C '■;,<4G. v WOECE8TEE: PKESS OF CHAS. HAMILTON. 1876. f1^ PREFATORY NOTE. At a legal meeting of the Yoters of Lancaster, held April 3d, 1876, on motion of the Rev. A. P. Makvin, it was voted : — "To refer the subject of the delivery and publication of a Centennial Address on the 4th of July next, to a Committee of five, and that the sum of $150 be appropriated for the same." Elected as said Committee : — Rev. a. p. Makvin, Rev. G. M. Bartol, Chas. T. Fletcher, G. F. Chandler. Henry S. Nourse. This Committee was subsequently organized by the election of Mr. Baktol as Chairman, and of Mr. Nourse as Secretary and Treasurer. On motion of Mr. Marvin, Col. John D. Washburn was invited to deliver the address. EXERCISES. The following exercises were held in the Meeting-House of the First Parish; beginning precisely at Ten o'clock A. M. :— ORGAN VOLUNTARY. MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE. (America.) My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet laud of liberty, Of thee I sing ; Land where ray fathers died, Land of the pilgrims' pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring. My native country, thee — Land of the noble free — Thy name — I love ; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture thrills Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song; Let mortal tongues awake ; Let all that breathe partake ; Let rocks their silence break, — The sound prolong. Our fathers' God, to thee. Author of liberty, To thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by thy might. Great God, our King. 6 PRAYER, By Kkv. Benjamin Whittemore, D. D. HYMN, By Benjamin B. Whittemore. Almight)' God, whose gracious liaud Has long sustained our favored laud, Tiiy people, now, in hymns of praise Their grateful hearts aud voices raise, And for thy blessing humbly pray To crown the glory of this day. Thy sovereign power o'er all the earth Attends the nations in their birth — Thy wisdom giving each, ariglit. Its meed of strength — its needed light, All moving by Thy wond'rous plan, To serve the final good of man. Thy guiding hand our fathers knew, Their faith was strong — their courage true. With trust in Thee they fearless spoke The words that stern oppression broke, While Liberty, 'mid storm and strife. Led forth a nation into life. That nation with resistless tread Forth on its mission boldly sped, Though freedom's direst foes assailed, Its loyal heart has never quailed, And, in this proud centennial year. It meets the world without a peer. Lord, we behold onr Father-land — Its borders wide — its beauty grand — While every plain and mountain crest With freedom's signet seems impress'd. And o'er its wide domain we see A country blest, a people free. And shall not this dear heritage Our deep solicitude engage? Lord, for our country may we live — Help us devoted hearts to give, TJiat still her destiny may be To bless mankind — to honor Thee. READING OF DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, By Henry S. Nourse. ODE, By Mrs. Julia A. Fletcher Carney.* One hundred years ago, our sires Unfurled the starry banner, And lighting Freedom's signal fires Even fi'om their own funereal pyres, Shouted in glad Hosanna ! Old Massachusetts led the way ! Her pine tree flag unfurling Wherever, — on the battle day, — Thickest and darkest o'er the fray, The smoke of death was curling. The snowy flag beside the blue Still said, " Appeal to Heaven ! " Dark and yet darker grew its hue, As mid the battle smoke it flew Till victory was given. God of our sires, Thou still art here! We still, to Thee appealing. Ask that this proud Centennial year May leave us nobler, purer, freer From foes around us stealing. Save, Ave beseech ! Our nation's heart A myriad foes doth cherish ! Low men in places high have part, A selfish greed doth fill each mart. Help ! lest our country perish! In olden time, against one foe Forth w^ent our snowy banner; Our newer flag, to-day doth know No foeman for its mailed arm's blow, Yet still we cry, Hosanna ! * Extract from letter of Mrs. Carney; " It will be known to most of the older ones assem- bled, that in the early part of our Revolutionary War, our privateers all carried the old flaf; of Massachusetts. The field was of white,— in the centre a green pine tree;— the motto, 'Appeal to Heaven.' The star-spangled banner was not adopted till June 14th, 177G, and Btill the Massachusetts State flag was used with It. The Hebrew meaning of Hosanna, 'Save, we beseech,' may interest the Sunday School children. Of course, the present tlag of our dear native State, with its mailed arm ready for a foe, yet its motto of peace, is familiar to all." ORATION, By John D. Washburn. PSALM 44, ( Version of Tate '. Resolved, that the granting a sallary to his excellency the Governor of this Province out of the Revenue unconstitutionally raised by us is an Innovation of a very alarming Tendancy. 4tiiiy That it is of the highest importance to the security of Liberty, Life and Property that the Publick Administration of Justice should be Pure and Impartial, and that the judges should be free from every Byass, either in favor of the crown or the subject. gthiy That the absolute Depeudancy of the Judges of the Superior Court of this Province upon the Crown for their support 48 would, if it should ever take place, have the strongest tendancy to Byass the uiiuds of the Judges, aud would weaken our confi- dence in them. gthiy^ Ilesolved, that the extension of the power of the court of vice admiralty to its present enoimous proportions is a great grievance and deprives the subject in many instances of that noble privilege of Englishmen, Trials by Juries. 7''''^. Resolved, that the Proceedings of this Town be trans- mitted to the Town of Boston." I make no apology for producing at length before yon these most mterestmg and oi'iginal contribu- tions to our local history. It is remarkable that they should never before have seen the light, since they illustrate so fully and effectively the tone and spirit of our fathers. The warrant for town meeting Sept. 5, 1774, shows still further the current of thought and opinion in the community, soon after the passage of the Boston Port Bill. The second article is "To see if the town will do anything towards the relief of the suffering Poor of the town of Boston, occationed by a late act of Parliment, for blocking up the Port of said town or to act or Transact anything relating thereto. S'"^'. To see if the town will come into any agreement for non-Importation and non -Exportation of Goods to or from Great Britain, or to act or transact anything relating thereto. 4*^'^ To choose a Committee or Committees to act or do any thing or things that the town shall think proper to be done or acted, by any agreement with any other town or towns in order to get relief in the best and most easy way from our present Difficulty, inflicted on us by the late Act of Parliament, and to act and do any matter or thing that the town shall see needful to be done, and Report to the Town from time to time what they have done, and to receive the Town's orders to act and do what the Town shall think proper to be done and acted. * * * 49 0'^. To pass such votes as the Town shall think Propper to be done to get Releaf from those oppressive acts of Parlinient which hath been inflicted on us lately, and to act any thing that said Town shall think needful Relating to the Congress and to accept and Ratify what they shall do if sd town thinks fit. 10"^. To pass any vote or votes that may be thought needful in order to get Releaf in our present Distressed circumstances, by our just rights and privileges, as we think, being taken from us. 11"'. To see if the Town will vote to abide by our Charter Rights and Privileges." At the meeting it was voted " To choose a committee of seven persons to be a committee of coi'respondence for sd county." And the Committee was chosen accordingly, of which Wm. Dunsmoor was the chairman. " Voted, that the Committee make report to the Town of their doings from time to time, as expressed in the waiTaut. Voted, that any number, even less than a majority of the above committee, shall be sufiicient to rejn-esent the town as a Com- mittee of Correspondence. Voted, That the Town will Indemnify the Constable for not returning a list of the Freeholders for Juries, under the late act of Farliament. Voted, to raise fifty pounds, for to buy ammunition with, to be a town stock." At an adjournment of this meeting it was further "2''. Voted, that there be a hundred men raised as volunteers to be ready at a minute's warning to Turn out upon any emer- gency, and that they be Formed into two companies and choose their own officers. 3'^. Voted, that the said volunteers shall be reasonably paid by the Town for any services they may do us in defending our Liberty s and Privileges. 4"^. Voted, that Dr. Wm. Dunsmoor be empowered to enlist 50 men in the old Parish to serve as volunteers. 7 50 o"'. Voted thai Capt. Asa Whitcomb be empowered to enlist 5) men in the second parish to serve as volunteers. 0"'. Voted, to buy one field piece for the use of the town." At another adjournment, September 28th, it was " Voted to authori/.e two field pieces instead of one, and to send one man for the Proposed Provintial Convention to be held at Concord on the second Tuesday of October." And on December 12, 177i, it was "Voted, to choose a committee of 3 persons to draw up an Association League and Covenant for non-consumption of goods, &c., for the Inhabitants to sign, and Capt. Gates and Capt. Whitcomb were chosen." At another adjournment, " Voted, to buy 5 hundred wt. of ball suitable for the field pieces." "Voted, to buy 3 hun** wt. of Grape Shot." On the 31st October, 1774, this town "Voted to choose a Committee to post up all such Persons. as continued to buy, sell, or consume any East India Teas at some Publick Place in Town, and that Doct. Josiah Wilder, Ephraim Sawyer and Aaron Sawyer be a Committee for the above Purpose." On the 2d January, 1774, it was "Voted to choose a committee to receive subscriptions and donations for the sufifering Poor of the Town of Boston, occa- sioned by the late Boston Port Bill, and to carry in the donations to some one of the Committee in a fortnight from this day." Also, " Voted, to adopt and abide by the spirit and sense of the association of the late Continental Congress held at Philadelphia to choose a committee to see that the said association be kept and observed by the Inhabitants of said Town, " Voted, that the above committee have no pay, but do the business gratis." Other votes were passed from time to time, in 51 accord with the spirit of these. Thus I have allowed these men to describe themselves to you. Ye shall know them by their fruits, for thus they resolved, nor did their resolves fail to find embodi- ment in action when the time for action came. Their wise prescience foresaw the crisis which must be approaching, and provided means for meeting it with vigor. The morning of the 19th of April, 1775, brought its summons, and the company of minute- men, of which I have cited the formation, was instantly set in motion towards Lexington. The compan}^ of horse repaired to Cambridge to assist in checking the anticipated advance of the British into the country. Thus early in the field in defense of that liberty they had resolved must be maintained, our fathers did not cease from their patriotic exer- tion till liberty was won. Two of them fell at Bunker Hill, the first martyrs of the town in the cause of independence, and few were the regiments of the Continental army from this section of the country, in the ranks of which the men of Lancaster were not found, or in which they did not exercise commands of more or less dignity. Time will not allow me to enumerate them. The names of all the fathers of the town are found on the rolls, and Willard gives a catalogue of not less than ninety- two persons in the service who thus represented the early settlers. Exclusively of Lexington and 52 Bunker Hill, more than three hundred, all, or nearly all the able bodied men of the town, were in actual service in the field. The town encouraged them by generous bounties, as its records show. There was a delay in the response to one of the later calls which seemed like a momentary faltering. It was in 1780. and a leading patriot of the town declared that response to the call was impossible, as the repeated demands of the country had exhausted the power and resources of the town. But the spirit of sacrifice shrank not finally before this exigency. The men were fui-nished, liberal bounties were gi^anted them, and they hastened to the field. I do not think it can be claimed that the town fur- nished great military leaders, or that any of its citi- zens held high commands. Yet the names of Whit- comb and Haskell deserve honorable remembrance among the brave heroes of that day. Of Whitcomb a contemporary relates an anecdote which illustrates the true greatness of his character. [From the iVeto England Chronicle, Jan. 11, 1776.] "Deacon Whitcomb of Lancaster, who was a member of the Assembly of Massachusetts Bay till the present war commenced, had served in former wars, and been in different engagements ; served as a Colonel in the Continental Array, but on account of his age was left out upon the new regulation. His men highly resented it, and declared tliat they would not list again after their time was out. The Colonel told them he did not doubt there were sufficient reasons for the regulation, and he was satisfied with it ; he never blamed them for their conduct, and said he would enlist as a private. Colonel Brewer heard of it, and offered to 53 resign in favor of Colonel Whitcomb. The whole coming to Gen- eral Washington's ears, he allowed of Colonel Biewer's resigna- tion in Colonel Whitcoinb's favor, appointed the former Barrack- master till he coi;ld fnrther promote him, and acquainted the army with the whole affair in general orders. Let antiquity produce a more striking instance of true greatness of soul." Henry Haskell served honorably as a Colonel, and of Andrew Haskell, a Captain, Willard gives a brief and pleasing sketch, showing him to have been possessed of a spirit of patriotism which rose superior to personal considerations. These were the officers of highest rank who served in the war of the Revolution from this town ; but there Avere several Lieutenants and subalterns, and their record, as well as that of the enlisted men, seems to have been one of honor. Meanwhile the spirit of patriotism was maintained at home, and displayed itself occasionally in a strik- ing manner. The town records show that black lists were prepared of persons who used articles of im- portation, and of persons suj^posed to be unfriendly to the patriot cause. A committee was appointed to collect evidence against "such persons as shall be deemed to be internal enemies to the State." These names stand upon the records of the town to-day. I will not recite them, but it is worthy of note that the name of the minister of the town is found there, though afterward stricken oif, on his earnest protes- tation that his country had no better friend than he. I have thus displayed, drawn from original sources, 54 though with a brevity adapted to the occasion, the record of this toAvn in the war of the Revohition. It is one of devotion and sacrifice, early begun and continued to the end. The articles of confederation and perpetual union between the colonies were accepted by the town in 1778, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth in 1780. The second epoch of our history ended in peace, though in extreme poverty and distress, and the third epoch began. Almost its first public event illustrates the single step from the sublime to the ridiculous. The Gen- eral Court granted permission for a lottery, upon the petition of the town, to enable it to raise money to repair its bridges. And the men who in 1778 uttered the lofty resolves and instructions to their Representative which have been read, in 1783 accepted the benefit of the provisions of an act which not only conferred on them powers of folly, but, in the scope of its provisions contemplated pen- alties of infamy. On the 15th of February, 1783, this act was passed, and was approved by John Hancock, then Governor. The 23enal section is as follows: — " And it is also further enacted if any persons shall forge, coun- terfeit or alter a Ticket any and every person so convicted shall be set on the gallows fur the space of one hour with a rope ronnd his neck, or shall pay a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds to the use of the Commonwealth, or shall be imprisoned not exceed- ing twelve months, or be publicly whipped not exceeding thirty- 55 nine stripes at tlie discretion of the Justices of tlie same Court who aie also hereby empowered to intiict one or more of the said punishments on such oflenders if they see fit. Feb. loth, 1783. In the House the bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted. TinsTEAM Dalton, Speaker. In Senate, Feb. 15, 1783. This bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted. Samuel Adams, Prest. Ai>proved. JOHN HANCOCK." Surely it is an instance of something like relapse and temporary degeneracy, that from 1782 to 1790 fourteen classes of this lottery were drawn, with a result upon the whole unfavorable to the cause directly in hand, and greatly injurious for the time to the general industry and morals of the community. Doubtless the temptation was great to resort to any means which promised favorably for meeting a public and exceptional expense. - Doubtless this portion of the country was utterly exhausted by the war. Moreover, a sound circulating medium, that indispensable basis of commercial prosperity, was wanting. Yet the lottery consumed instead of adding to the general wealth, and provided a remedy which aggravated, instead of alleviating, the community's disease. I have left myself no time to dwell upon the 5G details of the third epoch, and, indeed, my object has been, in great measure, to bring before yon the rehations of this town to the war of the Revokition. This hist epoch also had its alternatmg scenes of peace and war, though, till towards its close, the presence of the latter was not felt in a degree of severity comparable to that of the Revolution. The causes which led to the rebellion known as Shays' war, in 1786, in which Lancaster played an honorable and patriotic part, are set forth simply and philosophically in the pages of Rev. Mr. Thayer's address. A reasonable number of our citizens joined the forces under General Lincoln, and remained with him to the end of the controversy. In the war of 1812, also, the men of Lancaster were found faithfnl in arms, and loyally and patiently bore such sacrifices as that war entailed upon them. It was at the close of this epoch that the crowning proof \vas given that the spirit of the fathers lived in the sons. ^Nearly two hundred of our best and bravest, the flower of our youth, went forth from their peaceful homes to defend our liberties on the field of battle, and to die if need be, that the republic might live. The history of the Great Rebellion is yet to be written, and the day has not come for it to be written in the full impartial light which lapsing time throws on past 57 events. It will be a history filled with the story of great battles, and long campaigns, and valor individual and collective such as few histories have disclosed. In that history, we remember Avith pride to-day, no word can be written which will reflect discredit on any of the sons of Lancaster who marched forth to battle beneath our country's radiant flag. You were the witnesses of the devotion with which they dedicated themselves to that great and holy cause. You saw them press forward to that mighty conflict, not gaily " as to a festival," but earnestly, as to the discharge of the noblest duty of the citizen and the soldier. Your prayers and benedictions followed them. You were witnesses of their departure to the field, and you welcomed back the survivors of that gallant band with tears of grateful joy. But other tears fell for those who went forth, and returned not when battles w^ere over and victory won. The homes that knew them in their day of youth and bloom, know them no more forever. Yet if to the spirits of the departed is granted some cognizance of what is done in this earthly home of their afi'ection from which they have passed to higher spheres, the knowledge of our gratitude may form a part of their rich and heavenly reward to-day. They died for us, and yonder memorial speaks to us tenderly of the story of their heroic 8 58 (h't'ds, ami tolls Us hit\\ Ktl'l v a iaHiM«^' il is to {\\o thai (Mir li'lloNN -iiU'H \\\:\\ \\\i\ and li\o iiot t>iil\, luit lu" iVi't*. Nor was it dralli, luit lilc ainl imiuorialilN which waited lor llu-m and rrcriNcd llu'iu, w Iumi thoy wiHMiU'd to lis tt> die. I'\>r, in thr |uu't's w«>i'tia, so litJY chostMi l\>r iusi'riplion on the lahUi w hii-h piiMis i;i"atit iid»> has erertrd to their iinauorv : *' Wo novoi' oou l»»» »l«\'iiliUattl«>s. No, tho Imhvo nio uovor, lioiny; lUuUhlran thoy l>ut ohaugo 'ri\»ai' oiMinti'v's vows t'ov i\n>i»'. tht'ir ot>in»tiv's hoart," ^ ^ '^ '^' . •< d («t< «yv :- c c >*- c c CC : CC . CC