USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, Volume I > Part 6
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And while they were desirous that their children should be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and so become ornaments of His church, and reflect honor upon the religion they professed, they had a just apprecia- tion of the temporal wants of him whom they had chosen as their spiritual guide, and upon whose labors they must depend, in a great degree, in accomplishing that desirable and all-important end. Hence it was "voted that the Reu- erend Mr: Hancock his Sallory should be advanct to sixty Pound: Payablle as before: and the quarterly Contrebu- tions to Continue till further order." It was also voted that Mr. Hancock be allowed to take timber from the parish land to repair his buildings and fences, and wood sufficient to supply his fires.
The meeting-house 1 erected in 1692, stood at the junction of the Concord and Bedford roads, near the present hay-scales, and was upon land included within the highways; the land · which now constitutes the Common being private property. Seeing the propriety of securing a plot near the meeting- house for a public common, at a meeting held in April, 1711, it was agreed by the inhabitants of the precinct to buy the land about the meeting-house, of Mr. Benjamin Muzzy, and to do it by subscription. A paper was accord- ingly drawn up and circulated, and the following names and sums were obtained :-
1 Site now marked by a stone pulpit. Ed.
40
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
s. d.
£ s. d.
Capt: Joseph Estabrook
10 0
Brought up
8 90
Ensign: Joseph Bowman
10 0
Thomas Ruge
4 0
Benjamin Muzze
10 0
Joseph miriam
50
Matthew Bridge
10 0
Sam" stearnes
30
Sam11 Stone
10 0
Joseph Pearce
4 0
Deacon Sam11 stone
10 0
Isaac stearnes
6 0
Deacon John miriam
60
Joseph stone
5 0
John mason
6 0
Sherebiah Kebe
10
Sam11 Locke
60
Ensigne Joseph simonds
5 0
william Russell
4 0
Thomas Bloggitt
5 0
George munroe
10 0
Joseph Teed
8 0
Joseph Loring
50
Thomas meads
6 0
Epharim winship
40
David Russell
2 6
John muzzye
2 6
Joseph Locke
50
John mun-roe
40
ffransise whittmore
4 0
Robert miriam
7 0
Richard muzzye
50
James Russell
2 0
Sam11 winshipe
5 0
John Cutteller sen™
5 0
Sam11 whittmore sen™
60
widdow ffiske
20
Joseph Brown
6 0
Dauid meade
5 0
william mun-roe Ju™
6 0
widdow Hannah Stone
2 6
Isaac Hunt
50
Daniell stone
30
Daniell mun-roe
30
John stone west
50
John Russell senir
30
Sam11 stone Jun™
60
Elihue wardwell
2 0
David ffiske sen
5 0
John Come
2 0
Jonathan ffiske
5 0
Capt: william Reed
10 0
Robert ffiske
2 0
Phillip Russell scn™
10 0
Thomas miriam
50
Lt: Thomas Cutteller
6 0
£8 90
£15 3 6*
* Also another contribution of 5's. ; the name is torn, but appears to be "Cutteller." Ed.
This subscription fell a trifle short of the purchase money, which was sixteen pounds, and was undoubtedly made up by individuals. The deed given by Mr. Muzzy, bearing date June 14, 1711, acknowledges the receipt of sixteen pounds, paid by "the Inhabitants of that most Northerly part and precinct of Cambridge Commonly Called Cambridge ffarms towards Concord," and grants "to ye sd Inhabitants and their Successors for Ever, a Certaine parcell of Land, by Esti- mation one acre and a halfe more or less lying and being Situate in Cambridge ffarms nigh the meeting house, and is bounded Northerly by the said Benjamin Muzzey as the ffence now Stands, and Elsewhere by highways To Have & To Hold sd Land with all the timber Stones Trees Wood & underwood herbage and messuage with all and Singular the profits priviledges and appurtenances thereunto belonging." 1
This land, though bought by individuals of the parish,
1 See, A Sketch of the History of Lexington Common, by C. A. Staples, Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. I, p. 17. Ed.
41
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
appears to have been dedicated to public use. In January, 1713, they voted to locate their meeting-house upon this land, so that, when the parish became a town, and the town as suc- cessor of the parish came into possession of this property, they took it subject to the right of the parish to occupy such portion of it as might be necessary for a meeting-house, and the neces- sary appurtenances to the same. Consequently, the parish continued this use of a portion of the Common more than a century, and abandoned that use in 1846, since which time the whole property has been in the possession of the town, which now holds it by a clear and indisputable title. The Revolutionary associations which cluster around this spot render it one of the consecrated battle-fields of our country, which will be remembered and honored as long as freedom has a votary, or heroic deeds command the admiration of mankind.
Being merely a precinct, the people had no legal power to provide themselves with schools or roads, or even to select their own local town officers; and being eight miles from Cam- bridge, and having an interest in many respects different from that of the central village, it is natural to suppose that they would desire to set up for themselves, that they might the better supply their own wants, and manage their own affairs in their own way. At a meeting held October 28, 1712, they chose a committee to confer with the town of Cambridge and to petition the General Court to erect them into a town.
This committee subsequently received a renewed expres- sion of the same sentiments, and were by their constituents clothed with full powers to make such an arrangement with the people of Cambridge as they might deem expedient and equitable between the parties. In virtue of this authority they made an arrangement with the parent town for a separation, the new town becoming bound to support in part what was denominated the "Grate bridge" over Charles River in Cam- bridge, of which we shall speak more particularly hereafter.
While the people at the Farms were aspiring to the inde- pendence of a town, and taking active measures to secure that end, they kept a steadfast eye upon those religious insti- tutions on which their prosperity as a parish or a town must mainly depend. They therefore resolved to build them a meeting-house more capacious in its dimensions, and one which would meet the wants of the growing population of the
42
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
place. At a meeting held January 9, 1713, they voted to build a new meeting-house on the plan of the one at Concord, - the house to be fifty feet long, forty feet wide, and twenty- four feet studs, with one tier of galleries, - to be located upon the land recently bought of Benjamin Muzzy. A com- mittee, consisting of Captain William Reed, Quartermaster Samuel Stone, Sergeant John Munroe, Mr. Thomas Mer- riam, and Mr. Thomas Blodgett, was chosen to carry the measure into effect.
This meeting-house, the second erected in the place, was situated in the rear of the former, and nearly halfway between the hay-scales and the liberty. pole. This house stood till it was superseded by another, built in 1793, which was placed twenty feet in the rear of its predecessor. The house here proposed to be built was the one standing on the Common at the opening of the Revolution.
Having arrived at a period when the corporate character of the place was to be changed, and the precinct was to be merged in the town, we may well pause and reflect upon the scenes through which the infant settlement had passed, the difficulties and dangers it had encountered, and the progress it had made. We have seen that for about half a century the settlers had no organization of their own, no centre of attrac- tion around which to gather; but were like a distant colony, doomed to provide for themselves, and yet under the control of the home government. They were deprived of the advan- tages of schooling for their children, and, in a great degree, of the privileges of Gospel institutions. In a word they were citizens of Cambridge, governed by Cambridge regulations, subjected to Cambridge restrictions and taxed to maintain Cambridge institutions, and, at the same time, were so remote as to be deprived, in a great degree, of Cambridge privileges.
It is true that the settlers at Cambridge Farms were not very far distant from the settlements at Cambridge and Watertown; but these towns at that day were not what they are at present; and these neighboring settlements, though they might, under some circumstances, afford protection, could not impart plenty, or relieve the daily pressing wants of the inhabitants. A grandchild of one of the early settlers in this place says : "The old patriarch has often related with tears in his eyes the poverty and destitution experienced, the hard-
43
TO ITS INCORPORATION AS A TOWN
ships borne, and the trials endured by the first inhabitants of the place. Their dwellings were small and rude, - the same room serving the various purposes of kitchen and parlor, din- ing-room and bedroom, storehouse and workshop. Their furniture was of the most primitive kind: blocks or forms made of split logs furnished their seats, wooden spoons, made with a knife, enabled them to eat their bread and milk, or bean porridge, out of rude bowls or troughs cut with an axe from blocks of wood."
With such accommodations, and with comforts correspond- ing, their condition was not calculated to excite envy or stimulate pride, but rather to excite commiseration in others and the most untiring industry and rigid frugality in them- selves. They subsisted upon simple food, clothed themselves with coarse fabrics of their own production, and were shel- tered by rude and inconvenient huts. But by persevering efforts, by almost incessant labor, they contrived to subsist, and, in most cases, to rear large families, a blessing somewhat peculiar to new settlements.
Though the history of the place from its first settlement to its incorporation as a town presents no thrilling incidents or events of much magnitude, yet the ordinary routine of busi- ness and the development of institutions furnish us with a true picture of New England character and the manners and customs of the age. We have seen that the first great object of the people was to rear religious institutions. Attached as they were to schools, anxious as they were for roads, and inclined as they were to military defence, we have seen that their first object was to erect a meeting-house and call a min- ister, that they might bring the sanctions of religion to bear upon the community, and so give permanency and tone to all other institutions. This prominence of the religious idea, this elevating of divine accountability above every other con- sideration, this exaltation of public worship over all other duties, displays what may be denominated the New England conviction that God is our strength and our refuge, and that communities, as well as individuals, must draw their sus- tenance from this life-giving fountain.
Another prominent idea of that age, which exhibits itself in the history of this and every New England community, is the importance of the military arm to the safety of both Church and State. We see this in the prominence they gave to mili-
44
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
tary titles. Not only do their records speak of captains and subalterns, but even the warrant officers are honored with their appropriate designations; and a mere glance at the records will show that these military offices were generally filled by the most substantial men in the place. If a commit- tee is wanted to discharge some of the most important duties, it is generally composed of Captain A, Lieutenant B, and Sergeant C or Corporal D. Such men were selected for these important civil services, not because they had military titles, but because they were the prominent men in the place, and owed their military title to the fact that they were prominent men. The conviction that in giving us a being, the Almighty had granted the right of self-defence, or more properly, im- posed the duty of self-preservation, led them to keep up a mili- tary organization. Knowing that communities had the same right of self-preservation as individuals, they availed them- selves of their corporate power to provide for the common defence; and knowing the importance of this trust, they selected their wisest and most reliable men to fill all military offices. They brought the sanctions of religion to bear upon every department of the civil service, and made every office in the State uphold the institutions of religion; hence the office of captain and deacon were equally important, and were often held by the same person; and to be a tythingman was as honorable as to be a selectman or a magistrate.
CHAPTER II
FROM THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN TO THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WARS
The Town incorporated - Its First Organization - Weights and Measures pro- vided - Roads laid out - Meeting-House seated - Ebenezer Hancock set- tled as Colleague with his Father - Duty of Tythingmen at Church - The North and South Side - Representatives to serve for Six Shillings per Day - Death of Rev. John Hancock - Rev. Mr. Clarke settled - Lincoln incorporated into a Town, taking off a Portion of Lexington - Representatives shall pay to the Town all they receive over Three Shillings per Day - Isaac Stone gives the Town a Bell - French Wars - Expedition to Cuba - To Louisburg - Num- ber of Soldiers furnished - Warning out of Town.
RESIDING at a distance from the old parish, and possessing nothing but parochial powers, the inhabitants of the precinct petitioned the General Court to be incorporated as a town, that they might enjoy the full powers of a municipal corpora- tion. Their petition received a favorable answer, and the Court adopted an Order which received the royal sanction on the 20th of March, 1712. (As this Order was passed before the change of style, the 20th of March, 1712, would correspond with the 31st of March, 1713, in our mode of reckoning.) As this Order is the organic law of the town of Lexington, it seems proper to give it in full: -
"Whereas upwards of Twenty Years since the Inhabitants or ffarmers dwelling on a certain Tract of Out Lands within the Town- ship of Cambridge in the County of Middlesex liuing remote from the Body of the Town towards Concord, Obtained Leave from the General Court with Approbation of the Town to be a Hamlet or separate Precinct & were set off by a Line, Viz. - beginning at the first run of Water or Swampy place, over which is a kind of Bridge in the Way or Rhode on the Southerly Side of Francis Whitmore's House towards the Town of Cambridge aforesaid, across the neck of Land lying between Woburn Line & that of Watertown side, upon a South-west & North east Course commonly called the Northern Precinct, & being now increased have obtained Consent of the Town & made Application to this Court to be made a Sepa- rate & distinct Town, upon such Terms as they & the Town of Cambridge have agreed upon -
"That is to Say that the Sd Northern Precinct when made a
46
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
Township shall bear such a Part of the two Thirds of the Charge of the Great Bridge over Charles River in Cambridge as shall be according to their proportion with the Town of Cambridge annually in the province Tax, And they shall annually pay to the Treasurer of the Town of Cambridge their Part of the Charges as aforesaid; "And such other Articles as the sd Town & the Precinct have already agreed on by their Committees;
"ORDERED that the aforesaid Tract of Land known by the Name of the Northern Precinct in Cambridge be henceforth made a separate & distinct Town by the Name of LEXINGTON 1 upon the Articles & Terms already agreed on with the Town of Cam- bridge, & that the Inhabitants of the said Town of Lexington be entitled to Have, Use, Exercise & Enjoy all such Immunities Powers & Privileges as other Towns of this Province have & do by Law Use Exercise and Enjoy;
"And the Constable of the sd Precinct is hereby directed & impowered to Notify & summon the Inhabitants duly qualified for Votes to Assemble & meet together for the Choosing of Town Officers.
"Consented to. J. DUDLEY." 2
Immediately after the passage of this Order, or, as it was in fact, Act of Incorporation, the inhabitants of Lexington assembled to organize by the choice of town officers. As this election shows who the leading men were at that period, and to whom the people of the new town were willing to entrust the management of their municipal affairs, it is well to give a list of the town officers: -
MATTHEW BRIDGE, Captain WILLIAM REED, Lieutenant FRANCIS BOWMAN, Ensign JOSEPH SIMONDS, Deacon JOHN MERRIAM, - Selectmen.
MATTHEW BRIDGE, - Town Clerk and Town Treasurer.
JAMES WILSON, JOHN MASON, - Constables.
FRANCIS BOWMAN, WILLIAM MUNROE, SAMUEL STEARNS, - Assessors.
JOSEPH TIDD, - Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Lieutenant THOMAS CUTLER, THOMAS BLODGETT, SAMUEL WHITMORE, - Tythingmen.
ISAAC STEARNS, THOMAS CUTLER, JOHN POULTER, - Surveyors. SHEREBIAH KIBBE, - Sealer of Leather.
This being a new era in the history of this people - their
1 See Origin of the Name "Lexington," by A. E. Scott, Proc. Lex. Hist. Soc., Vol. I, p. 9. Ed.
2 State Archives, Vol. Ix, p. 258. Ed.
47
TO THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WARS
corporate powers as a town extending beyond what they had before enjoyed - it is natural to suppose that they would enter at once upon the exercise of those powers, the want of which they had seriously felt under their parish charter. Accordingly we find the selectmen, the fathers of the town, - a board which at that day exercised more extended powers than they do at the present time, - taking active measures to build up all necessary town institutions.
"Lexington Apr: the 6th 1713: at a select mens metting: it was then agred that thay woulld build a Pound: and that it should be fouer Lenths of raills one way: and thre the other: and a gatte fiue foott wide: and that it should stand at the End of Deacon miriams stablle: and by Sargiente John munroes stone wall:
"2: that thay would Erect a Payer of stocks: 1
"3: that thay would Provide the Town with waights and measurs."
Having provided for the restraint of all unruly beings, whether bipeds or quadrupeds, by erecting stocks and build- ing a pound, the people hastened to provide that religious instruction which was designed to supersede the one and render the other almost unnecessary.
"At a Publique metting att Lexington; Apr: ye 20th 1713: orderly warnd and Asemblled: to Grant fouer hundred & Sixten Pounds mony2 to the Comitte for Building of the metting house "this was Unanimosly Votted on the Affirmatiue."
1 Stocks were regarded in those days, as an institution which no town could dispense with. In fact, they were required by law, and towns were frequently fined for not erecting and maintaining them. They were constructed of plank or timbers attached by a hinge or something of that sort, at one end, and so arranged that they could be opened and closed at pleasure. The edges of the plank or timbers, where they came together, were so cut or rounded out as to admit the wrists, ankles, and sometimes necks of the culprits, when the stocks were opened; and when they were closed, the individuals put therein were held fast by the arm, leg, or neck, and some- times by all at the same time, during the pleasure of the authorities; for when they were closed and locked, it was impossible for the individual to extricate himself. These stocks were sometimes located in public squares, and sometimes near or in the meeting-house. In some cases they were placed under the stairs leading to the galleries in their churches. In fact, being the prison where the tythingmen confined the unruly, they were regarded as a necessary appendage to the meeting-house - as important in good society as a "sounding-board" over the pulpit, or a "horse- block" near the house. These stocks were maintained in the towns and in the counties, and were used as places of restraint and as instruments of punishment. They are frequently denominated "bilboes," in the early records.
2 The currency at that day was undergoing a depreciation. It stood, in 1713, about twelve per cent below par; so that the sum granted for the mecting-house was in fact about three hundred sixty-six pounds, which would build a very respectable house at that period.
48
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON
The subject of public or high ways, so important to every settlement, early attracted the attention of the town. Up to the time of their incorporation, they had no jurisdiction over this subject. Certain roads had been laid out by colonial and county authority, and the proprietors of lands had usually made liberal provision for roads between their ranges of land; but these had been generally disregarded by the subsequent owners, who had enclosed these reservations within their lots. Besides, it must be perfectly obvious that no system of public ways could be adopted in advance which would meet the wants of subsequent settlers. This whole matter would natur- ally be one of the first subjects to call for the interposition of the town authorities; and it appears from their records that it received early attention, - records which show that the former times were not materially different from these, and that the remedies efficient at that day might well be resorted to at this: -
"Lexington : march : ye: 1st: 1713-14: Att a metting of the select- men discourse being on foote Concerning high ways that ware Inclosd by sundry Parsons: and a warrent was at that time pro- cewered from a Justice of the Peace by the selectmen to open sum of them: then Capt: william Reed being present did say that for the Peace and quietnes of the town: - that: he would frely Giue a high-way for Thomas Kendall and the nibourhood westerly of him thorow his own Land Esterly Into the Town Road or high way: whare it might be Convenient: for an acknowledgment of those high-ways that he hath allready Inclosd: and also that he would hang a gatte upon the highway that Leads to the clay Ground which is the Towns Interest:"
John Harrington, Joseph Tidd, John Lawrence, James Wil- son, Thomas Mead, Nathaniel Dunklee, Joseph "Phasit," Philip Burdoe, and others came forward and admitted that they had enclosed certain highways, which they would open, or pay a consideration to the town.
"June: ye: 28th : 1714: at a metting of ye selectmen it was agred that John muzzy should have thare aprobation to Kep a publique House of Entertainement: and his father did Ingage before the selcctmen to a Comadate his son John with stablle roome haye and Pastuering: so fare as he stood In nead: for the Suport of Strangers."
' This was probably the first public house duly opened in the
49
TO THE CLOSE OF THE FRENCH WARS
town, and was situated at or near the present residence of Mr. Rufus. Merriam,1 on the easterly side of the Common.
The inhabitants, by their officers, embraced an early oppor- tunity to define and fix the boundaries of the township. Committees were appointed to meet those from other towns to establish the lines and erect suitable bounds. They also took measures to provide a school-house for the improvement of the rising generation; so that the learning obtained in the · school might prepare the young to comprehend the teachings from the pulpit, and the instruction from the sacred desk might guide and sanctify the lessons of the school-room.
But another duty, and one of no ordinary character, de- volved upon the town. The people had caused a new meet- ing-house to be erected; but how was it to be occupied? All were expected to meet within its walls; but who should take the highest seat? This was a question of great moment and of considerable delicacy, - a question which proved a source of much trouble in many towns at that day. The "seating of the meeting-house" was frequently pregnant with more animosity than the building of it. It was, to say the least, regarded as a grave question, and one to be managed with great wisdom and prudence. Consequently, the subject was generally referred to a large committee of the most judicious men, that full justice might be done to all; and lest the com- mittee themselves should, from personal interest or vanity, place themselves too high, or, from extreme diffidence and modesty, too low, in the scale of dignity, some towns took the precaution to appoint a second committee to assign seats for the first. It would be amusing to look at the records of different parishes to see the instructions given to their com- mittees on this subject. One record which I have before me, instructs the committee "to dignify and seat the meeting- house, according to the personal and real estate, and having reference to age and honor." Another parish record has this entry : -
"Chose a committee to seat the meeting-house, and instructed them to give men their dignity in their sitting in proportion to their minister's rate they pay, allowing one poll to a rate, making such allowance for age as they shall think proper, except where they are tenants, and in these cases to act the best of their judgment."
1 The Buckman Tavern. Ed.
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