USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 158
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Rev. Moses Patten was ordained June 7, 1860. He was not a fluent speaker or a man calculated to give a first-class sermon, but he was of amiable and exem- plary character and much respected by his people. Dismissed April 27, 1863.
On the 27th of August, 1863, the church instructed its committee to employ Rev. John C. Hutchinson as their acting pastor. He was an interesting speaker, quite original, and sometimes eloquent. He was in- terested in his calling and gave his whole attention to it. He was dismissed July 22, 1866.
Rev. George Williams was installed pastor of this church May 1, 1867 ; dismissed February 1, 1869.
. Rev. George H. Morss succeeded Mr. Williams June 17, 1869. He remained till April 10, 1873, when he was dismissed.
September 29, 1873, the church invited Rev. Henry C. Fay to become their acting pastor. He was a live preacher, a close student, and had much force of character. He was dismissed September 12, 1876.
Rev. Albert F. Newton was ordained as pastor of this church September 5, 1877. Mr. Newton's pas- torate of about four years was passed very pleasantly and profitably with this church, till he was "called " to a church in Marlborough, with which he is now in service.
Meeting-Houses .- The first frame building made in Townsend was the meeting-house, which was built about 1729, or nearly at the same time that the house of worship was built in Lunenburg, which was in 1728. There is no record of this building in regard to the time when it was built. Lunenburg raised £200 ($88.88) for building and finishing its first meet- ing-house. From records concerning the cost of the house in Townsend, it appears that the first meeting- house in this town cost much less. It stood ou the hill nearly a mile from the Common at the centre of
the town on the west side of the road leading over the hill. It was a very ordinary building, and it was con- tinually altered and repaired as long as it was used as a place of worship. But the settlers, owing to their poverty, made it answer their purpose for forty yeers.
In 1770 the town commenced to build the second meeting-house, concerning the location of which there was a long wrangle, which was finally settled by a reference to three men, each coming from three join- ing towns. This house was located within a few feet of where the first meeting-house stood. There is no doubt but that these referees selected this spot on account of the beautiful and picturesque prospect from this standpoint. Large portions of the towns of Lun- enburg aud Groton, at the south and southeast, with the towers, landscapes and white farm-houses of these old towns, together with the hills and mountain slopes, at the west and northwest, dotted over with fields and forests, all presenting a charming panorama, caused this location to have peculiar attractions for our ancestors. This hill, in a deed written one hundred years ago, conveying some land on its eastern slope, is called "Mount Grace." This meeting-house was finished so much that it was occupied during the latter part of 1771. Among the list of baptisms by Rev. Mr. Dix, this is recorded, October 27, 1771 : " Baptized Gaus, son of Eleazor Spaulding, in ye new meeting-house." This edifice was a great improve- ment on the house for which it was substituted. Al- though it was never finished where it was first built, it was clapboarded, and the windows, door frames aud the doors were painted on the outside the same year that it was built. This edifice was the town's meet- ing-house. Within its consecrated walls the followers of the Master worshiped, the citizens devised plans to meet all the wants of the town, in its corporate capacity, the training-band assembled to listen to the reading of the militia law; here the " Committee of Safety " held consultations, the selectmen discussed their duties, and the smouldering patriotism of an oppressed people burst into a flame. After this house had stood about twenty-five years, there began to be considerable dissatisfaction concerning its location so far from the centre of the town; besides, the building needed some repairs. The expense of main- taining a road over the ledges and steep grades of Meeting-house Hill was an objection which had an influence with many ; besides, in dry seasons there was no water to be had at or near the summit of this hill.
In March, 1799, the town chose a committee "to find the centre of the town and say where this meet- ing-house ought to stand." This committee of six- teen citizens soon after reported, recommending the spot where this same house now stands for the loca- tion of their meeting-house. There was for a long time muchi disagreement about what should be done, some wanting a new house, others wanting this house removed and enlarged when put up; but finally it
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was agreed to remove it, set up and renovate it with- out any addition except a belfry. Two brothers, Moses aud Aaron Warren, took the contract to move and set up this house, where it now stands, which was done in 1804. Zaccheus, Hezekiah and Levi Rich- ardson were the carpenters and stone-masons em- ployed by these. Warrens in finishing this edifice. After this house was finished there was great satisfac- tion in regard to its location and the manner in which it was done, and desiring to make it more easy of access, August 28, 1804, the town raised $300 to be expended in leveling the Common.
In May, 1852, after sectarianism had done its work, Charles Powers and others, in the interest of the Methodists, bought this house from the Unitarians, turned the west end of the same to the south and fit- ted it up into two flats, in its present style. Since that time the Methodists have rented the lower part of it to the town for a towu hall, and occupied the upper part as an auditorinm, in which they have en- joyed an uninterrupted preaching of the Gospel to the present time. It has been judged that the tower on this edifice has good architectural proportions, and is as well adapted to the main building as anything of the kind in this vicinity.
The Orthodox Congregational meeting-house was completed and dedicated in June, 1830. Some of the men who seceded from the town's meeting-house, just previous to that time, possessing a good amount of wealth, and not lacking either in enterprise or will, were determined to have a first-class church edifice. With much unanimity this society agreed, both ou the location of this house and the manner in which it was to be built. This fourth meeting-house in Townsend is made of brick, and in every particular is much superior to any church building ever erected in town, and it reflects credit upon the taste and good judgment of the men who designed the same and furnished the money with which it was erected. The clock in the tower of this church was presented by Deacon Joel Adams and Samnel Adams, his son. This edifice was subjected to a thorough renovation in 1884, at an expense of about $5000. An entire set of stained glass windows was substituted, the seating arrangement was altered, a place for the organ and choir was located on the ground floor, at the south side of the pulpit, the anditorinm was elegantly fres- coed and the building was nicely painted both inside and outside.
During the summer of 1879 the iron fence around a part of the Common was put up, the ground plowed and enriched, shrubbery was set out, flowers were cultivated and the park at the central village was brought into existence. About $1500 were raised by subscription to pay for the fence and the labor in. setting it in position. Alfred M. Adams and William P. Taylor, living directly opposite this park, contrib- uted the most liberally towards defraying the cx- pense of this improvement.
The fifth meeting-house was erected at West Town- send, by the Baptists, in 1834. It is a commodious structure, sixty-four feet long, forty-five feet wide, with posts twenty-four feet in height. This house is a fac-simile of a church building that was in Fitch- burg, which so favorably impressed the building committee in regard to its proportions and conveni- ence, that it became the model for their meeting- house. In 1873 it was thoroughly repaired, painted and frescoed, and a new pulpit, new chandelier and side-lights on the walls were put in. The Warren family has done much for the Baptists. Levi Warren gave the land on which the meeting-house stands and about one-third of the money required to build this house; Moses gave the bell which was hung in the tower when the edifice was completed; Charles gave the clock on the tower and the one inside hang- ing in front of the gallery; and others, including Ralph, Aaron and Dorman, have contributed liberally to assist this denomination.
WAR OF THE REVOLUTION .- In September, 1768, the selectmen of Townsend received a letter from the selectmen of Boston requesting them to call a town- meeting, and then to take into consideration the criti- cal condition of government affairs, and to choose an agent to come to Boston, to express there the views, wishes and determination of the people of Townsend on this important subject. A town-meeting was ac- cordingly called expressly for this purpose; when "Put to vote to see if the town would comply with the town of Boston in sending a man to join with them in the convention proposed to be held in Faneuil Hall, and it was unanimously complied with. Unan- imously voted and chose Lieut. Amos Whitney as a committeeman to join with the convention as afore- said."
It will be recollected that the five years which pre- ceded the time of this action of the town of Boston, were exciting times for the Colony. Commerce had come to a stand-still by the operation of the "Stamp Act " and the "Sugar Act." The operation of both of these obnoxious measures was defeated by non- importation and smuggling. In 1766 the Stamp Act was repealed, to the great joy of the people, and importation of goods was greater than before. Every- thing was prosperous for a short time, but in 1768 the obnoxious " Revenue Act" was passed, which threw a cloud over the enterprise and chilled the prosperity of the whole people. It was at this junc- ture that the town of Boston consulted the other towns in this Province in regard to asserting their rights and maintaining their liberties.
The firm resistance with which the projects of the British Government were received, served to strengthen the ministry to carry their points at all hazards. Troops were stationed in Boston to intimi- date and overawe the inhabitants and acts more se- vere were passed by Parliament, The colonists saw that they must either yield with abject submission or -
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
gain their rights by a resort to arms, and they did not hesitate between the alternatives. Thus their decision , was arrived at with the greatest deliberation and a count of the cost. The people of Boston were fore- most in resisting the unjust measures of the mother country, and they were nobly seconded by the inhab- itants of other towns. Every man in the Province was consulted upon this all-absorbing subject, that they might know what they could rely upon in case of open rebellion against the government of Great Britain.
In January, 1773, another letter and a printed pamphlet was received from the town of Boston, re- questing the inhabitants of the town of Townsend to pass such resolves concerning their rights and privi- leges as free members of society, as they were willing to die in maintaining. These resolves the Bostonians requested might be sent in the form of a report, to their Committee of Correspondence. The town re- sponded to this suggestion in an appropriate manner, as will be seen in the following extract from the record :
"At a town-meeting of the inhabitants of Townshend, legally assem- bled at the Public Meeting-house in said town on Tuesday, January 5, 1773, at Eleven O'clock in the forenoon, James Hasley was chosen Mod- erator.
4. Voted, to choose a committee of five men to consider the letter of Correspondence from the town of Boston, concerning the rights and privileges of this Province, and report such Resolves and meaenres as may be proper for the town to come into, respecting the same. Chosen for said committee, Capt. Daniel Adams, Deacon Jonathan Stow, Capt. Daniel Taylor, James Hosley and Jonathan Wallace.
" Voted, to adjourn this meeting till to-morrow at twelve of the clock to this place.
"Met at the adjournment on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1773. The commit- mittee chosen by the town at a meeting on tl:e 5th of said month to con- sider the present state of our public affairs, particularly as pointed out to us by the metropolis of this Province, reported as follows:
"1. That it is the opinion of this town that the Rights of the Colonists of this Province in particular, as men, as christians and as subjects, are justly stated in the pamphlet sent us from the town of Boston.
"2. It is our opinion that our rights and liberties do labor under divers infringements, particularly in respect to the way in which our money is taken from us, by which our governor is supported, and in the extensive power vested in the commissioners of the customs, and by a military power being employed to keep us in awe and so forth.
"3. Resolved, that if the prevailing report concerning the Judges of our Superior Court being supported any other way than by the free grauts of the People be true, it is a very threatening and dangerous innovation, directly tending to corrupt the Streams of Justice.
"4. Resolved, that our natural and coustitutional Rights, our civil and Religious liberties, were confirmed to us by our charter, purchased by our ancestors at the expense of much fatigue and blood, which ren- ders the possession of them more desr to ns, and the parting with them more grievous, and lays us under stronger obligations to defend them in all constitutional and scriptural ways.
"5. Resolved, that the following instructions be and are hereby given to our Representative (viz.) : that he use his utmost influence to obtain a removal of our present burdens, and to defend our liberties from all further encroachments, and to enquire into the report concern- ing onr Superior Judges being Independent of tho people; to have our unhappy circumstances represented in a true light to our Rightful Sov- vreign, and that the General Assembly recommend to the people of this Province to set apart a day, they, the Assembly, shall think fit to name, for Humiliation and Prayer, that we may in a united Public manner sprend our grievances before the King of Kings.
"6. Resolved, that the town of Boston have shown a true spirit of pa- triotism and a tender concern for the welfare of the Provinco, and that our sincore thanks are due to them for their spirited endeavors to dis-
cover the danger of our situation, and to lead ns in the way of seeking redress.
"7. Resolved, that a committee of five suitable men be chosen to corre- spoud from time to time, as occasion may require, with the town of Bos- ton and any other towos that bave or shall, from a sense of our dithcul- ties, come into such a method of correspondence and communication.
"The above Report being read several times and debated upon, and put to vote to see if the town would accept of the same, passed in the affirmative.
"The committee, chosen to correspond from time to time with the town of Boston and other towns, is as follows (viz.): Daniel Adams, Deacon Jonathan Stow, Capt. Daniel Adams, James Hosley and Samuel Manniog,
"Toted, that the town clerk transmit an authentic copy of the forego- ing proceedings of this town-meeting to the committee of correspond- ence of the town of Boston. DANIEL ADAMS, Town Clerk."
From the foregoing extract from the town records may be learned what the sentiments of the people of this town were in regard to the attitude of Great Britain towards her Colonies. They considered that the course of the mother country was oppressive and unjust and that their rights had been violated.
In 1774, after having received another letter from Boston, and having also heard from other towns, by letters, concerning the tax on tea, a town-meeting was called January 11, 1775, when the following was recorded :
"The town, taking into consideration certain intelligence received from the committee of correspondence in Boston, together with their request for intelligence and advice from the several towns in this Prov- ince, passed the following resolves (viz.) :
"Being informed of the late proceedings of our fellow-countrymen in Philadelphia, relative to the East India Company being allowed to send large quantities of tea into these Colonies, subject to the payment of a duty upon its being landed, we do agree with them and readily adopt their sentiments upon this affair.
" Resolved, that we have always been uneasy with the plan laid down hy the British Ministry for raising revenue in America, and that the present situation of our public affairs, particularly in respect to a late act of Parliament in favor of the East India Company, requires our atten- tion, and therefore further
" Resolved, that we stand forth in the cause of liberty in union witli other towns, and in gratitude to the spirited, patriotic town of Boston io particular.
" Resolved, that we earnestly advise that no tea be imported into this or any other American Colony so long as it is subject to a duty, payable upon its being landed here.
" Resolved, that we are sorry for the unhappy disagreement between this and the mother country, and we earnestly wish to see harmony restore d.
"Voted, that the preceding resolves be recorded, and a copy of tho same attested by the town clerk be transmitted to the committee of cor- respondence of the town of Boston. DANIEL ADAMS, Town Clerk."
It thus appears that His Majesty's subjects in the Province of Massachusetts, while deliberating on the injustice and wrongs which had been inflicted or. them, were not entirely without hope that their rights might be respected and "harmony restored." An armed resistance as yet had not been agreed upon by the Colonies.
The first publie meeting of the people in Massa- chusetts, except in Faneuil Hall, was a Provincial Congress, holden at Concord, October 11, 1774, which adjourned to Cambridge, and of which John Han- eock was president. At a town-meeting, "Oct. 3, 1774, Jonathan Stow was chosen to appear in behalf of the town of Townshend to join the provincial con-
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gress to be holden at Concord on the 11th of Oct. Inst."
In 1775 Captain Daniel Taylor was chosen to at- tend a Provincial Congress at Cambridge, and soon after Israel Hobart was chosen to succeed him. This congress enacted that at least one-fourth of all the militia should be enrolled as minute-men, who should be prepared to march at a minute's warning, on any emergency. This was a decisive step, which shows the grit of the Revolutionary fathers. Some of the members of this congress, from different towns, gave their time and expenses; others were paid wholly or in part by subscription.
The town voted to indemnify the constables for re- fusing to pay over the money which had been assessed by the Province, into the hands of Harrison Gray. The people were exceedingly aroused at this time. These were the defiant measures that brought on the war and started the King's troops en route for Con- cord, on the memorable 19th day of April, 1775.
Boston at that time was suffering under the ven- geance of Parliament, for throwing over the tea and for being the head and front of disloyalty. There were many poor in that towu out of employment, who had a scanty allowance of supply for their tables. To them the inland towns extended the hand of charity and relief. At a town-meeting, Jan- uary 2, 1775, "Voted and chose a committee of five men to forward the donations for Boston and Charles- town. Chose for said committee, Mr. Israel Hobart, Capt. Benjamin Brooks, Lieut. Zachariah Emery and Mr. John Conant." Probably each man of this com- mittee took a well-packed sled-load of provisions to their suffering friends at the tide-water. There is no other record concerning this transaction, as the war- rants for calling town-meetings were not always re- corded at that time.
At a town-meeting, June 19, 1775, “ Voted to pur- chase 50 Hogsheads of salt for a town stock. Deacon Richard Wyer chosen to go to Salem to purchase said salt, and ordered him to take his directions from the Select Men, who are to give security in the name of the town for the same."
It thus appears that the town was preparing for the fight which was about to commence-the opening scene of the Revolution. So far as the actual means of gaining a living were concerned, the people of that time were comparatively independent. They took the wool from the sheep, cleansed, spun and wove it, ready to be made into clothing, which they wove in their hand-looms. Lighter fabrics were made from their flax, spun by a foot-wheel, the thread being graded by running between the thumb and fore- finger of the operative. They ground their own grain into flour for their bread, produced vegetables and meat plentifully for their tables, and laid the rock maple under contribution for their sugar supply. The virgin soil yielded abundantly in payment of the toil of the husbandman. Luxury was a word not to
be found in their vocabulary ; and tea they would not use after it was subject to a duty. Salt they could not produce, but they exercised great prudence in sending to the coast iu season for an abundant supply. For the expense of getting it, a separate tax was as- sessed on all the polls and estates in town.
The alarm to the minute-men was given on the 19th of April, 1775, by the firing of a cannon on the hill where the meeting-house stood, about noon. Without doubt, quite a number of Paul Reveres tested their horsemanship in warning the patriots of the approach of the "ministerial troops." Ephraim Warren was plowing on his farm, a little to the south- east of Townsend Harbor, when the alarm was given. He immediately detached his team from the plow. and running to his house, called, " Mollie " (he mar- ried Mary Parker, of Chelmsford) ; " the regulars are coming and I am going; give me my gun." And he quickly mounted his horse and started towards the coast. He arrived at Concord early in the evening, only in season to see some dead bodies and a few wounded British soldiers, who had been left by their comrades in their hasty flight. The resistance to the British troops at Concord, and the manner in which the yeomanry of the Province hurried them back to their ships, makes a thrilling episode in American history.
" Muster Roll of Capt. James Hosley's company of minute-men, be- longing to Col. William Prescott's regiment, who marched from Town- shend April last to Cambridge in defence of the colony against the min- isterial troops :
"James Hosley, Capt .; Richard Wyer, Ist Lieut .; James Locke, 2d Lient .; Peter Butterfield, Sergt,; Benjamin Ball, Sergt .; Lemuel May- nard, Corpl .; Ephraim Brown, Corpl .; Nath'l. Bagley, Drummer ; Eb- enezer Ball, Daniel Holt, James Sloan, William Kendall, Daniel Conant, Asa Heald, Jossph Rumrill, Oliver Proctor, Daniel Clark, Richard War- ren, Israel Richardson, Robert Waugh, Elijah Wyman, Eleazer Butter- field, Benjamin Hobart, John Brown, Daniel Emery, Ephraim Shedd, Zachariah Emery, Joseph Baldwin, William Clark, David Graham, Thomas Eaton, Ebenezer Ball, Jr., Joseph Shattuck, Thomas Webster, Jr., Levi Whitney, Noah Farrar, Joslah Richardson, Jonathan Patt, Isaac Kidder, James Rumrill, Jr., Jouas Farmer, Daniel Sherwin, Eleazer Butterfield, Jr., Isaac Boynton, Ephraim Brown, John Clerk, Jedediah Jewett, Dudley Kemp, Abel Richardson, John Manning, John Emery, Thomas Wyman, Henry Dunster."
These men were paid for their services by order of the General Court in December, 1775, and they were in the field most of them twenty-one days. The action of the Townsend militia was nearly as prompt as that of the minute-men.
" A Roll of the travel and service of Capt. Samuel Douglas, of Town- shend in the county of Middlesex, and belonging to Colo. James Prescott's Regiment, and also of the meu uoder liis command, who, in consequence of the alarm nade on the 19th of Apail, 1775, marched from home for ye defence of this Colony against the ministerial troops, and continued in the service till called back to take care of the Tories in sd Townshend.
" Samnel Douglas, Captain ; James Hildreth, Drummer; Oliver Hil- dreth, Jona. Hildreth, Ephm. Adams, Abljab Hildreth, Joel Davis, Isaac Holden, Abner Adams, Abner Brooke, Benjamin Wilson, Benjamin Brooks, Abel Porter, Daniel Campbell, Samuel Scripture, Robert Camp- bell, Benjamin Adams, Joseph Giles, Audrew Seurles, Jonathan Goss."
These men were in the service five days, and on the 22d of March, 1776, the General Court ordered them to be paid. Captain Douglas received £1 78, 1d, and the men 12s. 9d. 2gr. each.
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