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 7
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 7
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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
53
COL. CHANDLER'S LETTER.
1724.]
field, as well as many others formerly and lately are sufficient wit- nesses. If we cannot be supported now abont our harvest, we must be starved out of necessity. Instead of assistance, we cannot but remind your honor, that we now have five of our soldiers at Rut- land in the service ; we are informed by rumor, we are allowed ten soldiers, for which we are thankful ; but pray, it be possible that the number might be doubled, and that they might be sent as speedily as possible. I am ashamed I detain your honor so long. I shall con- clude by wishing you all prosperity. I am your honor's to com- mand, Gershom Rice.'
'Sundry of our principal inhabitants being present, send their humble duty to your honor, and pray that your honor would take what is here written unto your serions and thoughtful consideration, and move herein unto the honored Lieut. Governor and the Council.'
The expectation of immediate reenforcement was disappointed. Col. Chandler, then in Watertown, writes June 22, to the Gover- nor and Council : ' I am sorry that the poor people of Worcester, Leicester, and Brimfield, find themselves mistaken in having men allowed them to scout and guard said towns. I pray your honor's consideration of the distressed circumstances of the poor people of these towns, as well as other the frontiers : for the encouragement of whom I shall always be ready to obey such orders as your honors shall be pleased to give.'
In July, orders were issued to Col. Chandler, to impress twenty men for the frontier service. Subsequently, other detachments were made from other regiments, and nineteen soldiers were sta- tioned at Worcester, where they remained until the 29th of Octo- ber, 1724, when they were dismissed.2
On the 3d of August, 1724, Uriah Ward who enlisted in the
1 American Antiquarian Society's Manuscripts.
2 July, 1724. The company of Capt. William Chandler of Woodstock was stationed at Leicester and Rutland. The following are the numbers of men posted in the exposed towns at this time:
Shrewsbury, 10.
Brookfield, 10.
Leicester, 29.
Lancaster, 14.
Rutland, 38.
Lunenburg, 12.
In Worcester, there were 19: viz. Ephraim Roper, Jonathan Rugg, Samuel Rice, Daniel Coney, Jesse Taylor, William Gibbs, Abraham Joslin, John Death, William Harris, Ephraim Whitcomb, John Demorris, Jesse How, Joseph Woods, Samuel Fletcher, John Holland, Robert Hunt, Samuel Cobley, Samuel Rumlymarsh, Peter Lawrence.
Those at Worcester, Shrewsbury and Leicester, were posted as independent guards to the inhabitants, without commissioned officers.
54
INDIAN HOSTILITIES.
[1724.
country's service, from Worcester, was killed at Rutland. The fol- lowing account of the transaction is given by Capt. Wright, com- manding at that post.
' About twelve o'clock, five men and a boy being in a meadow in the middle of the town making hay, a number of Indians surround- ed them, and shot first at the boy, which alarmed the men ; they run to their guns, but the Indians shot upon them, and kept them from their guns, and shot down three of the men and scalped them, woun- ded another in the arm, a flesh wound, who got home without other injury : the first got home without any damage ; the boy is not yet found. The action was hardly over before Col. Tyng came into town with thirty men, but was a little too late : but we joined him, and divided our men, one party with the Colonel to follow, the other with me to head them : but they got away.
' Since Col. Tyng went from us, we have made a more particular discovery of their number and contrivance in waylaying the mead- ow where they (the Indians) killed the people. There being in number about thirty, as near as can be thought, by their squatting places or seats when they sat to watch. By what we can learn, they might be near half the company that lay in ambush to shoot down those who come to the relief, so that if there were but a small par- ty of men had gone, they would likely have shot them down before they had seen the Indians.'
From a letter of Col. Chandler, it may be inferred, that the pres- ence of the soldiers saved Worcester from desolation. On the 7th of August, ' an Indian was discovered from a garrison house and fired on by the guard. A soldier and a boy being out near a meadow, spied an Indian nearer to the garrison than they were. The boy ran away. The soldier presented his gun and was ready to fire, when two more rose up by his side ; whereupon he did not venture to fire, but fled : and both came safe to the garrison. During the night their noises were heard crying as wolves, the people made an alarm, and the Indians beat upon a deserted house, drumming vio- lently upon the sides, and so went off.'
The season for the attempts of the enemy having passed, the for- ces were reduced, and those posted at Worcester were dismissed in the end of October.
Early in April, 1725, Col. Chandler, was directed to send orders to the officers in the several frontier towns within his regiment, in- cluding Worcester, ' to keep the soldiers and inhabitants upon a strict duty, and to see that they be not off their guard, but well prepared
55
SELECTMEN'S LETTER.
1725.]
to receive the enemy, who they may expect will attack them ; and especially that no man go abroad without his arms, and in places of hazard that they do not go out except in companies.'
On the 8th of April, Gov. Dummer communicated information to Col. Chandler that several parties of Indians were on their way from Canada, and ordered him ' to visit the exposed towns in his regiment, and charge the people to be vigilant and careful in their duty, and not expose themselves by going abroad unarmed and in small num- bers, lest the enemy gain some great advantage over them by such stupid neglect as many of our people have been guilty of on such occasions.'
Parties of the Indians having made their appearance in the vicin- ity, the inhabitants petitioned the government for succor. The fol- lowing letter was addressed to Gov. Dummer, April 30, 1725.
' To his Honor the Lt. Governor : With all dutiful respect, these are to acquaint your honor, that news hath just now come unto us of two companies of Indians discovered between us and Wachuset ; and whereas, we the last summer labored under great difficulties, and hardships severe to be borne, by reason of the war with the Indian enemy, not being able to raise corn so much as was needful, or to procure sufficiency of other provision, so as it was rendered very dif- ficult to subsist ourselves and families : and, we apprehend, that with- out your honors pleased to afford us some relief in our present dis- tressed state, by strengthening our hands, that the corn cannot be planted, the earth tilled, the harvests gathered, or food provided, and that the settlements in the town will be entirely broken up: where- fore we humbly entreat your honor, that if it may be, we may have some speedy assistance of soldiers, to defend us and scout the woods. Our numbers are but small, and many disheartened by reason of the exposed situation of the town. We are the more earnest in our en- treaty for the present relief, as it was so late last summer before we had soldiers that we are exceeding behind with our needful busi- ness.
'Craving your thoughtfulness of these matters, we are in all grati- tude and respect your humble petitioners,
Nathaniel Moore, Benjamin Flagg, jr. Moses Leonard, James Holden,
James McLellan, Selectmen.'
The following letter from Capt. Samuel Wright to Col. Chand-
56
CAPT. WRIGHT'S LETTERS.
[1725.
ler,1 May 24, 1725, shows that the request was complied with, al- though not until after some delay.
' Honored Sir : These are to inform your honor that I have receiv- ed the men from your regiment for Worcester. Though some, at least two, not so able and effective as I could be glad they were, viz: Ebenezer White and John Field, both from Capt. Thayer of Men- don, who are not able to travel. His honor's the Lt. Governor's or- der to me was, that I should put suitable officers over the men and that they should scout and guard. But inasmuch as my orders are not so clear as that I dare venture to put one of the inhabitants offi- cer over them, I have left them under the care and conduct of Capt. Pond's son at present : but inasmuch as he, nor any of the men have not any knowledge of the woods, so are not like to do much service in scouting, unless there be an inhabitant put an officer over them, I desire therefore you would get his honor's leave to put Moses Rice and Benjamin Flagg to be the officer over them alternately, when one comes in, the other to go out, to have but one man's pay : which will be likely to have the duty better performed, and is the mind of the town. Your honor's very humble and dutiful servant, Samuel Wright.'
Another letter from Capt. Wright, sent from Worcester by Moses Rice, and dated in May, 1725, is too curious to be omitted.
' May it please your honor : I give your honor thanks for care of us in sending a new recruit of 12 men. Your honor's directions were, to scout, but at present we have business. The Indians are among us, and have discovered themselves several times, and we have had several pursuits after them, and have been very vigilant in prosecut- ing all methods to come up with them by watching and ranging the swamps and lurking places, and by watching a nights in private pla- ces without the garrisons : but they are so much like wolves that we cannot yet surprise them, but hope we shall by some means trepan them. We have now taken a method to hunt them with dogs, and have started them out of their thickets twice, and see them run out, but at such a distance we could not come at them. Having an op- portunity, thought it my duty to acquaint your honor with it: but having but a minutes time to write could but only give you an ac- count in short, and remain your honor's dutiful and obliged servant. Samuel Wright.'
' American Antiquarian Society's Manuscripts.
57
BENJAMIN FLAGG'S LETTER.
1725.]
The names and numbers of those posted at Worcester within this year cannot now be ascertained. An incident which occurred dur- ing the period of their service is related in a letter, July 17, 1725, from Benjamin Flagg.
' Honored Sir : These are to inform you that we this day went out as a guard to those that worked in the meadow to gather in their hay, of fourteen men, with those that worked, who wrought in two or three places near to one another. As we scouted the swamps round the meadow, we did discover Indian tracks, in the morning, in the swamp by the meadow side, which made us very strict upon our guard, but made not any more discovery until the middle of the day, we sat to eat victuals upon a knoll where we thought we might be safe ; but while we were eating, a dog that was with us barked and ran out from us. I immediately sent three men to discover, who ran, and immediately we heard a running among the brush : which was Indians, who had crawled up the brush to make a shot at us. We ran so fast upon them that the grass rose up under their tracks, but could not see them, the brush being so thick. We pursued them where we heard them whistle one to another in the thicket, but they scattered and scampered so we could not find them : but found where they had sat down and just gone. We pursued on after the enemy : but it is as easy to find a needle in a wood, as find them when scattered. So we returned. This I have thought meet to ac- quaint your honor of, and so I remain, your honor's humble and obliged servant. These with care and speed. Benjamin Flagg.'
The sufferings of the frontier settlements were terminated by the treaty concluded with the Indians in the following winter, (Dec. 15,) and ratified in the spring of 1726.
Although relieved from the danger and alarm of hostile invasion, the progress of the town in population and wealth was slow during the succeeding years.1
1 In May 1724, the town had received an amount proportioned to its laxation, of the bills of credit or stock of the Public Bank, and applied the depreciating paper currency to finish the meeting house. In March, 1728, trustees were appointed to obtain the sum of £170, 15 s. granted to Worcester from the emission of £60, 000, and make loans to the inhabitants from this fund, not exceeding £10 nor less than £5 to each.
Capt. Nathaniel Jones and Ensign Moses Leonard were trustees of the first loan : Nathaniel Moore, Daniel Heywood and John Hubbard of the second.
May, 1726, the inhabitants voted, that thanks be returned to Hon. Adam Winthrop, for his bounty in bestowing upon the town a cushion as furniture for the pulpit, and that the town clerk present his honor a copy of said vote. 8
58
COUNTY INCORPORATED.
[1731.
The act erecting the County of Worcester, passed April 2, 1731, to take effect from the 10th of July following. Its provisions inclu- ded Worcester, Lancaster, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Southbor- ough, Leicester, Rutland, Lunenburg, and the south town laid out to the Narraganset soldiers,1 now Westminster, taken from Middle- sex : Mendon, Woodstock, now in Connecticut, Sutton, including Hassanameset, now Grafton, Uxbridge, the land granted to the peti- tioners of Medfield, now Sturbridge, from Suffolk : and Brookfield from the County of Hampshire.
The location of the shire town of the new county occasioned much debate and diversity of opinion. For many years, Sutton, Lancaster, Mendon, and Brookfield, stood higher in rank, graduated on population and valuation, than Worcester. The central position of the latter town, gave it advantage over its competitors for the hon- or of becoming the capital. The proposition to make Lancaster and Worcester half shires, having the sessions of courts held alter- nately in each, would have prevailed, except for the opposition of Joseph Wilder, Esq. who remonstrated against the administration of justice in Lancaster, lest the morals of its people should be cor- rupted. His influence decided a question of so much importance to its prosperity in favor of the present metropolis.
The first Court of Probate was held in the meeting house, July 13, 1731, and the Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace 10th of August following, by the Hon. John Chandler, then of Woodstock, Chief Justice of both tribunals. A sermon was preached on the occasion by the Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster. The Su- perior Court of Judicature was held on the 22d of September. The centennial anniversary of its session was commemorated October
March, 1729 : voted that the constable warn town meetings in future by going from house to house. 1735, the selectmen were directed lo erect a suitable sign post, at the town's charge, near the meeting house, and the censtables lo serve notices by posting them thereon.
May 17, 1732, John Chandler, Esq., Capt. Jonas Rice and Mr. Benjamin Flagg, jr. were of a committee to return thanks to Mr. Wigglesworth Switcher of Boston for the present (of £5 towards completing the meeting house) he lately made the town, and on the receipt of the same to dispose of it to the best advantage.
1 In 1728 and 1733, seven townships were granted by the General Court to the descen- dants of the soldiers in the Narraganset war. The grantees assembled on Boston com- mon in 1733, and formed themselves into seven societies of 120 persons entitled to one township. On the 17th of October, a committee of three from each company elected at this meeting, made an allotment of lands. Amoskeag, then called Narraganset No. 4, was assigned to those from Worcester and 40 other towns. The number of granlees in each must necessarily have been very small ; their names are not preserved.
59
COURTS.
1731.]
4th, 1831, when an address was delivered by the Hon. John Davis, of Worcester.
One term of the Superior Court was held annually in October.
The Inferior Court had its sittings in May, August, November and February. The General Sessions of the Peace was composed of all the justices within the county, who commonly attended and decided the matters presented for adjudication by vote.1
When public festivals were few, and anniversaries unfrequent, the terms of court were the great holidays of the county; and its population assembled in Worcester, as on a general exchange, for the transaction of business, or pursuit of amusement in the rude sports of the period. The judicial proceedings, now forsaken, ex- cept by parties, witnesses and officers, were generally attended by a multitude that thronged the streets. Wrestling, fighting, and horse racing were common exercises. The stocks, pillory, and whipping post crowned the summit of Court hill, then sloping with steep de- clivity to the highway, and partially covered with bushes. Frequent exhibitions of discipline attracted crowds of spectators.2
Governor Belcher with the members of the Council, on their way to Albany to hold a conference with the Six Nations, visited Worces- ter, 21st of August, 1735. The Justices of the General Sessions 3 with a delegation of citizens, waited on the executive officers of the government. Their complimentary address is preserved on the public records, and affords evidence that the controversy between the royal prerogative and the representatives of the people, then di- rected against grants for permanent salary, had not extended to a community who offered such loyal salutations.
1 Gen. Ruggles, the Chief Justice, in stern derision of the constitution of this court, on one occasion, reprimanded a dog who had taken his seat beside his master, for ap- pearing on the bench before he had been qualified as a Justice of the Peace, and direc- ted him to go and be sworn before he came to vote there.
2 The common practise of racing in Main street during the terms of the courts having become a nuisance, the following prohibitory vote was passed, September 19th, 1745. 'Whosoever shall for the future, during the space of three years frem the 15th day of November next, in the times of the sittings of the superior court of judi- cature, court of assize and general jail delivery, the times of the sitting of the inferior court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace in this town, presume to run races on horseback, or pace their horses for trial in the country road, from the house of Mr. Joshua Eaton to the house where Mr. Richard Wheeler now lives, shall forfeit the sum of 20s. lawful money to the use of the poor of the town.'
3 The Justices present, were John Chandler, Josiah Wilder, William Ward, William Jennison, John Chandler, jr. Josiah Willard, Nahum Ward, Henry Lee, Samuel Wil- lard and John Keyes.
60
GOV. BELCHER'S VISIT. [1735.
' May it please your excellency : We, his majesty's justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, now held in this place, for the county of Worcester, by adjournment, humbly beg leave to congratulate your excellency's safe arrival in this part of your gov- ernment. It is with hearts full of joy that we now see your excellency's face, together with the honorable Council, in the shire town of this county, which has received its being and constitution by the favor of your excellency, under the Divine conduct and benediction, and by whose wise, mild and just administration, this whole province enjoys great quietness, which, we trust, will be continued and accepted in all places with all thankfulness. We are also sensibly affected that your excellency has condescended, and is now pursuing, a very ne- cessary, although a very difficult and tedious journey, to visit the western frontiers, and meet with the Cagnawaga Indians and such tribes as may be desirous to renew their friendship with this govern- ment, in order to preserve and perpetuate the happy peace subsisting with them. May your excellency and the honorable gentlemen of the Council, and such of the honorable House of Representatives who attend you, be encompassed with the Divine favor as with a shield, and in due time returned in safety to your respective habita- tions.'
The Hon. John Chandler having read this Address to the Gover- nor, in the language of the record, 'his excellency was pleased to return the following answer.'
' Gentlemen : I thank you very kindly for the welcome you give me, with the hon. gentlemen of his majesty's Council and the gen- tlemen of the House of Representatives, into this part of his majes- ty's province. I take this opportunity of assuring you that I shall always cheerfully join my power, with yours, that justice and judg- ment may flourish in the county of Worcester, which will greatly contribute to the happiness and welfare of the people.'
After this reply, the justices returned and immediately adjourned without day.
William Jennison, Esq. and Mr. Gershom Rice, were appointed as a committee, in March, 1737, ' to repair to the Great Falls at the head of Providence river, or where Blackstone's river falls into the salt water, to see if it be possible for the falls to be made practica- ble for fish to come up; provided the towns lying on said river, or
61
FRENCH WAR.
1745.]
near adjoining, join in sending committees also.' It is noted that ' these gentlemen offered to go upon free cost.' Although they re- ported that the stream could be made navigable for fish, and £30 were appropriated for the purpose, no benefit resulted from the ex- amination or grant, and the fund was restored to the treasury.
The town contributed liberally to the defence of the province during the wars with the French, sent its men, and expended its means freely for the reduction of the fortresses of Nova Scotia and Canada. The voluntary exertions of the inhabitants in support of the government, and in aid of its military expeditions, would seem incredible, if they were not verified by authentic rolls, rendered on oath, by officers in command, and by the testimony of history to the ardor of the patriotic spirit pervading the community.
The quota of Worcester, in the army of Sir William Pepperell, for the conquest of Cape Breton, is not exactly ascertained. Benjamin Gleason, who enlisted in that service, died before the walls of Louis- bourg, in 1745, before its surrender. Adonijah Rice, the first born of our native citizens, was in a company of rangers in the seige.
In 1746, an alarm of a French invasion spread through the coun- try. The express sent by Governor Shirley arrived Sept. 23d, when the inhabitants were assembled in town meeting.1 Abandoning their municipal affairs, they immediately adjourned and took up arms. Before sunset the whole military force was mustered, and ready to march with a week's provisions, to meet the enemy. A se- cond messenger arrived seasonably to prevent their departure.
Fort Massachusetts had been erected by the province at the be- ginning of the war, in 1744, at Hoosick, now Williamstown, to guard the western frontier. After its capture by Vaudrieul,2 in August, 1746, it was strengthened and defended by a sufficient garrison, partly from Worcester. Eight of our men 3 were stationed there from Dec. 1747 to March 1748.
The depredations of the Indians were so injurious in the summer of 1748, that 200 volunteers were enlisted from Col. Chandler's regiment, with some from Hampshire, to drive them back to Can- ada. Brigadier Dwight was entrusted with the command. One company of fifty three, all from Worcester, marched on the eighth of August, and returned after a campaign of seventeen days, having
1 Town Records. 2 Williams's Vermont, i. 333.
3 Abraham Bass, William McLellan, Silas Pratt, Abner Roberts, John Crawford, Sam- uel Brewer, Abraham Peck and Hezekiah Ward. These were under Capt. Elisha Hawley.
62
EXCISE. SOLDIERS.
[1754.
accomplished their object without loss, the enemy retiring without giving battle. The officers were Daniel Heywood, Major comman- dant : John Stearns, Captain : Tyrus Rice, Lieutenant : Richard Flagg, Ensign.
In 1754, a bill was proposed, imposing an excise on wines and spirits, containing an extraordinary provision, obliging every house- holder, when required by a collector or deputy, to render an account under oath of the quantity of such liquors consumed in his family, not purchased of a licensed person, and to make payment of the du- ty. Gov. Shirley refused his assent, and procured the printing of the bill for the consideration of the people. Sept. 2, it was unani- mously voted 'to be contrary to the mind of the town that the act relating to the excise on the private consumption of spirituous liquors be passed into a law ; and that John Chandler, the representative of the town, use his utmost endeavor to prevent the same.' This is the earliest instance on our records of the instructions of the con- stituents to their representative.
Thirteen soldiers were in service this year under 'Capt. John Johnson, and were employed at forts Western and Halifax, near Augusta and Waterville, on the Kennebeck river.
In May, 1755, it appears from the returns of Gen. John Winslow, seventeen men from Worcester were in his majesty's service in Nova Scotia under his command : seventeen more were posted at Fort Cumberland. John Walker, after having served in a provincial reg- iment in different grades, was commissioned as a captain in the king's army.
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