6 *- I ^ ~ > L ^ MEETING -HOVSE-iy^S J -^ H I STORY OF THE TOWN OF BEDFORD, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1891. EMIiRACING An Account of Indian Claims and TRouBbus; Colonial Grants; Sketches of its Hekoks ; ITS Fakt in the Stuuggle for Independence and the War FOR Nationality; its 15ui;ial Grounds and Epitaphs; ITS Industrial Su(('.i:ss. and a Record of ITS Whole I'rogijess. GENEALOGICAL JtKGISTKE OF OLD FAMILIES. BY ABRAM ENGLISH BROWN, Ai'Tiiou OF TiiK irrs'L'oitY OF v\n-: FIRST s.vmiATn scnooi. of hfdford. i?llustratcli. • Tlie kindly spot, the friendly town, where every one is known, And not a face in all the place, but partly seems my own." ' "Write this for n. memorial in a book." — Kxodits xvii. 14. H E D F O K D : PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. ISIJL Cepyriglit, 1890. All rights reserved by tbe Author. Cc^ ^>^e2ks. 15. Bowman (later Eobinson). 18. Meeting House. 11. Eleazer Davis. 28. Stephen Davis. 27. Benjamin Farley. 19. Joseph Fassett (later Wm. Page). 17. Patrick Fassett. 29. Fawn Lake (Bedford Springs). 3. Samuel Fitch. 12. Zachariah Fitch. 23. Samuel Hartwell. 24. William Hartwell. 1. Josiah Hill. 22. Col. Timothy Jones. 13. Benjamin Kidder (later Jeremiah Fitch). 5. Job La.ue. 8. Hugh Maxwell (plater Butterlield). 26. Checker (later Taylor, later Mead). 25. Dea. Nathaniel Merriam. 21. John Moore. 16. Nathaniel Page. 14. Dea. Israel Putnam. 30. Stearns' Mill (later Hobbs'). 6. Capt. Jonathan Wilson. 10. Wilson's Mill (later Staples'). 20. Woolley (later Henry Woods). - The author and the public are indebted to Mv. Charles W. Jenks for the foUowiiiij Plan. This Plan is drawn, after comiiarison of tlie Plan of Town of IJedford by Stephen Davi.s. about 1700, the Plan of Town of Bedford by Tlumipson Bai;on. 17'.I4, both in the office of the Town Clerk of Bedford: the Plan of Town of Bedfonl, ITIM, thi' Plan of Town of Bedford by John G. Hale. 1S;J(), Ixith in the olHee of tlie Secretary of State; an old Plan of BilUuica by Danfortli, an old Plan of Bedford, botli in the posses- sion of the Mass. Historical Society in Boston ; Beers' Map of Middlesex County, lS7o : Hazen's History of Billcrica; U. S. Geolos;ieal Sxirvey, 1S''^<5 ; and many smaller local plan.s. The full black outline is from PiiUMuTs Plan of 17'.l4 and Hale's Plan of 1S30. The dotted line shows the difference in Plan of Stephen Davis (1760 ?) The dotted lines — - show the location of various grants. The Winthrop Farm lines are from a plan in possession of A. 15. Cutler, Esq. The other lines are merely approximate, as the boundaries of the grants are irregulai- and difficult to determine. Thi' roads marked B are. plotted fmm the Bacon Plan of 1794. The jxiints marked D are from the Davis Plan of (1760 ?) The lloman numerals are used to designate the Grants. Tlie Arabic numerals show the location of the homesteads and points of interest. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Frontispiece. Plan of Town, 3 Brother Kocks, C Old Parisli Meeting-House, 10 Banner of Concord Fight, . . . . • 23 Winthrop Deed, 34 Bedford House, 40 WilUamR. Hayden, 31. D., 48 Jonathan Bacon, ,50 Hannah Keed . . .52 Meeting-House of Trinitarian Congregational Society, 57 Bunyan's Cottage • . . 77 The Emhanknient Promenade, Bedford, England, Ml Gravestone of Capt. Jonathan Willson, . . .91 Old Oaken Bucket, 93 Page Homestead, 95 Benjamin F. Hartwell Home (South Bedford), . 97 .Shawshine House, John Wehher Home, . . . 98 The Stream and Mill, 99 David Reed's Tavern Sign, 100 Bedford Springs, 100 Robinson House, 101 Sampson House, 101 Chestnut Avenue and Residence of Dudley L. Pick- man, The Stearns House, Union Scliool-House, . ■ Mineral Spring, Bedford Lumliei- and Manufacturing Co., SECTION n. The Author. Bellows-top Chaise, Jonathan Bacon Homestead, Corey's Bedford Stage Coach, Sage Arms, .... Stearns Arms, Elijah Wyiium .Stearns, Rev. Samuel Stearns, . Webber Cradle, . Residence of Wallace (i. Webbe: Lane Homestead, Abner Stearns" Commission, 103 104 109 110 110 42 43 45 40 AN HISTORICAL SKETCH 01'" THE -^1 A TOWN OF BEDFORD. CHAPTER I. The Parent Toinu -Early Gramn and SeUlcmenU—Tlte Tico lirotltirs- Dm'hnrije of Indian (.7aimjt — dVirrwoHS — hicorpontlion. Bedford stands number twenty-five in tlic fifty- nine townships thus far incorporated in Middlesex County. It has a twin mate — Wcsiford. They were both incorporated by the General Court September •2:i. 172'.). Bedford was taken from Concord and Billcrica, but not until the parent towns had almost reached their first centennial. It then appears that the early his- tory of the territory known sw Bedford is included wiih that of the parental towns. Tliat which may be designated as the south and west part of the town was taken from Concord, and the greater part of the north and east was from Billerica. For nearly a century this territory comprised the outlying districts of Concord and Billerica. It represents a ])art of the first inland town of Massachusetts and includes portions of very early grants. A c(tliimendalilc pride prompts every true New Knglander to seek for Puritan descent, and to date the settlement of his locality from the landing of those grand worthies. Hence, in considering the origin of Bedford, it may be admissible to repeat a few familiar facts of historj-, with their dates. The Pilgrims landed in the year 1(320. The charter of Massachusetts was granted in 1629, by King Charles I. In 1630 came Winthrop and Dudley with fifteen hundred passengers. September 2, 1635, Mus- ketaquid (Concord) was granted to INIr. Buckley (Rev. Peter Buckley) and Merchant (Major Simon Willard), with other families. November, 1(337, the Court made grants to Gov- ernor Winthrop and the de|>uty, Mr. Dudley. In the followiuij; spring the grants were located, the original having been somewhat enlarged. In .Tune, 1641, "Shawshin is granted to Cambridge, p'vided they make it a village." The town of Bedford comprises a portion of the Musket.aquid grant, the whole of the Winthrop and a portion of theShawshine grant. The first house occupied by English, within the present limits of Bedford, alluded to in a report made in 1(342 as the "Shawshin house," proves that the first settlement was made here within twenty-two years after the landing of the Pilgrims. The nature of the land included in the above named grants is seen in reports and descriptions made about that time. Hubbard describes the Concord settlement as "right up in the woods," and Johnson as "in desert depths where wolves and bears abide," •and the journey to it he describes as " through watery swamps, through thickets where the hands were forced to make a way for the bodyes passage, and their feete clambering over the crossed trees, which when they missed, they sunk into an uncertaine bottome in water, and w.ade up to their knees, tumbling, some- times higher and sometimes lower." Of the grants made to the Governor and deputy (lieutenant), the whole of the former is included in the present limits of Bedford. Its western boundary 5 BEDFOKD. being Concord Kiver. The grants were located 1638, May 2d, as follows : " It was ordered by the p'seut Court that.Tohn Win- thrope, Esq"^, the p'seiU Governo', shall have 1200 acres of laud whereof, 1000 was formerly granted him. & Thomas Dudley, Eaq"^, the Deputy Governo', has 1000 acres granted to him by a former Courie, both of them about 6 miles from Concord, noith- wards ; the said Governo' to have his 1200 acres on the southerly side of two great stones standing neare together, close by the ry ver side that comes from Con- cord." The deputy's was north of it within the present limits of Billerica. Winthrop has given us an ac- count of the location of these farms in his journal. " Going down the river about four miles, they made choice of a place for one thousand acres for each of them. They offered each other the fifst choice, but because the deputy's was first granted, and himself had store of land already, the Governor yiebled him the first choic^. So, at the place where ' the dejiuty's laud was to begin there were two great stones which they called the Two Brothers in re- membrance that they were brothers by their chil- drens marriage and did so brotherly agree, and for that a little creek near those stones was to part their lands." A little later the Court added two hundred acres to the Governor's part, and still later he received an additional portion of sixty acres of meadow " within a mile or two of his farme, beneath Concord, towards the southeast of the said farme." In 1636 Matthew Cradock expressed a desire to obtain a grant of two thousand acres " at a place called Shawe Shynn," and in 1637, August, " Capt. Jeanison & Leift. Willi : Spencer were ap[)ointed to viewe Shawshin & to consider whether it be fit for a plantation." The report was not made, however, until after it had been granted to Cambridge. The explorer's experience is thus described by Sewall as taken from Woburn records: "As they were engaged Nov. 9, 1640, shortly after their appointment, iu ex- ploring the land about the Shawshin river they were overtaken and lost in a snow-storm, and in this sad dilamma they were forced as night ap- proached, for want of a better shelter, to lye under the Rockes, whilst the Raine and snow did bediew their Rockye beds." The following is the report of the committee, which is not as valuable for accuracy as it is helpful, in locating the Shawshine house : " Wee, wtiose names are underwritten, being appointed to viewe Sliawshin &. to talte notice of what fitness it was for a village & accord- ingly to o' apprehensions nialie returne to tlie C^t ; wee therefore mani- fest thus much : that for the quantity it is aniticiont, but for the quality in o' app'heusions no way tit, the upland being very barren & very little medow there about, nor any good timber almost fit for any use. Wee went after we came to Shawshin house, by estimation. Some 14 to 16 miles at the least, in compass ; from Shawshin house wee began to go downe the ry ver 4 or 5 miles near East ; then we left that point & went neere upon north, came to Concord Ryver, a little belowe the falls, about one mile or neare ; then wee went up the ryver some 5 miles untill wee came to a place called the Two Brethren : and from thence it is about two miles & I2 to Shawshin, & the most part of all the good land is given out already ; more land there is at the south side of the house, between the side of Concord line & the heade of Cambridge lino, but littell niedow, & the upland of little worth ; & and this is what we can say hearin. " SVMON WlLLARn. " Edw* Convers." The signers of the report were not the ones ap- pointed tor this exploration by the Courtiu 1637, but the former, Willard was a prominent inhabitant of Concord and Convers was of Woburn, and as such may have had an eye to this territory for their own advantage and hence were unconsciously influenced in making their report, which is not an accurate de- scription of the laud. After receiving the report of the exploring committee the General Court renewed the grant to Cambridge and specified the bounds: " All the land lying upon Shaweshin Ryver & between that and Concord Ryver, and between that & Merri- mack Ryver, not formerly granted by this Cu't." May 9, 1644, the Court "ordered that the ryver at Shawshin shall be called by the name of Shawshin.'" By a vote of January 2, 1654, a second division of land was made in Concord. " It was voted to divide the town into three parts or quarters ;" as the east quarter, in part, fell to Bedford, it is to that division that we confine our investigation. The report of the committee to make the division is as follows : " The east quarter by their familyes are from Henry Far- weles all eastwards with Thomas Brookes, Ensign Wheeler, Robert Meriam, George Meriam, John Adames, Richard Rice." In 1663 the town voted "that every man that hath not his proportion of lands laid out too him, that is due to him, shall gitt it laid out by an artis" before 1665; "and that each one should give to the town clerk a description of their lands." Mr. Shattuck's table, made from the records, is helpful in showing some of the divisions that fall to Bedford: William Hartwell had 241 acres; John Hartwell, 17; Wm. Taylor, 117; Joseph Wheeler, 357; Caleb Brooksr 150; Thos. Pellet and Joseph Dean, 280 ; Eliphalet Fox, 106 ; others are indicated as being in the east (juarter, but are omitted, as there is no reasonable cer- tainty of their exact location. Each quarter had the care of its own highways and had a board of overseers to look after its interests. Mr Shattucksays: "Regu- lations were established in each quarter, similar to 1 The spelling of this as of many proper names of early colonial days is variable. Shattuck, in his history of 1833, seems to prefer " Shaw- afteeiC Walcott in his recent work, *' Concord in the Colonial Period," accepts Shawshine as the more approved. In following his good judg- ment we use the latter form. ^ i ^ g w C w ^ e BEDFORD. those in wards of a city. Each chose its own oQicers, kept its own records, made its own taxes," etc. The first overseers for tiie e;ust ([uarler were Ensign Wheeler and William llartwull (without doubt Wil- liam I.). The Governor Wintlirop grant remained intact, and probably unoccupied until Kiilt, when it was sold l)y Fitz .John Wintlirop to Job Ijane for .C230. Mr. Lane was distinguished as an "artificer" and a " house Wright." He paid for the Winthrop farm by erecting a mansion for Kit/, John Winthrop at Nor- wich, Connecticut, and he built one of the college buildings at Cambridge. His skill and reputation are acknowledged in being selected as an " able and honest artificer for erecting a bridge over Uillcrica Kiver." The contract made January 11, ItJGT, .shows that he was to receive for the work "seven score and five pounds starling;" "ten in cash, ten in wheat, ten in malt, and the remainder in corn and cattle." The discharge of obligations, of importance like the two cited above, by the use of barter, suggcst-s the state of the currency at that time. The conveyance of the Winthrop farm is made on vellum, now in the possession of the heirs of Mary ]jane Cutler; the deed is in an excellent state of preservation, and after hav- ing lain in folds 2l'.3 years and changed custodians many times, can be read with comparative ease. It begins as follows : "This indenture, made the second day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thou.sand si.\ hundred and sixty & four, in the sixteenth year of the reign of y' Sovereign Lord Charles the Second, by the grace of Cod, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King and defender of the faith. To wit: Helween Fitz John Winthrop, of New Lonilon, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New England, Esq., on the one jiarl, and Job Lane, of Maiden, in the County of Mid- dlesex, in New England, carpenter, on the other part." The purchaser of the Winthrop farm was from Rickmansworth, in Hertfordshire, Engl.ind, where he inherited property from which he received an annual income that he bequeathed to his son John. Job Lane built a house very soon after he came in possession of the farm, l(i(i4. The Hiram Dutton house is sui)posed to mark the spot, if it is not in i)art the original house. It was the only hou.se in liiller- ica south of lialph Hill's at the time of King I'hilip's War. Job Lane went to Maiden some years before his death, which occurred in l(i97. and established a home. He gave by will, the Winthrop fiirm to three of his heirs. They agreeil to a division of the farm, which was found, by survey, in 170i), to contain ir)00 acres. Each had a portion of upland, meadow and woodland, and many of the odd-shaped lots of land of to-day are the result of that division. Capt. John Lane had 750 acres, Samuel Fitch had 37.5 and Mat- thew Whipple h.ad 375. The former, Capt. John Lane, was son of .lob; Fitch and Whipple were grandsons, who represented deceased daughters of ,lob Lane.' There is no evidence that Whipple settled on his portion, but the othe rs did, and some of the lots are held, in 1890, by their descendants, (the sixth genera- tion). The Shawshine grant included all of the remaining land that was set otl'to liedford at the incorporation. Two small accessions were made later. It does not appear that Cambridge took action towards the settle- ment of Shawshine until April 9, 1648. Only those grants known to be in Bedford are mentioned here. Cookin (Gooking), had 500 acres; it com|>rised the northeast section of the present town of Bedford. The grantee was Capt. Daniel Gookin, and was thus pub- licly recognized as a valuable servant of the Colony. He was a faithful friend of the natives and a co- worker with the Apostle Eliot, and had a great influ- ence with the Waniesit Indians. His name appears as Magistrate in 1084, before whom depositions were taken in regard to the Musketaipiid purcha.se of U;36. Kev. Joseph IMitchell had 500 acres. This was all purchased by Michael Bacon, in July, 1082, for £200. Nathaniel Page bought a grant of Grimes, in 1087. It contained 500 acres. Edward Oakcs had a grant of 300 acres, extending from the Page land southward to " Concord Old Line." Thomas Oakes had 150 acreSj extending from the Bacon purchase to Winthrop form on the west. The Bedford Springs covers this grant. "The great meadows," east of the Poor Farm, in- cluding sixty acres, constituted the lai't grant to Gover- nor Winthro|). With the exception of the Winthrop meadows, all of the land remaining between Thomas (_)akes, (Bedford Springs) and " Concord Old Line," bounded on the east by P.age and Edward Oakes, and on the west by the Winthrop Farm, was known until 1708 as Billerica Commons, (the squadron south of Oakes farm) Bedford Vill.age is included in this. Dr. Page, in his " History of Cambridge," has the following: "Michael Bacon, of Woburn, bought of Rodger Shaw a farm in the northwesterly part of Cambridge (now Bedford), including all the meadows adjoining to the great swamj) near the east corner of Concord bounds that falls to Cambridge. The Shaw- shine River runs from this swamp." This must have been a second purchase of land in this town by Mr. Bacon. There still remains about 700 acres of the Shawshine grant within the limits of Bedford, the section east of the Page purchase and the Rev. Joseph Jlitchell grant. This must include some minor grants, among which, doubtless, is that of thirty acres to John Wilson, in 1085, " for encour- agement towards his corn-mill." The Billerica Com- mon lands or " Squadron South of Oakes farme," be- ^ Tlie law of Massachusetts gave to the oldest son a double portion of a parent's estate, which may account for the uuequal division. BEDFORD. fore mentioned aa including the village of Bedford, containing 000 acres, was divided in 1708. The al- lotment, according to Hazen's Billerica, was as follows : " It is agreed that Lt. John Stearns should attend the laying out of the lots as fast as might be, and to carry the hind end of the chain, (only as to his own) and Daniel Hill or Henry Jefts to carry the chain for said Stearns's lot." " The first lot was granted to lieutenant Samuel Hill including seventy-six acres bounded two hun- dred and forty ro), and accord- ing to Billerica records the liacon, afterwards Fitch mill was located before l(i()l5. Fi is mentioni'd thus : " U> : 1 : 6,3. Will' Tay & George farley are Apoynted to Lay out a highway from the Towne, leading to Mr'. Mitchell's farnie, and to y' land y' was Lay'' out for Mr'. Edward Oats' farme, on y" south East end of Mr. Winthrop's great meadow, to be layd out four polls wide." The Shawshine House w.%s one of the Indian truck- ing houses which preceded the first settlements of New England, where the natives bartered furs, etc., for English merchandise. And as appears by the report of the exploring committee was within the present limits of Bedford and po.ssibly the Kenrick dwelling marks the site. The records of Billerica furnish evidence that it was occupied by a family, as Hannah, infant daughter of Henry Jefts died '' y*^ first weeke of May, 1G.5.'?." This is the earliest event noted in Billerica Records. The first birth recorded was that of Samuel, son of (Seorge Farley, (March, 1054). The former, Henry .lelts, may be the same person who has been shown as having a portion of the common lands in 1708, and the surname of the latter, Farley, we have seen in connection with a por- tion of the same land. Michael Bacon, who purchased the Mitchell grant must have been located on the estate before he be- came the possessor, as births of his children are re- corded as early as 1G71, and if the first mill was built by him he must have been there before 1663, and then or very soon had neighbors as ai)pears from the following record in Billerica, showing the assignment of families to garrisou ("No. 10"). " 13 6». '75 (1675). " At a iHiblick Towue Meeting — ^'TUc- Towne, cuiisiilering the providence of God at the p''sent calling us to lav asido our ordinary occatious in providing for onr creatures and to tjike special care for the p'serving of our lives and the lives of onr 'n-ivesand children, tlie enemy being near and the warnings by gods providence upon our neighbors being very solenine and awfull, do there- fore onjer A agree Joyntly to prpare a place of safety for women and chiMren, and that all persons and tean\3 shall attend 3« said worke uiitill it 1»- finished ; and account of y« wlioll charge being kept it shall be equally divided upon the inhabitants with other Towne charges." At a meeting of the selectmen and a committee of the militia, held " 14. 8m. 1675," a li.st of garrison- houses is reported, in which is the following : "Also, Timothy Brookes house is allowed for garri- son & to entertain Michael Bacon's family, & to have two garrison soldiers to defend y" mill & himself, y" m.aster of the garrison. (Timothy Brooks bought of George Farley a part of the Oakes Grant in 1673)." In the assignment of families to garrisons the records show that "Also, Job Laine was allowed to for- tify his own owne house, and to have two soldiers for garrison-men to defend his house, in case y' country could sp.arfe them." The settlements increased so that in 1728 an eflbrt was made to secure the formation of a new town. Following the custom in forming a new township, pe- titions were made to the inhabitants of Billerica, by the settlers on that side of the proposed towiisl'.ip, and to Concord by the settlers on the Concord side. The petitions were substantially as follows : " To the gentlemen, the Selectmen and otiior inhabitants of Conoord, in Lawful meeting assembled : the petition of suniiry of the inhab- itants of the northeasterly pai't of the town of Concord humbly showeth : That we, your humble petitioners, having, in conjunction with the southerly part of Billerica, not without good advice, and, wo hope, upon religious principles, assembled in the winter past, and supported the preaching of the gospel among ns, cheerfully paying in the meantime our proportion to the ministry in our towns, have very nnanimously agreed to address onr respective towns, to disTuiss us and set us off to be a distinct township or district, if the Great and Gen- eral Court or assembly shall favor such onr constitution. *' We, therefore, the snbsbcribers hereunto, and your luuuble peti- tioners, do firet apply to yon to lead us and set ns forward in so good a work, which, we trust, may be much for the glory of Christ and the spiritual benefit of ourselves and our posterity. Our distance from your idace of worship is so great that wo labor under insupportable ditlicnlties in attending constantly there, as we desire to do. In the extreme diflicult seasons of heat and cold we were ready to say of the Sabbath : * Behold what a weariness is it.' The extraordinary ex- penses we are at in transporting and refreshing ourselves and families on the Sabbath has added to our burdens. This we have endured from year to year with aa n^uch patience as the nature of the case would hear, but our increasing numbers now seem to plead an exemption ; and as it is in your power, so wo hope it will be in your grace to relieve us. Gentlemen, if our seeking to draw off proceeded from any disiiffec- tion to o\ir present Rev. Pastor, or the Christian Society witli whom we liave taken such sweet counsel together and walked unto the house of God in company, then hear us not to-day. But we greatly desire, if God please, to be eased of our burdens on the Sabbath, the travel and fatigue thereof, that the word of God may be nigh to ns, near to our houses and in our hearts, that we and onr little ones may serve the Lord. We hope 10 BEDFOKD. that God, wlin stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to set forward temple worll, has stirred us up to ask, and will stirr you up to grant the prayer of our petition, so shall your iiuiiihle pefitionere ever pray, as in duty bound, etc." The jietition had seventeen signatures, all from the Concord side. As many more petitioned from the Billerica side to their town. Concord granted her consent without objection, but Billerica clung to her outlying acres with more tenacity. This may be ac- counted for by the fact that she was being shorn of lands in other directions, and this new luoposilion, if successful, was to take some other most valuable citi- zens. Their remonstrance did not avail at the Court, and the Act of Incorporation was passed September 23, 1729. CHAPTER II. Name — Boundaries^BenevoIence^Recordi — Fir&t Meetittg-house and Min isUr — Clntrches Formed — Taxes — Some Old FantUies and Sites. Why the petitioners prayed to have the new town called Bedford, is chiefly a conjecture ; but we seem to see in it an act of reverence for the memory of the first minister of Concord, who was from Bedfordshire, England. The part which he had taken in moulding the character of the early settlers, must have had an in- fluence on the succeeding generations, as the language of the petitioners for the new town seems to imply. The session of the General Court, which granted the act of incorporation, was held at Cambridge, and be- gan August 28, 1729. The new town was vested with all the "powers, privileges and immunities that the inhabitants of any of the towns of this province are or ought by law to be vested with : provided that the said town of Bedford do, within the space of three years from the publication of this act, erect, build and finish, a suitable house for the public worship of God, and procure and settlea learned orthodox minis- ter of good conversation; and make provision for his comfortable and honorable .support, and likewise pro- vide a school to instruct their youth in writing and reading." By subseijuent divisions Lincoln and Carlisle were taken from Concord, and Burlington from Woburn, so that Bedford is bounded at present on the north and northeast by Billerica, east by Burlington, south- east by Lexington, south by Lincoln, southwest and west by Concord, and northwest by Carlisle with Con- cord River as a division between Bedford and westerly towns. "The newe towne" known as " Newtowne," 1631; "Cambridge," 1(138, and "Lexington," 1718, cornered upon Bedford, and later gave up a small por- tion to her. In the records of March, 17.'")S, we see that Benjamin Farley and Joseph Fassett were granted the right to straighten the line between Lex- ington and Bedford, and the latter town then acquir- ed the dismal tract known as " Farley Hole." In 176G Ebenezer Page's land was joined to Bedford ; this was done to straighten the line. When one. Grimes, petitioned to have his land setoff to Lexington the town voted in the negative, and also placed upon re- cord their willingness "to refer it to the wise and ju- dicious determination of His Excellency, the Gover- nor, and the Honorable Court." The forming of a new town occasioned expenses for which money was needed, and land was called for on which to erect the meeting-house and for other pur- poses. These needs had been anticipated as appears by the records : " Bedford, January the 20'^, 1730. '"This is the account of the money aiul laud that was given to incouragemeut for the Town in the year 1720.' ' Rlr, Joseph Dean, I)ea. Israel Putuam, Mr. Josiah Fassett, Mr. John Whipple, Mr. Benjamin t'olbarn, Mr. Samuel Merriain each ga\e land, and the following men are credited with gifts of money : Mr. James Lane, Cornet Nathaniel Page, Lieut. Job liaue, BIr. John I.aue, Dea, Nathaniel Merriam, Sir. .Tob Lane, Mr. Joseph Bacou, Mr. John HartwoII, Mr. Jonathan Bacon, Mr. John Fitch and Mr. John Whitniore, of Medford.' 'The wife of Nathaniel Whittecor, of Concord, gave five pounds, old tenor.' " With the records of the town-meeting of January the 7"', 1729-30, appears the following : "Mr. William Hartvvell gave Ave pounds and it was delivered to the selectmen, and 20 shillings of it went to pay Mr. Oliver Whitmore for Uightin deeds and acknoligin of tlieni befor him. for the law Boak, two pound ; for town boak, ten shilings, and the money Remaining is one pound, eight shiling and two pence in the hand of M'. Nathaniel Meriam. Tlie law book was ordered to be passed about according to the judgment of the selecttneu. With a sufficient tract of land and £61 in the Ii'easury these determined people began the work of building up their newly incorporated town." The records of the town open with the following : " In Council Sei)temher 26, 1729, voted that M'. Jonathan Bacon, a principal Iidiabitauc of the Town of Bedford, bee and hereby is fully Iiupowered and Directed to assemble the FreeholDers and other luhabi- tanc of the Town to convene as soon as may be to elect and choose Town officers to stand untill the next anniversary meeting in March. ".Seut Down for Coneurence, "J. WlLLARD, Secry. " In tlie House of Representatives, .September: 2fi, 1729. ''(iniNCY, Spkr. " Read and concurd, " tSonseuted to. W. Dummer, "A true copy — Examined, .1. Wir.LARP, J9ecr^." The officers elected under the above call were : " Moderator, Jonathan Bacon ; selectmen, Samuel Fitch, Nathaniel Merriam, Jonathan Bacon, Nathaniel Page and Daniel Davis ; town clerk, Samuel Fitch ; citnstables, Israel Patnam and Stephen Davis ; town treasurer, .lohn Fassett ; surveyors. Job Lane and Samuel Merri- am; tithingmen, Daniel Cheever and Josiah Fassett, fence-viewers Obed Abbott and Benjamin Colhiiru ; Ilog Ref., James Wheelor and Jon- athan Bacou ; sealer of weights and measures, John Lane ; field driv- er's, Thomas WooUey and John Whipple. i" ^ Tlie simple statement of a name does not identify in some families, hence we note in this connection that Jonathan Bacon was a son of fllichael purchaser of the Mitchell grant, ganuiel Fitch was the head of the family in town. Nathaniel Merriam, dea., 1730, was first of the nmnorons family in Bedford, was descended from Joseph, of Concord, wlio died in 1040. Nathaniel died in 1738. Nathaniel Page was the third of the name in Bedford. Daniel Davis was son of Samuel and Mary (Medows), born, 1673. Israel Putnam, consin of General Israel Putnam, born, 1699, was deacon, 1730 ; married daughter of Jonathan Bacon. Stephen Davis was father of Deacon Stephen, died 1738. John Fassett, treasurer, was sou of Patrick died 1730. It ia a coincidence of interest that his brother Samuel, was first treasurer of Westford (Bed- ford's twin sister). BEDFORD. 11 The meeting-house was so nearly completed before the act of incorporation was passed that the first town- meeting was held in it, and at a second meeting held seven days later "Tiie town excepted of the meting- house, as the former commety had agreed with Joseph ^itch, for four hundred and sixty pounds." Like the houses of worship of the early settlers of New England, this otlered but few attractions, save a shel- ter from the storms ; but the peojile made haste to put it in a more attractive condition. At the same meeting they chose a committee "To seethe meeting- house parfected and finished," and also "provide a ministor." They voted to raise "Forty pound to mantain preachin among us," and provided "for a Reat of fifteen [lound to defray the charges that shall be or may a Hies in the Town." Another action of the same meeting " was to chous this four men : Jlr. John Fasselt, Mr. Nathaniel Meriam, Co'. Nathaniel Paige, Mr. Josiah Fassett to tacke dedes of the land thftt is for the tow that is given or that is sold." In January, 1730, it was voted "to lot out the pue ground and seat the meting bous." The instructions to the commitlee were, " The man and bis wife to set in the pue (excepting deacons), tber shall be but one poall to an esteat in seating the meting hous and pues, and they are to have re.'spect to them that are fifty years of age or upward ; thos that are under fifty years of age are to be seated in the meting hous ac- ording to ther pay. The front foer seat in the gal- eree to be equal with the third seat below in the body of seats." The progressive spirit of these early citizens of this town is seen in their willingness to allow the sexes equal rights in the |>e\vs. "Men's stairs" and " women's stairs " are often referred to in the records, but suggest the division among the singers. In the ab.sence of a floor-plan the descriptive location of the pews is as follows: "Stephen Davis' pue is at the East End of the meeting-house, south of the east door going to the women's stayers." A committee was soon chosen to "treat with Mr. Hancok and with Mr. Ru- gels and Mr. Whiting in order to a fast, and thay appointed a fast on the 22nd day of January, 1729- 30." The ministers of the neighboring towns assem- bled and held a "fast," and a call was soon extended to a young man who had been preaching for the peo- ple. " Mr. Bowes was choas to be our ministor." The town agreed to give him " ninety-five pounds the first year, an hundred pounds the second year, and so on annually : to give him five and twenty cords of wood yearly ; that the money be all wayes in propor- tion to its present valuation and credit which is at eighteen shillings per ounce, that his salary be paid every half year." .Mr. Howes also had £200 as a set- tlement fee, which was partly paid by a deed of six- teen acres of land, at £8 per acre. Rev. Nicholas Bowes was ordained as the first minister of Bedford, July 1.5, 1730, and the church was organized on the same day. Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington (father- in- law of Mr. Bowes), was moderator of the council. Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge had a part in the service. Some time before the church was organized " the Brethren had met and proposed to form themselves into a state of church relation. They had voted that a person on entering the church should give in writ- ing a confession of bis faith which should be read in public. There were twenty-four foundation members. The foundation covenant was purely evangelical in spirit and the government was strictly of the Congre- gational order. The parent towns had equal repre- sentation in the new church. August 4, 1730, Israel Putnam and Nathaniel Mer- riam were chosen deacons, and on the first Sabbath of September following, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was first administered. At the first public Thanksgiving service on November 12, 1730, a collec- tion was taken for the use of the church amounting to £6. "The good people of Concord increased the sum and With the Consent of y" Brethren of y' C"", The Deacons purchased 1 Table Cloth; 1 Napkin; 2 Dishes; 1 Flaggon; 2 Pewter Tankards; 1 Bason." "Some time after They purchased another Flaggon & 2 more Pewter Tankards." The town of Bedford was now fully organized and in complete running order, both as a municipality and an ecclesiastical bod}', and was early recognized as such by the Province ami neighboring churches. December 23, 1733, the deacons were chosen to rep- resent the church at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Hancock, of Lexington, and in October, 1735, at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Clapp, of Woburn. The first recognition from the Province in the w.ay of a tax was in 1730, amounting to £20 13«. 7d. There was a'so assessed the town's proportion of the repre- sentative tax in 1729, which was £7 19«. 9d., the minister's salary, the expenses of the ordination of Rev. Mr. Bowes, the allowance to Joseph Fassett "for time spent at General Court in perfecting our township, together with his pocket expenses while there," and the county tax, making a tax of £188 9s. (id. The allowance to Jonathan Bacon for his time spent "in perfecting our townshiji," was £8 8s. 3d, doubtless paid from funds in the treasury. Such a drain on the limited income of the early settlers of Bedford must have been a severe trial of their cour- age, and especially hard after the town tax of the first year of their existence as a municipality. In 1729 they paid "a Meting-houes Reat of £300 8s. 3d.," and a " town and minister Reat of £.51 15s. -id." There is no evidence that more than two voters lost courage, and they were refused an abatement of their proportion of the tax. There are but few of the farms of the town that re- main in the same family possession as at the incorpo- ration and only two instances where the descent of possession has not occasioned a change in the surname 10 BEDFORD. that God. wlinstiiTPd up Ilie spirit of (\vni8 to set forwarii temple work, lias stirred iis up to ask, and will stirr you up to grant the prayer of our petition, so shall your humble petitioners ever pray, as in duty houTul, etc." The petition h.td seventeen signatures, all from the Concord side. A.s many more petitioned from the Billerica side to their town. Concord granted her consent without objection, but Billerica clung to her outlying acres with more tenacity. This may be ac- counted for by the fact that she was being shorn of lands ill other directions, and this new proposition, if successful, was to take some of her most valuable citi- zens. Their remonstrance did not avail at the Court, and the Act of Incorporation was passed September 23, 1729. CHAPTER II. Name — BoundtirifB— Benevolence — Records — First Mcotiug-house and Miu uter—Clmiches Formed — TuJes — Sovie Old Fimlilies and Sites. Why the petitioners prayed to have tlie new town called Bedford, is chiefly a conjecture ; but we seem to see in it an act of reverence for tbe memory of the first minister of Concord, who was from Bedfordshire, England. The part which he bad taken in moulding the characterof the early settlers, must have had an in- fluence on the .succeeding generations, as the language of the petitioners for ihe new town seems to imply. The session of the General Court, which granted the act of incorporation, was held at Cambridge, and be- gan August 28, 172!». The new town was vested with all the "powers, privilege? and immunities that the Inhabitants of any of the towns of this ])rovince are or ought by law to be vested with : provided that the said town of Bedford do, within the space of three years from the publication of this act, erect, build and finish, a .suitable house for the public worship of God, and procure and settlea learned orthodo.x minis- ter of good conversation ; and make provision for his comfortable and honorable .support, and likewise pro- vide a school to instruct their youth in writing and reading." By subsecjuent divisions Lincoln and Carlisle were taken from Concord, and Burlington from Woburn, so that Bedford is bounded at present on the north and northeast by Billerica, east by Burlington, south- east by Lexington, south by Lincoln, southwest and west by Concord, and northwest by Carlisle with Con- cord River as a division between Bedford and westerly towns. "The newe towne" known as " Newtowne," 1631 ; " Cambridge," 1038, and " Lexington," 1713, cornered upon Bedford, and later gave up a small por- tion to her. In the records of March, 1758, we see that Benjamin Farley and Joseph Fassett were granted the right to straighten the line between Lex- ington and Bedford, and the latter town then acquir- ed the dismal tract known as " Farley Hole." In 1766 Ebenezer Page's land was joined to Bedford ; this was done to straighten the line. When one, Grimes, petitioned to have his land set oft' to Lexington the town voted in the negative, and also placed upon re- cord their willingness "to refer it to the wise and ju- dicious determination of His Excellency, the Gover- nor, and the Horior.able Court." The forming of a new town occasioned expenses for which money was needed, and land was called for on which to erect the meeting-house and for other pur- poses. Tjiese needs had been anticipated as appears by the records : "Bedford, .lauiiary the 20*'', 1730. '"ThiB is the account of the money and hiud that was giveu to incuuragement for the Town in the year 1720,' ' Blr. Joseph Dean, Dea. Israel Putuaui. Mr. Josiah Fassett, Mr. John M'hippie, Mr. Benjamin Colharn, Mr. Samuel Merriam each gave laud, and the following men are credited with gifts of money : Mr. James Lane, Cornet Nathaniel Page, Lieut. Job Lane, Mr. John Lane, Dea. Nathaniel Qlerriam, Mr. Job Lane, Mr. Joseph Bacon. Mr. John Ilartwell, Mr. Jonathan Bacon, Mr. John Fitch and Mr. John Whitmore, of Medford.' 'The wife of Nathaniel \\'iiittecor, of Concord, gave five pounds, old tenor.' " With the records of the town-meeting of January the 7"', 1729-30, appears the following : " Mr, William Harlwell gave live pounds and it was delivered to the selectmen, and 20 shillings of it went to pay Mr. Oliver Whitmore for Right in deeds and acknoligin of them befor him. for the law Boak, two pound ; for town boak, ten shilings, and the money Eemaining is one pound, eight shiling and two pence in the hand of M^ Nathaniel Meriam. The law book was ordered to be passed about according to the judgment of the selectmen. With a sufficient tract of land and ,£l3l in tlie treasury these determined people began the work of building up their newly incorporated town." The records of the town open with the following : '* In Council September 26, 1720, voted that Mr. Jonathan Bacon, a l>rincipal Inhabitanc of the Town of Bedford, bee and hereby is fully Impowered and Directed to assemble tbe FreeholDers and other Inhabi- tanc of the Town to convene as soon as may be to elect and choose Town officers to stand untill the next anniversary meeting in March. *'Sent Down for Coiicurence, "J. WiLLARD, Secri/. " In the House of Ilepresentatives, September: 2G, 1720, " QlilNCT, Sjih: "Read .and concurd, " Consented to. W. Dummer, *' A true copy — Examined, J. Wii.lahd, iSccrj/," The officers elected under the above call were : "Moderator, Jonathan Bacon; selectmen, Samuel Fitch, Nathaniel Slerriam, Jonathan Bacon, Nathaniel Page and Daniel Davis ; town clerk, Samuel Fitch ; constables, Israel Putnam and Stephen Davis ; town treasurer, John Fassett ; surveyors. Job Lane and Samuel Merri- am; tithingmen, Iianiel Cheever and Josiah Fassett, fence-viewers Obed Abbott and Benjamin Colburn ; Hog Ref., James Wheeloraud Jon- athan Bacon ; sealer of weights and mejisures, John Lane ; field driv- el's, Thomas W'oolley and John Whipple, i" 1 The simple statement of a name doeB not identify in some fauiilies, hence we note in this connection that Jonathan Bacon was a son of Michael purchaser of the Mitchell grant, Sanuiel Fitch was tbe head of the fauiily in town. Nathaniel Merriam, dea., 1730, was first of the numerous family in Bedford, was descended from Joseph, of Concord, who died in 104G. Nathaniel died in 1738. Nathaniel Page was the third of the name in Bedford. Daniel Davis was son of Samuel and Mary (Medows), born, 1673. Israel Putnam, cousin of General Israel Putnam, born, 1690, was deacon, 1730 ; married daughter of Jonathan Racon. Stephen Davis was father of Deacon Stephen, died 1738, John Fassett, treasurer, was son of Patrick died 1736, It is a coincidence of interest that his brother Samuel, was first treasurer of Westford {Bed- ford's twin sister). BEDFORD. 11 The meeting-house was so nearly completed before the act of incorporation was passed that the first town- meeting was held in it, and at a second meeting lield seven days later "The town excepted of the meting- house, as the former commety had agreed witli Joseph ^itch, for four hundred and sixty pounds." Like the houses of worship of the early settlers of New England, this ottered but few attractions, save a shel- ter from the storms ; but the people niiide haste to put it in a more attractive conililioii. At the same meeting they chose a committee "To seethe meeting- house parfected and finished," and also "provide a niinistor." They voted to raise "Forty pound to mantain preachin among us," and provided "for a Reat of fifteen pound to defray the charges that shall be or may a Hies in the Town." Another action of the same meeting " was to chous this four men: Mr. John Fassett, Mr. Xatlianiel Meriani, Co'. Nathaniel Paige, Mr. Josiah Fassett to tacke dedes of the land that is for the tow that is given or that is sold." In January, 1730, it was voted "to lot out the pue grounlan tiie descriptive location of the pews is as follows: "Stephen Davi.s'pue is at the East End of the meeting-house, south of the east door going to the women's stayers." A committee was soon chosen to "treat with Mr. Hancok and with Mr. Ilu- gels and Mr. Whiting in order to a fiist, and thay appointed a fast on the 22nd day of January, 1729- 30." The ministers of the neighboring towns assem- bled and held a "fast," and a call was soon extended to a young man who had been preaching for the peo- ple. " Mr. Bowes was choas to be our ministor." The town agreed to give him " ninety-five pounds the first year, an hundred pounds the second year, and so on annually : to give him five and twenty cords of wood yearly ; that the money be all wayes in propor- tion to its present valuation and credit which is at eighteen shillings per ounce, that his salary be paid every half year." Mr. Howes also had X200 as a set- tlement fee, which was |)artly paid by a deed of six- teen acres of land, at £8 per acre. Rev. Nicholas Bowes was ordained as the first minister of Hedford, July 15, 1730, and the church was organized on the same day. Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington (father- in-law of Mr. Bowes), was moderator of the council. Rev. Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge had a part in the service. Some time before the church was organized "the Brethren had met and proposed to form themselves into a state of church relation. They had voted that a person on entering the church should give in writ- ing a confession of his faith which should be read in public. There were twenty-four foundation members. The foundation covenant was purely evangelical in spirit and the government was strictly of the Congre- gational order. The parent towns had equal repre- sentation in the new church. August 4, 1730, Israel Putnam and Nathaniel Mer- riam were chosen deacons, and on the first S.ibbath of September following, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was first administered. At the first public Thanksgiving service on November 12, 1730, a collec- tion was taken for the use of the church amounting to £6. "The good people of Concord increased the sum and With the Consent of y" Brethren of y" C'', The Deacons purchased 1 Table Cloth; 1 Napkin; 2 Dishes; 1 Fl.aggon ; 2 Pewter Tankards; 1 Bason." "Some time after They purchased another Flaggon & 2 more Pewter Tankards." The town of Bedford was now fully organized and in complete running order, both as a municipality and an ecclesiastical body, and was early recognized as such by the Province and neighboring churches. December 23, 1733, the deacons were chosen to rep- resent the church at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Hancock, of Lexington, and in October, 173.5, at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Clapp, of Woburn. The first recognition from the Province in the way of a tax was in 1730, amounting to £20 13.s. 7d. There was also assessed the town's proportion of the repre- sentative tax in 1729, which was £7 19s. M., the minister's salary, the expenses of the ordination of Rev. Mr. Bowes, the allowance to Joseph Fassett "for time spent at General Court in perfecting our township, together with his pocket expenses while there," and the county tax, making a tax of £188 9,9. The allowance to Jonathan Bacon for his time spent "in perfecting our township," was £8 8s. Sd., doubtless paid from funds in the treasury. Such a drain on the limited income of the early settlers of Bedford must have been a severe trial of their cour- age, and especially hard after the town tax of the first year of their existence as a municipality. In 1729 they paid "a Meting-houes Reat of £.300 8s. 3d.," and a "town and minister Reat of £.")1 ^5s. -id." There is no evidence that more than two voters lost courage, and they were refused an abatement of their proportion of the tax. There are but few of the farms of the town that re- main in the same family possession as at the incorpo- ration and only two instances where the descent of possession has not occasioned a change in the surname 12 BEDFORD. of the possessor. The estate owned by Josiah Davis has been in the family and name since 1G96, when purchased by Samuel Davis (son of Dolor), one of the pioneers of Concord. It has passed through six gen- erations from Samuel, in each of which there has been an Eleazer. Thirty-eight children in five generations of the name of Davis have been born on this estate. The estate held by the heirs of Cyrus Page was purchased by Nathaniel Page in 1C87. The present owners are of the eighth generation. The original dwelling is still .standing. Mrs. Sarah Sampson owns and occupies the estate that came into the family possession about 173.S, she is of the fourth generation of the family of Zachariah Fitch. Lands on the Concord side of Bedford are still held by de.scendants of William Harlwell, who was among the pioneers of Concord, and the homestead was held in the family name and occupied by Hart- wells continuously for two hundred years. The present house was erected in 17.58. The homestead of Benjamin Filch has been held in the family and name since 17.30, and the "corne- mill" of King Philip's War, on the Shawshine River, is still identified by modern buildings, but has passed from the family pos.se.ssion. Job B. Lane owns and occupies a portion of the Winthrop Farm that was purchased by Job Lane in 1604 and divided by his heirs in 1697. "Stone Croft Farm," owned by MLss Caroline M. Fitch, came to the family by purchase in 1766. The dwelling was built about 1700. The mill site, on Vine Brook, near Shawshine River, was occupied by John Wilson as early as 1663. The site of the first meeting-house is very nearly identified by the .second, which is now standing. CHAPTER III. ECCLESIASTICAL. Relatum of First Church and Town — hiimoisiim of liev. Nkholas Boices — First Bfil — Miiivtlrij nf li'ev. Nuthaitiel Sherman and Rev. Jose^ih Pftnn- The ecclesiastical and municipal relations of the town are so thoroughly interwoven for the first cen- tury of her history that it is difficult to separate them . but as it is our purpose to briefly sketch the town's history, topically rather than in chronological order, we shall aim to treat of the social and political rela- tions separate from spiritual and religious, now that we have combined the two sufficiently to show the steps of organization. By the early Provincial laws every tract of territory, when becoming a town, by the same act became a parish ; hence the town of Bedford for little more than a century was the parish. They provided for the support of the Gospel at the same meeting in which they made provision for building and repairing highways. In our effort to separate the relations we shall class all that pertained to the house or service of worship as ecclesiastical. The first three pastorates of the town were cut short for obvious reasons. Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first pastor, was graduated at Harvard College in 1725, and ordained July 1."), 1730, and was dismissed Au- gust 22, 1754, after a ministry of twenty-four years. Mr. Bowes came to the new town of Bedford under many flattering circumstances. He married Miss Lucy (Lucie) Hancock, the young and accomplished daughter of Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington. Soon after locating in Bedford, Mr. Bowes built a res-idence on the land deeded him by the town as a part of his settlement fee. It is now standing, and is a stately mansion, reminding one of the superior dignity at- tached to the pastoral office of that day. Eight chil- dren were born to Rev. Nicholas and Lucy Bowes while in this town. William, the oldest, born De- cember 3, 1734, was baptized four days later by his grandfather. Rev. John Hancock. They all lived to maturity with the exception of Thomas, who died at the age of two years, eleven months. Of the pastoral acts of Mr. Bowes but little is known. The church and town grew and flourished; 161 were admitted to the church, and there were 303 baptisms. The rite was administered to ail who owned the covenant and their children. Confessions were publicly made, but not carried to so great an extreme as in many New England churches. Intemperance and theft were frequently confessed. Mr. Bowes, together with nine other ministers in the vicinity of Cambridge, refused to admit Rev. George Whitefield to their pulpits in 174'), because of his denunciation of Harvard College and many New England clergymen. Through some indiscreet acts the pastor's usefulness was brought to a close, and satisfactory confession being made, he was dismi.ssed, and it was voted — "That he be owned and treated as a brother in good standing and char- ity." He could not have lost his influence in the town, as he was employed to teach the school in the following winter. In 1755 he was chaplain in the Northern Army, at Fort Edward, and died at Brookficld on his return home. But little more is known of his family, save that his daughter Lucy went to live with her maternal grandmother, the widow of Rev. John Hancock, and there made the acquaintance of her grandfather's successor, Rev. Jonas Clark, of Lexington, and became his wife. The estate was sold to John Reed, and still remains in the family. It was near the close of the first pas- torate before the town purchased a bell. In April, 1753, " 'Voted, to buy a bell not exceeding six hun- dred nor less than five hundred pound weight." They also "voted to build a house of sufficient height to hang the mouth of the bell sixteen feet from the ground." The " Bell-house " was some rods from the BEDFORD. 13 meeting-house. The bell was ready for use at the time of the dismission of the first minister, and in the treasurer's accounts of that year, Deacon Israel Put- nam is charfjcd with an order " for lamb for the council and lieinp for the bell-rope, 5 shillings." The meeting-house wa.s the slirine of these early settlers, doubly precious because of their great sacrifice to erect it, and because of the great distance formerly traveled to reach the house of God. On April 5, 1731, they voted "that it sliould bcswept six times a year," and Deacon Israel I'utnain performed the service for ten shilliugs a year. In ITl.'J the pay was increa.sed to £1 15s., "Old Tenor." and .Tohn Mansfield hired to sweep it twelve times a year and "attend to opening and shutting the doors." In 1783 the young men were refused the " hind seat in the gallery," and the pew next to the puli)it stairs was made " a ministerial pew." The town and church concurred in extending a call to Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, and he was ordained February IS, 1750, " having preached twenty -six Sab- beths, one Fast and one Thanksgiving" during his candidacy. lie was given, as a settlement fee, £1 13 G.<. 8'/., and an annual salary of £53 6s. Si!., and twenty cords of wood annually, " after he shall come to need it for his own firing." Mr. Sherman was brother of Roger Sherman, the distinguished patriot of Connecticut, and endowed with both talent ami culture. As a young, unmar- ried man he entered the work of the gospel ministry in this place. He married Lydia Merriam, March 1, 1759. She was the daughter of Deacon Nathanial Merriam, of this town. They had three children born here, one of whom, Thaddeus, died August 22, 17ii5. Mr. Sherman was a num of feeble health, and labored under diliiculties. Notwithstaiuling the oft- repeated breaks in hi.s labors, his pastorate w:is re- garded as very successful — forty-six were admitted to church and sixty-seven were baptized by him. It was during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Sherman that Hugh Ma.\well, of IJedford, consecrated himself to the service of Christ and became the " Christian Patriot," whose biograiihy, published in 1830, is a most in.spiring work. A controversy arose in the churches of New Eng- land, about the time of the settlement of Jlr. Sher- man, concerning the " half-way covenant," by which persons were admitted to the privilege of baptism without admission to the communion. November fi, 17G5, the Bedford church voted " that there should be but one church covenant." Faith in Christ, repent- ance for sin, holiness and a belief in the Assembly's Catechism were reipiired of all candidates. Some of the changes were unpopular ; the affections of the people were alienated from the piistor, and the relations entered upon for life were brought to a close. Upon the request of the pastor an ecclesiastical council was called and gave advice in the matter, in which the town concurred. The record of the church is : " Upon the request of the Rev. Nathaniel Sherman, the church then dismissed him as a brother of the church and recommended him to the Church of Christ in Mount Carmel, New Haven." He was in- stalled there and preached many years. He died at East Windsor, July 18, 1797, aged seventy-three years. The dismission of Rev. Mr. Sherman caused not only the severing of pastoral and social relations, but family ties were sundered, and the town had no settleil minister for a period of three j'ears, during which time the church agreed upon the terms of communion as follows: " This church will have but one covenant and therefore require the same qualifi- cations in all ; yet if any person can desire to enter into covenant and receive baptism for himself or children, and yet fears to approach the Lord's table at present, he shall be received, he promising (though he come not immediately to the Lord's table) that he will submit to the watch and discipline of the church." Rev. Joseph Penniman w.as the third minister of the town, ordained M.ay 22, 1771. He received a set- tlement fee of 133 ami an annual salary of £66 13^. ■ill., and fire wood. In planning for the service of ordination the town voted " that the day should be religiously observed throughout the town in accordance with the solemnity of the occasion ;" determined .as much as in them lay to prevent " all Levity, I'rophainness, music, Danc- ing and frolicking and other disorders on "* Day." A committee of five was chosen " to open the meeting- house and to keep the seats below the deacons' seat and town's pew for the church and council." A new p.astorate was an occasion for advanced steps: 1773 "Voted to bring in Doct. Watt's versions for the present, and to have Messrs. .Jeremiah Fitch and •Tames Wright sett in the fore seat in the front gallery as they are appointed to begin the Psalm or tune.'' The fluctuation in the currency of the country tnade it necessary for the town to grant relief to their p.astor, and in.l780 the town voted "to grant Rev. Mr. Penniman one hundred bushels of grane, fifty of Rye and fifty of Indian Corn." The people mani- fested their gratitude for a successful termination of the Revolutionary struggle by repairingtheir meeting- house. It w.as then clap-boarded and covered with a coating of" Bedford Yellow," a .sort of mineral paint found in the town. The old beli and bell-house were also repaired. Like the people of the town, they had seen hard service during the war. The bell had sounded the alarm on April 19, 1775 ; rung for liberty when the Colonies declared their inde- pendence ; pealed forth its notes of rejoicing over the surrender at Yorktown, and by its cracked tongue and faltering notes, most fittingly suggested the suffer- ings of the people during the war, in its final attempt to swell the volume of thanksgiving, following the treaty of September 3, 1783. The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Penniman covered the years of struggle for free- 14 BEDFORD. dom from the mother country, and was successful in many respects. Forty-one were added to the cluircli and one luindrcd and eighty-three baptisms are re- corded during his ministry. Some of the public acts of Mr. Tenniman gave evi- dence of extreme eccentricity, which increased by repetition until the church took the following action July 12, ]70a: "Thediiirch met at Deacon James Wright's and held a conference with each other respecting the un- christianlil^e behaviour of their Pastor, Mr. Joseph Penniman, the last Lord's day, it being communion day, and every member of said church being grieved thereat." The conference resulted at length in the dismission of Mr. Penniman October 29, 1793. In the light of the present, it would be declared that strong drink caused the trouble. Rev. Joseph Penniman was born in Braintree, and graduated at Harvard College in 17G5; after his dismission he removed from Bedford to Harvard, where he died. He was possessed of re- spectable talents. Social customs of his time aggra- vated natural eccentricities and led to extreme pecu- liarities of expression, particularly in public prayer. At the funeral service of his townsman, Captain Jon- athan Wilson, who was killed at Concord, April 19, 1775, he is said to have uttered the following : " We pray thee, O Lord, to send the Britisli Soldiers where they will do some good, for Thou knowest that we have no use for them about here." When visiting the school of the town he is said to have used the fol- lowing expression in prayer: "We pray thee, O Lord, tliat lliese children m.ay be well trained at homo, for if tliey are not, they will .act like Sarpints when they are abroad." The act that led the churcli to close the doors of the meeting-house against the pastor brought the town into public reproach. While the people were seriously considering the circum- stances a rougish fellow jilacarded the doors of the meeting-house with the following brief summary of affairs : " A wicked priest, a cruolied people, A cradted bell without a eteeplo," The bill for entertaining the Council at the dis- mission of Mr. Penniman amounted to £33 Os. 4(/. 2/ There were born to Rev. ]\Ir. Penniman and Hannah Jackson, his wife, while in Bedford, four children, two of whom died here and were buried in the old cemetery. The epitaphs now seen upon the crum- bling headstones are most suggestive of the peculiar- ities of the father. They are (juoted in this con- nection : "Deceiiil>er23, 1700, Hannah, daugliter of Kev. Joseph PenniDiau and HiiDiiKh. hiu wife, aged 18 yra,, 4 mos., 11 daya. " Ah I now, no notice do you give Where you are and how you live I What I are you then bound by solemn fate. To keep the secret of your state ? The alarming voice you will hear, WhonChrist, the Judge, shall appear. Hannah I from the dark lonely vault, Certainly soon and suddenly you'll come. When Jesus shall claim the treasure from the tomb.' August 21, 1778, Molly, aged 3 yrs., C mo., 3 days. " .\h I dear I'oUy, must your tender parents mourn, Their heavy loas, and bathe with tears your urn. Since now no more to ns you must return.'" CHAPTER IV. ECCLESIASTICAL. The Clerijy of New Etujland — Rtv. Samiul Steams — Pnge and Hartwell Ftntd — IVill of A)iua Paije — New 3[eetimj-honse — l:f M;u48achudett3, Yeo- man, (leceiiHeil. ... 1 humbly commit and commend my soul to God my Creiltor, in und through JetiUa Christ my Redeemer, whose righfeuus- nesa and grice are all my hope for imnlon aiiwii—Trinitarian-Co»gregaiioiial Societn Ortjani-.ed — Tlifir House of WorshiiJ—Work of Vititariatt Church aud First Parish—Deitth of liev. Samuel SteanisStearns'' Descendants — CJilirch of Christ. Prosperity followed the erection of the meeting- house, aud peace and harmony prevailed until the autumn of 1831, when a difference in opinion, which had for years existed between the Trinitarian and Unitarian Congregationalists of New England, reached that point here, where the relation between the pastor and people was most severely tried. The love of the pastor of this town for his people, and their strong attachment for the one who had given the best of his life in their service, the regard of man}' for his feelings in his declining years, together with the unswerving fidelity of the pastor to the prin- ciples that he had proclaimed when ordained for the Gospel ministry in this town thirty-five years before, may be assigned as .some of the reasons for the severity with which the storm beat upon the community. The church was rent asunder, and the remainder of the ecclesiastical history of the town, as regards the Protestant faith, will be viewed in two separate chan- nels, viz. : The First Parish with the Unitarian Church and The Trinitarian Congregational Society with the Church of Christ. The First Parish, and church connected with it, held the meeting-house, all of the fuiid.s and communion service, while the Trinitarian Congregational Society and as.sociated church began their work with empty hands. June 4, 1833, the two resident male members of the church who remained with the First Parish met and clmse as trustees William Page and Charles Spaulding, and adopted a new covenant, and accessions were ni.tde to their numbers. After the stated supply of Rev. Mr. Davis and Rev. Robert Walcott, Rev. Joshua Chand- ler, a'graduate of Harvard College, was settled over the church and society. He was .succeeded by Rev. George W. Woodward. In May, 1846, he removed to Galena, Illinois, and a series of stated supplies fol- lowed — the last of whom was Rev. Jonas Whitman, pastor at Lexington, who continued in charge until his death, in 1848. Services were then discontinued and the house of worship clo.sed, until it was remod- eled in 1849. In April of that year Rev. William Cushing ac- cepted a call to act as stated supply. Mr. Cushing took a great interest in education, conducting a pri- vate school in connection with his pastoral work; his successor was Rev. George W. Webster, who was in- stalled as pastor in August, 1860. Extreme peculi- arities, tending to mental disease, impaiied his use- fulness, and after a year aud a half, during which the OLD PARISH MEETING HOUSE. BEDFORD. 17 church and society relaxed in vitality, he left the charjre ami entered the Union army from this town. The house of worship was closed for a period of twelve years. It was reopened in the autumn of 1869, and Rev. Grindall Reynolds took charge of the parish in connection with his pastorate at Concord. His call to the position of secretary of the Unitarian Association necessitated a change. Revs. Milstead and Ku.ssell acted as stated supply until 1884, when Rev. tieorge Piper assumed the pastoral care of the society in connection with that at Carlisle. During his pastorate the meeting-house has been thoroughly remodeled, the church revived, and the ordinances regularly observed. In addition to the income of the "Page and llartwell Fund" the society is aided by the Unitarian Association. The Trinitarian Congregational Society immedi- ately erected a hon.se of worship on land given by Mr. Jeremiah Fitch, of Boston, a native of Bedford. The building-lot was directly opposite the Stearns man- sion, and was given iu consideration of the regard ot the donor for his neiglibor, teacher, pa.stor and friend. The relation between Rev. Mr. Stearns and the town was dissolved by a mutual ecclesiastical council, and he accepted a call from the Church of Christ and Trinitarian Congregational Society of the town, in their united capacity. Services were regularly held in the dwelling-house of Rev. Mr. Stearns until the society completed a meeting-house. Mrs. Hannah Reed presented the church with a suitable commun- ion service. Many of the citizens, who had but fii- teen years before, 1818, paid large sums for their pews in the town's meeting-house, had now freely given a tithing of their possessions for the erection of another house of worship, and, free from debt, the church and society resumed the work of proclaiming the gospel in the Evangelical faith. Rev. Mr. Stearns died in December, 1834, and the fourth and most notable pastorate was brought to a close. The body of Rev. .Mr. Stearns was interred iu the family vault in the old burial-ground, and there re- mained until the death of his widow. Madam Abigail Stearns, iu 1858, when they were both deposited in cemented vaults on the western slope of Shawshine Cclnetery. Oftliirloeniliildreii born to Rev. Samuel Stearns and .Vbig.iil French, eleven reached maturity. No other Bedford family has exerted so great an influence in the world of letters. They ail received the highest advan- tages for education that the schools atTorded. The iive sons were all educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, and at Harvard College, and the four who became clergymen attended Andover Theological Seminary. hy, the first book on the science published in Amer- ica. In the scarcity of text-books the "School Fathers" required it to be used by the "first cla.ss" as a " reader." In 1806 a school-house was built at the centre, in place of the old building that had been remodeled for school purposes seventy-three years before. The annual appropriation then reached six hundred dollars and sixteen weeks of schooling were provided ; only two schools were in session at any one time, and pupils were not confined to district limits. This led at length to a bitter quarrel in the East District. The master lost all authority, and the committee failed to restore order or peace. The sev- eral sections were arrayed violently against one an- other. The east quarter boys were on one side called by their enemies "Shaberkins and Sharks." The boys from the centre and north were united as an op- posing force and named, from their locality, " North- 75-76. Sec. 4. " The said towns have their own men returned that are abroad and freed from impressment during their present state." Lieutenant .lohn Wilson, who had a "corne mill " on Vine Brook, did good service "to the Eastward " in Itiy^-OS. Ijieutenant John Lane received the following order in .Vugust, U>'M : " These are in bis Majesty's name to require you forthwith to Impress eight Troopers with arms and ammunition for his Majesty's service, four of which are to be daily Imployed as a scout about yo' town, especially towards the great swamp." In l(i03 Lieutenant Lane received similar orders from the Lieutenant-* iovernor, and in 1702 he re- ceived the following order from Governor Joseph Dudley : " CAMBHilinE, 5 Nov., 1702. " Sill : I (Icairo yvyi with two of your trooiw to ri-pajr to tlie towus of Mftrlboro', Lanciiatpr, Groton, Cljelmsford Ollcl T)iinstal»lo, aiul tlioro (to livor Boverally tlio lettera given you and oncoui-ago the otViccra in tlieir duly, agreeable to the several directions, etc." It is evident that the (tovernor of the Colony was personally acquainted with Major Lane, he having attained that military title at that time, and knew him to be a trustworthy man. In the Lane papers tiled in this town is the following: " A list of the names of the Troopers which served under my command to the relief of Dunstable. July 2 the fourth, seventeen hundred atid si.x." Six of the twenty-nine were from Bedford side of ancient Bil- lerica, viz.: Samuel Fitch, Josiah Bacon, Nathaniel Page, Nathaniel Bacon, Benj. Bacon, Josiah Fassett. In the succeeding August, under the same command, Josiah Bacon served as " Trumpetter " and Josiah Fassett with Benjamin Bacon were privates. The following anecdote was related by Leander Hosmer, a descendant of the heroine of the Lane family: "Mary, daughter of Colonel .lohn Ijane, was left during a season of alarm in the garrison with but one soldier on guard. Something behind a stump excited the suspicion of Alary, as she looked from a window in the roof. The soldier declined to open fire, and she took the gun and discharged it and saw a dead Indian roll into sight." The Lanes had an inherent love for military life. One writes from York, April 21, 1721: "Lt. John Lane has been so imprudent as to suitor his men to kill sundry creatures belonging to the people of the County of York.' He afterwards made satisfaction for the rash act By an act of the Genera! Court, November 17, 1724, men were allowed two shillings per day for time in service and £100 for each male scalp in addition to other premiums established by law. This ofl'er of the government was an approved means of defence against the Indians, and aroused Captain John Love- well, of Dunstable, to raise a company and set out into the wilderness. He made three expeilitions, during which several Indians were killed and others were captured alive. The third and memorable ex- pedition of April 15, 172.5, proved the most disas- trous to the company, nearly one-third being killed, among whom was their leader. In each of the ex- peditions Bedford men participated, and Josiah Davis was killed, Eleazer Davis wounded, and others experienced the most painful hardship. From a published sermon of Rev. Thomas Symras, preached at Bradford, on the Sabbath following the return of the unfortunate company, the following account of the suflering of some of the number is t.aken : " Eleazer Davis, after being out fourteen days came into Berwick. He was wounded in the abdo- men and the ball lodged in his body. He also had his right hand shot ofl'." A tradition says that, ar- riving at a pond with Lieutenant Farwell, Davis pulled off one of his moccasins, cut it in strings, on which he fastened a hook, caught some fish, fried and ate them. They refreshed him, but were inju- rious to Farwell, who died soon after. Josiah Davis, another of the four, was wounded with a ball which lodged in his body. After being out fourteen day.s, in hourly expectation of perishing, he arrived at Saco emaciated and almost dead from the loss of blood. He recovered, but became a cripple." This manner of dealing with the Indians must be severely ([uestioned, and enlisting to pursue the scattered rem- nant of homeless natives for such a purpose as ac- tuated Lovewell and his followers must be condemned ; BEDFORD. but the narrative serves to show the hardships to which the founders of ihis town were accustomed and by which they acquired the habits of self-reliauce so evident in their later history. The Maxwell family furnished some brave military men during the French and Indian Wars, aud also in the struggle for freedom from British oppression. Hugh Maxwell entered the service as a private, served five campaigns and held a commission from Governor Pownall as ensign, dated March 31, 1759. Thompson, brother to Hugh, was with " Rogers' Rangers " at the destruction of St. Francis and all through the French and Indian Wars. He entered the service at the age of sixteen years. Lemuel Shattuck says : "Several of the inhabitants of Bed- ford sustained commissions." The descendants of Nathaniel Page, who settled here in 1687, were commissioned officers for several generations : Cornet Nathaniel Page, born in Eng- land in l(i79, died in Bedford, 1755; his son, John, born in 1704, held commission as cornet from Jona- than Belcher, Colonial Governor in 1737. Ensign Josiah Fassett was at the relief of Fort Williams in May, 1758. Sergeant Page, of Bedford, was with Thompson Maxwell in 1758. Maxwell had a hand- to-hand conflict with two Itidians, — he shot one and brought the other " to a halt." He says in his pub- lished journal: "Being exhausted, I reached a stream and Page swam across with me on his back with his gun and my own. I could not swim. In 1759 our suffering from cold and hunger cannot be described ; thirty-seven of our number died on the banks of the White River in Vermont, where Royalston is now built. Sergt. Page was with us and a very stout man. He helped me or I doubt how it would have fared with me." "Nathaniel Merriam (son of Dea. Na- thaniel) died at Lake George in his Majesty's service, Sept. 15, 1758, aged 19 years." When the " French Neutrals '' were taken from their Arcadian homes and portioned out in the Col- onies, Bedford had her share to provide for. Joseph Fitch and John Moore filed the following bill : "The Province of the Mass. Bay Indebted to the Town of Bedford — To providing for the French Neutrals or- dered to said town the 16 of Feb. A.D., 1760, 'till the 17ih of June, 1761, £21 7s." Bedford men were at Crown Point, Ticonderoga and at the decisive en- gagement on the plains of Abraham, and also on the northern frontiers, where troops were kept to watch the Indians until the treaty of peace was concluded, in 1762, by which Canada became a British posses- sion. It is gratifying to know that their services were appreciated as appears from the following : Voted on March 2, 1763, " To abate Josiah Davis, his son Paul, lately deceased, and Joseph Wilson, their town and Highway Rate and all other soldiers their Highway Rate." Thirteen received abatements. In 1763 the people of this town entered into the " Thanksgiving " ordered by the King for the restora- tion of peace, with the same will that they had mani- fested during the protracted war. They labored under the disadvantage of having no minister to in- spire or guide them from 1766 to 1771. The minister was the vanguard in many towns. Concord had her Emerson, and Lexington her Clark, but in the ab- sence of such a leader in Bedford, there was no falter- ing on the jiart of the people. Hugh Maxwell, the " Christian Patriot," came to the front with some- what of the heroism and organizing power which inspired his father to lead his entire family across the ocean to escape oppression. There were other brave men whose names appear in the subsequent years of trial. CHAPTER VIII. Colotiuil Trnubles — Bi^aton Tea Partif — MinuU-Meu—Concord Fight— Women's Part— Batik of Bunker Hilt. March, 1768, the town voted "To concur with the vote of the town of Boston in October last, to en- courage the produce and maniifaclure of the Prov- ince." The women were not behind in expressions of loyalty. They carried on spinning and weaving at an increased rate. A bride from one of the first families of the town is known to have been led to the marriage altar dressed in a "gown" of her own manufacture, the fruit of her own loom. The town sent no representative to the General Court until the Revolutionary struggle was well under way. The "letter of Correspondence " sent out from a Boston town-meeting asking for " a free communication of sentiments," was received and acted upon with a spirit of determination on March 1, 1773. In the following March the town voted " not to use any tea till the duty is taken ofl"." In the " Tea Party," December 16, 1773, Bedford was represented by Thompson Maxwell, although not at that time a resi- dent of the town. His journal reads thus : " In 1773, I went with my te:im to Boston, which was shut up (blockaded), with a load of provisions for '.he poor of the town. I had loaded at John Hancock's ware- house and was about to leave town, when Mr. Han- cock requested me to drive my team up into his yard, and ordered his servants to take care of it, and re- quested me to be at Long Wharf at two o'clock p.m., and informed me what was to be done. I went ac- cordingly, joined the band under Captain Hewes. We mounted the ships and made tea in a trice. This done I took my team and went home as an honest man should." ' 1 Feuring that this narrative and othera that will follow, might be re- garded as too good to be credited, we have carefully studied the facts and have no doubt of the validity of the journal. John Hancock, the famous patriot and merchant of Boston, inherited the estate of his BEDFORD. 23 When "Boston Port Bill" went into operation, June 1, 1774, the old bell pealed forth the sound of alarm over the hills of this town, ami the already crumbling "Bell-liouse" lost its equilibrium, but not so the people. They met on the last day of June, "To know and determine what measures ace Proper to be taken at this present time of Trouble and Dis- tress," etc. They unanimously voted to adopt the covenant of non-intercourse. They chose the Com- mittee of Correspondence, which consisted of Deac on Stephen Davis , John Reed, Joseph llartwell, John Webber and John Moore. The town was represented by four delegates at the county convention held at Concord on August 30th and 31st. On October 1 llh the town was represented by Joseph liaHard and John Reed in the first Provincial Congress, which had met by adjournment from Salem on the 6th. John Hancock was chairman and Ben- jamin Lincoln clerk. After a session of three days the Congress adjourned to meet at Cambridge, and then continued from October 17th to December 10th. Devotion to a noble cause prompted the Represen- tatives from this town, as there was no ofi'er of com- pensation from a depleted treasury, but in JIarch, 1775, the town voted " To allow Doct. Joseph Bal- lard four shillings per day, for twelve days at Cam- bridge, and four shillings for expenses at Concord." .January 18, 1775. They at first voted not to send a delegate to the Provincial Congress of February, but on the 27th, in a second meeting, chose John Reed, and, agreeable to a recommendation of the Continental Congress, chose a " Committee of Inspec- tion " consisting of Moses Abbott, Thomas Page, Ebenezer Page, John Reed and Edward Stearns. At the Provincial Congress held at Concord and Cam- bridge, the plan was adopted for enrolling all the able-bodied men, and the order passed " that these companies should immediately assemble and elect their proppcr officers ; that these officers, when elected, should .assemble and elect field officers, and they enlist at least one-ipiarter of the men enrolled." These were the "minute-men." The people of Bedford gave hearty assent to the appoint- ment of Henry Gardner, of Stow, as treasurer of the Province, and made payment to him rather than to the royal treasurer. In March, 1775, the town voted " to pay twenty- five ' minnte-raen' one shilling per week until the first of May nest, — they to exercise four hours in a week, and two shillings to be allowed two officers, they to equip themselves according to the advice of ilnclp, Tliomoa Hancock. The warohouso alhuleil to, was a portion, and hntl l>cen in tlie raiuily for many yeara ; lierti Itie country furtncrs liatl ©xchnngoil llieir prvtiliico for other wariw, tlio Slaxwella among tlicni, very naturally, aa tlicy must have licconio interested in the fantily tlmiugh Ebenezer Hancock, brother of Thonms, who bad taught the Ileane wounded. It is not probable that they continued in pursuit of the retreating en- emy, but, with saddened hearts, returned to their homes, bearing their dead and wounded. A British soldier said of them and others: "They fought like bears, and I would as soon storm hell as fight them again." Bedford homes were full of anxiety that da}'. The women were engaged in preparing food and sending it on to Concord. One good lady said, "All day long the bell was ringing and guns were firing ; people were dashing back and forth on horse- back, and saying there had been an awful fight." She had doubtless seen the Reading and Wilmington companies and others as they passed through the town or halted to rest at Fitch's tavern. Admitting the militia roll, taken twenty-six days after the opening scene of the war, to have been sub- stantially that of a month earlier, it appears that all of the able bodied men of this town, between sixteen and sixty years of age, with the exception of eleven, were on duty in the organized companies at Concord, on April 19, 1775. Had this spontaneous uprising of the people been a mad craze for war they would have BEDFORD. 25 rushed to Lexington ; but it was rather the natural act of children hastening to the relief of a mother threatened by a common enemy. They received no cheer from their minister. When the people wereh.astening to the sc(me of conflict, the pastor was comfortably ensconced by liis fire-side, where lie was found by a neighboringclergyman, who halted while on his way to Concord. Both companies reported at Cambridge on the fol- lowing day, and teams were soon on the road with supplies for the army. No Bedford men were at Lexington on the 19th. It fosters a sort of patriotic pride, that one of the daughters, Lucy Bowes, the wife of Rev. Jonas Clark, was the entertainer of Hancock and Adams. In 1776 the entire population of the town, including negroes and mulattoes, was 482. As- suming that to have been the number one year earlier, it appears that one-seventh of the entire population participated in the opening scene of the Revolution. Bedford had credit for seventy-three men, on May 1, 1775, in the regiment under command of Colonel Samuel Gerish. The following is a letter from one of the selectmen : '•OOLL CJrEF.N. " Sir, — I liave Receivftl a few liiiPB fioni you, wlierein you requested me to tjkko a list of nil that are liable to Bare arms, and iu compliance to your request I have taken a list of all that are betwixt sLxteen and sixty, that are liable to do duty. There is eighty-ei^lit iu the list, including officers. " Bedford, May the 15", 1775." .laniiary 1, 1777, the number of able-bodied men in town, from sixteen years upwards, was 181, including five negroes. In addition to the other burdens, this town had twenty-nine of the poor of Boston to sup- port, during the siege of that city. \ Board of Over- seers of the Poor, separate from the selectmen, was first chosen at that time. The Maxwell brothers were both in camp at Cam- bridge. Thompson went with the Bedford men to camp on the day following his experience at Concord, and there joined his company under Captain Crosby, from Milford, New Hampshire, in Colonel Reed's regi- ment. Hugh was senior captain in Colonel Prescott's regiment. Their experience in the Battle of Bunker Hill is told in Thompson's journal, and is to the honor of their native town : " Od the IGtb of June Col. Reed was ordered to Charleslown neck. About twelve o'cli»ok the same day a number of our offlcet^ passed us and went on to Bunker Hill. General Ward, with the rest, returned and went to Cambridge. In the evening Colonel Piescott passed with his regiment. >Iy brother Hugh stepped out and asked Colonel Heed and myself if we would come on to the hill that night. Wo did so ; wo went to Breed's llill. We found Colonel Putnam there, with Oolonel Prescott's command. '* Colonel Preacott requested my brother Hugh to lay out the ground for the intrenohmeut. He did so. I set up the stakes after them. Colonel Prescott seemed to havo the sole command. Col- onel Beed and I returned to our command on the neck about eleven o'clock I'.u. At day. In the morning, we again went to the hill, round Putnam and Prescott there. Prescott still appeared to bare command : no other regiment was there but Prescott's through the night. Captain Maxwell, after day, suggested, in my bearing, to Colonel Prescott the propriety of ruDuiug an intrenchment from the northeast angle of the night's work to a rail-fence leading to Mystic River. Colonel Prescott approved and it was done. I set up the stakes after my brother. About seven o'clock I saw Colonels Prescott and Putnam in conversation ; im- me{iiately after, Putnam mounted his horse and went full speed towards Cambridge. Colonel Reed ordered bis men to their commands ; we re- turned and prepared for action. .\t eleven o'clock we received orders fiom Colonel Prescott to move on. We did so. " We funned by order of Prescott down to the rail-fence and part on the intrenchment. We got hay and wadded between the rails, after doubling the fence by post ami rails from another place. We remained there during the battle." Maxwell also gives a detailed account of the battle, which is substantitvlly the same as given in general history, and we omit it here. In 177G the town took action on the question of the Colonies declaring their independence, and ■\'oted thus: " That we, the said inhabitants, will solemnly engage, with our lives and fortunes, to support them in the measure." The town hesitated on the adoption of a Constitu- tion and form'of government, but in August, 1779, chose John Reed, Esq., as their representative, "for the sole purpose of forming a new constitution.'' He served in this convention, which was held in the meeting-house at Cambridge, twenty-one days. In the following May the form of government was sub- mitted to the people and received their approval in a meeting, three times adjourned, by a vote of twenty- five to one. The Declaration of Independence was first read to the people by the minister from the pulpit of the old meeting-house, and is spread, in bold hand-writing, on the records of the town, " There to remain as a per- petual memorial," signed James Webber, town clerk. CHAPTER IX. MILITARY HISTORY. ^itppIUs for the Army — FimiitcUil Troubles — ]^ote for tr'ort-njor tmder the ConttiCitlion in 1780. In January, 1776, the town furnished six cords of wood and two tons of English hay daily for the army at Cambridge. With each load of hay or wood went packages from the loyal homes to the absent members in camp and the suflerers in the hospitals. Two ot the strong young men of the town, who fought at Concord, fell early victims of camp-fever at Cam- bridge (Reuben Bacon and Solomon Stearns). The town otfered a liberal bounty for volunteers in 1776, and at the close of the year voted "that those who had personally done a turn in any of the Campaigns without any hire be paid the amount of an average of those hired." The committee entrusted with the duty of equalizing bounty reported in November, 1777, a bill of £1746 16s. Families of the town cherish with j>ride the tradition that their grandsires were led by General Washington to Boston, after the 26 BEDFORD. evacuation by General Howe, and aiiled in the shout of joy when the British flag gave way to the thirteen gorgeous stripes of red and white. It is impossible to make up a complete register or state the exact number of men furnished by this town during the Revolution, and equally difficult to cast up her entire jiublic expenditures. Bedford's Province tax from 1774 to 1776 increased more than five fold. The opening of the war made a demand for money, and in May, 1775, the Provincial Congress empowered the treasurer to borrow and gives notes of the Province as security. Soon Continental bills were issued by the General Government. These bills were readily exchanged for cash for a while, but the repeated is- sues of such bills by both State and nation, and no specie to redeem them, together with the darkening days of the war, caused a depreciation in their value. The British officers and those who favored the royal cause lost no opportunity to weaken the confidence of the people in the bills of credit, until it required about seventy-five pounds in paper to procure one in specie. £1 or 20s. was worth in January, 1781, only &d. Igr. The purchasing v.alue of any sum during the war after January, 1777, can only be determined by referring to a table of depreciation reported once a month, agreeable to a law of the State for the set- tling of contracts: January 1, 1777, $1 in silver was rated as $1.05 in currency; January 1, 1778, $1 in silver was rated as $3.28 in currency; .January 1, 1779, $1 in silver was rated as $7.42 in currency; January 1, 1780, .|1 in silver was rated as $29.34 in currency ; January 1 , 1781, $1 in silver was rated as $75.00 in currency. In 1777 the town chose a committee at the March meeting to hire the soldiers that might be called for that year and empowered them to borrow money. The amount borrowed with interest was £377 Ss. 3c/., paid as follows : .c .. d. For Uie Continental soUliors' liiie 2;iG 111 For the bounty to the Rhode Island men 22 10 For the bounty to tbo men to Bennington 48 For one man to guard the ContinenUiI stores .... 6 00 For the thirty day men to join the Continental Army 24 o For allowance fur hiring the men 4 11 For fire-arms, lead and flints for town stock .... 35 123 .t377 3 3 The above amount was assessed and paid that year. An item appears in the records Jlay 8, 1777, which serves to show the cost of powder: "Then renewed the Town stock of powder from Andover 72 weight at six chellings per pound £21 12s." The town allowed for bounties, £293. It was di- vided as follows : £ Ist Tour. 3 men, 2 raontha, to Rhode Island, ftlay 1, 1T77, no boun- ty voted. 2d Tour. 8 men, 3 months, to Bennington, Aug. 21, 1777, each X15 . 120 3d Tour. 8 men, 30 days, " to take and guard the troops," Sept., 1777 (meaning Burguyne's surrendered army), each £2 lU 4th Tour. 5 men, 3 months, to Boston with Oapt. Farmer, each £12 60 5th Tour. 8 men, 3 months, to Cambridge with Capt. Moore, April 1, 1778, £11 each 88 .John Reed to Rhode Island, the same rate as thoso with Capt, Farmer 9 £293 March 23, 1778, the town reimbursed Moses Abbot for money paid for guns, £18 Is. 3rf. ; also Joseph Con vers for the same, £18 Is. 3d. July 29, 1778, William Page is charged with the overplus of money in collecting clothing by subscrip- tion for the Continental soldiers, £9 15s. Careful research proves that there was scarcely a campaign during the war in which Bedford was not represented by her own citizens, and supplies of boots, shoes, blankets and clothing were continually fur- nished by the people, who bravely endured hardships in their homes. The soldiers, who had enlisted for three years, were paid in the depreciated currency, of which it was said, " a hat-full of the stuft" would not buy our families a bushel of salt," and many saw but little inducement to re-enlist ; and in 1779 the duty of fill- ing the town's quota became a serious matter. The town added to the commis.sioned officers three citizens to aid them in procuring men. They were Moses Abbott, Timothy Jones and Jonas Gleason. The commissioned officers were Captain John Moore, Lieutenant Eleazer Davis and Lieutenant Christo- pher Page. November, 1779, the following bounties were al- lowed : £ 1st Tour. 2 men to Rhode Island, £39 each 78 2d Tour. 2 men to Rhode Island, 48 bushels of Indian corn, each @ £9 per bushel 861 3d Tonr. 3 men to North River, two of whom have £300 each . . 600 The other to have £138 cash and SI busheli' of corn at £9 per bush. 687 4th Tonr. 2 men to Boston, to have £22 lOjt. each 45 5th Tour. 6 men to Claveiick 13^ months, Co' £80 per month . . 040 £2814 There was added for interest 200 Total for year £3014 June, 1780, the town voted to hire the men called for to fill up the Conlinental Army, and that the treasurer borrow money, if needed. In September the committee reported and it was voted to raise and assess £5500 immediately to pay the debt incurred. BiishelB. 1st Tour. 7 men to North River, 6 months, to have each 120 bush- els of corn 840 2d Tour. 8 n)en to Rhode Island, 3 months, to have each 90 bushels of corn 720 1560 Oct. 2, 1780, " voted that ye sum of £8175 be immediately assessed and collected to enable the committee to procure the Beef re- ciuired from this town for the army " £8175 By the resolve of December 2, 1780, Bedford was called upon to furnish eight men for three years or the war. The c.ise now became doubly serious. The records show that previous calls for men had been met by citizens of the town, very generally ; but the sight of their illy-paid neighbors returning from three years of service, and the knowledge that hostile fleets were in our ports, and hostile armies were upon our soil, BEDFORD. 27 tended to dampen the most ardent patriotism. One man, Joseph Davidson, was hired by the town for $200 in hard money. Then the town w;i.s divided into seven cla-sses to secure tlie full quota. The report of the chairman of each class, as filed in the State archives, is as follows : " Cloaa T. Oapt. .Tohn Moore, chairman ; provided a nogro called Cam- bridge Moore (servant of tiie above], and agreed to give him, aa a boun- ty, Twenty head of cattle, three years old, in case be continued in the service tlirse years. "t'lass II. Lieut. Moses Abbott, chairinan ■, hired a negro called Cwsar Prescott for the same number of cattle as the first clas.s paid. "Class III. Tliaddeus Dean, ch.airmaii ; hired one Ileury KneeloD, at the same rate. *' t'lass IV, Capt. Christopher Page, chairman ; * this class, by reason of disappointment, have nut provided a man, hut are still in pursuit to provide one.* *' Chws V. John Reed, Esq., chairman ; hired one James Ingles and gave him as a bounty tifteen head of cuttle, three years old, and nine hundred and ninety pounrocur- ing men, the town voted in January, 1781, "To choose a committee to procure the portion of beef for the army, and directed the assessors to assess such sums as were necessary to answer the demands of the General Court or their committee then, or in the future. "Agreeable to a Resolve of the General Court t>f ye 16 of June, 1781, hired one man to go to Rhode Island, he was a citizen of the town, Sanuiel Hartwell Blood, gave him a bounty of £19 lus. "June 30, 1781. The town sent seven men to join General Washington's army at West Point. They received Jtl9 16«. each us a bounty 138 12 £158 'it. "July 2, 1781. Town voted to raise £UH) hard money, to buy beef, and on the 16th of Iho same mouth voted to raise £45 hard money, to pay the above-named soldiers what they shall need before marching, and di- rected the assessors to make an tLs.se3sments for the balance." It is plainly seen that town-meetings and assess- ments occupied the time and minds of the people. In addition to the demands for the war there were the ordinary expenses. It required £3000 of the depleted currency to meet the ordinary charges in the year 1780. The financial condition of the town became alarm- ing, when in Sept., 1781, " Voted, to Itorrow £40 to pay interest on town notes.'' Tlie town also held notes against individuals, received by constables in dis- charge of the oft-repeated rates. Jan. 22, 1782, "Voted, that yc treasurer receive money of ye delinquent constables agreeable to the depreciation scale, only excepting such sums of money as they may have collected before this time and it re- maining on hand." The same course was pursued in discharging the town's debts. The selectmen were directed to assist the treasurer in casting the notes and the interest. At the same time " Voted, to raise £225 for paying notes." Constables were authorized to discount the rates of individuals from notes held against the town, when they could no longer respond to the calls with cash. While in the midst of the fi- nancial difiiculty the people manifested their integ- rity in dealing justly with individuals who had entered the service in the early years of the war without re- gard for remuneration : " Voted, John Lane, Jr., fourteen pounds in specie, for his services in the army in 1770, and Oliver Reed and Elijah Bacon the same sums for hiring men in 1777, as those had who did personal service in that campaign, $25 each." In January, 1779, the town voted " to abate half of Job Lane's war rates in consideration of his wounds re- ceived at Concord fight." In the following year voted " to abate his poll rates for every year since the war began." In 1783 voted " to abate Ebeuezer Fitch's rates for being in the service in 1775." He was a "minute-man" at Concord, April 19, 1775, and at Cambridge ten days. March, 1782, the town was divided into three classes to hire three men to serve for three years or during the war. That this obligation was readily discharged appears from the following : Springfield, July 3, 1782. " Reed, of Mr. Moses Abbott forty-five pound as a bounty to serve three years in the Continental Army for the town of Bedford. William Grant." Boston, May 11, 1782. Receipt from Ciesar Jones for bounty of sixty pounds for similar service. Boston, May 13, 1782. Receipt from Zephaniah Williams for same amount as paid to Jones. It is noticeable that three negroes, relics of the days of slavery in this town, not registered as liable to do military duty, were in the army during the greater part of the war — Cambridge Moore, Ctesar Prescott and Ciesar Jones. Oct. 26, 1782. Town authorized their treasurer to take up a number of grain notes and substitute notes for hard money, allowing six shillings for each bushel specified and interest for said amount from the time the grain became due. In justice to the Revolutionary fathers of this town it is recorded tliat not the .slightest evidence can be found of inclination to repudiate the least obligation, either legal or moral. From the evidence at hand it appears that the men of this town suffered the greatest hardship at the bat- tle of White Plains, New York. Moses Fitch was wounded in the shoulder, and was being aided off the field when his comrade, Sergeant Timothy Page, was killed. Thomas Cleverly, another Bedford man, escaped, but lost everything excepting what clothing he had on. In December following this battle, Congress vested Wa.shington with full power to raise an army and gather provisions and to take whatever he might want for the use of the army, if the owners refused to sell. He also had power to arrest and confine persons who refused to take the Continental currency. This was 28 BEDFORD. the condition of affairs when I\Ioses Fitch was able to leave the hospital ; he returned to his home disabled for life, having received for his services a portion of the currency that had but little purchasing value. He was pensioned for life. With a population ranging from 470 to 482 engaged in agricultural )nirsuits, it is wonderful that the town could meet the frequent demands for men and money. Besides the regular calls there were continual de- mands for delicacies for the sufferers in the hospitals and comforts that could not be furnished by the reg- ular channels of supply. To these the straitened inhabitants were continually responding. The women were busy spinning and weaving. In 1770 the town furnished twelve blankets for the army by order of the General Court of January 4, 1776. Shirts, stock- ings, shoes and other articles of dress for the soldiers, in addition to the quantities of beef, were supplied by the people of Bedford. The treasurer's accounts show the cost of a blanket to have been £90, but according to the scale of depreciation, $2\ in silver would have satisfied the busy housewife. In 1780 " Esq. .Tolin Keed " was allowed 125 per day for services and ex- penses, twenty-one days, in forming the Constitution, but he actually realized less than one dollar per day, as one Spanish milled dollar was equal to forty-two of the old emission on April 1st, and before the close of that year was equal to seventy-four. The $1.00 bill, about two inches square, had on its face the Latin words " Depressa resurgit," which is, in our tongue, " The down-trodden rises." Under the new Constitution of 1780 the vote in this town for Governor, taken on September 4th, gave the successful candidate, John Hancock, twenty-five ballots against two for James Bowdoin. " Esq. John Reed" was sent to the General Court in 1783 and granted five .shillings per d.ay for his services while he attended the court. The town chose a committee to give him instructions in relation to the return of ab- sentees and conspirators. To be eligible to the oflice of representative at this time, one must be an inhabitant of the town and be seized of a freehold of the value of £100 in the town or any estate to the value of £200. The representa- tive was chosen in the month of May, ten days at least before the last Wednesday. The members of the Executive Department were chosen on the first Monday of April, and inducted into office on the last Wednesday of May following. CHAPTER X. MILIT.\RY HISTORY.' Shaij^^ liehetlimi autl Sithsaitunt TrouhUs — Clril War — B^il/ord'a Honored Demi. Bedford was reluctant in voting to adojit the Con- stitution, but having done it, she was true to its provisions. In the County Convention at Concord, August 23, 1786, "to consult on matters of public grievance, under which the people labor," John Merriam and Timothy Jones represented the town. They were active in all measures adopted to quiet the minds of the people who attempted to oppose the government. Captain Christopher Page headed a large company of militia in Shays' Rebellion, and in the following year the town voted " to pay each man who went to Concord and Stow to join General Lin- coln six shillings per day." Foreign troubles and the war with the Western In- dians were occasions for calls for soldiers by the Gen- eral (iovernment, and the town voted on August 28, 1794, " to give each soldier that shall voluntarily en- list the sum of eighteen shillings as a bounty, and to make them up $8.00 per month, including the state pay, in case they are called upon to march, and for the time they are in actual service." The soldiers that enlisted were Moses Abbott, Jr., John Reed, Jr., Eleazer Davis, Jr., John Merriam, Jr., Job Webber, Asa Webber, William J. Lawrence and William Kemp. In 1798 troubles with the French aroused the peo- ple in this town as elsewhere. Many leading citizens adopted and wore the constitutional badge of attach- ment to the Government. The town voted on No- vember 5th " that the Selectman be directed to show out to the officers from the town stock as much pow- der and ball and as many flints as the law requires for each soldier of said company on their inspection days, and also that the selectmen be directed to fur- nish each soldier on muster days with sixteen car- tridges out of said town stock." The alarm of war with Great Britain in 1807 was an occasion for action, and the town voted " to make up to the soldiers that may voluntarily turn out in defence of our country, $14.00 per month as wages, if called into active ser- vice, and to give the men, ordered to be discharged from ('aptain Lane's Company, if they should volun- tarily turn out, $3.00 per mail, as an encouragement to the same, whether they march or not." December 27th the town " granted to Captain Lane's soldiers who should enlist in the defence of our coun- try for the term of six months $13 per month as wages during the time they .ire in actual service." The 1812 or Madison's war, was a time of anxiety and increased military duty. The order came for the Bedford company to march at once for the defence ot Boston; anight w.as passed in the preparation, women cooked, while men and boya made cartridges. It was on a beautiful S-abbath morning of September that the fife and drum summoned the militia together at the old meeting-house. Captain David Reed in command. With saddened hearts the entire people assembled for a brief religious service. After words of exhortation and earnest prayer from the patriotic pastor, came the partings and the march. The last person who lingered outside the meeting- BEDFORD. 29 house, and watched with tearful eyes the departing troops, was the venerable deacon, who, still suffering from the wounds received in the Kevolution, felt most keenly the parting from his son. It required but a few days to prove that the call had been a nnslakea one, and the company were gladly received to their homes. In 1815 the Commonwealth reimbursed the town "for rations furnished the militia when called to Bos- ton." Bedford saw but little of military life for nearly a half-century after GeneralJackson's victory at New Orleans. The militia observed the spring " training,'' when officers were elected and the fall preparations for muster. The full company of the town was in attendance at the reception tendered Marquis de Lafiiyette, in 1825, when the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument was laid. For some years the military duties were but little more than a dull routine, unless enlivened by a sham fight, ending in a representation of the sur- render by Lord Cornwallis to Washington. The town had no organized company after 1833. The sentiment of the town was with the Government in regard to the Mexican trouble. In March, 1847, res- olutions were adopted and placed upon the records of the town. They begin as follows: " Resolved, — That wt) approve of tlie cour*j our government biw pui'diied in pro8e*:uting the war with Mexico for the attainment of ne- gotiations for an tionurable peace." The years that followed the Mexican trouble fur nished important subjects lor debate, and the citizens of this town organized a lyceum, where perfect free- dom of speech was enjoyed. The Fugitive Slave Law, the Kansas and Nebraska Bill and many kin- dred themes were earnestly discussed. The people heartily indorsed the acts of Charles Sumner, Htnry Wilson and other unflinching defenders of the cause of freedom. The brutal attack of Preston Brooks upon Charles Sumner in the Senate Chamber, at Washington, was felt by the citizens of this town as a personal insult. A legal meeting of the voters was imiiieiliately called and resolutions adopted and placed upon the records. The people carried out their bold sentimenLs in their public and private acts. The advocate of free- iloin for the slave always .secured a hearing, and the homes of leading citizens were open to those who, early or later, espoused the cause of the bundinen. In the fall of iSiJO, when the two political jiarties, " Democrat " and " Republican," were, sub-divided into four, this town gave her support to the Republi- can, and gave a large per cent, of her votes for Abra- ham Lincoln. In the months that followed, during which the "Soulliern Confederacy " was formed, there was a feeling of deep interest in this small town bordering upon excitement. The attack upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, opened the War of the Rebellion and aroused a gen- eration that had never felt the devastations of war or learned the evolution of troops. The young men of Bedford, true to their ancestral record, began to en- list, and eleven had entered the Union Army before the close of the year. Among them was Cyrus Page, then sixty years of age, and still bearing the honorary title of captain, conferred upon him by the old militia company of the town. But fifteen days after the outrage upon Sumter, a " Liberty Pole " was erected upon the " Common " or "Training-Field." Oliver W. Lane, a descendant of the Lanes of Indian and Revolutionary fame, contrib- uted the most towering pine of his forest; every arti- .san and workman joined in the rally on April 27th, and raised the pole, from which the flag of the Union was unfurled and waved daily (luring the years ot bloody conflict, now raising the spirits of the people as it waved from its highest point, and anon hushing them to silence, as, from half-mast, it betokened a nation's sorrow. On June 27th, IStil, two months after the unfurling of the flag, and directly beneath its folds, occurred the first loss of life in Bedford, indirectly caused by the w«r. The alarm had led to a very general practice ot firearms, and a young man injudiciously discharged his pistol across the Common and killed a bright boy of nine years, Samuel T. Hughes. The fir.st recorded action on the part of the town was a vote instructing the selectmen to draw from the treasury, according to their discretion, for the support of the families of vol- unteers and a tender of the free use of the town hall "to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society to hold their meetings to render aid to the sick and wounded sol- diers of our army." This society did most valuable service through the war, continually contributing through the various Christian and Sanitary Commissions. Some of the women gave personal service as nurses in the camp. In August, 18iJ2, a bounty of !?I00 was voted to each volunteer for nine months' service. In 1864 the town raised $624 to fill her quota. The sums raised by a vote of the town indicate but a fractional part of the money expended by her citizens in the cause. Not less than $5000 were contributed to the war by the town in addition to the long-continued drain by tax- ation. Besides the direct tax, there was the indirect or "Internal Revenue," which demanded, and vigi- lant officers collected rates upon almost every transac- tion. After the w.ar closed, the Ladies' Aid Society turned its attention to procuring funds for the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of those who had died in the struggle. About $1600 were earned and contributed for that purpose with which a suitable Scotch granite monu- ment li.as been erected in Shawshine Cemetery. The inscriptions are as follows : "Soldiers' Memorial, 1861-C5. They gave their lives forua and their 30 BEDFORD. couutry. The Ladies uf Bedford pay thia affectionate Tribute to their memory. "Albert L. Butler, died 18(12 ; Cliarles V.'. Goodwin, died 1802; Clark C. Cutler, died 18(52; Henry Ilosmer, died 1802; Thomas Isaac, died 1863 ; James Munroo, died 18G3 ; Samuel W. Stearns, died 18C3 ; Joshua Atwood, died 18G4 : John Byron, died 18G4 ; Charles Coudry, died 18G4 ; William F. Gragg, died 18G4 ; WaiTon G. Holbrook, died 1804 ; Charles W. Lunt, died 18C4 ; Charles A, Saunders, died 1804. Memorial day is sacredly observed on each annual return, and the rapidly increasing listofgravesof those who served their country in the war receives the at- tention of a grateful people. At the memorial service of 1887, immediately fol- lowing the death of Captain Cyrus Page, the follow- ing hymn was sung. It was cmiiposed for the occa- sion by Abram E. Brown, and " dedicated to the Memory of Captain Cyrus Page and other Brave men who honored Bedford in the war of the Rebellion: " "All honor to our soldiers braye, Who left their home and kindred dear, Who nuhly fought this land to save. Of the oppressors' rod to clear. '• Their mounds we'll deck with flowerets bright ; Their noble deeds to children tell ; Through passing years and age.s' flight A country's pride their praise shall swell. '* The earthly file is narrowing fast. The ranks of Heaven are gaining there. Let's halt, and down our garlands cast, While for the living raise a prayer. " In Thee, God, we're trusting still. Our fathers' God, Thou too hast been. With joy we'll own Thy sovereign will. And toUowing Thee, life's battle win." There were enrolled as liable to do military duty in 1861, eighty names, and in 1862 the enrollment list reached eighty-seven. In the army roll ninety names are registered to the credit of Bedford. Seventy-four of them were citizens of the town. Six were in the service of the navy. CHAPTER XI. Fimtni'iut Troul'Us — Ohl Tenor and Lawful Mmieij — Sluvei'i/ iti Betlford— Bill of Sifc o/ a Negro Boy in 175(j. Bedfokd was incorporated at the time when the currency of the Province was in a very uncertain condition. The General Court had been issuing pa- per money without an adequate provision to retain its nominal value ; hence specie was growing scarce and the "Bills of Credit" were continually depreciating; but as these bills were almost the only medium of exchange, the people clamored for more and the ma- jority of the Legislature seemed ready to gratify them despite the opposition of the Royal Governor, which^ in 1740, occasioned a severe quarrel. Each new issue of "Bills of Credit" caused a decline in the value of the currency. In 1730 they had sunk more than half below their nominal value and the depreciation continued until 1750. The fluctuation in the value of this currency was a source of general embarrass- ment, and contracts involving annual salaries were fulfilled with difficulty by the most scrupulous. In agreeing with Rev. Nicholas Bowes, the first minister, the town voted " that our money shall be in proportion as it is now in valiacon, rising, fallin." The value at that time was eighteen shillings per ounce. The decline was so great that in 1749, the last year of the " Old Tenor " bills, the town voted to give Rev. Mr. Bowes £240 in place of £100, but he returned £20 for the use of the schools. In 1750 voted to give him " £50 13s. 4d. Lawful money." The expectation of having the " Bills" exchanged for specie led many to hoard them, and it became difficult for the collector of taxes to get the dues of the Province, and the time for settling demands was necessarily extended. The following rhyme gives an idea of the change that was anticipated : *' And now Old Tenor, fare you well. No more such tattered rags we'll tell. New dollars pass and are made free-, It is a year of jubilee. Let us therefore good husbands be, And good old times we soon shall see." The town paid for their minister's wood in 1749 35s. per cord " Old Tenor," and in the following year the price paid per cord was 4s. " Lawful money." In 1749 the people worked out their highway "Rates," and were allowed during three summer months 14s. each man per day, and' in the other months 8s. per day; a yoke of oxen with cart 8s. per day, "Old Tenor." In 1750 the allowance in "Law- ful money " for a man was 2s. per day until the last of September, and in the rest of the year Is. per day. For oxen and cart the allowance was Is. id. per day. The scarcity of money was felt by the people pos- sessed of property as well as others, and trade was carried on largely by barter. In the list of tax-payers reported in arrears in March, 1753, the names of leading citizens are found. By a law of the General Court the bilis of credit were redeemed at a rate that was about one-fifth less than their lowest current value — that is at fifty shillings for an ounce of silver, which was valued at 6s. 8d., or an English crown. Here originated the "Old Tenor" reckoning. March 31, 1750, marked the era of " Lawful money," after which date all debts were contracted on the specie basis of 6s. 8d. per ounce of silver and three ounces of silver were equal to £1. With the currency restored to a metallic basis and to a uniform value the people were free from all such trouble for more than twenty years. The fluctuating state of the currency, dwelt upon at length in the mil- itary section, made it difficult to adjust the ministe- rial rates in the years of the Revolution as it was in the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Bowes. In May, 1778, the town added to Rev. Mr. Penniman's salary, for the BEDFORD. 31 year ensuing, £66 13». id. and reimbursed him for bad money paid to him by the collector, princi- pal and interest amounting to £9 10s. In 1780, " on account of the decline in currency, the town gave him fifty bushels of Rye and fifty bushels of Indian Corn, to be delivered in January, 1781." In 1791 the selectmen were authorized to sell the Continental money at tlieir discretion and tiie treasury was relieved of its burdensome paper for a nominal sum. £10.^2 9s. 6ane family, as well as in others, from their earliest settle- ment in this territory, and that Torrey was a family name for the colored race in their possession, as ap- pears from the following copy of the original : "This may certify to all persons that I, Mary Lynden, of Boston, do sell all my right in a boy called Torrey, to John Lane, given tome ac- cording to a county court record 1676. Mary Lynden." The following is copied from the original bill now filed in the town : ** Nathaniel Tay sold his negro to Mr. John Page for twenty i pound in money and six pound in hill. Nathaniel Tay, lOul." In 1704, Captain James Lane gave a bond freeing his slave. The records furnish other instances of slaves being set free by the voluntary action of the citizens of this town. Although treated as property, the colored people were permitted to enjoy many privileges with their masters. They had seats as- signed them in the meeting-house. The rite of bap- tism was administered, and they were admitted to full membership in the church, upon "owning the cove- nant." The church records furnish proof like the Ibl- lowing : "Uaptized, Ishmael, a negro (adult), July ye 4"", 1736." *' Baptized, Quimbo, a negro man who confessed, etc., July ye 30, 1751." " Baptized, Torrey, a negro man, January ye 12, 17ol-;V2 " "Baptized, Abraham, son of Jack, negro, Nov. ye 11, 1763." "Admitted inta full communion, Hannah Di-ury, wife of Zebedee Drury and Lois Burdo (a negro), Sept. yo 6l^ 1742." The register of deaths kept by Rev. Mr. Bowes has entries as follows, which suggest ownership : "Not. ye 2, 1737, Cuff, a negro child lelmginri to Mr. Zacheus Whitney." •' Aug. 3, 1749. Uomire, a negro boy, who belonged to Mr. John Lane." There is evidence that slaves were retained by some families until 1780, when the Constitution adopted by the State declared in Article I, " AH men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential and inalien.able rights," etc. When the articles of the Constitution were acted upon by the town, there were three opposing votes to Article I, and the military records show that three slaves were serving in the army, while by the treasurer's returns of those years it is seen that Captain Moore collected bounty and pay for services of Cambridge (a negro man). Other similar records are found. There is no evidence that any of the slaves of this town were permitted to accompany their masters to Concord on April 19, 1775, or that they were then en- rolled as liable to do military duty ; but when it be- 32 BEDFOKD. came apparent that war had really begun, and calls for men followed each other in rapid succession, the slaves were pressed into the service. Cambridge Moore, Ciesar Prescott and Cresar Jones were early re- corded as doing military duty, to the credit of their masters. When one campaign or tour was over, they were put into another, and so continued iu the service until 1780. In December of that year they entered the army as free men, and received bounty and pay like their white neighbors. May 11, 1782, Ca-'sar Jones signed, by " his X mark," a receipt for " sixty pound, E. money, as a bounty, to serve in the Continental Army for the term of three years." " A free negro," is the note appended. The following document is treasured in the town : ''Know all nieu by these Presents — That I, .losoph Fitch, of Betlfoid, in the County of Middlesex, in the Province of the massachusetts hay in New England, Gentleman, for and in consideration of the Sum of Twenty-Four Pounds, Lawful money of New England, to me iu hand Paid at and before the Sealing & Delivery of these Presents, by Joseph Hartwell, of Bedford abovesaid. Yeoman, the Receipt whereof I Do hereby acknowledge, Have bargained & .Sohl & by these Presents Do Bargain & Sell unto tlie Said Joseph Haitwell, a Negro boy about Five years old, Called Jefterree, now living at the said Joseph Hartwells, to have & to hold the Said Negro hoy by these piesents Bargained IbeSold unto the said Joseph Hartwell, his Exeeutoi-s & Administrators A as- signs for Ever. & I, the said Joseph Fitch, for my Self, my Executors and .administrator's do warrant the above 8"^ Negro boy unto the Said Joseph Hartwell, his Executors, .\dministrator8 & Assigns, against me, and said Joseph Fitch my Executors, Administrators & Assigns, & against ay & every other Person and Persons What so ever, Shall and Will warrant it Defend by these Presents of which Negro boy, I, the said Joseph Fitch, have put the .S'* Joseph Hartwell in full Possession by Delivering S'^ Negro at the Sealing hereof unto the S^ Joseph Hartwell. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand .t Seal this Sixth Day of July, Anno Domini, t^ne thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Six, & in the twenty-Ninth year of his niajisties Reign, Ac. " " Signed, Sealed and Delivered in Presence of *' HujipHREY Pierce, her "Saeah X Pierce, mark ** Joseph Fitoh." It is doubtfnl if .slaves set at liberty in advanced age, entirely inexperienced in caring for themselves, were benefited thereby. The records show that .sev- eral of them became dependent ujion public charity. They were treated with as much consideration by those in charge of the poor as were their white com- panions in misfortune. In 1820 " The Selectmen sold at vendue the wearing apparel of Dinah, a wo- man of color, deceased, amounting to $7.84 ; also bought a Baise gown for the use of Violet, a colored pauper, for $1.60, leaving a balance of .16.24." Violet was the last freed slave who died in this town. She was supposed to have lived a full century, and died in 1842. John Moore, a prominent citizen of the town, had slaves of both sexes, and Violet is thought to have been the one for whom he made provision in his will in the year 1807, thus: " to daughters Mary Fitch and Lydia Bowers, the net of my personal es- tate, on condition that they support my negro girl in sickness and health, through life, and give her a de- cent burial." Violet's unusually long life may ac- count for the violation of the provision made by her master. The only memorial-stone bearing evidence that this race lived, served and died in Bedford was erected inShawshine Cemetery by Josiah A. Stearns, A.M., in memory of Peter, an honored family servant, who was buried in the " African reservation " in the old burial ground. CHAPTER XII. Piihlif Cfiurily, Hull' riisii,'nsr{1— Town Farm for Poor. Great caution was used to prevent people from be- coming paupers in the early days ; but when public support was demanded, and a settlement established, the poor were well treated. When a citizen admitted members to his family he was obliged to report to the selectmen and secure the town against their support as appears by the following: '* Bedford, June 21"^, 173G. I, Jacob Kendall, of Bedford, do promise and engage for me and my heirs to free and secure the town of Bedford from any charge that shall arise from the maintenance of my father and mother, Jacob and Alise Kendall, as witness my hand. ."Jacob Kendall." People coming into town to settle, whose record was not fully clear, and means of support perfectly evident to the selectmen, were warned out of town in a legal manner, and caution entered at the Court where a record could be consulted. Thus families were compelled to go from town to town in a most unfriendly manner. The following is the form of warning used in this town and served by the consta- ble on the order of the selectman : "Middlesex, S. S., to A. B., one of the constables of the town of Bed- ford. Greeting : "In His Majesty's name you are hereby required to warn D. E. and family that they forthwith depart this town, the selectmen refusing to admit them as Inhahitanta, Ton are also to inquire from whence they last came, and what time they came to this town, and make return here- of under your hand with your doings therein, unto the selectmen or to the town clerk. DatedatB. the day of , Anno Domine. In the year of His IVIajesty's Reign. '* Per order of the Selectmen, "G. U.,Town Clerk." The records prove that parties were often warned from the town. "Seth Putnam and his family warned out of town and caution entered at March Court, on ye second Tuesday of March, An: Dom : 1748-9." A warning cannot be con.sidered as unquestionable* evidence against a family ; for we find the record of warning against parties that appear in subsequent records as occupying places of trust in the community. Young ladies were legally warned out of town who became, in subsequent years, wives of leading men. That the selectmen were faithful in complying with the law is apparent by the following record: " Feb. 9, BEDFORD. 33 1767 — Mr. Thomas Page, who had received Dr. Bal- lard into his family, as a boarder, in Jlarch or April last, and never had informed thereof, being then present before the selectmen, it was proposed to him, by the selectmen, whether the Dr. Joseph should be warned out of town ; and he, not desiring the same, the select- men therefore agreed not to caution against the Dr. Joseph, nor yet to admit him as an inhabitant." Dr. Ballard was the second physician of the town, coming from Lancaster. He became a valuable citizen ; was a delegate to the Provincial Congress, in Concord, 1774, and was a distinguished man. He died Jan. 2'.), 1777. In the list of orders drawn upon the treasury it appears that the constables were liberally paid for "Entering Cautions;" one charge was seventeeen shillings. In 1737 the town had its first lawsuit. It was with the town of Concord, over the support of a family by the name of Koss. Hedford lost the case, but a feeling of unjust dealing appears, from a record made later, when a committee was chosen " to attend to the witnesses who appeared against the town in the suit before the Superior Court." How Ross got a settlement in Bedford is not clear. The Le.\ingtoii records show that he was warned from that town. The original of the constable's return is evidence that Bedford did not fail in trying to locate him in Con- cord : " Middlesex, S.S. Coucord, May 30'h, 1737." Ill obedieuco tutbis wiir- rt*nt, 1 have conveyed yo witliin uiiuied Pauiel Kose and liia wiTe unto ttie said town of Concord, A' delivered tlieni to one of ye constables of 8d. town and at ye isiuie time delivered him a copy of ye witliin written warrant. " Ei'uhiam Davis, " CoiixUMt (>/ ai//or.(." The inhumanity of such dealing with a man at the age of ninety years can but arouse the indignation of a reader at this day. That the town furnished more than the necessaries of life for this family appears from the treasurer's report of 1742. " For keeping of Ross £21 Zs. Od. For tobaka for Ross 15«.," and another charge in the same year " For tobaka for Ross 8»., and for a jacket £\." Rev. Mr. Bowes' register of deaths shows that Daniel Ross died " Oct. ye 27, 1748, aged 100 yrs." leading to the conclusion that the appetite, so gener- ously gratified by the town, may have been acquired of the Indians long before the struggle with King Philip. For some years the care of the poor was let out annually by " public vendue," the contract being closed with the lowest bidder. As late as 1804 wo find the following action : " Dorcas Bacon put to board with Simeon Stearns, until next March meeting, at sixteen cents per week, they to get what service from her they could." At length this plan gave rise to dis.sat- isfaction. in that the worthy poor were liable to fall to the charge of irresponsible parties, and the duty of assigning homes for the i)aupers was referred to the selectmeD with discretionary power. In 1823 a written contract was made with Thomas Page for ihe support of the poor, and bonds were required to the amount of $300. Some of the specifications of the contract are as follows : " W'ith regard to their diet, they are to be provided with a sufficiency of good and wholesome food, with tea or coflee twice in each day, if they choose, with sweetening; cleanly and comfortable lodgings, sea- sonable medical aid iji case of sickness, and other things to make them comfortable as their condition may require." Paupers were boarded by other towns in Bedford families. In 1741 twenty of such are recorded here, some of whom were from New Hampshire. The long distance from their place of settlement made it possi- ble for great injustice to be done them by those who promised faithful care. In the early years of the town's history the needs of paupers were discussed in ojien town-meeting, and a detailed report made by the treasurer of each bill of charge for their relief. The records show that the needs of a poor widow were annually discussed in town-meeting, for many years, without the slightest regard for her feelings. Further on the charge appear.s, "for Coffin, grave & gloves £1 5s., and a credit for the sale of her property at Vendue £2 13s. 4(/." The treasurer's account of 1802 has the following charge to the town : '' Paid John Page for making a coffin for child and fetching the corps, $2.25." In 1833 the town voted to buy a "poor farm and stock it." This being done, the care of the farm and support of the poor was placed in the hands of a board of overseers, who at the town's expense, employ a superintendent and matron, and public charity is dispensed according to the most approved plans. By a vote of the town, a sim[ile stone, suitably inscribed, is placed at the grave of each pauper, thus preventing the increase of unknown graves in the burial-grounds. CHAPTER XIII. BUKIAL-GROUXD.?. A Bi'RiAi.-GROUND was indispensable to a well-reg- ulated town, and the incorporators of Bedford has- tened to assign a piece of ground convenient to the meeting-house for that use. October 23, 1729, "The selectmen met and laid out a burying-place in the land that Mr. Israel Putnam gave to the town." Later they changed the location a little, making mention of "a bridal way that leads from the road that runs from the meeting-hous to Woburn." In 1734 the town voted "to release John Mansfield's rates if he will keep the brush down in the burying- place." Thus the citizens early manifested a regard for this sacred spot. Having a central location, it has 34 BEDFOKD. never been allowed to show signs of neglect that are too often noticed in towns of New England. For one hundred and eighteen years this was the only place of interment in town. The most careful estimate, aided by authentic records, leads to the conclusion that not less than fourteen hundred bodies have been returned to their kindred dust within that enclosure. The town set apart a corner for the burial of the African race, and there in the "African reservation," in unmarlced graves, are CufF, Dinah, Violet, Jack, Ishmael, Quimbo, Toney, Abraham, Doniire, Pomp, Caesar, Cambridge and others. In 1810 the town erected a house for keeping the hearse. It was in the southwest corner of the yard. The expense was 148.50. The contractor agreed to prepare the ground and underpinning, in addition to erecting the house, which, according to specifications, was "to be built with good material and painted twice over." Here were safely kept the hearse, bier and pall. The old, cracked bell was stored here for a while, and here was stored the town's stock of powder and other mili- tary equipments, all of which were associated with death or a state of uselessuess. The absence of a record of consecration leads one to the conclusion that the incorporators of this town, like the earlier generations of settlers in New England, neither con- secrated their burying-ground nor dedicated their meeting-house by special religious service. The only family reservations in the burial-ground were such as were secured through neighborly cour- tesy. The ground was extended according to the growing needs of the community. In 1795 John Reed aud John Merriam were granted the privilege of erecting a family tomb; and in 1824 Capt. Robert Pulsifer buih one adjoining it. In 1824 a private enterprise resulted in the erection of thirteen tombs, on land adjoining the public ground. These became the sepulchres of the leading families, and delayed the necessity of selecting a new place of burial for some years. In 1835 the first steps were taken towards ornamenting the grounds. The town appro- priated the sum of fifty dollars, and trees were plant- ed on the borders of the yard. In the early years of the observance of "Arbor Day" a large number of trees were planted and special care given to the ground then abandoned for the i)urpose of inter- ments. The advance from the austerity of the Pil- grims, progress in art and improvement in the finan- cial standing of the sturdy yeomen is in no way more evident than in the memorials erected and attention given to the place of burial. The grim " death-head" gave place to the " willow and urn." In 1837 the first white marble slab was erected in the yard. So conspicuous was it, in the midst of scores of primitive slate stones, that it was an object of general com- ment. The tombs built for permanence became so un- sightly through the crumbling of the exposed ma- sonry that they were rebuilt in 1887. In 1849 the town laid out a new burial-place, about a mile east of the village. It is the western slope of a commanding hill-side, which terminates in the val- ley of the Shaw.shine River. Shavvshine (" Shawsheen ") Cemetery is of itself a fitting memorial of the perseverance and sacrifice of those who started the enterprise, all of whom now sleep without its borders. Both nature and art have contributed lavishly in making this cemetery an at- tractive spot. Burial lots are owned by individuals, subject to wise restrictions, and permanent care is in- sured by a deposit of funds with the town, agreeable to a statute of the Commonwealth, In 1852 John Merriam gave the town $100 to aid in fitting up the grounds. CHAPTER XIV. Hiyhwnijs — Bridges and Haiboudi. The territory set off' as Bedford in 1729 was inhab- ited by a good number of families who had estab- lished homes, but it was traversed by few public roads. The settlers had located their homes on the southern slopes and where they would be the least liable to attacks from the Indians. Neighborly inter- course was carried on by the shortest cuts through comparatively worthless fields, and by the same wind- ing paths the scattered families reached the "coun- try road." The principal roads from town to town were called country roads, and were the only highways that received public care. The ways for local con- venience were designated as " Trodden Paths," and were obstructed by gates and bars. The road from Billerica to Concord was laid out " 19 12°°, 1660." The description of that portion of the road which was within the present limits of Bedford and on to Concord Centre, is as follows : " from ye entrance of Mr. Dudley's farme, until you come to Concord great swamp, it shall lye at least six pole wide; and from ye great swamp to Concord towne. Centre trees are marked aboute ye old road untill you come to the south corner of the widow foxes land ; then leaving the old dirty road on the right hand, and passing through an ojiening of the swamp, acording vnto trees marked in y" center of it, we continued to cram- field gate, and from thence, keeping the common road, to ye meeting-house.'' If one would follow the road through Bedford at present, he should start at Herrick's corner and con- tinue in the present highway to Proctor's corner and so on over the causeway road to the vicinity of the Sampson estate, entering the present highway east of the dwelling-house and so on in a southwesterly direction to the Henry Wood estate, and then con- tinuing to the " Virginia road," which was doubtless ''WRfc - — i( BEDFORD. 35 the road first laid from Cambridge to Concord, and over which the pioneers of Concord brought their families and goods. The " Loop " by Josiah Davis is given by some authorities as the section of the Bil- lerica and Concord " Country '' road, but local records do not 8U|)porl such opinions. It is evident that a road from Billerica to Concord was marked out some years later which crossed the higher land, very prob- ably west of the present North Avenue. " Septem- ])er 9, 1743, the selectmen made bounds to the high- way leading from Billerica to Concord, beginning at James Lane's" (Coolidgc's), "and meeting the present highway at' Joseph Fitches" (Wilkins' Hill). Tnis way must have gone below Farrell's and past the mill site in Captain Lane's land. A road from Billerica to Cambridge (Lexington) known as the road to Bacon's Mill, or Fitches' Mill, i.s first mentioned, " 16 : 1 : 63"—" Will Tay iS: (ieorge farley are A|>oynled to I^ay out a highway I'nmi the Towne, leading to Mr. Michell's farme, on y" South East end of Mr. Winthrop's great meadow, to be layed out four polls wide." The condition of tlie.se early roads tor many years is shown by an ac- tion of the town of Billerica, mentioned nineteen years later : *'23.1'".S2. Wtiereag Mr.SIu/.ey makes a coiiipluiiit for want of ye knowledge of ye highway from tiis farine, that liee bought of Timothy lirooky, to the town " (Brooks had a part of the Oakes grant now the Page estate), " Theselectnteii do order George ffarley, that was one of the coinuiittee that laid it out at ye tiret, & corp' Jn" tfreudi, forthwith to go and renuo ye uiarkes if y« said way, that it may bo obvious to all travellers; also to draw up a record as distinct that may bee, bow it lyes that so it may be foimd afterward without much difhculty." It is obvious that a public way was marked out from Billerica to Wilson's Mill (Staples') about as early as to Bacon's Mill, as it was " made passable " in 1683, and (piite probable that it followed the pres- ent discontinued highwtiy from Frost's by Hunue- well's. In April, ItJiH, a committee was directed " to lay out sufficient highway from Mr. Michael's farm, through Mrs. Pago's land to Shawshin River ; and over Shawshin River unto Lt. John Wilson's Mill to Cambridge line; and from the same road to lay out a su|)hicient highway through Mrs. Page's land unto the land of Patrick Fasset, unto the house of Patrick Fasset, and from thence to state the highway in the most convenient place from Patrick Fassett's house leading up to (/oncord Road, and from there to Mr. Laines." This road may, doubtless, be traced at present over the hill by Wilson's house (f^adds') to the Cnmmings road, which led eastward to Woburn, anil westerly by the ]>resent highway, by the cemetery, crossing the Lexington road at Fitches' corner, by Patrick Fassett's (William Page place), following the old road to Nathaniel Merriam's (Mudge's), and on to McGovern's, and over the discontinued road to the "Virginia" road to Concord. If "the road to Mr. Lane's'' is understood as beginning at Fassett's, it may be indicated by the present highway from Mudge's to the village; but if from "Concord road" to Mr. Lane's, it is the present highway from the Hartwell place to the village, which the town in 173i tried to make William Hartwell "easy about." There was a road farther south from the Concord road towards Cambridge. It doubtless branched off at Proctor's corner, before mentioned, passed Samuel Huckins' estate, and over Pine Hill by the Brown estate to the Page dwelling, and so on by the cemetery to Fassett or William Page estate and to Lexington, then " Cambridge farms." Pine Hill road appears as a "country" road, in a deed of conveyance in 1721, proving that it was a highway before Bedford was in- corporated. It is also described in 1718, in laying out a way from " Shawshine liridge" to Concord River, near James Lane's house.- A road from Concord to Woburn was undoubtedly in use before the incorpor- ation, and followed substantially the present Main Street until it met the Billerica and Cambridge road at the Page dwelling, which it followed as far as Web- ber's (Kenrick's) and then passed over " Cummiugs' Hill." Concord and Woburn road is mentioned in a deed as going by Josiah Fassett's in 1721. Charles Wood's estate was bought by James Wright, of Fas- sett, which aids in the above conclusion. The " bury- ing-place" laid out in October, 1720, was bounded on the Woburn road ; three months later the location was changed "a little to the northward,'' giving the present location of the burial-ground. " A bridal- way is alowed to goo from the road that leads from the meeting-house to Woburn." The bridle-way or horse track referred to represents, substantially, the present Spring Street, until it reaches the " country " road at Brown's corner. The county roads or highways thus far mentioned constitute, very probably, all of the public highways at the date of incorporation. The meeting-house, which was nearly completed before the act of incorporation was passed, naturally became the nucleus of the village. The site had been selected as a geographical centre, for it is ap- ' parent that the dwellings were as scattering here as I in other locations; there is positive evidence of only j two within the present limits of the village, Deacon Israel Putnam's, and Benjamin Kidder's, which was occupied by Mansfield, after Kidder built the house now standing and owned by Miss C. M. Fitch. , The meeting-house was the centre from which the i early roads of the new town radiated. September, 1730, in laying out the land about the meeting-house, "a trodden path that goes to Deacon Nathaniel Merri- am's from the meeting-house" is alluded to, and " Mr. Bowes' compliment of land is laid out on the west side of the trodden path to Deacon Merriam's, next to Concord Old Line,'' " leaving two poles for convenience for the highway." As Deacon Merri- am's is represented by the Mudge estate of to-day, it ap- pears that the " trodden path " was the only road to 36 BEDFORD. the south part of the town. The reservation of two poles " for convenience for the highway" shows the width of the road later agreed upon. In l?.*?! the selectmen laid out the road from the nieeting-huuse to Stephen Davis' (John Neville's) and on to Lex- ington line. This is substantially the present trav- eled highway from the village by the Mudge place to John Neville's where it may be traced in front (ftrnth) of the house, across the fields by a deserted cellar to Lexington line. The present traveled road from Neville's to Lexington is a more modern way. The front entrance of the house, when built, was conveni- ent to the road as then traveled. At the same meeting a road was laid out from the meeting-house to John Stearns' laud. This may be the road which, at first, passed north of the present Main Street, in the rear of the Fitch dwelling, and connected with the "country " road after going north- ward to the present estate of Edward Butters. A road was at once laid out from Kidder's (Miss C. M. Fitch's) to Joseph Pitch's (Wilkins' place), "and over to Cedar Swamp to the land of Davis & Tay- lor, to Concord River meadow path." This at once suggests the present highway from Wilkins' Hill to the Sampson place. In the same year, 1731, a highway, two poles wide, was laid out from the meeting-house to Lexington, which may be the present road by the Hosmer and Jluzzy estate, over the causeway a few rods when it branched off to the south and passed the Mead's place to Lexington. In the descriptive record of this road, a causeway from Woolley's to Hartwell's, twenty-five feet wide, is mentioned, over which the road psssed for a short distance. All the remaining road was two poles wide. In 173-1 the road from Benjamin Kidder's (Miss Fitch's) to Ensign James Lane's (Cooledge) was laid out, and later, relieved of its curves, became the pres- ent North Avenue. In 1738 the road passing in the rear of Kidder's dwelling was exchanged for the present street, pass- ing south of the dwelling. It was widened at that time, and is the present Main Street from the Com- mon to Wilson Park. March 4, 173-1, " Town accepted the way that the selectmen layed out from south side of Oakes' farm to Kidder's land, so on to Deacon Israel Putnam's land by the buring-place, and gave him (Putnam), in ex- change for it, the Rangeway on the easterly side of his land." We here see, with slight alterations, the road from the springs to Main Street. In 1733-34 a road was laid out which corresponds with the present Con- cord road across the causeway (McGovern's). From the descriptions thus far made, it appears that within the first decade of the town's corporate history highways were laid out to each quarter of the town, but this does not imply that they were in condition for travel ; on the contrary, these acts had been little more than official indications of prospective highways. In almost every case the owners of the land were al- lowed gates or bars ; in some, however, the time for such accommodation was limited. It may be inferred by this that fences were to be built to divide posses- sions within a specified time. The unimproved condition of the roads made it easy to change locations, as it seemed wise to do, after more mature consideration. Several decided changes were made during the first ten years, and some roads, of which there is record, are entirely lost. September 18, 1732, the first highway rate was al- lowed {£W), and Cornet Nathaniel Page was the first highway surveyor, and in each succeeding year simi- lar sums were appropriated for the roads, but the roads were improved slowly, as more than a score ot miles had been laid out already. The new town was favorably situated as regarded the building of bridges. The expense of preparing ways across the streams was very small for a good many years. In 1736 the bridge near the Kenrick place is referred to as the "great bridge on the road to Lex- ington." The Hill'.s bridge "Episode," in which Billerica's first and perhaps only mob is .seen, caused this town not a little anxiety, and in 1734 'Town voted that the way of Hill'.s Bridge is not a public good and benefit." Perhaps the people of this town thereby escaped being forced to contribute to the building of the bridge and road which the Court ordered to be done. In 1747 the selectmen laid out a road leading from Joseph Fitch's house southerly, by the cedar swamp to the Concord and Billerica road. It passed through "Hastings' improvement," where he was allowed "to have gates or bars for a period of four years and no more." The road was over a trodden path before- mentioned. The name suggests the means of convey- ance of that time; the better roads were passable for carts, but very many of them could be traveled only on horse-back or on foot. Wagons were unknown, and the "one-horse chaise," which first appeared about 1800, was a luxury only enjoyed by the minis- ter and a few we-dlthy citizens. A special tax was levied on a chaise, and the aristocratic owner erected a house for its safe keeping. The system ofsupporting highways, which continued until the recent method of appointing a commissioner to direct the whole business, was early in practice here. A separate highway rate was assessed and men were allowed to work out their shares, but only on legal highways without a special vote of the town. In 1745 "Col. John Lane is allowed to work out his rate on the way between his house and the Country Road." In 1748 the wages allowed were established by vote in town-meeting: " In the three summer months four- teen shillings each man pur day, in the month of September Eleven shillings pur day." No one was allowed full pay unless he was sixteen years of age. In 1748 a road was laid out by the Court's commit- tee through land of William Reed and Timothy BEDFORD. 37 Hartwe^. It was the extension from the present Loomis estate to connect with tlie Billerica and Cam- bridge road at the present ccnictory gate. Eleazer Davis (2d) lost his life in building thiii piece of road in September, 1748. From 1750 to 1790 but few new roads were called for — those already laid out were gradually improved — gates and bars were discontinued and an occasional bridle-way was opened to the public travel and care. About 1790 citizens of the District of Carlisle began to take steps to bridge Concord River. A letter from them, dated December 9, 1790, was discussed by the voters of this town and the subject-matter referred to a committee. Before that committee was ready to report, a peti- tion had been entered at the Court of General Ses- sions by the people of Carlisle and a meeting of the citizens of Bedford was held in December, 1791, when steps were taken to ascertain the best way to reach Concord River from the village. In the following February the committee reported that they had made surveys as follows: "From 10 milestone, near ,1. Fitches' to Brother Rocks, by Samuel Lane's (Huck- ins') two miles and one-half: From said mile-stone through the swamp by Job Lane's house (FarrcU's) to the River meadow — Oak upland — one and a third miles and forty-eight rods; From said milestone over Zachariah Fitch's causway (Sampson's) to the River, near Oak upland, two miles and one hundred rods." The committee chosen to consider the feasa- bility of the plan of bridging the river made an ex- tended report, from which the following is taken: "To put the bridge where it is proposed by the peti- tioners would require the building of a road through four hundred rods of meadow, deep mirey swamp and low, flat land, and the whole of the same lying in Bedford (saving eight rods), when we have neither stone nor earth suitable within a mile, — Therefore we think it very unreasonable and imposing u|M)n the town of Bedford for them to think for to make us their slaves for ever, as we shall be, if we should be held to maintain a highway where they propose." The committee urged the way by the "Brother Rocks," saying — "however we .ire willing for to help them over ttio River when they may stand upon good bottom, and do something for them that we trust the Court's committee will think honorable to the town." The town opposed the plan most assiduously, but the .Court ordered the road to be laid out in the way most objectionable to Bedford people, and they were obliged to plunge into the swamp and build the road and help bridge the river at an expense most trying to the people in the beginning. The town was di- vided into eight districts, with a superintendent for each, and the work of building the road from the "bar" to the river was a.ssigned in equal portions. The miry nature of the ground over which the road was built has occasioned continual outlays since the construction, which, with the oft-repeated calls for repairs upon the bridge, have led later generations to believe that the investigating committee of 1792 was endowed with prophetic wisdom. The first bridge did not last twenty-live years, and Bedford was obliged to make an outlay of five hundred dollars to replace her portion in 1S23. In 1873 the old mud- sill bridge was taken away and a modern pile-bridge put in its place, at an expense to this town of nearly three thousand dollars. The road from Bacon's (Frost's) to Gleason's mill (Staple's) was opened as a public way in 1798 and from Hosmer and Muzzy's corner to Samuel Hart- well's (McGovern's) in thcsameyear. In 1800 the road past the present Ea.st School-house first appears as a town road, and in the same year the road from Web- ber's (Kenrick's) to Lexington Hue over the hill was straightened. At the opening of the present century a road from the main way to Oliver Reed's (C. L. Waits') was opened. The evidence of the records is that it was a town-way at times and at others it was private. BIr. Reed was allowed to work out his highway rates on this road by special vote of the town. In 1802 the town voted "to open a road from John Sprague's and so on to Eleazer Davis', they to give the land, and fence the road, all but sixty rods, which the town should build." It was laid out two rods wide, and two years were allowed for its completion, proving that the "Loop'' roundbyjosiah Davis' house was not a public way until 1804. Measures were be- ing taken at the same time to have the road to Lex- ington straightened, which was done by order of the Court of Sessions in 1807. The cost paid by this town was $1048.10. The straightening began at James Wright's chaise-house (Chas. Woods), and re- sulted in the present road over Shawshine River to Nathan Fitches' corner and direct to Lexington line. The Middlesex Turnpike, a private enterprise, chartered in June, 1805, caused Bedford people a good deal of anxiety. A committee was chosen to protect her interests, believing the opening of such a thoroughfare would tend to draw away travel from the village and injure the town. It was located in 1806, crossing the town on its northeast border. The proprietors of the turnpike were actuated by a vain delusion that the new road built without regard for hills or ponds would attract all of the travel between New Hampshire, Vermont and Boston, notwithstand- ing the oft- repeated demand for " toll." They enjoyed a measure of success for awhile, but professional teamsters were slow to abandon the fa- miliar routes and discard the hospitality of the long established taverns in Bedford. The opening of the Chelmsford road in 1823 was encouraged by this town, and measures were adopted to attract travel through the village, and the loss oc- casioned by the turnpike was more than made up to the town by the new route. Six and eight-horse teams were continually passing through the village 38 BEDFOKD. loaded with wool, butter, cheese and produce of the northern farms, iu exchange for salt, molasses, dry goods, rum and the requisites of a " country store,'' and iu early winter " the roads were full " of farmers' teams loaded with their own fat pigs and beef and other products of their own industry, to be bartered in the markets for a years' supply of family necessar- ies. The charter of the Turnpike Company was re- pealed in 1841, and the road became a public high- way; by this, Bedford was burdened with another bridge and a section of road to maintain, which, be- cause of its location, was of but little benefit to the citizens. When the turnpike was opened this town was obliged to build two short lines of public road for the accommodation of families located near it. One of seventy-five rods, in the east part of the town, made a new opening to Burlington, and one in the vicinity of Abner Wheeler's (Ernstein's). May, 1822, the road from John Merriam's to Lexington, two rods wide, was made a town-way. But few additions were made to the highways after the opening of the Chelmsford road until the coming of the railroad. A short cut from Vinebrook mill (Staples') to the village was made by opening the road from Lyon's barn across Shawshine River to the old, road at Blodgett's house. This added another bridge to the town's care. The records show that while freed from building new roads, much attention was given to straightening and improving the old, but, fortunately, enough curves remain to preserve the rustic beauty of the town ; these are appreciated when driving for pleasure, but often condemned by the ambitious farmer in his haste to reach the market. In 1874 the road going south from the village was widened and straightened to accommodate the travel occasioned by the opening of the Middlesex Central Kailroad. Loomis Street was soon opened as an eastern approach to the rail- road station. "Webber" Avenue, built in 1884, and " Hillside" Avenue built, in 1888, were private enterprises, but were soon accepted by the town as public ways. "Fletcher" Avenue, laid out by Matthew Fletcher, is still a private way, but enjoyed by the public. Eaileoads. — In the suminer of 1873 the ground was formally broken and work commenced on the bed of the Middlesex Central Railroad in this town. The town invested $20,000 in the enterprise and has never regretted the step. In the autumn of 1874 the road was opened for travel from Concord to Lexing- ton, where it connected with the "Lexington Branch of the Fitchburg." The stage-coach, which had lin- gered here much longer than in any other town within equal distance of Boston, was set one side. In the autumn of 1877 a railroad of a two-foot gauge was opened between Bedford and North Biller- ica. A road of this kind had been operated in Wales with success, but none so narrow had been built in this country. The novelty of the road, its cheap con- struction and equipments attracted much attention. Foreign philanthropists sought for the plans and re- turned to Europe with cheering reports. The rolling stock of the road consisted of two locomotives, "Ariel " and " Puck ; " two passenger cars ; two "excursion " cars and a few others for freight. For some months trains made regular trips over the road, and the experiment was a success as far as the work- ing capacity was concerned, but it was a fiuancial failure. According to a report in the Scientific Amer- ican of March 16, 1878, the cost reached $60,000 while the estimate was $50,000 or $8000 per mile. A por- tion of the subscription " proved unsound or fraudu- lent," which, with the extra cost, unplanned for, placed the road in an unfortunate condition before it was ready for service. It was unpopular from the starting of the trains and never succeeded in regain- ing the confidence of the people in general, although some judicious men never lost coufldeuce in the road as an ultimate success pecuniarily, but time was not allowed to test the wisdom of the plan. The road was thrown into bankruptcy and the rolling stock sold by assignees for $9000 in June, 1878. Thus the loss to Billerica and Bedford became a benefit to the Sandy River Railroad in Jlaine, where the rolling stock was put to immediate use. Individuals were the only investors here, but they with many mechanics of the town, lost heavily by the failure, while the owners of the land through which the road passed were in many cases liberally com- pensated for damages by holding the rails, etc. In 1885 the Boston and Lowell Company, then con- trolling the Middlesex Central, built a line from Bedford to connect with their main line at North Billerica, following substantially, through this town, the abandoned bed of the " Narrow Gauge." The town invested $2000 in this enterprise. By the ad- dition of this line Bedford became a railroad junction, and is within ready access of Lowell and Boston, having abundant accommodations. As regards the time required for reaching the capital of the State, Bedford is to-day where Arlington was twenty years earlier. CHAPTER XV. Stage-Routes — PoBt-OJJlce — Postmasters — Industrie — EesidetUial Toim — hi- ventions. The opening of the Chelmsford road, so called, in 1823, contributed greatly to the facilities for travel, and Bedford Centre became a popular thoroughfare. Competitive stage-routes were established from Con- cord, N. H., to Boston, in one of which Bedford mer- chants were stock owners. This fact, together with the popular roads and well-kept taverns, led to the selection of Bedford as a way station, where relays of BEDFORD. 39 horses were kept. Other stage lines passed through the vilhige, one of which was from Lowell to Woon- sockct. An enterprise, strange, indeed, to the present generation, was created by the regnlar coining and going of the coaches, loaded inside and out with merchants and tourists. A public conveyance led to the establishing of a post-office in Bedford and in 1823 Klijah Stearns, Esq., was appointed the first postni:ister. Tlie first mail that left the town con- tained but one letter. Postage was an item of im- portance, and with many people correspondence was necessarily limited. The rates ranged, according to distance, from si.K cents to twenty-five, and pre-pay- ment was optional. A letter from Billerica to Bed- ford must necessarily go through Boston, incurring a postage often cents. A widow at Bedford receivecoi>le were employed in producing all grades of work, the demand for the superior arti- cles, made here, gradually slackened, and after a time the business entirely ceased. Another enterprise car- ried on here quite extensively, when the shoe business was at its meridian, was the manufacture of band- boxes. Women were employed chiefly and many young women were attracted to the town to engage in this employment. Not a few of them formed holy alli- ances with the young men of the shoe firms and together became the founders of some of the most enterprising families. freorge Fisk in the north part of the town and .\masa Lane in the east carried on this line of manu- facturing. At first thinly-shaved wood for the foun- dation work was obtained from New Hampshire, but later a machine was introduced and the whole work was done here. The size of the boxes varied according to the fashion of the ladies' bonnets, which was variable in those days, as at the i)resent, and created a demand e:et for some years. In the year 1832 about 4000 sets were made in town. Mr. Bacon received encouragement from Edward Everett, wlio pronounced the first pattern exhibited to be an arti- cle of value, as it proved to be. This patent was a source of a good income to Mr. Bacon, »nd the man- ufacture of them gave employment to several work- men in iron. Tanning and currying as an industry was carried on in the latter part of the eighteenth century and the opening years of the nineteenth. It was carried on at the centre by James Wright, Sr. aud Jr., successively, and by the Convers family in the south part of the town. It was chiefly of local in- terest and prepared leather for home market. The farmers' habit of wearing leather aprons and sheep- skin breeches created a local demand, long since dis- continued. The bark for tanning was ground by re- volving stones after the manner of a corn-mill. The Wrights were succeeded by Benjamin F. Thompson, who in after years removed the industry to Woburn. About 1840 a paper-mill was established on the site of the Wilson corn-mill, on Vine Brook, and the manu- facture of coarse paper was carried on for a series of years, giving employment to many hands. The busi- ness was removed after the destruction of the mill by fire, causing the removal of one-tenth of the inhabit- ants of the town. After this calamity the indus- tries, " with the exception of the manufacture of local necessities," were chiefly agricultural, until after the close of the Civil War. The opening of the Middle- sex Central Railroad in 1873 furnished direct and easy communication with Boston, only fifteen miles distant, and prepared the way for a decided change, which is now rapidly taking place. Men, whose bus- iness centres are in Boston, are establishing homes, and the centre of the town is fast becoming a resi- dential village. The old system of farming is giving way to the cul- ture of small fruits and vegetables, and acres are cov- ered with glass for the purpose of securing early crops. The Colonel Jones farm of colonial days, in the west part of the town, comprising many acres oi the "Great Fields" sought by the first settlers, is being used for the propagation of nursery stock. Grazing has become an important feature of agri- culture, and the production of milk for Boston mar- ket has increased rapidly with the improved facilities for transportation. About six hundred and fifty cans of eight quarts each are daily shipped from Bedford. Many tons of superior quality of hay are annually produced, for which there is a good local market. Acres are annually planted with cucumbers, for which a ready market is found at a packing-house where cucumbers, gathered when quite small, are manufac- tured into pickles. A wood factory for the manufacture of miscellane- ous articles, gives employment to several men, and the town has its complement of cartwrights, black- smiths and other artisans. Several men are employed with teams in marketing wood, cut from the forests of the town, but the growth keeps even pace with the consumption. The "Bacon Snow Plow," invent- ed by Isaac P. Bacon, is considered the best horse- machine in use for clearing snow from sidewalks, and is used in the large towns of the county. The inven- tor died without having secured a patent and the in- dustry is lost to the town. CHAPTER XVI. Springs— Lefkes — Ponds— Pjiblic-Homes — Bedford Sj>rittgs. The streams of the town have never contributed very largely to its industries, although in the early days there were more i)hices where the water-power was utilized than at present. Manufacturers have been benefited by damming the Concord River near its confluence with the Merrimack, while the people of Bedford have seen their broad meadows depreciate in value by the overflow of the banks. Peppergrass Brook, which drains the western slope of the village, furnished power for a saw-mill at the opening of the present century ; the mill was located on the southerly portion of Winthrop farm and owned by Job Lane. The Winthrop, or Great Meadow Brook, was utilized by the early inhabitants; a remnant of the dam is now to be seen on the left side of the highway in go- ing from the village to the East School-house. Far- ther down the same brook and near Sandy Brook bridge was another mill. There is evidence of an early mill near Farley Brook. The natural ponds cover but a small area. The dams at the saw-mills on Shawshine River and Vine Brook have aided in forming small ponds where ice is gathered for local use. "Spring Pond '' or "Fawn Lake" covers seve- eral acres, and is fed by a succession of springs ; it is a beautiful sheet of water and adds much to the at- tractiveness of the estate. PoBLit-HoDSES. — Benjamin Danforth and Walter Pollard were the inn-keepers of the town, very soon after the incorporation, and possibly furnished entertainment to travelers before the town was organ- ized. The early records show that Danforth and Pol- lard each had bills against the town for entertainment as early as 1738. The former was doubtless located on or near the site of the " Shawshine House," and was succeeded in business by Captain John Webber and his son, John Webber, Jr. The Pollard Tavern was near the Job Lane Mill, and the Fitzgerald house of the present is thought to represent the original house, in part. It was re-located after the discontinuance of the highway from James Lane's to Thaddeus Fitches'. Tradition furnishes proof of the honesty of Pollard by BEDFORD. 41 ' showing that he represented goods, offered for sale, in their true condition, thus : " Want to buy any yellow pork?" saya Walter Pollard. "Think not," says Job Lane. Jeremiah Fitch, Jr., opened a tavern about the year 170(;. It was there that the minute- men of the town lunched on the morning of April 9, 1775. The (>i)ening of the stage routes and the iii- 'ase of teaming tlirough the town led to the open- ing of a tavern towards the close of the eighteenth century. Its location was near the present corner of Concord Street and Park Avenue. It was first kept by I'iiineas Chamberlain ; he died in 1809, and his successors were Stearns, Porter, Flint, llurd and Phelps. The house was destroyed by fire in 1837. At the opposite end of the village David Reed opened a tavern in 1797, and conducted the business until his death in 1832. The present "Bedford House" was built in the first quarter of the present century, as a private house, by Joshua Page. It was soon enlarged and turned into a public-house, and has been so kept until the present. In 1888 the sale of intoxicating liquor was suppressed in the town, and the property ]iurchased by a stock company. The house now fur- nishes the comforts of a first-class suburban hotel. " Bedford Springs" is located about one and four- fifths miles north of atid on the Billerica side of lied - ford \'illage. The name is derived from three natural fountains strongly impregnated with mineral proper- ties. This place was included within the Oakes farm, which consisted of 150 acres, granted by Cambridge to Captain (iookin, in exchange for his lot on the township, and by him sold to Thomas Oakes. It is evident that the lake and never-failing springs of pure water attracted the attention of the aborigines long before 1643-44, when " Shaweshin was granted to Cambridge." Family traditions furnish unmistakable evidence leading to this conclusion. The keen students of nature early detected the remedial properties of the bubbling springs. The Pawtucket Indians had settlements in this vicinity •and their medicine-men resorted to these waters. Scatteritig remnants of the tribe made occasional vis- its long after the Wamcsick Purchase of KjSr), by which " all manner of Indian rights and claims to that parcel of land granted by the General Court to the town of Billerica" were honorably extinguished. Mrs. Franklin Stearns, of Billerica, who was born in 1801, tells the following : " My mother, who lived near the springs, often told me that .she remembered distinctly when the Indians came a long distance to fill their leathern bottles with water from the springs and told her, when stopping at her home, that it was medicine." These children of the forest also brought their sick to bathe in the waters. This evidence seems to have been lost sight of, and the instinct of the brute creation was needed to lead man to this fountain of health. About 1835 the farm was owned by Augustus Pierce. It consisted chiefly of woodland and pasture land. The owner furnished pasturage for the villagers' cattle. It was noticed that the cattle always went to the springs for water rather than to the open pond, and that cows having access to the springs were in better condition and gave better milk than those confined in neighboring pastures, where the grass was better, but the water was taken from other sources. This led to the analysis of the water by Dr. Jackson, of Boston, whose report, confirmed by later chemists, gave rise to the present beautiful health resort. A company was soon formed who bought the real estate, and a commodious building was erected for hotel purposes. The enterprise was never a financial success until the Billerica and Bedford Railroad was put into operation. The estate was purchased by William R. Hayden, M.D., in 1856. It then com- prised forty acres of land with the hotel, stable, bath- house and bowling alley. It now comprises 175 acres, with buildings added, at a cost of $25,000. An equal sum has been expended on the grounds, making one of the most attractive health resorts within equal dis- tance of Boston. Here is the laboratory of the New York Pharma- ceutical Company, of which Dr. Hayden is president. They make here 350 diflerent preparations for drug- gists and practicing phj'sicians, of which Hayden's Viburnum Compound, The Uric Solvent and Phos- phorus Pills are the principal. More than 25,000 pounds of the Viburnum Compound were shipped from this place during the last year (1889). The Billerica and Bedford Railroad passes over the western border of the grounds, making the resort within convenient access of Boston and Lowell. The hotel, now under the proprietorship of William Adams, is filled with' guests of prominence during the summer months. A post-office was established here in 1888, of which Dr. Hayden is the ])ostmaster. Bedford Springs is a distinct natural feature of the town, and the pharmaceutical works are entirely sep- arate from all other enterprises, but they, together constitute the most .attractive feature of the town. A sketch of the life of William R. Hayden, through whose perseverance natural possibilities have become realities, and whose fertile brain has produced a blessing world-wide in its extent, will be found else- where in this connection. CHAPTER XVII. Pire-Eiigitt«— Enforcement 0/ Laws— Drink Custom— Witchcraft— Bounty for Crowi, etc. The first action of the town towards procuring a machine for extinguishing fire was in October, 1827, 42 BEDFORD. when 1225 (two hundred and twenty-five dollars) were appropriated for that purpose, "providing the sum could be increased to an amount sufficient to purchase an engine with equipments for service." This was done by organizing a stock company of nineteen members, each owning a share, the par value being fl5 (fifteen dollars). Each owner of a share held a certificate which, by vote of the town, entitled the bearer (i>rovided he bo deemed eligible) to a preference ,in the appointment of engine-men, who were annually appointed by the selectmen, agreeable to the statutes of Massachusetts. In 1845 hooks and ladders were added to the apparatus, but fortunately there was but little use for the machinery, and but little attention was paid to it after a few years. In 1879, after a disastrous conflagration, the town voted to buy a suction hand-fiie-engine, and the sum of $475 (four hundred and seventy-five dollars) was appropriated for it. This being done, the "Shaw- sheen Elngine Company," of forty member.s, was formed, and paid an annual fee of $2 (two dollars) each. The " Winthrop Hook-and-Ladder Company " was also organized, and in 1883 the annual compensation was increased for the members of both companies to six dollars. Cisterns for the storage of water were built in 1888, and the town is well protected against the ravages of fire, at an annual expense of about $300 (three hundred dollars). Bedford has .always been jealous of its good name, and made h.aste to mete out justice to any who, by violation of law, have brought reproach upon it. In March, 1797, and for several succeeding years, officers were chosen to prevent theft, with instruc- tions to pursue oflenders to justice at the public ex- pense. At this time there was a family in town so addicted to larceny that its members would steal from each other. The vigilance of the officers is ap- parent, as one of the fiimily was brought to condign punishment by being tied to an apple-tree (in the absence of a whipping-post) in the village, and pub- licly and leg.ally whipped with thirty stripes. This was the second oftence ; a third was punishable " by the pains of death without the benefit of clergy.'' This act of justice was not sufficient to deter other members of the family from similar offences, and the town was not rid of the family until two farmers, whose estates joined that of the otl'enders, purchased their farm, upon condition that they should not re- locate in the town. A greater evil, the sale of intoxicating liquors, met with but little opposition until 1828. The customs of society here, as elsewhere, gave full endorsement to the free use of ardent spirits in public and private. The "flowing bowl" was prominent on both solemn and joyful occasions. The records are remarkably free from itemized bills for liquors, but the oft-re- peated charges for " entertainment," together with traditions, leave no room for doubt as to the nature of the entertainment furnished at the public charge. In 1804 the use of liquor at funerals was abolished by vote of the town. In 1822 a committee was chosen to repair the Common, free of expense to the town for Labor; but they were allowed to furnish "those that do the work with some s|)irit at the expense of the town." It is doubtful whether it would not have been more economical to have paid for the labor. In 1834 the overseers of the poor were instructed not to furnish ardent spirits for the poor unless directed by a physician. The first temperance society was organ- ized in 1830, and moral su.asion was faithfully ap- plied, but it was not until 1SS8 that the State law was made eftectual, through the vigilance of the "Law and Order League." To remove unfortunate possi- bilities, public-spirited men purchased the Bedford House property and organized a stock company. The witchcraft delusion, that had been such a scourge in the Colony, had left its effect upon credu- lous minds in this town. There were those who at- tributed every mysterious occurrence to an eccentric old woman. They believed she was responsible for the power that is now seen in a balky horse — refusing to advance, or a wheel to revolve on a neglected axle. There is a tradition that in the early years of the Revolution, when the British troops were stationed in Boston, this woman, in the disguise of a Tory, had a concerted meeting with some of the proud officers of the army. She represented to them that she had a great secret, which she would reveal upon their paying a heavy fee. The officers, anxious to engage in the enterprise, met her, upon agreement, at mid- night near her own home. On being satisfied that the booty was in the chaise of the officers, she led them, by the dim light of a flickering candle, across a narrow plank which served as a temporary bridge over a swollen stream into a dark recess ; she then extinguished her light, recrossed the bridge, which she pulled after her, secured the bags of English coin and went home. The ambitious officers, foiled in their undertaking, gladly left the town, but not until 4,hey had aroused a fiimily and obtained aid in the search for their team and guidance back to Boston. It appears that the early farmers of Bedford were greatly annoyed and their crops seriously damaged by the crows, blackbirds and squirrels. This was a prevalent evil in the Province, so much so that the General Court enacted a law in 1740-41 authorizing towns to pay a bounty on the heads of the little creatures, and were reimbursed from the Province treasury. There was allowed " for every dozen of blackbirds taken in their nests, and not fledged, twelve pence ; for the like number of blackbirds grown and fledged, three shillings; for each crow, six jience, and for every water I'at, gray squirrel and grourid-squirrel, four pence." The town indorsed this law at once, and the boys, stimulated by a bounty for the work of destruction, entered upon a competi- BEDFORD. 43 tive war of extermination. The treasurer's report of 1741 shows twenty-two orders " given to pareons for squirrels and birds," amounting to £12 14.<(. 8d. The list includes the names of the leading men of the town. As orders were only drawn for the parents, the number of individuals enlisted in the work of destruction is not determined, but there were, doubt- less, as many as one hundred, and the records show that the practice was continued for years. One boy, William Webber, in his eagerness, mistook an owl's nest for that of a crow's, and when about to capture the fledglings w.as attacked by the mother owl, which plucked out one of his eyes, subdued the youth and provided a priceless meal for her brood. In hS'J.'J the town voted ''not to allow Robbins to be killed in the town this year." In 1829 voted " to pay twenty cents for old and ten cents for young crow's heads, caught and killed within the limits of the town." CHAPTER XVIII. }*rofanity itml DnmktrnueM Pimittied bit Lntp — Tittinigineii