USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
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Go 974.402 W538h 1136795
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
n 3 1833 01067 0807
1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD,
IN THE
COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS,
1659-1883.
BY
REV. EDWIN R. HODGMAN, A. M., Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
PUBLISHED BY THE WESTFORD TOWN HISTORY ASSOCIATION.
LOWELL, MASS .: MORNING MAIL COMPANY, PRINTERS. . 1883.
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PREFACE.
1136795
· "To write a great history," says one, " requires a great imagination ; but no man of imagination can deal with a famous epoch without seeking to know it and to depict it in due proportion and detail."
The compiler of this book makes no pretensions to a great imagination nor to any special qualifications to write history. He has diligently sought for facts, and has aimed to present them in a clear and lucid manner. The history of the early New England towns is the history of men who constituted a part of the winnowed wheat which Old England sent to these shores in the seventeenth century, and which grew to wonderful ripeness in the wilderness.
The settlement of some parts of this town was almost cotemporary with the set- tlement of Chelmsford; and it is fair to presume that at least two hundred and twenty years have passed since the axe of the pioneer began to level the forests on the eastern border. In a country like this, the record of so long a period is full of stirring events and noble achievements; and it has been the purpose of the com- piler to set these forth in such a way as to instruct and stimulate the reader. A careful study has been made of the records of Chelmsford, which was the mother- town; and the facts in regard to the settlement of the west precinct have been sought out and presented. The records of deeds in the office of registration at East Cambridge have been examined and much valuable information has been ob- tained. The archives of the State House in Boston have also been examined with much painstaking. Search has been made in the records of neighboring towns, and several town histories and family genealogies have been consulted. Two jour- neys were made to Vermont in order to learn the facts in regard to the settlement of Cavendish, Ludlow, Mount Holly, and other towns; and several towns in New Hampshire were visited for a similar purpose.
The records of the town are in a fair state of preservation, and so, too, are the records of the first church during the ministry of Mr. Hall; but no record has been found of the ministry of Mr. Scribner. See p. 274. Note. It is to be re- gretted that, during the late civil war, certain papers and documents belonging to the town and once stored in the attic of the first parish meeting-house, were removed and sold.
iv
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
·
The number of pages in this volume was limited by the contract of the Town History Association with the compiler; but it was found necessary to exceed that number; and even then, with the addition of one hundred pages, much important genealogical matter has been excluded. For this reason, families who came here after the year 1800 are not found in the tables, and of those who were here before that date the record had to be abridged for want of space.
The completion of the work has been delayed by the ill health of the compiler, and by other causes. It now goes from his hands after much toil, with a real diffi- dence on his part, but with the consciousness that he has done what he could. It would have been better in matter and form, if strength and opportunity had permitted him to make it so.
The compiler gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness and obligations to many persons who have aided him in preparing the volume; especially to Julian Abbot, Esq., of Lowell, George E. H. Abbot and sister, of Groton, Samuel A. Green, M. D., of Boston, Sherman D. Fletcher, Edward Symmes, Nathan S. Hamblin, John M. Fletcher, George B. Hildreth, David P. Lawrence, and others, of Westford. He is under special obligations to Rev. Thomas Wilson of Eaton, Madison County, New York. While he resided here Mr. Wilson made a careful study of the records of the first church, and compiled an interesting summary of its history, which he very kindly loaned to the compiler. In some cases the lan- guage of Mr. Wilson has been used where it justly and tersely described the facts.
To the members of the Westford Town History Association the compiler hereby tenders his sincere thanks for their confidence and sympathy, their courtesy and forbearance, as expressed in various ways, and for their generous aid in the execu- tion of his task. Nor can he forbear, in these acknowledgments, to mention - but without her knowledge or consent - the name of an only daughter, Harriet M. Hodgman, to whom many thanks are due for long-continued assistance in copying, arranging, and proof-reading.
Westford, March 7, 1883.
EDWIN R. HODGMAN.
WESTFORD TOWN HISTORY ASSOCIATION.
THE following record explains the origin of this Associa- tion :
At a meeting of persons interested in the matter of compil- ing and publishing a history of this town, held in the Town Hall, March 15, 1879, the following business was transacted, namely :
I. Chose George T. Day, Chairman ; Edwin R. Hodg- man, Secretary ; and Sherman D. Fletcher, Treasurer.
2. Voted to accept the preamble and articles presented by William E. Frost, containing an agreement to form an Asso- ciation to prepare and publish a History of Westford.
The agreement is as follows :
It is proposed by the undersigned to publish a History of the town of Westford, Mass., in a well-bound octavo volume of not less than 400 pages, printed on paper of good quality and in clear type ; the work to comprise such portions of the authentic colonial, revolutionary, civil, educational, and re- ligious history of the town as can be compiled from the town records, and gathered from other reliable sources ; and to be issued on or before the first of July, 1880, in an edition of 600 copies, and sold to the inhabitants of Westford at $2.00 a copy, and to non-resident purchasers at such price, not less than $2.00 a copy, as a majority of the undersigned may hereafter agree upon.
In order to secure the publication of the Town History above described, and according to the above-mentioned speci- fications and limitations,
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
We, the undersigned, do severally agree, and legally bind ourselves to pay into the treasury of this Association such sum, not exceeding fifty dollars, as may be assessed upon us severally, to defray the expense of compiling, printing, bind- ing, and selling the above-mentioned History of Westford ; provided that the following precedent conditions are accepted by the Association, and faithfully complied with, namely :
First-That the sum of $200, appropriated by the town for the publi- cation of a Town History, be paid into the treasury of this Association.
Second-That the sum required, in addition to the amount appropri- ated by the town, to defray the expense of compiling and publishing a History of Westford, be assessed equally on the members of this Asso- ciation.
Third-That all money received by members of this Association or by their agents, from the sale of the Town History, be paid into the treasury; and that the balance remaining in the treasury after the pay- ment of all bills for compiling and publishing the Town History, be divided equally among the members of the Association.
Fourth-That responsible committees be appointed to discharge the following duties, viz .: 1st, to audit all bills payable by the Association; 2nd, to canvass the town for subscribers for the work, before its publica- tion; 3rd, to contract with the compiler and the publishers of the work; 4th, to take charge of the edition when published.
Fifth-That the compiler of the Town History be elected by the Association.
Sixth-That the History be submitted to the Association for inspec- tion before its publication.
Seventh-That the preceding obligation and agreement, with condi- tions annexed, have no binding force and be null and void, unless signed by eighteen or more responsible citizens and tax-payers of Westford.
Alvan Fisher.
Wm. E. Frost.
George T. Day.
Abiel J. Abbot.
J. Henry Read. John W. Abbot. Allan Cameron.
Edward Prescott.
Sherman D. Fletcher.
Sherman H. Fletcher.
William Reed.
William L. Kittredge.
Arthur Wright.
Gilman J. Wright.
Albert P. Richardson.
W. H. H. Burbeck.
George W. Heywood.
Nahum H. Wright.
3. Voted that the Secretary shall inform certain persons of the wish of this Association that they should join it.
4. Voted that a committee of five persons be appointed to audit all bills payable by the Association, to contract with
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TOWN HISTORY ASSOCIATION.
the compiler and the publishers of the work, and to take charge of the edition when published.
5. Chose Alvan Fisher, George T. Day, William E. Frost, J. Henry Read and William Reed for that Committee.
6. Voted to adjourn to Saturday evening, March 22, at 7.30 o'clock.
EDWIN R. HODGMAN, Secretary.
WESTFORD, March 22, 1879.
The Town History Association met according to adjourn- ment, and transacted the following business :
I. Voted that the size of the type and quality of the paper be determined by the committee of five who were chosen at the first meeting.
2. Voted that Edwin R. Hodgman be requested to offer proposals for compiling the Town History.
3. Voted that the Chairman and Secretary be made per- manent officers of this Association and be empowered to call meetings whenever the interests of the Association shall re- quire them, during the existence of the Association.
4. Voted that the name of this society be the Westford Town History Association.
5. Voted to adjourn to Friday evening, April 4th, at 7.30 o'clock.
WESTFORD, April 4, 1879.
At an adjourned meeting of the Association, held at the residence of the Chairman, the following business was trans- acted :
I. The Secretary having read proposals for compiling the History of the Town of Westford, it was voted to accept his proposals, to wit: four hundred dollars in cash and twenty- five bound copies of the work when published-and he will assume only the responsibility of compiling, composing, and reading proofs.
2. Voted to take the binding of the Report of the State Board of Education as a sample-the price being eighteen cents per copy .
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
3. Voted to adopt the following resolution : That the Secretary be requested to prepare a Prospectus of the con- templated History, and cause one thousand copies to be printed, with the view of circulating the same in order to obtain subscribers to the work.
4. Voted to appoint Gilman J. Wright canvassing agent for the Association, and with him all parties shall be requested to correspond and to order the book.
1
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
PART I .- CHAPTER I.
FROM THE SETTLEMENT TO THE INCORPORATION-ONCE PART OF CHELMSFORD- INDIANS-EARLY SETTLERS-EXTENSION-EARLY HOMESTEADS-ROADS-THE STRUGGLE FOR A PRECINCT-FAMILIES BELONGING TO THE PARISH OF LIT- TLETON - EXTRACTS FROM RECORDS - PRECINCT ESTABLISHED, 1724 - FIRST MEETING-HOUSE-BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PRECINCT.
HISTORY gives voice to achievement and concerns itself with the deeds of men in their social, religious and political relations. It takes note of the field of action as well as of the actors upon it, and shows how the force of human reason and the energy of the human will combine to produce results that are worthy to be treasured up and transmitted to posterity.
The territory now to be described was once a part of the new world opened only a few centuries ago to the march of a christian civilization. It was a wilderness, the haunt of wild beasts and savage men; and the primeval solitudes were unbroken. The scene can be pictured only by the imagination.
Then these broad vales and quiet hills Responded to the piercing cry Of wolf or wild cat ; at these rills Drank trembling fawns, so coy and shy. Forests with thick, umbrageous gloom Spread far and wide ; wild fruits matured
Unplucked by man ; the choice perfume Of flowers no human foot allured ;
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
The hawk and raven built their nest
Unscared ; the timid fish, uncaught,
Swam the deep pools, and nature dressed In pristine garb, with grace untaught, Looked queenly in the eye of heaven. Lowly and sweet the anthem then At blush of morn or calm of even. Along each winding stream and glen Stretch groves of pale, deciduous trees ; The slopes are crowned with evergreen. No woodman's axe hath humbled these ; No vandal's touchi hath marred the scene. The circling hills in order stand, The crown is on Monadnoc's brow,
And, rippling over rock and sand, The gentle river floweth now Untrammelied to the boundless sea.
Such was its primitive state, the hunting-ground of the Pawtuckets or Wamesits, who owned the Great Neck, as it was called, between the Merrimack and the Concord rivers, on which the city of Lowell stands; and of the Nashobas, a small tribe that lived near Nashoba Hill.
The town of Westford was originally a part of Chelms- ford, and its early history is involved in the history of that town. From the land allotments recorded in Chelmsford and from old deeds, it appears that the meadow and plain in the southwest part of Westford were called Great Tad- muck ;* the swamp on the east side was called Tadmuck ; and these were sometimes designated as Farther Tadmuck and Hither Tadmuck ; and the region about the east burying- ground was known as Little Tadmuck. The hill on which the central village stands bore the name of Tadmuck. No proof has been found that this name was given to any ter- ritory north of Stony Brook, and no Indian name of this stream has been discovered. The early deeds also mention Nubanussuck Pond and Kissacook Hill, north and west of the brook, and these are each Indian appellations.
* This name is variously spelled in the old documents Tadnoc, Tadnick, Tadnuck and Tadmuck. The last is more general and is adopted as the true one.
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FROM SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION.
Some of the favorite haunts of the Indians are still known, where they built their wigwams and planted their corn. These were generally near a stream or spring, but sometimes on a warm hillside. One of their resorts was on the east side of Boutwell's Meadow, about one mile from the Centre, and near the house of Oren Coolidge. Stone tools and flints have recently been found there, and are now in the possession of Mr. Coolidge.
Another resort was an island in Providence Meadow, on which their implements have been found. Still another on the slope near the lone tree west of George Drew's house, and there probably they raised patches of Indian corn, after the manner of Indian husbandry. Yet another was on the hill east of Eli Tower's, where a flat rock is shown upon which the squaws kindled their fires and baked Indian cake in the best style of Indian cookery.
But Forge Pond was the rallying point of the tribes. It is to be regretted that the Indian name of this pond has not been preserved. On its banks they were accustomed to gather for feasting and dancing, and for purposes of Indian hospitality and friendship. On the eastern margin two places are shown where the encampments or lodges were fixed, which are indicated by slight excavations and the finding of arrow-heads. Old Andrew, the Indian, who sold his warre (weir) at the outlet to the town of Groton before 1680, was doubtless a fisherman (an expert in the business), but driven away by the encroaching white man. No trace of their abiding at or near Nubanussuck is known to the compiler ; but it is fair to presume that they often went there as well as to other ponds in the north part of the town. By those clear and quiet waters no doubt the Indian maidens had their toilet, and by the setting sun their graceful forms were mirrored in the limpid stream. These freeborn children of solitude have passed away, but still the waters shimmer in the sunlight and remind us of the sad fate of a vanished race.
During the Indian wars that occurred between the years 1675 and 1760 the town of Chelmsford was not seriously
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
harmed, although kept in constant fear of an attack. The Indian sachem, Wannalancet, "was always peaceable and true to the English"; and the first minister, Rev. John Fiske, and Maj. Henchman, an influential magistrate, are said to have cultivated his friendship "with successful assiduity." At one time, after a long absence, Wannalancet called on Mr. Fiske and inquired of him whether the people in Chelmsford had suffered greatly during the war. Mr. Fiske replied that they had been highly favored, for which he desired to thank God. "Me next," said the sagacious' sagamore, intimating that through his influence this town had been exempted from the calamities that had befallen many others .*
There is a tradition, however, that a party of Indians once came to the house of one of the early settlers in the night, and made noises like swine and other annoying demonstrations. The man went out but did not return. His wife barred the doors and remained with her children until morning, and on going out she found the head of her husband, stuck upon a pole.
There is also a tradition that before the settlement a battle was fought between the Nashoba Indians and the Wamesits. The battle-ground, it is said, was a triangular piece of ground on the north side of Frances Hill, near the residence of the late Trueworthy Keyes.
In due time a change came over the wild domain of nature. The white man enters, and we have to do with a new order of things. The plantation of Chelmsford was granted in 1653, May 18, and incorporated two years after- ward, 1655, May 29. The first petitioners for the grant, twenty in number, were of Concord and Woburn. These were joined by others, chiefly the company of Rev. John Fiske, from Wenham, making thirty-nine in all. Of the Concord families, the Adamses, the Fletchers, Hartwells and Proctors became largely influential in the settlement; while
* Allen's History of Chelmsford, page 157.
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FROM SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION.
the Butterfields, Chamberlins, Fosters, Hildreths, Nuttings, Parkers and Wrights from Woburn, contributed very much to its establishment and growth. The Barretts and Spald- ings from Braintree, John Bates from Hingham, Solomon Keyes from Newbury, and Cornelius Waldo from Ipswich, were also excellent men. Thomas Henchman, of the Wen- ham company, "was for many years a leading character, and became a large land-holder."-( Allen.)
The early grant to Chelmsford, according to a plan to be seen at the State House in Boston, was in the form of a parallelogram, with its longer lines running east and west. The northwest corner was near the house of the late Col. Benjamin Osgood, in Westford, and the shorter line on the west end is almost identical with a part of the present boundary line between the two towns. This tract proving too small for them and withal the soil being barren and stony, the proprietors asked for more land, and the General Court granted their request.
Mr. Eliot, in behalf of the praying Indians, also peti- tioned for an enlargement of their grant. "In answer to to these petitions," says Allen, "the Court, on conference with the committee who established the bounds of Chelms- ford, and on examination of a plot of the said plantations and of the tract of land by both parties petitioned for, granted that the Indian plantation be extended one mile from the northeast angle of Chelmsford, abutting on Merri- mac and Pawtuckett eastward, taking in John Sagamore's planting ground, and the end of the said mile to determine the Indian plantation. For the rest of the land petitioned for by both towns, it was ordered that Chelmsford north and south lines abutting on Tadmuck be extended (the south to Groton line*), the north from the northeast corner or angle three miles upon Merrimac River and thence a south-
* This prolonged the line running west from Concord River to a point near Nashoba Hill. Nashoba was made an Indian town in 1654 by request of Rev. John Eliot. Gookin, writing in 1674, says it was the sixth praying Indian village and lieth in the centre between Chelmsford, Lancaster, Groton and Concord. In 1682 Groton had taken into its bounds nearly half of the Indian plantation and claimed three hundred and
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
west line to Groton. And this whole tract was to remain in community unto the town of Chelmsford and Pawtuckett.'
"To this additional grant," continues Mr. Allen, "which contained all Westford and the northerly part of Chelms- ford, the Indians had a common right with the inhabitants of Chelmsford. But whether they availed themselves of it at all, or made a compromise with the people of Chelmsford for any particular parcel of land, is not certainly known. It is probable, however, that the Indians gave up their right in this grant in consideration of some parcel of land, or some immunity or privilege. For in 1660 the Indians of Pawtuckett and the inhabitants of Chelmsford entered into an agreement which was sanctioned by Court, to exchange lands and to settle the boundaries between them." (History of Chelmsford, pp. 14, 15.)
By this agreement in 1660 this township of Westford ceased forever to be the hunting-ground of the red man, and became the abiding place of a civilized race, who brought with them a hardy energy that could subdue forests, and a wise forecast that built up a community in which liberty was a cherished principle, and in which, above all, religion was a governing policy and an inspiring motive.
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Not from the court or council hall, Not from the home of wealth and pride, From titled ranks, or great or small, With greed of gain unsatisfied, Came they who first a pathway cleared Through the wide forest, thick and drear,
Built their rude cabins and upreared A house for Him whom all revere. Strong, hardy men, with instincts true, Laid the foundations of the town ; They kept a noble end in view, And worked for God, not for renown.
fifty acres of Nashoba-that is to say, of the portion held by the English. The line between Nashoba and Chelmsford was indefinite for some time. When Littleton was incorporated, in 1714, it included Nashoba, excepting a portion on the northwest side which now belongs to Groton, and also Concord Village, or New Grant. It may be that a triangular slip, on the northeastern side of the original Nashoba, is now included in Westford.
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FROM SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION.
There is nothing to show that the territory now known as Westford was ever accurately surveyed by compass and chain, and the farms or lots marked off. But each man chose his land, and the town sanctioned his act and confirmed his title by recording it. This record, however, was often made years after he had seized the land. In this way the early inhabitants held their homesteads by actual seizure or appropriation from the domain of nature. As there was no regularity in these proceedings, the bounda- ries are often exceedingly indefinite and hard to trace, unless there is some natural object, such as a pond, or brook, or hill, to aid one. This could hardly be otherwise, when the whole region was a forest and no artificial landmarks had been set up.
At first the' settlers were obliged to look for springs of water for their own use, and to search out and appro- priate the meadows and swamps in order to procure hay for their cattle. Tadmuck, Great Tadmuck and Little Tad- muck were their hay-fields, as were also the swamps near Nubanussuck, Long-Sought-For and Keyes Ponds. Hence it was that Thomas Adams was allowed six acres at a place "called Providence," on the east side of Tadmuck Hill, " with a little swamp running down from the southeast corner." Also, " six acres at 'None Such.'" Daniel Blodgett had four acres at Little Tadmuck, and Isaac Learned seven acres at Great Tadmuck. John Wright likewise had three acres at "Farther Tadmuck," and three acres at " Heather Tadmuck." This was in 1659, only six years from the beginning of the plantation ; and these are proba- bly the earliest allotments of land within the present limits of Westford. It is possible that one or two allotments were made a little earlier than this, to men whose heirs after- ward became permanent residents; but if so, the records are silent concerning them. Esdras Read, who came from Wenham, probably in the spring or summer of 1654, was elected to office to manage the public affairs of the place at a general meeting holden on the 22nd of November,
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
1654. . This was the first meeting. He did not remain long, for in 1660, the records say, "John Webb is admitted to purchase all the rights and privileges formerly granted by this town of Chelmsford to Esdras Read." He seems to have reserved a piece of meadow in Little Tadmuck, of which mention is made in 1674. In 1661 he removed to Boston, where he died in 1680; and his grave-stone is now standing in Copp's Hill burying-ground. (History of the Read family, p. 151.) His grandson, Thomas, with his wife, came here in 1685, and to them the town made an assignment of "four acres of land formerly granted to William Good." (Gould ?) To this he also added by pri- vate purchase a tract of land lying on Tadmuck and Stony Brooks, upon which he built a house. It stood on the slope of the hill west of School House No. Two. His son, Thomas, Jr., owned the farm now known as "the Read Farm" in 1740, when he sold it to his son Joseph. (Tran- script of deed.) This farm was alienated in 1876, having been in possession of the Reads for about one hundred and forty years.
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