History of Fitchburg Part 17 Rufus Torrey 1865


(skipped a paragraph on another new preacher - We're up to
the late 1750s)

For several years previous to this event, (the incorporation
of the town) the inhabitants of the westerly part of
Lunenburg began to have shrewd suspicions that they were
able to walk alone -- that they were sufficient in knowledge
and numbers to manage their own affairs -- and that it was
an unnecessary burthen upon them to be compelled to travel
the distance of five or ten miles to attend Divine service,
and transact the ordinary business of town affairs.

It will be seen, upon an inspection of the case, that there
was a petty good foundation for these opinions.  By an
examination of the Records, it will be seen that a very fair
proportion of those who were selected to manage the most
important affairs of the town, was taken from amoung those
afterwards belonging to Fitchburg.  It ought furthermore to
be considered, that a ride of ten miles then, was quite a
different affair from a ride of that distance now.  Of the
roads at that period, mention has already been made.  They
were but little better than cow-paths.  When this town was
incorporated, there were no wheel carriages here of a higher
rank than ox carts.  Any vehicle of lighter construction
would have soon gone to destruction over such roads.
Journeys were then made on horsback or on foot.  A spruce
young gentleman, in treating the mistress of his affections
to a ride -- or the sober-minded husband in carrying the
partner of his life to church -- brings the sure-paced
animal to the horse-block, and mounts - the lady places
herself on the pillion behind him.  The horse starts off on
a walk, - the greatest speed at which it would be considered
safe to drive him, through roads so rough.  They thus pursue
their journey winding along up one hill, and then another.
The horse leaps over the smaller streams, for fear of
wetting his feet and wades boldly through the larger onew,
even to endangering the feet of his riders.  Now the
gentleman dismounts to "let down" the bars, and then
proceeds along, dodging under the boughs, twigs and limbs of
trees.  He must start very early, or arrive at his journey's
end very late.  It is therefore not to be wondered at that
the early settlers of this town began so early as they did,
to desire a separation from the parent stock, that they
might be nearer home in the perfomance of their public
duties, whether they were such as they owed to the community
or to their Maker.

(skipped two paragraphs detailing 5 years of unsuccessful
petitioning to allow the west Lunenburgers to form their own
town.)

....But the advocates of this measure made another attempt
in the following January, and with much better success, for
the town then voted to "let the people go."  This vote was
passed January 25th, 1764, at "the request of Dea. Benjamin
Foster, Dea. Samuel Putnam, and others," which was as
follows:-- That the town vote "the lands in said Lunenburg
which lie west and westwardly of the line hereafter
described, should be set off from said town, that so the
said lands, and inhabitants thereon, may be formed by the
General Court into a town or district, as they shall think
proper."  (Here follows a description of the line, which
corresponds with the easterly boundary of Fitchburg.)  This
was granted on condition that "the inhabitants should pay
their minister's tax, as heretofore they had done, until
they should be formed into a district."

The long sought-for object of the people of the westerly
part of Lunenburg having been obtained, a committee
consisting of Messrs. John Fitch, Amos Kimball, Samuel Hunt,
Epharim Whitney, and Jonathan Wood, was chosen to wait upon
the General Court, to procure the act of incorporation; and
they performed their duty so promptly and perseveringly ,
that on the 3d of February, 1764 -- just nine days after the
passage of the above vote -- the act passed the
Leginslature, and received the signature of the Governor.

February 3d, 1764, was therefore the birth-day of fitchburg,
which was 72 years old on the 3d day of February 1836..

(Rufus Torrey originally published this manuscript in 1836.
The book from which I am typing was printed in 1865.  It is
a reprint.)

(to be continued)

Return to Fitchburg High School Athletics, Competitions & Memories