USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Bradford > Historical sketch of Bradford, Mass., in the Revolution : (including East Bradford, now Groveland) > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Groveland > Historical sketch of Bradford, Mass., in the Revolution : (including East Bradford, now Groveland) > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01872 2733
GC 974.402 B72W
Miss Ophelia Muir complements of Louis A. Wood bury,
March 10, 1903.
THE GARDEN HOUSE, ON CANNON HILL.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH
Of Bradford, Mass., in the Revo- lution.
(Including East Bradford, now Groveland. )
Member Mas Han dato Institute de ixe
GROVELAND, MASS. 1895.
Copyright, 1895, by Louis A. Woodbury.
AMBROSE AND CO. PRINTERS.
PREFACE.
The following sketch was origi- nally hastily written for publica- tion in the VALLEY VISITOR, a monthly paper published in Grove- land ; but the discontinuance of that publication leaving the article uncompleted, it was thought ad- visable, notwithstanding its imper- fections, to publish it in its present form, in the hope that it might add something to our knowledge of our ancestors during the Revolu- tionary period.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE GARRISON HOUSE, on Cannon Hill, was built by Samuel Stickney in 1704, and enlarged by his grandson, Capt. Thomas Stickney in 1765, who was born and died there. After the death of Capt. Stickney's widow in 1815, the house was purchased by his son, Deacon Daniel Stickney, who sold it to Philip Tenney, and he, withont occupying it, sold it to Aaron Atwood in 1820. Mr. Atwood lived there until 1830, when it came into the possession of the late Richard Renton, Esq., who tore it down in 1854. The old house was built of plank, with one end of brick made on the place. The house standing on the old site was built by Mr. Renton, and is at present owned and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Jane C. Nichols, and her son, N. Woodburn Nichols, and family. See frontispiece.
THE OLD SAVORY HOUSE was OrigI- nally the northern half of the present dwelling, and was built by Capt. John Savory about 1755. After the Revolu- tionary War his son, Major Thomas Sa- vory altered it to its present shape, and it is still occupied by his descendants. See page 16.
THE OLD MORSE HOUSE, on the corner of Washington and Main streets, South Groveland, was built by Benjamin Morse about 1805. It Was owned and occupied by his descendants until a few years ago, when it With bought by the late E. J. M. Hale, and has been since used as a tenement house for operatives. See page 21.
THE SAMELL PALMER HOUSE, built by Mr Palmer before the Revolution- ary War, on land granted to his ances- tors in 1650, was occupied by him and his descendants until about 1812. when its owner, My William Planter sold it to , Mr. Woodman, and moved to Hop- Linton, N. H. It was afterward bought i Capt. John Brown, and is now owned by lus hens See page for
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THE SAMUEL TENNEY HOUSE was built about 1786 by Capt. Samuel Ten- ney, whose wife was the daughter of Lieut. Asa Merrill. After the Revolu- tionary War Lieut. Merrill made this his home until his death, which occurred . Nov. 3, 1815. The house, which is on a part of the original Tenney grant, re- mained in the possession of the Ten- neys for three generations. It has since been occupied by Aaron N. Pills- bury. See page 64.
THE WILLIAM SAVORY HOUSE was remodelled in 1765 by Sergt. William Savory from the old Ezekiel Jewett house, which stood on the same spot. In 1823 Win. S. Balch, grandson of Wm. Savory, took the north half. Silas Hopkinson lived in the south half until the same year, when it was taken by Ira Hopkinson, who lived there until 1839, the whole house then coming into the possession of Wmn. S. Balch, whose daughter, Miss Sarah HI. Balch, is the present owner. See page 89.
THE OLD TENNEY HOUSE, built by Philip Tenney in 1732, on the original
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Tenney grant, and within a short dis- tance of the site of the first Tenney house, was occupied by Dea. William Tenney during the Revolutionary War. and remained in the possession of the family until a few years ago, when it was sold to Mr. Daniel Abbott, its pres- ent owner. The addition on the left of the main house was made by Dea. William's son, Philip, about the year 1830. See page 96.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Bradford had been incorporated one hundred years when the Lexing- ton alarm was sounded, and although town meetings were at that time, and even afterwards, called "In His Majesty's name," two companies of infantry were soon on the way to Cambridge.
The inhabitants of Bradford were conservative to a considerable de- gree, but they were at the same time ready to act for the common weal when occasion required.
Among the first acts of the town in what may be termed the revolu- tionary period, was the calling of a town meeting at the West Meet- ing house on Monday the 10th day of October, 1774, at 7 o'clock in the morning, to make choice of one or
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more Deputies, to meet at Concord on the eleaventh of this instant Octo- ber, with Deputies which shall be appointed by the other Towns in this province, to Consider and Deter- mine on such measures as the Con- gress shall then think expedient and necessary. Also to see if the Town will Instruct the Selectmen Relating to Replenishing the Town Stock of Ammunition." This call was made through Daniel Kimball, one of the Constables, and was signed by
SAMUEL WOODMAN, JOSIAH BACON, Select
PETER RUSSELL, men.
BENJ. MUZZY,
The "Freeholders and Other In- habitants" met in answer to that call. Dudley Carlton Esq., Moderator. Capt. Daniel Thurston was chosen to represent the town in the Provin- cial Congress at Concord, which convened the next day. The Town Stock of Ammunition was to be it- plenished to the extent of six half- barrels of powder, and "Bullets and flints proportionable."
Jan. 4th, 1775. A meeting was
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held, and Capt. Daniel Thurston was again chosen to sit in the Pro- vincial Congress, and thirty pounds yoted to "Supply the Town Stock with Ammunition."
Jan. 18th, 1775. Voted, To give encouragement to such men as in- cline to enlist as minute-men ; and Deacon Thomas Kimball, Capt. Daniel Thurston, John Burbank, Bradstreet Parker, Josiah Bacon, Dudley Carlton, Esq., Benj. Gage, Tun., William Greenough, Abel Kimball, Benj. Walker, Nath'l Gage, Jun., Phinehas Carlton, Dea. Obadiah Kimball, Moses Harriman and Peter Russell were chosen a committee to formulate a plan for that purpose.
At an adjourned meeting (Jan. 30th) it was voted to accept the plan of the committee relating to minute-men. The plan proposed is embodied in the following votes :
Voted, That the Minute-Men after the company is full, train half a day in a week for ten weeks, three hours accounted half a day, and have one shilling each person for so doing.
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Voted, That the Selectmen pro- vide bayonets and cartouch boxes for the Minute-Men on the town cost, to be returned to the town after they are dismissed from the service.
Voted, To give each man a dollar for billeting, when they are called to march, and seven dollars per month while in actual service.
Voted, That the Captain of the Minute-Men return a muster roll to the Selectmen to receive order for their pay.
Voted, To pay Captain Thurston for attendance at Congress 1Il. 2s. 6d. Mr. Russell for attendance, ol. Ios. od.
Voted. To raise to defray Town charge fool. os. od.
Samuel Woodman and Thomas Morse were paid four shillings each for perambulating the town line be- tween Bradford and Rowley.
We give on page S afull list of the officers of the town for the first year of the war. It is believed that de- scendants of all or nearly all the men whose names are mentioned in this sketch are eligible for member-
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ship in the S. A. R., S. R., D. R. and D. A. R., for the reason that they were engaged either in the military or civil service of the town, State or United States at some time during the Revolutionary War.
II
Annual Town Meeting March 14, 1775. The Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Bradford qualified to vote were called, "In His Majesty's Name," to meet at the West Meeting House, on Mar. 14, 1775, Dea. Thomas Kimball, Moderator. Made choice of the fol- lowing persons for Town officers :
Benjamin Muzzy, Town Clerk.
Nathaniel Woodman, - Constables
Daniel Tenney.
Dea. Thomas Kimball,
Win. Greenough,
Benj. Gage, Jr.
Selectmen
Abraham Burbank,
Richard Kimball,
Dea. Thomas Kimball, Treasurer.
Nathan Kimball, 7
Daniel Kimball,
Eliot Payson,
John Runnels,
Amos Carleton.
Surveyors 1 of
Samuel Tenney,
Highways
Samuel Wood,
Ebenezer Stickney.
Benj. Jaques,
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John Savary,
Tything men
Abraham Day, Jr. J
Jonathan Bailey
Ebenezer Wood -
Obadiah Kimball
Fence Viewers
Richard Woodman
Phineas Cole Samuel Wood
Sealers of Leather
Abner Hardy
Spencer Bailey
Daniel Buzwell
Hogreaves.
Samuel Trask, Jr.
Thos. Morse To take care of the Fish Courses
Thomas Kimball
Joseph Haggett
Informers of Deer
Samuel Adams
Reuben Carlton
Wm. Greenough
Joseph Atwood
Timber Measurers
Nath'l Gage, Jr.
Joseph Kimball
j
Thomas Webster Josiah Bacon
Cutters of Lumber
Ebenezer Kimball
Wm. Greenough Corders of Wood
Joseph Kimball
James Lindall, Ensign Sam'l Hopkinson
Wardens
Phineas Carlton, Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Voted, To indemnify the Select- men, in neglecting to make a return to Harrison Gray of their assessment
IO
upon the inhabitants of Bradford for the year seventeen hundred seventy- four.
Voted, That ye swine go at large the year ensuing. It was put to vote to see if the town would mend the highways by a Rate, the year ensu- ing, and it passed in the negative.
Voted, To Capt. Jonathan Bailey for Damages done him by means of the Courts Committee Laying out part of a road on his Land to accom- modate Cottle's Ferry, 161. os. od.
Voted, To John Savory for Dam- ages done him by means of the above said Road, 161. os. od.
May 23, 1775. Voted, To sup- ply the Massachusetts army with sundries.
Voted, That John Head, Daniel Kimball. Daniel Jaques, William Greenough and Peter Russell, be a committee for this purpose.
Voted, That Dea. Thomas Kim- ball. William Greenough, Benjamin Gage. h., Abraham Burbank and Richard Kimball be a committee of correspondence.
Voted, That the Committee of
II
Correspondence Return the names of those persons belonging to this Town which deserted the Province Service, to the County Committee if those Persons neglect to return to their duty.
It was Voted, [June 28] That if the Minute-Men belonging to the Town which Inlisted for the Defence of this Province shall Re-enlist again into the same company by Monday next, said men shall be entitled to Pay for their past services according to a former vote of this town.
Sept. 21. Voted, To Phineas Carlton, for 22 Bayonets fitted with Scabbards and Belts, 81. 5s. od.
Voted, To Phineas Carlton, for Scowering the old Bayonets, and fit- ting with Belts, 41. 4s. od. For 2 Scabbards and Belts, ol. 3s. od.
Wm. Greenough, for fitting one Bayonet and one belt, ol. 2s. Sd. The town made choice of Ebenezer Wood to serve as Selectman in place of Abraham Burbank, deceased. It was put to vote to see if the town would open a school, and it passed in the negative.
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The annual meeting was held at the East Meeting-house on the 12 of March, 1776, and after electing the officers, the meeting adjourned to the 15th. On that date it was Voted. That Capt. Benjamin Gage be paid Il. ros. od for building a fire raft to go to Newburyport.
Voted, To Phineas Cole for Leathering 50 Cartridge boxes, 61. 135. 4d. Voted, To Daniel Thurston for attendance at Congress and at General Court, 241. 45. 6d.
Voted. To accept five shillings per pound for the Powder that was de- livered out of the Town stock, for the use of the Province, and pay for the Lead and flints. Voted, That the Selectmen order the Town Treas- urer to pay the Province money which is in his hands to the Colony Treasurer.
A meeting was called April 30. 1776. To see if the town will choose a committee to meet ve committee of Newbury, Newburyport and Amesbury, at the Town house in Newburyport, on May 2, to join the above committee in Building a fort
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on Plum Island, if they think proper. The question was put and passed in the negative.
III
A meeting was held on the 20th of June, 1776, and the town pro- ceeded to take into consideration a Resolve of the Honorable House of Representatives, passed June 10, 1776, relating to the Honorable Congress declaring these United Colonies Independent States, and after mature Deliberation on this im- portant affair, a motion was made to choose a committee to formulate In- structions for their Representatives. and Report. Accordingly they made choice of Thomas Webster, John Burbank, Captain Nathaniel Gage, Benjamin Muzzy and Captain John
1.4
Savory. The meeting adjourned half an hour in order to give the committee time to prepare a report. which was just what might have been expected from the composition of the committee ; two of its men- bers, Savory and Gage, had each re- cently led a company of minute-men into service, and a third, Burbank. was in the ranks. The report is as follows: We, the subscribers, being chosen a committee to form Instruc- tions for the Representatives of this town with Respect to the Honorable Congress' forming these United Colonies into Independent States. beg leave to make the following re- port :
To Dudley Carlton. Esq. Repre- tentative for the town of Bradford, in the General Assembly. Si : When we consider the despotie plan of Government adopted by the King, Ministry and Parliament of Great Britain, to enslave these American Colonies. When we consider that Instead of redressing our Grievances. they have turned a Deat car to the Repeated Petitions and Remon.
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strances of all the United Colonies, and have also been, and still are Endeavoring to Enforce their Arbi- trary plan upon us, by Spilling our Blood, by burning our towns, by seizing our Property, and by instigat- ing the Savages of the Wilderness, and Negroes to take up the cause against us; when we consider these things, it Raises our Indignation ! That we who have always been loyal subjects to the King of Great Britain, should be so unconstitution- ally and Inhumanly Treated, Such Tyrannical Imposition and abuses of Power we cannot Submit to. There- fore, Utterly Despairing of a happy Reconciliation ever taking place be- tween Great Britain and these Colo- nies, you are hereby desired as our Representative to use your utmost endeavor, that our Delegates in Gen- eral Congress be instructed to shake off the Tyrannical Yoke of Great Britain, and Declare these United Colonies Independent of that Venal, Corrupt and Avaricious Court for- ever ; [Provided no Proposals for happy reconciliation be offered,
which the Honorable Congress think proper to accept. ] and we hereby engage that we will, at the risk of our lives and Fortunes, Endeavor to support and defend them therin.
THOMAS WEBSTER,
JOHN BURBANK, Com.
CAPT. NATH'L GAGE, to
BENJ. MUZZY, Report.
JOHN SAVORY.
Voted, That the above report be accepted.
Voted. [Sept. 19, 1776] To Peter Russell for attendance at County Congress held at Ipswich, ol. 108. oil.
Voted, 100 pounds for town charges.
Voted, To Retire Parker for making a table and seat for the East School house, ol. 135. od.
October 24. 1776. The Town Proceeded to take in Consideration Resolve of the Honorable House of Representatives passed Septem- ber 17, 1776, Respecting the House and Council joining in one Body and Equal Voice, to form a plan of Government for this State, and the
I
THE CAPT. JOHN SAVORY HOUSE.
17
town, and the town consenting to the same. After mature Delibera- tion on the Important affair, a mo- tion was made to choose a Commit- tee to make a Draught and Report. Accordingly, Col. Daniel Thurston, Deacon Thomas Kimball, Benjamin Muzzy, Major Benjamin Gage and John Burbank were chosen.
Oct. 31, 1776. Voted, To re- ceive the Report of the above Com- mittee, which was a follows :
That we are not willing nor do we consent, that the house of Rep- resentatives and Council acting in one Body as proposed in a Resolve of the House on Sept. 17, 1776, should agree on and enact a Consti- tution and form of Government for this State. But we are willing and desire, that the Honorable Council, and Honorable House of Represen- tatives, [each acting in their respec- tive Capacities] proceed to form a Plan of Government for this State, and exhibit attested Copies thereof to its several towns for their Inspec- tion and approbation, before it is Ratified and Confirmed.
Passed in the affirmative.
The annual meeting March 12, 1776, was the last one called "In his Majesty's name ; " and May 19, 1777, the warrant read :
ESSEX SS. "To Benjamin Walker, one of the Constables for the Town of Bradford, Greeting :
Ist. "These are in the name of the Government and People of Mas- sachusetts Bay, to will and require you forthwith to notify and warn the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Bradford that have an Estate of Freehold in Land within this State or Territory, of Forty shillings per annum, or other estate to the value of fifty pounds stirling, to assemble and meet at the West Meeting house in said Town, on Monday the nineteenth of this in- stant May, at two of the clock after- noon, then and there to elect and depute a Representative or represen- tatives, to serve for and represent them in a Great and General Court of Assembly, to be convened, held and Kept for the Government Ser- vice at the State House in Boston, in
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the County of Suffolk, upon Wednes- day the twenty-eighth day of this Instant May.
2nd. Also to try a vote of the Town to see if they will engage, as faithful subjects of this State to exert their utmost ability to procure the Universal Observance of an act of the Province to prevent monopoly and oppression. *
5th. Also to see if the Town will direct the Selectmen to hire a sum of money to buy Gun Powder. Daniel Thurston, Abel Kimball, Nathan Kimball, Solomon Tenney, Selectmen of Bradford.
It was voted [May 19, 1777] unanimously that they would engage as faithful subjects of this State to exert their utmost ability to procure the Universal Observance of an act of this State to prevent monoply and oppression. And that the Select- men purchase gun powder for the town.
IV
May 29, 1777, Jeremiah Hardy died, according to the Church rec- ord, "very sudden;" and tradition says the cause of his death was not definitely determined at the time but about two weeks later his son Abner and daughter Elizabeth were taken ill with what was unquestionably small pox, and both of them died June 22, these deaths being follow- ed by several others. Those on rec- ord as dying at that time are, Jere- miah Hardy, May 29; the wife of Deacon Timothy Hardy, June 21 ; Abner and Ehzabeth Hardy, son and daughter of Jeremiah, June 22 ; Wm. Greenough, June 23 ; Dr. John Ten- ny. June 24 : Dea. Timothy Hardy, June 27. and David Marden, June 28.
The town meeting held June 20.
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1777, recognizing the importance of isolating the disease, voted to build a "Pest house in some convenient place in this Town to accommodate the Inhabitants that shall hereafter be taken sick with the small pox ; and accordingly made choice of Lt. Daniel Kimball, Ephraim Hardy and Phineas Carleton, to see work effect- ed." Said committee were ordered to build the Pest house and hire sey- enty Pounds to enable them to carry on the work. They voted that the Pest house be set on land belonging to Nathaniel Parker, "or in any place that they shall think will best ac- commodate the Town." Voted, To raise one hundred pounds toward de- fraying the the costs and charges that shall arise in building the Pest house.
The house was built on the east side of the Jaques road near Jewett's Crossing, and the graves of those who died of the disease, were to be seen near the wall until within a few years, when the field was ploughed, and since then a new growth of wood has sprung up, and the graves are obliterated : the house was burned soon after it was vacated.
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ESSEX SS. To Ephraim Hardy one of the Constables for the Town of Bradford, Greeting :
We will and require you to notify and warn the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Bradford qualified by law to vote in Town af- fairs, that they assemble and meet at the West Meeting house in said Town on Thursday the fifth day of June next, at three o'clock, after- noon, to choose by ballot some per- son which is firmly attached to the American Cause to procure evidence etc, agreeable to an act of the Great and General Court of the State of Massachusetts Bay, for securing this and others of the United States against the danger to which they are exposed by the internal enemies thereof; and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to us, the Subscribers, on or before said day.
DANIEL THURSTON,
SAMUEL GREENOUGH,
Selectmen of
NATHAN KIMBALL,
Bradford.
ABEL, KIMBALL.,
At a legal meeting held on March
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18, 1777 : the following persons were elected a Committee of Inspection and Safety. Thomas Morse, Lieut. Nathaniel Plummer, Deacon Oba- diah Kimball, John Burbank and Thomas Webster.
Selectmen for the year ensuing, Daniel Thurston Esqr., Samuel Greenough, Lt. Abel Kimball, Sol- omon Kimball and Nathan Kimball.
At a legal meeting of the Free- holders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Bradford, held on adjourn- ment Thursday the 26th of June, 1777; Mr. John Head, moderator of said meeting ;
The Town made choice of Daniel Parker, Joseph Marble, Joseph Richardson, Benj. Muzzy and Eben- ezer Kimball to prosecute all Breaches of the acts to prevent mo- nopoly and oppression.
Made choice of John Pickering for Register.
The Town made choice of Abra- ham Day, Jun. to procure evidence against all such persons as are inter- nal enemies to this or the United States of America.
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September 23d. Voted, To raise forty-one pounds, fifteen shillings and two pence to pay for Gun Locks, &c, and ordered the Town Treasurer to pay the above said sum ; and voted to abate Jonathan Chad- wick what he was rated for his Negro man in 1776.
January 13, 1778. Voted, To leave the affair respecting the Dele- gates being authorized to ratify the Confederacy of the United Colonies, to their Representatives in General Assembly to act in that important matter as he shall think best.
Voted, To sell the Gun Locks in possession of the Town.
Voted, To Ebenezer Ordway for damage on account of the small pox being brought near him, il. 16s. od. Danie! Tenney, ditto, 161. 4s. od. David Hardy, for damages sustained by means of the small pox in his house, 511. os. od. Ephraim Hardy, ditto, 301. os. od. Jonas Hardy, ditto, 71. os. od.
THE MORSE HOUSE.
V
The following document explains itself and shows that the arrival of a new resident in town did not go un- noticed in those times.
GENTS: This is to inform you that Aaron Cross of Methuen, came to town May 1, 1777. I know not his circumstances. John Day. Jun. .Another form of notice is shown in the following :
Bradford, Oct. 28, 1776. This may inform the Selectmen of said Town that the family of Stephen and Susanna Adams of Topsfield, moved into my house for a few months. A list of the children : Jacob Adams, David Adams, Israel Adamıs, Henry Adams, Pamelia Adams, Julia Adams,, given by the subscriber. Peter Russell.
Peter Russell, Esq., at that time kept a "Tavern" on Main street, East Bradford, in the house after- wards occupied by the late Captain
Benj. Parker, and recently by Mr. Samuel Perley.
To the Selectmen of Bradford : Gentlemen. These are to inform you that John Tenney and Rose, his wife ; William Tenney, his son and Hannah Tenney his daughter came to this town the 15th of April last, from Rowley, and ye widow Hannah Tenney from the town of Pelham in the State of New Hampshire some time afterward. Per Sarah Jaques. Feb. 22, 1779.
To the Selectmen of the Town : This is to inform you that I have taken into my house Freeborn Balch and wife, and his children Benjamin, Eunice and John. They came from Haverhill to Bradford, May 12, 1779. Bradford, June 3, 1779. Moses Parker. Bradford, May 1, 1778. To the Selectmen of the Town of Bradford : These are to inform you that John Cole came to this town sometime in the month of June last, from the town of Salem, New Hampshire. John Griffin.
We have in the next document
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something which gives us a little more light on the social and religious side of life in those perilous times that "Tried men's souls."
To the Town Clerk in Bradford :
We, the subscribers, being chosen a committee by the Society of the People called Antipedo Baptists, who meet together for Religious worship on the Lord's Day, in the Town of Haverhill, to exhibit a list or lists of such persons as belong to said Society or Congregation, do certify that Nathaniel Plummer, Samuel Trask, Ebenezer Kimball, Martha Kimball, Moses Plummer, Joseph Richardson and Daniel Cheney do belong to said Society or Congregation, and that they do fre- quently and usually when able, at- tend with us in our meetings for religious worship on the Lords Day, and we do verily believe, are with respect to the Ordinance of Baptisni. of the same religious sentiments with us. Haverhill, Aug. 2, 1775.
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