USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > History of the town of Douglas, (Massachusetts,) from the earliest period to the close of 1878 > Part 6
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During a portion of the year 1775 Capt. Caleb Hill, already a veteran in the service of his town in various capacities, was act- ively engaged in the Continental service, and at one time, with a command of only four men, escorted a number of prisoners through the town to a place of safety. He was provided with an order re- quiring all inn-holders in the towns through which he passed to furnish the necessary supplies for the subsistence of his party. In July of that year Captain Hill was sent to Watertown as a delegate to the General Court, an indication of the deep esteem in which he was held by his townsmen, both as civilian and as soldier.
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Lieut. Ezra Whitney represented the town in the Provincial Congress which commenced its session at Concord in April, 1775. In May following, Dea. Jeremiah Whiting was sent to the General Court at Watertown, and was succeeded by Mr. Hill.
Immediately after the battle of Lexington (April 19) the town was called upon for arms, ammunition and clothing for the army. This was promptly responded to by forwarding seven fire-arms, a quantity of powder, and twenty-four coats. Later in the history of the struggle the town voted to raise for the support of the soldiers and families of those who were serving in the Continental army the sum of £100, and William Johnson, Ezra Whiting and Robert Humes were chosen to distribute the money.
The condition of public affairs following the commencement of the war with Great Britain had necessitated the appointment of committees of safety and correspondence in the different towns, and on the 11th of March, 1776, such a committee was appointed in Douglas, consisting of Caleb Hill, William Dudley, Ezra Whitney and Nathaniel Snow. It was the duty of these gentlemen to co-operate with Congress and with various committees in promoting the cause in which they were engaged, to carefully inspect and report everything derogatory to and consistent with the struggle of an oppressed people to regain their independence, and in every way to use their influence to support the measures adopted by the Provincial Congress for the safety and interest of the inhabitants. That this duty was promptly, energetically and satisfactorily at- tended to, we have every reason to believe.
On the 13th of June, 1777, a committee was chosen to look after such persons as were suspected of being tories, or enemies to the American cause, and in the discharge of their duties Daniel Aldrich, Stephen Streeter, John Hevendeen, Joseph Emerson, Nathaniel Snow, Samuel Parker, Daniel Hunt and Abner Pevey were arrested on suspicion, and held for examination ; but they were all found to be innocent, and were discharged.
The Declaration of Independence was approved by the town on the 24th of June, 1776, not a single vote being recorded in opposition to it. To show that the people were in earnest in de- claring themselves " independent of the crown of Great Britain," they at once forwarded for the use of the army six each of shovels, axes, picks and spades.
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During the war Douglas contributed most liberally of her limited means to the support of the army and the families of those who had entered the service. In March, 1777, £25 were granted for the purchase of coats for the soldiers, and a bounty of £8 per year, or during the war, was offered to all who enlisted, until the quota of the town was filled. In the following month an addi- tional bounty of £25 was offered to all who had enlisted, or should do so previous to May Ist, and the entire amount necessary to meet this expense was assessed and paid into the treasury at once. In March, 1780, $500 in paper money was paid to all who enlisted for three months, and a fixed rate of pay established for three and six-months' men. A summary of the various sums contrib- uted for the pay of soldiers and support of their families places the amount at more than £70,000, exclusive of bounties and indirect expenses, which would largely increase the amount. A large share of this, of course, was in depreciated paper currency, requiring at one time £12 to purchase a bushel of corn ; but a portion of this was in supplies having a positive value, and often the appropria- tions were made in " silver money."
There are no means of ascertaining the actual number of men who enlisted in the army from this town. On the 13th of June, 1777, the first bounty was offered, and an account of the disburse- ments shows that a number of men responded. In 1779 nine men were furnished upon requisition from Congress. In 1780 the best information places the number of men in the service at about twenty. Sixteen three-months' men and sixteen six-months' men were subsequently enlisted, and in the latter part of December nine men were enlisted for three years, or during the war. In July, 1781, six men were sent to West Point, and a number into Rhode Island. According to these figures, it is probable that at least seventy-five of the inhabitants of the town served in the Con- tinental army between the years 1776 and 1781. Their quota was filled at every call for men, and they as promptly answered every requisition of the Continental Congress. When we consider that the entire population could not have exceeded three hundred, and that their limited means frequently compelled them to ask for an abatement of the Province tax, the facts here given are an admi- rable commentary upon their patriotism and devotion to the cause of American freedom, and their deeds rise to sublimity when we
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find no recorded act of opposition to the measures for the accom- plishment of the glorious results of the long and bitter war. The feeling which pervaded the community is better illustrated by the proceedings of a meeting held Dec. 25, 1780, when John Taylor, Aaron Benson, Caleb Whiting, Ezra Whiting, Isaac Martin, David Thompson, and Job Knapp, - a committee appointed to take into consideration the resolves of the General Court relating to furnish- ing men and means for the war, - presented their report, which was unanimously and enthusiastically adopted. They declared it to be the duty and for the interest of the town to engage the men called for, without delay, for three years or during the war, and that they should have all the public bounties, clothing, refresh- ments and pay granted by the town, State, and continent. Fur- thermore, it was declared that no man should be accepted who had not been a resident of the town for three months, and that no prisoner or deserter from the British army should be accepted in any case.
CHAPTER VIII.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR - CONTINUED.
IN the last few chapters we have directed attention to some of the many facts going to show the hearti- ness and efficiency with which the people of our town entered into the terrible struggle for our national in- dependence. We trust it will be conceded by all that these facts have not been unduly emphasized, but on the contrary have been only in the most mod- est spirit spread on the permanent .local record we have here given them. Granting this humble claim, we may well be pardoned for raising the question whether our fathers, so unhesitatingly coming to the front in the direful work of war, when destructiveness well-nigh eclipses every other consideration of public policy, were equally devoted and effi- cient in the grander task of reconstructing the elements of a torn and distracted country into a symmetrical and practical order of government. As we progress in our inquiries we hope to show that in this more difficult line the part assumed by our fathers was equally creditable.
As early as Oct. 15, 1776, when every intelligent and gen- uine patriot began to perceive that the status of the different State governments was destined to be of at least nearly equal importance with that of independence of the mother country, Lieut. Samuel Jennison, one of the recognized men of ability and influence in Douglas, as well as through the Commonwealth, drew up a pream- ble and resolution on this subject for the consideration of his fellow- citizens at a town-meeting. The paper was listened to with deep interest, and attracted so much of public attention that it was called for at a subsequent delegated convention of the county.
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In view of the important part accomplished in the future history of the State by this document, we present the original draft, which was as follows :
" As the good order, well-being and happiness of every State depends, under God, on the establishment of such a mode or form of government as is most lasting in its nature and beneficial in its consequences ; and as this State, with the rest of the continent sharing the unhappy controversy with Great Britain, rendering it necessary of relinquishing the government of that State, and declaring themselves independent of that crown, the Grand Council of the United Congress have recommended to every State therein the forming and establishing such a mode or form of government as to them shall appear likely to be attended with the most lasting and salutary consequences, as to the present and future genera- tions ; and the General Assembly of this State, having signified to every town and district therein the design of attending to that business, have called on them for their assistance and approbation, and have recommended such towns and districts as neglected to return a member or members at the last election that they send one or more at this time, that the wisdom of the whole State may be called on so important an undertaking, -
We, therefore, the freeholders and other inhabitants, freemen of Douglas, after timely notice convened, having taken the mat- ter under consideration, and well weighing the importance and necessity of having a frame of government established in this State whereby the lives, liberties and properties of this people may be rendered safe and secure, a foundation laid for the tranquillity and happiness of future generations, do
Resolve, That the present General Court, assembled with the Council of this State, do form a plan of government for the regu- lation thereof, and that the same be laid before the inhabitants at large for their approbation or rejection, which, if approved, shall be established as a form of government. But, if any essential alterations or amendments be judged necessary, in such case the alterations and amendments shall be made before the same shall be established."
The highest meed of praise due to this production is found in the simple statement that it was finally made the basis of that ad-
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mirable frame-work of goverment under which we have lived so. long as a State.
The return of peace, which was concluded in 1783, while it spread joy throughout the American colonies, developed the fact also that the government and the people of Massachusetts had so entirely devoted their energies to the cause of the Revolution that they found themselves loaded with an enormous weight of public and private debts. The paper money, which was nearly the entire currency, was so depreciated as to become nearly worthless ; the resources of the country were exhausted ; and credit was nearly as. low as was the paper money itself. The chief creditors of the State were its own citizens. Some of them had advanced money, and were bona fide creditors ; and some of these, with others, were government officials who had purchased "State securities" and " soldiers' certificates " at less than one eighth of their nominal value, and these could have afforded to wait a little longer. All these creditors were pressing the government for payment, and thus pressed, the Legislature yielded, and as a consequence enor- mous taxes were assessed upon the people.
In addition to the amount of money contributed during the war, the town in 1783 was assessed £758 10s. as a town war tax, and $410 as a State tax ; and for failing to send a representative to the General Court a fine was imposed upon the town of £20 10s. The Legislature had passed an act in 1782, ordering a general valuation of the taxable property of the people. Another act had levied an excise or duty on several of the articles of trade. With these acts the people had become very much dissatisfied, as they were thought to interfere with their rights and privileges, besides. being unequal and unjust ; and a convention was called, to meet in Worcester on the 14th of April, and again in May of the same. year (1782), which reported a list of grievances, and the list was. sent to the several towns.
In the following year Eliphas Stearns was chosen representa- tive, and was succeeded by Josiah Reed in 1785. During the session of the General Court in 1784 the following petition was presented by Mr. Stearns, having previously been endorsed by the voters of Douglas in town meeting assembled :
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"' To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of this Commonwealth :
The petition of the town of Douglas humbly showeth that, although the good people of this Commonwealth have by the kind hand of the Supreme Governor of the universe been prospered through a long and unnatural and cruel war, and have by the same protecting and overruling hand arrive to a happy issue and peace in our borders ; and although in addition to the above said blessing we are favored with a good Constitution, under which we enjoy a good form of Government, yet there are certain matters of griev- ance which this Commonwealth labor under in general, and this town as a part of the same, which we think may and ought to be redressed, of which we shall mention to your honors the follow- ing :
1st. The giving into the hands of the honorable the Continental Congress the impost, to be under their sole control, we conceive to be a grievance, and in our opinion ought to be immediately repealed. Not but that we are free and willing that an impost on all imported articles should immediately take place, but the pro- ceeds thereof ought to be paid into our State treasury, and in a constitutional way drawn out by a warrant from the Governor of the Commonwealth, and if appropriated to Congress, or any part thereof, it ought to be set to our credit, so we may receive the benefit of the same, which we conceive no State in the Union have any just right to.
2d. We conceive that the expense of days of public rejoicing ought not to be paid out of the public treasury, but ought to be paid by those who partake of the same, and not by the Common- wealth at large.
3d. The making large grants to the officers of the late Conti- nental army, or officers of the public, any more than an honorable pay for their services, we conceive a grievance, and under our present circumstances ought not to be; and wherever any has heretofore been made they ought to be reconsidered, for in our opinion the grants heretofore made cannot be more binding on the good people of this Commonwealth than that of the redemption of the old money, which in our opinion most earnestly ought to be urged by the General Court, and that no further grants be made to the Congress until the other States in the Union comply with
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the redemption of said money, and that his excellency the Governor be requested not to sign any warrants on the treasury for the remainder of the four hundred thousand pounds which is now assessed and paid, or ought to be paid into the treasury, until a redress is obtained.
4th. That the good people of this State are greatly oppressed and distressed for the want of a proper balance of a circulating medium, and that the credit of the State greatly suffers from no other motives than the necessities of the people, and by reason of the State's holding the property of individuals binds one part of the people so that the other make their necessities their opportu- nity, which much agrieves the good people of this State ; and we pray that ways and means may be found out for our relief.
We, your humble petitioners, pray your honors to take those matters into your wise consideration, and grant such relief as you in your wisdom shall see just and reasonable, and your petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray."
This petition was dated May 19, 1784, and signed by Caleb Whitney, Isaac Martin and Lovell Pulsipher, who constituted a committee to draft it. Upon the back were the following endorse- ments :
" May 10, 1784.
"We, the Subscribers, Bein appointed a Committy to inquire instruction to the Representative, (viz.) Mr. Eliphas Sterns, this Day chosen to represent the Town of Douglas, do hereby think it the Deuty of said Inhabitance of said Town to present the petition that has Ben laid before them at their meeting for the choice of their Representative. Wee therefour Do hereby Instruct the above Named Representitive to use his Best Influence to Ex- hibet sd. petition, and to carry the same into Effect."
No signatures were affixed, but the endorsement was apparently written by those whose names were attached to the petition. The second endorsement shows that the petition was presented to and approved by the county convention at Worcester. This reads as follows :
" We, the Delegates duly and Legally appointed and chosen by our respective Towns to meet in County Convention, to consider of certain matters of grievances which the good peopel of this
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Commonwilth in General and this County in particular Labour under, we are unanimously of the opinion that the foregoing peti- tion be laid before the several towns in this county for their appro- bation, and if by them approved of the same, be by their several Representatives presented to the General Court, with particular instructions to use their Influence to sea that the same be immedi- ately attended to. EBENEZER DAVIS, per order.
Worcester, April ye 22th, 1783."
The people, it will be seen by these documents, were in a state of great dissatisfaction, and the inhabitants of Douglas shared largely in it. It finally culminated in the famous "Shays Rebel- lion." Among the causes of complaint with the people were the high salaries of public officers, the fees of lawyers and sheriffs, the frequent suits at law, and the consequent costs of court. In spite of the remonstrances and petitions of the people the courts continued to entertain all actions for the recovery of debts, and to issue executions as usual. Wm. Lincoln, Esq., in his History of Worcester, states that in 1784 more than two thousand actions were entered in the county of Worcester, then having a popula- tion of less than fifty thousand; and in 1785 about seventeen hundred were entered. Lands and goods were seized, and often sold at enormous sacrifices, the general distress driving away pur- chasers. These proceedings became so odious to the people that several of the towns presented the extraordinary prayer to the General Court that the " courts may be abolished," declaring that they " conceived their existence to be a great and unnecessary bur- den upon the people." At this time it is said that the offices of the senior Levi Lincoln of Worcester, Dwight Foster of Brookfield, and John Sprague of Lancaster (they being the principal lawyers in the county), were thronged every day with suitors, presenting the appearance of some public day, so great was the gathering of the people. The door-yards of their offices and the adjoining fences were thronged with the horses and carriages of unfortunate debt- ors, and not much less unfortunate creditors. As the courts de- clined suspending judgments and executions on suits for the collection of debts, the malcontents formed the rash and desper- ate resolution of taking the law into their own hands by stopping the sittings of the courts with force and violence, thus preventing
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entirely the issuing of executions. In September, 1776, about four hundred men from most of the towns in Worcester county assem- bled at Worcester, under the famous Daniel Shays, and succeeded in preventing the sitting of the court. The court adjourned, after continuing all actions to the December term. In December the uprising became more general, and showed itself in Springfield in strong force. It is said that the number of persons coming from the several towns to Worcester numbered about two thousand, many of them veterans of the Revolution, who felt that they were now as much called upon to engage in the defense of their liber- ties as they had been at any time during the war. The court was again overawed, and adjourned to the 23d day of January, 1787, at which time Governor Bowdoin sent armed forces to protect the sitting of the courts at these points, and they were permitted to proceed unmolested in the transaction of business ; and finally the malcontents were scattered in every direction, and large numbers of them were arrested and imprisoned in different parts of the State.
The leader in this unhappy revolt was possessed of much personal influence in the south part of Worcester county. Though it is believed he never was a resident of Douglas, he had nevertheless a strong party of sympathizers among its citizens, and his adherents were scattered over a wide territory, and were in considerable force in this part of the State, as well as in Rhode Island. Some of those belonging in town, having refused to pay the taxes assessed upon them, their cattle were seized by the town authorities, and offered for sale at auction. The sale was to take place at Hill's tavern, and the cattle were collected there. But before the time appointed for the sale had arrived a company of men from Rhode Island appeared, under the lead of one Wilmouth, and demanded that the cattle should be released and returned to their owners. This was refused, as a matter of course, and a desperate hand-to-hand fight took place, in which the " Shayites " were victorious. Clubs and missiles were violently used, and blood was shed freely, but fortunately no one was killed.
After the suppression of this outbreak under Shays, petitions were forwarded to Governor Bowdoin, praying that the prisoners might be set at liberty. The General Court was also memorialized
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on the subject, and this body was asked to pass a general act of indemnity, and also to suspend the action of the courts until after election. A peculiar significance attaches to this latter petition, from the fact that Governor Bowdoin, being supposed to have been in some degree accountable for the unpopular acts of the General Court, it was thought that after strictly enforcing the laws he would be inclined to deal severely with the insurgents. General Hancock, his rival in the pending election, was known to be favorable to a more lenient policy. The election was close at hand, and hence the petition for delay. When the election took place it was found that Governor Hancock was elected by a large majority. The vote in Douglas stood thus : For Governor, John Hancock, 44 ; James Bowdoin, 1 !
In April, 1778, the draft of a form of government submitted for the approval of the people by the Provincial Congress having been received, after full and careful discussion it was rejected by twenty-six majority. The town also refused to send a representa- tive to the General Court, which was in perfect consistency with their action in rejecting the draft for a form of government. But this action must not be construed as denoting any lack of interest in public affairs ; on the contrary, it showed that the question of what kind of government should succeed to that which they had overthrown during the war had received the most careful attention, and the voters were confident that in some respects, which they considered vital to the success of their heroic struggle, a better form could be devised than that which had been submitted to them. In the month following, after fully canvassing the subject, it was decided to recommend a new form, such as they conceived to be more just and equitable, and Ezra Whiting was directed in behalf of the town to aid in calling a convention at Worcester to take the subject into consideration. Such a convention was held, and the town was represented by Jeremiah Whiting.
The voters of Douglas assembled in town-meeting May 8, 1780, to take into consideration the measures recommended and adopted by the Provincial Congress for the formation of a new State gov- ernment. Each of the thirty articles in the Declaration of Rights were taken up separately, and with but few exceptions were ap- proved, the number of votes cast varying from fifteen to thirty- nine. There did not seem to be a full concurrence in the plan
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proposed, but in most cases where there was a feeling of dissent the voters chose not to express an opinion rather than to seem in opposition to the wisdom of Congress.
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