USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735, Millbury until 1813 and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70
103
TOWN OF SUTTON.
next Election, or any other business proper for a County Congress that may occur at that time.
" And you are, from time to time, to attend to and pursue, as far as you can, all such Instructions as you shall receive from us, your constituents.
" And we hereby, also invite all the other Towns in this County, to join with us, in such Congress.
" And, for that purpose, order that the above be inserted in the Worcester News Paper as soon as possible.
" And also, that the above Delegates take care that the above be immediately put into Hand-Bills and distributed to the Selectmen of the Several Towns in this County at the expense of this Town."
March 3d. There was an article in the warrant : "To see if the Town will provide a Hospital for Inoculating for the Small-Pox." Which being "put to vote passed in the negative."
Another article in the warrant was : "To see if this Town will comply with the advice and Recommendations of the Convention of the Committees of Inspection from the Majority of the Towns of the County of Worcester met at Worcester the 26th day of Nov. last respecting some method for forming a system of Government in this State." Upon which it was " Voted to comply."
" Capt. Johnathan Carriel, Capt. Bartholomew Wood- bury, Lieut. Enoch Marble, Lieut. March Chase, Mr. Jonas Bond, Lieut. David Holman and Capt. Elisha Goddard were chosen a Committee of Correspondence Inspection and Safety for this present year."
March 10th. The town "Voted to make an addition to what the Congress and the General Court of this State have done for the Encouragement of such Soldiers as shall Inlist into the Continental Service."
" Voted, that all such soldiers, belonging to this Town, as have lately Inlisted into the Continental Service, shall be intitled to the same additional Encouragement from this Town, as all others shall be, who shall hereafter Inlist into said Service, provided, they have not already received an Equivalent Consideration by particular persons."
104
ANNALS OF THE
" Voted, That the Sum of Twenty five Pounds be paid. by the Town, to every Soldier of this Town, that has or shall Inlist into and go into the Continental Army now raising till our Quota for s'd Army is Completed ; provided he has not already received an Equivalent Consideration ill a private way."
Liberty to innoculate for the small-pox was refused.
May 9th. In the warrant of this date for a town meeting to be held the 19th instant : "all the Freeholders & other Inhabitants of s'd Town of Sutton that have an Estate of Freehold, in Land, within this State or Territory, of Forty Shillings p'r annum, at the least, or other Estate to the value of Fifty Pounds Sterling, are warned to meet at the Meeting House in the first Parish, in s'd Sutton, on Monday, the nineteenth Day of May current, at twelve o'clock, then and there, to elect and depute one or more persons (being Freeholders and Resident in s'd Town) according to the number set and limited, by an act of the Great and General Court or Assembly of this State."
This warrant shows that more liberal views were being entertained with reference to suffrage, and that the right of voting had already been accorded to small property-holders, who had hitherto been excluded from its exercise.
May 19th. "Dea. Willis Hall and Amos Singletary Esq. were chosen to Represent the Town in the Great and Gen- eral Court the year ensuing."
Difficulties have arisen with reference to the disposition of the fifteen hundred pounds (£1500.) which was voted for the support of the war July 8th, 1776.
A committee, which had been appointed to make an equitable adjustment of the money, report, and their plan is rejected. A new committee is appointed to report at the next meeting.
David Bancroft and Benjamin Carter, a committee for the South Parish in Worcester, present a petition, "requesting this Town to set them off, with their Estates and such others as are willing to join them, in order that they may be incor- porated, with others in the neighboring Towns, into a Town." The request of the petitioners was refused.
105
TOWN OF SUTTON.
June 9th. The town "Voted to provide a Pest House for to carry those to, that are taken with the Small Pox in the natural way."
The new committee, lately chosen to make an adjustment of the fifteen hundred pounds granted for supporting the war, made report to the town of their adjustment of said money : when, "it was put to vote to see if the town accept of the same and it passed in the negative."
" Voted to pay the Towns Bounty (viz. ) Twenty-five pounds, to those men, that were hired, for eight months. to go into the Continental Army, if they Inlist for three years or during the war; besides what they have received in a private way."
" Voted, that the Officers, in each Company, in this Town, draw out of the Town Treasury twenty-five pounds for every seventh man that has not already drawed it, and make up their Quota for the three years or during the war in their respective Companies, and that each Company shall have the Fines that have been or shall be paid by their respective companies."
The town " made choice of Lieut. Samuel Dagget, to pro- cure and lay before the Court described by a late Law of this State, the Evidence that may be had of the inimical dispo- sitions towards this or any, of the United States, of any of the Inhabitants of this town who shall be charged, by the freeholders and other Inhabitants of this town, according to said Law, of being a person whose residence in this State is dangerous to the public peace or Safety."
A list of inimical persons was presented at this meeting, but not acted upon.
June 16th. The tory list was acted upon, and all the names, but two, were stricken therefrom.
July 7th. A new committee was chosen to adjust the distribution of the fifteen hundred pounds granted for hiring soldiers.
"Voted to allow to every Commissioned Officer that has been out at any time in the Service of the present year an equal Consideration from the Town with the privates."
14
106
ANNALS OF THE
Gersham Biglow, Wm. Kenney, Charles Richardson and others living in the north-west part of the town, who, in connection with certain persons in Worcester, Leicester and Oxford, have been formed into a parish, ask the town to set them off with their estates, " and such others as are willing within our limits, to be incorporated into a Town."
They also ask for their proportion of the ministerial money since they " have been a Parish and for future time," also for their " part of the school money for future time," also to have their " part of the War Rate sunk which was granted to hire soldiers in July 1776," also to be allowed their " part of the Town Stock of Ammunition according to what they .had paid."
All these requests were included in one of the warrants for the town meeting of July 7th, but not acted upon until November 3d, when they were one and all refused.
As illustrative of the customs of the day among a certain class in the community, we copy the following from the Massachusetts Spy, of Sept. 11th, 1777 :
A CARD.
" Where as, Deacon Thomas Holman has made and spread a shameful and distrustful story about me, in saying that I drinked a number of barrels of Cider for him in two months ; I do hereby certify the publick, that what he has told is a right down lie! *
Attest, SAMUEL HOLMAN."
Nov. 3d. A town meeting was called " To see if the Town will Hear the Petition of Mr. Daniel Chase and others with regard to a late Law made by our General Assembly, for Loaning the States Money &c. and act upon the same as said Town shall think proper."
At this meeting it was -
" Voted to hear the Petition of Mr. Daniel Chase and others with regard to a late Law, made by our General Assembly, for calling in the States Money and redeeming it with Notes, upon Interest payable by this State."
* Massachusetts Spy.
107
TOWN OF SUTTON.
" Then the following Draught was brought in and read before the Town, viz. :
" This Town taking into serious Consideration the late Act, made for putting large Sums of the Bills issued by this State on Interest, at six per. cent, on the first day of December next, and for sinking in the Hands of the Pos- sessor all sums less than Ten Pounds, at the same time and for sundry other purposes in said Aet specified - This Town are clearly of Opinion that said Act, in connexion with the large tax immediately to be paid, is big with Cruelty, Oppression, and Injustice.
" 1st. It appears to be Cruel because so large a tax, three times as big as has ever been paid before, should be required so hastily, at the same time not allowed to pay it, nor any part of it, in this States money, when it appears that said money ought to pay itself.
" 2d. It appears to be Oppressive because it puts an advantage into the hands of those that have oppressed the people already by extortionate prices, and thereby sinking the money into their own Hands, and now putting their money thus gained by oppression, on Interest, to increase the Debt and farther oppress and impoverish the common people.
3d. It appears to be unjust, and a violation of publick Faith, when the Bills are emitted of various sums promising to receive them in the Treasury for the sum specified : and now declaring they will not accept them unless the amount of Ten Pounds of them is brought together, which is a Point Blank violation of Publick Faith, and grossly tends to destroy the common people, who, in General, will not have £10 of that money by them, or if they had to take a journey of fifty, a hundred, or a hundred and fifty miles to have it exchanged will be so expensive it had near as good die in their Hands. And after all, the Court have just as good right, next year, to say there shan't be any Notes under £50, and all, who, in one months time can't produce that amount of them, in Notes, it shall die in their Hands, and there is so much probability of it from what they have done now, that we don't think it is
108
ANNALS OF THE
safe to pretend to get any such Notes as any of the common people can likely attain to.
" 4th. The Act is unjust when Considered in connexion with the former Act which made that Money a lawfull tender ; for we are obliged to take till the last day of Novem'r, and the next day it is £5 Fine to offer any of it, and be exposed to have it die in the Hands of the possessor thus obliged to take it.
" Considering these things it appears to us that we can not in Duty to ourselves and the common Canse sit still, or hold our peace.
" But the matter requires something very speedily to be done.
" Therefore, Resolved, to propose to the next neighboring Towns whether they would join, with us, in a Suitable Remonstrance and Petition to the Court for a Redress of the aforesaid Grievances, and if the Court will not alter said Law so that the tax now coming out may be paid in this State Money, or Continental, as comes best to Hand to Individuals, that we will not attempt to pay said Rate, and if the Court will not repeal said Law, so that those, who have already sunk so much of the Money into their Hands, shall not have the advantage against us, farther to Oppress us, that we will not attempt to pay said Four Hundred Thousand Pound Rate granted in said Law.
" And we hereby desire our Brethren in the neighbouring Towns to meet us, by their Select-men or Delegates, at the house of Joseph Elliot, Inn holder, in this Town, on Wednes- day, the 12th Instant, at ten o'clock before noon.
"' And we hereby direct the Select-men of this Town to send a Copy of this to the Select-men of each next adjoining Town and to attend upon the Select-men or Delegates of the neigh- bouring Towns that may come upon this, our Invitation, then and there to consult upon and adopt such measures, upon the Premises, as shall be thought proper, and make Report to this meeting of what shall be concluded upon, on Thursday the 13th Instant at one o'clock P. M. to which time this meeting will stand adjourned.
109
TOWN OF SUTTON.
" The foregoing being sundry times read before the Town, it was put to vote, to see if the Town accept of the same as agreeable to their minds.
" Passed in the affirmative."
"Voted to choose a Committee to draw up some-thing agreeable to the foregoing, to publish the same in the Pub- lick News as soon as may be.
" Chose Col. Timothy Sibley, Lieut. Asa Waters, and Mr. Edward Putnam for said Committee."
Nov. 13th. This committee reported at an adjourned meeting as follows :
"To the Honorable Council and House of Representa- tives, of the State of the Massachusetts Bay, in General Court, to be convened at Boston on the twenty-fifth Day of Nov'r Instant.
" The Petition of us, the subscribers, being a Committee of the several Towus (viz. ) Sutton, Worcester, Uxbridge, Grafton, Douglass, and Northbridge, in the County of Worcester, convened at Sutton Nov. 12th 1777, " Humbly sheweth, that upon taking into consideration the late Act of Court Intitled : . An Act for drawing in the Bills of Credit, of the several Denominations not on Interest, which have at any time been issued by this Government and are still out- standing ; and for prohibiting the Currency of s'd Bills of any one of the United States after a certain time.' Are of the opinion that said act, in connection with a large Tax immediately to be raised, is big with Cruelty, Oppression and Injustice."
The remainder of the petition is almost precisely in the language of the four articles above recorded.
"The Petition being sundry times read it was then put to vote to see if the Town accept of the Same and the vote passed in the Affirmative."
The committee from the towns were instructed to " sign the foregoing Petition in the Name and in Behalf of the Town."
Delegates met at Elliot's from the towns of Sutton, Worcester, Grafton, Douglass and Northbridge and signed the petition.
110
ANNALS OF THE
" Voted to grant a Sum of Two Thousand and four Hun- dred Pounds for to pay the Continental Soldiers."
" Voted that the Fire-Arms that the Selectmen have pro- cured for the Town be sold to the best advantage."
" Voted that the Lead and Flints that the Selectmen have procured for the Town, be equally divided among the sev- eral Companies in the Town."
" Voted that the Captains of the Several Companies in the Town draw their proportion of s'd Lead and Flints, and dispose among their respective Companies according to the mind of said Companies.
Dec. 19th. Mr. Ebenezer Waters, Mr. Simon' Tainter and Lieut. Caleb Chase were chosen a Committee to take care of, and provide for the families of such persons as are in the Continental Service, whose families stand in need of help." *
1778.
Jan. 5th. A meeting was called " To hear and consider upon the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, between the United States of America, agreeable to a late Resolve of the General Assembly of this State," and "To see what sum of money the Town will Raise for the purpose of lessening their proportion of the Public Debt, agreeable to a late Act of the General Assembly of this State, and pass any vote or votes relative thereto."
The articles of confederation proposed by Congress were read, and a committee, consisting of Capt. King, Dea. Pierce, Mr. Nathan Putnam, Col. Holman, Lieut. Asa Waters was chosen " to peruse and Consider the Articles of Confederation &c. and make Report to the Town at an adjourned meeting."
" Voted to raise the sum of Three Thousand Pounds to diminish this Towns proportion of the Public Debt."
Jan. 9th. The committee upon the articles of confedera- tion reported "that in their opinion these should be com- plied with by this Town."
* Town Records.
111
TOWN OF SUTTON.
" Then it was put to vote to see if the Town would com- ply with the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union proposed by the Congress. Passed unanimously in the affirmative."
Upon the petition of certain of the inhabitants of Sutton, Worcester, Leicester and Oxford, that they may be incor- porated into a town, the General Assembly of this State has appointed a committee to view the territory, and also issued a citation to the several towns to confer with this committee.
Feb. 2d. The town chose Dea. Ebenezer Pierce, Capt. Elisha Goddard and Col. Jonathan Holman, agents to meet this committee, and "enter this Town's Objections why said Parish should not be incorporated into a Town."
Feb. 18th. The town chose Dea. Ebenezer Pierce, Mr. Asa Waters, and Mr. Ebenezer Waters a standing commit- tee to take action in behalf of the town "to prevent a part of this Town at the Northwest corner being set off (against their will) according to a line ordered to be rum by the Honorable Courts Committee on the 5th day of Feb. Instant."
March 2d. "The Town chose Dea. David Harwood, Doctor Benja. Morse, Mr. Abel Dudley, Mr. Moses Ban- croft and Mr. Josiah Goddard a Committee of Correspon- dence, Inspection and Safety for this present year."
The town of Ward, composed of parts of Sutton, Worces- ter, Leicester and Oxford, was incorporated April 10, 1778. The name has since been changed to Auburn.
April 13th. The new constitution, which had been agreed upon by a state convention, was submitted for the approval or disapproval of the town.
"Voted to disapprove of the form of Government Laid Before the Town by the Selectmen : 220 Disapproved, not one approved of the new form of Government."
Capt. John Sibley, Dea. Ebenezer Pierce and Lieut. Asa Waters were chosen a committee to report the reason why the town do not accept the new form of government.
May 18th. "Voted to Grant Three Hundred and fifty Eight pounds Eight Shillings to pay for the Cloathing that the Selectinen have promised for the Continental Soulders."
112
ANNALS OF THE
"Voted to allow Deacon Tarrant Putnam Two pounds Eighteen Shillings for gooing to Boston, Salem and New- bury to see about getting some Salt for the Town."
June 8th. " William Fuller paid a fine of five pounds for refusing to serve as Constable."
June 15th. "Voted that Treasurer Woodbery be ex- empted from the loss of two New Hampshire Bills, which amount to Four pounds Ten Shillings, that are Counterfitts."
The Massachusetts Spy of date Nov. 26th, 1778, con- tains the following advertisement :
" It is earnestly requested that the fair Daughters of Lib- erty in this extensive Country, would not neglect to serve their country, by saving for the Paper-Mill in Sutton, all Linen and Cotton and Linen Rags, be they ever so small, as they are equally good for the purpose of making paper, as those that are larger. A bag hung up at one corner of a room, would be the means of saving many which would be otherwise lost. If the Ladies should not make a fortune by this piece of economy, they will at least have the satisfac- tion of knowing they are doing an effectual service to the community, which with EIGHT PENCE per pound, the price now given for elean white rags, they must be sensible will be a sufficient reward." *
1779.
March 1st. "Chose Ebenezer Waters, John Elliot and Nehemiah Gale a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety this present year."
March 8th. "Voted to abate the pole Tax of those Sol- diers that was in the Continental Eight Months Service in the year 1777. Those that ware Dismissed at Philadelphia, and no provision made for their support home."
" Chose Col. Timothy Sibley, Capt. Moody Morse, Capt. John Putnam, Mr. Simon Tainter and Doct. James Freeland a Committee to Inspect and to prosecute all Breches of Law agreeable to a Late act of the General Assembly of this State, Intitled an act against Monopoly and Forestalling."
* The above advertisement was repeated in several papers, and TWELVE PENCE per pound was offered. July 1779, 18d .; Nov. 1779, 2s. ; Feb. 1780, 3s .; Apr. 1780, 6s .; July, 1781, 10s .; per pound.
113
TOWN OF SUTTON.
" Chose Stephen Stockwell, Moses Bancroft, Capt. James Greenwood, Lieut. James McClelan, a Committee to supply the families of those whose Husbands are in the Army, agree- able to a Late act of the Court.
May 19th. " Chose Lient. John Hazeltine a Committee Man to take care of those families whose Husbands are in the Continental Service."
" The town voted, unanimously, in favor of a new Consti- tution, or Form of Government, with this proviso - that, when the Convention called for the purpose, " shall have formed a Constitution, a Copy shall be sent to each Town in the State, to the people at large, for their approbation or Disapprobation, or amendment."
June 21st. Chose Lient. William King, Ensign Nathaniel C'arriel, Lieut. Joseph Elliot, Jun., Mr. Samuel Waters, Dea. Willis Hall, Mr. John Harback, Mr. JJoseph Waters, Doct'r James Freeland, Mr. Jonas Bond, Mr. Nehemiah Gale, Dea. Asa Waters, a Committee, in order to procure the Continental men that were called for by order of the ('ourt."
" The Town voted that any two of the Committee are impowered to agree with any person or persons who shall Ingage nine months in the Continental Service, and that any two of said Committee are Impowered to give Security, in Behalf of said Town, to any person who shall Ingage in said Service, and further, the Town Ingage to Indemnifie said Committee."
" Voted that the same Committee that was chosen to procure the Continental men, are also impowered to agree with any person or persons who shall Ingage to go to the State of Rhode Island to serve from the time of their Being Inlisted to the first day of Jan. next."
July 5th. A warrant for a town meeting this date con- tained the following article :
" To see what the Town will do in regard to our present alarming circumstances by reason of our depreciating Cur- rency and high price of the necessaries of life, occasioned by monopoly and forestalling, and whether the Town will, accord- ing to the recommendation of Congress and the Resolves
15
114
ANNALS OF THE
of the Citizens of Philadelphia and Boston, unite our efforts to extricate ourselves from such dreadful consequences ; and for the above purpose, whether the Town will request one or more of the Committee of Correspondence of the Town, to meet with the several Committees from the several Towns in this State, at Concord, the 14th of July Instant, agreeably to a recommendation of the Committee of Correspondence of the Town of Boston."
" The Town made choice of Dea. Willis Hall and Mr. Ebenezer Waters as a Committee to set in a State Convention to be held at Concord the 14th of July 1779 -and voted that said Committee make report to the Town of their pro- ceedings for their approbation or Disapprobation."
Aug. 2d. The town voted unanimously to accept the pro- ceedings of the state convention held at Concord, July 14th, 1779.
" Chose Dea. Asa Waters and Mr. Ebenezer Waters to set in a County Convention to be held at Worcester the first Tuesday of August, Instant, for the purposes of regulating the prices of labor and various articles of necessity."
Aug. 17th. This committee reported at an adjourned meeting. Upon hearing which report the town -
" Voted unanimously to accept of the proceedings of the County Convention held at Worcester."
" Chose a Committee of twelve, to act in connection with the Committee of Correspondence, to carry into effect the Resolves of the State and County Conventions, viz. :
" Lieut. Nathaniel Whitmore, Mr. Nathan Putnam, Col. Timothy Sibley, Follansbee Chase, Capt. Moody Morse, Lieut. Caleb Chase, Lieut. James Prentice, Capt. Samuel Trask, Mr. Jonas Bond, Mr. Jona. Kidder, Capt James Greenwood and Lieut. Simcon Haywood."
" Voted, that said Committee should settle any difficulties that shall arise by reason of selling things beyond what was ·stated by said Conventions."
" Voted to raise five thousand nine hundred pounds to pay the Continental Men lately raised, and also to pay the men lately raised to go to Rhode Island."
Ang. 23d. The Town chose Mr. Ebenezer Waters to
115
TOWN OF SUTTON.
Represent it at another Convention to be held at Concord, October next.
" Voted to support the Committee in carrying the Resolves of the late State and County Conventions into execution."
Sept. 23d. The town committee stopped a number of loads of salt, rum, sugar, and other articles which were being transported, and asked for instructions as to the disposition that should be made of them, and it is recorded that -
" The Town highly approved of what the Committee had done in stopping those loads of Rum, sugar, salt and other articles which was agoing to be transported out of this State."
" Voted that the owners of those Loads, stopped by the Committee of this Town, shall give, to said Committee, a true inventory of all the articles belonging to said Loads, upon penalty of being enemies of the Country and published in the Public Prints, and that said Loads shall be stored, under the care of the Committee, until some order of Court, or Resolve of Convention, or order of the Town, shall take place respecting the same."
" Voted that those persons that appear to be inimical to the cause of America shall not be employed in any public business in this Town."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.