USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 20
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Middlesex S.S. To Josiah Parkhurst one of the Constables of the Town of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex-Greeting-
- In his majesties name you are hereby Required forth- SEAL with to warn all the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the said Town (in your ward) Lawfully Qualified to vote, to assemble at the meeting House in Chelmsford aforesaid on monday the Twenty-seventh Day of June Instant at three of the Clock in the afternoon. Then and their to Consider of Certain papers Sent up from Boston to the Committee of Corre- spondence of this Town, Containing Proposals for a Plan Supposed to be the most Likely meathord to Prevent either absolute Slavery or the Troubels of a Civil War; here of fail not and make Return of this warrant with your Doings thereon unto the Town Clerk Some Time before the Time appointed for Said meeting Dated at Chelmsford aforeSaid the Sixteenth Day of June in the four- teenth year of his majesties Reign. Anno Domini 1774.
At a Publick Town meeting of the freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Chelmsford being Duly warned and Regularly Assembled at the meeting House in Said Chelmsford on Monday the Twenty Seventh Day of June A. D. 1774
Voted David Spaulding moderator for Said meeting.
The papers being Read and Considered of Sent up from Boston to the Committee of Correspondence of this Town-
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Voted That the papers Signed by the Inhabitants of this Town Shall be Kept in the Town Clerk's office of this town.
Upon a motion made & seconded it was then put to vote to See if the Town would Reconsider the Last vote and it was accordingly Reconsidered by voting.
Voted That the paper Signed by the Inhabitants of this . Town Shall be Kept in the Town Clerks office of this Town untill Such Time as we are Informed that the Town of Boston and the other Towns of this Province Shall have signed Similar Papers, otherwise This Signing to be of none Effect. &c. &c.
Chelmsford sent two delegates to the first Provincial meeting at Concord in August, 1774. They were Jonathan Williams Austin and Samuel Perham. A Committee of Inspection was chosen to prevent the purchase of any articles inported from Great Britain. It was voted to equip the Alarm list with the imple- ments of war, also to raise and equip fifty minute men.
The Middlesex Convention met at Concord, August 30 and 31, 1774, "to consult upon measures proper to be taken at the present very important crisis." Ebenezer Bridge, Jr., was clerk. Simeon Spaulding, Benjamin Walker, Zacheus Wright and Jonathan Williams Austin were present. The latter was chairman of the committee appointed to take into consideration the Act of Parlia- ment for the better regulating of the government of the Province, and is supposed to have drafted the resolutions adopted by the Convention.
The following is from the address of Henry S. Perham at the Bunker Hill Day outing of the Daughters of the American Revo- lution, in Chelmsford, June, 1896.
At the time of the Revolution (census of 1776, Allen, p. 184) the town of Chelmsford contained a popluation of 1341. It included within its limits the greater part of the land now occupied by the city of Lowell, and also a large part of Carlisle.
A century and a quarter had elapsed since the first settlement of the town, and the men upon the stage were cultivating well tilled farms, where their great grandfathers had first felled the forest. Comfortable and well-built houses, many of which are standing today, had taken the place of the small and ruder dwell- ings of the early settlers. During three quarters of a century of the time embraced in this period, beginning with King Philip's war, when this was a frontier town and the people were living in constant apprehension of attacks by the savages, and continuing through the long struggle between the French and English for supremacy on this continent, the young men of the colonies were receiving a training in arms. In all the campaigns of that period the men of Chelmsford participated. We find the names of several of the natives of this town in the roll of Lovewell's devoted band.
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And we find them engaged in that surprising achievement by the New England militia, the reduction of Louisburg. They took part in the conquest of Acadia, and with Wolfe at Quebec, they climbed the heights of Abraham. Again and again they marched to the support of our strongholds, which stood in the pathway of the enemy, between Montreal and Albany, or joined in movements against them when held by the enemy, losing heavily in the Crown Point expedition, under Gen. William Johnson.
When important victories had been gained, there was general rejoicing among the people, attended with illuminations, and sometimes a sky rocket or two was set off. When, on the other hand, our arms met with disaster, a day of fasting was appointed, and we find the sympathizing pastor offering prayer and con- solation in those stricken homes which mourned the loss of a husband, brother or son, who had fallen.
These campaigns were attended with long and toilsome marches through forest pathways, sometimes in winter when snowshoes were a part of the equipment, and by them the men became inured to hardship, privation and danger.
It was in such service that Ford, Walker, Barron and Parker gained the military experience that fitted them to lead in the Revolutionary struggle. These wars fostered the military spirit in the people of New England, which, together with the conditions of their daily life where nothing was gained except by labor and thrift, tended to develope a brave, hardy and self-reliant people, a people too confident in their own powers to submit readily to oppression.
During the period of agitation, which preceded the Revolution, the attitude of the people of this town was firm and dignified, and apparently prompted by as deep a sense of their responsibility as though the action of the whole colony was to be guided by their course. In the instructions given to their representatives and the sentiments expressed in the resolutions passed in town meetings, nothing appears which, viewed in the light of today, their descendants could wish to see altered. They contain no suggestion of a desire to sever their connection with the mother country, for which they evidently felt strong attachment, and any rash or passionate action they strongly deprecated. But at the same time they firmly maintained those rights granted them as British subjects, by the Royal Charter, and opposed the obnoxious acts of the king and parliament.
In conversation with a scholarly and thoughtful gentleman upon these questions, he said that he did not consider that the Colonies were seriously oppressed by England, and expressed the opinion that there would have been no war if the prople had not been worked up to it by the leaders. But the evidence goes to show, I think, that those problems were worked out slowly, deliberately and prayerfully in the minds of the plain people; people accustomed to do their own thinking, with a firmness and courage to enable them to face whatever might result.
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In this town the leaders were not at first in sympathy with the popular movement. [They were Englishmen, ready to fight for the preservation of the rights of Englishmen.]
The two most prominent men and the ones whose opinions would have the greatest weight with the people, were the minister, Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, and Col. Samson Stoddard. Mr. Bridge was then in the prime of life. Of his 50 years' pastorate here, 20 had been spent. He was a man of strong and vigorous intellect, whose opinions would have had weight, even aside from the great influence wielded by his pastoral office.
It is not surprising that he should be inclined to look with disfavor upon the agitation then going on.
The New England clergy were conservative as a class, and inclined to cling to existing institutions. Very many of them continued loyal to the English government. Mr. Bridge associated with the most prominent people in the Colony, and, as we learn from his diary, held pleasant social relations with the leaders upon the loyalist side. He was a friend of Governor Hutchinson and Secretary Oliver, and exchanged visits with them, the former receiving him "very graciously." The royal Governor Francis Bernard, (who had so much difficulty with the Massachusetts assembly), also visited in town and Mr. Bridge dined with him at the house of his friend Col. Stoddard. [June 24, 1763. Dined at Col. Stoddard's with his Excellency, the Governor, and Hon. Mr. Bowdoin, and others, and their ladies.]
Parson Bridge's views we find given in an election sermon delivered by him before the general assembly in Boston, May 27, 1767 (two years after the passage of the Stamp Act). In the course of that sermon he said: "We have cause to bless God, that in this day and this time, we are highly favored of God with a king, whose throne is established by righteousness, who hath made the laws of the nation the rule, and the happiness of his people the end of his government-who hath the hearts and the confidence of his people at home and abroad; and upon every occasion hath given them the greatest cause to rejoice in his paternal care of and goodness to them," * * * and a parlia- ment which tho' liable to mistakes, has yet been attentive to the good of the nation and kingdom and her colonies and dependencies." As to the British Colonies in North America * * "How happy are they, in the enjoyment of the same liberties and privi- leges, as our brethren in our mother country; what a lasting foundation is hereby laid for continual union and harmony, and a mutual dependence between the parent and her children? May there never more be any attempts from any quarter, or by any means or instruments, to divide them, who are so nearly connected in affection and interest and I believe that all the people, in all the colonies, will heartily say amen."
This laudation of George III and his Parliament, remember, was addressed to the very assembly which was prorogued and
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denounced by the royal Governor Bernard for adopting the circular letters of Samuel Adams, one of which was to the king appealing for a redress of their grievances. But, notwithstanding those words, the parson's heart was right, the welfare of the people was dear to him, and he was soon led to change his views. Allen dates the change from the time of the re-publication of Hutchinson's letters in this country. But however it was brought about his change to the patriot cause was most complete. He became a firm supporter of the patriot cause. He contributed of his substance to its support and prayed with and exhorted the soldiers as they went forth to battle. Two of his sons were in the army, one (Ebenezer, Jr.), as a colonel with Prescott at Bunker Hill.
Colonel Stoddard, on the other hand, retained his tory principles. He was a son of the former minister, Rev. Samson Stoddard, and a graduate of Harvard College. His house, which stood on the site of the Central Baptist Church, was the social centre. It was often illuminated upon occasions of public rejoicing, and the people gathered there to celebrate, and there he enter- tained many distinguished guests. The town of Stoddard, in New Hampshire, was named in his honor. But his position upon the questions then uppermost cost him his influence forever. The people expressed their strong disapproval of his course in a manner more forcible than dignified.
[His house was assailed with stones and his fence destroyed.] [Colonel Stoddard was the son of the Chelmsford minister of the same name, and was born here May 1, 1709; graduated at Harvard in 1730; died here, and was buried April 28, 1777.]
Meanwhile the people were following the lead of Adams and Hancock, and co-operating with the committees of correspondence.
There was at this time engaged in the practice of his profession in this town, a gifted young lawyer, and ardent patriot, Jonathan Williams Austin. [He was twenty-three years of age when chairman of the Chelmsford Committee of Correspondence in May, 1774.] He was a graduate of Harvard College, and studied in the office of John Adams. It was he, without doubt, who drew up the resolutions passed by the town meeting of May, 1774. He and Samuel Perham were chosen by the town as delegates to the Middlesex Convention held at Concord, Aug. 30, 1774, and Mr. Austin was chosen by the Convention as chairman of the committee on resolutions. These resolves, which, without doubt, were framed by this Chelmsford delegate, took the most advanced ground occupied by the patriot party and were expressed in clear and forcible English.
Charles H. Walcott, Esq., of Concord, says: "I feel that the Middlesex Resolves are infinitely superior to the much lauded Suffolk Resolves which were framed later by Warren. This gave the latter greater prominence, as well as the fact that they eman-
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ated from Boston. The Middlesex Resolves have a dignity and force of expression, and especially (what was rare in Revolutionary manifestos) a simple, clear and direct style; sincere and bold, without being declamatory or bombastic. As a statement for all time of the grievances against the mother country, I do not hesitate to prefer them to the famous Declaration of Independence.
Jonathan Williams Austin was, undoubtedly, their author. He was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, which was a strong one, but none of them, perhaps, possessed the fine enthu- siasm of youth combined with a perfect knowledge of the issues of the day to such an extent as the young lawyer fresh from the office of John Adams. He was the son of Samuel Austin, a merchant of Boston, who died in 1792. His mother was a daughter of Jonathan Williams, deacon in the Brattle Street Church (died 1788), and granddaughter of Jonathan Williams, wine-cooper, who died in 1737.
Jonathan Williams Austin graduated at Harvard College in 1769. He studied law with John Adams, afterwards President of the United States. He came to Chelmsford in 1773, and was Captain of the first company of militia. He engaged himself to the country's service April 20, 1775; was promoted to the rank of Major, and later to Colonel; 'died in the army to the southward.'"
His published record is as follows:
Austin, Jonathan W[illiams], Boston. Major, Col. Paul Dudley Sargent's (16th) Regt; engaged April 20, 1775; roll made up to July 31, 1775; service, 3 mos., 18 days; also, list of field officers of the Continental Army stationed at Cambridge in 1776.
In the proceedings of the Mass. Hist. Soc'y, 1878, p. 350, is an extract from Gen. Greene's orderly book under date of May 10, 1776, from which it appears that Major Austin, with three com- panies of Colonel Sargent's Regiment, was directed to take Castle Island to defend, and forward the work there. There was another order also on the 12th.
Austin, Jonathan W. Volunteer, brig "Hazard," commanded by Capt. J. F. Williams; engaged Dec. 21, 1778; discharged April 21, 1779; service 4 mos. Roll dated Boston.
His Middlesex Resolutions were adopted in the Convention by a vote of 146 to 4. They were heartily applauded by the Continental Congress at Philadelphia when read to that body.
See Journals of the Convention at Concord, Aug. 30, 1774, and Drake's History of Middlesex Co., Vol. I., p. 107.
The following is an extract from the preamble of the Middlesex Resolutions:
"There is a mode of conduct, which, in our very critical circumstances, we would wish to adopt; a conduct, on the one hand
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never tamely submissive to tyranny and oppression, on the other never degenerating to rage, passion and confusion. This is a spirit which we revere, as we find it exhibited in former ages, and it will command applause to the latest posterity. The late acts of Parliament pervade the whole system of juris- prudence, by which means, we think, the fountains of justice are fatally corrupted. Our defence must, therefore, be immediate in proportion to the suddenness of the attack, and vigorous in proportion to the danger.
We must now exert ourselves, or all those efforts which, for ten years past, have brightened the annals of this country will be totally frustrated. Life and death, or, what is more, freedom and slavery, are in a peculiar sense now before us, and the choice and success, under God, depend greatly upon ourselves.
We are therefore bound, as struggling not only for ourselves, but future generations, to express our sentiments in the following resolves: sentiments which, we think, are founded in truth and justice, and therefore sentiments we are determined to abide by."
Mr. Bowdoin's Power of Attorney to Mr. Austin, April 20 1773.
Know all Men by these Presents that J James Bowdoin of Boston in the County of Suffolk & Province of Massachusetts Bay Esqr. do hereby constitute and appoint Jonathan Williams Austin of Chelmsford in ye County of Middlesex in ye Province aforesaid Gentleman my Attorney in all Causes moved and to be moved for me or against me, in my name to appear, plead and pursue to final Judgment and Execution, with power of Substitution. Witness my hand and Seal this 20th day of April Anno Domini 1773.
Signed Sealed & dld. In Presence of Sampson Stoddard Elizabeth Johnson. [Original in the Adams Library.]
James Bowdoin. SEAL -
Besides the sheep and cattle already mentioned, Chelmsford sent forty bushels of rye to Boston for the relief of the sufferers by the Boston Port Bill. The rye was stored in the Granary. This letter was sent at the same time.
Chelmsford, 26th September 1774.
Gentlemen,
We, the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Chelmsford, take this opportunity of transmitting a quantity of grain, collected for the use of your poor.
We are happy to have it in our power, by any means to show our affection for a Town, Who are so eminently suffering in the Common Cause. As we entertain the highest esteem of your Conduct, We are willing not only to sympathize but share with you in your troubles.
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And should you by the hand of power, be driven from your habitations, we welcome you to our own; and trust, that in these, at present, abodes of peace and liberty, you enjoy a superior satisfaction to those who are aiming "to raise their greatness on their country's ruin."
We are, Gentlemen, with much esteem, Your humble servants,
Jona. Williams Austin Chairman, by order of the Committee [Mass. Hist. Soc. Coll. Fourth Series, Vol. IV, p. 92.]
The following was received in reply:
Boston Octo 3d 1774 Sir.
To commiserate the Afflicted to Sympathise with the op- pressed Sufferer, to reach out the bountious hand for the Comfort, Relief & Support and the Distressed are sacrifices well pleasing and acceptable to God thro' Christ our Saviour.
Our Worthy Friends and Brethren of Chelmsford have in this way done honour to the Gospel of our divine Redeemer and by so doing have greatly honour'd themselves. We have an evidence hereof in the very kind Donation of Forty Bushels of Rye from the patriotic Inhabitants of that Town; it has been received and housed in the Granary, and shall be disposed of agreeable to the benevolent Intent of the generous Donors.
It affords us great satisfaction to find that the Conduct of this much abused Town meets with their approbation; we greatly value it; and trust that by the same gracious directing and supporting Hand, which hath brought us hitherto, we shall not be left to do anything which may incur a forfeiture of that Affection and Esteem. How can ye help us at such a time as this more effectually than by carrying our Cause daily to the God of all Grace and emploring his Mercy and Favour for us-They are inclusive of all Good.
Your invitation to make your Houses our Homes is very engaging should we at length be forced out of those once peaceful Habitations we think ourselves very happy that we are like to be so well provided for; but should we be obliged even to remove off fifteen times the distance of Chelmsford, yet the Consciousness of a cordial Attachment to the invaluable civil and religious Liberties of our Country, which we believe to be the Cause of Truth and Righteousness, would yield us content and Satisfaction far superior to that which those can experience who are ungrate- fully seeking to "build their Greatness on their Countrys Ruin."
With grateful Acknowledgments. I am Sir Your truly obliged Friend & Servt. David Jeffries pr order of the Committee of Donations
Mr. Jonathan Williams Austin
[Original in the possession of Charles H. Dalton.]
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Many of the people of Boston and Charlestown fled to Chelmsford and other towns, as will be seen later in this Chapter.
On Sept. 29, 1774 the Town voted the following instructions for Mr. Simeon Spaulding, Representative in the General Court:
As we have now chosen you to represent us in the Great and General Court to be holden at Salem on Wednesday the fifth day of October next ensuing, We do hereby instruct you that in all your doings as a member of the House of Representatives you adhere firmly to the Charter of this Province granted by their Majesties K. William & Q. Mary, and that you do no act which can possibly be construed into an acknowledgment of the validity of the Act of the British Parliament for altering [the] government of Massachusetts Bay; more especially that you acknowledge the Hon. Board of Concillors elected by the General Court at their Sessions in May last, as the only rightful and constitutional Council of this Province and as we have reason to believe that a conscientious discharge of your duty will produce your dissolution as an House of Representatives, we do hereby empower & instruct you to join with the members who may be sent from the other towns in the Province, & to meet with them at a time to be agreed on, in a general Provincial Congress to act upon such matters as may come before you in such a manner as shall appear to you most conducive to the true interest of this town and Province, and most likely to preserve the liberties of all America.
Oct. 11, 1774, the Town chose Mr. Jonathan Williams Austin and Mr. Samuel Perham delegates "to a Provincial meeting to be holden at the town of Concord upon the Eleventh Day of October Instant."
Jan. 3, 1775, Simeon Spaulding was chosen to represent the Town in the Provincial Congress at Cambridge on Feb. 1.
Capt. Oliver Barron, Dr. Jonas Marshall and Mr. Benjamin Walker were chosen a Committee of Inspection respecting pur- chasing or selling any goods, wares or merchandise imported from Great Britain or Ireland.
March 6, 1775, the town voted that the Alarm list should be equipt with fire arms and ammunition, and to raise fifty minute- men, including officers: that they be disciplined one half day in a week for eight weeks ensuing, and that they be paid eight pence per each half day they are disciplined over and more than the militia are disciplined.
Voted to defend the constables and assessors of this town for the year 1774 for not obeying Harrison Gray's warrant for the Province Tax that year.
Captain Oliver Barron was chosen muster-master.
Colonel Simeon Spaulding was chosen to represent the town in the Provincial Congress.
William Pierce of Chelmsford was a deputy sheriff at this period.
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The fighting at Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1775. An account of the part which Chelmsford men played at Concord and Bunker Hill will be given further on.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775.
1775, May 15, the Committee of Safety ordered an inspection of town and district stocks of powder. Chelmsford was found to have one and one-half barrels. In all the towns of the Common- wealth together there were sixty-seven and three-fourths barrels. It was found that on June 17 Chelmsford had seven firelocks. There were 102 in the County and 1,065 in the Commonwealth. July 5, Chelmsford was apportioned fifty-five coats. 13,000 were apportioned to the whole Commonwealth.
In 1777, the Town voted that all powder and balls taken out of the Town Stock at the time of the engagement with the King's troops at Concord or the Battle of Bunker Hill should be returned or paid for.
1775, May 19, the selectmen voted £35:0:0 for the use of this province.
CHELMSFORD COMMITTEE TO THE MIDDLESEX COMMITTEE
Whereas the Honorable the Provincial Congress Dated April 12th 1775 Resolved and Recomended to the Committees of Corre- spondence of the Several Towns & Districts in this Colloney, To render to the Committies of their Respective Countyes appointed by sd Congress, a True State of the Conduct of their Respective Towns & Districts with Respect to their Haveing Executed each Plan, Recomended by the Continential, & Provincial Congresses. These therefore may Inform the Honorable Committee of the County of Middlesex that the Town of Chelmsford have voted To Conform to the Resolves of the said Continential, & Provincial Congresses. The sd. Town have also Granted by vote the Sum of Fifty nine Pounds Seventeen Shillings & three pence which is assessed on the Inhabitants of sd. Town: we are also Informed by the Constables of sd. Town for the year 1773 that there Remaineth in their hands of the Province Tax, for the Same Year, the Sum of Fifty Two Pounds, nineteen Shillings & three pence. Each of the Said Sums are by a vote of sd. Town, to be paid in unto Capt. Oliver Barron Treasurer of sd. Town, the Said Treasurer being Directed to pay out the Sumes. which he Shall So Receive To Henry Gradner Esq. at Stoe, as he Shall Receive orders from the Selectmen for the use of this Province. Thirty five pounds of which is already ordered by the sd. Selectmen to be paid for the use aforesd. and the Residue thereof we hope & Trust will be Collected & paid in Due Time-
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