OHA Newsletter
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Issue No. 38 Oakham Historical Association March 2008
Spring is almost here, at least the calendar say so. Things are certainly brighter at the OHA Museum. Thanks in part to an Oakham Cultural Council grant, the Association had new lighting installed to much of the museum. Inter-City Electric (Rex Quartulli) completed the work last month, and we’re basking in the glow. Be sure to stop by, you’ll be amazed at what you might see.
Plans for 2008 are under way, and the events in planning stages are a tour of some lesser-known cemeteries, a tour of the center of town for the 5th grade class, another house tour, a possible square dance, and maybe a speaker or two. As plans become finalized, dates will be published in future newsletters and also on the website.
Another item of interest to many on the list, is a reception to celebrate the retirement of Maude Stone, our librarian for many years. The date is Sunday April 6th, 2pm – 5pm at Pine Acres. Tickets are available for $20 on a limited basis.
As always, if you have questions you can call Jeff Young at 508-882-3111, or check our website
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History: Fact or Fiction?By Lee Dougan
When we were first in school, history was just a bunch of facts in chronological order. History was in the past and couldn’t be changed. As we grew older, we learned that some of the “facts” that we learned were not entirely true. George Washington didn’t chop down a cherry tree and he may have told a lie, once or twice. The Pilgrims didn’t really wear buckles on their hats and shoes. Were these just white lies or did the teachers actually believe in some of these fantasies? What other myths were accepted as the truth? (Suggested reading: “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen)
You can’t change the past, but you can change history. It is forever evolving. Remember when cowboys were the good guys and “Indians” were bloodthirsty savages? Then “Native Americans” became the victims of colonial expansion and aggression. The facts didn’t change, just their interpretation. Every historian gets to pick and choose the “facts” that he wants to portray. Most try to be objective, but some have their own axe to grind or a point of view that they want to promote.
Quoting from the Book of Knowledge Encyclopedia on the subject of slavery: Thomas Jefferson … did not like slavery”. It neglected to mention that he owned slaves his entire life. And another quote: “Although he held slaves himself, George Washington said that one of his first wishes was to see slavery wiped out.” Sounds rather noble. The encyclopedia fails to mention, however, that one of his first presidential acts was to bring 8 of his slaves into the free state of Pennsylvania to work for him in the executive mansion, claiming that he was only a temporary resident there and therefore could own slaves in Philadelphia. Firstcase of executive privilege? Apparently some historians judge people by their words and not their deeds.
Christopher Columbus is known for his discovery of the new world, even though the Vikings had been visiting the east coast of America for centuries. History, for the most part, however, overlooks his involvement in the kidnapping of the local natives and the removal of the ears, noses and hands of those that didn’t pay him tribute during his successive trips to the Caribbean Islands.
Did historians sugar coat the facts to make American society seem more civilized? Did they want to create heroes for young readers to emulate? Did they want to promote a certain philosophy (Good triumphs over evil)? Whatever the reasoning, certain facts didn’t make it into most student text books.
Today, most people watch only certain news broadcasts, claiming that the “other stations” slant the news in favor of the Left or the Right. Objectivity in news stories does not seem to be a top priority any longer. Are the Nielsen Ratings determining what stories will be aired for public consumption?
The winners of each war get to write the “objective” history of the conflict. After the Revolutionary War, “loyalists” were known as “traitors”, and “rebels” became patriots”. If the British had won the war, Benedict Arnold would be a folk hero and Washington would be remembered as the traitor from Virginia. Same facts, different interpretation.
Now, in the age of the World Wide Web, historical facts and myths become even more difficult to separate. There are no editors, checking sources for reliability. False statements can get a life of their own, and after they get repeated often enough, they become history.
History is filled with lies, some intentional; others not. I’m sure a few may have even crept into the “History of Oakham”. Among the treasures in the Oakham Historical Museum is a book entitled “History of Oakham - Version II; obviously written by someone who didn’t like version I. (Just kidding)
History may repeat itself; but it also keeps changing to reflect the attitudes, biases and beliefs of the people who will in turn write the next generation of text books. Hopefully, the next generation will set the record straight.
The Massacre at Cherry Valley, NY
In the summer of 1778 at fort was built in Cherry Valley, NY, the frontier in those days, and the 7th Massachusetts Regiment was sent to protect the fort. Three Oakham men were in this unit, Enos Hudson, and cousins, Issac and James Parmenter. The following is an excerpt from the Cherry Valley story on sundialcompass.com.
Although there were numerous warnings and rumors of an upcoming attack following the Battle of Ft. Stanwix, Colonel Ichabod Alden chose to ignore and dismiss them as folly, as if his presence was enough to ward off the enemy. He would not allow the citizens to stay in the fort complex. It was a bitterly cold snowy day when 50 Redcoats, 150 Tory rangers, and 300 Seneca Indians attacked the frontier settlement. Cherry Valley Massacre took place November 11, 1778. The Tories attacked Fort Alden leaving the Seneca Indians, enraged by the Battle at Fort Stanwix in which Colonel Samuel Campbell replaced Herkimer when he was injured, without supervision. The Indians attacked the homes and farms surrounding Fort Alden. Mohawk Chief, Joseph Brant, tried to stop the savagery, but the Seneca Indians were temporarily out of control.The end result was 32 residents were maimed and killed, 16 American soldiers died, and 70 citizens and soldiers were taken as prisoners including Colonel Samuel Campbell's wife, Jane, and family. They were marched 200 miles and more to various Indian villages and Canadian forts. The whole town was burned except the fort and the church.
Issac and James Parmenter were captured in the battle, and brought to Canada along with other prisoners. James died in captivity. Issac was held for 11 months, then returned home after a prisoner exchange.
In the book Soldiers of Oakham, it says that Enos Hudson was the “best soldier furnished by the town of Oakham in the Revolution.” Enos was born in what would become Oakham in 1759. He enlisted in the Continental Army on March 11, 1777 for a three-year term, and then reenlisted for another three years, being discharged on June 8, 1783. He received an honorary badge for his long, and faithful service. During his six years he was involved in several battles, most notably Saratoga, leading to the surrender of Burgoyne, and Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis.
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Prisoners who became Oakham Residents
After the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, some of the prisoners where marched to Rutland and held in a prison camp. Several Oakham residents who were either too old or young to fully participate in battle, served as guards in Rutland. Three prisoners at Rutland, William O’Brien, George Perkins, and George Walls had either been paroled or escaped and ended up in Oakham in the fall of 1778. The three found employment, Mr. Walls on a farm, and the other two making nails for the blacksmith, Thomas Mann. They were quickly accepted into the community, and at least two of them married. In 1779 the state ordered that all former British prisoners be returned to the Commissary of Prisoners, William O’Brien and George Perkins petitioned the legislature, with the backing of the town’s leaders, and were allowed to stay. George Walls was apparently a Hessian soldier, and as such was allowed to remain. In 1781, all three men enlisted in the Continental Army.
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Reminders:Regular meetings – 3rd Wednesday of the month @ 7pm
Work meetings – 1st Wednesday of the month @ 7pm
Maude Stone’s Reception – Sunday April 6th 2-5pm
Oakham Historical Association
P.O. Box 236
Oakham, MA 01068