USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Fitchburg > History of the town of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, comprising also a history of Lunenburg, from its first settlement to the year 1764 (1836) > Part 4
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Mr. Gardner was graduated at Harvard University in the year 1712. In the Autumn of 1719 he was ordained the first minister of Worcester. Here he remained till his dismission in Oct. 1722. Where he was during the interval between this time and his instalment at Turkey Hills I do not know. He built and occupied the house now standing on the west side of Clark's Hill, and now the residence of the heirs of David Wood 2d. It has quite an air of antique decay about it-a small portion of the old diamond form glass still remaining in some of the windows.
It was voted to raise the sum of SOL. (35,55) on landed es- tate, for the annual salary of the minister for the next six years. This is apparently a very inadequate sum ; but it will be rec- ollected that money then, in consequence of its scarcity, was much more valuable than now-transactions between individu- als being carried on principally by barter,-and that it wasinten- ded that the minister should derive his principal support from the lands appropriated by the General Court. Dissatisfaction soon arose between Mr. Gardner and his people. He accord- ingly asked for a dismission, which the town voted in Feb. 1732 ; and the church received his acquittance and gave him a discharge from his pastoral relations in the Nov. following .*- He thus continued in the pastoral office about four and a half
*The following is a copy of a request or proposition submit- E
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HISTORY OF MITCHEVRG.
years, and gave his receipt for his settlement and salary dur- ing this period, to the town, for the sum of 3044. 12s ($175,32.) Ile remained in the town several years after this, and was em- ployed as the first school-master-the school being kept in his own house. He was also allowed the privilege of building, at his own charge, "a sufficient pew at the right hand of going in at the great doors of the meeting house"-which was a very honorable station. He finally removed to New Hampshire, nigh to Connecticut river, where he died at a very advanced age.
The reasons of his dismission, so far as I have been able to learn thein, appear to be these :- He was not a man of that grave and sober demeanor, which the people of his time thought essential to the sacredness of his office. He was apt to in- dulge in a levity of manner on the Sabbath, which was not in keeping with the solemnity of the day. He had also quite a predilection for hunting, and, it is said, wild turkeys and other game, even on the Sabbath, sometimes bore testimony of his skill as a marksman. For the truth of these reports I cannot vouch.
On the first day of Angust, 1723, the proprietors of Turkey Hills, with their lands, were incorporated by the name of Lu- nenburg, in the county of Middlesex. It was so named in compliment to George II who, in the preceeding year, succeed- ed to the British throne. One of his titles was Duke of Li- nenburg, he having a town or province of that name, in his German dominions.
ted by Mr. Gardner to his church, Sept. 1730.
To the Brethren of the Church of Christ in Lunenburg :---
Beloved Brethren-I cannot but think, from what I have heard, and also from what I have observed, of the transactions and behaviour of this people relating to me and my affairs, that there is not that affection borne towards me that there should be from a people to th ir Gospel minister, or that there is where a people are likely duly to profit under their minister,-the consid- eration whereof has been very grievous and discouraging to me, and therefore think it best to separate ;- and if effectual care be taken that my dues be honestly paid me, the first minister's lot with its appurtenances be put upon record and accepted, and a sufficient Pew at the right hand of going in at the great doors of the meeting-house, I shall be free to be dismissed from my pas- toral relation, office, and obligation to you, as soon as it can reg- ularly be performed.
From your loving Pastor, who wisheth you the Divine di- rection and blessing, and desires your prayers for the same to him. ANDREW GARDNER, Pastor.
Lunenburg, Sept. 18, 1730.
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1.79231
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
The first 'town' meeting was held at the house of .Ensign Jonathan Willard,"" on the 19th. of the same month, by au- thority of an order in Council, directed to "Capt. Josiah Wil- lard, a principle inhabitant," &c. The first 'Selectmen' were James Colburn, Josiah Willard, Hilkiah Boynton, Ephraim Pearce, and Samuel (Gov.) Page.
In Sept. it was voted to raise the sum of £200 (SSS,SS) for building and finishing a meeting-house, "so far as it will do or answer therefor." This, the first meeting-house, a building of small dimensions and a mere shell, was located a few rods to the north of the dwelling house of Edmund Cushing, and nearly opposite to the present Town Meeting House. A pul- pit and "a body of seets" were built in 1731. The persons, 'preferred' to have pews, had to build them at their own cost. A committee was chosen "to state places for building the pews, and order who shall have them," -- and it was further ordered "that the rule the committee shall go by shall be according to the inhabitants' improvements and stations, and having some regard to pay." In April, 1733, it was voted to finish the gal- leries in the meeting house, and to build "stears up into them."t
'The worthy people of Lunenburg took good and seasonable care that all vagrants and rognes should meet with their de- serts ; and accordingly in 1732, they voted "the sum of S shil- lings for building a pair of stocl.s."
In 1729 they chose Capt. Josiah Willard their agent "to join with others to consider what may be best in order to divide the county of Middlesex." This object was effected Apr. 2d. 1731, when Worcester County was incorporated. At this time grand and "Petty" jurymen were chosen by the people in town meeting assembled.
In a little more than two years after this, attempts were made to form a new county out of the counties of Worcester and Middlesex, of which Groton was to be the shire town .- These attempts in a short time were abandoned.
*The house which first had the honor of containing the people of Lunenburg assembled in their corporate capacity, is now owned by Jacob Hadley, and situated on the Lancaster road, about one and a half miles distant from the meeting house.
+In 1736, the town "granted all the room behind the front gal- lery in the meeting house to Jona. Wood, Samuel Reed, Phine- has Osgood, Ezekiel Wyman, David Page, Stephen Boynton, John Fitch & Jona. Abbott, for to build a long pew or seet for themselves and wives forever to set in."
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tesestr
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
The subject of schools appears to have first engaged the at- tention of the town in 1732, when Rev. Mr. Gardner was em- ployed to teach a school for three months, in his own house. Next year it was kept at the houses of several individuals in rotation, and in Dec. 1734, 40l ($17,77) were voted for a "Lawfull School," 'for the year past and present.' In 1735 the selectmen were directed to provide for a school "according to the best manner for the town's safety and interest," and the year following they were directed "to hire School Dames as they shall see fit, and otherwise as the Law requires." In 1737, 50l. and in 1738, 60l. ($26,66) were appropriated tow- ards the support of schools. During six months of the latter year, "School Dames" were employed.
In 1740 the town resolved to build two "school housen," one at the north and one at the south end. But this vote was soon reconsidered, and they resolved to build one school house near the meeting house-and all persons residing more than two miles distant from it, had liberty to support schools among themselves, the money which they paid to the town for this purpose being refunded to them. Whether this school house was ever built I do not know, as for the several subsequent years the school committee were directed to provide places to keep the school in, and to move it as they thought best.
Some years after this the town resolved to build four school houses in the four quarters of the town, but they could not de- termine upon the place for their location. The schools con- tinued to be kept in different quarters of the town till Fitch- burg was set off. The money for their support was gradually increased from 25l. to 50l. in bills of credit. The exact sum cannot easily be estimated in consequence of the depreciation in the value of the bills.
Immediately after the dismission of Mr. Gardner, in the Au- tumn of 1732, Rev. David Stearns* of Watertown, was hired to preach. He was invited to become the Pastor of Lunen- burg in the February following, and he was ordained in April.f
*Mr. Stearns was graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was one of fourteen children (by the same mother) who follow- ed their father to the grave. Mr. Stearns himself became the fath- er of thirteen children. One of his daughters subsequently was married to Rev. Zabdiel Adams, of Lunenburg, and was the mother of eleven children.
tOn this occasion the sum of 287. 18s. 6d. "was paid to Col. Josiah Willard for entertaining the Ordination Councell." It was raised, "one half on the Pools and one half on the Estates" -as the Records state.
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
He received a settlement of 3007., 2004. of which were paid the same year and 1004. the following year. His salary was to be 1201. in 'bills of credit,' per annum, to be increased al per annum, till it should amount to 140l "to be qualified by the present value."
Generally speaking, during the ministry of Mr. Stearns, the town enjoyed a profound peace in their ecclesiastical af- fairs. They went through the process of building a new meet- ing house, and of course were not exempt from the troubles and divisions usually consequent on these occasions.
Mr. Stearns occupied the dwelling house which stands im- mediately north of the present Methodist meeting house, where John Thompson now dwells. In 1736 & 7, and several sub- sequent years, additional sums of 25l. and 30l. were ap- propriated to 'make good' his salary, in consequence of the de- preciation of money.
The currency, at this period, was in a wretched condition. Bills of credit had been issued so early as 1090, to meet the expenses of the expedition against Canada. The expense of of the wars for several years caused an extensive issue of these bills, beyond the means of the province to redeem them, and they consequently began to sink in value. There was not specie enough even in the country to redeem them, the bills themselves causing the precious metals to disappear. In 1714, a public bank was established, loaning bills on land se- curity. These continued to sink in value, causing so much loss to the community. The bills were loaned on mortgage, with interest and one fifth part of the principal payable annu- ally. When the time of payment arrived, the paper money having sunk below its nominal value, the creditors were obli- ged to pay a much larger amount of it, or sacrifice their es- tates in payment of the mortgages. It was attempted to re- lieve this state of things by extending the limits of payment, but this course served only to prolong this state of things .- The most intelligent men of the time were ignorant of what are now deemed the first principles of banking.
The land bank of 1741, like that of 1714, loaned bills, taking real estate for security, but possessed no means of redeeming them. In 1749, specie was introduced from England, in pay- ment of the provincial expenses in the expedition to Cape Bre- ton. This, in a great degree, checked the evil.
In 1749, after having used their first meeting house for 20 years, the town passed a vote for building a new house for pub- lic worship, and appropriated the sum of 300l. 'new tenor,' ($1000) for the purpose. The building committee were in-
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
structed to let out the job to some one man, who would do the work "cheapest and best." This house, which was demolish- ed but a few years since, was located on the slope of the hill, a few rods to the south east of the present meeting house, on the spot now occupied by the school house last built in the centre district.
The town voted 31. 5s. 5d. "to pay for the Rum and other articles used at the raising of the meeting house," and "18s. Sd. to Josiah Dodge for the use of his Rope" on the same oc- casion. The conduct of the building committee, though they probably exerted themselves to have the work done 'cheapest and best,' did not give satisfaction. When they had expend- ed the sum of 522l. it was not allowed to them by the town ; and a motion was made in town meeting to "proceed against them in the steps of the law," but this did not prevail. The difficulty was afterwards adjusted, and the committee was paid.
Mr. Stearns continued to preach till his death, which occur- red in March, 1761. His funeral expenses were defrayed by the town. They also voted to his brothers "weeds and gloves, to his sisters, veils, handkerchiefs, gloves and fans, and to his sons-in-law weeds and gloves." The whole of Mr. Stearns' salary for 1761, was paid to his widow.
The condition of the high ways, in the early history of the town, can hardly be imagined at the present time. For the most part they were merely "bridle paths," winding through the woods, over one hill after another, and making the travel- led distance between two places nearly double what it is now. Wheel carriages had not then been introduced. Travelling was performed on horseback. In order that people might not lose their direction, trees were marked on one side of the way. A few roads, which would soon prove the destruction of one of our modern carriages, were laid out at an carly season, near to the centre of the town. But in that part of the town which is How Fitchburg, there was nothing of the Land, all in 17 1 a committee was chosen "to lay out and mark a way to the west line of our town, in order to answer the request of the Honorable Thomas Berry, Esqr. in behalf of Ipswich Canada, (Winchendon) and to accommodate Dorchester Canada (Ash- burnham) and the new towns above us." The two most im- portant roads, which led from this part of the town to the cen- tre, were the one by David Page,s (J. L. Haynes') and corres- ponding nearly with what is now denominated the old road, and the one by David Goodridge's, who lived on the place now occupied by Wm. Bemis, near the brick factory at South Fitchburg.
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
In 1745 the town voted""that the men that live in the bounds of Maj. Hartwell's company build the bridge over the North Branch in the way that goes to David Goodridge's, and the bridge over the sd North Branch in the way that goes to Da- vid Page's." At the same time the men residing in the bounds of Capt. Willard's company, were directed to build the bridge over "Mullepus Brook," in the northerly part of Lunen- burg. The first of these bridges was where the arched bridge is in South Fitchburg, and the second near to where the stone mill is, in the "Old City." In 1718, the road was laid out from the "south side of Appletree Hill," over the bridge in the Old City, thence over the hill, and so on to Narragansett, No. 2, (Westminster.)
The bridge near David Goodridge's was rebuilt in 1749, and at the same time a new one was built between James Poole's (where Joseph Farnsworth now lives) and Narrhagan- sett. This bridge was probably near Osborn's mills. In 1750 the selectmen were empowered to cut away the trees in the road to Dorchester Canada. At this tiare the annual expense of maintaining the high ways was about equal to the salary of the minister, viz :- 60l. "lawful money." It was afterwards in- creased by the necessary expenses of the roads in the westerly part of the town.
What little communication there was between Lunenburg and "the new towns above," was principally made through the road by David Page's, already mentioned. This road proba- bly passed the village of Fitchburg, nearly in the same place with the present travelled way. It then wound up the hill by Enoch Caldwell's-over Flat rock-through the land lately owned by Sylvanus Lapham-and thence to what was then Lunenburg west line and into Dorchester Canada. John Scott, who lived where Benjamin Scott now resides, had been for a long time desirous of a more direct route to the centre of Lunenburg ; but the town would not accede to his wishes .- He accordingly procured a Court's committee, who laid the present Scott road, "to the great satisfaction of Mr. John Scott," as the Records say. This road passed from the mid- dle of Lunenburg by the log house where John Battles Jr. now lives, then by Ebenezer Bridge's, where Dea. Jaquith now resides, and then by Scott's own house, and so on to the road before mentioned. This Scott road was for some years quite a celebrated thoroughfare, and used to be called the Crown Point road.
Who were the earliest settlers in the territory which now constitutes the town of Fitchburg, it is impossible to determine
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
with accuracy. Enough has been said respecting David Page. John Scott, above mentioned, appears to have been residing on his farm in 1731-how much earlier I cannot tell. In this year was recorded the birth of his eldest son Edward. Jona- than Wood, who was a man of considerable note, was living on the place where Wi low Grace Wood lately lived (the last house in Fitchburg previous to passing Baker's bridge,) in 1735, when the birth of his first child was recorded. It is probable that he had been living there for some time. Sam- uel Poole lived on Charles Beckwith's place before 1740, and his brother James Poole was living at the same time where Joseph Farnsworth now lives. David Goodridge, at quite an early period, commenced on his farm at South Fitchburg .- His house was partly on, or very near to, the spot now occu- pied by the dwelling house of William Bemis. David Carlile lived where there is (or lately was) a cellar hole near to the bridge over Baker's brook, on the road leading to Isaiah Put- nam's. Before 1745 Isaac Gibson was living where widow Prudence Gibson now resides, and his brother Reuben where Arrington Gibson lives. Timothy Bancroft lived on the farm now owned by Joseph Marshall. Ephraim Whitney lived were Stephen Lowe now lives-Thomas Dutton on Capt. Benjamin Wheeler's place-Win. Henderson on Abel F. Ad- am's farm-John White on the French place, now occupied by William Wyman.
In the year 1745 or 6, Amos Kimball and his cousin E- phraim moved from Bradford into this town. Amos built the house where Samuel Hale now lives, and Ephraim the house on the Story farm. They probably owned land down to the river, and so up the same, including Rollstone. They built a gristmill with one run of stones, soon after they came here, on the place where the stone factory now stands. The dam which they built is said to have been not more than forty feet in length, in consequence of a natural bank, on the south side of the river, confining the water to a narrow channel at this place. This dam was made of a log laid across the river, having 'spoilings' driven in above it. Almost every year a freshet would sweep round the south end of the dam and oblige them to extend it several feet further.
The Kimballs living at rather too great a distance to take immediate charge of their mill, they employed one Hodgkins for tender. He built for himself a little hut or stall on the ground between I. Phillips' store and the house below. This habitation of Hodgkins was the first building, with the excep- tion of the mill, erected in what is now the Old City.
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
At this time Samuel Poole had a garrison-Capt. Samuel Hunt, who lived where David Page previously lived, had one -there was one at Isaac Gibson's, and one at Joseph Spaf- ford's.
Between the years 1710 and 1750 the Indians did not cease to keep the inhabitants of the frontier towns,-and this town may fairly have been considered as such-in a state of con- stant alarm. England at this time was waging a war with France ; and their colonists suffered dreadfully from the incur- sions and attacks of the savages, who were instigated by the French in Canada. The French government paid a large bounty for English scalps, and a still larger one for English prisoners. Prisoners were also ransomed for large sums of money, which was a further inducement to the Indians to save their prisoners alive. Though the war with France was clo- sed by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, the dread of In- dian depredations did not cease till several years after. In- dian scouts were frequently reported to have been seen-a- larms, many of which undoubtedly arose from false apprehen- sions, were excited-and fears were daily aroused from a con- sciousness of insecurity.
In the summer of 1747, a body of Indians made their ap- pearance within the borders of this town, and committed sev- eral acts of depredation. As this was the only occasion, of which we have authentic accounts that the Indians made their appearance in this town, as enemies, I have thought that it would not prove uninteresting to notice the incursion with some degree of particularity.
Beside the bounty paid in Canada for English prisoners, and the exposed condition of this settlement, another reason for the attack upon this place, as I have been informed, was the following :--
There was living, at this time, in the neighborhood of Mr. John Fitch, who then resided upon a spot very near to the place where the brick house of Oliver Kendall stands in Ash- by, a certain half tamed Indian, called Surdody. This part of Ashby was then included in Lunenburg. Mr. Fitch acciden- tally felled a tree, one day, onto the wigwam of Surdody, while the latter was absent on some hunting expedition. Surdody, on his return home at evening, found his dwelling crushed to the earth, and his wrath was kindled. Fitch did not seck him with an apology, or with any offer of reparation ; neither did Surdody request any recompense of, or shower any re- proaches upon, his white neighbor. He sought a recompense more congenial with the Indian disposition. He immediately F
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
took up his line of march for the north, and soon bed bis grievances before his copper coloured brethren in Canada .-- Hle described to them the defenceless state of the whites in this region, and prevailed upon a band of them to accompany him back upon a laudable expedition of vengeance and booty.
Mr. Fitch, feeling insecure, had previously petitioned the government for assistance. Two soldiers, named Jennings and Blodget, were accordingly stationed at his house for his protection. Upon the arrival of the Indians, some of them posted themselves in lurking positions about Fitch's dwelling -a body of them passing over the hill where John Turner lives to the hill where Win. Cogswell and Edmund Proctor live, and even to the south part of the town to the hill where Stephen Houghton lives, Jurked about in the thick woods there, to take a view of the state of things in Lunenburg. As it happened to be Sunday, and as om fathers were more in the habit of going to meeting than their descendants at the present day, the Indians were not a little surprised and disap- pointed at secing such a concourse of white faces, and men armed for attack-for at that time people went armed to church.
They accordingly skulked back to their comrades, telling them that the pale faces were as thick as the leaves in the forest, and that it was utterly hopeless to attack them there. But they determined not to go back empty-handed .- So they killed an ox, which was quietly browsing in the woods ; made an encampment, roasted their beef, and made merry with one another. This camp was afterwards discov- ered in a field then belonging to John Scott, and is not a great distance from MeIntire's saw-mill on the Scott road. It was (if it is not now) called the camp pasture, from this circum- stance.
Before making an attack upon John Fitch, they divided in- to parties and reconnoitered the neighborhood. On the brow of Pearl Hill they anxiously looked down upon the Gibsons, and longed to lay their hands on them. But these giants, whose size and strength would have done honor to the days of chivalry, were hardy looking men, and to use the words of one of their descendants, "the Indians didn't dare to tackle them." In a kind of cave on the hill were afterwards found a gun barrel, an axe, and several implements of Indian manu- facture-supposed to have been left here on this occason,
They proceeded to David Goodridge's, one evening, and one of them, as he afterwards informed Mr. Fitch when in captivity, climbed into a tree near to the house, for the purpose of reconnoitering the premises through the window.
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HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
He saw a white squaw feeding her papoose with milk .- They retired from this house without doing any damage.
On the following day Mr. Goodridge was out on horse- back, in search of a cow, which did not return home the pre- vious night. He was on the bill, near the place where S. Ward Harris now lives, when the Indians suddenly started up in the path, a few paces in front of him, and commanded him to surrender. He immediately turned his horse in order to retreat, when lo! another Indian, completely armed, faced him there to cut him off in that direction. He then made a circuit, aiming to come down the hill towards Kimball's mills. The savage ran in a direct line to cut him off in this direc- tion als. It was a fair race, but the horseman gained upon the foetman-and as Goodridge passed in front, the Indian, perceiving that it was in vain to think of taking him alive, fired-but fortunately, owing to the rapidity of Goodridge's motion or some other cause, missed his mark. The leaps of the horse down the steep part of the hill were afterwards measured, and found to be eighteen feet in length.
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