USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Bedford > History of the town of Bedford, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year of Our Lord 1891 > Part 7
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The people carried out their bold sentiments in their public and private acts. The advocate of free- dom for the slave always secured a hearing, and the homes of leading citizens were open to those who, early or later, espoused the cause of the bondmen. In the fall of 1860, when the two political parties, " Democrat " and " Republican," were sub-divided into fonr, this town gave her support to the Republi- can, and gave a large per cent. of her votes for Abra- ham Lincoln.
In the months that followed, during which the "Southern Confederacy " was formed, there was a feeling of deep interest in this small town bordering upou excitement.
The attack upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, opened the War of the Rebellion and aroused a gen- eration that had never felt the devastations of war or learned the evolution of troops. The young men of Bedford, true to their ancestral record, began to en- list, and eleven had entered the Union Army before the close of the year. Among them was Cyrus Page, then sixty years of age, and still bearing the honorary title of captain, conferred upon him by the old militia company of the town.
But fifteen days after the outrage upon Sumter, a "Liberty Pole " was erected upon the " Common " or "Training-Field," Oliver W. Lane, a descendant of the Lanes of Indian and Revolutionary fame, contrib- uted the most towering pine of his forest ; every arti- san and workman joined in the rally on April 27th, and raised the pole, from which the flag of the Union was unfurled and waved daily during the years of bloody conflict, now raising the spirits of the people as it waved from its highest point, and anon hushing them to silence, as, from half-mast, it betokened a nation's sorrow.
On June 27th, 1861, two months after the unfurling of the flag, and directly beneath its folds, occurred the first loss of life in Bedford, indirectly caused by the war. The alarm had led to a very general practice ot firearms, and a young man injudiciously discharged his pistol across the Common and killed a bright boy of nine years, Samuel T. Hughes. The first recorded action on the part of the town was a vote instructing the selectmen to draw from the treasury, according to their discretion, for the support of the families of vol- unteers and a tender of the free use of the town hall "to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society to hold their meetings to render aid to the sick and wounded sol- diers of our army."
This society did most valuable service through the war, continually contributing through the various Christian and Sanitary Commissions. Some of the women gave personal service as nurses in the camp. In August, 1862, a bounty of $100 was voted to each volunteer for nine months' service. In 1864 the town raised $624 to fill her quota. The sums raised by a vote of the town indicate but a fractional part of the money expended by her citizens in the cause. Not less than $5000 were contributed to the war by the town in addition to the long-continued drain by tax- ation. Besides the direct tax, there was the indirect or "Internal Revenue," which demanded, and vigi- lant officers collected rates upon almost every transac- tion. After the war closed, the Ladies' Aid Society turned its attention to procuring funds for the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of those who had died in the struggle.
About $1600 were earned and contributed for that purpose with which a suitable Scotch granite monu- ment has been erected in Shawshine Cemetery. The inscriptions are as follows :
"Soldiers' Memorial, 1861-65. They gave their lives for us and their
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country. The Ladies of Bedford pay this affectionate Tribute to their memory.
"Albert L. Butler, died 1862; Charles W. Goodwin, died 1862; Clark C. Cutler, died 1962; Henry Hosmer, died 1862; Thomas Isaac, died 1863; James Munroe, died 1863 ; Samnel W. Stearns, died 1863 ; Joshua Atwood, died 1864 : John Byron, died 1864 ; Charles Coudry, died 1864 ; William F. Gragg, died 1864 ; Warren G. Holbrook, died 1864; Charles W. Lunt, died 1864 ; Charles A. Saunders, died 1864.
Memorial day is sacredly observed on each annual return, and the rapidly increasing list of graves of those who served their country in the war receives the at- tention of a grateful people.
At the memorial service of 1887, immediately fol- lowing the death of Captain Cyrus Page, the follow- ing hymn was sung. It was composed for the occa- sion by Abram E. Brown, and " dedicated to the Memory of Captain Cyrus Page and other Brave men who honored Bedford in the war of the Rebellion : "
"All honor to our soldiers brave, Who left their home and kindred dear, Who nobly fought this land to save, Of the oppressors' rod to clear.
" Their mounds we'll deck with flowerets bright : Their noble deeds to children tell ; Through passing years and ages' flight A country's pride their praise shall swell.
" The earthly file is narrowing fast, The ranks of Heaven are gaining there. Let's halt, and down our garlands cast, While for the living raise a prayer.
" lu Thee, O God, we're trusting still, Our fathers' God, Thou too hast been, With joy we'll own Thy sovereign will, And tollowing Thee, life's battle win."
There were enrolled as liable to do military duty in 1861, eighty names, and in 1862 the enrollment list reached eighty-seven.
In the army roll ninety names are registered to the credit of Bedford. Seventy-four of them were citizens of the town. Six were in the service of the navy.
CHAPTER XI.
Financial Troubles-Old Tenor and Lawful Money-Sluvery in Bedford- Bill of Sule of a Negro Boy in 175G.
BEDFORD was incorporated at the time when the currency of the Province was in a very uncertain condition. The General Court had been issuing pa- per money without an adequate provision to retain its nominal value; hence specie was growing scarce and the "Bills of Credit" were continually depreciating ; but as these bills were almost the only medium of exchange, the people clamored for more and the ma- jority of the Legislature seemed ready to gratify them despite the opposition of the Royal Governor, which, in 1740, occasioned a severe quarrel. Each new issue of "Bills of Credit " caused a decline in the value of the currency. In 1730 they had suuk more than
half below their nominal value and the depreciation continued until 1750. The fluctuation in the value of this currency was a source of general embarrass- ment, and contracts involving annual salaries were fulfilled with difficulty by the most scrupulous.
In agreeing with Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first minister, the town voted "that our money shall be in proportion as it is now in valiacon, rising, fallin." The value at that time was eighteen shillings per ounce. The decline was so great that in 1749, the last year of the " Old Tenor " bills, the town voted to give Rev. Mr. Bowes £240 in place of £100, but he returned £20 for the use of the schools. In 1750 voted to give him " £50 138. 4d. Lawful money."
The expectation of having the " Bills " exchanged for specie led many to hoard them, and it became difficult for the collector of taxes to get the dues of the Province, and the time for settling demands was necessarily extended. The following rhyme gives an idea of the change that was anticipated :
" And now Old Tenor, fare you well, No more such tattered rags we'll tell, New dollars pass and are made free ; It is a year of jubilee. Let us therefore good husbands be, And good old times we soon shall see."
The town paid for their minister's wood in 1749 35s. per cord " Old Tenor," and in the following year the price paid per cord was 4s. " Lawful money."
In 1749 the people worked ont their highway " Rates," and were allowed during three summer months 14s. each man per day, and in the other months 8s. per day ; a yoke of oxen with cart 8s. per day, "Old Tenor." In 1750 the allowance in "Law- ful money " for a man was 2s. per day until the last of September, and in the rest of the year 1s. per day. For oxen and cart the allowance was 18. 4d. per day. The scarcity of money was felt by the people pos- sessed of property as well as others, and trade was carried on largely by barter. In the list of tax-payers reported in arrears in March, 1753, the names of leading citizens are found. By a law of the General Court the bills of credit were redeemed at a rate that was about one-fifth less than their lowest current value-that is at fifty shillings for an ounce of silver, which was valued at 6s. Sd., or an English crown.
Here originated the "Old Tenor" reckoning. March 31, 1750, marked the era of " Lawful money," after which date all debts were contracted on the specie basis of 6s. Sd. per ounce of silver and three ounces of silver were equal to £1.
With the currency restored to a metallic basis and to a uniform value the people were free from all such trouble for more than twenty years. The fluctuating state of the currency, dwelt upon at length in the mil- itary section, made it difficult to adjust the ministe- riał rates in the years of the Revolution as it was in the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bowes. In May, 1778, the town added to Rev. Mr. Penniman's salary, for the
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year ensning, £66 138. 4d. and reimbursed him for bad money paid to him by the collector, princi- pal and interest amounting to £9 10s. In 1780, “on account of the decline in currency, the town gave him fifty bushels of Rye and fifty bushels of Indian Corn, to be delivered in January, 1781." In 1791 the selectmen were authorized to sell the Continental money at their discretion and the treasury was relieved of its burdensome paper for a nominal sum. £1032 9s. 6d. " old tenor " sold for £2 3d. 2f. A similar difficulty was encountered in the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Stearns, The town gave him a choice at first of $333.33} as an annual salary or the same amount in beef, pork, rye and Indian corn, but past experience led some of the people to object to an in- definite salary and Mr. Stearns accepted of the defi- nite sum; his letter of acceptance was accompan- ied with the following : "Resting assured that the town will not willingly see me suffer by reason of the depreciation of the currency hereafter." Through the depreciation that soon followed, Mr. Stearns was obliged to sell land and went in debt for about five hundred dollars before he appealed to the town.
November 16, 1801, the town voted to lend him one thousand dollars, without interest, so long as he should supply the desk. In 1808 the town voted "to add the sum of three hundred dollars to his salary in semi-annual payments of fifty dollars each." They also added two cords of wood to his annual portion. This was both just and generous, and occasioned by the change in cost of supplies and the increase of the pastor's family. A fragmentary journal kept by Rev. Samuel Stearns in the first year of his ministry in Bedford shows one hundred and twenty-eight donations of family supplies during eight months. This shows how the minister was able to bring up and educate his large family.
Slavery existed in Bedford, as elsewhere, though not attended with the evils that accompanied the in- human system in many parts of the country. The atmosphere of New England, especially of Massachu- setts, was not favorable to its growth. Long before the spirit of liberty manifested itself in resistance to the mother country, and long before the adoption of the Constitution of 1780, individuals of Bedford had freed their slaves, who in the main were held as family servants, but were regarded as property, and in some families bought and sold like cattle. The extreme cau- tion taken by towns in general, and this in particular, to prevent the settlement of paupers, obliged a person who desired to free his slaves, to give bonds that the freed persons should not become public charges. This requirement, no doubt, deterred some from giv- ing freedom to their slaves, who were fully conscious of the injustice. "March ye 23, 1761, Col. John Lane gave a bond to Stephen Davis, Town Treasurer, to save and indemnify the town of Bedford from any charge that may arise by reason of his negro man be- ing set free." Colonel Lane was assessed in that year
for his " negro man's minister's rate, 28 6ª." A citi- zen of Bedford has the original, of which the follow- ing is a copy :
"To Mr. Harrison gray, treasurer for the province of the Massachu- setta bay, sir, be pleased to give Mr. Mosea Abbott, the bearer hereof, all the wagee that is due to me for my negroman, torrey more, being in the county service in the year 1757, under capte peaser till he got to the cascel, and then went to Crown point under Capt. elinglesh, or give me an order to Mr. Moses abbott, consteble of bedford, and this receipt shall be your diacharge, and you will oblige your humble servant,
" JOHN LANE."
It is evident that slaves had been kept in the Lane family, as well as in others, from their earliest settle- ment in this territory, and that Torrey was a family name for the colored race in their possession, as ap- pears from the following copy of the original :
"This muy certify to all persons that I, Mary Lyndeu, of Boston, do sell all my right in a boy called Torrey, to John Lane, given to me ac- cording to a county court record 1676. MARY LYNDEN."
The following is copied from the original bill now filed in the town :
" Nathaniel Tay sold his negro to Mr. John Page for twenty pound iu money and six pound in bill. NATHANIEL TAY, 1691."
In 1764, Captain James Lane gave a bond freeing his slave. The records furnish other instances of slaves being set free by the voluntary action of the citizens of this town. Although treated as property, the colored people were permitted to enjoy many privileges with their masters. They had seats as- signed them in the meeting-house. The rite of bap- tism was administered, and they were admitted to full membership in the church, upon "owning the cove- nant." The church records furnish proof like the fol- lowing :
" Baptized, Ishmael, a negro (adult), July ye 4th, 1736." " Baptized, Quimbo, a negro man who confessed, etc., July ye 30, 1751." " Baptized, Torrey, a negro man, January ye 12, 1751-52" "Baptized, Abraham, sou of Jack, negro, Nov. ye 11, 1753." "Admitted into full comumunion, Hannalı Drury, wife of Zebedee Drury and Lois Bordo (a negro), Sept. ye 5th, 1742."
The register of deaths kept by Rev. Mr. Bowes has entries as follows, which suggest ownership :
"Nov. ye 2, 1737, Cuff, a negro child belonging to Mr. Zacheus Whitney." " Aug. 3, 1749, Domire, a negro boy, who belonged to Mr. John Lane."
There is evidence that slaves were retained by some families until 1780, when the Constitution adopted by the State declared in Article I, " All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential and inalienable rights," etc. When the articles of the Constitution were acted upon by the town, there were three opposing votes to Article I, and the military records show that three slaves were serving in the army, while by the treasurer's returns of those years it is seen that Captain Moore collected bounty and pay for services of Cambridge (a negro man). Other similar records are found.
There is no evidence that any of the slaves of this town were permitted to accompany their masters to Concord on April 19, 1775, or that they were then en- rolled as liable to do military duty ; but when it be-
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came apparent that war had really begun, and calls for men followed each other in rapid succession, the slaves were pressed into the service. Cambridge Moore, Cæsar Prescott and Cæsar Jones were early re- corded as doing military duty, to the eredit of their masters. When one campaign or tour was over, they were put into another, and so continued in the service until 1780. In December of that year they entered the army as free men, and received bounty and pay like their white neighbors. May I1, 1782, Cæsar Jones signed, by " his X mark," a receipt for " sixty pound, E. money, as a bounty, to serve in the Continental Army for the term of three years." " A free negro," is the note appended. The following document is treasured in the town :
" Know all men by these Presenta-That I, Joseph Fitch, of Bedford, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the massachusetts bay in New England, Gentleman, for and in consideration of the Sum of Twenty-Four Pounds, Lawful money of New England, to me in hand Paid at and before the Sealing & Delivery of these Presents, by Joseph llartwell, of Bedford abovesaid, Yeoman, the Receipt wbereof I Do hereby acknowledge, Have bargained & Sold & by these Presents Do Bargain & Sell unto the Said Joseph Hartwell, a Negro boy about Five years old, Called Jefferree, now living at the said Joseph Hartwells, to have & to hold the Said Negro boy by these presents Bargained the Sold unto the said Josepb Hartwell, his Executors & Administrators & as- signs for Ever. & I, the said Joseph Fitch, for my Self, my Executors and Administrator's do warrant the above Sd Negro boy unto the Said Joseph Hartwell, bis Executors, Administrators & Assigns, against me, and said Joseph Fitch my Executors, Administrators & Assigns, & against all & every other Person and Persons What so ever, Shall and Will warrant & Defend hy these Presents of which Negro boy, I, the said Joseph Fitch, have put the Sd Joseph Hartwell in full Possession by Delivering Sa Negro at the Sealing bereof unto the Sd Joseph Hartwell. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal this Sixth Day of July, Anno Domini, One thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Six, & in the twenty-Ninth year of bis majisties Reign, &c. "
" Signed, Sealed and Delivered in I'resence of
" HUMPHREY PIERCE, ber "SARAH X PIERCE, mark
" JOSEPH FITCH."
It is doubtful if slaves set at liberty in advanced age, entirely inexperienced in caring for themselves, were benefited thereby. The records show that sey- eral of them became dependent upon publie charity. They were treated with as much consideration by those in charge of the poor as were their white com- panions in misfortune. In 1820 "The Seleetmen sold at vendue the wearing apparel of Dinalı, a wo- man of color, deceased, amounting to $7.84; also bought a Baise gown for the use of Violet, a colored pauper, for $1.60, leaving a balance of $6.24." Violet was the last freed slave who died in this town. She was supposed to have lived a full century, and died in 1842. John Moore, a prominent citizen of the town, had slaves of both sexes, and Violet is thought to have been the one for whom he made provision in his will in the year 1807, thus : " to daughters Mary Fiteh and Lydia Bowers, the net of my personal es- tate, on condition that they support my negro girl in siekness and health, through life, and give her a de- cent burial." Violet's unusually long life may ae-
count for the violation of the provision made by her master.
The only memorial-stone bearing evidence that this raee lived, served and died in Bedford was erected in Shawshine Cemetery by Josiah A. Stearns, A.M., in memory of Peter, an honored family servant, who was buried in the " African reservation " in the old burial ground.
CHAPTER XII.
Public Charity, How Inspeused- Town Farm for Poor.
GREAT caution was used to prevent people from be- coming panpers in the early days; but wben public support was demanded, and a settlement established, the poor were well treated. When a citizen admitted members to his family he was obliged to report to the seleetmen and seenre the town against their support as appears by the following :
" Bedford, June 21st, 1736. I, Jacob Kendall, of Bedford, do promise and engage for me and my beirs to free and secure the town of Bedford from any charge that shall arise from the maintenance of my father and mother, Jacob and Alise Kendall, as witness my hand.
"JACOB KENDALL."
People coming into town to settle, whose record was not fully clear, and means of support perfectly evident to the seleetmen, were warned out of town in a legal manner, and caution entered at the Court where a record could be consulted. Thus families were compelled to go from town to town in a most unfriendly manner. The following is the form of warning used in this town and served by the consta- ble on the order of the selectman :
"Middlesex, S. S., to A. B., one of the constables of the town of Bed- ford. Greeting :
" In His Majesty's name you are hereby required to warn D. E. and family that they forthwith depart this town, the selectmen refusing to admit them as Inhabitants. You are also to inquire from whence they last came, and what time they came to this town, and make return here- of under your band with your doings therein, unto the selectmen or to the town clerk. Dated at B. the - day of - , Anno Domine. In the year of His Majesty's Reign.
" Per order of the Selectmen,
"G. H., Town Clerk."
The records prove that parties were often warned from the town. "Seth Putnam and his family warned out of town and caution entered at March Court, on ye second Tuesday of March, An : Dom: 1748-9."
A warning cannot be considered as unquestionable . evidence against a family ; for we find the record of warning against parties that appear in subsequent records as occupying places of trust in the community. Young ladies were legally warned out of town who beeame, in subsequent years, wives of leading men.
That the selectmen were faithful in complying with the law is apparent by the following record : " Feb. 9,
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1767-Mr. Thomas Page, who had received Dr. Bal- lard into his family, as a boarder, in March or April last, and never had informed thereof, being then present before the selectmen, it was proposed to him, by the selectmen, whether the Dr. Joseph should be warned out of town ; and he, not desiring the same, the select- men therefore agreed not to caution against the Dr. Joseph, nor yet to admit him as an inhabitant." Dr. Ballard was the second physician of the town, coming from Lancaster. He became a valuable citizen ; was a delegate to the Provincial Congress, in Concord, 1774, and was a distinguished man. He died Jan. 29, 1777.
In the list of orders drawn upon the treasury it appears that the constables were liberally paid for "Entering Cautions ;" one charge was seventeeen shillings. In 1737 the town had its first lawsuit. It was with the town of Concord, over the support of a family by the name of Ross. Bedford lost the case, but a feeling of unjust dealing appears, from a record made later, when a committee was chosen " to attend to the witnesses who appeared against the town in the suit before the Superior Court." How Ross got a settlement in Bedford is not clear. The Lexington records show that he was warned from that town. The original of the constable's return is evidence that Bedford did not fail in trying to locate him in Con- cord :
" Middlesex, S.S. Concord, May 30th, 1737." In obedience to this war- rant, I have conveyed ye within named Daniel Rose and his wife unto the said town of Concord, & delivered them to one of ye constables of ed, town and at ye same time delivered him a copy of ye within written warrant.
" EPHRIAM DAVIS, . " Constable of Bedford."
The inhumanity of such dealing with a man at the age of ninety years can but arouse the indignation of a reader at this day.
That the town furnished more than the necessaries of life for this family appears from the treasurer's report of 1742. "For keeping of Ross £21 3s. 0d. For tobaka for Ross 15s.," and another charge in the same year " For tobaka for Ross 8s., and for a jacket £1." Rev. Mr. Bowes' register of deaths shows that Daniel Ross died " Oct. ye 27, 1748, aged 100 yrs." leading to the conclusion that the appetite, so gener- ously gratified by the town, may have been acquired of the Indians long before the struggle with King Philip. For some years the care of the poor was let out annually by " public vendue," the contract being closed with the lowest bidder. As late as 1804 we find the following action : " Dorcas Bacon put to board with Simeon Stearns, until next March meeting, at sixteen cents per week, they to get what service from her they could." At length this plan gave rise to dissat- isfaction, in that the worthy poor were liable to fall to the charge of irresponsible parties, and the duty of assigning homes for the paupers was referred to the selectmen with discretionary power. In 1823 a written contract was made with Thomas Page for the support of the poor, and bonds were required to the
amount of $300. Some of the specifications of the contract are as follows :
" With regard to their diet, they are to be provided with a sufficiency of good and wholesome food, with tea or coffee twice in each day, if they choose, with sweetening; cleanly and comfortable lodgings, sea- sonable medical aid in case of sickness, and other things to make them comfortable as their condition may require."
Paupers were boarded by other towns in Bedford families. In 1741 twenty of such are recorded here, some of whom were from New Hampshire. The long distance from their place of settlement made it possi- ble for great injustice to be done them by those who promised faithful care. In the early years of the town's history the needs of paupers were discussed in open town-meeting, and a detailed report made by the treasurer of each bill of charge for their relief.
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