Weymouth New England Genealogy

James Wiggin (1760-1845) volunteered, 1777, for service as private in Capt. Peter Kimball's company to reinforce the Northern Army. He was born in Stratham; died in Wolfeboro, N.H.

At a meeting of the militia of the town held June 29, 1780, a majority of the legal voters being present, it was agreed to pay James Wiggin thirty bushels of corn and James Fullerton fifteen bushels of corn and twenty days work in consideration of their engaging to serve as soldiers in the continental armv for six months. The proceedings were not strictly legal, but the demand for the soldiers was so urgent and the opportunity for securing them so feasible that there was no demurring on the part of any of the citizens, and the selectmen immediately guaranteed the payment of the bounties to the recruits by giving their notes for the payment thereof, according to the terms of agreement.

The work, which was estimated at three shillings a day, was to be done in the approaching hay season, and the corn, which was estimated at four shillings per bushel, was to be delivered by the twenty-fifth day of the following December. A tax to meet these obligations was immediately assessed. Wiggin, who was nineteen, preferred his bounty in corn, which was one of the currency articles of the day, while Fullerton, who was twenty-four years old, had conjointly with his mother the care of the farm, and must unavoidably have remained at home, had he not made provision for labor in the hay season then close at hand.

The labor tax was imposed upon those citizens of the town who were near-by dwellers, with their consent. They were Benjamin Wiggin, 1-2 day ; Benjamin Blake, 2 1-4 days ; Jonathan Hersey, i 1-4 days; Ithiel Clifford, i 1-2 days; Lemuel Clifford, 3-4 day; Widow Mary Fullerton, on whose farm th ? labor was to be done, i 1-2 days; Jeremiah Gould, 1-2 day; Robert Estes, i 1-4 days; Joseph Lary, 2 days; Samuel Tebbetts, Sr., 21-4 days; Lieut. Andrew Lucas, 2 1-4 days; Ensign Reuben Libbey, 2 1-2 days; John Fullerton, i day; Ebenezer Home, 21-2 days. Total 20 days

Fullerton and Wiggin were mustered into the 3rd New Hampshiie regiment, at Kingston, X. H., July 8, 1780. Wiggin appears to have received his discharge at a considerable distance from home, as shown by the following papers :
"Camp Soldier's Fortune, Dec. 9, 1780.
James Wiggin, soldier in the 3rd Xew Hampshire Regiment, inhabitant of the state of Xcw Hampshire, is hereby discharged, and permitted to return to the above state.
James Wait, Maj. 3rd X. H."
"To whom it may concern. All issuing commissaries are desired to supply the within named James Wiggin with his pro
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH. jgj
visions on his way to New Hampshire, none to be delivered
after the iqth inst.
James Wait, Major 3rd N. H.