USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > History of the town of Acton > Part 15
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In December of 1804 the town voted to put no obstacle in the way of the petition of Carlisle to be set off as a distinct town. In this
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connection it will be recalled that Carlisle became a district of Acton in 1780.
Sometime during the year 1805 the Acton Light Infantry was organized with a membership of forty one including the officers. The following persons commanded the company up until 1830; Paul Brooks, Simon Hosmer, Abijah Hayward, Jonathan Hosmer, John Fletcher, John Handley, Jr., Simon Davis, Abel Furbush, George Tuttle and Thomas Brown. The company flourished for several years. The muster roll for 1810 when Daniel Piper was captain is intact in the town vault as is also the one for 1812 when Abel Jones was in command. In both cases the roll runs over fifty. Each man was paid fifty cents for each muster attended.
In 1809 a school committee of five was chosen and instructed to inspect the schools, the methods of teaching and determine the text books to be used. In 1810 the committee was further instructed to examine the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses as to qualifications.
The old north cemetery, which was taken over as a town responsi- bility in 1750, became the subject of some interesting legislation in 1811. At the April meeting the town appointed a committee to view the north cemetery and consider the question as to whether it needed enlarging. Early in May the committee made the following report:
The subscribers being on the Committee appointed to view the burying ground in the east part of the Town of Acton and to make report of the same, to report as follows (viz) that it is necessary to enlarge said burying grounds on the west side one rod wide and sixteen rods long and that the wall on the east side be removed to the west boundary line of the road.
Acton May 3, 1811
Winthrop Faulkner Daniel White William Strang
A group of citizens of Carlisle, possibly being not aware of the action taken by Acton or possibly wishing to insure that Acton would not vote NAY on the proposition presented the following petition three days later.
Carlisle May the 6, 1811
To the inhabitants of the town of Acton.
Gentlemen :-
Where as we the subscribers, inhabitants of the north- westerly part of the town of Carlisle, think it necessary that the burying ground in the northwesterly part of Acton, should be inlarged and inclosed with a stone wall round
125
the same and a suitable gate made for the same as the northwesterly part of Carlisle was a part of the town of Acton and at that time a number of our relations and friends was buried in said burying grounds and we wish to make use of it for a burying ground in the future and it appears to us that the number of inhabitants in the town of Carlisle, that have commonly made use of said burying grounds are about the same number of the town of Acton, that make use of the burying ground, we therefore are will- ing to be at one half the expense in what may be needful to be done to said burying ground provided that the town of Acton will grant the northwesterly part of Carlisle the privilege of improving said burying in the future.
Gentlemen we are with respect yours.
Timothy Heald John Heald
Isreal Hall
John Heald, Jr.
Nathan Parlin
Samuel Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler Sam Boynton
Pursuant of the above the owner of the land in question, Mr. Jonathan Davis, made the following representation to the town:
To the inhabitants of the town of Acton.
Gentlemen: as the town chose a committee at last April meeting to view the burying ground in the northwesterly part of Acton, as the committee thinks it necessary to en- large the burying ground on the west side of said burying ground one rod in width and about 16 rods in length as I the - - - am now the owner of the land on the west side of the burying ground for the respect that I have for the Town of Acton and the northwesterly part of Carlisle am willing to give the land one rod in width and 16 rods in length for the use burying ground providing the town of Acton and the northwesterly part of Carlisle will be at the expense of moving the wall and new setting the same.
Acton May the 6, 1811 Jonathan Davis
Evidently the vote was favorable for by 1812 the north burying ground had been completed and also, through the generosity of John Robbins, a third deed of land had been conveyed to the town for the enlargement of the cemetery now known as Woodlawn.
Also in 1812 the question arose as to whether the county of Middlesex should hold court in Concord only. Some of the cases were being tried in Cambridge. A committee from Concord sought the opinion of the voters of Acton and the response was unanimously in favor of having Concord the only shire town in the county.
126
With a new bell in the meeting house the people wanted to hear its voice upon every possible occasion. In consequence it was voted at the March meeting of 1812 that it be rung at noon for seven months during the spring and summer and at nine o'clock in the evening in the winter. This custom, with variations as to time of day, persisted for several decades.
The war of 1812 was not popular in Massachusetts, nor in the northeastern states in general. It was felt by a large number that the policies of the Republican government1 under Madison were need- lessly antagonistic to England and ignored the interests of New England.
In the gubernatorial election of 1810 the federal party was defeated and Elbridge Gerry, the Republican candidate, took over the office of chief magistrate. The legislature was Republican in both houses and under the direction of Mr. Gerry supported the war party in Washington without question. This could only raise apprehension in the minds of many. In order to insure his majority the governor distributed political favors to the faithful without stint and in addition saw to it that the congressional districts of the state, however queer they might be geographically, were safe politically. His opponents identified this technique by the term "Gerrymander" Despite this political dodge Acton remained solidly Republican in the election of 1811, casting 112 votes for Gerry and 15 for Gore. In the state at large, however, the race was close.2
By 1812 the lines were sharply drawn and the election was uncommonly animated. Much to the surprise of the Republicans, Caleb Strong, the federal party candidate was victorious by a margin of 1370, carrying, in spite of the gerrymander, the lower chamber of the legislature with him.3 The change was reflected in Acton also where instead of the usual ratio of six or seven to one the vote for representative was less than two to one.4
So far did the divergence between the national and state government go that when in June of 1812 the declaration of war was declared, the house, by a vote of 406 to 240, expressed its opinion that the move was inexpedient and impolitic. Furthermore, when in July the secretary of war called for ten thousand militia from Massachusetts for general service the governor nullified the command. He did, however, require them to be prepared for local defense agreeable to the orders of their immediate officers.
1 The modern reader should be aware that Madison's party was identified by three names, Republican, Democratic, and Jeffersonian.
2 Elbridge Gerry 43,328, Christopher Gore 40,142.
3 Boston Centinel, April 18, 1812, Caleb Strong 52696, Elbridge Gerry 51326.
+ William Richardson 52, Asheal Stearns 33, Samuel Hoar 3.
127
At the April meeting of 1812 it was voted that the school committee should henceforth consist of seven members, one from each of the four districts and three at large. Acting on this basis the personnel of the committee was Deacon John White, Samuel Tuttle, Aaron Jones and Samuel Hosmer from the districts and at large Rev. Moses Adams, Dr. Samuel Young and James Jones.
In September the town decided to do itself proud on muster day and serve refreshments to the gorging point. The steward's list specified 200 pounds of beef, 50 pounds of cheese, 3 bushels of meal made into bread, 2 bushels of potatoes, 200 pickles and ten gallons of West India rum. Just what happened is not revealed but something went askew with the result that the next year the menu was repeated except that the rum ration was cut to two gallons.
In December the town voted to make good the wages of the soldiers ordered out in the recent war up to a limit of ten dollars provided the government does not pay them. Three years later it became necessary to live up to this promise to the amount of seven dollars for those who served the whole time.
Almost since the incorporation of the town it had been the opinion of some that cattle, horses, sheep, and swine should be permitted to run at large Even before the common was laid out the freedom of swine was looked upon with ill favor by an increasing number No sooner was the common an established fact than articles appeared in the warrant each year asking that it be a public grazing ground. Usually the vote was negative but in 1814 a slight variation was made in that the selectmen were empowered to decide the matter. For several decades to come the question reappeared but finally died for want of support, the final attempt being an article in the warrant for the April meeting of 1833.
By 1814 the behavior of the British navy off the Massachusetts coast had become so threatening that the militia was ordered to Boston as a preliminary measure. The Acton military company, the Davis Blues, was of this group. John C. Park, grandson of Rev. Moses Adams, was a boy at the time and he relates that the soldiers were wildly welcomed as they marched through the streets of Boston.1 The fifer, Silas Piper, strained so hard trying to match the enthusiasm and bring honor to the corps and the town that he was taken with spitting of blood and had to return home. His was the only blood to flow in the campaign. The Acton company was the first of any in the regiment to report to headquarters, so that had there been a real conflict the men of the town would again have been in at the beginning even as they were thirty nine years before at Concord.
1 Fletcher p. 277.
128
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF ACTON, From Feb. 26, 1863, to Feb. 26, 1864.
Assouns waived.
$20,146 00
-
Expenditures.
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Jowe Blodget, for Centre School, $835 43
George C. Wright, for Went School, 333 43
Emerson F. Faller, for Soath School. 385 4%
Daniel F Tarbell, Ar South Fast Salad, 109 44
Franc T Flagg, for North School, 199 41
Joseph Feterlank, for Best School, 199 44
$1.604 61
REPAIRS ON SCHOOL HOUSES.
Paid
Por repairs on the Centre School House.
$18 $7
++ Wert School House, 20 46
Svath School House,
28 36
South East School House, 11 50
.
North Sabool House, 1 4%
East Seboat House, 1 40
$×3 27
BOOKS AND PRINTING.
Paid.
For Printing Warrantsfra
Dog Nous 1 00
10 00
450 Palphkt Reports,
0# 25
45
= Town Hoeord Buok,
4 50
..
Tax Books,
1 83
$=7 58 .
ABATEMENT AND DISCOUNT ON TAXES.
Jout E. Cotter Abaterneut on lares.
$11 53
John E. Cauer, Discount on Taxes,
---
$160 08
ROADS AND BRIDGES,
Paid.
Hinun B Livermore, for breaking rouds *+ bours.
$10 30
Nehmich Curtia, for taking nale 19 bowl. 1 02
Jouph Suges, fur
Dasist Harres. for
1 00
Fraseir Kingsley, for repairs on highway, 7 6J
('yras Fletcher, &a miting highway und reparing bridger,
11 97
Miun Bobbies, for mupois os lughway.
Bilae d'unent, for tonming moons for mailing.
5 50
Jumos A. Balch, for tolling boll for four dentha.
* 80
AMOUNT OF STATE AID PAID EACH PERSON
Paid
Mrs. Charlotte M. Pike, $114 00
Maria Fisk. 144 00
Sally Voetcy, 144 00
Heteoy M Sawyer. 144 00
Boldey Shehan.
144 00
Hettio 8. Jarkaom
144 00
S. H. Wetherbus,
144 00
Reva Miner,
144 00
Margaret Fitzpatrick,
144 00
Rotweea D. Wright,
116 00
Howaus Moulton,
101 00
Catherine Dwrolley.
32 00
Nancy Hogyius
52 00
Charlotte Blood.
52 00
Barth J. Stinver.
52 00
Marthe Wizyar
Horinha || ****
Elio W, Hovd,
Hukinh Moulton,
Holon M. Clark,
36 0
Tuwn fitunt, fatih,
Tuen tirant for Schonke, 1,500 00
** verlay am Tuzen, 365 46
Marah .t. Hutebir+
13 14
Maria Morrill,
** 14
Klima Kungiley.
78 20
Fanno Parker,
** 57
x. V Chaplin.
Fanta. I Humbly.
Huy from Mate ky May training, Iki 81 60
119 59
18 00
Town of Concord, for tuition,
For old iron and ashes, State school fued.
***** $20.146 90
EXPENDITUREA.
Fre support of schools,
$1,604 61
regesits on schont houses, 83 27
books and printing. ¥7 58
alstennent and discount on taxer,
roads and bridges,
58 37
appropriation for soldiers and families. ++ Town building,
8,168 19
support of poor,
31 30
Town Offion.
29% ***
notes and interest,
012 25
miscellaneous expenses,
1,233 12
State tax.
** 09
l'onuty tar,
****** 317.507 94
Balance In Treasury Feb. 26, 1464, $ **** 00
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE TOWN FEB. 26, 1 -4. Ds
To balance as per report, Fab, 26, 1864,
$2,288 96
amount due from the State for aid furnished families of soldiers, 2,870 92
$5.159 8% -
AMOUNT DUE ON NOTES.
C.
By Cash of Daniel Harris, $805 34
Eben Conant, 4,000 00
Frederick Rouillard, 1,700 00
Bilas P Blodget,
785 27
David M. Handley.
200 00
Daniel L. Voamy,
100 00
Mathew MeKroney,
100 00
Obarles H. Blood,
100 00
Joel Hanscom,
680 00
Augustine Conant.
4,000 00
Isae T. Flagg.
100 00
James Kayes, I.
John Wood,
000 00
Elbridge J. Robbins,
500 00
Interest on Noten,
570 24
******* 313,250 93
Balance against the Town Feb. 26, 1804, withnet including the balaton due us por ()vurecurs' raport for 1864.
$10.090 29
Iation & Paid for ; for jakt the melig.
APPROPRIAMON FOR SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES.
Paid
$8.314 64 1,71¥ 90
******* 14.032 04
APPROPRIATION FOR TOWN BUILDINGK.
Paid
Town Hall building committee,
$3,168 Tỷ
SUPPORT OF POOR
Las Dun, Er konting strange,
For wood for Hole In wa fihattin.
" gronarien for Widow fx-wis L'hoffin,
.
Town of Comound for burial eps of Fire
+Hiver,
TOWY OFFICERS
Edward F Kontortom, wwwwwwwwng incluso ..
pensoteaching whose, und wany muito $10 00
tho Pux.
Jamon . billing, for two journeys to t'untreize.
1 00
Jana B. Billings, journey to Budou requesting Burch Chill sud Adeline Rubins,
Willem # Tuub, 2 1-2 day. taking investory **
Do . maling and copying losen
W'm. D) Tattle, for services an Town Clerk, 15 00
Do., for collecting and recording 46 births. 9 20
De .. ** 62 dentha,
1 20
( marriagea, 90
De., making report and military tecont, 5 00
Samort Himmer, for taking Inventory and moklung taxen,
15 00
Eben Davis, for dos, the.
15 00
John K. V'utter, for collvering taxes fur 1802,
$0 00
Jonas N. Palney, for services as Helvetenau, 8 50
J K. W Wetherbee, do,, de,, 40 00
Jmtwa L' Billings, do., do., $6 00
$204 80
NOTES AND INTEREST.
Paid.
Joseph R. Vrogeant, Note and interest,
$62 76
George W. Parks,
89 01
Francis E. Harris, 58 75
.Augustine Camnant, Interest, 120 00
Frederick Houillard. 80 00
Daniel J. Vestey,
6 00
Daurel Harris.
18 00
Eber ezer Conant.
180 00
Joel Hanschni,
40 80
David M. Handley,
12 00
$612 35
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Paid
Levi Dow, for notifying dag owners to got their dogs lioensert, $1 50
Levi Dow, for killing two dog, 1 00
Daniel II. Wethertunt, for services on town farm, 93 79 For coffin for Mohuol Quinn, 4 50
Concord Fire Engine Co .. 4 00
Francis Kingsley, for stone parte for burying ic gruand. 3 00
145 65
Do, fr bulkling wall at the burying ground. for towo pump.
7 75
Www. D. Tuttle, for stone posts for buonda and set- me on the cupmon,
1 00
Por surveying world ranking plan and dood of Land abd John Fletcher,
Alunos Tower, for damage caused by defective highway.
75 00
For insurance un Town Hall while building, 63 60
160 00
Albert T. Edmonds, for opening verry for Town meeting",
2 00
De., for tolling boll fur twonly dontle, 4 00
Daniel Jones, fur goods delivered Mire, Harriot
Robbins,
10 88
Hiram J. Hapgood. » twelve .
2 40
Heargo K. Jubaom, hur burial strapa,
Fur furname, value, lange, An, for Town Hall, 480 88 Luka Smith, fr bufleeting att taking cute of bell vaotal. 2 00
Wm D Tultle, fur eight days' labor at burying grostrl,
10 00
Hbo., fur burial of +2 persone,
82 86
Do., for making return of fff persms to Town
18.05
15 15
.4 00
475-
"+ $1,283 12
Condition of the Treasury February 26th, 1864.
REOKIFTH,
Balance in the Treasury. Feb. 21, 1862,
State Tax, 1MG,
2.121 00
f'nanty Tax, IN#3. 747 01
State bundy five skirta.
2,617 17
Town of Nullmary, for tuithat. 40 nø
JIME4 E BILLINGN
.
M. TOLMAN. PRINTER, CONCORD.
e
f
n
.
CD
I
0
S
1
h
0
e
Receipts.
1
1
e
0
S
1
0
t
e
City of Boston, for support if Sarah Chibi
Francia Dwight, for cuffo and tobe for J . D. Ogle, 8 95
Henrietta Lo,
13 14
---
20 80 21 25 74 00
M
1 032 64
-
THE OLD MONUMENT HOUSE
-
---- 4
:-*
--
The list of the Davis Blues who went to Boston, as copied from the original pay-roll in the handwriting of the clerk of the company, Deacon John Fletcher, is given herewith. The document itself hangs in the Memorial Library.
Silas Jones (Capt.)
John Conant
James Jones (Ist. Lt.)
John Chaffin
Aaron Hayward (2nd. Lt.)
Joseph T. Chamberlain
Jonathan Hosmer (Ensign)
Ezekiel Chamberlain
John Fletcher (Clerk)
Luther Davis
Samuel Conant
John S. Fletcher
John Hendley (Handley)
Abel Forbush
Silas Piper, Jr. (Fifer)
Silas Hosmer
Paul Conant (bass drum)
Moses Hayward
Abner Wheeler (small drum)
Nathaniel Hapgood
Luke Hayward
John Harris
James Fletcher, Jr. (brother to the clerk)
James Keyes George Robbins
Jonathan B. Davis
Joseph Robbins
Joseph Barker, 2nd.
William Reed, 3rd.
Jonathan Billings, Jr.
Allen Richardson
Ephraim Billings
Jonathan Wheeler
Josiah Bright
Samuel Whitney
James Conant
Oliver Wetherbee
Joel Conant
Nathan D. Hosmer
In addition to these the graves of the following in Acton ceme- teries carry War of 1812 markers:
Aaron Hapgood
Silas Taylor
Reuben Barker
Nathaniel Stearns
Francis Piper
Leonard Bulette
One marker at an unidentified grave.
Furthermore the Acton vital records list Elijah Knapp as a soldier of the War of 1812, and also Samuel P. Brown, aged twenty two, listed as having died in 1814 in the army.
It was in this same year, 1814, that the effect of the religious tension throughout New England began to be obvious. Not all was harmony in the First Parish even though it did have a fine new meeting house that was only seven years old. To be sure, it was to continue for some time yet but there were those in the community who entertained views on theology unpleasing to the stalwarts of the old First Parish. A movement was on foot that was to make the meeting house of 1807 the last building to be erected for religious purposes by the whole town, and even it was not to finish its days as a place of worship. An
129
-........ ..........
James Hayward
John D. Robbins
.. ...
article in the town warrant in 1814 placed before the voters the decision as to whether the meeting house should be opened to any responsible persons applying for it. The records do not indicate the debate that ensued but the final decision was that the matter be left to the discretion of the selectmen. A similar article under discussion in April of 1821 was dismissed but ten years later, in May of 1831, a committee of five was chosen to, "divide the use of the meeting house for the accomodation of the inhabitants".1
The details of the organization of the various church bodies in Acton will be found in Appendix XIV. Suffice it to say here that the crux of the matter lay in the agitation that had been formenting for years over the tie-up between church and state. Presumably the early settlers departed from England to avoid the excesses of the established religion but hardly had they become a fixture in their new circumstances than they set up a form of government that was to all practical purposes an ecclesiastical oligarchy. For many years the franchise was granted solely to members of the Puritan faith, which was recognized by the General Court as the state church. This was by no means peculiar to Massachusetts or New England. A part of Thomas Jefferson's life work was combatting the same thing in a different form in Virginia. In Massachusetts it finally culminated in a set of conditions where any who dissented were taxed for a church they did not attend and were deprived at the same time of a vote in civil affairs.
In consequence a long and bitter struggle was waged in the courts and the legislative halls of Massachusetts until finally in 1833 the separation of church and state became an established law in the form of a constitutional amendment. During these years people thought much concerning religious matters and split into various groups according to their turn of mind. All who were not Puritans were known as Dissenters and had, until 1833 the difficult task of building houses of worship for themselves while at the same time paying tax to the state church. Despite these drawbacks, however, a great religious awakening swept over the land and dotted the New England hills with innumerable meeting houses, modest perforce, but backed by strong purpose and the zeal of the Lord.
Miss Evelyn Knowlton handles this condition of affairs very aptly in her brochure published at the centennial of the Baptist Church in West Acton.2
1 Daniel Barker, John Chaffin, Winthrop E. Faulkner, Robert Chaffin, Francis Tuttle.
In September of 1825 the town voted to refuse the use of the meeting house to Rev. Mr. Dean even though he was willing to adjust his time to avoid conflict with town usage.
2 See Appendix XIV.
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Another facet of this sectarian controversey was the experience of Rev. Marshall Shedd, successor of Rev. Moses Adams. Mr. Adams died on October 13, 1819 and was buried three days later, exactly seventy years after his birth. By his written request no sermon was preached at his funeral.
On February 20, 1820 Mr. Shedd, a native of Newton and a grad- uate of Dartmouth of the class of 1817, was unanimously invited by the church to become its pastor. Five hundred dollars was offered as a settlement, which was increased by private subscription and the salary was fixed at six hundred dollars plus fifteen cords of wood. In case of permanent disability the salary was to be reduced to two hundred dollars. The offer was accepted and on May 10th Mr. Shedd was ordained.1
The ordaining council consisted of Mr. Willard of Boxborough; Mr. Newell of Stow; Mr. Greenough of Newton; Mr. Litchfield of Carlisle; Dr. Ripley of Concord; Dr. Homer of Newton; Mr. Foster of Littleton; Dr. Holmes of Cambridge; Mr. Blake of Westford; Dr. Pierce of Brookline; Mr. Noyes of Needham; Mr. Hulbert of Sud- bury with delegates from their respective churches. That such a combination of religious opinion could be found in an ordaining council obtained by a unanimous vote of both church and congre- gation was remarkable for that period.
Mr. Shedd was a pious, peaceable and exemplary minister, possessed of more than ordinary industry and talent. With such an auspicious introduction to his field of endeavor his efforts should have met with success. In the strained posture of the public mind, however, parochial difficulties multiplied apace and Acton was sucked into the maelstrom of irritation of the epoch. Mr. Shedd labored manfully to harmonize the divergent elements but the lines were too sharply drawn so he bowed to the inevitable and requested a release.
He felt that in the new settlements of northern New York his talents would find better opportunity for application. Pursuant to his desire the corporation, which was now called a parish, granted his request in May of 1831, and in the same month the agreement was confirmed by an ecclesiastical council.
However much of a rift there was among the citizenry on the matter of religious dogma there was small doubt as to the solidarity of the political mind of the times. The votes for governor and lieu- tenant governor for five successive years are impressive.
1825 For governor, Levi Lincoln 117, Luther Conant 1, For Lt. governor, Marcus Morton 117, opponent 0.
1 Fletcher, p. 250. Such a crowd was anticipated at the ceremonies that a committee of five was chosen to shore up the floor of the meeting house. It was also voted to have printed 300 copies of the ordination proceedings.
131
1826 For governor, Levi Lincoln 123, Thomas Winthrop 1 For Lt. governor, Thomas Winthrop 116, opponent 0.
1827 For governor, Levi Lincoln 86, William Jarvis 81, For Lt. governor, Thomas Winthrop 145, William Jarvis 1. 1828 For governor Levi Lincoln 124, Sabine Burroughs 1, For Lt. governor, Thomas Winthrop 104, Ward Haskell 1.
1829 For governor, Levi Lincoln 114, Marcus Morton 1,
For Lt. governor, Thomas Winthrop 113, Samuel Hubbart 1,
Marcus Morton 1.
Religious strife did not take up all the time of the people during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. It was in 1815 that one of the most important business ventures in the history of Acton was started. John Fletcher, at first a country trader in a small way, began the manufacture of boots and shoes. Associated with his two sons, John and Edwin, the project thrived and provided employment for many in the village. The shoe shop stood on a site just a few yards in front of the new firehouse and slightly toward Main Street. Event- ually the small unit factory went out of existence all over the country under the pressure of the machine age. In its final years the building was used as a general store by Mr. Woodman who came to town as a stranger and set up in a short lived and unsuccessful competition with Mr. Emery Taylor.
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