USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of Princeton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, civil and ecclesiastical, from its first settlement in 1739, to april 1852 > Part 5
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On arriving at Shrewsbury consultation was held as to the expediency of marching to Worcester, and take possession of the ground around the Court House for an encampment. It was however considered, in view of their being destitute of clothing, food, and money, impracticable to maintain themselves there, and on Sat-
* Worcester County.
6*
62
INSURGENTS OCCUPY THE COURT HOUSE.
urday they marched to one of the neighboring towns, and went into quarters with some that sympathized with them in their movements. Shays himself, with his men, retired to the barracks in Rutland, leaving orders for the different detachments to assemble in Worcester on Monday following.
On Sunday evening, a body of troops entered Wor- cester, under the command of Captains Abraham Gale of this town, and Wheeler of Hubbardston, and others. Halting before the Court House, they placed a strong guard around the building, and posted sentinels on all the streets and avenues of the town. Those who were not on duty, having obtained the keyes by some means, entered the Court House, and rolling themselves in their blankets, rested on their arms on the floor of the Court room. The day following the military strength of Wor- cester rallied under Capt. Joel Howe to the support of government. Fortunately, however, the insurgents were not prepared to stain their cause by civil war. " As the evening closed in, one of the most furious snow storms of a severe winter commenced. One division of the in- surgents occupied the Court House; another sought shelter at the Hancock Arms. The sentinels, chilled by the tempest, and imagining themselves secured by its violence from attack, joined their comrades around the ยท fire of the guard room." The increasing fury of the storm, and the almost impassable condition of the road did not prevent the arrival of many from different towns in the vicinity of Worcester, on Tuesday, augmenting the numerical force of the discontented subjects of gov- ernment to about five hundred. The Court of Common Pleas was opened according to adjournment at the Sur Tavern. But in conformity with the instructions o.
63
CONSULTATION OF THE INSURGENTS.
Gov. Bowdoin and the Council, it adjourned, without at- tempting to transact business, to the 23rd of January, 1787.
" On Tuesday evening, a council of war was convened, and it was seriously determined to march to Boston, and effect the liberation of the State prisoners, as soon as sufficient strength could be collected. In anticipation of attack, the Governor gathered the means of defence around the metropolis. Guards were mounted at the prison and at the entrances of the city ; alarm posts were assigned, and Major General Brooks held the militia of Middlesex contiguous to the road in readiness for action, and watched the force at Worcester."
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, Shays and his aid, mounted on white horses entered Worcester. About 800 troops formed the army of the insurgents. In this force were several soldiers from Princeton. The following day, Thursday, was spent by committees from several towns in the county, with Shays and his officers, in consulting as to their future operations. Their deliberations were exceedingly perplexing and contradictory. The weather had been so inclement, that large parties that were ex- pected from Berkshire and Hampshire were prevented from arriving. It was finally resolved in view of the im- possibility of retaining the soldiers who had assembled without subsistence or stores, to abandon the contempla- ted attack on Boston, and more pacific measures were adopted. A petition was prepared for circulation. re- monstrating against the suspension of the habeas cor- pus ; requesting the pardon and release of the prison- ers-a new act of amnesty ; and the adjournment of courts until the session of the new Legislature in May ; and expressing their willingness to lay down their arms
64
CONSULTATION OF THE INSURGENTS.
on compliance with these demands. The following day was also spent in consultation. Being apprised that pub- lic sentiment was setting against them with strong reac- tion, letters were communicated to each town of Worces- ter County, soliciting the citizens to unite in their peti- tions.
On Saturday, about 12 o'clock M., the insurgents in Worcester were dismissed, and as another snow storm had commenced early in the morning, they were com- pelled to wade through the drifting snows on their home- ward march. "The condition," says Lincoln, in his History of Worcester, " of these deluded men during their stay here, was such as to excite compassion rather than fear. Destitute of almost every necessary of life, in an inclement season, without money to purchase the food which their friends could not supply, unwelcome guests in the quarters they occupied, pride restrained the exposure of their wants. Many must have endured the gnawings of hunger in our streets ; yet standing with arms in their hands, enduring privations in the midst of plenty, they took nothing by force, and they passed on no man's rights by violence ; some declared they had not tasted bread for twenty four hours ; all who made known their situation, were relieved by our citizens with liberal charity.
The forlorn condition of the insurgents was deepened by the distresses of their retreat. Their course was amid the wildest revelry of storm and wind, in a night of intense cold. Some were frozen to death by the way :- others exhausted with struggling through the deep and drifted snow, sank down, and would have perished but for the aid of their stouter comrades ; when relief was sought among the farm houses, every door was opened
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RETREAT OF THE INSURGENTS.
at the call of misery, and the wrongs done by the rebel were forgotten in the sufferings of him who claimed hos- pitality as a stranger."
Shays conducted the remnant of his forces to Spring- field, and on the 26th of December interrupted the Court of Common Pleas in that town. Intelligence being re- ceived of active exertions to prevent the session at Wor- cester on the 23d of January, vigorous measures were adopted to sustain the judiciary. The Governor called upon the militia of Boston and vicinity to march under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln, and to force the insurgents to surrender. An army of more than 5000 men was raised for thirty days.
On the 21st of January, Gen. Lincoln with his force took up their line of march from Roxbury, and arrived at Worcester the following day. Detachments of in- surgents were collected in Princeton and some of the neighboring towns, but, intimidated by the military, did not attempt to enter Worcester, and the courts proceed- ed, without being resisted. On the 25th of January, Gen. Lincoln hastened to Springfield for the relief of Shepard and of the arsenal at that place, invested by Shays and his force, Major General Warner being left at Worcester in command, with a regiment of infantry and a corps of artillery.
" Information having been given that a body of about two hundred insurgents had assembled at New Brain- tree, intercepting travelers and insulting the friends of government, twenty horsemen, supported by about 150 infantry in sleighs, were sent out, on the night of the 2d of February, to capture or disperse the disaffected. Up- on approaching the place of their destination, the caval- ry were ordered to advance at full speed to surprise the
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TEMINATION OF THE REBELLION.
enemy. The insurgents, apprised of the expedition, had abandoned their quarters, at the house of Micah Hamil- ton, and taken post behind the walls of the roadside, and having fired a volley of musketry upon the detatchment, fled to the woods ; Mr. Jonathan Rice of Worcester, a Deputy Sheriff, was shot through the arm and hand ; Doct. David Young was severely wounded in the knee ; the bridle rein of Theopilus Wheeler, Esq., was cut by a ball. Without halting, the soldiers rapidly pursued their way to the deserted head quarters, where they liberated Messrs. Samuel Flagg, and John Stanton, of Worcester, who had been seized the day previous while transacting private business at Leicester. Having dispersed those who occupied the barracks at Rutland the next day, the companies returned with four prisoners."
Shays retired to Petersham, where he expected to con- centrate the forces of expiring rebellion and make his final stand. But the spirit animating the first movements had grown cold, and Shays with his soldiers were doubt- less sensible that the cause had become gloomy and hope- less. The insurgents dispersed and were never again collected in force. How many of the citizens of Prince- ton, bore arms with Shays, we are unable to say. At one time during the insurrection, Princeton assumed the appearance of a garrison town. The citizens answered to the frequent challenges of military guards ; the travel- er was admonished to stay his steps by the voice and bayonet of the soldier. Once a funeral procession was opposed on its way to the burial ground. Sentinels were posted near the house of Col. Sargent .*
The rebellion having terminated, the infliction of some punishment for the highest political crime was
* Where Major Joseph A. Reed now resides.
67
HENRY GALE.
deemed advisable. Several of those who had been in arms against the government, were brought to trial and convicted of treason, and sentenced to death. Among that number was Henry Gale* of Princeton, who was sentenced to be executed on the 23rd of June, 1787 .- The day having arrived he was accordingly led out to the gallows, erected on the Common at Worcester, with all the solemn ceremony of such exhibitions. A re- prieve was however read to him while on the gallows, and subsequently a full pardon was given. The clem ency of government was ultimately extended to all who had been involved in the disaffection, upon taking the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth, after some temporary civil disqualifications. Peace was again re- stored to the Commonwealth.t
* The Court assigned as Mr. Gale's counsel, Levi Lincoln, sen. and James Sullivan.
t Free use has been made of Lincoln's History of Worcester in the notice of Chay's Rebellion.
CHAPTER V.
Political History-Adoption of the National Constitution-Funeral Honors to Washington-Embargo-Petitions to President Jefferson, and to the Le- gislature of Massachusetts-Opposition to the War with England-Reso- lutions-First Town House-Benefactions of Mr. Boylston-Adoption of Amendments to the State Constitution-Part of No Town annexed-New 'Town House-Proposed Division of the County-Incidents in Local History.
We have arrived to that period, in the progress of our narrative, in which the events of the past are very close- ly connected with the feelings of the present. Some particulars of the history of the last sixty years, insula- ted from dissensions which have long been quieted and
68
POLITICAL HISTORY.
which it is not desirable now to recall to recollection, are scattered through the space remaining to be travers- ed. During the political controversies which for many years divided public opinion in the United States, a de- cided majority of the inhabitants of Princeton were firm supporters of the Federalists, when the name marked well-defined distinctions of principles. The leading men of the town were ardent politicians, and there were periods of excitement when diversity of sentiment im- paired the harmony of social intercourse, separated those closely allied by the ties of kindred, and dissolved the bonds of friendship .* A majority of the inhabitants were early in favor of a protective tariff. This is evi- dent from the following instructions given to Hon. Moses Gill, representative to the General Court in 1787.+
" That you use your influence, that the Produce and Manufactures of this Commonwealth, may be more ef- fectually encouraged by laying duties on those of for. eign countries, and granting premiums on our own,- and that foreign superfluities may be prohibited, and also the exportation of wool and flax."
Timothy Fuller was chosen to represent the town in a Convention holden in Boston, in 1787, when the pres- ent National Constitution was proposed for adoption .- He however voted against it, notwithstanding a majority of the town were in favor of its adoption.
The citizens of Princeton joined in the national hon- ors paid to the memory of Washington, Feb. 22, 1800, the anniversary of the birth of the father of his country. A great concurse of inhabitants assembled in the church,
* Tradition says that one man ordered his son to leave his house, for refus- ing to vote the Whig ticket.
t The state of political sentiment will be sufficiently indicated by the list of vores for executive officers in successive years, placed in the appendix.
69
EMBARGO.
which was hung with black and with emblems of mourn- ing. An appropriate eulogy was delivered by the Rev. Joseph Russell on the virtues of the departed soldier, statesman and patriot.
In August, 1808, the Selectmen of Boston, transmit- ted a petition, adopted by the inhabitants of that place, addressed to the President of the United States, praying the suspension of the Embargo laws ; or, if doubt ex- isted of the competency of the Executive for affording relief from measures that pressed heavily on commerce, requesting that Congress might be convened for the pur_ pose of taking the subject into consideration. The com- munication was accompanied with an invitation to call a town meeting to obtain concurrence in the sentiment expressed in the petition, from the capital. The muni- cipal officers complied with the proposition; and, at a meeting of the citizens on the 5th of September, a com- mittee consisting of three persons* was chosen, and in- structed to prepare and submit to the town a petition in conformity to the sentiments expressed by the citizens of Boston. At an adjournment of the meeting said committee presented the following petition, which was unanimously adopted :
" To the President of the United States ;"
" The inhabitants of the town of Princeton, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, in town meeting legally assembled, upon the fifth day of September, 1808, beg leave, respectfully to rep- resent that they feel themselves deeply interested in whatever tends to promote and secure the general pros- perity of the United States ; and could they believe that
* William Dodd, Dea. Parker, Capt. Stratton.
7
70
PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT.
the existing laws recently enacted restraining the com- mercial enterprize of our country were inevitably neces- sary to affect this desirable object, they would cheerful- ly submit to the unparalleled losses and inconveniences which result from the enforcement of them; but we would humbly suggest, that however flattering in expec- tation the effects of their restraints may have been, yet such has been our distresses, such our embarrassments, and so great and unexpected has been the change in Europe, that nothing salutary can be expected from their longer continuance-considering the present crisis the most favorable opportunity for obtaining a remuneration for the losses we have already sustained, and if properly improved, for rescuing us from further distress and em- barrassment, We do respectfully pray that the Embargo in whole or in part may be suspended according to the powers vested in the President by the Congress of the United States,-and if any doubt should exist of the com- petency of those powers, we would humbly request that Congress may be convened as early as possible for the purpose of taking the subject into their consideration."
This petition was signed by the Selectmen of the town, and forwarded to President Jefferson. In Febru- ary, 1809, a committe* was elected by the town to draft a petition, on the same subject, to be presented to the Legislature of Massachusetts at its forthcoming session. They reported the following, which expressed the unan- imous sentiments of the town at that time :
" To the Senate and the Hon. House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts now in session.
" We the inhabitants of the town of Princeton, in le-
* Ebenezer Parker, Joseph Sargent, Samuel Stratton, Artemas Stow, Eph- raim Wilson.
71
PETITION TO THE LEGISLATURE.
gal town meeting assembled beg leave to represent :- That being ardently attached to the CIVIL CONSTITUTION under which an indulgent Providence has placed us, and feeling alive to the interests and prosperity of cur be- loved country, we have viewed with painful anxiety and alarm, some of the recent measures of our national Gov- ernment, The several acts passed the last session of Congress laying an unlimited embargo upon all com- merce both foreign and domestic, appears to your me- morialists fraught with ruin to our country and not jus- tified or required by the state of our foreign relations, so far as they have been made known to the public. We did indulge the hope that at the commencement of the present session, Congress would have heard the nu- merous petitions respectfully addressed to them,-and also finding that it would require a great part of the mil- itary force of the country to enforce those oppressive laws and therefore would have unanimously repealed them. But with extreme regret we have beheld the ma- jority in both Houses of Congress, in opposition to the most powerful arguments and remonstrances of old Rev- olutionary Patriots and experienced Statesmen, and in- deed of several who had been inwardly led to favor their system at the last session not only persisting in their for- mer measures, but enacting laws to enforce them, which have a still more alarming aspect,-particularly the law passed on the 9th day of January last to enforce the for- mer embargo laws, appears to us contrary to the spirit if not the letter of the Constitution, inconsistent with the principles of a Republican Government, and calculated to provoke riot and insurrection to the jeopardy of Na- tional existence. Under these impressions we cannot look forward without the most painful anxiety. Appre-
72
WAR WITH ENGLAND.
hending from the past that our feeble voice would be disregarded in the general government, and reposing confidence in your wisdom and zeal for the public good, and it is with pleasure we hear the resolves of the Sen- ate of this state, stating ' that a suitable remonstrance (will) be prepared and immediately forwarded to the Congress of the United States expressing their opinion, &c.,' Such proceedings will receive the sanction and approbation of your memorialists, or any other measure your prudence and patriotism may dictate for securing to our common country its Constitution, its Liberty, and its Prosperity ; and we hereby pledge ourselves to sup- port with our lives and property all such constitutional and prudent measures for the attainment of these im- portant objects, as your wisdom may approve."
On the Declaration of War with England, in 1812, an Act of Congress authorized the President to require the Executives of the several States and Territories, to take effectual measures to arm, organize, and hold in readiness to march at a minute's warning, their respect- ive proportions of 100,000 militia. Massachusetts was called on to furnish men for the fortresses on the mari- time frontier. The Governor, however, declined com- plying with the requisitions, on the ground of constitu- tional objections ; and the troops of the State were not called to the field of battle. The town assembled on the 16th of August and referred the subject. to a com- mittee,* who presented an elaborate report at the ad- journment. After commenting on the violation of rights and the numerous insults and injuries this country had sustained, for a series of years, from the United King-
* The Committee were Rev. James Murdoch, Capt. Artemas How, Capt. Samuel Stratton, Dr. Wilson, Mr. Bullock.
73
RESOLUTIONS ON THE WAR.
doms of Great Britain, and Ireland, and its dependen- cies, they state their objections to the War, and the sup- posed insufficiency of the reasons alleged.
At the same time the town unanimously adopted the following Preamble and Resolutions, which contain the sentiments expressed in the Report of the Committee :--
" The inhabitants of the town of Princeton legally assembled in town meeting, deeply and sensibly feeling the effects of the existing and pending calamities of the present crisis, of our National and Foreign relations have with every other class of citizens of a free Republic, on this as well as on all important occasions, a right to as- semble and express, without fear or restraint, our opinions of the measures of the General as well as State Govern- ment,-and the present momentous and alarming situa- tion of our Country, demands a firm, energetic and une- quivocal expression of our feelings :
" Resolved, That we view with the most painful ap- prehensions, the late Act of Congress, declaring war against the United Kingdoms of Great Britain, Ireland and their dependencies ; and the threatening prospect of an alliance with that belligerent whose agressions have been so enormous, and whose depredations were first and far more extensively committed on our neutral rights.
" Resolved, That we feel deeply sensible of our ob- ligations to maintain and support with patriotic fidelity, the laws enacted by a Government elected by the peo- ple, but from any disclosures which our government have made, the present crisis does not in our opinion, sanction an expedient of such distressing tendency.
" Resolved, That we have viewed with deep regret and concern, the ruinuous situation of our commerce, so
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RESOLUTIONS ON THE WAR.
inseparably connected with our agricultural and mechan- ical interests ; and as the anticipation of some speedy alleviation has been the ground of our acquiescence for years, in the many restrictions to which this vital interest of the Nation has been subject, we feel compelled, while we view the fatal blow now struck, to express our entire disapprobation and abhorrence of the measure.
" Resolved, That we sympathise with that portion of our fellow citizens who are suffering under the acts of our own government, prohibiting them from collecting and rescuing their property from foreign ports, where it is now liable to confiscation, and abhor that fatal policy, which led the government, notwithstanding repeated and humble supplications from the suffering citizens, perti- naciously to continue their restrictions, regardless of the - destructive tendency of such measures not only to the unhappy individuals, but to the commercial interests of the Country and the subversion of the future confidence of commercial men in the government.
" Resolved, That the measures which have been adopted by our administration, are repugnant to our feelings, injurious to our interests, and hopeless in re- sult to our country, and that we will use all honorable means afforded by our elective franchise to produce a change of rulers, as the only means to produce a radical change of measures.
" Resolved, That we admire and reverence that wise and excellent Constitution of our country, purchased and established with so much suffering and blood,-and with every thing dear to us, as men and citizens we will de- fend our Constitution and country against every hostile attempt to invade the principles of the one, or the rights and territories of the other.
75
BENEFACTIONS OF MR. BOYLSTON.
" Resolved, That we highly approve of the wise, dig- nified and patriotic conduct of the Governor and House of Representatives of this Commonwealth, relative to the present alarming crisis of our National affairs, and that we will use our exertions to give effect to their recom- mendations, and to obtain for such statesmen and patriots the universal confidence and support of our countrymen."
These Resolves were directed to be signed by the Moderator and attested by the Town Clerk, entered on record, and a copy furnished for publication, in some of the public journals.
Previous to 1816 there was no Town House in Prince- ton. On the 13th day of August of that year, it was vo- ted to call the Central School House, Town House .- During the long period intervening between 1759, when Princeton was incorporated as a District, and 1816, the citizens met to transact their municipal business, first in a dwelling house, then in a schoolhouse, and subsequent- ly in the meeting house.
In 1818, Ward Nicholas Boylston, Esq., devised to the town of Princeton, two lots of land as a parsonage estate, on the condition that " the same doctrines and principles of faith and practice be preached as are now preached and taught by their present Pastor."* In case they were destitute of a settled ministry for six months, the rents or produce of said estate was to go to the wid- ow and children of the deceased Pastor, if there were any ; if the pulpit was vacated a year the same to be paid to the Selectmen of the town of West Boylston. In addition to this, $500 were given to them to lie as an accumulating fund, under certain conditions, until it
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