History of Gardner, Massachusetts/Military
Military.
Soon after the incorporation of the town, a militia company was formed of all the able bodied men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, (according to the laws of the Commonwealth,) and chose William Bickford, Captain. This company continued to do duty, until the law requiring such duty was repealed. The following are the names of its commanders.
William Bickford, Reuben Haynes, Samuel Edgell, Aaron Greenwood, Abel Kendall, Benjamin Edgell, David Nichols, Arna Bacon, Ezra Moore, William Bickford, Jr., Ahio Temple, Levi Priest, Ezekiel Howe, Abel Jackson, Bartlett Stoddard, Henry Whitney, William Learned, George W. Cowee and Ephraim Wright.
In 1813, a volunteer company was formed, called the Gardner Light Infantry. Soon after its organization, it was ordered to South Boston, where it remained on duty until the close of the war.
The following are the names of the commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates belonging to this company at the time they were ordered into the service of their country.
Ephraim Williams, Captain; Samuel Sawin, Lieut.; Joel Cowee, Ensign; Ebenezer Bolton, 1st Sergeant; Charles Hoar, 2d, do.; Benjamin Stone, 3d, do.; Reuben Wheeler, 4th, do.
Privates: Luke Whitney, Josiah Eaton, Joel Wheeler, James Coolidge, Jr., Josiah Wilder, Isaac Wilder, David Wilder, Phineas Moore, Aaron Conant, Abram F. Glazier, George W. Davis, Seth Whitney, Joseph Whitney, 2d., Jos. P. Whitney, Thomas Bennett, Jr., Hubbard Kendall, Joseph L. Newell, Pliny Billings, David Perley, David Reed, Jr., Isaac Jackson, John Woodbury, Nath'l Wright, Jonas Brick, Amasa Leland, Farwell Conant, and Benjamin Edgell.
William Fenno, Drummer; Levi Divol, Bass, do.; Edward Loud, Fifer.
This was a spirited and well-disciplined company for about twenty years, under the command of the following named officers:
Eph'm Williams, Joel Cowee, Reuben Wheeler, Benjamin Stone, Thomas Bennett, Jr., Isaac Jackson, Martin Dunster, Luther Alden, and Isaac P. Kendall.
In 1844, a company was formed called the Gardner Greys. The following is a list of the officers of the company:
James Coolidge, 2d, Captain; David Kendall, Joseph Wood, and Hiram Wood, Lieutenants; Charles Leland, Quartermaster; John W. Hill, Henry C. Hill, Aaron B. Jackson, Edwin A Stevens, and Alonzo B. Clark, Sergeants; Josiah A. Jackson, Hosea Adams, John H. Peabody, and James W. Woodbury, Corporals; Aaron B. Jackson, Treasurer.
Privates: Edwin Hill, Asher W. Shattuck, James B. Lord, Ebenezer Ballou, Alonzo Davis, Addison A. Walker, Joseph L. Wheeler, William B. Hill, George A. Glazier, Nathan A. Gates, John M. Seaver, Edwin Howe, Charles E. Bickford, Abijah Hinds, Jr., Merrick Adams, William H. Learned, Stilman D. Colburn, Harrison R. Rawson, Lysander B. Jaquith, William T. Peabody, Charles Noyes, Hiram Williams, Elijah W. Foster, John H. Walker, Albert ford, J. H. Sperling, George T. Lowell, Ai Stone, J. P. Lynde, Ransom Bolton, Bellarmin Bolton, Luke Whitney, R. G. Reed, Daniel Adams, Ephraim S. Bowker, Luther B. Walker, Samuel Hodgman, B. G. Cochran, Asa F. Smith and Benjamin H. Rugg.
This company was disbanded in 1851; since that time there has been no military company in Gardner.