FITCHBURG PREPARATORY TO THE

REVOLUTION.

Read at a meeting of the Society, October 19, 1903.

BY EBENEZER BAILEY.

The middle of the eighteenth century found a vigorous, hardy and enterprising people inhabiting the eastern coast of North America, while to the west and north were the Indians and the French, which latter were scheming continually to acquire the ultimate control of the whole continent. They systematically incited the Indians to periodical incursions, calculated to strike terror to the stoutest hearts, and the English settlers sought and were grateful for the aid of the regular soldiers of the king of Great Britain in destroying the French power in North America. That accomplished, a future was opened to them, the grandeur of which, perhaps, only a few realized at once, but which ere long began to force itself into the minds of many. The whole interior of a great continent was now open to English civilization, and the foundations of a great nation were already laid. Should it be a new nation independent of government across the seas, or should it be but an adjunct of Great Britain?

Not only were these questions present to the minds of the colonists, but they also affected the minds of English statesmen. But those who controlled the government were not profound statesmen, and they sought to bind the colonies to the home government by means which only forced them apart. The colonists, released from the terror of savage incursions and the necessity of dependence on the political power of the mother country, opened up new settlements, incorporated new towns, and engaged in new maritime enterprises. Just when they were beginning to enjoy unaccustomed wealth and to feel new strength and power, the blundering government over the ocean pro

ceeded to enact navigation laws which grievously affected their financial interests and exasperated them beyond measure. The result was to push them forward in the direction of the vision which beckoned them on towards a separation which only habit and a genuine loyalty could have prevented, even under a tactful and moderate gov. ernment.

All this time settlements were being pushed further and further towards the west. New towns were being formed, forests felled and new lands cultivated. Roads were built to connect distant settlements, and general communication between the seacoast and the interior towns became each year more practicable and speedy. Some of the wealthy residents in Boston and the larger towns bought large tracts of land and used their influence to have them settled and improved, and some built country houses which were surrounded by large estates. Doubtless Massachusetts Bay and the colonies on the north and south would have become in time a real New England if events had not transpired to drive away the large landholders and break up the land into small farms.

In 1764, when the little community which had grown up in the western portion of the town of Lunenburg was set off and incorporated as Fitchburg, there must have been some premonitions of trouble with the mother country, among those sturdy, hard-working farmers. Just how deep a personal interest they really felt in the matter we do not know. It was in Boston, whose merchants were engaged in making money in maritime ventures and trade, and with whose profits the English government was interfering, that the personal interest centered and opposition began. The interior towns were somewhat jealous of Boston, and indisposed to be led by that pushing, thriving town, and they were slow to respond to her appeals for sympathy and aid. However, at this time the proposed passage of the Stamp Act was known, and must have been more or less a subject of conversation when our worthy Fitchburg ancestors met, though the building of the meeting-house and the choice of a minister were to them of more immediate importance. So matters went on till 1768, when some English vessels were sent to Boston

to overawe the inhabitants, and it was expected that soldiers would follow. The Boston people asked the governor to convene the General Court, but he refused. It was then resolved to call a convention representing all the towns in the province, and circular letters were sent out, asking the towns to send delegates. This was in the middle of September and the convention was to be held on the 22d.

The circular letter which was sent to Fitchburg was probably received on September 19, for a warrant was issued of that date for a special town meeting at four o'clock, P. M., of that day. This happened to be the day for which a previous town meeting had been called, to act in regard to the salary of the minister and some other matters. The special meeting was called in the words of the warrant, "To see if the Town will Chuse a Committy according to the Request of the Selectmen of Boston, sent to this town to desire said town to Call a town meeting To Consider the present Criticle Situation of the Goverments afaires or Vote anything Refering thereto; as they Shall Think Proper."

The town met as aforesaid and "Vtd and Chose the honarable Edward Hartwell, Esq. to be the agent for the town of fitchburg to Joyn the Comite of Town of Boston, according to their Request sent by the Gentlemen selectmen of Boston sent to the town of fitchburg."

The convention to which the Hon. Edward Hartwell was a delegate met on the 22d of September, but its temper was very conservative, its members, among whom was probably Mr. Hartwell, being averse to committing themselves to the policy and plans of the Boston leaders. Samuel Adams, almost in despair, said, "I will stand alone. I will oppose this tyranny at the threshold, though the fabric of liberty fall, and I perish in its ruins." A strong petition to the king was, however, passed before the adjournment of the convention.

From this time, although matters moved rapidly in Boston, and organized resistance to parliament took more and more definite shape, so far as is shown by the Fitchburg town records, there was no excitement or special interest in colony matters in this town during the next

five years. However, none of the country towns were neglected by Samuel Adams and his junto, and no doubt they were in touch with some good patriots in Fitchburg and Lunenburg, who were striving hard to "leaven the lump."

These were trying times, and there was much searching of hearts and questioning as to the advisability of taking irrevocable steps in defiance of the lawful government. Then, as always in such crises, there were conservative people who said wait, and radical people who were in haste to strike. There is much to be said and a place for sincere sympathy for those who, previous to the breaking out of hostilities, allowed their loyalty to their mother country and the flag of Old England, under which many of them had fought, to hold them back from overt acts, and induce them to counsel peace and forbearance, even under hard conditions, which might yet be only temporary.

On the other side were men who argued after the manner of those whom John Adams overheard conversing in a Shrewsbury tavern one evening in 1774. They were substantial yeomen of the neighborhood, who had dropped in to smoke their pipes and gossip before the fire which blazed in the big tavern fireplace.

Said one, "The people of Boston are distracted." Another said, "No wonder the people of Boston are distracted. Oppression will make wise men mad." A third said, "What would you say if a fellow should come to your house and tell you he was come to take a list of your cattle, that Parliament might tax you for them at so much a head? And how should you feel if he was to come and break open your barn, to take down your oxen, cows, horses and sheep?" "What should I say?" replied the first, "I would knock him in the head." "Well," said a fourth, "if Parliament can take away Mr. Hancock's wharf and Mr. Rowe's wharf, they can take away your barn and my house." After much more reasoning in this style a fifth, who had as yet been silent, broke out, "Well, it is high time for us to rebel. We must rebel some time or other, and we had better rebel now than at any time to come."

It is very probable that somewhat of this manner of conversation might have been heard in this town in the tavern, or at church, between services on Sunday, or, perhaps, in Joseph Fox's store of an evening or on a rainy day. But there were those, and prominent among them was Thomas Cowdin, who could not easily break the ties of loyalty, even to a misguided government. Perhaps, also, they realized with better calculation and more discernment the difficulties and the risks of open rebellion. We do not know how many there were of this class in Fitchburg, but it would seem that there were not a few who were slow to act or to commit themselves, till the rising tide of feeling against the government of Great Britain rose so high that it swept them off their feet and carried them on with their friends and neighbors. That tide rose in December, 1773.

In the autumn of 1772 a town meeting was held in Boston, at which the following vote was passed, on motion of Mr. Samuel Adams:

"That a committee of Correspondence be appointed to consist of twenty-one persons-to state the rights of the colonists, and of this Province in particular, as men and Christians and as subjects; and to communicate and publish the same to the several towns and to the world as the sense of this town, with the infringements and violations thereof, that have been, or from time to time may be made."

In December of the same year (1772) a letter was accordingly printed and sent to each of the towns in the Province, and for the next three months answers were returned from most of the towns, breathing the spirit of liberty and independence, and fully sustaining the sentiments of the Boston town meeting.

The town records of Fitchburg, however, do not show any action at this time, nor any notice taken of the letter for nearly a year. Why this indifference or this caution? We turn the record leaves in vain, until we reach the warrant for town meeting, to be held December 1st, 1773, and read "Article 31y. To See Whether the Town will Take aney notis of the Letrs Sent to the Town of fitchburgh by the Town Clerk of Boston or vote aney thing Refering there to as they Shall think proper."