History of Fitchburg: Part 9


Several years after the grant of the General Court, much
complaint began to arise concerning the speculations which
now began to be manifest amoung the original
proprietors--for then, as in modern days, there appeared a
strong desire of turning every thing into a money-making
matter.  Several of the purchasers, totally disregarding the
conditions of the grant, and the injuctions of the
Committee, neglected to perform any labor on their lots, and
kept them from others likely to settle them.  Inasmuch as
they "traded them from one man to another, for excessive
gain and prices, which practice was directly contrary to the
written conditions and provisos upon which each person had
his lot of the Committee," these latter proceeded to declare
several lots forfeited, and sold them to other persons, from
whom more obedience might be expected.  After this summary
proceeding, no more complaint was made concerning land
speculations.

In November 1727, the General Court's Committee voted that
the proprietors should forthwith proceed to the erection of
a meeting house, to be not less than forty-five feet in
length and thirty-five in breadth.  From the diminutive size
of this house it may be inferred that Turkey Hills
(Lunenburg, Fitchburg, and part of Ashby - K.J.), at this
period, did not contain many families; yet they had already
conceived thoughts of rejecting the further tutelage of the
Committee appointed by the Great and General Court and of
setting up for themselves.  They began to bestir themselves
in the matter of procuring an act of incorporation and the
meeting house, proposed by the Committee was not built.  Yet
they were not entirely without religious instruction, though
they had no meeting house.  May 15th 1728, Rev. Andrew
Garner was settled as minister of Turkey HIlls.  The
meetings of course were held in private dwellings.

Mr. Gardner was graduated at Harvard University in the year
1712.  In the Autumn of 1719 he was ordained the first
minister of Worcester.  Here he remained till his dismission
in October 1722.  Where he was during the interval between
this time and his installation at Turkey Hills, I do not
know.  He built and occupied the house now standing on the
west side of Clark's Hill, and now the residence of the
heirs of David Wood, 2d.  It has quite an air of antique
decay about it--a small portion of the old diamond form
glass still remaining in some of the windows.

It was voted to raise the sum of 80l ($35.55) on landed
estate, for the annual salary of the minister for the next
six years.  This is apparently a very inadequate sum; but it
will be recollected that money then, in consequence of its
scarcity, was much more valuable than now--transactions
between individuals being carried of principally by
barter,--and that it was intended that the minister should
derive his principal support from the lands appropriated by
the General Court. Dissatisfaction soon arose between
Mr. Gardner and his people.  He accordingly asked for a
dismission, which the town voted in February, 1732; and the
church received his acquaittance and gave him a discharge
from his pastoral relations in the November following.  He
thus continued in the pastoral office about four and a half
years, and have his receipt for his settlement and salary
during this period, to the town, for the sum of 394l
($175.32).  He remained in the town several years after
this, and was employed as the first schoolmaster--the school
being kept in his own house.  He was also allowed the
privilege of building at his own charge, "a sufficient pew
at the right hand of going in at the great doors of the
meeting house" -- which is a very honorable station.  He
finally removed to New Hampshire, nigh to the Connecticut
river, where he died at a very advance age.

(to be continued)



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