64

to reform them; and that those continuing in such practices, be put out by the committee to some nonest and lawful employment; and finally that the town will aid, assist and support said Committee in proceeding with such offenders accordingly.' This report was unanimously accepted, and the measures it prescribes, were found effectual to the desired reform. Let vice be branded with ignominy, and it will hide its head in confusion.

May 29-1775:

COL. SIMEON SPALDING was elected to represent the town in a Provincial Congress at Watertown, which was to meet on the 31st inst. He was empowered to act in this capacity six months July 3. and no longer. The same year, the town directed the Selectmen to purchase 4 cwt. of sugar and 300 bushels of salt at Salem, to be kept for the

town's use.

To all the actual engagements on this memorable year, the town contributed its full proportion of men and means, and bore its share in the misfortunes of both. Col. Moses Parker and Capt. Benja. Walker, were wounded in the battle on Breed's, or as it is more commonly called Bunker's hill, carried captive into Boston and there died. See Appendix, No. 12.

May 13-1776:

ANTICIPATING What they supposed and hoped would be the final determination of the continental

1776-Were chosen to set the psalm on Lord's day, Dea. Ebenezer Goold, Capt. Joseph Emerson, Reuben Goold, John Freeland, Capt. Jonas Pierce, Thomas Davis, John Robins, William Fletcher, Junr.Leave was given to the singers to set by themselves in the second seat of the front Gallery. This privilege, obtained with difficulty, was all that could be obtained at that time. Fearful of dangerous innovations, the people reluctantly yielded to improvements.

1775-Mr. Nathaniel Coverly removed from Boston to Chelmsford,

congress, the town passed a resolve, that if it should be the pleasure of the Continental Congress to declare an independent state with respect to Great Britain, they would stand by them and support them at the expence of life and fortune. To be prepared for such an exigence, they agreed at the said meeting in May to purchase shovels, spades, pick axes and narrow axes, fifes and drums, agreeable to an act of the General Court. And at another meeting in October 14, the town expressed their full consent, that the present house of representatives with the council of the State in one body, form such constitution of Government for this state as they judge most conducive to the safety, peace and happiness of this state in all after generations; and that such constitution, when formed shall be published for the perusal of the inhabitants of the state, before it be ratified.

The resolutions adopted by the assembly of Massachusetts against the proceedings of the Brit1777 ish Parliament, and the proposals for a colonial congress at New-York, were all approved by the freemen of this town. They approved of the acts of court for preventing monopoly and oppresgion and chose a committee to carry them into operation. A levy of 5000 blankets for the army was ordered, of which the town's proportion was 19.

and set up his printing press, in the south part of the town. Sundry pamphlets and small works were executed at this press, dated Chelmsford, New-England, &c. J. Farmer's MS. Letter. 1776, Jan. 4.-Resolved by the House of Representatives, that 4,000 ef blankets be provided by the Selectmen of the respective towns in the province, and paid for out of the province treasury. Chelmsford 12Billerica 18. Papers on file, T. C. Office. 1776.-A soldier returning from the army, called at Dr. Jonas Marshall's; who with his whole family took the small pox from him. Mrs. Marshall and two of their children died.-Dec. 17, the first child died-19, Mrs. Marshall-24, an infant child.

1777.-Samuel Lufkin and his wife and Solomon Keyes died of the small pox, April following the death of Mrs. Marshall and her children. The former died at the house now owned by Maj. Joseph Fletcher, the lat ter at that possessed and occupied by Mr. Wm. Laws.

Thirty men were raised for the three years service or during the war. The town agreed 1777 to give them 201. bounty per man, over and

above what the continent and state offered. This bounty was in 1781, permuted for twenty heads of horn cattle, of a middling size, per man. If the war lasted but one year, they were o have their cattle at one. year old; if it continued two years, at two years old and so on in the same proportion.

The scarcity of specie and the uncertain value of paper currency suggested various expedients for supplying the place of money, in carrying on the war. The bounty and wages in some instances were paid in corn, in others, in cattle. Another expedient was to supply the families of soldiers with the necessaries of life. To prevent exorbitant demands and charges for the articles thus furnished to the families of soldiers, a Committee was chosen to join with committees from the westerly part of the county, in order to regulate and fix the price of labor and of necessaries.

Thus without money or with very little, the town paid the soldiers it furnished for the war; and by such methods an arduous and expensive struggle for liberty was long maintained and finally brought to a successful close.

A new levy was called for, partly to join Gen. Washington's army at North River, or Hudson, partly to go to Rhode Island. The requisition of

1777.-Voted to accept the 80 bushels of salt provided by government for said town.

1777.-A volunteer company under Capt. John Ford, was engaged Sept. 27, and marched Sept. 30, to reinforce the northern army. This was at the request of the General Court. The object was to check the progress of Gen. Burgoyne, who it was feared would march through the country. This company had the satisfaction to witness the surrender of Burgoyne, before it returned. See appendix No. 12.

1778.-The Legislature ordered a levy of shirts, shoes and stockings for the army, of which this town's proportion was 47 shirts and as many pairs of stockings and shoes.

eleven men for the continental service to the westward was for nine months, and that of three men for Rhode Island 3 months. The town gave at this time $100 bounty to each soldier.

1779.-This year the town received a quantity of fire arms and steel from Government, which were sold at auction to the inhabitants of the town on condition that the fire arms should not be struck off at less than 22 dollars a piece, nor the steel at less than ten shillings per pound.' The overplus after paying the first cost and expense of transportation was paid into the town treasury

1780

Another requisition of fifteen men for Tycondaroga, was made to be enlisted for 6 months.-—These were engaged for a hundred bushels of corn per man as a bounty. The militia officers were empowered to hire and theSelectmen to raise money and produce by which to pay them. A demand was made this year by the government, upon the res ective towns in the Province for clothing to supply the army. The depreciation of paper money may be learned from the following items. A horse bought of Ephraim Spalding, Esq. for the army cost 911. a blanket 1001. Col. Simeon Spalding's account for attendance and necessary expences 55 days at Cambridge in a convention for forming the constitution was 9901. And the Rev. Mr. Bridge's salary from September to March, 8 months, was set at 3,6001.

In a resolve of the legislature of this province, passed June 22, 1780 each town was required to furnish a certain quota of beef, for the continental army. The town voted to raise 36,720 dollars instead of the beef required. Voted also to raise 40,000 dollars to pay the 9 months continental soldiers, and three months militia men, together with

1779-Capt. Samuel Stevens and Oliver Barron, Esq. attended the convention at Concord.

their bounty; for which the Selectmen and militia officers, had given their notes payable in corn, at 50 dollars per bushel. It was also agreed that every dollar of the new emission should be equal to 12l. in said taxes. The expenditures of the town this year for horses and supplies for the army, amounted to

61.8321.

1781

The rapid depreciation of paper money, the little probability of its rising again, together with the inexplicable difficulties in which it involved the people, induced the town to lay it aside and make their grants in specie. The expenditure for horses provided for the army this year was 33401.

Constitution.

WHEN the new form of Government, or constitu tion, came before the town for their approbation, one hundred legal voters were present. After hearing it read and deliberating upon each article separately, it was adopted with the exception of one clause in the 3d art. In the qualification of governor, for his office, the word Christian was exceptionable in the minds of some, as leaving a door open for the admittance of a Papist into the chair of state. It was proposed to insert the word protestant in lieu of christian. It would then stand the Governor shall profess himself to be of the protestant religion.-This amendment was approved by the town. When the final vote was taken 92 were in favor and only eight against it. These objected only to the clause above mentioned.

In the well meant, but mistaken and unjustifiable efforts of a party in the Commonwealth to obtain redress of grievances in 1786, commonly called the Shays Insurrection, this town gave decided proofs of their love of order and good government, of their enlightened zeal and patriotism. Committees were