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 8
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The declaration having been adopted, copies were sent by order of the Council, to the several towns of the State, where they were read from the pulpit, and then copied into the town Book of Records-there to remain as a perpetual memorial thereof."
84
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
In October, the question was submitted to this town, whether they were willing that the then Representative House, together with the Council, should make a form of government for the State of the Massachusetts Bay. The town expressed their unwil- lingness to this course, and drew up their reasons in the form of a report, which was transmitted to the Legislature. It is as follows: " As we are sensible that our situation demands a par- ticular attention and due consideration in matters of the greatest importance on so interesting concern for the public good, and for the good order and benefit of the community and peace of this State, - that as the end of government is the happiness of the people, so the sole right and power of forming and estab- lishing a plan thereof is essentially in the people. We are there- fore unwilling that the present House of Representatives, together with the Council, should make a form of government for this State.
Firstly -- Because the present House were never elected by the people to establish a form of government for this State, but for ordering and governing the prudential affairs of this embarrassed State, as necessity calls for their strict attention thereto.
Secondly -- Because a large number of our worthy inhabitants of this State is now engaged in the service of the United States in opposing our unnatural enemies, who, we apprehend, ought, of right, to have an equal voice in establishing a form of government for this State, as those that are not engaged in the army. But provided the present House of Representatives, together with the Council, should proceed to make a form of government, Resolved, That it is the opinion of this town that said form of government should be made publie for the perusal and inspection of the inhab- itants, before the ratification thereof by the assembly."
It will be readily imagined that, under the severe pressure of a harassing war, when all resources were heavily drawn upon to furnish arms, ammunition, clothes and provisions for the army, to supply funds for the payment of the soldiers, and to meet other expenses incident to the state of public affairs, money, among the
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
inhabitants 'was not only exceedingly scarce, but that, in conse- quence of the successive draughts for soldiers, laborers were in great demand, and their services commanded exorbitant prices. The result of this was that the prices of all commodities and arti- cles of consumption rose in proportion. The embarrasseil condition of our trade, previous to the commencement of the war, had also tended to increase the scarcity of money ; so that this anomaly now presented itself-everything was exceedingly dear, and no one had money to buy with. The General Court felt the evil, and endeavored ineffectually to apply a remedy. They passed an act for dividing the Commonwealth into districts, and ordering that a committee should be chosen in each district, to fix upon certain prices for labor and provisions,-which prices, when thus estab- lished, it should be unlawful for any one to exceed. This scheme continued in operation for a few weeks, when it fell to the ground, by common consent. It was found to operate unequally, and the people would not submit to it.
Groton, Shirley, Townsend, Lunenburg and Fitchburg composed one district. I have thought it might prove interesting to men- tion the prices which were affixed to some of the most important articles, by the committee of these towns.
Labor of men, in summer, per day,
-
50 cents.
A carpenter, er housewright, per day,
Wheat, per bushel,
$1.11 73
Corn, 66 66
56
Oats, 66 €6
33
Pork, €6 pound, -
6
66
Butter, " 6 -
12g ..
Beef,
66
-
6
Potatoes, per bushel,
17
Good sheep's wool, per lb.,
33
..
Men's stockings, of the best quality.
1.00
66 66 winter, " ‹‹ -
25
50 66
Rye, 66 66
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
Men's shoes, -
1.33
Lamb, mutton and veal, per lb ..
4} cents.
Hay, per ton, 10.00
Pine boards, per thousand, - 3.67
Clapboards, .. - 10.67
Wheat flour, per 100 Ibs., 3.67
For a dinner, boiled and roasted, -
17
For a dimmer with only one of these. -
14
..
6.
For a mug of West India Hip, 15.
123
For a mug of N. E. Hip, Good cider, per barrel. 1.83
Men tailors, per day,
Women tailors, per day,
155
Yard-wide cotton cloth, 58
House maids, per week, 42
Horse for one person to ride, per mile, 31 6.
There are indications that at this period (1777) the town began to grow weary of its burdens. There was no prospeet of an immediate termination of the war-no prospect of "better times." The inhabitants were dilatory in furnishing their quotas of continental soldiers. The great bounty required for enlist- ments seemed too enormous to be offered. Those who felt dis- posed to go forth to the field of battle, looked upon their families, and saw that they must be left to poverty and want, unless they could depend upon the bounties for support. Of specie, but little was in the country, and paper money was rapidly depreciating in value. The resources of the country seemed to be nearly exhausted. It is not surprising, therefore, that the stoutest heart, at times, yielded to despondency. Yet there is one thing truly surprising. Amid all this gloom, when all were disheartened at the prospect before them, there were no general murmurs heard, as of old among the children of Israel, sighing for the " flesh-pots of Egypt"-no vain regrets that they had departed from under the protection of the British
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
crown. On the contrary, the utmost vigilance was exercised to spy out, and hold up to public scorn the man who dared to show the least symptom of disaffection towards the American cause.
It was during this year that Phinehas Hartwell, whom, in the language of the records, the town presumed to be firmly attached to the American cause, was appointed a committee to procure and lay before a special Court of Sessions of the Peace, " the evidence that may be had of the inimical disposition towards this or any of the United States, of any inhabitant of this town, who shall be charged by the freeholders, and other inhabitants of said town." Indeed, not only was enmity to the cause severely punished, but persons exhibiting luke-warmness were watched with a suspicious eye. Every one had to come up to the mark prescribed by public opinion, or expose himself to the effects of popular indignation. More than one inhabitant of this town was threatened with a coat of tar and feathers, and even with the destruction of his house. Such persons had to walk very circumspectly to shelter themselves from ebulitions of popular feeling. They were even compelled to mount the head of a barrel, and in this conspicuous, though humbling condition, promise to the assembled majesty of the town, a greater love for the American cause, and a more strict obedi- ence to the will of the people. Among this unfortunate class was our old friend, Thomas Cowdin, who, though in other respects a very popular man, and a very noted inn-keeper, was shorn of all his municipal honors in 1775, and was not again admitted to the confidence of the town till towards the close of the war. This summary process induced those who entertained inimical dispositions, to keep their opinions to themselves.
Though the burthen of the war was now pressing heavily upon a town which was not highly favored in the possession of worldly goods, the people did not despair of the cause of Inde- pendence. They continued to labor steadily to the utmost of their ability, and this year (1777) voted to raise $288 for purcha --
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG,
ing guns and ammunition for the town's use. In compliance with an act of the General Court, they chose a committee, who had full power and authority to supply with the necessaries of life, at the town's expense, all those families of the soldiers who were en- gaged in the Continental service.
The wretched state of the currency at this time, was rendered still worse by the improvident attempts of the Legislature to remedy it. The General Court passed an act for putting large sums of the hills of credit emitted by this State, on interest, and sinking certain sums, less than ten pounds, in the possessors' hands,-and prohibiting the circulation of the bills of any of the United States, under a penalty of five pounds. The town was opposed to this act, and sent to the General Court a remonstrance to that effect.
In May, 1778, the town approved of the " articles of Confed- eration sent out by the Continental Congress." At this time the new State Constitution was submitted to the people for their approbation or disapprobation. The vote in this town was as follows-For the Constitution, 22-against it, 4. The General Court, at this period, called for four men for the Continental army, and allowed the town 8400 for this purpose. The town treasurer was directed to give his note for the sum of $100 to each sollier, or to borrow the money on the town's credit.
At the close of this year (1778) the period of the war of the Revolution was half completed. Bs is impossible for us to realize, at the present day, how completely that struggle called into exercise every resource and the whole energy of every individual throughout the community. How low soever might be his condition, and however seanty might be his means of supporting himself and his family, every man was called upon to aet-to do to the utmost of his ability, or rest under the imputation of being a tory.
They who had money and the means of supplying the neces- series of an army, were compelled, not only by public opinion
89
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
but every legal power which an overwhelming majority could exert, to pour forth their wealth in aid of the common cause. They whom poverty marks as exempts, in ordinary cases, from any onerous services in their country's cause, could not now escape the all-searching requisition. The possession of physical strength was sufficient to call forth the poorest day laborer, though clothed in rags, and require of him the nerve of his right arm, to aid in the defence of his country.
The exertions made by the people of this town, in the carly part of the war, while the enemy were in possession of Boston, have already been mentioned. Their entire military strength was put in requisition. Their enthusiasm was at its height, and the pay was good. After this period the necessity of adopting some regular system was felt. The General Court required the town to furnish a certain number of men whenever the State was called upon to make out a quota. These men were selected by a committee, and a bounty was paid to them, which was assessed - by a general rate upon the town. In the latter years of the war, it was proposed by the Legislature, and adopted in this town, to divide the people into classes-each class consisting of about twelve or fourteen individuals, according to their wealth. The person first named in each class was entrusted with the keeping of its accounts, and the general management of its con- cerns. Whenever the town was called upon for soldiers, the classes were required to furnish a man in rotation-the burthen being equalized among them as nearly as possible. When called upon to furnish a man for three years or during the war. they were obliged to offer him, "over and above" what he would receive from the United States, as a soldier's pay, the sum of $300 as a bounty ; and as the currency was fluctuating, and nearly worthless, the notes were made payable in produce, at a market value, When no one of a class was willing to volunteer on these conditions, it was usual to hire some other individual. When this could not be done, the members of the class were
1,
90
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
compelled to cast lots among themselves, to determine who of them should go; and he upon whom the unlucky lot fell, had to shoulder his musket and march, or find a substitute at some rate. This sometimes happened to one whose little property could scarcely survive the shock of taking from it the sum of one, two, or three hundred dollars to hire a substitute.
Notes were frequently given in these cases, which afterwards came before the town, with strong arguments and powerful ap- peals from those who were compelled to pay them, showing the manifest injustice that a single individual should be required to pay towards supporting the common cause so much more than his townsmen generally ; and the town was accordingly asked to pay those notes by an assessment upon the inhabitants.
It was frequently voted to ascertain what each individual had done towards supporting the war, and to equalize the burthen : but unfortunately they couldt get no farther than this. The de- mands upon the town had been so frequent, and taxes of course so heavy, that generosity towards one another was not to be expected. The reports of committees chosen to investigate this subject, were laid before the town, and immediately voted down or not accepted. Each one, previous to an investigation, seemed to think that his sacrifices had exceeded those of his neighbor ; but when a report had been made, and it appeared that a ma- jority would be called upon to pay, instead of receiving something, the fate of such a report is not surprising.
The average muuber of men which the town kept in the field from this period till the close of the war, is not accurately known -but it was not far from fifteen or twenty. This must have brought upon the several classes an expense of at least $4000.
If the records be examined to ascertain what sums the town gril. in il- corporate capacity, towards defraying the expenses of the wor during the last five years of ils continuance, the subject will To ahandel with con-derible difficulty. The currency, in which they rates were desussed, varied monthly. But from certain
91
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG,
known data, an approach may be made towards the actual sum. During these five years, there were paid for fourteen hundred pounds of beef, for clothing for the army, and for the hire of soldiers, whom the town in its corporate capacity employed, about $7250. This sum was assessed upon the whole town, in addition to large sums which the several classes were obliged to pay for soldiers, hired by them respectively.
Let it be remembered also, that at this time, when all kinds of business had been brought nearly to a stand by the operation of the war,-when specie was almost unknown throughout the country, and the paper currency was but little better than so much brown paper, the ordinary expenses of the town -- such as the support of the minister, of schools, of the highways and bridges, &c. &c., bore with extreme rigor upon the inhabitants.
At the commencement of the war, gold and silver were scarce articles ; and it was soon found that if something could not be devised as a substitute for the precious metals, the patriots must give up the contest, and surrender all hope of gaining Independ- ence. Congress ordered the issuing of notes, or bills to a large amount, promising to redeem them at a convenient season. This currency, called Continental Money, soon came into extensive cir- culation. The bills, instead of being executed in the masterly style of our bank note engravings, were rude, coarse prints, on coarser paper, and consequently were easily counterfeited. The British, actuated by the double motive of making money and ruining the credit of our government, flooded the country with counterfeits so well executed that they could not be distinguished from the true ones. In 1777, the bills began to depreciate : and all intelligent men soon saw that it would be impossible for the government ever to fulfil their pledge of redeeming them. The government, not being able, or not choosing to devise any other means to raise the credit of the bills, in an evil hour made them a legal tender for the payment of all debts duc.
The consequences of this measure may be seen at a glance.
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
Never, since the time of the flood, were debtors more ready and anxious to pay their debts, or creditors more unwilling to receive their money. Of money, such as it was, there was no scarcity, and miserably poor was he who could not count his thousands. Then was the sun of prosperity darkened upon the prospects of those upon whom it is usually supposed to shine with peculiar favor. I refer to the lenders of money. Hundreds who before were in comfortable, if not affluent circumstances-more than sup- ported by the income of their money -experienced the singular satisfaction of having every debt paid them, and, while gazing upon their masses of money, reflecting that they were reduced to poverty.
Elias Haskell, who has already been mentioned as once having owned all the land on which our pleasant village now stands, beside other tracts in the town, was one who by this measure was re- duced from affluence to poverty.
If this sacrifice of so many men's property was made for the American cause, ought not the sufferers to have been indemnified by our government ? Many a soldier who, instead of sacrificing any property, received adequate pay for his services, has been favored with a pension ; but who has been heard to lift up a voice in pleading the cause of those who sacrificed their thousands ?
It may be interesting at this time to give a slight sketch of the rate of the depreciation of this currency. On the first of Jan- mary, 1777, it was at par. First of January 1778, $1.00, specie, was worth $4.50 Continental ; first of January 1779, $1.00 specie was worth $8.38 Continental : first of January 1780, $1.00 specie was worth $2.50 Continental. At a town meeting in February, 1780, it was voted that the inhabitants should be allowed three dollars per hour for their labor on the highways. At the same meeting it was voted to raise the sum of $8000, to assist in sup- porting the families of continental soldiers. In July, it was voted to raise $166,666,00 to bire soldiers with. In the October fol- lowing, a committee of the town contracted for 4800 pounds of beef, and agreed to pay $26,000 for it, or at a rate of more than
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
$5.00 per pound. In March, 1781, Phinchas Sawyer and John Carter were chosen collectors of taxes; and, refusing to serve in that capacity, they were severally fined by the town in the sun .of $900-which was considered equal to $10, the usual fine in such cases. At the same meeting the town appropriated the sum of $20,000 for the repair of highways, and allowed cach person $5 per hour for his labor.
Rev. John Payson, then minister of the town, who was settled on the original sum of 607., came very near being starved, though the poor man could not complain that his salary was not paid very promptly. Yet he was not suffered to come to absolute want, for in March, 1778, the town chose a committee to carry a subscrip- tion paper among the inhabitants, that they might contribute " the necessaries of life or anything they pleased," for bis support. The committee reported that Mr. Payson expressed himself as " well satisfied with what the town had done." In October of the same year, he received $1000, and in November, $266 more, (equiva- lent, in all, to nearly $184) as his salary, In 1780, the town voted to pay him $11,000, to make up the depreciation which had already occurred. Every one will see that with a currency so fluctuating as this, all business must come to a stand, unless another " circulating medium" be devised. And such was the case. Notes were generally given to pay to the bearer so many bushels of corn, or rye. Sometimes they promised to pay in " hard money." When . in 1781, " nine continental men" were called fer, the town voted to pay them each $100 in "hard money," and an agent was des- patched to Boston, to borrow the same, on the town's credit. This year the town paid John Thurston 106 bushels of corn "for the services of his son Stephen in the Continental army."
In May, 1779, the town voted unanimously (casting 45 votes) in favor of a new State Constitution. In August, Capt. Thomas Cowdin was chosen a delegate to attend a Convention which was to meet at Cambridge on the first of September, for the purpose of forming a new State Constitution. At the same time, Dr. Thad-
04
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG,
dens McCarty was appointed a delegate to a Convention at Wor- cester. for the purpose of regulating the prices of commodities and articles in general use. The town voted to abide by the prices established by this convention, but in a short time individuals saw fit to fix their own prices to their articles, and the labor of the convention fell to the ground.
In May, 1780, the present Constitution of the State was sub- mitted to the people, for their consideration. The inhabitants of Fitchburg voted unanimously (65 votes) in favor of adopting it.
In September, votes were given for Governor. John Hancock received sixty-three votes, and James Bowdoin one.
In October, Capt. Thomas Cowdin was chosen to represent the town in the first General Court under the new Constitution.
In 1781 and 2, Rev. Mr. Payson received 100/., in " hard money," as his salary, but subsequently it was reduced to the former sum of 657. 13s. 8d.
In September, 1782, David MeIntire was chosen a delegate to the Convention at Worcester, assembled " to take into consid- eration the grievances Worcester County labored under "-and in March, 1784, he was appointed to attend a Convention at the same place, called by request of the town of Sutton.
In January, 1784, the town appropriated the sum of 4747. 13s. 4 ... -. the first moiety of the Continental tax granted by the General Court May, 1782," and in May it was voted to raise 80%. " to discharge an execution in the hands of the high sheriff against the town, for deficiency of beef."
I have already spoken of the difficulty of our attaining, at the present day, to an exact computation of the expenses, and forming a correct idea of the exertions which the war of the Revolution caused to the people of this town. All calculations based on data derived from the town Records, can be only an approximation to the actual amount. From 1778 to 1783-the last five years of the war-a period in which there occurred many events of sufficient interest to call out the whole body of
-
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
voters-I can find no town meeting at which there appeared to be more than seventy voters. The town contains now seven times that number. Let it be remembered that at that time, between the dwelling-house of Jonas Marshall and the Old City, there was not a single building. The whole of the village, where there is now so much wealth-where the inhabitants are clus- tered so thickly together-was then considered worth only a few dollars. If the wealth and resources of the town, at the present time be estimated as ten times greater than at that period, it will not be far from the truth. If then the amount which the people then contributed annually be multiplied by ten, would not the product form a tax which would be considered enormous-and this too when it was so difficult to meet the current expenses of the town, and when the expenses of the " classes," for hiring soldiers and procuring substitutes were s) great ?
To learn what the Revolutionary war cost this country, we must search minutely into the history of each town. We there may see what difficulties were encountered, and what generous sacrifices were made. To say that the people of this town bore themselves gallantly through the war, is not saying enough- though their exertions did not exceed those of their neighbors. They continued to exhibit a firmness, a devotedness to the cause they had espoused, which was every way worthy of our fathers. There were a few, indeed, who looked with an eye of coldness upon the attempt of the patriots. They feared that the Colo- nies, weak and unprovided as they were, would not be able to contend successfully with the gigantic power of Great Britain ; or the sentiment of loyalty was so firmly fixed in their minds that they beheld with horror any attempts to subvert the au- thority of their King. Such were compelled to yield to the mighty current of public opinion, and contribute their share, however unwillingly, to promote the common cause.
But the troubles above enumerated, were not all which this
HISTORY OF FITCHBURG.
town had to contend with during the struggle for Independence. The Small Pox, -that pestilential and terrible disease now hap- lily disarmed of its terrors-was then considered one of the most dreadful maladies that ever afflicted the human family. This disease made its appearance here in 1776, and spread an alarm far and near. Vaccination, or innoculation for the kine Fox, as a preventive for the small pox, was then unknown in this country. The only means then known to prevent the ray- ages of this fatal disease, was innoculation for the small pox. The disease, even then, was sometimes fatal, and equally in- fectious as when taken in the natural way. It was necessary, therefore, that a place remote from the habitations of men should be selected, where they who attempted to avert the fatality of the small pox by innoculation for the same disease, might repair during the period of sickness.
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