USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume I > Part 27
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"After dinner I set out with the hired man for Mr. Wheaton's. I arrived there about sunset. The hired man informed Mr. Wheaton of my business, and that I was a British spy, and Capt. Jones wished him to keep me secure until he sent for me. Then I was conducted into a chamber with a table furnished with a bottle of brandy, candles, paper, etc. Now I went to work to copy from my head on a journal. I remained here all night. The next day, being the sixth, the good hired man came to see me early in the morning. He informed me that the news of the conversation which took place at Watertown between Col. Smith and a black woman reached Capt. Jones' last evening by the same teamsters you saw at J. Smith's tavern yesterday. They insisted that there were British spies in the house. The news spread and by eleven o'clock there were thirty men collected. Capt. Jones gave them leave to search the house, which they did, in part. Then they went into the kitchen and asked the black woman if there were any strangers or English- men in the house. She replied she thought not. They asked if there had been any there that day. She answered, one or two gentlemen dined up stairs this afternoon. They asked her where they went to. She answered they sent them off to Jericho Swamp, a dismal swamp about two miles from Jones' tavern. By this time their fury was subsided. Capt. Jones set up a bottle of spirits to drink, which they drank, and all retired.
"Now the hired man went home, saying he should call again in the eve- ning. After breakfast I went to work upon my journal. Here I set down the number of militia arms and ammunition of this place, sent to me by the hired man by Mr. Jones. After dinner Mr. Wheaton introduced his two daughters, stating to them I was a British officer in disguise. Here we sat and played cards till tea time. After tea the ladies retired and I lie down, being very tired and expecting company.
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"That evening about eight o'clock the hired man called for me and said he was going with me to Marlborough, but said we could not go by Capt. Jones' for they were lying in wait for me there. So I bid Mr. Wheaton and his family Good-bye, and off we set on the back road, coming out above Capt. Jones one mile on the Worcester road. Here I found the roads good to the Sudbury river. Here I found myself twenty-five miles from Boston. Here we examined the river for a fording place, providing the bridge should be moved. We found a place which was fordable in Framingham, a town opposite from here.
Esquire Barnes, Gage's Tory Friend-"We proceeded for Esquire Barnes', in Marlborough, and found the roads bad. We travelled all night, examining the roads as well as possible, and arrived at the house of Esquire Barnes at two o'clock in the morning of the seventh. Here we knocked at the door, the Esquire put his head out of the window and asked who was there. My guide answered 'Capt. Jones' hired man.' He struck a light and let us in. I gave him a letter from Gen. Gage. My guide likewise gave him one from Capt. Jones.
"After reading them he took me by the hand, saying he wished me good luck in my undertaking, and promised to assist me all in his power. He set on the table a bottle of brandy and some victuals. After refreshing our- selves, I asked him if he had heard of the affair of the spies at Watertown and Weston. He answered he had, but it was not believed in that quarter. Here my guide bid me good morning and left me. The Esquire said I had better go to bed and rest myself, and that he would find means to help me to Worcester. I went to bed about four o'clock and slept till nine. Then the Esquire waked me, informing me he had been to the tavern, and reports were there that two men, supposed to be spies, by their examining a small bridge near the house where a woman, being up with a sick child, saw them. She said they went on toward Worcester.
"The Esquire told me I must remain there that day, make out the plan of the road so far as I had come, and any other writing I wished to do. He said he would go back to the tavern and see if there was any stir about the spies. If there was, he would let me know seasonably enough so that I could be con- veyed to the swamp. Here the table was furnished with victuals and drink, pen, ink and paper, and the Esquire left me to go to the tavern. About four o'clock in the afternoon he returned and said all was quiet. The stories had turned out to be negro stories. I must wait till dark, when he would let me have a horse, as he concluded I was tired to go to Worcester, when I must examine the roads and bridges as well as I could in the night, and I must remain in Worcester till the next night.
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Tory Betrays Patriots-"About eight o'clock in the evening I started for Worcester on the 'Esquire's horse. I rode all night and it snowed all the time. I arrived in Worcester about an hour before sunrise, found the roads very hilly and bad. I had slow work getting along, for I had to get off my horse to examine the road and bridges. Here I delivered a letter to Mr .-- from Esquire Barnes, and one from Gen. Gage. After reading them, he ordered my horse put up, and conveyed me to a private chamber, where he said I must remain all day. Here I was furnished with all things that were comfortable. I was informed of the number of militia, and of the quantity of military stores in this place. Nothing in particular took place during the day. "After dark, Mr .- took me to the place where the military stores were deposited, showed me the place where I could break in; also two old wells where I could throw in them the flour and Ammunition. Now I returned to the chamber. After he had looked over my papers, I asked him what he thought of an army coming from Boston to Worcester. He said he did not think a man would dare to lift a gun to oppose the regulars, and asked me what was my opinion.
"I told him that if he would keep it a secret, I would give him my opinion. He frankly declared he would. I then told him if General Gage sent five thousand troops with a train of artillery from Boston to Worcester, they would never one of them get back. Then he answered, 'We, his Majesty's friends, are in a bad situation.'
"Then I collected up my papers, ordered my horse, and started from Worcester about nine o'clock in the evening to go to Esquire Barnes'. The night was clear and cold. I was now fifty miles from Boston and in danger of being captured every moment. The night was long and dismal. I often wished that night that I had never undertaken the business of spy. Nothing particular took place during the night. I arrived at Esquire Barnes' about the break of day on the ninth, where the Esquire kindly received me.
"Here I had some hot sling and a warm breakfast. Soon after breakfast I gave the Esquire my papers. He told me I must go to rest and lie until one o'clock and he would go to the tavern and see if he could make any discov- eries which would operate against me. At one o'clock he called upon me and informed me that all was safe, but it would not do for me to tarry in his house that night. I got dinner and then I collected my papers, after the Esquire had given me an account of the militia and ammunition from there to Worcester. Now he took me to his garret window and pointed the way for me to go to Concord. He said I must go across the lots and roads. He said I must start about eight o'clock. Then we retired to a private chamber. We conversed about the British coming to Worcester.
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"Then I got my papers and tied them up in a bundle and threw them on a table all ready for a start. Then he set out a bottle of brandy and we drank. Now, it being about eight o'clock, we heard a knocking at the front door. The Esquire told me if he did not return in one moment to make my escape out of the chamber window upon the shed and from there into the swamp, and make for Concord.
Howe's Hair-Breadth Escape-"I heard a man say, 'Esquire, we have come to search your house for spies.' I heard him say, 'I am willing.' I then hoisted the window, leaped upon the shed, which being covered with snow, my feet flew up and I fell on my back in the garden. I recovered a little from the fall, picked up my bundle and hat and made for the swamp. Here I was afraid they would track me, the snow lying about six inches deep. I looked back to the house, and could see lights dodging at every window. I heard horses' feet in the road as if great numbers were collecting at the Esquire's house.
"Now, I travelled, as near as I could judge, four miles, the snow being on the ground. It was tolerably light. I came to a negro's house, where I found a black man and his wife. I told them I believed I had got out of my way and enquired the way to Concord. The man said I had better stay all night and he would show me the way in the morning. I told him my business was urgent, and if he would show me the way to the road which led to Con- cord I would pay him, showing him a silver dollar. He asked me what my business was, that I wished to go that night. I told him I was going to mak- ing guns to kill the regulars, for I thought they would be out of Boston in a few weeks. Now the man consented to go. The woman observed, she wished I could make guns to shoot the regulars, as she understood there had been a number about Esquire Barnes' a day or two. I asked her if Esquire Barnes was a Tory. She said he was. I said I hoped they would catch him and hang him.
"Then I set out with my black guide. We proceeded on to Concord River ; my guide went to a black man's, a little above, where he borrowed a canoe, and carried me safe over. He said he would go with me a mile fur- ther if I would give him a half dollar, which I readily granted. When we arrived here he went up to a house and said we could buy rum here if I wanted. I told him I should be glad of it, and if he would go in I would fol- low him. Then he knocked and they bid us come in. Here my guide told them about my coming to his house, and our route across the lots and my business. The people in the house appeared to be very glad. I called for some brandy and it was set on. I told my guide to help himself which he did quite freely. The man of the house said I had better tarry till morning and
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he would go to Concord with me, it being now nearly daylight. By this time my guide was fast asleep. I slept till about sunrise, and I called for some breakfast.
"I set out for Concord which was in sight. Mr. Wetherby accompanied me to Concord, where he introduced me to Major Buttrick and several other gentlemen, and informed them that I wanted to get into business, which was gunsmithing. They said I was the very man they wanted to see, and would assist me all they could, and immediately went to hire a shop. Here they brought me several gun locks for me to repair, which I repaired with neat- ness and dispatch, considering the tools I had to work with.
Hoodwinks Major Buttrick-"I was now invited to take dinner at the tavern with a number of gentlemen. The conversation at dinner was respecting the regulars at Boston, which they expected out. I asked them if there were many Tories in the place. The answer was, they expected there were, but not openly. I was asked by a gentleman where I was from. I answered Pownalborough, down east. The gentleman asked what I would call my name. I answered him, Wood. He asked me if I was a relation of Col. Wood, of Pownalborough. A distant relation, I said. He asked me whether he was called a liberty man. I answered him it was doubtful which way he would be. He said he would write the Colonel a letter immediately to stand his hand. He asked me when I was going to return there. I answered him that I was going right down to get some tools to carry on my business here. 'Inform the Colonel, when you see him, that you have seen old Major Parmenter of Sudbury ; tell him I say, that if he turn Tory I will seek his life at the risk of my own.'
"By this time we had got through dinner. After dinner we walked up to the store house to examine some guns. They asked me if I could make such guns. I told them I could make any kind they wished. Here I found a quantity of flour, arms and ammunition. After examining the gates and doors attached to yard and store house, I returned to the tavern, where, after taking some brandy and water, I took leave of them, and set off for Pownal- borough after my tools as they supposed.
"Now I set off on the road to Lexington. I travelled about two miles. Here I called at a small house a small distance from the road. I found it inhabited by an old man and his wife. The old man was cleaning his gun. I asked him what he was going to kill, as he was so old I should not think he could take sight at any game. He said there was a flock of red coats at Bos- ton which he expected would be here soon ; he meant to try and hit some of them, as he expected they would be very good marks. I asked him when they were expected out. He said he should not think strange if they should
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come before morning. He said some supposed they would go up through Watertown to Worcester, 'for we hear they have sent out spies that road.' I asked the old man how he expected to fight. He said open field fighting or any way to kill them red coats. I asked him how old he was? He said 'seventy-seven and never was killed yet.' The old man asked me what parts I was from, and what my business was. I repeated the same story I did at Concord.
"I asked the old man if there were any Tories nigh here. He said there was one Tory house in sight and he wished it was in flames. I asked what the man's name was. He said it was Gove. I very well knew where I was now, being the very house I wanted to find. It was situated in Lincoln, about four miles from Concord, Mr. Gove being one of His Majesty's friends. Here the old gentleman told the old lady to put some balls in the bullet pouch. She asked him how many. He said 'thirty or forty; perhaps I shall have an opportunity to give some to them that have not got any.' The old woman pulled out an old drawer and went to picking out. The old man said, 'Old woman, put in a handful of buckshot, as I understood the English like an assortment of plums.' Here I took leave of them.
"I travelled on the Lexington road about one mile, then I turned out west for Mr. Gove's house, arrived there about half an hour after sunset, inquired for the man of the house. He immediately came forth. I told him I wanted to speak to him in private. He took me to a private room. I informed him of my business and told him I put my life in his hands. I laid my papers on the table and asked him to examine them. He told me to give myself no uneasiness for he was my friend. He informed me he was at Southboro at the time I escaped from Esquire Barnes'. He informed me the mob were supplied with tar and feathers to apply to the Esquire, if they found me in the house.
"I was furnished with refreshment and apparatus for continuing my Journal. I wrote till about 10 o'clock when Mr. G. came into the chamber and informed me he must remove me to an out house he had at a small dis- tance to lodge, for fear that the plot would be found out at Concord, and his house would be immediately searched. According I did, and retired to rest. He called me about break of day, this being the IIth day, and said I might return to my chamber, and he would go to Concord, and see if he could hear anything new.
"He returned from Concord about 10 o'clock, and said they were very much pleased with the prospect of having an armory established there. He said I must stay until evening, and he would convey me to Charlestown which was about twelve miles. Accordingly about eight o'clock in the evening
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we set off for Charlestown on horseback, and examined the road through Lexington to Charlestown, and arrived there about twelve o'clock. I took leave of Mr. G. and he took the horse I rode and returned back. I went to the ferry and took a boat and crossed over to Boston the 12th (April), about two o'clock in the morning and retired to my quarters to rest.
Gives Sound Advice to General Gage-"About sunrise I turned out, threw by my Yankee dress and put on my British uniform, and walked down King street, and directly met Col. Smith. He took me by the hand and said, 'How do you do, John? We heard you broke your neck jumping out of Barnes' chamber window.' Smith further said 'Come up to the General's quarters.' I told him I should rather go after breakfast. 'Tell me nothing about your breakfast ; you are under me now.' Accordingly, we went to the General's quarters, where the officers were generally collected. I thought they had been taking their bumpers rather too freely by their actions.
"The General said, 'Good morning, John. How do you like the rebels?' I replied I should not like to fall into their hands. I took my papers out and presented them to the General. I asked him after he had perused them if he would return them to me. He told me he would, with fifty guineas in them. The General said, 'Adjutant, take charge of the papers.' He took the papers, handed me a guinea. He said, 'Take that, John, and go and get some liquor ; you are not half drunk enough for officers' company.' The General told me to call at his quarters at II o'clock. Accordingly I did.
"The General said 'John, we have examined your journal ; you are well deserving the name of a good soldier and a lucky and expert spy. How large an army will it take to go to Worcester and destroy the stores and return safe?' By answering that question I must stand or fall, but I was determined to give my opinion in full, turn as it would. I said, if they should march 10,000 regulars and a train of artillery to Worcester, which is forty-eight miles from this place, the roads very crooked, stony, and hilly, the inhabitants generally determined to be free or die, that not one of them would get back alive.
"Here Smith exclaimed, 'Howe has been scared by the old women.' Major Pitcairn says, 'Not by a negro wench, John,' which caused a great laughter. The General asked me what I thought of destroying the stores at Concord, only eighteen miles. I stated that I thought five hundred mounted men might go to Concord in the night and destroy the stores and return safe; but to go with 1,000 foot to destroy stores the country would be alarmed, that the greater part of them would get killed or taken. The general asked me what I thought of the Tories? I stated that they were generally cowards, and no dependence could be placed on them. The General asked me how old I
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was. I told him twenty-two. He said my judgment was very good for a beardless boy of twenty-two. 'Here are your papers and money, John. You shall be exempt from carrying a firelock.' And I was dismissed for that day.
"He said I must call again the next day at nine o'clock. Accordingly the next day at nine o'clock I called at the General's headquarters. He said he should want me to put on my Yankee dress and go on horseback through Malden, Lynn, and Marblehead to Salem, on the 18th, at night, to carry letters to the Tories in those places, to have them use their influence to restrain the militia and secure the arms and ammunition, if they should attempt to take up arms against His Majesty's regulars, 'as I shall detach Major Pitcairn to march on the 19th, at one o'clock in the morning with 800 grenadiers'; to have me on my return from Salem, if I heard of any alarm from the Americans, to ride through the adjacent towns east of Concord to see what preparations were making ; if any to let Major Pitcairn know with- out delay. This I told the General I would undertake. He might rely on my faithfulness in this dangerous undertaking.
"Accordingly on the 18th, the troops were put in readiness. About two o'clock we embarked and crossed over to Charlestown. Here I left the troops, mounted on a country horse prepared for the purpose, with my Yankee dress. I called at Malden on Mr. Goodridge, delivered him a letter from the British general. I rode from this place to Lynn. Here I called on another Tory, delivered my letter. I now proceeded to Marblehead. There I delivered another message. Then I proceeded to Salem, where I arrived about day- break, making the distance about fifteen miles. Here I refreshed myself and my horse. About sunrise I mounted, returned back to Lynn, where I called for a breakfast.
"While at breakfast the thundering news came that the regulars had gone to Concord and had killed eight men at Lexington. Such a confusion as the people were in I never heard or saw. They asked me where I had been and where I was going. I told them I was a Bostonian and had been to Salem to notify the people that the regulars were going out of there to Concord. They said I had better make my way through Reading and Woburn, also through Billerica to Bedford and Concord, and notify the people that the regulars had gone on, and have themselves in readiness to march to Concord. Now I set out full speed. Wherever I saw the people were alarmed, I informed them that the British had come out and gone to Concord, and for their lives and country to fly to arms. Where there was no alarm I made none. When I arrived at Woburn I found the militia about on their march for Concord.
"I made the best of my way through Bedford to Concord. Here my horse failed me in some measure. Here I overtook crowds of militia. I told them
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to drive on. I told them I was afraid the regulars would leave the town of Concord. This kind of alarm I gave the people all the way. I soon arrived at Concord where I found confusion, sure enough. Here I found militia pouring in from every quarter.
"I rode up to Major Pitcairn and informed him the militia were turning out all the way from Concord to Salem. Major Pitcairn informed me he must have a reinforcement from Boston, or else he could not get a man back to Charlestown, for they were very sore and fatigued. I was furnished with a fresh horse and set off for Boston and alarmed the people on the road to fly to arms and waylay the regulars from behind fences and walls and any- thing that would cover them from their fire. No person mistrusted but what I was a faithful American through the whole route. When I arrived in Charlestown I met Lord Percy with a regiment of regulars and two pieces of artillery. I passed the troops and went to the ferry and crossed over to Boston, went to Gen. Gage's headquarters and informed him of my route, and all that had taken place. He said he did not think the damned rebels would have taken up arms against His Majesty's troops, etc.
"From this time I was determined to leave the British Army and join the Americans."
CHAPTER XXIII.
Shays' Rebellion
Looking back of Shays' Rebellion, many of the principal activities of which center in Worcester County, it appears as an incident of minor his- torical importance. Yet in those few months of 1786-87 there existed in Massachusetts a very real threat of grave consequences to the new republic. When thousands of men, most of them war-wise veterans of the Continental Army, rose in arms and closed the courts by force, and, flushed with success, set out to establish a new order of government more to their liking, the situa- tion contained all the explosive elements which might easily culminate in sanguinary civil war.
President George Washington and his associates at the national capital were much disturbed. They realized that the uprising might be strictly a local affair, perhaps capable of peaceful adjustment. But they feared it was the result of a carefully nurtured British attempt to breed mischief which would spread beyond New England. "What is the cause of all these com- motions ?" demanded Washington in a letter to a friend. "Do they proceed from licentiousness, British influence dessimated by the Tories, or real griev- ances which admit of redress?" His friend, General Knox, replied, "From all information I have been able to obtain, I should attribute them to all three causes which you have suggested." The suspicions of the President did not abate. In a later letter he declared that he felt no doubt that Great Britain was "sowing the seeds of jealousy and discontent among the various tribes of Indians on our frontier," and "that she would improve every opportunity to foment the spirit of turbulence within the bowels of the United States." Many Massachusetts leaders thought likewise and may have had cause. But it needed no British agent to instill in the minds of the rank and file of the people the conviction that if they were to save their little estates and keep out of the debtors' prison, their only recourse was the closing of the courts and bringing to an end the flood of judgments against them.
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