USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Dunstable > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tyngsborough > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hudson > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashua > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Litchfield > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Nashville > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hollis > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Merrimack > History of the old township of Dunstable: including Nashua, Nashville, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, and Merrimac, N. H.; Dunstable and Tyngsborough, Mass > Part 10
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LOVEWELL'S FIGHT. A BALLAD .. What time the noble Lovewell came, With fifty men from Dunstable, The cruel Pequ'at tribe to tame, With arms and bloodshed terrible,-
Then did the crimson streams that flowed Seem like the waters of the brook, That brightly shine, that loudly dash,
Far down the cliffs of Agiochook. (2.)
With Lovewell brave, John Harwood came : From wife ard twin babes hard to part ; Young Harwood took her by the hand, And bound the weeper to his heart.
" Repress that tear, my Mary dear," Said Harwood to his loving wife ;
" It tries me hard to leave thee here, " And seek in distant woods the strife.
" When gone, my Mary, think of me, " And pray to God that I may be
"Such as one ought that lives for thee,
" And come at last in victory."
Thus left young Harwood wife and babes; With accent wild she bade adieu ;
It grieved those lovers much to part, So fond and fair, so kind and true.
Seth Wyman who in Woburn lived, (A marksman he of courage true,) Shot the first Indian whom they saw ; Sheer through his heart the bullet flew.
The savage had been seeking game, Two guns and eke a knife he bore,
(1.) Farmer's and Moore's Hist. Coll., 95. Book of the Indians, 179. (2.) The Indian name of the White Mountains. Book of the Indians, 191.
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And two black ducks were in his hand,- He shrieked and fell to rise no more.
Anon there eighty Indians rose, Who'd hid themselves in ambush dread ; Their knives they shook, their guns they aimed, The famous Paugus at their head.
Good Heavens! They dance the Powow dance ! What horrid yells the forests fill ! The grim bear crouches to his den, The eagle seeks the distant hill.
" What means this dance, this Powow dance !" Stern Wyman said, with wondrous art; He crept full near, his rifle armed, And shot the leader through the heart. (1.)
John Lovewell, Captain of the band, His sword he waved that glittered bright : For the last time he cheered his men, And led them onward to the fight.
" Fight on! Fight on"! brave Lovewell said : " Fight on while Heaven shall give you breath !"
An Indian ball then peirced him through, And Lovewell closed his eyes in death.
John Farwell died, all bathed in blood, When he had fought till set of day ; And many more, we may not name, Fell in that bloody battle fray.
When news did come to Harwood's wife That he with Lovewell fought and died,- Far in the wilds had given his life Nor more would in their home abide,-
Such grief did seize upon her mind, Such sorrow filled her faithful breast, On earth she ne'er found peace again, But followed Harwood to his rest.
T'was PAUGUS led the Pequa't tribe ; As runs the fox would Paugus run ;
(1.) The chief Powow or Priest who led the ceremonies.
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As howls the wild wolf would he howl,- A huge bear skin had Paugus on.
But Chamberlain of Dunstable, (One whom a savage ne'er shall slay,-) Met Paugus by the water side, And shot him dead upon that day.
Good Heavens ! is this a time for prayer ? Is this a time to worship God ? When Lovewell's men are dying fast, And Paugus' tribe hath felt the rod.
The Chaplain's name was Jonathan Frye ; In Andover his father dwelt ;
And oft with Lovewell's men he'd prayed Before the mortal wound he felt.
A man he was of comely form, Polished and brave, well learned and kind ;
Old Harvard's learned walls he left Far in the wilds a grave to find.
Ah! now his blood red arm he lifts ; His closing lids he tries to raise ; And speak once more before he dies, In supplication and in praise.
He prays kind heaven to grant success, Brave Lovewell's men to guide and bless, And when they've shed their heart blood true To raise them all to happiness.
"Come hither, Farwell," said young Frye ; " You see that I'm about to die ;
"Now for the love I bear to you, " When cold in death my bones shall lie ;
" Go thou and see my parents dear, " And tell them you stood by me here ;
"Console them when they cry, alas ! " And wipe away the falling tear."
Lieutenant Farwell took his hand, His arm around his neck he threw,
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And said, " brave Chaplain I could wish That heaven had made me die for you."
The Chaplain on kind Farwell's breast, Bloody and languishing he fell ; Nor after this said more, but this,
" I love thee soldier; fare thee well !"
Ah! many a wife shall rend her hair, And many a child cry out " wo is me !"
When messengers the news shall bear Of Lovewell's dear bought victory.
With footsteps slow shall travellers go Where Lovewell's Pond shines clear and bright,
And mark the place where those are laid Who fell in Lovewell's bloody fight.
Old men shall shake their head and say, "Sad was the hour and terrible,
When Lovewell brave 'gainst Paugus went, With fifty men from Dunstable."
Thus ended " LOVEWELL'S WAR." Deep and universal was the gratitude at the restoration of peace. Well might the people rejoice. For fifty years had the war been raging with little cessation, and with a series of surprises, devas- tations and massacres which seemed to threaten annihilation. "The scene of this desperate and bloody action is often visited with interest to this day ; and the names of those who survived are yet repeated with emotions of grateful exul- tation." (1.) And a century after upon that spot strangers came together, from a broad and popu- lous region won from the savages in that conflict, to pay their tribute of gratitude, with festive cel- ebration, song, and eulogy to the waning memory of "LOVEWELL'S FIGHT." (2.)
(1.) North American Review.
(2.) Its centennial anniversary was celebrated on the spot of the Fight, in Fryeburg, Me., May 19. 1825, when an address was de- livered by Charles S. Davis, Esq., of Portland.
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After this fight no other attack was made by the Indians upon this town, although many years subsequently, during the French Wars, the in- habitants were alarmed at the ravages committed in the neighborhood at Bedford, Pembroke, Dun- barton, Concord, and upon Connecticut River. Garrisons were built, and armed scouts kept out constantly, but the frontiers were now beyond us. Sometimes, indeed, individual Indians ap- peared mysteriously, seeking the life of some offending settler who had slain a relative, to appease his restless spirit by the sacrifice of " blood for blood." Such tales they tell of Chamberlain, the slayer of Paugus, of Ford, and others noted in fight, and how, mysteriously disappearing, the layer in wait became the victim.
Perilous conflicts, providential escapes and strange adventures were thickly woven in the romance of our early history, but the remem- brance of most of them has passed away utterly, and of others but dim and doubtful traditionary shadows remain. These traditions, handed down from the survivors long since departed, too direct and circumstantial to be entirely fictitious, and fixing neither time, nor place, nor actors of the scene, meet the enquirer at every step in his in- vestigations, and excite longings and questions which cannot be gratified. If there were indeed " tongues in trees, books in the running brooks," and "sermons in stones," what thrilling tales might not some of our old denizens of field and forest unfold !
Many anecdotes which have been handed down, if not entirely authentic, are at least characteristic of the times in which they are said to have occurred, and probably possess some foundations. The following are specimens :
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A party of Indians, it is said, once came sud- denly upon Ford, " the Indian Fighter," so that he had no chance to escape. He was splitting logs for rails, and had just driven in his wedge and partly opened a log. Pretending to be very anxious to complete the work, he requested them to put their hands in the cleft, and pull it open, while he drove in the wedge. Suspecting noth- ing they did so, but watching his opportunity he dexterously knocked the wedge out instead of in. The log closed tight upon their fingers, and held them fast, and the whole party became his prisoners.
" At a later period an Indian appeared in Dun- stable enquiring for 'Joe Snow,' who at some former time had slain his kinsman. The duty of revenge had long been transmitted, and the desire nourished ; and the descendants of the aggrieved and restless warrior had now come thus far through the wilderness, even from Can- ada, guided by tradition alone, to avenge and pacify his spirit. This errand, however, was vain, for 'Joe Snow ' had long ago departed."
At some period during "Lovewell's War," William Cummings of this town, was wounded by the Indians, but how, when, or where, no record tells. For his wounds he received the sum of £10 from the Colonial Treasury. (1.)
" An Indian once called upon Chamberlain at his saw mill, intending to way-lay him on his return homeward at nightfall, through the forest. It was a time of peace, but Chamberlain suspect- ed the character of his pretended friend, and the motive of his visit. While engaged in his work, he invited the Indian to examine the wheelpit,
(1.) Mass. Military Records, 1734.
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and seizing the opportunity, knocked him on the head with a handspike without compunction."
" Among those indefinite traditions which have been assigned to a period subsequent to Love- well's War, is the following: - A party once went from this town to the Eastward upon a hunting expedition in early winter. While ab- sent they were attacked by a party of predatory Indians, and nearly all of them were killed. A few escaped and returned home bringing the sad tidings of the death of their companions and neighbors.
" One man, however, who was left in the field for dead, survived. His name was Whitney, and he lived in what is now the southerly part of Nashua, near Long Hill. He was too weak to think of returning home alone through the track- less and unpeopled forest, so he built him a hut of logs, and bark, and branches of trees, and there passed the winter, subsisting chiefly on roots and cranberries. In the Spring another party went out to find and bury the dead, and came to this hut which they supposed to be that of an Indian. As they approached they saw something stir within it. One of the party fired, -a groan followed, but the victim, to their great astonishment and grief, proved to be the unfortu- nate Whitney. He was just preparing to return home, having survived his wounds and all the perils and hardships of a winter in the wilder- ness, only to perish by the hands of his own friends and townsmen."
CHAPTER IX.
CIVIL HISTORY OF THE TOWN UNTIL ITS DIVI- SION BY THE NEW STATE LINE IN 1741.
THE settlement of the town which had been so much and so long retarded,- which for forty years had scarcely advanced at all, now increased rapidly. But the inhabitants were extremely poor. In addition to the heavy public taxes occasioned by the long and expensive Indian Wars, they had suffered much from the incur- sions of the enemy - from the loss of the ransoms paid for the release of their captive friends, and from the obstruction of all regular employment.
In consideration of the universal scarcity of money, the General Assembly of Massachusetts issued bills of credit in 1721 to the amount of £50,000, to be distributed among the several towns in proportion to the public taxes. They answered the purpose of money for the time .- Nov. 7, 1721, Lt. Henry Farwell and Joseph Blanchard were appointed Trustees to receive and loan out " the share" of this town, in such sums that "no man shall have more than five pounds, and no man less than three pounds," and shall pay five per cent. interest for the use of the same to the Town.
In 1727 the General Assembly, finding this mode of making money popular, issued £60,000 more. The share belonging to this town was received and loaned to Rev. Mr. Prentice, to be
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applied in payment of his future salary as it should become due. Thus early and easily did men discover and adopt the practice of throwing their debts upon posterity. The consequence of these issues was a ruinous depreciation in their value - a nominal rise in the value of every species of property, speculation, and at last uni- versal distress. In 1750 the bills were worth but 12 per cent.
The general poverty of the inhabitants may also be inferred from the fact, that no represen- tative was sent to the General Assembly, although directed so to do, the Town voting regularly from 1693 to 1733 "not to send." Whenever the interests of the Town were in danger, however, a special agent was sent to see that they were protected. As an illustration of the feelings and peculiarities of those times it may be added, that, February 1, 1631, it was "voted not to choose any person as Representative, deem- ing ourselves not obliged by Law." But in order to be certain as to their rights and duties, the next year they took legal advice upon this subject, and again voted " not to send, finding the Town not obliged by Law." At that time the repre- sentative received no compensation for attend- ance, but his expenses were paid by the town. In 1718 the compensation was fixed by statute at three shillings per day. At one period the General Assembly hired an inn- keeper to board all of the members at a stipulated price per day, including wine, " but not to exceed one cup of sack each." This was done not only for econo- my, but for the greater despatch of business.
For many years little occurred here which would be of general interest. The records are chiefly valuable as serving to shew the contrast
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between the past and the present, and the slow and painful steps by which towns arrive at ma- turity. Some memoranda of this period, there- fore, may serve to amuse and perhaps instruct the curious reader.
In 1716 a committee was appointed by the town to lay out a road to Dracut, and " to state the Country road from Capt. Tyng's to Nasha- way River." Its width was declared to be " four rods."
"Sept. 2, 1718, voted, that John Lovewell Senior, and his son John, [the Hero of Pequawk- ett. ] should hav liberty to bild a dam in the high- way over Salmon Brook, not to incommodate the highway." This was at the little bridge near the house of Miss Allds, where the mud sills are still visible, and the "highway" was the " Country road " just mentioned.
" March 31, 1819, Joseph French was chosen to make coffins where there be need for the year ensuing." Friendly Indians still lived here, and this singular vote may have referred to them, as we find a charge made by him not long after, " for Jacob Indian's coffin 7s."
The Selectmen and other persons in the em- ployment of the town at this period charged 5s. per day for their services.
The humble Meeting House which had served for the worship of all the inhabitants, since no division into sects existed, was a rude, one story, unsteepled edifice, and would shew but poorly beside the erections of the present day. It was divided by an aisle in the centre, with rows of benches on either side, one of which was appro- priated for the use of the women, and the other
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for the use of the men. Such a separation was not unfrequent in those primitive days. (1.)
But even among our grave and simple fore- fathers, luxury and ambition crept in. March 2, 1720, it was " Voted that Lt. Henry Farwell and Joseph Blanchard should hav the libety 10 erect for themselves two Pewes on there own charge at the west end of the Meeting House." The example was contagious, so dangerous is a precedent. If Lt. Farwell and Capt. Blanchard could afford "Pewes," why might not others ? May 18, 1720, it was " Voted that there be four Pewes erected in our Meeting House ; one on the back side of the lowermost seats, and one seat to be taken up; Sargt. Colburn, one pew ; Sargt. Perham, one pew; Nathaniel Cummings, one pew ; Oliver Farwell, one pew."
The first pauper in town appears to have been Joseph Hassell, a son probably of him who was slain by the Indians in 1691. He was sup- ported by the town, who appointed a person "to take care of" him in 1722 or 1723.
In 1723 Grand Jurymen were chosen by the town at the annual meeting by ballot. This
(1.) The following is a description of the early Meeting Houses as drawn up by Rev. Leonard Bacon of New Haven : - " Immedi- ately before the pulpit, and facing the Congregation was an elevated seat for the ruling elder, and before that, somewhat lower, was a seat for the Deacons behind the Communion Table. On the floor of the house there were neither pews nor slips, but plain seats .-- On each side of what we may call the centre aisle were nine seats of sufficient length to accommodate five or six persons. On each side of the pulpit at the end were five cross seats, and another shorter than the five. Along each wall of the house, between the cross seats and the side door, six seats.
The men and women were seated separately, on opposite sides of the house, and every one according to his office, or his age, or his raul in society, and his place was assigned by a committee ap- pointed for that purpose. The children and young people at the first seating seem to have been left to find their own places, away from their parents, in that part of the house which was not occu- pied with seats prepared at the town's expense."
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was probably done as a precaution against the encroachments of the officers of the crown, and as a safeguard of popular rights. One tribunal was secure from royal influence, and no indi- vidual could be unjustly condemned. This mode of choice continued till after the revolution, and was a source of great annoyance to the enemies of America, who complained that the Towns chose the most active opponents of England for their Grand Jurors, so that those guilty of politi- cal offences could not be indicted. (1.)
In 1723 the choice of a Tything man, Thomas Blanchard, is first recorded. The Town raised £20 [about $70] to defray all town expenses, and the collector had "3 pence in the pound [ 1 1-4 per cent] for gathering all Town rates for ye year."
In 1724 the Town was again called upon to assist in keeping " the great bridge in Billerica in good repare," and chose Henry Farwell " to jine with the committy appinted " for that pur- pose. 1729 they united with Dracut, Chelms- ford, and Billerica in further repairs, and 1731 expended £3 10s. for the same purpose. This bridge was over the Concord river on the main road to Boston, and of great importance.
The method of voting for all the more impor- tant officers was "by ballot," while others of less importance were chosen "by holding up of ye hands." So early did our forefathers recog- nize that truly republican principle and safeguard of popular rights, the secret ballot.
In those days offices were not only places of honor and profit, but also of good cheer. 'I hose
(1.) Gov. Hutchinson's Letters.
K
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were glorious times for dignitaries. Among the accounts presented for acceptance, and which were allowed and paid by the Town without scruple, we find the following :
"Town of Dunstable to Samuel French, Dr 1726. To dining the Selectmen 6 meals, £0 6s Od for rhum and cyder had at Mr William Lund's for the Selectmen, 0 12 6."
We are accustomed to look back upon that early period as an age of primitive simplicity and virtue. Yet what would be said of such an account in these Temperance days? But their faults were only those of rude and hardy pioneers, and of the age, and we would institute no comparison. They laid a noble foundation for our Republic. "Every man who was forty years old," says Belknap, "had seen twenty years of war." Such continual dangers and hardships, although affording no good school for cultivation and refinement, furnished a race of hardy soldiers and sterling patriots for the " times that tried men's souls."
In March, 1727, the town raised "eight pounds for building a boat," and it was directed "that Capt. Blanchard should return the boat within the year to the Town." This was probably for a Ferry-boat over the Merrimac at the Blanch .. ard farm, [now Little's] as Hudson was then included in Dunstable, and a few settlers had located themselves on that side of the river .- The bridge existed for a century after.
October 29 and 30, 1727, at night a shock of an earthquake was felt here. It effected chiefly " the towns upon the Merrimac." "The shock was very loud and was attended with a terrible noise like thunder. 'The houses trembled as if they were falling. Divers chimnies were crack-
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ed, and some had their tops broken off. Flashes of light broke out of the earth, and the earth broke open." The shocks lasted until February, 1728. (1.)
At this time taverners were licensed by the County-Court. In the fall of 1727, Capt. Joseph Blanchard, who had been the inn-keeper of the town for many years, died, and as the Court was not in session in December, 1727, Henry Farwell Jr., petitioned the General Assembly for a license which was granted. (2.)
In 1728 a boom was built across Merrimac River by the town.
Among the early settlers of New England the principles of jurisprudence were but little known, and there were few lawyers. The jurisdiction of courts of law was limited, and as many of the judges had received no preparatory legal educa- tion to fit them for the bench, but were taken directly from the counting room or camp, all settled rules of law were of course unknown and disregarded. The people, therefore, in all cases of difficulty applied at once to the General As- sembly, who assumed and exercised jurisdiction in imitation of the English Parliament, as a court of Errors and of Chancery in all cases whatsoever, where their assistance was needed for the purposes of Justice.
A committee having been appointed by the town to purchase the ministerial farm of Rev. Mr. Coffin as a parsonage for Mr. Prentice, and refusing to convey it as directed, the Town ap- plied to the General Court of Massachusetts by a " petition for some redress, if it may be obtained,
(1.) 4 N. H. Hist. Coll., 93.
(2.) Mass. Assembly Records, 1727.
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touching the premises." This was not done, however, without a division, and several persons entered their desent [dissent] or protest against the proceeding.
The amount of taxes raised from 1726 to 1733 for the general expenses of the Town, including the support of the ministry, varied from $250 to $400 per year.
The subject of education was one of deep interest to the early settlers of New England .- To them must be awarded the enviable distinc- tion of their being the first to lay down the noble principle, that "every child should be taught to read and write," and the first to establish com- mon schools to carry it into effect. It was ever the custom, and became the law in Puritan New England as early as 1642, that "none of the brethren should suffer so much barbarism in their families, as not to teach their children and ap- prentices so much learning, as may enable them perfectly to read the English Language." A fine of 20 shillings was imposed for every neg- lect, and, if after reproof by the Selectmen, they still neglected this duty, the children were to be taken from them, and bound out, males until 21, and females until 18 years of age.
In 1646 it was enacted that "if any child above 16 years old, and of sufficient understand- ing, shall curse or smite his natural father or mother, he shall be PUT TO DEATH, UNLESS it can be sufficiently testified, that the parents have been VERY UNCHRISTIANLY NEGLIGENT IN THE EDUCATION OF SUCH CHILDREN." This was the Mosaic Law, but with an important and characteristic quali- fication.
" To the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers," it was ordered
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in 1647, " that every township, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty house- holders, shall appoint one to teach all the children to read and write : And when any town shall increase to the number of one hundred families they shall set up a grammar school, the master whereof being able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for the university." These provisions, furnishing the best academic educa- tion to every child gratuitously, go far beyond our present School Laws, and we might do well to retrace our steps. For non-compliance the 'Towns were liable to indictment, and a fine was imposed for the benefit of the school in the next Town.
One reason which determined the Puritans upon a removal from Leyden was, "That the place being of great licentiousness and liberty to children, they could not educate them ; nor could they give them due correction without reproof or reproach from their neighbors." 'Their ideas of government, family and national, were all derived from the Mosaic code, and, as was said of the Connecticut settlers, they " agreed to take the laws of God for their guide until they had time to make better."
But, deeply as the settlers felt the importance of Education, it was no easy matter in a frontier town, where a fierce Indian War was raging, when the inhabitants dwelt in garrisons and the settlement was every day liable to an attack, to establish common schools. 'The dense forest, where the quiet of the school room might be broken at any time by the yell of the savage, was no fitting time or place for helpless children ; still at home education was not neglected, as the state of our ancient records everywhere attests.
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