History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

irig taken under consideration the several articles
of the constitution, article by article, tiie whole of
which was accepted, voted the following amend-
ment : That the former clause of tlie sixteentii
article of the Declaration of Rights be amended
as follows : the Liberty of the press and of
speech are essential to the security of Freedom in
a State." Their most emphatic objection was lev-
elled against tlie third article of the Bill of Eights,
whicli has since been amended so as to release the
state from tlie obligation to require tlie ])eople
to support public worsliip. In this matter they
showed a degree of wisdom not everywhere appar-
ent among the men of those times.
The first election of state officers under the new
constitution was held September 8, 1780. This is
tlie record —
:
" Voted for the Hon. John Hancock Esq. to be
Governor by ()0 votes.
" For John Perkins to be Lieut. Governor by 43
votes."
Voted for councillors and senators as follows :
Josiah Stone, of Franiingham, -Vl votes ; Abraham
Fuller, of Newton, 3^ votes; Xathaniel Gorham,
of Charlestown, 31 votes; James Prescott, of Groton,
28 votes; Eleazer Brooks, of Lincoln, 28
Loammi Baldwin, of Woburn, 4 votes.
March 5, 1781, the committee of correspond-
votes :
ence and safety consisted of Francis Leighton,
Captain Zaccheus Wright, Joshua Read, Captain
Pelatiah Fletcher, and Dr. Asajih Fletcher, all new
men except Dr. Fletcher. Dr. Fletcher was one of
the most ardent patriots in the town during the
period of the Revolution. He was a man of vigor-
ous purpose, large intelligence, and strict integrity.
After the war was over he removed, and settled in
Cavendish, Vermont, in 1787. He was the father
of Hon. Richard Fletcher, late of Boston, and of
ex-Governor Eyland Fletcher, of Vermont.
Captain Joseph Read was the first representative
from Westford in the General Court under the new
constitution. He was often elected to this office,
having held it, in all, twenty-one times. He was
called to serve the town in other capacities, and
was a distinguished public man.
The second election for state officers was held
April 2, 1781, when John Hancock received tifty-
seven votes for governor.
April 7, 1783, Mr. Francis Leighton was chosen
representative, and a committee chosen for the pur-
pose gave him the following instructions in behalf
of the town : " That our said representative be in-
WESTFOED. 477
structed to exert his utmost influence in the Gen-
eral Assembly to oppose and exclude the declared
enemies and traitors of this country, who have at or
since the commencement of the late war, from an
inimical disposition to tiie rights and liberties of
their native country, taken shelter and protection
under the British government, from returning
among us."
In 1787 Deacon Samuel Fletcher was chosen
representative. His instructions contain these
words : " That you use your influence that the
General Court be removed out of Boston to some
convenient place in the country ; that agriculture,
manufactures, and exportation of our own manufactures
be encouraged as much as possible, and
the importation of foreign superfluities be discour-
aged by an earnest recommendation to omit the
use of such of them as are not necessary. That
the tender act be continued until there be sufficient
currency for the commerce of the people. That
peace and harmony may be restored to the people
of this commonwealth, you are directed to use your
influence that the disqualifying act be repealed and
that the peaceable citizens be restored to their former
privileges. That you use your influence that
all pensions and gratuities be curtailed as far as
justice will allow."
These instructions were given only a few months
after the breaking out of the Shays Rebellion, so
called, and they doubtless reflect the sentiment of
the people at that time. After the Revolutionary
War and the establishment of the state and national
governments, there are few materials for history to
be gleaned from the town records. The people
were a quiet, hard-working class, earning their
living by steady industry. The accumulation of
wealth was difficult, and only a few obtained it.
Yet the majority had enough for present wants,
and the degree of poverty was small. Not till
the present century was well advanced did the
people begin to be interested in manufactures or
railroads. Here, as in very many New England
towns, agriculture has declined within the last fifty
years. Wood is growing on large tracts once culti-
vated. In the business of market-gardening, how-
ever, and in the raising of small fruits, there has
been a marked increase within ten years. Large
orchards j'ield abundanceof apples,and there are sev-
eral mills for the manufacture of cider. The raising
of breadstufl's has almost wholly gone by ;
and the
supjily of grain now comes from the broad prairies
of the West.