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 13
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 13
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
The negroes of Bristol and Worcester having petioned the com- mittee of correspondence of the latter county, to assist them in ob- taining their freedom, it was resolved, in a convention held at Wor- cester, June 14, ' That we abhor the enslaving of any of the human race, and particularly of the negroes in this country, and that when- ever there shall be a door opened, or opportunity present for any thing to be done towards the emancipation of the negroes, we will use our influence and endeavor that such a thing may be brought about.'
In September, 1775,1 the company from Worcester, stationed at Dorchester, with the officers of Col. Ward's regiment, presented to the General Assembly at Watertown, a remonstrance against indul-
1 Mass. Spy, Oct. 20, 1775.
111
OFFICERS' MEMORIAL.
1775.]
gences to the royalists, representing, ' that as some of these vermin, or worse, emissaries of tyranny, are crawling out of Boston to their forfeited seats in Worcester, there is reason to suspect, that ei- ther their expectations fail, and therefore they would gladly return to their former seats and profits, until a more favorable opportunity presents to carry their evil machinations into execution, or, they are contriving, by degrees, to slide back to their seats, and there to a- vail themselves of the good opinion of the people, in order to play their parts, to divide and subdivide, or by some method weaken our union, or to form some diabolical plan for the ministry to save the supremacy of parliament, under some soft, sophistical reconcilia- tory terms.
' Wherefore, we, your humble memorialists, entreat your honors not to suffer any of those who return, however humble and penitent they may appear, to go at large, or return to their former seats, or even to be so far favored as to be confined within the limits of Wor- cester, but treat them as they deserve, enemies in a superlative de- gree ; confine them close, and render thein incapable of doing harm ; or return them to Boston, their favorite asylum.'
The refugees in Boston addressed Gen. Gage, on his departure from the capital, in respectful terms. Among the subscribers of the paper presented, were some who had been among the most distin- guished citizens of Worcester.1
The dealings of the committee of correspondence with those who had incurred the displeasure of the patriotic, were of no gentle char- acter. One gentleman, having expressed censure of the doings of the revolutionary bodies, was compelled to make atonement. Hav- ing been summoned to appear for an investigation of his conduct, at its conclusion, he was requested to affix his signature to a paper pre- pared for the purpose, afterwards printed in the Spy. The proposal could not be resisted, and the following humiliating ' confession,' as it was termed, was subscribed, August 21, 1775.
' Whereas I, the subscriber, have from the perverseness of my wicked heart, maliciously and scandalously abused the characters and proceedings of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, the selectmen of the town, and the committees of correspondence in general :
1 Hon. John Chandler, Col. James Putnam, William Campbell, William Chandler, Samuel Paine, James Putnam, Jr. Adam Walker, Nathaniel Chandler, were those who subscribed the address from Worcester.
112
CLARK CHANDLER.
[1775.
' I do hereby declare, that at the time of my doing it, I knew the said abuses to be the most scandalous falsehoods, and that I did it for the sole purpose of abusing those bodies of men, and affronting my townsmen, and all the friends of liberty throughout the conti- nent ; being now fully sensible of my wickedness and notorious falsehoods, humbly beg pardon of those worthy characters I have so scandalously abused, and of my countrymen in general, and desire this confession of mine may be printed in the American Oracle of Liberty, for three weeks successively.'
Having read this declaration of political sin in public, at the meet- ing house, and in the streets, and paid the expenses for printing, the confessor was liberated, and immediately fled to seek asylum from such administration of justice.
Mr. Clark Chandler had left Worcester in June, and reached Bos- ton by way of Newport. After a voyage to Nova Scotia and a jour- ney to Canada, he returned in September, and directly surrendered himself and was committed as a prisoner to the common jail, by or- der of the committee, on suspicion of having held intercourse with the enemy. His health becoming impaired by confinement, he peti- tioned the committee, and the General Assembly for liberation, under such restrictions as should be prescribed : but without avail. The un- wholesome air and privations of his situation, having brought on dan- gerous sickness, on the fifth of December, consent was obtained for his removal to his mother's house, sufficient bonds being filed, that he would not depart from his home, and on the recovery of health would await the orders of the municipal authority claiming power so absolute over personal freedom : on the 15th of December, an or- der of council passed, granting him permission to reside in Lancas- ter, on furnishing security that he would not go out of the limits of that town.
As an incident of the jurisdiction exercised by the committee, was the preservation of its own dignity. We find, in December, they had committed to prison 'one John Holden,' a paper maker, for insolent behavior towards its members. The punishment of this contempt was confirmed by a resolve of the General Assembly, or- dering his detention in jail, until farther directions from the Court.
These facts are curious, as indicating how unlimited was the control of the little bodies, invested by the towns with the care of the public safety, and acknowledging no superior, except the Con- gress of the state or the continent.
113
MILITARY EXERTIONS.
1775.]
Early in May, 15 prisoners from the British army were sent to Worcester. During the residue of the year, the prison was crowd- ed by the successes of the American arms. The captives were en- larged on parol, when employment could be obtained among the in- habitants, and provision was made for their support and clothing by the General Assembly.
On the Ist of May, a resolve of the Continental Congress provi- ded for the removal of the indigent inhabitants of Boston, estima- ted to number 5000, and their distribution among the towns of the interior. The proportion of Worcester county was 1633 : Lancas- ter 103: Brookfield 99: Sutton 98: Worcester 82. Difficulties arose about the removal to other towns, and not more than half the number assigned, were supported here.
The selectmen were required to furnish the soldiers of the town with blankets, which were promptly delivered.
June 15, a requisition was made upon the towns for fire arms and bayonets for the use of the army. The quota of Worcester . county was 514 : Worcester, 30.
June 29, all the towns in Worcester county were earnestly re- quested to deliver their powder to a committee, except a small quan- tity left for emergency. Worcester supplied three barrels, retaining only half a cask from its stock.
Another requisition was made on the same day, for blankets, and for clothing for the men in the service.
The two largest cannon owned by the town were delivered to the Board of War, in November, for the defence of Gloucester.
In the autumn of 1775, that expedition against Quebec, alike memorable for boldness of conception, chivalrous daring of execu- tion, and melancholy failure in its result, was projected. Among the volunteers, under the command of Arnold, who engaged in the winter march through the wilderness, were Major Timothy Bigelow, Capt. Jonas Hubbard, and twelve soldiers, from Worcester. In the attack on the strongest fortress of the north, on the 31st of De- cember, Capt. Hubbard received a severe wound, beneath the ram- parts of the lower town : refusing to be removed, he perished in the snow storm which raged with unusual violence : Serjeant Silas Wes- son was slain : Timothy Rice, mortally wounded, died in the hospi- tal : Major Bigelow and our other citizens were made prisoners, and remained in captivity until November of the following year, when they were liberated on parol, and afterwards exchanged.
Civil government having ceased to exist in its usual form, and
15
114
AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
[1776.
the operation of the judiciary being suspended, in January 1776, two persons were elected as magistrates,1 to exercise the powers of jus- tices of the peace, for the preservation of order and the punishment of crime.
Subsequently, May 8, an officer was elected,? to take acknowl- edgments of debt, where the amount did not exceed twenty pounds.
A requisition was made on the towns, at the request of Gen. Wash- ington, for blankets. The quota of the county was 598 : Brook- field, 30: Sutton, 30 : Lancaster, 33 : Worcester, 27.
Men were drafted for the reenforcement of the army investing Boston, in January, by the officers of the militia and the selectmen. Of 749 assigned to Worcester county, there were levied in Worces- ter 32 : Brookfield 49: Lancaster 46: Sutton 39 : Mendon 33.
On the 23d of May, ' a motion was made, to see if the town would support independence, if it should be declared; and it was voted unanimously, that if the Continental Congress should declare the American colonies independent of Great Britain, we will support the measure with our lives and fortunes.' A copy of this vote was transmitted to the representative,3 for his direction.
A resolution of the General Court was passed June 25, in com- pliance with the request of the Continental Congress, to raise 5000 men to cooperate with the continental troops in Canada and New York. Worcester county was required to furnish 1136 men from the alarm and train band lists of the towns, to be formed into compa- nies of 59, and embodied in two battalions destined for New York. The quota of Lancaster was 72: Brookfield 69: Sutton 67 : Wor- cester 56. The bounty allowed to each man was &3, with 18s. more for the use of arms and equipments furnished by each.
It was voted to augment the bounty of the soldiers from this town to nine pounds, in addition to the allowance from the colony, and £ 486 were assessed for that purpose.
On the 10th of July, a new order was passed by the General Court, for detaching every twenty fifth man on the train band and alarm list, exclusive of those already ordered to be raised, to form two regiments, in companies of 77 each, to support the army in the northern department.
On Saturday, the fourteenth of July, 1776, the Declaration of In- dependence was received. This instrument, the eloquent echo of sentiments as boldly expressed, in less splendid form, from almost
1 Samuel Curtis, William Young. 2 Nathan Baldwin.
3 David Bancroft.
115
CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
1776.]
every village of New England, long before they were promulgated in that paper which has been reverenced as the Magna Charta of Freedom, was hailed with enthusiasm. It was first publicly read, by the late Isaiah Thomas, from the porch of the old south meeting house, to the assembled crowd. On Sunday, after divine service, it was read in the church. Measures having been adopted for a cel- ebration of the event which separated the colonies from the mother country, with formal solemnity, on Monday following, the earliest festive commemoration of the occasion, since hallowed as the nation- al anniversary, took place. The following account of the ceremonies is from the Spy. 'The homely style of the sentiments, furnishes cu- rious contrast with the elaborate exercise of more modern times.
' On Monday last, a number of patriotic gentlemen of this town, an- imated with a love of their country, and to shew their approbation of the measures lately taken by the Grand Council of America, as- sembled on the green, near the liberty pole, where, after having dis- played the colors of the thirteen confederate colonies of America, the bells were set ringing and the drums a beating : After which, the Declaration of Independence of the United States was read to a large and respectable body, among whom were the selectmen and committee of correspondence, assembled on the occasion, who testi- fied their approbation by repeated huzzas, firing of musketry and cannon, bonfires, and other demonstrations of joy ; When the arms of that tyrant in Britain, George the III, of execrable memory, which in former times decorated, but of late disgraced the court house in this town, were committed to the flames and consumed to ashes; after which, a select company of the sons of freedom, repaired to the tavern, lately known by the sign of the King's Arms, which odious signature of despotism was taken down by order of the people, which was cheerfully complied with by the innkeeper, where the following toasts were drank; and the evening spent with joy, on the com- mencement of the happy era.
' 1. Prosperity and perpetuity to the United States of America. 2. The president of the Grand Council of America. 3. The Grand Council of America. 4. His excellency General Washington. 5. All the generals in the American army. 6. Commodore Hopkins. 7. The officers and soldiers of the American army. 8. The officers and seamen in the American navy. 9. The patriots of America. 10. Every friend of America. 11. George rejected and liberty pro- tected. 12. Success to the American arms. 13. Sore eyes to all
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AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
[1776.
tories, and a chestnut burr for an eye stone. 14. Perpetual itching without the benefit of scratching, to the enemies of America. 15. The Council and Representatives of the State of Massachusetts Bay. 16. The officers and soldiers in the Massachusetts service. 17. The memory of the brave General Warren. 18. The memory of the magnanimous General Montgomery. 19. Speedy redemption to all the officers and soldiers who are now prisoners of war among our enemies. 20. The State of Massachusetts Bay. 21. The town of Boston. 22. The selectmen and committees of correspondence for the town of Worcester. 23. May the enemies of America be laid at her feet. 24. May the freedom and independency of Amer- ica endure, till the sun grows dim with age, and this earth returns to chaos.
' The greatest decency and good order was observed, and at a suit- able time each man returned to his respective home.'1
On the 10th of September, one fifth part of the militia of the state were called out immediately to march to New York, to prevent the enemy from cutting off the communication between the American army in the city and on the island of New York, and the country. One fourth part of the residue of the military, were ordered to be equipped and ready to march at a moment's warning. Frequent calls were made for troops for the defence of Boston and other ex- posed places. Worcester answered each demand, following in quick succession, to the utmost extent of her means.
In September, it was submitted to the people to determine, whether they would consent, that the House of Representatives and Council in convention, should adopt such constitution and frame of government, as, on the most mature deliberation, they should judge would most conduce to the safety, peace, and happiness of the state in after successions and generations. The town, considering the importance of the object, and the propriety of all the freemen having opportunity to express opinion, declined acting, as so many of the citizens were absent in the public service. Opposition was made by other towns, to the assembly proposing the measure, assuming this high duty, as the representatives had not been elected with a view to such object.
The selectmen and committee of correspondence, having been authorized by an act to prevent monopoly and oppression, to fix and
1 Mass. Spy, July 21, 1776.
117
REGULATION OF PRICES.
1776.]
establish prices, in November, reported regulations for the sale of arti- cles of common use and consumption. They recommended to the good people of the town, to use their utmost endeavors, by example, precept and legal exertions to support the laws of the country in general, and called upon them, 'in the name of the government and people of Massachusetts Bay, in the name of the passing soldier, in behalf of widows and orphans, as they regarded the credit of the currency, the establishment of an army, and the support of the au- thority of government, which alone renders war successful and gives dignity to peace, to prevent monopolies and oppression, by vindicat- ing their act against the lawless violence which should dare to trample upon it.'1
The beneficial results of the regulations established throughout the commonwealth, were defeated, by the fluctuations of the currency, unsustained by a metallic basis, which finally depreciated to worth- lessness.
In December, Governor Cooke, of Rhode Island, by express, for- warded letters, addressed to 'all the brave inhabitants of New En- gland,' earnestly entreating instant assistance to repel apprehended invasion. The whole of Col. Wood's and Col. Holman's regiments were ordered to march to the relief of the sister state. Many vol- unteers from Worcester, promptly entered the ranks on the alarm, and remained in service during a portion of the winter.
The company under Capt. William Gates, in Col. Holman's regi- ment, was principally formed of men from Worcester. Lieutenant Nathaniel Heywood and thirty-five privates, were in its ranks, and served in New York. Eight were slain in battle or died in camp.
In Col. Thomas Craft's regiment of artillery were twenty four of our citizens.
1 The following are the prices of some articles, as fixed in November, 1776. Labor in summer, 3s. per day : Wheat, bushel, Gs. 8d .: Rye, 4s. Gd .: Indian Corn, 3s .: Peas, 7s .: Beans, 6s .: Potatos, Spanish, Is. Gd .: Oats, Is. 9d. : Apples, winter, Is .: Fresh Pork, pound, 4d .: Salt Pork, 7d .: Beef, grass fed, 3d .: Beef, stall fed, 4d .: Cheese, 6d. : Butter, 9d .: Pork, salted, 220 lbs. barrel, £4. Gs. : Beef, salted, 240 lbs. barrel, £3.8s. Gd .: Flour, £1. 3s .: Milk, quart, 2d. : Cider, at the press, barrel, 4s. : Mutton or Veal, pound, 33d. : Dinners at taverns, of boiled meat or equivalent, 8d. : Suppers or breakfasts, of tea, coffee or choccolate, 8d .: Lodgings, (soldiers sleeping on the floor not to be considered such,) 4d .: Flip or toddy, made with New England rum, mug, 9d. : Cotton and linen homespun cloth, yard wide, best common sort, yard, 3s. Gd. : Tow cloth, good quality and a yard wide, 2s. 3d : Shoes, men's of neat's, leather, best common sort, pair, 7s. Gd. : Breeches, of best deer's leather, for men, £2. 2s. : Beaver hats, best quality, £2. ºs. : Felt hats, 7s .: Making a full suit of clothes, full trimmed, £ I. 4s. : Wood, good oak, delivered at the door, cord, 8s. : Boards, best white pine, at the mill, per thousand, £ 2. 8s. : Hay, English, best quality, cwt. 3s.
118
AMERICAN REVOLUTION. [1777.
The year 1777 had scarcely commenced, when a requisition was made on Worcester, for 32 blankets; followed, on the 26th of Jan- nary, by a draft of every seventh of the male inhabitants, over 16 years of age, to complete the quota of Massachusetts in the conti- nental army and to serve for eight months at least.
The act of the General Court changing the ratio of representation, had excited discontent in the community. The town of Sutton in- vited a county congress, to convene at Worcester, in February, to deliberate on existing grievances, and adopt measures for redress. The committees of correspondence, in their general meeting, about the same time, recommended petitions and instructions for the re- peal of the law. At the meeting of the inhabitants of Worcester, in March, they remonstrated against its provisions, as impolitic, un- necessary, unconstitutional, and attended with consequences injuri- ous to the inland parts of the state.
In February, each town was required to purchase and deliver shirts, stockings, and other clothing for the Massachusetts troops in the continental army, in the proportion of one set to every seven males over 16 years of age of the population. Worcester supplied sixty two sets, for which compensation was afterwards made.
A committee was directed, March 18, to ascertain how much each person had contributed towards the support of the war, and how much those deficient should pay to render the burden equal. A bounty of £20 in addition to the grants from the state and continent, was offered to every soldier who should enter the ar- my to fill the quota of the town.
The sum of ££1656. 2s. 2d. was levied to defray the expenses of the war, and for the payment of bounties.
Upon representation of the great suffering for salt in the interior, 115 bushels were granted to Worcester, to be paid for by the select- men, at the rate of 20s. per bushel, and was distributed.
The selectmen presented to the town a list of persons, esteemed by them to be internal enemies. More were nominated and elected in town meeting, June 16, and the names of 19 were finally accepted as dangerous. A committee was appointed to collect evidence against them preparatory to prosecution. Doubts arose of the jus- tice and equity of this extemporaneous process of conviction of high crimes, without trial or opportunity for defence, and the clerk was directed to suspend his return of the accused with some excep- tions. A few months after, on the petition of the suspected, it was voted, ' to restore the majority to the town's favor,' and on payment
119
REQUISITIONS. CONVENTION.
1777.]
of the costs of the proceedings instituted against them, they were to be considered innocent of treasonable designs against the republic.
Money was raised by loan, to purchase 100 muskets and bayonets, and a quantity of powder : to be delivered to the militia on pay- ment of reasonable price.
The prisoners of war, long confined in the common jail, or per- mitted to labor among the inhabitants for support, were removed in June, to Ipswich. The rooms of the prison were soon again crowded with captured refugees, suspected enemies, deserters, and criminals.
Every sixth man in Worcester county was drafted, under the re- solve of August 9, to join the northern army for three months.
On the alarm occasioned by the successes of Burgoyne, and the march of the British army on Bennington, a company, under Lt. Col. Benjamin Flagg, with Capt. David Chadwick, Lts. Abel Hol- brook and Jonathan Stone, and 68 non commissioned officers and privates, advanced to Hadley, August 28, on their way to Albany. Counter orders, received there, directed their return, as the danger had ceased.
The General Court, September 22, strongly recommended to the militia of Worcester, and the western counties, that at least one half should march forthwith, to reenforce Gen. Gates, and payment was promised.
An invitation was given by Sutton, November 3, to the neigh- boring towns, to send delegates to a convention, to be held for the purpose of taking into consideration an act providing for the pay- ment of interest on state debts and securities, and restraining the cir- culation of bills of lower denomination than £10. The circular letter represents the law to be cruel, oppressive, and unjust, and re- monstrates against its operation in angry terms. Delegates were elected by Worcester. The deliberations of the body, which met on the 13th of November, resulted in a petition to the legislature for repeal of the obnoxious statute, and redress of grievances.
A committee was elected, in December, to provide for the fami- lies of the soldiers, and considerable disbursements were made in this and succeeding years for their support.
From the return of the selectmen it appears, that 68 men from Worcester were in service in the continental line, on terms of enlist- ment for 8 months, 3 years, or during the war, who received their clothing principally from the town.
From Capt. Ebenezer Lovell's company, thirty seven enlisted in
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AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
[1778.
February, for three years, and from Capt. Joshua Whitney's twenty six, for the same period.
The inhabitants expressed their approbation of the articles of Confederation of the United States, in January, 1778, and their de- termination to support the government by their utmost exertions.
A requisition for clothing was made March 13, and Worcester furnished 62 sets of shirts, shoes, and stockings, for the army. A colonel and 522 privates were detached from the brigade of the county, for service on the North river and in Rhode Island : Wor- cester furnished 15 men for this battalion, in April. At the same time, a draft was made to complete the state line in the continental army. Twelve were returned from Worcester to serve for nine months.
A constitution for the state, reported by a committee of the Gen- eral Court, in December 1777, and approved by that body in Janua- ry following, was submitted to the people, and rejected by a great majority. Of 58 votes given here, eight only were in favor of ac- ceptance.
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