USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Littleton > Proceedings of the Littleton Historical Society, No. 1 1894-1895 > Part 5
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faith agree, and which men of no faith accept. In the language of the early colonial law, " Let teachers impress on the minds of children, committed to their care, the principles of justice, honor, integrity and a sacred regard to truth, love of country and humanity, universal benevolence, sobriety, industry, frugal- ity, chastity, moderation, temperance and those other kindred virtues which are the ornament of society and the basis of free institutions," and let no one be employed as teacher of youths, who does not exemplify these virtues in his life.
ALBERT FRANCIS CONANT.
THE WORK OF HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. Read at a Meeting held on February 22, 1895, by Julius Herbert Tuttle.
With some knowledge of the good beginning which your Historical Society has already made, and with an interest in your aims and purposes, it gives me great pleasure to bring to you the cordial greetings of the Dedham Historical Society, and their best wishes for your welfare and success as an organization. As a native of Littleton it gives me pride and satisfaction to be able to take part in the exercises this evening.
Closely woven into the texture of our lives are the recol- lections and experiences of the past which form our personal history, and these become largely the basis of our action in the present and future. We have to deal, not alone with individuals, but with bodies of people, and so the life of man in his relation to social and civil progress becomes the object of our study. The domain of history is broad and offers much of fascinating interest to the reader, the student and investigator; and it brings one into close touch with the varied life and activities of the past.
In its civil progress the growth of New England has been by townships, and these, from the beginning, have given all the strength and vitality which we find reflected in our state and national governments. The town meeting is a New-England institution in its origin and growth. To quote the historian of Groton, Dr. Samuel A. Green, an eminent authority in such matters, says that "The proceedings at these meetings furnish the basis of our political history, and give us the best insight of
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the forces that developed local self-government." Charles Francis Adams has lately written that "probably there is no single American institution which, since De Tocqueville made it famous half a century ago, has excited so much and such wide-spread interest and admiration. In dealing with it, statesmen, philoso- phers, historians, and orators have seemed to vie in words of com- mendation." From the town, as a centre, have spread all those influences which have made our nation great and strong. We are proud of our ancestors for giving us at least the one priceless gift of civil liberty, and, as a matter of filial duty, we ought to strive to learn something of the character of the men and the movements, which have made it possible for us to enjoy so many and so great privileges.
The study of local history has become a matter of great importance, and, at the present time, life in any community is not quite complete unless this feature be prominent. The necessity and urgent need of some definite action toward the col- lection and preservation of materials and the diffusion of historical information never before was felt to such an extent as it is today, and never before attracted so much popular interest. With these objects in mind, the formation of historical societies here and there is fast engaging the attention of thoughtful people. Such organizations are found to have similar objects in view, and in general are built upon the same plan; but the amount and kinds of work and results accomplished, as well as the 1 interest manifested vary somewhat according to the local con- ditions. It may be of some interest to you to follow in a some- what hasty review of the different efforts in this direction, and to trace the growth of the historical sentiment in this country.
A little more than one hundred years ago the adoption of the Constitution of the United States gave the impulse which led to the organization of the first historical society in this country. The elevation of the United States into the group
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of nations, created a desire in the minds of a few people to bring about some concerted action toward preserving whatever would relate to the history of our people. With this object in view it was on January 24, 1791, that the Reverend Jeremy Belknap and a few other persons met in Boston, and founded the Massa- chusetts Historical Society, which is the earliest organization of the kind in this country. From the beginning its objects have been the collection, preservation and the diffusion of material for New England history, and the main expression of its purpose is in publishing volumes containing papers which have never before been printed. In its series of publications continued since the issue of the first volume in 1792, there are embodied much rare and valuable material which throws additional light as well as contemporary evidence upon history.
About twenty years later a new movement took shape in the establishment of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, in 1812. Its aim has been to establish a museum and a depository for whatever would be of use to historians; and it embraces the whole country for its field of work and membership. Of late years it has diffused through its semi- annual publications, much of great historical value to a widely extended circle of readers.
Nine years later, in 1821, Salem became the centre of another movement, which resulted in the beginning of the Essex Institute. Its main purpose has been to collect and preserve materials for a history of Essex County; and for many years it has issued a serial publication containing interesting and valuable papers. These three societies, at Boston, Worcester, and Salem, have been, and are still, the active promoters of historical study in this state.
The influence of these early movements soon made itself felt in the Old Colony, and there we find the Pilgrim Society at Plymouth, devoted to the Pilgrims and their memory; and later
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the Old Colony Historical Society at Taunton, which was estab- lished in the year 1853. The object of the latter organization is to preserve and perpetuate everything relating to the history of the Old Colony. Two years later a similar society was formed in Dorchester in order to collect books, manuscripts and curiosities, such as might tend to preserve the history of the United States, and to publish such portions as might interest succeeding generations.
In all the early efforts to develop an interest in the study of history, with an eye single to the preservation of materials, the work in the main had covered a widely extended field; but as early as 1855 the movement began to take a different turn. Influenced somewhat by the good example set by the society in the neighboring town of Dorchester, a meeting was held in Dedham, early in February 1859, and the Dedham Historical Society founded. The aim in view was especially the col- lection of whatever might illustrate and perpetuate the history of Dedham. In the records of the first meeting the objects are stated "to collect and transmit to succeeding generations all possible memorials of past and present times." Nine years later a similar society was formed in Lowell. In 1870 Deerfield fell into line, and all the historic sentiment of that neighborhood took shape in the organization of the Pocumtuck Valley Memo- rial Association; and its purpose is to gather everything relating to the Indians and early settlers of that region. As a result of the untiring labors of the Hon. George Sheldon, a large col- lection of Indian relics, and of whatever could be found relating to the early New-England home, has been made with great care. In its recent summer courses of lectures many distinguished people have taken part only to add new interest and zeal to the promotion of the enterprise.
We come now to the awakening of a new interest in the cause of history, in which the Centennial Celebration at Phila-
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delphia in 1876 became the chief factor. Congress at that time, passed a resolution directly encouraging the collection of materials and the preparation of histories by urging the celebration of the anniversary in all the towns and cities of the land. Since that time, but mostly in recent years, new historical societies have sprung up on every hand. Prominent among these may be mentioned the one at Lexington, an organization devoted to the interests of that town and to the commemoration, by fitting public services, of the event which has become forever memorable in the annals of our country. Patriotism and loyalty there find a fitting ex- pression and form a common bond of purpose and union. There, as in other societies, is found the endeavor to preserve and to transmit to coming generations whatever relates to the past. Mention should be made here of the Groton Historical Society and the Fitchburg Historical Society, and the commendable wis- dom and zeal with which they have undertaken their work are certainly worthy of imitation. Similar societies at Acton, Con- cord, Bedford, Watertown, Harvard, Clinton and Westford have already entered upon active work, with promise of success.
A comparative study of the aims and purposes of the differ- ent organizations brings to light four distinct lines of activity, all of which are indispensable to the true work of an historical society ; first to collect materials, then to preserve them, thirdly to diffuse information relating to history, and lastly to transmit to posterity valuable memorials of past and present times. Added to these, encouragement in various ways of the spirit of loyalty and patriotism gives a vitality to the life of such a society which can be gained in no other way.
To show briefly what can be done more in detail, with your permission I shall refer to the work of our own society at Ded- ham; for it may be called a typical society as it touches closely all the important lines of effort just mentioned. Organized in the year 1859, it was the first distinctively town historical society
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that still continues to do active work. The resident member ship, now numbering about one hundred and sixty, was for a long period confined to the town, and for several years past such members have been chosen also from the different towns which were once, either wholly or in part, within the limits of original Dedham. When women were first elected members, about ten years ago, the work of the society took on a more popular in- terest, and since then they have contributed largely to its suc- cess. At the quarterly meetings during an early period, and later at the monthly meetings, the subjects considered have been interesting and instructive. Besides many which bear directly upon the life in our village, papers have been read by members and by friends from abroad as follows :
Puritans and Huguenots ; Separation of Maine from Massachu- setts ; The old time District School, illustrated by a teacher and a class of pupils ; Thanksgiving among the Pilgrims; Hopedale, Brook Farm, and other communistic movements; Efforts of the English to Christianize the Indians; Hon. Samuel Dexter ; Bennington Battle and Monument; Romance of Esther Wheelwright, a captive among the Indians ; Early Ministers of Norfolk County ; Madam Knight's Journey from Boston to New York in 1704; Anti-slavery Reminiscences ; The Codfish, its meaning as an Historic Symbol.
Such headings present the wide variety of study which may be taken up to give additional interest to the work ; for some breadth of outlook has an important bearing upon the success of a society.
One advantage which we enjoy is our commodious and attractive fire-proof structure built several years ago from funds bequeathed to the society by Miss Hannah Shuttleworth who had formerly lived on the site of the building. It serves our pur- poses for meetings, for the library and reading-room, for commit- tee meetings, and for the storage, in the fire-proof vault, of town and church records, school-district records, journals and other
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manuscript papers. It has an old-fashioned fireplace at one end of the large room, fitted up with all the belongings of an early period which could be found ; and hanging upon the walls are portraits of persons in the town, and engravings. The whole collection, including the relics, is displayed in such a way as to be attractive to visitors.
The Society has a natural pride in its library which has become of great value for reference to the citizens of the town as well as to visitors from abroad. Well supplied with books on genealogy, town history, biography, and general reading, it is our desire to serve the public in the best way possible. To this end the building is open a portion of each day in the week, and the Visitors' Register shows the names of persons from widely sep- arated towns and cities. Without the aid of any permanent fund, and without enough money to pay running expenses, its collection of over three thousand volumes has grown from a small nucleus of two or three hundred volumes, during the last ten years. With the welfare of the society at heart, and believ- ing it could be made a power in the community, the members have added little by little to the increasing number ; and this interest has been felt by friends abroad, who have generously contributed something of value from time to time.
A special effort has been made to collect photographs of members, of the older inhabitants of the town, of buildings and other views, engravings, pen-and-ink sketches, oil paintings and crayon sketches, old-fashioned wearing apparel, old china, and interesting relics relating to the town. Garrets have been ran- sacked, and much valuable material, including pamphlets and manuscripts, has been brought to light. At the time of the opening of the new building in 1888, a loan collection of every- thing within the reach of the members, and brought together with much trouble, was begun and kept on exhibition for a week or more. During this period, a large number of people visited
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the rooms, and at the close, many of the contributors were will- ing, and even desirous, to give objects of interest and value. In many similar ways, which would take too much time here to mention, a general interest has been created in the work of gathering ; and from year to year the museum has been gradually increasing.
The study of genealogy, which has excited a fascinating interest among many members, has led to much investigation of records and family papers. While in itself it seems to be of little value, the study has served to give us a wider knowledge of our ancestors, and to lead us to know those facts which should be ours as filial descendants. A blank form, with the object of tabulating the list of one's ancestors, was prepared by our presi- dent, and many blanks, either wholly or in part, were filled out, while some were placed on file.
Under the auspices of the Society, a Camera Club was formed about four years ago, and it has made a collection of pho- tographs and lantern slides, both serviceable and interesting. By the use of the lantern and slides, many pleasant and profitable evenings have been spent. Among the photographs made, are many which will prove of great value to the Society, as owing to certain changes, they represent views which cannot be seen in the same condition today. The importance of making the most of our present opportunities in this direction is apparent.
Another feature of our work, somewhat educational in its character, is the awarding of two prizes to members of the gradu- ating class of the High School for the best historical essay to be written on some subject chosen by our curators. Such papers, from year to year, have required considerable research. Books and manuscript records have been consulted, and many interest- ing incidents have been learned from the older people in the town. To show the variety of subjects, the following may be named : Brute enemies of the early settlers ; Household furni-
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ture and cooking utensils in early times; and an account of methods of travelling in Massachusetts. At the graduating ex- ercises, the prize essays are read, and the prizes awarded. Thus the young folks are encouraged to take some interest in research, and to have a fondness for the study of history.
I come now to the most important effort the Society has undertaken, the publication of a quarterly Magazine. This periodical has paid its way, and has been a great source of help to our work. The first number appeared in January 1890, and it has continued regularly ever since, the subscription price be- ing one dollar a year. Its subscribers are scattered over all parts of the country, wherever are found people who have Dedham ancestry, or who are specially interested in Dedham affairs. Its influence is very decidedly felt and is attracting wide notice as well as the attention of historical investigators. It has already made a place for itself which it hopes to fill with increas- ing usefulness.
Many other details of the Society's activity might be men- tioned, but it is enough to say that it depends entirely upon the annual dues of two dollars a year and gifts from friends. Another subject it may be proper for me to mention here, and that is the publication of the town records. The four volumes already pub- lished attest the faithfulness and perseverance of our president, Don Gleason Hill, who has given his services as editor, and who, as town clerk, has taken a just pride in the work. The first step in this direction was taken by the Society, and upon its recommendation, the town made the first appropriation. The money received from the sale of the first volume was turned toward the publication of the second, and so on. The town, by its votes, has generously given fifty copies or more to the His- torical Society, and these have been used to good advantage, in exchange for books needed for the library. Thus the town becomes a direct promoter of the welfare of the society and at the same time the people have the free use of the rooms.
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Such is a brief review of several of the lines of work carried on in Dedham ; but Littleton has an interesting history as well, and will furnish an equally good field of work. Although this township was not incorporated until the year 1714, its territory had previously been used in a good cause, as far back as 1654, by a village of civilized Indians, who had received a grant from the General Court at that early date, and who had been the indirect means of preserving these lands for your ancestors. Dedham, too, had within her western borders, a similar village of praying Indians, at Natick, who were early granted a portion of Dedham lands for a township. In exchange for this grant to the Indians, the General Court gave to the people of Dedham, the tract of land in the Connecticut Valley at Deerfield. The faithful Apostle to the Indians, John Eliot, who labored under so many and so great difficulties, deserves a monument to his memory.
Littleton, situated in a region full of historic traditions, was an original township, and was founded long after the frontier line had passed the western border of her early territory. Sur- rounded, during a brief period after the settlement of the village, by five original townships, it touches today only a single one, Groton, on the northern boundary. It is an interesting fact to note that in connection with Dedham, Watertown, Concord, and Groton, considered in their widest extent of original terri- tory, the five town-ships, with Littleton as the connecting link, spanned in a slightly curved line the whole width of Massachu- setts, joining what was later New Hampshire to the Province of Rhode Island, and thus indirectly connecting the extreme limits of the territory of New England.
The various lines of investigation which you may undertake will easily suggest themselves to you. As facts of history must be learned before results can be deduced, so the "dry bones of history," so-called, must receive their due attention. Much of the evidence and information of life are affected by the destroying
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hand of time, and need now the most careful attention in the way of preservation in some enduring form. A hasty glance over a grouping of subjects such as come within the scope of your work, will be suggestive. Under the general heading of Buildings and their use, are dwelling-houses, meeting-houses, school buildings, post-offices, town-house, mills and mill sites stores, taverns, town clock, church bell, and other incidental matters. Under the subjects of Lands and their use, may be in- cluded, farms, boundaries, sites of old houses and other buildings long since passed from the memory of living people, geological structure of the land, quarries, and lime kilns, town commons, town boundary lines, hills, state surveys, maps, and other allied matters. Roads and highways suggest means of travelling, stage coaches, bridges, railroads, etc. Water brings to mind, ponds, brooks, water power and privileges, fish and fishing. Educational life includes schools and teachers, public library, music and musicians, graduates of colleges, etc. Social life suggests soci- eties, the lyceum, slavery in early times, witchcraft, customs and folklore, instances of longevity, change of names, bibli- ography, epitaphs, and many others. Included in Civil life, are town meetings, records, town government and officers, repre- sentatives to the General Court, senators, and so on. Under Natural History may be mentioned the fauna, flora, birds, varieties of woods, wild beasts, and brute enemies of the early settlers, etc. Religious matters include the history of churches, lives of the ministers, and of the church and parish officers. Genealogy brings us to family and ancestral history, including the lives of persons, natives or residents of the town. In the Professions, law and medicine demand our attentions, and biographical sketches of her lawyers and doctors must be writ- ten. Then Military matters give us many interesting subjects, such as the French and Indian War, French Neutrals, the American Revolution, soldiers and pensioners, War with Great
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Britain, Military Companies and others. I cannot leave this topic without trying to impress upon your minds the importance of gathering all the facts and information you can, about the part which the town and her loyal sons took in the late Rebellion. Under Indian history, may be mentioned efforts to civilize the Indians, the Praying-Indian Village, Life of John Eliot, Indian names, the burying ground, the Indian farm, Indian captives, etc. Under the general topic enterprises may be grouped re- cent as well as early industries and efforts, such as coopering, making of evaporated apple, pickle factory, lactart factory, mak- ing of suspenders, and so on.
To do all the work required in carrying out a scheme sug- gested by this outline, the earnest co-operation of all the mem- bers of your society will be needed. The services of the young men and women should be enlisted in carrying on the different lines of study and investigation. It will be an interesting effort for each pupil of the High School, as well as for each graduate, to do something in this direction. With these objects clearly in view by the society, ways and means will be provided to accom- plish the desired results.
In the hurry and bustle of our busy life, we are apt to forget what we owe to the wisdom and foresight of our ancestors, of those who builded better than they knew ; to forget our noble heritage from the past, which is ours not to be passed over in silence, but to be transmitted to our posterity. Lessons of the simple and homely living of the people, of lives of devotion and self-sacrifice, of examples of loyalty and heroism ; in fact, all that goes to make up a noble record of the past is ours in trust for those who come after us. To keep fresh in the minds of the younger generation the memory of the brave men and loyal women, whose devotion to the duties and responsibilities of life has given us the blessings which we so richly enjoy, to do this, is the duty of the hour ; and such an object is broad in its scope and far reaching in its results.
THE LITTLETON LYCEUM.
Read at a Meeting of the Society, February 22, 1 895, by Rev. William J. Cloues, A. B., President of the Lyceum since 1889.
According to the time stained book of annals, the Littleton Lyceum had its origin, "at a meeting of a respectable number of the inhabitants of the town of Littleton, held in the centre school- house on Wednesday evening, December 2, 1829, for the purpose of consulting on the expediency of forming a society, the object of which shall be to promote mutual improvement in useful knowl- edge." Rev. William H. White, the father of this society, was chosen moderator, and Rev. Amasa Sanderson, secretary, of this preliminary meeting. On December 8, the Constitution and By- Laws were presented by a committee, composed of Rev. William H. White, Rev. Mr. Sanderson, Jonathan Hartwell, Deacon James Kimball and Joel Hoar ; and the Constitution was adopted. The following preamble and articles in this old document will be of interest :
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