The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts , Part 12

Author: Hudson, Alfred Sereno, 1839-1907
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: A. S. Hudson
Number of Pages: 504


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 12


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Commercial relations were not always carried on by payments in money, but sometimes wholly or in part in produce. Edmund Rice, in 1654, "for service as deputy," was to have " six pouuds to be paid in wheat at John Parmenters senior, and so much more as shall pay seven pence a bushell for the carriage of it, to be paid within one week after next Michelmas." For work on the meeting-house, about the year 1688, " he was to have country pay, at country price." The country pay was to be "in good sound merchantable Indian corn, or rye, or wheat, or barley, or malt, or peas, or beef, or pork, or work." At a meeting of the selectmen, Oct. 25, 1678, it was ordered that "Mr. Peter Noyes, Peter Kinge and Thomas Stevens or any of them are appointed to collect of the Inhabitants


1-3.


RESIDENCE OF ABEL GLEZEN


Built 1803.


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of this town what may be wanted of the sum granted by any person or persons towards the new college at Cambridge in building according to an order by the Gen C .. . " This being attended to, the town re- ceived its discharge.


Sometimes paymeuts were promised either in pro- duce or money, as, iu 1696, Benjamin Parmenter was to sweep the meeting-house, from April 1st of that year to April 1st of the next year, " for ten bushells of Indian corn, or twenty shillings in money." Whether Mr. Parmenter was to take which he chose, or the party engaging him was to give which they chose, is not stated. Sometimes the produce was rated, or paid for town rates, in accordance with what the produce was rated or paid for in county rates ; as, in 1673, it was ordered that " all corn or grain, paid into the towns rate for this year, shall be paid iu at such prices as the county rate is paid in at for the year." We conclude that the town had the liberty to establish the value of produce that was to pay the town rates; as, for the year 1686, wheat was rated at five shillings per bushel, peas at four shillings, oats at two shillings, Indian corn at two sbillings nine pence.


PHILIP'S WAR .- In 1775-76 the people suffered hardship in consequence of King Philip's War. Be- fore the town was invaded by the Indians it rendered valuable assistance to the Colony by the service of Ephraim Curtis, a famous woodsman and scout. He was a carpenter by trade, about thirty-three years of age. He had an intimate acquaintance with the country and its native inhabitants, and could speak their language with fluency. After the breaking out of Philip's War the Colonial authorities, wishing to secure the Nipnet Indians in western and central Massachusetts before they should ally themselves to King Philip, selected Ephraim Curtis for this most important and hazardous enterprise. In the ill-fated expedition sent out to the Nipnet country under Capt. Edward Hutchinson, Curtis went as a guide. When the expedition retreated to Brookfield, and the soldiers were besieged in a garrisou-house there, and it was necessary to send some one for assistance, the task fell upon Curtis. The bold adventurer set forth from the garrison, a lone soldier, to rely on his prow- ess and a protecting providence to shield him on his course. Capt. Wheeler, in his official report, states of the affair as follows: "I spake to Ephraim Cur- tis to adventure forth again on that service, and to attempt it on foot as the way wherein was the most hope of getting away undiscovered. He readily as- sented, and accordingly went out; but there were so many Indians everywhere threatened that he could not pass without apparent hazard of life, so he came back again, but towards morning the said Ephraim adventured forth the 3d time, and was fain to crcep on his hands and knees for some space of ground that he might not be discovered by the enemy, but through God's mercy he escaped their hands, and got safely to Marlboro', though very much spent and


ready to faint by reason of want of sleep before he went from us, and his sore travel night and day in that hot season till he got thither." On arriving at Marlboro' he met Major Simon Willard and Capt. James Parker, of Groton, with forty-six men, who were there to scout between Marlboro', Lancaster and Groton. These, on receiving intelligence of affairs at Brookfield, hastened at once with relief. They ar- rived August 7th, just in season to rescue the sur- vivors. After this uarration, it is unnecessary to speak of the bravery of this adventurous scout, or the value of his services to the country.


Ephraim Curtis was a son of Henry Curtis, oue of the original grantees, and whose house was on the old North or East Street, a little easterly of the Abel Gleason estate. It remained standing till within a few years.


When Indian hostilities were imminent, Rev. Ed- mund Brown was active in making preparations for the defence of the people on the east side of the river. In a letter sent to the Governor Sept. 26, 1675, he states as follows : " I have been at a rouud charge to fortify my house, and, except finishing the two flankers and my gate, have finished. Now, without four hands I cannot well secure it, and if for want of hands I am beaten out, it will be very advantageous to the enemy, and a thorn to the town." The mnen asked for were granted him ; and his house afforded a place of defence to the inhabitants of that locality, who were directed to resort to it in time of peril. After the war began the meeting-house was made a place of security, and fortifications were constructed about it.


When the hostilities begar Mr. Brown sent a Jetter to the authorities, in whic_ ne says: " It is reported that our woods are pestered with Iudians. One Adams within our bounds was shot at by a lurking Indian or more. He was shot through the coat and shirt uear to the arm-pit. Que Smith walking the woods was assailed by 3 or 4 Indians, whom he dis- covered swooping down a hill toward him, but Smith saved himself by his legs. One Joseph Freeman coming up about 4 mile Brook discovered two Indi- ans, one iu the path presenting his gun at him in the way (in a bright moonlight night), but Freeman dis- mounting shot at him, and mounting rode for it. One Joseph [Shaley] coming home from Marlboro' on Thursday last discovered Indians in our bounds, one of which made a shot at him, the bullet passing by him, but being mounted and riding for it he escaped. One Joseph Curtis, son to Ephraim Curtis on Satur- day last heard 3 volleys of shot made by Indians be- tween us and Watertown. This being to long, Ensign Grout can give a full narrative to your Honor and Councill. The consideration of all which I hope will excite you : : : to order that these woods may be scoured and that our town of Sudbury a frontier town may be enabled to contribute aid therein and defend itself with its quantity of men, I humbly move. And


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this I shall [present] unto the Honorable Councill that we may not have men pressed out of our small town." Dated, "Sudbury 26th 7th mo."


Philip made his attack on Sudbury the 21st of April, 1676, on which day he also engaged at Green Hill with the forces of Captains Wadsworth and Brocklebank. The same day a detachment of his men crossed the Town Bridge and began their devas- tating work on the East Side. They doubtless in- tended to take what spoil they could and then burn the place ; but they were effectually checked in their work. The inhabitants fell upon them with fury. They beat them from the very thresholds of their humble homes, and snatched the spoil from their sav- age clutchi ; they even forced them to retreat on the run, and seek safety in precipitous flight. While the work of beating back the enemy was going on, a company of reinforcements arrived from Water- town, by order of Captain Hugh Mason. These reinforcements probably arrived some time before noon. As the attack began about daybreak, and took the inhabitants somewhat by surprise, it is liardly prob- able that the news would reach Watertown until the morning was well advanced. Watertown was the bor- der town on the east. The part now Weston was called the " Farmers' Precinct." At this locality the sound of guns could without doubt be heard, and the smoke rising over the woods in dark, ominous clouds might bespeak what was befalling the neighborhood. More- ever, the intelligence may have reached Watertown by couriers, who carried it to Boston, arriving there about midday.


When Mason's force reached Sudbury, about two hundred Indians were on the cast side the river en- gaged in mischievous work. The little company of town's people who could be spared from the stockade was too small to drive them back over the river. The best they could do was to keep them from too close range of their little stronghold, and save a part of their property and dwellings. But when these rein- forcements arrived, the united forces compelled the foe to make a general retreat.


The contest that preceded this retreat of the sav- ages was doubtless severe. Two hundred Indians were a foree sufficient to offer stubborn resistance. They were ncar a large force held in reserve by King Philip ou the west side of the river, and might at any time receive reinforcement from him ; and if they could hold the causeway and bridge, the day might be won. On the other hand, the English had a vast deal at stake; if the foe was forced over the stream, the east side would for a time be safe. They could defend the narrow causeway and bridge, while the high water would protect their flanks. Such were the circum- stances that would cause each to make a hard fight. But the English prevailed. The foe was forced back, and the bridge and causeway were held, so that they could not repass them.


A company of twelve men who came to the rescue


from Concord were slain upon the river meadow. The bodies were left where they fell until the follow- ing day, when they were brought in boats to the foot of the Old Town Bridge and buried. The burial- place may be on the northerly side of the Town Bridge on the eastern bank of the river. The suppo- sition is based on the fact that it was high water on the meadow at that time, and hence this place was probably the only one suitable for the burial. A monument to this brave rclief company would be very appropriate, and serve to mark a locality which on that day was full of stirring events.


Shortly after Philip's War occurred the death of Rev. Edmund Brown. He died June 22, 1678. The town soon called as his successor Rev. James Sherman.


Active measures were immediately taken to provide the minister with a house. The town bought of John Loker the east end of his house, standing before and near the meeting house, and his orchard, and the whole home lot of abont four acres; it also bonght of him the reversion due to him of the western cnd of the house that his mother then dwelt in. This part of the house was to be the town's property at the marriage or death of the said Widow Mary Lokcr. For this property the town was to pay John Loker fifty pounds. The Widow Loker appeared at town- meeting, and surrendered all her reversion in the western end of the house to the town, reserving the liberty to have twelve months in which " to provide herself otherwise." She also promised in the mean time "to quit all egress and regre-s through the eastern end of the house and every part thereof." In consequence of this the town agreed to pay her annu- ally-that is, till she should marry or die-twenty- five shillings, moncy of New England. The town also voted to raise twenty-five pounds with which to repair the house. The records inform us, that " the said town doth freely give and grant unto Mr. James Sherman, minister of the word of God, all that house and lands which the said town bought lately of John Loker, and twenty pounds to be paid him in [country] pay towards the repair of the said house, and also twenty pounds more to be paid him in money, for and towards the purchase of the widow Mary Loker's lot that lies adjoining to it, when she shall have sold it to the said Mr. James Sherman, and also six acres of common upland lying on the back side of the town at the end of Smith field, and also six acres of meadow ground some where out of the common meadows of this town. These foregoing particular gifts and grants the said town doth engage and promise to the said Mr. James Sherman minister and his heirs .


. in case he shall settle in this town and live and die amongst them their Teaching Elder. But in case the said Mr. Sherman shall not carry out the con- stant work of preaching in and to this town, during his life, or shall depart and leave this town before his death, then all the premises shall return to the said town's hands again to be at their own dispose forever,


NEWELL HEARD, At the age of 55.


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only they are then to pay to the said Mr. Sherman all the charges he hath becn out for the same in the meantime, as [they] shall be judged worth by indif- ferent men mutually chosen, unless both parties shall agree therein among themselves."


The town also agreed to pay Mr. Sherman eighty pounds salary ; twenty pounds of this were to be paid him in "money, twenty pounds in wheat, pork, beef, mutton, veal, butter, or cheese, or such like species at country price, and the remaining forty shall be paid him in Indian Corn and Rye, or Barley or Peas, all at country prices." He was to have five pounds added per annum to his salary for the cutting and carting home of firewood. He was also to have the use of the minister's meadow lands, and could pasture his cattle on the common land, and have firewood and timber from the common land of the town.


Mr. Sherman was son of Rev. John Sherman, of Watertown. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas Walker, of Sudbury, and had two sons, John and Thomas. He was ordained in 1678, and was dis- missed May 22, 1705. After leaving the pastoral office he remained in town for a time, occasionally preaching abroad. Afterwards, he practiced medi- cine in Elizabethtown, N. J., and Salem, Mass. He died at Sudbury, March 3, 1718.


NEW MEETING-HOUSE .- During the pastoratc of Mr. Sherman the town took measures for the erection of a new house of worship. October 6, 1686, "it was determined, ordered, and voted, that a new meeting- house be built within this town with all convenient speed, after such manner as shall be resolved upon by the town." " It was ordered that the said new meet- ing-house shall be erected, finished and stand upon the present Burying place of this town and on the most convenient part thereof or behind or about the old meeting-house that now is."


The business of building the meeting-house was entrusted to Deacon John Haines, between whoin and the town a covenant was made at a town-meeting, January 10, 1685. It was to be raised on or before the 1st day of July, 1688; and for the work Mr. Haines was to have two hundred pounds, -- one hun- dred and sixty pounds of it to be paid in "country pay and at country price," and the other forty pounds to be paid in money. The country pay was to be in "good sound merchantable Indian corn, or Rye, or wheat, or barley, or malt, or Peas, or Beef, or Pork, or work, or in such other pay as the said Deacon Haines shall accept of any person."


The meeting-house was to be " made, framed and set up, and finished upon the land and place ap- pointed by the town on the 6th of October last past, in all respects for dimensions, strength, shape, . . . and conveniences, as Dedham meeting-house is, ex- cept filling between studs; but in all things else ad- mitting with all in this work such variations as are particularly mentioned in the proposition of Corporal John Brewer and Sam' How." The town was to help


raise the building, the clapboards were to be of cedar, the inside to be lined with either planed boards or cedar clapboards, and the windows werc to contain two hundred and forty feet of glass. It was voted, "that Leut. Daniel Pond shall be left to his liberty whether he will leave a middle alley in the new meeting-house, or shut up the seats as they are in Dedham mecting-house, provided always that the seats do comfortably and conveniently hold and con- tain seven men in one end of the seats and seven women in the other end of the seats."


A few years after this meeting-house was built a bell was provided for it. It cost "twenty and five pounds in money."


In the succession of wars that occurred during the last of the seventeenth and the first of the eighteenth century the east side was well represented, and famil- iar names are preserved on the muster rolls of that period. In the State Archives is a petition on which, among others, are the names of Noyes, Rice, Allen, Curtis, Gleason and Rutter. This petition, which is supposed to have reference to the ill-fated expedition of Sir William Phipps in 1690, presents a sad story of suffering. The following is a part of the paper :


"To the honorable Governor, Deputy-Governor, aud to all our honored Magistrates and Representatives of the Massachusetts Colony, now sitting in General Court in Boston.


" The hnuible petition of us who are some of us for ourselves, others for our children and servants, whose names are after sut scribed humbly showeth that being impressed the last winter several of us into dreadful service, where, by reason of cold aud hunger and in tedious marcbes many score of miles in water and snow, and laying on the snow by uight, having no provision but what they could carry upon their backs, beside hard arms and ammunition, it cost many of them their lives. Your hum- ble petitioners several of us have beeu at very great charges to set them ont with arms, and ammunition, and clothing, and money to support them, and afterwards by sending supplies to relieve them and to save their lives, notwithstanding many have lost their lives there, others canie home, and which were so suffered, if not poisoned, that they died since they came from there, notwithstanding all means used, and charges out for their recovery, others so surfeited that they are thereby disabled from their callings. Likewise your humble petitioners request is that this honored court would grant tbis favor that our messengers may have liberty to speak in the court to open our cau-e so as to give the court satisfaction. Your humble petitioners humble request is farther that you would please to wind our present circumstances, and to graut us such favors as seems to be just and rational, that we may have some compensation answerable to our burdeu, or at least to be freed from far- ther charges bv rates, until the rest of onr brethren have borne their share with us, and not to be forced to pay others that have been out but little iu respect of ns. whereas the most of us bave received little or noth- ing but bave been at very great charges several of us. If it shall please this honorable General Court to grant us our petition we shall look upon ourselves as duty binds us ever pray.


" John Haynes Sen. Thomas Walker.


Josepb Noyes Sen. John Barrer.


Peter Haynes Sen. [or Noyes]. Samuel Glover.


Mathew Rice.


Joseph Gleason sen.


John Allen.


Thomas Rutter.


Mathew Gibbs sen.


Joseph Rutter.


Thomas Rice.


Benjamin Wight.


James Rice sen. Peter Plympton.


Joseph Curtis. Israel Miller. Stephen Cutts." Josiah llaynes sen.


(State Archives, vol. xxxvi., p. 59.)


Names familiar on the east side are also found among those who performed ranger services at Rut- land in 1724.


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EDUCATION .- About the beginning of the eigh- teenth century there was an increased interest in the matter of education. Comparatively little was done before by way of providing public schools. Previous to this time encouragement, we conclude, was given to Mr. Thomas Walker, to keep a " free school in town." It is stated that Mr. Walker taught the youth to "write and cypher ;" and that besides this service there were two "school dames on each side of the river that teacheth small children to spell and read." After 1700 new school laws were enacted by the Province; and about that time Mr. Joseph Noycs was chosen a grammar school-master. For a time schools were kept in private houses ; but by 1725 the town had voted that each precinct be empowered to build a school-house. In 1729 a vote was passed by which there was to be built in the East Precinct a school-house "18 ft. wide by 22 ft. long and 8 ft. between joints, with a good brick chimney and fire- place at one end and a place to hang a bell at the other end." By 1735 two school-masters were em- ployed in each precinct at a salary of £60 cach.


In 1751 the selectmen agreed "with Mr. Wm. Cook [only son of Rev. Mr. Cook] to keep a grammar school . for six months, beginning the school the first day of November ; and also to teach children & youth to Read English and wright and Instruct them in Rethmetick, and to keep the school in the Town School House as the Selectmen shall from time to time order For the sum of Twelve pounds Exclusive of his Board." It was voted that year that the grammar schools should be kept in the two town school-houses by each meet- ing-house. This shows us where two of the town school-houses stood at that time ; and this, with other records, show that school matters were at that time conducted by the Board of Selectmen. Another record of 1756 shows where two other school-houses stood, inasmuch as the town voted that year that the gram- mar school should be kept at four places,-"two at the school-houses ncar the meeting-house, one at the school-house near Joseph Smith's, and the other at that near Nathan Goodnow's." John Monroe was to keep the school, and have five pounds, thirteen shillings, four pence for a quarter, and the town was to pay his board.


In 1755 the town "voted for Grammar school 30 pounds, three-fifths to be spent on the west side, and two fifths on the east side of the river; for the west side the school was to be kept at the farm." In 1752 it " voted for the support of the Grammar school in sd town the year ensuing 37 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence." The school was to be held in five places,- "two on the east side of the river and three on the west, in places as followeth : In the school-house near the house of Mr. Joseph Smith, and in a convenient place or near the house of Dea. Jonas Brewer as may be, or in a convenient place as near the house of Mr. Edward More as may be, and iu a convenient


place as near the house of L' Danicl Noyes as may be, and in the school-house near to and northcrly from the house of Dea Jonathan Rice all in sd town." The same year the town voted that " the Reading & writing school should be kept In the two Town school houses the ycar ensuing." During this period several school-houses were built, which stood about half a century.


A prominent inan who taught school in town, and who tradition says lived on the east side, was Samuel Paris, who was prominently connected with the witchcraft delusion. In the household of Mr. Paris at his former home, in what was once Salem Village (now Danvers), the Salem witchcraft sensation began.


The records state that in 1717, Mr. Samuel Paris was to teach school four months of the year at the school-house on the west side of the river, and the rest of the year at his own house. If he was absent part of the time, he was to make it up the next year. In Book III., Sudbury Records, we have the following statement, with date May 25, 1722: "These may cer- tify that ye 28 pounds that ye town of Sudbury agreed to give Mr. Samuel Paris late of Sudbury, for his last yearcs keeping school in sª town, is by Mr. John Clapp, treasurer for said town by his self and by his order all paid as witness my hand, John Rice, executor of ye last will and Testament of ye sª Mr. Paris."


There are graves of the Paris family in the old burying-ground at Wayland. Towards the southeast side of it stands a stone with the following inscrip- tion : "Here lyes ye Body of Samuel Paris, Who Died July 27th 1742 in ye 8th year of his age." On another stone is marked : " Here lyes ye Body of Mrs. Abigail Paris who departed this life February ye 15th 1759 in ye 55th year of her age."


As the years advanced school privileges increased. The town was divided into districts, in each of which a substantial school-house was built. For a time the Centre School-house was situated a few feet easterly of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, and was subse- quently used as a grocery store by the late Newell Heard. In 1841 a private academy was kept by Rev. Leonard Frost in the Town House, which had at one time one hundred and seven pupils. In 1854 the town established a High School and erected a commo- dious building just south of the Congregational Church. Among its early principals, who were natives of the town, were Miss Lydia R. Draper and Miss Anna Dudley.


ECCLESIASTICAL .- On May 22, 1705, Rev. James Sherman was dismissed from the pastorate, and No- vember 20, 1706, Rev. Israel Loring was installed as his successor. Shortly after the occurrence of these events a movement was made to divide the town of Sudbury into an East and West Precinct. The division was accomplished about 1723, and although Mr. Loring was invited to remain, he moved to the west side of the river, and identified his interests with the




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