Arlington Town (part 2 of 8)

" And I believe it may be said of New England, notwithstanding our advantages and high jirofession, that in point of morality, we are much worse than the Indians in the darkest corners of this land. This is awful to think of, but must be allowed by all who perceive the abominations which are committed among us. Multitudes of vices are common among us, which are hardly so much as named or known among these poor heathen, except those who have learned them from those who call themselves Christians. Such as whoredom and lewdness; and- the various methods we too often practice to over-reach and cheat one another, and often to betray our friends and countrj^ for the sake of gain. * * * For though these vices are not universal, yet they are too commonly to be found among us."

1757. Aug. 13 or 14, 1757, jMr. Cooke preached a sermon " on occasion of an eclipse of the sun this day, and the awful news of tlie surrender of Fort William Henry, the 8th instant." The text was Zech. 14:6, 7, and the subject was divided into two discourses. The sermon was repeated at Stonehara, Feb. 23, 1758; on June 4, 1773; at Lexington, Sept. 5, 1779; at Watcrtown, Sept. 12, 1779; and on JSIay 21, 1780.

It contains the observation, " that though the churches of Asia and Africa are no more, though the churches of New England, or Old, should be no more, God will yet in some other place build %) his elect, and liis ordinances shall be observed in remembrance of Christ."

A f^w words are offered " concerning the eclipse of the grand luminary of heaven this day, whicli though it may not be seen by us, has employed the thoughts and discourse of many through the land."

should have any influence on us, more than the interposition of clouds, or the shades of the night ; " he saw no good reason '* why this should be supposed to be ominous of evils, and calamities to come." He closes with a page of moral reflections on the eclipse :

" Fourthly, when we have the melancholy prospect of the sun so considerably darkened as to us, let us reflect how awful it is to have God hide away his face from us.

" Sixthly, as we see the sun darkened before it has finished its daily course, so our light may be put out in obscurity before we are arrived to the common period of life.

" Seventhly, as this happens on the Lord's day, let us consider how soon we may be deprived of the precious light of the Sabbath ; or the gracious presence of the Son of Righteousness, in our religious assemblies.

" Eightly, as the sun will set and the darkness of the night succeed, before the full return of the light of the sun, let us consider that our present troubles may end in our utter ruin.

" Ninthly, while we view this eclipse and consider this as never happening to all the world at one time, but while some places are dark, others are light, let us remember God will never suffer the light of the glorious gospel in all places to be put out.

'- Lastly, let us reflect upon that awful day when the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, and day and night shall divide God's walks no more."

1758. On Nov. 12, 1758, the Rev. Mr. Cooke preached a sermon on the return of Capt. Adams and company from the French War, with the loss of only one man. This Capt. Adams was Thomas Adams, an innkeeper here, whose son John living at the age of almost 104, in 1848, well remembered at that time the sermon delivered by Parson Cooke, the Sunday after his father Thomas Adams returned from eight months service in tho French War. The son. being about fourteen years old,was very anxious to go with his father, but the father would not consent; he went, however, with him to Springfield, and returned home. The company that enlisted under Capt. Adams were from a number of towns, and all that went from Meuotomy returned, except Thomas Bobbins, who had died in a

This sermon was printed, and the following is the title : " The Charge of St. Paul to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus. - Illustrated in a Sermon preached at the Ordination of the Reverend Mr. William Symmes, to the Pastoral Care of the First Church of Christ in Andover, Nov. 1, 1758. - By Samuel Cooke, A.M., Pastor of the Second Church of Cambridge. - 2 Cor. i. 21. Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God. 1 Tim. iv. 16. Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy Doctrine. - Boston: Printed by Green & Russell, opposite the Probate Office in Queen Street. MDCCLIX." Pp. 23. - Letter of S. F. Haven, Librarian of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.

1759. On Nov. 7, 1759, died Deacon John Winship, aged 66 years; Elizabeth, his wife, dying Oct. 8, 1759, aged 58; and Noah, their son, dying Oct. 18, 1759, aged 25 years. On the death of these, the Rev. Mr. Cooke preached a sermon on Nov. 1 1, 1759, from Ps. 27 : 10, the original draft being still extant. See Genealogies.

" 1759, Dec. 5. At a Church Meeting, after a sermon preached from Acts 6 : 3, Thomas Hall and Joseph Adams, Jr., were chosen Deacons ; and took their seat Dec. 23d."

1 The Cambridge men on the muster roll of this company of foot engaged in the army for the reduction of Canada, in the regiment of which Ebenezer Nichols Avas colonel, were Thomas Adams, captain ; John Bathrick, private; Edward Fillebrown, private ; Nathaniel Holden, private (Daniel Brown, master) ; Israel Hind, private ; Joseph Robbins, private ; Thomas Robbins, Jr., private (John Cutter, master) ; Joshna Swan, private (Ebenezer Swan, parent) ; Stephen Sterns, private ; Aaron Swan, private (James Perry, master). The private Joseph Robbins is represented on the roll as having died on Aug. 21, 1758, after four months and some days service, and the centenarian was undoubtedly mistaken in giving the name as Thomas, though there were two Thomas Robbins's in his father's company, one of them being a sergeant of Lexington. Other names of this company are noticed in the Genealogies.

neighbors, belonging to several adjacent towns, who are desirous of being joined to us) may with their lands and estates be incorporated with us into a separate district." Capt. Samuel Whittemore, Mr. Joseph Adams, Mr. Francis Locke, Capt. Carteret and Capt. Thomas Adams were chosen a committee to manage the affair.

This petition was granted by the General Court to the petitioners who were inhabitants of Cambridge and Charlestown in 1762, and was accepted by the Precinct, though an unsuccessful attempt to secure further privileges under the act was made.*

From the State Records we find that the petition of " Samuel Whittemore and others, a committee of the Second Precinct in Cambridge," set forth, that they were more than twenty years since made a precinct ; that they labored under great inconveniences by being obliged to attend on training-days and at town-meetings some at Cambridge and some at Charlestown, to which towns they belong; and by being taxed towards the support of the Grammar Schools in the said towns. That there were a number of others who usually congregated with them, and were desirous of being incorporated with them ; and praying that they may together be incorporated into a town or district by certain bounds in the said petition mentioned.

The towns interested were Cambridge, Charlestown, "VVatertown, Woburn, Lexington and Med ford, all of which were ordered to be duly notified.

The legislative report was in substance as follows : The following report was made to the two Houses, viz., - The committee to whom was referred the petition of the Inhabitants of the Second Precinct in Cambridge, together with- Edward Winship and Edward Winship, Jr., of Lexington, William Symmes and Josiah Symmes of Medford, Henry Putnam, Henry Gardner, Thomas Hutchinson and Benjamin Teel and Benjamin Teel, Jr., of Charlestown, Samuel Carter and Samuel Carter, Jr., of Woburn ; praying they may be incorporated into a Town, or District, by the bounds therein mentioned, have considered the same, with the answers from the several towns they now respectively belong to ; have likewise heard all the parties concerned, and beg leave to report as their opinion, that the prayer of the petition be so far granted as that the inhabitants of the said Second Par-

1 The attempt to secure further privileges under the act was made, because the conditions imposed were looked upon as burdensome, and the bounds a> too narrow and confined. It "was claimed that the bounds and conditions of the new proposed district, were in several respects different from what was prayed for in the first memorial of the petitioners, and other matters were brought forward. The whole met with an adverse reception by the legislative committee, and hence came to nothing.

The Secoxd Precinct In Cambridge

ish in Cambridge, together with the petitioners now inhabitants of the town of Charlestown, with their estates, be incorporated into a District ; they paying their proportionable part towards repairing and maintaining the Great Bridge over Charles River in like manner as now obliged (the inhabitants of the said Second Parish being allowed their proportional part of the advantage of the lands granted for that purpose) ; provided also, that the town of Charlestown forever hereafter be exempted from repairing and maintaining one half the Bridge over the Wares, so called, and that the inhabitants of said town enjoy their ancient privileges of taking any sort of fish in Medford River, the grant of the proposed District notwithstanding ; as also that the said town of Charlestown be allowed and -paid the sum of twelve pounds in consideration of their having the last year been at a great expense in building a durable bridge within the limits of the proposed District, an exact plan of which district was suggested to be made before incorporation. Liberty was granted to bring in a bill accordingly. In Council June 9, 1762.

1763. The following notice was at this time publicly read in church: "Richard Cutter and his Wife desire the name of God may be praised for his great goodness in raising her up from sickness, to so good a measure of health as to attend the public worship of God again." On the back of the notice are notes of a discourse in Mr. Cooke's handwriting, dated Aug. 7, 1763.

1764. On Aug. 3, this year, occurred the death of Hannah Bobbins, a dwarf, at the age of 27 years. Mr. Cooke records of her, that she was daughter of Widow Deborah Bobbins ; and that from about fifteen months of age, she continued the same in stature and understanding to the day of her death ; and had the actions of a child of that age ; " about her tenth year she grew somewhat thicker."

Rev. and Dear Sir : - Our usual tract of communication has long been obstructed, and will probably be for months to come ; a way more direct novr opens, by which I trust you will soon see this.

It is a" time of health in your native place. There has not been a death in it since the year began ; but how soon and where sickness and death may prevail, is known 'to him only Avho has the keys of death. Capt. Whittemore's wife is lately struck, and I apprehend fatally, with a palsy.

Xo small uneasiness has arisen in your good father Locke's family, and at your mother's special request I am the unwelcome medium of tidings the most the use of this letter we are indebted to Mr. John B. Russell, who received it from Mr. C. H. Morse, formerly of Cambridgeport, now of Washington, D. C.

1765. The Massachusetts House Juurnals, 1765, Feb. 16, contaia mention twice of a petition of Samuel Cooke, of Cambridge, ClcrJc, praying liberty to sell his children's part of the disagreeable to you. My situation with respect to that family (as you well know) must prevent the least kind office of mine, which otherwise should not be wanting. I believe the knowledge of the matter is confined to the family. I have heard of it only from your brother and Jason Russell, who I perceive by their account have several times been at the house and endeavored a conciliation, and though not without effect, yet not so good as could be wished. Interest seems to be the foundation of the uneasiness, joined with the different tempers, dispositions and manners of the parties. A disease of the mind like this appears incurable. Age and the infirmities of it feed the distemper. For her sake I have often wished that I could discourse as freely Avith others, as with her ; but I am forbid - new ferments from old leaven, since the appearance of the grand itinerant in our neighborhood at Medford, Concord, &c., have arisen.

She earnestly desires to see you, and a visit from a son, at least once a year, to an aged tender mother, to me appears a just debt, and if I am not mistaken you are in arrears with her. You will inquire what service you can do ? I answer, you will do no harm. She will say it is some relief to pour out our complaints to a friend - and that she cannot, as in years past, to her minister, and perhaps these hints of her case may afford her some present ease. This letter perhaps will only disquiet you in vain, but suffer not anger or grief to arise. I don't apprehend the affair ever will make any great noise abroad; and perhaps they are both as little unhappy in their present, as they can be in any different situation in life, all things considered ; but the point is for them to be convinced of this, and in this you might be helpful by your presence. AVe can say nothing in writing. I have said nothmg in this epistle. Three words in presence would have been more to the purpose - but what I have wrote is in true friendship from

Remarks. - This letter of Mr. Cooke's appears to treat of some private matter, intimating also a withholding of intercourse for some cause, probably religious , between the persons in question and Mr. Cooke. The native place of the Rev. Isaiah Dunster was the Cambridge Second Precinct, where he was born Oct. 21, 1720, son of Henry and Martha (Russell) Dunster. Capt. Whittemore was Samuel Whittemore - see Genealogies - whose wife Elizabeth (Spring) died June 5, 1764, aged 63. The mother of Isaiah Dunster married for a second husband Francis Locke ; she was daughter of Jason Russell. The brother of Rev. Isaiah Dunster mentioned was Jason Dunster, then living in Menotomy. The Jason Russell mentioned was he who was killed by the British on April 19, 1775, and nephew of !Mrs. ^Martha (Russell) Dunster Locke. The house where Francis Locke lived is standing at the corner of Main and Bow streets in Arlington - at the Foot of the Rocks. The " gi-and itinerant" was Whitefield, to whom Mr. Cooke was opposed. Mrs. Locke died in 1771, aged 81. Mr. Dunster evidently studied for the ministry with his pastor Rev. Mr. Cooke. In 1764 Mr. Dunster had but one child, a daughter, born Oct. 1763. - See Henry Dunster and his Descendants (1876), by Samuel Dunster.

real estate of their grandfather, the Rev. John Cotton, of Newton, deceased, for the reasons mentioned. The second mention signifies the request was granted. See volume of Journal, for the time named, pp. 246, 248.

1767. In 1767 the piece of common land in the Northwest Precinct in Cambridge, where the meeting-house for public worship and the burying-place now are, was granted to said Northwest Precinct for a burying-place and for accommodation of said meeting-house. - Proprietors' Records.

The following work by Mr. Cooke is catalogued in Harvard University Library : " Samuel Cooke, Dudleian Lecture on Natural Religion, MS. 4to., 1767." The title-page of this production is - '" 1767. Mr. Cooke's Sermon At the annual Dudleian Lecture in Harvard College, Cambridge, May 13, 1767." For an account of the Dudleian Lecture, see Quincy's Hist. Harv. Univ., ii. 139-40. The topics are now of very little interest.

In this year it was voted to keep a Grammar School fourteen weeks at the schoo-1-house in the Precinct, between Nov. 1, 1768, and April 1, 1769, The remainder of the town's money granted the Precinct for schools, was applied to the support of four women's schools, and, as usual with every appropriation, committees were appointed to expend it.

1 769. In this year a new school-house was built in the Precinct at a cost to the town of £50. 14. 6. 2. The Precinct's share of the town's school-money for 1769, was X18. 18. 11. - Paige.

1770. On May 30, 1770, occurred a casualty in the death of Lydia, wife of Nathaniel Fessenden, at the age of 19 years, who was " shot awfully ! "

The Boston Gazette for June 4, 1770, contains the following: "We hear from Cambridge that last Wednesday afternoon, Mrs. Fessenden, wife of Mr. Nathaniel Fessenden of that town, was unhappily killed by the following accident, viz. : A number of persons had been shooting at marks, and after they had done went to the house of Mr. Philip Bemis, father to the unfortunate deceased, and put their guns against the house, when a lad about thirteen years old took one of the guns, not knowing it to be loaded, and snapped it at a girl in order to frighten her, when the gun went off ; but it missing the girl, the ball went in Mrs. Fessenden's eye. lodged in her head, and killed her instantly. Mrs. Fessenden had her infant about nine months old in her lap, which providentially was unhurt. She was the only daughter of ;Mr. Bemis ; and it is remarkable the gun by which she was killed belonged to her husband. Mrs. Fessenden was a woman of unblemished virtue, and her chief ornament was modesty. - Her untimely death is lamented by all her acquaintance, and her husband in particular refuses to be comforted."

Some elegiac verses, entitled " A Few Thoughts Composed on the Sudden and Awful Death of Mrs. Fessenden, by Mr. Fessenden of Cambridge," have been preserved by her descendants. These set forth her youth and early courtship, and then enter on the subject of her death in these stanzas, selected from those that now remain legible.

Her pretty babe Avas in her arms, This harmless creature there did sit, Not knowing or fearing any harm ; Embracing of her infant sweet, And leaning on its mother's breast,

No. 1246 of Mr. Cooke's discourses is a sermon on Eccles. 9:5, 6. The manuscript is a skeleton only. It is dated Nov. 4, 1770, and again used on Oct. 4, 1778.

1 It is remarkable her minister that day preached the Annual Election Sermon before the governor and magistrates of the Province. See notice at end of 1770.

The Second Trecinct In Cambridge

. No. 1252 is a sermon on General Thanksgiving, on Dec. 6, 1770, the same repeated at Fast, July 14, 1774 - ''on Acts from England" - the same on JMay 11, 1775; and on Dec. 29, 1776; and ex temp, [on the time] April 18, 1779, the last having special reference to the anniversary of the battle here April 19, 1775 (see 1779). The text is Lament. 3: 21, 22. The discourse is longer than the average, and appears to have been a favorite subject of the author's. Allusion is made in the latter part of the discourse to the fact " that God preserved our fathers, and he is able yet to protect us and save us from being brought under absolute subjection to men whose will is their law and wliose tender mercies are cruelty ; to still the hands of men who are trampling upon our rights and wantonly endeavoring to revel with the fruits of our painful labors ; we have not deserved this * * * God has given us the fruits of the earth in plenty by crowning the year with his goodness, general health has been enjoyed through the land - though, alas, the destroying angel has received a commission greatly to lay waste in this place ! We cannot pass the solemnities of this our annual festival without dropping a tear over the graves of our friends consigned to dust, who will no more praise God among the living as we desire to do this day. And I cannot close without leaving a solemn warning with all the young people present carefully to avoid those extravagances too common on the evening and night of this day

* * * Out of nineteen that have been followed to the congregation of the dead this present year, the greater part, thirteen, of them probably were the last occasion like this praising God with us in his house."

Wlien the new scliool-housc was finished, tlie Precinct decided to sell the old one at auction, and the proprietors of the old school-house, who subscribed to buildins^ thereof, were asked to give up their rights to the Precinct. By a memorandum in the Precinct Book we find that on Nov. 12, 1770, Edward Wilson bought the old school-house at public vendue, for which he gave a note of hand to the Precinct treasurer.

INfr. Cooke preached the "Election Sermon " for the year 1770, which was printed, a " discourse that must have ' come home to men's business and bosoms.' " - J. Wingnte Thornton.

" A Sermon Preached at Cambridge, in the Audience of his Honor Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor and Commander in Chief; The Honorable His ]\fajesty's Council, and the honoral)le House of Representatives, of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New

England, May 30th, 1770. Being the Anniversary for the Election of His Majesty's Conncil for the said Province. By Samuel Cooke, A.M., Pastor of the Second Church in Cambridge. Boston : Printed by Edes and Gill, Printers to the honorable House of Representatives. MDCCLXX."

"At Eleven o'clock His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, accompanied by the Honorable His Majesty's Council, the Honorable House of Representatives and a Number of other Gentlemen, preceded by the first Company in Cambridge of the Regiment of Militia, commanded by the Honorable Brigadier Brattle, went in Procession to the Meeting-House, where a Sermon suitable to the Occasion was preached by the Rev'd Mr. Samuel Cooke, of Cambridge, from these words : 2 Samuel, xxiii. 3, 4. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that rideth over man must be just, riding in the fear of God, etc. After Divine Service the Procession returned to Harvard Hall, where an Entertainment was provided." ' - Boston Gazette, June 4, 1770.

Another No. 1282 is a sermon on Mark 13:35, 36 - dated May 5, 1771 - delivered on occasion of the sudden death of James Robbins, drowned at Medford, April 30, 1771. See Genealogies.

1 In the sermon is this paragraph, descriptive of the status of the average New Englander : " There is in the close of our short summer the appearance of plenty in our dwellings ; but, from the length of our winters, our plenty is consumed, and the one half of our necessary labor is spent in dispersing to our flocks and herds the ingatherings of the "foregoing season ; and it is known to every person of common observation that few, very few, except in the mercantile way, from one generation to another, acquire more than a necessary subsistence, and sufficient to discharge the expenses of government and the support of the gospel, yet content and disposed to lead peaceable lives."

All these discourses are interesting and able. In No. 1286, however, is a passing allusion to the British military occupation of Boston at that period, in the following words : " The Jews were once a free people, but were now brought under the Roman Iron Yoke of Bondage, and obliged by superior force to pay tribute to Ctesar. To enforce this subjection military forces were sent from Rome into Judea, as troops are now sent among us ! This centurion, as they were then called, or captain of an hundred, was a Roman officer; but appears not to be a man of blood, or destitute of all religion and humanity, as too many of that order, professing Christianity, are ! "

In 1771 the officers of the train-band in Menotomy were Ephraim Frost, captain ; Daniel Brown, lieutenant; and William Adams, ensign. - Paige.

In 1771 it was voted by the Precinct that any person that hath brought stones for the wall to fence the burying-place, shall have the privilege of laying up the stones they have already brought. The wall to fence the burying-place (voted to be built in 1767) was to be accomplished within twelve months from May 27, 1771.

1772. Witnesses the continuation of Mr. Cooke's sermons on the exposition of j\Iatthew. Those extant are too numerous to be particularized, and extend to No. 57 by August, 1772. By Dec. 23, 1772, we find sermon No. 8 on the exposition of Mark.

In No. 1316, exposition No. 39 - Matt. 19 throughout - he expresses these sentiments on the subject of infant baptism : " There has indeed been, and is, an inconsiderable sect who deny infant baptism, but not one sufficient argument has ever yet been offered against this blessed privilege, of bringing our children in this way to Christ, that he may bless them * * * * Those who oppose infant baptism, inquire what advantage can they receive by being sprinkled with water in the name of the Sacred Trinity? It may be asked of such persons, what benefit they expect from being plunged in rivers, or an ocean of water ? * * * * Water used in baptism is only typical, or a sign or token." * * * * (Mar. 1772.)

At this period the following notice was publicly read in church: " Zechariah Hill with his wife desires to return thanks to God for his goodness to them in granting her a safe delivery in childbirth, and they also desire prayers for perfecting mercy - The child's name is to be called Ruth."

One sermon (No. 1326 - May 31, 1772) refers to earthquakes ''in divers places, and frequently in this land, as foreboding, we may conclude, our present calamities [the British military occupation of Bos- ton] ; which we have reason to fear are but the beginning of our sorrows, tlie loss of our civil and religious liberties, and we left to the will of arbitrary men, to those whose tender mercies are cruelty." *

Another (No. 1328 - June 14, 1772) conveys an imiDression that religion suffered neglect in the towns and parishes of New England at this period, for which the calamity of the time [the presence of British troops in their midst] was esteemed a judgment. Another (No. 1336 - Aug. 16. 1772) states, "We may well tremble under the apprehension of wicked and arbitrary power."

In this year he preached a sermon on Eccles. 12: 14, to the youth - Sept. 13,1772. They were " professedly united for the worship of God on the evening of his day." Another evening sermon to the youth is dated Dec. 13, 1772, on Prov. 8:17. In it Mr. Cooke alludes to the origin of this religious society thus :

" It is, as I am informed, near fifty years since this society was founded. Those who first thus united in this place to spend a part of the evening of the Lord's day in the worship of their arisen Redeemer, are probably all met in the grave, to which each one of you with hasty steps are moving."

The greater j^art of this discourse (No. 1351) was repeated as the funeral sermon of his cherished daughter, Rebecca Cooke, on Feb. 8, 1778, she having died Feb. 2, 1778, aged nineteen years.

In one of these numerous sermons he takes issue against " the idle ceremonies of the Church of Rome and other sectaries," as subversive of true religion, " by being substituted in the place of that holiness in heart and life which God requires. What has the washing of cups and pots, or hands, or plunging the body in water to do with taking away the sin of the soul ? * * * To make these vain inventions of men a necessary part of religion, and presumptuously break charity with all who are better instructed." In another, he says, " We have his gospel in our houses, the dispensation of his word and oi'dinances settled near our dwellings, so that we can come up with those that

* Mr. J. B. Kussell in an article published in the Boston Transcript enumerates the following earthquakes in Massachusetts. In 1663, two ; in 1665, one ; in 1727, a dozen shocks in one week, one of them of great violence; in 1728, sixteen in the month of January, and over a dozen during the spring and summer months; in 1729, twenty- seven ; 1729 to 1743, fifteen; 1743 to 1770, nineteen. That of November, 1755, was the most violent, being felt in Europe and America, and resulting in the destruction of Lisbon, where 60,000 persons perished. In Boston many chimneys were demolished, and other singular effects were experienced throughout New England. The publications of the tune are full of the matter.

keep holy day at stated seasons, and return to bless our own houses without fainting by the way. Perhajis there is not a country in the world favored as New England is in this respect at this day."

Again the British military occupation of Boston is alluded to in a sermon - Oct. 17, 1773 - thus: "These soldiers were the Roman bands sent to support the publicans in extorting there this foreign tribute - as troops are sent among us to guard the Commissioners and their numerous dependents." The publicans are already alluded to as " the collectors of Ctesar's tax imposed upon the Jews by arbitrary power," and " were accountable only to the tyranny of emperors ; " but as they were independent of the people, '" like our Commissioners" they could call them to no account. Mr. Cooke continues : " It is the militia who are the safety and glory of a people. Standing armies in times of peace are the engines of tyrants to corrupt and enslave a people. Soldiers supported in idleness are in danger soon of becoming sons of violence, a terror to the good and a support to evil-doers. God grant that our waj'^s may so please him, as that violence may no more be perpetrated in our streets."

1774. Mr. Cooke continues his exposition of Luke, and the same of John. In a sermon on July 31, 1774, he speaks of the tribute or tax " cruelly and unjustly imposed upon the Jews by Caesar, the Roman Emperor, and a band of bloody soldiers sent from Rome to enforce the payment of it," and exclaims, " Happy for New England, if this had been practised by none but pagan powers ! "

In another sermon (Oct. 9, 1774) he exclaims, "See here * * * * the cruel effects of arbitrary power, where the tyrant's will is the only law ! "

Another sermon is the sacramental lecture for Nov. 6, 1774. In this is the clause, " That unnecessary preparations for the interment of our dearest friends, is inconsistent with the rest of the Sabbath." Several sermons on John, preached in Nov. and Dec. 1774, and in Jan. and Feb. 1775, were repeated Aug. to Oct. 1777. A sentence or two is selected : " Marriage is a divine institution, and honorable in all, when made in the fear of God, publicly, «fec. ; and Christ condescended to honor this marriage with his presence and blessing; and he is always present when this solemn rite is conducted according to his will." * * * * "There is no absolute holiness in places; but a place dedicated to the service and worship of God, and where he has promised to meet and bless his people, for the honor of his glorious name, ought not unnecessarily to be put to common and private uses."

In this year a committee was chosen "to regulate the school." Dea. Joseph Adams, Mr. Samuel Whittemore and Capt. Ephraim Frost were added to the standing committee to act for this purpose. It was also voted that the committee shall receive the money granted by the town, and employ " a school-master and school-mistresses to keep the school or schools, and pay them therefor." This is the most definite vote yet recorded regarding the schools, though the Precinct's portion of the town's school-money had before been previously mentioned, and committees appointed to expend it.

The following notice was this year publicly read in church : " Widow Elizalieth Swan with her Children desireth prayers that God would sanctify to them his holy hand, in taking away her daughter and their sister Richardson, by death." [Esther (Swan) Richardson - wife of Zebadiah Richardson, of Woburn. She died at Woburn, April 19, ] 774. - Wob. Records.']

1775. This was the momentous year of the opening of the American Revolution, and it is remarkable that a portion of the first armed resistance to British aggression culminated in battle near the meeting-house in this Precinct, where its minister had uttered so many patriotic sentiments in opposition to the oppression of the royal government. The times must have been those of peculiar anxiety, for it is a known fact that the deathrate in the towns about Boston for this year was proportionately greater than usual. The number of deaths in 1775 in this Precinct, according to Mr. Cooke's recorded statement, was forty-seven - "47, besides some Provincials and Hutchinson's Butchers [the British] - slain in Concord Battle near this meeting-house - buried here."

1 At the beginning of the Eevolution, on account of the unpopular tax imposed by the British government on tea, it was voted a duty to abstain wholly from the use of that " detestable herb," and committees were appointed in

The Second Peecinct In Caivibeidge

In 1775 the Precinct voted to choose one person to lead in singing. Samuel Frost was chosen, but was excused, and William Cutter was chosen to lead in singing and to nominate such persons as he shall think proper to assist him. It was also voted that the second and third seats in the front gallerybe the seats for the singers to sit in ; and at another meeting, it was voted to have two doors to the said two seats. This is the first mention of a choir.

In the first of 1775 Mr. Cooke was continuing his exposition of the four gospels. The Baptists seem to give him some little uneasiness, for in a sermon in Jan. 1775, he asserts: "Baptism don't save us, from any virtue in the water : either in the quality or quantity of it ; but only, from the blessing of Christ, when performed according to his will ! " His construction of the case is certainly liberal, for in another place in the same discourse, he says : " Much water cannot purge away sin ; there is no certainty from this passage [John 3 : 23] whether they were dipt or sprinkled; nor can it be of great importance for us to know, while we all believe Baptism to be no more than a token of our being cleansed only by the blood of Christ, and our solemn dedication to him * * * * But the mode or manner, if done in sincerity, ought not to break Christian fellowship, or that love and charity among Christ's disciples by which we give the best evidence of our loving union to him. Where is angry disputing, there is contention, confusion and every evil work! "

" We are all of the earth, as John was, though in a lower station ; we speak of the earth, and are all hastening to dust. Let us all, as he did, endeavor the advancement of Christ's kingdom in the world, and raise our thoughts to things above, where Jesus is now set down at the right hand of God."

all neighborhoods, to see that this patriotic resolve was faithfully adhered to. It was hard for the old ladies to refrain constantly from the use of their accustomed refreshing beverage. Mrs. Anna Russell, mother of the late Col. Thomas Russell, though one of the most loyal of women, "having a bad head-ache," was once tempted to break the rule, and make a strong cup of tea for supper ; but, to prevent detection, it was made in her coffee-pot. During the repast, the late Deacon John Adams, the committee-man for that neighborhood, dropped in officialh% and was invited (though probably not urged), to "take a cup of coffee," which, fortunately, was declined, and he left. Years after the Revolution, in talking over their youthful days with the deacon, she rallied him on the ruse she had played ; he retorted, by saying that he knew at the time, by the fraffrance, that her coffee-pot was filled with tea, but he did not Avish to expose so good a woman. I have often heard my late grandmother, the woman referred to, relate this anecdote of her early Me. - Letter of J. B. Russell.

thankfully commemorate his death, renew the dedication of himself to Christ at his holy table, that he may become more and more conformed to his Likeness ; that through his merits he may be prepared for the Life immortal, to meet his Redeemer at his second coming, and enter with him into his everlasting Kingdom."

In this fragment, Mr. Cooke reviews extensively the conduct of the events which had influenced the country for a considerable period, somewhat as follows: "America, though penetrated with indignation and grief at the perfidious rebellions fomented by multitudes in Scotland and England a few years past to unthrone the present royal family, subvert the Protestant religion, and raise to regal power a stupid, bigoted Roman Catholic [Charles Edward, the Pretender], asks, shall these be indulged with the softer name of insurgents, while the Colonies, of unshaken loyalty, are pronounced and treated as Rebels and traitors? A charge we cannot, we dare not acknowledge?" He continues, " We are putting on the harness ; let us not boast of our strength, or numbers ; nor let anyone say, with Judah of old, the strength of the hearers of burdens is decayed ; and give up all for lost! But remember the Lord our God, who is great and terrible! He hath broken for us the Sword of the Wilderness [referring to the Indian enemy] ; the Heathen are perished out of the land. God is infinitely able, and we trust yet will maintain the lot of our inheritance. Hs has not yet forgotten the kindness of our Youth - the love of our espousals - when our renowned Fathers followed him into this wilderness. The wilderness has now become a fruitful field. While our enemies are opening their mouths wide against us by way of reproach, and gaping for our possessidns [these expressions were favorite figures with the speakers of the period], and our persons to be their slaves ; let us

> Four thousand Britisli troops were sent to Boston in 1768, to aid in the collection of duties imposed by the royal government. The Loudon, Eng., Town and Country Magazine, for January, 1775, p. 56, says, under date of Boston, Dec. 9, 1774: "The regiments, &c., now at Boston, or under orders for that place, are the 4th, 5th, 10th, 23d, 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 59th and 64th regiments; three companies of the 18th and two of the 65th regiment, with four companies of artillery. The 6th and 14th regiments are on theii- way from the West Indies, and the 35th, 42d, 45th, and 63d, are imder orders from hence. Besides these the 7th and 26th are in Canada, the 8th on detachments on the Lakes, and the 16th at Pensacola. There are six or eight hundred marines at Boston besides the regiments." The 4th (King's Own), 5th, 10th, 18th (Royal Irish), 23d (Royal Welsh Fusileers), 38th, 43d, 47th, 52d, 59th, and 65th regiments arrived during 1774. See dates of landing, places where landed and encamped, &c., in Newell's Diary, published by Frothingham {Siege of Boston, pp, 363-65).

To oppose this force in case of attack, the towns raised "alarm- list companies," or minute-men, ready at a moment's call for Service. These compa- nies formed a part of the organized militia of the Province, and were composed of the best and ablest-bodied citizens. It was customary after their field-exercises, sometimes to repair to the meeting-house to hear a patriotic sermon, or partake of an entertainment at a public house.

The Second Trecinct In Cambridge

pour out our hearts before God, for God is a refuge for us ! Though the Royal ear [King George III.] appears fast closed against the voice of our calamities, yet the eyes of the Lord are upon the ways of men, and his ears open to their cries.

" We cannot indeed expect to be saved, but in the way of duty, and in a prudent, manly, resolute defence of our rights, dearer to us than our lives dragged along in cruel slavery !

" Does the courage of any one among us under fresh alarms begin. to fail ? Recall to remembrance the wonders God hath wrought for our fathers, and in our days. How was the yoke of barbarous oppression suddenly broken under the rule of that despotic monster, Sir Edmund Andros! How have we seen Louisburg, that thorn in our sides, brought to the dust, to the astonishment of the world, by New England troops ! How were we the following year delivered, by the Providence of God, from a formidable fleet and army, who perished at the Divine rebuke, and sunk as lead in the mighty waters [the Duke D'Anville's]. How was the detested Stamp Act and other cruel impositions, prevented having their baneful effect, by our spirited and united opposition! Our leading enemies are now the same; and God, with the same ease, can again turn their counsels into foolishness. The union of the Colonies is great and marvellous in our eyes ! But as Ministerial Vengeance is pointed at this devoted Province, it will be expected that we take the lead in every prudent and Constitutional measure for a general defence.

" If we are terrified into a submission, the other Colonies will make the best terms they are able, and leave us and our posterity to groan in chains of bondage. Our Brethren in arms [the Minute Company] will duly consider this, and set a leading example of undaunted fortitude. Let us all carefully study peace, unity and good order among ourselves, and avoid all just occasion of offence to any person whatever. Let none, under any provocations, thirst for blood, but let your breasts strongly beat for the Liberty of your Country ! * * * *

'' We conclude with our earnest wish and prayers, that God would unite all our hearts to fear his name. That lasting unity between us and our once parent state may speedily take place by the terror, and ' not the force of our arms. That we being made free, may serve God without fear through life ; and when our warfare shall be accomplished, and we discharged from the burden of arms, may we be raised to the peaceful realms of glory in the Redeemer's everlasting kingdom."^

* The missing portion of this discourse is probably the sermon of Cooke to the Minute Company, presented in Smith's Address, 1864, pp. 7-11.

As the British were the prime movers in the aflfray, their official return of the action will first claim our attention. We copy therefrom; as follows :

" General Gage having received intelligence of a large quantity of military stores being collected at Concord, for the avowed purpose of supplying a body of troops to act in opposition to his majesty's government, detached on the 18th of April, at night, the grenadiers of his army and the light infantry under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Smith of the 10th regiment, and Major Pitcairne of the marines, with orders to destroy the said stores ; and the next morning eight companies of the 4th, the same number of the 23d and 47th, and some marines, marched under the command of Lord Percy to support the other detachment. Lt. Col. Smith finding after he had advanced some miles on his march that the country had been alarmed by the firing of guns and ringing of bells, despatched six companies of light infantry, in order to secure two bridges on different roads beyond Concord, who, upon their arrival at Lexington, found a body of the country people drawn up under arms on a green, close to the road ; and upon the King's troops marching up to them, in order to inquire the reason of their being so assembled, they went off in great confusion, and several guns were fired upon the King's troops from behind a stone wall, and also from the meeting-house and other houses, by which one man was wounded, and Major Pitcairne's horse shot in two places. In consequence of this attack by the Rebels, the troops returned the fire, and killed several of them ; after which the detachment marched on to Concord, without anything further happening, where they effected the purpose for which they were sent, having knocked off the trunnions of three pieces of iron ordnance, burnt some new gun carriages, and a great number of carriage-wheels, and thrown into the river a considerable quantity of flour, gunpowder, musket-balls and other articles. Whilst this service was performing, great numbers of the Rebels assembled in many parts, and a considerable body of them attacked the light infantry posted at one of the bridges, on which an action ensued, and some few were killed and wounded. On the return of the troops from Concord, they were very much annoyed, and had several men killed and wounded by the Rebels firing from behind walls, ditches, trees and other ambushes ; but the brigade under the command of Lord Percy having joined them at Lexington, with two pieces of cannon, the Rebels were for a while dispersed ; but as soon as the troops resumed their march, they began again to fire upon them from behind stone-walls and houses, and kept up in that manner a scattering fire during the whole of their march of 15 miles, by which means several were killed and wounded ; and such was the cruelty and barbarity of the rebels, that they scalped and cut off the ears of some of the wounded men, who fell into their hands.*

^ This story arose from the act of a young man at Concord Bridge, who killed one of the British wounded with a hatchet, as the soldier was attempt-

The Second Peecinct In Cambridge

4th, or King's Own Regiment. Lieutenant Knight, killed. Lieut. Gould, wounded and prisoner. Three Serjeants, one drummer, wounded. Seven rank and file killed, 21 wounded, eight missing.

10th Regiment. Lieut. Col. Francis Smith, Capt. Lawrence Parsons, Lieut. Wald. Kelly, Ensign Jeremiah Lester, wounded. One rank and file killed, 13 wounded, one missing.

ing to get up. - Frothingham. Zechariah Bro'mi and Thomas Davis, Jr., testified, Concord, ^May 11, 1775, that they (two) buried the dead bodies of the King's troops that were killed at the North Bridge in Concord on the nineteenth day of April, 1775, and that neither of those persons were scalped, nor their ears cut off, as has been represented. - Journals of the Provincial Congress of Massackusetts.

Gordon, Hist. Am. Rev., i. 311, says the real fact was, "one of the British "wounded, who was left behind, attempting to get up, was assaulted by a young fellow, going after the piu-suers to join them, who, not being under the feelings of hiunanity, barbarously broke his skull with a small hatchet, and let out his brains, but neither scalped him nor cut off his ears. * * * * The poor object languished for an hour or two before he expired." Could this be the same individual who attempted to kill Lieutenant Gould? - See pages beyond.

' The Salem Gazette of May 5, 1775, states an officer of the Fifth regiment, whom it calls " Capt. Thomas Knight," died at Boston, the next day after the engagement, of the wounds he received in the battle, and that " he was greatly regretted, being esteemed one of the best officers among the King's troops." Also that twenty- three wounded soldiers lately died at the Castle, and that Lieut. Hawkshaw " was wounded in the cheek, and it is thought will not recover." A Lieut. Gore [perhaps Coxr] was "wounded in the arm." - Gazette^ May 5.

Marines. Capt. Souter, Second Lieutenant M' Donald wounded. Second Lieut. Isaac Potter missing. One serjeant killed, two wounded, one missing. One drummer killed, 25 rank and file killed, 36 wounded, five missing.

Total. One lieutenant killed. Two lieutenant colonels wounded. Two captains wounded. Nine lieutenants wounded. One lieutenant missing. Two ensigns wounded. One serjeant killed, seven wounded, two missing. One drummer killed, one wounded, 62 rank and file killed, 157 wounded, 24 missing.

To counteract the impressions conveyed by the British, or Ministeiial account, the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts published a narrative of the excursion and ravages of the King's Troops, under the command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, 1775, to which were appended many depositions of eye-witnesses, and which was transmitted to England and to the Continental Congress, and otherwise extensively circulated. The opening paragraph was as follows: "On the nineteenth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five, a day to be remembered by all Americans of the present generation, and which ought and doubtless will be handed down to ages yet unborn, the troops of Britain, unprovoked, shed the blood of sundry of the loyal American subjects of the British king in the field of Lexington. ***-»«- The engagement lasted through the day." * * ^ *

April 19, 1775. Extracts from the Diary of a British Officer in 1775, in the Atlantic MontJdy for April, 1877, showing the features of the general action, beginning with the previous evening: - " 18th, between 10 and 11, P. M., all the grenadiers and light infantry of the army embarked and landed on the opposite shore on Cambridge marsh. After getting over the Marsh, where they were wet to the knees, they were halted in a dirty road, and stood there till 2, A. M., waiting for provisions to be brought from the boats and divided - an unnecessary procedure. At 2, A. M., began their march by wading through a very long ford up to their middles. At 5, A. M., arrived

1 This account is taken from that which appeared in the London Toicn and Country Magazine for June, 1775, p. 332, 333, which is essentially the same as that in the London Gazette for June 10, 1775, the official organ of the British government.

at Lexington Common ; their men without any orders rushed on the Provincials, fired and jDut them to flight, and several of them were killed. They got behind walls and into the woods. The British had a man of the 10th Light Infantry wounded - nobody else hurt. The British then formed on the common with some difficulty - the men so wild they could hear no orders - waited a considerable time there, and at length proceeded to Concord - met with no interruption till within a mile or two of the town, where the country-people had occupied a hill which commanded the road ; the light-infantry were ordered away to the right, and ascended the height in one line, on which the Yankees quitted it without firing, which they did for one or two heights more successively. - Four oflicers of eight at the Bridge were wounded (Lts. William Sutherland of 38th, Waldron Kelly of 10th - wounded again at Bunker Hill - Edward Gould of King's Own, and Edward Hall of 4.3d), three men killed, one sergeant and several men wounded.

'' Before the whole had quitted the town they were fired on from houses and behind trees, and before they had gone one half a mile were fired on from all sides, but mostly from the rear, where people had hid themselves in houses till we had passed, and then fired ; the country was an amazing strong one, full of hills, woods, stonewalls, &c., which the Rebels did not fail to take advantage of; for they were all lined with people who kept an incessant fire upon us, as we did too upon them ; but not with the same advantage, for they were so concealed there was hardly any seeing them : in this way we marched nine or ten miles, their numbers increasing from all points, while ours were reducing by ^deaths, wounds and fatigue, and we were totally surrounded with such an incessant fire as it is impossible to conceive ; our ammunition was likewise near expended. In this critical situation we perceived the First Brigade coming to our assistance (4th, 23d and 47th Regiments, and a battalion of marines, with two fieldpieces, six-pounders). As soon as the Rebels saw this reinforcement, and tasted the field-pieces, they retired.' We formed on a risingground and rested ourselves ; in about half an hour we marched again, and some of the Brigade taking the flanking parties we marched pretty quiet for about two miles ; they then began to pepper us again from the same sort of places, but at an attack a greater distance.

" We were now obliged to force almost every house in the road, for the Rebels had taken possession. of them and galled us exceedingly; but they suffered for their temerity, for all that were found in the

" They did not fight us like a regular army, only like savages - behind trees and stonewalls, and out of- the woods and houses, where, in the latter, we killed numbers of them, as well as in the woods and fields."

" As soon as we came up we fii'ed the cannon, which brought them from behind the trees, for we did not fight as you did in Germany ; as we could not see above ten in a body, for they were behind trees and walls, and fired at us and then loaded on their bcUies. The shot flew thick. I got a wounded man's gun and killed two of them, as I am sure of."

houses were put to death. When we got to Menotomy there was a very heavy fire ; after that we took the short cut into the Charlestown road, and we went into Charlestown without any great interruption. "We got there between 7 and 8 at night, took possession of the Hill above the town and waited for boats to carry us over. We got home very late in the night. Thus ended this expedition, which from beginning to end was as ill- planned and ill-executed as it was possible to be.

" Even the people of Salem and Marblehead, above twenty miles off, had intelligence and time enough to march, and met us on our return; they met us somewhere about Menotomy, but they lost a good many for their pains. Thus for a few trifling stores the Grenadiers and Light Infantry had a march of about fifty miles (going and returning) through an Enemy's country; and in all human probability must every man have been cut off, if the Brigade had not fortunately come to their assistance ; for when the Brigade joined us there were very few men had any ammunition left, and so fatigued that we could not keep flanking-parties out - so that we must soon have laid down our arms, or been picked off by the Rebels at their pleasure."

The above statement by this officer explains why the British troops on their return punished our people so severely in the death of so many unarmed and helpless persons, particularly within the limits of this Precinct.

The Rev. Samuel Abbot Smith, in his work entitled IVest Cambridge on the Nineteenth of April, 1775 (Boston, 1864), pp. 66, gives an extended account of the part the place took in the battle, and preserves many traditions of the doings of the inhabitants. His sources of information were of the best, and his little book was one of the most interesting character.

The local militia were called out on what is known as the " Lexington Alarm," and the minute company of this Precinct was formed on the common at day-break, ready for active service (Smith). The Cambridge militia company of the other Parish, under the command of Capt. Samuel Thatcher, likewise "marched on the alarm, April 19, 1775;" Paige stating the number of miles out and home, for which they were credited, as twenty-eight; equal to the distance, at Old Cambridge, to and from Concord. The Menotomy company probably pursued the same course, and followed the enemy to Concord, and returned in pursuit during the British retreat-

The British troops, after landing at Lechmere's Point, now East Cambridge, on the night of the 18th, first crossed the marshes to the Milk Row Road, now Milk Street, in Somerville, and then marched through Beech Street, at that time the only open passage-way between tiie Milk Row Road and the present North Avenue in Cambridge. Thence by North Avenue to Menotomy, now Arlington, and thence to Lexington and Concord. Paige, our authority for the foregoing, mentions a solitary house then standing at Lechmere's Point, whose occupant probably gave the alarm at the centre of the town proper (now Old Cambridge), which led to the speedy calling out of Captain Thatcher's Cambridge company (see Hist. Ccnnb., p. 408).

The company of minute-men in the Northwest Precinct, or Menotomy (see same, p. 410), were under the command of Capt. Benjamin Locke, and consisted of fifty non-commissioned officers and privates, twenty-five of whom were described as residents of Cambridge on the original enlistment roll of the company. This company was formed previously to April 6, 1775, when Mr. Cooke, the minister of the Precinct, had preached a sermon to them - see previous pages 50, 51, and Smith's Address (1864), pp. 7-11.

A copy of the articles of enlistment is published in Smith's Address, p. 59. The original in the possession of Mr. B. D. Locke, the present town-clerk of Arlington, is undated. It is as follows :

" We, the subscribers, do hereby solemnly and severally engage and enlist ourselves as soldiers in the Massachusetts service, for the preservation of the liberties of America, from the day of our enlistment to the last day of December next, unless the sei-vice should admit of a discharge of a jDart or the whole sooner, which shall be at the discretion of the Committee of Safety ; and we hereby promise to submit ourselves to all the orders and regulations of the army, and faithfully to observe and obey all such orders as we shall receive from time to time, from our superior officers."

Smith's Address, ^ip- 60-62, omits two names in the above list, and gives two others that do not appear above, namely, those of AVilliam Ellery and Cato Wood (negro), both belonging to Charlestown. Paige, Hist. Camb. p. 410, names the Cambridge members of the company, all of whom he considers very likely were engaged in the battle of the 19 th of April.

June 21, 1775, the Committee of Safety recommended Stephen Frost, ensign in Capt. Locke's Company of Col. Gardner's Regiment, to the Honorable Congress for a commission ; and in Provincial Congress, June 22, 1775, it was ordered that an ensign's commission be delivered to Mr. Stephen Frost, of Capt. Locke's Company in Col. Gardner's Regiment. - Journals of each Provincial Congress of Mass., pp. 374, 573.

The British entered Menotomy about two o'clock in the morning; citizens were awakened by the stir of their march, and began making preparations to resist them. One man was aroused by the rattle of the pewter plates on his dresser, jarred by the measured tramp of the soldiers. Solomon Bowman, the lieutenant of the Minute Company, came to the door to see what was stirring. He refused one soldier a drink of water, and as soon as they passed, he began at once to warn his company for immediate service. The British continued their march in silence, though finding the country thoroughly aroused. They entered the barn at the Cutler Tavern, and a man and his wife in one of the old houses at the Foot of the Rocks, narrowly escaped detection in the act of melting their pewter plates into bullets.

Such in substance are the adventures of the night march of the British troops through the present town of Arlington, in Smith's Address, with the exception of one incident. On April 18, 1775, Tuesday, the Committee of Safety and the Committee of Supplies sat at Newell's (more generally Wetherby's) tavern, in Mcnotomy,' while a great number of British officers dined at Cambridge, on the watch to prevent intelligence of G-agc's intended expedition that night. After finishing the business of the day, the committees of safety and supplies, which usually held their sessions together, adjourned to meet at Woburn on the morrow (the 19th). Three members, Gerry, Orne, and Lee, remained to lodge at Newell's (otherwise Wetherby's); while two, Watson and Devens, departed in Devens's chaise at sunset, but soon meeting on the road a great number of British officers and their servants on horseback (the same who had dined that day at Cambridge), Devens and his companion rode some way after they had met this party, and then turned back and rode through them, and went and informed their friends at Wetherby's. They stopped there, till the British party came up and rode by. They then left their friends, and Devens rode home, to Charlestown, after leaving Mr. Watson at his house. Devens, after arrival home, soon received intelligence from Boston

^ A Jacob Newell had a family here, 1766-1769, possibly a former occiipant of the tavern. - See Genealogies. Ethan AVetherby married Lucretia Adams, daughter of Capt. Thomas Adams, an innkeeper here, Dec. 31, 1775. The records of the Committees speak of the place as " Mr. "Wetherby's at the Black Horse, Menotomy." - See Journals of each Provincial Congress of Mass., pp. 515, 516, &c. The following inscription is on a monumental tablet recently erected (1878) to mark the spot where Wetherby's tavern stood: "The site of the Black Horse Tavern, where met the Committee of Safety in 1775."

that the enemy were all in motion and were certainly preparinf; to come out into the country. He soon afterward saw the signal aoreed upon given - a lanthorn hung out in the upper window of the tower of the North Church toward Charlestown - and then sent off an express to inform Messrs. Gerry, &c., and Messrs. Hancock and Adams, whom he knew were at the Rev. Mr. Clarke's, at Lexington. He was the man who met Paul Revere, when he came over from Boston, at about eleven o'clock, and for whom he procured a horse, and sent him to give the alarm at Menotomy and Lexington (see Devens's narrative, in Frothingham's Siege, p. 57, &c.). The party of British officers mentioned, was apparently the same party which captured Revere and three citizens of Lexington, beyond that town, toward Concord, during the niglit before the 19th. Messrs. Gerry, Orne, and Lee, the members who remained at Wetherby's, in Menotomy, saw the silent march of the British troops, as they passed the tavern, in the moonlight, and narrowly escaped capture when an officer and file of men were detached from the column to search the house.'

The next important event in Menotomy after the passage of the first detachment of British troops through the place on the night of the 18th, was the assembling and departure of the company of local minute-men, early on the morning of the 19th, to which allusion has been made. Those inhabitants whose houses were near the main road, employed themselves in secret-

^ Heath, who on the 18th of April, had been sitting with the Committee of Safety at Menotomy, and on his return home, soon after he left the committee and about sunset, had met the party of British officers on horseback, with their swords and pistols, riding up the road toward Lexington, says, Memoirs, p. 12, " On the 19th, at day-break, our Greneral was awoke, called from his bed, and informed that a detachment of the British army were out ; that they had crossed from Boston to Phipps's farm, in boats, and had gone towards Concord, as was supposed, with intent to destroy the public stores. They probably had notice that the committees had met the preceding day at Wetherby's tavern, at Menotomy ; for, Avhen they came opposite to the house, they halted. Several of the gentlemen slept there during the night. Among them were Col. Orne, Col. Lee, and 2klr. Gerry. One of them awoke, and informed the others that a body of the British were before the house. They immediately made their escape, Avithout time to dress themselves, at the back door, receiving some injury from obstacles in the way in their undressed state. They made their way into the fields. The country was immediately alarmed, and the minute- men and militia turned out with great spirit."

ing their valuables and in seeking places of greater safety. The few who remained, witnessed, at about the middle of the day on the 19th, the appearance on the main street in Menotomy, of a second detachment of British troops, which comprised the reinforcement under the command of Lord Percy that had marched out from Boston, at nine o'clock that morning, through Roxbury, and over the Great Bridge to Cambridge, and thence through Menotomy by the great road to Concord to support the first detachment. One who saw the passing column on the road at Menotomy,' and heard the measured tread of the veteran and disciplined regulars, said their burnished arms and bright bayonets, glittering in the sunlight, looked ^' like a flowing river." " A little girl, named Nabby Blackington, as they marched by, was watching her mother's cow while she fed by the road-side; the cow took her way directly through the passing column, and the child, faithful to her trust, followed through the ranks bristling with bayonets. ' We will not hurt the child,' they said." - Sm'uh.^

The detachment under Percy on their way to Lexington fo.und every house on the road deserted. The militia were engaged in the distant conflict, and the main body of the detachment met no opposition in Cambridge, beyond the removal of the planks from the Great Bridge at the passage of the Charles River. These not being removed altogether, but piled by the bridge, were speedily replaced, and caused the main body little delay. But the wagon-train carrying the provisions and supplies for the troops was detained so long by this occurrence, that it lost the protection of the main bod}^, and became so far

2 Gordon in his Hist. Am. Revolution, says, "The brigade marched out playing, by way of contempt, Yankee Doodle, a song composed in derision of the New "Englanders, scornfully called Ya?ikees. A smart boy observing it, as the troops passed through Roxbury, made himself extremely merry with the circumstance, jumping and laughing, so as to attract the notice of his lordship, who, it is said, asked him at what he was laughing so heartily ; and was answered, ' To think how you will dance by and by to C/ievi/ Chace.' It is added, that the repartee stuck by his lordship the whole day." Gordon, who was pastor of the Third Church in Roxbury (the Jamaica Plain Church), gives also an interesting historv of the origin of the term Yankee. - See his Hist. Am. Rev., i. 3r2-13.

separated in following after it, as to be easily captured at Menotomy by a body of exempts, or men too old to go into the conflict elsewhere. This event was variously noticed in the Provincial journals of the day. We cite a few instances :

" At Menotomy, a few of our men attacked a party of twelve of the enemy, carrying stores and provisions to the troops, killed one of them, wouuded several, made the rest prisoners, and took possession of all their arms, stores, provisions, &c., without any loss on our side." - Essex Gazette, Salem, and MassacJnisetts Spy, Worcester.

The Salem Gazette, in a hand-bill published on tlie Fight, has the following: "At Menotomy, a few of the men [tlie Gazette says, 'belonging to the detachment from Lynn End' ^^ attacked a party of twelve of the enemy, carrying stores and provisions to the troops, killed two of them, wounded several, took six prisoners, shot five horses, and took possession of all their arms, stores, provisions, &c., without any loss on our side; among those who were killed was a lieutenant, who went with the provisions for his recreation, and to view the country ; the otiicer of the guard, who generally attends on such occasions, being only a sergeant."

Smith, in his West Cambridge on the Nineteenth of April, 1775, gives a minute account of this event, which occurred in front of the Precinct meeting-house, which stood on the site now occupied by that of the Arlington First Parish. The exempts took their position behind a wall opposite the meeting-house, and when the convoy came between them and the meeting-house, they took aim and ordered a surrender. As no attention was paid to this demand, except to hasten the speed of the convoy, the exempts fired and killed, probably, two of the enemy, and wounded several, shot five horses, drove off the guard, and took possession of the convoy and all its contents ; making besides six of the guard prisoners, who are said in this account to have ran as far as the shore of Spy Pond, into which they threw their muskets before they surrendered. All this was without loss on the side of the Provincials. In the numbers given above we have depended on the newspaper accounts of the time. A memorial stone recently erected ( 1878) at the place, contains this inscription: "At this spot, April 19th, 1775, the Old Men of Menotomy captured a convoy of eighteen soldiers with supplies, on its way to join the British at Lexington."

The Second Tkecinct In Cambridge

The command of the party of exempts is variously attributed to Pavid Lams on, a private soldier from Cambridge during the French War (see Paige, 405, note),* and to Phillips Payson, A.M., pastor of a church in Chelsea [H. U. 1754, D.D. &c.], both of whom were probably present. Bancroft says two wagons sent out to the troops with supplies were waylaid and captured by Payson, the minister of Chelsea.' Gordon, Hist. Am. Rev., i. 313, speaking of the British in retreat, says, "Before they reached Menotomy, a few Americans, headed by the Rev, Mr, Payson of Chelsea, who till now had been extremely moderate, attacked a party of twelve soldiers, carrying stores to the retreating troops, killed one, wounded several, made the whole prisoners, and gained possession of their arms and stores without any loss whatever to themselves."

After the capture, for fear of exposing the village to British vengeance, all traces of the action on the road were effaced. The wagons were drawn into the hollow to the eastward of the present Railway Station and despoiled of their contents. The dead animals were removed to a distance, and the surviving ones sent to Medford (see Smith).^

2 ^lajor Sylvester Osborn, then 16 years old (he was the youngest member of his company), was one of the guard detached from a Dan vers militia company, which marched in advance of their regiment to ^lenotomy, " and had charge of two baggage- wagons, loaded with provisions and ammunition, which were taken with eleven British soldiers on their way to meet Lord Percy. One man was killed, and another wounded, before they surrendered. The prisoners were lodged in Ipswich gaol." - Note to Kimj's Danvers Addresf. Hanson, Hist. Danvers, says the company to which O shorn belonged " captured a wagon near Medford, which was carrying supplies to the British. He and others were detached to escort the prize to a place of safety, and they heard the report of the fire-arms, immediately after leaving the main body," - See Hist. Danvers, pp. 106-107, 108, 217-218.

* The following story related by Smith concerning this affiiir, and regarded by many as apocryphal, is still worthy of preservation as a curiosity. The guards in fleeing followed the westerly shore of Spy Pond, till, near Spring Valley, they met an old woman, named Batherick, digging dandelions, to whom they surrendered themselves, asking her protection. She led them to the house of Capt. Ephraim Frost, and gave them up to a party of our men, saying to her prisoners, " If you ever live to get back, you tell King George that an old woman took six of his grenadiers prisoners." The squib went the rounds of the English opposition papers, "If one old Yankee woman can take six grenadiers, how many soldiers wdl it requii'e to conquer America?"

Own Regiment, who had been wounded early in the day at Concord Bridge, was made prisoner in Menotomy, while returning to Boston alone on horseback in advance of the troops. His capture was effected on the main road near Mill Street by some of the exempts, who were returning home after the taking of the convoy. He was carried first to the house of Ammi Cutter - the place where the late Cyrus Cutter resided - and afterward to Medford (Smith). He calls himself (deposition at Medford, April 25, 17T5) "of His Majesty's Own Regiment of Foot." He embarked with the light infantry and grenadiers on the evening of the 18th,. and marched to Concord, and commanded one of the light infantry companies stationed at the North Bridge. He was wounded at the attack of the bridge, and at the date of his deposition was "treated with the greatest humanity, and taken all possible care of by the Provincials of Medford." '

The severe part of the battle of the 19 th in Menotomy, occurred in the latter part of the day, or, according to Hannah Bradish's deposition (see Genealogies), " about five o'clock."

Lord Percy's detachment met the retreating first detachment of the British, a half mile below Lexington meeting-house, about two o'clock in the afternoon, where, after some delay, the march to Boston was resumed by both detachments. The light infantry and grenadiers of the detachment which had been severely engaged in battle in the defiles between Concord and Lexington, now marched in front, while Percy's brigade of fresh troops brought up the rear and provided the strong flanking parties of the regulars. Gordon says the British were incommoded by the wind blowing the smoke directly back upon them all the time they were retreating; "the soldiers loaded and fired over the stone-walls, when there was not a single man behind them." The Americans from behind stone-walls and other places of shelter kept up on the British an incessant fire, on either flank, as well

* Go^ild is said to have had a fortune of £1,900 a year, and to have offered £2,000 for his ransom. Gordon, Hist, Am. Rev., i, 311, says Lieut. Gould would have been killed at the North Bridge, had not a minister present prevented. He infers Gould was made a prisoner at the Bridge, and Heath {Memoirs, p. 13), says an officer of the British was taken prisoner at the Bridge. Gould was exchanged ^May 28, 1775, for Josiah Breed, of Lynn. See Hist. Medford, 158.

The Second Peecixct In Cambridge. G5

as in front and rear. This fire, Stedman, the English historian, affirms "it would not have served any purpose to return, as the Americans were concealed, and kept running from front to flank, and from flank to rear, loading their pieces at one place and discharging them at another." This fire was continued till sunset.

Beyond Lexington the troops were attacked by men chiefly from Essex County and' the lower towns. Gordon says there were never more than about four hundred provincials together attacking at one and the same time, and often scarce that number. The British flankers entered the houses on the line of march, plundering and burning, destroying doors, windows, glasses, tfec, and carrying ofi" clothing and other valuable effects.

Major-General William Heath, of Roxbury, who on the 18th of April "had been sitting with the Committee of Safety, at Menotomy in Cambridge " (see Memoirs, p. 11), after proceeding to the Committee of Safety on the morning of the 19th, and from the committee, taking a cross-road to Watertown (the British being in possession of the Lexington road), and giving orders to some militia, who had not marched, whom he found at Watertown, then pushed to join the militia, taking a cross-road toward Lexington, " in which he was joined by Dr. Joseph Warren (afterward a Major-General), who kept with him ; " they reached the militia in active engagement, just after Lord Percy had met the British, below the Lexington meeting-house. They assisted in forming a regiment, which had been broken by the shot from the British field-pieces - " for the discharge of these, together with the flames and smoke of several buildings, to which the British, nearly at the same time, had set fire, opened a new and more terrific scene." - Memoirs, p. 14. "The British having again taken up their retreat, were closely pursued. On descending from the high grounds in Menotomy, on to the plain, the fire was brisk. At this instant, a musket-ball came so near to the head of Dr. Warren, as to strike the inn out of the hair of his oarlock. Soon after, the right flank of the British was exposed to the fire of a body of militia, which had come from

Roxbuiy, Brookline, Dorchester, &c. For a few minutes the fire was brisk on both sides, and the British had here recourse to their field-pieces again ; but the Provincials were now more familiar with them than before. Here the militia were so close on the rear of the British, that Dr. Downer, an active and enterprising man, came to single combat with a British soldier, whom he killed with his bayonet." '

It was at this period that Hannah, wife of Deacon Joseph Adams, had her remarkable experience. A copy of her deposition on the event is presented in a notc.^

A few particulars regarding the Danvcrs companies, which marched in advance of their regiment and engaged the enemy at Mcnotomy, are here given from an address commemorative of seven young men of Danvers, who were slain in the Battle of Lexington, delivered in the Old South meeting-house in Danvers, on the sixtieth anniversary of the battle, with notes, by Daniel P. King (Salem, 1835).

^ " Hannah Adams, wife of Deacon Joseph Adams, of the Second Precinct in Cambridge, testifieth and saith that on the Nineteenth day of April last, upon the return of the King's troops from Concord, divers of them entered our house by bursting open the doors, and three of the soldiers broke into the room in which I then was, laid on my bed, being scarcely able to walk from my bed to the lire, not having been to my chamber- door from ray being delivered in childbirth to that time. One of said soldiers immediately opened my curtains with his bayonet fixed, pointing the same at my breast. I immediately cried out, 'For the Lord's sake, do not kill me! ! ' He replied, 'Damn you! ' One that stood near said, ' We will not hurt the woman, if she will go out of the house, but we will surely burn it.' I immediately arose, threw a blanket over me, and crawled into a coruhouse near the door Avith my infant in my arms, Avhere I remained until they were gone. They immediately set the house on fire, in which I had left five children and no other person, but the fire Avas happily extinguished when the house Avas in the utmost danger of being utterly consumed." Dated Cambridge Second Precinct, May 17, 1775.

A sermon preached before the Honorable Congress of the Colony, at Watertown, Wednesday, May 31, 1775, by Samuel Langdon, D.D., President of Harvard College in Cambridge (published Watertowu, 1775), contains in a note the following: "Near the meeting-house in Menotomy two aged, helpless men, Avho had not been out in the action, and were fovmd unarmed in a house where the regulars entered, were murdered without mercy. In another house, in that neighborhood, a woman, in bed with a new-born infant about a week old, was forced by the threats of the soldiery to escape, almost naked, to an open outhouse ; her house was then set on fire, but was soon extinguished by one of the children which had laid concealed till the enemv Avas gone."

of Danvers minute-men, marched with his company sixteen miles in four hours, full half the way upon the run, to Menotomy. Two companies of minute-men and three companies of militia, amounting to probably more than one hundred and fifty men, left Danvers at different hours and on different roads ; they ran more than half the way, and reached Menotomy near the same time. " A little west of the meeting-house is a hill around which the road wound in such manner as to conceal the Eritish. Many of the men of Danvers went into a walled enclosure, and piled bundles of shingles wliich were lying there, to strengthen their breastwork; rumor had deceived them as to the force of the enemy; it was certainly their expectation here to have intercepted their retreat. Others selected trees on the side of the hill, from which they might assail the enemy. But they had little space for preparation ; they soon saw the Britisii in solid column descend the hill on their right, and at the same moment discovered a large flank guard advancing on their left. The men in the enclosure made a gallant resistance, but were overpowered by numbers - some sought shelter in a neighboring house, and three or four, after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war, were butchered with savage barbarity.'

1 " Dennison "Wallis -was taken prisoner. The British soldiers were so much enraged by the severe treatment they -were receiving from our marksmen, that the officers could not prevent them from killing the prisoners. Finding that this must be his fate, Wallis attempted to make his escape ; the enemy fired upon him, and he received twelve wounds ; he fell as he was leaping a wall, and they supposing him dead left him. Nathan Putnam, a brother of Perley, Avho was killed, was severely wounded in the shoulder. He, as well as Henry Putnam of Medford [see Genealogies], Avho was killed on the same memorable day, were relations of Gen. Israel Putnam, so celebrated for his courage and for his services in the French, Indian and Revolutionary Wars. Gen. Putnam was a native of Danvers.

"D aland and South wick left families. The ages of those who were killed belonging to Danvers, follow : - Samuel Cook, 33 years ; Benjamin Daland, 25 years; George Southwick, 25 years; Perley Putnam, 21 years; Jotham AVebb, 22 years ; Henry Jacobs, 22 years ; Ebenezer Goldthwait, 22 years." - Note to D. P. King's Address.

'< On Friday [April 21, 1775] the bodies of Messrs. Henry Jacobs, Samviel Cook, Ebenezer Goldthwait, George Southwick, Benjamin Daland, Jun., Jotham Webb, and Perley Putnam, of Danvers, who were like-wise slain lighting in the glorious cause of liberty and their countrij, on the nineteenth of April, were the pond. They passed along its margin, and crossed the road directly in front of the British column. On the north side of the road, they took position behind a ditch wall. From this casual redoubt they lired upon the enemy as long as any of them were within reach of their muskets." Gen. Foster discharged his musket at the enemy a number of times (he thought eleven), with two balls each time, and with well directed aim. His comrade, Nathaniel Cleaves, of Beverly, who was then standing by his side, had his finger and ramrod cut away by a shot from the enemy.'

The "walled enclosure" into which many of the Danvers men went, and piled shingles which were lying there, to strengthen their breastwork, with the expectation of intercepting the British retreat; and where others selected trees on the hill-side, from which they might assail the enemy, was near the house of Jason Russell, which is still standing, and here a monumental tablet has lately been erected (1878), with the following inscription: ''Site of the house of Jason Russell, where he and eleven others were captured, disarmed and killed by the retreating British, April 19, 1775." This was the " neighboring house " where some of the men in the enclosure, when overpowered by the British, sought shelter; and the place where a number on both sides were slain, and others, after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war, were butchered, Hanson, the historian of Pan vers, says that when Foster's men threw themselves behind the enclosure from which they fired, Hutchinson (apparently Israel Hutchinson, captain of a company of Danvers minute-men), whose experience in the French War gave him knowledge, warned them to beware of the flank-guard. But in their unacquaintance with military afllairs, they knew nothing of respectfully interred among their friends in the different parishes belonging to that town, their corpses being attended to the place of interment by two companies of minute-men from this place, and a large concourse of people from this and the neighboring towns ; previous to that interment, an excellent and well adapted prayer was delivered by the Kev. Mr. Holt, of that place." - Salem Gaa. ^ Planson, Hist. Danvers, pp. 108, 109, says 24 men from Beverly completed one of the Danvers minute- companies, and some members of other Danvers companies may have belonged to Salem or Beverly.

The Second Trecinct In Cajmbrtdge

a flank-guard, and firing on the main body as it passed, those -who rushed out to harass its rear, found themselves between two fires, and several fell.

Jasou Russell was a prominent citizen in this Precinct, of whom a particular account is given in the Genealogies. A stone in the Precinct burying ground contains the following inscription, apparently composed by the Rev. Samuel Cooke :

"Mr. Jason Russell was barba'"ous1y murdered iu his own house by Gage's bloody troops, on the 19th of April, 1775, £etatis 59. His body is quietly resthig in this grave with Eleven of our friends, who in like manner, with many others, were cruelly slain, on that fatal day. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

Historians have generally considei-ed Russell a non-combatant, but he sent his family to a place of safety, and seems to have been determined to remain at his house. Smith says, "He barricaded his gate with bundles of shingles, making what he thought would be a good cover from which to hre on the enemy as they returned. Ammi Cutter, his neighbor, came from his house across the brook to see Mr. Russell, and advised him to go to a place of greater security. He refused, saying, ' An Englishman's house is his castle!" Cutter left him, and narrowly escaped being shot by British flankers, on the other side of the road ; their bullets striking the bark off the logs, among which he fell; at the neighboring mill, and scattering some silver money in his trovvsers pocket.'

Smith further says, that the flanking party south of the road made a circuit along the foot of the hill, and drove the Americans, unsuspiciously lying in wait there, down upon the main body, and finding no other chance of escape they rushed into Russell's house. Russell, who seems to have been with them outside, followed them, and was killed by the British, who entered the house, killing all they found inside, save a kw who fled to the cellar, the latter shooting whoever of the British attempted to descend the cellar-stairs.

Jason Russell and eleven comi-aclcs in deaili were interred in one grave,, wiiliout cofiiins, in the Precinct burying- ground, and in the clothes in which they fell. Smith says lliey were laid "head to point." The tradition is that Capt. William Adams, who lived near by, brought a sheet from his house, to be wrapped round Russell's body at the interment, saying he could not bear to have his neighbor buried before his eyes without a winding sheet. The names of only three of (he occupants of this grave, and these belonging to what is since West Cambridge and Arlington, are at pi-esent known.

A plain obelisk of pure New Hami»shij-e granite, about nineteen feet in height above the level ground, and encircled by a plain substantial stone and iron fence, which now stands above the grave, contains this insci'iption, inserted in the main shaft of the monument on a marble tablet :

"Erected by the Inhabitants of West Cambridge, A.l). 1848, over the common gmve of Jason Russell, Jason Wiusliip, Jabez Wyman and nine others, who were slain in this town by the British Troops on their retreat from the Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19th, 1775. Being among tlie lirst to. lay down their lives in the struggle for American Independence." '

The Danvers men, by being thus surrounded at Menotomy, lost heavily of their number. Their slain, seven in all - see their names in a previous note - were buried in their own town. Two were wounded - Nathan Putnam and Dennison Wallis. One, Joseph Bell, was missing alter the battle, being taken prisoner

* See history of the town, under 1848. The monument was erected June 24, 1848. The remains of the twelve occupants of the common grave were disinterred, and placed in a stone vault, now under the monument, April 22, 1848. The monument was cut from Concord granite at Mr. Luther Roby's stoueyard, at Concord, N.H. - See Frothingham's .SVeye of Boston, p. So; Eouton's llist. Concord, N. 11., p. 484.

The Salem Gazette for May 5, 1775, states, " On Thursday the twentieth past, the bodies of eleven of the unfortunate persons who fell in the battle, were collected together and buried at Medforrl." Menotomy is occasionally confounded with iledtbrd by Essex county writers on the battle.

On the morning of the 20th, Capt. John Battle, of Dedham, was ordered with his company of militia, to pass over the ground which had been the scene of action the preceding day, and bury such of the slain as he should find unburied. - Heath.

The British dead were, many of them, buried near the wall and close to the brook which runs through the old grave- yard, in the spot used for the burialplace of the slaves. - Smith.

and carried into Boston, Avliere he was imprisoned two months in an English frigate. "Although she was farther from Lexington than any of her sister towns who were represented at the battle, yet she lost more of her cliildren than any other town except Lexington." ' The Beverly men injured, and probably here, were Reuben Kcnnison killed, and Nathaniel Cleaves, Samuel Woodbury and William Dodge wounded. Of men from other towns who fell in Mcnotomy, we find mention of the following in the Salem (iazcUe: -

" Ou the nineteentli of April, was killed among others, by the British \a'oo\)?,, at Menoioiuy, as he was courageously defending his country s rights, the good, the pious, and friendly Mr. Daxiel Townsend, of Lynn-End. Ue was a consiant and ready friend to the poor and afflicted; a good adviser in case of difficulty, and an able, mild, and sincere reprover of those wdio were out of the way. In short, he was a friend to his country, a blessing to society, and an ornament to the church of which he was a member. He has left an amiable consort, and five young children, to bewail the loss.