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 27
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286
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
suiting the action to the word, he brought on his toddy, flip, or what- ever drink he had compounded for the occasion. The minister took a draught, according to the usual custom, and was about to begin upon his errand. But the host took the lead in conversation, and passing from one subject to another-health, weather, politics, domestic and relig- ious matters-left no chance for the friendly warning. Mr. Brown finally concluded he must go home, hoping to drop a parting word on the subject which had impelled him to come out on such an inclement day. But herc he was foiled again, the host saying : " Really, Mr. Brown, you mus'nt go out into the cold without taking something to keep you warm ;" and actually induced him to take another drink on retiring. When questioned by his anxious neighbors about the success of his mission, he was obliged to confess that the man's politeness and volubility had prevented all allusion to the subject of hard-drinking.
SECTION 2 .- TIPPLING AND TAVERN-IIAU NTING.
After the Revolution, and down to the close of the first quarter of this century, there was a period of some fifty years, that has no parallel in our history, either before or after, for intemperance. It was the saturn- alia of rum. Ministers preached and moralists declaimed against the evil and the sin ; friends remonstrated, while wives and children grieved ; but still the tide of ruin rolled on, bearing away thousands of debased but willing victims. The laws were also enforced, to a certain extent, and probably some effect was produced by way of preventing the increase of intemperance, though not in securing its suppression. Among the measures adopted in this place, we find the following in the Records, under date of 1809, December 28. There was an article in the war- rant calling a town meeting, " to see if the town will take some meth- od to prevent a number of the inhabitants of said town, from spending their time and property at public houses, by appointing guardians, or some other way, as they shall think proper." After considering the matter, it was voted :
" 1. That it be recommended to the inhabitants of this town, as far as pos- sible, to discountenance every species of prodigality and unnecessary expendi- ture of time and money, inconsistent with the necessities or conveniences thereof.
2. That this town view with regret, the habits which many of its inhab- itants have imbibed, of spending much of their time and money in frequenting
287
HISTORY OF WISCHENDON.
public houses unnecessarily, which tends to destroy the manners, corrupts the morals, and too frequently tends to a life of dissipation, which ends in the ruin of the persons concerned in such practices.
It is therefore voted, that this town pointedly disapproves of this practice as destructive to the community, and detrimental to the peace and good order of society, and so contrary to the good laws of this Commonwealth.
Voted, that it be recommended to the innhold ers and retailers of spirit- uous liquors, to discountenance, as far as possible, the above practice, as it is pointedly in the face of the law therein made and provided.
Voted, that the Selectmen be and they are hereby directed to forward to each tavern keeper, innholder and retailer in this town, a copy of the above resolutions, signed by them, and attested by the town Clerk. And also take such other measures to prevent the continuation of said practices as are con- sistent with the laws of this Commonwealth."
Nothing farther relating to this subject is found till the year 1817, when, as mentioned in the chapter on the support of the poor, a reso- lution was passed by the town, in reference to the use of intoxicating drinks as a principal cause of poverty and crime. That action need not be quoted again, only to remind the reader that " the licensed houses and retailers" were constantly violating the law, and that the town felt the need of having them prosecuted by the Selectmen, and if that failed to procure obedience, of withholding their license.
SECTION S .- OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.
About the same time,-1814- the town in common with the State, was alarmed at the growing laxity in respect of the keeping of the Sab- bath as holy unto the Lord. On the 7th of November it was
" Voted, that the town most cordially approve the law of this Commonwealth enacted to enforce a due observance of the Lord's day, and also of the last re- port of the legislature on the subject.
Voted, that we, the inhabitants of the town hereby pledge ourselves that we will give all the aid in our power, and make every just and proper effort to secure the execution of the laws providing for the duc observance of the Lord's day."
At the same meeting the Tything-men were recommended to enter forth with on the peculiar duties of their office ; and approbation was ex- pressed in regard to the " late proceedings at Phillipston," where a meet- ing had been held in favor of the proper observance of the Sabbath.
288
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
The connection of this extract from the Records with the preceding, is evident, inasmuch as Sabbath desecration is always attended with in- temperance and vice, and the sacred keeping of that day is as uniform- ly accompanied by all the virtues which adorn the home, bless the coun- try, and beautify the church of God.
It is well known that great efforts have been made during the last forty years, to suppress intemperance by the force of law, as well as by moral influence. This town has uniformly been in favor of all judicious legislation on this subject. A vote passed at the annual meeting, March 6, 1843, may be taken as the habitual sense of the town, in relation to laws regulating the sale of spirituous liquors.
"On motion, voted, that in our opinion, public good does not require that any person or persons be licensed to sell intoxicating drinks in this town the ensuing year, and that we hereby request our Selectmen to withhold their ap- probation from all persons who may apply for it in order to enable them to procure a license, except for mechanical and medicinal purposes."
No person has been authorized to sell intoxicating liquors in this town, for many years, except the town agent, and it has not been openly sold outside of his store to any great extent. Persons have supplied them- selves with the article in various ways, but generally by an underhand- ed process. By all which it appears that the record of the town, in re- lation to temperance and good morals, is highly honorable.
SECTION 4 .- PRIVATE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TEMPERANCE.
Not far from forty years ago, some of the leading men of the town were impelled by their sense of duty, to exert their influence as private citizens, against the alarming evils of rum-drinking. Among others, the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., told his farm hands, as haying time drew nigh, that he should not furnish them with liquor during haying and harvesting. He was willing to add to their wages the cost of the usual allowance of liquors, but he would not furnish the liquor for them, nor employ those who habitually made use of it. They demurred at first, and urged that they could not endure the labor and the heat of summer, without the customary stimulus. He remained firm however, and they yielded the point. The result was that his work was done better than ever before, and the men confessed that they never did their work with so little fatigue and trouble. The experiment was a success.
289
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Capt. Phinehas Whitney and others had a similar experience. In this quiet way a temperance reform was begun which led to very happy re- sults. The practice of not furnishing stimulating liquors to workmen, whether on the farm or in shops and factories, became universal, in a few years, and continues to the present time.
Effort in another method was tried at a subsequent period, which was followed with good results. About twenty years ago, two or three gen- tlemen who were members of the School Committee together, undertook to hold a series of meetings for the benefit of the scholars. Mr. Elisha Murdock and the writer visited every district in the town, and addressed nearly all the children then connected with the schools. Their method was, to visit a school, and after examining into its condition and prog- ress, to invite all the members, with their teacher, to be present in the afternoon of the next Saturday, at a specified hour. They were told the object of the meeting, and that they would be asked to sign the Tem- perance pledge if their parents were willing. These invitations were always well responded to, and the attendance was large. After speak- ing to the children upon the evils of self-indulgence, and the importance of being fixed in their childhood in favor of temperance, and after ex- plaining the meaning of the pledge, they were invited to sign their names. They, with few exceptions, took the pledge, and there is reason to be- lieve that the enviable reputation for temperance, good morals and in- dustry which this town enjoys, is due in some measure to these quiet and unpretending efforts. It should be added that the Rev. Andrew Dunn and Mr. Sullivan B. Ball, were present and assisted on several occasions.
SECTION 5 .- TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
The first associated action on the subject of temperance, in the tech- nical sense of the word, in this section of the Commonwealth, was taken in the study of Rev. EBER L. CLARK. He was then the pastor of the First Congregational Church, and the subject came up before the Wor- cester North Association of ministers, with which he was connected. According to a published statement of the late DANIEL HENSHAW, Esq., who resided in this town, at the time, they took ground against the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and agreed to exert their influ- ence in inducing others to follow their example. This was before the Temperance Reformation had gained public recognition, and when they
19
290
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
were obliged to encounter, not only the cravings of a perverted appe- tite, and the pecuniary interest of dealers, but also the prestige of un- broken and universal usage. The temperance movement was thus in- itiated in all the towns in this vicinity ; for the pastors strengthened by each other's co-operation, went home, and began to preach and lecture against intemperance, until their congregations were enlisted in the cause. It was a severe struggle, but the ministers were faithful to their convictions of duty, and they soon found many of the best members of the churches on their side. Sensible men-farmers and others-soon joined them. The ladies gave their influence, in large measure, and the reformation went forward. When the first Temperance Society was formed here is not definitely known, but it was certainly in the early days of this great moral enterprise.
The first pledge, as all know who can remember those days, was to abstain from the use of distilled liquors,-rum, brandy, gin, whiskey, etc.,-but wine, cider, ale and beer were not proscribed. Some good resulted from this effort, but it was soon found that men could make themselves drunk on fermented drinks. Besides, some had no diffi- culty in strengthening the permitted beverages with liquids of more stimulating quality. And again, it was soon learned that the wine, ale and hard-cider drinker could have no influence over those addicted to the use of more powerful liquors. It was either necessary to abandon the use of " all that could intoxicate," or give up the incipient reform- ation. This was the second stage of the great movement. A Society was formed here on this basis, including not only the clergymen in town, but many of the most influential citizens. The physicians, among whom Dr. Alvah Godding was conspicuous, lent their powerful aid. The deacons of the churches, so far as now remembered, were all enlisted. Respectable people still clung to their wine ; some even to their rum and brandy ; but they ceased to provide liquors at funerals, weddings and parties. The bottles were banished from the side-board. The old custom of asking visitors to take a drink, became obsolete. The eleven o'clock dram was dispensed with, and " drinking" was confined, very much to the bar-room and to festive gatherings of men, not of the stricter sort, and when ladies were not present.
It is not necessary to give a history of all, or even of any of the va- rious temperance organizations, which from time to time have existed in the town. It is enough to say that besides the society already re-
291
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ferred to, there was a " Band of Hope," composed of the children, flourishing here in 1842-4; the Washingtonian movement reached here, and was the means of reclaiming quite a number ; a society on the basis of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate, except for " medicinal, mechanical and sacramental uses," was in active operation from about 1845 to 1856 ; and by all these agencies, great good was effected. Besides many sermons and addresses by the clergymen of the town, lectures from some of the most eminent of the leading men engaged in the reform, were heard. Rev. Dr. Porter, then Presiding Elder of the district, Rev. John Pierpont, Dr. Jewett, Mr. Hawkins and others, drew large audiences, and exerted a powerful influence.
During this period, a combination was formed, outside of the tem- perance organization, to prosecute all violators of the prohibitory law within the limits of the town. It included many members of the tem- perance society, and quite a number of men who were not in that or- ganization,-all voters-who were convinced that the violation of the law led to unhappy and ruinous results. The combination, united by a written pledge, was so strong, that while it existed, no one had the hardihood to violate the law by the open sale of intoxicating liquors.
Of later date was the organization of the Sons of Temperance, which, though it did not include those friends of temperance who were opposed to all secret societies, exerted a strong and healthful influence in favor of the great reform. In time, this society was succeeded by the Good Templars, in two branches or divisions,-best known to the initiated- one of them made up of children, under the lead of their seniors ; and the other of adults. They are based on the pledge of "total abstinence," and the enforcement of the prohibitory law ; besides which they are in- tended to exert a social and kindly influence by means of frequent meet- ings, music and literary exercises, in favor of the temperance cause.
In all these modes, and by the circulation of temperance periodicals, the cause of self-denial and sound morals has been promoted among us. The church, including the ministry, is the real source and abiding cause of all efficient moral action, but these various organizations are its in- struments in effecting its great objects. Wherever the church is in- spired by the Spirit of God, the tone of morals will be high, and its power will be felt, by various agencies, through the whole community.
·
292
HISTORY OF WINOHENDON.
CHAPTER XX. - THE MILITIA.
When John Adams was in Paris, in the capacity of a minister at the Court of Versailles, he was asked by a Frenchman to tell him what were the causes that made the inhabitants of New England such a peculiar people ; so moral, intelligent, religious and free. He replied that there were four causes which united in producing the results which the inqui- rer so much admired. 1, The Church ; 2, the Town Organization with its meetings for business, &c .; 3, the Common School System ; and 4, the Militia. This was his reply, substantially, though not in the ex- act words. These four causes have been at work in this place, and have concurred in making the people homogeneous with all the rest of New England. The church was almost coeval with the first settlement, and preceded the organization of the town ; the town was formed as soon as there were people enough to render it advisable ; the school has been in operation ever since there were children enough to require a teach- er, and the militia, till comparatively recent times, has taught every able-bodied man how to defend his country.
It is difficult to find any definite information respecting the first mil- itary organization in Winchendon. Being entirely under the control of the State, there is no reference to it in the Records of the Propri- etors or of the town, except an occasional vote of the latter to remit the poll-tax of the soldiers, buy their uniforms, supply them with cartridges, or grant some similar favor, in consideration of their loss of time in the annual, semi-annual, or more frequent musters. At the time of the in- corporation of the town, there was not a large number of men to be form- ed into a military company. Probably there were not more than twen- ty men in the beginning of 1764, who were liable to do military duty. These however were all accustomed to the use of fire-arms, and could defend themselves and their families from the incursions of wild beasts and the attacks of Indians.
293
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
During the next ten years a company was formed, probably, because there was a military organization here at the time of the " Lexington alarm" in 1775. When the news first came, a few men hurried off, under the lead, says tradition, of Moses Hale ; but before going far, they learned the result of that movement of the British troops and re- turned home. In a few days the company, composed of Winchendon, Royalston and Templeton men, under the command of Capt. Abel Wil- der, were on their way to Boston. This is known from letters written by Capt. Wilder to his wife, before the close of May. A part of this company was in the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June. From this time, the regular militia system was superseded by other modes of raising volunteers, and procuring men for the regular army. Some of the men who were officers during the war, were Messrs. Wilder, Mer- riam, Oaks, Poor, Boynton, and others.
Their names, though not always their rank, appear in the chapter ou the Revolution.
The militia force was in an organized condition after the establishment of peace, and the acknowledgment of our independence by Great Brit- ain. This was in 1783. In 1786-7, the Governor of Massachusetts sent a requisition for troops to put down the Shays' rebellion. When the requisition reached here, the company was wanted, and met on the Common, when there was a call for volunteers. The names of the com- missioned officers have not been learned by the author with certainty. but as Paul Boynton, and Daniel Hubbard were commissioned captains in 1788, it is probable they were either first lieutenants or ensigns, in the two or three preceding years. Starting from this point, the names of the oficers and their rank, with the date of their commission, will be given in the following table. The Winchendon companies belonged to the Fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, Seventh Division, until 1820, af- ter which they belonged to the Sixth Division ; the number of the Regi- ment and Brigade remaining unchanged.
YEAR. YAMB.
RANK.
1788. Paul Boynton,
1788. Daniel Hubbard.
Jacob B. Woodbury,
1789. Adonijah Bixby,
Ensign.
1793. Paul Boynton,
1793. David Rice,
Captain. Captain. Lieutenant
Major. Captain
294
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
YEAR.
NAME.
1793. Levi Moor, Adonijah Bixby,
1793. Isaac Noyes,
1794. Thomas Graton,
1794. Isaac Noyes,
1794. Samuel P. Goodrich,
1795. Levi Heywood,
Thomas Graton,
1797. Benjamin Wilder,
Cyrus Brown,
1799. Paul Boynton, Levi Moor,
Nathaniel Holman,
Levi Heywood,
Lieutenant.
Ensign.
About this time some of the soldiers of Win- chendon belonged to the Cavalry, First Reg- iment Horse, Second Division.
2d Lieutenant.
1791. Joseph Brown, Battalion of Cavalry, in Second Brigade, Seventh Division. Paul Raymond,
1790. 1791. 1802. 1806. 66
Joseph Brown,
Phinehas Whitney,
Lieutenant. 2d Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Captain.
It was at this last date that the affair of the Chesapeake occurred, when the soldiers of the country were called upon to be in readiness for public service. The Cavalry Co., made up of soldiers from this and neighboring towns, pa- raded at New Boston, and under the appeal of Capt. Whitney to volunteer with him, they all pledged themselves to march when summoned. 'They were not needed, but this spirit was none the less conspicuous. We return to the In- fantry.
1800. Jacob B. Woodbury,
1800. Abel Jones,
1801. Benjamin Hubbard,
Abiel Alger,
1802. Abel Jones,
1802. Abiel Alger, Lemuel Heywood,
.€ Samuel Leach,
1803. Nathaniel Holman, William Bickford,
Lt. Col. Com'g. Eneign. Lieutenant. Ensign. Lieutenant. Lieutenant. Ensign.
Adjutant. Qr. Master.
RANK.
Captain. Lieutenant. Ensign. Ensign. Lieutenant.
Ensign. .. Lieutenant. 66
Ensign. Lt. Colonel. Major. Qr. Master.
Benjamin Adams, Daniel Boynton,
295
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
TEAR.
NAME.
1804. Benjamin Adams, Lemuel Heywood,
Timothy Hancock,
David Beaman,
1805 .* Lemuel Heywood,* David Beaman,
Captain. Lieutenant
Luke Prentice,
Ensign.
Timothy Hancock, +
Captain.
Israel Whitcomb,
Lieutenant
Ensign.
Ensign.
Captain.
Lieutenant.
Ensign.
Lt. Colonel.
Lt. Col. Com'g
.
David Beaman,* Charles Chase,
Captain.
1808.
Luke Prentice,*
Charles Chase,
Lieutenant.
Joseph Robbins,
Ensign.
Captain. Lieutenant.
Ensign.
1810. Joshua Stoddard,+ Samuel Noyes, Alpheus Gay,
Captain. Lieutenant
Ensign. Captain.
Lieutenant.
Ensign. 66
1812. Eliel Sherwin, t
1813, Joseph Robbins,* James Stimson, Jobra Forristall,
1814. John Forristall,* Luke Heywood, Hananiah Whitney,
1816, Horatio Gates Newcomb.
Hananiah Whitney, Jr.,
Captain. Lieutenam. Ensign. Captain. Lieutenant. Ensign. Adjutant. Lieutenant
* About this date, two Companies were formed, one belonging to the south- ern, and the other to the northern half of the town. They sometimes met ou che Common and engaged in exciting Sham-tights. North Company.
+ Sonth Company.
RANK.
Major. Lieutenant Ensign.
1806.
..
Joshua Stoddard, Lemuel Heywood,* David Beaman, Luke Prentice,
1807. Benjamin Adams,
Ensign. Captain.
1809. Israel Whitcomb, t Joshua Stoddard, Samuel Noyes,
1811. Charles Chase, Abijah Peirce, t
Joseph Robbins,*
John Raymond,+ James Stimson,*
296
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
YEAR.
NAME.
RANE
1816. Simeon Stearns,
1817. John Raymond, t Luke Wilder,
Ensign. Captain. Lieutenant.
Ensign.
Mark Whitcomb,
William H. Cutler,
Surgeon's Mate.
Surgeon. Captain,
Mark Whitcomb,
Lieutenant.
Levi Greenwood,
Dnsign.
Hananiah Whitney, Jr.,*
Captain.
Simeon Stearns,
Lieutenant.
64
Luke Parks,
Ensign.
The Regiment and Brigade were now pot into the Sixth Division.
1820.
Horatio G. Newcomb,
Major. Captain.
Simeon Stearns, *
Lieutenant.
4
James Fry,*
Ensign.
1821. Luke Parks,* Thomas Bennet,
Captain. Lieutenant.
James Fry,
Lieutenant:
Ephraim Murdock, Jr ..
Ensign.
1822. Eber L. Clark,
Chaplain.
1822. Mark Whitcomb, t
Captain.
Ephraim Murdock, Jr.,
Lieutenant.
Stillman Hale,
Ensign.
Lieutenant.
Levi. Greenwood, t Willard Clark, James M. Fuller,
Ensign.
Surgeon's Mate.
Stillman Hale,
Captain. Lieutenant.
John H. Wheelock,
Ensign.
Levi Greenwood, t Oliver Adams,
Lieutenant.
B. H. Hancock,
Ensign. Surgeon.
44 James M, Fuller, Solomon Crocker,
1825.
Stillman Hale, Gilman Day,
Paymaster. Captain. Ensign.
One Company was disbanded in 1826, af- ter which time, most of the officers seem to have been located in the northern section of the town.
* North. t South
1817. 1818.
Luke Wilder,t
Luke Parks,
Thomas Bennet, Jr.,
1823. 1824. Ephraim Murdock, Jr., *
Captain.
297
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
TEAB.
NAME.
RANK.
1826. Stillman Hale,
.. Benjamin H. Hancock,
Jobn H. Wheelock,
66 John Cutter,
Ensign.
William Murdock,
1827.
Oliver Adams,
1828. William Murdock,
Captain. Lieutenant. Captain.
John Cutter. (Light Infantry) .€
Edward Murdock,
Levi Stearns,
Hiram Adams,
Orvil Gilmore,
.
1829. William Murdock, Charles W. Bigelow,
1830.
Charles Dickerson,
Lieutenant.
1830.
Harvey Wyman, William Murdock,
Ensign. Ensign. Major.
1832.
Levi Stearns, (Light Infantry)
Captain.
William Brooks,
Lieutenant.
H. Wyman,
.. James Murdock, Jr.,
Ensign.
Daniel Rolf, 3d,
1833. Marvin T. Nash, 6€
1834.
William Brooks,
James Murdock,
Lieutenant. Captain. Lieutenant.
At this date all signs of the Militia for about ten or twelve years disappear. In 1845 a Com- pany was formed, which was connected with the Ninth Regiment of Light Infantry.
1845. Oliver P. Prescott, Sidney Fairbanks, Samuel Page,
Captain. Ist Lieutenant.
2d Lieutenant.
1845. David Carter,
3d Lieutenant.
M. B. Felton,
4th Lieutenant.
1847. Sidney Fairbanks,
Captain.
Joseph Cobb,
1852. Sidney Fairbanks,
Lt. Colonel. Major.
In 1852 the Company was disbanded, since which there has been no Company of Volunteers in the town.
* North. + South.
Captain. Lieutenant.
Lieutenant. Ensign. 66 Captain. Lieutenant.
Captain.
Colonel.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Our fathers through all the period of colonial and provincial history, maintained a military organization, and were fired by the military spirit. None but careful students of the ante-revolutionary times of the Com- monwealth, have any adequate idea of the frequency and severity of the wars with the Indians and the French, which the struggling colo- nists were compelled to wage, in order to preserve their very existence. Though " trusting in God," they were under the necessity of " keeping their powder dry." The war of the revolution deepened their convic- tion that a well-organized militia was essential to the welfare of a free State. As a natural consequence, the annual trainings in the spring and the autumn, were kept up with great spirit during nearly a gener- ation and a half.
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