USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 17
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This formidable document, in the name of his majesty, old George II., led to immediate results. A town meeting was held, January 29, 1741-2, when the following action was taken, " after sum debate on the affair."
The town first voted to build two meeting-houses. The house for the body of the town was to be fifty-five feet in length, and forty-five feet in breadth, and twenty-five feet posts or stud; the other house was to be forty-eight by thirty-eight feet, with twenty-two feet posts. Each house
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210
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
was to be well covered with boards and shingles, and in- closed with boards covered with clap-boards. There was to be one gallery in each house. The " insides to be lathed and plastered, both on the sides and overhead ; and well floored and well glazed; and to be built and finished within two years." Good "pulpits and convenient seats " were pro- vided for in the votes.
In locating the meeting-houses there was a ground for dif- ference. The Chocksett or second precinct house was to be " set near the Ridge hill, so called," where timber had already been collected. But in locating the house for the old town, some preferred to go back to the site of the first two houses, called the " meeting-house place." All were agreed that it was best to leave the Old Common, because it was on the edge of the town ; but there was doubtless a tender feeling on the part of many, connected with the spot where the first and second houses had stood. Sacred associations clustered around the place where the early fathers and mothers had met to worship during the first sixty years. Near the place, sloping off to the east, was the first burial place, where the forefathers of the town were sleeping their last sleep. Close at hand, on the west, was a spot sure of undying fame, be- cause there had stood the " minister's garrison " where true heroes fell, bravely striving to save their wives and little ones. And somewhere near was the grave of the fallen, a grave well known to that generation, but now beyond re- cognition except to Him who guards their dust.
However, the convenience of the majority, as well as the beauty of the location decided the vote, which was to place the house on the " school-house hill, as near the school house as may with conveniency in the most convenient place." The " school-house hill" is now occupied by Mr. A. E. Royce, and the meeting-house was near the road almost in front of the office north of Mr. Royce's house.
The sum of £600 was granted by tax to build the two houses, of which sum £400 were to go for the house on
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BOYLSTON TAKES A SLICE.
"School-house hill," and £200 towards the building near " Ridge hill." Two men, David Wilder and Oliver Moor, were chosen " collectors to collect said money." Two com- mittees, each of three men, were elected " to let out said meet- ing-houses to workmen, to build and finish them in the cheap- est and best manner " that they could. The first committee consisted of Joseph Wilder and Samuel Willard, Esquires, and Capt. John Bennett ; the second, of Capt. David Osgood, Joseph Moor and Ephraim Sawyer.
The energy displayed at this memorable meeting led to cor- responding results. There was an effort, at a subsequent meeting, to re-consider the vote to place the larger house on school-house hill, and " leave it to a lot whether it should stand there, or on the meeting-house hill," but the move was defeated. At a meeting, May 24, 1742, the tax for the minis- ter was voted to be " made at fifty two pounds, ten shillings, proclamation money, or in bills of credit in due proportion thereto," and twenty-five pounds were granted for " preach- ing to Choxet." A grant of £20 was made for schools, and a like sum to " defray town charges, and for a stock to pay for wolves, cats, birds and squirrels."
It seems that wild beasts and troublesome birds still abound- ed to such an extent as to warrant the expense of paying for their extermination.
Another slice was taken from the old town, this year, and the voters gracefully yielded their consent, as appears by the following. "On the request of Joshua Houghton and others, the town voted that they are free and willing so far to grant their request, that if the northerly part of Shrewsbury, shall be set off either as a township or a precinct, that they may be joined with them by the bounds following, viz : to begin at Bolton-now Berlin-line, one mile and a half from Lan- caster southeast corner, and from thence to run due west till it meet with the river, and then up said river to the town line, excluding only the land of Philip Larkin that may fall within said lines." By this measure a strip one mile and a half wide was given to the new town of Boylston.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
At the same meeting the town assented to the plan of a second precinct, nearly covering the territory now constitu- ting Sterling. They also voted to rebuild and keep in repair the bridge over the river at Capt. John Bennett's, at the North Village, and to remove the Scar bridge, at the south end of the town, " down to the road that leads from Lieut. Sawyer's to Dr. Dunsmoor's."
Mr. Stephen Frost received the money raised for keeping school during the years 1741 and 1742, and it is therefore inferred that he kept the several schools in succession.
The old meeting-house, the new ones being finished, must needs be disposed of, and the town, at a meeting May 20, 1743, voted to "pull down the old meeting-hous in conven- ient seson," and that the committees "pull off ye clabord and nails of ye, old meeting-house, and divide them betwixt ye Precincts according to ye pay." Having voted to " build three school-housen," they proceeded to locate, and appoint committees to attend to the building of them. One was to be set in " the parting of the paths by Amos Sawyer's ;" or at Deers Horns. The committee were Capt. Richardson, Heze- kiah Gates and Joshua Fairbank. Another was to stand at " the parting of the paths in the corner of Capt. John Ben- nett's fence." The committee were Capt. Bennett, Ebene- zer Beman and Dea. Houghton. Location in or near the North Village. The third house was to be twenty rods west of the new precinct meeting-house, and Capt. David Osgood, Ephraim Sawyer and Samuel Sawyer were to build it. These houses were to be twenty-four by eighteen feet, and " seven feet betwixt joynts." The " three committees for the school- housen were to pull down the old meeting-hous - and im- prove the materials for the building the school-housen that are fit therefore, and to dispose of the' rest for the town use." The next vote was to give the " Rev. Mr. John Prentice the old school-hous for a stable, after the floors, benchis and chimneys was taken out."
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TOWN OFFICERS.
The swarming time was over. Three new towns were form- ed, for the most part, out of Lancaster, and each birth caused a spasm. It was hard for the old town to be dismembered. Harvard, Bolton, (to be divided in due time to make Ber- lin) and Leominster were set up as respectable towns. A large slice from the south had gone to the formation of Boyls- ton. Woonksechauckset, shortened to Chockset, denied the dignity of a township, became a precinct, and was authorized to manage its own ecclesiastical affairs. Two good meeting- houses had been erected, at public expense,-the old town was made a precinct in 1742-and three new school-houses had been built. These, with a house in the Center, on or near school-house hill, and perhaps another, provided the children with the conveniences of education according to the standard of that day. There was a school, though not a school-house on the Harvard road. And now the town, one hundred years old from the time when in 1643, the pioneers first " lifted up axes on the thick trees," shorn of its territorial greatness, but still rich in lands, and richer far in its children, entered upon a new century.
The student of town history has a laudable curiosity to know the names of the men who have held the prominent offices in former times. The following is a full list, between the years 1725 and 1743, of those who held the offices of Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Selectmen, Assessor, and Rep- resentative to the general court.
The moderators were Joseph Wilder, 3; James Wilder, 5; Jacob Hough- ton, Jabez Fairbank, 5; Josiah Wheeler, 2; Henry Houghton, Jonas Houghton, Jeremiah Wilder, Ephraim Wilder, 5; John Prescott, Josiah White, 6; Oliver Wilder, 2; Jonathan Houghton, Samuel Wilder, Samuel Willard, 4; Joseph Osgood.
The clerks were Jonathan Houghton, 11; Joseph Wilder, jr., 5.
The treasurers were John Bennet, Benjamin and Jonas Houghton, Hooker and Joseph Osgood, Edward Phelps, William Richardson, Beza- leel, Ezra and William Sawyer, Josiah White, Andrew and Oliver Wilder, Samuel Willard.
The representatives were Jabez Fairbank, Jonathan Houghton, James Keyes, William Richardson, Josiah White, 3; Ephraim Wilder, 3; Joseph Wilder, Samuel Willard, 4.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
The selectmen were John Bennet, 4; Samuel Carter, 9; Thomas Carter, 5; Benjamin Houghton, jr., Henry Houghton, 2; Israel Houghton, 2; Jacob Houghton, 2; Jonas Houghton, Jonathan Houghton, 8; Thomas Houghton, David Osgood, 2; Hooker Osgood, 6; William Richardson, Bezaleel Sawyer, 2; Ephraim Sawyer, Elias Sawyer, 2; Joseph Sawyer, 2; William Sawyer, Joseph Wheelock, 2; Josiah White, 5; Ebenezer Wilder, 3; Ephraim Wilder, 2; Josiah Wilder, Joseph Wilder, 6; Oliver Wilder, 4; Hezekiah Willard, Samuel Willard, 2.
The following were the first selectmen, John Bennet, Samuel Carter, Jonathan Houghton, Joseph Sawyer, Joseph Wheelock, Josiah White, Joseph Wilder, Oliver Wilder.
The assessors were either the whole or a part of the board of selectmen ; generally three of them aeted as assessors.
In the above list the figures denote the number of years each man held the respective offices. There were two Jo- seph Wilders, father and son. The latter was elerk. It is impossible to divide the offices between Hooker Osgood and Hooker Osgood, jr. The treasurers rarely held office more than a year or two.
Samuel Wilder, Josiah White and Ephraim Wilder were the representatives generally, unless when they deelined to serve.
The want of a sound curreney, at this period of New Eng- land history, greatly embarrassed business, and earried dis- tress into almost every family. The subjeet is too intrieate for discussion in this place ; but a brief statement is needed to show the condition of the people.
Continual wars with the Indians and the French had wast- ed the substance of the people, besides destroying many lives. The natural consequence was debt. Relief was sought by the expedient of paper money. An attempt was made to start a " land bank " in 1715, but fortunately it was a fail- ure. In 1740 the project became a reality, but the measure proved a curse, as all financial shams must, by the inflexible law of nature. The notes of the bank depreciated because they were not readily redeemable. But finally an old act of parliament, while it compelled the lenders to redeem their paper, ruined the bank.
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SOUND CURRENCY.
To meet the expenses of the wars, the colony issued promises to pay beyond its income from taxes and all other sources. The result was inevitable, a great depreciation of the credit of the colony. Prices rose; business men failed; farms were mortgaged. The distress was extreme.
Finally, in 1748-9 the British government paid the colony a part of the expense incurred in the capture of Louisburg, and other expeditions. About £180,000 sterling was sent over, and with this sum, the notes of the colony were can- celled, to a great extent. Specie began to circulate in the place of depreciated paper, and a solid foundation was reached. The balance of indebtedness was paid by increased taxation. At this time the value of a Spanish milled dollar was fixed at six shillings.
The bitter lesson learned from the excessive issues of paper money lasted for a generation ; but the exigencies of the revolution led to a similar course, with the same disas- trous result. The statesmen of the Revolution learned the value of a specie basis, but every new generation seems to need a terrible experience to learn the plain fact that a paper promise to pay is worthless, unless based on ample ability to redeem itself, on demand, with gold or silver.
The formation of Worcester county was noticed in its place, but a few items of some interest were omitted, which show the relative importance of Lancaster at that time. The following table gives the county tax in 1734, after Harvard had been severed from the town :
Lancaster,
£26 03 4 |Shrewsbury,
£8 13 0
Mendon,
18 00 0 Harvard,
7 03 1
Woodstock,
16 00 0 Oxford,
7 02 0
Brookfield,
13 10 8 Leicester,
6 19 8
Sutton, .
12 05
Uxbridge,
6 00 4
Worcester,
11 07 8
Rutland,
3 18 0
Westborough,
9 01 0
Lunenburg,
3 18 0
Southborough,
8 13 0
At that date Brookfield included all the Brookfields ; Wor- cester included Holden ; Mendon, Rutland and Uxbridge were
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
large townships ; but the valuation of Lancaster greatly ex- ceeded that of any of them. Woodstock, Conn., was then in the county.
In 1735 the county tax of Lancaster was the same; but in 1736 it was raised to £29.6.3., while that of Mendon was £19.6.10. The town of Worcester was the sixth in valua- tion in the county.
The tavern keepers licensed by the county court in the year 1734, were Jonathan Houghton, Capt. Carter, William Richardson and Josiah Richardson. Col. Samuel Willard was licensed as a retailer. Benjamin Houghton was licensed as a tavern keeper in 1735.
In 1736, John Dakin was fined by the court for neglect- ing public worship. Jess Wheeler, son of Benjamin, was convicted of " planting corn on the Sabbath day." He plead- ed ignorance of the law, but was fined fifteen shillings, to be used for the poor of Lancaster.
The Records of the court reveal something of the state of morals in the town, but to the credit of Lancaster, it may be said, that its inhabitants made but little business, com- paratively, for the criminal courts.
In 1737, Oliver Wilder was a coroner for the county. And among the Justices of the Peace for the county in 1740, were Joseph Wilder, Samuel Willard, Edward Hartwell, Samuel Willard, jr. and Oliver Wilder.
A glance at the preceding table shows the wonderful change between then and now. Leaving out Woodstock, there were but fourteen towns in the county ; now there are nearly sixty. Then Worcester was the sixth in valuation, and held about the same rank in regard to population. Now the city contains over fifty thousand people, and in popula- tion and wealth probably equals one-fourth of the whole county. Then all the territory of the county west of Wachu- sett, except Brookfield, was almost an unbroken wilderness, where now are many fertile townships, intelligent communi- ties, and flourishing churches.
CHAPTER X.
THE SPANISH AND THE OLD FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS :
1738-48. FORT DUMMER.
THE course of our history leads from peaceful scenes and bloodless conflicts, to the field of real warfare. The connec- tion of the town with the province and the empire, always close, becomes more apparent, since the wars of Great Brit- ain involved the outposts of her wide dominions. The administration of Jonathan Belcher, as provincial governor, continued to the year 1741, when he was succeeded by Will- iam Shirley, who represented the king about eight years ; the two covering the whole period of the Spanish and the old French and Indian wars, from 1739 to 1749.
Walpole still held the post of prime minister of George II., though with waning power, since all his astuteness and address were exerted in vain to prevent the war with Spain, which broke out in the year 1739, on the thirty-first of Oc- tober. In truth this war, like most events of the kind, was forced on the government by public opinion. No one, it is said, had a " clearer view of the impending mischief and misery of the Spanish war," than Walpole. On the day of the declaration, when joyful peals were heard from every steeple in London, the shrewd old minister muttered, "they may ring the bells now; before long they will be wringing their hands." And the event proved the wisdom of his words. British valor did not fail to manifest its usual vigor, but thou- sands of brave men died in vain in Cuba, Jamaica and Car- thagena.
217
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IHISTORY OF LANCASTER.
The colonies were called upon to furnish men to fight in the West Indies. The quota of this province was a thousand men, but by some means, only half that number was raised. In November, Admiral Vernon had taken possession of the town and castle of Porto Bello, and soon after he demolished Fort Chagre, on the Isthmus of Darien. In the following March Gov. Belcher encouraged the enlistment of volun- teers. Five hundred went from Massachusetts; eighteen of them from Lancaster. These were among the reinforcements of Vernon. In the spring of 1741, with a great additional force from England, he made an abortive attack upon Car- thagena, on the west coast of New Grenada. In July they landed in Cuba, and took possession of a fine harbor, but, in the language of Trumbull, the able and accurate historian of Connecticut, "by reason of an extraordinary sickness, and mortality, they were not able to effect anything of con- sequence." This sickness was like the plague in its virulence. For several days the deaths exceeded a thousand each day. Three thousand four hundred and forty men died in two days, when the pest raged with the greatest fury. New England sent about a thousand men ; not one hundred re- turned. This province supplied five hundred; only fifty survived. Lancaster gave eighteen or nineteen of her ad- venturous sons. One of these was Jacob Wilder, who wrote a letter from Jamaica, in December 1740, in which, after naming several of his acquaintance who were dead, says : " through the providence of God I am in nomination for an ensign, and I hope that I may be fitted for it." Seven of the eighteen went out in 1740; but the names of three only are found in the Records. These were Jonathan Houghton, 37 years ; Jacob Wilder, 23 ; William Whitcomb, 30; all " hus- bandmen," and all members of well-known families.
Wilder and all his comrades, fell victims to disease and the casualties of war. There was mourning in many house- holds, and sympathy in all. Peculiarly sad is the fate of those who die young, in a strange land, with no friends to
-
219
HOSTILITIES BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
follow them to the grave. "Weep ye not for the dead, [Jer. 22; 10] neither bemoan him; but weep sore for him that goeth away : for he shall return no more, nor see his native country."
It was in the course of this war that Capt. John Prescott raised one hundred volunteers, for one of his majesty's com- panies of foot, to go to Cuba. In 1741 he petitioned for compensation. He was of the Lancaster stock of Prescotts, but probably resided in Concord. A fragment of his muster roll is found in the Archives, but the names of three Lancas- ter men only out of seven, are preserved. The names of the remaining eleven or twelve are probably scattered through the rolls of other companies ; but generally the soldier's place of residence is not given. It is therefore impossible to say, with certainty, what names in the list belong to Lan- caster men. The sadness occasioned by the losses of the town and the colony, is redoubled when it is known that these losses were not only useless, but without sufficient cause. The disputes between England and Spain had been adjusted, and an equitable " convention signed." But this was defeat- ed by a clamor raised by the commercial interest, and taken up by politicians for the purpose of overthrowing Sir Robert Walpole. In after years Mr. Burke, referring to this period, said : "It was my fortune to converse with those who prin- cipally excited that clamor. None of them, no, not one, did in the least defend the measure, or attempt to justify their conduct."
The war with Spain was succeeded by hostilities between England and France, which broke out in the spring of 1744. This war most deeply affected New England, and called forth strenuous exertion in its prosecution. England had its own objects, in other parts of the world, rather than in these col- onies ; but the people of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island took up the quarrel against the French settlements as if it were specially their own. They knew that France was bent on their conquest. For
220
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
several generations they had been exposed to the Indian tomahawk through the instigation of the French. They felt that there could be no lasting peace until the French power in America was subdued. With admirable sagacity and energy they struck at what was at the time the most. dangerous center of French power. Louisburg, on Cape Breton Island, was a fine port and a strong fortification. It commanded the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and all the coast far into Massachusetts Bay. New England was moved, as if by an universal impulse to break up this stronghold of French power. But Massachusetts, as having far more sea-coast and commerce than the other three colonies combined, was. most deeply interested in the enterprise.
It belongs to the history of the colony to relate the details. of the great and successful struggle. Our humbler task is confined to the connection of Lancaster with the expedition. The colony sent three thousand, two hundred and fifty men, besides commissioned officers. In so great a number the quota of this town would not be few. During the winter of 1744-5, the subject was in agitation, and Gov. Shirley was busy in perfecting his plans, and gathering the forces. The following letter shows that this frontier town was relied upon, not only for soldiers, but an officer to lead them. It was dated February, 25, 1744, old style; but in modern style, 1745.
" Honored Sir : - I received orders from the governor [Shirley] on the nineteenth day of February, to take upon me the command of a regiment, though very unequal to that trust. I do it with a great deal more of pleasure, having so good a general to instruct me. Sir, I hope you will excuse me if am not ready so soon as the other colonels. I am con- stonant [sic] riding both night and day to accomplish my business, and I intend to wait upon your honor next week. Sir, I have a good prospect of getting men. Sir, I have been in an army, knowing the difficulty being in it. I think it my duty to put you in mind to see that a committee buys a.
221
COL. SAMUEL WILLARD.
quantity of fat wethers, for it is very necessary for soldiers when they are sick ; and if the committee sends me word, I could get a score or more.
Honored Sir, give my regards to Col. Molten. So I re- main your humbler servant,
SAMUEL WILLARD. To the Hon. WILLIAM PEPPERELL, Esq."
Sir William Pepperell was the commander-in-chief of the land forces, acting in conjunction with the English Admiral Warren. A medical authority suggests that the " fat wethers" were useful as diet for the soldiers in hospital.
Col. Willard speaks of having " been in an army," and of " knowing the difficulty being in it." What army he refers to is uncertain, but he had seen considerable military service. He was son of Henry, and grandson of Major Simon Willard, and was born in 1690. His father left him a competent real estate, and he became a very extensive land-holder in Lancaster and Harvard. Joseph Willard informs us that he was "largely engaged in business, in Lancaster," and that he "purchased the former homestead of his grand-father." In 1725 he was a captain, and in August of that year he wrote a letter to Gov. Dummer giving the details of a long scout into New Hampshire and return. His services in this line have been related in a former chapter. Summoned now at the age of fifty-four to put on the harness of war, he was ready to spring into the saddle, and ride night and day to expedite business. He had been for many years colonel of a regiment ; had represented the town in the general court. He was also a judge of the court of common pleas for the county of Worcester. In a word he was a man of character, ability and substance.
How many of his fellow-townsmen followed him to Cape Breton cannot be told, because the muster rolls are lost. After faithful search in the State Archives, and a careful examination of the two volumes of Pepperell Papers in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, the sad
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
conclusion was reached that a part of the muster rolls relating to the Louisburg Expedition are gone irrecoverably. The Historical Society has several ; but not one belonging to Col .. Willard's regiment. It is known that his son, Abijah Wil- lard, aged twenty-one, was captain of a company, in the ex- pedition, and that Joshua was an officer in his brother Abijah's. company, but the roll of the company is among those which are missing. It is supposed that his company was mainly made up of men from his own town. It would be pleasant. to bring forth from private papers and public records the names and deeds of these officers and their men, but it is feared that the waters of oblivion have covered them. This at least is known, that Col. Willard won an honorable fame in the expe- dition, and that his son, the captain, maintained the honor of the family and the town in the subsequent French and Indian war.
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