History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 80

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 80

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The pastorate of Mr. Chandler began under briglit auspices, and for eleven years was prosperous. He 22-ii

was a man of ability, and the church was united and happy in his ministry. But a cloud arose, and the end came soon and in trouble. It is due to the truth of history that the facts, condensed from many pages of the church record, be stated. Mr. Chandler's wife died June 28, 1757. It is charitable to suppose that grief for her loss and the absence of her good influ- ence may have prepared the way for a measure of in- dulgence in " spiritual " consolations which were not from above. That he kept the means for such indul- gence, the contents of his cellar, as shown by his in- ventory, reveal, though it is doubtful if he had more than the best of his neighbors. He was married, January 18, 1759, to Elizabeth White, of Haverhill, a cousin of his first wife. Soon after the church record tells us: "Feb. 18. The Sact. omitted, by reason of some being dissatisfied at ye chearful behav- ior of ye pastor at ye bringing of a second Wife into his house, when a large concourse of people assem- bled. The Pastor stayed the church after services and gave leave for the congregation to stop also; and represented his case to 'em in what he then appre- hended its just light, upon which they voted to pass over the offense, sit down satisfied, and that the Sacrt should be administered to 'em by the Pastor the next Lords Day." This record, like the long account of following troubles, stands in the very neat handwrit- ing of Mr. Chandler himself, who shows throughout a frankness and apparent honesty which wins respect and sympathy for his weakness.

The trouble, however, continued, and was too deep to be so easily disposed of; and, in August, articles of complaint were laid before a council, with specifica- tions of four cases in which the pastor's weakness had been manifested. The council met September 18th, consisting of the First and Second Churches in Cam- bridge and that in Chelmsford. They found three of the charges sustained; but, in view of a confession, to be read to the church and congregation, they re- commended its acceptance, and that " whatever hath been grievous and offensive in ye Pastor" be over- looked. They proceed to a frank and faithful state- ment to Mr. Chandler, and appeal to him tenderly to free himself from reproach by a sober and godly life, and remind the church of the good character he has maintained among them "till of late," and that " the sin which he has fallen into is what you have not . . . so much as suspected him of till ye last win- ter ;" for which reason they urge the members of the church to pray and strive together for the recovery and usefulness among them of one who might be so good a pastor. But the evil could not be exorcised, and June 5, 1760, another council convened, and the church with them, when a show of hands so " dis- couraged the pastor as to tarrying," that by advice of the council he tendered his resignation and it was ac- cepted. Two years later Mr. Chandler died here, at the early age of thirty-eight.

This sad story does not stand alone. Concord had

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a similar experience. Nor need the occasional lapse in this way of a minister surprise us. When every cellar was stored with cider, and good Deacon Abbott would be as sure as any other to invite the minister to drink whenever he called, the wonder would be if here and there onc did not stumble. But while we give sympathy to the unfortunate young pastor, the bright morning of whose ministry was so soon and sadly overcast, wc may also with joy set up a waymark of progress, and deny that "the former days were better than these."

CHAPTER XXX.

BILLERICA-(Continued).

LAND DISTRIBUTION-DISMEMBERMENT.

THE use of the common lands, and their equitable distribution, long and often engaged the attention of the town. The adjustment of important lines, west of Concord River, by appeal to the General Court. in 1701, prepared the way for extensive divisions of the commons. But a new question arose : Could the orig- inal rights, in which the purchasers of the "Dudley " and " Winthrop " farms had no share, still hold exclu- sively the common lands ? or had Colonel Lane and other "farme " proprietors, by sharing for a genera- tion in the common burdens and duties of the town, acquired a claim to share also in future distributions of land ? After much debate and agitation, appeal was taken to the General Court, which affirmed the equity of their claim, and on this basis, in 1705-08, the largest distributions of the remaining commons took place, leaving little for later division. Small items here and there claimed attention for another generation, and the last record occurs, 1755, February 3d, when report was made that there were £60 in bank, and the treasurer, Josiah Bowers, was instructed "to pay out to each proprietor two shillings and two pence, Old Tenor, upon an acre Right."

So ended, almost exactly a century from its begin- ning, the town's care for, and distribution of, its com- mon lands, The questions involved in this charge had been many and delicate, and the wisdom of the fathers in dealing with them should be recognized. They were not' lavish or parsimonious in the use of their land fund, but employed it in a proper and gen- erous " encouragement " of such as bore the burden of laying the foundations, while they guarded it from any unjust appropriation by individuals. The record proves them true and honest men.

The town was large, nearly twelve miles long and eight wide, the rivers making the width, for practical purposes, as great as the length, and as the population increased in the more remote parts of the town, ques- tions of division naturally arose. Convenience of

public worship was the controlling principle in shaping the early towns, and the same principle de- manded new adjustments. But the demand was one which would naturally be unwelcome, and met with debate and opposition. After seventy-five years the process began, and did not cease until the old town was shorn of more than half of her ancient territory. The earliest movement towards this cnd was made, 1725, December 4th, in " a petition of Jonathan Bowers, Samuel Hunt, and divers others, Dwellers on the Land called Wamesick Purchase and Winthrop's farm, wcb lands ly adjacent to Billerica, between Pautucket and Chelmsford Line, praying for reasons therein as- signed, to be erected into a separate and distinct Town." This petition was referred to the next ses- sion of the General Court, but there is no record of action upon it.

The General Court, 1729, April 9th, however, consid- ered favorably a bill to establish Wameset Parish, with bounds including " Wamasset, or the Whole In- dian Purchase ;" but it failed of final consummation.

BEDFORD .- In the opposite direction the movement was more successful. The General Court received, 1728, June 18th,1 "the petition of Andrew Watkins, John Wilkins and John Wilson, and a considerable number of others, setting forth their great difficulties by reason of their distance from the meeting-houses in Concord and Billerica, to which they belong, and that they have been necessitated to get a minister among them for the winter season, and therefore praying that they may be set off a separate Township." The petition was referred to the next session, with order of notifi- cation to the towns of Billerica and Lexington. In July the Court, on farther petition, directed a com- mittee, already sent to examine the lines of the pro- posed Wamesit Parish, to extend their labors and go over the proposed bounds of Bedford.

Billerica had heard of the proposal, and as early as May 14, 1728, voted, that they " will act no farther at this time on the petition of the southerly part of the town as to their being set off as a Township." The matter came up again, January 27th, and the town chose a committee of eleven, who were " Impowered to manage the affair Referring to our brethren, the petitioners of the southward part of our Town, ac- cording to their best discretion, in agreeing with said petitioners at home concerning the line between the Town and them (if they can), but if not, then to draw up what they think proper by way of petition to the General Court and to choose two men out of said committee to manage Sª affair at said Court." This committec was uot able to agree upon the line of di- vision, and petitioned the Court, 1729, April 2d, "pray- ing that the new town, proposed to be erected in the

1 Massachusetts Records, Vol. XIV, p. 91. Mr. Shattuck (" History of Concord," p. 255) mentions a petition, dated 1725, as if it related to Bed- ford. But he probably referred to the petition quoted above, mistaking the identity of the " Winthrop's farm " there montioned, which was in fact the farm near Wamesit.

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BILLERICA.

County of Middlesex, to be called Bedford, and which is principally taken out of the town of Billerica, may not be extended according to the lines set forth for making said Town, but that some of the families may remain in the town of Billerica." The petition, how- ever, was dismissed, and Bedford was incorporated,1729, September 23d. The line of separation began at the Two Brothers, on Concord River, either following the Winthrop Farm line or more probably diverging a little to the north of it, and thence extending nearly as at present to Woburn, (now Burlington). It was changed, by consent of the two towns, in 1766, so as to transfer Edward Stearns and his farm to Bedford.

The claim that Bedford was principally taken out of Billerica has been overlooked, but is correct. The old line with Concord was parallel with the present Main Street in Bedford, and sixty-four rods south of it. It is still easily traced, nearly touching the rail- road at the curve east of the station. Its easterly point is shown in the record of a committee, February 11, 1699-1700. They " began at Concord southeast corner, which was a stake and stones about it, stand- ing on the southeast of Shawshin River about forty poles from it." This point would be very near an ancient Page house, standing on the old road south of the main road to Lexington, and on the County Atlas of 1875 marked by the name of Brennan. Westward of the cedar swamp, where the marks could not be found, the committee ran, by mutual agree- ment, north fifty-three degrees west to Concord River. This line includes about three-fifths of Bedford. Of the families transferred no list is known to remain. Of the first church members Mr. Shat- tuck,1 with sufficient probability, credits these names to Billerica : Obed Abbott, Jonathan Bacon, Thomas Dinsmore, Samuel Fitch, Jacob Kendall, Benjamin Kidder, Job Lane, John Lane, Christopher Page, Nathaniel Page and Israel Putnam ; and Josiah Fas- sett should doubtless be added. Of other citizens there was John Wilson, and probably more than as many others, younger members of the same families and of other familes. Of the division of the prop- erty of Billerica we have an approximate assurance. The Province tax assessed in 1729 amounted to £125 58. 8d., of which the part belonging to Bedford was £18 12 :. 3d. Samuel Fitch was the first town clerk, and Israel Putnam was the first constable of the town and the first deacon of the church.

TEWKSBURY .- The success of the Bedford petition encouraged a renewal of the movement in the north part of the town, but Chelmsford held all west of the Concord River so firmly that the proposal took a turn farther eastward. The consciousness of separate in- terests appears frequently in references to the inhabit- ants of Winthrop Farm. In 1731 they prepared a draft and laid it before the town of a road which they

desired, and received favorable answer. In 1733, May 13th, they asked the town to " erect a meeting- house in the center of the town, or so as to accommo- date the northerly part of the town, upon the Town's cost, or set them off, so that they may maintain preach- ing among themselves." This the town was hardly ready to grant ; but they had discovered that it was useless to oppose the separation, and a town-mecting was held, December 19th, at which the above request was renewed, or, as an alternative, that the town would " please to set them off, with two-thirds of the land lying between Andover and Billerica meeting-house, from Wilmington line to Concord River, for a Town- ship." Others desired that the organization should be a "Precinct, for their better accommodation in public worship." At this meeting a committee was appointed to "view the land " and report, which they did, January 9, 1733-34, and the town voted, " that the northerly and northeasterly part of the Town, ac- cording to their petition, be set off as a Township, Granting them two-thirds of the land from Andover line to our meeting-house, by a parallel line with said Andover line, extending from Concord River to Wil- mington line (if the inhabitants on the southeasterly side of Shawshin River be willing to join with them)."

This final condition called out a petition from Samuel Hunt and others to the General Court, "praying an absolute grant of this Court for their being made a Towne with these bounds," or the ap- pointment of a committee to examine and report. The latter was done, with the result that Tewksbury was incorporated December 23, 1734. The new town was taken wholly from Billerica, receiving, in round numbers, 9000 acres of the 25,000 which remained after the separation of Bedford, which had taken nearly or quite 4000. The following list of families included in Tewksbury is imperfect, but will have interest :

Joseph Brown, William Brown, Richard Farmer, Thomas Farmer, John French, Thomas French, Daniel Frost, Edmund Frost, Joseph Frost, Richard Hall, Samuel Hall, Samuel Haseltine, Stephen JJasel- tine, Jeremiah Hunt, John Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Peter Hunt, Samuel Hunt, Ephraim Kidder, Daniel Kittredge, Daniel Kittredge, Jr., Frau- cis Kittredge, James Kittredge, James Kittredge, Jr., James Kittredge, Dr. John Kittredge, John Kittredge, Jr., Joseph Kittredge, Thomas Kittredge, William Kittredge, John Levestone, Seth Levestone, Eliphialet Manning, Thomas Manning, Thomas Marshall, John Need- ham, Stephen Osgood, John Patten, Kendall Patten, Nathaniel Patten, Samuel Peacock, Andrew Richardson, Nathaniel Rogers, Nathan Shed, Abraham Stickney, Samuel Trull, John Whiting.

To these forty seven names enough should proba- bly be added to make the number sixty. They in- clude all then on our list of the names Hall, Hasel- tine, Hunt and Kittredge. The latter family had be- come so numerous in that part of the town exclusively that it is not strange they have been credited with original settlement there. In fact, their ancestor, John Kittredge, lived and died southeast of Bare Hill, in Billerica.

WILMINGTON received the next segment taken from Billerica. That town was incorporated Sep-

1 " History of Concord," p. 263.

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IIISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tember 25, 1730, consisting of the north part of Woburn. The line on the west included "the farm " of Abraham Jaquith, which was partly in Billerica. In March, 1737-38, Billerica received a "Petition of several persons, on the southeastcrly side of Shawshin River, to be dismissed from the Town of Billerica, to be annexed to the second preicenct in Woburn, in order to be Erected into a Township." On the ques- tion of granting this petition, "it passed unanimously in the negative." Two months later the General Court received the petition of John, Ebenezer and Jacob Beard, Jonathan Baldwin, Peter Cornell and Richard Hopkins, saying that their farms were con- venient to Wilmington, and that they had attended worship in the meeting-house there since its erection, as it was two miles nearer than Billerica, and at some seasons they could not cross the Shawshin. , They refer to the petition to be set off which Billerica had refused, and ask that their request be granted with- out reference back to Billerica. To this petition the House, iu June, refused to consent; but in Decem- ber, 1737, the Council gave a favorable hearing, and voted that the petitioners be annexed to Wilming- ton, provided they should pay their proportion of charges for the meeting-house which Billerica was building. The house concurred, and this section of 600 acres was transferred to Wilmington.

CARLISLE .- After these losses on the south, north and east, it remained only to complete the circuit in the west; but although the movement there began early, it was not consummated for more than a gen- eration. At the same meeting, in March, 1737-38, when the town refused the Wilmington petition, it postponed one of similar tenor from "several persons on the westerly side of Concord River," who desire to be set off "to Joyn with part of the Towns of Con- cord and Chelmsford, to be erected into a Township." After debate, the town, May 11th, " voted their willing- ness (when it was the Honb' General Court's pleasure to erect them into a Township) to set them off by the bounds following : . But sixteen years passed before the General Court incorporated Carlisle,1 April 19, 1754, as a district of Concord. In 1755 Billerica refused the consent once given to the separation, and the elements seem to have been inharmonious, or the location of the meeting-house a knotty problem, for after struggling with their difficulties until January, 1757, the people in Carlisle were granted a dissolu- tion of the district. In their request for this they say 2 that only asmall majority originally favorcd the district, and that after many trials in various ways to come to some amicable agreement for building up the place all means fail, and they apprehend the utter impossibility of ever coming into any further agree- ment.

The dissolution of the district did not bring peace,

and a petition to the Court followed, June 1, 1757, bcaring fifty-one signatures, of which Timothy Wil- kins' is the first, asking to be incorporated as a town- ship or district, to include one-half the land between the meeting-houses of Concord and Chelmsford, the new mecting-house to be at the centre point of a line connecting the two.

In March, 1760, the subject was again before the town, which voted to set off the inhabitants on the west side of Concord River. The new meeting-house was begun at this time, but not finished for several years; and the town itself was only a name and an endeavor for some years longer. The subject was re- vived by petition to the General Court, June 1, 1772. The petitioners say that the desired bounds include about seventy-six families,3 and that they have erected a meeting-house.

But Carlisle's long struggle for life did not end in success until 1780, though Billerica again gave her consent, March 1, 1779.

After forty-two years of various action on the sub- ject, she seems at last to have given her youngest daughter a hearty send-off. Here ceased the process of dismemberment of ancient Billerica. After tlie lapse of a century it is fair to hope that it will not be resumed.

CHAPTER XI.

BILLERICA-(Continued).

BILLERICA IN THE REVOLUTION.

IN the contest of the Colonies for independence Billerica bore her part. Her minutc-men were at Lexington, and the first soldier who fell at Bunker Hill was Asa Pollard, one of her sons. As early as 1731, September 14th, the underlying principle of the national contest found expression in a vote, "that it is our opinion that our Representative hold fast all our charter priviledges; and, in particular, that he give his voice iu no suply of the Treasury, that de- prives the house of their priviledg in passing accounts before payments." Iu 1766 "the late troubles" in connection with the Stamp Act came before the town, on the question of recompense to the sufferers, and "it passed in the affirmative," with a reference to the discretion of their representative.

December 21, 1768, a town-meeting "took into Consideration the present Distresst and Impoverished State of this Province, That some effectual measures might be agreed upon to promote Industry, Oecon- omy, & Manufactures, thereby to prevent the unnec- cssary Importation of European commodities, which threaten the Country with poverty & Ruin." Reso- lutions were unanimously passed, favoring home

1 Shattuck's " History of Concord," p. 321.

2 " Massachusetts Archives," vol. cxvii., 204 and 290.

3 " Massachusetts Archives," vol. cxviii., 624.

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BILLERICA.

mannfactures and disapproving the use of imported articles, of which a long list is named, beginning with loaf-sugar. A committee reported a form of subscrip- tion, pledging those who signed to promote these objects. "The late regulations respecting Funerals " are specially emphasized, and the signers agree that they "will not use any Gloves but what are manufactured here, nor procure any new Garments upon such an occation but what shall be absolutely necessary ;" to all which the patriots of Billerica, it is quite certain, generally agreed, This non-importation action became very general, and produced no little effect on the popular mind.

In September, 176S, resolutions from Boston were responded to; and, "taking into Consideration the Critical State of our public affairs, more especially the present Precarious situation of our Invaluable Rights and priviledges, Civil and Religious," the town voted to choose "one person a committee for sd Town, to meet at Boston at Funel hall, the 22ª inst., to act for them in a Convention, with such as may be sent to join them from the several towns in this prov- ince, in order that such measures may be consulted and advised as his majesty's service and the peace and safety of his majesty's subjects in the province may require." William Stickney, Esq., was chosen delegate to this convention. In this way the towns furnished the basis for effective discussion and action on the vital problems which stirred the Colonies; and it is not strange that the English Miuistry were alarıned and incensed at the activity of these minia- ture republics. They were, in fact, the palladium of our rising liberties. A town-meeting was held in 1773, February 1st, and its action took shape thus :

"The inhabitants, having deliberately Considered the Critical and alarming Situation the Colonies npon this Continent are Reduced to, by reason of the unconstitutional proceedings of the British Ministry and parliament of late years; & also the expediency of their, as well as the Inhabitants of every other town, Adopting some method to Communi- cate their Sentiments in Regard to the Disputes Subsisting between Great Britain and the Colonies, more especially on account of the late change in the American Department, that his Lordship the present Secretary of State for the said Department may be Convinced that a General Uneasi- ness prerails throughout the Country in Consequence of the late meas- ures of the British Administration, notwithstanding any Reports to the Contrary, & may thereby be Influenced to use his best Interest and en- deavonrs to procure a Removal of the canses thereof, and a Restoration of that peace & Harmony which so long Subsisted Between the Mother Country & her Colonies, & are undonbtedly Necessary to the political Happiness and welfare of each : Unanimously Voted and Resolved-

"1. That the late Acts of Parliament for raising a Revenue in the Colonies ; the establishing a Board of Commissioners with exorbitant powers ; the granting of ench extensive powers to the Court of Admiralty ; the fixing a sallary on the Governor of the province, and on the Justices of the Superior Courte, Independant of the Grants of the General As- sembly ; the extending to America the late Acts of parliament, Entitled an Act for better preserving his Majesty's Dock yards, &c .; the Station- ing fleet, and armles to enforce a Compliance with Ministerial & parlia- mentary measures, together with many other things that might be men- tioned, are Repugnant to the principles of the British Constitution, Sub- versive of their Charter Righta and privileges, & therefore Intolerable Grievances.

42. That those Reporte which Represent the Inhabitants in General, in the Country, as acquiescing in and ready to Comply with the late measures of Administration, are, as far as they Respect them, false and groundless.

"3. That they will heartily Coucur with and faithfully assist their brethren in the common cause, throughout the Continent, in all prudent, legall, and Coustitutional measures that shall be Adopted, to obtain a Redress of their present Grievances & a Restoration of their Just Rights and priviledges ; and will also at all times Unite with them in Zealously and Streanously Asserting their Rights and Vigorously maintaining their freedom.

"4. That they would take this Occation publickly to Declare their Cordial Affection & unfeigned loyalty to his present majesty Georgo the 3ª, and to express their Sincear wish that the Union Between Greato Brit-in and lier Colonies may never be broken, but be preserved upon Such an Equitable foundation as Shall Conduce to the prosperity & Ad- vantage of both. Wherefore,

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 80

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