"To see if the Town will vote to pay £2. 17. 9. to y^e Honble Thos Cushing, of Boston, by ye 15 th day of August next, to pay ye Committe of this Province chosen by our General Cort to meet ye Committes of the other Provinces."

The town voted to dismiss the article.

Another year rolled away, and an event was to occur which was to make the town of Canton prominent in the affairs of the province; for in that part of Stoughton now Canton was an ancient house in which was held the first meeting in the Province of Massachusetts Bay to oppose the tyranny of Great Britain.

County nor in the town of Stoughton. The town of Canton claims it to-day, and the county of Norfolk is glad to give it a place among its ancient historical landmarks.

The traveller, journeying from Milton toward Canton, passing between Little and Great Blue Hills, sees before him a level plain. He passes the modern Blue Hill Street, and ,the second house on his left will at once attract his attention by its singular and old-fashioned appearance. It stands a short distance back from the street. It strikes one as a house that has a history; its quaint gambrel roof, through which rise two chimneys of huge proportions, carries one back to times long past, and we would fain listen to the stories it might tell could it speak.

It was built in early days. A marquis has slept beneath its roof; a general has planned within its walls the freedom of a nation; and a destined President of the United States, John Adams, has baited his horse there. Major John Shepard built the old house, and he was a notable man in this part of Suffolk when it was new.

At the period of the Revolution the house, which had been kept as a tavern in 1726 by Major John Shepard, was celebrated for its good cheer. Here could be found entertainment for man and beast. The proprietor was jovial Tom Doty, known among more quiet and sedate persons as Col. Thomas Doty. He it was who kept the best viands and could mix the best glass of grog of any landlord in all the country around. There was no stage-driver so ignorant as not to know where Doty's tavern was. His inn was the centre of gossip; around his capacious hearth were wont to congregate on winter evenings the village wiseacres, to discuss over pipe and bowl questions pertaining to town and province. John Adams tells us that there were many such taverns in his day; that he knew, will appear from the following extract from his diary: —

"Monday, Aug. 14, 1769. Dined with three hundred and fifty Sons of Liberty at Robinson's, the sign of Liberty Tree in Dorchester. There was a large collection of good company. To the honor of the company, I did not see one person intoxicated or near it. 

Col. Thomas Doty was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Harlow) Doty. He was of the fifth generation from Edward, who was a passenger in the "Mayflower;" the blood of the Puritans flowed in his veins, and he was born near Plymouth Rock. Flis military career opened in 1755, when we find him as a lieutenant in Nathaniel Thomas's company. Later in the same year he was promoted to a captaincy and assigned to the Tenth Company in the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment. He was a friend and companion of Richard Gridley; and when, in 1756, Doty was appointed lieutenant-colonel in Thacher's regiment, these men sat together on many a court-martial during the hot days of summer. In October of the same year, Doty was placed in charge of two sloops on Lake George, and ordered by General Winslow to annoy and, if possible, destroy the enemy. On March 28, 1758, the sum of ,£2,000 was allowed him by the government, to pay the bounties of such men as should enlist in the expedition against Canada. The same year he became a full colonel, and was in command of a regiment forming a part of the third division of Abercrombie's army that marched during the summer to attack Fort Ticonderoga. In July his regiment, being at Half-Moon, were so affronted by the remarks of a captain in the regular service — one Crookshank — that a large number, more than half the regiment, deserted. The matter was brought before the Governor and Council, and the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., was ordered to take measures to apprehend the deserters.

In August his troops under Bradstreet, at one of the darkest periods of the French and Indian War, crossed Lake Ontario and captured Fort Frontenac, — a formidable stronghold of the French which commanded the outlet to the lake. The war at an end, Doty was for a short time in business at Plymouth and Middleboro'. In 1760 he kept the Lamb tavern in Boston, and in 1764 removed to Canton and was soon honored by the position of moderator of the town meeting. In 1768 he was a deer-reeve. He built a house at the corner of Washington and Blue Hill streets, in which he probably died. His body and that of his wife, Abigail (Williams), lie buried in the Canton Cemetery, and the inscriptions show that "Coll Thomas Doty, Esq., died March 23, 1795, in y^e 93d year of his age." His wife died Nov.. 7, 1791, aged seventy-five. By his will, made Nov. 8, 1794, he gave one third of his estate to the poor of the First Church of Christ, now known as the First Congregational Church. 

John Withington, Jr., as he was called until the death of his father, but more commonly known as "Judge," was the son of John and Elizabeth Withington, and was born March 7, 1717, and died Jan. 16, 1798. For his first wife he married, Jan. 22, 1746, Martha, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bailey) Wentworth, and for his second, Dec. 19, 1751, Desire, daughter of Philip, Jr., and Desire Liscom. He probably removed from Stoughton to Boston, where he resided some years. About 1760, Withington's Corner is mentioned; later he appears as one of the committee to audit the accounts of the Canton Precinct. The next year he joined the church. In 1760 he is described as trader, and buys the right of the heirs of Deacon Joseph Tucker in an old saw-mill and the stream and landing-place which belonged to Tucker. This property appears to be in his possession on the map of 1785. In 1764 he owned a female slave named Violet; she died in June of the following year, — "a very terrible time," says a diarist. In 1764 he was a lieutenant in the militia, and in 1769 promoted to captain. He served the town as its treasurer in 1766. He was a delegate to the Second Provincial Congress at Cambridge, and to the Convention at Dedham, in 1775, one of the Committee of Correspondence, and actively engaged in the affairs of the town during the war. He purchased, in 1761, from David Tilden, the estate on the southwest corner of Pleasant and Washington streets, on which stood an old house which he removed to Dedham road, where it was a part of the house known to many as the Leeds house, because Nathaniel Leeds, who came to Canton in 1805, lived in it. He erected the house now standing, owned and occupied by George J. Leonard. This house was probably built about 1762, and remodeled by Dr. Stone in 1827. Mr. Withington appears to have been a trader, and not only sold groceries, dry and wet goods, but carted posts, planks, barrel-hoops, and knees for ships, to Boston or Milton Landing. In 1785 he boarded the candidates who preached at the Corner. In 1786 he provided the entertainment for the Council that ordained Mr. Howard. One hundred and twenty-four persons sat at the tables.

Capt. Josiah Pratt was from Foxboro'. He commanded one of the companies of minute-men in 1775, was a member of the Committee of Correspondence in 1776, and was subsequently for many years selectman at Foxboro'.

The committee, consisting of Withington, Kenney, Curtis, and Pratt, were desired to endeavor to obtain a county indemnification for such persons as might suffer, by fine or otherwise, from a non-compliance with the recent arbitrary acts of the British Parliament. The delegates from Stoughton attended the meeting at Dedham, and it was decided to adjourn this County Congress until the 9th of September, the delegates to meet at the house of Daniel Vose in Milton. At this meeting were passed the celebrated " Suffolk Resolves." The house where the resolutions were passed is still standing in Milton, next north of the railroad station at the Lower Mills, and can be distinguished by a marble tablet, recording the fact that in that "mansion on the 9th of September, 1774, were passed the Suffolk Resolves."

To attend this meeting, the town of Stoughton sent Thomas Crane, at this period of our history one of its most energetic and influential citizens. He was the son of Deacon Silas and Experience (Tolman) Crane, and was born in Milton, Jan. 6, 1726-27. He was the great-grandson of Henry, of Dorchester, the immigrant ancestor. His parents died within a day or two of each other and were buried in the Canton Cemetery in June, 1753. Thomas came to Canton in 1748, and the following year married Mary Fenno. At one period of his life, about 1763, he resided at Ponkapoag. He was a justice of the peace and quorum, and a major in the militia. He was a delegate to the Second Provincial Congress at Cambridge held in February, and at Watertown in July, 1775.

He was selectman for many years, and served as Representative to the General Court during five of the most trying years of the war. He was actively engaged in hiring men and procuring money during the Revolution. He engaged the soldiers, saw them mustered into the service, and paid them their bounties. As will hereafter appear, he was selected by the government as the proper person to take charge of the powder-mills, and was ever active and vigilant in the patriot cause. When the demands of the mill upon his time were not imperative, it was his custom to go about from house to house soliciting clothing and money for the families of the Continental soldiers. His manner is said to have been so impressive, and his persistency so great, that many who had never been known to give a penny for the good cause, deposited with him their contributions. It is related that in his enthusiasm the tears rolled down his cheeks and spattered on the contribution-paper like rain. 

A favorite remark of his when soliciting subscriptions was, ;

"My friend, the child Independence is about to be born; be liberal and give him an easy delivery." He continued to reside in Canton until 1774, when he removed to Stoughton, where he owned a large tract of land between Belcher's Corner and West Stoughton. He left there, and was residing in 1787 at the house now owned by J. Huntington Wolcott in Milton. Here he died on the 7th of October, 1804.

On the 7th of October, 1774, the Great and General Court was convened al Salem, and the citizens of Stoughton, with those of the District of Stoughtonham, decided that Thomas Crane was the man to represent them; and they voted him certain written instructions. He was admonished to adhere firmly to the charter of the province which had been granted by their Majesties William and Mary, and under no consideration to acknowledge the validity of any Act of the British Parliament tending to alter the government of Massachusetts Bay; at the same time his constituents did not disguise the fear that in their opinion a conscientious discharge of duty would cause a dissolution of the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, should such an emergency arise, their representative was instructed to join the other towns in the province for a General Provincial Congress, and do those things which were requisite and necessary to conduce to the true interests of the town and province, and take such measures as should be most likely to preserve unimpaired the liberties of all North America.

It was at a session of this body held at Cambridge, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1774, that the committee that had been previously appointed to consider what was necessary to be done for the defense and safety of the government, reported a resolution that the field officers forthwith endeavor to enlist one quarter at least of the number of the respective companies, and form them into companies of fifty privates, who shall equip and hold themselves in readiness, on the shortest notice from the Committee of Safety, to march to the place of rendezvous; and that each and every company so formed choose a captain and two lieutenants to command them on any necessary and emergent service, and that the officers form the companies into battalions to consist of nine companies each. Within a month from the time of the publication of these resolutions, these companies were designated as minute-men.

On the 17th of November, 1774, the citizens of Canton Corner, then called "Old Stoughton," beheld for the last time the conjoined crosses of Saint George and Saint Andrew on a blue canton, floating on the breeze. The ancient national flag of the mother country, that had sustained on many a hard-fought field the honor of old England, and which from infancy they had been taught to honor and respect, was furled, never again to be regarded as an object of love and veneration. On the open field near the old meeting-house his Majesty's troops were drawn up in line; one by one the officers surrendered their commissions and immediately re-enlisted under the new government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

And now the year 1775 opens,— a year fraught with intense interest. This was the last year that the town warrants were to have the old heading that had for so many years greeted the eyes of loyal citizens. They were no longer summoned to convene "In His Majesty's name," and the warrants no longer ended, " In the fifteenth year of His Majesty's reign," but instead, we read in 1776, "In the name of the Government and People of y^e Massachusetts State;" in 1782, "In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," and ending "In the sixth year of the Independent States of America."

On Feb. 1, 1775, the Second Provincial Congress was held at Cambridge, and on the 9th of January, the town of Stoughton made choice of Thomas Crane to represent them in that body. During the same month, on the 16th, it was voted to send " all of our Province money to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow." This was in conformity to a recommendation of the Provincial Congress, and the money was therefore sent to him in preference to Harrison Gray, Esq., the royal treasurer; the town agreed to indemnify the constables for not carrying the money to Gray. The resolves adopted by the Continental Congress were heartily ratified at this meeting, and it was voted to choose a committee who should use their, interest that "the Resolves and the associations of the Continental Congress should be closely adhered to." This committee was called a committee of inspection, and consisted of nineteen persons, as follows: John Withington, John Kenney, Adam Blackman, James Endicott, Jeremiah Ingraham, Abner Crane, Peter Talbot, Jonathan Capen, Robert Capen, Jedediah Southworth, Samuel Shepard, David Vinton, Theophilus Curtis, Josiah Pratt, Eleazer Robbins, Samuel Tucker, Benjamin Gill, Robert Swan, and Peter Gay.

The Committee of Inspection or Correspondence was vigilant and energetic. Four persons, acting under its orders, stopped a load of iron passing through the town. It belonged to John McWorther, of Taunton, who immediately brought an action against the committee. The following was the expense attending the defence of the suit

Lieut. J. Withington     -    £ 13-18-0

Samuel Tucker            -       9-0-0

Peter Talbot                -       9-10-0

Jonathan Capen           -       13-8-0

Adam Blackman          -         6-0-0

Peter Gay                    -         6-0-0

Samuel Shepard           -       11-8-0

Robert Swan                -        9-0-0

Abner Crane                -       13-0-0

Benjamin Gill               -       47-1-16

John Kenney                -      24-0-6

James Endicott             -       7-16-0

                                    £ 170-2-0

The town reimbursed the above-named parties. An article was inserted in the warrant: "To see if the town will take any measures to encourage the raising, and instructing of a number of minute-men as recommended by the Provincial Congress." It was deemed inexpedient by the town to take any action in this matter, but to postpone until later the raising of men who might be called upon at a "minute's" notice to march against the enemy; nevertheless, the young men of the town voluntarily devoted themselves to the manual-at-arms, and were in the habit of meeting for purposes of drill, officered by men selected by themselves. When the time arrived to which the decision of this matter had been postponed, March 6, 1775, it was voted to raise one quarter of the militia as minute-men, as had been advised by the Provincial Congress. One shilling was the sum each man was to receive for one day's training, the training to be on two half-days of each week, and the matter of raising the men was left to the field officers and the selectmen. Nor were proper and efficient drill-masters wanting. The young men of Stoughton were instructed by Robert Swan, Samuel Capen, and Nathaniel Wales; the young men of Sharon by Samuel Billings, Eleazer Robbins, Josiah Pratt, and Benjamin Rhodes; and the young men of what is now Canton by Benjamin Gill, John Davenport, and Asahel Smith, all of whom had held commissions under the old regime in the Third Massachusetts Regiment, of which Nathaniel Hatch had been colonel.