USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, 1877, Volume I-5 > Part 24
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Our Society has made commendable progress in collecting en- gravings, photographs and views, some of which are rare and valuable. We are indebted to Mr. Chas. W. Fenno, of this city. for his generous contributions in this department, comprising a large number of choice engravings, portraits and views, a more particular description of which will be given in the list of dona- tions connected with the Librarian's report.
It would have been gratifying to me to have given a detailed account of our collections in the Department of Ancient Manu- scripts, Publications and Engravings, but for want of time and space, I propose to leave that delicious labor to those whose pleasure it shall hereafter be to make these reports ; hoping that the Society will continue to collect rich treasures of Art, which will never fail to attract the attention of those who admire the highest type of civilization and refinement.
CLARK JILLSON, Chairman.
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REPORT ON RELICS, COINS AND CURIOSITIES.
It is well known to all members of this Society that we are vet in our infancy, having but just started in what we believe to be a good work. A little more than a year ago the idea of forming Departments and apportioning a work to every active member of the society was carried into effect, allowing each to consult his own taste and inclination in regard to the particular Department * in which he could serve. And now, at our annual meeting, it has seemed proper to make some report, or at least a pretence of such, regarding what has been accomplished by this Department relating to Relies, Coins and Curiosities.
As members of this Department we do not come boldly to the front with our arms burdened with sheaves : neither do we come saying. "Lord. I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth : lo. there thou hast that is thine."but with the feeling that we as learners in a new science we have tried to help each other along. with here and there a friendly suggestion, an encouraging word, or a sympathetic feeling in a common cause. This Depart- ment has but just made a beginning ; yet with members so ac- tively engaged, we are making some advancement in the collection of various articles which may be classed as relies and curiosities.
To go somewhat into detail is perhaps not ont of place at this time.
The Hand Machine for the manufacture of Card Teeth. one of the first made for forming the tooth. is a contribution from Mr. A. B. Prouty, of New Worcester. This interesting and valuable relic was obtained and presented to the Society through one of our most active and interested members. Hon. Clark Jillson.
A granite Indian Mortar, of large size, in a good state of pres- ervation, from Lunenburg, presented by E. H. Marshall. is wor- thy of mention ; also an unusually long and perfect Pestle. plow- ed up in a field on the banks of the Kennebec, in Maine.and pre- sented to ns by Richard O'Flynn, as necessary to complete this indispensable article of the wigwam : an ancient Bear Trap of rude construction. from A. G. Mann of this city. made in 1771. It has a history of its own, and at least has been a terror to the
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Bears of New Hampshire and Vermont in time gone by. and is said to have depopulated the forests of those regions of somewhat over forty of its early natives which at that time were quite nn- merous and troublesome to the early settlers. From Cumberland. R. I., we have sent us for preservation. Door Hinges and Wooden Latch and String taken from a house built by Joseph Bartlett. dating back to 1745. presented by Thos. E. Bartlett ; a case of Shells, Minerals, and other Curiosities, presented by Pardon A. Lee, containing also historical relies. such as pieces of the Charter Oak of Connecticut, the Old Ehn from Boston Comnon. the Frigate Lawrence, Perry's Flag Ship. Washington's Tomb, Isaiah Thomas' Coffin, and many other articles of interest.
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Contributions have been made of Minerals, Spinning-Wheel, Reel. Shuttle, Bobbins, Spool, Temples, Bread Toaster. Wood- en Compass, Snuffers and Tray, Ancient Chairs, and many other valuable articles of an hundred years ago.
To Nathaniel Paine Esq .. we are indebted for a collection of 67 Medals and Medalets, mostly American, very interesting. and some quite scarce, making a good foundation for future additions.
In regard to the case of Medals and Coins which you see . before you I will say, that having long indulged a taste for those things and circumstances favoring. it was my pleasure some years since to spend my leisure time in making a collection for myself; and I am very happy to offer these to this Society in which I take special interest, with the hope that a foundation may be laid in this Department which at some future time shall be a study for the student as well as a pleasure to the eye.
The Medals in this collection embrace a wide range of subjects. beginning with the Emperors of Rome. A fine collection of the Kings, and other celebrated men of France, with some rare pieces of the first Napoleon. England's Kings and Queens, and English Medals relating to its wars with France.
There is also a good collection of Washingtons, and Medals presented by the Government to the officers of the Army and Navy, from the revolution to the close of the war with Mexico, besides many others of a miscellaneous character.
In closing this report allow me to congratulate the Society up- on its general prosperity in all its departments, believing we have
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only to put our shoulder to the wheel to make this Society as successful as our most ardent members could desire.
To complete a set of Medals of the Revolution. I present you to-night eight pieces : also five Washington Buttons. I believe all the varieties at present known. If you will pardon me the time I will give an outline of this interesting collection.
There were !! Medals struck by order of the Continental Con- gross. to commemorate the War of the Revolution. as follows, viz :
1. The Gold Medal which commemorates the evacuation of Boston by the British troops in 1776. This Medal of Washing- ton was prepared and struck in Paris, under the direction of Dr. Franklin, then our Minister to France.
2. To Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, for the surrender at Sara- toga. of Lient. Gen. Burgoyne and his army, Oct. 17. 1777, a Gold Medal was presented by resolution of Congress. Nov. 4. 1779.
3. To Brig. Gen. AAnthony Wayne. a Gold Medal was award- ed by resolution of Congress. July 26, 1779. for the taking of Stony Point, by storm. on the night of July 15, 1779.
1. To Maj. JJohn Stewart. a second Medal, of Silver. com- memorative of the taking of Stony Point, was awarded by reso- Intion of Congress. July 26. 1779.
5. A third Medal. of Silver, under the above resolution, was awarded to Lieut. Col. De Fleury, for his gallant conduct during the engagement at the taking of Stony Point.
6. By resolution of Congress. Sept. 21. 1779. a Gold Medal was directed to be presented to Maj. Henry Lee. for his attack on a body of British troops and the fort at Paulus Hook. N. J .. on the 19th of July. 1779.
7. Three Silver Medals were awarded by vote of Congress, Nov. 3. 1780. to John Paulding. David Williams and Isaac Van Wart, for the capture of Maj. JJohn Andre. These Medals were presented to the recipients in the presence of the whole American Army. by General Washington.
8. By resolution of Congress, March 9, 1781, a Gold Medal was ordered for presentation to Gen. Daniel Morgan, for the vie- tory of the American arms, at Cowpens, North Carolina.
9. By resolution of Congress. March 9. 1781. a Silver Medal was awarded to Lieut. Col. John Eager Howard, for his skill and
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intrepidity in the management of troops at the battle of Cowpens.
10. To Col. William A. Washington, a Medal was struck in honor of the brilliant victory obtained at Cowpens by the Amer- ican troops, over a far superior force of British Regulars, then under command of Lieut. Col. Tarleton.
11. By resolution of Congress, Oct. 29, 1781. a Gold Medal was awarded to Gen. Nathaniel Greene. for his gallant conduct at the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, Sept. 8. 1781.
This closes the list of the Medals of the Revolution. Four dies only are now in possession of the Government. viz : Washington before Boston, Gen. Horatio Gates, John Eager Howard and Colonel William A. Washington.
HENRY PHELPS, Chairman.
On the evening of Jan. 21, 1879, Rev. Albert Tyler read the following graphic account of the "Butman Riot," which occurred in Worcester, October 30, 1854.
The rendition of Fugitive Slaves was creating the most intense excitement in Massachusetts at the time of this remarkable Riot; and there seemed to be a general disposition on the part of many prominent citizens to resist the encroachments of the slave hun- ter in the city where the free-soil party was born.
Mr. Tyler has presented the facts connected with that transaction in such a clear and concise manner as to make it interesting to those who were not eye witnesses, while those who were present, and active in the contest will at once recognize each and every point described as though it occurred but yesterday.
85 THE BUTMAN RIOT.
Ocr. 30. 1851.
THE History of New England is singularly free from reminis- cence of riot and violence. Only occasionaly has there been a ripple on the surface of affairs as indicative that the public feel- ing could be stirred into resistance to the form or spirit of the law. The cold and phlegmatie blood of the New England fathers cour- ses too steadily through the veinous life of the present genera- tion. to become easily excited beyond the limits of a strict and staid observance of order and quiet in its social relations. It has been the blood of forbearance, the blood of endurance. the peace- able blood of men not easily or frequently given to outbursts of impatience, or to the outbreakings of indignant and active resist- ance to individual or social wrong. It is the blood of men who have trusted to law, and to legal formalities. for the redress of all grievances that have naturally or occasionally arisen in the com- munity. to disturb its steady circulation and to endanger the reg- ularity of the public pulsation.
All forms of crime, that so frequently arouse the general feel- ing to riotous manifestation in other sections of our country, in New England awaken only a more sober and more determined reliance upon, and a more contiding appeal to the omnipotent behests of the broken law. Unpopular laws, born of oppression. and burthensome to bear, are submitted to without resistance. because even these comme of the social agreement or compact up- on which all laws are based. And in the experience of New England, it has only been, when the adverse party to an impop- ular law. for whose benefit alone it was enacted, has repudiated its claims upon themselves, and at the same time insisted upon the observance of them on the other part, that the spirit of resist- ance has broken forth in acts of open violence.
Perhaps there is no people on the earth who have been trained to so conscientions an obedience to the enacted law as the people of New England. A public compact once entered into, though
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proven in its operation to be wholly adverse to New England interests, is still religiously observed. And the only event of violence in the history of New England life, in which the puritan blood has broken over the limits of law, in hostility to the New England instinet for liberty, has been ineited by the conscientious regard of New England men for Constitutional agreements entered into by the fathers, who, by concessions to what were considered minor interests, consummated a Union of States for the safeguard and perpetuation of those interests they believed to be more im- portant. I allude to the Boston Riots in the early stage of the Anti-Slavery Agitation. All other riots that mark New England life, have been in the interest of freedom, and have been the nat- ural outbreakings of public feeling against required obedience to agreements which the adverse party had broken, and which it had demonstrated had no binding force upon itself which it was bound to respect. Of this class of riots may be reckoned the Boston Tea Party, the Shays Rebellion, the Dorr War in Rhode Island and the popular outbreaks which accompained the attempt to execute the Fugitive Slave law in Boston and Worcester.
The Butman riot, of which this paper proposes to treat, was the last of the latter class of riots. Its locality was Worcester. its occasion, the supposed attempt to arrest and carry back a fugitive from the South, who for nearly a dozen years had been an industrious and respectable citizen of Worcester. All this in accordance with a law which had been recently passed by the National Congress, for the better carrying out of that constitu- tional compact by which those owing service or labor and escap- ing to other jurisdictions, were to be given up and returned to those claiming their services. This law was enacted in the inter- est of that section of the nation which had refused, repeatedly and unitedly, to obey the requirements of that same compact by which they had agreed to respect the rights and privileges of cit- izens of the free states, and accord to them the same freedom they enjoyed at home. They had simply repudiated all the national laws and constitutional agreements they imagined to be in conflict with the selfish interests of the slave owners, and had violated both the national law and the obligations of honor and justice to which they proposed to hold the rest of the nation.
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Citizens of the North whose business or calling brought them into the Southern cities. were imprisoned, and if not ransomed by friends, were sold into perpetual bondage to pay their jail fees ; the mails of the nation were rifled of their contents at the pleas- ure of every petty village despot. and the nation was powerless to prevent the robbery ; debts owing to merchants in communi- ties obnoxiously favorable to freedom. were repudiated : and there was no law of their own or of the nation, which could be executed in favor of a northern man and a citizen of a Free State.
British seamen. though black as darkness itself, were safe from molestation in every Southern port. and walked the streets with the conscious assurance of freemen .- because there was a whole- some fear of the British Lion's paw. and of the roar of British cannon. Massachusetts seamen, born on her hills, as free as the freest. having a taint of African blood in their complexion, were dragged to jail. and sold into bondage. Massachusetts had no canon to compel respect to constitutional obligations ! She ap- pealed to the LAW, and sent her Honored and learned Commis- sioners. the most respected and beloved of her citizens-men whom any civilized community would have deemed it a high privilege to receive, and to accord the fullest exercise of those peaceable and lawful purposes for which they were sent among them-to initiate such legal action in the national courts as would test and settle the question of constitutional obligation towards the free citizens of Massachusetts. These honored and venerable men were driven by mob violence from the South, the mobs being made up from the very civil authority of the State bound by oath to preserve the public peace ; and thus was demonstrated in the last resort, that Slavery would not. even in a peaceable way. ob- serve the law she would impose upon the rest of the nation !
The compact was broken ! ! No longer could the moral obli- gation enforce the unsavory agreement upon the unwilling but conscientious people of New England. Massachusetts immedi- ately passed laws forbidding her officers to assist in the enforce- ment of the obnoxious Fugitive Slave law. and forbidding the use of her prisons to the United States officers for the safe keeping of such prisoners as they should arrest in the endeavor to en- force it. This was not considered a repudiation of the law. but
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a declination of the obligation to assist in enforcing it. It was but saying to the Slave-master, "You chose the United States as your assistant in the recovery of fugitives from slavery when you required and obtained the passage of this law-therefore, let the United States catch and keep your slaves, we'll have no hand in the base and inhuman business !" This being the condition of things. it was thought to be a point of honor by the South to be- gin the slave hunt upon Massachusetts soil. They desired to show her, that the General Government, which was so powerless in South Carolina when her aid was invoked to protect freemen from being enslaved-was all powerful in Massachusetts when invoked to re-enslave men who had achieved their freedom .- They wished to have it understood. that there was no spot under the American flag where a slave owner might not hold and work his slaves ; and one prominent southern politician boasted that he would yet call the roll of his servitors under the "shadow of Bunker Hill."
Well, the slave-hunt began. A Deputy United States Mar- shal, named BUTMAN, by false charges of theft and burglary. it was said, succeeded in getting into his keeping two colored fugitives from slavery, named Burns and Sims : then throwing off the mask of pretence, he held them as fugitive slaves for rendition to their masters.
No one event up to that date had ever created such excitement in New England as this obnoxious work of Butman. Crowds as- sembled from every quarter, the Court House was chained np to keep them ont, the United States military guarded the prison- ers, and they were sent back to slavery at an expense to the government of about $15,000, enough money to have bought a dozen snch men in the slave markets of the South. Of course Butman was execrated, not only because he was a party in the execution of the obnoxious law, but because he was believed to have adopted a mean and contemptible, lying course to get the fugitives into his power. He had shown himself to be the willing tool of his Southern employers-and not the high-minded officer his position implied. Every where he went his purpose was sus- pected, and his movements watched. He was believed to be the only officer of the General Government in Massachusetts who would willingly engage in such a nefarious business.
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Vigilance Committees were speedily formed in Boston and in the adjacent cities and towns, both to watch the slave hunter and to communicate the intelligence of danger in any direction toward which a movement seemed to point ; for there were very many escaped slaves quietly living in the cities and towns of Massa- chusetts, whom the citizens of the State felt bound to warn of approaching danger, and protect from violence by all feasible means.
So on the 29th of October. (Sunday.) word came to Worcester that the obnoxious Asa O. Butman. "the kidnapper." had gone up there from Boston on a slave-hunting expedition. The intel- ligence was found to be true so far as his coming was concerned. as his name appeared upon the books of the American Temper- ance House, placed there late on Saturday evening. Immedi- ately there was issued from the press of the Spy. the following notice. put in type and printed by the junior editor, himself :
.. LOOK OUT FOR KIDNAPPERS ! BUTMAN THE KIDNAPPER OF THOMAS SIMS AND ANTHONY BURNS IS IN TOWN, ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER OFFICER !! THEY ARE BOOKED AT THE AMERICAN TEMPERANCE HOUSE ! LOOK OUT FOR THEM !! "
Of course this notice, posted in the streets, and read by the multitudes of church goers on their way home from worship. created a measure of excitement. in exact accord with the fever heat of those exciting times. A public meeting was called in the evening, which was addressed by several well known citizens. and a special Vigilance Committee was appointed to watch the hotel that night. and the proceedings of Butman. if he made any attempt to carry out his supposed purpose. He was seen during the evening. and in conversation. declared that he only came up to look for some horse thieves ! As he was believed to have lied to Burns and Sims, so he was believed to falsify in this declara- tion of his errand to Worcester. and subsequent investigation seemed to confirm the idea that the belief was well founded.
Some 12 years before, Mr. William H. JJankins, who had been the slave of Gen. Wm. E. Taylor. of Norfolk. Va .. had escaped to the North. He had lived several years at Worcester. and by industry had become a well-to-do citizen in the way of his calling.
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On the passage of the fugitive slave law, a man named Seabury. who had by some means learned of the whereabouts of Mr. Jan- kins, proposed to return him to his master for a stipulated sum. The conditions were agreed to, and the hunter came to Worcester for his man. Mr. Jankins, somehow, was absent, and the blood- hound. after waiting two or three weeks for his victim's return, became discouraged, and went away. after securing as was sup- posed, the services of Butman to accomplish the work. If this was the object which brought him to Worcester, we shall see how he prospered in his errand.
Immediately on the adjournment of the public meeting, the committee of vigilance appointed to watch the Hotel. together with a goodly number of volunteer assistants, proceeded to the post of duty, surrounding the hotel and keeping up a continuous stream of "chaff," concerning the obnoxious inmate. Occasion- ally the door bell would be rung and the landlord annoyed by inquiries with reference to his guest. The leaders of the crowd, if they had leaders, were no-government, non-resistance men, who did not believe in violence other than such as the tongue could inflict ; and they did believe in the use of this weapon of offence unsparingly. The City Marshal was summoned to still their clamor, but he found no violation of the city ordinances ; the High Sheriff came and looked on from the opposite side of the street, but decided there was no ostensible cause for his interfer- ence ; the Mayor was appealed to at last, and after looking over the condition of things, requested the crowd to "let the door bell alone," and went to his home.
All this while the "kidnapper,"Butman, was neasily endeavor- ing to stille his fears of the danger gathering over his head. In his excitement he unwisely, but fortunately for the crowd, par- tially drew from his pocket a pistol. A glimpse of the weapon was sufficient for the leaders of the atching Committee,-for a warrant was immediately issued, upon which Butman was arrest- ed for carrying dangerous weapons. placed in charge of an offi- cer, and the crowd of watchers dispersed to their homes and re- tired to rest.
The next morning Butman was brought before the Court and gave bonds to appear and answer to the charge at a future day.
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In the mean time. there had been steadily gathering the excited and the fun-loving elements of the city .- the former pressing to the front, the latter hanging upon the outskirts to enjoy the scene. Perhaps no really guilty wretch over was confronted with such a Niagara of ponderons Anglo-Saxon denunciation. as greeted the ears of Butman as he came out from the Court Room, -and as he looked around him he saw a greater danger than words of condemnation, in the many dark faces that lowered upon him from representatives of the class and color he was believed to be pursuing. He saw in those faces, flashing from those eyes into which he looked. that tiger hate, which the most trifling circum- stance might unloose to his destruction. His spirit quailed before the vision, and he begged of the city officers help and protection. Hle was taken into the Room of the City Marshal and while there, promised. if suffered to depart, never again to visit the city' Upon this promise being given. a gentleman, since called to the foremost place in the gift of Massachusetts, proceeded to address the crowd in deprecation of further violence, and asking a peace- able passage of the defeated and foiled "slave hunter," to the de- pot. that he might take the earliest cars for Boston.
While he was speaking to the multitude from the balcony or portico of the building. the first scene of violence thus far in the affair, was being enacted in the Marshal's room. Three colored men. taking advantage of the general attention to the speaking. forced the door, and proceeded to wreak their vengeance upon Batman. Though immediately discovered, they had stricken him to the floor, and were endeavoring to do further violence to his person. One was arrested in the act, but succeeded in escaping through the window during the subsequent excitement ; and who he was is unknown to this day.
On the conclusion of the speaking, and in the belief that the crowd had accepted the pledge of Butman "not again to visit the city." and that it had acquiesced in the engagement of the speak- er to guarantee him a safe conduet to the depot. a few staunch friends and well known advocates of freedom gathered around the quailing "kidnapper," and taking him by the arms, at the same time being surrounded by a squad of policemen. they pro- ceeded through the crowd to the cars. The sight of the quarry
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