Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 37, 1889

FiTCHBURG was originally a part of Lunenburg, and its history prior to 1764 is identical with that of Lunenburg and may be found in the history of that town. Previous to 1764 several attempts had been made by the people living in the westerly part of Lunenburg to be set off as a separate town, but were unsuccessful. Oa January 25, 1764, another attempt was made and the consent of Lunenburg obtained, the town voting " to let the people go." The request was granted on condition that " the inhabitants should pay their minister's tax, as heretofore they had done, until they should be formed into a disirict." As soon as the consent of Lunenburg was obtained, a committee, consisting of John Fitch, Amos Kimball, Samuel Hunt, Ephraira Whitney and Jonathan Wood, was chosen to procure an act of incorporation. So zealously did this committee work that in just nine days after the granting of the request the act passed the General Court and was signed by the Governor. The following is a copy of the act of incorporation in full :

An act for setting off the inhabitants, as also the estates, of the westerly part of Lunenburg into a separate town by the nani.i of Fitchburgb.

Be it enacted by the Governor; Council and House of Eepresentatives^ that the inhabitants, with their lands, on the westerly part of Lunenburg, beginning at such a place on Leominster line as that a straight line therefrom may run between the lands of Messi-a. Paul Welherbee and Jonathan Wood to a stake and stone a small distance to the westward of Mary Holt's house, then turning and running north, ten degrees and a half east, to the southeast corner of Ephraim Whitney's land, then to keep the easterly line of said Whitney's land to the northeast corner thereof, and from that corner to run northwardly on the enstwardly line of John "Wbite'e land to the norwesterly corner thereof, and from that corner to run north, four degrees east, to Townsend line ; then running west, thirty one degrees and a half north, on Townsend line to Dorchester Canada line, then turning south, nine degrees west, eight miles and a hundred and forty rods on Dorchester Canada line, to Westminster line ; then turning east, eleven degrees thirty minutes south, three miles and thirty one rods to a heap of stones on Leominster line; tlien turning and running to the bound first mentioned, be and hereby is set off and erected into a separate towu by the name of Fitchburgh, and that the said town be invested with all the powers, privileges and inmiunities that other towns in this Province do or may by law enjoy, that of sending a Representative to the General Assembly only excei>ted ; and that the inhabitants of said town shall have full power and right, from time to time, to join with said town of Lunenburg in the choice of a Representative, or Representatives, and be subject to pay their proportionable part of the charges, who may be chosen either in the town of Lunenburg or town of Fitchburgh, in which choice they shall enjoy all the privileges, which by law they would have been entitled to if this act had not been made ; and the Selectmen of the town of Lunenburg shall issue their warrant to one or more of the constables of Fitchhurgh, requiring them to notify the inliabitanfg of the town of Fitchburgh of the time and place of their meeting for such a choice.

Provided, nevertheless, and be it further enacted, that the said town of Fitchburgh shall pay their proportion of all town, county and Province taxes, already set on, or granted to be raised, by said town of Lun(nburg, as if this act had not been made.

And be it further enacted, that Edward Haitwell, Esq., be and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant in said town of Fitchburgh, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of sjiid town, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such oflftcers as shall be necessary to manage the affaii-s of said town.

The history of Fitchburg begins therefore on the 3d day of February, 1764. About forty families were then living within the limits of the new town, making the probable number of inhabitants something over two hundred. There was one mill in the town, - the saw and grist-mill erected about 1750 by Amos and Ephraim Kimball, - near the location of the present " Stone Mill," now occupied by J. Gushing & Co. To the Kimballs also belongs the honor of building the first dam across the North Branch of the Nashua. It consisted of a log laid across the stream with spikes driven in above it, and was generally swept away every spring by freshets. It was located a few feet above the present granite dam, near the Laurel Street bridge.

Rufus C. Torrey, in his " History of Fitchburg," gives a complete list of the heads of families living in the town at the time of its incorporation, and also the place of residence of each of them. It contains forty-three names. After this list is the following, which gives an idea of what Fitchburg was a century and a quarter ago: "The above-mentioned individuals and their families composed the population of Fitchburg. Their dwellings, in almost every instance, were far apart, - here and there a house scattered over a large territory. A single dwelling-house stood in the ' Old City,' and in the village, where the population is now so thickly clustered together, not a single house was erected. The winds, which swept down the valley of the Nashua, sighed through the pines which have formed a dense forest." He also adds that " the pitch-pine trees aflbrded an excellent shelter for deer, partridges and wild turkeys."

It is somewhat singular that uncertainty should have so long existed as to the origin of the name of the town. Mr. Torrey, writing in 1836, wavers between the claims of John Fitch (the chairman of the committee chosen to procure the act of incorporation) and a Colonel Timothij Fitcli, of Boston, "who owned extensive tracts of land in the town, and was considered, in those days, as a man of note and distinction." John Fitch also owned much land in town, and Mr. Torrey very frankly states that to which of these gentlemen belongs the honor of furnishing the name of the town " is a point which will probably remain forever in obscurity."

Now in 18.31 Nathaniel Wood, Esq., delivered before the Fitchburg Philosophical Society a series of five lectures on the early history of this town. The manuscript is now in the public library, and in the second lecture occurs the following unqualified statement in regard to the matter : "The town was named after John Fitch, the same person taken by the Indians, as mentioned in my last lecture. It appears he was an extensive land-owner, a man of influence, and probably was the principal agent in procuring the act of incorporation. All these circumstances combined induced the petitioners to request that the new town should be incorporated by the name of Fitchburg."

Mr. Torrey, in the preface to his history of the town, says, in reference to these lectures, " Unre stricted use of Mr. Wood's papers has been generously granted me." How he happened to overlook the explicit statement above quoted is a mystery.

Now a few words about the " Col. Timothy Fitch," of whom Mr. Torrey speaks, before we conclude this subject. A thorough investigation in regard to this claimant was made a few years ago by Mr. Henry A. Willis, a prominent citizen of Fitchburg, and much interested in historical matters, with the following result: after a careful search through the histories of Boston, all available genealogical records and the Worcester County registry of deeds, he was unable to find any man of that name who ever owned a foot of land in Fitchburg. He did find, however, in the Worcester County registry of deeds a Zachariah Fitch, who died some twenty years before Fitchburg was incorporated. It appears that he owned " onehalf part of about 300 acres " in what is now the southerly portion of the township of Fitchburg. So the claim that this Colonel Fitch "owned extensive tracts of land in that town " is reduced to very small proportions.

To sum up the whole matter, it seems that half a century ago, or more, there was an idea prevalent that the town was named for some Fitch other than John Fitch ; but so vague was the impression that Mr. Torrey did not even have his first name correct, for the statement in the " History of Fitchburg " evidently refers to Zachariah Fitch.

It may then be regarded as settled that the town was named in honor of that sturdy early settler, John Fitch. He lived in the northerly part of the town, which, in 1767, became a portion of the new town of Ashby, in Middlesex Counly. He was prominent in the early town afftiirs of Ashby, and died there April 8, 1795, aged eighty-seven years. A monument, commemorating some of the events of his rather more than ordinarily eventful life, was afterwards erected over his grave.

In accordance with the provision in the act of incorporation, Edward Hartwell, Esq., of Lunenburg, on the 1.5th of February, 1764, issued his warrant directed to Amos Kimball, requiring him to notify the qualified voters " to assemble at Captain Hunt's new dwelling-house in said town, on Monday, the fifth day of March, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, to choose town officers and fix the day for the annual meeting and the mode of warning at town-meetings."

Fitchburg's first town-meeting was accordingly held March .5, 1764, at Captain Samuel Hunt's tavern. The following town ofHcers were chosen : Amos Kimball, moderator; Ephraim Whitney, town clerk; Amos Kimball, David Goodridge, Samuel Hunt, Ephraim Whitney and Reuben Gibson, selectmen. Under the guidance of these gentlemen the infant town entered upon its career, which was destined to far exceed the fondest hopes of its founders. The town fixed the first Monday in March as the day for the annual town-meeting, and voted that in future the constable or constables of the town warn all townmeetings.

Three weeks later the second town-meeting was held to consider various articles, one of which was "to see if the Hoggs shall run at large for the present year." The " Hoggs " were fortunate enough to secure their liberty for the year. The next townmeeting was held at the tavern, September 12, 1764. Captain Thomas Cowdin was then proprietor of this house, having bought out Captain Hunt during the summer. At this meeting the following vote was passed : " that two miles on the westerly Line, beginning at the north westerdly corner, and Half a mile on the easterdly Line, beginning at the northeasterdly corner, on Townsend Line, thence running a straite Line from corner to corner be Sott off to Mr John fitch and others, in order for them to Joyne a part of Townshend and a part of Dorchester Canady, in order to make a Town or parish among themselves, and that the said John fitch and others be freed from paying anything to the settlement of a minister or for building a meeting-house in said town of Fitchburgh."

This certainly shows great liberality on the part of Fitchburg's early settlers, and such a large concession would seem to indicate that John Fitch was highly esteemed among his fellow-citizens. The several tracts mentioned above were, in 1767, incorporated as the town of Ashby.

In those early days the territory comprising Fitchburg seems to have been largely owned by a few individuals, and it may be of interest to note some of the most extensive landholders. In July, 1764, Cap- tain Thomas Cowdin moved into the town, and soon became a leading citizen. As above stated, he purchased the Hunt tavern, which stood some thirty rods or more east of the present junction of Blossom and Pearl Streets. He also purchased the farm going with the tavern. This farm, which is now the busiest and most thickly populated portion of the city, extended from about the present location of Mount Vernon Street on the west to East and Boutelle Streets on the east, and from Pearl Street on the north to Main and Winter Streets on the south. He also owned the land comprised between Baker's Brook and the two roads to Lunenburg. Captain Cowdin kept the Hunt tavern for about ten years, and then removed to what was later called the Boutelle house, near the present location of the American House, which he enlarged and opened as a tavern. Until his death, in 1792, he was a very prominent man in town affairs. A few years ago a handsomely polished, massive granite monument was erected to his memory, in Laurel Hill Cemetery, by his grandson, Hon. John Cowdin, of Boston.

Amos Kimball and his cousin Ephraim, who settled here some fifteen or twenty years before the incorporation of the town, also owned a large tract of land. They lived on what is now known as Hale's Hill, at the upper end of South Street, and owned from that point down to the river and a considerable distance to the west along the river, probably including Rollstone Hill.

Another large landholder was a Judge Oliver, of Salem, who owned from Cowdin's westerly boundary along the north side of the river as far as the junction of Phillips' Brook with the Nashua, comprising what is now the upper portion of the city and all of West Fitchburg. He also owned a tract of land a mile square on Dean Hill, in the northwesterly part of the township.

Colonel William Brown and Burnett Brown, both non-residents, owned an extensive tract in the southern part of the town, probably the land between Mount Elam and Rollstone roads, and also a tract southwest of Dean Hill, near the Westminster line, and a piece of laud somevvhere in the north part of the town.

As yet there had been no preaching in Fitchburg, the nearest meeting-house being in Lunenburg. Accordingly, in November, 1764, the town voted to have six weeks' preaching on their own territory. Rev. Peter Whitney, the future historian of Worcester County, was asked to furnish preaching for this length of time. He accepted the invitation, and the services were held in Cowdin's tavern. At this same November meeting it was also voted to build a house of worship, and a sum equivalent to about $166 was appropriated to begin the erection of it. Captain Cowdin very generously donated a portion of his wheat-field as a site for the building. The location corresponds closely to the present upper corner of Blossom and Crescent Streets. The people very wisely adopted the old-fashioned, honest plan in erecting their meeting-house, and built only as fast as they could afford to pay for it; consequently it was nearly two years before it was completed. The fir.st town-meeting was held in it on September 22, 1766, and from that time until September 17, 1798, townmeetings were held in it. On the latter date, and for nearly forty years thereafter, town-meetings were held in the new meeting-house completed about two years previously. Services for public worship were held in the old house until the dedication of the new one, on January 19, 1797.

No mention will here be made of the early ministers of Fitchburg. A brief account of them will be given in the ecclesiastical history of the town. Neither shall we, in this place, speak at any length concerning the schools, which will be reserved until the portion of this sketch relating to education is reached. Suffice it for the present to say, that in the autumn of 1764 the town voted a very small sum for "2scools" during the following winter. The next year, and for several succeeding years, a somewhat larger sura was voted for schools. By far the greater portion of the education obtained by the children in those days was acquired by means of private instruction.

Fitchburg began to increase in numbers and valuation very soon after its incorporation. Energetic and thrifty young men came from towns to the eastward and settled here with their families ; and in 1771 there were in town some eighty families, and the valuation was equal to about $8000. New roads were opened, and considerable money was expended on bridges. It is evident, however, that the inhabitants were not skilled in bridge-building. In 1770 the bridges were nearly all carried away by the spring freshets, and were rebuilt before the next winter, only to be carried off again in the following spring. The town records for 1771 state that the town voted "to rebuild the bridges carried away and damnified by the Hoods," and also " to pay for the rum expended at the bridges."

"Torrey's History" affirms that " the good people of Fitchburg, being vexed at the intrusion of ' cattel ' belonging to persons having no 'interest' in the town, they promptly forbade the entrance of all such 'cattel,' and proceeded ' to build a pound with logs.' It was enjoined ' that every person in town come and work at said pound, or pay his proportion.' It was a common practice for them, however, to vote that their own ' Hoaggs Go att Large lawfully Yoktand Ringd,' - as the erudite Town Clerk has recorded it."

It will be remembered that, in the de<criptive portion of this sketch, mention was made of unsuccessful attempts to obtain gold and silver from Pearl Hill. These attempts were probably made some ten years after the incorporation of the town. In September, 1769, deeds of John Putnam, Reuben Gibson and Isaac Gibson were recorded in the Registry of Deeds, leasing to Edmund Quincy, of Stoughton, their lands and farms (about two hundred acres in all, probably,) on Pearl Hill, for the purpose of opening mines. The consideration was five shillings in each case. The mines were to be opened within a specified time and the lessors were to have one-sixteenth part of the " hidden treasures " obtained therefrom.

At the same time deeds were recorded by which Edmund Quincy conveyed to "Charles Gleditsch, of Boston, Jeweller," one-half interest in the proposed mines. Mr. Quincy's absence in England rendered it impossible for him to open the mines within the required time, and May 14, 1774, a new lease, made jointly by Mr. Putnam and the Messrs. Gibson, was recorded, granting Mr. Quincy further time. After a recital of the former leases of mines, etc., " in our lands and farms in sd Fitchburg, at a Place called Pearl Hill," the document goes on to say : " In consideration that the said Edmund Quincy has been at Considerable Charges, from time to time, to Comply with the Terms of the leases aforementioned by Reason of his going for England and thereby was not in his power to comply in Opening any Mines that may be in our lands aforesaid, we prolong and give him a further term of three years from the Date hereof to comply with the true intent of said Leases." It was further set forth that Mr. Quincy was to " pay and allow " the said lessors " one-sixteenth part of all Mines, Mine Ores, Minerals, or other hidden Treasures of the Earth, free and Clear of all Cost and Charges, Delivered at the Pits Mouth wheresoever the same may be Dug, had, gotten or obtained by any Means whatsoever." This was dated May 5, 1774. The unsuccessful result of this venture was no more than could reasonably be expected.

Nor was this the only gold-mining scheme that Mr. Q,uincy had on hand in this town. He laid his plans to attack the bowels of Hale's Hill also ; for September 13, 17G9, Amos Kimball gave a deed, which was duly recorded October 10, 1769, the substance of which was as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I, Amos Kimball of Fitchburg in the County of Worcester in the Province of the Slassachusetts Bay in New England, (ientleman, for and in Consideration of Five Shillings LawfuU Money to me in hand paid by Edmund Quincy of Stoughtonham in the County of Suflblk and Province Aforesaid, Gentleman, the Receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and am fully Satisfied and Contented and for divers other good Considerations me hereunto Moving Have given granted Bargained and Sold and by these presents Give grant Bargain and Sell convey and Confirm unto the said Edmund Quincy" etc., '' All and Singular Mines Mine Ores Minerals and other hidden Treasures " that existed on his farm which was "Butted and Bounded as follows Southerly on Ephraim Kimball Easterly on Said Ephraim Kimball Northerly on Nashaway River and westerly on Rolestone hill." He further granted to Mr. Quincy and his heirs, " Liberty right and privilege of Ingress

Regress and Egress " and to have " Workmen and Laborers Pitts and Shafts to Sink Levells and Driftways to make and drive up and all other Necessarys and Convenients that might be needed, together with the right of using any streams on the said land for the purpose of " Cleaning the oar got in upon or within said Tract of land." Mr. Kimball further agreed to defend Mr. Quincy's rights to this property against all persons, "excepting the Demands of our Sovereign Lord the King his heirs or Successors." In conclusion, was the following provision, breach of which would make the contract null and void : " Provided Nevertheless it is the true Intent and Meaning of this deed that the said Edmund Quincy his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns shall commence and Begin to work upon the premises afore granted within the space of three years from the date hereof." As we have already seen. Mr. Quincy's absence in England prevented his beginning mining operations within the three years, and, as in the other cases, the contract was renewed for three years from May 5, 1774 ; but the " mines " were probably never opened.

As regards trading interests, there seems to have been no regular "store" in town until 1772, when Deacon Ephraim Kimball opened one in his dwellinghouse, located near the Kimball saw and grist-mill previously mentioned. Soon afterwards, however, two more stores were opened, one by Joseph Fox, who came here from Littleton, and the other by William Hitchborn, who came from Boston. Both these stores were located near the meeting-house.

About this time, also, David Gibson built a bakery on the spot now occupied by the residence of Ebenezer Torrey, Esq., and he also built his dwellinghouse directly across the road from the bakery. These were probably the first buildings erected in this portion of the town, which, fifty years later, was the most thickly settled and prosperous part of Fitchburg, and rejoiced in the title of " The Village," while the earlier settled portion, a half-mile or so to the easr.ward, had stagnated and lost its prestige, and had the nickname of " Old City" applied to it.

Although the early years of Fitchburg's existence were prosperous, yet there were events preparing which checked, for a time, the wheels of progress. A fire was smouldering which, a few years later, burst out in the ruddy glare of the Revolutionary War.

Fitchburg, of course, did not, like Boston and many other towns in the Province, suffer from actual invasion, but she unflinchingly and patriotically bore her full share of the hardships of the seven years' struggle for freedom, and was ever ready, and, among the inland towns, was one of the first, to contribute both men and money to the extent of her ability, to aid in the resistance of the colonies against the inroads of the British- selectmen of Fitchburg, as they did likewise to the selectmen of the other towns in the Province, desiring them to call a town-meeting, to consider what was best to be done in view of the critical condition of affairs between the colonies and Great Britain, and also to choose an agent to meet with them in Boston, and set forth the " views, wishes and determinations of the people of Fitchburg upon the subject.' A town-meeting was soon called, and Hon. Edward Hartwell of Lunenburg was chosen to act as agent for both Fitchburg and Lunenburg. The records do not state what course he was instructed to pursue as the representative of the two towns.

For the next five years nothing special, of a political nature, seems to have disturbed the citizens of Fitchburg. Of course, they felt the same uneasiness and dissatisfaction that was experienced throughout the colonies, and most intensely in and about the town of Boston.

At last, when forbearance ceased to be a virtue, the selectmen of Boston sent letters to the various towns, desiring them " to pass such resolves concerning their rights and privileges, as free members of society, as they were willing to die in maintaining, and to send them, in the form of a report, to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston."

Fitchburg took early notice of this letter, a townmeeting being held December 1, 1773, a few days after its receipt, for the purpose of considering it and expressing the sentiment of the citizens. The communication was read and the record of the meeting states that "after the town had deliberated thereon with zeal and candor, unanimously agreed to choose a committee of seven men, and chose Mr. Isaac Gibson, Capt. Reuben Gibson, Messrs. Phineas Hartwell, Ebenezer Woods, Ebenczer Bridge, Kendall Boutell and Solomon Steward as a committee to consider of our rights and privileges in common with other towns in this province, together with the many flagrant infringements that have been made thereon, and to report at the adjournment."

The adjourned meeting was held December 15th, and the report of the committee was read. It clearly and vigorously set forth the lact that the people of Fitchburg were in full accord with all efforts to oppose, and, if need be, strenuously resist any encroachments on the rights of the colonists. The report closed with the following : '"And with respect to the East India tea - forasmuch as we are now informed that the town of Boston and the neighboring towns have made such noble opposition to said tea's being brought into Boston, subject to a duty so directly tending to the enslaving of America - it is our opinion that your opposition is just and equitable; and the people of this town are ready to afford all the assistance in their power to keep off' all such infringements."

the same time exercised a commendable discretion. That they wholly disapproved of the perpetration of any outrage is shown by the "instructions" given to Dr. John Taylor, of Lunenburg, who, in May, 1774, was elected jointly by Lunenburg and Fitchburg to represent the two towns in the Great and General Court. He was instructed to " bear testimony against all riotous practices and all other unconstitutional proceedings," and also not to give up any charter rights and privileges, and to use his influence to have rights that had been taken away restored ; and further, " to move in the General Assembly that there might bea Congressand union with all the provinces." AVhethcr he moved for such a congress, or not, does not appear, but the deputies of a Congress of that description met in Philadelphia in the following September.

In October of the same year the town sent Capt. David Goodridge as their delegate to the Provincial Congress which convened at Concord and soon after adjourned to Cambridge. This Congress prepared plans for the defence of the province, and passed the resolve relative to the " minute-men," so called.

Fitchburg was now wide awake. Forty men were enlisted as minute-men and the selectmen expended about fifty dollars for " powder, lead and flints." The armory of the minute-men was in Ephraim Kimball's store. These men were regularly drilled and ready to start at a moment's notice.

The winter passed away and the memorable 10th of April, 1775, was at hand. It found the little town on the alert. At seven o'clock on the morning of that day the British reached Concord, and at nine o'clock, just two hours later, the alarm gun was fired in front of Kimball's store. In a very short time about fifty men, under the command of Captain Ebenezer Bridge, started for Concord, and immediately after their departure a large wagon, filled with provisions, was despatched to follow them. The company proceeded as rapidly as possible, but did not reach Concord until evening - too late to take any part in the events of that historic day. Quite a number of the men returned home in a few days, as there was no immediate need of their services; but shortly afterward a company was regularly enlisted composed of Fitchburg and Lunenburg men.

Other men from this town joined the Continental army at various times, and there were some thirty Fitchburg men constantly in the field until Boston was evacuated. There were probably a dozen men from this town engaged at Bunker Hill, and at least one of them (John Gibson) is supposed to have been killtd. The last seen of him was in the hottest of the battle, beating down the enemy with the butt of his musket.

" Independence Day " was now drawing near. Before taking the decisive step of declaring the American colonies free and independent, the Continental Congress submitted the matter to the legislative bodies of

The General Court of Massachusetts had already assured the Congress that the people of the Old Bay Colony would undoubtedly support them ; but to make the matter doubly sure, a resolve was passed that each town in the colony should take individual action on the matter.

In accordance with this resolve, the people of Fitchburg assembled in town-meeting, July 1, 1776, just three days before the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. And this is the answer that little Fitchburg returned to the General Court at this alarming crisis: " Voted, that if the Honorable Continental Congress .should, for the safety of these United Colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we, the inhabitants of the town of Fitchburg, will, with ourselves and fortunes, support them in the measure."

In October, 1776, the town voted adversely in regard to the question submitted to it, in common with the other towns of the Province, as to whether the " then Representative House, together with the Council, should make a form of government for the State of the Massachusetts Bay.'' The objections of the people of Fitchburg to this project took the form of a report and were based on the following well-taken points: that the members of the present House were not elected with a view to any such action, and that many of the inhabitants, who ought to have a voice in the matter, were absent in the army. In other words, they thought it best not to be in too much of a hurry.

Two and a half years later, in May, 1779, the town voted unanimously (forty-five votes) in favor of a new State Constitution. Just a year previous their vote on the same matter was twenty-two in favor and four against. In August, 1779, Capt. Thomas Cowdin was elected delegate from this town to attend the convention held at Cambridge, September 1st, for the purpose of framing the new State Constitution. This Constitution, as prepared by the convention, was submitted to the people for their ratification in May, 1780, and Fitchburg voted unanimously (65 votes) in favor of its adoption.

During this period the inhabitants of Fitchburg who remained at home were by no means reclining on beds of roses. It was " hard times " with them. Money was scarce, prices were high and the soldiers .and their families had to be provided for.

In 1777 the town began to get tired of the heavy burden. There was much gloom and not a little grumbling; but through it all no word reflecting on the justice of the American cause would be tolerated by the mass of the citizens. Patriotism was put above everything else and persons who did not come up to the mark in this respect were closely watched. *' More than one inhabitant of this town was threatened with a coat of tar and feather.^, and even with the destruction of his house," says Torrey.

Everybody was called upon to contribute to the good cause, to the utmost of his ability, and the suspicion and wrath of the citizens fell upon those who did not seem disposed to do their full share.

The people were divided into classes, according to their wealth, and each class furnished soldiers in turn, as they were called for by the government, and had to provide for the bounty money.

In addition to all the money furnished by these classes, the town also expended what amounted to quite a sum in those days. It is difficult to estimate how much the town actually expended during the last five years of the war, because the currency fluctuated so much, but it was probably between $7000 and -SSOOO.

It is very easy to see that all these war expenses, combined with the ordinary running expenses of the town, must have taxed the resources of the inhabitants of Fitchburg to the utmost. To cap the climax, the Continental currency, issued by the Congress, was counterfeited by the British, and the country was flooded with this spurious paper.

In 1777 the currency began to depreciate and continued to do so in a most alarming and ruinous manner. The government, for some inexplicable reason, made them legal tender for debts due, and the result was that many, who were previously in comparatively affluent circumstances, were reduced to almost absolute poverty. On the 1st of January, 1780, this currency had depreciated to such an extent that $1.00 specie was worth .?32.50 Continental.

The records at that period show that sums of money were voted by the town that would appear fabulous, did we not understand about the depreciation. Thus, in February, 1780, it was voted that the inhabitants should be allowed three dollars (i e., about nine cents "hard money") per hour for their labors on the highways. Eight thousand dollars was voted to be raised to assist in supporting soldiers' families. "In July, it was voted to raise S1666.66 to hire soldiers with. In the October following, a committee of the town contracted for four thousand eight hundred pounds of beef, and agreed to pay $26,000 for it, or at a rate of over $5.00 per pound.'' In 1781 Continental money took a still greater drop, and in March of that year two men who had been elected collector^ of taxes in Fitchburg for the ensuing year, and refused to serve, were each fined $900, equal to about $10 specie, the usual fine in such cases. At the same time the town voted $20,000 for repairs of highways and allowed each person $5 per hour for his labor.

The last, but not perhaps the least, of the troubles with which the town had to contend during this period was that dreaded disease, sraall-pox, which broke out here in 1776. A hospital for the purpose of inoculation was established in town by Dr. Thaddseus McCarty, of Fitchburg, and Dr. Israel Atherton, a noted physician of Lancaster. It does not appear that there were many deaths from the disease. Notwithstanding all these trials and hardships, Fitchburg increased considerably in size during the war, and at the time of the declaration of peace, in 1783, the town had about one thousand inhabitants.

Shays's Insureection. - At the close of the war, trade was stagnant, and there was very little money. The State government, in order to keep up its credit, imposed very heavy taxes on the people. At first the people had recourse to petitions ; but finding that no amelioration resulted from their numerous statements of grievances, they broke out into open rebellion against the State authorities. The leading character in the short-lived disturbance was a man named Daniel Shays, a former captain in the Continental army; hence the name Shays's Insurrection was applied to it.

The discretion that had previously characterized the people of Fitchburg, fortunately prevented ihem from breaking out into open rebellion ; but their threats were loud and deep, and not all the taxes ordered by the government were collected.

In June, 1786, Elijah Willard was appointed a delegate from this town to a convention, held in Worcester, to consider the best means of extricating the people from their burdensome difficulties. The town voted to defend his property if he should be arrested for attending the convention, " provided he behaves himself in an orderly and peaceable manner; otherwise he is to risk it himself

By all means in their power, short of force of arms, did the people of Fitchburg resist all eflbrts to collect the taxes, and the consequence was that a large company of soldiers was sent here in the fall of 1786, to enforce obedience. This made the citizens exceedingly indignant, and there were several occasions when serious strife was imminent. The company was prudently withdrawn to Townsend in the winter of 1786-87. During all their stay in Fitchburg, the soldiers exhibited great insolence towards the citizens, and when they were ordered to Townsend they put a finishing touch to their impudence by impressing men, horses and conveyances to take them there. A number of the soldiers were taken by Asa Perry, who hated them most cordially, and he managed to tip his load into the snow-drifts several times in the course of the journey. During 1787 the trouble gradually subsided and matters went on with tolerable smoothness.

It may be of interest to give a short description of the appearance of the town as it was about a century ago. In his " History of Fitchburg," Mr. Torrey has given as good and accurate a description as could be written, which is as follows: "A traveler, approaching from the cast or south, would first behold the tavern of Thomas Cowdin, Esq. Upon the hill to the northwest might be seen a small, yellow and rather mean-looking meeting-house. In front would appear the 'red store ' of Joseph Fox, Esq., and in the rear of that his dwelling-house, with large projecting eaves. The mills and meeting-hou.se of Deacon Ephraim Kimball were just below, and over the bridge were two houses more. Casting his eyes up the hill, he would see the house of Rev. Mr. Payson, where C. Marshall now lives. This was all that could be seen, and all that then constituted the middle of Fitchburg. Thence proceeding westward, over a crooked and rough road, the traveler would next see the house already mentioned as having been built by David Gibson, and opposite to that, on the right, the baker's shop. He would then come on to the present Common. Here his eyes would be greeted by small, stunted pine trees, and such bushes as grow upon the poorest land. A straggling log fence here and there might serve to diversify the scene. Nothing more was to be seen, unless William Brown had commenced building Captain Z. Sheldon's present dwelling-house, till, passing the swell of ground at Dr. Abel Fox's house, the modest, unassuming house of Benjamin Danforth would be visible on the right, and his blacksmith's shop on the left. Continuing his course onward, over one of the most wretched roads that ever bore that name, and passing over the high bridge - and a crazy one it was - near the bellows-shop of Messrs. Thurston & Battis, no marks of human habitation were to be seen till, passing around the hill, he might discern in the distance the solitary cottage of Benjamin Kemp. The river, which is now crowded, so to speak, with mills and factories, then appeared like a useless profusion of water, flowing noisily along over its rocky bed to the parent ocean, unobstructed by a single dam save the one in the Old City. Such, fifty years ago, was the forbidding aspect of what is now the busy and pleasant village of Fitchburg." The reader will bear in mind that the foregoing was written by Mr. Torrey in 1835 or 1836.

In addition to the middle of the town above described there was, a century ago, a flourishing settlement in the westerly part of the township. Theland there was elevated, the soil good and there was no river to cause trouble every spring. This region, now known as Dean Hill, was settled early and became quite prosperous. This locality boasted of two taverns, kept by Jacob Upton and Jedediah Cooper respectively, a blacksmith's shop and a doctor, besides the houses of many thrifty farmers.

The people living in this region had to pay their proportion of the taxes for the annual repairs of bridges and highways in the middle of the town. To free themselves from these heavy and, in their opinion, unjust taxes, they determined to be set oif as a separate town; and in the warrant for the annual townmeeting March 7, 1785, was an article " to see if the town will take into consideration the request of Mr. Jacob Upton and others, to see if the town will set off the inhabitants of the northwesterdly part of

Fitchburg, with their lands and privileges, free and clear from said Fitchburg, to join the extreme part of Westminster with the noriheasterdly part of Ashburnham, to be incorporated into a town, to have town privileges as other towns."

The people in all other parts of the town were unanimously opposed to this project, doubtless fearing that, in case this prosperous and growing portion were set off and ceased to contribute to Fitchburg's town expenses, they would be utterly swamped by the taxes necessary to repair the damage done by that grievous nuisance, the north branch of the Nashua. Bo the article was promptly voted down.

The people in the west, by no means discouraged by this defeat, went to work immediately to gain their point and contrived a very shrewd scheme worthy of " Yankee ingenuity."' The time had come when all were agreed that there was need of a new meeting-house in a more central locality. This commonly acknowledged fact was made the basis of a petition brought before the town by the people of the west in May, 1785. The substance of this petition was that a mile or more in width of the northerly part of Westminster, with the inhabitants thereon, be annexed to Fitchburg, these proposed new inhabitants " to be convened with others of the inhabitants of said town, for the public worship of God and to be vested with all other privileges with said town in public matters, to join with the inhaliitants of said Fitchburg to build a meeting-house on Ezra Upton's land," etc.

This, at first glance, seemed like a perfectly fair proposition. If adopted, territory would be added to the township and the location of the proposed meeting-house would be quite near the centre of the town. But the men of the east were Yankees, too, and dust could not be thrown into their eyes. Tney saw the point so speciously concealed by the meetinghouse scheme. They saw that if the petition were granted and the new territory annexed, the inhabitants of the new acquisition, combined with the people in the west, would then be strong enough to control the town-meetiug, would vote to be set off as a separate town and thus leave the remainder of the town of Fitchburg in the lurch. So the petition was negatived, doubtless much to the chagrin of those who had hoped to pull the wool over their neighbors' eyes.

Nothing more (except complaining of the distance they had to travel to go to meeting) was done by the people of the west until March, 1786, when they very modestly requested of the town, "that Eev. Mr. Payson have liberty to preach some part of the time in the year in the westerly part of the town." This privilege was also denied them, " the town thinking that by yielding an inch they would open a door through which they might unwillingly be thrust a mile," as Mr. Torrey aptly expresses it.

to have a new meetiug-house as near them as they could get it. At this time began a controversy concerning the location of the meeting-house, which lasted over ten years, and required ninety-nine townmeetings to settle. An account of this controversy will be given in the ecclesiastical history.

The town records during this period (1786-96) contain but little that does not refer to the controversy. Two events, however, occurred in the course of these years that are worth noting in this section. One was the census of 1791, from which it appears that Fitchburg's population at that time was one thousand one hundred and tifty-one, showing that the town had grown very slowly during the previous eight or ten years.

The other event was the appearance of Rev. Peter Whitney's "History of Worcester County," published in 1793. It may be of interest to give a few of his impressions about Fitchburg as it was then. After a very brief account of the incorporation of the town and a description of the character of its surface and soil, he says: "Most of the people live in comfortable and easy circmnstances, possessing all the necessaries and many of the conveniences of life. They are industrious, and, having a good soil to labor upon, live independent, and, for an inland town, several families among them may justly be deemed rich. The people near the meeting-house are settled pretty thick, and there much business of various kinds is performed; for here runs, a few rods south of the meeting-house, the north branch of Nashaway River. One part of this river comes from Ashburnham, the other part from Watchusett Pond; these unite a little west of Fitchburg Meeting-House. After this junction, and just below the meetinghouse, there is one corn-mill, one saw-mill, one fulling-mill, one clothier's works, one trip-hammer and works for grinding scythes. These occasion a great resort of people there to transact their various concerns." Further on he states that it is a flourishing place, and thinks that "if they continue in peace and unity they will still greatly increase in numbers and wealth." He adds: "They subsist chiefly by husbandry ; there are, however, the usual mechanicks and a few dealers in European, East and West India goods."

The town records contain very little of interest during the last few years of the century. February 12, 1796, a small part of the south we«iterly portion of the township was annexed to Westminster. In 1798 the town laid a tax on " Doggs,'' and the next year voted to abate it. The tax appears to have amounted to fifty-three dollars. In the fall of 1797 it was voted " to build a pound with stone two rods square within the walls." The contract was given to Thomas Cowdin (son of Captain Thomas Cowdin, who died in 1792), for thirty-three dollars and fifty cents, with the privilege of taking stone off the town's land. The old stone pound still stands in the woods, close by the Ashburnham hill road, and looks desolate and forsaken. Whether it has been rebuilt or not since 1796 the writer cannot state ; but its appearance would indicate that it had not.