USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 12
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New Hampshire, though almost a wilderness, furnished 12,496 troops for the continental ranks, or nearly three-fourths of the number enlisted in the Empire State. The whole number of regulars enlisted for the continental service from the beginning to the close of the struggle was 231,959; and all the States south of Pennsylvania provided but 59,943, or 8,414 less than the single State of Massachusetts. New England furnished 118,350, or more than one half the num- ber placed at the service of Congress. In a tabular state- ment compiled from statistics contained in the report of
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
General Knox, Secretary of War, to Congress in 1790, it appears that the quota fixed and required by Congress of Massachusetts was 52,698 men, but the State furnished 67,907 " continentals," while her militia showed an aggre- gate of 15,145, and her contingent force was estimated at 9,500, making a total of 92,552 men engaged in the war for a longer or shorter period. This may be contrasted with New York, which furnished but 30,397 men of all descrip- tions. [See Sabine's Loyalists of the Revolution.]
By referring to the details of the previous chapter, the reader will find that this town was not deficient in the measure of its service for the common defence. It is well to bear in mind the inevitable result of that long-continued draft upon the mate- rial resources of the country ; the financial distress that fol- lowed, the poverty of those who had been soldiers, and the general tendency to demoralization and discord. And it should not be forgotten that many precious lives had been sacrificed, and many men had been disabled by hardships, wounds, and sicknesses, and could not render services to their families for whom they would gladly toil. It is painful to note how many of the soldiers who went from this town became paupers, and had to be supported by the town, some of them through long years of impotence and pain. In some cases, doubtless, their poverty was owing to a natural shift- lessness, or to bad habits contracted in the army. But in many it was due to the fact that they had spent their strength in wearisome campaigns and were unable to work for their own support. Pensions were not granted until many years had passed by, and many a soldier was sleeping in his nar- row bed. The phrase, "Not gitable" * often appears upon the records, and signifies the abatement of taxes. Although sometimes put against the name of persons who had removed from town, it was frequently attached to the name of some poor soldier who had risked his life for the common weal.
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*Instead of this phrase, the words "Not recoverable " were first used by Richard Kneeland, in 1797, and after a time these also disappeared.
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" At the close of the war the citizens were left free in- deed, and in full possession of the valuable objects which they had fought to obtain. But the price of those objects was high. Their private state-debt amounted to 1,300,000 pounds, besides 250,000 pounds' due to the officers and soldiers of their line of the army. Their proportion of the federal debt was not less than one million and a half of the same money. And in addition to this, every town was em- barrassed by advances which they had made to comply with repeated requisitions for men and supplies to support the army, which had been done on their own particular credit. The weight of this burden must strike us with great force, if we consider that by the customary mode of taxation, one-third part of the whole was paid by the rateable polls alone. True it is that a recollection of the blessings which this debt had purchased, must have operated to alleviate every inconvenience arising from such a cause, but embar- rassments followed which no considerations of that nature could be expected to obviate." [Minott's History of Insur- rections, etc., pp. 5, 6. ]
EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.
1784. County House. "Voted unanimously that the town will not give their consent that a County house should be built at Cambridge for the use of the County."
1785. Land. " Pay to Lieut. Gershom Fletcher 7s. 6d. for rates he paid at Plimoth for this town." This was for land in Plymouth, N. H., given to the town, probably by Lieutenant Fletcher himself. There is occasional reference to it in the records, especially in 1790, 1794, 1808.
Petition Respecting Public Grievances. " July 31, 1786. Voted that the Committee chosen to corrispond with Committees of other Towns of this Commonwealth, relative to our Public Grievances make report of their Doings at the ajournment of this meeting."
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
" September 4, 1786. Met according to ajournment and voted to concur with the Committee in stating the Public Grievances as exhibited by them. Voted to accept of the Address exhibited by the Committee and that it be publicly read in the meeting-house by the minister after Public servis. Voted that the Petition of Mr Nathan Proctor and others Respecting the Public Grievances with the List of Grievances and the Address exhibited by the Committee be put on File in the Clerk's office." It is to be regretted, in the interest of a complete history, that these documents cannot be found ; for they would reveal to us the real sentiments and opinions of the people at that time. The troubles at Concord in connec- tion with the Shay's Rebellion, so called, were then impend- ing, and on the 9th of September, five days afterward, the town of Concord issued an address or circular letter to other towns in the county, " inviting their co-operation in acting as mediators between the government and the opposition."
In response to that circular this town passed the follow- ing votes :
" September II, 1786. Voted to choose a Committee to meet a Committee of the town of Concord at the house of Capt. Oliver Brown, Innholder, in Concord, to confer to- gether and act according to their Discresion. Chose Capt. Jonathan Keep, Timothy Prescott, Colº. Robinson, Ens. John Abbot, and Deacon Samuel Fletcher for said Com- mittee." The conference was held on Tuesday morn- ing, September 12, and twenty-four towns were then and there represented. On that day a company of insurgents, led by Capt. Job Shattuck of Groton, as- sembled at the Court House in Concord and forbade the holding of the courts. The convention called to act as mediators, endeavored to prevent a riot ; but did not at once succeed in dispersing the crowd. The insurgents, however, left the town late on Tuesday evening. The mem- bers of the conference adopted the following expression of their sentiments : " This body cannot forbear to express their disagreeable and painful sensations that their endeavors
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to dissuade from rash and unlawful measures have proved so ineffectual. They declare their utter abhorrence of the mea- sures adopted by the body in arms, and are fully sensible of the high criminality of such opposition to established au- thority." [See History of Concord, p. 136.]
This is all that the record shows of any participation of the citizens of Westford, by committee or by individuals, in the proceedings at Concord, September 12, 1786. Dea. Samuel Fletcher and Thomas Richardson were paid £1. 7s each, for attending that Convention. In regard to the action of a county convention held at Concord, October 3, by ad- journment from August 23, this town passed the following vote :
" Oct". ye 9th 1786. Voted that we approve of the re- sult of the Convention at their ajournment at Concord on the third day of Oct". Instant." That convention met " to seek relief in a peaceable, orderly, and constitutional way ; view- ing with the greatest abhorrence and detestation the late riot- ous proceedings of a rash and inconsiderate body of people, in opposing the sitting of the courts of justice," etc. By ap- proving the action of that convention this town forever warded off the imputation of sympathy or interest in the Shay's Rebellion.
Fire-arms. "Oct". 9, 1786. Voted that the Select- men Lock up the fire-arms and the war utensils belonging to this town and Make report where They be at the next March meeting."
Instructions to Representative. "May 28, 1787. To Dea. Samuel Fletcher : Whereas you are chosen to Rep- resent the Town of Westford in the General Court the year ensuing, the Town Reposing full Confidence in your ability, firmness, and Steady Endeavors to promote the welfair of the Commonwealth in general as well as this town in Particular, and we expect that when you are acting as Representative you at all times Pay a strict adhearance to the Constitution and Laws of the Commonwealth, and
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
in matters that may Come before you in which you have not Particular Instructions, the Town Expect you to use your Best Judgment.
" That you use your Influence that the General Court Be Removed out of Boston to Some Convenient Place in the Country.
" That agriculture, manufactries and Exportation of our mnufactries Be Incouraged as much as Possible and the Im- portation of foreign Superfluities Be discouraged by an Ear- nest Recomendation to omitt the use of such of them as are Not Nessary.
" That the tender act Be continued untill there Be a Sufficient Currancy for the Commerce of the People.
" That Peace and Harmony may be Restored to the People of this Commonwealth, you are directed to use your Influence that the disqualifying act Be Repealed, and that all the Peaceable Citizens Be Restored to their former Privilidges. That you use your Influence that all Pentions and Greatuities Be Curtailed, as far as Justice will allow. That the Taxes in futer on Poles & Estates Be Lowered, and Raised on Im- ports and Excise.
" The above was accepted by the Town and a Coppy given to the Representative."
Delegate to Convention. " Decem". ye 3ª, 1787. Chose Jonathan Keep a dellagate to Represent this Town in the State Convention to be holden at Boston on ye 22d wednesday of January next." This was probably the con- vention which assembled to consider the question of adopting the federal constitution.
Death of an Indian. "February 13, 1788. Pay to Leonard Parker £I. Ios, for nursing and Taking care of the Indian, James Symonds, when he was sick at sd Parker's house, and the Trouble of sd Indian's funeral when dead."
Shire Town. "May 2, 1791. Voted that our Repre- sentive Youse his Influence in the General Cort that an act
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be passed making Concord the Sheir Town of the County of Middlesex."
" May 7, 1792. Voted that it 'tis the mind of this town unanimously that Concord be the Shir of this County."
Painting the Meeting House, &c. "April 1, 1793. Voted to Culler the meeting-house this season and to make it neer the Culler of Chelmsford meeting- house. Voted the ruf of the meeting house be tard or Cullered as the Committee think best. Voted to cast the meeting house bell over. Chose a Committee to draw a plan and asertain the Caust of making seetes in the gallery for the Singers to set in."
Belfry. "November 22, 1793. Voted to build a bel- free at the west end of the meeting house & in the same form as Chelmsford."
Burning of the Second Meeting-House. The records do not give the precise date of this occurrence. But the following sentence will determine it very nearly :
"January 8, 1794. Sold the remander of the Nales at Vendue which were not Pick., up where the meeting house was Burnt to Mr Nathaniel Boynton for 7-6." [Seven and sixpence. ]
The vote of November 22d, quoted above, shows that it could not have been earlier than that date. It was probably some time in December, 1793.
New Meeting-House. " January 13, 1794. Voted unanimous [ly] that they would build a meeting house. Voted to chuse a Committeeto report to the next town meeting where the most Convenient plase is to build the meeting house on and the Caust of the land if they conclude to purchase ground to set it on. Voted and chose five a Committee for the above purpose: Zaccheus Wright Esq. Dea. William Hildreth Mathew Scribner, Timothy Prescott, and Col. David Goodhue."
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
" January 20, 1794. Voted the town Except the report of the Committee to look out a piece of land to Set the meeting house on, and give £20 for the land described and bounded in their report. Voted that the South Side Sill shall be set in a perrilel line from the Southeast Corner of Joel Abbot's house to the southwest Corner of Richard Kneeland's house. Voted to Chuse a Committee of three to take a Conveyance of the land bought of Joel Abbot to the Satisfaction of the town. Voted the meeting house be built 65 feet long, 48 feete wide and 28 feete posts, with a tower at the west end of said house. Voted to have 58 pews on the lower floor and 24 pews in the gallery. Voted the woales [walls] of said house be swelled & the windows be Cased and made flaring ; that thare shall be but one pare of stares to go into the Pulpitt ; that the Pulpit Canapy & Dean. Seete be nearly in the form that Chelmsford meeting house is, and that the pews shall be finished with ballasters as our old meeting house was."
"January 27, 1794. Voted to chuse a Committee of three to contract in behalf of the town with John Abbot and Moses Thomas to build and finish the meeting house agree- able to the several votes of the town; That the inhabitants pay unto Mr John Abbot & Mr Moses Thomas thirteen hun- dred pounds for building and finishing the meeting house agreeably to the votes of the town."
"August 12, 1794. Voted to pay Mr. Richard Knee- land twelve pounds for land the Committee bought of him for the use of the town." This was in addition to the land bought of Joel Abbot.
" November 1, 1794. Chose John Abbot and Moses Thomas a Committee to dress the Pulpit and Dress itt in Crimson Coler. Voted that the pews be sold on thirsday the 13th day of November 1794."
" Decem". 22, 1794 Pay Col. Zachª. Wright £57 for a note he gave at Boston for a Bell."
Unitarian Church.
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"January 5, 1795. Chose a Committee to set the Psalm -Mr Levi Hedge, Col. Benjamin Osgood, and Mr Jeremiah Hildreth."
This was the third house of worship built in Westford and it is still standing, being the property of the First Parish. It is probable that it was first occupied in January, 1795. There is no hint in the records of any service of dedication.
Bounty for Soldiers. "July 25, 1794. Voted that the town of Westford will give a Bounty of one dollar a peece to all the men to be raised for Public Servis out of this town, officers included, and if they actuley march the town votes that each Soldier shall have seven dollars per month as long as they shall serve as soldiers, including State and Continen- tal day, and provided that no more men be Detacht. from the Cavelry in this town than an Equal proportion according to the number of Cavelry that is in town and that they shall have the same pay as the other soldiers have."
This call for soldiers was probably occasioned by the troubles in Pennsylvania and the war with the Indians in the West. The men who enlisted were Sergt. Naaman Nichols, James Procter, Abel Hildreth, Elijah Hildreth, Jr., Benjamin Foster, Jr., Amaziah Hildreth, Nathaniel Cowdry, Jr., John Hildreth, Samson Fletcher, Capt. Thomas K. Green, Abijah Tarbell, Daniel Tarbell, Joseph Tarbell, Elijah Prescott, John H. Cummings, Hezekiah Richardson, Henry Wilson, Luther Boynton, James Pike, Jr., Isaac Wright, Eleazer Heald, Peter Farwell,. Joshua A. Abbot, Thomas Dutton, David Fish, Lieut. Josiah Howard, Ens. Elias Parker, Abel Boynton, Ebenezer Nutting, and John Raymond. Also, Thomas Richardson, Jr., " one of the lite horsemen Drafted to march if requested."
Plan of the Town. "October 3, 1794. Voted to chuse a Committee to Survey and take a plan of the town of West- ford."
The survey was made by Ebenezer Prescott, as is shown by the following order :
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD,
" Feb. 1796. Pay to Ebenezer Prescott $25.33 for 9 days spent in surveying the town and making out a plan."
" Voted that the Hoss Stables behint the meeting house be built nine feet hight."
The proprietors of these stables were : Joel Abbot, Dea. John Prescott, Dea. William Hildreth, Ebenezer Prescott, Lieut. Thomas Read, Joseph Keyes, Elijah Chamberlin, Isaac Cummings, Willard Fletcher, Capt. Jonathan Keyes, Amos Wright, Capt. Peletiah Fletcher, Zaccheus Read, Timothy Cummings, Willis Hall, and Col. Benjamin Osgood.
Selectmen. " March 2, 1795. Voted to chuse But three Selectmen for the year ensuing." Before this the board consisted of five men, and the change was made at this date.
County Road. " Voted that it Be the mind of this town that the County Road from Worsester come into this town Near Stonny Brook pond, so caled."
Singers. " Voted that it tis the Desire of this town that the Singers take their seets provided for them by the town and Asist in singing as formaly as they wish to make no premance." [Preeminence. ]
Burning of House. "May 6, 1795. Voted that the Town Treasurer give up the two notes that Joshua Read Jun. gave to this town as a Compensation for the loss he has met with in loosing his house by fire."
Revising the Constitution. "For revision 113 votes ; against revision 92 votes."
Stove. "December 6, 1796. Pay Jonathan Carver for tending the mason when putting a stove in the school house." At the centre, probably, where Mr. Carver then lived.
REVOLUTION TO THE YEAR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED. 155
Loss of Military Stores. "April 3, 1797. Voted to give the Representative instructions to petition the General Court for an abatement of the last year's State tax on ac- count of the loss of the meeting house and military stores by fire."
Military Review. "September 4, 1797. Voted to give each man in Capt. Keyes' and Capt. Crosby's Com- pany fifty cents as a gratuity from the town to reimburse them for the expense they may be at in going to the Review at Concord the 26th of this month."
" Oct. 12, 1797. Pay to Capt. Jonathan Keyes the sum of 35 dollars for Victuals and Drink for 70 men on the day of Review at Concord at 50 cents each."
Land of Samuel Craft. Same date. George Abbot was paid for a journey to Weare, N. H., " to get Samuel Craft's land on Record which said Craft has made over to this town for his support."
List of Paupers. March 8, 1799. - Benjamin Fester, Samuel Craft, Jeremiah Temple, Elizabeth Keyes, Elizabeth Wilson, Patience Fish, Margaret Craft, Thaddeus Read, Sarah Hildreth, Widow Mary Barrett, Widow Thankful Read, and Nehemiah Fletcher, Jun.
Losses by Fire. " May 6, 1799. Voted that the Town will help Mr Dutton and Mr Day on account of their losses by fire. Voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars for the use of Mr Dutton and family." The burning of Joseph Dut- ton's house took place April 5, 1799. It stood opposite the 'house of the late Amos Day, which is now occupied by J. T. Colburn.
Death of George Washington. Commemorative ser- vices were held in this town February 22, 18co, this being the birth-day occurring next after the death of the Father of his Country.
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
The committee of arrangements consisted of Richard Kneeland, Joseph Keyes, and Jeremiah Hildreth, who were the Selectmen for that year.
" Voted that the Committee request Mr John Abbot Jr to deliver a Eulogy or Oration on said 22nd of February, and Rev. Mr. Blake be requested to make an Introductory prayer on said day."
Muster. " October, 1800. Pay Samuel Wood the sum of $121.47 cts for providing for 147 men at Concord at the General Muster at 4s II2d per man as was struck off to him at Vendue by vote of the town." The muster was held August 27 and 28; Jonathan Keyes and Rogers King were captains of the two companies that year, and the total num- ber of men on duty was one hundred forty-seven.
Recovery of Bill Against the Town. 1800. " Pay John Raymond the sum of $53.00 and the further sum of $9.00 which sums are for the purpose of satisfying an Execu- tion against this town in favor of Elijah Flagg."
This was paid to settle a claim brought by Elijah Flagg, probably a son of Dr. Allen Flagg, for medical aid rendered to several of the town's poor by his father.
THE MIGRATION FROM WESTFORD TO OTHER TOWNS.
The following list of men who have gone out from this town to find homes in other towns, has been prepared with much care after extended investigation and inquiry, in order to show what the men of the past have done to help forward the settlement of our country and the ad- vancement of the nation. Next to the evidence of a real and praiseworthy development in the town itself, is the proof that its representatives have achieved for themselves a good name and honorable distinction in other communities. In this respect the town has no reason to be ashamed. Judged by any standard that is just and right, they are deserving of
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all praise. They " builded better than they knew." Their outgoing was the tread of stalwart men who believed that life is worth living ; of men who had an aim and a purpose, and that was to found other communities wherein should be seen in due time the ripe fruits of a true patriotism and a pure re -. ligion. They were pioneers, even as were their fathers before them-the vanguard of an advancing civilization. They took with them no ancestral honors, they bore no titles, they filled no official positions, but they won them by in- dustry, honesty, and rightousness. And it is not a little remarkable that in almost every town in which they dwelt, they became the leading men, and were called to fill every office of dignity or trust. In the broader relations of life they became justices of the peace, judges of the courts, military officers, physicians, deacons and ministers, legislators and governors.
In preparing this account it has been thought advisable to group the facts which have been ascertained, and thus, so far as practicable, to give a just view of the whole subject. No attempt has been made to arrange them chronologically, or to put the names in alphabetical order. This would be no easy task, for it will be necessary to go back to the begin- ning and to continue our researches for the period of a century, and even longer. The year of removal is given where it is known.
Sometime, it would seem not far from the date of in- corporation, Solomon Keyes-" Captain Solomon of the Pequawket affair"-removed to Western now Warren, Massachusetts, taking with him his sons, Solomon and David, probably each of them born on the old homestead. Solomon was wounded in the battle of Lake George, was carried to Fort Edward, where he died October 1, 1755. David removed to Albany, N. Y., where he died in 1761.
To Litchfield, N. H. In 1734, Aquila Underwood was authorized by the General Court to call the first town meeting in Litchfield, and at that meeting, which was held
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
July 29, 1734, he was chosen moderator, town clerk, and first selectman. He held the office of selectman for several years, and was also agent for the town in the movement for a new county. He owned a farm of 228 acres in 1737. He « continued to reside there until his death. James Underwood, probably his son, was town clerk in 1762. Also, John But- terfield, 1736; John Barrett, 1736; Jacob Hildreth, 1736; his son Jacob was selectman, 1763 ; Thomas Barrett, 1740 ; Isaac Parker (returned) ; William Read, son of William and Hannah, colonel, a noted bear hunter, was killed at the raising of a building. He gave his name to Read's Ferry. Also, Benjamin Blodgett, son-in-law of Dea. Joshua Fletcher.
To Hollis, N. H. Ephraim Burge, 1760; Ezekiel Procter, about 1771; Ebenezer Townsend, -; Minot Farmer, about 1773; William Read, about 1760; Wilder Chamberlin.
To Wilton. Levi Bixby, Sampson Keyes, and after- ward to Wilton, Me.
To Mason. Samuel Squier, James Snow, Nathaniel Boynton, William Wright, Charles Prescott.
To New Ipswich. Among the grantees of this town- ship, named in the Masonian Charter, executed at Dunstable, April 17, 1750, were Reuben Kidder, Joseph Kidder, John Chandler, and Andrew Spalding, of Westford.
Reuben Kidder heads the list. He was to make settle- ment on three shares or rights ; John Chandler and Andrew Spalding on one each. He was "for the first twenty years the father of the town." He filled important civil offices, was land surveyor, justice of the peace, captain, and colonel. He gave his attention to the cultivation of fruit, and " previous to the Revolution had one of the largest and most valuable orchards in New England, containing the rarest varieties of apples and pears." He was on intimate
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terms with Gov. Wentworth, who in 1770 conferred on him the title of Colonel of a regiment of militia. From the Masonian proprietors he received a grant of a township of land, subsequently called Washington, in New Hampshire. He assisted in the organization of the church in 1760, and was one of its original members. He had four sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to adult age, and some of them to be very old. He died in 1793, aged 70. His wife, Susanna Burge, of Westford, died in 1824, aged 88.
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