USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > An address delivered at Acton, July 21, 1835, being the first centennial anniversary of the organization of the town : with an appendix > Part 2
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erty here to delineate his virtues, if otherwise it might be proper to do so.
Of the qualities of his mind and heart, it becomes me only to say- you knew him. You saw him in the days of his prosperity, and you know how he enjoyed them. You witnessed also his seasons of sor- row, and you know how he sustained them. You were present at the performance of his public duties; you saw him in your families and in your schools, and you were with him in the transactions of his pri- vate life. He was among you in your hours of gladness, and smiled on your innocent amusements. He was in your chambers of sickness- your houses of mourning-your abodes of poverty. Let these things speak his character ; it becomes me to leave it with you.
The pulpit was constantly supplied by the town, during the last sickness of Mr. Adams, and after his decease. In the next month, a committee was chosen to procure a candidate. They engaged Mr. Marshall Shedd, who was graduated at Dartmouth in 1817, and was then a member of the Rev. Mr. Greenough's church in Newton, which was his native town. On the 20th February, 1820, Mr. Shedd was unanimously invited by the Church to become their Pastor, and on the 13th of March the town voted unanimously to give him a call. Five hundred dollars was offered as a settlement, which was increased to seven hundred by subscription, and the salary was fixed at six hundred dollars, with fifteen cords of wood. In case of permanent inability, the salary was to be reduced to two hundred dollars. This liberal offer was accepted, and on the tenth day of May, in this house, Mr. Shedd was ordained Pastor of the Church, and Minister of the Congregation in Acton.
The ordaining council consisted of Mr. Willard of Boxborough, Mr. Newell of Stow, Mr. Greenough of Newton, Mr. Litchfield of Carlisle, Dr. Ripley of Concord, Dr. Homer of Newton, Mr. Foster of Littleton, Dr. Holmes of Cambridge, Mr. Blake of Westford, Dr. Pierce of Brookline, Mr. Noyes of Needham, Mr. Hurlbut of Sudbury, with delegates from their respective churches.
Such a combination of religious opinions, in an ordaining council, obtained by a unanimous vote of both church and congregation, was very remarkable at that period, and discovers a liberality of Christian feeling, which is worthy of all imitation.
Mr. Shedd's ministry, for several years after his ordination, was ac- ceptable and useful. But, in remarking on recent transactions of this kind, I feel that it would not be proper to be particular. I will ven- ture to say, however, that Mr. Shedd was a pious, peaceable, and ex- emplary minister. With more than ordinary talents, he was industri- ous in the discharge of duty. But his ministry, compared with those of his predecessors, was short. The parochial difficulties, which were common in other towns, at last found their way into Acton; and the man, who so lately had preached to the acceptance of all, became too liberal for some, and too rigid for others ; so that, in May, 1831, the corporation, which was now called a parish, concurred with the church in granting Mr. Shedd's request that his connexion might be dissolved ; and, in the same month, that agreement was confirmed by an ecclesi- astical council.
On the 23d day of February, 1832, at a meeting of the church, it
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was voted, that thirteen male members, and forty-six females, who are named on the record, be, according to their request, dismissed from the church, and be recommended to the care of an ecclesiastical coun- cil, to be by them called, for the purpose of being formed into a church, in connexion with the Evangelical Society in Acton.
Not having been furnished with the records of the new Church and Society, I can only say that their present Pastor, the Rev. James T. Woodbury, who graduated at Cambridge, in 1823, was ordained over them on the 29th day of August, 1832.
'The successive Deacons of the Church, after those already named, were Simon Hunt, Benjamin Hayward, Josiah Noyes, John Wheeler, John White, Phinehas Wheeler, Daniel Fletcher Barker, Silas Hos- mer, and John White.
With the exception of some of the first years, the subject of the Ed- ucation of Children appears to have been deemed of great importance. The character of the schools, or, which is nearly the same thing, the qualifications of the instructors, cannot, at this day, be distinctly known. From the names, however, of some of the instructors, from the small amount granted annually for schooling, which for several years was only twelve pounds, and from the fact that two, and some- times three schools were kept, by the same teacher, in the same season, it may be safely inferred that such schools would, in these times, be but little esteemed. As late as 1760, an order was drawn to pay the master fifteen shillings, for keeping a school two weeks and an half, and another order, for seven shillings and sixpence, to pay his board for the same term. It would seem, from this, that twelve pounds was no very useless grant, after all.
The first attempt to obtain a grant of money for schooling, was in 1740, and it resulted in a vote " not to erect schools for reading or writing." The record of the March meeting of the next year reads thus : " Voted, to have a writing, reading, and moving school for six months." It is uncertain whether a school was actually kept that year, for, at the May meeting, " It was propounded how they will order the school or schools, and support the same ; Voted, they will dismiss the article." In the next year, (1742,) it was proposed to have "a mov- ing school, for reading and writing," but the attempt failed.
From these facts it appears evident, that there was a respectable minority in the town, who were yet hardly able to persuade the majori- ty to expend any of their substance, in teaching their children to read and write ! It seems probable, however, that there were schools of some sort, which were supported at individual expense.
In a cause like this, the minority were not to be discouraged. In the succeeding year, (1743,) at a special meeting in December, a grant of eighteen pounds, old tenor, was procured for a reading and writing school ; and the town was divided, for the purpose, into three "parts." This division continued till 1751, when the districts were increased to six ; and in 1771 another was added.
I shall not take time to give further particulars, and will only add, that, from the first grant to the present time, there has been a gradual increase of the successful exertions of parents to provide for the in- struction of their children in the primary branches of education.
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It may be gratifying to know even the names of some of the princi- pal town officers, in connexion with the early history of the town. Those of the first year have been already mentioned. I shall be con- fined principally to those, who, by being elected frequently, or for several years in succession, appear to have enjoyed the confidence of the inhabitants.
The first town clerk, Thomas Wheeler, held that office, as also those of selectman and assessor, two years, and was succeeded in those offices by Simon Hunt, the father of the late Deacon Hunt, for seven years. Deacon Joseph Fletcher was selectman and assessor in the first, second, and fourth years, and very frequently was the mode- rator of the meetings. Deacon John Brooks, the father of the late Jonas Brooks, Esquire, was selectman and assessor in the second, third, seventh, eighth and tenth years, and was often called to preside at the annual elections. Andrew Derby was selectman and assessor in 1741 and in the three succeeding years.
The town treasurer, for the first four years, was John Barker, and he was succeeded in the office by Lt. Jonathan Billings, for the ex- traordinary period of thirty-nine years. I give his title, not so much to honor as to identify the man.
In 1744, Jonathan Hosmer was elected town clerk and chairman of the board of selectmen and assessors, and held those offices, with an interruption of two years, till the year 1762. In those two years, (1756 and 1757,) from some cause which does not appear, an entire new board was chosen, consisting of John Davis, Jr. who was also town clerk, Samuel Jones, and Samuel Hayward. Capt. Samuel Davis was one of the board with Mr. Hosmer for five years in succession, commencing in 1745, and again in 1754 and 1755.
Capt. Daniel Fletcher was first chosen selectman and assessor in 1750 ; and was also in the same offices in 1752-3-4-5 and 8; being interrupted by the two years before mentioned ; and he was afterwards moderator at twelve of the annual meetings. As to the other meetings, which were numerous, I have not examined.
Simon Tuttle succeeded Mr. Billings as town treasurer in 1778, and retained the office for seven successive years. He had previously been one of the selectmen and assessors for three years in succession, and held various other important places of trust.
Francis Faulkner came into the office of selectman and assessor in 1760, and was chairman of the board, and town clerk from 1762 till 1797. His associates at the board in 1762, and the five following years, were John Heald, Jr. and Ephraim Hosmer ; the latter of whom was moderator of the annual meetings for eight years preceding 1788, with the exception of one year. John Heald, Jr. was the son of Dea- con Heald, and is supposed to be the same, who died at the age of ninety, in 1810. He was again in the same office in 1773 and 1780. In 1786, when, for some cause, the assessors were separate from the selectmen, he was the chairman of that board. Aaron Jones and Samuel Parlin were the other two members. Mr. Parlin had before been selectman and assessor, and Mr. Jones was afterwards in the same office. He was also town treasurer in 1785 and 1786, town clerk in 1797, and moderator of the meeting in the following year. Ephraim Hapgood was selectman and assessor in 1768, and the ten
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years following. John Hayward was in the same office three years, commencing in 1774. Deacon Joseph Brabrook was first chosen selectman and assessor in 1777, and, with the exception of the next year, was in the same office tilll 1785. Jonas Brooks was one of the same board, from 1779, eight years, and again from 1792, eight years ; the three last of which he was chairman. He was also moderator of the March meetings from 1788, with but two exceptions, till 1801. The records, since that period, I have not examined. Jonas Heald was a member of the board in 1790-91-98 and 99, and was twice moderator of the March meetings. Thomas Noyes was a member of the board in 1787-8-9, and again in 1702. Simeon Hayward was a member of the board three years, commencing in 1787. Benjamin Brabrook was town treasurer from 1787, six years ; and John Robbins succeeded him in the same office till 1801-how much longer, I have not examined. John Edwards was selectman and assessor in 1796, and the three next years.
In 1800, the last year of the century, David Barnard was chosen town clerk, and chairman of the board of selectmen and assessors. The other members were Capt. Stevens Hayward and Capt. Daniel White.
There was no justice of the peace in Acton, till the appointment of Francis Faulkner in 1781. The names of those who have been since appointed, are Jonas Brooks, John Edwards, Winthrop Faulkner, Da- vid Barnard, John Robbins, Joseph Noyes, Abraham Conant, Francis Tuttle, Simon Hosmer, and Stevens Hayward.
The following are the names of those who have received a collegiate education :- Nathan Davis, John Swift, Asa Piper, Solomon Adams, Daniel Brooks, Thomas Noyes, Luther Wright, William Emerson Faulkner, Moses Adams, Josiah Adams, Luther Faulkner, Jonathan Edwards Scott, Joseph Adams, John Ruggles Cutting, and Henry Du- rant. Samuel Jones was a member of Harvard College two or three years, but did not continue so as to receive his degree. Of the gradu- ates, seven were Ministers of the Gospel ; three were Lawyers; two Physicians ; two Merchants, and one a Mariner. With the exception of Mr. Scott, they were all natives of Acton ; and all who entered college, during the ministry of Mr. Adams, which excludes only the two first and the two last, were fitted under his instruction.
Those who have practised as Physicians in Acton, are John Davis, John Swift, Abraham Skinner, Samuel Young, Peter Goodnow, Bela Gardner, Harris Cowdry, and Paul C. Kitteridge.
The soil of Acton does not seem to have been congenial to the growth of Lawyers. But two, David Perham and Samuel Jones, have ever been planted here. They languished a few years, and were trans- planted to other soils.
The gentlemen, who have successively held Military Commissions in the town, are so numerous, that I shall not take time to give even the catalogue of their names. A company of Light Infantry, by the name of " The Davis Blues," was raised in the year 1805; the same which here honors the day with its civilities and attention. The first commissioned officers of the company were Paul Brooks, Simon Hos- mer, and Samuel Jones.
Of the population of Acton, before the year 1800, I have not found
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any source of certain intelligence. In that year the census gave 901 inhabitants ; in 1810, the number had decreased to 885; in 1820, it had risen to 1047 ; and in 1830, to 1128.
Many other interesting topics, connected with the history of Acton, are necessarily omitted. Even if opportunity had been given to collect, there is not time here to detail the important facts relative to the Geography, the Geology, the Botany, the Produce, or the Manufac- tures of the town. These, and many other interesting matters, which might be expected in a full history of the place, can here receive but this passing allusion.
I now proceed to the consideration of the part which the inhabit- ants of this place bore, both as individuals and a town, in matters connected with civil government; and especially in those years during which the Colonies contended for their rights, with the Government of Great-Britain. It was a contest, as you know, for the natural inherent rights, which belong to every individual in all countries ; and with which no government can rightfully intermeddle. Among the leaders of the American people, there were Master Spirits, by whom those rights had been well and successfully studied. But it was the proba- ble approach of actual hostilities with the mother country, that seems fully to have awakened the inhabitants of Acton to a sense of the im- portance of their civil and political rights and duties. It was not till thirty-three years after the incorporation, that the town was represent- ed in the Provincial Legislature. In 1738, an article was inserted in the warrant " to choose a deputy ;" and the same thing was done every year afterwards. But the record shows no discussion or difference of opinion on the subject. With some variation of expression, it gener- ally reads something like the following : " It was propounded whether they would choose a deputy, and it passed in the negative."
There seems, in those days, to have been none of that hunger and thirst for political popularity and distinction, which have since become, in most of our towns, so raging and destructive. It is to be supposed, also, that, with the expenses attendant on the support of public wor- ship, the making and repairing of roads, the maintenance of schools, the support of the poor, and other necessary expenses, the town was not very well able to meet the burden of a representation in the Legisla- ture. So long as their daily occupations were not interrupted, and they were permitted to manage their farms, and their town meetings, after their own fashion, the inhabitants were willing that others should have the honors and the burdens of legislation. To choose hog- reeves at every March meeting ;- to close the meeting, by enacting, (as they always did,) that " Swine shall run at large the present year ;" and to open the May meeting, by a resolve, not to choose a deputy, seem to have been the beginning and the end of their political am- bition.
But as soon as they began to feel the invasion of their rights, it was seen that they would be defended. The seeds of liberty vegetated, and sprang up, even in hearts where they seemed never to have been sown ; like the soil of a new country, which, though unimproved for centuries, and apparently barren, sends up, on the application of fire, a luxuriant crop of clover, where clover had never been seen.
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It would have been comparatively an easy task to have attempted to satisfy you on this occasion, with a splendid encomium on the proceed- ings of the town. But I shall trust facts to speak for themselves. And I will here remark, that it will be presumed that the general facts rela- tive to the Revolution, which have long been published, are familiarly known ; and I shall be confined altogether to those, in which the town had a particular agency.
At a special meeting in January, 1768, it was voted " to comply with the proposals sent to the town, by the town of Boston, relating to the encouragement of Manufactures among ourselves, and not purchasing superfluities from abroad." And in September of that year Joseph Fletcher was chosen to sit in a Convention at Boston, to be holden on the 22d of that month.
On the memorable fifth of March, 1770, the following votes were passed :-
" Voted, That we will use our utmost endeavors to encourage and support the body of merchants and traders, in their salutary endeavors to retrieve this Province out of its present distresses ; to whom this town vote their thanks for the constitutional and spirited measures, pursued by them, for the good of this Province.
" Voted, That, from this time, we will have no commercial or social connexion with those who, at this time, do refuse to contribute to the release of this abused country ; especially those, who import British goods contrary to the agreement of the body of merchants in Boston, and elsewhere ; that we will not afford them our custom, but treat them with the utmost neglect, and all those that countenance them.
" Voted, That we will use our utmost endeavors to prevent the con- sumption of all foreign superfluities, and that we will use our utmost endeavors to promote and encourage our own manufactures.
" Voted, That the town clerk transmit a copy of these votes of the town to the Committee of Merchants of Inspection, at Boston."
In December, 1772, a Committee, consisting of Capt. Daniel Fletcher, Francis Faulkner, Deacon Jonathan Hosmer, Deacon John Brooks, Josiah Hayward, Ephraim Hapgood, Capt. Samuel Hayward, Simon Tuttle, and Daniel Brooks, were chosen to consider the state of the rights of the colonists, and the violation of said rights, and re- port a draft of such votes as they shall think proper.
At an adjournment of the meeting, in the next month, the following report of the committee was accepted :--
" Taking into serious consideration the alarming circumstances of this Province, relating to the violation of our charter rights and privi- leges, (as we apprehend,) by the British administration, we are of opinion that the rights of the colonists, natural, ecclesiastical, and civil, are well stated, by the town of Boston. And it is our opinion, the taxing of us, without our consent, the making the Governor of the Province, and the Judges of the Superior Court, independent of the people and dependent on the Crown, by having their salary paid by the Crown, out of money extorted from us, and many other instances of encroachments upon our said charter rights, are intolerable griev- ances, and have a direct tendency to overthrow our happy Constitu- tion, and bring us into a state of abject slavery. But we have a gra-
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cious sovereign, who is the father of America as well as of Great- Britain ; and as the man, in whom we have had no confidence, is re- moved from before the Throne, and another, in whom we hope to have reason to put confidence, placed in his stead, we hope that our petitions will be forwarded and heard, and all our grievances redressed.
" Voted also, That as we have no member in the House of Repre- sentatives, we earnestly recommend it to the Representative body of this Province, that you, gentlemen, inspect, with a jealous eye, our charter rights and privileges, and that you use every constitutional method to obtain the redress of all our grievances ; and that you stren- uously endeavor, in such ways, as you, in your wisdom, think fit, that the Hon. Judges of the Superior Court may have their support, as for- merly, agreeable to the charter of this province.
" Voted, That the sincere thanks of the town be given to the inhabit- ants of the town of Boston, for their spirited endeavors to preserve our rights and privileges inviolate, when threatened with destruction."
In January, 1774, a communication was received from the Boston Committee of Correspondence, relative to the cargo of tea, belonging to the East-India Company, and as to paying the duty to which it was subject, if landed. The report of the committee, to whom the papers were referred, was made, and unanimously accepted, at the next meeting, in March; the report is not recorded ; but it may be pre- sumed to be in character with the prior and subsequent proceedings of the town.
In August, 1774, Francis Faulkner, John Hayward, and Ephraim Hapgood were appointed delegates to a County Convention, to sit at Concord on the thirtieth day of that month.
In October of the same year, Francis Faulkner and Ephraim Hap- good were appointed delegates to sit in a Provincial Congress, which had been recommended by the County Convention, and which was soon to assemble at Concord. At the same time, the town chose a committee of correspondence, consisting of the two delegates, and John Hayward, Mark White, and Samuel Hayward.
In December of the same year, ££25 was granted for the use of the Province ; and a vote passed to indemnify the assessors for not making return of the taxes demanded by the British Government. It was also voted that the covenant, that is signed by the inhabitants of this town, to break off trade with Great-Britain, be void, and that this town do agree to the association of the Continental Congress ; and that a com- mittee be chosen, to see that the inhabitants of this town do sign their compliance to the association of the Continental Congress, and return the names of those persons, that refuse to sign, to the Committee of Correspondence ; all the males to sign, above the age of sixteen years ; and Samuel Hayward, Francis Faulkner, Jonathan Billings, Josiah Hayward, John Heald, Jr. Joseph Robbins, and Simon Tuttle, were chosen a committee for that purpose.
In November of the same year, (1774,) a Company of Minute Men was raised by voluntary enlistment, and elected Isaac Davis for their commander. This company, by agreement, met for discipline, twice in each week, through the winter and spring, till the fight at Concord. In January, the town voted to pay them each eight pence, for every
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meeting, till the first of May ; provided they should be on duty as much as three hours, and should attend within half an hour after the time appointed for the meeting.
These proceedings on the part of the humble town of Acton, I re- peat, must speak their own eulogy. It yet remained to be seen what would be done, when the crisis should arrive. The trying scene which soon followed, I purpose to pass over, for the present, and dispose of other important facts, connected with the political history of the town.
It may be remarked, in general, that, through the whole period of the war, the records abundantly show great promptness, and liberality, on the part of the town, in furnishing soldiers to meet the requisitions of Congress. In 1781, one thousand dollars, in silver, was granted for the army. Considerable sums were borrowed, and, as has before been intimated, the town was considerably involved in debt. A Com- mittee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety was annually chosen during the war ; and it became so much a matter of course, that one committee was chosen in 1784, after the war was ended. Perhaps there were some remaining 'Tories, that were thoughit to deserve some further inspection.
In the year 1775, Josiah Hayward was twice chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Cambridge.
In June, 1776, a vote passed to give the following instructions to the representative of the town :-
" To Mr. Mark White, Sir,
" Our not being favored with the resolution of the Hon. House of Representatives, calling upon the several towns in this colony to ex- press their minds with respect to the important question of American Independence, is the occasion of our not expressing our minds sooner. But we now cheerfully embrace this opportunity to instruct you, on that important question. The subverting our Constitution ; the many injuries and unheard-of barbarities, which the colonies have received from Great-Britain, confirm us in the opinion, that the present age will be deficient in their duty to God, their posterity and themselves, if they do not establish an American Republic. This is the only form of government we wish to see established. But we mean not to dic- tate. We freely submit this interesting affair to the wisdom of the Continental Congress, who, we trust, are guided and directed by the Supreme Governor of the world ; and we instruct you, sir, to give them the strongest assurance, that, if they should declare America to be a Free and Independent Republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure, with their lives and fortunes."
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