USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 47
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" This his professed subjection was well pleasing to all that were present, of which there were some English persons of quality; as Mr. Richard Daniel, a gentleman that lived in Billerica, about six miles off; and Lieutenant Henchman, a neighbour at Chelmsford ; besides brother Eliot and myself, with sundry others, English and Indians. Mr. Daniel, before named, desired brother Eliot to tell this Sachem from him that it may be whilst he went in his old canoe he passed in a quiet stream; but the end thereof was death and destruction to soul and body ; but now he went in a new canoe, perhaps he would meet with storms and trials ; but yet he should be encouraged to persevere, for the end of his voyage would be everlasting rest. Moreover, he and his people were exhorted by brother Eliot and myself to go on and sanctify the Sab- bath, to hear the word and use the means that God had appointed, and encourage their hearts in the Lord their God. Since that time I hear the Sachem doth persevere, and is a constant and diligent hearer of God's word, and sanctifieth the Sabbath, though he doth travel to Wamesit meeting every Sabbath, which is above two miles ; and though sundry of his people have deserted him, since he subjected to the gospel, yet he continues and persists."
The following are the inscriptions on the monuments of the second and fourth ministers in this town :
Memento mori. Fugit hora. Huic pulveri mandatæ sunt Reliquia Rev. Dom. Thom. Clark, Gregis Christi Chelmfordianæ Pastoris eximii; qui fide et spe beatæ resurrectionis animam. In sinum Jesu expiravit die VII Decembris, Anno Domini 1704, ætatis suæ 52.
[The remains of the Rev. Thomas Clark, the faithful Pastor of the flock of Christ in Chelmsford, are here committed to the dust. In the faith and hope of a blessed res- urrection, he breathed his soul into the bosom of Jesus, Dec. 7, 1704, in the 52 year of his age, (and 27 of his ministry.)]
By the church of Christ in CHELMSFORD, in testimony of their esteem and veneration, this sepultrial stone was erected to stand as a sacred memorial of their late worthy pas- tor, the Rev. EBENEZER BRIDGE, who, after having officiated among them in the service of the sanctuary for more than a year above half a century, the strength of nature be- ing exhausted, sunk under the burden of age, and joined the congregation of the dead, Oct. 1, 1792, Æ. 78.
CONCORD.
IN the year 1635, Musketaquid was purchased of the Indians, and called Concord, on account of the peaceable manner in which it was obtained, as appears by the testimony of two settlers, Wil- liam Buttrick and Richard Rice, and two Christian Indians of Natick, Jehojakin and Jethro. They unitedly testify and say, " That they were present at the making of the bargain for the town of Concord; that at the house of the Rev. Peter Bulkley, Mr. Simon Willard, Mr. John Jones, Mr. Spencer, and others, did pur- chase of squaw sachem, Tahattawan and Nimrod, a tract of land six miles square, the center being the place (or near) where the bargain was made. That said Willard and others did pay for said land in wampanpeague, hatchets, hoes, knives, cotton cloth, and chintz, to said Indians. And that Wappacowet, husband to squaw sachem, received a suit of cotton cloth, a hat, a white linen band, shoes, stockings, and a great coat on account of said bar- gain. That in the conclusion, the Indians declared they were satisfied, and that the English were welcome."
The first settlement commenced in the fall of 1635, at which period (Sept. 3) the town was incorporated. "The first houses
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were built on the south side of the hill from the public square to Merriam's Corner, and the farm lots laid out extending back from the road across the great fields and great meadows, and in front across the meadows on Mill brook. This spot was probably selected because it contained land easy of tillage, and because it afforded the greatest facilities in constructing such temporary dwellings as would shelter the inhabitants from the inclemency of storms and winter. These huts were built by digging into the bank, driving posts into the ground, and placing on them a cover- ing of bark, brushwood, or earth. The second year houses were erected as far as where the south and north bridges now stand." Many of the first settlers were men of acknowledged wealth, talents and education in their native country, and several were of noble families.
The following is from Johnson's "Wonder-working Provi- dence." This author being an inhabitant of Woburn, and often associated with the people of Concord, he had a good opportunity of being acquainted with the early history of the town.
" Upon some inquiry of the Indians, who lived to the North West of the Bay, one Captaine Simon Willard, being acquainted with them, by reason of his trade, became a chiefe instrument in erecting this towne. The land they purchase of the Indians, and with much difficulties travelling through unknowne woods, and through watery swamps, they discover the fitnesse of the place ; sometimes passing through the thick- ets, where their hands are forced to make way for their bodies passage, and their feete clambering over the crossed trees, which when they missed they sunke into an uncertaine bottome in water, and wade up to their knees, tumbling sometimes higher and sometimes lower: Wearied with this toile, they at end of this meete with a scorch- ing plaine, yet not so plaine, but that the ragged bushes scratch their legs fouly, even to wearing their stockings to their bare skin in two or three hours. If they be not otherwise well defended with bootes or buskings, their flesh will be torne. Some of them being forced to passe on without further provision, have had the bloud trickle downe at every step. And in time of summer, the sun casts such a reflecting heate from the sweete ferne, whose scent is very strong, that some herewith have beene very nere fainting, although very able bodies to undergoe much travel. And this not to be indured for one day, but for many ; and verily did not the Lord incourage their natural parts (with hopes of a new and strange discovery, expecting every houre to see some rare sight never seen before), they were never able to hold out and breake through." ** * * " After some dayes spent in search, toyling in the day time as for- merly said, like true Jacob, they rest them on the rocks where the night takes them. Their short repast is some small pittance of bread, if it hold out ; but as for drinke they have plenty, the countrey being well watered in all places that are yet found out. Their further hardship is to travell sometimes they know not whither, bewildred in- deed without sight of sun, their compasse miscarrying in crouding through the bushes. They sadly search up and down for a known way, the Indian paths being not above one foot broad, so that a man may travell many dayes and never find one." * * * " This intricate worke no whit daunted these resolved servants of Christ to go on with the worke in hand ; but lying in the open aire, while the watery clouds poure down all the night season, and sometimes the driving snow dissolving on their backs, they keep their wet cloathes warme with a continued fire, till the renewed morning give fresh opportunity of further travell. After they have thus found out a place of aboad, they burrow themselves in the earth for their first shelter under some hill-side, casting the earth aloft upon timber ; they make a smoaky fire against the earth at the highest side. And thus these poore servants of Christ provide shelter for themselves, their wives and little ones, keeping off the short showers from their lodgings, but the long raines pene- trate through to their great disturbance in the night season. Yet in these poor wig- wams they sing psalmes, pray and praise their God, till they can provide them houses, which ordinarily was not wont to be with many till the earth, by the Lord's blessing, brought forth bread to feed them, their wives and little ones, which with sore labours they attain ; every one that can lift a hoe to strike it into the earth, standing stoutly to
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their labours, and tear up the rootes and bushes, which the first yeare bears them a very thin crop, till the soard of the earth be rotten, and therefore they have been forced to cut their bread very thin for a long season. But the Lord is pleased to provide for them great store of fish in the spring time, and especially Alewives about the bignesse of a Herring. Many thousands of these they used to put under their Indian corne, which they plant in hills five foote asunder, and assuredly when the Lord created this corn, he had a speciall eye to supply these his people's wants with it, for ordinarily five or six grains doth produce six hundred: As for flesh they looked not for any in those times (although now they have plenty) unlesse they could barter with the Indians for venison or rockoons, whose flesh is not much inferiour unto lambe. The toile of a new plantation being like the labours of Hercules never at an end, yet are none so barbarously bent (under the Mattacusets especially ) but with a new plantation they ordinarily gather into church fellowship, so that pastors and people suffer the in- conveniences together, which is a great means to season the sore labours they under- goe. And verily the edge of their appetite was greater to spirituall duties, at their first coming in time of wants, than afterward. Many in new plantations have been forced to go barefoot, and bareleg, till these latter dayes, and some in time of frost and snow ; yet were they then very healthy more than now they are. In this wildernesse worke men of estates speed no better than others, and some much worse for want of being inured to such hard labour ; having laid out their estate upon cattell at five and twenty pound a cow, when they came to winter them with in-land hay, and feed upon such wild fother as was never cut before, they could not hold out the winter, but ordinarily the first or second yeare after their coming up to a new plantation, many of their cattell died, especially if they wanted salt-marshes. And also those, who supposed they should feed upon swines flesh were cut short, the wolves commonly feasting themselves before them, who never leave neither flesh nor bones, if they be not scared away before they have made an end of their meale. As for those who laid out their estate upon sheepe, they speed worst of any at the beginning (although some have sped the best of any now) for untill the land be often fed by other cattell, sheepe cannot live, and therefore they never thrived till these latter days .. Horse had then no better successe, which made many an honest gentleman travell a foot for a long time, and some have even perished with extreme heate in their travells. As also the want of English graine, wheate, barley, and rie, proved a sore affliction to some stomacks, who could not live upon Indian bread and water, yet were they compelled to it till cattell increased, and the plowes could but goe. Instead of apples and pears, they had pomkins and squashes of divers kinds. Their lonesome condition was very grievous to some, which was much aggravated by continuall feare of the Indians approach, whose cruelties were much spoken of, and more especially during the time of the Pequot wars. Thus this poore people populate this howling desert, marching manfully on (the Lord assisting) through the greatest difficulties, and sorest labours that ever any with such weak means have done."
The soil of Concord is various, consisting of rocky, sandy, and moist land ; but it is in general fertile. It contains no hills of con- sequence except Nassinutt, in the north-west part of the town. Concord river passes through the central part of the town; the North or Assabeth river unites with the Concord or Sudbury river about half a mile N. W. of the center of the village. Concord is the half shire town of the county of Middlesex. The village con- tains two Congregational churches, a court-house, jail, a bank, (the Concord Bank,) with a capital of $100,000, and about eighty dwelling-houses in the immediate vicinity: There is in the town one cotton factory, an establishment for the manufacture of lead pipes and sheet lead, one for carriages, and one for lead pencils, besides others for other articles. Concord is 13 miles south of Lowell, 30 north-east of Worcester, and 16 north-westerly of Bos- ton. Population, 2,023.
The following is a south view of Col. Daniel Shattuck's residence in Concord, at the northern end of the wide street or common, in the central part of the village. A part of this building was erected
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Colonel Shattuck's residence, Concord.
during the revolutionary war, and used as a place of deposit for the public stores.
The general court has frequently held its sessions in this town, and in the year 1774 the provincial congress selected it as the place of their meeting. A considerable quantity of provisions and military stores being deposited here, Gen. Gage, who commanded the British troops at Boston, on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, sent a detachment to destroy them. The British troops, who took every precaution to march secretly to Concord, were discovered at a very early period. The church bell at Concord rung an alarm a little before 3 o'clock in the morning. After the British troops had fired on the militia at Lexington, they proceeded on to Concord. The following very interesting and circumstantial account of the proceedings at this place is extracted from the History of the Town of Concord, by Lemuel Shattuck, Esq., an octavo volume of 392 pages, published in Boston by Russell, Odiorne & Co., and in Con- cord by John Stacy, 1835.
" Guards were stationed at the north and south bridges, below Dr. Heywood's, and in the centre of the village. Jonathan Farrar was then commander of the guard. In case of an alarm, it was agreed to meet at Wright's tavern, now Deacon Jarvis's. A part of the company under Captain Brown paraded about break of day ; and being uncertain whether the enemy was coming, they were dismissed, to be called together by the beat of drum. Soon afterward the minute-men and militia, who had assembled, paraded on the common, and, after furnishing themselves with ammunition at the court-house, marched down below the village in view of the Lexington road. About the same time a part of the minute com- pany from Lincoln, who had been alarmed by Dr. Prescott, came into town, and paraded in like manner. The number of armed men, who had now assembled, was about one hundred. The morn- ing had advanced to about seven o'clock ; and the British army were soon seen approaching the town on the Lexington road. The sun shone with peculiar splendor. The glittering arms of eight
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hundred soldiers, 'the flower of the British army,' were full in view. It was a novel, imposing, alarming sight. What was to be done ? At first it was thought best that they should face the enemy, as few as they were, and abide the consequences. Of this opinion, among others, was the Rev. William Emerson, the cler- gyman of the town, who had turned out amongst the first in the morning to animate and encourage his people by his counsel and patriotic example. 'Let us stand our ground,' said he; 'if we die, let us die here !' Eleazer Brooks, of Lincoln, was then on the hill. 'Let us go and meet them,' said one to him. 'No,' he answered, 'it will not do for us to begin the war.' They did not then know what had happened at Lexington. Their number was, however, very small in comparison with the enemy, and it was concluded best to retire a short distance, and wait for rein- forcements. They consequently marched to the northern declivity of the burying-ground hill, near the present site of the court-house. They did not, however, leave their station till the British light infantry had arrived within a few rods' distance. * *
" In the mean time the British troops entered the town. The six companies of light infantry were ordered to enter on the hill and disperse the minute men whom they had seen paraded there. The grenadiers came up the main road, and halted on the common. Unfortunately for the people's cause, the British officers had already been made somewhat acquainted, through their spies and the tories, with the topography of the town, and the situation of many of the military stores. On their arrival they examined, as well as they could, by the help of spyglasses, from a post of obser- vation on the burying-ground hill, the appearance of the town, condition of the provincials, &c. It was found that the provin- cials were assembling, and that no time was to be lost. The first object of the British was to gain possession of the north and south bridges, to prevent any militia from entering over them. Accord- ingly, while Colonel Smith remained in the centre of the town, he detached six companies of light infantry, under command of Capt. Lawrence Parsons of his own regiment, to take possession of the north bridge, and proceed thence to places where stores were de- posited. Ensign D'Bernicre, already mentioned, was ordered to direct his way. It is also intimated that tories were active in guid- ing the regulars. Captain - Becman of Petersham was one. On their arrival there, three companies, under command of Captain Lawrie of the 43d regiment, were left to protect the bridge ; one of those, commanded by Lieutenant Edward Thornton Gould, para- ded at the bridge, the other, of the 4th and 10th regiments, fell back in the rear towards the hill. Captain Parsons with three companies proceeded to Colonel Barrett's, to destroy the stores there deposited. At the same time Captain Mundey Pole, of the 10th regiment, was ordered to take possession of the south bridge, and destroy such public property as he could find in that direction. The grenadiers and marines, under Smith and Pitcairn, remained in the centre of the town, where all means in their power were
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used to accomplish the destruction of military stores. By the great exertions of the provincials the principal part of the public stores had been secreted, and many others were protected by the innocent artifice of individuals. In the centre of the town the grenadiers broke open about sixty barrels of flour, nearly one half of which was afterwards saved; knocked off the trunnions of three iron twenty-four pound cannon, and burnt sixteen new car- riage-wheels, and a few barrels of wooden trenchers and spoons. The liberty-pole on the hill was cut down, and suffered the same fate. About five hundred pounds of balls were thrown into the mill-pond and into wells. * * *
" While the British were thus engaged, our citizens and part of our military men, having secured what articles of public property they could, were assembling under arms. Beside the minute-men and militia of Concord, the military companies from the adjoining towns began to assemble ; and the number had increased to about two hundred and fifty or three hundred. *
"Joseph Hosmer, acting as adjutant, formed the soldiers as they arrived singly or in squads, on the field westerly of Colonel Jonas Buttrick's present residence ; the minute companies on the right and the militia on the left, facing the town. He then, observing an unusual smoke arising from the centre of the town, went to the officers and citizens in consultation on the high ground near by, and inquired earnestly, 'Will you let them burn the town down ?' They then, with those exciting scenes before them, deliberately, with noble patriotism and firmness, 'resolved to march into the middle of the town to defend their homes, or die in the attempt ;' and at the same time they resolved not to fire unless first fired upon. 'They acted upon principle and in the fear of God.'
" Colonel Barrett immediately gave orders to march by wheeling from the right. Major Buttrick requested Lieutenant-Colonel Rob- inson to accompany him, and led them in double file to the scene of action. When they came to the road leading from Captain Brown's to the bridge, a part of the Acton minute company, under Captain Davis, passed by in front, marched towards the bridge a short distance, and halted. Being in files of two abreast, the Con- cord minute company, under Captain Brown, being before at the head, marched up the north side, till they came equally in front. The precise position, however, of each company cannot now be fully ascertained. This road was subject to inundations, and a wall was built with large stones on the upper side, in which posts were placed, connected together at their tops with poles to aid foot- passengers in passing over in times of high water.
" The British, observing their motions, immediately formed on the east side of the river, and soon began to take up the planks of the bridge. Against this Major Buttrick remonstrated in an ele- vated tone, and ordered a quicker step of his soldiers. The British desisted. At that moment two or three guns were fired in quick succession into the river, which the provincials considered as alarm- guns and not aimed at them. They had arrived within ten or fif-
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teen rods of the bridge, when a single gun was fired by a British soldier, the ball from which, passing under Colonel Robinson's arm, slightly wounded the side of Luther Blanchard, a fifer in the Acton company, and Jonas Brown, one of the Concord minute men. This gun was instantly followed by a volley, by which Captain Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer, both belonging to Acton, were killed, a ball passing through the body of the former, and another through the head of the latter. On seeing this, Major Buttrick instantly leaped from the ground, and partly turning to his men, exclaimed, ' Fire, fellow-soldiers, for God's sake, fire !' discharging his own gun almost in the same instant. His order was instantly obeyed ; and a general discharge from the whole line of the provincial ranks took place. Firing on both sides continued a few minutes. Three British soldiers were killed ; and Lieutenants Sunderland, Kelley, and Gould, a sergeant, and four privates, were wounded. The British immediately retreated about half way to the meeting- house, and were met by two companies of grenadiers, who had been drawn thither by 'the noise of battle.' Two of the soldiers killed at the bridge were left on the ground, where they were afterwards buried by Zachariah Brown and Thomas Davis, Jun .; and the spot deserves to be marked by an ever-enduring monu- ment, as the place where the first British blood was spilt,-where the life of the first British soldier was taken, in a contest which resulted in a revolution the most mighty in its consequences in the annals of mankind. Most of the provincials pursued them across the bridge, though a few returned to Buttrick's with their dead. About one hundred and fifty went immediately across the Great Field to intercept the enemy on their retreat at Merriam's Corner. From this time through the day, little or no military order was preserved. Every man chose his own time and mode of attack. It was between 10 and 11 o'clock when the firing at the bridge took place, and a short time after Captain Parsons and his party returned unmolested from Colonel Barrett's. * *
" By this time the provincials had considerably increased, and were constantly arriv- ing from the neighboring towns. The British had but partially accomplished the objects of their expedition ; the quantity of public stores destroyed being very small in compari- son with what remained untouched. They observed, however, with no little anxiety and astonishment, the celerity with which the provincials were assembling, and the de- termined resolution with which they were opposed. Hitherto their superior numbers had given them an advantage over such companies as had assembled ; but they now began to feel that they were in danger, and resolved, from necessity, on an immediate retreat. They collected together their scattered parties, and made some hasty provi- * sion for the wounded. * * *
" The designs of the enemy were now fully developed ; and the indignation of the provincials was highly excited. Many of them were determined to be revenged for the wanton cruelties which had been committed. They had followed the retreating party between the bridge and the village, and fired single-handed from the high ground, or from behind such shelter as came in their way; and thus began a mode of warfare which cost many a one his life.
" The king's troops retreated in the same order as they entered town, the infantry on the hill and the grenadiers in the road, but with flanking parties more numerous and farther from the main body. On arriving at Merriam's Corner they were attacked by the
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provincials who had proceeded across the Great Fields, in conjunc- tion with a company from Reading, under command of the late Governor Brooks. Several of the British were killed, and several wounded; among the latter was Ensign Lester. None of the pro- vincials were injured. From this time the road was literally lined with provincials, whose accurate aim generally produced the desired effect. Guns were fired from every house, barn, wall, or * * covert.
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