USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 20
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
may dwell in our land. Yea the Lord shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield her increase."
This sketch of the history of the church during forty years, and of the services of Mr. Prentice, may be fitly closed by the following extract from the sermon of Rev. John Han- cock, preached at the installation of Mr. Harrington. " Since the days of affliction have rolled over you, God has shown you that he had mercy in store for you. O how have you been greatly smiled upon in the life and labors of the Rev. Mr. John Prentice, who having obtained help from God, ministered unto you for the space of forty years. God made him a blessing to you ; he was a burning and shining light, and you rejoiced in the light for a long season.
" As God gave him the tongue of the learned, so he knew how to speak a word unto him that was weary. The God of the spirits of all flesh fitted him for his work, and taught him how he ought to behave himself in the house of God.
" They that knew him esteemed him for his piety, his prob- ity, his peacefulness and gentleness, and for his commend- able steadiness in these uncertain times. And ye are wit- nesses, and God also, how holily, how justly, how unblame- ably he behaved himself among you, serving the Lord in all humility of mind. He was a practical scriptural profitable preacher. How you profited under it, God knows and your own consciences they know.
" He was of a firm, unbroken constitution till about a year before his death, and was temperate in all things. And as to his secular affairs, with the help of that PRUDENCE God gave him, he managed them with discretion."
Mr. Prentice's estate was probably not large, but he left sixty-six acres of land to two of his sons. He left also three grandchildren who had Daniel Wilder for their guardian. Caleb Wilder, John Phelps and Zachariah Williams appraised his personal property as follows :
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THE MINISTERS' GRAVES.
" Purse and Apparel,
£56. 9.8.
Firelock, Ammunition and Sundry Utensils, 9.19.1.
Total,
£66.8.9."
His grave, with that of his wife, his son, Dr. Staunton, and a long row of little mounds, which cover the remains of the Dr.'s children, is in the old burying ground, east of the rail- road. Rev. Mr. Harrington, Rev. Andrew Gardner, and Rev. John Whiting were all buried in close proximity, and all have stones to mark their last sleeping place. "They rest from their labors, and their works do follow them."
CHAPTER XII.
THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 1755-1763.
LEAVING the civil and educational history of the town for the present, we resume the more stirring, but sadder narra- tive of military expeditions. The last French and Indian war began in 1755, and continued till 1763. Though the colonies were involved in its heroism and its losses by their connection with the mother country, yet it is a historical fact that the people of New England were ready if not eager for the contest. It was felt by every man of ordinary intelli- gence that there was no permanent peace or safety for the Eng- lish colonies, so long as the French retained their power in North America. France ruled from the Gulf of St. Law- rence, through Canada and the lakes, to the source of the Ohio river, and farther on to the Mississippi. By the aid of Indian allies, she was continually harassing the English col- onists, with a view to their conquest, and her own undisputed supremacy everywhere in North America north of the Span- ish possessions.
As years passed, the necessity of reducing the French power was felt to be more. pressing, and all New England was moved to combined action, in conjunction with forces from some of the middle colonies. The enterprise came home to the "business and bosoms" of every family, and here in Lancaster, as elsewhere, the war was entered into with great spirit. No apology needs therefore be made for devoting a few pages of town history to this general war. Since the town, in common with the province, and indeed the whole English-speaking population, in America, were
250
251
FOUR EXPEDITIONS.
deeply engaged in the contest, it would be inexcusable to pass by the event with a merely casual notice.
Four expeditions were planned for the campaign of 1755. One was under Gen. Braddock, which ended disastrously. Another, under the command of William Shirley, governor of Massachusetts Bay from 1741 to 1749, was designed for the reduction of Fort Niagara, at Kingston, now Lewiston, N. Y. The third had for its object the taking of Crown Point, a fortress on the west side of lake Champlain, some eight or ten miles north of the point where lake George unites with it, near Ticonderoga. Nova Scotia, or Acadia, was invaded by the fourth expedition. These movements were planned mainly by Gov. Shirley, an active, ambitious man, who like Sir Walter Raleigh, could "toil terribly." The march towards Niagara was under his immediate leader- ship, with Col. Bradstreet, who had fought under Pepperell at Louisburg, for his second in command. It does not ap- pear that any troops from Lancaster were with the governor, this year, and the enterprise may be dismissed with the re- mark that it was managed with efficiency, but succeeded only in reaching Oswego, where the troops were engaged in strengthening the works of defence, and preparing for an attack on Niagara in the ensuing spring.
Lieut. Col. Monckton, of the British army, was in chief command in the conquest of Acadia. The first battalion was commanded by Gen. Winslow, and the second by Col. Scott. It is believed that a few men from Lancaster were in this service, but how many is unknown. Capt. Abijah Willard, afterwards colonel, commanded a company. Under Shir- ley's advice, the British government determined to break up the settlement, as a nest of French intrigue and mischief, and scatter the people among the towns. This hard service was laid upon Gen. Winslow, and carried out by him with as much humanity as was compatible with the execution of the command. Some of the French captives were quartered upon Lancaster, and were lodged in families here. They
252
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
helped themselves to some extent. As far as necessary the town supplied their wants, and the province paid the ex- pense. The state Records contain a few of the old bills, one or two specimens of which follow, dated in 1756.
" The Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To the Town of Lancaster, Dr.
" To billeting the French Neutrals sent to this town by order of the General Court, from the sixth day of March last, to the fifteenth day of April last, being six weeks at 26 shillings per week."
"To billeting ten of said Neutrals, one man and two women, and one girl, 17, and six children. Were unable to support themselves from the 15th day of April to the 25th day of December instant, being thirty-six weeks, at 12 shil- lings, 8 pence per week. John Carter, Abel Willard, John White, selectmen."
The unhappy exiles were kindly treated by our people, but they did not take easily to the ways of the English, and gradually sought more congenial settlements. Here and there an individual or a family became permanent. An active lad would find a home in some good family, and a bright-eyed girl would win the heart of some Yankee youth.
The Crown Point expedition engrossed the interest of the people of Lancaster, in 1755, and they marched in consider- able numbers, under the lead of different officers. Col. Abijah Willard was in this service also before its close. The troopers were in the regiment of Col. Josiah Brown. Their names follow.
John Moore,
Jonas Whitcomb,
Oliver Pollard, Ephraim Houghton, Israel Greenlife, Jonathan Powers, Nathaniel Houghton, Nathaniel Hudson,
Nathaniel White,
Paul Sawyer, Simon Willard,
Phinehas Willard,
Samuel Cumings,
Fairbank Moor,
Nathaniel Benitt ..
253
NAMES OF SOLDIERS.
Some of these were from the second precinct, now Ster- ling, and possibly a few from other towns.
Another company-infantry-had Joseph Whitcomb for their captain. These are the names.
Corp. James Cresfield,
Joseph Robbins,
Corp. Joseph Robins, jr.,
Jonathan Houghton,
Jona. Priest Whitcomb.
Cyrus Gates,
Joshua Sawyer,
Marmaduke James Hamilton,
Josiah Pratt, jr.,
Abram Knelton, or Knolton,
Robert Longley,
Josiah Pratt, sr.,
John Richardson,
Abraham Bruce,
Nathaniel Holman,
Robert Fletcher,
Abijah Cole,
Clerk, Eltham Phillips,
Ebenezer Snow,
William Willard,
Robert Forskit,
Phinehas Randell,
John Wheeler,
Peter Kendell.
These soldiers were not in service the same length of time. Some of them were engaged ten weeks, and others longer, even to forty weeks, from March, 1755, to the following Jan- uary. The rolls also contain the names of some who returned home by way of Albany, either because of sickness, or ex- piration of the term of service. In the regiment of Col. John Whitcomb, of Bolton, Capt Jonathan Goodnough, were the following Lancaster men, who were nearly a month return- ing from Albany to Bolton, where they were dismissed. Lieut. Hezekiah Whitcomb, Aaron Dresser, Thomas Dole, John Whitcomb, Abner Osgood.
Capt. Benjamin Ballard, of Lancaster, was in this expedi- tion, and the following men, who were in service from nine to forty weeks in the summer and fall, of this year, returned home by Albany in the early winter of 1756.
Sgt. Sherebiah Hunt, Clerk, Timothy Whiting,
William Kendall,
Josiah Fairbanks,
Samuel Ballard, John Manning,
Elijah Woods, Elisha White,
Joseph Woods,
William Barron.
The chief in command of this enterprise was Sir William Johnson, of New York. Col. Williams of Massachusetts was
254
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
second, and Gen. Lyman of Connecticut, third in rank. The old histories tell the story of the battles near lake George. It is enough to say here, that the provincial troops behaved like veterans. Col. Williams, with Col. Whiting of Connec- ticut, was sent from the post at the south end of lake George to intercept a party of French and Indians, under the cele- brated baron Dieskau, on the eighth of September. They were ambushed and defeated, though bravely led by Williams, who fell at the first charge. The retreat was conducted by Whiting with great credit. The enemy marched directly upon the position held by Johnson, but were met with resolute bravery, and completely defeated. Dieskau was wounded and taken prisoner. He entered the fight with about two thousand men. Seven hundred were killed, and thirty made prisoners. This shows how deadly was the fire of our troops. Their loss was about two hundred, chiefly those who were with Col. Williams. The soldiers who survived and returned, told the story with thrilling details, in every family. With all the glory there was mourning in many households.
The following paper lets us into the personal experience of many who went forth strong, but returned weak or wound- ed. The date is " April ye first, 1757," and the address is to the general court.
" The petition of William Willard humbly showing that he was an enlisted soldier under the command of Capt. Joseph Whitcomb, in the regiment Col. Timothy Ruggles, Esq., was colonel of in the Crown Point expedition in the year 1755 ; and so it was, may it please your honors, that your poor petitioner was taken sick at lake George, and was obliged for to hire a horse, and make the best of way home with the leave of my superior officers, and was obliged for to lay by four days on my journey home, I being so very sick and weak, and the 14th day, with great difficulty, I arrived at my home in Lancaster, and then was confined to my room and bed, for five weeks with the fever and camp distempers, and my body and legs being swelled for four or five months
255
INEFFICIENT OFFICERS.
afterwards, which cost me in money, besides all other neces- sary charges as to candles, boarding, nurses, etc., which sum of £1. 12sh., your poor petitioner humbly prays your honors to repay him. As in duty bound shall ever pray. William Wil- lard." The petition was granted.
In March, 1756, William Richardson, of Lancaster, bought seventy-two cattle for the board of war.
Gov. Shirley had great plans for the next year's campaign, but by intrigues here and in England, he was displaced, and Gen. Abercrombie put over the troops, subject however to the superior orders of lord Loudoun. Under their dilatory management, the whole season passed away without any de- cisive action, either in the middle colonies, against fort Ni- agara, or in attacking the enemy at Crown Point. And this notwithstanding the very great sacrifices made by the colonial governments in furnishing soldiers and the munitions of war. The fortifications at Oswego fell into the hands of the French, and nothing was effected on lake Champlain, which was com- pletely commanded by the fort at Crown Point. "Forts Ed- ward and Henry were made more defensible, and furnished with numerous garrisons," says Trumbull, and as winter came on, the soldiers returned home.
In the service, this year, are found the names of a few men who were in Capt. Reid's company, Col. Ruggles' regiment ; as William Barron, William Warren, Jonathan Houghton. The names of Capt. Wilder, and Col. Oliver Wilder turn up in the Archives, as if in some kind of service.
Capt. Asa Whitcomb, of Lancaster, second precinct, ap- pears on the scene with his company, between March 28, and December. They were in the Crown Point expedition, and returned at the close of the campaign, in which they had gained no victory, but much experience, in the last month of the year.
Here follow the names ..
Lt. Ezra Houghton, En. Elijah Houghton,
Thomas Fairbanks,
Oliver Dustin,
256
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Clk. Philemon Houghton,
Nathan Gary,
Corp's. Isaac Kendall, and
John Bailey,
Samuel Fairbanks,
Tilley Littlejohn,
Drumer, William Fairbanks,
Oliver Osgood, and
John Farrar,
Nahum Houghton.
John Brooks,
Osgood died.
Ithamar Bennitt,
Col. Samuel Willard, and Phinehas Phelps were in some sphere of service not specified, one month.
From November 8, 1756, to February 1, 1757, Capt. Ben- jamin Ballard was again in the expedition with the following men.
Lt. Sherehiah Hunt,
Sgt. Henry Haskell,
Joseph Houghton,
Corps. James Crosfield, and
Benjamin Houghton,
John Manning,
Gardner Wilder,
Clk. Samuel Ballard,
David Thurston,
Elijah Woods,
Samuel Ross,
Samuel Woods,
Heury Bridgman,
Elijalı Beeman,
Abner Hascal,
Joseph Priest, Josiah Divol.
They were eleven days on their return from Albany ; the same time occupied by Capt. Whitcomb's men.
During this year, as already noted, the Willards and a few others, were holding Fort Dummer, while the following sol- diers were stationed at No. 4, now Charlestown, N. H., from June 21, to April, 1757.
Sergeant Fairbank Moore,
John Sawyer,
Benony Wright,
Jos. Chamberlain,
Jonas Davis.
Gideon Shattuck,
Uriah More, Amos Davis,
J. Nutting Willard,
Moses Willard,
Benjamin Allen, Jonathan Houghton.
Andrew Godfrey,
The campaign of 1756 was worse than wasted, by the im- becility of Loudoun and Abercrombie. The year 1757 was also a year of disaster and shame. Instead of pressing on to the north, and the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, a new expedition was started against Louisburg, which
257
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN SCARE.
had been foolishly given up to the French at the close of the late war. The season was wasted, and nothing was achieved. Not only was there no material advantage gained, but the glory of reputation and honor was dimmed. Louisburg was reinforced and made impregnable. At the north, our forces met with a great and mortifying reverse. Instead of making headway on the lakes, Montcalm came down from Canada, and hastened to the siege of fort William Henry, about fourteen miles from fort Edward. On the ninth of August, after a siege of six days, the fort surrendered, and a panic spread all over New England. By the taking of this fort, every barrier to the inroad of the enemy was broken down, our troops retreated, and it was supposed that Montcalm would rapidly advance with his army of allied French and Indians, and overrun the colonies of Massachusetts and Con- necticut. Orders went hurriedly from Boston to Hampshire and Berkshire, for the people to withdraw without delay, from the western counties, and to bring away all their mov- able property and wheeled vehicles. In hot haste new levies were called out, and sent to meet the expected enemy. Lancaster felt the scare, and sprang, as one man, to the rescue. Col. Oliver Wilder, Esq., a veteran aged sixty- three, led the following men on a march westward. The note on the Roll reads : "marched as far as Springfield, on the alarm at Fort William Henry, 1757."
Col. Oliver Wilder, Capt. Thomas Wilder,
Oliver Wyman,
James Ballard,
Lt. Samuel Nurse,
Gardner Wilder,
En. Josiah Bailey,
Jacob Houghton,
Sgt. Nathaniel Page,
Matthew Knight,
Caleb Sawyer,
Samuel Moore,
" Oliver Hall,
Henry Satel,
" Nathan Bennet,
James Snow,
Cor. William Wilder,
Samuel Bruse,
" Nathaniel Hastings,
William Pollard,
" Phinehas Wheelock.,
James McBride,
" John Pollard,
Jabez Beers,
Benjamin Whitcomb,
Elijah Wilson,
17
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Jonathan White,
Jonathan Holman,
James Simonds,
John Pyper,
Rufus Houghton, Amos Kendall,
John Grant, or Grout,
Jonathan Moslan,
Kendall Boutell,
Jonathan Page,
Joseph Polley,
Joseph Davis,
Nathaniel Colburn, Luke Richardson, Asa Johnson,
Reuben Wyman,
Jacob Gould,
Aaron Taylor.
But the panic was soon over. Montcalm, prudent as well as brave, had no idea of rushing into such an agitated hor- net's nest as New England had become. Word came from the lakes that there was to be no invasion, and in fourteen days, Col. Wilder returned, and mustered out his men.
Here may be inserted two little items which seem to show how the ravages of war reach to individuals and families, far from the battle-field. In March, 1758, Caleb Willard, who was in the service of the province in 1757, under Col. Frey, petitioned for aid. On his return from camp he was taken ill of the small-pox, and was at great expense for nurses and doctors. He asked an allowance of £6, 5sh.
Phinehas Atherton, in the same regiment, Capt. Hartwell's company, in 1757, had the small-pox at Albany. Besides suffering from a loathsome disease and loss of time, he was at considerable extra expense, and asked for £4, 19sh., by way of reimbursement. Edward Hartwell, of Lunenburg, formerly of this town, was the captain.
The summer of 1758 witnessed a great change. William Pitt, the elder, assumed the reins of power, because the king and country felt the need of his genius. The season was too far gone for him to achieve great results in the lake region, even if the general in command had possessed the requisite ability. Massachusetts voted seven thousand men, and Con- necticut five thousand. In every town there was the throb- bing excitement which attends great enterprises. A large army was collected, and on the sixth of July, moved towards Ticonderoga. In a skirmish, Gen. Howe, the soul of the
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THE SPIRIT OF PITT.
expedition, was killed. He was much beloved in America, and Massachusetts voted a monument to his memory. Aber- crombie, the general in command, filled with "the extremest fright and consternation," withdrew to the landing place on the lake, but as Bradstreet, of Massachusetts, pressed for- ward, the general followed, and the army encamped within half a mile of the enemy. The attack on the next morning, owing to the strength of the works, was a complete failure. Bradstreet shortly after, by the reduction of Fort Frontenac, relieved partially the gloom, but the loss of the campaign was a grief to New England. However, Fort Du Quesne at the west, and Louisburg in the east were captured, and thus the year closed more hopefully. The spirit of Pitt was breathed into every arm of the service. His proud assertion : "I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can," began to be fulfilled. In the expedition against Louisburg he had joined Generals Jeffrey Amherst and Wolfe, with Admiral Boscawen, men who went forth not to dawdle, but to fight. Whether any of our men were engaged in the capture of Louisburg, is unknown, but a large number were in service at the northwest, or, as the Rolls say, in the "re- duction of Canada." The following names indicate the men who served, this year. Capt. Aaron Willard and Lt. Nathan Willard were engaged nine months, in the "reduction of Canada," under Col. Oliver Partridge.
In the regiment of Col. Jonathan Bagley, Capt. Asa Whit- comb's company were engaged nearly ten months. The Lan- caster men with him were these.
Sgt. Jacob Smith,
John Bailey,
Abner Osgood,
Joseph Bigsby,
Benjamin Atherton,
Ebenezer Bigelow,
John Brooks,
Jedediah Cooper,
Shubael Bailey, jr.,
Oliver Butler,
William Brabrook,
Oliver Dunsmore.
These names were followed by a still longer list, who are placed under the years 1758-9, in one place, and in another are said to have served from March 13 to December 5, of the
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
former year. It is probable that many of them were out in the year 1759, when Quebec was taken and Canada was re- duced. However that may be, here are the names of Asa Whitcomb's men, in addition.
Nathan Eager,
Ezekiel Snow,
Robert Fletcher,
James Squineen,
Phinehas Goodale,
John Sampson,
Jonathan Gearry,
Aaron Tufts,
Ephraim Goss,
David Thurston,
Nathaniel Hastings, jr.,
Jonathan Townsend,
Daniel Johnson.
Phinehas Wilder,
Joshua Johnson,
Silas Warner,
Philip Jena,
Elijah Wood,
Edward Larkin,
Jedediah Wood,
William Larkin,
Silvanus Johnson, servant
John McBride,
to the Captain.
Moses Sawyer,
The year had its casualties, many of them, doubtless, if we could find a full report, such as the public became familiar with in the recent war of the Rebellion. One or two must be taken as specimens of all. Phinehas Wilder enlisted into his Majesty's service, for the conquest of Canada, in Asa Whitcomb's company. He was sick about the first of Sep- tember, with camp distemper. He was brought in carts, and by water, to Greenbush. There he was very sick, and lost all recollection for two weeks. Thence he came home, sometimes on horseback, and then on a horse litter, just alive, and remained so during six weeks. He was allowed five pounds.
And here is a statement by Capt. Ballard, September 18, 1758. "These may certify that my son, Samuel Ballard, was taken captive near Ticonderoga, about the 25th of June, being with Lt. Stephens. He was a ranger in Capt. John Stark's company. BENJ. BALLARD." This was the famous Gen. Stark of the revolution.
By the spring of 1759, the intense energy of Mr. Pitt had entered into the whole army, and the campaign was opened and carried forward with resistless power. The land forces
261
WOLFE'S CAMPAIGN.
were led by Jeffrey, lord Amherst, while Wolfe approached Canada with the British fleet. The French, unable to resist the force of Amherst, abandoned Ticonderoga, blowing it up to prevent its falling into our hands; and on the first of August withdrew from Crown Point. Col. Oliver Wilder served in this expedition, and led quite a detachment of Lancaster men. They entered the service in April. Some of them were enlisted, and some of them impressed men. A note on the old muster roll says, that twenty-one were "im- pressed," and that " most had been in former expeditions to Nova Scotia or the lakes," and also that they carried their " own arms." Below are the names of Col. Wilder's towns- men and fellow warriors.
Robert Phelps,
Henry Wyman.
Jonathan Phelps,
Joseph Bixpy,
William Perham,
Jedediah Cooper,
Joseph Turner,
Ephraim Goss, John McCarthy,
Thomas Barney,
Abner Osgood,
Joseph Squineen,
Jonathan Townsend,
Ebenezer Pike,
Matthew Larkin,
Joseph Bailey,
John Headley,
Samuel Goodenow,
Phinehas Bailey,
Daniel Cook.
Jotham Wilder,
Reuben Walker,
Joshua Proutie,
John McBride,
Daniel Allbert, jr.,
Joseph Steuart,
Peter Larkin,
John Dunsmoor,
Frederick Allbert, John Bailey,
John Crosby,
John Goodenow,
Micah Bryant,
Stephen Kendall,
Nathaniel Wright,
Joseph Turner.
Samuel Kendall, Levi Kendall,
George Bush, jr.,
Capt. Aaron Willard, with about eighty men, was with brigadier Ruggles, thirty-five days, during this spring. There were several Lancaster men in his company, but their names cannot be identified in all cases.
The forces of Amherst did not reach Canada, this year, but they occupied so large a proportion of the French army, that Wolfe was thereby aided in the conquest of Quebec.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Pitt pronounced the highest eulogiums upon the campaign of Amherst. Whatever credit was deserved, belonged in part to Col. Wilder and his townsmen, and we can imagine how their dangers and exploits were the theme of conversation and interest round every fireside in the succeeding winter. Col. Abijah Willard led a regiment under Amherst. His adjutant was Cyrus Fairbank, and his quartermaster, Manas- sah Divoll.
The war was now virtually ended, since the fall of Que- bec involved the conquest of all Canada, which took place next year, and led to the peace which was declared in 1763. Still it was necessary to keep a large force in the field, and Lancaster furnished its quota in 1760. Capt. Aaron Wil- lard, says the muster roll, went "serving westward from March, 1759, to January, 1760." The place of service is given with no greater definiteness. But the following men were engaged somewhere in the public service.
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