USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832; and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle; containing various notices of county and state history not before published. > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > History of the town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts : from its earliest settlement to 1832 : and of the adjoining towns, Bedford, Acton, Lincoln, and Carlisle > Part 27
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This, though afterwards remodelled, formed the basis of the principle by which the division was made, and settled this diffi- cult subject: It was rendered more explicit by a vote passed June 30, 1727, which was, " That the committee chosen for the laying out of said lands in said Village, be hereby directed to lay out so much of the best of the land as to lay to every acre right 10 acres, so that every '61 right (so called) being 3 acres, be laid into 30-acre lots ; and every '84 right (so called) into 20-acre lots ; and every late allowed right (so called) into 10-acre lots. And all the meadows be divided to each lot according to the several rights as aforesaid proportionably ; and all said lots and the meadows to be laid so as to be made equally good as possible may be, either enlarging or abating of the number of acres in each lot, as said committee may think best to proportion the same."
And another vote passed May 17, 1728. - " Whereas it has been voted and agreed, that all the rights in the Village should be
279
GENERAL HISTORY.
laid out into 10-acre lots, 20-acre lots, and 30-acre lots, so that every freehold, that consisted of a dwelling-house and improved land in '61, should draw 30 acres, and every freehold, that was so in '84, have 20 acres, and that every freehold, that was so in '15, have 10 acres ; but since thought better to lay it out into bigger lots, viz. 100-acre lots ; so that every 10 single rights may draw one of the 100-acre lots. And where it so happens that those that have but 10-acre lots, or those that have not 10 of those single rights to draw, and they can't agree to join 10 of them together to draw one of those 100-acre lots, it shall be in the power of the committee to join them and draw for them, or appoint some- body to draw ; and if they can't agree to subdivide, the committee shall subdivide it at the charge of the propriety."
The committee for ascertaining the proprietors, and for dividing the Village according to the foregoing principles, were a long time in accomplishing the business. A list was finally reported, which was referred to the committee constituted by the following proceedings, had June 26, 1730.
" Voted, that Messrs. Samuel Chandler, Benjamin Whittemore, and William Wheeler be a committee to correct the list of proprie- tors (more especially the first order), and present the same to the proprietors for their approbation ; as also to take an account of the proprietors that do agree to join in the same hundred-acre lot, and to join or couple such as cannot agree to do it themselves, and see that no two be joined upon the same right, and also to subdivide the hundred-acre lots where the proprietors cannot agree to divide themselves."
The common land was laid out into lots nominally, but not uniformly, of 100 acres, and numbered in the lists and on the plan. Several of the proprietors had their rights coupled or joined together, and their lots were then drawn according to this coupling-list, and subdivided according to each one's particular right. When lots happened to be poor, or of unequal value, some parts of other lots were taken and added to them. These were called qualification lots. This method of division, though it might have been equitable, destroyed the uniform size and shape of the lots, and rendered the farms disconnected and irregular.
Three divisions took place. At the first, September 9, 1730, were drawn 53 coupling lots, or 310 rights. At the second,
280
HISTORY OF ACTON.
July 7, 1732, 60 coupling lots ; and 37 at the third and last, December 4, 1745. The proceedings during these intermediate dates relate principally to the grants and division of the lands. At the last period, 1745, a vote was passed to sell all the common land then remaining. The proprietors' clerks were as follows : Thomas Brown, 1710 to 1715; Jonathan Prescott, 1715 to 1728; John Flint, 1728 to 1745; Stephen Hosmer, 1745 to -; and John Robbins from 1786.
A plan of Concord Village was taken in 1730 by Captain Ste- phen Hosmer ; and it then contained, exclusive of Major Wil- lard's farm, 12,986 acres. A petition was presented to the town of Concord in 1731, for leave to be set off into a separate pre- cinct, but it did not prevail. Three. others, subsequently presented, met with the same fate. It seems that the petitioners were de- sirous of being incorporated as a precinct rather than a town. And though they were unsuccessful at first, the town voted, March 4, 1734, " to set off the Village or town's New Grant a separate town, together with Major Willard's Farm, and that the inhabitants and proprietors petition the General Court for a sanc- tion." Samuel Hunt and others presented a petition accordingly ; and the following act of incorporation was obtained just one hun- dred years from the first incorporation of Concord.
" Whereas the inhabitants and proprietors of the northwesterly part of Concord, in the county of Middlesex, called the Village, or New Grant, have represented to this Court, that they labor under great difficulties by reason of their remoteness from the place of public worship, and therefore desire that they and their estates, together with the farms, called Willard's Farms, may be set off a distinct and separate township, for which they have also obtained the consent of the town of Concord.
" Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency the Governor, Council, and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the said northwesterly part of Concord, together with the said farms, be and hereby are set off, constituted, and erected into a distinct and separate township by · the name of Acton, and agreeably to the following boundaries, namely ; beginning at the southwest corner of Concord old bounds, then southwesterly on Sudbury and Stow lines till it comes to the southwest corner of Concord Village, then north-
281
GENERAL HISTORY.
westerly by Stow line till it comes to Littleton line, then bounded northerly by Littleton, Westford, and Chelmsford, then easterly by Billerica till it comes to the northwest corner of Concord old bounds, and by said bounds to the place first mentioned. And that the inhabitants of the lands before described and bounded, be and hereby are vested with all the town privileges and immu- nities that the inhabitants of the other towns within this province are, or by law ought to be, vested with.
" Provided that the inhabitants of the said town of Acton do, within three years from the publication of this act erect and finish a suitable house for the public worship of God, and procure and settle a learned, orthodox minister of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable support." This act was passed July 3, 1735.
The history of the town from this time to the commencement of the revolution, contains no features worthy of particular no- tice. It had a slow but gradual increase in population and im- provement. The proceedings for instituting schools, the preaching of the gospel, &c., were carried forward in harmony. During the wars which prevailed from 1740 to 1762, Acton contributed its share of men. But few particulars are preserved, either by tradition or records, concerning their services.
As early as the 21st of December, 1767, the town voted to " comply with the proposals, by the town of Boston, relating to the encouraging of manufactures among ourselves, and not pur- chasing of superfluities from abroad." On the 5th of March, 1770, the town entered into a covenant not to purchase nor use foreign merchandise, nor tea.
The state of public affairs was again brought before the town on the 21st of December, 1772, and referred to a committee, consisting of Captain Daniel Fletcher, Francis Faulkner, Deacon Jonathan Hosmer, Deacon John Brooks, Josiah Hayward, Ephraim Hapgood, Captain Samuel Hayward, Simon Tuttle, and Daniel Brooks. Their report was made on the 18th of the fol- lowing month, and expresses the general sentiments of the people in this vicinity.
At this time the town had no representative in the General Court, and a vote was passed recommending to the representa-
36
282
HISTORY OF ACTON.
tives of the people, that they use every constitutional measure in their power to obtain a redress of all their grievances.
A minute company was raised and commanded by Captain Isaac Davis ; and the town voted, on the 18th of January, 1775, to pay 30 men 8d. per day to drill twice a week, 3 hours each day, until the first day of May. The important services rendered by this company in the Battle of Concord, on the 19th of April, and the unfortunate death of Captain Davis and Mr. Hayward, have already been noticed in the History of Concord. This and the standing company were distinguished for their prompt and energetic action on that and other occasions.
In June, 1776, Deacon Mark White was chosen representative to the General Court, and received the following instructions from the town.
" To Mr. MARK WHITE.1- Sir, Our not being favored with the resolution of the Hon. House of Representatives, calling upon the several towns in this colony to express their minds with respect to the important question of American Independence, is the occasion of our not expressing our minds sooner ; but we now cheerfully embrace this opportunity to instruct you on this im- portant question. The subverting our constitution, the many injuries and unheard-of barbarities which these colonies have received from Great Britain, confirm us in the opinion, that the present age will be deficient in their duty to God, their posterity, and themselves, should they not form an American Republic. This is the only form of government we wish to see established. But we mean not to dictate. We freely submit this interesting affair to the wisdom of the honorable Continental Congress, who, we trust, are guided and directed in this important affair by the Supreme Governor of the world. And we instruct you, Sir, to give them the strongest assurance, that if they should declare America to be a free and independent republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure with their lives and for- tunes."
The following average of services, rendered by Acton for the year ending on the 25th of May, 1778, was made by a committee of the town.
1 Mark White died on the 24th of January, 1792, aged 82. He was deacon in the Baptist church.
283
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
4 men, Rhode Island,
May and June,
at £6 =£24
4 " Northern Army, 4
do. do. Aug. to Dec.
" 24 " 96 36
4
do. 1} do. Oct. and Nov.
4 Cambridge, 5 do. Nov. to April,
" 12 " 48
6
do.
3 2} months,
April to July, “ 71" 43}
A full estimate of the services cannot be made. This town had the honor of furnishing several officers during the revolution- ary war. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Faulkner and Captain Simon Hunt were in the battle at White Plains, and at other times were also engaged in actual service.
The constitution was adopted by more than two thirds of the votes of the town.
The history of the town since the revolution is of little general interest. Like most towns in the vicinity, it has a gradual, but very slow growth.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. A Meeting-house, 46 feet long, 36 broad, and 21 high, was built in 1736, which served as a place of public worship till the present one was erected in 1808. Considerable difficulty having arisen on the question, where it should be situated, as often occurs in similar cases, Col. Holman of Bolton was employed to survey the town and find its centre. The report of this survey was not satisfactory ; and after sev- eral other trials to fix upon a spot, it was agreed to refer the subject to Gen. Joseph Varnum of Dracut, Gen. John Whiting of Lancaster, and Mr. Walter McFarlane of Hopkinton. These gentlemen made a report which was amicably accepted, Oct. 6, 1806.
Public worship was first held in the meeting-house in January, 1738, and that year the town raised the first money - 50 pounds, for its support. In March a day of public fasting and prayer to Almighty God was kept, preparatory to establishing the preaching of the gospel ; and the Rev. Messrs. Israel Loring, William Cook, John Gardner, Oliver Peabody, and Daniel Rogers, assisted in the exercises on the occasion.1
1 The church records during Mr. Swift's ministry are so imperfect, that it will be impossible to give an account of its proceedings. They do not
284
HISTORY OF ACTON.
In May, 1738, the town gave the Rev. John Swift a unanimous invitation to become its minister; and he was ordained the 8th of November following. He first received £250 as a settlement, and £150 as an annual salary, to be made of equal value, should the currency depreciate. The sum was altered several times, and permanently fixed at £70 lawful money. In 1741, the powerful revival of religion which prevailed in Concord and other places was experienced here. It is recorded that 28 persons made a public profession of religion, and 15 were baptized on the 28th of November, of that year.
The Rev. JOHN SWIFT was born in Framingham, and graduated at Harvard College in 1733. During the prevalence of the small-pox in Acton, in 1775, he was severely attacked, and never able to preach afterwards. He died 7th Nov. 1775, in the 62d year of his age, and the 37th of his ministry. He was a gentleman of talents, learning, and piety, though occasionally facetious, witty, and eccentric. His only printed publication which I have seen is a sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. Joseph Lee at Royalston. Mr. Swift married Abigail Adams of Medway, and had one child, who graduated at Harvard College.
The 14th May, 1776, the town voted to invite four candidates to preach four sabbaths each on probation. And a committee consisting of Messrs. Samuel Hayward, Francis Faulkner, Nathaniel Edwards, Josiah Hayward, and John Heald were chosen " to take advice of the President of the College and the neighbouring ministers, who said candidates shall be." Mr. Moses Adams was subsequently engaged eight sabbaths on trial. The 20th of December was observed as a day of solemn fasting and prayer to Almighty God for direction and assistance in re- settling the gospel. Mr. Adams was invited to be their pastor 8th of January, 1777; and was ordained 25th of June, 1778. The first and fourth church in Dedham, second in Sudbury, second in Reading, and the churches in Concord, Stow, and Fitchburgh, composed the counsel. He received £200 as a settlement, and £180 salary, according to the value of silver at 6s. 8d. per ounce, and his fire-wood.
even mention the date of its organization, nor all the admissions of mem- bers.
285
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
In 1735, the singers were directed for the first time to sit together in the gallery. In 1793, the practice of performing sacred music by reading the line of the hymn as sung, was dis- continued. A church bible was presented in 1806, by Dea. John White of Concord.
The Rev. MOSES ADAMS was a native of Framingham, and a graduate of Harvard College in 1771. He died 13th of October, 1819, aged 70. During his long and peaceful ministry, 147 were admitted to the church in full commuhion, 137 owned the covenant to receive baptism, 833 were baptized, and 246 marriages were solemnized. In his intercourse with his people he was conciliatory but independent. He had talents without ostentation, and piety without hypocrisy ; all his public perform- ances .and private acts were distinguished for their superior good sense. He was emphatically a good, a worthy, and a useful man. Few have died and left a character more deservedly wor- thy of imitation than his.
On the 25th of February, 1820, the Rev. Marshall Shed, a native of Newton and graduate of Dartmouth College, 1817, was unanimously elected to be their pastor. The town agreed to give him $500 as a settlement, to which $200 were added by subscription, and $600 and 15 cords of wood, as his annual salary, so long as he shall supply the pulpit. He was ordained on the 10th of the following May. The introductory prayer on the occasion was by the Rev. John Pierce of Brookline ; sermon by Rev. William Greenough of Newton ; consecrating prayer by Rev. Jonathan Newell of Stow ; charge by Rev. Jonathan Homer of Newton ; fellowship of the churches by Rev. Rufus Hurlburt of Sudbury ; address to the church and people by Rev. Thomas Noyes ; and concluding prayer by Rev. Ezra Ripley. He was dismissed at his request, May 14, 1831, and has since removed to New-York.
SUCCESSION OF THE DEACONS.
NAMES.
CHOSEN.
DIED. AGE.
Joseph Fletcher
Dec. 15, 1738.
Sept. 11, 1746. 61
John Heald
Dec. 15, 1738.
May 16, 1775. 82
Jonathan Hosmer
- 1775.
64
John Brooks
March 6, 1777. 76
Samuel Hayward
Sept. 29, 1775.
March 6, 1795.
78
286
HISTORY OF ACTON.
Francis Faulkner
Sept. 29, 1775.
Aug. 5, 1805. 78
Joseph Brabrook
Sept. 29, 1775.
April 28, 1812. 73
Simon Hunt
April 19, 1792.
April 27, 1820. 86
Josiah Noyes
March 27, 1806.
Dismissed and removed to West- moreland, N. H., Oct. 16, 1808.
Benjamin Hayward
March 27, 1806.
Excused, June 15, 1821.
John Wheeler
April 18, 1811.
Dec. 17, 1824. 64
John White
April 18, 1811.
April 3, 1824. 54
Phineas Wheeler
June 15, 1821.
1
Daniel F. Barker
June 15, 1821.
Silas Hosmer June 15, 1821.
There are now three religious societies in the town. 1. The Orthodox, which seceded from the town and formed a separate parish during the latter part of the Rev. Mr. Shed's ministry. The Rev. James T. Woodbury, brother of the Hon. Levi Woodbury, and formerly a member of the bar in Grafton County, New- Hampshire, was ordained over the parish, August 29, 1832, when the Rev. Mr. Cleaveland, of Salem, preached. 2. The Unitarian, which worships in the meeting-house erected by the town ; and 3. The Universalist, which was organized 19th of January, 1816, and incorporated 27th of January, 1825. At the for- mer period it contained 11 members, at the latter 49, and in 1827, 61, twenty of whom resided in other towns. The two last have no settled minister.
DESCRIPTION. - MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. The surface of the town is rough and uneven, though there are no consid- erable hills; and with some exceptions the soil is rocky, hard to cultivate, and not well calculated for a flourishing agricultural town. It contains, however, many good, well-cultivated farms, on which are grown grain, grass, and other usual productions of the region.
A gentleman, who is familiar with the natural history of Acton, informs me, " that the geology of this town is decidedly primitive ; stones are mostly granite of every degree of fineness and variety of appearance. Rocks are gneiss, passing into mica and horn- blende slate. The strata are perpendicular which abundantly explains the stubbornness of the soil. Lime rock is found in
287
DESCRIPTION.
the south part of the town, and has been wrought, but not re- cently. Iron is found in various combinations in different places ; none, however, of much value. Tradition tells us, that lead used to be found in abundance in the southwest part of the town. Tremolite, actynolite, radiated quartz, pudding-stone, and some other minerals are found here.
"" The botany of this place is not peculiarly interesting. The forests are composed chiefly of oak, of all the common varieties, together' with some pine, maple, birch, hickory, elm, locust, and chesnut. Among the forest trees, or shrubs, perhaps, ought to be noticed several varieties of the box or cornel, especially the cornus florida and sericea, the barks of which. have been used with success as substitutes for the Peruvian."
Nagog Pond lying partly in Littleton is a beautiful collection of water. It is about a mile long, and is the source of Nashoba Brook. Grass Pond, lying south of Nagog, contains 133 acres. Nashoba and Fort Pond Brooks have been noticed in the history of Concord. On a branch of the former, which heads in West- ford and unites with the main stream near Mr. Stearns's, are Wheeler's and Foster's Mills, and Robins's after their junction. On the latter are Jones's and Faulkner's Mills. Assabet river runs across the southwest corner of the town, where Sherman's Mills are situate.
The Population in 1764 was 611, in 1790, including Carlisle, 853; in 1800, 901; in 1810, 885 ; in 1820, 1047 ; and in 1830, 1123.
In 1821, there were 140 dwelling-houses; 230 other build- ings ; 513 acres of tillage land, on which was raised 705 bushels of rye, 932 of oats, 5833 of corn, 75 of barley, and 140 of beans ; 1527 acres of mowing land, producing 956 tons of hay ; 2026 acres of pasturing, keeping 939 cows, 196 oxen, 69 horses, and 181 swine ; 2055 acres of wood ; 3633 acres unimproved ; and 1311 unimproveable ; 240 used as roads and 500 covered with water. It then had 3 grist-mills, 2 carding-machines, 2 fulling- mills, and 4 saw-mills. In 1325, there were 236 polls. Valuation, $8629.28.
The principal employment of the inhabitants is agriculture. Barrels may be considered the staple production of the town.
288
HISTORY OF ACTON.
From 15,000 to 20,000 of this article, it is estimated, are annually manufactured here, and this business is the source of considerable income.
During 20 years subsequent to 1800, there were published 208 intentions of marriages, and there occurred 161 marriages, 344 births (as recorded) ; 302 deaths, of whom 72 died under one year old, 32 were 80 and upwards, 8 were 90 and upwards, and 1 lived 992. The average number annually was 15, about one in 70 of the whole population. The mean average age was 35.
A Post Office was established here some time since and Mr. Perham appointed Post-Master; but it was not long continued. It was reestablished in 1828, and Silas Jones, Esq. is the Post- Master.
The following table exhibits the appropriations made for several objects at different periods in the town.
Object.
1750.
1760.
1770.
1780.
1790.
1800.
1810.
1820.
1830.
Minister
£50
£52
£70 £3,562
80
$353
353
630
Schools
13
12
24
2,000
49
333
450
450
450
Roads
26
70
60
800 120
400
500
600
800
Incidental
20
12
80 10,000 100
500 1,000 1,400
600
The first town School was kept in 1741, when it was voted to have "a reading, writing, and moving school for six months." In 1743 a similar one was established and £18 old tenor, equal to about £3 lawful money, was raised for its support. Whether this afforded the only means of education does not appear. It is probable some schools might have been supported by private subscription. Several youth, as was then customary, resorted to the clergyman, for their education. People, however, enjoyed few other opportunities than were afforded in their own families. In 1760 the town was divided into six school districts, and in 1771 into seven. In 1797 the town was divided into four dis- tricts, East, West, South, and Middle, and several new houses were built. This division has since been continued. The money is divided among the districts in proportion to the taxes. From the return made to the state in 1826, it appears, that the aggregate time of keeping the schools was 28 months, and that they were attended by 412 pupils, of whom 227 were males, and 185 females. 139 were under 7 years of age, 160 from 7 to 14, and 113 from 14 upwards.
289
MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.
The Acton Light Infantry was organized in 1805, and then consisted of 41 members including officers. The following gen- tlemen have since successively commanded this company. Paul Brooks, Simon Hosmer, Abijah Hayward, Silas Jones, James Jones, Aaron Hayward, Jonathan Hosmer, John Fletcher, John Handley, Jr., Simon Davis, Abel Furbish, George W. Tuttle, and Thomas Brown. This and a standing company compose the militia of the town.
The municipal officers of the town have not essentially varied from those of other towns. The Selectmen have uniformly been assessors and overseers of the poor, of whom the town clerk has been chairman.
TOWN CLERKS.
Thomas Wheeler
1735, 1736.
John Robbins
1808-1817.
Simon Hunt
1737-1743.
Joseph Noyes
1818.
Jonathan Hosmer
1744 -1755. John Robbins
1819, 1820.
John Davis, Jr.
1756, 1757.
Joseph Noyes 1821.
Jonathan Hosmer
1758-1761.
Abraham Conant 1822.
Francis Faulkner
1762-1796.
Francis Tuttle
1823 -1827.
Aaron Jones
1797.
Silas Jones
1828.
John Edwards
1798, 1799.
Stevens Hayward 1829.
David Barnard
1800-1807.
Francis Tuttle
1830.
REPRESENTATIVES.
Daniel Fletcher
1768.
Jonas Brooks
1804.
Josiah Hayward
1774,
1775.
Samuel Jones
1805, 1806.
Mark White
1776.
Jonas Brooks
1807 -1811.
Simon Hunt
1780.
Stevens Hayward 1812.
Francis Faulkner
1782-1785.
Joseph Noyes
1813-1818.
Thomas Noyes
1787 -1789.
Joseph Noyes
1821.
Ephraim Robbins
1790.
Francis Tuttle
1823-1827.
Jonas Brooks
1791-1802.
Stevens Hayward
1828, 1829.
Asa Parlin
1803.
Francis Tuttle
1830, 1831.
In 44`years, since the town was incorporated, it has not been represented. Dea. Ephraim Robbins and Asa Parlin, Esq. were of Carlisle, when it was a district of Acton. Capt. Daniel Fletcher was chosen a delegate to the convention in Boston, 22d of September, 1768; Francis Faulkner and Ephraim Hap- good, to the Provincial Congress in Concord, October, 1774 ; Josiah Hayward, to Cambridge, February, 1775, and again in May ; Francis Faulkner, to the Convention in Cambridge, for
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