years. From this time his health and strength gradually failed. He continued however to preach with little interruption till a tew weeks before hi death, though with all the mental and corporeal debility, incident to advanced age. After a long and useful ministry he was called to give an account of his stewardship Oct. 1, 1792. The church erected a monument to his memory with the following appropriate Inscription

By the Church of Christ

IN CHELMSFORD.

In testimony of their esteem and veneration
This sepultrial stone was erected, to stand
as a sacred memorial of their late worthy Pastor
The Rev. EBNEZER BRIDGE,

who after having officiated among them
in the service of the Sanctuary
for more than a year above half a century,
the strength of nature being exhausted,
sunk under the burden of age

and Joined the congregation of the dead,

Oct. 1, 1792, E. 78,

The children of Rev. Ebenezer Bridge were, Sarah, born July 25, 1742, married to Rev. Henry Cummings, D. D. of Billerica. Ebenezer, born April 29, 1744. John, born Feb. 2,1746, Elizabeth,--1747, died in infancy. Mary, Nov. 18, 1750, married to Mr. Timothy Winn of Woburn, now Burlington. William, Jan. 14, 1758, now living in town. Katherine, Feb 23, 1755, died in infancy Lucretia, March 13, 1757, married to Dr. Walter Hastings, April 10, 1777.

Ebenezer, the oldest son received the honors of the University at Cam. bridge in 1764. Soon after leaving College he went to Worcester, where he spent a year or more in teaching a public shool. He then removed to Billerica and opened a store of E. and W. I. Goods. In 1775 he was chosen Col. of the 27th Reg. of minute men, which he com. manded at the celebrated battle on Bunker's Hill, in which he received two slight wounds. In 1776 or 7 he was chosen Register of deeds of the county of Middlesex. From 1781 to 1800 he was chosen successively a senator in the Legislature of Massachusetts, and from 1783 to 1808 county treasurer. In 1785 he married the Widow of Dr. Mumford, of Boston, who died 1787, Sept, 29.

He was a faithful guardian of the rights and liberties of his country, and a zealous promoter of the interest and welfare of his native town. His numerous friends and acquaintances always found a cordial welcome and hospitable retreat at his house. He was respected abroad as a correct

$2

MEMOIR,

OF THE PAWTUCKETT TRIBE

OF INDIANS..

THE early history of Chelmsford, is so blended with that of its aboriginals, that the former can hardly be intelligible without the latter.

The most correct and authentic source of information, is Gookin's Historical Collections of the Indians of New-England.*

He divides them into five great tribes, viz:-Pequots, Narragansetts, Pawkunna wkutts, Massachusetts and Pawtucketts. The latter he thus describes.

"Pawtuckett is the fifth and last great sachemship of Indians. Their country lieth north and north east from the Massachusetts. Their dominion reacheth so far as the English jurisdiction doth now extend. They have under them several smaller sagamores, as those of the Pennakooks, Agawames,

politician, and an enlightened, tried patriot, and esteemed at home for his public services and private virtues.

He died at Hardwick, N. York after a long and lingering sickness, Feb. 9, 1814, aged 70.

N. B. John Fiske, Jonas Clark, Samson Stoddard and Eben'r Bridge were the oldest sons of their respective fathers, who were the four first Ministers of Chelmsford. Excepting the first, they succeeded to the same honors and offices, or nearly so. The three last were Justices of the peace, members of the Legislature, and commanders of regiments. All four were active, useful men, and leading characters in town.

They were honored in their generation and the glory of their times." *General Gookin, was appointed Magistrate and Ruler over the praying Indians, in 1656. His history was written about 1674, after many years familiar intercourse with them.

This included the whole state of New-Hampshire. The Massachusetts tribe, inhabited principally about Massachusetts bay. Their chief Sagamore, had under him, many petty sachems, as those of Wachagoskas, Neponsit, Punkapang, Nonontum, Nashaway and some of the Nipmuck people. The Pawtucketts inhabited on their north and north east limits.'

Gookin,

Naamkeeks, Pascatawayes, Accomitas and others.They were a considerable people heretofore, and held amity with the Massachusetts. They were almost totally destroyed by the great sickness in 1612 and 1613.* At this day 1674, there are not above two hundred and fifty men, besides women and children."

"All the scattering tribes on Piscataqua and Merrimack rivers, were originally but one great nation, acknowledging subjection to Passaconnaway, the great Sagamoret of Pennacook.' These all took the national name of Pawtucketts."‡

It was customary to call those of the same nation or tribe, by the different names of the villages, at which they resided. Inattention to this circumstance has introduced great uncertainty and confusion into those transactions of the town, which related to the Indians in Wamesit and Pawtuckett.They belonged to the same tribe, and living so near together, constituted but one village. They are sometimes called Pawtucketts, more commonly Wa

mesits.

It was a favorite object with the first adventurers and of many of their patrons in England, to christianize and civilize the Indians in New-England. The government of Massachusetts, early entered into

"What this disease was that so generally and mortally swept away these and other Indians, in New-England, I cannot well learn. Doubt. less it was some pestilential disease. I have discoursed with some old Indians, that were then youths, who say, that their bodies all over, were exceeding yellow, before and after they died, describing it by a yellow garment, they shewed me." Gookin.

It was considered by the people at that day, as a divine opening for the settlement of the English.

At every noted place for fishing and hunting, there used to be about an hundred or two hundred, who had a sagamore over them. In every great tribe there was a sagamore, to whom all the tribe acknowledged subjection. The lesser Sagamores were called sachems.-Hubbard's His. New-England.

This name is probably derived from the falls of the same name, a. bout which the great body cf the tribe resided at an early period of their history, and at the bottom of which was Wamesit, their ancient capital, at the confluence of Concord and Merrimack rivers.

1

their views and labored to effectuate these desira ble ends. Hence the praying Indians, or those who hopefully received the Gospel, are presented to us in a more conspicuous light, and their history has become peculiarly interesting. Wamesit was not only the ancient seat and capital' of the Pawtuckett tribe, but also of the praying Indians on Merrimack river; the history of whom will necessarily involve a sketch of the plan adopted by government, to̟ bring them into a state of civil society, while they were acquiring the knowledge of the principles and duties of Christianity.

Mr. Eliot, minister of Roxbury, justly styled the "Apostle to the Indians," began to preach to those in his vicinity in 1646; and by his influence with the Court measures were adopted in 1656, for governing and instructing them.

At Mr. Eliot's motion, care was taken by the court to appoint some of the most prudent and pious Indians in every Indian village that had received the gospel, to be rulers and magistrates among them, tą order their affairs, both civil and criminal of a more ordinary and inferior nature. These rulers were chosen by themselves, but approved by higher authority.' This authority was vested in an English magistrate, who was to join with the chief of their rulers, in holding a higher court among them.The English magistrate appointed the time and place of holding court, and consented to judgement, Each village had one or more constables, chosen yearly. There was also a marshal general, over the praying towns, called Capt. Josias, alias, Pennahannit, whose residence was at Nashobah, now Littleton.

To carry their design into effect the court farther enacted, 1. That the Indians had an original title to the land.-Gen. 1-28-ch. ix.-1. Ps. 115-16.

2. That the civil Indians should have lands granted them for towns. 3d. That the Indians should

not be dispossessed of what land they had subdued, or driven from their fishing places. 4th. That none should buy land of the Indians without leave of Court. 5th. That all strong liquors should be prohibited to be sold or given to the Indians, unless in case of sickness and that by permission. The English magistrate was empowered to make, order and give instructions, backed with penalties, for promoting the practice of morality, civility, industry, and diligence in their callings; also to make and execute good orders for keeping holy the Sabbath day, that people attend public worship, that schools be set up, and continued for the education of youth, and that Indian teachers and rulers have small encouragement distributed among them.

At what time the Indians at Wamesit received the gospel is not now known. But it must have been prior to 1653. For we find Mr. Eliot this year passing several days at Pawtuckett; and when the grantees of Chelmsford petitioned for the same, Mr. Eliot in behalf of the Indians requested an appropriation of certain lands, included in the former petition, to the sole use of the praying Indians at Wamesit. The court's committee taking into consideration both petitions reported in favor of an appropriation or grant of land to both parties.

In 1652 sundry persons from Woburn and Concord obtained leave to examine the tract of land, now constituting Chelmsford, and finding many Indians upon it, who had improved and cultivated certain pieces of land, especially a part of Robin's hill; they thought it just and meet to pay them for their improvements; or to make some compromise, or enter into some agreement with them concerning it. Mr. Eliot, whose knowledge of the Indian language and previous acquaintance with them as a preacher qualified him for a negociator, was employed for this purpose. Through his agency with.