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 35
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This vote was carried into effect, the stones remaining to this day to mark the resting-place of all that was mortal of the second minister of the town.
A brief sketch of the life, character, and personal qualities of the man, who, for more than fifty years, was one of the prominent citizens of Westminster, and the special guardian and promoter of its moral and spiritual interests, will bring the present chapter to a fitting close.
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111STORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Asaph Rice was the son of Beriah and Mary (Goodenow) Rice of Westborough, born May 9, 1733. He descended from one Edmund Rice, a native of England, who came early to this country, being a resident of Sudbury in 1639, whence he re- moved to Marlboro' where he died in 1663. Between Edmund and Beriah were Thomas, Sen., and Thomas, Jr., making the subject of this notice of the fifth generation in New England.
Of the childhood and youth of Asaph Rice nothing can be given. He graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1752, when but nineteen years of age. He then studied medicine, entering upon the duties of that profession at Brookfield, with the expectation of continuing therein through life. But becom- ing interested in religion, he resolved to abandon the calling he had chosen for the work of the Christian ministry, being en- couraged in his change of plans for himself by the Rev. Eli Forbes, then the minister of the town, and his earnest and life- long friend. After completing the requisite course of theologi- cal study, he labored two years as a missionary among the Oneida Indians on the Susquehanna River, and subsequently in Rhode Island, with the remnants probably of the once powerful tribe of the Narragansetts. Returning from that service, he in due time offered himself as a candidate for the vacant pastorate in Westminster, with the result stated in preceding pages.
Soon after his settlement he married, Dec. 26, 1765, Mary, daughter of Rev. Ebenezer and Mary (Bush) Morse of Boylston, who died in giving birth to a daughter, March 29, 1767. He afterward married Elizabeth Clough of Boston, by whom he had four sons and three daughters. One of the sons died in infancy, and a second, when twenty-five years of age, in 1807. Elizabeth (Clough) Rice died Feb. 16, 1782, aged 43. In August, 1796, he married for a third wife Lucy (Barron), widow of Dr. Benjamin Shattuck of Templeton, who survived him several years, dying at Templeton, April 16, 1821, aged 68. Two of the sons of Mr. Rice and four of his daughters grew up to maturity, married, and settled in life. Through them a goodly number of his descendants are still to be found among the children of men.
While Mr. Rice was yet a young man, soon after coming to Westminster, he had the misfortune to fall from his horse when crossing Cambridge bridge, and break his right wrist, disabling him for a time, and seriously interfering with his work. Singu- larly enough, some years later, in riding over the same bridge, he fell again, breaking the wrist a second time with more serious results. So great was the injury then experienced that it was deemed necessary to amputate the hand, obliging him to learn to write with his left one, in the use of which he acquired considerable chirographical skill, as his sermons and other man- uscripts left at his decease sufficiently attest.
A few days subsequent to his ordination Mr. Rice purchased
287
REV. MR. RICE AS MAN AND MINISTER.
lot No. 9, lying directly west of that of Rev. Mr. Marsh, upon the northeast corner of which he erected, during the following year, as already stated, a large and commodious dwelling in which he ever afterward resided. His large farm, which he is said to have cultivated somewhat extensively, and with a good degree of care and skill, gave him ample opportunity for exer- cise, and aided much, no doubt, during the earlier part of his ministry, to eke out his slender and oftentimes inadequate salary. He evidently took an interest in arboriculture, beautify- ing his home and the whole neighborhood with a goodly num- ber of elm trees transplanted by his own hand, whose grateful shade has been enjoyed by four successive generations, and whose tall and commanding forms still lend a charm to the landscape amid which they stand, imparting satisfaction and delight to the eye and mind of all beholders.
In his personal appearance Mr. Rice is said to have been "a little above medium stature, well proportioned, rather spare, broad-shouldered, with long face, large nose, and dark com- plexion." He is remembered by a few aged people as of erect form and posture, possessing much dignity, and having generally a thoughtful and serious cast of countenance. Yet was he affec- tionate in his disposition, cordial, social, and agreeable in his intercourse with his parishioners and fellow townsfolk. He was ready and free in conversation with those of adult age, while the children he would draw to him by his pleasant words, "take them upon his knee, teaching them the commandments and the catechism."
Theologically considered, Mr. Rice may be regarded as a moderate Calvinist, inclining rather to Armenian views than to the more rigid forms of the generally received faith of the churches of his day. Liberal minded and catholic in spirit, he was disposed to allow a large measure of freedom of thought and speech within the old lines of New England Puritanism, even while holding very decided opinions of his own, and while preaching those opinions plainly, fearlessly, and without equivo- cation. He was, however, in no sense a controversialist, de- lighting in theological disputation and religious knight-errantry, but desired and sought to build up Christian character among his people, and lift the community to higher moral and spiritual levels, rather than multiply adherents of a given creed or de- fend any dogmatic or ecclesiastical system, however venerable or popular it might be. Gifted with no unusual power of speech and a placid temperament, his manner was quiet and unimpassioned yet earnest and determined, evincing sincerity, high resolve, and consecration to the Master's service. In no wise presuming or self-complacent -in no wise aggressive or sensational, he did not incline to those more impassioned and exciting methods and measures which, at a later date, were employed with a varied success to call public attention to reli-
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
gious concerns, to multiply nominal converts to Christ, and lengthen church lists. More congenial to his taste and more acceptable to his judgment were the gentle persuasives of the Gospel than the flaming terrors of the law in the administra- tion of the affairs of the ministerial office, and in the promotion of the Kingdom of God in the world. Averting, as far as pos- sible, personal antagonisms, and shunning the heat of sectarian warfare, he sought for the things that made for peace both among his own people, in the community, and between the churches. His ministry, in this regard, was in striking contrast with that of his predecessor, and so it would seem much more in accord with the spirit and purpose of the great head of the church, whose mission it was, in no small degree, to soften the harsh asperities of life, remove its animosities and embitter- ments, and establish in all human relationships the reign of kindliness, brotherhood, and charity. A "good minister of Jesus Christ," he discharged with conscientious fidelity and zeal the duties of the office he was called to fill.
" And as a bird each fond endearment tries To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies. He tried each art, reproved each dull delay, Allured to brighter worlds and led the way."
CHAPTER XV.
GENERAL MILITARY ANNALS.
THE MARTIAL SPIRIT -EARLY COMPANIES-WAR OF ISI2-15 - WESTMINSTER RIFLE COMPANY AND LATER ORGANIZATIONS.
THE martial spirit prevailed very largely among the early in- habitants of the town and indeed through the first third of the present century. Considerations both of self-protection and of patriotism, according to the prevailing theories of social and civil life, combined to arouse and foster this spirit among the first settlers and to perpetuate it from generation to generation among their descendants. Its manifestation in the French and Indian Wars and in the Revolutionary conflict has been duly portrayed in preceding chapters, while its display in relation to the more recent conflict with the rebel slaveholding forces of the country will be specifically depicted in one devoted exclu- sively to the subject later on. It is the purpose of the present narration to outline the more general forms and features which it has assumed in the ordinary activities of the community.
Previous to the incorporation of the township in 1759, most of the residents who performed military duty or rendered ser- vice of any kind as soldiers, did so either as members of regu- lar companies in neighboring localities, as recruits in an exist- ing war, or as special scouts or guards to meet some danger. real or apprehended, to which the infant settlement was ex- posed. A home company, however, had been formed before that event took place, of which Daniel Hoar was captain, and in which Nathan Whitney served as corporal. Further than this nothing has been learned of it. In 1761 a second Wor- cester County regiment was organized, one having previously existed, with Col. Joseph Wilder in command. In that regi- ment was a company from Westminster, the former one reof- ficered perhaps, of which Nicholas Dike was captain ; Benjamin Butterfield, lieutenant; and John Woodward, ensign. The last two were soon superseded respectively by John Rand and John Brooks.
Ten years afterward, in 1771, instead of the one company just referred to, there were two in town, Caleb Wilder being colonel of the regiment. One of them, it would seem, recruit- ed from the northerly part, and the other from the southerly ; and these were distinguished from each other by terms indica-
19
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS
tive of the locality to which they respectively belonged. The officers of the North company were: John Rand, captain; John Estabrook, lieutenant; William Edgell, ensign. Those of the South were: Nathan Whitney, captain ; John Miles, lieu- tenant ; Noah Miles, ensign. The commission of Captain Whit- ney has been preserved, and is now in possession of his grand- son, Calvin Whitney. As a matter of historical interest in several respects it is herewith inserted.
S seal.
Place of the ) " Thomas Hutchinson, Captain General and Governor in Governor's Chief in and over His Majesty's Province of Massa- chusetts Bay.
"To Nathan Whitney, Gentleman, Greeting :- " By virtue of the Power and Authority in and by His Majesty's Royal Commission to me granted to be Captain General, &c. over His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, I Do, by these Presents, (repos- ing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty Courage and good Con- duct,) constitute and appoint you, the said Nathan Whitney, to be Captain of the Second Military Company of foot in Westminster in the Regiment of Militia in the County of Worcester whereof Caleb Wilder Esq. is Colonel.
"You are therefore Carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Captain in leading, ordering, and exercising the said Company in Arms, both inferior officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline, and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Captain, and you are yourself to observe and follow such Orders and Instructions as you shall from time to time receive from your Colonel or other Superior Officer, ac- cording to Military Rules and Discipline pursuant to the Trust reposed in you.
"Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms in Boston, the 12th day of July in the Eleventh Year of the Reign of His Majesty King GEORGE the Third, Annoque Domini, 1771.
"By his Eccellency's Command.
JNO. COTTON D. Secr.y"
There is also preserved as above and herewith presented in full,
"A LIST OF SOULDIERS UNDER THE COMAND OF NATHAN WHITNEY, CAPT.
Sert. Josiah Jackson. Sert. Jonas Whitney. Sert. Samll. Sawing. Sert. Elisha Jackson. Corp. John Hoar. Corp. Samll. Cook. Corp. Joshua Everett. Corp. Ephraim Miller.
Drum. Josiah Whealor.
Jonas Adams. Seath Adams. Joel Adams. John Adams. Stephen Adams.
William Bickford. Jonas Baker. Nehemiah Bowers. Edmond Barnard.
Benja. Bigelow. Jonathan Baley. Ebeneazer Bolton. Andrew Beard. Barron Brown.
James Clark, Jr.
Timothy Damon. Nathan Darby. Andrew Darby, Jr.
Nathall. Eaton. Ebeneazer Eaton. Jacob Emerson.
Samll. Foster.
Peater Graves. Richard Graves. Jr. Jonathan Graves.
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OLD MILITARY DOCUMENTS.
Levy Graves.
William Houghton. William Horsley. Jonathan Hager. Barzilai Holt. Darias Harvey.
Joseph Miller, Jr. Samuel Miller. Isaac Miller. Noah Miles.
Stephen Miles.
Nathan Miles.
Silas Marshall. Thomas Merriam.
David Nicols. Shadrick Newton.
Hananiah Rand.
" Westminster, Sept. the 8th 1772."
Jonathan Sawing. David Sawing. Reuben Sawing. Abraham Stone. Darias Sawyer. Elijah Simonds. Jonas Spaulding.
Asa Taft. Moses Thursten. Jedediah Tucker. Nathanll Totingham.
John Woodward, Jr. Nathaniel Wilder. Nathaniel Woodward. Nathan Wood, Jr. Ahijah Wood. Abel Wood.
Isaac Williams. Jacob Walton.
Another document worthy a place in this chapter is the fol- lowing, which explains itselt.
"WESTMINSTER Oct the 28 1771.
"Capt John Rand and Capt Nathan Whitney with their other officers mett at the house of Mr. Abner Holden Innholder in Westminster and agreed on a Devition of their Milletary Companies as follows, viz :-
"The South Company under the Command of Cap. Nathan Whitney to contain all the training Soldiers living South of the County road by Mr. James Walker's Leading to Winchendon by Mr. Amos Gatesses, and all liv- ing on the northerly side of the afore said roade within twenty rods of it from the Town lyne by James Walkers to Ensign Edggles and from Jabez Bige- lows to the town lyne by the said Gateses.
" And all the Training Soldiers living in Westminster on the North Side of the aforesaid bounds to belong to the North Company under the Com- mand of Capt. John Rand.
" A true Coppy from my records
ELISHA BIGELOW, Clerck."
This document possesses double value from the fact that up- on the action which it makes a note of, was based the division of the tax list of the town a year and a half afterward, when it was voted, March 1, 1773, that "the List of the Rates Shall be Divided as the Milliteary officers have Divided their Compan- ies," which vote remained substantially in force for more than fifty years, or until 1827, at which time and afterwards all the taxes were included in a single list.
Very little appears in the town records in relation to the volunteer militia of those early days or of general military affairs, any further than they were connected with preparations for and the prosecution of the war of the Revolution, as before noted. The public policy in regard to such matters seems to have been that of allowing the different companies of soldiery, organized
292
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
agreeably to the laws of the Province, to manage their own affairs in their own way, without dictation or interference on the part of the citizens at large, as indicated in a vote passed in legal meeting Dec. 13, 1774, a copy of which appears on page 154.
The growing alienation between the royal authorities at Boston and elsewhere and the patriotic and liberty-loving people, threatening open conflict at no very distant day, created intense interest in all directions, and inspired watchful vigilance and such precautionary measures as the exigencies of the case seemed to demand. Conventions of representative men were held at different points for mutual deliberation and to devise plans of united action. Several of these, composed of commit- tees of correspondence and delegates from the different towns of Worcester County met at Worcester during the summer and early autumn of 1774. That of Sept. 20th was principally engaged in reorganizing the militia of the county on an inde- pendent basis, as a needful preparation for impending emer- gencies, and as an offset to the continued concentration of troops under Governor Gage. Seven regiments were provided for in place of the two previously existing ones, two of which, with the brothers John and Asa Whitcomb of Lancaster as colonels, included the towns in this general vicinity, West- minster among the rest. All commissions then in force were to be given up and new officers were at once to be elected. This accounts for the fact that among the four captains who with their men responded to the "Lexington Alarm " the following April, three of those already named, Hoar, Rand, and Whitney, had no place.
About this time, very likely in answer to the call of the Pro- vincial and Continental Congresses for troops to be enlisted and put in readiness for active service, there appear to have been at least three, or perhaps four, companies in town, comprising nearly all the able-bodied men, whose Captains were Elisha Jackson, Noah Miles, John Estabrook, and Nicholas Dike. Of these, John Estabrook and Noah Miles had commands re- presenting the former North and South companies, while that of Elisha Jackson was composed of men belonging chiefly to the westerly part of the town.
From all that can be learned at the present day, it seems that the members of these several companies regarded themselves, and were regarded, as simply " Minute Men," raised, armed, and equipped for special service in a time of sudden need. Many of them, however, as the war came hurrying on, enlisted in due form as active soldiers, becoming part and parcel of the army of the Revolution, while those who did not still kept them- selves, by equipment and drill, in fighting trim, and held them- selves bound in loyalty and honor to support the cause of the colonies and to answer any pressing demand that might be made upon them, as they did at several different times during the
293
EARLY MILITARY OPERATIONS.
progress of the conflict. All this appears in the chapter to which allusion has been made, and needs no further delineation here.
After the Revolution, the military interests of the town re- verted essentially to their former condition. So far as organiza- tion was concerned, there were two infantry companies, known as the North and South companies, divided as before stated, and these continued to exist by regular succession, as a part of the militia system of the Commonwealth, far down into the pres- ent century. They afforded a certain kind and amount of amusement to the men belonging to them and to the general public, and presented an opportunity for a goodly number of persons ambitious of such honor, to gain some distinction in the line of military promotion and to wear before the world a cor- responding title.
Towards the close of the last century, at a date not ascer- tained, Westminster united with Ashburnham, Fitchburg, Leom- inster, and Lunenburg in forming a company of cavalry, which continued to exist and lend dignity and grandeur to military parades till the year 1829, when it was disbanded. John Harrington and Thomas Damon are thought to be the only living representatives of this body in town. The local captains, so far as learned, were William Edgell, Josiah Wheeler, Asa Bigelow, Benjamin Dike, Benjamin Harrington, and John Edgell, now of Gardner. The other towns interested furnished, of course, their proportionate quota of commanding officers.
Occasionally circumstances arose in which it seemed neces- sary for the town to act with reference to military affairs. April 5, 1802, it voted "to equip the training Soldiers in this town," etc. And on the 9th of May, 1803, upon an article "to see if the Town will provide fire armes and equipments for those soldiers that are unable to equip themselves agreeable to law," it was voted "that the selectmen purchase twelve stands of arms."
Again, Oct. 6, 1806, it was voted "to procure powder and Balls sufficient for the soldiers in this town for May training," and $50 were appropriated for the purpose.
It appears that at the time of the whiskey insurrection in Pennsylvania in 1794, when the President issued a call for 1 5,000 men to suppress the revolt, several persons were drafted from Westminster, the names of whom have not been preserved, and the town voted " to make up the wages of such Soldiers as are Lately Drafted to go into the army to forty shillings for each month that they are in the army with what incouragement that Government now gives or shall Hereafter give."
The War of 1812-15. A continued series of aggressions on the part of the government of Great Britain, or its repre- sentatives, towards the United States and its loyal subjects, re-
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
lating chiefly to the impressment of American seamen into the service of the crown, and to the practice of searching American vessels for deserters or others seeking to escape from the officers of the kingdom, resulted, after the failure of repeated attempts to obtain redress, in the declaration of war againt the mother country by act of Congress, June 18, 1812. This war, partly no doubt for purely partisan reasons, and partly from higher and more truly patriotic considerations, was extremely un- popular throughout New England and especially in Massa- chusetts, and called forth from the State Legislature, as well as from spontaneous gatherings of the people, earnest protest and unsparing condemnation. That the citizens of Westminster shared'very fully in the prevailing feeling of this whole section of the country is clearly shown by their corporate action at a meeting called Aug. 3d, " to take into consideration the alarming Situation of our publick affairs and choose an agent or agents to attend a County Convention to be holden at Worcester" in reference to them.
Pursuant to that call, Solomon Strong, Esq., was chosen a delegate to the proposed convention and a series of Resolutions was passed, expressing the sentiment of the inhabitants upon the great issue of the hour, two of which only are given as sufficiently indicative of the spirit and purport of the whole.
"Resolved, that we highly deprecate the present ruinous and destructive war with Great Britain occasioned as we verily believe by an undue attach- ment in our national government to France and an unreasonable prejudice against Great Britain, which war in our opinion [is] unjust, unnecessary, and inexpedient ; a war in which we have everything to lose and nothing to gain ; a war without hope of success, and, if successful, would cause the loss of our liberties and the ruin of our beloved Country.
"Resolved, that we will use every peaceable and Constitutional means in our power to affect [effect] a change in the Administration of the national Government and to elevate to office men who have wisdom to discern, [and] firmness and patriotism to pursue such measures as will tend to restore to our country that prosperity and happiness which it once enjoyed."
These Resolutions, drawn and reported by a committee con- sisting of Solomon Strong, Esq., Abel Wood, Esq., Jonas Whit- ney, Esq., and Dr. Isaac Warren, were passed unanimously and ordered to be printed over the signatures of the Moderator and Town Clerk in the Spy and Aegis published at Worcester.
How near the truth the citizens of Westminster came in char- acterizing this conflict as "unjust, unnecessary, and inex- pedient," "a war without hope of success," may be inferred from the fact that in the Treaty of Ghent, terminating hostilities and restoring peace between the belligerent nations, signed Dec. 24, 1814, though the final battle was not fought till the following month, nothing whatever was said concerning the particular grievances on account of which the bloody strife was inaugurated.
295
OLD RIFLE COMPANY ORGANIZED.
All records of enlistments in the army from this State during the struggle under notice are in the keeping of the Department of War at Washington, and repeated efforts to get a copy of such portions of them as relate to this town have proved un- availing. It is not known that a single soldier here volunteered his services, though a few were secured by conscription. When the town was called upon to grant aid and encouragement to such in the form of bounty or additional pay, true to its origi- nal purpose, it refused to do so by dissolving the meeting held expressly to effect that object. Nevertheless, payment was made, as by law required no doubt, for transporting soldiers with camp equipage to Northboro', as well as for making two thousand rounds of cartridges for the use of the government troops. The only persons known at the present date (1892) to have been in the army were Elijah Maynard and Merari Spaulding, the former only a temporary resident of the place, though there were probably several others whose names have not been ascertained.
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