USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1881-1882 > Part 11
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Of the new town he was chosen chairman of the board of select- men, town treasurer and representative to the General Court each year until his death in 1811. Benjamin F. Keyes in a very brief history of West Boylston published in 1858 says : "Al- though it may in truth he said that West Boylston eventually became a town almost wholly in consequence of his great exer- tions and untiring efforts, and that he laid the foundation for its future growth and prosperity, and although he did more to promote the general interest thereof than all others associated with him, yet very little if anything of adequate importance has been done (aside from a common tomb-stone erected at his grave) either by individual citizens or the town, as a testimony of his extensive influence, usefulness and great worth as a citi- zen and public benefactor, or for the perpetuation of his mem- ory as one of the most distinguished and influential of the town and community in which he resided.
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A few years ago however the town desiring to do honor to his memory as its principal founder, voted by a large majority to petition the legislature for a change of name to that of Bea- man. Some opposition appearing, and the then representative of the family, a son of him for whom it was to be named, object- ing, the petition was never presented.
Ezra Beaman's death occurred June 4, 1811, and his remains were buried in the plot of ground appropriated by his father previous to his death as a family burying ground, and in which several generations of the family now lie. This ground is on a ridge of land half a mile from the old Beaman Mansion, near the public road leading to Boylston. It overlooks a beautiful scenery of intervale bordering on the Nashua river and is en- closed by a remarkably solid and substantial stone wall with an iron gateway. At his funeral people came from far and near to pay respect to his memory. A lady still living who was present on that occasion, seventy years ago, informed me that although the place of burial was half a mile from the house, the head of the procession had arrived back to its starting point before the rear had left it.
The inscription on the stone which marks his grave is as fol- lows :
ERECTED
IN MEMORY OF EZRA BEAMAN ESQR
WHO DIED June 4 1811 Aged 74 years 7 months 19 days.
Friends & Physicians could not save My mortal body from the grave Nor can the grave confine me here When Christ shall call me to appear.
Major Beaman was rather short in stature, quick and energetic in motion. He took much pride in beautifying the roadside of the town by planting along the highway adjoining his vast es- tate, trees of various kinds with a view to beauty and shade. There is a large buttonwood tree standing by the roadside near the old location of the ancient Beaman house bearing the marks
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of age, which was planted by him in 1749, he being then thir- teen years of age. His life was devoted to whatever tended to the advancement of the interests of the community, and his death was sincerely mourned. He was a member of the Con- gregational Church and was a liberal contributor to the cause of religion.
I have deemed it best to present copies of a few records and documents pertaining to Ezra Beaman which convey informa- tion relative to public matters. It is much to be regretted that the papers that belonged to him and which undoubtedly con- tained much of a public and personal nature have been so wide- ly scattered or destroyed. Upon his death, these came into the custody of his son who succeeded him in the possession of the homestead, who preserved them with the most religious care, as he ever did everything that pertained to his father, and although he lived to the age of 94 years he always spoke of him with the most tender and filial respect. At his death in 1863, he never having married, the personal effects were scattered far and wide, through a general desire to obtain some memento of the distin- guished person to whom they once belonged. Thus they have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible. But these which fol- low I have brought together,
"Ere yet Decay's destroying fingers Have swept the lines where merit lingers."
In September, 1774 the town of Shrewsbury voted to have two companies of militia or training soldiers in the South Parish ; the second or North Parish had already taken action in this direction and chosen Ezra Beaman captain.
December 27th, 1774, the town of Shrewsbury voted unani- mously to adopt the Association of the Continental Congress, and in addition thereto, of the Provincial Congress of the 5th of December, relative to the non-importation and non-consumption of British goods ; and in order to see the same carried into vig- orous execution, chose a Committee of Inspection. This com- mittee consisted of fifteen members of which Ezra Beaman was one.
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On the arrival of the news of the Battle of Lexington a com- pany of men marched from this town with Job Cushing as Cap- tain, Ezra Beaman 1st Lieut. and Asa Rice 2d Lieut. Upon the organization of the army a majority remained. This com- pany was assigned to the regiment of Col. Ward and took an active part in the seige of Boston.
Herewith is a copy of the Commission of Lieutenant Beaman.
The Congress of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay To Ezra Beaman, Gentleman,
Greeting :- We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Courage and good Conduct, Do, by the Presents, Constitute and appoint you the said Ezra Beaman to be a Lieutenant in the Company Commanded by Capt Job Cushing in the Regiment of Foot whereof ye honble Artemas Ward Esq. is Colonel raised by the Congress aforesaid for the Defence of said Colony.
You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Lieutenant in leading, ordering, and exercising the said Company in Arms both inferior Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Dicipline ; and they are hereby commanded to obey you as their Lieutenant, and you are your- self to observe and follow such orders and Instructions as you shall from Time to Time receive from the General and Com- mander in Chief of the Forces raised in the Colony aforesaid, for the Defence of the same, or any other your superior officers, according to military Rules and Disipline in War in Pursuance of the Trust reposed in you.
Dated the 29th of May
A. D. 1775
SAM'L FREEMAN Secretary P. T.
By order of the Congress JOS. WARREN President P. T.
Lieutenant Beaman was present and took part in the action on Bunker hill, and the part performed by the regiment of Col. Ward on that day is worthy of mention. When General Ward had learned that a reinforcement of British troops had been sent over to Charlestown, thereby reducing the disposable force of the enemy so that an attack upon headquarters at Cambridge was improbable, he ordered the regiment of Col. Jonathan Ward to march immediately to Charlestown. They had proceeded to within a little over a mile of, the scene of action, when they
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were met by a horseman, said to have been Dr. Benjamin Church, one of the Committee of Safety, who afterwards proved a traitor, coming from Charlestown, who asked Ward if he had not received counter orders? "No," was the answer. "You soon will," said Church, "Halt here." Part of the regiment remained here, the other part found means to advance, and took part in the engagement. That part of the regiment which had halted, after remaining on the ground an hour or more advanced, but soon met the other part of the regiment returning under a cannonade from the British. The regiment returned to Cam- bridge the next morning. Lieut. Beaman was among those who advanced and took part in the engagement.
The whereabouts of Lieut. Beaman during the summer and fall can be gathered from the following orders and passes :
Head Quarters Cambridge June 3 1775 Gen. Orders
That Lient. Beaman proceed immediately to Shrewsbury & apprehend & bring back Daniel Holden, Asa Smith & William Rusforth who have deserted & bring them back to Camp, who are to be dealt with according to the Nature of their Crime, & the Horse that was taken from one of the Islands (if either of the above Persons carried away any such Horse) is to be brot back. The Selectmen are desired to afford all the assistance Lieut. Beaman may stand in need of.
S. OSGOOD Majr of Brigade
Permit Lieut Beaman to pass the Guards from Headquarters Camp at Cambridge June 9th. J. WARD Secretary Lieut. Ezra Beaman has leave to pass the Guard to and from the Camp in Dorchester July 28th 1775 J. WARD Colonel
Camp at Roxbury 8th Sept. 1775
Lieut. Beaman in Gen. Ward' Regt has a Furlough for six days. By order of Gen1 Ward
J. WARD A. d. C.
The Powder Horn of Lieut Beaman now in possession of The Worcester Society of Antiquity is a beautiful and interesting relic. The inscription upon it is as follows : Lieut. Ezra Bea- man, his horn, made at Fox Poynt so called, in Dorchester
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September the 30 ye 1775, in Thomas Gage's war who came to Boston ye Americans for to enslave and take their rights away. Made by Micah Briard. The engraving on this horn is most beautifully done, and was the work of Micah Briard, a serjeant in Beaman's company.
In October Beaman sent the following letter to Colonel Ward :
DORCHESTER, OCTOBER 27th, 1775.
To Jonathan Ward Esq. Commander of a Regiment of Foot in the Continental Army at Dorchester.
ST. Being required by Gen !! Orders to make return in this way of my Design whether to Continue in said Continental Army or not, and being first Lieutenant of a Company whereof MI. Job Cushing is Capt in your Honors Regiment & therefore of little Importance which is a Strong argument for my being excused, notwithstanding am willing but Desirous to use and exercise the utmost of Indeavor to preserve & Defend the Rights & Liberty's of my Country both Civil & Sacred, yet the many Inconvenien- cies & almost Impossibilities that attend my Continuance in Sª Army urges in favor of my Dismission at the last of Decem" next. Being assured that I can be ten fold more Servisable to the Army being in my usual Business than present with it.
Am ST Your Hon's most Obd' & Hum1 Servt.
EZRA BEAMAN.
His request for dismission was granted as the roll of the com- pany reports him in the service eight months from April 19th, 1775. At the annual town meeting in Shrewsbury, in 1776, soon after his return, he was chosen one of its Committee of Correspondence, Safety and Inspection.
That he was actively engaged in preparing and forwarding men to the Continental Army is shown by the following orders.
To Samuel Andrews, Corporal
d3 You are Required forthwith According to the Trust Re- "L. S." & g posed in me by Direction of the Commander of theCol- ony of the Massachusetts Bay, to Notifie & warn all the Soldiers under my Command Living upon the southward side of the Riv- er above the Sear Bridge So called and thence to the meeting house all to the Road leading to Worcester, But Not on Sª Road, to Appear at the Meeting house in the Second Parish in Shrews- bury on Wednesday the 5th Day of June 1776 at two of the
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Clock in the After Noon with their Arms Compleat for exercise, their to Attend further orders from myself or some one of their officers ; hearof fail not & make Return of this warrant with your Doings thereon to myself or in my Absence to Lieut. Faw- cett at or Before the Hour mentioned.
given under my Hand and Seal this 28 Day of May.
Anno. do. 1776
EZRA BEAMAN Capt.
To Capt, Ezra Beaman or the Chief officer Present of suid Company, Shrewsbury.
You are Required forthwith to Inlist into the Colony Service or Draft every 25th man in the Company under your Command Both of the trainining Band and of the Alarm List and see that they Are aquipt With Arms and ammunition according to Law and Ready to march at the Shortest Notice to Dorchester Heights, according to Resolve of Council of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay at Watertown July 18th and order also of Brigadier Warner to me Directed July 22 and make a Return of their Names so Inlisted or Drafted to me July 27 or on Mon- day morning July 29th.
Given under my hand at Grafton this 24th Day of July 1776. JOHN GOULDING Col.
To Capt. Ezra Beaman, Shrewsbury, the Chief officer of said Company, these presents (are) according (to) orders from Brig- adier (Gen W) arner to me directed.
You are hereby required forthwith to Cause to be mustered the Company under your Command and Draft every fifth man according to a resolve of the Grait & General Court of the Col- ony of the Massachusetts Bay which I send here enclosed and make a return to me by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning Next.
Grafton September ye 15 1776. JOHN GOULDING Col.
To Samuel Andrews, Corporal
L, S. Greeting-You are Required forthwith According to the y Trust Reposed In me By Direction of the Council of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay to Notifie & warn all the Sol- diers under my command Belonging to the training Band & also the Alarm List to meet at the meeting house In the Second Par- rish in Shrewsbury on Tuesday the 17 Day Sept 1776 at Eight of the Clock in the morning with their Arms Compleat on Pen- alty of Paying a fine of ten Pounds for Non-appearance.
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hereof fail Not & make Return of this warrant with your Do- ings hearon to myself or in my Absence to the Next officir in Rank at or Before the Hour above mentioned.
given under my hand & Seal this fifteenth Day Sept 1776.
EZRA BEAMAN Capt.
N. B. the Division for yon & David Andrews to Be the westerly Parts of the Parrish from the first Parrish to the Sec- ond Parrish By the Road that Leads to Sawyer's Mills.
Corporal Caleb Kendall
L. S. Greeting-You are Required forthwith to Notify & warn Both Training Band & the alarm men Belonging to my Company on the East side of the Road that Leads from the first Parrish in Shrewsbury to the Second, so Leading to Saw- yers Mills, to meet at the meeting house in Sª Parrish on Wed- nesday the twelfth Day of this Instant February at one of the clock In the afternoon with their Arms Compleat, their to At- tend further orders.
Hearof Fail not & make Return of this warrant with your Doings thereon at or Before the hour above mentioned.
given under my hand & Seal the fifth Day of February A. D. 1777
EZRA BEAMAN Capt.
On the 16th day of June, 1777, Ezra Beaman was commis- sioned Major in the Sixth Worcester regiment, commanded by Col. Job Cushing of Shrewsbury. This regiment was engag- ed in the movements of the northern army which culminated in the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne.
Previous to the battle of Bennington this regiment had passed through that place and pushed on towards Ticonderoga. Re- ceiving orders to return and reinforce General Stark without delay, it arrived at Bennington on Sunday, the day after the battle. and performed guard duty over the British prisoners.
The following are from Shrewsbury Town Records :
"D' Edward Flint & Cap' Ezra Beaman were chosen on the 17 day of February 1777, delegates to a convention proposed to be held at the request of the town of Sutton at the house of Wid- ow Stearns in Worcester on the 26 of Feb'y, to come into some measures for the repeal of an act passed in the Great & General Court last spring called an act for the more equal Representation of the several towns in this state."
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"Maj. Ezra Beaman was chosen unanimously to procure & lay before the court at a special session of the Peace, the evidence that may be had of the Inimical disposition Towards any of the united States, of any Inhabitant of said town who shall be charg- ed by the freeholders & other Inhabitants thereof of being a per- son whose residence in this State is dangerous to the Public Peace or Safety."
October 20 1777 "chosen a member of a committee to adjust the duty done by each individual in said Town in the war since the 19th day of April 1775."
November 16 1778 "Granted to Major Beaman for the ex- pense of 17 days in attending special court & collecting evi- dence in the prosecution of inimical persons in the year 1777- £11-10s-Od and for cash paid M' Lincoln for assisting in the prosecution of these inimical persons."
August 9th 1779 chosen a member of a "committee, the town having voted to adopt the measures proposed by the convention at Concord 14th July 1779 & to regulate prices, and to see the resolves referred to are strictly and duly executed."
25th May 1780 chosen member of a "committee to frame amendments to the Bill of Rights."
January 1 1781 "chosen to procure men for the Continental Army."
February 8th 1781 "chosen one of a committee for hiring mon- ey for the payment of men for the Continental Army."
March 20 1782 In a Tax of £65 for a Continental Man for the army for three years, in a class of forty eight names Ezra Beaman's proportion was £15-88-5d-2q nearly one third of the whole tax. In another Tax of £72 his proportion was £17-2s 3d-1q.
The following petition to the Great and General Court is without date.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To the Hon. the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled :
HI UMBLY Shews Ezra Beaman of Shrewsbury in the County of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aforesaid Esquire, That he was at great expense during the late war in detecting and prosecuting persons inimically disposed to the general interests of the country ; That he was at great expense & trouble in detecting Jotham Bush of Shrewsbury guilty of
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uttering large sums of counterfeit money ; procuring witnesses for attending on the Courts from time to time when the said Bush was recognized for the crime of uttering & passing coun- terfeit money in the Counties of Middlesex and Worcester ; That your Petitioner spent considerable sums of Money and much Time in detecting Solomon Houghton of Lancaster, suspected and charged with uttering and passing large sums of counterfeit money, and that he was recognized as an evidence against said Houghton on eleven different indictments from Term to Term, for more than three years and expended a large sum of money in sending into the Eastern Country after the said Houghton at the express request of the Attorney General and was obliged to advance considerable sums of money to support evidence at Court from time to time on the different Indictments against the said Houghton ; and that he was at great expense in sending to Bos- ton to apprehend one David Bush who was suspected of having a large sum of Counterfeit Money with him, the attendance as a prosecutor of the said Bush a number of Courts, paying and sup- porting at his own expense divers witnesses against said Bush ; That he attended a number of Terms as a witness against one John Williams charged with high Crimes and Misdemeanors against the Government, and that for more than seven years your Petitioner was constantly recognized as a witness in the County of Worcester against persons dangerously inimical to the Community and charged with counterfeiting the common currency of the Country ; That he was instrumental in detect- ing divers persons suspected of the Crimes aforesaid, For which service he has never received any recompense, neither hath he ever been refunded the money expended by him in the business aforesaid ; That he has regularly with others made certificate of his travel and attendance in the cases of the Commonwealth against Houghton and John Bush and delivered the same to the Attorney General but without any kind of effect, Wherefore your petitioner humbly prays the Honble Court that they would take such measures as they in their wisdom shonld judge proper in order that your Petitioner may have some reasonable Com- pensation for his great trouble, Time, expenses & disbursements and as in Duty bound shall ever pray.
The following has an interest as connected with the incorpo- ration of the town of Boylston :
At a legal meeting holden at the Second Precinct in Shrews- bury on Monday the Ninth day of May A. D. 1785, the warrant for said meeting contained the following article viz : "2ndly To hear the Petition of the Committee of the Second Precinct in Sd
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Shrewsbury requesting the Town would choose a Joynt Com- mittee from each Precinct to perambulate the line and renew the Bounds between the Preeincts, as also to settle all other matters relating to a Seperation of Parishes & to act anything relative thereto the the toun may think proper." The town vot- ed a committe consisting of six, three in each precinct, viz ; Colº Job Cushing, L' Jonas Temple, Capt. Jonah Howe, Capt" Joseph Bigelow, Maj' Ezrah Beaman and Maj' Asa Rice who reported at a subsequent meeting that they had "run the bounds &c .; that the one half of the town securities, Town Stock of Ammunition & Intrenching tools which are the Property of said Town shall belong to the first precinct, and the other half shall be the property of the second Precinct, being cqually divided. The Weights & Measures to be the property of the first pre- cinct." The poor are severally assigned. Voted to sett off.
The following receipts are interesting as showing the position of the town of Boylston in Shays' Rebellion, and as giving the names of persons who served in suppressing that insurrection.
Boylston May the 4 A D. 1787
Then Received of Ezra Beaman the wages that is due to us the Subscribers as they are made up in Capt. Robert Andrews' Muster Roll, for servisses Dun in surpressing the Late Rebellion
JOSEPH HERENY EHIJAH PIKE SILVANUS DINSMOOR.
Boylston May 10 A. D. 1787
Then Receivd of Ezra Beaman all the wages that is Due to us the Subscribers for Serveises while we ware in Capt. Jonah How's Company in Sirpressing the Late Rebellion in the west- ward Countyis
JAMES LONGLEY SAMUEL WHITCOMB ALMER GOODNUF
JOHN ANDERSON STEPHEN BIGLO DAVID RICE
JONAS GOODNUF JASON GLAZIER KING HOW
JOTHAM GOODNUF
ROBERT HUDSON
JOSHUA STILES
LEVI MOORE AMARIAH SAWYER
JOHN WHEELER
JOHN HASTINGS JR WILLIAM SAWYER
LEVI BIGLOW
SAMUEL HARTHAN JOSEPH BIGELOW JR
JONATHAN BOND
Boylston May the 4th 1787
Then Received of Ezra Beaman the wages that is due to us the Subscribers as they are made up on Capt Hollowell Taylers Muster Roll for Servisses Dun in Surpressing the Late Rebellion in the westward Counties.
AMHERST MORSE JONATHAN BOND JR JOHN ANDREWS.
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I find a quaint order to Ezra Beaman as Precinct Treasurer.
Shrewsbury Second Precinct January 3 1784 To Major Ezra Beaman Precinct Treasurer
You are directed to pay yourself Sixteen Pounds Six Shillings and a penny two farthings for Money spent in defending the Action brought by Jotham Bush against the collectors & As- sessors of said precinct and Eleven Pounds fifteen shillings & two pence being money laid out in Repairing the Meeting House and this order shall discharge you so much
LEVI MOOR ) Committee for JONATHAN BOND ) said Precinct.
The documents which follow have an interest as presenting a portion of the history of the incorporation of the town of West Boylston. In 1794 a petition was presented to the town of Boylston as follows :
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Boylston, Gentlemen- The petition of the Subscribers Humbly Showeth
That your Petitioners view the time as being near at hand when circumstances will admit of their enjoying Ecclesiastical privileges in a more conscientions, agreeable & in a Much more convenient & enlarged manner than they have hitherto done. & being sensible that Religion the basis of human happiness is a natural concomitant of these privileges, we think it our duty to request that you would fully consent to our being incorporated into a separate Town. District or Society, as you think most proper. We do not solicit this favor wholly with a view to pro- mote our Interests, Emolnment or convenience, but for the good of a respectable number of our Neighbors, the welfare of our own & their Children & succeeding generations. Your compli- ance or non compliance with our request we do not consider as desisive of the cause we have undertaken ; but we view it in your present power either to aid or oppose our pursuit of the object we aim at.
We now declare unto yon Gentlemen, that we do not wish to obtain the Prayer of our Petition to you, or of a similar one to higher power, by any unlawful or unfair means : but by con- trary means. We are inflexibly determined to use our utmost efforts. Because we are persuaded that our request is not only reasonable but that there is a fair prospect of our being separat- ed from you. That this is the case we think you will not deny. If so, will it not be consistent with your own & our Interest to grant ns our request. We think it will.
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Consider your Petitioners as separate from you, and you will still be a respectable society, more numerous, of greater ability than many other Towns in this State. Is a forced connection with us worth contending for. Again, we ask what injury can you sustain by parting with us. To this you may reply that your Ministers tax will be a little augmented. This will not we think afford you a sufficient plea to withstand or even induce you to engage in an uncertain contest. These things Gentlemen we request you would wisely consider & your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
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