History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 81

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 81

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"5. That they Commit in trust to our Representative in the General Conrt, to use Such measures as his prudence & wisdom Shall Dictate, to obtain in a Constitutional way a Redress of all Grievances.

"6. That the foregoing votes be Recorded in the town Book, and that the town Clerk transmit a Copy of the same to the Committee of Corre - spondence of the town of Boston."

Billerica responded, 1774, June 6th, to an appeal from the Boston committee as follows :

"The Inhabitants, having taken into Consideration the . oppresive Measures, adopted and prosecuted of late, by the British Ministry and Parliament against the Colonies ; and more especially having Consid- ered the very alarming and vindictive act passed for the Blocking up of the harbour of Boston and putting a stop to the trade, unanimously came into the following Resolves :

"1. That a Right iu the British Parliament to Tax his Majesty's American Subjects aud to make laws Binding upon them in all Cases, without their Cousent by Representatives, effectually deprives them of those Rights and Priviledges which as men and as British Subjects they have a Just Claim to; and has no better foundation in Reason & Equity than the unlimited Prerogative, contended for by thoso arbi- trary and misguided Princes, Charles the first and James the second, for the which the one lost his life and the other his Kingdom.

" That the Colonies are as Justifiable in opposing this unrighteous Claim of the British Parliament & all Acts Resulting from it, with all the attempts to Carry the same into execution, as the people of England were in opposing Charles & James, & setting William, Prince of Orange, of ever Glorious Memory, upon the Throne in the Room of the lattor, Since the measures of those Arbitrary Princes were not more Inconsist- ent with the Liberties of the People of England than the late measures of the British Parliament, in consequence of the above-mentioned claim, are with the Liberties of the People in America.

"3. That our Vigorous Contests for our Liberties, in Opposition to the said Claim of Parliament and the Oppressions with which we have been loaded in Consequence thereof, Cannot Consistently be Denomi- nated Faction and Rebellion by any who are friendly to the Principles of the Revolution upon which his Present Majesty's Right to the Crown Depends ; and therefore there is Reason to Suspect that those who call our manly Struggles for Liberty Opprobrious names are disaffected to the Hannoveriau Succession, & aiming to Restore the Racce of tlio Stuarts.

"4. That the act for Blocking up Boston Harbor is Hostile, Arbi- trary & Cruel, and a Solemn Alarm, Sounded to all America, to Unite as one inan and Stand more firm than ever in Defence of its Liberties, as it Discovers implacable Resentinent in the British Ministry and a fixed Intention to treat these Colonies as Robels, without even the formality of a trial, and to condemn & punish then unheard if they Do not yield a tame Submission to their Sovereign Mandates, which is'a modo of pro- ceeding against Real offenders Scarcely to be parrelled by any instanco in the most arbitrary & tyrannical Reigns.

" 5. That we consider the Blow Struck at Boston as aimed at tho Province in General, and as a Prelude to something further, Equally Vindictive, yet in Store for this and the other Colonies, and as we have a fixed Reliance upon the Virtue of our Brethren in Boston to persevero in the noble Cause of Liberty, which they have hitherto maintained with Such laudahle fortitude and Resolution, and, looking upou our Selves as Bound to animate and encourage them, we hereby promise & Declare our Readiness to Support and Strengthen them in the present conflict to the utmost of our power, and to joyn with them in any meas- ures that shall be Judged expedient for our Common Safety and Defence, and for Defeating every vengeful machination of those that would pun- ish us for Shewing our Selves men, and Dragoon us into Slavery because we Disdain patiently to take the Yoak upon our Necks at their Bidding.

342

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

"6. That, if the Respectable Body of Merchants throughout the Colonies might come into an agreement to Import no British Goods and carry on no foreign trade whereby the merchants in England should Ro- ceive nny Greate Benefit or Emolument, we humbly Conceive that a plan would be laid for the Speedy Removal of our Difficulties ; and that we should have nothing to Do but to Sit Still and See the Salvation of our Country. We therefore Ardently Recommend this measure to them, promising that nothing shall be wanting upon our part for the Encour- agement of the Same.

"Lastly. That as it would be an Indellible Disgrace and a Violation of the Sacred Obligation we are under, to God, to our Country, to our Selves, and to Posterity, for us tamely and Pusillanimously to give up these invaluable Liberties, which our worthy Ancestors purchased for us at Such Vast Expense of Blood & Treasure, We are Determined to use our utmost efforts to maintain them, and not part with them at a Cheaper Rate than they were at first obtained."

It was also voted to choose a Committee of Corre- spondence, which consisted of Mr. Ebenezer Bridge, Mr. Joshua Abbott, Capt. Josiah Bowers, Mr. Ralph Hill, Dr. Timothy Danforth, Mr. William Tompson and Mr. Solomon Pollard.

On June 27th, after considering two covenants sent from Boston "The Town, after Serious Deliberation upon the Difficulties & Distresses in which the Prov- ince, as well as the Colonies in General, are involved at the present Day; also upon what Method will have the greatest tendency to Cause a Suspension of all Commercial Intercourse with the Island of Great Britain (that being adjudged a Measure the most Salutary and Prudent that can be adopted, and most likely to effect the end proposed), Voted, That the Inhabitants of this Town come into an Agreement, faithfully and Religiously to be observed, that they `will not buy, purchase or Consume, or suffer any person by, for, or under them, to purchase or Con- sume, in any way or manner whatsoever, any Goods, wares or merchandise that shall arrive in America from Greate Britain afcresaid, from and after the 31 Day of August next ensuing, for and until such time as they shall have Received the Result of the Conti- mental Congress, upon whose wisdom, Prudence and Integrity they Rely, & to whose Determination they shall Readily Conform. Voted, That if any person or persons shall Discover such a want of regard for the Interest and Good of the Country, as to import any kind of merchandise from Great Brittain afore- said, after the aforesaid 31 Day of August until the publication of the aforesaid result, they will not pur- chase of them any article of British goods whatever, when or howsoever imported. Voted, That a Cove- nant comprising the Spirit and intention of the fore- going Vote be forthwith Subscribed to by the Inhabi- tance of the Town," and a committee was appointed for the purpose.

September 12th it was " Voted, that the Town Jus- tifie the Committee of Correspondence for their Go- ing to Concord to join with the committees of the other towns of this County to Consult upon measures proper to be taken at the present important day," and "that the town fully accept of the Resolves passed at said meeting in Concord." At the same time the town voted to choose two persons " as a com- mittce to attend at the Provincial Congress to be

held at Concord on the second Tuesday in October." William Stickney, Esq., and Mr. Ebenezer Bridge were chosen. Already the First Continental Con- gress was in session at Philadelphia, and the active union of the Colonies was taking practical form. Two weeks later Mr. Stickney was also elected Repre- sentative to the General Court, "to be held at Sa- lem," October 5th; and he was instructed "to pay no Regard to the King's new mandamus Council, as a Council, nor proceed to act with them ;" and, "if the Governor Should Dissolve, prorogue or adjourn the Court, that our Representative joine the House in forming themselves into a provincial Congress," and, in the latter case, Mr. Bridge was also to attend it.

The progress of sentiment and action was swift, but not unanimous. A vital step was taken when the constables were instructed, 1774, December 19th, to pay the Province tax to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stowe, appointed receiver-general by the Provincial Congress. But, about the same time, the town says, in resolutions adopted : "It is with most painful Sen- sations we see the supineness and inattention to our Common Interest, that seems to prevail in the minds of many people in this town : we are sorry that there is so much uneasiness in the minds of some people in Regard to settling the melitia." But the organizing and training of this militia was pushed to good pur- pose.

It was stimulated by an incident which a few days later occurred in Boston, and has made the name of a young man from Billerica famous in the history of these days. Thomas Ditson, Jun., being in Boston, was seized by the British troops, March 8th, on the pretence that he was urging a soldier to desert; without any examination kept a prisoner until the next day, when he was stripped, tarred and feathered, and dragged through the principal streets on a truck, attended by soldiers of the Forty-seventh Regiment, led by Colonel Nesbit, to the music of Yankee Doodle, the original words of which, it is said, were then first used. The outrage produced great indignation. and the selectmen of Boston sent a letter reporting the case to the selectmen of Billerica, who presented a remonstrance to General Gage, and submitted the case to a town-meeting; on March 20th. The town thanked them " for the wise and prudent measures " they had taken, expressed its dissatisfaction with the reply of General Gage, and instructed them to carry the case to the Provincial Congress.

Debates and events were becoming very serious, and the drilling of train-bands and minute-men foreshadowed the work before them. The stern re- solve of the patriots expressed itself in a vote, the same day, " to look up the old Bayonets ; " and, April 14th, four days before the Lexington and Concord alarm, they voted to "furnish the minute-men with Bayonets and Cartridge Boxes." It was also voted that "as every method ought to be pursued which may tend to promote the arts & manufactures of the

343

BILLERICA.

Country, especially that of wool, The Inhabitants of this town Shall not Kill any lambs for the markett till after the first Day of August next; and also that no one ought to sell any to any Bitcher or Petty Chap- man, at any time whatever." " Voted, That the In- habitants of this Town will, on the Death of a friend or Relative, Conform to the Sth article of the Ameri- can Association, & go into no further mourning than such as is therein Recommended, and will entirely Discontinue the Giving of any Gloves whatever at Funerals."

To prevent the troops in Boston from being sup- plied with materials for hostile operations, the town voted not to permit any team "to Load in, or, after loaded, to pass through, the Town, with Timber, Boards, Spars, Pickets, Tent-poles, Canvas, Brick, Iron, Waggons, Carts, Carriages, Intrenching Tools, Oats," etc., without satisfactory certificate from the Committee of Correspondence, as to load, destination and abode.

When the day of Concord and Lexington came, Billerica was ready to do her part. The midnight riders spreading the alarm, probably reached this town by two o'clock. The Ditsons on the Woburn Road would be among the first to receive the sum- mons, and very ready to respond to it after their re- cent experience. Colonel Thompson and Lieutenant Stickney, would be promptly notified ; aud Ebenezer Kridge, who was captain of the minute-men. There was hurrying to and fro, and in the early dawn, when the first encounter took place at Lexington, few fam- ilies, if any, had not heard the call to arms. Mus- kets and accoutrements were hastily made ready and donned; the alarm-list no doubt turned out as well as the train-band and the minute-men ; and gathering at the Common for muster and orders, they hurried off towards Concord. Meanwhile, the British had pushed on to Concord, and after the fight there found reason for hurrying back towards Boston. They had not gone far when, at Merriam's Corner, the Billerica troops came and joined in the assault and pursuit of the retreating foe. They came under the command of Colonel William Tompson. Some Billerica men were naturally in the Bedford company and arrived earlier, and when Captain Jonathan Wilson was killed, the command devolved upon his Billerica lieutenant, Edward Stearns. Nathaniel Wyman, of the same company, was killed, who was probably from Billerica, although his name is also credited to Lexington. No other man from this town was killed, but John Nickles and Timothy Blanchard were wounded.

The day of Lexington and Concord decided the issue of war, and in the rapid mustering of provincial forces, Billerica furnished her share of men.

The Committee of Correspondence was recon- structed, William Stickney, Esq., taking the place of Colonel Bridge, who was absent in the army. Other members were "Joshua Abbott, Co1. W". Thompson, Capt. Daniel Stickney, Capt. Josiah Bowers, Dr.

Timothy Danforth, Dea. Joshua Davis, Lt. John Parker, Mr. Henry Jefts, Mr. Isaac Foster, and Mr. Benj". Lewis." Powers and duties are fully defined and very extensive, and the exercise of them was by no means nominal. Very much was due to the vigilance and discretion with which these committees discharged their various and delicate functions.

At a meeting, May 23d, the town voted "to send another Representative this year," and chose Colonel Tompson. It then adds a resolution which showed the progress of public sentiment after a year in the school of war, and that they were finding out that loyalty to Great Britain could not much longer be made consistent with the defence of their rights. "The Question was put whether the Town will, in Conformity to a Resolve of the Honble the House of Representatives of this Colony, advise our Represen- tatives that, if the Honble Congress Should for the Safety of the Colonies Declare them Independent of Great Brittain, they the said Inhabitants will engage with their lives & fortunes to Support them, and it passed unanimously in the affirmative." They were patriotic men who were ready for this action. With such leaders as Dr. Cumings and William Stickney, we may be sure it was not taken without intelligent consideration of its significance and what it was likely to cost them.

The battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17th, and in that battle the company from Billerica served in the redoubt under Prescott. Its former captain was now Colonel Bridge, and Lieut. Jonathan Stickney was in command. Asa Pollard, whose home was near the "fordway," was the first soldier killed, and was buried on the field. Samuel Hill was also killed, and probably Benjamin Easte, who was re- ported as dead soon after; and Timothy Toothaker died a few days later of wounds received. Colonel Bridge was wounded on the head and neck by a sword- cut, and was one of the last to retreat. In the severe scrutiny which followed, he did not escape charges of misconduct, in seeking too cautiously the cover of the redoubt. He was tried, but acquitted on the ground of indisposition of body.1

The town adopted, October 14th, resolutions urging the speedy erection of a State Government, and in 1777 sent Rev. Dr. Cumings delegate to the conven- tion, which framed the first Constitution of Massa- chusetts. Until this was adopted, the towns acted on a theory of their semi-independence; for instance, "the Question was put whether the town will heartily Submitt to the Reagulating bill, & it passed in the affirmative."

As the war went on, and the calls for troops were repeated, the people found it more difficult to respond. The country was poor and the tax of maintaining the contest in both men and money was severe. 1777, March 10th, the town chose "a committee of five per-

1 " Siege of Boston," p. 176.

344

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

sons to Indent with persons to Inlist into the Conti- mental service," and the records abound in details, showing the activity and embarrassments of this and similar committecs to the end.

The pecuniary embarrassments became more and more serious as the Continental currency depreciated, and persons with fixed incomes suffered most. This appears in a vote, 1777, December 1st, "that the sclectmen make Mr. Jonathan Kidder, our school- master, an addiquate reward for his services in some measure, as things have risen." The extent of this inflation is illustrated in the salary of Dr. Cumings. This was £80. But for the year ending in July, 1779, he received £380; for the next half-year, £830; and for the year 1781, £9000. In other words, this " Con- tinental currency" had fallen to less than one per cent. of its face value. It had become too attenuated to be reclaimed, and the unfortunate 'holders of it, soldiers as well as citizens, suffered greatly in its utter loss. In 1782 the taxes were raised in specie, and the pastor's salary was again £80.

In 1778 the proposals for the Confederation camc before the town, January 23d ; and they say, "although they apprehend some things therein Contained are not so agreeable, yet, considering the vast Importance of the whole for the well being & Happiness of the united States of America, Voted & agreed to the whole of sª Confederation, and that Col. W™. Tompson, our Representative, be and he is hereby Instructed to Joyne with the honorable house of Representatives in any measures they Judge best, in order to forward the same to Congress."

Another call for recruits, in 1778, was met by the town's offer of £30 to such able-bodied men " as shall Inlist themselves to Joyne Gen. Washington's armny for the space of nine months, except sooner Dis- charged, in order to fill up the Continentall army ; " and £60 to such persons "as shall Inlist themselves as militia-men to go to the North River for eight months." In October, 1778, we have a glimpse of the hopes which cheered them during these trying years in the report of a committee, appointed to estimate the back services in the war, who say: " That con- sidering the many services done since our appoint- ment and the Difficulty of estimating them Separately, and the hopeful prospect that this sumer's campaign will put a finall end to services of this sort, it is our oppinnion that one Committee Consider the whole." Whereupon the town appointed a committee of seven, " to estimate the back services since they went to Ticonderogue, since the war rate was made in 1777, having Refference to the former settlement Respecting some grievanees that some persons sustained in said settlement, according to their Discretion." This committee made a report in December, which was adopted, 1779, January 4th, as follows :

" May, 1777. Two months to Rhode Island, set at . . £2 0 0 July, 1777. Six months to Rhode Island . G 0 0

August, 1777. Three months and a half to Bennington 15 4 0

October, 1777.

Forty-one days to Saratoge . 9 10 0

February, 1778. Three months to Boston . 9 10 0

April, 1778.

Three months to Cambridge 9 10 0

July, 1778. To Rhode Island ; all hired men

July, 1778. Six months to the Hill 16 10 -

August, 1778.

Six weeks to Rhode Island 11 0 0

September, 1778. Three months to Boston 9 10 ( "

If we had the names of the men employed in thesc various services, the record would have greater interest; but it is safc to assume that the town was represented in all.

More men were needed in 1779, and, June 22d, a committee was appointed to secure the town's quota, "to go into the Continental army and to Rhode Island." July 5th, a tax was levied, of "thirteen thousand dollars," for the purpose of paying and securing the needed men-the first use of the word "dollar" in the records. As prices rose and the value of the currency became more doubtful, men had reasonable fears as to enlisting and trusting promises of future payments. A State Convention was held, and resolutions were passed "for the Re- treiving the Credit of our Currency," which Billeriea adopted, also appointing delegates to a County Con- vention, August 5th, at Concord, "to regulate the prices of produce and manufactures," whose proceedings were also adopted; and a committee of fifteen was " chosen of Observation to see that the Resolves and Recommendations of the State and County Con- vention be punctually complyed with." But the task laid upon them was much more hopeless than that of finding men whose patriotisin would respond to the call of Washington ; and although a week later the select- men and Committee of Correspondence were united with this one, and "Impowered and directed in the most Vigorous Manner to see that there be no break- ing over or evading the doings of the said Convention, and that the breakers thereof be proceeded against according to their offences; and more especially to see that there be no bartering in Gold and Silver, to the Ingury of our paper Currency," prices continued to rise, the regulations could not be enforced, and the end came in the utter worthlessness of the paper currency they strove so resolutely to sustain.

CHAPTER XXXII.

BILLERICA-(Continued).

EDUCATION.

IN 1647 a free school was made compulsory in any town having fifty householders.

Billerica could not at once meet this requirement. But, "1, 5, 61. The Townsmen doe agree yt Lieften- ent Will ffrench and Ralph Hill, senior, doe take care and [examine] the seurll famelies in or Towne, whethr there children and servants are Taught in the precepts of relidione, in reding and Lerninge their

345

BILLERICA.

Catechism." How this duty was discharged is sug- gested in the record by the selectmen : "10, 9m, 68. they apoint ye next seconday to go ye rounds to ex- amine ye teaching of children & youth, acording to law." If we could accompany these selectmen on that annual examination, we should learn something of education under difficulties : and might gain re- spect for the fathers, with appreciation of the fact of progress in two centuries.

Mr. Whiting's name first appears in this record, "19 March, '74-5. In reference to the catechising of ye youth of ye towne and examining them concerning their reading, a duty imposed on ye select™ by ye Hon™ª Court, to take care that children and youth be instructed in both. The selectinen doe order, that all children and youth, single psons from eight years old upward, their parence and masters shall send such their children and servants to ye Reverend Mr. Samuel Whiting, at such times as shalbee afterward appointed by him, to be examined of both, as hoping this might be a good expedient for ye encouragement of all superiours and youth."

We may well believe that such an examination, by the pastor, would be no small incentive to study on the part of the "youth " who must appear before him. Bnt many of the parents could give but little instruction, and another step in advance greatly needed was taken when, "19, 11™, 79, Ens. Tompson was chosen school-master, to teach such to read and to write as shall come to him to learn." Joseph Tompson, Billerica's first school-master, was the son of a minister, and, with the possible exception of Danforth, was the best educated man in town. He continued to be the school-master for more than thirty years. Of the studies pursued we are not in- formed, nor of the " times and seasons ;" but thecul- ture of the town owes much, we may be sure, to En- sign Tompson's school, and we may remember with interest the place to which the children of two hun- dred years ago wended their way for the instruction he had to give them. His house was in the southeast part of the village, at the end of the lane leading east from the Boston road. Whether the services of Mr. Tompson were gratuitous or he had a tuition fee does not appear; but no item is found among the town charges until 1710, when he received one pound as school-master, and another the next year.

Abont the same time the question of a new school- master was raised. We may hope that the reason was not because Captain Tompson found occasion in his age to charge something for his services. Per- haps after thirty years his methods had become too old-fashioned, and a younger man was called for. In the autumn of 1709 one object of a town-meeting was " to incoridg a schoole-master for Reading and Writ- ing;" and, judging from the records of Mr. Needham, the new town clerk, there was need of a school-mas- ter. But four years later a master was still needed, and, November 16, 1713, "it was voted, that the se-

lectmen shaill mak yous of their best descrastion in providing a scoull-master for a quarter of a yeare;" and, January 18th, the selectmen were instructed " to se out for a schoolmaster against March Court, and to provide a house." Towns were frequently com- plained of for neglect to provide good schools, and the last record implies that Billerica had been thus charged, as it had been at least once before, in 1692, "for want of a schole." Probably Mr. Tompson's labors were occasionally suspended and resumed. The same presentment was made in 1718, and an- swered by Captain Whiting, at Charlestown.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 81

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