USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 11
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 11
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James Putnam, Isaac Moore, Joshua Johnson.
William Paine,
John Walker,
' Voted, that the following admonition be given to the town clerk.
' Mr. Clark Chandler : Whereas, this town, at their annual meet- ing in March last, as well as for several years before, honored you by choosing you for their clerk, relying on your fidelity, that you would act for the honor of the town, and find themselves much disappoint- ed, by your conduct in recording on the town book, the scandalous protest of William Elder and others, filled with falsehood and reflec- tions against the town, we have just reason to fear you was actuated in the matter by unjustifiable motives, and, at this time, exhort you to be more circumspect in the execution of [the duties of ] your office, and never give this town the like trouble, of calling a town meeting again, on such an occasion. The town wish to see your behavior such as may restore you to their former good opinion of you.
' Whereas, the committee of correspondence for this town, willing- ly laid all their proceedings before the town, when requested, and it thereby appears, notwithstanding the ungenerous abuse heaped on them by the protesters, that they have acted with care, diligence and caution, therefore, voted, that the thanks of this town be given to the committee for their circumspection, and that they be directed to go on, with their [former] vigilance, in corresponding with the other committees of the several towns in this province.'
These resolves were directed to be entered of record, and for- warded for publication in the Massachusetts Gazette and Spy. They
92
NON-CONSUMPTION COVENANT. [1774.
did not appear in the latter newsprint till Dec. 8. From an ac- knowledgement in the paper of Sept. 13, it appears that the recan- tation of forty three of the protesters had been received by the pub- lisher, the late Isaiah Thomas, but was not inserted for want of room, nor was it afterwards placed in his columns.
In pursuance of this vote, the clerk, in open town meeting, and in the presence of the inhabitants, blotted out the obnoxious record, and the work of the pen in defacing its own traces not being satis- factory, his fingers were dipped in ink and drawn over the pro- test. The pages still remain in the town book, so utterly illegible, as to bear full testimony of the fidelity of the recording officer, in the execution of the singular and unwelcome duty of expunging, thus imposed upon him.
The selectmen were appointed as a committee, to receive any ar- ticles of provisions the inhabitants should contribute, for the poor of the town of Boston.
A committee 1 was raised, to offer the following covenant, for sub- scription, to the inhabitants of the town.
' As the distresses of the people, loudly call on [all] inhabitants of this province, to use their utmost efforts to free themselves from that bondage intended for them by the late acts of the British Par- liament, and, as we apprehend, nothing will better conduce to such purpose than the following agreement : we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, promise, we will not ourselves, or any for or under us, di- rectly or indirectly, buy or cause to be bought, and as far as we are able by advice and command, will prevent our children or servants from buying, any article, except drugs and medicines, that may be im- ported into this, or any other province or colony on this continent, that was manufactured, or came from Great Britain or Ireland, or that may come from thence to the West Indies, or any where else, that may be imported into this, or any other colony or province on the continent, from and after the first day of September next, nor buy any article made or brought as aforesaid of any person whatsoever, who shall not be furnished with an oath, in writing, taken before a magistrate in the town where they dwell, or that next adjoining, that the articles shewn, were bona fide imported before the said first day of Septem- ber : and we, in the same manner as aforesaid, for ourselves, our children and servants, promise we will not buy of any chapman or
1 Aug. 22. Jonathan Stone, David Bancroft, Josiah Pierce, Jonathan Rice, David Chadwick.
93
COVENANT AND OATII.
1774.]
pedler any articles whatever. These promises and agreements we religiously promise to observe, in a sacred manner, until the port of Boston shall be opened as usual, the troops withdrawn, the castle restored, all revenue acts annulled, all pensions to governors, judges, &c. cease, and in one word, until the liberties of this people are restored and so secured, that every one may have legal security for the safety of his person and property, and again feel, and be, in the full enjoyment of those blessings which we are entitled to as men, and those rights and privileges which the charter of this prov- ince gives us right to expect, demand and strive for. And to deter- mine when this is done, the majority of the signers then alive shall determine and be the judges.'
This paper was not only subscribed, but a solemn oath for its performance was taken in the following form.
' In the presence of the Great God, that Being who liveth forever and ever, who knoweth the secrets of all hearts, we acknowledge that the agreement here subscribed is our free act, and solemnly swear that we will, by His grace assisting us, strictly perform the same, in its true and literal meaning, without any equivocation or mental reservation. So help us God.'
Oct. 25, A committee of inspection 1 was elected, to examine, from time to time, the merchants and traders of the town, and prevent. their offering for sale, any goods imported or purchased contrary to the spirit and intent of the 'solemn league and covenant,' as it was styled.
The system of coercive measures, adopted as vindictive expedients for the punishment of past misdemeanors and the suppression of fu- ture opposition, had roused the free spirit of the country into intense action. The practical operation of the celebrated bills, following each other in rapid succession, for the imposition of duties, closing the port of Boston, altering the charter, creating officers of the crown independent of the people, transporting persons accused for trial, prohibiting town meetings,2 and vesting the government of the province in the dependents of the king, aggravated the irritation
1 John Kelso, Nathan Baldwin, Ebenezer Lovell.
2 The provision was in the Regulating Bill, that no town meetings should be held without permission in writing from the governor or lieutenant governor, after August 1, 1774, except the annual meeting in March, for the election of municipal officers, and that in May, for the choice of representatives. Gordon, i. 250.
94
MANDAMUS COUNSELLORS.
[1774.
and urged to acts of personal violence. The weight of public indig- nation fell on those appointed to offices under the new acts, and they were soon compelled to lay aside their obnoxious honors.
Timothy Paine, Esq. had received a commission as one of the mandamus counsellors. High as was the personal regard and re- spect for the purity of private character of this gentleman, it was controlled by the political feeling of a period of excitement, and measures were taken to compel his resignation of a post, which was unwelcome to himself, but which he dared not refuse, when de- clining would have been construed as contempt of the authority of the king by whom it was conferred. The committee of correspon- dence summoned the friends of liberty in the neighboring towns to appear at Worcester, on the 22d of August. Companies, headed by their own officers, marched into the town in military order, but with- out arms, and formed in lines on the common before 7 o'clock of the morning. When reenforced by our own inhabitants the number ex- ceeded three thousand men. A committee, of two or three per- sons from each company, was delegated to wait on Mr. Paine and demand his resignation as counsellor. The representatives pro- ceeded to his residence and easily effected their object. A declar- ation was prepared and subscribed by him, expressing his sense of obligation to his fellow citizens, reluctance to oppose their wishes, regret for having been qualified for the new office, and a solemn promise that he would never exercise its powers. The committee returned to their constituents, who had moved from the common and extended their lines through Main street, from the court house to the meeting house. The acknowledgment was considered satis- factory : but the confirmation was required in the presence of the whole body. A sub-committee was commissioned to invite Mr. Paine's attendance. Requests from such a source were not to be declined, and he accompanied the gentlemen who delivered the message.
The signers of the protest, had been informed by the committee of correspondence, that apology for their opposition would be re- quired from them. Forty three of them had met the evening pre- vious to this visitation at the King's Arms tavern,1 and having sub- scribed an acknowledgement of error and repentance, and received an instrument purporting to restore them to favor, and ensuring protection, they had mixed in the crowd, unsuspicious of any act of
1 This lavern was then kept by Mrs. Sternes, with the royal arms as the sign. It stood on the site of the Worcester House.
95
ALARM.
1774.]
insult. Those who appeared, were collected by the revolutionary magistrates, and on the arrival of Mr. Paine, were escorted through the ranks, halting at every few paces to listen to the reading of their several confessions of political transgression. Having thus passed in review, and suffered some wanton outrage of feeling, in addition to the humiliation of the procession, they were dismissed.
The objects of assembling being accomplished, the majority of the convention disbanded and retired to their homes. A party of about five hundred, with the Worcester committee of correspon- dence, repaired to Rutland, to ask the resignation of Col. Murray, another of the new council. Before their arrival, they were joined by nearly a thousand men from the western towns. A committee visited his house, and being informed of his absence from home, re- ported the fact. This was voted unsatisfactory, and a most strict search was instituted. After convincing themselves of the truth of the representation made by the family, they addressed a letter to Col. Murray, informing him that unless he published the resignation of his office in the Boston newspapers, before the 10th of September, they would wait on him again.
Some of the royalists of Worcester, alarmed at these proceedings, and fearful of danger to themselves, when those who had been most respected were treated with indignity, retired to Stone House hill, within the boundary of Holden, with their arms, and made some addi- tions to the natural defences of the situation they selected, which af- terwards received the appellation of the Tory Fort. They carried such provisions as could conveniently be collected to this retreat, and derived some supplies from friends, expecting safety from con- cealment, rather than from capacity to resist storm or seige. They remained two or three weeks in their rocky fortress; when their ap- prehensions had subsided, they returned.
A band of the king's troops having made an excursion by night up the Mystic river and carried off a quantity of gunpowder deposit- ed in the arsenal in the northwest part of Charlestown, the intelli- gence spread rapidly through the country, and was magnified as it went, into a report, that the soldiers on the neck had slain the inhab- itants, and that the fleet and army were firing on Boston. The ef- fect was electric. The bells rang out from the spires, beacon fires flamed from the hills : alarm guns echoed through the villages, and the people rose spontaneously on the summons. It is stated in the prints of the day that before the next sun went down, 6000 inen from the county of Worcester were on their way to fight or fall with their
96
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
[1774.
countrymen if need were, and the venerable Dr. Stiles records in his diary, that the succeeding morning would have shone on an array of 30,000 men concentrated at the point of supposed danger, had not their movements been countermanded. The alarm reached Worces- ter in the afternoon. The committee of corespondence immediately despatched messengers with warrants to the military to assemble. The early part of the night was spent in changing pewter platters and leaden window frames into musket bullets, and in preparation for immediate engagement. As soon as these arrangements could be completed, a large company marched, and reached Shrewsbury, before the return of messengers from Boston assured them their fur- ther advance was unnecessary.
It has been supposed the occasion had been seized to try the tem- per of the people and ascertain the extent and strength of the resolu- tion of resistance. The highways, thronged with citizens bearing such weapons as the enthusiasm of the hour supplied, are described as presenting scenes the counterparts to the display of the military establishment of the Dutch dynasty of New York so ingeniously delin- eated by its faithful annalist. "There came men without officers and officers without men, long fowling pieces and short blunderbusses, muskets of all sorts and sizes, some without locks, others without stocks, and many without lock, stock, or barrel ; cartridge boxes, shot belts, powder horns, swords, hatchets, snickersees, crow bars, and broom sticks, all mingled together.' Yet such was the spirit animating the community, that men who had never seen the tents of an enemy, left the plough in the furrow and the sickle in the harvest, and went out, without discipline, equipments, or munitions, to en- counter the trained veterans of foreign lands. Ample evidence was afforded of stern determination to meet even the terrible appeal to war, and a pledge was given of the support every town might hope from its neighbors, in extremity.
One beneficial result from this excitement, was the admonition of the necessity of better preparation for the result which it was now ap- parent was hastening. On the 4th of July, the Political society had subscribed to purchase two pounds of gunpowder for each of its mem- bers : and, in August, had voted a covenant for the signature of each citizen, to bind him to provide arms and ammunition. The compa- ny of minute men were enrolled, under the command of Capt. Timo- thy Bigelow, and met, each evening, after the labors of the day were past, for drill and martial exercise. Muskets were procured for their armament from Boston. Four cannon were purchased by the town,
97
COURTS SUSPENDED. CONVENTION.
1774.]
secretly conveyed out of the metropolis,1 and mounted at an expense of £ 38. A train of artillery was organized under Capt. Edward Crafts.
The purity of the administration of justice having been corrupted by the act of Parliament, it was resolved that its tribunals should be sus- pended. A body of about six thousand men assembled on the invi- tation of the committee of correspondence, on the 6th of September, and blocked up the passage to the Court House. The Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas were compelled to make a dec- laration in writing, that they would not attempt to exercise their au- thority, or appear officially, in opposition to the will of the people. The Court, thus interrupted, never resumed the exercise of its func- tions. A term was commenced, but immediately adjourned, with- out transacting business. No trials were had, or judgments render- ed, until July, 1776, when the courts were again opened under the new government.
A convention of all the committees of correspondence, was held, in Worcester, on the 21st day of September. This assembly as- sumed legislative powers, and in the interregnum of royal prerogative and constitutional authority, its orders were obeyed as laws.
The first object which engaged the attention of this county con- gress, in considering the situation of public affairs, and devising measures for the common safety, was the organization of the militia. It was voted and recommended, that all subordinate officers surrender up the commissions given by the royal governors, to their colonels, and those of higher rank publish their resignations in the newspa- pers. A new arrangement of the military force was directed to be made, by division into regiments : the first, to include Worcester, Leicester, Holden, Spencer and Paxton ; the primary elections of company officers to be made by the soldiers : and those who should be chosen in this manner, to meet and designate the regimental staff. One third of the men, able to do duty, between the ages of eighteen and sixty, were to be enrolled, formed into companies, and be ready to march at a minute's warning, and committees were to be elected to supply their wants should they be called to service.
A standing committee of correspondence of the convention was formed, by the union of the committees of Worcester and Leicester,
1 £2 12s. 10d. were voted to Mr. Jonathan Rice, for his trouble and expenses in get- ting these cannon out of Boston ; £2 to Jonathan Stone for similar services : to Edward Knight, £ 1 6s. 8d : and to William Dana and Samnel Whitney, £1 13s. id. cach, for transportation from Brookline.
13
93
COUNTY CONVENTION.
[1774.
and the addition of Thomas Denny, Joseph Henshaw, and Joshua Bigelow, and authorized to call meetings, communicate with towns in the county, and persons abroad, and present subjects for considera- tion.
Civil officers holding commissions in June, were directed to con- tinue in the discharge of their duties, excepting Timothy Ruggles, John Murray, and James Putnam.
It was voted, ' as the opinion of this body, that the sheriff do adjourn the Superior Court to be held this day, and that he retain such as are or may be committed as criminals in his custody, until they have a trial.'
' Resolved : That as the ordinary courts of justice will be stayed, in consequence of the late arbitrary and oppressive acts of the Brit- ish parliament, we would earnestly recommend to every inhabitant of this county, to pay his just debts as soon as possible, without dis- pute or litigation ; and if any disputes concerning debts or trespass- es should arise, which cannot be settled by the parties, we recom- mend it to them, to submit all such causes to arbitration ; and if the parties, or either of them shall refuse to do so, they ought to be con- sidered as cooperating with the enemies of the country.'
It was recommended to the several towns, to instruct their rep- resentatives, to refuse to be sworn by any officers except such as were constitutionally appointed : to decline acting with any others not conforming to the charter : and not to attend at Boston, while garrisoned with troops and invested by fleets : but should any thing prevent their acting with a governor and council, appointed accord- ing to the charter, to repair to the town of Concord, and there join in a provincial Congress.
The towns were requested to provide and mount field pieces, ob- tain proper ammunition, and put themselves in a posture of defence.
Sheriff Chandler 1 had presented an address from the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, at its June session, congratulating Gen. Gage on his appointment as first magistrate of the province, lamenting the disturbed condition of the times, bearing testimony against all riots, combinations, and unwarrantable resolves ; denoun- cing the circulation of inflammatory papers by order of certain per- sons, calling themselves a committee of correspondence for the town of Worcester, which they represent as stimulating the people to
1 The Court appointed Hon. Timothy Ruggles, John Chandler, Esq., James Putnam, Abel Willard, and Gardner Chandler, Esq'rs. to wait upon His Excellency Gen. Gage, and present this Address. It was delivered however by the Sheriff.
99
SHERIFF CHANDLER.
1774.]
break off all connexions with Great Britain, and having a tendency to alienate the affections of the people from the mother country, and to create discord and confusion ; concluding with the assurance of their exertions to discountenance such proceedings, to support the execution of the laws, and render the administration successful and prosperous. The convention voted, ' to take notice of Mr. Sheriff Chandler, for carrying an address to Gov. Gage,' and appointed a committee to wait on him and require his attendance. That gentle- man presented himself before this remarkable body, whose jurisdic- tion seemed supreme, and with some hesitation subscribed the fol- lowing declaration.
' Whereas, the convention of committees have expressed their un- easiness to the sheriff of this county, now present before them, for presenting with others, an address to Gov. Gage, he frankly declares it was precipitately done by him : that he is sorry for it, and dis- claims an intention to do any thing against the minds of the inhab- itants of this county ; and had he known it would have given offence, he would not have presented that address. Gardner Chandler.'
A copy of the resolves of the convention, certified by the clerk, Col. William Henshaw, was published in the Massachusetts Spy.1
Resolutions adopted at an earlier session were copied into the London journals, as evidence of the feelings of the people. The editors ubjoined the significant inquiries, ' doth this look like submis- sion ? doth it carry the face of acquiescence ?'
The royalist party had long before been prostrated in this town. Most of the protesters had been induced to make submission. Some who refused, were waylaid and cruelly beaten. A few remained obstinate, and finally retired into exile. Others, unable to separate themselves from their friends and country, and to sacrifice all they
1 From the Massachusetts Spy of Sept. 15. ' We have received from Worcester, the recantation of Jolin Chandler Esq. and forty two others of the protesters against the proceedings of that town, which gave such just cause of offence to the public ; as also the acknowledgment of six justices of that county, for having aspersed the people in an address to Gen. Gage. Want of room prevents their being inserted in this paper.'
These recantations were extorted by a force too powerful to admit of refusal. Re- sistance would have been martyrdom:
Some of the confessions, published in the prints of the day, are expressed with ludi- crous energy. For example :
' Whereas, I, the subscriber, signed an address to the late Governor Hutchinson, I wish the Devil had had said address before I had seen it. Marblehead, Oct. 24, 1774.
John Prentice.'
100
ROYALIST SUBMISSIONS.
[1774.
held dear, were persecuted into compliance with the public will, and at length purchased safety for person and property by soliciting for- giveness in terms more humiliating in proportion to the time it was deferred. The records of the town afford a specimen, Oct. 5, 1774, of the self abasement of these tardy 'recantations.'
' To the inhabitants of the town of Worcester : Gentlemen : Where- as, I, the subscriber, with a number of others, signed a protest, against the proceedings of the town, and the same was published in the Boston Gazette of June last, wherein the inhabitants were un- justly reflected upon in general, and also the whole body of commit- tees of correspondence throughout this whole province, for which I am heartily sorry, and ask the forgiveness of all the inhabitants of the town, and the justly offended public, and also for any other of- fence that I may have given by any means, whether in word or ac- tion. I heartily request your acceptance of this sincere acknowl- edgment, and that if either of the inhabitants hath any other charge against me for any particular of my conduct, that he would make it known, that I may have an opportunity of giving christian satisfac- tion, which I ever shall stand ready to afford. Witness my hand. William Campbell.'
Joshua Bigelow was clected, Oct. 4, representative to the Gener- al Court, to be held in Salem, and Timothy Bigelow delegate to the provincial Congress, to assemble at Concord. The former was di- rected, not to recede from the most rigid virtue in recovering and defending the rights and liberties of the people ; to refuse to be sworn by any officer not appointed according to the charter, or to act with any branch of the legislature not constituted and support- ed in conformity with its provisions : to decline attending in Boston, while it should be invested with armies and fleets ; and if prevented from acting with a constitutional Governor and Council, to repair to Concord, and join the provincial Congress. The instructions to the latter, require, that he should endeavor, in the most peaceable man- ner, to obtain redress of grievances ; to procure the opening of the port of Boston ; restoration of free trade ; removal of the king's troops ; resignation of the command of the fortress at the south end of Bos- ton ; prohibition from erecting entrenchments by the royal forces ; restitution of the military stores forcibly taken from the arsenals and magazines ; the resignation of the mandamus counsellors, or their impeachment as traitors : the mission of an agent to Canada to treat
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