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 24
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189
FIRST VOTE UNDER FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
purpose of reconstructing the whole prevailing system of gov- ernment. Commissioners from all the states except Rhode Island were appointed pursuant thereto, convening at Philadel- phia at the date designated. They organized by choosing Washington to preside over their deliberations. After a session of four months, a Constitution was framed, which was after- wards adopted by Congress and sent to the different states for ratification. A convention in Massachusetts, called for the pur- pose of acting upon the matter, met at Boston, Jan. 9, 1788. To this convention Mr. Stephen Holden was elected delegate from Westminster at a meeting held Nov. 30, 1787, after which it was voted "not to give him any instructions, but to allow him full liberty to act upon his own discretion and judgment." At the end of a month, during which its several provisions were thoroughly discussed pro and con, the submitted form of gov- ernment was approved by the small majority of 19 votes; 187 members being registered in the affirmative, and 168 in the negative. Mr. Holden's name is found among the latter, and Westminster is accredited with the honor or dishonor of being at the outset opposed to the Constitution. In the spirit of truc loyalty, however, the town yielded gracefully to the decision of the majority, fell at once into line, and has kept step to the music of the Federal Union through all the subsequent years of the nation's history.
The new Constitution, having been ratified by the required number of states during the ensuing summer, was formally declared to be adopted by the General Congress on the 13th of September, and the first Wednesday of the following January, 1789, was fixed upon as the day for choosing Electors of Presi- dent and Vice-President, and other required officers of the new government, which was to go into operation on Wednesday, the fourth day of March.
For some unexplained reason the citizens of Westminster anticipated the date specified by Congress for the election just mentioned, and held a meeting on the 18th of December, at which votes were variously cast for Presidential Electors, as follows: Amos Singletary, 5; Joseph Davis, 2; Timothy Fuller, 2; John Fessenden, 5; Nahum Willard, I; Jonathan Grout, 4; Timothy Paine, 2; Judge Baker, 6; Judge Ward, 7; Judge Gill, 9; Seth Washburn, 15; Abel Wilder, 20. The ballot for Representative to Congress resulted in giving Colonel Grout 2 votes; Timothy Paine, I; Seth Washburn, 2; Judge Gill, 7; Timothy Fuller, 5; Joseph Davis, 10; Judge Ward, 26. Of the several candidates for Electors above named, only Judge Moses Gill was chosen, and there was no choice of a Congres- sional Representative. A second election took place January 29th, at which Timothy Paine received 37 votes; Jonathan Grout, 14; Artemas Ward, 3. Still was there no choice. At a third trial, on the 2d of March, the same candidates had 44, 30,
190
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS
and 2 votes, respectively. The second of these, Jonathan Grout of Petersham, had a majority of votes in the county, and was accordingly elected.
On one other occasion only, during the period now under review, did the citizens of Westminster feel called upon to express themselves by public vote upon national affairs. It was with respect to a treaty between the United States and Great Britain, concluded through the agency of the eminent John Jay, who had been duly commissioned for the purpose, Nov. 19, 1794, ratified in its essential features by the United States Senate, June 24, 1795, and on Aug. 18th, formally approved by the President. Though not in all regards what the latter de- sired, he yet deemed it good policy to affix to it his signature, and thus make it obligatory upon the nation. This act of diplomacy met with great opposition in many quarters. The terms of agreement specified in it were denounced as a pusilan- imous concession to British arrogance, injurious to the interests of the United States, and derogatory to the national honor. Washington was severely criticized, Jay was hung in effigy, and riots broke out in some localities among the ruder elements of society, as tokens of hostility to the measure. Boston shared largely in the feeling thus expressed. Meetings were held and inflammatory speeches made in the interest of the opposition. The towns were appealed to for sympathy and support in the course pursued. Little comfort, however, did the disaffected derive from Westminster. Instead of lending fuel to the flames of discontent and antagonism, its citizens stood firmly by the action of the government, and, at a meeting held May 3, 1796,
"Voted unanimously that this town will prefer a Memorial to the Honora- ble the House of Representatives of the United States praying that pro- vision be made to carry into full effect the Treaty lately made with Great Britain by the constituted authorities."
The memorial was drawn accordingly, approved and " signed by 223 of the inhabitants," and voted to be forwarded to Hon. Dwight Foster, Representative to the lower house of Congress, for presentation in due form to that august body. The treaty, notwithstanding all opposition to it, was finally approved by a majority of the people, as it was by the National Legislature; the necessary laws were passed for carrying its provisions into effect, and, spite of all fears and prophecies of evil, proved a blessing to the country and its inhabitants.
Currency and Trade. The annoyances and difficulties growing out of the disturbed state of the currency, the tend- ency to create class distinctions based on financial considera- tions, and other conditions of individual and social life resulting from human pride and selfishness, to which allusion has here- tofore been made, rather increased than diminished with the progress of the war. The different legislative bodies of the state
191
CURRENCY AND TRADE -PRICE LISTS.
and nation took note of them and passed, as occasion seemed to require, acts and resolves designed to remove, or at least palliate, them, and carry relief, as far as possible, to the burdened and tired people. When such proceedings required special respon- sive action on the part of towns, Westminster appears to have been ready and willing to take it. An enactment of the General Assembly for the prevention of monopoly and oppression, and called "the Monopoly Act," placed upon the statute books in 1779, was followed by the appointment of a committee on the part of the citizens in public meeting assembled, consisting of Capt. Edmund Bemis, Samuel Whitney, Jr., Dr. Israel Green, Asa Ray, and Timothy Damon, to see that its provisions were carried into effect.
About the same time the Continental Congress issued an ad- dress to the country upon "the Appreciation of the Currency " and kindred matters. The citizens of Boston, in response to that address, recommended the holding of popular conventions, composed of delegates legally chosen by the different towns of the State, for the purpose of taking the whole subject involved into deliberate consideration, and of establishing, as a practical result, a schedule of prices for staple articles of merchandise and country produce, to be duly regarded by all classes of the com- munity. Pursuant to that recommendation, such a convention was called to meet at Concord, July 14, 1779. To that conven- tion the voters of Westminster, after expressing their desire to concur "with every Salutory measure for appreciating our Cur- rency," and their approval of the address of Congress and of the suggestions of the town of Boston, sent, as a delegate, Capt. Noah Miles, with the following instructions :
" Ist. That you use your Endeavor as much as possible that the produce of the country and merchandize bare as equall proportion in price, the one to the other as the Nature of them will admit of.
"2d. That you use your Utmost Endeavor that there be no further Rise of any of the Produce of the Country.
"3d. That you use your Indeavor that the farmers produce fall in Just proportion with Merchandize and so continue to fall in price, the farmer and Merchant in Just proportion till they come down as Low as the Circum- stances of [the ] times will admit of."
The convention met as provided, and prepared a partial list of prices of merchandise and farm products, which was approved by the town at a meeting held two weeks afterward, reserving the privilege of fixing prices at their own discretion to be ob- served within its own borders.
A second convention of a similar character was held at the same place Oct. Ist, to which Capt. William Edgell was chosen delegate for the town. Its purpose was to review the price list previously adopted, adjust some of its discrepancies, increase the number of articles it contained, and make it more complete and equitable in all possible respects. Captain Edgell was directed
192
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
to "use his endeavor that the price of Beef, Lamb, Mutton, and Veal, be stated alike-that the price of Indian Corn, Rye, and Wheat be brought to an equal proportion with Veal, Mutton, Lamb, and other country produce, and that the price of West India and N. E. Rum, Molasses and Salt, which we judge to be stated higher in proportion than the other articles we have Ex- cepted against, be brought down to a price nearer in proportion with the produce of the Country in General, admitting a proper allowance on the Extraordinary Risque of Importation." "We also advise that Refined Iron and many other articles of Com- merce not before Stated, may be Stated in just proportion with other articles."
No report of the proceedings of this convention has come to hand, and no action of the town was taken thereon. Moreover, no copy of the price list of either of the Concord conventions has been found. There is, however, a table of prices established by the town itself about that time, a few items of which are herewith presented :
"Men's Labour in Husbandry, .
£,2. o. o. per day. Boarding a man per week, 7. 4. I. O. IO. o. A day's worke of oxen, Horse rent per mile,
O.
3. o.
For keeping a Yoake of oxen,
2. o. o.
Keeping a horse a week, Carpenter's & Joiners work per day, Cooper's Work a Cyder Barrell, 66 good pałes,
2. 18. o.
Mason's Worke per day, Bricks of the best quality. Potatoes, .
3. 3.
15. o. o. per thousand. IS. o. bushel. 66
12. o.
66
Turnips, .
Good Peas,
8.
o. o.
O. o.
66
66 Beens,
5.
IS. IO. o.
o. o. o. per thousand.
Common Boards for Inclosing, Sawing a Thousand of Boards, Side Clapboards,
8.
o.
o.
Live Shoats,
5.
o. o. per hundred.
4. 6. per pound.
Tobacco, .
7. o. per pound."
66
Apples for winter, .
Good Shingles a Bunch, .
6. IS.
Shay's Rebellion. Scarcely had the thunders of the Rev- olution ceased and the confused noise of battle become silenced in the land, before there sprang up in different localities a feel- ing of discontent and a commotion of impassioned elements which created wide-spread apprehension and alarm, and at times threatened serious consequences to the body politic and the general welfare. The State of Massachusetts was not exempt from these unhappy disturbances which culminated at length in what is known in history as "Shay's Rebellion." This episode in the affairs of the Commonwealth, which, beginning in a small and inoffensive way, assumed at length the form of armed resist-
I. 8. o.
4. o. o.
I. 7. o. o.
193
CAUSES OF SHAYS' REBELLION.
ance to the established government, though it was fortunately brought to an end before it had wrought great mischief, by the wisdom, calmness, and decision of the Executive, Governor Bowdoin, and the steadfast co-operation of the friends of law and order, shows that in times of popular excitement "reason is often dethroned and the highly exasperated passions of the mul- titude overleap the barriers of outward restraint and riot in sui- cidal and hideous excesses."
The causes of the outbreak it is not difficult to determine. The long war with the mother country had greatly impover- ished the people, who, in their best estate, were illy prepared to bear the burdens which the circumstances of their lot imposed upon them. The government was heavily in debt, necessitat- ing high taxation, and a much depreciated currency reduced the ability to meet the collector's demands and other justly incurred obligations, and even to command the necessaries of life. Moreover, creditors and other claimants were often not only persistent but exasperating and inhuman in their efforts to ob- tain their dues, resorting to legal processes and other methods, involving additional and needless expense and provoking ani- mosity and ill-will. These things made the lot of the masses ex- tremely hard, and were well calculated to foster discontent and a restless anxiety for relief. Besides, there were then, as in later times, a set of uneasy spirits or self-seeking demagogues in the community, ready to play upon the excited feelings of the mul- titude, to magnify grievances, and, in order to serve their own unhallowed ambition, to feed dissatisfaction into frenzy and open violence. It is said, furthermore, that the enemies of American liberty and independence exerted their influence to intensify the existing disquietude for the sake of working all possible mischief to the country and proving that separation from England was a mistake fraught with inevitable peril and disaster.
·
It is not in the line of the purpose of this work to detail the rise, progress, fatal consummation, and final collapse of this foolish, irrational, reckless, every way unfortunate affair, nor to follow its unscrupulous, hot-headed promoters and leaders into voluntary exile and merited disgrace. For information of this nature the reader is referred to the fuller annals of the period when it took place. What concerns the present writing is the relation of the town of Westminster to this treasonable up- rising-the consideration of how far its citizens were impli- cated in it, and what public action was taken in regard to it.
No doubt there were a considerable number of persons at the outset, who, recognizing and experiencing the burdens and grievances to which allusion has been made, were inclined to lend the movement, that in the beginning proposed simply to secure relief therefrom, sympathy and support. This feeling found expression as early as 1784, two years before the general unrest and disaffection assumed its final form of an organized
13
194
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
effort to secure certain definitely proposed ends, when at a town meeting, held April 17th, the citizens were called upon to decide "whether they will Joyne with other Towns of this County and Send a member or members to a County Convention to be held att Worcester on Tuesday the 20th inst. to consult wise meas- ures for the Redress of our grievances and that in a Constiteu- tional way," and when John Brooks was chosen to represent them on the occasion specified. The result of the deliberations of this body was the drafting a petition setting forth the prin- cipal disabilties under which the people suffered, and asking relief, to be presented to the General Court by the several towns represented therein. At a meeting held on the 13th of May following, the petition, which appears in full in the records of the clerk, was approved by the vote of the citizens, and no doubt forwarded to the Legislature.
Whatever that body may have done in answer to this and similar petitions, the desired relief was not realized. Hence, in the summer of 1786, there came together informally a few of the disaffected in the more southerly part of Worcester County, who organized as a county convention, and caused circular let- ters to be issued to the selectmen of the towns, asking that delegates be chosen to attend a second convention, to be held at Leicester on the 15th of August. A meeting of the citizens of Westminster was called the day before for the purpose of taking action upon that request. The movement assumed a very inoffensive form at that time, disclosing nothing of the "death's head and cross bones," which afterwards characterized it, as the article relating thereto in the warrant for the meeting named clearly shows. That article was " To Hear a Circular Let- ter, &c. and to appoint a Committee to meet in Convention to take into consideration the greviences the County Labour under and give Said Committee such Instructions as shall be judged proper." Pursuant thereto it was voted "to send to the Con- vention," and Lieut. Nathan Howard was chosen for the ser- vice. No instructions were given him.
Mr. Howard made no formal report to the town of the pro- ceedings of that convention, but it appears from contempora- neous history that the delegates after voting themselves to be "a lawful body assembled in a constitutional way," proceeded to enumerate for public proclamation the primal causes of the prevailing discontent and grounds of complaint. They were eight in number, and of sufficient moment to call for and justify some definite and decisive action on the part
of those present. An address or petition to the Legisla- ture, similar to the one previously referred to, in which they were distinctly stated, was prepared, and as before submit- ted to the towns for approval or rejection as might be deemed best. Westminster refused to adopt it by a tie vote, and declined being represented any further in the con-
195
KINDLY FEELING TOWARDS THE INSURGENTS.
vention, which seems to have adjourned to some subsequent date.
And so ended the active relation of the town to the rebellion of 1786. It is quite probable that the more thoughtful and loyal of its inhabitants, seeing that there was likely to be trou- ble ahead - that the agitation had, in the purpose of its ruling spirits, a treasonable meaning and would probably lead on to much mischief and confusion, if not to violence and open war - deemed it wise and right as men and as patriots to withdraw from all participation in it whatsoever. And it is also quite like- ly, although, as indicated by the vote just mentioned, about half of the citizens were still in sympathy with the agitators, that when it became apparent what the end was to be, and to what issues of blood and death the current of things was tending, the better judgment of the people at large pronounced against the movement and withdrew from it their countenance and support. For it does not appear that more than one or two inhabitants of the place ever joined the rebellion or engaged in any enterprise which openly contemplated armed resistance to and the over- throw of the constitutionally established authority of the state and nation. While neighboring towns became more or less deeply involved in the treasonable uprising, yet the people of Westminster were loyal and true, in no wise disposed to under- value or jeopardize the blessings which they and the country had gained at immense sacrifice, but willing to endure patiently and hopefully the burdens and privations of their lot, in the faith that He in whom they believed and by whose kind provi- dence they had been brought thus far on their way, would not leave nor forsake them, but in due time visit them with fresh tokens of His overshadowing presence and deliver them out of all their troubles.
At the same time they were inclined to look upon those more seditiously disposed with an indulgent eye, and, instead of clamoring for vigorous and severe measures on the part of the government towards them, besought in their behalf kindly con- sideration and charitable judgment. As the revolt grew in size, in audacity, and virulence, it was deemed necessary by the magistraey of the state to cause its more persistent and san- guinary adherents to be apprehended and put under proper restraint, as a preventive policy calculated to temper the rash- ness of others and preclude the possibility of impending fatality and death. In view of which, and to insure, if possible, clem- ency and charity, the citizens of Westminster at a meeting held Jan. 4, 1787, preferred a petition to the General Court substan- tially to the following effect :
"That whereas their is a Tumultuous uprising of the people in various parts of the Commonwealth. Especially in the upper Counties, obstructing the sitting of the Courts and causing disorders to prevail to that Degree that in the same Neighborhood, hand and tongue are set against each other,
196
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
which greatly threatens us with Civil war, and that it appears their is such a Spirit of resentment ocationed from fear or falosy or threats of apprehen- sion whereby there can be no friendly correspondence together, wherefore your petitioners pray that your Honours would be pleased to grant all those people called Regulators [or rebels] the favor of the Act of Indemnity on account of their late Rising and 'Stopping of the Courts so that their persons and property may be Secured from any molestation if consistent with the Honor and Dignity of the government. And furthermore your petitioners are induced by tender feelings of Humanity to pray if consistent with your Wisdom that you use your Influence with the Hon. Supreme Executive body [the governor and council] that they release all those unhappy men taken by government and confined in any of the jails of the Commonwealth in consequence of the late uprising so that being Liberated we may asso- ciate once more together and Inculcate in the minds of each other the neces- sity of peace and good order for the Safety and well-being of the community &c. And as the minds of the people in some parts of the State are very much set against the Courts by reason of there not being so good economy in them as might be, your petitioners are induced by a Discovery of why it is that the minds of the people are so soured with the proceedings of those Courts [to] humbly pray, if consistent with your wisdom that there may be a suspension of them till after the next election of Members of the Honor- able and General Court. Your petitioners wait for a gracious answer."
This petition was prepared before any outbreak had taken place or any blood had been shed. But the malcontents were arming themselves and putting on the appearance of open war.
The threatening aspects of affairs caused the Governor to issue an order for the raising of four thousand, four hundred troops and four regiments of artillery, and the war-cry was sounding through the air. The insurrection was hurrying on to its culmination. On the 25th of January the rebels, twelve hundred in number, under Captain Shays, the chief malcontent, made an assault upon the arsenal at Springfield, and were re- pulsed by the government troops under General Shepard, four of their men being slain ; whereupon they fled in utter confusion and discomfiture, and the rebellion was ended. Two weeks later, just as the blustering leaders of the insurgents were safely ensconced in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York, beyond the reach of Massachusetts' magistrates and soldiery, Westminster voted to instruct its Representative in the General Court, Abner Holden, in the matter under notice, as follows :
"As our army is in the field the sword is drawn and those that defy the government, if they do not desist must feel the weight of that power which hath been despised and opposed, in pity to those that have been misled in taking up arms against the government, we instruct you to use your endeavors to have an ' Act of Indemnity' again extended to them, provided they will lay down their arms, take the oath of allegiance and become good subjects; as to the leaders of such, we instruct you to use your influence to have as much compassion shown them as can be consistent with the honor and dignity of the government, which we ever wish a due regard should be be paid unto. As to any further grievances still subsisting your opportunity of knowing the complaints of the people are such that you cannot be ignorant of them and your attention will therefore be given to every just complaint though it is not our expectation that all of these can be at once redressed; and we cannot omit expressing here our acknowledgement to
197
PRISONERS QUARTERED IN WESTMINSTER.
the Court in listening at its last session to the general complaints of the people and saying that if their doings had had proper weight on the public mind no further disturbances would have arisen."
This document, as well as others quoted, is an added proof of the clear-sightedness, decision, loyalty, and forbearance of our sires in one of the most trying and difficult times in the history of the state, and reflects lasting honor upon both the head and heart of those whose convictions, feelings, and desires it was designed to express.
A few Westminster men, it is understood, responded to the call of the state government for soldiers to aid in suppressing the ill-advised and unjustifiable revolt, and enlisted in the thirty days' service provided for therein, but their names, with the exception of that of William Edgell, 2d, have not been as- certained. Before the time of enlistment had expired, the belligerent episode had come to an ignominious end.
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