Chelmsford Town (part 5 of 6)

Dr. Samuel A. Green, President of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a friend and helper of Mr. Perham in his historical work, said to me several years ago, "Do not spend too much time gathering material." A certain amount of material is essential to a good history, and, having gathered sufficient, as I think, for this purpose, I now present the result to the patient reader.

Extracts have been given from Bridge's diary, now in the possession of the Fiske family, of which Mr. Perham made a faithful copy. It is a valuable doctmient, and should be printed.

After Chapter I, extracts from the Town records have been given without reference to Book and page, the reader being able to find them in loco by the date.

About forty manuscript volumes of Chelmsford records have been read through, and much has been gleaned from the 240 folio volumes of manuscripts in the State Archives. The first book of Proprietors' records was burned about 1715. Parts of the first and second volvmies of Town records are missing. The transcript made in 1742 gives only such records as the committee deemed important. Under a vote of the Town, in 1892, Henry S. Perham and George A. Parkhurst were made a committee to copy the first two books of records. The work was done by the former. Several of the early books have been preserved by the Emery process.

Doctmients and quotations from records are reproduced as nearly like the original as can be done in type - not so easily read, but more pleasing to the historian and antiquarian.

our small italic p, and which had the value of ih. The letter thorn was used in English until, in the fifteenth century, it was transformed to y. The article, though written ye, should be pronounced the.

Several genealogies of the early families were prepared, but, as it was found that to include all of these would require a separate volume, they were necessarily omitted.*

Himian society, whether political or religious, makes progress by friction. Thoreau likened the two great political parties to the gizzard of a grain-eating fowl, between the two parts of which the people are ground. Benjamin P. Hunt, on a fly-leaf of his copy of Emerson's "First Church in Boston," copied these extracts from a letter of John Adams, written in 1817:

"There is an overweening fondness for representing this country as a place of liberty, equality, fraternity, union, harmony and benevolence. But let not your sons or mine deceive themselves. This country, like all others, has been a theatre of parties and feuds for near two hundred years.

"Look into all our memorials, histories they cannot be called, Winslow's, Winthrop, Morton the first, Morton the second, Hubbard, Mather, Prince, and even Hutchinson himself, and then judge how sweetly harmonious our ancestors have been.

"There is one morsel which I beg leave to recommend to the deliberate perusal of your children and mine. It is my friend Emerson's 'History of the First Church.' See there elements that have been fomenting, foaming and frothing ever since." (Works, Vol. 10.)

*It hfta been necessary to omit even mention of many things which have had part in the life of the Town's people, such as the North Chelmsford Cricket Club, the Hornbeam Hill Golf Club at the Centre, the tennis, whist, and dancing clubs, the Lodge of Odd Fellows formerly existing at the Centre, and the Civic League.

The prosperous life of the Town depends upon the worth of its citizens, the solid, faithful people, men and women, whose names, many of them, are not printed in town histories, because they happen not to be called to public duties.

Among Chelmsford people who have gained success abroad may be mentioned John GaJen Howard (son of Dr. Levi Howard), who studied at the MassachuBetts Institute of Technology and I'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and is now Professor of Architecture at the University of California, and the designer of its buildings.

and justly. We are sick of its horrible details. The history of our first two hundred years is ivll of battle, and if all its awfulness could be depicted, it would strongly dissuade from its continuance. Mr. Perham held deeply the modem feeling against war, and rightly. He felt that it was at least unwise to perpetuate the memory of war-like deeds and victories over our fellows obtained by great slaughter. We shall all welcome the coming of the day "when justice and reason and not rapine and murder shall hold sway over the destinies of the world." Yet none of us can fail to accord the meed of praise to the brave defenders of our liberties.

I have no idea what Mr. Perham's plan was in regard to making a record of Chelmsford's part in the Indian Wars and the Revolution. He had very little material for such a record, and that, evidently, he had when the Htird sketch was written a quarter of a century ago. And in what he had written for this History, he passes over the period of King Philip's War with slight mention .

My purpose has been to give only so much of the history of our wars as may help the reader to understand the part performed in them by the men of this Town.

In Chapter V, the records of Chelmsford men in the Revolution are given. The records of the Continental Line towards the close of the war are in Washington, and I have not had access to them. Some of the later records, as foimd in the Massachusetts Archives, are, however, included in this chapter.

Religious conflict has been less bloody, but at times bitter among good men and women, and the facts are here told. What men most value, they struggle hardest to maintain, and justify their contentions by claiming to uphold the right. They have been willing to inflict martyrdom and to be martyrs for what they believed to be true and right. Thus the truth has been emphasized, set free, and made a part of human history.

Allen writes of the thirty-nine first emigrants, a "company of holy pilgrims," who entered this wilderness and subdued the fallow ground; and it is well that we should know something of the character and worth of our ancestors and predecessors, the sturdy, upright lives of the men and women who have made Chelmsford what it is today.

There is a proverb to the effect that a people which cares nothing for its past, has no present and deserves no future. It would seem as though everyone should be interested to know the history of his own town or of any town in which he may sojourn . He should wish to know what manner of people they were who first settled it, and whence they came, they who, "by their sturdy efforts subdued the earth and made it fruitful, felled and planted, delved and spun; who laid the foundations of our political, social and religious institutions; who they were that began under great privations and dangers what we now enjoy in abundance and without molestation."

The knowledge of these things will help one better to love and to appreciate the topographical feattues of forests and hills, the brooks and meadows, the long-travelled roads that lead by the old homesteads, while one's imagination clothes them with incident and legend, and peoples them with the spirits of past years. One will more truly realize and enjoy the comforts and conveniences of the present day, as one compares them with the meagre advantages of the olden time.

And still, while meditating upon the past, there is a tendency in htmian thought to find satisfaction in an age, if not golden, yet tinged with the enchantment of distance. There is a pleasure in returning to origins, in tracing the causes in the evolutionary process. And it is thus that our history becomes interesting as it takes us back, even to the ancient days in England, when names had a personal significance: When Abbotts were abbots, and Barrons, barons; when Kemps were knights; when the Chamberlains cared for the wardrobe of the lord; and Park, Parker, Parkhurst, the Warrens and the Fosters (Foresters) had charge of the hunting and pleasure grounds; and the Baileys were bailiffs. When the Fletchers fledged or feathered arrows, and the Bowers made the weapons to propel them; when Henchman was the faithful "right-hand man" of his chief, and Stoddard bore the Standard. When the lay Clarke (clerk) made the responses in Church, and the Hayward looked after the hedges and kept the cattle away. When Webb wove cloth, and Fiske (Fysche or Fisher) represented a craft which supplied many with an important portion of their food. When the Wright worked in wood and the softer materials, and the Smith in metals; of which latter name there is a remarkable dearth in our records. When Leach practised physic, and the Proctors kept order, or managed the affairs of others. When Kidder carried his kit; when Marshall and Farrer shod horses; when Perham and

X History Of Chelmsford

If History be Philosophy teaching by examples, mayhap this volume, falling into the hand of some newly naturalized citizen of Chelmsford, may persuade him to a reverence for the pious labors of the Fathers who made the Town and rendered it possible for him to enjoy the pleasures and privileges of the present time, and also move him towards an effort as energetic and effective for future betterment.

The labor involved in the preparation of this History has been gladly bestowed con amore; and I trust its results will be accepted by my fellow-townsmen as a tribute to their worth and a token of my appreciation of the kindness I have tmiversally received at their hands. The quarter of a century passed in their midst has left with me memories of many pleasant hours spent in social intercourse, or in united effort for the furtherance of the best interests of the Town. I can say with TuUy : ' ' Haec scrip si non otii ahundantia, sed amor is erga te." (This have I written, not out of an abundance of leisure, but because of my. affection towards you.)

It remains to express my appreciation of the courtesy shown me, while working in the State Archives, by Mr. J. J. Tracy and Miss Alice R. Famum, and others there and in the various offices at the State House, as well as in the Court Houses and rooms of the Historical Societies.

Also I desire to thank those who have aided me in the final preparation of the History, by the reading of proof and in other ways; especially would I mention Alfred P. Sawyer, Esq., the Hon. Samuel P. Hadley and Mr. J. Adams Bartlett.

By vote of the Town, the Trustees of the Adams Library were made the publishing committee. This committee put the whole matter into my hands, so that, except in this single particular, all criticism of this volume must fall upon me.

Contents Maps And Illustrations

The maps have been much reduced in size in order to bring them within the limits of the letter-press. Where there is a graphic scale, the measurements will be found correct. Otherwise, the reader is cautioned that a simple statement like "20 rods to the inch" will be misleading.

Naturally, there has been some difficulty in the selection of subjects for the illustrations, many having to be omitted which are historically interesting. The rule has been to include only those buildings which are of greatest architectural and historical interest within the present limits of the Town.

5. Reduced copy of a Plan of the Farms at East Chelmsford in 1821. Original in the office of the Locks and Canals Company, Lowell. The large island, part of which is shown at the top of the plan, is Long island.

7. Plans of Chelmsford Centre and the South and West villages in 1875. In 1884, George H. Wilson built the large block in Central Square, Chelmsford Centre, and kept a hotel there for a number of years.

9. This Map is based on that of the United States Geological Survey of 1886, edition of 1893. It shows almost all of the roads and some of the houses. Many of the Lowell streets are not shown. The figures show the old School Districts. (See page 560.) The exposed ledges, glacial marks and eskers are indicated as shown on a map made by G. H . Knowlton, formerly Superintendent of the Chelmsford schools.

12. The effigy of Mr. Bridge is from his gravestone, and probably shows more accurately his wig, gown and bands than it does his features. Portraits of Hezekiah Packard, Wilkes Allen and John Parkhurst. (See Chapter XIX and page 706.)

13. Gravestones of Colonel Jonas Clarke and his wife. Gravestones of the Rev. Ebenezer Bridge and Madam Bridge. Forefathers' burying ground, Chelmsford Centre.

25. The Hayward garrison house, South Chelmsford, built in 1690. (See pages 46, 92 and 400.) A partition on the right of the interior view has been left out of the picture in order to show the construction beyond.

26. St. Mary's Church, Chelmsford, England. (See page 833.) View of the river Chelmer, Chelmsford, England, from a photograph taken by it the Indian obtained For th

31. Reduced copy of a Letter signed by Colonel Parker and Captain NValker (see page 233), from a photograph owned by the late Charles Nichols.

The Swiss watch at the left has on the back case a beautiful piece of enamel in colors, and is said to have been carried by Colonel Stark of New Hampshire. It belongs to the Dadmun family.

The small silver watch next shown is that carried by Joseph Spaulding, who fired the first shot at the battle of Bunker Hill. (See pages 226, 331, and 332.)

Manning, when seven years old, in 1756, on the road from Chelmsford to Billerica. It may have been dropped by some EngHsh officer traveling to or from Boston. This watch is now owned by Arthur M. Warren, to whom it descended.

35. Old view of Robin's hill, showing lone pine tree. (See page 629.) This sketch was made about 1876 by A. G. McAllister, formerly Principal of the High school. It shows the houses of Sewall and Solomon Parkhurst, then the only buildings on High street. Sewall Parkhurst teamed the lime from Robin's hill, which was used in building the first mill in Lowell.

38. East Chelmsford in 1825, from a painting by Benjamin Mather. From left to right the principal buildings are the Machine Shop, the Merrimack Mills, St. Anne's Church, and Kirk Boott's house at the extreme right. (See pages 485, 489 and 711.)

South view of the buildings at the Town Farm, Chelmsford Centre. The house is square, the west front being similar to that here shown. In this house, and in the Lovering house nearby (page 397), are sliding shutters similar to those mentioned on page 394.

42. View of the Silesia Mills at North Chelmsford. The low building at the right is the counting room of the Machine and Supply Company. (See page 668.) That on the left is the counting room of the Chelmsford Foundry Company. (See page 666.)

43. The High School building, Chelmsford Centre, erected in 1916 on the site of the Farwell-Adams house, Billerica street; Edwin R. Clark, architect; cost, $65,000. Building Committee: James P. Dunigan, Herbert E. Ellis, Frederick A. Snow. Advisory Committee: C. George Armstrong, Gabriel Audoin, Ulysses Lupien, William H. Shedd, Wilbur E. Lapham.

Some century-old costumes preserved at the Fiske house. The military uniform is that of John Minot Fiske, Colonel of the Chelmsford Militia. 4."). The Bowers, Ford and Parker houses, now in Lowell. The Warren homestead, Chelmsford Centre, built prior to 1697.

The first chapter of this History was -written by Mr. Henry S. Perham; for the remainder of the volume the Rev. Wilson Waters is to he held responsible.

Whereas the honnored Gennerall Court of the Massachusetts was pleased of their free beneficence & bounty to graunt vnto the Indians of Patucket a parcell of land adjoyning to the bounds of Chelmsford plantation, the scittuation whereof being byexperience found to be prejudicial! vnto the mutuall peace of the sajd plantations, - now, this wittnesseth that the Indian inhabitants of the abouesajd plantation, wth the consent and approbation of the Reuerend Mr. John Elliott, Sen, haue couenanted and agreed to make an exchange of land wth the inhabitants of Chelmsford, in manner following, vizt: tat the partition & dividing Ijne betweene the sajd English & Indian plantation shall beginn at the Great Swampe, the sajd swampe being left wthin the bounds of Chemsford, excepting only about tenn foote in bredth, and from thence the Ijne to be continued by the marked trees, as the former comittee sett out the same, vntill it reacheth Merremacke Ruier; and all the land lying on the northeast side of the sajd Ijne, formerly belonging to Chelmsford, shall henceforth be the propper right & to the sole vse of the sajd Indian plantation; and all the land on the southwest side of the sajd Ijne, excepting only what is hereafter graunted vnto James Parker, whither of the Indians old or new graunt, & euery parte thereof, shall foreuer be & remajn the proper right & to the sole use of the inhabitants of Chelmsford.

And Whereas there is a parcell of land l3^ing & being at the west end of the Indians graunt, wch is not wthin the bounds (of either plantation) as aboue exprest, this wittnesseth that the sajd parcell of land, be it more or lesse, is, by the free consent of both the abouesajd plantations, given, graunted, & alienated vnto James Parker, of Chemsford, abouesajd, for and in consideration of his great pajnes and costs wch he hath necessarily expended in setling the bounds, as aboue is expressed, betweene the abouesajd plantations, to haue & to hold the sajd parcell of land, wth all the appurtenances thereof, vnto him, the sajd James Parker, his heirs and assignes for euer, to his and theire only propper vse & behoof e. And to the true performance of the aboue named exchange & graunt, mutually made by & betweene the sajd plantations, and also theire joinct graunt and guift vnto the sajd James Parker, on condicons & in manner aboue expressed, both the sajd plantations doe hereby respectively bind themselves, theire heires, execcutors, & administrators, each to other & joinctly, to the sajd James Parker, his heires & assignes, firmly by these presents; in wittnes whereof these whose names are subscribed as the deputjes Sc lawfull trustees of the abouesajd plantations, haue herevnto putt theire hands & scales.

The Beginning 33

This deed is acknowledged by Wm Fletcher, Tho Hincksman, together wth James Parker, as trustees for ye Indians, to be thire act & deed, this 5 2mo 1660

In ansr to the petition of the inhabitants of Chelmsford & Patuckett, the Court Judgeth it meete to confirme theire agreement, & orders the same to be recorded.

In order that their title to the land might be further strengthened and to satisfy any claim that the Indians might presume to hold upon lands within the town a deed was obtained, April 26, 1665, from the Indians, who deeded the land lying "within the bounds and limitts of the said Towne of Chelmsford, and is bounded Southerly by the lands of the Towne of Billerica and West Southerly partly by the lands of the towne of Concord and partly by the Indian plantation of Nashoba, and E' S'thly by the Countryes land. Northerly by the lands of Mr. Edward Ting, and on the North by Merrimacke River, and on the East and North East by the plantaccon of the Indians called Patuckett."

In 1665 the line was more definitely established between Chelmsford and Wamesit by committees from Chelmsford and Billerica and the Indians of Wamesit. It appears from the description of the line as established by them that it began at Concord river at what was subsequently known as Wamesit stake, from there crossing the river meadow and over the ridge on what is now the Lowell city farm to great swamp, through which later the Middlesex canal was constructed, and by the line of what is now Baldwin street to Merrimack river.

The Bounds Between Chelmsford & Wamasett

June the: 8th: 1665: Ensign Hinchman and Sergeant Fletcher being apointed by the Town of Chelmsford: and Sergeant Parker with Jonathan Danforth of Billerica : and the Indians who are the Inhabitants of Wamasett being apointed by the Indian Court at Wamassett to Run the Line - between Chelmsford and Wamassett did attend the same: And the Bounds between them are as followeth : viz : we began at the stake by the side of Concord river which is the most Northerly Comer of Billerica & on that side of the River: and from that stake we Run a Streight Line untill you Come over the River meadow to a black oak marked with W and C: from thence westward Cross the high Ridge to a pine in the Bottom Marked as before: from thence it Runs by marked trees at a Little distance westward of the high ridge uto a Little white oak: from thence it turns to the great swamp by a great white oak marked on the east of Butterfields high-way: and from thence to the swamp: and Tenn foot within the swamp there being a White oak marked where we Com to the Swamp with: C and W: and so the Line is to, Run Tenn foot within the thick swamp: untill you Come to Ensign Hinchmans meadow there it comes from the Swamp to Tenn White oaks standing together: one being marked : and from thence by marked trees Leaving the swamp and meadow to Chelmsford: and Continue the Line to Merimack : Also it is agreed that Chelmsford is to have Conveniant high wayes through this Land in any place as shall be found needfull: as also a Covneniant highway by their Line from Merimack River to Ensign Hinchmans Damm. This was agreed by us: there was present and Consented Thomas Hinchman

The Beginning 35 First Saw Mill

It has always been a marked characteristic of the New Englanders from the very first, that they manage to provide for themselves comfortable and substantial dwellings.

There being no saw mill nearer than Concord or Wobum, and neither roads nor bridges between those places and Chelmsford, the first who came must have been compelled to erect log houses for their shelter, although there is a tradition that William Fletcher had a frame house in 1654. There is a tradition also that Josiah Richardson's first shelter was partly formed by digging into the bank.

The people were not long content to occupy such rude structures, and very soon negotiated with the enterprising Samuel Adams to erect a saw mill, and also a mill for the grinding of com.

Mr. Adams was a person of somewhat varied accomplishments. Rev. Wilkes Allen, in some notes made by him after his history of Chelmsford was published, states, upon the authority of some old deeds and other papers in the Adams family, that he was a millwright. "He was also somewhat skilled in medicine & exercised his skill to ye advantage & benefit of this infant settlement while they were destitute of a physician better informed."

He was a Captain in the military, Clerk of the Writs, and for twenty years town clerk. The records in his handwriting are still mostly quite legible.

The Town was quite liberal with Mr. Adams, giving him 100 acres of land in consideration of his "erecting & maintaining a Com Mill for the Towns suply," and he was given 450 acres in consideration of his erecting a saw mill.

"1656, July Day ye third. At a Public meeting of the whole town, it is Granted to Mr. Samuel Adams in Considoration of Setting up a Saw-mill: and thereby supliing the Town with Boards at three Shillings the hundred, or the Sawing of one Board log for the providing and bringing of another to be Redy to work by the next March ensuing. In consideration Whereof it is hereby Granted to the Sd Mr. Adams to have the Sum of Four hundred and fifty acres of Land upon the South Side of the meadow belonging to the Sd Mr. Adams, called brook meadow; Farther that the Sd Mr. Adams Shall have Liberty to make use of the Pines upon the Common. And to hold the fore Sd Land to him and his heirs for ever."

And "Mr Adams is granted Libberty to sett Flood gates for the advantage of his Mill pond at the Mouth of Hart pond this was granted by the Town for the use of his Mill to him and his heirs forever"*

This mill was upon Great, or River Meadow brook, about two miles, a little east of south, from the center of the town. A saw and gristmill was maintained there by five successive generations of the Adams family. It then passed by purchase to Mr. Abbot Russell, who was followed by his son, the late Lincoln H. Russell, since whose death in 1899, the mill has not been used.

Petition To Trade With Indians

The following petition to the General Court, asking for the privilege of trading with the Indians, gives their representation of the difhculties which they encountered in providing for their families in "this Remoat Comer of the wildernes."

the humble petistion the in habetants of the towne off Chelmsford Sheweth : that we have as god by his Providenc haveing despoased off us with our famelies into this Remoat Corner of the wildernes : whare not with Standing the improvement of all Lawfull Liberties and Advantages put into our hands wee have and doe find as the State of things now standeth Much dificalte to : nay imposebile [ ] of procuering such nesesarie suplye as boath Church and familie ocations doe call for to the great hasard boath of uss and owrs as wee dout not but yr wisdoms are sensable oflE which difecalltie is much increased to uss by beeing prohibeted from tradeing with the indiens which we doe Conseive to bee our Lawfull Liberte : owr humble Requeste tharf ore is that yr honers would bee pleased to take this Case into yr Consideration: and grant your petiscioners thare Lawfull Liberte which wee Conceive ought not to bee Menopolised in as much as it is no nue inuention and that the Lord would kepe boath you and yours in his feare and truth wee your petiscioners shall for ever praye

The Beginning

What action was taken upon this petition does not appear, but the privilege asked for was probably not granted, because it would have interfered with a valuable source of revenue to the Colony, the statute holding that " * * * the Trade of Furrs with the Indians in this Jurisdiction, doth properly belong to this common-wealth and not unto particular persons."*

Early Roads And Location Of Houses

In fixing upon locations for their dwellings an important consideration, to the early settlers, was to be convenient to the meeting house. Mutual protection and social considerations would prompt them to cluster about this social center, and the General Court had decreed in 1635 that no dwelling should be placed more than half a mile away from the meeting house in any new plantation. But the physical condition of the country was such that these desires could not well be carried out, and they were forced to locate at places which offered the best promise of support for their families.

When the committee first explored this tract with a view to settlement, the only land mentioned as under cultivation was the Indians' cornfield upon Robins hill. With that exception the territory which these men siirveyed from this eminence was probably an almost unbroken forest, excepting upon the meadows which skirted the streams, or upon land too barren to support vegetation. This, at least, would be the condition unless the land had been devastated by Indian fires.

As the meadows furnished a supply of food, easily obtained, to carry their animals through the winter, we find many of the first inhabitants located near the borders of such meadows.

One of the first necessities in promoting the development of the town was for suitable highways to enable the people to pass from house to house and to "mill and meeting house." Highway surveyors were chosen at the second town meeting in 1655 and annually thereafter. Often the aboriginal paths were widened and graded by the early settlers into roads.

If there were any roads laid out by the town before 1659, they are not recorded. There were, however, roads in use previous to that time. One of the first of these passed between the cemetery and common, following the line of Worthen street and Crosby place to the house of William Fletcher, some thirty rods beyond the Crosby house. Soon, if not at first, this continued toward what is now the house of Jas. L. Stearns and from there by Golden Cove road and Stedman street towards the Merrimack river.

The "town-way to the mill" led to Saml. Adams' saw and corn mill and corresponded to what is now the Boston road as far as the Hazen place. Originally it passed around (through what is now called Adams street) by the present house of C. E. Bartlett. It made a turn to the left near J. E. Warren's house, and, after crossing Farley's brook swung around to the east to avoid the hill.

The "road to the Bay" was what is now Billerica road. This was the line of travel to Boston for Groton and Lancaster as well as Chelmsford, and those three towns were required to help build and support the bridge across the Concord river in Billerica.

Upon these roads the houses in or near the village were located. The house of Mr. Fiske, the minister, was near the meeting house, of course. Wm. Fletcher's house has been mentioned. His brother, Samuel, lived near him. John Bates' was near Mr. Fred E. Russells', and the house of Dea. Cornelius Waldo, who came here from Ipswich in 1665, Allen tells us was in his garden, probably where the house of Edward J. Robbins was recently erected.

Abraham Parker, the first settler, had his homestead lot on the south side of the Billerica road near the present town farm (he was bounded easterly by his river meadow, and north by the highway to the Bay), but later we find his house at the village, where he and his sons built a mill near the upper dam of the Mill pond.

John Nutting was on the south side of Beaver brook and east of the road to the mill and he had for near neighbors, James Blood and Joseph Parker. These last three and James Parker soon removed to Groton where their lot was made bitter by the repeated attacks upon that town by the Indians.

Steven Pierce, a tailor, the progenator of the Pierce family in town, came from Woburn and married a daughter of Jacob Parker. His home was in the village. He was granted land in 1671. "A small parsill to sett a house upon * * * south west side of Beaver brook bridge."

Samuel Adams we should find at his mills on Great brook, and between him and the village was Moses Barron, near the place of the late Chas. Sweetser; and for a short time his near neighbor was Francis Gould and his wife Rose, who had come from Braintree.

John Blanchard probably lived at what is now the Joseph E. Warren place. Dea. Joseph Warren came into possession of this land about 1700, since which time it has remained in that family. Benjamin Butterfield lived on the same road, nearer the village.

The Beaver brook meadows west of the village attracted a number of families into that section. This was known as the "West End." One of these families was George Byam's, one of the original families which came from Wenham with Mr. Fiske They settled where Geo. A. Byam now lives (1905). The place has been continuously in the Byam family.

A near neighbor to the Byams was Thomas Chamberlain. The spot is pointed out a few rods east of the Hunt place, where his house is supposed to have stood. The earliest record of any highway in town started from his house.

"January: 7: 1659 George Biam and Thomas Barrett are apointed a comitee to state the High-way that gos to Tadmuck before Thomas Chamberlains hous: The tree at his Hogs Coat is concluded one bound and so to Run his due bredth acording to order towards the Brook Cald Beaver brook."*

Edmund Chamberlain, Richard Hildreth, Robert Proctor, the brothers, Jacob and Arthur Warren, and perhaps Dea. Edward Kemp and his son-in-law, Dea. Samuel Foster, both of whom were of the Wenham company, were in this neighborhood.

"3d 1 month 1662-3. Thomas Adams and Josiah Richardson being chosen a committee to Joyn with Groton committee to Lay out a Highway from Town to Town the work is performed by them and the way is Laid out from Beaver Brook Bridge over the North side of Robbins-hill and thence through Richard Hildreth 's yard and so to the west end of Hart pond over the swamp and so to Thomas Chamberlins meadow and so on towards Groton, on the east side of Tadmuck great meadow" f

Another road started on the south side of Robins hill and, passing around on the west side of the hill and into the road above described, at what is now John Byam's place.

:7th: 8: month :: 1673: Laid out by the selectmen the Day above for the use of the Town a high-way which is Bounded Between Henry Gidleys Lott and John Blanchards meadow and so all a Long between the meadow and Robbins hill Runing into the way that corns from George Biams to the meeting hous:

This road accommodated Thomas Barrett, who had come from Braintree with his father, Thomas, and bought, ten years before, a house and land on the south side of Robins hill, where

The Beginning 41

C. W. Byam now lives. Henry Gidley may have lived at the Wm. Fay place, although there are marks of one or two old cellars on that road, over one of which his house may have stood.

Quite a number of families settled in the northeast quarter of the town, near the Indian line, where they had near access to the fisheries on the Merrimack river. This section was called the "North End," and that term, later, included the section from Wamesit to the north schoolhouse (Dist. No. 2).

Henry Bowtall, or Boutwell, who came from Cambridge with his wife and Jerathmell Bowers, her son by a former marriage, located upon what is now Stedman street, in Lowell. His house stood just north of where the stream crosses the road. In this neighborhood was Joseph Parkhurst,* the progenitor of the Parkhurst family in town, and on either side of him, John Wright and Thomas Sewall.

North of these were John Shepley, Jona. Butterfield, and Eleazer Brown. Thomas Henchman was in what is now Middlesex village, his land being bounded east by the Indian line, and north by the river, and joining him at the south was his son-in-law, James Richardson.

The picturesque John Webb, alias Evered, the former merchant of Boston, was the first man to cross over and plant himself on the opposite bank of the river.

The first road which accommodated this section was called the "Highway to Merrimack." There is no record of its having been formally laid out. It terminated at "Poorman's bridge." Where that bridge stood there is neither record nor tradition to enlighten us, although it is mentioned from time to time in the records for 150 years. An examination of the old roads and paths in this section reveal its probable site.

There is evidence of an old road leading from Stedman street towards the swamp just south of Mount Pleasant, and at Black brook, opposite to where this comes out at the edge of the swamp there are still to be seen some remains of a foundation to a bridge.

The late Sewall Bowers, an old and lifelong resident of this section, stated that formerly a road crossed the swamp in the direction of Pine street.

The road to Poorman's bridge was extended to Merrimack river in 1673, passing on the east side of Mount Pleasant, and from there the line corresponded to what is now Baldwin street; It is thus described in the records.

Will vnderwood Will Flecher and Abraham parker being apointed to lay out a highway for the inhabitants on other sid meremake Do determin that it shall beegine att the Country way att pore mans bridge and so a longe bettwne the to swamps and ouer will vnderwods medow all along bowndid by markd treese on both sids and so runeth below mr hinchmans Dame and so to the Endian line to Answer the Contry Rode att meremake and on this side this is atrew rettorne of the Comity as Aboue Datted and heare entred by order of the selecttmen * * *

Jerathmell Bowers, when he reached maturity, settled where his descendant, Joseph Bowers, now resides on Wood street. The place has been continuously in the family. The house, said to be over two hundred years old, is undoubtedly the oldest building now standing in Lowell. Another road which helped to develop this section was laid out from the newly incorporated town of Dunstable, viz.: [In margin] Country Way The 1 Day of January 1674 leften Thomas hinchman and liften Samuell Foster beeing Apointed by the Towne to Jo3nie with leftenant Whealer and Abraham parker the Cometty to lay out the Contry Way from - Donstable to Chelmsford thay Doe Joyntly Agree on both parties that the Way shall in Chelmsford bowns beegine at mr Tings Farme and so to bee sixe polle wid and so to Continew as by marked treese Downe to Jerathmell bowers land and so to black brooke into the Contry way that Comes From merimack this is a trew Rettorne of the Comity as above Datted wittis Samell Adames

This was the old road from Tyngsboro through North Chelmsford. It swung to the left above Drum hill over a piece of road now little used, coming out upon what is now Westford street near Joseph Bowers'. The travel to Boston, from Dunstable and towns above, passed over this road for many years, passing over what is now Stedman street and the Golden Cove road and crossing the Concord river at Billerica.

The Beginning 43

A highway - By apointment of the townesmen ther is tew foott waies laid out through the land of John Wright the one begining att the still next to Jerathmell bowers and * * * so to the Cartt brige and then below the orchard to the land of Jonathan butterfeild and then close by the fence of John wright vp to the drift way and the other begining Against John Sheplies and then straight to the drift way at Jonathan buterfilds bame by William vnderwoods and Jerathmell bowers and for partt of satisfaction hee hath taken apece of land about an acer and halfe bonendid North vp on the towne common east vp on the medow of John wright South vp on the lands of Jonathan Butterfeild and west upon the land of John wright: Recorded by order of the Selectt men 21 7 mo 1677

Capt. Josiah Richardson located upon what is now the road leading from Westford to Lowell where, his descendent, the late Edward F. Richardson lived. The farm had been continuously in the family to the time of the death of the latter*.

Stony Brook Path

One of the very early roads at first known as "Stony brook path" was what is now Westford road. Upon this road, about half a mile from the meeting house, settled John Perham, after his marriage in 1664, but at just what time is not known. The place has been continuously in the family to the present time. The present writer, who now occupies it, is of the seventh generation from John. Edward Spalding settled about a mile and a half ftuther west, upon the farm of the late Henry R. Hodson. This farm and those adjoining it on either side were occupied by Spaldings for several generations. To the west of Spalding, at what is now the William Martin place, at the foot of Francis hill, lived John Stevens and his descendants for five generations.

The road from this neighborhood was early in use, but, if recorded, its description is, like those of so many of the old roads which were laid out by marked trees, such that it cannot be identified. It swung to the left near the present residence of Geo. F. Snow, crossing Stony brook at Westford comer, where a saw mill was established in 1669.

Stony Brook Valley

A number of families soon pushed out into the Stony Brook valley: John Snow, Joseph Butterfield and Joseph Parkhurst (probably Joseph, Jr.) and others. The following are the names of those who were chosen fence viewers for "Stony brook" from 1682 to 1700: Samuel Burge, John Spalding, Joshua Fletcher, Benj. Spalding, Joseph Spalding, Samuel Cleveland, Samuel Underwood and Gershom Proctor. Arthur Crouch planted his house upon Tadmuck hill. He was probably the first resident upon this beautiful hill now crowned by the charming village of Westford.

Two highways were laid out, one to accommodate the Stony brook families and another leading into it from Tadmuck hill furnished the first continuous highway from what is now Westford Center to the Chelmsford meeting house. They are thus described :

A hie way Laid out from stony broock houses throw the Land of Joseph buterfild and so ouer frances hill by Josaph Keyses house bounded by marked trees and ouer flagi mado plaine bounded by marked trees and by the East and of henory f orwells house in to the Cuntery road the hie way is 3 rod wide all so we laid out A hie way from Arthar Crouchis house and by the houses at Litell tadnick and by the house of Josaph parkhust and as the way is drawn bounded by marked trees untell it Coms to stony broock way Commity

The Beginning 45

Samuel Cleveland's land, granted in 1681, was upon the east side of Tadmuck hill, "by the highway to Great Tadnack" with liberty to dam and flow the swamp. It is said that there still remains evidence of an old dam at that place.

Great Brook Settlers

The first that we find there were: John Barrett, George Robbins, Thomas Cory and Ambrose Swallow. A highway was laid out for their accommodation "to mill and meeting-house" in 1671, described as follows:

The selectt men vp on Request by George Robines for a highway to mill and metting house have Apointed a Cometty namly John Blanchard Moses Barron and John fiske to lay out the same And they make ther rettorne thatt they have laid out the same from the house lott of the f orsaid Robines to And through the land of John Brett and so passing Beefore his house in to Concord Rode way over great Brooke ; and so by Judgment of the Commetty And John Baretts Consent the town gives John barett three Acers of land Adioyning to his loott on the south side of his land By order of the selectt men* 31 the 8 mo 1671 Sam Adames

This neighborhood had increased by 1692 to at least ten families, three of which belonged to sons of John Barrett, mentioned above. The section from there to South Chelmsford came to be known as the "South End."

Development Of West End

Chelmsford November the 4th 1719: A High-way Laid out which began at the corner of Jacob Warrens by the Highway to the great pond Called Hart pond : and from sd Corner as the Path now is to Jonathan Minotts from thence as the path now is to Thomas Adams's and Pelatiah Adams through there Land; and from thence as the path now is by marked trees along to Little Tadmuck to the Land of Thomas Adams & Pelatiah Adams & through there Land and through the Land of Ephraim Hildreth senr - by marked trees running & facing: and from thence to Ebenezer Wrights Land & through sd Wrights Land as the path now is: from thence by trees marked Runing & facing to the High-way that goes from the meeting hous to Ensign John Snows : The afore sd Highway is Three Rods wide*

The original petition for this road was preserved in the house of B. O. Robbins until recently. The house is a very old one and it may have formerly been Jacob Warren's house.

Of those mentioned in this description, Thomas Adams lived at the Hayward place. The house is still standing. It may have been built by Mr. Adams, who was a carpenter. He later removed to Dunstable, selling his place in Chelmsford in 1726 to Benj. Heywood, cooper, of Billerica. It has since remained in the Hej^ward name. Timothy Adams lived at what is now the John Sheehan place. Ebenezer Wright lived at what is now Edwin Heyward's place near Chamberlin's comer in Westford. The road terminated on Francis hill at the road which led from the Stony brook houses to the center of Chelmsford.

Development Of The Town

The material from which to draw any picture of the life of the people of those early times is almost wholly wanting. We have neither tradition nor literature written at that period. We can simply present such bare facts as are found in public records, and the imagination must supply the rest.

The houses of that period were small and mostly of one story, with a living room and kitchen and a loft overhead for sleeping rooms, reached by a ladder, or a stairway in front of the big chimney.

The question is often asked. When were the old houses now standing built? It is impossible to say. It was not the custom then any more than today to inscribe upon a house the date of its construction.

Some of the oldest houses are thought to have been standing for two centuries. These are the old gambrel roof house by North square; the Emerson house on Dalton street near the road to North Chelmsford; the railroad house, so-called, near the depot on Littleton road; the Joseph Warren house and the Hazen house on Boston road; the Bowers house in Lowell; and the Hayward house and house of B. O. Robbins near South Chelmsford. Of the first mentioned, we have only its architectural features by which to judge of its age. All of the others have had additions and improvements which have changed their original form.

The meeting house was the social center. The minister was the important man, looked up to with great respect. His presence was called for at all important public, or family occasions.

Attendance upon public worship was compulsory. All were taxed to support the church, and, when a minister was to be settled, he was voted upon in town meeting, the church having previously made known its preference.

Seating The Meeting House

The seats in the meeting house were assigned by a committee chosen by the town, persons being given preference according to their estate, office, or social standing.

It is not probable that the first meeting house contained pews, the people being seated on benches. It was repaired in 1702, "both wtout Side to keep out rain and snow, & also withinside such Inlargement as may be needful & in perticular A long table from one allee to another" At a later period persons were permitted to build pews at their own expense for themselves and families. In 1712, "It Was uoted that Colonall tyng Capt Bowrs Capt Barron and Jonathan Richardson shall haue the Liberty and Benefit of making Pues in that uacant Roome one the East side of the Pulpit in the New meeting hous to the East Window"* At a still later period the town received pay for such privilege. In 1772, "Voted to sell room, for pew, in meeting house by the mens stairs sold to Samuel Perham for ten dollars."!

Private Entrances

There are votes on record which indicate that such pewholders were sometimes permitted to have a door cut through the side of the building, giving them a private entrance to their pews.

For what other purpose could have been the doors ordered by the following votes? In 1696, "it is voted yt two men shall be ordered to make two dors at ye back side of ye meeting hous" and the year following, "it is uoated that thare shall be A doar mad out at the noarth sid of ye meeting house and A pillor set under ye bame"*

Before the introduction of bells it was the custom to summon the worshipers to meeting with a drum. Among the town charges in 1659, one was "for the paiment for A drum to Henry Farwell £3-5-0"

"The 1 Day of June 1676 the selectt men made an Agreement with George biam to cleane the metting house putt out Cullers [colors] and Attend both saboth and lecttur Daies as formerly hee hath don and for the yeare insewing hee is to have 50 shillens in come or Cattell to bee paid halfe att the last of Nouembor the other halfe att or before the last of June Foloing"

Bell

But these primitive methods were soon superseded by better. From 1680 to the present time the sound of the church bell has called the people to worship. On the above date "Ther was a voatt past that ther shold bee a bell bought for the Towns vse and that ther shold be so much land sould out of the Comon as will purchas the bell and hange him in the metting house that is to say if the towns stock in hand will not doe it then to sell landf

The date 1682 was inscribed upon the bell. When the third meeting house was built the town voted, in 1793, "to sell the old Bell and buy a new one of 700 wt, raising £110 for this purpose."

The Beginning 49

Several votes remind us of the Dial, the Hour-glass, and the Stocks, those ancient instruments, the two former for marking time, the latter for the punishment of offenders. In 1698 payment was made

Land Distribution

The method which governed the proprietors of the town in their land distribution is not described in the records. This may have been contained in the first book of proprietors' records, which Allen says were burned about 1715, with the house which contained them.

The rule was doubtless the same as in other towns at the time. In Billerica the Dudley farm "was divided into twelve lots of one hundred and twenty-five acres each and this number became the unit of measuring shares through the town. Each share was called a ten-acre lot and consisted of one hundred and thirteen acres of upland and twelve acres of meadow and carried with it the right to 'all town priviledges, after additions and divisions of land and meadow.' "* From this it would seem that each proprietor's holdings were much larger than appears by the records.

As the town controlled the disposal of land and new residents were admitted by vote, undesirable persons were prevented from gaining a foothold. The laws of the colony were very strict in regard to receiving and harboring strangers, it being enacted in 1637 that "No Town or person shall receive any Stranger Resorting hither with intent to Reside in this Jurisdiction, nor shall allow any Lot or Habitation to any, or entertain any such above three Weeks, except such person shall have allowance under the hand of some one Magistrate!

At first land was granted to approved characters on condition that they build and settle on same and pay town charges, but land soon came to have a greater value and in 1669 "it was ordered by the town, that all those, who shall take up accommodations in town shall pay for a ten acre lot £2-10-0, and in the same proportion for any lot greater or smaller."*

John Lowell was admitted an inhabitant in 1682, if he come and settle "and so follow his trade of Tanning" and given the privilege of taking bark from the commons. And James Dutton, in 1693, was granted three acres to set a house and shop on "in order to follow his trade." Thomas Parker, shoemaker, and Zachariah Richardson, blacksmith, were given similar grants.

Mills Established

Nothing more marks the enterprise of the people than the mills which were early established upon the various streams. The first saw and com mill, which the town so liberally endowed in 1656, was followed in 1669 by a second saw mill, upon Saw Mill Meadow brook which flows into Stony brook at what is now called Westford comer near West Chelmsford.

"At a Publick meeting the: 3d: Day in September: 1669: Thomas Hinchman William Fletcher and Josiah Richardson Petitioning for a parcell of Land for there Conveniencies in Erecting of a Saw-mill and Carying along the work thereof." The grant was made by the town, the conditions being that the "Inhabitants thereof shall have there Boards at four shillings per Hundred and not exceeding that prise: for any kind of pay that the afore sd Inhabitants Can make : at price Currant between man and man in this Town: And that any of the Inhabitants of Chelmsford Giveing timely notice of there want of Boards to any of the owners of the Mill afore said that then they shall be suplied for there pay before others. And further it is Granted to the afore sd owners of the Mill that they shall have free Liberty to take of the Town Common What Timber they see meet for the Mill to work on: And to Rattifie the afore sd Grant the Town hath Chosen Samuel Foster and John Burge Senr to se to the Reccording thereof and that it is done according to former Order.

The Beginning 51

Iron worke that thye shall haue For 2d a Cord leave to cutt wood Acording to Former Agreement* This was doubtless Capt Jonas Prescotts mill at the outlet of Forge pond on the Stonybrook.

Groton Mill

"At A Genii Town meeting August the : 24th 1709: it was voted that Capt Jonas Prescot of Groton shall have the Common Meadow Lying in Chelmsford as it was granted to Thomas Chamberlain of Groton for the sum of Twenty five pounds of money" t When this grant was recorded the following year, the only part of the description now intelligible is "Lying within the Town of Chelmsford near to Groton Mill on both sides of Stony brook"

Capt. Prescott's object in obtaining the meadow was, doubtless, for the purpose of obtaining bog ore to be manufactured into iron. "Prior to 1730, Jonas Prescott had greatly enlarged and improved the works on Stony Brook by erecting forges for manufacturing iron from the ore as well as other purposes." J

Capt. Jonas Prescott and his descendants continued the business at Forge Village till 1865, almost 200 years from the date of the first action by the town of Chelmsford in aid of the enterprise.

First Fulling Mill

The first Fulling mill, for the dressing of the homespun cloth, is indicated by a vote of the town Feb. 2, 1691. "on the day aboue lef tenant John barett and his sonn Jonathan barett propounding for libarty to erect a fuling mill on the mill brock it was by uote granted and ther was chosen on the day aboue to setell this mater

This mill was probably in the present town of Carlisle near the road leading to that town from Chelmsford. The two Barretts mentioned in the vote lived in that neighborhood at the time.

First Mill At Center Of Town

The first mill on Beaver brook at the center of the town, Allen tells us, was erected in "1678. - John Parker, son of Abraham, built a saw-mill on Beaver-brook, of which some remains are yet to be seen."^ I am unable to find any reference to this mill in the town records, but in an ancient deed from Abraham Parker, Senr., to his eldest son John, occurs this language: "Also whereas the said John Parker of his own estate hath ben at one third pt of ye charge in building of a saw milne now standing upon his father Abrahams land * * * both ye upper & lowr Dam with all the profits and comodityes of ye same According to his proportion of interest in ye said mill. * * * Dec 29. 1679" and from another deed, from the same to son Moses, it is plain that the mill was on Beaver brook.

First Gristmill At North Chelmsford

Daniel Waldo, who, doubtless, had learned the mill business of Samuel Adams, whose daughter Susanna he had married, proposed to undertake a mill on his own account, and, in 1695, he made an agreement with the town "about Building a com mill on Stony brook below the Highway to Dunstable"

The agreement stipulated that said Waldo was to maintain a good mill and miller. "The sd mill to be kept for the Towns use Except the fourth Day of each week which is for Dunstable: and to grind the Towns Com well and there Mault for half Toal Except a small quantity a Bushel or the Like," and the people were to be served in turn, and he is not to "Damnific" the highway or any man's meadow by flowing. In consideration for which "we grant to the sd Waldow the stream of sd Brook: and also Twenty five acres of Land on each side of sd Brook provided the sd Highway be not Damnified"

The Dunstable highway here mentioned is the street passing through the village of North Chelmsford, now known as Middlesex road. The bridge originally crossed the stream lower down than the present one. Allen, writing in 1820, says of this mill privilege, "This advantageous situation has been constantly occupied by a mill under several successive owners. The present proprietor, Wm. Adams, Esq., rebuilt the saw mill, 1815, and in 1814, the gristmill on an improved plan. It contains three runs of stones, each of which is moved by a tub wheel. The wheels are placed at different elevations, that the uppermost may be used when the water in the Merrimack is at its greatest height, and either covers the other wheels or impedes their motion. As the water in the river falls to its common level, either or all of the wheels may be used at pleasure."* In a note made below, after his book was published, he wrote; "1822 These mills with twenty acres of land around were sold to Kirk Boott as agent for the Merrimack Manufacturing Company for 15 thousand dollars." But these mills continued in operation after Kirk Boott 's purchase, for the present writer has taken wheat there to be converted into flour, I should say, about 1858.

To return again to the earlier period; Daniel Waldo sold, in 1700, to John Richardson, who then lived nearby, "one com mill also one half of the third part of a Saw Mill Standing on the aforesaid Stony Brook near to said com miH"t

In 1707, "Jonathan Richardson and John Richardson had granted the Liberty of erecting Iron works upon Stony brook with Conveniency of flowing provided it Damnific none of the Inhabitants,"! and in May, 1709, "It was voted that John Richardson shall have the Liberty of Drawing of the pond Called Newfied-pond to suply his mill with Water ; And shall have the benifit of sd pond to the high-water mark"

The attempt of Mr. Richardson to avail himself of the benefit of the waters of this pond caused a most remarkable catastrophe. As the workmen were digging a channel through the bank of the pond the pressure of the water suddenly bturst the weakened bank and the water rushing out carried with it a negro who was in the ditch at the time and buried him in a mound of sand washed by the water to the meadow below. Thus this pond, covering 100 acres, was aU drawn off with the exception of about an acre in the lowest part. This story rests wholly upon tradition. Allen relates it (pp. 19, 20) and at the time he wrote, the pond still remained dry and its bed "covered with a thrifty growth of wood." The writer's father, the late David Perham, has told him of going with his father, when a boy, to haul timber from the bed of the pond. Thus it remained for more than a hundred years, until Gen. Leech, in 1824, filled up the old breach in its banks and it was again filled with water.

In 1707, the year that John Richardson's iron works were established, at the mouth of Stony brook, a road was laid out to it, which is thus described:

A high Way Laid out from Stony Brook to John Richardson mill bounded as foloweth begining at the high Way that Leads from John Snows to the meting hous this sd way bounded 2 : Roods wide by marked trees and so a Long to Dunstable Road near Stony Brook bridg."* I think this is the road which starts near the house of Patrick Savage, near Dist. No. 7 schoolhouse, passing the present house of A. M. Blaisdell and near that of the late E. F. Richardson. Mill street in North Chelmsford is probably a part of this old road. One object of this road at that time may have been to obtain a shorter route to their supply of bog ore, for Allen in a note written after his book was published speaks of "An ineshaustible bed of bog ore on the farm of Robert Richardson, late Mr. Andrew Spalding's."

Robert Richardson, at that time, lived upon the place now occupied by the family of the late Henry R. Hodson, and a narrow road runs directly from their premises to the road above described.

Herding Of Cattle And Fencing In Common

In the early days of the Town, before each farm was enclosed by fences, the cattle were allowed to range over the common lands, under certain restrictions. Each neighborhood had a prescribed range for its herd, which must have had a keeper to protect the cattle from wild beasts and to prevent them from encroaching upon planted fields. The term Field Driver may have originated from this custom. The Colony passed laws especially protecting the Indians' planting-fields, ordering that "the English shall keep their Cattle from destroying the Indians' Com."

The Beginning 55

All these communal arrangements served to bring the people into closer relations one with another, and furnished a strong reason why only such should be admitted as inhabitants of the town as would work in harmony with such necessary regulations.

4 From George Biams to Arthur warrens shall be an other heard and that if Any person shall Neglect to put ther Catell to the herd they shall pay ther preportion of herding and twelve pence a beast over and Above"*

The first range mentioned in this order was from the center of the town to Stedman street, where the line between Chelmsford and Lowell crosses that street.

It is impossible to define the limits of the fourth range because we are unable to locate the habitation of Arthur Warren in 1671, except that it was in the "West end" probably beyond Geo. A. Byam's towards Heart pond.

A former vote passed in 1667 provided that "such as Live remoat shall have Liberty to choose their heards and have Cows and working cattell exempted. "f

Hog Reeves were annually chosen whose duties were, as described in one entry, "to oversee swine and keep them in order." Swine were allowed to run at large but the number that any one man was allowed to keep upon the public lands depended upon the amount of land which he possessed. In 1683 "it was voated that eury inhabitant beeing an house holder shall have librty to keep to swine vp on the Common and eury tenne Acer loot the propriettors ther of haue liberty to keep Four swine on the Common And so eury man Acording to his enlarged loott to keep swine to ther priuilege Acording to A boue a tenn A cer lott And hee that keeps more swine then Acording to this order on the Common shall pay fine shillens evry swine so fownd on the Common as a penalty for his trespas"*

In 1681, "ordered that all Swine Aboue three moth old shall bee soffitiently Ringed in the midell of the Nose Constantly and Youcked From the tenth day of Aprill ontill the Twentith day of octobor: soffitiently on penality of sixe pence a swine for wante of either youck or Ringe and twellue pence a Swine for wante of boath and this penality to bee paid to the officer Appointed or to Any other on the empownding of such swine with all other damages For empownding or leagall Conuiction of the owners of the swine." f

And these regulations were enforced. On account of trespass done by Abraham Parker's eight swine, they were impounded "Fouer times in the same year"

"28 the 12 mo 1670 mr John Fiske pastor presenting a sorell stone horse with a white face which for said horse the selectt men Do Aprove of to Answer the law wittnes in the Name of the selectt men

Such fences would not be a protection against sheep, and in 1681 it was ordered "that No Sheepe shall goe vp on the Common of this towne with out a Kepper" [Keeper].

The Beginning 57

Wild beasts, particularly wolves, caused such destruction to the flocks and danger to the people that a bounty of ten shillings was paid for each wolf killed.

In 1690 the town set apart a large tract of land in the north part of the town, extending from the Merrimack river westward to Groton, and in width from Deep brook to the Dunstable line (now Tyngsboro), "for to kepe a dri herd of chattells [cattle] and Shep"*

"Cap bowers Ephrem hildreth and samuell foster are Chosen a commity to draw up Artickels in order to the keping a flock of shep in a publick way upon Robins hill - and prasent them to the town the next town meeting"!

A common field was laid out much earlier than those last mentioned, upon the Merrimack interval, north of Stony brook. It consisted of 214 acres, in lots of six acres each. It was owned by 22 proprietors, some of whom owned several lots. The largest owner was Benjamin Butterfield, who held seven lots, 42 acres.

The field was enclosed by a fence, and, doubtless, used in common, by these owners, for pasturage. It was called Newfield, and that name came to be applied to all that part of the town now North Chelmsford. In 1667 a committee consisting of Lieut. Foster, Daniel Blodgett, and Jacob Parker were appointed by the Selectmen "to state to euery propriator in the New field there proportions of fence." The committee reported: "Acres of Land: 214: Length of fence : 555. due to A Lott of : 6 : Acres : 2 pole &: 10 foot of fence" | In 1659 a committee was appointed "to state the fence one the other parts of the said feild & they did find 2 pole and 6 foote to euery Acre Lying in the same order that the other doth * * *"

Some of the Town's action, calculated to restrain individual enterprise, would, at first view, appear to be prompted by a narrow spirit, thus:

"Millestones [in margin] 26 March 1678 the selectt men orderd as Foloeth For the good of the towne thatt if Any person what so euer shall take to worke or worke vp Any stone for a mill bee it for Corne or sider or Any other mill and make [s]all of the same stone or stones to Any other person then of this towne such person so selling shall pay to the vse of the towne the simi of twenty shillens a stone in money For euery stone so sould out of the town and no stone or stones as Aboue is to bee transported out of this township vntill this order bee satiffied datted the 26 March 1678 by order of the selecttmen: by Samell Adames"

And in 1689 it was "agred that no bordse or timber sho[u]ld be sovld ovte of this tovne comon land vpon penalltie of painge one shiling for evj hvndred of bord"t The common lands being held for the benefit of the community in general, nothing must be taken from them, for private profit, which would impair their value. Millstone hill is situated in the extreme northwest corner of the present town of Westford.

As timber came to have a money value, upon the stump, it was voted, 1698, "that the owners of all saw mills in our towne except the first that improue the Towns Timber into bords shall pay two shilings a thousand in corn for the use of the Towne"

Law Affecting Taverners

Our forefathers had their temperance problems no less than we of the present day. The Colony passed laws forbidding tippling at inns, and fines were prescribed for drunkenness, and, lest the attractions of the tavern might cause some to neglect their religious duties. It was ordered "That in all places where Week-day Lectures are kept, all Taverners, Victuallers and Ordinaries, that are within one mile of the Meeting-house to which they belong, shall from time to time clear their Houses of all persons able to go to Meeting, during the time of the exercise" J * *

The Beginning 59

It is to be feared that this provision fell into disuse, for it appears, from the diary of Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, at a later period, that at one time he discontinued the weekly lecture, on account of the bad conduct of those who went to the tavern upon lecture days.

The people in the early days consumed much rum and strong beer, but they soon discovered that such drinks were bad for Indians and sale to them was prohibited. One case of the enforcement of that law appears upon our town records (First Book, p. 150).

"the 24 day of march 1678-9 Abraham Parker senior with his tew sonnes moses an Isack weare Acused for seling of strong lickers to seuerall endians Contrary to the law established thay doe each of them frely Acknolege ther Faulte ther in And doe heare by bind them selues severaly vnto the selectt men of Chelmsford neuer hear after to sell Any more stronge lickers to Any Indians"

The oldest tax list that has been preserved is that of 1671. It contains sixty-two names, the minister not being included. This shows that in the first sixteen years after the incorporation of the Town the number of families had increased three fold. The record seems of sufficient interest to be given in full

The Beginning 61

At the time of Mr. Fiske's settlement as pastor he was promised, as we have seen, fifty pounds for the first year and "to pay his maintinence as the Lord shall enable us for the future." The above amount, eighty pounds, shows that the Lord had enabled them to make a very substantial increase in their minister's salary.

In the tax list of the following year, 1672, there appears against nearly one-half the names an enumeration of the stock and real estate assessed. About an average estate is that of George Byam "2 heads 2 mares 4 Cowes 2 of 2 yer old 8 sheepe 1 swine 8 Acres land bowsing." The land was probably only that which had been improved and "bowsing" included all the buildings.

Care Of Poor

But little appears upon the records to show what provision was made for the support of the poor. John Martin at the "South end" applied to the General Court for assistance, receiving the reply that the "Court declares yt ye releife of poore persons concemes the toune to wch they doe belong * * * "

They preferred to relieve the wants of the needy by individual contributions rather than levy a tax for the purpose. In 1696-7 "the inhabitance are not wiling to grant mony to releue the por to be raised by way of reat but promis to do it by a Contrybution--"

Later the destitute were cared for in families at the expense of the town, but not until 1820 did the town purchase a farm and house for the support of the poor.

Clubs In Meeting House

In 1671 we find the first intimation of danger from the Indians, with whom the people had thus far been at peace. Evidently, the Indians were manifesting symptoms of uneasiness at the growing strength of their white neighbors, whom they attempted to destroy in the conflict which broke with such fury upon the colonies four years later in King Philip's war.

25 the 5th mo 1671 It is ordred by the Selectt men For severall Considerations espetialy For the preseruation of peace That with in one moneth After the Date hear of euery malle person with in our towne Above the Age of Fiueten years shall prouid a good Clube of Fouer or Fiue Foot in Hngth with a knobe in the end and to bringe the same to the meeting house ther to leaue the same vntill ocation fore use of it.

Two years later, the Town built a house upon Robins hill, the purpose of which is not clear. It was neither sufficiently large nor substantial for a garrison house, being of one room, 16 X 18, covered with but a single thickness of boards, and with but one window. The fact that Indian troubles were brewing, and that the committee appointed to select its location, Lieut. Samuel Foster and Ensign William Fletcher, were both officers in the "foot company," would indicate that it was intended to serv^e some military purpose. The place was admirably adapted for a lookout from which to discover and warn people of approaching danger.

Several years before, the friendly Wamesits had built a stockade upon Fort hill, now Rogers park, in Lowell, to protect themselves from their dreaded foes, the Mohawks. There was a tradition, related to me many years ago by an old man, that these Indians signalled across from Fort hill to high points in Chelmsford.

1 The said Joseph barrett Doth promis and Ingage to buld a house of eighten Foott longe and sixten foott wid and eight Foott stud and to Do all the worke belonging to the same From the stump to the finishing of the same and to Find bords For the hole house and lay the Flowers and Dobell bord the Roofe and bord the sids and ends and to make the Chemly and Dore and window and to Find stones and Clay and to Finish the said house att or beefore the last Day of March Next insewing the Date above 2 The inhabitants of Chelmsford Do promise and hearby ingage to pay vnto the Forsaid barett in full satiffacttion for the house Aforsaid the Just sum of twelve pownds in towne pay that is such as the towne Can produce and to pay the same twelve powds att or beefore the tenth Day of octtobor in the yeare onthousand sixe hundreth seventy and Foure as wittnes in the behalfe of the towne the Date above AUso it was agreed vpon that the towne Sam Adames

Upon the same date "It was voated that all male persons From the Age of Twelve years to sixtey shall every one worke one Day in the yeare For the Clearing of Robins hill" the selectmen to "Apoint a man to lead on the worke either ther or else whear"

Joseph Barrett

Joseph Barrett had a double motive for doing faithful work when he built the house for the town, for, when completed, it was promptly occupied by Francis Gould, whose daughter, Martha, the builder had married the year before.

Goold, or Gould, signed an agreement with the selectmen, stating that "I have taken to hier the house and land that I now live in of the selecttmen of the towne For which house and land I Do couenatt with thm to pay yearly the simi of one peck of endian Corn For the towns use as wittnes my hand this last tuseday in Desembor 1 673 " Francis Goold

Gould and his wife. Rose, had a family of five small children, and others older, to occupy this one room cottage, which had but a single thickness of boarding to protect its inmates from the blasts of winter. Francis and Rose Gould have many descendants living today, one of whom is Hon. Samuel L. Powers.

implies that the occupant was to render to the Town some service as an equivalent for the use of the property, or else that the family were in circumstances requiring aid from the Town.

Galusha

Gould remained in the house until his death, March 27, 1676. In October, following, his daughter, Hannah, married Daniel Galusha, a Dutchman, who paid the Town the peck of corn due for rent and leased the house and seven acres of land for the term of seven years for which he was to pay as an acknowledgment of his grant from the Town "say one peck and halfe of Come yerly" The one condition stated in the contract was "that he distorbe not his mother Gools peaceabl living in the house"*

Galusha remained in the house three years when, his motherin-law, Gould, having died, his request to leave the house was granted. Later he removed to Dunstable, where the family had a sad experience. At the assault upon that town, by the Indians, on the night of July 3, 1706, his house, upon Salmon river, was attacked and burned. Galusha escaped and one of the women of the household fled from the flames and saved herself from the savages by hiding in the underbrush, but his daughter, Rachel, f was killed.

Interest In Public Affairs

After the accession of King Charles II, when his displeasure was manifested toward the Colony and the Charter was felt to be in danger, Chelmsford was among the towns which sent petitions to the General Court, declaring their satisfaction in the present government, and expressing their earnest desire that the same might be continued.

Migration The Beginning 65

Canterbury. They were Capt. Joseph, Samuel, David and David Adams, Samuel and Josiah Cleveland, Jacob Warren, Joseph, William and Edward Spaulding, Eleazer Brown and probably others. Some of these became prominent in the affairs of that town. Jacob Warren, Joseph Spaulding and Saml. Adams were chosen on the first board of Selectmen, and Eleazer Brown was Deacon of the ch\irch.

Death Of Mr. Fiske

After twenty years of faithful service the aged pastor. Rev. John Fiske, became physically unable to carry the burdens of his labors alone, and the town took measures to procure him an assistant in the ministry. The following is the wording of the record :

The 13 Day of the 10 mo 1675 att a Genorall metting of inhabitants of Chelmsford was voated as Foloeth lly in Consideration of mr Fisks Age and infermitis Acompaning the same ther is ned of sum hilpe to Joine with mr Fiske in the woorke of the minestry 21y that besids the eighty pownds Formerly grauntid yerly to the minestry ther shall be Fourty pownds more Raised - yearly For the obtaining of mr Clarke to bee a help in the worke Aforsaid if hee may bee Attained

Mr. Fiske now rapidly declined in health, although he continued his labors notwithstanding his weakness. "On the second Lord's day of his confinement by illness, after he had been many Lord's days carried to church in a chair, and preached as in primative times sitting * * * on January 14, 1676-7 he saw a rest from his labors."

Mr. Fiske's will is dated June 18, 1674. It is a lengthy docimient written by himself in an excellent hand. His library was appraised at £60, and the entire estate at £703-3-10, including 154 acres of land, 1 pair oxen, 4 cows, 1 mare, 12 sheep, carpet, 7 quishions and 4 silver spoons.

His gift, or legacy, of a silver communion cup to the church has been in use to the present time. The cup was made by John Dixwell, Jr., son of the regicide Judge of that name. He was a goldsmith at Boston. On the bottom of the cup is stamped

A memorial cenotaph has been recently erected in the cemetery by the Fiske family of Chelmsford, to commemorate the life and virtues of the First Pastor of the Chelmsford Chiirch, the Rev. John Fiske.

Settlement Of Rev. Thos. Clarke

Rev. Thomas Clark, who had been Mr. Fiske's assistant, was now, upon the death of the latter, called to the pastorate, ^nd, as a settlement in the ministry was, in those days, expected to continue during the pastor's life, the relation was entered into with great deliberation and a thorough understanding between pastor and people, as the following, from the records, will show:

Articls of Agreement bettwine mr Thomas Clerke And the inhabitants of Chelmsford in order to mr Clarks settellment in the ministry for time to Com in Chelmsford are as Foloeth

1 Firstly it is Agred beetwine both parties that the inhabitants of Chelmsford do pay yearly to the said Clarke the Just and full sum of eightey pownds in maner as Foloeth Twenty pounds in Ciu-ent mony and sixtey pounds in provision viz fortey-pownds in Corn of all sortes as God giues and the other twenty pownd in porke Beefe and other flish beefe not exseding

. tow pence halfe peny p pownd more over its allso Agred that the towne shall soply mr Clerk with wood sofitient for his family use yearly which is by Agreement thirty cord yearly

2 Secondly it is allso Agreed that the said towne shall pay sixty pownds in mony towards the parchas of Corsers land lying in Chelmsford and that thay build an house vp on the said land which house shall bee forty foott in length twenty in bredth fiveten in stud and a kiching Adioyning of sixten foot square tenne foott stud prouided that the said Clark shall pay on Quarter partt of what this bulding shall Cost

4 Fourthly that the selectt men shall stand ingaged yearly to the performance of the Aboue Agreements by making a Rate and proporsining the Inhabitants his partt of the Forsaid sum and leuey the same.

The Beginning 67

Finaly it is Agred that if the said mr Clarke do growndlisly remov[e] and leave the worke of his ministry in Chelmsford then the said land and house as Above shall rettorne into the hands of the towne of Chelmsford thay paying to mr Gierke what hee hath expendid towards the parches and bulding and bettring the Acomendatione And For A confirmation of this Agrement As above this fifth day of the Twelfth mont[h] one thousand sixe hundreth seventy and seuen wee have sett to our hands

This house which the town provided for Mr. Clarke was certainly of ample proportions, being 40 x 20, two stories in height, with an ell 16 feet square for a kitchen.

There is good reason to believe that the house was the parsonage later occupied by his successors in the ministry. Rev. Samson Stoddard, and Rev. Ebenezer Bridge, and, if so, it is still standing. It stood upon the site of the present passenger depot, and was removed to its present location upon Littleton road, when the railroad was put through the village in 1872. It is now known as the railroad house. The house has been enlarged by the addition of a wing facing upon Littleton road. The old part facing east corresponds in width and height to the house built for Mr. Clarke, although now somewhat longer. When the house was remodelled about twenty years ago, the walls of one room were found lined up with plank.

In the "Settlemt of the Garrison in the Wt Regiment of Middx. March, 1691/2" five families were assigned to Mr. Thomas Clarke's house, besides his own. The meaning of this is that these families were to resort to his house for safety, in case of an Indian attack.

This fact explains the object of the plank lining found in the walls of this old house, and supports the belief that is it the identical house built by the town for Mr. Clarke two hundred and twenty-seven years ago. [This was written in 1904.]

Mr. Clarke acknowledges over his own signature that "the purchas of Corsers land and bulding a house on the same is fully performed by the inhabitants" * * * 27th 11 mo 1679

Rev. Thomas Clarke was born in Cambridge, March 2, 1652-3. His father was the Ruling Elder of the church, Jonas Clarke. He graduated from Harvard University in 1670.

October 17, 1676 "Mr Thomas Clarke, minister, being seven weekes in the aimy at Narraganset, & officiating at the request of the comander in chiefe during that time, the Court judgeth it meete to grant him sixe pounds money to be payd by the trestirer."*

There is very little material from which to form an estimation of Mr. Clarke's character. Mr. Allen, writing more than eighty years ago, could find "neither chiu-ch records, manuscript sermons," nor "cotemporary notices" relating to him.

He soon concluded that, rather than take three-quarters of his salary in grain, "porke beefe and other flesh" he would prefer to try a smaller salary to be paid in money, and, accordingly, in 1679, the selectmen made another agreement with him, that, for the next three years, he was to be paid yearly seventy pounds "in spesy" [specie].

By some means he became indebted to the town the same year for the sum of seven pounds and ten shillings, which he acknowledges upon the Town book (p. 150).

At the end of two years from the date of the above arrangement, they returned again to the original agreement of 80 pounds in money and provisions, and, at the same time, "7 the 12 mo 1681" Mr. Clarke's debt was "by a vnanimus voat of the towne * * * Freely Forgiuen him" * * *

With such a great scarcity of ready money as existed at that time, it must have been very difficult for the town to pay their minister wholly in specie.

It seems that the minister did not find 30 cords of wood enough to keep his house warm, and the Town voted "30 of octobor 1683 * * * Mr Thomas Clerke shall have Forty Cord of wood alowed him by the towne yearly"

The Beginning 69

This seuenth day of Febuary 1687-8 mr Thomas Gierke requesting of the inhabitants that his yearly salary may be inlarged to which the Inhabitants doe Answer and Agree vnaimosly that mr Clark shall have paid him yearly on hundreth pownd that is twenty pownds in Ctirrent mony and eightey pownds in Come of all sortes at the price as it goeth From man to man in the towne not respectting the Country and this to bee paid the one halfe of mony and Come eury halfe year which is in full satiffacttion of the former Agrementt for mony Come Flesh and wood to which mr Thomas Clarke doth Asent to And Acsept of as wittnes my hand the day Above in the behalfe of both parties

From these transactions, showing that every request made by Mr. Clarke was cheerfully granted, it is manifest that harmonious relations existed between the pastor and his people, and that he was held by them in affectionate regard.

Witchcraft

The witchcraft delusion occurred during Mr. Clarke's ministry and there was one suspected case at Chehnsford. The good sense displayed by Mr. Clarke in handling the matter shows him to have been free from that fanaticism which had seized upon the minds of the people at Salem with such disastrous consequences. The circumstances of the case are related in Mather's Magnaliaif

"There was at Chelmsford an afflicted person, that in her fits cried out against a woman, a neighbor, which Mr. Clark, the minister of the Gospel there, could not believe to be guilty of such a crime, and it hapned while that woman milked her cow, the cow struck her with one horn upon her forehead and fetched blood; and while she was thus bleeding a spectre in her likeness appeared to the party afflicted; who, pointing at the spectre, one struck at the plase, and the afflicted said, 'you have made her forehead bleed;' hereupon some went unto the woman and found her forehead bloody and acquainted Mr. Clarke of it; who fortunate went to the woman and asked, 'how her forehead became bloody?'

and she answered, 'by a blow of a cow-horn,' as abovesaid ; whereby he was satisfied, that it was design of Satan to render an innocent person suspected."

The diary of Chief Justice Samuel Sewall, of Boston, mentions a visit to Chelmsford, in 1702, when he enjoys the hospitality of Mr. Clarke, but, unfortunately for us, he does not record his impressions of the man. He says:

"Monday Octr 26. 1702 * * * Went to Chehnsford, by that time got there twas almost dark. Saw Capt Bowers and his Company; Gave a Volley and Huzza's. Supid at Mr. Clark's; I and Col. Pierce in his study."*

We find one allusion to Mr. Clarke in the records of the Brattle Street church, Boston, which reveals his character in a very favorable light. It was at the time when that house of worship was new, and the church was having serious differences and troubles with their neighbors, (ministers and others) about their proceedings. The clerk "records in the Church Book an Acknowlegment of their great Obligations to * * '^ the Rev Mr. Clark of Chelmsford," and others, "for their good and kind Endeavours for their peaceable Settlement."!

Mrs. Mary Clarke, the wife of the minister, died Dec. 2, 1700. He again married, Oct. 2, 1702, Miss EHzabeth Whiting, the daughter of Rev. Samuel Whiting of Billerica,t who survived him many years.

Deer. 7th. Mr. Clark of Chelmsford dies of a fever; was taken very suddenly the Friday before, after he had been at a Funeral: buried the 11th.

The Fairfield manuscript journal contains the following appreciative notice of him. "A great loss to all our towns, and especially to the frontier towns on that side of the country, who are greatly weakened with the loss of such a worthy man"§

Something may be judged of a man by his descendants. Those of Mr. Clarke have been people of intelligence and force of character. The most distinguished among them was his great grandson, the patriot Governor, John Hancock.

Mori Hora

Huic pulveri Mandatag sunt Reliquiae Revdi Dom Thoas Clark Gregis Christi Chelmsf : Pastoris Eximij, qui fide & spe Beatae Resurrectionis amima in sinum Jesfi Expiravit Die

"Chelmsford 17th Nov. 1708 "Recievd of Mr. William Fletcher the sum of fifty shillings in money to be bestowed for a monument over the grave of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Clark late of Chelmsford deceased: it being the donations of sundry persons in Chelmsford for that use. I say received by me.

The signer of this receipt was Mr. Clarke's son-in-law, Rev. John Hancock, of North Cambridge, now Lexington, and the grandfather of the Governor.

to the dust are committed the remains of the Reverend Master Thomas Clark, the distinguished pastor of the flock of Christ in Chelmsford, who, in the faith and hope of a blessed resurrection, breathed forth his soul into the bosom of Jesus the 7th of December, in the year of the Lord 1704, and the 52nd of his age. [W.]

South Chelmsford The Civil War, 1 861-5

At the time of Lincoln's second election to the Presidency a liberty pole was raised in the Centre Village at the southeast corner of the common, November 7, 1864. The whole cost of the flag and staff was $288.12. The bill calls for one 12 yard Am. Ensign-$95.

The money was raised by subscription, the collectors being Mr. N. P. Dadman and Dr. N. B. Edwards. Mr. David Perham was treasurer. The executive committee were: David Perham, H. W. B. Wightman, N. P. Dadman, E. S. Parkhurst, Sanford Hazen, A. G. Green and L. Chamberlain, the builder of the Revolutionary monument.

1913, August 30, Company K, M. V. M., celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their return home from the war (June 3, 1863), at the Town Hall in Chelmsford Centre.

The Civil War, 1861-5

It has been the custom for the Town to appropriate annually $100 or more for the celebration of Memorial Day, May 30th, which is done by a procession, with music, consisting of veterans. Town officials, clergymen, school children and others; G. A. R. ritual in Forefathers' Cemetery; saluting the Revolutionary monument ; exercises with address in the Town Hall ; and a dinner.

In the year 1864, when raids on the Canadian border were being made by those in sympathy with the Southern Confederacy, Christopher Roby of Chelmsford, who at one time was a member of the Governor's Horse Guards of New Hampshire, made application to Adjutant-General Schouler of Massachusetts for permission to raise a troop of cavalry that would be in readiness for any call that might be made to suppress the depredations referred to.

The permission was granted, provided a troop of 100 men could be recruited. This the energetic Roby speedily accomplished and at Chelmsford Centre, Sept. 5, 1864, the troop was organized. The election for officers resulted in the choice of Christopher Roby, Captain; Edgar S. Parkhurst, 1st Lieut, and Warren C.

Hamblet 2nd Lieut., all residents of Chelmsford, the rank and file being made up by men from Chelmsford, Carlisle, Billerica, Dracut and Westford.

Its organization complete, the troop became a portion of the Mass. Vol. Militia. The troop held its first encampment at Westford in 1865. While in camp the troop was presented with a stand of colors by Col. Charles H. Dalton, a grandson of Capt. Noah Spalding, of Chelmsford, who in olden times commanded a company of troopers in Chelmsford. The troop adopted the name of "The Spalding Light Cavalry." The town of Chelmsford previous to this organization supported two mounted bodies, - one antedating the war of the Revolution, and the other during the War of 1812. Soon after the troop was organized, it was designated as "Company F Unattached Cavalry."

While the troop, in the performance of its annual tour of duty, had been attached, as a rule, to the First Brigade until May 19, 1906, at which time it was assigned to the First Squadron of Cavalry, nevertheless, during a brief portion of its existence it was attached to the Second Brigade, and in a few instances also performed service with the Third Brigade. For the purpose of further instruction and drills, the troop was divided into squads, and squads have at various times been established at Ayer, Billerica, Carlisle, Chelmsford Centre, Dracut, Groton, Lowell, North Chelmsford, Pepperell, West Chelmsford and Westford.