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Nor did the spirited resolutions, above adverted to, end in idle words. They were the result of reflection and patriotic principle; and they led to the cheerful endurance of privations and hardships, of which the descendants can probably form no adequate concep

tion.

At one time five, and soon after three, at another five, at another seven, and on one occasion seventeen men, were called for from this small town by the General Court, and were marched in some instances, several hundred miles, to mingle in the scenes of war.*

In the spring of 1781, agreeably to a resolve of the General Court, this town was divided into eight classes, each class being required to furnish a man to serve in the Continental Army for the term of three years, or during the war. And what is worthy of remark, as it is an evidence of the patriotic spirit which prevailed among this people in the preceeding autumn, viz. December,28, 1780, the town, taking into consideration the hardships undergoue by those who had entered into the service of their country, and especially the losses they had sustained, by being paid in a depreciated currency, generously voted to raise their quota of men, and to pay and clothe them at their own expense, allowing them 40 shillings each, per month, in hard money, and £21 per year, also in hard money, in addition to their clothes.f

Six men more were called for from this town in the following summer; five to go to West Point, and one to Rhode Island, who were accordingly raised, and the town granted £122 5s. in hard money, (or $407,50,) to pay the same. At the same time, they were required to purchase, for the use of the army, 3518lbs. of beef, for which the town granted £77, in hard money (or $256,66.) The whole amount granted at this meeting, and which went to the support of the war, was therefore $664,16 in hard money; which, considering the population of the town and the value of hard money at that period, was a great sum and must have been felt as a heavy burden. Previous to the June, 1778, it appears from the town

company, Capt. Amos Rice, Mr. Isaac How, Mr. Joseph Sever, Mr. Reuben Babcock, and Mr. Nathan Rice. Capt. Samuel Wood, the commander of the company, died September 21, 1818, aged 75 years. He was present, and received a slight wound, at the battle of Bunker Hill. The Ensign of the company was Mr. Thomas Sever, now of Townsend, in this state.

*"July 13th, 1780, the town voted and granted the sum of ten thousand pounds to pay seventeen men hired into the service, nine for the term of six months, and eight for the term of three months."

+ Town Records, I. p. 212.

records, that this town had expended in money and service towards carrying on the war £1474 14s. 1d. in a depreciated currency probably, the precise value of which, it is difficult now to determine.*

Such, we presume is no more than a fair specimen of the burdens borne by the community in support of the war of our Independence, and of the spirit with which they were borne.

In many, very many instances indeed, the people were impoverished and brought low. But they were not disheartened; and, by the smiles of a merciful Providence, their efforts were crowned with complete success. Let us who have entered into their labors not forget what we owe to that far-famed generation, who supported the privations and hardships of a long and harrassing conflict, in support of our cherished liberties.†

The number was small of those who had refused to embark in the cause of liberty, the names of four only being recorded as absentees, whose estates were confiscated near the close of the war.‡

The patriotism of two others was indeed suspected, and they were subjected to a good deal of inconvenience in consequence of it.§

The town records contain a list of the names of 90 persons (probably the whole number who paid taxes) with the amount contributed by each. "October 30, 1780, the town granted £6660 to purchase beef for the army." This I suppose was when the depreciation of money was nearly, or quite at the lowest ebb, about which time, £2933 6s. 8d. were granted to Rev. Mr. Whitney by an unanimous vote of the town, in addition to his yearly salary.

"May 17, 1781, the town granted the sum of £3300 Os. Od. to pay for three horses for the use of the Continental army."

+ Among the survivors of the soldiers of the revolution, in this town, five received pensions from the U. States, agreeably to the law passed, April, 1818.

From all these, however, with the exception of two, one of whom has since died, their pensions were withdrawn, after the modification of the law, in 1820. Since that time, two of the number, reduced to poverty, have recovered their pensions; and the only remaining one from whom it was withdrawn, and who, depending on the pension, had involved himself in debt in erecting a small building for his accommodation, has been compelled to part with his snug little farm, and is now, in his old age, reduced to the very verge of absolute want. Such, so far as I have witnessed it, has been the operation of the laws respecting pensions to Revolutionary Soldiers. It may be remarked moreover, that the two to whom the pensions were continued, had been a town charge, and were not regarded as very valuable members of the community.

These were James Eager and his son, John Eager; and Ebenezer Cutler, and Michael Martyn, sons in law of the late Capt. James Eager, of this town.

These were John Taylor, and Sylvanus Billings. The former, a gentleman of handsome property and who had been one of the leading men of the town; the latter also a man of considerable estate.

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After the close of the war, the embarrassments arising from the want of a circulating medium, when almost all were deeply involv ed in debt, caused much uneasiness, and led the people to devise measures for their removal. August 7th, 1786, Isaac Davis was chosen as a delegate to attend a County Convention, at Leicester, on the 15th inst. to whom the following, among other instructions, were given by a committee appointed by the town. The delegate was to use his influence "that the Convention petition his Excellency, the Governor, and Council, to call the General Court together, in the month of October next, at fartherest; and that the Convention present a humble and decent petition to the General Court to set up and establish a mint in the Commonwealth, &c." Complaints were also made of the salaries of the civil list, being so high, and of various other grievances under which the people labored.* There was nothing, however, of the spirit of rebellion or insubordination in the resolutions that were passed at this meeting, or in the conduct which followed; and though it appears from the representations of all, that the people generally were reduced to the greatest straits, yet only three or four individuals were found willing to join in the rebellion of that year, and to seek redress by measures of violence.t

SCHOOLS, &C.-Previous to the year 1766, I can find on record, no appropriations made for the education of youth. But I am informed that several instructors had, before that period, been em

There prevailed, at this time, very generally through the country, the most violent prejudices against the profession of the law. One of the instructions given to the delegate, at this time, was, that he was to use his influence in the convention, by petitioning and remonstrating to the General Court, "that the whole order of Lawyers be annihilated; for we conceive them not only to be building themselves upon the ruins of the distressed, but said order has increased, and is daily increasing, far beyond any other set or order of men among us, in numbers and affluence; and we apprehend they may become ere long somewhat dangerous to the rights and liberties of the people."

+ The following is a list of the names of those who have represented this town in the General Court, from 1775, to the present time.

Col. Levi Brigham, from 1775, to 1777.-John Ball, 1778, 1782, and 1785.-Deac. Paul Newton, 1779, and 1780.-Deac. Seth Rice, 1783.Deac. Isaac Davis, seven years-between 1787 and 1798.--Deac. Nahum Fay, 1800 and 1801.-James Keyes, Esq. eighteen years, from 1802, to the present

time.

From the above account, it appears that this town has been represented thirty six years since the commencement of the Revolutionary war.

The following persons have been commissioned Justices of the peace. The first commission is dated July 3, 1793. Nahum Fay, Seth Grout, Isaac Davis, Stephen Williams, James Keyes, Phineas Davis, and Cyrus Gale. Of this number, three, Seth Grout, Isaac Davis and James Keyes, have since deceased.

ployed to teach, at private houses, in different parts of the town, and who were paid by the voluntary contributions of the parents. The first school house that was erected in this town, stood on the meeting house common, whence it was afterwards removed, and In now forms part of the dwelling house of Mr. Joel Bartlett.* 1770, the district was divided into four squadrons; but it was not till 1780, that the town passed a vote to build school houses in the several squadrons, and granted money for that purpose. The town granted £4000 for building four school houses, which, at the time it was expended, amounted to only £52 6s. 8d. to which they added £110 6s. 8d. amounting to £163 13s. 4d.

Since that period two new School districts have been formed; so that there are now six districts in the town, in each of which, a school is kept from eight to twelve weeks, both winter and summer. The following is an abstract of the return of the School committee, made in May last, to the General Court.

Amount paid for public Instruction, $600.

Time of keeping school in the year, 6 months each district.
Males under 7 years, 47 Females under 7 years, 39

From 7 to 14,
From 14 and upwards, 68

98

Males, 213

75

From 7 to 14,
From 14 and upwards, 47

Females, 161

213

--

Total, 374

There are, in this town, three respectable Libraries, containing in all about 500 volumes, exclusive of the Juvenile Library, which contains nearly 150 volumes, suited to children and youth.

The Juvenile Library, commenced in 1824, is supported by an annual contribution, and, under a few simple regulations, is accessible to all the children and youth, over the age of 7 years, residing in the town.

Many young men, educated in our schools, have been employed as Instructors, both here and in other towns, and have generally proved worthy of the confidence reposed in them.

Besides several professional gentlemen educated in our schools, and in the neighboring Academies, twelve young men have received a public education, eight of whom are graduates of Harvard

Mr. Thomas Goodenow was the first Instructor, supported at the expense of the town. Mr. James Hart, a foreigner, was employed about this time, (1770) and is frequently spoken of as the father of the many excellent penmen for which this town has, in former years, been famed.

University, at Cambridge, one of Brown University, and one each, of Yale, Dartmouth, and Williams' Colleges.

Their names, professions, &c. are as follow.

1. Jonathan Livermore, son of the late Deac. Jonathan Ligermore, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1760; settled in the ministry at Wilton, N. H. in 1763; was dismissed, but remained in that place, where he died, July, 1809, in the 80th year of his age. 2. Ebenezer Rice, son of the late Simon Rice,* was graduated at Harvard University, in 1760; was a Physician, and a justice of the peace, in Marlborough; afterwards removed to Barre, where he died.

3. Jacob Rice, son of the late Jacob Rice, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1765; settled in Henniker, N. H. being the first minister in that place; was dismissed, on account of ill health; was installed at Brownfield, Oxford County, Me. where he remained till his death, which took place suddenly, Feb. 1, 1824, Lord's Day, having preached to his people in the morning.

4. Elijah Brigham, son of the late Col. Levi Brigham, was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1778; commenced the study of Divinity, which he soon relinquished, and engaged in mercantile business with his brother in law, Breck Parkman, Esq. of Westbo-rough in 1795, he was appointed one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas; for several years was a Senator and Counsellor of this Commonwealth, a Justice through the State, and a Representative of this District in the Congress of the United States, from 1810 to the time of his death. Judge Brigham died suddenly, at Washington, Feb. 22, 1816, aged 64.

5. John Taylor, son of the late John Taylor, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1786; is now a Counsellor at Law, in Northampton, and one of the Representatives of that town in the General Court.

6. Peter Whitney, son of Rev. Peter Whitney, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1791; now the minister of Quincy, in this State, where he was ordained, Feb. 5, 1800.

7. Henry Gassett, son of Henry Gassett, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1795; is now a merchant, in Boston.

8. Israel Munroe, son of Abraham Munroe, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1800; was for some years a Counsellor at Law, in Boston; he now resides in the city of New York.

Simon Rice, the father of Dr. Ebenezer Rice, was a brother of the late Deac. Matthias Rice, of this town. He lived just within the limits of Northborough, near the dwelling house of Mr. Ephraim Barnard.

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