USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 6
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With such accommodations, and with comforts corresponding, 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 themselves. They sub- sisted upon simple food, clothed themselves with coarse fabrics of their own production, and were sheltered by rude and incon- venient 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 business and the developments 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,
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and 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 minister, 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 consideration, 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 suste- nance 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 military titles. Not only do their records speak of captains and subalterns, but even the warrant officers are honored with their appropriate des- ignations ; 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 committee is wanted to discharge some of the most important duties, it is generally composed of Captain A. and 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, imposed the duty of self-preservation, led them to keep up a military organization. Knowing that communities had the same right of self-preservation as individuals, they availed themselves 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 ; and hence the office of captain and deacon were equally important, and were often held by the same person ; and to be a tithingman was as honor- able 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 provided - Roads laid out - Meeting House seated - Ebenezer Hancock settled 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. Clark settled - Lincoln incorporated into a Town, taking off a Portion of Lexington - Represen- tatives 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- Number 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 corporation. 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 farmers dwelling on a certain tract of land within the township of Cambridge, in the county of Middlesex, being remote from the body of the town toward Concord, obtained leave of the General Court, with the approbation of the town, to be a hamlet or separate Precinct, and were set off by a line, viz., Beginning at the first run of water or swampy place, and which is a kind of a bridge in the way or road, on the southerly side of Francis Whitmore's house towards the town of Cambridge aforesaid, across the neck of land between Woburn line and that of Watertown side, upon a southwest and northeast course, commonly called the North Precinct, and being now increased, have obtained the consent of the town, and made
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application to this Court to be made a separate and distinct town upon such terms as they and the town of Cambridge have agreed upon, that is to say, that the said northern part when made into a township, shall bear such 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 afore- said ; and such other articles as the town and the precinct have already agreed upon by their committees,-
" Ordered, That the aforesaid tract of land, known by the name of the North Precinct, in Cambridge, be henceforth made a separate and distinct Town, by the name of LEXINGTON, upon the articles and terms already agreed upon with the town of Cambridge, and the inhabitants of the said town of Lexington be entitled to have, exercise and enjoy, all such immu- nities, powers, and privileges, as other towns of this Province have and do by law use, exercise, and enjoy.
" And the constable of said precinct is hereby directed and empowered to notify and summon the inhabitants duly qualified for votes to assemble and meet together for the choosing of town officers."
Immediately after the passage of this Order, or as it was in fact, Act of Incorporation, the inhabitants of Lexington assem- bled 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 intrust the manage- ment of their municipal affairs, it is well to give a list of the town officers.
MATTHEW BRIDGE, Capt. WILLIAM REED, Lieut. FRANCIS BOWMAN, Ensign JOSEPH SIMONDS, Deacon JOHN MERRIAM, -Selectmen.
MATTHEW BRIDGE,-Town Clerk.
JAMES WILSON, JOIIN MASON, -Constables.
FRANCIS BOWMAN, WILLIAM MUNROE, SAMUEL STEARNS, -Assessors.
JOSEPHI TIDD, -Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Lieut. THOMAS CUTLER, THOMAS BLODGETT, SAMUEL WHITMORE,- Tythingmen.
This being a new era in the history of this people- their cor- porate 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
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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, April 6, 1713 :- Att a seleetmen's meeting, it was then agreed that they would build a Pound, and that it should be fouer lengths of rails one way, and thre the other ; and gathe five foot wide; and that it should stand at the end of Dea. Merriam's stable, and by Sergeante Mun- roe's stone wall.
" 2. That they would erect a payer of Stoeks.1
"3. That they would provide the Town with weights and measures."
Having provided for the restraint of all unruly beings, whether bipeds or quadrupeds, by erecting stocks and building 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 meeting att Lexington, April ye 20th, 1713, orderly warned and assembled, to grant four hundred and sixteen pounds money? to the Committee for building the Meeting House - this was unanimously voted in the affirmative."
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 sometimes 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 impor- tant 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 coun- ties, and were used as places of restraint, and as instruments of punishment. They are frequently denominated " bilboes," in the early records.
? 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 meeting house was in fact about three hundred sixty-six pounds, which would build a very respectable house at that period.
9
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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 as a town, they had no jurisdiction over this subject. Certain roads had been laid out by Colonial and County authority, and the proprietors of lands had generally made liberal provision for roads between their ranges of land ; but these had been generally disregarded by the subsequent owners, who had inclosed these reservations within their lots ; and 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 natu- rally 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, 1713-4. - Att a meeting of the selectmen, discourse being on foot concerning highways that were enclosed by sundry persons, and a warrant was procured from a justice of the peace by the selectmen to open some of them, then Capt. William Reed being present, did say that for the peace and quietness of the town, he would give a highway for Thomas Kendall, and the neighborhood westerly of him, through his own land easterly into the town road or highway, where it might be convenient, for the acknowledgment of those highways that he hath already enclosed; and also that he would hang a gate upon the highway that leads to the clay ground, which is the town's interest."
John Harrington, Joseph Tidd, John Lawrence, James Wil- son, Thomas Mead, Nathaniel Dunklec, Joseph Fassett, Philip Burdoe and others came forward and admitted that they had inclosed certain highways, which they would open, or pay a consideration to the town.
" June 28, 1714. - At a meeting of the selectmen, it was agreed that John Muzzy should have their approbation to keep a publique house for entertainment, and his father (Benjamin Muzzy) did engage before the selectmen to accommodate his son John, with stable room, hay, and pas- turing, so far as he stood in need for the support of strangers."
This was probably the first public house duly opened in the town, and was situated at or near the present residence of Mr. Rufus Merriam, on the easterly side of the Common.
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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, devolved upon the town. They had caused a new meeting 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 deli- cacy, - a question which proved a source of great 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. Con- sequently, 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 committee 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 committees on this subject. One record which I have before me, instructs the com- mittee "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 scat 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."
Nearly akin to these instructions were those given by the inhabitants of Lexington to their committee, chosen October 6, 1714, to seat their new house. Ensign Joseph Bowman,
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Dea. John Merriam, Capt. William Reed, William Munroe and Thomas Mead were chosen for the purpose, and were instructed to take the following elements into the account, viz. : -
" 1. It was voted that they should have respect to age.
"2. That they should have respect to real and personal estate, so far as referred to the meeting house.
"3. To have respect to but one head in a family.
"4. And also they are to place the children where they may be inspected."
As a difference of opinion might arise in relation to the rela- tive "dignity" of the respective seats, some committees, to remove all doubt, graded the dignity of the different seats as first, second, &c. It may also be important to state that some towns imposed a fine upon any one who should occupy any other seat than the one assigned him. We may think our fathers rather fastidious on this subject, and a little jealous of their " dignity "; but it ought to be remembered that in those days the seats were all common property, and as it was desirable to have families sit together, and to have a permanent seat to which they might repair whenever they came to meeting, there was a convenience, at least, in having some regulation or assignment of the seats. And while we see, or think we see, a little vanity in this case, it may be well to inquire whether there is not some of the same feeling exhibited in our churches at the present day ? Is there not a little rivalry manifested whenever there is a sale of pews in a church? The highest seat in the syna- gogue has not, we apprehend, lost all its charms in our own time ; and if it be said that those who buy the best pews in our churches in these days pay the highest price for them, this only shows that our fathers, who were seated according to their tax, could put in the same plea.
The people at that day were alive to every interest of the town, and showed themselves ready to make every effort and bear all reasonable burdens for the well-being of the community. " At a meeting of the inhabitants of Lexington, May 12, 1725, it was voted that the Rev. Mr. Hancock's salary should be increased to eighty-five pounds." -" Voted that a rate of fifty pounds be made to defray the public charge in the town this ensuing year." In 1725, Rev. Mr. Hancock represented to the
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town that his salary was not sufficient to support himself and family. This probably arose, in some degree at least, from the depreciation of the currency, which at that period had fallen about fifty per cent. The town, seeing the justice of his claim, voted him twenty pounds as a gratuity.
Our fathers were peculiarly watchful of the morals of the community, and were ready, at all times, not only to do good, but to prevent evil, in their corporate capacity. When men were found idle and dissipated, they were ready to take the matter in hand, and as far as practicable to reform them, or at least prevent the spread of the evil. An entry in the select- men's records, March 29, 1731, shows the manner in which such affairs were treated at that period : -
" Whereas there is a complaint made to the selectmen against Chris. Mashen, Jr., that he is very base, and threatens his parents, and lives idle, and neglects to provide for his family, but rather destroys what they have, by selling household stuff and his clothes, and spending the money for drink, wherefore the selectmen have appointed Mr. Stephen Winship, one of the selectmen, to take care, and proceed with him, as the law directs."
This kind of discipline was found to work well in the days of our ancestors, and it becomes a serious question whether a little of this paternal watchfulness would not prove beneficial at the present day. Our fathers adopted the maxim that "to be idle was to be vicious," and consequently they enjoined industry as one of the cardinal virtues.
I have already spoken of the difficult task of " seating the meeting house," to the satisfaction of the people. Changes of families and of the house itself, seem to have rendered it neces- sary that this work should be performed periodically. In 1731, the delicate task of " seating the meeting house" was again performed by a committee, and seats were assigned to one hun- dred and six heads of families.
Having repaired and reseated the meeting house, and made provision, from time to time, for the support of the Rev. Mr. Hancock, according to his wants, the people were disposed to relieve him of a portion of the burdens of his office, by employ- ing a co-laborer with him. Accordingly, at a meeting held Nov. 2, 1733, they gave a call to Mr. Ebenezer Hancock, a son
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of their reverend pastor, a young man highly esteemed among them, to settle as a colleague with his father, on the following conditions, viz.
"1. Three hundred pounds for settlement to be paid to Mr. Ebenezer Hancock, as soon as his father is deceased, and if he decease before that time, his heirs shall not care for it.
" 2 To give Mr. Hancock and his son Ebenezer, two hundred pounds a year for two years, -he keeping the school as this past year now running. The two hundred pounds a year to begin as soon as he enters into the work of the ministry, but the school to begin for two years next May.
" 3. Quiting the ministerial land, the town to find him wood.
"4. Two hundred pounds a year without the school to Mr. Hancock and his son, during Mr. Hancock's life, and one hundred and thirty pounds a year after his decease, while he continues in the ministry with them.
" 5. The vote to call him to office, put to vote whether the inhabitants of the Town will choose Mr. Ebenezer Hancock, and give him a call to the Pastoral office in this town, upon the aforementioned conditions and ยท considerations, which vote was brought in by papers, and it passed in the affirmative by a very great majority."
This call was accepted by Mr. Hancock, with a modification which the town readily agreed to, that in case he should die before his father, the three hundred pounds settlement should be paid to his wife and children, if he should have any. The preliminaries being settled, the ordination took place, January 2,1734.
Towns and parishes were so united, and their duties in many respects so similar, that it is difficult to draw the line between the civil and ecclesiastical history of the place. I have confined to the latter such events as related to the religious condition of the church, and the relations between them and their pastor ;- leaving what was performed in town meetings in the department of civil history.
Many of the officers of the town and of the parish at that day, exercised powers and performed duties unknown and unac- knowledged at this day. The tythingman, and the office, which are now extinct, were then regarded as of the first moment. Instances almost without number, could be cited in which some of the leading men of the town were elected to that office. In many respects the tythingman was regarded with more honor, and his office with more sanctity, than that of selectman -an
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office then held in much higher repute than at present. When we consider that they were a species of general police officer, being conservators of the peace, and also that they had the general care of the children and youth on the Lord's day, and especially at or near the house of worship, it is no wonder that the most sober and discreet men were generally selected for that office. A few extracts from the records will show the import- ance in which that office was held.
" At a meeting held May 22, 1738,
" Voted, To repair the Meeting House."
" Voted, That ye two hinde seats in ye lower gallery, front and side, are appointed for ye boys, to sit in on Sabbath days ; all under sixteen years old, and a Tythingman to sit near them each Sabbath to take care of them, to take their turns ; and if any above sixteen years are disorderly, they shall be ordered into said seats."
" Voted, That a Tythingman should be desired to attend on Sabbath day noons to keep ye boys in order in ye Meeting House."
All the duties of tythingmen were regarded as important, and . hence they entered upon the discharge of their official functions. with more than ordinary formality. We accordingly find the act of qualifying a tythingman recorded with almost royal pomp and ceremony.
" Joshua Simonds and Daniel Brown personally appeared before ye worshipfull Justice Bowman, May ye 12th, 1735, and made oath to ye office of tythingman for ye year ensuing."
Towns like larger communities sometimes become profligate in their expenditures. This tends to arouse the feelings of the people, and they are then inclined to run into the other extreme. Sometimes a rivalry between candidates for office will induce them to bid upon each other, in which case the people at first will generally select the man who will serve at the lowest price. But in a short time, they learn that cheapening the office, natu- rally fills it with cheap officers, and then they will fall back upon the former price. It seems by the records of Lexington, that there was a rivalry between the Bowmans in the south part of the town, and the Reeds in the north. In fact, the county road leading from Cambridge to Concord and passing through the centre of the town, divided it into two nearly equal divisions.
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