USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 23
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ton a wide berth ; but one day they met in Roxbury, and Whiston called his companion to account for such conduct, and asked him if there was any of the rum left. He replied, no ; he drank it all, and there was not half enough. Whiston then asked if he would not pay him for his share; but his reply was, "No, I think I earned it by carrying it." Whiston generally went by the name of Whetstone, and is remembered by our older citizens.
Ezekiel Tileston was in the army at Cambridge, and shortly after the battle at Bunker Hill, being on the marshes with a comrade, fired his musket at a company of British just passing the brow of that hill. Afterwards he fired at the Glasgow frigate, lying in the stream. Although at a long distance, it appears they were watched by those on board the vessel, for a cannon was loaded with grape shot and fired at them, the balls flying very thickly around them ; but by crawling through ditches, and on their hands and knees, they managed to reach a place of safety.
Samuel Pierce, of this town, was appointed Lt. Colonel, Feb. 14, 1776, and appears to have served in the army during a great part of the Revolution. He was at Morristown early in 1777, and wrote home from that place, on March 10th, of that year, that he should start for Dorchester, and expected to come in company with Capt. Clap, Master Coolidge and James Humphrey; that Humphrey and Jonathan Holden had the measles, but were " like to do well;" also that he expected to return on foot, and that
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the going was so bad he should not be able to travel 300 miles as quick as the young men. Although holding the honorable rank of Colonel in the army, he was thus obliged to walk from New Jersey to Massachusetts ! Oct. 29th, 1777, he was ordered to repair to Dorchester Heights, or the Castle, to pre- vent those fortresses being taken by the transports which were sent here, by General Howe, to carry Burgoyne's army, now prisoners of war, to England. In 1779, he was in Rhode Island, and appears to have been the commander of the regiment, Jonathan Blake, of this town, being his adjutant. Colonel Pierce was a patriotic man, and did his full share in carrying out the orders of the State, although some of them were difficult to enforce, for want of men.
David Clap, Jr., then about 18 years of age, was one of the Dorchester company stationed at Cam- bridge to guard the soldiers of Burgoyne's army af- ter they were taken prisoners. He relates the follow- ing incident. " A prisoner, one of the British grena- diers, was seen at night by one of our sentinels to be getting pickets that were placed around the fort, and as his orders were to secure them, he ordered the prisoner to desist. After speaking several times without effect, the sentry told him if he persisted in doing so he would fire. The only answer given was a profane daring of the sentry to fire. He fired, and killed the prisoner on the spot. Some of the other prisoners were so enraged at this, that they threat- ened to kill the sentry ; and as he was noted by a stiffness in one of his knees, and could be easily re-
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cognized, the officers thought it best not to put him on the main guard again. I think there was another prisoner who lost his life at Cambridge by disobey- ing orders."
The same individual also relates the following, of another Dorchester man :- " One of the company which I belonged to would frequently, after his du- ties of the day were done, set out at night to visit his family, and return so as to be on hand between daylight and sunrise the next morning to answer to his name-being obliged to walk, in going and com- ing, more than 16 miles." He likewise speaks of being on duty at Noddle's Island-now known as East Boston, and containing 16,000 inhabitants- where he says there were " only two dwelling-houses and two families-the inhabitants I think no more than twelve."
June 22, 1780, a law was passed, to immediately raise 4726 men ; and that if any man was drafted who was not of sufficient ability to serve in person, or who did not pass muster, he was to hire some able-bodied man to take his place, or pay a fine of $150 in twenty-four hours.
There were frequent attempts made to keep up the value of the Continental currency, and the agreement of 1779 was of service for a while; but none of them served to prevent its depreciation.
In March, 1780, the town voted to raise the sum of £6,000; and June 22d, of the same year, it was voted to levy a tax of £40,000 to hire soldiers. And again, Dec. 26th, of the same year, the town voted
37
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to raise the sum of £40,000 to purchase beef for the army. It was also voted to allow the assessors £15 per day for their time. These were indeed days of darkness and peril; and courage, faith, and indomi- table energy alone carried our ancestors through the struggle. The young men, the active and the strong, were in the army, or liable to be called upon at any moment; and the women and children, the sickly and aged men, were left at home. It was really difficult for many of the inhabitants to obtain the necessaries of life. Yet they managed to do their share in the great work of the Revolution. In or- der to collect money for the purpose of hiring sol- diers, individuals were employed to go round to the houses for subscriptions, and some of the town lands were sold.
The winter of 1780-81 was remarkably cold, with great quantities of snow, so much that the roads in Dorchester were not broken out for a long time, most of the able-bodied men being in the army. The route into Boston, from the upper part of the town and from Milton, was down Neponset river and up Boston harbor on the ice. There was a house of entertainment, refreshments; &c., opened on the ice near the Castle.
In 1781, the auditors of the treasurer's accounts report that he had received £132,800 0s. 23d., and had paid out £133,528 9s. 6d .; that is, from March, 1780, to March, 1781. In 1782 they reported that the receipts from March, 1781, to March, 1782, were £242,303 0s. 4d., and the treasurer had paid
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out £250,521 2s. 8d .- there being due the treasurer the sum of £8,218 2s.4d., "or £109 11s. 6d. in specie." This last clause shows the depreciation of the Con- tinental currency. This was certainly the third year in succession that their treasurer (Mr. Noah Clap) had paid out more than he had received. The next report of the auditors, made in November, 1783, showed the same result as to the deficiency of the town income, but an improved state of the currency ; the treasurer having received £1,596 8s. 2d., and paid out £1,783 12s. 4d.
The war had now closed, and the soldiers were returning home-many of them poor and worn in flesh, and poorer in pocket. But days of peace will always revive the exhausted energies of a country wearied and impoverished by war; and things be- gan to improve throughout the country. In Dor- chester the people moved on as formerly, at their town meetings passing the old votes with but few exceptions, a small number always in advance of the mass, and willing and ready to adopt all real im- provements. In 1785 the town voted to allow a bounty of 1s. 6d. for every rattle-snake killed in the town.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
Shays's Rebellion-Col. Pierce's Diary of Important and Interesting Events.
EARLY in 1787 the insurrection under Gen. Daniel Shays broke out, but was soon quelled, although it caused great alarm among a portion of the people. The following are those who went from this town, to assist in putting down a rebellion which for a . time threatened serious consequences.
In the company of artillery, commanded by Capt. Lieut. Thomas Williams, under the command of John J. Spooner, Esq., serving under the orders of Hon. Major Gen. Lincoln, commencing January 8th, and ending February 8th, 1787, were the following.
Thomas Williams, Capt. Lt.
Daniel Russell
John Swift, 2d Lieut.
John Clap
Aaron Bird, 2d "
Thomas Mayo
Ebenezer Scott
Nathaniel Winship, Serg't David Pratt,
John Dove
James Lewis,
Samuel Holden, jr.
Dan'l Stoddard, Bombardier
Edward S. Leeds
Samuel Griggs, 66
William Withington
Elisha Crane, 66
Solomon Hall
Edward Clap, 66
Daniel Wiswall
Thomas Hereman, Fifer - Organ, Drummer
Joseph Whittemore
Royal Shepherd, Mattross
Samuel Mosley
Ebenezer Davis, 16
Richard Trow
Stephen Davis
Eliakim Blackman
David Waitt, jr. John Goffe, jr.
Edmund Baker Elisha Crane
William Mellen
William Maurough
John Mears, jr. Samuel Murdock
Samuel Glover
Edward Bodge
John Brewer
Isaac Fenno
Thaddeus Brewer
Edward Glover, jr.
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I
In Capt. James Robinson's company, of the regi- ment commanded by Ezra Badlam, Esq., in January and February, 1787, the following names are found recorded :
James Robinson, Capt.
Thomas Mosley, Lieut. Jacob Gill,* 66
James Spur John Clap Alexander Glover Abraham Pierce
Nathan Leeds, Serg't Maj.
James Davenport, Q. M. S.
Luther Crane*
John Trescott, Serg't
Samuel Williams*
Nath'l Keyes,* Isaac Thornton,* " Wm. Chambers, ‘
Michael Field
Moses Belcher*
George Manning, Corp.
John Garch*
John Withington,
Zibe Crane*
Daniel Withington, 66
Shepherd Bent*
John Atherington, 66
Vose Crane*
John Bird
Samuel Badcock* Joseph Fenno* Edward Cyson
Lemuel Blackman
John Rouse Huchings
Ebenezer Daniels
Peter McElroy
Silas Hoten (Stoughton)
John Cox
William Morris
Robert White
Lemuel Collier
James Holden
Thomas Robinson
John Hall
Jotham Wheelwright
Samuel Payson
James Baker
Eleazer Thayer Samuel Richards*
William Harding
Josiah Thompson
James Jones
Joseph Turner
Samuel Capen
Richard Trow, Coll. Clerk
Alexander Vose*
John White
Abel Hersey Samuel Clap, jr.
Those marked with a star are supposed to have been from Milton.
The late Maj. Amasa Stetson was also of this expedition, in Capt. Moses Draper's company.
Of this long list, it is supposed that Dea. Ebene- zer Clap is now the only survivor. He was a vol- unteer in the army, and probably the youngest, be- ing but 152 years of age.
Jesse Sumner*
James Richards
Ebenezer Clap
David Johnson
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October 23, 1793, Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris was ordained minister over the Church and Society in Dorchester. This was an important event in the town's history, and he was elected to the station by an almost unanimous vote, both in Church and town. The sermon at his ordination was preached by Rev. Samuel Kendal, of Weston ; the charge given by Rev. Nathaniel Robbins, of Milton; and the right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Haven, of Dedham. His people were very kind to him under all circumstances, and assisted and encouraged him in every strait. He was sole minister in the town, which then included all South Boston, until the formation of the second parish, in 1806. He was a son of Mr. William Harris, of Charlestown, in which place he was born, July 7, 1768. He entered Har- vard College in 1783, and graduated in 1787. For about a year he had charge of a classical school in Worcester, and in 1791 was appointed Librarian of Harvard University, where he remained until he was engaged to preach in this town. He continued the minister of the parish until July 16, 1835, when the parish, acceding to his request, settled with him a colleague (Rev. Nathaniel Hall), and on the 23d of October, 1836, being the forty-third anniversary of his ordination, he resigned his charge and took leave of his people in a sermon which is in print. He was a man of great sensibility, deep learning, of a poetical turn, was much inclined to wit, and had tears for all the unfortunate. Some of his dis- courses abounded with pathos and eloquence. He
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. was a member of many of the most important socie- ties in this part of the country. Of his books, ser- mons, &c., there were published forty-four.
1794. April 7th, of this year, the town voted to allow £12 towards building a house for the engine, which had been purchased a short time previous by a number of the inhabitants. This was the begin- ning of the Dorchester fire department.
The same year the town chose a committee to build an alms-house, or work-house, as it was then called, and after considerable delay, it was erected, at a cost of $1,940 30, and report made to the town to that effect, November 7th, 1796. It was our present alms-house, though it has been greatly en- larged since its erection.
This year it was also voted to enlarge the meet- ing-house, by dividing it in the middle lengthwise, and removing the north part twelve feet, and the tower six feet. Dea. Edward Pierce performed the work, which was considered a remarkable perform- ance for those days. He.stipulated to do it, and for his pay receive all the new pews, excepting those to be granted to individuals who lost theirs by the alteration.
May 6, 1796, Hon. James Bowdoin sent a letter . to the town authorities, saying that it was necessary for him to relinquish his inhabitancy in the town of Dorchester, and for the many unmerited attentions and respect shown him by the people of the town, desired their acceptance of a lot of wood land, con- taining about ten acres, to be devoted to the benefit of the schools.
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In 1798 the town voted to sell the old school- house, and erect a new one of brick on the Meeting- house Hill. The old school-house here referred to, stood on what is now the garden of Wm. D. Swan. It was removed to the present Commercial Street, where it is still standing, with a brick basement.
This year the town also voted to sell fourteen lots of land on the Meeting-house Hill. It is to be re- gretted that the whole hill had not been retained, as it would have proved a lasting benefit as well as ornament to the town.
In writing a history of Dorchester, it would not be proper to omit a notice of Noah Clap, A.M., who died April 10, 1799. No one, since the settlement of the town, has had so, much to do with its con- cerns, or was so well acquainted with its interests ; indeed, he knew the history and family relations of most of those who had lived here previous to his day. He was a son of Dea. Jonathan Clap, grandson of Mr. Nathaniel Clap (" a choice man "), and great grand- son of Nicholas, one of the early settlers, all of Dor- chester. He was born January 25th, 1718, and graduated at Harvard College in 1735, at the age of seventeen. He then studied theology, and became a preacher, but his health was so feeble that he never entertained the idea of settling in the minis- try, although he frequently preached in this and the neighboring towns. He kept the grammar school in Dorchester for nearly twenty years, and, for a generation after his decease, was designated as Mas- ter Noah. He was Selectman, Town Treasurer and
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Assessor upwards of thirty years, and Town Clerk about forty-seven years. While in this capacity, his house was burned; and although every exertion was made to save the records, at the expense of other property, a part was lost, but was afterwards sup- plied, in a great measure through his exertion and perseverance. He had a very retentive memory, and could repeat the tales of former years with great interest. He was so conscientious in regard to the truth, that he was rarely known to make an asser- tion unless prefixed by the term "may be." The late Rev. Dr. Harris preached a sermon on the occa- sion of his death, in which he said, " I never knew a person farther removed from every appearance of duplicity, or more singularly remarkable for a cau- tiousness in speech, and inviolable veracity." " He was not fond of affirmations ; and hesitated even as to the accuracy of his own judgment, and the cer- tainty of his own information. This singular cau- tiousness was the result of the most inflexible reve- rence for truth. It was accompanied by a meek, humble, diffident and modest spirit, and a plain, undisguised, unaffected artlessness of manner." **** " A very observable and lovely trait in his character, was his candor and charitableness in judging of others. Of this he gave the most pleasing proofs in his unwillingness even to hear anything to the disadvantage of persons. He would never patiently listen to the reports which might be in circulation of the misconduct of any; and when they were men- tioned in his presence, he was always ready to pal- 38
·
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liate or excuse what he could not commend, and seemed averse to believe ill news, flying rumors, and petty scandal. Of course he was never known to repeat them." *** " The late Dr. Belknap found great assistance in his most important researches, from consulting Mr. Clap; and such was his won- derful accuracy, even in chronological dates, that his guarded declarations had all the fidelity and cer- tainty of printed documents." One of his children -Dea. Ebenezer Clap-is still living (1857), and is probably the last of the fifth generation now in the town.
The following extracts are from the diary of Col. Samuel Pierce, of Dorchester, who was a very intel- ligent and enterprising man, and appears to have been a farmer, carpenter, mason, &c., and during the revolutionary war an officer in the army. The ex- tracts given are numerous, and some of them in themselves unimportant; but in connection with a history of the town, they possess much interest, and supply a deficiency which could not otherwise be made up. The orthography, &c. have been retained, as in other ancient quotations in this work.
1761, Nov. 27. Remember Preston was lost.
1762, March 16. We have had abundance of sleding this Winter, the moste that ever I new, and as hard a Winter as ever I see.
April 3. Remember Preston was found down at Marshfield.
April 15. John Wiswall was drounded in the river.
April 20. He was found.
May 28. Edward's leg was broke at Mr. Withington's.
June 26. We got Edward home from Mr. Withington's.
July 17, Edward first got out of bed.
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[The Edward here referred to, was Dea. Edward Pierce, a prominent man in town, and well remembered by our older people. ]
July 24. There was a very fine shower after a very dry time. We reckon as much rain fell in & of an our as we have had in three or 4 months.
Aug. 20. There is Pigons comonly this month, if any time in the year, and there is some now.
Sept. 5. Edward went to meeting the first time after his leg was brok. He staid at home 15 sabbath Days.
Sept. 7. There was a singin lecture at Stouton.
Sept. 10. I catcht 12 dozen of Pigons.
Sept. 17. The Pigons left us all at once.
Sept. 30. Three Days training at the Castle.
Oct. 30. Pull'd Petatoes and had 2 bushels.
[Although potatoes were sent to this country for seed as early as 1628 or '29, they were not made an article of daily food until about the year 1800, when they took the place of turnips, which had previously been in very common use. It was the custom of the Selectmen of Dorchester to hold their sessions through the day. One day, when partaking of a din- ner of fried eels, one of their number (Mr. Ezekiel Tolman) remarked that he believed potatoes would taste good with fried eels. The experiment was accordingly tried, and with such satisfactory results, that they afterwards invariably used this valuable esculent with that fish, which often made their dinner.]
1763, Feb. 10. I went to half moon pond to catch eels, the first time that ever I went to that place.
[By subsequent remarks, it appears that that locality had just been discovered as a good place to catch eels, which were taken with spears, and a man would then almost as soon be without an axe as without an eel-spear. On the 15th of the same month, seven of them went eeling, and caught 500 lbs. ]
Feb. 10. I had 2 pair britches made out of Dear skins and own black.
March 31. We have 2 clever calves to rais, 3 weeks old.
April 15. Sowed carrets and Parsnips, &c.
April 21. I grafted for Mr. Lemuel Robinson ; he and I grafted 245 heads in one day.
June 6. I went a fishing in Mr. Minot's boat, and cacht a halaboat.
June 8. The Pigons flew Prety thick.
June 18. I went a Lobstrin, catch 9.
Aug. 12. We finished thrashing and faning our barley ; we had 26 bushels.
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[It was the custom in those days to use much more barley than now.]
Sept. 27. I went to Boston and bought two leather aprons at, 13s. 6d. a Piece.
Sept. 29. Training at Castle William.
Sept. 30. To ditto to ditto, and we had a Treet of the fines of Puntch and bisket and chees.
Nov. 20. I kild a stout white headed Eagle.
1764, Jan. 18. Boston people move out their goods very fast, for fear of the small pox.
March 20. Mr. Bowman desired to have them sing twice in the forenoon.
July 3. I went out in Mr. Minot's Bot to catch mackriel ; we catcht about 600, but they were very small.
Nov. 26. I went to Boston and bought me som cloth to make me a coat ; it is blew surge.
1765, Jan. 16. Mr. Samuel How was stopt by a rober upon Boston neck.
[Mr. Howe was one of his neighbors, and the affair, no doubt, was the occasion of great excitement. ]
March 12. Had my joise saw'd ; it was the first that ever' was saw'd at the new mill.
March 22. It snowed and stormed very bad in the morn- ing.
March 24. Snowed and stormed very bad. Mr. Bomar , put by the meeting in the afternoon for the storm, and it was a very high tide and did much damage at Boston.
April 25. It snows and storms this morning very much.
July 3. I went a lobstering ; it was a very rainy forenoon. I got about 20 Lobsters.
July 24. I went a frolicking on the water.
Sept. 2. I fell from Lemuel Clap's house and hurt me some, but not very much. I fell about 16 foot.
Sept. 25. Training at the Castle. The same day is to be the great hors rase on the neck.
Oct. 12. The Brants flew thick over the land.
Nov. 10. Was the first that we sang tate & brady's spalms in Dorchester meeting. Som people much offended at the same.
[What volumes are contained in the last line of the above extract, "Some people much offended at the same." A large part of the real improvements and advances of every age have passed through the same ordeal, whether in religion, law, social life or the mechanical arts; and the progress that is really made, is effected after encountering strong opposition. When the custom was changed from deaconing out the hymn,
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as it was called, in public worship, that is, reading line by line before singing, some of the worshippers in different parts of the country were so offended that they left their meetings, never to return, apparently unconscious that the custom was originally adopted because it was difficult to obtain books for all. ]
[There is an omission here of four years in the Journal. ]
1769, May 11. Snowed in the afternoon ; the snow fell six inches deep back in the country.
June 2. A very great white frost.
June 25. We had the spinning match at our house.
July 25. The soldiers go from Boston, some of them.
Aug. 1. Gov. Barnard goes from Boston.
Aug. 14. Was a very grand entertainment at Mr. Lemuel Robinson's. All the Sons of Liberty met; there was 124 carriages there.
Sept. 7. Mr. Isaac How was drownded in the river.
Sept. 9. The blazing star appears plain.
Sept. 20. Much talk about the blazing star.
Nov: 1. The brants fly very thick.
Nov. 13. I carried a load of Syder to Boston-45s. bar.
Dec. 6. Mr. Josiah Quinsey's house was burnt.
Dec. 26. Exceeding warm and pleasant.
1770, Jan. 25. The merchants in Boston all vote against tea:
Feb. 13. I had a pair of dearskin bretches.
Feb. 22. A boy was shot at Boston by an informer.
March 6. Four men killed in Boston by the soldiers.
[It will be perceived that, as a matter of course, some occurrences out of the town are recorded subsequent to the time when they transpired.]
March 12. The soldiers go from Boston to the Castle.
April 19. Richarsan had his trial for his life.
May 28. I had 18 men to making stone wall in one day.
May 30. There was an ox roasted whole at Boston.
Aug. 11. Mr. Whitfield came to Boston.
Sept. 10. Castle William is resined to Col. Dalrymple.
Oct. 20. Was a violent storm as ever was known in these parts, and did a vast deal of damage.
Dec. 2. Little Sam first wore jacket and bretches.
1771, Jan. 28. Very pleasant weather as ever I new.
Feb. 6. There has not been more than 4 inches of snow since 13th December.
March 13. Thomas Hutchinson was made Governor in chief.
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March 14. I first began to tar my Apple trees.
March 19. First perceive any cretores to crawl.
[By the above it appears that our fathers were troubled by that great pest, the canker worm. ]
April 3. I set a Post and an elm tree at the meeting house.
[The elm here referred to is still standing, about ten rods west of the present meeting-house-a graceful and majestic tree. ]
April 17. The creatores crawl very much.
April 25. Sod my heards grass, first that ever I sode.
[Was this a new grass at that time ?]
May 10. Stephen Gulliver was drownded.
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