this date were Joseph Stewart, ensign; sergeants-Martin Newton, Jonathan Whitcomb, Ephraim Osborn, Jr., Samuel Hale.

The next record gives an inspection of the company, Oct. 6, 1813, under Martin Newton, captain; Daniel Mayo, lieutenant; Benjamin Wheeler, ensign; sergeants— Ephraim Osborn, Jr., Samuel Hale, Joseph Cowdin, Micaiah Warren. The roll of the company, May 3, 1814, gives Martin Newton, captain; Daniel Mayo, lieutenant; sergeants-Samuel Hale, Micaiah Warren, Joseph Cowdin and John Upton. The return of the same date shows: Men in uniform, 43; rifles, 2; muskets, 48; total rank and file, 51.

It appears by the record that it was the custom of the company to impose fines for neglect of duty by failure to appear at trainings, muster, or at inspection, also for deficiency in equipments.

The following were some of the fines imposed and paid: Ephraim Osborn of the South company paid $3 fine for neglecting to train with said company May 3, 1814. Luther Griggs and Jonathan Flint were each fined $3 for neglecting to meet with said company for May training, 1814. Received of Luther Griggs $8 for fines, two company trainings and one muster for the year 1814. October 31, received of Levi Warren 50 cents for deficiency of a cartridge box, wire and brush, and spare flints, at the inspection of the South company on the 2d day of May, 1815.

July 29, 1814, the two infantry companies were called together for the purpose of detaching four privates, two from each company. From Capt. Newton's company, Levi Pratt and Joel Eaton, and from Capt. John Thurston's company, James Kemp and Andrew Poore.

This and the account of the detachment previously mentioned, which took place in 1812, are the only references in the record to the North company, so called. No mention is made of the purpose for which these detachments were ordered. Possibly for some special service connected with the war of 1812. Capt. Newton was a prominent manufacturer, whose factory was located in what is now called "Newton's lane." It would appear

from the record that Capt. Newton was promoted from sergeant to captain without filling the usual preliminary offices.

Inspection of the company, September 21, 1814, names Martin Newton captain, Daniel Mayo lieutenant, Benjamin Wheeler ensign. Sergeants--Samuel Hale, Micaiah Warren, John Upton, Timothy F. Upton.

May 2, 1815, gives the roll of the company under Lieut. Daniel Mayo: Daniel Mayo, lieutenant; Benjamin Wheeler, ensign; sergeants-Samuel Hale and Micaiah Warren. Return of Lieut. Daniel Mayo, May 2, 1815. Men in uniform, 30; rifles, 1; muskets, 55; total rank and file, 56.

On May 29, 1815, the company met and elected the following officers: Daniel Mayo, captain; Benjamin Wheeler, lieutenant; Samuel Hale, ensign; sergeants-Micaiah Warren, Alpheus Bartlett, Ephraim M. Cunningham, Charles Farnsworth.

August 14, 1815, Capt. Mayo issued orders for a training on the 12th day of September of the same year, M. Warren, clerk.

September 12, 1815, the company met, agreeable to the foregoing orders. On the same day, Capt. Mayo ordered his company to assemble on the 3d day of October for a training.

October 3, the company met agreeable to the foregoing order, and performed military duty, and while under arms received orders from Lieut. Wheeler to assemble on the 11th day of October for muster.

The next year, 1816, was the last in the history of the company, and many and frequent trainings were held.

April 18, 1816.-The company under Lieut. Wheeler.An order was issued for a training on the 7th day of May, also for inspection and election of officers. May 7, 1816, the company met according to foregoing order and elected Benjamin Wheeler captain, Samuel Hale lieutenant, and Alpheus Kimball ensign.

August 23, 1816, Capt. Benjamin Wheeler issued orders for his company to assemble on Tuesday, the 3d of September, to perform military duty.

September 3, 1816, the company met in accordance with the foregoing order and performed military duty.

September 18, 1816, the company met according to orders received while under arms on the 3d instant, and again performed military duty and while under arms again received orders from Capt. Wheeler to assemble on the 2d day of October next, to perform military duty once more.

October 2, 1816, the company met agreeable to orders, and while under arms received orders from Capt. Wheeler to assemble on the 9th day of October at 6 o'clock A. M. for regimental inspection and review.

October 9, the company met agreeable to the foregoing order and performed military duty and passed inspection and review, Micaiah Warren, clerk.

This appears, according to the record, to have been the last meeting of the company. The Fitchburg Fusiliers were organized in December of the same year, about three months afterwards, and it is quite likely that many of the men connected with the old company were transferred to the new. Certain it is that some of those heretofore mentioned were afterwards officers of the Fusiliers. Thus it will be seen by this record that the old South company, composed in part of men who had already seen actual service, formed the connecting link between the Revolutionary period and the organization of the Fitchburg Fusiliers.

For a quarter of a century this company performed military duty at a time when it required no little sacrifice to become even a citizen soldier. During the existence of this company there were no less than thirteen different commanding officers.

When a boy I often wondered where so many men in Fitchburg obtained their titles, for it seemed to me that almost every prominent man in town was a captain. The last named in this record was Capt. Benjamin Wheeler, who lived in what was known as Wheeler hollow, near the normal school building.

In addition to the names of the officers already mentioned, there were the captains of the North company, the Cavalry company, and the several commanders in the early years of the Fusiliers. These together furnished the

large number of military titles distributed among the residents of Fitchburg during the first seventy-five years after the incorporation of the town.

It is the province of this society to restore and preserve as many as possible of the old records in the early history of Fitchburg, and this fact is the writer's apology for presenting this crude and somewhat monotonous record of one of its oldest regularly organized military companies.

During the years of this company's existence, a large proportion of the able-bodied men under forty years of age were accustomed to perform some kind of military duty. Trainings and muster were among the events of the year. Consequently, there were as many or more citizen soldiers in town at that time than to-day, with a population twenty or twenty-five times greater.

Many of the towns in the commonwealth are now without a military organization, but Fitchburg has always had one or more good companies, and has maintained an honorable military record, both in active service and in time of peace.

THE OLD TURNPIKE AND TURNPIKE DAYS.

Read at a meeting of the Society, May 20, 1895.

BY FREDERICK A. CURRIER.

"Over on the turnpike," beyond Mt. Elam, the road is a reminder of days when stock companies were building highways and bridges, and all who used them paid toll therefor. Among the necessities of civilized man are facilities for communication. The paths, as made by the Indians and beasts of the forest, were in natural curves; the white man not unfrequently followed in their footsteps, and after building their log cabins the early settlers looked to the improvement of the "Ways." With the increase of population the old paths, only two or three feet wide, marked by trees, with here and there clearings of the brush and thicket, leading through woods which bore the mark of centuries, where no stream was bridged, nor hill graded, or marsh drained, were gradually extended. Through these channels for many years went the messengers with news from distant friends, and the laws were communicated. When in those early days a worn and weary man, upon his half-starved horse, or two or three pedestrians, bending under their packs, swinging their sturdy staves, were discovered approaching a settlement, they were welcomed with a universal cordiality, no matter who they might be, as those by whom it was hoped to once again hear of the welfare of distant loved ones, and feel the kiss of one more wave from the great ocean of that world from which they were separated; and the departure of a settler for Massachusetts Bay was an event known to every one in the vicinity. Starting with his burden of messages, long, loving letters, and many commissions for petty purchases, the adventurer received the benefit of public prayers for the prosperity of his passage and safety of his return.