DR. JOSEPH LEE
Concord’s Tories were the Reverend Daniel Bliss of 1st Parish Church and his attorney son Daniel Bliss, Junior, Dr. Joseph Lee, Squire Duncan Ingraham, Colonel Charles Prescott, and Captain Jonas Minott. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1661
March: Henry Woodhouse (Woodis) purchased 350 acres in Concord for £240, Nashawtuk, that apparently had once belonged to Simon Willard, one of the town’s founders.
During the trial of Friend William Leddra of Barbados, another expelled Quaker who had returned to Boston to “try its bloody laws,” a Quaker from Salem, Friend Wenlock Christison, rose in the courtroom and defied the court, promising that for every Quaker hanged, 5 or 10 would appear and volunteer to be thus honored. Arrested, he also would be sentenced to the gallows. RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1666
In Concord, Timothy Wheeler was again deputy and representative to the General Court.
When a fire began in the cellar of the home of Henry Woodhouse (Woodis) in Concord, the snow was about 5 feet deep and the wind was from the north-west and extremely cold. The father and mother and their girls jumped from chamber windows with only their linen on and managed to save themselves from the cold by taking refuge in their hoghouse, driving the pigs out. However, the feet of Mrs. Woodhouse were so badly frozen “as to be a cripple whilst she lived.” The only son, a few weeks old, could not be retrieved from the house and died in the blaze.
The bridge across the Concord River at Concord that had washed away in the previous year, the one below Joseph Barrett’s, Esq. that went to Lee’s hill, was replaced by another where the South Bridge would later stand.
In Concord, Nathaniel Ball, Sr. recorded ownership of a “house lott” of 13 acres. (This property eventually would become the Alcott family’s “Hillside” and the Hawthorne family’s “The Wayside.”) OLD HOUSES HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1680
October 16, Wednesday: Joseph Lee, son of Joseph Lee, was born in Concord. He would become a Concord physician and would die on October 5th, 1736 at the age of 56. His son Joseph Lee, who would be born on June 6th, 1716, and die on April 10th, 1797, would practice physic in the early part of his life — though his attention seems not to have been exclusively devoted to this. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1699
In Concord, Thomas Brown continued as Town Clerk.
At this point Henry Woodhouse (Woodis) owned 350 acres in Concord. His property would eventually be known as Lee’s Hill, named after his son-in-law Dr. Joseph Lee, town physician — until it would revert back to the name Nashawtuk.
The trail through Concord to Groton, which had been in existence at least since 1665, was at this point upgraded and incorporated into a Groton Road which ran 200 miles to the British citadel at Crown Point on Lake Champlain, gateway to Québec. The road passed over the Concord River via a bridge near where the Old North Bridge now stands.
At some point during the late 17th Century, Captain James Minot had built the home that eventually would become the east wing of Concord’s Colonial Inn (we know he was living there on November 14, 1716). HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1713
October 8, Thursday (Old Style): Joseph Lee got married with Ruth Goodenow. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1716
June 6, Wednesday (Old Style): On June ye 6 day 1716, it is recorded in the books of Concord, Massachusetts, Joseph Lee was born, a son of Joseph Lee (1680-1736) and Ruth Goodenow Lee (1691-1761) his wife. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1735
January 31, day (1734, Old Style): Joseph Lee of Concord signed his will. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1736
October 5, Tuesday (Old Style): Joseph Lee died in Concord, Massachusetts. The body would be placed in the Smedley Burying Ground there. His son Dr. Joseph Lee would write of him that: He was well instructed in reading, writing & Cyphering, he also improved in the Latin School, where he made a good advance in learning the Latin Tongue, he was kept from school at a time of great sickness so long that he refused to study any more, but some time after took to the study of Physick where he made great proficiency and soon became an eminent Physician and was in the Queen’s Navy several expeditions as a surgeon. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1739
December 6, Thursday (Old Style): Dr. Joseph Lee got married with Lucy Jones in Concord, Massachusetts. This union would produce Joseph Lee on May 12th, 1743 in Concord (Harvard Class of 1765), Jonas Lee on October 16th, 1745, and Lucy Lee on June 1st, 1748. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1740
At the intersection of Main Street and Sudbury Road in Concord, James Holden erected what is now known as the Nathan Brooks House. It has been used not only as a home but also as a tavern, called the “Black Horse.” (Deacon Samuel Miles and 19 other disaffected members of the 1st Parish Church would meet there in 1745 when they became distressed by the preaching of the Reverend Daniel Bliss, to form what would be know as “West Church,” or the “West Congregation,” or disparagingly, as the “Black Horse Church.” By 1800 postmaster John L. Tuttle would turn this building into the local post office. Nathan Brooks and his 2d wife Mary Merrick Brooks would live in this structure from their marriage in 1823 until Brooks’s death in 1863 and Mrs. Brooks would continue in this house after his death. The building would be bought by William Munroe, founding benefactor of the Concord Free Public Library, in preparation for construction of the library building, and moved in 1872 to what is now 45 Hubbard Street. It is now known as the Nathan Brooks House.)
OLD HOUSES HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1742
May 12, Wednesday (Old Style): Joseph Lee, Junior was born in Concord, brother of Samuel Lee and Silas Lee, sons of Dr. Joseph Lee and Mary Woodhouse Lee. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1745
At James Holden’s Black Horse Tavern at the intersection of Main Street and Sudbury Road in Concord, built some 5 years earlier, Deacon Samuel Miles and 19 other disaffected members of the 1st Parish Church met in protest against the preaching of the Reverend Daniel Bliss and formed the West Church, or West Congregation, or “Black Horse Church.” (By 1800 postmaster John L. Tuttle would turn this building into the local post office. Nathan Brooks and his 2d wife Mary Merrick Brooks would live in this structure from their marriage in 1823 until Brooks’s death in 1863 and Mrs. Brooks would continue in this house after his death. The building would be bought by William Munroe, founding benefactor of the Concord Free Public Library, in preparation for construction of the library building, and moved in 1872 to what is now 45 Hubbard Street. It is now known as the Nathan Brooks House.)
OLD HOUSES HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1756
March 28, Sunday: Samuel Lee was born in Concord, brother of Silas Lee and Reverend Joseph Lee, sons of Dr. Joseph Lee and Mary Woodhouse Lee. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1760
July 3, Tuesday: The Newport, Rhode Island gazette The Mercury announced the arrival of Captain Carpenter with a cargo of slaves from the coast of Africa. INTERNATIONAL SLAVE TRADE
Silas Lee was born in Concord, brother of Samuel Lee and the Reverend Joseph Lee, sons of Dr. Joseph Lee and Mary Woodhouse Lee. He would graduate at Harvard College in 1784.)
NEVER READ AHEAD! TO APPRECIATE JULY 3D, 1760 AT ALL ONE MUST APPRECIATE IT AS A TODAY (THE FOLLOWING DAY, TOMORROW, IS BUT A PORTION OF THE UNREALIZED FUTURE AND IFFY AT BEST).
Dr. Joseph Lee “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1761
March 16, Monday: An earthquake table lists the quake on this day as “1761MAR16 X 42.30 71.10 2 MA BOSTON.”
Ruth Goodnow Lee died in Concord, Massachusetts at the age of 70. She had been the mother of a dozen children of whom 3 survived her: • Joseph Lee, born March 31, 1714 Concord, Massachusetts died 1714 Concord • Lee, born 1715 Concord, Massachusetts died 1715 Concord • Joseph Lee, born June 6, 1716 Concord, Massachusetts would die April 10, 1797 Concord at age 81 • John Lee, born December 7, 1717 Concord, Massachusetts died February 7, 1761 Concord at age 43 • Jonathan Lee, born May 22, 1720 Concord, Massachusetts died in about 1726 at age 5 • Ruth Lee, born February 11, 1722/1723 Concord, Massachusetts died May 7, 1756 Concord at age 33 • Mary Lee, born November 9, 1724 Concord, Massachusetts would die March 11, 1799 Concord at age 74 • Eleanor Lee, born February 3, 1724/1725 Concord, Massachusetts died April 25, 1759 Sudbury at age 34 • Jonathan Lee, born April 11, 1727 Concord, Massachusetts would die July 11, 1766 Concord at age 39 • Ann Lee, born October 15, 1728 Concord, Massachusetts died 1729, Concord • Ann Lee, born August 14, 1730 Concord, Massachusetts died date unknown • Lee, born about 1732 Concord, Massachusetts died date unknown HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1766
January 1, Wednesday: At the death of his father, Bonnie Prince Charlie acceded to all his British claims and denominated himself King Charles III. Later this month he would take up residence in Rome.
At the 1st Parish Church in Concord, the Reverend William Emerson was ordained as minister. Dr. Joseph Lee, one of those estranged from the church, devoted a great deal of effort to examining this new minister, noting in his journal that “we talked over all the matters relating to his coming into town, and how he had spent his time since he left college,” and the Reverend Emerson attempted to mollify him, saying he was “very sensible” that he had “fooled away” his time and was “very much to blame and ought to go to college and study the divinity two years” before undertaking such a pulpit. Dr. Joseph Lee of the “Black Horse Church” was not at all taken in by this, observing that this minister of the gospel had been “as calm as a watch” while admitting such serious lapses. When the vote was taken, Emerson would obtain only 2/3ds of the ballot, enough to secure the post but a warning that there was going to be trouble ahead. On the 18th of February, 1765, the church chose William Emerson to be their pastor; and in this vote the town concurred, in March, 128 to 62. The only other candidate mentioned was Mr. Samuel Williams. It was agreed to give him £200 as a settlement, and £100 as an annual salary. He was ordained January 1, 1766. The council, on the occasion, was composed of ministers and delegates from the First and Second churches in Sudbury, the Second in Cambridge, the Second in Wells, the Second in Reading, and the churches in Malden, Stow, Littleton, Acton, Chelmsford, Topsfield, Lexington, Hollis, Pepperell, Lincoln, Bedford, and Billerica. The Rev. John Gardner, of Stow, was moderator. The Rev. Daniel Rogers of Littleton made the introductory prayer; the Rev. Joseph Emerson, of Malden, preached from 1 Chron. xxix. 1; the Rev. John Gardner gave the charge; the Rev. william Cook, of East Sudbury, made the last prayer; and the Rev. John Smith, of Acton, gave the right hand of fellowship. When Mr. Emerson began his ministry, some of those feelings, which had been fostered in the previous controversies, were still existing. But though he came into office under these disadvantageous circumstances, his piety, talents, and popular manner, as a preacher, secured the affection and support of a great majority of the church and town. The subsequent difficulties in his church arose principally from the rejection of an individual [Mr. Joseph Lee] who offered himself as a candidate for admission. When the church was called upon to act on his admission, it was well known that objections existed in the minds of some of the communicants against him; and Deacon Simon Hunt arose, after the question was put, and before the vote was declared, and requested it to be made certain. Considering this an unjustifiable act, the candidate immediately withdrew. This happened in 1767, and nine of the members of the church, uniting with some who were not professors of religion, and considering its proceedings improper and arbitrary, and Mr. Emerson as partial for approving them, espoused the cause of the rejected individual, and composed the principal opposition, and were known as the aggrieved brethren. In the progress of the controversy, many frivolous complaints were brought forward, and much personal feeling was excited; but few important principles in doctrine or discipline were discussed or settled. The records HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE concerning these transaction are very imperfect.1
1. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1769
October 26, Thursday: Joseph Lee got married with Sarah Barrett, perhaps in Newton, Massachusetts. This union would produce Joseph Lee on August 1st, 1773 in Concord, and Samuel Lee on January 16th, 1779.
Messer’s comet was again visible as it rose away from the sun. SKY EVENT HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1773
August 1, Sunday: Joseph Lee was born in Concord, Massachusetts to Joseph Lee and Sarah Barrett Lee. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1774
September: 14-year-old Noah Webster, Jr. rode horseback to New Haven to matriculate at Yale College.
Dr. Joseph Lee despite his notorious Tory beliefs had been able to serve on important Concord committees. Like the Reverend Daniel Bliss, he was refusing to sign any document which smacked of sedition. At this point he split with the church by opposing the rule of the Reverend William Emerson over the 1st Parish Church. He completed his ostracization in Concord by not only refusing to join a protest march of the militia on Boston, but also by going secretly into Cambridge ahead of them and warning his Tory friends of the upcoming citizen action. When a “body of the people” called for an explanation of such conduct, however, he attempted an apology: When I coolly reflect on my own imprudence, it fills my mind with the deepest anxiety. I deprecate the resentment of my injured country, humbly confess my errors, and implore the forgiveness of a generous and free people, solemnly declaring that for the future I will never convey any intelligence to any of the court party, neither directly nor indirectly, by which the designs of the people may be frustrated, in opposing the barbarous policy of an arbitrary, wicked, and corrupt administration.
CHANGE IS ETERNITY, STASIS A FIGMENT
September 19, Monday: At a mass meeting on their Common, the citizens of Concord tried the local Tories, who if found guilty could be punished (called “humbling the Tories”). Few of the loyalists in town made themselves visible on this day, and they were a dwindling minority anyway, yet the Reverend William Emerson of the 1st Parish Church nevertheless warned the populace that “verily our enemies are in our own households.” In consequence of these occurrences, and the determined disposition of the people, the Court of Common Pleas was adjourned to the 3d Tuesday of October. Public notice of this was drawn up by David Phipps, Sheriff of the County, by order of the unpopular judges, and given to the criers, Antill Gallap & William How, who made proclamation of the same at the court house door. This was so displeasing that they were taken before the people, and obliged to make public confession that they were “heartily sorry for what they had done”; and to promise “not to make any return on said proclamation, nor in any way be aiding or assisting in bringing on the unconstitutional plan of government.” A similar confession was published by Charles Prescott, Esq. “for signing in favor of the late Governor, Hutchinson.” Another confession was made by Daniel Heald, a deputy sheriff, for posting the notice of the adjournment Of the court on the courthouse door. These declarations were signed by the respective individuals, read to the multitude and published in the newspapers of those times. The people voted that such declarations were satisfactory; and then adjourned to the 3d Tuesday of October, agreeably to the adjournment of the court. The people did not long remain quiet. Another large meeting took place on the Common the next week. A committee was chosen, of HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE which Robert Chafin of Acton was Chairman and William Burrows2 clerk, before whom every person suspected of being a tory was compelled to pass the ordeal of a trial. If found guilty, he was compelled to endure such punishment as an excited multitude might inflict, which they called, “humbling the tories.” Several suffered in this manner. Dr. Joseph Lee was most scrupulously examined and severely treated. To satisfy their minds, he subscribed the following declaration, which was read and published. “Whereas I, Joseph Lee of Concord, physician, on the evening of the first ultimo, did rashly and without consideration make a private and precipitate journey from Concord to Cambridge, to inform Judge Lee, that the country was assembling to come down, and on no other business, that he and others concerned might prepare themselves for the event, and with an avowed intention to deceive the people; by which the parties assembling might have been exposed to the brutal rage of the soldiery, who had timely notice to have waylaid the roads, and fired on them while unarmed, and defenceless in the dark; by which imprudent conduct I might have prevented the salutary designs of my countrymen, whose innocent intentions were only to request certain gentlemen, sworn into office on the new system of government, to resign their offices, in order to prevent the operation of that (so much detested) act of the British Parliament for regulating the government of the Massachusetts Bay: by all which I have justly drawn upon me the displeasure of my countrymen: “When I coolly reflect on my own impudence, it fills my mind with the deepest anxiety. I deprecate the resentment of my injured country, humbly confess my errors, and implore the forgiveness of a generous and free people, solemnly declaring that for the future I will never convey any intelligence to any of the court party, neither directly nor indirectly, by which the designs of the people may be frustrated, in opposing the barbarous policy of an arbitrary, wicked and corrupt administration. “Concord, Sept. 19, 1774 JOSEPH LEE.” This is selected from many similar facts to show the highly excited state of public feeling; and this excitement continued to increase. The covenant of the town, already given, was scrupulously regarded, and all those who refused obedience to it, were in reality, “treated as enemies.” The meetings hitherto this month took place without much formal invitation. They were the “sudden assembly of the day.” The people felt that they had evils heaped upon them, and they feared others. They were determined resolutely, but rationally to have them removed. Though their object appeared as yet to be to obtain a peaceable redress of their grievances, yet evil consequences were anticipated from the frequency of the meetings, unless placed under proper legal restraint. To effect this, a special town meeting was called, September 26th when the “whole town resolved itself into a committee of safety to suppress all riots, tumults and disorders in the town; and to aid all untainted magistrates, 2. Mr. Burrows died a few years since in New Ipswich, N.H., over 100 years of age. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE who had not been aiding and assisting in bringing on a new mode of government in this province, in the execution of the laws against all offenders.”3 At the same time it was also voted to raise one or more companies to march at a minute’s warning in case of alarm, to pay them reasonable wages when called for out of town, and to allow them to choose their own officers; to buy 420 pounds of powder and 500 pounds of ball in addition to the town stock of ammunition, and a chest of good fire-arms, “that those who are unable to purchase them themselves may have the advantage of them if necessity calls for it.” At this meeting also Mr. Samuel Whitney, Capt. Jonas Heywood, Mr. Ephraim Wood, jr., Mr. Joseph Hosmer, Ensign James Chandler, and Mr. James Barrett, were chosen a committee of correspondence to hold intercourse with similar committees in other towns. The selectmen had hitherto acted in that capacity. Delegates were also chosen to the proposed Provincial Congress.4 Concord’s Tories were the Reverend Daniel Bliss of 1st Parish Church and his attorney son Daniel Bliss, Junior, Dr. Joseph Lee, Squire Duncan Ingraham, Colonel Charles Prescott, and Captain Jonas Minott.
3. It is said to be characteristic of the people of Concord to act with great deliberation, but when they do act, to act effectually. This may be seen in the proceedings just described. From the beginning of the controversy, they were opposed to taking any unconstitutional measures to recover their lost privileges. 4. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1775
April 23, Sunday: Concordians had become upset enough at the Toryism of Dr. Joseph Lee to rouse him from his bed, try him for acts against the people, and confine him to his farm under threat of death.
The army in Boston was surrounded by a militia which had marched from all over New England. A soldier commented in his diary: The country is up in arms ... we are absolutely infested with many thousand men, some so daring they came very near our outposts on the only entrance to town. The have cut off supplies and provisions from the country. AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The events just described spread terror over the minds of some, indignation over others, and gloom over all; and predisposed them to new alarms. The death of several fellow citizens, in defence of their rights against British soldiers, was indeed a novel sight of fearful interest. The next day, April 20th, 1775, a messenger brought a report into town by way of Lincoln, that the regulars were again on their march to Concord. For a while this was believed, and the most active preparations were made for their reception, by removing the women and children from the village and concealing them in remote parts of the town [Concord], and in the woods, the men parading under arms, determined to defend themselves or perish. After a few hours the report was contradicted, and the inhabitants returned to their homes. Meantime the patriot-soldiers were continually marching to Concord from remote towns. On the 21st, 700 of them went into the meeting-house where prayers were offered up by the Rev. Mr. Emerson [the Reverend William Emerson], and an address made by HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE the Rev. Mr. Webster of Salem. In the afternoon Mr. Emerson and several others went to Cambridge. Great commotion prevailed. The next day the town [Concord] was again alarmed. The minute companies paraded and marched to Cambridge; but finding no enemy, they returned. The Provincial Congress met here [Concord] on the 22d and orders were given to raise an army forthwith. These occurrences brought out the friends and opposers of liberty. Two or three individuals in town were yet inclined to toryism. It was not strange it should be so. It was a tremendous step to take up arms against the mother country; and, to say the least, the issue of the contest was doubtful. Men honestly differed in opinion as to the propriety of the measures of England, and others as to the proper course to be taken to obtain redress. Some had sworn allegiance to the King and were afraid they should break their oath. While entertaining such opinions they did not enter warmly into the popular cause. They were, however, sure to receive the unwelcome notice of the people. One individual, who had been a Selectman, was heard to say, “For myself I think I shall be neutral in these times;” and his name was immediately taken from the jury-box. The government was dictated by the force of public opinion. the town [Concord] assumed, in some respects, the authority of an individual community, - an independent republic. Its committee of correspondence met daily, and acted in a legislative, executive and judicial capacity. All suspicious persons were brought before it for trial, and, if found guilty were condemned. The people supported them in their decisions. The following is a copy of one of these sentences, and most remarkably shows the peculiar spirit of those times. “We the subscribers, committee of correspondence for the town of Concord, having taken into consideration the conduct of Dr. Lee of said town of late, are fully of the opinion, that he be confined to the farm his family now lives upon; and that, if he should presume to go beyond the bounds and should be killed, his blood be upon his own head. And we recommend to the inhabitants of the town, that, upon his conducting well for the future, and keeping his bounds, they by no means molest, insult or disturb him, in carrying on his common affairs on said farm. Jonas Heywood Ephraim Wood, Jr. James Barrett, Jr. } Committee of Joseph Hosmer Correspondence. Samuel Whitney “Concord, April 26, 1775.” Dr. Lee was not set at liberty until June 4, 1776. His house was fired at several times by soldiers who passed through town; and so strong was the feeling against all tories, that he would probably had been killed, had he gone beyond his bounds. All his privileges were, however, restored to him. Dr. Lee’s son, Jonas Lee, was a warm friend of liberty and for his son’s sake many were restrained from committing outrages upon him. The estate of one individual only in Concord, that of Daniel Bliss, Esq., was confiscated and sold by the government.5 HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE May 1, Monday: The cattle, the “hey,” and a servant of Colonel Elisha Jones were “attached” by the American revolutionaries on account of his being a known loyalist. AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The Committee of Safety ordered the students and faculty removed from Harvard College, as the buildings and facilities were needed for use as headquarters, barracks, and hospitals by the citizen army that was being formed in Cambridge. The 5 Harvard buildings would house 1,600 soldiers, 640 of them in Hollis Hall and Massachusetts Hall, 240 in Stoughton Hall, 160 in Holden Chapel, and the remainder in Harvard Hall plus in tents and rude barracks in Harvard Yard. Concord, because of its protected inland location, was suggested as a suitable site for Harvard College in exile. Whilst Boston was occupied with the British troops, in 1775, the 5. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE poor endured great sufferings. In January and February 70 pounds in money, 225 bushels of grain, and a quantity of meat and wood were, at difference times contributed by Concord for their relief. May 1st, the provincial Congress ordered that they should be supported by the country towns; 66 were assigned to Concord, 32 to Acton, 29 to Bedford, and 29 to Lincoln. It appears, however, that 21 families containing 82 persons were supported here [Concord]. Eighty pounds was paid for them between May 13th and October.6 The material on the following screen is by D. Michael Ryan, who functions as company historian for the present-day “Concord Minute Men” re-enactors and is an 18th Century historic interpreter with the National Park Service, in addition to being the Associate Dean of Students at Boston College: Historically, Concord has been renowned for its events, people, ideas and literature. However, the fact that venerable Harvard College once existed for a year (1775-1776) within this town is little remembered. Harvard and Concord were not strangers. Town founders Peter Bulkeley and Simon Willard had sons graduate from the College. Citizens pledged monies to support the school’s beginnings and insure a source of ministers, lawyers and teachers. Local boys attended Harvard and annually selectmen visited the campus recruiting students (needing tuition money) to instruct at its schools. Many of the local ministers were Harvard graduates and these town-gown relations insured that during a period of educational and intellectual depression (late 17th/early 18th Century), Concord remained enlightened and updated. Following the 1775 fights at Lexington and Concord, an army formed in Cambridge needing buildings for headquarters, barracks and hospitals. On 1 May, the Committee of Safety ordered the students and faculty removed from Harvard College. The fledgling army’s needs increased with the battle of Bunker’s Hill and the July arrival of Gen. Washington as commander-in- chief. Tradition holds that at this time, Rev. William Emerson (alumnus) while visiting the troops and school, offered the support of Concord as a site at which the College could resettle. Harvard officials accepted. Students (about 143) and faculty (about 10) were requested to gather in Concord on 4 October. Harvard settled into its new home. President Samuel Langdon resided at Dr. Timothy Minott’s house (site later of Middlesex Hotel; now a park at town square); Professor Sewell at James Jones’ (Bullet Hole House); Professor Wigglesworth at Bates/ Anderson’s (near present intersection of Old Bedford Rd./Bedford St.); Dr. and Mrs. John Winthrop at the Whitneys’ (The Wayside) or possibly at Capt. Stones’ (west of Hildreth Corner on Barrett’s Mill Rd. #222?). The College library was located in the Humphrey Barrett house (Monument Rd., halfway between the Manse and town square), while science apparatus remained with Dr. Winthrop. Students lodged some at taverns much to the faculty’s dismay and some at private homes (unheated, unfurnished back rooms). Dr. Joseph Lee hosted 12 students (area near 38 Willard Rd.) including son Samuel ’76. While it is certain that the core of the College was in Concord center, traditions located it at other sites. Due to the number of students at the Lee home, the Willard Farm area was thought to 6. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE be the school’s focal point. As the road near Annursnack Hill off Barrett’s Mill Rd. contained cellars of former houses which might have hosted students, was used by students to walk local girls (“lover’s lane”) and was named College Road, it was believed to be the College’s central location. However, recitations were held at the court house, meeting house and empty grammar school all in Concord center. Travel (1-5 miles) to these locations and the homes of faculty for instruction presented hardships especially in winter. Benefits and problems of hosting Harvard were shared by Concord. The state-of-the-art, unique College Clock was moved to town for public use as was the school’s fire engine. Harvard boys courted local girls, wore their academic gowns to church and spent money. They also broke the windows of the meeting house and other buildings with snowballs. Of 26 Freshmen, the average age was 15 thus leading to maturity difficulties. Student illnesses, especially smallpox, were also of concern to the citizens. However, honor came to Concord in the form of Harvard conferring its first Doctor of Laws degree on Gen. Washington in April 1776. Once the British evacuated Boston (March 1776) and the American army vacated Cambridge, impatient students pressed for a return to campus. In June, Harvard College adjourned home and held its annual exercises for the 43 Seniors. Grateful College officials forwarded a letter of appreciation to the Concord people which included an apology for any “incivilities...of behavior...attributed to the inadvertence of youth.” The broken windows were paid for and a sum of 10 Pounds voted to the town. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE While some of Concord’s Class of ’76 went on to greatness elsewhere (a governor, 2 state Chief Supreme Court Justices and Harvard’s first professor of chemistry and materia medica), others returned to serve their host town. Dr. Isaac Hurd would be a physician; Jonathan Fay, an attorney; and in 1778 Dr. Ezra Ripley would return to be First Parish minister and marry Rev. Emerson’s widow Phoebe. The Concord-Harvard connection continued. Alumnus and prominent Concordian John Cuming would leave money to the College to fund a professor in physics (beginnings of Harvard Medical School). Graduates, friends and townsmen Ralph Waldo Emerson (school’s Hall of Philosophy named for him) and Henry David Thoreau would bring fame to themselves, Concord and Harvard. Daniel Chester French, Concordian and creator of the Minute Man statue, would sculpture the famous statue of John Harvard. Thus, once upon a year, Concord and Harvard College were one. The history, traditions and destinies of these noted institutions did and continue to enrich and educate our citizens and nation.7
October 4, Wednesday: The Reverend Asa Dunbar recorded in his journal: “Josiah Jones broke out of Concord goal [sic].”
The Harvard College students (about 143) and faculty (about 10) gathered in Concord. The average age of the 26 members of the freshman class was 15, so some problems of student high spirits were going to need to be carefully managed, and in particular village girls such as Hannah Melvin were going to need to be carefully chaperoned. President Samuel Langdon arranged to reside at the home of Dr. Timothy Minott, on the site that later would be occupied by the Middlesex Hotel (which is now the park at the town square). Professor Sewell arranged to reside at the home of James Jones, in what is known as the “Bullet Hole” house. Professor Wigglesworth arranged to reside with the Bates’s and the Andersons near the present intersection of Old Bedford Road with Bedford Street. Dr. and Mrs. John Winthrop arranged to reside with the Whitneys at their home that would become the plot for “The Wayside” (or, possibly, at the home of Captain Stones west of Hildreth Corner on Barrett’s Mill Road, house number 222). The college’s scientific apparatuses remained with Dr. Winthrop. The College library was unpacked in the home of Humphrey Barrett on Monument Road halfway between the Manse and the town square. Some of the students arranged for their lodging at local taverns and some arranged to be welcomed into local private homes. For instance, Dr. Joseph Lee of 38 Willard Road hosted 12 of the students including his own son Samuel (’76).8 The Willard Farm area is now presumed to have been a focal point for college activities, but class recitations were held at the court house, the meeting house, and the empty grammar school at the town center. Harvard’s quite unique College Clock was put on public display, and its college fire engine was made available for general town fire protection. The buildings of Harvard were occupied as barracks for the American army, while stationed at Cambridge, and the students were dispersed. The college was removed to Concord and commenced its operations on the first of October, 1775. President Langdon lived at Dr. Minot’s (now [1835] the Middlesex Hotel); Professor Sewall lived at James Jones’s; Professor Wigglesworth at the Bates place on the Bedford road; and Professor Winthrop at Darius Merriam’s, near which was the library and philosophical 7. In creating the above fulsome account, D. Michael Ryan relied upon the following source materials, themselves already very adequately fulsome: Harvard College in Concord, Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library HISTORY OF CONCORD, MASS. by Lemuel Shattuck 1835 “The Sojourn of Harvard College in Concord” by Percy W. Brown, Harvard Graduate Magazine 1919 CONCORD: AMERICAN TOWN by Townsend Scudder 1947 CONCORD: CLIMATE FOR FREEDOM by Ruth R. Wheeler 1967 THE MEETING HOUSE ON THE GREEN by John Whittemore Teele 1985 8. Dr. Joseph Lee (June 16, 1716-April 10, 1797) of Concord kept 4 volumes of diary entries in his almanacs for years from 1769 into 1794. These amount to scattered short entries of personal affairs and town affairs, and deaths. His son the Reverend Joseph Lee (1742-1819) of Royalston MA also kept such diaries or interleaved almanacs for some years between 1770 and 1783. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE apparatus; and other officers in different parts of the town [Concord]. Twelve of the students boarded in the house now [1835] owned by Joseph Barrett, Esq. and others in many different places. The recitations were at the court-house and meeting-house. Prayers were attended at the latter place.9
9. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1776
June: As a “prisoner” on his own farm the Loyalist Dr. Joseph Lee had been being ignored by Concordians, although militiamen had been known to discharge their weapons in his direction. After many petitions, at this point he was freed from his “house arrest,” and was able to leave his farm without further threat of injury from his fellows.
Concord budgeted for 12 months of the services in New York of 19 local soldiers at £190 each, over and above an incentive advance of £10. 10 TABLE OF REVOLUTIONARY CAMPAIGNS
WHEN REQUIRED MEN TIME WHERE EMPLOYED BOUNTY AMOUNT
June 1776 19 12 months New York 10 190
June 25, 1776 48 6 months Ticonderoga 9 432
Dr. John Cuming was appointed Commander in this [the above] expedition, but declined. The whole consisted of five thousand men. One company, consisting of ninety-four men, was com- manded by Capt. Charles Miles, of Concord. Edmond Munroe, was Lieutenant; Matthew Hobbs, 2d Lieutenant; and Jonas Brown, Ensign. They were attached to Col. Jonathan Reed’s regiment. His muster-roll give sixty-one from Concord, (differing from the report from which the above is compiled); Weston, twenty-seven; Lexington, four; and two from Tyconterage [?]. Being ready to march, they were paraded on the common in Concord, with several other companies from the adjoining towns, and attended religious services in the meeting-house. Rev. William Emerson preached from Job v. 20, and afterwards went as Chaplain, sacrificed his life to his patriotism, and never returned. Another Company, commanded by Capt. Asahel Wheeler, whose Lieutenant was Samuel Hoar, of Lincoln. Samuel Osburn was 2d Lieutenant, and David Hosmer, Ensign.
September 12, 1776 23 3 months White Plains 8 184
This [the above] embraced one fifth of the Militia under fifty years of age, not in actual service. The drafts from this county formed one regiment, which was commanded by Eleazer Brooks, of Lincoln. Rev. Moses Adams, of Acton, was Chaplain; Dr. Joseph Hunt, Surgeon; and Samuel Hartwell, of Lincoln, Quarter-master. Concord furnished twenty-three men; Lexington, sixteen, Acton, fifteen; and Lincoln, twelve, which formed one company, whose officers were Simon Hunt, of Acton, Captain; Samuel Heald, of Concord, Lieutenant; Ebenezer White, 2d Lieutenant. They were in the battle of White Plains. A return after the battle gives forty-two fit for duty, seven sick, four wounded, two of whom, David Wheeler and Amos Buttrick, belonged to Con- cord. Thomas Darby, of Acton was killed. Col. Brooks’s Regiment behaved bravely on that occa- sion.
September 12, 1776 7 Dorchester
These [the above] were part of a company of eighty-nine men, taken from nearly every town in this county, commanded by John Minott, of Chelmsford, and attached to Col. Dykes’s Regiment. John Hartwell, of Lincoln, was Lieutenant. Acton furnished five; Lincoln, four; and Bedford, three.
November 21, 1776 34 3 months New York 10 340 HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
WHEN REQUIRED MEN TIME WHERE EMPLOYED BOUNTY AMOUNT
This [the above] was one fourth of the Militia in Middlesex County, and formed one Regiment of six hundred and seventy men, commanded by Col. Samuel Thatcher, of Cambridge. Cyprian How, of Marlborough, was Lieutenant-Colonel; Joseph Bryant, of Stoneham, Major. Concord furnished thirty-four; Weston, eighteen; Lexington, fourteen; Acton, thirteen; Lincoln, thirteen, which composed one company. John Bridge, of Lexington, was Captain; Jacob Brown, of Con- cord, Lieutenant; and Josiah Stearns, of Weston, 2d Lieutenant; William Burrows, Orderly Ser- geant. They marched to New-York and New-Jersey before they returned, and were stationed at Woodbridge. Dissolved March 6th.
December 1, 1776 8 Boston
It appears from a roll of this company in the Secretary’s office, that Capt. John Hartwell was commander of it [the above]. Thirteen in this and six in other companies were from Lincoln. They were attached to Col. Dykes’s Regiment.
December 1776 6 Rhode Island
These [the above] were attached to the Artillery.
10. Lemuel Shattuck’s 1835 A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CONCORD;.... Boston: Russell, Odiorne, and Company; Concord MA: John Stacy (On or about November 11, 1837 Henry Thoreau would indicate a familiarity with the contents of at least pages 2-3 and 6-9 of this historical study.) HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1779
January 16, Saturday: Samuel Lee was born in Concord, Massachusetts to Joseph Lee and Sarah Barrett Lee. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1786
It was at about this time (according to some reports, although other reports say 1782) that Concord, Massachusetts’s Social Club was being formed. Membership would of course be by invitation only.
By this point Dr. Joseph Lee had been forgiven for his Toryism during the American Revolution by his fellow Concordians and was able to rejoin the local church.
For the following two and a half years a local resident, Joseph Hunt, would be teaching the town’s grammar students:
1785 Nathaniel Bridge 9 months 1812 Isaac Warren 1 year
1786 JOSEPH HUNT 2½ years 1813 JOHN BROWN 1 year
1788 William A. Barron 3 years 1814 Oliver Patten 1 year
1791 Amos Bancroft 1 year 1815 Stevens Everett 9 months
1792 Heber Chase 1 year 1815 Silas Holman 3 months
1793 WILLIAM JONES 1 year 1816 George F. Farley 1 year
1794 Samuel Thatcher 1 year 1817 James Howe 1 year
1795 JAMES TEMPLE 2 years 1818 Samuel Barrett 1 year
1797 Thomas O. Selfridge 1 year 1819 BENJAMIN BARRETT 1 year
1798 THOMAS WHITING 4 years 1820 Abner Forbes 2 years
1802 Levi Frisbie 1 year 1822 Othniel Dinsmore 3 years
1803 Silas Warren 4 years 1825 James Furbish 1 year
1807 Wyman Richardson 1 year 1826 EDWARD JARVIS 1 year
1808 Ralph Sanger 1 year 1827 Horatio Wood 1 year
1809 Benjamin Willard 1 year 1828 David J. Merrill 1 year
1810 Elijah F. Paige 1 year 1829 John Graham 1 year
1811 Simeon Putnam 1 year 1831 John Brown HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE In Concord, Ephraim Wood, James Barrett, and Asa Brooks were Selectmen.
Joseph Hosmer of Concord was a Senator.
James Barrett was Concord’s deputy and representative to the General Court.
In Concord, Elnathan Jones was Town Treasurer. Treasurers of Carlisle
Samuel Heald 1780-1785
Simon Blood, Jr. 1786-1788
Samuel Green 1789-1803
Nathan Green 1804-1819
Nathan Green 1820-1828
John Nelson 1829-——
HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1797
April 10, Monday: Joseph Lee died in Concord, Massachusetts at the age of 81 in hope of a glorious Reſurrection. The body would be consigned to the South Burying Place (Memorial ID 32688671).
SACRED In Memory of Doctr Joseph Lee Who died in hope of a glorious reſurrection April 10th 1797 Æt 81.
The longeſt life is ſhort. Happy the man who lives it to his God No other life is worthy of our choice What tho we wade in wealth or soar in fame, Earth’s higheſt honor ends in “Here he lies,” And “Duſt to duſt” concludes the nobleſt song. HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE
1856
December 30, Thursday-31, Friday, January 1, Saturday, 4, Tuesday: Henry Thoreau did $18.00 worth of surveying at the Davis Elwell farm on Nawshawtuck Hill (AKA Lee’s Hill) in Concord. The map of the locality shows Egg
Rock, Indian Field, Pine Plain, Muster Field, Dove Rock, (Barrett’s) Old Mill, Grist Mill, Colburn’s land, Dodd’s, Damon’s, McRay’s, and Dodge’s Brook. This farm was Major Simon Willard’s at the founding of the town and later belonged to Dr. Joseph Lee, who had been kept under house arrest there during the Revolution because of his sympathy with the English cause. Thoreau’s friend Witherell helped William Wheeler, the owner during some of this time. The map of the locality shows Egg Rock, Indian Field, Pine Plain, Muster Field, Dove Rock, Barrett’s Old Mill, Grist Mill, Colburn’s land, Dodd’s, Damon’s, McKay’s, and Dodge’s Brook. Thoreau would bill his work of January 1st to Dr. Joseph Lee. (The compass variation there, between January 7th and January 10th, would be 10 1/8°.)
View Henry Thoreau’s personal working drafts of his surveys courtesy of AT&T and the Concord Free Public Library: http://www.concordlibrary.org/scollect/Thoreau_Surveys/Thoreau_Surveys.htm
(The official copy of this survey of course had become the property of the person or persons who had hired this Concord town surveyor to do their surveying work during the 19th Century. Such materials have yet to be recovered.)
View this particular personal working draft of a survey in fine detail: http://www.concordlibrary.org/scollect/Thoreau_surveys/29a.htm HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In addition to the property of others, such as extensive quotations and reproductions of images, this “read-only” computer file contains a great deal of special work product of Austin Meredith, copyright 2017. Access to these interim materials will eventually be offered for a fee in order to recoup some of the costs of preparation. My hypercontext button invention which, instead of creating a hypertext leap through hyperspace —resulting in navigation problems— allows for an utter alteration of the context within which one is experiencing a specific content already being viewed, is claimed as proprietary to Austin Meredith — and therefore freely available for use by all. Limited permission to copy such files, or any material from such files, must be obtained in advance in writing from the “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project, 833 Berkeley St., Durham NC 27705. Please contact the project at
“It’s all now you see. Yesterday won’t be over until tomorrow and tomorrow began ten thousand years ago.” – Remark by character “Garin Stevens” in William Faulkner’s INTRUDER IN THE DUST
Prepared: December 14, 2017 HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE ARRGH AUTOMATED RESEARCH REPORT
GENERATION HOTLINE
This stuff presumably looks to you as if it were generated by a human. Such is not the case. Instead, someone has requested that we pull it out of the hat of a pirate who has grown out of the shoulder of our pet parrot “Laura” (as above). What these chronological lists are: they are research reports compiled by ARRGH algorithms out of a database of modules which we term the Kouroo Contexture (this is data mining). To respond to such a request for information we merely push a button.
Commonly, the first output of the algorithm has obvious deficiencies and we need to go back into the modules stored in HDT WHAT? INDEX
DR. JOSEPH LEE DR. JOSEPH LEE the contexture and do a minor amount of tweaking, and then we need to punch that button again and recompile the chronology — but there is nothing here that remotely resembles the ordinary “writerly” process you know and love. As the contents of this originating contexture improve, and as the programming improves, and as funding becomes available (to date no funding whatever has been needed in the creation of this facility, the entire operation being run out of pocket change) we expect a diminished need to do such tweaking and recompiling, and we fully expect to achieve a simulation of a generous and untiring robotic research librarian. Onward and upward in this brave new world.
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