History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 35

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"In reference to him and Israel Williams (who was put into a room with a fire, the chimney-top being covered and the doors closed by the Whigs, and kept there several hours in the smoke), Trumbull, in bis Mc- Fingal, aske the Whig mob-

"' Have you made Murray look less big, Or smoked old Williams to a Whig?'

" In 1776, with his family of six persons, he accompanied the royal army to Halifax. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished, and io 1779 lost his extensive estates under the Conspiracy Act, except one farm, for his son Alexander. He built a house in Prince William Street, St. John, where he afterwards resided.

"In person he was about six feet three inches high and well-proportioned. The Hon. Robert L. Hazen, member of the Executive Council of New Brunswick, and a grandson of Colonel Murray, has his portrait by Copley. He is represented as sitting and in the full dress of a gentleman of the day. There is a hole in the wig; and the tradition in the family is that a party who sought the colonel at his house after the flight, vexed be- cause he had eluded them, vowed they would leave their mark behind them, and accordingly pierced the canvas with a bayonet.

"On a mausoleum, in the rural cemetery at St. Jolm, N. B., removed from the old ground, is inscribed-

The dead, how sacred ! Sacred is the dust, And Sacred may this marble long remain. To the memory of JOHN MURRAY, ESQUIRE, Who was born in Ireland The 22nd Day of November, 1720, And died in this City, August 30th, 1794."

Miss Ellen Murray, now of Frogmore, St. Helena Island, S. C., sent the following sketch to Rev. Mr. Lombard, copied " from a family ac- count written by our mother, Harriet Letitia Murray : "

"My husband's grandfather was Colonel Murray, the younger son of a Duke of Athol in Scotland. Becoming displeased with his family, he left his country and settled in America before the Revolution. He bad a large graut of land, and named a town ' Athol.' He had been mar- ried three times, and with the third wife fled to New Brunswick in the beginning of the war with the mother country, Mr. Hazen, my hus- band's grandfather ou the other side, escaped with him. In the dark-

1030

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

weights and measures, Field Drivers, Hog-Renveeand all other ordinary Town offices as Towns choose in the month of March annually Here of Fail not and make Return Here of with your Doings here on untu me before Said meeting-

Given under my Hand und Seul at Rutland in Said County this fif- tenth day of March, 1762, in the Second year of his present majesties Reign, &c.

JOHN MURRAY, Jus. Peace.

At this meeting, presided over by John Murray, Esq., of Rutland, and held March 29, 1762, the most impor- tant town offices were filled as follows :

Selectmen and Assessors, William Oliver, Aaron Smith, John Haven; Town Treasurer, Nathan God- dard; Wardens, Robert Young, Nathan Goddard; Constable for South Ward, Richard Morton; Con- stable for North Ward, Ephraim Smith; Surveyors of Highways, Nathan Goddard, John Oliver, Seth Kendall ; Tythingmen, Jesse Kendall and Jotham Death.

No town clerk was chosen at this meeting, nor at the meeting of May 25th of the same year; but the record of the proceedings of the former was signed by John Murray, moderator, and that of the latter by William Oliver, moderator. The first town clerk was John Haven, who was elected at the annual meet- ing March 7, 1763. It is not easy to understand the delay in filling this important office.

The town now entered upon its mission as an in- tegral part of the Province of Massachusetts, and as- sumed the support of the pastor, laid new highways, built new and better bridges, made appropriations for town charges and the support of the schools, and ar- ranged a multitude of other matters for the promotion of the general good.

What the population of the town was at the time of its incorporation is not known, but it conld not prob- ably have exceeded three or four hundred, as it was only eight hundred and eighteen when the censns was taken in 1790.

From the beginning the custom has generally pre- vailed of filling the most important offices in this town from the ranks of its most capable citizens, and there has hardly been a time during the space of one hun-

ness of the night they fled to the woods, and only the ladies knew of their hiding-place, and supplied them with food. Afterwards they reached St. John, their property in Athol being confiscated. There is now in St. John n beautiful picture, by Copley, of Colonel Murray, in satin waistcoat, bag-wig and purple coat. The Revolutionary party en- tered his house, and not finding him, ran a bayonet through the picture -the jagged rent is still there. A Mrs. English, who visited the Duchess of Athol some thirty or forty years since, was shown in an old chronicle of the family the name of John Thomas Murray, younger son of the family, who, some years before the American Revolution, had quarreled with his family, and securing a grant of land, had settled in New England, and named a town ' Athul.' " Miss Murray adds, " Some twenty years ago, a gentleman from Athol came to see our mother to ee- cnre a quit-claim to a tract of wooded hill land near the town. When the rest of Colonel Murray's property had been sold by the victorious Revolutionary party, this tract wae overlooked, and when a dispute arose abont it, it was found that by the wills of the three Murrays, we were the rightful owners. My mother refused the quit-claim and tried to se- cure the land, but found it too vexatious and expensive an attempt, and abandoned it."

For some other documents upon the sume matter there is no space.

dred and twenty-five years when men of broad and far- reaching views could not be obtained for this purpose. Especially in times of excitement and danger, like the period 1861-65, the services of such men as Calvin Kelton and Nathaniel Richardson were invaluable; and Athol has always had a goodly company of citi- zens of like ability and patriotism from which to fill the principal public offices. Few realize how largely the prosperity of the town has been due to this cir- cnmstance.

March 7, 1763, the town voted " to Rais £13 6s. 8d. to provide a School, and chose Nathan Goddard, Jesse Kendall and John Oliver Committee to hire a school Master, and voted to divide the School Money by the River, and those that live on the south side to have what they pay towards the sum raised, and those that live on the north side to have what they pay towards said sum." This was the first action of the town in relation to schools, and it seems to indi- cate that the same master was expected to teach on the two sides of the river alternately.

As bearing upon the matter of obedience to law, the item following has interest : May 24, 1764, the town "voted to David Twitchel the money that was taken for Fines the last year for Breach of Sabbath."

At the same meeting, under the article relating to providing a school, the town voted to provide a school and to divide the school money as before; also "chose Robert Young, John Oliver and John Farbank, Comitte, to take care of and provide for the school on the south bank of the river, and John Haven, Samuel Morton and Nathan Goddard Com- mitty on the north side." Eight hours were also made to constitute a day's work on the highways.

In 1764 the town voted not to send a representa- tive to the General Court. In 1766 the town voted "to build two School Houses and to reconsider the vote." Then it was voted to divide the town into five "Squadrons," which was also reconsidered. Later it was "voted to build two School Houses, one on the West Hill, between Aaron Smith's and Icha- bod Dexter's ; the other on East Hill, at the head of Capt. Field Lain (so called); and the above houses are to be built sixteen foot wide, and eighteen foot long, and six foot and half stud." Separate commit- tees were appointed "to set men to work" for the erection of each house. Later, during the same year, it was " voted to raise £26 138. 4d. to build two school-houses, and that men should be allowed to work out their Raits on the School Houses at two shillings and four pence pr day."

In 1767 a vote was passed to sell the school lands and the ministerial lands, with the consent of the pastor for the latter sale, and to have five pounds and four shillings of the money granted for high- ways "worked out on the Burying Places."

In 1768, £16 were raised for the use of the school, £52 to pay the pastor's salary, and £3 for town charges.

1031

ATHOL.

In 1769, £6 were raised to repair the old meeting- house.

In 1770, £6 were raised to provide a "stock of amonition for the town," the people evidently be- ginning to anticipate the conflict which was soon to arise with the mother country. The same year it was "voted to have a school kepted at the south end of Meeting House hill, and one at the north end; one on the east part of the town; one at the south- west part; one on West hill, and one on Chestnut hill," " each part to enjoy the benefit of the money they pay for schooling."

In 1771 it was voted not to set a new meeting- house on the site of the old one on The Street, but to place it "between the Slow on John Brooks' lott, near the mill brook, and the little new bridge in said lott, on the east side of the County Road." After a recess of one hour and a half, this action was made more definite by explaining in a vote that the meet- ing house was to stand "near the southeast corner of corn mill lot (so called), the east side of the road, and said lot now owned by John Brooks, of Lancas- ter, and is the plot of land next and near a little slow," etc., all of which was doubtless more easily comprehended one hundred and eighteen years ago than it can be by the reader to-day.

The question of dividing the town so that the west part of it might constitute a town by itself, which was submitted to this meeting, was decided in the negative.

A little later, during the same year, it was voted to raise one hundred and twenty pounds to build a meeting-house to be forty-six feet wide and fifty-six long. In July, of the same year, the location of the house was still under discussion, when it was " voted to prefix a spot to sit a new meeting-house and to sit it within thirty rods north of the place where it was placed in January." The next month the town " voted to refer it [the location] to a Committee that they shall choose to prefix a spot for the inhabitants of Athol to set a meeting-House," and under this vote the committee chosen consisted of "Capt. Oliver Witt, of Paxton ; Capt. Stephen Maynard, of West- borough ; and Col. John Whitcom, of Boldton," doubtless Bolton. The report of this committee, dated January 28, 1772, was in favor of "sitting said Meeting-House on a small rise of land on the west side of the County Road on the north side or ad- joining some hewed timber prepared for a house."

This location is supposed to be the one finally adopted, which was upon the north end of what is now the Common, in the Upper Village. From the various measures taken by the town in 1772 it would appear that the erection of the new house on the spot indicated above was commenced and carried forward during the earlier part of that year, although there was not a little dissatisfaction with the doings of the building committee.

In March, 1773, the work had so far advanced that

the town "Voted to reserve the pew ground on the west side of the pulpit nearest the pulpit for the use of the Ministry." Also "Voted that each man should Pick his pew according to his pay to the meeting-house on his real and personal estate." Also " Voted that each man that draws a pew shall build his own pew." To understand these votes it is to be remembered that a hundred and twenty-five years ago it was customary in our country towns, after the floor of a new church was laid, to sell, usually at auction, what was called the "pew ground," which was a certain space marked off' for the location of a pew. Generally, at the first sale the parts of the floor adjacent to the walls of the edifice were disposed of, leaving the interior portion to be filled with cheaply constructed seats for such as did not erect or occupy pews. Each one purchasing or drawing pew ground was expected to build his pew at his own expense and in a style agreeable to his taste and the amount of money he could afford for such a purpose. A meeting-house furnished in this manner, as a mat- ter of course, must have presented, for a considerable period, a singular and unsightly appearance with its vacant spaces, long seats and various styles of work- manship. No paint was used to bring the different kinds of lumber employed in pew construction to a common color-indeed, no paint at all upon the in- side work, excepting upon the pulpit and on the win- dow-casings.

May 19, 1773, the town " Voted to meet in the new meeting-house the first Sabbath Day in July next." In June of the same year the town accepted a plan for pews in the galleries, and "Voted that the select- men desire Mr. Humfray to preach a lecture in the new meeting-house before the first Sabbath in July next."

During the years in which the location and erec- tion of this house of worship occupied so much of the attention of the people, the work of relocating and building roads and constructing new and better bridges went on uninterruptedly, and, considering the number of the people and the straitened cir- cumstances of many among them, the appropriations made for all public purposes were liberal. Founda- tions were to be laid and almost everything was to be done, but money was not abundant.

We are now approaching a period when new and most important duties devolved upon the town officers and the entire population of Athol, for the whole Province and the whole people of the thirteen Colo- nies were beginning to feel the pressure of British encroachments. March 7, 1774, Deacon Aaron Smith, James Stratton, Jr., and James Oliver were chosen selectmen, and July 7th, of the same year, "after very close and serious Debates on what meas- ures were most likely to affect a deliverance from the burdens and oppressions that America in general, and this Province in particular, are lahoring under, it was unanimously agreed to enter into a League or

1032

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS

Covenant, binding ourselves to Renounce the use and consumption of all goods that shall arrive in America from Grate Britain from and after the last day of August next ensuing, untill the act of block- ing up the harbor of Boston shall be repealed, and we restored to the free use and enjoyment of our national and charter rights, or untill other measures shall be adopted by the Body of the people or the General Congress of the Colonies that is soon to meet, that shall be thought more likely to affect a Deliver- ance." At the same meeting a Committee of Corre- spondence was chosen, consisting of Deacon Aaron Smith, William Bigelow, Josiah Goddard, Captain John Haven, Ephraim Stockwell, James Oliver, Ab- ner Graves, James Stratton, Jr., and Daniel Lamson.

The other towns in the county of Worcester hav- ing appointed similar committees, a general meeting of these was held in Worcester, August 9, 1774, and continued by adjournment. At this meeting resolu- tions were passed, expressing true allegiance to His Majesty, George III., declaring that the people of the Colonies should enjoy the same rights as His Majes- ty's subjects in Great Britain, claiming the right to originate here the laws under which the people of this Province shall live, deprecating the attacks recently made upon their chartered privileges which place their lives and property at the disposal of the British Government, declaring the closing of the Port of Boston a most unjust and cruel act, and then asserting in the plainest language that it was the duty of all Americans, especially of the people of this Province, "to save our money, encourage our own manufac- tures, and reform our manners " by non-consumption of " Brittish Goods," all of which " will have a ten- dency to convince our brethren in Britain that more is to be gained in the way of Justice by our friend- ship and affection than by extortion and arbitrary power."

When these resolutions were read in open town- meeting in Athol, September 2, 1774, they were "ac- cepted and ordered on record." A few days be- fore this action, viz., on August 25th, the town held a very important meeting, and passed unanimously seven resolutions, of which the following is a sum- mary :

The 1st points to a closer and firmer bond of union between the colonies.

The 2d acknowledges the loyalty of the people to King George III. so long, but only so long, as he shall govern according to the English Constitution and the chartered rights of the people.

The 3d condemns the blockade and plunder of Boston.

The 4th complains of the injustice involved in the practical repeal of the charters of the colonies.

The 5th is a pledge of resistance to the unjust measures pursued by the British Government.

The 6th provides for a representation in a county meeting that was soon to be held at Worcester.

The 7th is as follows : " Resolved, That if any per- son shall accept a commission or post of office to serve under the new Establishment (that is, British regulations then going into force), he ought to be looked upon and treated as an enemy to his country ; as he thereby is joined with, and lending a helping hand to those who are endeavoring to enslave us."

The seventh resolve shows how exceedingly jealous the people of Athol were with reference to what were then called Tory influences.1

In 1774, September 29th, the town " Voted to inlist thirty men, exclusive of officers, to send in case of an alarm," and later, under the same article, they " Voted to have two companies of Militia in the town, and that the division of the aforesaid compa- nies be made by the River." Also " Voted to rais sixteen pounds, Lawful money, to provide a town stock of ammunition." William Bigelow was chosen as a delegate to attend a Congress, called to meet at Concord on the second Tuesday of October, 1774, and also to represent the town in the adjourned Provincial Congress, to assemble November 23d of the same year at Cambridge.

On the 11th of January, 1775, the town "Voted that we do approve of and adopt the non-importa- tion agreement Recommended by the Continental Congress." At the same meeting a Committee of In- spection was chosen, which consisted of John Haven, James Stratton, Jr., William Bigelow, Deacon Aaron Smith, Hiram Newhall, Josiah Goddard and James Oliver. The business of this committee, according to the warrant under which it was raised, was "to see that the Resolves of the Continental and Provin- cial Congresses are faithfully observed."

At that stage of the great conflict which was im- pending, hardly any other town office imposed upon those who held it such grave responsibilities as con- fronted those Committees of Inspection.

Generally they were composed of men in middle life, men active, energetic, fearless and eminently patriotic. In their respective towns they were ex- pected to maintain a sleepless vigilance over all the interests involved in self-government and the deliv- erance of the Province and country from British op- pression. It ought to be borne in mind that in the beginning of the struggle for liberty and, to a consid- erable extent, through all the vicissitudes of that

1 1Tpon the west side of Pleasant Street, and almost within the pres- ent limits of the Upper Village, there stood the ancient tavern of Athol, kept in the Revolutionary times by a man named Ward, Tradition says that he and his family held to the King's party, for which reason: a gnard was stationed at one or more points in the vicinity, and also upon the causeway east of the tavern,-then the highway from The Street to Boston was laid from the tavern east across the swamp that is now cov- ered by Lake Ellis. The object of this guard was to discover, if possi- ble, whether there was any communication between the Ward family and Tories in the eastern parts of the county. Whether this precau- tionary measure was followed by any practical results is nuknown, but the whole movement shows that at the commencement of the war the people of Athol were ready at all hazards to maintain what they deemed their inalienable rights.

1033

ATHOL.

contest, there was hardly a town in New England that had not a number of Tories. Some of these were men of property, education and influence, while others were bold adventurers, determined to make money, however much the people generally might suffer. Both of these classes needed watching, and the Committees of Inspection were expected to dis- cover and thwart their plans as far as possible. Un- der the restrictions imposed by the action of the Continental and Provincial Congresses with regard to the non-importation of goods from Great Britain, and the abandonment of their use by the people, many were restive, and some of these were ready to sacrifice almost everything for the gratification of their desires. Especially was it deemed hard to he deprived of tea, and the demand for this article led not a few unprincipled men to run great risks in fur- nishing it secretly to such as would purchase it. Small traders, with bags of tea on horseback, spread themselves over the country, and in almost every town would find some one to aid them in their dishonora- ble enterprise. The encounters of such men with the Committees of Inspection occasioned very sensa- tional scenes in various places.1

There is a tradition that, influenced by their passion for tea, some even of the patriotic ladies of New Eng- land would secretly procure it, and stop up the key holes of their doors while the fragrant herb was steep- ing over the coals, lest they should be betrayed by the well-known vapor. .

As the cloud of war became more portentous, the people of Athol were found furnishing and equipping soldiers, and supplying provisions for the Continental Army. There was no backwardness, no hesitation, but a noble spirit of self-sacrifice animated them.

If it were possible, a full record of the soldiers that this town furnished during the War of the Revolution should here be presented. It would be pleasant to know to what companies and regiments each of them belonged, under what commanders they fought, in what battles they were engaged, what feats of valor they performed, and how many of them survived the hardships and perils they encountered ; but this can- not be satisfactorily done till months and years shall be spent in sorting and arranging the ancient docu- ments that are in the possession of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is to be remembered that dur- ing the war, soldiers were often transferred from one

1 One of the most obnoxious of these Tory peddlers in Sonthwestern New Hampshire was Breed Bachelor, a notorious character, who in 1776 visited a number of towns to dispose of his contraband goods. En- conutering some members of the Committees of Inspection from Fitz- william and Marlborough, who were watching for him, Bachelor had the temerity to strike Mr. Tucker, one of the Marlborough committee, with a club that be carried in his hand. Mr. Tucker was wounded by the blow, when the miscreant rode off as fast as possible. Being por- sned, he was brought back, and the pecuniary benefit derived from his venture was very small. A complaint was made out against him and presented to the General Assembly of the colony of New Hampshire by the Fitzwilliam Committee of Inspection, but he soon disap- peared.

company to another, companies from one regiment to others, regiments from one division to another, and that not unfrequently all the records of these changes were made upon loose scraps of paper. Books of record for military use were few during the Revolu- tionary War.2

The following are the marching-orders that were sent to an Athol captain, probably in 1776 :

To Cupt. Ephi'm Stockwell :

Sir :- By virtue of an express from Genr'l Warner in which i am Directed to detach every Sixth man out of my Regiment to go to the releaf of our Distressed Breatheren at the westward,

I do Hearby Direct and Order you forth-with with-out the Least Delay and with the utmost Dispatch to Detach Every Sixth man out of the Training Band and alarm List of your Company for the purpose affores'd and See that they are acquipt according to Law with armes ammunition also with Kittles and Cooking utensils. The Selectmen are Directed to acquip those that are not acquiped, you are also to Detach one Corporal. And when you have so Done you are to march them to Petersham on monday the Twenty Eight day of this Instant July to meet on the Paraid near the Meeting Honse iu said Town at nine o'clock in the forenoon, you are also to take the command of the nien Detached from captains Nye, Henery and Lord's Companys, Together with your own Detachment. And from gd Petersham you are to make your Route By the way of Bennington where you are to receive further orders from Colo. Cushing, you are to Return me a List of the names of those men Detached from your Company Immediately.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 35

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464