History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 66

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 66

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In March, 1677, Wannalancit informed him that

a public park, and is now the delightful resort of thousands of people for pleasurable purposes.

1 Gookin's Hist. Coll. Vol. 1, page 187.

2 King Philip was killed August, 1676, and the war soon closed.

282

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the French and Mohawks had entered into a league against the English, and that they were up the river, at Souhegan. Consequently a party of forty scouts under Lieut. Richardson, was raised to traverse the Merrimack Valley, to protect the inhabitants. In 1686 Wannalancit, with those Indians residing at Pawtucket Falls, Wamesit, Nashua, Concord, Groton, Lancaster and Dunstable, sold all their land to Jona- than Tyng and others.1

The last record of Wannalancit to be found is that of the General Court, which, in 1697, placed him un- der the care of Jonathan Tyng, and allowed twenty pounds for keeping him ; but it is thought by many that he retired to the St. Thomas tribe in Canada, and ended his days with them.

KING PHILIP'S WAR .- About the 18th of March, 1676, the Indians under King Philip attacked the inhabitants of Dracut, and three or four houses were burned, including that of Edward Coburn. The party of Indians numbered about forty. The inhabitants escaped across the Merrimack River to Chelmsford, but the Indians pursued, firing at them as far as the river.

The English returned the fire, and a few of the men who had guns and ammunition kept the savages at bay until the others had crossed, when they also were able to cross in safety. On the 15th of April, 1676, another attack was made, and some fourteen or fifteen houses were burned, but no lives were lost on the part of the inhabitants.2 It was during the same year, 1676, that two of the sons of Samuel Varnum were killed by the Indians. History and tradition give us the details of the affair as follows:

One morning, about March 18, 1676, while cross- ing the river from Chelmsford, in a boat, with his two sons and daughter, to milk the cows, and attended by a guard of soldiers, they were fired upon by the Indi- ans lying in ambush, and the two sons, who were at the oars, were killed. One fell back into the arms of his sister sitting behind him. The soldiers were so alarmed that they did not return the fire until called upon by Mr. Varnum, who fired, exclaiming, "We must not let dead men lie at the oars!" The sons were buried in Howard's field, near the river. The In- dians fled, uncertain of the result of their attack.' This occurred some time during the spring or summer of 1676, previous to the close of Philip's War.

"February 25, 1675-6, an attack was made upon Chelmsford by the Indians, and several houses de- stroyed. In consequence of this Colburn's garrison on the east side of the river was strengthened, but nearly all the settlements were deserted." (Fox's " Hist. Dunstable.")

A small garrison had been maintained at Licut. Henchman's house from Aug., 1675; but in April,

1676, the Governor and Council ordered a fort to be built at Pawtucket Falls for the better security of the people living on the frontier; which was immediately done, and it was placed under the command of Capt. Henchman upon receiving news of the approach of the enemy.

This was an effectual check to the enemy; and after the death of Philip, which occurred in Aug., 1676, the settlers returned to their deserted homes and began in good earnest to obtain a livelihood.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR .- During the French and Indian War, which began in 1755, two boys, Robert and Joseph Coburn, sons of Robert Coburn, of Dracut, while after their cows one night, were captured by the Indians and carried off to Canada. It was the custom of these Indians to amuse them- selves in winter by skating on the lake. Frequently a large number of them would join company and each one use the skates in turn. One day they put the skates upon Robert to see how he would manage with them. He slipped and tumbled down and rolled about, which made fine sport for them. It pleased them so much to see him tumble about that they frequently allowed him to exercise himself on their skates. One day, when Robert had decoyed them a considerable distance from where they had stacked their guns, he rose upon his feet, an expert skater, made a circuit of the stack of guns, and having secured one with ammunition, turned his back upon them and bade them good-bye. They ran for their guns, powwowed, shouted and fired at him, but the balls only whistled past him on the ice. He was soon out of their reach.

After a long and tedious journey, and much suffer- ing, he reached an English garrison and was restored to his home and friends. Joseph did not succeed in escaping from them and no information was ever re- ceived concerning him.4

INDIAN CURIOSITIES .- Many Indian curiosities have been found in Dracut and preserved. Flint- stone arrows are still found on a piece of land owned by the writer. Stone chisels, stone axes, mortars and pestles, vessels made of soap-stone and many other curious implements are occasionally found in the vicinity of their old camping-grounds in various parts of the town. In one locality in the north part of the town, near Double Brook (whichi empties into Beaver Brook), where the Indians were accustomed to fish, there is a large shelving rock, against which it is said one of their wigwams stood and it still bears the marks of their smoky fires.4

A FRIENDLY VISIT .- On one occasion Mrs. Jabesh Coburn, who lived in the north part of the town, upon going to the barn to milk the cows at night, before the return of the men from the fields, found a large and powerful-looking Indian on the hay asleep. Slie retired as quietly as possible, not wishing to disturb

1 Bentley's "Hist. Salem," Cowley's " Indian Memoirs."

2 Hubbard's "[Indian Wars of New England."

3. Hubbard's "Ind. Wars," N. II. Hist. Coll. Mss. of Parker Varnum, Esq.

+ Reminiscences by Rev. Jonas Colburn.

283

DRACUT.

him until the return of her husband ; but he awoke and followed her to the house, and seeing a shad hang- ing on the jamb of the fire-place, asked Mrs. Coburn to give it to him. She readily complied with the re- quest and offered to cook it for him. "Me like it well," said the Indian. So he sat down while she roasted the shad on the coals. When it was cooked she gave him some bread and salt to eat with it, which he appeared to relish exceedingly. After his meal was ended he approached his hostess and patting her on the shoulder said : "Me never hurt you," and took his departure. The last remnant of the Indians in this town is said to have been a family who lived in a wigwam at the upper end of the town as late as the latter part of the last century.1

AN OLD GARRISON-HOUSE .- On Riverside Street, running easterly from Pawtucket Bridge-formerly Dracut, but now a part of Lowell-there stood for many years a house that was used in the early settle- ment of the town as a garrison-house, and if not the first, was one of the first framed dwelling-houses used for that purpose.

It is supposed to have been built during King Philip's War, though there is no positive proof of the date of its erection. The place was owned for many years by Theodore Hamblet, and is now owned by Henry Emery, but the house was removed about the year 1880. Tradition says that at one time, when the colonel of the garrison was riding on horseback, out- side of the stockade, he stopped to water his horse, and was fired upon by the Indians, who lay in ambush, and was wounded in such a manner that his bowels gushed out upon the pommel of his saddle. He started off, however, with all speed, firing back at his pursuers, and finally reached the garrison and es- caped.

At another time, when a few soldiers were stationed there, they were surprised by the Indians, who had come upon them by stealth, and succeeded in getting inside of the stockade. The Indians rushed upon the house and killed tbe trumpeter. The soldiers ran up- stairs and prepared to meet them; the Indians fo'- lowed with their tomahawks in hand; but the sol- diers met them with such valor and determination that not one of the savages escaped alive.

A BRAVE WOMAN .- At another time, it is said, the Indians planned an attack upon the garrison. When they made their appearance there was no one in the house but a woman and her children, the garrison having gone out, apprehending no danger. The woman kept a sharp lookout, however, after being left alone, and discovered Indians lurking about. With great presence of mind she put on a buzzar uniform, and taking a musket, began walking back and forth in front of the house, as though on guard. After a time she went out of sight, and quickly putting on a different uniform, appeared again on duty with a gun

on her shoulder. After a time she again disappeared only to return clothed in the uniform of a colonel. All this time the Indians lay watching, supposing they were not seen ; but they dared not make the at- tack, and withdrew without molesting any one.

We have been informed by Mr. Emery that the sides of the house were sealed up inside the plaster, with oak plank, in order to make it bullet-proof. Human bones have frequently been exhumed in the vicinity of the old garrison-house, supposed to be those of Indians killed there.

LOVEWELL'S EXPEDITIONS .- In 1724, on account of the many barbarities committed by hostile tribes of Indians, the General Court of Massachusetts passed an act offering a bounty for their destruction. Soon after this John Lovewell raised a company of thirty men, of which he was commissioned captain, and Josiah Farwell lieutenant, and they started upon their expedition into the wilderness. They discov- ered an Indian trail about forty-four miles above Winnepisaukee Pond, and, on tbe 19th of December, 1724, they came upon an Indian, whom they killed and scalped, and took a boy about fifteen years old, captive. Not meeting with any further success, they returned, and upon their arrival in Boston they re- ceived their bounty, £150, and £50 as a gratuity. The News-Letter of Jan. 7, 1725, says: "The Lieu- tenant-Governor and Council were pleased to give them (Capt. Lovewell's Company) fifty pounds over and above the one hundred and fifty pounds allowed by law." 2

In this company were Henry Coburn and John Varnum, of Dracut. For this service Mr. Coburn received a tract of land in Suncook, N. H.3

This expedition, having been considered in a meas- ure successful, Capt. Lovewell soon raised another company of eighty-eight men, among whom were his brother, Zacbeus Lovewell, Thomas Coburn, Peter Powers, Josiah Cummings, Henry Farwell, William Ayers and Samuel Fletcher, of Dunstable, and John Varnum, of Dracut, and on the 1st of Jan., 1724, they set forth on a second expedition against the enemy. They came upon a body of Indians at the head of one of the branches of the Salmon Falls River, now in the town of Wakefield, N. H., killed them all, and returned to Boston with their scalps stretched on poles, for which they received their legal bounty.

Capt. Lovewell made a third expedition on April 15, 1725, with a company of forty-seven men.

Various accounts are given of this undertaking (see " White's Early History of New England," Patten's " History of Manchester," Nason's " History of Dun- stable," and many others).

It proved to be a most unfortunate one, in which Capt. Lovewell and most of his men lost their lives.

I Reminiscences by Rev. Jonas Colburn.

2 The pound was then worth $1.36 according to our present mode of reckoning. Nason's " Hist. Dunstable."

3 Nason.

284

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

After these exploits of Capt. Lovewell the Pequaket tribe removed to Canada, after which the people felt some degree of security in their homes, and some of the soldiers were withdrawn from the garrisons in this vicinity. The following letter (unsigned, probably from the General Court), to Col. Tyng, at this time, describes the situation of affairs :

LETTER TO COLONEL TYNG.

"Sir : The onemy being drawn off, and the danger pretty well over, you must seo that tho soldiers in tho Frontiors be reducod to tho follow- ing numbers, viz. : Twenty-five mon at Dunstable and Dracut, Ten at Turkey Hill, Fourteen at Groton, Fourteon at Lancaster, Twenty-five at Rutland and ten at Brookfield ; and that all the rest of tho soldiers in the Counties of Middlescx and Essex, including Lieut. Breutnal's scouts, be forthwith disbanded, and tho several officers aro required to put these orders in execution accordingly." 1

CHAPTER XXII.

DRACUT-(Continued).

CIVIL AND DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.

Petition for, and Act of Incorporation.

" To the Hon. Council & Representatives of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in General Court assembled February, 1701.

"The petition of Samuel Sewall, Esq., Benjamin Walker, John Hunt & Jonatban Belcher, proprietors of part of the Tract of Land called Dracut, beyond Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex on the North Side of Merrimack River, and of Samuel Varnum, Thomas Varuum, John Varnum, Joseph Varnum, Thomas Colburne, Daniel Coolburn, Daniel Colburn, Jr., Ezra Colburn, Josepb Colburn, Jobn Colburn, Robert Colburn, William Colburne, James Richardson, Ezekiel Richard- son, Benja. Richardson, Joseph Richardson, Ezra Colburne, Jr., Josiab Colburne, Hannah Colburn, widow, Elizabeth Colburne, widow, & Han- nab Richardsou, Inbabitants aud Proprietors of the said Tract of Land called Dracut-

"Humbly Sbowetb,

" That the said Tract of land (which) adjoins to Dunstable on the West & Northwest, & runs seven miles Eastward upon the River from Duustable line and six miles Northward from the River) lyes very com- modious for a Township, & hath about Twenty Families already settled thereupon in which are about Eighty Souls, & Forasmuch as the making said place a Township will not only be a great Eucouragement to the Inbabitants thereof & be a means for the settlement of the Ministry among them (for the benefit of which they are now obliged to go to Chelmsford, which is a great difficulty & cannot be attended by their Children & several others by reason of the distance thereof ) but will also be of considerable benefit to the Publick, and be a great Strength- ening of the Frontier parts by reason of the people which will be de- sirous to settle at said placo when made a Townsbip, because of the con- venient situation thereof.

"Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, that hy the Grant of this Hon,ble Court, the Tract of land aforcsaid may be made a Township, aud that the Inbabitants, which are or shall settle therenpon, may have & enjoy all Libertys, Privileges & Immunities as the Inbabitants of other Towns within this Province have & do enjoy.

" And your Petrs. as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

"In the house of Representatives, Febr. 25th, 1701. Read.

"In the House of Representatives, February 25th, 1701.

" Resolved, That the prayer of the Petition on the other Side he Granted, and the Tract of Land therein described be made a Township & called by the name of Dracut, provided That the Bounds Specified Intrench not upon any former Grant or Grants of Townships. That the Inhabitants of Land assist in the maintenance of the Ministry at tho Town of Chelmsford as at present they do, until they aro provided with a Minister as the Law directs. That a Genoral Plot of said Land

(taken by a Sworn Surveyor), be laid bofore this Court and their Sossion beginning in May next. And that if any Land shall happen to fall within the Bounds abovesaid, that hath not been heretofore grantod, it shall bo resorvod to bo disposod of by this Government-

"Sent up for Concurronco,

. "NEHEMIAH JEWETT, Speaker."

" At a groat and General Court or Assombly of tho Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New Eng and, begun and held in Boston upon Wodnesday, the 28th day of May. 170), and continued by several prero -. gations & adjournments unto Wednesday, the 18th day of February, & thon mot.

"Thursday, February 26, 1701.

"A petition of Samucl Sewall, Esq., Ephraim Hunt, Esq., Benjamin Walker, John Hunt, & Jonathan Belchor, Proprietors of a part of the tract of land called Dracut, beyond Chelmsford, in the County of Middlesex, on tho North side of Morrimack River, & of Samucl Var- num & sev-ral others, inhabitants & Proprietors of the said tract of land, praying that the said tract of land which adjoins to Dunstable on the West and Northwest, & runs seven miles Eastward upon the River from Dunstable line, & six miles Northward from the river, may be made a Township, & that the Inhabitants which are, or shall settle thereupon, may have & enjoy all liberties, privileges & immunities as tbe Inhabitants of other Towns within this Province have and do enjoy, was sent up from the House of Representatives with a resolve passed by that House thereupon in the words following (being a repeti- tion of the foregoing resolve passed in the House of Representatives) :

"In Council, 26tb of February, 1701. Read, Concurred with & Con- sented to.

"Joseph Lynde, John Walley, Em. Hutchinson, Penn Townsend, Nathì. Thomas, Nathì. Byfield, Benja. Brown, John Iligginson, Jos. Russell, Elisha Cooke, John Hathorne, Elisha Hutchinsou, Peter Ser- geant, John Foster, Jonathan Corwin, Jobu Appleton.

" Coppy examined.

J. WILLARD, Sec'ry."

SURVEYOR'S REPORT.

"According to the order of the Honble Genl Court of last year, there is laid out to the Inhabitants and proprietors of Dracutt, a tract of land for a townsbip on the North side of Merrimack River, it begins at an Island lying in Merrimack River called Wekasook and takes about half of it, and is bounded by Capt. Scarlett and Dunstable line on the North West as as far as Kimballs farme at Jerimies Hill, which is about six miles in a crooked line, then it is bounded by Dunstable line on the west abont 4 miles. It is bounded southerly by Merrimack River abont 7 miles by a straight line from wekasook, where we began. The South east corner is a wbite stake marked with D a little from the river, and from thence it runs due Nortb 6 miles, wbich line is near parallel with Dunstable line on that side. Tben by a Northwest line it againe closes to Dunstable line. This Northwest line is four miles longer, then on the West it is bounded by Dunstable line 4 miles.

" Laid out and bounded by

"JONATHAN DANFORTH, Surveyor.

" May 26, 1702.

" Dracut Township contains 22,334 acres as Attest,

"June 3, 1702."

" Jo. DANFORTH, Surveyor.

" June 6th, 1702.

"Ordered that tho town of Dracut he rated with the town of Chelmsford as formerly, in tho tax to be raised this session, they having the Liberty to chuse and join an assessor with the assessors of said Town.

"Sent np for Concurrence,

" JAMS. CONVERS, Speaker."

COMMON, OR RESERVED LAND .- In many of the towns, during the early settlement of this country, there was "Common Land," or, as it was generally called, "Reserved Land." The name was properly applied, inasmuch as when towns were incorporated, land that had not been previously granted was re- served, to be afterwards disposed of by the State. In Dracut a considerable amount of territory was thus situated, and in 1709, eight years after the town was incorporated, a petition was presented to the General Court for permission to dispose of the reserved land

1 Massachusetts Archives, Book 72, p. 263.

285

DRACUT.

for reasons set forth in the petition which is herewith inserted :

" To His Excellency, Joseph Dudley, Esq., Captain-General and Gov- ernor-in-Chief, The Han.ble the Council and Representatives iu General Conrt assembled Feb. pro. 1709.

"The petition of John Varnnm of Dracut, withiu the County of Middlesex on behalf of himself & other the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the said Town-

" Humbly sheweth,

" That in the year 1701, This Hon.ble, Great & General Court or As- sembly npon the petition of Samnel Sewell, Esq., Ephraim Hnut, Esq., Benjaemin Walker, & Jonathan Belcher, proprietors of part of the Tract of Land called Dracnt, beyond Chelmsford, on the North Side of Mlerri- mack River, and of Samuel Varnum & several others, Inhabitants & proprietors of the said Tract of Land, which adjoins Dunstable on the West & Northwest, & runs Seven Miles Eastward upon the River from the Dunstable Line & Six miles Northward from the River, were pleased to Grant the same to be a Township, to be called by the Name of Dracnt & that the Inhabitants which are or shall settle thereupon may have & enjoy all Liberties, Privileges & Immuuities as the Inbabitants of other Towns withiu th's Province have & do enjoy, and that if any Land shall happen to fall within the Bound abovesaid that hath not been heretofore granted, it shall be reserved to be disposed by this Gov- ernment.

" Now so it is, may it please Yonr Excellency & this Hon.ble As- senibly, pursuant to a Clanse in the aforesaid Grant, that the Inhabit- auts on tlie said Land assist in the maintenance of the Ministry at Chelmsford, as at present they do, until they are provided with a Minis- ter as the law directs, they have accordingly paid the Ministry dues there, But being desirons to settle the Ministry & Gospel Ordinances among themselves as in dnty bound, for their own benefit and advantage & the Benefit of their Families & posterity, have for Two or Three years past, had some yonng Schollars, Candidates for the Ministry, to preach nnto them, and at preseut have Young Mr. Cheever, of Marble- head, with them attending that Work with general acceptauce & appro- bation, & have good hopes they shall obtain hitu to Settle among them, if they can give him dne Encouragement-

" They therefore humbly Pray, That it would please this Hon. ble As- sembly for the better Enabling them so to do, to Order & Grant that the reserved Land lying within the Boundaries aforesaid mentioned in the afore recited Order, may be allotted to & among such as shall come to settle with them, as the Freeholders & proprietors may think fit --

" And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c. "JOHN VARNUM.

" Boston, Feb. 6th, 1709."

"Feby. 6th, 1709. In Council. Read & Ordered That Colo. Jonathan Tyng, Capt. John Lane, Capt. Edward Johnson, & Lieut. - - Hill, with such as shall be added to them by the Representatives, be a Com- mittee to make enquiry into the Quantity of the Reserved Lands, men- tioned in the within recited Order & make Report thereof to this Court at their next sitting & what number of Inhabitants it may be capable of Entertaining to make a Strong Town.

"Sent down for concurrence.

" ISA ADDINGTON, Sec'ry."

" In the House of Representatives, Sept'r 7th, 1709. Read & Concur'd & that Mr. John Stevens he added to the said Committee.

" JOHN CLARK, Speaker.

J. WILLARD, Sec'ry."

" Cuppy examined.

As we have already seen, the town was incorpo- rated in 1701. But the very earliest records are miss- ing. The first entry in the first town-book in exist- ence, for the choice of officers, was made March 25, 1712, when John Varnum was chosen town clerk, and John Varnum, Joseph Coburn and Ebenezer Good- hue, selectmen. The first book of the " Proprietors " of the Reserved Land (who were the legal voters of the town) is in existence, from which may be gathered information not to be found elsewhere.1 The first

record in this curious old book bears the date of 1710, and reads as follows :

" We do except of ye parsons within named, to be Proprietors of the Reserved Land in the Township of Dracutt, and do order thir Loots and thir Nams to be Entered in the Book of records foi Dracutt, accordingly, Jonathan Tyng, John Lane, John Stearns.

" This is a tren Coppy of the General Cort's ordor.

" Wittnas Quer Hands. JOSEPH VARNUM, " EZEKIEL CHEEVER.

" JAMES FALES."

. "DRACUTT, Janevary ye 2ª, 1710.

" These are the naines of the men that have the Loots now in possession with ye consent of ye General Cort's Committee, and sum that liave sould to others with the Consent of ye Selectmen of the Town of Dracutt.

"Selectmen : John Varnum, Joseph Colbun, Ebenezer Goodhew, Bell- jamin Barans.

"1, Ebenezer Goodliew ; 2, Ezekell Cheevers : 3, James Colbon ; 4, Benjamin Hoore ; 5, Ebenezer Wright; 6, Onesimus Marsh ; 7, Benja- min Barans ; 8, Solomon Wood ; 9, Josialı Richason ; 10, Nathanell Foxe; 11, Anthony (Neggerou) (negro) ; 12, William Reed ; 13, Na- thanill Cheevers ; 14, Samnel Prime ; 15, John Higgason.

"These are the fifteen that Lye between mr. Bellsher's Farme and mr. Winthrip's Farme, and every man's nam is seet to his Loot.

"Samuel prime his Loot Lyes below mr. winthrip's Farme, Lying on merrimack river. John Higgeson's Loot lyes on merrimack river below samuel Prime's Loot. Minister's Loot and ininister's Farmne lies at Gompos on ye uorth sid of bever Brook, Solomon Wood's Loot lyes on Gompos Brook. George Bronen 2, Joseph Crosby 3, Ezekel 4, Calbrey's Balle 5. Johu Hayward, Cheyney Flage these two Loot Lye on the North sid of Bever Brook west of the minister's Farme. Solomon Wood his Loot Lyes on ye east Side of Bever Brook and on ye northe sid of ye Colbon's ould Meddowes. John barans, hesacaah Townasane, Joseph Wbitter, these three Loots lys narth of mur. Winthrips Farmue."

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 66

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