USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 48
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Rev. Mr. Pierce followed Mr. Chase as president and Mrs. Bartlett was succeeded by Mr. H. S. Perham as secretary for a
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time. A. H. Davis, and Abbie F. Crosby also filled that office. Since 1899 the Rev. Wilson Waters has been president, and Mrs. E. R. Clark has been secretary since 1902.
During the winters of 1898-9 and 1900 a series of free lectures was given in the Town hall under the auspices of the Union, the expense being met by contributions. The speakers included the Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, Rev. Samuel Eliot, John Baker, Prof. Barton, Edwin D. Mead.
For some years the Union has held its meetings in the Adams Library.
Several organizations furnished wholesome amusement as well as intellectual exercise for the people at the Centre Village. One of these was known as "Onesimus Bildam"; then came, about 1850, the "Old Line Thespians." Some of the active members of these were E. K. and George Parkhurst, Clorinda Hodgman, Jane H. Manning (Mrs. Short), Julia E. Manning (Mrs. Warren), Malvina Hodgman, Sewall Byam, Mrs. Sarah Emerson, Abbie F. Crosby, George H. Bartlett, J. A. Bartlett, Mrs. Buzzell, Bradford Emerson.
The "Chelmsford Coons" for many seasons supplied this and neighboring towns with the best minstrel entertainments, and became quite famous as fun makers. Among the members of this organization were Albert Perham, Charles Nichols, J. A. Bartlett.
Several bands and orchestras in different parts of the Town have at different times attained considerable excellence and have contributed to various occasions when their music has been very welcome.
The Training School band at North Chelmsford is an efficient band which is frequently called on for entertainments.
The Boy Scouts have a flourishing organization at the North Village.
THE V. I. A.
On Monday evening, November 15, 1875, in the Town hall was organized the Village Improvement Association, with J. A. Bartlett, chairman, and H. S. Perham, secretary. E. K. Parkhurst and Dr. J. C. Bartlett addressed the meeting, and committees were appointed. On November 22nd, a constitution was adopted. The purpose of the organization was the general improvement and lighting of the Centre Village streets and public squares, and to promote the general interests of the community. The first officers were: President, Dr. J. C. Bartlett; Vice President, E. K. Parkhurst; Secretary, E. H. Warren; Treasurer, George A. Park- hurst. Executive Committee: N. F. Libby, David A. Bussell, Rev. B. F. Cooley, Mrs. David A. Bussell, Mrs. N. P. Dadmun. This association has done a great deal to improve the appearance of the village. The present officers are: President, Ralph P. Adams; Vice President, Royal P. Dutton; Secretary, Mrs. W. H. Hall; Treasurer, Joseph E. Warren.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
In 1876, 1877 and 1883 they printed each year a number of the Chelmsford Eagle. H. S. Perham, Rev. E. Fitz Gerald and Rev. B. F. Cooley were the editors in 1876. H. S. Perham alone edited the last, and E. H. Warren was associated with him in editing the second number. Considerable matter of historic and practical interest to the Town was printed in them.
Similar organizations have done good work in other villages.
THE DOCTOR.
Extracts from Hippocrates' Aphorisms.
Sect. II, Aphorism 20. An experienced Physician should not as soon as he enters go instantly to Fiel ye Patients Pulse but let him first set Down with a chearful Countenance & ask him How he finds Himself lest & if he finds he is under aney Fears or uneasey Aperey Hinsions let him endeavor to hearten him by some seansible story & then he may Proceed to fiele ye Patients Pulse. Expl. To render ye Patients mind chearfull is half ye Cure Especially in Weomen. &c &c
Life is Short & the art is long, occasion sudden, to make experiments dangerous, judgment difficult. Neither is it sufficient that the Physician do his office unless the Patient & his Attendants do their duty and Externals are likewise well ordered.
These quotations are from a book, whose varied ownership is indicated in the following names. It is among the Robbins papers:
Crown Point Sept. 23d. 1760 Abiel Abbot His Book
Joseph Ballard's Book John Betteys' Book
These recipes will interest the curious reader, and perhaps reconcile him to living in the present rather than in the good old days.
"A vomit is best in ye increase of the Moon; Because the Humours tend more Upwards; & a purge is best in the Decreas of the moon Because the Humours tend more Downwards."
For Canker.
R Bull paddocks or frogs with fresh butter: simer them close coverd. to a crisp, then strane for use.
Dr. J. Kittridge had numerous recipes: for gunshot wounds- green wounds; for the bite of a dog; A medicine for young women yt are weakly and pail.
A most Certain Medicen to Cure the Hearing-take a Large Silver Eeale take out his Guts and pound as much onions as will fill his Belly full and sew it fast together and tye a Line to his tail and hang it Down to a moderate fire and keep it turning till the oyl is well Rosted out then put it into a vial well stoped Drop 2 or 3 Drops in the Ear and mind to keep the Ear well stoped with Black wool-and Repet it once in a Day for some time and be very Carfull of Cold.
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A Recept for the fever and Ago.
R: Cortis Calibeat and Radis serpenturia and 3i give 2 or 3 att aDose 2 or 3 times a Day when the fit is off. Col. [Wm.] Brattil of Cambridge
The best Remed. for Lame & num Limbs is-
oyl wherein Frodgs have been Boyld till their flesh is com of their bons.
For old dry sores a remedy was made of hog's fat, bee's wax, rosin, turpentine, deer's tallow. "boyl them over a gentle fire" and add red lead or sumach.
From Nehemiah Abbot-His Book. 1739.
For sinews that are Srunk
take young swallows by Number Twelve with a hanful of Roosmery tops, Bay Leaves, Lavender tops, Strabery Leaves. Cut of the Long feathers and put all together birds and herbs into a morter and pound them, then mix three pound of hodg's fat with it, set it in the sun Twenty or thirty days and then take it and boy[1] it and strain it out and keep it for your vse.
This is an excelent olm and ought alway to be ready because it is so long in the preparation that you should always have it in readness.
For an old joynt Desese.
Make a Bath with emmets and there egs-will quickly cure them.
A Drink for wounded men was made of Crabs from the River beaten into fine powder with various roots, boyl ym in a linen cloth in 3 pints of ale, and Perwinkels-the herb not ye fish. This is one of the best drinks I know of in the world.
Another book is dated 1740, and entitled "Liber de Remediorum Recolecttis de Medecm."
1740 To ease pain &c.
R: oyl of Lillies or violets four pound, boyl it in two whelps newly whelped until the flesh com of the bones then put unto them earth worms Ib. 1. boyl then again and strain them out put to them the oyl: venice turpentine 3 iiii. spirits of wine 3.i. mix them acording to art and keep them for your use, it is one of the finest oyls that I know of all most in the world.
In 1825, in the Chelmsford Courier, is advertised: "Bateman's ointment, a safe and certain cure for the itch."
The itch seems to have been prevalent in 1778.
1778. Dracot Mr Willard Cobron to John Betteys, Dr.
£ S. d
Oct. 19. to oyntment to cure ten Pursons of the Itch. 1.17.6
There were numerous other similar items in that year. "That Contajos Distempr. viz. the Small pox" also was brought here by returning Revolutionary Soldiers. Dr. Marshall lost his wife and two children by it.
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
AGREEMENT.
Chelmsford, Febuwarey 3rd, 1777.
Minits of the proposols that Doctr. Marshall made to me Before I Came to Study physick with him.
The payment yt. the Doctr. Sade he wold take is 13 Bushels of Grain for Each Year and as much meet as we Shall Agree for: for he Sath he has forgot how much meet the Rule is to Support a man a year, and he Sath that I may Labor in tending the Cattle and other Labor a Nuf to pay him for Cucking my Board and washing and other Necesseries that are not above mentiond. and I am to Live With the Doctr. two years to Larne the art of physick & Surgerey and ye. Doctr. promeses he will Instruct me in Art of physick & Surgerey as far as he is Capable of Giving instructions & I of Receaving the same, and he promeses me he will Give me all his Recepts on physick and Surgerey of all Kinds, Except one on Cancors, and he Said he wold Give that if I was of Considarable Sarvice to him in his practice, and the Doctor promest me he wold not Charg me Nothing for Larning me ondly what I Culd Do in his practice that is If I was Benifishal to him in his practice and the Doctr. promest me that if I was helpfull to him in the Smallpox that he wold alow me for that practice Exclusive of the other practice, and he promest me that he wold Favor me as much as he Culd and let me have all the priveledge that he Culd not to Ingor him, and I promest the Doctr. I wold Labor for him Sufisiantly anuf to pay him for my Cucking washing and other Necessereys that are not above mentioned and if I Neglect to Labor for him anuf to pay him for Such Necesereys: as are not named above I must pay him in money orther way what I Shall Neglect to pay in Labor and if I Labor for the Doctr. more than anuf to pay him for my Cucking and washing & other Neceserey, he is to pay me for it.
John Betteys.
Here are a few items from the account book of Dr. Betteys in 1780:
£. s.d.
To Bleeding Jacob
0. 0.6
Pulling a tooth 0. 0.4
Replaising a dislocated joint 0.18.0
travel 3 miles 0. 1.6
Wildor Richardson must have been well to do, for Dr. Betteys charges him 45 shillings for 2} miles' travel and medicines ac- cordingly.
Dr. Betteys often received his pay in other things than money-labor, spinning, one day's reaping, 4 cheir bottoms, 13 bushels of corn, knitting, one brume.
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A hand bill brings to public notice: The Genuine Liquid Opodeldoc or Rheumatic Ointment Faithfully Prepared and Sold by Ezekiel Byam, Chelmsford, Mass. on Favorable Terms. Samuel Chamberlain advertised his "Patent Bilious Cordial, a vegetable compound, gentle and innocent."
November 12, 1778. Rec'd of Mr. Oliver Farror nine pounds lawful money for doctoring his son and attending him when sick with the small pox, and I returned the whole to Doctor Marshall. John Betteys.
The following item relates to an old Chelmsford physician: "Dr. Nehemiah Abbot
Amos Lawrence (b. 1716, d. 1785) married Abigail Abbot, and one of their four sons was Deacon Samuel Lawrence; and hence later the surname was brought into the family as a given name. Deacon Lawrence, the executor of the estate advertised below, was a nephew of Dr. Nehemiah Abbot, who died on July 13, 1785, without children. He had a son born on December 16, 1792, whom he named "Abbott"; and this son afterward became some- what noted in various ways.
By order of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Middlesex,
Will be sold at Public Vendue, on Monday, the 10th day of January next, at two o'clock, P. M. at the House of OLIVER BARRON, Esq. Innholder in Chelmsford, in said county, Two-thirds of the Real Estate of NEHEMIAH ABBOT, late of Chelmesford, Physician, deceased, lying near the Meeting-House in said town, for the payment of the debts of said deceased, and charges of sale. The conditions of sale may be seen at the time and place aforesaid, or by applying in Groton, to
SAMUEL LAWRANCE, Executor.
Groton, December 6, 1790 .- 'Independent Chronicle; and the Universal Advertiser' (Boston), December 23, 1790." [Groton during the Rev., p. 221.]
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
Agriculture has been the occupation of a majority of the population, and different movements have been made for its advancement. Probably the first agricultural society in the United States was formed in Philadelphia in 1785. The first agricultural society incorporated in Massachusetts was "The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture," March 7, 1792. On January 6, 1794, a society was organized in Chelmsford for
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
the "promotion of useful improvements in agriculture." This was made up of men living in the western part of Middlesex county. February 28, 1803, it was incorporated as "The Western Society of Middlesex Husbandmen," the first president being the Hon. Ebenezer Bridge of Chelmsford. The annual meetings were held alternately at Westford, Littleton and Groton. This society was later merged in the Middlesex North Agricultural Society. In 1819 the name was changed to "The Society of Middlesex Husbandmen and Manufacturers," and in 1852, to "The Middlesex Agricultural Society."
About 1850 the Chelmsford Farmers and Mechanics Asso- ciation was formed. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1852, the third exhibition of the Association was held. Dr. J. C. Bartlett was president; Capt. Asa Hodgman, vice-president; E. H. Warren, secretary; and Joseph Reed, treasurer. The cattle shows and all that went with them made these exhibitions great events in the rural communities.
Of late years the organization known as the Grange has been active in promoting, especially, the social side of country life.
ODD INTERJECTIONS.
We no longer hear such exclamations as "Do tell!" "Why, how you do talk!" "Dear me, suz!"
"The quaint and disappearing Yankee locution 'I want to know!' means not so much inquiry as sympathy and admiration for another's mental processes."
In the old days when people had too little to divert their minds, they were eager to hear any news or entertaining tale, and seemed sometimes to try to work themselves up into a state of excitement over trivial matters. The monotony of farm life a century ago was a very severe test of mental poise. The lack of amusements for young people in the prerevolutionary period sometimes turned them into wrong avenues of entertainment, and as Rev. J. A. Chase, in his little pamphlet remarks, in Mr. Bridges' time there were many cases of church discipline. In those days everything was brought before the church. Open confession must be made.
Leaves from an old diary kept in a Chelmsford farm house give such records as these:
Tuesday-Olive made a cheese.
Wednesday-Thomas went to the village to purchase some groceries.
Thursday-John killed a pig.
Such were the chief events of many a dreary week. No wonder that young people sometimes followed the line of least resistance in seeking relief from an austere and rigid life. The following action of the Town shows an attempt to remedy matters.
UNITARIAN CHURCH, CHELMSFORD CENTRE
No. 27 ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CHELMSFORD CENTRE
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THE LIFE OF LONG AGO
1775 March 6. The Town chose a Committee consisting of the Selectmen and fifteen others to deal with idle and disorderly persons, and Voted that the said Committee make enquiry and get the best information that may be of all Idle & Disorderly persons in sd Town such as waste their time & substance at publick or private houses or any other place or places in sd Town, at any unlawful gaming, excessive drinking, quarreling or frolick- ing, or such as may be known to be frequent at horse racing, or any that use profane Cursing or swearing, sabbath-breaking, or any other unlawful & unbecoming behaviour: that the said Committee take the earliest opportunity to discourse with such persons and use the utmost of their endeavours to convince them of their folly and danger, and if any persons are known to the sd. Committee to continue in any such wicked practices, to shun the company of such offenders as much as may be consisting with good reason and justice, leave dealing with them or to entertain any such persons in any of their houses by night or by day saving when in some honest & lawful employment. To manifest a dislike to their conduct, and bear testimony against their vicious practices, and look upon them as disturbers of the peace and good order amongst us, and that any of the Inhabitants of this Town that shall entertain any such person in any of their houses unemployed when able to labour, such persons will procure to themselves the displeasure of this Town and shall be dealt with as offenders, and that the said Committee shall put out such idle and disorderly persons and see that they are employed in some lawful calling, or inflict such punishment on such offenders as the nature of their crime may require. And that the said Town will aid, assist and support and defend the said Committee in proceeding with such offenders as a fore said.
CHANGES IN THE LIFE OF THE TOWN.
In Virginia, local self-government was developed in the county system; in New England, the town system prevailed, owing to various causes, natural, industrial and financial.
The town meeting has been called the most perfect local democracy that the world has ever seen.
The Town originally had more governmental powers than it now has. Some it relinquished to the County and some to the State. Judicial functions were passed up to higher tribunals than the commissioners or board of selectmen. The Town militia had large independence, electing their own officers. The conditions of the early days made this necessary.
The early land titles were given by the Town to whom it saw fit. Religious affairs were settled in town meeting. Religion was supported and largely controlled by the Town, until about a century ago, when this was given into the hands of voluntary societies, which were formed on sectarian lines, and by dividing
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HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
the religious life of the community, weakened it and marred its moral effect, as well as the unity of civic sentiment and activity.
The spreading out of families from the central life of the village to settle on the more distant farms, the development of five distinct villages, and the dividing of the Town into school districts, no doubt weakened the sense of unity, and made sectional antagonism possible.
The modern trend to the city has taken from the Town much of its virile strength, its brain and brawn, and village life has been impoverished by urban competition in commercial, educational, social and ecclesiastical activities.
The character of country life has changed with its conditions. The homes of the interesting old traditions are transformed by a new order of things. The isolated farm has an enlarged environ- ment. The moulding influences are those of the world at large instead of the immediate neighborhood. In the old days, there was little travel and few avenues by which the news of the world could approach. The intellectual and religious life was com- paratively circumscribed. Seventy-five years ago there was a daily mail brought from Lowell, when the stage-man did not forget it. Now, numerous mail trains pass daily through the Town; the rural delivery leaves the mail at every door; the telegraph and telephone, the trolley car and daily paper inform the most remote of what the world is doing. The farmer is a citizen of the world instead of being limited to the interests of his native place. The incandescent bulb in his home is but the symbol of a larger enlightenment, and the drudgery of other days is relieved by music, even if it be a graphophone, or by books and periodicals from the public library. And as travel by trolley and automobile increases over the well-constructed roads they have been instru- mental in building, the rural population being under closer and more constant observation, is prompted to take more pride in well ordered surroundings.
The consolidating and grading of the schools, and transporting the children to central buildings, while these may have defects in practice, yet tend to strengthen the feeling of unity among the rising generation, as well as to increase the efficiency of the school system. Easy access to the city has been not entirely dis- advantageous. The returning villagers have brought back much to increase the happiness and comfort of the rural home; and often the wealth of the city seeks a quiet home in the country town, and gratefully bestows benevolent institutions in its midst. These and other considerations lead to the opinion that the rural community has an important part to play in the future of the State and Nation.
The New England home of the earlier days, barren as it might seem of most things which are prized today, had some important elements of high character. There was, to use the well-worn phrase, plain living and high thinking. There was
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respect for authority, children obeyed their parents, there was thrift and self-denial. The religious influence of the old days was austere, but there is no doubt that it made strong character.
For more than two centuries, such homes trained the men and women who have been largely the leaders of the best activities in American life all over the country. They have gone into every state, and into every walk in life. One of the serious problems of today is how to restore or preserve the home life with its whole- some influence in moulding the characters of those who are soon to take their part in the affairs of Town and State and Nation.
Some of the strongest and pleasantest impressions of the writer's boyhood days are those received at the homestead of his maternal ancestors, where, for seven generations, the family of General Ward have lived among scenes and traditions of historic times. The dignity, solemn and severe, of the white meeting- house on the hill, the hush of the Sabbath-day, even in that quiet village, and the reverence for all sacred things, are features of that old religious life which Christians may well remember today. This was in Shrewsbury, the home of Elnathan and Lydia Pratt Allen, parents of Wilkes Allen, the minister of Chelmsford, and it was Dr. Joseph Sumner, of Shrewsbury, who preached Mr. Allen's ordination sermon in this Town. Dr. Sumner stood six feet four, a grave and dignified man, who filled the young with awe; a child who saw him approaching the house, ran in, fright- ened, and told his mother that God was coming.
CHAPTER IX. TERRITORIAL LIMITS.
BRIDGES, CANALS, STEAMBOATS, RAILROADS.
T OWNS became in effect municipal or quasi corporations, without any formal act of incorporation." [122 Mass., p. 349.]
August 23, 1775. "Every incorporated district 'shall hence- forth be, and shall be holden, taken, and intended to be, a town to all intents and purposes whatsoever.' " [Prov. Laws, Vol. V, p. 420.]
March 23, 1786. "The inhabitants of every town within this government are hereby declared to be a body politic and corporate." [Acts, 1785, Chap. 75.]
Nov. 4, 1835. "All places now incorporated as districts, except the district of Marshpee, in the county of Barnstable, shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties to which towns are entitled by the provisions of this chapter." [R. S., Chap. 15, Sec. 9.]
Chelmsford was incorporated May 29*, 1655.
Common land. May 14,* 1656 land granted to Chelmsford. May 31,* 1660 bounds between Chelmsford and the Indian plantation at Patucket established. June 27,* 1701 bounds between Chelmsford and Billerica established. Nov. 23,* 1725 part annexed to Littleton. June 13,* 1726 "Wameset" annexed. Sept. 23,* 1729 part established as Westford. April 24, 1755 part annexed to Dunstable. April 28, 1780 part included in the second district of Carlisle. Mar. 1, 1783 part of the second district of Carlisle annexed. Mar. 1, 1826 part established as Lowell. Feb. 17, 1865 part annexed to Carlisle and bounds established. May 18, 1874 part annexed to Lowell. June 23, 1874 act of May 18, 1874 accepted by Lowell. Aug. 1, 1874 the act took effect. [Manual for the General Court.]
A valuable article on the early land titles of this region, by Martin L. Hamblet, will be found in the Courier-Citizen History of Lowell, page 73.
* Old style. This foot-note is retained from the Manual for the General Court.
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CHELMSFORD BOUNDARIES.
From the Atlas of the Harbor and Land Commission.
Chelmsford was incorporated as a plantation May 29, 1655, and was first mentioned as a town May 14, 1656. It did not originally bound on the Merrimac river, its northeasterly corner being one mile distant therefrom in what is now the city of Lowell, south of the Pawtucket canal. It was bounded on the east by the Indian land known as Pawtucket, after 1686 called Wameset, as far south as "Patuxet stake" on the Concord river (now Billerica-Chelmsford 1); southeasterly by the line of Billerica, which was incorporated on the same date; southwesterly by the Indian lands called "Tadmuck" or "Zadmuck" (now the westerly part of Westford); and northwesterly by common, unoccupied lands and John Sagamore's plantation.
On May 14, 1656, on petition of the inhabitants of Chelms- ford and Rev. Mr. Eliot, representing the Indian lands, this territory was extended northerly to the Merrimac river, one mile at its northeasterly corner, and three miles at its southwesterly corner, and westerly to the Groton line. This three-mile extension appears to move the northerly boundary as far as the present south line of Tyngsborough, although a strip of land about one . and one-half miles wide and situated north of this line was settled and owned by Col. John Tyng of Chelmsford, making the northerly boundary of Chelmsford very nearly coincide with the southerly boundary of Dunstable. No record has been found, however, of this grant to John Tyng.
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