USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Hardwick > History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, with a genealogical register > Part 10
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" Resolved, that it is the indispensable duty of the inhabitants of this county, by the best ways and means, to prevent the sitting of the respective courts under such regulations as are set forth in a late act of parliament, entitled an act for regulating the civil government of the Massachusetts Bay.
" Resolved, that in order to prevent the execution of the late act of parliament, respecting the courts, that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this county to attend, in person, the next inferior court of common pleas and general sessions, to be holden at Worcester, in and for said county, on the sixth day of Septem- ber next.
" Resolved, that it be recommended to the several towns that they choose proper and suitable officers, and a sufficient number, to regulate the movements of each town, and prevent any dis- order which might otherwise happen ; and that it be enjoined on the inhabitants of each respective town, that they adhere strictly to the orders and directions of such officers.
" And whereas, the courts of justice will necessarily be im- peded by the opposition to the said acts of parliament, therefore, Resolved, that it be recommended to the inhabitants of this prov- ince in general, and to those of this county in particular, that they depute fit persons to represent them in one general provin- cial convention, to be convened at Concord, on the second Tues- day of October next, to devise proper ways and means to resume
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our original mode of government, whereby the most dignified servants were, as they ever ought to be, dependent on the people for their existence as such ; or some other which may appear to them best calculated to regain and secure our violated rights. .. .
" Resolved, that it be recommended to the several towns that they indemnify their constables for neglecting to return lists of persons qualified to serve as jurors."
The convention then adjourned to September 6, when it again met and " voted, as the opinion of this convention, that the court . should not sit on any terms," ... and "that the body of the people in this county now in town assemble on the common." Not only were the courts prevented from sitting, but the judges and officers of the courts were required to promise that they would " stay all such judicial proceedings," and would not attempt to put the parliamentary "act into execution." 1 On the same day, the Convention " voted, that it be recommended to the military officers in this county that they resign their com- missions to the colonels of the respective regiments : - voted, that the field officers resign their offices, and publish their resignations in all the Boston newspapers : - voted, that it be recommended to the several towns of the county, to choose proper officers for the military of the town, and a sufficient number."
At a subsequent session, September 20, 1774, it was " voted, as the opinion of this convention, that the sheriff adjourn the supe- rior court appointed by law to be held this day, and that he retain such as are, or may be, committed as criminals, in his custody, until they have a trial." The Convention then recommended a more thorough reorganization of the militia : -
" As the several regiments in this county are large and incon- venient, by the increase of its inhabitants since the first settle- ment of said regiments, therefore, voted, that the county be divided into seven distinct regiments, in the following manner, to wit : -... Fourth. Brookfield, Western, Braintree, Hard- wick, Oakham. . .
" Voted, that it be recommended to the several towns in this
1 In a note to these proceedings, it is royalist justices and officers were com- stated that "on the invitation of the con- pelled to pass through the ranks, paus- ing, at intervals, to read their declara- tions of submission to the public will. At evening, finding that no troops were on their way to sustain the judicial tribu- nals, whose constitution had been cor- rupted by the act of parliament, the great vention, the people of the county had assembled to the number of about six thousand. The companies of the several towns were under officers of their own election, and marched in military order. Having been formed in two lines, when the arrangements were completed, the assembly dispersed peacefully."
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county, to choose proper military officers, and a sufficient number for each town, and that the captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, who are chosen by the people in each regiment, do convene on or before the tenth day of October next, at some convenient place in each regiment, and choose their field officers to command the militia until they be constitutionally appointed; and that it be recommended to the officers in each town of the county, to enlist one third of the men of their respective towns, between sixteen . and sixty years of age, to be ready to act at a minute's warning ; and that it be recommended to each town in the county, to choose a sufficient number of men as a committee to supply and support those troops that shall move on any emergency.
" Voted, that it be recommended to the company officers of the minute-men, to meet at Worcester, on the 17th of October. next, at ten o'clock of the forenoon, to proportion their own regi- ments, and choose as many field officers as they shall think neces- sary."
On the same day the Convention made provision for a political emergency, by recommending a Provincial Congress, which exer- cised almost unlimited power for the next year : " Resolved, that it be recommended to the several towns and districts, that they instruct their representatives, who may be chosen to meet at Salem, in October next, absolutely to refuse to be sworn by any officer or officers, but such as are or may be appointed according to the constitution, or to act as one branch of the legislature in concert with any others, except such as are or may be appointed according to the charter of this province; and that they refuse to give their attendance at Boston, while the town is invested with troops and ships of war: And should there be any thing to prevent their acting with such a governor and council as is ex- pressly set forth in the charter, that they immediately repair to the town of Concord, and there join in a provincial congress with such other members as are or may be chosen for that purpose, to act and determine on such measures as they shall judge to be proper to extricate this colony out of the present unhappy cir- cumstances." 1
How promptly and heartily the inhabitants of Hardwick re- sponded to these recommendations may be seen in their recorded votes. At a town-meeting, September 16, 1774, -" The town made choice of officers to regulate the soldiers that went to
1 The proceedings of this County Convention are printed with the Journals of each Provincial Congress, pp. 627-652.
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Worcester. - Voted, to accept the Resolves of the Committee of Correspondence, which was laid before the town at that time.1_ Chose Deac. Joseph Allen, Capt. Paul Mandell, Stephen Rice, Capt. William Paige, and Ebenezer Washburn, to draw up a covenant that may bind them to abide by whatever the majority of the town think proper to vote." Six days later, the town " voted to accept the covenant drawn up by a committee chosen for that purpose." 2
September 22, 1774, only two days after the recommendation of the measure was adopted by the County Convention, a town meeting was held under a warrant, of which one article was, " to see if the town will make some consideration, as an encourage- ment to a certain number of persons, as the town may think proper, to serve as minute-men, upon any sudden invasion, for the defence of our country." At this meeting all the officers of the two militia companies having resigned, new officers were elected by the town, to wit : for the South Company, Captain, Jonathan Warner ; Lieutenant, Elisha Billings ; Ensign, Elijah Warner : for the North Company, Captain, Paul Mandell ; Lieutenant, Stephen Rice ; Ensign, Josiah Locke, who being transferred to the company of minute-men, Ensign Timothy Newton was elected in his stead : for the company of minute-men, Captain, Jonathan Warner ; Lieutenant, Simeon Hazeltine ; Ensign, Josiah Locke. And it was " voted, that if there should be an invasion, and the minute-men should march for our relief, they should be supported by the town." The minute-men were also offered pay for the time which they devoted to drilling and instruction. But this they were too patriotic to allow, while others were not paid. They proposed at a town meeting, January 2, 1775, " that if the town in general would provide themselves with arms, and be equipped as they be, and endeavor to acquaint themselves with the art military, it would be satisfactory to them, without any other pay." Whereupon the town voted, "that all between six-
1 Probably the Resolves (already quot- ed) which were adopted, August 31, 1774, by the Worcester Convention of Commit- tees of Correspondence.
2 This covenant is not found on the records, nor among the files of the town. Perhaps it had reference to a recommen- dation of the County Convention, August 10, 1774: "We greatly approve of the agreement entered and entering into through this and the neighboring prov-
inces, for the non-consumption of British goods. This, we apprehend, will have a tendency to convince our brethren in Britain that more is to be gained, in the way of justice, from our friendship and affection than by extortion and arbitrary power. .. . Such an agreement, if strictly adhered to, will greatly prevent extrava- gance, save our money, encourage our manufactures, and reform our manners."
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teen and seventy years of age, be equipped with arms and ammu- nition equal to the minute men, by the first day of February next ; " also voted, " that all above forty years of age meet at the training field on Monday next at nine o'clock in the forenoon, to choose their officers." When thus assembled, they organized two companies of " alarm men." Of one company, Deacon Joseph Allen, then sixty-seven years of age, was elected Captain ; Lieu- tenant Joseph Safford, First Lieutenant ; and Lieutenant Daniel Fay, Second Lieutenant ; and of the other, Deacon William Paige, aged fifty-one years, who had been a captain in the French war, was elected Captain ; Mr. Thomas Robinson, First Lieutenant; and Ensign Ezra Leonard, Second Lieutenant. Thus while this town contained not much more than twelve hundred inhabitants, five military companies, averaging about fifty men each, were prepared for service, before the first blood was shed in the contest ; - one for action in any sudden emergency ; two for more regular service, in such detachments as circumstances might require; and two of old men, to defend their hearthstones at the last extremity, and · to sacrifice their lives, if necessary, in defence of their families.1
One more recommendation of the County Convention met a ready response at this town-meeting September 22, 1774 : " Chose Mr. Stephen Rice to represent the town at the Provincial Con- gress to be held at Concord." The town had previously elected Paul Mandell as their representative for this year in the General Court. He was desired and empowered to act in the Provincial Congress, if the House of Representatives should be dissolved by the Governor. Instructions to him, drawn up by Captain Wil- liam Paige, Lieutenant Stephen Rice, and Dr. John Paddleford, were reported and adopted at a town-meeting, September 30, 1774: " To Capt. Paul Mandell ; Sir, As we have chosen you to represent us in the Great and General Court to be holden at Sa-
1 " Hardwick Jan. 19. Such is the mil- to the laws of the province in that case itary spirit, and such the opposition to made and provided. So that we have rea- son to believe that the Tory Covenant or Association, sent into this town by Brig- adier Ruggles, will have little or no effect amongst us, nor will any other means used by our enemies to divide or divert us from pursuing the measures which we think will have a tendency to recover and secure to us and our posterity our just rights and privileges." Massachusetts Spy, February 2, 1775. military tyranny, in this town, that, ex- clusive of the train-band companies and one company of minute-men, the alarm- men consisting of near one hundred and twenty, most of whom are able-bodied and good marksmen, met on Monday the six- teenth instant, and having formed them- selves into two companies and made choice of their officers, did likewise enter into a covenant to attend military duty and equip themselves to a man, agreeable
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lem, on Wednesday, the fifth day of October next ensuing, we do hereby instruct you to adhere firmly, in all your doings as a mem- ber of the House of Representatives, to the Charter of this Prov- ince granted by their Majesties King William and Queen Mary, and that you do no act that can possibly be construed into an ac- knowledgement of the validity of the British Parliament for al- tering the Government of the Massachusetts Bay ; and that you acknowledge no other than the honorable Board of Councillors elected by the General Court in their sessions last May as the only constitutional and rightful Council ; and that you pay no re- gard or act in any manner whatever with the Council appointed by Mandamus from his Majesty. And as we have reason to be- lieve that a conscientious discharge of your duty will produce your dissolution as a house of representatives, we do hereby empower and direct you to join with the members who may be sent from this and the other towns in this province, and to meet with them at a time to be agreed on in a general Provincial Congress, to act upon such matters as shall then come before you in such a man- ner as may appear most conducive to preserve the liberties of North America."
The anticipated emergency occurred. The House of Represen- tatives was dissolved by the Governor, and the Provincial Con- gress "convened at Salem on Friday the seventh day of October A. D. 1774," organized by electing Hon. John Hancock, chair- man, and Benjamin Lincoln, Esq., clerk, and " adjourned to the court-house in Concord, there to meet on Tuesday next ; " and on the next Friday " adjourned to the court-house in Cambridge, there to meet on Monday next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon." A recess was taken from October 29 to November 23, and the Congress was dissolved December 10, 1774. Among the recom- mendations by this Congress were these : -
October 21, 1774. " Resolved that this Congress do earnestly recommend to the people of this province an abhorrence and de- testation of all kinds of East India teas, as the baneful article of a corrupt and venal administration for the purpose of introducing despotism and slavery into this once happy country ; and that every individual in this province ought totally to disuse the same. And it is recommended, that every town and district appoint a committee to post up in some public place the names of all such in their respective towns and districts, who shall sell or consume so extravagant and unnecessary an article of luxury."
October 29, 1774. " Whereas, it has been recommended by this
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Congress, that the moneys heretofore granted and ordered to be assessed by the general court of this province, and not paid into the province treasury should not be paid to the Hon. Harrison Gray, Esq., for reasons most obvious : - Therefore Resolved, that Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, be, and hereby is, appointed re- ceiver general. . . . And it is hereby recommended to the several towns and districts within this province, that they immediately call town and district meetings, and give directions to all consta- bles, collectors, and other persons who may have any part of the province tax of such town or district in their respective hands or possession, in consequence of any late order and directions of any town or district, that he or they immediately pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq., for the purposes aforesaid. And it is also recommended that the several towns and districts, in said directions, signify and expressly engage to such constable, col- lector, or other persons as shall have their said moneys in their hands, that their paying the same to Henry Gardner, Esq., afore- said, and producing his receipt therefor, shall ever hereafter oper- ate as an effectual discharge to such persons for the same." 1
At a legal meeting, November 17, 1774, the town, by vote, ap- proved the proceedings of the Provincial Congress, generally ; and in particular ordered the constables to pay the public moneys to the Receiver-General instead of the King's Treasurer, and agreed to indemnify them for so doing ; appointed a committee " to post up in some public place the names of those persons who shall hereafer sell or consume Bohea or Indian Tea ; " and " made choice of the following men as a committee to observe the con- duct of all persons in this town, touching the observation of the determinations of the Provincial Congress, viz., Deac. Joseph Allen, Col. Jonathan Warner, Thomas Haskell, Deac. William Paige, Thomas Robinson, Col. Paul Mandell,2 and John Paige."
Four days afterwards, " The town met according to adjourn- ment, Nov. 21, 1774, and 1st, Voted to reconsider the former votes respecting officers for the south side of the town, and proceeded to an entire new choice. 2ª, Voted, and chose Samuel Billings,
1 Journals of each Provincial Congress, elected colonel of militia, and Jonathan pp. 26, 45.
2 Paul Mandell is styled Colonel here, and in the record of his election, January 2, 1775, as a delegate to the next Con- gress ; and he bears that title in the offi- cial Roll of Delegates. Perhaps he was
Warner colonel of "minute-men," at their first organization. If so, he held the office only a short time. The "min- ute-men " were soon merged in the mili- tia, and Jonathan Warner was elected colonel.
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Jr., for their Captain ; Elijah Warner, for their Lieutenant ; and Isaiah Hatch, for their Ensign." 1
January 2, 1775. Pursuant to a recommendation of the Pro- vincial Congress, in regard to " the persons suffering in the towns of Boston and Charlestown, under the operation of certain acts of the British parliament," that the people generally should " con- tribute liberally to alleviate the burdens of those persons, who are the more immediate objects of ministerial resentment, and are suffering in the common cause of their country," the town ordered that collections should be made for that benevolent pur- pose. That Congress having voted to dissolve on the tenth day of December, 1774, and recommended the election of delegates to a second Provincial Congress, to sit from February 1, " until the Tuesday next preceding the last Wednesday of May next, and no longer," 2 the town at this meeting, "chose Col. Paul Mandell to attend at the Provincial Congress at Cambridge, on the first day of February next, and sooner if occasion requires." Also, " Voted, to accept the resolve of the Committee, in having no dealings with the Tories, except grinding for them." 3
After the commencement of actual hostilities, those who were regarded as Tories were subjected to a more strict discipline. Not only were they treated with neglect and contempt, and ex- cluded from all social or commercial intercourse, but they were disarmed and subjected to confinement, more or less absolute, as circumstances might seem to require. One person, at least, was committed to prison ; others confined to the limits of the town,
1 The company had probably remained commonly known by the name of tories " destitute of a captain after the promotion of Captain Jonathan Warner to the office of colonel. The new captain proved his fitness for the office by subsequently en- listing and commanding a company, com- posed almost entirely of Hardwick sol- diers, in the Revolutionary army.
2 Journals of each Prov. Congress, p. 73.
3 Grinding was a work of necessity, as "bread is the staff of life." But in re- gard to all else, they seem to have been as exclusive as the blacksmiths of the county, who agreed, September 8, 1774, that they would not " do or perform any blacksmith's work, or business of any kind whatever, for any person or persons whom we esteem enemies to this country,
. . . and "Resolved, that all lawful ways and means ought to be adopted by the whole body of the people of this province, to discountenance all our inveterate polit- ical enemies in manner as aforesaid. - Therefore we earnestly recommend it to all denominations of artificers, that they call meetings of their respective crafts- men in their several counties, as soon as may be, and enter into associations and agreements for said purposes ; and that all husbandmen, laborers, &c., do the like : and that whoever shall be guilty of any breach of any or either of the articles or agreements, be held by us in contempt as enemies to our common rights." Jour- nals of each Prov. Congress, p. 640.
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or of their own farms ; others, again, were published as unfriendly to the patriotic cause, and the public were cautioned to regard them as enemies.1
April 24, 1775. " Voted, that the town are not satisfied with Jonathan Danforth's declaration of his being a friend to liberty. Voted, that Lieut. Timothy Ruggles 2 be put under guard, and also John Rion, until said Ruggles shall satisfy all the men that now live at Brigadier Ruggles' house for their labor, and see that they go out of town forthwith, and see that the arms and ammunition, now at Brigadier Ruggles' house, are delivered up; and then he is confined to his farm, and not to go out of it, ex- cepting on Sabbath-days, fast days, or some other public days ; and that he pays the guard for their trouble in taking care of him."
May 15, 1775. Voted, to take possession of the guns found at the house of Brigadier Ruggles, " and to return them when they think proper. Voted, that Lieut. Timothy Ruggles have liberty to go to Boston, and live there, if he pleases."
May 22, 1775. The town met " to elect one or more persons to serve for and represent them in a Provincial Congress, to be held at the meeting-house in Watertown, on Wednesday the
1 " In Committee of Correspondence one of them should depart out of this for the town of Hardwick, August 7th, town without a permit" from said Com- mittee) they take up and confine or send them back again. Per order of the said Committee. SETH PADELFORD, Clerk of said Committee." New England Chroni- cle, August 17, 1775. 1775. Whereas Deacon James Fay, Jona- than Danforth, Abner Conant, Joseph Ruggles, Jr., Israel Conkey, and Jona- than Nye, all of Hardwick, in the County of Worcester, have, by their conduct in various instances, manifested a disposi- tion inimical to the rights and privileges of their countrymen, - therefore Resolved, that their names be published to the world, agreeable to the association of the Conti- nental Congress; and that it be earnestly recommended to the inhabitants of this town, county, and colony, not to have any commercial connection with the said Fay, Danforth, &c., but to shun their persons and causes, and treat them with that con- tempt and neglect they deserve. And whereas the said Committee have thought it necessary that the said Danforth, Fay, &c., be confined to this town, and that they assemble not together more than two of them at a time (except at public wor- ship and at funerals), therefore further recommend it to the good people of this colony, that (if the said persons or any
2 Timothy Ruggles was son of the Brigadier ; his brother, John, had pre- viously fled to Boston, though he escaped with some difficulty, as appears by the report of a committee of Congress, con- cerning a prisoner named John Jones : " We find by said Jones' account of him- self, that he went to Boston soon after the memorable Lexington battle, of the 19th of April last, in company with John Rug- gles of Hardwick, who was ordered by a committee to the said town of Hardwick ; and that said Jones was knowing to the proceedings of said committee against said Ruggles, before they set out together from Weston to take refuge in Boston ; and that they left the common road, and went in the woods and difficult places, to pass the town of Roxbury." Journals of each Prov. Congress, pp. 315, 316.
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thirty-first day of May instant, and to be continued by adjourn- ment, as they shall see cause, until the expiration of six months from their being first convened on the thirty-first day of this instant May, and no longer; and to consult, deliberate, and re- solve upon such further measures as under God shall be effectual to save this people from impending ruin, and to secure those in- estimable liberties derived to us from our ancestors, and which [it] is our duty to preserve for posterity." The town elected three delegates, to serve by turns, one at a time, namely : Captain William Paige, for June and July ; Captain Stephen Rice, for August and September ; and Colonel Jonathan Warner, for Oc- tober and November ; but as the Congress dissolved on the 19th of July, to give place to the newly elected General Court, only one of these delegates took his seat. At the same meeting it was " Voted, that the following persons be looked upon as unfriendly to the common cause of liberty, viz., Richard Ruggles,1 Jonathan Nye, Deac. James Fay, Gardner Chandler, and Ebenezer Whipple. Voted, that as Gardner Chandler 2 has now made some acknowl- edgments, and says he is sorry for his past conduct, they will treat him as a friend and a neighbor as long as he shall behave himself well."
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