USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 11
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132
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
settle the maintenance of the minister of the town in such methods and ways as to your honors, shall, in great wisdom, seem to be most equal, just and right, and which may be bind- ing on them and their posterity forever." Benjamin Bel- lows, John Johnson, Joseph Glazear, Simon - -, Nathan- iel Wilder, Peter Joslin, Josiah White, Samuel Bennet, William Divoll, Jonathan Whitcomb, Nathaniel Sawyer, Joseph Wheelock, John Glazear, George Glazier, Thomas Rosse, Samuel Prescott, Ephraim Wilder, Nathaniel Hudson, Samuel Carter, Daniel Rugg, Cyprian Stevens.
The petition was dated May 28, and on the second of June the deputies, or lower house resolved " that inasmuch as the inhabitants of the town of Lancaster within mentioned, were driven out by the enemy, and the place wholly deserted, their former agreement for the maintenance of the minister is now null and void, and they ought to proceed to levy their minis- ter's rate upon their inhabitants in equal proportion, as the law directs." This was sent up for concurrence. Under the date of September 7, this entry is found. "The other side having been heard, Ordered, that the minister's salary in the town of Lancaster be levied and collected of the several in- habitants by the same rules, and in the same proportions with the province tax for the present year." This arrange- ment continued for several generations.
By the necessity of the times the matter of establishing garrisons had been reduced to a system. The following copy of a public document, in the possession of Dr. John S. H. Fogg, of South Boston, was kindly furnished by Samuel A. Green, M. D., city physician of Boston. It shows how many garrisons were in Lancaster, in 1704, and how many men were assigned to each garrison. It is given here in the form in which it came, with one obvious correction.
" Pursuant to command from his excellency bearing date April 15, 1704, for the settleing of garrisons in ye towne of Lancaster, and ordering men to ye same, We the subscrib- ers do hereby direct and command you ye Inhabitants of sd
133
GARRISONS IN 1704.
Lancaster to repaire to your severall garrisons according to appointment as follows, and attend your duties therein. Dat. 20 April, 1704.
(1.)
(5.)
Ensign Peter Josllin a garrison.
Himselfe commander. 1
John Moore and Jonathan Moore
Will'm Divoll 1
Allowed a Garrison, ye said
John Beaman, jr. 1
John Moore cominander.
·2
John Johnson 1
Jonathan Moore 1
Cyprian Stevens 1
Will'm Sawyer 1
1
Sam'l Bennitt 1
John Hinds 2
James Keyes
1 9.
(6.)
Josiah Whetcomb, sen allowed
a Garrison, himself commander, 2
Josialı Whetcomb, jr. 1
John Houghton, sen. allowed a
David Whetcomb 1
Garrison, Capt. Wilder command 3
Hezekiah Whetcomb
1
John Houghton, sen.
2
Jacob Houghton
1
Henry Houghton 1
1
Bare Hill.
John Priest, sen.
2
John Priest, jr.
1
John Warner 3
Caleb Sawyer
2
James Atherton, sen.
1
James Atherton, jr.
1 10.
(4.)
On ye west side Penicook river called ye Neck.
John Willard
1
Joshua Atherton
1
Sergt Josiah White a Garrison, p'rsons
Himselfe commander
3
3
Joseph Wheelock 1 Joseph Hutchins
1
John Glazier 1 Joseph Waters 1
George Glazier 1 Hezekiah Willard 1
Joseph Glazier 1 7. James Smith 1 12.
2
Jonas Houghton 2
2 8. Robert Houghton Jolın Rugg 1 Tho. Wilder 1
Beatrix Pope, widow
John Houghton, jr. 1
Joseph Houghton 1 15.
(7.)
Simon Willard and Benjamin
Bellows allowd a Garrison, Said Simon Willard command'r 1 Benjamin Bellows 1
Henry Willard James Houghton
1
Josiah Wheeler 1
Jonathan Whetcomb 1
George Hervey 1 9.
(2.)
On ye east side Nashaway River.
p'rsons
Capt. Thomas Wilder and
John Wilder, jr.
John Wilder, jr. (3.)
On ye east side of ye River. p'rsons
Joseph Sawyer
Simon Stevens 1
134
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
(8.)
(10)
Lieut Nath'l Wilder a Garrison.
himselfe commander.
3
Thomas Sawyer, jr. a Garrison.
Samuel Carter 1
Thomas Sawyer Commander 3
Ephraim Wilder 1
Thomas Ross
1
Jabez Fairbank 1
John Carter
1
7. Nath'l Sawyer 1.
John Harriss 1
Daniel Rugg
1
Gamaliell Beaman
2
(11.)
At ye Corne Mill.
James Snow, sen.
2
John Prescott, sen. 1
James Snow, jr.
1
John Prescott, jr. 1
Jeremiah Willson
1
John Keyes 1
James Buttler
1
8. Ebenezer Prescott 1 4.
JONATHAN TYNG,
THO. BROWNE, JOHN LANE, JERAHMEL BOWERS.
A few words of explanation are needed. Here are eleven garrisons, and ninety-five men. Where figures 2 or 3 are in line with a name, probably we are to understand that a family supplied more than one soldier.
I have taken the liberty to number the garrisons. No. 1 was on or southeast of the Old Common. No. 2 was prob- ably on the southwest of Wattoquadoc hill, one seat of the Whitcombs. No. 3 was on Bare hill in Harvard. No. 4 was on the east Neck road, near the house of Edward Hough- ton. No. 5 was on the west Neck road, near the house of William H. McNeil. No. 6 was on the north side of the Old Common, near the center of the Industrial School buildings. The Wilders and Houghtons had settled there before this date. No. 7 must have been at Still River in Harvard. No. 8 was on George hill, not far from Frank Taylor's place. No. 9 was probably near the house of Charles Safford, for a long time the home of the Beaman family. Some of them moved to Sterling, but it is doubtful if they had moved at this early
(9.)
Sam'l Prescott
1 9.
John Beaman, jr.
1
On ye west side Nashaway River. Mr. Andrew Gardner
Mr. Gardner 1
135
INDIANS ATTACK THE TOWN.
day. No. 10 is headed in the document "on ye east side Nashaway River." But this is an obvious mistake, as Mr. or Rev. Andrew Gardner, the Sawyers, Fairbank, Rugg, etc., all lived near each other in South Lancaster. No. 11, " at ye Corne Mill," was in Clinton, the headquarters of the Prescott family, though Samuel Prescott still lived in South Lancaster.
Though the people lived in constant apprehension of danger, yet the enemy made no attack on the town before the sum- mer of 1704. Mr. Harrington states that an army of seven hundred French and Indians came from Canada, under the command of Monsieur Boocore, - spelling the name by the sound,-with the design of assailing Northampton. By infor- mation received from a deserter, the people were put on their guard, and the " western frontiers were seasonably strength- ened." The allied French and Indians were weakened by a mutiny which arose respecting the division of plunder. So violent was the contention that over two hundred returned home. The remainder, on their approach to Northampton, learned from their scouts, that the English were ready in great numbers, to give them a warm reception. Therefore in a council of war, they abandoned the original plan of the campaign, and raised a large volunteer force to attack Lan- caster.
On the thirtieth of July, old style, or the tenth of August, new style, they came within two miles of the town, (probably from the west, ) and encamped for the night. While the peo- ple were sleeping, Indian spies were abroad like night-birds, searching for the exposed places where assault would be most promising of success. Early in the morning they fell with savage fury on that part of the town which extends from the Middle Cemetery westward up the side of George hill. In their first onset they killed Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, youngest son of the first Thomas Wilder, near the gate of his garrison, which stood north by west of the house now owned by E. Warren Smith. During the day, three others,- Abraham
136
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
How, Benjamin Hutchins and John Spaulding, - were killed. The two former belonged to Marlborough. Perhaps they were here on garrison duty.
The people of Lancaster defended themselves with spirit. They were assisted by Capt. Tyng of Dunstable, who had command of the garrison. Moreover, Capt. How of Marl- borough, on the alarm being given, marched with " what men he could suddenly raise " to their relief. But the enemy greatly outnumbered the English, and obliged them to re- treat into the garrison. The besiegers then sent out parties who burned the meeting-house, several dwellings and barns, and destroyed much live stock, hay and grain. The alarm soon spread into neighboring towns, and before night such numbers poured in that the enemy were alarmed, and hastily retreated. It was thought, at the time, that if they had wait- ed, like those in 1697, till the inhabitants had gone into the fields, they " might in all human probability, have done much greater mischief, if they had not entirely destroyed the town. But God had mercy on his people."
The following contemporary account of the attack, taken from the Boston News Letter of October 30, 1704, old style, gives additional facts. "On Monday morning past, the enemy, French and Indians, fell upon Lancaster, about four hundred of them, assaulted six garrisons at once, where the people defended themselves very well, until assistance came in from all parts, by the governor's order, so that in the evening there were three hundred men in the town. And the enemy was beaten off with loss, but are yet hovering on the head of those towns, to make some further impression, if not prevented."
Nothing but a detailed statement can give us an idea of the losses caused by such a raid upon a peaceful settlement. The easterly slope of George hill for more than a mile north and south, was all ablaze that day, besides the burning meeting- house. The blow was a severe one to Lancaster, and was deeply felt. A petition was sent to the general court, in behalf of the inhabitants, representing the destitute condition
137
RAID ON GEORGE HILL.
of the town, in general terms, and praying for a remission of the tax of eighty-six pounds. Being informed that a more particular account was desired, the following was sent by John Houghton, dated October 25.
" July 31, 1704. The Indians beset the town in several places, and particularly Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder's garrison, where early in the morn- ing one of the said Indians shot him in the thigh, of which wound he died the same day; and the said Indians killed of his cattle, six oxen, five cows, three calves, sixteen sheep, twelve swine, and burnt his barn, and about twelve loads of good English hay.
" Of Ephraim Wilder, one ox, two calves, three cows, one horse, fifteen sheep, two swine, and a good dwelling house with two fires.
" Of Jonathan Wilcox, two oxen, one horse.
" John Carter, three oxen, one cow, one horse, three swine.
" Samuel Carter, three oxen, one cow, one horse, two calves, two swine, and one good dwelling house with two fires.
" Thomas Ross, one cow, two calves, one swine, one dwelling house with one fire.
" John Houghton, jr., three swine, one large dwelling house with three fires, belonging to him and Philip Goss; and about sixteen pounds of per- sonal estate, belonging to said Houghton, but in the house.
" George Stevens, two oxen, two cows.
" Samuel Bennet, three oxen, two cows.
" Jonathan Whitcomb, two sheep.
" Simon Stevens, one horse.
" Jonas Houghton, one ox.
" Jabez Fairbank, one new barn, with about eight loads of good Eng- lish hay.
" Thomas Sawyer, jr., one heifer.
" John Priest, jr., one heifer.
" Other cattle wounded, and horses injured, or stolen, and killed."
The petition states that there were "frequent alarms " on the " west side ;" and that the men were on " watch and ward " near a third of their time, besides "ranging the woods when rumors called them out." They were hindered in their work " by peril of their lives," having " little peace day or night." Many were "greatly impoverished," and now the town must build a meeting-house to replace that burned by the Indians. Moreover, the people feared the return of the enemy. In
138
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
their privations they felt like " new beginners," with " spirits ready to sink," and almost despaired of subsisting another year. But under God, they relied on the favorable protec- tion of the government. The tax was remitted, but did not make up a sixth part of the loss.
The historians of Lancaster state that it was never known what numbers of the enemy were killed, either in the field, or at the other garrisons, as the Indians were always careful to remove their slain, and conceal their loss. It was believed, however, that their loss was considerable. Among the rest a "French officer of some distinction was mortally wounded, which greatly exasperated their spirits." A ray of light is thrown on this matter of the losses of the French and Indians, by a petition of the Capt. Thomas How, above mentioned, who came with his company to the rescue of Lancaster. He states that he " defended the town from the insults of so cruel. an enemy and lost two men." He took no scalps, but sever- al barns were burnt, and on the spot were found the " bones of several of the enemy that were slain by the petitioners." Besides, "many Indians were wounded."
Scarcely had the petition presented by John Houghton, been heard by the general court, before the fears of the peti- tioners were again excited by the approach of the enemy. On the sixth of November a party of thein was discovered at Still River, and the soldiers and inhabitants belonging to Rev. Mr. Gardner's garrison, with others, went in pursuit. They found no enemy, and returned at night much fatigued by the wearisome march. Then occurred, all things considered, the saddest death in the history of the town. The relation of Mr. Harrington is in these words. "Mr. Gardner, in com- passion, took the watch that night upon himself; and coming out of the box late at night, on some occasion, was heard by one - Samuel Prescott - between sleeping and waking in the house, who supposing him an enemy, seized the first gun which came to hand, and shot him through the body, in the parade. But the fatal mistake immediately appeared, and he,
139
TRAGICAL DEATH OF MR. GARDNER.
being carried into the house, forgave the person that shot him, and in an hour or two expired, to the great grief not only of his consort, but of his people, who had an exceeding value for him."
The reader will gladly take this additional report of the distressing event, from the Boston News Letter, of Novem- ber 20, O. S. A previous number of the paper had stated the accident which caused Mr. Gardner's death. The pub- lisher then took pains to get a "perfect and exact account from eye and ear witnesses." Here it is. Hearing "that a man being killed the day before between Groton and Lancas- ter, and the Indians having been seen in the night before nigh the town, Mr. Gardner, (three of the men belonging to his garrison being gone out of town, and two of the remaining three being tired with watching and traveling in the woods after the Indians that day, ) being a very careful as well as courageous man, concluded to watch that night himself, and accordingly went out into the little watch-house that was over one of the flankers, and there stayed till late in the night ; when and whence he was coming down, (as it was thought, ) to warm him, the man that shot him, who was not long before sleeping by the fire, came out, and whether between sleeping and waking, or surprised with an excess of fear, fired upon him as he was coming down out of the watch-house, through a little trap-door into the flanker, where no man having the exercise of his reason could suspect the coming of an enemy, or expect him to be so, when in a clear moonlight night he was so nigh to him. Mr. Gardner, (though his wound was in the breast, being shot through the vitals,) came to the door; bid them open it for he was wounded. After he came in, he fainted away ; but coming to himself again, asked who it was that shot him ; and when they told him, he prayed God to forgive him, and forgave him himself, for he believed he did not do it on purpose ; and with a composed Christian frame of spirit, desired them that were bitterly lamenting over him, not to weep, but to pray for him ; and comforted his sorrowful wife,
140
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
telling her he was going to glory, advising her to follow him ; and in about an hour died, leaving his friends to lament the loss of so worthy and desirable a person."
Hostilities in the vicinity ceased for nearly a year, but the memory of sufferings endured lasted a lifetime. In their dis- tress the people again appealed to the general court. Between the years 1697 and 1705 the town had no delegate in the house of deputies ; but on this occasion they sent a petition signed by John and Jonas Houghton, bearing date November 13, 1704, which " sheweth that the distressed inhabitants of Lancaster, being under the awful rebukes of God's hand in the manifest tokens of his displeasure towards us, in permitting those bar- barous heathen to be such a scourge to us," etc. stating in particular that many had sustained losses, and some were " almost ruined as to their estate," and that their meeting- house was destroyed by fire. They continue in these words : " The late awful stroke of God's hand, the last week, in the loss of our revered minister, who was very worthy and desir- able ; whose loss is ready to sink our spirits, - and having formerly one minister slain by the Indians, and now another taken away by a more awful stroke ; " the poor people felt the need of help. The petition closed with the prayer that the tax of eighty-six pounds might be remitted.
The government of the colony, with a mixture of caution and public spirit "granted that the sum of forty pounds be al- lowed, and paid out of the treasury, to the town of Lancas- ter, towards building a meeting-house, as soon as they shall have erected a frame for the same, and paid the taxes already levied upon them."
Col. William Tyng reported to the same general court, in November, that when he was on the expedition to Lancaster, John Spalding, a youthful soldier, was killed. He was a good soldier, though a youth. He was poor, and his gun was taken by the Indians. At the same time, the horse of the colonel was killed by the Indians. For this loss he asked pay, and the court granted him four pounds and twenty shillings.
141
RUM, SYDER AND SPICE.
The following bill of funeral charges in the case of John Carter, of Lancaster, dated March, 1704-5, shows how a soldier was cared for by the public, and also what was sup- posed to be necessary in case of sickness in ancient times. The "rum," "syder" and "spice " were probably as much valued by the nurses as by the patient. But the bill needs no comment.
" To two journeys to Concord for ye Doctor, 01. 7s. Od.
" one Boston for things for
said Carter in his sickness, 0-11-0
" Nursing one week, 0-10-0
" 4 Gallons rum, 0-15-7
" ¿ a barrel Syder, 0-4-0
" Sugar, fruit and spice, 0-5-6
" 6 pair of Gloves, 0-9-0
" ye Coffin and Grave, 0-8-0
NATHANIEL SAWYER, EPHRAIM WILDER."
The gloves were a present to the bearers according to the custom of the time. It did not beggar a poor family to have a funeral in those days.
The people, since August, 1704, had been without a sanctu- ary. Doubtless they had meetings on the Sabbath, but neither history or tradition informs us how they were accommodated. We can imagine them in the pleasant season of the year, meeting on the lawn near the minister's garrison, and under the young elms, which tradition reports, were set out not far from the time when Mr. Whiting's house was built. It is probable that in the winter, the meetings were held in Mr. Gardner's garrison-house, or in the commodious houses of other inhabitants living in South Lancaster, or on the Neck.
But though there was a felt need for a new house of wor- ship, there was delay in meeting the want, growing out of a difference in regard to the location. Two houses had already been built on the brow of the hill just southwest of the first burying yard. Some wanted the new house where, in their
142
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
language, it had been " built twice before." Others wanted it on the east side of the river. Especially, there was a strong party in favor of the Old Common. Some doubtless would have preferred a location on the Neck. All on the east side of the river, (including the Neck, ) the Old Common, Harvard . and Bolton, combined, and outvoted those living on the west side of the river, including South Lancaster, George Hill, and the southern parts of the town. The majority fixed the site on the northwestern point of the Old Common, as near to the meeting of the rivers as possible before descending in- to the low land of the intervale. This was just opposite the cemetery on the Old Common.
But the people of the west side struggled resolutely against the transfer, and in a petition to the general court, gave strong reasons to justify their course. In the following words dated December, 1705, they represented "that your petitioners dwell on the west side of the river, fronting towards the enemy, and have suffered very much, and are diminished in their number, several heads of families having been cut off within these few years, and when the enemy were there about seventeen or eighteen months ago, they burnt down the meet- ing-house which always stood on the west side of the river. Now so it is. may it please the governor and general assem- bly, that those of the inhabitants who dwell on this [that is, the east] side of the river, (several of whom are removed, for fear of the enemy, down to the bounds of Marlborough, ) use all their endeavor to have the meeting-house built on this side ; whereas the meeting-house ground, and the ministerial land and meadow are both on the other [west ] side ; and moreover, should the meeting-house be built on this [east] side, the enemy might come, when the inhabitants are at meet- ing, and destroy the whole western part, and seize the bridge so that nobody should be able to resist them, or deliver their friends. But the meeting-house being built on the exposed side, (as it used to be,) the inhabitants on that side are a guard to the others on this side, as well as to themselves."
143
LOCATION OF THE THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
In addition to these reasons, (which the petitioners humbly hope would have their due consideration, ) they stated also that those living on the east side, having " never had a man killed in the service " had grown so numerous that they out- voted those on the west side, and " carried it against them at their town meetings." They therefore prayed the general court to " make a final ending of the controversy, and the re- building of the meeting-house in its usual place." The sig- natures are copied below because they inform us in regard to the families living on the west side. They prove also that members of the White, Whitcomb and Joslin families had settled on the west of the river. A similar paper signed by the residents on the east side, would enable us to make out the census of the town in 1705. Samuel Bennett, John John- son, Benjamin Bellows, Simon Stevens, Joseph Glazier, Bezaleel Saywear, Jonathan Whitcomb, Ephraim Wilder, Philip Goss, John Prescott, sen., Jonathan Wilder, Cyprian Stevens, Thomas Ross, John Prescott, jr., Peter Joslin, John Keyes, John Beman, jr., Nathaniel Sawyer, John Harris, William Divoll, Josiah White, jr., George Hues [Hughs].
A committee was appointed by the government to examine and report. One of them, Mr. Tyng, reported in favor of the petitioners ; but the other two reported in the negative. A new petition was sent down, at the May session of the court, when it was voted to hear both sides before the whole court, on the seventh of June, 1706. The result in the upper house is given in these lines. " June 12. Upon full hearing of both parties of the town of Lancaster, by their committees, Resolved, that the meeting-house be erected and set up at or near the place where the old meeting-house stood, and has been twice before built." This was sent to the deputies for concurrence. The town had a representative this year, as in the year preceding, in the person of John Houghton. The house voted that the meeting-house should be placed on the east side, where two-thirds of the inhabitants lived, and also laid the charge of building on the rates. The council non- concurred in this action.
144
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Another petition, signed in behalf of the town, by Thomas Wilder, John Houghton, John Wilder, Joseph Wheelock and Josiah Whitcomb, signified to the general court, same session, that the large majority would be pleased to see the house on the east side ; that more than twenty families on the east side had to go farther to meeting than any on the west side ; and that none on the west side had to go more than two miles. The subject was again referred to a committee, the majority of whom, James Minott and Thomas Brown, reported in favor of the east side. The court sent up word stopping all pro- ceedings.
Another petition went to the court, by the hand of John Houghton, at its fall session, praying that the court would remove restrictions, and let the town proceed to build on the east side. This prayer was granted by the house on the first of November, and concurred in, next day, by the council. The house was accordingly built on the west end of the Old Common, south side of the road, where it stood and was occu- pied as a place of worship until 1743. Thomas and John Wilder, whose names are on one of the petitions above re- cited, were sons of the first Thomas Wilder, who came hither in 1659, and died in 1667. As the father settled on the west side, it would seem that these sons had moved over to the east side of the river ; probably to the Old Common, where a branch of the Wilder family long had a home. John Hough- ton, second of that name, now lived on the south side of the Old Common, and gave the land on which the meeting-house was placed.
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