USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts with genealogies and notes on persons and estates > Part 19
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On 27 Feb., 1778, Gen. Washington replied as follows :-
" Considering Gen. Learned's ill state of health, I think his resignation had better be accepted of, more especially as from the nature of his complaint it does not appear that he can ever be able to bear the fatigues of a campaign, I would therefore advise him to make his resignation, with the reasons for so doing, to Congress, who are the proper body to receive it." 3
The purport of this letter was communicated to Congress and to Learned, who on 12 March, 1778, wrote and forwarded to that body his final resignation, as follows :-
Learned's resignation.
" BOSTON, March 12, 1778.
" MOST HON' SR. I have served in this warfare since the beginning as a Col. of a Regt. till May, 1776, when by indisposition by reason of certain fatigues in the army I found myself unequal and resigned the service.
" Since I recovered a little the Honorable the Continental Congress on the second day of April, 1777, appointed me to the command of a Brig .- Gen1. I immediately took the field, proceeded to Fort Edward, and at the evacuation
1 Coll. Mass. His. Soc., 5 series, IV., 82, 83. 2 Ibid. 3 Ibid.
147
STATE GOVERNMENT.
1778-80
of Ticonderoga had great fatigue in securing the remains of our stores that way. Directly on that marched my brigade to the relief of Fort Stanwix.
"Immediately on return we had the satisfaction of reducing Burgoyne's army with much fatigue and was personally and brigade in the severe but victorious actions of Sept. 19 and Oct. 7, and after that army was imprisoned we took a forced march to Albany to stop the progress of the enemy that way.
" All which brought on my former difficulties and by the advice of Doct. Potts I took a furlough of Gen. Gates to retire from the army till I was well; ' the receipt of which with my surgeon's certificate I have enclosed.
" And I find I am quite unequal to act vigorously in my country's cause in the field and to eat the Publick's bread and not do the service I am not dis- posed. And I think I am better able to serve in a private or civil than in a 'military character.
"All which considered I think it my duty to myself and my family, and country to pray your Honor the Congress to discharge me from the service. " And I shall remain as before
" Your Honor's " Very Humble Serv't.
" EBENEZER LEARNED, B. : G." 1
In Congress, 24 March, 1778, it was resolved that this resignation be accepted.2
State Government. In the midst of the excitement of the war it became necessary to establish a new government to take the place of that which had been repudiated. The General Court moved in this matter, and on 30 Sept., 1776, the question whether the House of Representatives with the Council should form a system of government for the State came before the town. Alexander Campbell, Edward Davis, Ebenezer Learned, Ezra Bowman and William Phips were chosen to consider the subject, and reported that as the representa- tion was unequal in the House it was unadvisable that they should proceed to form a government. This report was, on 7 Oct., unani- mously adopted. Before May, 1778, the General Court had formed a "Constitution and Form of Government," which at that time was laid before the town for consideration. Upon it was a unanimous vote of disapproval. In May, 1779, the question was put whether there should be a new constitution or form of government at this time, and it was voted unanimously in the negative. By order of the General Court, in Aug., 1779, two delegates, Ebenezer Learned and Ezra Bowman, were chosen to meet in convention on Sept. 1 at Cambridge for the purpose of forming a State constitution with instructions to return to the town a copy of their proceedings for its consideration. The convention met and agreed upon a form of a State constitution, which was presented to the town for action in June, 1780, when it was voted to accept the same excepting the 1st, 2d, 3d and 29th in the Bill of Rights.
The Constitution received the requisite number of votes in the State and was adopted. It did not, however, relieve the financial distress
1 We are indebted to the courtesy of Theodore
Dwight, Esq., Librarian of the Dept. of State at
Washington, for a copy of this letter, which came to light only after a long search.
2 See Learned, Genealogical Department.
148
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
1786-7
which prevailed, but rather, by introducing legal machinery to enforce the payment of debts, aggravated the evil. No permanent relief was experienced until after the adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788, when the permanence of the union became assured, confidence gradually returned, and the people eschewing conventions and excit- ing discussions cheerfully accepted the situation and set themselves diligently, by industry and frugality, to the work of repairing their lost fortunes. The clouds soon disappeared and from that day onward general prosperity prevailed.
Shays' Rebellion. The few years following the Revolution . were years of business depression and discouragement. Many town meetings and popular conventions were held for the discussion of the situation, with a view to preventing the depreciation of the currency and the regulation of prices of commodities which, through specula- tion and monopolies, were becoming exhorbitant. Numerous com- mittees were chosen to carry into effect, in the town, the action of these conventions, but the result was only temporary, and deprecia- tion continued until the currency became worthless, and the collect- ing of dues almost an impossibility.
Lawsuits. Suing for debt became almost a mania ; the cases on the Worcester docket, in 1784 and 1785, were numbered by thousands, and much property was sacrificed on forced sales. General bank- ruptcy threatened the community, and great distress prevailed. The people of Newton, in their instructions to their representatives, say :-
"We find by experience that we cannot obtain justice . . . without being obliged to purchase it. . . . Great numbers of actions are brought at every court which, together with the pernicious practices of some of our lawyers, occasion delays, appeals, protracted judgments, loss of time, travel, attend- ance, intolerable expenses, ... so that, unless the sum in dispute be con- siderable, it is better to lose it than to seek recovery by law."
Out of this state of affairs, in the autumn of 1786, grew in cen- tral and western Massachusetts the demonstration known as " Shays' Rebellion," the declared object of which was not the overturning or resisting of the government, excepting in the matter of preventing the sitting of the courts in which these vexatious and expensive suits were in progress, until desired legislation could be procured.
Shays, in a letter dated 30 Jan., 1787, to Gen. Lincoln, then in command of troops at Hadley, says :-
. . The people are willing to lay down their arms on the condition of a general pardon, and return to their respective homes, as they are unwilling to stain the land which we, in the late war, purchased at so dear a rate, with the blood of our brethren and neighbors. Therefore we pray that hostilities may cease on your part, until our united prayers may be presented to the General Court, and we receive an answer, as a person is gone for that pur- pose. If this request may be complied with, government shall meet with no interruption from the people."
149
SHAYS' REBELLION.
1787
Oxford was deeply stirred, and many of its citizens were active, both as "Regulators " and government soldiers. The people of the north part of the town especially, were, with very few exceptions, committed to the movement, and as a company was organized near the town, in the south part of Ward, under Jonah Goulding, it is probable that most of the Oxford men joined that organization. According to tradition, Timothy Sparhawk's house was the Oxford rendezvous, and he, who had been a valiant soldier in the Revolution, and his neighbor, Reuben Lamb, who had been chairman of the town Committee of Correspondence and Inspection, were earnest supporters of the cause.1
On 2 Feb., 1787, a company of the insurgents being gathered at New Braintree, Gen. Warren sent soldiers from Worcester to disperse or take them. When nearing their destination they were fired upon, from behind a stone wall, by men who had secreted themselves there, and were under the command of " one Lamb."2
Oxford, it has been said on high authority, was a "Shays town." That a majority of its people sympathized with the general sentiment in desiring relief from the existing embarrassments, is without doubt true, and a tolerably sure indication of the readiness on the part of the people to acquiesce in a change in the State administration, is given in the vote for Governor at the spring election, 1787, at which 64 ballots were cast for John Hancock and two for James Bowdoin. Furthermore, Capt. Jeremiah Learned, a decided supporter of Shays, was kept in the representative's seat in the Legislature throughout this stormy period, and was chosen in Dec., 1787, as delegate to the convention for the formation of a State constitution. A single reference only to the subject, and that of slight import, occurs in Oxford records.
The disposition in the public mind, in former years, to deride and censure this movement, has, in a measure, passed away. The fact that Shays himself was pardoned, and that of the 14 men in the State found guilty of high treason and sentenced to be hanged, not one suffered the penalty, seems to warrant the inference that even in the estimation of the people of that day the offence had much to extenuate and excuse it.
Mr. E. B. Crane of Worcester, who has made a thorough study of the subject, says :-
"The majority of the towns, in all the counties west of Middlesex, were in favor of the movement, and a vast number of men who did not join the insurgents gave their support in other ways. I think it was a popular move- ment, and only checked by the disposition on the part of the Legislators to correct the evils as fast as they could, which they did, and thus removed the cause to some extent, and broke the strength and support of the insurgents."
1 On the authority of the late G. W. Hartwell.
on this subject, says this Lamb is said to have 2 Wor. Mag., 552. Mr. E. B. Crane, in his paper been Reuben Lamb of Oxford.
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150
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
1799
"Adams' Army." During the progress of the revolution in France, near the close of the last century, that country became in- volved in a war with England, and each party was solicitous lest America should give aid to the opponent. France went so far as to charge us with a disposition to side with her old enemy, and small matters became so magnified through misunderstanding that serious trouble was apprehended.1
Meantime our authorities saw fit to initiate precautionary measures, and on 16 July, 1798, a vote was passed in Congress to augment the national army, and recruiting soon began.
Oxford a camp. In the autumn of 1799, the 14th, 15th and 16th U. S. regiments,-a portion of this " provisional army,"-were ordered to Oxford as a rendezvous. These regiments were not nearly full, but soldiers were being gathered from the several recruiting stations, and here drilled by veterans of the Revolutionary War for service should it be required.
Col. Nathan Rice was put in command. He was the son of Rev. Caleb Rice of Sturbridge, had been aid to General Lincoln in the Revolution, and was of good ability and a worthy man.2
The officers found quarters in various parts of the village, at private houses. Some hired rooms, and having their families with them lived independently ; others boarded in families of the villagers. The head-quarters of Col. Rice were at the house of Capt. Abijah Davis. Maj. Walker was quartered at the house of Nathan Hall, and others lived at the hotels.3 The camp was on the slope of the hill west of the centre of the town. Coming in the fall, the soldiers soon began their depredations among the neighboring farmers, and it became necessary to early gather and house their crops in order to preserve them, and even then they were not safe. Petty thieving was com- mon, not only in this but in the neighboring towns, enclosures were broken open, cellars entered, and pork barrels emptied of their contents. 4
As to their number we have no definite information. According to tradition it was 1,000, but this is thought to be a low estimate. Col.
1 It was while negotiations with France were going on that, in reply to a suggestion that money might influence the settlement of affairs, Charles C. Pinckney uttered the famous words, "Millions for defence, but not one cent for tribute."
2 He was graduated at Harvard College in 1773, resided at Hingham, and removed to Burling- ton, Vt., where he spent his later years.
3 It is related that when the specie with which to pay the troops arrived in town, there was apprehension lest a raid should be made upon it. It was taken to Butler's tavern, where some of the officers roomed, deposited in one of the up- stairs bedroom closets, and a network of twine drawn across the door so that any attempt upon it might be detected. The nails on which this screen was fastened remain at the present time.
4 Desertions were not uncommon. The fol- lowing were advertised: Thomas Bradley, a. 26, b. at old York, enlisted by Capt. Peabody at Haverhill; Benaiah Door, a. 24. b. at Pittston, enlisted by Capt. Blake at Castine: William Harrington, a. 26, b. at Portland, enlisted by Lieut. Bradish at Hallowell; Joseph Powell, a 25, b. at Amherst, N. H .; Harry Green, a. 19, b. at Hopkinton; Daniel Robinson, a. 21, b. at Gloucester.
The late Ephraim Edson related his having been present at the Campbell tavern on the occa- sion of the punishment of one of the soldiers for some misdemeanor. The culprit was tied to the tavern sign-post in the middle of the street, and there flogged in the presence of a crowd who had gathered on the occasion.
151
ADAMS' ARMY.
1800
Rice was officially the commander of the 14th Regiment, and John Walker was Major of the same. John Rowe was Major in the 15th Regiment, and Josiah Dunham, Captain in the 16th Regiment, was acting Brigade Inspector. Capt. Tolman from Boston or vicinity, a very worthy man, had command of a company. Lieut. Francis Barker of Weymouth or vicinity was an officer. Eli Forbes and Thomas Hale, both of North Brookfield, were here, the former as a lieutenant and the latter as captain in the 15th Regiment, later teacher at Baltimore,
Recruiting suspended. Early in 1800 recruiting was sus- pended.
" Brigade Orders, Camp at Oxford, 20 March, 1800.
"Extract of general Orders from the Adjutant General's office, dated 11 Mar., 1800.
"Agreeably to instructions from the department of War the recruiting service as far as relates to 12 Regiments of Infantry and six troops of light dragoons directed to be raised by act of Congress, 16 July, 1798, is for the present suspended.
" All officers on recruiting service will join their regiments. The officers of the 14th, 15th, and 16th, regiments will govern themselves accordingly and repair immediately with the troops under their respective commands to the Brigade Head Quarters at Oxford.
" By order of Commandant, "J. DUNHAM, " Acting Inspector of Brigade."1
Disbandment. On 20 May, 1800, the United States Senate passed a resolution, nem. con., the House of Representatives concur- ring, to disband the "Provisional Army" on or before the 15th of June following. This action applied to the infantry regiments from the fifth to the sixteenth inclusive. Early in June preparations were made here for compliance with this vote. On the 11th the Boston Centinel contained the following :-
" Maj .- Gen. Hamilton, we learn has been at Oxford for some time, to give the necessary directions for the preservation of the public stores in conse- quence of the disbandment of the army."
The visit of Gen. Alexander Hamilton to Oxford on the occasion of the disbanding was a memorable event, as will be seen by the fol- , lowing letter written at Oxford and sent from Providence to the Centinel, in which it appeared on 21 June :----
"OXFORD, June 13.
" On Tuesday last Maj .- Gen. Hamilton with his suite arrived at this place, and on the succeeding day he reviewed the Brigade under the command of Col. Rice. On this occasion the troops performed their manœuvers with that exactness and activity which manifested attention in the men and superiority in the officers. The General expressed an unequivocal approbation of the dis- cipline of the army and beheld with pleasure the progress of subordination and attention to dress and decorum. On Thursday the General made a public dinner to which all the officers of the Brigade and several gentlemen of the permanent army were invited. A convenient colonnade was erected for the
1 Adv. in Boston Centinel.
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152
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
1800
purpose, over which the flag of the United States was displayed, and during the entertainment the air was filled with martial music from a new formed band and from a large collection of drums and fifes. Hilarity and joy per- vaded the guests . . . but when they drank to the memory of WASHINGTON! and a parting sentiment was given by Gen. Hamilton a burst of extreme sensi- bility suffused every cheek and demonstrated the agitation of every bosom.
" But Friday was reserved for a more prominent display of the passions of the human mind. At 7 o'clock in the morning the Brigade was formed into a hollow square when the General addressed his fellow-soldiers in a speech of about half an hour in length. On this occasion the troops were moved, not merely on account of this last interview with their General, but by the im- pressive sentiments which fell from his lips, enforced by the most charming eloquence and pointed diction. I cannot give even an epitome of this address. Suffice it to observe that he inculcated sentiments suitable for directing the conduct of the army subsequent to its retirement into private life-such senti- ments as awakened and I trust will keep alive the patriotism of the officers and men : and induce them again, at the call of their country to make new sacrifices for its defence.
" This day he sets out on a visit eastward." 1
The Centinel of 18 June contained the following :-
" Maj .- Gen. Hamilton and his suite arrived in town on Saturday from Oxford. Tomorrow a public dinner will be given him at Concert Hall."
This dinner was a grand affair, and many of the leading men of Boston joined to do honor to their illustrious guest. Among the toasts given were the following :-
" The late disbanded Army,-may we respect them for the services they would have performed had our insidious Friends presented a bayonet instead of an olive branch."
"The Atlantic Ocean,-what God hath separated let not man put together."
Washington's Funeral. An impressive episode in the story of this "Army" was the funeral service in honor of George Washing- ton. On 8 Jan., 1800, by order of Col. Rice, the following appeared in the Massachusetts Spy :-
" FUNERAL HONORS AT OXFORD.
" OXFORD, Jan. 4, 1800.
" MESS. THOMAS & SON.
" The President having directed that Funeral Honors should be performed at the several Military stations throughout the United States to the Memory of our late beloved highly venerated and most illustrious COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF whose talents as an officer and virtues as a man had placed him above all praise, I have directed that the same be performed at this post on Wednes- day the Fifteenth instant.
" Confident that the most poignant grief for so great a National Calamity hath pervaded every part of our country, and particularly the citizens of this vicinity, and that it would afford them consolation to unite with us in per- forming these sad rites, I request that through your paper information may
1 George Davis, Esq., in his history of Stur- bridge says: "The writer recollects very well when Gen. Hamilton came and inspected these
troops. All who heard him address them admired his extraordinary powers. He was a great man in the field as well as in the cabinet.
153
WASHINGTON'S FUNERAL.
1800
be given thereof. The Clergy-the Society of the Cincinnati and Officers of the late Army-Officers civil and military-Citizens in general are invited to attend : and it is hoped with the usual badge of mourning on the left arm.
" The procession will be formed precisely at 11 O'clock and proceed to the Meeting-house where it is expected divine worship will be performed; after which it will proceed to the place representing that of interment, and the ceremonies performed agreeable to the instructions therefor.
" It is requested that seasonable information may be given by the Com- manding Officers of such Volunteer Corps and Uniformed Companies of Militia as will attend on the occasion.
" N. RICE, " Commandant of the 14th Regiment and Commanding Officer at Oxford."
The Spy of 22 Jan., 1800, contained the following :-
" On Wednesday the 15th inst. Funeral Honors were paid by the troops stationed at Oxford to the memory of their illustrious leader General GEORGE WASHINGTON. At day break 16 guns were fired from the left of the Can- tonment by a company of Worcester Artillery, commanded by Capt. Healy : at sunrise another gun was fired, which was repeated each half hour through the day. At 11 O'clock the troops having been formed, moved from their parade by platoons and formed in the Main Street: a company of Cavalry under the command of Capt. [Jeremiah] Kingsbury formed on their left, the whole commanded by Maj. Walker of the 14th Regiment and two companies of Artillery under the orders of Major Andrews on their right. Thus formed, at 12 O'clock, the Hearse, covered with a black velvet Pall bearing an Urn shrouded with black crape and accompanied by the Pall Bearers in mourning and with white scarfs, was received by the troops with presented arms, the drums beating a march while it passed slowly in front to the left : the Officers and colors saluting as it passed; from the left it was borne back to the cen- tre where it halted and received the salute of all the Officers and colors alone. It was then removed to its place in the procession, which then moved, by the left, in the order following, the music playing a Dead March :
Company of Cavalry.
16th, 15th and 14th Regiments of United States troops. Artillery. Band of Music. Drums and fifes of the Brigade. [Drums covered with crape and muffled. ] Clergy. Orator and officiating Clergyman with white scarfs.
Pall Bearers, L
BIER
Pall Bearers, Capt. Tillinghast.
Capt. Balch.
Maj. Jones.
Maj. Lynde.
Maj. Winslow.
Bearing the Urn, covered as before men- tioned, a ' W ' in gold cipher on the Urn, and a laurel wreath running spirally from the base to the top. The General's Hat and Sword placed at the head of the Bier, which was borne by four Sergeant Majors.
Col. Hunnewell.
THE GENERAL'S HORSE
Covered with black properly caparisoned, boots reversed, led by two servants in livery. Col. Rice, Commandant, As chief mourner-with staff. Officers of the Army with badges of mourning. Civil Staff of the Army.
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1800
HISTORY OF OXFORD.
Members of the Society of the Cincinnati and Officers of the late Army. Brethren of the 'Morning Star,' ' Fayette,' ' Meridian Sun' and ' Olive Branch ' Lodges in the following order : Tyler With a drawn sword, the hilt covered with crape. Two Tylers, do. Two Stewards With white staves, the tops covered with crape tied with white Ribands-black and white tassels. Brethren of the several Lodges. Secretaries of the Lodges With the records covered with crape. Treasurers, bearing charters covered with crape. Junior Wardens. Senior Wardens bearing their columns covered with crape. Past Masters.
Three Master Masons walking triangularly with the three candlesticks covered with crape, lights extinguished.
Three Masons walking triangularly, each bearing a staff, the head of which was covered with crape and a white silk cord-black and white tassels. On each staff hung a pendant of white silk bordered with black. On one pendant was ' Wisdom,' on another 'Strength ' and on the third ' Beauty.' Monumental OBELISK borne by four oldest Master Masons supported by four more.
The Obelisk and its Pedestal were four and a half feet high, representing black marble; on the front of it was a bust of General Washington and over it a motto, 'HE LIVES IN OUR HEARTS'; above the motto the square and compass. On the other three sides of the Obelisk were represented Faith, Hope and Charity, and above them the corresponding Masonic emblems; the whole in Bas Relief. On the Pedestal was inscribed the General's name, where born, when Commander of the late Army, when President of Congress, &c., &c.
Two Master Masons bearing a large and elegant SILVER URN beautifully decorated with a wreath of evergreens intermixed with flowers and the [laurel branch] in front. Three brethren walking triangularly with large silver candle- sticks without lights. Tyler with his sword as before mentioned. The Constitution and Sacred Writing's on black cushions, &c., borne by two Past Masters. Three Masters of Lodges. A brother of the Royal Arch bearing a silver Urn. Presiding Master. Deacon.
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