USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > Celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Billerica, Massachusetts, May 29th, 1855 > Part 2
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and common weal." To guard the right of suffrage, one of the most essential for the preservation of pub- lic order, they subjected " any person, not qualified by law, who should presume to give his vote or his voice in any election of the town, or interfere in any town affairs, to a fine of five shillings, to be collected by the constable." Within certain limitations " no proprietor could sell or dispose of lands that had been granted to them, without the knowledge and consent of the town." It is believed that such measures were deemed necessary to protect the town against fanatical and lawless disturbers of the peace, by whom the towns of New England were, at that period, severely troubled.
Those who accepted the terms of incorporation were two, senior and junior, of the name of Hill, one of French, one of Stearns, one of Pattin, one of Farley, one of Croe, three of the name of Parker, one of Dan- forth and one of Chamberlain,-in all, twelve .* John Parker was one of the first selectmen of the town, and was continued in the office seven years. He was ap- proved of by authority of the Court in 1657, as clerk of the courts.
In 1659, John Kittredge was an inhabitant. From him, it is believed that all of the name in New Eng- land descended. Tradition tells us " that he had knowledge of the healing art," and that from the eldest branch of his family the knowledge has descend- ed. A number of the name have been distinguished physicians. Among the early settlers was John Rogers. From John, his eldest son, descended those
* Farmer's History of Billerica, p. 7.
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of the name in this town ; in 1695, he was killed by the Indians. William French came from England to Cambridge, and thence to this town .* George Farley, a resident in Woburn, was one of the selectmen of this town seven years. How, or for what reason, an inhabitant of another town was chosen to be a select- man of this, for seven years, I am unable to ascertain. It may have been owing to an inability to unite in an election of an inhabitant of this town. The first dep- uty who was an inhabitant, chosen by the town to the General Court, of which I find any record, was Jonathan Danforth, in 1684. Previous to the year 1669, a Mr. Davie, of Boston, had represented this town. It was a frequent practice of towns under the old provincial charter, to elect non-resident deputies. An Act of the General Assembly, passed in 1694, abolished the practice. That act provided that the towns should not " choose any person to represent them in the General Court, other than freeholders and residents within such towns." From an early period the colonies felt the evil of being represented and gov- erned by non-residents and foreigners. One of our most eminent statesmen has justly said that " home government was the secret of the prosperity of the New England settlements."+ The Jonathan Dan- forth here spoken of, was one of the committee who located the house-lots of the town; a selectman twenty-one years, and kept a record of the town twenty years. He was frequently employed to locate towns and settlements in New Hampshire and Mas- sachusetts, and " distinguished for his mathematical
* Farmer's History. + Works of Webster, Vol. I, p. 102.
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knowledge and extensive usefulness,"* and strict in- tegrity.
It would appear from the record that no public school was instituted in this town until twenty-four years after its incorporation. Is it to be inferred that the education of youth was so long neglected ? Not so. In good families of that day, as was the custom, the family was a school, in which the rudiments of useful sciences were taught, and the higher branches, by daily reading and much study of the Book, above all other books, that teaches the best lessons of wis- dom. A good family, with the Bible for its chief class-book, I hesitate not to pronounce the best of all schools. The church was a school. The congrega- tion was a school. Faithful parents and ministers were all school teachers.t Soon after incorporation three persons were chosen by the town " to examine the several families, and see whether their children and servants were taught in the principles of religion ; and a little later, by an order of the town, all children and youth, from eight years old and upwards, were required to be sent by their parents and masters, to the Rev. Samuel Whiting to receive catechetical in- struction, at such times as should be appointed."
In 1642 the General Court of the Colony, by a pub- lic act required of towns the duty of " seeing that every child, within their respective jurisdiction, should be educated." The selectmen of every town were re- quired "to have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors,-to see that none of them shall suffer
* Farmer's History, p. 15.
t They taught the youth to think correctly and behave wisely.
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so much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, their chil- dren and apprentices, so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue, and a knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twen- ty shillings for each neglect therein."*
In 1647 a law was passed making " the support of schools compulsory, and education both universal and free." This law was passed seven years before the incorporation of this town. In 1679 Joseph Thomp- son was appointed a public schoolmaster of the town, who continued many years in office. This probably was as soon as the number of families in town was such as the law required to support a public school- master. This town early partook of " the bold spirit of innovation upon all pre-existing policy and usages in provisions for universal education, greater, it has been asserted, than the world had ever known since the commencement of the Christian era."+ To train up all classes of the people to industry, intelligence, and virtue, and correct habits of thought, liberal means were required by law, stringent in its penalties. In truth, every town, by adopting the principles of self-government and of equal laws, and by discussions and regulations for the public welfare, was a perpet- ual school, demanding deep and earnest thought .- The great problems of religion, freedom and good gov- ernment never were thoroughly solved in words spoken, written or printed, however eloquent. Ap- plication explains them, exposes their defects, gives them proof, and illustrates their worth. Had it been
* See Colonial Laws. t Horace Mann.
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in the power of great schools, of profound learning, of commanding talents and inspiring eloquence among the few to make and keep nations free and prosper- ous, why would not the renowned Republics of Greece and of Rome have been immortal ? Men must not only believe right but live as they believe.
In both the history of the town and in Dr. Cum- ings' half century sermon the Church is represented as having been organized in 1663. Ministers of that day, of the Congregational order, were frequently call- ed elders, and the lay-delegates of the churches were called messengers. In November, of the same year, the Rev. Samuel Whiting was ordained as the minis- ter of the church and the town, in which office he con- tinued to the advanced age of eighty years. The Rev. Samuel Ruggles was his colleague several years, and was his successor to the year 1749, when he deceased, making the whole term of his ministry forty-one years. The Rev. John Chandler was the next minister, who continued in office a little less than thirteen years, and died in less than two years after his dismission. The difficulty that resulted in Mr. Chandler's dismis- sion is not stated in any record or history to which I have found access. History mentions him as having been a graduate of Harvard College, and " his ser- mons as having been written in a neat style and evinc- ing a benevolent spirit."* To fill the vacancy, caus- ed by his dismission, a large number of candidates were heard ; one of the candidates was invited to set- tle, but some disagreement prevented his settlement. A day was set apart by the town for fasting and pray-
* See Farmer's History, p. 19.
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er, that the people might be directed in the choice of a minister. Another candidate was invited to settle, but declined the invitation. In 1672 the church and town concurred in the choice of Henry Cumings, of Hollis, in New Hampshire, to settle with them in the gospel ministry. He was ordained January 26, 1763. Thus the town was without a settled minister a little more than two years.
It would be unjust to the name of the Rev. Samuel Whiting, the first minister of this town, to pass un- noticed the excellent character he sustained, highly respected by the town for his " fidelity, circumspec- tion and diligence," in the various duties of private and public life. The estimation and affectionate re- gard of the people exhibit their character in beautiful relief. " When sickness prevented him for several months from attending to the duties of the sanctuary, their affection for him, as upon other occasions, was manifested. They procured the Rev. John Fox to preach during his indisposition, and rewarded him at their own expense."* A poem on his death, written long afterwards, sketches his character in the style of its day. It is a grand portrait :-
" Whiting, we here beheld a starry light, Burning in Christ's right hand and shining bright ; Years seven times seven sent forth his precious rays, Unto the gospel's profit and Jehovah's praise."
It has been supposed that the tax upon the people for the support of a minister was very light in the time of which I am speaking. The salary of Rev. Mr. Whiting, the fourth year of his settlement, was
* Farmer's History, p. 16.
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sixty pounds. Then the pay of the common laborer, finding himself, was one shilling a day. The salary of sixty pounds was equal to nine times that sum when the pay of a day's work is nine shillings,-the handsome sum of eighteen hundred dollars. The high estimate of the importance of the ministry, and the liberality of nineteen inhabitants of the town in its infancy, in engaging to pay annually suclı a sala- ry, speaks an eulogy upon their character, in deeds more eloquent than our best words. Whatever the cost, they were resolved that neither they nor theirs should be without religious instruction. If time would allow, and they could be obtained, I would give you some specimens of the religious opinions inculca- ted by the ministers of the town, prior to the ministry of Dr. Cummings.
Our ancestors were eminently exemplary in the maintenance of religious order. In solemn forms, and most commonly ministers were set apart to their mo- mentous work. He who was to teach them the way to heaven, to direct the shade and commend in death the spirit to God, could not be received into office among them but in a solemn manner. An ordination was a great occasion, worthy to be celebrated with holy and beautiful devotions, with the sympathy of fellow-Christians, and innocent joys. Serious as they were, they loved to have their fellow-citizens of the neighboring towns share with them in generous fes- tivities and recreations. We would not claim that they were faultless. Filial affection bids us draw the vail of candor over the errors of those to whom we owe a debt we can never repay. The most beautiful
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pictures are blendings of lights and shades. Illy would it become us to forget that
" To err is human ; to forgive divine."
If God had made us morally perfect, - to exist here we should have had no need. Should we place " our souls in their soul's stead," whose voice of reproach should we hear raised against them ? Are they ac- cused of superstition ? A previous question is to be settled. Are we competent judges of that matter? I love to think of their stern, uncompromising devotion to their great cause ; of their antiquated prayers, and psalm singing; of their grand election, thanksgiving and ordination days. The inauguration of good rulers and the ordination of a good minister, were great oc- casions.
The pastoral connexion of Dr. Cumings with the church and town of Billerica, continued to the 6th of September, 1823, the time of his decease, in the 85th year of his age, and the 61st of his ministry. The honor is justly due to minister and people to remark, as we may with truth, that few, very few instances of a ministry so peaceful and protracted, so well sustain- ed and so happy, can be found in this or any other age of the Christian church.
During one hundred and sixty years from the settle- ment of the first minister, the town was the congre- gation, with but one church in the town. Though entertaining, as doubtless they did, various religious opinions, yet all assembled in the same house of wor- ship, or, with few exceptions, listened to the same re- ligious instruction, and as communicants gathered
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around the same table. What a change has taken place throughout New England and our whole land !
In his half century sermon, delivered February 21st, 1813, the venerated Cumings pronounced this eulogy, so honorable to the character of our ancestors, that " from the earliest date of their connexion with a gos- pel minister, a friendly harmony hath uniformly, or with very transient interruption, subsisted between the church and people of God, in this place, and those who have successively ministered to them in holy things." "It gives me pleasure to add (he said ) that I know of none of the sacred order who have lived half a century with the people of their charge, in greater love, peace, and harmony." Of this eminent divine, the sermon delivered at the funeral, by one who knew him, gives this graphic description ; - " We shall present him to you in the full strength of a ma- tured mind, richly stored with classical learning, and as far outstripping most of his coevals in literary at- tainments, as in natural endowments. His command- ing stature, muscular strength, and dignified appear- ance, were striking indications of the strong powers of his understanding. A constitution uncommonly firm and athletic aided the mighty efforts of his mind, and supported it in long continued research and in- vestigation. Understanding the nature of moral evi- dence, and fully convinced of the truth and excellence of Christianity, he concentrated all the mighty ener- gies of his soul to the Christian ministry."* Whilst other towns and churches had frequent divisions and long protracted controversies, here reigned harmony
* Rev. Wilkes Allen.
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and peace, alike honorable to the people and their min- isters. For this, with other causes, this deserved the praise in history of being "ranked among the noted towns of New England." Of the theological opinions entertained by the ministers of this town, anterior to the time of Dr. Cumings, I regret that I have been unable to find any trace.
During his ministry, Dr. Cumings had, of ser- mons and discourses, delivered on various occasions, seventen published, all by the solicitation of-his own people, or of those in other places to whom they were addressed. Five of them were Thanksgiving dis- courses published by request. I think I may assert that among all his discourses, not one treated largely on what are called the dogmas in theology, in contro- versy among Christians. When he alluded to any disputed point of doctrine, it was incidentally and briefly, but with great force, and yet with candor .- Repeatedly, in cases of controversy and division in other towns and churches, he was called to preside in mutual councils as moderator. Under his direction a number of young men were prepared for the Christian ministry. And may I not add, that seldom, if ever on earth, has there subsisted a more unbroken and beau- tiful harmony in the Christian church, and in the maintenance of Christian ordinances, than was enjoy- ed by the town of Billerica during more than the first century and a half of its existence. If this is boasting, hardly becoming an humble son of the town, the rest of the family, and our kind friends, I hope, will for- give me. We have met to enjoy the mutual congrat- ulations that truth will allow to affectionate children,
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in one of the most beautiful scenes we can pass in this world.
The fifth minister of the town, Rev. Nathaniel Whitman, was ordained as colleague of Dr. Cumings in 1814. Mr. Whitman continued his ministry until May in 1835, a period of more than twenty-one years, and as I have always understood, in the most entire mutual affection and harmony subsisting be- tween the people and their minister, honored and happy in the high esteem of the senior pastor.
Within less than the last half century changes in this, as in nearly all the towns of New England, have been rapidly taking place in religious concerns .- Where the population is but little increased, instead of the one Congregational Church and Society in the town, now there are four, five, or more, of different denominations. Happy, if with the spirit of division and the multiplication of Christian sects, the people are making equal progress in pure morals and in the principles and practices of the divine life. Since the commencement of the year 1828 three additional churches and societies, of different denominations, have been formed, who have erected their houses of worship, and each supported a regular ministry. In the order of time the first of these was the Baptist, the second the Congregational Trinitarian, and the third the Universalist. Let our charity to-day be, as it should be every day, greater than our faith and hope. " The wounds (said Lord Bacon of such divi- sions) are not dangerous, unless we poison them with our remedies." How is it to be explained, that as late as the year 1800, 1383 inhabitants of this town,
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(and in this Commonwealth there were even hundreds of similar instances) continued to be of one congrega- tion and church, and attending the instructions of one minister in the same meeting-house ? Were they less religious than are the people of 1855 ? Were they less acquainted with the Bible, or less observant of the duties and obligations of the Christian life ? Were there a greater proportion of the people then than now, in the neglect of public worship ? Well do I remember the third meeting-house, 60 feet in length by 46 in width, with its three wide galleries and long slips, filled in every part ; when the old and feeble rode on horse-back, and the young of both sex- es, not unfrequently, walked the distance of three or four miles to attend the Court of the Most High, and learn the knowledge that gives light, and hope, and peace, in life and in death. From that time to the present, the period of the connexion between a peo- ple and their minister has been growing less, tending to weaken one of the most sacred relations of life, among other causes increasing the spirit of division and continually rendering more burthensome the sup- port of religious institutions. Whether "religion, pure and undefiled," be the result of the great change that has taken place, is a question that demands the profound consideration of all good men. Progress we aspire, we ought, to make. We pray to God that it may be in the right direction. Often the scene fa- miliar to my childhood passes my mind, of that old edifice that stood a few rods bearing North of this spot, the third erected by the town, which I should think no painter's brush ever touched,
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every holy day thronged with devout worshippers,- where stood the venerated Cumings of gigantic stature, not with a very musical, but a distinctly audible voice, proclaiming the living way; confirming the waver- ing ; holding up the promised crown to the faithful. Earnestly, eloquently he taught the people to be Chris- tians and patriots. The people of this town have al- ways been patriotic. From the first settlement we may trace the predominance in the character of the people of this town, of one great principle essential to the happiness of the social state, the Christian prin- ciple of self-sacrifice to promote the peace and welfare of the whole. It was not thought by them a man's only business to save his own life, or his property, or even his own soul, at the cost of his brother's or his neighbor's rights. Could they have left to us bet- ter evidence that they were sincere Christians and true patriots ? In this respect they were genuine Puritans, sons of freedom, partaking little of the self- willed individualism, the essence of despotism in all time,- that, right or wrong, to have its own way, would desolate the earth and defy heaven.
In the periods of severest trial this town has been as true and steady in patriotism as in religion, "amidst great political changes and revolutions, and the try- ing vicissitudes of calamity and prosperity, private and public,"* maintaining an honorable integrity. We have read and dimly thought of " times that tried men's souls." What imagination can paint the scenes of Indian warfare, when no man dared to sleep but upon his arms, or to go to his labor, or to the sanctuary of
* Dr. Cumings.
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God, without bearing with him the deathly weapons of defence ? Chosen men of the town were kept pre- pared through the winter, at a moment's alarm, with snow-shoes to go to the relief of neighbors, or to pur- sue the stealthy foe. Can we describe the deep solemni- ty of the occasion when the little band of citizens met and resolved, "That the enemy being near, and the warning of God's Providence upon our neighbors be- ing very solemn, we do, therefore, order and agree to prepare a place of safety for our women and children."
In 1675 this town, with the advice and direction of the Court of the Colony, established twelve garrisons for protection of the inhabitants. No family could be safe with their own means of defence. The garrisons were located in twelve different places. One at Ralph Hill's for the inhabitants of five dwellings. One at Thomas Foster's for the families of six dwellings. One at Simon Crosby's for seven families. One at Rev. Samuel Whiting's for seven families. This was agreed upon as " the main garrison and the last refuge in case of extremity." One at Thomas Patten's for five families. One at James Patterson's for four fam- ilies. One at Jacob Frenche's for four houses. One at James Kidder's for four houses. One at Jonathan Danforth's. One at Timothy Brook's. One at George Farley's house, " to entertain as it may be capable." One at Job Lane's, who, from his remote situation, was allowed to fortify his own house, and " to have two soldiers if the country could spare them." "The Masters of the several garrisons were Sergeant Ralph Hill, Sergeant Thomas Foster, Sergeant Joseph Tomp- son, Rev. Samuel Whiting, Thomas Patten, James
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Patterson, John Marshall, Sergeant James Kidder and Jonathan Danforth." These were preparations for defence in the time of King Philip's war, during which this town appears to have sustained no serious injury. A few years later a number were massacred or captured by the Indians. In 1692 Ann Shed, wife of Zachara Shed, and two of her children ; Joanna Dutton, wife of Benjamin Dutton, and two of her children were their victims. In 1695 they entered the house of John Rogers in the north part of the town, in the day time, and, with an arrow, gave him a mortal wound. A young woman they scalped and left for dead. A son and daughter of Mr. Rogers they took prisoners. The mother-in-law and five young children of John Levistone were killed, and his eldest daughter was captured. The wife of Dr. R. Toothaker was killed and his youngest daughter was taken prisoner. According to Gov. Hutchinson's History and the town records, fifteen persons were killed at that time. In history I am unable to find any particular cause of hostility of the Indians against this town, or in many other instances, other than a settled jealousy, not without foundation, we must ad- mit, that unless they exterminated the English, the English would exterminate them. But little provoca- tion was sufficient, at this period, to excite that passion to the utmost rage. It was, to their race, a question of life or death. The Pequods, a powerful and war-like tribe, as history relates, " courted the alliance of its neighbors, the Narragansets and the Mohegans, that an union and a general rising of the natives might sweep the hated intruders from the
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ancient hunting grounds of the Indian race."* To the credit of our ancestors history bears testimony that this town early purchased of the Indian tribes a title to their lands.
By what trials of hardship, of severe discipline, of self-possession, of indomitable courage, the people were prepared for the great events of the revolution. One mother of Billerica illustrated the heroic courage and the consummate address, of which many of her sex have given examples. Mary Farmer, wife of Ed- ward, with several of her sons to guard her, went from the garrison to the field to gather vegetables for dinner. While there she discovered a number of In- dians concealed behind the fence, almost within reach of her hand. Had she given an alarm the Indians probably would have dispatched her and her sons, though they were lying in wait to get possession of the garrison with more plunder, and a greater num- ber of captives. Having gathered her vegetables, she said, in a loud tone,-" Boys, guard us well to the garrison, and then you may come back and hunt the Indians." Returning they alarmed the garrison, and the Indians fled with precipitation. After the war the Indians declared that had it not been for " that one white squaw" they should have effected their purposes. t
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