The History of Concord, Massachusetts

Alfred Sereno Hudson

• Publisher: Jazzybee Verlag
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9783849653286
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Early American History
• Index: History

The text is closely confined to the colonial period; but the mode of presentation is extraordinary indeed to those accustomed to the prosaic methods of town and village historians. Mr. Hudson has tried to transport his readers and himself back two hundred years or more, as in a vision. In imagination we sit before the humble firesides of the first settlers; hear and join in their gossip, superstitions, and communings, social and religious; inspect their farm lands and homestends, and mark well and remember their boundaries and their family histories. At the same moment we are supposed to be living in the present, and viewing these days through the customary haze of retrospect. It is asking a good deal of any one to fancy himself in two centuries at the same time, but Mr. Hudson's humor is insistent on this point, and he keeps up the illusion, which is, unfortunately. no illusion whatever, and then finds himself on the safe road of steady and progressive narrative.

PART I. STORY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CONCORD, MASS.

CHAPTER I.

A traveler's visit to an early homestead at Concord, Massachusetts — Scene at a Settler s fireside — Company expected—Strange sounds and sights talked about — Town Meeting topics discussed — Description of Concord in the present — Objects of Historic Interest — The North Bridge — Houses of the Revolutionary Period — The Wright Tavern — First Parish Meeting House—The Antiquarian House — Meriam 's Corner.

THE fire flickered and the sparks flew up the broad chimney, as a traveler sat on a fall evening before the half-burnt backlog, in Goodman Hartwell's snug farm-house in Concord town about two centuries and a half ago.

It was evident from the appearance of things that company was expected, for besides the usual oaken settle and chairs there were standing about sundry stools and a long, low bench. Presently a sound was heard at the door as if someone were fumbling for the latchstring, and as it opened several neighbors entered and also Goodmen Buttrick and Heald from the North quarter and Miles and Dakin from the South. A little later, Parson Peter Bulkeley arrived with the Gobble boys who had come from down by the river bay in an oxcart and having overtaken the minister had brought him along.

While waiting for others to come, various subjects were talked about, among which were some strange noises which Colonial Goody Dean said she "heerd near the buryin ground."

Some said they were made by an earthquake, others suggested a landslide, but these explanations did not satisfy Duty, who declared that "the sounds ware above the airth, not under it nor inside it. Besides," said she, "the milk has soured twice sence I heerd them so I think the cows heerd them too fur they feed there."

The matter being referred to the minister he said, after a moment's reflection, "Such things being unusual contain a lesson and should lead us to be circumspect and careful in our conduct." He was about to say more but was interrupted by a faint rap at the back door which was at the end of a low entry under the lean-to roof.

Goodman Hartwell snatched from the mantlepiece a save-all on which a short candle stub sputtered and going out soon returned with Goody Rice who had come across lots for an evening call. The newcomer created a fresh breeze of excitement for she confirmed what Duty had said of the queer noises, and also told about a strange creature which had several times been seen near the "great meadows," sometimes looking like a man and sometimes like a goat, but always vanishing when approached.

It was at once agreed that since the strange sight and sounds were at about the same time they might have the same cause, and as the matter was a serious one it was thought wise before considering it further to wait till others came in, "For," said Ensign Hosmer who had just entered, "there's some up our way who've heerd things, and I consait seen things too, and perhaps the creature is the 'specter wolf folks have talked of."

The further time of waiting was mostly occupied in talking over the condition of Dame Smeadley, who, Goodman Farwell who had just visited her said, was "low and languishing and much in need of the physic and paynes of the chirugeon."

When a sufficient number had come in to begin business all other subjects were soon dropped and the business of the evening was entered upon, which consisted of an informal talk about things that were to be considered at a coming town meeting, among which were matters connected with the cow commons, "the seating of the meeting house,"

and the making of some new rules relative to strangers, it having been noised about that one or two of these might become the town charge.

As each new comer entered he was introduced to the traveler, and when it was understood that he had journeyed all the way from Watertown to observe the customs, manners, and ways of doing things of the people at the Musketequid plantation, great interest was at once taken in him and a disposition was manifested to aid him in every way possible.

Among other marks of cordiality was the promptness with which they invited him to their "housen," offering the freedom and hospitality of their firesides and promising if he would set a time they would come for him.

The traveler appeared pleased, and afterwards in accepting their invitations, sat at many hearthstones listening to the sparks and gathering much of colonial lore and pioneer experience of the settlers of Concord.

Before narrating, however, what he heard and saw, we will speak of Concord as it is, and briefly outline its earlier history. Concord, Massachusetts, is in Middlesex County about twenty miles from Boston. It has a territorial area of about fifteen miles and a population of between five and six thousand. It is intersected from north to south by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad and from east to west by the Fitchburg division of the Boston and Maine. The Lexington branch of the latter road enters the town from the east, terminating at Concord Junction near the Massachusetts Reformatory. The trolley cars, also have found their way here, and rumble over the old roads and past ancient homesteads; and where once the farm boy drove his herd afield amid the quietness of nature, may now be seen strange vehicles, whose whizzing and whirring show plainly that Concord is not exempt from modern progress.

The Center or central village of Concord has a population of from two to three thousand and contains approximately five hundred private residences. It has no stores or shops beyond what are locally required; and more or less or its inhabitants are those who in retirement have sought here a restful retreat, or who, while doing business elsewhere, have made this their home. About midway of the central village is a small common or public square. In this square is a monument commemorative of the town's soldiers and sailors who died in the civil war. Near the corner of the Common to the easterly where the road turns towards the Battle Ground is the old County Court House where the District Court for central Middlesex holds its sessions. Southerly of the Court House is the Town House and on the opposite side to the westward is the old Registry of Deeds building used for county purposes when Concord was a shire town. To the northerly of the square is "The Colonial," a building associated with the Revolutionary war and the family of Henry Thoreau.

The places of interest in Concord are both historic and classic. Foremost among the former is the site of the old North Bridge about a half mile from the public square. By this spot several Provincial and British soldiers were killed April 19, 1775. The slain Americans were Capt. Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer of the Acton Minute Men and the Statue of the Minute Man designed by Daniel C. French a Concord sculptor marks the spot on or near where they fell.

The English soldiers slain were two in number. They were under the immediate command of Lieut. Edward Thornton Gould and were of a detachment of three companies under the command of Capt. Lawrie.

The spot where these soldiers fell and the British stood when they began firing upon the Provincials just over the river is designated by a stone monument erected by the town in 1836. Near this monument by the sidewalk protected in part by a stonewall and in part by a simple chain fence are the graves of the two fallen Britons.

The locality of these monuments is called the "Battle Ground." The original historic bridge was long since swept away by a river flood, and the present one was erected for a memorial purpose.

A short distance from the lane leading to the bridge on the road toward Concord center is the old Jones house built in 1654, now the residence of John S. Keyes, Justice of the Central Middlesex District Court. In this house there lived at the time of the Concord fight Elisha Jones, an ardent patriot whose zeal was so demonstrative on the retreat of the British that his house was made a target of, and the accuracy of the Englishman's aim may still be seen by a bullet mark in the east end.

About a mile from the North Bridge stands the old Barrett house, the home in the Revolutionary period of Col. James Barrett who commanded a regiment of Middlesex militia.

To this place a detachment of Regulars were sent under Capt. Lawrence Parsons by Lieut.-Col. Smith, who with the main body of English soldiers were stationed at the central village. In the door yard of this house the Britons burned a parcel of Provincial cannon carriages and endeavored to discover and destroy other public property.

Various incidents are told of the doings of the Red Coats during their short stay about the house, and of the Provincials who sought to foil them. It is said of the aged mother of the Colonel that she would not seek for herself a place of safety when told that the British were coming, but preferred to remain saying, "I can't live long anyway and I'd rather stay and see that they don't burn down the house and barn."

As a soldier seized a trunk containing some pewter plates she pluckily exclaimed, "That is private property," upon which it was let alone. She also expostulated with a British officer who had laid hold of Stephen, her grandson, causing his release. When the hungry Britons asked for food she gave it saying, "We are commanded in the Bible to feed our enemies," and when offered money she said as she refused it, "It is the price of blood." In a field near the premises the provincials had concealed some muskets, and bullets were so disposed of in the house as to remain undiscovered, so that, all in all, Captain Parsons with his two companies of Regulars found but small compensation for his venturesome march. The Old Barrett house is about two miles north of Concord Center and is reached by the Lowell Road and the Barrett's Mill Road.

Near the Common or Public Square, and bearing a sign designating its historic importance is the "Wright Tavern" where it is asserted some of the English officers made their headquarters during their few hours sojourn in the town on April 19. Here, tradition says, Maj. John Pitcairn who commanded the British marines stirred his sugar and brandy saying as he did so, "In this way we will stir the blood of Yankees before night." This place was also the headquarters, or place of rendezvous, of the Concord Minute Men while awaiting on the morning of April 19, tidings of the advance of the English, and to this tavern Captain Smith and his company from Lincoln repaired and reported; so that it was within the course of a few hours the head center of two hostile forces who were to clash in battle on that fateful day. This tavern is very old. It was opened about 1747, by a militia captain named Ephraim Jones. In 1751, Jones sold the premises to Thomas Munroe formerly of Lexington, who continued the tavern business, and made the place, as Jones had done before him, a resort for the town officials on their days of public business, furnishing them with such refreshments as were demanded by the times and the special occasions.

About 1760, it came into the possession of Deacon Thomas Barrett, by a mortgage and was sold by him to Daniel Taylor. In 1775, Amos Wright became its proprietor, and although he kept an Inn there but a short period, it was long enough to give it a lasting name, for it has been known as the Wright Tavern ever since, notwithstanding it was sold in 1793, to Capt. Reuben Brown formerly of Sudbury.

Near the Wright Tavern on the south is the First Parish or Unitarian Meeting House, which stands on the site of one erected in 1712, where in 1774, the first Provincial Congress met, with John Hancock as President. The immediate predecessor of the present edifice after having been repeatedly remodeled was destroyed by fire April 12, 1900.

A few rods to the southerly, on the left going toward Lexington is the Antiquarian House, said to be one of the oldest buildings in Concord and formerly the home of Reuben Brown, a saddler. Here is now kept a collection of relics among which is the sword of Col. James Barrett, a gun of one of the English soldiers who fell at the North Bridge and a tobacco box of Maj. John Buttrick.

About a mile below the Antiquarian House on the Lexington road which was traveled by the English soldiers both in their advance and their retreat on April 19, is Meriam's Corner. Here was the first skirmish after the firing at the North Bridge, and the beginning of disaster to the retreating English, they having been attacked at this point by the Provincials who had crossed from the North Bridge over the "Great Fields" back of the Burying Ground, and also by companies from Reading, Chelmsford and Billerica.

A tablet suitably inscribed marks the spot of this memorable skirmish, and hard by, set back from the highway with its side upon the road to Bedford is the square antiquated dwelling house early occupied by the Meriams.

On one of its doors is the mark of a bullet received April 19th; and the brick oven and high mantle cupboard and corner beaufet are all indicative of the days of tallow candles and pewter plates.

On the east side of what is now Walden street at a place near the Congregational Trinitarian meeting house there stood on April 19, 1775, a store house in which some Provincial stores had been deposited by the Committee of Safety. These stores were saved from destruction by the English searching squad, by a ruse of the miller who had them in charge, who, placing his hands upon barrels of his own flour, said, "This is my flour. In the winter I grind my grain and in the spring I carry it to market."

The soldiers believing by this remark concerning his own flour that all the flour deposited there belonged to the miller departed saying, "We do not destroy private property."

CHAPTER II.

Places of Classic Interest — The "Old Manse" — Home of Ralph Waldo Emerson — The "Orchard House" — The "W...

Table of contents

• PREFACE
• PART I. STORY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CONCORD, MASS.
• PART II. HISTORY OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CONCORD, MASS. 1654-1692