USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > History of Chelmsford, Massachusetts > Part 87
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1892. The N. E. Tel. and Tel. Co. authorized to erect poles and wires.
1894. The North Chelmsford Library Association was granted $200. on condition that the books be free to all inhabitants of the Town.
The Town conveyed to the proprietors of the North Chelms- ford meeting house all rights that the Town may have to the lot and building.
1895. In Town meeting, Resolved: that the Town in accept- ing the gift of Mr. Amos Francis Adams of the land and building thereon, known as the Adams Library, and upon the condition named in his letter to the Town, hereby acknowledges with grati- tude the considerate generosity of the donor in this permanent provision for its educational interests. The munificence of the gift, its special adaptedness to its end, and the elegance of its form and furnishings, evinces a public spirit and love of his native Town that will endear his name to the latest generation. That the Town hereby assures him of its appreciation of his good deed and pledges him its best efforts to preserve intact and to perpetuate through coming time this treasure house for the noble object for which it is given. That the Town Clerk is directed to communi- cate the foregoing vote to Mr. Adams.
1905. The Quarter-Millennial Celebration.
On May 28, 29, 30 and 31, 1905, the Citizens of Chelmsford, in a quiet and dignified manner, celebrated the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Incorporation of the Town.
The Committee of arrangements printed a report of their proceedings.
822
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
GENERAL PROGRAMME.
-
1655-1905.
QUARTER MILLENNIAL ANNIVERSARY TOWN OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
PROGRAMME, MAY 28, 29, 30, 31, 1905.
SUNDAY, MAY 28.
10.45 A. M .- RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THE SEVERAL CHURCHES.
First Congregational (Unitarian), REV. A. D. K. Shurtleff
First Baptist, South Chelmsford, Rev. C. W. Williams Second Congregational, No. Chelmsford, Rev. D. A. Hudson Central Baptist, Rev. C. H. Ellis
Methodist Episcopal, West Chelmsford, Rev. C. M. Merrill St. John's (Roman Catholic), No. Chelmsford,
Rev. Fr. E. T. Schofield
All Saints' (Episcopal), Rev. Wilson Waters, Rector Central Congregational, Rev. A. F. Earnshaw
3 P. M .- UNION SERVICE, Pavilion
1 VOLUNTARY,-Gloria from 12th Mass, Mozart
2 INVOCATION, Rev. C. H. Ellis
3 HYMN, Rev. Fr. E. T. Schofield
4 RESPONSIVE READING,-24th Psalm, Rev. C. W. Williams
5 CHORUS,-Festival Anthem,
Buck
6 SCRIPTURE READING,
Rev. Wilson Waters
7 CHORUS,-To Thee, O Country! Eichburg
8 PRAYER, Rev. A. F. Earnshaw
9 RESPONSE, Ladies' Quartette
10 INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER,
Rev. D. A. Hudson
11 ADDRESS,-The Glory of the New England Town, Rev. Samuel A. Eliot, D. D., Boston
12 HYMN,-America, Rev. C. M. Merrill
Chorus and Congregation.
13 BENEDICTION, Rev. A. D. K. Shurtleff
Singing will be by chorus of 50 voices conducted by Mr. Hubert Bearce.
823
ANNALS
MONDAY, MAY 29.
SUNRISE .- RINGING OF BELLS.
10 A. M .- HISTORICAL EXHIBIT OPENED. Vestry, Unitarian Church. This will remain free to the public until 9 p. m., Wednesday.
10.30 A. M .- CONCERT ON COMMON, North Chelmsford Band, Mr. Hubert Bearce, Conductor
2 P. M .- ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES. Town Hall
MUSIC, North Chelmsford Band J. ADAMS BARTLETT, President of the Day. ADDRESS OF WELCOME,
Walter Perham, Chairman of Selectmen
RESPONSE, Prof. Chas. F. Emerson, Dean of Dartmouth College
MUSIC,-Clarinet Solo.
ADDRESS,-The Town Our Fathers Builded, Henry S. Perham MUSIC,
SUNSET .- RINGING OF BELLS.
Band
8 P. M .- CONCERT ON COMMON, Chelmsford Centre Band
CONCERT AT NORTH CHELMSFORD, North Chelmsford Band
8.15 P. M .- INFORMAL RECEPTION TO HOME COMERS, Town Hall
TUESDAY, MAY 30.
9 A. M .- MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
Conducted by Veterans' Association, Francis Hutchinson, Commander.
ADDRESS,
Hon. Samuel L. Powers, of Newton
MUSIC,
Chelmsford Centre Band,
Mr. G. Thomas Parkhurst, Conductor
CHILDREN'S DAY.
12 M .- COLLATION TO SCHOOL CHILDREN,
1 P. M .- CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT. Prof. F. O. Harrell, Magician and Entertainer
Followed by Sports, Games, etc. MUSIC,
Chelmsford Centre Band
8 P. M .- CONCERT, Town Hall Songs of "Ye Olden Time" by 40 singers in ancient costume. Conducted by Mr. Arthur W. Allen, of Everett, assisted by the Chelmsford Orchestra.
824
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD WEDNESDAY, MAY 31.
SUNRISE .- RINGING OF BELLS.
9 A. M .- EXCURSIONS will be arranged for visitors to places of interest about the town.
10 A. M .- CONCERT ON COMMON, Salem Cadet Band
1 P. M .- BANQUET, Anniversary Pavilion REV. WILSON WATERS, Chairman and Toastmaster.
His Excellency, William L. Douglas, Governor of the Com- monwealth, is expected, with other distinguished guests, to take part in the post-prandial speaking. MUSIC, Salem Cadet Band
2 P. M .- The pavilion will be open to the public before the speak- ing.
8 P. M .- CONCERT AND RECEPTION, Town Hall
10 P. M .- ANNIVERSARY BALL. Salem Cadet Orchestra, 8 pieces. Dancing till 2 a. m.
Tickets to Old Folks' Concert, Tuesday evening, 25 cents. Tickets to Banquet, Wednesday, $1.00.
Tickets to Ball, admitting lady and gentleman, $2.00.
A restaurant in lower town hall, conducted by F. E. Harris of Lowell, will provide meals at all hours, at moderate prices.
J. ADAMS BARTLETT, HENRY S. PERHAM, JOSEPH E. WARREN, HARRY L. PARKHURST, GEO. F. SNOW, ARTHUR H. SHELDON,
HUBERT BEARCE, ERASTUS A. BARTLETT,
DANIEL P. BYAM,
Committee of Arrangements.
NOTES AND CORRECTIONS.
Page 1. In the first sentence Mr. Perham makes a condensed statement, which it may be well to expand.
The Puritan exodus from England to New England ceased about 1640. It was in that year, with the meeting of the Long Parliament, that Cromwell began his active public career. King Charles I met his martyrdom, January 30, 1649. The Common- wealth was declared May 19, 1649. Cromwell became Lord Protector in 1653. Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660.
Variations in the spelling of proper names, and of other words, may be accounted for by referring to the original records quoted.
Page 19. Jan. 1, 1656. At his request the land lying before his house over the brook is granted to Mr. Fiske as part of his house-lot. [Allen, p. 13.]
Page 25. Third line, for Calvanistic read Calvinistic.
Page 39. First line. For Russells' read Russell's.
Page 51. Third line. For Prescotts read Prescott's.
Page 52. Fourth line. The foot note is Hist. of Chelmsford, p. 22.
Page 66. Fourth line. For Forefather's read Forefathers'. Page 76. Twenty-second line. For proprietory read propri- etorial.
Page 92. Line 15. Dr. Abbott did not come to Chelmsford until 1770 or 1772. The date 1700 was found on several bricks when the house was altered. This leaves the matter uncertain.
Page 101. Wepocositt, twice mentioned on this page, is the same as Wibecusit on page 109.
Page 111. The writer has not seen the original of the first letter on this page, but he would hazard the guess that "nilk guns" in line five should perhaps be Ind guns, i. e., Indians.
LETTER OF NATHANIEL REYNOLDS.
Honor'd Sirs.
My humbell service with my Lieutt to yr honors these are to acquaint you that I received yr orders to march to Malbery & intend to march with my company tomorrow at Least part of ye way not else to troubell yr honors with at this time I Remaine Your humbel Servant to comand
Nathanell Raynalls
Chelmsford, ffeb: 25: 1675.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 68, p. 143º.]
826
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Page 113. Seventh line from bottom, for (sie) read (sic).
Page 114. Bottom.
Feb. 25, 1675-6. An attack was made by the Indians upon Chelmsford and several buildings were burned. Colburn's garri- son on the east side of the Merrimack was strengthened, but nearly all the outer settlements were deserted. A few days later, March 20, another attack was made, and Joseph Parker was wounded. There was no surgeon in the vicinity, and an express was sent to Boston to obtain one. The Council ordered Dr. David Middleton to repair forthwith to Chelmsford. [Fox's Dunstable.]
Cowley, as quoted on page 110, seems to have used Fox's statement. The wounding of Joseph Parker evidently took place in February, and is mentioned in both letters on pages 110 and 111. There seems to be a confusion of dates by the historians.
Page 122. leborns= Coburn? In the original document here reproduced, the name printed "leborns" appears to have been so intended, and the official copyist at the Boston Court House has it thus ;* but on comparing this list of names with the tax lists of 1671 and 1672 and the powder list of 1674, it is evident that the name is Coborns, i. e., Coburn. There are no "leborns" in the Chelmsford Vital Records, and the Christian names, Edward, John, Robert and Thomas, correspond with those of the other lists. These were Edward Coburn and his sons Edward, John, Robert and Thomas, who lived in Chelmsford and Dracut.
Page 167. The selectmen or overseers of the poor of the various towns were ordered to bind out to service all children of the Acadians for whom places could be found. Many were taken from their parents to serve under hard task masters. Some of these parents sent to the General Court a petition which is here reproduced. It was signed by Jean Lendrey at Chelmsford, and by representatives at Oxford, Concord, Worcester, Andover and Waltham.
"A son Excellence Le Gouverneur de la province de Massa- chusetts Bay de La Nouvell Engleterre et au honourable Gentil- homes du Consseile.
Nous avons pris la liberté de Vous presenté Cette Requeste, comme nous sommes en chagrin par Rapart a nos enfans. La perte que nous avons souffris de nos habitations et amené icy, et nos Separations Les un des autres n'est Rien a Comparé a cell que nous trouvons a present, que de prendre nos enfans par force devant nos yeux. La nature mesme ne peut souffrir cela. S'il etait en nostre pouvoire d'avoir notre chois, nous choisirions plustot de prendre nos corps et nos ames que d'etre separé d'eux. C'est pourquoy nous vous prions en grace et a vos honours que vous ayé La bonté d'apaiser cette cruelté. Nous ne Reffusons au cumcement [commencement] de travailler pour l'entretienne de nos enfans, moyainant que si c'etoit suffert pour nos familles. *or to be exact-leborn, omitting the s.
827
NOTES AND CORRECTIONS
Vous priant en grace que d'avoir La bonté d'avoir egart a notre Requeste; ainsy faisent; vous obligeray votre tres humble et tres obeissent serviteurs.
at Chelmsford Jean Lendrey" &c. &c.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 23, p. 49.]
In English it would read as follows:
"To his Excellency the Governor General of the Province of Massachusetts Bay of New England and to the honorable Gentle- men of the Council.
"We have taken the liberty of presenting you this request, as we are in sorrow on account of our children. The loss which we have suffered, of our houses, and brought here and our separa- tions from one another is nothing compared with what we meet with at present, that of taking away our children by force before our eyes. Nature herself cannot endure that. If it were in our power to have our choice we should choose rather the taking away of our bodies and our souls than to be separated from them. Wherefore we pray in pity and to your honors that you would have the goodness to mitigate this cruelty. We have not refused from the first to work for the support of our children, provided it were permitted for our own families. Praying you in mercy to have the goodness to have regard to our Petition, thus doing you will oblige your very humble and very obedient servants."
Mr. Gridley and Mr. Tyng with others were appointed a committee to consider the petition, and to report. Their report was read and accepted in Council, April 15, 1756. It was ordered that there should be no more binding out, and the Acadians were to be provided with such things as they could work up for necessary clothing, and they were to be treated with kindness and humanity.
The list on page 167 is from the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 23, p. 485. A similar list is in the Town records. Some of the state- ments on the two following pages are from the Chelmsford Eagle.
Page 189. Eighteenth line from bottom. In Bridge's Diary it is stated that Jonas Spaulding "died in ye War." Others who died in the Province Wars were: John Spaulding, 1704; Jonathan Snow and Benj. Adams, 1755; Joseph Spaulding, son of Lieut. John, 1756.
Page 198. COMMITTEES OF SAFETY AND CORRESPONDENCE. Committees of Safety were formed before and during the Revo- lutionary War, to keep watch of, and act upon, events pertaining to the public welfare. They were of great benefit, and some- times had power to call out the Militia and provide means for defense. These committees were in constant communication with committees of correspondence. Massachusetts took the lead in these, forming a committee of Safety in the autumn of 1774, with John Hancock as chairman. Samuel Adams "bound the other towns of Massachusetts to Boston in a common
828
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
organization for making and propagating opinion by means of committees of correspondence," through which they could ex- change views, and if need were, to concert action. This he pro- posed as early as 1772. "Committees of Correspondence sought out opinion, provoked discussion, forced men to take sides or seem indifferent; more than all, saw to it that Mr. Samuel Adams's opinions were duly promulgated and established by argument."
[Woodrow Wilson : Hist. of the Am. People, p. 174 ff.]
Page 200. Fourteenth line. For inported read imported.
Page 201. Sixth line from bottom. For prople read people.
Page 209. Eighth line. For Crowinshield read Crownin- shield
Page 231. Second line from bottom for Jospeh read Joseph.
Page 250. Eighteenth line. For of read off.
Nineteenth line. For Collections read Contributions.
Page 250. Many legends and traditions are told of the events of that day (April 19, 1775), and the scenes witnessed by various soldiers. Charles Furbush, a private (afterward captain) of Joshua Holt's [Andover] Company, and another, said to have been Captain Ford of Chelmsford, were fired upon by a British officer from a house which he was plundering. They rushed in and killed the man. They were used to the sight of blood, having served in the French war, but though veterans in the horrors of war, their souls revolted at some of the dreadful sights of that day. They related* that our men seemed maddened with the sight of British blood, and infuriated to wreak vengeance on the wounded and helpless. A fallen grenadier had been stabbed again and again by the passers-by, so that the blood was flowing from many holes in his waistcoat. Furbush and his comrade, cooler and more compassionate from experience in regular war- fare, and, perhaps, remembering the days when they had called these men companions-in-arms, gently lifted up the dying soldier and gave him water to drink, for which he eagerly begged. [Hist. Sketches of Andover, p. 307.]
Trevelyan, in Vol. I, Part II of his History of the American Revolution, mentions some plundering and burning by a Major Austin and a Captain Ford of Massachusetts at White Plains, in November, 1776. (See also Lossing's Field Book of the Revolu- tion and American Archives.) But these were not our Major Austin and Captain Ford.
Page 289. Nineteenth line. Dele. except Isaac Barret.
Page 290. Ninth line. Pradue is probably meant for parado, after the Spanish; an old form of the word parade.
Page 299. Thirteenth line. For daughter read sister.
James Pitts and Elizabeth Bowdoin were married Oct. 26, 1732.
Page 395. Fourth line from bottom. For John read Benjamin
Page 397. Third line. For N. W. read S. W.
*This story is told by the grandson of Captain Furbush.
829
NOTES AND CORRECTIONS
Page 401. Taverns. See also pages 395-7.
1690. Cornelius Waldo.
1712. John Hill. Asa Hill. Timothy Clarke. Dr. John Betty. Balch and Coburn. Jesse Smith.
1820. Capt. Phineas Whiting.
1826. William Parker.
1842. Noah Robinson.
1853. Moses Griffin.
Jacob Howard. Enoch Merrill. Thomas Parker. Daniel Poor.
Page 402. General Store-Keepers.
Centre Village: E. T. Adams. North Village: Supply C. Wilson. Chamberlain.
S. T. Wright. J. F. Sleeper. Fred Marshall.
Sawyer and Gay.
Swift and Blodgett.
Joseph Bennet.
E. Shaw & Son.
Watson Woodward.
George B. Hall.
John F. McManomin.
M. A. Queen & D. F. Small.
Charles F. Scribner.
Mrs. A. A. Marinel.
West Village:
1840. Alpheus Nesmith. 'John Goss. David Simonds. Roby, Sawyer & Co. Asa Farwell. William H. Brown.
1852. John N. Perry Marcus H. Winship. F. E. Bickford.
South Village:
James Robbins. Eldad P. Bean. Julius Parkhurst. Thomas M. Gerrish. H. H. Emerson. John B. Emerson.
830
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Page 406. THE COURT OF ASSISTANTS.
By action of the General Court in 1631, practically all judicial and legislative powers were vested in the Court of Assistants. The Bible was their only law book. Juries were impaneled when capital crimes were to be tried before this court. It met four times a year-at Easter, Hilary, Trinity and Michaelmas-corre- sponding to the English terms of court, and was composed of the Governor, Deputy Governor and eighteen assistants chosen annu- ally by a General Court, consisting of the said officers and all the freemen of the Colony, on the last Wednesday in Easter term. This was the highest Judicial Court of Massachusetts up to 1692, when the second Charter took effect. Under that the Executive Council, which served also as the upper house of the legislature, was an elective body. It consisted of the Governor, Deputy Governor and twenty-eight assistants, and was also called the Great Quarter Court. It was a sort of Executive Council to the Governor. Cases were tried before it, with right of appeal to the General Court, of which it was a part. The General Court was so called because the Colonial legislature of Massachusetts grew out of the general court or meeting of the Massachusetts Company. Four times a year the Governor and Deputy, with the Assistants and all the freemen were summoned to a "greate generall and solemne assemblie." Under the second Charter the Supreme Court of Judicature took the place of the Court of Assistants.
By a provision of the second Charter "a General Court was to be holden annually, on the last Wednesday in May, and at such other times as the Governor saw fit, and each town was authorized to choose two deputies to represent them in this court. The choice of these deputies was conceded to all free- holders having an estate of the value of forty pounds sterling, or land yielding an income of at least forty shillings per annum."
Thinking it not for the interest of the Colony that the chief officers should be elected by inexperienced men, the General court voted that the Governor and Deputy Governor should be elected by the assistants. Later, in 1632, these officers and the assistants were to be elected by the whole court consisting of all these officers and all the freemen.
Page 410. Public Worship. An attempt was made to follow this case further in the Court files at Cambridge, but nothing more could be found relating to it.
Page 414. Second line. For be read he.
Fifteenth line from bottom. For indentity read identity.
Page 434. Fifth line from bottom. For State Highway read County Road.
Page 455. Frederick Fanning Ayer, in "Bell and Wing,"* has a poem entitled "Old Darby," in which he portrays a long- forgotten character who half a century ago made his hermit-home in the extreme northwest part of the Town.
*G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1911.
831
NOTES AND CORRECTIONS
The descriptive parts of the poem, some of which are here given, are a true picture of the man. The interesting love-story with which they are interwoven is founded on fact. The poem should be read entire. The concluding lines, here quoted, voice Mr. Ayer's philosophy.
How well I remember this man,
His Pawtucketville stride,
Hand open wide
As a griddle-pan!
At first I shied him,
The boy-tribe guyed him.
Women folk eyed him,
Eyed his blue great eyes,
His boot-black tie,
His long look to the skies
Like a longing to fly, Hat on and off,
His little cough,
His sorrow sigh!
None feared him, none knew him who he was, Only Old Darby was his name,
His purpose to make common cause With hard-luck people-that way he came
To be known for his majesty part
He played, his mighty human heart.
Snug in his Chelmsford woods,
In his bee-flower house,
His hut of willow snoods,
Of wild forest goods,
To an owl for a friend
His hand to extend, Swallows of nard In his forest yard,
A whole heart to share His handful fare With the birds in air,
He now, like each flower
In his dusty-miller bower, Was a prince of power. * * *
* * * So it was in Chelmsford I found him, At the fag-end, in his squirrel-hut!
How each tempest tried to unground him! I saw his wide eyes open and shut As if the soul in him watched each gape To leap there for chance to escape. * * * * * *
*
Spoke kindness always and great truth: "Only soul has perpetual youth; The child is likelier God
Than your small soul in your lordly pod."
And so on, as each way he went He preached of power by strugglement; Beauty was the thing to catch, New always, not made to match;
Soul-foremost was the way to go, Would the world could see it so. * * *
* * * * Something in Nature makes for Right,
Keeps always perfect Beauty in sight, So help it along all your soul and might!
832
HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD
Page 459. To Mr. E. K. Parkhurst more than to any other person, is due the credit of initiating the movement which resulted in the organization of the V. I. A. in Chelmsford Centre. This is a pioneer association of the kind in Massachusetts, the Laurel Hill association at Stockbridge being the only one previously organized, in 1853. In Chelmsford the V. I. A. improved the public squares, laid out sidewalks and planted shade trees, in- stituted street lights and otherwise aided the welfare of the Village. Twenty-three lamps were first placed on the streets; in ten years they had increased to forty-three. For twenty years the Association met the expense of maintaining these, and raised altogether about $6,000. An annual field day and picnics and other social features have marked the life of the V. I. A.
Page 498. Central Bridge was first rebuilt in 1843; the covering was put on the bridge in 1849. The bridge was burned in the night between August 4 and 5, 1882. A history of this bridge and the burning of it may be found in Vol. II of the Contribu- tions of the Old Res. Hist. Ass'n.
Page 505. Eighth line from bottom. The writer has seen the record of but one township so granted.
Page 535. "Chelmsford Vital Records" gives the date of the death of "Weebe," John, alias Everett, Oct. 16, 1668.
Page 580. July 15, 1726. It was ordered that inasmuch as Jeremiah Miller has been duly warned out of the Town, and doth still continue in sd. Town contrary to the Law in that Behalf made and provided, that there be a Warrant obtained from a Justice of the Peace to convey sd. Jeremiah Miller to the Town where he had his last Residence before such warning was given as above mentioned.
To Thomas Barrett, constable, for conveying Jerimy Miller out of Town and his assistance. .£00.12 00. Page 586. Last line. For W. S. Packard read A. S. Packard.
Page 589. The designer of the Revolutionary Monument was Greely S. Curtis, a well-known Boston architect. The model showed a higher base, and immediately above the machicolation, a stone which was left out when the monument was built. The inscriptions on the monument are all in capital letters.
Page 594. Fifth line from bottom. For .55 read .45.
Page 602. Fourth line from bottom. For Erving read Ervin.
Page 659. The tanning vats mentioned belonged to Samuel Stevens, a tanner, who lived in the present home of Mr. J. A. Bartlett, and whose tan yard was near the house.
COURTS.
Allen (page 150) says: The English Magistrate usually held his court at Wamesit annually in May. Mr. Eliot attended him to give advice to the magistrates, and to preach to the Indians, whom the occasion might call together in greater numbers.
833
NOTES AND CORRECTIONS
"While many resorted to this ancient capital seat of the Indians to fish, he seized the opportunity to spread the net of the Gospel to fish for their souls."
In the early settlement of New England the Pawtuckets con- sisted of about 3,000; and in 1674, 250. At Wamesit, when Mr. Eliot persuaded them to receive the Gospel, there were about 75 souls. Their chief sagamore and civil ruler after they became Christianized was Numphow, "a man of a noble spirit." His son, Samuel, was their teacher. In the expedition against the Mohawks, in 1669, they were mostly destroyed. Being reduced to a very small number, they determined to remove farther to the north; and, that they might not go away with resentment and unfavorable impressions against the English, they were per- suaded not only to sell the lands assigned them by the Govern- ment, but also in 1686 to release by deed all right in the town- ships of Concord, Chelmsford, Groton, Lancaster, Stow and Dunstable. [Douglass.]
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