C45A4 v*V A V < o o ? a « A* v «5 °«* - ^ ,0 o " * O A* «« l *■» ^ '" c o .<<> vP b or r ^0* 3 «£ 4 < v "P. ■> L K £r« <• A° <*, o THE HISTORY OF CHELMSFORD FROM ITS ORIGIN IIV 1653, TO THE TEAR 1820 — TO= GETHER WITH AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CHURCH, AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OB THE FOUR FIRST PASTORS. TO WHICH IS ADDED A MEMOIR OF THE P \VV TUCKETT TRIBE OF INDIANS. WITH A LARGE APPENDIX. BY W I IKES AU.FN, A M. Pastor of the Church and Society in Chelmsford. Tell ye your ^ildren, and let them tell their Children, and their .Children, anot generation. Prophet JocL " Majorum gloria posteris lumen est ,•" — Sal. 18G7. HAVERHILL: ^OfW« PRINTED BY P. N. GREE>*. 1820. fVl ress. With due respect, yours &c. CYRUS BALDWIN. Jxlv. WILKES ALLEN. Chelmsford, Jan. 20. 1820. DEAR SIR, The attention of the town to its History, and the ia- terest they have expressed in its preservation and transmission to pos- terity, are no less honorable to them, than grateful to the subscriber — As a testimony of his respect for them and an expression of his regard for their posterity, he commits the History written for them, to their agent for publication agreeably to his request. With sentiments of respect, yours &c. WILKES ALLEN. CYRUS BALDWIN, ESQ. Preface. It is a duty, which men owe to their posterity, tc transmit the knowledge of their ancestors. Minute and circumstantial accounts of our friends, fathers and progenitors acquire an interest in our feelings and impart a joy to our hearts, which the stranger inteimeddleth not with. Under this impression the following history has been written with a minuteness and particularity, admisibie only in local and private histories, design- ed for family connections and friends. It has been the great object of the author to state facts with chronological accuracy ; lhathe might furnish au- thentic documents for the future historian. He has given to the whole the form of Annals, that it might be more convenient as a book of reference. He tenders his thanks to Maj. Nathaniel How^ ard,TownClerk, iorhis assiduous attentions in ac- commodating him with the records and documents tinder his care ; to many individuals for the use of then- family records and private papers ; particular h to Mr. John Farmer of Amherst, N. H. a nat i ve of this town, for kindly furnishing him with sundry articles of importance to this work. He also deems it a tribute justly due to these* retarj of the Commonwealth, Alden Bradford, Esq, PREFACE. and to the other gentlemen, employed in the secre- tary's office, to acknowledge with gratitude their kind attentions and civilities in furnishing him with such papers and records, relating to the origin and first settlement of the town, as are deposited m that office. WILKES ALLEN. Chelmsford, Jan. 12, 1820. THIS VOLUME Is most respectfully dedicated to the inhabitants of the town of CHELMSFORD, with the best wish- es of the Author for their growing prosperity. HISTORYOF CHELMSFORD. k v*Sfc.xSXixS.\fcR.<.* ' INTRODUCTION THERE is a sublime pleasure in tracing the footsteps of past existence, in walking over the gr Hind, cultivated by former generations, in review- ing the records of their deeds, and in examining the monuments of their industry, wisdom and piety. — In these acts we seem to become familiarly acquain- ted with those, whose voices and countenances are unknown to us, and feel interested in those scenes, which once engaged their active spirits and excited their liveliest interest. The propensity, so strong and universal, to dwell upon the virtues of ancestry, finds ample gratifica- tion in the learning and piety, patience and fortitude of the firs* settlers of Massachusetts ; the leading features ot whose character were visible tor many years in the inhabitants oi this town. The unmolested enjoyment of religious worship and ordinances in their primitive purity, winch was their leading object in visiting and subduing this ■wilderness, was constantly kept in view and made the governing principle of their conduct. Agreea- blv Mr. Higgimonin his Election sermon 1663 ob- serves, "that it concerneth New-England always to remember, that they are a plantation religious, not commercial. The profession of pure doctrine, wor- ship and discipline is written upon her forehead. — Worldly gain was not the end and design of the peo- ple of New-England, but religion. If then any man among us make religion as twelve and the world as thirteen, such an one hath not the spirit of a true New-England man.' OR1GIJV. WE are pleased to find that the ear- ly inhabitants of this town bore a strong resem- blance to their pious ancestors. About twenty per- sons from Woburn and Concord at the last session of the General Court in 1652, petitioned for liberty to examine a tract of land, " lying on the other side (west) of Concord river. The Court accepted and granted their request. Having by a joint committee examined and viewed the aforesaid tract of land, and having also found sundry others, to the number of thirty nine in all, desirous of uniting with them in ■, r ro erecting a new plantation, they jointly pe- titioned the legislature for a grant of land,* t bordering upon the river Merrimack, near to Paw- tuckett.'t They stated that, there was a very ' com- fortable place to accommodate a company of God's people upon, who may with God's hlessing do good in that place for church and state.' They request- ed that the said tract of land might ' begin on Mer- rimack river at a neck of land next to Concord river, and so to run up by said river south and west into the country to make up a quantity of six miles square.' About the same time a petition was presented to * See Appendix No. 1. t This word i a speli by modern writers Pentucket. Pantucket, anil jpa'ucket— I have followed Gookin and other ancient writers, who doubt Jess had tut right spelling. '9 the Legislature, by Rev. John Eliot, of Rox»>tirf 9 - agent and trustee {'or the Indians, for a grant of landj lying about Pavvtuckctt and Wamesit falls, to be ap- propriated to the sole and exclusive use of the tribe inhabiting thereabouts. This land, called the 'great neck,' wa-ithe principal habitation of the Pawtuck- etts, once the rnost powerful tribe north of the Mas- sachusetts. Hove they had erected wigwam?, and broken up land for planting. The 'court' therefore, taking into consideration both petitions, directed both an Indian and 16.53 English plantation to be laid out ; and that the request of the petitioners from V\ oburn and Concord should be granted, except some part of the tract petitioned for, lying on Merrimack river. It was made a condition of this grant, that with- in two years of the date of the act, they should set- tle a competent number of families on it, twenty or more being so considered, that they might be in a capacity to enjoy all the ordinances of God. Capt. Willard of Concord and Capt. Johnson of Woburn were appointed to lay out the plantation or township.* It is difficult at this day to ascertain the original boundaries between the Indian and English planta- tions. But from a plot of them, presented to t\ie court in 1656 and found among the original papers on file in the secretary's office, and from the documents subjoined at the end of this work it appears that the original grant for Chelmsford did not extend to Merrimack river on the north cast, and barely cor- nered on Concord river on the south east. The plantation, constituting original Chelmsford, was in the form of a parallelogram or oblong square. ■ 1653.— The first person born in town was Josef h Parker,son of Joseph and Margaret Parker, March 30. Tradition. * See No. 2 Appendix. it was bounded ,on the north by a straight line, be-'- ginning at the gl tss manufactory and running to t!ie house of Benj. Osgood, Esq. oi* Wcstford. On the ^outh west by-Xadmuck Swamp, and on the south east by a straight line, beginning at Pawtuckett stake, so called, by the side of Concord river at a point where Billerica, Chelmsford and Pawtuckett, or "Waniesit meet, and running south west 43 (\es;. to the aforesaid J£admuck swamp. On the northeast by Pawtuckett or Wamesit, for winch see No. 5, In- dex. The plantation thus granted May 1 8, 1653 and laid out in June following, was occupied within 18 months bv a sufficient number of people to .render ft expedient to call a general meeting for the choice of officers * to manage the public affairs of the place * This meeting was holden on the 22d Nov. 1654 at which the following persons were chosen int~> office, v i z: — Esdras Reed, Edward Spalding, William Fletcher, Isaac Learned, Simon Thompson, William Underwood and Thomas Adams. Their early and liberal provision for the establish- ment and maintenance of religious worship and in- struction, is worthy of special notice. A; their first public meeting, measures were adopted for support- ing a settled minister, the Rev. Mi. Fiske oi Wen- ham, who had already removed or was about re- moving to this plantation. All that could be done in their circumstanc s, they seemed willing to do. — They agreed to give him " thirty acres of meadow and thirty acres of arable land, for his convenience ; to build him a house thirty eight feet long and twenty feet wide, with three fire places and chimnies, built of brick or stone ; to pay him fifty pounds sterling for the first year, and his maintenance for the fu- ture as the Lord should enable them." 11 Place of first Public Meeting. The first meeting was hoklen at William Fletch- er's house, 22d mut'i month, 105 1. This house stood a fesv rods to the east of the house now occu- pied by Mr. William Fletcher, and his brother Cap*. Josiah Fletcher, descendants of the aforesaid W m. Fletcher, whose posterity have successively occu- pied the same premises. Second Meeting— 1655. The next Public Meeting was dated* ' Month 1st, day 21' i. e. M arch 24, 1655. At this meeting they adopted measures for t he more regular and method- ical transaction of their public affairs in future ' It was ordered that the first second day of the first month, i. e. the first Monday in March, shall be ob- served by all the house-holders ot the town, from year to year for the choosing of all annual ojheers, belonging to the town, as selectmen or committee, Deputy for the Court, three men to end all small causes under forty shillings, Surveyors of high ways, •The custom of designing the months by numbers, began with tha puritan., who affected to ie scripture language .n the comi mnaft irs of life Hence insteadof wri 1 tg Jaimary.FCir.ury.&catter the man, ho the Greeks and Romans, the iMr.tans wrote month 1st, day 2^ <*c. 01 *5 day of Lst month. \nd instead of the names of *e days of the weet they said first, second &c. day of the week. It is farther to beobser^ that the computati m of time from the Christian era was not mtrQ&fced till about tUe vear 567. Dionysiua, a Roma.. \Shat "^ introduced the reckoning of time from tlie Incarnation of Christ. This was then sup- posed to have happened on the 25. h of March ; but it was afterwards de- termined to have been on the 2 5th of Due In Ceasar's time the equinox Was on the 25th of March, which might be another reason tor beginning the year on that day. A reform of the callendar. rendered ne< essary by the precession ot the equinox, and called the new style, had been made by Gregory 13th m 1582 ; but was slowly and reluctantly adopted by the protestants, because it cattte from the Pope. Hence the practice of using a double date from January to March 25, was prevalent until an act of parliament 17o2 hx- ed the commencement of the year on the first of January. Thus Feb. 6, 1656-7 or 1656-57 was in common use from 1582 to 1752 when the NeW Style was by act of Parliament adopted. The third day of September was now called the fourteenth and all the oilier days ot the year were reckoned accordingly. B2 12 and overseers of the fences and swine. It was nho ordered that ?he next meeting should be holden at t! e Meeting House at 9 o'clock in the morning — - That every householder lor the first hour's absence should be fined twelve pence ; and for a whole days absence two shillings.* Third Public Meeting, Jan. 16, 1655. The third public meeting was dated month 11, dnv 1(5, 1655 and, agreeable to a former vote, hoi- den at the meeting house. How and by whom the first meeting house was built are facts yet to he as- certained. There appears to be a traditionf that Samuel and Thomas Adams were at the principal ex pence of erecting this house But the town re- cords contain no inf< rmaton relative to it. It stood at the south west corner of the present house. It was built in the year preceding the erection of Mr. Adams' saw-mill 1656 and in all probability was made of logs, hewed and locked together. Having secured their title to the lands granted by settling thereon a number of r*>£ is competent for the maintenance cf religious -es, and within the time specified » the 'hey requested \n act of incorpo'- ^junted them in, .poration, May 1655. "Upon information from Maj Willa'd by a letter from Esdras Reed, Edward Spalding, and William *There was a similar custom at Cambridge as early as 1644. "An eighl penny ordinary was provided for the townsmen upon their annual \ met tin j dav ; and whosoever failed to be present within half an hour from the ringing of the bell, shall both loose his dinner and pay a pint of sack, or the value thereof to the present townsmen." Dr. Holmes His. Comb. -j- 1 his is intimated in a letter from the late President Adams of Quin» cy (i ' m. Adams Esq. lequesting to know, who built the first Meeting- boyse and Mil's. 13 PleJtcher, inhabitants of said plantation, that the number of inhabitants according to the time prefixed in the Court's grant, were there settled ; at their re- quest tlieCourt do grant the name thereof to be called Chelmsford."* 1th 3 month, 1656. Enlargement.] Notwithstanding the favorable report of the com- mittee appointed to examine this tract of land it was found by experience to be incapable of affording them accommodations and advantages, which hid been contemplated. This appears from a petition, which the Inhabi- tants presented to the General Court for an ad- ditional grant, or enlargement of their township ; in winch they assign as the reasons for a new grant i that the barrenness of one part and the sternness of the other had constrained them to situate their hab- itation on the conic ^f their bounds ; tiiat their situa- tion was near thr east line, and that tltey had no outlet for tht to feed upon.' They re- quested the Court 'em 4 a small parcel of land from their north 'own to Merrimack river, and so bounded L er stjjqut thr miles ; from thence to run u Groton plantation." Jan. 1. At li is request the land lying before h. ie brook is granted to Mr. i-'iske as a part of Ins house lo Mi was named after Chelmsford in England, count, ..sex, which derived its name from the River Ohelmer on which it is ,iiuated. "it's no unusual thing among us, thai while an excellent, laborious and illu- minating preacher has been continued in a town, the place has thriven to admiration. The gospel has evidently been the making of Our towns, and the blessings of the upper, have been accompanied, by the blessings. ot the nether springs fhere are few of our towns but what have tin It namesakes in England The reason why most of our towns are called w i.a* they are i» because the chief of the first inhabitants would thushe • up the names of the particulai places, whence tliey came." JluOburrf, jbee Appendix No. 3 and 4. 14 Mr. Eliot,* in behalf of the Indians, petitioned at the same time for an enlargement of their grant. la answer to these petitions, the court, on confer- t ence with the committee, who established the bounds of Chelmsford, and on examination of a plot of the said plantations and of the tract oi land by both parties petitioned for, -ranted, that the Indian plantation be extended one mile from the north east ano-le of Chelmsford, abutting on Merrimack and Pawtuckett eastward, taking in John Sagamore s planting ground, and the end ot sard mile to deter- mine tnVlndian plantation. For the rest of the land petitioned for by both towns, it was ordered that Chelmsford north and south lines abutting on Zad- muck be extended— (the south to Groton line) the north from the north east corner or angle three, miles upon Merrimack river and thence a south west line to Groton. t And this whole tract was to re- main ' in community unto the town ot Chelmsturd and Pawtuckett? . To this additional grant, which contained all West- ford and the northerly part of Chelmsford, the In- dians had a common right with the inhabitants ot Chelmsford. But whetl they availed themselves of this right at all, or m. de a compromise with the inhabitants of Chelmsford for any particular parcel of lantl is not certainly known. It is probable how ever tnat me Indians gave up their right in this grant in consideration of some parcel of land, or some im- munity and privilege. For in »660, the Indians of Pawtuckett and inhabitants of Chelmsford}, entered into a mutual agreement, which was sanctioned by *Mr. EUot obtained in 1654 several parcels of land for those Indians :,who ,hou d ffive any just hope of their embracing the christian relg.on - Gookin?ecUs y tne Wamesits among- the 7 old towns of praying lnaians. G TteIbnTetscnp;ion agree, with the petition and with the boun- daries afterwards agreed on-t ho' it varies from the original transcript, taken from the records of Court. *See Appendix, No. 6. 15 Court to exchange land, and to settle the boundaries between them In this instrument it is mutually stipulated, that all the land lying on the north east side of the line (which they had mutually agreed up- on) belonging to Chelmsford, shall henceforth be the proper right and to the sole use of the said Indian plantation ; and all the land on the south west side of the said line whether tiie old or new plantation, excepting only what is hereafter given to James Par- ker, shall forever be and remain the proper right: and sole use of the inhabitants of Chelmsford- The line abovesaid was perambulated in 1665. Town Records, Book I, Page 142. The plantation, heretofore called Pawtuckett, ig in this and in all subsequent records styled Wamesit. The Indians from various causes rapidly decreased; and having little or no use for land, as opportunity oifered sold it to individuals in Chelmsford, until it was contracted to the narrow bounds ot the well known pasture, called the 'Wamesit purchase.' — 1 he north west boundary of said ' purchase' beo-an near the head of the Middlesex Canal, and so to the glass manufactory and thence running nea the houses of the late Mr. Philip Parker, Mr. Micah Spalding, and Capt. Benj. Butterfield, terminated at Wamesit falls in Concord river, or at the mouth of Krver Meadow Brook. The first English settlements made on the Indian plantation were on the borders of Concord river, upon a plot of ground much resem- bling a heater, which gave rise to the name of Con- aord River Neck, which it still retains. The 'Great Neck' or 'Neck Land,' so called, in- cludes the whole Indian plantation, lying, north east of original Chelmsford and between Concord river and Merrimack river. ' uncord river neck' lies be- tween ' River Meadow Bi wok' and Concord river, 16 extending south west to the line between Chelmft- ford and the Indian plantation. Transactions — 1 6?G. From the origin we pass to the transactions of the town. It is among the most instructive and interest- ing lessons ot history to trace the hardships and suf- ferings,deprivations and solicitudes of the inhabitants of a new country, or settlement, in the attainment of the comforts and conveniences of life, and those ad- vantages, which are the fruit of human industry and exertion, and the ends of civil society. See then the thirty nine first emigrants entering this wilderness, subduing the fallow ground, lying out and finish- ing roads, erecting a meetiug-house for the worship of their God., and a school-house for the nstruction of their children and solicitously raising up the foun- dation of many generations. Scarcely had two years elapsed, from the time they felled the first tree, when they procured an act of incorporation. They had before this obtained a valuable accession to their numbers and wealth in the Rev. John Fiske, and a part of his Church ; who were induced to re- move from Wenham, to this new settlement. In this company of holy pilgrims, for they were all holy by profession, the town receive I an ascen- sion gift, and a church, already formed and conse- crated. The first planters, it is said, were greatly assisted by the wealth which the Wenham com- pany brought with them Among these pious em- igrants was Dea. Cornelius Woldo, a man of distin- guished usefulness, whose house was in the garden of the writer, near to the well, which was discover- ed and opened, on plowing the ground in seventeen hundred and ninety two, or three. Tiiomv-s, after- wards Major Hindi man, another of the Wenharn company was for many years a leadi's^ charac er, and became a large land huluer. JJeac. Andrew \1 Spalding, also is said by tradition to belong- to the 1 Wenham company. Possessed of a large tract of land, and desirous for its settlement, the early inhabitants of the town were nevertheless extremely cautious of admitting strangers to share their toils and enjoy their privi- leges. Hence no man was allowed .to take up or purchase land of the Committee, chosen by the town for the purpose of selling and laying out land, until he had been approved and formally admitted an inhabitant by a major vote at public town meet- ing. This caution was proper and even indispen- sable to the character of a " plantation religious." While thus guarding the moral, they were no less attentive to the civil and pecuniary interest of the town. The policy they adopted to encourage and invite mechanics and tradesmen to settle with them was wise and beneficial. Tne principle should be regarded by every community. They offered land? and accommodations gratuitously to mechanics and artificers, who would set up and carry on their trades in town. First Weaver — 1656. As early as 1656 at May Meeting, William How was admitted as an inhabitant, and granted twelve acres of meadow and eighteen of upland, provided he set up his trade of weaving and perform the town's work. First-Saw Mill— July 3f. The same year, was granted to Saml. Adams, in consideration of his setting up a saw-mill, 450 acres of land upon the south side of the meadow belong- ing to him, called brook meadow — " provided he sup- ply the town* with boards at three shillings per. Cant. Samuel Adams, died Jan. 24, 1688, }8 hundred, or saw one log i'or the providing and bring* ing of another to be ready to work the next March.' First Corn Mill. To this were added a hundred acres in consid- eration of his erecting a> corn-mill, and to give him still farther encouragement, they passed an order, ' that no other corn-mill shall be erected for this town, provided the said Adams keep a sufficient mill and miller.' In 1661 he obtained liberty to set flood gales at Hart Pond 'to himself and heirs forever.' Road to Grot on — 1663. For many years the chief travel to Grot on, was thro' this town. Hence a road was laid out bv a joint committee of Groton and Chelmsford ' begin- ning at Beaver brook-bridge,- and running over the north side of Rubin's Hill thro' Richard Hildnth's yard to the west end of Heart Pond, over the swam}) to Thomas Chamberhn's meadow, and so on towards Groton on the east side of Tadmuck great meadows-" The towns of Billerica, Chelmsford, Groton, TownsendJ Dunstable 6c Dracut, unitedly built the great bridge over Concord river at Biileri- . . nd for many years jointly maintained it. The early attention of the first inhabitants to 1664 the culture of apple trees may be learned from the mention of Edward Spalding's or- chard in 1664. jVewfietiL—\6tf7 What was originally called Newiield was a strip of interval, extending from the mouth of stoney Brook along the Merrimack to Newfield Eddy. It is per- haps the best land in the town, and would have been sooner dectrpied and improved had it not been for 1!J i ifficulty of passing stoney br called, i-> the n ettem section o and includes all tl»e b>»d north vm_-si ol Deep Brook. 1681 — K {wiling • wair* w« I ick rivei end of N> v. !)• in b) ibe propi 10 agreed oadm of the town to -.liaic in ilie tithing trade on condition h: wouid • , expense of effecting the work*. C2 2U sand, many fcet deep, and carried away with great yiolence such a quantity of sand as to form a consid- erable hillock, or island of sand in the midst of the meadpw, which remains to this day. The pond was drained except about an acre, over which the wa- ter is very deep. The principal part of the land is now covered with a thrifty growth of wood. The banks of the pond are still visible on all sides.* Second Saw Mill — 1669. Though motives of common safety and defence,of society and mutual aid, would suggest the. idea of a compact settlement ; )et the ease and convenience of procuring fodder for their cattle,t and necessaries for themselves, induced them as the population in- creased, to forego the pleasure of personal safety, and the advantages of social intercourse and neijjbor- hood and settle at a distance from one another on the margin of meadows and brooks, and on tracts of land the most easy of cultivation- Hence it became necessary for the accommodation of the north wes- terly part of the town to encourage the erection of another Saw Mill. To this end a parcel of land was granted to Thomas Hinchman, William Fletch- er and Josiah Richardson in 1669, for their encour- agement and assistance in building the second saw- mill in town. Town Records, Book 1 , Page 40. This tract of land lay at the * north east corner of William Fletcher's farm, and so extending to the south east corner of the lonir Pond on the north side ♦The Indian name of Newfield Pond, appears from some antient plots of land near this p*nd, taken by Mr. Danforth of Billerica to be Assanunnjckcon -misirk. JThere be likewise in divers places great broad meadows, wherein eirow neil er shrub nor tree; but as much grass as may be thrown out with a scythe thick and long. Wood's Hie. N. England of Stoncy Brook and so along by the pond to Solo nion Keysc's meadow,' and by the aforesaid meadow and Thomas Hinchman's meadow and upland, and from thence by a high way to Stoncy Brook, and then partly by \\ ill. am Fletcher's meadow Al- ways premised and consented to, that there shall be allowed out of the said land such high ways, as are or may be convenient. In consideration of the afore- said grant k the said Thomas llinchman, William Fletcher and Josiah Richardson do covenant and grant to the town of Chelmsford, that the Inhabi- tants thereof shall have their boards at four shillings per hundred and not exceeding that price, for any kind of pay that the inhabitants can make at price cunent between man and man in this town ; and that any of the inhabitants of said town by giving timely notice to any of the owners, shall be supplied for their pay before others. And it is further agreed that the aforesaid owners el the mill shall have full liberty to take from the town common what timber they see meet to work in the mill.' The value of land at this time may be learn- 1669 ed from an order past i:i 1069, ; ept. 3. It was ordered by the town, that all those, who shall take up any accommodation m town shall pay for a ten acre lot /2— 10. and in the same proportion for any lot greater or smaller; which shall be appro- priated to the use of the town. Previous to this, housedots of ten,fifteen or twen- ty acres were given to approved characters, on con- dition they buiided and settled upon them, other- wise they were to return to the town. Alter this date no lands were given except to mechanics, or to encourage some useful art or trade. 1671.— Mrs. Anne, consort of the Rev. John Fiske, died March 21. 22 Death oj Mr. Fiske. The death of the Rev. Mr. Fiske forms a me- morable epoch in the history of the town, with which we shall conclude this s cuon. Born in trou- blesome times, inured to hardships from his first en- trance upon the active scenes of life, Mr Fiske had endured in this place the heat and burden of tne day, and enjoyed in the cool shades of evening the pleas- ing reflection, that he had not labored in vain, nor spent his strength for naught. He lived to see the wilderness blossom as the rose, and the desolate place filled with much people. His constitution, broken down by excessive labor and study, yielded at length to the force of various diseases which preyed upon it. His sepulchre is among us to this day, tho' i am sorry to say, without a name and with- out that decent attention, due to the ashes of a dis- tinguished benefactor of mankind and faithful servant of Jesus Christ. 1678.— John Parker, son of \braham,built a saw-mill on Beaver-brook, of which some remains are yet to be seen. 1717 — A wall was built round the burying 1 ground. 1670-A.n order was passed by the inhabitants in town meeting-, that afc ter this date there shall be no public meeting for the granting of land.but what is appointed on some lecture day before, and notice thereof given, in public after lecture, any order to the contrary notwithstanding-. A road wus also laid out from Newfield Gate towards Dea. Waldo's farm to Dunstable, 6 poles wide, according- to town order. 28 SECTION fJ. Mr. Clarke. NOTHING can be more important to a nev/ plantation than the settlement of a pious, enlighten- ed minister ; who shall guide and counsel their chil- dren; comfort them in their afflictions; dispense the blessings of the gospel, and teach the way to heaven. The first settlers of this town, drinking deep of the benevolent and pious spirit of their ancestors, made the establishment of the gospel ministry their first and greatest concern, after they had marked out the boundaries of their habitation, and complied with the terms on which the retention and enjoy- ment of their grant depended. And how great must have been their zeal, to establish and maintain the institutions of religion in their penurious circum- stances? How cheerfully and liberally they contri- buted to this great object, their public records shew. Having aided and comforted with exemplary 1677 kindness and patience their aged Pastor under the infirmities of declining life ; and having al- so paid the last affectionate honors to his remains, their attention was immediately directed to the elec- tion and settlement of a successor. Under the su- perintending providence of God, they were soon di- rected to one in whom they were perfectly united, and for whose subsistence they made the folio wing- pro visions, 24 1st. The inhabitants of Chelmsford do agree iS pay Mr. Thomas Clarke the just sum of 80/. in man- ner following, viz : — Twenty pounds in current mon- ey, and sixty pounds in provision, viz -Forty pounds in corn of all sorts as God gives.* The other twenty in pork, beef and other flesh ; but not exceeding 2 l~2d. per lb. Moreover it is agreed that the town shall supply Mr. Clarke with wood for his family yearly, which is by agreement 30 cords yearly. 2d. It is agreed that +he town shall pay 60/ in money towards the purchase of Corser's land,t lying in Chelmsford, and that they build an house on the said land, which house shall be 40 feet in length, 20 in breadth and 15 instud, and a kitchen adjoining if 1<> i'ect square and ten feet stud; provided Mr. Clark shall pay one fourth of what this building shah cost. 3d. It is agreed that the said town make addition to the salary above stated, if he stand in need and the town be able thereto. 4th. That his yearly salary shall be paid within fhe year 5th. That if the said Mr. Clarke grow discon- tented and remove and leave the work of the minis- try in Chelmsford, then the said house and land shall return to the town ; they paying to Mr. Clarke •what he hath expended towards the purchase, building and bettering the accommodation. For confirmation of this agreement, we have set our hands this 5th of the 12 mouth, i. e Feb. 5, 1677. THOMAS CLARKE, SAMUEL ADAMS, CPk. To the fulfilment of this agreement on the part of the town, Mr Clarke testified in the following words. ' That the agreement concerning the pur- 1677 Ensign William Fletcher, one of the first grantees and a most distinguished character, died Nov 6. '< lorn in 1633 was 2 shillings per bushel. jThe homestead of the late Mrs. Grace Fletcher. 25 chase of Corser's land and the building a house there on is fully performed by the inhabitants of Chelms- ford and accepted by possession of the same.' 27th the I ith month, 1670. Thomas clarke Ministry or Glebe Lands, It was a general rule of court In granting: new townships, to require the grantees to set apart 'one Sot for the first settled minister as an inheritance, one for the ministry, as glebe land, and one for a school.' Though no such conditions were enjoined upon the grantees of this township, yet they conformed to this rule, except in the case of schools. They ga\<; a lot to Mr. Fiske as an inheritance. — And looking forward into future times, when real estate would be. high and a convenient situation in the centre of the town, hardly attainable, they set apart a tract of land for the sole use of the ministry forever, in the following words. May 31, 1670. By the town's gift and order was laid out to the ministry and for that only use forever in Chelmsford, that is to sav, Thirty acres of upland and swamp be it more or less, and is bounded east by the high way to the training field, south upon a great rock — North upon the land of Cornelius Waldo with a straight line to' a stake and heap of stones about it — which is a wes- terly corner of John Bate's land, and so on a straight line to a pine tree near Stoney Brook path. North west by the town common upland to a black oak, and from thence with a straight line to a red i it near to the land that was given to the Rev. Mr Fiske and his son John Fiske, and from thence to a great rock southerly, provided always that there be 1677— Thomas Tarkfir, is granted fi acres of land on condition he i«t ?'n his trade ofehoe-makitife'. JO !:• : i-wi\ between tlic [and of the afore*- .ii»l ! ii! ths afore aid laud, which way be four poles in breadth. £ Com. \\ VI. ! NDERWOOD, / t/ic selectmen, i ( ,1 1 \ pi Bell— WW. About twenty seven year from the first planting '•I Hie, settlement, raised in some degree above ne- i\. the inhabitants began to think of convenien- ■ . nd in i of all, tbose relating to the house and worship of God. While some new towns made use of a drum and'othcrs ofa horn, to call people to- gether on the Lord's day, the inhabitants oi this place ;ii an ear!} period purchased a hell," and or- dered if (o be ' i i hi iii in the meeting" house.' It can- not bul sink'- iis with surprise, that while" then hous*j of wor hip was nothing but a rude log hut, or at best bul a better sort of barn, and while as pel thev had no school-house in town, they should pro*- vide a bell for their meeting-house. But this fact serves to illustrate flic religious character of the people. • irer U i us forgi I that whatever other things may be neglected, the bouse and worship of God, the conveniences and accommodations of them, musl iioi be overlooked, and cannot be neglected l»\ a people of reli] i< u feeliri; and habits. 4 It was ordered that all the expences appertain- ing to the purchase and hanging of the said bell be paid out of the town stock, it there be sufficient in hand; if not, thai there be bo much land sold out of the commons as will purchase and hang it.' This bell was used during the first and Becond house. — 1682.— John Lowell flr»t tanner had leave to buj am an in ,i In- •- i up nil trade ol tanv l he i , II beart this im< riptionj ' : u >■■ a« then i . . ■ iej obtained a b< > ncai to G mi i in, in a pla.ee called unako meadow. 1 1 w i , awed to John Spalding and Arthur Crouch, foi n : uccessiou of year » for four shilling poi youi'i payu* ble in '"in ii i u o Bhilling , per bu ihel, Ii w •• ■ ■ iveu H I * in \\ > tlord as their part of the ministerial land , \ ll<;ll lll.il. tOW ii Wfl ii" 01 |mi .id Mai iiiik umun, who iold the whoh trai I to foi I fom pi i ion , re on ing one share to him ielf.* 'I hi i< loi i j ii joinl pi ppi u loi built a wall on the south tide, extending from Mor rimacb i iyer to Corn ord rivcr> tnd foi lomi v u ii .i il i In land as •> common pa itui e foi i heir i atlh Ii w .- 1 : . anno xi «l to ( 'helm iford I 726. I I . • BOtt 1001 10391 1 In ni w ■ h 'Hi i i n Iiii Ii . .,. ,ii,i..i .i ii,. I'lj ■ i outh, i lit and rnnU or «oln \w \ 'I ,,. i . ,', m mi,.:, f il,, . I, ., i. i , : i.i... * A •..!•' I / '.ii Hi' poll , I,/ upnu !(J | ij. .1 .i.i' /i 1601 ,ii .i.i, i: .,, Mill DrooV • ■ A j . j . . ,,.|, I') lod - i h modi of i mini t< i in • ifi n ■ lion il kocii .,.!■ ■ i fri .... ■ i uridi i \ fill I I n , . . p ml I, 1602 !'■■ il i' 'i l/i tl • ■■ i. . • i- Lj ■ 88 'Sills of Credit— 1696. As we shall, have occasion to say much upon Bills .>i" credit and paper currency before we close this Jn-tmy.it will be best here to give a sketch of their prigin ant! depreciation. The unsuccessful expedition against Canada in 1690 afforded an occasion for an unexpected de-> niand of money, which the government were not able to meet. The expedient devised to extricate th tmselves from embarrassment at that time was to anticipate the annual tax, by issuing bills of credit of an annual existence. These were punctually re- deemed until the year 1704, when a pressure of pub- lic expences growing out of unprofitable and calam- itous wars, induced the General Court to defer the payment of taxes for two years, afterwards for a er term, and eventually for thirteen yeara — The British parliament at length interposed and lim- ited the posponement of taxes to the 1741. In the mean time now' emissions were sent forth, expressed in various tenors, as Old Tenor, Middle Tenor, New Tenor first, New Tenor second. The depreciations of these bills may be seen by the following statement. In 1702, one ounce of silver brought 6s. 10 \-2f cheap living. The quantity of salmon,shad and ale wive caught in Chelmsford annually may be computed al about 25 hundred barrels, besides a large quantity of other fiflh of less value. Milk* The advantages of the brooks and rivers above mentioned will best appear from the number ol Mills, Machines and Manufact< riesj built upon them. There arc six saw- mills; seven grist mills; one wool en manufactory; and iron works, where hoes' and .hov- els are manufactur'd,and van >us kind i ofcui iou i work done, and iron-, tor machinery oastl ; a CullingMill and clothier's shoj>. Also a vry curium loom lor we \ ibg hoot-strap?, moved entirely by water. Tin loom, constructed by Mr. John Goldiug is a e curiosity in these parts, and will, it i, believed, a handsome income to the ingenious and "■ leiatiga' blc o\vri(;r, J. i mi-.. In the south west part of flu town, is a Bed of limestone, of an excellent quality extending twp *M< rn.-r, ■ • m the Indian lai the eai ii .,; thi country, «' i Kiif.r. Jti Weim, Ames ic fisher. 42 miles north-east. It has five lime kilns upon it, anti from which are annually drawn, about a thousand hogsheads, which may be estimated at $5 per hogs- head. Peal. Peat has been lately found in sundry places. — Few experiments have yet been made to ascertain its quantity or quality. From the few that have been made, it appears* highly probable, that many meadows now esteemed of little value, contain vast treasures of furl, from which future generations will draw their supplies, as the present do from their wood lands. Granite. In the north west part of the town, are granite of superior beauty and excellence. They are not found in quarries, but on the surface of the earth, or partly sunk into it. They are of various sizes and dimensions, from one to a hundred tons' weight. They are first split with iron wedges, and then wrought into any form by hammers and other iron tools, at the pleasure of the workman. They arc in so great demand for the construction of dwelling houses, churches and public edifices, that eight workmen, the last season (1817) were notable to answer the urgent calls, which were made for them. A quantity of the value of twelve thousand dollars and upwards, was transported the last year, in a rough state through Middlesex Canal, to the state Prison in Charlestovva,whe'e they were hammered and prepared for the builder's use by the convicts.- So extensive has become the knowledge, and so cel- ebrated the beauty of them, that an elegant church was built of them at Savannah, Georgia, in 18 18.-^- 43 J hey are found in divers parts of the town ; bin tiie best and whitest are in Merrimack plain, or New field, and the adjacent part of Tyngsborough. They have acquired the common and discriminating name of 'Chelmsford granite.' The amount of stones wrought in Chelmsford, and transported to Boston and other places, in |8l#| is estimated at upwards of 25,000 dollars. Clay. Beds of clay have been opened in sundry places and considerable attention has been paid to the mak- ing of brick ; particularly in the east part of the town. The clay is not of the purest and best kind ; hut is manufactured to good advantage. The local situation and quality of the clay, hold out advanta- ges sufficient to induce enterprising men to carry on the brick-making business upon a more extensive plan, than has yet been attempted. Schools. The town is divided into eleven districts. In ali which from eight to ten hundred dollars are annual- ly expended in the instruction of about five hundred youths of both sexes. A portion of the money in each district is annually expended in hiring an in- structress to teach the young children and particu- larly Misses, during the summer months. Traders. The usual and stated number of Traders in English and West India Goods, is seven. Two at Pawtuck- ett bridge, two at the head of Middlesex canal, one on the turnpike, half a mile east of the meeting bouse, and two in the centre of the town. £2 44 Inn-Keepers. There are usually six or eight inn-keeper??, who are situated in different parts of the town on the public roads, to subserve their own emolument and the public convenience. New County. The project of a new county to be formed from 1 w^q the north westerly part of Middlesex, con- siderably agitated the minds of the inhabi- tants of this and several of the neighboring towns. — Committees were chosen in this and the tourfollow- jng \ears, to meet with committees from other towns, ' in order to draw up and project a scheme for electing a new county in the north westerly part of Middlesex.' The contemplated county was to embrace Groton, Townsend, Pepperill, Dunstable, Merrimack,* Dracut, Litchfield, Chelmsford, West- fofdj Littleton, Concord, Bedford, Billerica and Tewksbury, Merrimack and Litchfield, were then considered as belonging to Massachusetts. But when the line between Massachusetts and New- Hampshire alter a long dispute, was finally estab- lished, they were taken into N. Hampshire. The subject of dividing the county was revived again in J7b3. But was finally given up*. The separation of Westford, excited some un- easii ess among the more distant inhabitants in the north east part of Chelmsford ; a number of whom petitioned the town for leave to form a separate precinct. Their petition was rejected and the re- presentative instructed to oppose it in the general court. This project for a separation was abandon- ed. *The boundaries between Xe-ir -Hampshire and Massachusetts, were settled in 1737. 2739.— Pound was built.— 1730— Wall built round the Ministry, 45 We omitted to notice in its proper place, in or- der to preserve the narrative of the separation of Westford entire, a circumstance which led to the annexing of the great neck,* or Indian town, to Chelmsford. This land was sold by the Indians in small parcels, and gradually occupied by the pur- chasers from Chelmsford and other towns, who en- joyed equal privileges in the town with the other inhabitants, till the representative, Mr. Stephen Pierce, who had been chosen to represent the town in the general court for 12 years, was denied a seat in the house. The said Pierce lived in the Indian town.t which had never been annexed by act of court to Chelmsford, though the last purchase of the Indians was made in 1(586. Mr. Pierce was re- fused a seat in the house as the representative of Chelmsford, because he did not reside in that town. This repulse was followed by a refusal on the part of the inhabitants, residing within the Indian grant, to pay their taxes to the town ot Chelmsford. The confusion, into which the town was thrown, led to the proper remedy. The town petitioned the Court, that the Indian town called Pawtuckett, or more commonly Wamesit, might be annexed to the town of Chelmsford. The great neck or Indian town, was accordingly annexed to Chelmsford by act of Court 1726. This act included both Concord river neck, and the great neck so called, or the whole Indian township, lying between Merrimack river and Concord river. Baxter's Works — 1730. Samuel Holden, Esq. of London, whose muni- ficence was extended to several other churches and *See Appendix No. 10. tHis house, the cellar of which is now visible, was between Capt, Isaac Chamberlain's and Mr. Samuel Marshall's house*. 46 incorporations in America,* presented to the church and congregation in Chelmsford, the works of Rich- ard Baxter, in four folio volumes. This donation was made at the desire of Richard Bill, Esq. of Bos- ton. It was the donor's direction that the minister and two brethren of the congregation be accounted the trustees of this gift ; that one volume be always kept in or near the house of worship for the use of people on the Sabbath ; that the other volumes be lent to the inhabitants of the town, and to neighbor- ing ministers within three or four miles, to be re? turned at the expiration of 3 months. Mr. Stoddard's Death — 1740. We come to another pause in the Irstory of the town, the surprising death of Mr Stoddard. For three or four years previous to his death, he was exercised with dejection of spirit and a partial de- rangement, by which he was incapacitated to dis- charge the public duties of his office. During his indis- position the town partially supplied the desk at their own expence. His sun descended in thick clouds, Aug. 23, 1740f. On the 13th, Oct. at a public town meeting, it was resolved that the 23d inst. be set apart as a day of solemn fasting, and that the Reverend's Mr. Baxter, Mr. Hancock, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Swan, together *He bestowed cbarites in New England, to the amount of £4,847— His wife and daughter, £5,585. tHe was found dead in his well. 1733 — An oider passed to build a house for the poor — The same year ihe town treasurer paid 1/. for the head of a wild cat ; and four pounde for the head of a wolf, to be reimbursed by the Province Treasurer ac- cording to act of court. 1737 — Road from Hunt's to Clarke's ferry, south side of Merrimack, laid out by order of the court of sessions. 1741 — The town treasurer paid 47/. 10s. for squirrils, crows and black birds— squirrils 2548— black birds 522— crows 29. 1742.— paid 33*. 19s. for 1922 squirrils and 168 black birds, one crow! 47 with the pail-holders, be invited to attend and give their advice relative to the settling of another min- ister. At the same time it was voted to pay Mrs. Stoddard, 132/. lor the charges of the funeral of her deceased husband, and their lamented Pastor, 18 SECTION IV Mr. Bridge— 1740. "Men never appear with greater dignity than when performing tnose joint-acts of worship, by which they honor their maker and improve their own minds." Dr. Sumner. In about four months after the decease of Mr. Stoddard, the town 'unanimously made choice of Mr. Eb.Bridge,to be their minister.' For his support they granted him IW>/. yearly as a salary, and 500/. as a settlement; (<» be paid in province hills. At a subsequent meeting 20/. more in province lulls was added to liis yearly support/ lie was ordained on the 20th of May 1*741. Intermission between the public exercises on the sabbath, was very judiciously regulated for the accommodation and convenience of all the inhabitants of acountry parish or town. Ii was one hour and a half, during the three spring months, two hours during the summer months ; one hour and a half through the lad months, and oik- hour in winter. Tins arrangement was re-established in 1816. ♦Tin • urn "i ,'du/ iii paper ourrenoj al thai time wbj equivalent to a- bout $112,68, and bWl in do. equivalent to $608 70 Vn ot« nee ofsil- rer, or 6-104 wai Recounted in 1741, equal to 28t. paper currency.— Bet |iiim 1 1 (iinj; table,page,28. Wi»»l wa- iOahilliugi pei uord. or about :;7 .1 nis 1741. — Tail and leveral successive years, iJcrsoiiH were chustn to pre- 43 The perpetual changes io the iralue oi the cii culating medium, or paper currency, which bo em tarrased '.y<'\<' and business, subjected ministers to i^rc:tt sufferings and involved them in continual contentions with their parishes, who were backward to house ••■,.- repaired \wn ■ | pted the petition and instructed ih<- represents tiv( to ii ■ ■■ hiH influence to * pre\ enl the gi 6 u and ■ I. i i . n u in -i mting the re jue 1 ol the p< (in. • n. i . ' \\ het hei ii *\ ai o ow ins to the influent i o| lli, |m i ii i.M,,i , ..i i li.n po\\ 01 ml .ii -iinu'ir . i • n|i|...i i ..i i ii, ii i que I we know not But the • ud I ni.i w i ••! i ding i" their v\ iahes, w huh i i h. , the . \ 1 1 .in roo i dne ol the lin< .. ween T> n hoi pugh and < 'helm i.m.i. IT,.- an . | i ind i" I hm stable, hi ought all the Tyng farm within that towni and made the town line , ,.ii.,.i mi to it • bound \boul t lii • time much diati ice was chm i tinned u ii hi, I . I lide, .i T i\ loi . w ho m.n ,.l into the outh part < ., i ,m i i i i r.'i n •..',•! ion ol i he tow w b< ii \ i d in t \\f>\\ ^ iihi ' I tempts to be . i < h, I,,. ,,.i,i, in ordei to unite v\ ith *undr\ ii* \\{ i tOV\ '!■■ tO fo| m (h. | I" Carl \\ I heii minda \* i i ■■• predi *po fled \n ith .un . ■ thin ;n,i f.i •.! i notion, how ev< contrary ordei ot ■...-•, | ' ■ | » In vvoi hip. r ; ' "' ,u >" imunout old isatlact ion ottered himttetl >• t; and turned aw \ m u\\ from thou" imi J pi m \\ m ■siii|«. \ i ' . . > W . ■ • -\ -■■ I liureh uuiu :• i ,w ho .■ u i ,- iful u c >nduol w • • thou ■. . ' ' i l< IJ-llll. | OX( m;>' ' \ l klkdoi uu! It 1 1 1 1 \ b\ lilt- church for foui toon yoai • t\nd v\ il [i r 2l» vi they wnr nil brought ba< k to the Ibltli whew i lue) Ii.mI »l<|> ii l.il * 'The roou t to be u with I he - i mi . of ( 'ai li lo v> id i train * I * nu-il l>\ the low n. But iu I notitionoi • iii i he i< uth pel ul ( 'helm u ul, w i mm ul i'- i • belonging to Hilloi ie i. llodford, ^ imi ( loncord, obtained tui ui ( "in i, hot I : lit) imIi iImi.iiii . .-I 1 li- ii.m o . m,I | m\ [] I l.< iheW I w !i\ the I'" >\ er ol the pet il iouei i hould not be ■ i uited. '" i 780 then vv( i » 1 1. 1 in t!H).'» incoi ["-I ited into .> tow u hi Carliile .l»> hi \ Iti . 1 1 v w , I ' iq ul I lo itoiii pi i touted i in.- . 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 .i yon elegant loliu liible, to l" 1 road if I . m, Url ' i i ' in i li li - ' ■ I K>h ftviu Nv»\ ,.,,,, i ,. . - » . i * 1 1 il. . i>. i ul tin u m in i i. ; p ..ii i n.| ii, province, i ill . . ii, . i ii .i I i i i ,, i , .i i i . i,i, i . , . , » I,, I In ii ''"■'l.i • III I II | ,i ii, ; . , i, \ i\ |i iri -i II , Hi il ill i |n ' ■" li < , •■ , ,, , , ., l.i.., • l m i- i. kill i 'i i >• I 52 publicly on the Lord's days. It is printed on thick* wire-wove paper with a large lair type. Both the paper and execution of the work excel any edition of the Bible, that has been carried through the press in this country. It was printed in 1739. The conditions and provisions annexed by the generous Donor, are these : viz. 'that the Bible be read publicly in the Congregation on the Lord's days. That it be used in this wise by the minister of the church and congregation and by him only — That if at any time there should be more than one church in this town, the aforesaid Bible is to be the property of the first chui ^h ; and if the practice of reading the scriptures publicly should cease by vote of said church, then the said Bible s given by the Donor to the Minster of said church for the time being, not to be his own property, but to be used and improved by him and his successors always.' — This Bible was new bound at the expence ot the church 1812. The ministerial land was cleared. It was con- ,-£„ sidered of little value to the ministers, who were supplied with wood by the town. Mr. Bridge, with a view to the improvement of the land and future advantage of the to'vn agreed with" sun- dry persons to cut and carry oil the wood, on condi- tion that they would clear also and mow the bushes a certain number of times." The wood was carried oif, but the conditions were not complied with, as appears from the following letter, addressed to the town. Brethren — I have been using some endeavors for several -years, to have the ministry cleared, in a manner advantag- eous to the town, as well as to myself. That 1 might 'not do any damage through my own unskilfulness and want of judgement in such an affair, 1 asked the favor of IV_r. f"er- ham to assist me so far as to assign to the persons their re- spective lots, and to say how many times they should mow the bushes. Mr, Perham, accordingly afforded me his 5S help, and the persons took their lots upon certain conditions as he is able to testify. They have cut and carried oil' the wood, but as yet the conditions are not performed. It is my desire to live peaceably, therefore could use no other than persuasive arguments with the persons concerned.— 1 hese have proved ineffectual. Therefore ask the favor of the town to interfere and see that justice be done; because it the matter remain so, damage will arise to the town. Your servant in the Gospel, EBENEZER BRIDGE. To Samson Stoddard, Esq. Moderator, to be communicated. March 7, 1 763. As we approach the memorable era at which the 1765 ar duous struggle for the preservation of the 'rights belonging to british subjects' com- menced, the municipal transactions become peculiar- ly interesting. A minute detail of which will do honor to the actors of that day, and instruct poster- ity by developing the resources which a distressed and indigent yet united people always find within themselves, and the effectual energies, which a free people can put in requisition for the attainment of their liberties. Tho' highly loyaI,while the hope of redress, or of royal justice could be reasonably cher- ished ; yet when forced to relinquish it, the hihabi- tants of this town entered into all the measures, re- commended by the provisional and provincial gov- ernment with a promptness, decision and ardor, un- rivalled by any town in the province, or continent. When the stamp act in 1765, began to excite tu- mults and riotous opposition in these colonies, CoL Samson Stoddard, the representative requested in- structions how to act with regard to this affair. A committee was appointed to draw up instructions, who reported the following, which were unanimous.' ly adopted. 1768.— Wood per cord about 87 cents. This being a time when by reason ofseverat „cte. of parliament not only tin. province, but all the n- .gliih colonies on this continent are thrown into the Stmost confusion and perplexity; the stamp, ct as we apprehended, not only lays an «1,t«t onal but also an insupportable tax upon us, and den lives us as we humbly conceive, of those rights, and pm- LeeB to which we are entitled as free-born subjects of Great Britain by the royal charter. \\ here lore t think it our duty and interest at this epical con- juncture of our public affairs, to direct you, sir, om iepresentative to be so far from countenancing the execution of the aforesaid stamp act, that you use your best endeavors, that such measures may taken and such remonstrances made to the King and Parliament, as may obtain a speedy repeal ot the a- foresaid act; and a removal of the burden upon trade. We also desire you to exert your influence to use the public monies with frugality and to the promo- tion of the interest of the people at large. EPHRA1M SPALDING, } AARON CHAMBERL1N, > Committer TIMOTHY CLARKE. ) When governor Bernard hastily and passionately „ CQ dissolved the General Court ; < on a propose 1768 of the selectmen of Boston, to the several towns in the colony, for a convention to deliberate on constitutional measures, to obtain redress ot then grievances,' this town was among the ninety eigiit, Orie-m of Baptist in JVew England. .< . _„. The first seperation If th/an^baptists to taapec^ ^^ at Rehoboth 16.51. From this, .prang a church in Swansey, out proceeded the first church in Boston, gathered May 28, 16b5. Baptist Church in CMmsford. . On the 22d of Oct. mf-nine menand fifteen womjjgj-jd^ ly from the 2d Baptist church in Boston, united n fo i m mg owr Chelmsford, agreeable to the Calvan.sfc ^Baptist pnnc iple ^ 1 nc p ast0 r was Rev. El.sha Rich , ordained ^^Jv^J^ who was sue- T voars and was succeeded by tne uev. .'vui&uai *~> , ceicd by the Rev. John Feckin., the present pastor. Jiec. of Bap. CI, 55 h sent committees to this convention. Col. Stodclanl was chosen to meet in convention with oth- tmmittces at Boston, April 22 'to consult the good of the province in loyalty to Ins Majesty.' January 11 — 1773. At a town meeting called i to know the sentiments of the people, relative to certain grievances under which the colony is laboring, particularly the extra- ordinary stipends ot the Judges of the superior court appointed from home ; also to consider a Bill of rights and a letter from the town of Boston, a committee was raised to report upon this subject,* who at an ad- journed meeting reported as follows. We are fully of opinion that the inhabitants of this province are justly entitled to all the privileges of Englishmen arid to all those rights inseperable from them as members of a free community. We are sensible that some of these rights are endanger- ed. In such unhappy circumstances, the only ques- tion that can arise is. \\ hat method is most suitable to obtain redress. Whatever doubts may arise a- bout the particular mode, of this we are confident, that all rash, passionate proceedures are unjustifia- ble in so delicate a crisis. VV hen a community- thinks its rights endangered, they should always weigh consequences, and be very cautious, lest they run into a step, that may be attended with the most deplorable effects. *David Spalding, Jona. W. Austin, Esq. f - Barren, Samuc. Perhara and Ber.j. Waiker. 1770. — Col. Simeon Spalding, was prtsent at the extraordinary ses- sion held in Harvard College. 1771 — The town cleared up part of the ministry land, for which tbey paid 82. The occupant .Mr. Brifl.e had agreed to mow the hushes an- nually, if the town would clear it op faithfully by a stipulated time. The condition not beiue fu:.. part of the town, the oc refused to perform his pait. Thus it remained uncultivated and useless until 1803. In 1772, Jan 14 and 15, a roeetitg house w • Fond for the worship of the Baptist so< aG • The cause of liberty, says a fine writer, is a cause of too much dignity to be settled by turbulence and tumult. When the passions of a people are inflam- ed, reason is too often silenced; and they soon tor- S et the cause, in which they originally embarked.— Whereas the patriot on true principles always en- deavors to keep those principles m view .Con- scious that he is a member oi community, he will endeavor to come up to all the obligations resulting therefrom, and keep overy part thereof en ire .- Therefore, while he coolly and tirmly pleads his own rio-ht, he will not forget that of his sovereign ; but will be always sensible that loyalty to the sove- reign and regard to the liberties of the subject are very consistent things." We are full and clear m these sentiments and hope to regulate our conduct bv them. We at present labor under grievances — $e heartily concur with our brethren ol Boston, that it is high time these grievances were redressed. But we think the General Court, who represent the province the only proper body to perform this task. We are therefore of opinion that we can do nothing Consistent with that wisdom, which should govern a free people ; but prepare the following instructions to our representative." To Mr. Simeon Spalding, Representative of the town of Chelmsford, in the General Court of this province. « We would earnestly caution you against consent- ing to any rash and passionate measures, which will not only sully the dignity, but finally prove the utter destruction of the cause we pretend to support The following remarks are worthy the considera- tion of all just and wise men, when they deliberate on the stipends of men in public office, whether m church or state. 5V ' The stipends, say they, annexed to the offices of the Judges of the superior court are complained of as a grievance ; hut would it not be proper at least to enquire, whether this be not in a great measure owing to some defect in ourselves ; whether tiie pro- vision formerly made by us was not miserably de- ficient, and utterly unworthy the highest court we boast of, and the dignity of the province itself.' ' We hope those little animosities and reflection?: that involve persons not things, and which have been too frequently used, may be utterly banished • that you will be careful not to trample on Maiesty^ while you are firmly but decently pleading for the liberties of the subject. In fine we wish you thai: wisdom, which is from above, and we pray God. that your conduct may be such in this important cri- sis as the coolest reflection will justifv,' May 30—1774, To be ready to meet the storm, which was collect- ing, committees of correspondence were chosen in every town. By these committees, information was easily communicated, and the people enabled to act in concert. The committee of correspondence appointed at a meeting of free-holders, consisted of Jona. Wil- liams Austin, Esq. Capt. Oliver Barron, Samuel Per- ham, David Spalding, Benjamin Walker, Aaron Chamberhn, Capt. Moses Parker, Samuel Stevens, .Jr. and Simeon Spalding. "Then at a very fulf meeting of the free-holder* and other inhabitants in consequence of letters sent from Boston, containing matters of as great impor- tance as ever came before a town meeting, the town proceeded to give their sentiments in the following spirited declaration." :$ It is the opinion of this town that the present day is as dark and distressing a day as tins country ever experienced. And when we consider the aspect ot the times, we think the question is whether we will submit to the arbitrary, lawless, tyrannical will ot a minister, or by using those powers | given by the Uod of nature and which it were sacrilege to ™der ? we will prevent so awful a catastrophe. It is ex- tremely afflictive to consider, that if we are made slaves, it will be by a nation in whom we have glori- ed, whose honor was dear to us, and to secure wnosc reputation the best, the richest blood ot this coun- trv has been spilt. ,-'..-, i r +1,; "Whoever is acquainted with the annals 0* this country must know, that there never was a time, when it was not our ambition to expend life and treasure for the service of Great Britain. And when after all this waste of blood and treasure we found acts, passed for the purpose of raising a rev- enue, the direct tendency of winch was to entail slavery upon us, and upon our posterity we were willing to P impute it to any other cause than a direct intention. And it has been to the honor o '.tig towns in this province, in their instructions to then representatives, and of the house of representatives in their proceedings, that they have ^monstiaed and reasoned on the nature, tendency and conse- quences of such acts. But these remonstrances and arguments have been totally disregarded. After cool reflection we are* oi opinion, that the notion of the right of parliament to tax the people without their consent for the purpose of raising a revenue is utterly unconstitutional. We have no conception of taxation without representation. And First Provincial Congress at Cambridge, ™±*Zrf%*£** pxpeuces to each class about 01. 4s. 1-2J. 59 as we suppose it productive of absolute slavery, so we must be justified in never submitting to it. France was once tree, but in consequence of sub- nutting to taxation without representation, their es- tates and lives are at the absolute disposal of the king. Tiie Cortes of Spain had once the same rights as our parliament ; but having allowed the King on a particular occasion to raise money with- out their interposition, they lost their authority, and the people their freedom. The present act respecting the blocking up of the port of Boston, we consider dangerous and destruc- tnc. We are not so lost to every generous prin- ciple of the human miiid. as not to sympathize with our brethren of Boston, who have in a more especial sense been struggling Jn a common cause, and are now suffering for our common liberties. We are determined to support with all our power the town of Boston, in defence of rights common to us all, and never to submit to the iron hand of despotism and oppression. It is with grief we find, that the house of repre- sentatives are removed from their ancient seat in Boston. We hope, that as former houses have protested against such indignity, so the present house will not tamely acquiesce in it. We are obliged to say, that so far from thinking the late Governor Hutchinson a friend, we look up- on him to have been enimical to the province, and we think the man who aouM ' abridge English lib- erties,' would willingly see the town of Boston ruin- ed, and tlie civil policy of the province subverted. * We resent the base treatment, which that illus- trious defender of American liberties, Dr. Franklin, has received for detecting such wicked designs, and we have the pleasure to be assured, that though he /I2 Hi) may be reTiled, he cannot be disgraced." May he still live to be the guardian of our rights, and the scourge of the enemies of our liberty on both sides pf the Atlantic ; and when he dies, may mourning patriots erect a monument of marble, to perpetuate his memory. *-***** In such a situation we do not think it sufficient only to weep at the distresses of our country ; but "we believe that our union is our life, the contrary pur death. We mean therefore to preserve this union inviolable at all hazards. We are determin- ed in a manly, firm, virtuous, and joint way, neither to yield to fear on the one hand, nor intrigue on the other, m defending and preserving our liberties. And before they are wrested from us, we will strug- gle hard, very hard for them, considering ourselves as the guardians of unborn millions. And O our God, in the midst of this struggle, which we think is agreeable to thy will, we look up to thee for direc- tion and assistance ! May the liberties of America, sitill flourish under thy smile, as they anciently did * §ee Ann. vol. 2 page 317, Dr. Holmes. Provincial Congress, TVatertotan. Jilay 1, 1775. It has been represented to this Congress, that about five thousand of tiie inhabitants of Boston, are indigent and unable to be at the expense of removing themselves. Therefore resolved that the Selectmen and Committees of Correspondence most convenient to Boston, aid and as- sist such poor inhabitants >>f taid town, with teams and waggons as shall procure a certificate from the Committee of donations, that they are not able to remove themselves. And it is further recommended to the Se- lectmen of the several towns specified in the annexed schedule to pro* vide for such inhabitants, in the best and most prudent waj', until this ov some other Congress, take further order thereon, and render their ac counts to this or some future Congress or house of representatives for al- lowance, which reasonable accounts shall be repaid out of the public treasury. The form of the certificate was as follows, "The bearer — and his fami- ly, removing out of the town of Boston, are recommended to the charity and assistance of cmr sympathizing brethren in the several towns in this province. By order of the Committee of donations. Four in family. A. N. — Clerk. Accoiding to the schedule referred to above, 49 persons were assigned to Chelmsford ^nd 54 to Billcrica. ropers en file, Toivn Clerk's Office, 01 »u the days of our fathers. And do thou give us a head to contrive and a heart to execute! Grant that in the most adverse situation of our affairs, we may trust in thee. And may this be the prevailing sentiment of us all, 'In freedom we're born and in freedom we'll die'. Septcmbe r 29 — 177-1. A town meeting was called to choose a represen* fative to attend at the next session ot the General Court, to be holden at Salem, Oct. 5. The repre- sentative was instructed to adhere firmly to the charter of this province, granted by William and Mary, and to do no act which could be possibly con- strued into an acknowledgement of the validity of the act of parliament for altering the government* of the Massachusetts Bay — to acknowledge the Hon, Board of Counsellors, elected by the general court last May,as the only rightful, constitutional Council of this province ; to join with the members, who may be sent from other towns in the province, and meet with them at a time to be agreed on in a gen- eral Provincial Congress. When Parliament on hearing of the destruction of the tea in Boston, passed the act, which shut up the harbor of Boston, and deprived its inhabitants of the means of subsistence, this town expressed their deep sympathy in an address, and evinced the bincerity of it by sending immediate relief. A drove of sheep was gratuitously collected and Messrs. Samuel Howard and Simeon Stevens, appointed to *The Council heretofore had been chosen by the geneial court, but an act of parliament, passed this year, invested the right of appointing counsellors in the crown, and that of appointing and removing Judges ot the inferior courts, commissioners, sheriffs, &c. in the Governor. See Ramsey's His. Am. Rev. vol. 1, p. 105. 1774. — A new burying place, was granted and given in the south west part of the town, by Dr. John Betty, and accepted by the town.- 62 take charge of them and see them delivered to the sufferers in Boston. At the first Provincial meeting in Concord, two delegates Jona. W. Austin,Esq. and Samuel Perham, appointed by the town, were present. For an ad- journed meeting of this provincial congress in Cam- bridge, Feb.], 1775, was chosen a new delegate, Col. Simeon Spalding. To carry the measures, a- doptedat this and a subsequent meeting on the fol- lowing November into operation a committee of In- spection was chosen, consisting of Capt. Oliver Bar- ron, Dr. Jonas Marshall and Capt. Benjamin V\ alker, whose duty was to prevent the purchase and sale of any goods, wares and merchandize, imported from Great Britain, Ireland and the provinces thereunto belonging. A committee of correspondence was al- so raised and joined with the Committee of Inspec- tion, unitedly constituting a committee of safety. Agreeably to the plan, proposed by the provincial congress, for the immediate defence of the province, the^town voted to raise fifty two minute men, includ- ing officers, who were to be disciplined half a day every week, and to receive 8d. per man, for every half day over and above what the militia are disci- plined : To equip the alarm list, and to provide arms, and blankets for the soldiers, to be enlisted under Capt. John Ford. Moral Reform— 1 774. Though the town has never been very much dis- tinguished for dissipation of manners, for idleness and intemperance, riot and excess ; yet at this time it seems there were certain persons of loose morals and dangerous habits, who were introducing and a- betting practices highly alarming to the more sober and virtuous part of community. To arrest the progress of growing iniquity, an article was inserted S3 in a warrant lor calling a town meeting, of the ioi lowing import, viz. to see if the town will empower some suitable persons to take such measures as they shall think proper to punish and discourage vice and profaneness, and call to an account idle, disorderly persons, who waste their time and substance in pub- lic houses at unlawful gaming, horse-racing and ex- cessive drinking, frolicking and sabbath-breaking. — Upon this article the town adopted a judicious mea- sure, which may instruct future generations, how to proceed in like circumstances. The Selectmen and fifteen others* were empowered to devise and exe- cute such measures as they may think proper for promoting a reformation among persons of the above description. The committee reported as follows. 'That the said Committee make inquiry and obtain the best information that may be had of idle, disorderly per- sons, who waste their time and substance at public or private houses, in unlaw tul gaming, excessive drinking, or frolicking, and such as are known to be frequently at horse-racing, or guilty of profane curs- ing and swearing, or of Sabbath breaking, or of an/ other unlawful and unbecoming behaviour ; and that their company be shunned ; and that people leave off dealing with them as far as is consistent with good reason and justice, not entertaining them in their houses by night or by day ; but manifesting a dislike to their conduct, and bearing testimony against their vicious practices, look upon them as disturbers of the peace and good order of society ; that the committee converse with such persons, and use their endeavors *Seleotmen. — David Spalding, Capt. Oliver Barron, Joseph Warren, -Tohn Minot, Ztbnlon Spalding. Committee.— Simeon Spalding, Joseph Adams, Jona. Bigford, Aaron Obamberlin, Samuel Stevens, Jr. John Ford, Benjamin Parker, John Rob- ins, Denja Walker, Dr J. Marshall, Thomas Marshall, Samuel Hovrard, David Parker, Benja. Fletcher f/. In a resolve of the legislature of this province, passed June 22, 1780, each town was required to iurnish a certain quota of beef, lor the continental army. The town voted to raise 30,720 dollars in- stead of the beef required. Voted also to raise 40,000 dollars to pay the 6 months continental sol- diers, and three months militia men, together \uih 177-g_Capt. Samuel Stevens and Oliver Barron. I>i. attended thf convention at tjoncord. 68 their bounty ; for which the Selectmen and militia officers, had given their notes payable m corn, at 50 dollars per bushel. It was also agreed that every dollar of the new emission should be equal to 12/. in -aid taxes. The expenditures of the town this year for horses and supplies lor the army, amounted to 61,832/. The rapid depreciation of paper money, the little , m p. probability of its rising again, together with the inexplicable difficulties in which it invok ved the people, induced the town to lay it aside and make their grants in specie. The expenditure for horses provided for the army this year was 3340/. Constitution* When the new form of Government, or constitu- tion, came before the town for their approbation, one hundred legal voters were present. After hearing it read and deliberating upon each article separately, it was adopted with the exception of one clause in the 3d art. In the qualification oi governor, for his office, the word Christian was exceptionable in the minds of some, as leaving a door open for the admittance ol a Papist into the chair of state. It was proposed to insert the word protestant in lieu of christian. It would then stand the Governor shall profess himself to be of the protestant religion. — This amendment was approved by the town. When the final vote was taken 92 were in favor and only night against it. These objected only to the clause above mentioned. In the well meant, but mistaken and unjustifiable efforts of a party in the Commonwealth to obtain redress of grievances in 17(36, commonly called the Shays Insurrection, this town gave decided proofs of 1 heir love of order and good government, of their enlightened zeal and patriotism. Committees were eg chosen to meet committees from other towns at Concord, to devise measures for suppressing the In- surgents. A large detachment of the Militia joined Gen. Lincoln's army, and were with them on the memorable 30th of Jan. when they performed a march of 30 miles without refreshment, through deep snows, in a stormy and severely cold night — a march that would have done honor to the veteran soldiers of a Hannibal or a Napoleon. Canal — 1792. The increasing demand for wood and lumber at Newburyport, and the abundant supply, that might be obtained in the vicinity of Merrimack river, sug- gested the plan of a canal to facilitate the transpor- tation of lumber round Pawtuckett falls, which had heretofore been laborious and expensive.* As the whole business done on this river must pass these falls, the project of a canal held out powerful induce- ments to monied men, to embark a portion of their property in this enterprize. But before the under- taking was accomplished the proprietors had the mortification of seeing their hope of gain in some degree cut off by the bold and adventurous project and auspicious beginning of Middlesex Canal. It was easy to foresee that this would divert much of the lumber trade from its wonted course down the river to Newburyport. This however did not so dishearten them as to discontinue, or greatly retard -|~q 9 the work. The proprietors were incorpora- ted Aug. 8, 1792,by the name of the Proprie- tors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack River. * The water in Concord river is 32 feet lower than the water at Uie head of the fails in Merrimack river. 1780. — 17 families in the south part of the town, were annexed to the district of Carlisle, which was incorporated 1805. 1789— Dr. Hernngton, Benja. GooJd Benja. Osgood, and Neheanah Parker, were chosen choristers. 70 It was opened in 1/97.* Its length is about 1 l-ti miles, and it has four sets of locks. It was built at an expenditure of 50 thousand dollars. The stock is divided into 500 shares. The avails of this canal have afforded a yearly dividend, varying from two to ten per cent. Its direction is nearly east. It enters the Concord river near to its junction with the Mer- rimack. It considerably shortens the distance from the place where it leaves Merrimack river to its en- trance into it again, and safely conveys rafts round these dangerous falls. Middles t x Canal — 1788. The late Governor Sullivan and Loami Baldwin, Esq. of Woburn, frequently interchanging their thoughts upon the practicability and public advan- tage of a canal from the most southerly angle of Merrimack river to Boston harbor, originated the project of Middlesex canal. It was first contempla- ted to carry the canal as far westward as the town of Bedford ; but on examination this was found im- practicable. Mr. Weston an ingenious and experi- enced engineer from England, being in Philadelphia, was employed to examine and survey the ground, * The occasion bad called together a great concourse from the vicing ty. When a novel, rnd very distressing spectacle was exhibited. — Some hundreds of men, women and children were collected, and stood around and upon the Locks to witness the passing of a boat, in which were the Directors and othti Gentlemen, invited by them to take a trip through the Locks. Scarcely hud they entered the first Lock, when the sides suddenly gave way. The water bursting upon the spectators with great violence, carried many down the stream. Infants were separated from their mothers, children from their parents, wives from their bus? bands, young ladies from their gallants, and men, women, timber, and broken boards and planks were seen promiscuously floating in the water (" Nantes — rari apparent in gurgile vasto."^) Some h^d their clothes partially ,otheis almost intirely torn off from them. Mothers were shrieking for their lost children, husbands swimming in search of their wives and daughters ; paleness sat on the countenance and anxiety filled ths hearts of those on shore for the safety of their friends in the water. All at l,ength came safely to land without any material injury. Thus ended th'- aznusement of that memorable day. 71 arid report upon the most favorable route for niak ing the intended canal. The result of his examinav tion was highly gratifying to the proprietors. The estimate of the expenditure was one hundred thou^ sand dollars. Encouraged by his report, the projectors and oth- 1 ^q ers associated with them, were incorporated ' J ° 1793. < The grant of Middlesex Canal is a perpetuity. ' One of the projectors — Loami Baldwin, Esq. of Woburn, was the constant superintendent and sole Engineer through the whole of this arduous work. — No man in these parts wrs equally qualified for this difficult undertaking. His philosophical and math- ematical genius, long accustomed to apply principles to practice, readily devised and put in operation means for overcoming difficulties and removing ob- atructions, and lor promoting the grand design ; while his indefatigable industry and unyielding persever- ance, infused the same spirit into all around him, and caused the work, which to a mind \ci^: penetrating and inventive would have seemed impossible, con- stantly to progress. 'The proprietors deserve the highest praise for* their enterprize. The choice of a superintendant demands commendation. Unwilling to acknowledge dependence upon any nation, or any state, they re- posed confidence in a citizen of their own. His works declare his praise. Obstructions, which oth- ers of a less inventive genius might have considered insurmountable, or extremely difficult, he converted into some useful purpose. In every part are the traces of a sound judgment and fertile genius. Massachusetts, a state already proud of science, will in some future age. feel an increase of pride in acknowledging her son.'* ^re Columbian Centmel of Saturday Jtilv 10. 1802-*where the fob 72 ft is a just tribute to his memory to say that he was the animating soul of this stupendous work. Middlesex canal, begins about a mile above Paw-* tuckett falls at the most southerly angle or bend of Merrimack river. Its direction is south by east. — It is supplied with water by Concord river in Bilieri- ca, where the surface of the water is elevated 107 feet above the tide in Boston harbor, and 8#feet a- bove the surface of Merrimack river. * "From the year 1793 the canal was prosecuted with vigor and finally completed at an expenditure of $520,000 in assessments, and 85,000 dollars de- rived from the income ; comprehending an expence of about 30 thousand dollars by the corporation on the Merrimack canals and locks. It is 27 miles long and 30 feet wide and 3 deep. There are 7 aque- ducts over rivers and streams and 20 Locks. Four of tlie levels are each preserved for above 5 miles ; the other four from one to three miles. It termi- nates in Charlestown Mill pond, an extensive, arti- ficial basin, which while it serves the original pur- pose, accommodates rafts and boats. The Corpora- lowing lines, with a few alterations from the celebrated Dr. Darwin, were added as applicable to the ingenius superintendent. The whole was prepared on the occasion of first admitting water into the canal as far as ■Voburn meeting house. u On Baldwin's infant cradle science smiled, And nursed with fairy hand the unlettered child, Spread round his pillow all her secret spells, Pierced all her springs and opened all her wells ; As now on grass with glossy folds revealed, Glides tile bright Serpent now in flowers concealed, Far shine the scales, that gild his sinuous back, And lucid undulations mark his track; So with strong arm immortal Baldwin leads His long canals and parts the velvet meads ; Winding in lucid lines the watery mass, Mines the firm rock, or loads the deep morass, With rising locks a thousand hills alarms, Fling:, o'er a thousand streams its silver arms, Feeds the long vale, the nodding woodland laves, And plenty, arts and commerce fright the waves," W, Jioston.JulyS, 1802. (ton own the Mills at CharJestown and BHIerica and <>ther valuable real estate- It has also the privilege oi converting Concord river into a Canal 23 miles of >ts extent, through the towns of Bilferica, Bedford Carlisle, Concord and Sudburv.' ; ' Opened— 1804. "Itf-was opened in 1804, and a system was estab- »shed m 1808, for collecting toll in cash before the delivery of the articles on which it accrue,." k Iho receipts m 1810, amounted to 15,000 dol- feh J8 J 5 ' 2 ^ 26 -~ B ftimated income of 1816, 30,0^0— j? orty thousand would yield a dividend of b per cent op the cost, and pay the expense of man- agement and ordinary repairs." .« The t Property is divided into 800 shares. The toll established by law is 1-16 of a dollar per ton for every mile carried on the Canal." That part of the Canal, which is in Chelmsford is ^feet above the water, of Memmack river, from which you ascend by means of three locks formed of split stone laid in mortar. « The lock next to the river is called the first lock. This is ninety feet ong and twelve wide. The earth is removed be- low the bed of the river to prevent the underminm* of the works, and then filled up with stones, on these a floor of oak timber, two feet square is laid ; upon this another floor of similar timber is laid cross wise, and then a floor of three inch plank, all u spiked and trunncHed. On this base the walls are raised 8 ieet high and 7 feet thick. The walls arc Constructed of hewn stone, taken from a ledge in the neighborhood, which is the property ofthe*cor P «ra" to the stroke of the hammer. The second and rd locks are of the same length, and const™ ' ■'•"'' 'materials, The height of the 4* ,ji$ 16, that ofthe third 11 feet. The culverts and gates are so well contrived* that a boat or raft may the three locks, in 8 minutes. The workman- ship of these lock, for neatness and strength is equal- led by none in the United States The naturalist will be gratified to learn that on ctigging over the earth on the bank of Merrimack river, tolay the foundation of the locks, pine cones and charcoal were found at th* depth of twelve lect from the surface, in a sound and unimpaired slate; ipecimens of which are deposited in the museum at Cambridge. A small horn was also found at nearlj the same depth from the surface, supposed to be that of a cow of two or three years old. « While the public utility of the Middlesex Canal and its peculiar ad- vantage! to the towns through whichit passessare readily acknowledged* U ia neatly to be feared that the morals of the people ... those towns will be corrupted by the transaction ofbusiness up... the canal on the Sab- bath, rhafooateare loaded anti navigated <>n tl.r Lords day, would M em to ' old-fashioned New-Englandmen astrange and alarming depart- ure from primative purity and real Christianity. The learned and able statesman and financ.er, Mom. Neckar. justlv animadverte I upon the practice of working on the Sabbath at abridge, built overthe Seine. His remarks arc respectfully suggested to the pro- prietors of Middlesex Canal, to the people residing upon it, and to all bose who watch over the interests of church and state « F or B 6 horl tim< laborers have been permitted to work at Pans o a Sunday We see this publickly done at the new bridge, which is build- over the Seine; as if a work of mere convenience was m euch haste, at the laws should be dispensed with, to accelerate ita execution. It . the dutj of govt rnment to consider in a more comprehensive view the ateresl ofthat part ofsociety, which is o blind in its calculation, frnd the church Bhould examine also, if the sudden alteration of a may not give ri e to an idea, (hat the spirit ofreligion has grown feeble For the nations, where this spirit is best preservei . i i; ,..,. ,|„. greatesl respect for the sabbath.* 1 Neckar on Jtelig. Opin.p.124. Note See also a pampHlet, printed 1816, by Cummings and Hiiliard^ Boston, entitled Remarks on the Lord's day, as a moral, positive ana •i\.l duty.— -By Dr. R. Wjman. 1790.— Wall rebuilt round the old burying place. , — John Lord and other? petitioned to be set off to Dracv' n G Mi the < • ' ol M '• a! ilir ; di . Men et long and ^2 wide, irith iie< i i sari appendages for the manufacturing oi window erected . 1802. ' ' n<: Records of c ourt in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth 77 den till 1737, and Chelmsford, till 1792 Tl r The first bridge at the mouth of Concord river 3774 , vvas ab ° ut tnent y rods below the present—, It was Mown down by a gale of wind before >t was entuelv finished. The' second bridge was ust below the one now standing. The tlnrd and as Death of Mr. Bridge, Oct. 4, 1702. Again are we arrived at that period in our history vlnch reminds us of the perishing nature of men and things. The altar and he that ministered £ S grew old together, and were ready to be dissolved J- Ihe second meeting house had stood 80 years, when it was taken down that a more beautiful and elegant edifice might be ereeted in its place. So the clayey tab ernac le of Him, who had officiated in it more than Wty one years was dissolved Oct. 4. 1792, that* he might have a building of God, a house not made with Hands eternal m the heavens. 1790— Fulling mill erected by M. Hale pence?- VUllbUi,tr,,UUd the WCSt B ^ in S S™und at the town's ex- JnouZtz ;:; P tt 0,d BeI1 » d h »y * °f* one » f ™ ***** 78 SECTION V. Mr. Packard. THE purposes of man are often interrupted and broken off; but the counsels of God stand fast for- ever. His plans regularly progress towards their accomplishment. Death which frustrates human purposes, retards not those of the Almighty. He employs a multitude of agents in effecting his designs, and when one fails, he sets another in his place.— The third house of worship began in 1792, was near- ly finished ; but there was none to minister at its al- tar. Divine providence prepared them a man af- ter his own heart, and sent him unto them in the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of peace. May 13—1793. The town concurred with the church in giving Mr. Hezekiah Packard a call to settle in the minis- try in Chelmsford. It was also voted to give him for his support 100/. per year, during his ministry in Chelmsford, and 200/. as a settlement. » October 3. The Committee reported to the town that the house* was finished according to agreement. The town accepted their report. And on the 16th day of October 1 793, the Rev. Mr. Packard was ordain- ed to the pastoral care of the church and society in Chelmsford. •This house, raised in 1793, is 64 by 48 feet. t9 Social Library — 1794. In the year following he formed the design of es tablishing a so iaJ Library. Having communicated his intention and obtained a sufficient number of sub^ scribers, on the 6th of January 1794, a meeting was called and the society organized. A voluntary annual assessment on the shares, to- gether with a constant accession of new members, enable the executive Committee to make yearly ad- ditions to the Library and provide for necessary re- join pairs. In January 1812, the Society was in- corporated by the name and style of the " Proprietors of the Social Library in the town of Chelmsford." 1 he Library consists of 350 volumes, and is a collection of well chosen, useful books. A* mong which is Doctor Rees' Cyclopaedia, the most valuable and expensive work, ever printed in this country. The number of members is about eighty. The price of a new share three dollars and fifty cts- The Library may be estimated at about a thousand dollars. The writer laments the necessity he is under, as an historian, to re cord an event,which sullies the well earned reputation of the town for justice and kindness to their ministers. For one hundred and forty years no record is to be found of the town's refusing to make up depre- ciations in the stated salary or to grant the requests 1794 — May. John Miuot gave ten dollars to the town, for the purchase of a new pall. 1794— A plan of the town was taken b} order of Court..-95,a committee of 12 chosen to inspect schools. 1799 — Voted to lay out a road from the meeting house to golden cove. It was accordingly laid out but not made. 1300 — " The town voted that the petitioners from the north east part of Chelmsford be set off to unite with a part of Dracut ; and that the Jit .- tie canal, so called, should be the line between Chelmsford aidtli', •■ h mplated parish " 1801—The Hearse built. 80 , of their Pastors for needed a sistance.* This veal the Rev. Mr, Packard requested the town to mal up the depreciations m his salary; but the town dismissed the article without acting upon it. At Dec. a subsequent meeting- they agreed to add 20/. to his salary for six years. This vote Mar wa ® redon sidered at the next meeting, and the addition grafted was not assessed until after it was found to be recoverable by a Wal pro- cess. b l Mr. Packard's pecuniary embarrassments conspir- ing with the general aspect of the times and pecu- liar circumstances of the place seemed to intimate to mm the imperious duty of dissolving his ministerial relation with this people and church and seeking an establishment m some part of the Vincvard of the Lord, which promised a more ample reward for his labors, and held out a brighter prospect of useful- ness. The best illustration of his views and feeling and the most honorable testimony, we can give of his correct sentiments and feelings on this momentous subject* will be found in the proposals he made to the town for a submission. Juh/~5, 180?. ; You cannot be unacquainted with my embarrass- merits, nor with my wishes and endeavours to ex- tricate myself from them and secure a comfortable living among you. You all must be sensible that the means of building, buying, or securing any permanent place o{ residence are without my reach. " When I take into view my own situation and that of the (own 1 am led to hope that my removal on the whole will not disserve the cause of relio-ion in this place, and I am persuaded will be to my *See Memorial in !8ir. Hi ... advantage. % good wishes will attend yoii and jour children; and J hope that every step 'we take will be such as will bear reflection ! As my ministry has been short in this place ir may he expected by many that I refund a part or the whole of my settlement. This subject I acknowl- edge deserves enquiry and adjustment. And I now declare myself witling to pa } to the town whatever part of that sum may appear due after the follow- ing reasonable deductions. I- The usual period of ministerial life is found by calculation to be 28 years. The part of that period I have spent with you claims its proportion of my settlement. N. To retain the spirit of the civil contract be- tween a minister and his people the value of his salary must be preserved. The town therefore will not shrink from an impartial enquiry into the depreciations of my salary, nor dedme an allow- ance equal to their just amount. UL Having put the ministerial lot into a better condition, it is reasonable that the money laid out upon it over and above the receipts should be re- funded." On the foregoing principles an adjustment was made between the town and Mr. Packard, and the cavil contract dissolved July 5, 1802* July 1 1 ' ^' le c ^ urcn chose a committee and in- vested them> with powers to dismiss and recommend their Pastor."— A council being called, sanctioned the foregoing transactions, ancf together with the aforesaid Committee recommended the Rev. Mr. Packard to the work of the Ministry wherever Divine providence might cali him. A door of more extensive usefulness was provi- dentially opened to him at Wiscassel in the District of Maine, where he was installed Sept. 8, 18, 2. /•;-m A R r ;m Pa r5 ar ] , 7 r ?' lir 3GO ' 2 - 82 SECTION Vi. AT no period perhaps since the first settlement of the town were the minds of the people so disaffec- ted towards one another as after the dismission of Rev. Mr. Packard; neither were they ever placed in circumstances so unfavorable to the re-establish- ment of the gospel ministry. Grieved and sadly disappointed by his removal, many could hardly brook the thought of a successor. Some were in- different to religion, and indisposed to encourage the maintenance of its institutions. The north eastern section of the town were desirous of uniting with a part of Dracut to form a new Society ; and had been making great exertions for several years to accom- plish their object. Under these circumstances the prospect of a speedy resettlement of the christian ministry was doubtful and gloomy. But time, which often changes men's feelings as it does their circumstances, had in the course of a year altered in some degree their dispositions towards one another; and the force of habit, uniting with a sense of duty and love of order, produced a general wish to re-establish the stated ministrations of the word and ordinances of God. Accordingly the church and town with a harmony hardly to have been expected, invited the compiler to take the pas- toral care of them. They oife red him for his sup- port a salary of 500 dollars per year, and a settle- ment of 333 dollars, lie accepted their invitatioe and proposals, and was ordained Nov. 1(3, 1803. 83 Carding Jiftu ' Those discoveries and improvements in the me* ehanic arts which facilitate the attainment of the necessaries and conveniences of life, deserve the care and patronage of the friends and benefactors of mankind. Mr. Moses Hale in 1801, first set up a carding machine in his mill on river meadow brook. During the year 1802, he carded eight thousand pounds, and between ten and eleven thousand the succeeding year. Lodge— 1808. Sometime in the vear 1808, sundry brethren from the towns of Chelmsford, Dracut and Tewksbury. petitioned the grand Lodge of Massachusetts for leave to erect a new Lodcre in Chelmsford at Paw- tuckett falls. The grand Lodge, having taken this request into their most serious consideration, grant- ed a charter, authorising certain persons from the a- foresaid towns to constitute and organize a Lodge under the superintendance of Capt. Isaac Coburn. Master, and by the name of Pawtuckett Lodge in Chelmsford. Oct. 12, 1809, the Lodge was conse- crated in Due Form. In 1815, it was removed to the centre of the town, where its meetings are now regularly holden.* *T he grand Lodge was conducted by iLe most worshipful Timothy "Whitin g, Lsq. of Lancaster, as grand Master. It was opened in the morn- ing with prayer by the Rev. t. Riplej, grand Chaplain of Concord. — The public solemnities were introduced bv an address to the throne of grace, from Rev. Thomas Beede of Wilton. A discourse was delivered by the Compiler, from Philip 4-8, and published at the request of the fraternity. 1812 The desk was newly trimmed. The front and sices were cov- ered with red damask silk, the floor with a carpet, the seat v. rftfc a cush- ion, and the window ornamented with curtains. \ suit of clothes was al- so given to the paster. All at the expence cf the Lcdies, amouLtirir to about $B0. L 2 84 puring the late restrictions upon commerce and , ... the unhappy war with Great Britain, the at- tention of monied men was considerably di- rected to domestic manufactures. There being a very Commodious seat for a manufactory on Concord river, about three hundred rods from its entrance in- to Merrimack river, Capt. Piiineas Whiting and Col. Josiah Fletcher, erected in i813, a large build- ing of 60 feet long, 50 i'eet wide and 4j0 feet high, for t\ cotton manufactory. It cost about twenty five hundred dollars. In 18 18, they sold the building to Mr. Thomas Kurd, an enterprising gentleman from Charlestown, who repaired and fitted it for a woolen manufactory. Sixteen looms, worked by water, are employed in making satinet ; of which about 120 yards per day are manufactured. This estimate includes the colour- ing, carding and spinning of the wool, weaving and dressirig the cloth. It employs of both sexes, about twenty persons. Machinery — 16 Looms, worked by water — -1 Winder of 50 bobbins — 1 doo for warping 8 spindles — Warping apparatus — 1 Columbian spinner of two hundred spindles— 3 large coppers for dying — one for blue, of 400 gallons— 't wo smaller for other col- burs — 3 double carding machines, &c. &c. in 1814, a plan was devised and adopted by the m« a town, for building a number of tombs, on the south west side of the old burying ground. — Several of which were built in 1814, others in 1815 and 1816. They were constructed of split stones of the poorest sort of granite except the head, or tomb-stone, which is ol Chelmsford best granite.-- r The expense of them was from sixty to a hundred dollars a piece, according to the care and labor be- stowed in the workmanship. This range of tombs, is a great ornament to the place and a convenience ^o the possessors. 85 The same year, a new burying ground was pur- i 'I used by the town. It i^ located 1Q the north east part of the town near Pawtuckctt falls. The remarkable and destructive gale, expcrienc- - .- ed through New-England, Sept. 1 8, upset, and moved out of their place mo.4 of the small buildings, and several barns in this town.*-— Col. Joseph Bowers, his nephew oi 16 and son of 8 years old, were wonderfully preserved. They were a: work in the bain, and Happened to he in the linter at the moment when it fell. They were buried under its ruins. Col. Powers and his son were uninjured. His nephew Mile F. Byain had his head so hardly pressed between two timbers as to start his eye-balls from their sockets; he was timely relieved, and in a few weeks recovered his health. A considerable proportion of the fruit and forest trees was broken down, eradicated, or prostrated to the ground. The wood blown down and destroyed in Chelms- ford, is estimated at 50,000 cords. A very large elm of 60 years growth, before the house of Maj. Nat hi. Howard, was blown down, which contained on measurement 8 1-2 cords of wood. It was 4 1-2 feet diameter at the ground and 14 feet in circumference. A storm similar to that in Hil5, was experienced in New-England, Aug. 15, l635. "Many houses were blown 4own,many more uncovered. The Indian corn was beat down to the ground so as not to rise again. The tide a: Narraganset rose 20 feet per- pendicularly. The Indians were obliged to betake themselves to the trees, and yet many of them were drowned by the return of the tide before the usual •The bams of Mr. Samuel Marshal), sen .Col. Bowers and Mrs. Hay- wood, toge ther with a barn of Mr. Joei Mansfield, weic blown down. 86 Iiour."* " Immense numbers of the forest trees were destroyed."! None now living in these narts v neither English nor Indian, had seen the like. The .extremity of it continued five or six hours.J Several new mills were built, a saw-mill on deep „ brook, by Messrs. Chamberlains. A saw and grist mill, at Pawtuckett falls, by Mr. Luke Bowers and sons ; a grist mill on the Locks and canals on Merrimack river, by Mr. N. Tyler; and a saw mill on Beaver Brook, by Mr. Moser- Hale. * Hubbard + Hutchins t Morton, 87 1817. This year the following memorial was presented to the town — zchichas it contains a detail of its transactions, relative to the support of the gospel from its first settlement to the present time, is deemed worthy of being transmitted toposterity. A MEMORIAL, Addressed to tile Inhabitants of the town of Chelmsford. \S hen I accepted your invitation to settle in the gospel ministry among you, I considered the terms which you proposed liberal, and adequate to a com- fortable support. Having had no experience of the expehce of maintaining a family, and totally unac- quainted with the peculiar circumstances of the town, that have raised the price of real estate and of sundry articles of living to a height before unknown, I had o-reat confidence that should my stipulated support prove on trial insufficient for the demands of the sta- tion I was to fill, 1 should find a ready resource in that justice and kindness, which for almost a century and a half after the first settlement of the town dis- tinguished its inhabitants in relation to their minis- ters Relying on your christian feelings and principles together with the example of your ancestors in their conduct towards those, who ministered unto them in holy things, that my usefulness would not be im- pressed by pecuniary want, or my ministry brought to an untimely end by those disheartening circum- stances, which it is always in the power of Christian communities to prevent or remedy, 1 felt willing to make every possible sacrifice of a personal nature to promote your temporal and spiritual interests, and secure at length a peaceful assylum for my bones by the side of the mortal remains of those who had ejone before, in the christian ministry in this place^ 38 Entering into your service with these hopes, ancf destitute of that experience, which is the best guide to a just estimate of the necessary expenditures of maintaining a public station, which has numerous and constant demands on the pecuniary resources of those who exercise the gospel ministry; I soon found an insurmountable obstacle to my usefulness and comfort, and an impenetrable cloud spread over my future prospect by the utter want of competent means either to purchase, or build a house. Confident that you would see the difficulty of my obtaining one, and the reasonableness of af- fording some aid either by building on the ministerial land or m some other way, which your wisdom mio-ht suggest, I made application in 1804 for some assTst- ance in building or purchasing a house. But the article, when it came before the town, was dismis- sed without discussion or commitment. Thus disappointed in my most sanguine expecta- tion of a favorable hearing from the town, I had nc other alternative but to take a dismission within a few months after I was ordained, or make °reat ef- forts and sacrifices without much hope of success in attempting to procure a shelter from the storm, and a hiding place irom the tempest. As a request for a dismission, would wear the appearance of trifling with a most solemn engagement, I felt it my duty to make trial of all the means in my power to ob- tain a permanent habitation. For many years I have endured great hardships, suffering and fatigue by laboring m the field and instructing youth in addi- tion to the preparatory labors of the pulpit and die numerous calls of parochial duty. By these la- borious employments and unwearied exertions of body and mind, t had hoped to extricate myself irom embarrasment and debt, so as to pass the even- ing of my days in greater devotedness to the oreat objects of the gospel ministry ; when unexpec/d 89 hanges in the political state of the country caused a rapid depreciation of money, and deprived me of the !Ope, cither of paying my debts, or supporting my family, or of pursuing my ministerial labors with any satisfaction to myself or profit to you. Since my settlement the price of labor and of all the necessaries of life has been greatly augmented. It is a fact well known to you, that for several years past I have paid for the articles purchased of you, for some double, for some more than double, for some nearly double, and for others one third more than I gave when I first settled. ' It is a fact, well known also, that scarcely any article can be purchas- ed in this town any thing short of the market price ; and seldom for the market price. Within the last ten year3 almost every man, supported by a salary in the civil department, lias had it very considerably increased. It is stated in a late report of a committee of Congress, that the salaries of the heads of department, and even of the lowest clerks in the United States government have been repeatedly augmented within a few years. The price of wood, with which most of my predecessors were supplied 30 cords annually by the town, has been continually rising and will m this place continue io increase, by reason of the facilities to market, af- forded by the canahandfhe immense consumption of •wood at the glass manufactory, it is an acknowl- edged principle of justice and equity, that an annual stipend or salary ought to preserve its original value* and if it exceeds it by change of times, it ought to be reduced. To depreciation of money I am forced toadd oth- er discouragements. During the late war, finding the pressure from incompetency of support so great as to leave me no means of obtaining wood for m>- Jamily and study, I presented a request to the town for assistance in this article ; but my request was re- jected. ' r 9o In 1814 a, ttee was chosen by the town at tlie request of sundry individuals, "to confer with rae on the depreciation of my salary and the im- provements made on the ministerial lands ;" and the result of this conference was the following report. The committee kc. beg leave to report, that they have attended that service, heard the statement o! Mr. AtLEN, and examined the improvements on said land. And although the committee are sensible that his salary has in some measure depreciated ; vet they forbear at this time to recommend to the town to increase it. But the committee on view the very great and permanent improvements, made by Mr. Allen on the ministerial lands are forcibly imprest with the opinion that there is justly due to him as a consideration for his labor and expence, in- curred in making said improvements not less than 500 dollars. The commitec accordingly recommend that the sum of 500 dls. be paid him in full conside- ration for said improvements. All which is respect- fully submitted. May 5, 1814, Wm. ADAMS, Chairman of said Committee* The above report, agreed to almost unanimously by the committee, consisting ol sixteen persons, re- siding in different parts of the town, was not accepted by the' town. Having referred in the beginning of this memori- al to the justice and equity of the town in their con- duct towards their former ministers, 1 will here state the facts to which reference was made. v. 22, Iu5-J--The town " voted to give Mr. Fiske 30 acres of arable land, and 30 acres of mead- ow — to build him a house thirty ieet long and twenty iect wide with three fire-places, and chimnies built of brick or stone : to pay him 50/.stg. for the first year, and his maintenance in future as the Lord should enable them " This pledge of fu- tuture assistance they carefully redeemed. For in 165b' the town 'granted and gave to Rev. Mr. Fiske at his request, the land lj*ing before his house. No*> ■ 1 Ib59 the town voted to give Mr. Fiske al his request G acres of land, at the great Brook near his meadow ; 22 1-2 acres bounded by his meadow on the same brook, and 6 acres on Merrimack jplain in IbGO they granted and gave inm at Ins request 81 acres at great Tadmuck, and 8 acres adjoining to it at the same place." The second Pastor, Mr.Clarkc wa.s ordained 1677. The contract between him and the town was as fol- lows: — I. The inhabitants of Chelmsford do agree to pay Mr. Thomas Clarke the just sum of 80/. stg. in manner following, viz. 20/. in current money, and sixty pounds in provision ; viz. 40/. in corn o( all sorts as God gives. The other twenty in pork, beet, and other flesh, but not exceeding 2 I -2c/, per lb Moreover iris agreed that the town shall supply Mr. Clarke with" wood for his family yearly, which is by agreement 30 cor-ds yearly. 2dly. It is a- i '■ d that the town shall pay 60/. in money towards the purchase of Corsar's lands in Chelmsford, and. that they build a house on said land, which house shall be 40 feet long, 20 wide, and 15 in stud, and a kitchen adjoining it 1G feet square and 10 feet stud ; provided Mr. Clarke snail pay one fourth ot what this building shall cost. 3dly. It is a- greed that the said town make addition to the salary above stated, if he stand in need, and the town be able thereto. 4thly. It is agreed, that his yearly salary shall be paid within the year. 5thly. 11 the said Mr. Clarke grow discontented and leave the work of the ministry in Chelmsford, then the said house and land shall return to the town, they pay- ing him what he hath expended towards the pur- chase, building, and bettering the accommodation. Mr. Clarke living at a time, when there was little Dr no depreciation of money, asked but one favor oi M t»2 the town during his minisflry, tvliicli n---- thui ,1 town would give him lOiri., ' " Brook, and Us.Z^Z^f ^^ «*" Mr. Stoddard, the third Pastor, was ordained • -i» !' wa f a greed to and voted by the town to We Mr. Stoddard 70/. as a salary and 100/ a a set' h „ > s M SSe °f '" S "° 0d - VVood be ''ng at this !'me 2 shillings and two pence pr. cord. Thena per currency .ssued in 1690 begaVi about th is time &S In , ,7i 5 'he town voted to raise Mr. Stoddard s salary from 70/. to 90/.; in 1718 money contmu.ng to depreciate they raised it to 100/. • nee moT^" 110 " 8 T r0 T de for his ass ^'- , r, . , t0wn voted (o add 5 ™ wtfeh the Town chose a committee to confer with h,m, and compute the dif! [erence in the necessaries of life from the time of ns settlement to the present time, and rep„«?here on. J he committee reported at the next town. meeting' that Mr. Bridge should have 20of besfe 93 his stated salary by reason of the fall of money, ft was also agreed to by the town that his salary should be made as good, as when he first settled." The next year 1749 it was voted to fix Mr. Bridge's sala- ry in future on the price of corn, rye, beef and pork. 1750, it was voted to give him 90/. in lawful mon- ey to be paid in silver and gold. But in 1752 it was voted to nullity all former contracts, and establish his salary for life at 80/. in lawful money and 30 cords of wood,providedMr,Bridge consented thereto. To this vote Mr. Bridge consented. In 1784 Mr. Bridge again laid a memorial before the town, stat- ing the depreciations, which had taken place in mon- ey, and requesting the town " to act righteously and justly with him by making up the depreciations in his salary." A committee was chosen to confer with him, and report thereon. 1785 the committee re ported, that the town should make updeprceiations according to the scale, and pay interest on arrear- ages. The report was accepted, and the depreciation estimated at 131/. 85. (5d. In 1779 the town voted to add to his salary 1000/. for the present year, vot- ed also to assist him by subscription. Thus it appears that from 1(554 to 1798, a pe-t riod of 144 years, the inhabitants of the town were uniformly governed by the principles of equity, jus- tice and benevolence in all their transactions rela- tive to the support of the gospel; that no request was ever made during this period by their ministers, but what was cheerfully granted by the town. It also appears to have been the uniform sense of the people, that depreciations in salaries ought to be made up, and their original value preserved. Though this principle was denied in 1798, yet it was recognized m 1802, by the town, at the final acL justment with Mr. Packard, as was that also of re- munerating a minister for betterments, made on min a isterial land, 94 In 1798, Mr. Packard requested tlie town to make Up the depreciations which had taken place in his salary since his settlement. This request, when it came before the town, was dismissed without much discussion and without even referring it to a com- mittee to consider and report thereon. At a subse- quent town meeting in Dec. 1798,it was voted to add 20/. to Mr Packard's salary yearly, tor six years; but at the next meeting in March 1799. it was voted to re- consider the grant of 20/. ; which therefore was not assessed, until it was found to be recoverable bv a suit at law. In 1802, an arrangement was made for Mr- Packard's dismission. It was agreed to allow him for the depreciations of his salary and beuer- ments made on the ministerial land over and above the receipts. And July 5, 1802, his ministerial re- lation was dissolved. Now therefore considering the obligations of a christian people to know those, that labor among them in word and doctrine, and see that they are a- mong them without fear ; considering the express de- claration of the Apostle, thus hath the Lord ordain- ed, that those who preach the gospel shall live by the gospel ; considering also the insufficiency of my aalary in its original, much more in its present de- preciated state to answer the demands of the station i fill, I cannot but construe the extraordinary trans- actions of the town in refusing to make up depre- ciations in my salary, or reimburse the money laid out in making 'great and permanent improvement^ on the ministerial laud,' or give me any assistance in any way to enable me to carry on the work of the gospel ministry. I cannot but view these transactions as a virtual declaration on the part of the town, that they wish the sacred relation between them and me dissolved; and as pointing out to me the imperious duty of asking for its dissolution. At the same time I wish it might be remember- 95 \i ■:... nothing but the utter impossibility bf ful- filling the duties of the ministry under present cir- eumstancesi united with the belief, 4 that Island in ..;■>' of some other person, who would (ill the iSlace with more honor and usefulness to you, could induce me to ask for a dismission. If my removal create trouble and expense to you, it will cause much more to me. i have to acknowledge as an act of justice I owe to the town, the punctuality with which my salary has been quarterly paid. I shall also carry with rac to the grave, a grateful sense of the kindness and friendly aid of many individuals, to whose charity, and that of priyaie friends out oi town, I am indeb- ted for those supplies, which have enabled me to con- tinue with you so long. On the whole I cannot but consider it a duty, which I owe to my family, to religion and to you. after having so frequently acquainted you with my necessities, to no purpose ; to seek imployment else- where, where I may have abetter prospect of com- petency and usefulness. Thirteen years of my life have been spent in in- defatigable labors for your good, without laying up any thing at all for the education of a rising family, or my own comfort in sickness and old age. During this period i have been favored with such health as to be able to meet you in the house of God, on every weekly sabbath but one ; and have been providential- ly absent but three or four sabbaths, though accord- ing to agreement I might have been absent 26 sab- baths. The poor remains of my mortal existence, I feel it my duty to devote to my family in providing some- thing for the education of my children, and for my own comfort in those evil days, when a minister's ac- tive labors cease and his past services are forgotten ; and when he who has spent his life in the service of 96 others, without providing comfortably for himself, must expect to meet the ingratitude and neglect oi those to whose good his better days have been de voted. I am, brethren, yours to serve in the gospel of our Lore Jesus Christ. WILKES ALLEN. March 1,1 81 7. At the town meeting in March various proposal were made by individuals tor affording Mr. Allen as- sistance, but none met the approbation of the town. A committee was chosen to agree with him on the terms of his dismission, agreeable to his request ; and the following were offered to said committee. I. That the town pay him 500 dollars in conside- ration for betterments made on the ministerial land and depreciations in his salary. II. That the town be at the expence of a dismis- sing council which shall be called immediately. III. The dissolution of the civil contract betweer; him and the town shall take eifect at the end of the present year of his ministry, which will be on the 16th Nov. next. At the next town meeting in April the above re port was read by the Moderator, and the following vote passed. Voted, That this Town allow and pay unto th>«r Rev. Wilkes Allen, the sum of five hundred dol- lars which sum shall be in full compensation for the Betterments made by him on the ministerial landn and in full consideration of the depreciation of hie: salary to be paid in two equal annual payments, provided he will sign and execute a release in full ior the aforesaid claims and file the same with the Town-Clerk, withdraw his request for a dismission and consent to remain with the Town according tr< the terms of his settlement. Attest, NATHANIEL HOWARD, Town-Clerk, Rev. Wilkes Allen. Chelmsford, April 9, 1817 97 Air. Hale, to whose enterprize and industry, the jg,,, inhabitants of the town are indebted for the in- troduction of several useful machines,and the e- rection of sundry mills,set up at his owncxpenco and as sole proprietor, works for the manufacture of gun- powder The manufactory consists of five or six small buildings at the distance of fifteen or twenty rods from one another. The mill contains forty- pestles. The powder is of an excellent quality, burns quickly, and has been uniformly found to exceed, in strength, the requirements oJ the Law. Cyrus Baldwin Esq. is appointed by the Gover- nor and council. Inspector and Sealer of Powder, at this Manufactory. The works were enlarged and two other gentle- ,o.q men taken into partnership with the original proprietor — viz. Mr. Wm. Tileston of Boston, and Mr. Oliver M vV hippie, who superintends the whole business in Chelmsford. From the 1st. Feb 1319 to the 1st. Jan. 1820 were inspected by C, Baldwin Esq. 79,475lb.* 'Method of proving Gun-powder — Every Inspector of a Magazine or Powder manufactory is furnished by the state with a Howitzer, and .1 sufficient number of 12lb balls. In order to try the strength of Gun- powder, take one "z. of powder and put into the Howitzer, which is el- evated at 45 degrees and if it throw a Ball of 12lb. wt over 75 yds. it is proof and the Inspection mark to be put on, with the name of the In- spector in full — agreeable to the laws of this Common vealth For further particulars respecting making of Gun-powder see Dicfv Arts and Sciences Vol. 2. page 1531, also Rees Cy'a. Vol. xvii. part 2d. 1819. Two new roads made — one from Pawtucket falls to the head of Middlesex canal, the other beginning at Capt, Sherebiah Spalding's house and thence running to Hill's Bridge, Billerica, which was rebuilt the same year. The same year the Ladies of Chelmsford subscribed £30 for constitut- ing their minister a life-member of the American Bible-Society. 9tf REVIEW, AND CONCLUDING ADDRESS TO THE INHABITANTS OF CHELMSFORD. I have endeavored 1o give you a faithful account of what your ancestors did, and of what they were ; that you may have their image constantly before your eyes, to excite you to virtuous activity ; and that you may be enabled to transmit the knowledge of their character and deeds to 'your children, your children to their children, and their children to the generations that shall come after them, that they all may learn to place their trust in God and not forget his wonderful works of old." In the men of other times, who haVe passed in re- view before us, we see a uniform, predominant zeal for the interest of religion, blended with a strong love of peace and order, and issuing in the fruits of right- eousness. Like the Romans in their primitive pu-* rity, 'they cultivated good morals at home and a- broad. They lived in the greatest harmony with- out avarice. They practiced justice and equity from principles of virtue, rather than from the re- straints of laws.' They contended with one another only in the cause of virtue. They were liberal in their relig- ious offerings, sparing and prudent in their domestic concerns.* * Igitur domi railitiajque boni more* colebantur; concordia maxima, minima avaricia erat ; jus bonumque apud eos nbn legibus magis quam natiira, valebant. Cives cum civibus de virtute certabant. Iu suppliers" ileorum raagnirici, domi parci, iu amicos fideres erant. Salmt. .99 VV hatever they acquired in their respective oc- cupations they consecrated to God and virtue/* For the truth of the foregoing remarks when ap- plied to the early inhabitants ot the town, we need only recur to tho early erection of a meeting house, the attainment and support of a settled minister, and the purchase of a bell, and the cautious steps taken in admitting men to become inhabitants of the town. Their sacrifice of domestic conveniences and person- al gratifications to procure convenient appendages to the house of worship, stables for their horses, and rooms for their own comfort, during the intermission, is a convincing proof of their supreme regard to re.r ligion, and shews " that they made the world as twelve and religion as thirteen." The habits of the people have been uniformly re* gular, sober and temperate. We can point to no pe- riod, when there was a prevailing disposition among the people to idleness, gambling, or excessive drink- ing. It has also been characteristic of the inhabi- tants of the town from generation to generation to live peaceably. Religious quarrels have been en- tirely unknown. f Litigations have been few and circumscribed in their operations and effects. They have lived peaceably with their ministers, who with one exception sleep quietly with their congregations in the peaceable mansions of the dead. They have exhibited a pattern of justice and moderation, pit ty and charity, worthy the imitation of the present and of future generations. Faults they doubtless had ; but they are conceal- ed in a great measure from our eyes, by the thick veil of time, Their virtues only we wish to know and remember. They excelled us in ihe most im- *Qua? homines arant, naviganf, aedificant, virtuti omnia parent, salhist tShould not the descendents of such worthy and religious ancestors view the introduction of labor and dissipation on the sabbath, as a pest, which will spread evils, if not nip't in the bud, that will Boon become uncontrolable. .W2 100 portant point, religion ; we have outstripcd them in the knowledge of useful aits, and in the application of that knowledge to practice. They valued relig- ion above riches, the favor ot God above life itself. Let me conclude with a few hints relative to the future prosperity of the town. 1. As society grows out of the mutual wants of men y so it must bo supported and cemented by their mu- tual kindness and assistance. Public spirit is the main spring of social happiness and prosperity. A society of selfish men, envious of rival worth and prosperity, must come to nothing. A house divided against itself cannot stand. It you wish for increasing prosperity, you must move, like the planetary svstem, round a common centre, and that with increasing haimony. You must sacrifice at one altar and remember that you are members of one community, and interested in promoting the honor and prosperity of one town. — M\ hile the Jewish nation worshipped at Jerusalem, and felt a national pride in maintaining the splendor and magnificence of their temple worship, their peace was as a river, and their prosperity as the waves of the sea. But after the ten tribes revolted and set up an altar at Samaria, they were in perpet- ual wars and contentions, which hastened their ruin. Similar consequences have often followed the divis- ion of towns. By dividing, the expenses necessary to the maintenance of civil and religious society, are in- creased, and the resources diminished. The bur- den, which many can easily bear, falls with insup- portable weight on a few. The inconvenience, which the remote inhabitants of a large town, ex- perience by their distance from the centre finds an equivalent advantage, resulting from diminished ex- pense. All possible pains should therefore be tak- en to promote union and harmony and prevent the division of the town into separate and inconsiderable 101 parties, or societies ; lest under the specious pretext of multiplying facilities, you increase the difficulties to religious knowledge and improvement. 2. Cherish that mutual concern for one another, which makes the sufferings of one member, the mis- forrunc of all, and the prosperity of one, the happi- ness of a.l Thus did your fathers.* \Y hen sickness or any remarkable misfortune be- fall a worthy, industrious person, your ancestors af- forded him relief, and thus prevented a calamity from coming upon the community, and cheered the drooping spirit of the distressed and unfortunate. In a more perfect state of christian society, than the present, if one member suifer, all the members will suffer with it. Constantly aim at this state of christian perfection. 3. Encourage and support mechanics and trades- men and men of knowledge and skill in the learned profession.*, and especially such as unite to a compe- tent knowledge of their trade or profession good morals and religious habits and feelings. A society of agriculturalists alone without mechanics and pro- fessional men would be extremely defective. The possessors of the soil therefore should encourage handicraftsmen, mechanics and tradesmen, by selling them land at a reasonable price for the erection of work-shops and dwelling houses, by employing them in preference toothers of the same trade in neigh- boring towns and by promptly paying them for their services. This wise policy was adopted by the early settlers in the town and should be remembered and imitated by their posterity to the latestgeneration, In return for your encouragement and support of me- chanics and tradesmen,they will facilitate your attain' ment of the necessaries and comforts of life, receive your surplus produce and save you much time and expence in transporting it to market, and in going •See the annexed list of charitable contributions.— No. 1Q. 102 ifnto other towns for that mechanical assistance, which might be obtained nearer home. The me- chanics are indispensible to the advantageous pursuit of agriculture; they are therefore the handmaids to individual and national wealth. The society thai encourages them will flourish. The learned professions also are absolutely neces- sary to the happiness of individuals and to the pros- perity of civil and religious societies. Are you sick, you want a physician, who better knows your dis- ease and remedy, than you do ; in whose skill and prudence you can conlide ; whose moral and relig- ious character united with professional abilities qual- ifies him for a confidential friend, and sympathizing helper, and a daysman between disease and death. Who in the hour of sickness and distress, has not felt, that the blessing of such a physician was above all price ! Who has not secretly poured out his soul in thankful praise to the giver of life for the kind assistance of one, who if he could not rescue from going down to the grave, could retard the progress of the disease, mitigate its violence and like the prophet Elisha, command a temporary pause in the descending sun of life : ** Raise the weak head, and stay the parting sigh, Or with new life relume the ewimniing eye." Are you opprest by the unjust, circumvented by the fraudulent, or embarrassed and perplexed in the settlement of your worldly affairs, or attainment of your just rights, you want an able, learned, and honest attorney, who can unravel the mazes of law, plead your cause at the bar of justice, extrieate you from difficulty, and assist you in the attainment, and secure you in the enjoyment of your just rights. In the profession of law you want not an incendiary but an umpire ; a man in whom " is the spirit of the Lord." Such a man " will do you good and not evil all his days." 103' $ot less do you want a minister of the New* Ted* lament, whose superior knowledge shall irradiate the path of duty ,dctect the falacies of the heart and pour the light and consolations of eternal truth into your souls. You want a man, " whose heart is warm, " Whose hands am pure, whose doctrine and whbse life " Coincident, exhibit lucid proof, •'That he is honest in' the sacred cause ; —Much impressed t( Himself, as conscious of his awful cha^p, "And anxious maiuly, that the flock lie feeds " May feel it too. Affectionate in look 11 And tender in address as well becomes •* A messenger of grace to guilty men." These must be supported ; they ought to be by their profession. When men in any of the learned professions are obliged to leave their calling to " serve tables," society suffers a very great injury. 4. Improve the advantages accruing to you from the very respectable and growing Library, estab-' lishedin town. This source of useful information lies open at a small expense to all. Your time will be much better and more happily spent in drawing water from this well of knowledge, than in contem- plating your worldly gains, or mourning over your worldly losses. The light of science prepared the way for the rising of the sun of righteousness upon a benighted world. The diffusion and increase ot that light are natural means of opening the day spring from above, to the soul, and of introducing the uni- versal reign of Evangelical truth and grace over the world. Human learning when rightly improved, helps us to obtain the knowledge of God and of his son Jesus Christ, to know whom aright is life eter- nal. 5. As the field, which your fathers have left to*- your culture and care, has not by nature the most favorable surface, you have therefore the more need of the aids of art. Avail yourselves of modern pi- J 04 periments in agriculture, and you will make constant improvement in the management of your woodi inds, in the tillage of your fields, in rebuilding >our slone walls, and clearing up the he iges around the..;, in breaking up fallow ground, which is now unproduc- tive and in the breeding and culture of liocks & nerds. On the whole you possess by your lo.al advanta- ges and by nature resources, which few towns can boast ; and nothing is wanting to render your situation eligible, arid to make you a prosperous, aiiluent and respectable town, but industry and economy in em- ploying and managing your resources ; and public spirit, virtue and piety, without which no community can flourish. In every society the weight of property and influ- ence is in the hanis of a few. On the enterprise, public spirit and religious example of the more wealthy and influential the prosperous state of so- ciety depends. They work the secret springs, which keep the life blood of community in motion and com- municate vital warmth to the extremities of the body politic. To whom much is given, from them will much be required. To you the picture of a happy society, drawn by Doctor Belknap, is partially applicable, and may be made fully so by your exertions and improvements. " A town consisting of a due mixture of hills; vaihes, and streams of water. The land well fenced and cultivated ; the roads and bridges in good repair. Decent inns for the refreshment oi travellers, and for public entertainment. The inhabitants mostly husbandmen ; their wives and daughters domestic manufacturers; a suitable proportion of handicraft workmen and two or three trailers ; a physician and a lawyer; a clergyman of good understanding, can- did disposition and exemplary morals; not a meta- physical, nor a polemic, but a serious practical preach- 105 er. A school master, who should understand his business, and teach his pupils to govern themselves. Asocial Library annually increasing, and under good regulations. A decent musical society. No intriguing politician, horse-jockey, gambler, or sot. Such a situation may be considered as the most favorable to local happiness, of any which this world can af- ford." May your virtues like those of your ancestors^ send down your names with honor to posterity ; and blending the glory of the children with that of the fathers, enlighten the dark vista ot future years, til), time shall be no more. 106 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CHURCH OF CHELMSFORD. " Nihil sine, nihil conlrct, nihil prader y nihil ultra, divinam Wripturam, admittendum." THE origin of the Church in Chelmsford, is not certainly known. Its existence probably commenc- ed about the time of the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Fiske and a part of his church from Wenham in 1654 or 1655. As a majority of his Church is said to have come with him, their establishment here, may be considered as the removal of that body to anew place, not the gathering of a new church. The church at Wenham, was formed in 1644. — The only form of government and discipline then in general use, was that drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Cotton, in 1633. This platform was adopted by nearly all the churches in New England, and took the name of Congregational. It was the basis and ground work of the Cambridge platform, which was published in 1648, and. contains the true principles of ( Congregationalism. The substance of which will be found in the following abstract. I. " The subject matter of the visible church is saints by calling, i e. such as are acquainted with the principles of religion and profess their faith in Christ. II. "The constitutive part of a particular church, ought to be a mutual covenanting to walk together in christian communion, according to the' rule of the gospel. «< No chi rch ought to be greater in exieui ou han may 01 ipai ' meet together in one I Pop the enjoyment of the i same numerical or- l for the ce!< >rati g of divine worships . ■ . v i tb ai ran cotj I \y carry on relif in and ordinance^. I V. " There is no jurisdiction tu which particular churches are or ougjit to be subject by way oi au- thoritative censure; or any other church power ex- trinsical to such churches, on which they ought to depend* Doct. Mosheim, says, " the ciiurches in apostolic times, were e itirely independent, none of them sub- ject to any forcing jurisdiction; but each one govern- ed by its own rulers and its own lav. s. For though the churches founded by the Apostles, had this pe- culiar difference shewn them, that they consulted in doubtful and difficult cases; yet they had no juri- dical authority, no sort of supremacy, nor the least right to enact laws for theru. .Nothing is more evi- dent than the perfect equality, which reigned among the primitive churches. Nor does there even ap- pear the smallest frace oi that association of provin- cial chinches, from which councils and metropolitans derive their origin." vol. 1. p. 105. Mr. Cotton's, plan perfectly harmonizes with Mo- sheim's account oi the apostolic & primitive churches. On these principles the church of Chelmsford was formed. It lias always endeavored to maintain th-'in, as tiie genuine principles of Congregationalism. It adheres steadfastly to them. It considers itself competent to administer discipline and do every thing, necessary for its own preservation, peace and edification, it holds to the social nature of religion, the fellows, ip of the churches, the expediency of ad- visory councils in cases of disagreement and difficulty. It rejects, as uuscriptioral and subversive of religious liberty, ail preconcerted tribunals, whether consocia- tions, s\noas, or general associations as having 108 any jurisdiction or authority, or even a right to ad- vise, except on special invitation and request. The Church covenant, which Mr. Fiske used, is irrecoverably lost, unless it be substantially the same with that, adopted in 1629 by the church in Salem. This covenant was sanctioned by the civil and eccle- siastical authorities then extant in the country. When Mr. Fiske gathered the church in Salem vil- lage, afterwards Wenham, there is scarcely room for a doubt that he adopted it either in form or sub- stance, or both, and retained its use in the church, at Chelmsford. With this impression we shall insert it at length. It deserves the attentive perusal of those, who would form correct ideas of the nature and design of a protestant church, and of a proper instrument to form individuals into a church state. The people, who arrived in Salem 1629, consult* ed with their brethren at Plymouth, what steps to take in order to form themselves into a church state " according to the written word of God*" On the sixth day ofAugust soon after their arrival they kept a fast and sought divine direction " in settling a church- state and entering into a holy covenant." Messengers from the church of Plymouth attend- ed and assisted in this solemn transaction. The covenant by which the first church in Massachusetts colony was formed, was the following. tc We covenant with our Lord and one with anoth- er ; and we do bind ourselves in the presence of pod to walk together in all his ways according as he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his blessed word of truth, and do explicitly profess to walk as follow- eth, through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We avouch the Lord to be our God and ourselves to be his people in the truth arid simplicity of our |pirit$ 100 We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and /he word of his grace for teaching, ruling and sanc- tifying of us in matters of worship and conversation, resolving to cleave unto him alone for life and glory, and to reject all contrary ways, canons, and constitu- tions of men in his worship. We promise to walk with our brethren with all watchfulness and tenderness, avoiding jealousies, sus- picions, backbitings, censurings, provocations, secret risings of spirit against them; but in all offences to follow the rule of our Lord Jesus Christ, to bear and forbear, give and forgive, as he hath taught us. In public or private we will willingly do nothing to the offence of the church ; but will be willing to take advice for ourselves and ours, as occasion shall be presented. We will not in the congregation be forward ei- ther to show our own gifts and parts in speaking, o* scrupling or there discover the weakness and failings of our brethren, but attend an orderly call thereto, knowing how much tfie Lord may be dishonored and his gospel and the profession of it slighted by our dis- tempers and weakness in public. We bind ourselves to sjudy the advancement of the gospel in all truth and peace ; both in regard to those that are within or without; noways slighting our sister churches, but using their council, as need shall be ; not laying a stumbling block before any,, no, not the Indians, whose good we desire to pro- mote ; and so to converse, that we may avoid the very appearance of evil. We do hereby promise to carry ourselves in all lawful obedience to those that are over us in church or Commonwealth, knowing how well pleasing it will be to the Lord, that they should have encour- agement in their places by our not grieving their spirits through our irregularities. We resolve to approve ourselves to the Lord in t.ii; particular callings.shunning idleness a« the bane o< lie any state ; nor will we deal hardlv or oppressively with any, wherein we are the Lord's Stewards. Promising also unto our best ability to teach our children and servants the knowledge of God and of his holy will, that they may serve him also, and all this not by any strength of our own, but by the Lord Christ, whose blood we desire may sprinkle this our covenant made in his name." The half way covenant, is a covenant of persons with the church merely for the purpose of obtaining baptism for their children without partaking of the communion themselves, was abolished in 1803. The arguments used by the opposition- — partly in the synod, which devised and recommended this practice, are in the mind of the writer suffic ient rea- sons for laving it aside. " If true saving faith be ne- cessary in a parent in order to entitle his offspring to baptism, as all acknowledge j and if this be all that is required in order to full communion ; then no rea- son can possibly exist for admitting persons into the church to receive baptism for then children, and for excusing them from attendance on the ordinance of the supper." The custom of calling for a vote of the church on admission of members and of requiring persons to make a confession of particular sins was discontinu- ed in 1794. The same year the form of the covenant was changed and a more plain, Evangelical one adopted : of which the following is a copy. COVENANT* " You do now in the presence of God and before this assembly profess a sincere belief in the existence, providence and government of an infinitely wise, just, and guod being, who searches the hearts and regards ttie actions of men, and whom we ought tp ♦Written by Rev, Mr. Packard. 1)1 Worship and serve. You believe in man's primeval innocence, voluntary transg ession and unhappy ial! i 7 ou believe that God spake to the lathers by the prophets aforetime, and that he now speaks unto us in the gospel of Christ, who is the one Mediator be- tween God and man, and the only true way to eter- nal life. You do humbly confess your sins of e very- name and nature, and implore the benefits of the Spirits' guidance, the Son's sacrifice and the Father's mercy. And you do heartily desire to give up your- self to God, resolving to deny all ungodliness, and to live as the gospel teaches. You commit yourself to the care and discipline of this church of Christ and promise to walk in communion with it so long, as God in his providence shall give you oppor- tunity*. Thus you believe, resolve and promise." The present mode of admittting persons to com- munion is by examination of the pastor,* who on sat- isfactory evidence of their repentance, faith and res- olutions of new obedience, propounds them to the church, who individually have liberty and opportu- nity to satisfy themselves, touching their qualifica- tions, and of objecting, if they see cause. Ifno objec- tion is offered, they are admitted by the silent con- sent of the church. The church from its origin, to the present time appears to have been exempted from quarrels and. unchristian disputes and divisions. It has never had occasion to call a council to set- tle any differences among its members or any un- happy misunderstandings and disaffection between the members and their pastors. It has frequently ♦This is agreeable to the earliest custom at Salem. At Salem tllej- ieft it to the discretion and faithfulness of their elders. Some were ad- mitted after their first answering questions about religion, propounded to them. Some were admitted when the^ h. d presented in writing such things, as might give satisfaction to the people of God — and some orally addressed the people of God and asked communion with them ; which diversity was perhaps more beautiful, than would have been a more riunctiliqus uniformity. : i father's .Mo g. Ghri. .?•.•:--■ Hi had occasion to exercise its powers in disciplining disorderly me inhere, and has always by prudent management accomplished its ends. The niimber of church members at the commence- ment of Rev. Mr. Bridge's ministry was Males 73— Females 122— Total 195. Do. of Rev. Mr. Packard's—Males 40— Females 62-Total 102. Do. of the present Pastor's-Males 39-Fe males 73- Total 102. — Present number, Males 36— Females 72— Total 108. When there were but 853 souls in town, in 174T, there were 195 professors of religion. Now the population is increased to 1450, and the number of professors, including Baptists, may be estimated at 160. During the reigrt of' New Lightism,' many disor- ders and irregularities broke out in the New Eng- land churches, which gave occasion for much wisdom and prudence in the management and discipline of dffending members. One instance is recorded, which deserves mention, ats containing a full illustration of an important ques- tion, which recent facts furnish daily occasion to ask, viz. How shall a church conduct towards those, who leave its stated worship and communion, and go to a neighboring church, under pretext of being more edified ? A complaint was made to the Pastor, by sundry brethren, of Job Spalding and Lydia his wife, and Mary Stedman, for irregular and disorderly con- i±AG duct and behavior ; in that 'the abovesaid persons do absent themselves from the pub- lic worship of God with us at all times, except when the sacrament of the Lord's supper, is administered, and that the said Mary Stedman. hath absented her* self not only from the public worship of God,but also from the administration of all ordinances,for consider- able time, which we apprehend to be a violation of feer solemn engagement with us,' 313 The church, at a regular meeting called for the purpose, after prayer for divine direction, proceed- ed to the consideration of the charge and the proof on which it rested. The accused acknowledged the truth of the charge in general ; but were not con- vinced of its being erroneous and disorderly conduct. They declared their conviction of its beinL r their duty so to do, and their determination to per- severe in this practice, until they were convinced of their error. Hereupon the church voted bv a great majority, "That persons absenting themselves commonl? and generally from the stated worship of God on the Lord's day, not being hindered in the providence' of God* and no good and weighty reason being given* are an olfencc and grievance to the church." " Nev- ertheless the church arc willing to hear the excuse of the above said J. S. L. S. and M. S. why thev went into such conduct, '' At an adjourned meeting Feb. 12, 1745-6, Job Spalding and wife offered in writing the following •reasons ', to wit i— *■" Because they can be better ed- ified and enlightened intd gospel truths by hearing Mr. Bliss of Concord, than by hearing Mr. Bridge." J. SPALDING. L. SPALDING, To which the Pastor replied,, that they were not charged with irregular conduct iu that they could be better edified bv Mr. Bliss, than by himself: but in absenting themselves from public worship and com- munion iri the church to which they belonged in viola- tion of their covenant engagements without any pre- vious notice given to the church of their dissatisfac- tion ; or any attempts to remove their grievance. The church voted " that they were not satisfied with the reasons assigned by the offender;-, and a- 114 grreed to adjourn the meeting in order toffive further dine for consideration to both parties." When met agreeable to adjournment, the afore- said Job and Ly ia Spak ing offered, as what they supposed would be satisfactory, the following con- cession. *t That they were sorry that they had not taken proper steps, not that they had wrested themselves from the communion of this church. For they declared they would do so stili, nevertheless they asked forgiveness." Hereupon the church passed the subsequent votes : — I. " That they considered the above acknowledge- ment and declaration as a contempt cast upon the church. II. That they would proceed to pass censure up- on the aforesaid Job and Lydia Spaldmg. III. That it should be tlrat of admonition; which was accordingly done m the name and presence of the church by the pastor." They were also pro- hibited the privilege of communion until satislaction should be given to the church. Mary Stedman, it appears, was a zealous friend and follower of W hitnelc/Tennant and i thers oi that description, and enjoyei such immediate revelations and communications from above, as raised her to the privilege of exemption from all ecclesiastical au- thority and rule on earth. She behaved in a very indecorous and unchristian manner before the church. After 18 years separation, she confessed her errors and was restored. The case of Job Spalding was continued 26 years, and terminated in a satisfactory acknowledgement, and restoration to church privileges. The principle which this case illustrates is, that persons under covenant engagements in a particular church, being dissatisfied with the public instruc- tions or conduct of individuals, or mode of discipline, I 115 cannot innocently and regularly withhold from wor- shipping and communing in that church until they have given notice oi" their dissatisfaction and taken roper measures to remove it, and of their desire to ave their relationship dissolved, that they may at- tend worship and communion in some other church, where they can he better edified ; and where they think it their duty to attend. The church's censure of the above said offenders was not for going to hear preaching " more enlightening and edifying than what tl.ey could hear in their own church" — but for vio- lating covenant engagements in withdrawing without previous notice given to the church or attempts to remove the hindrance to edification, or a request for dismission, with the reasons on which it was founded. Whatever evils may grow out of the principle of dismissing persons irom a church on the pretence that they can be better edified in another, yet it is better to dismiss malcontents regularly than retain them in uneasiness, or force them into disorderly steps. Besides the denial ot the principle would infringe the rights of conscience, and abridge the re- ligious liberties claimed by protestants as their di- vinely seeured right, and guaranteed by the laws of the Commonwealth. As one end of incorporating towns is the regular maintenance of religious institutions, and as the set* tlement and support of a gospel minister, are trans- actions partly civil and partly ecclesiastical, yet inti- mately connected ; so churches by long established usage have been confined to town lines and bounda- ries, and the practice of overleaping them in forming churches and admitting members has ever been con- sidered as irregular and disorderly. Notwithstand- ing, that the rights of conscience might be preserved inviolable, the constitution exempts any man from contributing towards the support of any minister, regularly settled in the town where he live?, provid- 116 eA he cannot conscientiously attend on his ministry, and provided also that there be any other minister of a different persuasion on whose ministry he docs attend." The constitution therefore permits the disorder and irregularity of going out of town to enjoy religious worship and ordinances on the plea of conscience to prevent the greater evil of infringing it? sacred rights, Order is the first law of religious as well as civil society, and this consists in all the members observ- ing : 'bcrtain established laws and regulations. Hence the practice of inviting itinerant preachers into pri- vate houses to preach, or of going to hear them in a community where there is an ordained minister, is a violation of the civil and religious compact, and was accounted a censurable practice by this church as appears by their vote, Nov. 7, 1743- " Whereas of late the churches in this land have been much infested with lay exhorters ; and some ministers who have left their own parishes and charges,$nd undertaken to play the bishop in anoth- er man's diocese, to the great disturbance of towns and churches, and to the breach of christian com- munion in those churches and places, where they come ; and whereas this church and town have been sorely distracted by such persons coming a- mong us, and preaching and exhorting in private houses without the consent of the stated pastor ; and whereas one Pain, a lawyer, belonging to the colony of Connecticut, hath been lately introduced into the town by John Birge and Gersham Procter, two of the brethren of the church,and invited by them and allowed to exhort in their houses — ^and whereas di- vers females of our communion have followed the naid Pain, an exhorter, and a very illiterate one too. to Westtord on the Lord's day; and the said John Birge, Gersham Proctor and diverse women, so oi- i*ndmg: have acknowledged their faults to tjie sa-tr 117 faction of the church ; at the motion and request of Abraham Byam and Pelatiah Adams, two other brethren, this meeting is called to see what may be proper to be done to prevent such conduct in future. it is on mature deliberation resolved and voted by the church, that the practice which some of our brethren have gone into of late of asking itinerant preachers or lay exhorters to preach in their private houses ; or to go into other towns to hear sucn preachers on, Lord's day, is offensive to this church ; and if any member do so for the future, or in any way encour* age such itinerants, they shall be deemed liable fo censure." (Yeas 44 ; Nays 7.) BEACONS. Cornelius Waldo, came with Rev. Mr. Fisk, from Wenham,Died Jan. 3, 1701. — Andrew Spalding,born Nov. 19, 1653, died May 5, 1713, aged 60— Samuel Foster, born 1619, died July 10, 1 702, aged 83 — JBenjamin Adams, died May 13, 1762, aged 83 — Andrew Spalding, died Nov. 7,1753, aged 73 — - Stephen Pierce, died Sept. 9, 1749, aged 71 — Eph. Spalding, chosen Jan. 30, 1749, died Dec. 28, 1791, aged 83 — John Warren, chosen Dec. 18, 1749, re- moved to Townsend 1764 — Ebenezer Goold, chosen May 3, 1764, resigned 1804, died April 6, 1816,aged 90 years and 36 days— John Farmer, chosen 1797, removed to Mernmack, 1803, died at Merrimack* Nov. 17,1814, aged 52-Benja. Parkhurst,chosen Jan. 3, I771,resigned lK12.died 1812 set. 71-AaronCham- berlain, chosen Jan. 20, 1771, resigned 1804, died Sept. 27, 1816, aged 90 — Josiah Parkhurst, chosen 1804, died Dec. 30, 1818, aged 56— Owen Emerson, chosen 1804 — Noah Spalding, chosen 1812, Legacies and Donations, 1764-Capt. Jona. Richardson, left a legacy of 201 118 old tenor ; 21. 13s. 4d. lawful money ; for the use of the Church. 1754-Mr. Benjamin Chamberlin, 41. lawful money, to the use of the church. 1775-Capt. Ebenezer Parker, bequeathed to the church il. 6s. 8d. lawful money. The following donations were made before any church records were kept ; their date is unknown. — > Col. W m. Tyng, six pounds ; Capt. Joseph Parker, ten pounds, about the year 1740 ; The ftev. Sam- son Stoddard, a silver Tankard ; a silver Cup, by Rev. Mr. Fiske.t A Legacy from Col. Clark. t This cup is marked on the bottom with I. F. L. C. C. — John Fiske'g, Legacy to the Church of Chelmsford. Note — 1773 — A new set of furniture, was purchased for the commun- ion table, from the proceeds of the old furniture and funds of the church. 1816 — It was again exchanged for new and more convenient vessels, of plated silver, and the expence defrayed by the same means as in the former exchange. 119 MEMOIRS OF THE MINISTERS OF CHELMSFORD. Tlie Rev. John Fiske.* AMONG the writers of the Gospel, with which the primitive church was blessed was "Luke the beloved Physician," of whom Jeromt elegantly says, that as the Apostles from fishers of fish, became fishers of men; so from a Physician of bodies, Luke was made a Physician of souls; and as his book is read in the church, his medicine will not cease.'-— So among the first preachers, who rendered the primitive times of New England happy, there was one, who might likewise be called a 'beloved Phy- sician,' one to whom there might also be given the eulogy, which the ancients think was given to Luke, a brother whose praise was in the gospel throughout all the churches. This was Mr. John Fiske. Mr. Fiske, was born in the parish of St. James, in the county of Suffolk, England, about the year. 1601, of pious parents. His grand parents and gr. grand parents were eminently zealous in the true religion. In the reign of Queen 'Mary, of six brothers of this name, three were papists and three protest ants. Two of the latter were grievously persecuted. The one from whom John the subject of this memoir descended, was, to avoid burning, hid many months in a woodpile, and afterward half a year in a cellar^ * Thi? memoir is taken principally from Cotton Mather's Magnalia. t u Quornodo Apostoli de l J i=catoribus pisciura, Piscatores homimim facti sunt, ita de Medica corporum in Medicuro versus est animarum. Cujas liber quotiescnraquc legitur in l-disiis. totieg mcdi'-inanon cessaV. 120 Where he wrought by candle-light at manufactured and remained undiscovered. But his many hardships brought on excessive bleeding, which shortened his days and added to " the cry of the souls under the altar." John was the eldest of four children, who all came with him to New-England, and left posterity with whom God etablished his hoK covenant. His par- ents having devoted him to the Lord Jesus Christ, :.ent him first to a grammar school at the distance of two miles from their abode. Being there fitted for the University, he was sent to Immanuel College, Cambridge, where he resided until he took his first degree. Having spent some considerable time in preparatory studies he entered upon the work to which he had been devoted, and which was his fa- vorite object, the preaching of the gospel. In this pursuit he would have continued had not satan hin- dered him. The conformity act Was odious to him. Its friends and supporters 4 breathed out slaughters,* and the silencers pressed so hard upon him for his Non-conformity* that upon the advice of his friends he relinquished the ministry, and turned his atten- tion to the study of physick. After a thorough ex- amination he obtained licence for public practice. At the age of 28 years he married a virtuous ancT amiable woman, who did him good and not evil all her days. She Avas the sharer and the soother of all his tribulations until about three years before his death, when she left him to go to be with Chnst t which she esteemed far better than to be here. In i63G his father died and left him the charge of his Mother, two sisters, and youngest brother. This event dissolved the strongest ties that bound him to his native soil, and removed every obstruction that seemed to be in the way to the enjoyment of .his favorite pursuit. He resolved on going to New- England, where he saw an opportunity for the quiet 121 exercise of his ministry. He and Mr. John Allen* went on board in disguise to avoid the fury of their persecutors-! After they had passed the land's end, they entertained the passengers with two sermons a day, beside other agreeable discourse, and devo- tional exercises, which filled the voyage with so much religion, that one of the passengers, being examined about his going to divert himself with a hook and line ontheLord's day, 'protested that he did not know when the Lord's day was ; h* 1 thought every day was a sabbath-day ; for they did nothing but pray and preach all the week long. Mr. Fiske arrived in New-England in the year 1637. His aged mother died quickly after he came on board ; and his only infant quickly after he came on shore. He came well stocked with servants and all sorts of tools for husbandry and carpentry and with provisions to support his family in a wildernrss three years ; out of which he charitably lent a con- siderable quantity to the country, which he then found in the distresses of a war with the Pequot Indians. He lived a short time at Cambridge, and from thence he removed to Salem, where he tarried a- bout three years. Here he was both a preacher to the church and a tutor to divers young men, of whom the well known Sir George Downing was one. He afterwards, through the want of grammar schools, instructed his own children. About the year 1C42 he removed to anew village inSalem,afterwards calledWenham,where on the 8th *Mr. John Allen settled in Dedham. He died 1671, ait. 75 having been at Dedham 24 year?. He was a diligent student and good scholar : iiis ep- itaph it is said justly delineates his character. Vir, eincerus, amans pacis, patiens quelaboris, Perspicuus, simplex, doctrinx* purse amator. "Hinder the persecution of Arch Bishop Laud many puritans and non- conformists flocked over to New-England, which occasioned a state proc- lamation April 50, 1637 forbidding any subjects to transport themselves + .o America without license from his Majes-ly'a commoners. 122 Oct. 1644 a church was gathered, of which he con- tinued the pastor until the latter part of the year 1655.* He contented himself with a very mean salary, consuming his own esl ate for the welfare of the new plantation. For in 1643 he gave ten acres of land to the town or society of Wenhara. About the end of the year 1655 he removed with the major part of his church to another new town calledChelms- ford, and there he spent the remainder of his days. He was past the meridian of life, when he en- tered a new upon the work of the ministry in this uncultivated and thinly peopled town. Here new trials, hardships and deprivations surrounded him. which in youthful vigor might have disheartened iiim ; but in the decline of life were enough to over- whelm him. His ministerial labors were increased by his distance from any other minister, and the dif- ficulty and danger of travelling through the woods from town to town. For several years there was no other minister nearer than Concord and Woburn. " Coming from a paradise of pleasure in England to a wilderness of wants," his patience and fortitude were put to the severest trial. His care for the souls of the flock committed to him was unremit- ting, while his medical skill imposed on him an in- dispcnsible obligation to minister to their corporeal health. His services as a physician, were of inesti- mable value in the new townships where he resided after he came to America.* An additional labor was imposed upon him in 1657 by the earnest solicitation oi' the inhabitants of the »« Wenhara the 6 of 12th mo. 1654 i. e. Feb. 12, 1655. [t is ordered that the maintenance of our minister shall be j£40 a year, whether Mr Kiske stay and settle among us, or we procure another*" December Col- lowing it appears that Mr. Fiske had left Wen ham -' 31 Dec. 1655. It is ordered that in case Mr. Brook be procured to stay among us, be a committee to receive whatever the town has en- gaged for Kir. Brook's use. ' iVenham Records. *lle was employed in America as a physician whenever he would con- sent. Rev, Dr Bentley'BiMS. J.?r, 123 town to compose a new catechism for the use and instruction of their children. This was undertaken at their request, and printed at their expence 1657. by Samuel Green, Cambridge. It is styled tho " Watering of the Plant in Christ's garden, or a short catechism tor the entrance of our Chelmsford children. Enlarged by a three fold appendix." It is dedicated " to the church and congrega- tion at Chelmsford ;" and appears from the following introductory remarks to have been written wholly for them. " Beloved, what is here presented to public view is yours. For looking to the poor penman, as re- lating to you ; to the external moving cause as ris- ing firstly and freely from you ; to the end and use. as centering in you ; to the reason of the publishing hereof as resting with you ; and to the care and costs as to that end expended by you ; it must not otherwise be determined,than to be yours." "Which being so, you have saved me the labor of prefacing on behalf either of this so necessary and fruitful an ex- ercise of catechising, or of this present draught, or of publishing it. The present encumbrances of our new beginning, you know to have declined me till of late from writing, and my own inabilities much more from publishing, being rather desirous of mak- ing use of some others' labors that way, or at least of acting my own feeble apprehensions in a more private manner among ourselves. But God hath moved your minds first to see, and seeing to cause, that it must be as it is." This catechism is plain, adapted to the capacities of small children, and almost wholly of a practical nature. The three fold appendix was designed for youth of maturer years, in order to instruct and pre- pare them to discharge the duties of prayer, ob- servance of the ordinances of the gospel, and oj uni« 1124 versal obedience. This little work is moderate iii its doctrines, catholic in its spirit,and well suited, as it was designed, to water the Olive plants in Christs* garden. Mr. Fiske, though deprived of ' several hundreds of pounds of his wife's patrimony upon the displeasure of her father at her going to America,' c and though he consumed his own fair estate to promote new settle- ments ;' yet found means to give hisyoungest son a collegiate education. He was graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, lb62, and was ordained after- ward over the church and society inBraintree. To the many trials and afflictions, ihat had exer- cised Mr Fiske, a new and unexperienced calamity was added by the death of his wife. Endeared hy 43 years experience of mutual care and toil, com- panions through a great sight of afflictions, and knit together, by the strongest ties of vital piety, the separtion was painful, and inflicted a deep wound in the heart of the survivor; though not above the pow- er of religion to heal. She by her incomparable ex- pertness in the scriptures had rendered any other concordance of the Bible in his library useless. Some years before her death she lost her sight. ' Under this disaster she exhibited a most exemplary pa- tience by her view ol the things, which are not seen, and are eternal. " Alter many admonitions to her friends to improve their sight well, whilst they had it ; on the 14th Feb. 1671 she had her eyes opened by their being closed, and was by death carried from faith to immediate and everlasting sight." Divine providence had just before removed Mr. Edmund Hinchman,* the countryman and tried friend ot Mr. Fiske, who had followed him from England to America,and for many years hadresided inChelms- ford, and Mr. Fiske, to cheer the remainder of his earthly pi!grimage,took his widow, Elizabeth Hinch° *Died 1669. 125 man for his companion, in 1672. But this connection was short. The time approached that he must die. He began to labor under two maladies, either of which was enough to try the most consummate pa» 127 The Rev. Thomas Clark. HOWEVER commendable the attempt to snatch from oblivion a worthy character, and trans- mit to posterity the knowledge of those virtues, which once rendered their possessor the delight and ornament of his day, we dare not cherish the hope of being able to bring back from the long lapse of time the characteristic features of the subject of this memoir. We have neither church records, man- uscript sermons, cotemporary notices, nor any other materials, from which any thing, but a bare memen- to can be erected, excepting the following notice in the 9th vol. of the Hist.Coll. of Mass. page 195. Dor- chester, 1704,Dec. 10. The death of the tfev.Thomas Clark ofChelmford was lamented in a Sermon from Acts 20 — 25 &c. " A great loss to all our towns, and especially to the frontier towns on that side of the country, who are greatly awakened with the loss of such a man." Fairfield's MS. Journal. He was born in Boston about the year 1652, graduated at Harvard University, Cambridge, 1 670 ? and was ordained to the pastoral office in Chelms- ford, 1677 He received the unanimous suffrage of the inhabitants of Chelmsford to become their Olin- Anne, the name of the other daughter }s not known. John lived with his father in Chelmsford. He appears to have been a very useful and respectable man. We find him often employed in the public transactions and affairs of the town. In 1666, he married Lydia Fletcher, daughter of the first William Fletcher. He died about the year 1700, without children. His estate in Chelmsford, descended to his brother Moses, of Braintree, whose children as executors of their father's will, sold it in 1708, to Rev. Mr. Stoddard, for JS130. Mr. Stoddard's children, sold it to Rev. Mr. Bridge, whose eldest son, the late General Ebenezer Bridge, possest and improved it, till his decease. It has been in the successiv.; possession of three of the ministers of Chelmsford. Moses Fiske, graduated, at Cambridge 1662, and settled in the Ministry at Braintree. His son Samuel, graduated 1708, and settled in Salem. — He was the father of the late Gen. Fiske. Ann Fiske, married to John Brown, of Reading. Neither tho name, nor fortune of the other'dftughter H known, 128 istcr. We might perhaps from Um circumstance infer his acceptableness as a man and minister to this people. His wife, Mrs. Mary Clark, died Dec. 2, 1 700. In 1702, Oct. 2d. he was again married to Miss Eliza- beth Whiting, of Billerica, daughter of Rev. Samuel Whiting, who survived him many years. He lived in a period distinguished by no remarka- ble changes in the political or pecuniary cirsumstan- ces of the country. This with the consideration that his original salary was a more ample support than either his predecessor or successors have enjoyed, accounts for the singular fact,that he never requested but one favor of the town during his ministry. * None of his writings have been preserved. Almost the only monumentf of his pastexistence,that has surviv- ed the ravages of time is his tomb-stone. This has a modest, and to this day quite legible inscription in latin of the following i:nport. "The lemains of the Re v. Thomas Clark, the faith- ful Pastor of the flock of Christ in Chelmsford are here committed to the dust. In the laith and hope of a blessed resurrection he breathed his soul into the bosom of Jesus, Dec. 7, 1704, in the 52 year of his age" and 27 of his ministry.^ *This was a piece of land of about 10 acres, lying on Beaver Brook. IHis great grandson, Dea. Thomas Clark of Tewksbury,has in his poe- seision the staff, with which he used to walk, which has this inscription. ,k Thomas Clark, 1686." ORIGINAL. Memento mori. Fugithors. Huic pulveri mandate sunt Reliquae Rev Dora. Thorn Clark Gregis Christi Chelmsfordianae Pastoris eximii ; qui fide et spe Beats; resurrectionis animam in sinnm Jesus expiravit, die Vll Decembris Anno Domini 1704, a3latis suae 52. jHis place of residence was that now in the possession of Mrs. Grace Fletcher, widow of the late Oliver Fletcher, Esq. His wife, Mrs. Mary Clark died Dec. 2, 1700. Their children were Jonas, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Lucy. Lucy married Maj. Wm. Tyng of 129 The Rev. Samson Stoddard. THE third minister of Chelmsford, was Samsoo Stoddard, of Boston. He received the honors of the University at Cambridge 1701. From this time, to his call to settle in the ministry in Chelms- ford, his history is totally unknown. On the 27th June, 1706, he received a unanimous invitation to become the pastor of the church and society in this place ; and on the 25th of the following July, was consecrated to the pastoral office. His first marriage was in 1708, but the name of his wife is not known. He married again in 1727, to Mrs. Margaret Halkertson, of Boston, with whom he lived about 13 years. She survived him about 40 years, dying March 27, 1789, aged 79. Dunstable, son of Col. Jona. Tyng, and Father of the late Hon John Tyng, Sept. 19, 1700. She died April 25, 1708, Her husband, Maj. "Wm. Tyng, was wounded by the Indians between Groton and Lancas- ter, was carried to Concord, and died Aug. 16, 1710. and was there bu- ried. Family Records. Elizabeth Clark married Mr. John Hancock of West Cambridge. Thomas Clark was born Sept. 28, 1694 Jonas, the oldest son was born Dec. 2, 1684. He resided in Chelm«- ibrd on the farm now known by the name of the Cragie farm. There he kept a public house near the ferry, that has ever since borne his name. His house was the general jesort for all fashionable people in these parts. He was honored with various civil and military offices ; was a very popular man and esteemed a very good christian. " He was honored in his day, and was the glory of his times." He closed & Jong and useful life April 8, l"/70, aged 86. His last and highest military office was Col. commandant of the 2d. Regiment of Middlesex Militia. His descendants are now liviag in Tc-wksbury. Rev. Thomas Clark had other children, who did not arrive to mature age. The following Receipt is preserved as a memorial of the manner of procuring the monuments, erected at the grave of the Rev. Mr. Clark and of the price of them, and of similar works, at the begiuning of the eighteenth century. Chelmsford, V7A Jfav. 1708. Received of Mr. William Fletcher the sum ol fifty shillings in money to be bestowed for a monument over the grave of the Rev Mr. Thomas Clark lat« of Chelmsford deceased ; it being the donations of sundry persons in Chelmsford, for that us*. 1 say received by me JOHN HANCOCK. 130 From some remnants of his manuscript sermons,, with which the writer has been favored by the kind- ness of a friend,* it appears that his sermons were constructed after the models of the old divines, ol the sixteenth century; but executed in a happier manner. His style is neat and perspicuous. His sentences short, and the members well disposed. — Of which the following extract from one of his ser- mons, is subjoined as an illustration. "Use. ' Will all those, that persevere to the end 4 of their lives in well doing, inherit the kingdom of 4 God ? Hence then be exhorted not to be under ' the influence of a private and selfish soirit. 4 it is one note of the last and perilous times, 4 that men shall be lovers of their own selves, 2 i Tim. 3, 2. There is a regular self love, that 'will 'calculate all its designs to the public good ; but a ' vicious self-love will calculate only to private inter- ests. Nothing can afford a more auspicious omen 4 than a public spirit, influencing all degrees and or- 4 ders of persons- ; andnothngcan give a people a 4 blacker prospect than to see them under the domin- 4 ion of a private and selfish spirit. A private spirit 4 will check all noble and generous designs for 4 the public. The question will be not what 4 will promote the general prosperity ; but what will 4 serve best this or that sinister design. A selfish 4 spirit prevailing in a town will prove the grand in- cendiary of the place ! and the fruitful parent of 4 injustice, violence and fraud. When this spirit 4 prevails among a people, they will make merchan- dize of the gospel and regard more the advance- 4 ment of their own worldly interest, than the pro- 4 motion of religion and their own spiritual interests 4 and concerns." His health was naturallv delicate, and his habitt sedentary. His constitutional temperament strongly inclined him to a recluse life, and a repression of Mr. John Farmer of Amherst N. H. 131 .drit. But the imperious calls of parochial duty V ministerial intercourse corrected m some degree , e infelicities ot nature and habit, and suppressed awhile the rising tide that at last overwhelmed him. A necessary expenditure in his lamily, which his resources could not meet, the mortification and per- plexity of teaching the town school in w3o and, added to his constitutional infirmities a weigh which overcome his fortitude, and impaired his health. He became unable for the most part ft* ring the three last years of his life to discharge the duL of Ins sacred office. The town afforded hm some pecuniary assistance by contributions and at the same imc supplied Ins desk. He occasionally preach- eu, but discovered all the symptoms oi a diddered and unhappy mind The las! discourse he delivered £ p 3fi wL from the first of Cormthians, ninth chLter and twenty seventh verse. < But 1 keep un- der my body and bring it into subjection, les by -any means when! have preached to others,l myself should be a castaway.' He was a plain, practical preachei, and a faithful and able minister ot the new Tes a- ment. He fell a prey to his corporeal and men al disorders, Aug. 23, 1740, m the 34th year ox hi, min- istry and about the 60th ot his age. The manner and circumstances of his death spread a cloud over his future prospects, through which surviving friends are unable to penetrate 1 he ris- ing tide of grief, occasioned by such melancholy in- stances of mortality, finds relief only by resorting to human ignorance of final causes and to divine love and mercy through the Redeemer. . With this sentiment we would soothe our anguish and the grief of posterity at the premature grave ot the unfortunate^ Stoddard. With this sentiment, clothed in the poetic garb of Gray, we would sup- press the rising enquiry and troubled thoughts when 132 ever memory recalls to the contemplation of virtue^ and misfortunes like his. For who to dumb oblivion a prey, This pleasing, anxious being e'er resign'd ; Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind 2 No farther seek his merits to disclose Or draw his frailties from their dread abode, There they alike in trembling hope repose, The bosom of his Father and his God ! Rev. Mr. Stoddard had 9 children. Samson, Elizabeth, "William, Ben= jamin, Margaret, Rebecca, Sarah, John, Mary. Elizabeth, bom L)ec. 14, 1710, was married to Mr. Waterhouse of Boston. She died a widow in Chelmsford, Aug. 25, 1775, aged 64. William, born May 4, 1712, died 1742. Benjamin, born Dec. 28, 1713. Rebecca born Nov. 4, 1716, mar- ried Wm. White, merchant of Boston. Sarah, born Sept. 21, 1718, was married to Rev. EbenV Bridge, Oct. 1741, died April 9. 17JA af:ed65. John, bom Nov 1721, died young. Mary, born June 19, 1723, died at "Westford, of a fever, April 3, 1759, brought to Chelmsford and buried there. Margaret born 1725, was married in 1776 to Rev. Samuel Hopkins of Hadley. Samson, the oldest son was born May 1, 1709. Graduated at Har- vard College,Cambridge. 1730. He studied divinity and began to preach, but for some reason unknown at this time he relinquished divinity and turned his attention to trade and agriculture. He opened a store of En- glish and West-ftidia goods, and traded largely for many years in Chelms- ford. He entered into the land speculation in Vermont,and became pos- sessor of a large tract,which with other lands adjoining was erected into a township and called Stoddard. He obtained a justice's commission and the command of the 2d. Regiment in Middlesex county. He took an honorable part in the affairs of the church and town for many years, and was honored with the suffrages of the people for sundry offices in town, and for a representative to the General Court, and delegate to sundry special congresses for obtaining redress of grievances under which the colony labored before the revolutionary war commenced. He was a pro- fessed christian, and, as ought always to be expected in such a case, a public spirited townsman, and a man of pure morals. At the commencement of the revolutionary war, he was suspected of indifference to the cause of the revolution, or of favoring its enemies. He therefore fell under the displeasure of the people, who according to the spirit of the times treated him with some indignity, from which he never fully recovered. Whither he really did favor the cause of Great Britain or not, seems not to be clearly ascertained. But his best friends censr.r sd him for withholding a full exposition of his sentiments. 133 The Rev. Mr. Bridge. THE period, at which the subject of this big* graphical sketch lived, was the most difficult and trying for clergymen, of any half century since the settlement of this country. Mr. Bridge, was born in Boston, 1714. He was educated at Harvard University ,Cambridge ; whence he proceeded A. B. 1736, at the age of i7 years. He spent the next year after he left the university, at Plymouth, in instructing the grammar school' where he was much respected and beloved by his pupils.* He pursued his theological studies under the di- rection of the Rev. Wm. Welstead, who was his guide in youth, and constant counsellor in riper years. He received a unanimous call to settle in the min- istry, at Chelmsford, Dec. 30, 1740. His answer to the invitation of the church and town, to the pastor- al office, will exhibit a fair specimen of his compo- sition, and at the same time develope his views and feelings on this solemn occasion. " Inasmuch as you have unanimously elected me, to settle in the work of the gospel ministry among you — I now declare my compliance with your call, and as 1 trust the call of divine providence to me herein, and my acceptance of your offers for my support and comfort among you ; expecting that you make me pay quarterly in my yearly salary, for my convenience, and relying on your goodness and Gen- erosity, that as you see my necessity hereafter in, creasing, so you will never be backward in your as- sistance, which if you are duly mindful of them, will by the blessing of God, abundantly enable me to go ♦See memoir of School-mastere, in PJvmoulL, His. Co] to). 4, 134 on in his and your service with cheerfulness and de- light. I choose to take this opportunity to express my delight and satisfaction in the peace, love and harmony, subsisting among you, which has greatly engaged me to you. And I earnestly entreat each of you, that you do in your respective places, en- deavor still to maintain and preserve it aaiongyou, as it will be one means of rendering me serviceable to you by the blessing of the God of love and peace. "One thing 1 beseech of you, that you would at all times, when surrounding the throne of grace, for the supply of your own wants, bear me on your minds, and pray to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that I might be filled with the gifts and graces of his good spirit ; that I might be thoroughly furnished to every good word and work ; that I might be faithful in his service unto death ; and that you might by his grace be my crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord. And be assured that so long as God shall continue me in your service, I shall, relying on his gracious assistance, lay myself out to serve you and yours in the gospel of his dear Son. February 26, 1741. Mr. Bridge, was ordained May 20, 1741 ;* and in the following Oct. married to Miss Sarah Stoddard, third daughter of the Rev. Samson Stoddard. His stature was large and commanding, his man- ners grave and dignified. He possessed great social powers and was a communicative friend and pleas- ant companion ; yet such was his sense of the sa- credness of his office, of the reverence and submis- sion due to the ministerial character and authority, that he seemed rather to awe the common mind by the majesty, than allure it by the loveliness of virtue * The Rev. Mr. Parker, of Dracut, made the introductory praye r .— Rev. Wm. Welstead, of the North Church, Boston, preached from 1 I inpl 4-6 l A good minister of Jesus Christ.' The Rev. Mr. Haocock, of 1 ea ington, gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr. Baxter the fellowship of the churches. 135 a»d piety. As the head of a family, he was strict and rigid in exacting obedience and conformity .to estab- lished regulations. As a parent, affectionate and indulgent. His passions were strong and quick, which mark- ed his character with energy, decision and reli- gious ardor. The infelicities of nature however he turned to a good account by making them subserve the high purposes of virtuous activity and religious fidelity and zeat in the service of his Divine Master. In the pulpit he was animated and solemn, and by his clear, sonorous voice and distinct pronuncia- tion delighted the ear and commanded the attention of his hearers. He may be ranked among the hap- py few, who on a sudden emergency or special oc- casion, discover an admirable facility in selecting and arranging ideas, putting them in a dress, and deliv- ering them in a manner appropriate to the feelings, which the occasion excites. His rank among the minister's of his day may be ascertained by the public honors conferred upon him in being appointed to preach the Artillery Election sermon in 1752, June 1 ; and the general Election sermon May 27, 1767. These sermons are in print, and do equal honor to his understanding and heart, patriotism and piety. The former discourse is founded on the I Oth. ch. of Acts, and 1, and 2 verses. 1 Cornelius, a Centurion of the Band, called the Ital- ian Band, a devout man and one that feared God With all his house.' The drift of this discourse is to shew the consistency of military life with the profession and practice of Christianity. The latter sermon is from Deut. 33 — 29. ' Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord,the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency !' This is a very long and a very loyal sermon. It contains man) just remarks upon 136 governments and laws,and many "useful hints to rulers. It is replete with sentiments of attachment to the mother country and of devout congratulations for the civil and religious liberty and growing prosperity of the colonies. These are the only discourses, that are published. He was often solicited ; but he al- ways refused to give publicity to those occasional discourses, which were thought by his hearers to pos-> sess peculiar merit. As a writer he was deficient in some of those qual- ities which constitute excellence. His style was neg- ligent and diffuse, his sentences long and ill-con- structed. Sermons written in a familiar conversa- tion style, are often heard with a pleasure and prof- it which they seldom afford on reading. We have the testimony of living witnesses, that he was an ac- ceptable, animated and searching preacher, and a faithful minister of the New Testament. His creed partook of the orthodoxy of the day, and paradox- ical as it may seem, he was a strenuous advocate for liberty of conscience and the rights of private judg- ment, and a bitter enemy to sectarians of every de- nomination — But his strongest aversions were a- gainst the Hopkinsians, with whom he had no inter- course, and whom he could hardly treat with civili- ty. His virtues were put to the severest test by the Whitfieldean spirit, that pervaded the country and interrupted the peace and order of the churches. Long and difficult was the work of devising and a- dooting a uniform system of church government and discipline. This work had just been accomplished by the wisdom and perseverance of the Fathers of the New-England churches, which had enjoyed but a short peace ; when a host of mushroom exhorters and lay preachers, who owed their origin to Mr. Whitfield, sprung up and made inroads upon the peace and order of christian societies and churches 137 It is far from the intention of the writer to impeach the character, or call in question the motives of this eminent saint. His conduct in itinerating and preach- ing through a country, mostly formed into regular churches and societies, and furnished with stated pastors, is justly censurable, as contrary to the rules of the gospel, and subversive of the civil and reli- gious peace of society, and of the order and edifica- tion of the churches. From his example, powerful eloquence, and in- flammatory zeal many settled ministers were induced to play the Bishop in another's diocess ; and many illiterate persons to assume the office of itinerating preachers. By persons of this description many members 01 this church were seduced and beguiled from the simplicity and order of the gospel, to the srreat n :' The time of bis ministry was a very difficult and ,s 13a trying one. in a pecuniary point of. view. So great and sudden were the depreciations of money, and so oppressive the burden of maintaining the revolu- tionary war, and so many and great the embarrass- ments lying upon the people after the attainment of their independence, that it is difficult to conceive of the straits to which the clergy were reduced. Though the people were attentive to his wants and indulgent to his requests, yet considerable time must have necessarily elapsed before depreciations could be made up and necessary supplies granted.* In the commencement of the war with G.Britain and until the republication of Hutchinson's Letters in this country, he was a decided friend of the cause and interest of Great Britain. But after the perusal of these letters, he changed his opinion, and was ev- er after one of the most ardent supporters of the independence and liberties of the colonies ; and his exertions greatly contributed to the union, zeal and patriotism of the inhabitants of the town. In 1783, April, 9, he was called in divine provi- dence to the painful L: reavement of his consort. She died in the 64 th year oi' her age, after having accompanied him 4 ! years in his pilgrimage, and partaken with him the afflictions and consolations of the gospel. In 179i he married Mrs. Joanna Abbot relict of Dr. Nehemiah Abbot, who survived him several * A Soliloquy of a Country Parson, meditating upon his c?V- cumstances, at the present day — 1778.— [Found among hif papers, after his decease.] In short I do see it, I'm in terrible taking My hen* 1 'tis distracted, my heart is quite aching The view of my case makes me greatly to shudder I'm tost here and there, like a ship without rudder Opprest by misfortunes, neglected by friends, By most men forsaken, who setk their own ends, 1 look all around me and a*k myself whether, 1 can find bread, or meal, corn or .-hoe- leather ; I protest on my word, if one would believe me, i know not of one. who's inclined to relieve me. 13» year*. From this time his health and strength gradually failed. lie continued however to preach with little interruption till a tew weeks before his death, though with all the mental and corporeal de- bility, incident to advanced age. After a long and useful ministry he was called to give an account of his stewardship Oct. 1, 1792. The church erected a monument to his memory with the following aj> propriatc Inscription : — By the Church of Christ In CHELMSFORD. In testimony of their esteem and veneration This scpultrial stone was erected, to stand as a sacred memorial of their late worthy Pastor The Rev. Ebnezer Bridge, who after having officiated among them in the service of the Sanctuary for more than a year above half a century, the strength of nature being exhausted, sunk under the burden of age and Joined the congregation of the dead, Oct. 1, 1792, JE. 78. The children of Rev. Ebenezer Bridge were, Sarah, born July 25, 1742, married (o Rev. Henry dimming-?, D. D. of Billerica. Ebenezer, born April 29 .744. John, horn Feb. 2.1746, Elizabeth, 1747, died in in- fai; v. .Mary, Nov. 10, 1750, married 1o Mr. Timothy Winn of Wobqrn, now'Burlington. William, Jan. 14, 1758, now living in town. {Catherine, Feb 23, 1755, died in infancy Lucreli a, March 13, 1757, married to Dr. Walter Hastings, April 10, 1777. Ebenezer. the oldest son received the honors of the University at Cam- bridge in 1764. Soon alter leaving College he went to Worcester, where he spent a year or more in teaching a public shool. He then removed to Billerica and opened a store of E. and W. I. Goods. In 1775 he was chosen Col. of the 27th Reg. of minute men, which he com. manded at the celebrated battle on Bunker's Hill, in which he received two slight wounds In 1776 or 7 he was chosen Register of deeds of the county of Middlesex. From 1781 to 1800 he was chosen s.ucce.'»ive- ly a senator in the Legislature of Massachusetts, and from 1783 to 1U08 county treasurer. In 1785 he married the Widow ol Dr. Mumfurd, of Boston, who died 1787, Sept, 29, He was a faithful guardian ol the rights and liberties of his country, and a zealous promoter of the interest and welfare of his native tow n. His numerous friends and acquaintances always found a cordial welcome *»d hospitable retreat at his house. He was respected abroad as a correct 52 140 OF THE PAWTUCKETT TRIBE OF INDIANS. THE early history of Chelmsford, is so blended with that of its aboriginals, that the former can hardly be intelligible without the latter. The most correct and authentic source of informa- tion, is Gookin's Historical Collections of the Indians of New- England.* He divides them into five great tribes, viz : — Pe- quots, Narragansetts, Pawkunnawkutts, Massachu- setts and Pawtucketts. The latter he thus de- scribes. *< Pawtuckett is the fifth and last great sachemship of Indians. Their country lieth north and north east from the Massachusetts. Their dominion reacheth so far as the English jurisdiction doth now extend/!* They have under them several smaller sagamores, as those of the Pennakooks, Agawames, politician, and an enlightened, tried patriot, and esteemed at home for hrs public services and private virtues. He died at Hardwick, IN. York after a long and lingering sickness, Feb. 9, 1814, as;ed 70 N. B. JohuFiske, Jonas Clark, Samson Stoddard and Eben'r Bridge were the oldest, sons of their respective fathers, who were the four first Ministers of Chelmsford. Excepting the first, they succeeded to the same honors and offices, or nearly so. The three last were Justices of the peace, members of the Legislature, and commanders of regiments. All four were active, useful men, and leading characters in town. M I'liey were honored in their generation and the glory of thei' - times."' ♦General Gookin, was appointed Magistrate and Ruler over the pray- intr Indians, in 1656. His history was written about 1674, after many years fa miliar intercourse with them. T rhis included the whole state of New-Hampshire. 'The Massachu- setts tribe, inhabited principally about Massachusetts bay. Their chief Sasjamore. had under him, many petty sachems, as those of W'achagoskas, Neponsit, Punkapaog, Nonontum, Nashaway and some of the Nipmuck people. The t'awtucketts inhabited on their north and north east limits. ' Gookin, 141 K:\amkeeks, Pnscatawayes, Accomitas and others.- They were a considerable people heretofore, and held amity with the Massachusetts. They were almost totally destroyed by the great sickness in 4612 and 1613.* At this day 1674, there are not above two hundred and fifty men, besides women and children." "All the scattering tribes on Piscataqua and Mer- rimack rivers, were originally but one great nation, acknowledging subjection to Passaconnaway, the great Sagamoret of Pennacook.' These all took the national name of Pawtucketts. ■'$ It was customary to call those of the same nation or tribe, by the different names of the villages, at which they resided. Inattention to this circum- stance has introduced great uncertainty and confu- sion into those transactions of the town, which rela- ted to the Indians in Wamesit and Pawtuckett. — They belonged to the same tribe, and living so near together, constituted but one village. They are sometimes called Pawtucketts, more commonly Wa- mesits. It was a favorite object with the first adventurers and of many of their patrons in England, to christian- ize and civilize the Indians in New-England. The government of Massachusetts, early entered into ""What this disease was that so generally and mortally swept away these and other Indians, in New-England, I cannot well learn. Doubt- less it wa* some pestilential disease. I have discoursed with some old Indians, that were then youths, who say, that their bodies all over, were exceeding yellow, before and after they died, describing it by a yellow garment, they shewed me." Gookin. It was considered by the people at that day, as a divine opening for the settlement of the English. t At every noted place for fishing and hunting, there used to be about an hundred or two hundred, who had a sagamore oyer them. In every great tribe there was a sagamore, to whom all the tribe acknowledged subjection. The lesser Sagamores were called sachems.— Hubbard's Hit. Ne-w- England. % (his name is probably derived from the falls of the same name, a- bout which the great body cf the tribe resided at an early period of their history, and at the bottom of which was Wamesit, their ancient capital, at the confluence of Concord and Merrimack rivere.. 142 iheir views and labored to effectuate these desira- ble ends. Hence the praying Indians, or those Avho hopefully received the Gospel, are presented to us in a more conspicuous light, and their history has be- come peculiarly interesting. Wamesit was not on- ly the ancient seat and • capital' of the Pawtuckett tribe, but also of the praying Indians on Merrimack river ; the history of whom will necessarily involve a sketch of the plan adopted by government, to bring them into a state of civil society, while they ■were acquiring the knowledge of the principles and duties of Christianity. Mr. Eliot, minister of Roxbury, justly styled the ^Apostle to the Indians," began to preach to those in his vicinity in lb46 ; and by his influence with the Court measures were adopted in lt>5b, for govern- ing and instructing them. * At Mr. Eliot's motion, care was taken by the court to appoint some of the most prudent and pious Indians in every Indian village that had received the gospel, to be rulers and magistrates among them, to order their affairs, both civil and criminal of a more ordinary and inferior nature. These rulers were chosen by themselves, but approved by higher au* thority.' This authority was vested in an JLnglish magistrate, who was to join with the chief of their rulers, in holding a higher court among them.- The English magistrate appointed the time and place of holding court, and consented to judgement. Each village had one or more constables, chosen yearly. There was also a marshal general, over the praying towns, called Capt. Josias, alias,Pennahannit, whose residence was at JNashobah, now Littleton. To carry their design into effect the court farther enacted, 1. That the Indians had an original title to the land. — Gen. 1-28— ch. ix.— I. Ps. i 15— *6. 2. That the civil Indians should have lands grant- ed them for towns. 3d. That the Indians should 143 not be dispossessed of what land they had subdued, or driven from their fishing places. 4th. That none (ghould buy land of the Indians without leave of Court. 5th* That all strong liquors should be pro- hibited to be sold or given to the Indians, unless in case of sickness and that by permission. The En- glish magistrate was empowered to make, order and give instructions, backed with penalties, for promoting the practice of morality, civility, indus- try, and diligence in their callings ; also to make and execute good orders for keeping holy the Sabbath day, that people attend public worship, that schools be set up, and continued for the education of youth, and that Indian teachers and rulers have small en- couragement distributed among them. At what time the Indians at Wamesit received f he gospel is not now known. But it must have been prior to 1653. For we find Mr. Eliot this year passing sev- eral 'ays at Pawtuckett ; and when the grantees of Chelmsford petitioned for the same, Mr. Eliot in behalf of the Indians requested an appropriation of certain lands , included in the forme*- pet.tion, to the sole use of the praying Indians at Wamesit. The court's committee taking into consideration both petitions reported in favor of an appropriation or grant of land to both parties. In 1652 sundry persons from Woburn and Con- cord obtained leave to examine the tract of land, now constituting Chelmsford, and finding many In- dians upon it, who had improved and cultivated cer- tain pieces of land, especially a part of Robin's hill ;; they thought it just and meet to pay them for their improvements ; or to make some compro- mise, or enter into some agreement with them con- cerning it. Mr. Eliot, whose knowledge of the In- dian language and previous acquaintance with them as a preacher qualified him for a negociator, was em- ployed for this purpose. Through his agency with 144 them, and at Court an exchange of the land under improvement on Robin's Hill tor an equal quantity under similar improvement at a place to be desig- nated by the Indians within theii grant, was agreed on and ordered by the court. Robin's hill was so called when the English first visited this place, and is said by tradition to have re- ceived its name from its first cultivator, who was it js apprehended Old Robin, or some one of the Rob- in family from Pennacook. The grants of land obtained by Mr. Eliot for the Indians lying on the west side of Concord River, were for the sole use of the christianized Indians, whose capital was Wamesit. Hence when the bounds were established in 1665, between Chelms- ford and the Indian grant, the latter is called Wame- sit, though in the act of Court in 1653 it is styled Pawtuckett. The reason for calling it Wamesit in 1665 and ever after, is this, that it was granted as the proper right and for the sole use of the praving or christianized Indians at or about Wamesit. Gookin describes Wamesit,as lying on the east side of Concord river & containing 2,500 acres. This from the best calculations, that can now be made, was a- bout the quantity of land, appropriated to the Indians on both sides of Concord river. Their lands in Tewksbury, or what we may call Wamesit proper are estimated at 1000 acres ; and those in Chelms- ford, or Wamesit, so called afterwards, are suppos- ed to be about i5,00 acres. Attention to the origin and history of the family at Pawtucket falls will shew more clearly the rea- son why the name of Pawtuckett was soon lost in that of Wamesit. The first considerable settlement at Pawtuckett fells was made about the year 1670. " The Pen- nacooks had come down the river and built a fort at Pawtuckett. They were opposed to Christianity 145 and obstinately refused to pray to God. They joined in the expedition against the Mohawks, and were most- ly destroyed. Since that time the Pawtuckett Indians were at feast several of them become praying In- dians.* From this time the history of the Indians at Pawtuckett and Wamesit are blended together. They are both praying families, and meet together at one place for public worship on the sabbath as appears from the account hereafter given of the conversion of Wannalancett. Hence Gookin de- scribing a visit, which Mr. Eliot and he made to this place, says; we took our journey May 5, 1 674, to Wamesit or Pawtuckett, and arriving there that evening, Mr. Eliot preached out of Matthew 22, from 1 to the 1 1th verse in Wannalancet's wigwara about two mile? from the town near Pawtuckett Falls on Merrimack river. But the highest and last proof, that the Indian plantation originally calied Pawtuckett was afterwards styled Wamesit, is found in the Indian deed of Salem,f where it is expressly called Wamesit, or Chelmsford. Public Worship. tt At the praying villages public worship was thus performed. Upon the Lord's days, fast days, and lecture days the people assemble.! together at the sound of the drum ;* twice on Lord's days, and once only on lecture days. The teacher began with sol- emn affectionate prayer ; then read a chapter dis- tinctly out of the Old or New-Testament. A psalm was then appointed, solemnly rehearsed and suno*. *FJiot quoted by Huchirc«on, vol. 1. — p. 16G Note. fSee extract from it in pai;e 151 ** The Drum and horn were both used for calling people together for public worship. Voted that Abraham Tyler blow his horn half an hour before meeting on Lord's day and lecture <)ap and receive one lb. of pork annuallj for his service fr in e; eh family.' Saltonmlla Hist. HxvsrhilL t4G The minister catechised and prayed before his ser- mon. Then preached from some text of Scrip- ture. He then concluded with prayer, singing; and a benediction. Sometimes instead of reading the chapter some person answered Sotne questions in the catechism ." It is said that the 4 Indians at Wamesit were nev- er very hearty in the cause of Christianity.' This remark is partially confirmed by the fact, that a church was never established there. The general character of the Pawtucketts was not warlike. Unaccustomed to the fatigues and hardships of war, their love of peace and ease indu- ced them to forego the honors of warlike exploits. When the Mohawks made war upon the Massachu- setts and Pawtucketts, they carried terrors into their very hearts, and forced them from their fishing: pi a- cp.s, cornfields, and habitations. They lied to the English for protection and support. Their ideas of the Maquas may be learnt from the following speech. Sept. 1665, five well armed, stout young Mo- hawks cime into the house of John Taylor of Cam- bridge. They were arrested as spies, and sent to Boston. '1 he neighboring Indians came in great numbers to see them, and to entreat the court to put them to death, or suffer them to kill them, for said they "these Mohawks are to us what wolves are to your sheep. They secretly seize up- on us and our children wherever they meet us, and destroy us. If we had taken five wolves alive, and should let them go again and not destroy them, you Englishmen would be greatly offended .vith u?,&sure- j ly the lives of men are of more worth than beasts." Perhaps the peaceable spirit of the Pawtucketts during the latter period of their residence at their several villages on Merrimack River might be ow- ing in some degree to the dying counsel of Passa- 147 connaway, the Chief Sagamore ofthe, Pawtucketl nation. This Chief distinguished for his duplicity. Sagacity 8nd moderation, and tor his skill in necro- mancy, at a great feast and dance in lbbO maue hi^ farewell speech to his people, in this he warned them as a dj ing man 10 take heed tiovv they quarrel- led with their English neighbors. For though they might do them some damige, yet it would prove tne means of their own destruction". He tol. them that he had been a bitter enemy to the English and had tried all the arts ol sorcery to pre- vent their settlement and increase, but could by no neans succeed, bo far was this counsel regard- ed, that on the breaking out of Phillip's war 1675. Wannalancet the son and successor oi Passaconna- v.ay retired*with his people into some remote place. that he might not be drawn into the quarrel; It appears that amicable dispositions were cher- ished and preset ved between the Pawtucketts and inhabitants of Chelmsford with very little interrup- tion; though for the first half century they were in perpetual alarms and (ears, and exposed to the greatest dangers. The M aquas, and strange In- dians from the southward were the fomentors and perpetrators of most of the mischief that was done. The affray in 1676 was caused, as Hubbard and ethers assert, by the imprudent and unjustifiable at- tack of some people from Woburn and Chelmsford, who to retaliate the burning of a barn, and some hay slacks, supposed to have been done by the In- dians, fired upon them, killed some and wounded several others. This excited, the Indians to a pre- datory war. They burnt several houses in Dracut, Chelmsford, Shawshin and Andovcr; killed a son of George Abbot of And over, and carried away another captive. Roger Marks was wounded and i48 his hors"e killed. Two sons of Samuel Varnum were shot as they were rowing a boat across Merri'k. river. The English erected garrison houses in different parts of the town, to which they lied on the first no- tice of danger, and where they usually spent their nights. They were environed by a strong wall of stones, or of hewn timber, built up to the eaves of the houses ; through which was a gate, fastened by bars and bolts of iron. They were lined either with brick, or thick plank. Some of them had port- holes, for the discharge of niusquetry. In these the early settlers spent many a sleepless, anxious night. Some idea of the distressing situation to which they were constantly exposed, and in which they were often actually placed, may be obtained by the following document, taken from the records of the General Court, and from sundry letters found on file in the office of the Secretary of this Commonwealth, " Considering the present danger of an assault by the Indians, on the county of Middlesex, it is ordered that John Phillips, Esq. be commander in chief of the lower regiment, and Maj. Tho. Hinchman, of the upper regiment in Middlesex, and so continue till an orderly nomination of Majors can be made for the said regiment. Consented to by the Governor and Council, June 27, 1G89. ISAAC ADD1NGTON, Secy.. Several garrison houses were standing within the memory of some persons now living. Particularly one south of the meetinghouse — one near Mr. An- drew Spalding's, which was destroyed by the gale in 1814. One on the west side of Francis hill which overlooked the settlements on Stoney Brook and had several dwelling houses around it, whose eel lars and walls are vet visible. Chelmsford, July 12, 1639, Hon. and Worshipful, These bring you my humble service acquaint* 149 ing you, that yours bearing date 1 1 i'nst. 1 have re- ceived, wherein 1 understand the great and eminent- danger we are in upon account of the enemy, the town being threatened the next week to be assaulted. ii And not only from what yours expresses ; but also what was discovered at Groton the night before last —the which I understand you have been informed of. And also at Dunstable on Thursday night last to- wards morning appeared within view ot Mr. Waldo's garrison 4 indians, who shewed themselves as spies, and it is judged, (though not visible) that all the gar- rison in said town were viewed by the enemy ; and that by reason thereof their cattle and other crea- tures were put into a strange affright. Wherefore Honorable and Worshipful, I judge it highly need- ful and necessary that we have relief at this town and that speedily of about 20 men or more for the repulsing the enemy in guarding some out places, which are considerable on each side Merrimack, as Messrs. Howard, Varnum, Cobourn &c. who oth- erwise must come in to us, and leave what they have to the enemy or to be exposed to the merciless cru- elty of bloody and barbarous men. I have ordered of those troops, which are made up of towns, which are in danger^ 40 at a time to he out upon scout until the latter end of next week; concerning whom I judge it ncediul and necessary that they be released to go home to guard the seve- ral towns, they belong to. Thus Honorable and Worshipful please to consider and grant the above petitioned things, which I hope and believe will be conducible to the safety and security of us and these exposed towns and highly oblige your most hum- ble servant: THOMAS IIINCHMAN V To the Hon. Governor and Council, sitting in Boston* 150 Mode of Catching and Dressing Fish. " From the Indian, or wild hemp they made cord- age, with which they manufactured nets from 30 to 40 feet long, which they used in taking salmon, stur- geon and shad. With this they prepared lines to "which they affixed crooked pieces of bone in the form of a hook for angling. They had also a singu- lar mode of catching sturgeon in the night. They lighted up a birchen bark, and waving it to and fro, by the side of the canoe, allured the sturgeon, which approached, " tumbling and placing an 1 throwing up their white bellies," into which the Indians stuck their spears and darts. " Their backs aie impene- trable." Their mode of dressing fish was to boil it with beans and maize, in this pottage they boiled fish and tiesh of all sorts either green, or dried, cutting it in small pieces. They also mixed with this pottage several sorts of roots, groundnuts, pompions, squashes, acorns, walnuts, chesnuts. The nuts being dried and pow- dered, were used instead of meal to thicken their pottage. Courts. The English Magistrate usually held his court at Wamesit annually in May. Mr. Elliot attended him to give advice to the magistrates, and to preach to the Indians, whom the occasion might call together in greater numbers. 'While many resorted to this ancient capital seat of Indians to iish, he seized the opportunity, to spread the net of the gospel to fish for their souls.' In the early settlement of New-England thePaw- tucketts consisted of about 3000 ; and in 1674, 250, At Wamesit, when Mr. Elliot persuaded them to re- ceive the gospel, there were about 75 souls. Their chief sagamore and civil ruler after they became christianized, was Numpow, " a man of a noble spir- it." His son Samuel was their teacher. In the expedition against the Mohawks in 1669 they were mostly destroyed. Being reduced to a very small number, they determined to remove farther to the north ; and, that they might not go away with re- sentment and unfavorable impressions against the English, they were persuaded not only to sell the lands assigned them by the government, but also in 1686 to release by deed all right in the townships of Concord, Chelmsford, Groton, Lancaster, Stow and Dunstable.* The same year certain Indians at Wamesit and Natick, gave a deed of sale of the township of Sa- lem, f This also was probably done to prevent any future evil, that might arise from the Indians,, on the pretence of injustice on the part of the English, in taking away their lands by force or fraud, and with- out compensation. In the year abovesaid, the Indians at Wamesit, sold for valuable consk orations all their land west of Concord river, except Wannalancet's old planting field, together with 500 acres on the north of Mer- rimack river, reserving the privilege of hunting and fishing, and of using what wood was necessary for the dressing of their food and other conveniences. After this their headquarters were at Penna- cook, though a few families remained at Wamesit several years; and others were occasionally there oY» hunting and fishing parties and for the purpose of visiting their English friends and former neigh- bors. ♦Douglass. t A copy of this Deed is printed in Rev. Mr. Eentley's History oi Salem, signed by David Nonjriupanoho . Sam Wuttaannoh, John Jonto- qunne, Cicilys' son, grandchildren of George Sagamore; Cicily Petag- huncksg, Sarah WeKtaqnatinnnsk, daughters of George Sagamore, a foresaid, and Thomas Wkqneakussenm no, alias, Capt. '' om, all of Waymessick, alias, Chelmsford, and certain others from Natick. 152 In 1680, the rawtueketts at Pennacook, were brought into public notice, by their cruel plot a- gainst the life of Maj. Waldron, of Cocheckor or Do- ver; and the friehdshilp of some of the former in- habitants of Wamesit, is abundantly tested by their disclosure of it to Maj Hinchman, as will appear by the following letters, copied from the originals on file in flic Secretary's office. Hon'd. Sir, This day two Indians came from Pennacook, viz. Job Maramasquand and Peter Muckamug, who report that damage will undoubtedly be done with- in a few days at Piscataqua, and that Maj. Waldron. in particular is threatened; and that Julimatt fears that mischief will quickly be done at Dunstable. — The Indians can give a more particular account to your honor. They say if damage be done, the blame shall not be on them, having given a faithful account of what they hear; and are upon that report moved to leave their habitation and corn at Pennacook. — Sir, I was very loth to trouble you, and to expose myself to the censure and derision of some of the confident people, that would pretend to make a sport with what I send down by Capt. Tom, (alias, Thomas Ukqucakussennum.) I am constrained from a sense I have of my duty, and from love to my country-men, to give the infor- mation as above. So with my humble service to your honor, and prayers for the safety of an endan- gered people. 1 am, Sir, your humble servant. June 22. THO. HINCHMAN. Hon^d. Sir, This 22 June. This day Captayne Tom and another Indian, informed me that there is farther mischief intended by the Indians, which the bearer hereof, Thomas Loud, is able to inform you of. — yrs. T. H. Hon. Thomas Dantorth, Esq. at Cambridge. 153 Mr. Danforth, providentially detained from the meeting of the council, inclosed the foregoing in the following letter directed to Governor Bradstreet. Hon. Sir, June 22, 1689. The enclosed came to hand last night by the bear- er, who has farther to »nform,and gives such a charac- ter of the Indians, & brings such a report as gives great cause to fear it is too true. He will iniorm of the names. who they are,andof the manner that they have plotted their designs. Something must of necessity be done, or matters will grow worse. I understand that Hawkins* is a principal enemy, and that he *As a specimen of Indian faith the following letters of said Hawkins are May 5, 1685 Honour Govuemor my friend You my friend I desire your worship and your power, because I hope you can do som great matters this one. I am poor and naked, and I have no men at my place because I afraid allways Mohogs he will kill me every day & night. If jour worship when please pray help me you no lei: Mohogs kill me at my place at Malamake river called Panuckkog and Nattukkog, I will submit your worship and you>- power. And now want pouder and such alminishon, shott and guns, because I have forth a my hom and I plant theare. This all Indian haud, but pray you do co a sider your humble servant. John Hogkins Sup-. Another from the same. Honour Mr Governor May 15 1685 Now this day I com your house, I want see you and I bring my hand at before you I want shake hand to you. If your worhip when please then you receive my hand, then shake your hand and my hand. You my friend because i remember at old time when live my grant father and grant mother then Englishmen com this country, then my grant father and Englishmen they make a good govenant, they freend allwayes, my grant father leving at place called Malamake rever, other name chef Natukkog and Panukkog, that one rever great many names & 1 bring you this few skins at this first time 1 will give you my friend This all Indian hand Joav X Hawkiivs Sagamore. The two foregoing were signed by 14 other Indians at Pennacook, a- raong whom was Old P^obin and Peter Kobin. Another from the same. Please your worship, I will intreat you matther you my friend, now this, if my Indian he do, you long pray you no put your law because some of my Indians fool some men much love drunk, then he no know what he do, may hit he do mischtf when he drunk, if so pray you must let me know what lie done, because I will ponis him what he have done you, you my friend i: you desire my busines, then sent me 1 will help you if I can Mr. Joh.v Hogki.vs. Btlknup's His. -V. //. Vol. 1, Jpper.dit , 154 threatens ihai whosoever comes to treat whether English or Indians they will knock them on the head'. They are a company of young men, 30 in a compa- ny. They have a special design on Maj. Waldron and Peter Coifin, and under pretence of trade intend to surprise them and that speedily. I am much a- f'raid, if there be no speedy course taken their com- pany will increase. I must beg excuse lor my ab- sence today, for by the providence of God 1 am de- tained. God direct. Your humble servant, THOMAS DANFORTH. N. 3. I entreat that Maj. Waldron have speedy notice ; better to send on purpose, than not at all. On the above information the Governor and coun- cil ordered a messenger to be sent toCochacho with the following disclosure of the plot. But* by rea- son of the unexpected detention of the messenger at Newbury ferry, during the fatal night of the 27th of June the news came too late to save the brave, but unfortunate Waldron. Boston, June 27, 1689. Hon'ble Sir, The Governor and Council having this day re- ceived a letter from Maj. Henchman of Chelmsford, informing that some Indians are come in unto them, who report, that there is a gathering of some Indians in or about Peuecooke with design of mischief to the Eng'ljsh. Among these said Indians one Hawkins is said to be a principal designer; and that they have a par- ticular design against yourself and Mr. Peter Coffin. The council thought it necessary to send you advice thereof, and to give you notice, that you may take care of your safeguard ; they intending to endeavor to betrav vou on a pretention of trade. Please forth- with to signify the import hereof to Mr. Coffin and *F6r a ftill account of this interesting affair the render is referred to Dr. Belknap's Wis. N. Hampshire, Vol." 1, p, 245 and so on. 156 >tkcrs as you mat' think necessary, and advise of what information you may at any time receive of the Indians motions. By order of Council, ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sedy. For Maj. VValdron and Mr. Peter Coffin, or either -of diem at Cochecha. These with all possible speed. This plot is said by Hubbard to have been form- ed by some strange Indians, who having been pun- ished for their crueltv and treachery to the English meditated revenge, and artfully engaged some of the Pennacooks to assist them in obtaining it. A relation of Wannalancet's conversion together with a few interesting anecdotes will close the me- moir. Wannalancet was the son of Old Passaconnaway. the great Sagamore of Pennacook to whom the whole Pawtuckctt tribe acknowledged subjection. In 1659 Wannalancet was imprisoned for a debt of 45/. He affirmed that several Indians now in pos- session of a small island in Merrimack river 3 miles above Pawtuckctt falls, containing about 60 acres, the half thereof was broken up, were willing to self their interest in this Island, and so redeem Wanna- lancet out of prison. The court gave liberty to sell said Jand for the purpose aforesaid ; and Wannalancet was liberated. He succeeded after the death of his lather to the Sachemship of the Pavvtuckett tribe and moved about 1670 as related in the preceding ac- count to Pawtuckett falls, where he built a fort on the heights south east of the river. He was " a sober, grave person, between fifty and sixtyyears of age," when Mr. Eliot and Mr. Gookin visited him in 1674. "He was always loving and friend lv to the English ; but was unwilling to receive Christian- ity." " Many endeavors were made for several - years to gain this sachem to embrace Christianity U2 156 A great reason for his aversion was supposed to be the indisposition of sundry of his chief men and rela- tions to pray to God, who, he foresaw, would desert him in case he turned christian. He had consented to hear preaching and to keep the sabbath tor four years previous to the visit paid him by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Gookin, May, 5, 1674, when Mr. Eliot preached from the parable of the marriage of the king's son. Matth. 22, — 1, 14. On the next day Mr. Eliot 4 proposed to him to give his answer con- cerning prayiug to God. He stood up and after some deliberation and a serious pause made a speech to this effect.' " Sirs, you have been pleased for years past in your abundant love to apply yourselves particularly unto me and my people to exhort, press and persuade us to pray to God. I am very thankful to you for your pains. I must acknowledge I have all my days been used to pass in an old canoe, and now you ex- hort me to change and leave my old canoe and em- bark in a new one. to which I have hitherto been unwilling ; but now I yield up myself to your advice and enter into a new eanoe and do engage to pray to God hereafter." " This processed subjection was well pleasing to all that were present, of whom there were some English persons of quality ; as Mr. Richard Dan- iel, a gentleman who lived in Billerica about 6 miles oil ; and Lieut. Hinchman, a neighbor at Chelms- ford, beaidos brother Eliot and myself and sundry others English anc Indians." Mr. Daniel desired brother Eliot to tell this sachem from him, " that it may be, while he went in his old canoe, he passed In a quiet stream ; but the end thereof would be death and destruction to soul and body. But now he went into a new canoe, perhaps he would meet with storms and trials, but yet he should be encour- aged to persevere, for the end oi his voyage would mi be everlasting rest." " Moreover he and his peo^ pie were exhorted by brother Eliot and myself to go on and sanctity the Sabbath, to hear the word, and use the means that God hath appointed and en- courage their hearts in the Lord their God. Since that time I hear this sachem doth persev* re and is a diligent and constant hearer of God's word and sanctifieth the sabbath, though he doth travel to Wamesit meeting every sabbath, which is above two miles ; and though sundry of his people have de- serted him.* " Wannalancet was always peaceable and true to the English ;"t and Mr. risk and Maj. Hinchman are said to have cultivated his friendship and that of the Wamesits with successful assiduity; of which the following traditionary anecdote is corroborative. At the conclusion of Phillip's war, or some of those Indian wars, which proved destructive to many En- glish settlements, and extremely embarrassed and perplexed the frontiers, Wannalancet after a long absence called on the Rev. Mr. Fiske and congrat- ulating him on the restoration of peace, solicitously enquired after the welfare ot the people in Chelms- ford, and whether they had suffered greatly during the war. Mr. Fiske, replied that they had been highly favored, for which he desired to thank God. 4 Me next,' said the sagacious sagamore, intimating that through his influence this town had been ex- empted from the calamities, that had befallen many- others. The frequent disclosure of evil designs against the English, made to Maj. Hinchman by the Indians at Wamesit shews the mutual confidence and friend ship existing between them. Hinchman had the special care and inspection ot them and by his prudence and wisdom conciliated their respect and esteem. *Gookin p. 187, Hie. Col. rol. 1. tHubbard, Ind. Wars p. 359. Jt/O To illustrate this remark the following narrative ts inserted entire from Gookin. In the year 1670 a party of the Moquas or Mo- hawks, looking after their prey met with some In- dians in the woods, belonging to Naumkuk or Warn- esit upon the north side of Merrimack river not far from some English houses ; where falling upon these Indians, who were travelling in a path, they killed some and took others, whom they also killed ; and among the rest a young maid of about fourteen years old was taken, the scalp of her head taken off, her skull broken, and she was left for dead with others. Some of the Indians escaping came to their fellows, and with a party of men they went forth to bring off their dead, where they found this maid with life in her. So they brought her home and got Lieuten- ant Thomas Hinchman, a good man, and one that hath inpection over them by my order to use means for her recovery. And though he had little hope thereof, yet he took the best care he could about it As soon as he conveniently could, he sent her to an an- cient and skilful woman, living at VVoburn about ten miles distant, called Goodwile Brooks to get her to use her best endeavors to recover the maid: which by the blessing of God she did, though she was two years or more in curing her. I was at Good- wife Brooks' house in May 1G73, when she was in cure; and she shewed me a piece or two of the -bkull, that she had taken out. In May last 1674 the second day I being among the Indians at Paw tuck- tstt to keep court, and Mr. Eliot, and Mr. Richard l)aniel and others with me, I saw the maid alive and in health, and looked upon her head, which was whole, except a little spot as a big as a sixpence might cover. But there was no hair come again upon the head, where the scalp was flayed off." Wamesit suffered more from the Moquas, than -any otlaer praying village. Divers of their people 159 were slain, others wounded, and some carried info captivity. On the whole it appears from an attentive ex- amination of the subject, that the Pawtuckett tribe were less addicted to revenge and cruelty, and had more good qualities to excite admiration and esteem, than any tribe in New- England. There were some individuals, it is true, that were treacherous and vin- dictive, but their national character gives a favora- ble impression of the good qualities of these savages. And it is a well authenticated fact, that most of their treacheries and hostilities towards the English', were the effect of foreign influence, either from the French on the north, or from those strange Indians, that incorporated themselves with them from the southward and westward. The judgment of four sachems at Pawtuckett in the case of an idolatress does great honor to their understandings, and the story as related by Mr.. Eliot, deserves to be transmitted to posterity. " In the spring of the year 1653, being sundry days at Pawtuckett, and spending a Sabbath among them, there was a woman at the meeting, who had a small bright brass image of a man, about her neck* hanging by a string, fastened about the neck of the image. I observed it, but thought little of it Af- terwards when I thought to have gone away, my horse had run and gone homeward, as they found by his foosteps, whereupon I sent some after mv horse and purposed to have gone on foot, till they met me with the horse. Many being gathered to- gether to take leave of me, among the rest was the woman with the image about her neck. I asked her why she wore it there j she roundly and readily an- swered me, I pray unto it ! Why said I, do you ac- count that to be your God? She as readily answer- ed yes. At which I marvelled, haying never seen m the like at anyplace before. I therefore declared to her and to the company about me, the greatness of the sin of idolatry. I urged the second com- mandment. I shewed that idols should be demol- ished. I desired her to give it me, that I might de- molish it, but she refused. I offered her half a crown for it; but she was not willing. Perceiving it to be tied with a riding knot, I slipped the knot and slipt off the image. Then she swelled with an- ger and cried. I presently gave her half a crown, which she took, but was not pacified. I told the company the first pond I came to, I would cast it in. When I depart- ed, she girt up her loins and ran after me ! When I perceived it, 1 asked her whither she went, she answered me, whither I went, that she would not leave me so long as I had her God about me. It began to rain, which was some discouragement to my going forward. I considered also that this act of mine in taking away the idol, was neither so proper, nor so valid, as it would be, if the rulers and sachems should do it. I resolved to return and did so, and the woman after me. When I returned to the wigwam, there being four sachems present that prayed to God, I desired them all to come to- gether. I told them that seeing the rain had driven me back, God would not have me yet go; but some- what else is to be done about this idol, and the sin of idolatry. And because the woman is not yet con- tent with what I have done, I do commit the matter and the idol to you to judge. So I laid it upon the ground before them where they sat, and went to confer with the company When they had set about half an hour in consul- tation, they desired the company to come before them, which was done. They said they had agreed upon the judgment — 1st that the act in taking the 101 idol was well done. 2dly, That one man should be appointed to demolish the idol, and three others for witnesses, that it was done. 3diy, They adjudged the idolatress to be a great sinner ; yet as it was ;he first time, and she had done it ignorautly there- fore they would spare her. Yet they did al!, one af- ter another, reprove her very solemnly. After execution done upon the idol, one declared that he understood that there were some more idols like to that in other houses. I requested the sa- chems to send for those also. The constable went well guarded, and presently brought a bright brass image or seraphim with his wings spread, to the sa- chems, who passed the same judgement as they had done upon the former, and it was executed accord- ingly. I asked how it should come to pass, that there should be such idolatry here, and in no place else that I had heard of. They rendered this reason. That this being the most northerly place that I re- sort to, some of the Indians have commerce with the Indians that are yet more northerly, who have com- merce with those whom the French teach to pray to such idols. Therefore they think the idols and idolatry come from them.'* * The French were in possession of Canada, and found the Indiana very convenient instruments, by which to execute their malicious de- signs against the English. Father Ralle, the French Jesuit and Mis-ion- ary — was a fire-brand among the Indians, that kindled their vindictive passions into a flame against the peacable borderers of the English ter- ritory. The 1st Indian war, called Philip's war. Eesjan 1675 — Philip was killed Aug. IG~C>, and the war concluded this year The 2d Indian war, called King William's, began 1689, ended 169". The 3d French and Indian war, called Queen Ann's war, began 17031, ended 1712 — After Philip's war, part of the tribe of the Nashawavs mov- ed to Pennacook, and became incorporated with the inhabitants of that village. 1686 — Joseph Trask, alia-j, Puagastion ofPennacook ; Job, alias, Pora- pamamay, of Natick and Simon Peticom, alias, Wananapan, of Wamas- sick, or Waymesit, conveyed a certain tract of kind, twelve miles square, to sundry persons for £33, afterward called Rutland, iu the county of Worcester. In 1696, there were 3,0 Indian Churches id N.England. r !Ol APPENDIX. NO. I. To (lie Hon. John Endicol with others of the Hon. Ma'gls*- ■rales and deputies at the Hon. Court now at Boston assembled,. Humbly Sheweth, That whereas we your hum- ble petitioners who made bold the last court assem- bled to present a petition at the bar of this horn Court, which was accepted and granted to us, for "which we give the court humble thanks; and being encouraged by this com* to view the land, that hcth ye; undisposed of and unimproved on the other side of Concord river : accordingly we have by a comity taken care and paynes to do, with several others, that by the providence of God are now joined peti- tioners with us, who upon our viewing the land a- bove said do find a tracke of land, which bordereth upon the river Merimack near to Paatucket, which we do find a very comfortable place to accominidate a company of God's people upon; that may with God's blessing and assistance live comfortably upon and do good in that place for church, and Common- wealth: and many of your petitioners are destitute of accommodations, some never having had any, and some others very little comedation, for that we cannot subsist, unless we do take some care to look out a way (as God may direct) for our Comfortable sub- sistance — and now we your humble petitioners do intreat this hon. court to grant to us so much land as mav be there laid out to the quantity of six miles square of upland and meadow, which parcel of land we do entreate may begin at Merimacke river at a jiecke of land next to Concord river — and so run up by Concord River south — and west into ^hc country to make up that circumference or quan \i)J ■Uiy of land, as is above expressed. And ioras- much as many of the petitioners are in great "neces- sity, haying no settled place to abide in ; & we all in general being desirous to proceed tog-ether as one man to carry on that work, the Lord shall call us to, and this hon. court shall in their christian wisdom, di- rect us; therefore we humbly intreat this hon. Court togratify their humble petitioners with a speedy an- swer — so shall you ever bind us to serve you, where- in you shall command Your humble servents. James Blood Bcnj. Butterficld John Parker Isaac Learned James Parker George Farley Thomas Chamberlin Joseph Parker John Hosmer Jacob Parker Henry Foster VYm. Chamberlin John Nuttinge Edmund Chamberlin John Baldwinge Richard Griffin John Smcdley Roger Draper William Fk-tchei Thomas Adams Wm. Hartwell Robert Procter - Wm. Butrickc Baptis Smedley Richard Hildretl; 1 horn as Briggam Daniel Bloggett John Hall Wm. Hall May 19, 1G53, NO. II. At a General Court of Election held at Boston the 18th of May 1653. In answer to a petition of several of the inhabitants of Concord and Woburn for the erecting- a new plantation on Merrimack River near to Pawtucket, the court doth grant the petitioners aforesaid the tract of land mentioned in their petition, except some part of it, joyning the Merrimack River, provided that the said petitioners shall sufficiently break up so much land for the In- dians in such place as they shall appoint within such plantation as shall there be appointed them, as they 164 have of planting ground about a bill, called Robin's Hill, and that the Indians shall have use of that planting ground aforesaid free of all damage until the petitioners have broken up the land for the Indians aforesaid. As to the plantation petitioned for by- Mr. Eliot, the court judgeth it meet to be granted tltem (Indians) with the exceptions and provisions aforementioned. And for stateing, (or laying out) of both, that Capt. Johnson and Capt. Willard be ap- pointed to lay out the said plantations or townships, the English at the -charge of the petitioners — the Indian plantation at the charge of the country with- in one month after this session. Otherwise the plantations not to be laid out. That if the petition- ers of Concord and Wcburn shall not within two years settle a competent number of families, thereby building and planting upon the said tract of land, twenty families or upward being so considered, so as they may be in capacity for enjoying all the ordinances of God there, then this grant to be void. A true copy — as appears by the examination of ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sec, NO. HI. 1th 3 month 1656. The humble petition of the Inhabitants of Chelms- ford sheweth, that whereas this hon. Court, hath formerly given them a sertaya tract of land which we thankfully exsept, and we thought it to have been sufficient and convenient for a plantation ; but by reason of the stonines of some part and the barones of another part thereof we were constrain- ed to situatt our habitation on the corners of our bounds, which was only convenient for that use, and so we have unavoidably put ourselves upon stracts, because now our situation is near upon our north east line, and whereas we have no outlet for our cattle to feed on — may it please therefore this hon 165 Court to lake this our condition into consideration and to grant a small parsill of land from our north east line downe to Mcrimack river, and so bounded by said river about 3 miles and so run upon a south west line, as that we would not be any hindrance to Grauton plantation — and your petitioners will con- tinually remain praying for a blessing upon all your waity affairs. Isaac Learned Thomas Adams Simon Thompson Edward Spalding Benja. Butteriield Jo.. Fiske Wm. Fletcher Wm. Underwood In the name of the town. NO. IV. At a General Court held at Boston, on the 14 May 1656. In answer to a petition of the Inhabitants oi. Chelmsford, together with that part of Mr. Eliot's petition, respecting an enlargement of land, on con- ference with the comittee who laid out the bounds of Chelmsford, and on perusal of a plot of the said plantations, and also of the tract of land now by both parties petitioned for — the court, judgeth it meet, that the Indian grant he extended a mile from the north east angle or corner bound of Chelmsford, a- butting on Mcrimack and Pawtucket eastward tak- ing in John Sagamore's planting ground, and the end of said mile to determine the Indian plantation. — And tor the rest of the land in behalf of both towns petitioned for — that Chelmsford South and North fine, abutting on Tadmuck be extended from the north west corner three miles north so as it pass not Merrimack river and from thence a paralel line 16'8 be tiic proper right ana tc the sole use of Indians of the said Indian plantation, and all the land lying on the south west side of the said line, excopting only what is hereafter granted to James Parker, whetl^ er of the Indian old or new grant shall forever be and remain the proper right and to the sole use of the Inhabitants of Chelmsford. And whereas there is a parcel of land, lying at. the west end of the Indian Grant, which is not with- in the bounds of either plantation, this witnesseth that the abavesaid land is by the free consent of" both parlies, or plantations, given, granted and alien- ated unto James Parker of Chelmsford aforesaid in consideration of his great pains and costs, which he hath necessarily been at in setting b>unds as above- expressed between the above said plantations, to have and to hold the same with all the apurtcnan- ces thereof to him the said James Parker his heirs and assigns forever, and to his and their only proper use and behoof — and to the true performance of the above named exchange and grant mutually made by and between the said plantations & also their joint grant and gift to the said James Parker on condi- tion and in manner aforesaid — both the plantations aforesaid do bind themselves, their heirs and assigns forever by these presents. In witness whereof we whose names are subscribed as Legatees and trus- tees of the above said plantations have hereunto put our names and seals Apr. 3. 1660. Signed in presence of Sam'1 Green Wrn. Fletcher <, ) James Win. Symes Tho. Hinchman } S \ Parker. fames Converse John Elliot, m witness of my appro- bation. Pnntakun John Tawatabun's m'k (, C Acknowledged by Wm. Fletcher, Peter's do. -. < Thorn. Henchman and James Par- Monotii's do.'c_ ( Iter trusties for the Indians to be Rnssanaset'sdo. 6. f act and deed. PannabotequinV do. w, 1 Made in the presence of John EI- - Xamphon'f do. S. ( liotjun. 169 NO. VII. The: 12 the: 1st month 1666—7 Lieut. Foster, Daniel Blogget, and Jacob Parker being a Committee appointed by the Selectmen to state to every proprietor in the new field their pro- portion offence, do find the number of acres and the length of fence as in the following table. Acres of Jand 214 | Length of fence 555 po. J Due to a lot of 6 acre9 two j polls and 10 feet of i«nce. The names of the several proprietors with the number of acres now in their possession, in the order they now lie. Acres. 1 John Webb alias Everett, 8 2 John Bates, 6 3 Henry Bovvtal, 1 2 4 Mineral Lot Mr. Webb, 6 5 John Wright, 9 6 Henry Farewell, 6 7 Edward Spalding, sen. 6 8 Daniel Blogget, 12 9 John Shepley, sen. 1 8 JO Joseph Parkis, 12 1 1 Edward Spalding, jun. 6 Acres. 12 Solomon Keyes 6 1 3 Benj. Butterheld, 42 1 4 Edward Kemp, 6 1 5 Jacob Parker, 1 7 16 John Spalding, 6 1 7 John Stevens, 6 18 Mr. Fiske, 6 19 Josiah Richardson, 6 20 Sam'l Fletcher 6 21 John Burge, 6 22 John Perrum, 6 NO. VIII. ^op Jonathan Tyng, Esq. and Maj. Thomas Henchman jointly purchased of the Indians of Waymesit 500 acres of land lying north of Mer- rimack river, and bounded on the east by Beaver brook and southwardly by- Merrimack river near Pawtucket falls, also what land doth lie on the west side of Concord river, belonging to the Indian planta- tion, excepting only Wanalancett's old planting field. The same year Jona. Tyng sold his right in these lands to Major Henchman for 50/. and Maj. Hengh- w 170 man sold the land belonging to the Indian planta- tion west of Concord river to the lollowing proprie- tors : Edward Spalding Edward Foster Samuel Fletcher James Richardson John Spalding Nathaniel Howard Abraham Park Peter Proctor John Stevens Mr. Thomas Clarke Nath'l Butterfield John Spalding jun. Eleazar Brown Jerathmul Bowers' Joseph Spalding Moses Parker Steven Pierce William Underwood Moses Fiske Isaac Parker Josiah Richardson Thomas Henchman Dea. Foster Dea. Cornelius Waldo w Samuel Foster Joseph Hide Thomas Parker Gersham Procter John Perham George Robins John Kidder Solomon Reyes John Wright Peter Farewell Andrew Spalding Wm. Fletcher Josiah Richardson Joseph Farwell Joseph Butterfield Benj. Parker Samuel Butterfield Dea. C. Waldo w John Bates John Fiske. Jona. Tyng Benj. Spalding 1G97 The proprietors laid out 20 acres to en- courage the erection of a mill. The 500 acres north of merrimack appears to have been retained by the Indians, though it was included within the sale made by Passaconaway, Sagamore of Penecook, Runnoawitt, Sagamore of Pawtucket ; Wahangnonawitt, Sagamore of Squam- scot and R. >wles, Sagamore of Neuhawanack to Wheel right and others in 1G2 9. 171 NO. IX. Fi rs l Sch ool- House, Built by subscription at an Expenditure of 20/. and by the following persons, in 1718. Rev. Samson Stodjdard Moses Barron Josiah Fletcher Deac. John Warren Ebenezer Foster Edward Spalding Wm. Fletcher John Bates Steven Peirce Moses Parker John Davis Nath'l Buttcrfield 2/. Sam'l Barron Benony Perham Eben'r Parker John Burge Benj. Parker Richard Stratton Joseph Foster Benj. Adams Edward Foster 10 1 NO. X. l i l o 10 10 1 15 1 15 20/. Wamesit annexed to Chelmsford. To the Hon. Wm. Dummer, Esq. Lieut. Gover- nor in Chief, the Hon. the Council and the Hon. the House of Representatives of his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New- England, in General Court to be assembled May 25, 1726. The petition of the town of Chelmsford, by the Selectmen. Humbly Shewelh, Whereas there are sundry inhabitants on a cer- tain tract of land, called Wamesit, or the neck land, lying adjacent to the town of Chelmsford, but not enexed thereunto, that from the first settlement have bin pertakurs of privilagees and offices and performed all duties in and with the said town o£ Chelmsford until some time in the year 1725. For in the said year the town of Chelmsford with the inhabitants of Wamesit at a town meeting did elect. w 2 172 Mr. Steven Pierce, an inhabitant of said Wamesit lands to represent them in this hon. Court, who was dismissed by resen he did not reside in Chelmsford.' And that on the 27 day of August in the said year, said town did grant eighty pounds for the defraying of the necery chargees, arising within the same, and likewise the east precinct in the said town in the same year conformable to this honorable coartes order, did grant one hundred pounds for the pay- ing the West Precinct their part of the meeting house; and also did grant 120/. for the support of the ministry and the defraying the precinct charges, and the selectmen and assessers of the town and precinct did proced to make the assesment as their usual custom was, and assest the said Wamesit in- habitants their proportion to the said town and pre- cinct rates, which amounted to about 13/. in all; but they taking advantage by this hon. courtes proceed- ing with Mr. Pierce, have refused and neglected to pay any part of their assesment to the west pre- cinct and the two hundred pounds granted for de- fraying the last precinct charges, considering them- selves not to be under the government ot Chelmsford, but at free liberty in such cases, which will be much to the damage of said town— for that the majority of the proprietors of the said Wamesit lands, are inhabitants of Chelmsford and may take the same v advantage of the income, which arises from the sev- eral parcels of the said lands ; your petitioners th« relore most humbly pray, that this hon. courte vsouldtake the premeces into their most serious con- sideration, and order the above inhabitants ot Wa- mesit to pay their several proportions unto the a- bovt mentioned assesment and annex the said lands unto Chelmsford, during the hon. Courtes pleasure 1 *nd your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray Benja. Adams Joshua Fletcher Joseph Keyes Saml. Chamberlirv John Richardson 173 in the House of Representatives, June 4, 1726—* Read and ordered, that the petitioners serve the in- habitants of the within mentioned tract of land, cal- led Wamesit; that they shew cause on friday the 10 mst. why the prayer of the petitioners should not. be granted. June 10, 1726. — Read again, together with the answer of Wamesit thereto — and the house having taken the same into consideration, ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be so far granted as that the tract ot land called Wamesit with the inhabitants thereon be and hereby are annexed to and account- ed a part of the town of Chelmsford. WM. DUDLEY, In council June 13, 1726. Read and concurred, JOSIAH WlLLARD, SeC* Consented to by Wm. Dummer, Copy Examined by Josiah Willard, Sec. NO. XI. In obedience to a late Law or act of the great and General Court, or assembly of the State of Massa- chusetts Bay in New- England, relative to the affix- ing of the prices of the necessaries of life, which are produced in America, we the Selectmen and the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and safe- ty of the town of Chelmsford met, considered and proceeded as follows : £ S. D. q Rye, Good and merchantable 4s. 2d per Bushel. Wheat, Do. 7s per Bushel, Corn, Good merchantable Indian Corn, 3s. 8«/pr. bush. Wool, Do. 2s. pr. lb. Pork, Do. 4d. \q. pr.lb. Salt Pork, in usual proportion the price of salt, jood middlings a t 8d. 2?. pr. lb. Beef, well fatted and grass fed, 3d. per lb. Hides, Raw hide9 at 3d per lb. Calf-skins, Gre«n at 6d. per lb. 5. D. 4 8 7 3 8 2 4 8 3 3 6 174 £ & u. < Oheese, New-milk 6d. other cheese according to its goodness, 6 Butter, Good at 9d. per lb. 9 Pease, Good at 7*. Ad. per bush. 7 4 Beans, Good at 6s. per bush. 6 Potatoes, In the fall Is. id. 1 2 In the Spring Is, 6rf. 1 6 Stockings, Made of good yarn and well knit, (men's,) 6 Shoes, Made of neat's leather, common sort, 6 pr. paii". Women's Bo. 5 4 Oats, Gcod and merchantable 2s. per bushel, 2 Flax, Well drest and of a good quality Is. per lb. I Tallow, Good tried tallow Id 2q. per. lb. 7 Tow Cloth, 3-4 yd. wide Is. 9el. 1 9 Veal, Good veal 3d. per lb. 3 Mutton and Lamb, 3d. 2q. per lb. 3 Horse-keeping on English hay, Is. per night, 1 Ox-keeping, a large yoke on English hay Is. 6d. do. 1 6 Ox-work, For a large, good pair 2s. per day from the 1st. of April till the last of Sept. 2 the other sik months Is. 6J. pr. day, 1 6 Men's Labor, In the 3 summer months for a faithful day's work 3s. From Nov. to April — Is. 6d. per day, The other 4 months 2s. Hay, English the best quality 3s. Shingles, per thousand 12s. 6d. Boards, at the Mill or landing £\ 13s per thous. Clapboards, Per. thousand £3 6s. Qd. Coal, Pine 3d. 2q. per Bush, at the Smith's Shop Do. Maple and Birch at Do. Ad. per bush. Axes, Warranted by the smith, Do. New-laying and warranting 5s. Ad. Shoemaking, For one pair, the shoe-maker finding thread and wax and making them atlas shop, 3 2 Do. at the Farmer's house, ■Salt, Good imported salt, lis. Bd. 11 3 Tanning, Tanning hides 2d per lb. currying in propor. 2 Tobacco, Well made into rolls and of the best quality 8J. 8 Spinning, Woolen warp, taking it home, bd. per skein, 5 Double Skein cf Cotton warp, 5d do. 5 Spinning by the week from home, 2e. 8 J. 2 8 Housework by the week 2s. 10d. 2 10 Carpenters,Labor per day from 1st of Apr. 6 mo.& found 3 4 the other 6 months 2s. 6d. 2 C Wood, by the cord, oak wood corded up in the middle of the town, 8s. «J Horse-shoeing and steeling all round and well Cs. 6 Horse-shoeing, plain without steeling 4s. lOd. 4 10 Malt, Rye Malt, As. 8d. per bushel, 4 8 Flip, Made of W. India Rum, IQd. per mug, 10 Do. of N. E. Rum, 8d. per do. 8 Rum, W. I. for a gill in the Innkeeper's house, 4 N. E. do. do. 3 Toddy, W. 1. 10a'. per Mug. 10 Po. N. E. 8r/. per mugv 8 Chelmsford, May 1779= 3 1 6 2 3 12 6 13 6 8 3 2 4 2 9 5 4 NO. XII. The following Tables contain the names of those who belonged to Chelmsford, and took an active part in the service ol their country, during the A- merican Revolution. TABLE I. Capt. John Ford's Company of the 27 Regiment of fool in the Continental army, stationed at Cambridge, and engaged in the memorable battle at Breed's^ commonly called Bunker's hill, 1 775* Ebenczer Bridge, Col. Joseph Fox, Adjutant Moses Parker, Lt. Col. John Bridge, Qr. Master. John Brooks, Maj. Walter Hastings, Surgeon John Sprague, Surg. Mate. Of the 21th Regiment. John Ford, Capt. engaged in the service Apr. 19, 1775. Isaac Parker, Lieut. Do. Do. Jonas Parker, Ensign. Do. Do. Sargent s. Corporals. Moses Barker John Bates Parker Emerson, Wm. Chambers Daniel Keyest Benja. Barrot Jonas Pierce Wm. Cambill. Wm. Ranstead, Drummer — Barzilla Lew, Fifer. PRIVATES. CASUALTIES. fJohn Keyes ?ng. April 25, Alexander Davidson, do. do. John Chambers do. 26 Samuel Britton do. do, tMoses Barker do. do. Benjamin Pierce do. do. David Chambers do. do. Ebenezer Shed 27 Samuel Wilson do. 27 Jonathan Sprague. do. 27 Nathl. Foster do. 26 f James Dunn do. 27 Isaiah Foster do. do. * These with this mark were wounded in Breed's bjil C«ht ft 176 PRIVATES. Benj. Parker Benj. Farley Enoch Cleaveland Benj. Butterfield Saml. Howard Moses Easterbrooks Robert Anger fElijah Haselton John Glode Jesse Dow tJoseph Spalding Francis Davidson Oliver Cory tSamucl Marshall Joseph Chambers £Jathl. Kemp Joseph Spalding fSolomon Keyes Isaac Barrett INoah Foster Reuben Foster Jonas Spalding Timothy Adams Josiah Fletcher tJohn Parker James Chambers Wm. Rowel Silas Parker fBenj. Haywood tRobert Richardson Thomas Bewkel Wm. Brown James Alexander Solomon Farmer, CASUALTIES, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 26 do. 28 do. 28 do. 29 do. do. do. 28 28 do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 25 do. 25 do. 27 do. 27 do. 27 do. 26 do. 26 May 2 do. 6 do. do. April 28 May 4 April 27 desrted do. do. June 25 do. do. do. do. Casualties, in 1775. Lieut. Col. Moses Parker was wounded in battle 17th June by a ball, which fractured his knee. He was taken captive and carried into Boston, where after the amputation of his leg, he died of his wound 177 in prison July 4. He was son of Capt. Joseph Pri- ker. He early discovered a taste for military life, and embraced every opportunity that occurred, of cultivating a knowledge of military tactics, and of" gratifying his predominant love of the duties and la- bors of the camp. In 1758, he was honored with a lieutenant's commission in a company, commanded by Capt. Jona. Butterfield, and raised for the express purpose of a general invasion of Canada. He was promoted to a captain in the succeeding year, and in 1760, commanded a company at Fort Frederick, St. John's. In this expedition he distinguished him- self as a brave soldier, and as an intrepid and daunt- less officer. He was endeared to those under his care by his assidiuous attention to their wants and constant endeavors to render their situation as pleas* ant as circumstances would permit. Such was his reputation that when Governour Bernard in 1761, was selecting from a multitude of applicants, thirty captains for that year's service, Capt. Parker stood forth the most prominent military character on the list. Col. Thwing and Col. Arbuthnot declared, that "they would not go without him, that he was the only Captain they had insisted upon." So great was his popularity, that his friends assured him, that if he would accept of a captainship, "'fifty men might be immediately raised to serve under him "* Thus practiced for many years in the arts and du- ties of the tented field, he was qualified to take an active and honorable part in the revolutionary war, at an early period of which his fame was consum- mated. About a month previous to the battle on Bunker's hill, he was chosen Lieut. Colonel of the 27th reg- iment of minute men, Colonel Bridge and Major Brooks, (now his Excellency John Brooks,) were *M. 9. Letter of Oliver Fletcher, Esq. X 178 chosen at the same meeting to their respective offi- ces.* Capt. Benj. Walker, trained up to arms in the French wars, a brave soldier, and accurate disci- plinarian, was also wounded in the same battle, tak- en prisoner and carried to Boston. His leg was am- putated, and it was thought that he might hare re- covered had proper attention been paid to him. He died in prison the latter end of Aug. 1775. John Bates sickened and died in the army at Cambridge Dec. 4, 1775, and was buried there. David Spalding, jun. died of the small pox in the army near Ticonderoga, Aug. 1776. Lieut. Robert Spalding, returning from the ar- my, stationed at New-York, died at Milford in the state of Connecticut 1776. Sam'l Wilson never re- turned from the army, nor were the time and man- ner of his death ever known. Pelatiah Adams was killed by tories and Indians at Cherry Valley, upon the Mohawk river, above Albany 1778. Noah Foster was shot on BeonV Heights at the capture of Burgoyne. Henry Fletcher, left Chelmsford to join the armV July J 5, 1779. He was killed by the British in a skirmish while on piquet guard at White Plains, about twenty five miles from New-York,in the morn- ing of the 3d of Feb 1780. He was shot through the heart and immediately expired. It was at the corner of a house, which was burnt, and the body of Mr. Fletcher is supposed to have been consumed in the flames. He was born Jan. 17, A. D. 1754. * The veteran Parker, who had escaped through the whole war trf J756, in which he had signalized himself, and especially at the desperate seiee of fort Frontinac, received a ball in his thigh, (knee) and was left »nortally wounded in the redoubt. Cot. Swctt's His. Bunker hill Battle 179 ••A muster Roil ci'Capt. John Ford's Company of Volunteers in Col. Jona. Reed's Regiment of mi- litia, who were engaged Sept. 30, 1777, to reinforce the northern army, at the request of the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay." TABLE II. John Ford, Capt. Temple Kendall, Lieut. Jona. Bancroft, Serg't. Willard Parker, Serg't. Azariah Proctor, Corp. Silas Pierce, Corp. Caleb Coburn, Corp. Sim'n Cummings, Corp Privates, Oliver Barron, Esq. Jona. Shed, Wra. Chambers, Jona. Woodard, Willard Howard, David Putman, Joseph Adams, Sara'l Adams, .leduthan Warren, Sam'l Perham, Josiah Fletcher, Henry Fletcher, Joel Spalding, David Danforth, David Marshall, Aaron Chamberlin, Azariah Spalding, Timothy Adams, Jona. Robins, Ephraim Robins, Supply Reed, Wm. Spalding, Stephen Peirce, Benj. Butterfield, Levi Fletcher, Benj. Hay ward, stab ishment jOifch'd Nov. 8 pr.i nonlh. 1 rime of service Whole am't.- 12/. s. 43 days. 17/. 4 8 2 do. 11 12 2 8 do, 3 8 9 2 8 do. 3 89 2 4 do. 3 30 2 4 do. 3 3 2 4 do. 3 3 2 4 do. 3 30 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 17 4 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 2 do. 2 174 x 2 180 Establishment. Disch'd Nov. 8. pr. month. Time of servict Wh'Ie am Oliver Richardson, 2/. 43 days. 11. 17 4 John Hadlock, % do. 2 17 4 Joseph Butterfield, 2 do. 2 17 4 Joseph Ingalls, 2 do. 2 17 4 Aaron Small, 2 do. 2 17 4 Wm. Fletcher, 2 do. 2 17 4 Benj. Detion, 2 do. 2 17 4 Sam'l Lunn, 2 do. 2 17 4 Solomon Pollard, 2 do. 2 17 4 John Marsh, 2 do. 2 17 4 Jesse Butterfield, 2 do. 2 17 4 Eliezer Farwell, 2 do. 2 17 4 Wm. Parker, 2 do. 2 17 4 Jacob Baldwin, 2 do. 2 17 4 Joseph Tyler, 2 23 days 1 10 8 John French, 2 do. 1 10 8 Oliver Adams, 2 do. 1 10 8 Samuel French, 2 do. £ 1 10 8 171 19 3 Capt. Ford allowed for e: itra services, . . - • 46 9 4 Chelmsford, March 28, 1778. £218 08 1 Captain John Ford, is among the few veteran surrivers of the revolu- tionary war. Though more fortunate, he is not less worthy of the honors of his country, than his fellow-townsmen and compatriots, the brave and intrepid Parker and W alker, whose claims to public grr titude and hon- or were sealed by their blood in the memorable battle of Bunker Hill. — From a recent account of that battle, written by Col. Samuel Sweet, A. M. the o.mv ig hviorib:? testimony of the military prowess of Capt. John Ford, is selected. The enemy were by this time organized anew, and were again ad- vancing to the attack. Putnam's duty called him to the lines. At this time Capt. Ford appeared with his company. He served in a regiment under the veteran Lt. Col. Parker and Maj. Brooks. Of them he had learned the duties of a Soldier. He had already signalized himself at Lexington battle, by killing five of the enemy. His orders were to pro. reed to the lines and reinforce the troops. He obeyed, marched uncon. < erned across the neck and was proceeding down Bunker Hill, when Putnam was delighted with an aid so opportune. Callender's deserted cannon were at the foot of the hill. He ordered Capt. Ford with his company to draw them into the lines. The Captain remonstrated, " that his company vere totally ignorant of the discipline and employment of artillery, ('many of whom had never Been a cannon before") But the General peremptorily persisting in his order, n<. obeyed. His company moved w.th the cannon, aid the general himself to the rail fence." Captain Ford on the day preceeding tie battle, volunteered his ser. -vice to Gen. Ward, to carr) orders from Cambridge to Bunker hill, par- ticularly to CalJender, who was wasting the little amunition he had by ~n ineffectual fire at the distant enemy. He passed and repasied th 181 Aug. 1778, six men \vere draughted from the Militia, to go to Rhode Island, viz: — Oliver Bowers Josiah Fletcher Jesse Haywood John Dunn Levi Fletcher Wm. Spalding. Dr. John Betty went as a volunteer, and wascho* sen Clerk of the company commanded by Joseph B. Varnum. The above were draughted for six weeks, were in an engagement on Rhode Island — in v\incfa from Capt. J. B. Varnum's company, one was killed, two wounded, one missing. 1779 — 16 men were engaged to go to Rhode Island for three months, viz: — James Marshall, Sim. n Parker, Ashbel Spalding, Josiah Parkhurst, Benja. Butterfield, John Byam, Joseph Haywood, Luke Bowers, Joseph Chambers, Wm. Chambers, John Keys, Simeon Spalding, Abel Chamberhn, Peter Farror. 1780 — The militia officers were empowered bj the town to hire 15 men for the continental service, and the selectmen instructed to raise money and pro- duce, to pay them for 9 months service; and, Phineas Kidder, Peter Farror, Jacob Marshall, Robert Spalding, JNoah Foster, Henry Fletcher, Samuel V\ ilson, Jr. Pelatiah Adams, Thomas Huieij- ens, Jesse Stevens, John Keyes, Leonard Parker, Benja. Spalding, Joseph Warren, Jr. Robert Rich- ardson, were engaged. neck on horse-back, amidst the enemy on each side ; though his orders from the general were to leave his horse and walk over the neck to es^ cape the notice of the enemy. On the hill he spent some time it) ob» serving the motions of the enemy in Bo«ton, and having read their in- tention from their movement, he first called Col. Frescott's attention to them, pointed out to him the design of the enemy, the certainty oi their advance to the Hill, and the necessity of preparing to meet them by oast, ing up breast works, redoubts, k,c. Col. Prescott, who had flath red himself that the enemy would not leave Boston, was now fullj convin- ced of his error, and immediately set his troops to work. Capt. Ford returned to Gen. Ward at Cambridge, communicated his convictions and impressions. The next morning realized to him his fears. While the troops were tardy in preparing to march on to t e hill, Capt. Ford obtained permission from the General, to withdraw his company private ly and march directly to the scene of action, to rein! iree the troops. — He arrived in season to take an active part in the achievments of tha« lorious day. Appendix to the life of J'utiuim — page 236. 182 A list of those, who were detached from the mili- ifa and formed a part of the army of General Lin- coln, in the memorable expedition through the coun- ties of Worcester and Berkshire, to suppress the in- surrection in 1786, commonly known by the name of the Shays insurrection. The company formed from this and the neighboring towns, was comman- ded by Capt (now Col.) James Varnum, of Dracut. 1 Lt. Daniel Procter 2 Lt. Abel Adams Benj. Butterfield, Jr. Oliver Perham Silas Parker Oliver Cory Jeremiah Warren Zebulon Spalding, Jr. Oliver Adams Benja. Adams Reuben Goold, Jr, John Mc Clenny Aaron Spalding John Butterfield Joseph Emerson, Jr, Timothy Howard Jesse Stevens Henry Spalding, Jr. Thomas Chamberlin Samuel Stevens James Parkhurst John Farmer Willard Marshall Abel Marshall Amost Prescott Levi Spalding In the " fourth Indian war, commonly called the three years war, or Lovell's war," snow shoe com- panies were raised in all the towns lying upon Mer- rimack river. These companies were minute men, cquipt with snow shoes and fire arms &c. holding themselves in readiness to go oh scouting parties in pursuit of the Indians at the moment of alarm. The following eonstituted the snow shoe compa- ny in Chelmsford in 1724; under the command of Capt. Robert Richardson and Lieut. Robert Park- er, in one of the years during Lovell's war. Paul Fletcher Sam'l Fletcher Joseph Keyes Henry Stevens Robert Peirce Josiah Spalding Zacharias Richardson Nathan Proctor Matthias Cowdrey John Proctor jun. Benj. Robbins John Butterfield James Burn Benj. Chamberlin ^Sce Belknap's His. of N. Ham. Vol. 2—p. 43. J 83 Benj'. Goold Edward Foster Moses Graves Benj. Parker Timothy Spaulding John Spanieling Phincas Spaulding John Cory Joseph Underwood Jona. IFildrcth Jacob Blodget Josiah Birge Ebcnezer Parker Simon Rummery Joseph Warren, jun. Daniel Blodget Jonathan Parker Henry Spaulding Joseph Fletcher Jona. Cummings Jonathan Spalding Thomas Reed .James Kidder Joseph Foster. Ezekiel Keyes William Dummer, Esq. Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's province of Massachusetts Bay in New-England. To Joseph Parker, Gent. — greeting. By virtue of the power and authority in and by his Majesty's commission to me granted, to be Lieu tenant Governor, &c. I do by these presents, re posing especial trust and confidence in your loyalty, courage and good conduct, constitute and appoint you the said Joseph Parker to be Lieutenant of a company of snow-shoe- men, and of those that are ap- pointed to be in readiness to issue out against the In- dian enemy and rebels upon any alarm or attack ; whereof Robert Richardson is Captain, in the regi- ment of Militia in the county of Middlesex, whereof Eleazer Tyng, Esq. is Colonel. 1l ou are therefore diligently and faithfully to discharge the dutie9 of a Lieutenant, &c. Given under my hand and seal at arms at Boston, 5th day Feb. in the Eleventh year of the reign of his Majesty, King George A. L). 1724. WM. DUMMER. 184 NO. XIII. 'Census taken at sundry times exhibiting the increase of popula- tion from 1741 to 1816. re Si- re - *3 rtJ 3 re - en 3 3 a, re ►5 (33 ^3 3 es 3 a- re "S OS P a- o < CD P o < 0) !2J ro crq "1 o re ca re 3 Si- re S3 o 2 in re 3. re' en Total. Residents. 1741 415 438 85S 1764 470 534 224 227 2< 304 7 4 133 176 1012 By act of Fr. Boston & Conn. Chad Bstown. 1776 319 10 3 106 1341 By re solve of Cont ress. 1790 ' 569 572 333 327 209 1144 1800 1290 1810 693 693 108 125 570 593 1396 1816 240 280 1400 1820 1450 The cause of the decrease in the population of the town from 1 776 to 1 790 is to be found in the separation of sun- dry families from Chelmsford to form the District of Car- lisle. 185 NO. XIV. A BILL OF MORTALITY, Exhibiting the number of deaths in each year, from 1 742 to 1816, Years | Deaths | Yrs. | Deaths | Yrs. | Deathi | Yrs. | Deaths. 1742 26 1764 27 1786 18 1808 19 3 15 5 10 7 20 9 17 4 8 6 16 8 9 1810 23 5 16 7 15 9 10 11 17 6 22 8 17 1790 22 12 23 7 28 915 118 1316 8 12 1770 16 . 2 19 14 13 9 28 1 25 3 9 15 16 i750 9 2 21 4 10 — 16 3 23 5 16 1330 2 25 4 13 6 10 3 18 5 52 7 13 Instances of longevity. 4 30 6 24 8 9 Mrs. Dorethy V/il- 5 19 7 19 9 10 , 1 i *™ s - die<, ' Fe l b - 1I » 6 32 8 35 1800 6 SliSbeth s™7» 7 23 9 11 1 19 ture, died aped 98- 8 19 1780 6 2 1 2 4 mo - A P- 17, 1780. o oo 1 oi o K Mrs. Memm Proc- * -^ 1 21 «i *3 ter, died aped 99— 1760 22 2 11 4 1 9 Mrs. Bethiah Proc- 117 3 14 5 19 tor, died Jan. 2, 2 17 4 16 6 25 1812>ased9r ' 3 18 5 23 7 15 1-36 NO. XV. Attorneys and Counsellor's at Law. Came to town. 1772, Steven Scales from Boston, A. M. Har. Univ. Gradl 1763, Died Nov. 5, 1772*. 1773, Jona. Williams Austin, A. M. Har. Univ. Grad. 1 769 — was Capt. of the first company of militia — "went into the army in 1775 or 6 where He was pro- moted to a Maj. and afterwards to a Col. — died in the army at the southward. 1773, John Wythe, A. M. Har. Univcr. Grad. 1760, stud- ied divinity and preached a few years — directed his attention to jurisprudence — removed to Lexington, thence to Cambridge, where lie died. * The lomb-stone of Mr. Scales con Jains the only history of him, with- in onr knowledge — It bears honorable testimony to the powers of his ruind and good qualities of his heart. We transcribe it with a view tc preserve the memory of one, of whom the world was not worthy, and y.hose sudden and early fate seems to have excited the grief of n?any: Sepulchrum indicat hie lapis Stephani Scales, A. M. Collegii Harvardini olim alumni ci ejusdem nuper Tutoris ; lngenii cujus accumen, viilutes exemiae et diligentia pariter singulayes \ • . Famam ejus et honorem Plus, plusque indies amplificarunf- Juris prudential studio dictatus, toto animo incumbuit et multum proficit ; rubeolis dum laboravit e vivis direpente correptus est quinto Novembris anno salutis humanaS 1772 Etatis 31. 4 O mi amice/ "Vitre summa brevis — spem nos vitat inchohare longam; j am te premit nox. 1706, Sanrl Dexter, A.M. L. L. D, Grad. I Jar. Univ. 1781, llcrum pub. fed. Senator, Milit. et Thesau, Secret. A. A. S.. Removed to Charlestown — Died in the state of New- York, 1816. 1800, Asahcl Stearns, A. M. Har. Univ. Grad. 1707 : ol- fice at Pawtucketr falls, 1814 chosen Representa- tive to the 1 4th Congress of the United States — 1815 removed to Charlestown; 1818, Chosen College professor of Law in Harv. University, Cambridge. 1809, Joel Adams, A. M. Har. Univer. Grad. 1 805. 1813, NatlTl Wright, A. M. Har. Univ. Grad. 1808. NO. XVI. PHYSICIANS. Commenced Practice. 1740, Doct. Anthony Emery, A. M. Har. Univ. 1736, 1748, Doct. Samuel King, from Littleton, — removed to Chesterfield, N. H. 1765, Doct. Jonas Marshall, removed to Fitchburg, Feb. 1783. 1772, Doct. Nehemiah Abbott from Andover, died Jur ly 13, 1785. 1 776, Doct. Walter Hastings, A. M. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1771, Obt. Dec. 2, 1782, Mu 30. 1782, Doct. Timothy Harrington son of Rev. Mr. Harrington, of Lancaster, A. M. Harv. Univ. S(*4l P 1 776, Un, m, 1 802, Ex. 48. " He was a regular bred physician, esteemed in his profes- sion, peaceable, compassionate and hospitable." 1 792, Doct. John Betty, a native of the town. 1792, Doct. Ichabod Gibson, from Lunenburg — died May 10, 1810. 1 802, Doct. Matthias Spalding, a native of Chelmsford, A. M. Harv. Univ. 1798, Grad. Socius, IV* ed. Societate, Nco Hantonicnsis, et Vice Prasses, et Praeses Media Societate. Removed to Am- herst, N. H. 1805. 1807, Doct. Oliver Scripture from New- Ipswich, N. H. approbated by the sensors of Mass. Med. Soe. 1816— Removed to Hollis,N. H. May 1 818. 188 1805, Rufus Wyman from Woburn, A. M. tf3rv. Univ. 1799. M. D. M. M. S. et A. A. Soc. In the beginning of the year 1818 he received the appointment of Superintendent and Physician of the Asylum for the Insane in Charlestown, to which he removed July 20, and was succeed- ed April 25th 1818 by Doct. John C. Dalton, A. M.Harv. Univ. 1814— M. D. NO. XVII. A Catalogue of Graduates born in Chelmsford. Samson Stoddard, Son of the Rev. S. Stoddard, Crad, Hnrv. Univ. 1730, Obit. 1777, JEt. 68. Samson Spalding. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1 732, settled in the ministry at Tewksbury. Oliver Fletcher, Grad. Harv. Univ. 1 735, lived in Chelms- ford, was employed many years as an Instructor of youth — He was commis- sioned as a Justice of the peace — and suc- cessively chosen to the office of Town- Clerk, assessor and selectman. His piety and integrity gave him great ascendancy over his fellow" townsmen, and ^secured their esteem and ^confidence. He died Dec. 3. 1771, Mt. 64. Gideon Richardson,* Son of Jnsiah R. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1749, -vas settled ' \e ministry, at Wells, Me. Feb. 1'. -4. Born June 5, 1730. Samson Stoddard, Son of Samson Stoddard, Esq. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1 763, was a schoolmaster and Justice of the peace, and Major in the Militia. Obit. 1779, JEt. 38. Ebertr Bridge, Son of Rev. E. Bridge, Grad. Harv. Univ* 1764. Obit. 1814, &t. 70. Vryling Stoddard, Son of Samson Stoddard, Esq. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1765, became an emi- inent instructor of youth in this place, died suddenly, May 8, 1 779, JEt. 32. Oliver Barron, Son of Oliver Barron, Esq. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1 788, was a physician in England, died in in the Isle of Man, 1809. Sudbury also claims the honor of his birtb. 189 Jnd\c. Beathe, Son of Wm. 13. Grad.Harv. Univ. 1795, or- dained at Salisbury, N. II. June 28, 1797 — died 1801. Matthias Spalding, Son of Col. Simeon Spalding, Grad. Harv. Univ. 1 799. Walter Hastings, Son ofDoct. W. Hastings, Grad. Harv. Univ. 1799, Counsellor at Law, Towns* end. Benoni Perham, Son of Sam'l P. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1800, was an attorney at Law in the city of Baltimore obit. May 14,1814, Mt. 26. Joel Adams, Son of Capt. Timothy Adams, Grad. Harv. Univ. 180.5, Counsellor at Law, Chelmsford. Hosea IJildreth, Son of Timothy H. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1805, Prof, of Math, and Nat. Philosophy in Exeter Academy, N. H. John Parkhurst, Son of Sana'l P. Grad. Harv. Univ. 1811, ordained over a Baptist church and so* ciety in New-Ipswich, N. H. 1814. Alpheus Spring Packard, Son of Rev. H. Packard, born Dec. 23, 1798, Grad. Bod. Col- lege, 1816. Charles Packard, Son of Rev. Hez. Packard, Grad. Hapv . J3*-VCol. i8i>: JohnMinot Fiske, Grad. Harv. Univ. 1814, attorney at Law, Boston, John Richardson Adams, SonofWm. Adams, Esq. A. B. Han _ T niv. 1816, student of Law. NO. XVIII. Charitable Contributions, from 1742. If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. For Mr. Richard Gookin, of Dedham, whose house has, been burnt. — Recommended as an object of charity by let- ter from Rev. Mr. Baxter, of Mansfield", and Rev. Mr. Dextet of Dedham, April 8, 1 742, being fast day, was collected 11/. 2*. Id. For Saml. Woods, lately of this town, having lost his sub- stance by fire — Dec. 11,1 743, was collected 16/. For Hannah Shed, in this town, though not properly an inhabitant, being sick and destitute, wascollected April 12, 1744 r 9/. For Rev. Daniel Emerson, whose house and substance were consumed by fire, June 28, 1 744. 9/. 1 2s. For Daniel Raymond, of Concord, whose son was wound- ed by a loaded sled running over his leg, and is languishing, was collected Jan. 13, 1745 9/. 1 1*. 2d. For Jacob Pierce, brought into indigent circumstances by long sickness, was collected Jan. 19, 1746 — 9/. 14s. 6d. — In grain, 5/. 5s. 14/. 19s. 6 d. For Zackery Keyes, inhabitant of this town, whose house and substance were consumed by lire, April 7, 1 748, was col- lected in money — 40/. 15s. — in necessaries, 10/ 13s — for his mother, 1/ lis. 52/. 19s. For David Woodwell, of New Hopkinton, and Jona. Bur- bank of Penecook, to assist them to go to Canada, to attempt the redemption of the Daughter of said Woodwell, and the Brother of said Burbank, captivated at New Hopkinton by the Indians in April, 1 746, — Feb. 5, 1 749, was collected 43/. 8s. to be equally divided between them. For Henry R ichardson of Pelham, New-Hampshire, late- ly of this town, whose house & all in it was consumed by fire, with two persons, his own son, who got out alive but died in a few hours — and Jona. Wright of Dracut, a married man and father of 3 children, who was so consumed in the fire as thai a little part only of his body waS found ; Nov. 1, 1 750, was collected in money of the old tenor, 19/. 3 3 Besides several notes not > ) In Grain 27 specifying any thing — but )» For the widow promising something. J Wright in Grain 1 15 Judged about 50/. in all, old tenor. r 47 13 3 For Joseph Chambcrlin, whose wife and son are at Groton distracted; May 10, 1752 was collected 38 2 jawful money, For James Kidder of this town, whose substance was con- sumed by fire. On July 14, 1 754 was collected in money 23/. 16 Labor Notes Rye Indian Corn Flax jbum total pld tenor, 41/. 3 6 15 4 15 0. o O 10 o 5 3 101 "Fore the sufferers by the late great and terrible lire in' Bos-- ton, April 13, 17G0— old tenor 13G/. C In lawful money 18/. 3 5 For Mary Keyes, widow, who hath been visited with the small pox ; she and her son had it. : her son died : she was 3t great cxpcncc. Apr. 1-2, 1 761, was collected In Cash, 62/. 11 3 Ingrain, 4 2 6 Lawful Money 3/. 17 10-2 66/. 14 2 For Jacob Wendell of this town whose potash house with bis works were consumeded by firc.Ocfober. 8,1 767, was col- lected for him in Cash old tenor, 55/. In erain, meat, labour, &e. 1 7 ■ &' 72/. For David Kidder, who lost a cow > 9/. 1 2 lawful and hog that were fatting, December) money. 1767 was collected 61. 6 7 3 lawful money. For the widow Rebecca Dutton and her children, who have suffered by fire. Nov. 4, 1 770 : 0/. 1 4 2 lawful money. Edward Raymond of Athol, late of this town, who lost his house and furniture by fire : June 23, 1 771 collected lawful money 6/. 5 1 1 For Sam'lHutchins, a young man, late of this town, now of Temple in N. Hampshire, he was building a new house^ which wa3 almost finis-hed, when it took lire and was con- sumed, collected in cash 39/. os. old tenor, lawful mon- ey 5/. 4*. Sd. was collected in cash 4/. lawful money. For Abner Herrick, whose wife was sick and died. Nov.. 5, 1789 was collected in cash 4/. lawful money. For Steven Spalding of Sharon, N. H. reduced to straits by long sickness. April 1305, was collected the sum of $20. For Eldad Proctor whose house had been burnt, was col- lected July 7, 1805. $16 22. For Thomas Hildreth, reduced by fire, Oct. 3, 1805 was collected $23 11. For propagating the gospel in India, Sept. 22, 1806, was collected the sum of $11 11. For do. 1319 $14. • For Mr. Reed of Stoddard, who passing through town from market, broke his leg and was confined here : Dec. 18, 1814, was collected $30. 1811, For the sufferers at Newburyport by the. great Bre were collected $172 40. 1 92 1814, Was made a collection for the sufferers by fire at Portsmouth of $188 75. 1820, For propagating the gospel among the heathen; was collected. $14 00 NO. XIX. Original names of Hills, Siva-nips, Meadows, Brooks 9 Ponds and Bridges. HILLS. Nashoba, Kisacook, Rail-Tree, Robin's Bear Hill, Pine Hill, Francis' Hill, Rattle Snake Hill, Saw-pit Hill. SWAMPS. Great Tadmuck, Little Tadmuck, Poplar Swamp, Great Swamps Bear Swamp meadows: Providence Meadow, Smooth M. Flushing M. Snake M. East M. Crane M. Flaggy M. Tobacco M. Pond M. Mole Hill M. River M.Virginia M. 40 Acre M Gulden Cove M. BROOKS. Deep Brook, Vine Brook, Farley's B. George's B. Speen's B. Eas{ Meadow B. Great Brook, or Mill Brook, Beaver Brook, Black B. Ston- ey B. River Meadow B. Crooked Springs. PLAINS. Merrimack Plain, Carolina Plain. PONDS. Heart Pond, Newfield Pond, Long-saught-for Pond, Flushing Pond, Nubanussuck Pond, Birges' Pond, Keyes 1 Pond. BRIDGES. Poor Man's Bridge, Cross Bridge, Andrew's Bridge, Stoney Brook Bridge, Upper and Lower Middlesex Merrimack B. Middlesex Canal, No's. 1, 2, 3,4. Oeep Brook Bridge. rx JJrfK.ww.-.sai BJtRATm. Page 1, 3d line from the bottom, for " Higgimon" read Higginson. — Page 28, 3d line from bottom for " reducing" read redeeming. —Page 70 and 71 for " Loami" read Loammi. — Page 80, 11th line iron, bottom, for lt submission" read dismission. — Page 87, 9th line from bottom, for *' impressed" read impaired — I age 99, 4th line from bottom, for "parint?* read parent. — P;tge 102, l6ih line from bottom, for "Elisha, 1 * t( ad Joshua. Page 119, bottom line, f r " Edicii 8 " read Ecclesiis— -Page 123, 5th line from the top, insert Olive before " Plani". — ^age 139, 13th line from top, for "sepultrial" read sepulchral. — Page 158, 5th line from top, for "Na- amkuk" read Naamkeek. H 46 '78 ii -V, *fe. ^ »v V C •-.»- A ^. 4 *° '°* ^ ^"\ $ <& *K *oV» ru- v . •> >, '- 1 y °^ f° <*> *■ &J. * ■s^r ^^ V JAN TB ^V - ^ N MANCHESTER, KjSSI INDIANA