Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 171, 1889

Military History

HoLDEX furnished a number of soldiers for the French and Indian War, among whom were William Fisher, Richard Flagg, Samuel Boyd and Peter Nutten, who enlisted into the company of Captain Benj. Flagg, of Worcester, to strengthen the forces stationed at Lake George. Henry Rice, Job Harris, Samuel Estabrook, John Murphey, Jedediah Estabrook, Samuel Hubbard, Jr., Samuel Bigelow, John Woodward, Samuel Thompson and Ebenezer Fletcher enlisted into the company of Captain John Chandler, for the invasion of Canada. In an expedition to Crown Point the following persons served under Captain Fletcher, of Rutland, viz., Ebenezer Fletcher (1st lieut.), Ebenezer Fletcher, Jr. (2d lieut,), Samuel Estabrook and son, Job Harris, Samuel Hubbard and John Murphey, privates.

The Revolution. - The first reference on the town records to the War of the Revolution appears in 1772, when the town sent the foliowing reply in response to the circular from Boston :

1. Resolved, That Liberty, both Religious and civil, is a most precious and inestimable gift of the great and glorious Creator of all things, granted to all rational creatures; neither can any person or persons innocently give or sell it away from himself any more than ho can take it from another.

2. If any have been so unhappy as to surrender their Liberty, such ftct of theirs cannot induce any moral obligation of servitude on them jrersonally ; especially if they were enslaved by irresistible power; surely then it cannot reasonably bind their successors in every future generation.

3. That it is to us equally manifest that no one nation, State or political society has any right to rule or command another, especially without the consent of the latter.

4. The people of Now England have never given the people of Britain any right of jurisdiction over us, consequently we deem it to be the most unwarrantable usurpation, and view it as an insufferable insult in the British Parliament, that they assume a Lfgislative ^uthouttv over the American colonies.

6. We are assured that no political community on earth can truly enjoy Liberty without civil government ; Therefore, civil government is an invaluable divine blessing; and Anarchy is the greatest of public evils - one only excepted, that is a state of complete and confirmed Tyranny.

7. And such Tyranny is evidently the object of some very recent measures of the British administration and government; particularly those mentioned to us in a letter from our worthy friends, the citizens of Boston ; and the project of despotism and arbitrary government appears to be nearly accomplished and settled, so that nothing but the vigilance and combined efforts of this people, under the aiispicious Providence of Heaven, can save us, from abject Slavery and Total Ruin.

very grievous apprehensions, and are willing all mankind should know that we are far from acquiescing in the many gross violations of our just rights, too conspicuous and palpable now to require a particular enumeration, and truly we should be chargeable with very criminal silence, if we did not remonstrate against every glaring attempt of any persons, of what Rank or Denomination so ever, to bereave us of our Liberty.

9. Resolved^ That the right of Kings (whether it be a human or divine right) is founded on the same principles of public Liberty, which we assert ; and tbe right of our present Sovereign, George III., to the British throne was explicitly by compact derived from the same principle.

10. And therefore we must behold them as guilty of treason against his sacred Majesty and his illustrious House, who are making attempts to subvert tbe liberties of his faithful subjects, as nothing can be more repugnant to the Constitution of England and of this province, than that George should be King of slaves ; bo if the antiquated doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance should now revive and move abroad, and half the nation were so blind and infatuate as to embrace such a deformed Slonster, the throne must shake and tremble to its base! The Lord Almighty avert tbe horrid catasirophy ; to prevent it our prayers and endeavors shall not be wanting !

11. In publishing our sentiments and resolutions we are moved by natural aud Christian benevolence to tbe good people of Britain, whose prosperity is dear to us as our own. It is therefore our hearty prayer that God would presen-e them from the depth of political lethargy and mercifully defend them from the iron fang of tyranny, as slavery has ever been abhorrant to the Genius of Britain ; it must be peculiarly shameful and painful to Englishmen, till we shall have lost the spirit of our truly worthy ancestors, and forfeited the English name. As we are far from suspecting the people of Britain (our old Ally) of being enimical to us, our ardent brotherly love to them is an additional incitement to assert our own freedom ; it being very certain that if liberty expires here, it will not long survive there ; we are therefore ambitious of transmitting our names to all posterity, as favored instruments in the hands of God, of having preserved Britain from destruction, therefore, we supplicate the Throne of Mercy, that God would excite his people in Britain and America to a reformation of morals, because, as sin is the reproach and ruin of any people, so righteousness exalteth a nation to the summit of happiness and glory.

12. Therefore, Resolved^ That there is an intimate connection between the Liberty and Virtue of any people; if Liberty be gone, Religion will infallibly languish to extinction.

13. We plead for Liberty, because it is the respectable patroness of the liberal arts and sciences. This was doubtless the judgment of our pious and worthy ancestors, who chose a wild desert with Liberty, i-ather than the fruitful fields and beautiful gardens of their native land with slavery ; and who were in their first settlement, very zealous to erect a seminary of learning as well as to build and multiply Christian Churches. We desire to follow thpir noble example, to promote in our measure learning and liberty, in delightful and harmonious union, and would now recommend it to our children and their successors, forever, to bo imitators of us, and of our truly wise, and virtuous and venerable progenitors.

14. We think it our duty, on this occasion, on behalf of ourselves and our dear country, to express our sincere gratitude to the respectable gentlemen of Boston for the light and counsel, they have presented to us in the circular letter, and their many generous efforts iu the cause of liberty, and it is our earnest prayer to Almighty God, that they may be animated, still to proceed, and that they may prosper according to the desire of their hearts, and receive the most ample aud durable reward.

And, That the above resolves be recorded on the town books of records, and that tbe Town Clerk give ao attested copy to said Committee of Correspondence at Boston.

tenth of the entire population was prepared to engage in actual service. During the progress of the war drafts were made for soldiers from Holden to serve at various military stations in the Northern States. Wherever troubles existed, or dangers were apprehended, thither marched the soldiers from this town. Some went to Rhode Island, others to New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The terms of serviceof individual soldiers in the common militia, when added, amount to seventy-four years, supposing it to have been performed by one man, at an expense to the town of £1961 Os. lid. No reference is made in this calculation to the soldiers in the regular Continental army, under the immediate command of Washington. In this army twenty-five soldiers enlisted from Holden for the term of three years, or during the war. Each one of these men received £20 or more as bounty money at the time of their enlistment, so that during the year 1777 £763 Os. 12d. were paid from the town treasury to discharge the liabilities which had been incurred to enlist soldiers.

"Thomas Heard was the only person killed in actual service. He fell near Saratoga, N. Y., and his dead body was borne away by William Ebet. Moses Wheeler and Jeremiah Fuller died at Valley Forge, Penna., having suffered most intensely from cold and hunger. David Potter deserted to the enemy, having previously been saved from the ignominy of a public execution by the timely interposition of Lady Washington. The conduct of his brother (James) was far different. He was among the foremost to o'erleap the heights at Yorktown, causing thousands of the British soldiers to surrender, whilst their General, Lord Cornwallis, surrenders his sword into the hand of Washington.

" Capt. George Webb was the only commissioned officer in the Continental service from Holden. At the time of his enlistment he was not an inhabitant of the town. He came with his family to this place during the war. Captain Webb was a fearless soldier and a high-spirited officer. Whenever an enterprise requiring bravery and skill was to be undertaken, Washington and Lafayette knew Captain Webb to be a man to their minds. I hold in my hand the original copy of a letter addressed by General Lafayette to Captain Webb. I will read the first sentence: ' Dear Sir : Your successful skirmish had afforded me the most greatest pleasure, and I request you will receive yourself and present to your company niy best thanks on the occasion.' It was in the company of Captain Webb that Deborah Sampson, an American young lady, served as a Continental soldier for nearly three years. She performed the duties of every station assigned to her with punctual exactness, fidelity and honor.

" The citizens of Holden entered into a solemn covenant to sustain the committee chosen to watch for the public safety, and voted that such persons as refused to unite with them should have their names published in the Boston Gazette, as enemies of their country. The town, also, ' voted that every blacksmith, shoemaker, miller and housewright, do not directly or indirectly do or cause to be done any sort of business, in their respective occuj^ations for any of those persons ' who would not sign the covenant, which was ' to be lodged at John Abbots, one month, for the inhaitants of Holden to sign." Tradition reports that a Mr. Goulding, living in the south part, was so offended with this measure of the town, that he immediately commenced building the grist-mill and saw-mill now owned by Mr. Bennett.

" This decided movement was not regarded as sufficient for the general good. To prevent monopoly upon such articles as were considered the necessaries of life, the selectman and Committee of Safety were empowered by an act of the Provincial Congress, to establish ultimum prices.

Famiing labor from the 20tli of Juno, not to exceed 3 shillings per day ; wheat, G«. Orf. per bushel ; Indian corn, 38. Od. per bushel ; Spanish potatoes, Is. Ill, per bushel in the fall ; ditto, 68. Crf. per bushel in the spring ; beans, fi«. Od. per bushel ; clean flax seed, Ge. Od. per bushel ; turuips, 08. Sd. per bushel ; apples, Os. 8d. per bushel ; horse keeping overnight, l8. 4d. ; oats, 08. 'Sd. per mess ; lodging, 08. 3d. ]/. per night ; potluck, 08. 8d. per meal ; New England flip, 08. 9rf. per mug; West India flip, 08, 11 J. per mug ; good grass-fed beef, Oe. 2d. 2/. per lb. ; new milk, Os. 2d. per quart ; tobacco, Os. Id. per lb. ; a glass of New England rum, 2 coppers ; doctor's travel, Grf. per mile - out ; shop joiner to have 38. per piece for common colored chairs with bottoms ; the rest of their work in the same proportion.

"The most abundant evidence might be adduced to show that the people of Holden unitedly, cordially and manfully, engaged with their fellow-countrymen in the War of the Revolution.

"The immediate and lasting effects of the Revolutionary War upon the interests of this town deserve a few passing remarks. The unwise policy of England was first felt along our sea-coast. Numerous families, hitherto obtaining their livelihood from the seas, were driven to other pursuits. For this cause not less than ten families removed from Harwich and vicinity (upon the Cape) to Holden. Such were the Rogers' settling two miles south. All lands belonging to persons supporting the cause of the mother country were confiscated. Many hundreds of acres within this township were thus transferred to the State. The history of one tract, containing about six hundred acres, deserves notice. This tract of woodland bSlonged to William Brattle, Esq., of Cambridge. Under an act of the Legislature, passed 1781, it was sold to pay State debts. Monsieur Pierre Matthieu Andre, captain of the ship ' Jonathan,' belonging to Jean Francis Billou, of Marseilles, in the south of France, purchased this tract of land, for one thousand one hundred and twenty-four pounds, or about six dollars per acre. The ship ' Jonathan,' having been condemned as unseaworthy, was sold, and a part of the avails was invested in the purchase of this land. For many years it was under the care of Ebenezer Estabrook, Sr., and subsequently under the care of his son. Suflicient wood was, from time to time, cut off to pay the taxes. After much negotiation it was sold, in the year 1826, for about eleven dollars per acre. The proceeds were transmitted to the heirs of the original owner in France ; a sufficient amount having been deducted to defray expenses attending the sale. The origin of the name - French land, will have been apparent." The following were in the service from Holdeu :

The Civil War. - In the late Civil War Holden responded promptly to the President's call for troops, and her record is one in which her citizens may justly feel a patriotic pride. The town furnished two hundred and four men for the war, eleven of whom were commissioned officers. Amount of money expended, exclusive of State aid, was $7,963,38, and a large amount was probably secured by private contribution. The first town-meeting relative to the war was held under dale of April 20, 1861, when one thousand five hundred dollars were appropriated " for the benefit of the members of the Holden Rifle Company and their families."

The Holden Rifle Company formed a portion of the second regiment that went from Massachusetts (three months' men), and left for the South April 18, 1861.

In 1876 the town-hall was remodeled and memorial tablets were placed in the interior bearing the names of thirty men who lost their lives in the service, as follows: Captain Ira J. Kelton, George T. Bigelow, Albert Creed, John Fearing, Edward Clark, Charles Gibbs, James W. Goodnow, James W. Haley, Lyman E. Keyes, George W. Newell, Michael Riley, John B. Savage, Amasa A. Howe, George T. Johnson, John K. Houghton, William C. Perrey, Levi Chamberlain, Frank Lumazetta, Uriah Bassett, Henry M. Fales, George Thurston, Calvin HulAard, Sergeant Harlem P. Moore, Winslow B. Rogers, Alfred S. Tucker, Henry M. Holt, H. Erskine Black, Elisha C- Davenport, John Handley and Horace L. Truesdell.