USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections, Vol. II > Part 22
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SOUTHBRIDGE
WAS INCORPORATED.
-
February 1816 Prutrarled In Shower Manuel Harman NOV .BIS
I'mund esperato the sho three of smith redan 1866
... .... .
PART OF CHARLTON
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PART OF DUDLEY
PART OF STUMBRIOGE
...
Vir Dude
agreeable & the orginal ('ten down by call mandown 2.4" an att there of the date is as avunter wald Starbruder wer to do purpose of making the where Jaren
Sunnår. Kr' H1;
140 400G TO AN INCH
-
STOYEMINT
Dalia
269
SOUTHBRIDGE.
(588), to the south-west corner of Benjamin Douty, Jr.'s farm; thence west, 15} degrees south, eighty-four rods (84), to a stake and stones on Sturbridge east line: thence southerly on said line, one hundred and eighty-three rods (183), to the south-east corner of Henry Fiske's land ; thence west, 40} degrees south, three hundred rods (300), to the north- west corner of Captain Jacob Endicott's farm ; thence south, 13} degrees west, in his west line, one hundred and thirty rods (130), to the middle of Quinebaug river ; thence running up the middle of said river about four hundred and sixty-one rods (461), to a stake and stones on the north side of said river; thence south, 26 degrees west, three hundred and twelve rods (312), to a stake and stones; thence south, 38 degrees west, seven hundred and eighty rods (780), to a stake and stones in Connecti- cut line; thence easterly, on the north line of Woodstock in Con- neeticut, about seventeen hundred rods (1,700), to the corner first mentioned, containing twelve thousand four hundred two and a half acres, including all the inhabitants within the above-described lines. And the said town of Southbridge is hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and is also subjected to the same duties and regulations of other towns, according to the constitution and laws of this common- wealth.
"SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants and proprietors of land in the town of Southbridge shall be holden to pay their proportion of all taxes already voted to be raised and shall have been assessed at the time of the passing of this act, by the towns of Sturbridge, Charlton, and Dudley, and also to pay their proportion of all public debts due and owing by the said towns of Sturbridge, Charlton, and Dudley, at the time of the passing of this act.
"SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That said town of Southbridge shall be entitled to demand and receive of the said towns of Sturbridge, Charl- ton, and Dudley, its proportion of all the town's public stock of arms, ammunition, legacies, and bequests, or any other town property what- soever the said towns of Sturbridge, Charlton, and Dudley were pos- sessed of or entitled to at the time of the passing of this aet. Said town of Southbridge is also to be entitled to the benefit of a certain bond given by Jedediah Marcy, deceased, to the inhabitants of the town of Charlton for the purpose of supporting the Marcy bridge, so called, within said town of Southbridge, for a certain time in said bond ex- pressed.
"SEC. 4. Be it further enacted. That the inhabitants of the said town of Southbridge shall support and maintain all such persons as have heretofore been, now are, or hereafter may be inhabitants of those parts of Sturbridge, Charlton, and Dudley hereby incorporated, and are or may become chargeable according to the laws of this commonwealth, and who have not obtained a settlement elsewhere therein.
1
270
SOUTHBRIDGE.
" SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That any justice of the peace for the county of Worcester is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to a freeholder of said town of Southbridge, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants to meet at such convenient time and place as may be appointed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose or appoint at their annual meeting in March or April.
"FEBRUARY 15, 1816."*
FIRST TOWN MEETING-ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
The warrant for the first town meeting was issued by Oliver Plimpton, Esq., to Dexter Clark, dated, "February 21, 1816," directing the calling of the legal voters to assemble at the meet- ing-house, where the parish meetings have heretofore been held, March 6, 1816. This warrant was served and returned on the 24th instant following, indorsed by Mr. Clark.
" TOWN MEETING, March 6, 1816.
" The following officers were now elected, to wit : For Moderator, Captain Gershom Plimpton.
" Town Clerk,
Timothy Paige, Esq.
" Town Treasurer,
Luther Ammidown, Esq., Senior. Captain Gershom Plimpton, Major Samuel Fiske,
·· Selectmen,
Joshua Mason, William Morris,
Fordyce Foster, John Mckinstry,
" Assessors,
Edward Baylis, Joseph Marcy."
It was now voted that the offices of constable and collector be held by one person, and be given to him who would pay the most for the privilege.
It appears that the highest bid was $13.20, by Dexter Clark, who received said offices.
The following persons were then chosen as a committee to divide the town into districts for support of schools and high-
* See vol. v, Massachusetts Special Laws, page 117.
.
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
ways. This committee was selected from the several old dis- triets, as they were in the old towns, now within this territory.
( Major Oliver Hooker,
For Central District, chose, - - / Lieutenant Oliver Mason.
" Ammidown. 66 North-east, - Ruggles Morse.
" Arnold, 66 East. Richard Arnold.
" Pratt. 6. South-east, Freeman Pratt.
· Morris, South, - William Morris.
" Wheelock. 66 South-west, - Jason Morse.
" Globe, West, - Major Samuel Fiske.
This meeting was then adjourned to April 1.
" ADJOURNED MEETING, April 1, 1816.
"It was voted to accept the report of the foregoing committee who had performed their duty in districting the town, and presented their doings at this meeting."
The districts as reported were substantially the same terri- tory in each, as they formerly stood in the old town, and were distinguished by number, the same as have from this date been known up to the present time, to wit: Nos. 1 to 7. Chose for highway surveyors :
For District No. 1. Center, -
. . " 2. South-west, -
Lyman Morris. Davis Wheelock. William Mckinstry.
"' 3, Globe, west, - " 4, North-east, - Joshua Vinton.
· 5, East, - Alfred Morris.
"' 6, South-east, - Daniel Morse, Junior.
" ", South, - Nathan Brown.
For Tythingmen, -
" Hog-Reeves,
Daniel Baylis, Cyrus Ammidown. William Stevens, Lewis Mason, John Clark, Chester Dresser, Richard Arnold, Freeman Pratt, and Parker Morse. Isaac Clark, Abel Mason. Jason Morse,
Chose for Deer-Reeves. -
.. Fence- Viewers,
66 Field- Drivers, -
Jacob Edwards, ( Freeman Pratt. Jacob Edwards, ¿ Eleazer Wheelock.
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
Chose for Sealer of Weights and.
Measures, -
Sealer of Leather,
.. Surveyor of Lumber,
James Wolcott, Jr. Joseph Marcy.
George Sumner.
Ralph Harding. Samuel Fiske.
" 4,
Calvin Ammidown.
ɔ̃, Moses Morris.
6,
Daniel Morse, Junior.
Parker Morse. Oliver Hooker,
Morris Marcy, Jason Morse.
" Reporting the sum ne- cessary for school er- penses, - No. 1, George Sumner.
Jason Morse.
3. John Mckinstry.
66 4,
Calvin Ammidown.
Erastus Bowles.
6, Freeman Pratt.
. 7, Edward Baylies. Jolin Mckinstry. John Seabury. Larkin Ammidown.
" It was voted to provide a suitable place to deposit the town's stock of ammunition. The selectmen were ordered to adjust the accounts of brought against the town. A committee was chosen to ascertain and receive the town's proportion of the public property belonging to the towns of Sturbridge, Charlton, and Dudley, to wit: Calvin Ammidown, Gershom Plimpton, Samuel Fiske, and Luther Ammidown.
" Selected the following persons to act as jurymen: Calvin Ammi- down, Oliver Mason, Junior, Edward Morris, Edward Baylies, Calvin Clemence, Ruggles Morse, Jason Morse, Joseph Marcy, Abel Mason, Senior, Morris Marcy. John Mckinstry. Isaac Oaks, William Sumner, Ephraim Wheelock, George Sumner, James Wolcott, Junior, Joshua Vinton, and Perez B. Wolcott.
" A committee was chosen to provide books, weights, and measures for the town, to wit: Luther Ammidown, Timothy Paige, and Fordyce Foster.
"The following were appointed to procure a spot and erect a town pound : Joseph Clark, Jacob Edwards, and Freeman Pratt.
Examining Schools, -
Fordyce Foster.
Isaac Oaks.
Pound-Keeper, -
.. School Committee, No. 1, 2, 3,
" Examining the Treasurer's account,
..
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SOUTHBRIDGE.
" For sextons were chosen Ephraim Wheelock for the center ceme- tery, and Freeman Pratt for the cemetery in the sixth district.
"It was then voted to raise $500 for support of highways, and $400 for schools; this closed the proceedings for the organization of the town. " Attest :
" TIMOTHY PAIGE, " Clerk. "
TOWN CLERKS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
The following persons have been elected, and served the town in the above-named offices during a period of fifty years, from time of its incorporation :
In the year 1816,
1817,
Town Clerk. Timothy Paige, - Dexter Clark,
Representative. Voted not to send. 66 66
6.
1818,
Same, Same,
Moses Plimpton,
Gershom Plimpton. Same. Voted not to send.
66 66 1821, - 1822.
Same,
Calvin Ammidown.
Same,
Voted not to send.
1823,
Same,
Oliver Hooker.
60 1895.
Oliver Hooker.
66
1826, - 1827,
Same,
Ebenezer D. Ammidown. Same. John MeKinstry. Same.
66
1830, - 1831,
Same, William Beecher,
Larkin Ammidown.
By an act of the Legislature, the sessions of the General Courts were changed from two to one session.
In the year 1832. - - William Beecher,
§ Larkin Ammidown, / Oliver Hooker. 1833. Nicholas Jenks, ‘ Sylvanus Chamberlain. ¿ George Sumner. Oliver Hooker, 16 1834, - - Same, Jedediah Marcy. Same, and 66
1835, - Same,
.6 1836, - Holmes Ammidown,
Abel Mason. Samuel A. Hitchcock, / Abel Mason.
1819,
ינ 1820,
1824,
Same, William Healey, Same,
Voted not to send.
Voted not to send.
1828, - Holmes Ammidown, Same,
1829,
274
SOUTHBRIDGE.
In the year 1737, - Israel C. Trowe,
1838. Same,
66
1839. -
Same,
Jedediah Marcy, Holmes Ammidown. Benjamin D. Hyde, Bela Tiffany. 1
Same. and / Stephen Bracket.
An amendment to the Constitution, adopted, March 24,1837, reducing the number of representatives, now took effect.
In the year 1840, -
66
6.
1841, 1842, - Wm. S. Knowton, Same, 1843. 1844. - George A. Vinton,
Same. Same,
William Haskell. Voted not to send. Same.
66 1845. 1846. 1847, Sylvst. Dresser, pro tem .. Ebenezer D. Ammidown.
66
1848,- 1849, 1850. 1851,
Same, elected, Voted not to serve. Same, Same. Same, Sylvester Dresser. Voted not to send.
: 1852,
Same,
Sylvester Dresser.
Lucien Marcy.
6:
66
1853. 1854. 1855, 1856, 1857.
Same, Same, Daniel F. Bacon, Same, Same.
John O. Mckinstry. Ebenezer Davis, Dudley.
Verney Fiske.
66 1861, 1862.
William Beecher.
Jacob Baker. Dudley.
Calvin A. Paige.
. . 1863. Same, Same, Warren Goodell, Dudley.
66 1864. 1865. -
Sam'l M. Lane, pro tem., Wm. F. Mckinstry.
.6 1866, - Same, John E. Davis. Dudley.
John Blair. Win. C. Barnes. John Edwards. Leroy Litchfield.
The State was now districted for representation, the towns of Dudley and Southbridge united into one district.
In the year 1858, -
- Daniel F. Bacon,
1839, Same, 66 1860, - Daniel F. Bacon, Same, Same,
- Israel C. Trow, Same,
Benjamin D. Hyde. Henry Fiske.
Stephen Bracket.
Luther Travers.
Same,
275
SOUTHBRIDGE.
THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE, JULY 4, 1816.
It seems proper to introduce here an oration delivered at this time, in the old parish meeting-house, by Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, before the citizens of the several towns in this vicin- ity united to celebrate the nation's birthday; it also being the first anniversary following the act of incorporation of this town, and a time of great political excitement following what has been generally known and styled the last British War.
To read this oration understandingly, and to enter fully into the spirit of the times, it becomes necessary to know the origin and progress of the two great political parties that divided the people of the country in that period. These parties were then designated as Federalists and Republicans. They originated during the administration of the executive department of the government by General Washington, and under the primary operation of the government under the new constitution taking a new departure ; being relieved from the former government under the act of confederation.
The design of the constitutional government was to strengthen and give greater power to the central head, to create a national goverment, instead of a confederated union : whereby the several States relinquished certain original rights, to be exercised exclusively by the central head, under the con- stitution, according to the provisions of the same, constituting the three departments; the legislative, executive and judiciary.
Although a sufficient number of the old thirteen States had signified their acceptance, and had ratified the doings of the convention which framed the constitution, yet there were many patriotic and leading citizens of the time who opposed its adoption, under the belief that too much power was granted to the central government.
At first, those who favored the stronger government under
276
SOUTHBRIDGE.
the constitution were in the ascendancy, and established pro- visions, as they believed best, to carry the new government into effect. These were a financial system for the treasury department. This embraced a funding system and a national bank. Besides, the judicial system was arranged, and the plan of intercourse with foreign nations provided for. To these organizations were added the war, navy, and postal departments.
President Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and others were united in support of the Constitu- tion, according to these provisions.
In the opposition were Thomas Jefferson and his friends. Mr. Jefferson had been the ambassador of the government in France when the convention which formed the Constitution was in session, and until it was adopted by nine of the States ; he possessed liberal ideas of a government by the people, and regarded the general scope of the provisions for carrying out the plan of the new government as a serious encroach- ment upon their rights, believing that too strong a govern- ment had been created by the Constitution. Mr. Jefferson referring to the management of the government under the Articles of Confederation during the Revolution, made the following remark :
" I think all the good of this Constitution might have been couched in three or four new articles, to be added to the good, old, and venera- ble fabric, which should have been preserved, even as a religious relic."
Furthermore, Mr. Jefferson and his friends leaned favorably towards any intercourse that related to France; while they opposed whatever connected the constitutional government with Great Britain. The Federalists, at the time, took an opposite course and favored the intercourse with England. Quoting Mr. Jefferson again, he says :
" Instead of that noble love of liberty and republican government which carried us through the war, an Anglican, monarchical, and aristo-
277
SOUTHBRIDGE.
cratical party has sprung up, whose avowed object is to draw over us the substance, as they have already done, the forms, of the British government.
" They would wrest from us that liberty which we have obtained by so much labor and peril; but we shall preserve it. The principal body of our citizens remain faithful to republican principles, as also the men of talents. We have against us the executive power, the judiciary, all the officers of government, all who are seeking for offices, all timid men, who prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty ; the British merchants, and the Americans who trade on British capital; the speculators, persons interested in the bank and public funds. It suffices that we arrest the progress of that system of ingratitude and injustice towards France, from which they would alienate us, to bring us under British influence."
In reference to our intercourse with foreign nations, Mr. Jefferson
" Thought it proper to take into view political as well as commercial considerations. Ill-will and jealousy had at all times been the pre- dominant features of England to the United States. That government had grossly violated the treaty of peace, had declined a commercial treaty, had instigated the Indians to raise the tomahawk and scalping- knife against American citizens, had let loose the Algerines upon our unprotected commerce, and had insulted our flag, and pillaged our trade in every quarter of the world.
" The conduct of France, on the contrary, had been warm and friendly. That nation had respected American rights, and had offered to enter into commercial relations on the liberal basis of perfect reciprocity."
In 1794, John Jay, who was the first chief-justice under the government of the Constitution, appointed by Washing- ton, now received appointment as minister extraordinary to the court of Great Britain. This, by the anti-Federalists, then styled " Republicans," was regarded as favoring England, as Mr. Jay belonged to the party that was supposed to favor Britain to the detriment of France.
The treaty which it was designed that Mr. Jay should arrange with that government soon made its appearance ; some articles were, no doubt, decidedly objectionable, but, in the main, it was a valuable instrument, considering the previous 19A
278
SOUTHBRIDGE.
existing relations between the English government and the United States ; but the difference of sentiment entertained by the two great political parties toward that country and France led one to regard anything done with England as wrong, and militating against France, and so vice versa ; thus the Repub- licans made great use of this treaty as a political scandal for undervaluing the labors of their opponents then in power.
There is probably but little, if any doubt, that the design of Great Britain in making the Jay treaty was not to act upon principles of reciprocity, but to humble and oppress the rising government of the United States; the bitterness of feeling arising from the separation still existed, and it is evidence that they regarded that treaty as favorable to themselves, from their anxiety for a renewal at the time of expiration, which the United States, under the administration of Mr. Jefferson, declined.
Under the old treaty of alliance between the United Colo- nies and France, that government, now exercised by the Directory, claimed that the United States should still aid them against England, especially in the West Indies.
But this was declined by President Washington, and also by his successor. That government, under the Directory, made great efforts to prevent the ratification of the Jay treaty, and were greatly offended at the result, and went so far as to dis- miss our minister at that conrt, Mr. Monroe, and refused to accept the new appointments ; and their secretary of foreign affairs began an intrigue through other parties to induce the new United States ministers, then sent out under the adminis- tration of Mr. Adams, to promise a bribe to the Directory, and a large sum of money to supply their exhausted treas- ury, by way of purchasing forbearance; Thomas Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, then being the ministers. This move was of no avail; but, becoming known in America, the Federalists were for a time greatly strengthened in their political interests.
279
SOUTHBRIDGE.
This, however, was but temporary, as certain acts of the Adams administration soon following, the nomination of Mr. Van Murray, as minister to France, in place of the foregoing, without consultation with his advisers, the alien and the sedi- tion laws, and the raising of troops, under the possible contin- gency of a war with France in 1799, altogether divided the leading men of the Federal party, and gave the ascendency in the government to the opposition, which made Thomas Jeffer- son President. No party now looking beyond the excitements of that period will regard John Adams other than a true pa- triot, who designed to act for the best interests of the country.
The position of the government of the United States was made extremely difficult at this period by the great wars in Enrope between France and the other governments there, in- inaugurated by Napoleon I. For a time England almost regarded her existence as desperate, which cansed her to re- sort to extremely arbitrary measures ; and one, to sustain and man her extensive navy, was her insisting upon the right of search upon foreign vessels, and the impressment of seamen claimed to be of English birth ; this had great effect in the United States. In addition to this, the order in conncil of May 16, 1806, declaring the coast of France from the river Elbe to the port of Brest blockaded ; and on November 11, 1807, a new order in council was enacted, declaring that all the ports of France and her allies, or any other country at war with his majesty, and other ports and places in Europe from which, although not at war with his majesty, the British flag is excluded, and all ports and places in the colonies belonging to his majesty's enemies, shall from henceforth be subject to the same restrictions, in point of trade and navigation, as if the same were actually blockaded by his majesty's naval in forces the most strict and rigorous manner, etc.
Napoleon, then in Berlin, the capital of Prussia, on the 21st of November, 1806, issued his imperial deerce, called
280
SOUTHBRIDGE.
the " Berlin Decree," declaring that the British islands were in a state of blockade, with other stringent regulations con- cerning commerce with the ports of that country. Then followed the order in conneil, of November 11, 1807, when Napoleon issned from his palace at Milan, on the 11th of December following, the famous decree known as the "Milan Decree," designed to counteract the effect of the orders in council of the British government.
The Milan decree declares, in
"Art. 1st. Every ship, to whatever nation it may belong, that shall have submitted to be searched by an English ship, or on a voyage to England, or shall have paid any tax whatsoever to the English govern- ment, is thereby and for that alone declared to be denationalized, to have forfeited the protection of its king, and to have become English property.
" 2d. Whether the ships thus denationalized by the arbitrary measures of the English government enter into our ports, or those of our allies, or whether they fall into the hands of our ships of war, or of our priva- teers, they are declared good and lawful prizes.
" 3d. The British islands are declared in a state of blockade both by land and by sea, and every ship, of whatever nation, or whatsoever the nature of her cargo may be, that sails from the ports of England, or those of the English colonies, and of the countries occupied by English troops, and proceeding to England or to the English colonies, is good and lawful prize, and may be captured by our ships of war or our privatcers.
" He declares that these measures were resorted to in just retaliation of the barbarous system adopted by England ; which assimilates its legis- lation to that of Algiers-shall cease to have any effect with respect to all nations who shall have the firmness to compel the English govern- ment to respect their flag; and that they shall be rigorously enforced as long as that government does not return to the principle of the law of nations, which regulates the relations of civilized states in a state of war."
The British government passed an order, October 16, 1807, as follows :
" And we do hereby notify, that all such-our subjects, as aforesaid- who have voluntarily entered, or shall enter or voluntarily continue to serve on board of any ships of war belonging to any foreign state at enmity with us, are and will be guilty of high treason ; and we do by
281
SOUTHBRIDGE.
this, our royal proclamation, declare that they shall be punished with the utmost severity of the law."
Such was the state of affairs connected with the commercial relations of the United States while President Jefferson ad- ministered the government. As an act of retaliation for the orders in council and the Berlin and Milan decrees, Mr. Jef- ferson recommended an embargo upon all American vessels, prohibiting their departure from the ports of the United States for foreign trade. And all vessels trading coastwise were required to give heavy bonds to land their cargoes in the United States.
This law was passed the 22d of December, 1807, and con- tinued in force till March 15, 1809, except so far as related to England and France and their dependencies; and with them it was to take effect after the next session of Congress.
This was a very remarkable act for a government to pass ; it seems to be calculated as a punishment upon its own people, quite as much as upon the parties for whom it was designed. It gave great offense to all parties engaged in commerce ; yet, as the numbers engaged thus were largely at this time in the minority, it did not materially affect the popularity of the Re- publican party, but caused great bitterness among many in New England, where the principal part of the shipping busi- ness at this time was conducted and owned.
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