Chelmsford Town (part 1 of 6)

By Henry S. Perham Early History

The first movement toward the settlement of Chelmsford was made in 1652 by some citizens of Woburn and Concord who petitioned the Court for the privilege of examining a tract of land on the " other side of Concord River."

The examination of this tract was followed by a petition May 10, 1653, for a grant of the quantity of six miles square, " which bordereth upon Merrimack River near to Paatucket, which we do find a very comfortable place to accommidate a company of God's people upon ; that may with God's blessing and assistance live comfortably upon and do good in that place for church and commonw^ealth." Signed to this were the names of Benjamin Butterfield, John Parker, Isaac Learned, James Parker, George Farley, Thomas Chamberlin, Joseph Parker, John Hosmer, Jacob Parker, Henry Foster, William Chamberlin, John Nuttinge, Edmund Chamberlin, John Baldwinge, Richard Grifl5n, James Blood, John Smedley, Roger Draper, William Fletcher, Thomas Adams, William Hartwell, Robert Proctor, William Buttrick, Baptist Smedley, Richard Hildreth, Thomas Briggam, Daniel Bloggett, John Hall, William Hall.

This tract petitioned for included the fishinggrounds of the Indians, at Pawtucket, upon the Merrimack, where the city of Lowell now stands. Gookin wrote that this was an " ancient and capital seat of Indians." Rev. John Eliot, of Roxbury, was then engaged in those efforts to convert the Indians to Christianity, from which he came to be known as the Apostle to the Indians. He had visited Pawtucket as early as 1647, in company with Captain "Willard, of Concord, and some of the Christian Indians of his OAvn neighborhood. Again in the spring of 1648 : "At that season of the year there was annually a great collection of Indians at this spot, a famous fishing-place, and they furnished him with large audiences - Indians that came from various quarters."

The good Eliot, who was mindful as well for the temporal as the spiritual welfare of his dusky charges, petitioned the Court for a grant of land for the Indians. The following answer of the Court was to both petitions :

"May 18, 1653. "In ans' to the peticon of seuerall oj the inhabitants of Concord and Woobourne for the erecting of a new plantacon on Merremacke Eiver, neere to Pawtuckett, the court doth graunt the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne the track of land menconed in theere peticon, excepting some part of it joyning to Merremacke River : Provided, that the sajd peticoners shall sufficjently breake vp full so much land for the Indjans in Buch place as they shall appointe wth in such plantacon as shall there be appointed them, as they haue of planting ground about a hill called Bobbins Hill, and that tbe Indjans shall have vse of theere planting ground, aforesajd, free of all damages, vutill the peticoners shall have broken vp the land for the Indians as aforesajd.

"2'y. For the plantacon peticoned for by Mr. Eljott, the court judgeth it meete to be graunted them, wth the exceptions and provissions aforementioned, and for the stating of both, that Capt Willard and Capt Johnson be appointed to lay out the sajd plantacoua or touneshlpps, the English at the charge of the peticoners, the Indjans at the charge of the countrje, w*in one month after the end of this sessions, that neither of the plantacons be retarded.

"3iy. That if the peticoners of Concord and Woobourne shall not, wiiin two yeares, setle a competent noumber of familjes there, by building and planting vppon the sajd tract of land twenty familjes or vpwards, so as they may be in capacitje of injoying all the ordjnances of God there, then the graunt to be vojd."

Of this committee, which was entrusted by the Court to lay out these grants. Captain Edward Johnson, of Woburn, was the author of " The Wonderworking Providence of Zion's Savior in New England," a valuable historical work which epitomizes the Puritan philosophy. Simon Willard, of Concord (the ancestor of two presidents of Harvard College), was the gallant captain who rode to the relief of Brookfield when it was assaulted by the Indians August 2, 1675.

A few families came in and occupied this territory without waiting for their petition to be acted upon, probably in 1652, as the first birth is recorded early in 1653, viz., "Joseph Parker, the son of Joseph and Marget, his wife [ ] 30 daye of March : 1653."

" Sarah Parker, dau. of Jacob and Sarah, his wife [ ], Janeware 14 : 1653." But the reform in the calendar, by Pope Gregory, had not then been adopted in New England. By the old style then in vogue the year began March 25th ; therefore January, 1653, old style, would be January, 1654, new style. The usual form of writing dates between January and March was 165|.

Allen gives it as a tradition that Joseph Parker was the first person born in town. One other birth and a marriage were recorded the same year.

The petitioners for the grant of the township did not all take up their abode here, and some who took up land soon disposed of their possessions and went elsewhere.

The Parkers were from Woburn. There were five brothers. Of the four whose names were among the petitioners, none of them long remained in Chelmsford. James went, about 1660, to Groton, where he became the leading man of the town. Joseph also went to Groton and after to Dunstable. Jacob was the first town clerk of Chelmsford, but soon removed to Maiden, and John went to Billerica. The Chamberlins were also from Woburn. Thomas and Edmund settled in Chelmsford and William in Billerica. John Baldwin and George Farley, also from Woburn, settled in Billerica. The first birth in that town was Samuel, the son of George Farley. James Blood and John Nutting took up land here, but both soon went

Sagamore's planting field is shown upon the northeast. The description which accompanied the plan is, unfortunately not preserved. When the adjoining territory came to be occupied the lines of the town were found to be so indefinite as to occasion an uncertainty as to the correct boundaries.

The plan of the town as laid out by the committee, as here shown, was engraved from a tracing from the original in the Massachusetts Archives, Ancient Plans, vol. 112, p. 81. The space marked " India Land" was the tract reserved for the Indians. Joe ces of the apostle, Eliot, about the time of the grant to the Pawtuckets. At the time of King Philip's War the Indians mostly abandoned their reservation, and it was encroached upon by people from adjoining towns, mostly from Groton. Boundary controversies grew out of this. The Chelmsford line bordered upon this tract for a considerable distance.

Controversies also arose in another quarter between Clielmsford, Concord, Billerica and the Blood farms. In 1694 the selectmen of Chelmsford and Concord united in a petition to the General Court for a committee to examine and settle these rival claims. This was done and the claims of Billerica were established.

Finally, in 1697, the town chose Captain Bowers and Thomas Parker a committee "to act on the towns be halfe in all things nesery as to the finding out the first grant of the town and to do what soauer is nedfull to secuer the town as it is bounded"

They obtained the following deposition of one of the committee, then living in Groton, who assisted in laying out the town forty-five years before : church of Wenham and their pastor, Kev. John Fisk, to remove to this place. An account of these negotiations in the quaint diction of the time has been preserved in the handwriting of Mr. Fisk :

" Vpon the sd day set divers of yo Brethren accompanied the Pastor ouer vnto chelms. where y Comittee & divers others were present A view was taken of ye place. The Brethren p'sent satisfyed themselves aboute theire accommodations, & proposalls were then made to ye pasto' for his accommodation & yeerely mayntenance, as to be tended vnto him by consent of ye whole of Inhabitants & in their name by y« Comittee."

" Groton, noumber : 24 : 1698 capten Jeams parker being of full age testyfy and say that the honered Jenarall courte grated a sarten track of land for a plantation nowe caled chelmsford and impowered majear symon wilard and capten edward Johnson as a committe, which com. mltte came with full power to lay out sd plantation and did se sd plantation layd out to ther content capten John Shearmon being the artes, did lay out sd plantation begining at a riuer comonly caled conkard riuer bounded with a stake upon the land caled wamaset land and so runing on a lyne by marked tres to a heape of stones and to nashoba plantation runing upon nashoba line to a great pine-tre and so runing on a strayt line ouer a pond caled stonny brook pond to a pine-tre marked with C and G and so ouer sd brook to a heape of stones and so mining on the south syd of a great hill on the north syd of sd brook and ouer sd brook to a groat pine-tre and so to sd stake by conkard riuer thus Bd committe and sd arttes layd out sd plantation and rescued fullsattesfacttion for ther saruestherin: and did ingage to make a tru return to the honared court of ther laying out sd plantation : and furder sd parker doothe testyfy and say that hinslef Thomis adams Wilyara flecher and Isack larnit ware the committe chosen by the petetlnors of sd land to se sd plantation layd out : this taken upon outh befoer me this 24 of noumber : 1698

It is impossible to reconcile this description, and the lines as settled between Chelmsford and Billerica, in 1701 (in which those towns joined for several miles), with the plan. It will be seen, however, that Chelmsford extended from the Concord Eiver on the east to Stony Brook Pond (now called Forge Pond) on the west. Following the description from there, " over sd brook to a heap of stones," - the northwest corner,--" and so running on the south side of a great hill" - either Kissacook or Snake Meadow Hill - " on the north side of said brook " - ^tony Brook - "and over said brook to a great pine tree" - the northeast corner. Allen says that the latter bound was at the glass factory, which stood near what is now Baldwin Street, in Lowell, nearly opposite West Pine Street. Although 1 know of nothing improbable in this statement of Allen's, his other descriptions of the town lines are so manifestly erroneous that little reliance can be placed upon it.

Soon after their return to Wenham the major part of the church, seven in number, with their pastor, decided to accept Chelmsford's proposals. But at thi» stage of the proceedings, for some unexplained reason, the negotiations were broken off. "Thus the matter Lay dormant as twere all winter till y« P' m^ 55, at what time Bro : Read coming ouer enformed vs in such wise here at Wenham, as therevpon both y« P. & y-^ 8^ engaged brethren demurred vpon y« proceedings & some y' had sold heere at Wenham, redeemed their accommodations agayne into their possession and a Letter was sutably sent by Br. Read to acquainte y« Chelmsf. comittee how things stood & advised to stead themselves els^'here."

The mutter was not abandoned, however ; several letters passed between them. And in June, 1655, " Jsa. Lernet, Sim : Thompson & Tho : Adams " went with letters from the people of Chelmsford, entrusted " with full power to them to treate & finally to determine the busines depending betwene both parties." It was finally decided " to refer the matter to counsell and y« parties agreed vpon were M--. Endicott, Governor; M^ Mather, Mr Allen, of Dedhain ; M' Cobbet, M' Sherman Capt. Johnson, of Wooburne who determined the case for Chelmsford.

" Accordingly about y« 13''' of g^". 55, There were met at Chelmsford, the pastor with y« Engaged Brethren of Wenham Church, viz., Ezdras Read, Edw. Kemp, Austin Killam, Ser : Foster, Geo : Byam' & Rich Goldsmith, Seuen in all To whom such of the Brethren of Wooburne & Concord Ch : late at Wenham, Now in Removing to Chelmesford, presented themselves & Testimony Giuen were by an vnanimous vote Recejved into fellowship They being y« greater number in way of [ ] complyance a Relation passes [on] either side, as each one relation by [word] viz. : us in these Seals: Mr. Griffin, Wm. Fletcher and his wife, Tho r Adams) and his wife, Br. Vnd''wood'8 wife (Edw. Spalding), Bro : Biitterfield's wife, Bro : Chaniberlin's wife, Edm : Chaniberlin'e wife,Abram Parker's wife, Jos. Parker's wife, Isa. Lernet's wife, Sim : Thompson's wife. " 8. Since Rec*. into fellowship was Jacob Parker " 9. Tho : Adams and Edw. Spalding on 27 of 2^ 5G."

The first town-meeting for the choice of officers to govern the town afl'airs and to provide for the support of the church was held in November, 1654, at the house of William Fletcher. This is said to have been the firet frame house in town. It stood a few rods east of the house of the late Ephraim Crosby, upon laud which has continued in the possession of the Fletcher family to the present time.

" At a meeting then at William Fletcher's Hous there was chosen to officiate in Ordering the Publick affairs of the Place by the Consent of the Major part of the Town for this present year ensuing are as followeth :

" We give to Mr. Fisk Thirty acres of meadow and Thirty Acres of Plowable Land for the acomidation of him for his most conveniancy : And we do agree and Order that ho shall have a hous built for him Thirty-eight foot in Length & Twenty foot in bredth, with three fire Booms, the Chimneys built with Brick or Stone : and we promise to pay to Mr. Fisk, Fifty Pounds for the first year ; And we promise to pay his niainti nance as the Lord Bhall enable us for the future."

In all the foregoing transactiori^ we see revealed the deep religious character of the founders of this town. The clause in the first petition for the grant, that "they find a comfortable place to accommodate a company of God's people upon," and the condition of the grant that they .settle a competent number of families ... as may be in capacity for enjoying all the ordinances of God there." And their action in submitting the question of the removal of the Wenham Church to a council composed of the Governor and some of the Colonies' most eminent divines, are acts consistent with that theocratic scheme of government which " sought to erect a commonwealth to be composed of a united body of believers.''

The Wenham company was a great accession to the town. Especially the influence of Rev. Mr. Fisk in shaping and guiding the afiairs of the infant settlement cannot be estimated. ^ He was born in the parish of St. James, Suflblk County, England, about the year 1601. His parents sent him to the grammar school near their home and after to Immanuel College, Cambridge, where he took his first degree. He then studied for the ministry and entered upon his favorite work. The persecution of the nonconformists obliged him to abandon the ministry. He turned his attention to the study of physic, and, after passing an examination, engaged in practice. He came to New England in 1037. To avoid the fury of his persecutors he was obliged to go on board the vessel in disguise. " He came well stocked with servants and all sorts of tools for husbandry and carpentry and with provisions to support his family in a wilderness three years, out of which he charitably lent a considerable quantity to the country, which he then found in the distresses of a war with the Pequot Indians." His mother died on the passage and his infant child soon after.

" - He taught the Charlestown grammar school and after in Salem the first grammar school in that city." He acted as pastor in Wenham for about fourteen years. "Twenty years did he shine in the golden candlestick of Chelmsford, a plain but an able . . . and useful preacher of the gospel ; rarely, if ever, by sickness hindered from the exercises of his ministry."

He was physician as well as pastor and Cotton Mather says of him, "Among the first preachers and writers which rendered the primitive times of New England happy, was one who might be called the beloved physician ; one who might also be given the eulogy which the ancients think was given to Luke - a brother whose praise was in the Gospel, throughout all the churches. This was Mr. John Fiske."

Of those who came with Mr. Fisk, Mr. Thomas Hinchman became perhaps the leading man of the town. As deacon of the church, deputy to the court, trustee for the Indians, and leader of the military, he exerted a wide influence. He was also probably the most wealthy man of the town. Although he left no family so far as we know, his name has been remembered. One citizen now living was named for him - Edwin Henchman Warren. Esdras Read soon removed to Boston, where he died in 1680. The.Spaldings and Byams have continued prominent names in town to the present time. Austin Killam and Richard Goldsmith both died in Wenham. The latter was killed by lightning May 13, 1673, while engaged in conversation with Rev. Mr. Higginson, who had just returned from the church.

The second town-meeting was held " month first Day 24th 1655. William Fletcher is chosen Constable : Isaac Lerned is chosen Sergeant of the band : Simon Tomson is chosen Clerk of the Band :

" It is ordered that the first Second Day of the first, month Shall be observed by all the householders of the town from year to year for the Chusing of all annuall officers belonging to the Town as the Selectmen or Committee, Deputy for the Court : Constable; The three men to end all small causes under Forty Shillings, Surveyors for the high-ways Overseers of the fences and Swine and to meet at the meeting-hous by nine a clock in the morning and for the first hours non-appearance twelve pence and for a whole Days Absence two Shillings."

usually bestowed good-naturedly upon the newest benedicts. The limits of the different ranges are defined in the following order, which is interesting, as it indicates the early lines of settlement :

" 7 : 1 : 71 its ordered Concerning hording of Cattell that from Cros Bridge to henry Boutells shall bee one herd." (Boutell lived near the Lowell line on Stedinan Street.)

" 3 From Thoramas Barrets to Kobertt procters and John barke Shall be an other herd." (Barrett's was at C. W. Byam's, and Proctor was near the old .South Chelmsford School-house.i )

"4 From George Biams to Arther warrens shall he another herd and that if Any person shall neglectt to put ther Catell to the herd they shall pay th«r proportion of herding and twelve pence a boast over and Above." (This fourth herd was in District Five, probably from Geo. A. Byam's to B. 0. Bobbins'.)

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."

Swine were also subjected to regulations, some of which must have been very annoying to piggy. " Every inhabitant being an householder shall have liberty to keep two swine on the common," and a person holding a ten-acre lot could keep four; "and so every man according to his enlarged lot." To prevent a too free use of piggy's snout it was " ordered that all swine above three months old Shall bee suffitiently Ringed in the midell of the nose Constantly youcked from the tenth day of Aprill until the twentith day of October."

Newfidd. - The interval land along the Merrimack north of Stony Brook, consisting of 214 acres, was fenced as early as 1659 and used as a common pasture by twenty-two proprietors. It was called Newfield, and that name finally became applied to all that section of the town. The pond now called Leeches' Pond is called Newfield Pond in the old records. An eddy at the northern extremity of the field still retains the name.

Difficult as were the conditions of existence in this new settlement the people maintained a lively interest in the public affairs of the Colony.

When Charles II. sent a couple of ships-of-war with 400 troops to Boston Harbor in the summer of 1664, with commissioners to look after the affairp of the New World, and the Massachusetts' charter seemed in danger, Chelmsford was among the towns which sent petitions to the Court testifying to their good content and satisfaction in the present government, in Church and Commonwealth, and their resolution to be assisting and encouraging the same, and desiring that all means might be used for the continuance and preservation thereof.^

After twenty years of faithful service the aged pastor. Rev. John Fisk, became physically unable to carry the burdens of his labors alone, and upon " The

" in consideration of Mr. Fiske' Age and infermitis Acompanny the same ther is ned of sum hilpe to goine with Mr. Fiske in the worke of the minestry.

" 2'y that besides the eighty pounds formerly granted yerly to the minestry ther shall be forty pounds more Raised yearly for the obtaining of Mr. Clarke to be a help in the worke aforesaid if bee may bee Attained." Mr. Fiske now rapidly declined in health. " 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 primitive times, sitting, ... on January 14, 1676, he saw a rest from his labors." ^

"Articles of agreement bettwine Mr. Thomas Clarke and the inhabitants of Chelmsford in order to Mr. Clarks Settelment in the ministry for time to com in Chelmford 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 pounds in maner as foloeth, twenty pounds in curent mony and sixtey pounds in provisions; viz.; fortey pounds in corn of all sortes as god gives and the other twenty pounds in porke, Beefe and other flish not exseding tow pence, halfe peny p pound more over its allso Agred that the towne shall soply Mr. Clarke with wood sofitient for his family use yearly which is by Agrement thirty cord yearly.

" 2 secondly it is also agreed that the said towne shallpay sixty pounds in mony towards the purchas of Corsers land lying in Chelmsford and that they build an house upon the said laud which house Shall be forty foott in length, twenty in bredth, fiveten in stud and a ciching adjoyning of sixten foott Square and tene foott stud provided that the said Clarke shall pay on quarter partt of what this bulding shall cost.

" 4 fourthly that the selectt men shall stand in gaged yearly to the performance of the above Agreements by making a Rate and propor^ tiont the Inhabitants his partt of the foresaid sum and to levey the same.

" Finaly it is Agred that if the Said M^ Clark do grow [ ] remov 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 they paying to Mr. Clarke what hee hath expendid to wards the purehes and bulding and bettering the Acomedatione And for A confermation of this Agrement As above this fifth Day of the twelfth month one thousand sixe hundred seventy and Seven wee have sett to our hands.

This house stood near the site of the passenger station of the Old Colony Kailroad. In 1692 several families were assigned to his house in case of danger from the Indians. When the house was moved to its present position and remodeled, several years since, the walls of a portion of it were found to be protected by thick plank.

Witchcraft. - The witchcraft delusion which swept over the country occurred during Mr. Clarke's ministry. One case occurred in Chelmsford, and it was dealt with by Mr. Clarke with such moderation and good sense that no such disastrous consequences resulted as were witnessed in some of the towns of the Colony. The following is the account as related in Mather's " Magnalia: "

" 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. Clark of it ; who fortunate went to the woman and asked, ' how her forehead became bloody?' and ^he answered, 'by a blow of a cowhorn,' as abovesaid ; whereby he was satisfied, that it was design of Satan to render an innocent person suspected." - Mather's " 3Iagnalia," vol. 2, p. 478.

In 1681 the town voted to purchase a bell " and hange him in the metting-house." Previous to this a drum had been used to assemble the people. A drum was bought by the town for Henry Farwell in 1659.

The ancient method of noting time, by the shadow cast by the sun, is recalled by the record of a sum to John Bates "for seting the dial." The same person was paid, in 1698, for " mending the Stoxs " (stocks). This implement, for the punishment of offenders, tradition says, stood upon the Common by the old ash-tree near the monument.

The supply of wood furnished to Mr. Clarke did not prove adequate, and in 1683 the amount was increased to forty cords yearly. In 1688 his salary was increased to £100, at his request.

The ministry land was laid out in 1679, " by the Towns Gifte and order was laid out [for] the ministry, and for that only use for ever in Chelmsford, to say thirty acres of upland and swamp, be it more or less."

The Old Burying-Ground at the centre of the town, was first enclosed by a stone wall in 1717. About ten years previous to that date the town had -protected it by a board fence. In 1790 the old wall was replaced by a more substantial one.

date, bear no mark to reveal the name of those who rest beneath. The inscriptions here given are among the oldest, or are otherwise of special interest ;

July Y 17

Major Henchman was one of the first settlers, coming with Rev. John Fisk and the church from Wenham. He was an extensive land-holder and a prominent citizen.

Memento

Huic puluerl Mandates sunt Keliqiuse Eevd" Doni Tho" Clark Gregis Cristi Chelmsf : Pastoris Ecimij, qui fide & spe Beatae Resurrectionia anima in sinum Gesu Ecpiravit Die

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

April . Y . 25

Her husband, William Tyng, is buried in Concord, having been wounded by the Indians between-Groton and Lancaster and carried to Concord, where he died Aug. 16, 1710.

SACRED to the memory of Mb. JOSEPH SPALDING who died July 31 1820 ^t. 64. in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised to believers in Christ.

He was among the brave asserters & defenders of the liberties of his country at Bunker Hill, wtjere he opened the battle by firing upon the enemy before orders were given : &, after enjoying for many years the blessings of civil & religious liberty in common with others He, " sunk to rest With all his country? honor's blest.

This verse reminds the heedless as they pass That life's a fragile drop of unnealed glass, The slightest wound ensures a fatal burst And the frail fabric shivers into dust. So he whom in his heart could none surpass. Is now himself reduced to broken glass, But from the grave, the fining pot of man. From scandiver and galss galls purged again, New mixed and fashioned by almighty power, Shall rise a firmer fabric than before.

The results of King Philip's War were so disastrous to the hostile Indians that they no longer had the power to threaten the existence of the Colonies. The relations with the survivors were not rendered more cordial, however, by the struggle. Cordial hatred was the feeling between the races. As marauding parties and as allies to the French in the wars with that nation they inflicted great damage to the exposed settlements for many years.

By the wise management of Hinchman Chelmsford continued to have a valuable ally in Wannalancet. His influence with the Indians was always exerted for peace, and when danger could not be averted he warned the people so that they were able to prepare for it. Chelmsford should hold the name of Wannalancet in grateful remembrance.

" 7-9th, 1685. When came home heard of body of Indians near Chelmsford, 3 or 400. The fears and Rumors concerning them much increase. The Indians near Albany ; Wonolanset brings the news to Chelmsford, and mistrusts of their mischevous designs."

Through representations made to the Court by Hinchman the services of Wannalancet " in the treaty late with the Indians at Pennacooke" were recognized, as also his grievance that some of his friends were transported, and it was ordered "that the Treasurer advance tenn pounds in money & clothing, deliver the same to y* major-generall, Capt. Thomas Hinchman & Mr. Jonathan Ting, to be distributed by them amongst sajd Indeans, some writting bein draune vp to be presented to sajd Indeans at the same time to signe, for the rattififcacon of an intire peace and amity betweene them & y® English."

The following item appeared in a Boston newspaper, under date of Sept. 25, 1690 (the earliest newspaper published in America) : " While the barbarous Indians were lurking about Chelmsford there were missing, about the beginning of this month, a couple of children belonging to a man of that Town, one of them aged about eleven, the other aged about nine years, both of them supposed to be fallen into the hands of the Indians." ^

There were eighteen garrison-houses distributed throughout the town, and one on the north side of the Merrimack, in what is now Dracut. To these were assigned, besides women and children, 158 men, including four soldiers. This was, probably, the entire adult male population of the town. Another instance of the friendship of the Pawtuckets occurred on June 22, 1689. Two Indians, Job Maramasquand and Peter Muckamug, came to Major Hinchman from Pennacook and reported a plot against Major Waldron, of Cocheco (now Dover). Major Hinchman immediately despatched a messenger to notify the authorities at Boston, and they sent a courier with the information to Major Waldron.

But the news came too late. Upon the fatal night of June 27th, while the courier was detained at Newbury Ferry, at midnight, the squaws, who had imprudently been allowed to lodge in the garrison-houses, opened the doors and the savages rushed in. The story is familiar of how the major gallantly defended himself with his sword, but was struck down with a hatchet, and then placed in his arm-chair upon the table and taunted by the Indians while they slashed him with their knives until he fell from loss of blood upon his own sword which they held under him. Twenty-two others were killed and twenty-nine captives carried to Canada.

Samuel Butterfield, who was captured in Groton by Indians in August, 1704, had a somewhat romantic experience. With other soldiers he was guarding a man who was at work in a field when the Indians came upon them. He killed one Indian and wounded another, but was overpowered by numbers. As the slain Indian was a Sagamore " of great dexterity in war," his captors proposed to wreak their vengeance upon him by inflicting a death by torture. While lamenting his cruel fate, relief came from an unexpected quarter. The " squaw widow," when asked to name the manner of his death, replied : " His death won't fetch my husband to life : do nothing to him." His life was spared, and after fourteen months of captivity he returned to his friends. He was probably the Lieutenant Butterfield who again met with a narrow escape from the Indians two years later, while returning with his wife from Dunstable. His horse was shot and the woman taken captive, "and Jo English, a friend Indian, in company with y", was at the same time slain."

Capt. William Tyng, a young man of promise, who had served the town as representative to the General Court, and filled other positions of trust, was wounded by Indians between Groton and Lancaster. He was taken to Concord, where he died, Aug. 16, 1710.*

Lieut. Jona. Barron was in the successful siege of Quebec. Upon his return he presented Parson Bridge with a silver cup taken there. Lieut. Barron afterwards lost his life in the campaign against Crown Point in 1755, as did two other Chelmsford soldiers.

viz. : Jacob Parker and James Emery, This was the campaign in which the English troops fell into an ambush of French and Indians under Baron Dieskau. There were twelve Chelmsford men in the expedition.

In the unsuccessful campaign of 1756, undertaken against the same point, of twelve Chelmsford men in the company of Capt. Jonathan Butterfield, of Dunstable (a native of Chelmsford), four lost their lives, viz. : Nathaniel Butterfield, Simeon Corey, James Button and Isaac Proctor. In the other campaigns the losses were doubtless equally heavy.

In the campaign against Nova Scotia, in 1755, which resulted in despoiling the thrifty Acadians of their homes and property, and scattering seven thousand of them as exiles throughout the Colonies, twentythree Chelmsford soldiers took part. It seems a pity that brave men should be employed in such dishonorable service.

Seventeen of these Acadians were cared for in Chelmsford. Their names appear in the following account rendered by the selectmen of the town in 1757, as found in the Massachusetts Archives :

"In obedience and pursuant to order of the Great and General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, made and passed the 21st day of January, A. D. 1757.

"The following is a true list of the several French Persons' names in the Town of Chelmsford, the amount of their age, sex and the circumstances of their health and capacity for labor.

Names. Aged

Numerous entries appear upon the town records showing the expense of the " support of the French." The charges are mainly for provisions, fuel, house rent, medical attendance, and sometimes for rum (spelled in one case rhumb). In one instance one of the French is paid by the town for assistance rendered by him to his less fortunate companions in exile, as appears by the following: - "Joseph Landrie for time spent in moving Jane Landrie and wife with their goods from David Spaulding's to Ephraim Warren's and for going twice to Dunstable about a nurse for said Jane Landrie and wife when sick, five shillings and four pence " and David Spaulding is paid for his " cart and oxen to move the French from his own house to Ephraim Warren's."

As the Indians abandoned their grant at Wamesit, their lands were gradually occupied by individuals, mostly from Chelmsford. In 1686 their remaining lands on the west of Concord River and 500 acres on the north of the Merrimack were purchased by Jonathan Tyng and Thomas Henchman. This was known as the Wamesit Purchase. Henchman bought Tyng's claim for £50, and by him it was sold to fortysix proprietors in Chelmsford, who occupied it as a pasture. As described by Allen, the northwest boundary " began near the head of the Middlesex Canal, and so to the glass manufactory and thence running near the houses of the late Mr. Philip Parker, Mr. Micah Spalding and Capt. Benj. Butterfield, terminated at Wamesit Falls, in Concord River, or at the mouth of River Meadow brook."

Philip Parker lived near the present Highland School-house. Micah Spalding at the corner of Liberty and School Streets, and Benjamin Butterfield on Hale Street, where the house of the late Benjamin Edwards now stands. To describe this line by the present streets of the city of Lowell, it would correspond to Baldwin, West Pine and Liberty Streets, and thence to the mouth of River Meadow Brook.

The town now embraced, in addition to what is now occupied by the town, a large part of Carlisle, the whole of Westford and all of Lowell, with the exception of Belvidere, Centralville and Pawtucketville. Chelmsford also held jurisdiction over the settlements upon the north of the Merrimack, at what is now Dracut, and the part of Lowell which lies north of the river. The people voted and paid taxes in Chelmsford and looked to them for protection. This relation was confirmed by the Court in 1667, that " sundry ffarmes erected aboue the toune of Chelmsford, about Merremack Riuer" . . . "haue their dependances vpon & performe services & beare chardges w"* the sajd toune of Chelmsford." The town of Dracut was incorporated in 1702, but the people continued to act with Chelmsford in religious matters till the relation was severed by the following action : " Janawary the : 14 : 1705-6 " " It was uoated that Draw Cut shall not uoate In Chelmsford."

The fall ot Fort William Henry in 1757 occasioned great alarm, and troops were hastily summoned to repel a threatened invasion. In a roll of the company of Captain Samuel Bancroft, of Reading, raised to

War of the Revolution. - Colonel Samson Stoddard, a son of the former pastor, was perhaps next to Parson Bridge the most influential person in town and shared with him the social honors. He was a graduate of Harvard College and studied divinity, but relinquished the profession for trade and agriculture. He kept a store for the sale of general merchandise, and was interested in land operations in New Hampshire. The town of Stoddard, in that State, was named in his honor. His house, which stood upon the site of the Central Baptist Church, the resort of fashionable and cultured people. The following from Mr. Bridge's diary, under date of June 24, 1763, shows the quality of the company that sometimes assembled there : " Dined at Col. Stoddard's with his Excellency, the Governor, and Hon. Mr. Bowdoin, and others, and their ladies."

In the disturbances which led up to the Revolution Parson Bridge was at first exceedingly loyal to the home government. The clergy, as a class, were conservative and inclined to favor existing institutions. His associations naturally strengthened him in that position. He was a friend of Governor Hutchinson.

In 1771 he records a visit to Dr. Ellis and Governor Hutchinson - the latter of whom received him " very graciously." He was honored by being selected to preach the election sermon May 27, 1767, and in this he expressed strong sentiments of attachment to the mother country. But after the republication of Hutchinson's letters, in this country, his feelings underwent a change and he became an ardent supporter of the liberties of the Colonies.

The position of the people of the town in respect to the grievances under which the Colonies suffered was, in the highest degree, creditable to them. While they firmly adhered to their rights as Englishmen, there is not the remotest suggestion of a desire to sever their connection with the existing government.

August 30, 1765. - "Every day we hear ye news from Boston of ye mobish doings there in which first insurrection they hanged Secretary Oliver in eflSgy, and then burned him ; burned the stamp-office, etc., rifled his dwelling. . . All this is owing to ye stamp act.''

Colonel Samson Stoddard, the Representative of Chelmsford at the time, asked of the town instructions as to how he should act in so delicate a crisis. In town-meeting the following resolutions were adopted tor his guidance :

" This being a time when, by reason of several acts of parliament, not only this province, but all the English colonies of this continent, are thrown into the utmost confusion and perplexity ; the stamp act, as we apprehend, not only lays an unconstitutional, but also an insupportable, tax upon us, and deprives us, as we humbly conceive, of those rights and privileges to which we are entitled as free-born subjects of Great Britain by the royal charter ; wherefore we think it our duty and interest at this critical conjuncture of our public affairs, to direct you, sir, our representative, to be so far from countenancing the execution of the aforesaid stamp act, that you use your best endeavors that such measures may be taken and such remonstrances made to the King and Parliament, as may obtain a speedy repeal of the aforesaid act, and a removal of the burden upon trade."

When, upon the accession of Pitt to the ministry in England, the Stamp Act was repealed, hope again revived in the Colonies, and rejoicings were indulged in. Colonel Stoddard's house was illuminated in honor of the event. Bridge writes, " May 22, 1766. Spent the evening at Col. Stoddard's, with abundance of other company. His house being illuminated, &c., on acct of the news of the repeal of the Stamp Act." It proved, however, that the hope was not well founded.

When, in consequence of the dissolution of the General Court by Governor Barnard, the convention of September 22, 1768, was called by the^Dommittee of Safety of Boston to deliberate on measures to obtain redress of grievances, this town was one of the ninety-six there represented. Colonel Samson Stoddard being their delegate.

A town-meeting was called January 11, 1773, to know the sentiments of the people relative to certain grievances under which the Colony is laboring. And at an adjourned meeting, January 22d, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :

" We are fully of opinion that the inhabitants of this Province are justly entitled to all the privileges of Englishmen, and to all those rights inseparable from them as members of a free community. We are also sensible that some of those rights are at present endangered. In such unhappy circumstances, the only question that can be made is this : What method is most suitable to obtain a redress ? Whatever doubts may arise about the particular mode, this we are clear in, that all rash, unmeaning, passionate procedures are by no means justifiable in so delicate a crisis. When a community thinks any of its rights endangered they should always weigh consequences and be very cautious lest they run into a step that may be attended with the most deplorable effects."

In their instructions to their representative, Mr. Simeon Spaulding, the following language occurs: " Sir, as the present aspect of the times is dark and difficult, we do not doubt but you will cheerfully know the sentiments and receive the assistance of those you represent. The matters that may now come under your cognizance are of great importance. The highest wisdom, therefore, prudence and decision are evidently necessary. We would earnestly caution you by no means to consent to any rash, passionate plan of action, which will not only sully the dignity, but finally prove the utter destruction of the cause we pretend to support. We hope those little animosities that involve persons, not things, may be utterly banished, and that every determination will be founded in the nature of a free state, and that therefore every privilege annexed to each part may be religiously preserved. Of consequence, you will be careful not to trample on majesty, while you are firmly but decently pleading the liberties of the subject. In fine, we wish you that wisdom which is from above, and we pray you that your conduct in this important crisis may be such as the coolest reflection will ever after justify."

Again, when the news of the act closing the port of Boston and transferring the seat of government to Salem was received, " at a very full meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town, May 30, 1774, in consequence of letters sent to the Committee of Correspondence by the Committee of Correspondence of the town of Boston, containing matters of as great importance as ever came before a townmeeting, a Committee of Correspondence was chosen, consisting of Jonathan William Austin, Captain Oliver Barron, Mr. Samuel Perham, David Spaulding, Benjamin Walker, Deacon Aaron Chamberlin, Captain Moses Parker, Samuel Stevens, Jr., and Simeon Spaulding, and the town expressed the following sentiments :

" I^ is the opinion of this town that the present day is as dark and distressing a day as this country ever experienced, and when we consider the aspect of the times, not only what has actually taken place, but what we are immediately threatened with, we must think that the question is, whether we submit to the arbitrary, lawless, tyrannical will of a minister, or by using those powers given us by the God of nature, and which it were sacrilege to surrender, prevent so awful a catastrophe ; and it is extremely afflictive to us to consider that, if we are made slaves, we are so made by a nation whom we ever gloried in as a parent State, whose honor was dear to us, and to secure whose reputation the best, the richest blood has been spilt. Taxation without representation we have no conception of. The present act respecting the blocking up of the port of Boston we esteem dangerous and destructive.

" We are not so lost to every generous principle of the human mind as not to sympathize with our brethren of Boston, who have in a more peculiar sense been struggling in our common cause and are now suffering for our common liberties ; and as we think the act so very severe and cruel, so we are determined to support with all our power the town of Boston, in defense of rights common to us all. And while we are sensible our cause is right we are resolved never to submit to the iron hand of despotism and oppression. We resent the base treatment which that illustrious defender of American liberty - Dr. Frankin - has received for detecting such wicked designs. May he still live to be guardian of our rights and the scourge to the enemies of liberty on both sides of the Atlantic. But in such a situation we do not think it sufficient to weep only at the distresses of our country ; we think our union is our life - the contrary our death. We mean, therefore, to preserve this union inviolate at all hazards, and we are determined in a firm, virtuous, manly and joint way, neither cajoled on the one hand nor intimidated on the other, to secure and defend our liberties, those liberties purchased for us by our ancestors, at the expense of so much blood and treasure, and before they are wrenched from us we will struggle hard, very hard for them, considering ourselves as the guardians of unborn millions ; and O, our God ! in the midst of this struggle we would look up for Thy direction and assistance ; may the liberties of America still flourish under Thy smiles as they did in the days of our fathers, and in this most adverse situation of public affairs we may trust in Thee, and may this be the prevailing sentiment of us all: In freedom we're born and in freedom we'll die."

They manifested the sincerity of their sympathy for the sufferers at Boston by collecting a drove of sheep and sending them to their relief. In Sept., 1774, Mr. Simeon Spaulding was chosen to represent the town at Salem. He was instructed to firmly adhere to the charter of this Province, and do no act which could be possibly construed into an acknowledgment of the validity of the act of the British Parliament for altering the government of Massachusetts Bay. Two delegates were sent to the first provincial meeting in Concord, in August, 1774 - Jona. W. Austin and Samuel Perham. A Committee of Inspection was chosen to prevent the purchase and sale of any articles imported from Great Britain. It was voted to equip the alarm list with the implements of war, also to raise and discipline fifty minute-men.

The expressions of the town during all this trying period show that the hostilities which followed were not of their seeking. Their language is not the language of men eager to achieve glory by deeds of arms ; nor was their intense desire for a peaceful solution of the difliculties and caution against rash measures the caution of timidity, as their subsequent acts abundantly testify. For when, upon the 19th of April, 1775, a messenger rode into town with the news that the British were marching from Boston towards Concord, the town was soon on the alert to obey the summons. The time for words had passed, the time for action had come. The alarm-guns were fired, the drums beat to arms, and from the forms and workshops the minute-men hastily assembled in our little village, at the alarm-post, which was a rock standing where the hay-scales now stand.

the men to go into the meeting-house and have prayers before they went; but the impetuous Capt. Ford, his patriotism getting the better of his piety, replied that they had more urgent business on hand, and hastened on witli his men. Soon over one hundred men were on their way to the scene of conflict. One company of sixty-one men were under the command of Capt. Oliver Barron, and the other company, consisting of forty-three men, were under the command of Col. Moses Parker. These men did not march in regular order, but hurried off in squads, on horseback, as fast as they received the summons. They assisted in the pursuit of the British toward Charlestown, taking part in the encounters at Merriam's Corner and Hardy's Hill. Capt. John Ford, who was at this time sergeant in Capt. Barron's company, was conspicuous at the latter place. He was an old veteran of the French and Indian Wars, and knew how to handle his rifle. He is said to have killed five of the enemy during the battle. Two of our men, Capt. Oliver Barron and Dea. Aaron Chamberlain, were wounded. Bridge writes :

" April 19, 1775 - The Civil War was begun at Concord this morning ! Lord direct all things for his glory, the good of his church and people, and the preservation of the British colonies, and to the shame and confusion of our oppressors."

" April 20 - In a terrible state, by reason of ye news from our army. The onset of ye British was begun at Lexington, was carried on at Concord, where some were killed on both sides. They ingloriously retreated soon and were followed by our men down to Cambridge, before night. Five captives were carried through this town for Amherst. A constant marching of soldiers from ye towns above toward ye army as there were yesterday from this town and the neighboring towns. We are now involved in a war which Lord only knows what will be the issue of, but I will hope in His mercy and wait to see His salvation."

At the battle of Bunker Hill, which soon followed, the Chelmsford men took a prominent part. Upon the morning of that glorious day, the 17th of June, 1775, when the dawn of light revealed to the astonished Britishers the American works on Breed's Hill, Capt. Ford, who was now in command of the Chelmsford company, which consisted of sixty men, was stationed with the army at Cambridge, under Gen. Ward. When the preparations for the battle began, the gallant captain, who had no taste for inactivity, obtained permission from the general to withdraw his company privately and march directly to the scene of action, to reinforce the troops. They marched a^-ross Charlestown Neck, which was being raked by cannon from the British ships, and were proceeding down Bunker Hill when they were met by Gen. Putnam, who ordered Capt. Ford, with his company, 17-ii to draw the cannon, which had been deserted by Gen. Callender and left at the foot of the hill, intu the line. The captain at first remonstrated on the ground that his company were ignorant of the management of artillery, many having never seen a cannon before, but finally obeyed "and moved with the cannon and the general himself to the rail fence," which they reached just before the battle began. Capt. Knowltou with the Connecticut troops and Col. Stark with some of the New Hampshire troops were also stationed at this part of the defences. The right wing of the British army, under Gen. Howe, was directed against this point for the purpose of turning the American flank and cutting ofl' a retreat from the redoubt. As the enemy advanced to the attack, the artillery, manned by a portion of Capt. Ford's company, opened upon them with great effect, some of the shots being directed by Gen. Putnam himself. The muskets were ordered to reserve their fire till the enemy were within eight rods. Joseph Spaulding, however, of Ford's company, could not resist the temptation and discharged his musket, as did some others, while the enemy paused to destroy a fence which obstructed their way. The inscription on his grave-stone, which stands in the old grave-yard, says : " He was among the brave asserters and defenders of his country at Bunker Hill, where he opened the battle by firing upon the enemy before orders were given."

When the word was given, the fowling-pieces mowed down their victims with fatal celerity, and the enemy was obliged to retreat, " leaving on the ground," as Gen. Stark related, " where but the day before the mowers had swung the scythe in peace, the dead, as thick as sheep in a fold." When upon the third assault of the enemy the fortunes of the day were reversed, and the Americans were obliged to retreat from the redoubt, the force at the rail fence, where some reinforcements had been received, maintained their ground with great firmness and intrepidity, and successfully resisted every attempt to turn their flank. This line indeed was nobly defended. The force here did great service, for it saved the main body, who were retreating in disorder from the redoubt, from being cut off by the enemy. When it was perceived that the force under Col. Prescott had left the hill, these brave men gave ground, but with more regularity than could have been expected of troops who had been no longer under discipline. Capt. Ford behaved with great spirit in the engagement. Thirteen men of his company were wounded. Benj. Pierce, afterward Gen. Pierce, and the father of President Pierce, was a member of his company.

" Capt. Benj. Walker led his company of about fifty resolute men, ten of whom were from Chelmsford, into Charlestown before the battle commenced to annoy the enemy's left flank. They did great execution and then abandoned their dangerous position to attack the right flank on Mystic River. Here the captain was wounded and taken prisoner. He died of his wounds in Boston Jail." Lieut.-Col. Moses Parker, also of Chelmsford, was wounded and left in the redoubt. He was a skillful and brave veteran of the French Wars and behaved with great gallantry.

The British carried him to Boston, where he died, aged forty-three. He was a good officer, much beloved by his regiment, and his loss was severely felt. An obituary notice of him in the New England Chronicle, July 21, 1775, says : " In him fortitude, prudence, humanity and compassion all conspired to heighten the lustre of his military virtues," and it states that " through the several commissions to which his merit entitled him, he had always the pleasure to find that he possessed the esteem and respect of his soldiers, and the applause of his countrymen." The notice concludes : " God grant each individual that now is, or may be engaged in the American Army, an equal magnitude of soul, so shall their names unsullied, be transmitted in the latest catalogue of fame, and if any vestiges of liberty shall remain, their praises shall be rehearsed through the earth till the sickles of time shall crop the nation.''

The first news of the battle was received in Chelmsford by special messenger from Billerica the same evening, and caused great excitement and anxiety on account of the uncertainty as to the extent which our own men suffered. The alarm-guns were fired, and before morning several of the wounded returned. Parson Bridge writes in his diary upon that day : " A terrible day this in relation to our army, in battle with our oppressors at Charlestown. The whole town on fire. The armies engaged on Bunker's Hill. At night we saw a fire from Chelmsford." On the 18th he writes : " The armies at Charlestown still engaged and news flying with respect to the slain and wounded." He expresses the intensity of his feelings in the following language: "This is a day big with distress and trouble. Our enemies are those who were our brethren of the same nation, and subjects of the same king, and all for the sake of a wicked and corrupt ministry, a deluded, a devilish, a venal parliament."

During the seven long years of the war for independence which followed these opening battles, this town took its full share of the burden, by providing men and means, although the names of many of the men who served in the army from the town are not preserved to us. Capt. John Minot enlisted a company in December, 1776, seventeen of whom were from Chelmsford. In July, 1776, Capt. Ford and his company were again called out. On the morning of July 23d, they marched to the meeting-house, where the par.son. Rev. Mr. Bridge, prayed with them and gave them a word of exliortalion, and then they took up the line of march to join the army in Canada.

In September, 1777, Capt. Ford was again sent with a company of fifty-two men to reinforce the northern army. They were present at the time of the surrender of Burgoyne. In 1777 thirty men were raised for three years or during the war. The town voted to give them a bounty of £20 each over what the State and Congress paid. In consequence of the depreciation of the currency, it was afterward commuted to twenty head of horned cattle, of a middling size, per man. If the war lasted one year they were to have their cattle at one year old; if it continued two years, at two years old, and so on in the same proportion. In 1778, six men were drafted to go to Rhode Island. In 1779 sixteen men were enlisted to go to Rhode Island for three months. In 1780 the militia were empowered by the town to enlist fifteen men for the Continental service, and the selectmen were instructed to raise money and produce for nine months' service. In addition to the names already given of those who lost their lives in the service of their country, the history records the names of John Bates, David Spaulding, Lieut. Robert Spaulding, Pelatiah Adams and Henry Fletcher.

In May, 1776, before the Declaration of Independence was written, this town anticipated the measure and gave its adhesion to it in advance, by the following vote : " If it should be the pleasure of the Honorable Continental Congress to declare an Independent state with respect to Great Britain this town will stand by them to the expense of life and fortunes."

It will be noticed that Col. Stoddard, whose name is so conspicuous in the period immediately preceding the outbreak of hostilities, does not figure in that struggle. This was due to the fact that he continued loyal to the government of Great Britain.

The feelings of respect in which he had hitherto been held now changed to those of animosity, and even his high position did not save him from those indignities which were everywhere heaped upon the Tories. His house was assailed with stones and his fence destroyed.'

Shays' Rebellion. - The period between the close of the war for independence and the adoption of the Federal Constitution was a trying one for the new nation. The history of this time is ably treated in Fisk's "Critical Period of American History." The heavy burden of debt entailed by that long struggle, obnoxious tariff laws between the several States, and the utter demoralization of the currency were prominent among the causes of that restlessness, which culminated in those deplorable acts of resistance which so sullied the fair fame of Massachusetts, known as Shays' Rebellion. Perhaps at no time in her history has Chelmsford shone so conspicuous among her sister towns for her patriotism as at this crisis. Committees were chosen to co-oporate with those of other towns in measures for suppressing the insurrection. A detachment from the militia consisting of twenty-six men were in the memorable expedition under General Lincoln whicb marched

War of the Rebellion. - The record of the town in the War of the Rebellion was in the highest degree honorable. When President Lincoln issued the call for 75,000 men, a public meeting was called which was fully attended and all of the speeches expressed the most patriotic sentiments. Three thousand dollars was pledged by individuals present to encourage enlistments and aid the families of those who should enter the service.

Every call for volunteers was responded to. The records kept by the selectmen show that the total number of men who had entered the service accredited to the town was 229, which was eighteen in excess of all the calls which had been made by the government, and that the town had incurred an indebtedness in consequence of the war amounting to $27,623. Every dollar of this honorable debt has since been paid.

The account of the selectmen is by no means a complete record of the services of Chelmsford soldiers. Some of the names, those who served for two different terms of enlistment, appear twice. In the " Record of Massachusetts Volunteers '' by the adjutant-general, the names of Chelmsford men apppear who are not upon the town records. One of these, William R. Patch, was the first Chelmsford volunteer. He was not mustered in, but joined the ranks as they were marching to the defence of the capital, and was wounded at Baltimore upon the memorable 19th of April, 1861. In another case the same published records, by an unfortunate error, class Elijah N. Day, who sacridced his life for his country, as a deserter, one whom his comrades know to have been as true a man as ever faced the enemy.

The records should be carefully examined and corrected upjn the tjwn-book wli'.le there are living witnesses to correct clerical inaccuracies. The following are the names of those who did not live to enjoy the gratitude of their countrymen :

Chapter Xvil Educational History

The natural desire of an intelligent people to educate their children was, in the case of the founders of New England, stimulated by their religious zeal. Of their political fabric the Bible was the chief corner-stone. As they interpreted the Divine will, through the written word, their course was governed in all things. It was regarded, therefore, as a sacred duty to provide so much instruction as to enable the children to read and understand the Bible.

The General Court made education compulsory. In 1642 an act was passed requiring the selectmen "to have a vigilant eye over their brethren and neighbors to see first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach, by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them perfectly to read the English tongue."

For the first forty years it is probable that the teaching was mainly confined to that given by the good mothers at their homes, aided, perhaps, by the minister.

The first record of a teacher appointed by the town is as follows : "Samuel Fletcher is Apointed to be a scolle-master for the town for the year 1696, by order of the selectmen. Thomas Parker Clarke."

Samuel Fletcher, the first school-master, became prominent in the affairs of the town, occupying at different times the several positions of town clerk, treasurer and selectman.

The next record in regard to the schools is evidently incomplete. It reads: " May the 12 : 16: 98 the towne being m*' edward emerson schoolmaster for the year 1698." This teacher belonged to that family of Emersons which numbered among its descendants Ralph Waldo Emerson, of Concord. The town granted him land at different times. He married a daughter of Dea. Cornelius Waldo, His house stood where Mr. Allan Cameron now lives, in Westford Centre, For the year following the record stands: "Agust the 26''' 1699. the selectmen of said towne Apointed Samuel Fletcher Junr Schoolmaster to Learne young persons to write; on the Day Above said Selectmen Apointed for Scooldames : Deacon Fosters wife, Jno Wrights : Moses Barretts wife and Joshua Fletchers wife."

There was at this time no school-house in town. The children gathered at the house of the nearest teacher or school-dame. The teachers must, therefore, be selec*;ed somewhat in reference to their location in the different neighborhoods.

Deacon Foster lived not far from the centre of the town ; Joshua Fletcher was in the Stony Brook neighborhood, now in Westford ; Moses Barrett was near where E, F. Dupee new lives, in South Chelmsford, and John Wright lived at the Neck, now Lowell,

For the two succeeding years there was no grammar school. Towns were often complained of and fined by the Court for their neglect to provide suitable schools. Chelmsford was now reminded of her duty in that respect, as the following indicates : At a general town-meeting " March 30"', 1702, A proposition was mad whether we should apply our selves to y" General court by our Debety in Releranc to our being presented to the quarter session & finned at sd court for not having a Uramraar School y' we may endeavor by a petisionHo sd general court to be eased in our greivance on y' account this was voted in y^ Afirmitive.

In August the same year the town chose a committee to ''agree w' A scoolmaster for sd Towne." "September 4, 1702, captain Bowers cornet Hili & Eleazar Brown s«° Agreed w' Sir Weld to be our scoolmaster half a year for 15' y* sd Sir Weld begun to keep school on y* 1st of October, 1702."

This teacher was a son of Rev. Thomas Weld, the first minister of the church of Dunstable. He had just graduated from Harvard College. He died in 1704.

The next year 1703, "capt Bowers and me"^: Emerson wer chosen to Joyn with the Selectmen to Agree with a scoll master to save the Towne from a fine." In 1705 " the selectmen of sd towne Appointed Moses Barron and Eben wright Scole Masters to teach young parsons To Right And one the Day a boue sd the wido Burdg the wife of John Snow the Wife of Israll Prockter the wife of old tom Cory the wife of sargent Samuell Foster war Appointed scools Dames for the teaching of children to Reed." Moses Barron, one of the writing teachers, was also town clerk, and the record upon the town-book, of which the above is a copy, stands in his handwriting. The spelling, use of capitals and punctuation, here snown, are exactly as it appears upon the records.

He represented the lown at the General Court and held other important offices. He was town treasurer at the time of his death, which occurred in 1719. His house stood near where Charles Sweetser now lives, upon South Street. Ebenezer Wright, the other Bchool-master, lived in the neighborhood of what is now Middlesex Village in Lowell. There were three brothers, John, Joseph and Ebenezer, living in that section in 16'J2.

School -dame Snow lived near the present West ford depot on the Stony Brook Railroad. The neighborhood was known as the " Stony Brook houses." Mrs. Corey lived in the south part of the town near Great Brook, now in Carlisle.

The grammar school was found to be a heavy burden of expense. For several years it was not sustained, and the town was again brought to task by the Court, and a petition was sent in " as to an easnientof our gramer Scoole."

At "A Generali Toune Meting March the 7"", 1709- 10, voted that the selectmen shall agree With a man to teach children and youth to Wright and sifer and kep scool in Chelmsford," and in 1711 " the Selectmen are appointed By the note of the towne to provide a Scoolmaster as the Law Derects." The following year five pounds were paid to "m' Cheney for being our Scoolmaster."

From this time forward the town was not without a school for some part of each year. The grammar school, however, had not yet become firmly established. The town was called upon to answer for want of one in 1714, 1716, 1721 and again in 1726.

At a " Town Meeting May the : 12"', 1718, voted to Petition the genorall court that the fishing place at Pattuctt may be granted to Chelmsford for the benifit ofseportinga scoole in Chelmsford the fishing-place one the south side meremack."

Before the waters of the Merrimack were diverted from their native channel, to furnish motive-power for manufacturing, the fishing industry was a most important one. Allen, writing in 1820, says : " The quantity of salmon, shad and alewives caught in Chelmsford annually may be computed at about twenty-five hundred barrels, besides a large quantity of other fish of less value." The river derives its name from the Indian name of the sturgeon.

As the settlements extended each year farther from the centre of the town the question of the location of the schools assumed more importance and sometimes occasioned lively contests. An article-annually appeared in the warrant for the March meeting similar to the following :

"To agree and vote in what part or parts of the said town the Grammar sctool or other schools shall be kept the year ensuing, and to act in that affair as shall be thought proj^er." Upon this question, in 1716, the town "voated that the scule master shall keep scule in the fore quarters of the town one month at a time in one place.

Mr. Nathaniel Prentice, of Cambridge, was the schoolmaster for the years 1718, 1719, 1720. He graduated from Harvard College in 1714. He was afterwards the second ministerof the church of Dunstable, where he labored until his death, in 1737.

"Chelmsford, September 22i1, 1719. "The select men have agreed with m'. Nathaniel Preutice, of Cambride, to keep scoole in Chelmsford from the firs of October next ensuing the Date untill the firs Day of Aprill, 1720, the above sd Nathaniel Prentice does obleige himself to Keep Scoole six hours every Day in sd term exept it be Saturday, Dayes which he is alowed for himself, For wliith sd prentice is to have eigteen pounds."

The school, as we have seen, rotated between the four quarters of the town - one month at the centre of the town, the next, perhaps, in the Stony Brook neighborhood, five miles distant, the third at the south end. This school was usually near where the

No. 3 School-house was afterwards built, on the road leading from South Chelmsford to Carlisle, past the house of Mr. Quimby. The last month was at the north end. This included, in addition to the present No. 2 District, all that part of the town to the north and northeast, including what is now Lowell.

The land for this building was granted by the town to William Fletcher for this purpose, and by him conveyed to the subscribers. It appears by the description that this school-house stood upon land now occupied by the horse-sheds belonging to the First Congregational Society.

"Chelmsford, octobr the 27"i, 1718. "Laid out To W'illam Fletcher, one m' Moses Fisk's Right three Rod and half of Land at the most Easterly Cornar of the bnring Place in Chelmsford afore sd the same being more or Less to the use of the subscribers to the bulding of a'Shoole house up on sd Land being bated and bounded as foloweth Eastwardly uji on a stake and heape of stons southerle by the buring Place Wall to a stake and heape of stons which is the most soutterle Cornar on the westerle Cornar to a stake and heape of stons, the Northerle Cornar to a stake and heape of stons And to the bounds first mentioned.

" November the 28"' : 1718. " These Presents Declars that I, Willam Fletcher, a boue sd do give the three Rods and a half a boue Laid oute at the Northerie Cornar of the Buring Place on Which the Schoole-house stands to them that bult it to them there heirs and asignes for Euer and to that use for euer as " Witness my hand and seale in Presence of " Robert Richardson. Samuel HowapiD.

The second school-house must have been erected soon after, for in 1720 a road was laid out from the " North School-house " leading over the home meadow and Carolina Plains. The building stood a few rods east of J. R. Parkhurst's green-houses, at the point where the road intersects with the old Middlesex turnpike. It is probable that this school-house was also paid fur by subscription, as there is no evidence that the town raised money for such purposes prior to 1794.

Mr. Whipple's work did not meet with unanimous approval. But he was sustained by a majority of the citizens in the following vote in 1724 : " voted that the Petition of Moses Parker and nine others, freeholders who Petitioned that the School-master be Dismissed and a committee chose to provide another in his Room, be dismissed." Mr. Thomas Frink, of Sudbury, followed Whipple and taught three years, when the town paid John Spaulding - " to wait upon Mr. Frink home."

.Samson Stoddard, a son of the minister, taught for five years, ending in 1734. He was a graduate of Harvard, a gentleman of culture and strong character. His relation to public affairs is treated in another place.

Oliver Fietcher, of this town, taught six years, beginning in 1750. He was a graduate of Harvard, class of 1735. He was a person of high character, and received many honors at the hands of his fellow-townsmen. He was town clerk for a number of years, and the records that he has left are elegantly written. Bridge refers to his death, which occurred in 1771, as a " great loss." Allen says of him, " His piety and integrity gave him great ascendancy over his fellow-townsmen, and secured their esteem and confidence."

The action of the town in locating the grammar school sometimes occasioned great dissatisfaction to the people in the more remote sections. In one case, 1724, when the town voted to " settle" the school at the centre of the town, two citizens, Joseph Underwood and Ebenezer Wright, entered their formal protest. Underworld lived at what is now the centre of Westford, and Wright lived where Edwin Heyward now resides, near Chamberlin's corner. The next year the wishes of the dissenters were respected, and the west end was given four months school.

For several seasons after Westford was set off the grammar school was continued throughout the year at the centre of the town. At other times the vote would be to keep "one-half in the north end and onehalf in the south end," and again it would be decided to " circulate." None of the plans met with sufficient favor to become permanent until 1757. That year the time was divided between the north end, the centre and the south end. This method was annually adopted, with but one or two exceptions, until the formation of the school districts in 1792.

The north end embraced what is now District No. 2, and North Chelmsford (then called Newfield) and the neck (now Lowell). The school-house for this wide section was less than two miles from the centre of the town, but the school was sometimes kept at a dwelling-house at the neck, " where the neighborhood should appoint."

The school-house at the south end was built about 1753. It was upon the road leading from South Chelmsford to Carlisle, past the house of Mr. Quimby. The old school-house now forms a portion of a dwelling, upon the same spot.

Schools of a primary grade, for " reeding, Righting and Cyphering," were provided at the same time for the different sections and held in dwelling-houses.

" Voted one month schooling at Newfield, one month at Mr. David Spaulding's, one month in Concord River Neck, so-called, and five weeks on the mill road, so-called, and eight weeks at, or near, Mr. John Adams."

This record is valuable, as it defines the limits of the neck district, and furnishes a basis for estimating the population of Lowell one hundred years ago.

Simeon Mores' house stood upon what is now Moore Street. Joseph Pierce lived near the present City Farm buildings, and Philip Parker upon West Pine Street, near the Highland School. This district then embraced all of what is now Lowell, excepting what lies beyond the Concord and Merrimack Rivers.

The children were provided with three months' school in the little red school-house, which stood upon what is now School Street, near the cemetery. The first mention, in the records, of a school-house in this section was in 1767.

Soon after the adoption of the Federal Constitution, in 1789, the school district system began to develop. Up to this time the management of the schools had been in the hands of the selectmen. In 1792 this authority was, for the first time, transferred to a School Committee, as it has since continued. The change was not made without a struggle. But after several adjournments and attempts at reconsiderations, the following vote was recorded: "that a select committee be chosen to provide the grammar school-masters and all other school-masters, and that said committee proportion, inspect and regulate said schools."

The committee chosen consisted of nine persona, one from each district or " squadron." In 1794 it was "voted to raise £250, for the purpose of building school -houses, each squadron to draw their own money for building their school-house, location decided by vote of members of squadrons."

One of thfse last was undoubtedly in Carlisle, where the school-house now stands, north of Great Brook, and the other was in Lowell. This portion of the town had now begun to develop. The little red schoolhouse was outgrown, and three others took its place, - one at the corner of Parker and Powell Streets, another on Pawtucket Street where the City Hospital stands, and the third at Middlesex.

In these district schools men teachers were usually employed for the winter terms and women for the summer. The grammar school now disappears, and its loss must have gone far towards offsetting the advantages of the new system.

In 1801 a new school-house was built in the "Mill Row " District (now No. 4), costing $310, and the following year a new brick school-house took the place of the original structure at District No. 1, at a cost of $500. This building is now used by the town for a hearse-house.

The district schools had some famous teachers, among whom was Willard Parker, afterwards the eminent physician of New York. He taught in the old brick school-house in the winters of 1821, '22 and '23.^ Dr. Parker was a descendant of one of the five brothers who came from Wobum and settled in Chelmsford in 1658. He graduated from Harvard College in 1826, studied medicine under the direction of Dr. John C. Warren, Professor of Surgery in Harvard University, and took his degree of M.D. in 1830. He was at once appointed Professor of Anatomy at the Medical School at Woodstock, Vt., and the same year, the same position at the Berkshire Medical Institution. His appointment to the chair of surgfry a'u the same college soon followed. In 1836 he filled the chair of surgery at the Cincinnati Medical College. He soon after visited Europe and spent considerable time in the hospitals of London and Paris. Upon his return he was appointed to the chair of surgery in the College of Physicians in New York City, a position which he held for thirty years. He was one of the founders of the Academy of Medicine and at one time its president.

In 1870 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by a college in New Jersey. Dr. Parker was a son of Jonathan Parker, who removed to New Hampshire when a young man. He returned to Chelmsford when Willard was five years old and settled upon the hill where Riley Davis now lives on South Street. Jonathan was "Jock" in those days, and he was called " Hill Jock " to distinguish him from another Jonathan Parker, his next neighbor, who was called " Trooper Jock."

Dr. Parker always retained his interest in Chelmsford. He kept the old homestead until near the close of his life, when the care of it became too perplexing. _

The feelings with which he regarded it are shown in a letter written in 1879 : " I love it as my old home, and where my parents lived, worked hard and died." His death occurred in New York City in April, 1884.

Chelmsford Classical School. - The desire of the people for better educational advantages, for those wishing to pursue the more advanced studies, led to the establishment of the Chelmsford Classical School in 1825. The building, which has since been converted into a parsonage for the Central Baptist Society, was erected for that purpose. The funds for the support of the school were furnished by individual enterprise.

Although the Chelmsford Classical School had a brief existence the town has occasion to feel proud of its results. Probably at no other period has so many young men gone out from the schools of Chelmsford to gain distinction abroad and confer honor upon their native town.

The following distinguished men were among the pupils of Ralph Waldo Emerson, or the teachers who immediately followed him: Judge Josiah G.Abbott, of Boston ; Hon. Fletcher Abbott, Esq., who died at Toledo, Ohio ; Morrill Wyman, A.M., M.D., LL.D., who is still in the practice of his profession at Cambridge, Massachusetts ; Professor Jeffries Wyman, M.D. ; the late Benjamin P. Hunt, of Philadelphia, and the late Professor John Daiton, M.D., of New York, who gained a national reputation in his profession.

J. G. Abbott entered Harvard College at the age of thirteen. After completing his studies there hechose the profession of the law, in which he rapidly rose to distinction. He has also occupied many high positions of political honor, among them that of member of the United States Congress. A more extended notice of him is given in the chapter upon the Middlesex Bar. Benjamin P. Hunt, born May 18, 1808, entered Harvard College in 1828. From there he went to Philadelphia and engaged in teaching a classical and scientific school. He sailed for Kingston, Jamaica, March 6, 1840, in the capacity of supercargo. He wrote an account of his voyage which was published in The Dial in 1843. Emerson said of it: " It seems to me the best of all sea voyages. Besides its rhetorical value, it has another quite additional, inasmuch as it realizes so fully for me the promise of the large, wise boy who made my school-days in Chelmsford so glad by his lively interest in books and his native delight in ethical thought, and life looks more solid and rich to me when I see these many years keep their faith." Hawthorne pays the following high tribute to the literary excellence of the article - " a solid example of facts which had not lost their vigor by passing through the mind of a thinker."

Although actively engaged in business his scholarly mind was at work in other directions. He made a study of the West Indian negro character, and he got together a unique collection of books relating to those islands. It is said that his collection of works relating to the Antilles is the most complete in the country, if not in the world.

In 1858 he retired from business and settled in Philadelphia. Here he became actively engaged in charitable and philanthropical movements, especially those for the benefit of the freedmen.

Through his efforts the orphans of the negro soldiers were collected and provided for in a home upon the banks of the Delaware. In June, 1869, Mr. Hunt was requested by President Grant, through Secretary Fish, to "join a party of gentlemen going to the West Indies for the purpose of obtaining information concerning several interesting localities in those islands, but more especially Saint Domingo." He was deeply interested in the project of annexation, but sickness prevented his taking part with the commission,

Jeffries Wyman was Professor of Anatomy at Harvard College at the time of the famous murder of Dr. Parkman by Professor Webster, and the trial largely turned upon the scientific investigations of Professor Wyman. His death occurred September 4, 1874.

The need of better educational advantages than were offered by the public schools led to a movement in 1859 for the establishment of a school of a higher grade. The use of the building erected for the Chelmsford Classical School, thirty-four years before, was obtained, and on Aug. 29, 1859, the " Chelmsford Academy " was opened. Albert Stickney, A.B., a graduate of Harvard University, was the principal. The trustees were: Levi Howard, M.D., William Fletcher, Dea. David Perham, Charles H. Daiton, Edward F. Richardson, Solomon E. Byamand Edwin H. Warren.

Mr. Stickney was succeeded by Edward E. Spalding, now of Passadena, Cal. Mr. Spalding was a native of the town, and had had a long and successful experience as an instructor.

But in the mean time the War of the Rebellion came on. Some of the pupils joined the ranks of the army. The trustees were unable to secure the support necessary for its maintenance, and in 1862 the school was closed.

The first saw-mili, established in 1656, has already been mentioned. In 1669 the town granted a large tract of land to Thomas Henchman, William fletcherand Josiah Richardson to encourage the erection of another saw-mill in the northwest part of the town. The contract stipulated that the inhabitants of the town "shall have their boards at four shillings per hundred, and not exceeding that price, for any kind of pay that the inhabitants can make at price current between man and man, in this town ; and that any of the inhabitants of said town, by giving timely notice to any of the owners, shall be supplied for their pay before others. And it is further agreed that the aforesaid owners of the mill shall have full liberty to take from the town common what timber they see meet to work in the mill."

The location of this mill was at what is now called Westford Corner, upon Saw-mill Meadow Brook, M'hich flows from Nabnasset Pond and empties into the Stony Brook at that point. A mill was continued here until within the memory of persons now living.

There is some evidence of there having been a mill at an early day upon Stony Brook below the file shop at West Chelmsford. An excavation like a wheel-pit is still pointed out, and marks of an old cart-path leading in the direction of the Crooked Springs Rnad. The late Dea. Isainh Spaulding (born 1792) related the tradition that a corn-mill stood there.

In 1678 a saw-mill was built upon Beaver Brook, at the centre of the town, by Abraham Parker and his sons, Moses and John. It is probable that a gristmill was soon added, as a deed given by Abraham to .John, in 1679, mentions "y'' upper & low'' Dam.'' The old wheel-pit of the mill at the upper dam is still to be seen beside the railroad track, a few rods above the machine-shop. The entrance to this mill was from the " lane," at the point where Alfred Day now resides. The mill was removed to the lower dam within the memory of the older residents. Dutton Brothers (Lewis M. and Edwin E.) are the present proprietors.

In 1673 (Feb. 3d) the following action was taken by the town : " the day above, by a major voatt was granted to farther the Iron-woiks that thy shall have for M. a cord leave to cutt wood acording to former agreement." I find no further record in regard to iron-work at so early a date. It probably refers to works near the outlet of Forge Pond, then in Groton.

The people in the east part of the town were accommodated by a grist-mill upon the Coucord River at what is now North Billerica. The following vote refers to the mill at that place: "7 of March, 1721-2. Voted that the Selectmen in the name of the Town Petition to the Hon'^ General Court that Mr. Christopher Osgood's mill Dam may be speedily erected again." Osgood's grant from the town of Billerica was in 1708.

The Third Grist-Milt.. - In 1695 Daniel Waldo had leave "to set up a grist-mill at the mouth of stony brook below the way that leads to Dunstable between Merrimack river and the bridge." He was obliged to contract "to grind the corn anr^ malt of the inhabitants of Chelmsford, except on the forth day of each week, which was appropriated to the use of Dunstable. He was to grind the town's corn and malt for half toll, except a small quantity as a bushel, or the like, and according to turn, as much as may be." ' The original mill was situated on the northerly side of Sr,ony Brook.

In 1709 the mill was owned by one John Richardson, as at a town-meeting held May 25, 1709, "It was voted that John Richardson shall have the Liberty of Drawing of the pond called New- field pond to suply his mill with Water; and shall have the benefit of sd pond to thet high-water mark."- Acting under this authority, he dug through a narrow bank which separated the pond from the Stony Brook Valley. The water, let into a sandy channel which they had dug for it, soon cut a passage for itself, carrying in its current a negro, who happened to be the only person in the ditch at the time, until a pond, covering ninety acres, was in a very short time emptied, leaving only about one acre covered with water. The body of the negro was never found.

The mill property and quite a tract of adjacent land came into the possession of William Adams, Esq., in part, through a descendiint of John Richardson, and an ancestor of Mr. Adams. In 1814 Mr. Adams rebuilt the grist-mill on the southerly side of the brook, on an improved plan, with three runs of atone, each run by a separate tub-wheel, each one of which was at a different height, so as to be able to run one or all, according to the height of the water in the river. The corn-mill had a fauning-wheel near the mouth of the shoe to blow out the chaff. The other had a tin sieve to let out the sand, sorrel and other small impurities. The saw-mill was rebuilt in 1815.' Mr. Adams owned and occupied the mill until 1822, when it was sold to the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, by whom it was purchased to secure the right of flowage by the erection of the dam at Pawtucket Falls. It was sold by the Merrimack Manufacturing Company to the Locks and Canal Company, who leased it to different parties until 1839, when it was sold to Lincoln Drake. In 1842 Lincoln Drake sold to Charles Blood. In 1845 Charles Blood sold one-half to William Swett. In 1848 William Sweit sold his half to Joel Paige. In 1861, Edward Lamson, J. E. Rogers and Warren C. Hamblet bought the mill. From 1695 to this time the privilege had been used for grinding grain and sawing lumber. Between the years 1863 and 1868 the saw-mill was taken out, an additional story put on the saw-mill building and the mill utilized for grinding and storing grain for a grain-store in Lowell.

A spice and drug-mill was also introduced, where drugs were ground for J. C. Ayer & Co., for the compounding of their medicines. Large quantities of gypsum were ground at one time during their occupancy of the mill. For a short time a portion of the room was occupied in the manufacture of worsted yarn by Sharp & Axtell. Later the manufacture of hosiery was carried on for a time.

In 1868 James C. Dodge bought the mill, and in 1871 sold one-half his interest to John G. Sherburn, using it largely for milling purposes in connection with a grain and flour store kept by them in Lowell.