Concord Free Public Library
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THE CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY “The free communication of thought and opinion is one of the most precious rights of man; every citizen may therefore speak, write and print freely.” — French National Assembly, 1789 HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 1672 In Concord, Captain Timothy Wheeler was again deputy and representative to the General Court.1 A mention of the lending of books, in the town records of Concord, Massachusetts for this year of 1672, would lead Judge Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar to announce at the dedication of the Concord Free Public Library in 1873 that his town had had the very 1st public library (such a claim of course relied on local pride rather than on evidence). In 1672, seventeen articles of instruction were given to the selectmen [of Concord] by a committee, consisting of Nehemiah Hunt, John Flint, John Miles, William Hartwell, Thomas Wheeler, Joshua Brooks, Joseph Haywood, Gershom Brooks, Humphrey Barret, and John Billings, from which the following items are extracted: — 3. “That care be taken of the Books of Marters and other bookes, that belong to the Towne, that they be kept from abusive usage, and not be lent to persons more than one month at one time.” 7. “To take order that all corne fields be sufficiently fenced in season, the crane field and brickil field especially.” 8. “That incorigment be given for the destroying of blackbirds and jaies.” 11. “To make a record of all the habitations that are priviledged with liberty at commons.” 14. “To take care that undesirable persons be not entertained; so as to become inhabitants.” 15. “To take care that persons do not overcharge their commons with cattle.” 16. “That all persons that have taken the oath of fidelity be recorded.”2 THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HISTORIAN TYPICALLY SUPPOSES NOW TO 1. Representative Timothy WHEELER of Concord, freeman on May 13, 1640, ensign in 1646, was a Captain late in his days, but more often in the record called Lieutenant. He was a Representative during 1663, and very often after; he died on July 10, 1687, aged about 86, as the gravestone tells; had Sarah WHEELER, born on June 22, 1640; had his wife Jane WHEELER who died on February 12, 1643; and by wife Mary Brooks WHEELER, daughter of Captain Thomas Brooks, had Mary WHEELER, born on October 3, 1657, died at 3 years; Elizabeth WHEELER, born on October 6, 1661, who got married during 1678 with Eleazer Prout; Rebecca WHEELER, born during 1666, who got married during 1684 with James Minot; and probably others, perhaps Timothy WHEELER of Concord, freeman 1677, for one, who got married on June 29, 1670 with Ruth Fuller, and died on June 7, 1678. 2. 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 CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY BE THE WHY OF THEN. THE REALITY IS VERY MUCH TO THE CONTRARY, FOR NOW IS NOT THE WHY OF THEN: INSTEAD, THEN WAS THE HOW OF NOW. ANOTHER WAY TO SAY THIS IS THAT HISTORIANS WHO ANTICIPATE OFFEND AGAINST REALITY. A HISTORY WRITTEN IN THE LIGHT OF SUBSEQUENT EVENTS AMOUNTS TO SPURIOUS MAKE- BELIEVE. TO DO A GOOD JOB OF RECORDING HISTORY, ONE MUST BECOME IGNORANT (OR FEIGN IGNORANCE) OF EVERYTHING THAT WE NOW KNOW TO HAVE FOLLOWED. Concord Free Public Library “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 1786 February 23: In Concord, the organization of a Library Company: A Library Company was formed February 23, 1786. Whether there had previously been a library in town, and if any, how long it continued, and its number of volumes, is not known. A “Charitable Library Society” was formed May 25, 1795, depending chiefly on the voluntary donations of its members for support. Jonathan Fay, Esq., Jonas Minott, Esq., and the Rev. Ezra Ripley were successively presidents of this society. Its members united with others and composed the “Proprietors of the Concord Social Library,” and were incorporated in 1824. The presiding officers since have been the Rev. Ezra Ripley, the Hon. Samuel Hoar, the Hon. John Keyes, and the Hon. Abiel Heywood. The library, divided into 50 shares, contains about 900 volumes [1835] and constantly increases by the addition of new publications.3 According to Dr. Edward Jarvis’s TRADITIONS AND REMINISCENCES OF CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS 1779- 1878, page 129: The old Library was begun in 1786 and lived in various forms and organizations to the present time with its magnificent collections and its fitting home. TRALFAMADORIANS EXPERIENCE REALITY IN 4 DIMENSIONS RATHER THAN 3 AND HAVE SIMULTANEOUS ACCESS TO PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE ALONG THE TIMELINE OF THE UNIVERSE TO THE EXACT TIME AND PLACE AT WHICH AS THE RESULT OF A TRALFAMADORIAN EXPERIMENT, THE UNIVERSE IS ANNIHILATED. BILLY PILGRIM, WHILE CAGED IN A TRALFAMADORIAN ZOO, ACQUIRES THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD TIME, AND SO WHEN HE RETURNS TO EARTH, HE BECOMES A HISTORIAN VERY LIKE ALL OUR OTHER HISTORIANS: ALTHOUGH HE CANNOT HIMSELF SEE INTO THE FUTURE THE WAY THE TRALFAMADORIANS DO, LIKE ALL OUR OTHER HUMAN HISTORIANS DO HE PRETENDS TO BE ABLE TO SEE ALL PERIODS OF OUR PAST TRAJECTORY NOT WITH THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING DURING THOSE PERIODS, BUT WITH THE OVERARCHING EYE OF GOD. THIS ENABLES HIM TO PRETEND TO BE VERY VERY WISE AND TO SOUND 3. 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. On July 16, 1859 he would correct a date mistake buried in the body of the text.) HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY VERY VERY IMPRESSIVE! Concord Free Public Library “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 1795 May 25, Monday: Concord founded a Charitable Library, of a few books kept in one of its stores. In 1821 this would be succeeded by a “Social Library.” A Library Company was formed February 23, 1786. Whether there had previously been a library in town, and if any, how long it continued, and its number of volumes, is not known. A “Charitable Library Society” was formed May 25, 1795, depending chiefly on the voluntary donations of its members for support. Jonathan Fay, Esq., Jonas Minott, Esq., and the Rev. Ezra Ripley were successively presidents of this society. Its members united with others and composed the “Proprietors of the Concord Social Library,” and were incorporated in 1824. The presiding officers since have been the Rev. Ezra Ripley, the Hon. Samuel Hoar, the Hon. John Keyes, and the Hon. Abiel Heywood. The library, divided into 50 shares, contains about 900 volumes [1835] and constantly increases by the addition of new publications.4 THE AGE OF REASON WAS A PIPE DREAM, OR AT BEST A PROJECT. ACTUALLY, HUMANS HAVE ALMOST NO CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, WHILE CREDITING THEIR OWN LIES ABOUT WHY THEY ARE DOING IT. Concord Free Public Library “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project 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. On July 16, 1859 he would correct a date mistake buried in the body of the text.) HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY 1815 In Vermont in about this year, William Allen (Henry Thoreau’s classmate in Harvard College’s Class of 1837 who would take over the teaching duties in Concord’s Centre School when Henry resigned) was born. The Middlesex Bar commenced the formation of a law library in Concord, to be maintained by the Treasurer of Middlesex County. Noah Webster, Esq. continued as a member of the Massachusetts General Court (he would serve also in 1817). Tilly Merrick was Concord’s deputy and representative to the Massachusetts General Court. In Concord, John Buttrick continued as Town Treasurer. In Concord, Nathan Barrett was a Selectman. In Concord, Thomas Wheeler was a Selectman. These were the appropriations made by the town of Lincoln:5 Date. 1755. 1765. 1775. 1785. 1795. 1805. 1815. 1825. 2 2 Minister £56 £69 /3 £70 /3 £85 £105 $— $600 $460. 1 1 Schools 13 /2 20 13 /2 50 85 — 480 520. Highways 25 50 40 80 80 $450 600 400. 1 Incidental charges 24 /2 19 37 250 125 830 1450 500. 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. On July 16, 1859 he would correct a date mistake buried in the body of the text.) HDT WHAT? INDEX CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY Representatives of Carlisle to the General court of Massachusetts: Deacon Ephraim Robbins 1807-1808 Reverend Paul Litchfield 1808-1811 Captain Timothy Heald 1812-1813 Captain Thomas Heald 1815 Jonathan Heald, Jr., Esq.