History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 68

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 68

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THE DARK DAY .- A most singular and remarkable phenomenon occurred on the 19th of May, 1780, the cause of which at that time was not immediately ob- vious, and which was the occasion of great alarm to

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the common people, and caused much speculation among the most scientific minds of that period.

The morning was cloudy, and in some places a lit- tle rain fell. By the middle of the day there was an unusual darkness, which increased until two or three o'clock, so that labor had to be suspended, unless per- formed by artificial lights, and the beasts and the birds repaired to rest, as at night. Accounts of it differ somewhat, but most of them agree that this darkness did not extend beyond Connecticut, nor very far at sea.

After considerable deliberation the cause was gen- erally attributed to a thick smoke united with heavy clouds, which had been accumulating for several days, occasioned by great -fires which were then raging in the northern part of New Hampshire, where many new settlements were being made.

Various descriptions of it are given, some of which are quite interesting as well as amusing. Bishop Ed- ward Bass' manuscript contains the following ac- count :

"This day is the most remarkable in the memory of mau for dark- ness. For a week or teu days the air had been very thick and heavy, which made the sun look nncommonly red. On the morning of the 19th (May) the suu was visible for a short time very early, but was soou orercast, and very black clouds were seen to rise suddenly and very fast from the West. The wind, what there was of it (though hardly enough to move the leaves on the trees) at Southwest. The forementioned clouds mixing with the vast quantities of smoke, occasioned by a general burning of the woods caused, in the opinion of many, this unusual, alarming darkness, which begun abont twenty minutes before eleven o'clock A.M., and lasted the whole day, though not equally dark all the time. It was the darkest from about twelve to one o'clock.

" Afterwards there was a larger glin at the horizon which made it somewhat lighter. It was, however, at the lightest, darker I think than a moonlight night. The sky had a strange yellowish, and some- times reddish appearance. The night was the darkest I remember to have seen, tili about midnight, when a slight breeze sprung up from the north or northwest, after which it soon began to grow light. At Fal- mouth, Casco Bay, it was not dark at all. Upon Piscataqua River, Berwick, Dover and so forth, it was very rainy (very little;of which we had here, which fell a little before it begun to grow dark) but uot un- commonly dark as I am told by a person who traveled there that day. I hear of the darkness at Danbury, in Connecticut. It did not extend to North River. The forementioned darkness was no doubt occasioned by an unusual concurrence of several natural causes ; but to pretend fully and clearly to account for it, argnes perhaps too great confi- dence."1

In the " Memoirs of the American Academy " we find the following account :

"Candles were lighted up in the honses ; the birds having sung their evening songs, disappeared and became silent ; the fowls retired to their rooste. The cocke were crowing all around as at break of day; objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance, and everything bore the appearance and gloom of night."

The darkness was the occasion of much alarm, and caused much speculation among all classes of people. Mr. Phineas Sprague, of Malden, in his journal says : " It began to rain and grew vere dark, and at 12 it was allmost as dark as Nite, so that wee was obliged to lite our candels and Eate our dinner by candel-lite at Noonday." 2

Dr. Tenney attributes the darkness to an uncom-

monly thick second stratum of clouds, probably oc- casioned by two strong currents of wind from the southward and westward, condensing the vapors and drawing them in a northeasterly direction.3

A good story has come down to us (related by the fathers of each succeeding generation) of a young man in Dracut who attempted to take his lady- love to a social party on this dark evening of the dark day. At that time extensive forests of wood and timber covered much of the land, which has since been cleared and improved. The road to the party lay through one of these dense forests, which was a considerable distance away from the home of the fair one. The couple, in good social standing, and other circumstances to match, proposed to perform the journey in a manner befitting their station in life, and least calculated to expose their health, or detain them on the road. In fact, they proposed to ride, and so not spoil their party clothes. Carriages not being common in those days, either public or private, the best of men and the most fastidious of ladies felt that they were well accom modated while traveling on horse- back, and both upon the same horse-the gentleman on his saddle in front, and the lady on a pillion be- hind. And this was the way the couple started off in high anticipation of the pleasures of the evening. But the night being so dark, and the roads on the' 19th of May not being always in the best condition, the journey must be made cautiously, and the rate of speed must be moderate; but with all the care that human forethought could suggest, and with all the instinct ascribed to that noble animal, the horse, to find his way in the dark, these travelers strayed from their path and were lost in the woods! After exhausting their own efforts to regain the road they shouted for help, and were finally rescued, but not until nearly the whole night had been passed in be- wildered anxiety. Some young men returning from the party, hearing their repeated calls, and ap- prehending that they proceeded from some persons in trouble, formed a rescuing party, who, with the aid of lanterns, succeeding in finding and returning them to more agrecable surroundings.

This little episode was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated in it. It had its influence, perhaps, in making of the young man who was lost and found, a hero, a husband and a father of a large and happy family ; as it is understood that the twain were after- wards made one flesh; he became an officer in the Continental Army, where he rendered most excellent: service, after which he lived many years, the father of ten children. He always declared that the "Dark- day " was the lightest and brightest epoch of his life.

PAWTUCKET BRIDGE .- The Pawtucket Bridge was the first bridge constructed across the Merrimack. River. The enterprise originated in Dracut, and was largely carried out by Dracut men. Its history

. 1 Coffin's " History -Newbury."

2 Nason's " History Dunstable." 19-ii

3 Barry's "History Massachusetts."

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

has been of special interest to our citizens ; but thic original bridge itself has long been numbered among the things that were.

A corporation, composed of Parker Varnum and others, was formed by an act passed February 1, 1792, entitled the " Middlesex Merrimack River Bridge Cor- poration." The act was approved by John Hancock, Governor. A meeting of the stockholders was called at the house of Joel Spalding, in Chelmsford (now Lowell), agreeably to a notice given in the Indepen- dent Chronicle, a newspaper published by Thomas Adams, at Middlesex Village; and Colonel Loammi Baldwin was elected president, Parker Varnum clerk, and Colonel James Varnum treasurer. These officers held their positions until 1805, when Mr. Baldwin re- tired and Parker Varnum was elected president and Asahel Stearns, clerk. The stock was originally di- vided into eighty shares, but was afterwards reduced to sixty.

The first structure was built entirely of wood,- piers, abutments and all. After the timber was se- lected, and before the work of building began-which was the last of June, 1792-tlie president was instruc- ted, by vote of the directors, to procure at Boston a quantity of iron and two barrels of New England rum, and every laborer was allowed half a pint a day, " when called for by the master workman."

Subsequently the president was instructed to pur- chase a barrel of West India rum for the use of the proprietors. These pioneers in bridge-building were not only men of enterprise and business, but they had a streak of sociability in their natures. It was a busy time of year, and the directors' meetings were frequent, but they insisted on prompt and punctual attendance, making a penalty for absence " a fine suf- ficient to pay for two mugs of flip or toddy." Rather an odd fine, but practical, for the use of liquor was a custom of the times. On the 5th day of November, 1792, the bridge was opened for travel, free for that day. At night a supper was provided for sixty per- sons, including the laborers and proprietors. Mr. Ebenezer Bridge was appointed the first toll-gatherer, and for the first three months the receipts were £18 14s. 8}d.

The second structure was composed of wood, with stone abutments and piers, and was completed in the autumn of 1804, at an expense of $14,000. Money being scarce, the demands were so heavy that more than twenty shares were forfeited and sold to pay as- sessments. It was quite thoroughly repaired about the year 1845. In February of 1861 it was laid out as a public highway by the county commissioners, to be supported jointly by Lowell and Dracut, the Bridge Company receiving $12,000 for the franchise. Dr. John O. Green was for many years the president and Phineas Whiting clerk, and Timothy Coburn and Theodore Hamblet, directors. The iron bridge now in use was built in 1871. It was completed and opened to the public November 25th of that year at a

cost of about $40,000, divided equally between Low- ell and Dracut.

"OLD BUNT."-In the bend of Merrimack River, below Pawtucket Falls, on the northern side, was formerly a noted fishing-placc (piscary) called "tlie Bunt" (or Old Bunt) of great value-at one time owned in forty-two shares. Sturgeon, salmon, shad, alewives, etc., were here taken in great abundance.

CHAPTER XXIII.

DRACUT -- (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL AND EDUCATIONAL.

ECCLESIASTICAL .- The only reliable information to be obtained in regard to the early church history of Dracut is from the records of the town. The church and society left no records (and probably none were kept), for many years. As we have al- ready seen, the first settlement of the town begun in 1664. The town was incorporated in 1701, but even the first records of the town are supposed to have been lost as none' are found earlier than 1711. The Puritan settlers of New England, as soon as they had provided temporary shelter for themselves, began to make preparation to carry out the main object of their immigration to these then wild and inhospitable shores by providing houses of worship. We here in- sert a few of the earliest votes of the town verbatim, which, although somewhat mixcd with other matters, explain themselves :

TOWN-MEETINGS.

" DRACUTT March the 6th 1711

" At a generall town meeting uuanimously agreed by a general vote for building of a meetinghouse. Also by a general town meeting voted and made choice of the West end of Flag meadow hill to be the yard to set the meeting-house on aud likewise voted that Daniel Coburn, Ezra Coburn jr, Joseph Coburn, Joseph Varnum, Ephraim Hildreth, Joseph Crosby & Jonathan Robins are chosen for the Committee to lay out all country roads and all convenient ways which said town waut & stand in need of "

" DRACUTT June the 11, 1711

" At a general town meeting voted & made choice of Mr. Amos Cheever to be our minister aud also at preseut voted to give him fifty pounds a year yearly & as the town grows abler add to his salary and voted to give him eighty pounds for the building of his house, and we are to have three years time for the payment of thio money at tweuty six pounds thirteen shillings & four pence a year, if he be pleased to settle with us & be our minister & also voted that Thomas Varnum Daniell Coburn Joseph Coburn should go & discourse with Mr. Cheever to acquaiut him with what the town hath proffered him & to receive his answer"

"DRAOUTT Sept. 10 1711

"The inhabitants of the town met & voted to give a minister fifty pouuds a year also voted that Thomas Coburn Thomas Varnum are chosen to take the care & provide a minister for the town & voted to give them five shillings a day. Mr. Hail came to Dracutt on the 5th day of Oct. 1711 to preach the gospel whereof hath recelved 43 shillings 4 "

" DRACUT, March 5th 1712.

" At a general town meeting mado choice of Town officers and chose John Varnın Selectman and Town Clark Joseph Coburn select man Ebenezer Goodliue Selectman Abraham Coburn Constable Robbard Co- buri Daniell Coburn Joseph Coburn field drivers & and also voted that

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John Varnum's forte shall be ponnd for this year and he to be pound- keeper & also voted to choose two ministers along with Mr. Hail in way of settleuient & also voted for Mr. Autos Cheever & Mr. Wigglesworth in way of settlement "

" DRACUT, April the 4th in the year 1712.

" At a general town meeting voted Mr Cheevers for to come to be our gospel minister if he will come on the terms we have formerly offered to him ; also it is voted that Thomas Colburn & Joseph Colburn be the committee to treat with him in a way for a settlement. Also it is voted that Mr. Wigglesworth should come to preach for a time, in a way to making a settlement after Mr. Chevers has been treated with, and don't come to preach, & in a way to making a settlement."

" DRACUT, June the 20th day, in the year 1712.

" At a general town meeting, voted that Mr. Wiggleworth should be . onr gospel minister, to preach the gospel of Christ with us, and if he will spend his days with us, then we have granted to him fifty pounds in current money of New England & as the town grows abler then to add to his salary. Also granted eighty pounds in current moneys of N. England for his settlement, and we have three years time to paye this money in, which is twenty six pounds thirteen shillings, & four pence a · year-Also voted that Joseph Varnun, John Varuum, & Sargent Hil- dreth should be the committee to treat with Mr. Wiggleworth con- cerning his settling with us, & to receive his answer and bring it to the town this day month, which our town meeting is adjourned."

Mr. Amos Cheever, who was a graduate of Harvard University, in 1707, declined the call extended to him, as did also Mr. Wigglesworth. Inadequacy of the salary was the probable cause, and the church had to wait and be content with a stated supply until their little colony should be increased in numbers. In the latter part of the year of 1714 the subject of building a church was again started, and a town-meeting called to see what could be done. The following is the offi- cial record :

" DRACUT December ye 8th day in the year 1714

" At general Town meeting of the Inhabitants that was warned by the selectmen of the town for to meet & to see in what manner to build a meetinghonse for our town & to begene it this year ; And it was granted by the aforesaid town meeting that the meeting house should be 30 feet longe and 25 feet wide. Also it wase granted six pounds of money to be paid towards the building said house. 30 pounds in the next year in July insneing 30 pounds in the month of July in the year 1716. Also tis granted for four cattle and a man a day five shillings & so according, and two shillines one man a day for getting timher, also tis granted Thomas Coburn Ezra Colburn Joseph Colburn Thomas Varnum John Varunm thonld be trustees for the above said town to hire & agree with men fur to build said meetiugliouse above named & give a true account to the town of their expenses to get the work done as cheap as they can.

"This is a true account done at a general town meeting

" JOSEPH COLBURN,

" SAMUEL COLBURN, " Selectmen."

This last meeting having been holden in December, there was not much accomplished during the year 1714, and it was not until the following April that the selection was made upon which to locate the house, as appears by a vote of the town.

THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.

" DRACUT, April the 11th 1715.

" At a general town meeting it was granted to set our nieetinghouse for the town of Dracut on a piece of land near the South side of a hill called by the name of Flag meadow hill on Thomas Varnum's land, bounded as followeth .- West by Josephi Varnum's land ; North by a highway-Eastward by a stake and stones ; and on the South by stake and stones. Also it is granted one barrel of cider aud such a quantity of rum as the trustees shall think needful for the raising said meeting- house.

" THOMAS VARNUM, " Town Clerk."

The locality was on what is now called Varnum

Avenue, about half a mile above Pawtucket Bridge, on the southierly side of the street, on land owned by Deacon Abel Coburn, and just east of his present res- idence. Marks and relics of the old structure have appeared from time to time until within a few years. The spot still retains the name of "the Meeting- House Lot." We are informed by Mr. Coburn that there appears also to have been a "Noon-house," in which the people assembled between services to warm themselves and partake of a lunch.

As there were no fires in churches in those days, a "Noon-house," or "Sabba'-Day House," as they were sometimes called, was almost indispensable in winter. Edward Abbott, in his "Revolutionary Times," gives the following description of these houses: "An im- portant and interesting adjunct of the meeting-house, in some parts of the country, was the 'Sabba'-Day House.' Comfort being carefully shut out of the meeting-house itself was only thus rudely provided for in such subordinate structures. The Sabba'-Day : House was a family affair, generally comprising but a single apartment, perhaps fifteen feet square, with windows and a fireplace. It was very plainly and sparsely furnished. Chairs for the old people and ' benches for the children stood round the walls, and a table in the centre might hold the Bible and a few religious books and pamphlets; while at one side shelves contained dishes for cooking and eating. Sometimes the Sabba'-Day House was mounted above a shed within which the horse could be sheltered. A group of such cabins standing about the meeting- house added not a little to the picturesqueness of the spot, and their use conduced greatly to the conve- nience and comfort of Sabbath worsbip, especially in' winter. The family able to keep a Sabba'-Day House drove directly thither on Sabbath mornings, warmed themselves up from a hot fire without, and quite likely by a hot drink within, and here spent the in- termission, with further wholesome regards for the wants of the inner man. The better class of these Sabba'-Day Houses were whitewashed ; some of them were double, and to the truth of history it must be said that between Sabbaths they occasionally fur- nished the wild young men of the parish with secure haunts for unseemly carousals."

The building of this church, 25 by 30 feet, was then a great undertaking, both for want of money and building materials; and it was not until Sep- tember 29, 1716, that it was publicly dedicated for worship, and two years after this (1718) that it was fully completed.

Pastor Settled .- In 1720 the church was fortunate in securing the services of a settled pastor-Rev. Thomas Parker.

The Covenant for Union .- On March 29, 1721, the church adopted what they called "A Covenant for Union," as follows :

" We, whose names are underwritten, publicly acknowledge our un- worthiness of such a favor and unfitness for anch a business, yet appre-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

houding oursolves to he called of God to put ourselves into a way for Church communlen and to scek the settlement of all Gospel institutions among ne, do thereforo in order thereto, aud for better procuring thercof as much ne in ne lies, knowing our proneness to backslide, ahjureing all confidenco in ourselves and relylug ou the Lord Jesus Christ alone for help, covonant as follows:

" let -- As to tho confession of faith put forth by the last synod of churches, held at Boston, in New England, we do heartily close with it, so far as we are or may be acquainted with it, and find it agreeable to the word of God, and promise to stand by and maintain, and if need be contend for the faith therein delivered to the people of God, and if any among us go about to undermine the same, we will bear due testi- meny against them.

" 2d -- We do also combine together to walk as a particular church of Christ, according to all these holy rules of the Gospel prescribed to such a society so far as God hath or shall reveal his mind to us in that respect.

"3d-We do accordingly recognize the covenant of Grace in which we professedly acknowledge ourselves devoted to the fear and service of the only true God, our Supreme Lord and to Jesus Christ the High Priest, Prophet and King of His Church, and te whose conduct we sub- mit ourselves and upou whom we wait and hope for grace and Glory, aud to whom we biud ourselves in an everlasting coveuant never to be broken.

" 4th-We likewise give up ourselves unto one another in the Lord, re- solving by his help to cleave each to the other as fellow-members of one hody in brotherly love and holy watchfulness over each other for mutual edification, and subject ourselves to all the holy admonitions appointed hy Him as Head of the Church, dispensed according to the rules of the Gospel, and to give our public attendauce upou all the public ordinances of Christ's institutiou walking orderly as becometh saiuts.

" 5th-We do acknowledge our posterity included with us in the Gos" pel Covenant, and blessing God for so great a favor do promise to bring them up in the uurture and admonition of the Lord with the greatest care, and acknowledge them in the covenant relation of the Gospel rules.

" 6th-Furthermore we promise to be careful to the utmost to procure the settlement and continuance among us of the offices and officors ap- pointed by Christ, the Chief Shepherd, for the edification of his church ; and accordingly to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance and en- couragewent, and to carry ourselves toward them as becomes us.

.7th-Finally, we do acknowledge and promise to preserve communion with the faithful churches of Christ, for the giving and receiving mutual counsel and assistance in all cases wherein it shall be needful.

"Now, the Lord be merciful to us, as he hath put into our hearts thus to devote ourselves to him; let him pity and pardon our frailties and humble us for our carnal confidence, aud keep forever iu our hearts to be faithful to him, aud one towards another for his praise and our eter- nal comfort, for Christ Jesus His Sake, to whom be glory forever- Amen."

Agitation .- Passing over a period of thirty years, we find that in 1742, during the pastorate of Mr. Parker, the subject of building a new meeting-house began to be agitated. The old one had served its purpose and was no longer deemed suitable. During that time the town had increased in numbers, and it was thought best, by some of the parish, to build a new one of more suitable dimensions and in a differ- ent locality. Accordingly the people were called together with the following result :

"At a general town-meeting, Voted to build a meeting-house for yo public worship of God, 45 feet in length and 35 feet in breadth, and 23 feet between the plates and sills-clapboarded with sa wed clapboards, and shiugled with white pine shingles, and the windows shall have saslı and glazed with glass called ye large square glass (8 by 10) aud that tho inside of the house shall be finished according to the discretiou of the committee, or a major part of them.

" Voted, that said meeting house shall be set on ye northwesterly sido of ye Great road, on the easterly side of Mr. Simouds' land, near said road, and near the easterly line et said Simonds' land. And the sum of 200 lbs. in hills of credit of this Province of ye last emission be levied, raised and collected of ye iuhabitants of ye towu to defray ye expeuses of said house. A committee of five men wero chosen, consisting of John

Varnum, Capt. John Coburn, John Coburn, Jr., Dea. Robert Coburn & John Bowere.

" Attest, JOHN VARNUM, Moderator and Town Clerk. " Dracut, May 27, 1745."

This locality has been described to us by an old resident as being on the northerly side of the road, nearly opposite the house of the late Life Hamblet, now owned by Mr. John Ames, a few rods east of Merrimack Woolen-Mills, on Beaver Brook. There was so much opposition, however, to this plan that no immediate action was taken by the committee towards executing their authority, and we find that on the following December another meeting was called and a different spot was selected upon which to build, as will be seen by the following vote :

"DRACUT, Dec. 16, 1745.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 68

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