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Archiver > GENMSC > 1997-05 > 0863488456


From: Marge & Carl Hommel <>
Subject: Re: Town Drummer (meaning?)
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 01:54:16 GMT


In article <>, says...
>
>What was the position and duty of the town drummer? Does he sound the
>alarm? Call people to meetings?
>
Yes, and Yes. The following is another example of a drummer, this time in
Sudbury, MA, in the middle 1650's.

p. 103
The people were called to meeting by the beating of a drum. In a
record, bearing date 1652, is a statement as follows: "It shall be agreed with
Edmund GOODENOW, that his son shall beat the Drum twice every lecture day, and
twice every forenoon, and twice every afternoon upon every Lord's day, to give
notice what time to come to meeting; for which the town shall give twenty
shillings a year - and to pay him the town rates." This son of Edmond GOODENOW
was John, as the records state that, in 1654, "John GOODENOW was discharged
from the town's engagement for beating the drum to call persons to meeting."

p. 141
In 1652, when a bargain was made with John GOODENOW to beat the drum
twice every Sabbath, he was also to beat it for service on "Lecture Day."

"The History of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1898", by Alfred Sereno Hudson,
Sudbury Press, Sudbury MA, 1898.

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