USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 13
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Nevertheless, there was more or less of trouble in the dis- tance, along the eastern and northern frontier, where there still existed large and powerful tribes skilled in all the arts of bar- barous warfare, and ready for any marauding expeditions among the growing English settlements, which jealousy, revenge, hate, or self-interest might suggest or inspire. Moreover, in the difficulties which arose from time to time between the English and French colonists in Canada and elsewhere, these tribes were easily induced to enter the service of the latter against the former, under which unholy alliance some of the most horrid atrocities and massacres were occasionally perpetrated. Nor were these incursions and attacks made only upon plantations established along the border, but now and then those more interiorly located were surprised by the unexpected presence of a savage foe in their midst, who repeated the bloody butcheries of former days. Such was the case at Haverhill in 1697, near the close of King William's War, and at Deerfield in 1704, soon after the opening of the conflict between France and England known as Queen Anne's War. After the treaty of Utrecht, however, made in 1713, comparative peace prevailed throughout New England, and little occasion existed for appre- hension or alarm in any quarter. As a consequence, the enter- prise and ambition of the colonists had pushed their way back from the seaboard and had established a large number of new settlements along the hills and in the valleys of the inland territory -the germs of what were to be in after years some of
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INDIAN TROUBLES ANTICIPATED.
the most flourishing towns and cities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the midst of this general tranquility, when there were no threatening portents in the sky and no known cause for distrust or apprehension, the township under review was first settled.
For several years all went on well. But at length troubles arose again between England and France, and though they originated in disputes relating to the kingdom of Austria, yet were they transferred to these shores and made the occasion here of hostile demonstrations and finally of open conflict. Some time before war was actually declared between the two governments in the year 1744, there were indications of disturb- ance on this side the water, and it was deemed wise in view of the probable rupture, in which the Indians would be engaged as allies of the French, to take certain precautionary measures, with special reference to the safety of the more exposed of the interior settlements of the Province. Some of the smaller and less important of these were temporarily abandoned, while others were put in a condition of protection and defense. In anticipation of coming trouble, the inhabitants of Narragansett No. 2, and of similar communities, petitioned the general court for aid in preparing to meet it when it should appear. The legislature answered the petition as follows :
" WHEREAS it appears neceseary from the Apprehensions of this House have of a speedy Rupture between the crowns of Great Britain and France that the Inland Frontiers in this Province be put in a better posture of Defence, Therefore
"Voted, that the following sums be and hereby are granted to be paid out of the publick Treasury to be laid out in some of the settlements in the County of Middlesex, viz :- To the west Precinct of Groton. £33 6s. &d .; To Townshend £66 13s. 4d .:- In the County of Worcester, viz: - To Lunenburg and Leominster between them £66 13s. 4d .; To Narraganset No. 2, £100; To Pequoig, {100; To Nichaway, {100; To New Rutland, £100 ;-. And in the County of Hampshire, To New Salem, £100. All of which sums shall be taken out of the £7000 Appropriation provided by the Supply Bill now before this Court, and shall be paid into the hands of Messrs. Samuel Willard, William Lawrence, and James Minot, with such as the honorable Council shall join as a Committee fully authorized and em- powered to receive the same, and (first taking counsel of the Captain Gen- eral) to lay out in the most prudent manner in erecting in each of the before- named settlements for their security during the war a Garrison or Garrisons of stockades or of square Timber around some dwelling House or Houses or otherwise as will be most for the Security and Defence of the whole Inhab- itants of each Place - the Committee as near as may be to proportion the Expense to the Sums hereby granted and the overplus (if any be) to be returned into the Province Treasury - the committee to be accountable and to produce vouchers that they may have paid for the Charge of said Fortifi- cations (as well for the material as for the Workmen employed) in Bills of Credit. Provided, nevertheless, That if the Apprehensions of War be over before the money be laid out, what remains shall be returned into the Treas- ury there to lie for the further order of this Court. Sent up for Concurrence Nov. 11, 1743.
" In Council Read and Concurred and Joseph Wilder and Joseph Dwight Esqs. are joined in the affair. Consented to W. SHIRLEY."
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Similar forts were authorized and provided for at Bernardston, Coleraine, Blandford, Stockbridge, Sheffield, and New Hampton.
By means of this and similar appropriations made about the same time, a line of defenses was built extending from the more thickly populated sections of the Province to the west- ward and in the rear and midst of exposed settlements for their protection and safety. Moreover, a series of alarms was arranged and established, whereby an attack made upon any one point could be at once reported all along the line, and the whole population in the outlying districts be aroused and enabled to be put in condition to meet and overcome the in- vader. This complete investment and defense of the young townships gave those residing in them a happy sense of secur- ity, and no doubt prevented many a bloody catastrophe and consequent abandonment of new enterprises, like what occurred at Brookfield, Lancaster, Mendon, and other places seventy years before.
The fortifications erected in Narragansett No. 2, under the order of the General Court quoted, were, if we may rely upon the testimony of Mr. Hudson who had means of information upon this and other matters not now accessible, ten in number, located at the following points, to wit : - one at the dwelling of Capt. Daniel Hoar, near Mt. Pleasant Cemetery ; one at Rev. Mr. Marsh's, a few rods east of the present residence of E. P. Miller, on the old common ; one at Dea. Joseph Holden's, near the old Baptist meetinghouse site; one at Seth Walker's, the late John K. Learned place; one at Dea. Joseph Miller's, where Otis W. Sawin now resides; one at Richard Graves', a few rods southwest of the house of Geo. M. Davis; one at Thomas Stearns', for many years the residence of Job Seaver; one at Samuel Hager's, now William C. Foskett's; one at Philip Bemis', a few rods north of where George Harris now lives; and one at Joseph Gibbs', on the lot now represented by Wm. H. Benjamin, probably half a mile east of his residence. These defenses were sometimes constructed of hewn timbers laid one above another, locked together at the corners and firmly spiked, according to the ancient style of building log houses ; and some- times they were in the form of stockades, being composed of logs standing perpendicularly, with the lower end planted strongly in the earth. In the latter case, they enclosed a con- siderable area of ground with a dwelling house upon it. All together they were capable of holding the entire population of the township, which, at that time, could not have numbered more than a hundred or a hundred and twenty persons, and which, in view of the fact that the forts were scattered gen- erally throughout the settlement, could be collected in them at a few moments' notice. Besides these more substantial struc- tures, there were other smaller places of refuge and defense in still exposed localities for workmen employed away from their
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APPREHENSIONS AND FEARS.
dwelling, or for any one suddenly surprised. In times of special danger the people at large gathered at night in the garrisons, where a guard was set to give alarm if necessary, while an armed patrol kept watch and ward by day at favorable points, to discover the approach of the stealthy foe and prevent concealed attack. No doubt that for several years the people of this little settlement suffered immeasurably through fear of Indian assault and horrid massacre. An occasional appearance of the savage red man skulking in the forest, or the discovery of some tokens of his presence in the vicinity, served to keep that fear alive and intensify its power, to disturb and agonize the ten- der susceptibilities of the heart. It was a time of wearincss and terror that can not be described, when workmen in the fields felt obliged, for their own safety, to keep their loaded muskets near at hand, and when devout worshippers, for the same reason, bent the knee in prayer in the sanctuary with guns by their side and an armed sentinel before the door.
"It is impossible," says Mr. Hudson in his centennial ad- dress, "for us at this day to enter fully into the feelings of people thus circumstanced. If immediate destruction, or what is worse, a death by torture or hopeless captivity, did not actually take place, it was constantly haunting their imagina- tions. Painful indeed must be the situation when the laborer is liable to be captured in the field and his family massacred and scalped in his absence; and when the hours of darkness and repose may invite the enemy, and his slumbers may be broken by the sound of the war-whoop, and the darkness of night be dispelled by the blaze of his dwelling."
For a time after the construction of the garrisons referred to, the labor and expense of keeping them properly manned and of maintaining the requisite guard, were mostly borne by the inhabitants of the place, but after a few years, the burden of perpetual vigilance, which taxed so severely their time and strength and consequently imperiled the means of subsistence for themselves and their families, became so great, even though the province had furnished a few soldiers to aid them in their danger, that a petition for relief was sent to the general court, in form following, to wit :
"To his Excellency William Shirley Esq. &c. in General Court assembled att Boston the 5th day of April Anno Domini 1748.
"The humble petition of the Inhabitance of Narraganset No. 2, sheweth, That we your petitioners Labour under difficulltyes by reason of the war by which we are very much retarded and Discouraged in our Settlement. We Humbly Concieve also that the Soldiers already granted for the Defence of this place are Insofficcent to gard the Inhabitance about their business the ensuing summer, and Especaly so if the enemy prove troubellsome amongst us, we would also Humbly Informe your Exy and Honrs that there are many of our young men will be Nessecesitated to Leave their Settlements and seek their bread elsewhere if not prevented by this Honble Court. There- fore we yr petrs Humbly pray your Exy and Honrs would take our Circum- stances into your wise and serious Consideration and grant a number of the
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Inhabitance to be under province pay as a town Scout which we humbly Conceive will be mostly Serviseable not only to the Inhabitance for their Support but also for the Safety and Defence of the place and province if kept upon Strict Duty and also an effectuall means to prevent the Inhabi- tance from leaving the Settlement and your petitioners (as in duty bound) shall ever pray. Signed by
" JOSEPH HOLDEN, PHILIP BEMIS, DAVID DUNSTER,
HENRY STEVENS, STEPHEN HOLDEN,
WILLIAM BEMIS,
JOSEPH HOLDEN, JR., ISAAC STEDMAN,
JOSEPH GIBBS, THOMAS BEMIS,
ABNER HOLDEN."
ELEAZER BIGELOW, JOSEPH HORSLEY,
In response to this petition, Thomas Stearns, David Dunster, Joseph Holden, Jr., Stephen Holden, and Elisha Bigelow were appointed, commissioned, and empowered to act as scouts under pay by the direction and authority of the provincial govern- ment, until the peril was past.
The exigency of the situation was recognized in the neigbor- ing settlements, and appeals from other sources were made to the legislature for more adequate protection against threatening danger. Col. Samuel Willard of Lancaster, who was in com- mand of the Fourth Massachusetts regiment, and kept a vigilant watch of the course of events with a view to the safety and welfare of the frontier population, interposed in their behalf at the same session of the general court, as did Joseph Holden and others of Narragansett No. 2, in a memorial still preserved at the State House, Boston.
That the precautions sought were not unnecessary is evidenced by what transpired shortly afterward in the then adjacent town of Lunenburg, now within the boundaries of Ashby, as detailed in the subjoined extract from "The Boston Weekly News Let- ter" of July 14, 1748 :
" Last Tuesday was Sev' night [July 5] about 30 or 40 of the Enemy came upon a garrison'd House at the Out-Skirts of Lunenburgh, and two Soldiers posted there were both kill'd near the Garrison, one being knock'd on the head, the other shot thro' the Body as he was endeavoring to escape. The Master of the House, Mr. John Fitch, 'tis tho't was siez'd by them in the Field, as he was spreading Hay, and his Wife as she was bringing Water from the Spring, about 20 Rods Distance, a Pail and her Bonnet being found near the Path; The House they set on fire and burnt it to the Ground and the Body of one of the slain Soldiers lay so near thereto that the Head was burnt from the shoulders. The neighboring Towns being soon alarmed, above 40 men muster'd and got upon the Spot before Sundown, but the Enemy had withdrawn; however they kept a strict Watch and Guard all night and just about Dawn of the next Day, they heard a noise among the Bushes which they suppos'd to be some of the Enemy that were left as Spies, who, perceiving the Number that came against them, skulk'd away without being discovered. Mr. Fitch his Wife and 5 Children being missing 'tis concluded they were taken Prisoners by the Enemy."
That conclusion proved to be correct. The whole family were held in captivity several months, when Mr. Fitch and the children returned in safety, the wife and mother dying from privation and exposure on the way home, on the 24th of the
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INDIAN SURPRISES.
following December. It was to this circumstance that the city of Fitchburg is indebted for its name.
In the same issue of the Boston News Letter as that con- taining the account just quoted, appeared, in connection there- with, the following item, which is more closely related to the character and purpose of this work, to wit :
" Last Thursday [July 7, 1748.] a Man at Lunenbourg was waylaid and shot at by some Indians, as was also another at Township No. 2, but both happily escap'd."
The only other known allusion to the fact that Indians ap- peared here at the time just stated is found in a "Journal of the March of Capt. Ephraim Wilder of Lancaster in July 1748," made by order of Col. Samuel Willard already named, as follows :
" July 8. In Marching to Naragansitt No. 2 and in Searching After the Indens that was the Same day discovered there."
It is possible, though by no means certain, that the incident referred to in these last paragraphs was the same as that detailed in the following story, first published by Hon. Charles Hudson, who speaks of it as "well authenticated":
"Mr. William Bowman, who owned the former George Miles place, was one day mowing in a field lying evidently in the southern part of his lot when he caught a glimpse of red men in the neighboring wood. They were in a position to effectually cut him off from Capt. Hoar's fort, where he probably spent his nights, and no doubt felt sure of their victim. He was wise and self-possessed enough to conceal from them a knowlege of the fact that he had seen them, and kept on at his work, moving slowly away from them and also away from the place of safety to which they might naturally suppose he would attempt to fly, when made aware of their presence. Reaching the lower extremity of his field, which was in the direction of the pond, where possibly he was hidden from their view for the moment by some intervening knoll or swell of land. he dropped his scythe and made for the stronghold at Richard Graves', a mile or more distant, with such speed as to escape the clutches of his fleet-footed pursuers. Alarm guns were fired which awakened an immediate response, not only from different parts of the settlement, but from other settlements not far away, resulting in bringing troops from Lancaster and Rutland to aid those on the ground in repelling any attack that might be made. No conflict, however, ensued, as the Indians, finding that they had been discovered, and were probably out- numbered, quietly withdrew."
Another occurrence of the same nature, resting for authority upon a tradition in the family concerned, is that Elizabeth, wife of Philip Bemis, on her way from church one Sunday afternoon, saw Indians skulking in the shrubbery and under- brush of the woods near the old burying ground. Conceal- ing her fear and hastening to her well-fortified home, half a mile distant, she caused an alarm to be given, with the same bloodless denouement as before narrated.
The most important military exploit on these shores during the conflict referred to, which was known as "King George's
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
War," was the siege and capture of Louisburg on the island of Cape Breton. At that place was a gigantic fortress built by the French thirty years before, at an expense of five and a half million dollars. There, numerous privateers, which were plying their nefarious trade in the neighboring waters, doing great mischief to the fishing and other maritime interests of the English realm, sought and found refuge, rendering the strong- hold particularly obnoxious to all who deemed those interests of any worth. Among these was Governor Shirley of Massa- chusetts, who, largely upon his own responsibility, fitted and sent out an expedition against it, which, under Col. William Pepperell, resulted in its surrender June 28, 1745, after an investment of forty-nine days. In this undertaking were Mr. Robert Sever, a subsequent resident of Narragansett No. 2, as heretofore signified, and two of his sons.
The treaty of Aix La Chapelle, signed in October, 1748, which brought this conflict to a nominal end, did not secure at once a termination of hostilities or allay the fears of the colo- nists, who still continued to raise troops for impending emer- gencies. In these activities this township was interested as the records show. In the muster roll of Capt. Edward Hart- well's company, dated Dec. 22, 1748, appear the names of Fair- banks Moor, Jr., Abner Holden, Wm. Bemis, Ephraim Dutton, Nicholas Dyke, Thomas Stearns, and Ephraim Stearns (Ste- vens), all residents here. Besides these, it is stated, there were others whose names were not given, and whose identity can not be determined. It does not appear, however, that these men were called into active service.
Gradually peace and order were restored and for a few years there was no outbreak and no particular disturbance among the colonists. But this state of tranquility was not of long con- tinuance. The English colonies increased with marked rapidity in all directions, becoming, as time went on, more jealous of their rights and more conscious of their power to take posses- sion of and maintain them. The French, too, were extending their discoveries and multiplying their settlements and setting up their claims to territorial possessions which the English were by no means ready to grant. It was impossible but that there should be, on these grounds, not simply differences, but sooner or later collision and war, -" the arbitrament of the sword." How it all came about, and with what result, the his- tories in our libraries and schools, accessible to every one in these times, tell in all necessary detail of circumstance and incident, and the ground need not be gone over in these pages. Only the most salient points will be noted.
In 1750, the Ohio Company, as it was called, composed of gentlemen of wealth and standing in Virginia, was formed, receiving an act of incorporation from the British parliament, and a grant of immense tracts of land in the Ohio valley. In
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FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
taking possession of those lands, setting up on them trading posts and otherwise using them for their advantage, these gen- tlemen were brought into conflict with the French military authorities established upon or in close contiguity to them.
An attempt on the part of Dinwiddie, royal governor of Vir- ginia, to reconcile the hostile parties and secure a settlement of existing difficulties by peaceful means, first brought George Washington to the notice of the world, and prepared the way for future developments in the career of that wonderful man. Failing in this, the way was opened for more violent measures, for armed resistance and open war.
A vigorous campaign, beginning with an expedition from Virginia under Washington, which resulted in the surrender of Fort Necessity to the French De Villiers, July 4, 1754, and ending in the inglorious defeat of the British general, Braddock, July 9, 1755, effected little towards determining the mastery of the disputed territory or the final issue of the conflict. Hence, in May, 1756, war was again declared between the two nations - foremost at that day on the face of the globe, and claiming to be most Christian of all beside. Then came a more determined policy and a more extensive system of operations, attended with occasional defeats, but more frequently with substantial tri- umphs to the British and colonial forces, which gradually advanced to the mastery of the continent. Little was done, however, on either side in 1757; in 1758, Louisburg, which for some unknown reason had been surrendered to the French in the adjustment of 1748, was recaptured, and Fort du Quesne was permanently occupied. Crown Point and Ticonderoga sur- rendered in August, 1759, and Quebec in September, which virtually decided the conflict. The following year Montreal, seeing the folly of further resistance, capitulated; then Detroit and other places held by the French, until victory was complete. The war was practically ended, although the treaty of peace was not formally signed for nearly three years. The conflict, known in history as the "French and Indian War," had been long and severe, and there was great rejoicing throughout the colonies when it was brought to a successful issue. Many val- uable lives had been sacrificed and the cost in money had amounted to £70,000,000 sterling.
A considerable number of men from Narragansett No. 2 were engaged in the service during the continuance of hostili- ties. In the old muster rolls in the archives of the state of Massachusetts, at Boston, appear numerous items of information which are very appropriately transferred to these pages. They are quoted as they stand in the record, without any attempt to fill any vacancies or to explain any discrepancies that may exist in them.
In the list of soldiers under Capt. Jonathan Greenough of Marlboro', Colonel Whitcomb's regiment, raised February,
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
1756, is the name of Benjamin Gould, who is credited to Nar- ragansett No. 2.
In the company of Benjamin Ballard of Lancaster, colonel not named, enlisted at the same time, is John Monroe from Narragansett No. 2, vouched for by Rev. Mr. Marsh.
In the company of the same captain, raised a year later, are Ebenezer Darby, John Monroe, and Joseph Gibbs, from the same place.
In the company of Timothy Houghton, Newton, raised Feb- ruary, 1757, is Benjamin Gould again.
In the regiment of Colonel Bagley was a company of ninety- eight men enrolled from Lancaster and vicinity for the reduc- tion of Canada, and put in command of Capt. Asa Whitcomb of that town. Among the number were Jabez Bigelow and Asa Taylor, credited to "No. 2", also of Eli Keyes, Jr., of Shrewsbury, afterwards a resident here. They were in the ser- vice from March to December, 1758.
In the roll of the company of James Reed, recruited at Brookfield, May, 1758, appear the following names from Narra- gansett No. 2: Samuel Sanderson, Henry Stephens, Jonathan Stedman, Philip Bemis, Thomas Dunster, Timothy Stearns, Nicholas Dike, Jonathan White, Joseph Horsley, Joseph Hors- ley, Jr.
In what seems to be the same list, found in another connec- tion, is the name of John Woodward.
In Asa Whitcomb's company, recruited February, 1759, are found Jabez Bigelow, Benjamin Gould, and Asa Taylor.
In a company raised the same year for the regiment of Oliver Wilder, the name of the captain not given, and sent to aid in the conquest of Canada, were Benjamin Gould, Gideon Fletcher, Jonathan Stedman, William Stedman, Joseph Horsley, Jr., Andrew Darby, Samuel Harris, Edward Joyner.
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