History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 192

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 192

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).

723

CARLISLE.

and build a bridge over the river if the town of Bedford would conform to the provisions of the pre- vious vote.

The selectmen were chosen a committee to petition the town of Bedford to lay out a road to the river, and build the abutment on their side.

Later it was voted to " petition the Court of Gen- eral Sessions of the Peace for a Committee to View the necessity of a road from Carlisle to Bedford Meet- ing-House," and the selectmen were delegated a com- mittee to accompany them and also to build the bridge.

Several sums of money were voted for the purpose, the largest of which was one hundred pounds, voted March 3, 1794, which was to be appropriated for the purpose of building one-half the bridge over the river, also the causeway on the Carlisle side, and to pay land damages occasioned by the road.

The money thus appropriated was paid out at various times, and in varying sums as occasion re- quired. The following is a copy of an order drawn on one of the constables, and is made to appear here, not because it is a sample of very many others, al- though it is of some, but principally to show the con- trast between the customs of a hundred years ago and the present time :

CARLISLE, Feb. the 18, 1795.

"To Mr. John Jacobs, Constable of the District of Carlisle : Sir, please to pay out of the district's money which you are ordered to collect to Defray the expence of building a Bridge over the River, to Mr. John Green the Sun of Seven pounds, two Shillings and four pence, for Rum and Sugar nsed at the Bridge when building the Same, and this Shall Discharge you for that Sum. £7.2. 4.

" By order of the Selectmen.

" ASA PARLIN District, Cler."

A district meeting was called for August 29, 1803, and the sixth article in the warrant was to "See if the District will agree to raise a sum of money to raise the Causeway on the river meadow near the Bridge, &c." On consideration of the article it was voted to " raise the Sum of one Hundred Dollars for the purpose of filling up the Causeway on the river meadow, and that the Causeway be vendued the 5th Day of September, at 4 o'clock, and that the select- men be a committee for that purpose and to provide drink."

At a town-meeting held Jan. 14, 1822, twenty-seven years after the building of the first bridge over the Concord River between Carlisle and Bedford, the town voted to rebuild their part of the river bridge the ap- proaching summer, and chose as a committee for said purpose, Benjamin Barrett, Paul Forbush and Capt. Stephen Blood, which committee were subse- quently increased by vote of the town May 6th, same year, by four more names, viz .: Samuel Adams, Thomas Heald, John Heald and Isaiah Green. The town clerk was instructed to notify the selectmen of Bedford of the action taken by the town in relation to their half of the bridge, which it was voted to con- struct twenty feet wide, and upon m.1 1-sills, the timber,

with the exception of the mud-sills and plank, to be' white oak.

At the intervening April meeting the town voted to raise the sum of $500 for the purpose of defraying the expense of rebuilding. As in the former case, " rum and sugar for the laborers and committee " consumed a part of the appropriation.

At a town-meeting held April 4, 1870, the town voted to raise the sum of $600 to be expended by the selectmen for the purpose of repairing the river bridge and making it safe for travel, and also voted that the repairs be made at the earliest practical moment. Of the above appropriation $230.42 was expended, but it would seem, however, that the bridge was not yet considered safe, for at a town-meeting held Noy. 7, 1871, the town chose a committee of three, viz .: H. Prescott, N. A. Taylor and Benjamin Barrett, who were instructed to keep the river bridge in safe condition for public travel, and to rebuild it whenever in their judgment it may be necessary to do so. The work of rebuilding was done in the year 1872, and the expense of the undertaking was met by an appropriation by the town of $2500. The entire expense, however, of one half of the bridge, which the town was required to build, was $2327.48,

This bridge differed from those previously con- structed, being built upon driven spiles, instead of mud-sills.

Very little has been expended upon the bridge since it was last rebuilt.

BURYING-GROUNDS .- There seems to have been no provision made for a public burying-ground pre- vious to the year 1784, when, at a meeting of the in- habitants of the district held April 5th, it was voted that "there be one-half acre of Land Provided for the use of a burying-place, including the spot of ground that hath been made use of for that purpose already." Also at said meeting a committee of three . persons were chosen to confer and settle with Mr. Wilkins for said land.

A little more than three years later two sums of money were paid out of the treasury for land purchased for a burying-place, viz .: to Timothy Wilkins, the 3d, the sum of ten shillings, and to Timothy Wilkins, Jr., the sum of sixteen shil- lings, which was the proportional part due each of the above-named parties, whom, it would appear, were joint owners of the land, which was what is now known as the Central Burying-Ground, the same that is located near the centre of the town, and which, at the present date, is seldom, if ever, used for the pur- pose of interment.

The stones all stand facing the east, and indicate the age of slate, with the exception of two or three marble slabs. There are no monuments within its enclosures.

Here rest the remains of the first minister that was settled in the town, the Rev. Paul Litchfield; also the remains of many of the first settlers of the place.

724

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Many of the inscriptions on the stones which com- memorate their names have attached military and church titles.

That interments were made here previous to its being purchased by the district would seem evident from the inscriptions found upon the stones, some of which date back as far as 1778, and, doubtless, some who earliest found a resting-place here have nothing erected to their memory.

In later years it became apparent that more room would be required for the purpose of a burying- ground, the question of procuring which continued to he agitated from time to time in town-meetings. Several times the propriety of purchasing an addi- tion to what was known as Green's burying-ground had been considered. The latter-named place was a tract of land containing about half an acre, located about half a mile southeast of the centre of the town, and which was set apart and given by Mr. John Green, to be used by the Greens exclusively for the purpose of a burial spot.

From time to time, however, permission was given to others to make interments there, until nearly all the available space was taken up.

The stones here also indicate the era of slate, nearly all of which are slate slabs, erected, according to the ancient custom, facing the rising sun,

In the fall of the year 1831 a committee of three, consisting of Silas Green, Thomas Heald and Dea. John Green, were chosen by the town to purchase a piece of land for the purpose of enlarging Green's burial-ground.

It is probable that they attended to the duties to which the town had delegated them, but it was not until the April meeting in the year 1837 that the town voted to pay Mr. Leonard Green the sum of $25 for half an acre of land to enlarge Green's burial-ground, and cause the same to be enclosed by a fence.

In the year 1841 the town voted at a meeting held in May to lay out said burial ground iu lots, and chose for a committee to carry out the provisions of said vote the three following-named persons, viz,: Capt. Thomas Green, Dea. John Green and Capt. Ezekiel Nickles.

In the year 1863 the town purchased of Capt. Thomas Green one acre of land, as an addition to Green's burying-ground, and in the year 1866 pur- chased of Mrs. Oliver Forbush one acre more, which was the last addition made, aud which enlarged it to its present proportions.

At a town-meeting held April 2, 1866, the town voted to appropriate the sum of $150 for the pur- pose of building a wall in front of the cemetery. Two years later the committee report having ex- `pended for the afore-named purpose, and for a num- ber of stone bounds, the sum of $116.73, and also for gates put in at the two entrances, the sum of eleven dollars.

In the year 1870 the town appropriated the sum of $150 for the purpose of setting out trees and shrubbery in and around Green Cemetery, and at the annual April town-meeting held the next year a com- mittee of three persons were chosen to have the gen- eral eharge aud care of the burial-grounds. This committee were : Benjamin Barrett, chosen for one, Prescott Nickles for two, and Selar Simons for three years, respectively, which committee attended to setting the trees and shrubs which at the present time ornament Green Cemetery. Since the latter-named date the custom of annually appointing a cemetery committee has prevailed in the town.

Near the centre of Green Cemetery is located a very neat and pretty octagon-shaped summer-house, of symmetrical proportions, and about ten feet high, the roof being tin covered,

A piazza surrounds the building, inside of which are benches suitable for seats. In the centre of said building stands a table bearing a marble tablet, ou which is the following inscription :

This building erected July 8, 1874, Aud presented to the town of Carlisle By Miss II. L. C. Gresu.

So live with men, as if God's eurious eys Did everywhere into thy actions spy : Strive to live well, tread in the upright ways, And rather count thy actions thau thy days.

At a town-meeting held April 5, 1875, the town formally accepted of the building, and passed resolu- tions of gratitude to be extended to the donor, and also agreed to keep the building in good repair, and to have it appropriately dedicated, which was subsc- quently done. The dedicatory address was delivered by Rev. James T. Powers during the summer of the latter-named year, froin the piazza of the building, before an assembly of people who had gathered there for the purpose,

March 18, 1878, the town voted to establish a pub- lic watering-place at the cemetery road side, for which purpose a well was dug about midway of the cemetery and outside the enclosure. Subsequently a pump was furnished, since which time it has served the purpose for which it was intended,

During the year 1880 a concrete walk was laid at the west entrance, at an expense to the town of $52.25.

In the northwest corner, or old part of Green Cem- etery, the earliest interments were made, some of which date back as far as the year 1785; a stone erected to the memory of Sarah, wife of Asa Parlin, who was at that date clerk of the district, and also one to the memory of Lieutenant Asa Greeu, bear date as above.

In Lear proximity to these is a neglected-looking slate slab, three and a half feet tall, covered with moss and leaving, also bearing the ancient representation of an angel's head and wings at top and pillars on sides. The following is the inscription :

725

CARLISLE.

Iu memory of Mr. Simon Blood, Jun., who died Nov. 7, 1793, in ye 47th yr of his age. Ilis generous donations to public uses du honor to his memory, and will preserve his name to posterity.

Naked as from the earth wo camo And crept to life at first, We to the earth return again And mingle with our dust.

The above is what marks the resting-place of one who served the district in its infancy in the various capacities of school-teacher, town treasurer for two years, selectman for ten years, having been a member of the second board chosen by the district, and was also holding the office at the date of his decease. He was one of the first, as well as largest, donors to the interests of the town; his name deserved to be per- petuated, and his grave, in the absence of relatives, to be kept green by a posterity who are enjoying the benefits of his liberality.

In the sonthwest corner, near the hearse-honse, are interred the remains of her to whom the town is indebted for the donation which called into existence the soldiers' monument in the centre of the town. The lot is enclosed with a granite curbing, and a gran- ite monument marks the spot. The inscription reads as follows : "Lydia A. G., wife of William Farrar, died September 27, 1881, aged seventy years, nine months, twelve days." Near the centre of the ceme- tery, and back of the summer-house, located on main avenue, is a double marble tablet erected to the mem- ory of Abel Taylor, Jr., and wife. His death occur- red December 16, 1887, aged eighty-two years, seven mouths, thirteen days ; his wife preceded him by a few years.

His munificence, shown by the legacy left to the Union Calvinistic Society, will always be remembered with gratitude by those who worship with this soci- ety, of which both he and his wife were members at the time of their decease. The tablet bears the motto : " We part to meet again." The remains of but two clergymen rest in the town, viz .: those of the first minister, Rev. Paul Litchfield, interred in the Central Burying-Ground, while in Green Cemetery an un- pretentious granite tablet marks the place where rests the remains of one other who performed the duties of a clergyman in the town for upward of eight years. The inscription on the tablet reads as follows: "In memory of Rev. James T. Powers, 1828-1888. The joys of those with God in heaven can never end."

In this cemetery are also buried numerous others who have in times past, out of their abundance, con- tributed for the benefit of the church or town. Some of their names may be recalled as follows : Mr. Thomas Green, Mr. William Farrar, Mrs. Mary G. Seott and Mr. William Green.

HEARSES AND HEARSE-HOUSES .- At a town-meet- ing held April 4, 1808, it was voted that the town raise $100 to procure a hearse, and Captain Nehemiah

Andrews was chosen to expend said money, and pro- vide a hearse for the use of the town.

On March 10th of the following year the town treasurer paid out of the town's money to Mr. Isaac Blaisdell, who supported a wheelwright's shop in the town at that time, the sum of $29 75, it being for his building a hearse for the use of the town. Another order was drawn the preceding day in favor of Mr. Andrews, the above-named committee, for the sum of $26, it being for iron, harness and boxes, and his time spent in procuring a hearse for the use of the town. A third order was drawn a little later in favor of James Kemp for the sum of $8.50, it being for his doing the iron-work on the hearse. These three sums, the total of which is $64.25, are all that appear to have been paid from the town treasury for the pur- pose of paying for the first hearse which the town owned. Rather a moderate sum it would be consid- ered at the present date to expend for a similar pur- pose.

Now that the town was the owner of a hearse, the next consideration was to provide a place of shelter for the same. An article was inserted in the warrant for the annual April meeting the following year, which called for action on the subject. At this meet- ing it was voted that the town erect a hearse-house sixteen feet long, nine feet wide and seven feet high. A committee of three, consisting of Captain Nathan Haywood, Paul Forbush and Captain Stephen Blood, were chosen to prepare a plan of said building, with specifications which they were to present on the evening of the same day, when it was voted that the erecting of the building be vendued.

The following order, subsequently drawn on the treasurer, would seem to indicate the name of the contractor, as well as the cost of the building :

" To Mr. Nathan Green; Jr., town treasurer:

"SIR :- Please to pay out of the town's money to Capt. Nehemiah An- drews Twenty six dollars and four cents, it being for his building a honso for the town hearse."

This building was located on the southeast corner of the Central Burying-Ground, where it stood until the year 1867, when it was voted that the selectmen be authorized to dispose of it in such manner as they deem best. It was finally sold for the sum of $35, moved away and transformed into a dwelling. Dur- ing its existence as a hearse-house it answered the donble purpose of providing a shelter for the hearse and of serving as a sort of armory or receptacle for the town's supply of powder, fire-arms and equip- ments.

In the year 1838 a committee of three were ap- pointed in town-meeting to have the old hearse re- paired, which finally seems to have answered its pur- pose until the year 1865, when, at a town-meeting held Nov. 7th, a committee of three persons were chos- en to procure a new hearse and to dispose of the old one. Messrs. E. S. Hutchins, George F. Duren and Nathaniel Hutchinson were chosen and accepted for

726

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

said committee, who subsequently procured the more modern and ornamental carriage for the dead, owned and used by the town at the present day, and which was purchased of A. Tolman & Co., of Worcester, for the sum of $430. The old hearse was sold at auction for the sum of $2, and after certain altera- tions subsequently served the purpose of a pleasure- wagon, for a number of years, for the purchaser, who was a resident townsman.

By vote of the town, March 19, 1888, the selectmen were instructed to buy a pole and runners for the hearse, which they procured for the sum of $19.50, exclusive of the bill for painting.

At a town-meeting held May 25, 1867, the last ar- ticle in the warrant was to " see if the town will pro- vide a suitable place for the new hearse or act there- on," when it was voted " that the selectmen be au- thorized to build a suitable hearse-house." The result of this vote was the building used for a hearse-house at the present time, and which is located in Green Cemetery, erected at an expense to the town of nearly $250.

The following is a list of the physicians who have resided and practiced in the town, the latter of whom has been the resident physician for the past fifty years : John Nelson, 1816-1836; Paul C. Kittredge, 1837-1839; Austin Marsh, 1839.

The more important town officers have been as follows :

Town Clerks.

Years.

Zebulum Spaulding, 1780-84 . 5

Asa Parlin, 1785-1802, '06-08 21

John Jacobs, 1803, '09-12, '26, '47-52 12

Jonathan Heald, 1804-05, '18-20 5

Jonathan Heald, Jr., 1813-14 . 2

John Heald, Jr., 1815-17, '21-25, '27-29 11

Cyrus Heald, 1830-35, '45-46 . 8

Calvin Heald, 1836-40, '43-44 . 7

Ephraim Robbins, 1841-42 . 2

George F. Duren, 1853-69 17

Selai Simons, 1870-72 3

Austin Marsh, 1873-80 . 8

John E. Bull, 1881

Town Treasurers.

Captain Samuel Heald, 1780-85 6

Simon Blood, Jr., 1780-87 2

Jonathan Blood, 1788 1

Samuel Green, 1789-1802 . 14

Nathan Green, Jr., 1803-18 . 16

John Green, 1819-28, '30-38 19

Jolin Nelson, 1829 . 1

Thomas Green, 1839-62 24

William Green, 1863-80 18

Thomas A. Green, 1881-82 2

llumphrey Prescott, 1883 1

Sidney A. Bull, 1884 .

Selectmen.

Zebulum Spanlding, 1780, '83-84 3

Captuin Phineas Blood, 1780-81 2

Lieutenant Jobu Heald, 1780-81 2

Sumnel Green, 1781, 1799-1800 3

Lieutenant Issuchar Andrews, 1781-84 4

Simon Blood, Jr., 1781, 185-93 10

Asu Parlin, 1782, '85-1802, '06-08 22 Anchens Green, 1782 . 1

Nathaniel Hutchinson, 1783 1

Years.

Nathan Parlin, 1784 .

Jonathan Heald, 1785-86, '88-1801, '04-05, '18-20. 21

Deacon Epbraim Robbins, 1787, '94-95, 1801-02, '06-08. 8

Leonard Green, 1796-97 2

John Jucobs, 1798, 1803, '09-12, '26 7

Nathan Green, Jr., 1802. 1

John Green, 1803, '29 2

Thomas Spaulding, 1803 . 1

Frederick Blood, 1804-5 .

Ezekiel Nickles, 1804-5, '33 3

Nehemiah Andrews, 1806-7 2

Captain Timothy Heald, 1808-12 . 5

Eliakim Hutchins, 1809, '15 2

Thomas Heald, 1810-12, '21-23, '29 7

Jonathan Heald, Jr., 1813-14 2

Benjamin Robbins, 1813-14 2

Major Jonas Parker, 1813-17, '30-32 8

Captain John Heald, Jr., 1815-17, '21-25, '27-29 11

Aaron Robbins, 1816-17, '20-21 . 4

Aaron Fletcher, 1818-19 2

Paul Forbush, 1818-19 2

Isaiah Green, 1820-23 . 4

Cyrus Heald, 1824-28, '30-35, '45-46

James Green, 1824-25 2

Cyrns Green, 1826-28, '33 4

Thomas Heald, Jr., 1830-32 ?

William Green, 2nd, 1834-36, '40 4

Thomas Page, 1834-40 7

Ai Wheat, 1837 1

Benj. P. Hutchins, 1838 1

Ephraim Robbins, 1841-42 . 2

Benjamin F. Heald, 1841, '44-45, '70-72, '75

Joseph V. Heald, 1841-42 2

John D. Robbins, 1843 . 1

George F. Dureu, 1843-44, '52-62, '64-68, '73-74, '76 21

John Jacobs, 1845-52, '64

Thomas Green, 1846-51

Lucius Styles, 1847-49 . 3

Joel Boynton, 1850-62, '65, '70, '73 16

Jolin Q. A. Green, 1853-54, '63, '78, '8-1-87 8

Timothy Wilkins, 1855 1

Isaac Blaisdell, 1856-60, '62 6

Selar Simons, ISGI , 1

A bram Hutchins, 1863 1

J. M. Currier, 1863, '72

Sebra D. Bartlett, 1864-65 2

William Farrar, 1866-69 4

Sammel E. Scott, 1867

Nathaniel A. Taylor, 1868-69 . 2

George S. Skelton, 1869-71, '76-84 12

Samuel 1I, Robbins, 1872

Humphrey Prescott, 1873

Anstin Marsh, 1874, '77 .

Daniel W. Robbins, 1874-75, '88-90 5

Asa Nickles, 1876-83 . 8

Nathaniel Hutchinson, 1880, 1881, 1887 . 3

Albert S. Day, 1883 1

Jolın P. Davis, 1884-89 G

John E. Bull, 1885

Abel G. Hodgman, 1887 . 1

Warren HI. Blaisdell, 1890 1

Leonard M. Green, 1890 .

In the year 1781 the number of selectmen elected was five, with which exception the number annually elected has always been three.

Ebenezer Champney, 1853-54, '75

John H. Champney, 1866

William W. Morse, 1871 .

George H. Robbins, 1879, '86, '88-89

Sidney A. Bull, 1882

Calvin Heald, 1836-40, '43-44

William Durant, 1838

Benjamin Barrett, 1839, '42

727

CARLISLE.

The following is a list of names of persons who have served as representatives from the town :

Deacon Ephraim Robbins, 1790, 1806, 1807, 1808.

Asa Parlin, 1803 ; convention 178S. Paul Litchfield, 1809, 1810, 1811.

Timothy Heald, 1812.

Thomas lleald, 1815. Jonathan Heald, Jr., 1816.

John Heald, 1818, 1821, 1823, 1826, 1827, 1830.

Dr. John Nelson, 1824.

Cyrus Hleald, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835.

Benjamin Barrett, 1836 ; convention 1820.

Rev. George W. Stacy, 1837.

Calvin Heald, 1839, 1866.

Amos Spaulding, 1840, 1841.

Thomas Green, 1843, 1850.

Benjamin F. Ileald, 1848.

Jolin Jacobs, 1851; convention 1853.

Joel Boynton, 1852.

Anios T. Monroe, 1855.

Samuel B. Chamberlain, 1860.

Humphrey Prescott, 1871.

Sidney A. Bull, 1880.

The population of the town, each decade, since the year 1790, as supplied by the State census, is as follows :

1790 . 555

1840. 556

1800 634

1850 . 632

1810 . 672

1860 .

621

1820 . 681

1870 . 569

566 1880 . 478 1830

MILITARY .- The District of Carlisle had its birth in the middle of the Revolutionary period, and de- mands were frequently made on her for funds and men to supply her proportion of the quota for the army. She seems to have been willing to perform her obligations in this respect, and at a meeting of the inhabitants held by adjournment in the meeting- house, July 3, 1780, it was voted to raise the sum of thirty thousand pounds to be applied towards paying the soldiers and otherwise discharging such debts as may arise on account of the war.

Also the following proceedings as recorded of a meeting held February 26, 1781, for the purpose of raising men in response to a call of the Court for same, is but an illustration of what was frequently cccurring until the close of the war. After the choice of a moderator, " then the orders or Resolves of Court was Read Respecting Raising a number of meu to Serve in the Continental army for three years, or During the war with Britton.

" Voted to chuse a committee of seven to hire men. Chose Lieut. Isachar Andrews, Capt. Israel Heald, Timothy Wilkins, James Nickles, Zacheus Green Ephraim Robbins and Stephen Blood, Jr. Then Capt. Samuel Heald and Lieut. Isachar Andrews im- bodied the men present at sd meeting, and went Round in or1 to Se if any was Spirited to Inlist." None enlisted, however, and it was voted to adjourn the meeting until the following Monday at four o'clock P.M.

At the adjourned meeting it was voted that the selectmen divide the district into six classes, and re-

quire each class to procure a man to serve in the army.

Numerous instances appear on the town records where money was paid for various items for the benc- fit of the army, such as beef, corn, blankets, various kinds of provisions and necessities ; also, in several instances, a horse was purchased and paid for to be sent to the army.

The demands were frequent, and in the aggregate amounted to quite an expense to the district, as well as a heavy drain upon the men able to perform mili- tary duty.

The following list of names of men who served in the Revolutionary War from the District of Carlisle was procured from searching the Revolutionary rolls at the State House and the town records; doubtless they are approximately complete. The list, however, woold probably have been more than twice as long did it contain all the names of soldiers who served in the war that deserve to be credited to the limits of the district; but since more than four years had elapsed subsequent to the battle of Concord before the district was incorporated, all soldiers from with- in its limits, who enlisted previous to this date, were credited to the respective towns to which they then belonged.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 192

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034