The author of the August 8 article headlined “August 1774: Boycott pledge starts Lincoln on road to Revolution” was incorrectly given as Craig Nicholson. The author was actually Craig Donaldson. The article has been updated.
August 1774: Boycott pledge starts Lincoln on road to Revolution
By Craig Donaldson
During the summer of 1774, citizens of Lincoln were wrestling with a momentous decision. Earlier in the year, the British Parliament imposed draconian measures to control the increasingly restive citizenry of Boston and Massachusetts. The Coercive Acts were passed in May, closing Boston Harbor and ending self-government in the colony. Town meetings including Lincoln’s were limited to one annual session for electing town officers and assigning taxes. No other issues could be discussed unless approved by the royal governor.
Official copies of the Coercive Acts had arrived in Boston in July and were promptly imposed by the newly appointed royal governor, General Thomas Gage. When the elected Massachusetts legislature met to protest the acts, General Gage dissolved the legislature. In August 1774, Gage attempted to appoint his own governing council, but patriots applied “persuasion” and convinced the appointees to resign.
Across the colony, these developments stirred debate around dinner tables and in meeting houses, taverns, and churches. At stake was the willingness of each citizen to defy laws handed down by Parliament and enforced by arbitrary authorities without representation or consent from those subject to the laws.
Years before, in response to the Stamp Act in 1765, patriots had responded by refusing to buy British goods. The strategy seemed to work then, so in June 1774, Boston’s Committee of Correspondence once again called upon all towns to adopt a pledge not to purchase or consume any British goods. In response, Lincoln’s Committee of Correspondence, established by Town Meeting in November 1773, drafted a pledge in August 1774 for all adult men to sign:
“We the Subscriber Inhabitants of the Town of Lincoln do sincerely and truly covenant and agree to and with each other that we will not for ourselves or any for or under us, purchase or consume any Goods, Wares or Manufactures which shall be imported from Great Britain after the thirty first day of August seventeen hundred and seventy four, until the Congress of Deputies from the Several Colony shall determine what articles if any to except, that we will thereafter, respecting Use and Consumption of such British articles as may not be excepted, religiously abide by the Determinations of said Congress.”
When it came time to sign the pledge, 77 of the estimated 120 adult men stepped forward and put their names on the document. Though by no means universally supported, this pledge put a majority of the voters of Lincoln in active public defiance of British rule.
Addendum by Donald Hafner of the Lincoln Historical Society:
At the time when the Sons of Liberty were urging non-purchase and non-consumption of British goods, the word “boycott” had not yet entered the English language. That would not occur until a century later, in 1880, when Irish farm laborers refused to work for George C. Boycott, the agent of an absentee landlord. You only have to say “non-purchase/non-consumption” once or twice before you realize what a great invention “boycott” was. Meanwhile, historical re-enactors who turn out in 18th-century garb struggle to stop our tongues before using the word. If only Samuel Adams had given us something better than “non-purchase/non-consumption.”
“Lincoln’s History” is an occasional column by members of the Lincoln Historical Society.
Property sales in March and April 2024
140 Lincoln Rd. #311 — Diana Cowles to Margaretha Eckhardt for $575,000 (April 29)
0 Old Winter Street and 0 Silver Hill Rd. — Thomas DeNormandie to Timothy and Madeleine Plaut (three parcels) for $2,000,000 (April 9)
38 Windingwood Lane — Tamar March Trust to Susan Law and 38 Windingwood Lane Trust for $895,000 (March 28)
26C Indian Camp Lane — Modena Inc. to Justin Baker for $460,000 (March 25)
324 Hemlock Circle — J. Arthur Gleiner Trust to David Stroh and Jane Von Maltzahn for $800,000 (March 15)
146A Lincoln Rd. — Lincoln Bay LLC to Jonathan Solomon for $480,000 (March 15)
25 Greenridge Lane — Zhao Yuan to Kyle Kastner and Johanna Hansen for $646,000 (March 1)
Denise Bienfang passes away
Denise Bienfang
Denise Repetto Bienfang of Lincoln died June 19, 2024 after a brief illness.
Born in Somerville, Mass., the daughter of Doris (Britton) and Robert Anthony Repetto, Denise was a graduate of the Beaver Country Day School and Wellesley College (1963), where she was an enthusiastic member of the Tupelos a capella group and later served as vice president of the alumni committee until her death. In 1965, Denise earned a master’s degree in social work from Simmons College and practiced in the Boston community and, briefly, at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Md., while her husband Don served as a physician in the uniformed service.
When they returned to Massachusetts, Denise continued her social work at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, and in 1981 earned a real estate license, embarking on a 30-year career as a realtor in Lincoln and the surrounding communities becoming well known for her love of the town, her keen eye for staging, and her no-nonsense approach to real estate transactions. Over the decades, her work led to a deep connection to the town and its people, and she developed and nurtured long-lasting friendships among the residents.
Denise was preceded in death earlier this year by her husband, Dr. Don C. Bienfang, whom she occasionally liked to remind had been a “backup date.” They married in 1964 and moved to Lincoln in 1974 armed with the Whole Earth Catalog and plans that included a windmill, beehives, and a large garden. They remained in Lincoln for the rest of their lives, raising two sons there and becoming fixtures in the community.
While Don raised chickens, gardened, and took up other practical enterprises, Denise engaged with the people and the town’s activities. She was a caring mom who made a point to get to know her children’s friends, some of whom became lifelong friends and essentially family members. She joined the First Parish Church and the Lincoln Garden Club, and she loved volunteering with others in helping to cook at the Stone Church’s kitchen for town events, delighting in her time with old and new friends.
Denise was known as loyal and honest, and was always up for tea, or a chat, or a trash-pickup walk. She laughed a lot, especially on the phone. A dedicated gardener, she maintained a regular garden club tour stop in Lincoln, and she never lost her love of music, becoming a proud member of the Sharing a New Song chorus, with whom she traveled to Russia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Denise was a longstanding and active member of the Women’s Travel Club of Boston, serving as the scholarship chair. Every year she reviewed numerous grant proposals and supported the awarding of scholarship funds to women on the basis of the compelling nature of their projects in the arts and sciences.
Late in life, Denise discovered a love of playing tennis (with a blazing forehand) and watching football, both of which she enjoyed with Don and their friends. In 2012, Denise turned an old house in Dennis, Mass., into a beloved gathering place for her friends and family, and she spent many summer hours there on the porch talking and laughing with her grandchildren.
Denise leaves behind two brothers, Paul and Robert Repetto, both of Boulder, Colo., and two sons, Matthew Bienfang and his wife Elizabeth of Hingham, Mass., and Joshua Bienfang of Bethesda, Md., along with six grandchildren, Micah, Britton, Abigail, Caroline, Lily, and Sam. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service at 2:00 PM on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the First Parish Church (4 Bedford Road, Lincoln).
Welcome to the Lincoln Review (version 2)!
As subscribers probably know, the Lincoln Squirrel has published the Lincoln Chipmunk, an online arts periodical, for the last several years as a successor to the print-only Lincoln Review (1977–2019). This summer, I’m welcoming Barbara Rhines as the new editor of the publication, which is relaunching with a new design but the old name. It will still be published for subscribers on the Lincoln Squirrel website. Here’s the newest issue:
lincolnsquirrel.com/the-lincoln-review
An important new section for crafts is now part of the Lincoln Review. In future issues, we would also like to include a section showcasing the creative endeavors of Lincoln high-school students. And to further honor the storied history of this town and prior contributors, we hope to feature vintage submissions selected from the past issues of the Lincoln Review/Lincoln Chipmunk.
Check out the Lincoln Review’s submission guidelines. Be creative and send in your work! The next deadline is October 11, 2024. Please tell your friends about this vital new journal of literature, art, and craft. (And by the way, you can still see back issues of the Lincoln Chipmunk here.)
Alice Waugh
Editor, The Lincoln Squirrel
Publisher, The Lincoln Review
lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com
617-710-5542 (mobile)
News acorns
Food pantry seeks help from truck/van owners
Do you have a truck, SUV, or van and are willing to help the Lincoln-Weston St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry transport food twice a month? Here’s what’s needed:
- On the first Thursdays of each month at 9:30 a.m.,we need volunteers to drive to Framingham to pick up food donations (where other folks help load the truck) and transport them to the food pantry located behind St. Joseph Church, Lincoln, where other volunteers will also unload the truck. It takes only about an hour and a half, once a month.
- On the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:30 p.m., we need volunteers to drive to Boston to pick up food donations and bring back to the food pantry again, where there will be other volunteers to unload the truck. It takes only two hours, once a month.
We can rotate volunteers to pick up once or twice every other month, or if feasible, just one pickup. If interested, please contact food pantry chair Karen Boyce at karenboyce620@gmail.com.
Coming up at the library
Minuteman Library Crawl
Wednesday, Aug. 7 — all day at the library
We invite you to spend a day visiting local libraries to find out what’s special about each and what they have to offer you and your family. This is an event for all ages – all you need is a love of libraries and a way to get from place to place. The challenge is to visit as many libraries as you can and take a picture of yourself with a designated item in each library – it’s a 21st-century scavenger hunt! Post your pics and tag the libraries #mlncrawl2024. Each library will have handouts and giveaways – show your pictures to a librarian (or if you don’t have a camera, just tell a librarian you’re on the crawl — we’re pretty trusting) and receive a prize. Download your “passport” with all the relevant information.
Film: A Day at the Races (1937)
Thursday, Aug. 15 from 6–8 p.m., Tarbell Room
Doctor Hackenbush, Tony, and Stuffy try to save Judy’s farm by winning a big horse race in this Marx Brothers classic. Click here to sign up for the Lincoln Library Film Society mailing list.
Craft & Chill (adults)
Tuesday, Aug. 20 from 4–5 p.m., Tarbell Room
Craft and chill together doing some relaxing art in a low-key setting. These crafts are for giving yourself a mental break and just having some fun with other adults. All supplies are provided by the library. For ages 16+. Register here or click here for the series flier.
Science Challenges (kids and teens)
Thursday, Aug. 22 from 4–5 p.m., Tarbell Room
Compete with your friends and family with these fun science challenges! Led by local high school volunteers, this program will go over fun science concepts, making learning fun! Space is limited so please register. Best for children entering grades 3-6. Register here.
Mindful Mondays: Meditation Series
Join mindfulness teacher Lauren for a calming Monday lunch break meditation held via Zoom. Practice clearing your mind, being in the present moment, and reducing stress in these 30-minute classes. Participants will be introduced, and guided through, a different type of meditation each class. Click here to register for one, a few, or all sessions.
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- Mindfulness Meditation — Monday, Aug. 19 from 12:30-1 p.m.
- Movement Meditation — Monday, Aug. 26 from 12:30-1 p.m.
- Nervous System Relaxation — Monday, Sept. 16 from 12:30-1 p.m.
- Nature Visualization — Monday, Sept. 23 from 12:30-1 p.m.
- Movement Meditation — Monday, Sept. 30 from 12:30-1 p.m.
Virtual Q&A with Author Sean O’Connell
Monday, Aug. 19 from 7–8 p.m., Zoom
In 2023, the world learned the tragic news that actor Bruce Willis was suffering from aphasia, a cognitive disorder, that subsequently worsened to become frontotemporal dementia. Join us as we discuss Bruce’s life, work, and future with Sean O’Connell, author of Bruce Willis: Celebrating the Cinematic Legacy of an Unbreakable Hollywood Icon. We will also be discussing the essential question: is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie or not? Register here.
Click here to see all upcoming events at the library.
Get new transfer station/commuter lot stickers this month
New blue transfer station/commuter lot stickers will be required as of September 1, 2024. The sticker, which will be effective through August 31, 2026, must affixed to the bottom left corner of the driver’s side windshield of each vehicle. Any Lincoln resident who wishes to obtain a sticker can do so by completing this online application. Have a picture or scan of your vehicle registration handy, click “View/Pay Bill,” and then select “First Sticker” for sticker type. Stickers will be sent in the mail. Any resident who does not have a new blue sticker by September 1 may be refused access to the transfer station or commuter lot.
Stickers may be obtained at the DPW office. Please call the DPW at 781-259-8999 or email Susan Donaldson at donaldsons@lincolntown.org.
Police log for July 24–31, 2024
July 24
Bedford Road (1:44 p.m.) — An officer was involved in a minor motor vehicle crash on Bedford Road. There were no injuries.
Hanscom Drive (1:47 p.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces called to report that an individual attempting to gain access to the base had an active arrest warrant. Gabriella Siqueira, 22, of Weymouth was taken into custody, booked, and then bailed shortly after. She was ordered to appear at Quincy District Court the following day.
Donelan’s Supermarket lot (3:02 p.m.) — Officers responded for an individual who appeared to be in distress. Officers spoke with the person, who refused any services.
Weston Road (4:12 p.m.) — Officers responded to the five-way intersection for a two-vehicle crash. There were no injuries. One of the vehicles was towed from the scene.
South Great Road (4:49 p.m.) — Multiple 911 calls were received about a vehicle that was driving on the shoulder of South Great Road before it struck another vehicle and then ran off the road. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. One of the operators was transported to Emerson Hospital with minor injuries. The driver that struck the other vehicle was cited for a marked lanes violation.
Red Maple Lane (5:15 p.m.) — A caller reported being the victim of a possible fraud.
July 25
Bank of America (11:17 a.m.) — A caller reported an individual who was acting suspicious. An officer checked the area and reported that the person was a nearby resident.
Birches School (12:53 p.m.) — An officer checked on a vehicle that had been parked there for several days
Red Maple Lane (1:17 p.m.) — An officer spoke with a victim of an online scam.
Garland Road (4:05 p.m.) — Officers performed a well-being at a residence.
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (6:18 p.m.) — Officers performed a check on an individual at the natural gas transmission site. Checks were also performed on the evening of July 26 and the afternoon of July 28. Click here for background.
July 26
145 Lincoln Road commuter lot (11:52 a.m.) — A vehicle was cited for failure to pay the parking fee.
Lincoln Road (7:30 a.m.) — Officers assisted with a funeral procession.
South Great Road (2:35 p.m.) — A motorist reported seeing a section of hose on South Great Road. An officer moved the item off the road and requested the DPW respond to remove it entirely.
Indian Camp Lane (9:20 p.m.) — An officer responded to the area of Indian Camp Lane by the Civil Terminal for a loud jet noise.
Stone Church (5:15 p.m.) — A caller reported being the victim of possible harassment.
Old Winter Street (11:49 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing several loud bangs outside their residence. An officer checked the area and everything appeared normal.
July 27
Lincoln School (12:19 a.m.) — An officer came upon a vehicle that was parked and unoccupied. The owner was close by and left the area a short time later.
Boyce Farm Road (10:13 a.m.) — A caller reported their dog was missing. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
Lincoln Cemetery (10:37 a.m.) — An officer responded to the cemetery for the report of someone screaming. Officers located a person yelling for their dog who had briefly escaped.
Sandy Pond Road (3:06 p.m.) — A caller reported an encounter with an unauthorized solicitor. The officer was unable to locate the individual.
July 28
Lincoln Woods (4:58 p.m.) — An officer conducted a well-being check on an individual who appeared to be in distress. Everything checked out OK.
The Commons of Lincoln (6:03 p.m.) — An officer performed a follow-up check.
Mount Misery parking lot (8:47 p.m.) — An officer checked on an unoccupied vehicle. The owner was contacted and said they would be removing the vehicle shortly.
July 29
Ridge Road (6:18 a.m.) — An officer spoke with an individual regarding an ongoing incident.
Cambridge Turnpike eastbound (1:53 p.m.) — A caller spoke with an officer about their computer being hacked.
July 30
Lincoln Road (4:22 p.m.) — Several calls were received about a motorist sleeping in their vehicle. An officer was able to stop the vehicle and spoke with the operator. The person had stopped for the railroad crossing and was deemed fine to continue on their way.
MBTA station (8:21 p.m.) — The MBTA reported an individual on the railroad tracks between Concord and Lincoln. The person was stopped in Concord.
Wells Road (10:28 p.m.) — A caller reported a noise complaint. An officer arrived and determined there was no noise coming from the reported area.
July 31
Lincoln Road (12:06 p.m.) — An illegally parked vehicle was ticketed at the commuter lot.
Mount Misery parking lot (3:03 p.m.) — An officer turned off the headlights on a piece of construction equipment.
Huckleberry Hill (4:00 p.m.) — An officer responded for the report of unknown vehicles in a resident’s driveway. No vehicles were present upon the officer’s arrival.
South Great Road at railroad tracks (5:09 p.m.) — A caller reported an individual who appeared in distress. An officer located the individual, who refused any services.
Trapelo Road (5:54 p.m.) — Several young children were advised not to fish in the Cambridge Reservoir.
Conant Road (8:57 p.m.) — Officers were able to locate a dog that had run away from its owner.
Longmeadow Road (11:43 p.m.) — A caller reported several males repeatedly entering the property and playing loud music and using flashlights. Officers were unable to locate the people.
Addendum
In the July 30 article headlined “Town Meeting discussions begin on September 16,” the link for the new Town Meeting Study Committee page was omitted. The page is here. The original article has been updated.
Town Meeting discussions begin on September 16
Town officials and residents will begin public discussions about how Town Meeting is conducted and how might be improved at a two-session kick-off forum on Monday, Sept. 16 with a virtual morning session at 8 a.m. and an in-person evening session at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln School’s Learning Commons.
The call to reexamine the town’s collective decision-making process arose after the March 2024 Town Meeting where an unexpected amendment to the proposed Housing Choice Act was made on the floor. Controversy swirled over who was allowed to address the audience, and when and where they could speak. There have also been voting confusion and delays at recent Town Meetings.
At the September forum, residents will be invited to share thoughts about the processes leading up to Town Meeting and the protocols of the meeting itself. “Feedback from these sessions will help us identify what is working well, what needs improvement, and the key issues that our soon-to-be appointed Town Meeting Study Committee (TMSC) should consider,” Select Board and Town Moderator Sarah Cannon Holden wrote in a postcard mailed to Lincoln households. “This work will be conducted with respect for the tradition and norms that have served Lincoln well since the first Town Meeting in April 1754, a commitment to equity, and with recognition that Town Meeting should continue to adapt to the needs and desires of Lincoln’s current residents.”
The town has launched a TMSC web page that thus far includes links to existing town rules, materials from the Massachusetts Moderator’s Association, studies by other towns, and a 2009 report in Lincoln town governance.
Those unable to attend either session on September 16 may email comments to TMSC@lincolntown.org.
Police log for July 13–23, 2024
July 13
Sandy Pond Road (1:41 p.m.) — Several items were turned in to police for destruction.
Giles Road (1:56 p.m.) — A resident called to report animal noises coming from within their walls. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
Battle Road Farm (8:35 p.m.) — A caller reported that a rabbit appeared to be trapped. The property manager was notified.
July 14
Lincoln Road (8:38 a.m.) — A caller reported a missing tabby cat. The Animal Control Officer was notified.
Juniper Ridge Road (10:49 a.m.) — A motorist had pulled off of Route 2 and parked on Juniper Ridge Road to make a phone call.
Baker Bridge Road (2:32 p.m.) — Several illegally parked vehicles were cited on Baker Bridge Road.
Lincoln Road (6:52 p.m.) — Another call about the missing cat was received.
Overflow parking lot, South Great Road (9:42 p.m.) — An officer checked on a parked and occupied vehicle.
July 15
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (8:32 a.m.) — Officers responded to the gas transmission station near Bedford Road for a report of an individual who had established a stand in a tree. Police returned to the site several times over the week. Click here for details.
Tabor Hill Road (12:39 p.m.) — An officer spoke with a resident reporting a suspicious vehicle in their driveway.
Davison Drive (12:45 p.m.) — A resident called to report being the victim of identity theft.
Wells Road (7:33 p.m.) — An officer spoke with an individual regarding a civil matter.
July 16
Oak Meadow Road (8:38 a.m.) — An individual reported being bitten by a dog.
Lincoln School (4:29 p.m.) — A caller reported that their vehicle had been struck while parked at the school.
Chestnut Circle (9:00 p.m.) — An officer helped the Water Department replace a missing cap to an exposed pipe.
July 17
After a truck took out a utility wire, traffic at the five-way intersection at the library was detoured for a period of time. Lincoln police were busy with other calls but a detour was established by the DPW, and mutual aid partners assisted with diverting traffic until the wire was repaired.
Huckleberry Hill (11:42 a.m.) — An officer conducted a well-being check. The person in question was OK.
South Great Road (4:52 p.m.) — A caller asked to speak with an officer about being the victim of credit card fraud.
Concord Road (7:17 p.m.) — Officers checked the area for a female who appeared to be in distress but she was not found.
July 18
Cambridge Turnpike westbound (1:44 a.m.) — An officer located a stopped vehicle on the off-ramp. The operator of the vehicle, Scott Snow, 39, of Boxford was arrested for operating under the influence of liquor. He was subsequently bailed and ordered to appear at Concord District Court at a later date.
Hanscom Drive (8:51 a.m.) — Hanscom Security Forces requested assistance with an individual who had an active arrest warrant. Robert Baker, 37, of North Attleborough was taken into custody. He was booked and transported to Concord District Court.
Tabor Hill Road (1:21 p.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle in their driveway. The vehicle was not there when the officer arrived.
Todd Pond Road (2:19 p.m.) — A resident reported being the possible victim of a phone scam.
Old Bedford Road (5:46 p.m.) — A caller reported a turkey running across the roadway.
Donelan’s Supermarket (9:59 p.m.) — A caller reported a woman sleeping on a bench outside the store. She declined any services and wished to remain where she was.
July 19
Lincoln Road (6:20 p.m.) — A caller reported losing their wallet but locating it a short time later.
Old County Road (8:20 p.m.) — A small camp fire was located behind a residence after a report of smoke in the area.
Warbler Springs Road (10:23 p.m.) — A caller reported hearing what they thought were two gunshots. The noise came from fireworks.
July 20
Wells Road (8:49 a.m.) — A caller found a rabbit and requested assistance from the Animal Control Officer.
The Commons of Lincoln (11:23 p.m.) — An officer assisted a resident.
July 21
Trapelo Road (1:32 p.m.) — A caller reported a dog running in the area of the five-way intersection with a leash around its neck. Officers were unable to locate the dog.
Lincoln Road (2:08 p.m.) — A motorist reported their vehicle was struck by a bicyclist. The bicyclist left the area before police arrived.
North Commons (5:05 p.m.) — A caller reported an alarm sounding in their residence. The alarm was caused by a surge protector.
Battle Road Farm (5:52 p.m.) — A caller reported a suspicious vehicle in the area. The vehicle was there for an online transactional purchase.
July 22
Donelan’s Supermarket (1:19 a.m.) — An officer checked on an individual at Donelan’s and then provided them with a courtesy transport.
Lincoln Road (3:15 p.m.) — A caller reported a vehicle traveling down Lincoln Road with their hazard lights on. The vehicle was gone on arrival.
Ridge Road (7:15 p.m.) — An individual reported an ongoing incident with a neighbor.
July 23
Lincoln Road (11:12 a.m.) — A person was evaluated by the Fire Department in the lobby of the station.
Sandy Pond Road (3:08 p.m.) — An officer spoke with a person regarding an ongoing incident.
Old Cambridge Turnpike (4:07 p.m.) — Officers performed a well-being check on an individual but they were not home.
Bypass Road (7:54 p.m.) — Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Bypass Road at Lexington Road. There were no injuries reported. One vehicle was towed from the scene.
Lincoln School (8:07 p.m.) — An officer performed a well-being check on a person at the school campus. Everything was fine.