USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Sudbury > The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 > Part 39
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
By the fireside there are old men seated Seeing ruined cities in the ashes, Asking sadly Of the Past what it can ne'er restore them. LONGFELLOW.
THE interest of the community in ecclesiastical matters in the beginning of the nineteenth century was similar to that of the century that preceded it. The town was the parish and the church was still at the front. The people regarded
454
455
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
the minister as the exponent of a system of truth that they revered and of a faith that they cherished and taxed themselves to support. Marked respect was shown him by both old and young; the former not being too busy to leave the workshop or field when he called, and the latter, not having so far outgrown that civility which is becoming to youth, as to pass unnoticed one whose calling was held in such esteem by their elders. The Sabbath was observed by a general attendance at church, and a large share of the town officials were either church members or regular church attendants. Special church occasions, such as ordinations, installations and dedications, were gala days to the com- munity, and days of fasting and thanksgiving were relig- iously observed. The outward form of religion was not then divorced from the town-meeting, the school or the home.
Politically and socially, at the beginning of the present century, affairs were conducted largely as in the century preceding. Officials were elected mainly on the basis of merit. Military honors were still recognized. The same strict economy was practised and the same careful consid- eration of need before the smallest expenditure. If it was only to decide upon the location of a horse-shed, the town deemed the matter of sufficient importance to adjourn its town-meeting to take a look at the premises, and, if thought desirable to erect a "noon-house," it might be essential to bring the subject before the town.
The custom and manner of living had not yet undergone any radical change, and all "new fangled " things were still looked upon with suspicion. The fireplace was the same as when the family group sat about it at evening and listened to the tales of Indian warfare. The people still wore the coarse cloth their own hands spun and wove. The hired man and the housemaid might be children of some of the most well-to-do families in town. Travel was largely on horseback or on foot. The horseblock by the meeting-house was still in use. Malt was a common commodity. New England rum was considered essential in hay-time. The wooden plow was in use, and the hay-fork and other farming
456
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
tools were still made by the village smith. As late as 1806 the following articles are mentioned in the will of Hopestill Willis of Sudbury, which is, perhaps, a fair specimen of the inventory of a householder about the beginning of this century : " One calaca gown. A small Spinning Wheel. Wooden Ware. Meal sieve. Old Chist. Pewter Ware. Warming pan. Flax comb. Candle sticks and shears. Tongs, Trowels, meat tub. Cyder barrel."
In order to show the articles manufactured and used in town about the beginning of the present century, the price of work and of some common commodities, we quote a few extracts from the account book of James Thompson of South Sudbury.
Jeduthan Moore Dr
To making a slead 0- 4-0
to two Bushil of Malt 0: 9:0
to two pecks of Ground Malt
0: 2:9
to mending a Spinning Wheele 0: 0:6
to a pair of temples. 0: 1:0
Hezekiah Moore Dr Old Tenor
Esd
1770 to making a Bedstead
2- 0-0
to making a flax Breake 1- 2-6
1771. to one Days Reaping of Abel
0-15-0
Ashur Cutler Dr Old Tenor.
1772 to two days Labour at the Mill
1-16-0
1773 to Ashur's Trundle Bedstead
0-18-0
to a kneeding Trough 0- 9-0
1774 Making the Sawmill whele and work in the mill 5-10-0
Making a foot to a Little whele 0- 3-0
Credt to Mr Ashur Cutler Old Tenor
1- 7-0
1771 by one Bushil of Rie
one Bushil of Indian Corn 1- 2-6
and one Bushil of Malt 1- 5-0
Capt John Nixon Dr Old tenor
Jan ye 10th 1774 to making a Slay and finding nails 3- 0-0
May ye 26, 1774 to mending a Spinning Wheele 0- 5-0
July at the Begining to making a cart and Ladders and finding boards 3- 7-6
and making an ox yoke 0- 7-6
Jany 1775. to one Bushil of Malt 1- 5-0
April 17. 1775 to a Chist
2- 8-0
457
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
Coln John Nixon Dr old Tenor
1776. to Kneeding trough 1: 2:6
to four Bushils of Barley Malt
7- 0-0
Dec. 27th 1776 to Coffin for his wife 3- 0 -0
July 1783. Recd of Gen" Nixon
2: 2:0
1781, Isaac Hunt. Debtor in Lawful money.
to making a cart body
0:12:0
To a Coffin for his Father
0:10:0
To making a Slead
0: 5:0
Jonas Holden Jur Debtor to James Thompson
1790 to 2 Days framing
0: 7:0
and half a Day Covering the Mill
0: 1:2
1791. to two Bushils of Malt 1: 6:0
to four Days on the Gates
0: 8:0
To Aaron Johnson Dr Old Tenour
to making two Margent window frames
1- 7-0
to making three plain frames 1- 7-0
to making 203 Squares of Sashes at &
11-16-0
Confirmatory of the truth of our conjecture that, up to the time of which we write, no great changes had taken place in the customs and ways of society, we quote the following description of manners and customs by Mrs. Israel Haynes, a resident of Sudbury, written about the year 1864, at the age of eighty.
STATEMENT OF MRS. ISRAEL HAYNES.
" * * I still remember seventy-five years back more cor- rect than what has been transacted within a week. * * I think people enjoyed their simple way of living as well as they do now. I recollect when the old meeting [house] was standing. A plain Building Ceiled with Boards and a few pews. There are several Barns now in town Finished much handsomer than that was. *
* There was no bell on the house. But a small school house stood near by on the common finished of as poorly as the meeting house. there was a little entry-way where there was a little Bell Hung all that belonged to the town to ring for meetings or funerals or what not. There was Body seats below for the oldest people And seats in the gallery for other people. The most popular took the front seats and had Pegs put up to hang
458
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
their Coekt Hats on. [they ] made quite a show. * * The Deacons used to read the hymns two lines or a verse and then they sung it. They had a pitch pipe to pitch the tune. After awhile there was a bass viol Introduced and brought into town and did not suit the old People, one Old Gentle- man got up took his hat of the peg and march'd off, said they had begun fidling there would be dancing next. The children occupied the stairs when the seats were full, and I believe they enjoyed [it]. They chose tithing men to keep them regulated but still there was some confusion. I would describe their dress as near as I can remember. it Consisted of one Dress one of their Mother's old Dresses she had when she was married or a Cheap Calico Coarser than A strainer I ever used. I recollect the first one I had-it was thirty three cents a yd as we recon now and I thought it as Beau- tiful as they think of A Nice silk. As to bonnets I dont seem to remember as far back as I went first to meeting. But Children went to meeting in such clothes as they had - now if they have not such clothes as they like they stay at home. They want a gold watch a breast pin and rings on the finger. In my young days we did not know what such things were. There was a minister in each adjoining town I Believe all of one Denomination. old People called it the old standing Order * * I have not described the men's Attire. it Consisted of A Cotton and linen shirt a pair of trowsers they were then called an under jacket one coat or Frock no padding or lining * * I have heard an old lady say she could make a coat in a day with her Baby in her lap. It would have been thought extravigant for A young man to have had boots before they were twenty one they wore cowhide shoes and liggins I never saw any under clothes they stood the cold weather better than they do now. I must say a word about our schools. The scholars were under as good regulations as they are now, there was no books in school except the Bible Dillingsworth spelling Book the primmer and Psalter and only one of a kind in A Family. The teacher set all the Coppies made all the pens. Those that studied Arithmetic the Master wrote down the Rules and sums in their Books and then they had Birch Bark split
459
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
to do their sums on instead of slates. The school house was a little rough Building like a shed only it had a Door. there was A large Fire Place large enough to hold several logs and four feet wood and a stone hearth and chimney and Cross leg'd Benches for writers. The Boys wore leather aprons and breeches And for dinner they used to fetch a sausage or slice of Pork and a Crust of Bread sharpen a stick and broil it over the coals and [there were] plenty of grease spots. The girls wore short loose Gowns and skirts and thick leather shoes and woolen stockings. They wore a blanket over their heads or their Mother's old Cloak. In the summer they wore [shaped] gown and skirt and cape bonnet colour'd otter with bare feet. You might as soon look for a white Bear as to see shoes on Children in summer time. The Dwelling houses for the most part had two rooms and a fire place almost as large as they build their little Kitchens now and an oven right over the fire place and a large stone hearth. They mostly Built one room first and when they got able set up another room and if they had A son Many generally settled down at home. There was two families in almost every house that had two rooms. * * The People were farmers, most of them went on Pretty much the same way every year. Each one tried to raise enough for their family, they did not make much improve- ment nor speculate. They kept Oxen and Cows and hogs for their own use and raised Corn and Rye Potatoes and Beans and other vegitables, some kept A Horse, they had no Carriages except a cart and sled. They used to ride horseback to meeting have a saddle and Pilion the man ride 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 two Cloths, left open in the middle on a pair [of] paniards 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 side so as to balance, then the Paniards [were] fixed on behind filled with pigeons or something else. I remember when there was but one old chaise in town and I dont remember of there being any thing that could be called A Carriage seventy years ago.
460
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
seventy years ago I dont think there was a Carpet in town scarce a painted floor Our diet was simple not as many luxuries as they have now. at thanksgiving we had flower a good Chicken Pie and Mince pies and apple and Pumpkin and Plum pudding. I think a pound answered, sometimes a part was used in the Best mince pies * if our Flower fell short we used Rye flower we had good rye. the best Farmers did not buy by the Barrel, 7 or 8 lbs used to answer the purpose. we had no Factories spun and wove and made our own Clothing * I recollect when they began to go with two and four horses tackled in a wagon it looked as strange as these new inventions the cars or steamboats * * Neighbors used to visit and seemed to enjoy them-
selves. For supper they generally had Fresh meat or sausage or a short rye Cake made into a toast, Pye and that was good enough for a king. the women were Neighborly and Industrious willing to assist each other. one would get in a bedquilt and the others drop in and help get it out People began to improve in dress and living sixty years ago. I earnt money enough to buy a silk Dress when I was Mar- ried and A white Bonnet, if you could see it you would say the shape resembled a scale that store keepers use. we had to be prudent to lay by enough to purchase a silk Dress they was as high as they are now and wages only four shillings a week for house work, but we did not have so much Cloth in a dress as they do now and no needless trim- mings. I have had Calico Dresses made out of six yards and a half. It was customary in winter to make a party for the middle aged, invite all the nearest neighbors and the school master, get a meat supper and the company and table set in the same room, for the most part there was a Bed and trap door in the room - twas a considerable undertaking but they enjoyed it better than to call one or two at a time."
Thus much did the beginning of the nineteenth century partake of the spirit and ways of the past, but as the years advanced there came a wonderful change, and before the first period had passed, modern improvements began to creep into society, the church and the home took on an altered
461
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
appearance ; and the second generation of the period became as accustomed to new manners, methods and implements, as if the former ones had belonged to some remote age. The change has continued to go on with accelerated speed, until now the very architecture, compared with that of the past, is strange ; even the products of our fields are different, and men and women and children at church, at home and at school do that and say that which to the fathers of 1800 would be as unfamiliar as to those of the century that went before. The years of the present century have taken away the things of the olden time.
Though we search for them long and with diligent care, There were joys in the past now exceedingly rare. The fireplace no longer burns bright as of yore Sending out its bright beams on the old kitchen floor, With its back-log all glowing as snugly it lay Against the huge chimney, 'mid warm ashes gray ; The ancient brick oven is closed from our gaze, Where were baked the brown loaves of the rich, golden maize, And the beans and " pan dowdy " and nice pumpkin pie That so suited our taste, and delighted our eye ; The " beaufet " that once so smilingly stood With its three-cornered shelves of unpainted wood ; The quaint pewter platters, substantial and bright ; The candle of tallow, so smooth and so white ; The hard, oaken floor that was scoured with such care ; The garret, a store-house of relics most rare ; The old-fashioned clock with its bell-note so clear, And whose pendulum-tick we could easily hear ; The plain, simple dress and the old-fashioned ways, The " raisings," the " huskings " of those early days, The " apple-bees," " training-days," breaking out roads, The turnpikes, the toll-gates, the stages, the loads Of rich country produce that was carried to town By the farmer, whose custom it was to " go down ; " The old-fashioned winter, the mild early spring, With snow-drifts and sunbeams which these used to bring ; The old district school with its three months a year, The little red school-house with benches so queer, Where to cipher, to read, to parse, and to write Were deemed wholly sufficient to educate quite ; The singing-school also has passed out of date, And the fugue-tune and fiddle have shared the same fate,
462
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
As these were made use of in country church choir, Or on special occasions by the sitting-room fire. Thus have the years in their flight left behind The old-fashioned things that are now hard to find ; We may search for them long and with diligent care, And if we find them at all, 'tis exceedingly rare.
We now pass from a consideration of general changes that occurred about 1800, to events that took place in the first , period of the present century. First, as they are related to highways, bridges and causeways. Early in the century an effort was made to secure the construction of a highway through North Sudbury. As early as 1800, complaint was made against the town for not making a road there, and the town appointed an agent to defend its cause.
In 1801, a committee was appointed to see about " an alteration in the road from Rev. Mr. Bigelow's to near Mr. Tower's by Wm Rice's Esq as far as Mr. Vose's." The indications are that an alteration had been made in the road, that a shorter way was proposed, and that the court had been applied to for a discontinuance of the alteration formerly made. In 1806, an article was in the warrant to see if the - town would take any measures "for the purpose of dis- charging an execution against said town it being in conse- quence of not complying with the requisition of the order of the Court of Sessions for the making of the road through the northerly part of said town." The town also appointed an agent to oppose the acceptance of the road; but, not- withstanding the opposition, the North road was built. About the same time the south part was interested in a proposition to make some alteration in the South road, known as the Boston and Worcester. In 1805, a committee was appointed to act with one appointed by the Court of Sessions for this purpose. The design was to straighten portions of the road from Green Hill to the brick kilns or Gibbs farm. In 1805, the sum of $1800 was appropriated for highway work, and the same year $1000 was granted for the purpose of repairing " Lancaster and Worcester Road so called." The following year the records make mention of a
463
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
road laid out from Jonathan Fairbank's to John Perry's. In 1807, it was voted " to sell and discontinue part of the road from Ezekiel Loring's to Framingham line."
In 1801, Lieut. David How rebuilt Wash Bridge for forty- five dollars and twenty-five cents. That year, also, a com- mittee of five was appointed " for the purpose of railing this town's proportion of the Long Causeway, and setting out a sufficient number of willow trees to answer the purpose for Guides in the time of flood." In 1804, sixty-four dollars were granted for making a wall each side of Sherman's Bridge. In 1806, the town voted to let out the rebuilding of the Canal Bridge. In 1815, the town voted twenty dollars and thirty-three cents for the Canal Bridge.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
In 1804, the town voted two hundred and twelve dollars for repairing and painting the meeting-house. In 1805, a settlement was made of a prolonged lawsuit between the town and Peter Smith "who brought forward a pauper." The suit was decided in favor of the town to the amount of ten hundred and sixty dollars and twenty-five cents. But "it remitted to Smith $544.31 out of said execution it being the balance which appeared to be due him." In 1806, the town granted thirty dollars for the purpose of enabling their selectmen to settle with Captain Barrett, the gaol keeper of Concord, " for Boarding of certain Poor persons that were confined in gaol and belonged to the town." As, formerly, the law allowed imprisonment of poor debtors, these persons probably belonged to that class. In 1816, voted that the constables see that the porch of the meeting-house, both above and below, be cleared of those people who were inclined " to occupy the avenues to the meeting house at the commencement of the exercises of each day of public worship." Also, to see that people at the close of worship went out properly. In 1817, the town engaged in lawsuits with East Sudbury, Lincoln and Stow about the support of the poor. It was successful in the first suit, but failed in the last two.
464
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
No marked changes took place during this period in edu- cational methods. The money granted for schools was equally divided between the five districts. In the year 1800, money was granted for building three school-houses, - in the south-east district, two hundred and eighteen dollars ; in the north-west, one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and fifty cents ; and in the south-west, two hundred dollars. The committee that year were William Rice, Esq., centre district ; Gen. Benjamin Sawin, south-east; Deacon Thomas Walker, south-west; Lieut. Hopestill Willis, north-west ; and Samuel Puffer, north-east. The old building in the south-west was sold for twenty-four dollars.
The following is, in substance, part of a report of the school committee in 1802. That they had been empowered to hire all the teachers of the public schools in town for the year ensuing, and that they had been instructed, after con- sultation with the minister and the teachers employed, to decide what books should be used, only that the same ones should be used in all the schools of the same grade. That, if any scholar should fail to provide himself or herself with the books required, six days after notice of the deficiency had been given to the parent or guardian, the scholar should not receive instruction in the branch of study to which said book or books were assigned until supplied. Provided, nevertheless, that if any scholars were unable by reason of poverty to provide their own books they should be supplied by the committee. In 1825, leave was granted to the centre district to move its school-house to some convenient place on the Common. Besides the attention bestowed by the town on the common or day schools, encouragement was given to instruction in music.
Along the first of the present century there existed what was termed a "Singing Society," and the town, from time to time, made appropriations for its benefit. This "Society " constituted the church choir. A half century ago, the long rows of singers along the length of the gallery was quite a part of the audience ; and, doubtless, it was for the purpose
465
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
of benefiting the church music that the town granted aid to the " Singing Society." In 1801, a committee was appointed by the town " to get a singing master and for regulating the Singing Society." The same year liberty was given the society to occupy the several school-houses, indicating that the sessions were held in different districts. Ten dollars was granted that year to pay the master. In 1802, the town voted " to have Dr. Belknap's Psalms and Hymns introduced and made use of in the Singing Society," In 1821, twenty dollars were allowed for the society, and in 1822 thirty dollars. Early in the century quite an orchestra assisted in the old church. Mr. Josiah Richardson, familiarly known as " Uncle Siah," played the violin, Mr. Emory Hunt the clarionet, Mr. George Hunt the base viol, and Deacon Mar- tin Brown the bassoon. At the same time, Esquire Lyman How, the last landlord of the Wayside Inn of the name of How, was among the singers. He also led the choir after- wards at the Orthodox Church.
MILITARY MATTERS.
Before the war of 1812 and 15 set in, the town of Sud- bury, as did others, took action as to the state of affairs then existing between the United States and England; it also made provision by which it could supply its quota of men in case they were called for ; and passed resolutions relative to the conduct of public affairs that evinced a patriotic spirit and a steadfast purpose to stand by the government. In 1807, when the American frigate, Chesapeake, had been attacked by the English frigate, the Leopard, activity in military matters commenced in the New England towns. Sudbury voted to give to " each soldier that was called upon to stand at a minute's notice $12 per man per month includ- ing what government has made provision for, during the time they are in actual service, and six dollars to each soldier as advance pay, that shall equip himself for said service, the aforesaid six dollars to be paid previous to his marching if called upon and to be subject to deduction from his wages." In 1808, the town " voted $36 as a bounty to this town's proportion of soldiers that are called upon to
466
HISTORY OF SUDBURY.
hold themselves in readiness at the shortest time, being eighteen in number." Also, " directed the commanding officer of each respective company, to make out a return of the name of each soldier that held himself in readiness." A meeting was called Feb. 4, 1809, " to see if the town will express their opinion in such manner as will show to the world that we are willing to support the laws of our general government, in consequence of certain resolutions denounc- ing. all good citizens who shall give their aid and support in the execution of the laws of said government." A com- mittee was chosen at that meeting to draw up a preamble and resolutions to present to the town, relative to what was mentioned in the above article. The Preamble and Resolu- tions that were reported were passed in the affirmative and were in substance as follows: The inhabitants of Sudbury see with concern a party in the State exciting jealousies against the government and recommending resistance to its laws. Therefore, resolved,
1. That we have the highest confidence in the wisdom and integrity of the government.
2. That we believe the embargo laws are good and necessary.
3. That we have seen with regret certain resolutions denouncing all good citizens who give their support in the execution of those laws, and that such resolutions produce on our minds a determination, when called upon, to give those laws prompt and undivided support.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.