USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Maynard > The annals of Sudbury, Wayland, and Maynard, Middlesex County, Massachusetts > Part 26
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Other names familiar in the town are historically associated with the early inhabitants of Worcester, and also in the settlement of Rutland, in the early history of which place Sudbury citizens exerted a wide influence.
1
PAPERS, FACTS AND INCIDENTS OF
PHILIP'S WAR.
1675-6.
HISTORICAL PAPERS.
The following papers, to which reference has been made as the "The Old Petition," were discovered a few years ago by William B. Trask, Esq., and printed by the Historic Genealogical Society under the title of Sudbury Documents. (Gen. Reg. Vol. XXXV., pp. 219-221). These papers are of great interest, as setting forth in the words of the town's people themselves the thrilling incidents of the memorable time referred to ; but they are of inestimable value as settling the date of the "Sudbury Fight " at Green Hill between the forces of Capts. Wadsworth and Brocklebank and Philip of Pokanoket: -
PETITION.
" To ye Honble ye Governor Magistrates & Deputies of ye Gen1 Court essembled at Boston ye 11th October 1676.
" The humble Petitio'rs of yor poore, distressed Inhabitants of Sudbury Humbly Showeth
"That whereas yor impoverished Petition's of Sudbury have received intelligence of a large contribution sent out of Ireland by some pious & well affected persons for ye reliefe of their brethren in New England by ye hostile intrusions of ye Indian Enemy, and that upon their divers distressed towns have presented a list of their losses sustained by fireing and plundering their estates. Let it not seem presumption in yor poore Petitionrs to p'sent a list of what Damages are sustained by yor enemie's in his attempts ; hoping that or lott will be considered among Our brethren of ye tribe of Joseph ; being encouraged by an act of Our Honble Gen11 Court; that those who have sustained Considerable damage should make addresses to this p'sent Session. And is this not a reason for Our releife ? Not onely by reason of Our greate losses, but also for Our Service performed in repelling ye enemy ; let ye Most High have ye high praise due unto him, but let not ye unworthy Instruments be forgotten, was there with Vs any towne so beset since ye warr began with twelve or fourteene hundred fighting men, various Sagamores from all parts with theire men of Armes & they resolved by Our ruine to revenge ye releife which Our Sudbury Volunteers affoarded to dis- tressed Marlbrough in slaying many of ye Enemy & repelling ye rest. The strength of Our towne upon ye Enemy's approaching it consisted of Eighty fighting men. True many houses were fortified, & Garrison'd & tymously after ye Enemys invasion & fireing some Volunteers from Watertown & Concord & deserving Capt. Wadsworth with his force come to Ou releife, which speedy & Noble service is not to be forgotten.
" The Enemy well knowing Our grounds, passes, avenues, and situations, had near surrounded Our town in ye morning early (Wee not knowing of it) till discovered by fireing severall desserted houses; the Enemy with greate force & fury assaulted Deacon Haine's house well fortified yet badly situated as advantageous to ye Enemy's approach & dangerous to ye Repellant yet (by ye help of God) ye Garrison not onely defended ye place fro betweene five or six of ye clock in ye Morning till about One in ye Afternoon but forced ye Enemy with considerable slaughter to draw off, Many Observables worthy of Record hapened in this assault, vizt : that noe man or woman seemed to be possessed with feare ; Our Garrisonmen kept not within their Garrisons, but issued forth to fight ye Enemy in their skulking approaches : We had but two of Our townesmen slaine, & yt by indiscretion none wounded ; The Enemy was by few beaten out of houses which they had entered & were
126
APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
plundering, And by a few hands were forced to a runing fight which way they could ; ye spoyle taken by them on ye East side of ye river was in greate pte recovered.
" Furthermore permit yor humble Petition's to present a second motion, And let it be acceptable in ye eyes of this Our Grand court Vizt: That whereas by an Act of Our late Gen" Court ten rates are leavied upon Our towne amounting unto 200 1b ; as appeareth p warrant from Our Treasurer, which said sum was levied by Our Invoyce, taken in ye yeare before Our greate damage susteyned. It is ye humble & earnest request of yor Petitionrs to commiserate Our Condition, in granting to us some abatement of ye said sum for ye ensueing consideration, Vizt : ffirst Our towne to pay full for theire estates then taken which in greate pte they have now lost by ye enemy's invasion may seem not to savor of pitty no not of equity. Secondly, ye service pformed at Sudbury by ye help of the Almighty whereby ye Enemy lost some say 100, some 105, some 120, and by that service much damage prevented from hapening to other places whereby ye County in Generall was advantaged, reason requires some favorable considerations to ye servants of Sudbury.
" For if it be considered what it hath cost Our County in sending out some forces some of which p ties have not returned with ye certaine news of such a number slaine as with us, is it not reasonles that this service soe beneficiall should not be considered with some reward which may most easily be essected [sic] by issueing forth an Act of yor grace in a suitable abatement of ye said sum leavied."
[Signed.]
Edm Browne
Joseph Parmenter
Edm Goodnow
Peter Noyes
John Grovt [Grout] John Haines
Jonathan Stanhope
Edward Wright Jabeth Browne
Josiah Haines
Thomas Read Peter King
John Grout Jun" Joseph Graves
John Rvter [Rutter] Sen"
Tho Walker
Joseph Noyes John Goodnow
John Allen
Mathew Gibs
Henry Curtis
Thomas Wedge
Jacob Moores
Benjamin Crane
John Brewer James Ross
Zecriah Maynard Joseph Moore John Parminter
Richard Burk
Thomas Brewer
Henry Loker
Samuel How
ACCOUNT OF LOSSES.
" An Accompt of Losses Sustenied by Severall Inhabitants of ye towne of Sudbury by ye Indian Enemy ye 21st April 1676."
£. s. d. Mary Bacon formerly ye Relict of Ensign Noyes 140: 00: 00 Thomas Plimpton 130: 00:00 180:00:00
Deacon John Haines
John Blanford
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
€. s. d.
Seg Josiah Haines
190:00:00
060 : 00: 00
Capt James Pendleton John Goodenow William Moores
150: 00:00 .180: 00: 00
Edward wright
100:00:00
Elias Keyes
John Smith
Samuell How
Mr Pelham
Mr Stevens
Corporall Henry Rice
John Allen
James Roose
John Grout jun™
Thomas Rice
Widd Whale
Henry Curtice
John Brewer
Jacob Moores
Henry Loker
Joseph ffreemon
Joseph Graves
Peter King
Widd Habgood
020 : 00: 00
Benjamin Crane
020.00: 00 015: 00: 00
Thomas wedge
John Blanford
010: 00:00
Thomas Brewer
010: 00: 00
Richard Burk
010: 00: 00
Thomas Reade
003: 00 : 00
Wholl Sum 2707 : 00:00
Beside ye uncovering ye Many houses & Barnes & some hundred of Acres of lands which are unimproved for feare of ye Enemy to Our greate loss & Damage."
FACTS AND INCIDENTS.
The " contribution " to which the petition refers was called "The Irish Charity Dona- tion " or " Fund." The gift was made in 1676 for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Massachusetts, Plymouth and Connecticut colonies who had met with losses in King Philip's war. It was sent over to this country by the "Good ship called the Kathrine of Dublin," and is supposed to have been obtained by Rev. Nathaniel Mather, a brother of Increase.
The proportion received by Sudbury was for twelve families, or forty-eight persons, 71. 4s. Od., and this amount was to be paid to the selectmen in meal, oat meal, and malt at 18d. per ball, butter 6d., cheese 4d. per pound.
Besides this allowance, "The court judged meet to order that Sudbury be allowed and abated forty fower pound ten shillings out of ye whole sume of their ten county rates." (Col. Records, Vol. V., p. 124.)
050 : 00: 00 015: 00: 00 180: 00:00 060: 00: 00 070 : 00: 00 060: 00: 00 100:00:00 024 : 00: 00 200:00:00 120: 00: 00 050 : 00: 00 100:00:00 080: 00: 00 060: 00: 00 040: 00:00
060 : 00: 00 080: 00: 00 140:00:00
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
In the list of losses are a dozen names, more or less, of persons supposed to be living on the East side, and among them are Henry Curtice, who lost £200, Henry Rice £180, and Henry Loker £100. These things indicate that devastating work was done on the East side of the river by the Indians. Probably the dwelling houses and barns that were plundered, and from which the spoil spoken of in the petition was taken, were set on fire. It is stated that the Indians entered the northwest part of what is now Weston and burned a barn. If such is the case, the probability is quite strong that along their course thitherward they applied the torch to such buildings as came in their way. Thus, although tradition may be silent, and the records may give no account of the specific places where the damage was sustained, yet there is reason, from the statements now given, and the nature of the case. to suppose that the hardship incurred on that memorable occasion was considerable. After the invasion of Philip the meeting house was fortified, and March, 1676-1677, the town ordered "that the rate to be made for the fortification about the meeting house of this town shall be made by the invoice to be taken this spring, leaving out all strangers and sojourners, and that the logs there used be valued at two shillings six pence each, boards five shillings six pence per hundred foot, and every man's day's work at 18d." A little later, Feb. 26, 1676, it was ordered, " that such persons as have brought in logs for fortification of the meeting house do bring in their account of logs, and all persons an account also for their days' work done there- upon unto the town clerk between this and the next town meeting, now appointed to be the 11th of March next, and such as do not shall lose both their logs and work, for the town will wait upon them no longer."
This statement is about all we have discovered upon the town books relative to King Philip's war. Several reasons may be given to account for this absence of records relating to so important a period. One may be that anything official regarding military matters would naturally be communicated to the Colonial Council, and not be a matter for town record. Furthermore, the period was short and the conflict sharp and severe, and there was too much that was more practical to attend to at that time for any one to pause and preserve for posterity in written form the thrilling details of those days. Besides, there was scarcity of stationery; and had it been abundant, sentiment was not of a kind towards an event which had caused such havoc and consternation in the town as to lead any one to wish to keep vivid the story of it. In the long period of years that have passed, bringing with them the events of the French and Indian wars and the protracted Revolutionary struggle, it is no wonder that the traditions of Philip's raid, as rehearsed by the old-fashioned fireside, should at length be unspoken; that the sites of ruined homesteads should no longer be pointed out, and that the graves of those who fell in the fearful conflict should be unknown. Even the grave of Asahel Reed, one of the two Sudbury soldiers slain on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, is unmarked and unknown. Surely, for the fallen of a century before we could expect no better fate. Tradition has kept alive information concerning the place of scpulture of but a single one who fell in those times, and that is of an Indian whose lone grave is just over the river near the "Gravel Pit." A short time ago a white pine stood near it. This Indian, it is said, was shot from a long distance by an Englishman on the east side of the river. The Indian, thinking exposure from that long range to be safe, ventured to appear in full view of the English, when a shot put an end to his rashness. The gun used on the occasion is still in possession of the Morse family, Wayland Centre, being owned by John Noyes Morse, a lineal descendant of " Mr. Peter Noyes," one of the town's original grantees. The gun is a long, heavy piece, such as is seldom seen in modern times, and would require the strength of strong arms to steadily use it. Tradition says, with regard to the Concord men who came to the town's rescue, that one of them, viz., James Hosmer, an
129
APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
ancestor of Dr. G. W. Hosmer, Ex-President of Antioch College, plunged into the Sudbury River when he found it useless to resist the Indians, and that while endeavoring to escape to the other side by swimming was shot through the head. It cannot perhaps be reasonably doubted that the eleven Concord men slain on April 21st (see p. 15) were buried on the east side of the river, on the upland near the "town Bridge." Some of the names of these are as follows: James Hosmer, Samuel Potter, John Barnes, Daniel Comy and Joseph Buttrick. The Middlesex Probate Records have the following about James Hosmer, in connection with the settlement of his estate : "Being slayne in the engagement with the Indians at Sud- bury on the 21st of the second [April] in the year 1676." In the same Records are also the following names of Concord soldiers slain at Sudbury on April 21st: David Curry and Joseph Wheeler. The historian Hubbard says of the experience of the Concord company : " These men at the first hearing of the alarm, who unawares were surprised near a garrison house, in hope of getting some advantage upon a small party of the enemy that presented themselves in a meadow, a great number of the Indians who lay unseen in the bushes suddenly rose up and, intercepting the passage to the garrison house, killed and took them all." The Old Indian Chronicle says "they were waylaid and eleven of them were cut off." As these men were slain on the river meadow near the old Haynes garrison house, and as it was high water at that time, and the bodies the next day were taken from the flood and carried in boats to near the town bridge and buried, it is rendered quite probable that when this company of brave men found resistance useless, and that it was impossible to reach the shelter of the Haynes garrison house, they took to the water, hoping, like Hosmer, to reach the east side by swimming, but were stopped by the murderous fire of the foe. The bodies were buried on the morning of the 22d of April, after having remained in the cold flood all night. Two of the party who helped in the work of burial were Warren and Pierce of Watertown, and the following is their description of the service as given in a petition sent by them to the General or Colonial Court: "On the next day [that after the Sudbury Fight] in the morning, so soon as it was light, we went to look for the Concord men who were slain in the river meadow, and there we went in water up to our knees, where we found five, and we brought them in canoes to the bridge foot and buried them there." Perhaps those bodies were buried on the east side of the river because it was considered unsafe to land them on the west side and remain there sufficiently long for the work of burying them, as on the early morning of the 22d it was not definitely known by the east side inhabitants that the Indians had taken their departure from the town. If the bodies were to be buried on the east side, it was natural that they should be conveyed directly to the town bridge and there buried on the hard upland near by. There was no time for conformity to sentiment or custom. All was uncertainty as to the plans and whereabouts of the enemy. They might spring upon them from the west side at any moment, and to convey the five bodies to the town's burying ground would doubtless be considered quite impracticable. Hence their grave by the "old town bridge." It is quite probable that a part of the east side inhabit- ants sought shelter upon the Indian invasion at the garrison house of " Deacon John Haynes." The little stockade of Rev. Edmund Browne (see p. 45) would not be as conveniently situated to some living in the northerly and easterly parts of the town as the Haynes House. As tradition, so far as we know, has not definitely passed down any information relating to garrison houses on the east side of the river, we think it quite probable either that the com- munity considered things safe on that side, prior to the hostile outbreak, or placed their reliance on the farm houses that had been fortified on the more exposed side of the river. The fact that Rev. Edmund Brown began to fortify his house at "Timber Neck," after danger was immediately impending, may be a circumstance that indicates that few houses
130
APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
were prepared for attack on the east side, and that he fortified his house to afford a place of refuge to all persons in that part of the settlement. There was perhaps a stockade made there of stout timberwork, with port holes at which the sentry could stand and a stout defence be made.
Of the six names of persons who, Nov. 22, 1675, were reported to the Governor and Council by John Grant, Josiah Haynes and Edmund Goodnow as being men who were impressed into the country's service to meet the town's quota, two are the familiar names of Thomas Rutter and Peter Noyes, Jr.
MODES OF TRAVEL, PUBLIC HOUSES, AND
TEMPERANCE.
?
WAYSIDE INN AND THE ANCIENT OAKS.
Sudbury, (View from the easterly.)
From massive chimneys, stont and gray. The smoke-wreaths enrling crept Amid the oaks that night and day Their faithful vigils kept.
The stage-coach passed along the road, The post-horn rent the air ; The teamster stopped his heavy load To find refreshment there.
But times have changed, and now the Inn Stands by the way-side lone, A souvenir of years gone by, Of grandeur that has flown. Home Melodies.
MODES OF TRAVEL, PUBLIC HOUSES, AND TEMPERANCE.
STAGE COACHES.
Great changes have taken place in many of the country towns of New England as relates to the manner of public conveyance, and Wayland is no exception. Within the memory of present inhabitants stage coaches regularly passed through the town, and the public depended on them as the means of carrying passengers and the mail and attend- ing to matters of expressage. But the stage-coach business of modern times will not compare with that which began towards the closing decade of the last century, and contin- ued about fifty years.
During that time the stage coaches carried the mail, and travel made its way through the place, and, passing on through Marlboro and Northboro, eventually found an outlet in the large towns of central Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Stirring scenes were then witnessed along the country highway, the taverns were in a high state of prosperity, and the now staid, quiet village or hamlet was a lively place, where the smith and shoe- maker had plenty to do ; and the small grocer whose orders were shipped into the coachman's hand could have the goods delivered by the white canvas-topped market wagon that passed by his door.
There were several important stage lines that radiated from Boston at an early date, but none that were earlier or more important than that which started from the stables on Elm Street, and, passing over West Boston Bridge, went through Cambridge, Watertown, Wal- tham, Weston, East Sudbury, Sudbury, and on to Worcester. During the earlier part of the period mentioned there were several important lines of coaches on this route. The road was open to all who wished to engage in the business, and as various parties made ventures, proprietorship often changed hands.
From about 1820 to 1835 there were three or four pretty well established lines that made five trips per day each way. Two of these were mainly owned and controlled for a time by Maj. Joseph Curtis and Gen. M. M. Rutter, both of East Sudbury.
These lines were run by two relays of horses, - the first from Boston being at East Sudbury, and the other at Northiboro. The stage taverns at the former place were " Peck's Tavern " and the "Corner Tavern."
March 7, 1806, the " Worcester Turnpike Company " was incorporated. This corpora- tion was authorized to construct a highway or turnpike from Roxbury to Worcester, by way of " the neck of the pond in Natick," and was given the privilege of erecting toll-gates and charging travelers a certain amount for the use of the road. The building of this new high- way considerably shortened the distance from Boston to Worcester, yet, notwithstanding this, the old stage route mentioned continued to be the all-important way of travel to the west and soutlı, until the opening of the Boston & Worcester and Boston & Providence rail- roads in 1835.
From the " corner" a line of stages passed over a more southerly route for several years, going through a part of Framingham and Southboro to Worcester.
The last regular stage through Wayland was what was for years known as the "Sud- bury, Wayland, and Weston " stage coach. It started from South Sudbury at seven o'clock in the morning, and returned at the same hour in the evening. Thaddeus Moore was the
132
APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
driver and proprietor for over twenty years. The stage was drawn by four horses, and car- ried the mail, and only ceased running when the railroad accommodations promised to be permanent.
The old stage coaches were usually drawn by four or six horses, and would seat nine or ten passengers inside, and a half dozen on the outside. They made a halt at the various "Ordinaries " or " Inns." where the horses were watered, " baited," or " changed," and the passengers had opportunity to stretch their limbs and find refreshment from the well-stocked larder of the old-time kitchen or warmth at the wide fireplace of the bar-room.
Their arrival was sometimes announced by the sound of the post-horn, and this was the signal for " mine host " to prepare for the reception of guests, and for the postmaster to get ready the mail-bag. The passage of these coaches through the town served the people as a time mark, and greatly enlivened the scenes by the wayside.
Besides the stage coach business, there was a vast deal of what was called "heavy teaming " along the "great roads," as the more prominent highways were termed. The large, white canvas-covered wagons of the marketers were once a common sight. To these wagons two, three, or more horses were attached, and they were laden with the produce of the " up country " farms, which was placed in charge of the teamster, who was "going down," as going to Boston was familiarly called. Ox teams, drawn by two or three "yoke of oxen," were often used for conveying the heavier merchandise, such as wood, hay, cider, apples, &c.
PRIVATE CONVEYANCES.
The public vehicles for passengers and freight have undergone no greater change than have the private carriages, - the old-fashioned chaise, with the C spring and thoroughbrace, and the family carriage, with the grasshopper spring. Before carriages came into general use, which was near the beginning of the present century, the pillion was used for travelling on horseback, and the pannier for small freights. The following is from a manuscript writ- ten by Mrs. Israel Haynes of Sudbury about 1864, when at the age of eighty: "They used to ride horseback to meeting, have a saddle and pillion; the man rode forward, the woman behind. Sometimes go to visit their friends forty miles and carry two children. They went to market horseback ; had a wallet made of tow cloth left open in the middle, on a pair of panniers made of basket stuff. The women went as often as the men. They swung the wallet over the horse's back, put in their boxes, each swung so as to balance, then the pan- niers [werc ] fixed on behind filled with pigeons or something else. . . . I don't remember of there being any thing that could be called a carriage seventy years ago."
The changes that have taken place in the methods of travel and conveyance have been gradual. One by one carriages came into use, until horseback-riding was the exception. Gradually horses came to be used in place of oxen : and while a half century ago every farmer kept one or more "yoke of oxen " or "steers," in the last decade perhaps not a half dozen could be found in town. About a dozen years ago the bicycle came before the public. followed by the tricycle. These, for the past two or three years, have frequently been seen on the streets, and have been used for practical purposes as well as pleasure.
RAILROADS.
The day of railroads in Wayland, although late, dawned at last. As early as 1843 a railroad was chartered and laid out from Framingham, to connect with the Fitchburg road at Stony Brook, and the citizens of Wayland subscribed very liberally to its stock. Another act of the town that shows its friendliness to this means of progress is a vote passed in 1873,
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APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OF WAYLAND.
two hundred and one to forty-eight, to subscribe for one hundred and fifty shares of the stock of the Hopkinton Railroad, in aid of an extension of that road through Cochituate and Wayland Centre. But the great railroad achievement of the town was the completion and putting into permanent running condition. of the Massachusetts Central, now known as the Central Massachusetts. The commencement of this enterprise was practically in the year 1868, when the Wayland & Sudbury Railroad was incorporated. This road was to run from Mill Village (South Sudbury) to Stony Brook, on the Fitchburg Railroad. In 1869 this act was superseded by the incorporation of the Massachusetts Central. The company voted to issue $3,000,000 capital stock. The work of constructing the road was commenced, but various obstacles interrupted the progress of it for some years. In 1880, Ex-Governor Boutwell became president of the road, and was succeeded in 1882 by Hon. S. C. Aldrich, of Marlboro. In 1881, the road was opened from Boston to Hudson, a distance of twenty- eight miles, and in 1882 to Jefferson, a distance of forty-eight miles. (See p. 29.) Mr. Norman C. Munson, the contractor, succeeded in keeping it in operation about two years, when he was obliged to stop. In 1883, the road was reorganized, and shortly afterwards was leased to the Boston & Lowell Railroad Company, and completed to Northampton. It is now under lease to the Boston & Maine corporation, and through trains are running over it daily between Boston and Washington and Boston and Harrisburg.
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