Ashburnham Historical Society

06/24/2026

Ashburnham's Declaration of War in the Revolution Part 2 of 4
By Gail Andrews
From June 2nd, Part 1, I shared that only Massachusetts had citizens vote to go to support with their lives and fortunes out of the 13 colonies! Our MA Provencial Congress in Watertown, with Josephe Warren, President and Samuel Freeman, Secretary ordered as written 250 years ago from our town selectmen: William Whitcomb, John Kiblinger and Oliver Willard!
"To see if the inhabitants of said town are willing to stand by the honorable Congress in declaring the Colonies Independent of the Kingdom of great Britain with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure hearof [??] and make due return of this warrant on or before said day Ashburnham June 24th 1776.
William Whitcomb
John Kiblinger
Oliver Willard
Select men"
Given a deadline they reacted!
"In obedience to the above warrant we have warned the inhabitants to meet at the time & place as directed
Ashburnham June 24,1776
John Conn
Samuel Cutting
Constables"

06/21/2026

👔 Happy Father’s Day from the Ashburnham Historical Society!

Today we honor the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father figures who helped build our families, our community, and our nation.

As we preserve Ashburnham’s history, we are reminded that behind every artifact, photograph, and historic home is a story of family—of parents passing down values, skills, traditions, and memories to the next generation.

We wish all who are celebrating today a wonderful Father’s Day filled with family, laughter, and cherished memories.

Do you have a favorite photo or story of an Ashburnham father from years past? We’d love to hear it in the comments!
Does anyone remember this photo?

06/21/2026

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👔 Happy Father’s Day from the Ashburnham Historical Society!

Today we honor the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father figures who helped build our families, our community, and our nation.

As we preserve Ashburnham’s history, we are reminded that behind every artifact, photograph, and historic home is a story of family—of parents passing down values, skills, traditions, and memories to the next generation.

We wish all who are celebrating today a wonderful Father’s Day filled with family, laughter, and cherished memories.

Do you have a favorite photo or story of an Ashburnham father from years past? We’d love to hear it in the comments!

06/20/2026

🇺🇸 Thank You, Ashburnham!
We are truly grateful for the incredible response to “Declaring Independence: Then and Now,” presented by the Ashburnham Historical Society in collaboration with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. The June 28 performance has filled much faster than we anticipated!
It’s wonderful to see so much interest in learning about this important chapter of our nation’s history and Ashburnham’s connection to the events surrounding American independence. Your enthusiasm for local history helps keep these stories alive for future generations.
If you are interested in attending, we encourage you to join our waitlist, as cancellations do occur.
📧 Email: [email protected]
This engaging and thought-provoking performance explores how individual Massachusetts towns debated and responded to the question of independence during the spring and summer of 1776. Set in the historic 1791 Meeting House Museum, the program offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the ideas, challenges, and civic discussions that helped shape our nation.
As we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we look forward to sharing this memorable experience of history, reflection, and community with you.
Thank you again for your overwhelming support. We are honored by the community’s enthusiasm and hope to welcome many of you to this special event.

📅 Sunday, June 28, 2026�🕑 2:00 PM�📍 1791 Meeting House Museum�79 Main Street, Ashburnham, MA

06/19/2026

Who Instructed Ashburnham to Vote for Independence?
By Gail Anderson Andrews
The Committee That Received the 1776 Independence Instructions
In 1776, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in Watertown, was the Committee of the State of the Province.
❓Did you know only Massachusetts colony asked their townspeople to vote?
This was the standing committee of the Massachusetts House responsible for:
👉Receiving town instructions
👉Reviewing political questions affecting the colony
👉Drafting reports and resolves
👉Recommending actions to the full House
This is the committee that processed the May–July 1776 town instructions responding to the House’s request that towns declare whether they supported independence.
The seat of the MA provincial congress, The Edmund Fowle House

The Edmund Fowle House is a historic house and local history museum at 28 Marshall Street in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1772, it is the second-oldest surviving house in Watertown (after the Browne House, built c. 1698), and served as the meeting place for the Massachusetts Executive Cou...

06/17/2026

To vote one had to own land worth 40 shillings a year
Most towns didn't record how many votes were counted in support of Congress declaring independence.
When Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John Adams, asking him not to forget the ladies, he replied to her he also could not forget the poor, negroes and many others.
What was he talking about? In order to vote in Massachusetts, one had to own land worth forty shillings a year. The result was that only sixteen percent of the population was eligible to vote.
In the Committee of Congress, Sullivan saw the contradiction. If only landowners could vote, then more than eighty percent of the people had no voice in choosing their representatives. The resulting system exclusively favored the upper class and left out thousands of males as well as women, free blacks, and slaves.
John Adams was not in MA from June 11, as he was collecting the votes of each colony then working with Jefferson and Franklin, editing the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence until overseeing it's printing as well as it being dispatched out in July. So he did not ask towns here in MA to vote.
In 1776, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress did so on May 10th. It took towns weeks to do so after asking other towns what stance they would take and making a most difficult decision. ~Gail Andrews

06/13/2026

☀️Good Morning Ashburnham.
Looking for something fun to do this Saturday?

The Ashburnham Historical Society’s Meeting House Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and we’d love to welcome you in! Come explore our exhibits, see what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, and discover the stories that make Ashburnham special.

While you’re here, be sure to browse our Upcycle Gift Shop. We’ve added some interesting finds, unique treasures, and a few items that might make the perfect Father’s Day gift for the history buff, collector, or hard-to-shop-for dad in your life.

Stop in, say hello, and spend a little time connecting with Ashburnham’s past while finding something special to take home. We hope to see you Saturday at the Meeting House Museum, 79 Main Street!

06/11/2026

250 years ago this very day in 1776...
Congress voted a committee of five: Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman & Livingston to draft a declaration.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia behind a veil of Congressionally imposed secrecy in June 1776 for a country wracked by military and political uncertainties. The committee then delegated Thomas Jefferson to undertake the task. Jefferson worked diligently in private for days to compose a document. Proof of the arduous nature of the work can be seen in the fragment of the first known composition draft of the declaration, A portion of his rough draft below from Princeton University. ~Gail Andrews

06/10/2026

Ashburnham in Action & Town meeting in July, 1774
Our first Patriots from Town
By Gail Andrews
Before we return to the 4 part series, a few pieces of town history to fill in...
The town had been preparing for some time, "It was moved that the Covenant sent from Boston be read and accordingly it was read.
The covenant adopted in the foregoing vote was a solemn engagement, signed by the inhabitants of the town, that they would refrain from the purchase and use of certain articles of British merchandise, and that risking their lives and fortunes.
Also,
The town voted to buy half a hundred of powder and one hundred of lead flint and ten dozen of flints as a town stock."
They knew it was only a matter of time.
"Ten days later, after the Worcester convention, a committee of safety and correspondence was chosen and the militia was organized.
The town chose Samuel Nichols, Jonathan Samson, Deliverance Davis, Abijah Joslin and Jonathan Taylor a committee of correspondence.
Voted that the following persons be the officers of the militia of said town:
Abijah Joslin, captain.
Deliverance Davis, lieutenant
Ebenezer Conant, Jr., ensign
Amos Dickerson, first sergeant
Jacob Harris, second sergeant
Oliver Stone, third segreant
Enos Jones, fourth sergeant
Phinehas Wetberbce, first corporal
Salmon Dutton, second corporal
George Dana, third corporal
Ezra Atherton, fourth corporal
John Conn, clerk"
From Stearns history of Ashburnham
Photo courtesy of Getty Images

06/04/2026

❤️ We Love Ashburnham

While this post isn’t exactly historic, looking out for one another certainly is. One of the things that has always made Ashburnham special is the way neighbors care for neighbors, share information, and help keep one another safe and well.

A Historical Note with a Modern Reminder

Did you know that Lyme disease gets its name from the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where doctors first identified the illness in the 1970s?

While Ashburnham’s forests, fields, stone walls, and wildlife have long been part of our town’s natural beauty, they also provide ideal habitat for deer ticks. Tick-borne illnesses have become increasingly common throughout Massachusetts, and many residents have remarked on the noticeable increase in ticks this year.

Several members of our local community have recently shared experiences with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, serving as a reminder that awareness and prevention remain important for all ages, especially older adults and those who spend time gardening, hiking, or working outdoors.

Some steps recommended by public health experts include:
• Perform tick checks after outdoor activities
• Wear light-colored clothing and use approved repellents
• Shower soon after spending time in wooded or grassy areas
• Contact your healthcare provider if you find an attached tick or develop symptoms after a bite

There are also medical guidelines that physicians may consider in certain circumstances following a high-risk tick bite, so it’s worth speaking with your healthcare provider if you have concerns.

As Ashburnham residents have always done, we can enjoy our beautiful outdoors while also looking out for one another and staying informed.

Have you noticed more ticks this year than in years past? Feel free to share your experiences, tips, and observations in the comments. Together, we help keep our community informed and healthy.@@