History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 92

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 92

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Date 1653

" EDMUND GOODENOW " THOMAS NOYES " WILLIAM KERLEY"

This road has for many years been a landmark in Sudbury ; but the oldest inhabitant cannot remember when, in its entire length, it was used as a highway. Parts of it were long since discontinued, and were either sold or reverted to the estates of former owners.

THE HOP-BROOK MILL .- In 1659 a mill was put up where the present Parmenter Mill stands in South Sudbury. This mill was erected by Thomas and Peter Noyes. In recognition of the serviceableness of their work to the community, the town niade them a land grant, and favored them with such privileges as are set forth in the following record :

" Jan. 7th 1659. Granted unto Mr. Thomas Noyes and to Mr Peter Noyes for and in consideration of building a mill at Hop brook lay. ing and being on the west side of Sudbury great river below the cart way that leads to Ridge meadow viz: fifty acres of upland and fif- teen acres of meadow without commonadge to the said meadow four acres of the said fifteen acres of meadow lying and being within the demised tracts of uplands ; Also granted to the above named parties timher of any of Sudbury's common land, to build and maintain the said mill. Also the said Thomas and Peter Noyes do covenant with the town for the foregoing consideration, to build a sufficient mill to grind the town of Sudbury's corn; the mill to be built below the cart way that now is leading to Ridge meadow, the said Grantees, their heirs and successors are to have nothing to do with the stream above four rods above the aforementioned cartway of said mill to be ready to grind the corn by the first of December next ensueing, and if the said grantees, their heirs or assigns shall damage the high- way over the brook, by building the said mill, they are to make the way as good as now it is, from time to time, that is to say, the ahove specified way, over the Mill brook of said Tomas Noyes and Peter are also to leave a highway six rods wide joining to the brook from the east way that now is to the Widow Loker's meadow." (Town Records, vol. i.)

While the new mill was being built, a way was being made to it from the causeway, as we are in-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

formed by the following record, dated February 7, 1659:

" We, the Selectmen of Sudbury, finding sundry inconveniences, by renson of Und and ill highways not being passable to meadow-lands and other towns, and finding the law doth commit the stating of the highways to the prudence of the selectmen of towns, we therefore, being met the day und year above written, on purpose to view the highways in the west side of Sudbury river, and having taken pains to view them, do we say, conclude and jointly agree that the high- way from the Gravel pits shall go through the land newly purchased of Lieut. Goodenow to that end, and from thence down the brow of the hill the now passed highway, unto the place where the new mill is bnilling, that is to say, the way that is now in occupation, we mean the way that goeth to the south and Mr. Beisbeich his house, we conclude and jointly agree, that the way to the meadows, as namely, the meadow of John Grout, Widow Goodenow, John May- nard, Lieut. Goodenow, shall go as now it doth, that is to say, in the hollow to the said meadows, the highway to be six rods wide all along by the side of the said meadows."

In 1652 a contract was made for a new house of worship. This eontraet is on the Town Records, but has beeome considerably worn and defaced, so that parts are almost or quite unintelligible. There is, however, a copy in the "Stearns Collection," which, with some slight immaterial alterations, is as follows :

" The town agreed with Thomas Plympton Peter King & Hugh Griffin to build a new meeting house which was to be forty feet long & twenty feet wide measuring from outside to outside, the studds were to be 6 inches by 4 to stand for a four foot clapboard. There were to be 4 tran- som windows five feet wide & 6 feet high, and in each gable end a clear- story window, each window was to be 4 feet wide and 3 feet high. There were to be sufficient doiments across the house for galleries if there should afterward be a desire for galleries the beams to be 12 inches by 14 and the ground sills were to be of white oak 8 inches square. The posts were to be a foot square, and the 2 middle beams to be smoothed on three sides and the lower corners to be run with a bowkell. They the said Plympton King & Griffin are to find timber to fell, hew, saw, cart, frame, carry to place & they are to level the ground aud to find them sufficient help to raise the house, they are to inclose the house with clap boards and to lyne the inside with cedar boards or otherwise with good spruce boards, & to be smoothed & over lapped and to be lyned up the windows, & they are to hang the doors so as to bolt. One of the doors on the inside is to be sett with a lock. They are to lay the sleep. ers of the doors with white oak or good swamp pine, & to floor the house with plank. They are to finish all the works but the seats, for which the town do covenant to give them . . . 5 pound 20 to be paid in march next in Indyan [corn] or cattle, 30 more to be paid in Sep' next to be paid in wheat, butter, or money & the rest to be paid as soon as the work is done in Indyan corn or cattle the corn to [be] merchantable at the price current.

" Witness EDMD. GOODNOW. "THOMAS NOYES."

The new building was to be erected on the site of the old one. The town ordered "that the ear- penters should provide 12 men to help them raise the meeting house," for which they were to be allowed half a crown a day. The roof was to be covered with thateh, and the workmen were to have " the meadow afterwards the minister's to get their thateh upon." In 1654 a committee was appointed "to agree with somebody to fill the walls of the meeting house with tempered clay provided they do not exeeed the sum of 5 pounds 10 shillings." The parties who were to build the house were employed "to build seats after the same fashion as in the old meeting house," and they were to have for every seat one shilling eight penee. The seats were to be made of white oak, " both posts and rails and benches."

But while the town was growing and increasing in strength, a controversy occurred which was of a somewhat serious character. Questions arose relat- ing to the division of the "two-mile grant," to the title of parties to certain lands, and to rights in the cast side eow common. The controversy concerning this latter subject was in relation to "sizing" or "stinting " the common. It was specified when this land was reserved, that it "should never be eeded or laid down, without the consent of every inhabitant and townsman that hath right in commonage ;" and the rule for pasturing eattle upon it was, "The in- habitants are to be limited in the putting in of cattle upon the said eommon, according to the quantity of meadow the said inhabitants are rated in upon the division of the meadows." The rule of allowance on this basis was as follows: "For every two acres of meadow one beast, that is either cow, ox, bull or steer, or heifer to go as one beast and a half, and every six sheep to go for one beast, and that all cattle under a year old shall go without sizing." The endeavor to define rights of commonage, or the relation of the in- dividual to this piece of town property, proved a difficult task. As might be expected among a people of positive natures, strong opinions were entertained, and decided attitudes were taken concerning a matter of individual rights. The affair was not wholly con- fined to the town in its social and civil relations, but the church became connected with it. The result was that a council was called to adjust ecelesiastieal matters, and adviee was also sought and obtained of the General Court.

In 1675 King Philip's War set in ; and Sudbury, on aceount of its frontier position, was badly harassed by the enemy. The principal means of defence in this war were the garrison-houses. Of these places we give the following information :

THE BROWN GARRISON .- This stood on the pres- ent estate of Luther Cutting, about a dozen rods southeasterly of his residence, or a few rods east of the Sudbury and Framingham road, and about a half mile from the town's southern boundary. It had a gable roof, was made of wood, and lined with brick. It was demolished about thirty-five years ago, when in the possession of Mr. Conant.

THE WALKER GARRISON .- The Walker garrison- house is in the west part of the town, a little south of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, on the Willard Walker estate. This building is a eurious strueture, with massive chimney, large rooms and heavy frame- work. It is lined within the walls with upright plank fastened with wooden pins.

THE GOODNOW GARRISON .- This garrison stood a little southeasterly of the present Coolidge house, or a few rods northeast to cast of the East Sudbury Railroad Station, and perhaps twenty or thirty rods from the South Sudbury and Wayland highway. A lane formerly went from the road to a point near the garrison.

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SUDBURY.

THE HAYNES GARRISON .- This garrison stood on the Water-Row Road, by the margin of the river meadow, a little northerly or northeasterly of the Luther Goodenow house. It was about an eighth of a mile from the Wayland and Sudbury Centre high- way, two or three rods from the road, and fronted south. In later years it was painted red. In 1876 it was still standing, but has since been demolished.

One of the buildings which common tradition says was a garrison, but whose name is unknown, stood near the Adam How place, about twenty-five rods northwest of the house. It was one story high, and had a room at each end. For a time it was owned and occupied by Abel Parmenter, and was torn down years ago. It is stated by tradition that, when the Wayside Inn was built, the workmen repaired to this house at night for safety.

The garrisons previously mentioned were named from their early occupants. Parmenter was the name of the first occupant of this house of whom we have any knowledge; if he was the first, then doubtless this house was formerly known as the Parmenter Garrison.

The other garrison, the name of which is unknown, was north of the Gulf Meadows, and on or near the present Dwier Farm (Bent place). Tradition con- cerning this one is less positive than concerning the other. An old inhabitant, once pointing towards the old Bent house, said, "There is where the people used to go when the Indians wereabout." It is quite evident that the Bent house was not a garrison, for that was built about a century ago; but across the road southwesterly there are indications that some structure once stood, which may have been a garri- son.

THE BLOCK-HOUSE .- A block-house stood in the north part of the town, on the Israel Haynes farm. It was situated, perhaps, from thirty to fifty rods southwest of the house of Leander Haynes, on a slight rise of ground. It was small, perhaps fifteen feet square, more or less, and so strongly built that it was with difficulty taken to pieces. It was demol- ished about three-quarters of a century ago, when owned by Mr. Moses Haynes. Mr. Reuben Rice, of Concord, a relative of Mr. Haynes, when over ninety years of age, informed the writer that when it was torn down he chanced to be passing by, and looked for bullet-marks, and believed he found some. He stated there was no mistake about the house being used as a garrison.

Besides the garrison-houses, the town had a small force of militia. Says "The Old Petition :" "The strength of Our towne upon ye Enemy's approaching it, consisted of eighty fighting men." These men were able-bodied and strong for the work of war, liable to do duty for either country or town; while others, younger and less vigorous, could stand guard and do some light service. When the war was fairly begun, the town's force was replenished by outside

help. So that, with the people collected in garrisons, and the armed men able to fight in a sheitered place, a stout defence could be maintained against a con- siderably larger force.

At the beginning of the war the town of Sudbury was not attacked, as the Indians chiefly confined hos- tilities to the county of Plymouth, yet it was soon called upon to send aid to other places. November 22, 1675, a warrant came from Major Willard to John Grout, Josiah Haynes and Edmund Goodnow, who called themselves the "humble servants the militia of Sudbury," requiring the impressment of nine able men to the service of the country. They state to the Governor and Council that they have impressed the following men, namely : William Wade, Samuel Bush, John White, Jr., Thomas Rutter, Peter Noyes, Jr., James Smith, Dennis Headly, Mathew Gibbs, Jr., and Daniel Harrington; but that they wish to have them released. Joseph Graves, master of Harring- ton, states that his servant had not clothing fit for the service; that he was well clothed when he was im- pressed before, but that he wore his clothes out in that service, and could not get his wages to buy more. The service that he was formerly impressed for was the guarding of families in "Natick Bounds." One of those families is supposed to be that of Thomas Eames, which was attacked by the Indians near the outbreak of the war. A further reason for their re- lease from this service is found in the following ex- tracts from their petition : "Considering our condition as a frontier town, and several of our men being al- ready in the service, our town being very much scat- tered;" furthermore, that, several families being sickly, no use could be made of them for "watching, warding, scouting or impress, whereby the burden lies very hard on a few persons."

It was not long after hostilities began before the foe approached Sudbury. The first blow that fell on the town that has been noted by historians of that day was on March 10, 1676. Says Mather, "Mischief was done and several lives cut off by the Indians."

While the prospect was thus threatening, the design of the Indians for a season was effectually stayed, and a disastrous invasion prevented by a bold move made by the inhabitants of the town. The event referred to occurred March 27, 1676. A force of savages, near three hundred in number, were within about a half mile of Sudbury's western boundary. The force was led by Netus, the Nipmuck captain. This band was intent on mischief. It was on the trail for prey. Flushed with the expectation of easy victory, they waited the dawn of day to begin their foul work, and seize such persons and spoil as were found outside the garrisons. On Sabbath night they made their en- campment within half a mile of a garrison. Their mischievous course through the previous day had been so little opposed that they felt secure as if in a world of peace. But the English were on their track. Intelligence of their presence at Marlboro'had reached

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Sudbury, and a movement was made to oppose thein. A score of bold citizens set forth for the beleaguered place. On their arrival at Marlboro' they were rein- forced by twenty soldiers, who were taken from the garrisons, and the two forces went in search of the enemy. Before daybreak they discovered them asleep about their fires. The English, in night's stillness, crept close upon the camp. Wrapped in slumber, and unsuspicious of what was so near, the Indians were suddenly startled by a destructive volley from an unexpected foe. The English took them by com- plete surprise. So effectually had they directed their fire that the Indians speedily fled. About thirty of their number were wounded, of whom it is said four- teen afterwards died. Not only were the Indians numerically weakened, but demoralized somewhat by such a bold and unlooked-for assanlt. Probably this act saved Sudbury for a time. Netus was slain, and for nearly a month there was a cessation of hostilities within and about the town.

That Sudbury people in this affair acted not simply in their own defence is implied in "The Old Peti- tion," in which it is stated that " the Indians in their disastrous invasions were resolved by our ruine to re- venge ye reliefe which our Sudbury volunteers ap- proached to distressed Marlborough, in slaying many of ye enemy & repelling ye rest."

ATTACK ON THE TOWN BY KING PHILIP .- Al- though this sudden assault on the savages may have checked their course for a time, they soon rallied for further mischief. In the following April a large force, headed by Philip in person, started for Sudbury. At the time of the invasion there was nothing west of Sudbury to obstruct his course. The last town was Marlboro', and this was devastated as by a close gleaner in the great field of war. The people had almost wholly abandoned the place ; the dwellings were re- duced to ash-heaps, and a few soldiers only were quartered there to guard the road to Brookfield and the Connecticut. Sudbury at this time was the objec- tive point of King Philip. That he had a special pur- pose in assailing the place, other than what led him to conduct the war elsewhere, is implied in "The Old Petition," in the words before quoted, where the object of revenge is mentioned. Certain it is, he had a strong force, and fought hard and long to destroy the place.

DATE OF PHILIP'S ATTACK ON THE TOWN .- Before entering, however, on the details of the conflict, we will notice the time at which it occurred. Previous to the discovery of " The Old Petition," two dates had been assigned, namely, the 18th and the 21st of April. Various authorities were quoted in support of each. So important was the matter considered, that a con- mittee was appointed to examine evidence on the sub- ject. The committee reported in favor of the 21st. (Report of Kidder and Underwood.) Notwithstand- ing this decision, opinions still differed ; but the dis- covery of " The Old Petition " has fully settled this

matter, and established beyond question that the date of Philip's attack on the town and the garrisons, and the "Sudbury Fight," was the 21st. We can under- stand how, before the discovery of this paper, opinions might vary ; how an historian might mistake as to a date, and a monument might perpetuate the error. When President Wadsworth erected a slate-stone at the grave of Captain Wadsworth, the date inscribed might have been taken from the historian Hubbard, who might have received it from an unreliable source. But we can hardly suppose that a mistake could occur in the paper above referred to concerning the date of this event. This paper is a calm, deliberate docu- ment, signed by inhabitants of Sudbury, and sent to the Colonial Court less than six months after the in- vasion by Philip. It gives the date of the invasion in the following words: " An Account of Losse Sus- tained by Severall Inhabitants of ye towne of Sudbury by ye Indian Enemy 21st April 1676."

NUMBER OF THE ENEMY .- Philip arrived with his force at Marlboro' on or about the 18th of April, and soon started for Sudbury. The number of his warriors has been variously estimated. In the " Old Indian Chronicle " it is given as " about a thousand strong." Gookin states, in his history of the Christian Indians, " that upon the 21st of April about mid-day tidings came by many messengers that a great body of the enemy not less as was judged than fifteen hundred, for the enemy to make their force seem very large there were many women among them whom they had fitted with pieces of wood cut in the forms of guns, which these carried, and were placed in the centre, they had assaulted a place called Sudbury that morn- ing, and set fire of sundry houses and barns of that town ... giving an account that the people of the place were greatly distressed and earnestly desired succor."

THE ATTACK .- During the night of April 20th Philip advanced his force and took position for the coming day. It was early discovered by the inhabit- ants that during the night-time the Indians had got- ten possession of everything in the west part of the town but the garrisons, and that they had become so scattered about in squads, and had so occupied various localities, that at a given signal they could strike a concerted blow. Says the "Old Indian Chronicle," "The houses were built very scatteringly, and the enemy divided themselves into small parties, which executed their design of firing at once." The smoke of dwellings curled upward on the morning air, the war-whoop rang out from the forest, and from the town's westerly limit to the Watertown boundary the destructive work was begun. It is said by tradition that the Indians even entered the Watertown terri- tory, and set fire to a barn in what is now Weston.

About the time of firing the deserted houses the Indians made their attack on the garrisons. The de- tachments for this work were probably as specifically set apart as were those for burning the dwelling-

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places ; and doubtless hours before daybreak the foe lay concealed in their picked places, ready to pour their shot on the wall. The attack on the Haynes house was of great severity. The position of the building favored the near and concealed approach of the enemy. The small hill at the north afforded a natural rampart from which to direct his fire ; behind it he could skulk to close range of the house and drive his shot with terrible force on the walls. There is a tradition that, by means of this hill, the Indians tried to set the building on fire. They filled a cart with flax, ignited, and started it down the hill towards the house; but before it reached its destination it upset, and the building was saved. Tradition also states that near the house was a barn, which the In- dians burned : but that this proved advantageous to the inmates of the garrison, as it had afforded a shel- ter for the Indians to fire from. Probably this barn was burned with the expectation of setting fire to the house.

But it was not long that the Indians were to fight at close range; the bold defenders soon sallied forth, and commenced aggressive warfare. They fell on the foe, forced them back, and drove them from their "skulking approaches." The service at the other garrisons was probably all that was needed. That none of these houses were captured is enough to indi- cate a stout and manly defence. They were all cov- eted objects of the enemy, and plans for the capture of each had been carefully laid.

While the town's inhabitants were defending the garrisons, reinforcements were approaching the town from several directions. Men hastened from Concord and Watertown, and some were sent from the vicinity of Boston. The Concord company consisted of "twelve resolute young men," who endeavored to render assistance in the neighborhood of the Haynes garrison-house. Before they had reached it, how- ever, and formed a junction with the citizens of the town, they were slain in a neighboring meadow. The men thus slain on the meadow were left where they fell until the following day, when their bodies were brought in boats to the foot of the old town bridge and buried. The reinforcements from Watertown were more fortunate than those from Concord, and were spared to assist in saving the town. They were led or sent by the gallant Hugh Mason, of Water- town, and assisted in driving a company of Indians to the west side of the river.

THE WADSWORTH FIGHT .- Another company of reinforcements were commanded by Samuel Wads- worth, of Milton, who was sent out for the assistance of Marlborough. The number in this company had been variously estimated. Mather sets it at seventy. "The Old Indian Chronicle" says, "Wadsworth being designed of a hundred men, to repair to Marl- boro, to strengthen the garrison and remove the goods." Hubbard says, "That resolute, stout-hearted soldier, Capt. Wadsworth . being sent from

Boston with fifty soldiers to relieve Marlboro." It is not remarkable that estimates should differ with re- gard to the number in this company, since all the men who accompanied Wadsworth from Boston were not in the engagement at Sudbury. When Capt. Wadsworth reached Marlboro' he exchanged a part of his younger men, who were wearied with the march, for some at the garrison, and accompanied by Captain Brocklebank, the garrison commander, started back to Sudbury. Lieutenant Jacobs, who commanded the garrison in the absence of Brocklebank, in re- porting to the authorities in regard to the number of men left with him, states as follows: "There is re- maining in our company forty-six, several whereof are young soldiers left here by Captain Wadsworth, being unable to march. But though he left a part of his meu he took some from the garrison at Marlboro." From what we know of the fate of a large part of this company, and the circumstances attendant upon the expedition, we conclude the number en- gaged in the Sudbury fight was not much over fifty. If twenty-nine.men were found slain after the battle, and fourteen escaped, and about a half dozen were taken captive, the number would not be far from the foregoing estimate.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 92

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