History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

and judgment. Their residences were near to each
other in the southerly part of the town, and for
two hundred years the road on which they stood
has been called Richardson's Row. John Russell
was a connection of Richard Russell of Charlestown,
from whom the town is supposed to have received
its name. Resolute in will and decided in his con-
victions, he seceded from his connection with the
cliurch in Woburn, and adopted the views of the
Anabaptists, who had about 1665 made their ap-
pearance in Boston. For this act of heresy he, with
several other persons of the church, was summoned
before the Court of Assistants for reprimand and
indictment. Tiiis course intimidated many, but
John Russell and his son, John, Jr., both united
with the Baptist Church in Boston. The former
soon became a leader and an elder among them,
and for his obstinacy in adhering to the obnoxious
tenets was imprisoned in Boston for several months.
His son John entered the Baptist ministry, and
was highly esteemed among them as a preacher of
unusual gifts.
For three or four years the church in Woburn
was much troubled by these defections from the
standards of the Puritans, or Congregationalists.
But after the Russells left Woburn, and the other
members of the church tainted witii the Baptist
heresy had returned again to its fellowship, the
schism was healed, and no further mention is made
of religious dissensions until the reappearance of
the Baptists in 1790.
Of the second generation of men that followed
the settlement of Woburn there are two or three
who deserve mention for their administrative abil-
ity, integrity of character, and the good influence
tiiey exerted in the town and colony. Prominent
among these was Mr. Johnson's son, Captain E.
Johnson. He succeeded his father in the office
WOBURN.
of town-clerk, which position was held by the
two for the unusually long term of forty-eight
years. Besides occupying this post, he was cho-
sen to the General Court for several years, and
was a member of the Assistants, which was not
oidy a legislative body, but the highest court in
the colony. His zeal for the preservation of the
old charter was so ardent that he was appointed
on the " Council for the safety of the people," at
the time when Andros appeared in Boston.
Samuel Walker was another of tlie leading men
of the second period. Like Mi". Johnson, he was
warmly attached to the old Massachusetts charter,
and was a member of the colonial convention held
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to reconstruct the government after the deposition
of Andros, and under the new charter represented
the town in the General Court.
There were several other men of note in tiie
town at this time, but two only of these will be
mentioned here, namely, James Converse and his
son, J. Converse, Jr. The first was the son of
Edward Converse, one of the first proprietors.
Without having attained the higher honors of
colonial office, he was thoroughly fitted for the
duties that he was called upon to perform by his
fellow-citizens ; and he served the town honorably
and faithfully in all the stations it had in its power
to confer. The son, James Converse, Jr., was born
in Woburn, soon after its incorporation. He became
prominent in town affairs at an early age,
succeeding to the trusts reposed in his father, and
as worthily filling them. His reputation is, how-
ever, ciiiefly fouiuled on his military services. Pie
was captain of a company in the troops sent into
Maine during the war with the French and Indians,
which continued with more or less fighting for the
ten years from 1688 to 1698. In'iegi he was
placed in command of the garrison at Wells,
Maine, in the house of Lieutenant Storer, which
was fortified for the protection of the settlers.
The number of men in the garrison did not ex-
ceed thirty-five. The meagre force thus left to de-
feud an important post induced the Indians under
^loxas to attemi)t its capture. He appeared before
the house wit1i two hundred Indians, and opened a
fierce assault ; but Captain Converse gave them
such a warm reception that Moxas retreated.
This repulse led another sachem to boast, " IMy
brother Moxas has missed it, but I will go myself
and have the dog Converse out of his hole."
Shortly after, the chief appeared before the little
garrison with a force of three hundred to five hun-
dred men. He made a fierce attack upon it, but
was met with such a hot fire that he quickly drew
off" his forces. But the next morning the assault
was renewed with increased vigor, which led one
or two of Captain Converse's men to suggest a
surrender, to which Converse replied " that he
would lay the man dead who should utter that
word again." Tlie charge was met with perfect
coolness, the garrison waiting until the enemy
was in close range before delivering their fire.
The execution was so great that the Indians were
thro-mi into disorder. Rallying again, they re-
turned to the fight, but another destructive fire
checked their ardor, and, finding the garrison still