USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Proceedings of the centennial celebration at Groton, Mass., July 4th, 1876, in commemoration of the destruction of the town, March, 1676, and the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776. With an oration by Samuel Abbott Green > Part 5
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In the summer of 1777, the Council of the State recom- mended to the Board of War that the magazine ; in this town should be enlarged sufficiently to hold five hundred barrels of powder. This recommendation was carried out within a few days ; and a corporal and four privates were detailed to
* Journals of the Committee of Safety and of the Committee of Supplies of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, 1774-1775, pages 516-51S. + Massachusetts Archives, CLXXIII. 274, 290, 549.
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guard it. A caution was given "that no person be inlisted into said Guard that is not known to be attached to the Ameri- can Cause." Later in the autumn, the detail was increased to a sergeant and nine privates.
Two years afterward, some glass was wanted for this very building, and for the school-house, as the windows were much broken. The selectmen of the town could obtain the glass only through the Board of War; and to this end they petitioned the Board for leave to buy it .* The re- quest was duly granted ; and I mention this trivial fact to show one of the little privations common in those days.
It is said in the note-book of the Reverend Dr. Jeremy Bel- knap, of Boston, that a negro belonging to this town shot Major Pitcairn through the head, while he was rallying the dispersed British troops, at the Battle of Bunker Hill .; It is known that Pitcairn was killed by a negro, but this is, per- haps, the first time that he has ever been connected on good authority with Groton.
The record of this town during the Revolution was a highly honorable one. Her soldiers achieved distinction in the field, and many of them in after life filled positions of trust and responsibility.
In the year 1776, an Act was passed removing the Novem- ber term of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace and Court of Common Pleas, from Charlestown to Groton. It may be conjectured that the change was owing to the dis- turbances of the war. Two years later, by another Act, this November term was transferred to Cambridge, to take the place of the May term, which in turn was brought to Groton, where it remained till 1787. It is very likely that the sessions of the Court were held in this very building. The Court was sitting in this town during the famous dark day of May, 1780.
Joseph Dennie, the poet, was rusticated from college in his senior year, and placed under the care of Dr. Chaplin, the minister of this town. Dennie used to say that he was sent
* Massachusetts Archives, CLXXV. 647.
t Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1875-76, page 93.
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away from Cambridge to let his class catch up with him in their studies. After he had been here a short time, he writes to a classmate, under date of Feb. 24, 1790, giving his im- pressions of the place. He says : "A better, more royal, social club of Lads cannot be found in America, college excepted, than at Groton."
During a part of the first half of the present century, Groton had one characteristic feature that it no longer pos- sesses. It was a radiating centre for different lines of stage- coaches, until this mode of travel was superseded by the swifter one of the railway. A whole generation has passed away since the old coaches were wont to be seen in these streets. They were drawn usually by four horses, and in bad going by six. Here a change of coaches, horses, and drivers was made.
The stage-driver of former times belonged to a class of men that have entirely disappeared from this community. His position was one of considerable responsibility. This important personage was well known along his route, and his opinions were always quoted with respect. I can easily recall, as many of you can, the familiar face of Mr. Corey, who drove the accommodation stage to Boston for so many years. He was a careful and skilful driver, and a man of most obliging disposition. He would go out of his way to bear a message or leave a newspaper ; but his specialty was to look after women and children committed to his charge. I recall, too, with pleasure, Horace George, another driver, popular with all the boys, because in sleighing-time he would let us ride on the rack behind, and would even slacken the speed of his horses so as to allow us to catch hold of the straps.
In the year 1802, it is advertised that the Groton stage would set off from I. & S. Wheelock's, No. 37 Marlboro' (now a part of Washington) Street, Boston, every Wednes- day at 4 o'clock in the morning, and arrive at Groton at 3 o'clock in the afternoon; and that it would leave Groton every Monday at 4 o'clock in the morning, and arrive in Boston at 6 o'clock in the afternoon. It seems from this that
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it took three hours longer to make the trip down to Boston than up to Groton. In the succeeding year, a semi-weekly line is mentioned, and Dearborn Emerson was the driver. About this time he opened the tavern, at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, long since given up as an inn, and sub- sequently burned. There were then two other taverns in the place, - the one kept by Mr. Hall, and continued as a tavern till this time; the other kept by Jephthah Richardson, on the present site of the Baptist church. About the year 1807, there was a tri-weekly line of stages to Boston, and as early as 1820 a daily line, which connected with others extending into New Hampshire and Vermont. Soon after this there were at times two lines to Boston, running in opposition to each other, -one known as the Union and Accommodation Line, and the other as the Telegraph and Despatch. Besides these, there was the accommodation stage-coach that went three times a week, and took passen- gers at a dollar each.
In the year 1830, George Flint had a line to Nashua, and John Holt had one to Fitchburg. They advertise "that no pains shall be spared to accommodate those who shall favor them with their custom, and all business intrusted to their care will be faithfully attended to."
There was also at this time a coach running to Lowell, and another to Worcester.
Some of you will remember the scenes of life and activity that were to be witnessed in the village on the arrival and departure of the stages. Some of you will remember, too, the loud snap of the whip which gave increased speed to the horses, as they dashed up in approved style to the stopping- place, where the loungers were collected to see the travellers and listen to the gossip which fell from their lips. There were no telegraphs then, and but few railroads in the country . The papers did not gather the news so eagerly nor spread it abroad so promptly as they do now, and items of intelligence were carried largely by word of mouth. But those days have long since passed. There are persons in this audience that have reached years of maturity, who have no recollection
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of them ; but such is the rapid flight of time that, to some of us, they seem very near.
Groton was situated on one of the main thoroughfares leading from Boston to the northern country, comprising an important part of New Hampshire and Vermont, and extend- ing into Canada. It was traversed by a great number of wagons, drawn by four or six horses, carrying to the city the various products of the country, such as grain, pork, butter, cheese, eggs, venison, hides; and returning with goods found in the city, such as molasses, sugar, New-Eng- Jand rum, coffee, tea, nails, iron, cloths, and the innumerable articles found in the country. stores, to be distributed among the towns above here. In some seasons, it was no uncommon sight to see in one day thirty such wagons.
We are now in our history passing through a period of centennial anniversaries, and we shall do well to study care- fully their lesson. They are appearing unto us at different times and in different places. Their proper observance will kindle anew the patriotic fires of the Revolution, and bring out all over the land a common devotion to the Republic.
Time rolls on rapidly, and a century is soon completed. There are many in this audience who will see those that will be living a hundred years hence. To look ahead, a century appears to be a long period ; but, to look back to the extent of one's memory, it seems a short one. The years fly on wings, and change is a law of Nature. I can recall now but two families in the village, that are living in the same houses which they occupied in my boyhood ; and those two are Mr. Dix's and Mr. Blanchard's. A familiar sight at that time was the venerable form of Mr. Butler, whose character was well shown in his benignant face. His accurate "History" will be an abiding monument to his memory, and his name will be cherished as long as the town has a political existence. At that time the Common was the playground of the boys, -- it had not then been fenced in, and there was but a single row of elms along the main street. Of the boys that played there, many are dead, others have left the town, and only a few remain. And the same can be said of the school-girls.
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The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places, and we all have much to be thankful for. What a contrast between our lot and that of our fathers ! They had to struggle with many hardships. Their life was one of stern, unremitting toil, surrounded by cares and anxieties. They had to subdue the wilderness, while exposed to the assaults of a lurking savage foe. We, on the other hand, now enjoy much of the material results of their labor. We have but to cast our eyes about us, and see the comfortable homes and fertile fields. They left us the means of religious instruction, a system of public schools, and an attachment for the government which they labored so hard in founding. All these they placed in our keeping, and it rests with us to preserve them intact for the generations to come. The duty with us now is to see that the Republic shall receive no harm; to see that no moral decay - the sure precursor of physical decay - shall sap the structure which they reared. Our aim should be to leave to our children an example as noble as the one that was left to us.
APPENDIX.
[The Massachusetts Archives, frequently referred to, are in manuscript, and may be seen at the State House.]
I. - PAGE 16.
The Humble Request of Joseph Parker to the Honoured Gov- erno' the Honourd magistrates & deputyes, Humbly Requests in behalfe of the towne of Grawton that the letter GR. may bec Re- corded as the brand mark belonging to the towne I being chosen Counstible this year make bolde to present this, to the Honoured Court it being but my duty, in the townes behalfe thus Hopeing the Honored Court will grant my request I rest yor Humble ser- vant
BOSTON : 31th may : 1606
JOSEPH PARKER
In answer to this motion the Deputies approve of ye letter GR to be ye brand marke of groaten
WILLIAM TORREY Cleric
Ye Honored magists consenting hereto Consented by the magists EDW : RAWSON Secrety
[Massachusetts Archives, I. 21.]
2. - PAGE I7. To the Constable of Groaten
These. Require yo" in his Majties name. to sumone & require John Page & such other of ye toune yt went up to Inquire for yeir catle. at Pemicook presently on the death of the Englishman mur- thured by ye Indians there lately in a drunken fitt. as is sayd & others yt yo" know to make their Appearances before the Generall [Court] now sitting in Boston on 27th Instant, at eight of ye clocke in the morning to give in their evidences in ye Case relating to ye sd murthe' & y6 occasion thereof by selling strong liquors & by
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whom as they know or have heard making yo' return of this war- rant to the Secretary at or before y' time hercof yo" are not to faile dated in Boston the 15th of October 1668.
EDW RAWSON Secret By the Court
[Endorsed]
These thre men namly John Page Thomas an Robard Tarball Juni' & Joseph Blood are Summanced Parish to apeare at the Generall Court according to the premises : by mec
MATTHIAS FARNSWORTHI
Constable of Grawton. To the Constable Grawten
[Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 155.]
The words " an Robard Parish " appear in the original as given above. They were evidently put in after the docu- ment was written.
The Deposition of Danll Waldron being called to Speak what I know about the Death of Thomas Dikison who was killed by an Indian as they say : my selfe with many others was sent up by my father to see the corps and enquire into his death when we came there we found the man dead and an Indian lying dead by him and examining the Indians how he came by his death they said the Indian that lay dead by him killed him with his knife : and enquir- ing further why he killed him the Indians told us they asked him and he gave them no answer but bid them shoott him : and further enquiring whether the Indian were Drunk they answered that he was wot Drunk and after this we saw him buried presently and we returned home the next Day
This was taken upon oath : this 20 : {of ye : S :}mo 1668 before us
SIMON WILLARD WY HATHORNE
[Massachusetts Archives, XXX. 157.]
Wee whose names are hereunto subscribed Doe testifye that in or aboute ye Month of June last past goeing to Pennycooke to en- quire after Cattle yt were lost, rideing to ye ffort at the sayd Penni- cooke, meeting with some of the Indians belonging thereto told us, y' an Englishman was Killed by an Indian, and that all our Eng-
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lishmans Laws they had Killed the Indian, wee farther enquireing of them how and whether the Indians were drunke when the Eng- lishman was Killed and they answered all Indians were then drunk or else they had noe Kild Englishman ; And farther wee Evidence Tohaunto a Sagamore being afrayd that wee had brought Liquors to sell desired us if wee had any, that wee would power it on the ground for it would make ye Indians all one Divill, And farther wee meeting wth Thomas Payne, who told us he was Capt Waldern's serv', asking him whether the Indians were drunke when the Englishman was Killed, and he answered not drunk, and after farther discourse wth yo sd Payne he sayd that ye prson that was Killed was Peter Coffins man and farther sayd That if the Killing of the Man did not prevent it his the sayd Paynes Master Capt Waldernº and Peter Coffin did intend to send Carpenters to build there and also to have ground broake upp to be improved, and wee further affirme that wee saw a Rundlett which would hold at least six Gallons in the Trucking House near the sayd ffort; after wch wee meeteing wh the Indians then there and telling them yt Thomas Payne told us that they were not drunk when The Englishman was Killed the Indians then sayd yt Payne much Lyed, for wee had Divers Quarts of Liquors the same day that the sayd Englishman was Killed upon and one of the Indians Comaunded his Squagh to wash a Bladder, wherein the Indian sayd there was a Quart of Liquors and wee doe adiudge it to be as much ; or using words to the same effect
Octobr 274 1668
JOHN PAGE ROBB PARRIS THOMAS TARBALL JOSEPH BLOUD
Sworne in Court, 27, october 1668 :
EDW : RAWSON Secrety [Massachusetts Archives, Xxx. 161.] -
3. - PAGE 20. Honerd Gentlemen the Gouvr & Councell
This afternoon, we had acordinge to your order, discourse with Capt Hincksman, in reference to his actings in his waye as to the comisions he recd from you, he is to take: So men frome oure Garisons, that is all we haue or mor, & we : stand in need of more but we dare not be so bold, our corne, that littill we haue, is time it weare gathered, but if our scouts be taken off' heer is littill be
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gathered, & many will be hardly kept with vs, but will rune awaye frome all our townes, you hapily may thinke we are afrayd, we will not bost therabout, but we dare saye, our lives are not dear unto vs, in any way that God shall call vs to, our thoughts are that it is not advisable to march vp to penicooke, wher ther are many Indians at the prsent, yet many abroad about all our towns as apears dayly, but our prsent thoughts are, that it might be for p'sent saftie for the country, that a Garison wear settled ouer Mer- rimake Riuer about donstable, that ther maye be enttercorse be- tweene our towns & that Garison, we have apoyntted Capt Pakr & left Hinckesmen who will relatte things to giue you reall light, much further then is meet now to do or then time will pmitt, we are not willinge to truble you any further, but rest your humble servants
GROATON this 25"! 7 : 75.
SIMON WILLARD, SALOM ADAMES JAMES PARKER : JAMES KIDDER
[Massachusetts Archives, LXVII. 265.]
4. - PAGE 24.
To the Honoed Council convened at Boston Auge 17th 1676.
The humble Petition of John Morse
Sheweth. That yo! petition! being an Inhabitant of Groton ; hath together (with many others) been deprived of his Estate by the calamity of the warr; and himselfe carried away captive by the Enemy ; and about five pounds in mony laide down by M. John Hubbard of Boston for his ransome, and understanding that there hath been some Stock raised by a contribution towards the ransom- ing of the captives. Yo! petition" doth humbly pray that hee may bee considered in the distribution of the sª Stock, and that M. Hubbard may be reimbursed thereout ; hee having not of his own wherewith to pay him. and yo! petitionr: shall for ever thankfully acknowledge yo! Hono" flavo! therein and for ever prayer.
This petition is Granted 17 August 1676:
per Consiliu E R S.
[Massachusetts Archives, LXIX. 48.]
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5. - PAGE 24.
The following account of the burning of the town is by the Reverend William Hubbard, and is found in his " Narra- tive," printed in 1677. It is the fullest contemporaneous account printed, and very likely many of the facts were given him by the Reverend Mr. Willard.
March 2. They assaulted Groton: the next day over night Major Willard with seventy Horse came into the Town; forty Foot also came up to their relief from Watertown, but the Indians were all fled, having first burned all the Houses in the Town, save four that were Garisoned, the Meeting-house being the second house they fired, Soon after Capt. Sill was sent with a small Party of Dragoons of S Files to fetch off the Inhabitants of Groton, and what was left from the spoyle of the enemy, having under his conduct about sixty Carts, being in depth from front to reer above two mile : when a party of Indians lying in ambush, at a place of eminent advantage, fired upon the front and mortally wounded two of the vaunt Carriers, who dyed both the next night, and might (had God permitted) have done eminent damage to the whole Body, it being a full hour before the whole Body could be drawne up, which was done with care and Courage : but the Indians after a few more shot made. without doing harm, retired, and made no further assault upon them, being the same Party of Indians which the day before had burned some part of Chelmsford. Soon after this Village was deserted and destroyed by the enemy : yet was it a spe- cial providence, that though the Carts were guarded with so slen- der a Convoy, yet there was not any considerable loss sustained.
The Surprizall of Groton was after this manner.
On March, 2. The Indians came in the night and rifled eight or nine houses and carried away some cattle, and alarmed the Town.
On March, 9. About ten in the morning a parcel of Indians (having two dayes lurked in the town, and taken possession of three out-houses and feasted themselves with corn, divers swine and poultry which they there seized) laid an ambush for two Carts, which went from their garison to fetch in some hay, attended with four men, two of which espying the enemy, made a difficult escape, the other two were set upon, and one of them slain, stript naked, his body mangled, and dragged into the high-way, and laid on his back in a most shamefull manner : the other taken Captive; and fater sentenced to death, but the enemy not concuring in the man-
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ner of it, execution was deferred, and he by the providence of God escaped by a bold attempt the night before he was designed to slaughter, and fled to the Garison at Lancaster, the cattle in both towns wounded, and five of them slain outright.
March, 13. Was the day when the enemy came in a full body, by there own account 400. and thought by the Inhabitants to be not many fewer. The town was at this time (having been put into a fright by the sad Catastrophe of Lancaster the next border- ing town) gathered into five Garisons, four of which were so near together, as to be able to command from one to the other, between which were the cattle belonging to those Families driven into pas- tures, which afterward proved their preservation ; the other was near a mile distant from the rest.
This morning the Indians (having in the night placed them- selves in several parts of the town) made their Onset; which began near the four Garisons ; for a body of them having placed themselves in Ambuscado, behind a hill, near one of the Garisons, two of them made discovery of themselves, as if they had stood upon discovery. At this time divers of the people, nothing sus- pecting any such matter, (for the day before, many had been upon discovery many miles, and found no signs of an Enemy being so near) were attending their occasions, some foddering their cattle, some milking their Cows, of whom the Enemy might easily have made a seizure, but God prevented ; they having another design in hand, as soon after appeared : These two Indians were at length espyed, and the Alarm given ; whereupon the most of the men in the next Garison, and some also of the second (which was about eight or nine pole distant) drew out and went to surprize these two Indians, who kept their station till our men reached the brow of the hill. then arose the ambush and discharged a volley upon them, which caused a disorderly retreat, or rather a rout, in which one was slain, and three others wounded : mean while another ambush had risen, and come upon the back side of the Garison so deserted of men, and pulled down the Palizadoes: The Souldiery in this rout, retreated not to their own, but passed by to the next Garison, the women and children mean while exposed to hazard, but by the goodness of God made a safe escape to the other fortified house without any harm, leaving their substance to the enemy, who made a prey of it, and spent the residue of the day in removing the corn and houshold-stuff (in which loss five Familyes were impover- ished) and firing upon the other Garison : here also they took some Cattle. No sooner was the signal given by the first volley of shot,
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but immediately in several parts of the town at once, did the smoakes arise, they firing the houses.
In the afternoon they used a stratagem not unlike the other, to have surprised the single Garison, but God prevented. An old Indian if an Indian passed along the street with a black sheep on his back, with a slow pace, as one decrepit : They made several shot at him, but missed him, at which several issued out to have taken him alive, but the Watchman seasonably espying an ambush behind the house, gave the signal, whereby they were prevented.
The night following the enemy lodged in the town, some of them in the Garison they had surprized, but the Body of them in an adjacent valley, where they made themselves merry after their savage manner. The next morning they gave two or three Vol- leyes at Capt. Parkers Garison, & so marched off, fearing as was thought that supply might be nigh at hand. This assault of theirs was managed with their wonted subtlety, and barberous cruelty : for they stript the body of him whom they had slain in the first onset, and then cutting off his head, fixed it upon a pole looking towards his own Jand. The corpse of the man slain the week before, they dug up out of his grave, they cut off his head and one leg, and set them upon poles, and stript off his winding sheet. A Infant which they found dead in the house first surprised, they cut in pieces, which afterward they cast to the swine. There were about forty dwelling houses burnt at that time, besides other build- ings. This desolation was followed with the breaking up of the town, and scattering of the Inhabitants, and removal of the Can- dlestick, after it had been there seated about twelve years.
Concerning the surprizing of Groton, March 13. There was not any thing much more material, then what is already men- tioned, save only the insolency of John Monaco or one eyed John, the chief Captain of the Indians in that design : who having by a sudden surprizal early in the morning seized upon a Garison house in one end of the Town, continued in it, plundering what was there ready at hand, all that day ; and at night did very familiarly in appearance, call out to Capt. Parker that was lodged in another Garison house, and entertained a great deal of Discourse with him, whom he called his old Neighbour : dilating upon the cause of the War, and putting an end to it by a friendly peace : yet oft mixing bitter Sarcasmes, with several blasphemous scoff's and taunts at their praying and worshipping God in the meeting house, which he deridingly said he had burned. Among other things which he boastingly uttered that night : he said he burnt Medfield (though it be not known whither he was there personally present or 10)
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