# History of Gardner, Massachusetts/Notice of Daniel Shays

Notice of Daniel Shays.
[From the Same.]
"This individual acquired an unenviable notoriety, which imparts some degree of interest to the incidents of his life. He was born in Hopkinton, in 1747; the son of parents not in affluent circumstances, he worked with Mr. Brinley, a respectable farmer of Framingham. The activity and energy of his youth promised at maturity more desirable elevation than he attained. That his education was neglected, is apparent from his official letters, bidding defiance alike to government, grammar and good spelling. Just before the revolution, he removed to one of the towns beyond Connecticut river, and afterwards resided in Pelham. When the war commenced, he entered the army, at the age of ​twenty-eight, with the rank of ensign, in Capt. Dickinson's company, in Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment. His ambition, activity, and plausible manners covering the want of acquirements, joined with personal intrepidity, obtained promotion, and in 1776, he was appointed Lieutenant in Col. Varnum's regiment. At the time when the line peculiarly needed reinforcement, he was detached on the recruiting service, with the promise of some suitable reward for the enlistment of twenty men. For this purpose he visited his native state, and his unwearied exertions were crowned with ample success. When the complement assignd to him was filled, a plan suggested itself for grasping honor and pay at once. Finding the pulse of patriotism beat high, and the men of New England were ready to devote themselves for their country, he continued his enlistments. Insinuating address and bold representations, produced impressions of his ability and influence, easily turned to his own advantage, and by holding out expectations of indulgence to those who should serve under his command, a company was raised, on the condition that he should be their captain. With these men he returned to the camp, where they were mustered. When the inspector was about to distribute them to different corps, Shays produced the enlistment papers; pointed to the condition which held them to serve under himself alone; and requested the appointment of Captain. The necessity of the times prevented the sacrifice of so many recruits, and after indignant remonstrances, it was deemed expedient to yield to his demands. The commission was promised, and issued after long delay, in September, 1779, to relate back to Jan. 1st, 1777. Such is the account tradition gives of his military rank. The honors, ill won, were not long worn. He was discharged ​October, 14, 1780, at Newark, in New Jersey, from Col. Rufus Putnam's regiment.
The deficiency of honorable sentiment in his mental constitution, may be inferred from a characteristic incident. Lafayette had presented in 1780, to each of the American officers under his immediate command, an elegant sword. Such pledge of regard from the patriot chief, a soldier with a spark of generous feeling, would have cherished as his dearest possession, and transmitted to his posterity as an heirloom of inestimable value. Shays sold the gift of his commander for a few dollars.
After being disbanded, he retired to Pelham, and lived in obscurity. Bankrupt in fortune and in fame, Shays was ready to embark on the flood of any desperate adventure. Without the energetic decision or enlarged conceptions, the strong spirit or the bold daring, which befit a leader, by some accident, he was elevated to the command of the insurgents. Of capacity too humble to direct the movements of an army in those moments when the force of talent makes itself felt by triumphant results, and turns even obstructions into encouragements, he was weak, vacillating and irresolute. It was providential that the physical power of the arm of rebellion had so feeble a head to direct its blow.
With the first shade of adversity, he made indirect overtures to the agents of government, to abandon his comrades to their fate, on assurance of personal safety: and when his base propositions were rejected, and promises of indemnity and pardon were offered to his followers, his persuasions induced them to reject the proffered mercy and retain the arms of hopeless controversy, to purchase by their sacrifice, security for himself.
When the insurrection was crushed, he retired to ​Vermont. After the lapse of a few years, the General of the rebellion passed through the streets of Worcester, which he once entered at the head of an army, and received assistance from those whose homes he had threatened with desolation.
At length he removed to Sparta, in New York. As a pensioner of the United States, he derived his daily bread from the government whose forces he had encountered in arms. Declarations filed in the department of war, by himself, show that his family consisted of an aged wife, and that he lived in extreme poverty. He died September 29th, 1825, aged 78.
However much the honor and integrity of Daniel Shays were questioned, his courage was never disputed. He was in the battle of Bunker's Hill, at the capture of Burgoyne, and at the storming of Stony Point: was under Lafayette, and did good service in many bloody encounters. A severe wound, received during the revolution, was honorary testimonial of intrepidity."
The first annual town meeting was held the 5th of March, 1787.
Voted, to divide the town into four school districts. Also, to raise $66 for schooling the present year, and $50 to defray town charges. Now follows a long list of roads laid out and accepted by the town. See town records, book 1st, page 58.
​At a legal meeting of the town held June 6th, Voted, to choose a Committee of nine to provide a number of hands to raise the meeting house, also to provide refreshments for the same. The raising Committee made application to Capt. Samuel Sawin, of Westminster, Esq'r Smith, of Ashburnham, Dea. Moses Hale, of Winchendon, and Mr. Joshua Wright, of Templeton, to come with a number of good hands to assist in raising the house. Accordingly, they all appeared on the common early in the morning of June 27th, each with a company of choice men. The raising commenced early and went on rapidly until about noon, when an accident occurred; as a number of men standing on the ground in the frame were drinking water, a joist fell from the upper loft and struck two of them on their heads, wounding them severely: one was Mr. Day, of Winchendon; some thought, had it not been for the pail he was drinking from, it would have killed him. The other was Mr. Gregory, from Templeton. The raising went on and the frame was completed before sundown: it was thought to be put together so strong, that if turned down on one side and rolled across the common, it would not wreck the body of it. There are but two men now living, who had any thing to do ​with this affair; those are brothers, by the name of Glazier, and they have arrived to the advanced ages of 86 and 90 years. The church was completed at a cost of about $1,600. The pews in the meeting-house were sold at auction, June 24th, 1788; the highest brought $40; the whole amounted to $1,577.50.
The town being legally assembled in March, 1791,
Voted, to grant $12 to be laid out for singing; the first act we have to record that reveals a shade of music.
In 1796, the town granted $833.33 to build school-houses.
In 1797, the town voted to procure a standard of weights and measures. Also, to make up to those militia men who turned out to stand at a moment's warning: if they march, $10 per month including what the Continent and State give them.
Voted, to give Rev. Mr. Osgood a present of £25, (or $83.33.) In January, 1798, the same amount was again presented him by the town.
At the annual meeting in March, 1802, the town voted to provide powder and balls sufficient to equip the training soldiers in Gardner: that ​the Selectmen provide the same and carry them to the commanding officer of the company for his inspection before the first of May.
At the annual town meeting, March, 1808,
Voted, to grant $400 to defray town charges; $300 for the use of schools, and $500 for repairing roads.
At a legal town meeting, June 13th,
Voted, to grant $1,500 to build a county road, and pay the damages, laying between Winchendon and Westminster.
In 1812, the town granted $50 to build a powder-house.
In 1814, a vote was taken by the town, that if any damage be done to any of the school-houses in town, by a scholar, the parent or guardian shall repair the same.
In 1816, the town granted $200 to repair the meeting-house. A meeting was called November, 1817, for the purpose of selling the new pews in the meeting-house.
In 1818, the town voted to choose a Committee of nine, to divide the town into school districts.
In 1819, the town voted to sell the oak trees (eight or ten in number) on the common, and in the burying-ground, to the highest bidder: they were struck off to Mr. Benjamin Heywood, at $9.99.
​At a meeting in April, 1821, the people met to express their minds respecting the amendment of the Constitution of this Commonwealth. See town records, hook 3d, page 37th.
In 1822, a Committee was chosen to establish the line between Westminster and Gardner.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1833,
Voted, to raise $600 school money, to be equally divided between the six school districts: $1,200 to repair roads and bridges: $700 to defray town charges; and $200 for purchasing engines.
In 1834, the town voted to raise $550, to build a bridge over Otter river.
At a legal town meeting held July, 1839,
Voted to raise $300 to repair the road from Dea. Fairbanks' to Templeton line.
August 31st, 1840, the town voted to raise $1,000 by tax, and authorized the Treasurer to borrow $3,500 to make and keep roads in repair.
In 1845, Voted, to authorize the Treasurer to borrow $150 for town charges.
In 1847, a vote was taken that a tomb be built for the use of the town.
In 1849, Voted, to appropriate $20 annually, for the ringing of each hell in town.
Voted, to accept of the report of the ​Committee chosen to purchase a town farm. Voted to accept of the following rules and regulations for the government of the Work-house in the town of Gardner. The duty of the Overseers of the Poor, the Master, the Physician, and the inmates of said house.
* ↑ He married Nancy Haven, a widow. The schedule of hie property in 1820, filed in the pension office, exhibits a condition of almost utter destitution. It is as follows: 1 mare, $25: 1 old saddle, $2.50: 1 bridle, 50: 1 old cutter, $5: 1 old axe, 62½ cents: 1 hoe, 62½ cents; 1 table, $3: 3 chairs, 1.12½: 1 old scythe and snath, 1.12½; 1 old pail, 12½ cents; 1 large bible, $1; amounting to $40.62½.
* ↑ It may seem strange to the reader that they had a fraction in dollars, but money was then reckoned in pounds and shillings instead of dollars.