USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Shrewsbury > Old times in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Gleanings from history and tradition > Part 8
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When the original part of the house at the Home-
Johnmorge John Newton
John Hapatri .1 Stephen Janker 2
4
Timothy Lowand
Ephraim Craft Eschieb Knowlton Luke Knowlton
Nahum Eager Benjaque/ nowje negro
Solomon day
SIGNATURES OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE CANADIAN EXPEDITION.
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stead was erected is not definitely known. Probably it is one of the numerous houses built by Nahum Ward. Like most country houses of that time, it had two rooms in front, one on each side of the front door and a small entry between. A large chimney afforded fire- places in the two rooms and also in the long kitchen behind them. In 1785 the house was enlarged and somewhat modernized, but many old features remain. The hand-made window sashes, and heavy blinds, the great locks and hinges on the doors often excite the curiosity of the present generation, and it has been sometimes rare sport for the children to search out all the closets, cupboards and cranny places in the house, some of which are not easily found. Like the Pease Tavern, there is a swing partition between two rooms upstairs which can be raised to make one large room. The fireplaces have nearly all been bricked up, but the brick oven in the kitchen is still in good order, and the stone hearth lies before the fireplace as if waiting for those good old times to return when the back-log and fore-stick with a whole load of smaller wood fill- ing in the space between, would blaze again and fill the room with light and heat. The crane is shut up there waiting to bear its weight of pots and kettles as in the ancient time when the fair faces and plump arms of the dames who ruled their own kitchens, kept fair to the last in spite of the roaring, scorching fire before which they cooked their dinners, happy in
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their ignorance of a cooking stove. The kitchen dres- ser is now enclosed with doors, but the shining pew- ter that once adorned the shelves is scattered through the land in different homes. The heavy, sliding win- dow shutters still shut out the cold in winter nights, as they did when the young folks gathered about the bright log fire to crack their hickory nuts and roast their apples and chestnuts. The apples twirling on
their strings, sputtered in the heat until the juice drop- ped down on to the ashes below, where the chestnuts were roasting and bursting their shells, scattering the ashes into the mugs of cider warming on the hearth, over the shining apples above, and all about, making great merriment, for whichever way one flew was to- ward the true love of the owner of that very chestnut. Cracking their nuts and their jokes they had their fun, knowing that if they became too uproarious the Gen- eral would come to the door and bid them "keep more quiet." The cellar door has the old fashioned latch pulled up by a leather string, like the one little ' Red-riding-hood lifted at her grandmother's door. The long poles hanging horizontally in their supports a few inches from the ceiling were used for drying apples and pumpkins, and here, too, were kept the guns. Sometimes the boys would drill in the kitchen, and the low ceiling still shows the marks where it was hit in the "shoulder arms !" In the "best room," now the " middle room," was the buffet which was, in the reno-
THE WARD HOMESTEAD.
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vation, consigned to the cellar as being old-fashioned.
The summers running across the ceiling, the corner posts and beams around the tops of the rooms, the stout timbers, the spars in the garret fastened with great wooden pins, bracing up the roof, the massive masonry in the cellar supporting the chimneys, all show that the house was not built for that time alone, but with a thought for future generations. It was from this humble dwelling that Artemas Ward went forth to take that active and prominent part in the political affairs of our country in which he distin- guished himself for his pure patriotism, his strict integ- rity and stern sense of justice and duty from which he allowed nothing to turn him aside. In 1763 he was commissioned Colonel, and in training his men he sometimes gave them lessons in politics. Fighting for the king against the French was a thing of the past ; they must now look out for their own rights that were being encroached upon by Parliament, and the militia companies instead of being eager to learn how to best serve their king, were seeking to break away from his allegiance altogether.
Hints of Colonel Ward's disloyalty to kingly rule came to the ears of the royal Governor, Francis Ber- nard, who as a loyal subject of the king was bound to suppress anything like treachery ; accordingly, he sent a messenger post-haste to Col. Ward's house with a letter. It was the day when the old meeting-
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house was being torn down, and men had collected from all parts of the town to take part in the work. Being directed there the messenger spurred on his horse, and finding Col. Ward with the others, pre- sented him with the letter, resting his horse while it was being opened to see how the message was re- ceived. The assembled townsmen were curious to. know what the important message could be that. required such haste in the rider in the scarlet coat .. Col. Ward then read aloud:
"Boston, June 30, 1766. To ARTEMAS WARD Esqr
Sir. - I am ordered by the Governor to signify to you that he has thought fit to supersede your Com- mission of Col. in the Regiment of militia lying in part in the County of Worcester and partly in the County of Middlesex-And your said Commission is. superseded accordingly.
I am Sir, your most ob't and humble serv't
Jno. Cotton, Deputy Secretary." -
Col. Ward then turning to the messenger said "Give my compliments to the Governor and say to him that. I consider myself twice honored, but more in being superseded than in being commissioned, and" (holding up the letter) "that I thank him for this, since the motive that dictated it is evidence that I am what he is not, a friend to my country." Bearing this mes- sage the horseman in the king's livery turned his
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horse and rode off amid the shouts of the people " Colonel Ward forever !" So bravely and without hesi- tation did he accept the situation, and so firmly did he abide by the stand which he had taken, that he secured the love and confidence of New England.
King George III. was not beloved by his subjects in the Province of Massachusetts Bay and his repre- sentative, the Governor thereof, felt that rebellion was in the hearts of the people. And truly they did rebel against the heavy taxations and the many acts of oppression placed upon them.
The law-loving, law-abiding descendants of the Puri- tans liked it not that the king should send his Red- coats to preserve order among the most orderly of mankind, and Artemas Ward with his keen sense of justice could ill brook the insult. The colonists aroused to action, sent men of tried integrity and loyalty to their cause, to act as the Governor's coun- cil, and thus protect their rights. Shrewsbury sent Artemas Ward, but the Governor, loyal to the king, would have none of him, and sent him home for the same reason that he withdrew his commission. The people then sent him as their representative to the General Court, where he remained and acted with that body.
For some years there had been turbulent times in Boston ; the independent spirit of America was aroused by the presence of the British soldiers, who were
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pleased at times to show their authority, consequently there was a fight between them and some of the Bos- ton workmen, and Crispus Attuks (who has since been immortalized as a hero,) was killed. This was called a massacre, and was followed by a more determined Mobs and riots turned the for- show of resistance.
merly peaceful city into a place of terror. The people were becoming poor by taxation ; the already poor were crushed by it and reduced to real suffering. Kind friends in the country and in other Colonies took from their own scanty stores to help them in their need, for these stories were not long in passing over the hills. Groups of men talked them over in the bar-rooms at Baldwin's and Farrar's; there was war in the air ! Shrewsbury Captains drilled their men; all the old flint locks were brushed up and primed ready for use at a minute's notice, when their owners should receive the word. Indians and wild cats were forgotten ; it was the Red-coats now ! When the young men burned their tea in Ross Wyman's bar-room they expressed a feeling that would show itself later in burning powder when the right time should come, and they waited with what patience they could, for the motto was, "The British must fire the first shot !"
The great and general court of the Province of Massa- chusetts Bay being deserted by the Royal Governor, Hon. Thomas Gage, Esq., on the fifth of October, 1774, the members thereof formed themselves into a Provin-
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cial Congress, and held their first session at Salem Court House two days later, choosing John Hancock president and Benjamin Lincoln clerk. Adjourning to the meeting- house in Concord, a committee was appointed "to con- sider what is necessary to be done now for the defense and safety of the Province," the committee to consist of thirteen, "Hon. Col. Ward" being one. It was found that not less than {20,837 was necessary to defray the expense of firearms and ordnance, in addition to what was already in their possession. This appalling sum did not dismay these intrepid men who were willing to give their all for their liberty.
A committee of safety consisting of nine was also appointed to regulate the Militia and they chose three Generals, Hon. Jedediah Preble, Hon. Artemas Ward, Col. Seth Pomeroy. Jedediah Preble did not accept his appointment. All through the next winter the Militia companies in the towns were quietly learning the ways of war, learning to send their balls straight to the mark and to waste no ammunition by false shots. Heavily loaded wagons were seen wending their way towards Concord where the ordnance were to be stored, leaving their loads of powder and balls and returning for more. The teamsters were allowed ninepence per mile.
Shrewsbury voted to raise three companies, but it appears that two only were raised, one in each precinct - the south (now Shrewsbury) under Captain Job Cushing ; the north (Boylston) under Captain Ezra Bea-
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man. It appears also that these two companies were consolidated in one, Job Cushing, Captain, and Ezra Beaman, first Lieut., the number of men raised not being sufficient for two companies.
Before the war was over Ezra Beaman won the title of Major, having distinguished himself in the Bennington and Saratoga struggles. He is one of Boylston's famous men and an account of his valor may be read in the History of Worcester County. The place where he lived. is called the "Beaman farm" to this day, and is owned by Mr. Thomas Harlow of Shrewsbury.
In March, 1775, when Doctor Joseph Warren made his bold speech in the Old South Church on the anniver- sary of the massacre, the British found that they had more than a handful of rebellious children with whom to deal. On the fifteenth of April the Congress at Con- cord adjourned to convene again on the tenth of May, the eleventh of May being appointed as a day of fasting and prayer "for the gracious interposition of Heaven and the restoration of their invaded liberties." Not fear- ing an immediate attack from the British, the members of Congress left Concord for their homes, excepting Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who stayed a few days with their friend, Rev. Jonas Clark, in Lexington. Gov. Gage having had orders from England to arrest these two dangerous men and send them to the king for trial, it was thought best for them to remain in the se- clusion of Lexington for awhile, and there Paul Revere
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found them when he took his midnight ride on the eighteenth of April, and spoke at every door "A word that shall echo forevermore." The next day the shot for which the country was listening was fired and "heard round the world." Then the pent up enthusiasm of New England burst into flame, and when the historic white horse "bloody with spurring and dripping with sweat" passed through Shrewsbury, its rider crying out "To arms ! To arms ! The war's begun," men leaped to their saddles or shouldered their arms, and Captain Cushing's company of minute men were on the mo- ment's notice marching toward Boston. Lieut. Nathan Howe was, like Israel Putnam, plowing at the time he heard the cry, with a horse and a pair of oxen; mount- ing the horse he set off to rally the men. Nathan, Junior, cried to go, too, but was too young, being only fifteen. However when, two years later, his father left the army because his constitution was broken down with exposure and labor, he was allowed to have his wish and went to the war, remaining in the service till. its close.
The word that the excited horsemen brought to Shrewsbury on the nineteenth of April flew through the towns with such rapidity that before Saturday night Boston was surrounded by an army of sixteen thousand men, in the face of Governor Gage's proclamation that all rebels taken in arms should be brought to the gallows.
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Artemas Ward was at Cambridge on the twentieth issuing orders and regulating the troops as they came thronging in. On the nineteenth of May the Provincial Congress accepted the form of a commission for General Ward and the next day "Resolved unanimously, that the president be desired to deliver to Gen. Ward the com- mission prepared for him by this Congress as General and Commander in Chief of the Massachusetts forces." The commission read as follows :
" The Congress of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay
To the Honorable Artemas Ward, Esquire, Greeting : We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your courage and good conduct, do by these presents con- stitute and appoint you, the said ARTEMAS WARD, to be GENERAL and COMMANDER IN CHIEF of all the forces raised by the Congress aforesaid, for the defence of this and the other American Colonies.
You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of a GENERAL in leading, ordering, and exer- cising the Forces in Arms, both inferior officers and soldiers, and to keep them in good order and discipline, and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their GENERAL ; and you are yourself to observe and follow such orders and instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from this or any future Congress or House of Representatives of this Colony, or the Committee of Safety, so far as said Committee is impowered by their commission to order and instruct you for the defence of
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this and the other Colonies, and to demean yourself ac- cording to the military rule, and discipline, established by said Congress in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. By order of the Congress
Dated 19th May A. D. 1775
Jos. Warren Pres. Pro. Tem."
This commission did not authorize him to command the forces raised in other Colonies, of which large num- bers were daily arriving at Cambridge. The Congress was therefore impressed with the importance of having. them formed into one army and under the leadership of one man. Accordingly John Adams was sent to Phila- delphia to confer with the Continental Congress then in session there.
His nomination of George Washington met with ap- proval and he was elected to the office of General the following June. In the meantime preparations for war were being made at Cambridge. It was found that the number of firelocks was insufficient for the number of enlisted men, and the inhabitants of all towns who had any in their possession were requested to forward them to Watertown and receive payment for the same. Twenty-two were sent from Shrewsbury, and there were found here five barrels of powder, of which one-half a barrel was to be left in town.
The army was to be supplied with clothing, and the committee of supply proportioned out the coats to be made in different towns. Shrewsbury was to make 79.
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They were "to be made of good, plain cloth, preference to be given to the manufactures of this country, and to be delivered to the committee of supplies without but- tons, on or before the first day of October next, and sooner if possible. That for every yard of such cloth of seven-eighths of a yard wide, they shall be allowed and paid the sum of five shillings and fourpence, and in that proportion for cloth of a greater or less width, and the sum of four shillings for each and every coat ; Resolved -- that each coat be faced with the same kind of cloth of which it is made; that the coats be made in the com- mon, plain way, without lappels, short, and with small folds, and that the select men cause a certificate to be sewed to the inside of each coat purporting from what town it came, by who the coat was made, and if the cloth was manufactured in this country." These coats were all to be buttoned with pewter buttons having the number of the regiment stamped upon the face of them.
The sword which General Ward wore at this time was of English manufacture, and is now in the possession of a descendant in South America. It has a silver hilt sur- mounted by a wolf's head, a silver chain running from the mouth to the cross hilt. The scabbard is of plain leather with silver mountings and steel chains to attach it to the sword belt. Later a sword with jewelled hilt was presented to him, and inscribed "By a grateful people."
It was no light task to reduce to order the army that
GENERAL WARD'S SWORD.
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had so suddenly arisen in New England after the Battle at Lexington and Concord. All were volunteers, but all were not unused to camp life. Many among them had fought in the French Wars, many more had served in the militia companies and knew something of military ways, and all from the oldest to the youngest knew full well the use of their muskets. This ununiformed army did not present a brilliant spectacle to the eye, as each individual was dressed in his own home suit and no two alike ; some had come directly from the plough-field, some from their workshops; they had gone with the idea of fighting the British the first day, and the re- straints of camp life were disagreeable and the scarcity of food and comfortable quarters discouraging.
One of the first orders issued by General Ward on the 20th of April was "That a Captain, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, and fifty-two rank-and-file, march imme- diately to bury the dead, and take care of the wounded." Col. Gardner was ordered to repair immediately to Rox- bury, and bring to Cambridge all the bread that could be obtained there, and Col. Bond, to bring "all the cannon at Watertown, Newton and Waltham, with part of the ammunition to the camp at Cambridge." It was thought by the Committee of Safety that the British would next attack Cambridge and therefore that place was ordered to be well guarded. It was here that Gen- eral Ward had his head-quarters, in the house afterward owned and occupied by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
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The volunteers were surrounding Boston ; day by day they were drawing the lines closer, guarding all the avenues to the city and imprisoning the British, leaving no way for them to go out, but by the sea.
There were many poor in the city who were loyal to the American cause, who were also shut up there on account of their poverty, having been unable to provide homes for themselves elsewhere.
Gov. Gage finding them no benefit to him, but rather a weight on his hands, gave them permission to go out, provided that all who had fire-arms should leave them behind. And so it was that men and boys sadly marched into Faneuil Hall, bravely laid down their muskets, and came out empty handed. The Provincial Congress or- dered that provision be made in different towns for all those who were unable to do for themselves, and that they be transported thither. The number allotted to Shrewsbury was thirty-two. There were busy times in the newly formed army, there were anxious times at home among the elders, there were exciting times among the boys, who talked of the glories of war and of the noble achievements there would be to record, could they but have a chance to take down the pride of some of those haughty grenadiers. What wonder that the hearts of the Shrewsbury boys beat high when they thought of the battle that was daily expected !
What wonder that the son of the General felt a desire that could not be repressed, to visit his father and wit-
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ness the preparations for war ? It required but little per- suasion from him to induce a young companion to join him in his adventure. Who his companion was tradition does not say, and we can only guess that it was young Nathan Howe, who wanted so much to go with his father. Whoever he might have been, he was a Shrews- bury boy, and the two made the journey on foot. It was near noon on the 17th of June when they arrived at Cambridge and made their appearance at head-quarters.
The General was not well pleased to see his son there at that time, for the battle was already begun. His
look of disapproval, and "How is this, Tommy ?" struck the boy as not propitious for a long visit; and "you must go right back," settled the matter. And so these sons of soldiers, who were brought up to obey, turned their backs on the camp and on all that they had wished to see, and set their faces homeward, even though balls from the "Lively" and "Somerset," men of war in the harbor, were flying over at the intrenchments on Bunker Hill and the Red-coats would soon march up the hill to their death. The rattle of musketry reached their ears, and the flames of burning Charlestown were in sight when they turned to look back after they were well out of town. They had seen the camp, they had heard the noise of battle; they had that to remember, and they could remember also that like good soldiers they had obeyed orders.
The General made but one record in his note book
-
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that day, "The battle is going on at Charlestown." There is no time to write in journals when there is the most to write about. It was a time of great excitement ; here were the undisciplined soldiers all eager to fight in the first battle ; there was lack of ammunition, no one waiting for orders, orders misunderstood and orders hard to get when the General himself was under orders from the Committee of Safety, and besides all this there was'a traitor in the camp. It is astonishing that the history made that day is as flattering to the American forces as it is. The account of the Battle, by the Provin- cial Congress, is a simple statement of things as they appeared at the time, without criticism, and without. censuring any one. The record reads : "Reinforce- ments from Ireland both of horse and foot, being ar- rived, the number unknown, and having good intelli- gence that Gen. Gage was about to take possession of the advantageous posts in Charlestown and on Dor- chester point, the Committee of Safety advised, that our troops should prepossess them if possible : accordingly, on Friday evening, the 16th instant, this was effected by about twelve hundred men. About daylight on Satur- day morning, their line of circumvallation, on a small hill south of Bunker's Hill in Charlestown was closed. At this time the "Lively" man of war, began to fire upon them. . A number of our enemy's ships, tenders, cutters and scows or floating batteries soon came up : from all which the fire was general by twelve o'clock.
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About two the enemy began to land at a point which leads out towards Noddle's island, and immediately marched up to our intrenchments, from which they were twice repulsed; but, in the third attack forced them. Our forces, which were in the lines, as well as those sent out for their support, were greatly annoyed by balls, and bombs from Copps Hill, the ships, scows, &c. At this time, the buildings in Charlestown appeared in flames, in almost every quarter, kindled by hot balls, and are since laid in ashes. Though this scene was most horrible, and altogether new to most of our men, yet many stood and received wounds by swords and bay- onets, before they quitted their lines. At five. o'clock the enemy were in full possession of all the posts within the isthmus. In the evening and the night following, General Ward extended his intrenchments, before made at the stone house, over Winter hill. About 6 o'clock of the same day, the enemy began to cannonade Roxbury, from Boston neck and elsewhere, which they continued twenty-four hours, with little spirit and less effect.
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