History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 56

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 56

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Danvers and the State Almshouse in Tewksbury ; to Boston, Lawrence, Temple, Lyndeborough, Peterbor- ough and other places. Spread out beneath him are the fertile fields of the neighboring towns, and, most attractive of all, a full view of the city of Lowell, with its vast manufactories, whose graceful chimneys tower aloft, with its numerous church spires and its thousand structures crected by the hand of industry.

Besides the beauties which thus meet the eye, the hill has to the citizen of Lowell a historic charm. Its very name suggests the fact that in the old days of Indian warfare, when the powerful Mohawks threat- ened with relentless hand to destroy the weaker eastern tribes, the Pawtuckets, whose homes were on the banks of the Merrimack, under their chief, Wannalancet, erected a fort upon this hill, surrounding it with pali- sades. Hence the name of the hill and the park.

The entrance to the park is commanded by two massive columns of granite about fourteen feet high, on each of which is the name of the park, together with a tablet on which is the following inscription : "This park was presented to the city of Lowell in 1886 by . Emily and Elizabeth Rogers, daughters of Zadock Rogers, Sr., who bought the farm including Fort Hill in 1805."

APPENDIX TO LOWELL.

The following paragraphs were by accident omitted from their proper place-namely, at the close of the memoir of J. C. Ayer, on page 105 :

No memoir of Mr. Ayer can be written without re- cording something of the character of the wonderful woman who was his wife, and who played so lofty a part in all his purposes and achievements. Of extra- ordinary judgment and a mental calibre capable of grasping any subject, she was the constant companion and adviser of her husband in all his varied projects and occupations. He kept her daily informed of all the details of his plans and business, and more than once was he turned aside from a road leading to catastrophe by her advice. As evidence of Mr. Ayer's estimate of her capabilities it may be stated that he appointed her one of the trustees under his will. Of great self-possession and strength of character combined with clearness of iutellect, no estimate can be placed upon the importance of the part played by this re- markable lady in the drama we have just recited. A single incident will show her self-possession and power of will. In the fall of 1889, while driving iu the streets of Paris in company with Lady Clarke, she left her carriage to take her accustomed exercise. In crossing a strect she was knocked down and run over by a cab, and both her arms were broken. Without calling for the assistance of any one, she resumed her seat in her carriage, and drove back to her hotel ; and although both arms hung limp by her sides, she went alone to her room, and the boy in the elevator did not notice that anything had happened to her. She furthermore took nothing to relieve the pain or produce unconsciousness while the bones were being set.

Added to these qualities, she possesses great gentle- ness and amiability, and has always been an excep- tionally devoted and affectionate mother.

P.3

239

CHELMSFORD.

CHAPTER XV.

CHELMSFORD.

BY HENRY S. PERHAM.

EARLY HISTORY.

THE first movement toward the settlement of Chelmsford was made in 1652 by some citizens of Woburn and Concord who petitioned the Court for the privilege of examining a tract of land on the " other side of Concord River."

Woburn and Concord were the towns then nearest to this tract, the latter having been the first inland town in Massachussetts.

The examination of this tract was followed by a petition May 10, 1653, for a grant of the quantity of six miles square, "which bordereth upon Merrimack River near to Paatucket, which we do find a very comfortable place to accommodate a company of God's people upon ; that may with God's blessing and assistance live comfortably upon and do good in that place for church and commonwealth." Signed to this were the names of Benjamin Butterfield, John Parker, Isaac Learned, James Parker, George Farley, Thomas Chamberlin, Joseph Parker, John Hosmer, Jacob Parker, Henry Foster, William Chamberlin, John Nuttinge, Edmund Chamberlin, John Baldwirge, Richard Griffin, James Blood, John Smedley, Roger Draper, William Fletcher, Thomas Adams, William Hartwell, Robert Proctor, William Buttrick, Baptist Smedley, Richard Hildreth, Thomas Briggam, Daniel Bloggett, John Hall, William Hall.

This tract petitioned for included the fishing- grounds of the Indians, at Pawtucket, upon the Mer- rimack, where the city of Lowell now stands. Gookin wrote that this was an "ancient and capital seat of Indians." Rev. John Eliot, of Roxbury, was then engaged in those efforts to convert the Indians to Christianity, from which he came to be known as the Apostle to the Indians. He had visited Pawtucket as early as 1647, in company with Captain Willard, of Concord, and some of the Christian Indians of his own neighborhood. Again in the spring of 1648 : "At that season of the year there was annually a great collection of Indians at this spot, a famous fishing-place, and they furnished him with large aud- iences-Indians that came from various quarters."

The good Eliot, who was mindful as well for the temporal as the spiritual welfare of his dusky charges, petitioned the Court for a grant of land for the Indians. The following answer of the Court was to both petitions :

"MAY 18, 1653.

"In ans' to the peticon of seuerall of the inhabitants of Concord and Woobourne for the erecting of a new plantacon on Merremacke River, neere to Pawtuckett, the court doth graunt the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne the track of land menconed in theere peticon, excepting some part of it joyDing to Merremacke River : Provided, that the sajd pe- ticoners shall sufficiently breake vp full so much land for the Indjans

in such place as they shall appointe wth in such plantacon as shall there he appointed them, as they haue of planting ground about a hill called Robbins Hill, and that the Iudjans shall have vse of theere planting ground, aforesajd, free of all damages, vntill the peticoners shall have broken vp the land for the Iudiaus as aforesajd.

" 2ly. For the plantacon peticoned for by Mr. Eljott, the court judgeth it meete to be graunted them, wth the exceptions and provissions afore- mentioned, and for the stating of both, that Capt Willard and Capt Johnsou be appointed to lay out the sajd plantacous or touneshipps, the English at the charge of the peticoners, the Indjans at the charge of the countrje, wthin one mouth after the end of this sessions, that neither of the plantacons be retarded.

"3ly. That if the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne shall not, wtbiu two yeares, setle a competent noumber of familjes there, by build- ing and plauting vppon the sajd tract of land twenty familjes or vp- wards, so as they may be in capacitje of injoying all the ordjnances of God there, then the graunt to be vojd."

Of this committee, which was entrusted by the Court to lay out these grants, Captain Edward John -. son, of Woburn, was the author of "The Wonder- working Providence of Zion's Savior in New Eng- land," a valuable historical work which epitomizes the Puritan philosophy. Simon Willard, of Concord (the ancestor of two presidents of Harvard College), was the gallant captain who rode to the relief of Brookfield when it was assaulted by the Indians Au- gust 2, 1675.

A few families came in and occupied this territory without waiting for their petition to be acted upon, probably in 1652, as the first birth is recorded early in 1653, viz., "Joseph Parker, the son of Joseph and Marget, his wife [ ] 30 daye of March : 1653." One record bears an earlier date, viz .:

"Sarah Parker, dau. of Jacob and Sarah, his wife [ ], Janeware 14 : 1653." But the reform in the calendar, by Pope Gregory, had not then been adopted in New England. By the old style then in vogue the year began March 25th ; therefore January, 1653, old style, would be January, 1654, new style. The usual form of writing dates between January and March was 1652.

Allen gives it as a tradition that Joseph Parker was the first person born in town. One other birth and a marriage were recorded the same year.

The petitioners for the grant of the township did not all take up their abode here, and some who took up land soon disposed of their possessions and went elsewhere.

The Parkers were from Woburn. There were five brothers. Of the four whose names were among the petitioners, none of them long remained in Chelms- ford. James went, about 1660, to Groton, where he became the leading man of the town. Joseph also went to Groton and after to Dunstable. Jacob was the first town clerk of Chelmsford, but soon removed to Malden, and John went to Billerica. The Cham- berlins were also from Woburn. Thomas and Ed- mund settled in Chelmsford and William in Billerica. John Baldwin and George Farley, also from Woburn, settled in Billerica. The first birth in that town was Samuel, the son of George Farley. James Blood and John Nutting took up land here, but both soon went

240

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to Groton. The latter was killed by the Indians in the assault upon that town in 1676.

Abraham Parker, the elder of the brothers, eame early with his sons, Moses, John and Isaac, and re- mained in this town.

A tradition,1 which is worthy of eredenee, says that Abraham's wife was the first woman who " baked and brewed in Chelmsford."

Sagamore's planting field is shown upon the north- east. The description which aeeompanied the plan is, unfortunately not preserved. When the adjoining territory came to be oceupied the lines of the town were found to be so indefinite as to oeeasion an un- certainty as to the eorreet boundaries.

The Nashoba Indians had obtained a grant of the section which is now Littleton, through the good offi-

ANDOVER

PAWTUCKET T

INDIA LAND

EAST

JO SAGANO.

CONCORD RIVER

NORTH

CHELMSFORD

CONCORD

MERIMAK RIVER

TADMUCK

GRAUTTEN

NASHAWAYE

THE PLAN OF CHELMSFORD FROM MASSACHUSETTS ARCHIVES.

The plan of the town as laid out by the committee, as here shown, was engraved from a traeing from the original in the Massachusetts Archives, Aneient Plans, vol. 112, p. 81. The space marked "India Land" was the tract reserved for the Indians. Joe

ees of the apostle, Eliot, about the time of the grant to the Pawtuckets. At the time of King Philip's War the Indians mostly abandoned their reservation, and it was eneroached upon by people from adjoining towns, mostly from Groton. Boundary controversies grew out of this. The Chelmsford line bordered upon this traet for a considerable distanee.

1 Letter of Jonathan Perham, 1821.

241

CHELMSFORD.

Controversies also arose in another quarter between Chelmsford, Concord, Billerica and the Blood farms. In 1694 the selectmen of Chelmsford and Concord united in a petition to the General Court for a com- mittee to examine and settle these rival claims. This was done and the claims of Billerica were estab- lished.

Finally, in 1697, the town chose Captain Bowers and Thomas Parker a committee "to act on the towns be halfe in all things nesery as to the finding out the first grant of the town and to do what soauer is nedfull to secuer the town as it is bounded"

They obtained the following deposition of one of the committee, then living in Groton, who assisted in laying out the town forty-five years before :

" Groton, nonmber : 24 : 1698 capten Jeams parker being of full age testyfy and say that the honered Jenarall conrte grated a sarten track of land for a plantation nowe caled chelmsford and impowered majear symon wilard and capten edward Johnson as a committe, which com. mitte came with full power to lay ont sd plantation and did se sd planta- tion layd ont to ther content capten John Shearmon being the artes, did lay out sd plantation begining at a riner comonly caled conkard riner bonnded with a stake npon the land caled wamaset land and so runing on a lyne by marked tres to a heape of stones and to nashoba plantation runing npon nashoba line to a great pine-tre and so runing on a strayt line oner a pond caled stonny brook pond to a pine-tre marked with C and G and so oner sd brook to a heape of stones and so runing on the sonth syd of a great hill on the north syd of sd brook and oner sd brook to a great pine-tre and so to sd stake by conkard riuer thus sd committe and sd arttes layd ont sd plantation and reseued full sattes- facttion for ther sarues therin: and did ingage to make a tru return to the honared conrt of ther laying ont sd plantation : and forder sd parker do the testyfy and say that hinslef Thomis adams Wilyam flecher and Isack larnit ware the committe chosen by the petetinors of sd land to se sd plantation layd ont : this taken npon outh befoer me this 24 of noumber : 1698

" THOMIS HINCHMAN, Justes.

"This abone is a true coppey of the origanall recorded by me, sollo- man Keyes, tonne clerk the 5 day of desember 1698 " 1

It is impossible to reconcile this description, and the lines as settled between Chelmsford and Billerica, in 1701 (in which those towns joined for several miles), with the plan. It will be seen, however, that Chelmsford extended from the Concord River on the east to Stony Brook Pond (now called Forge Pond) on the west. Following the description from there, "over sd brook to a heap of stones," -- the northwest corner,-" and so running on the south side of a great hill"-either Kissacook or Snake Meadow Hill- " on the north side of said brook "-Stony Brook- " and over said brook to a great pine tree " -- the northeast corner. Allen says that the latter bound was at the glass factory, which stood near what is now Baldwin Street, in Lowell, nearly opposite West Pine Street. Although I know of nothing improba- ble in this statement of Allen's, his other descriptions of the town lines are so manifestly erroneous that little reliance can be placed upon it.

As soon as these few pioneers become established in their new home they set about to provide for the religious wants of the community.

In September, 1654, propositions were made to the

church of Wenham and their pastor, Rev. John Fisk, to remove to this place. An account of these nego- tiations in the quaint diction of the time has been preserved in the handwriting of Mr. Fisk :

" A day was set of meeting at Chelmsford.

" Vpon the sd day set divers of ye Brethren accompanied the Pastor oner vnto chelms. where ye Comittee & divers others were present. A view was taken of ye place. The Brethren prsent satisfyed themselves aboute theire accommodations, & proposalls were then made to ye pastor for his accommodation & yeerely mayntenance, as to be tended vnto him by consent of ye whole of Inhabitants & in their name by ye Com- ittee."

Soon after their return to Wenham the major part. of the church, seven in number, with their pastor, de- cided to accept Chelmsford's proposals. But at this. stage of the proceedings, for some unexplained rea- son, the negotiations were broken off. "Thus the matter Lay dormant as twere all winter till ye 1st mº. 55, at what time Bro : Read coming ouer enformed vs in such wise here at Wenham, as therevpon both ye P. & ye sª engaged brethren demurred vpon ye pro- ceedings & some yt had sold heere at Wenham, re- deemed their accommodations agayne into their pos- session and a Letter was sutably sent by Br. Read to acquainte ye Chelmsf. comittee how things stood & advised to stead themselves elsewhere."

The matter was not abandoned, however ; several letters passed between them. And in June, 1655, " Jsa. Lernet, Sim : Thompson & Tho : Adams " went with letters from the people of Chelmsford, entrusted " with full power to them to treate & finally to deter- mine the busines depending betwene both parties." It was finally decided " to refer the matter to counsell and ye parties agreed vpon were Mr. Endicott, Gov- ernor; M' Mather, Mr Allen, of Dedhain ; M' Cob- bet, M' Sherman Capt. Johnson, of Wooburne who determined the case for Chelmsford.

" This case thus determined : on either side prep- aration was made for ye Removal of the church.

" Accordingly about ye 13th of 9mo. 55, There were met at Chelmsford, the pastor with ye Engaged Brethren of Wenham Church, viz., Ezdras Read, Edw. Kemp, Austin Killam, Ser : Foster, Geo : Byam & Rich Goldsmith, Seuen in all To whom such of the Brethren of Wooburne & Concord Ch : late at Wenham, Now in Removing to Chelmesford, pre- sented themselves & Testimony Giuen were by an vnanimous vote Recejved into fellowship They be- ing ye greater number in way of [ ] complyance a Relation passes [on] either side, as each one rela- tion by [word] viz. :

Membre. Recd.

" Isaack Lernett (he dyed 8 of 10, 57) 1 Simon Thompson (he died about [at Ooburne]) 2 Wm. Underwood 3 Abram Parker 4 Benj. Butterfield 5

Tho : Chamberlin .6

Next received Dan. Blogget, who brought letters of dismission from the ch : at Canibridge .7

"So after this the Seals of the Supper administered and there were

admitted by vote these members of other Churches, to communion with

1 Copied from original record, page 56.

16-if

2.42

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

na in these Seals: Mr. Griffin, Wm. Fletchor and his wife, Tho : Adams) and his wife, Br. Vndrwood's wife (Edw. Spalding), Bro : Butterfield's wife, Bro : Chamberlin's wife, Edm : Chamberlin's wife, Abram Parker's wife, Jos. Parker's wife, Isa. Lernet's wife, Sim : Thompson's wife.

" 8. Since Recd, into fellowship was Jacob Parker

"9. Tho: Adams and Edw. Spalding on 27 of 2 56."

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING for the choice of officers to govern the town affairs and to provide for the sup- port of the church was held in November, 1654, at the house of William Fletcher. This is said to have been the first frame house in town. It stood a few rods east of the house of the late Ephraim Crosby, upon land which has continued in the possession of the Fletcher family to the present time.

The following is the record of this meeting :

" The : 22d : the : 9th : month : 1654.

" At a meeting then at William Fletcher's Hous there was chosen to officiate in Ordering the Publick affairs of the Place by the Consent of the Major part of the Town for this present year ensuing are as fol- loweth :

" Esdras Read : Edward Spaulding : William Fletcher : Isaac Lerned, Simon Thompson: William Uuderwood: Thomas Adams.

" We give to Mr. Fisk Thirty acres of meadow and Thirty Acres of Plowable Land for the acomidation of him for his most conveniancy : And we do agree and Order that he shall have a hous built for him Thirty-eight foot in Length & Twenty foot in bredthi, with three fire Rooms, the Chimneys built with Brick or Stone : and we promise to pay to Mr. Fisk, Fifty Pounds for the first year; And we promise to pay his maintinance as the Lord shall enable us for the future."

It is uncertain at this day where Mr. Fisk's house stood, but I think it was on or near the site of Wil- son's Block.

In all the foregoing transactions we see revcaled the deep religious character of the founders of this town. The clause in the first petition for the grant, that "they find a comfortable place to accommodate a company of God's people upon," and the condition of the grant that they settle a competent number of families . . . as may be in capacity for enjoying all the ordinances of God there." And their action in submitting the question of the removal of the Wenham Church to a council composed of the Governor and some of the Colonies' most eminent di- vines, are acts consistent with that theoeratic scheme of government which "sought to erect a common- wealth to be composed of a united body of believers."

The Wenham company was a great accession to the town. Especially the influence of Rev. Mr. Fisk in shaping and guiding the affairs of the infant settle- ment cannot be estimated. 1 He was born in the parish of St. James, Suffolk County, England, about the year 1601. His parents sent him to the grammar school near their home and after to Immanuel College, Cambridge, where he took his first degree. He then studied for the ministry and entered upon his favorite work. The persecution of the non- conformists obliged him to abandon the ministry. He turned his attention to the study of physic, and, after passing an examination, engaged in practice. He came to New England in 1637. To avoid the fury of his persecutors he was obliged to go on board

the vessel in disguise. "He came well stocked with servants and all sorts of tools for husbandry and carpentry and with provisions to support his family in a wilderness threc ycars, out of which he charitably lent a considerable quantity to the country, which he then found in the distresses of a war with the Pequot Indians." His mother died on the passage and his infant child soon after.

"2 Hc taught the Charlestown grammar school and after in Salem the first grammar school in that city." He acted as pastor in Wenham for about fourtecn years. "Twenty years did he shine in the golden candlestick of Chelmsford, a plain but an able . and useful preacher of the gospel; rarely, if ever, by sickness hindered from the exercises of his ministry."

He was physician as well as pastor and Cotton Mather says of him, "Among the first preachers and writers which rendered the primitive times of New England happy, was one who might be called the beloved physician ; one who might also be given the eulogy which the ancients think was given to Luke- a brother whose praise was in the Gospel, throughout all the churches. This was Mr. John Fiske."

Of those who came with Mr. Fisk, Mr. Thomas Hinchman became perhaps the leading man of the town. As deacon of the church, deputy to the court, trustee for the Indians, and leader of the military, he exerted a wide influence. He was also probably the most wealthy man of the town. Although he left no family so far as we know, his name has been remem- bered. One citizen now living was named for him- Edwin Henchman Warren. Esdras Read soon re- moved to Boston, where he died in 1680. The Spald- ings and Byams have continued prominent names in town to the present time. Austin Killam and Rich- ard Goldsmith both died in Wenham. The latter was killed by lightning May 13, 1673, while engaged in conversation with Rev. Mr. Higginson, who had just returned from the church.

The second town-meeting was held "month first Day 24th 1655. William Fletcher is chosen Consta- ble: Isaac Lerned is chosen Sergeant of the band : Simon Tomson is chosen Clerk of the Band :

"It is ordered that the first Second Day of the first, ·month Shall be observed by all the householders of the town from year to year for the Chusing of all annuall officers belonging to the Town as the Select- men or Committee, Deputy for the Court : Constable; The three men to end all small causes under Forty Shill- ings, Surveyors for the high-ways Overseers of the fences and Swine and to meet at the meeting-hous by nine a clock in the morning and for the first hours non-appearance twelve pence and for a whole Days Absence two Shillings."

Allen states that the third town-mecting was " held at the meeting-housc agreeable to former vote."

2 Ch. Manual Wenham.

1 Allen.

243

CHELMSFORD.

It is not stated 1 in the record where this meeting was held. It is probable that the meeting-house was rot built for several years. In 1662 a rate was levied for the "meeting-house for ye Towne £100-8." And the two years previous considerable sums were raised relative to the same object.

INCORPORATION .- The town was incorporated May 29, 1655, by the following act :

"Vppon informacon from Major Willard, by a letter from Esdrag Read, Edward Spalden, Wm. Fletcher, etc., inhabitants of a new plauta- con, tbat the nonmber of inhabitants, according to the time prixt in the Conris grannt, were there settled at tbeire reqnest, the Court doth graunt the name thereof to be called Chelmsford."

The incorporation of Billerica and Groton bear the same date.

Chelmsford was probably named for that town in England. President John Adams, who was from the same family as Samuel and Thomas Adams of this town, wrote in his diary that " Chelmsford was prob- ably named in compliment to Mr. Hooker, who was once minister of that town in Essex."

It is pleasant to feel that in bestowing a name upon the town its founders may have been moved by a sympathy with the enlightened democratic views of the great preacher who founded Connecticut; the author of "the first-written constitution known to history that created a government, and it marked the beginnings of American democracy, of which Thomas Hooker deserves more than any other man to be called the father." 2

SAW-MILL .- As soon as the town was fairly or- ganized measures were taken in the following action for the establishment of a saw-mill:

" 1656, July Day ye third. At a Public meeting of the whole town, it is Granted to Mr. Samnel Adams in Consideration of Setting np a Saw-mill: and thereby Snpliing the Town with Boards at three Shillings the hundred, or the Sawing of one Board log for the providing and bringing of another to be Redy to work by the next March ensning. In consideration Whereof it is hereby Granted to tbe Sd Mr. Adams to have the Sum of Four hundred and fifty acres of Land npon the Sontb Side of the meadow belonging to the Sd Mr. Adams, called brook meadow ; Far- ther that the Sd Mr. Adams Shall have Liberty to make use of the Pines upon the Common. And to hold the fore Sd Land to him and his beirs for ever."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 56

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