matters, mentioned in the foregoing sketch, may be found in the appendix.

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In Dec. 1770, the town of Deerfield appointed a committee to agree with one from this town as to all matters of controversy between them respecting town lands, more especially, all matters of trespass committed by the inhabitants of sd district from 1768 to the present time, and to make final settlement of all matters or actions in law, judgement and executions, that have already commenced or been recovered against any person or persons for trespass," &c. &c.

In 1771, a committee was chosen to meet and agree with a committee from Deerfield all matters of controversy respecting town land, and all matters of trespass, &c. These were adjusted and a discharge given by Deerfield for £40, with a reservation that nothing therein written should effect the title to the land.

Mr. Sewell was chosen agent for the town to act for them at the General Court with respect to the town land. Again, in 1772, Samuel Hindsdale was appointed to prefer a petition to the General Court, that Greenfield incorporation bill might be repealed and the town be incorporated into a Parish unless they might be entitled to all the privileges and emoluments agreeable to the report of the committee appointed by Deerfield for that purpose, which report was confirmed by a vote of that town. Samuel Barnard, Jr. and J. Adams, Esq. of Braintee were added, by a vote of Deerfield, to their agents, to manage the controversy with this town before the General Court.

Nothing further appears upon the records respecting this subject until the year 1782, when the subject was again brought before the town.

PUBLIC WORSHIP.-1772. A vote was passed to finish the meeting house the following year. Many houses of worship at this period were without pews and

the audience were accommodated with benches ranged about the house. The singing for a long period was conducted after a manner which is now called "deaconing," and was on this wise ;-The singers were dispersed about the meeting house, having no place assigned them, by themselves. After the minister had read the psalm, he repeated the first line which the singers sang, the Deacon then took up the matter and read the next line, which went through a like process as before had befallen the first line, and so on. In some towns, meetings were held on the subject. At Worcester a town meeting was called in 1726, to see "in which way the congregation shall sing in future in public, whether in the ruleable way or in the usual way;" the former was adopted, not without opposition. The mode of reading prevailed in Boston and throughout New England, until about the year 1780.*

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In 1773, Voted that age, state (estate) and qualifications to be the rule for seating the meeting house. A committee was chosen to draw up something to send to the committee of Correspondence at Boston," also £20 for a school; £320 to pay town debts.

In 1774, "Voted £42 for town debts, and to divide the town into squadrons for the best advantage for the public schools."

Sept. 1774. At a full meeting, Samuel Hinsdale, Ensign Timothy Childs, Daniel Nash, Ebenezer Arms, Thos. Nims, Samuel Wells, Benj. Hastings, chosen committee, some one or more of them to attend the Provincial or County Congress. Oct. Daniel Nash, delegate to Prov. Congress to be held at Concornd the 11th inst.

There had been much excitement and trouble in the Province, previous to this time on account of the oppressive acts of the British Government, and among others

* Lincoln's Hist. Worcester.

the duty on tea-the detested Bohea, as it was expressed, which, notwithstanding many towns had passed Resolutions that they would not purchase any articles of British Merchandize, except medicines, was still secretly made use of by many, fastening up their doors while using it, but the more patriotic made use of infusions of mint, Sage, &c. The operation of the Port Bill also, by which the port of Boston was precluded from shipping, or landing Goods, and was closed up, put an end to business and produced great distress, with many other grievances, were the causes of the Congress at Concord.

CHAPTER IV.

Remarks.-Revolutionary Times and Incidents.

From the character of the matter in the preceding chapters, I apprehend very few readers will follow my pen, page by page, to the commencement of this; that few have had patience to follow out, and be with me to the close of the last. Such annals are to most readers dry and uninviting, and gladly would I have omitted many details, if, consistently, I could have done so. Patience should be ranked high in the list of cardinal virtues, and is of inestimable value to the poor and unfortunate; unblessed by its influence and the smiles of the enchantress, hope, life would be, to many, an insupportable burthen; and that too, to some, who to us seem happy, or in whose circumstances we can see nothing to mar their felicity-but whose hearts are full of bitterness. Be our condition what it may, we are then only correct, when we envy no one, and make the best we may of our

own.

The clouds and mists which now, perchance,

obscure the horizon of our prospects, hovering over the mountain summits, descending even to their base, almost blotting out, as to us, the source of light, may break and disperse; a bow of promise appear, and our sun may set in unclouded majesty and splendor. He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb, may send a healing balm to cleanse and cure the wounds inflicted by the poisoned arrows of adversity. Let your motto be

Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis.* I advised the reader in the third paragraph of the first chapter, that the subject was dry and uninviting-and gave sufficient intimation that the volume would be so ; thus far my promise or prediction has been fulfilled to the letter. Let him apply the patience I have recommended, to the preceding chapters, and then-to all the remainder; from the mass of chaff, some grains of wheat may be winnowed.

1775. A period of powerful and all absorbing interest in the history of our country had now arrived, and the people were called upon to decide, each for himself, a question of great moment and consequence. Our records are almost barren of any local incident relating to it. The population of the town was then very small. It appears however from what is known, that they were, with very few exceptions, ardently engaged in the cause. That there were not more exceptions, considering the strength and power of the British and the ties of blood, the weakness, poverty and embarrassment, and the scattered state of the population, wearied and vexed by their sufferings in the Indian and French wars, is surprising. Every leading and important event of this Revolution is so well known, even to the school boy, so much has been said and sung, and related even_in common every day conversation, and in every 4th Ju

* With patience persevere and reserve yourselves for prosperous days.

ly Oration narrated, and re-narrated for the ten thousandth time, that it would be worse than superfluous, (in the humble compilation of the history of a town not five miles square, and which only a few years previous (1763) contained a population of 368 men, women, boys, girls, maiden ladies and little children, all told) to deal in lofty language, or enact any raptures on the subject.

·

The towns were repeatedly called upon during the war for articles of clothing and men for the service, of which this town, as appears by their records, furnished their quota. I have chosen generally to give the very language of the record, in some cases for brevity sake, in others to show their manner of expression, &c. as matter of curiosity, which may give to this work the pearance, to some, of a dry, dull tedious detail, barren of interest. The reader has a remedy in his own handsa choice he can exercise to the full, by laying down the book.

ap

"On the 19th April, an express came to Worcester, shouting as he passed through the street at full speed, to arms! to arms! the war is begun!' His white horse bloody with spurring, and dripping with sweat, fell exhausted by the church. The bells rang out the alarm, cannons were fired, the implements of husbandry thrown by in the field, and all seized their arms. The pas sage of the messenger of war, mounted on a white steed and gathering the population to battle, made vivid impression on memory. The tradition of his appearance is preserved in many of our villages. In the animated description of the aged, it seems like the representation of death on the pale horse, careering through the land with his terrific summons to the grave."*"

The news spread over the country and the battle of Lexington occurred soon after. What part of our pop

*Lincoln's Hist, Worcester,