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 9
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About this time Wm. Hitchborn came from Boston, and built one of the houses in the block above mentioned. He was & hatter by trade, and a Justice of the Peace. In 1781, he was one of three persons licensed by the selectmen to sell tea. He appears not to have attracted much notice, till it was under- stood that he was about to procure a commission in the Peace, which in those days was a most important circumstance. An urgent remonstrance, headed by Dea. David Goodridge and signed by a large number of citizens, was sent to the Fountain of Honor, protesting earnestly against the appointment. But a brother of Hitchborn, then living in Boston, was too power- ful, and the esquireship was obtained despite the remonstrance. Hitchborn soon became very poor, sold his establishment to Jo- seph Fox, and returned to Boston.
It thus appears that the 'Old City,' as it is now called, was the distinguished part of the town-having the meeting house, the tavern, the stores, the doctor, the hatter, and the miller all within its precincts.
David Gibson, son of Isaac Gibson of Pearl Hill, having learned the baker's trade, turned his eyes westward of the Old City, and in a daring moment, reckless of a rough soil and its rougher productions-such as pine stubs, hard-hack, grape- vines, &c. &c. built a bakery on the spot now occupied by the dwelling house of E. Torrey Esqr. and located his dwelling house directly opposite to it. This was the first house built in what is now called the Village-unless the house of Benja- min Danforth, which stood nearly where S. M. Dole's house now stands, preceded it.
Gibson went to Vermont in 1792, and Dr. Peter Snow, who succeeded Dr. McCarty in the practice of medicine in the town, moved into this house and occupied it several years.
Not far from the time when Gibson's house was built, Ben- jamin Kemp built a house where Jonas Marshall's brick house now stands. But this was so far west that it was not then con- sidered as forming a component part of the 'middle of the town.'
Joseph Fenno lived in a log house, a few steps beyond the brick yard brook,-and nearly in front of Josiah Sheldon's
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present dwelling house. He afterwards built and occupied a house where Dea. Abel Downe now lives.
Capt. Wm. Brown built the preseet dwelling house of Caft. Z. Sheldon, in the year 1783 or '4. He owned the nulis and clothier's works in the Old City. He occupied this as his dwelling house at first, and afterwards as a tavern.
The houses built by David Gibson, by Benj. Danforth, and by Capt. Wm. Brown, were the only ones properly in the lim- its of the Village, when the first Parish Meeting House was built, in the year 1796.
In August, 1784, Dea. Kendall Boutelle and Thomas Stearns attended, as delegates from this town, a convention at West- minster, holden for the purpose of dividing the County of Wor- cester, or for devising means for that purpose; and in the follow- ing May, Dr. Jonas Marshall, Capt. Thomas Cowdin and Elijah Garfield attended a convention at Lunenburg for the same pur- pose. This has been, for a long time, a favorite object with the people in this town, but their efforts have never been crown- ed with the least success. They will probably be doomed for a long time to live at the distance of 25 miles from a court house and jail.
After the declaration of peace in 1783, a general stagnation of all kinds of business, as is usual in such cases, ensued .- The United Colonies were burdened with a debt of forty mill- ions of dollars, without any means of paying it. Congress, under the Confederation had power only to advise the several states to adopt certain measures to meet the wants of the times.
But the states, actuated by a spirit of commercial rivalry and jealousy, would agree upon no uniform system. So far then from any measures being adopted to pay the public debt, even the interest if it remained unpaid.
The whole body of the people became alarmed, and all con- fidence was destroyed. Certificates of public debt lost their credit, and many officers and soldiers of the late army, who were poor, were compelled to sell these certificates at exces- sive reductions. They had fondly hoped that if they could establish their independence, and a government of their own choosing, public and private prosperity would every where abound, and that things would go on delightfully. Bitter, now, was their disappointment. Of money there was next to none. The introduction of the precious n.ctals had been pre- vented by the war and its attendant evils, and the paper n.cn- ey in circulation was worth about two shillings on the pound. Creditors became alarmed, and used every means in their pow- er to secure their debts. Business was at a stand-men fail-
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ed'-and lawyers were overwhelmed with employment. Nev- er was the labor of the profession in greater demand, and nev- er were Courts of justice filled with more business. Massa- chusetts, for the purpose of maintaining her credit, loaded the people with excessive taxes. It was impossible for them to meet the demands made upon them. They knew not the ori- gin of the evils, but supposed that there was some defect in the laws-that there were either too many, or not enough. Pe- titions were poured in upon the Legislature from all quarters -but the Legislature, like all deliberative bodies, moved slow. The patience of the people was entirely exhausted in seeing their property seized on 'executions' issuing from these author- itive Courts, and as petitions, remonstrances, and mild meas- ures had failed to work out a remedy for their grievances, they determined to put down "WORCESTER SS" "In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts" &c. by force of arms. Thus much it has been necessary to premise to account for the origin of "Shays' Insurrection."
A large majority of the people of this, as well as the neigh- boring towns, were 'Shaysites.' In extenuation, though not in justification, of their conduct, it may be remarked that their straight-forward method of thinking did not lead them to com- prehend the actual state of public affairs, and the necessity of sacrificing present convenience to future good. After a war of eight years' duration to avoid the evils of excessive and illegal taxation, they could not see what they had gained, if they were now to be subjected to severer taxation than ever. Gov. Bowdoin did not possess the confidence of the people, but was looked upon, as I have been told, rather as a "Britianer."
They did not break out into open rebellion here, though they stood ready, and undoubtedly would have done so, had they been goaded much further by the acts of government. Their valor was fortunately well tempered with discretion. They knew that taking up arms against government was treason, and they knew that treason was a "hanging matter." How- ever, they put no restraint upon their tongues, and their lan- guage savored strongly of rebellion. Some, it must be con- fessed, "swore terribly ;" and the taxes ordered by the General Court were not all collected.
In June, 1786, Robert Burnham, Daniel Putnam, Thomas Stearns, Elijah Willard, and Phinehas Hartwell were chosen a committee to take into consideration the circumstances of the town, its burdens, and to petition to the Gen. Court for a redress of grievances. At the same meeting Elijah Willard was appointed a delegate to a convention of the people of the
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County at Worcester, to take into consideration the public af- fairs of the Commonwealth.
Open rebellion having broken out in several places, and threats and demonstrations of warlike movements beginning to appear in others, the State authorities were compelled to take notice of them, and resolved to put them down by an armed force. They had under their control the militia of the Commonwealth, and on their side all those, who preferred good order and an observance of the Laws-though somewhat ob- jectionable-to open rebellion and civil war. Companies of the military were stationed in the infected districts, with or- ders to seize upon suspected persons, that they might be con- fined, or take an oath of allegiance and fidelity to the Com- monwealth.
The town voted that Mr. Willard should attend the conven- tion at Worcester, and that they would defend his property, if he should be taken in person by government for his attendance -provided he behaved in an orderly and peaceable manner- otherwise they prudently resolved that he should take all risks upon his own shoulders.
In January, 1787, the town voted to petition the Legislature to have the Courts of Common Pleas and of the Sessions, sus- pended till the choice of a new representative house in the fol- lowing May-also to petition the government to liberate Capt. Shattuck and others, (who had been apprehended and impris- oned by the state authorities) on their promising to behave as peaceable and faithful subjects of the Commonwealth, *- also to petition the government that the people might have the priv- ilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Phinehas Hartwell, E- lijah Willard, and Dea. Ephraim Kimball were appointed to draft the above mentioned petitions.
Thomas Cowdin Esqr. who firmly adhered to the govern- ment, was appointed in this town, to administer the oath of allegiance and fidelity to those suspected persons, who were compelled unwillingly to appear before him. A large compa- ny of soldiers, commanded by Capt. Johnson, was sent up from Lancaster to examine into the soundness of loyalty here. They had they their quarters at the house of Capt. Thomas
*Capt. Shattuck was a distinguished Shaysite of Pepperell, and was apprehended for his treasonable designs. He was most shamefully abused and his life was threatened by those into whose hands he had fallen. His condition consequently excited the sympathy of all those who were disaffected towards the gov- ernment.
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Cowdin for a few days, and then were removed to where J. L. Haynes now lives. Their business was to sally out by night, and seize upon persons who happened to be suspected of en- tertaining dangerous opmions, and bring them by force before Captain Cowdin, where they were compelled to take the oath, or be carried to jail.
It will readily be imagined that the people of the town were exceedingly indignant at such a state of things, when the Writ of Habeas Corpus was suspended, and martial law en- forced. On more than one occasion were the citizens and sol- diers on the point of engaging in deadly strife, which was pre- vented only by the latter yielding the point to the former .- Some were quite ready, even with the halter dangling before their eyes, to oppose force to force, when they were awaken- ed at dead of night by patroles of armed soldiers, who, strong in the protection of government, sometimes were guilty of shameful excesses.
Joshua Pierce (who lived where Alonzo P. Goodridge now does) a warm Shaysite, was seized and brought before Esqr. Cowdin, and proving contumacious about the oath, he was held "in durance vile" for several days. Harsh measures were threatened, to reduce him to subjection, but the soldiers feared the people, whose demonstrations were not to be mistaken, and they let him go.
The Gibsons of Pearl Hill were threatened with a nocturnal visit from the military. The wrath of these stout yeomen, who prided themselves not a little on their courage and strength, was kindled at this intimation. They ("Reuben and Jake"- as I have been told) stationed themselves on the common, and dared the soldiers to lay hands on them. The latter declined the contest, or a "battle royal" would probably have ensued.
Dr. Jonas Marshall was eagerly sought for, but he eluded their search by secreting himself in the cellar of "Upton's Tav- ern." He was not further troubled with unwelcome visits, in consequence of threats, which he made, of furnishing the entry to his house with a trap-door, so that if the soldiers desired to search his house, they might commence operations by exam- ining the cellar first.
During this winter (1786-7) the military company was re- moved to Townsend. They gave the finishing touch to their impudence, by pressing into their service, for conveyance, both men and horses, for which no recompense was offered. On this occasion Asa Perry, who hated the soldiers most cordial- ly, did them the favor of turning them several times into snow-drifts-all by accident, of course.
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The force headed by Shays himself having been dispersed, the agitation on this subject principally subsided in the follow- ing year. John Hancock was chosen Governor, and a major- ity of the House of Representatives were disposed to regard with a more favorable eye the interests of 'the people.' A check was placed upon the system of sueing, by passing a law that a debtor, when sued, inight have whatever articles of his property he should choose appraised, and the creditor was com- pelled to take such articles at the valuation, or lose his debt. This law, in derision, was called "the hog-trough law," as a man might have his hog-trough appraised, and turned in to pay his debts.
One circumstance relative to the singing in the meeting house, at this period, is deserving of notice-inasmuch as it shows the carefulness of our fathers in guarding against inno- vations in all things pertaining to religious worship. It was the practice, previous to this time, in our churches, to have the minister select and read the psalm or hymn, as now-then the oldest deacon would read one line, which was sung by all who could sing, sitting promiscuously in every part of the meeting- house. Then another line was read, and sung in the same manner-and so on through the psalm or hymn. It appears that in 1737, some bold innovators in psalmody, undertook to introduce something similar to our present mode of singing, together with some new tunes. These latter were quite in- comprehensible to some veterans, whose sweet voices of fifty years' standing were hushed in consequence. They of course exclaimed against the innovation. Others objected to it as ir- religious and unscriptural. The point was argued with so much warmth on both sides, that it attracted the attention of the whole town. Accordingly an article was inserted in a war- rant for a town meeting, reading thus-"To see if the town will vote to come into any general rule in regard to carrying on the singing part of the public worship of God; and whether the sing- ers shall sing a part of the time without reading, and how the psalm shall be read, whether by line or verse, or act any thing thereon." A committee was chosen to take the thing into se- rious consideration, and to report at the next meeting.
The committee made the following report, which was accept- ed. "There shall be singing five times in the worshiping on the Lord's day, in the following manner :- The first singing in the morning before prayers shall be without reading and singing line by line. After prayers, in the singing, each line shall be read and sung separately, and such tunes shall be set, as the congregation can, in general, sing. The first singing
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in the afternoon and before prayers shall be without reading and singing line by line. After prayers, [each line? shall be read and sung separately, and after sermon, the singing shall be without reading and singing line by line." Thus happily was this difficult matter compromised. Enough of the old fashion was retained to satisfy the aged people, whose preju- dices in this matter were probably imbedded in their very ex- istence, while the taste of those, who were pleased with, the change, was gratified by carrying three-fifths of their point.
In December of this year (1787) Dea. Daniel Putnam was chosen to represent the town in the State Convention, which was held at Boston on the 2d Wednesday of 1788, to deliber- ate on the subject matter of the new proposed Federal Consti- tution. He was unanimously instructed to vote in favor of the Constitution, with amendments.
Perhaps enough has already been said respecting the ap- pearance of the centre of the town-the number and situation of the houses,-to convey a tolerably accurate idea of its con- dition in 17S6, or 50 years ago. A cursory view of it, how- ever, may prove somewhat interesting. A traveler, approach- ing from the east or south, would first behold the tavern of Thomas Cowdin Esgr. Upon the hill to the north-west might be seen a small, yellow, and rather mean looking meeting- house. In front would appear the 'red store' of Joseph Fox Esqr. and in the rear of that his dwelling-house, with large projecting eaves. The mills and dwelling house of Dea. E- phraim Kimball were just below, and over the bridge were two houses more. Casting his eyes up the hill he would see the house of Rev. Mr. Payson, where C. Marshall now lives .- This was all that could be seen. and all that then constituted the middle of Fitchburg. Thence proceeding westward over a crooked and rough road, the traveler would next see the house already mentioned as having been built by David Gib- son, and opposite to that, on the right, the baker's shop. He would then come on to the present common. Here his sight would be greeted by small, stinted pine trees and such bushes as grow upon the poorest land. A straggling log fence here and there might serve to diversify the scene. Nothing more was to be seen, unless William Brown had commenced build- ing Capt. Z. Sheldon's presert dwelling house, till passing the swell of ground at Dr. Abel Fox's house, the modest, unas- suming house of Benjamin Danforth would be visible on the right, and his blacksmith's shop on the left. Continuing his * course onward, over one of the most wretched roads, that ever bore that name, and passing over the high bridge-and a cra-
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zy one it was-near the bellows shop of Messrs Thurston and Battis, no marks of human habitation were to be seen, till pas- sing round the hill, he might discern in the distance the soli- tary cottage of Benjamin Kemp.
The river, which is now crowded, so to speak, with mills and factories, then appeared like a useless profusion of water, flowing noisily along over its rocky bed to the parent ocean, unobstructed by a single dam, save the one in the Old City .- Such, fifty years ago, was the forbidding aspect of what is now the busy and pleasant village of Fitchburg.
I have been thus particular in describing the appearance of the centre of the town at this period, because then arose the contest respecting the location of a new meeting house-a con- test which continued full ten years, and was conducted with more bitterness of feeling, and display of angry passions, than any other town difficulty that ever existed among us.
The wealth and business of the town is now so concentra- ted, that it would seem like folly to contend that the meeting house should be placed any where else, than in, or near, its present location. But from what has already been said, and from what will be hereafter explained concerning the condi- tion of the westerly part of the town, it will appear that those, who desired the meeting house to be located further west, were not so destitute of reason, as one, hastily judging, might be inclined to suppose.
The west, at this this time, was probably the most flourish- ing part of the town. The farmers, in selecting their locations, were guided hither by the circumstance that here was some of the best soil in the town, and that the higher grounds were not so liable to be visited by early frosts, as the lower grounds on the borders of the river. The river, indeed, instead of be- ing viewed with eyes of favor, was dreaded as a curse .- Though it furnished water power for a single mill, this did not have the weight of a feather, in comparison with the heavy expense of maintaining the bridges. It is not surprising, therefore, that the people of the west, burdened with no such plague within their precincts, should desire to cut themselves free from such an onerous annual tax. The tract of land, now known as Dean's hill, having a good soil, and an eleva- tion such as would strike the eye of a pioneer with delight, was early settled ; and fifty years ago was the most flourishing part of the town.
Jacob Upton then kept quite a celebrated tavern where Capt. Dean lately lived. Jedediah Cooper also kept tavern where his son, Samuel Cooper now lives. Capt. John Upton had a store
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in the small house now occupied by Daniel Flint. Dr. Stone, now a distinguished physician in Harvard, and after him Dr. Ball* practised medicine here. Near the tavern was another important appendage, a blacksmith's shop in full operation .- The land here was in a good state of cultivation, and the far- mers were industrious and prosperous. The Crown Point road, which took the principal travel between Vermont and Boston, passed over this hill, and added not a little to its ap- pearance of activity. With all these advantages and prospects, it is not surprising that the inhabitants felt their importance, and desired to exalt their condition above that of being merely an outskirt of the town of Fitchburg.
Accordingly early in the year 1785, an article was inserted in the warrant for a town meeting-"To see if the town would take into consideration the request of Jacob Upton and others, to see if the town will set off the inhabitants of the north-west- erly part of Fitchburg, with their lands and privileges, free and clear from said Fitchburg, to join the extreme part of Westminster, with the northeasterly part of Ashburnham, to be incorporated into a town, to have town privileges, as other towns." If this request had been granted, the people of the new town would have erected a meeting house not far from Upton's tavern. The effect of this was well understood. The rise in the value of real estate in that vicinity, and the in- pulse that would be given to business by making it the middle of a town, conspired to awaken the energies of those interest- ed in such a consummation, to bring about the desired object. But it encountered many difficulties. It was too local in its nature-and notwithstanding all the energy with which it was urged in town-meeting, not only the east, but every part of the town not included in the limits of the proposed new town, set their faces against it. They could not see the propriety of setting off that flourishing part of the town, and taking upon
*He had but little else beside his good looks to recommend him. Not being overburthened with medical knowledge or com- mon sense, his 'practice' was limited; and he curtailed his ex- penses in proportion. He boarded with "landlord Upton," on condition that he should pay a certain sum for every meal at which he might be present, and that he should receive a certain sum whenever he should be absent. He contrived that his visits to his patients and neighbors should be at such an hour as to se- cure a meal of vietuals without expense to himself. Consequent- ly, when the time of 'settling' came, it appeared that the landlord was in the doctor's debt.
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themselves the whole burden of maintaining the minster, bridg- es &c. So they promptly voted that the article should be dismissed.
But the petitioners, acting with that zeal which is not quench- ed by a single repulse, but rather gathers force from opposi- tion, made another attempt in the following May, but in a dif- ferent form. This was to see if the town would "receive a- bont a mile or more in width of land, with the inhabitants thereon, of the northerly part of the town of Westminster, bounded on the northwesterly part of Fitchburg, to be annex- ed thereto, to be convened with others of the inhabitants of said town, for the public worship of God, and to be vested with all other privileges with said town in public matters, to join with the inhabitants of said Fitchburg to build a meeting house on Ezra Upton's land," &c. (A few rods to the southeast of the house of Daniel Works.) This was an essential modification of the original plan ; and instead of taking any thing from the territory of the town, would add considerable to it. Another point was conceded by proposing to place the meeting house on Ezra Upton's land, which, with the new territory, would not be far from the centre of the town. But the wise men of the east were not to be deceived by this artfully contrived plan. They well knew that if this point was conceded, it would throw so much power into the hands of the west, that they could, if they should choose, have it set off into a separate town. This article was accordingly dismissed.
These two defeats only made the people of the west more anxious to carry their point in some shape. They began to consider it an intolerable grievance to be compelled to travel over such hills and to such a distance, to attend public wor- ship ; and accordingly in March, 1786, they requested of the town, "that Rev. Mr. Payson have liberty to preach some part of the time in the year, in the westerly part of the town." -- This modest request was also denied-the town probably thinking that by yielding an inch, they would open a door, through which they might unwillingly be thrust a mile.
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