USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > History of the town of Warwick, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1854 > Part 3
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I768.
At a town-meeting convened at the meeting-house, March 7, the town voted ten pounds to support a school some part of the year. It was then proposed to the town, whether they would have a moving school ? and .it was voted in the affirmative : also voted to have a school kept December, January, and February, by a master ; and the remainder of the ten pounds to pay a mistress to keep school in the sum- mer season ; and voted that the selectmen employ a
4
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
master and mistress, and appoint the school wards, or places, where the schools shall be kept.
This is the first account that we have of a school being kept at the expense of the town, and, we pre- sume, the first attempt to district the town. In June following, a town-meeting was called, to see if the town would sell a school-lot, and to give the selectmen instructions concerning a woman's school : and they voted that Mrs. Hannah Rawson be employed to keep school ; and they further voted, that, if the major part of the quarter where she lived objected against her keeping, the selectmen should dismiss her ; or, if the selectmen found any material objection against her, they should dismiss her ; and she is to have four shil- lings and six pence per week for the time she keeps, her father finding her board.
I 769.
In 1769, ten pounds was raised for schooling, and the selectmen clothed with the same authority as last year, - hiring, districting, &c.
1770 AND '71.
In 1771, the town voted twelve pounds for school- ing, and sixty pounds to be worked out on the roads.
In the year 1770, the proprietors chose a commit- tee, consisting of James Ball, Nathan Goddard, and Samuel Williams, to lay out the fifth and last division of lands in Warwick. They employed a surveyor by
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
the name of Job Gilbert, and laid out sixty-two lots, containing a little over fourteen acres each. These lots were laid out of the several pieces of common land remaining in various forms in different parts of the town. Where they began, they laid off as many lots as the piece would make, and the fraction that remained would be numbered, and acres enough taken off the next piece (of the same number) to make out the fourteen acres. They thus proceeded until they had surveyed off all the fragments of land in the town. This accounts for the parts of the fourteen- acre lots being so scattered ; for instance, N. G. Stevens, jun., owns part of a lot adjoining Capt. Wil- liam Burnett's farm, containing five or six acres ; and the remainder of the lot lies south of Israel Fish- er's land. William Perry owns part of a lot south of his house, and the other part is not far from William Hastings's. There is a record of a vote of the old proprietors in 1769, in these words : -
" Provided always, that it is the true intent and meaning of this proprietary, that all the several slips that were re- served for roads, between any or all of the first and second division of lands in said township, be and remain for the use of the inhabitants of said town from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, for roads or highways ; and may be exchanged by said inhabitants, for other lands for roads more to the town's advantage."
This may be considered as a good title, or right and privilege to the public, that has been little regarded, and perhaps not generally known. After. this last division was laid out, there remained one hundred and
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
six acres of land to the original proprietors. It was voted to raise a tax of two dollars on each share, and give the town the one hundred and six acres of land, for them to finish off the meeting-house. The town declined the accepting of the offer of the land, as Fran- cis Nourse and Josiah Rawson had laid claim to and entered upon said land .*
Nothing of particular importance is found on the ' town records for several years ; but we are now ap- proaching a crisis full of interest and big with events ; and future generations will look back with astonish- ment, reverence, and awe at the mighty deeds and the powerful exertions of the generations that have immediately preceded us. To this generation, under the blessing of God, we are indebted for all the civil privileges we now enjoy. And not only we, but the whole human race, may commemorate this era as the first dawning of the light of liberty.
Here, in this new world, in this then thinly-popu- lated country, just emerging into political life, were nursed and cherished the first pure principles of civil and religious freedom. Who of us can restrain our feelings ? Who can stifle the flame of gratitude that bursts involuntarily from the sacred depositories of our hearts ? Who that has the spirit and mind of a free- man can undervalue these privileges, and not recipro- cate and rejoice with every true defender of his coun- try, every worshipper of his God ?
At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, the inhabitants of this town were not a whit behind their
* This was the last vote on record of the doings of the old pro- prietors.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
neighbors in principle or practice : the same spirit of liberty that echoed throughout New England re- sponded from our fathers and our brethren. A mighty impulse pervaded the whole population. " Liberty or death" was their motto. The proud spirit of our fathers bade defiance to British thunder ; the bright and daz- zling equipments of regular and well-disciplined troops could not intimidate the hardy yeomanry of our coun- try. I will here relate a story, strictly characteristic of our countrymen : I had it from the mouth of an eye-witness,* who was a brother to one of Gen. Wash- ington's life-guards. It was at the taking of Corn- wallis. The regiment that this man belonged to had, previous to that event, suffered unnumbered priva- tions, were continually on the alert, and their clothing was literally rags : he said nearly one-half of the regi- ment were barefoot ; but their hearts were as true as the needle to the pole. The supplies which had been long expected from the government had not arrived ; but, by perseverance and valor, the day of their deliv- erance was at hand. At this critical period, when the fate of our country was suspended by a thread, the summons from the American camp struck terror and dismay into the heart of the haughty British com- mander. He made a conditional surrender, and the time was set when his troops should march out of the post, and stack their arms. Our allies, the French, were drawn up in a long line on one side, and the Americans on the other; and the British troops, the prisoners, were to march out between these lines, with
Mr. James Davenport of Dorchester, Mass. 4*
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
trailed arms, unloaded, and deposit them on the spot assigned. Our brave Yankees literally toed the line, for their feet were many of them bare; while the proud British soldiers were dressed, as the saying is, " neat as a new pin," - every man had his hair pow- dered, and every one was a prince to look to. My informant said that language was too feeble to de- scribe the indignation and resentment of the British 'soldiers, plainly depicted in their countenances, to think that they had surrendered to such a dirty, ragged, weatherbeaten set of human beings : they gnashed their teeth, and shook their heads, and mut- tered out oaths and execrations too horrid to re- hearse. All the while our victorious countrymen stood firm and unmoved, - guns loaded, swords drawn, hearts of steel : a glow of manly enthusiasm and joy beamed from every countenance ; while the rude winds of heaven sported with their tattered garments. This was truly American ; this was truly the character of our fathers : though poor and destitute, they were powerful, energetic, and brave, and never bowed the knee to, nor owned a superior in, any human being. This regiment that I have mentioned was presented, by the great and good Lafayette, with shoes and stockings, and every one of the sergeants with a cut- lass, out of his own private purse, as a reward for their integrity, obedience, and devotedness to the cause of liberty. He never deserted them by day or by night ; and when the soldiers were obliged to encamp on the ground, in the open field, he would refuse, when solicited to accept of better fare, and lie down on the ground by the side of his horse, and
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
in company with his men. How strange, how aston- ishing, that a young and rich nobleman, born with an ample fortune, should leave the land of his birth, the friends of his youth, the gay and fascinating pleas- ures so alluring to the young, and repair to a foreign land, to espouse their cause, to fight their battles, to associate with and become attached to our rude and rustic sires ! But such was the case ; and what could be the cause ? what reason can we assign for it? It was the principles of the man, the congenial feelings, the attachment, the indissoluble attachment of kindred souls, - an attachment which adversity cannot weaken nor death destroy.
I774.
A meeting was called " in His Majesty's name " (but not in obedience to His Majesty) on the thirtieth day of August, 1774, to take into consideration sev- eral papers sent to the town of Warwick from the town of Boston, and from committees of correspond- ence, to see if the town will enact any thing respect- ing these papers, or any thing else relating to the public difficulties that this Province labors under at this day ; and also to see if the town will make a grant of the sum desired to defray the charges of the committee of Congress.
Now listen : This meeting was called, or notified, on the 30th of August. See the promptitude, see the ardency of their feelings : unable to wait seven days, as the law required, they are summoned to meet on the fifth day of September, at two o'clock, P.M. Not
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IIISTORY OF WARWICK.
a voice is raised to dispute the legality of the meet- ing, but a simultaneous response of "Forward ! forward ! Our rights are invaded, our liberties are in jeopardy." But let us pause, and hear their simple but energetic language :-
" Voted and chose Mr. Ezra Conant moderator. Voted ; the sum of eight shillings, being this town's proportion of the sum agreed on by the Honorable Council and House of Representatives in their session to pay a committee of Congress. Voted to get two barrels of powder, and lead and flints, answerable for a town stock ; and that the select- men be a committee to procure the same. Voted to adhere strictly to our chartered rights and privileges, and to defend them to the utmost of our capacity ; and that we will be in readiness, that, if our brethren in Boston or elsewhere should be distressed by the troops sent here to force a com- pliance to the unconstitutional and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, and will give us notice, that we will repair to their relief forthwith. Voted to choose a captain, lieutenant, and ensign, and that they enlist fifty men in this town to be at a minute's warning to go, if called for, to the relief of our brethren in any part of the Province.
" Voted and chose Samuel Williams captain ; James Ball lieutenant ; and Amzi Doolittle ensign. Voted that the expenses of said company (if called to go) shall be paid by the town, an account therefor being exhibited to the town by officers thereof."
Signed by EZRA CONANT, Moderator.
Here you may see the unanimity of kindred souls ; here is a fair sample of our fathers' characters in those
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
gloomy and perilous times, volunteering their prop- erty, and all that was dear to them as men, or valuable to them as citizens, - yes, and their lives too, - on the sacred altar of their country's rights. But my story is not yet half told; for, on the 17th of September, " Joseph Mayo, constable of said town, was directed forthwith to notify the inhabitants thereof to assemble on the 19th instant at three o'clock in the afternoon, to see if the town will vote to choose delegates to represent them in a county congress, to be convened at Northampton on the 22d instant, at nine o'clock in the morning ; also to see if the town will act any thing respecting our public affairs, and choose such committee or committees, and give them instructions as they shall think proper at said meeting." Here again the constable was directed on Saturday to sum- mon the people to meet on Monday, to act on matters of the first importance. Where was the law ? The impulse of the moment was their law, their con- science their law-giver, and their God their judge. But they assembled, every man to his post, and chose Capt. Samuel Williams moderator. It was proposed to the town to send delegates to the congress at Northampton on the 22d, and immediately voted in the affirmative. Voted and chose Capt. Samuel Williams and Mr. Josiah Pomeroy delegates. Also voted that an attested copy of the proceedings of this meeting be given to the delegates by the town clerk ; then adjourned the meeting to the 26th instant, at four o'clock, P.M.
Met again at the time specified at the adjournment, instructed and animated by their delegates, who had
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
returned from Northampton. They voted to send Capt. Samuel Williams to represent them in a Pro- vincial Congress, to be holden at Concord, on the second Tuesday of October following.
A town meeting was convened Nov. 7, to pass upon and pay the costs of the delegation to Northampton and Concord ; also to see if the town will choose their militia officers, or divide the town into two companies ; " viz., an alarm-list company, and a training company, of militia. It may be necessary to state, for informa- tion, that the above company just mentioned consisted of all the exempts from the militia companies by reason of age. The law at that day compelled the militiamen to train until they were forty-five years of age ; and the alarm-list consisted of all able-bodied men between forty-five and sixty years of age. The old men between forty-five and sixty years were obliged to keep themselves constantly armed and equipped, and to meet for inspection and training only once a year, but were obliged to turn out at the call of the authority of the State.
At this meeting, the town voted to pay Samuel Williams his account for attending the county con- gress at Northampton, as follows : viz., For four days' time, eight shillings ; journey of his horse, five shillings ; and travelling expenses, five shillings : amounting to eighteen shillings. Also voted to pay Mr. Josiah Pomeroy the same sum. They also voted to pay Capt. Samuel Williams for attending the Pro- vincial Congress at Concord, eighteen days, at two shillings per day, and twelve shillings for the journey of his horse, and his expenses three shillings per day.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
These charges speak volumes in favor of the disin- terestedness of the men who served the public in those days. The town then proceeded to choose a captain of the militia, and chose Samuel Williams ; Peter Proctor lieutenant ; and Reuben Petty ensign ; and Amos Marsh clerk. At an adjournment of this meeting, the town voted to choose two lieutenants for said company, and chose the aforesaid Peter Proctor first lieutenant, and Reuben Petty the second, and Thomas Rich ensign; and voted that the company should choose their under-officers. You may possibly think that I have been too lavish of my encomiums, - that I have said too much in commendation of the actors on the stage at the time we have been con- sidering. But I think that too much cannot be said. I think their conduct to be above all praise ; but I do not deny that they were men, and men, too, of like passions and propensities with ourselves, subject to error, and frequently erring. But where they acted bravely and disinterestedly, they ought to have the praise of it. Infirmities they all probably had, - and infirmities we all have at the present day ; let us pattern after their virtues, and avoid their imperfec- tions.
In the autumn of 1774 the first appearance of dis- cord on religious matters in this town appears on record. One article in the warrant was as follows : viz., " To see if the town will take into considera- tion the certificates of the differing societies of those persons that call themselves Baptists in this town ; and pass any votes respecting their being taxed to the minister, any or all of them."
48
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
They voted to Aaron Whitney eight pounds for the two kegs of powder ; three pounds and fourpence for two hundred weight of lead and three hundred flints ; and transport of the articles, one pound and nine shil- lings ; making twelve pounds, nine shillings, and four- pence. And they also voted that twenty-seven persons, expressed by name on the records, should not be rated to the minister.
This year the town granted eighty pounds for repair of highways, forty pounds of it to be worked on the county road : three-fourths of the money to be worked out before the middle of July, the other fourth before the Ist of October ; and it was also voted that the wages on the highway should be three shillings for a man, two shillings for a yoke of oxen, and one shilling for a cart or plough per day. Twenty-four pounds (including the interest) was voted for school- ing.
It was omitted in its proper place to mention the first division of this town into school-districts. June 3, 1773, the town voted to choose a committee of five, to divide the whole town into school-districts ; said division, when made, to be binding on the town, entry thereof being made on the town-book by order of the selectmen. Said committee consisted of Messrs. Jonathan Woodard, Ezra Conant, James Ball, Dr. Medad Pomeroy, and Amos Marsh.
1775.
Jan. 3 of this year, a meeting was convened to see if the town would choose a man to send to
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Cambridge, to the Provincial Congress in February next ; and to see if the town will accept the proposals agreed upon by the selectmen and a committee chosen by the Baptist society, to leave our lawsuit that the Baptists commenced against James Ball, Medad Pomeroy, and Ezra Conant, at the last May sessions.
Voted and chose Samuel Williams to represent the town at Cambridge. Voted to pass over the last article. March 6, 1775, it was voted to choose five selectmen ; and Amos Marsh, Samuel Williams, Josiah Pomeroy, Thomas Rich, and David Cobb were chosen ; Amos Marsh town clerk. Seventy pounds was voted for highways. The twenty-ninth article acted on at this meeting. It was moved and voted that they choose a committee of inspection consisting of five men ; and they chose Reuben Petty chairman, Seth Peck, Josiah Pomeroy, Thomas Rich, and Amos Marsh, said com- mittee.
May 18, it was voted to reconsider the vote passed at the last annual meeting respecting the grant of money for the highways; and they voted instead, thirty-five pounds, - twenty pounds to be worked on the county road. They also voted to send a man to the Provincial Congress, and chose Samuel Williams. The July following, Col. Samuel Williams was again chosen a delegate to a court or congress to be con- vened in the meeting-house in Watertown ; and the town chose three men a committee to give him his instructions ; viz., Amos Marsh, Thomas Rich, and Seth Peck.
Also voted, the inhabitants do concur with the resolve and recommend of the committees of corre-
5
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
spondence of Northfield, Athol, and Warwick, to dis- arm and confine the Rev. Mr. Hedge to the town of Warwick, unless he has a permit from the committee of correspondence of said town. Voted to choose eleven men as a committee to come into some plan to settle the difficulties between this people and Mr. Hedge ; viz., Amos Marsh, Ezra Conant, Samuel Williams, Peter Proctor, Moses Leonard, Jonathan Woodard, Jeduthan Morse, Abraham Barnes, Samuel Sherman, Benjamin Conant ; and the record states that the eleventh man was not chosen, by reason of a mis- count. Meeting adjourned to July 17.
The adjourned meeting having assembled, the com- mittee on Mr. Hedge's matters made a report, as fol- lows: viz., Mr. Hedge proposes that he will, upon the town's rescinding the vote to disarm and confine him to said town, pledge his honor that he will not influence or prejudice the minds of the people against the common cause which the country is engaged in, and will then join with the town in three proposals : viz., First, to leave it to the General Assembly of the Province ; second, to a mutual council ; third, to any set of judicious men the town and he could agree upon.
On the report being made, a motion was made to rescind the vote ; but it passed in the negative, as the records say, by a vast majority. The town then voted and chose Seth Peck, Jeduthan Morse, Daniel Gale, and Savill Metcalf, in addition to the committee of correspondence.
In September, a meeting was called to see if the selectmen should be authorized to purchase a quantity
5I
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
of salt for the use of the inhabitants, and have instruc- tions for retailing the same. Also to see if the town will dismiss Mr. Hedge from his ministerial office ; and to rescind the vote passed at the annual meeting, granting him his salary according to contract. These articles were all passed over ; and seventy-two yeas for dismissing Mr. Hedge entered their protest against the vote. Voted to accept Col. Samuel Williams's ac- count for attending the Congress, - two pounds ten shillings.
I 776.
In March, 1776, the town chose five selectmen (the first three to be assessors), and also chose seven men a committee of correspondence, inspection, and safety ; viz., Josiah Pomeroy, Josiah Rawson, Daniel Gale, Thomas Rich, Reuben Petty, Elijah Whitney, and Joseph Goodell. Voted forty pounds for repairing roads, and twenty-four pounds for schooling.
On the 24th of May, a meeting was convened for choosing a delegate or representative to meet on the 29th of May, at Watertown, in the General Assembly of the Province. This was the first town-meeting called in the name of the government and people of the Massachusetts Bay, all previous meetings having been called in the name of His Majesty ; and at this meeting the first legal represen- * tative was chosen to represent the town : those that had been previously chosen were in defiance of a con- stituted authority. Lieut. Thomas Rich was chosen ; and it was voted to choose a committee of three men
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
to give instructions to said representative. Chose Amos Marsh, Josiah Rawson, and Reuben Petty. Then it was voted to adjourn the meeting half an hour, for said committee to draw instructions, and re- port to the town.
The meeting was opened agreeably to adjournment, and the committee read their instructions to the town ; also a number of resolves of the committee of the county of Suffolk. The town then voted to accept said instructions, and also the sixth clause in the Suf- folk resolves. Also voted that the said instructions, and the sixth clause of the Suffolk resolves, "goes on the town book." By this vote, those first instructions are preserved ; and it will not injure us, if it does not profit us, to hear the sentiments they contain. They are as follows ; viz. :-
" Whereas you, Lieut. Thomas Rich, are chosen to repre- sent the town of Warwick in a General Assembly of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, we your constituents do give you the following instructions :-
" Ist, That you represent us, as true and loyal subjects to the power now in the hands of the people of America, and that you do your endeavour that no act or acts be passed encroaching on the liberties or in any measure invading the rights of the People.
" 2dly, That you grant all supplies necessary for the safety of America under her distressing circumstances ; and that , you are not extravagant in your grants to those that may be employed in the service of the Colony ; at the same time trusting that every true friend to his country will be willing to serve in any place where he may be wanted, for a rea- sonable reward.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
" 3dly, That you tolerate all persuasions on account of their religious sentiments, without giving one the advantage of the other, either in their persons or their properties.
" 4thly, That all such laws as in any degree infringe on the liberties of the people be made void. In particular, that of a person having twenty pounds ratable estate, to qualify him to vote in town affairs, by reason of which so great a majority as two-thirds of the freeholders of this town are prohibited voting in town affairs, although they pay the major part of the taxes hereby raised, which is frequently the case in new-settled towns. There are other things that are a burden, such as these : going sixty miles for license to keep tavern, and recording Deeds, all which may be done in every town, or in sundry places in the County, greatly to the advantage of the towns lying in the outside of the Counties.
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