USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 19
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CHAPTER IV. THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
A MONG the causes of irritation which led to the feeling against England were the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Quartering Act, which required the colonists to find lodging and provisions for British troops.
In 1740 the General Court in Massachusetts had authorized a Land Bank "to issue notes based upon nothing but mortgages on land & personal bonds, with surety, given by those who sub- scribed to its support, and Parliament at the solicitation of Boston men who knew what certain disaster such a bank would bring upon the business of the colony, had * * * suppressed it. The scheme had been in great favor among the men of the country districts," and John Adams said this Act caused a greater ferment than the Stamp Act did.
[Woodrow Wilson: Hist. Am. People.]
Among the partners or subscribers were Joseph Barrett and Gershom Procter of Chelmsford.
The riotous opposition excited by the passage of the Stamp Act by Parliament is thus alluded to in Parson Bridge's diary:
August 30, 1765 .- "Every day we hear ye news from Boston of ye mobish doings there in which first insurrection they hanged Secretary Oliver in effigy, and then burned him; burned the stamp-office, etc., rifled his dwelling. . All this is owing to ye stamp act."
The house of Lieut. Governor Hutchinson was sacked and valuable property and records destroyed.
When, upon the accession of Pitt to the ministry in England, the Stamp Act was repealed, hope again revived in the Colonies, and there was much rejoicing. Colonel Stoddard's house was illuminated in honor of the event. Bridge writes, "May 22, 1766. Spent the evening at Col. Stoddard's, with abundance of other company. His house being illuminated, &c., on acct of the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act." It proved, however, that the hope was not well founded.
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When, in consequence of the dissolution of the General Court by Governor Bernard, the convention of September 22, 1768, was called by the Committee of Safety of Boston to deliberate on measures to obtain redress of grievances, this town was one of the ninety-six there represented, Colonel Samson Stoddard being the delegate.
Colonel Stoddard asked for instructions from the town as to how he should act in the General Court.
Oct. 21, 1765 The Town "voted to give Instructions to Sampson Stoddard Esqr. Representative for sd Town [Chelmsford] how to act in the Great and General Court. Respecting the Act of Parliament called the Stamp act.
Voted to chuse a committee to prepare Instructions for that purpose. Voted that Ephraim Spaulding, Aaron Chamberlin and Timothy Clark be the Committee for that purpose. The Com- mittee reported as follows:
This being a time when by reason of Several Acts of Parlement not only this Province but all the English Collonies on this Conte- nent are thrown into the utmost Confusion and perplexety: the Stamp act, as we apprehend, will not only Lay an unconstitutional, but an Unsupportable Tax upon us; and deprive us, as we humbly conceive, of our Rights and priviledges that we are Intitualed to, as being free born Subjects of Great Brittan, by Vertue of the Royal Charter; and will also Strip us of one of our most valuable priviledges, for it admits of our being tryed by a Court of Admiralty without the priviled[ge] of a Jury in such contreversies as arises from Internal concerns.
Wherefore we think it our Duty and Interest, at this Critical Conjuncture of our publick affairs, and when in Danger of being deprived our Liberties and priviledges most valuable and precious unto us. To direct you Sr. our Representative to be so far from countenanceing or assisting in the Execution of the aforesd Stamp act, that you Use your Best Endeavors that such measures may be taken and Remonstrances made to the King And Parlement, as may obtain a Speedy Repeal of the aforesaid act, and that you use your Utmost Endeavours to remove the heavy burthen on Trade-and as the Province is greatly Impovershed by Reason of the late war, and the Great decay of Trade, we desire you to use your Best Endeavours that the publick monies be used with the utmost Frugality, and that no money be Drawn out of the Treasury, but what shall be applied to such Uses only as shall have a tendancy to promote the Interest of the Inhabitants in General. As to any other matters, tho of less Importance, that may come before the Honble house of Representatives we Doubt not, Sr., but you will conduct yourself in such a manner as shall tend to promote the best Interest of the province in General, and this Town in perticular.
Ephm Spaulding Aaron Chamberlin Timothy Clark
Committee
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WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
Middlesex S.S. To Andrew Batties one of the Constables of the Town of Chelmsford in the said County of Middlesex
{SEAL. In his Majesties Name You are hereby Required forth- with to warn all the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Said Town (in your ward) Qualified by Law to Vote in Town Affairs; to Assemble at th Meeting house in Sd. Chelmsford on Monday the first day of September next: at three of the Clock in the afternoon, then and there (if they see cause) to give their Representative Instructions how to act in the General Court with respect to making good the Damages to [those] that ware Sufferers in the late affairs that happened by reason of the Stamp Act; and to act anything in that affair that they shall think proper.
2dly To Give in to the Selectmen of sd Town a true Invoice of the Number of their Rateable Polls, and all their other Rateable Estate in order to make the Town and Province Taxes for the present Year; hereof fail not: and make Return of this warrant with your Doings thereon unto the Town Clerk some time before the time appointed for sd Meeting; Dated at Chelmsford afore- said the twenty fifth day of August in the sixth year of his Majesties Reign. Anno domini, 1766.
By order of the Selectmen of Said Chelmsford.
Ephraim Spaulding. Town Clerk.
On the question whether the Town was willing that the Damages resulting from the tumults that happened by reason of the Stamp Act should be paid out of the public Treasury the vote was in the negative.
An article in the warrant for a special Town Meeting in December, 1767, reads To see if the Town will come in with the Proposals of the town of Boston that some prudent and legal measures may be taken to encourage the produce and manu- facturies of this Province and to lessen the use of superfluities, &c.
Voted: to encourage the manufacturies of this Province and to discourage the importation of foreign superfluities.
1768 Sept 19 A warrant was issued for a town meeting to choose a person or persons to join with the Committee of Boston & other towns to meet in Faneuil Hall Sept 22. "to consult what measures may be taken for The Real Service of our Gracious Sovereign and the welfare of his Subjects in this Province under the distressing Circumstances of the Present Day.
Sampson Stoddard Esq was chosen a Committee man for that Purpos.
Reigute Rev Done The Ca. Gregs Choice Chelms Pastoris Zemlju file
in -fim Test &ptrait siè vi. December Ging Bon
GRAVESTONE OF THE REV. THOMAS CLARKE
No. 14
THE STODDARD TOMB
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE
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The "Boston Massacre" occurred in 1770.
The "Boston Tea Party" took place in December, 1773, when fifty or sixty men, disguised as Indians, Mohawks, boarded two vessels laden with tea, tore open the hatches, and threw 340 chests overboard, as a protest against the levy of taxes by the British government without the consent of the people. The populace had previously refused to permit any cargo of tea to be landed, and a number of ships had been obliged to leave port with their cargoes untouched. The British Parliament passed a bill closing the port of Boston until the city should indemnify the owners of the £15,000 worth of tea destroyed, and transferring the seat of government to Salem. The bill became a law on March 31, 1774, and its effect so exasperated the people that Gen. Gage, the British Commander, began to fortify Boston Neck, the only approach to the city by land. A regular siege was maintained by the Americans from July 3, 1775, when Wash- ington took command, to March 17, 1776, when the British evacuated the city and went to Halifax.
Some of the Pitts family, members of which afterwards resided in Chelmsford, participated in throwing overboard the tea. James Pitts and his sons John, Samuel and Lendall, were all associated with the Tea Party.
Jan. 11, 1773 at a meeting of Freeholders and other Inhabi- tants. In consequence of some papers sent up by the Town of Boston enumerating sundry grievances, and Particularly the stipend annexed to the offices of the Judges of the Superior Court.
Voted to Chuse a Committee of five Gentlemen to make Report to the adjournment viz. David Spaulding, Mr Jonathan Williams Austin, Capt. Oliver Barron, Mr Samuel Perham and Mr Benjamin Walker.
On Jan. 21, the Committee Reported the following Draft which was uninamously agreed to:
We are fully of oppinion, that the Inhabitants of this province are Justly entituled to all the Priviliges of Englishmen, & to all those Rieghts, inseperable from them as members of a free Com- munity. We are also Sensible that Some of those Rights are at present endangered. In such unhappy Circumstances, the only Question that can be made is this, what method is most suitable to obtain a Redress. Whatever Doubts may arise about the perticular mode, this we are clear in, that all Rash, Unmeaning passionate Proceeduers are by no means Justifiable in So Delicate a Crisis, when a Community thinks any of its Rights endangered, they should always weigh Consequences, and be very Cautious least they Run into a Step, that may be attended with the most
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deplorable Effects. The Cause of Liberty, says a very fine Writer, is a Cause of too much Dignity, to be sullied by Turbulance and Tumults. "When the Passions of a People are Inflamed, Reason is too often Silenced, and they soon forgit the Cause they originally imbarked in. Whereas the Patriot on true principles, always endeavours to Keep those Principles in View, conscious that he is a member of a Community he will endeavour to come up to all the obligations, Resulting therefrom, & to keep every part of it entire. Therefore while he cooly, but firmly pleads his own Right, he will never forget those of his Sovereign; but is always sensible. Loyalty to the prince & a Regard to the Liberties of the Subject are very Consistant things. These are Sentiments we are very full and Clear in, and by them we hope to Regulate our present Conduct. Greevencies we at present Labour under: But we can by no means think the Resolves of a Single Town Can be any Removeal. We hartily concur with our Brethren of Boston, that it is high Time, these Greevencies be Redressed; but then we think the general Court who Represent the province is the only Proper body to Preform this Task. The Cause of Liberty never more suffers, then when measures are pursued for its Defence, that can Never answer the end proposed. We are therefore of opinion that we can do nothing. Consistent with that Wisdom which will ever govern a free people. But Prepair the following Instructions to our Representative, which we heartily and unanimously concur in:
To Mr. Simeon Spaulding, Representative of the Town of Chelms- ford in the General Court of this Province.
"Sir, as the Present aspect of the Times is Dark and Difficult, we Do not Doubt but you will chearfully know the sentiments and receive the assistance of those you Represent. The matters that may now come under you Cognizance are of great Importance.
The highest Wisdom, therefore, Prudence and De[s]cresion is evidently necessary. We would earnestly caution you and your own good sense will easily see the propriety of it; by no means to consent to any Rash, Passionate Plan of Action, which will not only sully the Dignity, but finally prove the utter Destruc- tion of the cause we pretend to support. We hope those little animosities that involve persons, not things, and which have been too frequently used may be utterly banished, we hope every Determination will founded in the nature of a free State, and that therefore every Privilege annexed to each part may be Religiously Preserved. Of Consequence, you will be Careful not to trample on Majesty, while you are firmly but Decently Pleading the Liberties of the Subject. In fine, we wish you that wisdom which is from above, and we pray God that your conduct is this Important Crisis may be such as the coolest Reflection will ever after justifie."
When the news of the Act closing the port of Boston and transferring the seat of government to Salem was received, "At
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a very full meeting of the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the town of Chelmsford May 30, 1774, in Consequence of Letters sent to the Committee of Correspondence of this Town by the Committee of Correspondence of the town of Boston, containing matters of as great Importance as ever came before a Town- meeting," a Committee of Correspondence was chosen, consisting of Jonathan Williams Austin, Captain Oliver Barron, Mr. Samuel Perham, David Spaulding, Mr. Benjamin Walker, Deacon Aaron Chamberlin, Captain Moses Parker, Mr. Samuel Stevens, Jr., and Mr. Simeon Spaulding, and the town expressed the following sentiments:
It is the opinion of this Town that the present Day is as Dark and Distressing a Day as this Country ever experienced, perhaps the Liberties of the Land, in no period, from the first Settlement of our Fathers, were ever as endangered as of present, and when we consider the aspect of the times, not only what has actually taken place, but what we are Immediately threatened with, we must think that the Question is, whether we submit to the arbitrary, lawless, tyrannical will of a minister, or by using those Powers given us by the God of nature, and which it were sacrilege to surrender, prevent so awful a Catastrophe; and it is extremely afflicting to us to Consider that, if we are made Slaves, we are so made by a nation whom we ever gloried in as a parant State, whose Honor was Dear to us, and to secure whose reputation the best, the Richest Blood of this Country has been Spilt, and who ever is acquainted with the Annals of America must know that their never was a time when it was not our ambition to expend Life & Treasure for the Service of great Britain. And after all this waste of Blood & Treasure we found acts taking Place for the Purpose of Raising a Revenue, the Direct Tendency of which was to entail Slavery on us and our Posterity, we were willing to impute it to any other Cause, than a Direct Intention to enslave. And it has been to the Honour of the several towns of this Province, in their Instructions, and of the House of Representatives in their proceedings, that they have remonstrated & reasoned on the nature, Tendency and unhappy consequences of such acts. But these Remonstrances, these arguments have been totally Disregarded. And as if this was not sufficiently afflicting to vs, the Capital of the Province is actually ruined, by an act of Parliament, which we must say is as Cruel, and Severe an act as ever originated in the Breast of any minister in the worst of times, an Act, that not only ruins that Town, but must in the end prove the Destruction of us all. And when we consider the Temper of the Present minister, his Influence in the Present Parliament, and the Bill he has brought in to alter our civil Government, we justly fear as Compleat a System of Slavery is forming for this Province, as any People unhappily experienced.
In this Dangerous and critical Situation, after cool and serious Thought, these are our Sentiments, that the notion of the
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Right of the Parliament of great Britain, their taxing this People for the purpose of raising a Revenue is utterly unconstitutional and which we never will concede to. Taxation without Repre- sentation we have no Conception of, and as we suppose it to be productive of absolute Slavery, so we must be Justified in never submitting to it. We have too many Instances in the History of mankind of the unhappy consequences that attend a Contrary Doctrine. When once a people have yielded the Right of granting their own monies, and permitted the King to exercise this power, when and in what manner he pleases, that moment they become Slaves. France was once free, but in Consequence of such Behaviour, their Estates and Lives are at the absolute Disposal of the monarch. The Cortes of Spain had once the same Rights with our parliament. But having allowed the King on a Particular occasion to raise monies without their interposition, they lost their Authority, and the People their freedom.
The present act respecting the blocking up the port of Boston, we esteem dangerous and Destructive. If the head of the province is Demolished, we look upon the Consequences in a political sense, as ruinous as in a natural. In both cases the members must suffer with it. And considering the Bills which are now in agita- tion, we are of oppinion, the Present act is Like the Bird of Noah, Sent over the Waters: if it find footing here, every other Evile will certainly follow.
"We are not so lost to every generous principle of the human mind as not to sympathize with our Brethren of Boston, who have in a more peculiar sense been struggling in our Common Cause and are now suffering for our Common Liberties; and we think the act so very Severe and Cruel and consider at the same time the principle on which it was sent, so we are Determined to Support with all our power the town of Boston, in Defense of Rights Common to us all. And while we are sensible our Cause is Right, we are Resolved never to submit to the Iron hand of Despotism and oppression.
It is with Greef we find the House of Representatives removed from their ancient Seat in Boston. We shall not examine into the particular causes of this proceedure, we hope that as former Houses have Resolutely protested against this Indignity, the present House will not tamely acquiesce in it. We submit this to the wisdom of the House, and have no Doubt they will act worthy the guardians of a free people. One thing further, we think it our Duty to mention in the present Emergency. We are Informed that an address has been prepaired to the late Governer Hutchinson, by Gentlemen in Different Departments on his leaving the province. We are of opinion that an handle may be made of this proceeding by our Enemies, who are numerous and Crafty, as if his adminis- tration had been agreeable and happy to this people. We by no means Intend to Question the uprightness of those Gentlemen's Intention, but as a Town, and as a part of the Community, we
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are obliged to say that so far from thinking that the late governor was a friend, we cannot but look upon him to have been very Inimical to the province, and we think the man, who would willingly "abridge english Liberties," would as willingly see the Town of Boston Ruined & the civil polety of the province altered.
And we resent the base Treatment which that illustrious defender of american Liberty, Dr. Franklin, has received for Detecting such wicked Designs, but we have the pleasure to be assured he may be reviled, but cannot be disgraced. May he still live to be guardian of our Rights and the scourge to the Enemies of Liberty on both sides the Atlantic.
And when he Dies, have a monument of marble erected to his memory. In fine, when we Consider what a melancholy Situation our Public affairs are in; acts of Parliament sent over to enslave, and because Resisted, threatned to be dragooned into obedience, when our Capital is ruined, and the many thousands of her poor, exposed to want and all the Horrors of poverty and misery and our other sea ports, out of a generous principle, Reducing them- selves to the same piteable Circumstances, our Hearts bleed within us. What can be thy policy, O Britain, by this Conduct. Not only our poor, but thousands, of thine own Subjects must suffer with them. Torn from the [ ] by so violent an Effort, Britain must bleed in every Vein.
But in such a situation we dont think it sufficient to weep only at the Distresses of our Country; we think our Union is our Life-the contrary is Death. We mean, therefore, to preserve this union Inviolate at all Hazards and we are Determined in a manly, firm, virtuous, and joint way, neither cajoled on the one hand nor Intimidated on the other, to Secure and Defend our liberties, those Liberties purchased for us by our ancestors, at the expense of so much Blood and Treasure, and before they are wrenched from us, to struggle hard, very hard for them, con- sidering ourselves as the guardians of unborn millions; and O our God! in the midst of this Struggle we would look up for Thy Direction and assistance; may the Liberties of America still flourish under Thy smiles as they eminently did in the Days of our Fathers.
May we look up to the in every step we take, and do thou give us an head to Contrive and an Heart to execute, and grant in the most adverse Situation of our public affairs, we may trust in thee, and may this be the prevailing Sentiments of us all- IN FREEDOM WE'RE BORN AND IN FREEDOM WE'LLDIE.
Voted,-That the foregoing Draught (after being Twice Read) be sent to the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Boston.
The Committee allowed an account of their proceedings to be printed in the Boston Gazette before it was sent to the Boston Committee. Today we might attribute this to the activity of
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some enterprising reporter. They took the blame upon them- selves, and indited the following apology to Boston. In both documents we recognize the hand of Jonathan Williams Austin.
To the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston. Gentlemen:
As the Representative of the Town of Chelms- ford has received the Votes & Instructions of the said Town, which Votes & Instructions have been committed to the Printers of the Boston Gazette, and not in the first place delivered to you, we take the earliest Opportunity to apologize for such a mode of Conduct. Situated as We are in a Corner of the Earth, which the particular Transactions of the Province seldom reach, We were utterly ignorant that the Votes of each Town, were sent directly to the Committee of Correspondence. But imagining that the Design of these Meetings, was to know the Sentiments of the Province, We were of Opinion that the readiest Way to collect these Sentiments was their Appearance in print. To this, and this only was owing the Conduct of the Committee of this Town, and not to any Disrespect to the worthy Committee of the Town of Boston. On the contrary We entertain the sincerest Affection for You, as Brethren embarked in one comman Cause, and heartily wish the divine Approbation on all your Endeavors. Difference of Sentiment in immaterial Matters will unavoidbly take place. It is impossible it should be otherwise, while human Nature is thus framed. But we hope this will never cause an alienation, while we fully agree in the most essential points.
In fine., Gentlemen, as we think you are actuated by the purest Motives, we heartily wish Success to your Undertakings. And while your plan of Action is such, as will evince a true Magnanimity of Soul, a thorough Knowledge of the Constitution, Loyalty to the Prince and Affection to the Rights of the People, We hope almighty God will bless, & prosper You: And that all Mankind will willingly acknowledge THE only right to be the Metropolis of a free State, who can so well understand the true Nature of their Rights, and who can so cooly, dispassionately, loyally and firmly watch over, protect and defend them .-
We are, Gentlemen, with much Respect,
Your very humble Servants
David Spaulding Jona. W. Austin Oliver Barron
Samuel Perham
To the Committee of Correspondence of the Benjamin Walker Town of Boston. The Committee of the Town of Chelmsford.
[No date] [1774]
[Original in the Adams Library.]
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The people of Chelmsford manifested their sympathy for the sufferers at Boston by collecting sheep and cattle and sending them to their relief. Samuel Howard and Captain Samuel Stevens drove them to Boston, for which the Town paid them at a later date.
"The expressions of the Town during all this trying period show that the hostilities which followed were not of their seeking. Their language is not the language of men eager to achieve glory by deeds of arms; nor was their intense desire for a peaceful solution of the difficulties, and caution against rash measures, the caution of timidity, as their subsequent acts abundantly testify." [H. S. P.]
They had at first no desire to sever their connection with the mother country.
During the first stages of the war hardly any American of prominence, possibly with the exception of Samuel Adams, enter- tained any idea of separation. Benjamin Franklin declared that whatever else the Americans might desire, they did not want independence, and Washington asserted that at the time he took command of the Army (July, 1775) he abhorred the idea of separation. [Hist. U. S., Garner and Lodge, p. 409.]
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