USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
The second election for state officers was held April 2, 1781, when John Hancock received fifty- seven votes for governor.
April 7, 1783, Mr. Francis Leighton was chosen representative, and a committee chosen for the pur- pose gave him the following instructions in behalf of the town : " That our said representative be in- of the West.
structed to exert his utmost influence in the Gen- eral Assembly to oppose and exclude the declared enemies and traitors of this country, who have at or since the commencement of the late war, from an inimical disposition to the rights and liberties of their native country, taken shelter and protection under the British government, from returning among us."
In 1787 Deacon Samuel Fletcher was chosen representative. His instructions contain these words : " That you use your influence that the General Court be removed ont of Boston to some convenient place in the country ; that agriculture, manufactures, and exportation of our own manu- factures be encouraged as much as possible, and the importation of foreign superfluities be discour- aged by an earnest recommendation to omit the use of such of them as are not necessary. That the tender act be continued until there be sufficient currency for the commerce of the people. That peace and harmony may be restored to the people of this commonwealth, you are directed to use your influence that the disqualifying act be repealed and that the peaceable citizens be restored to their for- mer privileges. That you use your influence that all pensions and gratuities be curtailed as far as justice will allow."
These instructions were given only a few months after the breaking out of the Shays Rebellion, so called, and they doubtless reflect the sentiment of the people at that time. After the Revolutionary War and the establishment of the state and national governments, there are few materials for history to be gleaned from the town records. The people. were a quiet, hard-working class, earning their living by steady industry. The accumulation of wealth was difficult, and only a few obtained it. Yet the majority had enough for present wants, and the degree of poverty was small. Not till the present century was well advanced did the people begin to be interested in manufactures or railroads. Here, as in very many New England towns, agriculture has declined within the last fifty years. Wood is growing on large tracts once culti- vated. In the business of market-gardening, how- ever, and in the raising of small fruits, there has been a marked increase within ten years. Large orchards yield abundance of apples, and there are sev- eral mills for the manufacture of cider. The raising of breadstuffs has almost wholly gone by ; and the supply of grain now comes from the broad prairies
478
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
In the War of the Rebellion the men of Westford were prompt and determined in their efforts to re- pel the enemies of the nation. The town sent one hundred and thirty-five men to the battle-field, many of whom gave up their lives for their country. In the town-hall is a marble tablet, bearing the names of thirty-two men who died on the field or from wounds or disease contracted in the war. Many members of Company F, Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, belong here; indeed, this company is in part a Westford institution, and deserves notice as a band of soldierly men to whom, when liberty is imperilled, war is no pastime, but a stern duty.
In the management of its internal affairs the town is generally harmonious. The debt, which is only $20,000, is funded at a low rate of interest, with the privilege of paying $2,000 each year; at this rate it will soon be extinguished.
The virtue and intelligence of the people, their culture and social refinement, and their regard for education and all humanizing influences, will insure for them the praise of every honorable mind and the esteem of the good. Rising every year to a higher grade of morality and piety, they will take the sure road to a genuine prosperity ; and, making the closing century a happy introduction to the achievements of the next, they will gain for themselves the gratitude of the coming generations.
Ecclesiastical. - The first church in Westford was formed November 15, 1727. It was then called the Second Church in Chelmsford, being in the West Precinct of that town. It was composed of " members of several of the neighboring churches, but chiefly of the First Church in this place." The covenant was signed by Willard Hall, John Com- ings, William Fletcher, Joseph Underwood, Joshua Fletcher, Jonas Prescott, Jonathan Hildreth, An- drew Spaulding, Jacob Wright, Samuel Chamberlin, Samuel Fletcher, Aaron Parker, John Proctor, Jonas Fletcher, Nathamel Boynton, Benjamin Rob- bins, and Josiah Whitney.
These seventeen are the names of men, and it does not appear on the records that any women were among the original members of the church. It may be fair to presume that they were, however, members, although they did not sign the covenant.
The account of the organization of the church is very brief. It simply recites, that "as the cus- tom is, where a number of persons in full commun- ion, desire, for allowable reasons, to separate from their respective churches, and become a distinct organized church by themselves, for them explicitly
to enter into covenant with God and another; so here, a covenant being drawn, they who had gotten their dismissions from the churches they belonged to, set their hands to it." " They, uniting together, after the proper preliminaries to settling a gospel minister, unanimously called Rev. Willard Hall to take the pastoral care of them ; and he accepting the call was accordingly ordained their pastor and teacher by the reverend clders following, namely : Samson Stoddard, who preached and gave the charge; Benjamin Shattuck, who made the ordain- ing prayer after sermon ; Nathaniel Prentice, who made the first prayer, and gave the right hand of fellowship; and Thomas Parker, who gathered and formed the church. This first ordination was solemnized November 15, 1727."
Of the members of the council, Rev. Samson Stoddard was of Chelmsford, Rev. Benjamin Shat- tuck of Littleton, Rev. Nathaniel Prentice of Dun- stable, and Rev. Thomas Parker of Dracut.
The first pastor, Rev. Willard Hall, was born in Medford, Massachusetts, March 11, 1703. He was the son of Stephen and Grace (Willis) Hall, and grandson of John Hall, who was of Concord in 1658. He graduated at Harvard College in 1722, in the class of Richard Saltonstall and William Ellery. He married Abigail Cotton, of Ports- mouth, New Hampshire. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were the parents of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. One of the daughters died young ; the other children lived to mature age. The oldest son, Willard, was born in Portsmouth, June 12, 1730. All the others were born in Westford.
Mr. Hall, who belonged to a distinguished family in Medford, was regarded as a truly pions aud use- ful minister. Dr. Payson, pastor in Chelsea, spoke in strong terms of the pleasure of having an ac- quaintance with him, and mentioned as remarkable the clearness and strength of his mind. He united the offices of pastor and physician, thus, in the condition of society at the time, greatly extending his influence and usefulness. He was a strenuous supporter of education for all. The town, on one occasion, considering itself excused by special emergency from levying the required school-tax, he complained to the General Court, and arraigned his own charge before that tribunal. In this he of- fended, as he knew he would, many of his people ; but he would make no compromise with delin- quency in this matter. He was devoted to agri- culture, had a good farm, cultivated fruit-trees,
479
WESTFORD.
bearing plums, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples; | being ill fitted and less disposed for controversy, lie and his garden, orchards, and fields, years after his death, bore witness to his skill and industry. Tra- dition says he lived on the place now (1879) owned by Rev. W. F. Wheeler.
When the Revolutionary War broke out he remained firm in his allegiance to George III., say- ing that as he had once sworn fidelity to the king as a justice of the peace, he could not and would not break his oath. In consequence of this his people would not suffer him to preach, and he was shut up or kept in surveillance in his own house during the last two years of his life. He died March 19, 1779, at the age of seventy-six, and in the fifty- second year of his ministry. His widow died October 20, 1789, at the age of eighty-four years.
Rev. Matthew Scribner was the second pastor. He was the second son of Matthew and Martha (Smith) Scribner, and was born in Norwalk, Con- necticut, February 7, 1746. He graduated at Yale College in 1775, and received the degree of A. M. in 1783. His call by the town or parish was given May 21, 1779, and he was ordained September 23, 1778. His wife was Saralı Porter, of Topsfield, Massachusetts, born March 21, 1742. They were married in Topsfield, December 16, 1779. Their children were ten in number, six sous and four daughters.
It is said that Mr. Scribner was never very pop- ular in his parish ; that his pastorate was tumult- uous and stormy ; and that for these reasons it was brief, lasting only ten years, while that of his predecessor continued more than half a century. He was dismissed November 10, 1789. At the close of his ministry here he removed to Tyngs- borough, where he took up a lot of wild land, just over the line from Westford. This he began to clear up and cultivate ; and there he tried an ex- periment in raising Merino sheep, having imported a few animals at almost fabulous prices. The ex- periment failed, but he continued to reside on the farm until his death, which occurred in 1813, at the age of sixty-seven years.
resigned, and betook himself to a farm. Afterwards he removed to Bedford, Massachusetts, where he re- sided several years, and then returned to Westford, and purchased what was formerly known as the Bixby farm, on which he spent the remainder of his days. After his return he was chosen to represent the town one term in the legislature. He was not a close student, a fluent speaker, or an easy writer. He published only one sermon, delivered before the Ladies' Charitable Association in the year 1812 or 1813. He was fond of farming, and attributed his good health in a great measure to that occupa- tion ; but his chief pleasure was in reading. He inarried Martha Mosely, of Hampton, Connecticut, who was born in 1775, and was a sister of the Hon. Ebenezer Mosely, lately of Newburyport. They had five children who lived to adult age, two sons and three daughters. He died May 11, 1847, aged eighty-five years.
Rev. Ephraim Randall, the fourth pastor, was born in Easton, Massachusetts, November 29, 1785. He graduated at Harvard University in 1812, and was ordained in New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, August 26, 1814. He was afterwards installed at Saugus, Massachusetts, October 3, 1826, and dismissed August 7, 1827. April 30, 1829, he was installed in Westford, and after two years his connection with the church ceased, May 1, 1831.
During his ministry, namely, June 1, 1830, " the church, by unanimous vote, adopted a new profes- sion of faith and covenant."
After Mr. Randall's dismission Rev. Ephraim Abbot was acting pastor, and continned to act as such until April 3, 1834. In the summer of 1835 Rev. Jonathan Farr preached for the society, and after him Rev. Ephraim Abbot "supplied the desk until April, 1836." Rev. Luther Wilson then preached until April, 1839, assisted for several months, on account of Mr. Wilson's ill health, by Rev. Ephraim Abbot.
Rev. Claudius Bradford preached awhile in 1840, and Mr. Abbot again in 1841 till the month of April. Mr. Thurston, Mr. Coolidge, and Mr. Buckingham preached as candidates between April and October, 1841, when Rev. Ephraim Abbot took charge, and served the church and society until April, 1845.
Rev. Caleb Blake, the third pastor, was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts, May 1, 1762, and graduated at Harvard College in 1784. He was ordained February 29, 1792. He continued in office thirty-four years, and was dismissed Feb- ruary 28, 1826. He belonged to that class of theologians called Hopkinsians, and when the In July, 1845, Rev. Edward Capen came and preached for about one year, declining a call to set- Unitarian controversy waxed warm he took a de- cided stand in opposition to the Unitarians. But | tle at the close of his service. From July, 1846, to
480
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
January, 1847, the society was engaged in repair- ing its house of worship, which was re-dedicated January 7, 1847. Then came Rev. Herman Snow, and preached for the society one year, ending Feb- ruary 7, 1848. From that time to March 19, 1848, different persons occupied the pulpit. Soon after this Rev. John B. Willard was chosen pastor, and ordained May 24, 1848. Mr. Willard was born in New York City, April 1, 1822. His parents, Luther and Mary (Davis) Willard, were born in Harvard, Massachusetts. He graduated at Brown University in 1842, then studied law three years, partly in Syracuse, New York, and partly in Boston, but never entered the legal pro- fession. He studied theology with Rev. Washing- ton Gilbert, then of Harvard. He dissolved his connection with the church here December 1, 1850. After leaving Westford he was employed by the Unitarian Society of Windsor, Vermont, which society he served at intervals until 1856, when ill health obliged him to relinquish his charge. He has sinee preached for short periods in Lowell, Barnstable, Lunenburg, Warwick, and Norton,. Massachusetts. He now resides in the village of Still River, Harvard, Massachusetts.
After the retirement of Mr. Willard various persons, namely, Rev. Mr. Maynard, Rev. Jacob Caldwell, Rev. J. B. Willard, Rev. E. Abbot, and Rev. Timothy Elliot, supplied the pulpit until 1853, when Rev. Stillman Clark came and preached until March 29, 1857.
In June, 1858, Rev. George M. Rice was in- vited to preach one year. He continued his min- istry for nearly eight years. George Matthias Rice was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, June 28, 1814. His parents were residents of Salem, but as war then existed, and Salem was threatened with an attack from the British fleet, they retired to Danvers for the summer. Mr. Rice was fitted for college in the schools of Salem, especially in the grammar schools under the tuition of those re- nowned masters, Ames and H. K. Oliver. He was intended for Cambridge, but his father having re- moved to Geneva, New York, he entered Geneva (now Hobart) College in 1829, and graduated in 1832. He then pursued his studies in the Cam- bridge Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1835. He was ordained as an evangelist at Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1840, being at that time the acting pastor of the First Congregational Church in Lexington. Afterwards he had pastoral charge of the Unitarian churches in Lunenburg,
North Chelsea, and Mendon, Mass., Eastport, Me., and Lancaster, N. H.
On the 7th of August, 1866, the church " voted unanimously that Mr. George H. Young be in- vited to become the pastor of the first church of Christ in Westford." Mr. Young was ordained October 17, 1866. He continued in office nearly six years, and resigned in April, 1872. He was afterward pastor of the Unitarian Church in Troy, New York, and of a church in Santa Barbara, California.
Mr. Young was succeeded by Rev. William A. Cram, who came in April, 1872, and was aeting pastor until April, 1877, a period of five years. . The present pastor is Rev. Joseph Sidney Moulton (D. C. 1873), who began his labors in 1876.
The Union Congregational Church was organized December 25, 1828. It was composed of mem- bers of the First Church, who withdrew on account of doctrinal differences, and a few others who were members of churches in other towns, but residents here. The number at the organization was fifty- mine. Two persons were received by profession of their faith, the others by letter. The first pas- tor was Rev. Leonard Luce, born May 14, 1799, in that part of Rochester now Marion, Massachu- setts. He graduated at Brown University in 1824, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1828. He was ordained April 8, 1829. The church and society having no house of worship, the exereises of ordination were held at the house of Mr. John Davis, in the south part of the town. Mr. Luee continued to be the pastor for more than twenty- three years, and was dismissed July 8, 1852. Rev. Thomas Wilson was the second pastor. He was installed over this church May 4, 1853, and was dismissed February 13, 1856. The church was then supplied by Rev. David O. Allen and Rev. John Whitney until May 1, 1859. Rev. Edwin R. Hodgman became acting pastor June 26, 1859, and continued five years, closing his term of service July 3, 1864. Rev. George F. Stanton then succeeded him for three months, and Rev. E. A. Spence for two years. The latter was ordained here as an evangelist in 1866.
Rev. Henry D. Woodworth was installed pastor October 2, 1867. The ministry of Mr. Wood- worth was brief, lasting only two. years, and clos- ing by his dismission, July 18, 1869. After Mr. Woodworth left Rev. Nathan R. Niehols sup- plied the pulpit about two years. May 7, 1872, Rev. Henry H. Hamilton received a call from the
481
WESTFORD.
church to become its pastor, and he was ordained September 11, 1872. He graduated at Amherst College in 1868, and at Union Theological Semi- nary, New York City, in 1871. He remained pastor almost five years, and was dismissed June 25, 1877.
In November, 1877, Rev. Rufus C. Flagg began his labors here, and he is now the acting pastor of the church.
Preliminary steps were taken for the organi- zation of the Methodist Episcopal. Society in 1869. Subscriptions for the purpose of erecting a church edifice were started July 5. The paper was headed by Mr. Charles G. Sargent, who snb- scribed two thousand dollars, and gave the site for the proposed building. This sum was increased by smaller subscriptions to three thousand dollars on the same day. A class was formed, July 20, and Arthur Wright appointed class-leader.
The site given by Mr. Sargent was conveyed by deed ; a design by S. S. Woodcock, architect, was adopted, and a contract for building the house was formed with Messrs. Mead, Mason & Co., of Con- cord, New Hampshire, to erect the edifice above the foundation for $8,900. The church edifice was finished, and dedicated March 23, 1871. The sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. J. M. Buckley, of Stamford, Connecticut. The total cost of the house and its furnishings was $10,786, of which $6,583 were paid or pledged, and a debt incurred of $4,202. It is of wood, one hundred feet long and forty-three feet wide. The audito- rium is fifty-two feet long and forty-two feet wide, with sittings for three hundred and forty-two per- sous. The chapel in the rear is forty-two feet long and twenty-nine wide. It is in the form of a transept, with a neat tower and spire intersecting with the main building. The style is Gothic.
Rev. Miner H. A. Evans was the first pastor, and remained two years. Rev. Nathaniel B. Fisk be- gan his labors April 9, 1871, and continued three full years. Mr. Fisk's ministry was very success- fnl, and at its close " the official members passed a resolution highly complimentary to the pastor."
Rev. James F. Mears was the next pastor. His ministry began April 14, 1874, and lasted two years. Rev. M. H. A. Evans was again pastor, from April 4, 1876, to April, 1879, when Rev. A. Wood was sent to the field.
The death of Charles G. Sargent, in 1878, took from the society its originator and chief financial patron. The official board passed the following preamble and resolution : -
" Whereas, Divine Providence has removed from this life Charles G. Sargent, Chairman of our Board of Trus- tees, -
"Resolved, That the official board expresses its profound esteem for the life and character of Mr. Sargent, and its sympathy with the family and the society, which have lost a devoted friend and faithful counsellor."
Educational History .- The people of Westford have always supported the cause of popular educa- tion with commendable liberality. Schools were first kept in private houses, and for only one term in the year. At a later date there were two terms each year, but these were short. The town was early divided into school squadrons, of which there were four, - the Centre ; the South, corresponding to Parkerville ; the West, corresponding to Forge Village ; and the North, including the region about Long-sought-for Pond. For a long time the selectmen seem to have had the entire control of the schools. They made all the contracts with the teachers, and gave the orders to the town- treasurer for the payment of their wages. In those halcyon days that long-suffering body of men, now known as the school-committee, had no existence.
The first school-teacher in town, so far as can be ascertained from the records, was Joseph Under- wood, Jr., who was employed in 1734. " May 28, 1735, the selectmen voted to pay to Mr. Joseph Underwood, Jr., for his keeping school in this town in 1734, the sum of £ 13, to be in full for said service."
Of those who taught in onr schools in the last century we notice a few who were prominent or who tanght for a long period. In 1739 Wil- liam Bowen appears. This man had more or less to do with our schools from 1740 to 1775, a period of thirty-five years. He was a retired clergyman, and lived on Francis' Hill, in the east part of the town.
Penuel Bowen, who was a teacher liere in 1762, is supposed to be his son. The following persons, who were probably graduates of Harvard, were teachers in this town during the last century. The date of their teaching is given : -
Joseph Perry, 1753; Amos Moody, 1759; John Treadwell, 1759; William Russell, 1762; Penuel Bowen, 1762; Jeremiah Dummer Rogers, 1762; Stephen Hall, 1764; Nathaniel Cooper, 1764; Jonathan Crane, M. D., 1767 ; William Hobart, 1768 ; Elijah Fletcher, 1769; Ebenezer Allen, 1772; Amos Crosby, 1785 ; Ebenezer Hill, 1787.
The first woman employed to teach in this town
482
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
was Mrs. Edward Bates, in the years 1740 -1743. Deacon Andrew Spaulding was a teacher in 1739, 1742, and 1754. John Abbot first appears in this vocation in 1747, and continued in it for many years.
In 1741 the town voted to raise £100, Old Tenor, - £ 40 for schools, and the remainder for town debts and charges. This was a very liberal proportion for schools. Under the law of 1647 every town having one hundred families was re- quired to maintain a grammar school in which the teacher should be competent to fit young men for the university. On the first tax-list of 1730 are the names of eighty-seven tax-payers ; henee there were less than one hundred families at that time. But this number was soon reached, for in 1748 the number of tax-payers was one hundred and forty, and the town was under obligation to have a gram- mar school. December 25, 1750, the town paid Thomas Read, Esq. "for what money he expended in going to court to answer to the presentment against the town for not having a grammar school last summer." It does not appear from the records, however, that any grammar school was maintained until 1752, when Mr. Azariah Faxon was employed. Mr. Faxon taught in the first part, or eentre, and in the fourth part, or squad- ron. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1752, and was probably the first grammar-school teacher in Westford.
From this time forward the records occasionally mention the grammar-sehool master, and it is fair to infer that the school was sustained according to law. It appears also that the town gave a hearty and generous support to all the public sehools. In 1787 the town voted to build school-houses. Previous to this time the schools were kept in pri- vate rooms. One was taught in the old garrison- house in Forge Village, occupied not very long sinee by Jonathan Prescott. It was burned in 1876, being the last of its class to disappear. The school-district system in Massachusetts went into operation in 1789, and was abolished in 1869, after a trial of eighty years. The several squadrons were then converted into districts with numbers attached. The sum appropriated for schools in those early days will not suffer in point of liberal- ity when compared with the amount now granted for that purpose. When we recall the fact that wealth had not then accumulated, and that to many of the people it was a hard struggle to live at all, we wonder at the measure of their interest
in the subject of education, and are ready to applaud their generosity and wisdom. But not merely in the support of common sehools did the people show their appreciation of sound learning. Some of them, near the close of the last century, began to see the need of a school of higher grade, and by their efforts and liberality Westford Acad- emy was called into existence.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.