History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 198

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 198

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The $1.00 bill, about two inches square, had on its face the Latin words " Depressa resurgit," which is, in our tongue, " The down-trodden rises."

Under the new Constitution of 1780 the vote in this town for Governor, taken on September 4th, gave the successful candidate, John Hancock, twenty-five ballots against two for James Bowdoin. " Esq. John Reed" was sent to the General Court in 1783 and granted five shillings per day for his services while he attended the court. The town chose a committee to give him instructions in relation to the return of ab- sentees and conspirators.

To be eligible to the office of representative at this time, onc must be an inhabitant of the town and be seized of a freehold of the value of £100 in the town or any estate to the value of £200. The representa- tive was chosen in the month of May, ten days at least before the last Wednesday. The members of the Executive Department were chosen on the first Monday of April, and inducted into office on the last Wednesday of May following.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

BEDFORD-(Continued).

MILITARY HISTORY. Shays' Rebellion and Subsequent Troubles-Civil War-Bedford's Honored Dead.

BEDFORD was reluctant in voting to adopt the Con- stitution, but having done it, she was true to its

provisions. In the County Convention at Concord, August 23, 1786, "to consult on matters of public grievance, under which the people labor," John Merriam and Timothy Jones represented the town. They were active in all measurcs adopted to quiet the minds of the people who attempted to oppose the government. Captain Christopher Page headed a large company of militia in Shays' Rebellion, and in the following year the town voted " to pay each man who went to Concord and Stow to join General Lin- coln six shillings per day."

Foreign troubles and the war with the Western In- dians were occasions for calls for soldiers by the Gen- eral Government, and the town voted on August 28, 1794, " to give each soldier that shall voluntarily en- list the sum of eighteen shillings as a bounty, and to make them up $8.00 per month, including the state pay, in case they are called upon to march, and for the time they are in actual service." The soldiers that enlisted were Moses Abbott, Jr., John Reed, Jr., Eleazer Davis, Jr., John Merriam, Jr., Job Webber, Asa Webber, William J. Lawrence and William Kemp.

In 1798 troubles with the French aroused the peo- ple in this town as elsewhere. Many leading citizens adopted and wore the constitutional badge of attach- ment to the Government. The town voted on No- vember 5th " that the Selectman be directed to show out to the officers from the town stock as much pow- der and ball and as many flints as the law requires for each soldier of said company on their inspection days, and also that the selectmen be directed to fur- nish cach soldier on muster days with sixteen car- tridges out of said town stock." The alarm of war with Great Britain in 1807 was an occasion for action, and the town voted " to make up to the soldiers that may voluntarily turn out in defence of our country, $14.00 per month as wages, if called into active ser- vice, and to give the men, ordered to be discharged from Captain Lane's Company, if they should volun- tarily turn out, $3.00 per man, as an encouragement to the same, whether they march or not."

December 27th the town "granted to Captain Lane's soldiers who should cnlist in the defence of our coun- try for the term of six months $13 per month as wages during the time they are in actual service."

The 1812 or Madison's war, was a time of anxiety and increased military duty. The order came for the Bedford company to march at once for the defence of Boston ; a night was passed in the preparation, women cookcd, while men and boys made cartridges. It was on a beautiful Sabbath morning of September that the fife and drum summoned the militia together at the old meeting-house, Captain David Reed in command. With saddened hearts the entire people assembled for a brief religious service. After words of exhortation and earnest prayer from the patriotic pastor, came the partings and the march.

The last person who lingered outside the meeting .

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house, and watched with tearful eyes the departing troops, was the venerable deacon, who, still suffering from the wounds received in the Revolution, felt most keenly the parting from his son. It required bnt a few days to prove that the call had been a mistaken one, and the company were gladly received to their homes.

In 1815 the Commonwealth reimbursed the town " for rations furnished the militia when called to Bos- ton."

Bedford saw but little of military life for nearly a half-century after General Jackson's victory at New Orleans.

The militia observed the spring "training," when officers were elected and the fall preparations for muster.

The full company of the town was in attendance at the reception tendered Marquis de Lafayette, in 1825, when the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument was laid. For some years the military duties were but little more than a dull routine, unless enlivened by a sham fight, ending in a representation of the sur- render by Lord Cornwallis to Washington. The town had no organized company after 1833. The sentiment of the town was with the Government in regard to the Mexican trouble. In March, 1847, res- olutions were adopted and placed upon the records of the town. They begin as follows :

" Resolved, -That we approve of the course our government has pursned in prosecuting the war with Mexico for the attainment of ne gotiations for an honorable peace."

The years that followed the Mexican trouble fur- nished important subjects for debate, and the citizens of this town organized a lyceum, where perfect free- dom of speech was enjoyed. The Fugitive Slave Law, the Kansas and Nebraska Bill and many kin- dred themes were earnestly discussed. The people heartily indorsed the acts of Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson and other unflinching defenders of the cause of freedom. The brutal attack of Preston Brooks upon Charles Sumner in the Senate Chamber, at Washington, was felt by the citizens of this town as a personal insult. A legal meeting of the voters was immediately called and resolutions adopted and placed upon the records.

The people carried out their bold sentiments in their public and private acts. The advocate of free- dom for the slave always secured a hearing, and the homes of leading citizens were open to those who, early or later, espoused the cause of the bondmen. In the fall of 1860, when the two political parties, " Democrat " and "Republican," were sub-divided into four, this town gave her support to the Republi- can, and gave a large per cent. of her votes for Abra- ham Lincoln.

In the months that followed, during which the "Southern Confederacy " was formed, there was a feeling of deep interest in this small town bordering upon excitement.

The attack upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, opened the War of the Rebellion and aroused a gen- eration that had never felt the devastations of war or learned the evolution of troops. The young men of Bedford, true to their ancestral record, began to en- list, and eleven had entered the Union Army before the close of the year. Among them was Cyrus Page, then sixty years of age, and still bearing the honorary title of captain, conferred upon him by the old militia company of the town.

But fifteen days after the outrage upon Sumter, a "Liberty Pole" was erected upon the " Common " or "Training-Field," Oliver W. Lane, a descendant of the Lanes of Indian and Revolutionary fame, contrib- uted the most towering pine of his forest ; every arti- san and workman joined in the rally on April 27th, and raised the pole, from which the flag of the Union was unfurled and waved daily during the years of bloody conflict, now raising the spirits of the people as it waved from its highest point, and anon hushing them to silence, as, from half-mast, it betokened a nation's sorrow.

On June 27th, 1861, two months after the unfurling of the flag, and directly beneath its folds, occurred the first loss of life in Bedford, indirectly caused by the war. The alarm had led to a very general practice of firearms, and a young man injudiciously discharged his pistol across the Common and killed a bright boy of nine years, Samuel T. Hughes. The first recorded action on the part of the town was a vote instructing the selectmen to draw from the treasury, according to their discretion, for the support of the families of vol- unteers and a tender of the free use of the town hall "to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society to hold their meetings to render aid to the sick and wounded sol- diers of our army."

This society did most valuable service through the war, continually contributing through the various Christian and Sanitary Commissions. Some of the women gave personal service as nurses in the camp. In August, 1862, a bounty of $100 was voted to each volunteer for nine months' service. In 1864 the town raised $624 to fill her quota. The sums raised by a vote of the town indicate but a fractional part of the money expended by her citizens in the cause. Not less than $5000 were contributed to the war by the town in addition to the long-continued drain by tax- ation. Besides the direct tax, there was the indirect or "Internal Revenue," which demanded, and vigi- lant officers collected rates upon almost every transac- tion. After the war closed, the Ladies' Aid Society turned its attention to procuring funds for the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of those who had died in the struggle.

About $1600 were earned and contributed for that purpose withewhich a suitable Scotch granite monu- ment has been erected in Shawshine Cemetery. The inscriptions are as follows :

"Soldiers' Memoriai, 1861-65. They gave their lives for us and their

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

country. Tho Ladies of Bodford pay this affoctionato Tribute to their memory.

"Albert L. Butler, died 1862 ; Charles W. Goodwin, died 1862; Clark C. Cutler, died 1862; Henry llosmer, died 1862; Thomas Isaac, died 1863 ; James Monroe, died 1863 ; Samnel W. Stearns, died 1863; Joshua Atwood, died 1864 : John Byron, died 1864 ; Charles Coudry, died 1864 ; William F. Gragg, died 1864 ; Warren G. Holbrook, died 1864 ; Charles W. Lunt, died 1864 ; Charles A. Saunders, died 1864.

Memorial day is sacredly observed on each annual return, and the rapidly increasing list of graves of those who served their country in the war receives the at- tention of a grateful people.

At the memorial service of 1887, immediately fol- lowing the death of Captain Cyrus Page, the follow- ing hymn was sung. It was composed for the occa- sion by Abram E. Brown, and " dedicated to the Memory of Captain Cyrus Page and other Brave men who honored Bedford in the war of the Rebellion: "

"All honor to our soldiers brave, Who left their home and kindred dear, Who nohly fought this land to save, Of the oppressors' rod to clear.

" Their mounds we'll deck with flowerets hright ; Their noble deeds to children tell ; Through passing years and ages' flight A country's pride their praise shall swell.

" The earthly file is narrowing fast, The ranks of Heaven are gaining there. Let's halt, and down our garlands cast, While for the living raise a prayer.

" In Thee, O God, we're trusting still, Our fathers' God, Thou too hast been, With joy we'll own Thy sovereign will, And following Thee, life's battle win."

There were enrolled as liable to do military duty in 1861, eighty names, and in 1862 the enrollment list reached eighty-seven.

In the army roll ninety names are registered to the credit of Bedford. Seventy-four of them were citizens of the town. Six were in the service of the navy.

CHAPTER LXXV.

BEDFORD-(Continued).

Financial Troubles-Old Tenor and Lawful Money-Slavery in Bedford- Bill of Sale of a Negro Boy in 1756.

BEDFORD was incorporated at the time when the currency of the Province was in a very uncertain condition. The General Court had been issuing pa- per money without an adequate provision to retain its nominal value; hence specie was growing scarce and the " Bills of Credit" were continually depreciating ; but as these bills were almost the only medium of cxchange, the people clamored for more and the ma- jority of the Legislature seemed ready to gratify them despite the opposition of the Royal Governor, which, in 1740, occasioned a severe quarrel. Each new issue of "Bills of Credit " caused a decline in the value of the currency. In 1730 they had sunk more than

half below their nominal value and the depreciation continued until 1750. The fluctuation in the value of this currency was a source of general embarrass- ment, and contracts involving annual salaries were fulfilled with difficulty by the most scrupulous.

In agreeing with Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first minister, the town voted "that our money shall be in proportion as it is now in valiacon, rising, fallin." The value at that time was eighteen shillings per ounce. The decline was so great that in 1749, the last year of the " Old Tevor " bills, the town voted to give Rev. Mr. Bowes £240 in place of £100, but he returned £20 for the use of the schools. In 1750 voted to give him " £50 13s. 4d. Lawful money."

The expectation of having the " Bills" exchanged for specie led many to hoard them, and it became difficult for the collector of taxes to get the dues of the Province, and the time for settling demands was necessarily extended. The following rhyme gives an idea of the change that was anticipated :

" And now Old Tenor, fare you well, No more such tattered rags we'll tell, New dollars pass and are made free ; It is a year of jubilee. Let us therefore good hushands he, And good old times we soon shall see."

The town paid for their minister's wood in 1749 35s. per cord " Old Tenor," and in the following year the price paid per cord was 4s. "Lawful money."

In 1749 the people worked out their highway "Rates," and were allowed during three summer months 14s. each man per day, and in the other months 8s. per day ; a yoke of oxen with cart 8s. per day, "Old Tenor." In 1750 the allowance in "Law- ful money " for a man was 2s. per day until the last of September, and in the rest of the year 1s. per day. For oxen and cart the allowance was 1s. 4d. per day. The scarcity of money was felt by the people pos- sessed of property as well as others, and trade was carried on largely by barter. In the list of tax-payers reported in arrears in March, 1753, the names of leading citizens are found. By a law of the General Court the bills of credit were redeemed at a rate that was about one-fifth less than their lowest current value-that is at fifty shillings for an ounce of silver, which was valued at 6s. 8d., or an English crown.

Here originated the "Old Tenor" reckoning. March 31, 1750, marked the era of " Lawful money," after which date all debts were contracted on the specie basis of 6s. 8d. per ounce of silver and three ounces of silver were equal to £1.

With the currency restored to a metallic basis and to a uniforin value the people were free from all such trouble for more than twenty years. The fluctuating state of the currency, dwelt upou at length in the mil- itary section, made it difficult to adjust the ministe- rial rates in the years of the Revolution as it was in the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bowes. In May, 1778, the town added to Rev. Mr. Penniman's salary, for the

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BEDFORD.

year ensuing, £66 13s. 4d. and reimbursed him for bad money paid to him by the collector, princi- pal and interest amounting to £9 10s. In 1780, "on account of the decline in currency, the town gave hit fifty bushels of Rye and fifty bushels of Indian Corn, to be delivered in January, 1781." In 1791 the selectmen were authorized to sell the Continental money at their discretion and the treasury was relieved of its burdensome paper for a nominal sum. £1032 98. 6d. " old tenor" sold for £2 3d. 2f. A similar difficulty was encountered in the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Stearns, The town gave him a choice at first of $333.33} as an annual salary or the same amount in beef, pork, rye and Indian corn, but past experience led some of the people to object to an in- definite salary and Mr. Stearns accepted of the defi- nite sum ; his letter of acceptance was accompan- ied with the following : "Resting assured that the town will not willingly see me suffer by reason of the depreciation of the currency hereafter." Through the depreciation that soon followed, Mr. Stearns was obliged to sell land and went in debt for about five hundred dollars before he appealed to the town.

November 16, 1801, the town voted to lend him one thousand dollars, without interest, so long as he should supply the desk. In 1808 the town voted " to add the sum of three hundred dollars to his salary in semi-annual payments of fifty dollars each." They also added two cords of wood to his annual portion. This was both just and generous, and occasioned by the change in cost of supplies aud the increase of the pastor's family. A fragmentary journal kept by Rev. Samuel Stearns in the first year of his ministry in Bedford shows one hundred and twenty-eight donations of family supplies during eight months. This shows how the minister was able to bring up and educate his large family.

Slavery existed in Bedford, as elsewhere, though not attended with the evils that accompanied the in- human system in many parts of the country. The atmosphere of New England, especially of Massachu- setts, was not favorable to its growth. Long before the spirit of liberty manifested itself in resistance to the mother country, and long before the adoption of the Constitution of 1780, individuals of Bedford had freed their slaves, who in the maiu were held as family servants, but were regarded as property, and in some families bought and sold like cattle. The extreme cau- tion taken by towns in general, and this in particular, to prevent the settlement of paupers, obliged a person who desired to free his slaves, to give bonds that the freed persons should not become public charges. This requirement, no doubt, deterred some from giv- ing freedom to their slaves, who were fully conscious of the injustice. "March ye 23, 1761, Col. John Lane gave a bond to Stephen Davis, Town Treasurer, to save and indemnify the town of Bedford from any charge that may arise by reason of his negro man be- ing set free." Colonel Lane was assessed in that year

for his " negro man's minister's rate, 28 6ª." A citi- zen of Bedford has the original, of which the follow- ing is a copy :

"To Mr. Harrison gray, treasurer for the province of the Massachu- setts bay, sir, be pleased to give Mr. Moses Abbott, the bearer hereof, all the wages that is due to me for my negroman, torrey more, being in the county service in the year 1757, under capte peaser till he got to the cascel, and then went to Crown point under Capt. elinglesh, or give me an order to Mr. Moses abbott, consteble of bedford, and this receipt shall be your discharge, and you will oblige your humble servant,

"JOHN LANE."

It is evident that slaves had been kept in the Lane family, as well as in others, from their earliest settle- ment in this territory, and that Torrey was a family name for the colored race in their possession, as ap- pears from the following copy of the original :

"This may certify to all persons that I, Mary Lynden, of Boston, do sell all my right in a boy called Torrey, to John Lane, given to me ac- cording to a county court record 1676. MARY LYNDEN."

The following is copied from the original bill now filed in the towu :

"Nathaniel Tay sold his negro to Mr. John Page for twenty pound in money and six pound in bill. NATHANIEL TAY, 1691."

In 1764, Captain James Lane gave a bond freeing his slave. The records furnish other instances of slaves being set free by the voluntary action of the citizens of this town. Although treated as property, the colored people were permitted to enjoy many privileges with their masters. They had seats as- sigued them in the meeting-house. The rite of bap- tism was administered, and they were admitted to full membership in the church, upon "owning the cove- nant." The church records furnish proof like the fol- lowing :

"Baptized, Ishmael, a negro (adult), July ye 4th, 1736." " Baptized, Quimbo, a negro man who confessed, etc., July ye 30, 1751." " Baptized, Torrey, a negro man, January ye 12, 1751-52 " "Baptized, Abraham, son of Jack, negro, Nov. ye 11, 1753." "Admitted into full communion, Hannah Drury, wife of Zebedee Drury and Lois Burdo (a negro), Sept. ye 5th, 1742."

The register of deaths kept by Rev. Mr. Bowes has entries as follows, which suggest ownership :

" Nov. ye 2, 1737, Cuff, a negro child belonging to Mr. Zacheus Whitney." " Aug. 3, 1749, Domire, a negro boy, who belonged to Mr. John Lane."

There is evidence that slaves were retained by some families until 1780, when the Constitution adopted by the State declared in Article I, " All meu are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights," etc. When the articles of the Constitution were acted upon by the town, there were three opposing votes to Article I, and the military records show that three slaves were serviug in the army, while by the treasurer's returns of those years it is seen that Captain Moore collected bounty and pay for services of Cambridge (a negro man). Other similar records are found.

There is no evidence that any of the slaves of this town were permitted to accompany their masters to Concord on April 19, 1775, or that they were then en- rolled as liable to do military duty; but when it be-

838

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

came apparent that war had really begun, and calls for men followed each other in rapid succession, the slaves were pressed into the service. Cambridge Moore, Caesar Prescott and Cæsar Jones were early rc- corded as doing military duty, to the credit of their masters. When one campaign or tour was over, they were put into another, and so continued in the service until 1780. In December of that year they entered the army as free men, and received bounty and pay like their white neighbors. May 11, 1782, Cæsar Jones signed, by " his X mark," a receipt for "sixty pound, E. money, as a bounty, to serve in the Continental Army for the term of three years." " A free negro," is the note appended. The following document is treasured in the town :

"Kuow all men by these Presents-That I, Joseph Fitch, of Bedford, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the massachusetts hay in New England, Gentleman, for and in consideration of the Sum of Twenty-Four Pounds, Lawful money of New England, to me in band Paid at and before the Sealing & Delivery of these Presents, hy Joseph Hartwell, of Bedford ahovesaid, Yeoman, the Receipt whereof I Do hereby acknowledge, Have hargained & Sold & hy these Preseuts Do Bargain & Sell unto the Said Joseph. Hartwell, a Negro boy about Five years old, Called Jefferree, now living at the said Joseph Hartwells, to have & to hold the Said Negro hoy hy these presents Bargained the Sold unto the said Joseph Hartwell, his Executors & Administrators & as- signs for Ever. & I, the said Joseph Fitch, for my Self, my Executors and Administrator's do warrant the above Sd Negro hoy unto the Said Josepli Hartwell, his Executors, Administrators & Assigns, against me, and said Joseph Fitch my Executors, Administrators & Assigns, & against all & every other Person and Persons What so ever, Shall and Will warrant & Defend by these Presents of which Negro boy, I, the said Joseph Fitch, have put the Sd Joseph Hartwell in full Possession hy Delivering Sd Negro at the Sealing hereof unto the Sª Joseph Hartwell. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set iny Hand & Seal this Sixth Day of July, Anno Domini, One thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Six, & in the twenty-Ninth year of his majisties Reign, &c. "

" Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of

" HUMPHREY PIERCE,

her " SARAH X. PIERCE, inark

" JOSEPH FITOH."

It is doubtful if slaves set at liberty in advanced age, entirely inexperienced in caring for themselves, were benefited thereby. The records show that sev- eral of them became dependent upon public charity. They were treated with as much consideration by those in charge of the poor as were their white com- panions in misfortune. In 1820 "The Selectmen sold at vendue the wearing apparel of Dinah, a wo- man of color, deceased, amounting to $7.84; also bought a Baise gown for the use of Violet, a colored pauper, for $1.60, leaving a balance of $6.24." Violet was the last freed slave who died in this town. Shc was supposed to have lived a full century, and died in 1842. John Moore, a prominent citizen of the town, had slaves of both sexes, and Violet is thought to have been the one for whom he made provision in his will in the year 1807, thus : " to daughters Mary Fitch and Lydia Bowers, the net of my personal cs- tate, on condition that they support my negro girl in sickness and health, through life, and give her a de- cent burial." Violet's unusually long life may ac-

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 198

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226