USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dracut > History of Dracut, Massachusetts, called by the Indians Augumtoocooke and before incorporation, the wildernesse north of the Merrimac. First permanment settlement in 1669 and incorporated as a town in 1701 > Part 23
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and the farmers at the west part of the town would find the eastern part reaping advantages upon which they had built their hopes when the Mammoth road became the accepted high- way. To oppose the granting of the petition a counter petition was presented. In this petition, a copy of which is inserted, it will be seen that the parties presenting it were too shrewd to intimate the real reason for opposing it, but place emphasis on the fact of the obstructions which would interfere with the rafting of logs and heavy timber. These were reasonable objec- tions as, while the Pawtucket falls were avoided by a canal from the Merrimack to the Concord rivers, which is still in existence to convey water, there still remained the rapids of Hunt's and Varnum's falls which were below the canal.
COPY OF PETITION
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Memorial and Remonstrance of the subscribers humbly sheweth.
That your remonstrants contrary to their expectation, have been informed that a Committee of your honorable body have determined to report in favor of granting the prayer of the petitioners for a Bridge to cross Merrimac river at or near Varnums Falls between the town of Dracut and Andover. And as we are well acquainted with the said River and are much engaged in the rafting business we feel deeply interested in the free and unobstructed passage through.
We therefore beg leave to state to your honors, that the current of the said River for a considerable distance above the place proposed for the said bridge is very rapid so that it would be extremely difficult managing a heavy raft of wood or timber, so as to pass a bridge in that place without very great hazard and danger. And from the alteration of the current occasioned by the rise and fall of the said River it becomes necessary to vary the course of the rafting; so that if a bridge were to be erected with the abutments and piers so arranged as to make the passage most safe and convenient in high water, that would greatly obstruct the rafting in low water. While on the other hand if a Bridge were to be so constructed as to be the least im-
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pediment in low water that construction would be equally in- jurious to the business in high water. In addition to which we beg leave to observe that Hunt's falls, which is a long and dan- gerous rapid is but a small distance above the place of the pro- posed Bridge, and that in passing that rapid in high water, our rafts are often so much shattered and injured as to become un- manageable; and as there is in high water no opportunity to stop and repair until we have passed Varnums fall we often experience great difficulty and danger in passing said falls in their present situation. And from a perfect knowledge of this business in which we are employed almost the whole of the rafting season, we can state with confidence that it is impossible so to construct a bridge in this place as not to greatly obstruct, if not entirely ruin, the rafting business on the said River which is at present difficult and hazardous as well as expensive. And from the difficulty we experience from the obstructions already erected on the said River we are of opinion that the building another at this place would be ruining the business of rafting wood and heavy lumber.
On the whole we beg leave to observe that we cannot think that the building of a bridge on this place would be so great a benefit to one class of citizens as to compensate for the injury it would occasion to another; nor can we believe that the public interest requires that the rafting business should be sacrificed to the small public accommodation which would arise to a few from granting the prayer of the said petition."
The influence of the opposition was sufficient to delay action by the Legislature for three years, but in 1810, the petition was granted and the safety of the pedestrians and vehicles was se- cured by adopting measures which provided for sufficient width, strength of material, guard rails. The navigation of the river was also considered and due allowance made for the passage of boats and rafts. But after all the work of surveying, petitioning and presentation of facts for and against the enterprise, the great turnpike never was constructed. Perhaps the reasons why it failed will never be known, but among them may be found the condition of the country at that time. These were the years which preceded the second war with England and there was great
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DARIUS LINCOLN FOX
(See Page $88)
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uncertainty regarding the future which discouraged the invest- ment of capital. Another reason might be that when first pre- sented the farmers, through whose land the route lay, might at first he so strongly in its favor that they would be willing to release a right-of-way without compensation, but later they would lose enthusiasm and value their land too high for the com- pany to purchase. If this project had been carried to com- pletion the arrangements of the highways would have been of a nature that all routes would have been to Pawtucket and Varnum's bridge, as the new one would probably be called. Central bridge would not have been built for a highway but in later years, when East Chelmsford became Lowell and the erec- tion of factories demanded more room, homes for the operatives, a bridge would have been built by the corporations but probably nearer the present Aiken bridge site. From a list of the most active of those who favored the movement a few names of Dracut citizens are shown : Joseph B. Varnum, Simon Coburn, Samuel Bailey, James B. Hildreth, Caleb Blanchard, Benjamin Stevens, Jacob Coburn, David Jones, David Jones, Jr., Ben- jamin Coburn, Samuel Richardson, Jacob B. Varnum, Daniel Varnum, Peter Harris, Thaddeus Richardson. These men were residents of the part of the town through which this road would have been constructed, while quite naturally, the remonstrants were located in the west part of the town.
CHAPTER XV CEMETERIES, PHYSICIANS AND TRAGEDIES
T HE burial places of the early settlers of Dracut are un- known. It was the custom to bury the bodies in some re- tired spot on the farm and the graves were seldom marked. Sometimes a flat stone from the field, with initials and date of death rudely cut on it, would be placed at the head of the grave, but when broken and the grave levelled by the elements the place would be forgotten.
"Each in his narrow cell forever laid The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." (Gray's Elegy)
The oldest burial ground in the Dracut of early days, but now in Lowell, is between Varnum avenue and the Boulevard about fifty rods east from the Durkee road and east of the Colburn garrison house, and although the first to be located which continues in existence, no very old headstones are to be seen. In 1765, Rev. Thomas Parker was buried here, but in re- cent years his body was removed to the Woodbine cemetery. Headstones mark the graves of Colburns of at least the third generation, as the graves of the earlier ones are unknown. There are also headstones marking the graves of those whose names are not connected with Dracut history, and several unmarked graves. It is unprotected by a fence, although a lot belonging to some family is protected by posts and chains. A cart path from Var- num avenue leads to it. On the west there are unmarked graves in which are buried the colored people who lived in this neigh- borhood.
The Woodbine cemetery is near Varnum avenue on the Old Meadow road. It is the burial place of the families who were the residents of that part of the town before annexation, and is well cared for and has shade trees and bank wall. It was a part of the Col. Ansart farm and at his death he was buried here. In 1880, the remains of Rev. Thomas Parker were removed to this cemetery, as already stated, and an account of his ministry is to
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be found in the chapter relating to the churches of Dracut. The grave is marked by a slab of dark colored stone of the same kind as those used in place of the earlier field stone and which was fol- lowed by granite and marble of the present day. On this head- stone are chiseled the features of a man, also a part of a gown and bands, showing that his calling was that of a minister. Un- derneath this is an elaborate epitaph :
Momento mori Under this stone is Interred ye Remains of ye REVD. THOMAS PARKER A gentleman of shining mental Powers Adorned with Prudence, Benevolence & Curtesie of maners. A warm & Pathetic Preacher of ye Gospel A Most watchful and tender Pastor of ye Church In Dracut for ye space of 44 years. Accomplished with learning Human & Divine & endowed and adorned by ye social virtues & affections, who departed this life March 18th, 1765 in the 65th year of his age.
A cemetery is known to have existed near the first meeting house which, as stated in another chapter stood on Varnum ave- nue nearly opposite the eastern end of the hill on which the Lowell General Hospital now stands. The early settlers followed the custom of their English ancestors and buried their dead in the church yard, the graves being located near the building and on each side of the path. No traces of this cemetery remain and the records, if ever kept, are destroyed, but these facts are known from the statements of those who have seen the graves. An old cemetery was located on the eastern side of the Mammoth road north of Justus Richardson's. Headstones could be seen in recent years, but the site is now occupied by an orchard.
The Pawtucketville cemetery on Mammoth road is of more recent date, the oldest headstone being that of Asa Coburn, who died February 8, 1800. There are two family tombs, that of Capt. Phineas Whiting, built in 1815; the other of David and Capt. William Blood, built in 1819. Here is buried Capt. John Ford who was present at the battle of Bunker Hill and who died
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in 1822. There are other Revolutionary soldiers buried here, but as a burial place it is discontinued as the lots are all occupied.
The Oakland cemetery is the burial place of the people of Collinsville. It is situated about a mile from the village and away from the Mammoth road a short distance. It is well cared for as it is in the keeping of an incorporated company composed of the residents of the village and others interested. The Var- nums and Clements, who were among the earliest settlers of this part of the town, are buried here; also Peter Coburn, who com- manded a company of Dracut men at Bunker Hill on the memor- able 17th of June, 1775. Several of the members of this same company also find this their last resting place. This is the burial place of Admiral Eaton and his wife, both descendants of the Varnums. On a knoll adjoining and a little to the north of the cemetery is the burial place of the older residents of the village. There are no headstones, and while the names of those buried are unknown, they were probably the earlier settlers of this vicinity. One headstone, which is a common flat stone, remains with the letters roughly cut in
RC
I A 1775 4
Whatever was originally on the stone has been obliterated by storm and frost. A few years ago the writer found a headstone marked N C, but it has disappeared. These are the initials of the name Nathaniel Clement who lived here and so may have marked his grave. As his son, Daniel, served in the Revolution, it is pos- sible that this ground was in existence and the stone might mark his father's resting place. If so, it is reasonable to suppose that the other graves were those of the early Coburns and Varnums. There are thirty-six of these graves neatly arranged in rows and level with the top of the ground. They are easy to distinguish, as each is covered with cobble stones which protected them from the wolves.
The Hildreth cemetery, by reason of annexation, is now within the limits of the City of Lowell. The title of ownership remains in possession of Dracut, but like other real estate, when annexation occurs, the city obtains no fee in the soil but acquires certain rights not before enjoyed. The cemetery was presented
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to the town by Major Ephraim Hildreth, who became a resident of the town in 1709 and whose headstone is the oldest in the cemetery, his death occurring in 1740. In 1752, his sons con- firmed the verbal gift of their father by a deed as follows:
"Dracut, November 17, 1752.
We, the subscribers, being willing to confirm our Honored fathers Promis Varbally made Relating to the Buring place Now in Use in Dracutt, to which Track of land there hath, as yet, Been no titel, we therefore conferm the same by the following Record. Said Track of land being Bounded as followeth. Bounded Esterly by the Highway Leading to Robart Hildreth Ferrey, the north and east corner is a stak and stones by said Road : Thens Runing Westerly Eight Rods and a half to a Stak and stone, Thens Runing Southerly Nine Rods to a stake and stones by the said Highway: the above mentioned sd Track of Land is and is to remain a buring Place For the Town of Dracutt, and in Testimony of the above Record being and Remaining a good and fairm Titel to the Town of Dracutt of the abovesaid Track of Land, we have hereunto set our hands the Day above mentioned.
EPHRAIM HILDRETH WILLIAM HILDRETH ELIJAH HILDRETH"
The thoughtfulness of these men has given to the town pos- session of a tract of land which, but for this writing, might have been to the town the cause of much litigation. The first settlers of the Hildreth family were buried on the top of the knoll where their headstones may be seen, but later an additional lot on the west side has been enclosed and reserved for the use of the family. This cemetery is the burial place of many of the men who fought in the Revolution, among them Capt. Stephen Russell, who died in 1800, but the exact location of the grave is unknown. It is thought to have been westerly of the Samuel Fox lot. The head- stone of Lieut. Abraham Coburn, who died in 1797, may still be seen near the street, also that of Capt. Ezekiel Hale, near the center of the cemetery, which has been enlarged in recent years by an addition on the south which includes the site of the second schoolhouse in District No. 5.
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HISTORY OF DRACUT
The burial ground at the Navy Yard village, called the Ham- blet or Garrison House cemetery, was at first the family burying place of the Varnums who lived at the Garrison house. A very quaint headstone and the most ancient in the lot is that of Mrs. Ruth, wife of Colonel Joseph Varnum, who died November 28, 1728. Her husband was a son of Samuel Varnum, who came from Ipswich and purchased land in Dracut in 1664. He is prob- ably buried here, but his grave is not marked. His death occurred in 1749. The earlier families of Goodhues, Bowers, and Coburns are buried here. Deacon Theodore Hamblet enlarged the enclos- ure when he was the owner of the Varnum farm, and it is in the care of the town. Cemetery Commissioners are appointed every year at the annual meeting to keep the burial places of the town in proper condition and money is appropriated for the purpose. A part of this ground is mentioned in the will of Joseph Butter- field Varnum who died in 1858. It does not include the burial place of the earlier residents, but is instead an addition to pro- vide a place for future burials. The following is found in the county records : "I give and bequeath to the town of Dracut a certain piece or parcel of land north of the old burying place near Theodore Hambletts to be by them always kept in order and suit- ably fenced and to be used only as a burying ground, bounded as follows, beginning at the North West corner at the old Bury- ing Ground and running seven rods to a stake and stones thence at or nearly at right angles five and a half rods on land of J. B. Varnum to a stake and stones, and thence again at a right angle or nearly a right angle five and one half rods to the point of be- ginning."
At a town meeting following Mr. Varnum's death in 1858, it was voted, "to accept of the donation made to the town by the late Joseph B. Varnum of a piece of land for burying the dead and comply with the conditions of the will."
The Varnum cemetery is on a part of the land known as Primes Purchase, it being the sixteenth lot laid out on the river below Hunt's falls in the Reserved lands. It lies on the cross road which connects the upper and lower roads leading from Dracut to Methuen and is near the Varnum homestead. It was set apart by Samuel Varnum, a grandson of the Samuel who came from Ipswich, for the use of the Varnum and
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neighboring families. Many of the Parkers, Coburns and Richardsons of earlier years are buried here. The most con- spicuous headstone is one erected to the memory of Gen. Varnum a son of the Samuel, who first settled in this vicinity. The inscription in full is :
"Erected in memory of HON. JOSEPH BRADLEY VARNUM whose life was a series of public acts rendering the most impor- tant services to his county in offices of honor and trust sustained in the Town, State and Nation. At the age of 18 he was chosen captain and held that position during the Revolutionary War and until he was elected Colonel in 1787. In 1802 he was chosen Brigadier General and in 1805 Major General which office he held until his death. From 1780 to 1795, he was a member of the House of Representatives and Senate of Mass. and a member of the Convention that framed the Constitution in 1780 and of that which revised it in 1820; and from 1795 to 1817 a member of the House of Representatives and Senate of the United States during which time he was Speaker of the House 4 years and President of the Senate 1 year. He died in full hope of immortality Sept. 11, 1821 at the age of 70 years."
The headstone erected to the memory of his wife, Mrs. Molly Butler Varnum, has an inscription relating to her many virtues :
"Erected to the memory of Mrs. Molly Varnum widow of the Hon. Joseph B. Varnum who died April 17, 1833 aet 82 years 10 mos and 2 days. 'She riseth also while it is yet night and giv- eth meat to her household and a portion to her maidens.' 'Her children arise up and call her blessed, her husband also and he praiseth her.' 'Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.' 'Strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come'."
The cemetery at East Dracut is under the supervision of the town. It is composed of two divisions, one on each side of the highway. That part which is situated on the main road contains many old headstones from which we conclude that a burial place was set apart soon after the settlement of that part of the town. The enclosure became too small to accommodate the families in that vicinity and another lot was added and devoted to burials. This is an elevated spot, sloping to the south.
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The cemetery at New Boston village is on the farm which, during the Revolution, was owned by Jonathan Coburn and late- ly by John W. Peabody. For many years it was not enclosed and was used by the people of the village for a burial place. No deed was given by Mr. Coburn and when, in 1836, the farm came into possession of David Reed, he claimed the cemetery as a part of the farm. The people of vicinity formed an association and pur- chased the land, the conditions being the payment of five dollars and the erection of a stone wall. There are several Revolution- ary soldiers buried here, including the brothers Saul and Thaddeus Coburn, John Bowers and Elijah Coburn.
PHYSICIANS.
Dracut was the home of a goodly number of men who have chosen the profession of medicine. The earlier ones were satis- fied to spend their lives and perform their duties within the limits of the town, but those of later years have found a larger field of labor in the cities which have come into existence. The life of a country doctor was one of hardship and the duties exacting. The homes of his patients were in all parts of the town and his services were often in demand in neighboring towns, and it was his duty to visit them whatever the condition of the weather, at any time by night or day, with roads often blocked with snow or deep with mud. The faithful family doctor was loved and respected by the older members of the family and held in awe by the younger. His patient horse was as well known as his master, who became a fa- miliar figure as he rode through the town with his saddle bags filled with medicines and instruments, for he must be acquainted with the science of surgery and dentistry as well as with medi- cine.
There were no specialists in those days and the doctor must be prepared to relieve pain, and administer medicine for all dis- eases. As already stated, he travelled about on horseback, as wheeled vehicles were almost unknown until after the Revolution, for proof of this we learn that when Col. Ansart lived in Dracut, he owned a chaise which caused everybody to stare in wonder when he rode out. It must have been an agreeable change for the doctor when he was able to discard the saddle and employ the
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chaise, which was a two-wheeled vehicle hung on leather thor- ough-braces and capable of carrying two or more people.
The first physician in point of time was Dr. Samuel Coburn, whose father was Ezra, a younger son of Edward, the first settler in town. He was born in Dracut, September 18, 1684. His home was on the north side of what is now Varnum avenue, a short distance above the building formerly used for the district school. Of the events of his life there is no record, but a notice of his death is found in the Genealogy of the Colburn-Coburn families : "We hear from Dunstable that yesterday was fortnight after the death of Deacon Perham a very old Man. One Mr. Coburn of Dracut, a man about 60 years of age, who had been Bearer to the Deacon and assisted in carrying the Corps returned with the rest of the Company and to all appearance as hearty, hale, fresh and strong as any of them was Struck with Death in an Instant, He dropt to the Earth like a Log and expired in less than five minutes." (Boston News-Letter, January 6, 1757.)
It is difficult, in the absence of records to state positively who succeeded him. The supposition is that it was Dr. James Abbott, as his marriage to Lydia, daughter of Joseph Coburn of the fourth generation, occurred in 1758 and they settled in Dracut where occurred the births of twelve children. He lived on a farm at Collinsville and the farmhouse stood on the Mam- moth road, opposite the tenements of the American Woolen Co. It was later the home of the Hamblet family and was removed a few years ago. Dr. Abbott's name appears on the Roll of Honor as Surgeon's Mate. There is no record of the date of his death, but his successor was Dr. Amos Bradley, who, in 1785, com- menced his duties as physician. When a boy, he lived on his father's farm, but later chose this profession. In "The physi- cians of Lowell and Vicinity," by D. N. Patterson, M. D., refer- ence is made to him: "He made his daily tour of professional visits through the town and surrounding country on horseback. When in the saddle he wore a pair of felt leggings to prevent his trousers from being soiled by the mud or dust of the road. In their accustomed place he carried the ever memorable saddle bags, which when opened at the bedside of the sick, revealed a medley of well filled phials of medicine, various instruments and other paraphernalia of his profession." The circuit over which
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for so many years he travelled in the discharge of his profession- al duties has been described and is here quoted. "After leaving his house, which was at Hovey square, immediately north of the Blanchard Hospital, he made his calls in the immediate vicinity and crossing the river at Bradley's ferry into that part of Chelmsford now Lowell he continued his journey through Middle- sex. North Chelmsford and Tyngsboro where he would recross the river by Tyng's ferry, thence he would proceed through the north western part of Dracut to Pelham, N. H., returning to his home by the turnpike road through that section of Dracut known as 'Black North.' He was highly respected and had a large circle of friends." His death occurred May 6, 1817, at the age of 58.
At the death of Dr. Amos, his duties were assumed by his son, Dr. Peleg Bradley, who for many years had practiced with his father and was in company with him four years before Dr. Amos' death. Dr. Peleg lived to see the birth of Lowell and its remarkable growth as his death occurred in 1848, at the age of 56. His professional visits included the towns already men- tioned, to which were added Methuen, Andover, Billerica and Tewksbury, but as the population increased he removed to Lowell, where he spent his later years and much of his country practice was assumed by other physicians. His medicines were purchased in Boston, but he manufactured his own pills and plasters. His fees were small compared with those of the present day, viz., office calls with advice and medicine, twenty-five cents; visits, fifty cents. He was a skillful physician, ready to adopt new methods and to forsake the beaten path if by so doing he could advance the science of medicine. His son, William Henry, was born in Dracut, February 11, 1824, and succeeded his father as a practicing physician. His practice was principally in Lowell and surrounding towns, but he removed to the West after serving as surgeon in the Civil War and died at St. Louis, Mo.
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