USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 24
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"5. That they Commit in trust to our Representative in, the General Court, to use Such measures as his prudence & wisdom Shall Dietate, to obtain in a Constitutional way a Redress of all Grievances.
"G. That the foregoing votes be Recorded in the town Book, and that the town Clerk transmit a Copy of the same to the Committee of Corre -. spondence of the town of Boston."
Other towns took action of like tenor, and the effect was very great. The people were still loyal, but their rights were sacred and could not be sacrificed. If the two claims were not harmonized, there was no doubt which must yield; and from that spirit came independence and union.
Instead of conciliation, England pursued a policy of exaspera-
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tion, by sending a commission to Rhode Island for the trial of persons concerned in the destruction of the schooner "Gaspee," and more offensively by the Tea Act, which involved the issue of taxation without representation. The patriots met the issue, 1773, December 16, by throwing the first cargo of tea into Boston Harbor, receiving the exulting approval of the people in all the Colonies. Then followed the Boston Port Bill, which extended the feeling of union ; for the colonists espoused the cause of Boston, rather than see her suffer alone for an act which all approved.
The Boston Committee again appealed to other towns, and Billerica responded, 1774, June 6. Captain Enoch Kidder was moderator, and a committee consisting of Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Capt. Josiah Bowers, and Capt. Ralph Hill, reported as follows :-
"The Inhabitants, having taken into Consideration the oppressive Measures, adopted and prosecuted of late, by the British Ministry and Parliament against the Colonies; and more especially having Considered the very alarming and vindictive act passed for the Blocking up of the harbour of Boston and putting a stop to the trade, unanimously came into the following Resolves :
"1. That a Right in the British Parliament to Tax his Majesty's American Subjects and to make laws Binding upon them in all Cases. without their Consent by Representatives, effectually deprives them of those Rights and Priviledges which as men and as British Subjects they have a Just Claim to; and has no better foundation in Reason & Equity than the unlimited Prerogative, contended for by those arbitrary and misguided Princes, Charles the first and James the second, for the which the one lost his life and the other his Kingdom.
"2. That the Colonies are as Justifiable in opposing this unrighteous Claim of the British Parliament & all Acts Resulting from it, with all the attempts to Carry the same into execution, as the people of England were in opposing Charles & James, & Setting William, Prince of Orange, of ever Glorious Memory, upon the Throne in the Room of the latter, Since the measures of those Arbitrary Princes were not more Inconsistent with the Liberties of the People of England than the late measures of the British Parliament, in consequence of the above-mentioned claim, are with the Liberties of the People in America.
"3. That our Vigorous Contests for our Liberties, in Opposition to the said Claim of Parliament and the Oppressions with which we have been loaded in Consequence thereof, Cannot Consistently be Denominated Faction and Rebellion by any who are friendly to the Principles of the Revolution upon which his Present Majesty's Right to the Crown Depends ; and therefore there is Reason to Suspect that those who call our manly Struggles for Liberty Opprobrious names are disaffected to the Hannoverian Succession, & aiming to Restore the Racce of the Stuarts.
"4. That the act for Blocking up Boston Harbour is Hostile, Arbitrary
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& Cruel, and a Solemn Alarm, Sounded to all America. to Unite as one man and Stand more firin than ever in Defence of its Liberties. as it Discovers implacable Resentment in the British Ministry and a fixed Intention to treat these Colonies as Rebels, without even the formality of a trial, and to condemn & punish them unheard if they Do not yield a tame Submission to their Sovereign Mandates, which is a mode of proceeding against Real offenders Scarcely to be parrelled by any instance in the most arbitrary & tyrannical Reigns.
"5. That we consider the Blow Struck at Boston as aimed at the Province in General, and as a Prelude to something further, Equally Vindictive, yet in Store for this and the other Colonies, and as we have a fixed Reliance upon the Virtue of our Brethren in Boston to persevere in the noble Cause of Liberty, which they have hitherto maintained with Such laudable fortitude and Resolution, and, looking upon our Selves as Bound to annimate and encourage them, we hereby promise & Declare our Readi- ness to Support and Strengthen them in the present conflict to the utmost of our power, and to joyn with them in any measures that shall be Judged expedient for our Common Safety and Defence, and for Defeating every vengeful machination of those that would punish us for Shewing our Selves men, and Dragoon us into Slavery because we Disdain patiently to take the Yoak upon our Necks at their Bidding.
"6. That, if the Respectable Body of Merchants throughout the Colonies might come into an agreement to import no British Goods and carry on no foreign trade whereby the merchants in England should . Receive any Greate Benefit or Emolument, we humbly Conceive that a plan would be laid for the Speedy Removal of our Difficulties; and that we should have nothing to Do but to Sit Still and See the Salvation of our Country. We therefore Ardently Recommend this measure to them, promising that nothing shall be wanting upon our part for the Encour- 'agement of the Same.
"Lastly. That, as it would be an Indellible Disgrace and a Violation of the Sacred Obligation we are under, to God, To our Country, to our Selves, and to Posterity, for us tamely and Pusillanimously to give up these invaluable Liberties, which our worthy Ancestors purchased for us at Such Vast Expense of Blood & Treasure, We are Determined to use our utmost efforts to maintain them, and not part with them at a Cheaper Rate than they were at first Obtained."
These resolutions were recorded, and transmitted to the "Com- mittee of Correspondence in Boston." It was also voted to choose a Committee of Correspondence, which consisted of Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Mr. Joshua Abbott, Capt. Josiah Bowers, Mr. Ralph Hill, Doctor Timothy Danforth, Mr. William Tompson, and Mr. Solomon Pollard.
On June 27, after considering two covenants, sent from Boston, "The Town, after Serious Deliberation upon the Difficulties & Distresses in which the Province, as well as the Colonies in General,
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are involved, at the present Day ; also upon what Method will have the greatest tendency to Cause a Suspension of all Commercial Intercourse with the Island of Great Britain, (that being adjudged a Measure the most Salutary and Prudent that can be adopted, and most likely to effect the end proposed. ) Voted, That the Inhabitants of this Town come into an Agreement, faithfully and Religiously to be observed, that they will not buy, purchase, or Consume, or suffer any person by, for, or under them, to purchase or Consume, in any way or manner whatsoever, any Goods, wares, or merchandise that shall arrive in America from Greate Britain aforesaid, from and after the 31 Day of August next ensuing, for and until such time as they shall have Received the Result of the Continental Congress, upon whose wisdom, Prudence, and Integrity they Rely, & to whose Deter- mination they shall Readily Conform. Voted, That if any person or persons shall Discover such a want of regard for the Interest and Good of the Country, as to import any kind of merchandise from Great Brittain aforesaid, after the aforesaid 31 Day of August until the publication of the aforesaid result. they will not purchase of them any article of British goods, whatever, when, or howsoever imported. Voted, That a Covenant comprising the Spirit and intention of the foregoing Vote be forthwith Subscribed to by the Inhabitance of the Town," and a committee was appointed for the purpose.
September 12th, it was "Voted, that the Town Justifie the Committee of Correspondence for their Going to Concord, to join with the committees of the other towns of this County, to Consult upon measures proper to be taken at the present important day," and "that the town fully accept of the Resolves passed at said meeting in Concord." At the same time the town voted to choose two persons, "as a Committee to attend at the Provincial Congress, to be held at Concord on the second Tuesday in October." William Stickney, Esq., and Mr. Ebenezer Bridge were chosen. Already the First Continental Congress was in session at Philadelphia, and the active union of the Colonies was taking practical form. Two weeks Jater, Mr. Stickney was also elected Representative to the General Court, " to be held at Salem," October 5 ; and he was instructed "to pay no Regard to the King's new mandamus Council, as a Council, nor proceed to act with them"; and, "if the Governor Should Dis- solve, prorogue, or adjourn the Court, that our Representative joine the House in forming themselves into a provincial Congress," and in " the latter case, Mr. Bridge was also to attend it.
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The progress of sentiment and action was rapid, as appears 6 December, 1774, when the town adopted a committee's report as follows : "When we Reflect on the alarming & Critical Scituation of our Publick affairs, it is with pleasure we behold the Remarkable Unanimity that prevails Through the whole Continent; we are Greatly pleased to find that the very Methods by which a Corrupt Ministry Sought to Divide the Colonies have Served Happily to unite them, and by every New Act of Oppression more and more to Strengthen the Union, So that the people Seem in Every Quarter, almost to a man, to be Engaged in the Common Cause. And we Earnestly Recommend it to this people, that since they have Endeav- oured to Collect the United wisdom of the whole Continent, by their Selected Delegates, also the General Sence of the province, now assembled in Congress, that they would pay a proper Regard to their Resolves and Recommendations ; it is with most painful Sensations we see the supineness and inattention to our Common Interest that seems to prevail in the minds of many people in this town; we are sorry that there is so much uneasiness in the minds of some People in Regard to settling the melitia. We heartily wish that this people were more fully Convinced that good policy Consists much in learning the use of arms and the art of war ; and the times may soon Demand their Service and the utmost Exertion of them. And Since it is submitted to us, as a committee, to Draw some plan for the Town to adopt in order to settle the melitia, we Give it as our humble opinion that it would be best for the [men to be ] called Together : both the Alarm List and the Training band ; and in the first place to Resolve that they will abide the Vote of a Majority, and then proceed to the Choice of officers for each Company, and when the Company are so settled, that each Company meet to Gether as often as they can conveniently in order to learn the art military, and that the companies all attend & strictly obey the lawfull commands & orders of said officers. With Regard to the Company under the Command of Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, we can't but Justify upon the principles they set out, which, we take for Granted, was to Learn the Military Art, and we Rejoice to see that they, as well as the other Companies, have made such noble Improvements, and we hope that Company will act so much upon Honor as not to make any Devisions in the other Companies, and if they go on to Enlist men, that they be Restricted to a Certain number." Monday, the twelfth, was assigned for the election of officers, and Mr. Bridge's company was limited to forty-
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eight privates. It was none too soon for the militia to be arming and training ; as they were quickly needed. Volunteer movements, it appeared, had already been made before the action of the town.
Another vital step was taken when the constables were instructed, December 19, to pay the Province taxes to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stowe, who had been appointed by the Provincial Congress Receiver- General. The State was to have the means in friendly hands to carry on its legitimate work. A Committee of Inspection was also chosen, consisting of Ebenezer Bridge, Joshua Abbot, Solomon Pollard, Joshua Davis, William Tompson, Timothy Danforth. Reuben Kendall, John Parker, and Oliver Abbot, "to see that the Resolves of the Continental, and Provincial, Congress, be adhered to, so far as they Respect us." In January, 1775, William Stickney was chosen delegate to a Provincial Congress which met in Cambridge ; and another important committee was thus provided for: "The Difficulty and Dangers of the present Day into which we are fallen. when the Course of Law & Justice is Interrupted, and the Danger of people being Disorderly & Tumultuous to the Disturbing the Common wealth and the peace of the Good people of the Town, taking the Advantage of the times; voted, to choose a Committee of twelve persons, as Conservators. Chose William Stickney, Esq., Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Mr. Joshua Abbot, Captain Daniel Stickney, Captain Josiah Bowers, Mr. Joshua Davis, Lt. Asa Spaulding. Mr. Benj. Lewis, Mr. Henry Jefts, Mr. Zebadiah Rogers, Captain Ralph Hill, & Mr. Paul Cooke, whose business it shall be, as much as in them lies, by all prudent methods, to prevent & Discountenance all Disorders, Mobs, & Tumultuous Assemblys in the sd Town. and to heal all Diferances by persuading all Contending persons to be at peace, or to leave their Differences to men to settle for them ; and to Encourage people as much as possible to lead Quiete & peacable lives in all Godliness & honesty. And where persons prove obstinate and erreclaimable, to bring such matters before the town for their Consideration & Determination. Voted, that seven of sª Committee be a Corum." These good men intended to prove and did prove that they could guard the public peace in times of transition and danger. It is also evident that Dr. Cumings did not always write or criticize their public utterances. He would have secured better grammatical coherence ; but what the fathers meant to say is usually clear.
At the town meeting in March, it was voted to raise a company of fifty minute-men, who should meet weekly for training, and be
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paid one shilling for every half-days' training, except when this day was the same as the general training-day. The officers, appointed by a committee of the town, were Captain Ebenezer Bridge, Lieuts. Jonathan Stickney and James Lewis ; and the minute-men were to pass muster before Colonel Tompson, Captain Pollard, and Captain Farmer. Another committee was "to perfect the alarm List; the Rule to go by is, all above the age of fifty-five."
A few days later occurred an incident in Boston which has made the name of a young man from Billerica famous in the history of these days, and produced much effect upon the minds of the patriots. Thomas Ditson, Jun., being in Boston, was seized by the British troops, March 8, on the pretence that he was urging a soldier to desert ; without any examination kept a prisoner until the next day, when he was stripped, tarred. and feathered, and dragged through the principal streets on a truck, attended by soldiers of the Forty- Seventh Regiment, led by Colonel Nesbit, to the music of Yankee Doodle, the original words of which, it is said, were then first used. The outrage produced great indignation, and the selectmen of Boston sent a letter reporting the case to the selectmen of Billerica, who presented a remonstrance to General Gage, and submitted the case to a town meeting, on March 20. The town thanked them "for the wise and prudent measures" they had taken, expressed its dissatis- faction with the reply of General Gage, and instructed them to carry the case to the Provincial Congress.
Debates and events were becoming very serious, and the drilling of train-bands and minute-men foreshadowed too well the work before them. The stern resolve of the patriots expressed itself in a vote, the same day, "to look up the old Bayonets"; and, April 14, four days before the Lexington and Concord alarm, they voted to " furnish the minute-men with Bayonets and Cartridge Boxes." It was also voted, that "as every method ought to be pursued which may tend to promote the arts & manufactures of the Country, espe- cially that of wool, The Inhabitants of this town Shall not Kill any lambs for the markett till after the first Day of August next ; and also that no one ought to sell any to any Butcher or Petty Chapman, at any time whatever." "Voted, That the Inhabitants of this Town will, on the Death of a friend or Relative, Conform to the 8th article of the American Association, & go into no further mourning than such as is therein Recommended, and will entirely Discontinue the Giving of any Gloves whatever at Funerals."
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To prevent the troops in Boston from being supplied with materials for hostile operations, the town voted not to permit any team "to Load in, or, after loaded, to pass through, the Town, with Timber, Boards, Spars, Pickets, Tent-poles, Canvas, Brick, Iron, Waggons. C'arts, Carriages, Intrenching Tools, Oats," etc., without satisfactory certificate from the Committee of Correspondence, as to load, desti- nation, and abode. Meanwhile, General Gage was preparing for an expedition to seize the military stores which had been gathered at Concord, with little suspicion what preparation the Provincials had made, and how promptly they would deal with such a movement. It was about eleven o'clock on the night of April 18th, that Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on their ride to give the alarm and summon the minute-men to resist the advance of the British troops. The story of that day has been well told, and can not be here repeated. It was certainly to Billerica one of the most exciting and important days in her history. The midnight riders spreading the alarm were likely to come by the Woburn, Lexington, and Bed- ford roads, and probably reached Billerica by two o'clock. The Ditsons on the Woburn Road would be among the first to receive the summons, and very ready to respond to it after their recent experience. Colonel Tompson and Lieutenant Stickney, living in the southeast part of the village, would be promptly notified ; and Ebenezer Bridge, who was captain of the minute-men, and lived at the Farmer place and nearly opposite Colonel Stickney's. There was hurrying to and fro, we may be sure, and in the early dawn, when the first encounter took place at Lexington, few families, if any, had not heard the call to arms. Muskets and accoutrements were hastily made ready and donned ; the alarm-list no doubt turned out as well as the train-band and the minute-men ; and gathering at the Common for muster and orders, they hurried off towards Concord. Meanwhile, the British had pushed on to Concord, and after the fight there found reason for hurrying back towards Boston. They had not gone far when, at Merriam's Corner, the Billerica troops came and joined in the assault and pursuit of the retreating foe. Mr. Frothingham states that they came under the command of Colonel William Tompson, a fact which suggests that the force was not limited to the company of minute-men under Captain Bridge, and it is not likely that the yeterans would be slow to turn out at such a call. Some Billerica men were naturally in the Bedford company and arrived earlier, and when Capt. Jonathan Wilson was killed, the
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command devolved upon his Billerica lieutenant. Edward Stearns. Nathaniel Wyman of the same company was killed, who was prob- ably from Billerica. although his name is also credited to Lexington. No other man from this town was killed, but John Nickles and Timothy Blanchard were wounded.
The day of Lexington and Concord decided the issue of war ; and there followed a rapid mustering of Provincial forces. Billerica furnished her share of men, as appears from this action, May 15 : "Chose Messurs Samuel Kidder & Isaac Foster as a Comtee to pro- vide Blanketts for those persons in this town that have Inlisted into the provincial service." Another vote was, "that the Commanding officer of the Caddett Company make Returne to the field Officers, the State of the Company, as the other Militia Captains do, and also that they be Ready on any Ocation to take their part in any Burthen, acording to their number, with the other Companys." A committee was also chosen "to provide straw for the army at Cambridge."" Deacon Hill was excused from the Committee of Correspondence, and Captain Daniel Stickney and Lient. John Parker were added to that important committee. Two weeks later, the town voted, that the article in the warrant .. Respecting the Dissolution of the Caddett Company be put over to the fall meeting"; but there is no record of farther action. Probably this was a company of boys, too young for service and too patriotic to neglect preparation for future duty.
A committee was chosen, June 26, "to purchase 60 hogsheds of salt & ten hogsheds of Mollasses, for a town Stock.". This salt was bought at Beverly, and furnishes many items among the town charges for the year. Other items are " a pair of shoes for William Britton," "an old coat and a pair of stockings" for the same soldier, and " sundries Delivered to Mary Britton," no doubt his wife. "To Jacob French for fixing 5 Bayonets to their Guns, 98, 5, 2," and "to Wm Baldwin for making 7 Cataridge Boxes for the minute-men, 1, 8, 0"; "a pair of shoes for Robert Angier, 68, 0"; "a Jaccoat for Wm Britton, 25, 0"; "3 cords of wood for Mary Britton, 1, 0, 0."
The siege of Boston occasioned the departure of many of its patriotic inhabitants, who sought refuge in the surrounding towns ; and at the March meeting in 1776 a committee was appointed "to take care of and provide for the Donation persons that came from the towns of Boston and Charlestown." The Committee of Corre- spondence was reconstructed, William Stickney, Esq., taking the place of Colonel Bridge, who was absent in the army. Other
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members were "Joshua Abbot, Co1. Wm. Tompson, Capt. Daniel Stickney, Capt. Josiah Bowers, Dr. Timothy Danforth, Dea. Joshua Davis, Lt. John Parker, Mr. Henry Jefts, Mr. Isaac Foster, and Mr. Benjn. Lewis." Their duty is defined, "to serve as a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety, whose Business shall be to Communicate with Dispatch any matters of importance to the publick that may come to their Knowledge to the Committees of the same Denomination of any other town, County, or Colony, which it may particularly concern, or to the General Assembly of this Colony, or in their Recess to the Council ; and also to Inspect whether there [are] any Inhabitants of or Residents in their Respective towns who violate the association of the Continental Congress, or any other the Resolves, Directions, or Recommendations of said Congress, or Acts and Resolves of the General Court & preceding Congresses of this Colony, Respecting the present Struggles with Great Britton. And. if any such are found, that they proceed with them in Such manner as the Resolves of the Continental Congress or the laws or Resolves of this Colony Do or shall Direct; That they make known to the General Court or to the Council all Gross Breaches of trust in any officers or servants of this Colony that may come under their obser- vation ; That they use their utmost influence to promote peace and harmony in their Respective towns." These were extensive powers and duties, and the exercise of them was by no means nominal. Very much was due to the vigilance and discretion with which these committees discharged their various and delicate functions.
At a meeting, May 23, the town voted "to send another Repre- sentative this year," and chose Colonel Tompson. It then adds a resolution which showed the progress of public sentiment after a year in the school of war, and that they were finding out that loyalty to Great Britain could not much longer be made consistent with the defence of their rights. "The Question was put whether the Town will, in Conformity to a Resolve of the Honble the House of Repre- sentatives of this Colony, advise our Representatives that, if the Honble Congress Should for the Safety of the Colonies Declare them Independent of Great Brittain, they the said Inhabitants will engage with their lives & fortunes to Support them, and it passed unani- mously in the affirmative." They were patriotic men who were ready for this action. With such leaders as Dr. Cumings and William Stickney, we may be sure it was not taken without intelligent con- sideration of its significance and what it was likely to cost them.
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