USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 19
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" It is understood by both Committees that, unless both Parishes accept this Report, it is to be all void and of none effect, and that Parish that may or doth accept shall not be held thereby.
BROWN EMERSON, $ of First Parish.
\ By Order of Committee
SAMUEL BANCROFT, ¿ By Order of Committee of Third Parish.
"May 3, 1773, Read and Accepted."
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
This year the people of Boston, a party of them, threw overboard into the sea 342 chests of tea, on which an obnoxious tax had been levied by England. Andrew Oliver, who died in this town in 1817, at the age of 70, was of the party aforesaid.
A reward of £500 each was offered for the names of the party, but no one opened his lips to inform.
Other obnoxious acts were at this time passed by the British Parlia- ment, which aroused the suspicions of the people.
In January the town of Reading were assembled to consider their public grievances, as set forth in a letter received from the town of Bos- ton. The town voted that Messrs. Benjamin Brown, Samuel Bancroft, Esq., Lt. John Walton, Capt. Thomas Flint, Dea. Amos Upton, Capt. David Green, Mr. John Temple, Mr. William Sawyer, and Mr. Andrew Beard, be a Committee to consider the subject and report. Said com- mittee submitted a report in the shape of instructions to their rep- resentative, which was read and debated on two separate days, and accepted. Said report is as follows : -
"To Deacon Daniel Putnam, who represents this town at the Great and General Court of this Province, Sir, being chosen by the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Reading to the important trust of a Representative, we expect you will pay all proper attention to the advice and instruction of us, your constituents, whenever we shall think fit to offer such as we judge conducive to the public good, which we now do, not from any distrust of your integrity, but that your hands may be strength- ened by knowing the minds of your constituents. It being reported, and we fear not without foundation, that salaries are annexed, by order of the Crown, to the offices of the Honorable Justices of the Superior Court in this Province, whereby they are made independent of any grant from our Great and General Court ; this step, if really taken, requires the attention of every person in the Province and within the jurisdic- tion of said Court, who have either life or property depending. As nothing can be of more importance to the happiness of any people than absolute independence of those who are to pass finally upon their lives and properties ; and what can make our Hon- orable Justices of the Superior Court more dependent than their receiving their salaries at the will of that power with whose substitute their commissions originate ; and without whose consent they cannot be dismissed, be their administration ever so grievous to the people. In order to prevent the many dangers that may follow from the dependence of the Judges upon the Crown for their support, we do advise and instruct you to exert yourself that the salaries of the Honorable Justices of the Su- perior Court be raised so as to be adequate to their station and service, and as inde- pendent both on Prince and people as possible.
"There are more grievances, that might be pointed out, such as the 'Revenue Act,' as it is called, so, also, the extension of the jurisdiction of the Courts of Vice Admiralty, which we judge to be a grievance, dangerous and oppressive to the people.
" We need not enumerate our public grievances ; they are publicly known. And since this is our present situation, it is our special advice and instruction to you at this time of danger, to use your utmost endeavor, in every constitutional way in the
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General Court, to procure a redress of our grievances and a restoration of that happy harmony, which lately subsisted between Great Britain and her colonies ; and also in every constitutional way, seek to promote harmony in the several branches of the Great and General Court, of which you are a member ; but caution you against giv- ing your consent to measures which may in the least preclude us or our posterity from asserting our just rights as Men and British subjects.
" We wish you success in your just endeavors, and we wish success to all the just and constitutional endeavors of every branch of that Great and General Court, of which you are a member, for the removal of our grievances, and the promotion of good government, peace and order in this Province."
1774. - The war clouds are rising, their lightnings are beginning to flash, and the rumblings of their thunder are heard in the distance. In June the town voted "to maintain their Charter Rights in every constitutional way." At the same time also voted " that Messrs. Ben- jamin Brown, John Walton, John Batchelder, Jr., George Flint, David Damon, Benjamin Flint, Samuel Bancroft, Esq., John Temple, and Ja- bez Damon, be a Committee to enquire into our present exigencies and draft something relative thereto, and lay it before the town for their consideration at the adjournment of this meeting July 11th."
July II, the Committee aforesaid submitted the following Report :-
" The situation of things between Great Britain] and the Colonies hath been for some years past very unhappy ; Parliament on the one hand hath been taxing the Colonies, and they, on the other, have been petitioning and remonstrating against it, apprehending they have a constitutional and executive right of taxing themselves, without which our condition would be but little better than slavery.
" Possessed of these sentiments, every new measure of Parliament, tending to es- tablish and confirm a tax, renews and increases our distress, which we think cannot be given up without degrading ourselves.
"This town hath already voted to maintain their rights in every constitutional way, which sentiments we trust will be perpetual ; and though there are many ways, means and things proposed by one and another, that have hopeful appearances, and yet all attended with uncertainty ; and, as we understand a Congress of Commissioners from all the Colonies is proposed, that so we may have as near as possible the wisdom of the whole collected in consulting and determining the most likely ways and means for our deliverance from our present perplexed and distressed state, which Congress, it is expected, will meet by the first of September next, we therefore judge it is not expe- dient for this town to adopt any particular measures for their future conduct, till we hear what measures shall be adopted by them, least we should counteract the meas- ures they may fix upon as most probable for our deliverance, and to extricate us from our present distress. We also think it the duty of every one to refrain from the lux- uries and superfluities of life, and to the utmost of our power, to encourage our own manufactures, humbling ourselves before Almighty God, and earnestly supplicating him for deliverance ; for how much soever we judge these things unrighteous, as com- ing from the hands of men, we must allow they are just as sent from God.
" By order of the Committee,
"BENJ. BROWN, Chairman."
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
Then chose John Temple and Benjamin Brown as deputies to a Pro- vincial Congress, and appropriated £2 13s. 8d. for support of the Commissioners of Congress.
In December, the town voted "to adopt the sentiments of the Conti- nental Congress as their own, and strictly to adhere to them." Then chose a Committee of Inspection " to see that the foregoing sentiments are strictly adhered to."
Roads, etc., in the North Precinct : -
" Reading, May 18, 1774 or 1742. We, whose names are underwritten, being chosen a Committee to view and see what ways are necessary in the North Precinct, and to set out a Burying place and a training field, have been and taken a view thereof, and report as followeth :
" Ist. A way from Flint's mill to Lynn line as it was formerly laid out by the Se- lectmen.
" 2d. A way from Geo. Flint's out to the ten-pole way before Samuel Dix's house, near the corner of Jona. Flint's land.
"3d. A way from the Saw Mill between Samuel Dix's land and Samuel Lues, Jr.'s, land to the above said road.
"4th. A Bridle way from the road near Richardson bridge up to Samuel Harts- horn's, and so on the east side of said Hartshorn's land up to the other Road, that leads from Jona. Batcheller's to the Meeting-house.
"5th. A way from said Jona. Batcheller's land to the ten-pole way by or near 'Nod Mill.'
" All the above said ways we look upon as needful and necessary ; and there are some other ways asked for, that we are not able at present to give our opinion upon, not being fully acquainted with the circumstances thereof, not having time.
" EBENEZER PARKER, " EBENEZER FLINT, "THOMAS EATON, Committee."
"EDWARD HIRCOM, " EBENEZER NICHOLS, 1
(N. B. - The date to the above reads thus : "May 18, 17742," and was intended probably, for 1742.)
The Third Parish ordered that their part of the schooling for the present year shall be one half in the northwest part, and the other half in the northeast part, of the parish.
1775. - This year the war of the Revolution burst upon the American Colonies.
Into the spirit of that war, in defence of American liberty against the growing encroachments of British tyranny, the people of Reading en- tered with great unanimity and with all their heart ; to its support they not only pledged, but they freely paid, " their lives, their fortunes, and
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their sacred honor." The records of the town and of each parish, during the continuance of the war, breathe the most earnest patriotism, the most determined resolution, and are full of votes for raising and providing money, provisions, clothing, fuel, and men, in cheerful re- sponse to all the calls of the Government.
It appears that the town of Reading sent to the army, for longer or shorter terms, from first to last, more than 400 men; and there was constantly in the field from Reading an average of one hundred men during the war.
This does not include minute-men, men drafted from time to time to guard prisoners, and privateersmen, of which there were many.
Col. Benjamin Brown, Capt. James Bancroft, Capt. (afterwards Col. and Gov.) John Brooks, and others from Reading were brave and emi- nent officers.
(See List of Soldiers in the Army in the Appendix "D.")
Some of the votes of the town during this memorable contest will be given to show the heroic sentiments of the people, and the greatness of their contributions of men and means, in proportion to their popula- tion and resources, as well as to exhibit the alarming commotions of those " times that tried men's souls." ʻ
January, Town voted to raise £75 IIS. IId., and appropriate the same to the use of the Province.
March, the Provincial Congress having recommended that one fourth part of all the militia companies in the Province be enlisted, equipped, and hold themselves in readiness to march on the shortest notice, the town voted to allow a bounty of one shilling for every three hours' at- tendance of any minute-man, twice a week, at the place of parade, to learn the art military. Many persons came forward and enlisted as minute-men.
Town voted to contribute to the relief of Boston and Charlestown (See Appendix "K.")
Mr. John Temple was chosen a delegate to a Provincial Congress to be held at Cambridge in February next. He was also elected Repre- sentative.
In April the Provincial Congress resolved that the people of Massa- chusetts should prepare for war with the mother country, as they fear she means to destroy this country. They appoint a Fast on account thereof.
April 19, the battle of Lexington and Concord fight took place. Many of the citizens of this town were in these skirmishes.
Reuben Eaton, son of Noah, whom many now living will remember,
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
- a young man who loved his gun, was fond of hunting, and was skilful in taking game, especially ducks and other wild fowl, -when the alarm- ing news first reached the town that the British were moving out of the city towards Concord, it is said that he, unlike his fellow-citizens generally, who, full of excitement, seizing what arms and ammunition came first to hand, ran with all haste to find the foe, this man, with all the deliberation and care with which he would prepare to hunt ducks, proceeded to cleanse his gun, supply his lock with a new flint, his horn with powder, and his pouch with bullets, and every other equipment, and, when thus prepared, followed in pursuit.
He reached Concord in season to join the skirmish there, and to assist in driving the enemy towards Boston.
In their retreat from Concord, it will be remembered, the British were pursued and harassed by the Americans, who, from behind walls, buildings, and trees, discharged their muskets at the retiring foe. In ' this pursuit our hero was active and conspicuous.
Getting in advance of the retreating detachment, and secreting him- self behind some building, wall, or other defence, he would wait their approach, and taking the same deliberate and careful aim as if he were hunting fowls, would be pretty sure not to fire without effect. He said afterwards, in referring to this mode of popping off the enemy, "O, it was glorious picking !"
At one time, however, he came near getting picked off himself. Continuing once in his hiding-place rather too long, until the British had approached quite near, hating to leave until he had fired a ball or two more, he at length started and ran. The British saw him, and sev- eral guns were instantly discharged at him ; he immediately dropped, although not hit, and laid flat upon his face ; supposing him to be killed, the foe marched on. Eaton then sprang up and ran again ; again the balls came whistling after him ; again he dropped as if killed, although still uninjured, and, after lying a minute, jumped up and took to his heels again. The troops saw him and again fired after him, but he escaped unhurt. He heard them say, however, "See that Yankee ; we have killed him twice, and look, he can run yet !"
He remarked, after his return home, that this was the happiest day of his life.
Thomas Emerson (father of the late Hon. Thomas Emerson), then a young man of eighteen years, was promptly in pursuit on that occasion. He overtook the enemy near Concord, at or near the place where the road from Bedford comes into the Concord road, a mile or two east of Concord village. It was here he got his first shot at the redcoats. It
23
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was here, too, or near here, that he saw too foemen meet, one coming out of, or round the corner of, a house, and the other approaching the house ; they fired at each other at the same moment, and both fell dead together.
The following pressing call upon the town for wood shows the dis- tress of the army at this time : -
" To the Selectmen of Reading :
" Gents : The Committee appointed by the General Court to aid the Quarter- master-General in supplying the army with wood, have directed me to write to you, in the most pressing manner, praying that you immediately exert yourselves in per- suading and prevailing upon the people in your town to supply our brethren in the army with wood.
"In compliance with their direction, I inform you that the Committee have for a fortnight past been incessant in their application to this business ; and they are now so engaged that they cannot wait upon you, but you are earnestly entreated, by all you hold dear, not to delay this matter ; the Committee are much obliged to you for what you have done already ; but the supply is not adequate to the demand; therefore it is hoped you will engage all the teams you can. Hereby you will serve your country, you will serve yourselves, you will relieve your brethren, and much oblige your Hum- ble Servant,
"RICHARD DENVER.
" WATERTOWN, Nov. 18, 1775. " Per order.
"N. B. - You will see the propriety of mentioning it on Lords-day in the meeting- house."
To this earnest call the people of Reading returned the following answer : -
" Nov. 20, 1775. - To the Quartermaster General of the army : Being acquainted by Mr. Denver, your assistant, that the army is in great necessity of wood, we have exerted our utmost efforts that they may be supplied ; but the case is such, there being about a hundred men from this town in the army, that we are under great diffi- culty for hewers of wood ; if you will therefore send up the Captain of the Company from this town with a party of men to cut wood, we make no doubt our teams will be immediately employed, and continue until they carry a hundred cords or more."
Dec. 4, 1775, the town voted "that the First Parish carry 14 cords, the Second Parish 12} cords, and the Third Parish 12ª cords, of wood, per week, to the army on 'Winter Hill.'"
Dec. 26, 1775, House of Representatives ordered " that Mr. Ingols repair immediately to Reading, and represent to the Committee of Cor- respondence, Selectmen and inhabitants of said town the distress of the army for wood, and the great danger the Country is exposed to from the dispersion of the army, which may take place if it is not supplied with wood ; and to use his utmost endeavors to prevail with them to exert themselves in this critical situation of the army ; to supply not
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
only such quantity as has been set to them, but as much more as they possibly can, at least half as much more as has been set on them as aforesaid.
" Attest : SAMUEL FREEMAN, Clerk."
"Jacob Emerson (son of Dea. Brown Emerson) was chosen Select- man in place of Lt. James Bancroft, who was gone to the army."
Lt. James Bancroft aforesaid was commissioned May 6th, by the Council of Massachusetts, as Captain of the Fourth Company of Second Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex, and, in July, 1776, by the same authority, as Captain of the Continental Army in Canada, under Col. Jonathan Reed, Esq.
In June, 1777, he received, direct from Congress, a captain's com- mission in the regiment of foot, under Col. Michael Jackson, Esq. This commission was signed by John Hancock, President of Congress.
Capt. Bancroft aforesaid (afterwards known as " Esquire " Bancroft) enlisted in the army in 1775, and continued to serve therein until 1780. He was at Concord fight in 1775, and at the taking of Burgoyne in 1777. Afterwards Gen. Washington gave him charge of a hospital in Pennsylvania. He married, Ist, 1758, Sarah Pierson, and 2d, in 1785, Sarah Parker. He died May 17, 1831, aged 92.
It seems to be a wise ordination of an overruling Providence, that, in all great emergencies in society, there shall step forth upon the stage of action individuals suited to the exigence, who are qualified to lead and to guide. At the commencement of the war of the Revolution our country was highly blessed in this regard. Wise and good men started up in different parts of the land, illustrious among whom was the im- mortal Washington. Our own State at that time had its great and good men, conspicuous among whom were Quincy, Warren, the Adamses, and others. The town of Reading, too, had then its able and wise men, each parish being thus more or less distinguished. In the First Parish were : Col. David Green, who had long been a man of influence in civil and military life, now between sixty and seventy years old, but all ready to go forth to defend the liberties of his country, and Col. Benjamin Brown (See Appendix "I"), then in the full strength of middle life, able, zealous, and patriotic, and highly popular, with others ; in the Second Parish were Benjamin Upton and Benjamin Flint, Esquires, and Col. Daniel Flint, all men of ability and influence, and others ; and in the Third Parish, eminent among the several parishes for the number and power of its strong men, were John Temple, great, but only great as he was good ; Samuel Bancroft, Esq., the wise counsellor and able speaker, then in the vale of years ; Capt. Na-
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than Parker, active and smart ; Capt. John Brooks, the young physician, who was then boarding at the Damon homestead, and who was a cap- tain and colonel in the army, and subsequently Governor of the State ; and last, but not least, Capt. James Bancroft, who, not only among the permanent citizens of the parish, but of the town also, held a high, perhaps the highest place. (See Appendix "J.")
In this comparison the several clergymen of the town are not included ; but of them it can be said, that they were all zealous patriots, and able and good men.
"April 25. - To James Adams : You are directed to go to Reading, and find out the effects that came from Salem for public use, and if these effects are not there, find where they are, and if teams are not already carrying them, do you procure sufficient teams, to carry all the public stores, and all such provisions and ammunition, as be- long to private persons who are willing, in this critical juncture, to let the public have them, and order the teamsters to deliver them at Watertown to Commissary Brown, and take his receipt.
"JOHN PIGEON, Commissary General."
" Reading, April 26, An invoice of the Province stores, which I received and stored in Reading Meeting-house and School-house, as follows :
"151 Barrels of Pork, 63 Barrels of Flour, 6 Barrels of Beef, 16 Bu. of Rye. (The trust of the above I committed to Mr. Benjamin Brown.)
"NATH'L BANCROFT."
" June 17, In Committee of Safety, at Cambridge,
" To the Selectmen of Reading,
" You are hereby ordered to send forthwith all the Powder in the town stock to Watertown, except one pound per man." 1
And June 18, " You are desired to provide provision sufficient for the Militia of your town, now at Cambridge, and send it forward to Cambridge as soon as may be.
"Per order, ONA. HASTINGS, Clerk."
In December, town chose nine persons to carry wood to the army.
Also, chose a commissary to furnish necessaries for all the Donation people from Boston and Charlestown.
Four tons of English hay were assessed by the Court upon this town, for the use of the army, and paid.
June 17th occurred the battle of Bunker Hill.
Many of the citizens of Charlestown removed to this town after the conflagration at Charlestown, among whom was one Capt. Ebenezer Kent, who had been master of a vessel nearly fifty years, and who lost his property by the fire aforesaid. He died here in 1776, aged 72.
There were some citizens of Reading in the battle of Bunker Hill. It is said that one Amos Upton, of the North Precinct, who was in the battle, in the retreat of the Americans across the Neck, where they
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OF THE TOWN OF READING.
were exposed to a cross-fire from the British ships of war, ran so fast that his cue (a fashionable appendage for young men in those days) "stuck out straight behind."
" Reading, June 22, 1775. To the Committee of Supplies now sitting at Water town :
" Having received a line from you, dated June 13th instant, relative to a number of articles now wanted in the army, we trust we are as ready to assist in defence of our Country as any town in the Province, but the great flow of the inhabitants of Boston, Charlestown, Medford, Malden, Salem and Marblehead, daily flocking into this town, must, we think, be a sufficient excuse for not sending provisions, and as for blankets, we have been obliged to find near a hundred for men that have been enlisted out of this town, and they were collected from house to house in this town, there not being new ones to be bought.
" Your humble servants, BENJ. BROWN, Chairman of Selectmen. JOHN WALTON, Chairman of Com. of Corres."
Town-meetings were always warned in the name of the Majesty of England, until May, 1775, when a town meeting was called in the name of the Provincial Congress.
In Nov. 1775, in the name of the Continental Congress.
" Jan. 1776, 66 " Congress.
" Feb. 66 66 Majesty.
" May, « 66 General Court.
" July, " 66 66
" Feb. 1777, 66
The Independent States of the United Colonies of North America. Government and People of the State of Massachusetts Bay in New England.
"" Dec. 1780, 66 66 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and so until now.
1776. - In July, eight Highland officers, prisoners, were sent to Reading (one of whom was Lt .- Col. Archibald Campbell), with women and children ; they petitioned the Council for support of their servants. Court ordered them to support their own servants, or dismiss them, and the Council would take charge of them, or give them soldiers' rations, or allow them to support themselves.
Several of said servants were accordingly dismissed, and one of them, Robert Hill, worked in Reading as a cordwainer.
Town voted "to carry four tons (more) of English hay to the army, and what it costs more than five pounds per ton to be taken from the town treasury." £5 per ton was what was allowed by the Quartermaster.
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In January, the General Court assessed the several towns for 4,000 blankets for Washington's army, of which the town of Reading was re- quired to procure twenty-seven.
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