MEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Extract from the Regulations.

Any resident of the town over the a^e of four teen years may take out one book.

No book (e.xcept those marked thirty days) shall be kept out more than foirteex days at one time.

or every day beyond this, there shall be a fine of two cents.

Every book returned shall remain in the Library until the next Library day. ^

Rooks lost or damaged must be paid for or re-

P aced All penalties shall be rigidly enforced, and

the Libiarian shall deliver no books to anv person 'vho shall be delinquent by non-payment of fines or unsettled claims for damage or loss of books.

All books shall be returned for annual inspec- tion at such time as the library committee may di- rect under penalty of one-half the cost of each book

daily (excepting Sun- jrom 7 to 9

MEDFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Extract from the Regulations*

Any resident of the town over the age of fourteen years may take out one book.

No book (except those marked thirty days) shall be kept out more than fourteen days at one time. For every day beyond this, there shall be a fine of two cents.

Every book returned shall remain in the Library until the next Library day.

Books lost or damaged must be paid for or replaced. All penalties shall be rigidly enforced, and the Librarian shall deliver no books to any pierson who shall be delinquent by non-payment of fines or unsettled claims for damage or loss of books.

.All books shall be returned for annual inspection at such time as the Library Committee may direct, under penalty of one-half the cost of each book.

The Library ‘Will be open daily (excepting Sundays and holidays) from 2 to 6, and from 7 to 9 o’clock.

Record number 611961788

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Q. O'	bll96l788 Last Updated: 02
C	Language eng English
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Q.	LCCN	010
	Misc.	040
QJ	Misc	043
■<	Misc.	046
3 QJ	Classification No.	050 0
	Author	100 1 0
Q.	Title	245 0 4
	Publication Info.	260 0
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19880316141100.0

810225 s 1891 mau

01011648 I229994874.C..

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F74.S94|bH8

[Ayer. Mass..|bA S. Hudson]|c1891 p. cm,

Maynard (Mass.)|xDescrjption and travel Maynard (Mass.)|xHistory.

Wayland (Mass.)|xHistory.

Wayland (Mas$.)|xOescription and travel Sudbury (Mass.)|xDe$cription and travel Sudbury (Mass.)ixHistory.

A8E-4266

Cat Date 04-01-2003

Btb Level m MONOGRAPH

Material Type a BOOK

eng d

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Bib Code 3 .

Country mau Massachusetts

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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library

https://archive.org/details/annalsofsudburywOOhuds_0

Gift of

Mr. and Mrs. George Vinsonhaler October 1980

3 4869 00060 2

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For Reference

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THE

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ANNALS

OF

SUDBURY, WAYLAYD, AND MAYNARD,

1 1 D D LE SE X COUNTY ,

MASSACHUSETTS.

BY

ALFRED SERENO HUDSON, c/

AUTHOR OF

“HISTORA^ OF SUDBURAV’ “HISTORA^ OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, AA'ER,” “FIRESIDE HYMNS,” “HOME MELODIES,” ETC.

“ Footprints on the sands of time.”

Longfellow.

ILLUSTRATED.

1891.

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Copyright

I!Y

ALFRED S. HUDSON, 1891.

TO

AVUO HAS BEEN AN EFFICIENT AND FAITIIFFI, CO-AVOKKEIi WITH -ME IN THE I>KEI>AI!ATU)N OF THIS AND OTHEH DUBEICATIONS, THIS VOLUJIE, DESIGNED TO PEliPETUATE THE NOBEE AND HEKOIC ACTIONS OF THE PKESENT AND 1‘AST GENEKATTONS OF IIEI! TOWN AND JUNE, IS AFFEC-

TIONATELY AND GIIATEFULLY INSCKIBED.

PREFACE.

It is important for the reader of these pages to remember tliat the towns, whose annals are here presented, with the exception of a part of Maynard, constituted the original township of Sudbury ; and that, therefore, while this volume contains three distinct town histories, it contains, at the same time, the history of one township.

Wayland and Maynard were not colonies of Sudbury, but had a common origin with it. Their inhabitants assisted in laying out the Plantation, and in making its early laws ; they shared in common the privations of the infant settlement, worshipped in the same church, and were buried in the same church-yard. It is plain, then, that the history of either of these towns would be incomplete without the histories of the others ; and, therefore, that it is appropriate to issue them all in one volume, and thus furnish the public with a complete outline history of the ancient township of Sudbury, in all its parts, down to the present time.

The above facts, moreover, will explain any repetition that may occur, and also show the necessity of reading the whole book consecutively in ordei’ to get a complete history of either town.

A large part of the annals contained in this volume was prepared by the writer for the History of Middlesex County, published by Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, and, to an extent, was originally written for the “ History of Sudbury,” which was published by that town in 1889. This statement will account for the size, shape, and general plan of the book. The Annals of Wayland have been supplemented by a lengthy Appendix, because that town has had no comprehensive history published like that of Sudbury, and the space allowed by the publishers of the County History was insufficient to admit of more than a brief outline. Maynard is comparatively a new town, so that a complete history of it could be given in the space allowed for the historic narrative as prepared for the work of Lewis & Co., hence no appen- dix is needed.

March 20, 1891.

A. S. H.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.

The author would hereby express his thanks to all persons who have in any way aided in the publication of this volume.

Especial thanks are due to Mr. James S. Draper for his effort in soliciting pictures, and for taking entire charge of all those which were made bv the Autoglyph process; also for his valuable literary contributions, credit for which is given in this work ; and for valu- able information relative to Way land.

Thanks are due to Mr. A. W. Cutting for taking photographs of several places and otherwise aiding in the work of illustration.

Thanks are due to Mr. Atherton W. Rogers, who, as one of the Goodnow Library Trustees, kindly furnished several plates from which pictures were made.

We would also recognize the services of those who have furnished pictures of persons and places in which the community are interested.

We would also express our gratitude for information relative to the history of Maynard which was received from the late Asahel Balcom, Esq.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

SUDBURY.

Date of Settlement.— Territorial Limits. — Indian Name. — Indians. — Origin of Settlement. — By whom Settled. — Names of Settlers. — Passenger List of the Ship “Confidence.” — Character of the Settlers. — Land Grants. — Indian Deeds. — Incorporation of the Town. — Name. — Locality first Settled. — Town Meetings. — Town OflScers. — Their Work. — Highways. — Bridges. — Causeway. — Formation of Church. — Settlement of Minister. — Erection of Meeting House. — Land Divi- sions.— Cow Common. — Laying out of New Lands. — The Thirty-Rod Highway. — Old Lancaster Road. — The Hop-Brook Mill. — New Road. — New Meeting House. — Cow Common Controversy. — King Philip’s War. — Garrison Houses. — Attack on the Town. — Date of Attack. — Number of the Indians. — General Assault. — The Wadsworth Fight. — Forest Fire. — The Retreat. — Loss of the English. — The Captured. — The Survivors. — Burial of the Dead. — Place of Burial. — Erection of Saw-Mill. — Death of Rev. Edmund Browm. • — New Meeting-House. — Military Matters. — Schools. — Division of the Town into two Parochial Precincts.

New Meeting-Houses. — French and Indian Wars. — Work-House. — Sketch of Dr. Israel Loring. — Revo- lutionary War. — Military Preparations. — Sudbury Sol- diers at the Battle of Bunker Hill. — Government Storehouses at Sand Hill. — Casualties. — Sketch of Gen. John Nixon. — Division of the Town. — New Meeting-House. — Formation of Methodist Church. — Organization of Orthodox Congregational Church. — Dismission and Settlement of Ministers. The Wads- worth Monument. — Schools. — Wadsworth Academy. — The Goodnow Library. — Railroads. — Civil War. — List of Casualties. — Summary of Service. — Bi-Cen- tennial.— George Goodnow Bequest. — Town Action relative to the Publication of The History of Sud- bury.— The 250th Anniversaiy Celebration. — Burying Grounds. — Wayside Inn. — Sudbury River. — Incorpo- ration of the Union Evangelical Church. — Erection of Meeting-House at South Sudbury. — Building of New School-House at Sudbury Centre. Village Im- provement Society. — Board of Trade.

PART 11.

A ISTD.

Date of the Separation of Wayland Territory from Sudbury. — Situation and Description of Territory. — Special Land Grants. — Indian Owner. — Early Condi- tion of the Country. — Indians. — ‘‘Connecticut Path.” — Location of Early Homesteads. — Highways.— Bridg- es.— Grist Mill. — Organization of Church. — Settle- ment of Minister. — Erection of Meeting-House. — Division of Meadow Land. — Principle of Division. — Early Laws and Usages. — Common Planting Fields. — Fences. — Staple Crops. — Climate. — Care of the Poor. Encouragements to Industry. — Education. — Philip’s War. — Services of Ephraim Curtis, the Scout. — Com- mencement of Indian Hostilities. — The Attack. — The Repulse. — Retreat of Enemy over the Town Bridge. — Death of Rev. Edmund Brown. — Settlement of Rev. James Sherman. — Purchase of Parsonage. — New Meeting-House. — Expedition of Sir William Phipps.

— Education. — Rev. Samuel Parris. — Ecclesiastical Matters. — French and Indian Wars, — Death of Rev. William Cook. — Settlement of Rev. Josiah Bridge. — Revolutionary War. — Services of East Sudbury Sol- diers at Concord and Bunker Hill.— Number of Men Engaged in the War. — Incorporation of East Sud- bury.-— Soldiers of 1812. — New Meeting-House. — Change of Name from East Sudbury to Wayland. — Formation of the Evangelical Trinitarian Church. — Civil War — Activity of the Town in Military Mat- ters.— Number of Men Furnished for the U. S. Ser- vice.— Casualties. — Railroads. — Public Libraries. — New Town Hall.— Burying-Grounds. — Burial Customs. — Taverns. — Old Roads. — Places of Interest.— Physi- cians.— Sketches of Prominent Persons. — The River Meadows. — Cochi tuate.

PART III.

M A_Y]SrA^RD.

Date of Incorporation. — Territorial Extent. — Situ- ation.— As.sabet River. — Indian Name. — Facts rela- tive to Sudbury and Stow. — Early Purchase of Terri- tory.— Indian Deed.— Two Hundred-Acre Grant to Wm. Brown. — Laying out and Apportionment of Land.

— Division of Land into Squadrons. — TheTantamous Transfer. — Thirty-Rod Highway. — Pompasiticut. — Indian Occupants. — Relics. — Tantamous. — Peter Je- thro.— Tribal Relations of Indians. — Their Charac- teristics.— Early Condition of the Country. — Early English Occupants.— Philips War.— Indian Attack on Sudbury. — Location of Early Homesteads. — Sketch of Early Settlers and their Families. — Religious and ’ Educational Advantages. — First Places of Public ' Worship at Sudbury. — At Stow — Schools. — Customs. — Laws. — Early Highways. — Bridges. — Grist-Mills. — Character of the Settlers.— Military Spirit.— Military j Services in the French and Indian Wars. — Service in I the Revolutionary War.— Sudbury Service in the Civil War. — Stow Service in the Civil War. — Influence of the Northwest District of Sudbury in the Settlement

of Grafton, Mass. — Proprietors’ Meetings at the Rice Tavern. — Influence of the Northwest District in the Division of Sudbury into two Parochial Precincts. — Names of Petitioners. — Ways of Living in the “Old- en Times.”— Commencement of Business Activity at .Assabet. — Formation of Village. — Improvement of Water Power.— Purchase of Mill Privilege by Amory Maynard. — Erection of Factories. — Development of the Woolen Business. — Miscellaneous Industries. — Formation of Congregational Church. — Erection of Meeting-House. — Organization of Methodist Church. — Roman Catholic Church. — Incorporation of May- nard.— Name. — Reasons for Separation from the Towns of Sudbury and Stow. — Statistics. — Celebra- tion Expenses.— Educational Matters. — High School. — School Accommodations. — Report of Committees. — Public Library. — Cemeteries. — Railroads. — Secret Societies. — Biographical Sketch of Amory Maynard. — Funeral of Amory Maynard. — Natural Features of the Town. — The Assabet River. — Pompasiticut Hill.

PART IV.

APPENDIX TO THE ANNALS OE WAYLAND.

Indian Occupation. — “The Old Indian Burying Ground.” — “Connecticut Path.” — The O'd Burying Ground. — The Grave of Rev. Edmund Brown. — Location of First Meeting-House. — Succession of Meeting-Houses. — Industries. — Slaves and Colored Servants. — Work-house. — Small Pox Hospitals. — Town Area, etc. — Irregularity of the Town Bounda- ry line at Sandy Hill. — First Official Board of East Sudbury, 1780. — Changes in the Occupants of Old Homesteads. — Schools. — The Public Library. — Indian Relics. — College Graduates. — Wayland Centre, 1890. — Order of Exercises at the Town Hall Dedication. — Semi-Centennial Services of the Evangelical Trinita- rian Church. — Repairs and Rededication of the Meet- ing-House of the Evangelical Trinitarian Church. — Remodelling of the Unitarian Meeting-House. — Sol- diers’ Memorial.— Permanent Funds of Wayland. — The Shoe Business and its Growth at Cochituate. — Location of Homesteads along the Wayland High- ways.— Sudbury in the Settlement of other Towns : Framingham, Marlboro, Worcester, and Rutland. — Philip’s War, 1675-6. Historical Papers; Petition; Account of Losses; Facts and Incidents. — Stage Coaches. — Private Conveyances. — Railroads. — Tav- erns.— The “Corner Tavern.” — The “Pequod House.” — The “Street Tavern.” — The “Baldwin Tavern.” — The “Reeves Tavern.” — Temperance. — Causeways. “Old Town Bridge.” — The “New Bridge.” — “Sher- man’s Bridge.” — “Canal Bridge.” — “ Farm Bridge.” —

Dry Bridges — “ Hay Bridge.” — ■“ Whale’s Bridge.” — Animals and Birds of the River Meadows. — Haymak- ing on the River Meadows. — Cranberry Picking. — Natural Features. — Hills. — Ponds. — Mill-Dams. — Streams. — Roll of Honor. — East Side Militia of the French and Indian War Period; Active Militia Com- pany, 1757; Alarm List; East Side Soldiers in the Revolutionary War ; Militia Company, April 19,1775; South Militia Company, April 19, 1775; Minute Com- pany, April 19, 1775; Troop of Horse, April 19, 1775; Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775 ; Muster Rolls ; Capt. May- nard’s Muster Roll ; Capt. Cutting’s Muster Roll ; Wayland Soldiers in the Civil War; Biographical Sketch of Dr. Joseph R. Draper. — Poetical Selec- tions. Edmund H. Sears. Christmas Song; — Christ- mas Carol; Song for the Coming Crisis. — Abby B. Hyde. Prayer for the Children of the Church ; Ark ; Psalm cxiv. 10. — Richard Fuller. OurCrane; Reeves’ Hill. — Lucy A. Lee. Unveiled Angels, or Afflictions; My Veil. — Thomas W. Parsons. Birthplace of Rob- ert Burns; My Sudbury Mistletoe ; Paradisi Gloria. — Emma Lucilla [Reeves] Fuller. Nature’s Anthems; My Country’s Harp ; Peace. — James S. Draper. The Change Called Death ; Going to Sleep ; Growing Old. — Samuel D. Robbins. Waiting; Faith and Science ; Euthanasia. — Lydia Maria Child. To the Trailing Arbutus ; The Wo. ld that I am Passing Through. — Alfred S. Hudson. The Home of Lydia Maria Child; Mystery; The Broken Household.

PART V

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

AND

HISTORIES OF’ HOUSES.

Former or Pr'esent Residents of Sudbury. Pages 177-181. — Josiah Ballard, Charles L. Goodnow, Alfred S. Hudson, Samuel B. Rogers, Homer Rogers, Thom- as Stearns.

Former or Present Residents of IVayiand. Pages 181-198. — Anna M. Bent, James M. Bent, Joseph Bullard, Lydia M. Child, Thomas J. Damon, James Draper, James S. Draper, Nabby A. Draper, William R. Dudley, Lucilla [Reeves] Fuller, Richard Fuller, Abel Gleason, Newell Heard, Richard Heard, Horace Heard, Abby B. Hyde, Lucy A. Lee, Edward Mellen, Thomas W. Parsons, Samuel D. Robbins, Edmund H. Sears, John N. Sherman, John B. Wight.

Early Grantees. Pages 199-204. — John Bent, Ed- mund Brown, Thomas Cakebread, Henry Curtis, Hugh Drury, John Grout, Hugh Griffin, Solomon Johnson, Henry Loker, John Loker, John Maynard, John Moore, Peter King, Thomas King, Peter Noyes, Thomas Noyes, John Parmenter, Sr., John Parmenter, Jr., Edmund Rice, Henry Rice, John Rutter, John Smith, John Stone, William Wood, Philemon Whale, John Woodward, Thomas White, Anthony Whyte.

Histories of Houses, and Statements relating to the Pictures of them. Sudbury Houses. — Wayside Inn. — George Pitts House. — Mill Village Tavern, South Sudbury. — Sudbury Centre Tavern. — Haynes Garri- son House. — Brown Garrison House. — Walker Gar- rison House. — Parmenter Garrison House. — Loring Parsonage. — Bigelow Parsonage. — Hurlbut Parson- age.— Congregational Parsonage. — Richardson’s Saw and Grist Mill. — Government Store-House. — Lanham District School-House. — Gardiner and Luther Hunt’s Grocery Store. — Dr. Thomas Stearns’ House. — Dr. Moses Taft House. — Unitarian Meeting-House. — Town House.— Methodist Meeting-House.— Orthodox Meeting-House. — Memorial Church. — Residence of Samuel B. Rogers.

Waylatid Houses. — Old Grist Mill. — Bridge Par- sonage.— Dr. Roby House. — Residence of Willard Bullard (Old Green Store). — Unitarian Meeting- House. — Orthodox Church. — Child Cottage. — Old Red Store (Newell Heard’s). — Ira Draper Homestead.

Miscellaneous Records.

PART VI.

Quarter-Millennial Anniversary Exercises at Sud- bury and Wayland, September 4th, 1889.

Index of Persons’ Names. Errata.

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Wayside Inn,

Goodnow Library,

Township Map,

Rev. A. S. Hudson,

Mill Village,

Mill Village Tavern,

Sudbury Centre Tavern,

Dr. Thomas Stearns’ House,

Charles Goodenow,

The Brown Garrison House,

The Parmenter Garrison House,

The Haynes Garrison House, Richardson Saw and Grist Mill,

The Wadsworth Grave,

The George Pitts Tavern,

The Coring Parsonage,

Government Store-House,

The Hurlbut Parsonage,

Wadsworth Academy, .

Residence of Hon. C. F. Gerry,

Rev. fosiah Ballard,

Memorial Church, South Sudbury, Orthodox Church, Sudbury Centre, Unitarian Meeting-House, Waylanc Centre Frontisp

Frontispiece. Preliminary pages.

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Frontispiece to Part I.

0pp. page 2 4 4 6 .8 to 12 14

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26 28 30 32

34 36

Map of House Lots,	• 0pp. page 38
Old Grist-Mill, Wayland,	“ 40
Abel Glezen, ....	“ 42
Residence of Abel Glezen, .	44
Newell Heard, ....	46
“ Old Red Store,” Wayland Centre,	“ 48
Residence of Willard Bullard,	“ 50
Orthodox Church, Wayland Centre,	52

ece to Part II.

Joseph Bullard,	r 54
Dr. Roby House, .	56
Richard Heard,	58
Nobscot Hill,	Frontispiece to Part III.
Walker Garrison House,	. Opp. page 68
Sudbury Centre, .	72
Wayland Town Hall, .	Frontispiece to Part I\’.
Rev. J. B. Wight, .	. . Opp. page 90
The Ira Draper Homestead,	“ 96
Mrs. Nabby A. Draper,	“ 102
James M. Bent,	. . “ 104
Thomas Damon, .	. . “ 120
Wayside Inn and Ancient Oaks, . Before page 131
The Old Town Bridge,	139
Baldwin’s Pond, .	147
Dr. E. H. Sears, .	157
James S. Draper,	.Opp. page 167
Home of Lydia Maria Child,	173
Residence of Jas. S. Draper,	Frontispiece to Part V.
Samuel Rogers,	. Opp. page 180
Mrs. Anna M. Bent,	“ 182
Lydia Maria Child,	184
James Draper,	. After page 186
William Dudley, .	. . Opp. page 188
Horace Heard,	“ 190
John N. Sherman,	. . “ 192
Hon. Edward Mellen, .	“ 196
Dr. Moses Taft House,	“ 205
Landham School-House,	. . “ 210
Hon. Homer Rogers, .	F rontispiece to Part V I .
Wadsworth Monument, Opp. page 32 of Part VI. Summer Residence of Hon.
Homer Rogers,	“ 42 “ “

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THE GOODNOW LIBRARY, South Sudbury.

SUDBURY, WAYLAND, MAYNARD,

MIDDLESEX COUNTY,

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PART I.

Rev. Alfred S, Hudson

THE ANNALS

OF

SUDBUKY, MASS.

Thy hills and vales we love them well,

And full our feelings rise ‘and swell,

Ajid thrill with joy, to speak and tell Of thy past history.

Loved history that thy sons revere.

Fair record that they hold most dear.

Break forth, and fill our hearts with cheer. By thy sweet minstrelsy.

The Author.

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SUDBURY.

1630.

The town of Sudbury was settled in 1638, and received its name in 1639. It was the nineteenth town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the second situated beyond the flow of the tide. Orig- inally it was bounded on the east by that part of Watertown which is now Weston, on the north by Concord, and southerly and westerly by the wilder- ness, or the unclaimed lands of the Colony.

The Indian name of the river and country adja- cent on the north was Musketaquid, or Musketah- quid, and it is presumable that the same name was j applied to this region. Musketahquid is supposed to j be made up of two Indian words — muskeht, mean- ing “ grass,” and ahkeit, which signifies “ ground ; ” and if applied to the river, “grassy brook,” or “ meadow brook.” The name formed by these words, it is stated, as nearly resembles Musketah- quid as the Indian dialect will allow. (Shattuck.) As the same stream runs through Concord and Sud- bury, and the meadows in these places are equally green and broad, it is not by any means unlikely that the same term was applied to each place and the river, as it runs through them both. This is rendered still more probable by the fact that Karto, the Indian owner of the land first granted at Sud- bury, was also an owner, with others, of the terri- tory at Concord ; as the Colony records inform us that Karto, with Tahattawan, the sachem of that place, with some others, consented to the sale of territory to the English in 1637. As Karto lived in the territory that is now Sudbury, and his wig- wam was not far from the river, it is presumable that he would call the stream, as it flowed near his home, by the same name that it was known by as it flowed through his domains a few miles farther north.

Indians. — The discovery of numerous relics in- dicates that the land was once considerably occupied

by Indians, but at the time of the town’s settlement probably but few lived there. The names of Karto. Nataous, Peter Jethro, Old Jethro or Tantamous, belonged to prominent natives, and of these some j few facts are preserved. Karto was the Indian owner of that part of Sudbury winch was first ! granted to the English. Plis home was at a hill a j little southeast of Sudbury Centre, called Good- I man’s Hill. The name Goodman was given him by the English. It is said he was an attendant on the preaching of Rev. Edmund Brown, the first minis- ter of Sudbury, and that by his preaching he was converted to Christianity. Nataous, also called Netus, and sometimes William of Sudbury, was prominently connected with the events of King Philip’s War. In the destruction of the Eames I homestead at Framingham, and the capture of the inmates, he took a conspicuous part by acting as \ leader. He was also present at the midnight en- ! counter between the English and Indians near Sud-

I .

bury, on the night of March 27, 1676, on which occasion he was slain. He was associated with the Nipnet Indians, who inhabited the interior of Mass- achusetts, and was sometimes called the Nipmuck Captain.

Tantamous, who was also called Jethro, and more commonly Old Jethro, to distinguish him from his sou, Peter Jethro, or Jethro the Younger, lived at Nobscot during a portion of his later life. In his earlier years it is supposed he lived at Isabaeth, the country about the Assabet River, now Maynard. He was a prominent personage among the Indians, and known as a powwow, or medicine-man. Gookin says of him ; “ This man and his relations were not praying Indians ; ” that “ they lived at a place near Sudbury, Nobscot Hill, and never submitted to the Christian profession (except his son, Peter), but separated from them.”

2

SUDBURY.

Peter Jethro was also called Animatohu and Ilan- 1 tomush. In 1650 he lived at Natick, and was one of Rev. Mr. Eliot’s converts. lie had a good edu- cation for an Indian, and was held in high esteem. Gookin speaks of him as a “ grave and pious In- dian.” He was sent to Washakin (Stirling) as teacher and preacher to the Indians. The indica- tions are that the Indians had homes and favorite hunting-grounds, not only about Nobscot and Good- man’s Hill, but also along the river course and about Cochituate Pond. Tradition says they had a burying-ground at what is now Wayland ; and on West Brook, a little southerly of Sand Hill, was the Indian bridge. Probably the country was largely depopulated by the repeated plagues which devas- tated the region of Massachusetts Bay about the time of its occupation by the English. As a gen- eral thing the whites and Indians lived on friendly terms in Sudbury prior to King Phili[)’s AVar. And when that war began and the town was attacked, it was mostly by inv.aders, and not by parties who ever had a riijhtful claim to the soil.

> . , , i

'I'he town was settled by Englishmen. The ! plan of settlement probably originated at AVater- ! town, which was settled a few years previous by Sir Richard Saltonstall and company, who came to ! America in the ship “ Arbella.”

To a large extent, the settlers came direct from England. Bond, the historian of A\’’atertown, says: “ Only a small proportion of the names of the early grantees of Sudbury are on the AA'atertown records ; and some who went there returned. Some, whose names are on the records of both places, were either residents of Sudbury but a very short time, or, it may be, never lived there at all.”

From the town records we have compiled the following list of the early grantees or settlers, who went to the Sudbury Plantation about 1638 or 1639;

Mr. William Pelliam. Mr. K.dmuml Ilrowne, -Mr. Peter Noyse Hryaii Pendleton, Walter Maine, John Maine, John Blanford, IMigh Griffyn, Edmond Goodnowe. Hohert Beast, Thomas Noyse, Thomas Browne, Robert Darnill, Willi.am Browne, Thomas Goodnow, John Freeman, Solomon Johnson, William Ward, Kichai’d Newton, .lohn Howe, George Jtunnings, .-Vnthony Whyte, Andrew Belcher, .John Goodnowe, ,Jonn Reddock, Thomas Whyte, .John Knight, William Parker, .John Parmenter, Sr., Edmond Rice. Henry Rice, Wyddow Buffumthyte, Henry Curtis, John Stone, .lohn Parmenter, .Jr., .John Rutter, John | Toll. Henry Loker, .John Wood, .John J.oker, Widow Wright, .John Bent, Nathaniel Treadaway, Robert Hunt, Widow Hunt, .John Maynard, .Joseph Taintor, Robert Fordum, or Fordham, Thomas .Joslyn, or .Jslen, Richard Sanger, Richard Bild- come, Itobert Davis, Henry Prentiss, Wilii.am Kerley, Thomas Hoyte, Thomas Flyn.

The following are names of persons who were at the settlement soon after it began :

Thomas Axdell, Thomas Read, .John Moore, Thomas Bisbig, Thomas Plympton, Hugh Drury, Philemon Whale, William How, John Smith, Thomas Ruckmiuster, .John Grout, Thomas Cake- bread, John Redit, John Waterman, Goodman Witherell, John George, Thomas King, Peter King, .Jonas or James Pendleton, .John Woodward, Shadrach Hapgood, Edward Wright.

Of the Sudbury settlers who once lived in AA'ater- town, we have the following names ; Robert Betts (Beast). Thomas Cakebread, Henry Curtis, Robert Daniel (Darnell). John Grout, Solomon Johnson, .lohii Knight, George Munnings, William Parker, Bryan Pendleton, Richard Sanger, .loseph Tainter, Anthony White, Goodman (John) AA'etherell, Na thaniel Treadaway, John Stone.

Of those who came direct from England, we have on a single ship’s list of passengers the names of some of the most promi .ent persons in the Sudbury Plantation, namely :

“ The list of the names of the Passengre Intended for New Eng- land in the good shipp the Confidence, of Lomlon, of C C. tonnes, .John .Jobson Mr and thus by vertue of the I.ord Treasrs want of the xjth of April, lltJS. Southampton, 24ii .Vprill IKiS.

“ Walter Hayne of Sutton Man.lifield in the County of Wilts I,ennen Weaver 5.5 Eliz : Hayne his wife Thomas Hayne j their sonnes .John Hayne [ under It!

.Josias Hayne 1 yeares of age Sufferance Hayne I their Mary H.ayne f daughters .John Blanford , their 27

John Riddett i 2G

Rieh Bildcombe ' servants 16

Peter Noyce of I’enton in the County of South" (^Southampton) yeoman 47 Thom.as Noyce his sonne 15

Eliz: Noyce his daughter Robert Davis , his 30

.John Rutter ( 22

JIargaret Davis 1 servants 20

Nicholas Guy I i carpenter 60

I Southampton >

.Jane his wife Mary Guy his daughter Joseph Taynter I sg^vants Robert Bayley '

John Bent of Penton in the County of South" Husband- man 35

Martha Bent his wife Robert Bent William Bent Peter Bent .John Bent Ann Bent

.John Goodeuowe of Semley of Welsheir Husbandman 42

.lane Goodeuowe his wife Lydia Goodenowe I their .Jane Goodenowe > daughters Edmund Goodenowe of Dun- head in Wilsheire Husbandman 27 Ann Goodenowe his wife .John Goodenowe > their sonnes Thomas Goodenowe > 4 years and

' under

Richard Sanger his servant Thomas Goodeuowe of Shasbury § 30

Jane Goodenowe his wife

their children all under ye age of 12 years

MILL VILLAGE, SOUTH SUDBURY.

SUDBURY.

Thomas Goodenowe liis sonno Urauiii Gooclenowe liis sister Edmond Kerley ) of Ashmore 22 William Kerley J ilushiuidmcn ”

It i.s not certain that the young men mentioned in this ship’s list as ‘‘ servants,” or “hired men,” ever came in that capacity. John Rutter was by trade a carpenter; Richard Sanger was a blacksmith ; one had a family when he came; two others were after- ward sons-in law of the persons in whose employ they ostensibly came; and all of them took their place among the substantial men of the settlement.

It was a tradition among the descendants of John Rutter, without their having a knowledge that this ship’s list was in existence, that their ancestor came to this country disguised as a servant.

The state of the times and the strictness of Eng- lish laws at that period, with regard to ships and em- igrants coming to America, might be a reason why some might come in disguise. If this was so in the case of one, it might have been so with regard to the rest.

In connection with the names of the settlers, it is appropriate to state something of their character. In attempting this, perhaps we can do no better than to say that they fitly represented the noble element that came to the New England shores at that period. They were Puritans both in theory and practice; and afar from the conveniences and luxuries of their na- tive land, sought in a new country a home remote from ecclesiastical and political strife. They em- barked for America at a time when England was in an unsettled condition, and when ship after ship was bringing to these shores some of her purest and stanchest citizens. The whole trend of their conduct is indicative of self-reliance, though they recognized all proper authority. What the common weal re- quired they took hold of with zest ; and in their adher- ence to what they thought suitable, they showed a perseverance truly commendable. Their proceedings in town-meeting, and the manner in which the records were kept, indicate that the education of a part of them at least was good for the times; and the meas- ures enacted for the common convenience and wel- fare show common sense and sagacity.

As a religious people, they in no way lacked what we ascribe to the historic Puritan. Although com- pelled by circumstances to economize all their re- sources, and to make the most of time, talents and strength to meet the demands of every-day life, yet they found time to serve their Creator, and praise and adore Him in their forest home. Their Christianity manifested itself in their steadfast adherence to the Christian faith, in their reliance on God, and their love for His holy law.

Industry was a prominent characteristic. From the minister down to the humblest citizen, each had a share in the manual work of the settlement. Though the minister’s salary was in part paid in produce.

yet he was assigned lands and attended to husbandry. Another characteristic trait of the settlers seems lo have been their desire for territorial enlargement and possession, and for the pioneering of new places. To such an extent did this spirit prevail in Sudbury and its neighboring town, C rncord, that the following law was passed by the Court in 1G45 :

“ In regard of the great danger that Concord, Sudbury and Dedham will be exposed uato, being inland Townes and but thinly peopled, it is ordered that no man now inhabiting and settled in any of the s’d Townes (whether married or single)' shall remove to any other Town without the allowance of the magistrates or the selectmen of the towns, until they shall obtain leave to settle again.”

The settlers of Sudbury were young men, or in the prime of stirring manhood ; they were not patriarchs near the close of their pilgrimage. Even those wdth w’hom, because of their prominence, 'we most associ- ate dignity and gravity, were comparatively young men when the settlement began. By the passenger- list of the “Confidence ” it will be noticed that only Walter Haine had reached the age of fifty-five, and John Rutter was only twenty-two ; Robert Davi.s, thirty; John Blandford, twenty-seven ; John Reddet, twenty-six ; Peter Noyes, forty-seven ; John Bent, thirty-five; John Goodenowe, forty-two; Edmond Goodenowe, twenty-seven ; Thomas Goodenowe, thirty. These ages are doubtless correct, as we have in 1666 a deposition made by one of them, Edmund Goodenowe, in which he alleges that he is about fifty-five years old. Rev. Eimund Browne was in about the prime of life when he came to the planta- tion ; and Edmund Rice was about thirty-four. In fact, we find in an old petition presented at the close of Philip’s War, in 1676, from a dozen to a score or more of names that may have belonged to the early grantees. Probably from a quarter to a half century passed before there was a generation of old men in Sudbury.

Land Grants. — The territory of Sudbury was in part granted to the people collectively who formed the plantation and established the town, and in part to individuals. The grants to the former were allowed at three different times, and were preceded by three different petitions. The first petition met with a re- sponse November 20, 1637, of which the following is a copy :

“ Whereas a great part of the chief inhabitants of Watertown have pe- titioned tliis Court, that in regard to their straitness of accommodation, and want of meadow, they nright have leave to remove and settle a plan- tation upon the river, which runs to Concord, this Court, havingrespect to their necessity, doth grant theirpetition, and it is hereby ordered, that Lieut. (Simon) Willard, Mr. (William) Spencer, Mr. Joseph Weld and Mr. (Richard) Jackson shall take view of the places upon said river, and shall set out a place for them by marks and bounds sufficieut for fifty or sixty families, taking care that it be so set out as it may not hinder the settling of some other plantation upon the same river, if there be meadow, and other accommodations sufficient for the same. And it is ordered, further, that if the said inhabitants of Watertown, or any of them, shall not have removed their dwellings to their said new plantation, before one year after the plantation shall be sot .out, that then the interest of all such persons, not so removed to the said plantation, shall be void and cease, and it shall be lawful for such as are removed and settled there, or the greater part of them, being freemen, to receive other persons to inhabit in their

4

Sill) BURY.

ruoni8» ill the naid plantation ; provided^ that il' there shall not he thirty families at least there settled before the said time limited, that then this (X>nrt) or the Court of Assistants, or two of the Council, shall dis- pose of the said planUition to any other. And it i> further ordered, that after the place of the said plantation shall be set out, the siiid ]K'titiou- ers, or any such other ficomcn i\s shall join them, shall have power to order the situation of their town, and the proportioning of lots, and all other liberties as other towns have under the proviso aforesaid. .\iid it is lastly ordered^ that such of the said inhabitants of Watertown, as shall bo accommodated in their new plantation, may sell their houses and im- proved grounds in Watertown ; but all the rest of tlio laud in Water- town, not improved, shall remain freely to the inhabitants, which shall remain behind, and such others as shall come to them.

** And the said persons appointed to set out the stud plantation, are di- rected so to set out the same, as there may be HOC acres of meadow al- lowed to it, if it be there to be had, with any convenience, for (he use of the town.’* (“Colony Records,” vol. i. p. 210.)

The Court, having granted the request for a planta- tion at Sudbury, allowed the petitioners to go on witli their work, and appointed a committee to establish the bounds and make an allotment of land.

The land first appropriated was supposed to com- prise a tract about five miles square. It had for boundaries Concord on the north, Watertown (now AVeston) on the east, and on the south a line running from a point a little east of Nobscot Hill along the present Framingham and Sudbury boundary direct to the AVeston town bound, and on the west a line two miles east of the present western boundary.

The second grant was of an additional mile. This was allowed to make up a deficiency in the first grunt, which deficiency was discovered on making a survey a few years after the settlement began, and it was petitioned for May 13, 1G40. The petition was fi.ir a mile in length on the southeast and south- west sides of the town ; and it was allowed on condi- tion that it would not prevent the formation of another plantation, “ or hinder Airs Glover’s farm of six hun- dred acres formerly granted.” (Colony Record, vol. i. j). 289 )

The third tract was granted in 1G49. It contained an area two miles wide, extending along the entire length of tlie western boundary. The Colony Record concerning this grant is : “That Sudberry is granted two miles westward next adjoining to them for their furth'' inlargement, provided it [prejudice] not AV™ Browne in his 200 acres already granted.” (A^ol. ii. p. 273.)

Besides these three grants there were others made to individuals. One of these was to AVilliam Browne, of which the record is as follows: “In answer to the petition of A\’“ Browne fibr two hundred ac"^* dew for twenty five j)ounds putt into the joynet stocke by AB® Ann Harvey, his Aunt, from whom he made it appear to the Court he had sutficyent deputacon to re(iuire it, his request was grannted ; viz., 200 ac” of land to be layed out to him w‘''out the west lyne of Sudbury, by Capt. Simon AVTllard & Seargeant AVheeler.” All this land was probably in that part of Sudbury which is now Alaynard. The first tract for the plantation was purchased in 1638 of Karte, ihe Indian proprietor, and it has been supposed that

a deed was given ; but this is not essential as evidence of the purchase, since, in the deed given by Karte for land subsequently bought, he acknowledged the sale of the first tract in the statement that it was sold to “George Alunniiigs and to the rest of the plantei-s of Sudbury.” In this first bargain of real estate it is supposed that Air. Aluunings acted as agent for the settlers, and that he, together wiih Brian Pendleton, advanced the money for payment.

The second tract was also purcluised of Karte, who gave a deed, of which the following is a true copy :

Indian Deed.

“ Reo it known vnto all men by tbese jircsonts tlmt I Cato otbcnv ise Gootlman for & in consuierution of fyvo poumU I have received in comiiKHiities c'c w Aiiipiiinpea^e of Walter Hayiie & Grillin of Sud-

bury in behalf of themselves A the rest of tlie planters of Sudbury ; doe this niy write in give grant bargain Sell vnto the said Walter Hayiie — (Ilaine)—*.^ Hugli Gritbn A’ the said planters of the town of Sudbury so much land southward «Sr so much land westward next adjoining to a tract of laud w«^ I said Cato formerly souled vnto George Muuniugs A the rest of the planters of Sudbury as may make the bounds of the said tt»wn to be full fy ve miles square w*h all meadows, brooks, liberties, priv- iledges <& apperlenances thereto belonging w*h all tlie said ti*act of land granted. And I grant vnto them for me A mine heirs A brethren that I A they shall A will at any tymo make any further assurance in writing for the more p'ft assuring of the s'd land A all the premises iho apperteiiances vnto the s'd Walter Haine A Hugh Griffin A the planter A their successors forever as they shall require.

“Ill witness whereof I herevnto put my hand A seal the tw'entieth day of the fourth mouth one thousand six hundred forty eight.

“ Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of

“ Kmmanuel Downing Eimikaim Chilu CuTCHAMCKiN [mark] ^ Jojenny [murk] J

brothers of Cato

“This deed was sealed A acknowledged bythe s^ Cato (w'ho truly understood the contents of it the day A year above written) Before niee.

“John Winthbop, Governor.

*• Registry of Deeds

“Suffolk Co. Mass.”

The deed for the land last granted, or the two-mile tract to the westward, is on record at the Aliddlesex Registry of Deeds, Cambridge, and the following is a true copy of a portion of it :

** For as much as the Gen^ Court of the Massachusetts Colony in New England hath formerly granted to the Towne of Sudbury in the County of Middlesex in the same Colony, an addition of land of two miles w'est- ward of their former grant of five miles, which isalso layd out & joyneth to it : and whereas the English occupiers, proprietors and possessors thereof have chosen Capt. Edmond Goodenow, Leif* Josiah Haynes, John Goodenow', John Brigham A Joseph Freeman to be a comittee fur theniselvs A for all the rest of the English proprietors thereof, giving them their full pow er to treat with A to purchase the same of the Indian proprietors of the s** tract of land A to satisfy & pay them for their native, ancient A hereditary right title A intrest thereunto.

** Know all People by these presents — That wee, Jehojakim, John Magus, John Muskqua A liis two daughters Esther A Rachel, Benjanien Bohue, John Speen A Sai*ah bis wife, James Speen, Dorothy Wennetoo, A Humphrey Bohue her sou, Mary Neppaniun, Abigail the daughter of Josiah Harding, Peter Jethro, Peter Huskqiiaiiiogh, John Boman, David Mannoan A Betty w ho are the ancient native A hereditary Indian proprietors of the afores'^ two miles of land (for & in consideiation of the just A full sum of twelve pounds of current niony of New’ England to them in hand well A truly paid at or before the ensealing A delivery hereof by the said Cap* Edmond Goodenow, Leift. Josiah Haines, John Goodenow, John Brigham & Joseph Freeman in behalfe of themsehes and of the rest of the English possessors, occupiers, proprietors A fel- low-purchasers) the receipt whereof they do heieby acknowledge A

F

Sudbury Centre.

See page 205.

South Sudbury.

See page 205.

SUDBURY.

iherwith to be fully Biitisfieil, coiiteiitea & paid & thereof and of every part & parcell thereof they do hereby for theniselvs i their heyi-s Exe- cutors Administrators & assigns clearly fully & absolutely release, ac- quitt exonenite A discharge them & all the Engl isli possessors, occupiers, proprietoi-s A fellow-purchasers of the same & all & every one of their heyrs Executors, Administrators, Assigns & successor forever) Have given, granted, bargained, sold, alliened, enseoesed, made over & con- firmed. & by these presents, do give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, enseosse, make over, coufirme & deliver all that their s't tract A parcells of lauds of two miles (bee it more or less scitnate lying & being) altogether in one entire parcell in the s'! Town of Sudbury in the County of Middle- sex aforesJ & lyeth al along throughout on the westerne side of the old five miles of the s>i Towue A adjoyueth thereunto (together with the farnie lands of the heyrs of William Browne that lyeth within the same tract, unto the Capt. Edmond Goodenow, Leifi Josiah Haines, John Goodenow, John Brigham A Joseph Freeman A pnto all A every one of the rest of the English possessors, occupiers, proprietors A fellow-pur- chasers thereof as the same is limited, butted A bounded on the East by the old ptirt of the s<i Towne of Sudbury (which was the five miles at first granted to the s'! Towne) A is butted A bounded northerly by the line or bounds of the Towne of Concord, Westerly by the line or bounds of the Towne of Stow A is bounded southerly A partly westerly by the lauds of M' Thomas Danforth. . . .

“ Furlhermore wee the above named Indian Grantors do hereby oblige A engage ourselve.s all and every one of our heyrs executors Adm« as- signs A successors unto the s^ English possessors occupiers A proprietors A fellow-purchasers A to all and every one of their heyrs executors ad- ministraters and^assigns that wee and every one of ns A ours as aforesa shall A will from time to time A at at all times readily A effectually do (at our own propper costs and charges) or cause to be so done any other or further act or acts thing or things that the law doth or may require for more sure making and full confirming of all A singular the hereby granted premises unto the s'* Edmond Goodenow, Josiah Haines, John Goodenow, John Brigham A Joseph Freeman A unto all A every one of the rest of the English possessors, occupiers proprietors and fellow- purchasers of the premises A unto all A every one of their heyrs exec- utors administrators and assigns for ever. In Wilnefs w hereof the above named Indian Grantors have hereunto each for themselves A altogether sett their hands and seals dated the 11<I> day of July in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty A four. Annoqe Kegui Regis Caroli Secundi XXXVI.

“ Jehojakim his mark X for himselfe A by order of A for John Boman A scale. O

John Magos for himselfe A by order of A for Jacob Magos bis father A scale. O

Musqua John A for his two daughters Rachel A Esther A seale. O

John Spern his marke | A for A by order of Sarah his wife A seale. O

Abigail Daughter of Josiah Harding and his sole heyr (>« her marke and seale. O

Sarah C her marke who is the widdow of Josiah Harding and

mother of s'! Abigail A her Guardian.

Peter Musquamog -1- his mark and seale. O Bf.xjajien Bouew his R marke and scale. O Dorothy Wenneto her 0 marke and seale. O Mary Nepamun he Q mark and seale. O

Betty her ) marke A seale Peter Jethro A a seale John ><! Boman his marke A seale James Speen A seale

“ Cambe 15 Octo'’ 1G8I All the persons that have signed A sealed this instrument appeared before me this day A year above written A freely acknowledged this writing to be their act and deed

“ Daniel Gookin Sen' Assist.

“Endorsement — All the Grantors of the instrument within written beginning with Jehojakim A ending w-ith Peter Muskquamog did sign seale A deliver s'* instrument in presence of us.

“ John Greene — James Bernard —

“ Moreover wee underwritten did see Benjamin Bohew Dorothy M an- neto A Mary A Betty Xepamun signe seale A deliver this instrument the Isa* day of Octoti 1C81. “Andrew Pittaviee % his marke

JA3IES Hlmny marke Samuel Goff, Jajies Barnard Daniel Sacowambati

“ Feb' 1, 18(i4 Memorandum — Wee whose names are nnderwritlen did see Peter Jethro signe A seale A deliver y' within written instrument " James Bauxaru — Stephen fq Gates his marke

“ Peter .lethro, Indian, apiieared before me the fifth day of February — ICSI A freely acknow ledged this w riting w ithin to be his act A deed A ythe put his hand A seale tl^ereunto. Daniel. GooKiN Sen' Allift.

“John Boman did signe seale A deliver the within written deed the 23 : of February in the year of our Lord one thousand si.x hundred eighty and four in presence of ue

“ John Balcosi + Samuel Freeman his marke.

“James Speen A John Bowman appeared before me in court at Natick A acknowledged they have signed A sealed this instrument among others May IS* 1684. Jajies Gookin Sen' Afflst.

“Roxbiiry' April 16. 85.

“ Charles Josias, Sachem of the Massachu'etts, having read A consid- ered the within written deed with the consent of his Guardians A Coun- cellors underwritten doth for himself A his heyrs allow of) ratify A con- firm the within wri ten sale to the Inhabitants of Sudbury A their heyrs for ever, the lauds therein bargained A sold. 2’o have A- to hold to the s’d Indabitants of Sudbury their heyrs and assigns for ever A bath hereunto set bis hand A seale the day above written.

“Charls^i Josias hie marke A Seale

“ Allowed by us ■>

William Stoughton Uuardians tol Robert 3 Montague. Joseph Dudley j y' Sachem i William W. Ahowton

“ Kecorded 19. 3. 1G85

“ by Tho. Danforth Recorder.

“ A true copy of record Book 9 Pages 31-4 to 352 inclusive

“ Attest Cha8 B Stevens Reg.”

From lands thus allowed, the Plantation of Sud- bury was formed. It required, however, more than the allowance and laying out of the land and the settlement of it to make it a town. A separate act of incorporation was necessary to compiete the work. This was done September 4, 1639, when the Court ordered that “ the newe Plantation by Concord shall be called Sudbury.’’ (Colony Records, Vol. 1, p. 271.)

The name ordered by the Court is that of an old English town in the county of Suffolk, near the parish of Bury St. Edmunds, at or near which place it is supposed the Browns may have dwelt. It is not im- probable that the name was given by Rev. Edmund Brown, the first minister of Sudbury, who sold lands in the district o’’ Lanham to Thomas Read, his nephew, and who, it is supposed, may have also named that locality from Lavenhani, Eng., a place between Sudbury and Bury St. Edmunds. The place, though spelled Lavenham, is pronounced Launam in England (Waters). The proximity of Sudbury and Lavenham, Eng., to what was probably the original home of Mr. Browne, together with the fact that he was an early owner of the lands at Lanham, and a prominent man at the settlement, affords at least a strong presumption that Mr. Edmund Browne named I both Sudbury and Lanham.

The settlement of the town began on the east side I of ihe river. The first road or street, beginning at ! Watertown (now Weston), extended along a course of about two miles ; and by this the house-lots of the settlers were laid out and their humble dwellings ' stood.

(i SUDBUllV.

Towx-MEETiN(fS. — Uutil as late as the nineteenth century the town-meetings were held in the meeting- house. After the meeting-house was built sometimes they were held in a private house or at the “ordi- nary.” As for example, Jan. 10, 1085, and again Fel). 18, 1080, there was an adjournment of town- meeting to the house of Mr. Walker, “ by reason of the extremity of the cold.” In 1704 the town ad- journed one of its meetings to the house of “ William nice, innholder.” In 1782, “adjourned town-meet- ing to the house of Mr. Aaron Johnson, innholder in s'* town.” After the division of the town into the East and West Precincts, the town-meetings alternated from the east to the west side.

In 1082-83 the time of meeting was changed from February to October, the day of the week to be Mon- day.

The reason of this change may be found in the fact that it was difficult at some seasons to make a journey to the east side meeting-house; the passage of the causeway was occasionally rough, and town action might be thereby delayed or obstructed. The meeting was for a period warned by the Board of Selectmen. At the date of the change just mentioned, it ‘was voted and ordered, that henceforth the select- men every year for the time being shall appoint and seasonably warn the town-meeting;” but afterwards this became the work of the constables. In the warning of town-meetings at one period, the “ Old Eaucaster Road ” was made use of as a partial line of division. A part of the constables were to warn the people on the north side of the road, and a part tin se on the south side.

The town-meeting was opened by prayer. There is a record of this about 1654, and i)resumably it was practiced from the very first. At an early date voting was sometimes done by “ dividing the house,” each party withdrawing to different sides of the room. An example of this is as follows : In 1654, at a public town-meeting, after “ the pastor by the de- sire of the town had sought the Lord for his blessing in the actings of the day, this following Aote w’as made. You that judge the act of the selectmen in sizing the Commons to be a righteous act, discover it by drawing yourselves together in the one end of the meeting-house.” After that was done, “ It w’as then desired that those who are of a contrary mind wmuld discover it by drawing themselves together in the other end of the meeting-house.”

In these meetings, marked respect w'as usually had for order and law. We find records of protest or dissent when things w'ere done in an irregular way, as for instance, in 1676, w'e have the following record: “ We do hereby enter our Decent against the illegal proceedings of the inhabitants of the town for the said proceedings have Ben Directly Contrary to law\ First, That the Town Clerk did not Solemnly read the Laws against Intemperance and Immorality as the Laws Require.” Mention is also made of

other irregularities, and to the paper is attached a list of names of prominent persons.

The town officers were mostly similar to those elected at the present time. At a meeting of the town in 1682-83, it was ordered that the lown-meeting “shall be for the electing of Selectmen, Commisdou- ers and Town Clerk.” Names of officers not men- tioned here were “Constables, Invoice Takers, High- way Surveyors and Town Marshal.” .Vboiit 1648, the persons chosen to conduct the affairs of the town were first called selectmen. The number of these officers varied at different times. In 1646 there were seventeen selectm’en.

The service expected of the selectmen, beside being custodians at large of the public good, and acting as the town’s prudential committee, were, before the appointment of tithingmen (which oc- curred first in Sudbury, Jan. 18, 1679), expected to look after the morals of the community. This is in- dicated by the foliowdng order : At a meeting of the inhabitants, Jan. 18, 1679, “ It is ordered, that the selectmen shall visit the families of the town, and speedily ius|)ect the same, but especially to examine children and servants about*their improvement in reading and the catechism. Captain Goodnow and Lieutenant Haines to inspect all families at Lanbam and Nobscot and all others about there and in their way, . . . and these are to return an account of

that matter at the next meeting of the selectmen, appointed to be on the 30th of this instant January.” We infer from certain records that the selectmen’s orders were to be audibly and deliberately read^ that the people might take notice and observe them.

The officials known as “ highway surveyors” had charge of repairs on town roads. This term was early applied, and has continued in use until now. As early in the records as 1639, Peter Noyes and John Parrnenter are mentioned as surveyors.

The business of town clerk, or “dark,” which office was first held in Sudbury by Hugh Griffin, is shown by the following extracts from the town-book : “ He is to take charge of the records and discharge the duties of a faithful scribe.” “ To attend town-meeting, to write town orders for one year, ... for which he was to have ten shillings for his labor.” In 1643 he was “ to take record of all births and marriages and [deaths], and return them to the recorder.” “ It is a'so agreed that the rate of eight pound 9 shillings [be] levied upon mens estate for the payment of the town debt due at the present, and to buy a constable’s staff, to mend the stocks, and to buy a marking iron for the town, and it shall be forthwith gathered by Hugh Griffin, who is appointed by the town to receive rates, and to pay the town’s debt.” (Town-Book, p. 75.) Feb. 19, 1650, Hugh Griffin “ was released from the service of the town.” The wmrk that he had to per- form was “to attend town-meetings, to write town or- ders, to comj>are town rates, to gather them in, and pay them according to the town’s appointment, and to

The Dr. Stearn’s Place

'i£

STIDBTTUV.

sweep the meeting-house, for which he is to have fifty shillings for his wages.”

Other officers were “commissioners of rates,” or “invoice-takers.” These corresponded perhaps to “ assessors,” which term we find used in the town- book as early as the beginning of the eighteenth cen- tury. The office of marshal was the same as that of constable. There is the statement on page 34 “ that there shall be a rate gathered of ten pounds for the finishing of the meeting-house, to be raised upon meadows and improved land, and all manner of cattle above a quarter old to be prized as they were formerly prized, the invoice to be taken by the marshall.”

At an early period persons were appointed for the special purpose of hearing “ small causes.” In 1655, “ Lieutenant Goodnow, Thomas Xoyes and Sergeant Groute were chosen commissioners to hear, issue and end small causes in Sudbury, according to law, not exceeding forty shillings.” In 1648 Peter Noyes was “ to see people ioyne in marriage in Sudbury.” (Colo- nial Records, p. 97.)

In the early limes towns could send deputies to the General Court according to the number of their in- habitants. Those that had ten freemen and under twenty, could send one; those having between twenty and forty, not over two. (Palfrey’s History.)

We infer that if a person was elected to any town office he was expected to serve. It is stated in the records of 1730, that David Rice was chosen con- stable, and “ being called up [by] the moderator for to declare his exception, or non-exception, upon which David Rice refused for to serve as constable, and paid dovvn five pounds money to s'* towm, and so was dis- charged.”

Having considered the nature of the towm-meeting, the place where works of a public nature were dis- cussed and decided upon, we will now' notice some of the works themselves. First, Highways, the Cause- way and Bridge.

Highivays. — In providing means for easy and rapid transit, it was important for the tow'n to make haste. Indian trails and the paths of wild animals would not long suffice for their practical needs. Hay was to be drawn from the meadows, and for this a road was to be made. Another was to be made to Concord, and paths were to be opened to the outlying lands. The first highway w'ork was done on the prin- cipal street, which was doubtless at first but a mere wood-path or trail. An early rule for this labor, as it is recorded on the Town Records, Feb. 20, 1689, is as follows : “ Ordered by the commissioners of the town, that every inhabitant shall come forth to the mend- ing of the highway upon a summons by the survey- ors,” In case of failure, five shillings w'ere to be for- feited for every default. The amount of labor re- quired was as follows :

“ 1st. The poorest man shall work one day.

“ 2nd. For every six acres of meadow land a man hath he shall work one day..

“3d. Every man who sliall neglect t> make all fences appertaining to his fields by the 24th of Ajiril shall forfeit five shillings (Nov. 19th, 1639).”

Highways and cart-paths were laid out on both sides of the meadows at an early date. The town records make mention of a highway “ from below the upland of the meadow from the house-lot of Walter Haynes to the meadow of John Goodnow, which shall be four rods wide where it is not previou-ly bounded already, and from the meadow of John Goodnow to the end of the town bound.” Also of a highway on the w'est side of the river, “between the upland and the meadow six rods wide frtirn one end of the meadow' to the other.” These road.s, w'e con- jecture, have not entirely disappeared. On either side the meadow margin, a hay-road, or “right of way,” .still exists. It is probable that the town way called “ Water Row ” may have been a part of those early roads.

Beidges. — In the work of bridge-bnilding Sudbury has had fully its share from the first. Its original territory being divided by a wide, circuitous stream, which was subject to spring and fall floods, it ivas a matter of no small importance to the settlers to have a safe crossing. Ford-ways, on a river like this, were uncertain means of transit. Without a bridge the east and west side inhabitants might be separated sometimes for weeks, and travellers to the frontier be- yond w'ould be much hindered on their way. All this the people well knew', and they w'tre early astir to the w'ork. Tw'o bridges are mentioned in the tow'n- book as early as 1641. -The record of one is as fol- low's: “It was ordered from the beginning of the plantation, that there should be tw'o rods wide left in the meadow' from the bridge at Muuning’s Point to the hard upland at the head of Edmund Rice’s meadow.” The other record is of the same date, and states that there w'as to be a road “betw'een the river meadow' and the house-lot from the bridge at John Blandford’s to Bridle Point.” The bridge referred to in the former of these records may have been the “ Old Indian Bridge,” which is repeatedly mentioned in the town-book. From statements on the records we conclude it crossed the low'er part of Lanham Brook — sometimes also called "West Brook — ataptiint between Sand Hill and Heard’s Pond. This bridge was probably i'ound there by the settlers, and may have been nothing more than a fallen tree where but one per- son could pass at a time. It doubtless was of little use to the settlers, and may only have served them as a landmark or to designate a fording-j)lace where at low' w'ater a person could go on foot. The bridge re- ferred to in the latter record w'as probably the first one built by the English in Sudbury. It was doubt- less situated at the locality since occupied by suc- cessive bridges, each of which was known as the “ Old Town Bridge.” The present one is called the Rus- sell Bridge, after the name of the builder. The loca- tion is in Wayland, at the east end of the old cause-

8

SUDHUIIY.

way, near the house of Mr. William Baldwin. The first bridge at this place was j)robably a simple con- trivance for foot-passengers only, and one which would cause little loss if swept away by a flood. The reason why this spot was selected as a crossing may be indicated by the lay of the land and the course of the river; at this point the stream winds so near the bank of the hard upland, that a causeway on the eastern side is unnecessary. These natural features doubtless led to the construction of the bridge at that particular spot, and the location of the bridge determined the course of the road. About the time of the erection of the first bridge a ferry is s})okenof. In 1642 Thomas Noyes was “appointed to keep a ferry for one year, for which he was to have two pence for every single pass nger, and if there be more to take two apiece.” This ferry may have been used only at times, when high water rendered the bridge or meadow impassable. As in the price fixed for transportation only “ passengers ’’ are mentioned, we infer that both the bridge and ferry were for foot-passengers alone. But a mere foot-path could not long suffice for the settlement. The west side was too important to re- main isolated for want of a cart-bridge. About this time it was ordered by the town, “That Mr. Noyes, IMr. Pendleton, Walter Haynes, John Parmenter, Jr., and Thomas King shall have power to view the river at Thomas King’s, and to agree with workmen to build a cart-bridge over the river according as they shall see just occasion.” The following contract was soon made with Ambrose Leach :

“BIUDGE COXTU.\OT 1043.

“ It is agreed betwpene the iniiabitants of the towne of siulbury aiul Ambrose Leech, Tliat the towne will give unto the said Ambrose C acres ill Mr Pendleton's 2“'* Addition of meadow w«b slmll run on the north side of liis meadow lyinge on the west side of the river, & shall run from the river to the uphiiid. Allsoe foure acres of meadowe iiioie well shall be will convenient as may be. Allsoe twenty acres of upland lyinge on the west side of the river on the north side of the lande of Walter Haynes if lie approve of it else so much uifland where it maj’ be conve- nient. For and in consideration whereof the said Ambrose dotli pro- pose to build a sulbcient cart bridge over the river thr^e feet above high water mark, twelve foot wyde from the one side of the river to the other, provided that the towne doe fell and cross cutt the timber and sfiw all the plank and carry it all to place, and when it is ready framed the towne doth promise to help him raise it, so that he and one man be at the charge of the sayd Ambrose, and he doth promise to accomplish the

work by the last day of Ang. next. Allsoe tlie towne doth admitt of

liim as a townsman wth right to comonage and upland as more shall be laid out and uilsoc ten acres of meadowe to be layed out which other meadowe is in hi'st addition of iiieadovve.

“Ambrose Leech,

*“ Brian Pendleton, Walter Haynes.”

The next contract for building a bridge was with Timothy Hawkins, of Watertown, and is as follows:

“ The 2bth day of November, IG**.

, “Agreed between the Inhabitants of Sudbury on the one part, and Timothy Hawkins, of Watertown, on the other part that the said Tim- othy shall build a sufllcient cart bridge over the river, beginning at the west side of the river, running across the river, five rods longand twelve feet wide, one foot above high water mark, the arches to be . , . foot wide, all but the middle arch, which is to be 14 feet wide, the silts —

inches square 2G feet long, the posts IG inches square the cups and

IG, the braces 8 inches square, the bridge must have a rail on each side,

and the rails must be bneed at every post, the plank must be two inches thick sawn, there inubt lie 5 braces for the plank, — the bridge tho bearers 12 inches square, the bridge is by him to be ready to raise by tlie last day of ^lay next. For which work the Inhahitaiits do consent to pay unto the said Timothy f-»r his work so done, the sum of FI lumnds to be paid in corn and cattle, the corn at the general price of the country, and tho cattle at the price as two men shall judge them worth.

“ The said Timothy is to fell all the timber and saw it, and then the town is to carry it to the place.”

Causeway. — Westerly beyond the bridge was built a raised road or causeway, which was sometimes called the “Casey” or “ Carsey.” This is a memorable piece of highway. Repeatedly has it been raised to place it above the floods. At one time the work was apportioned by lot, and at another the Legislature allowed the town to issue tickets for a grand lottery, the avails of which were to be expended upon this causeway.

Stakes were formerly set as safeguards to the trav- eller, that he might not stray from the way.

Chukch. — The town being laid out, and the nec- essary means for securing a livelihood provided, the people turned their attention to ecclesiastical matters. The church was of paramount importance to the early New England inhabitants. For its privileges they had in part embarked for these far-off shores. To preserve its purity they became pilgrims on earth, exiles from friends and their native laud. Borne hither with such noble desires, we have evidence that when they arrived they acted in accordance with them. In 1640 a church was organized, which was Congregational in government and Calvinistic in creed or faith. A coi)y of its covenant is still preserved. The church called to its pastorate Rev. Edmund Brown, and elected Mr. William Brown deacon. It is supposed that the installation of Rev. Edmund Browu was at the time of the formation of the church. The town in selecting Mr. Brown for its minister secured I the services of an energetic and devoted man. Ed- ward Johnson says of him, iu his “ Wonder-Working Providence :” “The church in Sudbury called to the office of a pastor the reverend, godly and able ministtr of the word, Mr. Edmund Brown, whose labors in the doctrine of Christ Jesus hath hitherto ahouuded wading through this wilderness work with much cheerfulness of sp'rit.”

The home of Mr. Brown was in the territory of Waylaiid, by the south bank of Mill Brook, on what was called “ Timber Neck.” Mr. Brown’s salary the first year was to he £40, one-half to he jtaid in money, the other half iu some or all of these commodities: “ Wheate, pees, butter, cheese, porke, beefe, hemp and flax, at every quarters end.” In the maintenance of the pastor and church the town acted as in secular matters. The church was for the town ; its records were for a time town records. Civil and ecclesiastical matters were connected. If there was no state church, there was a town church, a minister and meeting- house, that was reached by and reached the massp.«. “ Rates ” were gathered no more surely for the “ king’s tax ’’than to maintain the ministry. To show the

IP T

SUDBUliY

y

manner of raising the money for the minister’s salary shortly after his settlement, we insert the following: “ The first day of the second month, 1643. It is agreed upon by the town that the Pastor shall [have] for this year, beginning the first day of the first month, thirty pound, to be gathered by rate and to be paid unto him at two several payments, the first payment to be made one month after midsummer, the other payment to be made one month after Michaelmas, for the gath- ering of which the town hath desired Mr. Pendleton and Walter Hayne to undertake it, and also the town hath discharged the pastor from all rates, for this year, and the rate to be levied according to the rate which

was for the meeting-house, the invoice being

taken by John Freeman.” Of the prosperity of this little church, Johnson says, in his “ Wonder-Work- ing Providence : ” “This church hath hitherto been blessed with blessings of the right hand, even godly peace and unity ; they are not above fifty or sixty families and about eighty souls in church fellowship, their Neat head about 300.”

A meeting-hoUse was built in 1642-43 by John Rut- ter. It was situated in what is now the old burying- ground in Wayland.

Land Divisions. — The settlers had little more than got fairly located at the plantation, when they began dividing their territory, and apportioning it in parcels to the inhabitants. Before these divisions were made there w’ere no private estates, except such house-lots and few acres as were assigned at the out- set for the settler’s encouragement or help, or such land tracts as were obtained by special grant from the Colonial Court. But divisions soon came. Piece after piece was apportioned, and passed into private possession. Soon but little of the public domain was left, save small patches at the junction of roads, or some reservation for a school-house, meeting-house or pound, or plot for the village green.

From common land, which the undivided territory was called, has come the word “common ” as applied to a town common, park or public square. And from the division of land by lot, the term “ lot” has come into use, as “ meadow-lot,” “ wood-lot,” and “ house- lot.” The early land divisions were made, on per- mission of the Colonial Court, by such commissioners as the town or court might appoint.

Three divisions of meadow-land had been made by 1640. A record of these has been preserved, and the following are the preambles of two of them ;

“ A record of the names of the Inhabitants of Sudbury, with their several quantity of meadow to every one granted according to their es- tates or granted by gratulation for services granted by them, which meadow is ratable upon all common charges.”

“It is ordered that all the inhabitants of this town shall have ^ of their total meadows laid out this present year, viz. : the first divided ac- cording to discretion, and the second by lot.”

Not only the meadows but the uplands were par- celed out and apportioned, some for public use, some to the early grantees and some to individuals in re- turn for value or service.

2

In 1642 an addition of upland was made “ in acres according to the 1st and 2ond divisions of meadows granted unto them by the rule of their estate ; and Peter Noyes, Bryan Pendleton, George Munuings, Edmund Rice and Edmund Goodenovv were to have power to lay out the 3d division at their discretion.”

While the early land divisions were being made, reservations were also made of lands for pasturage, which it was understood were to remain undivided. These lands were called “ Cow Commons,” and the record of them explains their use. The first was laid out or set apart the 26th of November, 1643, and was on the east side of the river.

The cow common on the west side was reserved in 1647, and is thus described in the Town Book :

“It is ordered by the town that there shall be a cow common laid out on the west side of the river to remain in perpetuity, with all the up- land within these bounds, that is to say, all the uplaud that lies within the bound that goes from Bridle point through Hopp meadow*, and so to the west line, in the meadow of Walter Hayne, and all the upland with- in the gulf and the pantre brook to the upper end of the meadow of Rob- ert Darnill, and from thence to the west line, as it shall be bounded by some men appointed by the town, except it be such lands as are due to men already, and shall be laid out accox'ding to the time appointed by the tow’n. Walter Hayne and John Groute are appointed to bound the common, from Goodman DarniU’s meadow to the west line.”

The territory which was comprised in this common may be outlined, very nearly, by the Massachusetts Central Railroad on the south, the Old Colony Rail- road on the west, Pantry Brook on the north, and the river on the east. It will be noticed that these two commons included most of the hilly portions of the town, on both sides of the river; and it was doubtless the design of the settlers to reserve for common pas- turage these lands, because less adapted to easy cul- tivation. But in process of time they ceased to be held in reserve. More or less controversy subse- quently arose about what was known as “sizing the commons,” and by the early part of the next century they were all divided up and apportioned to the in- habitants; and now over the broad acres of these ancient public domains are scattered pleasant home- steads and fertile farms, and a large portion of three considerable villages, namely, Sudbury, South Sud- bury and Wayland Centre.

Besides the reservation of territory for common pas- turage, lands were laid out “ for the use of the minis- try.” Two such tracts were laid out on each side of the river, consisting of both meadow and upland, which were let out to individuals, the income derived therefrom going towards the minister’s salary. The lands that were situated on the west side have passed from public to private possession, being sold in 1817 for $3200.98.

Between 1650 and 1675 the west side had rapid de- velopment. Prior to the beginning of this period the pioneer spirit of the settlers had led to a thorough exploration of this part of the town, and they had lo- cated by its hills and along its meadows and valleys, as if undaunted by distance from the meeting-house

10

SlIUDBRY.

and mill, and indifferent to the perils of the wilder- ness. But although there was, to an extent, an occu- pation of the west part of the town from the very be- ginning of the settlement, yet the greater activity was for a time on the east side ; in that part was the cen- tralization of people, and things were more conven- ient and safe. Indeed, the settlers for a season may have regarded the west side as a wilderness country, destined long to remain in an unbroken state. The view westward from certain points along the first street was upon woody peaks and rocky hillsides. Beyond the valley of Lanham and Ivowance towered Nobscot; its slope, thickly covered with forest, might look like an inhosj)itable waste; while the nearer eminence of Goodman’s Hill, with its rough, rocky j)r<ijections, may liave had a broken and desolate as- pect. It is no wonder, then, that in the earlier years of the settlement we read of so many corn-fields on the east side of the river, and find parties desirous of obtaining new farms seeking them in a southerly rather than a westerly direction. But when absolute wants were once met, and things essential to existence were provided ; when the settlers had acquired a bet- ter knowledge of the country and of the character of its native inhabitants, and a substantial causeway was made, — then began a greater development of the west part of the town.

The indications are that these things were accom- plished about the year 1650. At this time we begin to notice the mention of homesteads on the west side, and the construction of works for public convenience. The lands first occupied, probably, were those near I.anham and Pantry, and along the meadows by the river course; while the more central portion, called, “Rocky Plain,” was not taken till somewhat later. This is indicated, not only by the known locations of early homesteads, but by the locality of the west side cow common. These sections may have been first taken on account of the abundance of meadow land, and the existence of roads which had been made for the transportation of hay.

A prominent person who early located there was Walter Haynes. He had a house by the meadow margin, which, in 1676, was used as a garrison, and which early in town history was called “ Mr. Haynes’ old house.” In 1646 he was granted liberty to run a fence “from his meadow, which lies on the west side of the river, across the highway to his fence of his upland at his new dwelling-house, provided that Walter Hayne do keep a gate at each side of his meadow for the passing of carts and the herds along the highway that his fence may not be prejudicial to the town.” Bath record and tradition indicate that John and Edmund Goodenow early' had lands near the Gravel Pit, and also at or near the present Farr and Cooli'lge farms. By' 1659, Thomas Noyes and Thomas Plympton had established houses on the west side, — the former on lands at Hop Brook, and the latter at Strawberry Bank. As early at least as

1654, Thomas Read was at Lanham ; and by 1659 Peter Bent was there also.

Some public acts which indicate activity on the west side, as set forth by' the records, are as follows : In 1654 it was ordered that Walter Hayne and John Stone “ shall see to the fences of all the corn-fields on their side the river;” and in 1659 a committee was appointed to look after the highways there. The mention of bridges by 1641, the ferry of Mr. Noyes in 1642, and the contract for a cart-bridge in 1643, are all indications of early activity in the west part of the town. But the more important matters of a pub- lic nature were in connection with the laying out of new lands, the construction of important roads, and the- erection of a mill.

Laying Out of New Lands. — In 1651, John Sherman and others were appointed to lay out the “ New Grant Lands.” After some delay the plan was adopted of dividing it into squadrons, the ar- rangement of which was as follows : “ The south east was to be the first, the north east the second, the north west the third, and the south west the fourth.” It was voted there should be a highway extending north and south, “ 30 rods wide in the new grant joining to the five miles first granted;” also, “ Voted that there should be a highway 30 rods wide, from south to north, parallel with the other said highway in the middle of the remaining tract of land.”

These squadrons w'ere subdivided into parcels of equal size, each containing one hundred and thirty acres, and were apportioned to the people by lot. It was voted that “ the first lot drawn was to begin at the south side of the first squadron running east and west betwixt our highways ; the second lot to be in the north side of the first, and so every lot following successively as they are drawn till we come to Con- cord line and so the first and second squadron.”

This land, laid out so regularly, w’as good property. Some of the most substantial homesteads of the town have been, and still are, upon it. Persons by the name of Howe, Parmenter, Woodward, Moore, Browne, Walker, Noyes, Balcom, and Rice, of the older inhabitants, and, later, of Fairbanks, Stone, AVillis, Smith, Hayden, Maynard, Perry, Bow'ker, Vose, Brigham, and others,— all had residences there. The possession of this new grant territory, and its early apportionment, would serve naturally to keep the people in town. It opened new resources to the settlers by its timber lands ; and the circuitous course of Wash Brook gave meadows and mill privileges which the people were not slow' to improve. Prob- ably the earlier settlers of this tract went from the east side of the river as into a new country or wil- derness. There they erected garrisons ; and that there were in this territory at least three of these houses indicates the exposed condition of the place at the time of its early occupation by the English. “ Willis,” the largest pond in town, a part of “ Nob- scot,” the highest hill, and the most extensive tim-

THE BROWN GARRISON HOUSE.

1

SUDBURY.

11

ber tracts, are in this new grant. In it have been lo- cated no less than five saw or g.-ist-mills. From this territory was taken part of the town of Maynard, and in it were located for years two out of five of the old- time district school-houses. The Wayside Inn and the Walker Garrison are still there ; and although the stirring scenes of the old stage period, which gave liveliness to the one, and the dismal war days, which gave importance to the other, have passed away, yet there remains a thrift and prosperity about the sub- stantial farms of the ancient new grant lots that make this locality one of importance and interest.

The Thirty-Rod Highway. —While these new lands proved so beneficial to the town, the ‘‘ Thirty- Rod Highway” in time caused considerable trouble. Ii was laid out for the accommodation of the owners of lots, and, as the name indicates, was thirty rods wide. The unnecessary width may be accounted for as we account for other wide roads of that day: land w as plentiful, and the timber of so large a tract would be serviceable to the town.

Bat the width tended to cause disturbance. The land was sought for by various parties, — by abuttors on one or both sides, it may be; by those dwelling within the near neighborhood ; and by such as de- sired it for an addition to their outlying lands, or a convenient annex to their farms. The result was that to protect it required considerable vigilance. En- croachments were made upon it, wood and timber were taken away, and at successive town-meetings what to do with this Thirty-Rod Highway was an important matter of business. But at length it largely ceased to be public property. Piece after piece had been disposed of. Some of it had been purchased by pri- vate parties, some of it exchanged for lands used for other highways, and some of it may have been gained by right of possession.

But though so much of this road has ceased to be used by the public, there are parts still retained by the town and open to public use. The Dudley Road, about a quarter of a mile from the William Stone place, and which passes a small pond called the Horse Pond, tradition says, is a part of this way. From near the junction of this with the county road, a part of the Thirty-Rod Way runs south, and is still used as a way to Nobscot. On it, tradition also says, is the Small-Pox Buryiug-Ground, at Nobscot. A part of this road, as it runs east and west, is probably the present Boston and Berlin Road, or what was the “ Old Lancaster Road.” Other parts of this way may be old wood-paths that the Sudbury farmers still use and speak of as being a part of this ancient land- murk.

“ Old Lancaster Road.” — This road, which was at first called the “Road'to Nashuway,” probably fol- lowed an ancient trail. In 1653 it was “ agreed by the town that Lieutenant Goodenow and Ensign Noyes shall lay out the way with Nashuway men so far as it goes within our town bound.” A record of

this road is on the town-book, and just following is this statement :

“This is a true copy of the commissioners appointed by the town taken from the original and examined by me.

“Hugh Griffin.”

This record which is among those for 1616, by the lapse of time has become so worn that parts are en- tirely gone. It is supposed, however, that some of the lost parts have been restored or supplied by the late Dr. Stearns. We will give the record, so far as it can be obtained from the town-book, and insert in brackets the words that have been supplied from other sources :

” We whose names are hereunto subscribed appoint[ed by] Sudbury and the town of Lancaster to lay out the Uigh[way over the] river mea- dow in Sudbury near Lancaster to the [town] bound according to the Court order, have agreed as follows [viz] That the highway beginning at the great river meadow [at the gravel] pitt shall run from thence [to the northwest side of] Thom is Plyinpton’s bouse, [and from thence] to timber 8wa[mpa8] marked by us and so on to Hart Pond leaving the [rock] on the north side of the way and from thence to the ex- treme [Sudbury bounds] as we have now marked it the breadth of the way is to be the gravel pitt to the west end of Thomas Plymptou’s lot and . . . rods wide all the way to the utmost of Sudbury bound and thence upon the common highway towards Lancaster through Sud[bury] therefore we have hereunto set our hand the 22“'^ day of this pres[ent mouth]

** Edmund Goodenow

Date 1653 “ Thomas Noyf^

“William Kerley”

This road has for many years been a landmark in Sudbury ; but the oldest inhabitant cannot remember when, in its entire length, it was used as a highway. Parts of it were long since discontinued, and were either sold or reverted to the estates of former owners.

The Hop-Brook Mill. — In 1659 a mill was put up where the present Parmenter Mill stands in South Sudbury. This mill was erected by Thomas and Peter Noyes. In recognition of the serviceableness of their work to the community, the town made them a land grant, and favored them with such privileges as are set forth in the following record :

“Jan. 1659. Granted unto Mr. Thomas Noyes ami to Peter Noyes for and in consideration of building a mill at Hop brook lay- ing and being on the west side of Sudbury great river below the cart way that leads to Ridge meadow viz: fifty acres of upland and fif- teen acres of meadow without commonadge to the said meadow four acres of the said fifteen acres of meadow lying and being within the demised tracts of uplands ; Also granted to the above named parties timber of any of Sudbury's common land, to build and maintain the said mill. Also the said Thomas and Peter Noyes do covenant with the town for the foregoing consideration, to build a sufficient mill to grind the town of Sudbury’s corn ; the mill to be built below the cart way that now is leading to Ridge meadow, the said Grantees, their heirs and successors are to have nothing to do with the stream above four rods above the aforementioned cartway of said mill to be ready to grind the corn by the first of December next ensueing, and if the said grantees, their heirs or assigns shall damage the high- way over the brook, by building the said mill, they are to make the way as good as now it is, from time to time, that is to say, the above specified way, over the Mill brook of said Thomas Noyes and Peter are also to leave a highway six rods wide joining to the brook from the east way that now is to the Widow Loker’s meadow.” (Town Records, vol, i.)

While the new mill was being built, a way was being made to it from the causeway, as we are in-

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formed by the following record, dated February 7, 1659:

“We, the Selectmen of Sudbury, finding sundry inconveniences, by reason of bad and ill )ngh^^ays not being passable to meadow-lunds and other towns, and finding the law doth commit the stating of the highways to the prudence of the selectmen of towns, we therefore, being met the day and year above written, on purpose to view the highways in the west side of tfudbury river, and having taken pains to view them, do we f-ay, ctnthide and jointly agree that the high- way from the Gravel pits shall go through the land new ly purchased of Lieut. Goodenow to that end, and from thence down the brow of the hill the now passed highway, unto the place where the new mil^ is building, that is to say, the way that is now in occupation, we mean the way that goeih to the south and ^Ir. Beisbeich his bouse, we conclude and jointly agree, that the way to the meadows, as namely, the meadow' of John Grout, Widow Goodenow, John May- nard, Lieut. Goodenow, shall go as now it doth, that is to say, in the hollow to the said meadows, the liighway to bo six rods wide all along by the side of the said meadows.”

In 1652 a contract was made for a new house of worship. This contract is on the Town Records, but has become considerably won) and defaced, so that parts are almost or quite unintelligible. There is, however, a copy in the “Steams Collection,” which, with some slight immaterial alterations, is as follows:

“ The town agreed with Thomas Plympton Peter King & Hugh Griffin to build a new meeting house which was to be forty feet long «fe twenty feet w ide measuring from outside to outside, the studds were to lie 6 inches by 4 to stand for a four foot clapboard. There were to be 4 tran- som windows five feet w ide &. C feet high, and in each gable end a clear- story window’, each window was to be 4 feet wide and 3 feet high. There were to bo sufficient doiments across the house for galleries if there should afterw ard be a desire for galleries the beams to be 12 inches by 14 and the ground sills were to be of w bite oak 8 inches square. The posts were to be a foot square, and the 2 middle beams to be smoothed on three sides and the low er corners to be run w ith a hotekeU. They the said Plympton King & Griffin are to find timber to fell, hew, saw, cart^ frame, carry to place & they are to level the ground and to find them sufficient help to raise the house, they are to inclose the house w ith clap boards and to lyiie the inside with cedar boards or otherwise with good spruce boards, c't to be smoothed & over lapped and to be lyned up the windows, & they are to hang tiie doors so as to bolt. One of the doors on the inside is to be sett with a lock. They are to lay the sleep ers of the doors w ith w bite oak or good swamp pine, & to floor the house w ith plank. They are to finish all the works but the seats, for which the town do covenant to give them ... 5 pound 20 to be paid in march next in Indian [corn] or cattle, 30 more to be paid in Sep’ next to be paid in w heat, butter, or money & the rest to bo paid as soon as the work is done in Indyan corn or cattle the corn to [be] merchantable at the price current.

“Witness Edmi), Goodnow.

“ Thomas Koyes.”

The new building was to be erected on the site of the old one. The town ordered “ that the car- penters should provide 12 men to help them raise the meeting house,” for which they were to be allowed half a crown a day. The roof was to be covered with thatch, and the workmen were to have “ the meadow afterwards the minister’s to get their thatch upon.” In 1654 a committee was appointed “ to agree with somebody to fill the walls of the meeting house with tempered clay firovided they do not exceed the sum of 5 pounds 10 shillings.” The parties who were to build the house were employed “ to build seats after the same fashion as in the old meeting house.” and they were to have for every seat one shilling eight pence. The seats were to be made of white oak, “ both posts and rails and benches.”

But while the town was growing and increasing in strength, a controversy occurred which was of a somewhat serious character. Questions arose relat- ing to the division of the “ two-mile grant,” to the title of parlies to certain lands, and to rights in the east side cow common. The controversy concerning this latter subject wjis in relation to “sizing” or “stinting” the common. It was specified when this laud was reserved, that it “should never be ceded or laid down, without the consent of every inhabitant and townsman that hath right in commonage;” and the rule for pasturing cattle upon it was, “The in- habitants are to be limited in the putting in of cattle upon the said common, according to the quantity of meadow the said inhabitants are rated in upon the division of the meadows.” The rule of allowance on this basis was as follows: “For eveiy two acres of meadow one beast, that is either cow, ox, bull or steer, or heifer to go as one beast and a half, and every six sheep to go for one beast, and that all cattle under a year old shall go without sizing.’’ The endeavor to define rights of commonage, or the relation of the in- dividual to this piece of town property, proved a difficult task. As might be expected among a people of positive natures, strong opinions were entertained, and decided attitudes were taken concerning a matter of individual rights. The affair was not wholly con- fined to the town in its social and civil relations, but the church became connected with it. The result was that a council was called to adjust ecclesiastical matters, and advice was also sought and obtained of the General Court.

In 1675 King Philip’s War set in ; and Sudbury, on account of its troutier position, was badly harassed by the enemy. The principal means of defence in this war were the garrison-houses. Of these places we give the following information :

The Brown Garrison. — This stood on the pres- ent estate of Luther Cutting, about a dozen rods southeasterly of his residence, or a few rods east of the Sudbury and Framingham road, and about a half mile from the town’s southern boundary. I: had a gable roof, was made of wood, and lined with brick. It was demolished about thirty-five years ago, when in the possession of Mr. Conant.

The Walker Garrison. — The Walker garrison- house is in the west part of the town, a little south of the Massachusetts Central Railroad, on the Willard Walker estate. This building is a curious structure, with massive chimney, large rooms and heavy frame- work. It is lined within the walls with upright plank fastened with wooden pins.

The Goodnow Garrison. — This garrison stood a little .southeasterly of the present Cool idge house, or a few rods northeast to east of the East Sudbury Railroad Station, and perhaps twenty or thirty rods from the South Sudbury and Wayland highway. A lane formerly went from the road to a point near the garrison.

THE PARMENTER GARRISON HOUSE.

See page 13.

SUDBURY.

The Haynes Garrison. — This garrison stood on the Water-Row Road, by tlie margin of the river meadow, a little northerly or northeasterly of the Luther Goodenow house. It was about an eighth of a mile from the Wayland and Sudbury Centre high- way, two or three rods from the road, and fronted south. In later years it was painted red. In 1876 it was still standing, but has since been demolished.

One of the buildings which common tradition says was a garrison, but whose name is unknown, stood near the Adam How' place, about twenty-five rods northwest of the house. It was one story high, and had a room at each end. For a time it was owned and occupied by Abel Parraenter, and was torn down years ago. It is stated by tradition that, when the Wayside Inn was built, the workmen repaired to this house at night for safety.

The garrisons previously mentioned were named from their early occupants. Parmenter was the name of the first occupant of this house of whom we have any knowledge ; if he was the first, then doubtless this house was formerly known as the Parmenter Garrison.

The other garrison, the name of which is unknown, was north of the Gulf Meadows, and on or near the present Dwier Farm (Bent place). Tradition con- cerning this one is less positive than concerning the other. An old inhabitant, once pointing towards the old Bent house, said, “ There is where the people used to go w'hen the Indians were about.” It is quite evident that the Bent house was not a garrison, for that was built about a century ago; but across the road southwesterly there are indications that some structure once stood, which may have been a garri- son.

The Block-Hotjse. — A block-house stood in the north part of the town, on the Israel Haynes farm. It was situated, perhaps, from thirty to fifty rods southwest of the house of I^eander Haynes, on a slight rise of ground. It was small, perhaps fifteen feet square, more or less, and so strongly builc that it was with difficulty taken to pieces. It was demol- ished about three-quarters of a century ago, when owned by Mr. Moses Haynes. Mr. Reuben Rice, of Concord, a relative of Mr. Haynes, when over ninety years of age, informed the writer that when it was torn down he chanced to be passing by, and looked ' for bullet-marks, and believed he found some. He stated there was no mistake about the house being used as a garrison.

Besides the garrison-houses, the town had a small force of militia. Says “The Old Petition:” “The strength of Our towne upon y' Enemy’s approaching it, consisted of eighty fighting men.” These men w'ere able-bodied and strong for the work of war, liable to do duty for either country or town; while others, younger and less vigorous, could stand guard and do some light service. When the war was fairly begun, the town’s force was replenished by outside

help. So that, with the people collected in garrisons, and the armed men able to fight in a sheltered place, a stout defence could be maintained against a con- siderably larger force.

At the beginning of the war the town of Sudbury was not attacked, as the Indians chiefly confined hos- tilities to the county of Plymouth, yet it was soon called upon to send aid to other places. November 22, 1675, a warrant came from Major Willard to John Grout, Josiah Haynes and Edmund Goodnow, who called themselves the “humble servants the militia of Sudbury,” requiring the impressment of nine able men to the service of the country. They state to the Governor and Council that they have impressed the following men, namely : William Wade, Samuel Bush, John White, Jr., Thomas Rutter, Peter Noyes, Jr., James Smith, Dennis Headly, Mathew Gibbs, Jr., and Daniel Harrington; but that they wish to have them released. Joseph Graves, master of Harring- ton, states that his servant had not clothing fit for the service; that he was well clothed when he was im- pressed before, but that he wore his clothes out in that service, and could not get his wages to buy more. The service that he was formerly impressed for was the guarding of families in “Natick Bounds.” One of those families is supposed to be that of Thomas Eames, which was attacked by the Indians near the outbreak of the war. A further reason for their re- lease from this service is found in the following ex- tracts from their petition : “Considering our condition as a frontier town, and several of our men being al- ready in the service, our town being very much scat- tered;” furthermore, that, several families being sickly, no use could be made of them for “watching, w^arding, scouting or impress, whereby the burden lies very hard on a few persons.”

It was not long after hostilities began before the foe approached Sudbury. The first blow that fell on the town that has been noted by historians of that day was on March 10, 1676. Says Mather, “Mischief was done and several lives cut off by the Indians.”

While the prospect was thus threatening, the design of the Indians for a season was effectually stayed, and a disastrous invasion prevented by a bold move made by the inhabitants of the town. The event referred to occurred March 27, 1676. A force of savages, near three hundred in number, were within about a half mile of Sudbury’s western boundary. The force was led by Netus, the Nipmuck captain. This band was intent on mischief. It was on the trail for prey. Flushed with the expectation of easy victory, they waited the dawn of day to begin their foul work, and seize such persons and spoil as were found outside the garrisons. On Sabbath night they made their en- campment within half a mile of a garrison. Their mischievous course through the previous day had been so little opposed that they felt secure as if in a world of peace. But the English were on their track.

Intell’genceoftheir presence at Marlboro’ had reached

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Sudbury, and a movement was made to oppose them. A score of bold citizens set forth for the beleaguered place. On their arrival at Marlboro’ they were rein- forced by twenty soldiers, who were taken from the garrisons, and the two forces went in search of the enemy. Before daybreak they discovered them asleep about their fires. The English, in night’s stillness, crept close upon the camp. Wrapped in slumber, and unsuspicious of what was so near, the Indians were suddenly startled by a destructive volley from an unexpected foe. The English took them by com- plete surprise. So effectually had they directed their fire that the Indians speedily fled. About thirty of their number were wounded, of whom it is said four- teen afterwards died. Not only were the Indians numerically weakened, but demoralized somewhat by such a bold and unlooked-for assanlt. Probably this act saved Sudbury for a time. Netus was slain, and for nearly a month there w as a cessation of hostilities within and about the town.

That Sudbury people in this affair acted not simply in their own defence is implied in “ The Old Peti- tion,” in which it is stated that “ the Indians in their disastrous invasions were resolved by our mine to re- venge y' reliefe which our Sudbury volunteers ap- proached to distressed Marlborough, in slaying many of y' enemy & repelling y' rest.”

Attack on the Toavn hy King Philip. — Al- though this sudden assault on the savages may have checked their course for a time, the)’ soon rallied for further mischief. In the following April a large force, headed by Philip in person, started for Sudbury. At the time of the invasion there was nothing west of Sudbury to obstruct his course. The last town was Marlboro’, and this was devastated as by a close gleaner in the great field of war. The people had almost wholly abandoned the place; the dwellings were re- duced to ash-heaps, and a few soldiers only were quartered there to guard the road to Brookfield and the Connecticut. Sudbury at this time was theobjec- ti ve point of King Philip. That he had a special pur- pose in assailing the place, other than what led him to conduct the war elsewhere, is implied in “ The Old Petition,” in the words before quoted, where the object of revenge is mentioned. Certain it is, he had a strong force, and fought hard and long to destroy the place.

Date of Philip’s Attack on the Town. — Before entering, however, on the details of the conflict, we will notice the time at which it occurred. Previous to the discovery of “ The Old Petition,” two dates had been assigned, namely, the ISthand the 21st of April. Various authorities were quoted in support of each. So important was the matter considered, that a com- mittee was appointed to examine evidence on the sub- ject. The committee reported in favor of the 21st. (Report of Kidder and Underwood.) Notwithstand- ing this decision, opinions still differed ; but the dis- covery of “ The Old Petition ” has fully settled this

matter, and established beyond question that the date cf Philip’s attack on the town and the garrisons, and the ‘‘Sudbury Fight,” was the 21st. We can under- stand how, before the discovery of this paper, opinions might vary ; how an historian might mistake as to a date, and a monument might perpetuate the error. When President Wadsworth erected a slate-stone at the grave of Captain Wadsworth, the date inscribed might have been taken from the historian Hubbard, who might have received it from an unreliable source. But we can hardly suppose that a mistake could occur in the paper above referred to concerning the date of this event. This paper is a calm, deliberate docu- ment, signed by inhabitants of Sudbury, and sent to the Colonial Cciurt less than six months after the in- vasion by Philip. It gives the dale of the invasion in the following words: “An Account of Losse Sus- tained bySeverall Inhabitants of y' towne of Sudbury by y® Indian Enemy 21“ April 1676.”

Number of the Enemy. — Philip arrived with his force at Marlboro’ on or about the 18th of April, and soon started for Sudbury. The number of his warriors has been variously estimated. In the “ Old Indian Chronicle ” it is given as “ about a thousand strong.” Gookin states, in his history of the Christian Indians, “ that upon the 21“ of April about mid-day tidings came by many messengers that a great body of the enemy not less as was judged than fifteen hundred, for the enemy to make their force seem very large there were many women among them whom they had fitted with pieces of wood eut in the forms of guns, which these carried, and were placed in the centre, they had assaulted a place called Sudbury that morn- ing, and set fire of sundry houses and barns of that town . . . giving an account that the people of the place were greatly, distressed and earnestly desired succor.”

The Attack. — During the night of April 20th Philip advanced his force and took position for the coming day. It was early discovered by the inhabit- ants that during the night-time the Indians had got- ten possession of everything in the west part of the town but the garrisons, and that they had become so scattered about in squads, and had so occupied various localities, that at a given signal they could strike a concerted blow. Says the “Old Indiaii Chronicle,” ‘‘The houses were built very scatteringly, and the enemy divided themselves into small parties, which executed their design of firing at once.” The smoke of dwellings curled upward on the morning air, ihe war-whoop rang out from the forest, and from the town’s westerly limit to the IVatertown boundary the destructive work was begun. It is said by tradition that the Indians even entered the Watertown terri- tory, and set fire to a barn in what is now Weston.

About the time of firing the deserted houses the Indians made their attack on the garrisons. The de- tachments for this work were probably as specifically set apart as were those for burning the dwelling-

THE HAYNES GARRISON HOUSE

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15

places ; and doubtless hours before daybreak the foe lay concealed in their picked places, ready to pour their shot on the wall. The attack on the Haynes house was of great severity. The position of the building favored the near and concealed approach of the enemy. The small hill at the north afforded a natural rampart from which to direct his fire; behind it he could skulk to close range of the house and drive his shot with terrible force on the walls. There is a tradition that, by means of this hill, the Indians tried to set the building on fire. They filled a cart with flax, ignited, and started it down the hill towards the house ; but before it reached its destination it upset, and the building was saved. Tradition also states that near the house was a barn, which the In- dians burned; but that this proved advantageous to the inmates of the garrison, as it had afforded a shel- ter for the Indians to fire from. Probably this barn was burned with the expectation of setting fire to the house.

But it was not long that the Indians were to fight at close range; the bold defenders soon sallied forth, and commenced aggressive warfare. They fell on the foe, forced them back, and drove them from their “skulking approaches.” The service at the other garrisons was probably all that was needed. That none of these houses were captured is enough to indi- cate a stout and manly defence. They were all cov- eted objects of the enemy, and plans for the capture of each had been carefully laid.

While the town’s inhabitants were defending the garrisons, reinforcements were approaching the town from several directions. Men hastened from Concord and Watertown, and some were sent from the vicinity of Boston. The Concord company consisted of “twelve resolute young men,” who endeavored to render assistance in the neighborhood of the Haynes garrison-house. Before they had reached it, how- ever, and formed a junction with the citizens of the town, they were slain in a neighboring meadow. The men thus slain on the meadow were left where they fell until the following day, when their bodies were brought in boats to the foot of the old town bridge and buried. The reinforcements from Watertown were more fortunate than those from Concord, and were spared to assist in saving the town. They were led or sent by the gallant Hugh Mason, of Water- town, and assisted in driving a company of Indians to the west side of the river.

The Wadsworth Fight. — Another company of reinforcements w'ere commanded by Samuel Wads- worth, of Milton, who was sent out for the assistance of Marlborough. The number in this company had been variously estimated. Mather sets it at seventy. “The Old Indian Chronicle” says, “Wadsworth being designed of a hundred men, to repair to Marl- boro, to strengthen the garrison and remove the goods.” Hubbard says, “ That resolute, stout-hearted soldier, Capt, Wadsworth . . being sent from

Boston with fifty soldiers to relieve Marlboro.” It is not remarkable that estimates should differ with re- gard to the number in this company, since all the men who accompanied Wadsworth from Boston were not in the engagement at Sudbury. When Cajjt. Wadsworth reached Marlboro’ he exchanged a part of his younger men, who were wearied with the march, for some at the garrison, and accompanied by Captain Brocklebank, the garrison commander, started back to Sudbury. Lieutenant Jacobs, who commanded the garrison in the absence of Brocklebank, in re- porting to the authorities in regard to the number of men left with him, states as follows: “There is re- maining in our company forty-six, several whereof are young soldiers left here by Captain Wadsworth, being unable to march. But though he left a part of his men he took some from the garrison at Marlboro.” From what we know of the fate of a large part of this company, and the circumstances attendant upon the expedition, we conclude the number en- gaged in the Sudbury fight was not much over fifty. If twenty-nine men were found slain after the battle, and fourteen escaped, and about a half dozen were taken captive, the number would not be far from the foregoing estimate.

Captain Wadsworth arrived at Marlboro’ some time during the night of the 20tb. Upon ascertaining that the Indians had gone in the direction of Sud- bury, he did not stop to take needed refreshment, but started upon the enemy’s trail.

The English encountered no Indians until they had gone some distance into Sudbury territory, when they came upon a small party, who fled at their approach . Captain Wadsworth with his company pursued until they found themselves in an ambush, where the main body of Philip’s forces lay concealed. The place of the ambush was at what is now South Sudbury, a little nor_theasterly of the village and on the west- erly side of Green Hill.

The force that lay concealed is supposed to have been quite strong. Gookin speaks of “ the enemy being numerous.” “The Old Indian Chronicle” speaks of it as about a thousand. As the foe appeared, the English pursued, and followed hard as they withdrew. But the pursuit was fatal. The Indians retreated until the place of ambush was reached. Then suddenly the foe opened his fire from a chosen place of concealment, where each man had the oppor- tunity of working to advantage.

But, though suddenly beset on all sides, they main- tained a most manly defence. It may be doubtful if there is its equal in the annals of the early Indian wars. From five hundred to one thousand savages, with Philip himself to direct their manoeuvres, pour-, ing their fire from every direction, and this against about four-score of Englishmen, hard marched, in an unfamiliar locality, could do deadly work. Y"et there is no evidence of undue confusion among the ranks of the English.

IG

SUDBURY.

The sudden onslaught of the savages was attended, as usual, with shoutings and a horrible noise, which but increased the threatening aspect, and tended to indicate that things were worse than they were. In spite of all this, the brave company maintained their position, and more than held their own. Says Mather, “They fought like men and more than so.” Says “ The Old Indian Chronicle,” “ Xot at all dismayed by their numbers, nor dismal shouts and horrid yell- ings, ours made a most courageous resistance.” Not only was the foe kept at bay, and the English force mainly kept compact, but a movement was made to obtain a better position ; hard by was the summit of Green Hill, and thitherward, fighting, Wadsworth directed his course. This he reached, and for hours he fought that furious host, with such success that it is said he lost but five men.

The Forest Fire. — But a new element was to be introduced. The fight had doubtless been prolonged far beyond what Philip had at first supposed it would be. Desperate in his disappointment that the English had not surrendered, they again resorted to strategy to accomplish their work. The day was almost done. Philip’s force had been decimated by Wadsworth’s stubborn defence. Darkness was soon to set in, and under its friendly concealment the English might make their escape. New means must be employed, or the battle to the Indians was lost, and the fate of Philip’s slain warriors would be unavenged. Wadsworth might form a junction wdth the soldiers at the east side of the town, or make his way to the Goodnow Garrison just beyond Green Hill. A crisis was at hand. Philip knew it, and made haste to meet it. The fight began with strategy, and he sought to close it with strategy. He set fire to the woods and the flames drove Wadsworth from his advantageous position.

The Retreat. — With this new combination of forces pressing hard upon them, nothing was left but retreat. But the results of the retreat were disastrous and exceedingly sad. There is something melancholy indeed attendant on that precipitous flight. For hours, shoulder to shoulder, these men had manfully stood. Inch by inch they had gained the hill-top. The wounded had likely been borne with them, and laid at their protectors’ feet ; and the brave company awaited night’s friendly shades to bear them gently to a place of relief. But they were to leave them now in the hands of a foe less merciful than the flames from which they had been forced to retire. Their de- fenders had fired their last shot that would keep the foe at bay, and in hot haste were to make a rush for the Hop Brook Mill. It was a race for life; a gauntlet from which few would escape.

The flight of the men to the mill was doubtless at- tended with fearful loss. It was situated at what now is South Sudbury Tillage, on the site of the pres- ent Parmenter Mill. The distance from the top of Green Hill is from a quarter to half a mile. This

distance was enough to make the staughter great. A break in the ranks and the foe could close in, and the tomahawk and war-club could do a terrible work.

Loss OF THE English. — As to the number of English slain, accounts somewhat differ. This is not strange, when men differ as to the number engaged. Mather says “ that about fifty of the men were slain that day.” Gookin speaks of “ thirty-two besides the tsvo captains.” Hubbard says, “ So as another cap- tain and his fifty perished that time of as brave sol- diers as any who were ever employed in the service.” Lieut. Richard Jacobs, of the garrison at Marlboro’, in his letter to the Council, dated April 22, 1676 (Vol. LXVHI., p. 223, State Archive-), says, “ This hiorn- ing, about sun two hours high, ye enemy alarmed us by firing and .shouting toward ye government garrison house at Sudbury.” He goes on to state that “ soon after they gave a shout and came in great numbers on Indian Hill, and one. as their accustomed manner is after a fight, began to signify to us how many were slain ; they whooped seventy-four times, which we hope was only to affright us, seeing we have had no intelligence of any such thing, yet we have reason to fear the worst, considering the numbers, which we ap- prehend to be five hundred at the most, others think a thousand.”

Thus, according to the various accounts, by far the greater part were slain. There is one thing which goes to show, however, that Mather may not be far from correct, — that is, the evidence of the exhumed remains. When the grave was opened a few years ago, parts of the skeletons of twenty-nine men were found. We can hardly suppose, however, that these were all the slain. Some who were wounded may have crawled away to die. Others, disabled, may have been borne from the spot by the foe; and, in various ways, the wounded may have been remov- ed, to perish near or remote from the field of battle.

The Captured. — But the sad story is not wholly told when w’e speak of the slain. The tragedy was not complete when the surviving few had left the field and taken refuge in the mill. Some were cap- tured alive. These were subjected to such atrocious treatment as only a savage w’ould be expected to give. Says Hubbard, “ It is related by some that afterwards escaped how they cruelly tortured five or six of the English that night.” Mather says, “They took five or six of the English and carried them away alive, but that night killed them in such a manner as none but savages would have done, . . . delighting to see the miserable torments of the w'retched creatures. Thus are they the perfect children of the devil.”

The Survivors. — The few English who escaped to the mill found it a place of safety. Says tradition, this was a fortified place, but it was then left in a defenceless condition. This latter fact the Indians were ignorant of, hence it w’as left unassailed. The escaped soldiers were rescued at night by Warren and Pierce, with some others, among whom was Captain

Mill Village.

See page 20'!.

SUDBURY.

17

Prentis, “ who coming in the day hastily though some- what too late to the relief of Capt. Wadsworth having not six troopers that were able to keep way with him fell into a pound or place near Sudbury town end^ where all passages were stopped by the Indians.” Captain Cowell also gave assistance, and thus these weary, war-worn men, the remnant of the gallant company that fought on that memorable day, were conducted to a place of safety.

Burial, of the Dead. — The morning light of the 22d of April broke upon a sad scene in Sudbury. The noise of the batrle had ceased, and the fires had faded away with the night-shadows. Philip had betaken himself from the field of his hard-earned and unfor- tunate victory, and nothing of life was left but the leafless woods, and these charred as if passed over by the shadow of death. It was a scene of loneliness and desolation. The dead, scalped and stripped, were left scattered as they fell ; while their victors by the sun-rising were far on their way back over the track which they had made so desolate. This scene, how- ever, was shortly to change. Warm hearts and stout hands were pushing their way to see what the case might demand, and, if possible render, relief.

Before nightfall of the 21st, so far as we have learned, little, if any intelligence was received by the parties who had rushed to the rescue, of the true state of things about Green Hill. Wadsworth and Brockle- bank were encompassed about by the foe, so that no communication could be conveyed to the English, who anxiously awaited tidings of their condition. It was known at the easterly part of the town that hard fighting was in progress at or near Green Hill. The shouting, firing and smoke betokened that a battle was in progress, but how it would terminate none could tell. After the Sudbury and Watertown men had driven the Indians over the river, they strove hard to reach the force on the hill. Says Warren and Pierce, in their petition : “We who were with them can more largely inform this Honored Council that as it is said in the petition, that we drove two hundred Indians over the river and with some others went to see if we could relieve Capt. Wadsworth upon the hill, and there we had a fight with the Indians, but they being so many of them, and we stayed so long that we were almost encompassed by them, which caused us to retreat to Capt. Goodnow’s garrison house, and there we stayed it being near night till it was dark.”

But another force had also striven to reach the town, and join in the work of rescue. This was a company from Charlestown, commanded by Captain Hunting. Of this company, Gookin says (“ History of Christian Indians”) : “ On the 2P‘ of April, Capt. Hunting had drawn up and ready furnished his company of forty Indians at Charlestown. These had been ordered by the council to march to the Merrimac river near Chelmsford, and there to settle a garrison near the great fishing places where it w'as expected the enemy

would come to get fish for their necessary food.” But, says Gookin, “ Behold God’s thoughts are not as ours, nor His ways as ours, for just as these soldiers were ready to march upon the 21“ of April, about midday, tidings came by many messengers that a grt-at body of the enemy . . . had assembled at a town called Sud- bury that morning.” He says “that just at the begin- ning of the lecture there, as soon as these tidings came. Major Gooken and Thomas Danforth, two of the magistrates who were there hearing the lecture ser- mon, being acquainted, he withdrew out of the meet- ing house, and immediately gave orders for a ply of horses belonging to Capt. Prentis’s troop under con- duct of Corporal Phipps, and the Indian company under Capt. Hunting, forthwith to march away for the relief of Sudbury ; which order was accordingly put into execution. Capt. Hunting with his Inlian com- pany being on foot, got not into Sudbury until a little within night. The enemy, as is before [narrated], were all retreated unto the west side of the river of Sudbury, where also several English inhabited.”

But though the rescuing parties were either re- pulsed or too late to render assistance at the fight, they were on hand to bury the dead. Says Warren and Pierce, — “After hurrying the bodies of the Con- cord men at the bridge’s foot, we joined ourselves to Capt. Hunting and as many others as we could pro- cure, and went over the river to look for Capt. Wads- worth and Capt. Broklebank, and we gathered them up and hurried them.”

The manner in which this burial scene proceeded is narrated thus by Mr. Gookin (“ History of Christian Indians”): “Upon the 22'“’ of April, early in the morning, over forty Indians having stripped them- selves and painted their faces like to the enemy, they passed over the bridge to the west side of the river, without any Englishmen in the company, to make discovery of the enemy (which was generally con- ceded quartered thereabout), but this did not at all discourage our Christian Indians from marching and discovering, and if they had met with them to beat up their quarters. But God had so ordered that the enemy were all withdrawn and were retreated in the night. Our Indian soldiers having made a thourough discovery and to their great relief (for some of them wept when they saw so many English lie dead on the place among the slain), some they knew, viz., those two worthy and pious Captains, Capt. Broklebank, of Rowley, and Capt. Wadsworth, of Milton, who, with about thirty-two private soldiers, were slain the day before. ... As soon as they had made a full discov- ery, [they] returned to their Captains and the rest of the English, and gave them an account of their mo- tions. Then it was concluded to march over to the place and bury the dead, and they did so. Shortly after, our Indians marching in two files upon the wings to secure those that went to bury the dead, God so ordered it that they met with no interruption in that work.”

18

SUDBURY.

Thus were the slain soldiers buried on that April morning, in the stillness of the forest, far away from their kindred, friends and homes. Tho.se who, through inability, had failed to defend them in the day of battle, now tenderly took them to their last, long resting-place. A single grave contained them. Though scattered, they were borne to one common place of burial, and a rough heap of stones was all that marked that lone, forest grave. Such was that soldiers’ sepulchre — a mound in the woods, left to grow gray with the clustering moss of years, yet marking in its rustic simplicity one of the noblest and most heroic events known in the annals of King Philip's War. They sleep

while the bells of autumn toll,

Or the murmuring song of spring flits by,

Till the crackling heavens in thunder roll.

To the bugle-blast on high.”

Place of Burial. — The grave was made on the westerly side of Green Hill, near its base, and was in the northeast corner of the South Sudbury Cemetery be- fore its recent enlargement. In our recollection the grave was marked by a rude stone heap, at the head of which was a plain slate-stone slab. The heap was made of common loose stones, such as a man could easily lift, and was probably placed there when the grave was made. It was perhaps three or four feet high, and a dozen feet wide at the base. The slab was erected about 1730 by President Wadsworth, of Harvard College, son of Captain Wadsworth. As we remember the spot, it was barren and briar-grown ; ] loose stones, fallen from the top and sides of the mound, were half concealed in ^he wild wood grass that grew in tufts about it. It remained in this con- dition for years, and the villagers from time to time visited it as a place of interest.

In the year 1851 the town agitated the matter of erecting a monument, and the Legislature was peti- tioned for aid, which was granted. But the monu- ment does not mark the original grave. The com- mittee who had the matter in charge located it about fifty feet to tbe north. The old grave was at or about the turn of the present avenue or path, at the northeast corner of the Adam Smith family lot in the present Wadsworth Cemetery. After it was decided to erect the monument in its present position, the re- mains of the soldiers were removed. The grave was opened without ceremony in the presence of a small company of villagers. It was the writer’s privilege to be one of the number, and, according to our recollec- tion, the grave was about six feet square, in which the bodies were placed in tiers at right angles to each other. Some of the skeletons were large and all well preserved.

The war with King Philip being ended, the way was open for renewed prosperity. New buildings went up on the old estates, garrisons again became quiet homesteads, and the fields smiled with plenti- ful harvests.

Erection of Saw'-Mill. — A movement that de- notes the town’s activity and recuperative power was the erection of a saw-mill. A town record dated March 26, 1677, imforms us it was ordered that “ Peter King, Thomas Read, Sen., John Goodenow, John Smith and Joseph Freeman have liberty granted them to build a saw-mill upon Hop Brook above Mr. Peter Noyes’s mill, at the place viewed by the commit- tee of this town chosen the last week, which if they do, they are to have twenty tons of timber of the common lands for the building thereof, and earth for their dam, and also they are to make a small dam or sufiB- cient causage so as to keep the waters out of the swamp lands there, provided also that if Mr. Peter Noyes shall at any time throw up his corn-mill they do in room thereof set up a corn-mill as sufficient to grind the town’s corn and grain as Mr. Noyes’s present mill hath done and doth, and see to maintain the same, and whenever they or any of them their heirs, execu- tors, administrators. Assigns, or successors, shall either throw up their said corn-mill or fail to grind the town’s corn and grain as above said, the towns land hereby granted shall be forfeited and returned to the town’s use again, and lastly the said personsare not to pen up the water, or saw at any time between the middle of April and the first of September, and they are also to make good all the highway that they shall damage thereby.”

Death of Rev. Edmund Browne. — The town had not moved far on the road to renewed prosperity before another calamity came. This was the death of its pastor. Rev. Edmund Browne, who died June 22, 1678.

Mr. Browne came from England in 1637, and, ac- cordingly to Mather, was ordained and in actual ser- vice in that country before he came to America. He was a freeman of Ma.s3achusetts Bay Colony, May 13, 1640. He married, about 1645, Anne, widow of John Loveren, of Watertown, but left no children. He was a member of the synod that established “ The Cambridge Platform,” 1646-48 ; was on the council that met in 1657 to settle the difficulties in Rev. Mr. Stone’s church, Hartford; preached the artillery elec- tion sermon in 1666; and his name is attached to the testimony of the seventeen ministers against the pro- ceedings of the three elders of the First Church, Bos- ton, about 1669.

Mr. Browne was quite a land-owner, his real estate as it is supposed, amounting to three hundred acres. His early homestead at Timber Neck had originally belonging to it seventy acres. He received from the General Court a grant of meadow land situated in the present territory of Framingham, and from time to time became possessed of various lands both within and without the town. Mr. Browne hunted and fished, and it is said was a good angler. He played on several musical instruments and was a noted musi- cian. In his will he speaks of his “ Base Voyal ” and musical booksand instruments. He was much interest-

THE WADSWORTH GRAVE. South Sudbury.

SUDBUKV.

19

ed in educating and Christianizing the Indians, and at one time had some of them under his special care- His library was for those times quite valuable, con- taining about one hundred and eighty volumes. He left fifty pounds to establish a grammar school in Sudbury ; but by vote of the town, in 1724, it was diverted to another purpose. He also left one hun- dred pounds to Harvard College.

Soon after the death of Mr. Browne the town called the Eev. James Sherman to the pastorate, and bought for his use, of John Loker, “the east end of his house, standing before and near the meeting- house; and the reversion due to him of the western end of the house that his mother then dwelt in.” The town also agreed to pay Mr. Sherman eighty pounds salary, part in money and part in produce.

New Meeting-Hotjse. — In 1685 the town made a contract for a new meeting-house which was to “stand upon the present burying-place of this town, and on the most convenient part thereof, or behind or about the old meeting-house that now is.”

Military Matters. — In the wars that occurred in the last of the seventeenth and the early part of the eighteeni.h centuries, Sudbury soldiers did valiant service. The town was represented in the ill-fated expedition of Sir William Phipps, in 1690, and in the expedition subsequently made against the eastern In- dians. They also later did good service in and about Eutland, Ma^s. Eepeatedly are the town’s soldiers on the muster-rolls of a company of rangers who served in that vicinity. One of the commanding officers was William Brintnal, a Sudbury school- master.

Schools. — A prominent feature in the history of Sudbury at the beginning of the eighteenth century was the attention given to schools.

November 17, 1701, at a town-meeting, “it was voted to choose Mr. Joseph Noyes as a grammar school master for one year. . . . Also chose Mr. W“ Brown and Mr. Thomas Plympton to present the said school master unto the Eev. ministers for their appro- bation of him, which are as followeth, Mr. James Sherman, Mr. Joseph Esterbrooks, Mr. Swift, of Fra- mingham.” This reverend committee duly met, and examined the candidate, and reported as follows, Nov. 21, 1701: “ We, the subscribers, being desired by the town of Sudbury to write what we could testify in concerning the justification of Mr. Joseph Noyes, of Sudbury, for a legall Grammar School master, hav- ing examined the said Mr. Joseph Noyes, we find that he hath been considerably versed in the Latin and Greek tongue, and do think that upon his dili- gent revisal and recollection of what he hath formerly learned, he may be qualified to initiate and instruct the youth in the Latin tongue.

“Joseph Esterbrooks, John Swift.”

On the strength of this careful approval and guarded recommendation the successful candidate went forth to his work. He did not, however, tong

retain his position. For some cause not mentioned the place soon became vacant; and February of the same year Jlr. Picher became Mr. Noyes’ successor. The contract made with Mr. Picher was as follows : “It is agreed and concluded that the town will and doth grant to pay unto Mr. Nathaniel Picher six pounds in money in course hee doth accept of the Towne’s choice as to be our Grammar scool master, also for one quarter of a yeare, and to begin ye third of March next ensuing, and to serve in the place the full quarter of a yeare, one half of the time on the east side of the Eiver, and the other half of the time on the west side of the river. This Grammar scool master chosen if he accepts and doth enter upon the work it is expected by the above said Towne, that he should teach all children sent to him to learn Eng- lish and the Latin tongue, also writing and the art of Arithmatic.” In 1703 it* was voted to pay Mr. Picher for service done that year twenty-eight pounds, “he deducting a months pay . . .for his being absent one month in summer time from keep- ing of scool, which amounth to twelfeth part of time ; ” “also voted and agreed, as a free will, to give unto Mr. Picher two days in every quarter of his year to visit his friends, if he see cause to take up with it.” In 1711, Lieut. Thomas Frink and Quartermaster Brintnal were “ to agree with some person who is well instructed in ye tongues to keep a scool.” His pay was not to exceed thirty pounds.

The place of the school was changed from time to time. In 1702 it was voted “ that the scool master should keep y® scool on y® west side of y® river at y® house of Thomas Brintnell, which is there parte of time belonging to y® west side of y® river.” The custom of changing the place of the school was con- tinued for many years; for we find the following record as late as 1722; “Voted by the town that y® scool master shall keep scool one half of y® time on y® west side of y® river in Sudbury, voted by y® town, that y® scool master shall keep y® first quarter at y® scool house at y® gravel pitt, voted by y® town that y® second to bee keept on y® east side y® river as Near y® water as ntay be conveniant, voted by y® town that y® third quarter to be keept at y® house of Insign John Moore, voted by y® town that y® fourth quarter to be keept at y® house of Clark Gleason.” In the year 1717 Samuel Paris was to keep school four months of the year at the school-house on the west side of the river, and at his own house the rest of the year. If he was away part of the time he was to make it up the next year.

In addition to these means for obtaining advanced instruction, there were schools of a simpler character. About the time that provision was made for a gram- mar school, we read of “ masters who were to teach children to rede and wright and cast accounts.” This was done in 1701, at which time the town “voted and chose John Long and John Balcom” for the purpose just stated, “and to pay them for one year thirty

20

SUDBURY.

shillings apiece.” From this time repeated reference is made in the records to schools of a primary or mixed character.

Amongthe schoolmasters who served before 1750 are William Brintnal, Joseph Noyes, Nathaniel Picher, Jonathan Hoar, Samuel Paris, Nathaniel Trask, Jon- athan Loring, John Long, John Balcom, John Mel- len, Samuel Kendall, Ephraim Curtis and Zachery Hicks. Some of these laught for a succession of terms or years. William Brintnal taught a grammar school as late as 1733-34, and receipts are found of Samuel Kendall in 1725 and 1736.

Prior to 1700, school-house accommodations w’ere scant. There was no school building whatever. In 1702 “the town agreed that the school should be kept at the meeting-house half a quarter and the other half quarter at the house of Benjamin Morses.” But it is a law of progress that improvement in one direction suggests improvement in another; so with better schools better accommodations were sought for. Jan- uary 1, 1702, the “town voted and paste into an act, to have a convenient scool-hous;” also voted “that the scool -house that shall be built by the town shall be set and erected as near the centre of the town, as may be conveniantly set upon the town’s land;” also “that it be twenty feet in length, ; : : eighteen feet in breadth, seven feet from the bottom of the cell to the top of the plate, a large chimney to be within the house, the house to be a log-house, made of pine, only the sides to be of white oak bord and shingles to be covered cells with. Also the chimney to be of stone to the mortling and finished with brick. This was paste into an act and vote Jan. 15“' 1701-2.” At another meeting it was decided “ that there should be two scool- houses ; ” that they should be of the same dimensions ; and “that the one on the east side should be set near to Enoch Cleavland’s dwelling-house.” It was after- wards voted that “the scool-houses should be builte by a general town acte and that the selectmen should make a rate of money of 20 pounds for their erection.” One of the houses was to be placed “by Cleafflands and the other near unto Robert ]\Ians.” In 1711 the town voted to have but one school-house, and this school-house was to be built at “ y® gravel pitt.” “ Y' scool-house” here mentioned was “to be 20 foot long, 16 foot wide, six foot studd, nine foot and a half sparrl. Ye sills to be white oak ye outside, to be horded, and ye bords to be feather-edge. Y"e inside to be birch and horded with Ruff bords, lower and uper flower to be bord anda brick Chemne, and two glass windows 18 Enches square pe^ window, and the Ruffe to be horded and shingled.” It was to be ready for a school by the last of May, 1712. Joseph Parmenter was to make it, and have for pay fourteen pounds.

The evidence is that the desire for school privileges spread, and that the extremity of the town soon sought for increased advantages. April 17, 1719, the town was called upon “to see if it will grant the North west quarter of the towns petition, they desir-

ing the school master some part of the time with them.”

Division of the Town into Two Preitncts. — As in educational matters, so in those pertaining to the church, we find the period prolific in change. Great and important events transpired relating to the meeting-house, the minister and the people. The first change was the dismission of the pastor. On May 22. 1705, the pastoral relation between Rev. James Sherman and the people of Sudbury was dis- solved. But not long was the church left pastorless. The same year of Mr. Sherman’s removal a town- meeting was held, in which it was voted “ y‘ y® town will chose a man to preach ye word of God unto us for a quarter of a year.” The Rev. Israel Loring was chosen for the term mentioned. He began to preach in Sudbury, Sept. 16, 1705; and the result was he was ordained as pastor, Nov. 20, 1706.

After the settlement of Mr. Loring, ecclesiastical matters were not long in a quiet state. A new sub- ject soon engrossed public attention. There was an attempt made to divide the town into two parochial precincts. The west side people doubtless loved the little hill-side meeting-house, about which were the graves of their friends, and whose history was asso- ciated with so much of their owm. Their fondness for it had doubtless increased as the years passed by, and there clustered about it memories of things the sweetest and the saddest that had entered into their checkered experience. Here their children had been offered in baptism ; here had been the bridal and the burial, the weekly greetings and partings, the ex- change of intelligence of heart and home. It had been the place for prayer and the preached v/ord ; a place of watch and ward, and a place of resort in times of danger. But notwithstanding their fondness for the sacred spot, they were too practical a people to allow sentiment to interfere with their true pro- gress, and what they believed to be their spiritual good.

With their extremely slow means of transit, and the rough roads of that period when at their best, it was a long and weary way they had to travel every Sab- bath day; but when the roads became blocked with the drifting snow, or the river was swollen with floods, then it was sometimes a perilous undertaking to reach the east side meeting-house and return. In that primitive period the people of Sudbury did not desire even a good excuse to keep them from public worship ; they were Puritanic in both precept and practice. They would allow no small obstacle to cheat their soul of its rights ; but if there were hin- derances in the way to their spiritual helps, they re- quired their immediate removal.

Hence, a movement was inaugurated to divide the town, and make of it two precincts, in each of which there should be a church. A primary act for the ac- complishment of this purpose was to obtain the con- sent of the General Court. To do this a petition was

I

I

GEORGE PITTS TAVERN,

Sudbury.

See page 205.

SUDBUKY.

21

presented, which, as it tells its own story, and sets forth the entire case, we will present :

“Petition of the West Side people of Sudlury to Governor Dudley and the General Assembly.

“The petition of us who are the subscribers living on ye west side of Sudbury great River Humbly showeth that w ereas ye All wise and over Ruling providence of ye great God, Lord of Heaven and Earth w ho is God blessed forever nioore, hath cast our lott to fall on that side of the River by Reason of the find of w atare, which for a very great part of the yeare doth very much incomode us, and often by extremity of water and terrible and violent winds, and a great part of the w inter by ice, as it is at this present, so that wee are shut up and cannot come forth, and many times when wee doe atempt to git over our flud, we are forced for to seek our spiritual good w ith the peril of our Lives.

“Beside the extreme Traviil that many of us are Exposed unto sum 3 : 4 : 6 : 6 : miles much more that a Sabbath days Jurney, by Reason of these and many n»ore objections, to many here to enumerate, whereby many of our children and little ones, ancient and weak persons, can very Rarly attend the public worship. The cons dered premises we truly pray j’our Excellency and ye Honorable Council and House of Repre- sentatives to consider and compassionate us in our Extreme suffering condition, and if we may obtain so much favor in your Eyes as to grant us [our presents] as to appoint us a Comndty to see and consider our circumstances and make report thereof to this honorable Court. And your pore petitioners shuli ever pray.

“Sudbury, January 15'** ITOf.

“ John Goodnow.

John haines.

John Brigham.

William Walker.

George Parmenter.

David how.

George Parmenter, Jr.

Joseph Parmenter.

John brigham.

Samu**! willis.

Joseph willis.

Richard Sanger.

Tho : Smith.

Joseph Hayes [Haynes], timothy gibson, J^

Joseph F. Jew el (his maik). Isaac Mellen.

Melo C. Taylor (his mark).

John Balconi.

Joseph Balcom.

(State Archives, vol. ii., page 221.)

John haynes, Jr.

Robert Man his mark. Benjamin wright.

David Haynes.

Prefer haines.

Thomas Brintnal.

Edward Goodnow his mark. John Goodenow, jr.

Ephraim Garheid, his mark. Thomas Smith, Junior. Jonathan Rice.”

After repeated discussion of the subject, and years had elapsed, permission was given to the w’est side people to erect a meeting-house and maintain a min- ister. At a tow’n-meeting, December 26, 1721, held at the house of Mr. George Pitts, it was agreed “ to grant 24 pounds for preaching for the present on the w'esterly side of the river.’’ It was also decided at that meeting to choose a committee to present a peti- tion to the General Court, “ that j' west side inhabit- ants may have liberty to place their meeting-house on y' rocky plaine; ” which request was granted.

The preliminary work of forming two parochial precincts was no'w completed; it only remained to adjust ecclesiastical relations to the new order of things, and provide whatever was essential to its suc- cess.' The church was to be divided, ministers se- cured and a meeting-house built. All these came about in due time. After the decision, in December, 1721, “ to have the preaching of the word amongst us,” and the granting of money to meet the expense. Rev. Mr. Minot was invited to preach six Sabbaths in

the West Precinct. It may be that about this time Mr. Loring preached .some on the west side, since on the town debt, as recorded April 9, 1722, there stands this statement: “To Mr. Israel Loring to y® support- ing y® ministry on both [sides] y® river in Sudbury 80. 0. 0.”

But more permanent arrangements svere soon made. On the 6th of June, 1722, they extended a call to Rev. Israel Loring, and offered £100 for his settlement.” July 10th Mr. Loring responded to the invitation in the following words; “To the Inhabit- ants of the west Precinct in Sudbury : 1 accept of the kind invitation you have given me to come over and settle and be the minister of the Westerly Precinct.” A few days after the above invitation the east side invited him to remain with them, and took measures to provide for “their now settled minister, Mr. Israel Loring.” The day after replying to the first invita- tion, he wrote to the east side people informing them of his decision to leave them and settle in the West Precinct. Mr. Loring moved to the west side, July 25, 1723. (Stearns Collection ) He lived about a mile toward the north part of the town, in what was afterwards an old red house, on the William Hunt place, that was torn down some years since. He sub- sequently lived at the centre, on what is known as the Wheeler Haynes place.

The church records by Mr. Loring state as follows ; “Feb. 11, 1723. The church met at my house, where, after the brethren on the east side had manifested their desire that the church might be divided into two churches, it was so voted by majority.” At the time of the division of the church, the number of communicants on the west side was thirty-two males and forty-two females. (Stearns Collection.) The church records went into the possession of the West Parish.

While ecclesiastical matters w’ere in process of ad- justment on the west side, they were progressing towards a settlement on the east side also. It is stated that the East Precinct was organized June 25, 1722. When the effort to secure the services of Mr. Loring proved futile, a call was extended to Rev. William Cook, a native of Hadley, Mass., and a grad- uate of Harvard College. The call being accepted, Mr. Cook was ordained March 20, 1723, and continued their pastor until his death, November 12, 1760. The town granted eighty pounds to support preaching on both sides of the river for half a year.

New Meeting-Houses. — An important matter, in connection with the new order of thing-i, was the erection of new meeting-houses. This work re- ceived prompt attention. “ At a town-meeting, Jan- uary 22 ; 172f the town granted five hundred pounds to build a new meeting-house on the west side, and repair the old one on the east side, three hundred and eighty pounds for the new, and one hundred and twenty pounds for the repairing of the old on the east side.” The sum for repairiug the old house was at a

22

SUDBURY.

subsequent meeting made one hundred and fifty pounds.

The meeting-house in the West Precinct was placed on the site of the present Unitarian Church in Sud- bury Centre. The location was probably selected because central to the inhabitants of the West Pre- cinct.

The French and Indian Wars. — In the French and Indian Wars the town repeatedly sent soldiers to the field who did valiant service for their country. In the third French war it sent men for the capture of Cape Breton ; and in the defence of No. 4, a fort on the Connecticut River, at what is now Charleston, N. H., Captain Phineas Stevens, a native of Sudbury, did conspicuous service. Mr. Stevens was born in Sudbury, February 20, 1700, and a few years later he went with his father to Rutland. About 1740, he went to the New Hampshire frontier, and after the construction of Fort No. 4, he became its commander, and assisted bravely in its defense. In the arduous task he was aided for a time, in 1746, by Captain Josiah Brown, who went from Sudbury with a troop of horse. In the fourth French and Indian War Sudbury soldiers were again at the front, and did ser- vice in the various expeditions of that period.

In 1755 a regiment was raised, and placed under command of Colonel Josiah Brown, of Sudbury, for the purpose of preventing the encroachments of the French about Crown Point and upon “ Lake Iroquois, commonly called by the French, Lake Champlain.” The regiment belonged to the command of William Johnson. The following is a list of the field and staff officers :

Josiiili Brown, Col. Samuel Brigham, Surgeon.

John Cummings, Lt. Col. Beujauiiu GoU, Surgeon’s Mate.

Steven Jliller, Major. David Mason, Commissary.

Samuel Dunbar, Chaplain. Joseph Lovering, Adjutant.

Sept. 10, 1755, Samuel Dakin received a commission as captain of foot in this regiment. The muster-roll of h’s company contains forty-eight names, of which sixteen are supposed to be from Sudbury.

In a second list of Capt. Dakin’s men eighteen are supposed to be from Sudbury ; and in a third list are seventeen names supposed to be of Sudbury men. Besides these, there were s^me who served in other companies. Some were in Capt. Josiah Rich- ardson’s company, and some in Ca{^t. John Nixon’s.

In one of the expeditions of this w’ar the town sus- tained the loss of Capt. Dakin and several others of its citizens, who were killed by the Indians at Half- Way Brook, near Fort Edward, July 20, 1758. At the time of this event Capt. Dakin and his company were connected with the expedition of General Am- herst against Crown Point. The following brief ac- count of the attendant circumstances are stated in a diary kept by Lieut. Samuel Thomson, of Woburn :

“July 20, Thursday in the morning, 10 men in a scout waylaid by the Indians and shot at and larmed the fort and a number of our men went out to assist

them, and the enemy followed our men down to our Fort, and in their retreat Capt. Jones and Lieut. Godfrey were killed, and Capt. Lawrence and Capt. Dakin and Lieut. Curtis and Phis” Davis, and two or three non-commissioned officers and privates, to the number of 14 men, who were brought into the Fort, all scalped but Ens” Davis, who was killed within 30 or 40 rods from the Fort ; and there was one grave dug, and all of them were buried together, the officers by themselves at one end, and the rest at the other end of the grave ; and Mr. Morrill made a prayer at the grave, and it was a solemn funeral; and Nath* Eaton died in the Fort and was buried ; and we kept a very strong guard that night of 100 men. Haggit [and] W"* Coggin wounded.”

Then follows a list of the killed, beginning :

“Capt. Ebenezer Jones of Willmington Capt. Dakin of Sudbury

' Lieut. Samuell Curtice of Ditto Private Grout of do “

Samuel Dakin was a son of Deacon Joseph Dakin, whose father, Thomas, settled in Concord prior to 1650. In 1722 he married Mercy Minott, daughter of Col. Minott, who built the first framed house in Concord. The farm of Capt. Dakin was in the north- ern part of Sudbury, on the road running northerly to Concord, his house being very near the town boun- dary. As early as 1745 he was appointed ensign of the second company of foot in Sudbury, of which Josiah Richardson was captain and Joseph Buck- minster was colonel. Sept. 10, 1755, he received the commission of captain in CjI. Josiah Brown’s regi- ment.

Capt. Dakin was a devout Christian. Just before going on this la.st expedition, he renewed a solemn covenant with God which he had made some years previous. This covenant is still extant.

Among other services rendered by the town was the maintenance of w’hat were termed French Neu- trals, the people whom Longfellow has described in his poem “Evangeline.”

One thousand of these French Neutrals arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Province, and were supported at public expense. Different towns, among which was Sudbury, had their quota to care for. Repeatedly is there a record of supplies furnished them by the town. The following is a general statement of some of these :

“ An Account of what hath been expended by 8^ Town of Sudbury on Sundry French Persons sent from Nova Scotia to this province and by 6^ government to town of Sudbury.

“The subsisting of Eighteen persons ten days — six persons three weeks, and four persons twenty-three weeks, the whole amounting to one hundred and twenty-seven weeks for one person charged at four shillings week for each person £25 — Se.

Ephraim Curtis Ebenezer Roby

Josiah Brown Josiah Haynes

John Noyes Samuel Dakin

Elijah Smith. Selectmen.

“ Some of them being sick a great many comers and goers to visit them made the expense the greater even thirteen or fourteen at a time for a week together.”

SUDBURY.

The Work- House. — In 1753, a movement was made to establish a work-house in Sudbury. At the above-named date a vote was taken, when “it passed very fully in the affirmative, that it [the town] would provide a Work House in sd town, that Idle & Dis- orderly People may be properly Employed.”

As evidence of further modes of discipline em- ployed in this period, we find that, in 1760, the town allowed payment to Col. Noyes for making stocks, and also for four staves for the tithingmen. In the warrant for a town-meeting in 1757, is the following article : “ To see what the town will do with regard

to Dido, a Negro woman who is now upon charge in this town.” With regard to this Dido the town or- dered the selectmen “ to make strict inquiries who brought Dido into town.”

Another institution introduced into the town in this period was the pest-house. Tradition points to several localities, which at that time were within the town limits, where pest-houses were situated. The site of one of these is atNobscot Hill. On the east- ern side of the hill, on land owned by Mr. Hubbard Brown, and a short distance from a small pond, are the graves of the small-pox victims. They are clustered together btneath a small growth of pines that are now scattered over that briar-grown spot; and the wind, as it sweeps through the branches of this little pine grove, and the occasional note of the wildwood bird, alone break the stillness and disturb the loneli- ness of that forest burial-place.

In 1760, Rev. William Cook died, and Nov. 4, 1761, Rev. Josiah Bridge was ordained his successor. On March 9, 1772, Rev. Israel Loring passed away, and Nov. 11, 1772, Rev. Jacob Bigelow was ordained for the pastorate.

Sketch of Mr. Lorixg.— The service of Mr. Loring in the church at Sudbury was long and fruit- ful. He died in the ninetieth yearof his age and the sixty-sixth year of his ministry. It w'as said of him that “as he earnestly desired and prayed that he might be serviceable as long as he should live, so it pleased God to vouchsafe his request, for he continued to preach ’till the last Sabl)ath but one before his death, and the next day prayed in the town-meeting, which was on the 2“'* day of the month. The night following he was taken ill, and on the 9““ of March, 1772, he expired.” Mr. Loring had pious parentage. His father, Mr. John Loring, of Hull, came from England, December 22, 1634. It has been said of him that, like Obadiah, “ he feared the Lord greatly.” His mother was also religious, and “ prayed with her family in her husband's absence.” Mr. Loring was born at Hull, Mass., April 6, 1682. It is supposed he was Converted in his youth. He graduated at Har- vard College in 1701. He began to preach’at Scituate, Lower Parish, August 1, 1703, and preached first at Sudbury July 29, 1705. On the fidelity of Mr. Loring’s ministry we need offer no comments : his works are his memorials. At the time of his installa-

2:i

I tion atSudbury the church numbered one hundred and [ twenty, — forty-one males and seventy-nine females.

I During his ministry four hundred and fifty were added to it; of these, forty-two males and seventy-two females were added before the division of the church, and, after the division, there were added to the West Church one hundred and twenty-nine males and two hundred and seven females. The whole number of children baptized by Mr. Loring in Sudbury was fourteen hundred.

For a time preceding the Revolution, tbe West Side was divided into the North and South Wards. In 1765, Richard Heard offered to collect the taxes on the East Side the river for three pence per pound if they would appoint him collector and constable ; and Aaron Haynes offered to collect them for the North Ward, West Side, and Jedediah Parmenter for the South Ward at the same rates.

In 1765, the town “voted to build a new stone pound between Lieut. Augustus Moors’ dwelling- house at the gravel pit, on Col. Noyes’ land which he promised to give the town to set a pound on by Dead.” The pound was to be “ 30 feet square from Endside to Endside, 6 ft. high with pieces of limber locked together round the top 8 inches square, for six pounds and the old pound.”

In 1771, the town voted to build a powder-house in which to keep the town’s stock of ammunition. It granted for this object “ 7 pounds 9 shillings and 4 pence, and agreed with Col. John Noyes to build it, and place it near or on W® Baldwin’s land near Major Curtis’.” Another record of the same year states that “ the town voted to erect the powder-house on the training field near Mr. Elisha Wheelers.” In 1773, it “ voted to remove the powder-house to some suitable place on or near the gravel pit hill, and chose a committee to remove the same, if the com- mittee should think the house will be sufficient for the use it was built for, and rough cast and underpin said building.”

Revolutionary War. — The period from 1775 to 1800, in this country, may truly be termed the period of the Revolution. It witnessed the commencement and close of armed opposition to the Britsh Crown, and the establishment in America of a new nation- ality. In the work of overthrowing the old and es- tablishing a new government, the several provincial towns had a common concern; each supplied its quota and each stood ready to respond to the country’s call. Sudbury, on account of its situation and size, bore a prominent part. It was the most populous town in Middlesex County; its territory was extensive, and for a time in close proximity to tbe seat of war ; for these reasons much was expected of it, and its patriotism was equal to the demand.

The town w'as usually present, by delegates, in re- sponse to all calls, and her vote was stanch for the Continental cause. In 1770, the people manifested their hearty appreciation of the agreement of

24

SUDBURY.

niercharjts in Boston “ to stop the importation of British goods, and engaged for themselves and all within their influence, to countenance and encourage the same.” At an early day they chose a committee to ' prepare and present instructions to Peter Xoyes, Representative to the General Court, in regard to the Stamp Act, which set forth their opinions very strongly concerning that petty piece of tyranny. Record after record appears on the town-book, of resolutions and acts that show how positive the people were in their patriotism, and how pronounced they were in declaring it. These are of such a character that to give a few of them will suffice.

“1773. The Town being met the committee appointed by the town to take into consideration the afTair relating to the Tea sent here by the Eiist India Company, reported as follows, viz. :

“ Taking into Consideration the late Conduct of administration, to- gether with an act of Parliament enabling the East India Company to e.xpo t their Teas unto America Free of aii Unties and Customs, Regu- lations and penalties in America as are pr )vided by the Revenue Act ; we are justly alarmed at this Dstestable Craft and Policy of the Min- istry to deprive us of our American Liberties Transmitted to us by our Worthy .Vncestors, at no less expense than that of their Blood and Treasure. That price our Renowned Forefathers freely paid, that they might transmit those Glorious Liberties, as a free, full, and fair inher- itance to Posterity, which liberties through the Indulgent Smiles of Heaven, we have possessed in peace and Quietness, till within a few years Past (Excepting in the reign of the Detestable Stewarts) but now Behold ! the plc.asing scene is changed, the British ministry, assisted by the Inveterate Enemies to American Liberty on this as well as on the other side of the -Vtlantick, Combining together to Rob us of our dear bought freedom, have Brought us to this sad Dilemma, either to re- solve like men in defense of our just Rights and Liberties, or sink nnder the weight of their Arbitrary and unconstitutional measures into a State of abject Slavery. Therefore us Freeborn Ameriains Intitled to all the immunities. Liberties and Piivileges of Freeborn Englislimen, we look upon ourselves under the Strongest Obligations to use our utmost Exertions in defense of our just Bights in every constitutional method within ourixiwer. Even though the Cost of the Defense should equal that of the purchase. Therefore resolved

“ IK That as we are entitled to all the Privileges of British Subjects, we have an undoubted and exclusive Right to Grant our own monies for the support of Government and that no Power on Earth has a right to Tax or make Laws binding us, without our consent.

“2dly That the British Pailianient laying a Duty on Tea Payable in America, for the Express purpose of Raising a Revenue, is in otir opinion an unjust Taxation, and that the specious method of permitting the East India Company to export their Teas into the Colonie.s, has a direct tenclency to rivet the Chain of Slavery upon us.

“3dly. That we will lend all the aid and assistance in our Power in every Rational Method, to hinder the Importations of Teas, so long as it is subject to a duty ; and that this Town are well pleased with and highly approve of that Resolution in particular entered into by the Town of Boston, viz. : that they will not sufter any Tea to be imported into that Town while subject to an unrighteous Duty; and it is the desire and expectation of this Town that said resolution be not relaxed in any Degree ; which if it should it would much lessen that confidence (which we hope we may justly say) we have reason to place in that re- spectable metropolis.

• Tliat the Persons appointed by the East India Company to re-

ceive and vend their Teas (by their obstinate refusal to resign their odious Commission) have shown a ready disposition to become the Tools of our Enemies, to oppress and enslave their Native Country, and hav® manifested such stupidity and wickedness to prefer private Interest to the good of their Country, and therefore can expect no favor or respect from us ; but w e leave them to accumulate a load of Infamy, propor- tionate to their vileness.

“5 That whoever shall sell, buy, or otherwise use Tea, while subject to and poisoned with a duty, shall be deemed by us Enemies to their Country’s welfare ; and shall be treated by us as such. The Town by their Vote Ordered the foregoing resolves to be recorded in the Town Book, and a Copy of the same to be forwarded to the Committee of Cor-

respondence at Boston, with our sincere thanks to that Respectable Tow n, for their Manly Opposition to every ministwial measure to en- slave .\merlca.

“Thomas Plympton, Ezekiel Howe, .Tolin >Iaynard 1 Committee ’’ “.Sampson Belcher, Phinehas Glezen, Josiah Langdon f

Mililarij Preparatiom. — November 14, 1774, “ it was voted, that the town recommend to the several com- panies of militia to meet for the choice of officers for their respective companies, as recommended by the Provincial Congress. Also voted, that a company of militia on the East side, meet on Thursday next at twelve o’clock at the East meeting house in Sudbury, to choose their officers ; and that the companies on the West side to meet at the West meeting house at the same time and for the same purpose.”

Besides looking after the militia, the town took me.asures to form companies of minute-men. These, as the name implies, were to hold themselves in read- iness to act at a minute’s warning. The officers re- ceived no commissions, but held their positions by vote of the men. Two such companies were formed, one on each side of the river. There was also a triiop of horse composed of men from both precincts. Be- sides these companies of able-bodied men, there was an alarm company composed of men exempt from military service. The names of the companies were, —

North Miiitia Co., West Side, Capt. Aaron Haynes, 60 men.

East Militia Co., East Side, Capt. .Toseph Smith, 75 men.

South Militia Co. (Lanhaui District), both sides, Capt. Moses Stone, 92 men.

Troop of Horse, both sides, Capt. Isaac Loker, 21 men.

Minute Co., West Side, Capt. John Ni.xoD, 58 men.

Sliuute Co., East Side, Capt. Nathaniel Cudworth, 40 men.

These make, besides the alarm list of Jabez Puffer, six companies — 348 men — in process of preparation for the coming struggle.

In 1776, the town “ voted to pay each of the minute- men one shilling and sixpence for training one half day in a week, 4 hours to be esteemed a half day, after they were enlisted and until called into actual service or dismissed ; and the Captains 3 shillings and Lieutenants 2 shillings and six pence and the en- sign 2 shillings.”

The muster-rolls are preserved and represent about one-fifth of the entire population. The number in actual service at the Concord and Lexington fight, three hundred and two. The following report shows to what extent these companies were equipped ;

“ Sudbury, March y« 27*^ 1775:

“The return of the Severall Companys of Militia and Minute in S'* Town viz.

** Capt. Moses Stone’s Company — 92 men of them, 18 no guns, at Least one third part >* forelocks unfit for Sarvis others wais un a qiiipt.

“Capt. Aaron Hayns Company— 60 men weel provided With Arms the most of them provided with Bayonets or hatchets a boute one quar* ter Part with Catrige Boxes.

“Capt. Joseph Smith's Company consisting of 75 able

Bodied men forty w’ell a qnipt twenty Promis to find and a quip them- selves Eniedetly fifteen no guns and other wais un a qnipt.

“The Troop Capt. Isaac Locer (Loker) — 21 Besides what are on the minit Role well a qnipt.

“ Returned by Ezekiel How. Left“ Con* “ (Stearns Collection.)

GOVERNMENT STOREHOUSE.

SUDBURY.

25

It is not strange that, at tlie time this report was given, the troops had not been fully equipped. It was not easy to provide for so many at once, but the following record may indicate that the town had been endeavoring to supply the deficiency since the preced- ing fall, October 3, 1774;

To Capt. Ezekiel How for 20 guns and Bayonets 27—0 — 2

600 pounds Lead 8 — 16 — 0

Early on the morning of April 19th the Sudbury people were astir. The news of the march of the British proclaimed by Paul Revere came by a messen- ger from Concord to Thomas Plympton, Esq., who was a member of the Provincial Congress. In a little more than a half hour after, and between four and five o’clock in the morning, the bell rang and a mus- ket was discharged as a signal for the soldiers to re- port for duty. The West Side companies arrived at the North Bridge about the time that the firing com- menced there, and joined in the pursuit of the retreat- ing British. In the memorable fight that followed the town lost two men, viz. : Deacon Josiah Haynes and Asahel Read. The former was eighty years old and was killed at Lexington by a musket bullet. His remains are buried in the “ Old Burying-Ground ” at the centre. Asahel Read was son of Isaac Read and a member of Nixon’s minute company.

It is said that he exposed himself rashly to the fire of the enemy, and although warned to exercise more caution, persisted in his venturesome conduct until he fell.

Sudbury was represented by three companies at the battle of Bunker Hill. These were commanded by Sudbury captains and made up mainly of Sudbury citizens. The town also furnished three regimental officers,— Col. John Nixon, Major Nathaniel Cudworth and Adj. Abel Holden, Jr. Capt. John Nixon of the minute-men was promoted to the rank of colonel, and was authorized, April 27th, to receive nine sets of beating papers. Capt. Nathaniel Cudworth was made major in the regiment of Col. Jonathan Brewer, who received enlistment papers April 24th, and Abel Holden, Jr., was made Colonel Nixon’s adjutant.

The three Sudbury companies were commanded by Capts. Thaddeus Russell, Aaron Haynes and David Moore. The companies of Russell and Haynes were in Col. Brewer’s regiment, and that of Moore in Col. Nixon’s. The total number in these companies was one hundred and fifty-two. In the engagement of June 17th, these men were in a very exposed condition. The regiments of Nixon and Brewer were at the left of the American line, in the direction of the Mystic River. A part of the men had no breastwork what- ever to protect them. An effort was made to form a slight breastw'ork of the newly-mown hay about there, but the British advanced and they were forced to desist. In their exposed position they held their ground, and fought till the order came for them to re- treat. The ammunition of the men in the redoubt 3

had failed and it was useless to protect the flank. Both the colonels, Nixon and Brewer, were wounded and the regiment of the former was one of the last to leave the field. In Capt. Haynes’ company, two men were killed, viz.: Corning Fairbanks, of Framingham, and Joshua Haynes, of Sudbury. In Capt. Russell’s company, Leblaus Jenness, of Deerfield, was slain.

As the war progressed Sudbury soldiers were still in the service. Capt. Asahel Wheeler commanded a company in the Ticonderoga campaign, and Capts. Abel Holden, Caleb Clapp and Aaron Haynes had command of Sudbury soldiers elsewhere. In 1778, several companies were still in the field. Four of these had 327 men, and were commanded as follows: West Side men, Capt. Jonathan Rice and Capt. Asahel Wheeler; East Side men, Capt. Na- thaniel Maynard and Capt. Isaac Cutting.

Government Storehouses. — Besides other responsi- bilities, the town had charge of some government storehouses containing munitions of war, which the Sudbury teamsters, from time to time, conveyed to the front. Various receipts are still preserved which were received by these teamsters. These buildings were situated on the northerly part of Sand Hill, east of the county road. Several squads of soldiers were employed to guard them, and at one time Captain Isaac Wood was commander of the guard. In 1777, the following soldiers did guard duty ; “ Corporal

Robert Eames, Silas Goodenow Jr, Philemon Brown, Elisha Harrington, JoiP Clark.” A guard of the same number was there in 1778 and 79, but all the men were not the same. The field in or near which these buildings stood was used as a training-field in former years, and at one time a militia muster was held there. But now all trace even of the site has become obliterated, and for years it has been a quiet feeding place for cattle, and all is as peaceful there as if the slow' pacing of the old Continental guard had never been heard at Sand Hill. The town had a pop- ulation of 2160, with about 500 ratable pools; and it is supposed that, during the war, from 400 to 500 men had some service either in camp or field. Of these soldiers, one was brigadier-general, three were col- onels, two w’ere majors, two were adjutants, two were surgeons, twenty-four were captains and twenty- nine were lieutenants. That the soldiers were in places of peril is indicated by the following records of casualties :

CASUALTIES TO SUDBCRY SOLDIERS.

Killed. — Deacon Josiah Haynes, Aged 80, April 19'>> 1775 : Asahel Read April lOii* 1775 ; Joshua Haynes Jr, of Capt Aaron Hayne's Com- pany, June »■ 1775, at Bunker Hill ; Sergeant Thadeus Moore, 1777, at Saratoga ; Benjamin Whitney, — By accident —

Wounded. — Gen. John Nixon and Nathan Maynard, at Bunker Hill; Lieut. Joshua Clapp, at Saratoga; Cornelius W'ood, Nahum Haynes, Captain David Moore, Joshua Haynes ; Benjamin Barry, lost an arm in Canada Expedition, 1776.

Died of Sickness. — Sergeant Major Jesse Moore ; Sergeant Samuel May- nard, of the small pox at Quebeck with Arnold, 1776 ; Sergeant Hope- still Brown, Sergeant Elijah Willis.

Al Ticonderoga.— Kusign Timothy Underwood, Oliver Sanderson, Daniel Underwood, .James Puffer, Phinehas Gleason, Stephen Puffer, of

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SUDBURY.

Capt Daniel Boeder’s Co., Col WeBb's Reg* died Oct3'^ ; Solomon Rice, Timothy Rice, Joeiah Cutter.

Taken Prisoner and Never Heard of. — Thadeiia Harrington, Thomas Dalrimple, Thomas Moore, Daniel Haynes.

Lost P'ivateering.^lsimc Moore, Silas Goodenow, Lemuel Goodenow, Peletiah Parmenter.

Persons RV<o Met With Casualties (he Nature of \rhkh is Not Specitie<l. — John Brewer, James Demander, John Bemis, Timothy Mossmun.

In closing this account of Sudbury’s military service we will give some facts in the life of General Nixon.

iSketch of General Nixon. — Gen. John Nixon, was a son of Christopher Nixon, who went to Framingham about 1724, where seven children were born, of whom John was the oldest. At an early age, being but a mere boy, he entered the army, and at the instiga- tion of older persons he left unlawfully, but clemency was shown him and he was allowed to return to the ranks. His subsequent carwr proved him to be a true soldier.

In 1745, when he was but twenty years old, he was in the Pepperell Expedition to Louisburg, and lieu- tenant in Captain Newell’s company at Crown Point in 1755. Later iu the war he served as captain. At one time, when operating against the French forces, he was led into an ambuscade and only forced his way out with the loss of most of his men. As before noticed, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War he served as captain of a company of minute-men. April 24, 1775, he received the commission of colonel. He fought and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. He went with the army under Wtishington to New York, and was promoted, August 9th, to briga- dier-general. His promotion to the rank of general of brigade was on recommendation of Washington, who stated to Congress that Nixon’s military talents and bravery entitled him to promotion. In his new position he had, for a time, command of two regi- ments and a force of artillery at Governor’s Island, New York Harbor. August 27th he left there, and subsequently operated with the army in the northern campaign in New York State against Burgoyne. When it was decided to advance against the latter. General Gates ordered Nixon and two other com- manders to make the attack. A cannon-ball passed so near his head that the sight and hearing on one side were impaired. After the surrender of Burgoyne, General Nixon and some others were detailed to escort the prisoners to Cambridge. About that time he had a furlough of several months, in which time he married his second wife. General Nixon was on the court-martial — with Generals Clinton, Wayne and Muhlenburg, and of which Gen. Benjamin Lincoln was president — for the trial of General Schuyler for the neglect of duty in the campaign of 1777, by which Ticonderoga was surrendered. The trial was at the request of General Schuyler, and by it he was fully acquitted with the highest honors. In 1777, General Nixon's brigade had headquarters for a time at Peeks- kill, N. Y., and for a time in 1777, at Albany. On Sept. 12, 1780, he closed his military career by resigning his commission as general, and retired to private life.

In considering the military service of the town in the Revolutionary War, we have only considered a part of her history. During that time important civ- il transactions were taking place also. There were de- privations to be endured by those at home; the coun- try was burdened with debt, the currency was in a very uncertain state, and, because of its depreciated condition, there was luoie or less confusion in com- mercial affairs. There was as much need of sagacity on the part of the civilian in council, as of military men in the field, to direct the affairs of State and town. The town-meetings of those days were very important occasions, and, unless the people met emer- gencies there in a prompt and efficient manner, the fighting element in the field could accomplish hut little. In this respect the people of Sudbury were not deficient. We have heard of no instance where a Tory spirit was manifest nor where a patriotic purpose was w ant- ing. During the war a large share of the town war- rants set forth the needs of the county or town which were caused by the war ; and the town-meeting that follow ed Wits about sure to result in a generous re- sponse to the demand.

Another man who wa.s prominent in military mat- ters was Col. Ezekiel Howe. He belonged to the old Howe family in Sudbury, and was a former proprie- tor of the Red Horse Tavern.

In 1780 the town w’as divided. The part set off was called East Sudbury, since Wayland.

In 1792 the town voted to sell the training-field in the southeast part of the town, and “the Committee formerly employed to sell the Work house” were ap- pointed to attend to the work. The same year measures were taken for the prevention of the small- pox. The article concerning it in the warrant was “To see if the town would admit the Small-Pox into sd town by' Inoculation.” “ It passed in the nega- tive.” The following year the selectmen were in- structed “ to take measures to prevent the spreading of tiie small-pox, and to prosecute the persons who transgressed the laws respecting the disease.” In- structions w’ere also given “ to make diligent search to see if there were any persons who had been in- oculated for small-pox contrary to law.”

On Oct. 5, 1795, the town again voted “to build a new Meeting-House, that it should be erected on the common land near to the present meeting-house, and that the south and west cells of sd house should occupy the ground on which the south and west cells of the present meeting-house now stand upon, and that ihe enlargement of the meeting-house should ex- tend North and East. Voted to accept a plan drawn by Capt. Thomson which plan is 60 feet by 52 with a porch at one end with a steeple or spear on the top of sd porch. Voted that the Commitee for building the house should consist of nine persons, and that they should receive nothing for their services.” In 1796 it was voted that a bell should be purchased for the meeting-house. October, 1798, the building com-

F

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I

THE HURLBUT PARSONAGE, Sudbury Centre.

SUDBURY,

27

mittee presented to the town the summary of receipts and expenditures which was six thousand twenty-five dollars and ninety-three cents.

In 1812 the number of soldiers reported to be in readiness was eighteen. “ Voted to give them $1.25 per day while in service and doing actual duty.” The following persons from Sudbury were in service a short time during the war: Aaron Hunt, Jonas Tower, James B. Puffer, Josiah Puffer, John Carr, Cyrus Willis, George Barker, Leonard Dutton, Otis Puffer, Jesse Puffer, John Sawyer. Warren Moor was in the naval service on a privateer, was taken prisoner and spent some time in Dartmoor Prison.

In 1814, the town settled a new pastor, Rev. Jacob Bigelow having become infirm. In 1810 Rev. Tim- othy Hillard had been invited to preach as a candi- date, and June 1, 1814, he became colleague pastor at a salary of six hundred and fifty' dollars and five hundred dollars to begin with.

Sept. 26, 1815, Mr. Hillard was dismissed. The next year Rev. Mr. Hurlbut was called to the pastor- ate. Sept. 12, 1816, Rev. Jacob Bigelow died. In 1823 a Methodist class was formed, which resulted in the formation of a Methodist Episcopal Church. A meeting-house was soon erected which was dedicated in 1836.

March 5, 1832, the town voted to buy a town-farm. In 1815, it voted to build a town-house.

In 1839, a new religious society was formed called the Sudbury Evangelical Union Society. The same year it voted to build a meeting house which was completed and dedicated Jan. 1, 1840.

May 11, 1839, Rev. Rufus Hurlbut died.

March 2, 1841, Rev. Josiah Ballard was installed his successor.

Jan. 5, 1845, Rev. Linus Shaw was installed as pas- tor of the old parish, which position he retained till his death, Jan. 5, 1866. Since his death the follow- ing ministers have acted as pastors for the First Parish: Revs. Bond, Dawes, Webber, Knowles, Will- ard, Sherman, E. J. Young and Gilman. For several years the church has had preaching but a small por- tion of each year.

In 1852 Rev. Josiah Ballard was dismissed from the Evangelical Union Church ; and the following per- sons have been his successors : Reverends C. V. Spear, E. Dickinson, W. Patterson, P. Thurston, G. A. Oviatt, C. Fitts, D. W. Goodale, W. Richardson.

The Wadsworth Moitument. — An important event that occurred early in the last half of the present century was the erection of the Wadsworth Monu- ment. February, 1852, a petition was presented to the Legislature of this Commonwealth, in which, after a brief rehearsal of the events in connection with the Wadsworth fight, the petitioners say “that a small, temporary monument was erected many years ago by the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth, President of Harvard College, over the grave of his father. Captain Wads- worth, and his associates in arms. Said monument

being in a dilapidated condition, it is desirable that it be rebuilt in a more durable form. Wherefore, at a h'gal town-meeting held for that purpose, your peti- tioners were chosen for a committee and instructed to petition your Honorable body for aid in erecting a suitable monument to the memory of said oflicers and men.”

Signed, “ Drury Fairbank and thirteen others.’’

Accompanying this report is the resolve, “ That a sum, not exceeding five hundred dollars in all, be and the same is hereby appropriated towards defraying the expense of repairing or rebuilding, in a substantial manner, the monument in the town of Sudbury, erected by President Wadsworth of Harvard College, about the year 1730, to the memory of Captain Samuel Wadsworth and a large number of other officers and soldiers and others in the service of the colony, who were slain upon the spot marked by the monument, ... in the defence of that town against the Indians, the said sum to be expended under the direction of His Excellency the Governor, in connection with a committee of said town of Sudbury.”

, Agreeable to the foregoing resolve, at a legal town- meeting held June 14, 1852, it was voted that Nahum Thompson, Drury Fairbank, Ephraim Moore, Enoch Kidder and J. R. Vose be a committee to superintend the building of the Wadsworth Monument. It was then voted to appropriate a sum of money, sufficient to complete said monument and finish about the same, out of any unappropriated money in the treasury, said sum not to exceed five hundred dollars. His Excellency George S. Bout well, then Governor of this Commonwealth, in connection with the committee of the town, “ procured a handsome monument, consist- ing of three large square blocks of granite, one and one-half, two, and three feet thick, raised one above the other ; from the upper one of which rises a granite shaft, tapering towards the top ; the whole being twenty-one and one-half feet in height. On the front of the centre block appears the following inscription :

“This monument is erected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the town of Sudbury, in grateful remembrance of the services and suffeiing of the founders of the State, and especially in honor of

Capt. Samuel Waj)sworth, of Milton;

Capt. Bhocklebank, of Rowley ;

Lieut. Sharp, of Brookline ;

and twenty six others, men of their command, who fell near this spot, on the 18th of April, 1676, while defending the frontier settlements against the allied Indian forces of Philip of Pokanoket,

1852.”

(The date of the fight as above given is incorrect, the true date being April 21st.)

Schools sixce 18o0.— lfads7z)or/k Academy— In 1856, measures were taken to establish an academy at South Sudbury. A corporation was formed, the object of which was to hold property, consisting of a build- ing, land and suitable fixtures for educational and re- ligious purposes. The design of the projectors of the enterprise was to erect a building, the upper part of

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SUDBUllY.

which could be used for a school, and the lower part for social and religious services.

The' first meeting was held March 11, 1857, and the following ofiicers were elected: President, Dr. Levi Goodenough ; directors, Roland Cutler, Samuel Putfer; treasurer, Samuel D. Hunt. The laud was purchased ot Nichols B. Hunt, and the building was erected by Arthur Bowen, of South Sudbury. It was two stories high, had a colonnade iu front and faced the west. It was named in honor of Captain Wads- worth.

The school flourished for some years, until the de- mand for its continuance ceased. The school-rooms in it were then used for one of the town’s common schools. A few years later the building was destroyed by fire, and on its site was erected a Congregational chapel in 1880.

Important changes took place during this period in connection with the common schools. Old districts w ere divided, and new ones were formed ; old school- houses were moved and new ones built. A large share of the territory of the Northwest District was taken from Sudbury by the incorporation of Maynard ; but in the districts that remained, the schools and school- houses remained. The Centre School-house, that had stood on the common, was moved to its present loca- tion south of the Methodist meeting-house, and after its removal was fitted up for the use of two schools,— a primary and grammar. In 1868, the Lanham School-house was moved from the road corners by the Coolidge place to its present location, north of the Boston and Worcester highway, on laud that once be- longed to the Goodnow’ farm. In 1869, eight hundred dollars was granted for repairs on the Southwest School-house. In 1870, the town voted to build a new school-house iu the Northeast District, to be lo- cated at or near the junction of Pufier Lane and the north road. The building was erected at a cost