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 7
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 7
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1676.]
From this time, which was more propitious to the Indians than any other, their success gradually diminished. This battle was the turning point. The principal body of the Indians, however, tarried in the vicinity of Groton, Lancaster, and Marlborough, whence they could easily make incursions to annoy the English.
On the 22d of April, the Council ordered 40 troopers out of Suf- folk, under command of Cornet Jacob Eliot ; and the same num- ber from Middlesex under Major Gookin, to march forthwith to Sudbury to make discovery, whether " the motion of the enemy be either toward Concord or Medfield," by visiting the bounds of those towns, and scouting through the woods. An attack on Con- cord had been expected,1 and this was one of the effectual means which were promptly taken to prevent it.
On the 26th, six cart-loads of provisions were sent by the gov- ernment to Concord, and John Flint was appointed commissary to take charge of them. The commander-in-chief engaged to be there the next day, making that his place of rendezvous. The fol- lowing original letter addressed to Gov. Leverett is deemed wor- thy of publication.
" Concord, April 29, 1676.
" Hon'd Sir. - By reason that I had not a guide to go with me, it was yesterday in the forenoon ere I reached this place, where I found a few men ; but ere night, all the commanders, and most of the soldiers that yet appeare, were come up with the provision. This day we rendezvoused and find a great defect, an account of which is here inclosed. Upon receipt of the Hon. Major Gen.'l's letter, I have by advice of the com- manders, as well for the ease of this town as the securing of as many as we can at present, ordered Capt. Sill to Chelmsford, Capt. Haughthorn to Bilrica, and Capt. Holbrook to abide here,
1 Tradition has handed down the following anecdote. A consultation among the Indian chiefs took place about this time on the high lands in Stow, and, as they cast their eyes toward Sudbury and Concord, a ques- tion arose which they should attack first. The decision was made to at- tack the former. One of the principal chiefs said - " We no prosper, if we go to Concord - the Great Spirit love that people - the evil spirit tell us not to go - they have a great man there - he great pray !" The Rev. Edward Bulkeley was then minister of the town, and his name and distin- guished character were known even to the red men of the forest.
60
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1676.
and proportioned the horse accordingly ; and am going myself to Chelmsford about some Indians to be ready in order to what is in my instructions, and shall wait for further orders as comman- der. I have not yet taken any of our provision, supposing it to be for us when in motion ; but it is expected by the inhabitants that we should spend thereof. I crave directions herein. Some things is much wanting and desired by the captains to be sent for, viz. flynts, tobacco, liquor, pipes. There is but 29 that appear- eth of my troop, and not above 7 carbines among them. I de- sire there may be a supply thereof ; as also a saddle and case of pistols for myself; having here borrowed a saddle and left the tree and skinn that was pressed for me. Colours wanting also for the troop and one company, and a trumpeter. Not any appearance of the 30 Norfolkmen. It is desired that some more of the Indians may be sent to us, hearing them at Chemsford are fortifying about a fishing-place there. A chyrurgeon with med- icaments is much expected also a minister ; the which I hope may be procured here. All the commanders, officers, and souldiers, express much cheerfullness, and have hopes that the defects will be made up ; that we may be in a better capacity to serve the country. I shall not further inlarge, but to begg your honors prayers for us. Remaining, Hon. S'r. your. humble servant.
D. HENCHMAN."
May 5th, the court addressed a letter to the Indians, request- ing them to meet the English at Concord or Boston, to find out their wishes, and try to effect a peace. Concord was now a dis- tinguished military post, and the centre of many of the opera- tions against the enemy.1
The detachments of soldiers for the relief of the frontier towns were frequent and heavy in May. Early in that month 80 from the troops of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex, were ordered to repair to Concord for the country service. On the 20th, 270 garrison soldiers from the same counties, were ordered to be stationed at the following " frontier towns for the better secu-
1 " May 12th, goodwife Devens. and goodwife Kether, upon ransom being paid, came into Concord ; and upon like ransom presented, John Morse of Groton. and Left. Carter of Lancaster were set at liberty ; and more without ransom, as goodman Emery, and his little boy."
Rev. Mr. Cobbet's letter in the Mather papers.
61
GENERAL HISTORY.
1676.] 1
rity of them from the incursions of the enemy." Concord 20, Sudbury 30, Chelmsford 20, Billerica 20, Andover 20, Haverhill 20, Bradford 10, Exeter 20, Medfield 30, Dedham 20, Milton 10, Braintree 15, Weymouth 15, Hingham 20. These soldiers were to be maintained at the cost of the several towns, and to be under the direction of the committees of militia.
Maj. Daniel Gookin succeeded Major Willard after his death in April, in command of the military forces in Middlesex ; Thom- as Clark was commander in Suffolk, and Daniel Denison in Es- sex ; all of whom were in Concord, May 30th. The following letter was addressed to Gov. Leverett.
" Concord, June 2, 1676.
" Hon. Sir, - I did hope with this to send up all the returns but have yet received only Capt. Pools here enclosed. The Major Gen'l was even wearied out about them ; and two Capts. beside myself still labouring under the toile. My Lt. gave his, as he tells me, to the Maj : Gen : the rest I shall dispatch. The reason of our stay here for two days Mr. Clark who is now going to Boston will make known, and what is now in hand, being by the unanimous advice of a council of war, and hopefull. Capt. Holbrook's return, received while writing, is also inclosed by
S'r Y'r Hon.'s humble servant, D. HENCHMAN."
Capt. Joseph Sill 1 commanded one of the companies which were at Concord several months, and was frequently sent out on scouts. His list was returned with those stated in the above letter.
Letter from the Council to Capt. Henchman, dated June 10, 1676.
" Capt. Henchman, - The bearer, John Hunter, with ten In- dians was intended a scout for Concord, but, through his much importunity and our persuasion of his capacity and intention upon the service, he is dispatched to the enemy, and in lieu of him and his party we send ten Indians to Concord, for the scout service, and if possible to attempt something upon Philip. In marching upward with him are several sachems, but few fighting men, and having
1 This officer was afterwards sent to the Eastward against the Indians. See Belknap, Hist. N. H. vol. i. p. 75.
62
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1676.
planted at Pacacheog and Quabadge, they will scarce depart thence. Deal kindly with Hunter, and as much as may be satis- fy him. His spleen seems to be such against Philip, that we are persuaded of his resolution against him."
About this time Capt. Henchman and his company left Con- cord. In a letter to the Council, dated Marlborough, 11th June, he says, " Some Indian scouts sent out this day have brought in Capt. Thom, his daughter, and two children, being found about ten miles to the soudest of this place. There was more of them, viz : two that were gone a fishing, so not lighted of. This com- pany with some others at other places, of which James Prenter 1 is one, did as they say leave the enemy by times in the spring with an intent to come in to the English, but dare not for fear of our scouts. These prisoners say that many of the enemy hereing that there was like to be a treaty with Samuel did intend to go in to him. Mr. Scott also coming from Concord yesterday informs me, that one of the old squaws there doth not question but that if shee may have liberty to go to Samuel, he and his company will come in to the English."
There had been a company of 80 Christian Indians, friends to the English, who had acted as spies, messengers, scouts, and soldiers during the war, whose officers were Capt. Andrew Pitti- mee, one of the owners of Concord Village ; Quanahpohkit, alias James Rumney Marsh ; John Magus ; and James Speen. On the 1st of June, they petitioned for the release of "Capt Thom, his son Nehemiah, his wife and two children, John Uktuck, his wife and children, Waanum and her child," who were prisoners of war. The women and children were released, but the others were executed. "Capt. Thom," say the minutes of their trial, " was not only an instigator to others, over whom he was made a captain, but also was actually present and an actor in the de- vastations of some of our plantations."2 Companies were sent
1 Is he not the same who is mentioned by Thomas, in his History of Prin- ting ?
2 Strict regard was paid to the rights of friendly Indians by the govern- ment. On the 6th of August, 3 squaws, and 3 children, were killed while picking whortleberries on a hill in Watertown, now in Lincoln. Two persons were executed for this murder. .
" Sept. 21, 1671, Stephen Gobble of Concord was executed for the mur- der of Indians. Three Indians for firing Eame's house and murder. The
63
GENERAL HISTORY.
1676.]
from this town towards Connecticut river in pursuit of Philip ; and after traversing the country in various directions for nearly two months without finding him, they proceeded towards Rhode Island, where, with the assistance of some other troops who join- ed them, they killed and captured 150 Indians.1 These and other instances of success encourged the English, and calmed the fury of the savages. After a year's absence Philip, reduced to a miserable condition, returned to his native place, near which he was killed, Aug. 12, 1676. One of his own men, whom he had offended, and who had deserted to the English, shot him through the heart. His death put an end to this most horrid and distressing war.
About 3000 warriors were combined for the destruction of New England, and the war terminated with their entire defeat, and almost total extinction. About 600 of the English inhabi- tants, the greatest part of whom were the flower and strength of the country, either fell in battle or were murdered by the ene- my. Twelve or thirteen towns were destroyed and about 600 houses burned.2
A tax was made this year for the support of the war from which the following items are extracted.3 In consequence of the losses sustained by Concord and Sudbury, their taxes were abated, Concord having £50 abated in May, 1676, and Sudbury £40.
Boston
£ 300 00
Lancaster
£11 16 0
Charlestown
180 0 0
Woburn
25 18 1
Watertown
45 0 0
Marlborough
17 13 0
Cambridge
42 2 0
Chelmsford
14 18 0
Concord
33 19 1
Billerica
14 70
Sudbury
20 00
Groton
11 10 0
weather was cloudy and rawly cold, though little or no rain. Mr. Mighil prayed. 4 others set on the the gallows - two men and 2 impudent wo- men ; one of which laughed on the gallows, as many testified."
" Sept. 26, 1676, Sagamore Sam goes, and Daniel Gobble is drawn in a cart upon bed-clothes to execution. One-ey'd John, Maliompe, Sagamore of Quaboag, gen'l at Lancaster &c. Jethro (the father) walked to the gal- lows. One-ey'd John accuses Sag. John to have fired the first gun at Quaboag and killed Capt. Hutchinson." Sewall's MS. Journal.
1 Hubbard. 2 Trumbull, vol. i. p. 350 ; Holmes's, Annals of America, i. 384.
3 Colony Records.
64
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1684.
On the 22d of Jan. 1677, the government made allowance to the people distressed by the war in Massachusetts ; and allot- ted to the selectmen of the several towns in proportion to their losses, out of the "Irish Charity," in "meal, oatmeal, wheat, malt at 18s. per ball, butter 6d. and cheese 4d. per pound." In the list accompanying this order the following towns appear. 1
Towns.
Families. Persons.
Amount.
Towns.
Families. Persons.
Amount.
Charlestown 29
102
£15 6
Sudbury
12
48
£7 8
Watertown
19
76
11 8
Woburn
8
43
6 9
Cambridge
14
61
9 3
Billerica
1
4
0 12
Concord
18
72
10 16
Boston
125
432
66 6
CHAPTER V.
Year 1684 important. - Bloods' Farms annexed to Concord. - The Ffty subse- quent Years. - Lovewell's Fight. - Cuba Expedition. - French War. - No- tices of various Services in the War. - Divisions in the Town and Incorpo- ration of new Towns. - Emigration to other Places.
THE events just detailed reduced the number of the Indians, and prepared the way for the more safe and peaceable settlement of remote towns. Most of the temporary residents in Concord removed to other places, but some became permanent settlers here ; and the population had increased. The Prescots, Lees, Minots, Whittemores, Wilsons, &c. who settled here between 1675 and 1700, were subsequently distinguished in the town.
The year 1684 was a time of great distress in the colony. The people were told that the titles to their lands were forfeited with their charter, and now belonged to the king. Under this pretence they were called upon to take out new patents for their lands, subject to such fines as should be imposed ; and writs of ejectment were brought against such as refused to put them out of their possession. This was tyranny with a witness ! 2 - Un- der these circumstances the depositions and deeds from the Indi- ans already given, were obtained.3
1 The whole list is published in the N. H. Hist. Coll. vol. iii. pp. 102, 103.
2 Murray vol. i. p. 144. 3 See page. 7, 8, 41, 42.
65
GENERAL HISTORY.
1684.]
Some difficulties having arisen between the town of Concord and Robert Blood, sen. respecting the payment of civil and ec- clesiastical dues, an agreement was made, on the 17th of March, 1685, between him and the Hon. Peter Bulkeley, Henry Wood- house, and John Smeadly, sen. in behalf of the town, by which Bloods' Farms, now comprising a large part of the present town of Carlisle, were annexed to Concord. This agreement, an ex- tract of which is given below, was assented to by Robert Blood, jun. and Simon Blood, sons of Robert Blood. It specifies : -
" 1. That the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, living within any peculiar, shall be from time to time freed and exempted from all town offices, and also from town rates (except what con- cerns the repairing of the meeting-house or building upon that account) provided the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, have no benefit or profit accruing to them from the said town rates.
" 2. That in rates for the ministry the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, living within any peculiar (as aforesaid) shall bee exemp- ted from the duty laid on waste land, and that in other respects the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, shall pay to the ministry according to the rule and custom of the said town.
"3. That the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, shall (at the charge of the said town) as occasion doth require, have high- ways according to law laid out for them in order to their conven- ient passing to and from the said town.
" 4. That the said Robert, his heirs and assignes, shall have meet places assigned to them in the meeting-house of the said town."
These proceedings distinguish the period from 1684 to 1686 as very important in the history of the town. From this time its jurisdiction extended over a large territory, including the original purchase, the " Village, or New Grant," part of Littleton, and Bloods' and Willard's farms ; which was continu- ed till the incorporation of other towns in which parts of this territory were included.
During the fifty subsequent years few important events mark the history of the town. The generation who first emigrated from England had nearly all departed, and others taken their places ; but with habits and education somewhat different from their fath- ers and peculiar to their own period. Compelled to labor hard to supply their own necessities, parents had little time or ability to edu-
9
66
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1711.
cate their children, and the people generally were, in consequence, less enlightened than the first settlers. More signed legal instru- ments by their marks at this than at any other period. Their history (and such is the history of the country generally) exhibits this as the dark age of New England. Superstition and supposed witchcraft now prevailed. Concord, however, was not a bewitched town; it never took a part in that horrible delusion. The increase in num- bers, wealth, and intellectual improvement of the people, was subsequently slow, but progressive.
The government was under the direction of the arbitrary Sir Edmund Andros from 1687 to 1689. He became so unpopular, however, that the people, assembling in Boston in April, 1689, seized and confined him. A company went from Concord under Lieut. John Heald. In this state of affairs the wishes of the people, in relation to the government, were solicited, and Con- cord voted, May 22, " for the old authority chosen and sworn in the year 1686, with the deputies then chosen and sent to the Court to resume their places." The new province charter was soon after obtained.
A large number of men from Concord took a part in the wars of William and Mary and of Queen Anne, and in the various expedi- tions against the Indians from 1688 to 1740 ; and many died. But our printed and manuscript histories of those times are so imperfect, that I am unable to state the extent of the services they rendered, or the names of many of the sufferers.
Capt. Joseph Bulkeley with a company of 51 soldiers, chiefly from Concord, was engaged at Groton, Lancaster, and other fron- tier towns in 1704. Penhallow remarks that " Capt. Prescott, Bulkeley, and Willard, with their companies, were so vigorous in pursuing the enemy that they put them all to flight." The ac- count of provisions furnished to this company mentions among others the names of " Mr. Choat, Dr. Simon Davis," and several Indians.
Dunstable, Groton, Lancaster, and other frontier towns, were often attacked by the Indians from 1694 to 1712, and many of the inhabitants were killed or carried into captivity. Sometimes they extended their incursions to Chelmsford and Sudbury. - Maj. Tyng was wounded by them in 1711 between Groton and Con- cord, and came to the latter town, where he died. It was ne-
67
GENERAL HISTORY.
1725.]
cessary at all times to maintain scouts, garrison-houses, and forts to protect the inhabitants. Some of the citizens of Concord were constantly employed in this manner. Nothing, however, is known to have occurred of much interest to the inhabitants till 1725.
One of the most fierce and obstinate battles in the annals of Indian warfare was fought May 8, 1725, at Pigwacket, near Fryeburg, on Saco river. The Indians in that vicinity had be- come troublesome ; and rewards were offered for their scalps. Capt. Lovewell with a company of men had killed 10 of them, and received at Boston £100 each for their scalps. Encourag- ed by this success, he organized another company of 47 men to attack the villages of Pigwacket. They marched from Dunsta- ble, April 16th. After proceeding to Ossipee pond, they built a fort. Benjamin Kidder, being taken sick, was left there, and also William Ayer, surgeon of the company, Nathaniel Woods, Zach- ariah Parker, John Goffe, Isaac Whitney, Obadiah Asten, and some others ; and were not in the battle. Thirty-three proceeded on ; and when they arrived near a point of land extending into Saco pond, they were attacked ; and during a most desperate battle 15 of them were killed, or mortally wounded ; 9 others were wounded, but were able to march. Paugus, the bold Indian chief, was killed by John Chamberlain under circumstances of bravery, which have consigned their names, to the lasting rememberance of posterity.
The following are the names of this company.1 From Dunsta- ble, Capt. * John Lovewell ; Lieutenants, + Josiah Farwell and * Jonathan Robbins ; Ensign, * John Harwood ; Sergeants, Į Noah Johnson, * Robert Usher, and # Samuel Whiting. - From Ando- ver, + Jonathan Frye, Chaplain. - From Weston, Sergeant * Jacob Fullam. - From Nutfield, Corporal Edward Lynnfield. - From Woburn, Ensign Seth Wyman, Thomas Richardson, į Timothy Richardson, * Ichabod Johnson, ¿ Josiah Johnson. - From CON- CORD, Į Eleazer Davis, * Josiah Davis, Į Josiah Jones, David Mel- vin, Eleazer Melvin, * Jacob Farrar, and Joseph Farrar. - From Billerica, * Jonathan Kittridge and į Solomon Kies. - From Gro- ton, * John Jefts, * Daniel Woods, * Thomas Woods, # John Cham- berlain, + Elias Barron, ¿ Isaac Lakin, and Joseph Gilsom. - And from Haverhill, Ebenezer Ayer and Atiel Asten.
1 I have prefixed an * to those who were killed on the spot; a + to the wounded and lost on the way ; and a # to the other wounded.
68
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1725.
A remnant of the company returned by the fort and arrived in Dunstable, May 15th. Four others, Davis, Jones, Fry, and Farwell, were left behind to endure the most excruciating suffer- ing. After waiting several days, expecting that some one would return to their assistance, they proceeded on, though their wounds had become putrid and offensive, and they themselves nearly exhausted by hunger. After travelling several miles Fry was left and lost. Farwell was also lost a few miles from the fort. Eleazer Davis, after being out 14 days, came in to Berwick. He was wounded in the abdomen, and the ball lodged in his body. He also had his right hand shot off. A tradition says, that arriv- ing at a pond with Lieut. Farweil, Davis pulled off one of his moc- casins, cut it in strings on which he fastened a hook, caught some fish, fried, and ate them. They refreshed him, but were injuri- ous to Farwell, who died soon after. Josiah Jones, another of the four, was wounded with a ball, which lodged in his body. After being out 14 days, in hourly expectation of perishing, he arrived at Saco, " emaciated and almost dead from the loss of blood, the putrefaction of his wounds, and the want of food. He had subsisted on the spontaneous vegetables of the forest ; and cranberries, which he had eaten, came out of wounds he had received in his body." 1 This is said to have been the case with Davis. He recovered, but became a cripple. Davis, Jones, John- son, and several others of the unfortunate sufferers in this com- pany, and their widows, were pensioners on the Province many years ; and the Journals of the General Court show that they were treated with liberality. The township of Pembroke, N. H., originally Suncook, was granted them for their services, on the petition of David-Melvin and 30 others, in 1729.2
War was declared by Great Britain against Spain in Oct. 23, 1739, and the next year the expedition against Cuba was undertaken. The inhabitants of the colonies were invited to embark in it. In presenting the subject to the General Court, and urging prepara- tions to be made for 1000 men, Gov. Belcher said, " it would open
1 Smith's Journal. pp. 141, 142.
2 Some of these facts, beautifully dressed up in fiction, in which Cham- berlain is erroneously said to be from New Hampshire, were published in the Philadelphia " Album," in 1828. Another paper, describing the enmity of young Paugus towards Chamberlain, was published in "The Atlantic
69
GENERAL HISTORY.
1740.]
a more extensive, rich, and beneficial trade for ourselves in the West Indies than we have yet enjoyed." This, and the promise of booty, and lands in Cuba, as bounties to individual soldiers, and expectations of being settled there, were the most plausible rea- sons for engaging in this most unfortunate enterprise. Though the General Court treated the wishes of the governor rather coolly, yet five companies of 100 men each were raised, and put under the command of Captains John Prescott of Concord, David Goffe, Thomas Phillips, George Stuart, and John Winslow. The governor himself paid the expenses of one company, and Winslow paid that of his own. They embarked Sept. 23, 1740. Hon. Wm. Gouch of Virginia was Colonel of the regiment ; Hon. Henry Cope, Lt. Colonel ; Wm. Blakeley, Adj. General. Gen. Thomas Went- worth commanded the land forces at Cuba ; and Admiral Edward Vernon,1 the fleet. The whole expedition was under Lord Cath- cart.
After arriving at Cuba, several unsuccessful attempts to accom- plish the objects of the expedition were made. Many of the Americans were taken sick and died. They were placed on board
Souvenir," in 1829. From the former I extract an account of the interview between Chamberlain and Paugus, which is substantially confirmed by tradition. In the engagement their guns had become foul. While wash- ing his out, Chamberlain discovered Paugus, whom he personally knew, engaged in the same act.
" They slowly and with equal movements cleansed their guns, and took their stations on the outer border of the beach. 'Now Paugus,' said Chamberlain, 'I'll have you ;' and with the quickness and steadiness of an old hunter sprung to loading his rifle. 'Na - na - me have you,' re- plied Paugus, and he handled his gun with a dexterity, that made the bold heart of Chamberlain beat quick, and he almost raised his eye to take his last look upon the sun. They rammed their cartridges, and each at the same instant cast his ramrod upon the sand. 'I'll have you, Paugus,' shout- ed Chamberlain, as in his desperation he almost resolved to rush upon the savage, with the breech of his rifle, lest he should receive his bullets be- fore he could load. The woods across the pond echoed back the shout. Paugus trembled as he applied his powder-horn to the priming ; Chamber- lain heard the grains of his powder rattle lightly upon the leaves beneath his feet. Chamberlain struck his gun breech violently upon the ground - the rifle primed herself; he aimed, and his bullets whistled through the heart of Paugus. He fell, and as he went down, the bullet from the mouth of his ascending rifle touched the hair upon the crown of Chamberlain, and passed off without avenging the death of its dreadful master."
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