History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

Oil the breaking out of Philijj's War, in 1675,
the only preparations for defence were the three
west-side garrison-houses, and tiie meeting-house
on the east side. The latter was not furtitied, but
its position was strong. Early iu the summer
Parson Browne, who lived on the southerly side of
Mill Brook, began to build a stockade around his
premises. In a letter dated September 26, 1675,
addressed to the governor, he says : " I have been
at a round charge to fortify my house, and except-
it will be very advantageous to the enemy, and a
thorn to the town." The governor and council
granted him the four men as guards, and he main-
tained them at his own expense. By order of the
selectmen, all the families living in the south part
of the town, antl above Mill Brook, fled to this
stockade in case of imminent danger.
xVlarms were frequent. The woods were pes-
tered with Indians. Smokes were seen on the
hills, indicating the camps of the savages. Men
were fired upon when passing from one place to
another. The able-bodied men were pressed into
the country's service, or were required for watch-
ing, warding, and scouting near home. ''At the
request of Ensign Grout, Left. Eph"" Curtis was
ordered, with such volunteers as would join him,
to march into the woods, and endeavour to surprise,
kill, and destroy any of our Indian enemy." November
i'Z, 1675, Sudbury was ordered " to impress
nine able-bodied men for the service of the country."
The next February an order was issued dismissing
all the garrison soldiers at Sudbury. March 22,
this town was ordered to furnish six men and three
horses "to garrison Brookfield." April 8, the
selectmen petitioned the governor, " by reason of
the approach of the Indian enemy near our town,
that 20 men may be sent to be under the conduct
of Lieut. Ephraim Curtis, to be improved as a
scout, to range the woods, and be in readiness
upon any occasion, if the enemy should set upon
us. And we shall add unto the said scout so many
men more out of our town, altho' we can hardly
spare them and secure our garrisons."
But the Indian assault of April 21 came unex-
pectedly. The pastor's stockade and the west-side
garrisons were well manned, and afforded protection
to the inhabitants. The higli water alone saved
the village, as the savages could cross only at the
tiowu bridge. As soon, however, as Captain Wads-
WA YLAND.
467
worth's force was defeated, a large body of Indians
rushed across the river, and began the work of
destruction near the bridge. At this juncture Cap-
tain Mason's Watertown company arrived ; and
being joined by our townsmen made an attack and
"drove near 200 Indians over the river and followed
them, and went to see if we could relieve Capt.
Wadsworth upon the Hill"; but they were driven
back. Wiieu it was dark this company crossed
the river again, and went to Mr. Noyes' mill, where
ing finishing the two flankers and my gate, have they
finished : Now without four liands I cannot well
secure it, and if for want of hands I be beaten out,
" found 13 or 14 of Capt. W.'s men who iiad
escaped, some of them wounded, and brougiit them
to the village On the next day iii the morn-
j
ing, so soon as it was light, we went to look for
Concord men who were slain in the river meadow,
and there we went in the cold water up to our
knees, where we found 5, and brought them in
canoes to the bridge-foot, and buried them there."
These Concord men were buried on the east side
of the river. A considerable number of the houses
situated in the westerly part of the village were
burnt.
Immediately after this affair the town bestirred
itself and built a heavy stockade, with flankers,
around the meeting-house. This fort stood till
16S1, when it was taken down and the logs used
to repair the old pound.
&7w>/«. — The first mention of schools in the
town records is under date of February 20, 1664
-65, when Mr. Thomas AValker petitioned for a
grant of land " for his encouragement to keep a
free school in Town."
In an official return made March 30, 1680, the
selectmen say " : As for schools, though there be
no stated school in this town, for that the inhabi-
tants are so scattered in their dwellings that it
cannot well be, yet such is the case by having two
school dames on each side of the river that teacheth
small children to spell and read, which is so managed
by their parents and governours at home and
prosecuted after such a sort as that the selectmen
who distributed themselves did within three months
last past so examine families children and youth,
both as to good manners, orderly living, catechising
and reading as that they returned from all parts a
comfortable and good account of all those matters,
and render them growing in several families beyond
expectation, rarely reprovable anywhere, encourag-
ing in most places and in others very commendable,
so as that the end is accomplished hitherto. And
for teaching to write and cypher, here is Mr. Thomas
Walker and two or three others about this town