USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 22
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
the verities of the Christian religion. Looseness of opinion generally leads to laxity of morals. John Adams, who was a teacher and a law student in Worcester, two or three years, 1755-8, throws light upon this subject. In his Diary for 1755, he writes : "For three months I boarded with one Green. Here I found Morgan's Moral Philosopher, which I was informed had circulated with some freedom in that town, and that the principles of Deism had made considera- ble progress among persons in that and other towns in the county." Mr. Adams studied law with the leading lawyer of the county, named Putnam, who had imbibed the notions of the English deists, and who talked about them freely at his own table. "He would argue to the extent of his learn- ing and ingenuity to destroy or invalidate the evidences of a future state, and the principles of natural and revealed re- ligion." It was claimed at the time, that nearly every edu- cated and prominent man in the county, except the clergy, was infected with the infidel tenets of Morgan, Tyndal and Collins. And Mr. Adams reveals something of the condition of morals at the time. The following lines had reference to scenes which he knew were real, but which he intensely ab- horred. "Let others waste their bloom of life at the card or billiard table, among rakes and fools, and when their minds are sufficiently fretted with losses, and inflamed by wine, ramble through the streets assaulting innocent people, break- ing windows, or debauching young girls."
Doubtless Lancaster felt the influence of such men, and such conduct, but it is certain that many of the leading char- acters of this town stood firmly on the side of revealed reli- gion and sound morals. Col. Samuel Willard, the two judges Wilder, and other men of that stamp, were members of the first church. Much of the ancient austerity of manners, and purity of domestic life remained.
Much attention was paid to the education of the young during this period. The school system became better organ- ized, and the schools were prolonged. The schools for read-
277
LATIN SCHOOL TEACHERS.
ing and writing, which always included arithmetic, and some- times other studies, were kept in such places as accommodated all the children in the extreme parts of the town. They were open five months in fall, winter and spring, and were attend- ed by scholars from four to twenty years of age. As the school week included six days, a term of five months then was equal to one of six months now ; and as the branches of study were not so numerous, the teachers had time to con- duct a large school. Moreover, the scholars exercised a powerful educating influence over each other.
The Latin grammar school, in this period, became a fixed institution. It was kept twelve months in the year ; part of the time in each precinct. One year, and perhaps more, the town voted that it should be kept six months in each parish ; but generally the time was arranged by the selectmen, ac- cording to the number of children, and the valuation in each precinct. Sometimes the town directed that the first parish should have the school seven months, and the second, five months, annually. These grammar schools were of high grade, ranking with high schools. The higher branches of English were taught, and instruction was given in the learned languages. In nearly every case, graduates of Harvard were the masters. Brown, Swan, Frost, Locke, Prentice, and others were in the honorable role of teachers. The limits of the grammar schools, were defined by vote in town meeting, and those who lived within the bounds, paid the extra ex- pense.
A society for mutual improvement was formed in the town in 1748. Samuel Locke, afterwards Rev. Dr. Locke, presi- dent of Harvard College, who taught here in 1752, and also in 1755, the year of his graduation, and who studied theology with Mr. Harrington, was a member. The " Articles of Agreement consented to and subscribed by ye Society of young men" is so characteristic of the theologic tone of the time, that they will be given entire.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
" We, the subscribers, being made, (we hope) in some measure sensible that we were shapen in iniquity, and that in sin our mothers conceived us; that the corruption and sinfulness of our natures hath discovered itself in the great irregularity of our thoughts, words and actions ; and the many [words illegible] we are chargeable with, by which we have offended the great God, given ground of grief to them that wish us well, and wronged our own souls, and that we have reason to be unfeignedly humbled ; and that by our baptism, the commands of God, and our own interest we are obliged to remember our Creator in the days of our youth, to be sober-minded, and to know in this our day the things that belong to our peace, and to seek first the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof :- and that we are in great danger, by reason of our spiritual enemies of being further ensnared, encouraged and confirmed in that which is evil, and that we are in danger of injuring our own souls, by not improving for our best good the advantages within our pow- er :- And
" Inasmuch as there are combinations and agreements among some to carry on evil designs, and meetings of some together the tendencies and consequences of which are hurtful, there- fore
" We have thought that forming ourselves into a religious society for religious purposes, would not only be one way to strengthen our obligation to circumspection in our conduct, but would also, (by the blessing of God, ) be a good means to fortify us against the temptations to which youth is exposed, to promote our further knowledge of truth and duty, and to save us from the paths of the destroyer.
" To quicken us therefore to avoid that which is evil, and to practice that which is good, we consent to, and agree in, the following Things, viz.
"I. That we will, by Divine leave, meet together once a fortnight, at some convenient place, agreed upon, and there spend about two hours together in prayer, reading a sermon.
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YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION.
singing a Psalm, or part of one, and in religious conferences ; and when these exercises are over, will speedily repair to our respective homes.
" II. That the prayers to be made, both before and after the reading of a sermon, shall be made by the members of the society in their turns.
" III. That we will not divulge one another's infirmities or imperfections that may appear at any time in our perform- ances, or speak of them to others, but will rather modestly and lovingly mind one another of things of that kind; and that we will kindly receive the notice thereof when given in a friendly manner.
"IV. That we will keep a strict guard over ourselves while together, that nothing unbecoming may be observed either in word or action, and will be very careful that our discourses savour not of vanity, reproaching and backbiting ; that they have no relation to matters of government, or to things that do not concern us, the tendency of which is not to make us better and more knowing; - that therefore they shall be upon matters of religion, and even in this they shall not be upon the controversies of it, but upon the points of practical piety.
" V. That we will watch over one another for our good, and endeavor one another's spiritual profit, by labouring to assist each other in the knowledge of truth and duty; and by encouraging and strengthening one another in things that are good, virtuous and praiseworthy, and by advising one another of anything that calls for an admonition. And as we will endeavor faithfully to dispense a reproof as there may be occasion, so we will also accept a reproof when given in a just and friendly manner.
" VI. That, by Divine help, we will behave in an inoffen- sive, good and exemplary manner, that none may have just ground to speak evil of any of us, or to reflect upon us as being only hypocritical, and as having only ostentatious aims in what we do ; but rather that they may have reason to hope
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
that we are under a serious concern for the glory of God, the advancement of religion, and the promoting the good of our own, and of one another's souls. That we will endeavor to be on our guard, especially on the Lord's day, and to avoid all irregularities and indecencies on the same ; and that we will also at other times carefully avoid those places that have a dangerous aspect, and the coming into an intimacy with those persons whose company is not likely to be profitable, but rather prejudicial.
" VII. That in case any should scoff at, deride and mock us, on the account of our coming into such obligations as we have, we hope that, by Divine grace, we shall not be ashamed hereof, nor repent of our laying ourselves under them, nor renounce them ; but endeavor to convince such of their sin, and to make them ashamed of it, and steadfastly continue our endeavors to fulfill them so long as our opportunities so to do are continued to us, or our circumstances will admit hereof: but in case of a removal, or if in the overruling providence of God we are brought into a married relation, we shall then look upon ourselves as released from our obli- gations to meet together as before mentioned.
" VIII. If any member of the society shall fall into scan- dalous iniquity, the rebukes of the society shall be dispensed unto him, and he shall be forbid coming any more among us, until he bring suitable expressions and evidences of his repentance with him.
"IX. If it be observed that any of the society absent themselves from our meetings, the reason of it shall be in- quired into ; and if no reason be given but such as intimates an apostasy from good beginnings, such upon obstinacy, after loving and faithful admonitions, shall have their names struck out of these articles.
"X. If necessary charges arise in the society there shall be a collection agreed upon for the defraying of them.
"XI. Once in three months the whole time of the meet- ing shall be spent in supplication for the outpouring of the
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NAMES OF THE MEMBERS.
Spirit of God upon the rising generation in the land, and for the success of the gospel in the congregation to which we belong.
" XII. We shall be glad of an increase of our number, and therefore shall look out for some sober young men, and encourage and strengthen any good inclinations that we per- ceive in them, and readily two or three of us go with such to our minister, to receive his advice and counsels, and upon his advice, such person or persons may set to their hands, and join with us in these our obligations.
" Finally, we shall be glad to resort to our minister for, and be ready to comply with his advice, as there shall be occasion for it, and as he may see occasion to offer it to us ; and we shall thankfully receive his instructions and encouragements, and attend to the prayers and sermons that he shall see cause to favor us with. These things we freely consent to and agree in, depending on Christ for strength to do according to them, and desiring earnestly the Divine blessing to our souls. Amen."
These Articles were signed as follows.
Nathaniel White,
Simon Willard,
Edward Phelps, jr.,
John Solindine,
Sherebiah Hunt, Stephen Johnson,
Philemon Houghton,
John Dupee,
John Divol,
Benaiah Hutson,
Aaron Osgood,
William Osgood,
William Jenison, jr.,
Isaac Solindine,
William Phelps,
Samuel Prentice,
Samuel Nikols,
Thomas Beman,
Samuel Locke,
William Richardson,
Jonathan Ballard,
Ephraim Wilder, Thomas Willard, Russell Knight.
On another page are the following names, which there is reason to believe were subscribed to the document.
Samuel Warner, Ephraim Houghton,
Stanton Prentice, Josiah Swan.
.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
The Articles probably had a ministerial authorship. It will be noted that they were dated in the year of Mr. Harrington's settlement, and the writing resembles that of the Records kept by him.
This may be considered the first " Young Men's Christian Association," till some other one proves priority in date. It shows that the new minister had a strong body of young men ready to be led by him, and to sustain him in time of need. The Records of the society, if any there were, have not been found; but we may indulge the belief that it was an efficient instrumentality for good.
Such a society must have had a stimulating power upon the minds of the members, and so have yielded its quota in giving to the people of this town its reputation for intelli- gence, a century since. Among the young men of character and education, about 1750, was Abel Willard, born in 1732, and a graduate of Harvard just twenty years later. John Adams, in the Diary already quoted, under date of March, 1756, says : " The family of the Willards of Lancaster, were often at Worcester ; and I formed an acquaintance with them, especially Abel Willard, who had been one year with me in college ; with him I lived in friendship." Levi Willard, the brother next older, married a daughter of Judge John Chan- dler, of Worcester. He also was a man of intelligence and enterprise.
The wealth of Lancaster had greatly increased in this period of thirty-three years, as the valuation shows. The increase of population always raises the value of real estate ; besides, some had added to their store by business. Col. Samuel Willard, in 1726, purchased the estate of his grand- father, Major Simon, and moved here from Harvard, in that or the following year. He also bought the Glazier property, between the Common and the Nashua, and in 1727, the land between the ancestral home and the river. He was a trader, and an old record book of Judge Wilder, senior, contains many entries of bills of goods bought of him. Three of
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GOLDEN AGE OF LANCASTER.
his sons, Col. Abijah, Col. Levi and Esq. Abel, inherited the paternal estate in Lancaster, and lived in a row on what might be called Willard street, extending from Dr. Thomp- son's, easterly to the river. Abijah lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Day ; Levi, near where the Mansion House now stands; and Abel near the corner of the road beyond Charles L. Wilder's house. Col. Levi was in trade in com- pany with Samuel Ward, Esq., and they kept "perhaps the largest trading-house in the county of Worcester." They imported goods directly from England, and their customers were not confined to the town, but came from a long distance.
At the same time, Judge Joseph Wilder, jr., and his brother, Col. Caleb, were largely engaged in the business of making pot and pearl ashes, selling annually for some years, one hundred and fifty tons of pearlash, and eighty tons of pot- ash. Col. Joseph Wilder and Col. Oliver Wilder owned mill privileges, and others were engaged in business besides farming. This was, in some respects, the golden age of Lancaster.
CHAPTER XIV.
LANCASTER IN THE REVOLUTION.
THE annals of the town were brought down to the year 1775 in the preceding chapter, but the action of the town in relation to public affairs, in the year 1773, and subsequently, was omitted. This action belongs to the history of Lancas- ter in the Revolution, and will now begin as part of a con- tinuous narrative. It will serve to show that the outbreak at Lexington and Concord was not a surprise, except in regard to the precise time, but that the people had been, for years, preparing to defend their liberties at the dire hazard of war.
A town meeting was held on the first Wednesday of Jan- uary, 1773, in the meeting-house in the second precinct, Dea. Oliver Moor presiding as Moderator, to consider the follow- ing articles. "1. To take into consideration the dangerous condition of our public affairs ; in particular, the indepen- dency of our superior judges, etc. 2. To choose a committee to draw up our grievances, and infringements upon our liber- ties. 3. To consider and act upon the request from the Boston committee. 4. To give to our representative such instructions as the town shall think proper, relative to our privileges. 5. To choose a committee to return an answer to Boston committee, and to correspond with any other com- mittee, relating to our privileges, etc. 6. To act and do any thing that the town shall see proper to withstand the present progress of our enemies in endeavoring to take away our privileges."
The town voted to choose a committee to draw up a state- ment of grievances. These were the names of the committee.
284
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INSTRUCTING A DELEGATE.
Dr. William Dunsmoor, Messrs. John Prescott, Aaron Saw- yer, Josiah Kendall, Joseph White, Nathaniel Wyman, Ebe- nezer Allen. The meeting was adjourned to the nineteenth, at the meeting-house in the first precinct, to receive the re- port of the committee. The report was duly received, and the same committee were appointed to reply to the letter of the Boston committee. Then the following instructions were agreed upon, for the guidance of the delegate to the general court, Col. Asa Whitcomb.
" As you are chosen to represent this town in the general assembly of this province, we take this opportunity of in- forming you of our sentiments relative to the unhappy state of our public affairs. You will perceive, by the Resolves which are herewith sent to you, the light in which we view the encroachments made upon our constitutional freedom. Particularly you will observe our serious opinion of a depen- dency of the Judges of the Superior Court on the crown for their support; that they are already so dependant; or that it is in contemplation to render them so, we have great reason to fear. Also an act passed in the late session of the British Parliament, intitled an 'Act for better preserv- ing his majesty's dock-yards,' etc., does in a most essential manner infringe the rights and liberties of the colonies, as it puts it in the power of any wicked tool of administration, either from malice or policy, to take any inhabitant from the colonies, and carry him to Great Britain, there to be tried, which by the expense and long detention from his occupa- tion, would be the destruction of almost any man among us, although his innocence might finally appear in the clearest manner. And further, the late commissions for taking per- sons in our sister colony, Rhode Island, and sending them to Great Britain, there to be tried upon suspicion of being concerned in burning his majesty's schooner Gaspie, is an in- vasion of the rights of the colonies, and ought to excite the attention of the whole continent. We expect that you will use your utmost efforts, this session of our general assembly,
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
to obtain a radical redress of our grievances, and we wish you success in your endeavors, and which we cannot but flatter ourselves, from the late happy change in the American de- partment, you will meet with. We confide in your ability and firmness in all matters which may come before the general court, assuring you of the support of this town in all your le- gal proceedings, and earnestly praying that the Great Gover- nor of the world may direct and bless you in all your ways."
The resolutions reported to the town and adopted, so far as appears, with entire unanimity, evince a clear sense of right, and a stern purpose to maintain them. They were honorable to the town, and they adorn its history.
" Resolved, 1. That this and every other town in this prov- ince, has an undoubted right to meet together and consult upon all matters interesting to them, when, and so often as ยป they shall judge fit ; and it is more especially their duty so to do when any infringement is made upon their civil or reli- gious liberties.
2. That the raising a revenue in the colonies without their consent, either by themselves or their representatives, is an infringement of that right which every freeman has to dispose of his own property.
3. That the granting a salary to his excellency, the gover- nor of this province out of the revenue unconstitutionally raised from us, is an innovation of a very alarming tendency.
4. That it is of the highest importance to the security of liberty, life and property, that the public administration of justice should be pure and impartial, and that the judges should be free from every bias, either in favor of the crown or the subject.
5. That the absolute dependency of the judges of the superior court of this province upon the crown for their sup- port, would, if it should ever take place, have the strongest tendency to bias the minds of the judges, and would weaken Dur confidence in them.
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COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE.
6. That the extension of the power of the court of vice admiralty to the present enormous degree, is a great griev- ance and deprives the subject in many instances, of the noble privilege of Englishman, trials by juries."
These resolutions were ordered to be " transmitted to the town of Boston."
A meeting was called on the fifth of September, 1774, to consider various matters pertaining to the general welfare. One article respected the granting relief to the "suffering poor of the town of Boston, occasioned by the late act of parlia- ment blocking up the port of said town." Another related to forming an agreement with other towns, and choosing a committee to do what was needful to be done in the present exigency. Other articles looked to raising money to buy a stock of ammunition, and to pay the town's proportion of the " charges of the present proposed congress."
The town chose the following committee of correspondence, with the singular provision that " any number even less than a majority * shall be sufficient to represent the town." The times required haste, and it would not do to delay, in some exigencies, long enough to collect the committee from remote parts of the town. Dr. William Dunsmoor, Dea. David Wilder, Aaron Sawyer, Capt. Asa Whitcomb, Capt. Heze- kiah Gates, John Prescott, Ephraim Sawyer. Subsequently Dea. Thomas Fairbank, Dea. Josiah Wilder, and Jonathan Wilder were added.
Then the town voted to " indemnify the constable for not re- turning a list of the freeholders for jurors under the late act of parliament." The Dea. David Wilder, above named, was fore- man of the grand jury which in the preceding April, voted, " that should Peter Oliver, Esq. appear and act as judge at this present court, they would not proceed to business, but would utterly refuse."
The opposition to the courts as then constituted was tak- ing practical shape. The next vote was still more significant. It was to " raise fifty pounds for to buy ammunition with to be
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
a town stock." And still more emphatic was the vote pass- ed, at an adjourned meeting, a fortnight later : "that there be one hundred men raised as volunteers, to be ready at a min- ute's warning to turn out upon any emergency, and that they shall be formed into two companies, and choose their own officers." The volunteers were to be reasonably paid by the town for " any service they might do in defending the liber- ties and privileges " of the people. Dr. Dunsmoor and Capt. Whitcomb were authorized to enlist fifty men in their respec- tive precincts. The committee of correspondence were to buy " one field piece for the use of the town."
At a meeting, September 28, Dr. Dunsmoor was chosen delegate to a "proposed Provincial Convention " to be held at Concord. The committee were empowered to " buy two 2 Pounders " instead of one field piece. The meeting was adjourned to December 12, when Dr. Dunsmoor and Capts. Gates and Whitcomb were appointed a committee to draw up an " Association, League and Covenant for non-consumption of goods, etc., for the inhabitants to sign."
At another meeting a committee of three was chosen to see what money was in the hands of the constables, and to " di- rect them not to pay any public money out of their hands without the town's order." This action was intended to pre- vent any taxes going to the loyal treasurer of the province. The committee were Dr. Josiah Wilder, Aaron and Ephraim Sawyer. Instead of 2 pounders, the committee reported that they had bought "4 Pounders." It was voted to buy " five hundred weight of ball suitable for the field pieces, and three hundred weight of grape shot."
October 31, the town made arrangements that their money should not be paid to the provincial or county treasurer, but to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, who had been designated by the patriots as Receiver General. A committee was ap- pointed " to post up all such persons as continued to buy, sell or consume any East India goods, in public places in town." This was to prevent the British government from receiving any
289
ARMING.
indirect revenue from customs duties. Men were designated to build gun carriages for the two field pieces.
An adjourned meeting, held January 2, 1775, chose a " committee to receive subscriptions and donations for the suf- fering poor of Boston, as follows. Doct. Dunsmoor, Dea. David Wilder, Ephraim Carter, Dea. Asa Whitcomb, Capt. Daniel Robins, Ephraim Sawyer." The donations were to be brought in within a fortnight.
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