – list of male inhabitants by town (Concord, Weston, Lexington, Acton and Lincoln) as of January 1, 1777, and numbers by town of 4 subsequent militia drafts from November 1777 to June 1778.
Not to be reproduced without permission from the Concord Free Public Library.
Vault A45, Brooks, Unit 2
EXTENT: 15 items (1 container)
ORGANIZATION: Documents arranged chronologically.
BIOGRAPHY: Farmer, Revolutionary Colonel, prominent citizen and public official in Lincoln, Mass. Born in Concord on September 10, 1727, prior to the separation of Lincoln from Concord (1754). Parents Job and Elizabeth Brooks; brother John Brooks. Held his first office in Lincoln in 1757 as Surveyor of Highways. Married Mary Taylor of Concord in 1763; widowed in July 1769. Married Elizabeth Greenough of Boston on May 26, 1777. Two children: Eleazer Jr. (b. 1778), and Elizabeth (b. 1780). Joined as full member of the Lincoln church in 1764; eventually became Deacon. Elected for first of three consecutive terms as Town Treasurer in 1765. Elected Selectman in 1769 and 1775. On January 23, 1773 on committee to reply to letter from Boston’s Committee of Correspondence regarding opposition to British Parliamentary control over colony. Elected to serve on Lincoln’s Committee of Correspondence on November 2, 1773, and drafted letter in response to the imposed tea tax. Joined militia as Lieutenant in 1773; promoted to Captain that November. Elected as Lincoln’s representative to the General Court in May 1774, and re-elected in September 1774. Wrote "Thoughts on Civil Government" paper 1774-1775. Made Colonel, 3rd Middlesex Co. Regt. on February 8, 1776. Marched to reinforce Continental Army at Dorchester Heights on March 4, 1776. Marched to New York as reinforcement in November 1776. Promoted to Brigadier-General of Militia of Middlesex County on October 15, 1778. After the American Revolution represented Lincoln at Massachusetts’ ratification of Articles of Confederation in 1778. Elected Lincoln’s first Representative under new Massachusetts Constitution on October 9, 1780. Died in Lincoln on November 9, 1806 at 79 years of age.
SCOPE AND CONTENT: Revolutionary records of Colonel Eleazer Brooks’ regiment. Includes pay scale for various ranks, receipts for rations, and records of payments for ammunition, rations and services.
SOURCE OF ACQUISITION: The source of this collection has not been established.
PROCESSED BY: RJA, finding aid prepared 2/26/04.
CONTAINER LIST:
Monthly rates of pay for military officers [n.d.].
Receipt of payment for "the remainder of one Ration of Provitions" - December 4, 1776.
Rations due to Col. Brooks’ Regiment from the Commissary from November 8, 1777 to December 31, 1777. Signed by John Austin.
Receipt "For Parts of Rations Retained by the Commissy" from November 8, 1777 to December 31, 1777. From Jonathan Trumbel, Esq.; signed Eleazer Brooks.
Receipt for rations provided from November 8, 1777 to December 31, 1777. From John Austin.
"Returns of The Severel Comg Officers in Colo Brooks Regt" – chart of numbers of men by Captain [by date January-March 1778]. Also chart of "No of Rations drawn weekly from Mr Austin" – November 8, 1777 to March 1, 1778.
"Return of Ammunition Deliv. For the Use of Colo Brooks Regt" – cartridges and flints.
"A Return of Ammunition Recd from the sevral Compy in Colo Brooks Regt" – cartridges and flints.
"Ammunition Recd for the Use of Colo Brooks Regt" – list by date from November 7, 1777 to March 12, 1778.
"The No. of Cartritges and flints Delivd to Colo Brooks Regt"
"The No. of Cartritges Returnd by The Severl Compy in Colo Brooks Regt"
"The No. of Boxes of Ammunition Recd at Different times for the use of Colo Eleazr Brooks Regt of Guard" – list by date from November 7, 1777 to January 11, 1778.
Document signed by Col. Brooks and captains acknowledging receipt of moneys due for rations retained in the months of January, February and March 1778.
"The sevral Drafts of men since Novr 1777" – list of male inhabitants by town (Concord, Weston, Lexington, Acton and Lincoln) as of January 1, 1777, and numbers by town of 4 subsequent militia drafts from November 1777 to June 1778.
Five final documents are loose sheets originally bound as part of an accounting ledger, documenting arrangements and payments for goods and services, 1777-1791.
Mounted 3rd Mar. 2004 -- Webmaster note: use FrontPage to edit.
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