Wareham’s participation in the Revolutionary War is well-documented. Did you know that in February of 1773, at a meeting in Benjamin Fearing’s Tavern, the selectmen, David Nye, Jeremiah Bumpus and Ebenezer Briggs voted to accept a list of resolutions dealing with the “matters of grievance the Provinces were under”? Taxation without representation was foremost on the list.

The document reads in part, “Resolved, That by the charter of this Province we are entitled to all the privileges and immunities of the natural born subjects of Great Britain, therefore, Resolved, That the raising of a revenue on the people by a legislative authority where they have no right in the election, or returning of any of the members, is a great grievance, as we are thereby taxed by other than our own representatives.”

During 1774, militia companies formed throughout the colonies including Wareham. By January of 1775, the Town voted to pay each minuteman one shilling, four pence per week. It refused to pay any province or county tax that was under the King’s authority. By this time, Noah Fearing, Samuel Savery and Ebenezer Briggs were the sitting selectmen. The Militia Company and the Minute Company marched out of Wareham when called upon to serve Massachusetts where needed. In December of 1775, they joined with Rochester to protect the coast of Buzzards Bay.