USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Bradford > Discourse, delivered in the East Parish in Bradford, December 22, 1820, two hundred years after the first settlement in New England, containing a history of the town > Part 2
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If you will look, it may appear She was the first that was buried here.
Schools, &c .- There is much reason to suppose, this town was furnished with schools in part, at the public expense, and that the provision for these, was among the " prudentials" intrusted to the selectmen, from the earliest date. There is however, no vote of the town recorded on this subject, till the year 1701, when it was voted, the selectmen should provide a school, according to their discretion, and that they should assess the town for the expense of the same. The next year it was voted that those who sent to school, should pay two pence a week for those that learned to read, and four pence for those that learned to write, the additional expense to be paid by the town. The person's name who kept, was Ichabods, the next whose name is mentioned, was Mas- ter White, who commenced in 1723, and received 241. 10s. a year. His successor was Hobey, who was fol- lowed by a Mr. Merrel. All these persons kept through the year, and most of them for several years each, and as far as we can judge, were well qualified for the busi- ness.
The first school-house was built on the meeting-house land, 22 feet long, 18 feet wide and 7 feet posts, and cost 25l. The building committee, were Jonathan Wood- man, sergeant Robert Haseltine and Nathaniel Walker. 'There are at present seven school-houses in six districts, in which are kept twenty four months of man's school annually, and in summer there is good provision made for the instruction of small children.
In June 7, 1805, the town accepted a report made by their committee appointed for that purpose, consist- ing of Moses Parker, Daniel Stickney, Bradstreet Par-
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ker, Thomas Savory, Esq. and Samuel Tenny, for the better management of the town school. The regulations recommended in this report, have, by experiment, been found good and useful ; and under the advantages now afforded the children and youth, for the acquisition of knowledge, competent to the common concerns of life, they are certainly making very encouraging progress. And I do not think I am influenced by prejudice, or judge without some knowledge on the subject, when I say that I have never known children in common life, so forward in learning, as those in the districts which come under my immediate inspection. And as the regulations through town, are the same, it is presumed the same ob- servation may be extended to all.
It would be an additional improvement, both in regard to economy and the advancement of our children, were the committee empowered to prescribe in all cases, the books which should be used. And there can be but little doubt, but the same observation would hold true in regard to the towns furnishing the necessary stationary to be used in schools.
The greatest inconvenience, we experience, is the un- equal division of the school districts, an evil which 1 do not know can well be remedied; but being an evil which all now feel, will I hope, teach all that in the course of years, individuals can be benefitted in no surer way, than by consulting the general good.
Beside these public schools, there is an academy in the west parish, founded in 1803, and chiefly supported by inhabitants living in that part of the town. 'This in- stitution has, for several years past, enjoyed a large share of public patronage, the best evidence we can have of its being esteemed, by those who have no motives for partiality, a good institution. God has also sent his blessings upon it. Several considerable revivals of reli- 3
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gion have taken place there among the students, and many, who came in persuit of human science, have there learned that fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, and acquired that good understanding, which all have who keep his commandments. Near 2500 youth have received instruction within its walls ; numbers of whom have performed or are now performing parts in the theatre of life, honorable to themselves, and useful to the world. Among whom, you will not expect, I should fail to name, Mrs. Harriet Newell, who in life, took a part in carrying the gospel to a land shadowing in darkness, and whose writings, published since her death, have been the happy instrument of exciting the attention of many, to the obligations they owe to the heathen world.
This academy is under the direction of eleven trustees, viz :- Rev. Jonathan Allen, A. M. Pres. Rev. Isaac Braman, Col. James Kimball, Mr. Edward Kimball, Joseph Chadwick, Esq. Rev. Joshua Dodge, Dea. John Hasseltine, Mr. Moses Kimball, Hon. John Varnum, Rev. Gardner B. Perry, Mr. William Tenny, and has funds to the amount of about two thousand dollars.
Since its foundation, the following persons have held the place of principal instructers in the two apartments. Rev. Samuel Walker, Rev. Samuel Guile, Rev. Abra- ham Burnham, Samuel Morrell, Samuel Peabody, Dan- iel Hardy, Luther Baily, Hon. Samuel Adams, Richard Kimball, Rev. Ebenezer P. Sperry, Nathaniel Dike, Joseph Noyes, and Benjamin Greenleaf the present preceptor.
In the female apartment, Miss Hannah Swan, Mary Boardman, Harriet Webster, Betsey Allen, Charlotte Gage, Abigail C. Hasseltine, the present preceptress .*
. It may not be improper to notice, that since this discourse was written, a building has been erected in the east parish, designed among other useful purposes, for an academy, in which it is hoped to afford youth, who may resort here, the common advantages of such institutions.
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There are two libraries in this town, in which there is a respectable number of well chosen books, besides several little collections owned by small associations.
The Washington Benevolent Society, is an institu- tion now exclusively devoted to literary improvement, and the business is conducted, as I have much reason to suppose, in a manner highly useful to the members. And I must say with its present cast, it is highly desira- ble, that the young men should more generally become members of it. It is by no means designed, and it is far from being desirable, that it should be confined to one part of the town, though hitherto most of its mem- bers have been of this parish. And I cannot but think, that the young men, who do not avail themselves of the advantages of this or some similar institution, will, in the course of a few years, find themselves considerably behind those in real information, who every month assem- ble for improvement in useful knowledge.
'The following persons have received a public edu- cation --
Years. Names.
Colleges.
Residence.
1698. Rev. Thomas Symmns, A. M.
1736. Rev. Samuel Webster, S. T. D.
Harvard, Salisbury, Ms. dec.
Harvard, Exeter, N. H. dec.
1782. Benj. Parker, A.M. M.D. M.M.S.Soc.
Harvard, Bradford,
1789. Daniel Hardy, Jr. A. M.
1790. Samuel Walker, Esq.
1794. Aaron Hardy, A. M.
Dartmouth, Boston, dec.
1800. John Dutch,
Dartmouth, Bradford,
1800. Rev. Daniel Kimball, A. M.
Harvard, Hingham, Ms.
1803. Rev. David T. Kimball, A. M.
1804. Leonard Kimball, A. M.
1808. Nathaniel K. Hardy,
1808. Frederic Muzzy, Esq.
1810. Richard Kimball, A. M.
Dartmouth, Ipswich, Ms.
1812. George Parker, A. M.
Harvard, Southward,
Middlebury, Princeton, Ms.
1815. Rev. David Tenny, A. M.
Harvard, Missionary, dec.
1820. James Kimball, Jr.
Middlebury, Andover,
1821. Stephen Morse,
Dartmouth, Bradford,
Title to the Soil, &c .- So far as the government of the colony was concerned, we have already seen, that our
Dartmouth, Pelham, N.H.
Harvard, Rutland, Vt.
Harvard, Ipswich, Ms.
Harvard, Baltimore,
Dartmouth, Pembroke, dec.
Columbia, N. York City, dec.
1815. Rev. Alonzo Phillips, A. M.
Harvard, Bradford, dec.
1774. Rev. Benj. Thurston, A. M.
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ancestors became in rightful possession of the land, in virtue of the patent granted to Mr. Rogers. And the settlement was made according to the acknowledgment of his descendants, with the full "knowledge, license and liking" of *Maschonomontic, alias Maschonnomit, the chief Sagamore and native proprietor of all the land between the Merrimack and Naumkeag or Bass rivers. But there was no actual purchase of the land from him. In consequence of this, his descendants and heirs, Samuel English and Joseph English, grand-children, and Jobn Umpee, his nephew, set up a claim to the soil in 1700, which claim was allowed by the town, and a committee consisting of John Tenny, Joseph Bailey, Richard Kim- ball, Sen. Phillip Atwood and John Boynton, was chosen the 23d of November that year, to treat with these persons, and purchase the land at the town's ex- pense. This they did for the sum of 6. 10 shillings, and took a deed for the land, signed by these three per- sons, dated 13th January 1801. Samuel English put- ting down for his mark, the sign of a serpent, Joseph English, that of a bow and arrow, and John Umpee, that of a new moon.
Those therefore, who now possess landed property here, may comfort themselves with the reflection, that so far as the original possessors are concerned, they have a just title to it, a reflection which must yield no small satisfaction to those who wish to do justly by all. In consequence as it is presumed, of the wise and equita- ble dealings of the first settlers, and their immediate de- scendants, with the aboriginal inhabitants, next to the restraining influence of God's spirit, the people in this town were never much molested by them. I have found but one record of any violence experienced from them.
ยท Maschonnomit, or as it is spelt in some other records, Maschanomet, was one of the five Sagamores, who in 1643, signed an instrument by which they put themselves and people under the government of the Massachusetts Colony.
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This is contained in a note attached to one of the town books, by Shubel Walker, who was then town clerk, a man admirably fitted for that office, being a very fine writer, and very accurate in the duties of his office ; he served the town several years. He observes in this note, that Thomas Kimball, was shot by an In- dian, the 3d of May 1676, and his wife and five chil- dren, Joannah, Thomas, Joseph, Prescilla and John, were carried captive. These however, he observes in another note, returned home again the 13th of June the same year. Mr. Kimball's house stood on the road lead- ing to Boxford, between Mr. Nathaniel Woodman's and Mr. Peabody's, about twenty rods towards Boxford, where the well and cellar still remain. It is tradition- ally reported, that the Indians, who committed this vio- lence, set out from their homes, near Dracutt, with the in- tention of killing some one in Rowley, who they suppos- ed had injured them, but finding the night too far spent, they did not dare to proceed further, and so avenged themselves on Mr. Kimball, for an injury another man had done them. There was also a Mr. Nehemiah Carl- ton, shot from across the river, at the time of the attack upon Haverhill. And it is said farther, that one of the workmen employed in felling timber on the Haverhill side of the river, for building the house now owned by Reuben Carlton, was also shot. Beside these I have heard of no particular injury received from them. There must have been a considerable settlement of Indians in this town, as is evident from the number of bones found in and about the hill near Paul Parker's. The last of these who resided here, was Papahana, who lived to a great age, in a hut near the mouth of Johnson's creek ; the people of the last generation, knew him well. The name of the tribe to which this settlement belonged, is not certainly known, but is supposed to be the Pawtucet.
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There were three garrison houses built at an early period in this town, one of brick at the west end of the town, near the place where Mr. John Day's house now stands. One where the parsonage was afterwards built, opposite the burying-ground, in the west parish. The third where widow Rebecca Foster's house is ; this was palisaded. 'The inhabitants of the town, often passed the night in these houses, when from any circum- stance, they apprehended danger from the savages. There was also a block house on the neck so called, near the falls, in which, during times of danger, the in- habitants watched by turns.
Town Oficers .- One thing which contributes greatly to the respectability, the moral habits, and indeed to the prosperity of a town, is the appointment of suitable men to transact its public concerns. And I am happy to ob- serve, that the records of this town, carry with them strong internal evidence, that such has been the character of a very great proportion of the men, who have, at differ- ent periods, had the conducting of its affairs. In the ear- ly settlement of the town, the selectmen appeared to have been considered the fathers of the town ; and according- ly were from year to year, for a great period, empowered by the town, to manage all its " prudential affairs ac- cording to the best of their discretion." And if any opinion can be gathered from the town records, they merited the confidence placed in them. I do not find an instance, in which there is the least evidence of any dis- satisfaction on the part of the town, for what they did, unless the raising a school committee in the year to
manage the concerns of the schools, which had, before this, been left with the selectmen, was such. The first who served in this office, were sergeant John Gage, Rob- ert Hasseltine, Joseph Pike, John Griffin, John Tenny. Agreeable to the discretionary power entrusted to
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the selectmen, we find them giving directions concerning the height of fences, &c. things now regulated by law.
And as I perhaps shall not find a more convenient place, I will observe here, that Thomas Kimball was at the first meeting in this town, chosen constable, Samuel Wooster, Benjamin Gage, Benjamin Kimball, David Hasseltine, overseers, Joseph Pike, clerk. And at the same meeting, it was voted, that the houses of Benjamin Gage and 'Thomas Kimball, " should be legal places for posting up any order or other business of public concern- ment to the whole town." And this remained the order of the town, for any thing that appears, with the excep- tion of one year, when the meeting-house was made the place for such notifications, till the division of the town into parishes. I mention this because it makes known the parts of the town, which were then the places of most resort and most business. And also as an evidence that the people of those days, thought the setting up such notifications on meeting-houses to be read sabbath days, was bringing religious and secular things too much to- gether.
In 1707, the town voted there should be two consta- bles instead of one, as before, chosen from the two parts of the town, and that the twenty-five shillings that had been given yearly for this service, should be divided be- tween them. This is the first act of the town, which looks like any acknowledgment of a claim to public no- tice, from local circumstances, and was the commence- ment of a practice, in regard to town offices, which has prevailed to the present time, and by which the two parts. of the town have acted together with a great degree of harmony and good feeling, and which I earnestly hope they will ever continue to do. And it was this measure which led the way in the division of the town into par- ishes, which took place about twenty years after.
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Public Order .- There are few circumstances in the lives of men, better calculated to give a correct view of their character, than their regard to public order. And I am happy to find, that a commendable regard to this, is evident in all the doings of this town. At the first meeting, it was voted " that whoever did not appear at town meeting, at the time set for such meeting, should pay six pence for every hour he was " defective," and if any one in meeting should speak without leave ob- tained from the moderator, he should pay the same sum for every " offence." On the 11th of January 1668, " it was further voted, that when the town are assembled in town meeting, that no one should leave the house with- out liberty obtained, under the penalty of twelve pence per hour, and that no act passed by the town after sunset shall be of value."
In March 1699, a vote was passed to preserve order in the meeting-house, and for this purpose it was ordered, that seats should be assessed to individuals, and that if any should refuse to take the seat assigned him, after proper notice, he should be fined five shillings for every day of public assembly, from which vote there were but two dissenting voices, viz: Joseph and Jacob Hardy. In 1708, when the new meeting-house was to be seated, the town instructed the committee appointed for that purpose, to place the men above 60, according to their age, and all others according to their rates, having no respect to the rates of sons and servants.
In 1818, a vote was passed unanimously in this parish, recommending to all, to go into the meeting-house dur- ing the tolling of the bell on days of public worship, and also to make as little noise as practicable in moving the falling seats. I refer to this as an evidence, that the people retain the same good ideas of public order, which so highly recommends the first settlers in this town,
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and to remind those who may have forgotten this resolve, that it stands yet, as the expression of the sense of the parish, concerning what is decent to be done in and about the house of God. And it is pleasing to observe, that there appears to be an increasing attention to the recommendation contained in this vote.
Health .- Bradford has been as much favoured in this respect, as towns in general. So far as is known, there never has been a specifick local disorder here; as far back as we have records, about one in ten of the deaths has been of persons rising eighty years ; for the few years past the proportion has been rather greater. In this parish since my settlement, full one, out of eight of the deaths, has been of those, who, by reason of strength, had lived to four score years ; and I am happy to say, that in most of these, old age was honourable, because found in the ways of righteousness.
In 1736, this town, in common with several other parts of New-England, was visited with the throat dis- temper, which in one year, carried off in this parish, forty-seven children, and nine grown persons. And it is said that only two families entirely escaped the disorder, one of which was that of their Rev. Pastor. And I apprehend it is from this circumstance, connected with the French war, so called, which made another draft upon persons of the same generation, that there are fewer persons of from 86 and upwards living now, than there was in the former generation, and less than there is a prospect of being in the generation now follow- ing them, in this county, and perhaps in other parts of New-England. This appears to me, at least, a much more probable reason for the present diminution among aged people, than the one generally given, that people do not now live as long, as in the early settlement of the country.
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In 1762, the throat distemper returned again, when about twenty-three were taken away by it, in a short time. And in 1794, fifteen more died of the same disorder. May God, in his great mercy, forbid that this judgment should return any more to this place. May the rising. generation be saved from the pestilence which walketh in darkness, and from the distruction which wasteth at noon-day.
In May 1777, the small-pox made its appearance in this place. The first person that died with it, was Jere- miah Hardy. The town built a pest house on the road passing by Mr. Benjamin Jaquis's, south of his house, and removed those to it, who had taken the disorder. Fourteen had the disorder and ten died. . Just about the time those, who recovered, were permitted to return to their homes, the pest house was consumed by fire ; but the town, though it instituted an enquiry, was not able to ascertain by what means the fire was communi- cated to it.
What is called the revolution in this country, and by which we became a free and independent people, is a subject of so much general interest, the young will be glad to be informed, and the old to be reminded, what part this town took, in that glorious and ever memo- rable affair. The first public measure upon record, is the choice of captain Daniel Thurston, in 1774, to set in the provincial congress, which was to meet at Con- cord the 11th of October, that year. And at a subse- quent meeting of the frecholders and other inhabitants of the town of Bradford, duly warned and legally assem- bled, it was voted to give to captain Daniel Thurston, the representative of the town of Bradford, in general assembly, the following instructions. "Sir, we, his ma- jesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Bradford, in town meet-
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ing legally assembled, this 7th of January 1775, take this opportunity to express our very great uneasiness, at the infringements of our natural and constitutional rights, by many of the late measures of the British ad- ministration ; particularly those of the taxation of the colonies, and the granting of salaries to the judges of the Superior Court, measures adapted as we apprehend, to lay a foundation in time, to render property precarious and to introduce a system of despotism, which we cannot view, but with the utmost aversion, and to which we cannot submit, while possible to be avoided. We re- commend it to you as our representative in general as- sembly, to use your influence to obtain redress of all our injuries ; and in particular to enquire whether the sup- port of the judges of the Superior Court, has been ade- quate to their services, office and station ; and if not, to use your influence in obtaining suitable grants and es- tablishments, as may be thought sufficient to remove all pretence, that government is not sufficiently supported among ourselves, which was voted unanimously. We also vote the thanks of this town, to the town of Boston, for the care and vigilance they have discovered for the rights and privileges of this province, as men, as chris- tians, and as subjects. Voted, that the town clerk, be directed to transmit a copy of these instructions, &c. to the committee of correspondence in Boston."
DUDLEY CARLTON, WILLIAM GREENOUGH, BENJAMIN GAGE, JR. THOMAS WEBSTER, AMOS MULLIKEN.
Committee to make report.
As the difficulties between this and the mother coun- try increased, and it had become a serious question, whether the united colonies should declare themselves independent, a meeting of the town was called " to see
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whether the town would advise or give Dudley Carlton, . their representative, any instructions relative to the hon- ourable congress declaring the United Colonies independ- ent states." And the town met accordingly on the 20th of June 1776, when they appointed Thomas Webster, John Burbank, capt. Nathaniel Gage, Benjamin Muzzy, John Savory, to consult and report to the meeting, what ought to be done : which committee reported, that they should send to their representative the following instruc- tions, viz :
To Dudley Carlton, Esq. representative from the town of Bradford, in general assembly,
"Sir-When we consider the despotick plan of govern- ment, adopted by the king, ministry and parliament of Great Britain, to enslave these American colonies. When we consider, instead of redressing our grievances, they have turned a deaf ear to the repeated petitions and re- monstrances of all the United Colonies, and have also been and are still endeavouring to enforce their arbitrary plan upon us, by spilling our blood, by burning our towns, by seizing our property and by instigating the savages of the wilderness, and the 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 unconstitutionally and inhumanly treated ; such tyran- nical impositions and abuses of power, we cannot as men submit to. Therefore utterly despairing of a happy re- conciliation ever taking place between Great Britain and these colonies, you are hereby desired, as our represen- tative. to use your utmost endeavour, that our delegates in general congress be instructed to shake off the tyran- nical yoke of Great Britain, and declare these United Colo- nies independant of that venal, corrupt and avaricious court forever, provided no proposals for a happy recon-
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ciliation 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, endeavour to defend them therein."
Which report was accepted so far as it appears unani- mously, and accordingly sent.
This town united also by unanimous vote, in the exer- tions which were made through this state, to procure an universal observance of an act of the state, to prevent monopoly : And at the same meeting, gave the selectmen discretionary power to purchase guns and powder. In the same year they met to choose some one firmly attach- ed to the American cause, to secure this and the other United States, against the danger to which they were ex- posed by internal enemies, and Abraham Day, Jr. was made choice of for this purpose. As it would not be possible to go through all the measures the town took in this work, I will remark that during the continuance of the war, the people of the town appear to have been ready and willing to do their part in the toil, and bear their part of the expenses of that war ; which remark is abundantly supported by their numerous votes to raise money, provision and men, whenever called upon by the proper authorities, and from their prompt assistance, without any call, when the exigences of the country seemed to require.
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