History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 131

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 131

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The record of the annual town-meeting held March

6, 1780, contains an entry which is very creditable to the financial honor with which the soldiers were treated. It appears that the town "Chose a committee for hiring soldiers : Joseph Gleason, Robert Peck- ham, John Bouker,-voted that the committee, if they have to bire money or soldiers, that they engage on the Town's credit to keep the money of Equal value." It will be borne in mind that the United States did not undertake to act upon this principle in payment of the soldiers of the Rebellion.

During the Revolution the town well and patriotic- ally sustained the military character of its population at the time of settlement, which gave it for a time the occasional name Volunteer's Town.

CHAPTER LXXII.

PETERSHAM-(Continued.)

SHAYS' REBELLION.

Causes-The Insurgents at Pelham-Government Troops at Hadley-The Night March and Dispersion-Report of Gen. Lincoln-Narrative by Capt. Holland-Rev. Dr Samuel Willard an Eye-Witness-" Infantry in Arms"-Considerute Judgment.

THE insurrection commonly known as Shays' Re- bellion grew out of the disorganization of society during the Revolution, the impoverishment of the people by the war (making payment of debts difficult) and the weakness of the civil administration under the Articles of Confederation. It strikingly called attention to the need of a stronger government and tbus incidentally contributed toward the movement for "a more perfect union," by the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, the imperfection of the previous union being illustrated in this and other resistance to constituted authority.

On Saturday morning, February 2, 1787, Captain Daniel Shays, after various efforts to interrupt the proceedings of the court, for the purpose of prevent- ing the collection of debts, was found at Pelham with about two thousand men. General Lincoln was at Hadley with an armed force of government troops. The situation and subsequent events are best described in the report of Gen. Lincoln to Governor Bowdoin and in historical letters by Capt. Park Holland and Rev. Samuel Willard; D.D.

Gen. Lincoln's report is as follows :

. PETERSHAM, February 4, 1787.

Dear Sir,-I have been honored with the receipt of your Excellency's favors of the 25th ult. and the 1st inst. with the warrants.

In my last I mentioned to you that I had various applications from the neighboring towns, and what answers I had given. These, I think, had a happy effect, and the towns have felt themselves much interested io recalling their meo, and putting an end to the progress of the insur- gents.

I remained a number of days at Hadley, refreshing our men, who had experienced severe fatigue ; this gave time for the Insurgents to reflect

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upoo the offers which had been made to them, and for the selectmen to interpose their authority.

Friday we recounoitered their post with an intention to approach them the next day. This movement gave them an alarm, and at 3 o'clock Saturday morning I received a flag from Wheeler, requesting that he might have a conference with Geo. Putoam. It was granted and they met Saturday forenoon. To provide for his personal safety seemed to he the principal object he had io view-no encouragement ou this head being given, he retired ; and Saturday evening I was informed that Shays had left Pelham, and had pointed his forces towards this place, where, it was said, he expected to he joined by many others, aod where he could make a stand, as many towos in this vicinity were in his interest. At 8 o'clock our troops were in motion ; the first part of the night was light, aod the weather clement ; hut between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning, the wind shifting to the westward, it became cold aod equally, with considerable snow. The wind arose very high, and with light soow that fell the day before and was falling, the paths were soon filled up, the meo hecame fatigued, aud they were in a part of the country where they could not be covered in the distance of eight miles, and the cold was so increased that they could oot halt in the road to refresh themselves. Under these circumstances they were obliged to continue their march. We arrived here about 9 o'clock, exceedingly fatigued hy a march of 30 miles, part of it in a deep soow, and in a most violent storm. When this ahated the cold increased and a great part of our men are frozeo in some part or other-I hope none of them are dao- gerously so, and that most of them will be able again to march in a short time. We approached this town oearly in the centre, where Shays had covered his oreo; aud had we oot heen preveoted by the steepness of the hill and the depth of the soow from throwing our men rapidly into it, we should have arrested very probably one-half of his force : for they were so nearly surprised, as it was, that they had oot time to call in their out-parties, or even their guards. About 150 fell into our hands, and done escaped hut hy the most precepitate flight io different directions ; but most of their meo fled for Athol. It is said they intended to reach Northfield. This hriogs him near the line of another State, where he may vaioly hope to find an asylum. Thus, Sir, that hody of men, who were, a few days since, offering the grossest insults to the best citizens of the Commonwealth, and were menacing eveu Government itself, is fast dissipating, and it will not long, I think, have the least existence. It must be pleasing to your Excellency to know that this has been effected, and bloodshed avoided, but iu ao io- stant or two, where the Insurgents have rushed on to their own de- struction, after every effort had been made by the officers of Gov- ernment to prevent it. That so little has been spilt is owing, io a measure, to the patience and obedience, the zeal aod fortitude diecov" ered in our troops, to whom too much thanks cannot be given. A dif- fereot line of conduct which Shays flattered his troops would be mani- fested and would have given them support, aod led them to acts of violence, while it must have buoyed up the hopes of their abettors aod stimulated them to greater exertions.

As 8000 as the troops are able to move I shall follow Shays, and throw part of our force into Berkshire. Before I leave this place I shall make a disposition of the troops, and discharge such whole services as are ao longer necessary.

Notwithstanding the present state of things, much is necessary for the General Court to do ; and decided measures oo their part will give sup- port to our friends and dismay to others,

I have the hooor to he with highest respect, your obedient servant, B. LINCOLN.

Mr. Cahot will honor this hy being the hearer of it. His great atteo- tioo to duty and his koowledge thereio eotitle him to thanks. He will give your Excellency a more mioute acconot of matters than I have heeo able to write.

His Excellency Governor Bowdoin.

An extract only can be given from the singularly interesting narrative of Capt. Park Holland, which will amply explain itself and throw fresh light upon the report of Gen. Lincoln :

Soone time in December I was appointed to take the company raised in the towos of Petersham, Athol aod Rutland, which was immediately filled hy voluntary enlistment. I had eolisted as private soldiers thirteen old commissioned officers, among whom was Geo. Rufus Putuam, io whose regimeot I had served during the War of the Revolution. Dur- ing these transactions Capt. Daniel Shays, commander-in-chief of the

opposite party was not idle. He had collected, it was said, eight or ten thousand men, a part of whom, under the command of Luke Day, were somewhere in the vicinity of West Springfield. Another large force courmanded by Adam Wheeler collected first at Princeton, from theoce marched to New Braintree, while Shaye with the maio body was in or near the town of Pelham. While Geo. Lincolu and his troops lay at Worcester, news arrived that Shays with his division was on the march to Springfield to take possession of the Continental stores, arms, ammunition, etc., which were deposited there. Geo. Lincoln marched immediately to Brookfield, where he halted for the night. The next day we continued our march for Springfield, and while on the way sometime before oooo we heard that Shays had reached there already and had hnd an encounter with Gen. Shepherd, who was there. guarding the United States property with a detachment of government troops. We soon met stragglers from Shays' retreating troops, among others a sleigh with two or three dead meo, who, as a soldier remarked, -" poor fellows, had had their grievances redressed forever," the "redress of grievances " heiog a term much in use among them. It was with no small grief that I now recognized in one of the dead my old friend Spicer. . . . I had known him as a faithful soldier through the war and as one who at various times had manifested much affection for me. Oo our arrival at Springfield we found that Shays had made a rapid retreat towards Pel- ham, and Gen. Shepherd gave us the following account of the hattle, if it could he termed such : 'Shays aod his meo were found to be rapidly marchiog to Springfield, where the Continental stores were deposited and guarded by Geo. Shepherd, who immediately sent out his aids with a flag to inform Shays that if he advanced any further he should fire upoo him. He returned ao answer, but continued marchiug more rapidly towards Shepherd, who theo ordered his field-pieces loaded, some with balls and some with grape shot, and when within reach of the guos he ordered one of the field-pieces to he fired over the heads of the insurgents, which was quickly done, but they only quickened their march instead of halting, as he had hoped they would do. Another piece was now ordered with as good aim as possible at the main body. This had the desired effect, a rapid and disorderly retreat, leaving their dead and one mortally wounded oo the field. Geo. Shepherd remarked to me that at oo tione in bis life was he called upoo to perform so painful a duty as when he or- dered good aim to be taken at Shays aod his meo, many of whom had fought at his side and stood firm through the most trying scenes of the late war. I had served under Shays aud knew him to be a brave aod good soldier or officer, and I can truly say that it was with oo regret on my part that I had not reached here in season to see him and his mis" taken followers fired upon as enemies.

While Shays was advancing upon Springfield Capt. Day had collected a considerable force ou the opposite side of the river at West Springfield to re enforce Shays if necessary. Therefore, soon as Liucolo's men had takeo some refreshments we crossed the river to call Capt. Day to ac- ' count for his acts and deeds, hut on our arrival we found that he, in his wisdom, had thought hest to disbad his troops, and that neither he nor his kiasmen were to be found. We next marched to old Hadley, think- ing it possible that Day might collect his meu and attempt to join Shays at Pelham. Here we remained two or three days to refresh and wait for our artillery and stores to overtake us. About the third day of our tarry in Hadley, at sunset we received orders to march immediately as we supposed to Pelham, hut the fact was that Gen. Lincolo had received information that Shays had left Pelham and was on his way to Peter- sham. We left immediately, late as it was. The weather was comfort- ahly warm, hut about teo or twelve o'clock io the night the wind changed to the northwest, blew furiously, accompanied by a violent enow-squall, and became intolerably cold. The snow was deep, though a fine sleigh path would have made it good travelling had it oot been that our artillery was io froot with wheels so much wider than the path that the road was filled with loose soow, which rendered the travelling as uncomfortable as can well be imagined. We reached Petersham about suarise next morning, tired, hungry aud frozen, having travelled in the course of the night thirty miles, the hardest march I ever endured. I found myself badly frost-hitten, and found but two of my whole cool- pany who were not more or less frozen. Shays being informed that Gen . Lincolo was closa io his rear thought it hest to leave town, and so rapid were his movements that many left their provisions, and some oo the fire preparing for breakfast. Our quartermaster had gone in front of us to look out for houses to lodge io, so when we reached the main street we had only to take possession of such as were pointed ont to us, some of which were still occupied by Shays' men, who sooo left and gave us a peaceable entrance. Never were a good fire and breakfast enjoyed more highly hy any set of men. The maio body of Shays' troops marched

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

through the town to the northern bounds, which pass through a valley, and were jo a measure out of the cold wind. There they made a halt probably to consider what was hest to be done; either to make a firm stand and give Gen. Lincoln battle or to make a final retreat. It appears that they chose the latter, as many returned to their homes.

Their place of halting, ss mentioned above, was directly in front of my home, where my family theo were, sod it may be supposed felt them- Belves in a very unpleasant situation, as it was well-known that I was out in Lincoln's Army, and of course unfriendly to Shays. Of course they had reason to expect some abuse from them. My wife was at this time confined by illness to her chamber, but with her usual presence of miod she told the young man living with her to make a good fire in each room io the house as soon as she saw their intention of halting, and to bring from her cellar and pantry everything she had to offer for break- fast. The house was soon filled to overflowing with men half starved nod half frozen, among whom was Mr. Converse, now quartermaster, ao acquaintance of ours. My wife sent for him and told him she had done all in her power for their relief and comfort, and hoped he would see that they did no damage to the house. He assured her that he was very grateful, and that as far as possible he would comply with her request ; which he strictly did, and after cating and warming theoiselves to their satisfaction they departed, having done no damage eave clearing the house of every eatable thing.

An appendix to the address of Rev. Edmund Will- son preserves to us a graphic description of the rout of Shays' men by an eye-witness, Rev. Dr. Samnel Willard. The honse of his father was one of several that were occupied by troops, they supposing that their own march of the day previous had put a long distance between them and the forces of Lincoln.

"I well remember," writes the Rev. Dr. Willard, of Deerfield, " the entrance of the insurgeots into Petersham, and the alarm it excited among those who were known to be on the side of the Government. Several of the insurgents had been arrested and condemned to death for having been found in arms the second time, in violation of the outh of allegiance which had been imposed ofter their first capture; and their party had threatened to take prisoners who should be held as hostages for the life and satety of those who were noder condemnation. On this account my father and some others secreted themselves when the insur- geots approached their houses. The sudden and noexpected arrival of Lincoln the next morning, and the precipitate retreat of Shays and his army dispersed all fear, but not all trouble. The army of the Govero- ment was quartered upon ns from Sunday morning till Wednesday, and left our houses in such a state as to inspire dread of ormies in every bosom.

"The insurgents were little prepared to act with efficiency. To say nothing of their want of personal qualifications, they were deficient in arm8. Some of the staff officers were appropriately armed ; for, in his flight, one of them left at our house the only weapoo which I think he bad,-a cone, which was nothing else than a stick stripped of its bark, with a pewter head, of which my boyhood took possession.

"One or two anecdotes will show the panic, and the want of military tactics which were apparent in the retreat :

" ] was out at the door oo the approach of Lincoln's army ; and an officer of the insurgents came riding up at full speed, and gave me, a boy of ten years-the orul commission, 'Run ioto the house, and tell them to parade in a minute, for the enemy are upon us !' I weot ia, but found them in as much confusion as a hive of bees swarming. After they were gone, it appeared that one of them had forgotten to take lia gus, nod a brother of mine took possession of it, and it was never called for.

"It was in the midst of a violent snow-storm, or, rather, the snow was flying, and it was very cold. Some poor wight had his hat taken from his head, and, I suppose, weot without s hat against that furious north wind to Athol, where they halted. I, myself, found the hat the follow- ing spring in one of our lots, and, as my head was large for a boy of my oge, it suited me very well, and I fioished the wear of it."

The writer has often conversed with another eye- witness to the scenes, a younger brother of the an- thor of these reminiscences, the late Deacon Cephas Willard, well known in Worcester County. But he, with a humorous twinkle of his eye, excused himself

for not remembering details by saying, "I then he- longed to the infantry in arms, and not under arms."

Other houses in the town are said to have been oc- cupied in similar manner. including the village tav- ern and that of the minister, Rev. Solomon Reed. He was a large, portly man, who stood guard in his halls for the night, as tradition affirms, with drawn sword, in order to prevent trespass on the part of the insurgents.

The plea of Captain Holland for a kindly and con- siderate judgment of Shays' men ought not to be overlooked. He says,-

I observe here there are many things to be considered before we con- demn the misled followers of Daniel Shays. Their leaders were igno- rant, and many of them deceived. Our government was a new and un- tried ship, with many joints that needed oiling, to say the least ; with Do chart of experience to guide us, nor map of the past by which to lay our course. He who stood by the side of these men in many hard- fought battles with a powerful enemy, and witnessed their hardships and sufferings, borne without complaint, would much rather remember the good service they rendered their country thao dwell upon what his- torians have set down as a blot upon their country's pages.

CHAPTER LXXIII. PETERSHAM-(Continued.)

THE CHURCHES.

A Meeting in Groton-Aoron Whitney ordained as First pastor-Opposed to the Revolution-Action by the Town-A Guard at the Church-door-Solo- mon Reed Ordained-Indian Corn Offered as Salary-A Mutual Council to Settle "Jarrs and Quarrels"-Festus Foster Ordained -- The Covenant Changed - Rev. Luther Willson Installed - Disestablishment of the Churches-Property Transferred-The Ministerial Land Sold for Corn -Sundry Bequests-Rev. George R. Noyes, D. D., Settled-Biblical Schol- orship-Rev. Nathaniel Gage Settled-House of Worship Built-Clock ond Bell -- Several Pastors-Congregational Church-Baptist Church -- The Universalists-Methodists.

THE long and generally peaceful prosperity which followed the adoption of the Constitution of the United States gave opportunity for the growth of the churches, schools and industries of the connty and of this town. The local growth may be here narrated from the beginning. The proprietors of the town voted, at their second meeting, held at Groton, in the autumn of 1733, to build a meeting-house.

This action, taken in a town forty miles distant, recalls still earlier events. In the settlement of the colonies the civil and ecclesiastieal organization was sometimes effected on shipboard, or in England before the colonists embarked. The town and church of Dorchester were organized at Plymonth, Engiand. Afterward the community removed from Dorchester to Winsor, where it united with other towns in the formation of the State of Connecticut. So the erec- tion of a church at Petersham was ordered by a vote taken in Groton. Five years passed before the settle- ment of a pastor, preaching being maintained during a portion of the time.

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PETERSHAM.

In 1738 a young graduate from Harvard was dis- missed from the church at Littleton and came to Nichewaug to be the minister of the town and church which was yet to be organized within it. A church covenant was adopted and Aaron Whitney was or- dained and settled as minister. A proprietor's lot was assigned to him, with two hundred pounds in money as a settlement and one hundred and fifty pounds as an annual salary. He was ordained in December of the same year. Isaac Ward and Thomas Adams were chosen deacons. Probably the dedica- tion of the house of worship also took place.

The covenant adopted was Trinitarian in form. It was in use until the year 1802, or sixty-four years, when a statement of faith Unitarian in its terms was substituted. The pastorate of Mr. Whitney appears to have been peaceful and prosperous until the time of the Revolution. He was royalist in sentiment, and this led to a vote of the town that they " will not bar- gain with, hire nor employ the Rev. Mr. Whitney to preach for them any longer." He was treated as "an enemy of his country," though his character was blameless and his fidelity unimpeachable. Mr. Whit- ney regarded the action of the town as wholly illegal and would have continued to preach in disregard of the vote of the town. To prevent this a committee was chosen "to see that the publick worship be not disturbed by any person or persons going into the desk bnt such persons as shall be put in by the Town's Committee." In pursuance of this vote, the commit- tee on the following Sunday stationed Peter Gore, a half-blood Indian, armed, tradition says, with a gun, at the door of the church, and when Mr. Whitney arrived he was not allowed to enter. A clear spring upon the Phillipston road, called "Gore spring," preserves the memory of Peter Gore, who owned the pasture in which it is found. Mr. Whitney continued to preach at his own house and still claimed to be the minister of the town. The pastorate was practically closed in 1777. Four of his sons were educated at Harvard College.

On the 15th of June, 1780, the town voted unani- monsly to call "Mr. Solomon Reed to settle with them in the work of the Gospel," and further " voted that the Town give him a Settlement of one hundred pounds Stated on Indian corn- at three shillings pr bushel, to be paid in 30 days after his ordination." A yearly salary of one hundred pounds "on Indian corn " at the same rate was offered. At the sugges- tion of Mr. Reed these proposals were so modified that the payment was to be made in lawful money, it being agreed that "each and every hundred pounds when paid shall be with a sum of money sufficient to purchase six hundred and sixty-six bushels and tow- thirds of a bushel of Indian corn." The agreement further recited that, " Whereas, through the wiles of the adversary or through the weakness and Infirmi- ties of human nature, dissention, difficulties, Jarrs and Quarrels may subsist between the said Mr. Solo-

mon Reed and the Congregation in this Town, wheth- er the Difficulty arises on the part of the Town church or on the part of sd Mr. Solomon Rced," and provided that a mutual council should be called to compose and arrange all differences.

These conditions having been agreed to, Mr. Reed was settled and his pastorate continued until the year 1800, or about twenty years. This long service is sufficient evidence that Mr. Reed was beloved and respected by his people, although the truth of history compels one to say that he was not free from tempta- tion to excesses in the use of intoxicating drinks. Furthermore, the people were not without fault in this respect, the selectmen having approved a bill of more than five thousand pounds for liquors and other articles for the ordaining council by which Mr. Reed was settled. This statement is made from memory of the language of the bill which the writer has seen. The explanation of the astonishing sum is found in the date, 1780, when currency was so inflated that the amount in specie was probably less than two hundred dollars.

In the year 1801 the church and town invited Mr. Festus Foster to become their minister. He con- sented, and was ordained January 13, 1802. Three months after his ordination the church substituted a "Christian Profession," Unitarian in sentiment, for the "Covenant" in previous use. The profession thus adopted has been continued by the First Parish, with slight changes, to the present time. The pas- torate of Festus Foster closed 1817, when he was dismissed with honorable recognition of his faithful services.

Rev. Luther Willson, a native of New Braintree, born 1783, a graduate of Williams College, 1807, for some years preceptor of Leicester Academny, pastor of the First Church, Brooklyn, Conn., from 1813 to 1817, was installed at Petersham, June 23, 1819. The pastorate contained until October 18, 1834, or more than fifteen years, which, although his relations with his people were harmonious, he characterized as "times of excitement and division." After resigna- tion, he lived in Petersham, preaching at various places from time to time, and died November 20, 1864, his grave being found in the cemetery east of the common. Luther Willson and Sally Bigelow were united in marriage November 30, 1806. Miss Bige- low was born July 6, 1783, and died Jannary 29, 1826. Luther Willson and Fidelia Wells, of Deer- field, his second wife, were married December 5, 1827. She was born in Deerfield, August 6, 1797, and died in Bellows Falls, Vt., January 8, 1884.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 131

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576