USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 24
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A call was extended, Feb. 7, 1703, to Rev. Fran- cis Goodhue, but declined. At length the town met on the 7th June, 1704, "and the churches choice was laid before them which was of Mr. Robert Breck for their concurrence and there was a con- currence with the churches choice of the major part of all present."
Two days after the town again met, and voted a salary to Mr. Breck of seventy pounds annually and " firewood for the year annually if he axept it
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in order to a settlement." The record continues : " We offer ourselves ready to do what may be com- fortable either by obtaining a suitable place or granting such gratuity as may procure that may be satisfactory according to our present circumstances in these troublous times." His acceptance drew forth a formal and hearty expression of " their thanks for his gratifying answer to their call," and, more than this, the vote of a gratuity of £100. Their choice proved eminently satisfactory ; for nearly twenty-seven years he labored among them, and took rank among his brethren in the ministry as a leader on account of his talents, his high char- acter, and his brilliant attainments. The Marlbo- rough Association was formed at his house in 1725 ; it existed eighty-nine years. Mr. Breck published four sermons : one preached at Shrewsbury in 1720 ; two discourses on the accession to the church of fifty persons mostly in early life ; and the Election Sermon of 1728.
He was a man of the prelatic type, a master in the humanities, a profound and orthodox theologian, a trenchant polemic, an able preacher, of a grave deportment, somewhat reticent, possessed of much personal dignity, and devoted to the support of public order, withal catholic in spirit and given to hospitality. His fondness and appreciation of the sacred classics, as well as his linguistic skill, are illustrated by the fact that it was his work to trans- late the Hebrew Bible to his family. The last line of his epitaph indicates the veneration in which he was held : " Prophetæ ipsi non iu seculum vivunt." He was a Harvard graduate of the class of 1700. He died January 6, 1731, aged forty-nine.
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Mr. Benjamin Kent was called, at a salary of £180; and a gratuity of £400 was voted on his settlement. His ordination took place October, 1733. In less than a year and a half he was de- barred from the ministry on account of heretical views concerning the doctrines of the Trinity and election. He was a man more secular than sacer- dotal or even, religious in his modes of thonght and methods of action ; more fit for the profes- sion of the law than of the Christian ministry of that day. At the same time he was characterized by loyalty to principle, breadth of vision, and mag- nanimity of spirit. He would have appeared a greater man at a later period.
Unhappily, other than doctrinal differences inter- vened between Mr. Kent and his late charge. The town record, March 22, 1736, sufficiently indicates the state of affairs : "It was put to vote whether the
town would impower their committee lately chosen to defend the town against Mr. Benj. Kent in an action said Mr. Kent had commenced against the town for sallery : to bring forward an action or actions against Mr. Kent for recovering from him the money he has received of the said town as they think by fraud and as set forth in the warrant and it passed in the affirmative." Much commotion ensued on Mr. Kent's dismissal, September, 1735. The second Wednesday was sct apart to seek Divine guidance by prayer and fasting, with the view of preparing the way for the choice and settlement of a new minister; embarrassments constantly arose : if the church was agreed on a candidate, the town negatived the proposition; if both church and town were agreed, the candidates declined. Two years elapsed ; another fast-day was held, and neighbor- ing ministers, were invited to advise them in their difficulties. The cost of the first council was £61, and the expenses of both were assumed by the town.
In the following October the town chose Mr. Joseph Rice as an 'agent to answer the present- ment of the town of Marlborough, at the last Su- perior Court held at Charlestown, for not having a settled minister. But this interference was withi- out effect, for the church continued without a pas- tor some two years longer ; not till December 24, 1739, was harmony restored and a minister chosen.
Some thirty young people of the northeast part withdrew from the strife, seeking mutual spiritual edification in an association which met on Lord's Day evenings and other times for religious wor- ship. It is supposed that their ulterior aim was to found a meeting in their neighborhood.
Rev. Aaron Smith was called, at a salary of £80 a year in bills of credit of the New Tenor and a settlement of £400, Old Tenor. He was ordained June 11, 1740. It is thought the house now owned by Mr. William Gibbon was built for him; here he lived throughout the time of his residence in the town. He graduated at Harvard in 1735. His pastorate was, on the whole, prosperous; the church numbered, in 1767, one hundred and sixty-four members; toward its close his popularity waned, owing, in part, to his enfeebled health, and the suspicion of royalist sympathies ; although in Dr. Allen's judgment there was not sufficient reason for calling in question his patriotism.
The animosity of some unknown fanatical people manifested itself in a brutal assault in 1777; two
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bullets were fired into his house, which lodged in a beam near the bed on which he was lying. This room was pulled down in 1831. The town was in- dignant at the outrage, although many were of the opinion that it was done simply to intimidate. A reward was offered for the offenders.
Mr. Smith was dismissed the following year, and died at East Sudbury, March 25, 1781, aged sixty- seven.
An interval of seven years elapsed before the settlement of the next pastor, Rev. Asa Packard. He graduated at Harvard in 1783, aud was ordained March 23, 1785, - a day long remembered on ac- count of the fact that the snow was of sufficient depth to cover the fences, the crust being hard enough to bear the heaviest teams.
The town voted, March 23, 1785, to give Mr. Packard for a settlement £300; and for a salary £100 and twenty cords of wood annually. In 1804 the question agitated the town as to the loca- tion of the new meeting-house. The west part desired to see it erected on the site of the former houses. The east part desired to have it where the Union Church now stands, maintaining that the old location was not central. At the town-meeting on the 16th of July the town refused, seventy-five to one hundred and ten, to give their consent to the incorporation of the west part as a separate town. May 26, 1806, consent was refused to the formation of a separate parish, one hundred and twenty-five to seventy-six; whereupon the west part, having contributed their proportion to the meeting-house built by the town, proceeded to erect another in the pasture-field of Benjamin Rice. Mr. Packard, after consulting the Marlborough Association, and with their acquiescence, decided to ask for a dismissal from the church. He was minister of the town twenty-one years. The two meeting-houses were opened on the same day, April 27, 1806. February 23, 1808, the West or Second Parish was incorporated, and Mr. Packard was installed its minister March 23, 1808. He took a dismission May 12, 1819, and removed to Lancaster, where he died, March 20, 1843, aged eighty-five years. He was a man of fluent gifts, cheerful temper, and pastoral capacity, neither a profound thinker nor given to polemic divinity, of a liberal spirit, while his opinions more resembled those of the Arminian than of the Evangelical school.
The First Church chose the Rev. Sylvester F. Bucklin as their first minister after the separation. He remained pastor of the society until June 20,
1832, when at his request he was dismissed, re- maining for twenty-eight years a devoted member of the church and a highly respected citizen of the town. He died March 25, 1800. On the retire- ment of Mr. Bucklin the church openly manifested a division of opinion on doctrinal questions. March 18, 1833, the clerk of the parish was noti- fied that about fifty of its former members had formed themselves into The First Evangelical Congregational Society. On the 1st of April the church voted to worship with this society, and seventy-three out of the ninety-one members with- drew from their connection with the First Parish. The remaining church-members held the meeting- house and church property ; a church was organ- ized, and Mr. Bucklin was employed to supply their pulpit for a year.
March 18, 1835, these two societies petitioned the legislature to be incorporated as the Union Society, and on the 1st of April, 1836, they held their first meeting and voted to receive the act of incorporation. On the 24th of April, 1836, the church voted that "the name of this church be changed from the East Church in Marlborough to the Union Church in Marlborough, to correspond with the name of the Union Society with which we are connected.".
Rev. Jolın N. Goodhue was the first pastor of the Union Church, installed May 4, 1836. Since then they have enjoyed the services of the Rev. George E. Day, installed Dec. 2, 1840; Rev. David L. Ogden, installed April 26, 1848; Rev. Levi A. Field, installed August 31, 1853; Rev. George N. Anthony, installed November 8, 1860; Rev. Charles R. Treat, installed March 30, 1870; and Rev. John Willard, installed December 30, 1873. The present membership of the church is two hun- dred and eighty-five.
The West Parish called Rev. Seth Alden, May 12, 1819; Rev. William Morse, June, 1834; Rev. Horatio Alger, November, 1844; Rev. W. C. Tenny, July 6, 1861. These have been succeeded by Rev. Eugene De Normandie, Rev. Calvin Steb- bins, Rev. J. H. Wiggin, and Rev. R. A. Griffin.
The Methodist Church was originated by Mr. Phineas Sawyer in 1808, the first class-meeting, of which he was appointed leader, being held at his house. In 1827 it was decided to erect the Old Brick Church, as it is called. It was situated be- tween Sudbury and Marlborough, for the accom- modation of the adjacent villages. It was destroyed by fire December 28, 1852. The society amicably
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divided, and eventually built three churches, one at Rock Bottom, another at Stow, and a third in the East Village, Marlborough ; the latter has a mem- bership of one hundred and thirty-seven.
The Baptist Church was formed April 14, 1868. Rev. M. R. Deming was called to the pastorate a month later. He was succeeded by the late incum- bent, Rev. J. T. Bnrhoe, who was ordained June 20, 1872. The membership, April 14, 1878, was one hundred and sixty-two.
The Universalists have had a flourishing society for many years. Recently, owing to severe losses by removal and death, their numbers have been considerably reduced.
Military History. - At the beginning of the eighteenth century the Indians, instigated by the French, again troubled the settlement. During the time of Queen Anne's War (as it was called) the people experienced all the tantalizing annoy- ances and injuries of guerilla strife. They bravely resisted the enemy, and fortified (as in former times) dwelling-houses in different parts of the town. These were called garrisons, and were sup- plied with arms and ammunition. There were as many as twenty-six of these refuges in 1711, among which the one hundred and thirty-seven families constituting the number of inhabitants were distributed. Among many distressing inci- dents of this time there has come down to us an account of the assault of a party of Indians (1704) on a number of men while they were at their work in the field. One, Nahor Rice, son of Edmund, was killed ; two other of his sons, Silas and Timo- thy, were taken captive, married Indian women, and changed alike their names and habits for those of the savages, Timothy rising to the position of an influential chief. Arthur and Adonijah, sons of Thomas Rice, were carried off at the same time, the former being afterward ransomed by his father, and the latter remaining in Canada as a farmer. At another time Abraham How and Benjamin Hutchins, Marlborough men, were slain at Lan- caster.
On the 15th of October, 1705, Mr. John Bige- low was captured at Lancaster, with Mr. Thomas Sawyer and his son, at whose garrison-house he had taken refuge. They effected their escape by the aid of the French governor, to whom they had rendered the important service of erecting the only saw-mill in Canada. Mr. Bigelow commemorated his deliverance by calling the first daughter, sub- sequently born, Freedom, and the second Comfort.
In 1707 Mary Goodenow and Mrs. Mary Fay, while gathering herbs near Stirrup Brook, were surprised by a party of twenty-four stalwart In- dians. Mrs. Fay fled, and reached the garrison ; but her companion, who was hindered by lameness, was overtaken, dragged a short distance, killed, scalped, and the body left to be sought and, as it proved, buried by her friends. On the same day, abont a mile from the brook, Captain Daniel How was cap- tured and handcuffed by this body of savages, who left him in charge of one of their number, and proceeded to attempt the capture of Mrs. Fay and Miss Goodenow ; but the captain adroitly freed himself, gained possession of a gun, and forced his captor to flee.
During this war-time Captain Thomas How sig- nally distinguished himself for bravery and activity, and Samnel Brigham, his lieutenant, was rewarded by the government for his military services.
During the ensuing wars from 1741 to 1763 Marlborough was as loyal as it was afterward patriotic. No official record, however complete, could give an adequate idea of the endurance, self- sacrifice, and hardship these vexatious campaigns entailed on the people of this and other towns. Unfortunately the records are meagre and imper- fect, so that even a list of the men in active ser- vice cannot be given. There is, however, enough data to justify us in saying that the whole avail- able manhood of the town was engaged either for action or defence; citizens incapacitated for the field by age and other causes organized themselves into what was called an " alarm list." From the minister to some of the oldest men, all joined this organization who could contribute to the general security. There were two military companies, con- sisting of a hundred men each, including " alarm men," under the lead of Captain J. Weeks and Colonel Abraham Williams. It is known that eighteen Marlborough men were in the service in 1756 under Captain William Williams. Two com- panies marched to the relief of Fort William Henry, the one under the command of Captain Samuel Howe, and the other led by Lieutenant Stephen Maynard.
During 1758 and 1759 at least thirty-three men were engaged in the attempt to reduce Canada to sub- mission. Some of these served from 1760 to 1762.
In 1760 there were fifteen men in Captain Wil- liam Williams' company.
From the inception of the Revolutionary strng- gle until its triumphant conclusion, it should be
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said, to the honor of the town, that the people of Marlborough were outspoken and ardent in their sympathy with the movement. They shared the indignation of the Bostonians at the conduct of the British government, and passed resolutions unanimously indorsing the courageous attitude and protective action of the Boston committee of correspondence.
In 1770, at a town-meeting, they resolved to support the merchants in their non-importation agreement, and bound themselves not to buy of their own tradesmen who continued to sell con- trary to this agreement. They further resolved " that the name of those who purchase goods of the importers, or of those who buy of importers, shall be made public, as far as we have the knowl- edge of them."
In 1773, after animadverting upon the unjust policy of the king, and the dangers hanging over the country, it was resolved "that peace and har- mony will never be enjoyed between Great Britain and the colonies, until the interests of both be in- separably connected ; which will be accomplished by nothing short of a repeal of all unconstitutional acts, and the removal of all sinecures, pensioners, pimps, informers, and bad governors." The reso- lutions close with an expression of thanks " to our worthy brethren in Boston and adjacent towns," and the assertion, " we stand ready to assist them in the execution of their votes and resolves at a minute's warning."
September 29, 1774, they instructed their repre- sentative, Peter Bent, to " pay no acknowledgment to any unconstitutional and new fangled counsellors, and that you do not give your consent to any act or thing that may be construed a tacit acknowledge- ment to any of the late oppressive, wicked, and un- just acts of the British Parliament, for altering the government of the province of Massachusetts Bay."
The town was represented by Peter Bent, Ed- ward Barnes, and George Brigham in the first Pro- vincial Congress, and by Peter Bent in the second and third congresses. There was but one thoroughly pronounced and outspoken royalist in the town, namely, Henry Barnes. He had already made himself odious by refusing to indorse the non- importing agreement of the Boston merchants. He was a man of considerable substance and ca- pacity, against whom nothing is alleged but his political opinions. It should be said for him, that he courageously and consistently stood by them, and lost and suffered as much for his convictions
as any man in the place. At the breaking out of hostilities he sought British protection; as the result his property was confiscated. Eventually he repaired to England, and died in London in 1808, aged eighty-four. As the political horizon darkened, the people of Marlborough prepared themselves for the worst. They procured fifty-five additional guns, with bayonets, increased their stores of ammunition, and united with other towns in reorganizing the militia of the neighborhood. They raised a company of minute-men, provided for their drill and discipline, promised bounty in case of active service, and resolved that the prov- ince tax should not be paid to the royal treasurer, but to the Provincial Congress.
April 19, 1775, Marlborough sent four compa- nies of minute-men, under the captaincy of Cyprian Howe, William Brigham, Daniel Barnes, and Silas Gates. These companies consisted of one hundred and eighty men, drawn from a population of not more than thirteen hundred souls, who responded to the call of their compatriots at a moment's warning. Although they were not absent from home more than forty days, and had no opportunity of spe- cially distinguishing themselves, yet the town demonstrated its intense sympathy, and its devo- tion to the cause, by the alacrity with which it or- ganized these companies and sent them to the scene of hostilities. Later, over a hundred enlisted for eight months, and many re-enlisted for three years. In 1777 twenty-seven men served two months in the continental army ; in 1778 eight served three months ; in 1779 eighty served in various cam- paigns for shorter or longer periods. Some one hundred and thirty served either as " first " three years' men or as "last " three years' men, and some enlisted " during the war." There can be no doubt that the town contributed its full share of the Revo- lutionary army ; redeeming the pledge given May, 1776, " that if the honorable Continental Congress shall, for the safety of the United Colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, we the inhabitants of Marlborough will solemnly engage, with our own lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure."
In addition to giving a bounty of £7 in 1776 to soldiers enlisting for service in Canada, and £40 to all three years' men, and providing them with clothes, they voted to support the families of non- commissioned officers and soldiers ; and, as more troops were called for, the town offered monthly wages, and a bounty in addition to that of the gov-
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ernment, for any who would enlist. When the treasury became empty, and the high rate of money impaired the worth of real estate as security, then they anticipated the revenue from taxation. Loans were ordered, and when they could not be obtained, cattle were offered as bounty. Indeed, no method of raising troops was left untried, save that of conscription ; although this was authorized by the state, the town, rather than adopt arbitrary measures, preferred to pay the fine for not furnish- ing the full quota of soldiers for the six and three months' service in 1781. May 22, 1780, the con- stitution and frame of the government was submit- ted to the town and adopted, seventy-five to seven.
In April, 1861, on receiving the news of the attack on Fort Sumter, immediately a large number of the leading citizens of all political parties assem- bled, and discussed the duty of the town in this emergency. They were of one mind in the opin- ion that prompt and hearty concurrence with the government was the true policy ; consequently they urged the selectmen to call a town-meeting, and prepared for a fit presentation of their views. The citizens met April 29, 1861; when, in response to the appeal of the President calling upon all loyal citi- zens to support the Union, it was resolved, "That the citizens of Marlborough, in legal town-meeting assembled, tender onr cordial and united support to the government of the United States ; and pledge our lives and our fortunes for whatever service our country may require." Subsequently ten thousand dollars were appropriated to be used for "the aid and encouragement of the individuals or for the support of the families of the individuals compos- ing the volunteer military company now raised or hereafter to be raised in this town to meet the calls of the government."
The selectmen at this time (1861) were Isaac Hay- den, B. F. Underhill, Stephen Morse, George E. Manson, John Goodale ; in 1862 and 1863, B. F. Underhill, William H. Wood, John F. Cotting ; in 1864 and 1865, William Wilson, Fred N. Morse, Charles H. Robinson. The town-clerk for 1861 and 1862 was John Phelps; for 1863, 1864, and 1865, Edward L. Bigelow. The town-treas- urer in 1861 was Winslow M. Warren ; in 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865, N. Wetherbee.
July 21, 1862, the following resolutions, pre- sented by Hon. O. W. Albee, were unanimously adopted : -
" Whereas, a great rebellion, engendercd by a wicked de- sire to perpetuate and extend the institution of chattel slav-
ery, and stimulated by an unholy ambition to rule, has set at naught the legally constituted authorities of this nation and imperilled constitutional liberty on this continent,
" Therefore, Resolved, That Marlborough is determined to stand by and maintain the great truths of the declaration of American Independence and the Republican Govern- ment instituted by our Revolutionary Fathers.
" Resolved, That if any oligarchy or any institution, how- ever fortified by power and prejudice, stands in the way of the full realization of our Revolutionary Fathers' ideal, in regard to the inalienable rights of man, such oligarchy and such institutions must perish, rather than that consti- tutional liberty should fail.
" Resolved, That whilst we honor the patriotism and ac- knowledge the sacrifices which hundreds of our fellow- townsmen have shown by devoting their all to the cause of their country, we would not be unmindful of the glory our adopted fellow-townsmen have won on many a well-fought field.
" Resolved, That the names of Carey and Regan, and their fellows who have fallen in this contest for right, have be- come historic, and Marlborough will cherish their memories and keep their garlands fresh, that posterity may know their worth and honor them with the incense of grateful hearts.
" Resolved, That to the recent call of the President of the United States for men to fill the thinned ranks of the armies of the Republic, Marlborough expects her sons, both native and adopted, to respond with an alacrity that shall emulate her past fame and be a guaranty for the future of her unwavering determination to sustain the cause of lib- erty, God, and our country.
" Resolved, That, though patriotism can neither be meas- ured nor weighed by money, yet Marlborough is ready, in her corporate capacity, to pledge herself to compensate, in part at least for pecuniary sacrifices, those brave, men who shall generously throw themselves into the breach in this. hour of a nation's peril.
" Resolved, That we pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer who shall volunteer, under the present call of the President of the United States, not to exceed fifty-two in number."
The total number of men furnished by the town and actually engaged in the war was 869 ; 574 serv- ing for three years, 91 for one year, 108 for nine months, and 96 for a hundred days.
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