It was almost as much thought of as the “church,” officered by the same persons, and composed of the same men.  It was a common practice, at the close of a parade, before “breaking line,” for the captain to give notices of prayer, church, or parish meetings.  Such men as Richard Leach, Thomas Fuller, and Nathaniel Putnam, esteemed it an honor to bear titles in this company; and held them ever after through life with pride, whether corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or captain.

A company of troopers was early formed, made up from the village and neighboring settlements.  In the colonial records, under date of Oct. 8, 1662, we find the following:  “Mr. George Corwin for captain, Mr. Thomas Putnam for lieutenant, Mr. Walter Price for cornet, being presented to this Court as so chosen by the troopers of Salem, Lynn, &c., the Court allows and approves thereof.”  The inventory of Captain Corwin, before cited, indicates the stylish uniform he wore as captain of the troopers.  Each of the officers was a wealthy man; and it cannot be doubted that a parade of the company was a dashing affair.  The lapse of time having thinned their ranks and removed their officers, a vigorous and successful attempt was made in October, 1678, to revive the company.  Thirty-six men, belonging, as they say, “to the reserve of Salem old troop,” and very desirous “of being serviceable to God and the country,” petition the General Court to re-organize them as a troop of horse, and to issue the necessary commissions.  They request the appointment of William Brown, Jr., as captain, and Corporal John Putnam as lieutenant.  The petition was granted, and the commissions issued.  Among the signers of this petition are Anthony Needham, Peter and Ezekiel Cheever, Thomas Flint, Thomas and Benjamin Wilkins, Thomas and Jacob Fuller, John Procter, William Osborne, Thomas Putnam, Jr., and others of the Farms.  The officers named were men of property and energy; and the company of troopers was kept up ever afterwards, until all danger from Indians or other foes had passed away.

It is very observable how the military spirit with which this rural community was so early imbued has descended through all generations.  Israel Putnam, the famous Revolutionary hero, a son of Joseph who was a younger brother of Sergeant Thomas and Deacon Edward Putnam, was born in the village.  His brother David, much older than himself, who flourished in the period anterior to the Revolution, was a celebrated cavalry officer.  Colonel Timothy Pickering used to mention, among the recollections of his boyhood, that David Putnam “rode the best horse in the province.”  General Rufus Putnam, a grandson of Deacon Edward, was a distinguished brigadier in the army of the Revolution.  There are few officers of that army whose names are more honored than his by encomiums from the pen of Washington:  and praise from him was praise indeed, for it was, like all his other judgments, the result of careful and discriminating observation.  In a letter to the