xt747d2q854s https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt747d2q854s/data/mets.xml Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects. Massachusetts Historical Records Survey (Mass.) United States. Work Projects Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects. 1940 [iii], 132 p.: ill. 27 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 4.14:M 382/3/no.14/v.4 books  English Boston, Mass.: the Survey  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Massachusetts Works Progress Administration Publications Barre (Mass.: Town)--Archival resources Public records--Massachusetts--Barre (Town) Barre (Mass.: Town)--History--Sources Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 14, Worcester County, vol. IV, Barre, 1940 text Inventory of City and Town Archives of Massachusetts. No. 14, Worcester County, vol. IV, Barre, 1940 1940 1940 2020 true xt747d2q854s section xt747d2q854s  

 

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No.14.Worcester County
VOL . N. BARRE

 

 

 

  

     

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The Historical Records Survey Program

Sargent B. Chi

1d} National Director
Carl J. Jennerbl

ad, State Supervisor

 

Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner
Robert Y. Phillips, Regional Supervisor
Earold G. Dunncy, State Dirrctor

"f“ ’f um"? "73 ‘1““T""“V'-".A"""‘«‘T
JUR:. ripplc-..) .~.lJi..l-‘.LDlF_r_-l‘~/_:

?.C. Earrinrton,
Johl J. KcDonough,

-r

Delis J. Delaney,

 

  
 

 

By authoritV of a Presidential Letter, the Historical .ecords SrrveV
was =staolished in JanuerV, l9'75, under the national direction of Dr.
Luther H. EVans, as a federallV sponsored project 0: the Worhs Progress
Administration (now the Work Project s Administrati on). Since federal
sponsorship ceased on Au; st 31,1939, the sponsorship of the Massa—
chusetts unit of the surveV has been undertaken by Frederic W. Cook,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Tre purpose of the project is to surveV, preserVe and render acces—
sible historical source materials of all kinds Its Work hes fallen
naturally into the following main divisions: public records, private
manuscripts, church records, eaer American imprints historical DOTtT°ltS
and newspapers. Practically all fristo «115 under one or
another of these divisions. In r inder control
certain techniq‘ies have been found practicable, _ p d “5 On the nature
of the subject matter, and usi e variOislV the nethods cf the inventoiw
the snide, the calender the checklist or the ludEY in the puclication
of the result. For CU CliC records, church records and portraits, the
method 0: the inventory has worked best; for historical nanuscripts, the
guide or, in rare cases where the 'naler al was of unus“el inoortance,

the calendar; for imprints, the Che MC list: for newspaper a2; ecu:
records, the index; and so on.

 

The act ual “ ‘ i ‘. ‘ ; information concerning historical na—
terials at i or custoiV has in most cases teen pre~
ceded bV a t s r both the ustodian and poste ritV, im—
portant task, that of putting records in order; of cleanine, dusting, re~
filine, and treatinr tLem; and, in short, doing e'me thifi ng possible to
ensure tieir preservation. This function 0* the tro;ect, often performed
by its vorker s under alnost indescribable conditions of dust, f lth

dampness, poor ventilation, and eVen rernin nay w ll be regs arded bV futire
.:enerati one as a nest intortnnt COHtTlt“ClOD of the s“rV€V.

Scarcely less innort1nt, noweve , are the editorial processes to
which all_ field infortition nist re sitjected hefore pullicetion. Here
zaps 1nd in9 denuncies are spotted, in onsistenCies reconciled, and order
DTOUSht out of chaos. In the f‘el o p‘ reco t has been found

c
i d f

necessarV not only to sk tch brieflV the hi
and its :overnment but elso to pr Mi ce
office or institution with an outline of its development, s:d upon its
own records or upon statutory or other sources. In the in entories of
Church records, sinilner, the preparation of the history of each church
constitu es n tosk equally arduous with that of 10c etin; and listing its
records. In Massachusetts two broader works have al so teen undertaken.
The :eneral historical Background, statutory origin and functioning of
countV, city, or town oi" ices have been studied With a vivw to providing
satisfactory accounts of the development of county and municipal corern~
ment Senernlly. These latter undertakings are now happilV nearing con—
pletion.

  

In the field of countV records the survevs of eirht of the fo‘u rteen
counties of Massuchusetts are neurin: completion. In that of municipal
records, RpUTOXim”telY sixtV o: 350 cities and towns have been corered

 

  

Preface

to date including several of the more petulcus. Editorial work is now
also proceeding on SlY of an estimated ten volumes of the inventory of
the records of the citv of Boston. Some POO manuscript depositories,
lnrse and snall, have been surveved and a preliminarv :uide to them
published. An inventory of the records of Universalist churches in
Nessachusetts will soon be published. and field work is being carried

on in other denrminations, particularly in the Unitarian, Con recmtionnl,
Bahtist, and Jewish bodies; A catalogue of portraits painted before

1855 in Messecnusetts has been published and editorial work is proceeding

on similar listines for the other New England states and New York State.

A listing of the publicqtions of the Massachusetts unit of the survey
fellows at the end of this volume.

Barre is the fourth in he

The inventory of the t0wn archives of t
series of such inventories covering the towns ani cities of Worcester
County. The field work as well as the 18 ricnl research for this
volume were done principally by Gunhilie HenneV, unier the supervision
of Lincoln Ross. The field forms were edi ed in the Foston office by
Oscar 3. Nelson, Boyd Tucker and Lawrence
of Morris I. Wartow. Research for the his
Maurice Ross, the sketches both of the town 1
thwn offices and its general governmental revelopnent heinx written bv the
undersigned. The index was prepared under the iirec ion of Charles Heskell.
Editorial scrutiny was given the vclune in ”e inston office of the
Historical Records Survey which is under thv d
Evans. The survey is also indected to the
the librarian of the Woods Memorial Librarv, Miss Kn
their c00peration ani assistance; also tr the Secretnr' oi
Mr. Frederic W. Cook, Without Whose sponsorship this t
Lossible.

ricul sketch was done b7
"'story, and of the various

ction of Dr. Luther E.
tow. officials of Birre, end to
rion J. Jerhert, for

 

he Connonwealth,
would not be

'1 N
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k;
11
O
L‘?‘ cf

Girl J. Wannerblnd
State Supervisor
Historical Records Survev.

  

 

 

 

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-4 LL Cf CCKILNTS

.ap oi ”arre.........n.............D............°.....4
l, Histo rical Sketch......o.,c.‘5,1.......r...;..e....=..5

Tahlc “0}001 ocic1sr1cs at 49p10ximately Ten
Intervals1765-18b5...............................

Table II Population.................................

Tat 18 III A5grcgf ates oi 'Polls, Property, and Taxes

Nl4
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as ASSGSSCd......n.c.o-..o...au....-.....u~o'..ouo
,

Cnart Of Town GovernmentOIIOQOOOOOOCIIOOUI'OOOOOIOOO

M N N N
Q‘O)

2. Governnental Organization and Records System.......... 9
3; Housing, Care and Acces sitility' of the Records........ 5
é, List of Abbreviations, S mools, and Explanatory Totes.58

   

Part 2. Tovg Officers and Their Records
1“ Selects/11.39
Xinutes En;
Llcenscs-
cord.; I
If. . Clerk......uc any 0...... ...........=;a........47
instes anc {eforts; Iital Statistics; rrorort"
Records; Licenses and :er‘1ts; iilitary Recoros;
Icwn Cfficers; Liscellaneors
III. LegIstrsrs of Yoters.....1n..;u.....=.c...°:..:n:....55
IV. Preciz-0t 031011156
7. Boari Cf Ass1ssors......a....°.......o...............57
‘inute ; Valvations 31C assessxents; _.:ate:ents;
{o r ehiclc ixcise; Deeds; ax Titles, ~71115
VI. 1 or...¢....,....=............nn...a...a.....-..6C

Corritrerts; n

   

~cce1pts;

3
r Vehicle Excise; Old Age Assi

0)
ID

VII. Trca urer..o............o...................,........
Rejo orts; Genera 1 Accounts; Orders, Inwoices,
Vouchers; Checks and ;ank nccounts, otes,

Fonds, Trust Funds

 

VIIi. Auditor..........t....030....., “can. 95.............57
IX. udroc and Tinance Con:1ttee.....v...u...............68
X. Trus tees of All 91:01: olent ivnds..........;.;.'.......38
XI. T_rur tees of the ,amucl F. Joods Post 179 G.A,R.

Fund......n....................°...................

XII. School Committee.....o...............................

Minutes 9nd Ecrorts; Pupils Escords; Iscord of

Teachers; Financial RecorOs; School District No. 1.

XIII, Attendance Oi_icors..........,...a...................

XIV. Superintendent of Schools.....n......................

XV. school Ehysician......................o..........n...

XII. School Nurse.......5.»................o.n...=1.:,.ce.

Reports and Schedules, Jupils Health

XVII. Library Trustees,.nr..aun.oefio.o.................a...

iinutes and Reports; Accessories and Circu ation;

1 3

Financial Records

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XVIII.

XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.

XXVI.
XX"I I.
XXVIII.

XXIX.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.
XXXIV.
XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
XII.
XLII.
XLIII.
XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.
XLVII.

XLVIII.

XLIX.
L.
LI.
LII.
LIII.
LIV.
LV.

n0

Table of Contents

Comnissioners of Public Welfare. ......................... 78
Minutes and Reports; General Cases; Infirmary: Aid

to Dependant Children; Outside Aid; Old Ase

Assistance; Miscellaneous
Agent and Investig ator of Welfare ............ . ..... .....-85
Board of Health. ................. .... ................... .85
Inspector of Provisions ........... . ............. . ...... ..93
Inspector of Animals ...... .. .......... ... ............... .37
Cemetery Commissioners ...... . ...................... .. ...37
Burial Agent.. ............ . ......... ....... ........... ...35
Water CommissiOners. ............ . ..... . ..... ..«..........80

”inutes and Reports; Receipts and Expenditures;
Ilant Operation; ”is ceLlaneous
Superintendent of Streets ....................... ...... .,
Highway Surveyors ............. . ....... . ................. ..32
Rockingstone Park COmmissioners...... .................... h;
Trustees of Felton Field. ............................. ..IDT
Tree Wardens.,....= .............. ............... ......... 5%
Forest Commissioners ........ . .......... ......,.......... "
Moth (Control) Superintendent ......... . .................
Constables.. .......... . ........................... ...... U
Police Department ...................................... ..9
Jailwr .................... ....... ...................... .
Fire Department ........................................ .
Forest Warden..... .................. . ...... .............
DogOfficer....... ......... .....
Go vernor's Committ:e on Safety..... ......... . ........... .9
Sealer of Wei hts and “easures. .........................
Survevors of Lumber .............. ... ...... ... ......... .
”ti:h“rs .Cf Vfiy, Co-‘l 71d Gr“in

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........ .................. CI.
Measurers of Wood Bark, and Manure. ....................
Found Keeper .............. . .................. . ....... ....
Field Drivers. ....................... . ................. .
Moderator. .................................... i ...... ...
Fence Viewers. ....... . ................... ..........5 .....
Agent for Compensation Insurance ........................
Appendix — hanuscript. ........................ . .........

 

Part C, Defunct Offices

Clerk of the Market and Surveyor of Wheat and Flour”.... 1C3

Deer Reeves.... .................... .. ........ . .......... 10F
Hog Reeves.. .......................................... ..105
Sealer of Shingles and Claboards... ................ ..... ICE
Tythingmen ..... . .............. .u.. .................... .. lOG
Wardens.... ......... . ........ , ................ ..... 106

Committee of Correspondence, In pection and Safety. ...106

 Table of Contents

LVI.
LVII.
LVIII.
LIX.
LX.
LXI.
LXII.
IXIII.
1X1".
LXV.

LXVI .

LXVII.
LXVIII.
LXIX.

 

Haywards. ...... ............ ...... ... ................
Surveyor of Flax and Hemp..........
Packer of Beef and Pork.....
Sealer of Leather.......................................
Committee for Singing School. ......... ..... ..
Committee for the Pursuing and Detection of Thieves.
Town Agent. ........ .... ...... . ..... .....................
Gauger of Casks............
Officer Pertaining to Town Clock cr Town Bell...
Liquor Agent............................................
Agent of Town in Regard to Central Massachusetts
Railroad ..................... ........ ...... .....
Street Light Superintendent ........ ..

 

..... ..... .. ...... .

Inspector of Petroleum Eroducts.......... .
cent for the Care of Soldiers' and Sailors' Graves.

A

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of Sources.. ......... . ...... . ...................
of Publications of Eistorical Records Survey.....

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l. HISTORICAL SKETCH

In 1686 the Indians sold to the colonists of Massachusetts for 93
pounds a tract twelve miles square called Naquog. part of which went to
form the present town of Barre. The settlers knew that the Indians had no
leeal title to the land, and so little value, other than as a measure of
peace and policy, was {laced on the deed that it was not recorded until
April 15, 1784.1 The general court confirmed the title to this land on
Februarv 93, 1713, on condition that sixty families settle there within the
next seven v‘ars, and that land be set apart for the location and support
of the church and schools.2 On Ntvenber 15, 1790, Rutland township cane
into existence with the fulfillment of these requirements:3

By 17PO the ”Northwest Quarter" of Rutland had attracted a few pioneer
households.4 On November 7, 1733, at the meeting authorized by the general
court rn Avril 95, 173?,5 the proprietors of the "Northwest Quarter" of Rut~
land voted to divide their area into sixty—six fifty—acre lots and thirtv»
three farms of five hundred acres each, the remaining parcels of the approxi~
notelv fortV~four square miles of territory to be sold to new settlers.6 To
increase the desirability of the region, roads leading into it were built and
a bridge over the Ware River was constructed, while the abundant grazing land
and water encouraaed hanesteading,7

It was not very lone before the inhabitants of this region began the
usual demand for autbnrny. Distances of from ten to fourteen miles from some
of its sections to the center of the town prevented effective participation
in the Rutland government and schools. Church—going was so difficult that
the dwellers in the upper district of the territory node an early effort to
provide their Own local institutions. To effect this inprovement, the nen
of the Northwest Quarter on November 24, 174?, petitioned for the establish«
ment of a separate town. The? stated that thev were "so far distant from the
body of the Town as that they cannot attend their dutv there without great
difficulty...said Town ha"e voted their Consent...they are daily increasing

1. (TRANSCEIBED PRO‘?ET RECORDS) in Middlesex County Registry of
Deeds, Cambridge, Book l5, t. 511; Frederick C. Pierce, "Barre”, in Elstorx
of Worcester Count‘r‘L Massachusetts, Abijah P. ’arvin, ed., 9 vols., Boston,

 

C. F. ewett and Conpanv, 1879, I, p. PEP; lfatthem Walker, ”Barre" in Histrrx
of Worcester County, Massachusetts, D. Haoilton Hurd, ed., 9 vols
nhia; J. W. Levis and Conianv, 1889, I, p. 331

9. Connonweelth of Massachusetts, Secretary of State, Massachusetts
State Archives. 417 vols. in 418, nss., IV, "Court Records, l?09«l7l?", p.
336. Hereafter cited as Massachusetts Archives

3. Massachusetts General Court, Journal of the House of Reoresentatives.
1715—1958, Pl? vols. in PPO, Boston, l7PO~1938, 1790, p. 2?. Hereafter cited
as EEEEQ Journal.

., Philadel—

 

4. History of Worcester Countr, ETlerv Crane, ed., 3'vols., New York,
I, pp. Ychd
5. Province of Massachusetts Bay, Teneral Court, Acts and 3e
Public end grivate, of the Province of Massachusettsw?oy, 1699—1780, Pl vols.,
Boston, 1969~1992, XI (1726—1733), apcendir VI, ch. 13?. Hereaft
Province Acts and Resolves

6. Walker, on. git;, I, pp. ESP—3

7. Ibid., I, pp. 33?, 356

er cited as

 

  

 

6

(First entrv on p. 39) Historical Sketch

and like to be a competent number if they hsi the Privileges of ; 1n~;_,,.;

The reoiest was not grent;d out on April 9, 1748 they were exempted
from pavinf winisterial taxes as long as thev nai their own minister.P Even
the proprietors st Rutlend, weary of beini taxed for inprovenents v which
they did not benefit, tetitionei for town status for the Iorthwes t Quarter
on Acril E, 1749. They 99v~ as their reason:

 

1'
./

fiftees I . 1 eat & Cons oat P91 % Expense of tine
ani cany hunirei PO‘nis in Runnin; theg ?ounis, surveVing,
I out Lots, fin in; rut & clesring Ronfls,
sstlin Inh9 ‘ tsnts & paying for
,_ there are now... abCVe rne hunirsd
souls ‘10 s t9nd in ne: 3 of a Settled Gospel Hinistrv &
Ordinances, anfi the Adult ore Earnestly Desirrus of them,
but cannot obtain them without a proper Encoura
Th Center of sd. Quarter is about Ten Miles iistqnt from
the 1 ce of Worshiy of the Original settlers & some parts
0? s6. Quarter aboute fourtee, wiles off, a verv heivv In

convenience either to be werned to their ccmnon Tovn Meetinss

,

or to attend them or to serve as Town Officers...fi

That the si. rrocrietors h ve been for above these
t

 

 
 

 

 

\Jxl

On Acril 14, 1749, the general court allovei the retiti on ani orierei tile
erection of the Northwest Quarter ”into a separate district With full p-Cwer to
choose Town Officers, grant and raise non ey from time to time to fiefrev the
necessary charges arising ugon said district uni tor nanagin: the other Affairs
relating to said District, setling a Hinister, erecting a meetin5~house, :r1nt—
ing ani naéing ill nee ofic anis and highways, together with all other Powers,
Priviledges 9nd Immuniti‘s that Towns bv L9” enjoy, ssvinr cnlv the Privileire
of sending one or more Reiresents ives to th e General isseECIV. ..”4 This order
was confirnei_ov the act of Airil 11, 1755 , ani by the King ini his Council on
JUly 7, I756.C The earliest preservei record of 9 district meeting is dated
March 14, 1765.5 As was usual at this eerlv iite tr e church sni town were
closelv relatei. The 5e oer rel court oric red on Ju ne 90,1749, that a tor on
Innis be ”leviei and aSSessei . . . for erectin: a Meet ing House, Settling and
Maintaining a mini st 7 I

  

'37.

 

 

1. Province Acts and Resolves 111 (174? ~71 5.6), notes on ch. 94, p. 135‘s

. Iyid., p. 654
. M«ssachusetts Archives, CXV, ”Towns, I749~17F1”, pp. 4;3~455 See entry

 

"J

53

91s
4, Province Acts and Resolves, XIV, (1747 ~l 7E? , ap11endix IX, ch. ?55, p

284; M ssachusetts Archives, CXV, ”Towns, 174? 1751”, pp. 416~474; ”Towns, 1751»
1754” pp. 568~364, (see entrv 945b)

5. Provirce Act _s and Resolves, III, (174?— 756), 75, p. €F4; Massachu~
etts Archives, "XI, ”“orei"n Relations, 1751~1758," pp. ChL91, 595

6. Town of Barre, T0wn Clerk, RECORD ~ TOWE OF B.ARRE, 175011, (see entry
29), 7 vols., mss., I, pp. GO, 61.Herea1tsr cited as Town Record
7. Province Acts and Resolves, XIV, (1747 175? , pp, 97?, 666

.v--—.-4 V.--—...-v.~—~.—~w

 

   

iv

 

Hj-‘S'GOTW7i 3591“h (First entry on p. 39)

1
11L. Brig-«817 See enti‘;,’v2

 

 

  
     

T , ntr—four years 1a..
to denanif full townshio
court fron the innab itan
reai ”Set in; Forth . .
miles Square on? now cont1ins acout t:o hunired families; inat

 

 

 

 

the ir incorporation they have joined with Rutlani in the choice of a 1e~
Ire? en tative, which thev find verv inconvenient, rs nany of the inhabitan
of tLe said Dis tric ct lit e fifteen or sixteen miles iron the plece of elec—
tion. An‘ praying tnat the $111 District nay b= Incorporated into a Town
nn1 inVJstei with the yr ri"ile3es t: Tovns oelonging.”1 :he petitioners W‘
reouested to notifv the to of Rutlnnd uni the iistricts of Oakhan 1nd
Hubbariston by serving fltt :ted copies of the ;etition to the clerics.p S
no answers were received, the cetition was rereai on Febrrary 10, 1774, e

’ ses of the 3enernl court ordered that tne petitioners' ”prover be

6 far as to allow the 3etitioners to bring in a Bill for Inccreo

Tn: CLOlCF of a n1re for tne new town be:ane w S“t;ect of keen contro~
T=rsy. In tne actual act of inccrioration, ,oese; on June 17, 1774, the
town w1s naned Hutchinson, in Lrnor of the f31ner 30"ernor TLones Hutchins
1 unirersilly untopnlor retresent1t1ve of the Kin3.4 T' inhabitants in~
te.se y i1sliked tn; none, and on Fexruarv E, 1776, 33titionei that it be
cnan: i to Wilkes. Tney iecl1refi that in 1773 thev n11 netionei:

 
     
  

concurr;
Chair unles s
the Blank but

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n, 1n1t
they Viewe‘ as . ,t C’nul;”+—
1111 1.12.". c , 1-11? Chair w;o 5.111 after
317a us 1 Specinen of n1t he was or intenie i to be to
this Cclonr by filli my the Blank with that obnoxticus
none Hutchinson th1t well known ;neny to the netur l and
Stl'fithEi r13nic of is—

America "hi cL rave is a verv
nareoble Sens1tion of nin1 not »ein to Sue
the. Tom in Which we Lived but on“ - .
snrily Turned noon tn1t i:nc-ni1i"us Lninv of nan kini

and in a ne1sure fill'd with Sha1e to tell where We 11v
~'en Runested. . . . Therefore we . did on the l7th

  

  

cf January lust1t a to" neetin3 . . . rote1 un1nenrusly
to petition the 3e ner1l 1ssenblgv of this colony to take

l. Protince Acts fin‘ Resolves, ‘J ,(l 7*. lVSO), L. 410
?. gggsewqourngl: Jane P‘, 1773
3. Province Acts and Resolves, V (1769el780),

 

, r3. 410~éll See entry
Ibid. , y. 389; ”1o"cn1setts Archives, CXVIII, ”Towns, 1754~1774”

 

 

  

(First entry on p. 41) Historical Sketch

off and Csncil that obnOYtious name Hutchinson . . . voted
unanemously that it would give Content to the inhabitents

of this Town to be incorporated by that Ever memorable

friend to the rights and Liberties of America, namely Wilks.”1

On June 5, 1776, a resolve was passed to allow the change from Hutchine
son to Wilkes-P On June 95, 1776, a bill changing the name to Barre was read
twice.3 Finallv November 7, 1776, after four additional readings, the latter

’1
act was passed.*

Both Wilkes and Isaac Barre, after whom the to“n was named as members
of Parliament had been powerful champions of the colonists.

When the Stamp Act had been introduced in Parliament by Grenville,
Townshend its chief supporter, he d spo oken cf the colonies as ”children
planted by our care, nourished by our induls=nc*, and protected bv our drns”.
Practically alone in his opposition, Colonel Is esc Barre, a young Irish

soldier of fortune had endeared himself to every American by the sensitiondl
retort:

ons planted

”They planted bv Vour core? No'rour oppr ressi
ence ? They

hem in America! They nourie shed by vour indul:
grew up by Vour ne e:lect of them The v protected bv "our firms?
sons of libertv have nobly taken up arms in rour de: ence.

V people, I believe, are as truly loval subjects as the Kin;
has; but o people jeQIOJS of their lib;=rties,1nd who will

vindic te them should they ev»r be 1101 ted!”6

 

Further resentment and hostilitv towards Tories and the mother country
were plainly manifested bv the complaint made to the general court relati"e
to the conduct of Tohn Caliwell, Captain John Black and Colonel William Buck~
minster in procuring a town meetin~ to consider Lord Howe's declardtion for
restoring peace in Aneric1 by compromisin? disputed matters and by estsblish~
ing the r Lhts and privileges of the colonists. Altiourh Cald"ell h. 1 b
leader in the colonie 1 cause in the town, and 11thoueh Bl1ck and Bucknirste
had both fought at Bunker Hill and Buckminster been severelv wounded there,
the town Wis pleased when, on February 7, 1775, the court resolved:

 

—~..‘ ~——v—r-- m-r -.. -r—r».—~-‘.--...... 71...... 7‘

(1% 179) m. 676. See entr'r950

we .ev, 7-w'vr‘ - —— wr—m ‘r'V—r‘t—vr—w -.n~..~»_._.._—

1. Province Actsvand Rz=

      

 

?. (notes); Eouse L51 ?9 ~ June ?7, 1775, p. 1%5
3. ; , , (1769~l790), p. 676; House {ggrqqlL
boy ?9 — June ?7,1776, p. 135. See entry 251

(17fi9-1730), b. 670. See also ;
for d,00p7 of this not. ;,

  
  

4. Pravlnb‘ Ac ts_ and P
Town Record 1, pages not n1
1. Walker, gg;_g;§;, I,
6. Quoted b7 Geor e st Barre C:ntennial Celebrition, June
17, 1874. A‘Menorial of -SEEhMEZZA'LT"Tr’ of the Incornordtjon
Voridge, John Wils on and Son,1875

   

 

 

of the Town of Barre published bv the tr:“n,
p.2F3. Here 1fter cited as Bnrre C~nter nial_ The names of both Wilkes and

Barre have been joined 0 provide tn name of the Pennsvlvania citv.

   

 

 

 875

 

;0

Historical Sketch (F1 st entrr on p.

1
*2
V

”that the Conduct of the suii Caldwell and ?1ack,
in >rocurin§ a Town Mcetin; to be C2119d for tke purczse
01 ccnsiderin- the insidious Pronosals ccntnin9d in 10rd
nowe‘s Declarations b9f3r9 mentioned, was highly culsstle
US it is of th9 . rnus T9nd9ncv or 5 few In—
dividuals to ' pri"st9 Opir.inis, on .4 V '.pcrt9
ant Subj9cts, in ' n to tne frieral voi '

and might nsve C worst Etfects

   
  
    
 
 
 
 
 
       
     
 
  

 

prvvailei on th9 01 t19 said
Plan th9v had prnpc ch to th‘ jonor

 

m9 6 Y‘
J.

 
 

'9ct9i . . . fi»
310 Ct ani Buckminst9r, in th _
Cvnfiress uni cthFrs inA uthori thicn
19s , had a manif9st T9nd9ncv to d9f9st
this find the Un1t9i Stat9s for the
to Sibjarwt9 as far as in thrm 13v t?
d9sg;otic POW9T . . F
the said Ca1dW911, B71Ck and Buck i
F~1v9s tr b9 unfit t
witnin this Sta . . . . and them commit
11,11,11- . Ill

 

9's nttituie t6”qri the i109 niin: r9"<11tifii Wis SQC"M Cu June 10,
tr< t39n "0t9f “th mtiie C7 tbs Cbntin- t C E t s
an Indegrndant State ani thit “9 W111 f
ortu s.”~C Dirin; the war Barre c9ntr

"9n ani supp1i9s. as

,
1 ,
ziiini tha 0019n19s 911 scm9 shirl9d

t: equili"9 th9 tq199 9* th9 .9rt109s 0'

-~ n-

 

(WW :. CINC“’i"\ :'

‘cution 0f

99“

u; in setislon—
91 an: 9w had
s9ti1

C9f0r9 the Sunren9 JuTicisl Chart in 178‘
n t s t49 state con
C1s9 crfic9rn9n a n9rr0 named Vslker. Walc9r, or ”Quork”,
U Nithwniel annison, a susstpn tial ffirj9r of Barr9 who
C1qiwed min as a siavs, the adaption 0: t

   

c,
)
he constititi in the sprin; of

thr99
COWWi ssinn as 11st'
Buckfiinster of?
1776) ch. 1( W5 u.
. Pierc:, gnu?

     
      
     
   
 

.fiission 73 Cirsnsr and
Ltid., XIX, ( 7759

. p9~ce, F1acz
.s " wnuniGd

 

3. Walker, Cu. , ; Massscnu59tts Grneral Csurt AL 1nd
Laws " ‘ f ssnchu§931sx 178091505, 13 "Fls., ifstfln, 18009
1838 11's "11 ‘ ‘
h A

9.. Héreaftem the
091238 (is @515; of 1939919
- 9th; cf 1019 to 69 q

 

 

 

 

  

10
(First entrv on p. 41) Historical Sketch

1780 notwithstanding. At haVine tine Jennison needed Quork's services, but

a neighbor, Caldwell, told the nerro he was free and offered him employment.
The slave left Jennison and secretly went to Caldwell‘s farm, where Jennison
found him and attempted to force him to return. Jennison took the case to
the Supreie Judicial Court vhich, at the April 1783 term, save a decision
freeing Quork and forever settling the question of slavery in Massachusetts.1

Followin: the war, currencv depreciated and credit was extinct. Despite
a temporarv act of 178? making propertv legal tender for debts,? there was
deep and widespread suffering among the people. Feeling ran high in Barre.pa
Many citizens of the town united in military bodies, one of which was led by
Lieutenant Moses Smith. It was Smith who challenged the authoritv of Judge
Ward and prevented the sitting of the court in Worcester in 1785. For his
cart in the rebellion Lieutenant Snith was suspended from the church and was
suspected of the theft of the town's annunition.3 On November 27, 1786 a
committee of nine persons was elected, ”to make Search for the Ammunition that
belongs to the town which is taken without Leave from the Selectnen.” The
counittee reported on December 18 that the uissin; :nnunition had been found
in the barn of a certain Jeseph Smith ”who does not know how it got there.”‘l

A meeting was called on Januarv l, 1787 for the purpose of taking sone
action on a petition signed bv sone of the townspeople. A connittee of seven
was elected which was to report on Januarv 18, 1787, and was enp0wered to
draw up a petition tr the :eneral court ”on any Subject that they shall judge
proper to obtain peace and harmony again.” The petition the committee drew
up was accepted and sent to the general court:

”May it please Your Ercellency and the Honourable
Council whereas application was made to sd town by number
of its disaffected Inhabitants called Insurgents wishing
the town to take up the nutter as Mediators between Govern—

ment and the disaffected subjects of sd town ~ we your
petitioners deploring the situation of the Town, County,
and Conuonweelth in their present divided State, Disapprove

in? in the Strongest manner the rising in arms in oppersi~
tion to Government — diprecating the horrors of bloodshed

in the Cunnonwealth; in particular one part of the Cwnntv

in arns asainst another, nore especially Town and Neiehbours
asainst each other and . . . to all With accunulating horror
an aruei force remdv to march from the T0wn at the call of
G rernrent while a party are ready to march in opposition~
frou these Consilerations and innumerable others familiar

to our minds we pray vour Ercellencv and Vour Honours to

 

l. Quork Walker vs. Jennison in Collections of the Massachusetts
Historical Socii*1_for the Year l79§J Boston, 1795, 10 vols. in series,

 

IV of series I, p. 303; Walker op. cit., I, (E?
9. Laws, 178?, ch. Pl Pa. See entry 949

3. Walker, RP; cit., I, pp. 349, 350. After the BTCiteWQHt of the
rebellion had died down, Lieutenant Smith was reinstated in the church.
reeained civic favor ind subsequently held many town offices.
H 4. Town Records, I, pages not numbered

 

 

 

     
  
   
   
  
   
  
    
    
  
   
   
  
      
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
  
 
    
  
  
     
   
  
    
      

.istorical Sketch (First entrv on p. 39)

:,

 

_erinuslv antici ate the crns iquences ani if cansisw

tent with vcur Wis in iesist from prosecuting the flatter
with riscur until :rery ccnciliatcrv measure has been u ed
consistant with the good safety qni iignity of tne
Cfmfionwealth « we vcur petitirners while attem; in? to
weiiate between t'm insultefl Counsnwealth ani man? of

its dis ffe mt i subjects (of whom m v have fought in

the Glorious cause of their Ccuntrv 3 the is e Var,

and on thwt acccunt warmer in the a factions of their
fellow Citivens) beg lefive to uention, tuat Your peti~
ticners are assure? fraw scfie cf the crisci.ple of si
subjects in when we place ccnfidence that tne C 1r
Cfim.1on Pleas and General Sessirn us of 75 be; ce shal
be obstructei in icin; bus iness peccecbly , ‘ ”
cf Jcrcester until Pkit r tn e next Session
Court ch"iiei tE1-' >perties
from Seizure in ccbsen“~“c~ , ' ,'r ille-
to Gavernuent, 3.1i thsv furtner assuie us
petiticnei vour ;Kcellencv ”esteri
arwv wav nct ”“rcl1 to
in “rbscjmebc~ ucve (r inter
gs titicne