The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-05-16
An Interesting Comparison of the
Past and the Present Revolutions

AIRY Relics.
Mr.. Editor-I send inclosed a scrap from
the history of my native town, Petersham,
the only town by that name in the United
States. 1t was named after a parish seven
miles from London, Eng. The new, town
was granted by the general court of Bos-
ton, Mass, to 40 out of 60 men who COM
posed Capt. Lovells company, in consider
alton of services rendered, risks run and
exposures and hardships endured for the
benefit Of the old Bay state in the three
years or Lovell's war, which ended in the
early part of 1925. One prominent event in
1t was the capture of ten Indians while in
supposed security. History states it as fol-
lows: In answer to a petition of Lowell
and others, for the encouragement to hunt
Indians, the general court of Massachusetts
had offered bounty of 600 for every In
dian scalp which should be brought in
Lowell, who known a gallant and
successful warrior, had no difficulty in
gathering round him a band of resolute
men, ready to share with him the dangers
and profits of Indian hunting In Decem-
Der, 1724, his party had brought one scalp
and one living captive from beyond Lake
Wnnipiscoge, n. H., and received their
reward In the following February, having
increased his number to co. he set out on
another excursion to the same region. On
the eastern side of the lake they came upon
trail; and just before sunset of the 10Th
of February deserted a smoke, which indi-
Cdteu all eHCdH4plneHt. taxing eNtrdOfQl0-
try precautions to prevent discovery, they
waited in silence for the dead of night.
Then, stealthily creeping near, they discov
cred the forms of 10 sleeping Indians laying
round a campfire At the first shot seven
were slain Two of the remaining then fell
the same instant that they started from
their sleep, and the last, badly wounded
was seized by a dog he attempted to
escape and Immediately killed.
Not one was spared. Forty of the said
company were the sgners of the petition
asking for a grant of land. That was in
the year 1888. In April that year the petit
ton was granted, condition that the
grantees settle cause to be settled the
same within three years. The town was
organized in 1854 and the Indian name
Nikheway, changed first to Volunteer
town. and finally to "Petersham." In 1854
they celebrated the Tooth anniversary of
its incorporation, with all former residents
invited to participate in the celebration.
Now. this may have very little interest
to the general public but the answer to
the circular letter sent out from Boston,
1nclosed, considering the date 1913, more
than three years before the formal declar-
alton of independence at Philadelphia, July
4, 1776 shows the wish of the people
throughout the country under grievances
that, compared with what we as a people
are now suffering, seem light and endur-
able But for pluck, endurance and firm
resolution it casts the present generation
In deep shadow. 1t is interesting to learn
that though the town meeting acting ON
the resolutions were unanimous, there were
at that time in the township Il rank tories
who scorned the idea of making any move
in opposition to the rule of King George
and his parliament; and those IA included
the high toned wealthy and educated of
the town. 1t is said that the resolutions
were reported in the papers of the time and
caused considerable comment During the
war the question was asked Ivora Holland
(ap of,
the way, Are the men in Petersham all
Wings including the educated?' His reply
was There is but one literally educate ed
man in the town in the Wing party. The
rich and well educated are all Tories, and
Parson Whitney the rankest of them all. "
1t would seem by this that the first fam
lilies in that early period began to hold
''plutocratc proclivities,'' and then as now
reform or rebellion had it's greatest aid
among farmers and workingmen IT was
doubted by many at the time that men OF
such slight education as was enioved by
the members of the committee could draw
up and compose a document in such forci-
Die and at the same time correct language
SlivanuS How, the chairman of the COM
mittee friendly and intimate terms
with Josiah Quincy, Jr., and after the wal
it leaked out that he aided in drafting the
resolutions and to give you key to save
time for the one who discovered the KEY
that showed that Bacon wrote Shakes
peare' would not be long in finding that
Quincy wrote the preamble and the two
first resolutions and the first part of the
fifth ending at the word "force') l wish
to state that the aforesaid Silvanus How
was not an ancestor Of mine. John How
who had that honor, though he died with
out being aware of that fact his name
stands next under Silvanus on the roll OF
Capt Jonathan Holman's company in Col
Doolttle's regiment, which was engaged ir
the battle of Bunker HILL Yours to
show that
freedoms battle once begun,
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son.
Though baff1ed oft is ever won."
JONAS H. HOWE,
The following are the extracts from the
town records referred to by Mr. Howe
They show the spirit of the men of 1776. and
how vastly it differed from that of the de-
generate people of America TODAY
(Taken from the History of the Town of
Petersham Worcester County, Mass3
ITO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRE-
SPONDENCE FOR THE TOWN OF
BOSTON.
"Gentlemen-The town of Petersham
having received the circular letter from the
town of Boston with the state(menD of
rights and grievances as published by them
most sensibly congratulate you on reflectine
on that principle Of virtue which must have
Induced your town, at so critical day. to
take the lead in so good a cause; and orr
admiration is heightened when we consider
your being exposed to- the first efforts OF
the iron jaws of power. The time NAV
come when, if you continue your integrity
that you may be driven from your gocdly
heritages; and if that should be the case
(which God of His infinite mercy prevent
we invite you to share with us in our small
supplies of the necessaries of life. And
n}1ould thu, voraciOuS laws of tyranny still