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 8
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 8
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1 Mount Vernon, Washington's residence, was named for him.
.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1740.
Vernon's fleet, and received such treatment as called forth fre- quent complaints. They were separated into different vessels and compelled to sail among the West India islands ; 468 were on board July 6, 1742. It was not long before the remnant, who had not fallen a sacrifice to the climate and other hardships, re- turned to this country, without accomplishing any of their original intentions. They were paid off and dismissed, Oct. 24, 1742. The expedition cost the province £37,500 currency, equal to £7,000 sterling.1 Of the 500 men from Massachusetts, 50 only returned. Fifteen, beside Capt. Prescott, went from Concord ; three only returned, - Jonathan Heywood, Eben. Lampson, and Henry Yours. Tradition says that Thomas Barnes, Zachariah Blood, Nathaniel Monroe, Sergeant Benjamin Pollard, Aaron Lyon, and Darius Wheeler, were among those who died there.
The period from 1744 to 1760, was' remarkable for the large drafts of men and money from the town to carry on that series of wars, which then took place between the Indians and French on one part, and the English and Americans on the other. Col. John Flint had commanded the regiment of militia in which Concord was included ; and was succeeded by Col. Buckminster of Framing- ham about 1735. The Hon. James Minott was Lieut. Colonel, and succeeded to the command in 1756. Most of the orders for men passed through his hands. There were three foot companies and a troop in Concord ; and all the able-bodied men from 16 to 60 years of age were enrolled. They, as well as their arms, were pressed into the service when required. Sometimes whole companies were call- ed upon to perform actual service at once ; and few escaped the call · at some time, either to go themselves, or furnish a substitute, in those troublesome wars. What precise amount of service was rendered by Concord, it is impossible now to ascertain ; and the insulated facts about to be given present a very imperfect view of the subject.
Massachusetts furnished 3,250 men in 1745 for the reduction of Louisburg. David Melvin of Concord commanded a company
1 Vernon's Letters. Holmes's Annals. The other members of Capt. Prescott's company were enlisted from the neighbouring towns. Twelve went from Hopkinton; 1 Mass. Hist. Coll. vol. iv. p. 16, where the year is erroneously stated to be 1746. See a further notice of Prescott under the head of College Graduates.
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1748.]
there, and received a wound, of which he died Nov. 18, 1745, in his 57th year, after his return home. Benjamin Prescott, son of Dr. Jonathan Prescott, was killed there in the May previous. Amos Row was also killed, and Samuel Wood was sick, and be- came disabled. Eleazer Melvin, a brother of the above, was a lieutenant there, and engaged as captain in several subsequent cam- paigns. During a year from Oct. 1746, he was out, and marched on an " intended expedition to Canada " with a considerable num- ber of soldiers from Concord. Joseph Buttrick was clerk of the company. After one of their marches, called the long march, in which he went to Canada, he returned, and with 25 men went to Lunenburg for the protection of that town, some persons having been taken by the Indians there a short time before. From March to September, 1747, he was stationed at Northfield. Humphrey Hobbs was his lieutenant, and Thomas Fletcher of Concord, en- sign ; Benjamin Hoar, Benjamin Kidder, and Alexander Heald, ser- geants. Capt. Melvin, with a party of 26 men, went out through the woods in May as far as Crown Point, where he killed several In- dians ; and on his return home, at the head of West river, about 35 miles from Northfield, he was surprised and attacked by a party of Indians, who killed six of his men (John Hayward, John Dodd, Daniel Mann, Isaac Taylor, Joseph Petty, and Samuel Severance.) The others escaped.1 John Hoar was captured in an engagement at Fort Dummer July 14, 1748, and remained with the Indians three months. Mark Perkins was also carried into captivity. Mr. Melvin died October 18, 1754, aged 52. He was son of John Melvin, who died 1724, aged 74. Grandchildren of his are now living.
On the 23d of September, 1746, a company of 50 men were detached and marched to Boston on an alarm, on account of an expected attack from the French fleet under the Duke D'Anville. They returned in ten days. Joseph Hubbard was captain ; Joshua Brooks, lieutenant ; Jonathan Billings, ensign ; Stephen Wesson, Amos Heald, Hezekiah Stratten, and Stephen Hosmer, sergeants ; John Miles and Ebenezer Meriam, clerks ; Nathaniel Colburn, Jonas Heywood, Henry Gould, and Nathan Miles, corporals.
The following names of individuals from Concord, in the expedi- tion to Nova Scotia in May, 1755, appear in Winslow's Army Rec-
1 Doolittle's Narrative, p. 17. Journal of the General Court.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD. [1756.
ords. Charles Bulkeley and Timothy Wheeler, 1st and 2d lieuten- ants in Capt. Osgood's company ; and James Fletcher, Samuel Brown, Thomas Brown, Wm. Wilson, Wm. Stephens, Joseph Blanchard, John Knowlton, Nathaniel Carter, Wm. Barker, Jona- than Conant, Nicholas Brown, and William Corey, privates.
Ephraim Jones then commanded a company of 92 men. Jacob Melvin, Nathan Melvin, and Ezekiel Brown were sergeants ; Samuel Chandler, corporal ; and Deliverance Davis, drummer. Nine pri- vates besides in this company were from Concord. Peter Prescott also commanded a company there. Daniel Brooks was taken cap- tive near the Bay of Fundy, April 26, 1756.
Capt. Stephen Hosmer commanded a company at Fort Edward. He left Concord in September, and returned in December, 1755. Jonathan Hoar, one of the native graduates, was a major in this ex- pedition. Col. James Minott was also there. The Rev. Mr. Bowes, who had been minister of Bedford, was chaplain of the regiment. The journal of Capt. Hosmer is before me. While at Fort Edward, he says : " Nov. 1st. -- Sat in a court of enquiry on the complaint of Maj. Hoar against Col. Gilbert." " Nov. 9. - Sabbath ; Rev. Mr. Bowes preached." "Nov. 23d. - Col. Minott and the rest of the commissioners arrived." "Nov. 27th. - Maj. Richardson died at evening." A company from Acton, under Capt. Gershom Davis, was mustered with one of the Concord companies in this town, September, 1755, and soon after marched for Fort Edward.
Jonathan Hoar was lieutenant-colonel in the expedition to Crown Point in 1756, and aid to Maj. Gen. Winslow. Capt. Peter Pres- cott was there, and was left at Lake George to take care of the sick.
Capt. Jonathan Brooks, with 30 men from this town, marched on aların for the relief of Fort William Henry, Aug. 17, 1757. They went only to Palmer, and returned in ten days. Oliver Miles was out there three months, being wounded, taken prisoner, stripped naked, and treated in a very cruel manner. Robert Easta- brook, Jonathan Harris, jr., Joseph Wheeler, and several others were taken at Fort Edward. The Journal of the General Court gives the following names of "sick and wounded soldiers" in the Crown Point expedition from this town, who received aid from government : Amos Parlin, Daniel Brown, drummer, Stephen Hosmer, Wm. Richardson, John Barker, Samuel Brewer, Sam- uel Wheeler, Samuel Buttrick, Jonathan Buttrick, Amos Hos-
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1758.]
mer, Thomas Billings, Ephraim Brooks, Ephraim Stow, Samuel Eastabrook, John Robbins, Boaz Brown, Daniel Brewer, Solomon Whitney, Peter Prescott, Timothy Barrett, Consider Soper, Wm. Pool, John Savage.
Dr. John Cuming, a Lieut. Colonel in the northern expedition, in 1758, was wounded, and taken prisoner. Daniel Fletcher, a cap- tain from Acton, was also treated in like manner. Capt. Samuel Dakin, grandfather to Dea. Dakin of Sudbury, was killed near Half- way Brook, July 20, 1758. James Hosmer, brother to the late Elijah Hosmer, was killed at Fort Miller. Phineas Wheeler of Ac- ton, son of Samuel Wheeler, Boaz Brown, and Timothy Heald of Concord were killed in Major Rogers's fight, 1758. Abel Farrar died, Nov. 4. 1758, at Lake George. He had been taken pris- oner at Fort Miller, April 9th. Abel Marshal died at Albany, Sept. 20, 1758.
The following " sick and wounded soldiers," says the Journal of the General Court, received aid from the government. Danforth Howard, John Barker, James Dudley, Zachariah Davis, Reuben Hosmer, Francis Wheeler, John Barnes, John Darby, John Cragin, and Wm. Eaton. Jonathan Harris died at Crown Point, Nov. 8, 1761. Thomas Brown and John Flagg died in the public service, in 1762 ; and John Savage died abroad of the small-pox.
Jonathan Hoar was Lieut. Colonel in the expedition to Nova Scotia, in 1760. He sailed for that place from Boston, May 10, 1762, as Colonel, with 500 men, 16 of whom were from Concord.
During the period under review in this chapter several divisions were made in the town. Littleton, Bedford, Acton, and Lincoln were incorporated. The proceedings in relation to several of these towns will be given in their respective histories. Some facts, however, may be properly stated here.
Littleton, about half of which had belonged to Concord, was in- corporated, Dec. 3, 1715, sixty years after it was first granted to the Indians and to the English. The first minister was ordained, Dec. 25, 1717, when it is probable the church was organized. March 4, 1717, " four families living on the farms called Nashobah, namely, Walter Powers, John Powers, David Russell, and John Meriam, were dismissed from the minister's rates in Concord for three years ensuing." In May, 1720, they were freed seven years longer, 10
74
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1746.
Twenty-two of the inhabitants of Concord and Chelmsford peti- tioned the General Court, May, 1721, to be annexed to Littleton. A similar petition was made, in 1725, and granted, so far as relates to Concord; the six families belonging to Chelmsford to con- tinue in the west parish of that town.
When a new town was proposed to be erected, it was customary first to obtain liberty of the town from which it was to be taken, and afterwards of the General Court. When leave could not be thus obtained, a petition was presented directly to the Court. Bedford was incorporated, Sept. 23, 1729, and Acton, July 3, 1735, after having belonged to Concord about 100 years, without opposition from the mother town. Thirty-one persons petitioned, Feb. 6, 1738, to have all the land lying northwesterly of the North river set off as a separate township. Fifteen remonstrated, and the petition was not granted. It was renewed in March, " there being 80 families north of the river, and able to build a meeting-house ; " but it again met with a like fate.
After repeatedly petitioning the town and the General Court, the southeasterly part became a precinct, in 1746, and a town, called Lincoln, April 19, 1754. The north part of the town was incor- porated, in 1754, as the District of Carlisle ; but, the inhabitants not being able to agree where to place the meeting-house, it was set back again after three years. Several of the opposers of the Rev. Mr. Bliss lived in the southwest part of the town, and a petition was presented, Jan. 4, 1750, for liberty to set up public worship among themselves, but it was not granted. .
The ostensible reason of those, who had endeavoured to be sepa- rated from the main society, was their remoteness from public wor- ship. This was true in some cases, but not always. The cause is rather to be found in the internal divisions, which will be more par- ticularly described in the Ecclesiastical History.
Another peculiar feature of the period under review is seen in the spirit of emigration which was excited. The discoveries made by those, who had been engaged in the public military service, as was the case in the revolutionary and in the last war, induced many to seek other places, than their native soil, to obtain subsistence and wealth. Hence we find that an unusual number of new towns were settled about that time. Many of the worthy sons of Concord left their native homes; and many towns in Worcester County and
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1746.]
other places westerly in Massachusetts, in New Hampshire, in Ver- mont, and in Maine, now give evidence that they and their de- scendants were a hardy and industrious race of men.
June, 1723, Thomas Howe and 64 others of Marlborough, Stow, and Concord, petitioned for a township of land west of Rutland. The August succeeding, Gershom Rice and 65 others, part of whom were from Concord, petitioned for land between " Turkey Hills and Rutland, including Wachusett." In the same year James Watson, Samuel Hill, Zerubabel Eager, and 32 others, inhabitants of Con- cord, Sudbury, Marlborough, and Stow, petitioned for liberty to purchase land of the Indians at Hassanamisco (Grafton).1 Samuel Chandler of Concord renewed the petition, June 3, 1726. Turkey Hills, now comprising part of Townsend, Ashby, Fitchburg, and Lunenburg, were granted principally to the Concord petitioners. Narraganset township, No. 6, lying west of Pembroke, N. H., was granted in 1733 to Concord and 13 other towns, for services ren- dered in Philip's war, in 1676. Dec. 3, 1735, a township of land " on the east side of Connecticut river below the great falls," was granted to John Flint and others of Concord, Groton, and Little- ton. This might have been Keene, since the proprietors of that town held several early meetings in Concord, and Samuel Hey- wood of Concord was proprietor's clerk. Ephraim Jones and Daniel Adams of Concord, in 1737, cut out a road from Town- send to Ashuelot river, and asked the General Court to pay for it. Refused. Dec. 6, 1737, a township, " eastward of Monadnock hills on the southern branch of Contoocook river," was granted to Samuel Heywood, Joseph Wheeler, Joseph Barrett, and sundry other inhabitants of Concord. Jonathan Prescott, one of the grantees, called the first meeting. This township might have been Peterborough, which was afterwards principally owned, and was named, by Peter Prescott of Concord. Dr. John Cuming, Charles Prescott, and Joseph Hayward had township No. 5, now includ- ing Cummington and Plainfield, granted them in 1762.
These are a few of many instances in which the enterprising citizens of Concord were interested in the grants and settlements of new townships in the then remote wilderness.
1 Christopher C. Baldwin, Esq. has kindly furnished me with a list of the proprietors of Grafton in 1728 ; of whom the following were from Concord : John Flint, Benjamin Barrett, Ebenezer Wheeler, Joseph Barrett, Eleazer Flagg, Joseph Meriam, Jacob Taylor, Samuel Chandler, John Hunt, and Joseph Taylor.
76
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1767.
CHAPTER VI.
American Revolution. - Proceedings of the Town. - Act respecting Tea. - Non-consumption Covenant. - Sentiments of the People. - County Conven- tion. - People march to Cambridge. - Courts stopped. - Treatment of the Tories. - Proceedings of the Town. - Provincial Congress meets - Public Stores. - New Town Covenant. - Minute Companies formed. - Mr. Emer- son preaches. - Expedition of the British Spies. - Provincial Congress. - Public Stores. - Excitement.
THE most interesting period in the history of the United States is undoubtedly that in which they shook off their allegiance to Great Britain, and assumed the right of governing themselves. Much of the spirit of those times may be known from a general survey of the country, and especially the state of Massachusetts ; but the main springs of that great revolution, the feelings and acts of the people, are best understood from the minute histories of the towns. All, however, are not equally interesting. Some from their locality, accidental occurrences, or peculiar patriotism, were more distinguished than others ; and such, from some of these circumstances, is Concord. The events of the 19th of April, 1775, the proceedings of various state and county conventions held here, and especially the proceedings of the town, would afford matter for an interesting volume ; and give to the history of Concord more than ordinary value. Though I shall draw libe- rally from all my sources of information, this history can con- tain a small part only of the important productions of those eventful times.
From the commencement of the controversy between England and the colonies, the citizens of Concord took a rational but de- cided stand in favor of liberty. They watched with interest the progress of this controversy, and did not fail to express their dis- approbation of the obnoxious acts of the British Parliament. As early as October, 1767, the town instructed their representative
. to oppose the operation of the stamp act, and to unite in all con- stitutional measures, that might be taken to obtain its repeal. In Dec. 1767, the selectmen were chosen a committee to consider and report on those measures, " which threaten the country with poverty and ruin." After accepting their report, the town voted, " to encourage industry, economy, frugality, and manufactures,
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1772.]
at home and abroad, and to prevent purchasing so much as we have done of foreign commodities." Capt. James Barrett was chosen a delegate to the convention held in Boston, Sept. 22, 1763, " to consult on the best measures for the good of the prov- ince in this critical day." The spirit of liberty was thus early and effectually kindled in Concord.
The address of the citizens of Boston, of the 20th of Nov. 1772, relating to the distressed state of the Province, was laid before this town, Dec. 20th following ; and a committee, consist- ing of Mr. Joseph Lee, Charles Prescott Esq., John Cuming, Esq., Daniel Bliss Esq., Mr. John Flint, Dea. Thomas Barrett, Capt. Stephen Hosmer, Capt. James Barrett, and Mr. Ephraim Wood, jr., was chosen to prepare an answer, and instructions to the representative of the town. Their reports, made at an ad- journed meeting, Jan. 11, 1773, " after being several times read, and very coolly and deliberately debated upon," were unanimously accepted in full town-meeting. They appear at length on the town records, and express " firm attachment and ardent love to our Most Gracious Sovereign, King George, in defence of whose person and dignity we are always ready, not only to spend our fortunes but our lives, while we are in the enjoyment of our inestimable privileges, granted to us by royal charter :" but specify at the same time several ways in which these privileges have been cur- tailed and the charter violated. " As men," they said, " we have a right to life, liberty, and property ; as Christians, we, in this land, (blessed be God for it) have a right to worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences ; and as sub- jects, we have a right to personal security, personal liberty, and private property. These principal rights we have as subjects of Great Britain ; and no power on earth can, agreeably to our con- stitution, take them from us, or any part of them without our consent." They denied the power of Parliament to tax them without their consent, and expressed their firm determination, " never tamely to submit " to any infringement of their liberties. Several other meetings were held during this year.
The act of Parliament in relation to exporting tea into the colonies, was laid before the town, 20th of Jan. 1774, and refer- red to a committee. Their report, made at an adjourned meet- ing, held four days afterwards, was, after full discussion, unani-
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1774.
mously accepted. It breathes a tone of ardent patriotism and fearless independence, worthy of the age in which it was produced.
" This town, at this and a former meeting, taking into serious consideration the present alarming situation of our public affairs, in consequence of the advice received from the united committees of correspondence in the vicinity of Boston, communicated to us, do, expressive of our gratitude to them, freely and cheerfully give our sentiments thereon.
" We cannot possibly view with indifference the past and pres- ent obstinate and unwearied endeavours of the enemies of this, as well as the mother country, to rob us of our inestimable rights, that are the distinguishing glory and felicity of this land ; - RIGHTS that we are obliged to no power under heaven for the enjoyment of, as they are primarily the sole purchase, and glorious product of the heroic enterprises of the first settlers of these American col- onies, under the smiles of Heaven. And though we cannot but be alarmed at the great majority in the British Parliament, for the imposition of unconstitutional taxes upon the colonies, yet it gives life and strength to every attempt in opposing such des- potic measures, that not only the people of this but the neigh- bouring provinces (a few only excepted) are remarkably united in the important and interesting opposition, which, as it succeeded before in some measure, by the blessing of Heaven, so we can- not but hope will be attended with still greater success for the future. Animated with such a prospect, we cheerfully come into the following resolves.
" Resolved, 1. That these colonies have been, and are still, ille- gally and unconstitutionally taxed by the British Parliament, as they are not really or virtually represented therein.
" 2. That purchasing commodities subject to such illegal taxa- tion is an implicit, though an impious and sordid, resignation of the liberties and privileges of this free and happy people.
"3. That as the British Parliament, in addition to repeated in- croachments on our liberties, have empowered the East India Company to export their tea into America, subject to a duty for the sole purpose of raising a revenue, which we view as a new invention, inadvertently to catch us in those chains of slavery, that have long been forged for that purpose, therefore, - We, to render such vile designs abortive, absolutely and determinately resolve,
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GENERAL HISTORY.
1774.]
" 4. That we will not, either by ourselves or any from or under us, buy, sell, or use any of the East India Company's tea, im- ported from Great Britain ; or any other tea, while there is a duty thereon, affixed by act of Parliament for raising a revenue in America ; neither will we suffer any such tea to be made use of in any of our families. Also resolved, that all such persons as shall purchase, or sell, or use any such tea, shall be for the future deemed unfriendly, and inimical to the happy constitution of this country.
" 5. That we will, in conjunction with our brethren in America, risk our fortunes, and even our lives, in defence of his Majesty, King George the Third, his person, crown, and dignity ; and will also, with the same resolution, as his free-born subjects in this country, to the utmost of our power and ability, defend all our charter rights, that they may be transmitted inviolate to the latest posterity.
"6. That if any person or persons whatsoever, inhabitants of this province, shall for the future, so long as there is a duty on tea, import any from the India House in England, or shall be factors for the East India Company, we will treat them as enemies to their country, and with contempt and detestation.
" 7. That we think it our duty, at this critical time of our public affairs, to return our hearty thanks to the town of Boston, for every rational measure they have taken for the preservation or recovery of our invaluable rights and liberties. And, should the state of our public affairs require it, we hope they will still remain watchful, vigilant, and persevering, with a steady zeal, to espy out every thing that shall have a tendency to subvert our happy constitution.
EPHRAIM WOOD, JR. JOHN FLINT Committee. TIMOTHY WHEELER, JR.
Concord, Jan, 24, 1774."
Another similar document, showing the peculiar feelings of those times, was the non-consumption covenant. This was con- sidered and adopted at a town-meeting, June 27, 1774; and was signed by more than 300 voters.
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HISTORY OF CONCORD.
[1774.
" We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Concord, hav- ing taken into our serious consideration the precarious state of the liberties of North America, and more especially the present dis- tressed condition of this insulted province, embarrassed as it is by several acts of the British Parliament, tending to the entire sub- version of our natural and charter rights ; among which is the act for blocking up the harbour of Boston : And fully sensible of our indispensable duty to lay hold on every means in our power, to preserve and recover the much injured constitution of our coun- try ; and conscious at the same time of no alternative between the horrors of slavery, and the carnage and desolation of a civil war, but a suspension of all commercial intercourse with the Island of Great Britain : do in the presence of God, solemnly, and in good faith, covenant and engage with each other : -
"1. That from henceforth we will suspend all commercial inter- course with the Island of Great Britain, until the said act for blocking up the said harbour be repealed, and a restoration of our charter rights be obtained.
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