The Recent Excitement in Ashfield

I found recent posts by Alan Surprenant, Ricki Carroll and David King to be thoughtful, heartfelt and encouraging. Alan’s recounting of the “turmoils in town” he remembers from 33 years of living in Ashfield is just a part of our history. Controversy has been a regular visitor to town ever since Ashfield’s incorporation in 1765. Indeed, the very act to incorporate the town was a major controversy unto itself.

One such early “turmoil” dating back to 1832 is, I think, both interesting and instructive. Back then, Ashfielder Charles Knowlton--one of three or four doctors then living in town--wrote and published a 24-page pamphlet with the intriguing title: A History of the Recent Excitement in Ashfield. It was a straight-shooting “tell all” publication, written at the height of a bitter controversy that was tearing the town apart. Knowlton described Ashfield as “far famed for peddlers and peppermint” with 1800 “enterprising inhabitants, besides a good many sheep” and sagely remarked that:

“From time immemorial there have been in this town, as in most others, two parties, the names of which have changed with changing times and circumstances. Whigs and Tories; Democrats and Federalists; Presbyterians and Baptists; Cold Water and Anti-cold Water; “John Williams party”, and “Thomas White’s party; and lastly, the TOLERATION PARTY and the PERSECUTION PARTY.”

The “Cold Water Controversy”--which Knowlton mentioned-–had divided Ashfield into two feuding camps by the late 1820s. Some in town were wholly opposed to the sale and use of ‘ardent spirits’, including beer and strong cider (preferring cold water instead) while others, who enjoyed their occasional hot or cold toddy, fiercely resisted the Cold Water Party’s efforts to introduce temperance reforms.

In the early days nearly everyone “took refreshment” whether they were cutting hay or raising a barn. Back then, town meetings were held at the meeting room above the tavern, and-–yes-–you could take a break from the wrangling upstairs and go downstairs for a shot and a beer. The tavern did a brisk business during town meetings. The tension between these two parties was heightened when, in 1827, five young men drowned in Ashfield Lake while washing sheep. They had taken two sheep for a ride in a log canoe “in a fit of merriment, occasioned by a poisonous stimulant”.

During the early 1830s an even more bitter dispute erupted when Dr. Knowlton came to town and began to practice medicine. Knowlton embraced controversial political and religious beliefs and was considered by many as a “freethinker” and thus a man of “bad principles”. He had recently published a very controversial pamphlet, The Fruits of Philosophy, or the Private Companion of Young Married People which included information about birth control. Many in town considered the pamphlet to be utterly obscene--the 19th century equivalent of pornography.

Enter the Rev. Mason Grosvenor, the new pastor of the Congregational Church, who charged that Knowlton and his friends were immoral and patrons of infidelity, and began to attack them from the pulpit. Grosvenor demanded that townspeople refuse to use Knowlton as a physician and hoped that by denying him “patronage”, he would be forced to leave town.

Grosvenor targeted other Ashfielders who supported Dr. Knowlton, and the resulting turmoil grew toxic. Ashfield historian Frederick Howes, reported that the:

“…excitement so pervaded the whole community [that] Dr. Bement, then a deacon of the church, remarked that there was not a person of calm nerves in the whole town.”

What made the Knowlton controversy stand out was that the “Persecution [of Knowlton] Party” seemed willing to use any means in their effort to drive the ‘freethinking’ doctor from town. Knowlton, in an attempt to defend himself, attended various meetings but was not allowed to speak and was shouted down for being “out of order”. He, in turn, held his own meetings, and insisted on communicating openly with both supporters and opponents, both verbally, and in writing. He argued that only open and honest communication could lead to truth and understanding and he urged everyone to openly voice their “honest opinions to the extent of [their] influence and ability, without infringing upon the rights of others…”

Then, in 1833, Knowlton decided to create what could be called a 19th century blog. He wrote and published A History of the Recent Excitement in Ashfield and laid the entire record of letters and communications relating to the controversy before the town for all to read. In one letter he wrote to Col. Abel Williams, one of his main opponents, he declared that “I too have rights and privileges as well as others. I have resolved to abide and maintain myself in Ashfield.”

In time, the “excitement in Ashfield” wound down, as all local controversies eventually do. There is little doubt that Knowlton’s embrace of open communication helped to cool the heat of the controversy. In his last letter to Grosvenor, he challenged him to “have fair open play, and no more of this secret conniving.”

Knowlton was not driven from town. His practice flourished. He died in 1850, a respected physician and citizen, and his son continued his practice. And he left his mark as a pioneer of women’s reproductive rights and birth control. You can read more about him in Wikepedia. The Rev. Mason Grosvenor, on the other hand, has been pretty much consigned to the dust bin of history. Howes summed up the affair by simply noting that “the dismission of Mr. Grosvenor in July 1835 left the church in a very unhappy state.” Most everyone was glad to see him go.

What happened back in the 1830s is not much different than what’s happening now. I’m glad that Alan’s heart won out so that he could say something about what he was feeling. Ricki’s call for openness can inspire us to “stand up and speak our truths together”. And David King’s appeal that “we’ve all got to live with each other” can be understood as good, heartfelt and sound policy.

Who knows? Perhaps in some future year, some budding historian will issue a new History of the Recent Excitement in Ashfield. If that happens, I’ll be most interested in reading the last chapters about how the excitement ended, how openness and transparency in all things public returned, and how we put the turmoil behind us and moved on.

David Newell