USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Warren > Western 1741-1834, Warren 1834-1891, Massachusetts. An account of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Warren, September 7, 1891, including the founding and growth of a New-England town > Part 2
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Closely allied to the cause of education is the system of free public libraries throughout the State. The library of this town, founded and managed by an association of public-spirited citizens, affords special privileges to the children in the public schools. The library building, recently erected and handsome in its proportions, bears over its entrance the legend " Open to All."
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THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.
The controversy between Great Britain and her American colonies in the years immediately pre- ceding the Revolution stirred the people of Massachusetts to a remarkable degree. It was here that the claim of the British Crown and Parliament of the right to impose a system of unjust taxation upon the colonies met with the most determined opposition. The port of the town of Boston had been closed, the people humiliated and reduced to want for their resistance to the oppressive and odious measures of Parliament.
It was then that the people, even while profess- ing loyalty to their sovereign, became so enkindled with the love of liberty that every encroachment upon their rights only hastened the great struggle which resulted in American independence.
The records of the town during this eventful period reflect the highest honor upon the inhabit- ants. Among the important votes passed was that of January 17, 1774. .
At a legal Town meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Western the 17th day of January 1774. The inhabitants of said town takeing into consideration the plan or project of intro- duceing tea into the colinies by vertue of a late act of the Brittish Parliment to be disposed of by commissioners appointed by the East India Company subject to the payment of a duty in America, and other acts of the like nature, are of opinion that they are a very great infringement on their rights and priviliges and threaten them with bondage and Slavery. Therefore resolved that the disposal of their own property is the inherent
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right of freemen and cannot be taken from them without their consent.
2 Resolved that the duty imposed by Parliment on tea landed in America, is a tax on the American without their consent, therefore unjust and unrighteous. 3 Resolved that it is their opinion that the said Parliment have as just a right to tax their houses, lands &c as to impose a duty on Tea payable in America, and if the duty on tea and other things of the same nature should be quietly submitted into. we have no reason to expect but that in a short time, our houses, lands, &c, will be taxed, which will reduce us to the greatest degree of bondage and slavery. 4 Resolved that it is the duty of every American. resolutely to oppose said plan and every other artifice of the like nature. 5 Resolved that we will not knowingly encourage or promote the consumtion of any such tea whatsoever subject to a duty in America but all persons who shall be concerned in the use of the same shall be viewed by us as enemies to there country and treated as such. 6 Loyalty and true allegiance to His Majesty King George the third. we heartily and sincerely profess and will yeald a chearfull and ready obedience to all just laws, and a hearty friendship with our mother country we wish may be continued till time shall be no more - but our just rights and priviliges for which our forefathers indured the greatest hardships and many of them sacrifised their lives, we cannot give up and submit to be Bondmen and slaves : but are determined to defend with the greatest vigor & resolution which is as we apprehend almost the universal sentiment of every freeman in America. The foregoing resolves being several times read in town meeting, the same was voted and accepted unanimously. Also voted that the above resolutions and pro- . ceedings of this town be recorded in the town book and a copy thereof be transmitted by the town clerk to the committee of corrispondence in Boston.
Recorded pr SIM. DWIGHT Town Clerk.
Diligent must be the student of history to dis- cover anywhere in the annals of the great struggle against the tyranny of the English government declarations more resolute or more patriotic.
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Mark how in these resolves the early fathers of this town stated the underlying principles of the Declaration of American Independence. Pardon me if I seem to dwell upon and give importance to this period of the town's history. As I have read over and over her records during the years of the Revolution, my heart has been made to glow with love for my native town, and my mind filled with wonder that these early settlers, few in numbers, and struggling with difficulties common to the growth of new settlements, were able to devote so much of their all to the cause of liberty.
The year 1774 was one of great trial to the people of Massachusetts. The coercive enact- ments of Parliament, intended for their subjugation, aroused a more firm resolution, in the language of Warren, " to preserve their freedom or lose their lives in defence of it." The members of the Gen- eral Court met in Concord, and, under the name of a Provincial Congress, prepared a plan for the defence of the province. Orders were issued for calling into service a body of men to be ready, at a minute's warning, to appear in arms.
The yeomen of this town had already anticipated this important action of the Provincial Congress: -
At a Town meeting of the inhabitants of the town of West- ern, September 19, 1774. Made choise of Majr Makepeace, Capt James Stone, Dea. Solo Rich, Mr. John Patrick & Capt Putnam as a committee of correspondence. Also voted that there be a number of men raised to be at a minutes warning
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to goe on any extriordinary emmergency. Also voted that if said men be called to serve that they shall be paid three shillings per day for one week they finding themselves if so long detained in service. Also voted that after the first week their wages be left to the descrition of the town. Also voted that Capt Putnam, Lieut Bascom & Lieut Keves draught forty men which will accept said service. Also those men who received amunition of the town stock in the late alarm, return the same or that quantity.
Entered by SIM DWIGHT Town Clerk.
All honor to the patriots of Warren!
The incoming of a new year found the people ready to meet in town meeting, and with the fol- lowing good resolutions they observe the day: -
"At a legal Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Western on Monday the 2nd day of January A. D. 1775. I Made choice of Simeon Dwight Moderator. 2 Voted to allow Major Makepeaces account of his attendance at the Provincial Congress being seven pounds one shilling. 3 Voted to allow said Makepeace twelve shillings for his attendance at the county congress. 4 Granted Majr Stone twelve shillings for his attendance at the county congress. 5 Voted that the towns money which was granted and assessed on the town as Province taxes for the years 1773 & ye year 1774 be paid to Henry Gardner Esq, appointed Receiver General to be paid to said Gardiner by the constables of said town & the towns committee. 6 Voted to indemifie the present Assessors for not making a return of the sums of money assessed and the names of the constables to whom it was committee to collect, to Harrison Gray, Esq former Treasurer. 7 Voted to accept and adhere to what the Continental Congress have recom- mended. S Voted to conform and strictly adhere to what the
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Provincial Congress have recommended. 9 Voted that five men be chosen as a Committee of inspection to oversee our present affairs. 10 Made choice of Simeon Dwight one of said Committee.
" 15 Voted that there be a donation collected for the Poor people of Boston & Charleston. 16 Voted to choose a com- mittee to receive said donations. Made choice of Lieut Bascom, Dea Rich, Capt Putnam, Mr John Patrick & Lieut Reuben Read for said committee. Voted that said committee have liberty to dispose of what may be given as a donation if they can do it to the advantage of said poor & send them the effects. Also voted to adjourn the meeting to Monday the 16 day of this instant at one of the clock in the afternoon.
" 23 Met according to adjournment. Made choice of Simeon Dwight to represent the town at the Provincial Congress to be held at Cambridge on the first day of February next &c.
" 24 Voted to allow the minutemen a reward. 25 Voted to the minutemen ninepence for each half day three and a half hours to be accounted for half a day, for 16 half days to be spent in military exercises. 26 Voted to allow two com- mission officers one shilling & sixpence for half a day. Voted that the number of minutemen be thirty exclusive of said officers. 26 Voted that the said 16 half days be employed in military exercises before the first day of May next. 27 Voted that the said minutemen in order to intitle themselves to the above mentioned reward equip themselves with armes and amonition agreeable to the recommendation of the late Provin- cial Congress. 28 Voted that they equip themselves in three weeks and keep themselves so equipped. 29 Voted that Major Keyes, Lieut Reuben Read and Lieut Cyrus Rich be a committee to inlist said minutemen. 30 Voted that the said minutemen sign an inlistment agreeable to that agreed upon by the town of Northampton which is as followeth vi: We the subscribers, souldiers inlisted from the military company within the town of Western and organized into a company
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called a minute company do solemly covenant & engage that we will as soon as possible be provided and equipt with an effective fire arm cartouch box or bullet pouch, thirty round of powder and ball & a knapsack and that we will exert our best abilities to acquire the art military, that we will yeild a ready obedience to the commands of our officers and hold ourselves in readiness to march up on the earliest notice from our commanding officers and hazard our lives in resisting any armed force that shall attempt by force to put into execution the late revenue acts for altering the Constitution of this Prov- ince, should any such attempt be made between this time and the first day of July next."
Events now rapidly culminate. Minute-men of the town are learning the art of war; while others, in the meeting-house, the village tavern, the stores and shops, discuss the justice of their cause, and await tidings from the committee of correspondence.
The winter passes away. The supreme moment, so anxiously waited for by the great leaders of the colonists in Massachusetts, is at hand. Will the people obey the call to arms? Will they die in defence of their rights?
On the ISth of April there flashed from the belfry of the old North Church in the beleaguered town of Boston the signal lights which gave warn- ing of the movement of the British troops to cap- ture the stores of the colonists at Concord. Then it was that messengers were despatched, not only to Concord, but throughout the colony, to alarm the inhabitants, and call out the minute-men.
" The fate of a nation was riding that night."
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The story of the fight between the farmers of Lexington and Concord and the British troops, and the rapid gathering of the minute-men around Boston, is a familiar one.
"In the books you have read How the British regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball From behind each fence and farmyard wall."
The leaders of the colonists in Massachusetts had been answered, and the Revolution was begun.
The people of Warren welcomed the alarm of the midnight messenger bearing the news of the movement of the British troops. From the hills and valleys of the town the minute-men and many of the militia with their arms and equipments gathered for a forced march to Boston. One com- pany, of forty-three men, under Captain Reuben Read, left on the 20th; and another company, of twenty-five men, under Captain Josiah Putnam, left on the following day. The terms of service of these men varied from five to twenty-five days. Many of them, however, re-enlisted and formed part of the town's quota on subsequent calls.
The union of the colonies and the calling into service of an armed force by the Continental Con- gress, in opposition to the enforcement of the oppressive Acts of the British Parliament, made necessary some declaration to the world by the
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American people of their ultimate purpose in the great contest in which they were engaged.
Following the battle of Lexington and Concord and that of Bunker Hill, by various assemblies and conventions resolutions were considered looking to the severance of all allegiance to the British Crown.
Such action was taken by the General Court of Massachusetts in the following resolve, passed on May 10, 1776: -
" Resolved, as the opinion of this House, that the inhabit- ants of each town in the Colony ought, in full meeting warned for that purpose, to advise the person or persons who shall be chosen to represent them in the next General Court, whether that if the Honorable Congress should for the safety of these Colonies declare them independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, they, the said inhabitants, will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure."
This little town of Warren, whose birth we honor to-day, was among the first to act upon this important resolve. On May 22d, in town meeting, it was " voted to agree in what the Continental Congress resolves to in declaring independence with Great Britain and will risk our lives and for- tunes if called to it to defend our privilidges both of sivil and religious nature."
The records of the town during the whole Revolutionary period bear witness to the fidelity and devotion of the people in responding to the
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calls made for the enlistment of soldiers and the furnishing of supplies for the Continental army: -
In 1775 there were 29 enlistments and re-enlist- ments; in 1777 there were 46 enlistments under Captain Jos. Cutler; in 1778 there were 13 enlist- ments and 9 drafted for nine months' service; in 1779 there were 4 enlistments, and 40 joined Captain Jos. Richardson's company for three months' service on the Hudson; in 17So there were 20 enlist- ments; in 17SI there were S enlistments, and S others joined Captain Cutler's company for six months' service.
On November 25, 1777, the town voted "that the Standing Committee of Correspondence look up the order of the Great and General Court re- specting the inhabitants of each town finding things necessary for the Continental soldiers wives at the stated prices and act agreeable thereto."
This vote was followed by a report from the selectmen and committee of correspondence, with a schedule of prices established by them as author- ized by law : -
Western ye 4, 1777. We the subscribers Selectmen and Committee of corrispondence &c of the town of Western being impowered and directed by a certain law of this state of the Massachusetts Bay entitled an act to prevent monopoly and oppression, to aprise divers articles .ennumerated in sd law in proportion to those sett in Boston and many others not therein innumerated have done the same in form and manner as followeth vis. Farming labor from the 20th June to the
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20th August at 3s pr day, and at other seasons of the year in the usial proportion. Tradsmen and mechanecks, masons excepted. Masons at 3 / Sd pr day. Blacksmith work (vis) shoeing a hors all round with refined iron, steel corkd heal & toe 6 / s. Shoeing as aforesaid with Bloom iron 5 / 4d. Plain shoeing all round with refined iron 4 / Sd. Plain shoe- ing all round with Bloom iron 4 /. . For setting a shoe 4d and other smith work in the usial proportion. Felt hats made of good wool 6 / S. Best Caster hatts 20s well made, and those of a meaner sort in that proportion. Good merchantable wheat at 6 / pr bushel. do Indian corn or meal at 3 / pr do. do Barley or unground malt at 3 / 6 pr bushel. do Oats at 1 / 9 pr bushel. Flaxseed clean and good at 6 / pr bushel. Good merchantable Sheeps wool at 2 / pr pound. Fresh pork good and well fatted at 4d pr pd. Salt pork middlings without bone 7d ef pr pd. Best grass fed Beef at the rate of 22s pr hundred. Best stall fed Beef at 3d ef pr pound. Raw hides at 3d pr pd. Raw calf skins at 6d pr pd. Taned Leather at 1 / 3d pr pd. . For taning sole Leather at 5d pr pd. For currying Leather in the usial proportion. Good imported Salt at 16s 6d pr bushel. do manufactured from sea water at ISs 6d pr bushel. Good west India Rum at Ss 3d pr gallon. Good west India Rum by the quart 2s 2d, and in the usial proportion for less quantities. Good New England Rum at 5s Id pr gallon, and in the usial proportion for less quantities. A mug of flip or todde with 15 pt of west India Rum IId. do do with do of New England Rum od. . West India rum I gill at taverns 4d. New England rum I gill at taverns 3d. Oats by the 2 quarts or mess 3d. A good meal of boyled victuals Sd, and other meals in that proportion. Good inglish hay in sumer Is 6d pr hundred. Good inglish hay in winter or spring 25 6d. For keeping a horse at inglish hay one night Is 2d. For keeping a pair of oxen at inglish hay one night Is Sd. For keeping a horse by grass good feed one night or 24 hours 7d. For keeping a pair of oxen one night or 24 hours rod. Molasses by the gallon at 45 7d. Molasses in less quantities in the usial proportion. Best mascovado suger pr pd Sd Jof. Suger of the inferier quality in the usial propor- tion. Chocolat at Is Sd 2f pr pd. Best cheese manufactoried in America pr pd 6d. Cheese of a meaner sort in proportion. Good butter pr pd 9d. Good butter pr the tub or firkin Sd pr
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pd. Good .Pees pr bushel 6s /. Good Beans pr bushel 6s. Pertadoes, spanish so called is pr bushel in the fall. do do in the spring Is 6d. Good turnips in the fall Sd pr bushel. Best yarn Stockings at 6s pr pair. And those inferior in that pro- portion. Mens shoes, neats leather, best sort at 7s 6d, and those of an inferior quality in proportion. For making a pair of shoes, mens or womans 2s 6d. Price of womans shoes, best 6s pr pair, and those of a meaner quality in the same proportion. Good cotton wool at 3s gd pr pd. Good flax, well dressed at is pr pd. Good coffee at Is 5d pr pd. Good clean tryed taller at Sd pr pd. Toe cloath yd wide 25 3d pr yd. And other toe cloath in that proportion accordingly to its wedgth and quality. And other coarse linings in propor- tion. Flanel striped yd wide of a good quality at 3s 6d and other flanels of a less wedgth and quality in that proportion. Best mutten Lamb and Veal at 2s ed pr pd. Good axes manufactoried in America midling for bigness Ss. Good Scythes at Ss pr peace. And we earnestly reccommend it to Sadlers, weavers, Coopers, Taylors, and every tradesmen not before ennumerated to do their labour or sell their wares in the usial proportion to the prises which are sett on other articles, and we earnestly reccommend it to traders and all other persons, strictly to the afore mentioned law as they regard the good of their country and would avoid the penalty of the law.
SIMEON DWIGHT, GERSHIUM MAKEPEACE, JAMES STONE, NATHANIEL READ,
Committee of Corrispondence in the town of Western.
JOSIAHI PUTNAM, JOHN PATRICK, DANFORTH KEYES, REUBEN READ,
Selectmen of Western.
The foregoing is a true copy
Attest JOSIAH PUTNAM Town Clerk.
The condition of the Continental army at Valley Forge during the memorable winter of 1777-78 marks one of the saddest periods in the great
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contest. The march of the army in the month of December was attended by untold suffering. The tracks of blood upon the snow and ice bore wit- ness to the absence of coverings for the feet. The soldiers, tattered and half-naked, were unfitted for service by hunger and cold. The hospitals were crowded, and relieved only by death. In February, 1778, four thousand of the troops lacked clothing to enable them to perform duty. It was then, under the shadow of the darkest hour of the con- flict, that the people of this town met in town meeting, and, in language pathetic, on February 26, 1778 :-
" Voted to do something for the relief of our distrest breethering that have gone into the Continantal army againts our enemy."
" Voted to purchase a pair of shoes, a pair of stockings and . a shirt for each Continantal soldier that have gone from amongst us which are nineteen in number also two dollars in money."
Colonel Danforth Keyes was chosen to forward said clothing and money.
As the war progressed, the difficulties attending the filling of the calls for men became intensified. The rapid depreciation of the paper currency so freely issued retarded the work of enlistment. Town meetings were frequent, bounties increased, and appeals urged that the demands made upon the town should be honored.
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The subjoined action of a meeting held on January 29, 1780, makes vivid the exertions put forth to comply with the requisitions for additional recruits for the army : -
"Voted to give some incourredgment to the solders that we now want to fill the army. Voted that this town will give . to each solder that will ingage for this town as one of our, quoto for three years or during war to fil our Continantiel army according to the order of Court for the purpose, three hundred silver dollars or produce of the land, or stock, such as cattle, sheep, &c &c &c, or paper money to the value of said silver dollars as they pass now among ous. Voted that one hundred dollars shall be pade to each solder as above before he marches oft to camp, and one other hundred dollars to be pade in one year after and the other hundred dollars to be pade at the end of three years. Voted to ajoin the meeting to Landlord Cutlers next Monday at twelve of the clock at noon, and that the wholl town training Bands and all should be warned to meet at the aforesaid time & place. Then met according to an ajoinment February ye 5 17So. Voted to ajoin this meeting for half an our to see if the men wonte turn out and then meet at this place, which accordingly was done. Then put to vote wheather we would give any more higher than has been offered before to the solders we now want, pased in the negative. Voted to rase one third of the mony that the town has promised to give the solders as a higher that we now want. Voted to give the six months men that went out last summer ninty dubble. Then this meeting was dismissed."
The summons to our early fathers has been faithfully obeyed; they have shown to us the record of their earnest lives, - how they organized
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a town, built a meeting-house, settled a minister, provided for the education of the children, and, above all, with what devotion they espoused the cause of liberty.
The inestimable value to the town and to history of these interesting records, which time will not permit me to review further, prompts me to ven- ture the hope that at no distant day a small appro- priation will meet with the unanimous approval of the people in town meeting assembled to provide for the printing of the first volume of the town records.
The successful close of the great struggle for independence was everywhere greeted with rejoic- ings by the people. In Massachusetts the joy was for a time clouded by the outbreak of dis- content and rebellion, from which this town was not exempt.
. The grievances of the people arose from the great burden of public and private indebtedness growing out of the protracted war of the Revolu- tion, and the almost worthless paper currency.
The towns were in debt for supplies furnished their soldiers, while the State had incurred a war debt of more than six and a half millions of dollars, and, in addition, owed its officers and soldiers one and a quarter millions of dollars.
Conventions called to consider the proper means of relief from the burdens under which the people
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suffered gave an opportunity for demagogues to promote discontent and win notoriety. An armed force of sixteen hundred men, under Daniel Shays, met with summary punishment, and the rebellion was soon over.
OTHER CALLS TO ARMS.
During the French and Indian War the town responded to the calls made for men, and Solomon Keyes and his son George were killed on the expe- dition to Lake George in 1753. In the War of 1812 the town sent forward a company, which was returned by Governor Strong, its services not being required.
The dedication, on the recent anniversary of American ยท Independence, of the beautiful granite memorial shaft on the village green, to commemo- rate the valor and patriotism of the soldiers of Warren during the war of the Rebellion, was made noteworthy by the attendance of a large number of the members of Grand Army Posts, and by the timely address of Colonel W. B. S. Hopkins of Worcester. The monument will stand as a part of the great contest for the perpetuity of the Union. Succeeding generations will read its inscriptions and be filled with gratitude for the sacrifices made and the glorious results achieved. The names of those who served in the war will ever be asso- ciated with that of the martyr President, Abraham
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