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 (1865) > Part 6
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#Ile was a man of unblemished reputation, and was always highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. He died in 1774, at the age of 57. None of his descendants now remain in the town. George Kimball Esqr. of Lunenburg, who built the house where Jacob Caldwell now resides, was a brother of Amos.
#Martha, wife of Solomon Steward, died in 1777. She was buried in the lower grave yard at bun- enburg. Her grave stone declares that " She Was a Vartus Wife a Kind Neighbour & a Tender Parent.
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Mournfull Children Hear I Lay as You are Now So Once Was I as I am Now So You Must be Prepare Your Selves to Follow Me."
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
Charles Willard lived where Adin H. Hammond now lives. Edward Scott lived where Joseph T. Scott now lives. Ebenezer Bridge lived where Dea. Jacob Jaquith now lives. Ezra Whitney lived where Daniel Lowe now loves. Reuben Gibson lived where Arrington Gibson now lives. Isaac Gibson* lived where Widow P. Gibson now lives.
William Chadwick lived near to, and a little north of where John Hapgood now lives.
Nich. Danforth lived in the pasture nearly opposite I. Putnam's. Isaiah Witt lived where Isaiah Putuam now lives.
Thomas Gerry lived where Joseph Fairbanks now lives.
Joseph Spafford lived in the Jog house where John Battles, Jr., now lives.
Ephraim Whitney lived where Stephen Lowe now lives. John White lived where William Wyman now lives.
Timothy Bancroft lived where Joseph Marshall now lives.
Thomas Damary lived where there is a tan yard, near to Na- than Battles'.
Jesse French lived where Jacob HI. Merriam now lives. Thomas Dutton lived where Capt. Benjamin Wheeler now lives. William Hendersont lived where Abel F. Adams now lives. Samuel Iluut lived where James L. Haynes now lives. Timothy Parker lived in the garrison house, formerly D. Page's. Jonathan Wood lived where John Younglove now lives. David Goodridge lived where William Bemis now lives. Jonathan Holt lived opposite the house of Avery Stockwell.
"The personal prowess of thee Gibsons was quite proverbial. On one occasion, Isane Gibson, in Has Landed on Pearl Hill found a bear's cub, which he immediately seized as his legitimate prize. The mother of the sub came to the rescue of her offspring. Gibson retreated, and the bear attacke I him in the year, to the manifest detriment of his pantalons. This finally compelled him to free his unwelcome antagonist, and they closed in a more than fraternal embrace. Gibson, being the more sklifal wrestler of the two, "threw " bruin, und they came to the ground together. Withont plnqulshing the ling both mun und beast now rolled over each other to a considerable distance down the hill, receiving sundry luises by the way. When they reached the bottom, With wele willing to relinquish the contest, without muy further experience of each other's prowess. I win When gane the bear king her cubs, and Gibson his pantalons.
The walt cray Fishman, and weld to Come soon after the incorporation of Fitchburg. In about let your he returned In poverty, nad involved Fitchburg and Lauenburg in a lawsuit.
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Samuel Hodgkins lived a little to the south of the old city store. Samuel Walker lived where C. Marshall now lives.
Phinehas Goodell lived in the south-westerly part of the town. His place of residence in not exactly known.
The above mentioned individuals and their families, composed the population of Fitchburg. Their dwellings, in almost every instance, were far apart-here and there a house, scattered over a large territory. A single dwelling house stood in the " Old City,"' and in the village, where the population is now so thickly clustered together, not a single house was erected. The winds which swept down the valley of the Nashua, sighed through the pines which here formed a dense forest.
Within the first few years after the incorporation of the town, several new families selected it as their place of residence. It would be tedious to enumerate all these new comers ; but there is one who, by the influence which he exerted over the affairs of the town in its infancy, by the character which he helped to give it, and by the high estimation in which he seems to have been held, merits a more particular notice.
Thomas Cowdin, Esq. moved into Fitchburg in the July fol- lowing its incorporation. He appears to have been one of those persons who, without the advantages of birth, education or for- tune, unaided by the influence of patronage or favor, but relying solely upon the energies of a sound intellect and active mind, frequently elevate themselves to a rank above their neighbors.
He was born in Stow, in 1720, and went as an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, to Marlborough, where he served his time. He then removed to Worcester, and commenced his busi- ness on the main street. He belonged to a company of cavalry in that town. Several years previous to the old French War- as it is called-but at a time when the Indians were exceed- ingly troublesome, he was pressed into the service, and marched up to Charlestown No. 4, under the command of one Captain Stevens. Here it was his fortune to encounter some dangers,
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and make some hair-breadth escapes from the savages. He was, on one occasion, selected to convey some despatches from that . place to Fort Dummer. He buckled them in his knapsack, and, accompanied by two other soldiers, commenced his dangerous journey. They had not proceeded many miles when, on coming to the brow of a rather abrupt precipice, they looked down and beheld a very interesting group of savages. The latter perceived Comdin and his associates at the same instant, and sounded the war-whoop in pursuit. As they were obliged to make some little virenit before they could climb the precipice, the whites improved the opportunity to get the start. Each of the three wisely took a different direction. Cowdin showed the red men a light pair of heels, and escaped by dint of running. One of his comrades took a " bee line" for Charlestown, where he arrived in safety, and gave the information that Cowdin and his despatches were probably taken. The third, being slow of foot, finding it impos- sible to escape his pursuers by running, crawled into some high grass before they came in sight, and thus escaped unnoticed. Cowdin bent his course for Ashuelot, (now Keene) where he arrived unharmed. From thence a company of soldiers was sent with him to Fort Dummer, where he delivered his despatches.
On his return to Charlestown, he met companies which had been sent in pursuit of him ; and other despatches of the same tenor had been sent forward to Fort Dummer, upon the pre- sumption that he had been taken and shain.
While he was at Charlestown. he was one of a detachment of thirty men which was sent out to scour the woods of the neighborhood, to see if any Julians were lurking in that quarter. In this detachment was also the famous Chamberlain, who dis- tingnished himself in that most bloody battle with the Indians, known as Lovell's fight, by killing with his own hands the Indian chief, Paugus.
Chamberlain had a dog with him, which had been nurtured in lilian was. He could "scent" an Indian as far as a common
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dog could a pole-cat. In this ramble the dog came speedily in to his master. Chamberlain looked in his face and read his intelligence. " Stop," says he, "my dog says the red skins are near." They halted, and in a moment they heard the sound of an arrow whizzing by their heads. They look about, and Chamberlain soon discovers the lurking foe. He fired, and in a moment the Indians in large numbers, rose around them and fired. The whites charged upon them, and they fled. The scour- ing party returned to the fort, having a few of their number wounded.
Cowdin, in the capacity of sergeant, was at the siege and capture of Louisburg, and faced the enemy in the hottest of the fight, when the place was attacked in 1745.
When the war broke . out between England and France, in 1755, Cowdin enlisted as ensign; and in that year he was en- gaged in the expedition against Nova Scotia. He served seven years during this war, and rose to the post of captain. Two of these years he was employed in this state, for the double purpose of forwarding invalids, when they had sufficiently recor- ered to join the army, and for arresting deserters.
While engaged in this latter capacity, an incident occurred which serves very well to illustrate his determined perseverance. He had intimation of a certain deserter, who was making his way towards the state of New York. He started in pursuit of the fugitive, and finally. burrowed him -- so to speak-one Sun- day morning, in a Dutch meeting-house. It was during divine service ; but Cowdin rushed in and seized upon him. A soufHe ensued, much to the amazement of the sedate congregation. The fellow attempted to kill his captor, but Cowdin succeeded in overpowering and binding him. He then brought his prisoner from New York to Boston, for the purpose of putting him into the castle; but on his arrival there, it was ascertained that the soldier had last deserted from Crown Point, and there- fore Cowdin was ordered to convey him to the latter place.
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This journey through the wilderness he accomplished alone, withe his prisoner, who very well knew that death would be his por- tion when delivered over to the proper tribunal. At Crown Point the prisoner was recognized as a man who had enlisted and deserted, in a short space, no less than thirteen times. He was conveyed to Montreal, and shot.
Such circumstances as these serve better, perhaps, than other means, to set forth in its truc light, the character of one of the early pioneers, who, from the period when he made this town his -residence, to his death in 1792, took the lead in its public affairs.
When Cowdin came into this town, he purchased the tavern stand of Samuel 'Hunt. who thereupon removed to Worcester. Cowdin continued to keep a public house here (J. L. Haynes') for about ten years, when he removed to the Boutelle house, so called, in the Oll City, which has lately been taken down.
He owned a great portion of the land included between the two roads leading to Lunenburg and Baker's brook. He also owned a tract on the westerly side of the road leading from his then dwelling house to Kimball's mills in the Old City. The first meeting-house built in Fitchburg, was placed on land given by him, and which was then called his wheat field. This meeting- house was nearly on the spot now covered by the brick school-house.
I have already mentioned the condition of the village at that period. It was covered by a forest. After leaving Jesse French's house and Kimball's mills, there was not a single dwelling house before arriving at Leach's, where P. Williams, Esqr., now lives. The pitch pine trees affordled an excellent shelter for deer, par- tridges and wild turkeys. David Boutelle's "muster field" was covered with a beautiful growth of white pine timber, which was not cut down till 1775, when Thomas Cowdin built a large addition to the Boutelle house, and opened it as a public house.
A Judge Oliver, of Salem, owned a range of lots, commencing on Condin's land, war the Fox house, so called, and thence
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extending on the river to where Phillips' brook unites with the Nashua. This tract embraced the whole of the village and Crockersville. He also owned a tract a mile square on Dean hill, so called, in the westerly part of the town. Judge Oliver or his heirs sold both of these tracts to one Elias Haskell, who came into this town, and built the house now owned by Capt. Dean.
This Haskell, by selling lots and loaning his money, was reputed to be very rich ; but he was doomed to experience a reverse of fortune. He was compelled to receive his pay in the pernicious paper currency of the times, which depreciated so rapidly that it soon came to be but little better than so much brown paper. He afterwards purchased a small sandy farm in the north-easterly part of Lancaster, where he lived some years, and died in poverty,
Col. William Brown and Burnet Brown, the one belonging to Salem, the other to the south, owned a large tract of land in the region of where Levi Farwell now resides. In the westerly part of the town they owned another tract, a part of which is now included in the Hilton and Sheldon farms. Another tract was owned by them in the northerly part of the town.
In the south-westerly part, several hundred acres were given to the committee appointed by the General Court to allot the original proprietorships. This committee, it will be recollected, consisted of William Taylor, Samuel Thaxter, Francis Fullam, John Shipley, and Benjamin Whittcmore. The land owned by Col. Timothy Fitch, was in the southerly part of the town.
On the 5th day of March, 1764, the first meeting which the town ever held in its corporate capacity, was called, ac- cording to the act of incorporation, by virtue of a warrant issued by Edward Hartwell, Esq., of Lunenburg, directed to Amos Kimball, one of the Constables of Fitchburg. It was held in the tavern of Capt. Samuel Hunt. Amos Kimball was moderator of this meeting, and Ephraim Whitney was chosen town clerk. Amos Kimball, David Goodridge, Samuel Hunt, Ephraim Whitney, and Reuben Gibson, were chosen selectmen.
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In September following, at a town meeting, it was voted that " two miles on the westerly line of said town, beginning at the north-west corner, and half a mile on the easterly line, beginning at the north-east corner, on Townsend line, then run- ning a straight line from one of these distances to the other, be set off to Mr. John Fitch and others, in order for them to join a part of Townsend and a part of Dorchester Canada, in order to make a Town, or Parish among themselves." This was giving away a large slice from the northern part of the town : and the liberal conduct of the people of Fitchburg is contrasted favorably with that of the people of Lunenburg, in the affair of the incorporation of this town. Notwithstanding the willingness of Fitchburg to gratify Mr. Fitch in this respect, . Ashby was not incorporated till three years afterwards, viz : in 1767.
In October, 1764, a committee was chosen on the part of this town, to confer with those of Lunenburg, Groton, and other towns, for petitioning the Great and General Court for a new county to be formed of several towns in the counties of Middlesex and Worces- ter. Several attempts had been made, in years previous, to attain this object, but they were always unsuccessful. The attempt now made shared the fate of the others. At this period, though the amount of business which the people of Fitchburg had to transact at the shire town was but little, compared with it now, they felt great inconvenience in being compelled to travel the distance of twenty-five miles to have a deed recorded, or to transact any other county business.
Until this time there had been no burying vard in the precincts of Fitchburg. The dead were carried the distance of nearly seven miles to lamenburg. The first " grave yard" in Fitchburg was purchased near to their meeting-house, on the hill a little in the rear of the brick school-house, in the Old City. But few bodies were ever deposited here; in consequence of ledges of rock and other obstructions in the soil. In 1766 Dea. Amos Kimball, in
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consideration of the love and respect which he bore to the people of Fitchburg, gave to them one acre of land, on the southerly side of the river between the bridge and his house. The bodies buried in the first burying-place were exhumed, and re-interred in the new yard.
In November the town voted to have six weeks preaching, and directed their committee to apply to Rev. Peter Whitney, who accordingly came and preached in the tavern of Thomas Cowdin. The people of those days were less scrupulous in regard to the place where they met for public worship, than we, of the 19th cen- tury are ; a tavern then was no better than a tavern now, but they probably thought that their Maker regarded more the feelings with which his creatures offered up their petitions and adorations than the place in which they assembled for this purpose.
At the same meeting in November they voted to proceed to build a meeting-house. Their manner of proceeding in this affair was quite different from that usually pursued now; for the town determined to find the " stuff," and then, employ people to work on the house, and finish a part at a time. Their first step was to get the frame raised and covered with rough boards; afterwards the lower floor was laid, then the outside was "finished ;" a place was made " for the minister to preach in," the pew ground was " dignified," and the house was "seated." Then galleries, and stairs leading to the same, were to be made, the house was "glassed " and finally " coloured." The town employed different persons to perform these jobs, which were not all completed till the lapse of several years. The town was thinly peopled, and money was hy no means plenty. The sum of 507. (#166.66,) was voted to begin the house, which, built piece-meal, and with such slender means, would make but a sorry appearance in comparison with our modern temples. The people were obliged to act with rigid economy. Fortunes were not made in a day, and the expenses of maintaining the minister, and keeping the high-ways in repair, bore heavily upon a population whose income was very limited. They thought
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it best to build no more at a time than they could pay for, and to humble themselves a little, as they arranged themselves on temporary seats around their preacher- and so proceed with the work of building as their means allowed. Such a course was preferable to that which is sometimes adopted in these latter days - of crecting a splendid edifice at once, contracting a large debt to pay for it, and then to be able barely to pay, year after year, the interest, and perhaps a small portion of the principal.
Although the people of Fitchburg thus early manifested a proper spirit in supporting the public institutions of religion, and doing other things for the prosperity of the town, it must be acknowl- edged that they did not exhibit that zeal in the cause of educa- tion which its importance demanded, and which might be reason- ably expected from them. During the first year of its incorporation, it does not appear that there was any school in the town. In 1765, it was voted that twe schools should be kept in the town during the ensuing winter, and the sum of three pounds ($10) was appropriated to this purpose. Mr. John Fitch and Dea. Kendall Boutelle, who lived in the northern and southern extremi- ties of the town, were exempted from any portion of this tax, and had permission to establish schools among themselves. How much benefit to the town was derived from two schools, cach drawing from the treasury the paltry sum of five dollars for the pay of the teacher and all incidental expenses, I cannot pretend to say. Incidental expenses, however, were but trifling. There were no school-houses in the town : but the dwelling-houses of individuals, who had vacant rooms that would answer for this purpose, were freely offered for the public good. A school was " kept" for some time in Win. Chadwick's " corn-barn." The "master " boarded in the several families of the district, which hore the burthen of honor of his presence, for a stated number of weeks, in rotation. The people also furnished fiel gratuitously; and it is probable that the teacher received nearly the whole amount of the money maised by the town.
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In the succeeding year a more magnanimous disposition was manifested. The sum of 8l. (#26.66) was voted for the support of the schools-and this was the standing sum appropriated for the purpose for a considerable number of years. During the same time they were paying to their minister annually the sum of $200, or $300 (in addition to his 30 cords of wood)-eight times the amount which they paid for the education of their children. At the present time, the amount of money paid by the people for instruction, is just about equal to that paid to all the ministers in the town. It is but just to add that, previous to the incorporation of Fitchburg, Lunenburg appropriated a hand- some sum to purposes of education .*
There were some peculiarities exhibited in the conduct of the fathers of this town, which savored strongly of their puritan origin. They were not so tolerant in all their notions as their children have become, and according to their sense of propriety and duty they maintained a strict watch over all things pertaining to the moral and spiritual welfare of the good people of the town. In these days of modern degeneracy, their inquisitorial proceedings would have excited no small degree of indignation, and their pry- ing committees would have met with many a severe rebuff.
Soon after the settlement of Rev. Mr. Payson, a committee was chosen to see that all the inhabitants duly and constantly attended meeting on the Sabbath, and to report the names of those who were. delinquent. The latter were inevitably fined.
A Mr. Abel Baldwin, who lived on the farm where Moses Hale now lives, once came within the number of the unfortunate delin- quents. He was consequently fined. He made his appearance before Thomas Cowdin, Esgr., who was then living in what is now
*Before Fitchburg was set off, two or more sekcol-houses had been built in the precincts of Lunen- burg, and the people of what was afterwards Fitchburg paid their proportion of the tax for the sup- port of schools. It would be injustice to many persons not to mention the exertions which they made in their individual eapacity, for the education of their children. Many private or subscription schools were opened-some with very competent teachers. The children received three-fourths of their instruction in this way, This is quite a palliation for the conduct of the town in its corporate capacity.
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called the Old City, and paid his fine ; but he did so with evident remetance, and an unwilling mind. He looked about him and seemed to think that the place, as well as the people, was entitled to a share of the blame, for so rigid a restriction upon his liberty. He expressed his opinion that the place would not prosper, and that a enrse would follow it. He accordingly gave to it the name of Sodom-and it is called Sodom unto this day .*
At this period of our history, when there was a paucity of subjects to engage public attention, many trivial circumstances, which now would excite no interest beyond the sphere of the individuals immediately interested, gradually worked themselves into affairs of public importance, and came under the cognizance of the town. The minister, the meeting-house, the pews, and even the petty differences between man and man, frequently presented questions which were decided by the town.
To show the views and understanding of the people then, their disposition to assume a general interest and oversight over each other's affairs, I will mention several circumstances, as they appear on the town Records.
Phinehas Steward and Edward Scott respectively laid claim to a certain pew in the meeting-house. This important affair coming before the town, it was " Voted and agreed upon by the two parties on account of the Pew in contest, and by Phinchas Steward, which Pew Edward Scott claims is given up by said Steward to said Scott, upon condition that said Scott pays 30 shillings, and pays also what money the Town's committee dignified the Few ground at to said Steward,-and furthermore, both parties, that is, said Edward Scott and said Phinchas Steward, each of them agreed and actually signed the Town's vote, both of them never to make any more uneasiness further about said Pew, if
"He was a carpenter and jobber ly trade, and withal a very respectable man. Being a Baptist- a Ona arts in these days he did not choose to unite in the worship of those of a different per- passion The lown wickelly persecuted him for conscience' sake.
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the money be paid by said Scott in one week from this day, being the 23d day of May, 1768.
EDWARD SCOTT.
(Signed) PHINEHAS STEWARD.
Attest, THOS. COWDIN, Town Clerk.
It appears that one Eliphalet Mace, then living where Jacob H. Merriam now lives, in giving in his invoice to the asses- sors, was actuated by a disposition which has not become en- tirely obsolete in the town at the present day. He quietly kept back some few articles of his property-not wishing to appear too vainglorious about his worldly possessions. The town took cognizance of the matter, and soon came to the conclusion that, though the said Mace might be poor in spirit, he was not so very poor in earthly goods. They accordingly voted that he should be fined forty shillings for giving in a false invoice. Some time afterward, the anger of the town was considerably abated, and the fine of Mace was abated in proportion. It was voted that twenty-eight shillings of it be deducted-so the unfortunate man was fined only twelve shillings for his untimely modesty.
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