December 4, 1758, there were reported two more, Joseph and
Paul, grandsons of Jean Landrie, twins; six weeks old, sickly.
The Town Records show many items of expense for the
support of these people, such as rye and Indian meal, shuger,
beef, mutton, salt pork, peas, syder, rhumb, biscake, fire-wood, and
medical attendance. They were well taken care of, but of course
suffered much from home-sickness, loss of friends and property,
and other things incidental to their sad fate.
In one instance
one of the French is paid by the town for assistance rendered by
him to his less fortunate companions in exile, as appears by the
following: "Joseph Landrie for time spent in moving Jane
Landrie and wife with'their goods from David Spaulding's to
Ephraim Warrens and for going twice to Dunstable about a
nurse for said Jane Landrie and wife when sick, five shillings and
four pence," and David Spaulding is paid for his "cart and oxen
to move the French from his own house to Ephraim Warren's."
The Province accounts show items such as the following:
June 14, 1758. Allowed to the Selectmen of Chelmsford for
supporting French Neutrals, E25.2.514-
Jan. 17, 1759. Allowed to the Selectmen of Chelmsford for
supporting French Neutrals, 942.2.621'
Source: [Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 136, p. 517.]
An account was rendered by the Town from time to time to
the secretary of the Province of the expense which had been
incurred in their support. The following record shows that the
Town was wholly, or in part, reimbursed:
CHELMSFORD, April 27, 1761.
At a meeting of the Major part of the Selectmen it was agreed
upon and ordered that Oliver Fletcher, Esq., pay to Mr. Samuel
Perham, Town Treasurer for the Town of Chelmsford for the
year A. D. 1761, the sum of twenty nine pounds eight shillings
and two pence lawful money, which the Said Oliver received of
Harrison Gray, Esq., Province Treasurer, a Grant made to the
Town of Chelmsford for their last account exhibited for supporting
Jean Landrie and Family in this Town, which grant was made on
or about the first of April currant. ~C29-8-2."
The fall of Fort William Henry in Instant occasioned great
alarm throughout the colony, and troops were hastily organized
in the different towns to repel the threatened invasion. In
August the Sheriffs were ordered by the Governor "to keep
watch over French, and not allow them too great liberty at this
critical juncture, as in consequence of the surrender of Fort
William Henry and the attack of Fort Edward, the issue of which
is uncertain.
In 1760 Charles Trawhom (Trahan) and family were moved from
Chelmsford to Concord by order of a committee of the General
Court. While in this Town they lived in the house of "John
Blazedel."