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 68
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" The main guard was regularly stationed near the head of State street, directly opposite the door on the south side of the town-house. To this place all the soldiers detached for guard duty were daily brought, and from thence marched to the particular posts assigned them. On this day the command of the guard had devolved on Capt. Thomas Preston, and Lieut. Basset under him.
" As the party dispersed from Dock Square, some ran up Cornhill, others up Wilson's lane, others up Royal Exchange lane, (now Exchange street.) These last found a single sentinel stationed before the door of the custom-house, which was the building now occupied by the Union Bank, and then made one corner of that lane, as the Royal Exchange tavern did the other. As the sentinel was approached, he retreated to the steps of the house, and alarmed the inmates by three or four powerful knocks at the door. Word was sent to Lieut. Basset that the sentinel was attacked by the town's people. He immediately sent a message to his captain, who instantly repaired to the guard-house, where Lieut. Basset informed him that he had just sent a serjeant and six men to assist the sentry at the custom-house. 'Well,' said the captain, ' I will follow them and see they do no mischief.' He overtook them before they reached the custom-house, where they joined the sentinel and formed a half circle round the steps.
" By this time the bells were set to ringing, and people flocked from all quarters, supposing there was fire. The soldiers were soon surrounded ; many of those nearest to them were armed with clubs and crowded close upon them ; those at a distance began to throw sticks of wood and snow-balls and pieces of ice at them, while from all sides they were challenged to Fire, fire if you dare ! At last they thought they heard the order given, and they did fire in succession from right to left. Two or three of the guns flashoil, but the rest were fatal. Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, and James Caldwell were killed on the spot, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr received mortal wounds, of which the former died the next morn- ing, and Carr on the Wednesday of the next week. Several other persons were more or less injured : the greater part, persons passing by chance or quiet spectators of the scene. The people instantly retreated, leaving the three unhappy men on the ground. All this transpired within 20 minutes from the time of Capt. Preston's joining the guard.
"' On the people's assembling again,' says Capt. P., 'to take away the dead bodies, the soldiers, sup- posing them coming to attack them, were making ready to fire again-which I prevented by striking up their fire-locks with my hand. , Immediately after, a townsman came and told me that 4 or 5000 people were assembled in the next street, and had sworn to take my life, with every man's with me; on which I judged it unsafe to remain there any longer, and therefore sent the party and sentry to the main guard, where the street is narrow and short, then, telling them off into street firings, divided and planted them at each end of the street to secure their rear, expecting an attack, as there was a constant cry of the inhabit- anty, "To arms, to arms, turn out with your guns !" and the town drums beating to arms. I ordered my drun to beat to arms, and being soon after joined by the several companies of the 29th regiment, I formed them, as the guard, into street firings. The 14th regiment also got under arms, but remained at their bar- racks. I immediately sent a serjeant with a party to Col. Dalrymple, the commanding officer, to acquaint him with every particular. Several officers going to join their regiment were knocked down by the mob, one very much wounded and his sword taken from him. The lieutenant governor and Col. Carr soon after met at the head of the 29th regiment, and agreed that the regiment should retire to their barracks, and the people to their honses ; but I kept the piquet to strengthen the guard. It was with great difficulty that the lieutenant governor prevailed on the people to be quiet and retire; at last they all went off except about a hundred.' This hundred was composed of some of the most distinguished inhabitants, who vol- unteered to form a citizens' guard.
"A justice's court was forthwith held, and Capt. Preston surrendered himself, and was committed to prison at three, the next morning; the eight soldiers also were committed early in the forenoon.
" At eleven o'clock a town meeting was held. Various persons related to the assembly what they had witnessed of the events of the preceding day. A committee of fifteen was appointed to wait on the lieu- tenant governor and Col. Dalrymple, and express to them the sentiment of the town, that it was impos- sible for the soldiers and inhabitants to live in safety together, and their fervent prayer for the immediate removal of the former. The answer received to this application was not such as was wished; and in the
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afternoon, seven of the first committee (viz. John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Wm. Molineux, Wm. Phillips, Joseph Warren, Joshua Henshaw, and Samuel Pemberton) were again deputed with the following message : ' It is the unanimous opinion of this meeting, that the reply made to a vote of the inhabitants presented his honor this morning is by no means satisfactory ; and that nothing less will satisfy them than a total and immediate removal of the troops.' Samuel Adams acted as 'chairman of this delegation,' and dis- charged its duties with an ability commensurate to the occasion. Col. Dalrymple was by the side of Hutchinson, who, at the head of the council, received them. He at first denied that he had power to grant the request. Adams plainly, in few words, proved to him that he had the power by the charter. Hutchinson then consulted with Dalrymple in a whisper, the result of which was, a repetition of the offer to remove one of the regiments, the 14th, which had had no part in the massacre. At that critical moment Adams showed the most admirable presence of mind. Seeming not to represent, but to personify, the universal feeling, he stretched forth his arm, as if it were upheld by the strength of thousands and with unhesitating promptness and dignified firmness replied, ' If the lieutenant governor, or Col. Dalrymple, or both together, have authority to remove one regiment, they have authority to remove two; and nothing short of the total evacuation of the town, by all the regular troops, will satisfy the public mind or preserve the peace of the province.' The officers, civil and military, were in reality abashed, before this plain committee of a democratic assembly. They knew the imminent danger that impended; the very air was filled with the breathings of compressed indignation. They shrunk, fortunately shrunk, from all the arrogance which they had hitherto maintained. Their reliance on a standing army faltered before the undaunted, irresistible resolution of free unarmed citizens.
" Hutchinson consulted the council, and they gave him their unqualified advice, that the troops should be sent out of the town. The commanding officer then pledged his word of honor that the demand of the town should be complied with, as soon as practicable; and both regiments were removed to the castle in less than fourteen days.
"The funeral solemnities, which took place on Thursday, the 8th, brought together the greatest concourse that probably had ever assembled in America on one occasion. Attucks, who was a friendless mulatto, and Caldwell, who also was a stranger, wore borne from Faneuil Hall; Maverick, who was about 17 years old, from his mother's house in Union street, and Gray from his brother's in Royal Exchange lane. The four hearses formed a junction in King street, and thence the procession marched, in columns of six deep, through the main street to the middle burial-ground, where the four victims were deposited in one grave."
The following, respecting the " Boston Tea-party," is taken from the account given in Snow's History of Boston.
' On the first of December, Capt. James Bruce, in the ship Eleanor, arrived with another portion of the tea. On the 3d he was ordered to attend the next day on a committee of the people in Faneuil Hall, where he was commanded, by Samuel Adams and Jonathan Williams, assembled with John Rowe, John Hancock, Wm. Phillips, and John Pitts, Esqrs., and a great number of others, not to land any of the said tea, but to proceed to Griffin's wharf and there discharge the rest of his cargo. Capt. Hez. Coffin arrived in the brig Beaver near the same time, and was ordered to pursue the same course.
" It being perceived that Mr. Rotch rather lingered in his preparations to return the Dartmouth to Lon- don, and the twenty days being nearly expired, after which the collector might seize the ship and cargo, Mr. R. was summoned before the committee, and stated to them that it would prove his entire ruin if he should comply with the resolutions of the 29th and 30th of November, and therefore he should not do it. A meeting of the people was assembled at the Old South on Tuesday P. M., Dec. 14th, when Mr. R. appeared, and was enjoined forthwith to demand a clearance. It was ascertained that one could not be obtained till the next day, and therefore the meeting was adjourned to Thursday, at the same place.
" On Thursday, there was the fullest meeting ever known; 2000 men, at least, were present from the country. . Samuel Phillips Savage, Esq., of Weston, was appointed, moderator. Mr. Rotch reported that the collector would not give him a clearance. He was then ordered upon his peril to get his ship ready for sea this day, enter a protest immediately against the custom-house, and proceed directly to the governor, (then at Milton, 7 miles distant,) and demand a pass for his ship to go by the castle. An adjournment to 3 P. M. then took place. At three having met, they waited very patiently till five o'clock, when, finding that Mr. Rotch did not return, they began to be very uneasy, called for a dissolution of the meeting, and finally obtained a vote for it. But the more judicions, fearing what would be the conse- quences, begged for a reconsideration of that vote, 'for this reason, that they ought to do every thing in their power to send the tea back, according to their resolves.' This touched the pride of the assembly, and they agreed to remain together one hour ..
" This interval was improved by Josiah Quincy, jr., to apprize his fellow-citizens of the importance of the crisis, and direct their attention to the probable results of this controversy. He succeeded in holding them in attentive silence till Mr. Rotch's return, at three quarters past five o'clock. The answer which he brought from the governor was, ' that, for the honor of the laws, and from duty towards the king, he could not grant the permit, until the vessel was regularly cleared.' A violent commotion immediately ensued. A person who was in the gallery, disguised after the manner of the Indians, shouted at this junc. ture the cry of war ; it was answered by about thirty persons, disguised in like manner, at the door. The meeting was dissolved in the twinkling of an eye. The multitude rushed to Gridlin's wharf. The dis- guised Indians went on hoard the ships laden with the toa. In less than 2 hours, 210 chests und 100 half chests were staved and emptied into the dock. The affair was conducted without any tumult ; no damage was done to the vessels or to any other effects whatever.
"This was executed in the presence of several ships of war lying in the harbor, and almost under the guns of the castle, where there was a large body of troops at the command of the commissioners. We are left to conjecture for the reasons why no opposition was made to this bold adventure. The names of the men who dared. to engage in it have never been made public. Three or four of them are yet living. They had the honor of a part in the act which brought the king and parliament to a decision that America must be subdued by force of arms."
After the battle of Bunker Hill, Boston was closely besieged by the American troops. No provision of any kind, for man or beast, was allowed to enter ; and the troops and inhabitants experienced much suffering : and while in this state the small-pox broke out,
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and added to the general distress. The following account of the evacuation of the town is taken from Snow's History of Boston.
" GENERAL WASHINGTON had taken command of the American forces, July 2d, and Gen. Gage had resigned the British to Gen. Howe, and sailed for England about the first of October. As the winter approached, the scarcity of fuel began to be sensibly felt. The old north meeting-house and above 100 other large wooden buildings were taken down and distributed for firewood. Some of the wharves also at the north end were broken up for the same purpose. The British officers found little to amuse them, except the occasional performance of a farce, in Faneuil Hall, where they themselves were the actors. Their soldiers had enjoyed a single day of mirth, in which they were employed in felling Liberty Tree and cutting it up for fuel. A squadron of cavalry, attached to the army, occasionally exhibited feats of horsemanship in that sanctuary of freedom, the Old South church, which was transformed into a riding-school. Hol- lis-street, Brattle-street, the West, and the First Baptist meeting-houses were occupied as hospitals or barracks for the troops.
" Both parties were dissatisfied with so inactive a service. WASHINGTON 'had been some time contemplating an attack on Boston, as soon as he could be justified in attempting the execution of so bold a design. About the middle of February, 1776, the severe cold setting in, and the ice becoming sufficiently firm to bear the troops, he was disposed to make the attempt ; but a council of war, summoned on the occasion, being almost unanimous against the measure, he reluctantly abandoned it.
"'The effective regular force of the Americans now amounted to upwards of four- teen thousand men ; in addition to which the commander-in-chief called out about six thousand of the militia of Massachusetts. With these troops he determined to take possession of the heights of Dorchester, whence it would be in his power greatly to annoy the ships in the harbor and the soldiers in the town. By taking this position, from which the enemy would inevitably attempt to drive him, he expected to bring on a general action, during which he intended to cross over from Cambridge side with four thousand chosen men, and attack the town of Boston. To conceal his design, and to divert the attention of the garrison, a heavy bombardment of the town and lines of the enemy was begun on the evening of the 2d of March, and repeated the two succeeding nights. On the night of the 4th, immediately after the firing began, a con- siderable detachment, under the command of Gen. Thomas, passing from Roxbury, took silent possession of Dorchester heights. The ground was almost impenetrably hard, but the night was mild, and by laboring with great diligence. their works were so far advanced by morning as to cover them in a great measure from the shot of the enemy. When the British after day-break discovered these works, which were mag- nified to the view by a hazy atmosphere, nothing could exceed their astonishment. No alternative now remained, but to abandon the town, or to dislodge the provincials. General Howe, with his usual spirit, chose the latter part of the alternative, and took measures for the embarkation, on that very evening, of five regiments, with the light infantry and grenadiers, on the important but most hazardous service. The transports fell down in the evening towards the castle, with the troops, amounting to about two thousand men ; but a tremendous storm at night rendered the execution of the design absolutely impracticable. A council of war was called the next morning, and agreed to evacuate the town as soon as possible. A fortnight elapsed before that measure was effected. Meanwhile the Americans strengthened and extended their works; and on the morning of the seventeenth of March the British discovered a breast-work, that had been thrown up in the night at Nook's Hill, on Dorchester peninsula, which per- fectly commanded Boston Neck and the south part of the town. Delay was no longer safe. By four in the morning, the king's troops, with those Americans who were attached to the royal cause, began to embark ; and before ten all of them were under sail. As the rear embarked, General Washington marched triumphantly into Boston, where he was joyfully received, as a deliverer.' "
Cotton Mather, D. D., F. R. S., a celebrated minister and writer, was a native of Boston, born Feb. 12, 1663. He was distinguished for his early piety, and was ordain- ed colleague with his father, in 1684. He was a man of unequalled industry, vast learning, and expansive benevolence, also distinguished for his credulity, pedantry and want of judgment. No person in America had so large a library, or had read so many books, or retained so much of what he had read. So precious did he consider his time, that, to prevent visits of unnecessary length, he wrote over his study door " be short." He understood Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and Iroquois, and wrote in
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them all. By his diary, it appears that in one year he kept sixty fasts and twenty vigils, and published fourteen books, besides discharging the duties of his pastoral office. His publications amount in number to three hundred and eighty-two. His great work was his Magnalia Christi Americana, or ecclesiastical history of New Eng- land, from its founding to the year 1698. His style abounds with puerilities, puns, and strange conceits, and he makes a great display of learning. In his Magnalia he has saved numerous and important facts from oblivion. In the work are contained bio- graphical accounts of many of the first principal settlers. He died in 1728.
Your faith for Forend Iferr; Cotton mather.
Fac simile of the hand- writing of Cotton Mather ; copied from a manuscript letter.
" Benjamin Franklin, LL. D., was born in Boston, Jan. 17th, 1706, and served an apprenticeship to the printing business. He showed a philosophic mind from his ear- liest years, and by the continual exercise of his genius prepared himself for those great discoveries in science which have associated his name with that of Newton, and for those political reflections which have placed him by the side of a Solon and a Lycurgus. Soon after his removal from Boston to Philadelphia, in concert with other young men, he established a small club, in which various subjects were discussed. This society has been the source of the most useful establishments in Pennsylvania calculated to promote the cause of science, the mechanic arts, and the improvement of the human understanding. In 1757, Franklin was sent an agent by his country to England; in the year 1766, he was called to the bar of the house of commons, and underwent that famous interrogatory, which has raised his name in the political world. He was a member of the first congress, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; he was sent to France, where he effected important services to his country." His history is too well known to need an extended notice in this work. He died at Philadelphia, April 17th, 1790.
CHELSEA.
THE ancient Indian name of Chelsea was Winnisemit. It was formerly a part of the town of Boston, and was called Romney Marsh; it was incorporated as a distinct town in 1738. The prin- cipal part of the town is broken into small hills. One eminence, called Powder-horn Hill, is said to be 220 feet high; it stands in the south quarter of the town, about four miles from Boston. The north-westerly strip (extending from the source of Chelsea creek three and a half miles) is mostly covered with woods. On the sea- shore and the borders of the creeks there are extensive and valua- ble salt marshes, from which large quantities of hay are yearly obtained.
The following is a representation of the United States Marine Hos- pital, three miles from Boston. This building is constructed of stone, and was erected in 1827, for the accommodation of sick and disabled seamen. 'The hospital is under the immediate care of the collector of the ports of Boston and Charlestown. A physician and surgeon are appointed by the president of the United States. All the other officers are appointed by the collector, who is agent for the institution. The average number of patients yearly, for 22 years preceding 1835, was 417. The most important branch of
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United States Marine Hospital, Chelsea.
manufacturing business in the town is the making of bricks; the value of bricks manufactured in 1837 was $24,831; hands em- ployed, 46. Population, 1,659.
WORCESTER COUNTY.
THIS county was incorporated in 1731, and was the tenth coun- ty formed in the state. This is the largest county in Massachusetts. Its territory is larger than the whole state of Rhode Island, and its population greater than that of the state of Delaware. The county crosses the state, from New Hampshire on the north to Connec- ticut and Rhode Island on the south. It is sixty miles in length from north to south, and thirty-seven in width, from east to west. The surface of this county is rather undulating than very hilly. The soil is generally strong, and produces all kinds of grain, grasses, fruits, &c. common to its climate. Till within a few years almost all the people were farmers, and the great body still culti- vate the soil. For the last few years many of the inhabitants have been employed in manufactures, especially in the southern part of the county. Water privileges abound in almost every town. Its principal rivers are the Blackstone, Quinebaug, Nashua, Ware, Miller's, and Mill rivers. The only elevation in the county which can properly be called a mountain is Wachusett. The following is a list of the towns, which are 55 in number.
Ashburnham, Charlton,
Athol, Dana,
Auburn, Douglass,
Hubbardston,
Barre, Dudley,
Lancaster,
Berlin, Fitchburg,
Leicester,
Bolton, Gardner,
Leominster,
Boylston, Grafton,
Brookfield,
Hardwick,
Harvard, Holden,
Millbury, Milford,
New Braintree, Northborough, Northbridge,
Lunenburg, Mendon,
N. Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford,
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Paxton,
Shrewsbury,
Sutton,
Westborough,
Petersham,
Southborough,
Templeton,
Phillipston,
Southbridge,
Upton,
West Boylston, Westminster,
Princeton,
Spencer,
Uxbridge,
Winchendon,
Royalston,
Sterling,
Warren,
Worcester.
Rutland,
Sturbridge,
Webster,
In 1820, the population of the county was 73,635; in 1830, it was 84,365; in 1837, it was 96,551.
ASHBURNHAM.
THIS town was granted by the general court to Thomas Tiles- ton and others, for and in consideration of services done by officers and soldiers of the ancient town of Dorchester in the expedition to Canada, in 1690, under Capt. John Withrington. This grant was formerly known by the name of " Dorchester Canada," but at its incorporation, in 1765, it was named Ashburnham. The Congregational church was gathered here in 1760, and Rev. Jona- than Winchester was ordained their pastor. He died in 1767, and was succeeded Rev. John Cushing, D. D., in 1768. . Dr. Cushing died in 1823, and was succeeded by Rev. George Perkins, in 1824. Rev. George Goodyear was installed the next pastor, in 1832. About the year 1782, the Shakers made a commencement in this town, but they have long since become extinct.
This town lies upon the highlands between Connecticut and Merrimac rivers, so that part of its waters pass through Miller's river into the Connecticut, and part through Nashua river into the Merrimac. It is uneven in its surface, and contains several large ponds. Here are excellent farms and grazing lands, and the in- habitants are chiefly employed in agriculture. Leather has been extensively manufactured here, and a soap-stone company carry on their works in this town. In 1837, there were in this town 11 manufactories of chairs and cabinet ware; value of chairs and cabinet ware, $37,390 12; hands employed, 115; six tanneries ; value of leather tanned and curried, $23,509 03; there were 122,864 palm-leaf hats manufactured, valued at $19,944. There was also 1 cotton mill. There are three churches, 1 Congregationalist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist. Distance, 30 miles N. of Worcester, and 50 N. W. of Boston. Population, 1,75S.
ATHOL.
THIS town was granted to a company of 60 persons by the gene- ral court, previous to 1734, in which year, in June, the proprietors met at Concord, and, in presence of a committee of the general court, whereof the Hon. William Dudley was chairman, drew their house-
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lots in the township of Peyquage. This was the Indian name of the place, and it was known by this appellation until it was incor- porated, in 1762.
This tract was a seat of the Indians, and at the time of its being granted was a fron- tier township, and greatly exposed ; and the settlement of the place was obstructed by the French and Indian war, which commenced in 1744, and continued several years. Previously to the breaking out of that war several families had seated themselves here, but, for fear of the Indians, they were obliged, as other infant plantations, to live in garrisons several years, and to labor at their various occupations with their military armor by them. It is believed, however, that only one person was ever killed by the Indians in the town. This was Mr. Ezekiel Wallingford, who, going alone at a dis- tance from his garrison, was discovered by the enemy ; and seeing them, he turned to run to the fort, but was stopped short by a fatal ball. This was in August, 1746, In April, the year following, a Mr. Jason Babcock was taken captive by the Indians and carried to Canada, from whence he returned in a few months.
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