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 49
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The first church was gathered, and Mr. James Stone was or- dained the first pastor here, in 1728. In 1743, Mr. Joshua Prentiss was ordained the second minister; he continued pastor 42 years, and died in 1788. He was succeeded by Mr. Timothy Dickinson, the third minister, who was ordained in 1789. December, 1753, and January, 1754, were remarkable for what is called the great sickness in Holliston. "The patients were violently seized with a piercing pain in the breast or side; to be seized with a pain in the head was not common ; the fever high. The greater part of those that died were rational to the last; they lived three, four, five, and six days after they were taken. In some instances, it appears, they strangled, by not being able to expectorate ; some in this case, who were thought to be in their last moments, were recovered by administering oil. In about six weeks fifty-three persons died, forty-one of whom died within twenty-two days." The following account of this sickness is extracted from the account kept by the Rev. Mr. Prentiss. "December 31st, seven lay unburied. Janu- ary 4th, ten lay unburied, in which week seventeen died. There were two, three, four, and five buried for many days successively. Of those who died, fifteen were members of this church." "We are extremely weakened by the desolation death has made in many of the most substantial families among us; four families wholly broken up, losing both their heads. The sickness was so
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prevalent, that but few families escaped ; for more than a month, there was not enough well to tend the sick and bury the dead, though they spent their whole time in these services; but the sick suffered and the dead lay unburied; and that, notwithstanding help was procured, and charitable assistance afforded, by many in the neighboring towns."" "We are a small town, consisting of about eighty families, and not more than four hundred souls."
HOPKINTON.
THE principal part of this town was purchased of the natives by Mr. Leverett, president of Harvard college : its Indian name was Quansigomog. A hill in the eastern part of the town was called by the natives Megonko. It was purchased for the purpose of perpetuating the legacy of Edward Hopkins, Esq. to Harvard col- lege, and was called Hopkinton, in honor to his name. It was leased out by the president and trustees of the college to the first settlers. The settlement began about the year 1710 or 12, and was never interrupted; the town was incorporated in December, 1715.
Hopkinton is hilly, interspersed with small valleys, and well watered. There are two ponds in the westerly part of this town. From one, which is called White-Hall Pond, issues one of the ex- treme branches of the Concord river, which empties itself into the Merrimac. From the other, called the North Pond, (although it lies nearly south of the first, about two miles distant, ) issues one of the extreme branches of Providence or Blackstone river. One of the extreme branches of Charles river also takes its rise in this town. The Mineral Spring in this town, near White-Hall Pond, is much visited. It contains carbonic acid, and carbonate of lime, and iron. There is a large and commodious hotel at this place, and it is a fashionable place of resort, situated within three and a half miles of the Boston and Worcester railroad, at Westborough, and 7 miles from the Blackstone canal, at Northbridge. There are in the town 4 churches, (2 Congregational, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist, ) 2 cotton factories, and 2,166 inhabitants. Distant 24 miles S. W. of Concord, 30 northerly from Providence, 14 easterly from Worcester, and 30 miles S. W. of Boston. In 1837, there were 3 cotton mills; 3,428 spindles; cotton goods manufactured, 555,900 yards; valued at $55,350. There were 72,300 pairs of boots and 15,600 pairs of shoes manufactured, valued at $152,300; males employed, 234; females, 24. There were 2,950 straw bonnets manufactured, valued at $5,350.
The first church was gathered, and the first pastor, Rev. Samuel Barrett, was ordained, in 1724; in 1772, Rev. Elijah Fitch was ordained colleague pastor with Mr. Barrett. "Mr. Fitch died in 1788, and was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel Howe, in 1791. Some time after the ordination of Mr. Barrett, the first Congregational
50
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Western vien in the central part of Hopkinton.
minister, a number of the inhabitants of the Episcopal order living in the town, the Rev. Roger Price, a gentleman of eminence and ability, came from England, and erected a house near the middle of the town for public worship, and endowed it with a glebe, and public worship was performed under his ministry for a number of years. After his removal to England, he sent the Rev. Mr. Trout- beck, who officiated as minister for some time .- The two churches in the central part of the town, represented in the above engraving, are situated on an elevated hill, which descends with considerable abruptness to the eastward.
In or about the year 1746, twelve men and a boy were enlisted in this town, by Capt. Prescott, of Concord, to go upon the expe- dition to Cuba. They went, and all died there, except the boy. The boy returned ; and it was remarked by the old people, that they were twelve of the most robust young men in the town. Their names were
Edward Carrel, Francis Peirce,
Samuel Frale,
Henry Walker, Thomas Belloes, Samuel Clemons,
Henry Walker, Jr.,
Eleazer Rider,
Ebenezer Coller,
Gideon Gould,
Cornelius Claflen, Samuel Rosseau.
Within the limits of this town was formerly a village of praying Indians; the following is from Gookin's account :
" Magunkaquog is the seventh town where praying Indians inhabit. The signification of the place's name is a place of great trees. It is situated partly within the bounds of Natick and partly upon the lands granted to the country. It lieth west-southerly from Boston about twenty-four miles, near the mid-way between Natick and Hassanamessit. The number of their families is about eleven, and about fifty-five souls. There are men and women, eight members of the church at Natick, and about fifteen baptized per- sons. The quantity of the land belonging to it is about three thousand acres. The Indians plant upon a great hill, which is
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very fertile. These people worship God and keep the Sabbath, and observe civil order, as do the other towns. They have a con- stable and other officers. Their ruler's name is Pamphaman; a sober and active man, and pious. Their teacher's name is Job ; a person well accepted for piety and abilities among them. This town was the last settling of the old towns. They have plenty of corn, and keep some cattle, horses, and swine, for which the place is well accommodated."
The following is extracted from a second edition of a Century Sermon, preached in this place in 1815, by the Rev. Mr. Howe. It is introduced here to show the nature of some of the controversies which, owing to human imperfection, will occasionally take place between a minister and his people. Of the merits of the following case, the author has no information, excepting what is published in the sermon. He would, however, observe, that in controversies of this kind there is generally some fault on both sides, and that men, when associated in a body, will oftentimes do acts which they would be ashamed to do in their private capacity. Mr. Howe, in the course of this sermon, says-
"When the public took sides upon politics, your minister was a federalist, though he was sensible a very great majority of the town were of different sentiments. He be- lieved then, as he believes now, that he ought to have more regard to his country than to any particular part of it ; and when he has occasionally preached political sermons, they have repeatedly occasioned uncomfortable feelings.
" Another difficulty your minister has had to encounter was the want of support. A vast change has taken place in the expenses of dressing and living since my ordina- tion, and yet no addition has been made to my salary.
"When a candidate, I determined I would never settle till I saw a reasonable pros- pect of a comfortable support, and when settled that I would never complain of my salary. I remained of this mind till I had been your minister for fifteen years.
" Borne down with the fatigues of manual labor, pressed into the woods in the win- ter, to the plough in the spring, and into the meadow in the summer, to support my family comfortably and fulfil my promises, I felt the business of the ministry was greatly neglected ;- that it was impossible for me to do what ought to be done in my profession, unless the people did more toward my support.
"I committed my thoughts to paper, then communicated them to four brethren of the church, then to the church as a body, and afterward to the town."
The following is extracted from this communication :
" When you gave me a call to settle with you in the gospel ministry, and the town had concurred and made their proposals, I took the matter under serious consideration. I considered the unanimity of the church and town as favorable circumstances, and the proposals that were made with respect to my support, as reasonable, though not large. The ministerial land I was sensible was good, though the state of cultivation was very bad, and the fences extremcly poor. It then appeared to me, if I should be favored with prosperity, with the knowledge I thought I had of agriculture, that I should be able to support a family. With those views I gave my answer in the affirmative, was ordained, and soon had a family. At this time, every article of provision was low, labor was cheap, and my income was sufficient for my support. But within two years from my ordination, moncy began to depreciate, and the price of labor to rise ; my sala- ry has continued depreciating and labor rising, till it is not worth more than half what it was when I was settled.
"I have always been sensible of the difficulty of transacting money business with any people ; and from this impression have labored with my hands, to make provision for my family, and fulfil my promises. I have scarcely ever suffered myself to make any complaints ; but I find at present, that my expenses are increasing and my income decreasing. This has led me into considerable perplexity with respect to my duty. If
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I ask a dismission and remove, it must be with a considerable loss of property. If I remain as I am, I see no reason to expect any better times. If I exert myself more in laboring with my hands, it must be disadvantageous both to you and me ; for then I must neglect my professional business. If I advertise my house and land for sale, it will appear precipitate. If I propose to the town to purchase it for the next minister, and ask them to dismiss me; I know not how this will operate. I do not wish to leave the ministry ; but if I should ever remove, it is full time, for I have probably spent the best part of my life among you. Fifteen years ago, the expense of candidate preach- ing was four or five dollars a Sabbath; now it is eight or ten. Then the members of our general court had one dollar per day, now they have two dollars per day. A com- mon laborer at that time had fifty-five or sixty dollars per year; now they have 130, 140, and some 150 dollars a year. * * *
"In these circumstances, brethren, 1 request your advice. Shall I ask a dismission ? Or, shall I ask to have the depreciation made up on my salary? Shall I ask the town to purchase my house and land ? Or, shall I advertise it in a public paper ? Or, ought I to remain satisfied as I am?
"It costs me this year one hundred and fifty dollars for one man's labor, who can- not do my business either winter or summer ; and if I add to this sum the reasonable expense of his board, it will amount to as much as the town pay to my support. It will be said that the ministerial land is much more productive than formerly : this is true ; but how comes it to pass ? Is it not in consequence of the labor and expense I have been at to cultivate and fence it ? Some years I have expended as much on the land as the whole of the income.
" If it should be said I have other income, I ask, is it right for me to spend the pro- perty that was left to my wife, by her parents, while I am preaching to a people well able to support me, when, perhaps, by and by, she may be left in poverty and dis- tress ?
" If a farm be let out at the halves, the buildings and fences will soon be out of re- pair, and the land impoverished. If all the labor be hired to carry on a farm, and pay the other expenses, the income to the owner will be but small. I say these things to show you my situation, and to convince you, that, should I ask a dismission in a few months, you ought not to think it unreasonable."
The manner in which the town acted upon Mr. Howe's com- munication is seen by the following.
"The town met on Dec. 15, 1806. Mr. Howe was called upon to read to the town the communication he had made to the church. Upon which the vote was put, ' to see if the town will (on account of the depreciation of money) add $116 67 to the yearly salary of the Rev. Nathaniel Howe, till such time as labor and provisions fall in their prices as low as when he was ordained.' This passed in the negative by a large ma- jority.
"Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town would add $116 67 till such time as the members of our general court receive less than two dollars per day for their ser- vices. This was negatived by a large majority.
"Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town will add $116 67 for seven years, from the first day of January next. This passed in the negative by a large majority.
" Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town will make up one half the depreciation on his salary, from this time, while he continues their minister. This passed in the negative by a large majority.
" Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town will, in future, give him two hundred dollars for his annual salary, and average it on labor, corn, rye, cider, butter and cheese, beef and pork, at the prices they bore on the day of his ordination. This passed in the negative by a large majority,
" Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town will purchase his house and land, and keep it for the next minister. This passed in the negative by a large majority.
" Then Mr. Howe proposed to see if the town will request the church by a vote to grant him a dismission. This passed in the negative by a large majority.
" Then Mr. Howe said he had but one proposition more to make ; which was, to see if the town were willing he should publish the communication he had made to the church, and read to the town this day, and all the doings of the town thereon. And this also passed in the negative by a large majority.
Attest, EPHRAIM READ, Town Clerk."
Near the conclusion of the sermon Mr. Howe says,-
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" My brethren, may I ask a question, a plain, simple question ? How shall I obtain your consent ? Shall I take silence for consent? Your countenances discover a wil- lingness.
" The question is this : do you know by what means I have become so rich as to have a great house, finished and furnished ; a farm, a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, horses, and money at interest ? I say nothing about my debts to-day.
" Shall I answer the question ? The principal reason is this ; because I have been doing your business, and neglecting my own. What is your business ? Your business is to support your minister ; and that is what I have been doing, for more than twenty years. And what is my business ? My business is to study and preach; and in this I have never abounded. It is true, I have been absent from public worship not more than four or five Sabbaths for twenty-five years ; but I have frequently been present, and attempted to preach, when it has been mortifying to me, and could not have been edifying to you. I have sometimes administered reproof, both to the church and the society, in a manner that has been thought to discover some degree of severity ; but in these cases you have always had good sense enough to know you richly deserved it."
LEXINGTON.
THIS town was incorporated in 1712. The face of the town is rather rough and uneven, and the soil is not of the first quality for cultivation. There are, however, some good farms and extensive meadows on the branches of the Shawshine river, several of which rise in this town. In 1837, the value of boots and shoes manufac- tured in this place was $12,278; fur caps manufactured, 60,000; muffs and neck ties, 600; fur capes, 400; fur gloves, 1,000 pairs ; value of these articles, $73,000; males employed, 25 ; females, 75 ; capital invested, $55,000. There was also an establishment for calico printing. Population, 1,622. Distance, 7 miles from Con- cord, 13 from Lowell, and 10 from Boston.
The following is a representation of the far-famed spot where the first blood was shed at the opening of the great drama of the Revo-' lution. The engraving is a western view from the Concord road, showing the Unitarian church, and the monument on Lexington green, or common. The monument is situated on a small eleva- tion of ground on the western side of the green; a small school- house stood on this spot at the time the British troops fired upon the Americans, on the memorable 19th of April, 1775. The church seen in the engraving stands on the same spot where the ancient church stood, which was taken down in 1794, when the present building was erected. The following is the inscription on the monument :-
Sacred to the Liberty and the Rights of Mankind !!!- The Freedom & Independ- ence of America,-Sealed and defended with the blood of her sons .- This Monument is erected-By the Inhabitants of Lexington-Under the patronage, and at the expense of-The Commonwealth of Massachusetts,-To the memory of their Fellow-Citizens -Ensign Robert Munroe, Messrs. Jonas Parker,-Samuel Hadley, Jonathan Harring- ton, Junr .- Isaac Muzzy, Caleb Harrington, and John Brown-Of Lexington, and Asahel Porter of Woburn-Who fell on this field, the first victims to the-Sword of British Tyranny & Oppression-On the morning of the ever memorable-Nineteenth of April, An. Dom. 1775 .- The Die was Cast !!!- The Blood of these Martyrs-In the cause of God & their Country,-Was the Cement of the Union of these States then- Colonies, & gave the spring to the Spirit, Firmness-And Resolution of their Fellow-
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Congregational Church and Monument at Lexington.
Citizens-They rose as one man to revenge their brethren's-Blood, and at the point of the sword to assist &-Defend their native Rights .- They nobly dared to be free ! ! -- The contest was long, bloody & affecting,-Righteous Heaven approved the solemn appeal ;- Victory crowned their arms ;- And the Peace, Liberty, & Independence, of the United-States of America, was their glorious Reward .- Built in the year 1799.
The house seen between the church and the monument was in 1775 the public inn, kept by Mr. John Buckman; it is now the re- sidence of Mr. Rufus Merriam. The Americans at the time they were fired upon were paraded, perhaps, four or five rods eastward of the monument, towards the barn seen in the engraving. In the extreme distance, on the right, is seen the tower of the Baptist church, on the Boston road. The village in the vicinity of the churches consists of about forty dwelling-houses, most of which are situated south-westward of the monument.
The following is a view of the ancient meeting-house and other buildings, as they appeared in 1775. In the afternoon, on their retreat, the British troops fired a cannon ball through this meeting- house ; it passed out through the pulpit window. The drawing was made from a large print, published by Mr. Amos Doolittle, of New Haven, Con., in 1775. Mr. Doolittle and Mr. Earl, who made the original drawing, were both members of the governor's guard at New Haven, which company, when the news of the bloodshed at Lexington reached New Haven, immediately volun- teered their services, took up their march for Boston, and joined the American army investing that place. The company continued at Cambridge for a number of weeks before they returned. While here, Mr. Earl and Mr, Doolittle visited Lexington and Concord, and took a drawing of the buildings and surrounding scenery, par- ticularly at Lexington, where the first blood was shed .*
* The author of this work would here state that he was personally acquainted with Mr. Doolittle, and has conversed with him repeatedly upon the subject of these draw-
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View of Lexington Meeting-house and Buckman's Tavern in 1775.
" At about 10 o'clock in the evening of the 18th, a detachment of British troops, consisting of grenadiers and light infantry, in all about eight hundred, embarked from Boston in boats, and landed at Lechmere Point in Cambridge, just as the moon rose. To pre- vent discovery, they took a bypath leading to the main road, which obliged them to wade through marshy places and water to a con- siderable depth.
"Governor Gage, by posting sentinels, endeavored to prevent the carrying intelligence of the embarkation of the troops into the country. But nothing of the kind could escape the notice of the vigilant and active General Warren and his compatriots. Colonel Revere and a Mr. Lincoln had been seasonably sent out of Boston, to give information to Hancock and Adams, and to others, of the movement of. the British troops, and what might be expected. Revere and Lincoln, one through Charlestown, the other through Roxbury, met at Lexington. They both brought written com- munications from General Warren, that a large body of the king's troops (supposed to be a brigade of twelve or fifteen hundred men) had embarked in boats, and gone over to Lechmere Point, and it was suspected they were ordered to seize and destroy the stores belonging to the colony, then deposited at Concord. The march
ings. They were four in number, and were engraved by Mr. Doolittle. Plate 1. repre- sented the Battle of Lexington. Plate 2. A View of the Town of Concord, with the ministerial troops destroying the stores. Plate 3. The Battle at the North Bridge, at Concord. Plate 4. The South Part of Lexington, where the first detachment was joined by Lord Percy. Being familiar with these engravings, and having visited the places of which they are a representation, the author would state that these plates, though rude in execution, and defective in point of perspective, are from drawings taken on the spot, giving a faithful representation of the houses, &e., as they appeared at that time. These engravings may be considered as the first regular series of historical prints ever published in this country. Mr. Doolittle, the engraver, died in 1832, after having industriously applied himself to the business of engraving for more than half a century. The " Battle of Lexington" was his first attempt in the art ; and it may be men- tioned, as somewhat remarkable, that the last day he was able to perform any labor, he assisted the author of this work in engraving a reduced copy of this plate.
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of the British troops was silent and rapid. A little before 5 o'clock, A. M., they arrived at Lexington, near the meeting-house, and in sight of the militia there collected."
Major Pitcairn, (who was afterwards killed at Bunker Hill,) led the van; he rode up, and, addressing the militia as rebels, or- dered them to throw down their arms and disperse. This order, as far as it regarded the throwing down of their arms, appears not to have been obeyed. Pitcairn then fired his pistol, and, flourishing his sword, ordered his soldiers to fire. Eight of the Americans were killed; three or four by the first fire of the British, the others after they had left the parade. The following deposition of Mr. Wood, of Woburn, published in Rev. Dr. Ripley's "History of the Fight at Concord," gives a circumstantial account of this event.
"I, SYLVANUS WOOD, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years, do testify and say, that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, I was an inhabitant of Woburn, living with Deacon Obediah Ken- dall; that about an hour before the break of day on said morning, I heard the Lexing- ton bell ring ; and fearing there was difficulty there, I immediately arose, took my gun, and with Robert Douglass went in haste to Lexington, which was about three miles distant. When I arrived there, I inquired of Captain Parker, the commander of the Lexington company, what was the news. Parker told me he did not know what to believe, for a man had come up about half an hour before, and informed him that the British troops were not on the road. But while we were talking, a messenger came up and told the captain that the British troops were within half a mile. Parker imme- diately turned to his drummer, William Diman, and ordered him to beat to arms, which was done. Captain Parker then asked me if I would parade with his company. I told him I would. Parker then asked me if the young man with me would parade. I spoke to Douglass, and he said he would follow the captain and me. By this time many of the company had gathered around the captain at the hearing of the drum, where we stood, which was about half way between the meeting-house and Buckman's tavern. Parker says to his men, 'Every man of you, who is equipped, follow me, -- and those of you who are not equipped, go into the meeting-house and furnish your- selves from the magazine, and immediately join the company.' Parker led those of us who were equipped to the north end of Lexington common, near the Bedford road, and formed us in single file. I was stationed about in the center of the company. While we were standing, I left my place, and went from one end of the company to the other, and counted every man who was paraded, and the whole number was thirty- eight and no more .* Just as I had finished and got back to my place, I perceived the British troops had arrived on the spot between the meeting-house and Buckman's, near where Captain Parker stood when he first led off his men. The British troops immediately wheeled so as to cut off those who had gone into the meeting-house. The British troops approached us rapidly in platoons, with a general officer on horseback at their head. The officer came up to within about two rods of the center of the com- pany, where 1 stood, the first platoon being about three rods distant. They there halted. The officer then swung his sword, and said, 'Lay down your arms, you damn'd rebels, or you are all dead men-fire.' Some guns were fired by the British at us from the first platoon, but no person was killed or hurt, being probably charged only with powder. Just at this time, Captain Parker ordered every man to take care of himself. The company immediately dispersed; and while the company was dispersing and leaping over the wall, the second platoon of the British fired, and killed some of our men. There was not a gun fired by any of Captain Parker's company within my knowledge. I was so situated that I must have known it, had any thing of the kind taken place before a total dispersion of our company. I have been intimately acquaint- ed with the inhabitants of Lexington, and particularly with those of Captain Parker's company, and, with one exception, I have never heard any of them say or pretend that there was any firing at the British from Parker's company, or any individual in it, un- til within a year or two. One member of the company told me, many years since, that
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