History of the Town of Fitchburg Rufus Torey 1836


(I have found a 1831 map of Fitchburg. It is fragile. I need
to figure out how to get it copied so that I can put it on
the fhs.html WWW page. Also I learned that those towns with
the name Canada in them were so named because the land was
granted to men who engaged in the Canada Expedition.  These
include:

Ipswich Canada -----Winchendon, Mass
Rowley Canada  -----Ringe, N.H.
Dorchester Canada --Ashburnham, Mass
Salem Canada -------Peterborough, N.H.
Beverly Canada -----Weare, N.H.

Rufus Torrey is up to 1768.  Not a lot is happening.
Revolutionary ferver has not yet burst burst into flame.
The last sentence of part 22 was: "In these days of modern
degeneracy (1836), their inquisitorial proceedings would
have excited no small degree of indignation, and their
prying committees would have met with many a severe
rebuff.")

Soon after the settlement of Rev. Mr. Payson, a committee
was chosen to see that all the inhabitants duly and
constantly attended meetings on the Sabbath, and to report
the names of those who were delinquent.  The latter were
inevitably fined.

A Mr. Abel Baldwin who lived on the farm where Moses Hale
now lives, once came within the number of the unfortunate
delinquents.  He was consequently fined.  He made his
appearance before Thomas Cowdin, Esqr., who was then living
in what is now called the Old City, and paid his fine: but
he did so with evident reluctance, and an unwilling mind.
He looked about him and seemed to think that the place, as
well as the people, was entitled to a share of the blame,
for so rigid a restriction upon his liberty.  He expressed
his opinion that the place would not prosper, and that a
curse would follow it.  He accordingly gave to it the name
of 'Sodom' -- and it is called Sodom unto this day.

{Mr. Baldwin was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and
whithal a very respectable man.  Being a Baptist -- a rara
avis in those days -- he did not choose to unite in the
worship of those of a different persuasion.  The town
wickedly persecuted him for conscience' sake.)

Phineha Steward and Edward Scott respectively laid cliam to
a certain pew in the meeting-house.  This important affair
coming before the town, it was "Voted and agreed upon by the
two parties on account of the Pew in contest, and by
Phinehas Steward, which Pew Edward Scott claims is given up
by said Steward to said Scott, upon condition that said
Scott pays 30 shillings, and pays also what money the Town's
committee dignified the Pew ground at to said Steward, --
and furthermore, both parties, that is, said Edward Scott
and said Phinahas Steward, each of them agreed and actually
signed the Town's vote, both of them never to make any more
uneasiness further about said Pew, if the money be paid by
said Scott in one week from this day, being the 23d day of
May, 1768."

                                signed  EDWARD SCOTT,
                                        PHINEHAS STEWARD.
Attest.  THOS. COWDIN, Town Clerk

It appears that one Eliphalet Mace, then living where Jacob
H. Merriam now lives, in giving in his invoice to the
assessor, was actuated by a disposition which has not become
entirely obsolete in the town at the present day.  He
quietly kept back some few articles of his property -- not
wishing to appear too vainglorious about his worldly
possessions.  The town took cognizance of the matter, and
soon came to the conclusion that, though the said Mace might
be poor in spirit, he was not so very poor in earthly goods.
They accordingly voted that he should be fined forty
shillings for giving in a false invoice.  Some time
afterward, the anger of the town was considerabley abated,
and the fine of Mace was abated in porportion.  It was voted
that twenty-eight shillings of it be deducted -- so the
unfortunate man was fined only twelve shillings for his
untimely modesty.

(Next, some public works then the seeds of revolt.) 


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