USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. I > Part 42
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Few, if any, of the faded records of these primi- tive days have more interest than the one bear- ing the simple statement that on April 10, 1663, Ralph Hill, Sr., gave to the town half of an acre of land "for a burying place." The little flock had already lost some of its precious ones, -the first death being that of Hannah Foster, daughter of Henry and Mary Foster, which occurred early in May, 1653. In less than three weeks after mak- ing the gift of this land to the town the aged and esteemed donor closed his earthly existence.
The South Burial-Ground, as it is called, enlarged by numerous additions, is yet a sunny, old-fash- ioned place of rest, where the brown thrush builds her nest unmolested, and where the squirrel leaps nimbly over the rustic, vine-clad walls.
A score of years had elapsed since the organiza- tion of the town, and nothing had disturbed the profound peace and security of the little hamlet ; but now, when the fruits of their arduous exertions were beginning to ripen, the settlers were thrown
into alarm and peril by the sudden uprising throughout the borders of the colony of the In- dians, under the leadership of Philip, the powerful chief of the Pokanokets, the ruling mind of the New England tribes. The horrors of that dreadful time are familiarly known through the medium of song and story ; but while the bare record is still sufficient to blanch the cheek, what imagination can adequately portray the terrors of that dark season to the scattered and remote settlements where the rustling of the wind through the leafless houghs of winter, the accidental report of fire- arms, the very aspect of the clouds at nightfall, - all warned the awe-struck people of the manifold cruelties of the savage foe? The people of this town, living in the immediate vicinity of the Wa- mesits, -a considerable tribe who were located near the confluence of the Concord and Merrimack rivers, - were especially affected by the solemn forebodings of danger. The Wamesit Indians, it is true, under the chieftaincy of Passaconaway and his son Wannalancet had proved themselves the friends of the white men in the past ; but now, while the emissaries of Philip were rallying the tribes to a last desperate resistance, little faith could be placed in their amity. It is but just to them to say, however, that it is believed they were generally true to the English. On St. John's day, in 1675, Philip began his ravages. The people of this town, imbued with fear, instantly resorted to such means of defence as were in their power. The outlying farms were deserted, the harvest- fields untouched by the sickle, and all gathered in the neighborhood of the village for better pro- tection.
At a public meeting held on the 13th of August the town passed the following vote : " The Towne, Considering the providence of god at the p'sent calling us to lay aside our ordinary occations in providing for our creatures and to take Speciall care for the p'serving of our lives and the lives of our wives and children : the enemye being near : and the warninge by god's providence upon our neighbors being very Sollemne and awfulle: do therefore order and agree joyntly to prepare a place of Safty for women and children and that all per- sons and teames shall attend ye said worke untill it be finished."
The houses best adapted for defensive pur- poses - some of which are yet standing - were immediately fortified, and the families were as- signed their proper places at the different garrisons.
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These were the houses of Ralph Hill, Jr., Thomas Foster, Simon Crosby, Thomas Patten, James Pat- terson, James Kidder, Jonathan Danforth, Jacob French, George Farley, Timothy Brooks, and Rev. Mr. Whiting, whose house was "to bee ye maine garrison, and ye last refuge in case of extremity." Mr. Richard Daniel and Mr. Job Lane, " being very remote from neighbors," were allowed to for- tify themselves, and be freed from the general ex- pense. Mr. Lane was promised " two soldiers if the country could spare them." There were, it would appear, at this time eighty-two men who were counted as soldiers, including twenty-one from the militia sent to the town's assistance.
Although the people did not suffer as some others did, yet at least one engagement occurred with predatory Indians on a hill in the northern part of the town; and at the attack on Quaboag, now Brookfield, Timothy Farley, a native of Billerica, was killed. At the same time Corporal John French was wounded, and in after years the town, " in consideration of that weakness as to his wounds in his country's service " abated his taxes, gave him a more prominent place in the meeting- house, and allowed his wife to occupy a seat " in the front gallery, with Mrs. Foster and those women placed there."
In 1676 Philip advanced the line of desolation yet nearer to this town. In the early spring the town of Lancaster was destroyed, and Groton, Marlborough, Sudbury, and other settlements ravaged. Chelmsford was also attacked, and it is said that two houses were burned in Billerica on the 10th of March.
Again, on Sunday, the 9th of April, while the people were assembled in their meeting-house, the Indians " beset Billerica round about," and, firing upon the people as they came from their worship, killed one person. The inhabitants instantly ral- lied, and, under the brave leadership of Rev. Mr. Whiting, succeeded in driving off the foe. Thus were the towns-people filled with excitement and anxiety through those troubled months.
The war, fortunately, was not a long one; and the death of Philip effectually terminated this bloody struggle.
In 1677 the town was divided by order of the General Court into tithing distriets, and Joseph Walker, George Farley, Joseph Tompson, Richard Hassett, and Samuel Manning were appointed the tithing-men. The year following, Richard Hassett was ordered " to inspect the young lads on ye Sab-
bath days, those of them that sit below in ye meet- ing-house," and irksome it must have been for irrepressible boyhood to be the subject of such particular attention.
For several years the old meeting-house had been found to be too small for the needs of the now fast growing town, the records giving every few years long lists of new freemen who took " ye oath of fidelity." Still, the cost of a new meeting- house would bear heavily on the slender means of the people, so it was agreed to build galleries, and otherwise to improve the old house, which was done in 1679. The building was used for worship until 1694, when a new edifice was erected.
Some idea of the condition of the town in 1680 may be formed from the return made to the county court for that year, wherein it is stated that "the number of families able to bare up publicke charges is about fivety, the number of aged Help- less, ye widdowes and poor persons that want re- liefe is ten, the annuall alowance to our revered pastor is seventy pound ₸ anim, in Country pay : as for sehooles, wee liave no gramer schooles, en- signe Tompson is appointed to teach those to write and read that will come to him, also several women, Schoole Dames. As for young p'sons and inmates we know of none amongst us but are orderly." As a portion of this generous salary in country pay allowed Mr. Whiting, he was to receive one pound of butter for every milch cow in town. There were then about one hundred and fifty cows in various herds, all under the care of " keepers." Feeling, perhaps, that the original owners of the soil had not been quite fairly treated, the whites purchased of them, in 1684, their title at four Indian meetings.
In the same year Jonathan Danforth was chosen a deputy to a " speciall General Court." The town had occasionally sent deputies before this to rep- resent them in particular cases, but in the early years of the settlement Humphrey Davie, Esq., of Boston, had generally served them in that eapacity, and the town had gratefully acknowledged his service by the present of a "fatt beast," bought with some of the town's land. From this time representatives were regularly chosen.
The second Indian attack on this town occurred on the 1st of August, 1692, during King William's War. The records are extremely meagre; but it is known that six persons were killed, - Ann, the wife of Zachary Shed, and two children, Agnes and Hannah ; Joanna, the wife of Benjamin Dutton,
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and two of her children by a previous marriage, named Mary and Benoni Dunkin.
Far more exciting, however, to the people of those days than even the horrors of Indian war- fare were the awful and tragical scenes enacting throughout the neighboring county of Essex, par- ticularly in the vicinity of Salem Village. The terrible delusion that hung like a pall over the people of New England, known as the witchcraft mania, shadowed within its sombre folds some unfortunate vietims who had once been happy residents of this pleasant, tranquil village. Sto- ries of sorcery, of midnight carousals
"'Mongst horrid shapes, and shrieks, and sights unholy !"
filled with terror the simple and imaginative minds of the country folk. There were those who de- clared they had seen the forms of witches crossing and recrossing the waters of the Concord, in the neighborhood of the old mill at the falls ; and with the mill itself were long connected certain dark and mysterious legends.
The family of Thomas Carrier, which had re- eently removed hence to Andover was arrested, and the mother, Mrs. Martha Carrier, was executed for witchcraft. Thomas Carrier, otherwise known as Morgan, was a native of Wales. He was admitted an inhabitant of Billerica in 1677, having pre- viously been refused, although he had lived in town several years. His marriage with Martha Allen was solemnized by General Gookin, May 7, 1664. The members of his family arrested, besides his wife, were four children ; and Mrs. Carrier's sister, Mrs. Toothaker, and her daughter, of this town, were also imprisoned. The children were obliged to testify against their mother ; but " her two sons refused to perjure themselves till they had been tied neck and heels so long that the blood was ready to gush from them."
Besides the Carrier family, Rebecca, the wife of William Chamberlain, and John Durant, both of Billerica, died in prison at Cambridge, where they were incarcerated for the supposed crime of witchcraft.
Nearly twenty years after this fearful deception the General Court authorized the payment of a sum of money to the heirs of those who had suf- fered, and "Goody Carrier's " descendants were rewarded with the mnnificent amount of £7 6s.
The third and final attack by Indians on Bil- lerica occurred during King William's War, on the 5th of August, 1695. Several families living
in the northern part of the town, knowing the Wa- mesits to be friendly, had felt but little apprehen- sion of an invasion. On the day named a number of horsemen were seen approaching, but " were not suspected for Indians till they surprised the house they came to." They entered the house, - that of John Rogers, -and finding hin reposing on the bed, instantly fired an arrow at him. He woke with a start, withdrew the weapon, and ex- pired. One woman, who was in the chamber, jumped from the window and made her escape. Another woman was scalped and left for dead, but recovered and lived to old age. Two of Mr. Rog- ers's family, a son and daughter, were taken cap- tives. Another family, that of John Leviston, was almost utterly destroyed, six persons being killed and one captured. Dr. Roger Toothaker's wife was killed, and his daughter taken prisoner. In all, ten persons were murdered and five carried away into the wilderness on this memorable day. The Indians - supposed to be Abenakis - were pursued by troops from the Centre, who did not succeed in overtaking the wily foe It was said that the savages had even tied up the mouths of the dogs, for fear of betrayal by their barking.
This pathetie statement occurs in the town rec- ords : " Aug. 5, 1695. - This day we received that awfull stroake by the enemy. - More sad than we met withall three years before when we met upon the occasion."
The eighteenth century dawned brightly for the people of this town. The mists of superstition - the barbarities of savage life - were to be things of the past. The state of society was henceforth to become more settled, and the arts and industries of peace were now to be greater objeets of care.
The fathers of the town, however, - those who yet remained of the first hardy company, - were, before the first score of years had closed, nearly all gathered into the silent communion of the sleep- ing. Among them was the revered pastor, whose death occurred on the last day of February, 1712.
In the same year the wise and good Jonathan Danforth died. His eminent ability, his unaf- fected piety, have been the theme of the historian and of the poet.
Near the elose of Mr. Whiting's life the inhabi- tants of the town engaged the Rev. Samuel Rug- gles to serve as his colleague. He was ordained in May, 1708, and remained at his charge, a faith- ful, sincere pastor, for more than forty years. At his death the town defrayed the expense of his
V
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funeral, and erected a monumental stone to his memory.
The Billerica of a century and a half ago must have presented a very pleasing appearance. Along the lines of the main highways leading to Chelms- ford, Concord, Woburn, and Andover the settlers' primitive houses of logs, unhewn and mud-chinked, had given place to well-framed houses, built of heavy oak beams, and covered with pine clapboards or shingles. Large barns for the storage of the harvest, substantial walls and fences, corn-ricks, and monstrous haystacks, all showed the results of hard labor, but were conclusive signs of prosperity. The plain little meeting-house already gave proof by its crowded state on days of worship that a newer and larger edifice was needed. Around it were clustered the brown homesteads of the vil- lagers, whose latticed windows gleamed a welcome at nightfall, and where, beside the cosey ingle-nook, the aged grandsire dreamed of the days of his youth. One of these landmarks, the house that sheltered Danforth, still defies the ravages of time.
The daily wants of these frugal folk were simple, and were supplied almost wholly by the products of their farms. These showed broad fields of grain, principally corn and rye.
Orchards of apple-trees were early planted, and the fruit was found to attain a size and flavor un- known in England. Within the memory of per- sons now living a giant pear-tree stood in the garden of the James Kidder place. It was cut down forty years ago, and was then known to have borne fruit for one hundred and sixty years.
In the streams, sliad and alewives were so abun- dant that in the spring they were forced far up the small brooks, whence they were taken to be used for enriching the land.
In their dress the people were simple, and accus- tomed to spin and weave the necessary cloth in their own homes. The laws of the colony pro- hibited many articles of wearing apparel that now might be considered needful ; but it was probably little hardship then to give up the use of " lace and other superfluities, short sleeves, or sleeves more than half an ell wide, immoderate great breeches, kuots of ribbon, broad shoulder bands and vails, double cuffs and ruffs," and the rest of the pro- scribed list.
From the beginning of the century until 1765, when the mutterings of the coming storm could be heard even in the most retired hamlets, the years were crowded full of active life. In the wars of
Queen Anne and George II. the men of Billerica were found at the post of duty. Benjamin Kidder, a native of this town, was among those who died at the capture of Lonisburg in 1745. He had been wounded during the raid of the famous Cap- tain Lovewell, a score of years before, in which affair the town was also represented by Jonathan Kittredge, who was slain in the engagement, hy Solomon Keyes, who had an almost miraculous escape, and by Ensign Seth Wyman, who, though not a native, was closely connected with Billerica by his marriage with the daughter of Thomas Ross. He was one of the family of Wymans whose farms lay partly in Woburn and partly in Billerica, and an old ballad of the day thus describes him at that terrible fight :---
" Seth Wyman who in Woburn lived, (A marksman he of courage true,) Shot the first Indian whom they saw, Sheer thro' his heart the bullet flew."
The town was represented in the contest known as the French and Indian War of 1755, and in a sortie from Fort William Henry, Lieutenant Simon Godfrey of Billerica was killed.
Within the town time had wrought its inevitable changes. In 1738 a new meeting-house was built, with galleries, square pews, and a sounding-board ; and there are some among us whose memory can recall the time when it was filled to overflowing with young and old ; when the galleries were occu- pied by trim lasses and sturdy lads, who trilled and quavered through the fugues of the melodious old hymns then in favor.
In 1747, Rev. Mr. Ruggles having become en- feebled by age, Mr. John Chandler of Andover, who had previously taught school here, was or- dained as colleague, and after the death of Mr. Ruggles he continued to perform the duties of minister until his dismissal, which occurred in 1760. He appears to have been a man of good understanding and excellent education ; but a slight cloud rested over his labors, in consequence of cer- tain charges of levity ; " some being dissatisfied at ye chearful behavr of ye Pastor at ye bringing of a second Wife into his house." He consequently asked for a dismission, which was granted, with " a free forgiveness of every past offence." He resided in town, occasionally preaching and performing other clerical offices until his death, November 10, 1762. After the removal of Mr. Chandler, the church was without a settled pastor for several years ; but on the 26th of January, 1763, the Rev.
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Henry Cumings, a young graduate of Harvard, was ordained to the ministry of this town and parish, and for upwards of sixty years the sacred office was held by him to the greatest satisfaction of his charge.
The town was shorn of a portion of its land in 1729 by the incorporation of Bedford, and five years later Tewksbury was taken almost wholly from Billerica. The last division occurred in 1783, when a strip of territory was assigned to Carlisle.
The material wealth of the town just before the Revolution had much increased since the opening of the century. Many influential families located here during that period. The descendants of the first settlers, by the natural results of their industry and economy, were become among the leading peo- ple. In 1765, there were rather more than thir- teen hundred persons in town, fourteen of the number being negroes, all, or nearly all, held in slavery.
In freeing his slave, " Simon Negro," in 1693, the Rev. Mr. Whiting set the first example on record in Massachusetts, it is believed, of the man- umission of a slave. Nevertheless, his beneficent act was not greatly imitated, for through the score or more years before the Revolution colored bond- men were owned in Billerica. The ancient records of the First Parish contain many such curious pas- sages as the following : -
" Nelly ye daughter of Lydia York, ye negro slave of ye widow Hannah Bowers was baptized at ye desire and on ye account of its Mistress, May 24, 1752." In the town records for 1772 there is mentioned the " manumittance of a negro child named Flora," by John and Esther Nickles, in consideration of twenty pounds from Penelope Vas- sall of Cambridge, whose servant Tony was father of the child. Among the poor people harbored in town for a number of years was a family of French Neutrals from Acadia.
Much attention was paid to maintaining good schools, and they were regularly kept, a grammar school at the Centre, and a " squadron " school for the outlying districts. The masters were well paid, and were usually men . of learning. Among them were Jouathan Kidder, Stephen Shattuck, and Jonathan Frye; the first named, a native of the town, graduated at Harvard in the class of 1751.
It does not belong to us to rehearse the great events of the Revolution; the immediate senti- ments and actions of this town are more pertinent
to our sketch. Here, as elsewhere, the most ardent patriots were the men of education and character, such as the Rev. Mr. Cumings, Colonel William Tompson, Captain Ebenezer Bridge, Enoch Kidder, Esq., Captain Jonathan Bowers, and their com- patriots.
The infamous " Writs of Assistance," the obnox- ious Stamp Act, and other measures having aroused the indignation of the people, they assembled on the 21st of December, 1767, and after consider- ing the distressed and impoverished state of the country, with the belief that the encouragement of home industry was a duty, they unanimously agreed that after the 31st of that month they would neither use nor import goods of British manufacture.
On the 21st day of September, 1768, the town assembled to consider the "Critical state of our public affairs, more especially the present preca- rious Situation of our Invaluable Rights and privi- leges civil and Religious," and William Stickney, Esq., was chosen to attend the convention to be held the next day at Faneuil Hall. In the sue- ceeding years meetings were frequently held, all expressive of the most profound solicitude in the political situation. The resolutions and reports of these meetings elicit our admiration for the patriots who framed them.
In 1774 the town voted concerning the tax on tea. It was declared to be "an artful piece of Policy for accomplishing wicked and Base Pur- poses," and " ought to be treated with the utmost abhorrence and Detestation by every one who has the least Regard for the Preservation of the Liberty and Virtue of America." The " Liberty of Amer- ica !" was henceforth to be the watchword. The tone of the succeeding resolutions indicates this very forcibly.
The Boston Port Bill was vigorously attacked, and the people unanimously agreed that " the Blow Struck at Boston is aimed at the Province in Gen- eral, and is a Prelude to something further, Equally Vindictive ; " they also voted to support the people of Boston, to " strengthen them to the utmost of our power, and to join with them in any measures that shall be Judged expedient for our Common Safety and Defence." On the 22d of September, 1774, they voted "that our Representative pay no Regard to the King's new Mandamus Council," and that "if the Governor should Dissolve, pro- rogue, or adjourn the court, that our Representative join the house in forming themselves into a pro-
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vincial Congress." Besides passing resolutions, the town took early and decided measures to be ready for instant action. The militia was arranged, and a new company of minute-men was formed. The militia and the minute-men were both to train one day cachi weck. Arms of all kinds were very difficult to obtain, and the rusty old swords and firelocks, with bloody bayonets that had seen ser- vice in the Indian wars, were brought out and burnished anew.
On the 8th of March, 1775, Thomas Ditson, Jr., one of the minute-men, went to Boston to sell a load of vegetables, and, if possible, to procure a gun. He was decoyed by a soldier into the bar- racks, and while endeavoring to purchase a gun, the cry was raised that "a rebel was tempting a soldier to desert." Ditson was immediately seized, tarred and feathered, and drawn through the streets in the midst of a mob of soldiery belonging to the 47th regiment. Finally, when under the famous Liberty Tree, he was allowed to depart. It is said that on this occasion the world-renowned tune of Yankee Doodle was first sung in mockery to Eng- lish words :-
" Yankee Doodle came to town, For to buy a firelock. We will tar and feather him, And so we will John Hancock."
This outrage created great indignation in Billerica. The selectmen wrote and went to Boston to demand satisfaction, and declared further, that, if such a thing were repeated, they should "hereafter use a different style from that of petition and com- plaint."
On the 19th of April the alarm was early given in Billerica, and her men marched to the support of their comrades at Concord. The minute-mnen, fifty-four in number, were under the command of Captain Jonathan Stickney. Oue company of the militia, of thirty-five men, was under the command of Captain Edward Farmer; the other, of twelve men, was commanded by Lieutenant Oliver Crosby. On the retreat from Concord, our troops met the British, and John Nichols and Timothy Blanchard were wounded ; while in the rout at Lincoln, Nath- aniel Wyman, a native of Billerica, was killed. He sleeps with his fellow-martyrs in the old graveyard at Lincoln. Lieutenant Asa Spaulding, one of the minute-men, that day observed a " red-coat " about to fire upon him from behind a tree. Instantly his own gun was raised, and the soldier fell, mortally wounded. In the course of an engagement Lieu-
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