USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 10
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In one case, within a day's ride from Winchendon, a clergyman paid his whole salary for the year for a pig four weeks old. It should be said, to the honor of his people, that they afterwards took measures to make up the deficiency. In 1781, 8412,000 were needed to defray town charges.
The following citations reveal the spirit of our forefathers, while evin- cing the methods they took to support the government. "Oct. 23, Voted to choose a committee to carry into execution the Resolves of the Court respecting providing beef. Chose William Whitney, [the best judge of cattle in the town,] Francis Bridge and Joshua Gale. Voted that the above committee be directed to purchase two yoak of cattle so as to deliver them at Petersham next Wednesday. Also, to pay the money for the remaining part of the beef after two yoak of cat- tle have been delivered, if it can be collected." "Dec. 27, Voted that the committee chose last March to hire men for the war, be directed to engage this town's quota of men for three years, and report at the adjournment of this meeting, how they can get them, and what secu- rity they require."
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1781. January 1. " Granted £10,000 to procure beef that is now called for, and to help procure Continental soldiers." January 29. The following vote indicates the state of the currency in the early part of 1781. " Voted to pay £300 to Thadeus Bowman for £7, 14, 6, due to him in March, 1778. In the March meeting, £15 per day for labor on the roads was allowed. At the same meeting a committee was authorized to hire men and money for the war without calling the town together. On the 25th of June a committee was chosen to pur- chase the remaining part of the beef that is required of the town, as may be required the ensuing year. August 6. All sums of money granted to be considered to be in hard money. Voted £300 to pay towards the hire of three years' men. Also voted £173, 6, 8, to pay for the hire of three and five months' men, beef, and other things."
The design in making the preceding citations from the Records, has been to show in their own words, the opinions and the deeds of the men of the revolutionary era. Nearly everything has been copied that relates in any way to the war, and it is believed that no one really interested in the part which the town took in the war, will consider the narrative tedious. Incidentally, the reader will learn who were the most prominent men in civil and military life in the period under review. Unfortunately we have no record of the labor and sacrifices made by the virtuous and patriotic women of that day, and it is too late to draw anything definite from tradition. It is known, generally, that they wrought with their own hands, to spin, weave and make up clothing for their fathers, husbands, sons and brothers, who went to fight the bat- tles of freedom. Besides, they aided the old men and the boys by la- boring on the farm in planting, hay and harvest-time, and also in the care of the cattle. They were the mates and mothers of heroes.
It would be impossible, at this late day, to give a perfect history of what was done by Winchendon in the war of the revolution ; but much may be gathered from the foregoing pages ; and the following extract from the Records is of great value. On the 20th of March, 1780, John Beemis, Amos Merriam and John Day, were chosen a committee to hire men for the war. In April, 1782, they made a Report, which of course does not go back previous to the time of their appointment, covering about two years. The Report is as follows :
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
" Account of money paid by the committee for hiring men.
To Jesse Ellis, £535, 10, 0. - Samuel Stimpson, 22, 10, 0.
To Samuel Russell, 422, 0, 0.
Joseph Wilder, 105, 0, 0.
To Jobn Heywood, 150, 2, 0.
Isaac Stimpson, 30, 0, 0.
Josiah Beeman, 19, 10, 0.
William Whitcomb, 36, 0, 0.
Samuel Stone, 51, 0, 0.
To Amos Merriam, for Daniel, 385, 10, 0.
Committee's Rec't, 216, 0, 0.
To Jesse Ellis, 141, 0, 0. William Whitney, 280, 10, 0.
Moses Potter, 150, 2, 0.
Joseph Day, 150, 8, 0.
Joseph Day, 2212, 4, 0.
Jesse Ellis, 141,
0, 0.
Abel Brown, 245, 5, 0.
Committee's Rec't,
30, 0, 0.
Jonathan Smith, 321, 4, 6.
David Smith,
150, 2, 0.
William Poor,
454, 12, 0.
Samuel Griggs, 180, 2, 0.
James Stoddard, 240, 0, 0.
In hard money, £6.
Edward Withington,
161, 0, 0.
Zenas Stoddard,
240, 0, 0.
In hard money, £4, 10.
Edward Payson,
1423, 0, 0.
Hezekiah Hancock. 40, 10, 0.
Committee's Rec't.
61, 4, 0.
Francis Goodhue, 150, 2 0.
Abel Brown,
36, 0, 0.
Nathan Maynard, 390, 0, 0.
Jeremiah Lord, 352, 2, 0.
Silas Bemis,
390, 0, 0.
Benjamin Rice, 57, 0, 0.
Daniel Hubbard, 45, 0, 0.
Joseph Boynton, 135, 0, 0.
Committee's Rec't,
563, 15, 7.
Edward Payson, 288, 7, 0.
Committee's Rec't, 30, 0, 0.
Levi Nichols,
600, 0, 0.
James Noyes,
27, 0, 0.
Samuel Noyes, 33, 6, 0.
Abraham Brigham,
209, 0, 0.
Joseph Day, 82, 17, 0.
Abel Wilder, 37, 10, 0.
John Boynton, 393, 15, 0.
Joseph Boynton, 160,
0, 0.
Committee Receipt, 31, 10, 0.
Gardner Moor, 468, 0, 0. 30, 0, 0.
Phillips Switzer, 110, 5, 0.
Amos Hale,
45, 0, 0.
Phillips Switzer,
210, 0, 0.
Samuel Noyes, 160. 0, 0.
228, 0, 0. Uriah Crooks, 27, 0, 0.
Solomon Biglow,
160, 0, 0.
James Stoddard, 30, 0, 0.
Thadeus Bowman, 84, 0, 0.
Abner Hale,
200, 2, 0.
Solomon Biglow,
10. 10, 0. 6, 2, 0.
of David Smith, 112, 10, 0.
John Day,
Committee's Rec't, 46, 16, 0.
Amos Hale,
6, 0, 0.
Benjamin Brown, 99, 0, 0.
Committee's Rec't, 106, 10, 0.
Jacob Hale, 57, 0, 0.
Joseph Day, 152, 16, 0.
James Noyes. 160, 0, 0.
Joseph Day, 90, 0, 0.
Joseph Boynton, 100, 0, 0.
90 0, 0.
Stephen Barrett, 15, 0, 0.
Joseph Day, 77, 4, 0.
Nathaniel Bixby, 498, 0, 0.
Paid as mileage to the
three months' men, 480, 0, 0.
Joseph Wilder, 94, 10, 0.
John Burr. 87, 0, 0.
Hezekiah Hancock. 51, 0, 0.
Ebenezer How, 12, 0, 0.
Samuel Prentice, 81, 0, 0.
Uriah Crooks,
Money the committee received by the way
Jesse Ellis, by picking and sowing 4 acres of land, 480, 0, 0.
Abner Hale, 15, 0, 0.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
SECTION. 8 .- THE ROLL OF HONOR.
The names in the preceding list are, in several instances, repeated, and some of them occur in the following roll. What were the services rendered by the men whose names have been given on the foregoing page, with the exception of those which are to be found in the columns following, cannot now be ascertained. It is certain that some of them were in service for a short time during the last two years of the war.
The following list contains the names of those men of Winchendon, who are known to have borne arms in the revolutionary war. The larger part of them were inhabitants of the town at the time. A por- tion of them moved hither after the war, but their names are record- ed in the roll of honor, because they reveal to us the character of the people who settled here in the first generation.
The following men were in the battle of Bunker Hill, viz :
Capt. Abel Wilder,
Serg't. Benjamin Rice,
Samuel Bradish,
Elisha Brown,
Timothy Darling,
John Day, Nathan Day, Amos Hale, David Stoddard.
The following were " Minute Men," ready to take the field at a mo- ment's warning, all of whom served more or less during the war.
Roger Bates, Thaddeus Bowman, John Boynton,
Moses Hale, Bill Hancock, Benjamin Kimball, Amos Merriam,
Stephen Boynton,
Samuel Bradish,
Dudley Parley, or Perley,
Elisha Brown,
John N. Parson, Jr.,
Samuel Brown,
John Porter, Benjamin Rice,
Zebulon Conant,
John Darling,
Ephraim Sawyer,
John Day,
Eb'r Sherwin, (drummer,)
Nathan Day,
Abijah Stimson, Ephraim Stimson,
David Goodridge, Jacob Hale,
Joseph Wilder.
The following, though not at Bunker Hill, nor in the roll of " Min- ute Men," were soldiers in active service.
Gamaliel Beaman, Solomon Bigelow, Joseph Boynton, George Coffin,
Jewett B. Darling, John Darling, Daniel Day, Joseph Day,
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Eliphalet Goodridge, Jacob Hale,
David Poor, Nathan Pushey, David Rice.
Eden London .*
Theodore May, James McElwain,
Ahimaaz Sherwin, (drummer,) Jonathan Smith,
Isaac Nichols,
Robert Steel,
Isaac Noyes,
Samuel Steel,
James Noyes, Seth Oaks,
Luther Stimpson, +
Richard Parsons,
The following men went into the war from other towns, but soon afterwards moved into Winchendon.
Capt. Samuel Baldwin,
Eleazar Parks,
Daniel Balcom,
Ephraim Parmenter,
William Poland, Sr.,
Andrew Benjamin,
Lt. Col. Paul Raymond,
Asa Bowker,
John Brooks,
Levi Brooks,
Stephen Emery,
David Roberts, -Sawtell,
John Fessenden, John Flint,
David Smith, Ebenezer Smith,
Thomas Flint,
Seth Tucker, Jedediah Tuttle,
Capt. Thomas Greaton,
Capt. Jacob Wales,
Thomas Greenwood,
Daniel Hubbard,
Benjamin Hubbard,
Col. Jacob B. Woodbury.
Capt. Lemuel Heywood;
A few personal anecdotes and incidents will be a fitting conclusion to this chapter.
Stephen Emery, who moved into the town after the revolution, was in the war, and fought at Bunker Hill. His daughter, Mrs. Cum- mings, used to relate that her father's gun became so heated, by rapid firing, that he was obliged to desist until it became cooled.
George Coffin, afterwards the well known Dea. Coffin, entered the service at the age of sixteen, and remained three years. He was such
*Eden London was the slave of Daniel Goodridge, and as such was not lia- ble to do military dnty; but he served in lieu of his master, on condition of becoming a freeman.
tSon of the first minister.
¿ Went as a substitute about three weeks.
Joseph Wilder.
Thornton Barrett,
Lt. Paul Raymond, James Raymond, # Phinehas Rice,
John Estey,
John Gill,
Jacob Whitney, Dr. Israel Whiton,
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
a slender stripling that the recruiting officer inquired if he could shoot a man. He thought he could, with a good gun. At the time of his discharge, the army was in Virginia, and he came home on foot, stop- ping at various places to earn enough to provide food. How different from the return of our soldiers after putting down the rebellion, by rail and steamboat !
Moses Potted was very short in stature, and in order to " pass" him, he was provided with high heeled shoes, by John Day, one of the town's committee for hiring men. He made a good soldier, though not a giant.
David Smith assisted in placing the hand-cuffs upon Andre. He was a blacksmith.
Seth Tucker was near West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, and the capture of Andre. He told me that the army was a " dread- ful wicked place." He was a man of warm and simple-hearted piety, who was shocked by the profaneness and vice of the camp.
Luther Stimpson was a mere stripling of sixteen when he entered the army, but came out with credit.
John Darling and Phillip Rollins went with Arnold, through the wilds of Maine, to Quebec, and was there when the brave Montgomery fell, and was borne from the thick of the fight by young Aaron Burr.
Lieut. David Poor was out several years. For awhile he was a pris- oner in New York, when he worked as a tailor, and received good pay from the British officers. While in the army, a soldier made a bet that he could walk a certain number of rods with a pumpkin on his head. Poor took up the wager. The other started, and was drawing near to the gaol, when Poor, determined not to lose his bet, raised his gun and shot the pumpkin from the soldier's head. It is related that when he came home, after several years' absence, and dressed in an officer's uniform, with a sword by his side, his wife did not recognize him. She prepared food for him as a returning soldier, and made inquiries about the war, but could not be induced to give him lodgings. At length, thinking him indelicately importunate to remain, she seized the long fire-shovel, and drove him out. As he passed through the door, he turned and laughingly said : " Miss Poor, I guess you don't know me." She knew him at once, when her proper indignation gave way to glad- ness for his return ..
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KER SENR
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Smith, above-mentioned, lost one of his hands, but would not aban- don the service. By the use of a hook, he contrived to load and fire, and to hit his mark.
But the stories of the soldiers, if they could be collected, would fill a volume. It is necessary to pass from the history of individuals, to that of the town. It may however be proper to record in this place, that Jonathan Pollard, Aaron Ellis, Thornton Barrett, and James Bra- dish, Sr., were in the last French war. Barrett was shot in the body at Fort Edward, and all of them saw hard service. In the same war, Robert Bradish, Sr., was a scout.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER VII .- SHAYS' REBELLION.
" Ah me ! what perils do environ The man that meddles with cold iron! For though Dame Fortune seems to smile, And leer upon him for a while, She'll after show him, in the nick Of all his glories, a dog-trick."
BUTLER.
SECTION 1 .- GRIEVANCES.
The next event in order, in connection with the history of the town, which requires distinct treatment, is what is called "Shays' Rebellion." The temptation to give a general account of this affair, will be avoided, while attention will be confined, as far as possible, to the part which Winchendon shared in it, with many other towns extending from Bris- tol to Berkshire. The people of this place felt the deepest interest in the matter, and there was a brief season when war seemed imminent even here between neighbors, relatives and friends. There are prob- ably aged persons who remember the old ballad about Shays that be- gan in this way :-
" My name is Shays, In former days In Pelham I did dwell, Sir, I was obliged to quit that place Because I did rebel, Sir."
If not, they remember, without doubt, hearing of Shays and his re- bellion, in their childhood.
After the revolutionary war many people were very poor, and many soldiers who had fought and suffered severely, found themselves desti- tute. It was a hard time to pay debts, and even honest people felt that their creditors were too pressing. Besides, loose notions were abroad, and some held the idea that the true policy was to divide all property
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
equally among the people. One man being asked what should be done, when in the course of years, some men became richer than others, ex- pressed the wish of many in his reply : " divide again." The discon- tent was so great in Massachusetts, as to create alarm in the breast of Washington and other patriots throughout the Union, lest all the fruits of the war of independence would be lost. Complaints began to be made before the return of peace, and the acknowledgment of our nation- ality by the king of England, but there was no actual outbreak except mobs at Northampton and one or two other places, for two or three years. The hardships of the people increased however, and many be- came impatient. That large numbers should be in debt, after so long a war, was inevitable. Moreover all the evidence of tradition and rec- ords concurs in the verdict, that intemperance had greatly increased, as well as vice and immorality generally. The irregular habits of camp life, and the prevalence of French infidelity had done much in the way of demoralizing the people. The only remedy for the unhappy state of affairs, was a reformation of morals, industry and frugality. But this process would require the self-denial which many were not ready to endure. It is doubtless true also that many persons who had means ; speculators who had become wealthy during the war, and others, took advantage of the necessities of the poor, and those in moderate circum- stances, and pressed for the payment of debts when liquidation was impossible without ruinous sacrifice to the debtor.
The movement finally took the shape of an attack on the Courts of Justice, for the purpose of delaying judgment against debtors. The State was in debt to the amount of several millions, including the State debt, what was due to officers and soldiers, and its proportion of the national debt. Probably the State could now carry more easily the load of 8100,000,000, than our fathers could bear what weighed upon them in 1786. Their situation and wants may be inferred from the action of County Conventions held in 1786, at Concord, Leicester, Pax- ton and Hatfield, in the month of August and later in the autumn. The evils they wished to have redressed were : " Sitting of the General Court in Boston; 2, The want of a circulating system ; 3, The abu- ses in the practice of the law, and the exorbitance of the fee table ; 4, The existence of the Courts of Common Pleas in their present mode of administration ; 5, The appropriating the revenue arising from the im-
108
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
post and excise to the payment of the interest of the State securities ; 6, The unreasonable and unnecessary grants made by the General Court to the Attorney General and others; 7, The Servants of the government being too numerous, and having too great salaries ; 8, The existence of the Senate." The Conventions expressed devotion to the government, even while favoring measures that undermined all exist- ing authority. For example, the Convention at Paxton, November 3, 1786, declared that however they might suffer in their characters, per- sons and estates, they should think themselves " happy if they could, in the least degree, contribute to restore harmony to the Common- wealth, and to support the weight of a tottering empire."
To carry out their design, they organized into armed bands, led gen- erally by officers who had fought in the Revolution. It is to be noted that no officers of distinction, and none above the rank of captain, were visible in the movement ; though it has been the opinion of not a few, that such a wide-spread and concerted outbreak taking a military form, must have been fostered by men of capacity and wicked ambition, who were directing in secret, till matters should come to such a head that they could openly assume command with the hope of success, and per- haps of becoming the head of a new order of things.
These bands met in Taunton, Concord, Worcester, Springfield, Northampton and Lenox, and in several cases succeeded in forcing an adjournment of the Courts, and thus compelled the creditor class to wait for the payment of their dues. This action of the rebels, for such they finally became, made it necessary for the State to take extraordi- nary measures for the maintenance of its authority. But before nar- rating the closing scene, when the rebellion was suppressed, it is our part to follow the proceedings of the town in its corporate capacity. The votes passed will be given with sufficient fulness to exhibit the state of things here at the time. It will be seen by the reader that there was almost a dramatic interest in the proceedings of a town meeting, which in ordinary times are prosaic and dull.
On the 4th of February, 1786, the town voted to instruct their rep- resentative in the General Court-Abel Wilder-" to use his influence to have an act passed making personal, and in some cases, real estate a tender to satisfy debts, when the action is commenced, or to give any other instruction the town shall think proper." The committee of in-
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
structions were Levi Nichols, Samuel Crosby, Stephen Barrett, Ben- jamin Kidder and Dea. Hale. The town voted in " favor of the [pro- posed] tender act," and " against having paper money," and then " to have paper money, provided a tender act could not be obtained."
In these days if there was general discontent, it would be manifested in the organization of a party to seek redress in a peaceable way, but in 1786, this course was not taken. No arrangements were made to change the State government, but the towns expressed the general sentiment in the election of their representatives. Thus the discontent ran into violence and military resistance. At the election in May, the votes in this town show that no expectation of redress was expected from the election of governor, and other State officials.
Gov. James Bowdoin had 12 votes, John Hancock, 7, Benjamin Lincoln, 4, for the office of governor ; Lieut. Gov. Benjamin Lincoln had 7 votes, and Thomas Cushing 4 for the second office. Abel Wil- der had 17 for Senator and Councillor. At the same time the latter was unanimously chosen representative.
SECTION 2 .- EXCITED TOWN MEETINGS.
On the 11th of August the question came up in town meeting wheth- er a delegate should be sent to a Convention of Worcester county, to be held by adjournment, at the house of George Bruce, in Leicester, on the 15th of the month. The motion passed in the affirmative, when Mr. Samuel Litch was unanimously chosen for the above purpose. A committee of five was chosen to draw up instructions to the delegate, viz : Levi Nichols, Ebenezer Richardson, Matthew Knight, James Mc Elwain, and James Steel. The meeting adjourned for one hour, that the committee might have time to draw up the instructions. These are not on the Records. The meeting then adjourned to the 21st, to hear a report from Mr. Litch, when he laid the proceedings of the Convention before the town. On the 6th day of October, Mr. Litch brought a petition of Convention-probably some later meeting of the same Comvention-before the town, when the town voted " it agreea- ble to their mind." Mr. Litch was instructed to attend an adjourned meeting of the Convention. Then adjourned to November 21st, at which time Mr. Litch presented an address of the Convention to the people, which being read, the town "voted it agreeable to their minds."
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Adjourned to December 18. An Act of the General Court was then read. This was probably the Act relating to private debts, intended to favor the debtor class. The meeting then adjourned to January 1, 1787. All this time the insurgents were in arms, and the Government troops were moving to the scene of action.
At the adjourned meeting, on the first day of the new year, the ad- dress from the General Court to the people was read, and several acts and laws. These laws included a " tender act ;" an " act of indem- nity ;" an " act reducing fee bills ;" an " act for the more easy pay- ing of back taxes ;" and an "act regulating the Courts of Common Pleas and Sessions of the Peace." They were all intended to remove every just cause of complaint, and thus take away all excuse for re- sisting the Government. At the same time, while showing this kindly regard for the suffering classes, the Government maintained its honor and authority by raising a sufficient force to quell the rebellion.
Before giving the action of this meeting, it is necessary to go back a few days, and bring up a few other proceedings bearing on the sub- ject before it for consideration. Here is a document which shows the state of mind quite prevalent here, and gives the names of many of the actors.
" To the Selectmen of Winchendon :
GENTLEMEN : We the subscribers request that you [call] a town meeting, to be held on Thursday, the 21th of this instant, at two of the clock in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, viz :
First, to choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
2uly, To take into consideration a letter directed to the Town Clerk of Winchendon, respecting the Regulators, (as they are called) signed by Rug- les Spooner, and all letters and papers that has, or may be sent to the said town of Winchendon, before the said meeting herein before requested, re- specting the present mode of government within this State, and the opposition made by the above-mentioned Regulators, and take the minds of the town thereon, or act on the whole as they shall think proper.
December 15th, 1786.
Francis Bridge, Eli Smith, Joshua Gale, Jeremiah Lord, Ahimaaz Sher- win, Asa Robinson, Paul Boyuton, Ebenezer Sherwin, Daniel Hubbard, Sol- omon Bigelow, Bill Hancock, David Stoddard, James Steel, Levi Bixby, Amos Heywood, Samuel Steel, Nathan Knight, Daniel Balcom, Samuel Noyes, Nathan Flint, John Beemis, Bartholomew Stearns, Jonathan Stimp-
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
son, Moses Hale, Abner Hale, Abner Curtice, Ebenezer Richardson, Ado- nijah Bixby, Samuel Litch, Thos. Greaton, Isaac Proughty, Amariah Haven, Thomas Rugg, Bemsly Lord, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, Jewett Darling, Jonathan Smith."
This petition was so cautiously worded that the opinions of the sign- ers could not be positively inferred at this late day, but it is known that their sympathies were with the Regulators. They took care, however, to avoid all action in town meeting, which would involve themselves in the guilt of rebellion. The meeting was held in accord- ance with this petition, on the 21st of December, and Samuel Litch was chosen Moderator. Upon a motion being made " to see whether the town will take up the letter under consideration, the vote passed in the affirmative." A motion was then made " to see if the town will petition the Governor and Council to liberate Capt. Shattuck and others, taken by Government, agreeable to the request in said letter." Carried in the affirmative. This Capt. Shattuck was a prominent leader in the Shays movement, in Middlesex county. His violence had led justly to his arrest and imprisonment. A motion was then made " to see if the town will petition the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives to suspend the Court of Common Pleas, till a new choice of the General Court." The yeas had it. Then chose the following committee to draw up the petition : Dea. Moses Hale, Eli Smith, Fran- cis Bridge, Matthew Knight, and Ebenezer Richardson. Then the meeting adjourned to January 1, 1787. Here follows the petition.
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