History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 70

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 70

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).

Later among the deaths are the following entries by Mr. Spaulding in the Church Book :

John Hunt, Jr., in public service at No. 4, 1776. John Haseltine, in public service, 1776, small-pox. Samnel Baily, in public service, 1776. Enoch Merrill, in public service, 1776. John Haywood, killed in battle, Rhode Island, August 29, 1778, shot.

1 His name has since been placed on the Tablets.

Burt, Jonathan Batchelor, John P. Brown, Timothy Baldwin, Joshua Bagley, Timothy Bell, Jonathan Babb, Joseph Brown, Joseph Bailey, Nathan Bailey, David, Jr. Bootman, Edward

Hunt, leaac

Hogg, Andrew

Hunt, Peter

IJut, Nehemiah Hasseltine, James Haseltine, Elijah Harris, William

Hall, John

Howard, John

Hunt, Paul Haywood, John

Hunt, Nathaniel

Ball, Joho Chambers, James

Harodeo, Joho Hill, William Harris, William

Chambers, Thomas Corey, Jacob Jr.

Hunt, Israel

Hunt, Ebenezer

Chambers, Joho

Hunt, Jonathan

Corey, Sammel

Huot, Nathaniel, Jr.

Hill, John, of Boston

Haggott, Jonathan

Holt, Jesse Hoadley, Thomas

Clark, Thomas

Hunt, Samuel

Huot, Nathan

Jewett, John

Killum, Daniel

Dutton, Timothy

Dutton, Jonathan

Kittredge, Asa Kittredge, Nathaniel Kidder, Josiah

Kittredge, Dr. Benjamin

Kittredge, Simeon

Kittredge, Jeremiah

Kittredge, Dr. Francis

Dresser, Jonathan, Jr.

Levestone, Joseph

Davice, Mose8 Foster, Isaac

Leavestone, Asa Levistoo, Daniel

Farmer, Samuel Foster, Jonathan

Leveston, John

Marshall, Joho

Manning, Samuel

Manning, Isaac

Flint, John Fowler, Philip Frost, Jacob

Manning, Eliphalet Mears, Russel (rejected) Morril, David

Morrill, Jeremiah

Foster, Amos

Mears, Roger

Marshall, Joel

Farmer, William Farmer, David Foster, Joseph

Mace, Benjamin Mears, Thomas

Fisk, Benjamin

Marsten, Amos

Foster, Ebenezer Frost, Edmund, Jr. Frost, Joseph, Jr. Frost, Josiah Foster, Ezra

Marshall, Samuel

Needham, John Nicholas, Robert

Needham, Stearns

Foster, Isaiah Farmer, Peter

Freoch, Nehemiah Freoch, Aaron

Gray, Moses Gould, Jonathan Gray, Jonathan Gould, Joha

Rickerson, Andrew Rogers, Timothy Shed, Jonathan Swett, Luke Stickney, Eleazer

Glode, Daniel Griffen, Uriah Griffen, Daniel Huat, David Hoagg, Andrew

Shed, Nathan Shed, John

Shed, Jacob

Shed, Joel Stickney, Amos

Hunt, John

Hunt, Peter, Jr. Hardey, David

Shed, Jacob, Jr. Scarlett, Newman Thompson, Joshua

Hardey, Nathaniel

Thorndick, Hezekiah

Hardy, Joho Hardy, Peter

Huot, Eliphalet Hardy, William Hardy, Nehemiah

Trull, John Tolbert, Henry, of Boston Trull, Solomon Trull, David

Thorndike, Paul

Corey, Jacob

Chandler, Thomas Clark, Zephaoiah Chapman, Daniel Clark, Benjamin

Davidson, Ebenezer Davidson, Alexander Davis, Daniel

Dandeby, John

Dyke, Aschelas Danforth, Joho Danforth, Samuel Dresser, Jonathan

Frost, Jonathan Frost, Joseph Fisk, Jonathan

Patch, Timothy Phelps, Joseph Peabody, William Richardson, Thomas Rogers, Phillips

Green, William, of Kittery

298

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Many of the company at Bunker Hill commanded by t'aptain John Harnden, of Wilmington, in Col. Bridges' regiment, were from Tewksbury.

The following from the records seem to mingle the Indian and Revolutionary Wars: "October 26, 1779, to Jesse Baldwin it being for six pound which he paid Nathaniel Hunt for engaging in the Conti- nental Army During the war and for three pound six shillings for one blankit, and six pound six shillings for one pair of shoes, and one pound ten shillings for a tomehawk, all for said lunt £26.2."

The following receipt is one of many from Tewks- bury men, preserved at the State llouse :

" BOSTON, June 11, 1782.

" Received of Capt, John Trull, Chairman of Class No. 3, for the Town of Tewksbury, the xume of seventy-five pounds L money, as a bounty to serve In the Continental Army for the term of three years.

" Witness my hand,

" JACOB : COREY'S mark

" Attest,

THO', ROBINSON."

Interesting is the treasurer's account all through the Revolutionary period, as showing how heirs of estates, trustees for the same, men and women of all classes, furnished supplies such as shirts, stockings or shoes or blankets for the soldiers, and how the same general response was given by loaning the town money in this hour of its need.

June 21, 1776, voted "that the Selectmen shall provide ammunition and shovels, spades and peck- axes, &c., according to their discretion ; " also, " that the Town shall provide baynotts for the training band in the Town,"-" that the selectmen shall pro- vide fire-armes for those persons that they shall think proper, and other Acoutrements."

Oct. 14, 1776, they chose William Brown, Aaron Beard, David Bailey, Nathaniel Heywood and John Flint, "a committee to make a draught for govern- ment," which plan for government was accepted eight days later.

The following entry shows that this town was rep- resented at the suppression of Shays' Rebellion :

"Oct. S, 1789, an order to David Rogers for his ser- vice, being drafted to go in the Shai's affair, 18s."

CIVIL HISTORY.

For many years in its early history Tewksbury re- fixed to avnil itself of representation in the General Court. May 16, 1738, it was voted not to send a rep- resentative. For a long period this was the custom- ary disposal of the matter in the May meeting, coupled with this language, that they would not send a rep- Presentative, but trust to the mercies of the General Court. These mercies failed to satisfy them always, for on the records are several protests, through com- mitters, against legislative actions.

In any business necessary to come before the Gen- eral Court they usually chose a committee to repre- went them, but preserved n frugal mind in reckoning with said committees, as a vote like this shows :

" Voted not to allow James Kittredge, Jr., and Sam- uel Hunt £17 for services at the General Court in getting the non-residents' land taxed," but " to pay them later, conditionally."

For years the business and history of the town pursue the usual channels of such bodies. High- ways are laid out or closed ; bridle, often spelled " bridal"-paths are laid out most frequently, that persons may go to public worship. The course of the present roads, as the one which goes by the old Hunt place to the Centre, was often determined by these " bridal-paths."

The customary course of civil history is broken only as the more general events in the country break in upon the peace and quiet of the community. Some of the votes of these early years are worth preserva- tion for the landmarks and customs they reveal. March 10, 1740, " Voted to have three assessors for the year Insuing, and to chuse them by holding up of hands." These first assessors were, Deacon Daniel Kittredge, Cornet John Whiting and Stephen Os- good. Forty shillings was then the sum paid to each of the constables, one of whose duties was to collect the taxes. The town clerk received only five shillings for his services. The town treasurer, in 1744, re- ceived £3 for his salary. The same year it was voted to have "a pound keeper for the year ensuing," to which office Samuel Peacock was elected.

December 10, 1740, the Rev. Sampson Spaulding signified that he should not be inclined to take less than £200 for his salary. Voted not to pay it. March, 1741, " Voted to give Rev. Sampson Spauld- ing, their minister, £150 if said minister, being at ye meeting, signified to ye people that what they would freely give him he would be satisfied with." In 1742 they voted £160, and he appeared and declared him- self satisfied with what the town had granted him. This manifests the same judiciousness and Christian resignation which may be traced from the beginning to the end of his ministry.

The finishing of the meeting-house was let out to Stephen Osgood for £140, on condition that he did so by the last of September. This he failed to do, for they voted, Jan. 19, 1742, to give Wm. Kittredge £160 to finish their meeting-house forthwith. More im- portant is the vote which followed: " That Stephen Osgood, of Tewksbury, should serve the Town of Tewksbury for a school-master ye remainder of this year."

Interesting is the difficulty found in getting a committee to decide upon the highest tax-payer in town, the disputes and protests on this matter, and such a vote as the following of December 9, 17-12, that no person should " bring stuff or timber for building pews nor to presume to erect a pew till further order of the town." In this line is the vote of April 12, 1743, to choose a committee "to remove all incum- brances out of the meeting-house which are brought there without order of the town." This committee

299

TEWKSBURY.

was intrusted with full power to deal with the matter ; incumbrance they afterward defined, "they meant pews."

September 19, 1751, they chose Thomas Marshall, Nathan Bailey and John French a committee to seat the meeting-house, and left it "to the Discretion of the said committee how to proceed in Seating the said meeting-house." About this time pews began to be erected in the galleries, for March 6, 1752, " James Kittredge, ye 4th, Nathaniel Clark, Jr., Zephaniah Kittredge, Timothy Brown, Samuel Kittredge, Jonathan Shed, Thomas Kittredge, Jr., Amos Foster, Jr., David Trull, Oliver Ilall, Ebenezer Ilardy, Abraham Stick- ney, Eldad Worcester," were granted "Liberty to build two pews in said meeting-house-one in the West gallery against three of the windows for men to set in : and ye other in the East gallery against three of the windows for women to sit in: and said Petitioners are obliged to maintain the glass windows against ye said pews and to fill said pews as full as is comfortable to sit in." They also voted that ye said petitioner shall have the privilege to leave ye s'd seats and to hold their right in s'd meeting-house: Provided the s'd Petitioner keeps ye said Pews full with ye inhabitants of s'd Town." Almost constantly through that year the meeting-house needed repairs, which they finally voted to make March 7, 1757, after much discussion, as is evident from the variety of motions rejected. How much some of the much-dis- cnssed repairs were needed is learned from the order February 10, 1755, paid "to Mr. Thomas Marshall for carrying ont the snow in the meeting-house 28."

As early as 1772, some thirty-four years after his settlement, Mr. Spaulding appears to have suffered from impaired health, for July 22, 1771, an order was paid "to Mr. Jacob Coggin," the first mention of a name honorable in the history of the town, "it being for supplying the pulpit six Sabbaths £8." Beside serv- ing the town and then the church alone as pastor, his son, Rev. Jacob Coggin, filled with acceptance the positions of delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1852, and District Elector in 1853, beside others of minor importance. His name stands on the School Committee list for many years as chairman. Possessed of more than the ordinary portion of the spirit of the Apostle John, he suggested the beatitude, " Blessed are the peacemakers," by his efforts to ensure peace in church and town. His gentleness made him great.

The tithingmen for 1748 were John Chapman and Nathan Shed, a schoolmaster and a deacon. A feature of the government of the old town is revealed in the treasurer's order of March 21, 1763 : " To Lt. Osgood, it being for repairing the stocks, and bring- ing them to the meeting-house 38." A similar one occurs on January 12, 1771. " An order to Abrm. Bailey, it being for repairing the stocks 68."

The meeting-house, with its town ammunition, stocks and all the things needful for the govern-

ment and business of an ancient town, must have been a strange sight compared with its as- pect to-day. It was not till 1826 that the' town business was done elsewhere unless in a tavern or some private dwelling. June 13, 1825, it was determined to build a house to do town business in. It was erected by October of that year under the super- vision of Josiah Brown, William Rogers and Capt. Stephen Brown.

As early as about forty years after the first meeting- house was built, the questions were agitated of adding to the meeting·house, or of building a new one. To do the former was refused in 1772; the latter was negatived March, 1774. Probably the prospect of war had much to do with their refusal for years to make any but the most necessary repairs upon the church building.

As early as March, 1782, attention to the artistic worship of God appears in the vote in March of that year, to devote " a third part of the front gallery for the use of the singers." Occasional votes of a similar character are found, and frequent ones to recompense the singing-master, Lt. Thomas Wood: thus, Nov. 29, 1789, "an order to Lt. Thomas Wood, it being for what the town voted him for instructing the singers in full, for the time past, and for the time to come, £2 8d." Yet, in spite of this comprehensive payment, is found the vote, March, 1790, " to allow Lt. Thomas Wood something as a gratis-at times spelled "grat- ice "-for meeting with the singers to instruct them to sing.

In 1787 they voted to have public worship in the afternoon of Sabbath and other days without sing- ing.

Property qualifications for the exercise of the fran- chise were early known. In 1804, at the March meet- ing, it was decided that a person, as formerly, must not only be twenty-one years of age, but must have an income of at least £3 or an estate of not less than £60 to vote.

Neither at an early date were appropriations for music by the town so novel. March, 1808, they voted "To raise the sum of $60 to pay the master who taught the singing-school the present winter past."

In 1812 they grant $50 for the expense of the sing- ing-school, and in 1815 Lt. Thomas Wood was given $12 for meeting with the singers on the Lord's Day, for one year. In 1817, $50 was raised for the sing- ing-school.

Not only the church, the roads, the schools, the poor, difficulties between townsmen and neighbors, at times the estates of widows and orphans, but also morals were nuder the care of the town. Thus the March warrant for 1824 has this article, " To see what method the town will take to prevent Idlers and tiplers frem spending their time and property, or for the town to act on the same in any way they may think proper at said meeting." At said meeting they

300

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

voted that " there be a tipler's list posted up." They recognized how straight is the road from idleness and tippling to the poor farm. Each man appears to have had his own way of spelling, as is evident from many of the votes quoted in this sketch. For instance, for generations pews is almost always " pues."

Among the curiosities of their independent spirit is the vote of the March meeting of 1798 : " That the inhabitants of the town wear their hats only when they address the moderator."

Although the temperance sentiment was far behind that of to-day, yet the evils wrought by the indiscrimin- ate sale of strong drink ealled forth some efforts to regulate its sale. In the treasurer's accounts for 1744 is this: "Received Mr. Thomas Kittredge's fine for selling strong drink, £5 14s. oll tenor

And also several other fines for breaking the Sab- bath £11. May 22, 1746 "Voted not to give said Thomas Kittredge the six pounds which said Thomas Kittredge forfeited for selling strong drink without a license."

August 23, 1775, " Voted that the Selectmen do approbate Timothy Rogers, Jun'., to be a Retailer." March 2, 1778, " Voted that the Seleetmen do not ap- probate Willm. Fiske to be a retailer."

Quaint is the first notice in regard to preserving orderly the resting-place of their dead : " April, 1797, Voted and chose John Spaulding, Nathan Shed and Timothy Iluut to take care of the buring Ground and Dige the graves." A year later a committee is found " to inquire into the buring Ground."

After serving the town for twenty-two years as clerk, which office death found him in, and for twenty years as first selectman, it is pathetic to read, June 17, 1799," Voted to ehuse a committee to go to the Widow Scarlett's to git the town books and papers belonging to the town."

As the necessity was felt, beginnings of a Board of Health appear thus: May, 1811, " Voted and chose a committee to superintend the small-pox." They at the same time appointed " the selectmen to superintend the hospital where the small-pox is." A large Board of Health, consisting of ten citizens prominent in their respective districts, was chosen August 20, 1832, " to preserve our citizens against spasmodic cholera." The next year the selectmen were elected the Board of Health.

The War of 1812 is brought to attention by the . grant to the soldiers of $13 per man if called to march and the raising of $500 for the purpose of ear- fying on the war deelared by the government. In September, 151, $500 was raised for the payment of sollers and purchasing of equipments for town stock, mul it was also voted "To make up to the sokliers that have or may be called out $15 the present season."

As early as 1831 many voted for the annexing of part of the northwest portion of the town to Lowell. At this period Belvidere seems to have been some-

what a thorn to the town, for through its influence the town-meetings were carried several times to the school-house in that section or to one of the taverns there. Perhaps a trace of Belvidere may be detected in this vote of May : 1833, "That every man may kill his own crows," it having been the custom of the town previously to pay a premium for killing them.

It was November 11, 1833, that, by a decisive vote of 101 to 17, the town accepted the amendment to the 3d Article to the Bill of Rights, by which towns were no longer required to support religious teachers or churches. Consequently the next March meeting, 1834, was the last time Tewksbury provided the min- ister's salary, namely $575 for the Rev. Jacob Coggin. It was just one hundred years from the time the first appropriation was made by their pious ancestors and the founders of the town for a similar purpose.

THE SCHOOLS.

The history of the public schools in Tewksbury begins December 10, 1740, when it was voted in town-meeting "that Stephen Osgood of Tewksbury should serve the town of Tewksbury for a school- master for ye remainder of this year." December 6, 1743, " Voted to have a writing and reading school in the town, and that said town be provided with a school as above mentioned for the space of three months from the time he is made choice on." Mr. Francis Kittredge and Captain Peter Hunt were chosen to provide a schoolmaster for the town as above mentioned. They were the first School Com- mittee. They were allowed fifteen shillings per week for keeping the schoolmaster. The next vote was in 1744, " voted and chose a committee to pro- vide a schoolmaster to keep a writing and a reading school in said town" and they rebelled against im- ported talent, for " a vote was tryed by the Moderator to see if ye town would have Mr. Bridges of Andover for their schoolmaster, and said vote passed in the negative." They strove to equalize privileges ; for March, 1744, they voted a consideration of " ten pounds (old tenor) to ye westwardly part of ye town for their not having any benefit of ye town school- master." Then old-tenor money was about one- quarter the value of the new. For about twenty years from 17.14 money for the schoolmaster was voted only occasionally, but the usual three months school appears to have been kept regularly notwithstanding. In September, 1755, they passed the usual vote with this addition, " and also to prefix the place where the said school shall be kept." In 1766 the vote was " to provide two schoolmasters for ye winter season," which became customary after the introduction of " wimins " or " dames' schools." In June, the 17th, 1766, an article in the warrant was " for the town to aet their pleasure in seting up wimings school this season in s'd town," which they refused to do ; but on March 4, 1771, it was voted " to have woman's schools keep this present year in the town."

301

TEWKSBURY.

The first mention of a school-house in town is March 8, 1770,-" an order given to Thomas Kit- tredge for bords to fit up the school-house."

In 1768 the names of five different schoolmasters appear in the accounts, which suggests difficulties not yet obsolete in discipline or capacity. The next year they decided to divide the town into " squadrens for the benefit of schooling," but this was not done until 1771, when the committee's report was accepted to squadron out " ye town for the benefits of schooling, and it was veted to have a woman's school kept this present year." A brighter day begins. In 1771, December 16th, appears the name of the first female teacher in town in an order to Lucy Needham for six- teen shillings for keeping school one month. The other teachers that year in town were-

" Mary Brown, paid £2.8, December 26.

" Molly Merrill, paid £2.12, December 26.

" Elizabeth Bailey, paid £2.8," January 7, '72. All honor to these pioneers of a noble band !

In 1772 it was "voted that each squadron draw their equal rata of the money voted for schooling." February, 1776, an order for sixteen shillings to Molly Brown "for keeping school four weeks in ye year." Thus four shillings a week was the rate for teaching, one hundred years ago.

In March, 1793, they voted to build school-houses in the several squadrons, and chose two persons in each squadron to visit the schools, but it was not till next year that the money was voted for this purpose.

In 1795 five men were chosen to inspect the schools. Sometimes they raised the number to teu, two for each squadron.

Private schools were once known in town. It was voted, March, 1830, that Doctor Henry Kittredge and others have liberty to keep a private school in the town hall, they making good the damages and paying rent if requested.

About the year 1830 the districts had about $80 each, except the Centre, which had about $100. Afterwards the appropriations rose gradually.

In 1838 it was voted to print the school reports for the first time, oue hundred copies being ordered.

Dames' schools seem to have been successful, ter they were asked " to see if the town will sell Eliner Putman the town's part of the school-house." March 1, 1779, is notable for the raising of " £200 for the use of the schools, to be equally divided te each squadron according to their rate bills." In 1779 at. the October meeting they negatived a vote "To see if the town will give these persons Liberty that have a mind to join and build a school-house at the meet- ing-house, and also that they draw their equal part of the town money."

The vote of £200 shows the value of money during the war years. The usual sum was £30, which was in 1787 increased to £40.

Here is inserted a list of the School Committees and school-masters and dames so far as they can be gathered

from the books of the town, beginning with the first teacher, Stephen Osgood, in 1743, till the close of the critical period in American history, 1789.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

1713. Mr. Francis Kittredge.

Capt. Peter Hunt.

1744. Francie Kittredge.

Thomas Clark.

William Brown.

Jonathan Kittredge.

1762. Moses Worcester. Jonathan Kittredge. Daniel Dane.

1747. John Freuch.

Thomas Clark. Thomas Kittredge.

1755. Dea. Nathan Shed. John French.

Moses Worcester.

1759. William Kittredge.

1765. Eldad Worcester. Francis Kittredge. Edmunud Frost.

SCHOOL-MASTERS.

1743. Stephen Osgood.

Nath !. Heywood.

1745. Mr. Bridges, of Audover.

Jacob Shed's son.

1745-16-47. John Chapman.

Mary Brown.

James BridgeB.

Dorcas Osgood.

or three weeks in a place.

1750-51, '53-56. John Chapman.

1757. Benjamin Farmer.

1759. John Chapmau three monthe and Sampson Tuttle for two months.

Nathl. Heywood. Jacob Shed's Bon. James Bridges.

1761. Doctor Wm. Chace. Eason Dix.

1761-62. Caleb Clerk, who kept in house of Mr. Ebenezer Temple.

1765. Isaac Abbots'e son.

1766. Samuel Griffin. Mr. Wite.

1767. Samuel Griffin.

Phineas Spaulding. William Worcester.

I768. Nathaniel lleywood.

Samuel Griffiu. Phiuias Spanidiug.

1777. Doctr. Abrm. Moors. Newman Scarlett.

1769. Nathaniel Heywood, John Hyns and Isaac Abbot.

1770. George Abbot and N. Hey- wood.

1771. Newman Scarlett.

1778. Abigail Kendall.

Nathl. Heywood.

1779. John Barron

William Jaquith. Lucy Needham, Molly Mer- rill, Mary Brown.

1785. Dr. Daniel Ryan's daughter. Patrick Fleming.

1788. Samuel Whitiug.

1789. Judith Kindall.

It was voted Jannary, 1793, to build school-houses in the several squadrons, but as no money was ap- propriated for this purpose, they were not erected for several years. At this time, and for a number of years afterward, in addition to the regular School Committee, one or two persons from each squadron were chosen to visit-" prospect," or "inspect "-the schools. In 1794, when money was voted for the building of school-houses, squadrons " that don't want to draw it for that use" were "discharged from the school-house tax."

The town was divided in six districts in 1801; in 1825 the Belvidere District was formed, being set off from the North. The following year reveals a con

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 70

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278