Subject: History of Bedford, Mass. by Lemuel Shattuck, 1835 Source: From: The History of the Town of Concord, Mass. by Lemuel Shattuck, 1835. Part 3 p.260 By the resolve of December 2, 1780, Bedford was required to furnish 8 men. One was hired by the town for $200 in silver; and the town was divided into seven classes to procure the others. Capt. John Moore was chairman of the First Class. Moses Abbot of the Second Class. Thaddeus Dean of the Third Class. Christopher Page of the Fourth Class. John Reed of the Fifth Class. William Page of the Sixth Class. Stephen Davis of the Seventh Class. The first five classes paid "20 head of horned cattle at 3 years old each," as a bounty. The sixth class paid $250 as a bounty. The seventh class - $220 in Silver. Daniel Hartwell Blood went to Rhode Island in June, 1781 and received £19 & 10 shillings in Silver. The following went to join Gen. Washington's army at West Point and received £19 & 16 shillings each. Nehemiah Wyman Moses Abbott Stephen Syms Timothy Crosby John Merriam Israel Mead Blood The town was divided again in March, 1782 into three classes to hire three men for the war. When it is recollected that the town then contained on about 470 inhabitants, it is truly wonderful that they could submit to so frequent and so heavy burdens of pecuniary and personal service. In September, 1776, the town voted that the General Court might form a constitution, but they must furnish a copy to the town before it enacted. In May, 1779, voted, 34 to 1, not to have a new contstituion formed at this time. The constitution formed that year was approved by the town, after con- sidering it at three sucessive meetings, by 25 to 1. In 1820, the town unanimously voted to instruct their representative to vote in favor of calling a state convention to revise the constitution. On the question of adopting the new constitution, Articles 2nd, 3d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 13th, and 14th, had no votes against them; the 1st and 3 votes against; the 4th, 5th - the 5th had 30 against; the 9th, 14th; the 10th, 55 against - (all that were cast); and the 12th, 13 against. Ecclesiastical History of Bedford. The people began to erect a meeting-house before the town was incorporated; but it was not completed till 1730. In October, 1729, £460 was raised to pay the expense. p. 261 Committees were chosen the next and many subsequent years "to seat the Meeting-house," and were instructed, among other things, "to have respect to them that are 50 years of age and upward"; those under this age "to be seated according to their pay, the seats below." Thirteen pews were built in 1733 and eight more in 1754. A bell was procured in 1753, weighing about 600 lbs., and the town "voted, by polling the assembly, to hang the bell about two rods and a half northward of the school-house, and as near to Mr. Benjamin Kidder's wall as can be with conveniencey; and to build a house, not less than 12 feet nor more than 16 feet square; and so high as to hang the mouth of the bell 16 feet high." A new meeting-house was erected in 1817. It was 58 feet long, 53 wide and 30 feet posts, with a projection of 34 by 8 feet, and a spire. David Reed Michael Crosby John Merriam Joshua Page Simeon Blodget were the building committee Joshua Page and Levi Wilson were the builders. Cost estimated at $6,101. The lower floor had 56 pews and the gallery had 16; which were sold for $7,110.50 after reserving one for the minister. It was dedicated July 8, 1817, and the sermon, preached by the Rev. Mr. Stearns on the occasion, was printed. A time-piece was presented to the town by Mr. Jeremiah Fitch of Boston, and placed in the front gallery; and a new bell was procured from England, weigh- ing 993 lbs. Measures were taken soon after the incorporation of the town, to obtain the regular enjoyment of public religious worship and ordinances and William Hartwell and Job Lane chosen to carry these measures into effect. A candidate was employed; and January 22, 1730, was observed as a day of solemn fasting and prayer to God for direction in the choice of a minister, when the Rev. Messrs. John Hancock of Lexington Samuel Ruggles of Billerica John Whiting of Concord were present to conduct the religious services. Feb. 11th the town chose Mr. Nicholas Bowes by 43 votes to be their minister. At the subsequent March meeting agreed to give him £90 the first year and £100 plus 25 cords of wood annually afterwards as a salary, so long as he should sustain the pastoral office. The money to be paid semi-annually and always to be in proportion to the then value of silver, which was 18 shillings per ounce. p.262 He was subsequently presented with 16 acres of land. These propositions were accepted and he was ordained July 15, 1730, when the church was organ- ized. The churches of Lexington, Concord, Billerica and Cambridge by "their elders and messengers," composed the council of which the Rev. John Hancock was moderator. In the public religious exercises, the Rev. Mr. Appleton of Cambridge, made the introductory prayer; the Rev. John Hancock preached from 2 Cor. xi. 28, and gave the charge; the Rev. John Whiting gave the right hand of fellowship; and the Rev. Samuel Ruggles made the last prayer. While the church was making arrangements preliminary to its organization, it was agreed by a vote of 14 to 9 that "every person admitted to the church should give in a confession of their faith to be read in public"; and, by a vote of 15 to 7, not to call for a "handy vote: on their admission. The original covenant which follows was adopted and signed by 24 individuals, all the male members of the church at its formation. To be continued Part 4 - p.262 Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth