USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Historical address, delivered at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Wilbraham, June 15, 1863 > Part 7
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After the report had been read, it was "Voted that
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the above be Recorded in the Town book, & that the town clerk transmit a coppy thereof to the Committee of Correspondence in the town of Boston as quick as may be." The clerk is careful to note at the bottom of . his record, "A copy sent to Boston." Thus the echo went back from the " mountains" to the sea, and the hearts of the people were strengthened.
The state of affairs grew no better, and in December, the tea was thrown overboard in Boston Harbor by a party of citizens disguised as Indians, among whom was Robert Sessions, who soon afterwards settled in this town and became one of our most worthy and influen- tial citizens. No action was taken by the town, March 15, 1774, on an article in the warrant " to see if the town will pass any votes relative to the Letters Sind [signed] by our present Governour & Lieut. Governour & some other Gentlemen Sent home and returned to Boston and Sent to Wilbraham to be Emiditately Laid before said town." These fathers of ours had no time to give to a consideration of the reasons offered by their tory "Governour and Leut. Governour," Hutchinson and Oliver, why they should surrender "their Just Rights and Priviledges ;" even the Prayer of the Colonies for redress, presented to Parliament by the hand of Frank- lin, had been spurned from the house. Their arms were as strong as their hearts, and their muskets as true as their principles.
In June of this year, 1774, Gage filled Boston with troops, and the Common was covered with tents. A
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special meeting of our citizens was called, June 23d " to see if the town will take into Consideration the Preca- rious State of the Liberties of North America & more . Especially the Present Distressed condition of this IN- SULTED PROVINCE & pass any vote or votes on the Let- ters or Covenant which are So Called sent from the town of Boston to the town of Wilbraham to be Sub- scribed by all adult Persons of both sexes in Sª town and pass all such votes on the above Said articles as the town Shall by any way or meathod think proper or Convenient."
The town-meeting was " very full." " Mr. John Bliss was chosen moderator. It was voted that Dea. War- riner Should Desire Mr. Mirick to Come and Pray accord- ingly Mr. Mirick opened Sa meeting by prayer." This is the first record of a prayer being offered at a town-meeting, and eminently significant of the deep seriousness felt by the citizens, and their consciousness of the moment- ous interests which were at stake. After the prayer, they take up the business before them with . a mixture of dependence and independence on foreign direction as well as with patriotic devotion.
"After several Letters or Covenants sent from the town of Boston to the town of Wilbraham were read, it was further voted after Largely Discoursed upon that Some words Should be Dashed out in the first article in the Covenant and some be aded, voted that the Last article in the Covenant should be all Dasht out, & voted there Should be words uded under the Last article in the Cove-
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nant ; voted and chose Decn Warriner Lieut. Thomas Mirick & James Warriner a Comte to make Enquiry to See what other towns Do before they send Sª Covenant to the town of boston & voted that Sª Comte Should not Send Said Covenant without further orders from Sd town. This covenant says, "there being no alternative between the horrors of Slavery or the Carnage and desolation of a Civil war but a Suspension of all Com- mercial intercourse with the island of Great Britain, we do solemnly Covenant and engage with each other (1) that from henceforth we will Suspend all Commercial intercourse with said island of Great Britain # # # and (2) that we will not buy, purchase or Consume or Suffer any person by for or under us to purchase or Consume in any manner whatever any goods weres or mer- chandize which shall arrive in America from Great Britain * * * * and that we will break off all trade Commerce and dealings whatever with all persons who Prefering their own Private intrist to the Salvation of their now perishing Country shall still continue to Im- port goods from Great Britain or shall purchase of those who do Import and (3) we agree to purchase no article of merchandize of any who do not sign this covenant." Then follow the signatures of one hundred and twenty-five patriotic men, who, it is to be presumed. were heads of families.1
A " very full town-meeting" was held a month after, July 29, 1774, at which Messrs. Daniel Cadwell, William
1 Appendix P.
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King, Moses Stebbins, Eleazar Smith, John Sterns, John Bliss and Ezra Barker, were chosen a committee " to draw up some resolves agreeable to the house of repre- sentatives respecting the Covenant Sent from Boston." After an adjournment of the meeting "for a Short Space in order that said Commitee prepare Sª Resolves," the meeting is again opened and the committee, after professing loyalty " so far as" their "Liberty and the nations Good will Admit," report that " the Continuation of a trade with Great Britton under our present Situa- tion wold be unprofitable & very Dangerous," and that " a non Importation & agreement Should be universally adopted by all the British Collonies in america but being sensable of the Improprity of this town Prescribing meas- ures for the whole of America we do Cheerfully approve of the measures adopted by the Late Honorable House of Representatives * Proposing a Congress of the Colonies
whose result & advice we Shall Stand ready to adopt as far as we can consistent with good Con- science." While they deprecate mobs and riots as " in- jurious to the cause of Liberty " they recommend "the moderate peaceble & Steady persuance of Some Proper means for Redress with Dependance upon a divine Benidiction." They continue their resolves by saying, " we Do Sincerely Intend Speedily to contribute to the relief of Boston & Charlestown suffering under the rod of oppression," # # "we cannot look upon any person or persons who will not adopt these salitary measures as friends of their country" # # # "We shall not think our-
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selves Obliged," continue the committee, "to Show any Special regards to them : if they be judges in Law or attorneys at the bar we will neglect them as much as possible, or if ministers of the Gospel or common people we shall think ourselves under ro obligations to Special Beneficence to them." And further " Resolved that for the Encourage- ment of the Honor Gentlemen Chosen as a Committe for the Congress" the same persons be a committee to communicate these above " Resolves to them & they are hereby desired & Impowered to communicate the Same as quick as possible ; " and " our proportion of the money for the gentlemen to the Congress" was sent with the resolve, the faithful clerk is careful to inform us.
These fathers of ours felt that higher wisdom than man's was needed in the " great crisis " and they finally " Resolved that as God in his providence is frowning upon the Inhabitants of this Land in the Civil Distresses which we begin to feel & many others which we Can Easily fore bode, we think it proper to Set apart one Day in three months as a Day of fasting & prayer to All Mighty God for his help in our Deliverance and in this way Look to that being for Relief by whom Kings Reign & princes decree justice, Sensable for our Encouragement that in this way God was wont to relieve people of old, & that the appointment of the particular Day be left to our Revª Paster or the Select [men] of the town." They then " Voted very unanimously & Granted twenty- five pounds to provide a town Stock of ammunition as the Law directs.
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The Provincial Government and the people were be- coming more and more hostile, and in October of the same year, 1774, at "a very full meeting Maj. John Bliss was chosen a Deligate for a Provincial Congress to be holden at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October Instant with in Structions :" "which Said in Struction that was given him," says the clerk, " was taken out of a newspaper;" "and a Commitee of Correspondance & Inspection was Chosen consisting of Missrs. Nathaniel Warriner, Sert Daniel Cadwell, Lieutt Win. King, Maj. John Bliss, and Elezar Smith." Though I can find no record of his having been chosen by the town, it is evi- dent that John Bliss had been previously sent to a " county Congress " at Northampton, for I find under date, Nov. 14, that the town "Voted and Granted to Maj. John Bliss for 25 Days Servise as a Deligate in weighting upon a County Congress held at Northampton some time in the month of September & as a Deligate in weighting upon a Provincial Congress held at Concord on the Second Tuesday of October, 1774, at 5s per day the sum of Six pounds five Shillings."
It was important that no more money should be paid to the Provincial Government, that the sinews of op- pression might shrivel. Accordingly, November 14, 1774, the constable or collector of the town was directed not to pay any more money into the hands of " Harrison Gray, Esq., treasurer of the province, but to pay it into the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stowe, who is ap- pointed receiver general by the provincial Congress."
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There were tories in town and some professedly neu- tral persons who needed attention, and, January 2, 1775, a committee of fifteen was chosen "to See that the Continentil and Proventil Congresses associations and resolves are Strictly attended to." At the same meeting they chose " Maj. John Bliss a Deligate for a provential Congress proposed to be held att Cambridge the first day of february next or Sooner if Cald for; " and chose a committee of seven "to Collect a Donation for the Poor of the town of Boston and See that the Same is Transported as soon as may be." A body of "minute men " had already made "Extraordinary preparation " for " immediate Service," and that service was soon to be called for and promptly rendered.
General Gage, commander of the British troops in Boston, had determined to get possession of the ammu- nition and arms of the province which he heard were stored at Lexington and Concord. On the night of the eighteenth of April the troops stole out of Boston hoping to reach Lexington without being discovered, but the concerted signal flashed from the spire of the New North Church, and Paul Revere was instantly on his way from Charlestown to Lexington, rousing the inhabitants on the road, so that when Major Pitcairn, who led the advance of the troops, reached the Com- mon he found the " minute men " of Lexington drawn up in arms before him. He ordered them to disperse. They stood their ground. He ordered his men to fire. That volley opened the Revolutionary War. Couriers
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were despatched on the fleetest horses to arouse the people everywhere and carry the flaming torch of alarm through the country. On the 20th, we may suppose, just as the sun was passing the meridian, a rider was seen coming down the Bay Road at full speed, his horse dripping and smoking with sweat, who barely checked his pace before Samuel Glover's door, and announced the fight, calling upon the "minute men " to hasten to the rescue. He was off and out of sight on his way to Springfield in a moment. Blood had been shed ! Glover mounts his horse and rides, as he never rode before, down by Jones's and Bliss's, calling on them to come on as he goes. Brewer and Merrick, and Warriner the captain of the minute men, rush in from the field. The long roll is beaten by Charles Ferry, so that the mountain answers it from Oliver Bliss's to Noah Steb- bins's. Merrick mounts his horse and flies down the west road to the Hitchcocks, and the Stebbinses, the Chapins, and the Langdons, by the Seantic. Burt tells his most vigorous son to cross the mountains by Rattle- snake Peak as swift as the winds ever swept over them, and rouse the Crockers, the Cones, the Russells, the Kings, and to stay not his speed till all the men of the south valley, from the corner to Isaac Morris's, were summoned to the march; then to return without delay along the east road by the Chaffees', Hendricks', and Car- penters', and over the mountains by Rev. Noah Merrick's, home. It was done as quick and as well as said.
" Edward," said Isaac Morris to his son, your father,
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Mr. President, " bring the horse." And as soon as he had slung his powder-horn over his shoulder, put his bullets into his pocket, and taken down his trusty gun from its hooks, the faithful steed was at the door. Breathing a prayer for his heroic wife, standing by in speechless submission, he was off at full speed on the track of young Burt, and passing up the same road, Comfort Chaffee and Jesse Carpenter joined him, and rode for the mountain, while Enos Stebbins and Asa Chaffee, from south of the Scantic, rushed over to Wil- liam King's and together up the middle road, taking Ezekiel Russell and Rowland Crocker in company, and all joined those coming up the west road and over the mountain, at a barn then standing near the site of the present school-house on the main street.
Before the mountain ceased to glow with that day's departing sun, thirty-four men, with the blessing of their wives, and the prayers of the fathers who were too old to go into battle, were on the "great Bay Road," hastening on their way to defend and, if need be, to die for their rights. But the "red-coats" had returned to Boston in fewer numbers and more rapidly than they left it, and our "minute men" returned after ten days to the quiet and security of their own homes. Such was the " Lexington alarm." 1
A company of forty-five men, thirty-four of whom were of this town, was at once organized under the com- mand of Capt. Paul Langdon, as eight months' men ;
1 Appendix Q.
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they were encamped in Roxbury and formed part of the army which besieged Boston.1
While these military movements were made, the mu- nicipal action of the people did not slacken. At a town- meeting, May 26, 1775, which was " very full, Maj. John Bliss was chosen a deligate to represent the town in a Provincial Congress proposed to be held at Watertown on the 31st day of May with the following instructions," namely, " that the provincial Congress pertition to the Governour to call a General Court that the Representa- tive body may pertition to the king & parliament that our Gravience may be repealed, not to act under the new Council appointed by the King, but act under the old Council & to see whether the King wold not herken to a pertition from a representative body that our greavi- ence may be strictly attended to & herd by the king & parliment an be Repealed."
Little did these honest farmers of Wilbraham know of the heart of a king, especially of that of King George III, " by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales," but not, thank Heaven, much longer to be king of these colonies. As well might these an- cestors of ours have attempted to soften the rocks of their mountains with their "humble pertitions" as his heart; as well might they have attempted to turn the Scantic back to the hills as to turn his purpose. Our fathers were in earnest, however, and voted that "Each of the Resolves of the Continental & Provintial Congress
1 Appendix R.
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should be Strictly attended to by the town," and two persons were chosen in "addition to the former coni- mittee of Correspondence."
It is evident that a very close watch was kept upon those who were suspected of faithlessness in heart or weakness in knee, for, at a town-meeting, September 2, 1776, an unsuccessful attempt was made, after a “ Large debate," to remove " L' Wn. King and Mr. Enos Steb- bins " from the committee " of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety & in the rome and Sted thereof Chuse two other members for Sª Comtte." The Article to see if the town "will immediately furnish themselves with a town stock of ammunishon & fire arms if it can be procured " was also " past over & not acted upon."
In the autumn of 1776, there was fear of an invasion from Canada, and the town furnished thirty-two men, under the command of Capt. Daniel Cadwell who ren- dered service " at Ticonderoga from December 5, 1776 to April 2, 1777." The town, as well as the whole State, was startled, September, 1777, by what was called the " Bennington Alarm," and a company of fifty-two men, under the command of Capt. James Shaw, left town, September 24, for the seat of danger. They were present on the opposite side of the river at the surren- der of Burgoyne at Saratoga. As there was no call for further service, they returned and were discharged, Oc- tober 18, after a campaign of only thirty-two days. The next November the town voted to pay the soldiers marched on the alarm towards Bennington, ££11.1
1 Appendix S.
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It was found very difficult, after the first gush of patriotism was spent, to obtain men for the war, espe- cially for any long period of service, and £12 bounty was offered for volunteers, March 18, 1777, to fill up the town's quota of " every seventh man."
From organizing the militia, and furnishing soldiers for the army, the town turns to framing a constitution ; and instructions were given, May 23, " to [Maj. John] Bliss and [Capt. John] Shaw," representatives from the town, to form "Such a Constitution of Government as other Representatives of this State in one body with the Council Shall Judge best Calculated to promote the happiness of this State," which body they are directed to join ; but they are " to take head in all their Doings and be Strictly careful in forming Said Constitution that the JUST RIGHTS, LEBERTIES & PRIVILEDGES OF THE PEOPLE in General be well guarded & Secured against all unjust Incroachments whatever # # # that in all their proceedings they have Special recorse (as an assistance) to a Little book or Pamplet Intitled 'THE PEOPLE THE BEST GOVERNORS, or a Plan of Government, &c.,'" and finally, that " they use their influence and endeavors that such acts or Laws as have ben already anacted and are like to prove hurtful to this or any State be amended or repealed." Jealousy of power in the hands of government is shown most distinctly in these instructions, and will be found deeply ingrained into the very heart of our fathers all through their history.
At this time, the trouble with the depreciating paper
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currency begins to make its appearance. Silver coin, in which taxes must be paid, could not be obtained ex- cept at a high premium, and it was very difficult, almost impossible, for the people to pay their taxes. Instruc- tions are therefore given by the town, November 21, 1777, to Col. John Bliss and Capt. John Shaw, represen- tatives, "to use their influence to repeal the act made for Calling in the States money."
The sufferings of the soldiers in the field and of their families at home were becoming so severe as to call for the action of the town, and at a meeting, held January 5, 1778, five men were chosen a committee "to Collect Donations for the Continential Soldiers belonging to this town. And Lt John Hitchcock, Lewis Langdon and Lt Ebenezer Russel were chosen a committee to take care of those families that their husbands are gone into the war for the term of three years or During the war." Bounties, and gratuities, sir, to suffering soldiers in the field, and destitute wives and children at home, were the custom and glory of our fathers, and I cannot, I will not attempt to, repress my indignation which burns along the nerves of my whole frame, at the miserable miscre- ant and miser, who now, in this day of our country's peril, sneers at the calls repeatedly made in aid of our gallant soldiers in the field and of their worthy families at home; impudently asserting, in his criminal ignorance, that our revolutionary heroes were not made of such penurious stuff. when his own mother or grandmother was fed by the hand of charity, and his father or grand-
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father welcomed with tearful eyes and bursting heart the shoes and stockings, sent him by his considerate friends at home, to protect and warm his bleeding, naked feet. It is hardly Christian to have patience with such shrivelled souls. Let them receive the contempt of every noble-hearted man and woman; and let their names become a hissing and a by-word wherever hero- ism is admired and generosity honored. I will not beg pardon for this outburst of indignation. I must speak. The blood of the dead, the sighs of the living, compelled me. If there is a craven or a traitor here, let him speak, for him only have I offended.
The constitution or frame of government which had been framed for the State during the past year was submitted to the people for acceptance, and this town, March 26, 1778, voted against it, "24 votes in favor and 51 against." There is no record of its objectiona- ble features. A call was made upon the town for its quota of seven men to join General Washington's army at Fishkill, New York, and a bounty of £60 was of- fered, May 11, 1778, to those who should volunteer; and if none volunteered, the same sum was to be given to the seven men who might be drafted. Two days after, at another town-meeting, clothing was voted to the soldiers "equal to one-seventh part of the male In- habitants, agreeable to a late act of the General Court." And I find an article, in a warrant for a town-meeting to be held in August, "to see if the town will make Choise of Some person or persons to procure Shirts,
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Shoes and Stockings for the Continential Soldiers agreeable to a Late act of the general court of this State." There is no record of choosing such a committee. The town- clerk was absent and a clerk pro tem. officiated. It is probable he did not make full returns, for I find that money is appropriated at the November meeting " to pay for cloathing procured for the Continential Souldiers, £101, and for one pair of shoes omitted for a Continential Soldier, €2, 2s." 1
The difficulty of raising men increased as the war went on. Paper money was rapidly depreciating, and the volunteer could not rely, for a month, upon the nominal value of his pay. The town endeavored to obviate this difficulty by offering grain, at a fixed price, instead of paper money, to all who would " Inlist." It was voted, June 22, 1779," that Each man who would Inlist into the Continental army for the Term of nine month and Join the Continental Army for that Term for Each months Service they shall have Forty Shillings Pr. month, wheat at 6s. Pr. Bushel, Rie at 4 Shillings Pr. bushel, Corn at 3 shillings Pr. Bushel, oats at 1s 6d Pr. Bushel, wool at 2 shillings Pr. Pound, flax at 10d. Pr. Pound in addition to their Continental Pay & State Bounty." A committee is chosen "to Procure the above articles," and to draw on the treasury for money. After an adjournment of half an hour, apparently for free consultation, wheat is put at " 4s. Pr. Bushel, Rie at 3 shillings Pr. Bushel and Indian Corn at 2 shillings
1 Appendix T.
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Pr. Bushel." The meeting adjourned for half an hour, then for six days, when it is voted, June 28, that, if men do not volunteer, the men who are drafted shall have the same bounties; and, also, to quicken action, it is " voted that this Town will advance 200 dollars ad- vance pay to be Reducted out of their forty Shillings a month according as the above Sª Committee Shall ad- judge Right and Equitable Between the Town and Said Soldiers."
Agreeable to the advice of the delegates, who met at Concord, another convention is called to form a new constitution for the State, to meet at Cambridge, and Capt. Phineas Stebbins was chosen " Deligate," August 16, and the following carefully prepared instructions were given him, - which show most signally that our fathers were scrupulously, if not wisely, jealous of the personal rights of the people and of the power of the government, - namely, (1) " As to the Choice of Gove- nor Lieut. Govenor & Counsil that they be Chosen An- nually by the People; (2) That all Civil officers be Chosen Annually by the People ; (3) That no Town in this State be allowed to send more than two Represen- tatives in one year to the General Court; (4) that no Civil officer be a Legislative Officer at the same time ; (5) that all the above officers Shall be Professors of the Protestant Religion." Thus instructed, their " Deligate" joined his associates at Cambridge on the first Wednes- day of September.
The prices of commodities had become so irregular
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and uncertain that an invitation was sent out from a "Committee who set at South Hadly, Signed E. Porter," to the towns "to choose delegates to meet in convention at Northampton to adopt a scale of prices which shall be uniform and permanent." "Lieut. John Hitchcock and Doctor Sam'l F. Merrick" were chosen delegates. In September, a committee of eight is chosen to take their report into consideration, and to report "to the Town what they think the Prices of the Several Arti- cles (therein set Down) ought to be." I find no report of this committee. It was found, probably, that the subject was too complex to admit of the application of any specific rules.
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