USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 3
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" Our fathers were willing to expose their lives and expend their fortunes for the welfare of the mother country. The American Colonists were as loyal subjects of the Crown of England, as those personally serving in the palace of King George III. The French and Indian war, from this circum- stance, has not inappropriately been styled 'the school of the Revolution'.1 Washington distinguished himself as a brave commander in this war, and from the English learned the sci. ence of military tactics. During that war, many of his officers and private soldiers became intimately acquainted with the prac- tical duties of the camp and field. From the point of observa- tion which we occupy, it most readily appears how important was that service to prepare those men for the stations of trust and responsibility, which they were called to occupy at a subse- quent period of their lives.
" Before proceeding to speak of events in the revolutionary war as they affected the progress of affairs in Holden, I shall notice some records preserved among our church and town papers. In 1765, Daniel Henchman, Esq., of Boston gave to the town the spot of land occupied for the first burying ground,
[] " The Seven Years War, the School of the Revolution." Oration deliv- ered at Worcester, July 4th, 1833, by Edward Everett. Orations and Speeches, vol. I, pp. 377-403. ]
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
measuring twelve rods long, and ten rods broad.1 Additions have since been made increasing the area to its present dimen- sions. The 20th of August, 1761, was observed as a day of fasting and prayer by reason of a severe drought.2 During the early history of the town frequent mention is made that public schools were kept at houses of private persons. In 1752, a school was kept three months at Mr. Joseph Hubbard's house : another school, the same year, at Lieut. Cyprian Stevens' house. During the following year, schools were kept in other parts of the town, three months at the center; three months at Jonathan Lovell's house ; and three months at Lieut. Richard Flagg's house. In 1754, it was voted, in town meeting, that thirteen pounds, six shillings and eight pence, be appropriated for the erection of a school house at the center of the town. I have not been able to learn that this vote was carried into execution. Tradition reports that the first school house was erected in the east part of the town, in the neighborhood of the Bullard place. The sum annually appropriated for schools gradually increased from year to year. In 1752, the sum of eleven pounds, twelve shillings was raised for six months' schooling ; and in 1762 the sum had increased to thirty pounds including the interest upon the lime lot.3
" The connection of the Rev. Mr. Davis, as pastor of the church in Holden, continued until January, 1773; when he was dismissed at his own request. From a printed sermon of Mr. Davis', I have gathered some statistics relating to the history of this town, worthy of preservation, as they were collected by one so intimately acquainted with the first settlers of Holden. I would remark that Mr. Davis preached this sermon January 2d, 1793, fifty years having passed since his introduction to the work of the gospel ministry. 'At first ', writes Mr. Davis, 'your increase was slow ; little alteration for the term of five years; but, afterward, the increase much more; for, at the end of ten years, your number of families was fifty-five. For the second ten years, the increase in
' Deed, County Records. 2 Church Records, p. 36. 3 Town Records.
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
families was small, only ten. The last ten years of my minis- try, the increase was forty-one. The whole number, at my dismission, about one hundred and six families.
There had been six hundred and forty-two births; about three hundred and thirty were males, and about three hundred and ten were females. There have died two hundred and fourteen persons ; about eighty under the age of two years ; and more than half under the age of five. The number of the baptized, by me, about five hundred and twenty At the end of twenty years, the church consisted of about seventy-five members, and when I was dismissed, of eighty- six ; thirty-eight males ; forty-eight females. .
There was a remarkable sickness about seven years after my settlement : Twenty-two persons died. And about six years after, the year after the great earthquake, a raging distemper carried off about forty-five persons in a short time, mostly younger persons and children'.1
" The great earthquake, to which allusion is made in the above extract, occurred November 15th, 1755. The shock was felt in various parts of North America. In Boston, ' one hun- dred chimnies were in a manner levelled with the roofs of the houses. Many clocks were stopped '. In New Haven, Ct., ' the ground in many places seemed to rise like the waves of the sea. The motion of this earthquake was undulatory. Its course was nearly from northwest to southeast. Its extent was from Chesapeake Bay, southwest, to Halifax, northeast, about eight hundred miles' .? The effects of this earthquake were most visibly apparent in that part of Holden, subsequently set off to form the town of West Boylston. The Rev. John Mellen, at that period pastor of the second church at Lancaster (now Sterling), has given a minute description of the place, as it then appeared. Several acres of land were sunk, in some places ' more than the height of a man'. Trees on each side of the breach were thrown in various directions 'and sometimes crossing each other overhead, at right angles, sometimes thrown
1 Rev. Mr. Davis' Sermon, pp. 19-21, 2 Holmes' Annals, vol. 2, p. 67.
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up by the roots.' The old channel being blocked up, the water flows in an entirely new direction. The stump of a tree that happened to stand directly over the chasm, on the east, is divi- ded into equal parts, one standing on the outside of the chasm, the other on the inside, but not opposite to each other - the half within the chasm being carried five feet forward towards the river: It is a remarkable fact that this earthquake occur- red the same month and year with that terrible convulsion of the earth, which sunk a portion of Lisbon, the chief city of Portugal, containing a population of one hundred and fifty thousand, one-fifth part of whom suddenly perished. Every church and convent fell. Fires broke out, two hours after the shock, which continued to rage for three days, so that the city was completely desolated.
"The church in Holden remained without a pastor nearly two years after the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Davis. Decem- ber 21st, 1774, Mr. Joseph Avery, having received a call from the church and town, was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.1 His annual salary was established, sixty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, lawful money ($222.22); and the sum of one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence, lawful money ($444.44), was voted as a settle- ment donation.
"Some prominent events of the Revolutionary war now claim our attention, if we would carefully trace the history of this town, during that most eventful period in our country's history. The first allusion to events which led to that war I find upon the records of the church in the hand-writing of the pastor. '1768. Octo. 12 Observed as a Day of Fasting & Prayer on account of the Aspects of divine Providence in our public Affairs ' .? By consulting Provincial history, the cause is readily apparent why a day of fasting and prayer was observed. October Ist, numerous companies of British soldiers had been stationed in the city of Boston. ' The colonists felt disgusted and injured, but not overawed, by the presence of the obtruded soldiery."
1 Church Records, vol. I, p. 47. 2 Ibid., vol. 1, p. 42. 3 Holmes' Annals, vol. 2, pp. 158-9.
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How truly characteristic of the genuine sons of the Puritans, was the conduct of the good people of this town, on the present occasion. The aspects of Divine Providence' in public affairs' betokening civil commotions, our fathers were ready to humble themselves before God. War might come. How accordant with the dictates of reason and the soundest princi- ples of religion, to look for guidance and direction to a wise and benevolent God !
"A town meeting of the citizens of Boston was held Novem- ber 2d, 1772. A large committee-James Otis, chairman- was appointed on the motion of Samuel Adams. This com- mittee was instructed to state the rights of the colonists, and of this Province in particular, as men, as Christians, and as subjects ; to communicate and publish the same to the several towns in this Province and to the World, as the sense of this town, with the infringements and violations thereof that have been, or from time to time may be made; also requesting of each town a free communication of their sentiments on the sub- ject. The letter of correspondence to the several towns, closes with these words : ' Let us consider, brethren, we are strug- gling for our best birthrights and inheritance, which being infringed renders all blessings precarious in their enjoyment, and consequently trifling in their value. Let us disappoint the men, who are raising themselves on the ruin of this country. Let us convince every invader of our freedom, that we will be as free, as the Constitution our fathers recognized, will justify ." A pamphlet, containing the resolutions of this meeting and the appeal of the committee was printed and extensively circulated through the colonies, but particularly in the towns in the Prov- ince of Massachusetts Bay. The public mind was aroused. The resolves of the Boston patriots were cordially responded to from the most retired villages in the Province. The citi- zens of Holden passed fourteen resolutions,2 making known in the most unequivocal language, their sentiments. Listen to the resolutions, as exhibiting the spirit which animated the
' Holmes' Annals, vol. 2, p. 178. 2 Town Records, vol. I.
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bosoms of our fathers, in those days which 'tried men's souls.'
"(I) Resolved that Liberty both Religious & Civil is a most Precious and Enestimable Gift of the Great & Glorious Creator of all things granted to all Rational Creatures : neither can any Person or Persons innocently give or Sell it away from himself any more than he can take it from another
"(2dly ) If any have been so unhappy as to Surrender their Liberty such Act of theirs Cannot induce any Moral Obligation of Servitude on them Personly Espicially ; if they were Enslaved by irresistable Power : surely then it Cannot reasonably bind their Suc- cessors in every future Generation
"(3dly ) That it is to us Equally manifest that no one Nation or State or Political Society has any Right to Rule or Command another Especially without the Consent of the Latter
"(4thly ) The People of New England have never given the People of Britain any Right of Jurisdiction over us Consequently we Deem it to be the most unwarrantable Usurpation & view it as an insufferable insult in the British Parliamant that they assume a Legislative Authority over the American Colonies
"(5thly ) We Chearfully Profess the most perfect Loyalty to the King as having an Essencial voice in our Charter Government
"(6thly ) We are Assured that no Political Community on Earth can truly Enjoy Liberty without Civil Government therefore Civil Government is an invaluable Divine Blessing & Anarchy is the greatest of Publick Evils one only Excepted that is a State of Com- pleat & Confirmed Tyranny
"(7thly ) And such Tyranny is evidently the Object of some very Resent Measures of the British Administration & Government Par- ticularly these Mentioned to us in a Letter from our worthy friends the Citizens of Boston & the Project of Despotism and Arbitrary Government appears to be nearly Accomplished & Settled so that nothing but the Vigilance and Combined Effortts of this People under the Auspicious Providence of Heaven can save us from Abject Slavery and Total Ruin
"(8thly ) Therefore we are Compelled to Speak & Devulge our sober & very greivous Apprehensions and are willing all Mankind should know that we are far from acquiescing in the many Gross
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
Violations of our Just Rights too Conspicuous & Palpable now to Require a Particular Enumeration and Truly we shoud be Charge- able with very Criminal Silence if we did not Remonstrate against every glaring attempt of any Persons of what Rank or Denomenation so ever to bereave us of our Liberty
"(9thly ) Resolved that the Right of Kings (whether it be a humane or Divine right) is founded on the same Principles of Pub- lick Liberty which we Assert & the Right of our present Sovereign George ye 3 to the British Throne was Explicitly by Compact Derived from the same principle
"( IOthly ) And therefore we must behold them as guilty of Trea- son against his sacred Majesty & his Illusterous House who are making Attempts to subvert the Liberties of his faithful subjects as nothing can be more Repugnant to ye Constitution of England & of this Province than that George should be King of Slaves so if the Antiqated Doctrine of Passive Obedience and non Resistance should now Revive & move abroad & half the Nation were so blind and infatuate as to imbrace such a Deformed Monster the Throne must shake and tremble to the very Bases the Lord Almighty avert the horrid Catastrophy to prevent it our Prayers and Endeavours shall not be wanting
"(IIthly ) In Publishing our Sentiments and Resolutions we are moved by Natural & Christian benevolence to the good People of Britain whose Prosperity is Dear to us as our own it is therefor our hearty Prayer that God would preserve them from the Depth of Political Lethergy and Mercifully Defend them from ye Iron Fang of Tyranny as Slavery has ever been abhorrent to the Genius of Britain it must be peculiarly shameful & Painful to English men till we shall have Lost the Right Spirit of our truly worthy ancestors and forfited the English name as we are far from Suspecting the People of Britain (our old Natural ally) of being Enimical to us our ardent Brotherly love to them is an Additional incitement to assert our own freedom it being very Certain that if Liberty Expires here it will not long survive there we are therefore ambitious of Trans- miting our names to all Posterity as favourd instruments in the hand of God of having Preserved Britain from Distruction therefore we supplicate the Throne of Mercy that God would Excite his Peaple in Britain & America to a Reformation of Morals because as sin is the Reproach and Ruin of a People so Righteousness Exalteth a Nation to the Summet of Happiness and Glory
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" (12thly ) Therefore Resolved that their is an intimate Connection between the Liberty & Virtue of any People if Liberty be gone Religion will infalliably Languish to Extinction
" (131hly ) We plead for Liberty because it is the Respectable Pa- troness of the Liberal Arts & Sciences this was doubtless the Judg- ment of our Pious and worthy Ancesters who Chose a wild Desart with Liberty Rather than the fruitful fields & beautiful Gardens of their Native Land with Slavery and who were in their first Settle- ment very Zealous to erect a Seminary of Learning as well as to build and Multiply Christian and Prodistant Churches we Desire to follow their noble Examples to promote in our Measure Learning & Liberty in Delightful and harmonious Union and would now reco- mend it to our Children and to their successors forever to be imitators of us and of our truly wise & Virtuous and Venerable Progenitors.
" (14thly ) We think it our Duty on this Occation on behalf of ourselves and our Dear Country to Express our Sincere Gratitude to the Respectable Gentlemen of Boston for the Light & Counsel they have presented to us in the Circular Letter and their many Generous Efforts in ye Cause of Liberty and it is our Earnest Prayer to Almighty God that they may be animated still to Proceed and that they may Prosper according to the Desire' of their hearts and Recieve the most Ample and Durable Reward
" And that the above Resolves be Recorded on the Town book of Records & that the Town Clerk give an attested Copy to sd Com- mittee to be transmitted to the Committee of Correspondence at Boston
JOHN CHILD - JONA. WHEELER ANDREW SMITH JAMES DAVIS
Committee.
" The above being put to Vote and passed in the Affirmitive
JOHN CHILD Moderator."
" The way was rapidly preparing for an open rupture between England and her American Colonies. The coercive measures of the British Parliament required the Colonists to acknowledge principles subversive of true liberty. Petitions and remon- strances failed to reconcile the parties. War came. ‘Dis-
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
perse, disperse, you rebels; throw down your arms and disperse,' were the words of Major Pitcairn, as he approached the sturdy yeomanry of Massachusetts, assembled upon the plains of Lexington. Then followed the discharge of muskets. Eight brave Americans fell. The shouts of an exulting foe, and the expiring groans of the dying, were harsh sounds in the ears of men whose grandsires were Puritans. They were notes of alarm to every genuine lover of liberty throughout the colo- nies. This town furnished a company of seventy men, ready to leave their homes, at the first alarm.
" The population of the town at that time, numbered about seven hundred and fifty. Nearly one tenth of the entire popu- lation was prepared to engage in actual service. During the progress of the war, drafts were made for soldiers from Holden to serve at various military stations in the Northern States. Wherever troubles existed, or dangers were apprehended, thither marched soldiers from this town. Some went to Rhode Island, others to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The terms of service of individual soldiers in the common militia, when added, amount to seventy-four years, supposing it to have been performed by one man, at an expense to the town of £1,961-os .- IId. No reference is made in this calculation to the soldiers in the regular continental army, under the immediate command of Wash- ington. In this army twenty-five soldiers enlisted from Holden, for the term of three years, or during the war. Each one of these men received £20 or more. as bounty money, at the time of their enlistment : So that during the year 1777, £763-Os .- 12d., were paid from the town treasury to discharge the liabilities, which had been thus incurred, to enlist soldiers.
" It would be interesting, if time permitted, to narrate the his- tory of each soldier, who went from Holden, to contend with the disciplined troops of England, upon the field of battle. I will allude to a few. Thomas Heard was the only person killed in actual service. He fell near Saratoga, N. Y., and his dead body was borne away by William Ebet. Moses Wheeler and Jeremiah Fuller died at Valley Forge, Penn., having suf-
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fered most intensely from cold and hunger. David Potter deserted to the enemy, having previously been saved from the ignominy of a public execution, by the timely interposition of Lady Washington. The conduct of his brother James was far different. He was among the foremost to o'erleap the heights at Yorktown, causing thousands of the British soldiers to surrender, whilst their General, Lord Cornwallis, surrendered his sword into the hand of Washington.
"Capt. George Webb was the only commissioned officer, in the continental service from Holden. At the time of his enlist- ment he was not an inhabitant of the town. He came with his family to this place during the war. Capt. Webb was a fearless soldier, and an high spirited officer. Whenever an enterprise requiring bravery and skill, was to be undertaken, Washington and Lafayette knew Capt. Webb to be a man to their minds. I hold in my hand the original copy of a letter, addressed by General Lafayette, to Capt. Webb, I will read the first sentence : ' Dear Sir Your successful scarmish-Has afforded me the greatest pleasure, and I request you will receive yourself - and present to your company My best thanks on the occasion." It was in the company of Capt. Webb, that Deborah Samp- son,2 an American young lady, served as a continental soldier,
[] The following is a copy of the letter :
"MILTON, May 15th, 1881.
"DEAR SIR Your successful scarmish-Has afforded me the greatest pleas- ures and I request you will receive yourself, and present to your company My best thanks on the occasion. Major Jicks is Requested to exert himself in finding out the position, size and number of long boat-Helen lie either about City point or in the Appamatox river-the taking of these boats is a more desirable object and would produce good effects of a very extensive nature. But I cannot give orders as the capture depends upon the uncertain situation of local circumstances Should you think it advisable to undertake precaution must be taken to have your retreat secured at all events. In case the enterprize is not executed to-night I wish you will return with your com- pany in cool of the evening-and if tonight you have any object in view you will repair heare tomorrow with the boats. With the most sincere esteem, " Yours LAFAYETTE."]
[2 Deborah Sampson in the service bore the name of Robert Shurtlieff. See The Female Review : or Memoir of An American Young Lady. By a Citizen of Massachusetts. [Herman Mann] 1797. Reprinted in Life of Deborah Sampson. 1866.]
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
for nearly three years. She performed the duties of every station assigned to her, with punctual exactness, fidelity and honor.
" The hours of this day would not suffice, for me to rehearse an account of the many bloody battles, and hair-breadth escapes, to the recital of which most of this audience have listened when a Rice, a Rogers, a Potter, a Nash, or a Flagg would make himself the hero of his story whilst, perchance, he
' Shoulder'd his crutch, and show'd how fields were won.'
" The citizens of Holden entered into a solemn covenant to sustain the committee, chosen to watch for the public safety, and voted that such persons as refused to unite with them should have their names published in the Boston Gazette as enemies of their country. The town, also, voted that every blacksmith, shoemaker, miller and housewright do not directly do or cause to be done any sort of business, in their respect- ive occupations for any of those persons, who would not sign the covenant, which was to ' be lodged at John Abbots, one month, for the Inhabitants of Holden to sign'.' Tradition reports that a Mr. Goulding, living in the south part, was so offended with this measure of the town, that he immediately commenced building the grist mill and saw mill now owned by Amos Howard, Jr.2
" This decided movement was not regarded as sufficient for the general good. To prevent monopoly upon such articles as were considered the necessaries of life, the Selectmen, and Committee of Safety were empowered by an Act of the Provin- cial Congress to establish ultimum prices. .
" The following3 is a List of Prices to a Number of Articles as agreed upon by the Selectmen & Committee of Safety &c of the Town of Holden agreeable to an Act of the great & General Court
, 1 Town Records, vol. 2, p. 15-January 3d, 1775.
[2 The site of this long since abandoned mill was about one-fourth of a mile below the present dam of the Worcester water works. ]
3 Town Records, vol, 2, pp. 40, 41.
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of the State of the Massachusetts Bay in new England to prevent Monopoly
" Farming Labour from the Twentieth of June not to Exceed 3/ pr Day the rest of the year in the same proportion Wheat @ 6/ Bushel Rye @ 4/4 pr Bushel Indian Corn at 3/ pr Bushel Good Pork @@ /4 pr Lb Salted Pork @ /7 14 pr Lb Oats @ 1/9 pr Bush- ell Barley @ 3/6 pr Bushel Good Grass fed Beef @ /212 pr Lb first Rate of Stall fed Beef /31/2 pr Lb Best Cheese @ /6 pr Lb Butter by the Firkin /814 pr Lb & by the Single Lb /912 Span- ish Potatoes in the Fall @ 1/1 pr Bushel in the Spring 1/6 B. Good well Dressed Flax @ 1/ pr Lb Tried Tallow @ /7 pr Lb ruff Tallow @ /5 Tow Cloth @ 2/3 pr yd Woolen Cloth for Shirting Striped or Check 3/ pr yd that is 7/8 wide Green Oak Wood Dd a 5/ pr Cord Walnut Do Dd @ 6/ pr Cord Charcoal @ /21/2 pr Bushell Dd
"Mutton & Lamb in the Winter @ /4 pr Lb in the sum" @ /3 pr Lb Veal @ /3 pr Lb Best English Hay @ 2/ #pr C:wt in the summer in Winter or out of the Barn 3/ Horse keeping over night @ 1/4 & Oxen @ 1/8 Oats @ /3 per Mess Lodging a /314 pr night Potluck@ /8 pr Meal other Meals in proportion new England Flip @ /9 pr Mug Westindia Flip @ /II pr Mug Horse Shoeing Steeled Toe & heel all around @ 6/ and all the rest of a Blacksmith work in the same Proportion Good Double Soaled Mens Shoes @ 7/4 all other Shoes in the same Proportion for making Mens Shoes & finding thread 2/10 for making other Shoes in the same Proportion Maids Wages pr week 2/8
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