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 9
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" CHARLESTON ENCAMPMENT, June ye 18th, 1775.
DEAR WIFE : These Lines are to inform you that I am pretty well, though I have had a poorly two or three days. Friday night I was quite poorly.
* Kindly furnished, with many others, by his grandson, Dea. Albert Brown.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Doctor Wait said I must have a Vomit ; but I told him as there was a battle expected Satterday, I would not take it, lest I should be charged of taking it on purpose. But I took some tincture, which answered a good purpose. And according as was expected, a very hot Battle insued Satterday after noon. Our people had built a fort on a hill in the town of Charleston, and the Regulars landed upwards of two thousand men on said hill ; and our Regiment on the hill ; and they fired upward from four or five Ships, the north battery, and two or three field pieces, but blessed be God, there was not many killed by them. But presently they advanced up near to us, and I fired nineteen times, and had fair chances, and then they was too hard for us, and we retreated. The bals flew very thick, but through the Divine protection, my company was all preserved but one, Phinehas Nevers,* who is missing, and Samuel Bradish, badly wounded. But men are in good spirit.
I remain your true and loving husband,
ABEL WILDER."
The spirit of the man is revealed in every line. He relied upon God ; he loved his wife ; he was careful of his men ; he was in the " hot battle," where the " bals flew very thick," and " fired nineteen times," though he was a captain, and had " fair chances," which means prob- ably that he took aim at good marks. He had a long, slender gun, and fired it till it " was so stopped up" that he could not fire it any longer. Other officers of the company were Lieut. Jonas Allen, of Royalston, and Ensign Isaac Nichols, of Royalston. Benjamin Rice was second Sergeant in this Regiment, commanded by Col. Doolittle.
One of the company died while in camp. This was young Nathan Day, of this town, the son of Dea. Day, whose untimely fate was doubtless mourned by the inhabitants generally, as one of the first victims of the war, though he fell by disease rather than by the vio- lence of the enemy. The following inventory of the few things belong- ing to the young soldier, while in service, is not without interest, after the lapse of almost a century.
" CAMP ON WINTER HILL, Sept. ye Ist, 1775.
Then rec'd of Capt. Abel Wilder, the several things hereafter mentioned, being all the things my brother Nathan was possessed of in the army when he died.
*Nevers was wounded, and taken prisoner to Boston, where he died.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
One Great Coat, Two pair of Trowses, One Shirt, Two p'r of Stockens, One Coat and One Waistcoat, One Silk Handkerchief, One Hat, One p'r of Old Shoes, One Gun and Bagonet, One Cartridge Box, One Shirt.
JOHN DAY."
The following was found among the papers of Mr. Wilder, without a date, but it probably belongs to this period ; and if so, gives us the names of the " Minute Men," who were ready for instant service. They are all Winchendon names.
" Order for Wages due on ye Minute Roll.
Lt. John Boynton, Zebulon Conant,
Lt. Dudley Perley,
John Day,
Serg't. Amos Merriam,
Nathan Day,
John N. Parson, Jr.,
John Darling,
Daniel Goodridge,
Jacob Hale,
Corp'l Abijah Stimpson,
Benj. Kimball,
Roger Bates,
John Porter,
David Goodridge,
Eben'r Sherwin, (drummer)
Elisha Brown,
Eph'm Sawyer.
Samuel Brown,
Eph'm Stimpson,
Samuel Bradish,
Bill Hancock,
Thadeus Bowman,
Joseph Wilder."
Stephen Boynton,
The following extract from a letter written by Capt. Wilder soon after he joined the army, gives us a vivid glimpse of the condition of the people of Boston, when leaving their homes in the possession of British troops.
"The people are coming out of Boston daily. I was at Charleston Ferry Monday, to see a load come over. They seemed to be glad that they bad got out, but looked back sober to think they had left all their substance be- hind them."
There is occasional mention in his letters of visits from Winchendon friends, as " Mr. Mansfield and Sybil," and "Mr. Biglow," who " lodged in the tents two nights," and became "so beat out that he was obliged to go to the Hospital." Under date of October 7, hc writes from Camp on Winter Hill, giving the following touching inci- dent. " As for going into Boston, it is but a fancy. Last week on Friday, two of our floating batteries went down so nigh that they shot several balls through the houses, and it is said shot a woman through, with a child in her arms."
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
The following letter is so characteristic of the writer, and so de- scriptive of the times, that its space will not be grudged by any intel- ligent reader. No alterations have been made but such corrections as are necessary in preparing ancient letters - even those of Wash- ington - for the press.
" PROSPECT HILL, CHARLESTON, June 29th, 1775.
DEAR WIFE: I received a letter from you yesterday, which informed me that the family was well, and you as well as you could expect, which gives me satisfaction. I hope you will be patient under common infirmities, and even if God is pleased to lay greater upon you than is common under your present circumstances. I shall not forget you, neither at the throne of grace, nor in common meditations, though I would not be understood that I am uneasy, for since it is the will of God that I should be here, I am entirely content to serve him in this way. I had almost forgot to tell you that I am well. I am as well as usual, but Abel is not well; he took physic last night, and is better to-day. As to the judgments of heaven, I am glad that you take a suitable notice of them, and wish every one might. But alas, there are some here that appear neither to fear God nor regard man ; though blessed be God, there are not many such. We have been without a chap- lain ever since we came down here, until about a week, but now we have one, Mr. Emory, who preached last Sabbath, and prays night and morning. And Col. Doolittle, who I was afraid was heedless, takes good care to have men attend, and attends himself with constancy and steadiness, which gives me pleasure. These from your true and loving husband,
ABEL WILDER."
In a letter written early in November, he alluded to the fears of his wife lest be should remain in the army till spring, and expresses his own fear lest for some cause, not specified, he should be dismissed before his time was up. But on the 20th of the month, he writes from Winter Hill that " the officers of the army have their wages raised. A captain has twenty-six dollars per month, which is about enough more than I have to hire a man at home, and if are a mind to have me stay on these conditions, you must send me word."
This letter properly introduces the paper which follows, headed : " Those names that are determined not to tarry longer than the last of December, 1775."
As this list contains names not found in the roll of "minute men,"
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
it is proper to insert them in this place. It is probable also that some of the names in this list, and that which follows, belonged to men from Royalston and Templeton. As the paper is torn, the surnames of sev- eral cannot be given.
Serg't. Seth Oaks,
*Eliphalet Richardson,
Benjamin Rice,
+Ebenezer Goodale,
.€ Daniel Joslin,
+Joshua Goodnow,
William Dike,
Amos Hale,
*Corporal William Clements,
Moses Hale,
Elisha Brown,
Solomon Biglow,
*John Norton, Calvin Ea-,
Henry Poor,
Samuel -
*Peter Woodbury,
Ephraim
David Stoddard,
Seth W.
Michael Coffin,
Joseph
+Bezaleel Barton,
Ebenezer
Then comes a list of " those names that arc enlisted for the year ensuing," being members of " Capt. Abel Wilder's Company." The names, as well as they can be deciphered, are as follows :
Sg't Isaac Nichols.
George Moseley,
+Capt. Nathan Wheeler,
Benjamin Bolland,
Robert Steel, (drummer)
Josiah Green,
Abimaa Sherwin,
Michael Coffin,
Joseph Goodale,
John Corncall,
* Abijah Richardson,
Barnabas Garrison.
Samuel Norton,
The paper is endorsed, " Capt. Abel Wilder's Return."
SECTION 4 .- DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
In 1776 several citizens of the town engaged in the struggle. The March meeting was called as usual, in the name of His Majesty. The Committee of Correspondence for the year were chosen, as fol- lows : Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Miles Putnam, Thos. Kimball, Francis Bridge. On the 27th of May the town voted in favor of the plan that the Council and House of Representatives should form a system of laws. So far, though the town had taken steps incompatible with true allegi- ance to the king, yet His Majesty's authority had not been openly repudiated and defied. At length the time had come to throw off all
* From Royalston.
t Unknown.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
pretence of submission, and to assume the position of independence. And what was a most happy coincidence, the town of Winchendon declared for independence on the very day when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress.
A meeting was called by the Selectmen, " in the name of the gov- ernment and people of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay," to assemble on the fourth day of July, 1776, and that memorable meet- ing took the following action :
" At a legal meeting of the free-holders and other inhabitants of Winchen- don, qualiûed by law to vote in the choice of a Representative, on the 4th day of July, 1776,
Chose Thomas Sawyer, moderator for the government of said meeting.
Whereas, this town has been called upon by the Honorable House of Representatives of this Colony, to signify their minds in regard of American independency ; being duly sensible of the cruel and oppressive measures which are pursued by the King and Parliament of Great Britain in order to enslave the Colonies, and consequently the difficulty that will attend our be- ing ever again united with Great Britain, therefore,
Unanimously Resolved, That if the Honorable Continental Congress should think best for the safety of these Colonies to declare them independ- ent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we will with our lives and for- tunes, support them in the measure."
This resolution was in response to the General Court, which body had assured Congress of the support of the people of this Colony. The question had been sent out for cach town to act upon, individu- ally, and the people of Winchendon were ready to peril lives and fortunes in maintaining the cause of freedom and independence.
At the regular town meeting held on the third of March, 1777, the Declaration of Independence was read by order of the General Court, and was put upon record in the Town's Record Book, "as a perpetual memorial thereof."
At a meeting held on the 8th of the preceding January, an account to the Selectmen for numbering the people was presented.
SECTION 5 .- ENLISTMENTS.
On the 13th of March it was voted " to grant some money to encour- age the enlisting of our quota of Continental soldiers." Then voted " to give £20 by way of hire to each man of a sufficient number of
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
men to complete the quota of men levied on this town for the Conti- nental army, provided they will not engage upon the encouragement given by the Continent and State." Then chose a "committee of eleven persons to estimate services done in the war." Robert Bradish, representative the preceding year, was re-elected.
The town, in accordance with a warrant addressed to all that " have estate of freehold in lands in this State or Territory of forty shillings per annum," or other " estate to the value of fifty pounds sterling," at a meeting held on the 22d of May, " Voted and allowed £9 credit to those men who marched the last of April last, now at Rutland." The names of the men are not in the Book of Records. At the same time the town " Voted and granted £3000 to pay all the service that had been done in the present war by inhabitants of this town." It was also " Voted to allow £18 to cach man who went with Capt. Oaks." The destination of Capt. Oaks is not given. With an eye to the fu- ture, the town, at this meeting, " Voted to procure men to serve in the war," and " Chose a committee of three men to hire men to serve in the war for this town in the future." The committee were Capt. John Boynton, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Abel Wilder, who were authorized to hire money.
After taking into consideration the Constitution, or Form of Gov- ernment, (prepared by the Council and House,) and deliberating thereon, it was put to see if the town would accept of the same. Yeas, 28; Nays, 6. At the same time the town declined to send a repre- sentative.
On the 31st of July news came to town requiring action in " hot haste." The Selectmen were prompt, and directed Joseph Wilder " to warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of Winchendon, living south of the road from Ashburnham, and David Goodridge to to warn all living north of said line, to meet in Town Meeting on the first day of August, at 6 o'clock in the morning." These constables rode, post haste, over the poor roads of that day, on horseback, to get word to every man that he must be at the Common at 6 in the morn- ing of the next day. One article in the warrant was in these words : " Whereas, there is one sergeant and six privates called for to march to-morrow, to see if the town will direct the committee to hire them, or come to some other method to procure them, and men for the
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
future." The town voted, " that the committee be directed to hire the men that are now called for as heretofore ;" and also, " to hire men for the future as they are called for, without calling the town together."
At a meeting on the 18th of November, the town granted £120 in addition to the sum granted last spring, to pay the hire given to Con- tinental soldiers. At the same time, sums were granted to pay for several things relating to the war, as follows :
" Journey to Watertown, after powder, £2,14s.
66 Concord, after Icad, 2, 17, 6.
2, 6.
Worcester, to join the Committee of Safety, 2, 0, 0."
In the beginning of 1778, the town manifested an unflagging zeal in the cause of the country. In town meeting on the 23d of January, the Articles of Confederation of the United States were read. The same meeting " voted and granted £290 to be assessed and collected with the town rate in order to pay into the Provincial Treasury agree- able to a late Act of Court granting liberty to any town to have any part of their quota of State money put on interest." This was recon- sidered. On the 2d of February a committee of three persons was chosen to " peruse the Articles of Confederation, and report at March meeting. Chose Ebenezer Sherwin, Francis Bridge, and Robert Bradish." Thus cautiously did the town consider any proposition to bring the State into political relations with the other States as a uni- ted body.
At the annual meeting, March 2, Francis Goodhue, James Cool- edge, Ebenezer Sherwin, Israel Whiton and Solomon Bigelow, were chosen the committee of Correspondence. A new committee was also chosen, which shows the care of the town for the families of sol- diers : " Dea. Moses Hale, David Brown, Ebenezer Howeand Benja- min Brown, a Committee to take care of the Continental soldiers' fam- ilies agreeable to the Act of Court."
At the same meeting, 1778, a Report of the committee chosen by the town to estimate the services that had been done since the war began, was presented in these words :
" The following estimations were consented to by the major part of the committee, viz :
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
First. 84 months to Cambridge, in the year 1775 2ly. 1} to Dorchester, in 1776, 2, 10, 0. £15, Os., 6, 0d. 3ly. 2 months to Dorchester, in 1776, 3, 8.
4ly. One year in Continental servis, in 1776, 25, 0,
0.
5ly 5 months to York, in 1776, 16, 0,
6ly. 4 months to Tie.,* in 1776, 16, 0,
7ly. 4 months to Dorchester, in 1776,
6,
6, 8.
Sly. 2 months to York, in 1776,
7, 10, 0.
Oly. 3 months to York, in 1777,
9, 10, 0.
10ly. As to those men that paid ten pounds to hire the Continental men for three years' servis, we look upon it that they should be allowed equal to three months' servis that was done in the last part of the year 1777, being. 14, 0, 0.
11ly. 2 months to Rhodeisland, 1777
5, 10,
0.
12ly. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 6, 0, 0.
13ly. 1 week to Bennington alarm, in 1777 2, 0, 0. 14ly. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 4, 10, 0. 15ly. 6 months to Brookfield, in 1778, 6, 0, 0.
16ly. 3 months in the Continental servis, in 1778, 15, 0, 0.
17ly. 3 months to Stillwater, Albany, &c., in 1777, 14, 0, 0.
As to them men that went with Lt. Parmenter and Capt. Oaks, we leave it to the town to do as they think proper.
Voted, and allowed 25sh. to those men who marched on the alarm on the 19th of April, 1775.
BENJA. RICE,
ALEX'DE MAY, AMOS MERRIAM, JOHN DAY,
Committee chose
by the Town.
DANIEL HUBBARD, JOSHUA GALE,
The above Report accepted at an adjournment of the annual meeting, March A. D., 1778.
18ly. As to Nathan Knight, that was drafted to go to Brookfield, we think that he ought to be allowed 25s.
19ly. Them men that went with Lt. Parmenter, we think they ought to be allowed 30s."
In May, " Voted, and granted £3 per month as credit for those men now in servis at Rutland."
* Ticonderoga ?
0.
0.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
SECTION 6,-PUBLIC SPIRIT. -
The year 1779 witnessed the same activity in regard to the public service. On the 14th of January a meeting was called for the next day, the warrant being served personally on all the voters by two constables. The town allowed £30 to the committee chosen to pro- vide for soldiers' families, which they paid to Dr. Green in cash, be- sides a note. Also, 18s, to Abel Wilder for going to Cambridge to get a State note for the town.
At the annual meeting on the first of March, the town " chose Capt. John Boynton, William Whitney, James McElwain, a committee to hire men for the war." Then " Voted that the above committee hire men for the war as they are called for, without calling the town to- gether ; and when there is occasion for it that they hire money for the purpose, and the town will indemnify them for so doing. Voted, to allow 6s. per pair for 15 pair of shoes, which the Selectmen provided for the soldiers in the year 1778, which sum they gave more than the Court's Committee allowed. Voted, to allow £4, 18, 4, for one month's service Edward Putnam has done in the war. Voted to allow ten pound credit to those men who paid a fine of ten pound for not performing the servis they were called upon to do." What the ' servis' was that was not performed, is not recorded, but it is presum- able that the town considered the men excusable. The town also "Vo- ted and allowed £28 to Lt. Samuel Prentice for his done in the three years' State servis."
May 20, " Voted £4.10 to Samuel Newton for 2 months' servis he did in the Jersies in the year 1776."
At a meeting held on the 3d of August, it was voted "to comply with the spirit of the Resolves passed in the Convention at Concord on the 14th of July preceding." A committee was chosen, consisting of Dr. Israel Whiton, Dea. Moses Hale and Capt. John Boynton, to prepare some plan in regard to prices, and submit it to the town. At the adjourned meeting, August 31, this vote was reconsidered, and then it was voted " to comply with the spirit of the Resolves of the Convention at Worcester, held on the 11th inst., respecting prices. Chose a committee of nine to state the prices of those articles not enumerated in the proceedings of said Convention. Chose Moses Hale, Seth Oaks, Matthew Knight, John Beemis, Samuel Noyes,
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Ebenezer Richardson, Francis Goodhue, Theodore May, John Darling. Then chose a committee of thirteen to see that the proceedings of. said Convention are complied with, viz : Francis Bridge, Joseph Boyn- ton, John Beemis, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Samuel Stone, Benja- min Brown, Daniel Hubbard, Matthew Knight, Seth Oaks, Ebenezer Sherwin, Francis Goodhue." The people were terribly in earnest. Such committees could not, of course, " fix " the prices of things, but they could by correspondence arrange to have the charges nearly uni- form throughout the Colony, and so prevent imposition upon the igno- rant. Another meeting was held at Cambridge on the first Wednes- day in October, to which the town sent "Moses," according to the Records ; probably Dea. Moses Hale. On the 19th of October, the town voted to choose a committee of nine to set a price on the neces- saries of life, labor, &c., agreeable to the Resolves of the late Con- vention at Concord, and " likewise to see that such regulations of pri- ces are complied with." Chose Samuel Stimpson, John Day, Seth Oaks, Joseph Boynton, Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Thad- eus Bowman, John Boynton. The action adopting the prices agreed on at Concord, was reconsidered, as we have seen, but in this last vote, the town went back of the Conventions at Worcester and Cam- bridge to that of Concord again, and therefore the report of the com- mittee made on the 3d of August, is given in full, in these words :
" That the price of teaming do not exceed 27s. per mile, per ton.
West India rum, £7, 14, per gallon.
New England rum, 5, 9, = Molasses, 5, 5,
Coffee, 1, 1, per lb.
Sugar from 13s. to 15s., per lb.
Salt, best quality, £14, 10s., per bushel.
Other West India articles in the same proportion.
Entertainment. - Meal of Victuals, boiled, 12s.
Flip and toddy, 14s. per mug or bowl.
Other articles in the same proportion.
Farming labor, £3 per day.
Blacksmith-Shoeing a horse, steeled, £5, 10, and all other work in proportion.
Men's best shoes £8, 10, per pair, and other work in proportion.
Best Wool, £1, 10 per lb .- Flax, 15s. per lb.
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
The committee consider the above as a sufficient enumeration by which the prices of every article of consumption and commerce may be regulated in the same proportion, and that none evade or infringe upon the above regula- tions ; or none exceed the prices expressed or understood, without being able to render a sufficient or satisfactory reason.
N. B. Those articles regulated by the Convention not here enumerated, the committee refer to the town.
Rye at £4, 10, per bushel."
The town " Voted and accepted of the above prices as they stand."
It is probable that the committee chosen to see this plan enforced, could not carry it out in all respects, but the " spirit of the Resolves" was generally complied with.
On the 29th of November it was voted to allow " Messrs. Matthew Knight, Daniel Goodridge, Joseph Wilder and Ebenezer Richardson, each of them, as much as those men who hired as Continental soldiers for three years."
In 1780, on the 20th of March, John Beemis, Amos Merriam and John Day were chosen a committee to hire men for the war. May 29, Chose Abel Wilder to search into the reason why the town was fined £1200 in the last State tax, and get the same taken off if pos- sible.
On the third of July, Joshua Gale, Constable, was required forth- with to notify and warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants qual- ified by law to act in town affairs, who lived west of the road from the meeting-house to Jonathan Whitcomb's, to meet the next day, July 4, at 2 o'clock P. M. In like manner, Lieut. Amos Merriam was required to warn all who lived east of the road from the meeting-house to Jon- athan Whitcomb's, and north of the road to Ashburnham, excepting Mr. Bemis, Buttrick and Flint. John Day carried a similar warning to all living north of Royalston road, and west of the north road. Ezra Hide notified the remaining part of the town. One article in the warrant was " to see if the town will come into some method to expe- dite the raising ten men from the militia which are called for." Also, " to grant some suitable sum or sums of money to pay soldiers' hire," &c. They were also to warn " all the male inhabitants from the age of sixteen years old to sixty-five, to appear on the meeting-house Com- mon at two of the clock on said day, P. M., with their arms, upon the
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HISTORY- OF WINCHENDON.
pains and penalties of the law in that case made and provided." The meeting was opened at 2, and Benjamin Brown was chosen Modera- tor. Adjourned to 5, when the meeting " Voted and granted £50,- 000 for the purpose of hiring men for the war, and to defray other town charges." At the same time eighty-five dollars per day were allowed as the wages of a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.
SECTION 7 .- DEPRECIATED CURRENCY.
By this time, as will be inferred from the above vote, the currency was in hopeless disorder, and the governmental " promises to pay" had greatly depreciated. The Continental paper was at par at the open- ing of 1777 ; in a year, it took four and a half dollars of currency to buy one of specie ; in another year, $1 in specie was equal to $8.38 in paper ; in 1780 it took $32.50 to buy a silver dollar. In 1781, the rate was " ninety for one," that is, $90 in paper for $1 in specie. We need not wonder that in 1782 the town voted " that the Constable and Collectors be directed to receive no more paper money for town rates."
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