Full text of "History of Worcester county, Massachusetts, embracing a comprehensive history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its cities and towns"

MASSACHUSETTS
STATE COLLEGE

GOODELL LIBRARY

F
72

W9H6
V. 1

■»♦>

H I S T O E T

WORCESTER COUNTY,

MASSACHUSETTS,

EMBKACINO A

COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY

FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TEME,

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF ITS CITIES AND TOWNS

sx&tn^tii^

IK TWO VOLUMES.

Vol. I.

BOSTON :
G. F. JEWETT AND COMPANY.

1879.

^15

Entered aecording to Act of Congress in the year 1879,

By C. F. JEWETT & COMPANY,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

BOSTON :

■WEIOnT AND POTTER rUINTINQ COHPAItT,

NO. 79 MILK STREET.

PREFACE.

In placing before the public, for their consideration and acceptance, a work
as extensive and peculiar as the present, the Publishers conceive it to be no
less due to their readers than themselves, to offer some preliminary thoughts,
as to the nature of the woi'k itself, and the circumstances, felicitous or other-
wise, that have attended its production.

It must, probably, be admitted as a unique feature, that this History covfers,
in a sense strictly local and minute, a greater space of territory than has ever
before been embraced in a single effort of the kind. We certainly are not
aware of any one historical work, hitherto issued, that has dealt with an area
of one thousand five hundred square miles, distributed between fifty-six thrifty
towns and two large incorporated cities. There would not, indeed, be very
numerous cases of such a possibility. Yet this is the task which we have pro-
posed to ourselves, and with the execution of which we now advance, as we
hope, to the approbation of a candid and intelligent public.

There seems to be little need to explain our pui'pose, to have every town
history prepared by some author of full and admitted acquaintance with the
place in question. We have, we think, been able to do this in nearly every
instance, even to the employment of an author dwelling on the very ground.
While the effect of this system, working in compliance with a prospectus of
definite historical topics, may be found to be the j^roduction of a certain man-
nerism in style, we cannot but affirm, that it has led to the gathering up of
more and better facts, more lucidly arranged and more vividly recited, than
could have been found in the work of any single writer attempting to handle
the whole subject.

We have not, however, left the effort to itself, even at this point. The

manuscript of the local author has been, in almost all cases, carefully examined

and supervised by the best available talent, before going to press. Thus the

history of the county proper has all passed under the eyes of Judge P. Emory

Aldrich and Samuel F. Haven, LL. D., of Worcester, and every statement in

it has been strictly verified under their direction. We desire to record our

obligations to these gentlemen and scholars in the clearest manner. Also to

Edmund M. Barton for his vigilant and courteous attention to the authors and

publishers in their frequent visits to the Library of the American Antiquarian

[iii]

3S-I1

iv PREFACE.

Society. Likewise, for similar services rendered in respect of single towns,
we present our acknowledgments to Rev. J. D. Crosby, Hon. George W.
Johnson, Hon. E. B. Lyndo, Hon. Freeman Walker, E. B. Bigelow, Esq.,
Hon. N. L. Johnson, Stephen Shepley, Esq., Rev. John Haven, Rev. Samuel
May, Col. Asa H. AVaters, Hon. Charles Adams, Jr., Rev. G. H. DeBevoise,
J. J. Johnson, M. D., George F. Daniels, Esq., Hon. Jason Goulding, Hon.
George Whitney, Samuel I. Howe, Esq., Rev. Dr. Lucius R. Paige, Samuel
M. Lane and Manning Leonard, Esqs., Charles A. Wheelock, Esq., J. G.
Mudge, Esq., Bethucl Ellis, Esq., Dr. William D. Peck, Hon. Wm. Upham,
and others who may have escaped our present memory. We do not fail to be
deeply sensible of the value of the services of these gentlemen, both to our
readers and ourselves, nor of their notable kindness in affording those services
so readily.

A somewhat ripe experience in this kind of literary labor has rendered us
fully sensible of many things that are almost certain to be alleged, with more
or less vigor, as defects in the work after its best completion. We wish here
to bo well understood, when we say that we do not warrant against defects in
our book. We do not believe we have included false, nor even incorrect, state-
ments : at least we have used every exertion to prevent it. But that some
facts — possibly imjDortant ones — may have been omitted, is not only likely,
but the contrary would be quite incredible if not impossible. We have not
undertaken to collect all the history of Worcester County, jjut we have agreed
for certain classes of facts, and we think our agreement has been faithfully
kept on our part.

We have endeavored to make this work essentially a Worcester County pro-
duction, and in conformity with this idea the paper of the present edition was
made expressly for us by Crocker, Burbank & Co., the long-established and
extensive paper manufacturers at Fitchburg, and is in itself a commentary on
the industry of the district which the whole work is given to describe.

In conclusion, we only ask that every one disposed to be critical of such a
production, will candidly remember the difficulties that must inevitably beset
the progress of every jiart. The result, however, is before the public. We
have sought to make it not only a History, but an Exhibition of Worcester
County. An equal array of its local features, in beautiful and artistic illustra-
tion, was never before brought together. The plates are in every instance
new, and their execution bears evidence of good workmanship in the high art
of wood engraving.

CONTEE"TS.

Vol. I.

PREFACE, . . . .
CONTENTS, . . . .
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,

PAOB

iii

vii

MAP,

INTRODUCTION TO COUNTT HISTORY,

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, by Rev. Abijah P. MiRVlN :

Chapter I. — Topography and "Water System of Worcester Connty, ... 1

Chapter II. — Geological Notes, 5

Chapter III. — Indians in Worcester County, 7

Chapter IV. — Incorporation, 18

Chapter V. — Origin of the Towns, 21

Chapter VI. — Administration of Justice, 27

Chapter VII. — Interesting Cases before Courts in Worcester County, ... 51

Chapter VIII. — County Roads and other Ways of Travel, 73

Chapter IX. — Worcester County as a Political Unit, 89

Chapter X. — The Spirit of Worcester County in the Revolution, .... 96

Chapter XI. — Shays' Rebellion, 99

Chapter XII. — Education and Schools, 105

Chapter XIII. — Societies and Associations, 133

Chapter XIV. — Religious Conferences and Denominations, 145

CavPTER XV. — Religious History of the County, 151

Chapter XVI. — Business in Worcester Connty, 174

Chapter XVII. — The Worcester County Press, 185

Chapter XVIII. — MUitary History of the County 192

Chapter XIX. — Four Celebrated Inventors, 196

TOWNS IN WORCESTER COUNTY:

ASHBURXHAM,

Athol, .
Auburn, .
Barke, .
Berlin, .
Blackstone,

BOLTOX, .

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, 201

George W. Horr, LL. B., 213

George A. Stockwell, A. M., 210

Frederick Clifton Pierce 252

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, 272

Judge Arthur A. Putnam, 280

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, 293

CONTENTS.

TOWNS IN WORCESTER

botlston,

Bkookfield

Chaelton,

CLIN-rON. .

Daha,
Douglas,
Dudley, . '

FiTCHBUKG,

Gardnek,

GliAFTOiSr,

Hardwick,
EIarvard,

HOLDEN, .

hubbardston
Laxcaster,

Leicester,

COUNTY, Contdtoed:

pacz

Augustus Flagg, 309

Rev. Aljijah P. Marvin, 319

Georgo A. Stockwell, A. M. 372

Jolm T. Dame, Esq., 385

Georgo W. Horr, LL. B 408

William A. Emerson, 420

Rev. ZepLaniah Baker, 430

Eben BaUey, • 444

Rev. William D. Herrick, 505

Rev. John H. Windsor 525

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, 546

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin 558

Maj. Isaac Damon, . . 570

William Bennett, 584

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, ....... 595

Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, 616

INDEX TO WORCESTER COUNTY,

635

INDEX TO TOWNS:

ASHBURNHAM, 641

AxnoL, 642

Auburn, 643

Barre,
Berlin,

644
645

Blackstone, 645

Bolton,

646

boylston, 647

Brookfield, 648

" North 648

" West, 649

Charlton, 650

Clinton, 651

651

Dana, .

Douglas, .
Dudley, .
Fitchburg,
Gardner, .

652

653

655

Grafton, 656

Hardwick, 656

Harvard, 657

658

659

660

661

Holden, .
Hubbardston,
Lancaster,
Leicester,

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Americnn Antiquarian Society's Building,

First Court-bouse, built in 1732-3, ......

Present Court-bouses, .......••

County Jail, Worcester,

County Jail, Fitcbburg,

Worcester County Free Institute, .......

Christ Cburcb, Court-house, and Soldiers' Monument, Fitcbburg, .

Cusbing Academj-, Asbbumham,

MiUs of C. W. & J. E. Smith, .

Chestnut Hill Meeting-bouse, Blackstone,

Old Wait Tavern, West Brookfield,

Lawrence Felting Company's Mill,

C. E. Morse & Co.'s Factory,

Town Hall, Clinton,

Reuben Gibson House, Fitcbburg,

Joseph Spofford House, Fitcbburg, ......

Fitcbburg Savings Bank Block,

High and Grammar Schools, Fitcbburg,

Residence of Charles T. Crocker, Fitcbburg, ....

Residence of Mrs. S. W. Putnam, "

Union Passenger Station, Fitcbburg,

Fitcbburg Woolen IMill Company's Building, Fitcbburg,

Residence of Samuel E. Crocker, Fitcbburg, ....

[vii]

Facing page

128

176

210

246

282

360

380

390

448

452

458

462

466

Vlll

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Eesidence of Mrs. Eugene T. Miles, Fitchburg,

" of Rodney Wallace, " . .

" • of WilUam H. Vose, »
Rodney Wallace's Paper-mills, "
Putnam Machine Company's Works, "
Woolen Manufactory of James Phillips, Jr., Fitchburg,
Office of Crocker, Burbank & Co., Fitchburg,
Crocker, Burbank & Co.'s " Stone Mill," Fitchburg, .
" " " "Snow Mill," "
" " " " Hanna Mill," "
" " " "Upton Mill," "
<« " " " Lyon & Whitney Mills," Fitchburg,
Portrait of Hon. Alvah Crocker, Fitchburg,
" of Salmon W. Putnam, "
» of Hon. Eugene T. Miles, "
Heywood Bros. & Co.'s Chair-factory, Gardner,
Residence of Levi Heywood, "
" of Seth Heywood, "
" of Henry Heywood, "
Paint-shop of Heywood Bros. & Co., "
Eesidence and Factory of Philander Derby, Gardner,
First Congregational Church, "
First Parish Church and Memorial Hall, Lancaster,
Town Hall, Leicester,

Facing page 4G6
470
470
476
484
484
488
488
492
492
496
496
500
502
504
508
512
512
516
516
518
522
614
622

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INTRODUCTION.

It is important that the reader should bear in mind the fact that the first
division of this work is the history of the County of "Worcester, as a county.
The history of the sevei-al towns in the county is entirely distinct. A constant
recognition of this distinction will prevent disappointment, and, in some cases,
will forestall criticism.

A county is a unit in the commonwealth, and the historian of a county must
treat of matters pertaining to it as a territorial division, created for special pur-
poses. The first use of a county is as a judicial division of the State. It fol-
lows that a view of the judicial s^'stem of the county, and the action of the
courts, must have a prominent place. This will include a list of all judges,
district-attorneys, shcrifis, clerks of court, and other officers connected with
the administration of justice. The county buildings, as court-houses, jails and
houses of coi'rection, are entitled to notice. It will be proper, also, to refer
to some of the important cases which have excited great interest in the county
in former times.

Again, a county is a political unit of the commonwealth. At the adoption
of the Constitution in 1781, it was strictly so, because the State senators were
chosen on a general ticket, and each one was a representative of the whole
county. At present a certain number of senators is allotted to each county,
though they are chosen by districts.

Thirdly, a county has, for one of its functions, the laying-out and ordering
of roads, which towns are not responsible for, or are not willing to make.
This business, and the arranging of railroad crossings, are among the most
important duties of the county commissioners.

In some respects the Indians have a legitimate place in the history of the
county. The whole of the territor3' out of which Worcester County was
carved, formerly was in possession and under the sway of the Nipmuck or
Nipnct tribe. The seven Christian Indian churches in the county belonged to
this tribe. They are thei-eforc noticed at some length in this division of the

work. The sections of the tribe, as the Weshakim of Lancaster, the Qiia-

rxii

xii INTRODUCTION.

boags of Brookficld, the Hcassaiiamesetts of Grafton, the Pegans of Dudley,
aud some others, will have due mention in the sketches of the towns to which
they belonged.

The County of Worcester has also, as a section of the State, a distinct
aiTangeraent or collocation of mountains and hills ; a distinct and almost exclu-
sive Avater-system connected with these elevations, and a geological formation
exhibiting peculiar features, all of which transcend town limits, and must
therefore be treated county-wise. Natural scenery which is peculiar to the
several towns, falls into the province of the town historians, who have not
failed to describe the natural beauties cjf the places assigned to them.

In treating of other subjects, such as education, religion, business, political
affairs and secular associations, it is necessarj'^ to be confined to those aspects
of these things which are general, and not confined to town or city limits.
For example, Confei-euces, Denominations, Academies, Agricultural and Anti-
quarian Societies embrace many towns, and, in some cases, the whole county.
None of the schools in Worcester are local institutions, except those which are
supported and supervised by the city. Those not under municipal control are
properly included in the history of the county. Historically considered, there
were events in the Eevolution and in Shays' Rebellion, for which Worcester
furnished the scene, but the events themselves are a part of the annals of the
county.

So much may be said for what is claimed as pertaining to the county history
proper. A few words may be pertinent in relation to the matters which are
excluded from this part of the work, and left to the town and city historians.
Everything belongs to the history of a New England town. Its origin ; its
scenery ; its inhabitants ; its acts as a town ; its roads ; its schools ; its paro-
chial annals ; its business ; its military history ; its characteristics ; its prom-
inent or distinguished men and women ; all there is in it to be interested in, or
proud of, comes within the purview of the town historian. Towns are before
counties. They have more important functions, except in the administration
of justice. Their history is far more interesting than that of counties can be,
and to the town histories the reader must look for the matters of chief interest
in this work.

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY.

BY REV. AEIJAH P. MARVIN.

CHAPTER I.

TOPOGRAPHY AND WATER SYSTEM OF WORCESTER COUNTY.

The surf:ice of the county is variable, consisting of valleys, plains, hills,
antl mountains. The elevation of the land, above the level of the sea, is from
two hundred to a thousand feet, in general, with many summits rising much
above tlie latter height. The Great Watatic, in the north t.f the county, whose
broad base extends into New Hampshire, is more than eighteen hundred feet
above tide-water. The heiglit of Vv'achusett Mountain is, by good authority,
two thousand three hundred and twenty feet ; earlier surveys or estimates gave
it a much higher elevation. In 1777, the Hon. John Winthrop reported its
sunmiit to be three thousand and twelve feet above the sea-level.

A lofty range extends entirely across the county, from north to south, with
Wachusett Mountain nearly in the middle. This mountain range, with the
valleys which arc the beds of streams that take their rise near the base of
Wachusett, includes the whole county, except the north-west corner, separated
by Miller's River, and a tier of towns on the east side from Harvard to Black-
stone, divided off hy the valleys of the Nashua, Lake Quinsigamond, and
Blackstone River.

The water system of the county is simple in one respect. Nearly all the
streams and rivers flow from the central elevation. As said above, the north-
west corner of the county, including Royalston and a small section of one or
two other towns, is cut off from the rest of the county by Miller's River, but
the largest affluents of this river are from the western base of the "Wachusett
ranuc. Turnins; south wc find the sources of AVarc River, and other feeders
of the Chicopec on the western base of the mountain. The united waters
empty into the Connecticut. The head springs of the Quincl)aug and French
rivers are in the southern spur of Wachusett, and How into Long Island
Sound; while the Blackstone, rising in Ilolden, near its base, and in Gi'afton
receiving the outflow of Lake Quinsigamond, flows south to Narragansett Bay.
Coming to the northern and eastern sides of AVachusett, wc find the main
sources of the north branch of the Nashua River in Westminster and Ash-
burnham ; and the springs of the south branch iu Princeton and Rutland.

COUNTY HISTORY.

Tlicse latter flowing northerly to Lancaster, unite with the north branch ; and
the main stream extends to the Morrimac at Nashua, and by that channel
reaches the Atlantic Ocean.

The eastern tier of towns forms a watershed. The Avcstcrn side of the
range pours its waters into the valleys of the Nashua and the Blaclcstcuie.
The streams on the easterly side empty into the Charles, the Siidl)ury, and
the Assabot ; the two latter forming the Concord, which joins the IMcrrimac at
Lowell.

From the above description it will bo seen that if travelers should start from
the mouths of the Nashua, the Clackstone, the Quinebaug, the Chicopee, and
the Bayquagc, or Miller's rivers, and follow thcin up to their highest sources,
they would hud themselves in not remote proximity around the Ijasc of Wachu-
sett, which rises like a grand and regular dome in the centre of the county.

The valley, which divides the eastern tiar of towns from the main body of
the county, is worthy of the study of the general reader as well as of the
geologist. It seems to be one valley from the north to the harbor at Provi-
dcuce, though the two main streams of the valley run in exactly opposite
directions. The Nashua turns to the north at West Bojdston, and the Black-
stone bends to the south at Worcester; but Lake Qiiinsigamond, which flows
into the Blackstone, is separated from the Nashua by a short and low depression
which is lifted by only a slight elevation above the intervale at West Bo^dston.
There arc indications that the Nashua once flowed southward in a much more
copious stream ; and it is, perhaps, a not extravagant conjecture, that its waters
poured through Quinsigamond and the Blackstone valleys into Narragansett
Bay. However this may be, there is a continuous vallcj' from Pepperell to
Pi'ovidence, and it is a beautiful feature in the scenery of the county.

It is expected that the historians of the several towns will note the pleasant
aspects of nature in their localities. These will include objects of local pride
or pleasure, as hills, ponds and valleys, confined b^^ the limits of the town-
ship. On the other hand, the ranges of land, and the rivers which extend
through the county, binding the whole together into one geographical system,
belong to the county history. There is a great difference in towns, in regard
to their surface, and general contour. Towns lying side by side often show
this diversity in their make-up. One will be all loveliness in the mingling of
hill and valley, meadow and M'oodland ; another Avill bo wild, rough, and
perhaps grand in its outlines; while a third will have nothing cither pleasant or
awe-inspiring. The scenery is either common-place uv vulgar, if that epithet
can be properly applied to any of the works of nature. Again, there are
towns in which the tourist can find nothing to please the cj'c, but they furnish
a lofty standpoint from which a wide extent of the country is visible. The
near is repulsive, while tlie distant is extensive and grand. At the feet of the
observer arc rocks, swamps, and stumpy fields, but at a distance lakes, and far-
off mountains, rising in serried ridges to the clouds. There arc towns which

VALLEYS AND EIVERS.

coml)iiie tho distant ami the near in an harmonious whole, and therefore please
the eye in whatever direction it is turned. Such townsiiips are Petersham,
Barre, Leominster, Lancaster, Woi'cester, not to speak of others scarcely less
noted for lieautiful scenery. The wildest aspects of nature, witliin the limits
of tlic county, arc prol^ably in Koyalston and Sutton. The wild glens, cas-
cades, and waterfalls in the former, and the rugged, and awful chasms of
" Purgatory " in the latter, are a never-failing attraction to visitors.

AVhen the county Avas first explored, little was found to draw the settler
hither except in the intervales of the Nashua, and the streams which flow south-
ward fom Wachusett. The region was hilly, covered with woods, filled with
wild animals, and roamed over by the natives. Lisects, and snakes, often
venomous, were an annoyance or a dread to the hunter and explorer. The
adder, the copperhead and the rattlesnake, were to be guarded against in all
places. The journals of the captains, in the old Indian wars, often make men-
tions of poisonous serpents. AYild-cats, wolves, and bears were common, not
only preying upon tame animals, but endangering human life. AVe need not
wonder, therefore, that leading men in Boston, not having the gift of prophecy
or of statesmanlike foresight, doubted whether Worcester could ever become a
'' respectable county." They could not forecast the time when this wild section
should be free from noxious animals, and these hills and valleys be brought
under skilful cultivation, and these streams, turned to the work of driving
machinery, should be lined with thriving villages and flourishing cities.

The large streams of the county, esijecially those dignified by the names of
rivers, cut through or divide scvei-al towns, and may, therefore, come into this
review without apology. The current of Miller's, or Bayquagc river, from its
source in Ashburnham, flows some twenty-five miles before passing into the
county of Franklin ; and with its chief affluent, the Otter, drains wholly, or
in part, eight towns. Its flow of water is abundant, and owing to great ponds
and reservoirs, is constant. The stream descends so rapidly that it furnishes
numerous sites for mills and factories. This river, insignificant as it may seem
on the map, is the means of life and growth to much of the business in the
north-west of the county. There are many pleasant scenes on the river and
its branches, lined with meadows and plains ; but there is very little of that
peculiar formation called intervale.

Ware River, rising on the west side of Wachusett, has its head springs in
Princeton, Westminster and Ilubbardston. Gathering the water from several
considerable streams, it binds ten or twelve towns into one group, on the
western side of the county. It is fed by numerous ponds, which gem the
landscape ; and though the country it traverses is, in part, rough and swampy,
yet there are reaches of surpassing loveliness on its banks.

Numerous streams, rising in Paxton, Oakham, Spencer, and the Brookfields,
feed the Chicopee ; and iu their flow add much to the physical features of a
region which has always called forth the admiration of the traveler, and

COUNTY HISTORY.

ciHlciircd it to the hearts of its inhabitants. The south-west section of the
county is watered by ponds, hikes and streams, which swell the flood of the
Quinebaug and French rivers and the great pond or lake in Webster, (whose
bigness the Indians seem to have laljorcd to express by its long and sounding
name, Chau-bun-a-gun-ga-niaug, ) flash in the sunshine, ripple under the lirceze,
and lighten up the face of the county.

The Blackstono gathers tlie wnters from a dozen or more towns in the south-
eastern part of the county, reaching from the centre to the line of Rhode
Island. The numerous ponds which divei'sify the landscape in Leicester and
Sutton ; Quinsig.amond Lake, which, like a section of a great river, beautifies
the borders of three or four towns, and glasses the gentle slopes of Worcester
and Shi'cwsbury for several miles ; the many artificial as well as natural ponds
in Upton, Northbridge, Douglas, Uxbridgc, Milford, Mendon and Blackstoue,
and the winding of the main river, swelled by these unfailing afiluents, through
its long valley, — lend a peculiar charm to the whole region.

Of all the rivers in the county, however, the Nashua is the largest within
county limits, and has the greatest variety and beauty of scenery. The north-
ern branch is fed by streams from the eastern base of the Great and Little
Watatic, and the northern base of Wachusett, then flowing through Fitchijurs:,
and Leominster, it joins the southern branch in Lancaster. This latter stream
has its fountains on the eastern and western sides of the mountain, and p )ur3
its accumulated flood tlirough Holdcn, Sterling, the Boylstons and Clinton to
the junction in Lancaster, and so on to the north. The scenery of a wliole
province is found in its course. Mountains, lofty hills, granite domes, gorges,
rapids, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, plains, meadows, uplands and, above all,
intervales, are brought into a natural unity, and contribute to form one of the
most pleasant and interesting sections of the State. Nothing can exceed the
intervales of the Nashua Valley in fertility and diversified beauty. There is a
charming little vale in Ilolden ; thei'c is a Ijroadcr sweep of alluvial plain in
West Boylston, on the southern branch. On the northern, as it flows through
Leominster, there is a long stretch of the same formation, adding much to the
wealth of the town, as well as to its natural amenity. But the perfection of
intervale formation is to be found in Lancaster, on both branches ; and the
main river, for miles and miles, as the stream hurries along over rapids, or
gently curves and doubles on itself, and lingers as if it loved the child of its
own creation. Its channel has run, in successive ages, all over the broad
valley, from side to side, and every great flood swells it to a mighty river that
covers all the space between the bordering hills. The loam of not less than
sixteen towns, annually brought down from the hills, contributes to the fertil-
ity of the soil and nourishes a diversified vegetation.

There can be little doubt that the intervale has been growing more regular
and even on its surface in the course of centuries. Every overflow tends to
fill up hollows, and smooth over inequalities of surface. An occasional

GEOLOGICAL NOTES. 5

divergence of the river from its chaunel leaves a dead river, or an nnsightly
ditch, but successive floods fill these places with the debris of forests, mills
and bridges, mixed and covered with vegetable mould, until a good soil is
created, and the surface of the intervale is unbroken. A great change of this
kind has taken place within a comparatively brief period of time, between the
junction at Lancaster and the Shirley line. There is a small body of water
on the western border of Bolton and Harvard, called "Still Iliver." On
old maps this was called the " Long Pond " or " Long Lake," and was three or
four miles in length, with a much greater Ijreadth than the widest part of the
main river at present. South of this lake, or perhaps a shallow continuation
of it, and directly opposite Lancaster station, at the east, was a swampy tract
called the " Swans' Swamp." This swamp was ci'osscd by the main road to
Concord till near the middle of the last century. It is now tilled so as to be
passable, dry shod, in the summer. The land is mowed and pastured. In
like manner the greater part of the "Long Lake" has become solid land, and
the time is coming when " Still River " will dwindle to a brook, unless the
Nashua forsakes its present bed in Lancaster and seeks its ancient course in
I5olton and Harvard. The banks of the river are higher than the land on the
eastern side of the intervale, and at every flood the overflow tends to the
eastward, carrying vast quantities of fine sand and finer loam to fill and enrich
the fields.

CHAPTER 11.

GEOLOGICAL NOTES.

There are some points of interest, thougii nothing remarkable to the gen-
eral observer, in the geology of Worcester County. It is diflerent, of course,
to tiie scientific explorer. He finds "books in the running brooks" and "ser-
mons in stones." Every ledge, rock, pebble and stone, water-worn till round
and smooth as an ivory ball ; every bed of clay and mass of sand ; every
mountain and valley and swamp ; every water-course and pond, is filled with
the records of countless centuries of work wrought by the elements and by
perished animals whose pidverized particles have passed through a thousand
forms. Hut, leaving this niiiuiter scrutiny to those who have time and taste
for the study, we note here merely what is apparent to the eye of the trav-
eler.

The general rocky formation of the county is gneiss, a rock ajjuresrated of
quartz, feldspar and mica. This prevails over the western half of the county,
through its whole length. The same is true of the eastern side, beginning in a
narrow strip on the cast of Harvard and widening to the line of Rhode Island.
The exception to this general fact is found in a section beginning at the centre

6 COUNTY HISTORY.

and extending north and east, in fan-like shape, into Middlesex. At the north
end of lake Quinsigamond, a vein of argillaceous slate a mile or two in width,
appears, and gradually widening to three or four miles as it traverses Lancas-
ter, passes out of the county. In this formation there are many beds of fine
clay, especially in Lancaster, from which bricks have been made in great quan-
tity during several generations. There is also a fine and extensive slate quarry
at the north-east corner of the town. Slate in coarser variety crops out in sev-
eral places

Starting from the same locality — the north eud of Quinsigamond — another
vein of about the same width extends to the north and cast, steadily widening
till it passes out of the county towards Lowell. This formation is mica slate ;
and it passes through parts of Shrewsbury, Boylston, Clinton, Berlin, Bolton
and Harvard, and runs parallel with the argillaceous slate the whole length of
the eastern side of Lancaster.

Taking now anew starting point at the State line in Webster, we find another
formation of mica slate, about two miles wide, which extends north through
Oxford and Auburn to Worcester, where its width is not far from three miles.
Here it joins the argillaceous slate, mentioned above, and runs parallel with it
on the western side, widening as it extends into West Boylston, Sterling,
Leominster and Fitchbnrg, where it bonds to the right, and covering Lunen-
burg, passes out of our bounds. This slaty formation, single and narrow at
the southern extremity, and triple from Worcester to the northern end, with
constantly increasing breadtii, is a peculiar feature in the geology of the
county.

Granite, a crystallized aggregation of quartz, feldspar and mica, was formerly
found in the shape of bowlders, in all parts of the county. Much of this has
been utilized in foundations, piers, abutments and buildings. Immense masses
of granite are located in Fitchburg, Harvard and Northbridge. It crops out in
lesser proportions in many places. Good I)uilding-stone is common, especially
in Worcester, where are several massive and elegant structures made of the
cream-colored stone, tinged with iron, M'hich is drawn from quarries in and
near the city. The quartz rock in Bolton and Hiirvard bears such a close re-
semblance to the gold-bearing quartz of California, that geologists and old
miners seem alike surprised at the absence of the precious metal. None in
paying quantity has yet been found.

Formerly iron was obtained in several places, as Sterling, Hubbardston, etc.,
but the amount was so small, and the distance from market so great, that the
mines could not be worked at a profit. The geological maps are marked with
tokens of iron in Worcester, Hubbardston, Sterling, Oakham, New Braintree,
North and West Brookfield, Hardwick, Sturbridge and Southbridge.

Coal of an inferior quality has been taken from a mine in the hill north-east
of the city of Worcester, but the search for more and better has not been en-
couraged by good results.

INDIAN TRIBES.

The limestone quarry in Bolton was formci-ly worked, and large quantities
of good lime have been burned there in early times ; but nothing has been done
recently, though the material is not exhausted. Steatite, or soapstone has ])eeu
discovered in several places, as Fitchburg, Worcester and Millbur}', but the
quarries cannot compete with those of New Hampshire, and are of little pecu-
niary value. Greenstone, or trap, crops out in several towns, especially in a
kind of group north and west of Wachusett, as in "Westminster, Ilubbardston,
Barre and Ilolden. But these and other geological and mincralogical facts of
local interest, will be duly noticed by the historians of the several towns.

These notes, which do not pretend to be the result of scientific stud\', except
as they are gathered from the reports of scientists, may be properly closed by
a brief extract from President Hitchcock's "Geology of Massachusetts," pp.
555-6, referring to the Worcester County clay slate. "Some geologists," he
remai'ks, "would probably regard the slate that forms the roof and floor of the
mine of anthracite in Worcester, as argillaceous slate ; and maintain that the
range of this slate in Worcester County, extends at least as far south as that
spot. But I regard that slate rather as a fine mica slate, much impregnated
with carl ion, which gives it the appearance of argillaceous slate. . . I have
not found nuich well characterized argillaceous slate south of Boylston. And
north of this place, the country is so much covered with diluvium, and so little
hilly, that the slate does not often come into view. . . Its characters appear
most fully developed in Lancaster, where it has been quarried for rooting slate,
and here the range is broadest. . . It passes, on either side, into the pecu-
liar mica slate, already spoken of in Worcester County, and in this latter rock
protrusions of granite are not infrequent."

The passing remark in this extract, that the slate does not "often come into
view," suggests what more recent observers confirm, that argillaceous slate is
to be fouud in other beds than those already worked in Lancaster and Harvard.

CHAPTER HI.

INDIANS IN WORCES'J'ER COUNTY.

When the English came to Plymouth, in 1G20, and to Boston, ten years
later, the whole territor}^ which now belongs to Massachusetts was thinly in-
habited by Indians. These were divided into several tribes. Some of these
tribes were subdivided into lesser bodies. Perhaps it would be quite as correct
to say, that some tribes were subordinate to the chiefs of tribes more numerous
and powerful. For example, Daniel Gookin states that the Nipnets or Nip-
mucks were, to a certain extent, under the tribe of the Massachusetts.

COUNTY HISTORY.

Section 1. The Nipnet Countrij. — The region called in early times the
Nipnet, Niprauck or Nipmug country, was nearly conterminous with Worces-
ter County, as now bounded. Gov. Winthrop, under date of Januaiy 27,
1 ()31 , old style, writes of a journey made by himself and others, to a point which
was in the present town of Sudbury, as is believed, where, on the west side
of an elevation styled Mount Feake, from the top of a very high rock, "they
might sec all over Neipnett, and a very high hill due west, about forty miles
off, and to the north-west, the high hills by Merrimack, above sixty miles off."

The "very high hill due west" could be no other than Wachusett Mountain,
near the centre of Worcester County, though the distance is not more than
thirty-five miles. The hills to the north-west probably included all in view
from the Wataties to the Temple hills. Possibly the leonine brow of the grand
Monadnock towered up in the far distance, nearlj^ sixty miles away. But we
must remember that the country had not then been explored ; much less accu-
rately surve3'ed.

From Gookin wc learn that the Nipnet region extended from Marlborough
to the south end of Worcester County, and around by the Brookfields, through
AVeshakim, [Nashaway] , to the northern lioundary of the State. There were no
boundary lines by which tribes or sections of tribes wei'e limited. They had a
centre from which the terrltoiy of the tribe radiated irregularly, according to
convenience. In hunting and fishing, thou.gh not in planting, they doubtless
entered the territory belonging to other tribes ; or certain border sections might
have been neutral ground. It is quite near enough to aboriginal fact to say
that the Nipnets inhabited, in this way, the present county of Worcester,
though sometimes their hunting-grounds were entered upon, in peace or war,
by the Massachusetts, Wampanoags and Narragansetts on the cast and south-
east, and by the Pequods and Mohegans on the south. An old map makes the
Nipmuck region extend beyond the Connecticut, on the west, and northward
into New Hampshire.

Section 2. Tlie Number of the Natives. — Their number was not large.
Accordin"- to the most accurate historians, the Indians in Massachusetts, in
the first .age of English settlement, did not exceed ten thousand. As- they
were comparatively numerous on the sea-coast and in the valley of the Connect-
icut, they must have been thinly scattered over the rest of the surface of the
Colony. There is no proof that any settlement within the limits of this county
contained many wigwams. There were Indians in Marlborough, and probal)ly
in that part of the original town which is now divided into Southborough, West-
borough and Northborough, all of which are in AVorcester County. There were
settlements also in Sutton, or that part of it which is now Grafton, in Uxbridge,
Douglas, Dudley, Oxford, Worcester, and Lancaster, including Sterling.
Besides these, there were Nipnets in AVoodstock, then included in this county.
I'erhaps there was a permanent settlement or centre at Quaboag [Brookfield],
and in other localities. The natives had many places of temporary sojourn.

INDIAN CHURCHES.

as ill rich valleys, for planting ; by good fashing places, in the season of shad
and salmon, when those fish came up the Nashua ; and all over the woods in
the seasons of hunting, snaring and trapping wild game. They were accus-
tomed also to visit the mineral springs for the sake of licalth when their
simples failed of effecting a cure. The iron spring in Winchendon, which
gives the name to Spring Village, was a frequent resort of the natives.
Doubtless other springs were familiar to them us fountains of health.

These people, whether few or many, welcomed our fathers to their wild,
sylvan solitudes, and lived in peace with them till the outbreak of King
Philip's war in 1675. The magic influence of that chieftain seduced hundreds
of weaker men to their undoing and the destruction of their tribe. It is a
matter of history that the first English settlement in the limits of the county
was made at the instance of Sholan, the chief of the Indians living at Wcsha-
kim, as "Washakum was written in former times. They were sometimes styled
"the Weshakim." Their realm extended down the Nashua valley, and one of
their names was the Nashawaj-s or Nashawogs. The "Indian Camp Pasture,"
on the south-east declivity of George Hill, is probably the site of an ancient
Indian gathering place, and there Mr. Thomas King, a trader of Watertown,
by invitation of Sholan, built a "trucking house," and opened a store. In a
year or two the business was bought out by John Prescott, and the store was
opened in South Lancaster. This was a convenience to the natives and the
English, and served to bind them together in good neighborhood.

Section 3. Purchase of the Lands. — In all cases, so far as is known, the
settlers Ijought lands of the sagamores or chiefs at a fair valuation, or paid more
than they were worth to exchange among themselves. A hundred acres of
wild land in an uninhabited forest was hardlj' worth the having. But another
capital fact must be always remembered, which was this : the Indians retained
the right to hunt, fish, and plant, ad libitum. It was also within their power,
as new settlers came in, to reserve all the lands which they cared to possess.

There has been much ink foolishly wasted l)v ignorant writers in lilaming the
early settlers of this country for cheating the Indians out of their lands ; but
no one who has read our history aright, will join in this censure. There is an
old story still afloat to the effect that one of the early Houghtons bought of an
Indian chief a large tract of land for a mere trifle. Investigation would prob-
ably show, first, that the Indian had no title, the land having been previously
bought of Sholan ; and secondly--, that Mr. Houghton gave the Indian claimant
more than the land was worth to him. Our fathers held their land by a double
title : first, purchase of the natives; and second, a grant l)y the general court.
The latter adjudicated rightfully, at least in disputed cases.

Sectiox 4. Tlie Christian Indians. — A brief account of the settlements
formed I)y the converted Indians finds a place here, as these organizations rose
and perished long before the incorporation of Worcester County.

10 COUNTY HISTORY.

The names of the seven Christian communities in the Nipnet country (omit-
ting the three in Woodstock) were, according to Gookin, as follows: 1,
Hassanamissot or Hassanamisco ("a place of small stones"), in Grafton; 2,
Manchoag in Oxford; 3, Chabanakongkamou, or Chauhunagungamaiig, in
Dudley; 4, Pakachoag in Worcester and Auburn; 5, Waentug in Uxbridgc ;
6, Wcshakim in Lancaster ; and 7, Quaboag in Brooktield. According to Eliot,
Nipmnk or Nipnet was a "great country lying between Conactacot and
the Massachusetts, called Nipnet, where there be many Indians dispersed."
Those were the Indians out of whom the Christian settlements were gathered,
of whom Eliot was the missionary and apostle, and Gookin was the superin-
tendent, by appointment of the general court, with the general and cordial
concurrence of the natives. They regarded both Eliot and Gookin with respect
and veneration, and ever retained contidcnee in them as untiailing friends.

The Indians at Hassanamisco numbered about sixty souls, gathered into
twelve families. The tract was four miles square. A church was formed in
1G71, with sixteen members, men, women, and children, and about thirty
baptized persons. The church had a pastor, ruling elder, and deacon, in imi-
tation of the English churches. The pastor's cacophonous name was Tackup-
powillun, and the elder's name was Piombow. At Manchoag or Manchage
[Oxf(n-d,] there were twelve families and sixty souls. The church was formed
in 1G73. The name of the pastor was Waabcsktamiu. The settlement at
Chabanakongkamou, or Dudley, contained nine families and forty-five souls,
who manifested a deeper interest in the worship of God " than any of the new
praying towns. Their teacher, named Joseph, was "sober, pious, and inge-
nious." In the Pakachoag community, between Worcester and Auburn, were
twenty families and one hundred persons, in round numbers. The scat of
this people was on a fertile hill, and was named from a " delicate spring of
water." The name of the sagamore was John, or Ilorowaninit. Mr. Eliot
preached to them, as to the other settlements, in his circuit. Gookin held a
court here in 1G73, when his chief assistant was Wattasacapamun, a ruler of
the Nipmucks. He was of the blood royal. John and Solomon were rulers of
co-ordinate power. James Spere, a man of good parts and pious, was the
minister. He preached two years. At this time — 1673 — Matoonus, a
native of Pakachoag, was chosen a constable by the Indians, confirmed by the
court held by Gookin. He was a " a grave and sober Indian."

At this court held by Gookin and his assistants at Pakachoag, it was agreed
to send a "grave and pious Indian there present, called Jethro, of Natick, to be a
teacher unto a people living about ten miles more to the northward, at a place
called Weshakim, alias Nashaway, near unto an JEnglish town called Lancaster.
These have been a great people in former times ; but of late j^ears have been
consumed by the Maquas wars, and other ways, and are not above fifteen or
sixteen families." This was about thirty years after the pioneers of Lancaster
entered on the scene, at which time the Indians were more numerous. The

INDIAN POLICE. 11

reader will be pleased to notice the letter which Gookin sent from Piikachoag
to the Weshakims or Nashaways, about three years before the massacre : —

" To the Sagamore Shoshanim (Sholan) and the Indian people that live with him at
Weshalcim : Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied. .
"Whereas, the houorable general court of the Massachusetts hath appointed and
authorized me to rule and govern the Indians within this jurisdiction ; and in a special
manner to endeavor the promoting of religion and civility among them, I have thought
it expedient, -with the concurrence of Mr. John Eliot, principal teacher unto the Indians,
and approbation of several of the rulers and teachers belonging to the churches of Na-
tick and Hassanamesitt, to send unto you Jethro, a man approved in the church of
Natiek, to be a minister and teacher among you, and to instruct _you in the good knowl-
edge of the Lord God, and in the Gospel of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray
you, therefore, to receive him in the Lord, and yield ready obedience to the word of
the Lord dispensed by him. And in a special manner we exhort j'ou to keep the Sab-
bath carefully, and abstain from drunkenness, whoredom and powowing, and all other
evils. In ready compliance herewith you will promote jour own temporal and eternal
happiness. So committing you to the Lord, and the word of his grace, praying for a
blessing on the means, for God's glorj- and your good, I remain your loving and affec-
tionate friend for promoting your everlasting welfare. Daniel Gookin."

But it was not enough to send a religious teacher ; he was to be accompanied
or supported by a man in civil authoritj^ How this was secured is set forth
in the following statement, in Gookin's relation: "After this business was
over, — that is, the regulation of affiurs at Pakachoag and the appointment of
a minister for Weshakim, — it being night before we had tinished the court,
there was an Indian present which had come into the wigwam about au hour
before. He was belonging to Weshakim or Nashaway. This Indian desired
liberty to speak ; which being admitted, he made a speech with much affectioQ
and gravity, to this cifect : to declai'e that he belonged to Weshakim near
Nashaway ; and that he was desirously willing, as well as some others of his
people, to pray to God ; but that there were sundry of that people very wicked,
and much addicted to drunkenness, and thereby many disorders were committed
among them. And therefore he earnestly importuned me that I would put
forth power to help in that case to suppress the sin of drunkenness. "When I
asked him whether he would take upon him the office of a constable, and I
would give him power to apprehend drunkards, and take away their strong
drink from them, and bring the delinquents before me to receive punishment,
his answer was that he w<nild first speak with his friends ; and if they chose
him, and strengthened his hand in the work, then he would come to me for a
black stall" and power. I asked him whether he were willing to have Jethro go
and speak to them, to which he readily complied, and seemed joyful thereat.
After discourse we concluded with singing a psalm and prayer, and so retired
to rest."

12 COUNTY HISTOEY.

This was about twenty years after the incorporation of Lancaster, and before
any other town was settled in the region. Eliot and others began to labor
among the Indians in the lower towns many years preceding this date, and had
probal)ly preached already within the limits of Worcester County, inasmuch as
the Indians were now collected into several settlements as Christian converts,
with a church and a civil organization.

In this nol)]e and beneficent work, Eliot and Gookin worked like brothers.
Both stood high in their respective walks in life. Eliot was the respected
pastor of the church in Roxbury. He was a graduate of Cambridge Univer-
sity, England, and a superior scholar as well as preacher. Besides attending
faithfully to his own flock, he became the "apostle to the Indians," seeking
tirst their spiritual elevation, but looking after their prosperity in all their
ways of life. Gookin was a man of sense and energy. He w^as not a dreamy,
unpractical philanthropist, but had a keen sense of Mhat was best f(U- the wild
wards put under his government by the general court. For a term of years
he was the senior military ofEcer in the colony, ranking as major-general.
The Indians never had better friends than these two men, and they soon had
soi'B need of them. It appears from the foregoing narrative that Gookin and
Eliot had perfected their plans for tlie government and instruction of the
natives of this county in 1673 ; and there was a prospect that these wild deni-
zens of the woods would become peaceable and industrious cultivators of the
soil, Mith homes, schools, and churches. Many became converts to the
Christian religion, and many more placed themselves and their children under
Christian influences. They had already abandoned heathen rites, and had
learned to pray to God, and praise the Most High in sacred psalmody. Their
two friends rejoiced in what had been already eflected, and looked forward to
brighter results. But a dark spirit was abroad, moving stealthily among the
tribes, and involving the converts in a common efl'ort and a similar ruin.
Philip of Pokanoket, son of Massasoit, and great chief of the AVampauoags,
was already laying his plans and weaving his plots l\y which the Indians under
his direct control or indirect influence were soon roused to action, and hurried
on to their destruction.

Section 5. Indian Wars in Worcester Counfi/. — The story of Philip con-
cerns us at present, only so far as he operated within the limits of the county.
He commenced hostilities near his own home at jNIount Hope by an attack on
Swanscy in June, 1G75. Already the towns of Medfield, Sudbury, Marlborough,
Groton, and Lancaster had been marked ftu- destruction, and in a few months
the fell design had been put in execution. Brookfield was the second town
within "Worcester limits to feel the blow. This town was incorporated in
1G73, and in less than two years, when there were about twenty families, it
was utterly destroyed. Philip had already drawn a part of the Nipnet tribe
into his scheme, as is supposed, because they had killed, in July, four or five
people at iVIcndon. The governor and council, in order to prevent the spread

INDIAN OUTRAGES. 13

of a liostilc fccliiisj; among the tribe, sent mes.seiijrcrs to Brookficlil, vrhere
there was to he a great gathering of the natives, witli several saehems. Capt.
Thomas Wheeler, of Concord, wi(li a company of about twenty of the men
under his command, was ordered on this service, having Capt. Edward Hutch-
inson as a colleague. They arrived on Sunday, August 1, old style, and sent
a messasre to the Indians with overtures towards a treaty. Three of the chief
sachems promised to meet them the next morning near the head of "Wickaboag
Pond, some distance west of the meeting-house in what is now "West Brook-
field. The officers M'ith their men and several prominent inhabitants went to
the place of rendezvous at the time appointed, but the sachems did not appear.
They then returned on their journey four or five miles towards the Nipnets'
chief town, in search of the Indians. While in a close defile, between a
steep hill and a narrow swamp, the English were ambuscaded by a party of two
or three hundred Indians, when eight men were killed and five were wounded.
Capts. Wheeler and Hutchinson were among the wounded ; the latter mortally,
though he was carried while yet alive to a fortified house. The survivors
escaped by a by-path to Brookfield, and took refuge in a house where all the
people had assembled for safety. While thus shut up they saw, in helpless
agony, their homes, outhouses, and farms in flames.

In an hour after reaching the house, the officers sent two men, Ephraim
Curtiss of Sudbury, and Henry Young of Concord, to Boston, to carry the
evil tidings, and implore needed succor. They made the daring attempt, but
were unable to get through the cordon of Indians. In about an hour, Curtiss
made another unsuccessful attempt. But with true pluck he started again to-
wards morning, and managed to elude the enemy. He reached Concord, after
a hard and dangerous march, though much spent and worn by travel, exposure,
and hunger. Besting, he revived, and hastened to Boston. In the meantime
the Indians endeavored to set the garrison-house on fire. These attacks were
kept up the two succeeding days and nights without success, when jNIajor W^il-
lard arrived with forty- six men, and raised the siege.

While jNIajor Willard (a former iTsidcnt of Lancaster, but then living at
Nonacoicut, or Ayer) was on this expedition, an attack was made upon Lan-
caster, August 22, old style, when eight persons wore killed in different parts
of the town. The design of the enemy in attacking these outposts of the
English was, doubtless, to lireak them up, and thus clear a wide extent of
country for their hunting-grounds. Thoy could hardlv have hoped to destroy
the towns near the coast. The raid on Lancaster was marked b}' violence and
murder; but the place, unlike Brookfield, was not destro3'ed. Some fifty
families still i-emained, the larger part of them within a mile of the meeting-
house.

On the first of September, Lieut. Phinehas Upham, of Worcester, was sent
with a hundred men into the Nipnet country to destroy planting-fields and
burn wigwams, in order to distress the Indians in the coming winter. Gookin

14 COUNTY HISTORY.

says that this company attacked the villages of praying Indians only. The
white pcoj)lc had begun to lose confidence in the praying Indians. It is due
to truth to sa}-, also, that many of the M'hites felt no interest in the converted
natives, and did nothing to second the praiseworthy efforts of Eliot and Gookin
for their elevation.

In November, the good Indians of Hassanamisco were captured by the hos-
tile natives in league with Philip. Wattasacompanum, the chief, having been
seduced by Philip, broke faith with the English and the Christian Indians, and
drew most of the triljc after him. This effect was produced in almost every
place where Philip appeared in person. There are some in our day who doubt
Philip's courage. According to them, he had a most unwarliko aversion to
scenes of personal danger. Pmt none can deny his wonderful address and
power of persuasion. His success at Grafton was of a piece with the policy
which l)ound many tribes, spread over a wide reach of country in a temporary
confederacy.

As soon as the council heard of this outrage, they sent Capt. Henchman and
Capt. Sill to range the country. At Hassanamisco they rescued some captives
and then marched to Pakachoag [Worcester], where they found corn in abun-
dance. The Indians concealed themselves, prudently avoiding the swords of
such bold riders as Henchman and Sill. A cold and wet night came on, and the
soldiers lodged in two deserted wigwams. In the morning they vainly searched
for the enemy who lurked in the woods and swamps. They found, however,
one hundred l)ushels of gathered corn, and a large quantit}' still standing in
fields. Shortly after the party left the place, on their return to Grafton, the
captain had occasion to send back a few of his men in search of a missing
article, when Indians were found in and around the wigwams. It seemed as if
they liad sprung up from the earth.

During the winter of 1G75-6 a large number of Indians gathered around
Wachusott. Besides the native capital at Wcshakim, they had a station nearer
the eastern part of Wachusett, not far from the border of Sterling and Prince-
ton. The old sagamore of the Nashaways, and his son, both friends of the
English, were dead. The new sachem, Matthew, or Sagamore Sam, a nephew
of Sholan, was of a different stamp, and became an easy dupe of the chief of
Pokanoket. In his wigwam, between the Wcshakim lakes, the plan was laid
for the utter destruction of Lancaster, in the winter of 1676. Philip was
among them early in the year, and while the whites were feeling secui'e in the
notion that the natives had retired to winter quarters, the latter were preparing
for a terrible campaign while yet the winter lingered.

At length, by the tenth of February, 1675 (old style), and the twenty-first
1676 (new style), a force of fifteen hundred men had been collected from
near and fiir by Philip for the purpose of making a perpetual desolation of the
beautiful settlement at the "meeting of the waters," or Lancaster. The minute
description of the attack, the massacre, and the burning, the torture, and

IIENCIIMAX AXD SILL. 15

the captivity, belongs to the history of the town. SufEcc it to say here, tbiit
the attacking force was divided into live parties, one of which is generally sup-
posed to have been led by Philip. They fell, in the early morning, upon live
diflerent garrisons, and probaljly killed some persons in or near each one of
them. But the main attack was upon the garrison house of Ilev. Joseph
liowlandson, the minister of the place, who was absent in Boston, with two
bro;hcrs-in-la\v, whither they had gone soliciting aid in apprehension of impend-
ing danger. The peril came sooner than the}' expected; and ])eforc they re-
turned the whole settlement was a ruin. iMany had been slain, manj' had been
carried captive, many had fled ; and the remnant who rcmai;ied were shut up
in two houses, one in Centre and the other in South Lancaster, not daring to go
out lest the bullet of a concealed Indian should lay them low. Half the houses
were burned. As soon as the General Court had sent soldiers and teauis to
remove the trembling people, imprisoned in their garrisons, the Indians came
from their lairs, and set fire to every remaining dwelling but one, and the meet-
ing-house. Death reigned. A smoky canopy hung like a funeral pall over the
lovely vallej', still beautiful in its desolation.

In April, May and June, 1G7G, soldiers, both infantry and cavalry, traversed
the country in search of the enemy. They crossed this county, near the centre,
going west and east. Some marched as far as the Connecticut River. It was
supposed, at one time, that Philip was at Quaboag, and at another at Pakachoag,
but if so, he left before the arrival of the troops. Dui'ing this season of march-
ing and counter-marching, an attack was made on a party at Weshakim.
White man or converted Indian was the same to Philip, unless he had a peculiar
hatred to a countrj'man who owned the Christian's God.

Henchman made a report, dated at Marlborough, June 30, whichgives a glimpse
of men and things in those old days. He ordarcd a party, under comm uid of
Capt. Joseph Sill, "with sixteen files of soldiers, all my troop, and the Indians,
excepting one file, being all we could make provision for." The bread which
had been i^romised, fell short in quantity and proved to be mould}', so that the
rest of the men had but one biscuit per man. This party (Capt. Sill's) was
" ordered towards Wachusett, and so to Nashaway and the Weshakim ponds,
and so to return to this place."

By this war, the Nipnets or Nipmucks, who had been seduced by Philip, were
involved in his ruin. Many were killed in war, or died of hardships induced
by war. Some, who were taken prisoners, were executed as murderers or sold
into slaver}-, as men who could not be trusted to keep faith with the colonists.
In general, they deserved their fate, according to the laws of war, because they
had broken away from their engagements, treacherously rising up against those
with whom they had been living in peace and amity. Without declaring war
or giving note or warning, they came out of the forests, and fell upon houses
and settlements from which no injury or provocation had proceeded. To-day
they visited the whites lu the guise of friends. Before the dawu of another

16 COUNTY HISTORY.

day, tbcy came with torch, tomahawk and gun, to kill, burn and destroy.
There is no doubt that Philip's scheme embraced the complete extermination of
the white settlements, as he exerted himself to rouse the jealousy and hatred
of all the Indians iu New England. It is the belief of some that he went to Can-
ada in the early part of the winter of 1675, to engage the co-operation of the
French and Indians in the fell work of annihilating the Englisli, and preserving
the country for his race. Disdaining to accept the religion and civilization of the
white man, resolving not to coalesce with him, or live in amity with him, the
Indian put everything to hazard, and lost all. The fittest survived ; and now
the land is filled with millions of civilized people in place of a few wandering
savages.

However, we cannot read the story of Indian extinction or expulsion without
a feeling of sadness. The conviction that they brought their doom upon them-
selves, reveals the depth of their barbarism, and excites regret that they could
not be reclaimed. But the fate of the Christian Indians was peculiarly sad.
Some were easily led away by their heathen friends ; others were, in a meas-
ure, compelled to join the war against the colonists on pain of violence and
death. One said in excuse of his apostacy from religion, and violation of h's
engagements to the Colony, that he held firm until the day when Philip came
to a meeting of the tribe, when the influence of that chieftain was such as to
carry all before him. Death Avas pronounced against those who would not join
in the war of extermination.

But there were many in the Christian settlements who clung to their religion,
and adhered to their English friends, under the most violent temptations to
break faith, who, nevertheless, were distrusted by the colonists, and treated
as enemies. Even Gookin, their friend, though a man of character and repu-
tation, was in danger of being stoned in the street, because he took their part,
and labored for their protection. Even the saintly Eliot became odious to
some, because of his zeal for the welfare of his dusky bi'cthren. Looking at
this side of the historic picture, we are incited to condemn our forefathers for
cruelty. But when we remember that they often met in battle men whom they
had trusted and kindly entreated as converts ; when we bring before us the
false Indian who had been welcomed to the settler's house, coming l)y night
with the bloodthirsty heathen, and smiting the tomahawk into the skull of
wife or child, can we wonder that a feeling of distrust and anger spread
through the Colony? How deep this distrust was, may be seen iu the "Remi-
niscences of Mrs. Rowlandson," that wonderful little book, of which Edward
Everett said : "It is almost enough to make one fiiint to read the simple nar-
rative."

The power of the Nipncts was broken in King Philip's war, and the sur-
vivors left the region, scnne going to the East, and some to the West, except
a few who were allowed to inhabit their old haunts, and hunt in their ancestral
■woods. A small number, called by Whitney the "Pegan tribe," lived iu

EAIDS CONTINUED. 17

Dudley. The old meeting-house in that town was on the summit of a hill,
whoi'c the tribe gave four acres of land for a site, "on condition that all of
their tribe, who should ever inhabit the town, should have the right to con-
venient scats in the meeting-house on days of public worsliip." As late as
1790 there were about a dozen of this trilie left, who owned some two hundred
acres of good land near the centre of the town. They were cared for by a
committee of the General Court.

One result of Philip's war was the opening of this whole region to the occu-
pation of the white man ; but this settlement was impeded by raids of Indians
from distant places, imder the inspiration and leadership of the French, who
did not aliandon the policy of conquering New England until the battle of
Quebec extinguished their hopes, and secured, in its consequences, North
America to the English-speaking race.

There was fighting in the limits of this county for a period of forty years
after the peace of 167G ; but as the particulars of the various local attacks and
combats will bo found in the history of the towns where they occurred, it will
not be necessary in this place to do more tlian refer to the facts in the order of
time.

In 1602, July 18, the Indians killed the wife and three children of Peter
Joslin, and the widow Whitcomb residing in his famil}', in Lancaster. This
was, perhaps, the first attack in this county, in King William's war. Not far
from the same time, a I'aid was made upon the French Huguenots in Oxford.
They were settled in 1686-7 in the east part of the town, but in a few years
they were disti-essed and driven away by the Indians, who killed a man and one
or two of his children, while his wife, with a child in her arms, escaped and
went on foot, l)y night, nearly fifteen miles to Woodstock, where she found
refuge in a garrison. This town was molested in after years, but no death was
the result unless that of one of the assailants, who was shot by a lone woman,
when he, with three others, was breaking into her house. The Indians retreated
carrjing their dead or wounded comrade. In 1G92 a number of men, women
and children, in Brooktield, were killed; others M'ounded, and others still
carried away captive.

Lancaster was visited again in 1695, M'hen one man was mortally wounded;
and again in 1697, September 11, at which time they killed twenty men, women
and children, wounded two persons, and carried six into captivity. One of
the killed was the minister. Rev. John Whiting, who was scalped.

In the previous year, 1G96, the Indians making hostile manifestations, in
Woodstock, INIajor Fitch of Norwich, Conn., with a company of twelve soldiers
and thirty-eight Norwich, iNIohcgan and Nipnet Indians, marched to the scene
and continued through Oxford and Worcester to Lancaster, whence he sent a
report, dated August 31, to Lt. Gov. Stoughton, commander-in-chief.

In the course of Queen Anne's war, the town of Brookfield suffered terribly.

18 COUNTY HISTORY.

Anumbei' of tbe iuhiibitants were killed and scalped, and others were captured.
In the year 1710, six men were waylaid and shot.

Worcester was the scene of Indian hostilities in 1702, when Dickery or
Diggory Sargent was killed. It seems that this man persisted in living on his
farm though all the other settlers had left, and Worcester was broken up,
about the time that a section of Lancaster was burnt. Sargent, as said above,
clung to his place when Worcester was abandoned. A party of soldiers was
sent to remove him and his family to a place of safety. They stayed, through a
night dark with storm and snow, about two miles from Sargent's house. In
the morning they found him on the floor of his house, dead and weltering in
his blood. The Indians had just killed him, and had taken away his wife and
five children. The mother, faltering with fatigue and suffering, as she ascended
a hill, in the west part of the town, was killed. It was in this wise : a chief
stepped out of the file and appeared to be looking off into the fields or woods,
in search of game. Just as Mrs. Sargent had passed him, unsuspecting, he
suddenly whirled and with one blow smote her dead.

In July, 1704, a party of French and Indians killed several persons in Lan-
caster, and burnt several buildings, including the second meeting-house. Other
attacks followed, and the town had no settled peace until 1710. Sterling,
then belonging to Lancaster, was, in 1709, the scene of a fierce battle, when
nine Indians were slain. The place has since been known as The Indian Fight.

The town of Rutland, lying farther west, was more exposed to Indian attacks
in Kin<r Georije's war, than the settlements on the eastern border. As late as
1723 two sons of Deacon Joseph Stevens were killed, and two carried prisoners
to Canada. On the same day, August 14, the Rev. Joseph Willard, after a
brave defence, was slain by four of the enemy. A year later, three persons
were killed, one was Avounded, and another was made prisoner. For other
incidents of Indian warfare in Worcester County, which are exceedingly inter-
esting, the reader must consult the histories of the several towns in which they
occurred.

CHAPTER IV.

INCORPORATION.

The county of Worcester was "erected, granted, and made" by an act of
the General Court, dated April 2, 1731. Jonathan Belcher was the royal
governor at the time, and the tradition is that he did not encourage the meas-
ure, though he put his signature to the act of incorporation. Thomas Hutch-
inson, afterwards governor, was a member of the General Court, and he is
eaid, according to 'WTiitucy, to have "strenuously opposed" the formation of

GRANT OF THE COUNTY. 19

a now county, "urging the utter iin[)nictic!ibility of its ever making any
figure." As the territory which was inchidcd in the new county was, with the
exception of a few valleys, the "hill country" in the centre of the State, from
New Hampshire to Connecticut, they did not believe that it would be attractive
to settlers. Their evil prognostications were speedily disproved. By the year
1790, the polls of the county exceeded those of Sufl'olk, Essex, or ]\Iiddle-
sex. Oul}' one county had a greater numl)er. Hampshire County, which then
included Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, numbered 13,912 ;
w^hiie Worcester County had 13,762. The valuation of Worcester County
exceeded that of all Hampshire, was greater than that of jNliddlesex, nearly
equalled that of Essex, and was more than three-quarters of that of Sullblk.
Tiie act of incorporation was iu the following words : —

"An act for erecting, granting, and making a county in the inland part of this
province, to be called Ihe Count}- of Worcester, and for establishing Courts of Justice
within the same.

"Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governor, Council, and Representatives in
General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the towns and places
hereafter named and expressed, that is 1o say, Worcester, Lancaster, Westborough,
Shrewsbury, Southborough, Leicester, Rutland, and Lunenburgh, all in the countj' of
Middlesex; Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton, including Ilassanamisco, LTxbridge,
and the land latel}' granted to several petitioners of Medfield, all in the county of
Suffolk ; Brookficld, in the county of Hampshire, and the south town laid out to the
Narragansct soldiers ; and all other lands lying vfilhin the said townships, with the
inhabitants thereon, shall, from and after the tenth day of Jul}', which will be in the
j-ear of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-one, be and remain one entire
and distinct county, bj- the name of Worcester, of which Worcester to be the county or
shire town. And the said count}- to have, use, and enjoj- all such powers, privileges,
and immunities as by law other counties within the province have and do enjoj-.

" And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that there shall bo held and kept
within the said county of Worcester, yearly and in every year, at the times and place
in this act hereafter expressed, a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and an
Inferior Court of Common Pleas, to sit at Worcester, on the second Tuesdays of j\Iay
and August, and the first Tuesdays of November and Februarj-, yearly and in every
year, until this Court shall otherwise order : Also, that there shall be held and kept at
Worcester, within the said count}- of Worcester, 3-earl3- and in every j-ear, until this
Court shall otherwise order, a Superior Court of -Judicature, Court of Assize and Gen-
eral Gaol Delivery, to sit on the Wednesday immediately preceding the lime by law
appointed for the holding the said Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and
General Gaol Dehvery, at Springlicld, within and for the county of Hampshire : And
the Justices of the said Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferior Court of
Common Pleas, and Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Gaol
Delivery, respectivcl}', who are, or shall be, thereunto lawfully- commissioned and
appointed, shall have, hold, use, exercise, and enjoy, all and singular, the powers
which are by law given and granted unto them, within any other counties of the prov-
ince, where a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferior Court of Common

20 COUNTY HISTOEY.

Pleas, and Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assize and General Gaol Delivery
are already established.

"Provided, That all writs, suits, plaints, processes, appeals, reviews, recognizances,
or any other matters or things which now are, or any time before the said tenth of July,
shall be depending before the Judges of Probate within part of the said county of
Worcester, shall be heard, tried, proceeded upon, and determined in the counties of
Suffolk, Middlesex, and Hampshire, respectively, where the same arc or shall be
returnable or depending, and have, or shall have, day or days.

" Provided, also. That nothing in this act contained shall bo construed to disannul,
defeat, or make void any deeds or conveyances of lands, lying in the said county of
Worcester, where the same are or shall be, before the said tenth of July, recorded
in the Register's office of the respective counties where such lands do now lie ; but that
all such deeds or conveyances so recorded shall be held good and valid as they would
have been had not this act been made.

" And be it further enacted bj' the Authority aforesaid, That the Justices of the
Court of General Sessions of the Peace, at their Hrst meeting in the said county of
Worcester, shall have full power and authority to appoint some meet person, within
the said count}' of Worcester, to be Register of deeds and conveyances within the
same, who shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his trust in the said office, and
shall continue to hold and exercise the same, according to the directions of the law,
until some person be elected by the freeholders of the said county of Worcester, who
are hereby empowered to choose such person, on the first Thursday of September next
ensuing, by the methods in the law already prescribed, to take upon him that trust.
And until such Register shall be so appointed by the said justices, and sworn, all deeds
and conveyances of lands lying wiihin any part of the county of Worcester, which
shall be recorded in the Register's office of the respective counties where such lands do
now lie, shall be held and deemed good and valid, to all intents and purposes, as to
the recording thereof.

" And be it farther enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the methods, direc-
tions, and proceedings by law provided as well for the electing and choosing a Regis-
ter of deeds and conveyances as a county Treasurer, which officers shall be appointed
in the same manner as is by law already provided, on the first Thursday of September
next, and also for the bringing forward and trying any actions, causes, pleas, or suits,
both civil and criminal, in the several counties of this province, and Courts of Judica-
ture within the same, and choosing of Jurors to serve at the Courts of Justice, shall
attend and be attended, observed and put in practice within the said county of Worces-
ter, and bj' the Courts of Justices within the same : Any law, usage, or custom to the
contrary, notwithstanding.

" Provided always, That the inhabitants of the several towns and places hereinbe-
fore enumerated and set off a distinct count}-, shall pay their proportion to any county
rates or taxes already made and granted, in the same manner as they would have done
had not this act been made."

By the above, it appears that the new county comprised thirteen organized
towns, besides grants and unsettled tcrritoiy. Tlic first eight towns were
Worcestei-, Lancaster, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Sonthborougli, Leicester,
Ruthmd and Lunenburg. These were taken from Middlesex County. The next

ORIGIN OF TOWNS. 21

five; viz., Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton and Uxbridge, were taken
from Suffolk County, and Brookfield was taken from Hampshire. Hassana-
misco was reserved for the Indians when the town of Sutton was granted. This
became Grafton in 1735. The "land lately granted to several petitioners of
Medfield," was settled by Medfield people, and hence was styled New Medficld
until the town of Sturbridge was incorporated in 1738. The "south town laid
out to the Narraganset soldiers," became Westminster when the town was in-
corporated in 1759. AVoodstock was then considered as belonging to Massa-
chusetts, but the inhabitants chose to be under the jurisdiction of Connecticut.
There Avas a long controversy about the matter, which is related in the old
books, but is not now of general interest. It is enough to say that from the
year 1713, Woodstock, together with Enfield and Suffield, paid taxes to Mas-
sachusetts, and were in our General Court until the year 1748, when they revolted
and were received into the colony of Coiniccticut. IMassachusetts held to her
claim, though the towns paid no taxes, and ceased to send delegates to our
General Court, down to the Revolution. Since that event, by consent of all
parties, Woodstock has ceased to be a component part of Worcester County.
From the time when the line was settled between Massachusetts and Connecti-
cut, the boundaries of the county have been substantially as follows : On the
north by New Ilamjishire ; on the cast b}' Middlesex and Norfolk counties ; on
the south by Rhode Island and Connecticut, and on the west by Franklin,
Hampshire and Hampden counties. There have been slight alterations on the
eastern and western boundaries to suit the convenience of the people in forming
new towns.

CHAPTER V.

ORIGIN OF THE TOWNS.

Under this head the genesis and growth of the county will be given in the
order of settlement and inc(n"poration.

Lancaster antedates all the other towns in the county by several years. The
settlement began in 1G43 ; the town was set off by acts passed in 1G53 and
1G54. The area of the town was ten miles by an average of seven in width,
or seventy square miles, though the grant allowed more. In 1713, a tract ten
miles long by four wide was annexed, making one hundred and ten square
miles. The towns of Harvard, Bolton, Berlin, Leominster, Sterling and Clin-
ton were almost wholly taken from Lancaster, which also gave a large section
to the towns of Bo^lston and West Boylston.

Mendon came next, though when first occupied by settlers is unknown. The
act of incorporation was passed in 1667, May 15. The original grant was

22 COUNTY HISTORY.

eight miles square, hut the boundaries as giveu in 1607 were irregular, ant!
included more territory, as the whole of Uxbridge and a large part of Nortli-
hridgc, Upton, Milford and all of Blackstone have been severed from its ample
domain. Bellingham, in Norfolk County, was taken, in part, from IMendon.

Brooktield was granted to petitioners in Ipswich, by the General C'ourt in
IGfiO. The grant was six miles square. The inhabitants were ineorpoi-ated in
1G73, but a committee of three gentlemen, not residents, was appointed by the
court to "direct, regulate and ratify all atfairs relative to settling and Iniilding
up the town." This arrangement continued till 171S, at which time the court
enlarged the town to the size of eight miles square. Froni this town have
been formed North and West Brooktield, and a part of other towns.

Oxford was granted to Gov. Joseph Dudley and others in 1682, and, having
been surveyed, tiic court authorized the plantation, next year. May 16. The
grant was eight miles square, but the survej', as usual in those times, was very
liberal, being about twelve miles long from east to west, and nine miles wide.
The sixty-four square miles granted, were enlarged to not far from one hun-
dred square miles.

Woi'cester was granted to Daniel Gookin and others in 1668, October 24, as
a township of land somewhat more than eight miles square. Certain men were
incorporated ui 1684, but did not begin the settlement until the next year.
The tirst town-meeting was held thirty-eight years later, on the last Wednesday
of September, 1722.

Sutton was purchased of John Wampus, sachem, and his company of In-
dians, by several white men at an unknown date. The purchase was contirmed
in 1704, and the township was formed in 1715, June 21, by the General Court.
Grafton, Upton, Northbridge and Millbury have drawn largely from its original
area.

Leicester was originated by a grant, February 10, 1713, to Col. Joshua
Lamb and others. It was incorporated about 1721, and the first town-meeting
was held on the sixth day of March in that year. The grant M-as eight miles
square. Spencer was wholly taken from this town, and also parts of Paxton
and Auburn.

Eutland was purchased, in 1686, December 22, of Joseph Trask, alias Pua-
gastion, and other Indians, by Henry Willard, Joseph Kowlandson and others
of Lancaster. The purchase was twelve miles square. The title was con-
firmed by the General Court, in 1713, February 23, when the name of Eut-
land was substituted for Naquag.

Westborongh was the western section of Marlborough, and was cut oti', ])y
act of the General Court, in 1717, November 18. It had been partially set-
tled many years before.

Uxbridge was separated from Mendon by the General Court, on the twenty-
seventh of June, 1727. It was about twelve miles long until the northern part
was cut ofl', in 1772, and incorporated as Northbridge.

DATE OF TOWNS. 23

Southborough was scttlod while a part of INLu-lborough, but was not incor-
porated till the year 1727, on the sixteenth of July.

Shrewsbury was granted to petitioners residing in jMarll)orougli, and a few
others, in 1717, and was about tifteen miles long, north and soulii, and nearly
an average of four miles wide. The town was incorporated December 19,

1727. The north part of the township was formed into the town of lioylston.
Lunenburg, the thirteenth town, in the order of date (AVoodstoek Ijcinir

omitted), was probably entered upon by white settlers as early as the j^ear
17U0. The General Court, November 14, 1719, made a grant of the territor}-
to a mimber of gentlemen, but the town was not incorporated till August 1,

1728, when it was named in honor of George II., Duke of Lunenburg, who
came to the British throne in 1727.

This completes the list of the towns which were incorporated before the es-
tablishment of Worcester County. Their dates are all accoi'ding to the old
stjle, or eleven days earlier than the present date.

Dudley was the lirst town incorporated after the county was erected. A
careless reader would date its origin as earlier than that of the county. For
example, "Whitney dates the town as follows : "February 2, 1731," and the
county: "April 1, 1731," or two months later than the origin of the town.
But he follows old style, when the year began in INIarch. Therefore, April 1,
1731, preceded February 2, 1731. In new style we should read April 12,

1731, and February 13, 1732. The grant was originally to Paul and William
Dudley, and comprised the present towns of Douglas, Wel)ster, Dudley,
Southbridge and Sturbridgc.

Harvard was taken from Lancaster, l)y act of the General Court, June? 29,

1732, when it contained about fifty families. Part of its area was token from
Stow and Groton.

Grafton, called by the Indians Ilassanamisco, was incorporated April 18,
1735. It was originally four miles square, but it w^as enlarged, in the course
of time, by the addition of a strip half a mile wide, on the north, taken from
Shrewsbuiy, and about as nuich from Sutton, on the south.

Upton was not an original grant, but was made up from tracts taken from
Mendon, Sutton and Hopkinton. The legislature granted an act of incorpora-
tion, June 14, 1735.

Ilardwick was purchased of two noted Indians, in 1686, by Joshua Ijamb
and others of Roxbury. It went by the name of Lambstown for many 3'(>ars.
The heirs of the purchasers, in answer to apetition, obtained a grant in 1732.
Six years later, January 10, 1738, the town M'as incorporated with the present
name, in honor of a distinguished English nobleman.

Bolton (including much of Berlin, and some of other towns) M'as taken
from Lancaster, and incorporated June 24, 1738.

Sturbridgc, incorpcn-ated June 24, 1738, was granted originally to "several
petitioners of Medficld." It included most of the present town of Southbridge.

24 COUNTY HISTORY.

Holden, taken wholly from Worcester, and probably settled, in part, in the
early part of the last century, was incorporated January 9, 1740. Paxtoii
and West Boylston have taken from the original area of this town.

Leominster, as territory, was added to Lancaster, by the General Court, in
1713, in confirmation of a purchase from Indians, and was taken from the same
mother town, by the General Court, June 23, 1740, when it was incorporated
under its present name.

Warren was incorporated as Western on the sixteenth of January, 1741.
It was taken irom Brookfield, Brimfield, and the "easterly part of what was
Kingsficld." It took its present name, March 13, 1834.

Douglas, named from an eccentric Scotchman, doctor and author, living in
Boston, was an original grant, and was called New Sherburne, from the early
home of the first settlers. The year of its incorporation was 1746.

New Braintrec, containing six thousand acres of land, was granted to certain
inhabitants of Braintrec for public services of some kind. It was called Brain-
tree Farms. This grant, enlarged by tracts from Brookfield and Hardwick, was
erected into a town, January 31, 1751.

Spencer, included in the original grant of Leicester, was incorporated April
3, 1753, new style. It had been settled much earlier, and was made a precinct
of the mother town in 1744.

Petersham is a child of Lancaster, though it never was included in the terri-
tory of that town. The relationship was in children rather than acres. It
was an original grant to John Bennett, Jeremiah Pcrleyand others, "as a com-
pensation for services performed by them in Indian wars" under command of
Capt. John White, one of the heroes of Lancaster, Avho died in 1725. The
date of the first settlement is not known, but a meeting-house was built in 1738.
Tlie act of incorpoi-ation was dated April 20, 1754.

Charlton was taken from the westerly side of Oxford, and was erected into a
town November 2, 1754. Being (nvned by non-resident prf)prietors, its settle-
ment was retarded many years, but there were enough people to establish a
church in 17G1. Part of this town w-as added to Sturliridge.

Westminster has already been mentioned as "the south town laid out to the
Narrao-ansett soldiers." The grant was in 1732. The grantees lived in the
towns north and west of Boston. The first settler moved into the place in
1737, but the town was not set up as a municipality until April 20, 1770. The
town has been enlarged and diminished several times, but still has respectable
dimensions. It is wedge-shaped, with a sharp point but irregular sides.

Princeton was the "cast wing of Rutland," and has I)een enlarged by a sec-
tion of Ilubbardston and part of a tract called No-town. It was incorporated
April 24, 1771.

Templeton, named from a member of the Temple fiimily, was an original
grant to men who were engaged in King Philip's war, or their heirs. It was
called Narragansct No. 6, and was intended to be six miles square, but, as was

DATE OF TOWNS. 25

common with the surveyors of that age, was laid out much larger. The pro-
prietors met as early as 1733, iu Concord, but the settlement was delayed by
Indian troubles about twenty years. The act of incorporation was passed
March (), 17G2. Phillipston Avas included in the original grant.

Athol was granted about the time of the grant of Templeton, though the
exact date is lost. It was known as Pcquiog or Payquaige. Sixty proprietors
met in Concord as early as 1734, but there was not settlement enough to war-
rant town privileges before 1762, when, on the sixth of March, the General
Court passed an act of incorporation.

Oakham Avas taken from Rutland, and was called Eutland West Wing. It
was made a precinct in 1759, and erected into a town June 11, 1762.

Fitchburg was a part of Lunenburg until it was made a separate town, Feb-
ruarj^ 3, 1764.

Winchcndon was granted in 1735 to the heirs of certain men of Ipswich who
were in the Canada expedition in 1690. Its name was Ipswich Canada until
the act of incorporation, June 14, 1764.

Royalston, first styled Royalshire, was originally granted in 1752, and created
a town Fcln-uary, 1765.

Ashburnbam was granted to Dorchester men who went in the Canada expe-
dition, or their heirs. It became a town Fcbruaiy 22, 1765.

Paxton, taken from Leicester and Rutland, was incorporated February 12,
1765.

Northborough, at first a part of INIarlborough and then of Westborough, was
set off as a distinct town on the twenty-fourth of January, 1766.

Hubbardston, named from the Hon. Thomas Hubbard, was a part of Rutland,
and Avas incorporated on the thirteenth day of June, 1767.

Northliridge A\as the north part of Uxbridge, whence its name. It became
a town July 14, 1772.

Barre was a section of Rutland, and Avas, in 1749, made a district. It be-
came a town, by authority of the General Court, June 14, 1774, and took the
name of a distinguished member of parliament, and a friend to the Colonies.

Auburn, originally called "Ward, after Gen. Ward, was taken from surround-
ing toAvns, and made a town April 10, 1778.

Miiford, the north parish or precinct of Mendon, in 1741 was known bj' the
name of Mill River. Its incorporation took place April 11, 1780.

Sterling Avas the south-Avest quarter of Lancaster, and was known as Chock-
sett. It was a parish from 1743 till 1781, April 25,Avhen it became a separate
town.

Berlin, formed from Bolton, but a grandchild of Lancaster, became the second
parish of Bolton in the j'car 1778. It was incorporated as a district of Bol-
ton in 1784, and as a toAvn, February 6, 1812.

Gardner Avas composed of corners of the four surrounding towns, and by act,
dated June 27, 1785, became a town.

COUNTY HISTOEY.

Boylstoii, named from a distinguished family, was a part of Shrewsbury, and
was made a parish in 1742. Its birth as a town was on the first of March, 1786.

Phillipston, taken chiefly from Templeton, was set off as a parisli in 1774.
Its incorporation as a town was on the twentieth of October, 1786. Its original
name was Gerry, but this was changed in 1814.

Dana was talsen from Petersham, Hardwick and Greenwich, and established
as a town, February 18, 1801.

West Boylston, has, in part, belonged to Lancaster, Shrewsbury, Holden,
Sterling and Boylston. It became a distinct town January 30, 1808.

North Brookfield was the north parish of Brookfield for a long series of years.
In 1812, February 28, it became a town.

Millbury long existed as the north parish of Sutton, but Avas incorporated as
a town, June 11, 181.3.

Southbridge was taken from Charlton, Dudley and Sturbridge, mainly. Its
incorporation was on the fifteenth of February, 1816.

Webster, from Dudley and Oxford, was set ofl' as a town, by authority, in
1832, March G, and by the choice of the people, took the name of the great
statesman.

Blackstone was the south part of Mendon until March 5, 1845, when it was
incorporated as a town.

West Brookfield, one of the oldest settlements in the county, — older than
the county itself, having originally belonged to old Hampshire County, — was
made a town, by separation from Brookfield, March 3, 1848.

Clinton, the youngest and most flourishing daughter of Lancaster, was in-
corporated March 14, 1850.

Census During the Century — 1776-1875.

COURTS FOUNDED.

Census during the Century — (Coutinuecl.)

Towns asd Cities.

1776.

1790.

1800.

1810.

1820.

1830.

ISiO.

1850.

1855.

1860.

1805.

1870.

1875.

Leominster, .

97S

1,189

1,486

1,.584

1,790

1,861

2,069

3,121

3,200

3,522

3,313

3,894

5,201

Lunenburg,

l,2Gfi

1,277

1,243

1,371

1,209

1,317

1,272

1,249

1,224

1,212

1,167

1,121

1,1.53

Mendnn, .

2,3'2'2

l,0->')

1,028

1,819

2,2.54

3,152

3,.524

1,300

1,3.S2

1,351

1 ,207

1,175

1,176

JlillVird, .

839

907

973

1,160

1,300

1,773

4,819

7,489

9,132

9,108

y.890

9,818

MiUbnvy,

926

1,611

2,171

3,081

3,286

3,296

3,780

4,.397

4,529

New Braintrce,

798

939

875

912

888

825

752

852

775

805

752

640

606

Nortliliorousb,

S62

619

698

794

1,018

992

1,218

1,535

1,602

1,.565

1,623

1,.504

1,398

Nortbbridiic, .

481

569

544

713

905

1,053

1,449

2,230

2.104

2,633

2,642

3,774

4,0.30

North Brookticld, .

1,095

1,241

1,485

1,9.39

2,349

2,760

2,514

3,343

3,749

Oaklmm, .

598

772

801

848

986

1,010

1,0.38

1,137

1,062

959

925

860

873

Oxford, .

1,112

1,000

1,237

1,277

1,.562

2,034

1,742

2,380

2,808

3,034

2,713

2,669

2,938

Paxton, .

558

582

619

613

597

670

820

792

725

626

046

600

Petersham,

1,235

1,.560

1,794

1,490

1,623

1,896

1,775

1,527

1,5.53

1,465

1,428

1,335

1,203

Philtipston,

740

802

839

916

932

919

809

799

764

725

693

666

Pnneeton,

701

1,016

1,021

1,062

1,261

1,346

1,347

1,318

1,317

1,201

1,239

1,279

1,063

Royalston,

617

1,130

1,243

1,415

1,424

1,493

1,657

1,546

1,469

1,486

1,441

1,354

1,260

Rutland, .

1,006

1,072

1,202

1,231

1,262

1,276

1,260

1,223

1.102

1,076

1,011

1,024

1.030

Shrewsljury, .

1,47.5

9G3

1,048

1,210

1,4.58

1,386

1,481

1,596

1,636

1,.5.58

1,570

1,610

1,.524

Soutliborouijh,

7.33

837

871

926

1,0.30

1,080

1,145

1,347

1,602

1,8.54

1,7.50

2,135

1,986

Soiithlnidge, .

1,066

1,444

2,031

2,824

3,429

3,.575

4,131

5,208

5,740

Spencer, .

1,042

1,.322

1,432

1,453

1,518

1,618

1,004

2,244

2,527

2,777

3,024

3,952

5,451

Sterling, .

1,428

1,614

1,472

1,710

1,794

1,647

1 ,805

1,838

1,881

1,008

1,670

1,.569

Sturbridge,

1,374

1,704

1,846

1,927

1,6,33

1,688

2,005

2,119

2,188

2,282

1,993

2,101

2,213

Sutton, ■".

2,614

2,642

2,513

2,660

2,056

2,186

2,370

2,595

2,718

2,676

2,363

2,699

3,051

Templcton,

1,016

950

1,068

1,205

1,331

1,5.52

1,776

2,173

2,018

2,816

2,390

2,802

2,764

Upton.

702

833

854

905

1,088

1,167

1,466

2,023

2,035

1,986

2,018

1,989

2,125

Uxbridge,

1,110

1,308

1,404

1,551

2,086

2,004

2,457

3,068

3,1.33

2,838

3,0,58' 3,029

Warren, .

827

889

979

1,014

1,112

1,189

1,290

1,777

1,793

2,107

2,180

2,625; 3,260

Webster, .

1,403

2,371

2,727

2,912

3,608

4,763

5,064

Westborongh, .

900

934

922

1,048

1,.326

1,438

1,658

2,371

3,014

2,913

3.141

3,001

5,141

West r.ovlston.

032

886

1,0.55

1,187

1,749

2,310

2,509

2,294

2,802

2,902

West Brooi; field, .

1,344

1,364

1,548

1,549

1,842

1,903

Westminster, .

1,145

1,176

1,369

1,419

1,634

1,696

1,645

1,914

1,979

1,840

1,639

1,770

1,712

Winchendon, .

019

946

1,092

1,173

1,263

1,463

1,7.54

2,445

2,747

2,624

2,801

3,398

3,762

Worcester,

1,925

2,095

2,411

2,577

2,062

4,173

7,497

17,049

22,286

24,960

30,055

41,105

49,317

CHAPTER VI.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

The act constituting the county of Worcester was passed April 2, 1731,
and M'cnt into effect on the tenth of the following July. AVorcester was made the
shire town, because of its central location. There were several other towns
which exceeded it in population and taxable property, as Sutton, Mendon,
Brookfield, and Lancaster. The location of the seat of justice was the occa-
sion of diversity of opinion, and caused much discussion. As the country was
then settled, Lancaster was the centre of a large district which needed a con-
venient phice for holding the courts, and for the transaction of county business.
If Lancaster had been selected, the towns of Ashby, Townsend, Shirley, Pep-
porell, Groton, and, perhaps, two or three more would have been taken from
Middlesex. As the whole western part of the county north of the Br -ok-

28 COUNTY mSTORY.

fields was then unsettled, Lancaster would have been convenient to a majority
of the population. But for the purpose of accommodating the people in the
southern towns, as well as the northern, it was proposed to make l)oth Lan-
caster and Worcester half-shire towns. According to Lincoln ("History of
Worcester") and other authorities, this would have been the result if a promi-
nent citizen of Lancaster, then placed on the bench, had not opposed and
remonstrated. Judge Joseph AVilder, the elder, was a worthy and upright
man, but by this action was the occasion, if not the cause, of making Worces-
ter a thriving city at the expense of his native town.

The motive which principally governed his action was not without force.
It is said that he feared the demoralizing influence of a shire town on the
morals and character of the people. And if we bear in mind that in those
days every session of a court was an occasion for the gathering of a large con-
course of people at the shire town, for the purpose of recreation, sport, horse-
raeing, gambling, and dram-drinking, the judge seems to have had some reason
for his coui'se. At present, the session of a court is scarcely noticed, except
by those specially interested, as the parties, and those concerned in conduct-
ing the courts. Eemarkable cases only draw the attendance or even the atten-
tion of the general public. But at the time when the county was foi'med, the
state of things was entirely different. The people had few holidays. No
historical events, like the Fourth of July or the more sacred festival of Chi-ist-
mas, were observed. There was not such constant going to and fro as at
present, with our increased facilities of travel. The holding of the court was
therefore made the occasion of a general gathering of all the loose, as well as
some of the respectable elements of society in the shire town. The streets
were so thronged at some hours of the day by teams, and there were such
trials of speed, that women and children kept at a safe distance. Betting was
common. Wrestling, ball-plaj^ing, and other athletic sports were the order of
the day. The taverns were well patronized, and liquors flowed freely. All
these scenes were familiar to Judge Wilder; but he could not foresee that this
was a passing state of society, and that the time was coming when the sessions
of the court, while distributing justice and securing the safety of property and
life, would create scarcely a ripple on the current of socict}'. The courts
might come and go, while the farmer, the mechanic, and the trader were all
busy in their varied and productive industries ; and the morals of the seat of
justice might compare favorable with those of the remotest and least populous
town of the county. Such has been the result, and the city of Worcester ia
the grand consequence of a fortunate turn iii its history.

When the county was formed, it came under the general judicial arrange-
ment of the Province. The General Court, or Provincial Government, was
the supreme authority in all cases which did not infringe on the imperial juris-
diction of the mother country.

There were justices of the peace in the several towns, and their office was

COURTS OPENED. 2D

important and respectable. Tlie preservation of the peace cicpenclcd mainly
on their efficiency. The jurisdiction was extensive, though not reaching to
cases of great magnitude. The status and duties of these officers were not
affected by the formation of the county, but they were brought into new rela-
tions.

The Court of General Sessions of the Peace for the county was composed
of all the justices in the county, presided over by one or more of the four
judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas. At the first session the court
was constituted as follows: Hon. John Chandler, Esq., of Woodstock, Chief
Justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and the following justices
of the peace ; viz., Daniel Taft, John Chandler, Jr., Benjamin "Willard, Samuel
Wright, Josiah Willard, Joseph Dwight, Samuel Dudley, Ileury Lee, and
Nahuni Ward, Esqrs.

This court, as a Court of Sessions, laid out highways, licensed houses of
entertainment, admitted freemen, was charged to see that the towns were
supplied with an able ministry, well supported, had a similar duty in regard to
schools, when towns were negligent, and had probate jurisdiction. All this
in addition to its regular judicial duties. All the criminal cases in the
county, except those involving life, limb, and banishment, came under its
purview.

The first session of this court M-as in the capacity of a Court of Probate,
and was hold in the meeting-house, July 13, 1731. The General Court had
originally attended to all probate business, but in time necessity led that body
to delegate the business to inferior courts.

The Inferior Court of Common Pleas was a county court, and was composed
of four judges. The names of the judges at the origin of the county were
these : John Chandler of Woodstock, chief justice, Joseph Wilder of Lan-
caster, William Ward of Southborough, and William Jennison of Worcester.
Three of the judges constituted a quorum. They heard appeals from the
Court of General Sessions of the Peace, and they were ap[)ealcd from to the
Superior Court of Judicature, which was a provincial court, holding annual ses-
sions in each county. The time for holding this court in Worcester County
was October; though the first session, in 1731, began on the twenty-second
of September.

The Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and the Court of the General Sessions
of the Peace, held four sessions yearly; viz., in the months of May, August,
November, and February. As the year began in INIarch, the first session of
the j'ear was in May. These two courts ai-e often spoken of as one body, and
seem, at times, to have had simultaneous sessions. At their organization
they were united in the formal services, and joined together in public
worship, which was conducted by the Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster, the
pastor of Judge Wilder. The text was from the charge of King Jehoshaphat
to his judges, as recorded in 2 Chron. xix. 0, 7: "And said to the judges,

30 COUNTY mSTORY.

Take bccd what yc do : for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is
with j'ou in judgment. AYherefore now let the fear of the Lord l)e upon you ;
take heed and do it; for (Iiere is no ini(juity with the Lord our God, nor re-
spect of persons, nor taking of gifts." It was a grand and solemn service,
tending to give reputation and weight to the tribunal in the eyes of the com-
munity.

These two courts, however, were distinct in their jurisdiction as well as in
then- personnel, except that the presiding judge of the Court of General Ses-
sions was one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas. These courts
had power to summon grand and petit jurors, and to choose clerks and other
necessary officers. Their records were kept in separate volumes.

Having made this general statement in regard to the courts, we Avill now
take up tlie two county courts, and give their organization and functions more
in detail.

The Infeeioe Court of Common Pleas.

The act of the General Court creating the Court of Common Pleas has been
referred to already. The Commission to the justices of this court will be read
with interest, as it conveys needed information in regard to the powers of the
trilmnal, and has a pleasant air of antiquity.

" George the Seconcl, by the grace of God, of Groat Britain, Franco, and Ireland,
king, defender of the faith, &c., to our trusty and well-beloved John Chandler, Joseph
Wilder, William Ward and William Jennison, Esquires : Whereas, in and by an act
made and passed by the gi-eat and general court or assembly of our province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England, at their sessions begun and held the thirty-first
day of Maj', anno 1G99, entitled an act for establishing Inferior Courts of Common
Pleas in the several counties of this province, it is enacted that there shall be held and
kept in each respective coniifN* within the said province, yearly and every year, at the
times and places in the said act mentioned and expressed, an Inferior 'Court of Com-
mon Pleas, by four substantial persons to be appointed and commissioned as justices
of the said court in each county (any three of whom to be a quorum for the hold of the
said court) , who shall have cognizance of all civil actions arising and happening within
such countj', triable at the common law, of what nature, kind or quality soever, and
are heretij^ empowered to give judgment therein, and award execution thereupon. We,
therefore, reposing special trust and confidence in your loyalty, pradcnec and ability,
have assigned, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents do assign, constitute,
and appoint you, the said John Chandler, Joseph Wilder, William AVard, and William
Jennison, to be our ju.stices of our said Inferior Court of Common Pleas, in our County
of Worcester, within oiu' province aforesaid, and do authorize and empower j'ou, and
every one of j'ou respectively, to have, use and exercise, all and single, the powers,

authoritys, and jurisdictions to a justice of our said belonging, or in any wise

appertaining ; and j'ou, or any three of you, to hear and determine all such causes and
matters as are by law cognizable in our said Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and to
give judgment thereon, and award execution thereupon, and to do that which to justice
doth appertain according to law. In teslimon}- whereof, we have caused the public seal

COMMON PLEAS JUDGES. 31

of our province of the Massachusetts Bay aforesaid, to be hereunto affixed. Witness,
Jonathan Belcher, Esq. , our captain-general and governor-in-chief of our said province,
at Boston, the thirteenth day of June, 1731, in the flftU year of our reigne.
Bj' order of the governor, J. Belcher.

With the advice and consent of the council, July 1, 1731. J. Willakd, Sec'i/."

On the twelfth of August ensuing, John Chandler, Jr., was chosen clerk
of the court. Benjamin Flagg was appointed " cryor," and Joseph Dwight and
Nahum Ward were admitted and sworn as attorneys. The first session of this
court was held two days before, on the tenth of August.

This court existed till the year 1811, when the old system of Inferior County
Courts of Common Pleas was succeeded by the present arrangement. The
names of the first judges are given above.

In 1740, the chief justice, John Chandler, died, and the court was constituted
as follows : Joseph "Wilder, chief justice ; Williani Ward, William Jennison,
and Joseph Dwight. The latter was of Brookficld.

The vacancy caused by the decease of Judge Jennison in 1741, was filled by
the appointment of Samuel Willard of Lancaster. He was a grandson of the
famous Major t^imon Willard, and was himself a man of great capacit}^ in civil
and military life. The titles on his gravestone are : The Honorable Colonel
Samuel Willard, Esq.

Judge Ward was succeeded, in 1745, by Nahum Ward of Shrewsbury, the
father of Major-General and Judge Artemas Ward.

In 1750, Capt. Edward Ilartwell of Lunenburg (formerly noted as one of
the many brave and capable military ofiiccrs of Lancaster) succeeded Judge
Dwight. By the death of Col. Willard, in 1752, a vacancy was caused, which
was filled by the appointment of Major Jonas Rice of Worcester.

John Chandler, Jr. , clerk of the court from the beginning, and son of the
first chief judge, was appointed in 1754. The next year, in consequence of
the decease of Judge Rice, Thomas Steel of Leicester, was raised to the bench.

Chief Justice Joseph Wilder, senior, died in the year 1757, when the court
was reconstituted in the following order : John Chandler, chief justice ;
Edward Ilartwell, Thomas Steel, and Timothy Ruggles of Hardwick.

Five years later, 17G2, Judge Chandler died, when Judge Ruggles was
jumped from the foot to the head of the list, as chief justice, with the following
colleagues, viz. : Thomas Steel of Leicester, Joseph Wilder, Jr., of Lancaster,
and Artemas Ward of Shrewsbury. Judges Ruggles and Ward had become
distinguished in military service in the French and Indian war. The former
was ever after known as Brigadier Ruggles, and the latter became the first
Major-General in the colonial army at the outbreak of the Revolution.

These four judges remained in otfice until June 5, 1774, except Judge
Wilder, who died in 1773, at which time the approaching revolt against the
mother country caused a cessation of the court under the authority of the
king. On the seventeenth of October, 1775, by authority of the executive

32 COUNTY HISTORY.

council of tlio Icgisltitiu-c of the province, the court was set up again, and
justice was aLlministcrcd without the authority of his majesty. As one of the
judges — "Wilder — was dead, and two others — Ruggles and Steel — adhered
to the king, it was necessary to find new men. General Ward was named chief
justice in place of Brigadier Ruggles, and had the following associates, viz. :
Jcdcdiah Foster of Crooklicld, Moses Gill of Princeton, and Samuel Baker of
Berlin. In a recent work it is ini[)lied, if not stated explicitly, that the
3'ounger Judge Wilder of Lancaster was a tory. But as the judge died two
years hcfore the Concord fight, and as there is no record or tradition in Lan-
caster, that any bearing the name of Wilder Avas wanting in the cause of his
country when the day of trial came, the above allegation must be a mistake.

In 177G, Judge Foster was promoted to the bench of the Superior Court of
Judicature, when, September 19, Joseph Dorr of Auburn was appointed to the
position of judge in the county court. Judge Gill became Lieut. Governor in
1794, when Dwight Foster, son of Judge Jcdcdiah, was appointed judge ; but
he declined the oCice, and Michael Gill became a member of the court.

Samuel Baker, appointed in 1775, died in the year 1795, after twenty years
of service, when Elijah Brigham of Westborough was appointed.

Gen. Artcmas Ward resigned the ofBcc of chief justice in 1792, a year before
his decease, when the Hon. John Sprague was not only raised to the bench, but
placed at the head as chief justice. This was due to his eminence as a lawyer,
and his high reputation as a man of afiairs.

By his decease in the year 1800 a vacancy was made, which was filled by the
promotion of Judge Foster to the chief justiceship in 1801. Judge Dorr, after
an honorable service of twenty-five years, was succeeded by Benjamin Ileywood
of Worcester. This arrangement lasted till the year 1811. In 1803, criminal
jurisdiction was transferred to this court from the Court of Sessions.

The Court of General Sessions of the Peace.

The constitution of this court has already been given ; but the general reader
will like to learn, from the Commission to the Justices, what matters came under
the jurisdiction of this important tribunal. For the tribunal was important
and honorable, though occasionally the judges treated tiiejus'.ices with very little
respect. An anecdote or two will illustrate the point. Before Judge Buggies
came to this county, while conducting a case at Plymouth, an aged woman
came into court as a party or witness, and not finding a seat, looked to Mr.
Ilu"'"-les. Seeing her dilemma, with characteristic insolence, he pointed to the
bench, and told her to find a seat there among the justices. Seeing her about
to take a seat, the presiding judge inquired what she was there for. She
timidly referred to Esquire Ruggles. Being called up for explanation, and
seeing his mistake, yet not willing to make a proper apology, he replied :
" I — I — really thought the place was made for old womeu."

While practising before the Court of Sessions in this county, one day the

AMEKICAN ANTIaUARIAN SOCIETY S JUILUING, WOKCESTEH, MASS.

COURT OF SESSIONS. 33

cl()<T of one of the justices took his place in a chair assigned to their honors.
Rii<r"'lcs, seeing this, cried out, " Go home, dog, and take your oath of ofEce ! "

Passinnf from this diirression, the extracts below are taken from the commis-
sion directed to the fore- named judges and the following justices of the peace,
viz., Daniel Taft, John Chandler, Jr., Benjamin Wiilard, Samuel Wright,
Josiah AYillard, Joseph Dwight, Samuel Dudley, Ilcnry Lee, and Nahum
"Ward. They were empowered and directed " to keep the peace in AVorcester
County"; "to keep and cause to he kept the laws and ordinances made for
the good of tiie peace, and for the conservation of the same, and tVir the quiet,
rule, and government of our people."

They were "to cliastisc and jmnish all persons offending against the form of
these laws and ordinances." In the words of the instrument, "You are to
cause to come before you all those that shall break the peace, etc., or shall
threaten any of our people in their persons, or in burning their houses." They
were to require such persons "to give security, or go to prison." They were
to "hold courts at certain stated times and places (whereof any of the judges
always to lie one) ; to make inquisition of all thefts, trespasses, riots, routs,
and unlawful assemblies, and all and singular other misdeeds and olTences."
Such was their authority. Their first session was on the 10th of August,
when jNIr. Prentice preached before them. On the 12th, they chose John
Chandler, Jr., clerk, and were fully organized for business.

In this court, one of the judges of the Court of Common Picas must be
present. All miglit be, and sometimes were. But, by this arrangement, it
was possible for both courts to sit at the same time. Three judges could hold
the Court of Common Pleas, and one judge, with the justices, constituted the
Court of Sessions. In matters of great importance, all the judges might be
present.

Inflictions by this court were by fines, imprisonment, the whipping-post, the
stocks, and the pillor}'.

This court had charge of the financial affairs of the county, thus acting in
the place <jf modern county commissioners.

Perhaps a better idea of this court can bo learned from a few specimens of
their action tlian in any other way.

Among the first necessities of a count}-, which is csseritiall}' an arrangement
for judicial purposes, is the providing of a court-house, with all suital)lc appoint-
ments for holding courts and keeping records, and jails, houses of correction,
or other prisons for the detention, amendment, and punishment of the viola-
tors of the law. In those days, also, there was need of extra room for poor
as well as fraudulent debtors. As our fathers did not choose to be at the
expense of supporting ordinarj' and petty criminals in idleness, in costly and
palatial jails, they gave them a short and sharp turn at the whipping-post, or
in the pillory, and then sent them on their way, hoping that they would mend
their manners.

34 COUNTY HISTORY.

The whipping-post and its adjuncts were set up on the hill that rises back
of the court-house. It may as well be noted here that the court-houses have
always occupied the same locality on Court Hill.

The Court of Sessions, in September, 1731, counted the votes, given l)y the
freemen of the county, for register of deeds, when it was found that John
Chandler, Jr., had been chosen by a large majority. At the same time, Ben-
jamin Houghton was found to be the choice of the county as county treasurer
by a like mnjority.

The court took order for the building of a prison and prison-house, or house
for the jailer. The building was to bo thirty-six foot long and seventeen feet
wide, with fourteen-fect posts. Under the same was to be a dungeon. One
end of the house was to be " finished off after the usual manner of dwelling-
houses." In the meantime, the house of William Jennison was to be used as
a prison, and a "cage was to be built." In February, 1731-2, the plan of the
prison was altered somewhat, making its length forty-one feet, and its breadth
eighteen feet. The prison part was to be eighteen feet square. At the
November term, it was decided that the prison should be used as a house oi
correction.

At the August term, in 1732, the court appointed a committee to inquire
the cost of a suitable court-house, and to see what individuals in Boston and
other places would give in aid of the object. At the November term, it was
decided that the court-house should not exceed thirty-six feet in length and
twenty-six feet in width. The posts woi'c to be thirteen feet.

The county tax for usual charges, and for building a court-house, was laid
according to the following tal)le. Lancaster paid nearly twice as much as
any other town, and almost three times as much as Worcester. In a few
3'cars, by the formation of Harvard, Bolton, and Leominster, the population
and valuation were reduced, but still exceeded those of any other town.

Worcester,

. 22

•Rutland, .

Lancaster,

. 62

Westborough,

Mendon, .

. 36

Shrewsbury,

Woodstock,

. 32

Oxford, .

Brookfleld,

. 27

Sutton,

Southborougb, .

. 17

Uxbridge,

Leicester, .

. 13

Luuenburg,

The following extracts from the records give a glimpse at the multifarious
business of the court, and also incidentally lay open to us the state of society
and the condition of things in the county.

At the very first session, Ihe Rev. David Parsons of Leicester, entered a
complaint against the town of Leicester for failing to "render him support,
according to agreement." This complaint was renewed from time to time, the

TOWNS PRESENTED. 35

selectmen asking for delay. The tuwii, acting as a parish, was beholden to
Mr. Parsons, and this court was charged with the enforcement of such claims.

John Hazeltine, of Sutton, was complained of by the Indian M'idow of
George Misco for selling strong drink to Indians. He was found guilty, and
fined ten shillings, with costs, — seven pounds, nine shillings, and twopence.

Presentments were made by the grand jury against the towns of AVorcester,
Brookfield, Uxbridge, Southborough, and Lunenburg, for "not being provided
with stocks as the law requires."

Brooktield, Leicester, Southborough, and Lunenburg Avere presented for
"not being provided with weights and measures according to law."

The towns of Uxbridge and Southborough were presented for " not being
provided with a writing and reading schoolmaster."

Several persons wei'e presented for not attending meeting on the Lord's day.
They entered a plea of "not guilty," and were acquitted, but, according to a
singular custom of those times, had to pay costs.

In some cases, the "Baptists, or Anabaptists," so called, were complained of
for neglecting public worship. They prayed for the favor granted them by
the laws of the province, and were generally, if not always, acquitted.

The town of Worcester was presented for " not being provided with stocks."
It was found, on inquiry, that the town " had a good and lawful form of stocks."
It is conjectured that the selectmen, hearing of the presentment, forthwith
complied with the law before the court acted. The court decided to discharge
the town from paying a fine, but, as usual, saddled it with costs, — £11 8.s. 3d.
It was important to avoid the " appcai-ance of evil " in times when a mere com-
plaint involved costs, however innocent might be the defendant.

In August, 1732, Southborough was presented for failing to "provide a
writing and reading master." Brookfield and Lunenburg were reported delin-
quent in regard to weights and measures.

In our degenerate days, governors and their attendants may travel in any
direction without attracting attention, but, a century and a half ago, they went
in state, and were received with ceremony, and sometimes with pomp and
pageantry. In 1735, Gov. Belcher made a progress through the colony as far
as the Connecticut Valley. He arrived at Worcester on the 25th of August,
when the justices of the General Sessions waited on him, and the executive
officers in a body. These are the names of the judges and justices present on
the august occasion : John Chandler, Joseph Wilder, William Ward, William
Jennison, John Chandler, Jr., Josiah Wilder, Nahum Ward, Henry Lee,
Samuel Willard, John Keyes.

A case occasionally came before the Court of Sessions which revealed a form
of quasi slavery, as when a man was compelled to give his time in payment of
debt.

The case of Edward Smith, a minor and bound apprentice to Ebenczer
Policy, both of Lancaster, comes under this head. He was accused of stealing

36 COUNTY HISTORY.

from his muster, in the night time. He confessed his guilt, but as Policy had
reclaimed all the stolen property except the value of £3 3.s., he insisted only on
restitution to that amount. Smith was sentenced to pay the King £3, or be
whipped ten stripes, and pay costs and fees, £5 5.s-. Gd. Moreover he was to pay
his master £9 9s., or triple the loss. Being unable to pay, but "humbly desir-
ing of his master to pay the same," it was ordered that he should serve his
master two years after coming of age, or his heirs or assigns. Policy was,
besides his board, to find him in needful clothes.

One case is i-ecordcd where a man was sold, in this sense, that his time was
secured to his creditor ; but this seems to have been the old method of secur-
ing that, which is now obtained by the trustee process, in which a man's wages
are pledged.

About the same time Elisha Paine of Canterbury, Conn., being in Worcester
jail for publishing or uttering mock sermons, etc., and mimicking preaching
and other parts of divine service, demanded of the court whj'- he should not be
"discharged and come forth" from confinement. No one appearing against
him, he was discharged. Probalily it was thought he had been in jail long
enouirh to serve as a warninsf to himself and others of like manners.

A few other cases will be mentioned without any regard to classification, but
merely to give an idea of the times.

At the May session, 1748, Ezra Rolfe of Lancaster, husbandman, having in
his possession the flesh of a deer, killed contrary to law, came into court and
confessed himself guilty. He was fined fifty shillings, half to the King, and
half to the informer, which was paid, M'itli costs, and he was discharged.

Thomas Prentice of Lunenburg, was licensed an innholder.

The court inspected the votes returned from the sevei'al towns ; and it
appeared that Major Daniel Hej^wood was chosen county treasurer by a unani-
mous vote.

The court ordered that the floor of the court-house, "where the clerk and
lawyers sett be raised about twelve inches."

Two men were fined fifty shillings each for having killed wild deer of the
value of ten shillings, at a time prohibited by law. They paid the fine, with
costs, and were discharged.

A woman living in Woodstock was complained of for not attending meeting
on the Lord's day. She, in defence, alleged that she was a Baptist or Ana-
baptist, and that there was snow on the ground which impeded travel. The
complaint was dismissed, but she was obliged to pay costs.

At that time all persons were expected to attend meeting, and to aid in sup-
port of the Congregational worship, unless they voluntarily joined some other
society, as a Baptist church, for example. Li that case, their money went
according to their preference. The law was objectionable as making an invidi-
ous distinction, but was based on the principle that every one was benefited
by religious institutions, and shoukl pay for them, in proportion, as well as for

COUNTY COMmSSIONEKS. 37

schools, or the means of secular education. "Anabaptists," a name applied to
the Baptists by their opponents, was considered by them as a term of reproach.
It has long since gone into disuse, as a name for a numerous and most
I'espectable denomination.

One of the crimes most frequently brought before the court Avas fornication,
but in the great majority of cases the parties were married before their
arraignment. They always paid the tine, and were discharged. In other
cases, where marriage had not taken place, the guilty were sulyected to severer
penalties. It is noticeable that the crime of adultery was of very rare
occurrence.

Such was the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, unchanged in its con-
stitution and functions until 1803, when criminal matters were trans-
ferred to the Court of Common Picas. In 1807 the number of magistrates
composing this court was reduced to six ; the name "General" was dropped,
and it was styled the " Court of Sessions." Pliny Merrick of Brookfield held
the place of chief justice till 1809, with associate justices as follows : Moses
White of Rutland, John Whiting of Lancaster, Jonathan Davis of Oxford,
John Spurr of Charlton, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Salisbury, Oliver Fiske,
Jeremiah Eobinson and John W. Lincoln, of Worcester ; the chief was a law-
yer, and the assoc iates were meu of high standing in their several towns. The
reputation of some of them has come down to the present day.

The court was abolished, and all its remaining powers were transferred to
the Court of Common Pleas in 1809, but owing to the general feeling of dissat-
isfoction at this act of the legislature, the Sessions Court was set up again, two
years later, with four justices, viz. : Jonathan Davis of Oxford, Timothy
Whiting of Lancaster, Joseph Adams of Uxbridge, and Edmund Gushing of
Lunenburg.

This arrangement lasted two years, from which time the court was in con-
tinual fluctuation until 1828. For example, in 1815, the jurisdiction was
transferred to the Common Pleas Court, with two additional justices who took
the name of " Sessions' Justices of the Court of Common Pleas," with powers
limited to matters belonging strictly to the Sessions. In 1819 the "Court cf
Sessions," as a distinct body, was revived, with three justices. These were
Scott Hastings of Mendon, as chief, and Benjamin Kimball of Harvard, and
Aaron Tufts of Dudley-, as associate justices. The troubled existence of this
court ended in 1828.

County Commissionees.

The "Board of County Commissioners " was constituted to take the place of
the Court of Sessions in relation to matters not judicial in their nature. AH
the prudential and financial business of the county was intrusted to them.
They did not sit to hear and try causes ; to compel towns to support an " able
ministry," or a "competent writing and reading master," or sell the time of a
roguish apprentice, or comjiel an Anabaptist woman to attend meeting in a time

38 COUNTY HISTORY.

of snow, or fine men for killing deer at unseasonable times. Some of these
things ceased to be crimes, in the eye of the law ; others were left in the hands
of the regular courts, presided over by learned judges.

The business of the county commissioners, though limited in scope, com-
pared with the old Court of Sessions, has risen in impoi'tance and respon-
sibility with the rapid increase of the county in numbers and wealth. The
commissioners are charged with the duty of laying out county roads and have
certain duties in connection with the location and crossings of railroads. All
court-houses, jails, and houses of correction are built by them, and kept in
order for the holding of courts, and the detention and discipline of prisoners.
These and cognate duties require them to be in frequent session, and to visit,
in succession, all parts of the county.

The first board was composed of these four men : Jared Weed of Peter-
sham, Aaron Tufts of Dudley, Edmund Gushing of Lunenburg, and "William
Eaton of Worcester. James Draper of Spencer took the place of Cushing
in 1832. The law was altered in 1836, constituting the board with three com-
missioners, and two special connuissioncrs. Under this arrangement the
following gentlemen filled the office until 1842, viz. : John W. Lincoln of
Worcester, Eljcnczcr D. Ammidown of Southbridge, and William Crawford
of Oakham, commissioners. The special commissioners act only in cases when
IDarticularly called upon.

Col. Lincoln was succeeded as chairman of the board in 1842 by Gen. Craw-
ford. The members since that date have been David Davenport of Mendon,
Charles Thurl)cr of Worcester, Jerome Gardner of Harvard, Joseph Bruce of
Grafton, Otis Adams of Grafton, Bouuni Nye of North Brookfield, Asaph
Wood of Gardner, Zadok A. Taft of Uxbridge, James Allen of Oakham,
Amory Ilolman of Bolton, Vclorous Taft of Upton, J. Warren Bigclow of
Rutland, William O. Brown of Fitchburg, Henry G. Taft of Uxbridge, and
Henry E. Rice of Barre. The successive chairmen have been Adams, Nye,
Wood, V. Taft, and Brown, who is chairman of the present board.

Circuit Counx of Common Pleas.

The County Courts of Common Pleas were superseded by the Circuit Court
of Common Pleas in the year 1811, when the State was divided into three cir-
cuits,, of which Worcester and the western counties constituted one circuit.
Each circuit had three judges. The judges belonging to Worcester Coui.ty
were Edward Bangs of Worcester, and Solomon Strong of Leominster. All
the judges held coui'ts thi'oughout the circuit.

In 1820 the circuits were abolished, and four, (afterwards increased to seven) ,
judges were appointed, without reference to county lines. This arrangement
terminated in 1859. The judges of this court, residing within the county,
were Solomon Strong of Leominster, Charles xVUen, Pliny Merrick, Emory
AVashburn, and Edward Mellen of Worcester.

HIGHER COURTS. 39

SuPERioK Court,

The Superior Court was established in 1859, taking the place of the Court of
Common Pleas in (ho judicial system of the Commonwealth. Its jurisdiction,
original and appellate, is general, in both civil and criminal matters. Capital
cases are the only criminal cases not triable in this court; and that is the only
class of criminal cases which are tried in the Supreme Judicial Court. In civil
matters its jurisdiction is exclusive or concurrent with that of the lower courts,
or with that of the Supreme Court. Until after the adoption of the present
Constitution iu 1820, the Supreme Judicial Court was the only court of general
jurisdiction in this Commonwealth. In 1821 the circuit courts of Court of
Common Pleas were abolished, and the Court of Common Pleas for the Com-
monwealth was established.

Until 1839 the Supreme Judicial Court had appellate jurisdiction over causes,
both civil and criminal, tried in the Court of Common Pleas. But by act of
1839, chapter 161, it was provided that "no appeal shall hereafter bo allowed
to the Supreme Judicial Court from any conviction in the Court of Common
Pleas ;" and by act of 1840, chapter 87, the right of appeal from any judgment
of the Court of Common Pleas upon the verdict of a jury in civil matters was
taken away. After the last-named date a great majority of all jury trials
occurred in the Court of Common Pleas, so long as that court existed, and now
take place in the Superior Court.

The jurisdiction of this court has been enlarged from time to time by the
legislature, and now embraces nearly every species of litigation known to our
courts, except cases in equity, which are within the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Supremo Judicial Court.

The judges of the Superior Court, from the county, have been Charles Allen,
chief justice, who died in 18G9 ; Charles Devens, now attorney-general of the
United States ; Francis II. Dewey, and P. Emory Aldrich, wlio are now in
office. Judge Allen was otTered the position of chief justice of the Supreme
Judicial Court, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Chief
Justice Shaw in 18G0, but he declined the honor, preferring to retain the
Chief-Justiceship of the Superior Court.

Superior Court of Judicature, now the Supreme Court.
According to Judge Washburn, whose history has been often referred to in
preparing those pages, there had been a Superior Court in the Colony and the
Province from early times. It was in existence when this county was foi-med,
and had original and appellate jurisdiction. Of course it had no special rela-
tion to Worcester County, but hold its sessions hero annually, as in the other
counties. It was necessary to make our judicial system complete. Its name,
previous to the Revolution, was the "Superior Court of Judicature." Its first
session in this county was hold in the meeting-house, on the twenty-second of
September, 1731. The judges, says Wall, in "Reminiscences of Wor-

40 COUNTY HISTORY.

cester," were : "Benjamin Lynclc, chief justice ; Addington Davenport, Paul
Dudley, Edmund Irviug, and John Gushing." Daniel Gookin, son of Gen.
Gookin, the friend and patron of the Christian Indians, was sheriff. There
were present "fifteen grand jurors, of whom jNIaj or Jonas Eice of Worcester
was foreman ; John Hubbard of Worcester being foreman of the petit jury.
This court affirmed four judgments of the Common Pleas Court, on complaint,
tried one indictment, and on the twenty-second adjourned, without day, after
a session of two days." The only judge of this court, belonging to this county,
was Jedediah lostcr of Brookfield, whose term extended from 177G to 1779.

In 1780, before the close of the Revolution, but after the colony had cast off
all connection with the king and the mother country, this court was and has
since been known under the title of

The Supreme Judicial Court.

This tribunal has always enjoyed a high reputation, not only in our own

Commonwealth, but throughout the country. Many of its judges have been

held in honor among the jurists of Europe. Its history does not belong to

the county of Worcester, but in subsequent pages, several cases of great

interest to the inhabitants of the county will receive our attention. Since the

adoption of the State Constitution, in 1780, the following gentlemen, residents

of Worcester at the time, have Iieen justices of the Supreme Court : — Levi

Lincoln, the younger, afterwards governor ; Benjamin F. Thomas, afterwards

member of Congi'css from another district ; Pliny Merrick ; Dwight Foster,

now living in Boston ; and Chai-les Devens, a member of President Hayes's

cabinet.

Courts of Probate and Insolvency.

Orie of the judges of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas was generall}^
Judge of Probate. The list of judges, with their term of office, here follows :

John Chandler of Woodstock, .
Joseph Wilder, Sr., of Lancaster, .
John Chandler of Worcester, .
John Chandler, Jr., of Worcester, .
Jedediah Foster of Brooklicld,
Levi Lhicoln, Sr., of Worcester,
.Joseph Dorr of Ward, (now Auburn),
Nathaniel Paine of AVorcester,
Ira M. Barton of Worcester,
Benjamin F. Thomas of Worcester,
Thomas Kinnicutt of Worcester,
Dwight Fostei- of Worcester, .
Ilcnrj' C'hapiu of Worcester,

■om 1731 to 1740
1740 to 1756
1750 to 17G2
1702 to 1775
1775 to 1776
1770 to 17.S3
1783 to 1801
1801 to 1836
1S3G to 1844
1844 to 1848
1848 to 1857

1857 to 1858

1858 to 1878

Adiu Thayer was appointed in the autumn of 1878, on the decease of Judge
Chapiii.

DISTRICT COURTS. 41

In 1855 the legislature created a court of insolvency, which began its work
July 1, 1856. Hon. A. H. Bullock was the first judge. He was soon suc-
ceeded by Hon. William W. Rice, who continued in the otBcc till the middle
of 1858, when this court was merged in the Court of Probate and Insolvency.

The registers of probate and insolvency have been these : John Chandler,
the second judge ; Timothy Paine, Clark Chandler, Rev. Joseph "Wheeler,
and Thcophilus Wheeler, his son, whose united terms extended to sixty years,
from 1775 to 1836; Charles G. Prentiss, John J. Piper, and Charles E.
Stevens, the present incumbent. Austin L. Rogers was the first register of
insolvency, and was succeeded by Mr. Piper; Charles E. Stevens, Esq., was
assistant register from 1859, and in 1869 was chosen to the office of register
of the consolidated court. He was re-elected in 1878. This court holds its
sessions in Worcester twice a month, except in August ; in Fitchburg once each
month, except in Julj^ and August ; at Templeton, Barre, and ]Milford twice each
year.

Central District Court.

The courts whose jurisdiction is confined to the city of Worcester, will
find their place in the history of the town or city. Police courts and muni-
cipal courts are of local interest. But the Central District Court of the
county, which was constituted in 1872, comprises the city of Worcester and the
circumjacent towns of ^lillbury, Sutton, Auburn, Leicester, Paxton, West Boyls-
ton, Iloldeu, and Shrewsbury. The Hon. Hartley AVilliams, who had been judge
of the Municipal Coui't, has been judge of the Central District Court from its
organization to the present time. The clerks have been two : Hon. Clark Jillson,
and Theodore S. Johnson, Esq. The latter holds the office at the present time.

There are five other district courts in the county-. The first South Wor-
cester district includes the towns of Webster, Southbridge, Sturbridge,
Charlton, Dudley, and Oxford. The Hon. Clark Jillson is the judge. The
sessions of the court are held in Webster and Southbridge.

The second South Worcester Court has jurisdiction over Blackstone,
Uxliridge, Douglas, and Northbridge. The court sits at Blackstone and
Uxbridge. The judge is Hon. Arthur A. Putnam.

The third South Worcester district embraces the towns of Milford, Mendon,
and Upton. The court holds its sessions at Milford. Hon. Charles A.
Dewey is the judge.

The first East Worcester District Court is for the accommodation of AYest-
borough, Northborough, Southborough, and Grafton. It sits at Westborough
and Grafton. The judge is Hon. Dexter Newton.

Tlie second East Worcester District includes Clinton, Lancaster, Sterling,
Harvard, Bolton, and Berlin. Hon. Charles G. Stevens is judge, and Frank
E. Howard, Esq., clerk. The court sits at Clinton.

Fitchburg has a Police Court, of M'hich Thornton K. Ware is, and has long
been, the justice. The other towns have trial justices.

COUNTY HISTORY.

These district courts bold a. position between that of justices of the peace,
on the one side, and the superior courts on the other. They are a great con-
venience, because they provide a tril)unal presided over by a hiwycr, and,
therefore, more competent than an ordinary justice of the peace; they bring
the seat of the court nearest to the residence of the parties interested, and
they greatly relieve the Superior Court, whose docket is crowded with cases.
It is believed that they are generally held in respect by the bar and community.
As population increases and cases multiply, the needs of society will be met, as
the district court system is capable of indctinite expansion. If necessary,
the districts may be lessened in size and increased in numl)cr ; and the courts
may be held daily like police and municipal courts. By extending their juris-
dictions for them, relief might be gained for the higher courts.

The judicial system, thus outlined, has gradually reached its present shape, as
popular need and legislative wisdom have determined. The object is to protect
society, guard the rights of all, and secure justice between man and man.
Perhaps but little remains to be done by law to promote these ends.

County Officers.
The following table contains the names of the various county officers, ex-
cept judges and registers of probate, which last have been inserted in another
place. Treasurers and registers of deeds have always been chosen by the
people. Since 1857 the other officers given in this list, except the criers of
courts, have been elected in the same manner : —

District Attorneys, since the adoption of the State Constitution in 1 780.

E. B. Stoddard, ' . 185(5

P. Emorj' Aklrieh, . 1857

Hartley Williams, . 1866

William W. Eice, . 1868

Ilamiltoa B. Staples, 1873

John W. Lincoln, . 1844
James W. Estabrook, 1851
GeorgeW.Eicbardson, 1853
J. S. C. Kuowltou, . 1857
A. B. R. Sprague, . 1871

John A. Dana, . 1877

Assistant clerks from 1847,

Wm. A. Smith, 17 years ;

John A. Dana, 12 jears,

and William T. Harlow.

nstice of the Court of Common Picas,
and was clerk eleven years, vrlien he

John Sprague.

Edward D. Bangs, .

1824

Daniel Ligelow.

Pliny Merrick,

1825

Nathaniel Paine,

1779

Ezra Wilkinson,

1844

Edward Bangs,

1801

Benjamin F. Newton,

1851

William C. White, .

1811

P. Emory Aldrich, .

1853

Rejoice Newton,

1819

John H. Matthews, .

Sheriffs.

1855

Daniel Gookin,

1731

John Sprague,

1788

Benjamin Flagg,

1743

Dwight Foster,

1792

John Chandler,

1751

William Caldwell, .

1793

Gardner Chandler, .

1762

Thomas W. Ward, .

1805

Simeon Dwight,

1775

Calvin Willard,

1824

William Greenleaf, .

1778

Clerics of Court

John Chandler. 2d,*

1731

Francis Blake,

1814

Timothy Paine,

1752

Abijah Bigelow,

1817

Levi Lincoln, .

1775

Joseph G. Kendall, .

1832

Joseph Allen, .

1776

CharlesW. Hartshorn,

1848

Wilham Stedman, .

1810

Joseph Mason,.

1852

* The first John Chandler (of Woodstock) was chief j
His son, John, Jr., here marked 2d, lived in Worcester,

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

John Chandler, 2d.* 1731

Timothy Paine, . 1761

Nathan Baldwin, . 1775

Daniel Claijp, . . 1784

Registers of Deeds.

Oliver Fiske, .
Artemas Ward,
Alexander H.Wilder,

1816 Harvey B. Wilder, . 1874
1821 Charles A. Chase, . 1876
1846 Harvey B. Wilder, . 1877

John Chandler, 2d, .

1731

John Chandler, 3d. .

Nathan Periy, .

1775

Nathan Heywood, .

1750

Samuel Briggs,

1779

Ephraim Mower,

1800

County Treasurers.

Samuel Allen, . . 1790 1 Charles A. Chase, . 1865
Anthony Chase, . 1831 Edward A. Brown, . 1876

Criers of the Courts.

Silas Brooks, . . 1807
Thomas Chamberlain, 1838

Henry K. Newcomb,

1855, until . . 1867

County Buildings.

1. Court-IIouses.

The first move towards furnishing the couuty with necessary public buildings
has been briefly refei-red to. There being no court-house, the first sessions of
the two courts of the Sessions of the Peace and of the Common Pleas were
held in the old meeting-house. The first house of worship Avas near Trumbull
Square. The second was built in 1719, and stood on the site of the present
Old South Church. It Mas in this second meeting-house, which stood till 1763,
that the courts were held. There being no jail, the Court of Sessions, in 1734,
hired a part of the house of Judge Jennison for the confinement of jDris-
oners.

At the August term, 1732, of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace,
measures were taken for the erection of a court-house. Judge Jennison gave
the land, and the building was put up in 1733. This house, the dimensions of
which have been given already, stood near the site of the present brick court-
house. The location has always been styled " Court Hill." The house was
opened for public use, February 8, 1734, when the first judge, John Chandler,
made an address appropriate to the occasion.

In 1751, this building was superseded by a new one of somewhat larger
measure, being forty feet by thirty-six. This and the former house stood
somewhat in front of the east tier of the present public buildings on the row.

became Judgo CbaDcUer. His sou, John (3d), succeeded his father as judge of probate in 176'2.
His graudfalher had held tho same oCBce.

" This Johu Chandler is often styled Jr., in the records, as is his son John. To avoid mistake, I
note this John (son of the judge of Woodstock), first clerk of the courts, county treasurer and
register of deeds, as Sd. The third Johu Chandler, often called Jr., I have marked 3d. Keeping
this in mind, the reader will avoid perplexity.

44 COUNTY HISTORY.

A larger court-house being needed, and the county having increased in
ability to erect one more spacious and elegant, measures were taken, in 1801,
which resulted in the present north or brick building. The corner-stone was
laid Oct. 1, 1801. The building committee were Isaiah Thomas, William
Caldwell, then sheritT, and Hon. Salem Towne, State Senator. The structure
was forty-eight and one-half feet wide, by fifty and one-half long, with suffi-
cient height for suitable rooms on the first and second floors. It was a well-
proportioned and well-built building, with all needed accommodations ; and
with its dome surmounted by the goddess of justice holding even the scales,
made an elegant appearance. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Robert
Treat Paine, at the opening of the court-house, Sept. 27, 1803, made a
dedicatory address, in which he remarked that the " grandeur of the building"
was a " striking proof of the prosperity of the inhabitants."

Need of room required the building of an addition, notwithstanding the
erection of the granite court-house in 1844-5. The house was moved back
forty feet, and sixteen feet added to the front, giving a depth of over sixty-six
feet. The roof was also raised four feet, and the whole appearance improved.
The sessions for the trial of criminal cases are held in this building.

The fourth building for the use of the courts is the granite court-house, which
is truly a temple of justice. The county commissioners, — Jlcssrs. William
Crawford, David Davenport and Charles Thurber, with the special commis-
sioners, Stephen Davis and Jerome Gardner, — in February, 1842, voted to
build on a plan substantially like that of the present noble edifice, which befits
a county so large and wealthy as Worcester. The estimates amounted to sixty-
five thousand dollars for the building. The entire cost of putting the house
into complete order for use as well as ornament, was not far from one hundred
thousand dollars. It stands on land formerly occuijied by the dwelling of
Isaiah Thomas, which was removed to the rear.

The court-house was completed for occupancy in the summer of 1845, and
was occupied for the first time by the Supreme Judicial Court in the autumn.
The Hon. Lemuel Shaw, then chief justice, delivered the address of dedica-
tion, September 30, at the opening of the session. This was then, aud is still,
one of the most stately and well-arranged court-houses in the State. The
material is Quincy granite, and the architecture is said to be a variation from
that of the ''Tower of the Winds" at Athens.

The building is about fifty-seven feet in width, and one hundred and eight
feet deep from front to rear. The whole height, from the ground to the caves,
including base, columns, body and entablature, is forty-one feet, lacking a few
inches. The apex of the pediment is eight feet higher, making the whole
forty-eight and two-thirds feet. The whole building, except the rear end, is
made of hammered stone.

The shafts of the six immense pillars in front are twenty-five feet high, in
one piece ; they are three and one-half feet in diameter i:bove the scope of the

JAILS AND PRISONS. 45

base, and two feet eleven inches in diameter below the scope of the neck. The
length of the columns, including base and capital, is thirty feet.

There was some difficulty in transporting the pillurs to the front of the
building. They were taken, one at a time, from the central station at "Wash-
ington Square, by an ox and horse team. As each pillar weighed nineteen
tons, it was feared that the wooden bridge on Front Street •Wf)uld l)reak down
underthcm ; therefore the teams came through Summer Street to Lincoln Square,
where the brook was spanned by an arch of stone. Having reached the square,
it was found that the ascent of " Court Hill," on the north side, was too steep ;
then the load was moved up Main Street to the foot of the south slope of the
hill. Arriving here, it M'as impossible to turn the team and load, on account
of the narrowness of the street. It was neccssarj^ to go up the street as far as
the city hall, where room enough was found to turn. Proceeding thence down
the street, the heavy loads were laid safely down at the sjiots most convenient
for their erection.

Fitchburg was made a shire town in 1856. For some time the town (or city)
hall was occupied by the courts. But a court-house being necessary, measures
were taken by the county commissioners for its erection.

Worcester County Jails.

The first prisoners sentenced by the Court of Sessions were confined, as we
have seen, in a part, of Judge Jcnnison's house, in connection with which a
" cage " was built in the rear part. The " liberties of the yard " reached twenty
feet on the south side and east cud. This house stood near the court-house.

In 1732, at the February session of the Sessions Court, it was ordered that
"in lieu of the prison before appointed, the cage, so called, already I)uilt, be
removed to the chamber of the house of Deacon Daniel Ilcywood, innholder,
and be the jail until the chamlicr be suitably furnished for a jail, and then
the chamber bo the gaol for the county, and the cage remain as one of the
apartments." The inn of Deacon Ilcywood was on the site of the Bay State
House. Here the prisoners, happily but a few, were kept a year or more,
until a regular jail was built, in the 3'car 1733. This was on the west side of
Lincoln Street, perhaps fifty rods north-east of the railroad station. The
building was forty-one by eighteen feet. The part used as a prison was eigh-
teen feet square, with a stone dungeon underneath. This served the wants of
the county for nearly twenty years.

A new jail was built in 1753, thirty-eight feet long by twenty-eight
feet wide, and seven feet studs. The south end was "studded with joists, six
inches square, set five inches apart, and filled with stone and mortar." The
prison was as strong as a profusion of oak plank, spikes and iron gratings could
make it. Tiiis building was further down tlie street than the other.

As the county grew in population, and especially as the number of vagrants
and malefactors increased, after the Revolution, it was found necessary to have

4G COUNTY HISTORY.

more room for prisoners, and to make the place of confinement more secure.
Accordingly the Court of Sessions, at the December term, 1784, provided for
erecting a stone building, sixty-four by thirt^'-two feet, three stories high. It
was located on the south side of Lincoln Square, close to the present track of
the Worcester and Nashua Railroad. "This," says Wall, "was completed
Sept. 4, 1788, and considered a great affair. The lower story was divided
into four arches, crosswise, forming four rooms, for the safe custody of persons
convicted of, or committed for, gross crimes. The second story was divided
in the same manner, — into four rooms, — but not arched with stone; these
were for the keeping of debtors, who had not the liberty of the yard, and for
persons committed for small offences. The upper stoiy had an entry or walk
from end to end, and was divided into eight convenient rooms for the use of
prisoners for debt, who had the liberty of the jail yard. This yard extended
so far as to include the jailer's house on the east side, and the meeting-house
of the second parish (First Unitarian)." The jailer had a separate house,
which was then considered a "handsome, well-furnished building." "The
Massachusetts Spy," printed at the time by Isaiah Thomas, speaks in the fol-
lowing strain concerning this jail :

" This is judged to be at least the second stone building of consequence in the
Commonwealth, none being thought superior to it, except the stone chapel in Boston ;
that is built of hewn slonc ; the stones of this one mostly as thoy were taken from the
quarr3'. The master-workinan, Jolni Parks of Groton, has acquired great credit for
the ingenuity and fidclit}' with which he has executed the work. A great saving must
be experienced from the new buikling, as without some convulsion of nature, it is not
probable that it will need any repairs, excepting the roof, for two or three centuries.
The capaciousness of the building will make it answer for a workhouse, and save the
county the expense of erecting one."

But there are causes more potent than a "convulsion of nature," which cause
the demolition of old, and the erection of new buildings. A revolution of
taste, a change of style, new ideas of prison discipline, a growing population,
with its proportionate increase of idle, disorderly, and criminal persons ; one
or all of these causes combined, led to the erection of a house of correction,
in 1819, only thirtj'-fivc years after the building of the massive stone jail.
This building was of brick, fifty-three by twenty-seven feet, with the appoint-
ments of a workhouse ; and was placed where the present spacious jail and house
of correction stands on Summer Street. In 1832 the whole interior was re-
built, after the plan of the now disused State Prison at Charlestown. This
was the result of a " convulsion " of sentiment on the part of experimenters
in prison discipline. Forty cells, seven feet by three and one-half feet in size,
with three rooms for close confinement in the basement, were put in to ac-
commodate increasing numbers. Three years later, arrangements were made
to use a part of this building for a jail, Avhen the old, grand structure on Lin-

PRISONERS FOR DEBT. 47

cola Square, which was not to need i-epairs, except the roof, in two or three
centuries, was taken down, and the stones built into a new house in a dibtant
part of the city.

The jail and house of correction answered the purpose until 1873, when it
was altered, remodeled, and enlarged to its present ample dimensions. The
cost of the alterations and additions amounted to about two hundred thousand
dollars.

When Fitchburg became a half-shire town, a jail and house of correction,
as well as a court-house were indispensable. The prison or jail in thut place
is a model building. It is both a jail and a house of correction.

The jailers and keepers of tlic house of correction, in Worcester, are on
record since 174G. Before that time it is supposed that the sheriff looked
after the wants and the safe-keeping of prisoners by deputy, but it is not
known who were employed. Between 1748 and 1788, the jailers were Luke
Brown, Luke Brown, Jr., and Samuel Brown, son of the latter. The first
keeper of the new stone jail was Lemuel Rice. Dea. Nathan Heard came into
the office in 17 98, and his son, Gen. Nathan Heard, succeeded in 1812. Asahel
Bellows had the charge of the prisoners from 1824 to 1835, when the stone
jail was taken down, and the occupants were transferred to the house of cor-
rection on Summer Street. The latter building is used both as a jail and a
house of correction. John F. Clark was keeper of the house of coi-rcction
from 1819, when it was opened, till 1837, and jailer two years. Asa Mat-
thews succeeded in both capacities, for ten or twelve years, when Rufus
Carter was .appointed. He held the office twcnt^'-two years. Charles N. Hair
followed him, in 1872, and remained till 1875, when Gen. A. B. R. Spraguc,
sheriff, took the whole superintendence of the institution.

There is a chapel in the jail capable of seating several hundred persons.

Peisonees foe Debt.

In an old record book, preserved in the jail at Worcester, there is a long
list of commitments to prison, giving the offence or cause for which the parties
were confined. The greater number were for dcl)t, but in the list is to bo
found almost every kind of misdemeanor by which the peace of society is dis-
turbed.

In the first column are the names of the offenders. Then comes a description
of them as to their calling, business or standing ; their height and complexion ;
their residence ; the authority by whom they were committed ; their offence ;
and how the}' wei'e discharged. Among the names arc many of the most respect-
able family names in the county. Some of the occupations were as follows :
Husbandman, laborer, physician, yeoman, mariner, school-master, gentleman,
trader, taverner, jeweller, blacksmith, joiner, spinster, cordwainer, esquire,
carpenter, etc.

Some of the offences for which the parties were sent to prison, were these :

48 COUNTY rilSTOEY.

Coiinterfcitinir, and passing bad money, a very common crime ; theft ; fornica-
tion : abusing a man, l)y foul language pvoljaljly, though this is not specified;
forixery ; fighting; adultery, very unc(niimon ; not paying taxes; abusing a
wife, one case ; stealing a horse ; assault and battery ; breaking open a jewel-
ler's shop.

About 1785-G, many men wei'o committed for (reason. This sounds form-
idable till we understand the matter, when it seems less heinous, though to our
fathers the case seemed almost desperate. The treason was in connection with
the " Shays' Rebellion." At this late day it will do no harm to mention the names
of some of the most conspicuous men involved in that blundering mode of rccti-
fyin*^ public evils and wi-ongs. Col. Luke Drury was one of the alleged
traitors. Another was Capt. Jacob Goulding; and Rev. Caleb Curtis and John
Dunsmoor, gentlemen, were in the same category. These, with many others,
were sent to Boston jail. It was probably thought they would bo more securely
lodged in Boston than in Worcester. A year or two earlier it would have
been difficult even to arrest these men in some towns of the county. Luke
Chamberlain was tried and acquitted by the Supremo Court. The others were
probalily discharged on proper recognizances, when the danger was past, and
the authority of the State government properly vindicated.

The reasons for discharge of the prisoners are given in connection M-ith the
names. These are some of them : Giving new security ; consent of parties ;
habeas corpus ; benefit of the law ; swearing, or taking the poor debtor's oath ;
order from the high sheriflf; bail ; by the plaintiff; sometimes by death. But
a large number escaped by "breaking jail." This mode of discharge occurred
so often, that one finds it hard to douljt the complicity of the authorities. Cer-
tainly, there was little use in having such jails or jailers, if the object was to
hold men in confinement before trial, or after conviction. If a worthless tramp
or sneak-thief showed a disposition to escape from jail and take himself out
of the county, possibly the ofiicers in charge were not always so vigilant as
they might have been.

As said above, a large proportion of the prisoners were committed for debt.
Some were fraudulent debtors, who wilfully refused to pay their creditors, and
they were justly confined. A law to reach such cases is still in force. But
most of the debtor class were "poor debtors"; men willing, but unable to
pay acknowledged claims against them.

This ancient method of forcing payment, which was brought from England,
has been discarded in recent times, and it now seems to have been a relic of
barbarism. The process was to put a debtor in prison, in the hope that he
would find some way to make payment. Perhaps he had concealed some prop-
erty which the creditor could not lay hands on ; perhaps his father, his chil-
dren, or some other relatives or friends would come forward and pay the debt.
Possibly, rather tlian take the "poor dcl)tor's oath," which might involve per-
jury, or fix a stigma upon his name, the man would find some way of satisfying

riKST corKT-Hovsi;.
Built in Worcester in 1732-3, on the site where tliu present Court -Houses stand.

THE WILDER CASE. 49

his creditor. These motives prompted to tlie measure of imprisoning men for
debt. It is quite possible that malicious men sometimes gratified their spite
bj imprisoning those who were olinoxious to them. But certainly the worst
place to put an honest delttor in was a prison. lie was taken from his busi-
ness and placed where there w^as little chance for work or usefid occupation of
anj' kind. Often, after weeks or months of confinement, the debtor was
released, and the creditor had his " labor for his pains." That is, the trouble
incurved in the arrest and imprisonment of his poor neighbor brought him noth-
ing but the enmity of the debtor and his family, and perhaps the reproach of
the community. It was a poor way to collect debts, and was abandoned by
almost universal consent.

But the reader of the old '"Records" will find honored names in the list of
debtors. One was a general and high-shcrifl;' of the county. Another was a
revolutionary patriot, held in respect and esteem in his time, and rememl)ered
Avith honor long after his decease. Was there no way for him who had served
bis country well, and periled his life in her cause, to be set free? Alas, but
one way was found : " Discharged b}' death " stands against his name. It was
easier for posterity to "give him a stone " than for his contemporaries to "give
him bread."

A case which occurred at a later day, and is still remembered by many per-
sons somewhat advanced in life, may be related more at length. It was the
case of a man extensively known at the time, and not yet forgotten ; one who
was a magnificent man in his way, and knew how to turn his imprisonment
from a cause of shame to a scene of triumph.

Sampson V. S. Wilder was born in Lancaster, but early in life went to Bos-
ton, where he began a career full of enterprise and crowned with wonderful
success : but which finally met a sad reverse, and left him hopelessly in debt,
though without a suspicion of dishonesty. His life is sketched in a modest and
interesting manner by his daughter, Mrs. Ilaynes, of Elizabeth, New Jersey,
in a work which will reward the reader.

In the time of Gen. Jackson's ascendency in our national politics, IMr.
Wilder was a business man of lai-go means and extensive plans. His fortunes
■were involved with the success or ruin of the United States Dank, and with the
continuance or repeal of the protective tarilf. At the time of the great panic
or crash, about 1837, he was a large dealer in cotton, and was exposed to
all the fluctuations which then made business extremely hazardous. Being in-
quired of one day concerning his property, he remarked that he did not know
how much he was worth. It might turn out that he had half a million, and it
might happen that he was worth nothing. It proved to be the ebb-tide of
his fortunes ; as happened to thousands of others, his richly-laden bark was
stranded. All was lost but integrity and honor.

Among his creditors was a man of large property living in Boston. This
man, whose name need not be mentioned, was a dealer in liquors, and in some
1

50 COUNTY HISTORY.

■\va3% perhaps by lending money, had a claim of some magnitude against Mr.
"Wilder. In the settlement of the husincss, tiiis man refused all accommoda-
tion, and insisted on the payment of the debt. He probabl}^ thought that in
the wreck of a fortune like that of Mr. Wilder, something must have been
saved which could be opened to light and extorted, if suiEcient pressure were
brought to bear on the victim. Therefore he liad Mr. Wilder cast into the
Worcester jail.

Mr. Wilder was a large, heartj' man, delighting in activity, and needing free-
dom in the open air. Confinement to him was doubly irksome. It began to tell
upon his health. The creditor was appealed to by his own friends to consent
to a release, but he was inex(jrable. His theory was that Mr. AVilder or his
friends could find means to liquidate the claim whenever they were ready. The
question came up : Why would not INIr. Wilder take the poor debtor's oath ? He
reijlied that he could not do it as a truthful man, and ho would not lie and per-
jure himself to save his life. Then why not part with all he had, and pay his
creditor as far as the funds would go? The answer was, because the things
which were valualjle to him, would be of little or no use to another, though
prized by himself. They were gifts or keep-sakes, and yet they were property
in such a sense that he could not swear that ho had nothing.

At length the prisoner's health began to fail. He asked for no mercy, begged
for no privilege. By misfortune he had become unaljle to pay his debts. It
was a grief to him that any should lose by means of his inal)ility to pay ; but
he could suffer with dignity, and maintain a proper self-respect. The odium
was all cm the side of the creditor. Mr. Wilder was known beyond the bounds
of the State, and the story of his confinement aroused indignation against the
Shylock who was insisting not only on the "pound of flesh," but reducing a
stalwart frame to leanness. The pressure was so great that the friends of the
creditor finally prevailed on him to go to the jail and grant a release. He
came iqi, and with some parade of his lenity, evidently expected a show of
gratitude. But he met with a dift'ereiit reception. Mr. Wilder showed him
the folly and cruelty of his conduct, till the man l^egan to feel that he was the
culprit. His tears began to flow, and when sufiiciently subdued, Mr. Wilder,
in his lordly but benignant way, exclaimed, "Get down on your knees and beg
pardon of your God and of me, for j'our hard-hearted conduct, and I will pray
for you." The man obeyed, and ]\Ir. Wilder, kneeling beside him, off'ered a
fervent supplication for his repentant oppressor. Eising, ho accepted his re-
lease, took the man by the hand, and bade him go in peace. The creditor
went home a wisei", perhaps a better man.

A word more in regard to county jails, houses of correction, and other
topics, will come up in course. A receut change in the law, so fiir as female
prisoners are concerned, has worked a revolution in our prison system. The
State has erected a spacious woman's prison in the town of Shci'born, to which
the females, condemned for misdemeanor and crimes, have been removed from

INTERESTING CASES. 51

all the jails iu the Commouwealth. The friends of the new measure, especially
the women who have given much attention to the subject of prison discipline,
expect favoraljle results. The plan has been carried into effect in the face of
much doubt and some opposition ; yet the advocates of the experiment are
hopeful. They believe that a prison especially planned for women, and placed
under the control of qualified persons of their own sex, will n it only free the
prisoners from many unfavorable influences, but will open the way for the
adoption of many remedial measures for their reformation. It is claimed
that the short terms of imprisonment, though serving as punishment, do not
give time for the breaking up of old habits, and confirming the reformed in
waj's of self-denial, and self-respect, and good morals. The expectation is
that many will be so improved, while in confinement, that they will return,
on the expiration of their sentence, if not before, prepared to be good mem-
bers of their families, and a blessing rather than a moral nuisance to the
community. The good wishes of all friends of humanity wait on the
experiment.

CHAPTER VII.

INTERESTING CASES BEFORE COURTS IN WORCESTER COUNTY.

A FEW cases, gathered from the records of the " Court of General Sessions
of the Peace," have been referred to on a preceding page. There was no
special interest in those cases in a legal point of view, and they wei'e given
merely for the purpose of showing the state of morals, and the scope of the
court in matters of schooling and supporting public worship. In the present
chapter, a cui'sory view of a few cases will be presented which were of greater
import. All had points of interest at the time ; and though the parties to
them have long been dead, and nearly all of them forgotten, yet the recital
will never fail to challenge the attention of unchanging human nature.

Following the order of time, the first case to be noticed is that of Hop-
kins vs. Ward, to which attention was called by the kindness of Hon. George
F. Hoar. The trial is reported in an article entitled an " Ante-Revolutionary
Case," published in the "Law Reporter" of 1859-60, from which the following
statement is condensed : —

Case of Hopkins vs. Ward.

Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward were distinguished men in the annals
of Rhode Island. Hopkins had a national fiime as one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. Both were governors of Rhode Island and

52 COUNTY HISTORY.

Providence PLmtations. The particulars of the trial are too numerous to be
presented in detail. In matters of controvers}' in relation to tiic puljjic con-
duct of Hopkins, which had l>een censured by Ward, the former issued a
pamphlet, in which his course was explained and defended. In the same pul)-
lication, Ward was severely blamed for failing to serve the public, and for
finding fault with those who were faithfully Ijcaring the burden of affairs.
This was in the time of the last Fi'ench and Indian war, — 1755-03.

It appears that Lord Loudon, who was commander-in-chief of the British
forces in North Amci'ica, with Gen. Abercrom1)ie as second in command, called
on Gov. Hopkins of Rhode Island for a number of soldiers, as well as teams
for transporting nuuiitions of war. There was delay, and the call was repeated
towards the close of an inetEcicnt campaign. The call was then answered by
Gov. Hopkins, but too late to be of any service, and Loudon refused to allow
any compensation. This was in 1756.

Some time previous, a lot of French prisoners, in custody of the Rhode
Island authorities, were allowed to escape, or were set free, by Gov. Hopkins,
or through his influence.

Two per cent, was allowed by the Rhode Island Government to the "Com-
mittee of War " on all money which passed through their hands. Gov. Hop-
kins was a member of this committee. One of the sons of the governor was
a commissary, and received the usual compensation. Besides, he made au
extra charge for convo^'ing an amount of specie from New York. Another son
was his assistant. These facts w^ere used by Ward, in conversation, to the
prejudice of Hopkins ; and he, fearing their eflect on the public mind, puli-
lished the pamphlet referred to above, in his own justification, and in severe
censure of his antagonist.

Ward's pamphlet was in reply, and was written with ability and great bit-
terness. Hopkins, in closing, had said, "It is not the pleasure or the profit
that attends the important otBce that I at present sustain, but m}' duty to God
and my country, that prevents my desei'ting my post at this time, when diffi-
culties of almost every kind, from abroad and at home, involve an imhappy
people." With this passage before him. Ward closed his pamphlet with these
words, "I shall conclude with ol)sorving that when the governor of a Colony
has so little regard to his character as to print absolute falsehoods, and is so
fond of his post as to stick at nothing to keep it, the world will judge what
sense he has of his tluty to God and his country."

At the ensuing election, IMr. Hopkins lost his election, lacking four hundred
votes. He was intensely angry, and said that it would not be a crime for him
to kill 'Sir. Ward. This was testified by more than one witness. There was
no proof that lie threatened to kill, but that he considered the offence and
injury so great that killing would be justifiable homicide.

Hopkins began his suit, June 20, 1757, before the Court of Common Pleas
of Worcester County. The object was to get away from the bitter prejudices

HOPKIXS AND WARD. 53

which pi'evailed in Khodc Ishiiid, 'which would make it ahnost impossible to
find an impartial jury. I'y a fiction of law, ho alleged that the pamphlet of
A\'ard, which was libellous, had been issued at Newport, in the county of
Worcester. lie recited his complaint, mentioning the various charges and
insinuations made against him, and, in claiming special damages, alleged that
his defeat as candidate for the governorship, on the first Wednesday of the
preceding ilay, Avas caused l)y the publication. He claimed damages to the
amount of £5,000.

The Court of Common Pleas at that time consisted of John Chandler of
Worcester, the second judge of that name ; Edward Ilartwell of Lunenburg,
formerly of Lancaster ; Thomas Steele of Leicester, and Timothy lluggles of
Hard wick.

The lawyers who managed the case of Hopkins were Edmund Trowbridge,
whose fame as a lawyer towers up over the Mastes of a centur}' like a moun-
tain over the intervening country, and John Aplin of Ehode Island. Mr.
Ward empIo}'ed Benjamin Pratt, one of the foremost members of the bar in the
Province, and afterwards celebrated as the chief justice of New York. His
junior was Henry Ward of Rhode Island.

Ward being put on his defence, denied that he was actuated l)y malice in
what he had published, and pleaded the truthfulness of his statements. In his
replication, Hopkins denied the truthfulness of Ward's alleged libels, asserted
that they were malicious, and put himself on his country. Ward did likewise.
The court then adjourned to the second Tuesday in September.

When the trial came on. Ward admitted the publication. The defeat of
Hopkins as candidate for the office of governor was proved by a clerk who
was concerned in counting, or certifying the count of the votes. There is no
proof of malice on record. The defendant then brought evidence to sustain
the charges or statements contained in his pamphlet. First, he proved that
Hopkins, as member of the Committee of War, had taken his portion of the
two per cent, on all public money which passed through the hands of the com-
mittee ; second, that the French prisoners were released, as Ward had alleged ;
third, that the sou of Hopkins had received larger pay for the transportation
of specie than others would have charged; fourthly, that one of his sons was
employed as commissary, and another as assistant.

Another matter was broached, the object of which is not apparent : but it is
conjectured that the design of the defendant was to raise a prejudice in the
minds of the judges and jury against Hopkins as a man who was tainted with
disloyalty to the king. One Mitness testified that he heard Hopkins ask, with
warmth, " What have the king and parliament to do with making a law or laws
to govern us by, any more than the Mohawks have? And, if the Mohawks
should make a law or laws to govern us, we were as much obliged to ol)ey
them as any law or laws tlie king and parliament could make." He had said,
further, "that as our forefathers came from Ley den, and were no charge to

54 COUNTY HISTORY.

England, the States of Holland had as good a right to claim us as England
had."

The jury found for the defendant, giving costs of suit. Judgment ruled
accordingly. Hopkins then appealed to the Superior Court of Judicature, and
entered into recognizance to prosecute his appeal witli efl'ect. This, however,
he failed to do, and hence the following record : "The plaintiff, by his attor-
ney, prayed leave to discontinue his suit, he being unprepared for trial.
Granted. It is, therefore, considered by the court that the said.Samuel "Ward
recover against the said Stephen Hopkins costs taxed at £22 13s. 9cZ. Execu-
tion issued, September 13, 1760."

The reader will recall the signature of " Step : Hopkins," in trembling hand,
to the immortal Declaration of 1776. He was in pul)lic life fi'om 1731 to 1785,
more than half a century. It will be noted that none of tlie charges of Ward
alleged any criminal or unpatriotic conduct, and might safol}^ have been left to
die without notice. The whole affair was a political squabble, and both par-
ties to the case were afterwards in public life. But the opinions of Gov. Hop-
kins in relation to the authority of king and parliament in 1756, or twenty
years before the Declaration of Independence, are Avorthy of special notice.
Though brought forward to injure him in the view of the court, they are now
among his titles to honor and renown.

The Spooner Case.

This case is the most celebrated of any in the judicial annals of Worcester
Count}'. It was the occasion of universal horror and indignation at the time
of its occurrence, and after a hundred years have passed, the story awakens
the same passions as were then prevalent. The plan of murder was deliljerate.
yet short-sighted ; it exhibited much cunning, yet had in it the elements of
detection ; the prime mover was urged on by a grim determination which lient
the agents of her crime to her own un^'ielding will, yet was she troubled by
retarding spasms of conscience ; her motive was not oidy a fierce spirit of re-
venge against her husband for the greatest wrong a wife can suffer, but an un-
wifely passion for another and a younger man. Her position in society made
her deed more conspicuous; her spirit, sense, and beauty, enhanced the per-
sonal interest of the story, and the touching incident of her merited death,
involving the life of her unborn child, while awakening a misplaced sympathy
for the criminal, gave an additional horror to the tragic event.

Mrs. Bathshea or Bathsheba Spooner was the daughter of the celebrated
Hon. Timothy Rugglcs, known in the height of his success and prosperity as
Brigadier Kuggles. He was the son of the Rev. Timothy Ruggles, tiie minister
of the fiist parish in Rochester, and was born October 11, 1711. At the age
of twenty-one he was graduated at Harvard College. Having studied law, he
conunenced the practice of his profession in his native town, which he repre-
sented in the General Court in 1736, when he was twenty-iivc years of age.

BRIGADIER RUGGLES. 55

Having taken up his residence in Sandwich, he married a rich widow, and
opened a tavern. Strange as it may seem, he carried on the business of
hotel-keeping and liad an extensive practice as a hiwyerat the same time. He
was attentive to his guests, and polite to ail comers, and attended to the
duties of tho bar-room and the stables with equal assiduity, saying that no
man should feel above his business. To such a man, success in life was inevi-
table. He soon took rank with the leading men in his profession, and attended
the courts in Dristol and Plymouth, as well as in Barnstable County. He was
a fair scholar, knew more law than the majority of legal practitioners, had the
command of terse and forcil)le language, possessed sense, tact, and energy,
and had self-confideuce and courage for an}' undertaking which his interest or
ambition inspired him to pursue.

Mr. Ruggles settled in Hardwick, in this conuty, when he had attained tho
ripe ago of forty-four years, and was in the full maturity of his powers.
Doubtless he would have maintained his high position at the Worcester bar,
even in competition with Mr. Putnam, if the public service had not diverted
his exertions into other courses. In 1755, the year after his coming, he
entered the army, which was destined to act against the euemy in the last
French and Indian war. He was in the expedition to Crown Point, as colonel,
and was second in command under Sir William Johnson, in the battle in
which Baron Dicskau was defeated. His reputation rose high, and the way
was open for further service and success. He was out in tho campaign of 1756
and 1757, in the capacity of colonel, and commanded a regiment of "Worcester
and Hampshire men, under Lord Amherst. In the next year he served under
Lord Amherst, in the expedition against Canada, with the title of brigadier-
general. His military career now ended, l)ut the service continued, for George
II. was highly pleased with him, and granted him the ofBce of " Surveyor-Gen-
eral of the Woods," with a salary of three thousand pounds sterling.

He was appointed a judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in 1757,
and chief justice in 17G2. This position was held by him until the outbreak
of the Revolution. When the congress, made up of delegates from the
sevei'al Colonies, was held in New York, in October, 1765, Geueral Ruggles
■was one of the members from ]\Iassachusctts, and was chosen president of
the body. It is a singular fact that though he was chosen president, and
might, therefore, be supposed to represent the congress, he was the only
member who did not give his sanction to the result. Returning home, the
other two delegates, Otis and Partridge, received a vote of thanks from the
legislature, while Ruggles was reprimanded by the speaker.

At the opening of the Revolution he took the ro3'al side, and not only lost
his popularity, but became odious to the people. There is no doubt that he
loved his country, and believed the time would come when it would bo in-
dependent; but he did not see that the time had already come. His property
was confiscated, and iiis name became a hissing.

56 COUNTY HISTORY.

Besides his large estate in Hardwick, where he kept thirty horses, and had
a deer park of twenty acres, and a pack of hounds for his numerous guests,
he owned four farms in other localities. Though living in style, he was
temperate in his hal)its, prudent and sagacious in the management of his
affairs, and capable of filling any position to which he might be raised.
Such was, in brief, the father of Mrs. Spooncr ; and the envy which his
prosperity and his pride had excited, united with the hatred inspired by his
course in joining the enemies of his country, was visited upon the devoted
head of his accomplished but guilty and unhappy daughter. The bitterness
of party gave a color to all the proceedings at her trial, and caused both
the people and the council to believe her false when she prayed for the life
of her unborn child.

Mrs. Spooner was the sixth child of General Kuggles, and was born Febru-
ary 13, 1745-6. She was at the time of the fearful tragedy, thirty-three
years of age, and was a woman of fine ajjpcarance, agreeable manners, and
great strength of character. She was married in the vear 1766 to Mr. Joshua
Spooner. He was considerably older than his young, sj^irited wife, and was
feeble in body as well as in the elements of a vigorous manhood. As she
was resolute and jiassionate, they were an ill-assorted pair. Why she con-
sented to such a union is not known, but it is supposablc that the match
was considered an eligible one, as he was a rcspectaljle country trader, with
a handsome property. It is more probable that the marriage was dictated by
the feeling of a worldly-minded father, than prompted by the heart of an
accomplished girl. By this marriage there were three children, one sou and
two daughters. The latter were married some years after the death of their
mother.

It is reported in the accounts of the crime and trial that the parties lived
together unhappily, but no statement that I have seen distributes the blame be-
tween the parties. There is a tradition that Bathsheba Rugglcs was once ci'oss-
ing the river at Springfield, in a time of flood, when there was danger that
the boat would be swamped, and all on board drowned. She, however, made
light of the danger, so far as concerned herself, remarking that one born to
be hanged would never die by drowning. If this never occurred, yet it is
probal)le that it was characteristic, and so has clung to her memory. The
father, with all his talents and pu'jlic spirit, was a man of low moral prin-
ciple, and it is believed that he set his children an example of conjugal in-
fidelity. With such a temper and such an evil example, she took the vows
of marriage to a man unfitted to please one of her beauty, accomplishments
and talents.

It is a tradition in the family that she believed her husband was not only
unfaithful to his vows, but had an unprincipled woman in the house. The
argument of her counsel not obscurely intimates that this woman — perhaps
more than one — was a servant in the kitchen. Such were the jjarties,

THE SPOONER TRAGEDY. 57

aud such were their conditions. Being such, the train was laid for a fear-
ful explosion when accident should apply tiie spark.

Three other prominent actors in the liioody tragedy may be briefly de-
scribed. One was named James Buchanan: he was a Scotchman by birth,
and had served in the British army, under Gen. Burgoyne. After the defeat
of that jrcncral at Saratoga, his soldiers were marched into Massachusetts,
He had held the rank of sergeant, had a decent education, and a good ap-
pearance. About the time of the murder he was traveling or "ti-amping"
over the country, from the coast towards Springfield. He was thirty years
old.

AVilliam Brooks, his companion in travel, as he had been in war, was an
Englishman, aged twenty-seven years; he was a private, under Burgoyne,
and at the capture of the army, was brought hither. He appears to have
been the least respectable in the band of assassins.

The third person was Ezra Ross, who was still a boy of eighteen, though
he had been through some of the roughest experience of manhood. Two
years l)efore, at the ago of sixteen, be had joined the army, with four
brothers, older than himself. On his return from his first campaign, in
1776, broken with the hardships of the field, he passed through Brookfield,
on the way to his home, in the parish of Liuebrook, County of Essex, and
was entertained at the house of ISIr. Spooner. Here he remained some time,
an invalid, and ^Irs. Spooner treated him with the care and tenderness of a
mother. Having recovered strength, he went on his way to his father's
house, cherishing feelings of gratitude towards his kind and fascinating
hostess. In 1778 ho was out again in the northern campaign, and returned
by the same route, which brought him to Brookfield and Mr. Spooner's
house. He was a fine-looking youth. She was beautiful, and with other
accomplishments, was an elegant rider. She and young Ross often took
horseback rides in company, and it is supposed that at this time her liking
for the youth was fermented into a guilty passion. These were the dramatis
per so nee.

Taking up the narrative, it appears that on the first of March, 1778,
Joshua Spooner was murdered aud thrown into his own well.

An inquest was held, and it was found that Mr. Spooner, on the even-
ing of the first of March, which was Sunday, had been at the village
tavern, with Dr. King aud wife, and perhaps some other neighbors.
Returning home, about nine of the clock, alone, when near his own
door, ho was feloniously assaulted by one or more rulfians, knocked
down by a club, beat and bruised about the head, and then thrown into
his own well, with water in it. This was done "by persons to the jury
unknown."

On the morning after the murder, Mr. Spooner being missing, there was

58 COUNTY HISTOEY.

great inquiry for him. It was remembered that he had expressed fears for
his life, and especially disliked the presence of the British soldiers in the
neighborhood, and at his house. He seems to have esteemed young Ross,
who was tolerably educated and well-behaved, and to have had no distrust
of his wife. But the anxiety of the neighbors to find the missing man led
to search, when the body was found in the well.

When the body was brought into the house, it was noticed that none of
the family would look at it except a little child. At the urgent entreaty
of one of the jury of inquest, the wife went into the room, looked at her
husband's remains, and putting her hands on his forehead, said: "Poor little
man ! "

The circumstances which led to the arrest of the guilty parties were
various. As might be supposed, the whole community was appalled by the
murder, and there was instant inquisition for the persons and the motive.
But the folly of the three men, and of their instigator, Mrs. Spooner, soon
fixed the suspicion of the public upon them. Their appearance, their con-
fused talk, their contradictory explanations of their conduct and their
whereabouts at the time of the murder, all combined to prove their guilt.
Among other things, the two soldiers went towards Woirester, from which
they had recently come, and arriving at the house of one Walker, they
told such a jiarcel of lies to explain and excuse their return, as to arouse sus-
picion. Being arrested, they became more and more involved in the meshes
of their own falsehoods, and finally implicated young Ross and Mrs. Spooner.
All four were arrested. It came out that Mrs. Spooner had become eager
for the death of her husband, and had told her feelings to Ross, though no
measures had been taken by her to lead him into the commission of the
crime previous to the night of the murder. He was the unconscious instru-
ment in her hands by whom the other agents were brought on to the
stage at the nick of time, though he had never been in the council of blood
previous to the evening when the deed was done.

She gave orders to a servant to call in any British soldiers who might
pass the house. A month previous to the fatal night, as Buchanan and
Brooks were passing, they were invited to stop. Here they remained two
weeks, and received liberal entertaiument, being provided with food and
liquor. They were not much in the presence of Mr. Spooner, eating at
another table ; but he knew of their presence, and was displeased and alarmed.
He made some feeble efforts to get rid of them, but he was not the master
of his own house, and the servants, male and female, were under the control
of his wife.

A true bill was found against the three men and Mrs. Spooner, at Worcester,
by the grand jury, on the third Tuesday of April, and the trial was speedy.
The court was composed of the following judges: William Gushing, chief
justice; Jedediah Foster, Nathaniel Peaslee Sargent, David Sewall, and James

THE SPOONER TRAGEDY. 59

Sullivan; Robert Treat Paine was State's attorney, or attorney-general, and
Levi Lincoln, senior, was the counsel for the prisoners.

It was charged that Brooks made (he assault, knocked down and bruised
Mr. Spooncr ; and that Buchanan and Ross aided and abetted. Mrs. Spooner
was charged with the guilt of instigating, procuring, and rewarding the fell
deed. The trial began on the 24th of April, in the meeting-house of the Old
South parish.

At the trial the circumstantial evidence against the prisoners was strong, if
not conclusive. There was no doubt that a murder had been committed.
There was nothing to warrant the belief that the case was one of suicide.
Neither was there suspicion against any one but the four persons presented to
the court by the grand jury. The aversion of Mrs. Spooner to her husband;
his luifaithfulucss to her; her strange conduct in directing a servant, or ser-
vants, to call in passing soldiers ; her keeping and entertaining Brooks and
Buchanan for no apparent reason, and in spite of her husband's aversion to
them, and dislike of their presence; the fact that they were present on the
night of the murder, and their strange conduct and contradictory statements
afterwards, all comliiiie to fix the guilt of the crime upon all except, possibly,
young Ross. And it was clear that he was in bad company. Moreover, these
men had more money after the deed than seemed compatible with their condi-
tion in life, besides the possession of some articles of the victim's wearing
apparel.

Jonathan King, the physician, being called to the stand, testified that he
spent the evening of ]\Iarch 1st at Cooley's tavern, with Spooner, about a quarter
of a mile from the home of the latter. Spooner left the tavern between eigiit and
nine o'clock, and was well when he went away. He testified further, that the
face and temple of Spooner were much bruised, and that blood was found on
the well-curb.

Ephraim Cooley, the tavern keeper, testified that Spooner was pleasant and
sociable, and left the tavern at the same time with Dr. King and wife. He
was well at the time of leaving.

Then came the confession of one of the defendants on trial. Buchanan stated
that while Spooner was at the tavern on Sunday evening, the conspirators were
in his house keeping watch. They were supplied with victuals, and drank
punch and rum. When Spooner was seen coming home, just before nine
o'clock. Brooks stood within the small gate leading to the kitchen, and as
Spooner came past, he knocked him down with his hand. Spooner tried to
speak when down, but Brooks took him by the throat and partly strangled
him. Ross and Buchanan came out of the house. Ross took Spooner's watch
and gave it to Buchanan. Brooks and Ross took up Spooner and put him into
the well, head first. Buchanan pulled off his — Spooner's — shoes. He was,
according to his statement, innncdiatel}' struck with remorse.

They found Mrs. Spooner in the sitting-room, and she seemed "vastly con-

60 COUNTY HISTORY.

fused." She went up stairs and brought down a box containing money, and
having no key, asked Buchanan to I)rcak it ojien, which he did. Brooivs and
Ross came in, when she gave two notes of four iiundred dollars each to Ross to
change and give the money to Brooks. But some paper money was found,
amounting to two hundred and forty-three dollars, which Brooks received, and
returned the notes. She gave Ross four notes often pounds each to purchase
candet for a riding-dress. Tlicro was a distribution of clothing, including
Spooner's waistcoat, breeches and shirt. She gave three eight-dollar bills to
Buchanan. Buchanan added : "Had we all been immediately struck dead after
the perpetration of so horrible a murder, and sent to hell, God would have
been justified, and we justly condemned."

The story of the trial need not be drawn out at length, as the evidence was
conclusive, and all admitted their guilt, except the instigator and rewarder of
the crime. Mrs. Spooncr asserted that she relented before the plan of murder
was executed, and did not wish it to be done. But if so, she did nothing to
avert the action which she had deliberately arranged to procure.

The State's attorney, INIr. Paine, presented the evidence to the jury in a
clear manner, and called for the verdict which justice demanded. The
counsel for the prisoners, Mr. Lincoln, managed the case with his usual skill
and aliility. The trial was fair, and the verdict of "guilty " was in accordance
with the law and the evidence. And here, in ordinary cases, when the evi-
dence of guilt is so full and conclusive, the sentence of the court would be
followed by the execution of the guilty. But in this case, just here began a
scene in the drama which kept the parties in suspense, and the people in a
state of high excitement for many weeks.

Brooks and Buchanan were foreigners, without friends, and their case pre-
sented no points on which a petition for pardon, or even respite, could be
founded, though, in firct, they were reprieved with the rest, that they might
have time to make preparation for death and eternity. They were hired assas-
sins, who had basely committed murder for pay.

But the case of Ross was ditferent. Though guilty, he was young ; he was
not engaged in the plot to take Mr. Spooner's life. Only on the fateful even-
ing was he drawn into the toils of the artful woman who was the moving-spring
of all the puppets in the bloody act. Besides, he was a soldier who had done
faithful service for his country in two or three campaigns, though only eighteen
years old. The situation of his aged and worthy parents appealed with
pathetic force to all feeling hearts. The following petition to the authorities
sets forth the touching facts in the early life of the guilty youth. It was in
these words :

" The memorial and petition of Jabez Ross and Joanna Ross of Ipswieli (Line-
brook) in the County of Essex, humbly slicwcth that your memorialists arc the
unhaiipy parents of a most unfortunate son, now under sentence of death for the mur-
der of Mr. Spoouer — a murder the most shocliiug in its kind, and in circumstances not

PETITION FOR EOSS. 61

to be paralleled. That out of the public troubles of the daj", your memorialists have
been called by providence to suffer a largo and uncommon share. That at the com-
mencement of hostilities, of seventeen children, six sons and three daughters alone
survived to your aged and distressed petitioners, whose footsteps from that period have
been marked -with anxiety, and whoso sorrows, from the melancholy fate of their
youngest son, have received a tinge of the keenest kind.

" At the first instance of bloodshed, five of the six sons entered the public service ;
four fought at Bunker Hill ; three marched to the southward with General Washington,

of which number was the unhappy convict who engaged for only , the other two

for three years. A fourth mingled, at the northward, his bones with the dust of the
earth.

" On his return from the first year's campaign he was, by the lot of pro\'idence, cast
upon Mrs. Spooner in a severe fit of sickness, from whom he received every kind office
and mark of tenderness that could endear and m.ike grateful a child of sixteen, sick,
destitute, in a strange place, at a distance from friends and acquaintance. After the
evacuation of Ticonderoga, in his march to reinforce the northern army, gratitude for
past favors led him to call on his old benefactress, who then added to the number of
her kindnesses, and engaged a visit on his return. With a mind thus prepared and
thus irresistiblj- prepossessed by her addresses and kindnesses on his tender years, he
for the first time heard the horrid proposals, tempted bj- promises flattering to his situa-
tion, and seduced both from virtue and prudence, a child as he was, by a lewd, artful
woman, he but too readilj' acceded to her measures, black as they were ; but never
attempted the execution of the detestable crime, notwithstanding repeated solicitations
and as frequent opportunities, until on an accidental meeting he became a party with
those ruffians, who, without his pri\'it\-, had fixed on the time and place for that horrid
transaction, of which he now stands justl}- convicted.

" Your petitioners by no means attempt an extenuation of guilt, or measures incon-
sistent with the safety of the community and the preservation of individuals. But if it
is consistent ; if the criminal, who is thoroughl3' possessed with a sense of what is past,
present, or to come, can be spared, and his guilt condemned ; if he has been a valuable
member of society and fought in her cause, although from the inexperience peculiar to
youth, the strength of some momentary- impulses and alluring seducements, he gradu-
allj- erred until he arrived to the violent act of wickedness ; if upon recollection he has
found repentance, confessed his life a forfeiture to the law, looking up to heaven for
that foi-giveness which none can find on earth ; if an earlj' confession of the whole
matter and the suffering of a thousand deaths in the reflections of the mind ; if the law,
the government, and the grave can be satisfied and mercy displayed ; in fine, if j'outh,
if old age, the sorrows, the anguish of a father, the j'earnings of a mother, the com-
passion and wishes of thousands can avail ; if anj' or all of these considerations can
arrest the hand of justice, plead effectually for mercy, and induce your honors to extend
that pardon towards one of the poor unhappy victims destined to a most awful execu-
tion, and thcrebj' give him an opportunity of atoning to the public for the iujuiy ho has
done it — restore him to his country, to himself, his sj-mpathizing friends, — to his aged,
drooping, distressed parents. It will console them under the weightiest afflictions, and
turn the wormwood and the gall into something tolerable ; and your petitioners, in dut}-
bound, will ever pray."

62 COUNTY HISTORY.

The Rev. George Leslie, minister of the church in Linchrook, to which the
parents belonged, joined in the petition. But the council was firm, and Ross
was left for execution with the rest. He conducted with great propriety after
his fate was settled, and was publicly baptized. As said before, the day of his
execution was kept as a day of fasting and prayer in his native parish. The
stricken parents had the sympathy of neighbors and of the general public,
though the law justly doomed their son to suffer the awful penalty decreed to
the nuirdcrer.

But Mrs. Spooner was the principal figure in this awful crime and dreadful
pageant. Rev. Thaddeus Macarty, the venerable pastor of the Old South
Church, often visited her, and she conversed freely with him upon her situation.
Up to this time she would not admit the justice of her sentence. She said the
witnesses had wronged her. She had indeed formed the plan, but never really
thought it would be put in execution. Her heart relented when she found the
soldiers were in earnest. It is quite credible that her purpose was l)cnt this
way and that by successive tides of feeling; and probably the strange men
whom she had called into her service, familiar, as they were, with scenes of
blood and rapine, took the matter, in a measure, into their own hands. At least,
she would fain believe that she was not so guilty as the world supposed her to
be. But she w'as a woman of fortitude, and neither sought, nor would accept,
the sympathy of others. The prejudice of the community against her father
and his family was well known to her, and therefore her pride forbade the
manifestation of any weakness.

But at this time she averred that she was soon to become the mother of
another child. A petition was sent to the government that the prisoners might
be respited for a month. Mr. Macarty desired this in behalf of them all, that
they might have time to prepare for the solemn scene before them. And he
probably felt that the influence of their spiritual change would be the more
salutary if a little time were given for it to display itself. In a petition he
remarked : "As to the unhappy woman, he would beg leave further to repre-
sent that she declares that she is several months advanced in her pregnancy,
for which reason she humbly desires that her execution might be respited till
she shall have brought forth." She added to the petition these woi'ds : "The
above application is made at my own earnest request." As said above, the
reprieve was granted.

The sheriff was then directed to follow the legal method to find if her state-
ments were true. Two men-midwives and twelve matrons were summoned as
a jury, and they made an examination. They decided, by a large majority,
that the claim of pregnancy was unfounded. Mrs. Spooner immediately sent
in the following petition : "May it please your honors, with unfeigned grati-
tude I acknowledge the favor you lately granted me of a reprieve. I must beg
leave, once more, humbly to lie at your feet, and to represent to you that,
though the jury of matrons that were appointed to examine into my case have

THE UNBORN CHILD. 63

not brought in in my favor, yet that I am absolutely certain of being in a preg-
nant state, and above four months advancctl in it, and the infant I bear was
lawfully begotten. I am earnestly desirous of being spared till I shall be
delivered of it. I must humbly desire your honors, notwithstanding my
great unworthiness, to take my deplorable case into your compassionate
consideration. What I bear, and clearly perceive to be animated, is
innocent of the faults of her who bears it, and has, I beg leave to say,
a right to the existence which God has begun to give it. Your honors' humane
Christian principles, I am very certain, must lead you to desire to preserve
life, even in this its miniature state, rather than to destroy it. Suffer rae,
therefore, with all earnestness, to beseech your honors to grant me such a
further length of time, at least, as that there may be the fairest and fidlcst
opportunity' to have the matter fully ascertained; and as in duty bound, shall,
during my short continuance, pray."

The petition was denied : nevertheless, Mr. Macarty, sustained, without
doubt, by many who sympathized with him, made a most earnest effort to
obtain a reprieve, in the firm belief that the matrons were mistaken. Some of
them did change their minds, on further examination, in this agreeing with
one or more physicians. The fact that Mrs. Spooner did not plead f tr mercy,
but did plead for the life of her unborn child, moved Mr. Macarty to write to
the government a letter in which he said : "The news arrived last evening to
Mrs. Spooner that her petition for a reprieve was not granted. People that are
acquainted with her circumstances are exceedingly affected with it. I am
myself fully satisfied of her being in a pregnant state, and have been so for a
considerable time, and it is with deep regret that I think of her being cut off
till she shall have brought forth, which will eventually, though not intentionally,
destroy innocent life. An experienced midwife belonging here, visited her this
week, and examined her, and found her quick with child. Therefore, though
I think justice ought to take place on her as well as the rest, I must beg leave
earnestly to desire that she might be respited at least for such a time as that
the matter may be fidly cleared up. And I have no doubt it will bo so satis-
factorily to every one. I write this, may it please your honors, of my own
accord, not at her desire, for I have not seen her since the news arrived. I
should be very sorry if your honors should consider me as over-ofBcious in the
matter. But principles of humanity, and a desire that righteousness may go
forth as brightness, and judgment as the noonday, have powerfully prompted
me to make this application on her behalf."

But the appeal was denied : the council was inflexible. Mrs. Spooner received
the announcement with great calmness, but insisted on the truth of her state-
ment and requested that a, post-mortem examination might be made.

The execution of the criminals took place on the second day of July.
Worcester then was a small country village ; but its main street, and the way to
the spot where the criminals were to suffer the just penalty of the law, wa3

64 COUNTY HISTORY.

thronged with crowds of men and women from different parts of the connly.
Great excitement prevailed. The hanging of four persons in the same after-
noon, one of wliom was a woman, and she in a high position in social life, was
an uncommon, if not unpreeedeuted event in the annals of colonial crime.
There were at the time several small-pox hospitals in the county, to which the
people resorted for the purpose of inoculation, as vaccination had not then
come info vogue. As a precaution against the spread of the disease, then far
more dreaded than at present, a special request was .=ent to physicians and
nurses to keep away from the scene unless they were " well cleansed." Per-
haps this step was taken to awaken the fears of the people generally, and thus
induce them to stay at home. However this may have hcen, the people came,
old and young, and Worcester witnessed a scene which has never been equaled
in her history, and God grant that it may never be repeated.

All the prisoners acknowledged their guilt. Mrs. Spooner was quiet and
composed. She seemed more humble and penitent than before, and professed
her faith in the Saviour of the world, and her dependence on him for salvation.
She was baptized, in token of her fiiith, a few moments bef)rc she left the cell.
According to the custom of those days, a sermon was preached before the
prisoners. ]Mr. Macarty officiated on this occasion, finding his text in Deuter-
onomy xix. 13.

Mrs. Spooner, on account of great bodily infirmity, was not able to attend
the service, which was open to the public.

At the hour of two in the afternoon the procession was formed. One hun-
dred men were on guard. The three male prisoners were on foot, but Mrs.
Spooner, being feeble, was allowed to ride in a chaise. Though crowds of
people, with feelings wrought up to the highest tension, thronged the way, the
march to the place of execution was regular and solemn. To add to the
solemnity of the hour and the scene, a terrific thunder-cloud darkened the air
and veiled the sun. Then followed an "awful half-hour; the loud shouts of
the officers, amidst a crowd of five thousand people, to 'make way, make
way;'' the horses prancing upon those in front; the shrieks of the women in
the tumult and confusion ; the malcf\ictors slowly advancing to the fatal tree,
preceded I)y the dismal coffins ; the fierce coruscations of lightning athwart
the darkened horizon, quickl}^ followed by peals of thunder, conspired together
and produced a dreadful scene of horror. It seemed as if the Author of
Nature had added such terrors to the punishment of the criminals as might
soften the stoutest hearts of the most obstinate and abandoned."

At length the three men were arranged on the stage, and the death-warrant
was read to them. Ross made an audible prayer. The others engaged in
private devotions till the moment of execution. Mrs. Spooner, being weak in
body, though resolute in will, was permitted to sit in the chaise until the last
moment. She bowed gracefully to many of the spectators whom she recog-
nized. When the time came, with a gentle smile, she stepped fnmi the

THE SAD ERROR. G5

carriage ami crept up the latlclcr on her hands and kuces. The faces of all
being covered, and all being ready, Mrs. Spooncr acknowledged, for the first
time, that her punishment was just. Taking the sheriff. Gen. Greenleaf of
Lancaster, by the hand, she said : "My dear sir, I am ready. In a little time
I expect to be iu bliss, and but a few years must elapse when 1 hope I shall
see you and my other friends again." In a moment the drop fell, and four
lifeless bodies were suspended in the air. Taking a long look, the awe-struck
spectators turned from the solemn scene and returned to their homes, there to
recount the occurrences of the day in a thousand households.

The four murderers were dead, and by universal consent they deserved their
doom. But the public sentiment in regard to the guilty wife was peculiarly
bitter. There does not appear to have been any feeling of respect for i\Ir.
Spooner, nor any tenderness in regard to his memory ; no faults or deficiencies
of his character and conduct were considered a justification of her inhuman
and unwifely crime. She appeared the more wicked in her influence over
Ross, whom she, according to popular belief, had seduced, and thus led him to
the commission of adultery and murder. And in addition to all these circum-
stances, the fact that she was a child of Gen. Ruggles, once honored by the
people, but now in full sympathy with their enemies, intensified the public
prejudice and hatred.

But now came to light the fact which horrified the community, and in a
measure turned the tide of feeling in favor of the sinning woman who had died
on the scaffold. "The same day, at evening," says the reporter, "her body
was opened by surgeons, and a perfect male foetus of five months' growth was
taken from her." So she had told the truth. She had asked for a few weeks
of life, not for herself, but for her unborn child. The prejudices, or ignorance,
or both, of the jury of matrons, had jDrocured a wrong return. The popular
clamor had closed the hearts of the council to the plea for delay, and a great
wrong had been done. One little life went out in silence and shame, yet its
cry has not ceased for a hundred years to utter its warning. In the great
court of humanity it has brought its action against the people, and the verdict
has been given in their condemnation. Let its warning be heard iu all time,
forbidding the indulgence of prejudice against even the guilty, and teaching
that justice must not be in hot haste for its victim.

In closing this sad chapter of human frailty, sin and crime, it may be said,
farther, that a strange interest has always hovered round the grave of Mrs.
Spooner. Iler remains were not laid in the potter's field, nor yet in the ground
dedicated as the resting-place of the dead, side by side with dcr.r kindred, but
in the hospitable earth owned by a friend, where a slab of stone maiks the
spot. Though aside from the travel to and from the city, and far up ou the
hill-side, it was often visited in former times, and there are still some who are
drawn thither by the fascination which intense human passion lends to person
and to place.

66 COUNTY HISTORY.

The Case or Quork "Walker.

The chief interest of this case is not duo to any of the persons connected with
it, nor to the heinousncss of the crimes committed, but to the importance of
the principles involved. There were really three cases, two civil and one
criminal, in which ^Yalker — styled Quok, Quack and Qock, as well as Quork
— was concerned, though l>ut one in which ho was a party. This case was that
of Quork Walker vs. Isathanicl Jcnnison. It was a case of "trespass for an
alleged assault and beating of plaintiff by defendant with a hoe-handle." Jen-
nison also struck AYalker with clubs and with his fists, according to the allegation.

The case came before the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, Juno term, 1781.
Jcnnison, admitting the facts, claimed that Walker was a slave, "his own
proper slave." This was his justification. He had a right to chastise his
slave, his property, his chattel. The replication was that Walker was a free
man. The decision of the court was in favor of Walker, and judgment was
obtained against Jenuison to the amount of £G0 and costs. From this decision
Jcnnison appealed to the Superior Court of Judicature, but when the time
came ho failed to prosecute his appeal. Judgment was, therefore, confirmed
in favor of Walker.

The other civil suit was that of Nathaniel Jennison vs. John Caldwell and Sotli
Caldwell. This was brought at tlic same term of the Inferior Court of Com-
mon Pleas, composed of the following judges : IMoscs Gill, Samuel Baker and
Joseph Dow. These men were not lawyers, but sensible men. Gill was
afterwards lieutenant-governor, and one, if not both of the others, was a
senator. In this case Jenuison sued the Caldwells for "enticing away his
slave, Quork Walker, and rescuing him out of his (Jennison's) hands." Also,
for "depriving him (Jennison) of the services of his servant." The court
rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff. Jcnnison claimed £1,000 damages ;
he received a verdict in his fiivor to the amount of £25.

The case was appealed to the Supcrioi- Court of Judicature, which was com-
posed of the following men, who occupy a respectable place in the annals of
the State: N. P. Sargent, David Sewall and James Sullivan. The chief-
justice, Hon. AYilliam Cushing, was not present. Though Walker was not a
party to the suit, all its interest to us, at this period, turned on the question
whether or not he was a slave.

The counsel for Jennison were John Sprague of Lancaster, and Jlr. Stearns
of Worcester. The latter was a man of great promise, but died Ijcfore reach-
ing distinction. The former was one of the ablest lawyers and clearest thinkers
in the county or the Commonwealth. The counsel for the appellants, the
Caldwells, were the elder Levi Lincoln, and Caleb Strong, afterwards gover-
nor, and one of our ablest statesmen.

The case was contested on the ground of law and of rijrht. There is no full
report of the trial, and wc have no outline of the argument of Judge Sprague ;
I)ut t!io brief of ]Mr. Lincoln has been preserved, and may be found in the

A STROKE FOR LIBERTY. 67

puhlications of the Massachusetts Historical Society. From this it appears
that Mr. Lincoln placed his case on the high ground of principle and God-giveu
right, lie told the judges and the jury, "before the tiiial tribunal the case will
be tried hy ?/owr Judge." He proceeded: "It will be tried by the laws of
reason and revelation."

He raised the questions: "Is it not a law of nature that all men are equal
and free? Is not the law of nature the law of God? Is not the law of God,
then, against slavery?" Advancing, he said that: "If there is no law of man
establishing slavery, then there is no difficnlty ; if there is such a law, then the
great difficulty is to determine which law you ought to obey. And if," said
the learned and eloquent advocate, "you have the same ideas as I have of
present and future things, you will obey the former — that is, the law of God.
The worst that can happen to you for disobeying the law of man is the
destruction of the body — for disobeying the law of God, the destruction of
your souls."

The legal right to freedom in this State he based, first, on an article of the
"Body of Liberties," established in 1643 by the first generation of law-makers
in the Colony. These are the words : "There never shall be any bond-slavery,
villainage, or captivitie, unless it be lawful captives taken in just wars, and
such strangers as willingly sell themselves, or are sold to us," that is, from
abroad. In other words, slaves might be made of captives taken in just wars,
according to the usages of the times. The practice of exchanging prisoners is
modern. Again, a man might sell himself into slavery. And thirdly, the
people might buy slaves of outsiders. This would bring them under the
protection of our laws, and secure the freedom of their children.

Again, Mr. Lincoln presented the argument of Jonathan Sewall, attorne}'-
general, in the case of James vs. Lechmere, in 1769, in which he stated the
law to be that "all persons born or residing in the province, are as free as the
king's subjects in Great Britain." This relates to persons born here, whether
their parents were free or in slavery.

Lastly, he claimed that by the adoption of the Constitution of 1780, every
slave in Massachusetts was declared to be free. The first article in the
Declaration of Rights, adopted by the people in 1780, is in these words:
"All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and
inalienable rights ; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and
defending their rights and liberties ; that of acquiring, possessing, and pro-
tecting property ; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happi-
ness."

Judgment was rendered for the appellants ; and on the ground that Walker
was not a slave, and could not be, under the laws of this State, any more than
under the law of nature, which was the law of God. It has been said of this
decision that "it struck off the chains of every slave in this Conmionwealth."
Still, these cases not having been tried before the full court, they could not be

68 COUNTY HISTORY.

considered as having definitely settled the question of the non-existence of
slavery in this State ; and the opinion of the judges before whom these trials
took place seem not to have l)cen universally assented to in all parts of the
Common-wealth. Accordingly, we find that Jennison, ''on June IS, 1782,
presented a petition to the House of Representatives," setting forth that he
was deprived of ten negro servants by a judgment of the Supreme Judicial
Court on the following clause of the Constitution : "That all men are born free
and equal," and prating that, if said judgment is approved of, he may be freed
from his obligations to support said negroes.

And on February 8, 1783, the House of Representatives appointed a com-
mittee "to bring in a bill upon the following principles : 1st. That there never
were legal slaves in this Government; 2d. Indemnifying all masters who had
held slaves in fict : od. To make such provisions for the support of negroes
and mulattoes as the committee may find most convenient." A bill was brought
iu, and passed through its several stages in the House, and read a first time
in the Senate, and then appears no farther in the records of the Legislatm-e.

But, in the meantime, an indictment against said Nathaniel Jennison, in
September, 1781, in Worcester County, for assaulting, Ideating and imprison-
ing Quork Walker, was tried at the April term of the Supreme Judicial Court
for that county in 178.3. This term was held by the full court, consisting of
William Gushing, chief justice, and Nathaniel Peaslee Sargeant, David Sewall
and Increase Sumner, justices.

The chief justice, in his charge to the jury, said, "As to the doctrine of
slavery and the right of Christians to hold Africans in perpetual bondage, and
sell and treat them as we do our horses and cattle, that (it is true) has been
heretofore countenanced by the Province laws formerly, but nowhere is ex-
pressly enacted or established. It has been a usage, ^ a usage which took its
ori2;in from the practice of some of the European nations, and the regulations
of the British Government respecting the then Colonics, for the benefit of
trade and wealth. But whatever sentiments have formerly prevailed in this
particular, or slid in upon us by the example of others, a diflerent idea has
taken place with the people of America, more favorable to the natural rights
of mankind, and to the natural, innate desire of liberty with which heaven has
inspired all the human race. And upon this ground our Constitution of Gov-
ernment, by which the people of this Commonwealth have solemnly bound
themselves, sets out with declaring tliat all men are l^orn free and equal. . . .
This being the case, I think tlie idea of slavery is inconsistent with our own
conduct and Constitution ; and there can be no such thing as perpetual servi-
tude of a rational creature, unless his liberty is forfeited by some criminal
conduct, or given up by personal consent or contract."

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the defendant was sentenced to
pay a fine of forty shillings and costs of prosecution. And by that verdict and
judgment was the law of freedom established in this Commonwealth, and no

THE BUEROUGHS CASE. 69

farther legislation M'as deemed necessaiy to aliolisli slavery in this State if it
ever had a legal existence here. (Sec Proceedings of Massachusetts Historical
Society, for 1873-5, pp. 293-8.)

All readers familiar with the i)rogress of the great contest which recently
came to its issne, in our country, in the overthrow of slavery, will notice how
Gov. Lincoln in his argument anticipated the reasoning of the champions of
freedom in favor of human rights. By them, as well as by him, the law of
God has been held to be paramount over all conflicting human enactments.

The Case of Stephen Burroughs.

This man was, in some respects, one of the most remarkable characters ever
reared in New England. He was born in a good family, and received early
religious training. His standing as a scholar was respectable, and his talents
were superior. He seems to have had no malevolence ; had no liking f(jr
scenes of cruelty and l)loodshed ; Mas kind-hearted, and naturall}' aflectionate
to family and friends ; but was bound by no ties and restrained by no obstacles
from the course to which his cupidity, lust, or love of mischief prompted him.

Passing by the story of his life, which, as told liy himself, is a shameless
record of villainy, we come to the misdemeanors which secured liis ari-aign-
ment before the Supreme Court, at its session in "Worcester, in 1791.

It appears that he was keeping school in Charlton in 1790, and that as a teacher
ho was capable and successful. But his conduct towards some of his female
pr.pils brought him into trouble. He admitted some of the charges laid against
him, while denying others, and claiming that in some cases he was not alone
guilty, but the subject of temptation. These claims, or insinuations, however,
did not secure a mitigation of penalty ; j)ossiI)ly they caused it to be more
severe.

After the case was heard, if the culprit's own story is true, the three
judges, Dana, Paiue and Cushing, though agreed between themselves, each
charged the jur}-. The indictment alleged misconduct toward three young
women, whom the prisoner had sought to lead astraj'. The temper of the
court w\as indeed severe: the sentence was, to receive thirty-nine stripes for
each case — one hundred and seventeen — on the bare back ; to stand two
hours in the pillory ; to stand one hour on the gallows with a rope round his
neck; and to lie three months in prison.

Soon after, he received seventy-eight stripes, and went back to j^rison to
rest and await the other thirty-nine. But he declares that not long afterward,
one dark night, his cell door was forced open ; that he was led out and taken
in quiet and silence through a great crowd of men, and there bid to depart,
which he at once did. Whether he broke jail, or wrought some daring trick,
as he often did, no one now can tell ; but he surely escaped. Xo one has ever
appeared to deny his story. A small party might have freed him, (though not a
thousand, as be says there were), fur jail-breaking was common, and everybody

70 COUNTY HISTORY.

would be glnd to have him out of the way, even by some slight irregularity, in
the hope that he would never show himself again in the county. The
occurrence attracted little notice ; and even the authorities may have acquiesced
in the "good riddance" of an artful villain, whose presence, after the
expiration of his sentence, would be a moral pest.

The Case of Otto Sutor.

The same want of moral sense characterized this man as the one described
in the f(n-mcr section. He seemed to have no more regard for life, when life-
taking would serve his pm-poso, than a hawk or a wild-cat, and in this regard
he was unlike Burroughs. He was also destitute of the finished plausibility
which bis predecessor in crime never failed to exhibit on occasion ; but in
wickedness, pure and simple, without conscience to restrain, the two were
alike.

Otto Sutor was born in Hamburg, and had respectable connections. A
brother was a lawyer. He was a good scholar, for one so young. In 1845 he
came to this country, at the age of nineteen. Mr. Matthew F. Woods, for-
merly a trader in Lancaster, and a manufacturer of palm-leaf hats, found him
ill tlic streets of New York, was interested in him, brought him home, and
gave him omploymciit in his shop. The young man was handy, quick to learn,
and become useful in the business. He was industrious, and earned good
wages.

A near neighbor was Mr. Caleb T. Sj'mmes, cashier of the Lancaster Bank.
Mrs. Symmes, an accomplished lady of literary tastes and pursuits, was a student,
as was also her husband, of the German language. Otto, as he was called,
was welcomed to the house, and as an intelligent youth and stranger, was
treated with kindness by Mr. and Mrs. Symmes As he could talk in English
only imperfectly, and Mrs. Symmes could converse freely in French, he found
it pleasant to call. He was an agreeable follow, and made himself useful in
the practice of pronouncing the German tongue. Being a good singer ho was
invited to join the choir of the Orthodox Church. His conduct was exemplary,
and he became an object of general interest. This was in the years 1845-6.
After several months he went to reside in Peppereil, where he found employ-
ment, and where, it is said, he became engiiged to a young woman.

Passing over intervening time, we come to the evening of September 10,
184(3. At that time two stages came to Lancaster in the evening: one from
Shirley Village, about eight o'clock, and the other from Worcester, about an
hour later. Tiiis fact is mentioned as having some bearing on the plan or
design of Otto. Mr. Symmes was alone part of the evening, and when Mrs.
Symmes came in lietweon eight and nine, she found Otto had come. He
stated that he came from Shirley in the stage, which was not true, as after-
wards appeared ; nor did he come in the Worcester stage, as he arrived before
that. The evening was passed pleasantly as usual before he went to rest, and

A DEADLY STRUGGLE. 71

there was some pleasantry about pronunciation, and about writing the German
characters, as is common between natives and foreigners.

lu the course of the evening a man came in to leave a luindred dollars
belonging to (he bank, with the cashier. The German saw Mr. S^'uimcs take
the money and place it in his pocket-book. Tlicro was not a suspicion that
he would be tempted by the sight to commit a horrid crime.

In due time all retired for the night. The bed-room of the family was
below ; that of the guest up stairs. Some time afterward, probably not
long Ijefore one o'clock in the morning, ]Mr. Symmcs was aroused ; and, with
eyes partly opened, saw that a lamp was shining out from under the bed, and
a man was standing by his side, at the head of the bed. He said, " AVhat do
you want?" The I'eply, in Otto's voice, was, "I want that money!" as he
drew a razor. Mr. Symmes sprung up in the bed, but the razor iu the
villain's hand was quickly drawn across the lower part of the throat The
wound was long and deep, but did not sever the windpipe. The blood flowed
profusely. By this time Mrs. Symmes was awakened, and both moved along to
the foot of the bed, when Otto struck her neck with the razor, just missing the
jugular vein. Then ensued a fearful struggle ; they striving to save their
lives, and he to kill them, tliat there might be no living witness of liis crime.
In the struggle the fingers of one of them was cut b}' the razor, and Otto's
fingers were in some manner caught in Mr. Symmcs's mouth, and bitten so
severely as to draw blood. The rufiian thrust his fingers into the wound on
Mr. Symmes's throat and tried to tear it open. It was a fearful fight for life
against one intent on murder. By degrees all had worked out of Ibe sleeping-
room into the sittihg-room, and from that into the front entry. The razor had
been wrested in some way, or had dropped from the hand of Otto, and all
were left to their natural weapons. At length finding that he could not pre-
vail, and alarmed at the movement of Mrs. Symmes towards a window for the
purpose of calling aid, he came to a parley, and offered to leave if they would
promise secresy. As she was about to raise a window, he said, "Why, you
will expose us all ! " When asked why he made the attempt on their lives, and
if they had ever injured him, he replied : "No, you are the best friends I had
in America." He said further that he had started for home and was iroiu"' to
sail in a few days for Hamburg; that he wanted money. This raises the query,
when taken in connection with the fact that he came not in the stage, but as it
were secretly, and in the night, and with a razor iu his pocket, whether he did
not come with a purpose, and whether the sight of the money merely fixed the
time and mode for the execution of his plan. But of this he never gave an
explanation. •

As he was about leaving he inquired if he might have his hat. IMr. Symmes
said "Yes," and got it for him. He then asked for his shoes, as he had come
dovifn in his stocking-feet. This request was denied, as they were desirous of

72 COUNTY HISTORY.

his leaving without clcliiy. Goiiinr out of the house he said: "If I can ever
do anything for yon, let mo know," and so departed.

It was now about two o'clock. Some time later they heard a team go by,
and a window was lifted, and the voice of Mrs. Symmcs arrested the travel-
ers. They were two men who had taken an early start for Worcester, she
asked them to call Dr. Calvin Carter, who lived across the road, because Mr.
Symmcs was in a very bad condition. One of them called the doctor, and
coming back, inquired if Mr. Symmes was very sick. She said he would bo
all right if the doctor would come, and closed the window. Dr. Carter came
immediately and found a horrid scene. His friends were gashed with wounds ;
their clothing was drenched with blood. There was a pool of blood on the
Canton matting, so that they tracked blood as they stepped upon it. He
attended to their immediate needs, but was filled with wonder in regard to the
cause. Their reticence increased the wonder. The events of the night soon
became known, and the astonishment spread through the village and neighbor-
hood. Their refusal to tell raised the question whether they had attempted
suicide? or, had they quarrelled? Who had been in the house that night?
No answer was given to the question. The brother of Mr. Symmes was accus-
tomed to come from Charlestown with his own team, and generally arrived in
the evening. Did he come last night ? "No." It so happened that he came
up that very day, and earlier than usual. Ho had seen Otto with a drover,
whom he was helping to drive cattle towards Boston. As they approached,
Otto climbed over the fence, but it was supposed that ho was not seeking con-
cealment, as there were apples in the lot. The shoes at the side of the unmade
bed caused further inquiries. The bank offered a reward of five hundred
dollars for the discovery of the assassin. The facts were arrived at by degrees,
and the late Hon. John G. Thurston started for Boston, where he arrived that
evening. Putting himself in conununication with a noted constable, the train
was laid for the capture of the fugitive. This was efTected the next morning.
The constable receiving word where Otto was stopping, went in and began to
ask a few questions as to his name, and so forth, and when he was in Lancaster.
As he showed his handcuffs, Otto knew he was suspected, and inqniicd, "Is
Jlr. Symmes dead?" He made no concealment and no efl'ort to escape. He
was taken to Worcester, and was tried for "assault with intent to kill." The
Hon. Pliny jNIerrick was the judge, and Ezra Wilkinson, Esq., district-attorney.
The late Judge B. F. Thomas was the prisoner's counsel, and did what w.as
possible to mitigate the penalty of his client, whose condemnation was secured
by his plea of "guilty." The sentence was eighteen years' imprisonment in
the prison at Charlestown ; fifteen years for the assault upon Mr. Symmes,
and three years additional for the assault upon IMrs. Symmcs. This closes
the tragedy, but there may bo a natural curiosity to learn the sequel to so
strange a story. Otto Sutor bchnved well in prison, and learned the trade of
a cabinet-maker. He was a prominent member of the prison choir, and

EOADS AND WAYS. 73

assisted thus in the chapol services. When an older prisoner who led the
choir was discharged, Otto became chorister ; and when the old villain was
returned, for some new oOence, he ofTcred to retire, and let the senior again
take lead in the service of song. There must have been an air of sanctity to
such devotions ! But Sutor was retained at the head of the singers. At the
expiration of half the term of imprisonment, elTorts were made to procure his
discharge. The late lion. Emory Washburn was then governor, 1854, and
became much interested in behalf of the prisoner ; and he finally pardoned him
on condition that he should leave the country and never return. He was taken
on shipboard ; and when the vessel, then in the stream, was about to sail, the
irons were taken off by the officer.

Otto returned to Hamburg, and favorable reports came back as to his conduct.

CHAPTER VHI.

COUNTY EOADS AND OTHER WAYS OF TRAVEL.

Roads are always an index of the state of civilization. They show how fiir a
community has advanced, and they facilitate its progress in all ways of im-
provement. Savages have no roads, in the proper sense of the word ; they
have trails or paths, generally well laid, to suit their convenience. It was
so with the aborigines whom our fathers found in the wilds of Worcester Coun-
ty when they came hither iu 1G43. There were tiacks from one Indian town
or settlement to another. Longer paths extended from the sea to the Connect-
icut Valley. Besides, the natives had numerous cross-paths through the woods
for hunting, and to the best places for fishing. But there was no road on which
a wheeled vehicle could be drawn in all the county.

When Sagamore Sholan of Weshakim (now Washacum), invited Mr.
King of Watertown, to open a trading-house, or as then styled, a "trucking-
house," in the valley of the Nashua, there was already an Indian path from the
ponds in Sterling, by the way of George Hill in Lancaster, and through Sudbury
to Watcrtowa. Piobably a road had been opened up as far as Sudbury, so that
teams might pass from that frontier town to Boston. When King opened his
store for the aec:)mmodation of the friendly sachem and his tribe, it is probable
that the transportation of goods one way, and of pelts the other, was on horse-
back, though it might have been done, in part, on the backs of sturdy Indians.
When John Prescott bought out King, the next year, and opened the trucking-
house in South Lancaster, as now called, his mode of travelling was on horse-
back, part of the way at least. Some of the pioneers probably came on foot,
driving their cows and other animals that could be moved in that manner. The

74 COUNTY HISTORY.

■women and children rode, sometimes on led horses, and sometimes on pillions
behind the husband or in front of the father.

Almost the first thing done by these first settlers of Worcester Coun-
t}', was to m'ike rude ways for getting about. The first year, in which
three houses were erected, they probidjly had no time for road-building; but
this great waut was soon supplied. The people could move about in th.' forest,
and draw timber for their log-huts or houses with oxen, and could even [)ick
out a crooked way to Prescott's mill, Ijefore taking much pains to make a high-
way. But there was a necessity for open communication with the lower
towns. Accordingly, a county road was provided for by order of the General
Court, in 1(353, when only nine or ten families were in the place. This was
the year when the town began its corporate existence. The court directed
that "Sudl>ury and Lancaster lay out highways betwixt town and town, accord-
ing to the dii'cction of the court, for the countries use, and then make them
as needs shall be." This was the principal loute to Boston for many years ;
and though the great road has been often altered since, the travel by teams
goes by the same general direction to the present day.

Three years later a county road was opened to Concord. In May or June,
165G, George Wheeler and John Smalley of Concord, with John lloper and
Ralph Houghton of Lancaster, reported in these words: "We, whose hands
are hereunto put, being chosen by Concord and Lancaster, to lay out the county
highway betwixt the said towns, within the bounds of Lancaster, have acted
and concluded that the country highway shall go as followeth." It extended
from about tlxe centre of South Lancaster, across the Centre and the main river,
and so on through what is now Bolton, towards Concord. By those ways the
settlers could now communicate with the towns lielow, and reach the sea-board.
But the roads were exceedingly rough, safe only to the strongest vehicles, aud
requiring strong teams to move much of a load.

Meantime, what were the settlers doing by way of opening roads from house
to house? They took the precaution to live near together. The lots contained
twenty acres, and were situated on three roads. Some were twenty rods
wide by one hundred and sixty in length ; others were forty rods in width by
eighty rods in length. By this arrangement the houses on one side of the roads
were about twenty rods apart, and about forty rods apart on the other side.
There were no intervals between building lots, except at the passage of the
river, where the intervales were too low for safe habitation. Having made this
division, it was easy to tix the roads by each man's door. Then came the harder
work of making the roads ; but at first, it is probable that nothing more was
done than to cut down trees that stood in the way, fill mud-holes and level a
few steep pitches. Stones were scarce in the track then laid out. The chief
ditSculty was in bridging the North River ; but they could easily pass tljat,
except in flood, at the place where "the herds did cross." Such was the be-
ginning in Lancaster. Probably the same was true in regard to Mendon, when

EARLY TRAVEL. 75

that town was settled a few years later. It was incorporatcil in 1GG7, fourteen
3'cars later than Lancaster, but was, no doubt, settled several jears before it
became a town. Belonging to Suffolk County, it had a double need for a county
road to Boston. Trading and business relating to the county, and the registra-
tion of deeds, etc., required constant going to and fro between the mart of
trade and the shire-town, on the one side, and the new settlement on the other.
The instinct of safety would cause them to set up their houses in close neigh-
borhood, because if there were no fear of the natives, wild beasts abounded ia
the unlimited forests.

Brookfield, the next town settled in the order of time, was under a like
necessity for county roads. The nearest settlement on the east in a direct line
to Boston, was Marlborough ; the nearest town on the west was Springfield.
Roads were opened both ways, and thus was started the great road from the
river to the harbor, which was a stage route for a hundred and fifty years, per-
haps, and has always been one of the principal thoroughfares of the Common-
•wealth. The people have generally built in close neighborhood, with the meet-
ing-house near the centre, and thus enjoyed neighborly ofiices of kindness, as
well as protection.

Then began a second stage of road-making. The sons of the first settlers,
and new-comers into the settlements, took up land in different parts of the
townsliips. Li a proprietary town, there were several divisions of land. In
one of the old towns there were seven successive allotments. These were
sometimes given to children as their portion, or they were sold to new
settlers.

In each case there was need of a road, however rough, to the meeting-house,
the mill and the store. This was the origin of many old paths, long since dis-
used, of which only the faintest tradition and the slightest trace remain. An
experienced road-tinder will discover here and there a spot not broken by the
plough, where once people traveled, with all their hopes and fears, their an-
ti|iathies and affections. As each made the most direct way to the centre, their
roads were independent till they reached some point of convergence, when the
common road became a matter of general interest. The old records bear traces
of bridle-paths and cart-ways which have long since gone into disuse ; but what
wear and tear of cart and oxen ; what straining of human muscle, in making
and using those ancient highways and by-ways ! And what a draft on mortal
patience at the same time. These roads from detached houses had to be made
by the owners of the land. All they could obtain of the town was leave to
work out their fiwn taxes ; and not always was that favor granted. It became
necessary, therefore, if the support of the town was to be had, that the roads
should be altered to go from house to house, and approach the centi'e by a way
that would accommodate a whole neighborhood, or a section of the town. If a
man's barn was so situated that the common road could not be bent out of its
course to pass his house, it became his interest to move his old house to the

76 COUNTY HISTORY.

main highway, or build a new one. This was the experience of many farmers ;
and this being done, the second era of road-building was closed.

In the meanlime there was the same need, though perhaps in less degree, for
improved facilities of travel between town and town. As a matter of course,
the roads would go, as nearly as convenient, in a direct line from centre to cen-
tre, ■without regard to other towns. The people of Harvard, Bolton, Leomin-
ster and other towns formed from the largo domain of Lancaster, wanted to
visit this ancient centre for various purposes. The settlers in the outlying
towns formed from Brookfield, Worcester and Meudon, felt the need of roads
to the old centres of trade and assembly. In a less degree each town wanted
a road to all its border towns. As villages grow up, other roads were
demanded, which called for a vast expenditure of labor, and of money also,
for that time. The roads, however, were still rude, crooked, hilly, and, in
swampy land, made in corduroy style by laying small trees across the track.
Though science was not applied to improving the means of travel, to any
appi-eciable extent, for nearly a century and a half after the first settlement in
the county, yet, by the constant fixing of the old roads, they became better by
slow degrees. Sometimes gravel, as well as loam and sand was carted into the
roadway ; and at times a very bad hill was avoided. But, generally speaking,
all the ways were hard roads to travel. This state of things continued till
some years after the close of the Revolutionary War. That was not a favor-
able time for any public improvements.

But during the century preceding much had been done to open county roads.
The constant travel to the shire-tovvu by parties, witnesses, jurymen, law-
yers, constables and men having business with the various offices of the county,
created a demand for direct roads from the extremities to the centre of the
district. We have seen that the first county road was laid out from Lancaster
to Sudbury, and the second from Lancaster to Concord. Lancaster then belonged
to Middlesex Count3\ Meudon, at the extreme south-eastern cornerof the county
belonged to Suffolk. Its roads pointed to Boston; shire-town, capital, and
principal sea-port. But as soon as Worcester County was formed, Meudon
wanted a county road to Worcester. The first road of the kind opened under
the authority of the county, was from that place to the shire-town. On the
eighth of August, 1752, Daniel Taft, of Mendou, petitioned the Court of Gen-
eral Sessions of the Peace, which then had in charge many of the duties now
devolved upon the county commissioners, to order a road between the towns
mentioned above. Taft claimed that there was no public highway or county road
between Worcester and Mendon, " whereby persons who have daily business to
transact in the shire-town are greatly damaged." He asked for a committee to
view the land between the two towns, and report. The committee was ap-
pointed, and they made a report in favor of the petition, on the twentieth of Sep-
tember. Tlie court ordered the clerk to "make out a warrant directed to the
sheriff or his deputy, to summon a jury of gocxl and lawful men qualified

COUNTY ROADS. 77

according to law" ; and being sworn, they wcro "to lay out the way above
referred to, according to the best of their skill and judgment." ^Villiam Jen-
nison seems to have been the most prominent man engaged in the business of
laying out the roads. This road was changed in its course, from time to time,
but the main stream of travel has never varied far from the line.

The next year, 1733, on the fourteenth of August, Judge John Chandler,
senior of that name in county annals, then residing in AVoodstock, moved ibr
a road from some point on the road between Mendon and Worcester to the
southern bound of Dudley, on the present line of Connecticut. Woodstock
was then in Massachusetts. This road led from the shire-town to the house of
the chief judge. The point whore it left the Mendon road was probably near
the opening of Southbridge Street. A committee as before was appointed, and
William Jennison w^as chairman. A favorable report was returned to the Court
of Sessions, and the road was ordered to be built.

The next move was for a county road from Sutton to Worcester. This also
was granted ; and it is supposed that it came through parts of Millbury and
Auburn. It is not necessary to follow this history minutely. It will be
enough to state in brief, that a county road was early opened from Lancaster
by way of Washacum lakes, and from Harvard tln-ongh the old Common in
Lancaster, and on by Boylston Centre to Worcester. The road across the
county, from east to west, through Worcester to Brooktiold, was i:i?proved.
A much-traveled road went from the shire-towu, in a southerly direction, and
extended to Hartford. Another great road, extending from Boston to Hartford,
cut acro?s the southern section of the county, and was a thoroughfare for sev-
eral generations. As soon as the towns in the north and north-west part of the
county were well settled, county roads were opened to the centre, sometimes
at great cost. One reached from Fitchburg, through Leominster and Sterling to
Worcester; another from Wiuchendon through Gardner, and another still from
the same town through Templeton to Worcester. Athol, Barre and Petersham
were connected ■with the capital of the county in the same way. By the open-
ing of the present century nearly all the towns in the county were on lines of
the count3r road. Other county roads extended across the county towards Bos-
ton. And here it may be remarked that the leading spirits of Boston and of
Worcester have always known the value of roads in building up a centre. From
early times the aim of the influential and enlightened men of our shire-town has
been to make every county road and town road, every highway and bridle-
way, every cart-path and cow-track, if possible, point directly to Lincoln Square
or the Common. And they have had their reward in the growth of the most
flourishing inland city of New England.

We come now to another step in the process of locomotion. About the
beginning of this century there seemed to have been a passion for making
straight roads. No matter what might be in the way, the road must not turn
to the right hand nor the left. They went over high hills because the builders

78 COUNTY HISTORY.

had learned that a straight line was the shortest distance between two points.
They seemed to forget that a vertical curve might make as long a sweep as a
horizontal one. Such roads are to bo found in various parts of the county by
one in search of them. Parts are still in use, while other parts are grown over
by woods, and though yet rounded up in the centre, are ignorant of llic tread of
feet and the rolling of wheels. Such a road ran, or rather, rose and fell
between Winchcndon Centre and Gardner. Another extended from Tcinpleton
to riubbardston, and was in sight of only a house or two in a distance of six
miles. The old road from Lancaster to Worcester went over the steep hills
north of the village of West Boylston. The roads from Worcester to the west
and soutli-west ascended the lofty hills of Cliarlton and Leicester. An old
stage road came down from Petersham over a branch or spur (jf Wachusett
Mountain, through Sterling, Lancaster, Bolton, and onward to Boston,
Those were the great days of stage-coaches, and the "long pulls" up hill, witli
the rush down the other side, made a journey exciting and memorable.

This was also the day of turni)ikcs, when private companies made a great
improvement in the ways of travel between certain points, where it was supposed
the transit of passengers and loaded teams would bring in sufficient tolls to
keep tlie road in order and pay a dividend. But their day was brief. Tlu peo-
ple disliked the toll gate, and preferred to i)ay for highways by taxation. This
shifted the expense from the general public to the property owners, or t;ix-
payers. The one good result of turnpikes was a better idea of what a road
should be, thus leadins: to the actual liuildins; of the modern roads. As a busi-
uess or speculation the turnpikes were generally a failure.

Up to this time there were steep grades on the most improved highways.
It was tliought that a high point was reached when the county commissioners de-
termined that a rise of eisfht deo;rees should be the maximum. Previous to that
time it was necessary, when heavy teams came to high and difficult hills, to hire
extra horses or oxen of farmers living near ; or for the teamsters to join teams
till the summit was reached. In general, it may be said that the county roads
have been in the process of improvement during the last seventy or eighty
3'ears. The commissioners have been among the most energetic men of the
county. Col. Lincoln and Gen. Crawford were men of large capacity,
and the}' had worthy associates. Before the decease of the latter chairman of
the board, it was stated by one very familiar with the sulyect, that within two
generations the county roads had undergone so great improvement that the
same number of horses or oxen could draw twice as much tonnage from the
extremities to the centre of the county, in the same time, as they could at the
beginning of the period.

But the limit of improvement had not then been reached ; and perhaps there
has been no period of twenty-five years since the county was settled, in which
more was done to facilitate travel than in the last quarter of a century. Bo-
num Nye became chairman of the board of county commissioners in 1855 ;

EARLY BRIDGES. 79

Asaph "Wood succeeded him in 1857, :ind in 1858 Vclorous Taft was placed on
the board. Four years hxter he was made chairman, in which position ho re-
mained till 1877, thus serving as commissioner about eighteen, and as chairman,
fifteen years. Dtn-ing his term the roads were made straighter, where practi-
cable, the road-beds were improved by the use of good material, and the grade
was made more uniform. The rule now is that the maximum ascent shall not
exceed fonr degrees. Under the present efBcicnt board — Messrs. "William O.
Brown, Henry C. Taft and Henry E. Rice, — steady improvement may be ex-
pected, especially in the selection and laying of material for the bed of the
roads. In former times it was the custom to plough up the wash of the roads
as found in the ditches, and shovel or scrape it into the centre. Where this
was not convenient, sand or loam, whichever was nearest bj', was carted on,
and spread with some approach to uniformity. But the first smart shower
would carry off much of the material, and before the season was over, the road
would be no better than in the spring. This is too mnch the way still in the
making of town ways, but the example of the county commissioners is work-
ing, slowly, a change throughout the count}'. And in this way the value of
property in the county has been augmented many millions within a generation.
Whatever the expense of supporting the board may have been, the gain, in
money value, has been manifold.

Bridges.

The improvement in the matter of bridges has gone forward, pari pa.fsu,
with the progress in road-making. At first the brooks were forded at shallow
and convenient places. The main streams or rivers were passed in the same
way in summer, and on the ice in winter, except in flood-time. Horses and cows
were able then, as now, to wade the Quinebaug, the Blackstone, and even the
Nashua, at frequent crossing-places. Foot-bi'idges were made by felling tall
trees across the larger streams. In some places, canoes or small flat-bottom
boats wore used. Ingenuity served the necessity of the early settlers. If
nothing bettor served, the men could wade or swim, and could carry the women
and children in their arms, or on their shoulders.

It was not long before the small streams were bridged. "Where narrow it
was but the work of a few hours to lay a row of stones each side of the stream,
to place a few logs crosswise, and to cover these with split logs or planks.
Saw-mills were soon erected, and the materials necessary for bridge-making
were not hard to find. Larger streams were bridged in the same way, as they
are at the present time, except that split logs are no longer used.

Bridging the rivers was a more difficult and expensive undertaking; and
different rivers required different treatment. Rock-bottoms, like those of
Miller's, and some other streams, furnished a solid foundation for abutments or
trestle-work. Rivers bordered by intervales, like the Nashua, in the greater
part of their course, supplied no firm basis for a bridge of any kind. Except in

80 COUNTY HISTORY.

the upper affluents of the Nashua there were but few spots where a solid bot-
tom could be found on either side. In some cases a ledge would crop out on
one side, but be far below the surface on the other side of the river. The
trestles, in mid-stream, would have a precarious support. If an excavation
was made a few feet in depth, and filled with stones, for the trestles to rest
upon, such was the nature of the soil, that a rushing flood would undermine
them. In other cases, cakes of ice, or the debris of broken dams and mills
would come down on the top of a freshet, and, striking the trestles midway,
would break them down, and drop the bridge into the raging torrent.

There was no special improvement in the mode of building bridges in county
towns till about the opening of the present century. Arched stone bridges
had been known in Europe for centuries ; bait few, if any, such were to be found
in the United States. The larger rivers, like the Merrimac and Connecticut,
were bridged with elaborate structures, with stone abutments, and with stone
piers, at suitable distances. Bridges of this kind stood for generations.
Occasionally, a section would be broken by a flood, leaving the rest standing.
But in erecting bridges on the smaller rivers, stone piers were rarely, if ever,
employed. Trestle-work was the main reliance. The consequence was that
bridges were the most insecure of all kinds of property. The towns in this
county, in which large streams abound, were subject to great expense. Espe-
cially was the Nashua impatient of the Avorks of man, and almost every sea-
son, — in the spring or f^ili, — its swollen and angry torrent bore away one or
more of the numerous bridges M'hich spanned it.

As stone or hard-pan bottoms were not easily found, the method adopted
was to lay mud-sills, as they were called, as a basis for the abutments, and the
abutments were often made of timber. In ordinary years, these contrivances
would stand the strain of the rise of water, but in a great flood would be jjrett}'
sure to be swept away. But the chief source of danger was the formation of
ice in the winter. This would become two or three feet thick, and, being frozen
firmly to the logs, when the freshet came, would rise, and thus raise the wood-
work. The water would then rush in behind and under the foundation, and down
would go the whole bridge, like a child's cob-house. Even when the abutment
was of stone, laid upon mud-sills, the security was not much greater. With-
out a solid foundation, the whole edifice is frail.

About seventy or eighty years ago, the towns on the Nashua began to put
in stone abutments, and not far from the same time, Farnham Plummer, a
mechanic of great ingenuity, then living in Lancaster, invented what was called
an arched bridge. This was not what is generally considered an arch, but was
an elaborate frame-work, the parts of which were mutually supporting. The
ends resting on the abutments, the bridge spanned the stream, with no piers to
sustain the centre. The strain was equally distributed to all parts of the struc-
ture. This bridge came into use, and was a great improvement on those which
preceded it. When high enough above the stream, and when the water-way

BLACKSTONE CANAL. 81

was sufBcicntly wide to give passage to the water at the highest flood, these
bridges were reasouably secure, and sometimes stood many j'cars. But it re-
quired the sad experience of generations to induce our ftithers to make the
water-way of sufficient capacity for the highest floods. These came at long
intervals. It may happen that a whole generation will come and go without
what may be called a "great flood." The oldest men, never having seen the
water higher than a certain mark, arc confident that a bridge at a certain eleva-
tion will be safe. It is built accordingly. In a few years, one of the excep-
tional floods comes, and the In-idge goes down stream in fragments. Then a
faint tradition, or an old record turns np, by which it appears that sixty or
eighty years before, the water rose to the same height. As a general ftxct it
will be found that bridges arc placed too low, and water-wa^'s are too narrow
for safety, except where long experience has impressed a lesson of caution.
This is true of brooks, streams and rivers. By the time when Plummer's
bridges were first set up, this lesson had been experimentally learned, and his
work stood better than any that iiad preceded. They had, however, in former
times, a mode of relief, by opening sluices, or building dry bridges, as they
were called, on one or the other side of the main bridge. "When the water
rose over the intervale, the side sluices became vents, by which it was safely
carried ofl', and the large bridge was made secure. The causeways, however,
being low, they were often swept over by the flood, and sometimes the main
channel was permanently changed.

The Latest improvement in bridge-making in the county is in securing an
immovable foundation, at any cost, raising on this a stone abutment, and then
spanning the stream with an iron biidge. Where firm bottom cannot be reached
by excavation, piles are driven with great force, till they will descend no fixrther.
The stone fomidation is then laid, and when the work is well done, the struc-
ture is secure. It is j'ct an unsolved question how long iron bridges will en-
dure. From time to time suih woiks give way, and thus an element of uncer-
tainty is ever present. These remarks apply specially to bridges on highw.ays.
Railroad bridges arc beginning to be made of stone arches, like the new one
west of Fitchburg, which seems linn enough to resist any force less than a
convulsion of nature. This is a double arch, with a pier in the middle of the
stream, by which means the span of the arch is reduced one-half, and the whole
structure is made more massive.

The Blackstone Canal Company.
In treating of modes of travel and transportation, the canal comes in for its
share of notice. Though the Blackstone Canal was not a county affair, yet it
extended from the south-east corner to the centre, and was an efficient means
of promoting business far beyond its terminus, in Worcester. The first agita-
tion of the subject was in 1704, when, under the lead of Mr. John Brown
of Providence, a charter was ol)taincd from the legislature of Rhode Island,
II

82 COUNTY HISTORY.

authorizing the enterpinse. Mr. Brown was a man of wealth, intelligence, and
influence, and he exerted himself to draw l)usiness to the chief city of his
State. In 1706 a petition, signed hy citizens of Worcester County, was pre-
sented to the General Court, praying for an act of incorporation authorizing
the digging of a canal from the Rhode Island line, through Worcester, to the
Connecticut River. While this was pending, a counter pi'opositioa was pre-
sented in favor of making a canal from Boston to the valley. Gen. Henry
Knox surveyed the route. It was thought by some that this was merely a
move to defeat the Providence and Worcester project. It had that effect,
whatever its intention. The act of incorporation was not granted. It may
bo stated, however, in passing, that the plan of a canal from Boston to the
valley of the Connecticut, and even to the Hudson, was seriously considered
in later years, and a careful survey was made by Loammi Baldwin, a celebrated
civil engineer. The route was not by Worcester, but by Fitchburg, Winchcn-
don, and the valley of Miller's River. This was finally abandoned, and the
route is now occupied by the Boston and Fitchl)urg Railroad.

In 1822 the project of a canal upon the line of the Blackstone was renewed,
and ail act of incorporation was obtained from the legislatures of both States
in which the work was to be situated. The two companies were consolidated.
The part of the work within the bounds of Rhode Island was completed in
1824, and was immediately put to use. In 1826 the first earth was excavated
on the work in this county, at a spot near Thomas Street, Worcester. The
enterprise, carried on by funds raised by subscription, was pursued with vig,)r ;
and on the seventh of October, 1828, the first boat was received into the upper
basin, which was not far from Lincoln Square.

The commissioners of the consolidated board were Edward Carrington,
Henry R. Jones, and Stephen H. Smith, on the part of Rhode Island, and
John Davis, John W. Lincoln, and Sylvanus Ilolbrook belonging to JNIassachu-
setts. Thomas Burgess of Rhode Island was the general director, and seems
to have had the entire management of the canal. The cost of the work was
about $750,000, more than half of which sum was raised in Rhode Island.
The length of the canal was not far from fifty miles.

Though this means of transport has been long disused, it by no means fol-
lows that its inception and completion were unwise, nor that it failed entirely
of its purpose. It is the testimony of business men who remember the events
of the time when the canal was traversed l)y many boats deeply laden, that the
prosperity of the two termini. Providence and Worcester, was greatly ad-
vanced, while the villages between were called into existence, or much enlarged.
The population of Worcester took a start in the decade following the opening
of the canal, which it has never lost. The town rapidl}' took the proportions of
a city, and it became the centre of a more extensive trade. Mechanical and
manufacturing enterprises came into existence, and the way was prepared for
Worcester to become the centre of a great network of railroads. Thus causes

FIRST RAILROADS. 83

sometimes disappear and projects seem to fail, while the impulse and momen-
tum imparted have far-reaching effects. It was thus with the Blackstone Caual
Company. The corporation is non-extant; the boats have rotted or been used
for kindlings, and almost all traces of the canal itself have disappeared from
the face of the earth ; j'ct the whole line of the work, as well as the terminal
cities, remains richer and more populous in consequence of its brief existence.

Railways ix Worcester County.

Boston and Worcester liaUroad. — If the canal project had been postponed a
few years, it is safe to say that the railway system would have superseded it.
Only three 3'ears after the canal had been opened its whole length, the Boston and
Worcester Railroad was incorporated by the General Court. The charter was
dated June 23, 1831. It took four years to complete a single track, the road
being ready for travel by the fourth of July, 1835. There was a formal opening
of the road two days later, Monday, July 6, when, under the direction of a com-
mittee, headed by the late Judge Charles Allen, there was a fitting celebration of
the completion of so important an enterprise. The directors and stockholders,
numbering more than three hundred, came from Boston and the lower towns in a
train of twelve cars. The cars at that time were small and rude, compared with
the Pullman palaces Mhich are now in use on all the main lines of travel. It
took more than three hours for two lotomotives to draw the train from Boston to
Worcester. Gen. Nathan Heard was marshal of the day, and under his com-
mand the light infantiy and a long procession of citizens escorted the guests
from the old Foster Street depot to the town (now city) hall. The lower and
part of the upper floor of the hall were filled with tables, loaded with a beau-
tiful collation, which was partaken of by the guests, the committee of arrange-
ments, and prominent citizens of the town and vicinity. The Hon. Levi
Lincoln presided at the feast, and favored the large company with one of the
felicitous speeches forwhiih he Avas always prepared. Toasts were offered
and responses were made by John Davis and Edward Everett, the former of
whom was governor in 1834, and the latter in 1836 ; by Chief Justice Ward,
Hon. Alexander H. Everett, Hon. Julius Rockwell, now judge of the Superior
Court, Hon. George Bliss of Springfield, Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., and other
gentlemen of distinction.

Thus was opened one of the first railways in the county in the order of
time, and one of the greatest lines of travel. Worcester was already a centre
to which teams and stages converged ; but this event immediately augmented
the business of transportation, from Worcester to the sea-board, beyond the
expectations of the most sanguine. Not only did the stages and the great
teams of six, eight and nine horses meet the railway at its western terminus,
but new business sprung up in the outlying towns, and people were incited to
travel by the facility offered. As when some vast upland meadow, saturated
with water from living springs, has a new and deeper outlet opened on its

84 COUNTY HISTORY.

outer rim, aiul sends clown a c;reater stream, so the railway was a sluice, as
it were, which drained the whole region, and sent a great tide of business to
the capital. But, nnlii^c the hiil-sido stream, here was a reflux, and the supply
was constantly kept up by the returning tide. Not only so, but the sup-
ply was augmented l)y the encouragement which came from a near market.
And this process has been in active operation till this day, increasing popula-
tion, production and fixed capital.

Western Railroad. — It seemed an almost superhuman imdertaking fifty
years ago, when the subject was first broached, to make an iron way from Bos-
ton to the heart of the Commonwealth. But as soon as it was done, the necessity
was felt for its extension. Travelers Avished to go west as well as east, and the
business men of Boston had a natural lonjjinsr for a fair share of the business of
the Connecticut Valley, which then went to IIartfi)rd and New York. Therefore
measures were soon taken to connect Worcester and Springfield by a railroad,
and the work was prosecuted with such energy that regular trains began
running the whole length on the first of October, 1839. Two days later there
was a public opening of the road, when an excursion party went from Boston,
Worcester, and other towns on the line, to Springfield; the time of passage,
including many stops at way-stations, being over six hours. The distance
from Boston to Springfield is about one hundred miles, and the passage is now
made by the "lightning express" in less than three hours. The Western Rail-
road was completed in 1841, to Albany, the entire length from Boston to
the State line being one hundred and sixty-two miles.

The two corporations — the Boston and Worcester, and the Western — contin-
ned separate till a few years since, when they were united, and took the name
of the Boston and AHiany. By its connections at Albany and Schenectady, and
by its tributary and subsidiary roads, it boars a vast volume of travel and trade
to and fro between Boston harbor and the far west.

This is one of the weallhiest corporations in the country. It has been man-
aged with great ability, and its stock is above par. The capital stock amounts
to $23,231,G60. The State is a stockholder to the amount of several millions,
and the legislature annually chooses two directors on the part of the State.
The first station in Worcester was in Washington Square, where it met the
Boston and Worcester line, the depot of which was on Foster, near Main
Street. The union of the roads finally led to the building of the present im-
mense Union Depot, which accomodates all the railways which come into the
city.

The president of the Western road, from the beginning to its consolidation
with the Boston and Worcester, was Chester W. Chapin of Springfield. At
the union of the two corporations he was chosen president, and occupied this
most responsible position till his resignation, on being elected to Congress in
1872. His successor, the present incumbent, is Daniel Waldo Lincoln of
Worcester.

LATER RAILROADS. 85

Norwich and Worcester Railroad. — The need of a ready means (jf transpoit
to New York by water, led to the building of the Norwich and U'urcestcr line.
This was begun before the road to Springfield was completed, and was opened to
travel and traffic, from end to end, April 1, 1840. The flourishing cities, one at
either terminus, and the many rising villages between, gave promise of success ;
while the great convenience of a night passage by boat, over the Sound, made
the promise sure. Passengers from Boston, New Hampshire, and the central
parts of Massachusetts took this route to such an extent that a first-class Sound
steamer was required.

The length of the road from Worcester to Norwich is fifty-nine miles, and
to AUyu's Point, where it formerly met the steamboats, is about seventy miles.
At present the trains run through to New London. The stock of the road
amounts to $3,178,926.

At present the road is leased by the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroad
Company at a fixed annual percentage on its stock. Though other lines via
the Sound have competed with this many years, it does a large business, and
cannot fail to bo a great route of travel and freight.

Providence and Worcester Railroad. — Next in order came the road l)e-
tween Worcester and Providence, by which the need of the canal ceased,
and its property, as a line of business, lost its value. Not, however,
till seven years after the opening of the Norwich and Worcester road
was the Providence and Worcester road completed. The first train from
the latter place to the former was run over the road on the 25th of
October, 1847. The opening of the road for business was celebrated by a
grand demonstration, in Worcester, on the 4lh of November. A largo com-
pany, including ofiicers, stockholders, business men, aud gentlemen of distinc-
tion, was received at the station at eleven o'clock a.m., and escorted around
the town by a committee of citizens and the officers of other roads connected
with Worcester. At the town (now city) hall, a numerous assembly of citi-
zens was ready to welcome the guests. The address of welcome was made by
Hon. John Davis. At Briuley Hall, the company sat down to an ample feast ;
after disposing of which, many addresses were made by gentlemen present
from Rhode Island, as well as from Boston, Springfield, and other places in
the Commonwealth. Among others who spoke were Rev. Dr. Way land, Gov.
Davis, Gov. Lincoln, Senator Simmons, Nathan Hale, and Judge Washburn.
John Barstow, the president of the corporation, was at the right of the presi-
dent of the da^-, aud responded in behalf of the railroad company. Length of
the road, forty-three miles ; capital, $2,575,926.

Fitchharg Railroad. — The Fitchburg Railroad was begun about the
time when the preceding road had its origin. It was considered at the time
a wild project Ijy many. The distance by rail from Boston to Fitchburg is
nearly fifty miles, and, when the road was built, there was not a large town or
village on the whole route. The larger towns on the old stage lines would

86 COUNTY HISTORY.

give no encouragement, and the road was really extended through the open
country, except at Waltham and Concord. But the energy of tlie chief agent
in the enterprise, the late lion. Alvah Crocker, was equal to the emergency.
The road was comi)letcd about the year 1845-0, and the business soon justified
the outlay. The capital stock is $4,000,000.

Worcester and JVasInta Railroad. — One year later, the road to Nashua,
N. H., offered to the ti-aveling pul)lic a way into southern New Hampshire,
and, in connecting with other roads, into the interior of that State. The
opening of the road was ou the eighteenth day of December, 1848. It is
forty-five miles in length, and the capital stock is over $2,000,000.

The trains have direct connection with those on the Norwich and Worces-
ter road, I)y which passengers to and from New York by boat are accommo-
dated. Close connection is also made with other roads centerinii in Worces-
ter. The pi'esidents of the road have been John Davis, Thomas Kinnicutt,
Pliny Merrick, Alexander De Witt, Stephen Salisbury, and George T. Rice,
all citizens of eminence. Francis II. Kinnicutt has been the president the last
fourteen years. Charles S. Turner has been the superintendent during the
same period of time, and Timothy W. Hammond has been clerk and treasurer
for thirty years.

In the year 1875, the road from Nashua to Rochester, N. H., was built by
the corporation of the Worcester and Nashua Company. Thus a direct route
was opened from Portland, ?;«« Worcester, to New York. Though this has not
yet been a paying iuvostniont, the prospect is favorable fir the future. The
road is over forty-five miles in length, and the capital stock is $1,788,G25.

Fitcliburg and Worcester Railroad. — This railway, extending from
Fitchburs to Sterlinar Junction, where it connects with the Worcester and
Nashua, is fourteen miles in length, radfing the distance from AV^orcester
to Fitchburg about twenty-six miles. The first president was C. W. Wilder,
M. D., of Leominster, who was efficient in building the road. The second
president was Col. Ivers Phillips, then of Fitchburg. In 18G6 this was
consolidated with the Boston, Clinton and Fitchburg road, which has re-
cently been sold out to the Old Colony road. Before the opening of
other and competing roads, there were many passengers over this from the
north and west ; now the travelers are uiostly from three or f )tir towns on the
line of the road, except that part of it which is between Pratt's Junction and
Fitchburg. One man — Henry H. Penniman, who, in the mind of the public,
has been identified with this line of travel almost from the beginning — has
been conductor about twenty-eight j'cars.

Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad. — The long and sounding name
of this road might well be shortened to the Worcester and Wiuchendon
Railroad, between which places it extends. But the name has an honest
orisjin, though a little over-strained. It was designed to coimect Barre
with Gardner, and both with Boston, by some route or other. In fact,

WAGONS AND COACHES. 87

Gardner has been connectet! with Worcester, but tlie northeni terminus is
Winchendon, and Barro is left far off from the lino. At Winehendon it has
good connections, which will some day give it much business. This road was
opened to Gardner, Sept. 4, 1871, and to Winchendon a little more than three
}'ears later, Jan. 5, 1674. By the opening of the Ware Kivcr road from
Palmer to Winchendon, the latter place has become a railroad centre. The
Cheshire road connects it with all the great north-west, and the Monadnock
road, with its extensicni from Hillsborongh to Concord, opens all the central
and northern parts of New Hampshire. This latter connection affords great
facilities to the large chair manufactories of Gardner, supplying them with the
requisite material. Col. Ivers Phillips was the first, and Hon. Ginery
Twichell was the second president of this road.

The above is a rapid summary of the enterprise of the people of Worcester
County, in all their generations, to provide themselves with avenues for
traveling, and for transporting the products of their farms, workshops, and
manufactories. But the improvement in roads has not been greater than in
vehicles. From the first rude carts and sleds to the wagons, carriages, stages,
landaulets, barouches, omnibuses, and palace cars in present use, is as great a
change as from the primitive cart-track to the macadamized road and the rail-
way. The first vehicle, after the shoulders of a man or the back of a horse,
was a two-wheeled cart. This was made strong, Ijecauso no other vehicle
could endure the wear and tear of the roads. The wheels which had to
encounter stumps and stones, and the racking of gullies and mud-holes, must
needs be made of solid oak, and the parts well compacted. Four-wheeled
carts or wagons were of later origin, and could bear no comparison with vehi-
cles of the same name which are now used by our farmers, to say nothing of
those employed by city traders and express offices.

The early wagon for family use was not much removed from the ox-cart in
point of ease of motion or elegance of make. It had four wheels, but was as
homely as the cart, and differed mainl}' in being smaller and of less weight.
Paint was often wanting, and springs were unknown to the first generations.
A few gcntlemeu iu Boston and Salem had coaches, but these were so uncom-
mon as to give a sort of distinction to the owners. In country towns, they'
were never seen, unless the governor or some man of means and eminence was
" milking a progress " with his attendants. The first carriages that had any
pretension to elegance in this county were owned in Lancaster, as is supposed,
as that town led all the others in population and wealth, and it seems, in the
early times, to have had a closer connection, socially, with the capital. The
old lists show that a few carriages were taxed in that town, while other towns
were iimocent of what was considered extravagance by many. When the chaise
came into use, there were families in Lancaster who availed themselves of the
luxury. This they could do more readily than the people of many towns,
because of the comparative safety of the roads. But others soon followed the

88 COUNTY HISTORY.

example ; and, not long after the Revolution, decent and even elegant caiTiages
began to be used by some families in all parts of the county. Yet even these
were heavy and clumsy, compared with the light, airy, elegant, yet strong
vehicles which come from the factories in Amesbnry, New Haven, and other
places where the business of making them is a specialty. County roads, as
well as village and city streets, make the safe and comfortable use of these
devices for luxurious motion possible. The money which many rich men put
into a carriage and harness would furnish au equal number of poor men with a
house and garden. The best wood, the strongest steel, the richest velvet, the
hardest and finest varnish, combined with brass and silver and golden trim-
mings, put together by the most skilled workmanship, all unite to make au
exquisite work of art.

And all this is equalled or surpassed in the latest style of palace cars, with
dining-rooms, and sleeping-rooms, and apartments adorned with admirable
paintings on the panels. What further improvements are to be made in this
line, and in the general facilities for travel and transportation, defies conjecture.
The achievements of the past, however, suggest that there arc possibilities to
be worked out in the future. The I'ecord of these, so far at least as they come
under the supervision of county officers, must be left to the future historian of
the locality.

A word may be added iu regard to roads which do not meet in the centre of
the county, as the location and crossing of these lines of travel are suly'ect, to
a certain extent, to the county commissioners, and as they are of not merely
local, but of general convenience and interest. The Fitchburg and Boston
Railroad was opened through its whole length in the year 1845, and has
become one of the great thoroughf^ires of the couuty by connection with the
Hoosac Tunnel. The Vermont and Massachusetts, and the Cheshire road
were built soon after, as continuations, but by distinct corporations. These
three roads accommodate all the towns in the northern part of the county.

The road from Framiugham to Milford and Ccllingham ; the road from the
same place to Ashland ; the road from Framiugham to Lowell ; and the road
from Fitchburg, via Clinton and Northborough, to Framiugham, meet the
wants of the traveling public in the eastern section of the couuty. The Ware
River road, from AVinchendou to Palmer, docs the same office for the western
towns, except Sturbridge. An extension from Blackstoue to Southbridge
sives a cross road for the convenience of the southern tier of towns. A
continuation of this, through Southbridge to Brookfield or Palmer, is in con-
templation.

In addition to these are shorter roads, which serve as feeders to the larger
lines, and connect secluded, but flourishing villages with the outside world.
One extends from North Brookfield to East Brookfield, and proves its right
to be by its success. Another reaches from the centre of Spencer to the line
of the Boston and Albany road, at the south part of the town. There is a

THE COUNTY AS A UNIT. 89

branch road, also, from Ashburnbam Juuctiou to Ibo centre of the town. Pos-
sibly there are a few other short lines which have escaped notice.

Besides these, there is the Lancaster Railroad, which extends from South
Lancaster to Hudson. This road has been graded, the rails have been
laid and the bridges built, though, for some cause not fully known to the
public, it has never been opened for travel. The Massachusetts Central Eail-
road was chartered several years since, and much work was done, but, before
completion, the stringency of the times compelled a cessation of labor.
Recently, work has been resumed, and the prospect is that, ere long, trains
will be running along the liue. This road crosses the couuty from side to
side, and opens the way to Boston on the one hand, and to the Connecticut
Valley on the other. Capitalists have confidence iu its prospective success.
By all these ways, many run to and fro ; and it is to be hoped that not only
business, but knowledge may be increased thereby.

CHAPTER IX.

WORCESTER COUNTY AS A POLITICAL UNIT.

Counties are not merely judicial districts of the Commonwealth, but, as in
England, they are political factors of the body politic, and are represented in
the government of the State. There is a difference, indeed, inasmuch as coun-
ties are there represented in the lower house, and the boroughs in the county
may and do have representatives in the same body ; while with us the towns
send delegates to the house of representatives, and the counties are represented
iu the upper house or senate. At the time of the adoption of the State
Constitution it was arranged that each town should have one or more delegates
to the General Court, and each county one or more senators, in the upper house.
Each town was a political unit, or constituent element of the State. In like
manner, each county was a political luiit. Its senators, whether one or many,
were chosen on a general ticket, and the county spoke with one voice in the
upper branch of the legislature. This arrangement gave political importance
to a county, and secured the election of senators whose reputation reached
beyond the limits of their own town. It secured another result also, quite as
important. The same man, when found qualified, was chosen year after year,
for a decade or longer, and was in each succeeding year better qualified, by age,
experience, and increasing knowledge, to perform the duties of his high office.

It was an honoral>le distinction to be the representative of a large county in
the General Court, and men of al)ility and character were willing to serve the
public for a term of years. The old towns also, before the modern divisions
u

90 COUNTY HISTORY.

and subdivisious iuto small municipalities, were respectable units in tlie com-
position of the State, and many men acquired a high standing as their repre-
sentatives. But this has passed away. The district system has brought about
the result, that men from different parts of the district follow each other at
short intervals, leaving to but few the opportunity to become experienced in
the business of legislation, and to acquire a reputation throughout the Common-
wealth.

Especially is this true in regard to the senate. " Great counties," said Dr.
Dwight, " have a sense of importance and dignity which is eminently useful.
It promjits to honorable and beneficial conduct, and prevents much of that
which is little, degrading, and, of course, mischievous. The same things are
true, mutatis mutandis, of subdivided townships and parishes. Where men
are impatient to become judges, sheriffs and county clerks ; to be representa-
tives, selectmen, or even parish committees, these unfortunate subdivisious
will, however, be pushed so earnestly and so long as in the end to be accom-
plished." A regard for convenience has had some influence in causing these
changes, but the ambition of men of moderate abilities has been busy in pro-
ducing the result. Men who could never hope to represent a county can
continue to rise into notice in a district of limited extent. As senatorial and
representative districts arc not permanent divisions of the State, but only
temporary aggregations of towns, the consequence is that each town clamors
for its turn to furnish the senator or representative ; and thus very few men,
though largely endowed with talents for the ofEce, serve more than two years
in succession in the senate, while more than half the house of representatives
is annually filled with new men.

When the State Constitution went into operation in October, 1780, Worcester
County was entitled to four senators. The names of those chosen, on a general
ticket, were Samuel Baker, Joseph Dorr, Israel Nichols, and Jonathan Warner.
The same men were re-elected in 1782. A change was made the next year by
electing Seth Washburne instead of Joseph Dorr.

The arrangement in 1784 was this: Samuel Baker, Seth Washburne, Israel
Nichols, Jonathan Warner. Mr. Baker led the ticket, but the others were
changed, at times, in the order of their place. Some of these names continue
to recur for a series of years. For example : Mr. Baker held the office as
many as ten years, and, with one or two intervals, in annual succession. He
also headed the list eight years out often. Mr. Nichols was senator six years
hi succession. The others were elected several times.

In 1785 John Sprague of Lancaster was a member of the senate board, and,
doubtless, would have been elected again and again if he had not been called to
fill other places. He had abilities and character fitting him for the highest
positions, either legislative, judicial or executive. The next year Abel
Wilder of Winchendon was elected to the senate, and was continued in the
ofiice, by annual election, until 1792, when his lamented death prevented his

SENATORIAL LIST. 91

promotion to a higher position. He was one of those rare nieu who do cvery-
thinfT committGd to them with unerring discretion ; and who, without sacritieing
their self-respect, retain the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens.

In the year 1787 the number of senators allotted to Worcester was increased
to five, and the following were elected : Seth Washburne, Abel Wilder, Amos
Sin"-lotary, John Fessenden, Joseph Stone. It is noticealile that the wild
excitement in the time of the "Shays Rebellion" left the majority of the
senators in their place, though there was a great change in the representation
of the towns, and in some towns a complete revolution in filling the various
town offices. Fessenden, Singletary, Warner and Grant appear in the sena-
torial list several years in succession. Moses Gill heads the column in 1789.
The next year the number of senators was four, but in 1793 the number
of senators appears to have been five again, with Moses Gill at the head. He
was known in our annals as lieutenant-governor, in whose honor the town of
Gill received its name. This gentleman lived in Princeton, in which was
situated the large estate which came into his possession on the decease of his
wife, a daughter of Rev. Dr. Thomas Prince of Boston. "Here," says Dr.
Dwight, "ho built a house, which, connected with its appurtenances , is more
Bplendid than any other in the interior of the State."

The name of Samuel Cakcr appears for the last time in 1794, thirteen years
after his first election, and the honored names of Timothy Bigelow and Salem
Towne take Iheir place in the senatorial roll. Warner's name disappears after
the year 1795, and we find the names of Stearns, Bigelow (both Timothy and
Daniel), Towne, Brigbam, Taft and Hale, till 1807, when Jonas Kendall
comes into view.

From 1800 to 1821, Avhen the apportionment was made under the new
census, the county had four senators. Some of the most prominent were
Francis Blake, Seth Hastings, Solomon Strong, Levi Lincoln, Jr., afterwards
governor, Moses Smith, Thomas II. Blood, Daniel Waldo, and Salem Towne,
Jr.

The five men who bore the honor in 1822 were Aaron Tufts, Salem Towne,
Jr., Benjamin Adams, Nathaniel Jones, and S. P. Gardner. Some of them
had been elected before, and had served with Silas Holman, John Spurr, Oliver
Crosby, James Phillips, James Humphreys, Samuel Eastman, Lewis Bigelow,
and John Shipley. Five was the number until the apportionment under the
census of 1830. The following list will show, year by year, how many were
re-elected, and what proportion of them were of sufiicient eminence to be
remembered to the present day.

In 1823 the following were elected : Benjamin Adams, S. P. Gardner, Aarou
Tufts, Nathaniel Jones, Nathaniel P. Denny.

Four of these were chosen in 1824, with a change of position as follows :
Aarou Tufts, S. P. Gardner, Benjamin Adams, Nathaniel P. Denny, Joseph
G. Kendall.

92 COUNTY HISTORY.

1825. Joseph G. Kendall, B. Ttift, Jr., William Eaton, Nathaniel Hough-
ton and William Crawford, Jr.

1826. Jonas Sibley, Joseph G. Kendall, William Crawford, Jr., Nathaniel
Houghton, B. Taft, Jr.

In 1827 three new men came into the board, making the following list:
Aarou Tufts, Joseph G. Kendall, Joseph Bowman, John W. Lincoln, J(jscph
Davis. Mr. Lincoln was re-elected several years, and afterwards held other
offices of importance. He Avas one of that class of men who build up the place
of their residence. By his means every highway, road, and even cart-path
through the woods, was made to jjoint, so far as possible, to Worcester. This
public spirit was a benefit to the whole county.

1828. Edward Cushing, Joseph Davis, Joseph Estabrook, John W. Lincoln,
Joseph Bowman.

1829. John W. Lincoln, Lovell Walker, David Wilder, Samuel Mixter,
William S. Hastings. All were chosen again in 1830.

1831. John W. Lincoln, David Wilder, William S. Hastings, James
Draper, Rufus Bullock. All were re-elected in 1832.

In 1833, under the new arrangement, Worcester County was found entitled
to six senators, and the following gentlemen were chosen : David Wilder,
William S. Hastings, Charles Hudson, Ira M. Barton, Samuel Mixter and
Samuel Lee. These were all men of prominence, as was Mr. Bullock, chosen
in the preceding years. Judge Barton was judge of probate several years,
and stood high at the bar and in public esteem. Mr. Hudson was a distin-
guished member of Congress, by repeated elections. During the eight years
from 1833 to 1840, inclusive, the county was entitled to forty-eight senators.
The number of persons elected was twenty-four. Some of these were chosen five
or six years, others but oue or two. These are the names, some of which are
still remembered outside of their immediate neighborhood : David AVildor,
William S. Hastings, Charles Hudson, Ira M. Barton, Samuel Mixter, and
Samuel Lee, all of the year 1833, and Rejoice Newton, Charles Russell, George
A. Tufts, Waldo Flint, Charles Allen, Linus Child, Ethan A. Greenwood,
William Hancock, James G. Carter, Thomas Kinnicutt, Artemas Lee, James
Allen, Charles Sibley, Samuel Wood, Jedediah Marcy, Benjamin Estabrook,
Nathaniel Wood, Charles C. P. Hastings. The last six were new men,
otherwise the average term of the whole would have been greater. There was
a political revolution in 1840, when Judge Marcus Morton was chosen gover-
nor. It lasted only a single year, when the Whig party was again in the
ascendant. In the above list are the names of some who were specially
eminent in the county, state, and national annals. James G. Carter was a
leading spirit in the movement which resulted in the elevation of our public
school system. Mr. Kinnicutt was a lawyer of some distinction, and judge of
probate. Linus Child stood in the front rank of our public men, diu-ing a long
period. Charles Allen, as lawyer, senator, congressman and judge, was second

REPRESENTATION. 93

to few ill the State in distinction, and to none in sagacity, integrity, sound
judgment, mental force and moral greatness.

By the census of 1840 the i-eprcsentation of the county in the State senate
was again reduced to five. In 1841 the following were elected to the office :
James Allen, C. C. P. Hastings, Amory Ilolmau, SamuelWood, Emory Wash-
burn. The next j'ear Mr. Hastings was replaced by Alexander De Witt.
In 1843 another Democratic w.ave flowed over the State, .and this county felt
the effects in a new list of senators, Benjamin Estabrook, Solomon Strong,
IsJiac Djivis, John Spurr, Ariel Bragg. But next year the political wheel
revolved, and all these senators, exccjit Mr. Strong, were made to give place
to Levi Lincoln, Linus Child, Alexander De Witt, and Daniel Plill. The
Whigs then had their own way during four or five years, when the Free-Soil
party, in coalition with the Democrats, took the offices in the year 1850.

The senators in 1845, and the years following till 1849, were as follows:
Levi Lincoln, Linus Child, Daniel Hill, Joseph Stone, John G. Thurston,
Stephen Salisbury, Calvin Willard, Jason Goukling, George Denny, Nahum F.
Bryant, Alfred D. Foster, Alanson Hamilton, John Brooks, Alexander H.
Bullock, Ebenezer D. Ammidown, Paul Whitin, Ebenezer Torrey. These
were strong men, and by reason of jDosition, business connections, great abilities,
or superior cultivation, were fitted to sit around the senate table. INIr. De
Witt represented his district in Congress several years in succession. ]\Ir.
Foster was highly esteemed in his official place ; INIr. Washburn, as judge, gov-
ernor, professor in the law school in Cambridge, and author of several treatises,
has a permanent fame ; and Mr. Bullock, as representative, senator, speaker
of the house, and governor, has proved himself worthy of still higher pro-
motion.

In 1850 the coalition above-mentioned secured the election of several, if not
all of its candidates, viz. : Alexander De Witt, Pliny Merrick, John Raymond,
Amasa Walker, and Edward B. Bigelow. This continued till 1855, when the
"Know-Nothing" episode in our political history arose, and like an overflow-
ing flood, buried all other combinations and parties many fathoms deep. The
senators from 1851 to 1854, inclusive, were these: Messrs. DeWitt, Bigelow,
Francis Howe, Giles H. Whitney, Moses Wood, Freeman Walker, Elmer
Brigham, John S. C. Knowlton, Albert Alden, Sullivan Fay, Elisha Murdock,
Ivers Phillips, Charles Thurber, Anson Bugbee, Isaac Davis, Joseph W.
Mansur, Joseph Whitman.

The Know-Nothing party, in 1855, took the lead in the senatorial elections
in this county, and brought to the surface five men who had not before been
prominent in public life. These are the names : Henry W. Benchley, Albert
A. Cook, Edward Denny, Jabez Fisher, and Alvan G. Underwood.

Worcester took an active part in the organization of the Republican party of
this State in the ye.-ir 1855, and although the new party did not succeed iu
electing its State ticket till at the annual election of 1857, yet it carried this

94 COUNTY HISTORY.

county by a very large majority in 185(5, the first year in wIulIi the
Republican party assumed a national organization, with John C. Fremont
as its candidate for the presidency.* lu that year, 1856, our senators were
Francis H. Dewey, Jabez Fisher, Artemas Lee, Velorous Taft, and Salem
Towne. This was a mixture of old and new blood, but animated by a new
spirit. Mr. Taft has since then served the county a long period, as a member
of the board of county commissioners, of which he was chairman many years.
Mr. Dewey has occupied with honor a seat on the bench of the Superior Court,
since 18G9. The senators chosen in 1857 were, J. F. Hitchcock, George F.
Hoar, William Jlixter, Velorous Taft, and Ohio Whitney, Jr., all men of in-
fluence and character. Mr. Hoar has been in one or the other house of
Congress since 1869.

In 1857 the counties were cut up into senatorial districts ; and the towns,
separately or in groups, wci'e made into representative district.s. The sena-
torial districts of this county were six, designated as follows : Central, South-
east, South-west, West, North-east, East. These were represented by the
gentlemen whose names follow in the same order as the districts above-men-
tioned : John Milton Earle, John G. Metcalf, Oliver C. Fclton, Charles Field,
Goldsmith F. Bailey, Lucius S. Allen. This arrangement continued till the
year 1865, when the State census required a new apportionment, and our num-
ber of senators was reduced to live. But during the seven years from 1859
to 1865, inclusive, the central district was represented by Dexter F. Parker,
two years, when he wont to the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, and
gave his life to his country ; Ichabod Washburn, one year ; Hartley Williams,
two years, and E. B. Stoddard, two j'cars.

From the south-east district went John G. IMetcalf, one year ; Alviu Cook,
one year ; Winslow Battles, two years ; William R. Hill, two years, and Moses
B. Southwick, one j-car. From the south-west district were sent the fol-
lowing: AVilliam Upham, Nathaniel Eddy, Sylvester Dresser, Rufus B.
Dodge, Asher Joslin, John D. Cogswell, Emerson Johnson, each one year.
The west district was represented by Charles Field, one year; Jason Gorham
and Freeman Walker, one year ; Henry Smith, one year; George Whitney, two
years, and Chai-les Adams, Jr., one year. From the north-east district went
these: W. D. Peck, Goldsmith F. Bailey, T. E. Glazier, Alvah Crocker,
Israel C. Allen, Solon S. Hastings, and Joel Merriam, each one year. The
members from the east district bore these names : Abraham M. Bigelow, John
E. Stone, and Thomas Rice, Benjamin Boynton, Charles G. Stevens, Hosea
Crane, William Russell, and Milo Hildretb, each for one term It is an
obvious truth that no man, whatever his abilities, could acquire much
experience, influence, or distinction, in the service of a single year.

* There was a uotaljle lueetiug hold in Worcester on tho 19th of June, 1854, at which was
adopted a well-remembcrcd resolution, written, it is said, by Henry Wilson, as follows: "Eesolvcd,
That in cooperation with the friends of freedom iu sister States, wo hereby form tho Republican
Party of Massachusetts." But the efiScieucy of this meeting was lost in the confusion th;vt ensued
that year, and nothing seems to have really come of it.

DISTRICT PLAN. 95

In the 3'ear 18G6 the county had six senators, elected in the above order,
with these names: Lucius W. Pond, Moses D. Southwick, Ebenczer Davis,
Charles Adams, Jr., Alvah Crocker, and George S. Ball. But in this }'ear the
law reduced the number of senators, for the following ten years, to five.
From this time, also, the districts were numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The first ilis-
trict, which consisted of the city of "Worcester, was represented by Lucius W.
Pontl, two years; Francis H. Dewey, part of a year; George M. Rice, who
filled out the term, and was elected again two years ; Adin Thayer, two years ;
George F. Thompson, one year; George F. Very, two years; Edward L.
Davis, one year.

The second district, which included the towns in the south-eastern section of
the county, sent the following men to the senate : George S. Ball, one year ;
Jcmathan D. Wheeler, one j'ear ; Charles A. Wheelock, two years ; J. 11.
Wood, one year; S. M. Griggs, two years; Jeremiah Getchell, two years;
Aaron C. Mayhew, one j'car.

The third district emliraccd the south-western towns, and was represented
by the following gentlemen : Luther Hill, one year ; Frederick D. Brown, one
year; Lucius J. Kuowles, one year; George W. Johnson, one year; A. W.
Bartholomew, two years ; Henry L. Bancroft, two years ; Washington Tufts,
one year ; Emory L. Bates, one year.

From the fourth district, consisting of the towns in the north-western
division of the county, were sent these senators : John G. Mudge, two years ;
George M. Buttrick, two years ; Baxter D. Whitney, two years ; N. L. John-
son, two years ; ISIoses L. A3'ers, two j^ears.

The fifth or north-eastern district sent John II. Lockey, two years ; Francis
B. Fay, one year; Henry C. Greeley, two years; George A. Torrcy, two
years ; Amasa Norcross, one year ; C. H. B. Snow, one year ; Elishu Brimhall,
one j'ear. Thus it appears that in some of the districts one year of service
is the rule, with occasional exceptions; in others, and the larger part, two
years is the rule, with occasional exceptions of one year. But in no case, be-
tween 1866 and 1876 did one of these districts send the same man to the
senate more than two years. The rule has been, not to keep the best men iu
the public service, but' to give men iu the different towns of the district a
chance to hold office, and bear the title of honorable during the rest of their
lives. Under this system, many able and worthy men are elected ; but how
much the character of the senate would be elevated, if even the same
men should hold office for five or ten years, according to the earlier
custom !

By the legislature of 1877, the grouping of towns in the several districts
was somewhat changed, owing to a relative change in the population of differ-
ent sections. As this arrangement will probably continue for seven or eight
years, it will be convenient to have the names of the cities and towns compos-
ing the five districts inserted in this place.

96 COUNTY HISTORY.

1. The city of Worcester coustitutes the first senatorial district.

2. The second district comprises the towns of Blackstone, Boylston,
Douglas, Grafton, Mendon, JNIilford, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury,
Southborough, Upton, Uxbridge, and Westborough.

3. The third district includes the towns of Auburn, Brookfield, Charlton,
Dudley, Leicester, Millbury, Oxford, Southbridgo, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sut-
ton, Warren, Webster, and West Crookficld.

4. In the fourth district are the towns of Athol, Carre, Dana, Gardner,
Hardwick, Holden, Hubbardston, New Braintrec, North Brookfield, Oakham,
Paxton, Petersham, Phillipstou, Ro3'alstoa, Rutland, Templeton, and Win-
chendon.

5. The fifth district embraces the city of Fitchburg, and the towns of Ash-
burnham, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Harvard, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunen-
burg, Princeton, Sterling, Westminster, and West Boylston.

Under this arrangement the senators were elected as follows, during the last
three years: From the first district, George S. Barton, in 1877 and 1878;
Henry C. Rice, in 1879.

The second district was represented by Aaron C. Mayhew, one year; and
William Knowlton in 1878 and 1879.

The senators from the third district were Ebenezer B. Lyude in 1877 and
1878 ; and James W. Stockwell in 1879.

From the fourth district were sent Charles Adams, Jr., in 1877 and 1878 ; and
Alpheus Harding in 1879.

The fifth district sent Elisha Brimhall, in the year 1877; and Charles H.
Merriam in 1878 and 1879.

CHAPTER X.

THE SPIRIT OF WORCESTER COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.

The real spirit of the people before and during the Revolutionary struggle
will be found in the annals of the several towns, and, doubtless, each local
historian will do justice to his own place. There was no lack of instances,
full of the most intense patriotic feeling, in all directions. But some action
was taken that united the people of different sections of the county as one
body. For example, the action of juries in refusing to sit, and act with
certain judges, represented the spirit of the times, and affected the rights of
all the people.

The General Court had a contest with the crown in relation to the payment
of the judges of the highest coui-ts in the Colony. In general, the Colony was
quite willing that the home government should furnish all the money that was

THE TORY PROTEST. 97

needed to support her authority, or to aid the people in any way, Ijut they
resented the plan of the crown to pay the judges. It was expected that the
royal coveriiors would be incluied to support royal supremacy, and the General
Court had no check but the power to give the governor a liberal or a small
salary. lu relation to the judges, however, the General Court, and the people
felt that tlie cause of justice required the judges to be independent of the
crown. The ground taken was, that the judge who should receive a salary from
the crown, and without a grant from the provincial government, should be con-
sidered an enemy of his country. Judge Peter Oliver, chief justice, would
not yield, whereupon the patriots resolved that he should hold no more courts.
"When he came to Worcester to open a session, the jury, with David Wilder
of Lancaster as their foreman (as some say), gave him to understand that they
would not sit under him. He was obliged to desist, and his judicial life was
virtually ended. The jury, being from different towns, spoke the voice, and
evinced the spirit of the whole county.

The Tories or Loyalists, as it is now the fashion of some writers to style them,
had a meeting, called by the selectmen of Worcester, to consider what would
be the consequence of resisting the course of justice. Most of the lawyers
of the county were in sympathy with the meeting, which was held June 20.
1774, and was addressed by Col. James Putnam, then at the head of the
Worcester bar. A protest against the action of the patriots was presented, but
the town, by a vote of five to one, refused to receive it. The high sheriff at
the time was Gardner Chandler, belonging to the most influential family- in
the county. By his influence the protest was entered on the records.

The town was in a flame. A meeting was warned to meet on the twenty-
second of August. It was fully attended. The people, though indignant,
took two days to deliberate. Thinking and resolving went on rapidly during
those two days, because momentous results were in the balance. The town
voted that the clerk should be required to expunge, erase, blot out, and for-
ever obliterate the obnoxious record. The action of the Senate of the United
States in merely drawing a bhick line around the recorded censure of Gen.
Jackson, was mere child's play in comparison. The clerk of the town of
Worcester was not only to expunge the hated protest with his pen, but by dip-
ping his finger in the ink, and rubbing it all over the recorded protest. Be-
sides he was compelled to make acknowledgment of wrong-doing before the
town. The signers of the protest were required to make a public recantation.

The method was characteristic of the times, and made an ineffaceable im-
pression on the minds of all who were inclined to the side of royal authority.
The patriots invited their brethren in other towns to come together, and aid
in curbing the Tory spirit. On the day of the town meeting held for carrying
out their plans, companies marched into Worcester from other parts of the
county, to the number of two or three thousand. Timothy Paine, who w.ns
thought to be a not very ardent patriot, had been appointed a mandamus

98 COUNTY HISTORY.

counsellor, the method thou in vogue to bribe doubtful men into loyalty.
One object was to compel him to resign, and to give a writing to that effect.

Under the influence of this great popular uprising, most of the signci's of
the protest recanted. Tho troops, as the hastily gathered men, with arms in
their hands, were called, formed in two lines on Main Street, and extended
from the court-house to the Old South Church. The protesters were required
to march through the open ranks, from end to end of the line. At intervals
the march was arrested, and their recantation was read in the hearing of the
different sections of the crowd. To men of spirit this must have been a more
galling ordeal than running the gauntlet, and receiving the chance blows that
might light on the back of the swift runner. Moreover, the effect would be
more lastinsj. The mark of the blow would be soon effaced ; it misfht awaken
sympathy; but the humiliation of recanting one's political faith, renouncing
his loyalty, and being triumphed over by neighbors, some of whom were held
in small esteem, remained as a perpetual sense of wrong and degradation.
Doubtless, if the king had succeeded in the Revolutionary struggle, the
Loyalists would have taken fearful vengeance.

This demonstration answered its design. The spirit of opposition to the
popular cause was cowed if not extinguished. Toryism did not show its head
again. The leading men of the king's party slipped off to Boston, and left the
country. Others kept quiet ; and others still, who had not taken the fatal step
of joining the royal forces, learned soon the nature and prospects of the quar-
rel, and became ardent patriots.

The grim humor of our fathers must have been noticed by the students of
our early history. This scene in the main street of Worcester, a century
since, is an excellent specimen. It was not enough that a crowd of armed
men should come out in l)attle array, and that a committee, sitting in solemn
conclave, should call the protesters before them, and require a recantation.
That would have been effectual. But that did not suit the hiunor of the
times. Rather there must be a procession, and a spectacle. Every soldier
must look every Tory in the face ; see him march through the double line ; hear
him, at suitable distances, read his recantation, and then go on with downcast
look to the end ; and during all the process, each and every of the double
rank must contribute a word of jeer, or joke, or sarcasm, to give poignancy
to the pangs of the proud, and at the same time, mingle pleasantry with the
more sombre features of the drama.

SHAYS' REBELLTOX. 99

CHAPTER XL

SHAYS' REBELLION.

The rebellion headed by Capt. Daniel Shays was one of the most singular
events in our history. A brief view of its cause, its progress, the ettorts made
by the government to prevent or resist it, and its ignoble end, may be inter-
esting, and certainly will be instructive to all who rashly tamper with a people's
interests, and all who recklessly attempt to redress their wrongs.

The war of the Revolution was over, but its wounds were not healed.
Thousands had been in the service of their country, yet had never been ade-
quately paid. Many had lost friends, whose death had not been mitigated by
any public provision for their widows and children. Many more were wounded,
or enfeebled by the hardships of the camp and the march. They were poor.
They saw others who had not been in the service, growing rich by speculations,
and taking advantage of the embarrassments of debtors, some of whom were
crii)ples. Taxes were high. It was thought that salaries were extravagant.
It was felt that the administration of justice was almost equivalent to a denial
of it. The fees of clerks and shcrifl's ; the charges of lawyers ; the delays in
disposing of cases; in a word, the difBculty of getting a wrong righted,
without a ruinous waste of time, money and temper, embittered the minds of
multitudes.

Such was the state of things, when, in 1784, the year after the acknowledg-
ment of our independence by George III., and the ratification of peace, a
proposition was made by the town of Sutton, to the other towns in the county,
that a convention should be called to consider grievances and the means of re-
dress. The towns were not ready in sufEcient number, and the convention was
not held. But the trouble increased, and the agitation grew more violent by
delay. During the year 1785, discussion was rife all over the State. Extrem-
ists, on both sides, embittered the public feeling. Some were for resisting all
the demands of the agitators ; and on the other hand, some were getting ready
to seek redress by force. The great mass of the people, as the event proved,
meant to have an improvement by peaceful methods, if possible.

But the problem was a difficult one for the government. There were griev-
ances. The State debt was large ; the Continental debt was heavy. Some of
the former Colonies, now States, had always been slow to pay their proportion,
and the power of the Continental Congress was growing weaker every day.
The number of the debtor class was increasing. All these things were difficult
to deal with ; but the case was aggravated by the lawless spirit which was
abroad in the community, extending from the sands of Cape Cod and the rocks
of Essex, to the Valley, and even to the verge of Berkshire. To resist the

100 COUNTY HISTORY.

demands for redress was cruel and unwise ; to yield to violent demands might
undermine all government.

For, it must not bo forgotten, that a now clement had entered into the pub-
lic mind. In the Revolution, the rights of property were respected by the
people, while throwing off the authority of the crown ; but now the cry was
heard that property must he divided equally among all. The wild vagaries of
the Paris Communism of 1870, were rife here, in certain circles, in 1784-6.
In addition, it may be truly said that the condition of public morals was low.
Intemperance had increased during the war, and as yet no change for the better
had appeared. The ancient habit of keeping the Sabbath, and attending wor-
ship, had been partially l)roken up in the case of those who went to the war;
and that number included, first and last, nearly all the ablc-l^odied men in the
Stiite. j The ancient spirit of law and order was somewhat weakened, and there
were lawless men in most of the towns. It is not hard to believe that there
were also ambitious spirits, inured to the perils of war, who were watching for
a change that might bring them to the front, and raise them to power. The
elements were seething. Would there lie a new revolution ; or would the
3'easty mass only foam, and then settle down into a state of stable equilibrium?

In the summer and fall of 1786 the matter took such a shape as to hasten the
crisis. The people began to hold conventions in several counties, as at Con-
cord, Paxton, Leicester, Bristol, Hatfield. The animus of these delegate con-
ventions may be inferred from the action taken at Hatfield. On the twenty-
second of August delegates met there from fifty towns. The following were
the grievances which they desired to have redressed: — 1. "The sitting of the
General Court at Boston. (They wished the legislature to meet farther west;
perhaps at AVorcester.) 2. The want of a circulating system. 3. The abuses
in the practice of the law ; the exorbitance of the fee table. 4. The existence
of the Courts of Common Pleas in their present mode of administration. 5.
The appropriating the revenue arising from the impost and excise to the pay-
ment of the interest of the State securities. G. The unreasonable and unnec-
essary grants made by the General Court to the attorney-general and others.
7. The servants of the government being too numerous, and having too great
salaries. 8. The existence of the Senate." The convention, notwithstanding
their alleged grievances, expressed allegiance to the government, though flxvor-
ing measures that tended to its overthrow. Such expressions were not uncom-
mon. At a convention held in Paxton, after setting forth their sufferings and
apprehensions, the delegates declared that they should think themselves " happy
if they could, in the least degree, contribute to restore harmony to the Com-
monwealth, and to support the weight of a tottering empire."

It was a common complaint that the courts were the instruments of extor-
tion, and censure was vented on the Court of General Sessions of the Peace ;
and the Court of Common Pleas, especially, which was an inferior or county
court, came in for animadversion. The people were excited to disaffec-

COURTS OBSTRUCTED. 101

tion, so that measures were taken to pi'evcnt the sessions of the court. In the
latter part of August the court was prevented from hoKlinga term in Northampton.

A week after, when the Court of Common Pleas, and of the General Sessions
of the Peace, were to be held at Worcester, more than three hundred men came
into the shire town, and posted themselves at the court-house door. They
stood there with fixed bayonets, and told the judge that he could not enter.
The chief justice remonstrated, but was obliged to retire to a tavern, where he
opened the court regularly, and then adjourned till morning. The opposition
not abating, the Court of Common Pleas was adjourned without day, and the
Sessions of the Peace till the twenty-first of November.

The time came for the Supreme Judicial Court to open a term at Springfield,
but the mob determined that no session should be held.

When the time came to which the Court of General Sessions of the Peace
was adjourned — November 21 — armed men filled the main street of AVorces-
ter. The sheriff was prevented from entering the court-house by a company
of three hundred and fifty men, with arms in their hands.

Two days later a delegate convention was held at Worcester, in which fm'ty-
one towns of the county were represented. It prepared a petition for a re-
dress of grievances, and also prayed that the General Court would take the
sense of all the towns in the Commonwealth in relation to revising the Consti-
tution. If the returns should show that two-thirds of the towns were in favor
of the measure, then a constitutional convention was to be called. This prop-
osition miscarried. This convention, like others, though it used Io3'al language,
had the efl'ect to stimulate opposition to the form of government.

In the meantime the violent action of the insurgents had been fomenting
trouble in Middlesex, as well as the western counties. Some of the chief
agitators lived in and near Concord. They went to the verge of open war-
fare. But the government acted wisely, maintaining a firm attitude, yet
avoiding needless provocation. An act of indemnity passed by the govern-
ment had put all on a favorable footing up to the twenty-first of November.
If opposition had ceased at that time, the legislature would, iu all probability,
have taken measures to remove all just cause of complaint. But the tide of
human passion, when let loose from legitimate bonds, is lawless, and often
destructive to those who have raised it. The violent stopping of the session
at the time to which it was adjourned, and the convention held iu Worcester
on the twenty-third of the month, opened the contest anew, and threatened the
overthrow of government as well as the stoppage of justice.

The leading agitators at Concord were beginning to yield, and were shaping
their action towards peaceful measures, when a committee, sent from Worces-
ter, arrived, and by most violent and profane language, excited anew a spirit
of strong hostility to the administration. The authorities were now 'in a
dilemma. They had borne long with the insults, threats and violence of the
leaders. They had hoped, by patience, to disarm opposition. The legisla-

102 COUNTY HISTORY.

tiire had taken action that would work relief, if the people would co-operate ;
but this course was attril)uted to fear, and the agitators grew more l)o]d and
insolent. It was time to put them down. Yet there was a natural reluctance
to resort to the military arm. From all appearance the followers of Sha3-3
would be able to raise a formidable army. ]\Iany of the officers had had ex-
perience in the late war, and many of the men were veterans. In some sec-
tions of the State they appeared to be in the majority. Moreover, if they
should prove to be weak, still it was a hazardous thing to shed blood. The
blood shed in civil war is apt to come np in the shape of dragon's teeth.

However, the violence of the insurgents left no alternative. The govern-
ment found that it must abdicate or fight. It declared war against the rebels,
as they had now become, by forming themselves into armed bands, and it
called out a force of four thousand and four hundred men. It will not be in
place to follow tlie fortunes of the in-iurgents or the movements of the regular
troops, except so far as Worcester County was concerned. But it so happened
that the forces of Shays were mustered in in one town of this county, and put
to an ignominious flight in another.

In the beginning of December the rebels were getting themselves into readi-
ness for action, by forming several bodies or camps in different towns. One
of the largest of those companies was at Rutland, under the immediate com-
mand of Shays himself. They remained there, in barracks, until Sunday,
Dcoemlter 3, when they began to march into Worcester. The sheriff, William
Greenleaf of Lancaster, wrote to the governor, informing him of the state of
things, and the holding of the courts was postponed till the twenty-third of
January.

The Shays men stayed in Worcester three days, from the third to the fifth of
December. They had their own way, though one hundred and fifty loyal men
turned out to sustain the courts, A violent snow-storm almost stopped tr.av-
eling, but Shays came down from Rutland with about three hundred and fifty
men. As many as a thousand gathered from difTcrent parts of the county,
armed, and apparently ready to fight. Some of tiiem were billeted on the
people while they remained. A judge and some other citizens were seized,
though not treated -with violence. In the meantime the militia were kept on
duty, but a collision with the insurgents was avoided.

But now Gen. Lincoln, an officer who had acquired distinction in the Revolu-
tion, and who was held in high estimation, was on the war-path, and the rebels
started for the west. By the ninth of December all had left, and were gather-
ing at Springfield, with friends from all the western counties. We shall pass
over their marches and manoeuvcrings for the next two months, till the belliger-
ent parties appear again in this county. Towards the end of January, the
forces, under Capt. Shays, had collected together in Pelham, and on the second
of February, learning that the loyal troops were coming on, they started to-
wards night iu the direction of Petersham. Earl}' in the evening the weather

REBELS DISPERSED. 103

was mild, and there was light enough to render marching comfortaljle. But
as the night wore away the snow began to fall and impede the traveling.
Drifts began to pile up, and the mercury settled fast. Finding no shelter ou
the road, the rebels had marched on through the night, and when the morning
broke over the high hills of Petersham, they halted, feeling secure from their
pursuers. But the severity of the storm instead of delaying the government
soldiers was the cause of their all-night march. They exerted themselves to
keep from freezing ; and so it came to pass that when the insurgents were tak-
ing needed rest and preparing their breakfast, the pursuers were upon ihem.
They were caught, two hundred and fifty of them, while the others fled, leav-
ing kettles and breakfast to the conquerors. In a day or two the rebel forces
had vanished like a mist, and were seen no more. In the courts, during the
year, quite a number were brought up on the charge of treas(m. Some were
discharged; others were sent to the jail in Boston. When the commotion
was calmed, and the power of the government was fully acknowledged, these
men were set at liberty, and lived and died as quiet and worthy citizens. By
degrees their real grievances were redressed, so far as within the power of the
government; and what were beyond legislation were either endured, or were
overcome by private exertion. The action of Gov. Bowdoin, who was elected
because of his fitness to deal with the disease of the times, was firm, but con-
ciliatory and eminently wise. If there were any demagogues among the lead-
ing statesmen of that day, he was not one of their number ; but wliile a friend
to the people, he would not stoop to flatter them, or pander to their foolish
clamor. In consequence he was not a popular man, in the ordinary sense of
the word, but ho was ever held in profound respect.

Why the Shays rebellion did not become a success is a curious question.
The feeling of dissatisfaction was diffused very generally throughout the
Commonwealth, except in Boston and some of the seaport towns. Farmers,
mechanics, and day-laborers were in sympathy with it to a large extent.
Probably a poll of the State would have shown that a majority of the .able-
bodied men were involved, more or less, in the movement; yet it never
had the remotest chance of succeeding. The reasons are obvious. The "-licv-
ances, though numerous and annoying, did not touch the fundamental princi-
ples of government. No man's life or liberty was in jeopardy. Our cleriry
have been friends of the common people, and champions of freedom and right
in every period of our history, Iiut they kept aloof from Shays and his follow-
ers. They saw that the evils of the times would work a cure by the course of
events, and that to seek a cure by revolution was preposterous. The lawyers
were opposed to the rebellion for a similar reason, and because the evils com-
plained of were laid, in great measure, at their door. Fees, and charges, and
postponements, and delays of justice, and prosecutions, by all of which the
profession made gain in proportion as debtors or creditors were fleeced, had no
tendency to induce them to labor for a reform. Merchants, contractors, and

104 COUNTY HISTORY.

others who hail acqiiirctl wcjilth, can always make hard times work for their
advantage. In the time of forced sales the man of ready cash finds his oppor-
tunity, and reaps his harvest. Then the destruction of the poor man is his
poverty, and then the Iiir.nan harpy fattens on his jirey. Who tiien could
champion the cause of the suffcrinGj people, and lead them to victory? No
man of mark, no class of men wielding inlluencc joined their ranks. The
leader. Shays, was a brave soldier and a respectable man, with the morals and
principles of a Christian, but his name had no magnetism to conjure with, and
failure was inevitable. Besides, every cool-headed and sensible man saw that
all the evils and grievances which caused so much grumbling could be easily
removed by peaceable measures.

But it is worth considering that the ill-feeling and turmoil which afHicted the
State might have been avoided or removed if the more favored classes — the
governing party of that day — had felt a deeper sympathy with the people,
and shown a proper alacrity in relieving them from some of their burdens,
and teaching how to bear others with patience.

The act of one man in this strange episode of Massachusetts history, de-
serves commemoration, and will ever be read to his honor. As he belonsred
to this county, and the scene was laid here, it would be unpardonable to pass
it over in relating our local history. The chief justice of the Court of Com-
mon Picas was Mnj.-Gen. Artemas Ward. At the opening of the Ivcvolii-
tion he stood in the front rank of American ofBcers. His long service in
the French and Indian wars had inured him to military life, and his training,
under British generals, had given him peculiar advantages for one who had
been confined to a provincial career. It was claimed by his friends that he
ought to be placed at the head of the Continental army.

When the rebels came to Worcester to prevent the session of the court over
which Gen. Ward presided, he exerted himself like a brave patriot to maintain
the authority of the law and the dignity of the court, and at the same time to
guide the excited crowd into wiser and more loyal conduct. On one of the
occasions, when the armed mob closed the way to the court-house, he went
deliberately from the tavern through the crowd of desperate men, whose de-
tei'mination to close the courts was made known by unmistakable signs and
words. The people knew him well ; some of his old soldiers were among
them, and they held him in respect ; but he went right on, regardless of frowns
and throats. Arriving at th*^ front of the court-house he demanded entrance.
A band of arnied men stood between him and the door, who levelled their
bayonets. They obeyed their otBcers, who were men of fixed resolve. The
general advanced, the soldiers, to all appearance ready to defend their post at
all hazards, held their bayonets to his breast. Still he pressed forward till the
points pierced through his clothing. Appeals to their patriotism, to their
sense of duty, to the memories of the jiast were unavailing. Having thus
asserted the authority of the government, and put the rebels in the wrong, he

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS. 105

withdrew with self-possession and diijuity. It must have been a sublime sight,
when that intrepid man, unattended, made his way through the excited and
maddened throng, and there exposed tlieir errors and the folly of their course ;
and fearless of personal injury commanded them, in the name of the Common-
wealth, to abandon their wild and wicked enterprise. Though he failed in the
etTort to huld the court, yet he won a substantial victory. The only honors
won that day were borne off by the judge. lie had been in many scenes of
warfare, Indian and civilized, where bullets and tomahawks were fl3ing thick,
and always bore himself like a brave man ; but never did he exhibit truer cour-
age and greater nobility of soul than when he confronted that mob of mad-
dened iusurffents in front of the old court-house in Worcester.

CHAPTER XII.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.

The history of schools and education in (he towns and cities will be left to
the local authors, as coming within their province. In this division of the work
it will be proper to give a comparative view of the state of education in the
several municipalities, and also to present a brief sketch of those valuable acad-
emies, schools, and institutes or colleges, which accommodate a circle of towns,
or receive students from all parts of the Commonwealth, and even from other
States. Those institutions do not belong to the places in which they happen
to be located, and are not dependent on municipal support, or subject to local
supervision. It is true also that they are not county schools, with, perhaps,
one or two exceptions, but as their patronage is drawn from a wider range, and
their benefits have a wider diffusion than town lines, their history is properly
included in that of the county.

A hundred j'cars before the incorporation of the county, and several years
prior to the settlement of the oldest town now belonging to it, the colonial
laws required the towns to have free schools for the education of all the children.
At a very early date, towns of a certain grade, as to population, were author-
ized and required to keep open grammar schools a certain number of weeks
every year. In these schools manj' j'outh were prepared for college. Long
before the act was passed by which Worcester County was formed, in 1731, the
public-school system of the Colony was fully established, and the support of it
was understood as one of the unavoidable duties of the several towns. To
make the matter sure, it was enacted that the " General Court of Sessions of the
Peace," in each county, should have jurisdiction in regard to schools so far as
to hear complaints from the towns which neglected to provide the means of
u

106 COUNTY HISTORY.

education for all the chiklrcn according to the requirements of the law. Thus
we find among the complaints laid before the Court of Sessions, at some of its
early terms, those in relation to towns which were derelict in this respect. The
court exerted its authority in every case, and the towns thus negligent were
required to supply school-houses and furnish teachers for their children, on pain
of fine and costs. Our forefathers were determined that an ignorant population
should not grow up on this soil. The ministers taught that the Bible was open
to all, of divine right, and that all ought to be able to read it in their own
tongue. Ability to read the Bible enal)lcd one to read other books ; and thus
the key to all knowledge was put into the hands of all the people. And the
people of this county have, in every generation, prized their system of educa-
tion very highly, as is shown by the fact that they have freely taxed themselves
to pay for buildings, apparatus, and salaries. In more recent times the State
has relieved the court, or its successor, the board of county commissioners, of
the duty to enforce the law, and has taken it into its own hands ; by enacting
that the towns which fail to keep open public schools without charge to the
pupils, at least six months in each year, shall be deprived of their pro rata of
the income from the school fund. A month is four weeks, of five days for
each week. And to ensure the education of all the children, it is fm-lhcr pro-
vided by law that all manufacturing, mechanical, and mercantile establishments
which employ children under fourteen years of ago, who have not attended
school at least twenty weeks in the j-ear preceding, shall be heavily fined.
What success has been secured by these enactments will appear on a subse-
quent page.

That there has been great improvement in public education since the county
•was incorporated, there can be no doubt in the mind of any well-informed
pei-sou. Many of the improvements will soon be noted, but there is a disposi-
tion on the part of some to undervalue the work done by the schools of earlier
times. The scholars were then taught to obey, in the first place, and thus
learned to respect authority ; and this went far to make good, law-abiding citi-
zens. They were also taught to read, and spell, and write. More attention
was paid to penmanship in the schools of that day than in those of the
present. The children were not better drilled in reading, perhaps, but more
time was given to this exercise ; and thus the children and youth became fa-
miliar with many of the choicest extracts which the language, at that time,
could furnish. Their reading was food for thought. The ideas they received
from reading were germinant in their own minds, and thus produced a fertile
and fertilizing growth of new ideas.

The science of arithmetic was tau2;ht with great thoroughness, to a certain
extent. The modern text-books are more full ; they are better adapted for
business in our day ; but the teaching does not make our children such com-
plete masters of their books as was acquired by their predecessors. Indeed,
text-books were unknown in some schools. The masters gave examples to their

OLD SCHOOL METHOD. 107

pupils, iu the different Rules, from Notation to Miscellaneous Examples, and it
may be, Puzzles; and the scholars made their own arithmetic as they went
along. Before the Rebellion, when old chests, closets, and garrets were
emptied of their "paper stock," there were many manuscript arithmetics, in
all our towns, which had been made in the schools of former generations. The
rules were learned by practice before they were put into words. In fact, they
were so learned that each scholar, of average brightness, could put his own
rules upon paper. When thus embedded in the mind by actual practice, the
teacher might, and generally did, give them a formula in better language,
perhaps, than the majority would be able to fsishiou into a sentence or
paragraph.

To these branches were added the reading of the Bil)le, and especially the
Psalter or Psalms, and the study of the Catechism, which was a logical and
scientific embodiment of the doctrines of the Bible. And whatever may be the
diversity of view as to the value of the " Shorter Catechism " as a presentation of
revealed truth, there can be no doubt that itis one of the most terse, logical, and
ndrairaljlj-arrangcd works iu the English language. The learning of it trained
the memory ; the effort to understand it, gave vigor to the mind, precision to
habits of thinking, and clearness to expression. As an educating expedient, it
has been followed i)y nothing superior in all the excellent compeudiums of
mental or moral science used in modern schools.

Geography and Grammar did not gain a place in the schools generally for a
hundred years or more after the first settlement of the county. As a part of
the common-school curriculum, they are "modern inventions." The first
school geographies, though very comprehensive, including many things not
germane to the suliject, were poor affairs. The Geography of Dr. Alorse,
though a vast improvement on those which preceded it, has been out of use for
two generations. The Grammar of IMurray, which has been long discarded,
was far iu advance of all school grammars at the time of its appeai'ance. There
are those who lielieve that, in some rcs^pccts, it has not been surpassed by its
successors. In Murray's mind grammar was a science of language. All the
parts were bound together in a syntax, which was a system of government, so
to speak, that should have words arranged to convey information or thought,
like the s\mmctrical framework of an edifice reared for use or ornament, or
both combined. His syntax was not a mere string of precedents and sequents,
but of agents acting on objects, and governed by fixed laws. And his system
of "parsing" was the delight of the keenest girls and boys who attended the
schools forty, sixty, and eighty years ago. All the "ologies and osophies"
have come iu with the advance of knowledge in all branches during the present
and the inmicdiatcly preceding generation. The range of studies has been
greatly enlarged, and our children know many things not dreamed of in the
philosophy of the I)oys and girls who lived iu the days of AVashington and
Adams.

108 COUNTY HISTORY.

The progress in the matter of school-houses is as great as ia regard to roads
and bridges. Any shelter from the storm would answer, in early times, so
long as a better was bej'ond the means of the pioneers. An old shop, a barn-
floor, any room into which benches could be put, was called into use for the
school, and the teacher was installed as master. This was not fancy but fact
in many towns ; probably in all that were formed preceding the Revolution. In
the centre, or some populous locality, there would be a framed building, with
a chimney, on whose capacious hearth logs eight feet in length would make a
roaring fire in a wintry day. The benches were, within the memory of the
living, the most wretched scats which innocent mortals were ever doomed to
endure. If the older children bad the sharp edge of a plank to lean back upon,
the younger ones had nothing to keep them up ; while their feet dangled in the
air. Rarely was found a school-house that ranked above the tolerable ; very
seldom one that could be called comfortable ; a county Avould be searched over,
outside of cities, without finding one that had any pretensions to archi-
tecture.

But after all, everything depends on the master or mistress of the school.
Without a good teacher, the best books, apparatus, and houses will accomplish
nothing at all adequate. Given a good teacher, and children of average intel-
lect, there will be a good school, though kept iu a barn or a sail-loft, without
blackboards, maps, and a score of other conveniences. How was it then with
the old-time schoolmaster ? Female teachers were not so plenty in those days
when nearly all the girls were wanted for wives by the time they were fairly
out of their "teens." All things considered, the masters were well qualified
for their places. There were some superior masters. It was honorable for the
young men and women belonging to the best families to engage in teaching.
Their influence was felt in governing, elevating, and refining their youthful
charge. But their range of knowledge was narrow, and the terms of school
were comparatively short. A school for small children in summer, and one of
three, or sometimes four months in winter for older pupils, completed the school
year. Young men and women attended till they were eighteen, perhaps
longer, but they did not get beyond what one styled the "three R's ; that is,
reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic," except a few ambitious ones who ventured into
geography and grammar. Then it must bo remembered that with all the vir-
tues of our earlier time, there was more rusticity, rudeness, and vulgarity.
There was less profixneness, but more dirtiness. The boys took off their hats
to travelers, but did it in an awkward way. They were more noisy, less
amenable to persuasion, and were accustomed to the needed discipline of the
rod. It was a pleasant pastime to have a row with the master, and the old way
of "barring the master out," which would not be tolerated now in any decent
community, was far less barbarous than the occasional fights, when he was
carried, "will ye, nill ye," out of the door, or pitched out of the window. The
description of the "Schoolmaster" in John Trumbull's poem entitled the

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE. 109

"Progress of Dullness," though probably overdrawn, was doubtless a pretty
fair representation :

" Next see our yonth at school appear,
Procured for forty pouiuls* a year;
His ragged regiment round assemble,
Tauglit, not to read, bnt fear and tremble.
Before bim, rods prepare his way.
Those dreaded antidotes to play.
Then throned aloft in elbow ebair,
With solemn face and awful air,
He tries with ease and unconcern.
To teach what ne'er himself could learn ;
Gives law and punishment alone.
Judge, jury, bailiff, nil in one;
Holds all good learning must depend
Upon his rod's cxtrcmcst end,
Whose great electric virtue's such.
Each genius brightens at the touch ;
With threats and blows, incitements pressing,
Drives on his lads to learn each lesson ;
Thinks flogging cures all moi;al ills,
And breaks their heads to break their wills.
The year is done ; he takes his leave ;
The children smile ; the parents grieve;
And seek again, their school to keep.
One just as good and just as cheap."

There has been much foolishly spoken and written about corporal punish-
ment in schools during the present generation. We liave cheap philosophers
who insist that none but a brute will ever strike a child. One would infer, if
he should take these teachers for his guide, that the Author of Nature, who
has provided thtit physical pain shall be the result, and in part the punishment,
of wrong-doing, has made the world ou a Stxtanic system. The effect has been
bad in one respect, as it has led many of the male and female teachers of our
schools to resort to all kinds of expedients to manage rather than govern their
schools. Coaxing, flattery, sarcasm, and methods which are best described by
the word "humbug," have taken the place of the sterner discipline of former
days. Between the two extremes, of severe bodily infliction, and this modern
demoralization of the mind, the tbrmer was far preferable. It was more
summary, took less time, and made more manly characters. But it is just as
true that the former severity was excessive. It would not be, and it ought not
to be, tolerated in any civilized land. It should be borne in mind, however,
that custom made severity seem less severe than now. Men used stronger,
more violent, and more provoking language than would now be endured among
gentlemen. Poets like Milton, and divines like those engaged in the contro-
versy about Whitefield, used epithets, and hurled accusations which would
shock modern taste. There was the same excess in blows as in words. There
has been an amelioration efTectcd by the general progress of society. Time
was when boys could not be kept in order in the meeting-house without a

• S133.33.

no COUNTY HISTORY.

tytbing-man and his long rod, when rognes were subjected to the discipline of
the whipping-post and scolds were ducked in the goose-pond. There has l)ccn
a revolution in this way which will not go backward, and the change is all the
better fov our children. While the teacher must be clothed with all necessary
authority, and must act, while in school, in loco parentis, there is little need
of inflicting bodily pain. This need is diminished to a minimum in cities and
large towns where unruly children can bo placed in truant schools, reform
schools, or jails, if need be. Expulsion in the country cuts a child o If from the
public means of education, unless he is sent to some place of restraint or rc-
ftnm away from home, at considerable expense ; while expulsion from a city
school may be merely a transfer from one school to another.

Turning now from this rapid survey of schools as they were, to the schools
of the day, we find very great improvement in many respects. In the first
place, the law requires more schooling. It is now imperative that all the pub-
lic schools shall be open six mouths. A town which fails to comply with
the law, will sufTer for it more than enough to balance what might bo saved by
shortening the schools. Under the stimulus of the law, and the public senti-
ment which secured its enactment, many towns have their schools kept eight
months. Large towns often prolong their schools nine and even ten months,
or forty weeks annually. In short, they keep the children in the school-house
longer than they ought to be confined, if they had good homes to stay iu the
remainder of the time.

School-houses, in the most obscure places, are better than they were in re-
spectable towns in the earlier time ; and in nearly all the towns of the county
there are specimens of school-house architecture which appeal* well in the vicinity
of the better class of dwellings. In addition, there arc quite a number of build-
ings devoted to educational uses that arc worthy of admiration. In Worcester,
in Fitchburg, in Ashburnham, in Clinton, in Wiucheudon, in jMilford, in Black-
stone, in Leicester, in Jlillbury, in Northbridge, in Grafton, in Webster, and
in Spencer, there are school-houses or academies that illustrate the liberality
of the people, and their high appreciation of the blessings of education. IMany
other towns, in proportion to their means, are deserving of similar commenda-
tion. Some of these edifices surpass all others iu the place, unless in some
cases, the sanctuary devoted to the worship of God. Moreover, it has become
the custom to furnish the school-houses generally with seats and desks, black-
boards and maps, globes and other apparatus which are useful and convenient.
Text-books cover the teachers' tables, and reference books fill the shelves or
alcoves provided for them. The buildings, instead of being heated and cooled,
in turn, by the huge fire in the open-throated chimney, are warmed l)y stoves,
or furnaces or steam, diffusing an equable temperature throughout the building,
and during all the hours of the day and night. In one sentence, the change
has fully kept pace with the progress of society in all the arts and conveniences
of life.

SCHOOL LITERATURE. Ill

In no one thing lias there been a greater change, or one more advantageous,
than in school-books. There is room for criticism in relation to this modern
product of the press, because the best possible book, in each department of
study, has not yet been made. The books for beginners are too simple, being
designed, it would seem, either for infants or feeble-minded children. The
trifling sentences, telling the little reader, in various transposition, that " The cat
has a tail," or "A tail has the cat," or " Has the cat a tail ? " is a senseless substi-
tute for the robust sense as well as piety of some of the lines in Webster's old
spelling-book : as for example : " No man may put oif the law of God." And
the reading-books for the higher classes, though containing a greater variety of
extracts, taken also from authors less antiquated, and more redolent of modern
thought, are not better fitted than the "English Reader," and other collections
which were read in former generations, to inform the mind, refine the taste, and
improve the heart. But in all the other branches of school-book making, the
improvement is marvellous. The writing, printing, and illustrating of books
for scholars is not only a business, but an art. Some of the compilers of
these books have as clearly a genius for their work as other men have for
original discovery. They interpret the great scientists to the youthful mind,
and are entitled to be called benefactors of their kind. Committees may com-
plain of the nuisance of book agents, but it is their duty to obtain the best
books in every department of study. They might as well complain of any other
process of art or nature which comes to them with the promise of improve-
ment. In some branches, as the sciences, and the mixed mathematics, changes
will have to be made in the future, as in the past, as discoveries are made.
The same ig true of geography. The proper attitude of committees, of teach-
ers and towns towards new books, however expensive to the latter, time-con-
suming to the first, or perplexing to the second party, is that of welcome,
because the children must, at all cost, have "the best."

Almost, as a matter of course, there is an equal improvement in teachers.
They still come fnim the best grade of families as of yore, and they have had
the benefit of a better training than was possible in the days of their grand-
fathers. The earnest study of the best minds iu the country is devoted to
progress in the science of teaching, and training teachers to excel in general,
and in specialties. And in this connection a remark may be pardoned if not
approved by all, that the hope of our country is, in a large degree, bound up in
our schools, inasmuch as the mental discipline which they provide tends wholly
to form a generation of sound-minded people. Our politics are fitful, now rous-
ing the public to wild and often fearful excitement, and then quieting down to
a de.ad calm. Much of our literature is unwholesome and demoralizing. There
is a strong tendency to the frivolous in amusement. Some sections of the
Christian church, which is the " pillar and ground of the truth," and the chief
fountain of moral and religious influence, have become accustomed to alternate
seasons of excitement and lethargy, instead of the scriptural progress which

112 COUNTY HISTORY.

is like thiit of the " shining light that shiueth more and more unto the perfect
clay." No mortal mind can fully estimate the benefit which comes to a nation
through good schools for the young. Free from the ignorance and superstition
of uncivilized lands, and exempt from the stimulating and exciting forces of
civilized society, the schools are places of study, of instruction, of govern-
ment where the young mind and heart can grow in quiet, and luuler the guid-
ance of kindness and affection. What a broad and solid basis is here laid for
the rearing of an intelligent, strong, and stable nation !

Passing from these general observations showing the progress of education in
the county during the hundred and fifty years since its incorporation, some facts
will now be presented in relation to the present condition of the schools. By
the census of 1875, the population of the county was two hundred and ten thou-
sand two hundred and ninety-five. The valuation of the county was one hun-
dred and thirty-four millions six hundred and five thousand dollars, in round
numbers. Tlio number of schools in 1877-8 was nine hundred and thirty-eight.
The uuml)er of scholars in all the public schools was forty-two thousand eight
hundred and eighty. The average length of the schools in months and days,
was eight mouths and three days. The amount spent in building and repairing
school-houses, was about twenty-four thousand dollars. The cost of the
schools, exclusive of the last item, and also exclusive of income from private
funds, and the State school fund, was four hundred and thirty-one thousand
six hundred and ft)rty-five dollars and twenty cents. Tlie average wages of
teachers, including high-school teachers, per month, was, for males seventy
dollars and eighty cents ; for females thirty-three dollars and twenty-five cents.
Leaving out the high-school teachers reduces the difference very much. The
relative pay is not far from the ratio of twelve to nine or ten. In some towns
the female teachers were paid better than the males, though these cases are
few.

The following table gives certain facts respecting the cost of schooling in
the county in the year 1877-8, and the relative standing of the towns, during
that and the preceding year, as to the sum appropriated for each child, between
the age of five and fifteen years of age. Besides what is here given, some
of the towns have a small income from funds ; some devote the dog-tax to the
support of the schools ; and some towns contribute small sums for board and
fuel. Academies and private schools are not included in the table. The popu-
lation in 1875 is given, and also the valuation, except cents, in 1877.

SCHOOL SUPPORT.

113

Sum appropriated

Amounts raised

J. '■''

■3 S

ropulation

by towns for

<.. ^

by taxes for

c C

Valuation in

Names of Towns.

ill

each child be-

^ S

I 873.

tTvccn 5 and 15

the support of

1 °^

187-.

schools.

§ a 1

years of age.

s. ■= •=

Lancaster,

1,957

$19 74.7

$5,549 00

281

$2,020,300 00

New Braintree,

606

17 46.5

1,676 62

471,670 00

Barre, .

2,400

10 14 2

5,100 00

329

1,013.040 00

Fitchliurg, .

12,289

15 15 3

31,300 00

2,065

10,068,319 00

Pctcrsliain, .

1,203

13 92 3

2,300 00

187

031,705 00

AVoriTstcr,

49,317

13 09 3

124,536 27

9,097

45,076,453 00

Nortliliorougli,

1,:!0S

13 03 5

3,253 00

238

1,200,763 00

Uxhridge,

3.029

13 00.8

6,300 00

481

1,734,835 00

Athol, .

4,134

13 O'i.l

7,C0O 00

559

2,847,645 00

Upton, .

2,125

13 03

4,300 00

330

876,970 00

Soiitliborough,

1,985

12 78.8

4,500 00

359

1,295,377 03

Sterling,.

1.369

12 no

3,200 00

278

1,021,343 00

Warren, .

3,':no

U 14.2

5,000 00

407

1,975,419 00

Paxton, .

600

11 00.6

1,309 30

118

301, .533 00

Grafton, .

4.442

10 93.3

8,300 48

7S3

1,878,100 00

Shrewpliury. .

1,521

10 87

3,000 00

276

1,130.970 00

Westminster, .

1,712

10 86.9

2,700 00

253

845,870 00

AVcstliorougli,

5,111

10 79.3

8,300 00

709

2,489,381 00

Kortlibridge, .

4,0.30

10 60.4

7,8.50 00

758

1,779.905 00

Templcton, .

2,701

10 30.9

4,700 60

459

1,008,322 00

Broolvfielcl, .

2,000

10 59

4,050 00

459

1,244,709 00

Gardner,

3,733

10 33 3

0,500 00

042

2,068,533 00

Princeton,

1,003

10 40.3

1,701 00

174

862,383 00

Leominster, .

5,201

10 37 6

8,550 00

821

3,775,031 00

Eoylston,

805

10 35 7

1,300 00

154

525,895 00

Harvard,

1,304

10 12.6

2,400 00

''37

919,059 00

Rutland,

1,0™

2,003 CO

201

488,642 00

Iluljljardston,

1,410

9 92

2,503 00

252

803,349 00

Lciccstei-,

2,770

9 79,5

5,000 00

544

1,778,.551 00

Clinton, .

6,781

9 73.5

14,738 39

1,514

4,105,212 00

North Brookficld,

3.719

9 50.0

7,003 00

704

1,880,239 00

Lunenburg, .

1,153

9 40 5

1,000 00

252

701,839 00

lloyalston.

1,200

9 44

1,8C0 00

200

030,482 00

Aslibiii*nbam,

2,Ul

9 00.4

3,000 00

344

984,104 00

Oxford, .

2,0.38

9 01.6

4,.300 00

498

1,374,947 00

Pliillipston, .

600

8 69.3

1,000 00

125

290,037 00

Milford, .

9,818

8 48.2

18,flC3 00

2,193

4,3.50,783 00

Cliarlton,

1,802

8 35.7

2.732 71

327

907,340 00

Donglas,

2,202 1

8 13.8

3,-300 03

434

1,004,853 00

Wclistcr,

5,004

8 10 2

0,330 00

808

1,928,140 00

Dudley, .

2,053

7 99.3

4,500 00

563

890,940 00

West iSrookficld,

1 ,903

7 93,6

3,000 00

378

793,797 00

Millbiiry,

4 529

7 61.7

7,000 00

919

2,209,895 00

Spencer, .

5.451

7 39.5

8,800 00

1,190

2,764,264 00

Mendon,

1,170

7 37.G

1,300 00

227

640,438 00

Blackstonc, .

4,010

7 30

6,903 00

972

2,059,000 00

Sturbridge, .

2,213

7 21.2

3,003 00

416

1,085,971 00

Soutlibridge, .

5,740

7 00 1

9,780 00

1,397

3,010.980 00

Dana,

700

6 92.7

700 00

109

281,809 00

Oakham,

873

6 80.6

900 00

149

353,508 00

Berlin, .

987

6 57.1

1,100 00

183

485,488 00

Sutton, .

3,051

6 56.9

4,000 00

638

1,140,395 00

Bolton, .

987

6 55.7

1,200 00

183

480,377 00

West Boylston,

2,902

6 12.2

3,300 00

575

1,004,909 00

Ilolden, .

2,180

6 11.6

2,700 00

482

978,635 00

Winchendon, .

3,762

02.9

4,363 00

724

2,005,047 00

Auburn, .

1,233

5 86

1,.500 00

256

468,049 00

Iliirdwick,

1,992

5 15.2

2,000 00

416

993,930 00

There are other tables in the report of the board of education which change
the relative position of tlic towns. For example, in the tables showing the
percentage of valuation api)ropriated to public schools in the towns of "Worcester
County, the town of Dudley stands at the head, while in the preceding table it

114 COUNTY HISTORY.

is niimberecl forty-one. Lancaster goes from the first place down to forty-two.
And so of many others ; proving that some of the towns which raise a lesser
sum for each child, actually pay a larger percentage of their property for the
support of schools. There is another table which must be consulted before
determining what towns secure the most schooling for their children. In fact,
there are two such tables ; one gives tlie number of months for which the schools
in the different towns arc kept ; and by consulting this it may be found that
a town which raises less money in proportion to property than another, gives
its children a greater amount of schooling. The other table exhibits the ratio
of attendance to the whole number of children between five and fifteen. lu
this tabic Princeton leads the column, showing an attendance of more than one
hundred per cent. That is, if there are one hundred children in the town
between five and fifteen, there will be an actual attendance of more than one
hundred. Children below five or above fifteen will attend in sufBcient numbers
to overbalance the absence of some between those ages. The first five in this
list iirc small towns; viz., Princeton, Eoyalston, New Braintree, Paxton, and
Rutland. The first sixteen keep above ninety per cent. The fifty-eiglith town
gives something over sixty per cent. Equatmg all the tables would probably
prove that the children throughout the county enjoy nearly equal educational
privileges. This would become more evident, perhaps, if the private schools
and academies were included in the view. Fi;r example, the city of Worcester
holds the forty-second place in a list of fifty towns in the matter of average
attendance ; a poor showing. But there arc hundreds of Worcester children
in other schools than those supported by the city, not counting those who come
from other places to enjoy the advantages which the private schools in that
city afford.

In the census report of 1875 there are tables showing the number of children
in every town, under fifteen years of age, who are ".at work," and do not
attend school at all. The number in this county is 1,697. Besides, there arc
over 1,350 who are at school "at least three months" during the year ; that is,
.about half the time required by law. Though these are distributed through all
the towns, yet the majority are gathered into a few places where young help is
specially wanted. The State is making strenuous efforts to reduce this number
by enforcing the law requiring all children to attend school at least twenty
weeks during the year.

There is also a table of " illiteracy," in which the number of persons of all
ages who can neither read nor write is presented. The whole number of
"illiterates" in Worcester County is 18,567. Of these 2,468 are native born,
and 16,099 are foreign born. It is probable that quite a large proportion of
native-born illiterates are the children of foreign-born parents. The immi-
grants have come from countries where the provisions for the education of the
poor were scanty, or they were not taught to value them; but their children,
born in our mental atmosphere, are found in school to a great extent, and take

SCHOOL INFLUENCE. 115

respectable rank with the descendants of the first settlers — the Pilgrims and
Puritans of the seventeenth century.

This leads to the remark that the common-school system, which is the birth-
right of our children, whatever their parentage, or race, or color, is the most
efficient agency ever invented by man to make the people of a State homogeneous.
When children of every rank in society are brought together in school, and
classed there according to attainments, and credited according to conduct, they
learn insensibly to respect and sympathize with each other. Ties are woven
which do not entirely lose their hold through life. The lowly are uplifted,
while those higher in the social scale are not depressed or debased. There is a
law and spirit of the school as high as or higher than that of the average family,
under which all the pupils come, and it works unceasingly to transform
character, to correct bad habits, and to cultivate the amenities of life. The
school system is the solution of the problem how to transmute the baser metals
into gold, and the product is richer than all the metallic yield of the western
mountains.

The effect is seen, not only in getting and reciting lessons, and in the pronun-
ciation and the gait or carriage of the scholars, but in the contour of their heads
and the expression of their faces. Li three or four years of school intercourse
and training they lose their distinctive national marks, and a stranger would
pronounce them all " native and to the manner born." The change is marvellous
and gratifying. It is one of the rewards of teachers and those who have the
superintendence of schools to see the members of a school, made up, it may be,
from half a dozen nationalities, move along in perfect harmony till all become
and feel that they are playfellows, comrades, classmates and friends; till they
recognize not only a common nature, but a common nationality, and feel a
proper State pride ; till, in a word, they all become " live Yankees," and go out
into active life to play their part together in maintaining good institutions and
defending their common country. Distant be the day when our children cannot
all be educated together in their spring-time, and until they separate for the
sake, on the part of some, of professional training. Our society is moulded on
the idea of an educated democracy ; and cursed be they who break the mould.

Before leaving this part of our subject, a comparative view of the schools in
1848 and 1877 will be given; at least so far as relates to the number of
scholars in the county, the amount paid for schooling, and the sums paid for
the tuition of each scholar. The number of children between five and fifteen,
in the county, in 1877-8, was 38,831. The number in 1849 was 2G,128. In
1877-8 the amount raised by taxation for the support of schools was
$406,328.13. The amount raised for the same purpose in this county in 1848
was $75,682.46. The average sum paid for the schooling of each scholar in
the county, of school age, in 1877-8, was $10.55.4. In 1848 the sum paid for
the same purpose was, on the average for the county, $2.61. The difference is
great. As will be seen on comparison, the number of children has increased

116 COUNTY HISTORY.

oiil\' about one-third, wbilc the amount raised has been increased more than
fivefold, and the sum paid for each child annually is greater b}' nearly the
same proportion. This statement, taken without modification, would give an
impression tiiat the cause of education has advanced more I'lan the facts
warrant. In the first place, money will buy less than it would thirty years
ago, on the average of articles in daily use. Again, the w;iges of teachers have
been raised somewhat, though the larger employment of female teachers has
tended to keep the wages down. But making these allowances, the above
comparative statement indicates a rapid stride of progress. There has been a
gradual lengthening of the school year from less than six months to more than
eight months. This fact, taken with the improvement in the school-houses,
apparatus, text-books, and, above all, in teachers, warrants the conclusion that
the cause of education has made a most gratifying advance during the last
thirty years.

It mav interest some readers to note the change from male to female teachers
in the period under review. In 1848 the number of male teachers employed in
the summer term, in Worcester County, was 8 ; in the winter term the number
was 406. The aggregate for the year was 414. In the year 1877-8 the
number of male teachers during the year was only 1G7. The number of female
teachers in 1848, both summer and winter, was 851. In 1877-8 the number
for the year was 1,101. Formerly the male teachers were in the majority in
the winter, but this ceased to be the fact many years since. Except in
academics and technical or professional schools, the work of instruction has
passed into the hands of female teachers. INIany look with favor on the change ;
some regard it as an unmixed blessing. There are those, however, who object,
not without reason, that schools are not governed as they once were, and that,
consequently, children are growing up without the sense of authority which
formerly was impressed upon every pupil in school. This may be, and
probably is true : but still it is undeniable that the order in our schools is as
good as in past time. A careful observer, who remembers the schools of
thirty, forty, and fifty years ago, will have no hesitation in saying that there is
less mischief, roguery and idleness needing correction in present than in former
schools. May it not be, then, that the children have been learning, by
degrees, the need and the duty of self-control? And has not the influence of
intelligent young ladies, who, relying less on authority, and appealing to
reason and the feelings, have brought this generation into order and studious-
ness, vindicated their right to the almost exclusive occupancy of the teacher's
chair, which is to her as her throne?

Higher Schools and Academies.
The history of education in Worcester County requires a reference to those
schools which served a good purpose in former generations, but which have
come to an end. The materials for a sketch are imperfect, but something can

CLERICAL HELP. 117

be gleaned which may be of interest to the general reader. Perhaps it will ho
impossible to ascertain when or where the first select school or academy was
opened, since there always turils out to have been a first before the first.

But it may be safely said that the youth (jf both sexes, who derived a better
education than the schools could give, in the first, and far into the second
century of the Colon}', were indebted to the Congregational clergy. The first
generation of these men had the best education that the English universities
could impart, and they brought letters as well as religion to these shores. By
their influence, and b}' the liberal gifts of one of their number. Harvard College
was founded. Sixty years later Yale College was begun by a company of
ministers, who gave valuable books, with the expressed design of laying the
foundation of an institution of liijeral learning. Scattered in their rural
parishes all over New England, as it then was, the parish ministers not only
had the charge of all the schools, ex officiis, but because of their deep iutei'est
in the welfare of the young. Besides, they were in the habit of hearing those
young people who wished to enlarge their education at home, or prepare for
college, recite in the higher English branches and also in the classics. In
addition, some of them received pupils into their families from abroad, and
thus, in reality, set up small, but very select schools, of a high grade. The
extent to which this was done is hardly credible to those who have not looked
into the facts. It would scarcely be an exaggeration to say that every town
which had a parish minister had and enjoyed the means of giving all studious
youth a good education. Girls were guided in their reading by the sugges-
tions or advice from the parsonage. The minister's wife was accustomed to the
reading of good authors and the society of intelligent men ; and what was in
the parsonage permeated, as a perfume, the intellectual atmosphere of the
whole parish.

In these ways hundreds of girls were fitted to enter the select schools for
yoimg ladies which were opened in such towns as Boston, Salem, New Haven
and Hartford. Young men, in greater number, were. prepared for Harvard and
Yale, and later for Dartmouth. The preparation was thorough, especially in
Latin and Greek. All this grew out of the fact that "every parish had a
scholar for its minister." The ministers of Worcester County rendered this
service to the youth of their charge, and thus laid them under lasting obliga-
tion ; while keeping society up to its level, against all the barbarizing tenden-
cies of settlements in the woods. Some of these clerical teachers might be
specified, but their number was too great, and the benefit they conferred too
general, to call for special mention.

In proceeding to a brief history of the academies of the county, the writer
will be indebted to several gentlemen who have written on the subject ; espe-
cially to the late Hon. Emory Washl)urn, the late Rev. Charles Hammond,
Prof. E. A. Hubbard, and Prof. George A. Walton. One of the earliest of
these institutions in the county was

118 COUNTY HISTORY.

The Leicester Academy. — This academy is located in the pleasant town of
Leicester, which is itself a gronp of rounded hills with intervening valleys that
furnish delightful scenery. The idea of founding this school is said to have
originated with Col. Ebenczer Crafts of Sturbridge. Col. Jacob Davis of
CiiarKon was readily moved to co-operate, and the opportunity to secure a
building in Leicester which was 8uital)le for the purpose, determined the loca-
tion of the academy in that town. Col. Crafts petitioned the General Court for
an act of incorporation, in July, 1783, the year in which our independence was
acknowledged by King George. The subject went over to the winter session,
when, in February, 1784, the act was promised on the condition that an endow-
ment of one thousand pounds, iiesides the real estate, should be secured. The
sum was raised at once, and the bill granting a charter was passed in March.
Fifteen trustees were named in the act, and the instrument declared that the
school was to be " for the purposes of promoting true piety and virtue, and for
the education of 3'outh in the English, Latin, Greek and French languages, to-
gether with writing, arithmetic and the art of speaking ; also practical geometry,
logic, philosophy and geography, and such other liberal arts and sciences as
opportunity may hereafter permit, and the trustees hereinafter provided shall
direct." The Hon. Moses Gill, afterwards lieutenant governor of the Common-
wealth, was the tirst president of the board of trustees. An English and a
classical teacher were appointed, and the academy was opened in June, with
three scholars, which number was increased to seventy before the year closed.
Though the institution seems to have enlisted the support of leading men in all
parts of the county, and the pupils came from many different towns within and
beyond its bounds, yet it had to struggle with difficulties and embarrassments,
growing out of the impoverished state of the country at the close of a long war.
Its buildings served only a temporary purpose, not having been designed for a
school of the kind; its apparatus and library were very small, and the income
from students was not large.

One of the means often resorted to, a hundred years ago, was the lottery,
before the demoralizing effects of that disguised form of gambling were per-
ceived in their true light. A lottery was granted in 1788 by means of which
one thousand four hundred and nineteen dollars were raised. By another lot-
tery in 1791 about two thousand dollars were obtained. And in 1793 the legis-
lature granted a township of land in Maine, from the sale of which the sum of
nine thousand and two humlrcd dollars was realized. In time the old buildings
were replaced by new and more convenient ones, till a " well-arranged brick
edifice" met the wants of the sohool. "The board of trustees," says the report
above referred to, "has numbered some of the most prominent men in the State,
governors, senators and distinguished divines. Among its teachers are found
those who afterwards became presidents and professors in colleges ; and among
its students are found the names of members of the Cabinet, of the United States
Senate, of judges of the supreme court and governors of states." It is sup-

ACADEMIES. 119

posed that from six to eight thousand pupils have been connected with the
school, of whom about four hundred fitted for college. There have been twen-
ty-four principals of the school, some of whom became professors in colleges or
other high institutions of learning, and others have risen to distinction in the
pulpit and in public life. On the whole this academy has had an honorable and
successful history. What it needs is a large endowment, without which acad-
emics, in these days, must give place to high schools. It is reported that this
academy is closed at present, but it is hoped that it is only a case of suspended
animation.

The Lancaster AcMclemy. — This institution is parsed over with slight notice iu
the report of our centennial year, probably because the writer was not familiar
with its origin and history. Its origin is indeed obscure, but something which
answered the purpose of an academy was iu Lancaster long before the Leicester
Academy was founded. Dr. Warren, the famous patriot aud martyr of Bunker
Hill, was a teacher here some years before the Ecvolution began. The names
of other teachers who preceded him, are mentioned in the recently published
"History of Lancaster." There was a "stated grammar-school " before the year
1757. There is ground for the belief that a school in which the languages were
taught existed iu the first quarter of the last century. Though tliis school was
not strictly an academy, and was not incorporated, yet it answered the purpose
of such an institution, because it tauglit a similar range of studies Edward
Bass, the first Episcopal bishop iu INIassachusetts, was here iu 174G, two years
after his graduation at Harvard. Among the teachers were Rev. Joseph
Palmer, a classmate of Mr. Bass ; Abel Willard, a lawyer of note aud a friend
of the elder John Adams ; the Rev. Moses Ilcmenway, a clergyman of great
ability aud high reputation iu his day ; Dr. Israel Atherton, the first liberally
educated physician in the county ; and Joseph Willard, afterwards president of
Harvard University. Others lollowed, men and women, who achieved success,
and about the opening of this century, William EUery Channing, whose name
is an eulogy, had charge of the school.

The same institution, substantially, took the form of an academy, and was
incorporated in 1815 ; and again in 1825, when a new start was taken, in
the hope of wider infiuencc and success. Jared Sparks, George B. Emerson,
Solomon P. Miles, and others who filled prominent places iu ditTcrent profes-
sions or callings, were among the teachers. One of the most noted was \ox\" a
resident of the town, Hon. James G. Carter. This academy lingered till the
year 187.3, when the corporation was dissolved. The time had come when
nothing but a large endowment could save the school, and so it ceased to be ;
but it had done, under different names and administrations, a most useful aud
hoiioraljle work.

Tlie Westminster Academy. — This school was started nearly fifty years since.
Its first act of incorporation was passed in 1833. After fourteen years of varied
experience, another charter was granted, in 1847. It has been closed sever.il

120 COUNTY HISTORY.

years, other academies and high schools having cut off its supply of students
from other towns. Yet this academy, now almost forgotten except hy its liv-
ing alumni, was once flourishing. In the spring and fall terms, especially,
the town seemed to ho thronged with youth of both sexes, who studied together,
and formed tics and friendships which lasted for life. Hundreds wlio have
lived better lives from their connection with this school, hold it in fond rcmeni-
brauce. The people of the village felt an interest in the school, and opened
their houses hospitably for the accommodation of pupils who came from the
surrounding towns. It was this spirit in the community which drew many to
the academy who would otherwise have gone elsewhere for academical in-
struction.

The 3ItHhiry Academy. — Like several other similar schools, this academy
had to succumb to the high-school s3-stem, when the town iu which it was
located came under the scope of the law in relation to high schools. The prop-
erty was owned iu shares ; and the building was sold to the town in 1852,
when the town was obliged to maintain a high school. Like other institutions
of the kind, now dead and nearly forgotten, it did good service in its day. It
is a great mistake to suppose these schools were failures because they died a
natural death. As well inight we speak of the career of a good man or woman
as a failure because they have passed away. They must be estimated by
the amount and quality of the work they performed while they did live.
Judged by this standard, the old academics will ever be esteemed by the student
of history as among the potent forces hy which society was informed and ele-
vated in former generations. The last principal of the Millbury Academy, Mr.
A. P. Stone, has become one of the foremost educators iu the Commt)nwealth.

The MiJford Academy. — This was a local institution, and its ownership
was in shares of fifty d(jllars each. Having no basis in a solid endowment, and
its place being supplied by town schools of a high grade, it came to an end
some years since.

The Winchendon Academy. — About the year 1843 the late Ephraim Murdock,
Esq., then an aged citizen of Winchendon, founded the academy by erecting a
handsome building for the use of the scholars, which was let, free of cost, to
the successive principals who had it in charge. He also built a large boarding-
house which was likewise free for the use of the principal and his boarders, or let
at a nominal rent. The school was patronized chiefly by families of the town,
but quite a number of youth came from neighboring towns. At the time of its
opening, the policy of high schools was becoming a tixed part of our scheme of
public education, when academies that had not a large endowment were unable
to compete with schools supported by taxation. Therefore, after several years
of successful work, the generous founder bequeathed the academy building and
the handsome square on which it stood, to the town, to be used for educational
purposes. After his decease, a high school was established and the academy
ceased to be. In it many young people had acquired a good English educa-

ACADEMIES. 121

tion, and quite a number were prepared for still higher schools, and also fur
college. Among the principals who rendered essential assistance in training
the students in this institution, were iAIr. D. C. Chamberlain, Mr. Charles
L. Brace, the wcll-knowu author and philanthropist, and William W. Godding,
M. D., formerly the distinguished superintendent of the Slate Lunatic Hospital
at Taunton, and now occupying the same position in the United Stales Hospital
at Washington.

Other Extinct Schools. — The West Brookfield Female Seminary, which
expired about the year 1830, lasted but a few years. "It was an early
attempt," says the educational report, "to establish an academy for women."
The Ladies' Collegiate Institute was started in Worcester, some years before
the Rebellion, but after a short career came to an cud, and its property was
sold. It had a large and showy building on the summit of Union Hill,
on the east side of the city, which was sold for another educational enter-
prise in 18(39. Towards the close of the war, the buildings, vacant of
students, were hired by the Stale and transformed into Dale Hospital, and
filled with hundreds of wounded, sick and disabled soldiers who found
there a temporary home. The Worcester Manual Labor School was started
in the time when the plan, now obsolete, of uniting manual labor with a
regular academical curriculum was popular. The whole scheme was a failure,
though it seemed to have much to recommend it at the time. "Jlany of the
students in this school obtained work and earned money while at school,"
as at nearly all New England academics. Beyond this the manual labor de-
partment was only a name. As we shall see, this institution was afterward
merged in another.

In this connection special mention should be made of the school established
by the late Prof. William Russell in Lancaster, and called the New Euijlaud
Normal Institute, which was opened IMay 11, 1853. The design was to main-
tain a school of a very high order for the training of teachers. He surrounded
himself with an able corps of helpers, some of whom have risen to distinction
as educators and authcn-s. It is sufficient to repeat the names of Herman
Kriisi, Sanborn Tcnney, and Dana P. Colburn. Such men as Lowell Mason,
Calvin Cutler, Prof. S. S. Green, and Rev. Francis T. Russell were amono-
those who gave courses of lectures. Accomplished ladies, like Mrs. Caleb T.
Symmes and Miss Anna V. Russell, gave instruction in various branches.
During the first term there were eighty scholars, and for the academic year one
hundred and thirty-nine. The prospect of permanent success seemed good ;
but a money basis was needful to enable the school to compete with the normal
schools supported by Iho State. In the first place, persons preparing to teach
could not afford to pay tuition enough to support a corps of superior teachers ;
and in the next place, the grade of the institute was higher than necessary to
prepare teachers for our common schools. Thus a noble enterprise met an un-
timely fate. Who can estimate the good that might have been effected if the
u

122 COUNTY HISTORY.

institute had received such an endowment as has come to several schools and
academies during the last fifteen years? The action of the State in openlno'
normal schools for the education of teachers, and in requiring towns of a cer-
tain grade to maintain high schools, has destroyed all the old academies of the
third rank, and some of the second. The time is hastening when the remain-
der must be endowed and raised to the tirst rank, like those at Andovcr,
Exeter, and Easthampton, or see their rooms emptied of students. But
academics of the first rank we must have, and here we have a place where
benevolent men and women may bestow their surplus money with the best
effect.

The Nichols Academy. — One of the oldest living academies in the county is
located in the town of Dudley, and bears Ihe name of Nichols. It was incorporated
in the year 1819. It derives support from term bills, and from an appropriation
of one thousand dollars by the town of Dudley. When it was incorporated
the Genera] Court gave it, in trust for educational purposes, a half township
of land in the then province of Maine. The endowment, though not large,
enables the institution to prolong its life. There is a Hancock fund, which fur-
nishes aid to meritorious students. A librar}' of several hundred volumes is
for the use of Ihe students. The buildings arc an academy and a boarding-
house, the hitter being almost a necessity in a small village. The grounds are
ample and beautifully laid out, making the place a pleasant resort.

As in some other schools, there are two courses of study, each extending
through three j'cars. One course is English, and the other is classical ; yet
students are at liberty to select an optional course out of the branches pursued
in the academy. ■ Says the often quoted report : "Graduates from the academy
are taking enviable positions in the first colleges in tho country, and it is in-
tended to make the classical department in the future the distinctive one of the
academy." So long as there is a large number of towns in the State too small
to support a high school, academies will l)e a necessity; and one ought to bo
placed in or near the centre of a cluster of such towns. But they must not bo
too numerous, and they cannot depend on tuition for support. Endowments
must be secured, and there is no better way to make a good use of wealth than
to endow a good academy.

The Woi'cester Academy. — This institution grew out of tiiat originally
chartered as the Worcester Manual Labor High School. The manual experi-
ment, as a specialty, did not include focilities for labor in the buildings,
and was not, according to notions then prevalent, a manual labor school. By
an act of the General Court the name was changed in 1848 to The Trustees
of Worcester Academy. The grounds owned by the academy originally were
in the south part of Worcester, and contained sixty acres. The school has
occupied different sites, being at one time in the old library building of the
American Antiquarian Society, at the corner of Summer and Belmont streets.
In 1869 the trustees purchased the property of the Ladies' Collegiate Institute,

ACADEMIES. 123

■which had ceased to exist. The new property consisted of four acres of land,
on the top of Union Hill, with "extensive buildings for academic and dormi-
tory purposes." Forty thousand dollars was paid for the land and buildings.
The academy is free from debt, and owns a property in rCal estate valued as
high as one hundred thousand dollars. It is attended by pupils of both sexes.
In 1848 the State granted half a township of land, situated in the State of
Maine, and many gifts have been received from the friends of the institu-
tion.

The building is of brick, and consists of a central edifice and two wings.
The centre is a projection, the wings being a few feet buck from the front line,
thus adding to the good appearance of the whole structure. Without its numerous
towers, the academy buildings, as a whole, would still produce a grand and plcas-
insr effect on the beholder. The interior is well arranged to be convenient and
attractive. "All the public rooms, including chapel, recitation-rooms, parlor,
librar}', reading-room, and diiiing-hall, are in the main building. Access to
these is by means of jiassagcs and halls which traverse the entire length of the
building on three floors, thus obviating the necessity of exposure to the weather
for any purpose."

The academy is supplied with library, apparatus, maps, and other facilities for
study and general culture, including a reading-room, in which are placed current
issues of the press. A literary society, composed of students, has weekly
exercises in discussions, declamations, debates, and readings. This society has
a room and a library devoted to its own uses, consisting of several hundred
volumes. There are several scholarships which afford aid to worthy stu-
dents.

Three courses of study meet the wants of different classes of pupils. These
are the academic, the scientific and the classical courses. The academic course
is a mollification of the other two. The classical course includes Latin, Greek,
French and German, with certain English studies. The academy has had a
succession of able teachers : — Silas Bailey, inider whom it opened with thirty
scholars, and increased to one hundred and thirt^'-tive in 185G, of whom only
eighteen belonged to Worcester ; Prof. Samuel S. Greene, since a professor in
Brown University, Nelson Wheeler, C. C. Burnet, Hon. Eli Thayer, A. P.
Marble, the present superintendent of schools in Worcester, Rev. David
Weston, D. D., and others. The present principal is Nathan Leavenworth.
Some of these have had peculiarly successful administrations.

The Hon. Isaac Davis deserves honorable mention for his generous labors
and liberal gifts in support of this academy. During forty years preceding
1874 he was president of the board of trustees, and nearly all that time was
a member of the executive committee and treasurer of the corporation. It
is said that "through his management there never was a day in the history of
the school when its property was less than the day before." The founders,
directors, and teachers of this school belong to the Baptist denomination, but

124 COUNTY HISTORY.

"no denominational tests are imposed, and denominational instrnction forms no
jiart of the curriculum." Tlie influence of this institution in proniotinti lil)enil
culture has been great, and there is a fair prospect that it will l)e more widely
diffused in the future. Possibly it may grow into a college as population in-
creases, as the large denomination which it represents has no college in the
Commonwealth, though Brown University is near at hand.

The Oread Instilule. — This school was originated by the Hon. Eli Thayer,
in 1848, for the purpose of affording young ladies every requisite facility for
obtaining a generous "mental culture, in no way inferior to that secured to the
other sex by our colleges and universities." The building, which attracts at-
tention by its singular architecture, is one hundred and forty feet in length by
forty in depth, and is flanked at each end by round towers, fifty feet in
diameter. The material is stone, taken in small pieces from a quarry on the
grounds. Standing on a steep hillside, with winding walks, and frcqueut
shade, the effect is striking.

The course of study includes a preparatory and an academical department,
the latter occupying four years. In mathematics the students are taken through
a thorough course, including the Calculus. Natural science is illustrated by
nature and art. Latiu and Greek are studied with care ; the former, with
"reference to securing a mastery of our own language," and the latter for its
"entertainment, and for the relation of its terms to the technicalities of sci-
ence." Art and poetry are carefully attended to, and outside of study hours
ornamentals have a due share of attention. Music has a high place in the cur-
riculum. Drawing, painting, elocution, and the art of comi)ositiou have their
proper place. Regular gymnastic exercises are engaged in by every pupil as
a means of health as well as of graceful carriage. The study of Gcrmau,
Italian, and Spanish is optional. The French language is part of the course,
and in the "advanced classes recitations are conducted in French. The library
contains about four thousand volumes. The social, moral and religious cul-
ture of the students is a matter of the utmost care. Bible studies by the prin-
cipal, together with family devotions, Bible-class, and Sabbath services, while
entirely free from all sectarian bias, are directed to the moral and religious
development of the mind and heart of the students." Such arc the advantages
of this school, which has existed now about thirty years, aud has acquired an
honorable standing.

After ISIr. Thayer left the position of principal, it was, during several years,
under the joint care of Rev. J. Shepardson and Miss Sophia B. Packard.
During the last twelve years the government has been wholly with Rev. Harris
R. Greene, A.M., who is assisted by a competent corps of teachers. The
modern languages are taught by natives. Though the exterior of the build-
ing, resembling a feudal castle of the Middle Ages, does not appear very apjjro-
priate to the purposes of a young ladies' school, yet the interior, in all its
rooms, halls, passages, and appointments, is arranged with special care for

ACADEMIES. 125

couvenience, and according to modern ideas of a cheerful, airy and homelike
residence.

IliriJdand MiHtarij Academy. — This institution stands by itself, in some
respects, among our schools and academics. It has a wide and thorough
course of study, hut at the same time aims to develop the physical powers,
and includes gymnastic and military exercises. The founder, Mr. C. B. j\Iet-
calf, is a graduate of Yale College, and was for several years a successful
teacher in the public schools of "Worcester. In 185G he established the mili-
tary academy, and has been the head and superintendent of it to the present
time. The principal now, and for several years past, is Joseph A. Shaw,
A. i\I., instructor in ancient and modern languages, and higher English
branches. Among the teachers have been the following, some of whom are
now connected with the school : Prof. James Busheo, Edward B. Glasgow,
George L. Clark, Emerson G. Clark, Edward R. Hopkins, and Isaac N. Met-
calf. The academy is a day school for boys. The course of study is twofold,
English and classical, and fills out four years, besides a preparatory depart-
ment for young boys unprepared for the regular course. The grounds are out
of the thickly settled part of the city, yet near enough for convenience of
stores, post-office and church. They are beautiful and command an attractive
prospect. The buildings are well adapted to their uses, and elegant in appear-
ance. The}^ are near each other, and comprehend general assembly rooms,
class-rooms, library, armory, philosophical and chemical experiment rooms,
hospital, cadet quarters and offices.

The studies are the same as in other high and scientific schools. The com-
mon English branches are treated as of the first importance. Surveying, civil
engineering and natural science, and the classics preparatory to college, are
taught by well-educated gentlemen, who had gained a reputation as principals
of first-class schools, before their connection with this institution.

Special care is taken in regard to the health, manners, morals, and general
deportment of all the pupils. One who had observed the influence of the
school as a patron, speaks in high terms of the "military punctuality, order
and precision everywhere manifest," and of the "manly bearing, erect car-
riage, and gentlemanly deportment developed." He says farther, that "as a
corrective of the loose and straggling habits of universal boyhood, indeed, it
seems almost impossible to overestimate the value of the military features
of this academy."

College of the Holy Cross. —The College of the Holy Cross, situated on one
of the fine hill-sides, of which so many add to the natural scenery of Worcester,
was founded by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Fenwick, Roman Catholic Bishop of Bos-
ton, in the year 1843. It was given by him to the Fathers of the Society of
Jesus. In 1865 it was Incorporated by the State, and was "authorized to con-
fer such degrees as are conferred by any college in this Commonwealth, ex-
cept medical degrees." It is designed and fitted to prepare youth for " the

120 COUNTY HISTORY.

professional or commercial style of life." The course of instruction extends
over seven years, three of which are preparatory. The three first belong to
the junior division, and the four last to the senior. Tlie conditions
of admission and residence, besides scholarship, are good moral character
and compliance with the rules. The students are expected to pursue the
regular course, as more advantageous than a large mixture of optional studies.
The French language is a part of the course. Other modern languages are
optional, but for them a separate charge is mide. The college cnrricuhan is
very full and liberal, as any one will see by inspection of the catalogue. The
text-books in all departments are generally similar to those used in our best
schools and colleges. The Catechism is studied as a part of the course. At-
tention is given to rhetoric and the study of poetry.

There are several courses of lectures in addition to the studies of the
course. 1. Rational philosophy, with Latin text-books. 2. Natural phi-
losophy, physiology, and mechanics. 3. Chemistry. The institution has
suitable apparatus, and collections in mineralogy, conchidogy, and immis-
matics. It is evident from the course of study that the students have the
means of becoming well-educated men. The faculty consists of sixteen in-
structors and professors, with Rev. Edward D. Boone, S. J., as president,
treasurer, and prefect of studies. The number of students at present is about
one hundred and fifty.

Worcester Free Institute. — The full and legal name of this institution is
" The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science." It was
chartered May 10, 18G5, and the buildings were erected so that students were
received at the opening of the first term, Nov. 10, 1868. The corpora-
tion is authorized to hold property to the amount of one million dollars. The
founder of the school was Mr. John Boynton, of Tcmpleton, who made an
endowment of one hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars. The late Hon.
Ichabod AYashburn of Worcester, who had long had in his mind the establish-
ment of a somewhat similar school, gave money for the erection and equip-
ment of the machine-shop, and otherwise enlarged the resources of the institute to
a total amount of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The Hon. Stephen
Salisbury, president of the board of trustees, has made additional endowments
in money and land, amounting to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and
the State has made a donation of fifty thousand dollars. The annual available
income is reported as twenty-five thousand dollars. The income from
students is intentionally small, as appears from the following statement : "By
the terms of the gift of Mr. Boynton, the school is free to all citizens of the
county of Worcester ; and by the conditions of the State grant, and the gift of
the Hon. George F. Hoar, twenty-three students, residents of the State of
Massachusetts, but not of the county of Worcester, may receive free tuition.
Residents of any other place may be admitted upon payment of a tuition fee
of one hundred dollars per annum.

ACADEMIES. 127

The grounds of the institute cover nearly seven acres, in an elevated and
attractive locality. Two main buildings have been erected, — Boyntou Hall
and the Washburn Machine-shop. Boynton Ilall, named in honor of the
founder of the institute, is a three-story granite building, one hundred and
forty-six feet long by sixty-one feet wide, built by citizens of Worcester at an
expense of about sixty-seven thousand dollars, and devoted to recitations, lect-
ures, and the general exercises of the institution. The Washburn IMachine-
shop is a three-story brick building, one hundred feet long by fort}' feet wide,
with a wing sixty-live by forty feet, for engine, boilers, and blacksmith shop.
The first floor is fully equipped for the manufacture of machinists' tools ; the
second floor for wood-work, and the third for general purposes.

The institute sprang out of a couviction that boys needed a system of train-
ins: for the duties of active life, which is " broader and brinrhter than the
popular method of learning a trade, and more simple and direct than the so-
called liberal education." The managers of the school believe that the "con-
nection of academic culture and the practical application of science is advan-
tageous to both, in a school where these objects are started together, and car-
ried on with harmony and equal prominence." Instruction is given to all stu-
dents in the most thorough manner, by recitations and lectures, in the English,
French, and German languages, in mathematics, theoretical and applied me-
chanics, the physical sciences, and drawing. In addition to this, " for ten
hours a week for ten months, and eight hours a day for the month of July,
practice is required of the students according to the respective departments of
their choice; viz., the mechanics in the AVashburn Machine-shop, the civil en-
gineers in the field and iu the drawing-room, the chemists in the laboratory,
the designers in the drawing-room."

The institute is supplied beyond most other schools with the "chemical and
ph3'sical apparatus essential to successful instruction in the physical sciences."
Text-books and books of reference are found in the buildings, and the students
have access to the free libraries of the city. The degree of bachelor of science
is conferred on all full graduates, in course, and the promise is given to all
graduates, of recognition of professional success by an honorary degree.
There are twelve instructors iu connection with the institution ; viz., eight pro-
fessors, one tutor, two assistants, one lecturer. The principal from the be-
ginning has been Prof. C. O. Thompson, A. M.

The reasons why the institute was estal)lished iu Worcester, when the founder
lived in Templeton, and was identified with the interests of the northern part
of the count}', are creditable to Mr. Boynton's wisdom and public spirit. It
was evident, on reflection, that such an institution must be placed iu a large
town where all kinds of industry were fl(jurishing. In addition, the special
friend of the founder was Mr. David Whitcomb, now a resident of Worcester,
but formerly a partner of Mr. Boynton. The special friend and the adviser
of Mr. Whitcomb, in this matter, was the late Rev. Dr. Seth Sweetser, during

128 COUNTY HISTORY.

forty years pastor of the Ceutral Church, in Worcester, than whom there was
not a more sagacious and large-minded friend of education in the country.
Though almost a recluse in his habits, his mind embraced all kinds of knowl-
edge, and all pursuits of men, and his heart reached out in its sympathies for
the welfare of all sorts of men.

The Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science being em-
23hatically a county institution, is entitled to large space in the history of
the county, but for want of room, its history, design, and condition must be
limited to a few pages. Its success thus far is prophetic of an honorable
and useful career in the future.

The Normal Scliool. — The State Normal School at Worcester, was intended
to furnish facilities to students of both sexes, in this portion of the State, who
purpose to make teaching a business for a time at least, if not permanently. It
is essentially a county institution, though supported in great part, by the Com-
monwealth. The General Court, in 1871, authorized and required the State
board of education to establish a normal school in the city of Worcester ;
and at the same time, the trustees of the Worcester Lunatic Hospital
were authorized and required to convey to the board of education and its
successors, a tract of land of not more than five acres, to be located by the
governor and council. The sum of sixty thousand dollars was granted on con-
dition that the city of Worcester should pay to the board fifteen thousand
dollars for the purposes named in the resolve. The city promptly complied
with this condition, and made an addition of more than one thousand dollars.
The lesislature granted ten thousand dollars more, with which to purchase
furniture and fixtures. The city could well afford to give fifteen thousand
dollars, as the school has relieved it from the expense of maintaining a training
school for teachers, and by the locality it has the choice of the best graduates
who are selected to take charge of schools in the city.

The governor and council selected the site on the second of September,
1871, and on the nineteenth the conveyance was made by the trustees of the
hospital to the educational Ijoard. The building is located upon Hospital Hill,
and in Hospital Grove, as it was formerly styled, and overlooks the whole
city. Nearness to the Union Depot renders it convenient to the students who
come and go daily in the trains from different sections of the county. The
edifice is built of stone, is large and elegant in design, and convenient in every
part. It is one hundred and twenty-eight feet long, and eighty-eight feet
wide, three stories in height, with a French roof. It was dedicated Sept.
11, 1872, the late Hon. Henry Chnpin, chairman of the board of visitors,
presiding, when the late Hon. Emory Washburn made an address suitable
to the occasion ; and on the fifteenth of the same month the school was opened
for the reception of pupils.

The design of this school is stated to be "the thorough preparation of
teachers for our public schools." None are admitted who do not intend to

ACADEMIES. 129

teach, and none are continued who do not give promise of success. Male
students must bo seventeen, and female students sixteen jcars of age at
the time of admission. They must come with good character and good
health, with the purpose of observing all the rules of the school, and with
the declared intention of finishing the course. Tuition is free to those who
are to teach in the public schools of Massachusetts. Those who prefer to
teach in private schools, and those who come from other States are charged
fifteen dollars a term of twenty weeks. The charge upon all the pupils is two
dollars a year for incidentals. The course runs through two years of forty
weeks ; five days, of five hours at least, to each week. Applicants for admission
are examined iu reading, spelling, writing, geography, arithmetic, grammar and
history of the United States. Provision has been made for a four years' course
for those who can find time to take it.

The studies of the course, in addition to what is prescribed in the conditions
of admission, are composition and rhetoric, logic, drawing, algebra, geometry,
navigation, surveying, book-keeping, ancient as well as modern geography,
with chronology, statistics and general history, physiology, mental philosophy,
music, the constitution and history of Massachusetts and of the United States,
natural philosophy, astronomy and natural history. The principles of piety
and morality common to all sects of Christians will be inculcated, and a por-
tion of the Scriptures will be daily read in the school. As a specialty, the
science and art of teaching, with reference to all the foregoing subjects is
taught and exemplified. The above course is subject to variation, at the dis-
cretion of the principal, with the consent of the visitors. Latin and French
are optional. Gymnastic exercises arc engaged in by all for amusement, health
and improvement. State aid is furnished for the benefit of scholars in this as
in the other normal schools, to the amount of one thousand dollars yearly.
From the report on normal schools we learn that " Illustrative apparatus for
the teaching of drawing, of physiology and of physical science, has been sup-
plied, and additions to this are continually made. A chemical laboratory, ac-
commodating eighteen working pupils, and supplied with the needful fixtures
and appliances, has been fitted up, and necessary supplies have been furnished
at the cost of about five hundred dollars." An arrangement has been made by
which members of the senior class may be assigned as assistants or apprentices
to superior teachers iu the pul)lic schools of Worcester, and thus have practice
in the government and instruction of school children. This brief account may
be fitly closed with the following extract from the report made by the principal
in the centennial year : —

" Constant attention is paid to the healtli of the students, a majority of wliom report
themselves as improved in this respect soon after entering the school. Recognizing
the physical integrity and well-being of the pupils as an indispensable pre-requisite to
their success, either as scholars or teachers, we postpone the care of their health to no
other duty whatever. This often involves a sacriflce of present progress in study ; but,

130 COUNTY HISTORY,

unless wc discredit tbe most emphatic teachings of tliose best qualified to judge, it is
the part of wisdom. Our aim is first, to instruct the students in the care of their
healtii; and, secondly, to make it easy for them to put such instruction into practice.
Very full health statistics are recorded, and a pretty strict and searching sanitary
regime maintained, in addition to much instruction in ph3"siology and hygiene througli-
out the course. A room has l)een neatly and appropriately arranged, in which the
pupils who remain during recess take their meals at tables, witli settees appropriately
arranged, and where the graces of social life are seen and cultivated."

Prof. E. Harlow Riisscll has been the principilof the school from thebegiii-
iiiff. Mr. Charles F. Adams, Miss Rebecca Jones and Miss Florence Foster
have been assistants the same length of time. Other teachers have been em-
plo3'ed, making a full cori)s according to the wants of the school.

Cushing Academy. — This academy, situated in Ashburnham, is one of tlie
most recently established of our superior institutions. The history of its in-
ception and establishment, illustrates the way in which a train, or a combina-
tion of influences long at work, finally culminate in a grand result. The first
minister of Ashburnham, the pastor of the Congregational church, was the Rev.
Jonathan Winchester. The second minister was the Rev. Dr. John Cushing,
"whoso pastorate extended over nearly half a century. By the liberality of de-
scendants of these men, the institution is now named "Cushing Academ}-,"
and the ample grounds on which it stands, are called "Winchester Square."

The founder of the academy was the late Thomas Parknian Cushing, a Boston
merchant. Ho was the son of Dr. Cushing, and a descendant, on b.)th sides,
of clerical ancestors. Living in Boston he became intimite with the Rev. Dr.
Wayland, at one time a Baptist clergyman there, and afterwards celebrated as
the president of Brown University. Moreover, his wife, Mrs. Cushing, was
an enlightened friend of education in its highest sense. Mr. Cushing, after
providing for his family, left a legacy for founding an academy in his native
place, to be attended b}' pupils of both sexes over ten years of age. The trus-
tees, selected by himself, named by himself in his will, were Rev. Francis
Wayland, D.D., LL. D., the Hon. Charles G. Loring, and the Hon. Heman
Lincoln. The fund was to accumulate, according to the conditions of the
will, and at a proper time, the trustees were to apply to the legislature for an
act of incorporation, which should include the names of a permanent Ixiard of
trustees. The act was passed May 16, in the year 18G5 ; and the board con-
sisted of thirteen gentlemen, five of whom were citizens of Ashburnham. Dr.
Wayland was the first president of this board.

The character of Mr. Cushiug, and his design in founding the academy,
are expressed in a sentence of his will, which is copied in the preamble of the
act of incorporation, as follows: "The stal)ility of our laws and the safety of
our government, the right direction of our republican institutions, the preser-
vation of virtue and good morals, in short, the well-being and happiness of
society depend, in a great degree, upon the diffusion of practical and useful

ACADEMIES. 131

knowledge among the people." Mr Gushing goes on to say that he was " par-
ticularly desirous of using a portion of the estate with which God had blessed
him, fur the promotion of so important an object as that of improving the edu-
cation, and thus of strengthening and enlarging the minds of the rising and
of future generations."

The trustees under the act soon had a meeting, and organized by the chcjice
of officers ; Dr. Wayland being the lirst president, Rev. J. D. Crosby, secretary,
and Hon. Ebenezer Torrey, treasurer. The funds of the academy were well
invested, being somewhat over eighty thousand dollars. None of this sum was,
by the conditions of the will, to be devoted to I)uildiug purposes. The trus-
tees voted to make their capital one hundred thousand dollars, and not to
build luitil a building fund should be accumulated sufScient to erect an edifice
suitable for the academy. The fund increased so fast that in 1873 a building
committee w;is chosen, and directed to proceed in the work. The foundation
was laid that year, and in the following the building was erected. In the
spring and summer of 1875, furniture was obtained, and everything set in
order for the opening of the academy. The cost of building and furniture was
about ninety thousand dollars. Subsequent additions have carried the expense
two or three thousand dollars higher. The chairman of the committee was
Mr. George C. Winchester, and the superintendent of the work was the late
Hon. Ohio Whitney. The academy is one of the most costly as well as one of
the best educational buildings in the county. It is over one hundred feet
long, with ample breadth, has a high basement, two lofty stories, and a
high French roof, which gives a grand hall, extending the whole length and
breadth of the building. There are towers at each corner, and a loftier tower
in the centre-front, in which a large and finely-sounding bell is placed. The
material is brick, with granite basement and trimmings, all put together in the
most thorough and workman-like manner. The academy dccupios a splendid
site, overlooking the village, llie valley below, and looking out upon the broad-
backed hills which make up much of the scenery in the vicinity.

Appropriations were soon made for the purchase of philosophical and chemical
apparatus, a reference library and musical instruments. The course of study
is arranged on a lil)eral scale. The classical department requires four years of
study, except to those who enter at an advanced standing. The English course
occupies three years The instruction is thorough, and the government of the
school is mild, but firm. The principal, from the beginning, has been Prof. Edwin
Pierce, A. M., the vice-principal is Prof. James E. Vose, and the preceptress
is Miss Mary P. Jefts, a graduate of Mount Holyoke Seminary. The two
gentlemen have had long and varied experience in teaching and conducliiig
schools. Other teachers have been employed in the various branches, includ-
ing chemistry, to which special attention is given, and for which superior
facilities are secured. The school was opened Sept. 8, 187.5, the building
having been dedicated with api)ropriatc services yn the preceding day, when

132 COUNTY HISTORY.

the Hon. Alexander H. Bullock, then president of the board, delivered an elo-
quent discourse, and was followed by others. The present president is AI)ra-
ham Lowe, M. D., of Boston, Mr. Bullock having resigned his place on the
board. Since the opening the school has had nearly four years of pi-osperity,
and has sent several graduates to college, besides givins; a jjood academical
education to many others. More full particulars of this academy will be found
in the historical sketch of Ashbui'nham, contained in this work.

Bromfield School. — The latest of the secondary schools in the county is
the Bromfield School, in Harvard, founded by the will of Mrs. Margaret Brom-
field Blanchard, in 1877. A substantial biick building, the interior of which
consists of a session h:dl, lecture room, library, chemistry room, two recitation
rooms, and two cloak I'ooms, was erected on the site of the old mansion of the
Bromfield estate. Here is another illustration of inherited influence. The
Rev. Eliphalet Pearson, LL. D., was the first preceptor of Phillips Academy
at Andover. Then he was chosen professor of Hebrew and other oriental lan-
guages in Harvard College. At the death of President Willard, he became
acting president of the college ad hderim. After that ho became one of the
most active founders of the theological seminary at Andover, and was inducted
into the ofSce of professor of sacred literature in that institution. This was in
1808. He was prominent in all matters of high interest to the church till 1820,
when he removed to Harvard, bcins; then sixtv-ci2;ht years of age. The last six
years of his life were spent in the business of agriculture. He died in 1826.
His second wife was Sarah, daughter of Henry Bromfield of Harvard, by whom
he had four children. One of these was Margaret, who became the wife of Rev.
I. H. T. Blanchard. He was a graduate of Harvard College, and in 1823 was
ordained pastor of the church in Harvard. The school was founded by his
wife (then a widow, in 1877), as has been already stated. It is a
tradition that Dr. Pearson had a desire that an academical school should be
established in Harvard,- the home of his wife, and his own residence in his later
years. If this is true, the piety of a daughter has realized his patriarchal
wishes.

The original design of the founder, Mrs. Blanchard, was to make the insti-
tution one where young women might obtain "education in the higher branches
of learning ; " but young men might be admitted also, under certain restrictions,
as the trustees should judge expedient. These latter state that the "endow-
ment fund was large enough to make the institution independent of tuition
receipts," and therefore not subject to the "peculiar prejudices of patrons or
pupils," while its "organization renders it secure from the menaces of local and
temporary disturbances." They state further, that its "control by a body of
trustees severally stauding high in professional life, ensures its devotion solely
to the welfare of the students, its management upon the broadest principles,
and its adoption of the most advanced methods."

The course of study fills three years ; the year is divided into three terms, in

SOCIETIES. 133

the aggregate thirty-eight or thirty-nine weeks in the year. The curriculum
embraces three cleptirtraents — the literary, the scientific, and the collegiate. The
years are termed the Junior year, the Cursor 3'car, and the Senior year. The
conditions of aduiissiou and of continuance in the school are high, and snch, if
adhered to, as will ensure good scholarship. The school was organized
Sept. 17, 1878, by Mr. Charles W. Stickncy, with an examination of ap-
plicants for admission. Thirty-nine were fonnd qualified for admission. The
instructors are Charles W. Stickney, A. B., William L. Hooper, A. M., and
Mrs. Henrietta N. Stickney, who has charge of the musical department.
Henr}' B. Rogers, Esq., of Boston, is president of the board, and Rev.
A. P. Peabody, D. D., and Rev. A. A. Miner, D. D., are members. This
sketch is given in connection with the history of the secondary schools in
the county, but further particulars will probably find a place in the history of
Harvard.

Perhaps some former or existing schools or academies, which deserve hon-
orable mention, have escajjed notice in this hasty sketch. If so, they will,
without doubt, be duly honored in the history of the towns in which they are,
or were, located. But surely this record is enough to show that the good peo-
ple of Worcester County, in all their generations, have set a high estimate upon
the institutions of learning which have been sustained at such cost. The
liberal endowments by wealthy friends of a superior mental training,
whether academical, scientific, military, literary, or collegiate, raise our hopes
for the future of our children and youth. While the common schools arc in
the path of progress, the means of further advance in the line of a higher intel-
lectual aud moral training will be made more easy and accessible. By the
enforcement of the provisions of the law in relation to the schooling of all
children under the age of fourteen years, and by increasing the interest of all
classes of people in the education of their children, results will be attained
which even our forefathers, who were far in advance of their age, never dared
to expect.

CHAPTER XIII.

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

There are many associations of a literary, agricultural, musical, scientific
or antiquarian nature, which are not local in the municipal sense, but extend
over parts of the county, or the whole of it, and, in some cases, reach out to
other States. A brief account of some of these will be looked fur in a county
history.

The American Antiquarian Societj was formed in 1812. The first steps

134 COUNTY HISTORY.

were taken by Isaiah Thomas, LL. D., Hon. Nathaniel Paine, Dr. William
Paine, Hon. Levi Lincoln, Sr., Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D., and Hon.
Edward Bangs, all of Worcester. In the absence of authority in Congress to
grant such charters, they applied to the General Court for an act of
incorporation, which was granted. The preamble states the object of the
association very succinctly : " Whereas, the collection and preservation of the
antiquities of our country, and of curious and valuable productions in Art and
Nature, have a tendency to enlarge the sphere of human knowledge and the
progress of science, to perpetuate the history of moral and political events, and
to improve and interest posterity," therefore the movers pray for legishitive
sanction. The act was approved by Gov. Caleb Strong, on the 24th of Octo-
ber, 1812.

The corporators were Isaiah Thomas, Levi Lincoln, Harrison Gray Otis,
Timothy Bigelow, Nathaniel Paine, Edward Bangs, John T. Kirkland, Aaron
Bancroft, Jonathan II. Lyman, Elijah II. ]\Iilis, Elisha Hammond, Timothy
Williams, William D. Peck, John Lowell, Edmuud Dwight, Elcazer James,
Josiah Quincy, AVilliam S. Shaw, Francis Blake, Levi Lincoln, Jr., Samuel
M. Burnside, Benjamin Russell, Thaddeus INI. Harris, Redford Webster,
Thomas Wallcut, Ebenozer T. Andrews, Isaiah Thomas, Jr., William Wells.

The meetius; for efTectinsr an organization under the charter was held in
Boston, Nov. 19, 1812, when ten members were present. Isaiah Thomas
was chosen president; William D. Peck, vice-president; Thaddeus M. Harris,
corresponding secretaiy ; and Samuel M. Burnside, recording secretary.

On the 13lh of February, 1813, Dr. William P.iino was chosen second vice-
president, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., treasurer. The councillors were Timothy
Bigelow of Med ford ; Aaron Bancroft and Edward Bings of Worcester;
George Gibbs of Boston; William Beutley of Salem; Redford Webster and
Benjamin Russell of Boston.

Mr. Thomas presented his private library, valued at five thousand dollars, to
the society. IIo received a vote of thanks, and was requested to keep it in his
possession til! a suitable place could bo prepared. The library, and the cabi-
net which had been started, received many additions from Mr. Thomas and
others during the next four years.

Valuable mamiscripts came into the possession of the society from time to
time. Among them was a copy of the records of Boston from 1634 to 1660.
The letter-book of Cotton ISIather, and the journal of Increase Mather in 1685,
were given by Mrs. Crocker of Boston. She was a daughter of Cotton
Mather. About nine hundred volumes from the libraries of the Mathers came
from the same donor.

Some difficulty in raising money for the purpose of erecting a library build-
ing was experienced ; but, in 1819, Mr. Thomas offered to put up a suitable
edifice at his own expense. The offer was gratefully accepted, and, at his
request, a committee was chosen b}' the society to superintend the work. At

ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY. 135

this time, the library coataiucd about six thousand volumes ; many of them
rare and valuable works. The cabiuet also began to be tilled with curious and
instructive articles.

The society had now become national, and even continenttd, in its scope
and its couuections. Honorary members were chosen from distinguished gen-
tlemen belonging to other parts of our couutr}-, as well as other nations, and
articles of value, suitable Icj the objects of tlic society, were sought for, by way
of correspondence, from men of antiquarian and literary tastes, wherever they
might be reached. Books, pamphlets and relics were received from all sec-
tions of the country. Among these are many Indian relics, utensils and
weapons.

The society holds regular meetings twice each year. The annual meeting
for the choice of officers and other business is held in the mouth of October, in
the Antiquarian Hall, in Worcester. A semi-annual meeting is held in Boston
at the rooms of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The first lilirary building was on the east side of Summer Street, corner of
Belmont, where it now remains, though devoted to other uses. It was large
and convenient, comiiared with such edifices at the time of its erection; but
some of its apartments were damp, rendering it unsuitable for the safe keeping
of books. Therefore it became, in the course of years, a matter of import-
ance, and even necessity, to erect a new and more commodious house on a
better location.

Accordingly, in 1853, a new building of two stories high was erected on
laud given by Hon. Stephen Salisbury, who also contributed live thousand
dollars towards the cost of the build mg. The library room, with floor,
gallery and alcoves, seemed spacious enough at the time of its building, but the
rapid growth of the library rcio.n soon showed that further space must be pro-
vided before a great lapse of lime. There was a lot in the re:ir, affording
space for a considerable addition. This the Hon. Stephen Salisbury pur-
chased, and gave a fund cf eight thousand dollars, which amounted, when
needed, to about thirteen thousand dollars. The addition was made in
the year 1877-8. The whole structure now ranks among the largest, most
elegant and convenient library buildings in the country. In its contents
it is unique, combining literature in every branch of human learning, and
relics, antiquities and implements of peaceful and warlike use. Manuscripts,
black-letter books, illuminated books, works in many languages, ancient and
modern, living and dead, fill the shelves and cases. Portraits and busts, in
great number and value, adorn the walls. It is resorted to daily by curious
visitors, and its ample stores of materials for history and biography are con-
sulted by students and men of literary tastes. The courtesy of the librarians
has made the place a pleasant resort, and their knowledge of the contents
of the numerous works makes them greatly helpful to all who seek their
guidance.

136 COUNTY HISTORY.

In 1831, it was votcil that the number of American members should be
limited to one hundred and forty. In the same jear, President Thoma8,
at his decease, bequeathed the balance of his books, engravings and coins,
and also a sum of money to constitute the basis of two permanent funds.
One was to be the librarian's fund, and the other a collection and research finid.

Since then, several other funds have been established : and the air2;re2;a*e
is now about seventy thousand dollars. One is a jDublishing fund, of about
nine thousand dollars. A binding fund of five thousand dollars was founded
some years ago by President Salisbury.

In 187G, the number of volumes in the library was over sixty thousand;
over four thousand of these were volumes of newspapers, from the " Boston
News Letter" of April 24, 1724, to the issues of the last year. Some of these
are huge volumes, containing history in its crude details, hereafter to be
elaborated into historical classics.

The manuscripts have had a large if not proportionate increase. In this
regard the library is rich, and will become more so in coming years. The
Indian and archasulogical specimens, in vast variety, gratify the curiosity of the
casual visitor, and awaken the interest of the thoughtful.

The presidents of the society have been Isaiah Thomas, LL. D., the
founder, Hon. Thomas L. Winthrop, LL. D., the Hon. Edward Everett,
LL. D., Hon. John Davis, LL. D., Hon. Stephen Salisbiuy, LL. D , its great
benefactor, who now, at a venerable but active and munificent old age, occupies
the position.

The librarians have been William Lincoln, Christopher C. Piaklwin, and
Samuel F. Haven. Edmund M. Barton, employed several years in the library,
is now the efScient assistant librarian. The institution, on the whole, enjoys a
prosperous activity, and has become not only an essential factor of the county
and State, but a thing not to be spai'ed from the nation.

TJie Worre.'<ter Society of Anliquihj. — The first meeting with a view to the
formation of this society, was held at the house of Mr. Samuel E. Staples
Jan. 24, 1875. At a subsequent meeting, February 13, the society was
formed by the adoption of a constitution, the following gentlemen being
present and concurring: Samuel E. Staples, John G. Smith, Franklin P.
Pice, Richard O'Flyuu, Henry D. Barber, Henry F. Stedman, and Daniel
Seagrave.

At the first regular meeting held under the constitution, the following ofBcers
were elected : President, Samuel E. Staples ; Vice-President, Henry I). Barber ;
Secretary, Daniel Seagrave; Treasurer, Henry F. Stedman; Librarian, John
G. Smith.

The society being thus organized, held regular meetings, and had a steady
growth, until in the beginning of 1878 there were more than fifty names on the
roll of members, besides a respectable list of honorary members. In 1877 the
society was incorporated under the general statute relating to corporations.

WORCESTER LYCEUM. 137

In this docHinent (he object of the society is stated as being "for the purpose of
cultivating and encourairinii amon? its members a love and admiration for anti-
qiiarian research and archoBological science, and, so f;ir as practicable, to rescue
from oblivion any historical matter that might otherwise be lost ; also the col-
lection and preservation of antiquarian relics of every description." This object
has boon faithfully adhered to thus far, and much activity has been exhibited in
making collections of ancient books, relics, &c., illustrating the past. One
object of the society is to copy and print the inscriptions on the ancient bury-
ing-grounds of the county. The old burying-grouud on the Common, in the
centre of the city of Worcester, is now a pleasant grove, with no sign to mark
it as a burial place ; yet the remains of the dead arc resting there. In 1846,
William S. Barton, Esq., now the city treasurer, made a map of this yard, and
copied every inscription, with numbers, so that the position of each grave
might be found. This was published, and by permission of Mr. Barton, it has
been reprinted in the proceedings of the society.

A committee was appointed in 187G to collect inscriptions from other places
of burial. Messrs. Ellery B. Crane, Albert A. Lovell, and Franklin P. Rice,
the members of this committee, have completed the work in the old Mechanic
Street yard in Worcester, and have over a thousand inscriptions collected in
the towns of Lancaster, Mendon, Shrewsbury, and Lunenburg. This work is
to be continued in other towns in the county. The inscriptions in the INIe-
chanic Street cemetery have been published in the proceedings of the society.

The officers at present are as follows : President, Hon. Clark Jillson ; Vice-
Presidents, Ellery B. Crane, Albert Curtis ; Secretary, Daniel Seagrave ;
Treasurer, James A. Smith; Librarian, Albert A. Lovell. There are stand-
ing committees under these titles : Executive committee, committee on nomi-
nations, committee on biograph^s and committee on publication.

The. Worcester Lyceum and Natural History Association. — This association
was formed in August, 1852, under the name of the Young Men's Library
Association. It was designed specially for the benefit of the young men of the
city. But though formed at th.at date, it has really taken the place of, or has
absorbed into itself, several other associations. Membership is now open to
residents in any part of the county, and to ladies as well as gentlemen.

It appears from the "Account of the Worcester Lyceum and Natural Plistory
Association," prepared for the Centennial Exhibition in 187G, by Mr. Nathaniel
Paine, thai a society styled the Worcester Lyceum of Natural History had been
formed in 182.5. A small collection of minerals, birds, shells, and other spec-
imens in natural history was made and deposited in the rooms of the American
Antiquarian Society. In 1830 active exertions to increase the collection
ceased. This collection was given to the present lyceum b}- the surviving
members of the first, when the natural history department was orgMuizcd.

In 1829 the Worcester County Lyceum was started, and an address was de-
livered by Hon. Emory Washburn, afterwards governor of the Commonwealth.

138 COUNTY fflSTORY.

The subject of common schools, and the making of maps and plans of the towns
in the county was discussed. Measures were also taken to form a public
library. The result was the incorporation of "The Worcester County Athe-
naeum" in March, 1830, with the intention of forming a general lil)rary for the
use of the members. Rev. George Allen was president; F. W. Paine, treas-
urer, and "William Lincoln, secretary. Some, however, wanted a (own organ-
ization of a literary character, and secured the formation of the " Worcester
Lyceum."

With these focts in mind we go back to the year 18.52, when, in the month
of September, the constitution of the Young Men's Library Association was
adopted. The committee who reported the document were Francis IL Dewey,
Henry Chapin, William Cross and Joseph jNIason. The object of the society
was stated to be "the improvement of the young men of the city of Worcester
by affording them intellectual and social advantages by the maintenance of a
library, reading-room, and sucli courses of lectures and classes as may conduce
to this end."

The association was organized in December liy the election of the following
officers: Francis II. Dewej', president ; George W. Bentley, vice-president;
George F. Hoar, corresponding secrctai-y ; Nathaniel Paine, recording secre-
tary ; Henry Woodward, treasurer ; and fourteen directors. In Januar3', 1853,
the society was incorporated by the legislature, and on the si.xtcenth of April
the above-named officers were re-elected, with the addition of William Cross
as second vice-president.

Measures were taken at once to found a library. Between thirteen and
fourteen hundred dollars were given in cash, aud about nine hundred volumes.
The library was opened in June, 1853, and at the close of the year the com-
mittee reported a most gratifying result. The charge for the use of books
was one dollar per annum ; and four hundred aud thirty persons had taken out,
in about six months, "eight thousand six hundred and twenty books, or an
average of six times a year for every book in the library." The number of
volumes Avas then about eighteen hundred. Besides, a readinij-room was
established, and for the time was well furnished with papers and periodicals.
At a later date, in 1865, the association contributed three hundred dollars
towards establi>hin"; the Free Public Eeadiniy-Room.

In 1854 a natural history department was organized, with Rev. E. E. Hale
as chairman, a secretary, ti'casurer, and eight curators. This was but an
adjunct at tirst, but since the lil)rary and reading-room have been given up, it
has become the main object of the society. At this time the Worcester
Lyceum of Natural History, already spoken of, transferred its collection of
minerals, birds, shells, and other specimens to the pre&cut society ; and this
collection was the nucleus of the extensive cabinet which now takes high rank
compared with similar iustitutions. The extent to which the cabinet has been
increased will be given below.

WORCESTER LYCEUM. 139

In 1855 the Rhetorical Society, which was started a few 3-ears before, was
merged in the association, and its library placed under its control. In due
time the Worcester County Lj'cenm and the Worcester County Athcna;ura
seem to have transferred all of their essential life, as well as their books, to
this association, so that by 1856 the number of volumes in the library was
nearly four thousand, and a course of popular lectures on scientific and literary
subjects had been established.

In 1856 Dr. John Green placed his large private library in the charge of the
association ; but subsequently, when it was thought that the time had come to
found a fiec pul)lic lil)rary in Worcester, Dr. Green transferred his volumes to
the city, and Ihe association took the same course. Dr. Green's gift formed
the foundation of the Public Reference Library', and the gift by the association
in 1859, of its four tliousand five hundred volumes, laid the foundation of the
circulating department of the Free City Library.

The association now turned attention mainly to the subject of natural his-
tory, and became almost strictly a scientific institution. It was named in 1866
The AA'orcestcr Lyceum and Natural History Association, and still bears the
name. Fen- books, the mcml)ers now depend upon the Public Library, the
Medical Library, and a small library of reference owned by the associa-
tion.

As now organized, after all the mutations above noted, the objects of the
association are "the difl'usion and promotion of useful knowledge among the
inhabitants of the city and county of Worcester ; first, by courses of popular
lectures ; second, liy encouraging the study of natural history, and by the col-
lection and preservation of specimens in the various departments, together with
a lil)rary wiih a view to that end ; third, by aiding in the study of other
sciences and tlie fine arts through acquiring such collections, and by such other
means as the association may from time to time adopt."

The association has pcjpular courses of lectures each winter, and these being
open to the public arc a source of revenue as well as a means of diffusing
knowledge. Jlcetiiigs are held monthly through the year, except in July,
August, and Se[)teniber, when papers are read and discussions are held on
topics germane to the objects of the society. The cabinet, which is large and
in fine condition, is open to the public once a week, except in time of summer
vacation. The following condensed statement gives some idea of the amount
of work done by the members, and of the richness of the results.

The Botanical Department contained, January, 1879, about fifteen hundred
specimens, including woods, mosses, sea-weeds, lichens, seeds, and plants.
Also ferns, fruits, and woods from foreign countries, as well as from our own
wide domain.

There are in the Conchological Department over fifteen hundred species,
and aI)out four thousand specimens. In Comparative Anatomy there are one
hundred and twelve species ; in Ornithology, one hundred and eighty-five

140 COUNTY fflSTORY.

species of birds, besides nests and eggs. About eighteen hundred specimens
in Geology and Mineralogy belong to the cabinet. The departments of Mam-
malia, Articulata, Kadiata, and MoUusca contain, in the aggregate, over uhie-
teen hundred species, and above twenty-three hundred specimens. The
departments of Herpetology, Icthyology, Paleontology, and Anthropology are
well represented by species and specimens; by fossils and shells, with vegeta-
ble impressions ; by Indian utensils, weapons, and relics.

The society has become an educating power in the county. Besides its
papers, discussions, and lectures, it holds "field days," when the male and
female members explore particular sections of the county, and return, after a
day of pleasure, laden with spoils.

The following are the present ofScers of the Association ; President, Rev.
Thomas E. St. John ; vice-presidents, James Bushee, Daniel Seagrave ; record-
ing secretary, Herbert D. Braman ; corresponding secretary, Thomas A. Dick-
inson ; treasurer, Edward O. Parker. Besides tlieso are a superintendent of
the cabinet, a lecture committee, and six curators, having charge of difloreut
departments. The only active member and officer at the time of organization,
who holds the same relation now, is Mr. Nathaniel Paine.

The Worcester County Musical Association. — The singing school has alwa3's
been an important factor in the working of New England society. Prcs. Nott
of Union College, who remembered " old times," used to say that singing schools
had much to do in promoting good morals, early marriages, and the large fam-
ilies of the last century. Nor were singing meetings confined to the young
people of a parish or neighborhood. A hundred and forty or fifty years ago,
it was the custom to have conventions, by whatever namo they were called,
when singers came together from adjoiniug towns "to practise the music"
which they had in those days. They were seasons of interest, enjoyment and
unbounded hospitality. But this was a temporary fashion, and vocal music,
like other things, had its fluctuations. In the Revolution, as in the preceding
wars, when the young men were off in the arnw, and the singing on Sunday
was left to their elders, there was very little encouragement to have singing
schools.

Then came the composers about the close of the century, some of whose tunes
are yet heard in our worship, while others only add to the ludicrous perform-
ances of the " Old Folks' Concert." Those were pleasant times, whether eighty
or a hundred and fifty years ago ; for those writers have an entirely false view
of ancient New England life, who conceive of it as shrouded in gloom. Its
people were the happiest on the face of the earth.

The great revival in sacred music forty or fifty years since, in the inception and
progress of which Dr. Lowell Mason bore a prominent part, has secured per-
manent results. The instruction given in singing to the children and youth ia
the public schools, has been preparing the way for better music in the house of
God. The facilities of modern travel enable the singers and performers scat-

MUSICAL SOCIETIES. 141

tered over a county to come together in a central place for comparison, and
for mutual improvement under trained leaders. It is now almost thirty years
since the impulse towards united effort in Worcester County, found expression
in a musical convention held in the shire town in 1852. The attendance was
not large, however, and the attempt was not a success. Not until 1858 was
there sufficient interest awakened to call together a large number of singers,
and secure a succession. This meeting, held in September, 1858, was under
the lead of Edward Hamilton of Worcester, and B. F. Baker of Boston. The
convention then took the name of the Musical Institute. The same gentlemen
conducted the exercises in the following year. In 18(50 the convention was held
under the auspices of the Mozart Society, with Mr. Hamilton and E. H. Frost
as directors. In the autumn of the next two years, the conventions were under
the management of J. A. Dorman, with B. F. Baker as conductor. Previous
to this time the conventions were held under the iufluence of leaders, conduct-
ors or composers who were interested in some particular collection of music which
was used by all the singers present. Though improvement in vocal music was
the result, yet the primary object seemed to be the introduction of books and
collections from which the conductors derived a profit. Their compensation
was derived, in great measure, from the sale of books at the time, and their
introduction into schools and choirs, afterwards, by those in attendance. But
the time had come to be moved by a higher aim, which began to be manifested
in 1863. In the fall of that year two conventions were held in Worcester, at
the same time. One assembled at (he City Hall, under the management of Mr.
Dorman, with B. F. Baker and B. D. Allen as conductors. The other conven-
tion met in Mechanics' Hall. The management was in the hands of J. D.
Moore ; the conductor was E. H. Frost. Towards the close of the meetin". on
the second of October, the convention in Mechanics' Hall adopted the name of
the Worcester County Musical Convention, with a view to permanence, and
elected a full board of officers, including president, vice-president, recording
and corresponding secretaries, treasurer, librarian, and twenty-six directors
taken from different parts of the county. Samuel E. Staples was chosen presi-
dent ; the vice-presidents were William Sumner, B. K. Deland, Moses G. Lyon,
A. C. Munroe and J. H. Samson ; the recording secretary and treasurer was
William S. Denny, and the corresponding secretary and librarian was James
D. Moore,

This organization continues to the present time, though the name was
changed from Convention to Association at the annual meeting in 1871. There
has been a growing interest in the annual meetings for practice ; the attendance
has been larger, the people of the city have patronized it more liberally by being
present at the concerts, and the members have attained to a higher standard of
musical performance. The introduction and sale of singing-books have been
discarded, and tlie officers have aimed to assimilate the meetings to the creat
county musical festivals of England. Their endeavor has met with encour-

142 COUNTY HISTORY.

aging success. The influence of the Association is felt in all the religious
assemblies of the county.

Without following the history of the Association, year by ycir, it will be
interesting hereafter to know the names of the conductors at the various meet-
ings. Some of the following gentlemen have taken the lead on several occa-
sions : E. H. Frost, Edward Hamilton, Solon Wilder, W. O. Perkins, George
n. Root, C. P. Morrison, L. II. Southard, L. O. Emerson, Dudley Buck, B.
D. Allen. Mr. Zerrahn has been the conductor for several years past, and
many prominent artists, native and foreign, have contributed to the usefulness
and enjoyment of the annual meetings.

A few citations from the annual publication of the society will show its tone
and spirit, and give an idea of the ennobling work to which the members are
yearly called. "It has ever been the aim of the managers of our Associa-
tion to make the festivals especially useful in elevating and improving the taste
of its members for music which shall be ennobling in sentiment, and pure and
lofty in style. The grand master-pieces of the most renowned com[)osers of
ancient and modern times have been produced at our festivals, with the assist-
ance of artists of world-wide reputation." Among the oratorios produced sev-
eral times in past years, have been the "Creation," "Elijah," "Samson," "Judas
Maccabfeus" and "Joshua," "withall the accessories of instrumentation aud vocal
art." The object and aim of this Association, at all its meetings, is "the im-
provement of choirs in the performance of church-music ; the formation of an
elevated musical taste, through the study of music in its highest departments,
and a social, genial, harmonious re-union of all lovers of music."

The annual assemblies are devoted to steady, solid work, day and evening.
In the course of the week six or eight concerts are given in the afternoon or
evening, and these are attended by large audiences. The lighter and more
entertaining programmes are made up of selections from the most celebrated
composers, and are given in great variety. In 1878 Handel's "L'Allcgro"
and "II Penseroso," from Milton, was given with great effect. The closing
concert was Mendelssohn's great Oratorio of "Elijah," with Carl Zerrahn as con-
ductor, and G. W. Sumner as organist. The great chorus of the Association,
the Germania Orchestra, and several distinguished vocalists, united in rendering
the sublime performance.

The ofBccrs of the Association for the year 1879 are the following : president,
Hon. William R. Hill, Sutton ; vice-president, William Sumner ; secretary, A. C.
Munroc ; treasurer, J. E. Benchley ; librarian, G. W. Elkins ; directors, B. D.
Allen, I. N. Metcalf, Israel Plummer, C. M. Bent, C. E. Wilder, J. L. Adams,
Rev. G. M. Howe, Daniel Downey.

Tlie Worcester Choral Union. — Much of the improvement in music in "Wor-
cester and vicinity " is attributed to this association, which was first oiganized
in 1850, and chartered by the legislature in 1872. Its intention was "to unite
the entire choral force of the city and vicinity for the practice and performance

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES. 143

of Oratorio and kindred styles of music." Rehearsals auuually Iiegiu in Octo-
ber. Carl Zerrahn is the musical director, and E. B. Story, pianist. This is
mainly a city society, but as it includes the "vicinity," in a hirge sense, and has
■nide influence, a Ijrief notice of it is not out of place in the history of the
county. The officers are Charles M. Bent, president; Charles E. Wilder, vice-
president ; C. A. Lincoln, treasurer; L. M. Lovcll, secretary, and George R.
Bliss, li'irarian.

The Worcester Connti/ JSIusical School. — Some years since a school with
this title was formed in Worcester for furnishing "thorough instruction in
piano, organ, singing, violin, flute, guitar, harmony, elocution," with a corps
of nine instructors. Pupils were received at any time during the school
year.

In addition to this, proficients in music, residing in the city, are employed
in the way of their profession in many towns throughout the county. Some go
out to lead choirs ; some to hold singing schools ; others to preside at the organ
on Sundays, and others still to teach private pupils. In ail these ways the
central city of the county is exerting a permanent influence in difl!'using and
elevating the musical taste of the people.

JSJusical Conventions in the north-western section of the county have been
held for several years in Gardner, Athol, and perhaps other towns, and have
been attended by large numbers of those interested iu the jjromotion of vocal,
and especially sacred music.

The Worcester Agricultural Society. — This society was formed in 1818, and
the ne.xt year it had six hundred members. Levi Lincoln was the first presi-
dent. The vice-presidents were Daniel Waldo and Thomas W. Ward ; treas-
urer, T. Wheeler, Esq. ; corresponding secretary, Levi Lincoln, Jr. ; record-
ing secretary, E. D. Bangs, Esq.

The first cattle-show and exhibition of manuf\xctures was held October 7,
1819, and from that time the society has exerted, year after year, a steady and
healthy influence upon the agricultural and manufacturing interests of the
county. It would be difficult to collect the materials for a full history of the
association, and there is no need of it in this connection. The power of the
society is iu its present efficiency, rather than in its past records. Those who
want information in this line, can find it in the annual reports. But as the
society is a county institution, it deserves honorable mention.

The present officers are : Charles B. Pratt, major of Worcester, president ;
George H. Estabrook, secretary. The annual exhibition is in the early part
of September. Among societies of the kind, this is pre-eminent.

The names and officers of other societies of the kind in the county follow, so
far as these societies include several towns, or a large section of the county.
Town agricultural societies, farmers' clubs, and societies confined to limited
neighborhoods, will properly find a place in the sketches of towns.

There are five of these district agricultural societies in the county. One is

144 COUNTY HISTORY.

called The Worcester West Society, and holds its annual exhibition, one or two
days, in Barre. Several towns in that section unite in the display. They
generally have an address, a public dinner, and speeches at the table. The
present president and secretary arc : Thomas P. Root and Henry J. Shat-
tuck of Barre. The annual meeting is generally towards the last of the
month.

27(6 Worcester North- West /Socieli/ has Athol for its centre and place of
meeting, and holds its exhibition late in Septem1)er, or early in October. This
society is comparatively young, but is managed with spirit aud vigor. The
officers are : James P. Lyudo and E. T. Lewis of Athol.

The Worcester JVorth Society meets at Fitchburg, which is convenient for
many towns in the north-eastern part of the county. There is usually a hirgc
attendance at the cattle-show, horse-trot, and exhibition of vegetables. The
president is Dr. George Jewctt, and the secretary is Thomas C. Sheldon.

The Worcester Soutli-East Society has its head-quartois at Milford, and in
many respects almost rivals the county society. Its annual meetings occupy
two days in the last week of September. Its president is J. "VV. Harris of
Milford, and the secretary is Joseph II. Wood of the same place.

The South Worcester Society takes in many towns, and generally has a
large aud ci-editable display of live stock, horses, agricultural products, manu-
factures, and cunning work of female fingers. Two dajs are necessary for its
annual show. The president is Samuel N. Gleasou of Warren, and the secre-
tary is Amasa C. Morse of Sturbridge.

One who looks over the printed papers which are published by these socie-
ties will be surprised at the amount of good reading which they furnish. A
great amount of superior talent is called out, every year, in connection with
agriculture. The addresses made by selected orators ; the reports made by
committees to whom particular parts of the exhibition are referred ; the papers
read at the winter meetings of the societies, are fraught with sense, experience,
eloquence and wit. The theoretical and the practical flu-mer bring the results
of their experiments together, and the annual product of fruit goes on increas-
ing, whether the products of the fields and the dairy are largo or small. The
experience of so many men, trying all conceivable methods to raise more from
the same number of acres, must bo a guide to all young farmers ; and, doubt-
less, many things have been learned, besides improved machinery, that were
unknown to our fathers.

The Worcester Horticultural Society. — This association is not confined in
its membership or its scope to the city of Worcester, and may therefore take
its place in the list of county institutions. It was formed Sept. 19, 1840,
and its first president was John Green, M. D. The vice-presidents were Sam-
uel B. Woodward, M. D., the celebrated superintendent of the Hospital for
the Insane, and Hon. Stephen Salisbury. The corresponding secretary was
William Lincoln, and the recording secretary Benjamin Heywood. The society

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS. 145

was chartered in 1842. The Hon. Daniel Waldo was one of the patrons of
the society, and made it a generous bequest.

The society began early to have horticultural exhibitions, and these have
become more complete and satisfactory in the course of ^cars. JNIuiIi has been
done in improving horticulture and floriculture since the society was formed;
and the stimulus to this improvement has been given, in large measure, by the
annual exhibitions and reports. It is expected, as a matter of course, that the
reports of committees and secretaries will afford much information on all mat-
ters germane to the ol)jcct of the association ; but it would seem that the wits
of the county, forsaking the columns of the press, brought their lively and
readable jjroductions to the annual publication of the society. The reports of
the secretary alone would make a volume replete with sense, with sarcasm,
information and practical wisdom. Such a book would be read with interest
now, and generations hence.

The different presidents have been since the first, as follows : Isaac Davis,
John M. Earle, Stephen Salisbury, D. W. Lincoln, Alexander II. Bullock,
George Jaqucs, J. Henry Hill, Francis II. Dewey, George W. Richardson,
George H, Francis, O. B. Iladwcn, and William T. Mcrrifiekl. In 1866,
Edward W. Lincoln was chosen secretary and librarian, and has held both
offices most of the time. The present librarian is John C. Newton. The office
of recording secretary has been held by Benjamin Ilcywood, L. L. Newton,
J. C. B. Davis, and, perhaps, others, besides the present incumbent.

The displays of flowers and fruits at the annual exhiljitions are wonderful for
abundance and beauty. The variety of fruits and vegetables seems to increase
yearly, and the plants and cut flowers show that every clime has been levied
upon for the rarest, choicest and loveliest productions of the floral kingdom.

CHAPTER XIV.

RELIGIOUS CONFERENCES AND DENOMINATIONS.

There are many associations, of one and another kind, in the county,
which include members of several towns, and perhiips the whole county, which
form no part of public history, as they are private in their nature. Such are
lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Templars, and the like, which are secret to a
certain extent, and only come before the community on special occasions. In
like manner clerical, legal and medical clubs, or societies, though not secret,
are private. The Congregational Club comes under the same head. The
history of them all is apart fnmi the county, and must, therefore, be omitted.

But there are certain associations, by which the churches of the same denom-

146 COUNTY mSTORY.

ination, belonging to the whole county or a section of the county, are hound
together, which properly come within our purview. The following is intended
as a full list of this class of brotherhoods.

Associations of Churches.

There are five associations of this kind connected with the Orthodox Con-
gregational denomination. These, in their order, begin with the Worcester
Central Conference. This includes the churches in the city of Worcester, and
the towns of Auburn, Berlin, Boylston, Clinton, Iloldcn, Leicester, Oxford,
Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Sterling and West Boylston ; in all,
twenty-one churches. The Conference is composed of delegates from each
chnrch, with their pastor, and all the ministers of tlio denomination without
charge, within the bounds of the churches. Meetings are held semi-annually,
in May and October. Tliese Conferences have no ecclesiastical power what-
ever. They are for the purpose of Christian fellowship and spiritual quicken-
ing, and the exercises are adapted to that end. Sermons, essays, addresses,
with singing, prayer and the Lord's Supper, occupy the time. Benevolent
societies generally have an (jpportuuity to present their claims. What is said
above pertains to the other Conferences, and need not be repeated.

TJie Worcester Nortlt C'o(;/p;-e»c(? holds its autumn meeting, two days, about
the tliird week in October, and a meeting, one day, in June. The churches in
the following towns compose the Conference: Ashburnham, Athol, Gardner,
Hul)bardston, Petersham, Phiilipston, Royalston, Templcton, Westminster and
Winchendon ; in all fourteen churches, besides two in Franklin County. The
meetings are held in different places from year to year.

27(6 Worcester South Conference comprises fourteen churches, all of which
are within the limits of the county. They are in the following towns : Black-
stone, Douglas, Grafton, Millbury, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge,
Webster and Westborough.

Tlie Broolifield Conference contains twenty-one churches, all but four of
which arc in Worcester County. They are in the following towns : Barre,
Brookficld, Charlton, Dana, Dudley, Hardwick, New Braintrce, North Brook-
field, Oakham, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Warren and West Brook-
field.

T/te Middlesex Union Conference includes eighteen churches, seven of which
are in Worcester County. These are in the city of Fitchburg, and the towns
of Harvard, Lancaster, Leominster and Lunenburg. Like nearly all the Con-
ferences in the region, this holds a spring and a fall meeting. The total
amount of money raised by these churches in the five Conferences, for the year
1878, for expenses and charities, including the payment of church debts, was
not far from $240,000.

The churches above mentioned are seventy-one ; there are a few others
belonging to Conferences in other counties, making about seventy-seven con-

CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS. 147

nected with the Congregational denomination, or Orthodox, as they are styled
in touiuion speech. One or more are to bo found in the cities, and in ue.irly
every town in the county. The two exceptions are Bolton and Mcndon. The
Hillside Church in the former was absorbed by the neighboring churches when
it ceased to be a centre, and its life went into other organizations. It did not
die, but was translated.

Baptist Associations. — It may save confusion to remark that the clerical
meetinjjs of the Coni'ren'ationalists in Massachusetts are called Associations, and
the meetings of associated churches are called Conferences. Among the
Baptists the meetings of associated churches within convenient bounds are
named Associations. The annual meeting, which represents the whole Baptist
interest in the Coramonweallh, is styled the " Massachusetts Baptist Convention" ;
while a similar body of the Congregationalists is named the "The General
Association of the Congregational Chin-ches of Massachusetts."

There are two Baptist Associations, composed almost wholly of churches
within the limits of the county, while a few churches in the county belong to
other Associations. In this notice only the churches within the county will be
included.

Tlie Wachuselt Association embraces the churches in Barre, Bolton,
Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Harvard, Holden, Leominster, Sterling,
Templeton, West Boylstun, Westminster and Winchendou ; in all, thirteen
churches.

The Worcester Association includes four churches in the city of Worcester,
and the churches in Brookfield (East), Grafton, (First and Second), Leicester,
Millbur}', Xorthborough, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturliridge, (First, Second, and
Manchaug), Spencer, Uxbridge, Webster and Westborough ; in all, twenty
churches.

The church in Milford and the church in Fayville (Soulhhorough) belong to
the Framingham Association. The church in Athol, the church in Petersham
and the church in Eoyalston belong to the Miller's River Association. Putting
all together, the Baptist churches in the county number thirty-eight.

3IetItodist Districts. — The Methodist churches in the State are connected
with different Conferences, but the New England Conference, so called,
includes the majority. This Conference extends from the seaboard to the
Connecticut Valley. It is divided into these four districts, namely, the Boston
District, the North Boston District, the Lynn District, and the Spriugtield
District. The latter contains no churches located in this county, but the other
three districts embrace quite a number of churches within our bounds.

The Boston District, which is supervised by a presiding elder, has five
churches in the city of Worcester, and churches in Charlton, Leicester,
Milford, Millbury, New England Village (Grafton), Oxford, Shrewsbury,
Southbridge, Spencer, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, Westborough and Whitins-
ville (Northbridge) . Total, nineteen.

148 COUNTY HISTORY.

The Springfield District, having also a presiding elder, includes the INIetho-
dist churches in South Athol, Warren and West Warren ; in all, three.

The North Boston District, similarly' organized, embraces the Methodist
churches in Ashburnhani, Athol, Barro an 1 ILirdwick, Clinton, Tcmpleton
(East), Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Leominster, Luncid)erg, Oakdale
(West Boylston), Phillipston, Princeton, South Royalston and Winchendon.
Whole number, fifteen. Total Methodist churches in the county, thirty-
seven.

The Worcester Conference of Conj relational (Unitarian) and other Chrift-
tian Societies, was organized at Worcester, Dec. 12, 18(36. Connected with
it are twenty-seven societies belonging to the county, and three in other coun-
ties, viz., at Ware, Marlborough, and Hudson. Those societies which arc
■within the bounds of the county, arc in the following towns: — Athol (two),
Barre, Berlin, Bolton, Brookfield, Clinton, Fitchburg, Grafton, Harvard,
iVIilford, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leicester, Leominster, IMendon, North-
borough, Petersham, Sterling, Stuibridge, Tcmpleton, Upton, Uxbridge, West-
borough, Winchendon, and Worcester (two).

The Conference holds three meetings each year, in January, May and
September, the first being the annual meeting. Like the Conferences of the
Orthodox Congregationalists, this has no ecclesiastical or ministerial power.
It is composed of ministers, and delegates, male and female, from the churches
of the connection within the bounds of the Conference. The object is ex-
pressed in the name. Sermons, essays, discussions, and devotional exorcises
occupy the time. The benevolent causes of the denomination are sometimes
presented. The religious life of the various churches and societies is fostered
and expressed in this social and fiaternal way.

The officers for the year 187i) are as follows: Hon. Charles A. Stevens of
Ware, president; Eev. Henry F. Cutting of Sterling, secretary; and John C.
Otis of Worcester, treasurer.

Episcopal Churches in Worcester County. — These churches are all embraced
iu the diocese of Massachusetts, and have no local organization which makes
a separate report of church statistics. The following are the Episcopal
(churches in the county, with the name of the church, and of the town or other
place where located: — Clinton (Good Shepherd), Fiskdalc (Grace), Fitch-
burg (Christ), Milford (Trinity), Millville (St. John's), Oxford (Grace),
Rochdale (Christ), Southborough (St. Mark's), Webster (Reconciliation),
Wilkinsonville (St. John's), Worcester (All Saints'). Total number, eleven.

Univcrsalist Churches. — There are churches or religious societies of this
denomination in Charlton, Dana, Fitchburg, Gardner, Milford, Oxford, South-
bridge, Warren, Webster, Westminster and Worcester, making eleven.

Catholic Churches in Worcester Count//. — The diocese of Springfield was
established in June, 1870, and comprises the five western counties of Massa-
chusetts. The bishop is the Rt. Rev. Patrick O'Reilly, D.D. The churches

BIBLE SOCIETY. 149

of this order, in Worcester County, arc located as follows, with the names ]>y
which they are designated: — Ashbuniham (St. Dennis), Athol (St. Cath-
erine's), Barre (St. Joseph's), Blackstonc (St. Paul's), Brookficld (St. Mary's),
Clinton (St. John's), Douglas (St. Patrick's), Fitchburg (St. Bernard's),
Fitchburg, West, (Sacred Heart), Gardner (Sacred Heart of Jesus), Gilbert-
villc (St. Aloysius), Grafton (St. Philip's), Iloldcn (St. Mary's), Leicester
(St. Joseph's), Leominster (St. Leo's), Milford (St. Mary's), MilUmry (St.
Bridget's), North Brookfield (St. Joseph's), Otter River, Oxford (St. Roch's),
Rochdale (St. Aloysius), Rutland, Shrewsbury (St. Theresa's), Southbridgo
(St. Peter's, and Notre Dame), Spencer (St. Mary's) , Stoncville (St. Joseph's),
Templeton (St. Martin's), Uxbridge (St Mary's,) Upton (Holy Angels),
Warren (St. Bridget's), West Warren (St. Thomas's), Webster (St. Louis's),
Westborough (St. Luke's), West Boylston (St. Luke's), Winchcndon (Im-
maculate Heart of Mary), Whitinsville (St. Patrick's), Worcester (St. John's,
St. Joseph's Chapel, St. Paul's, St. Ann's, Notre Dame, Immaculate Concep-
tion). Total number of churches, forty-three.

The following denominational statistics have been gathered from the United
States Census of 1870.

At that time the Baptists had forty churches, and fifteen thousand one hun-
dred and seventy-five sittings.

The Congregation.alists bad seventy-three churches, and forty thousand
four hundred and forty-five sittings.

The Episcopalians had eleven churches, and five thousand four hundred and
twenty sittings.

The Methodists had fort\'-two churches, and fourteen thousand four hundred
and five sittings.

The Roman Catholics bad thirty-five churches, and sixteen thousand one
hundred and seventy-five sittings.

The Unitarians had twenty-seven societies, and fourteen thousand five hun-
dred sittings.

The Universalists bad tw-elve societies, and five or six thousand sittings.

The minor denominations are not reported in full, but arc supposed to have
about twenty societies, and a corresponding number of sittings.

The whole number of churches, societies, or organizations was two hundred
and sixty. The number of church edifices was two hundred and fifty-two.
The number of sittings was one hundred and fi)urtecn thousand three hundred
and eighty-two. The value of church property was two million two hundred
and seventy-one thousand and three hundred and seventy dollars.

Worcester Counti/ Bible Society. — Not long after the formation of the
American Bible Society, auxiliary societies were formed in States, counties,
and cities to co-operate in the work of raising money, and assist in the dis-
tribution of the Sacred Scriptures. The Society in this county was organized
Sept. 7, 1815, when the constitution was adojjted with the title of "The

150 COUNTY HISTORY.

Auxiliary Bible Society in the County of Worcester." The following are the
important points in the constitution: — 1. "The distribution of Bibles and
Testaments in the common English version, without note or comment, shall be
the sole object of (he Society." 2. "The supply of those families in the
county of Worcester which arc destitute of the Scriptures and are unable to
purchase them, shall be the primary object ; any surplus means shall bo ap-
plied to a more extensive dissemination of the Bible at the direction of the
Society." 3. One dollar per annum was to constitute a member, so long as he
jiaid that sum. 4. Ten dollars, in advance, made the giver a member for life.
Every settled minister of the gospel in the county, of any denomination
■was ex officio, a. member. The officers, chosen annually, were a president,
vice-president, secretary, treasurer and seven directors. The officers were
members of the board of directors. The directors, three of whom made a
quorum, had the whole management of the business of the Society. Every
person paying a dollar a year, might have a Bil)le yearly, provided he took it
within three months. The annual meetings were to be on the second Thursday
of September, when a sermon or address was to be delivered by some mem-
ber of the Society. The object of the Society was to sell Bibles cheap to
persons of limited means, who preferred to buy, as well as to give to the poor.

The constitution, of which a full outline is given above, was adopted by a
convention of delegates from various religious societies in the county. The
following officers wei-e chosen: President, Hon. Joseph Allen of AVorcester ;
Vice-President, Rev. Joseph Sumner, D. D., of Shrewsbury; Secretary, Rev.
(afterwards Dr.) Nathaniel Thayer of Lancaster; Treasurer, Hon. Benj:imiu
Hey wood of Worcester. The directors were Rev. Dr. Aaron Bancroft, Hon.
Benjamin Adams of Uxbridge, Rev. Dr. John Fisko of New Braintree, James
Wilson, Esq., Worcester, Rev. Elisha Rockwood, Westborough, I\Ir. Pliny
Earle, and Levi Lincoln, Jr., Esq., of Worcester.

This Society existed without orgauic change nearly sixty years, as a vigor-
ous auxiliary, though by degrees the change made in the modes and celerity of
travel caused it to do less than formerly, when it was not so easy for the State
or national society to have agents in the field. The work can now be done as
readily from Boston or New York as from Worcester. Aimual meetings were
held, and money was raised for the distribution of the Scriptures at home,
or to go into the general fund to supply the destitute in other parts of the land
and the world. At several times inquiries were made througliout the county
in order to find every family that was destitute of a copy of the Bible. In all
such cases a copy was given, if the family were willing to receive it. This
has been done at other times, either by the county or by the central societies.
In this way the native population were supplied with the Bibles. It has been
oifered to all classes of the foreign-born, and in many cases has been gratefully
received, but, as a general thing, they prefer a copy of their own version,
which is supplied, as wanted, through their own booksellers. The history of

EELIGIOUS HISTORY. 151

one year is that of another, and, therefore, no great space is neetled to
record it.

This was the state of things until a few years since, when, for the reasons
above mentioned, the Society ceased to represent the county, and became the
Bible Society of Woi'cester. The last president of the Society was the late
Hon. Henry Chapin.

Three or four years since, the Society, as a local organization, canvassed the
city, in part, and supplied Bibles to the destitute. The same work is done
through the Young Men's Christian Association, and by the aid of private
Christians, at present. The Rev. William T. Sleeper is the secretary of the
Society in its present form. A Bible Depository was kept in Worcester,
where the Scriptures, in all styles of binding and at different prices could be
obtained ; and perhaps the same arrangement still exists. By a recent change
in the policy of the national society, the need of depositories will not be so
great, as booksellers are to be supplied from the Bible House in New York, at
wholesale prices, and the Bibles are to be sold, like other books, to suit pur-
chasers. It is supposed that by this means sales will be increased, and the
Bible more widely circulated, at less expense.

CHAPTER XV.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

The preceding statement in regard to the churches and associations or con-
ventions and conferences of the different denominations, with the names and
locations of the individual churches, and the statistics of the various religious
bodies in the county, may be properly followed by a condensed sketch of the
planting and growth of the churches since the first settlement in Lancaster.

The great body of the people of the count}^ from the beginning till after the
Revoluti(jn, belonged to the Congregational denomination. About sixty years
ago it was found that some of the churches had gradually departed from the
doctrines which were held by those who founded them, and had adopted a
modified system of belief. Sonic had become Arians, some Socinians ; but all
agreed in the points which made them one as Unitarians. In some places, the
parish or town had drifted away from the strict faith of the fathers, while the
church adhered firmly to the ancient symbols. All continued to be Cougrega-
tionalists in the matter of church organization and government. The numlior
of churches in the county that were separated from the main liody, on account
of a change of belief, was about twelve. One of these was the oldest church
in the county, that of Lancaster, which was organized in KJGO, and whidi

152 COUNTY HISTORY.

remained in its original connection until the time of Rev. Dr. Thayer, who was
ordained in 1793 and died in 1840. Its main histor}-, therefore, comes under
this division, in treating of the Orthodox or Trinitarian Couffrerationalists.
Its present connection will bo recognized in the proper place.

Beginning, then, wilh the year IGGO, we find a church in Lancaster. The
church in INIendon was organized, perhaps, in 1667, though this is not certain.
There was a meeting-house and preaching in Brookfield before the massacre in
1G75, but if a church was formed the records do not remain. It is believed
that the churches iu Lancaster and Mcudon wei-e the only ones before the cud
of the century, though there were places whore preaching was enjoyed before
churches were organized. In this connection the churches of Indian converts
are not included. There is some reason to suppose that the church in Lancas-
ter became extinct after the massacre in 1676, as Judge Scwall in his diary
states that a church was organized there in 1690. The next church was not
established till 1716. This was the Old South in Worcester. The first church
in Brookfield, now West Brookfield, was established in 1717. The next two
were in Rutland and Sutton in 1720, and the church in Leicester was organized
in 1721. The church in Westborough was organized in 1724; the church in
Uxbridge in 17.jO, and the church in Grafton was started in 1731. This was
the year in which the county was incorporated. From which it appears that
there wei'e but nine churches in the county at its formation, unless one or two
have been omitted, which subsequently became Unitarian.

The question arises, what proportion of the people in the above towns, con-
stituting the new county, were members of the churches? It is impossible to
give a definite reply ; but it is certain that the popular impression on the sub-
ject is erroneous. It is believed, and often said, that the people in those early
days were eminently religious, in comparison with their successors. One
ground for this general belief is that all the towns were supplied with able,
learned and pious ministers soon after their settlement. Taking for granted
that meetings were held, and meeting-houses built, and ministers supported by
the spontaneous liberality of the people, it is readily inferred that a large pro-
portion of them were members of the church, leading prayerful and godly
lives. But when we take into the account the fact that no settlement was
authorized to have the privileges of a township until they had made provisions
for the support of a fiiithful minister, the ease is altered. The settlers in any
particular place might or might not be highly moral and religious. What the
General Court M-as determined to secure to each town was, the means of relig-
ious training for the people and their children. And this policy was adhered
to with tenacity ; certainly, with most beneficial results. This one thing made
it sure that all the new communities in the county, as well as those then exist-
ing, should be, or become, intelligent, thrifty, moral, and to a large degree,
religious, in the true sense of the word. But we come back to the question in
regard to the relative proportion of the members of the church to the whole

CHURCH GROWTH. 153

population. As we have no reliable statistics in regard to the popula-
tion of the towns, and very few accessible documents to determine the
number of members iu the respective churches, an exact conclusion cannot be
reached.

There are, however, detached facts which help us to understand the matter
to a certain extent. For example, when Lancaster was set up as a township,
and there were nine or ten men with families on the ground, there were only
three " freemen," or men qualified to vote and hold office by virtue of their
membership in the church. This caused such heart-burning and excitement, —
such "boiling," as the old records put the matter, that the people applied to
the General Court to appoint a committee of three men belonging to other
towns, who should take the oversight of their affairs as a town, and give direc-
tions to a board of selectmen. This was done, and the famous Major Simou
Willard, the chairman of the committee, removed to Lancaster, wdiere he
resided several years, and guided the people while laying the foundations in
church and state. A similar arrancjcment was made in Brookfield, one of the
oldest towns, and doubtless for a similar cause. In those times there were
restive men in the sea-board towns who were willing to move away and form
new communities iu the interior, where they could be comparatively free from
restraint. The first company who made a move towards founding Lancaster
were of this sort ; but the authorities gave them no encouragement, and they
did uot come. A better class of men made the undertaking, and were success-
ful ; but, as we have seen, the numl^er of church members among them Mas so
small that they needed guidance from abroad. As a result of settling Mr.
RowlandsoD, and the maintenance of the public worship of God, the chui'ch
was enlarged, but there is no evidence that it became relatively numerous.
The tax-payers supported the service as the law required ; and, as the law
required, they generally attended meeting. Doubtless they also recognized
the needed value of religious faith and ordinances, but that is a diflerent
thing from being active and exemplary menil)crs of the church.

As in Lancaster and Crookfield, so in AVorcester, the original settlers M-ere
not larircly in the church. Strenuous efforts were made to increase the rcli"--
ious element, and proliably there was a gain from decade to decade, but there
were fearful impediments to progress. In the first place, the people soon be-
came sul)ject to all the evils of savage warfare. All the oldest towns were
harassed, more or less, by the war of King Philip, and the Indian wars that
followed, with intervals, till "Lovewell's fight." One or two towns, as Lan-
caster and Crookfield, w'cre almost or entirely broken up. The settlement of
Worcester was hindt'rcd. It is an established f;ict of histor}^ that such wars
are peculiarly demoralizing, since civilized and Christian peoples learn to fight
the savages in their way. Human life is made cheap ; and the feeling grows
up that the ignorant and debased children of the woods may be slain like wild
beasts. But with this feeling there is a peculiar hatred and contempt that wild

154 COUNTY HISTORY,

animals cannot excite. Besides, in tlie course of time, many families would
take up farms at considerable distance from the centre, where the meeting-
house and school-house stood. This distance led to the neglect of schooling,
and of public worship. Only by the fidelity of the ministers and the good
people who sustained them, could those living in the outskirts of the towns be
drawn to meeting, or have meetings held in their neighborhood. It was one of
the strong pleas for the formation of new towns that they might estaljlish new
centres where they could enjoy l)etter religious and educational privileges. In
addition, this was a period, between IGGO and 1730, of a religious reaction in
England, the effects of which were felt, to some extent, in New England, as
well as in the middle and southern Colonies. The loose thinking and vile
manners which Charles II. brought in, after the strictness of the Commonwealth
era, did not lose its force for sixty years, though it gradual)}^ became loathsome,
and created a necessity for the reformation brought about by the labors of
"Watts, Doddridge, the Wesleys, 'NYhiteficld, and other men of that stamp, who
were influential in lifting England out of the gutter into the regions of a whole-
some social and religious life. English books and plays, English governors and
other officials, English business men, sailors and travelers, were continually
exerting an influence upon society in all our coastwise towns, and thus another
impediment to the increase of sound doctrine and upright living was in active
operation. But in spite of all these antagonistic forces, society became estab-
lished on a solid basis in our towns, and churches grew in number and
influence.

Taking the period from 1731 to the close of the Revolution in 1783, we find
that twenty-nine churches had been formed, which still exist in the Orthodox
connection, besides a few which are now in the Unitarian ranks. During this
half century many new towns were formed. Indeed, nearly all the towns in
the county west of Lancaster and north of Brookfield, except Rutland, were
incorporated in this period. It was a time of new settlements to them, with
the same hardships from the necessity of felling the woods and subduing a
rough and rocky soil, as the settlers of the older towns had to face. Besides
this, during these fifty years the people were engaged in three or four pro-
longed and wasting wars. The Spanish war, which broke out in 1739 ; the old
French and Indian war, which was declared Ity France in March, 1744; the
last French and Indian war, which lasted from 1755 to 1763, in whicli the Col-
onies sent troops year after year, on hazardous and deadly campaigns to
Canada and the eastern Provinces, and finally the war of the Revolution, ex-
tending from 1775 to 1783. In those times when the young and middle-aged
men were away from the kindly charities of home and the elevating influences
of public worship ; when exposed to all the temptations of the camp, the siege,
the sack, and the battle, religion had a hard struggle to maintain its hold on
the minds and hearts of the people. There was but little relative increase of
the. church upon the whole community. Yet there was a gain, because in the

CHURCH-GOING. 155

first half of this period occurred that great religious awakening of which Jona-
than Edwards, the elder, was the cliicf agent and exponent, which, Ijy God's
blessing, saved New England from threatening moral paralysis, and gave its
churches new life. Such a work, so general and so profound, was then unpar-
alleled in our history, and has never since been surpassed in any land. With-
out it, many statesmen, as well as philosophers and divines, have doubted if
the colonists would have had the enerijy to enter on the struga:le for inde-
pendence, or the virtue to come out of it without entire demoralization. What
with war, and the influence of allies who were steeped to the lips with the
French infidelity of that age, there was a fearful outlook for the young before,
during, and after the Revolutionary war. The old forms remained intact, the
old sj'mbols of belief were repeated in the church, in the school, and in the
family, but the leading minds in this county, outside of the pulpits, were
familiar with the writings of the English deists, who were bitterly hostile to
the Christian religion, and made strenuous efforts to undermine its power.
The fii'st lawyer in the town of Worcester, ]\Ir. Putnam, was outspoken in
opposition to the authority of the Bible, and told his student, John Adams, that
the works of the authors above mentioned were in circulation throui^h the
county, and were received with fiivor by the majority of the most intel-
ligent men. Yet the churches stood firm, and the ministry maintained
their ground amid the torrents of error and vice which threatened to deluge
them.

As no statistics of the churches were published in those days, and as there
was no reliable census of the State, it is impossible to learn the exact propor-
tion of professors to non-professors in the period under notice, without
consulting the records of the churches.. So far as these have been read, they
show a respectable list of the names of men, with about twice as many female
names, as is the case in our times. In the towns whose history has been pub-
lished, it will be found, so far as the facts are given, that while the church was
gaining, yet there was a less number on its rolls, compared with the whole
population, than there has been during the last three-quarters of a century.
And this is true not onlj^ of the native-born population, but including the
whole of whatever race or religion.

Again, there is an exaggerated idea of the church-going habits of those who
lived in the olden times. Because people were required by law to attend
meeting, and were arraigned and fined for non-attendance, it is hastil}^ con-
cluded that they did attend with great punctuality. But there were sick and
old people, as well as little children, then as now, who could not go out on the
Sabbath. Allowance nuist l)c made for them. Then a man was not complained
of for occasional absence. If he was not seen at the ineetin2:-houso for several
Sundays in succession, his case might be looked into and made a subject of
complaint. It is said to have been tlic practice of many ministers, when thoy
missed any of their flock fi-om the house of worship, to call the next day and

156 COUNTY HISTORY.

sec if they were sick. But tiicsc calls were probably made on habitual attend-
ants, and not ou that class which then existed, as it now exists, who were
jDrcsent only at distant intervals.

There is one test that can easily be applied. Take the population of any
town, when it can be ascertained, and then find the size of the meeting-house,
or its capacity to seat a mixed congregation of old and young. It will probably
be found that few, if any, towns in the county had sittings for more than half
the people during the last century. This was a fair supply after allowing for
infancy and old age, and the sick, and the attendants on the sick, but it proves
that our fathers were more scantily supplied with houses of worship than are
their descendants and successors.

• In 1783, at the close of this period, there were forty-seven towns in the
county, and a church was established in every town. All these were of the
Congregational order. There is a similar church in all these towns at present,
except Bolton and IMcndon. In these towns, the old churches have become
Unitarian, and no Orthodox Congregational churches have arisen to take their
place. As stated before, the first churches iu some other towns have been
through a like change, but new churches have been formed which arc con-
nected with the original communion. Up to this time, only five Baptist
churches had been organized in the county : the church in Leicester iu 1737 ;
the church iu Sturbridge in 1749 ; the church in Royalston CW^est) iu 1768 ;
the church at Still River, in Harvard, in 177G; and the church in Tcmpleton
in 1782. These were all composed of a few members, and connected with
small congregations. There were a few scattered members of Baptist churches
before the county was formed, but they were not in an organized state, except
perhaps in the town of Uxbridge. No Methodist churches existed in the
county, and it is doubtful if Methodist preaching was heard here much before
the end of the century. There were a few societies of Friends or Quakers in
the county, and possibly scattered meetings of other denominations or per-
suasions, but no statistics have been found.

The ratio of the members of the churches to the whole population of tlic
county may be approximately estimated. The census of 1776 showed that the
population of the county was forty-six thousand four hundred and thirty-seven.
In 1790, it amounted to fifty-six thousand eight hundred and seven, giving an
increase of ten thousand three hundred and seventy. From 1776 to 1790 was
fourteen years. The year 1783 was half way between; we may therefore
allow that there was an increase of about five thousand people between 1776
and 1783. This would give a population at the latter date of fifty-one thousand
four hundred aud thirty-seven. The number of members of the forty-sevcu
Congregational churches at that time probably would not exceed, on the aver-
age, one hundred and fifty, or nearly one member to seven and one-half of the
total population.

For the sake of convenience, the period from 1783 to 1879 will be divided

CHURCH STATISTICS. 157

into three generations of thirty-two years each, and wc will ascertain the
increase of the population and of the churches in three divisions.

The first division or <;eneration would hvims: us down to the year 181.5. In
that year, the population of the county was not far from si.xty-nine thousand,
or an increase of seventeen thousand four hundred and seventy-three between
1783 and 1815. In the meantime, the number of new Contrregational churches
formed was four, one in each of the following towns ; viz., Phillipston in 1785 ;
Gardner in 1786; West Boylston in 179(3; and Soulhbridgo in 1801. The
new Baptist churches in this division were seven, as follows : The church in
Sutton, formed in 1785; in Grafton in 1800; Ilolden in 180G ; Athol in 1813;
Worcester First in 1813; Webster in 1814; and Westborough in 1814. By
this time, there were several jNIethodist churches in the county, but the num-
ber is not given in the Minutes of the Conference.

Thirty-two years added to 1815, brings us to 1848. The population at the
beginning of this division was, say sixty-nine thousand. In 1847, it was not
far from one hundred and twenty thousand. The increase was, in round
numbers, fifty-one thousand, or about seventy-three per cent. In 1847, the
membership of the Orthodox churches in the county was eleven thousand one
hundred and four, belonging to sixty-six churches, and averaging one hundred
and seventy to each church. The number of Baptist cliurch-members in the
county in the year 1847 was four thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
The communicants in the Methodist and the Episcopal churches in 1847
probably reached to the number of four thousand. This was the period in
which the former denomination made gi'eat progress, and the latter began to
ho an appreciable element in our religious history. The number of communi-
cants in Unitarian cliurches was considerable, as well as in the recently-organ-
ized Universalist churches ; but, for some years, the statistics of membership
have not been published. But, taking the number of the three denominations
above mentioned, we find nineteen thousand one hundred and twenty-five. This
woidd give a little less than one member to every six of the whole population,
or, omitting children under fifteen years, as few below that number are enrolled
as church-members, about one in four, or twenty-five per cent.

Adding thirty-two years to 1847, and we have 1879, the present year. The
population of the county in 1847 was called one hundred and twenty thousand
in round numbers. The population now amounts to about two hundred and
twenty thousand, or an increase of one hundred thousand, or something like
eighty-two per cent. Let us now sum up the membership of the churches, so
far as possible, in this year of grace 1879. According to the Minutes of the
Orthodox Cougregationalists, their number in 1879 is thirteen thousand three
liundred and eighty-two. The Baptists numbered five thousand one hundred
and nine. The Methodists were four thousand one hundred and fifty-three,
and the Episcopalians nine hundred and twenty-three. Total, twenty-three

158 COUNTY HISTORY.

thousand five huiiclrccl and sixty-seven. That is, the membership of these
churches gives about one member to every nine inhabitants; or, deducting
those under fifteen, one in every seven and a fraction. To these are to be
added Quakers or Friends, Adventists, Cln-istian Disciples, Unitarians and
Univcrsahsts, if the number could be ascertained, who are classed among
communicants. The number of Unitarian societies is twenty-seven ; some of
which are large. The Univcrsalists are less in number, but quite numerous.
The Adventists of different varieties are to be found in almost all parts of the
county, though their church organizations arc not generally numerous or large.
The result shows (hat the Evangelical churches, so called, have not increased
in the last thirty-two j'cars in the same raticj as the total population. If to
them should be added the probable number of four thousand belonging to
other denominations, the whole number would be, of communicants in the
county, about twenty-seven thousand five hundred.

But here comes in another element which modifies the result. The number
of foreign-born persons in the county in 1875 was forty-nine thousand nine
hundred and ninety-seven. As this class of our population has been coming
in during the last forty or fifty years, the number of children of foreign-boru
parents is very large. The mass of this division of the population is Catholic,
from Ireland and Canada. Their children arc ti'ained in the same faith. In
some towns, the children born here are more numerous than their pai-ents who
are foreign born. But we will suppose that the children born here are but
half the number of their foreign-born parents. This would make a total of
about seventy-five thousand of foreign birth or I)lood. Five-sixths of these,
born in Ireland, Canada, Germany and other countries, with their children,
are in the Catholic communion. The total number is about sixty-three thou-
sand. Looking into the " Catholic Directory," we find the Catholic population
of the diocese of Springfield estimated at one hundred and fifty thousand. The
whole population of the five western counties which constitute the diocese
was, in 1875, four hundred and fifty-one thousand and a fraction. Two hun-
dred and ten thousand of this number were in Worcester County. If the
Catholic population is equally divided among the counties in proportion to the
whole population, the number of Catholics in the county would be nearly
seventy thousand. The pi'obable number is somewhere between sixty-three
and seventy thousand ; say sixty-eight thousand. Taking this number from
the total population in 1875 would leave one hundred and forty-two thousand.
On this basis, the Protestant churches have gained quite a large percentage on
the Protestant population during the last generation, — the thirty-two years
now closing.

It will lie convenient to have the statistics of the churches as they arc at this
date in a form convenient for reference and comparison. They will be arranged
in the order of their date, as established in this county, with the number of

ADVENT DOCTRINES. 159

members or communicants, so far as can be ascertained from documents or
records.

Congregationalists (Orthodox), churches, . . 77. Members, 13,382

Congregationalists (Unitarian), societies, . . 27. "

Baptists, cliurchcs, 35. " 5,109

Methodists, churches, 37. " 4,153

Episcopal, 11. " 923

Catholics, churches, 44.

Besides these may be enumerated the following, of which no numerical
statement is at present available. Their number is very considerable, and in
some towns one or another will be found to have especial prominence. They
arc the Swedenborgians, Adventists, Seventh-Day Adventists, Disciples or
Campbellites, and Friends or Quakers. Statistics of some of tliem may be
extant, but hardly of all.

Before leaving the religious history of the county, two points claim some
attention : One relates to church government, and the other to Christian
doctrine. It is alleged that great changes have occurred, especially in the
denominations which were tirst planted in the county, — changes in polity and
faith. What, then, are the changes that have taken place?

In regai'd to some of the more recent religious bodies, there is not much to
be said. The doctrine of the Second Advent has undergone several modifica-
tions since 1843, Avhon Mr. Miller roused the public mind to consider the
speedy coming of Christ to judge the world, destroy the wicked, and establish
his i-cligion on earth. Some still attempt to fix the time of his coming, not-
withstanding repeated failures. Others l)elievo ia the speedy second coming,
but do not attempt to foretell the time except l)y way of approximation. There
are also quite a number of Pre-Millenarians in the county, belonging to
various denominations, who see no occasion for forming a new sect, as their
views in relation to the cardinal doctrines of the Bible are nnchanged. Per-
haps this form of belief is more rife in the Episcopal than the other denomi-
nations. The Seventh-Day Adventists join to their views respecting the
Second Coming, tlie dogma that the Jewish Sabbath is still obligatory in
regard to time, if not in strictness of oljservance. Nearly all Adventists,
of whatever variety, are Baptists, and practise the immersion of believers, only
not administering the ordinance to children.

In matters of doctrine, they were originally orthodox in the general sense
of the term ; but of late years they have, to a great extent, adopted the doc-
trine of the aimihilation of the wicked who die in their sins ; or, more correctly
speaking, they hold that man is not immortal by nature and creation, but that
immortality is a gift of divine grace. Christ confers immortalitj^ on those who
believe and are renewed in heart, and those who reject salvation through
Christ, at some time, not remote, cease to exist. This section of the Advent-
ists believe in the sleep of death ; or, in other words, that, at the death of the

160 COUNTY HISTORY.

body, the soul becomes unconscious, tuul remains so until tbe resurrection,
when all shall be called to judgment. The righteous will then enter upon the
eternal and blessed life, and the unrepentant will end in non-existence. The
polity of some sections of the Adventist persuasion is a modification of the
Slethodist Episcopal system. They have a system which is without bishops,
even in name, with much Congregational freedom ; but it is compact and
efficient. To what it will grow, remains to be seen. The members, as a
class, are industrious, moral, bound closely to each other, strict in the observ-
ance of the Sabbath and the ordinances of the gospel, and apparently devout.

The Disciples, or "Campbcllitcs," as they are often styled, arc quasi-independ-
ent in their organization, though the ministry have great influence, not to say
power. This people, who arc numerous in the Central- Western States, though
few within this county, are strong Calvinists in many points of doctrine, modi-
fied by a modern view of the freedom of the will. Mr. Campbell, who origi-
nated this variety of religionists, was a man of powerful mind, Mith a logical
cast, and ho stamped his image on the whole denomination. It has experi-
enced no groat change since his day. But as the churches are composed, to a
considerable extent, of those who have come out of other churches, as Baptist,
Methodist, Presbyterian and others, there is a variation in tone and manner, in
different places, according to the proportion of the ingredients of the new amal-
gam. For example, a church made up of converts from the Methodists, though
receiving tbe Disciple doctrines and polity, will he more lively and animated in
their meetings for worship than one composed of original Baptists. Cut time
is removing these differences. This l^ody of Christians exalt the mode of bap-
tism by immersion so highly as to make it a condition of membership, though
they admit others to the Lord's table if they come into their asseml)lies.

The government or polity of the Universalist body is essentially Congrega-
tional. All power is in the brotherhood. The minister is a member, with no
authority. liis pastoral office gives him influence, and he is ex-officio modera-
tor of the meetings of the church, unless some one is specially appointed. As
to doctrine, there has been considerable cliange since it was first preached in
this country. At first, the ministers taught the immediate happiness of all at
death. It was universal salvation without delay. If there M'as any variation
from this statement, it was merely an admission that the highest state of
blessedness would not be entered upon until the Judgment. Dr. Huntington
of Coventry, Conn., the first native Universalist of note, was an Ortliodox Con-
gregational clergyman, and held all the doctrines of bis denomination, except
in relation to the final condition of mankind. He believed in the need of an
atonement by Jesus Christ, of the necessity of regeneration b}' the Holy Spirit,
and the duty to live a godly life ; but he held that through the mediation of
Christ all these blessings would be secured to all the race. Universalists at
the present day unite in holding that none will be irreclaimably and forever
lost. But between this view and that of Dr. Huntington there are many

UNITARIAN VIEWS. 101

shades of doctrine. Some discard the doctrine and the fact of atonement on
the ground that manlviud do not need a Eedcemcr. All will be punished
according to their deserts, be led to holiness, it may be by discii^line, and so
made happy. On this system there is no place for grace, though ranch for
benevolence in the divine scheme of moral government. Others exalt Christ
to a very high position in the scale of being, and connect the salvation of man
closely Avith his character, his teachings, and even his snfiering. There has
been very noticeable within a few years, an elevation of tone, both in regard
to morality and spirituality, in this body of Christian believers. There seems
to be a growing reverence for the Eible as a book of authority, and a higher
appreciation of whatever leads to a devotional life. The progress of Biblical
criticism and philosophical thought must have its work among this class of our
population as well as among all their co-religionists. The churches of this
denomination have not become numerous, but they claim, and probably not
without reason, that their views are held by many who have not joined their
organization.

It is the claim of the Unitarians, and the claim is just, that, while hold-
ing to the body of Christian truth, they are not shackled by creeds, or liturgy,
or ritual, or forms. Thus they enjoy great freedom in regard to church polity
and Eil)lical doctrine. In the matter of government, they have made no essen-
tial departure from the Congregational form in which they had their origin.
The church is independent of all other churches, and of all ministers, priests or
bishops ; yet they adhere to the custom of calling councils to advise and assist in
the ordaining and installing of ministers. The business pertaining to the sup-
port of public worship is confined, for the most part, to the parish or society.
In some towns the word church has gone into desuetude and society has taken
its place. All are invited to the Ltn-d's table who feel it a privilege, without
examination, or the form of admission to the church. This change indicates
a change in belief, to some extent, since the older churches of the denomina-
tion had a covenant which expressed or implied a distinct belief in certain
great, fundamental facts of the Christian system. There is, confessedly, great
variety of opinion in the Unitarian Ijody. All agree in rejecting the doctrine
of Chrisfs supreme divinity; and all, or nearly all, reject the doctrine of
atonement in all its forms. In this thc}^ differ from the early Unitarians in the
county, who certainly held to the atonement, and to the satisfiiction made to
Divine justice by the suflcrings of Christ. Time was when all believed in the
necessity of regeneration, in the strict sense of the word, by the Holy Spirit,
either as a manifestation of God, like the Sabellians, or by a Divine influence
directly from the Father. In the old sermons, the doctrine of future eternal
suffering for sin is presented as a motive for repentance and a holy life, not
merely as an appeal to fear, but because penalty was con>idered as a measure
of the Divine hatred of sin and love of holiness. But these points need not
be dwelt upon, since it is a characteristic of the Unitarian body to admit the

1G2 COUNTY HISTORY.

utmost latitude of belief and exprcssiou within certain limits. Excluding the
divinity of Christ on the one hand, and the denial of revealed religion on
the other, the basis is laid for a kind of denominational union, in ■which a large
majority of those who bear the Unitarian name or have Unitarian proclivities
can do nnich go()d work in harmony.

It would be a vain thing to talk of change in the Catholic Church, whether
in this country or in any other part of the world, in the ordinary understand-
ing of the word change. The government of that Church is ultimately in the
hands of the Pope, for the time lieing, who is himself governed ))y a S3'stera
older than any existing European government. The great doctrines of the
Christian system, as settled l)y early councils, are hold by all Catholics, in all
pai'ts of the world. Yet as the polity grew into shape in the lapse of centu-
ries, so it is modified in its working by the people who receive it, or upon
whom it is imposed. The priesthood has a tremendous power in the sacra-
ments. An order of men who can withhold baptism, and refuse to perform
the marriage rite, and let a man die Avithout extreme unction, and then forbid
the l)urial of his body in consecrated ground, has a powerful hold on all who
believe in his priestly functions. But in a land where a man can suffer no civil
or political disabilities on account of his religious belief or connection, and
where intelligence abounds, and thought is free, it is not the same as in a
land Avhere all the opposite conditions prevail. The man, as he grows, compels
the relaxation of his bonds ; and the influence of his religious teachers, or supe-
riors, is adjusted to his elevated chai-acter. And yet the theory of the govern-
ment may not be altered one iota. As in a well regulated family, there is one
general code for all the children, yet as they grow in age and discretion the
elder part learn to administer the law for themselves ; so any church s^^stem
made for the ignorant, uncivilized or weak, and necessarily minute and strin-
gent, is modified as the people learn self-government, though its theory
remains unchanged. In this way the Catholic administration cannot fail to
be modified, in many particulars, in such a country as this ; and it can adjust
itself to such a change without lessening the proper influence of its priesthood,
and can, at the same time, become more beneficent in its action.

And as to doctrines, every studcut of church history knows that there have
been divisions in the bosom of the Catholic Church. These may not have
touched the substance of doctrine or truth, but the different systems of phil-
osophy, held by the parties to these conflicts, have modified the doctrines in a
practical sense. But there is another ground for difference, and for individual
progress under the system, even if the system is as changeless as the laws of
the Medes and Persians. It is a flict, that in the Catholic system of doctrine
will be found every great doctrine held by Evangelical Christendom. The doc-
trine of one only living and true God is held by both parties. The doctrine
of the Trinity, or God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, as
one God, is held by them in common. They use the same language to express

EPISCOPALIANISM. 1(;3

the inexplicable hut clearly revealed fact. The natural sinfulness of man ; the
consequent condemnation of man as a sinner ; the necessity of a change of
heart, expressed hy tlie word of our Saviour, regeneration ; the absolute need
of a Redeemer to deliver a sinner from the penalty of tlie law of God ; and
the conditions of pardon, even " repenlanco towards God, and faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ," are primal doctrines in the creed of Catholic and Evangel-
ical Protestant alike. And so of other Christian truths. But here comes in
the fact, that the Catholic system holds several great truths in connection with
views that to others seem erroneous. Salvation is by faith in Christ. So
say the Protestant and the Catholic, and use the same language of Paul as
the basis of their belief. lint the Protestant says that salvation is " not of
works, lest any man should I)oast"; on the other hand, the Catholic teaches
that salvation is of works, because James asserts " that faith without works is
dead." Yet it does not seem difficult to harmonize both views when we con-
sider faith as the principle of action, and the fact that a faith that does not
inspire and secure works is spurious. Repentance is accompanied by penance,
which to an ignorant mind may seem a substitute. In fact, it is natni'al for one
who is impressed with a sense of his sinfulness to subject himself to sullcring
as a sort of expiation. The danger is that he will put his own self-inflictions
in the place of the voluntary endurance of stripes in his behalf, and thus trust
in his own works and merits instead of the merits of his Lord and Saviour.
However this may be, it is evident that here is occasion for difierent views as
to the ground and the conditions of salvation. Is it not possible that the prog-
ress of knowledge will produce unanimity of belief in the fact that Christ
alone can save, and the other fact that only the faith which leads a man to
keep the conmiandmeuts is scriptural ? In the meantime we may take comfort
from the assui'ance that the Catholic churches in our county are a civilizing
and Christian force, operating with energy in connection with our schools,
industries and political life, in uplifting a large element of our population.

The Episcopal Church, like the Catholic, has not been established in the
county long enough to have made much local history for itself. Certainly it
has undergone no changes, except that of growth. As a polity, Episcopacy is
prclatical, and the entrance to the church is controlled by the prelate; but in
this country the worshippers have a considerable influence in the management
of the secularities of the church. Free from the incumbrance of state con-
nection, the Episcopal Church in the United States has a great advantage over
the National Church of England in many respects, and has, without doubt, a
beneficent mission to perform in Christianizing our heterogeneous population.
As to doctrine, its articles are approved by Calvinists ; its liturgy, in actual work-
ing, is elastic, partly satisfying the ritualists, but capable of being used by the
devout clergyman who exalts spirit and life al)ove form and ceremony.

The Methodists arc a growing pco[)le in more senses than one. They have
had a remarkable increase, not only in the newly-settled parts of the land

164 COUNTY HISTORY.

and in the South, but also in the very heart of New England, and of our
Comnionwealt!). But there is another thing in connection with the Methodists
still more remarkable, and that is the wonderful energy with which they have
worked their own educational institutions, or availed themselves of existing
schools for the training of their ministry, the higher education of their youth,
and the elevation of the masses. Wesley was an educated, scholarly man ; but
the mass of Methodist preachers in this country were "ignorant and unlearned
men." Such were the pioneers here. They had sense and piety, but were
uncultured. Now they take rank with the most cultivated of our clergy in
gencrnl, and in theological training, and their sermons are composed with as
much care, and delivered with as much regard to the proprieties of the pulpit,
as those of any religious teachers among us.

The ]\Iethodist polity, whether formally changed or not, has been greatly
modified in its working. When the denomination began to grow, the people
were necessarily led by their ministers, as is always the case with the less-
informed and comparatively poor. As the people become educated and rise in
the scale of living, and surround themselves with the means of independence,
the}' will naturall}' assume the management of their own affairs. Hence the
gradual lengthening of the pastorate in the Northern States ; hence the
admission of laymen into the Conferences. The multiplication of schools,
colleges and seminaries also brings the laity into close connection with the
clergy iu the management of institutions of the highest importance. There is
little danger that their bishops will ever assume prelatical functions. The
tendency of our institutions is rather to make them efEeient superintendents,
and in that way to give unity and vigor to the denomination.

As to theology, the ministry are close students of the Bible, and have a
growing tendency towards the study of mental philosopliy. Soundness in the
laith is the natural result. The ultimate of such a course must be the harmony
of God's unvarying law with the freedom of tlie human will. Both will be
held in their fullness, and neither will be sacrificed to the other.

When the Baptists first came into notice in England they were Independents ;
a branch of that great party which wrought a reform in religion, and turned an
almost absolute kingdom into a commonwealth. In them was the very "dissi-
dence of dissent." The leader of them in this country had too much individu-
ality to work happily with any church or community, except as they fell in
with his ways of thinking and acting. But Roger Williams had one of the
sweetest spirits that ever wrought with a busj' brain or au unbending ■will.
The Baptists in this county have ever been unyielding friends of civil and
religious liberty. Their church polity is as near Independency as is compatible
with the fellowship of other churches. They are united as a denomination
by unison in belief and spirit rather than by any ecclesiastical bonds. While
each church resists interference and repels oversight, it desires sympathy and
seeks the fellowship of other churches.

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS. 1G5

111 regard to doctrine, there is no essential, and scarcely any non-essential
diflerencc between them and those of other names who receive the articles of
the Episcopal Church, or adopt the Assembly's Catechism.. John Bunyan has
been a I)lessing to millions of diflercnt names ; but a special blessing to the
Baptists, iu this regard, that his mind, as expressed in his chief work, was clear
ill its philosophy of religion. In his immortal dream the theology is only
less wonderful than the poetry and imagination. He exalted God upon the
throne, but was a deadly foe to fiitalism. This last heresy infected the theology
of some of the leading minds of the denomination iu the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, but the " Pilgrim's Progress " was always in the via media,
and conducted its students to heaven.

It is singular that the two soundest heads, in their time, were two poets, —
Milton and Bunyan. What one was to the Congregatioualists the other was to
the Baptists. But neither could be confined to a sect, and both are for all
time, citizens of the world. In their attempts to reconcile the decrees of God
and the freedom of the human will, they anticipated the most enlightened
philosophers of modern times. Their themes, their thoughts, their fancy and
their style, unite to make them teachers, not of one country and one period,
but of all periods and all nations.

When the supralapsarians became influential among the Baptist clergy, in
the last century, the dream of Bunyan kept the people free from its entangle-
ments, and aided the younger ministry to come to a better understanding of
the ways of God. Andrew Fuller and John Foster were brought up to believe
iu the most intense form of fatalism that was consistent with any sense of duty.
Robert Hall, the prince of modern preachers, felt the same influence in his
early days. Hall and Fuller, under the lead of the New England divines, and
especially of Pres. Edwards, burst the fetters that prevented, them from urging
duty upon all, and making the fullest oflTers of salvation to all, while Foster
remained a prisoner all his days.

Tlic Baptists in the Colonics, and in this count}' as well, partook of the
opinions and the conflicts of their brethren in England. There can ho no
doubt that the luminous writings of Fuller and the transcendent eloquence of
Hall have had a beneficial effect uiDon every respectaljlo Baptist clergyman who
has preached among us during the last half century. In like manner the
missionary enterprise started by Carey and INIarshman has exerted a
modifying influence upon Iheni, and upon all Protestant Christendom. But in
regard to the great fundamental truths of the Christian religion, the Baptists iu
this county have known no change but what comes from the clearer under-
standing of the doctrines which their fathers held, and the stronger zeal they
cherish to carry these saving truths to the ends of the earth.

The Congregatioualists have lived the longest, and wrought the most history
on this soil. They w'cre the first of white men in the county, and they laid
the foundations of all our civil, religious and educational institutions. The

1G6 COUNTY HISTORY.

question arises whether their history as a denomination has been merely au
expansion of numbers, or a cliange in polity and faith. The answer is, "Xo,"
and "Yes," Substantially, they are to-day what they, as a branch of the
church universal, were two hundred and fifty years ago. In uon-essential
points they have experienced some variations. What arc they?

First, in regard to polity. There has been no change in the government of
the churches since this county was settled, and coming hither did not affect
the independence of any church in its relation to other churches. The Congre-
gational theory is that each church is an independent body, and when fully
organized by the adoption of a covenant, and the choice of ofEcers, is qualified
to conduct its own affairs without the supervision or interference of any power
in Church or State. But Congregationalism, in distinction from pure Inde-
pendency, always included the fellowship of other churches. It called councils
to aid in ordaining and installing ministei's. In cases of diflicully in the
administration of discipline, it called in the aid of sister churches, and asked
their advice, but always with the understanding, unless expressed to the
contrary in the Letters Missive, that the "Result of Council" would not
be liinding imlcss approved by the parties concerned. It also sanctions and
approves of general councils, of conferences, and associations for mutual
benefit. This makes it necessary for each church to continue in the faith and
the ordinances and the polity of the order, so long as it values and wishes to
enjoy fellowship. In this regard the polity of the Congregational liody is the
same as it has always been in the State of Massachusetts and the county of
"Worcester. But iu the internal government of the individual church there has
been one important modification. In the early churches of Massachusetts Bay
some of the churches had two ministers, a i)astor and a teacher. They had
also a ruling elder, perhaps more than one, who aided the pastorate in the
governing of the church and the administration of discipline. There grew up
an idea that no act of the church was valid unless it had the sanction of the
teaching and ruling elders. Before Worcester County was settled, the custom
of havins: two ministers over a church, or a ruling elder, had been changed,
not by any vote or associated action, but simplj' by disuse. But the notion
still lingered in the minds of some of the clergy, that all the power or authority
of pastors and elders had passed into the hands of the single pastor. He was
the residual legatee of all clerical power rather than the elected jjastor and
teacher of the chui'ch and congregation.

It is a notable fact, which comes directly in our way when studying the
history of Worcester County, that the contest over this question was carried on,
in this county, unto the end. In how many cases the pastors claimed and
asserted the veto power, cannot be now ascertained without consulting the
records of every Congregational church established in the last century, or
before ; but there were two or three cases which have been reported in print.
As they all grew out of one origin, they may be treated together. And as

THE BOLTON CASE. 167

they murk a distinct but evanescent phase in our history, they are worthy of
attention.

The Church of Christ in Bolton was organized Nov. 4, 1741, and the
Rev. Thomas Goss was ordained as the pastor on the same day. Thirty year's
later diHic-ulties arose between him and his people. They brought charges
against him. and a council was called, before which both parties appeared.
After a hearing, the council found a result in his favor. The people wei'c not
satisfied, and the controvci'sy became more heated. The church, having found
no relief by appealing to the neighboring churches, took the matter into their
own bauds, and dissolved the relation between their minister and themselves.
This was contrary to Congregational usage, and left them by law under obliga-
tion to support their minister ; for as the law then was, and is now, a Congre-
gational pastor had legal claim to support from his people until a council had
dissolved the relation by consent of all parties, or by the conviction of the
minister of unministerial conduct. Probably patience on the part of the Bolton
church, and a steady persistence in the eflbrt to sever the relation between
themselves and Mr. Goss would, in time, have secured an orderly dismission.
But they asserted their independence.

And now the troulde began to spread. The ministers considering this, as it
was, an assumption of power not warranted by the polity of the churches,
passed censure npon the Bolton church, and called on their churches to with-
hold fellowship from the church in Bolton, and from the individual members.
In these circumstances the people of Boltou made an appeal to the churches in
the adjoining towns. Their method was singular, and out of order, but
probably they acted in accordance M^ith a plan prearranged with brethren in
different places. In our day, if a church and parish had dismissed a minister
irregularly, the remedy would be, on his part, to claim his dues, l)ut there
M'ould be no effort to sustain him against the decision of his people in the
pastoral office, and the church would proceed to call another man. Even then,
if the council invited to settle him should deem the past action of the church
irregular or wrong, the most they would do would be to express their opinion ;
but would proceed to examine the candidate, see if he had a regular call, and,
if satisfied, proceed to installation. Or the church might cut loose from its
religious connection, and become independent.

The church and parish took another way, and there is reason to believe, Avith
a concerted purpose to break down the minister's assumed power to veto the
action of the church. Six of the members of the church in Bolton went to
Sterling on the da}' for the administration of the Lord's Supper, and presented
themselves at the communion. The Rev. John jMellcn, the minister of the
church, declined to go on with the service while the brethren from Bolton re-
mained. The question was put to vote, and the decision was that the visiting
brethren should remain. This was thus made a test case. JNIr. Mcllen then
asserted the right of the eldership, on the supposition that ruling elders, or

1G8 COUNTY HISTORY.

the eldership, iiicludhig the pastor, teacher and elder, had formerly claimed a
separate but co-ordioate power in the government of the body, and declared
his negative or veto upon the action of his church. They voted to admit the
brethren to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. The minister non-concurred,
and not only vetoed their action, Imt refused to go on with the service, and
thus deprived his own people of the ordinance for the time. In this action he
put himself in the wrong by taking indcfensil)lc ground, and the result was an
invincible determination on the part of his people not to submit.

They had other causes of complaint against Mr. Mellen, but this was now
seized upon, and was followed up until a sepai-ation was eifected. At the
meeting above mentioned, the excitement rose to a high pitch. The brethren
insisted that the service should be performed, and the visitinir brethren be per-
mitted to partake with them. The pastor, to avoid further confusion, says a
writer who was familiar with the case, "withdrew from the meeting-house,
leaving the sacred emblems of brotherly love, of peace, and of humility. The
communion was now suspended, and the commotion greatly increased." The
action just related took place on the first of November, 1772.

In September, 1773, a council was called, and went into an investigation of
the charges against Mr. Mellen. These were under three heads, but we are
only concerned with the first, that of "maladministration." Under that head
he was charged with the abuse of power as moderator of the church. lie had
" declined putting questions to vote when proposed ; had neglected to call
church meetings upon request ; had arbitrarily dismissed them when called."
The whole was, however, gathered into this, as the main cause of all the difE-
cultics, "namelj', that he assumed the power of negativing or non-concurring
the votes of the brethren." It is said that the council denied this right, and
that Mr. Mellen explained himself in a way that could not he olijccted to,
though suliscqucntly he did assert it in full. His idea of the relation of pas-
tor, church and parish, was analogous to the constitution of the realm of Eng-
land, in the concurrent action of king, lords and commons; and he claimed
that nothins: could be done concernin<? their civil connection without a concur-
rence of minister, church and parish. It is not needful to continue the narra-
tive in extenso. The council, after hearing Mr. Mellen, exonerated him from
the charges. By a small majority the result of the council was rejected. Then
council followed council, but they all resulted very much as the first. At
length the church resorted to ultimate principles, held a meeting without the
concurrence of their minister, and voted to dissolve the pastoral relation be-
tween INIr Mellen and themselves. The parish concurred. Mr. Mellen, of
course, i-esisted this action, and a council sustained him. In a question of
damages also, the decision by the referees was in his favor. But though he
had many friends in the church and town, who clung to him as their religious
teacher ten years longer, j'et he ceased to be the pastor of the church and par-
ish. The veto power was dethroned in Stei'ling as well as in Bolton.

MINISTEEIAL VETO. 1G9

The same contest was taken to Lancaster, where the mild and popuhir Ilar-
rin"-ton was firmly established in the affections of his people. He was favored
with a united parish, and with wise men to gnide. "When the brethren from
Bolton wrote to inquire if they "would be permitted to hold communion in
special ordinances," or, in other words, would be recognized as members of a
Congregational church, in good and regular standing, the matter was consid-
ered in church meeting, and then laid over for about a fortnight. "When the
adjourned meeting was held the question was put in this form by some wise
head: "whether the church be so far in charity with the brethren of Bolton,
whose letter is before them, as to be willing to receive them to connnunion
with them in special ordinances occasionally." The vote was in the affirmative.
Gently the church in Lancaster put aside the veto power. Mr. Harrington
non-concurred with the church, and added the following note and statement to
the record, which vote was non-concurred by the pastor, as follows : " Brethren,
I think myself bound in duty to God, to the Congregational church in general,
and to this church in particular, and to my own conscience, to declare, which I
now do, before you, that I cannot concur in this vote. This vote shall be re-
corded, but my vote must be recorded with it." So far he was on safe ground,
as a minister has a right to non-coiicur, and make a record of it. But he goes
on as follows : "And as the brethren from Bolton now see your charitable sen-
timents towards them, I hope they will be so far satisfied. But as the church
act in their i\wor is not perfected, I hope they will not offer themselves to
communion with us till their society is in a more regular state." Here comes
the assertion of the veto power in the words : "The church act in their favor
is not perfected." There is no record that the matter was ever put to the test.
Probably the Bolton brethren were not encouraged to come in person, and
make the claim. The church in Lancaster enjoyed their minister, and wanted
no pretext to rid themselves of his services and presence. But the}' had taken
ground against the action of the Bolton council, and if pressed to act upon the
main question, would, doubtless, have rejected and defied the veto power of
the clergy. These transactions took place in 1772-3, when the people were
preparing for the Revolution, and were full of the spirit of liberty, civil and
religious. In that great movement, nearly all the ministers in the county
joined most heartily ; in many cases they took the lead. But in relation to
the power of non-concurrence in ecclesiastical matters, they did not see the
matter in the same light as their people viewed it. However, the veto power
of the clergy had received a mortal blow. The claim had arisen from a con-
fusion of ideas. In the state, where there is a governor or president, a house
of delegates and a senate, it is necessary that each should have the power of
non-concurrence ; otherwise it would be annihilated by the concurrence of the
other two. The people who are the source of power, lodge a portion of it in
the three departments. But in a church there is no delegation of power to
any one. The people who, under Christ, arc supreme, choose their minister ;

170 COUNTY HISTORY.

ho has certain rights ; they arc under certain obligations ; but he is not a
department of government, and the idea of his vetoing their action is an
absurdity. In this respect there has been a change in the administration of the
Congregational churches, and it has been beneficial to both church and clergy.

Passing from this point, and coming to that of faith or the sul)stanco of doc-
trine, it is often asserted that there has been a wide departure from the
standard of the fathers. This statement is made not only with reference to
the churches or societies which are avowedly Unitarian, but in relation to those
which retain the ancient name and the creeds and platforms of former times.
But the candid student of their history will be slow to accept this conclusion.
He will most probably find that the same stability which characterizes the
other denominations of Christians, pertains especially to the Orthodox Con-
gregational churches. There are individual changes. Occasionally a minister,
as is the case in all other bodies, takes his leave, and joins those with whom he has
come to agree ; but these cases are few : and tlie change of a whole church, or
a majority of it, is a very rare occurrence. But the claim is, that while the
creed remains the same in the records of the church, the ministry and the
people have come to discard the old doctrines, and to hold new views entirely
hostile to them. Again the reply is, that those who make such an assertion will
find it difficult to bring the proof. It will be found, on inquiry, probably, that
these churches now hold all the main points of doctrine which were held by
those who set up the first churches in the county. If there has been any
change, the doctrines are now held more intelligently, and clung to with a
tighter grasp than ever before. This is not the place to enter into a disquisi-
tion on the subject of Christian doctrine ; but speaking historically, it is per-
tinent to say that a perusal of the creeds and covenants of these churches, and
of the writings of their accredited authors and editors, in the past and the
present time, and some familiarity with their modes of acting and ways of
speaking, and tone of sentiment, will concur in producing the conviction of a
substantial unity of faith and principle, and spirit of Christian living, between
the members of these churches now on the stage, and those who have gone
before them.

It would be easy to show the origin of the mistake on this subject. And the
mistake or misrepresentation is made with reference to Baptists, Episcopalians
and Methodists, just as much as the Congregationalists. The fact is, that the
mental philosophy of former generations did not recognize the full and ijcrfect
freedom of the human will. This is the achievement of modern thinkers, many
of whom are Christian theologians. The fatalism of the ancient, and of the
middle ages possessed the scholars of all civilized countries, to a great extent,
and though the unhackneyed mind of the race always asserted its freedom,
the logicians and scholars were held by the iron chain of the Stoics. It was
feared by devout theologians that the assertion of the "power of contrary
choice," would undermine the authority of God. On the other hand, good

FREE WILL. 171

men were so firm iu asserting the freedom of the will that they denied, not
only the doctrine of decrees, but limited the foreknowledge of God, lest that
should preclude the freedom which is essential to a moral being. The solution
is supposed to be found in the postulate that the entire freedom of the human
will wns cml)raced in the Divine plan of government over men and angels,
good and bad, and that all contingencies were provided for and included in the
plan, so that man is free, and yet the eternal plan of God will not fail in any
one thing, even the minutest.

This being received, the government of God over men is set free from all
the objections and difficulties which beset the fatalistic schemes of theodicy.
By this the responsibility and blame of all sin is fixed upon the transgressor.
The penalty of sin, in the case of any one, is exactly adjusted to his degree of
guilt, and his guilt b}' the amount of liglit he enjoyed, by his surroundings, his
training, his temptations, and his capacity to choose the good and resist the
evil. By this philosophy, every moral being is supposed to be fully endowed
with the power to keep the law of God ; to repent of his sin when he has
broken the law, and to accept of pardon and spiritual healing on the terms in
which they are offered in the gospel of Christ. Therefore, if any one is sub-
jected to loss, or suffering, or the degradation of guilt, hei-e or hereafter, the
blame is ou himself. The only fatal impediment to his recovery in this life or
while a probationer, is his own unwillingness to turn from the evil and choose
the good, to cease from being governed hy the law of selfishness, and with all
his heart, surrendering himself to the law of love. On this ground it is claimed
that every one of the old doctrines held by the Congregationalist or other
churches in times past, can be held, and is held now, in entire harmony with
the most enlightened philosophy of the mind, and in such a sense as to reflect
peculiar honor upon God as the moral governor of the miiverse. This state-
ment is not made in the interest of any sect or denomination, but as a part of
the mental history of a large portion of the people residing in.the county.

The question naturally arises, after reading this sketch of the religious his-
tory of the county, whether the morals of the people have kept pace with the
increase of the churches. Those who are ignorant of past evils, or forget
them, and look only at the crimes against life and property, which are now so
common, hastily conclude that society has been on the descending scale since
the da3's of their youth. That has alwa3-s beeu the case. In the day of Solo-
mon, men said, "the former times were better than these"; but they were
rebuked as not speaking wisely. But it is not strange that the readers of our
pai)ers, daily and weekl3s who find in every issue a detail of horrors and
crimes, should be impressed with the conviction that crime and wickedness are
on the increase. The past is faded from the memory; the present is thrust
upon the attention from day to day.

But a careful scrutiny of facts will show that religion, as understood and
practised among us, is conducive to morality. It is true that morality does

172 COUNTY HISTORY.

not prove that the moralist is governed by high religious principle, but it is
equally clear that any amount and degree of what is called religion, yet is not
attended with morality as its fruit, is not only worLljless, but positively per-
nicious.

Crimes are divided into various classes. Some are crimes against the mar-
riage relation, which nndermine and corrupt society, and destroy all happiness.
Some are crimes against the rights of property, and render all possessions
insecure. Some are crimes of appetite, and are exceedingly debasing in their
influence. Some are crimes of passion and revenge, and perpetuate them-
selves from generation to generation. Some arc crimes of personal injury ;
and some are crimes against life itself, and by direct infliction of death, by
means of poison or violence.

In regard to the first, this may be said, that in some forms it is far less
apparent than in the last century, so far as this county is concerned. The
records of the county prove a great change for the better. Ouc who reads
the old records is shocked at finding how often marriage rights preceded
marriage rites, and how many first-born children were prevented from being
children of shame by the hasty marriage of their jjarcnts. It may be that sins
against the seventh commandment are as common now as they were then ; but
if so, they are more carefully concealed. liiit it will bo found, ou inquiry, that
there is less impurity in respectable families, and that the vicious, as a visible
class only, are more numerous, being brought together in towns and cities.
The moral filth is drained from the community at large, and confined to sinks of
corruption, leaving the tone of all respectable society more elevated and pure.

That there is less intemperance now than formerly, our younger temper-
ance reformers find it hard to believe ; yet those whose memory extends
backward fifty years, know to a certainty that there has been a great reforma-
tion in regard to the drinking habits of the people of all classes, male and
female. Intoxicating drinks were used by the first settlers of New England,
though to a limited extent. Drunkenness was uncommon though it was not
nnknown. The facilities for making " fire-water" were not so great as they have
since become. The leading families were religious, and exerted a strong
influence, as well as authority, over their servants, dependents, and children.
During the wars of the last century intemperance increased, and in the Revo-
lution rose to a fearful prevalence. From that time there was no abatement
of the evil for half a century. Besides cider, which the orchards made
almost free as water, the trade with the "West Indies and France, brought
Santa Cruz rum and French brandy. Then the people learned to distil their
own fiery beverage from molasses and scum, and so produced great quantities
of New England rum. Later, say fifty and sixty years ago, the business of
making cider-brandy became common in almost all our county towns. The
apples went to the cider-mill ; the cider went to the distillery, and came out as
brandy, cheaper than the French article, but as quick to intoxicate, and more

• LIQUOR AND CRIME. 173

powerful to injure the health than the more costly article from France. How
many of those old distilleries stood on our hill-sides, where barrels of cider
could be rolled in on the upper side, and barrels of brandy could be rolled out
on the lower side, and easily loiided into carts.

The drinking kept up with the making of drink. Very little was exported.
People drank when sick, and when well to prevent sickness. IManj' drank to
withstand cold, and to overcome the languor of heat. They drank to enliven
themselves in pain and sadness, and also to heighten their hilarity and revelry.
They drank at funerals and at weddings, giving the children the sugar and
draiuings of the glass. When they metathuskings, atchopping-bees, at raisings,
at launchings, at balls and at trainings, drinking was a matter of ordinary usage
and civility. And thus they poured down what Robert Hall called " liquid death
and distilled damnation" in a steady stream.

The effects were ruinous in respect to property, health and morals. The
traveler, in going through our towns, could see the effects of drinking, in the
houses, barns and fences ; and inquiry would show that farm after farm was
mortgaged to the country trader, who supplied the farm with rum ; and when
his unpaid bills accumulated, took security in a bit of paper, which soon led to
foreclosure. And so many a family, living on a farm that had come down
from father to son through several generations, was driven from the ancestral
home.

The effects in regard to health need not be dwelt upon, as every one knows
how the indulgence in intoxicating liquors is the fruitful cause of disease and
death. More baleful still is the moral result. Intemperance is the great
hindrance to religion. It is the deadly foe of morality. More than half the
crimes that are brought before our courts are attributed to iutemperance.
In the days when drinking habits were worse than now, the results in crime
were more frequent. Fightings, family quarrels, violence against wife and
children ; these were the results of M'hich rum was the cause. There is
enough of intemperance now to fill the philanthropist with alarm, but the
improvement over the past is fitted to inspire hope.

But it will be said that there is more rioting and violence than in the days
of the fathers. This is true ; but not among the sons of the fathers. This is
imported violence, to a great extent. The Iri^-h are given to drink, and when
intoxicated are full of fight. Tlie Italian and Frenchman commit crimes of
passion and revenge. The Englishman is great on a bank robbery, and the
opening of a safe which defies all the ingenuity of the burglar. The bad
Yankee is equally sure for any kind of rascality, but makes nothing a
specialty. Omitting the cases of crime that are brought before the grand jury
of inquest, which are charged to those of foreign birth, and it will appear that
the proportion of crime to the increase of native population has decreased.
Then it should be noted that the robbery of great houses, banks and offices is
a comparatively new crime among us, inasmuch as banks and treasure houses,

174 COUNTY HISTORY.

and safety deposit companies are new institutions, nnknown in the county a
few decades ago. These robberies are generally done by vilhiins who live at a
distance ; who lay their plans in Boston or New York, or some other haunt of
criminals, and when the time comes, make a raid on one of our quiet towns.
They come in the night, and beftn-o men are awakened to their daily labors,
the money, bonds and other securities are gone. This sort of crime is, there-
fore, not chargeable to any largo degree, to our own people, and ought not to
be admitted in the inventory of our native wickedness.

These suggestions apply, in nearly equal force, to crimes against life. There
have been eighteen executions for capital crimes, in Worcester County, since
courts of justice were first held. Ten of these were for murder; live were
for burglary, and three for rape ; both of which were formerly capital
crimes. Omitting these, which, with one exception, occurred in the last
century, and confining our attentinn to the executions for murder, it appears
that six of the ten executions occurred in the last century', and four in the
present. The first was in 1745, when one Jeffrey, a negro, was hanged for
the murder of his mistress. The second execution was in connection w'ith the
celebrated Spooner case, the most atrocious murder in our amials, when Wil-
liam Crooks, James Buchanan, Ezra Ross and Bathsheba Spooner were exe-
cuted for the murder of Joshua Spooner. In the sixth case, Samuel Frost
suffered the penalty of the law for the murder of Eiisha Allen. The other
four cases occurred within the memory of the living. If executions now are
as con-ect indications of crime as they were in former generations, the above
facts show that there has been no iucrease of wilful homicides, but consider-
ing the great iucrease of population, a largo relative decrease. Since the exe-
cution of Frost in 1793, the last of the six murderers in the last century, the
population of the county has increased more than fourfold. Every reader
may draw his own conclusions. The sum of the matter is, that taking all the
population, native and foreign born, the state of morality is higher now than
it was preceding the great religious and temperance reformation about 1825
and the years following. The tendency is upward.

CHAPTER XVI.

BUSINESS IN WORCESTER COUNTY.

The first business was farming ; but the pioneers had need to understand
that -word in an enlarged meaning. It was to fell trees, and build log-caljins,
and make roads, and lay rustic bridges across the small streams, in the very
beginning of the settlement of the county. Johu Prcscott, who was perhaps

EAELY BUSINESS. 175

the first permanent settler, was a blacksmith as well as farmer, and lie also
hastened to set np a saw-mill and a grist-mill for the accommodation of his
neighbors as well as himself. In addition, he kept a store or "trucking
house," to supply the settlers and the natives with needed articles that could
not be raised or obtained in the M-ilderness. Prescott's sou Jonathan was a
blacksmith. Lawrence Waters had a division of land, l)ut ho was a carpenter
as well as farmer. Millers, blacksmiths, carpenters and farmers were indis-
pensable, and in many cases one man united two or more trades or callings.

But taking a farmer, pure and simple, how much was implied in that M'ord
more than one hundred and fifty years from the time when the first cal:)in was
raised in the county ! The farmer raised all his cereals, and all kinds of animal
food which he used. Corn, rye and often wheat were raised for his own famil}",
with some to sell to other fixmilies that miijht be cmjaffcd in some mechanical
trade. After the first mill was set a running, it is probable that l)ut a very
small quantity of flour or meal was brought into the count}'. Oats and barley
were raised for cattle and horses. Potatoes and other esculent roots were
grown in abundance. It was not long before apples, pears, quinces, cherries
and plums were raised to the full measure of the wants of the inlial)itants.
The woods and intervales abounded in nuts of the best varieties. In short,
every kind of vegetable growth necessary for food, the farmer could raise on
his own land. But this was not peculiar to the farmer of old times ; it can be
done, and often is done now, even to the raising of wheat.

The peculiarity of the early times was that the farmer's family were inde-
pendent of the outside world for clothing and animal food. Xo trains brought
cattle and sheep from the West. No ships brought linen from Ireland. No
vessels brought wool from California and Australia. Beef, pork, mutton,
veal, lamb and poultry were supplied bj^ the farmer's own land. Wild game
was running or fl\'ing in the forests. The streams were full of fish, including
the herring, the shad and the salmon. But he needed clothing; and liow did
he meet that necessitj' ? Wool grew on his sheep, and flax grew in his field.
Woolen and linen goods constituted his clothing. It is true that the ambition
of every farmer's wife was to have a silk dress, but she contrived to make this
last a life-time. In like manner, cotton goods were used, but sparing!}'.
Sheepskins and buckskins were dressed and made into trowsers, or breeches,
as they were then called. They were often worn by elegant gentlemen. Furs
were as common as numerous wild animals could make them.

The wool was washed, sheared and brought to the house by the fiither and
his sons. The women took the wool, and dyed it in the dye-pot standing in
the corner of the fireplace, and answering the purpose of a seat. They carded
the wool, spun it into thread, and wove it into cloth. Thej' had a primitive
way of dressing tlie cloth. Though seamstresses or female tailors soon came
into the line of work, yet it was one of the accomplishments of the housewife
t(i be able to cut and make up the woolen cloths for herself and all her family.

176 COUNTY HISTORY.

The same was true of the flax. This was pulled, dried and swiugled by the
men, but the women folk hutchellcd, spun, wove and bleached until the white
linen was ready for under and outer garments, and for sheetings. The coarse
tow was made into rough, but strong clothes for boys and workmen. Stock-
ings were made at home, as were fur and cloth caps and mittens. And if there
was any other article of clothing needed except shoes, it could Ijc made with-
out calling in outside help. Besides all this, the farmer had straw and feathers
for iDcds, and he could readily put together a frame or bedstead on which to
sleep.

Such, in 2^art, was the condition of the former before the modern "division
of labor" came in to restrict his independence, though to minister to his con-
venience and luxury. Factories were unknown. The age of fulliug-inills
and clothiers' shops had not come. The fiirm was a little kingdom in itself,
and every man's house was indeed his castle. Some of the handicraft trades
have been specified. In addition to those were the tanner, the shoemaker and
the hatter, though hats were imported from England for a long period. The
blacksmith, tiic carpenter, the tanner, the shoemaker, and all the rest worked
for their immediate neighborhood, and not to sell their wares at a distance.
Business, in the present sense of the word, was not known ; but, after the
lapse of a generation or two and the growth of town centres, there was a
demand and an opportunity for the beginning of business. "\Yagon, cart, sleigh
and carriage makers made their vehicles to order, and sometimes kept them
on hand for sale. The making of snow-shoes was a business at one period of
our history. Then came in rake-makers, and makers of shovels and hoes ;
but evci-ything was done on a small scale. It was long before the large
streams were raised by dams. Small streams were drawn on for water-power,
because of the comparative safety. More than a hundred years since, the
Wilders (Joseph and Caleb) of Lancaster began to make pot aud pearl
ashes. There were nail-works on the Nashua, at Pouakin. Enterprising men
in Worcester, IMcndon, Brookfield and other towns began to set up shops and
mills, and to do business on a larger scale than before. But there was little
chance for manufacturing in the Colonies until after the Revolutionary AVar.
Commerce flourished, and the fisheries employed a large number of sea-faring
men. Boston, Salem, Gloucester, Beverly, IMarblehead, Newburyport,
Charlestown, Pl^-mouth, New Bedford, some of the Cape towns and Nan-
tucket had, in the aggregate, a considerable tonnage ; but the inland towns had
no corresponding means of growth in population or wealth. It was the policy
of the British Government to keep down our manufactures. Even such a
friend of the Colonies as the elder Pitt said that he would not have a hat or a
hol)-nail made in the Colonies. The products of our fisheries, farms and mills,
and the timljcr from our forests, might go to the West Indies, to Italy and to
England, but the return must come back mainly in the products of English
machinery. The Revolution was the era of industrial as well as of political

WOOL AND COTTON. 177

independence. After that event, l)iisiness was possible, and soon different kinds
of business sprung' up all over the North. In this awakening ]irospority,
Worcester County had its share. It felt the life and stir of the new order of
things, and new enterprises were started in new as well as old centres of
business. But there was one drawback to the increase of popnlation. As in
preceding generations, the opening of new towns had drawn off the surplus of
people from the older settlements, so the Revolution was followed, for a series
of years, by the shifting of population from Massachusetts to Vermont and
the Genesee country in New York. Prf)bably, not a town in Worcester
County escaped this cause of depletion. And the process went on, and new
States were laid open for settlement for several lustrums in the present cen-
tury. The tide of migration was not retarded until manufacturing on a large
scale became the settled policy of our people.

It is not known when the first fulling-mills were set up in the county, but
there is evidence that they were in use far back into the last century, and before
quite a number of the towns were organized. The farmers' wives were unable
to fidl their cloth to any great extent, by any appliances or contrivances at
home. The fulling-mill was a necessity. Hence it came into existence in
nearly every town. Then came the clothiers' shop, whore the fulled cloth was
dressed by teazles and shears fixed upon cylinders. Attention also was paid
to dj'cing, and among the handsome colors common from sixty to eighty years
ago were "snuff color" and " Lunnun (London) brown." The clothiers felt
a pride in their business, and gave a good appearance to the cloth which was
sent to them for dressing.

About the same time carding-machincs, or mills, run by water, came into
vogue, and thus a great saving of the hard work of women was effected.
Loads of fleeces went from the farm-houses to the mills, and came back in hand-
some rolls. But still the spinning and the weaving was done I)y mothers and
daughters on the old-fashioned wlieol and the hand-loom. This continued down
to about 1825, or a few- years later, when the policy of protection to our infant
manufactures was begun. Then the carding-machines, the fulling-mills and
the clothiers' shops were smitten as by a blast from heaven. Capitalists built
larger mills and introduced machinery which superseded the work of carding,
spinning and weaving at home, and all the business of the fuller and dresser.
The wool went to the factory, clean or foul, and came out in fine broadcloth.
Hundreds of men who bad small mills up and down our streams, and who made
a comfortablf living from their business, were thrown out of employ. Their
mills and shops were too small to be utilized as factories, their machinery was
useless, and their water-wheels were left to decay beside the flumes through
which the water ran to waste. For years they stood as sad monuments of a
business gone to ruin. At the same time the df)mestic manufacture of linen
came to an end by the introduction of cotton, which followed the invention of
the cotton-gin, and the starting of cottou-mills. By this process, as the young

178 COUNTY HISTORY.

reader will easily see, the economy, or general life of the farm was revolution-
ized. The farm and farm-house which were once the owner's realm, where
be could raise or manufacture almost everything needed f(jr comfortaMe sub-
sistence in the way of shelter, clothing and food, except salt and spices, became
dependent on the outside world for every article of clothing ; for much of the
lumber used in building or repairing ; for all his sugar as well as his molasses ;
for the greater part of his brcadstuffs ; for nearly all his meat, whether beef,
pork or mutton ; for his cheese, and in some cases for his butter.

This seems a bad showing for the farmer, and the first tiiought would be that
he is now in a reduced and pitiable condition. On the contrary, the means of
obtaining a comfortaljlc living, and sharing in the advantages of settled and
cultivated society were never so great in this county as at present. In some
towns the land, or a portion of it, is poorer, because the virgin soil is exhausted,
and thriftless farming has not kept it in good condition. The wealth of the
forest has been cut down, and land good for nothing, by reason of rocks and
ledges, but tree-raising, has beeu left to the abrading force of sun and storm.
But the influence of agricultural societies and publications has been effective
in improving the arable land of the count3^ During the present generation
thousands of acres which were so full of stones and stumps that a mowing-
machine could not be operated, are now prepared for planting l)y a plow
which would have filled our fathers with astonishment, and mowed, tcdderccl,
raked and loaded by machines which dispense with the labor of three-quarters
of the men once employed, leaving them to follow other useful ()ccupati(jns.
There is more skill in preparing the laud, in procuring and appl3nng fertilizers,
in adapting crops to the soil, and, in general, in the whole business of farming.
The evidence of improvement is not far to seek, anil is convincing, in spite of
the cry of "hard times" which is chronic with tillers of the soil. It is seen
in the nice houses where once were log-cabins ; then, one-story framed houses ;
then, old-fashioned lean-tos, and afterwards the larger, but ill-contrived and
uupainted farm-houses, which were common in country towns fifty years since.
Thei'e arc living men who can remember the time when, in many towns in this
county, the painted houses were few and far apart. The out-buildings were
cheap and vulgar, and the barns were rough and often open to the weather.
The internal finish of the houses — a few comparatively excepted — was devoid
of elegauce, and the furniture was free from the suggestion of l)eauty, and
often of comfort, unless by way of contrast. In all these regards the change
is so great as to be almost incredible to the risinof generation.

If it should be said that the appearance is deceptive, and that farmers are in
debt for these comforts and luxuries, the answer comes at once, that as a class,
they are not so hampered with debts and mortgages as were their predecessors.
The one thing, which, in these times of depression and failure in business, the
mind dwells on with satisfaction is, that few farmers have become bankrujat,
and that many have good investments away from their farms. One town in

CLOTH AND CLOTHIERS. 179

this county, may stand for several. This one has no l)nsiLiess centre and no
manufacturing village. Nearly all its business is farming, yet the people have
been able to boar the loss of man}' thousand dollars in outside investments, and
still remain in good circumstances. But enough on this topic. The agricul-
tural products of the county, according to the last State census, will be found
ou a subsequent page.

The Woolen Business. — The changes in this form of industry, from tlio
spindle and loom, worked by the hands of the farmers' wives and daughters,
to the fulling-mill and clothier's shop, have been already stated, but the change
from these workshops to the great factory was indicative of a far greater rev-
olution in industry and in population. We should not fail to notice that this
began on a small scale, and that onl}' by an alteration in governmental policy
was it finally established. The gradual introduction of factories is worthy of
notice. In Uxbridgc, for example, John Cajiron had a clothier's shop in 1792,
and later. In 1820, there was a woolen mill in the same town, in which, in
1828, the first satinet ever made in this country was woven. In Leicester,
there was, on Kettle Brook, in 1787, a "custom shop" for dressing home-
made cloth. In 1809, Samuel Wilson, from England, had a fulling-mill. In
1814, he began making broadcloth, but it was all made by hand. In 1818, he
leased the property to a Mr. Anderston, an Englishman, and the founder of
the great manufacturing interest in Cherry Valley. Thomas Bottomly, who
came from England not far from the same time, engaged, at first, as a weaver.
In 1820 he became a manufacturer. His first spinning-jenny, as he said, was
" made with a jacknife." He cut the timber in the woods, and fashioned it
into shape as a working jenny. He smuggled the spindles from England about
1830. He built a machine-shop in Worcester, in which the late Dea. Ichabod
Washburn was engaged, and there, under Bottomly's direction, was built the
first "fulliug-mill with falls" ever made in this country. A woolen manufac-
turing company was started in Oxford as early as 1814, but the business was
not large, compared with modern standards. h\ 1831, the old clothiers' works
were all liunied out, and the Denny Manufactm-ing Company ijuilt a woolen
mill one hundred by forty feet, and four stories high, in which broadchjths were
made.

AVithout going farther into particulars, for which search must be made in the
sketches of the towns, it is enough to say that the woolen business gradually
went from the clothiers' shops into factories ; and that after the accession of
John Quincy Adams to the Presidency, such protection was afforded by the
revenue policy of the general government as to encourage capitalists to engage
in it ou a large scale. Satinets and broadcloths were made in Worcester,
Leicester, Webster, Southbridge, Blackstouo or Mendon, Oxford, Ilolden,
Lancaster, Wincheudon, and other towns, until the manufacture of wooleu
goods, in some form, has become a great interest. The business has had its
times of depression ; manufacturers have failed ; mills have beeu burued or

180 COUNTY HISTORY.

carried away by floods; the tariff" legislation of Congress has caused flucttia-
tions ; and depreciated currency has been a great impediment, 3'et the business
seems to I)e firmly established.

Tlie Carj)pt Uiisines.t is one form of woolen manufacture ; and in this branch
Worcester County occupies a prominent place. The making of carpets is one
of the oldest industries of the world. In oriental nations (he carpet, in some
shape, was used in tent, house, palace and temple. They were in use in
Europe long before this country was settled. Before the Revolution they were
little known in the United States, though it appears from advertisements in
New York papers, that Scotch and other carpets were offered for sale. Rag-
carpets, made in farm-houses, were more common. A carpet factory was liuilt,
in Philadelphia, in 1791, the products of which were called Turkey and Axmins-
ter by the proprietor. By the year 1810 the census reported as the product of
that year, nine thousand nine hundred and eighty-four yards of carpetings and
coverlets in the whole country. The weaving was done entirely by hand, np
to this time. Patents were granted for improved looms, but only the simplest
kind of carpets was the result. It is said that the " problem of making a
power-loom which should automatically perfoi'm so apparently difBcult a task
as to weave a two-ply web so as to produce any required pattern, had in Eng-
land been abandoned as insoluble." This problem an American genius, Mr.
Erastus B. Bigelow, then of Lancaster, took np and solved. Not only did he
succeed in producing a loom for manufacturing two-ply web, but a loom also
for the manufacture of Brussels carpets. His improved loom, for producing
figures which would match, was patented in 1845. Out of his inventions the
immense business of carpet-making in Clinton and Lowell has grown. Recently
be has made such improvements in the machinery as greatly to reduce the cost
of manufacturing. Of Mr. Bigelow it has been said that he has done more
than any American, and as ranch as any inventor who ever lived, to bring
woolen manufactures to their present perfection. "He has taken out more
than fifty distinct patents lor devices and improvements in loom and other
machines for handling wool." By his automatic loom Brussels carpeting is
woven rapidly, and with great perfection. The English mills have adopted his
looms, and Wilton and Axminster as well as Brussels carpets are among their
admired products.

The Cotton J3usiness. — This business is comparatively modern in the United
States. Samuel Slater set up the first cotton mill with machinery on the
Arkwright principle, in Rhode Island, in 1790. Eli Whitney had already
invented the cotton-gin, which reduced the price of the raw material, and laid
the basis of the immense business of cottou-dcalino;, and cotton-weaviuij in our
countr}'. But the number of cotton mills did not increase very rapidly for sev-
eral years. By the year 1812 there were factories in Rhode Island running over
thirty thousand spindles, and in Massachusetts more than half as many. The
policy of the government, however, was opposed to protection, and not until

LEATHER AND lEON. 181

1824 did a moderate tariff encourage a large iitvestmeut in this branch uf manu-
facturing. From that time the advance of this business was astonishing.
Which town in this county has the honor of containing Ihc first cotton mill may
be disputed, but there were two iu Blackstono as early as 1S0L». From that
time forward efforts were made in different towns to start the business, with
alternate success and failure, until the first quarter of the century closed. Soon
after the new era of "protection to American manufiictures" was inaugurated,
in 1824-5, cotton mills were built, and old mills were enlarged in almost all
parts of the county. Besides introducing machinery from England, inventions
and improvements were made by our own mechaiucs, increasing the production
of cotton fabrics, and lessening their price. On all the principal streams of
water, large factories were erected from year to year, and many new villages
were created, while old ones were filled with new life and energy. It is due
to this as much as any one cause that the poptdation of the county increased
from seventy-three thousand in 1820 to two hundred and ten thousand in 1875.

The makiu"' of ciushams and the calico-printing business alone, in the Lan-
caster Mills, Clinton, has added greatly to the population and wealth of that
enterprising village. This part of the great cotton business has flourished dur-
ing the season of depression, because there has been a demand for fine goods,
and there has been, comparatively, but little competition.

Tlie Leather Business. — Under this head will be included the manufacture
of leather and the products of leather, one of the most important of all the
branches of business in the county. During the first century after the county
was organized, all the towns, prol^ably, had their tanneries and shoemakers.
The domestic demand for shoes and boots, whether cowhide, calfskin, morocco
or horsehide, was met by the domestic sup^ily, but there was little if any
production for export. In some towns the tanneries were many ; in others
few ; but the shoemakers were very evenly distributed, according to the wants
of the people. It would be difficult to find when boots and shoes first became
articles for sale in the county stores ; and quite as hard to learn when manufac-
turers began to supply the Southern market.

However, there was a movement in this direction about the time of the last
war with England. For example : in 1810, Charles Watson of Spencer, made
eighty pairs of calf boots at four dollars and a half per pair, to go South. After
awhile the business ceased, but was renewed again in 1820. From this small
beginning has grown the immense business which places Spencer among the
leading towns in this branch of industry. The same business was commenced
ou a large scale, for those days, in Xorth Brookfield, in 1820, by Tyler Batch-
eller. This establishment is continued in the family, and is said to be the
largest in the county, and perhaps in the Commonwealth.

The Iron Business. — This branch of business is divided into many varieties,
including nails, railroad iron, wire drawing and weaving, metals and metallic
wares, tools, arms, and various industries in which iron, in some form, is largely

182 COUNTY HISTOEY.

used. The old blacksmith-shop was iiKlispcnsnble to farming life ; it was one
of the first buildings set up in new towns, and it is still found in or near every
village. By degrees the workmen learned to make axes and other tools into
whifh steel was welded. Axles as well as tires were made for vehicles, though
for generations the former were made of hard wood. Some kinds of cutlery,
as knives, scythes, sickles, cleavers and bill-hooks were the products of the
old shops. The time came when our ingenious mechanics tried their hand upon
fire-arms, and turned out tolerable muskets. The making of guns in this county
as a business, was begun, as is believed, in Sutton, about the opening of the
Revolution. Richard Waters, who came from England in 1G32, and settled in
Salem, was a gun-maker. Ilis wife was the daughter of a gun-maker, and they
had a long succession of descendants who were makers of fire-arms. One of
these was Jonathan, of Sutton, who had ten sons, two of whom, "Asa and
Andrus, inherited the mechanical talent of their progenitor Richard." The war
of the Revolution created a great demand for fire-arms, which could not be sup-
plied by importations from England, and it was unsafe to bring them from
France or Holland on account of the British cruisers which infested the Atlan-
tic. There was a necessity for the making of guns at home. The men needed
were here. Says Col. Asa II. Waters of Millbury : "Asa and Andrus erected
on the Singletary stream [in Sutton], a gun-factory or armory, which they
fitted up with tools and machinery for making guns by water-power. Hitherto
they had been made mostly by hand-power, both here and in England." It is
said that they discovered that the best iron for gun-barrels lay in the mines of
Salisbury, Connecticut. "They obtained it there in pigs, had it carted through
the forests to a forge iu Douglas, where it was converted into refined iron and
carted thence to their factory in North Sutton, where it was wrought into the
various parts of the gun." The manufacture of arms has since been carried on
by the son and grandson of Asa Waters, who have thus furnished the sportsman
with the implements of the chase, and what is far more important, have indirectly
enabled the country to maintain two Avars against England, and to suppress a
wicked rebellion.

The axe business of East Douglas has made the place well known throughout
the land and in foreign countries. Scythes were made in Fitchburg many
years since, and that business is still continued with energy. Machine-making
is pursued in Worcester, Fitchburg, Winchcndon and o'her places, on an
extensive scale.

The making of railway iron is one of the large business enterprises of
Worcester. The workings are on a cyclopean scale, and the men seem like
spirits of the flame. Wire-drawing has become one of the most extensive
branches of business in the county. This was begun by the late Dea. Ichabod
Washburn, in Worcester, in connection with Benjamin Goddard, in 1831.
The business continued to grow, and the necessary tools and machinery were
mostly contrived and invented in the works of Mv. Washburn and his son-in-

BUSINESS STATISTICS.

183

law, Mr. Moen. In 1850 he was induced by Mr. Chickering, the great piano-
forte manufacturer of that day, to make steel wire for the strings of his
instruments. The invention of sewing-machines created a demand for steel
suitable for needles. Then came "crinoline wire," now nearly obsolete, and soon
the weekly demand for this article was sixty thousand pounds. The "annual
consumption of three thousand tons of steel was required to e.vpand and give
prominence to the ladies' dresses in this country."

Statistics OF Business.

Without dwelling farther upon the origin of various branches of business in
the county, it will serve the convenience of lunny to have the production of
some of the great industries pursued, in the form of statistics. "With the
value of the products will be named t!ie towns which are most engaged in their
production, whether in the field of the husbandman, the shop of the mechanic,
or the factory of the manufacturer.

Agriculture, according to the census of 1875, emploj'ed about fourteen
thousand persons in Worcester County. These were people actualh' engaged
in farm-work and superintendence, not including the wives and children of
farmers. The agricultural products were valued at $6,960,777, or, in round
numbers, seven million dollars.

The mechanical and manufiicturing products will be given in figures, in the
order of their pecuniary importance.

ARTICLES MADE.

Boots and shoes.
Woolen <;oods, ....
Cotton goods, ....
Macliines nnd niaehincry, .
Met:ils iind metallic goods.

Furniture,

Leather,

Food preparations.

Paper,

Wooden ware,

Clothing,

Artisans' tools, ....

Luniljer,

Musical instruments and materials,
Agricultural implements, .
Cavriagcs and wagons.
Arras and ammunition,
Carpeting, .....
Printingand publishing, .
Boxes,

?4,G96,7S0 00

3,021,300 CO

6,.o07,848 00

4,028.417 00

3,009,500 00

2,468,000 GO

1,091,030 00

480,190 00

787,000 00

7.52,.5G0 00

681,6.35 00

1,342,950 00

420,404 00

497,300 00

528,000 00

273,550 00

160,.JOO 00

500,000 00

334,787 00

43,000 00

S17,919,.398 00

11,017,716 00

7,023,314 00

4.806,553 00

3,951,867 00

3,084,965 00

2,025,227 00

2,030,385 00

1,776,203 00

1,474,821 00

1,675,120 00

1,399,288 00

775,015 00

656,710 00

460,489 00

438,702 00

249.500 00

Not given.

433.831 00

140,000 00

The value of the carpeting made at Clinton, on a capital of half a million, is
very great, and is one-eighth of all made in the State. Besides the above

184 COUNTY HISTOKY.

industries are many others of less importance, as stone quarries and stone-
cutting, brick making, tobacco manufacturing, woi-sted making, and other
forms of business. The aggregate capital and value in the above colunms foot
up as follows: Capital, $32,"o97,171 ; value of products in 1875, $62,001,104.
Adding the agricultural productions, valued at $7,000,000, and the minor
products, the grand total would be more than seventy million dollars in au
average year. It will be noted also that farming is only one of the principal
forms of industry, instead of being almost the only pursuit, as in former
generations. The boot and shoe, the woolen and the cotton business, each
surpasses the agricultural in the value of annual production.

The cities and towns which take the lead in the boot and shoe business are
Worcester, Milford, Spencer, Grafton and North Brookfield ; in the woolen
business, Worcester, Webster, Leicester, Northbridge, Dudley, Fitchburg,
Blackstone, Oxford and Ilolden ; in the cotton business, Clinton, Northbridge,
Southbridge, Millbury, Grafton and Webster; in machinery, Worcester,
Fitchburg, Northbridge, Leicester, Winchendon, Clinton and Warren; in
metallic goods, Worcester, Clinton, Spencer; in furniture, Gardner, Fitch-
burg, Templeton and Ashburnham ; in leather, Shrewsbury, Leominster and
Winchendon ; in paper, Fitchburg, Worcester and Leominster ; in woodenware,
Winchendon and Worcester ; in carpeting, Clinton ; in artisans' tools, Worces-
ter and Douglas ; in lumber, Fitchburg and Winchendon ; in musical instru-
ments, Worcester and Leominster; in agricultural implements, Worcester,
Fitchburg and Winchendon ; and in printing establishments, Worcester.

The changes in population have been as noticeable as the changes in indus-
trial pursuits. The change has been in two directions. First, the sparsely
settled towns have furnished a continual supply to the growing villages and
cities. Several of the towns have less population than in 1860, or in any year
for half a century. Other towns, which are favored with water power, have
increased rapidly, and come into the front rank. In other towns having limited
natural advantages, public-spirited men have created business, and so increased
wealth and population. Secondly, the demand for labor in the growing towns
and cities has attracted many of foreign birth, who have become permanent
residents. Not far from fifty thousand of our people are of foreign birth.
Adding those of foreign parentage, the result is indicative of a great change in
the origin and character of the population of the county. There is, doubtless,
a wonderful power of assimilation in our institutions ; and those of foreign
parentage rapidly assume the gait, expression and language of the descendants
of the original stock ; yet they impart, as well as receive impressions. The
infiuence is in some measure reciprocal, though that of the native New
Englander is mightily aided by the genius loci, the human atmosphere of
locality, which is intangible and irresistible. The use of the same language
opens the way to interchange of ideas and feelings. Attending the same school
in childhood and youth leads to association, respect and sympathy outside of

THE PRESS. 185

the school-house. Learning oiir modes of farming and cattle-raising, and
engaging in our handicraft trades and manufactures, induces familiarity of
thought and intercourse. Participating in the open discussions and business of
town meetings and city government gives a new character to those who have
been subject to kjrds temporal or spiritual, or both, in other lands, but who
feel in our free land the inspiration of a new order of society. Above all, the
Christian religion is our common possession. Its doctrines and its pure
morality ai-e a constant force in educating the mind, purifying the heart, and
reguhxting the life of our people. The Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the
Mount, the Lord's Prayer, the Gospels, and the Psalms of David, are accepted,
at least in theory, by all except a few, as the best possible presentation of the
character and will of God to mortals, if not to angelic beings. The example
and spirit of Christ are held up for imitation in all our pulpits, and are
commended to our children by the tears and prayers of the mothers of all
denominations of Christians. With such a soil and climate, with such varied
industries, with such political institutions, with an omnipresent press, with
such schools and academics, with such an administration of justice, with such
libraries and scientific associations and lectures, with such a spirit of liberality
and of patriotism, with such a religion, — in a word, with such a general culture
as our people possess and enjoy, can we fail, with the blessing of God, to
become more and more assimilated as the senerations go and come ?

CHAPTER XVII.

THE WOECESTER COUNTY PRESS.

The following sketch does not claim to be exhaustive, or minutely accurate,
though much pains has been taken to verify names and dates. It is expected
that the local press will bo mentioned in the histories of the towns or cities
where established.

The first newspaper, and probably the first printing-office, in this county,
were the property of Isaiah Thomas. The story of the trau&fcr of Mr. Thomas
and of his paper, the patriotic "Spy," from Boston t(j Worcester is entertaining
as a romance. That story, as well as the biography of Mr. Thomas, must be
looked for in another place. He came to Worcester in April, 1775, in the heat
of the excitement which brought on and succeeded the expedition to Lexington
and Concord. Boston was too hot with British loyalty and native Toryism for
such an earnestly patriotic paper as the "Spy," and therefore it was removed,
with all needed iDrecaution, to the inland town of Worcester, where the pulse
of liberty has always boat strongly, as becomes the "Heart of the Commcm-
wealth." The first number of the " Massachusetts Spy " issued in Worcester was
dated May 3, 1775. Mr. Thomas continued to own the paper, though he

186 COUNTY HISTORY.

leased it to others for a time, while he was engaged io exteudiug his business
into other towns and States. Through the war of the Revolution the " Spy " was
the staunch advocate of American independence. An act was passed laying a
tax on advertisements in newspapers, which diminished the profits of the paper,
and in 1786 led to its discoutinuauco for two years, during wliich the proprie-
tor issued the "Worcester Magazine." He then resumed the publication of
the "Sp3'," and continued to be its owner, though others conducted tlie l)usiness,
till about 1801, when his son, Isaiah Thomas, Jr., became proprietor. The
late John Milton Earle became connected with the paper in 1823, and retained
his connection in some capacity until 1858, a period of about thirty-five years.
He had been editor four years previous to 1823, making his relation to the
paper as editor, sole proprietor, or associate proprietor continue nearly forty
years. The Hon. John D. Baldwin has had the control of the " Spy" since the
spring of 1859, over twenty years. In the time of Mr. Earle the "Worcester
Daily Spy" was started, July 24, 1845, from which the weekly paper has since
derived the main part of its news and editorials. These gentlemen, Thomas,
Earle and Baldwin, have had the longest and most conspicuous connection with
the weekly or daily " Spy," but man}' other men of honorable fame and wholesome
influence have been proprietors, editors, or assistant editors. The three above
mentioned became eminent outside of the printing-ofEce, in private business and
public trusts. The latter still presides over the columns of the paper with
ability and varied learning, and few editors wield a sharper pen, or one feath-
ered with a more subtile wit than that of his chief associate, J. Evarts Greene.
The influence of the daily and the weekly "Spy" has always Ijeeu great, and it
stands, as it has in all the past years of its existence, at the head of the news-
paper press of the county.

A printing-press was set up in Brookfield (now West Brookfield), by Isaiah
Thomas, in 1793. It was taken not long after by an apprentice of his, named
Ebenezcr Merriam. Ebenezer took his brother Dan into company. Later,
George, the sou of Dan, and Ebenezer P., the son of Ebenezer, and Lewis, the
brother of George, became partners in the concern. Thus originated the great
business of the Merriams of Springfield. The printing business has been con-
tinued in West Brookfield, and stereotyping was done there about the year
1857 by Thomas Marcey. In 1794, Thomas and his partner Waldo started the
"Political Telegraph and Brookfield Advertiser." In 1798 "The Political
Repository and Farmer's Journal " began to be issued by E. Merriam and his as-
sociates. These have ceased to be, but other publications have succeeded. At
present, the Brookfield "News " and the North Brookfield "Journal " are issued,
and supply a local demand.

There may have been other local papers of limited circulation in some of the
towns in this county before the close of the last century, but if so, they will be
remembered in their town history. The first paper of prominence established
since the year 1800 was the "National ^gis," first issued on the second of

OLD NEWSPAPERS. 187

December, 1801. The "Spy" was a Federal paper, and had supported the
political system and measures of Washington and Adams. When Mr. Jefferson
was elected, a Republican party was founded in this State, aud the ILjn. Levi
Lincoln, Sr., was made the attorney-general of the United States. An organ
was wanted iu Worcester, and the " ^gis " was the result. This paper, which
was edited with ability by Hon. Francis Blake aud others, assisted by many
good writers, was continued until Dec. 31, 1833, when it ceased to exist
under its name, if not iu reality. Its influence was great within and beyond
the county, and it was a foeman worthy of the rivalry of the " Spy."

The "Massachusetts Yeoman" came into existence in 1823, on the 3d of
September, Austin Denny, editor and proprietor, in the interest of the Anti-
Masonic party. It was conducted with ability, aud had considerable support,
as the party of which it was the organ cast a heavy vote iu this county during
severtil years. Aged men recollect that William Wirt, the able and accom-
jilishcd attorney-general of the United States under John Quincy Adams, was
the Anti-Masonic candidate for the presidency, and at one time Mr. Adams was
held up for the ofBce of governor of tiie State by the same party. The late
Daniel Henshaw of Leicester, and the late Judge Emor}' Washburn, then young
lawyers, were employed as editors at diflerent times. In 1833, the "Yeoman"
was consolidated with the "iEgis," and Ijoth with the "Palladium "

The "Lancaster Gazette" was published in Lancaster in the years 1828-30,
about two years. At that time there was a large ])rinting and publishing
establishment in the oldest town in the county. The proprietors were the
Messrs. Carters, Ferdinand Andrews, and others who set up the business of
stereotj-ping, map-making, steel engraving, printing, and book-binding, and
employed many hands, both male and female. The name of the editor was
not giveu, but the paper was conducted with ability and discretion. In some
respects, the local paper of those da3-s was better than now, inasmuch as it con-
tained able political discussions by the best writers iu the vicinity. It is the
fashion now to depend on the papers published in the centres of influence for
the discussion of great principles iu polities, finance and foreign affairs, as well
as for general news aud literary intelligence, while the village paper is maiuly
the vehicle of local news aud items. It must have good stories, bright jokes,
and pleasing anecdotes to make it popular. A moderate flavoring of politics
may be tolerated if the editor is good-natured aud accommodating.

The decease of the "Lancaster Gazette" occurred April 13, 1830. The
"Worcester County Republican" was born in Worcester the next year. This
was a Democratic pajier, started IMarch 4, 1829, the day on which General
Jackson was first inaugurated as President of the Uuited States. The name
of the Democratic party was "Republican" from the time of its origiu in the
presidency of John Adams. The Worcester "Republican" was continued
about ten years, and was merged iu the " Palladium " in 1839, about the middle
of the Presidency of ISIartin Van Buren.

188 COUNTY mSTOEY.

The "Fitchburg Gazette" was started in 1830, and the "Fitchburg Sentinel"
eight years later. This latter became a daily, as the town, by its rapid growth,
became a city, and is still published. The Messrs. Garfield were long con-
nected with the establishment, and were succeeded by Mr. Stratton, the present
head of the firm. This paper has always aimed to meet a local want, by gath-
ering lip the news of adjacent towns, and by furnishing an advertising medium ;
yet it has maintained a political character as a vehicle of Republican principles.
Its tone has been mild and conciliatory, though firm and unwavering.

The "Reveille" was published and edited by the late J. J. Piper, Esq., for
some years register of probate for the county. It was a semi-weekly during
a part, at least, of its existence. It had its origin at the time when the revo-
lution in politics in this county, growing out of the Anti-Slavery movement,
■was inaugurated. The "Reveille" was a sharp, spicy paper, and was devoted
to the interests of its party. lu its origin it was opposed to the Abolitionists,
but became Republican.

The "Worcester Palladium" was owned, published and edited by the late
Hon. John S. C. Knowlton from its origin, in 1834, January 1, to his decease,
June 11, 1871, a period of about thirty-seven years. It was continued by his
daughters, with much ability, four years longer, when it was bought by Charles
Hamilton, by whom it was sold, in a few months, to the publishers of the " Spy."

Mr. Knowlton was a man of superior natural abilities, which were well
developed by an academic and collegiate education. He was a graduate of
Dartmouth College. As an editor ho was candid, clear-headed and independent.
Though mild and considerate in thought and style, he could not take his cue
from others, but uttered his own matured opinions. He was a man of much
intelligence, of fine reasoning powers, and of high moral principles ; his words
expressed his thoughts iu the most lucid manner, and his constant readers were
very apt to adopt his views of public affairs. For a whole generation Mr.
Knowlton, as a citizen, a meml)cr of the General Court, and tbe constitutional
convention of 1853, as sheriff of the county, and specially as an editor, was a
power in the county and the State.

The Temperance cause had its organs, which chronicled, and pei-haps aided
its onward movement. The paper or papers which were devoted to the
temperance reformation, bore various names. Some of them follow. "The
AVaterfall," "The Cataract," "The Washingtonian," "The Standard," "The
Dew Drop," "The Agitator." At one time most of these titles were con-
solidated thus: "The Cataract, Waterfall, Standard and Dew Drop." Among
the able men connected with these papers were the Rev. Phineas Crandall, a
war-horse in the Anti-Slavery contest, and Jesse W. Goodrich, devoted to
reforms. He was an "original" iu thought, style, and all his ways, but died
in the midst of his activity, while still meditating his life's career.*

* A curious anectloto is extant of Mr. Goodrich, wbicli may have some pertinence here. It is
said that, being disposed fur marriage, he resorted to that very equivocal method, advertising for
proposals. A large number of responses were received, but ho died before he had made any selection.

LATER PUBLICATIONS. 189

The " Christian Citizen " deserves notice in any chronicle of newspaper
enterprise in the county, both from its character and the fame of its distin-
guished founder and editor, Elihu Burritt. It was started on the 6th of
January, 1844, in Worcester, and was continued seven years. For a time,
and while the editor gave to it his personal attention, it was a success, having
over four thousand subscribers in this and foreign lands. But Mr. Burritt
went to Europe on philanthropic and lecturing tours, and left the paper in the
hands of others, who, though men of ability, could not fill the founder's pecu-
liar position. The " Citizen " was zealously opposed to slavery. The editor
was a Christian Abolitionist, and his efforts were felt in creating a healthy public
sentiment against the giant wickedness of slavery. The temperance reforma-
tion found in him a stalwart champion, who would make no compromise. But
the specialty of the "Citizen" was its opposition to war. All wars, defensive
as well as offensive, were put under the ban, and the most thorough "peace
principles " were advocated with all the learning and ability which the editor
and his correspondents could wield. He also published, for a while, a monthly,
called the "Literary Geminis," one-half French, and the other half English,
filled with choice exti'acts from French authors.

The Lilierty party, which cast its first vote for James G. Birney as president
of the United States in the fall of 1840, had also its organ in Worcester
County, though not issued till the second of Januarj', 1845. Rodolphus B.
Hubbard, distinguished as a teacher and principal of the high school, was the
candidate of the Liberty party for Congress in 1844. The bitterness of the
old pro-slaver}' parties was so pronounced that he was obliged to retire from
the school, and he engaged in editing the "Worcester County Gazette." After
about two years the paper was discontinued, but the progress of anti-slavery
sentiment was such that the "Spy " came into Hue in 1848, as the organ of the
Free Soil party.

Other papers and magazines which, however able, had but a temporary
existence, need not be described at length. The facts about these may be
found in Wall's "Reminiscences of Worcester." Their names may be recorded
here, as follows: "The American Herald and Worcester Recorder," 1788.
"The Independent Gazetteer," 1810. "The Worcester Magazine and Histori-
cal Journal," 182.5-6, two years, very valuable. "The Worcester Magazine,"
six months, in 1843, edited by J. Milton Thayer, since governor of Nebraska,
and the late William Lincoln, Esq., one of the best writers in the county in
his day. "The Wasp," 1842, a Democratic campaign paper. "The Worcester
Talisman," 1828-9, made up of choice selections. "The Heart of the Com-
monwealth," 1854, and the "Bay State Press," 1869.

The town of Barre had its local press many years since, perhaps as early as
Lancaster, though the date of the first issue of the "Gazette" or the "Patriot"
is not at hand. The first is still published. Both were al)le p.ipers, and their
editorials evinced talent, and their selections good taste.

190 COUNTY HISTORY.

"Le Travailleur" is the survivor of several attempts to sustain a French
newspaper in Worcester. In 18G9 "L' IJee Nouvelle" began its brief life in
Burlington, Vt., where the three first pages of each issue was printed, half in
French and half in English. The wet sheets were sent to Worcester, where
the fourth page was printed. The "New Idea" expired in three months, when
" L'Etendard " was given to the popular breeze, and continued to wave until
1875. It was published in Worcester one year, and afterwards in Montreal,
though dated at Woi'cestcr. It was illustrated, and had a circulation of three
thousand copies. "Le Foyer Canadicn" began in Worcester in 1873, was
transferred to Montreal in October, 1874. "Lc Travailleur" above mentioned
was first issued in October, 1834, and is said to be the " most permanently
established Franco-Canadian newspaper in the United States." The most
recent French paper in Worcester is "Le Bleu Publique."

Besides the above weeklies and monthlies, there .are a dozen or more weekly
papers published in the large and growing towns of the county. Some of these
have been in the field perhaps a quarter of a century or more, while others are
of quite recent origin. In this period many have been started and abandoned.
Some of them are without party bias or connection ; others take a part, more or
less active, in national or State politics. B^ollowing the towns in alphabetical
order, and omitting those already mentioned, Athol and vicinity have supported
two papers during several years past — "The Transcript" and the "Worcester
West Chronicle," both managed with spirit and ability. In Clinton the "Lan-
caster Courant" was established when Clinton was part of Lancaster. It is
still continued under the title of "Clinton Courant," and for local news and
interesting miscellany takes a fair stand in this line of publications. The
editor is free to speak his mind on all subjects of interest. The " Keflex " was
formerly printed in Clinton, but had not a long lease of life. The "Clinton
Iiec<n-d " is only a year or two old, but a lively paper, with Democratic
sympathies. Gardner has been a very prosperous town the last twenty or
thirty years, and during the last ten or twelve has had, in the "Gardner
News," a paper worthy of the place. Moreover, as a business enterprise, the
paper and the printing business has been a success. Grafton has the "Herald,"
Leominster the "Enterprise," and Milford "The Journal," to supply the local
wants of those wealthy and enterprising towns. The "Northborough Farmer"
and the "Shrewsbury News" are hemmed into a limited sphere of circulation,
but satisfy a local demand. Southbridge, Spencer, Uxbridge, Webster and
Winchendon are noted for business enterprise and intelligence, and they are
able to support large and spirited sheets. Spencer is illuminated by "The
Sun ;" Southbridge is large enough to be the centre of circulation for two
spirited papers, the "Journal'' and the "Press"; Uxbridge has its "Compen-
dium" ; Webster supports " The Times " ; Westborough is regulated in part by
"The Chronotype," and Winchendon is now served by "The Courier" in place
of the " Journal " and other papers which preceded it. Formerly " The Times,"

EXTINCT PAPERS. 191

aud "The News," and (as far back as 1852) "The Torchlight," hiul a brief
life, or made a passing flash. These village papers which, every week, supply
news, amusement aud instruction to a largo number of readers, in the aggregate
are the best histories of the times within the sphere of their influence, and will
be of inestimable value to the future historian of town or Commonwealth.

All the above publications were weekly or monthly except the "Daily Spy,"
which began its career in 1845, and still holds on its way, its eye not being
dim nor its natural force abated. Jlany other dailies have had a brief exist-
ence in Worcester. The most transient of all was the "Worcester Daily
Sun," which shed its light and warmth for eight days only in 18G9. The
"Evening Budget" went its rounds a few weeks in the summer of 1847.
The "Worcester Daily Journal" began Sept. 1, 1847, and lived till Oct. 2,
1849. It was independent in politics, but favored temperance aud was opposed
to slavery. This paper was started again in October, and ran about three
weeks. Another paper bearing the name of "Daily Evening Journal'" was begun
Aug. 30, 1854. Dexter F. Parker, the indefatigable worker, whether as writer,
editor, orator or soldier, became connected with it, and made it the champion
of the " Know-Nothing " party for a brief season. The paper was discontinued
in Ma3^ 1855. The "Daily Bay State" had a run of about a year and a half,
from September, 1856, and opposed the election of John C. Fremont. In
July, 1800, the Hon. Moses Bates of Plymouth, an able writer, set
up the "Worcester Daily Times." A weekly paper was issued from the same
ofSce. Both sustained the Democratic party till the winter of 1861. The
"Bay State Press" was started about ten years ago, and was conducted with
much ability by Edward W. Lincoln, Esq., until it was either discontinued, or
merged in another paper. The "Worcester Daily Press" was first issued April
1, 1873, by Edward R. Fiske, and was continued till June 30, 1877. It was
a Democratic paper, and supported its party with spirit and energy. After
the "Daily" was discontinued, the "Weekly" was published for some time,
but was finally given up for want of support.

The "Daily Transcrii:)t " has been the title of two distinct daily papers
published in Worcester. The first "Daily Ti'anscript" was started on the 23d
of June, 1845, by Hon. Julius L. Clarke, recently State auditor, and now
occupying another responsil)lc oflice under the State government. The paper
was continued, in connection with a weekly, until Jlay 1, 1847, when both
were bought out by Mr. Earle, of the "Spy," which became a daily about a
month after the first issue of the "Transcript."

Four years later, nearly, April 1, 1851, the " Daily Morning Transcript " was
issued by J. Burrill & Company, with Julius L. Clarke for editor. It was a
two-cent paper, neutral in politics till May, 1851, or about seven weeks, when
it was bought by Silas Dinsmore, and changed into a one-cent Whig
paper, still edited by Mr. Clarke, under the title of "Daily Transcript." This
was the year when the grand "compromise scheme" of Mr. Clay was brewing,

192 COUNTY PIISTORY.

by which the old leaders (if piirties hoped to settle the slavery agitation without
removing the cause. Gen. Scott was the candidate of the Whigs, instead of
Mr. Clay or Mr. AVebster, and Gen. Pierce was the candidate of the Democrats.
The compromise was a disasti'oiis taihiro, bnt its success would have l)cen still
more disastrous. The paper went into new hands in 1854, with new editors
in succession, as William R. Hooper and Z. K. Pangborn, iintil, finally, in
18G4, April 1, the whole establishment was purchased by Caleb A. Wall, who
published and edited the daily paper and the weekly "iEgis and Transcript"
over a year and a half, when other parties took it and changed the title of the
daily to "The Worcester Evening Gazette," and of the weekly to the "iEgis
and Gazette." Since May 3, 1809, Charles 11. Doc has been connected with the
"Evening Gazette" as one of the proprietors and chief editor. Under his
direction the paper has acquired a tixed character, and it meets the wants of a
large number of readers. Everything in the " Gazette " is short. The news is
condensed; witty remarks are filed down to a sharp point; stories are brief ;
and the editorials hit the mark hy the most direct and rapid shot. The paper,
like its morning contemporary, is Republican in politics, and exerts its share
of influence in supporting the Republican party. The "Evening Star" is a
new one-cent daily, first issued April 3, 1879, by F. E. Corbett, as editor and
proprietor. It is said to have a good circulation.

CHAPTER XVm.

MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY.

This does not refer to the part taken by the people of this county in the
various wars in which our countiy has been involved. The history of our war-
like energy will be found in that of the towns, in proportion to their expendi-
ture of life and property in the Indian, the Spanish, and the French wars
before the Revolution; and later in the war of 1812, the Mexican war, and
the war of the Rebellion. That is a wonderful history, and the marvel is that
communities which have sufTered such a drain of their material and vital forces
could have survived and flourished. But the history of the militia, or the mili-
tary arrangement in time of peace, now solicits attention for a moment. It
must be brief, because the historic materials are scarce. It is known that,
from the earliest settlement of the Massachusetts Bay, there has been a mili-
tary system. Until within a few years, military service was universal and
compulsory. The volunteer companies of the present day take the place of
the old infantry, artillery and cavalry of former generations, when every able-
bodied man, lictwcen the ages of eighteen and forty-five, was enrolled, and
called out for drill twice a year by company, and once a year by regiment.

MILITARY SYSTEM. 193

As there arc no data, in town, county or State records, accessible, only an idea
of the ancient s_ystem can he given to the youth of the present time by select-
ing a period not very remote, and stating the arrangement of the militia of the
county at that time. For stating so much, the facts are furnished in the
''Worcester Magazine," August, 1826.

At that time, there were in this comity two brigades and eleven regiments
of militia. These two l)rigades constituted one division, which was the sixth
division iu the State. The first brigade, which was a little the largest, con-
sisted of six regiments, belonging to AVorcester and the southern half of the
comity. Several towns were grouped around a "principal town," and these
together furnished a regiment. The arrangement was as follows for the south-
ern section of the county : Leicester and three associated towns had six com-
panies of infantry, and one of light infantry, making seven companies and four
hundred and thirty-nine men. ]Mcndon and four associated towns had six
companies of infantry, four of liglit infantry, one of cavalry, and one of artil-
lery', or twelve in all, and seven liundred and twenty-three men. Brookfield
and five associated towns had seven companies of infantry, one of light infantry,
one of riflemen, one of grenadiers, and one of cavalry; in all, eleven, and
seven himdred and twenty-nine men. Charlton and three associated towns
had four companies of infantry, two of light infantry, three of riflemen, one of
cavahy, and one of artilleiy, making eleven, and five hundred and seventy-
nine men. Sutton and four associated towns had five companies of infantry,
three f)f light infantry, making eight, with five hundred and fifty-five men.
Worcester and three associated towns had four companies of infantry, one of
light infantry, one of riflemen, one ot grenadiers, one of cavalry, and one of
artillery; in all, nine, with five hundred and sixty-uine men. In the list
of men, the artilleiy and cavalry arc not counted as part of the regiments, but
separately. The whole number of men in these six regiments was three thou-
sand five hundred and ninety. The regiment of cavalry was two hundred and
six. The battalion of artillery contained one hundred and forty-eight. The
band and officers were thirty-five. The total number of officers and men, of
all arms, iu the first brigade, was tlirce thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine.

The second brigade belonged to the northern half of the county, and con-
sisted of five regiments of infantry, a regiment of cavalry, and a battalion of
infantry. Lancaster and four associated towns raised six companies of infantry,
four of light infantry, two of riflemen, one of cavalry, and one of artillery,
making fourteen companies and eight hundred and twenty men. Shrewsbury
and five associated towns had six companies of infantry, two of light infantry,
two of riflemen, two of grenadiers, and one of cavalry; in all, thirteen, and
seven hundred and thirty-three men. Barre and four associated towns had
seven companies of infantry, two of light infantry, one of riflemen, one o£
grenadiers, one of cavalry, and one of artillery ; in all, thirteen companies,

with six hundred and four men. Fitchburg and four associated towns had

194 COUNTY HISTORY.

six companies of infantry, three of light infantry, one of riflemen, one of cav-
ahy, and one of artillery, making twelve companies, composed of six hnndred
and eleven men. Templetoii and six associated towns had seven companies of
infantry, one of light infantry, one of riflemen, one of grenadiers, and one of
cavalry; in all, eleven companies and six hundred and sixty-two men. The
whole number of companies in these regiments was sixty-two, and the nnmber
of men was three thousand four hundred and thirty. The regiment of cavalry
had two hundred and eleven men ; the battalion of artillery one hundred and
sixty-six men ; the band and oflicers were thirteen men. The total of the
second brigade was, therefore, three thousand eight hundred and twenty-four.
In both brigades, were one hundred and twenty companies in eleven regiments,
also two regiments of cavalry and two of artillery, making, with the officers
and bands, a total for the sixth division, of seven thousand eight hundred and
three.

As the population in 1826 was about seventy-eight thousand, or a little more
than one-third of what it is to-day, we can readily estimate the proportion of
the militia to the whole population at any given time. It is probable that the
towns were grouped as above, without material change, for a long series of
years. As population increased, the companies were made larger, rather than
more numerous. There was very nearly one soldier to every ten of the
inhabitants, and this continued till the old militia system was superseded by
the present volunteer force.

The annual niu:ster, or regimental training, was a great occasion in those old
days. Then the comi)auies — infantry and light infantry, riflemen and grena-
diers, cavalry or " troopers," and artillery, with the big guns — came together at
the central town of the group, and were followed by all the old military officers,
idle men and boys, big and little, belonging to the towns in military associa-
tion. Ilorse-joekeys, showmen and peddlers crowded the procession on all the
roads, and filled the place of muster with life and din. The military drill and
evolutions thrilled the boys with wonder, while the veterans, who had "seen
service," criticised the "awkward .^quads." The firing especially, when the
guns went off with about the precision of corn in a popper over a hot fire, was
something grand. The "sham tight" was a fitting climax of the mimic war.
The great muster-fields at Lancaster, Barre and other central towns witnessed
many such scenes, so characteristic of a state of things forever gone. But those
regiments, rude and undisciplined as they might seem, were the right arm of
public defence, and the bulwark of free institutions.

WoRCESTEU County in the Rebellion.

In the war of the Rebellion, the State acted throuijh the towns. There was

no county action as such. The history of each town, therefore, is the proper

place to find what part the people of this county took in suppressing that

wicked assault on the integrity of our National Government. But it will serve

WAR CONTRIBUTIONS.

195

the convenience of many to have the facts in rcganl to the raising of men and
money brought into one view, and there is no better connection in which to
place them than in this chapter.

In the table l>clow, under the head of "Money," will be placed the amount
raised by the towns by subscription, and by the aid of the ladies. In some
towns, nearly all the private subscriptions were assumed by the pul)lic, and
paid out of the treasury'. The "State Aid" is properly credited to the tnwns,
because the money out of which it was refunded was raised by the towns.

The number of men furnished by all the towns in the county, as given in the
returns of the selectmen and the mayors in 18(jG, and published in Gen. S;;hou-
ler's history, was sixteen thousand six hundred and thirty-one. Every city and
town furnished its contingent upon every call made Ity the president, and each
bad a surplus over all demands. The surplus aggregated one thousand three
hundred and ninetv-seven men.

The expense, exclusive of State aid to families, was .
The State aid amounted to .....

Voluntary subscriptions, and ladies' gifts, .

The total, not including many private gifts, was .

Here follow the items for each town in the county,

$1,822,69.3 4.5

1,038,909 90
105.7.50 41

$2,o27,.353 76

TOWNS.

State Aid.

Ashburnham,

Athol, .

Auburn,

Barre, .

Berlin, .

BlaoUstone, .

Bolton,.

Boylston,

Brookficld, .

Charlton,

Clinton,

Dana, .

Douj^liis,

Dudley,

Fitchliurg, .

Gardner,

Grafton,

Hardwick, .

Harvard,

Holden,

Hubbardston,

Lancaster, .

Leicester,

Leominster, .

Lunenburg, .

Mendcm,

Jlilford,

Millbury,

2:10
310

97
310
130
720*
150

80
2-15
213
419

83
2^0
200
8.0O
287
397
180
129
204
108
181
272
404
120
132
,142
346

72
00
19
18
78

S30,o87 00
30,301 15

8,21.5 00
24,550 00
14,013 22
35,000 00
19.847 00
10,057 00
15,708
22,000
17,043

8,788
30,734
14,421 84
81,770 01
80,405 27
31,350 23
12,890 70
18,809 15

7,903 38
13,919 54
20,804 06
30,275 86
31,139 38
15,480 20
19,095 00
92,20 1 00
35,930 70

$10,098 90

18.915 18

5,233 71

11,4:!5 08

11,312 79

21,271 73

7,430 47

0,003 45

14,324 02

12,2(;2 53

30,004 98

5,308 94

12,052 11

9.0. 1 CO

60,287 99

17,073 60

29,008 32

8,5:;2 03

5,257 89

10,450 00

8,44.5 53

9,337 73

13,234 75

22,0; 7 00

8,084 03

9.347 19

10l,r,37 30

20,085 50

Blackstone furnished about two hundred soldiers for Rhode Island regiments, in addition to the above.

196

COUNTY HISTORY.

War Expenses — (Continued).

TOWNS.

Men.

Monet.

State Aid.

New Braintree,

$9,000 55

13,171 94

Nortlibormigli,

140

10,617 57

9,367 20

Niirth bridge,

311

15,407 10

12,368 42

North lirooktjeld,

247

16,9:!9 08

18,561 53

Oakham,

102

10,867 58

6,685 78

Oxford,

293

22,372 09

20,550 48

Paxtnn,

6.707 37

2,244 40

Petersham, .

177

13,999 70

6,302 73

Phillipston, .

5,031 81

6,106 90

Princeton, .

127

14,456 52

4,823 15

Ruyalston, .

148

16,000 00

9,523 90

Rutland,

111

12,870 90

3,659 Co

Shrewsbury,

177

16,063 90

6,308 72

South liorough.

198

19,186 21

11,373 97

Soutlibridgc,

400

23,080 05

18,802 25

Spencer,

319

27,101 70

23,840 51

Sterling,

178

20,472 69

10,051 98

Sturbridge, .

235

18,638 00

13,979 72

Sutton,

223

25,180 14

11,795 43

Tenipleton, .

344

33,832 52

21,440 84

Upton, .

219

27,690 56

14,177 20

U.xbridge, .

290

30,200 16

15,122 40

Warren,

225

17,173 37

12,304 75

Webster,

331

28,074 01

19,591 30

Westborough,

340

23,9.0 00

18,138 92

West Boylstou,

240

22,584 90

19,270 45

West Brookfield, .

159

11,277 01

12.208 41

Westminster,

166

111,094 00

7.843 13

AVinchendou,

294

23,043 56

17,791 35

Worcester, .

4,227

175,892 00

160,020 88

Worcester kept open a "Soldiers' Rest" near the railroad station, at which
more than three thousand soldiers, going to and from the front, were provided
with refreshments.

CHAPTER XIX.

FOUR CELEBRATED INVENTORS.

The county of Worcester is noted for the number and the uscfuhiess of the
inventions produced by the ingenuity of its people. Especially is this true of
the towns in which shops for the manufacture of machinery have been long
established. In such places there is a con'^tant demand f(jr labor-saving
machines, and the minds of mechanics arc awake to (he impoi'tance of meeting
the demand. It is expected that the inventive ingenuity of the various towns
will he duly honored by their historians, in the various sketches contained in

CELEBRATED INVENTORS. 197

this work. In this place room can he found for the mention of only foiu- of the
inventors of the county, ijut these four are men of world-wide fame, and their
inventions have p.dded immensely to the wealth and power of nations, while
increasing the comfort and lightening the toil of millions of our race iu nearly
every land on the glohe.

I. Eli Whitney.

The first of these great inventors in the order of time was Eli AYhituey, a
native of the town of Westborough, where he was born in the year 17(J5. He
became a pupil of Leicester Academy in 1784 ; thence he went to Yale College,
where he was graduated in due course. The family of Gen. Greene of Rcvo-
hitiouar}^ fame was then living in Georgia, and young "Whitney became
an inmate soon after leaving college. Being often in the company of planters,
and hearing them speak of the importance of some invention by which the seed
could be rapidly separated from cotton, his mind was turned to the subject, and
thus w.as diverted from teaching, and from the studies of the legal profession.
The "green seed cotton," which was very productive in Georgia, was peculiar
in this, that its fibres adhered so closely to the seed as to be detached with
di{Hcult3^ It was a day's work to free a pound of cotton from the seeds. At
this rate the raising of cotton was not remunerative. This, then, was the con-
dition in which Whitney found himself. There was a demand for a machine.
A vast industry would be called into existence if the machine could be made to
■work. The latent ingenuity of his mind was stimulated to activity in this
direction, and after pondering the problem a few months, he devised an engine
which, with the attendance of a single person, would clean a thousand pounds
of cotton in a day. This cotton-engine has ever since borne the abbi-cviatcd
title of "cotton-gin." The trials, losses and injustice to which the inventor was
subjected cannot be recited here, but it may be said that the chief reward which
he derived was undying fame, and the consciousness of being the means of
adding untold wealth to his country, and furnishing countless millions of his
fellow-men with cheap but valuable clothing. By this one invention the whole
industry of the Southern States was changed ; slavery became profitable ; cotton
became "king" in the politics of the nation; the wealth of the country, by
stimulating manufacturing industry, was vastly augmented, and the cotton
spinners and weavers of England and other countries, by hundreds of thou-
sands, were supplied with the means of subsistence. Whitney was the bene-
factor of the world, though he was deprived of the reward of his inventive
genius by the pirates who made and sold his machines. But he was a man of
resources. Returning to the North, and settling in New Haven, he made in
1798 a large contract with the United States for the manufacture of arms.
With no experience himself, and no knowledge of the business by his workmen,
he devised means to manufacture muskets in a way which was novel and
eminently successful. Ingenious devices and brilliant inventions enabled him
to establish a large and profitable business, by which ho acquired wealth and

198 COUNTY HISTORY,

consideration. His death occuned in 1825. His methods were introduced into
the national armories. It may be said therefore that ho gave the nation power
to defend its rights, while ho added to the comfort and health of all its
inhabitants.

II. Thomas Blanchard.

The town of Sutton has the honor of l)cing the birth-place of Blanchard,
■who tirst saw the light, June 24, 1788. His f ither was a farmer, living remote
from any mills or shops that would awaken the spirit of invention. lie was
of Huguenot descent, and was worthy of such an ancestry. Among the inven-
tors of all nations, he seems to have been second to none in that singular qual-
ity which may perhaps be termed inventive inspiration. In addition, he had
the indomitable perseverance which overcomes all obstacles. The story of his
life, if well written, would make a most valualilc book for the youth of our
country. The narrow limits of this sketch will permit nothing more than a
lirief mention of some of Blanchard's most important inventii)ns. When a
boy he was employed by an older brother to head tacks, one by one, with a
hand-hammer. Tiic tack was held in a vise. Thinking over the matter a few
months, ho invented a machine, says Col. Asa H. Waters, from whose notice of
him in the History of Sutton, these facts are derived, "which would cut and
head them at one motion, twice as fiist as the ticking of a watch, and better
tinished than those made by hand." The next grand stroke of his genius was
a decided advance. Mr. Asa Waters had a factory in Millbury in which he
made guns, with machinery constructed by his own inventive genius. But he
and all his men were baffled in the endeavor to turn the irregular butts of gun-
barrels. Young Blanchard was sent for, when "glancing his 03-0 over the
machine," ho suggested a "simple, but wholly original cam motion," wliicli
proved a perfect success. Mr. Waters, delighted, said: "Well, Thomas, I
don't know what yon wont do next. I should not be surprised if you turned
a gun-stock." Amid the loud laugh of the workmen, Thomas stammered out:
"We-we-well, I-I'll t-t-try that." And he succeeded in the invention of a
machine to turn irregular forms of every shape. He declared that he could
m:ike machinery do anything in the power of human fingers. By another
invention he succeeded in bending knees for ship-building at any desired angle,
making the angle permanent, nnd at the same time not weakening the timber.
Thi* invention has numerous applications. Ho sold one right for ship-building
for C150,000. The machine for bending slate-fi'ames yielded him an annual
coinniission of over $2,000. These were a few of his inventions, and perhaps
the most important. By these throe, his genius has entered into thousands of
machine-shops, and facilitated the making of tens of thousands of machines,
by which useful products have been multiplied by millions. By his means
gims and gun-stocks, lasts, tackle-blocks, school-slates, carriage-wheels, plows,
shovels and other articles, in great number, aie made quicker, cheaper and bet-
ter than before. The genius of Blanchard has added untold millions to tho

CELEBRATED INVENTORS. 199

wealth of nations, while aiigaieiiting their comfort ia waya that are manifold.
An anecdote must close this imperfect notice. Among other irregular forms
he applied the machine to tumiing marble hiists. He had expended in defend-
ing his right, $100,000, when the second term of his patent had nearly expired.
In this situation he applied to Congress for the extension of his patent. This
was unprecedented. In his extremity Blanehard set his machine at work, and
having obtained plaster casts of Webster, Clay, Calhoun, and others, turned out
marble busts of these Senators, which astonished the beholders. The patent
was extended, whereupon Mr. Choate remarked that, "Blauchard turned the
heads of the Senators, and so carried his point."

III. Erastus B. Bigelow.
This world-renowned inventor was born in West Boylston in the year 1814.
The particulars of his early life and of his tirst ventures iu business, alone, or
in company with his brother, the late enterprising and excellent Horatio N.
Bigelow, would form an interesting and useful memoir, but the only object of
this brief sketch is to present Mr. E. B. Bigelow as a great inventive genius.
It is said that in the course of his life he has taken out more than fifty
patents, but many of these are minor devices or contrivances to guard against
lessening the value of his great invention. There will be only space, iu this
eounectiou, to refer, in a few lines, to the invention for making carpets, which
has given him an enviable fame in all civilized countries, and will eventually
carry the productions of his looms into all lands. The weaving of carpets,
both in this country and in England, had been done by hand until several
years after the opening of this century. Previous to 1840, however, several
patents had been taken out ior looms to weave carpets, but only those of the
simplest kinds. The problem of making a power-loom which should auto-
matically perform the difficult task of weaving a two-ply web so as to produce
any required pattern, had been abandoned as insoluble by English mechanics
and inventors. This was the grand achievement of Mr, Bigelow. He also
invented a machine for the manufiicture of Brussels carpets. His impioved
loom by which matched figures were produced was patented in 1845. The
first power-loom factor}^ for the production of Jacquard Brussels and Wilton
carpets was established in Clinton in 1848. Within a few years Mr. Bigelow
bas patented a new loom, "which produces a smoother face, a closer texture,
and consequently a more sightly and durable carpet than any other loom."
The manufacture of these carpets at Clinton and Lowell has become one of the
great industries of the countr}', and the business seems to be increasing.
Wiihin a few years the works at Clinton have been doubled. By improving
the article and reducing the price, the elegant products of Mr. Bigelow's looms
are brought within the means of all families of industry and thrift, and there
appears to be no assignable limit to the demand for these elegant and durable
fabrics. The genius of Mr. Bigelow, and the business ability of his brother

200 COUNTY HISTORY.

Horatio, have secured a wcll-deservctl competence, and the respect and honor
which industry and integrity merit.

IV. Elias Howe.
The fourth of this illustrious group of inventors, in the order of time, is
Eliaa Howe, who was born iu Spencer in 1819. His father was a farmer and
miller, and he early learned to work for his living. At the ago of nineteen,
when ho was learning the trade f)f a machinist in Boston, he overheaid the
remark: "Invent a sewing-machine and I will insure ^oii an indciiendent
fortune." This was in 1838. By the remark just quoted the mind of Ilowe
was excited to think, and ho watchi d the process of sewing by hand ; but no
advance was made. Ho married young, and in 1843 was supporting himself,
his wife and three children as a jc)urnc\'mau, working for nine dollars a week.
He first tried to make a machine that would imitate sewing by hand, and in
the vain etlbrt filled many a basket with chips. In 1814, when twenty-five
years old, the " thought flashed upon him that there might be another stitch.
The idea of using a needle with the eye near the point and a sliutth' carrying a
second thread soon occurred to jjim," and he then became confident that he had
"invented a sewing-machine." He spent the fail and winter in completing i
model, and by May, 1845, he had completed his first machine. Before this
time his friends had not encouraged him, l)ut now greater trials tested his spirit.
No one would buy his machine. Tailors would have nothing to do with it.
The cost was too great — $300. He constructed another model and a cheaper
machine. Still failing of encouragement, his invention was taken to London
and sold to Mr. William Thorn for £250, or about $1,2.30. j\Ir. Thom derived
a profit of more than a million of dollars from that invention. Being employed
by Mr. Thom in adapting his machine to the making of stays, ho invented a
fourth machine, which, in his poverty, he sold for five pounds. Ho returned
to New York with half a crown in his pocket. It was now 1840. The inven-
tion being a success in England, infringers of (he patent sprang up iu this
country, and for sevei'al years Howe had to combat tbosi' pirates in court, till
1854, when Judge Peleg Sprague gave a decision in his favor, remarking that
"there is no evidence in this case that leaves a shadow of doubt that for all the
benefits conferred by the introducti'^)n of the sewing-machine, the public are
indebted to Elias Howe, Jr." Fame and fortune were thus achieved. An
arrangement was made by which Mr. Howe received a royalty upon eveiy
machine manufactured. At the Paris E.xposition in 187G, a gold medal was
awarded to Mr. Howe, and he was decorated by the Emperor of France with
the "Cross of the Legion of Honor."

GENERAL FEATURES. 201

ASHBURNHAM,

BY REV. AEIJAII P. MARVIN.

CHAPTER I.

BOUNDARIES AND SITUATION — WATER SYSTEM AND CLIMATE EARLY SETTLE-
MENT INCORPORATION ROADS, VEHICLES, ETC.

The present bountlarics of this town sire the following : On the north by the
State line, on the cast I)y Ashby, on the sonth by Westminster and Gardner,
and on the west bj^ Winchen.don. On the north line, where the corners of New
Il)swich and Eindgo in New Hampshire meet, and also the counties of Cheshire
and Ilillslioroiigh unite, there is a tree about one foot in diameter ; and it is
so situated that a person passing round it in closest proximity, will be iu three
towns, three counties, and two States. The old centre of the town on Meeting-
house Hill is in latitude 42° 30', and is fifty-five miles from Boston, and thirty-
one miles from Worcester, by direct line.

The surface of the town is much broken by high hills and mountains, with
deep intervening valleys. There are no extensive plains, and no intervales of
much extent. The Great and Little Watatic mountains are north of the
centre, the first being on the State line. The Great Watatic is one
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven feet above tide-water, and is a con-
spicuous object in the landscape. iNIccting-house Hill, where the first house
of worship was placed, and where the old burying-yard, with its garnered dust,
remains, is one thousand two hundred and eighty feet high. There are many
other great elevations, and the average height of the town above the sea-level
is probably as ranch as one thousand feet. The railroad station at Ashburn-
bam Junction is said to be the highest point ou the railroad lino between Boston
and the Rocky Motmtains. The Hoosac Tunnel is at a lower level. The hills
arc steep, and the valleys between are narrow, but a large part of the town is
cultivated or capable of cultivation. This contour of the town affords a great
variety of scenery, while the di^t;lnt views from the summits ai'o extensive
and grand. At the north, from the top of Watatic, a large section of New
Hampshire is under the eye, including Monadnock and the elevations near the
centre of the State ; on the cast, and south, aucl west, is displayed an immense

202 TOWN OF ASHBURNHAM.

area of cultivated country, diversified with hills and valleys. The lofty dome
of Wachusett rises at the south, and far ofl' in the west is the Ion:' chain of
the Green Mountains.

The town is well watered with springs, brooks, miniature rivers and ponds.
The water gushes from the hillsides and fills the meadows with verdure. Be-
sides the ordinary springs to be found in broken country, there are some in this
town which are natural curiosities. There is one spring — perhaps others —
which keeps at the same level in the driest seasons. Rain or shine, summer or
winter, it seems to be fed from a source too deep and perennial to be allectcd.
There are also mineral springs, though none of them have become places of
jjopnlar resort. The brooks and little streams abound in every part of the
town. Three rivers have their sources in the central part. Of the two main
sources of Miller's River, that in Ashl)urnham supplies the largest atuount of
water in the yenv, though not so much in the dry season. The upper Naukeag
Pond, which empties into the lower Naukeag, is the eastern head-water of Mil-
ler's River. The Skowhegan River, which flows north and east to Manchester,
N. H., rises a little to the east of the Great Naukoa^, and connecting the out-
flow of two or three ponds, runs a sti'ong and rapid stream, and furnishes con-
siderable water-power to the mills and factories on its course.

Two copious affluents of the northern ))rancli of the Nashua also have their
source in this town. The first, called PhiU[)'s Brook, rises a short distance
north-east from the Naukeag, aud uniting with the waters of the vicinity in a
reservoir, flows by I'apid descent to the village of Ashburnham, where it is used
in various industries ; it then bends eastward, and works its way over rocks and
mill-wheels to West Fitchbnrg, just below where other streams from the south
of the town aud from Westminster swell the current of the Nashua into a pow-
erful stream. There are several ponds in the town, of varying size, the largest
aud most beautiful of which is the Upper Naukeag, on the north side of Meet-
ing-house Hill, and not far from eleven hundred aud fifty feet above the ocean.
This lake covers an area of aliout six hundred and eighty acres, aud is rarely
surpassed in its features of natural beauty. The water is sweet and clear, aud
mirrors the sky, the clouds, the hillside aud the verdurous margin with magical
minuteness. The hill which rises to the south, where the "tribes went up to
worship" in former times, is a water-shed, and the roof of the old meeting-
house turned the rains of heaven eastward to the Mcrrimac and westward to
the Connecticut. Indeed, the whole town is a divider of the waters; so much
so that Whitney, in bis History, says all the water which comes into the town
could be passed through the leg of a man's boot. This has been repeated as a
literal fact, but there is a brook flowing in near the math-west corner which
■would fill the boot-leg of a giant.

The cliu)ato of Ashburnham is favorable to long life. Formerly this was
eminently true, but it is stated by Rev. J. D. Crosby, in a valuable manuscript
history, that there has been a change in this regard by which the average of life

ORIGINAL GRANTS. 203

has been lessened. Still the town stnnds well in the list of healthy residences.
Being one of the most elevated townshi[)S in the connty, the snow is deep in
the winter, and lingers after it has departed from the valleys below. When
settled by white men, the whole surface was thickly covered by forests in
which all kinds of trees common to the region were found. Great quantities of
lumber, in various shapes, have been cut in the time of former generations.

The town, in its origin, was proprietary. Its name, before incorporation, was
Dorchester Canada. In the ill-fated expedition to Canada, in 1C90, under the
command of Sir William Phipps, a number of soldiers went from Dorchester.
These Avere paid like the other forces, but soldiers always have claims which
are paid in the shape of grants or pensions. The descendants and heirs of the
Dorchester men, in the next generation, applied to the General Court, and
received, for delayed compensation, a grant of land, six miles square, with
the title of Doichcster Canada. This was in 1755, Dec. 9 ; the number
of acres was twentj-three thousand and forty. Grants were also made to towns
and iridividuals, amounting to three thousand eight hundred and fifty acres.
Lexington and Cambridge had each a grant of one thousand acres located in
this town. The real size of the township proved to be larger than the grant,
as was generally the case under (he old surveys. The surveyors seemed to
have made SLiro that their lines included as much laud as the terms of a grant
warranted, and then to have thrown in a considerable addition.

Efforts were soon made to effect a settlement, as the grantees naturally
desired to realize something from their titles. Probably not many of them
ever moved into the town, but their i)olicy induced them to encourage the
immigration of steady, industrious families. However, it was found almost
impossible to effect a permanent settlement of any of the territory north and
west of the "Wachusett until the French and Indian wars were ended. It is
interesting to notice how much the history of one little township was mixed up
with colonial and imperial affairs. The old French and Indian war — 1745-9
— rendered all the upper half of Worcester County insecure. The same was
true, though perhaps in less degree during the last French and Indian war, —
1755-G3, — when the power of France in North America was broken. Wolfe's
victory at Quebec, in 1759, gave the couj) de grace to the French dominion, but
the treaty of peace was not signed till 17G3, after which the people in the
lower towns felt safe in planting homes in the hill country'. Those few who
had stayed in the grant during the war, were soon joined by others, and a peti-
tion was sent to the General Court for an act of incorporation.

Among those on the ground were several families of Germans. According
to the manuscript above mentioned, there were ten or a dozen of these families,
all of whom were worthy people, and contributed their part to the settlement.
These came in about the j'car 1757. They occupied the "Dutch farms"
which were mostly in the "Lexington grant." The name of one family was
Kiberlinger, afterwards known as Kibling. The names of all were Anglicized

204 TOWN OF ASHBURNHAM.

by degrees. They were industrious and temperate people ; generally read the
Bible and attended public worship with their neighbors and townsmen ; nearly
all joined the church, in German fashion, and as a class, gave evidence of sin-
core piety. A portion of them became Calvinistic Baptists. They wore
healthy, and many lived to a good old age.

The act of incorporation was passed, Feb. 22, 17G5, with the name of
Ashburnham, in honor, it is supposed, of John, third carl of that title.

That the permanent settlement and incorporation of the t6wn was delayed
by fear of hostile Indians, there can be no doubt, but there is no evidence that
the aborigines ever lived in the limits of the town, or had any ancestral asso-
ciations whicli made them resent the cominij of white men. But the tbrests of
Ashburnham were a part of their hunting-grounds, and they visited the ponds
as they went back and forth. It is related that Indians used to camp in the
town after its settlement, and when nnJer the influence of strong drink, would
let out secrets fatal to their own safety. For example, they would visit fami-
lies, some of whose " members or relatives had been slain or carried away captive
by them, and when excited, would l>oast of their cruelties." This aroused anger
and led to retaliation. An Indian had been boastiu!? tlins at an old tavern called
the " Blenfield house," and after his departure a gun-shot was heard. Soon after
the dead bodj^ of the "Indian was found floating in the Lower Naukeag pond."

But efforts were made to locate families without delay. In 173G, the sui*-
veyors were on the ground, making the first division of lots, looking for a
"convenient spot for the niecting-house," and choosing " places for a mill or
mills." In the first division, "lots were laid out on the east and west sides of
the Upper Naukeag pond, then extending south" through the present centre
village, and comprising in all, about three thousand acres. " A plot of land
forty rods square, or ten acres, was selected as a site for the meeting-house,"
and there the house was built, having been raised by sixteen men from out of
town, 'and there also is now the old burying-ground. This ten-acre centre is
described by the committee in those words : " It lieth on a hill one hundred and
eighty rods south of a great pond, and has a very fair prospect." In this and
following years, work was done in road-making, and in firing the woods. In
1738, lots were assigned to the first minister, to the ministry, and to schools.
The saw and grist mill was built in 1752, and a road straight to the site of the
meeting-house, which was erected the next year, and was forty-five feet long,
thirty-five feet wide, with twenty-one feet corner posts. But neither doors
nor windows were put in for some years. In 1743 an ofler of £120, old tenor,
was made to any one who should erect "a good and suflicient house, three
rooms on the floor, with chimneys in each room, fit for a house of entertain-
ment, with a barn, and provision fit to entertain men and horses." A man by
the name of Mosman built the house, and in the spring of 1744 was in it with
his family. But the hostility of the Indians caused his removal. A fortified
house was put up, but was not long occupied.

EAELY SETTLERS. 205

Peace being restored, there M^cre, in 1750-51, as many as thirty men in the
grant, clearing land and preparing for the coming of families. Eut the pros-
pect of war put an end to all efforts of this kind for a few years, until 1757,
■when the lirst permanent settlement of what is now Ashl)arnham was made liy
Jeremiah Foster, great grandfather of the late Jerome W. Foster, Esq. In
this j'car came John Kil)crliuger or Kililing, already mentioned. By 1760,
seven or eijjht German families were on the ffronnd. Kil)lins;'s wife had a good
education and brought from the banks of the Rhine her diploma as a graduate
of the high school. She was a good singer, and a woman of religious senti-
ment. At the great ago of ninety or more she was pi'esent at a meeting, and
there being no one prepared to take the lead, she conducted it with propriety.
By this time, according to Mr. Crosbj^ there were from twenty to thirty fami-
lies in the settlement. From thence the population increased steadily, and
in 17G5 the town was incorporated by the General Court. The first town-
meeting was held March 25, 1765, when Dea. Samuel Fellows was chosen
moderator, and William "Whitcome, town clerk.

The town being thus organized, the remainder of its history, in this sketch,
will be mainly in the mode of topics rather than that of annals. Roads, edu-
cation, business, military service, the religious societies, and the general growth
of the town, will find a hvlcf space.

Facilities of travel are among the first necessities of man, and especially of
civilized man. In some localities traveling on foot, on horseback, or in
wagons and sleighs, is eompai-atively easy. The land is nearly level, or gently
rolling, the soil is good for vehicles, or snow makes a gliding surface. In
other sections there is no snow, the land is broken into hills, mountains,
valleys, gorges, and high-banked, swift-running streams. Ashburnham comes
imdcr this head, witli the exception of an abundance of snow in the season.
But even this is sometimes so deep and drifted as to impede locomotion. The
first thing done, after rearing a log-house, was to make a passage-way through
the woods. The ways from house to house and from town to town were up
hill and down. Not till the third generation did the people learn to follow
water-courses and avoid high hills when laying out roads. The first vehicles
were a cart in the summer, and a pung in winter. By degrees wagons and
sleighs came into use, Init the wagons had no springs. Men rode on horse-
back, taking a child in front, with wife or daughter on the pillion behind. Dr.
Abraham Lowe states that he "saw the first four-wheeled passenger vehicle
owned in town in 1812. This was called a pleasure or family wagon, and was
allowed to stand on the wayside in the village, on exhibition. It attracted
great attention." He says that it " was rather rudely constructed and imperfectly
finished." There was no stage-coach nearer than Leominster previous to 1811.
People wishing to go to Boston had to go thither with their own team, or drive
to Leominster, thirteen miles, and then take the stage. In 1811 a two-horse
coach ran from Boston through Ashburnham to Wincheudou once a week — up

20G TOWN OF ASIIBURNHAM.

on Saturday and down on llonday. This wiis a great event, a regular mail
once a week ! There were only two specimens of the two-wlieeled carriage or
chaise in the town in the early part of the century. One belonged to the
minister, liev. Dr. Gushing, and the other to Joshua Smith, Esq. From that time
onward improvement in roads and vehicles has been gradual, but the change
is almost incredible to those born since 1840. Tliese last opened their eyes
upon elegant teams, good roads, railways and palace cars, and they can form
no adequate conception of the slowness and hardship of travel in former
generations. The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad reached the junction
about lS4()-7, and the Cheshire Eailroad started from the same jKunt about a
year or two later. This opened communication with all the world. Reconlly
the branch road to the central village was made, and it affords all needed
means of travel and freiijht.

CHAPTER ir.

BUSINESS — AGRICULTUnE — SAW-MILLS AND LUMBERING — CHAIR MANUFACTURE
EARLY POTASH 'WORKS WOODEN WARE AND COOPERAGE RELIGIOUS HIS-
TORY, EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, ACADEMY AND MILITARY MATTERS STATISTICS.

The business of a country town is, first and last, agricultural. The farming
interest is always prominent, and often controlling, though other forms of
industry may arise. This was the case in Ashbuniham for two or three
generations after the first mill was built. There were no mechanics except
such as were necessary to supply the wants of a farming community. A mill
is indispensable in a frontier town, and one of the first buildings was a saw
and grist mill. But the mill-owner wan generally a farmer, runniug his saws
and stones when there was water, and attending to his land in the sunmier.
The carpenter, blacksmith and shoemaktr are in pressing demand, although
these will own land, and when their business is dull will attend to their cattle
and crops. The great thing before the settlers was to subdue the land and
cause it to yield its increase. The hard toil Ijy which the asperities of nature
have been overcome, in felling trees, making fences of wood or stone, plough-
ing, planting, reaping, and clearing out stones and stumps, has tasked the
strength of successive generations of men and women ; for the work of the
woman has been as exhausting as that of her husband, though in a ditferent
form. It is supposed that the first mill was near the outlet of the Naukeag.
By 1790 there were four grist-mills and five saw-mills in different parts of the
town. The first were needed for grinding the wheat, rye, corn, and perhaps
barle\', raised by the people, for their own use. Very little, if any grain, was
sold to go out of town, as other towns had their own mills. At first the saw-

FIRST INDUSTRIES. 207

mills cut onl}' enough of lumber for home consumption. But the abundance of
tinil)er in the town became, in time, a source of wealth. It was sold in the
shape of boards, planks, joists and other forms, for building, or was cut up
into manufactured articles. 'Wooden chairs of different patterns began to be
made quite early, and the great chair business has grown out of this rude
beginning. These chairs were all wood, without cane, or straw, or rushes, or
other and more modern mateiial for the seats and backs. The demand for
chairs increased as the population of the county multiplied, and led to the
contiivancc of new forms and shapes, and also to the invention of new and
ingenious machinery, by which chairs are now made in groat variety and immense
quantity. We have not room to trace this branch of manufacture down to the
time when Charles Winchester and his brother George entered upon it,
some thirty or more years since, when it had become a peculiarity in the
business of the town. From that time the business took a new start, and
became not only the leading branch of business in the town, but their estalj-
lishment became gradually one of the largest and best managed in the country.
The brothers separated their business some years since, and the younger has
continued the manufocture till the present time. The different patterns, taking
into the account the various kinds of wood and other material, the shape, the
size, the design, and the painting of the chairs, are numbered by hundreds,
and even by thousands. These are sold in all parts of our country, and are
sent to South America, Africa and Australia.

Potash works were set up quite early. Moses Frobisher proposed to begin
the making of potash in 1754, on conditions. If an^'thing was done, the war
soon hindered the work. Col. Caleb Wilder of Lancaster — who, with his
brothei-, the second Judge Joseph Wilder, was the first in this county to UKiko
p:;t and pearl ashes on a large scale — had an establishment here, as well as
in Leominster and Lancaster. It is claimed that the first complete ton of
potash which went to market in Boston was made in Ashburnham. The
business was continued by different parties till 1S30.

The town had, as a matter of course, its clothiers' shops and fulling-mills,
but tlie first mill for making cotton cloth was operated in 1814. The business
increased, and under diflcrcnt proprietors, was continued till recently, when a
fire destroyed the factory. This mill, with another, had six thousand spindles.

In South Ashburnham, which is supplied with power from a reservoir south-
west of the Junction, there are several mills and shops where a large quantity
of chairs and wooden-ware is manufactured. In the north-west part of the
town, the abundant timber has led to a great variety of business, though none
of the establishments, at present or in the past, have been large. Lucifer
matches, bobbins, spools, and numerous articles, small in size but great in the
aggregate, have rewarded labor. A national bank and a savings bank are of
recent origin.

Here follow some of the statistics of industry. There were in the town

208 TOWN OF ASHBURNHAM.

ill 1875, two hundred and Iweuty-two farms and over four thousand acres
of woodhmd, from which timber, clapboards, hith and shingles Mere pre-
pared for market, besides what went into the chair-shop. The value of goods
made and work done was $558,674. Chairs were the principal articles made,
the value of chairs and clothes-driers being $343,742. Morocco was valued at
$65,000 ; cotton cloth and }arn at about $60,000 ; split and finished calfskins
at $12,000 ; tubs and pails at nearly $12,000 ; and meal, graham and rye flour at
121,600. The value of farm property, including land, buildings, fruit-trees and
vines, domestic animals and agricultural implements in use, was $474,991.
The value of agricultural products for sale and use, including hay, was $112,-
249. The number of houses was 444, and the number of tamilics was 539 ; the
population amounted to 1,049 males, and 1,092 females; total 2,141. Nearly
all the people are native born.

The settlers of our towns carried their religion with them ; the proprietors
assisted the settlers in building a house of worship and sustaining the ministry ;
and the General Court did not grant an enabling act except on condition that
the worship of Almighty God should be supported. As soon as the settlers
were sheltered, and had a mill to saw the boards and shingles, they built a
meeting-house. The first inhabitants of Ashbui-nham followed in this worthy
line of action. "We have seen that they raised and enclosed a house of worship
in 1739. Though not used for several years, owing to the delay in settlement,
yet it was ready for use when the people should come. The house was moved
from its foundation by a terrible gale in 1766, and was nearly demolished, but
was soon put in good repair. By this time it had been furnished with doors and
windows, and made, in some measure, suitable for a sanctuary. The Rev.
Jonathan Winchester, son of Henry and Frances Winchester, born April 21,
1717, and graduated at Harvard in 1737, was the first minister of the town and
pastor of the church. He was ordained April 23, 1760, and the church was
organized on the same day. Tm'o vears before the Rev. Elisha Hardina
preached here a few times. In 1759 it was voted that "Mr. Elisha Coolidgc
be appointed to board up the window-jilaces in the ineeting-house with rough
boards to keep out the v/et, and to make window-sheets for two of the windows
that are most convenient to let in the light when there shall lie preaching."
This was before the hurricane above mentioned. Mr. Winchester was on the
ground in 1759, and after hearing him the people invited him to settle with
them. They olfercd him £60, or $200, annual salary, and a settlement of
similar amount. He had also one right in tlic ti)wuship of about three hundred
and fifty acres of land. At that time an ac'.ive man had half a dollar for a day"s
work.

The church, when organized, consisted of thirteen men, including the minis-
ter. Six of them were Germans. No female names are on the original list of
subscribers to the covenant ; but doubtless some were admitted by vote, then
or soon after. If there were any records, they have been lost, Moses Foster

MINISTERS. 209

and StimncI Fellows were the first two deacons. Mr. Winchester continued in
the sacred ofEce about eight years, and died, after a short sicijness, in Novem-
ber, 17G7. lie was kindly treated and greatly respected by his people, which
included the whole town ; and also by the non-resident proprietors. This they
showed, not only by a handsome gravestone and an appreciative epitaph, bnt
by word and deed while ho lived. All his desires as to the choice of a lot of
land were granted withont hesitation. They paid his salary, and they made
him gratuities in "consideration of his extraordinary hardships and expenses."
His services were acceptable to his people. His death was a great loss to his
parish and his family. The sou born after his death was named "Ichabod, —
the glory is departed," — as expressive of the feelings of the widowed mother.
"The gcnlleuian, the scholar, and the Christian were in him conspicuous."

The second minister was the Rev. John Gushing, a graduate of Harvard
College, who, after six mouths' trial, was called aud settled at the age of tweuty-
four years. He was ordained on the second day of November, 1708, aud his
half-century sermon was preached, Nov. 3, 1818. At his settlement, he was
otTcrcd £123, and an annual salary of £G0 for seven years ; after which it was
to be £GG 13s. id.j or $222 aud thirty cords of wood. Besides, he received
a few small parcels of laud. Here he lived and labored fifty-live years,
until 1823. He was honored and loved by his people as a faithful pastor.
He was " kind iu spirit, gentle in address, and social in his manners."
Says Dr. Abraham Lowe, in a printed address: "He was a learned as well
as a good man, and his Alma Maler recognized his desert, and most
worthily conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity." Iu addition, it
i^4 said that he " was highly esteemed by his clerical brethren as an amiable,
excellent man and scholar, and they gave him the cognomen of the living
library of history and geography." The church and parish had peace aud
stability during his long ministry. A new and handsome meeting-house was
built in 1791. His successor was the Kev. George Perkins. Many other
faithful and worthy men came after, among whom were the Revs. George
Goodyear, Edwin Jenuisou, Elnathau Davis, J. D. Crosby, F. A. Fiske,
E. G. Little, Thomas Boutelle, George E. Fisher, Moody A. Stevens, Leonard
S. Parker, and the present acting pastor. Rev. Daniel E. Adams. Some of
these have been installed, and others have been stated supplies or acting
pastors. After the death of Dr. Gushing, the old meeting-house and common
were abandoned, and a new and spacious house was erected in the central
village in 1834. A few years since, this sauctuary was raised, a chapel aud
other rooms were furnished iu the high batement, and the audience-room
was modeled after the elegant style of a modern church.

A Union Church was organized iu North Ashburnham some twent3'-five or
thirty years ago, the members of which favored the type of Perfectionism
advocated by Pres. Mahan, then of Oherlin College. About 18G0, this was
reorganized as a Conirre2;ational Church, and the Rev. Daniel Wiijht was the

210 TOWN OF ASHBUENIIAM.

pastor. Ill ull stages of its brief history, it has been a blessing to the ucigh-
boiliood.

]\Ieth()dist preaching was heard here as early as the beginning of the cen-
tury. That eccentric genius, Lorenzo Dow, was in Ashburnham iu 1796.
A society was formed in due time. Many years ago, a house of worship was
put up in the village, which building passed into the hands of the Catholics
a few years since, when the present elegant Methodist Church was erected
at an expense of thirty thousand dollars. It was at a time when prices were
high, before the financial panic of 1873.

District schools were started, according to the requirements of the law, soon
after the town was fairly established. At the close of the last century, there
were school-houses in different sections to the number of si.x; or seven. In
1825, there were nine districts. There were two terms of about six weeks
each in the year in the smaller districts. Terms were eight or ten weeks iu
the more populous sections. "Webster's Spelling-Book," a "model of its
kind" ; the "American Preceptor," a delightful book, as some can remember;
and the "Columbian Orator," full of interesting pieces, were used in the early
part of this century. The arithmetic of Daniel Adams is remembered by
the aged. The "Understanding Reader," "Webster's Third Part," "Scott's
Lessons," the "Young Ladies' Accidence," and "Alexander's Grammar" were
also in use, according to the recollection of Dr. Lowe, who states that "most
of the pupils made good proficiency in their primary lessons, in arithmetic,
and in English grammar." From these small beginnings, the cause of edu-
cation had a steady growth in accordance with the increase of |)opulalion
and the advance of public sentiment. The number of schools supported by
the town in 1878 was thirteen ; the number of scholars was four hundred and
sixty-four ; the schools were open six months and twelve days on the average ;
the money raised for education was $3,000, besides the expense for superin-
tendence, printing, &c. ; the sum appropriated for each child between five
and fifteen years of age was $9.06.

As the town avails itself of the opportunity to send scholars to the academy,
on the high-school plan, it is proper to take special notice of this institution
as a local school. It was founded by the generous will of Thomas Parkman
Gushing, son of Rev. Dr. Gushing. The founder died in 1854. The fund left
by him accumulated by judicious investments until 1873-4, when it amounted
to $100,000, besides a sum set apart for Ijuilding the academy, which, with its
furniture and apparatus, cost about $93,000. The academy was dedicated,
Sept. 7, 1875, and the term began the next day. The first president of
the board of trustees. Rev. Francis Wayland, D.D., died before the open-
ing of the school. The Hon. A. H. Bullock was the second president, and
delivered the address at the dedication. Upon his resignation, Al)raham T.
Lowe, M. D., of Boston, was chosen. The vice-president is Hon. Amasa
Norcross. Rev. Josiah D. Crosby was secretary several years, and was sue-

MILITARY SPIRIT. 211

ceeded by Col. George H. Barrett. Hon. Ebcnezcr Torrey and Hon. Ohio
"Whitney have held the ofEee of treasurer, which is now tilled l)y INIr. George
r. Stevens. The committee on tinance are George C. Winchester, Ebenezer
Torre}' and George H. Barrett. The executive committee have been Rev.
Abijah P. ]\Iarvin, Prof. Eli A. Hubbard, Prof. Charles O. Thompson, Rev.
Leonard S. Parker, Mr. George C. Winchester, Hon. Ohio Whitney and
Col. Georiye H. Barrett. This committee has had charge of the arranaement
of the plan of instruction, the course of study, the selection of teachers, and
the purchase of books and apparatus. The building is one of the best in the
county in cost, style, finish and adaptation. Mr. Winchester took the lead in
forming the architectural design, and Mr. Whitney superintended the work.
The instructors have been Edwiu Pierce, A.M., principal; James E. Vose,
vice-principal ; Miss Mary P. Jefts, preceptress ; and several competent assist-
ants in various branches in music, both vocal and instrumental, and in drawing
and calisthenics. The town has paid $1,000 per annum for the jjrivilege ol
sending high-school j^upils to the academy. Quite a number of students from
other towns have attended. A few graduates have entered colles'cs, where
they sustain a good reputation. This new academy has a solid financial foun-
dation, and l)ids fair to attain in time to the first rank of academical insti-
tutions.

The town has evinced a military spirit from the beginning, and now stands
well in this regard, Avhcn l>ut few towns maintain a military organization. In
the opening of the Revolution, the town voted to buy powder, ball and cartridges
for the soldiers. In 1774, otiicers were chosen and the militia put on a war
footing. Thirty-six cartridge-boxes were bought, indicating that there were
thirty-six minute-men iii the town. The coiupaii}^ started for Concord and
Lexington, l)ut were met on the way by messengers stating that the fight was
over, and they returned. Some were in the battle of Bunker lliil. There
were others in nearly every battle of the Revolution in the Middle and
Xorthcrn States. The number of men Avho went into the service is not
known ; lint doubtless nearly every able-bodied man was in the field at one
time or aiKjther. The Ashburnham Light Infantry was formed early in this
century, and always took high rank, occupying the right in regimental reviews.
In the summer of 1814, it was hastily summoned to Boston by the State
authorities, and was quickly on the ground, where its soldierly ajipearance
called out rounds of applause. In the late Rebellion, the whole military spirit
ot the town M-as aroused, and furnished men and means to maintain the gov-
ernment and establish universal freedom, without stint or erudiirini;. Her
gallant soldiers fought and fell on many fields. The number of soldiers who
represented the town was two hundred and thirty, and the amount of money
raised, including voluntaiy gifts, was $30,587, besides §10,330 as State aid.

Ashburniiam has raised her proportion of able and euterprising men, who
have honcn-cd her either at home or abroad. Besides Mr. Cushini>: and Dr.

212 TOWN OF ASHBURNHAM.

Lowe, already mentioned, the late Milton Whitney, Esq., of Baltimore, was a
distinguished lawyer. Mrs. Julia Houston West is celebrated as one of the
tinest singers of Boston. The late Ohio Whitney had the singular honor of
being chosen moderator of town meetings twenty-nine years in succession.
The late Jerome Foster and Reuben Towusend, Esqrs., the Rev. Asa Rand, a
learned divine, and the senior Col. Barrett, belong on the roll of honor.
Want of space prevents reference to others perhaps equally worthy. But it
may bo added that the town furnished thirteen commissioned officers in the
war to put down the Rebellion. Of these, George II. Barrett was lieutenant-
colonel in the fifty-third regiment, Addison A. Walker was captain in the
twenty-first regiment, and Lieut. -Col. Joseph P. Rice, who was killed at
the battle of Chantilly, crowned with the reputation of an able and heroic
officer.

Mr. Samuel Fitts, of this town, is credited with the invention of a number
of very ingenious machines for chair works.

There is no history of Ashburnham, in print, but the manuscript history by
Rev. J. D. Crosljy, which has been drawn from in writing these pages, is a
very thorough work, as far as it is completed, and it is worthy of publication at
the public expense.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS. 213

ATH O L.

BY GEORGE W. HORE, LL. B.

CHAPTER I.

FIRST LAYING OUT OF THE TOWN EARLY SETTLEMENTS — INDIAN HISTORY —

IXCOEFOEATION — PROCEEDINGS IN THE REVOLUTION — CHURCH HISTORY —
EVANGELICAL DOCTRINE LATE SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES.

In Jul}', 1732, a vote was passed by both houses of the General Assembly
of Massachusetts, "that there be four towus opened of the contents of six
miles square, each"; the first of the four names mentioned iu the above vote,
as recorded iu the State Records, was Paquoag on Miller's River; this was
surveyed and laid out as a township in October aud November of that year,
and was designated by the Indian name of Pequoiag, from the river which
flowed through the township. When the grant of the town was made cannot
be definitely ascertained, but it must have been jjrevious to June, 1734, for on
the 26th day of that month the proprietors met at Concord, and, in presence
of a committee of the Great and General Court, the following persons drew
their house lots in the township ; viz., Edward Goddard, Daniel Epps, Sr.,
Daniel Epps, Jr., Ebenezer Goddard, Zechariah Field, Nehemiah Wright,
Richard Wheeler, Richard Morton, Samuel Morton, Ephraim Smith, Nathan
Waitc, John Wood, Benj. Townsend, Jonathan Morton, Joseph Smith, Wil-
liam Oliver, Moses Dickinson, Joshua Dickinson, James Kellogg, Ridiard
Crouch, Ezekiel Wallingford, James Jones, Charles Duharthy, Gad Waite,
Joseph Lord, Benoni Twichel, John Wallis, Samuel Willard, John Smeed,
William Chandler, Jonathan Marble, William Higgins, James Kenney, Abncr
Lee, Abraham Nutt, John Headly, Isaac Fisk, Daniel Fisk, Thomas Hapgood,
Richard Ward, Samuel Tenney, John Grout, Daniel Adams, John Cutting,
Samuel Kendall, Jonathan Page, John Longley, Joseph Brown, John Child,
Natlianiel Graves, George Danforth, James Fay, Capt. Jos. Bowman, Fran-
cis Bowman, Stephen Fay, Israel Hamond, Benjamin Bancroft, Joseph Har-
rington, James Hoi den.

On the 17th of September, 1735, might have been seen five of these
proprietors, Richard Morton, Ephraim Smith, Samuel Morton, John Smeed

214 TOWN OF ATHOL.

iind Joseph Lord, with their families, as amid the solitudes of the then
unl)r()ken forest, they kindled their camp fires and laid themselves down to
rest after the wearisome journey through the wilderness from Hatfield. They
had left the heautifnl valley of the Connecticut, with its meadows of the most
fertile soil in New England, and had come to make their homes upon unim-
proved hills, the favorite haunt of the red man, and abounding with the wild
animals of the forest, miles away from any settlement. A vast amount of
lal)or and hardships were before tiicm ; the virgin forest must bo felled, their
houses erected, and the soil prepared for cultivation. Meanwhile, the greater
part of their provisions, for a year at least, must be trans|)orted from Hatfield,
thirty miles away, to the settlement, on their ^hcjuldcrs, with onlv marked trees
to guide their steps for most of the way. They built their cabins and spent
the first winter together about a mile south of the present site of the upper
village, on what is now called "The Street." Richard Morton is said to have
erected the first dwelling, which was a log hut; Dr. Joseph Lord also settled
near by, and if there were other houses built during the winter, they were
undoubtedly in close proximity. In the spring of 173() they were joined by
other settlers, but how many is not known. Among those who arrived this year
were Aaron Smith, Samuel Dexter, Noah M(jrlon, Robert Young, Nathaniel
Graves, Eleazor Graves, Robert Marble, William Oliver, John Oliver, James
Oliver and Rol)ert Oliver. The Olivers, who arc represented as stout and leso-
lute men, were direct from Ireland, and Robert Young was from the North of
Scotland, from whence he removed to Cork, in Ireland, and afterwards to this
country. He was a weaver by profession and came to Pequoiagfroni Ilolliston.
It is supposed that most of these settlers belonged to the original comi)any
formed at Hatfield. Very soon after the first settlement, clearings were com-
menced in various parts of the town. Among the localities first improved by
the settlers after that of "The Street" were "West Hill" in the north-westerly
part of the town and Lyons Hill in the east part. The first man that came on
to Chestnut Hill to settle was John Haven, who came from Framiugham about
the year 17G1.

The first white child born in town was Abi'aham INIorton, son of Richard
Morton, who was born the first winter after the arrival of the first settlers.
Tradition also says that two others were born the same winter, Abner Morton,
son of Samuel Morton and Thomas Lord, son of Joseph Lord. Margery Mor-
ton was the first white female born in town, which event occurred in 1738.

" Tlieie was a time when reel men climbed tlieso hills,
And wandered o'er these plains and by these rills;
Or rowed the light canoe along yon river,
Or rushed to conflict armed with bow and quiver."

This was a favorite seat of the Indians. Here they pitched their wigwams ; on
these meadows they planted their ccnn ; over these forest-covered hills they
pursued the deer and other game, while from the waters of the Pequoiag they

TOWN AFFAIRS. 215

drew the trout, salmon and pickerel. Driven from the fertile valle^-s of the
large rivers, they lingered along the valleys of the Pcqiioiag, loathe to leave
this almost the last of the river valleys of which they now had control. Tradition
says that here lived a portion of the Nipuets and that here lived and died Huncus,
the last of that tribe. The settlement of the place was obstructed b3' the break-
ing out of the French and Indian war, in 1741, and the settlers experienced mneh
anuoj'ance from the Indians. To guard themselves against the attacks of the
Indians, the settlers built several forts. The principal one of these was located
on "The Street" south of the upper village ; another was built in the north-west
part of the town, on what was called " West Hill" ; a third is supposed to have
been built on the spot upon which the Pequoiag House, in the lower village, now
stands. In these forts they slept and spent much of their time, and on the sig-
nal of danger all the families in the vicinity would gather for protection. All
lived in constant fear, and were obliged to carry their fire-arms with them at all
times, whether at work cultivating their farms, or gathered in their humble
meeting-house for worship ; fur around them were the thick forests, and their
wily foe might at any moment bo lurking in the shade, ready to send the deadly
ball. We can imagine them g.ithercd at their worship, each man with his trusty
gun, while stationed at the doors are the sentinels to guard against surprise, as
the pastor dispenses the truths of the Gospel, his musket leaning against the
rough pulpit within easy reach. "For three successive years," says Clarke in
his Centennial discourse, " did the first minister of Pequoiag carry his weapons
of defense into his pulpit."

Although thus exposed, yet Barber in his "Historical Sketches of Massa-
chusetts," says : "It is believed but one person was ever killed by the Indians
in this town"; this was Mr. Ezekiel Wallingford, who lived on "West Hill,"
and resided at that time in the fort. Mr. Clarke, in his discourse, says in
speaking of the affair: " Supposing that he heard bears in his corn-field one
evening, Mr. Wallingford went out to watch, but he soon discovered that the
Indians had deceived him by imitating the noise of bears in the corn and were
surrounding him. He immediately turned and attempted to regain the fort, about
one hundred rods distant, but in passing a fence he was struck by a musket-
ball, which fractured his thigh. The tomahawk and scalping-knife put an
instant end to his life, Aug. 17, 1746."

This was the cause of general alarm ; guns were immediately fired from this
fort, and answered by the garrison on "The Street," which was responded to
by the fort in Nichewaug, now Petersham, and the next morning, the inhabi-
tants of both towns joined and went in pursuit of the enemy, but without suc-
cess. The following spring, Mr. Jason Cabcock, while looking for his cows,
on the meadows near the junction of Tully Brook and Miller's River, was sud-
denly surprised and woundeil by the enemy, taken prisoner and carried to
Canada ; in about four months he was redeemed, and returned to his former
home.

210 TOWN OF ATIIOL.

About tlic time of Mr. Wfillingford's death, so alarming were the dangers,
that several of the families left the town and sought safely in "Fort Massa-
chusetts," which stood on Ihe bank of Hoosac River in the town of "Hoosac,"
now North Adams. For several years after these transactions this region
continued to be infested by Indians, so that the settlers were ol)liged to carry
their fire-arms with them continually, l)ut we hear of no more ravages com-
mitted liy them, and soon the red man disappears forever from these hills and
valleys.

The township was incorporated as a town, March 6, 17G2, with the name of
Athol, and was proliably named from James IMurray, the second Duke of Athol,
Lord Privy Seal of Scotland. The corpoi'ate act creating the new town is
recorded in chapter XX. of "Acts and laws passed by the Great and General
Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England," and reads as follows : —

"Anno Regni Regis, Georgii III., Secundo, 17G2.

''CnAPTER XX.

" An Act for erecting the new Plantation called Payqnago in the Countj' of Worces-
ter into a Town by the Name of Athol. ^^^lereas it hath been represented to this
Court that the inhabitants of the Plantation of Paj'quage in the County of Worcester,
labour under great DifTiciiltios by reason of their not being incorporated into a Town,
and are desirous of being so incorporated : Be it therefore enacted by the Governor,
Council and House of Representatives. Tiiat the said Plantation be and hereby is
erected into a Town by the Name of Atiiol, bounded as follows, viz. Northcrl\- on the
Plantations of Royashire and Mount-grace, westerly on Ervingsliire and New Salem,
Southerly on Petersham and the Plantation called Number-Six, and Easterly on said
Number-Six : and that the Inhabitants thereof be and hereby are invested with all the
Powers, Privileges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of the Towns within tliis Prov-
ince are b^- Law vested with. And he it further enacted, that John Murra}', Esquire,
be and hcrebj* is directed and empowered to issue his Warrant directed to some of the
principal Inhabitants within said Town requiring them to warn the Inhabitants of said
Town qualified to vote in Town Affairs, to asseml;)le at some suitable Time and Place
in said Town to choose such Oflicers as are necessary to manage the Affairs of said
Town : Provided nevertheless the Inhabitants of said Town shall pay their proportion-
able part of such County and Province Charges as are already assessed in lilce Manner
as tho' this Act had not been made."

The first town meeting was called liy John Murray of Rutland, and was held
March 29, 1702, when the following town otficers were elected : —

Selectmen and assessors, AVilliam Oliver, Aaron Smith, John Haven ;
town treasurer, Nathan Goddard ; wardens, Robert Young, Nathan Goddard ;
constable for south ward, Richard Morton ; constable for north ward, Ephraim
Smith ; surveyors of highways, Nathan Goddard, John Oliver, Seth Kendall ;
tythiugmen, Jesse Kendall and Jolham Death. The first town clerk was John
Haven, who was chosen at a town meeting held March 7, 17(lo.

REVOLUTIONARY DOINGS. 217

Several territorial changes have been made since the incorporation of the
town ; a portion of Athol being annexed to Royalston, Feb. 26, 1799, and also
March 7, 1803 ; a part of Athol was taken to form Gerry, in 1786, and a por-
tion of the north-west corner was set off to form Orange. The annexations
have been: A part of Gerry annexed to Athol, Feb. 26, 1806; a part of
Orange, Feb. 7, 1816, and parts of New Salem, Feb. 5, 1830, and March 16,
1837. The bonndarics of the town now are : Royalston and Orange on the
north, Royalston and Phillipston on the east, Petersham on the south-east, and
New Salem and Orange on the west.

As the signs of approaching conflict between the Colonies and the mother
country increased, wc find the inhabitants of Athol thoroughly aroused to the;
dangers which were threatening their liberties, and taking active measures to do
their pait in resisting the encroachments made upon their rights by the king
and parliament. On July 7, 1774, a town meeting of momentous importance
to the citizens of the town was held, when, on a motion made, the town entered
into the consideration of an article in the warrant : "To Consider and determine
on what measures are proper for this Town to take upon the present Exigencies
of our Publick affairs, more especially relative to the Late Edict of the British
Parliament for blocking up the Port or Harbor of Boston." The town records
show the following action: "After very close and serious Debates on what
measures were most likely to aflect a deliverance from the burdens and oppres-
sions that America in General and this Province in particular are laitoring
under, it was unanimously agreed to enter into a League or Covenant binding
om'selves to Renounce the use and consumption of all goods that shall arrive in
America from Great Britain from and after the last day of August next ensu-
ing, until the act for blocking up the Harbor of Boston shall bo repealed and
we returned to the free use and enjoyment of our National and Charier Rights,
or until other measures shall be adopted iiy the body of the people or the Gen-
eral Congress of the Colonies that are soon to meet, that shall bo thought more
likely to affect a Deliverance." Also, at the same meetins, it was voted that a
committee of correspondence be chosen, and that an attested copy of the transac-
tions of this meeting be sent lo the Committee of Correspondence at Boston.
Deacon Aaron Smith, William Bigelow, Josiah Goddard, Capt. John Haven,
Ephraim Stockwell, James Oliver, Abner Graves, James Stratton, Jr., and
Daniel Lampson were chosen as that committee. Again we lind them assem-
bled in town meeting, Aug. 25, 1774, and, without a dissenting vote, passing
a long list of resolutions, denouncing, in the strongest huiguage, the oppres-
sions of Britain ; but the passing of resolutions alone, they think, is not
enough, and September 29, only a little more than a month later, at a town meet-
ing, they vote "to enlist thirty men, exclusive of the OfBcers, to send, in case
of an alarm," and also to have two companies of militia in the town, and that
the division of the aforesaid companies be made by the river. William Bige-
low is also chosen a delegate to attend and represent the town "in the Pro-

218 TOWN OF ATHOL.

vincial Congress to be holdcn at Concord on the second Tuosduy of October
ensuing." Jan. 11, 1775, it was voted "that we do approve of and will adopt
the non-importation agreement recommended by the Continental Congress."
At this meeting, a committee of inspection was chosen. The hist town meet-
ing warned in his Majest3''s uame was held March 6, 1775.

Athol responded promptly to the call for minute-men, and at a meeting held
June 15, 1775, it was voted to raise a minute company, consisting of twenty-
five men, commissioned officers included. From a statement on the town
records of 1777, we find that Athol had furnished soldiers to go to Cambridge,
Roxbury, Dorchester, York, Nantastick, Trenton, Ticonderoga, tlie Jerseys,
Rhode Island, Bennington, Saratoga, Fort Edward and other places. April
29, 1777: "Voted to pay twenty-four pounds to each man who should enlist
Limsclf into the Continental Army for three years or during the war." July 15,
1778 :" Voted to raise 1,583?. 3.s. 8d. to pay those men that have done service
in the war for the Town of Athol." Capt. Ephraim Stockwell Commanded a
company which wa3 sent to Benninn;ton, and was in the battle at that place.
"This company afterwards captured in New Jersey, a British detacliment, one
less in number, without firing a shot." In the terrible conflict of AVhite
Plains, two of its men were killed, who bore the Athol names of Moore and
Goddard. And thus we find, through the records of those eventful years as
the war progressed, the sons of Atliol on many a hard-fought battle-field, con-
tending for rights held dearer than life, while from the farms at home were
furnished quantities of food and clothing for the suffering armies of freedom.

One of the first public acts of the early settlers of Pequoiag was to build a
meeting-house. In what year this was built cannot be definitely ascertained,
in consequence of the loss of the early records ; l)ut it was not, probal)l3', prior
to the year 1741, for at a meeting of the proprietors, September 2d of that
year, a tract of eight acres, on Mill Brook, was set apart "to Lye in common,
for a Burying Place and a Meeting House, if the Proprietors shall think proper
to put them too." On this lot, about sixty rods south-east of the present rail-
road station , the first meeting-house was built. This was supposed to have been
burned by the Indians, but a second was soon after l)uilt on "East Pequoiag
Hill," or "The Street," now called. In this house, which contained but one
pew, the few inhabitants of the place met each Sunday for worship. As yet,
no church had been organized, and they were without the services of any regu-
lar minister; but, for several years. Dr. Joseph Lord, who was probably the
best educated man among the early settlers, officiated as preacher. He was
the first doctor, magistrate, treasurer, tax gatherer, surveyor, and also the first
proprietors' clerk. Trouble arising Ijetween him and the projjrietors, he
absconded from the Province, taking the books and records, which have never
been recovered. The first record found where provision is made fi)r preaching
is Oct. 18, 1749, when it was "Voted that Mr. Brown be allowed for one days
Preaching, five Pounds, Old Tenor." At a legal meeting of the proprietors,

CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 219

held on the third "Wednesday of May, 1750, it was "Voted that ue choose an
Orthodox minister to settle in this Place ; Voted that Mr. James IliimtVics,
our present Preacher, be the Orthodox minister in this place." It seems that
Mr. Humphrey had been supidying the pulpit at Pequoiag for several months;
for at a subsequent meeting, held .June 27, 1750, it was voted " That Mr. James
Humfries be allowed Eighteen Pounds lawful money for Preaching in this
Place from the 10th of December 1749 to the IGlh of May, 1750, being
Eighteen Sabbaths." The terms of settlement and salary having been agreed
upon, Mr. Humphrey accepts the call. The 29lh of August, 1750, O. S., Is a
day memorable in the annals of the church history of Athol, for on that day
was formed the first church organization in town, when the newly elected pas-
tor, with Richard Morton, Nathaniel Graves, Abraham Nutt, Robert Marble,
Samuel JNIorton, Nathan AVait, Eleazer Graves, Ephraini Smith and Aaron
Smith affix their signatures to the church covenant. The ordination took place
Nov. 7, 1750. Rev. James Humphrey, the first minister of Pequoiag, was
born in Dorchester, March 20, 1722, and was graduated at Harvard University
in 1744. Ho was married Oct. 9, 1751, to INIiss Esther "VViswell of Dorches-
ter. For more than twenty years the pastor and people lived together in
peace and harmony ; then dissentions began to creep in, church meetings are
called "to see if the church will desire the Rev. James Ilmuphrey to ask a
Dismission from his Pastoral Care of the Church of Christ in Athol." Town
meetings are also called for the same purpose, no less than nine being called in
regard to the matter, and, for a peiiod of more than iive years, discord and
contentions reigned in this hitherto peaceful church and town, until the very
existence of the town itself was threatened ; and so strong was the feeling that
efforts were made at town meetings to have a portion of the town set off, and a
petition was sent to the General Court, praying that a part of the territory
might be incorporated into a separate town.

At length, terms of settlement were mutually agreed upon by the jiastor,
town and chnich ; and at a council of churches, held Feb. 13, 1782, the Rev.
James Humphrey was dismissed from his pastoi'ul relation to the church.
After his dismission, he continued to reside in town until his death, which
occurred May 8, 179(3, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His descendants
have always been among the leading citizens of the town. For nearly six
years the church was without a pastor, and, divided as the town now was, it
became no easy task to unite the discordant elements in the choice of a new
minister; meetings are held, both town and church, committees are appointed,
rejected and reappointed ; votes are passed, calling certain ones to the pastor-
ate, and the next meeting makes them void ; but fortunately a man is found
who possesses the qualities and character necessary for the restoration of peace
and harmony. At a meeting held July 25, 1787, the church vote " unani-
mf)nsly to invite Mr. Joseph Estabrook to take the pastoral care of them in
the Lord, and to settle in this town iu the work of the gospel ministry." The

220 TOWN OF ATHOL.

town ill a few days concur with the church in extending the invitation to Mr.
Estabrook ; ho accepted the call, and was ordained Nov. 21, 1787, seven
churches assisting in the ordination.

Rev. Joseph Estabrooi\, the second minister of Athol, was born at Lexing-
ton, March 4, 1759 ; and although but sixteen years old at the time of the
ever-memorable battle of Lexington, yet he was present with that immortal
company of Americans, and saw his comrades fall before the British fire. He
assisted his father in removing his mother to a place of safety, and was one of
those who pressed upon the rear of the enemy as they retreated in disorder
from Concord, loading and firing his gun from behind a large rock. Ho
graduated at Harvard University in 1782, and, after graduating, taught school
at Kingston, Plymouth County, about four years, and then resumed his theo-
logical studios with Rev. Jonas Clarke, the minister of his native town. He
was then ordained as minister of the church in Athol, where for nearly forty-
three years he ministered to a united and happy people, loved and respected
by the entire community ; and we may safely assert that few, if any, parishes
in New England ever lived with their pastor more harmoniously for so
long a period as did the town of Athol with their pastor. Rev. Joseph
Estabrook. During his life, a large proportion of the litigation of the town
was referred by common consent to his arbitration, and he was commonly
called the " Peace-maker," an appellation which he was justly entitled to.
While most of the communities of New England were rent by the great
religious controversy between Unitarians and Trinitarians, which was in full
blast for several years before his death, yet we are informed that in such high
respect was his character held, that not a proposal was ever made by anybody
for his dismissal ; but, -when he died, " the parish flew apart like one of those
flowers called ' Touch-me-not,' and have remained so until this day." He
closed his life on the morning of Sunday, April 18, 1830, in the seventy-
second year of his age.

The settlement of a successor to Mr. Estabrook was an event of no small
importance, and, when the subject came before the parish and town, it was
found that they were divided upon the doctrines to be preached. At a town
meeting held in 1830, we find the following vote recorded: "Voted that the
Town will settle no man in the ministry, in the Congregational Society, unless
he will obligate himself, that so long as he shall be the minister in said Society
he will exchange ministerial labours with all the Congregational Ministers in the
neighborhood, who are in regular standing, and who will exchange with him,
and that the Committee chosen for the purpose of procuring a candidate, ascer-
tain this fiict of a candidate before they engage him as such." At a subsequent
meeting, an article to reconsider this was passed over by a vote of 108 to 42.
A division now took place, in which those who believed in the Evangelical
doctrines withdrew from the church and parish.

The next minister of the old church, which retained the name of the First

BAPTIST SOCIETY. 221

Congregational Church, was Rev. Josiah Moore, who was ordained Dec. 8,
1830, and continued as pastor until August, 1833. He was succeeded by
Rev. Linus II. Shaw, ordained Nov. 12, 1834, and dismissed August 29,
183G. From that time, the society had uo settled pastor until the ordination
of Rev. Samuel F. Clarke, A|)ril 19, 1848, who continued until 1856. Since
then, the church has had the following ministers : —

Rev. D. C. O'Daniels, 1857-59; Rev. Ira Bailey, 18G1-66 ; Rev.
Crawford Nightingale; Rev. W. S. Burton, 18G8-73 ; Rev. S. R. Priest,
1874-7(3. The present pastor is Rev. E. P. Gibbs, who commenced his
pastorate in May, 1877.

The meeting-house built on the "Street" was occupied until 1773, when the
third one in town was built on the "Common," and opened for public worship
in July, 1773. This house was burned on the night of July 2, 1827, supposed
to have been by an incendiary. The present church edifice of this society was
built in 1828, at an expense of upwards of $5,000. In the fall of 1847, the
house was remodeled and litted up in its present form.

In October, 1830, as a result of the theological discussions of that day, those
who believed in the Evangelical doctrines left the old church, and formed the
"Evangelical Society of Athol." In March, 1831, articles of faith were
adopted, and an Evangelical Church formed. At first, the new church held
their meetings in the town house, but, in the year 1833, their present house of
worship was built. This was repaired and enlarged in 1859, and a spire was
built. The first pastor of this church was Rev. B. B. Beckwith, who was
ordained June 8, 1831, and dismissed Nov. 11, 1834. Other pastors have
been Rev. James F. Warner, 1835-37; Rev. R. M. Chipman, 1839-51;
Rev. John F. Norton, 1852-G7 ; Rev. Temple Cutler, 18G8-7G. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. Henry A. Blake, ordained Sept. 13, 187G. Since 1840,
the church has contributed for benevolent objeccts about $17,000, the largest
amount in any one year being $1,G53.GG in 1871. In 1840, the membership
of the church was 220, and Jan. I, 1878, it numbered 282, having probably
the largest membership of any church in town.

We find in the town records of 1774 and '75 certificates signed by certain
persons belonging to a society called " Anti-pedobaptists." The certificates
state that they met together " for religious worship on the Lord's day in
Royalston and Athol." About this time a minister of the Baptist denomination,
Elder Whitman Jacobs, commenced preaching in town and gathered quite a
company of adherents, including those from the Old Congregational Church,
who had become disaffected at the innovation made about that time in the
custom of singing; those believing in the doctrines of the Baptist Church first
held prayer-meetings in their own houses, then became members of the Baptist
Church in Templeton, and in 1810 were constituted a branch of that church;
in 1813 there were organized as an independent church. For several years
they had no pastors, but their meetings were led by the deacons. One of

222 TOWN OF ATHOL.

their deacons was ordained and settled as pastor of the church, which position
ho held from 1820 to 1833, being the longest pastorate in the history of the
church. The pastors since then have been : — Rev. Andrew Day, Rev. J.
Glazier, Rev. Asaph Merriani, Rev. O. Tracy, Rev. Charles Farrar, Rev. J.
D. Reid, Rev. Charles Aycr, Rev. George L. Hunt, Rev. D. II. Stoddard, Rev.
J. C. Emery ; the present minister is Rev. Edwin M. Bartlett, who commenced
his duties the first Sunday of July, 1876. The church has had two houses of
worship, the first being located in the upper village; it is now owned by the
Catholics. Their present church edifice was dedicated Feb. 14, 1849. The
church has been generously remembered by some of its M'ealthy members,
the late Moses Briggs having bequeathed it $1,000. It has sent out seven
ministers, and has a present membership of about one hundred and eighty-
five.

The first class in the iNIethodist Episcopal Church in this town was formed
Nov. 30, 1851, b}' "William A. Clapp, then pastor of the Phiilipston charge
and consisted of seventeen members, with Mr. George Gerry as leader. For
some time all their meetings were held at private houses. The first place where
they held public meetings was in the hall of the large building owned by John
C. Hill, near the school-house in the lower village. They soon removed to the
hall in Houghton's Block, where they remained until their present church
edifice was erected, at the corner of River and Main streets, in 1861. This was
dedicated November 6, of that year. The first minister was a Mr. Hayward, a
local iJreacher, and the first one appointed by Conference was Rev. John
Goodwin. This little class, formed in 1851, has grown into a large and
flourishing church organization, now numbering one hundred and seventy-
three members. The present pastor is the Rev. L. A. Bosworth.

There is also a Methodist Society at South At hoi, which was the first
organized in town. They have a meeting-house, and have had regular preaching
since the formation of the society.

The Roman Catholic Church has a representation here. The church of St.
Catharine is a part of the Otter River (Temijleton) parish ; they have services
two Sundays out of three, the same priest. Rev. Joseph Coyne, Jr., also being
appointed for the churches at Otter River and Barre. About 1856 they pur-
chased the old Baptist meeting-house at the corner of Main and Summer
strei ts, in the upper village, which they now occupy.

The Second Advent Society has a permanent organization, and a chapel on
Main Street, opposite the town hall, which was built in the summer of 1873;
Elders Miles Grant of Boston and James Hemenway of Athol oiBciated at the
dedication. The society has no regular preacher now.

The youngest of the religious societies of the town is the Second Unitarian
Church, which was formed largely of members of the First Congregational
Parish residing in the lower village. Public services were first held Sunday,
Feb. 11, 1877, and Rev. James C. Parsons was installed as pastor June 12,

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS. 223

1877. The parish mimhcis one huudred members, and the society over three
hundred; services are held in Starr Hall; the society has a fund of $1,200
and proposes to erect a church at the earliest practicable date.

CHAPTER II.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS — TOWN ACTION IN THE WAR OF 1812 — EXTREME

POLITICAL FEELING MOVEMENTS DURING THE REBELLION TOPOGRAPHY

AND SCENERY LAKES AND STREAMS GEOLOGY AND FLORA ORGANIZA-
TIONS — BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The first provision made by the town for the support of schools was at a
meeting held March 7, 1763, when it was "voted to raise thirteen pounds, six
shillinirs and ci<rht-penco to provide a school, and chose Nathan Goddard,
Jesse Kendall and John Oliver a committee to hire a school-master," &o. ; also
"voted to divide the school money by the river, and those that live on the
south side to have what they pay towards the sum raised, and those that live
on the north side to have what they pay towards the sum." March 3, 17GG,
it was "voted to build two school-houses, one on the ' \Yest Hill,' between
Deacon Aaron Smith's and Ichabod Dexter's, the other on 'East Hill,' at the
head of Capt. Field's lane, so called, 'and the above houses are to be built IG
feet wide, and 18 feet long, and Gi feet stud.'" March 2, 17G7, voted to sell
the school right of land ; May 18," 1774, the town was first divided into school
districts or "squadrons," as they were called, six in number.

All through the Revolution wc find the town making liberal appropriations
for the support of the schools. Among the early school-masters and school-
mistresses we find the names of Nathaniel Babbitt, who was paid fifteen
shillings and twopence for keeping school in 1777, also to Paul Church one
pound four shillings for his wife keeping school, and to the wife of Capt. John
Oliver five shillings and tcnpencc. Evidently it must have been a great work
to provide school-masters ; for several years we find a committee of thirty
chosen for that purpose. At a town meeting, held Oct. 15, 1783, it was
"Voted to choose a committee to procure a Grammer School master, also to
provide stocks for the town as the law directs," from which it would seem that
the early fathers considered the stocks and birch as being closely associated.
Not only was it considered necessary for the young of those days to be taught
in reading, writing, &c., but much importance was attached to singing. At a
town meeting, held May 7, 1792, eighty pounds was granted for the use of
schooling, to be laid out in the following manner : " 70 pounds for the use of
keeping a reading and writing school, the other ten pounds for the use of a

224 TOWN OF ATIIOL.

singing-school." From 1819 for ;i period of ten years $550 a year was raised
for schools ; this increased year by year until in 1875-G $8,726.92 was expended
in the schools of Athol. In 1829 we find the first mention of a general school
committee, Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard, and Abel Sweetser being
chosen for that purpose.

In the jNIarch nieeliiig of 1856 occurs an article "to see Avhat action the
town will take relative to the establishment of a high school in said town."
And now occurs that memorable struggle between the two villages regarding
the site of a high school house ; meeting after meeting was held and the
excitement upon the subject was intense. To such an extent was the feeling
carried, that even the ties of church membership were endangered in consequence
thereof. Finally the building was located. It is very creditable to the citizens
of the town that no village controversies have ever interfered with the interests
of the schools. The first high school was held in 1857, with Mr. George A.
Wheeler of Topsham, Me., as the teacher. In 1873 a graded system of
schools was perfected, and a three years' course of study established for the
high school, the school committee at that time being. Rev. W. S. Burton,
George W. Horr, and Henry A. Stearns. The last school report gives
the number of schools as nineteen, with twenty teachers, and attended during
the year by seven hundred and three scholars. The present committee are Rev.
Edwin M. Bartlctt, Henry M. Humphrey, and Fred. Allen. Among those of
recent years who have been longest connected with the schools of Athol
oflicially, are Dr. James P. Lynde and Rev. John F. Norton.

The proceedings of the town as to the war of 1812 are of much interest. At
a town meeting held Aug. 31, 1808, a petition to the President of the United
States was drafted, read and accepted. It reads as follows: "To the Presi-
dent of the United States : The inhabitants of the Town of Athol, in the County
of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in legal town meeting
assembled, beg leave, respectfully and unanimously, to represent that, although
the evils resulting from the cmljargo laws may not be so immediately and
sensibly felt by individual towns as by our seaports, and although the farmer
may not, at present, so much as the merchant, feel their deleterious eiTccls, yet
they are considered of suflicient magnitude to create a general alarm and
distress in the interior part of the country, and that the ruin of the husband-
man will soon follow that of the merchant, unless said evils can bo speedily
removed. We therefore pray that said laws may be suspended as soon as
consistent with the nature and fitness of things, and as in duty bound will ever
pray." This petition, no doubt, embodied the opinions of a large majority of
the citizens of New England at that time, and the war, known in history as the
struggle "for Free Trade and Sailors' Rights," was unpopular in the eastern
section of our conntr3\

At a town meeting held Jan. 31, 1814, the important article of the warrant
read : " To sec if the town will petition the Legislature of this Commonwealth

POLITICAL FEELING. 225

to take such measures as they shall tliink fit and proper to relieve their con-
stituents from the l)ur(lens tliey now suffer by reason of the present disgraceful
war and the late embargo, or act anything relative thereto." A petition was
adopted by the meeting wherein they resolved "that every encroachment upon
the State Sovereignty, etc., should, at the call of our state government, be
resisted to the last extremity." An era of good feeling soon after occurred
under the Presidency of James Monroe, and all sectional feeling seemed to be
buried, in which the citizens i)f Athol rejoiced with their countrymen.
■ As an incident of the state of fcelino; at this period existinor among: the
people, the following extract from a letter kindly written to the author by Rev.
Lucius R. Paige of Cambridgeport, is inserted. It has reference to our Rev.
Joseph Estabrook : "According to the best of my recollcctiou, Rev. Mr.
Estabrook exchanged with Rev. Mr. Wesson of Ilardwick at some time durinj;
the war of 1812. I think it was on a Fast-day, when political discussions were
expected. In his prayer he invoked the choicest blessings upon the heads of
our State officers, — naming the governor, lieutenant-governor, councillors, sen-
ators and representatives separately (as was then customary), and then, after
a moment's pause, coutinued thus : ' O, Lord, thou hast commanded us to
pray also for our enemies ; we therefore beseech Thee to bless the President
of these United States, and the two houses in Congress assembled,' and then,
in his impressive manner, specified the particular blessings sought, such
as that they might see the error of their ways, abandon their evil courses,
and adopt such measures as should secure the peace and prosperity of the
country."

It may bo a matter of interest to know how the vote of Athol has stood fromi
time to time for State and national officers. Want of space foi'bids full sta-
tistics under this head. In 1824 the memorable contest for President occurred,
when John Quincy Adams was elected liy the House of Representatives. The
vote of Athol stood : Adams, 109 ; Jackson, 2. So it seems that the Demo-
cratic party in 1824 had but one more vote than has happened once since,
although it was at the State election of 18G5 that the party polled but one
vote, which was cast Ijy a citizen who has since been a consistent Democrat.

The first vote for governor at a meeting held Sept. 4, 1780, is recorded as
39 for John Hancock. In 1789 the vote stood for governor: John Hancock,
29 ; James Bowdoin, 1.3. Cut one set of presidential electors were voted for
in 1792, 179G and 1800. In 1804 the vote for President was divided 95 to 28.
But during all those years there was a division of votes for Federal
representatives.

Before the plurality rule prevailed in elections, and a majority of all the
votes polled was required to elect, great interest was often manifested, partic-
ularly in the choice of representatives to the legislature. These scenes are well
remembered by the older citizens ; and, although a contest for governor, which
brings out in the town a vote of upwards of four hundred for each candidate,

226 TOWN OF ATHOL.

must necessarily he exciting, yet for tbc choice of tho ppople\s representative,
under the old law, almost, if not equal zeal was maiiifosled by the voters to
elect b}' a majoiity vote their f ivorito candidate.

Athol has always sustained a good position at the State House. The first
mention of a representative wo find recorded was in 1775, when Capt. John
Haven was chosen representative to the Great and General Court. Since then
the town has sent the following : —

Senators. — Benjamin Estabrook, 1843; Charles Field, 1858, '59 ; Alpheus
Harding, 1879.

Representatives.— ;So^\ah Goddard, 1792, '95, '96, '98, '99, 1800; Lieut.
Elcazcr Graves, 1802, '04, '05, '17 ; James Humphrey, 180G, '09, '10, '11, '12,
'13, '16, '21, '23, '25 ; Samuel Young, 1808 ; James Oliver, 1814, '15 ; Joseph
Proctor, 1819 ; Dr. Ehenczer Chaplin, 1827, '29 ; Col. Samuel Sweelzer, 1830,
'44, '46; Elipbalet Thorpe, 1832; Col. Nathan Nickerson, 1833; Benjamin
Estabrook, 1835, '36, '52 ; in 1837 two representatives were sent, Benjamin
Estabrook and James Young; in 1838 Benjamin Estabrook and Abner Young;
Theodore Jones, 1840, '43, '45 ; John W. Humphrey, 1841, '42; Nathaniel
Eichardson, 1847, '60; Lysander Fay, 1848; Stiliman Simonds, 1850;
Nehemiah Ward, 1851; Josiah Haven, 1854; Laban Morse, 1855; James I.
Goulding, 1856; Charles Field, 1.S57 ; Isaac Stevens, 1858; Farwell F. Fay,
1862; Alpheus Harding, 1863, '67; Calvin Keltcm, 1865; T. H. Goodspeed,
1869; Ozi Kendall, LS71 ; George H. Hoyt, 1872, '73 ; Edwin Ellis, 1875;
William W. Fish, 1870 ; J. Sumner Farmenter, 1878 ; Leander B. Morse, 1879.

Constitutional Convention. — Lyman W. Hapgood, 1853.

When the great crisis in our national history came, and the hour arrived
when l)lows must be struck for the maintenance of the institutions which the
fathers had planted, and which the founders of Athol had been so active and
persistent in helping to establish, it found the sons equally as patriotic in the
preservation and the perpetuity of those institutions ; there was no hesitation,
no faltering, from the time when the news of Fort Sumter's fall, borne on
lightning wings, reached the homes of Athol, until the last battle had been
fought, and her returning heroes had again donned the garb of peaceful
citizens. On the evening of April 19, only seven days after the bombardment
of Fort Sumter, a public meeting was held at the town hall, when forty or
more were found who were ready to leave at once to defend tiie national
capital. At a large town meeting, held April 30, 1861, it was voted "that
five thousand dollars be appropriated" for the purpose of encouraging men to
enlist," and ''that ten dollars per month be given to each unmarried volunteer,
and twenty dollars to each married volunteer, in addition to the pay insured
them by the laws of the United States." And, "if more be necessary to
support the families of the married volunteers, the committee is to make up
the deficiency."

The first man who unlisted and was mustered into the United States service

THE CIVIL WAE. 227

was Lcandor W. Phelps, and he was one of the sixteen who raarclied «ith tho
second rcijiinent of Massacluisetts vohnitecrs when it left for the Upper
Potomac, July 8, 18G1. Tho names of the f>theis were David E. Billinrrs, J.
B. BiHinsrs, Delevan Richardson, IInhb;ird V. Smith, Edward L. Townscnd,
Charles H. Iliil, .Charles S. Green, Columbus Fox, "William L. Clulterbuck,
Horace Hunt, William Nute, Frederick Cummings, John D. Emerson, Thomas
Johnson and Aurin B. French. In the tenth regiment, which went to tiie seat
of war very soon after the second, were John F. JMcriill and James L. Merrill.
July 10, 18G1, money was appropriated fur the support of the families of tho
soldiers. Twenty-three next left I'or the war, Aug. 22, LSiJl, in the twenty-first
regiment; most of these men belonged to company A, which was called the
"Adams Guards," commanded by Captain, afterwards Col. George P. Ilawkes
of Templeton. Soon after this, another and successful effort was made to
recruit a company in Alhol and vicinity, and in the short space of ton days
the requisite number of men was obtained ; these constituted company B of
the twenty-seventh regiment, Adin W. Caswdl, captain. During 18G1
Athol men also enlisted in tho thirtieth and thirty-first regiments, and also
in the first l)attalion of infantry. The first Alhol man killed in action was
William Hill, company B, twenty-seventh regiment, who fell at the capture
of Roanoke Island; Patrick Leonard, of company A, twenty-first regiment,
was also mortally wounded in the same conflict. July 4, 1862, the President
issued an order for three hundred thousand volunteers to servo for throe years,
or until the end of the war. The number assigned to Athol under this call
was forty-eight. Aug. 2, 18G2, a town meeting was held to encourage enlist-
ments, when it was "Voted, that the selectmen of Athol be authorized, in
behalf of the town, to pay a bounty of $100 to every inhabitant of the town
who shall have enlisted since July 7, 18G2, nv who shall hereafter, on or I)efore
the sixteenth day of August, 18G2, enlist into said service, until the number
equal to said quota shall be fully made up." In a few days forty-one men
enlisted from Athol, and were assigned to tho different regiments of Massachu-
setts volunteers.

Great enthusiasm was manifested by tho people of Athol, while tho men
were enlisting for nine months' service, and many offered themselves as soldiers
who could not be accepted because of some physical disability ; the number
mustered into service under this call was fifty-two. The nine months men,
with those from neighboring towns, formed company E of tho fifty-third
regiment, of which Farwell F. Fay, Esq., was chosen captain.

The number of men furnished by Athol to aid in suppressing the Rebclliou
was three hundred and thirty-five, of whom fifteen were commissioned officers,
and the whole number furnished to fill quotas, including re-enlistments, was
throe hundred and eighty-seven ; of these, more than fifty died in the service
or from diseases contracted in it, of which number fourteen were killed, or
died from wounds received in action ; twenty-eight men from Athol were iu

228 TOWN OF ATFIOL.

rebel prisons, of whom four died while prisoners at Andersonville, and one
died soon after leaving that place. James L. Merrill furnished five sons for
the army; of these, three were very severely wounded, and the fourth nearly
sacrificed his life to save that of a wounded brother. The family of Leandor
Phelps furnislicd four to fill the quotas from AthoJ, while Franklin Oliver and
Isaac King each sent four sons.

Soldiers' aid societies were in active operation in both villages, and through
the efi'orts of the ladies composing them sent money and supplies to the
soldiers, amounting to $2,381.90. The amount of indebtedness incurred by
the town of Athol on account of the war was $18,880.94, while the total
expenses, including bounties, contributed by the citizens, etc., amounted to
$39,5r,5.G2.

The history of the gallant volunteers who wont from Athol, and the action of
the town during those Ihrilling days, have been carefully preserved in a volume
entitled "Athol in the Suppression of the Rebellion," to which wc are indebted
for much of the information regarding those eventful days.

Athol is diversified with hills and valleys, and abounds with beautiful and
picturesque scenery. The principal elevations are Chestnut Hill, in the north ;
High Knob, near the centre ; Eound Top, Ward's and Piei-ce's hills, in the
cast. Especially worthy of mention is the view from the summit of Round
Top ; to the north, the Grand Monadnock lifts its rocky form, seeming but a
few miles away ; to the east are the rounded tops of Wachusett and Watatic,
and scattered on the hill-tops the villages of Templeton, Gardner, Westminster,
"Winchendon and other places ; to the west may be seen the Green Mountains of
Vermont and Berkshire County, while old Greylock peers above in the dim
distance; the villages of Royalston, North Oraugo, New Salem, and others are
also seen in the north and west. The cultivated farms, the snowy white
villages scattered on every side, the verdure-covered hills and forest-clad
mountains, all unite in forming a scene of rare beauty.

]\Iillcr's River, robbed of its more beautiful and appropriate Indian name of
Pequoiag because a man liy the name of Miller was so uufortuuate as to have
been drowned while attempting to cross it more than one hundred and fifty
years ago, flows through the town in a south-westerly direction, furnishing a
valuable motive-power for various manufacturing establishments. Tully
Brook, the next largest stream, enters Millei's River from the north, forming,
for some distance, the boundary between Athol and Orange. Mill Brook,
rising among the hills of Phillipston, flows through the upper village, and has
numerous mills along its course. Silver Lake, formerly known as Babcock's
Pond, is a beautiful sheet of water, situated iu a hollow among the hills near
the lower village ; it contains about twenty acres, and its waters are clear
and cool, the shores are bordered by woods, and although within a few rods of
the busy village, it presents a secluded and romantic retreat.

South-west Pond, in the westerly part of the town, is a large sheet of water.

GEOLOGY AND FLORA. 229

It lias been Icasctl \yy the fish eoininif^sioners to a company for the ciiUivatioii
of lish, and has been stocked with several varieties.

Lake Ellis, situated near the upper village, and bordered by the Worcester
North-west Fair Grounds on the cast, is a favorite resort for picnics and
iishing parties ; there are several islands which add to the beaut}' of the
scenery, and arc becoming quite popular as cam|)iug-placcs during the summer
months. A small steamer called the "Escort" [)lies upon the lake.

The geological structure of Athol is calcareous gneiss. In this formative
rock occur specimens of allanite, cpidotc, filirolite and babingtonite. Another
mineral is frequently found in the form of pebbles among the diluvium of
Athol and Royalstou, which Prof. Hitchcock did not pretend to name ; its color
is usuidly white, sometimes brown, its hardness equal to that of quartz, and its
toughness much greater. Prof. Hitchcock mentions a fine cxami)lc of a
moraine in Athol, a little north of the village, where the two branches of
Miller's River unite. He also mentions a peat-bed two miles long and eighty
rods wide, and containing about three hundred acres, the peat being two to
three feet in thickness. This is now mostly covered by Lake Ellis and Ellen-
wood's Pond. There is also a well-defined train of bowlders near the central
part of the town.

The flora of Athol is varied, possessing most of the varieties common to this
section of the country, and some which are rare in many localities. There are
few places in the State where the trailing arbutus or iMayflowcr is found so
extensivtly as here, large tracts being covered with this most lovely of New
P^ngland flowers, the air being fragrant in spring with its sweet perfume. The
Twin Flower (Linncea borealif^), a delicate little plant, with fragrant, nodding
flowers, growing in moist, mossy woods and cold bogs, is found here abun-
dantly, although quite rare in many parts of Massachusetts ; it was dedicated to
the great botanist, Linnicus, with whom this huml)le but charming plant was
;ui esjjccial favorite. Along the river banks and brooks may be seen the
Virgin's Bower (Clematis Virr/uiianaJ, climbing over the shrubs and trees,
blossoming in July and August; its flowers are succeeded by the long, silken
fringes of the fruit, which remain on the vines during tlio whole of the autumnal
months, forming a graceful and pretty sight. The Fringed Gentian (Gentlana
cn'ui/a) is common here, which Bryant so beautifully describes in one of his
poems : —

"Thou blossom, briglit with autunin dew.
And colored with the lieaveii's own blue,
That opencst when the quiet light
Succeeds the keen and frosty night;

Thou waitest late, and com'st alone,
AVhcn woods are bare and birds are flown,
And frosts and shortening days portend
The aged Year is near his end.

Then doth thy sweet and quiet eye
Look through its fi-inges to the sky.
Blue — blue — as if that sky lot fall
A flower from its cerulean wall."

230 TOWN OF ATIIOL.

Among other plants found here are the goldthread {Coptis trifolia), the
Indian pipe {Monotrnj)a unijlora), &c.

The first lodge of Freemasons in Athol was Harris Lodge, the officers of
which were installed by W. M. Isaiah Thomas, Oct. 13, 1803. Previous to
this, the names of a few brethren from this town appear on the rolls of two or
three of the older lodges of the county, and some joined the Repulilican Lodge
of Greenfield. Harris Lodge was removed to Gerry in 1811, and afterwards
to Tcmplcton. Athol is now one of the strongholds of jNIasonr}-, having the
following organizations: — Star Lodge, instituted in 18^4, has 87 meml)ers ;
Athol Lodge, chartered Sept. 12, 1872, has 75 members; Union Royal Arch
Chapter, instituted in 18GG; and the Athol Commandcry of Knights Templars.,
The two oldest Masons in town arc IMaj. Warren Ilorr and Nathaniel Richard-
son, Esq. , both of whom have been members of the order for more than fifty years.

The organizations engaged in the cause of temperance are Watercure Lodge
of Good Templars, Athol Reform Club, Holdeu Total Al)stinence Society, and
the W^oman's Christian Temperance Union.

The Massachusetts Mutual Relief Association was organized iu 1876 for the
purpose of aiding the families of deceased members; Acme Lodge, Knigiits of
Honor, was instituted in March, 1877, has a good membership, and is fast
increasing in numbers. Parker Post No. 123, Grand Army of the Republic,
was chartered June 1, 1870. It has done much in furnishing aid to the poor
and unfortunate of its members and the families of deceased conn-ades. Eight
comrades have died since its organization. The post occupies a firic hall in
Cook's Block, in the upper village. Tiie following have been commanders :
F. F. Fay, George H. Hoyt, II. M. Burleigh, Charles Grey and Henry T.
Morse. The present commander is George R. Hanson.

The ladies have recently organized Hoyt Post, Matrons of the Repul)lic.

The Athol Library Association was organized in December, 1878, with Hon.
Charles Field as president. It has received valuable donations from former
residents of Athol, and now contains upwards of 700 volumes. It meets a
want long felt in the town, and is being liberally patronized by the citizens.

The Worcester North-west Agricultural and iSIechanical Society was incor-
porated April 2, 18()7, and established iu the town of Athol. Its fiirs ;u'e
among the l)est of the agricultural societies of the State, and arc largely
attc:;ded. It has finely located fair gromids, and all the necessary buildings,^
including ball, stables, &c., with a good half-mile track. Its membersliip
eminaces many of the leading farmers, mechanics and manufacturers of this
and surrounding towns.

The Enmict Literary Society, composed of young men of Irish parentage,
holds meetings for debates and literary exercises, and is in a flourishing con-
dition.

Athol has two brass bands, — the Athol Band at the upper village, and the
Citizens' Band of the Imver viliasre.

BANKS AND MANUFACTURES. 231

The town bas an admirable lire department, consisting of three hose com-
panies, two steamers and a hook-and-iadder company, all well officered and
manned. Water is supplied for lire purposes from tifty hydrants. The engin-
eers of Ihe department are J. F. Whitcomb, chief engineer; R. S. Horton,
first assistant; Adoiphus Bangs, second assistant; W. H. Frost, clerk and
treasurer.

We take a little space for considering the l)usincss interests of Athol. In
1854, Charles C. Bassett, Isaac Stevens, Lewis Thorpe, their associates and
successors, were made a corporation by the name of the Miller's River Bank,
to be established in Athol and located in the Depot Village.

It connnenced l)usiness in 1854, September 12, with a capital of $100,000.
The first president was John Ijoynton : cashier, INIcrrick H. Ainsworth. In
1856, Seth Ilapgood succeeded Mr. Boynton as president, and Alpheus Hard-
ing, Jr., was appointed cashier in August of the same year. Upon the death
of Mr. Ilapgood, Isaac Stevens was chosen president. In August, 1857, the
capital was increased to $150,000. March 1, 18G5, it was changed to the
Miller's River National Bank, with same president and cashier. Capital,
$150,000; surplus, $20,000. In January, 1866, Alpheus Harding succeeded
Isaac Stevens as president, and Albert L. Newman was appointed cashier,
which positions they still hold. Surplus at present time, $100,000. The suc-
cessful establishment of this bank was largely due to the zealous efTorts of
Charles C. Bassett in its favor.

The Athol Savings Bank was chartered Feb. 12, 1867, and commenced
business in March of that year. Charles C. Bassett is president ; J. S. Par-
luenter, vice-president. Trustees, J. C. Hill, George T. Johnson, Lewis
Thor[)e, N. Richardson, C. C. Bassett, J. S. Parmentcr, A. Harding, Ozi
Kendall, W. II. Amsden, Athol; J. G. Mudge, Petersham; Rodney Hunt,
Orange; and J. W. Goodman, North Dana. Clerk and treasurer, Alpheus
Harding. This bank has been admirably managed, has the entire confidence
of its depo.-itors and the community, and is an institution in which the citizens
of Athol take commendable pride.

The Athol National Bank was incorporated in 1874, and commenced business
in the fall of that year with a paid-up capital stock of $100,000. Thomas H.
Goodspeed, president, and Charles A. Chapman, cashier. The president
says : "Its business has been steady, and its establishment has, I think, without
douljt, been a benefit to the town and an additional means of accommodation
to the community. It owns a good banking-house, and its future prospects
are promising for a good business and fair dividends."

To the diversity of its manufactures Athol largely owes the thrift, enterprise
and business prosperity which characterize the town. The settlers of the town
early availed themselves of the abundant water-power furnished l)y Miller's
River and Mill Brook. Whitney, in his " Ilistor}' of Worcester Counts," pub-
lished in 1793, says : "There arc in the town four grist-mills, six saw-mills, one

232 TOWN OF ATHOL.

Ailling-iiiill .'iml one trip-hammer." About this time scythe works were estab-
lished l)y Lill^' & StoLkwell. The business was purcliased about the year 1799,
l)y Mr. Perley Sibley, who carried it on for many years. A cotton-factory, one
of the first built in this part of the country, was erected as early as 1814.
About tlie \ear 1813, Mr. Eliphalet Thorpe came to town and engaged in mak-
ing paper, wliich business he carried on for nearly forty years, employin"' a
large number of hands for those days. He was succeeded in the business by his
sons, Albert and Fenno, who continued the business for about sixteen years.
Steplien Ilarwood engaged in the manufacture of nails and afterwards in the
scythe business. Among those who early contributed to the building up of the
town were Timothy Horr and Paul Morse, who utilized the waters of Mill
Brook, and l)uilt several mills and houses in what is now the upper village.
Barber, in his "Historical Collections of Massachusetts," says that in 1837
there were 31(5,000 yards of cotton goods manufactured, and l)oots and shoes to
the value of $.58,741.

The leading industry of the town, that in which the largest amount of cap-
ital is invested, and which gives employment to the largest number of hands,
is the manufacture of boots and shoes. There are five establishments engajjcd
in this Inisiness, producing goods to the value of nearly half a millimi dollars
annually. Foremost in this branch of industry is I\Ir. Chai'les M. Lee, who
commenced the manufacture of shoes in 1850, with a capital of about $100,
going on foot to Boston to purchase his stock and returning to his father's firm,
where he made his first shoes, making a few dozen pairs and selling them to
the merchants of this and adjoining towns. His brothers were connected with
him in the manufacture of both boots and shoes for several j'cars, but in 1869
he withdrew from partnership, and has since confined bis attention solely to the
manufacturing of shoes. He at once enlarged his factory, located on Mn'm
Street, in the lower village, and put in steam-power, the first that was used in
town. During the last ten years he has increased the dimensions of his f ictory
seven times, and now gives employment to upwards of two hundred persons,
turning out, annuall}', shoes to the value of more than $200,000, forming the
most important industry of the town, being one of the largest, if not (he
largest establishment of the kind in the world that is controlled by one man.
M. L. Lee & Co. are eugaged in the manufacture of men's, boys' and youth's
kip boots. Their factory is lociited in the upper village, and their salesroom
in Boston. They employ from seventy-live to one hundred and twenty-five
hands, and their annual sales amount to $100,000. Solon W. Lee commenced
his present business in 1877, and occupies a large shop on Central Street,
where he gives employment to seventy-five hands, and his annual sales amount
to abr)ut $100,000. Less than seventy 3'ears ago the father of the Lees was
making four or five pairs of boots and shoes a day ; now the sons are manufac-
turing more than fifteen hundred pairs a day, and the annual business of the
four brothers amounts to nearly a million of dollars, including the products of

MILLS AND FACTORIES. 233

their factories in Athol and salesrooms ill Boston. ^Ir. Ozi Keiulall may be
considered as the pioneer boot manufacturer of the town, commencing busi-
ness alone in 1834 ou a small scale ; in January, 1856, his son George N. Ken-
dall went in company with him, under the lirm-name of O. Kendall & Son.
Jlr. George N. Kendall dissolved his connection with the Hrm in 1875. The
present firm consists of Mr. Ozi Kendall, Ira Y. Kendall and George S. Pond.
Their business outgrew the buildings where they first commenced, and a fine
Iirick factory was erected on Exchange Street, in 187'1, at a cost of $10,000.
They manufacture calf boots to the value of $70,000 a year. The mtinufacture
(if furniture in its various branches is a prominent business of the place. The
census report of 1875 returns seven establishments that manufactured $172,000
wortii of goods. Among those engaged in this business are the South Athol
^lanufacluriiig Company and the Eagle Furniture Company, located at South
Alhol, Lucicn Pierce, Calvin Miller, and (he Athol Furniture Company. In
18.") 1, ]Mr. Laban Mcn-se commenced the wootl-working business, and in 18G9,
with his sons, built their preseiit factory. In 1871, they commcnceil ihe man-
ufacture of Morse's Patent Folding Settees, invented by Henry T. Morse, and
assigned, which have proved a great success, and are now used in many of the
large h;dls of the country. They are also engaged in the manufacture of cot-
beds, crihs, cradles, &c., employing thirty hands and turning out about $40,000
woith of goods yearly, Edwin Ellis established the door, sash and l)lind busi-
ne.-s in 1847 ; since the first ten years he has made only sash and blinds.
During the thirty-two years he has been in business he has never had a partner,
and duiing that time has probably used from twelve to fifteen million feet of
lumber. Mr. W. II. Amsden was also e.\teusively engaged in this business, in
which h(^ secured a handsome fortune, and has retired frou) active business,
being succeeded by his son, Otho Amsdcu. Arthur F. Tyler does a good busi-
ness in sash and blinds, and George S. Brewer, a young man who seems to have
excellent business enterprise, has established a flourishing business in wood-
turning. Messrs. Hapgood & Smith are extensively engaged in the manufact-
ure of match splints, succeeding the late Lyman W. Hapgood, w!io was engaged
in the business fiom 1842 to 1874. Herbert L. Hapgood is also an inventor.

The Miller's River Manufacturing Company was incorporated Dec. 1, 1863,
with a capital of $40,000. It does an extensive business in the mannficture
of horse-blanket cloth and satinet, the monthly production being 16,000
yards of Idankct-cloth and 10,000 yards of satinet ; fifty hands are employed.
The company had its mill destroyed l)y fire in 1875, and a new one which
was built in that year partially destroyed. In 1874, Messrs. C. C. Bassett and
George T. Johnson l)ought out all of the stockholders, and continue the busi-
ness at the present time. ]Mr. E. E. Partridije is also eusaijed in the manu-
facture of satinet and hor.se-blanket cloth.

The Athol Machine Company was established in 1868, with a capital stock
of $25,000, for the purpose of manufacturing a meat and vegetable chopping

234 TOWN OF ATHOL.

machine and other articles invented and patented by L. S. Starrott of Newbury-
port, now of Athol. The company was composed of simic of the most enterprising^
business men of the town. lu 18G9, the capital stock was increased to $50,000.
Tliey have also added to their list of manufactured articles a full line of vises,
which has l)ccomc one of the leading vises in the market. Mr. D. W. Hough-
ton commenced the foundry business in 1SG3, with Mr. A. Pierce; in a lew
years he bought out Mr. Pierce's interest, and since then has done a lloLu-ishino-
business in tlie manufacture of the Novelty Priuting-Press, and other iron
work. Messrs. C. F. Richardson and G. M. Gerry are also engaged in the
mainifacturo of various kinds of machinery.

The manufacture of cotton duck is carried on by W. A. Fisher & Co. on
the same spot where the cotton-factory of 1814 was built. Mr. Fisher took
the business in 18(55, and now employs seventy-five hands, who turn out five
thousand yards of cloth per day, besides a large quantity of satinet and blanket
warp.

The bakery business established in 1856 hy Mr. Theodore Locke, is now
carried on Ijy Mr. Cephas L. Sawyer, whose annual sales amount to from $30,000
to $40,000. Twenty-five barrels of flour per week are used, and pedlars
carry the products of the shop among the towns of Vermont, New Hampshire
and Western Massachusetts.

A large business in the manufiicture of wallets was established in 1871, by
Palmer, Bates & Co., which for several years was one of the leading industries
of the town, employing at one time one hundred and twenty-five persons.
The firm has recently suspended, and the business has been started anew by
Mr. James P. Bates.

The woolen-waste business has been very largely carried on by the late
David Smith, who accumulated a large fortune in the business, Abner Smith,
and J. W. Sloan. It is now carried on by J. M. King, R. D. Leonard, W.
D. Smith and others.

The buildinij of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad cau-ed the town to
rapidly develop. The new depot, erected in 1873, at a cost of more than $30,000,
is an ornament to the town, and one of the finest between Boston and Albany.
The construction of the Athol and Enfield Railroad in 1871, which was later
extended to Springfield, and is now called the Springfield and North-eastern
Railroad, opened a new outlet, und has proved of great advantage to the busi-
ness of the town. The town voted to take $90, GOO of stock, half of which
was afterwards cxchan2;ed fm- first moit"aGfe bonds, which saved the town
much loss. The bonds have recently been sold.

Music Hall, one of the finest public halls in the county, was destroyed by
fire in the spring of 1875, and was an ii-reparable loss to the upper village.

Dec. 18, 1845, a destructive freshet was caused by the breaking away of
the dam at Ellis' Pond, which swept away raanj' dams and buildings on Mill
Brook.

POST-OFFICES. 235

The town has recently received a novel gift of $9,000 from Lyman Jennings
of Erving, on certain conditions which the town has accepted.

Few towns are as well provided with water, both for fire and domestic pur-
poses, as is Athol. The Athol Water Company, a stock company with a capital
of $80,000, was organized in 1876. Works constructed and water introduced
in November of that year. The water, which is pure and cool, is supplied by
springs and brooks in the western part of Phillipston, where the main
reservoir, occupying about twenty acres, is located, five hundred feet above
the lower village, and more than two hundred feet above the upper village.
There are two distributing reservoirs, one situated u short distance east of the
upper village, and the other south on Pleasant Street. From eight to ten
miles of pipe are laid, which distributes the water through all parts of the
villages. The company supplies the town with water for fire purposes from
fifty hydrants, for which the towns pay $2,500 per annum, and the water is very
largely used for domestic purposes, fountains, &c. Robert Wiley, president ;
Solon S. Wiley, treasurer; Joseph B. Cardany, superintendent.

Gas was introduced into Athol in 1874, when the Athol Gas Light Company
was organized with a capital of $40,000. Their works were constructed and
pipes laid during the summer of that year. Adin H. Smith is president, and
Solon L. Wiley, clerk and treasurer.

Probabl^y no town in the State, of the size, has as many miles of sidewalks
as Athol. They are well constructed of brick and concrete. There is a
continuous walk of about two miles, uniting; the two villages thronsh School
Street.

In the spring of 1871 the citizens had a controversy upon the subject of fire-
steamers, and an unusual degree of feeling was manifested. Several town
meetings were held, and at one meeting, immediately after the choice of
moderator, au adjournment sine die was moved and carried. The majority of
the voters of the town were with the citizens of the upper village (for the two
villages were in opposition similar to that which existed upon the sul)ject of
the high school house), and their wishes were triumphant. But among the
firemen there was always a zealous, hearty and cordial co-operation in case of
an alarm. The introduction of the pure, cool spring water from Phillipston,
has removed forever any sectional feeling upon the subject referred to above.

The subject which aroused the deepest intensity of feeling of any local
matter which has agitated the town of late years was that in regard to the
change of the names of the post-otEces, Athol and Athol Depot, in the two
villages. S|)ace forbids giving a detailed history of the controversy. The
first order changing the name was revoked, but, finally, on the fifteenth day of
April, 1876, an order was issued by the postmaster-general that the change of
names, Athol to Athol Centre, and Athol Depot to Athol, would go into cftect
u[)()u the first day of Jul}' succeeding. It was fortunate for the town that the
two postmasters, Thomas H. Goodspeed and Lucieu Lord, who still hold

236 TOWN OF ATHOL.

tlu'ir oiBecs, were men of unquestioned integrity, and possessed the confidence
antl respect of their fellow-citizens.

There are five principal localities where the people of Athol have buried
Ihcir dead. The most ancient of these is what is known as the "Old Burying
Ground," situated on Mill Brook, about sixty rods south-east of the railroad
station ; this was set apart for a burying-ground in 1741. This was used for
nearly forty years, and here were laid to rest the tirst settlers of Athol.
Nearly a century passed away, and the place where "tlie rude forefathers of
the hamlet sleep" became almost unknown by their descendants. This was
rescued from the oblivion to which it was fast hastening, by the town, and was
reconsecrated July 4, 1859, when a granite monument was erected aud
appropriate exercises held. The second cemetery in point of antiquity, is the
one near the covered bridge on the Orange Road, where rest the remains of
the unfortunate Wallingford. This was probably used as early as 174(5, and
was given as a burying-ground b}' Samuel Morton, one of the first five settlers.
The old burying-ground in the upper village is sacred as the burial-place of the
venerable pastors of the First Church in Athol ; the earliest date engraven in
that yard is Nov. 29, 1773. The first interments in the cemetery now used in
the upper villnge were made May 25, 1843 ; it contains several fine monu-
ments. The Catholics also have a consecrated cemetery located in the upper
village. Silver Lake Cemetery, the latest and largest of the cemeteries, was
purchased by the town in 1873. It contains twenty-nine acres, is laid out in
the landscape-gardening style, and is beautifully situated, bordering on the
lake from which it derives its name ; diversified with shady dells and elevations,
and intersected with avenues and winding paths, it forms one of the most
beautiful sleeping-places of the dead to be found in the county. It was
dedicated May 10, 1877.

According to the census of 1875, the population of the town was 4,134 ;
consisting of 1,0G2 families, living in 809 dwelling-houses. There were 936
persons employed in 70 manufacturing establishments; the products of manu-
factured goods amounting to $1,387,955. There were 85 farms, valued at
$308,380, (he productions of which amounted to $103,885. The population of
the town: 1776, 848; 1790, 848; 1800, 993; 1810, 1,041; 1820, 1,211;
1830, 1,325; 1840, 1,591; 1850, 2,034; 1855, 2,395; 1860, 2,604; 1865,
2,814; 1870,3,517; 1875,4,134. The valuation of the town, as returned
by the assessors for 1879, is $2,200,090. Eeal estate, $1,941,860; personal
estate, $528,301; polls, 1,163; dwellings, 846; horses, 439; cows, 455;
sheep, 50.

It is conceded that Athol has the best roads and bridges in this part of the
State, aud expends large sums of money annually to keep them in repair.
There is one fine iron bridge spanning Miller's River.

In the year 1857 Mrs. Sally Fish generously conveyed a tract of land
containing about four acres to school district No. 7, for a public common, on

NEWSPAPERS. 237

condition that the district fit it up and take care of it. The condition has
been complied with. It is surrounded by a fence with stone posts, and orna-
mented by numerous shade-trees. Mrs. Fish lives to see her broad acres,
which, not many years ago, were divided into meadow, tillage and woodland,
now covered with dwelling-houses, shops and stores, and crossed by streets
and avenues.

On the eighteenth day of December, 1827, the first newspaj^er was printed in
this town by Alonzo Rawson, on a sheet 18 by 2(5, twenty coUunns, subscription
price $2 per year, $1.50 in advance. It was called "Freedom's Sentinel," and
continued in existence for two years. On the seventh day of September, 1850,
"The White Flag," a 24-coUunn weekly paper, printed on a sheet 23 by 30, was
flung to the breeze, D. J. Mandell, editor and proprietor. "The White Flag"
was soon furled, as Mv. jMandcIl states it had accomplished its mission. The
Worcester West "Chronicle" was the ne.xt paper published in this town, the
first number being issued on the twenty-eighth day of November, 18GG,
R. William Waterman, pul^lisher and proprietor. It is now a paper of forty-
eight columns, havirjg been enlarged twice. Its motto is, "Open to all, influ-
enced b}' none." No change hns ever taken place in its owuership or manage-
ment. The proprietor, a practical printer, has, by his persistency and great
industry, achieved success in all the departments of his business. The Athol
"Transcript," Republican in politics, was first published on the thirty-first day of
January, 1871, by E. F. Jones & Co. ; Dr. V. O. Taylor, editor. Afterwards
Col. George 11. Iloyt became part oAvner, and chitf editor. The present
proprietors arc Smith, Hill & Co. Its editorials often attract the attention of
the leading journals of New England, and extracts are frequently republished
from its columns. Wells L. Hill, editor.

George IT. Hoyt, a native of Athol, was born Nov. 25, 1837, a son of Dr.
George Hoyt. lie was one of old John Brown's counsel iu Virginia in 1859.
Early in 18GI he enlisted in John Brown, Jr.'s company of sharpshooters, in
Ohio ; afterward in the seventh Kansas cavalry, of which he was second
lieutenant and captain. Subsequently he assisted in raising the fiftecntli
Kansas cavalrv, of which he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel. After the
war he was ai)p()intcd brigadier-general by brevet, by President Andrew
Johnscm, for biavery at the battle of Newtonia. In 18G8 he was attorney-
general of Kansas, residing at Topeka. He returned to his native town iu
1870 to reside permanently, and resumed the practice of law; took a very
active and aggressive part in politics, and represented his district two
consecutive years in the legislature ; possessed personal courage, and had many
warm friends. He died Feb. 2, 1877.

Charles H. Sweetser was born in Athol, Aug. 25, 1841; grandson of
Samuel Sweetser, brother-in-law of Ex-Gov. AV^ashburn ; a graduate of
Amherst College; an able editor, of fine culture and brilliant intellect; author
of " The History of Amherst College " ; founder of the "Round Table" iu New

238 TOWN OF ATIIOL.

York, one of the best monthlies of the times; started the "Daily Mail"; in
fact, did an immense amount of literary work during his short life, and died
in Pikitka, Fla., January, 1871.

Hon. Benjamin Estabrook was born Nov. 23, 1803 ; died on the old Esta-
brook place, Oct. 19, 1872, aged sixty-eight years ten months and twenty-six
days. lie was the youngest son of Rev. Joseph Estabrook, who had seven
children, — four boys and three girls. All the boys, excepting BtMijamin, the
youngest child, had a college education, and all the girls married : Lucy Gush-
ing Estabrook to Col. Abnor Young, a near neighbor of the family; Marcia
Estabrook married Theodore Jones, Esq., and she still lives, the proud and
happy mother of a large family, the youngest of whom is Jerome Jones, Esq.,
of Erookline ; and Fidelia Estabrook, who married Rev. Preserved Smith,
who, although nearly ninety years old, still survives. The boys were named
Turner Estabrook, Esq., who went South, and died early ; Gen. Nathaniel C.
Estabrook, who died at a good old ago at Leominster; Joseph IL Estaln-ook,
]\L D., now living in Rockland, Me., upwards of eiglity years of age; and
Benjamin. Ho was the worthy son of so distinguished a father. In all the
otEces he held, there never was a question raised as to his faithfulness, honesty
and capability. Ilis advice and counsel were constantly sought by his fellow-
citizens, as was his father's before him. He loved his town, his state, and his
country, and was true as steel to his friends. His father us: d to be somewhat
proud of his English origin entire, and tlie son was a good representative of
the iiest New England type of the old sciiool. In politics, he was a Democrat.
A beautiful monument of Scotch granite has been erected over his grave.
Mequiescat in pace.

Calvin Kelton was born in Athol in 1806, and died Nov. 21, 1868, aged
sixty-two years. He was honored and beloved by his fellow-townsmen. His
executive ability as a town ofBcer was remarkable. He was chairman of the
board of selectmen many years, and represented his town in the legislature.
Ilis character was unspotted, his influence for good extensive, and, when he
died, the whole town was in mourning for the great loss.

Capt. Francis Twichell, always overflowing with wit and good nature, was the
founder of a distinguished family. Sylvanus E. and Simeon F. deceased, and
the Hon. Ginery Twichell of Brookline, distinguished as mail-carrier, pro-
jector of lines of staging, manager of railroads, agriculturist and member of
Congress, belong to his family.

Rev. Geo. F. Humphrey is a lineal descendant of the first j^astor of Athol.

Space forbids us to continue our biographies. Athol has within its limits
the descendants of nearly all the old families, and each limb is connected to the
original trunk by fibres of historic interest.

The following physicians are found among us: — James P. Lyndc, senior
physician, who holds the office of medical examiner ; Henry A. Deane,
appointed examining surgeon for United States pensions; James Oliver, Jr.,

EMINENT MEN. 239

brigade surgeon in the war of the Reliollii)ii ; and Hervej' O. Dunbar (allo-
pathists) ; S. H. Colbnrn (homceopathist). William F. Whitman, who has a,
medical institute, is widely known throughout all this section of country as
a clairvoyant.

Amons those born in Athol who have graduated from college are Jesse
Stratton (1814, Williams), died, 1870, aged seventy-six; William La Roy
Haven (18G4, Williams); Joel Drury Miller (18G1, Williams); Frederic
Eugene Stratton (1871, Williams); Henry H. Sprague (1864, Harvard);
George A. Black (1879, Harvard) ; John Wiswcll Humphrey (1823, Williams),
died 1845, aged 44; John Drury, Jr., (Williams).

Town Officers for 1879. — AYilliam W. Fish, Gilbert Southard and Wilson
D. Smith, selectmen ; Enoch T. Lewis, treasurer ; J. Sumner Parmenter,
clerk.

Trial Justices, Samuel M. Osgood and Enoch T. Lewis.

Deputy Sheriff, Gardiner Lord.

Athol is constantly receiving, from the surrounding towns, business men in
the prime of life, with capital, who c(mtribute to the growth and prosperity of
the town. The public buildings are not as costly as in many towns. Pitts
C. Tyler has lately constructed a tine hall, opposite the depot. The dwellings
are good, and several new and elegant residences have been built within the
few years last jDast. Lee's Block and Masonic Block are substantially con-
structed of brick. Among those who have been constant, in season and out
of season, to promote the growth of Athol are: John C. Hill, manufacturer;
Ethan Lord, large land-holder and miller; Addison M. Sawyer, inventor;
Albert G. Moulton, railroad director; Jonathan Drury, lumber dealer, who
has built many dwelling-houses between the villages; Charles M. Lee, manu-
facturer; James M. Lee, livery ; Charles W. Woodward, builder; Charles W.
Daven[)ort, Joseph B. Cardany, and numerous other residents and many non-
residents. Athol has three hotels, one bearing the historic name of Pequoig.

The author is indebted to the Centennial address of Rev. S. F. Clark for
many facts of historic interest. He also thanks Mr. Waterman for his kind-
ness in permitting him to make extracts from the Centennial history written
by the author for the columns of the "Chronicle." L. B. Caswell has also
rendered very valuable aid in the collection of facts and preparation of manu-
S(M-ipt. And to all who have taken an interest in the history of Athol, and
furnished information, the author extends cordial thanks.

240 TOWN OF AUBURN.

AUBURN

By GEORGE A. STOCKWELL, A. M.

CHAPTEE I.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES POLL-PARISn AND TOWN — THE WAR OF

THE REVOLUTION.

The town of Auburn lies hard by the heart of the Commonwealth. The
northern point of its territorial figure — a hexagon — is within a mile of the
densely populated parts of the southern ward of Worcester. The town of
Leicester, high among the hills, with its sentinel church-spire, is on the west ;
Oxford embraces the southern angle ; and the eastern boundary is the western
limit of the town of Millbury. The distance from Worcester is six miles,
and from Boston, lifty-onc. The laud surface is varied and picturesque; hill
succeeds hill, here abrupt and there gradual in descent, wood-cap[)cd, pastured
or tilled, with valleys between, broad, brook-fed and fertile. On the north,
extending into AVorcester, is Pnkachoag Hill ; the most extensive as well as
the most fertile elevation in the township ; known to early history as the resi-
dence of Sagamore John, and as the place of one of the larger settlements of
the Nipmucks. The inhabitants of this Indian village, incited by King Philip,
who visited Pakachoag in 1075, and led l)y Sagamore John, participated in the
attack on Quaboag, now Brookficid, in 1G75. On this hill, also, near its
northern limit, in a house now standing, lived Peter Slater, "one of ye loyal
men," who took an active part in the destruction of the tea in Boston harbor.
The plain on the summit of Pakachoag, and its northern and southern slopes, are
well adapted to the prosecution of agriculture, but its south-western descent
is less productive and less tilled.

In the western part of the town, now without an inhabitant, is Crnwl Hill,
so called from Capt. John Crow), an early, and perhaps the original settler
on that site ; who reared, it is said, a family of giants. Farther south, filling
the south-eastern angle, and swelling the territory of Oxford is Prospect Iliil,
from the summit of which the view of the surrounding country is extensive and
interesting. On this hill, on the fiirm formerly owned by Jesse Eddy, was a
wind grist-mill, in operation previous to 1812, on which the farmers in that

LOCATION AND SUEFACE. 241

neighborhood depended for the grinding of their grain. The stones used in
this mill v.'oro brought from Cape Cod, and in 1812 were taken by Joseph Stone
for his grist-mill on the Mannoxit [French] River in North Oxford.

Good farming land is found on Prospect Hill, and to its cultivation and im-
provement, the dwellers thereon are chiefly devoted. The eastern and southern
parts of the town, where are prominent landmarks and elevations not specially'
named, dilfer little from the rest of the township in respect to irregularity of
surface and beauty of natural scenery.

The water supply is abundant. The outlets of the various ponds, either
alone or by confluence, furnish more power than is improved. The Blackstone
River, rising in West Millbury ou the cast, flows northerly thi'oiigh Auburn and
here begins its great work as a motor. Eddy Pond, in the southern territory,
in the flush of spring sends a brook to the south that joins the French River in
Oxford ; also a peiennial stream to the north, called Dark Brook, that unites
with the Blackstone in Drury's Pond near the railway station. Dark Brook,
although formerly supplying power for a card-mill, a scythe-mill, and a bat-
ting-mill, now runs idly away, playing with broken dikes and dilapidated
sluiceways, and with the exception of toying with a p.iny grist-mill, escapes
the town unmolested. Kettle Brook, fed by a stream rising in the western part
of the town, and by another that has its rise in Leicester, flows southerly
through Stonevillo — a villa2:e in the west — and ioins the Blackstone in the
valley below. The French River does not touch the territory of Auburn.
Besides Smith's Reservoir, a storage basin on the west, there are several natural
ponds, and, although small, yet the aggregate gives the town its full comple-
ment of water surface.

This " most excellent tract of land," as a certain writer terms the township of
Auburn, belonged, previous to 1773, to the towns of Worcester, Leicester,
Oxford and Sutton, respectively; and the part taken from Worcester was in
the limits of Leicester until June 2, 1758. On June 23, 1773, what is now
Auburn was " erected into" a poll-paiish, and was called the South Parish of
Worcester. This precinct, measured from the site chosen for the new meeting-
house — the present common — and "along the roads then traveled, extended
three miles into Worcester, three into Leicester, three into Oxford, and one
and a half into Sutton." .

The warrant for the first parish meeting was addressed to David Bancroft,
Benjamin Carter, John Hart, Samuel Eddy, and Thomas Drury ; and was
signed by John Chandler, a justice of the peace under George HL The meet-
ing called l)y this warrant was held at the house of Thomas Drury, innholder,
(where all parish meetings were held until the house of worship was built,) on
July G, 1773. Jacob Stevens was chosen precinct clerk : Comfort Rice, Alex-
ander Nichols, Benjamin Carter, John Hart, precinct committee and assessors ;
Jonathan Stone, treasurer, and Thomas Baird, collector. The first warrant
issued by the parish committee reads thus : —

242 TOWN OF AUBURN.

" Jul3' 27 1773 Worcester s.s. to Mr. Jacob Stevens Parish Clark You are lieai'b}' re-
quired to notifi and warn the Inhabitence of a Parish latly Set of from Worcester Sut-
ton oxford lestor qualified by law to vot in Parish Affairs to meat atthe hous of thomas
Drury gunyoiir inholdcr iu Worcestor in said Parish tucsday ye 27 Day of August to
Act on the following articals 1 to chucs A moderator for said meeting. 2 to See what
mathod Said Parish will com into to provide prcchingfor the present. 3 to See what
said Parish will towards bulding a meting hous or to act there im as said Parish se fit.
Hear of fcail not and make due retarn of your doings here in t.) us the subscribers on
or before the said 27 Day of August witness our hands and seals this 27 Daj' of July
1773. CoMFonT Rice,

Alexander Nichols,
Benjamin Carter,
John Hart,

Parish Committee.

Worcester s.s. August the 27 1773 in obedience to the within Worent I have notified
and warnd the votcbol inhabitence of said parish to meat at time and plais to act on
said articals per me Jacob Stevens, Parish Clark."

Of the first parish meeting after the election of officers the following is the
record : —

" August ye 27 at a legal meting 1 chose Mr. David Baincroft moderator for said
meting. 2 voted to begin Pj'eaching as soon as may be. 3 voted to chues a committy
to provide preching. 4 voted to chues fife chos Mr Jonathan Stone, alexander
Nichols, Benjamin Carter, Andrew Croul, David Beancroft artical 3 voted to buld A
meting house, voted to chues A committ_y to draw a plan, voted to chues Seven, chos
mr. Charles Richardson olivcr Curtis Jonathan Stone timothy Cartor John Croul
Samuel Eddy Petor Hardy, voted agourn this meting to the last day of this month,
upon Agournment voted to except the report of the comraitt\' for Bulding A meting
house 50 b}- 40 and 24 feat posts, voted to chues a committj' to lot out the timbor and
See the same to the spot, voted to chues fife, furst chose mr. Charles Richardson John
Croul Jonathan Stone Samuel Eddy Petor Boyden A Committy. The foregoing vots
pased at said meting. Atest David Bancroft moderator."

In March of the following year it was voted " to bycld one Porch to the
Parish Meting hous"; in March of the next year — 1775 — the lot immedi-
ately south of the church was chosen for a " buring yard."

On March 29, 1777, it was voted in parish meeting "to petition the General
Cort to be Sett off as a Town," and a coimnittce consisting of David Banci'oft,
Benjamin Carter, Captain John Crowl, Charles Eiehardson and John Crowl,
Jr., was chosen to present the petition to the General Court and to appear iu
its behalf. It was also voted, probably on account of the expense, that only
three of the committee should "wait upon the Court at a time."

The petition was gi-anted and the South Parish of Worcester, having the
requisite number of families — thirty or more — was incorporated as a town,
April 10, 1778, and named Ward, in honor of Ai'temas Ward, the "first
major general of the army of the Revolution."

EARLY PROCEEDINGS. 243

The incorporation of the town, as well as the erection of the pi'ecinct, met
■with much opposition, especially on the Worcester side, and the separation
was effected only by persistent and continued effort. The boundaries of the
new town were nearly coincident with those of the parish ; but in the survey
for the township several families were included in the former that were not in
the latter, and vice versa. The act of incorporation provided that these fami-
lies miijht retain their relations to the towns of their orisrinal settlement until
they petitioned in writing to be joined to the new town. The families, or per-
sons thus provided for were : Samuel Curtis, David Bigelow, William Elder,
Benjamin Carter, Levi Chapin, John Elder, Joseph Clark, Moses Bancroft,
John Savery, Lewis Stone, Abel Holman, Samuel Traft, Jabez Stockwell,
Joseph Pratt, the widow Mary Bigelow, Stephen Holman, and the widow of
Johnson AVatson. In 182(), ten persons living in the northern part petitioned
the General Court to be re-annexed to Worcester. The petitioners were given
leave to withdraw, and until 1850 (although, b_y virtue of this provision in the
act of incorporation they were citizens of Worcester, and exercised rights
there) were subject to duties in this town ; and at the present time, by the
same provision, persons living in the limits of Oxford, v(jte and pay taxes in
Anburn.

A\'hen the town of Ward was vested with the powers, privileges, and immu-
nities of other nmnicipalities, the American Colonies were contending with the
English foe ; the contest for liberty had only begun ; independence had been
declared, but it had yet to be made good and to be maintained. Five years
of fighting followed ; and, during this time the town of Ward, as will be seen,
endured to the utmost, and was not lacking in patriotism and more substantial
tokens of its sympathy in and with the common cause. The names, or num-
ber of all, either of parish or town, who served in the war, cannot be ascer-
tained. Jonathan Stone was a member of Timothy Bigelow's company of
minute-men that marched from AYorccster on April 19, 1775 ; and his son,
Jonathan Stone, Jr., afterwards made lieutenant, marched at the same time
with Benjamin Flagg's company.

The first call for a town meeting was addressed to Edward Davis, justice of
the peace, who was empowered to issue his warrant directed to "some
principal inhabitant," who should warn those qualified to vote to asseml)lc and
choose officers. Thomas Drury, "yeoman," was, it appears, a "principal
inhaljitant," and from his warning the first meeting was held on May 4, 1778,
and the following otficcrs elected : Moderator, Edward Davis ; Selectmen,
Charles Richardson, Samuel Eddy, Nathan Patch, John Hart, Jonathan Cutler ;
Assessors, Nathaniel Scott, Daniel Griffith, Comfort Rice ; Clerk, John
Prentice ; Treasurer, Jonathan Stone ; Highway Surveyors, Jonas Nichols,
Israel Pliillips, Thomas Scott, Timothy Carter : Tythiug-men, Peter Hardy,
John Prentice ; Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, David
Bancroft, William Phipps, Thomas Baird ; Hog-reeves, Daniel Fitts, Jacob

244 TOWN OF AUBURN.

Stevens ; Fence-viewers, Jonas Bancroft, Darius Boyden ; Field-drivers,
Oliver Curtis, Jonathan Stone, Jr.

At this time the swine ran at large, sometimes yoked and ringed, and hence
the necessity of reeves, drivers and fence-viewers. The common red deer, ( Cer-
vus Virffinianus,) abounded to such an extent that deer-reeves were appomted,
and, although such officers were not chosen at the first meeting, they were
elected at ditferent times subsequently. The duties of the committee of
inspection and safety were the same as those of similar committees appointed
in other towns at the beginning of the war ; namely, to keep the town informed
of the doings of Congress, State government and of other towns ; also, to keep
a strict watch of suspected Tories, and to report their names to a "Vigilance
Committee " of the State, that they might be proceeded against if their conduct
was worthy of notice " ; also, after the passage of the Bill of Rights, to see that
no British goods, especially tea and molasses, were used by the inhabitants ;
and, again, to take or devise au}^ measures necessary for the safety of the
town.

At the first meeting of the town the only business transacted was the election
of officers. At the second, held on May 21, 1778, the warrant contained this
article : "To see what sums of money the Town will grant to support preaching
in s'd Town. For reparation of highways. And defraj'ing other Town
charges for the Courant year. Also what money the Town will raise to apply
to the purpose of hiring men to sei-ve in the army in behalf of s'd Town." It
was voted to raise £125 to support preaching; also £100 for repairing high-
ways, and £500 for hiring men "into the army." Thus it will be seen that at
the first meeting the first grant was to provide for the standing order, and
that the largest grant was in behalf of the Revolution.

On Aug. 26, 1779, Capt. Samuel Eddy was chosen a delegate to the
Cambridge Convention to assist in framing a Bill of Rights and Constitution.

In Octol)er, 1779, Captain John Crowl, of the conmiittee for hiring men
into the pul)lic service, "exhibited an account for Expenditui'es in s'd Trust,
namely: For 2 men to Rhode Island, £120; for 3 men for 9 months, at 90
bush, of corn each, £972 ; for 2 men to Rhode Island, £90." At the same
meeting it M'as voted to raise £1,064 for hiring soldiers.

At a meeting held on May 1, 1780, a committee "appointed by the town of
Ward to set forth and exhibit ye sentiments of s'd town respecting a j^roposed
Constitution and form of government for the Commonwealth of INIassachusetts,"
reported thus :

^^ Voted, That we cordially approve of s'd Constitutiou as to the substance thereof as
what appears to us to be Salutary and well adapted.

"2nd. We beg leave however (with due deference to the Convention) to Suggest
that we look upon ye gi'eat disproportion proposed in the matter of representation
between greater and lesser Towns merely on ye account of numbers to be pregnant
with dangerous Consequences with respect to some very important matters therefore

PATRIOTIC ACTION. 245

we could heartily wish that represeutatiou might be weighed by ye number of polls,
which would be similar to ye proceedings of j-e Hon'ble Congress and some neighboring
well regulated States that have been attended with vcr}' wholesome effects, and that
we are greatly dissatisfied with the long term of 15 years proposed for the run of a
constitution previous to any revision, amendment, or alteration for that we conceive
the most wise and wholesome Sistem of Gov't supposable must be likcl}' to need some
alteration, or amendment, at least as to certain appendages in less than half ye No.
of 15 j-cars ; and we praj- the matter may be duly Considered and wo hoiie to be
pardoned in thus freely opening our thots in these affairs. Respectfully submitting
these matters therefore to the wisdom and candor of that venerable bodj- we shall
rejoice to see the hapiiifjing Establishment of Gov't completed as soon as maj- be."

At the first election of state officers in 1780 the town gave tliirty-foiu- votes
for John Hancock for governor, and twcntj'-nine for Artemas "Ward for
lieutenant-governor.

On October 12, 1780, the tov^n voted to "raise the sum of £4,215 to be
assessed and collected forthwith to purchase the Quantity of Beef for ye
army"; and in December following £8,094 was appropriated for the same
purpose. In August, 1781, the conmiittee on hiring soldiers reported having
" Engaged one man for Rhode Island for live months for fifty Bush, of Rie
and three men elsewhere for three months at 45 dollars specie."

lu the spring of 1781, when the town, like tuany or all others, was strug-
gling with an inflated currency and a depleted treasur}', and when, apparently,
the last farthing of public money had been demanded and obtained by the State,
the General Court called upon the town to furnish five men for the pwlilic ser-
vice ; and in this strait, sore pressed as they were, the inhabitants grumi)lcd
not, but renewed their exertions with "willing minds," as the following will
show : The committee for furnishing recruits reported that, " Considering the
importance of the present requisition from Authority for recruiting the Con-
tinental Army which ice desire ever to Keep in View as an Object of the Most
interesting of any Affair that respects tilings of Temporary Consideration," it
was expedient to offer to "any man to the number of five £100 hard money, or
18 calves of middling value, and those calves keep free of charge to them during
the term of three years service, and 50 silver dollars to each man on his march
to supply him with pocket money, and that at the expiration of such term of
service to deliver those calves at what age they may have arrived." Phincas
Parsons and Timothy Buxton immediately accepted the cash offer, and John
Todd that of the calves ; later two other men were secured, and the quota
was full again.

In the same j'ear the town passed the following resolutions "respecting the
non-admittance of those persons Commonly Called Absentees, or Refugees,
alias Tories into these American States," in consequence of similar resolves
passed by the town of Boston and sent to the town of Ward : "And therefore
resolved that the town doth highly ap[n'ove of the sentiments contained in those

246 TOWN OF AUBURN.

Eesolves and do expect and enjoin it upon the committee of correspondence
inspection and safety of this town and tlieir successors to use their utmost vig-
ilance to detect any of those miscreants who may presume to re-enter this land
of freedom and mingle with the children of Liberty contrary to the laws thereof.
Resolved that on every principle, moi"al, natural, civil, and social, the prohibition
of their becoming Denizens of these states must and ought to be absolute and
Ijerpetual. And even the softer passions of pity and compassion forbid their
return to this country since should they be found thereon we have the greatest
reason to expect many of the citizens would feel themselves impelled from a
remembrance of the wanton cruelty and barbarity which they have experienced
immediately at their hands, or by their chicanery and instigation, to retaliate
even to the Death of the object of their resentment, so that on the one hand
our Land thereby might again become the theatre of bloodshed and on the
other, those miserable wretches woidd make their sudden exit to the world of
spirits for which we have reason to fear, they arc but illy prepared ; therefore
avaunt ; ye ingrates, we say ! Begone, and abide the consequences of 3'our own
choosing. Resolved the town clerk be and hereby is directed to enroll a fair
copy of these resolutions with the records of the town, there to abide a standing
remembrance of the Sentiments of this town on the subject."

In the insurrection of 1787 Capt. Jonah Goulding, afterwards colonel in the
State militia, led his company to Worcester, surrounded the court house and
prevented Judge Artemas Ward opening court. For this he was imprisoned
according to his own account, "forty days and forty nights," and in addition,
was threatened with hanging.

In 1837 the name of the town, owing to its similarity to "Ware" and the
consequent confusion in the transmission of letters, was changed to Auburn.

CHAPTER II.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY MANUFACTURING INTER-
ESTS THE CIVIL WAR EMINENT MEN.

As already given, the first act of the incorporate town was to grant money
foi' r.^ligious purposes. The church edifice was begun in 1773, and, although
ociui)ied in 177G, was not completed as late as 1786 ; owing, doubtless, to the
"unfurnished condition" of the treasury. Many of the town warrants con-
taini'd articles in regard to the completion of the house, and that for March 2,
1779, this: "To see if the town will give order to have the meeting-house
fully finished with convenient speed, or forthwith."

The original bouse of worship had neither belfry nor steeple ; these have

CHURCH HISTORY. 247

been aJdetl, and tlic edifice now is of the prevailing Congregational type. It
stands, facing the common, a few rods west of its first site. The church was
organized on January 25, 1776, and a committee appointed to secure a gospel
minister. Mr. Josiah Allen declined the call of the town and society, and Mr.
James Reed also, although the latter was oflered one thousand bushels of corn
and thirty cords of wood, annually, for his support during his continuance in
the pastoral ofEce. On December 30, 1782, it was voted "to have a "Weekly
Coutrilnition on each Lord's Day wc shall have puljlic Woi'ship, for the pur-
jDose of supplying the pulpit; and that said committee collect and ajjply the
same accordingly. And that such money as may be enclosed in paper and
marked with ye sum and Contributor's name to be allowed and discounted to
the amount thereof on the j\Iinisterial tax of Such Contributor." This was the
first step in this town towards the scp iration of Church and State.

There was no settled pastor till 1784, when, on October 11, the town con-
curred with the church in ordaining Mr. Isaac Bailc)', on November 3. Mr.
Bailey was given "£G0 in settlement and £60 annually, including twenty-five
cords of wood," which was "put up at vendue," at town meeting. Mr. Bailey
remained until his death in 1814. Ilis successors were : Enoch Pond, 181.5 to
1828; Minor G. Pratt, 1828 to 1848; Charles Chambcrlin, 1851 to 1853;
L. I. Hoadley, 1854 to 1858 ; Darwin Adams, 1858 to 18G0 ; Charles Kendall,
1860 to 1866; D. W. Richardson, 1866 to 1868; George French, 1868 to
1869 ; Elnathan Davis, 1869 to 1879. The hundredth anniversary of the for-
mation of the Congregational Church was celebrated on Jan. 26, 1876.

In 1815, on February 9, a Baptist Church was organized in the western part
of the town, at a place called Warrenvillc. The letters-missive, inviting the
churches in Thompson, Conn., Sturbridge, Charlton, AVorcestcr and Sutton
to meet at the house of Jonah Goulding to fellowship a number ot their faith
and order in Ward and Oxford, were issued by the church in Sutton. Jonah
Goulding and Samuel "Warren were leaders in this movement, gave the com-
munion service and the land for the house of worship, which they built. At
the death of the former, the church received a legacy of $158.47. Dr. Jona-
than Going of Worcester often supplied the pulpit, cither in person or bv young
men then preparing for the ministry under his tuition. The pastors of this
church were : Elders Isaac Dwinell, Elias McGregory and John Paine. The
latter served the society for ten years till 1837, when it was disbanded, the
majority of the members uniting with others to form the North Oxford Baptist
Church. The house of worship, which stood where the burial-yard now is,
was removed, used for a tannery, and afterwards burnt.

In 1870, a Catholic mission was established, and a chapel built at Stoneville,
by the St. John's Society of Worcester.

The educational interests of the town received early attention. On March
29, 1779, £200 was approi)riated for school purposes, and, in the same year,
the town was divided into five school squadrons or districts. Later, there was

248 TOWN OF AUBURX.

iin article in the town warrant "to 8co if the town will hold a school about the
centre, specially and particularly for instruction of ye youth iu writing, cipher-
ering and spelling orthographically." The first school committee was appointed
on May 4, 1780, and consisted of Jonathan Stone, Darius Boyden, Jesse Stone,
John Prentice and Andrew Growl. The town is now divided into six districts ;
the number of pupils is about one hundred; the school buildings and property
arc valued at six thousand five hundred dollars, and the last appropriation for
schools was one thousand five hundred dollars.

A public library was founded in 1872 by William Craig, who bequeathed to
the town one thousand dollars for a library, on condition that a like amount,
for the same purpose, was appropriated by the town. The library contains
about eight hundred volumes, and is supported by the increase of the fund,
and by town grants.

At the settlement of the town, and indeed for many years thereafter, the
only cluster of houses was near the church and common, on the summit of a
hill near the centre of the township ; and, with respect to the number of dwell-
ings and inhabitants at this centre, there has been little change in a hundred
years. It is, however, a neat and trim, well-shaded village, and its appearance
betokens thrift and comfort. Fifty years ago, there were two classes iu town ;
namely, the aiistocracy and the yeomanry. Only the farmer class exists at
the present time.

From the centre radiate four roads, — north, cast, south and west; and on
these and their branches, despite the frequent cropping out of Alerrimac
schist and gneiss, are the farms and tilled lands that make Anl)urn what it
claims to be, — a producing, agricultural district. The adjacent hills were
occupied at the incorporation of the town, and to-day some are held by the
lineal male descendants of the first settlers. The soil is a dark, strong loam,
growing lighter in Ihe southern part of the town, and produces abundantly.

North of the centre, distant two miles, on the eastern slope of the highlands,
is Stoneville, a neat manufacturing village on Kettle Brook. Here, for many
years previous to 1835, was a fulling-mill, built and operated l)y Samuel Chirk,
where cloth, made on hand-looms, was dressed. In 1835, or thereabouts,
Jeremy Stone l)uilt, a few rods below the old mill on Kettle Brook, the present
stone structure, now used for a cotton-mill. This was intended for a woolen-
mill, but contained at first only fulling machinery. After the death of Jeremy
Stone, the property was sold to Loring F. Perry, on Sept. 14, 1839.
Rufus Hastings was the next owner, and on Feb. 2, 1842, the Stoneville
Manufacturing Company, of which Rufus Hastings was president and A. L.
vVckley agent, bought the mill and village. John C. Farnum & Co. were in
possession in 1857, and then failed. On June 4, 1859, John Smith of Barre
bought the entire property, and his sons, C. W. & J. E. Smith of AVorees-
tcr, are now owners and operators. Cotton sheeting is made here, and one
hundred and twenty thousand yards are produced per month, with the aid of

WAR OF REBELLION. 249

four thousand eight hundred spindles and seventy-five operatives. In the
s-ame village, owned by the same firm and operated by II. M. Witter & Co.,
is a worsted-mill, employing two thous;ind five hundred warps, seventy-five
operatives, and making one hundred and fifty thousand yards of tape and
trimmings a day.

In the eastern part of the town, on the Blackstone, is Larnedville, built and
(jwned Iw B. F. Larned, a resident of Auburn. This privilege was occupied,
a hundred or more years ago, by Charles Richardson, who had a saw and grist
mill here. He was succeeded by his son, Joseph Richardson, of whom Leon-
ard Rice bought the property on Dec. 29, 1837. Anson Sanborn was
afterward in possession, and sold to John Densmore, who rolmilt, improved
and enlarged both dam and buildings. Otis N. Pond was the next owner, and
was succeeded by Philander Pond. Afterward the firm-name was Pond &
Larned ; then Baker & Rhodes, W. Baker & Co., and Baker & Larned. B. F.
Larned is now sole proprietor of mill and village, and manufactures satinets
and union cassimeres, of which thirty-five thousand yards a month are pro-
duced by means of sixty operatives, and four sets of machinery.

At Drury's Pond one mile north of the centre of the town was formerly a
flour and grist mill, and, later, a shoddy and sav/ mill. This is not now im-
proved. Near this place is the station of the Norwich and Worcester branch
of the IlartfiH'd and Erie Railroad, opened March 14, 1838. The track enters
the town on the north, at the foot of Pakachoag Hill and skirts it to the south.
The Boston and Albany Railroad enters the western territory of the town, but
has no station within it.

In the "western part of the town, at Warrenville, is a tannery, estai)lished
over a hundred years ago, now operated by John Warren, a descendant of the
original founder.

Auburn was a post-town in 1825, and at that time the post-otBcc was at the
centj-e, in the store of Zebulon Cary, who was postmaster. He was followed
in this office by Lyman Gale, Minor G. Pratt, E. M. Knowles, William Bunce
and Alviii Howe, the present postmaster. In 1842, the office was removed
to the railroad station, and is now near it in a dwelling-house.

In the war of the Rebellion, Auburn contributed ninety.-seven men; five
more than required liy the State. The first town meeting held to consider war
measures, was called on May 6, 1861, when one thousand dollars was voted
on behalf of the war. On June G, of the same year, the town voted to send
five dollars to each volunteer then in service. On July 26, 1862, a bounty of
one hundred and fifty dollars was oU^cred by the town, and increased by private
subscription to one hundred and seventy-five dollars. At the same meeting a
committee of six, one in each school district, was chosen to " encourage en-
listments." On Aug. 23, 1862, the town olfered one hundred dollars to
those whf) entered the service for nine months, and to this amount was added
five dollars trom private purses. In 1864, the bounty voted was one hundred

250 TOWN OF AUBURN.

and twenty-five dollars, and so remained till the close of the war. The total
war expenses amounted to four thousand live hundred and thirty-fivo doihirs,
besides three thousand six hundred and eight\' dollars raised by private sub-
scription. A granite shaft was ei'eeted in 1870, in the lower cemetery,
to the memory of those who lost their lives in the service of the United States.
It bears these names : B. B. Jeunison, Ehodcs Stafford, William Hart, Wil-
liam 11. Lcgg, E. D. Stoweli, Daniel L. Ilewctt, Edward B. Stowell, George

F. Newton, George S. Williams, George D. Rice, Henry G. Newton, James
Dolligau, Joseph Delany, John G. Bean, M. M. Lovering.

Auburn has been represented in the General Court by Capt. Samuel Eddy,
iu 1787 ; Joseph Stone, 1788, 1806 ; Jonah Goulding, 1810, 1811 ; Recompense
Gary, 1814, 1816; Samuel Boyden, 1829; DanierGreen, 1832, 1833; Minor

G. Pratt, 1834; Edward Rice, 1835; Isaac Stone, 1836; Israel Stone, 1837;
Samuel Eddy and Lewis Eddy, 1838 ; William Emerson, 1841 ; Ilcrvey Ban-
croft, 1842 ; Thomas Mcrriam, 1843 ; William Craig, Nathaniel Stone ; A. L.
Ackley, 1850, 1851; Johu Warren, 1853; Emory Stone, 1854; Marcus Bar-
rett, 1858 ; Elbridge G. Warren, 1862 ; Ezra Rice, 1868 ; Warren Sibley,
1873.

Jacob Whitman Bailey, son of the first pastor, was an eminent naturalist,
inventor of Bailey's Indicator, and of improvements in the microscope. He
was graduated at West Point in 1838, and, later in life, was president of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was called the
"father of microscopical science." He died at West Point, where he was pro-
fessor, on Feb. G, 1857.

Enoch Pond, D. D., the second pastor of the Auburn Congregational church,
was the founder of Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary, and for many yeai's
its senior professor. lie is now living.

Thomas Green, brother of Daniel Green, physician to the town for fifty
years, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. He attained eminence in his
profession, and died March 12, 1812.

Jonah Goulding Warren, was born in Auburn on Sept. 11, 1812; was
graduated at Brown University in 1835, and at Newton Theological Seminary
in 1838; was pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Chicago, 111., until
1849, and pastor of the Fifth Street Baptist Church of Troy, N. Y., until
1855, when he became corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Union,
and held that position until 1872. In 1857, the honorary degree of D. D. was
conferred upon him l)y the University of Rochester, N. Y. He is still living,
and resides in Newton, Mass.

A few of the more injportant statistics of the place, derived from the census and
other sources are given in conclusion : Area, 8,997 acres ; dwellings, 198 ; fami-
lies, 254; polls, 290; voters, 219; farms, 78; acreage of same, 6,545 acres;
do. of cultivated lands, 2,084 acres ; horses, 139 ; cows, 372. Value farm
property, $494,634; do. farm jsroducts, $120,689.

STATISTICS.

251

Capital invested in manufactures, $115,000. Value of products, $253,000;
number persous employed, 256.

Total value of all products.
Value personal estate,
" real estate,

Total, .
Eate of taxation, $14 per S1,000.
Population, 1784,

" 1810, .
1820, .
" 1830, .
" 1840, .
» 1850, .
" 18G0, .
" 1875, .

$120,584 00
434,175 00

8373,689 00
$554,759 00

473 (90 families).
540
603
690
649
859
914
1,233

252 TOWN OF BARRE.

B A R RE.

BY FREDERICK CLIFTON PIERCE.

CHAPTER I.

ORIGINAL CONNECTION OF THE TOWN — INDIAN PURCHASE — EARLY VOTES

PETITION FOR INCORPORATION — CHANGE OF CORPORATE NAME — FIRST SET-
TLERS ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY — EARLY AND LATER DENOMINATIONS

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS — STATISTICS TEACHERS OF LIBERAL EDUCATION.

This town was originally a part of Rutland, and as such was known as the
"North-west Quarter." This tract of land was included in the purchase made
on the twenty-second of December, 108(5, by Henry Willard, Joseph Rowland-
son, Joseph Foster, Benjamin Willard and Cyprian Stevens, of Joseph Trask,
alias Paagushcn, of Pennicooke ; and Job, alias Pompomamy, of Natick ; and
Simon Pittcum, alias Wananacompom, of Wamisick ; and Sosowannow of
Natick; and James Wiser, alias Qnalapunit, of Natick ; — these five Indians
dwelling in His Majesty's territory in America — for "twenty-three pounds in
hand paid," the said "Indians for themselves and all their heirs, executors,
administrators, and assigns, did freely, fully, and absolutely, give, grant, bar-
gain, sell, alien, enfeofiec, make over, and confirm unto the above-named Wil-
lard, Rowlandson, Foster, Benjamin Willard, and Stevens, their heirs, execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, a certain tract of land, containing twelve
miles square, according to the butts and bounds as described in the indenture."
This instrument is dated "Anno liegni Regis Jacob. Secund. 1G8G," and is
duly signed and acknowledged JNIarch 15, 1686. Nearly thirty years elapsed
after this date before any further action was taken regarding the ownership or
the settlement of this territory. But not far from the end of that interval, to
wit, Feb. 23, 1713, an act was obtained from the Great and General Court con-
firming to the heirs of the Willards the Indian title of 1686, "provided that
within seven years sixty families be settled in the territory." In order to eSect
such a settlement, the owners who were of small means, associated with them
several gentlemen of substance, who together constituted a Proprietors' Com-
pany. Their associates were: Hon. William Taylor, Esq., of Dorchester ;
Penn Townsend, Paul Dudley, Addington Davenport, Adam Winthrop, Thomas
Hutchinson, Esquires ; Thomas Fitch, merchant ; John White, gentleman, all of

ORIGINAL CONNECTIOX.

Boston ; Thomas How, Esq., of Marlborough ; John Chandler, Esq., of Wood-
stock ; William Dudley, Esq., of Roxbury ; John Farnsworth of Groton,
yeoman ; the children and heirs of Peter Bulkely, late of Concord, deceased,
and in right of said Peter; Moses Parker of Chelmsford, yeoman ; and Jacob
Stevens of Stow, yeoman. When the seven years were completed it was
found that the condition had been fulfilled. Several of the sixty families of
Rutland had their residence in this part of the town, and others were added to
them from time to time till the proprietors, at a meeting held Nov. 7, 1733,
passed several votes having reference to the formation here of a new town.
They voted : —

Firsf. That some spot as near the centre of the North-west Quarter as con-
venience allows, be found and pitched upon for setting the meeting-house, in
the midst of some considerable quantity of good land fit for settlement.

Second. That one lot for the minister ordained there, and another lot for the
school forever, each of tifty acres of good land, be laid out in a convenient
place near said spot pitched upon for the meeting-house.

Third, That si.\ty-six other lots of good laud, of fifty acres each, as near as
may be to the said spot for the meeting-house, be laid out for homesteads ; and
when any of the said sixty-six lots fall short in quality, to be made up in quan-
tity.

The other articles acted upon at this meeting assessed a tax, laid out
highways, appointed collectors and a treasurer. The next thing necessary
was to have the whole tract surveyed into lots and farms. When the survey
was completed, its plans bore the signature of Sanuiel Willard, contractor, and
Henry Lee, surveyor. The proprietors held a meeting at the Light House
Tavern in Boston, Dec. 5, 1748, at which a large number were present. In
pursuance of votes passed at this meeting the proprietors' committee presented
a petition "to set off & Erect the sd North-Westeni Quarter with all the
Inhabitants into a Town or otherwise into a separate District with all theprivi-
lidges & powers of a Town."

To His Excellency, IF">. Skirlci/, Esq. Capt. Oenernl & Oovernour in Chccfe in <£• over His
Maj'i!/' Province of Massachusetls Bay in New England and Vice Admiral of the same &
to the Honorable His Maj^t'J^ Council and House of Representatives in General Court assem-
bled.

" The petition of the committee of the Proprietors of the Township of Rutland (the
original settlers part excepted) in the Count}' of Worcester in sd Province in behalf of
themselves & sd Proprietors & according to their votes & Directions, Humbly sheweth.
That the sd Proprietors have been for above these fifteen Years at great & Constant
Pains & Expense of time and many hundred Pounds in Euiming the Bounds, survey-
ing Dividing & Laying Out Lots, finding out & clearing Roads, Building of Bridges,
selling Inhabitants & paying for Preaching in the North Western Quarter of the Town
ship of Rutland. That the sd North Westerly Quarter is a Ijoiite the Quantity of six
miles Square more or less according to the plan here"'"' exhibited bounded East North

254 TOWN OF BARRE.

Easterly about six miles on tlie North Easterly Quarter of said Township, South South
Easterly aboute six miles, partly on the original settlers Quarters & partly on the West
wing of sd Township. West South Westerly about six miles partly on Brantree Grant
& partly on Ilardvvick, North North Westerly ou Nichaway so called. That there are
now Settled on sd Quarter near Thirty famillys consisting of above one hundred souls
who stand in need of a Settled Gospel IMinistry & Ordinances and the Adult are Earn-
estlj^ Desirous of them, but cannot obtain them without a [iroper Encouragement by
j'our excellency & Honours. That the sd proprietors in view of sd Quarter being
erected into a Town have given Laid out & set apart a fifty acre lot of Choice Good
Land & another Farm of Two Hundred Fortj^ Seven Acres for the first Orthordox Min-
ister that shall be ordained there, and a fifty acre Lot for the use of a School there
forever And therefore your petitioners Earnestly Desire That yr Excell'"^^ and
Honoui-s would in 3'our Great Wisdom Sett off & Erect the sd North Western Quarter
with all the Inhabitants into a Town or otherwise into a Separate District with all the
priviledgcs & Powers of a Town so far as to Chuse All Sorts of Town Otflcers among
themselves & make all kinds of Rules on the Inhabitants of sd District for building
houses f n' Pulilick worship settling & maintaining ministers laying out & making roads
and fi r all other Services of a Public Nature which any Towns in the Province are by
Law Enabled to do. Only reserving to themselves the Liberty allowed by Charter and
the Laws of joining in Common with the other freeholders of sd Township in chusing
and lieing Chosen Representatives to Serve in the Gcnl Assembly as also Desiring the
Power of assessing Leveling & Raising a Tax of Sixpence Old Tenor upon cverj-
Standard acre in sd District for the first five Years next Ensuing annually fir the pur-
poses above sd Excepting only sd land granted to sd ministers and school wh. sd Tax
in their present Infant & feeble State of less than Thirty Families is of absolute neces-
sity for them. And your Petitioners might hnmbl}- offer the following among other
Weighty Reasons 1 — The sd Quarter is nearl}- a Square body of generalh- good Land
suitable & sufficient for such a Town or District. 2 — The Center of sd Quarter is
aboute Ten miles Distant from the place of worship of the Original settlers and some
parts of sd Quarter about fourteen miles off. A very heavj- Inconvenience either to
bo warned to their common Town Meetings or to attend tiiem or to serve as Town
Officers for so great an Extent. &3 — The Inhabitants of the Original Settlers part
are so sensible of this hardship as they have expressed their Willingness above four
years and nine mouths ago of the sd North Westerly Quarter being dctooshed from
them, as appears by their attested vote herewith offered. 4 & Lastly. Upon your
Excellency & Honors now granting the sd District there are so many people straight-
ened in other places i-eady to move into this as afford a most rational prospect that in
case of another war the sd Quarter will grow so full of people as, instead of needing
soldiers stationed among them at the Publick charge for their Defense, they will not
only be sufficiently able with the Devine help to Defend themselves but also have num-
bers to spare for the Defense of other places above them. And your Petitioners shall
ever pray as Bound, &c. Thomas Prince,

Jonas Clark,
Thomas Hdbbard,
Cornelius Waldo,

Proprits Committee."

This petition was signed by the proprietors' coinmitteo and twenty-eight
inhabitants, and duly presented to the governor and council. In the follow-

INCORPORATION OF TOWN. 2J5

ing June, 174P, tlic north-west quarter was incorporated by the name of
Rutland District. Tlie inhabitants acquired a legal corporate existence, with
all the rights belonging to a town, save only that of being represented in the
General Court. The grave questions which agitated the Colony prior to the
Revolution made it important to the district to be represented in the General
Court. Its population had been more than doubled since its incorporation,
and it was, therefore, entitled to all the rights of a town. Accordingly, in a
warrant issued March 15, 1773, the article numbered eight reads : "To see
if the District will petition the Great and General Court to bo set off as a town,
or to act anything relative thereto." The meeting was held in April, when the
proposition was adopted unanimously, and a committee chosen to present the
petition. Between the action of the legislature in February and that in June,
Gov. Hutchinson had been succeeded in ofBce by Gage, who, it is believed,
caused the name of his predecessor to be inserted in the bill instead of Barre,
as petitioned. Thus it will be seen that Hutchinson came into existence as a
town amid the birth-throes of the Revolution, in the last days of the existence
of a House of Representatives under the Provincial Charter. The District did
not assume the functions of a town until the January following its incorpora-
tion. But in August previous it voted to "pay the town's proportion for sup-
port of the Congress to be holden at Philadelphia," and also chose a "Committee
of Safet}'." And on the 12th of September, eight days before the assembling
of Congress, a movement was made for the reorganization of the militia. The
first legal town meeting of Hutchinson was held Jan. 10, 1778, when it
was voted to " accept the Continental Congress Resolves in full," and Deacon
John INIason was chosen delegate to the Provincial Congress iit Cambridge.
This town bore, since its full incorporation, June 17, 1774, the name of
Hutchinson. The public course of Gov. Hutchinson had made it an
odious name to all earnest patriots. The people of this town could not
patiently endure to date their letters, or subscribe their names, or anywhere
report themselves as belonging to Hutchinson ; after bearing the reproach as
long as they could, they resolved to take the necessary' steps to have it
changed, and for this purpose a town meeting was called, and a petition to the
legislature was adopted. The phraseology of the petition was sufficiently
emphatic to express the feeling of the people. The petition took the usual
course; and on the 7th of November — four months aud three days after the
Declaration of Independence — an act was passed, entitled, "An Act for
discontinuing the name of a Town in the County of "Worcester, lately incor-
porated by the name of Hutchinson, and calling the same Barre." The
petitioners suggested the name of Wilkes. At whose instance the name of
Barre* was given to the town is not known. In October, 177G, the town

* Tliis name was given in honor of Col. Isaac Bari'(5, a distinguished member of Parliament and
friend of the Colonics. He was born in Dnbliu aljout 1T2G, the son of Peter Ban(S, a refugee from
France. Ho entered Trinity College, Dublin, at the ago of fourteen, aud shortly afterwards

256 TOWN OF BARRE.

Voted "to luilliorize the present House of Representatives to frame a Constitution
of Government for the State." But when the Constitiilion had l)een framed,
and the vote was taken on its acceptance eighteen mcjnths later, April 27,
1778, the town, acting with a great majority of the people of the State, rejected
it. Not long after a Constitution had been adopted, to wit. May 1, 1781,
arose the famous " Barre Slave Case," a detailed account of which, from the
learned and accurate pen of Professor Emory Washburn, was pul)lished a few
years ago in the "Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society."

Of the first settlers, Heury Lee of Worcester was an earnest and efficient pro-
moter of the prosperity of the incipient town. lie was the father of five sons, all
of whom settled here. He was born in Ipswich, Jlay IG, 168G, and died in Con-
cord, Feb. 25, 1745. He was a man of considerable note in his day, as is evi-
dent from his having been one of the justices of the sessions of the county,
and one of the selectmen of the town of Worcester.

James Caldwell, an early settler, was the eldest son of William and Sarah
(Morrison) Caldwell, who came to this country from Ireland in 1718-19, and
settled in Worcester. He remained there, however, not many years, for
prior to the year 1730 he had removed to the "North-west Quarter." James
Caldwell, tradition says, came before his father William, "and lived alone all
one winter under a shelving rock"; then erected his house, the first frame-
house in the place. He is said to have acquired the ownership of sixteen
hundred acres of land.

But there were settlers here before the Lees and Caldwells. The earliest,
it is believed, was Joshua Osgood, born in Andover, Sept. 2, 1694, who pur-
chased a fiirm in the "North-west Quarter" in 1726. He is represented to
have been a substantial and excellent citizen. Both he and his wife lived to a
very great age, faithful in the discharge of their duties to God and man ;
especially hecdfid tif that most ancient command, "Be fruitful, and multiply
and replenish the earth," — their posterity numbering, it is computed, not less
than twelve hundred souls. A little later came two important and iniluential
settlers from Worcester, — Jotham Rice and James Holden ; and these were
followed in a few years (1753) by Jonas Rice from the same town. The latter
was a son of Jonas Rice, the "first settler" of Worcester, known in its history
as the "father of the town." He filled many town offices, some of them to the
close of his life. In 1753, when eighty years old, he was a[)pointcd one of
the justices of the Court of Common Pleas for Worcester County, in which
office he died during the same year. Jonas, the son, who came to this town,
was for many years a deacon of the church, and died in 1793, at the age of
eighty-six years. On the same farm which he tilled now resides his great-
grandson, — Hon. Henry E. Rice, — a member of the board of county corn-
entered the army as ensign; he became lieutenant, a major of brigade, and finally adjutant-
general. During his political career Barrd was First Lord of the Board of Trade, Vice-Treasurer
of Ireland, and Clerk of the Pells. He died aged seventy-six.

EARLY SETTLERS. 257

missioners. Jotham Rice was of another family, though from the same towu ;
a man of great energy, whom no hardships could dauut, no dangers alarm.
When he came, there were no roads, and he picked his way through the woods,
between here and Rutland, guided by marked trees. It is a family tradition
that he brought on his horse before him a little boy but four years old, and
that they spent the first night in the woods, the father placing the saddle over
the boy to protect him from the rain, and kindling a fire to frighten away the
wild beasts. Cyrus Rice, who resided in Worcester, removed to this place;
he subsequently removed to Conway, where he was the first settler. Here he
was soon joined by Israel Gates and Robert Hamilton of this town, and the
descendants of these three men have been among the most influential and
respected inhabitants of Conway. Of those who came here about the time of
the Rices was the above-named James Holden. He was evidently a man of
character and weight, since he was one of the selectmen of Worcester before
his removal to the "North-west Quarter." His descendants have been highly
respectable. Josiah, his son, was father of James and JNIoses, who were active
and energetic citizens. It w'ould Ije impossible to do justice to the early
settlers; to tell of the Cunninghams, Davises, Heatons, Stcvenses and Hills,
or of Marmaduke Black, commonly known as "the old Duke," by birth a
Scotchman, who lived a short time at Noddle's Island, and thence removed to
this place, where he purchased what is now known as the " Bemis Farm," and
became a man of much influence; or of the Wallises, Forbushes, Nourses and
Metcalfs, all men of substance ; or of the two brothers Jonathan and Nehemiah
Allen, the former of whom set out the first orchard in the place, having
brought from Lexington forty apple-trees and his young wife on the back of
his horse. All these heads of families, and others to the number of thirty,.
were here before or near 1750. They were for the most part a God-fearing
people, and highly prized the ordinances of religion, which were the strength,
and glory of New England.

Associated with those already mentioned were Deacon John Mason, Nathan
Sparhawk, Asa Ilapgood and Deacou Andrew Parker. The last named came
from Lexington, and possessed many of the traits exhibited I)y his blood-
relation of Revolutionary fame, Capt. John Parker, and also the late distin-
guished reformer and preacher, Theodore Parker. Under the management of
these men, with the industrious co-operation of their constituents, the district
advanced rapidly in population and prosperity. Forests were felled, roads
were opened, streams were spanned by bridges, saw-mills turned out lumber,
houses went up, harvests ripened, and on every hand were signs of thrift
which made all hearts glad. Each year the district was re-inforced by
immigrations. Those who came were strong men, the greater part in the
prime of manhood, full of grit, willing to endure hardness, and bent on
making cheerful homes for themselves whei'e land was cheaper and more
productive than in the towns which they had left. These additions kept

258 TOWN OF BARRE.

things lively. There was exhilaration in every stop of progress towards
comfort; in every house-raising and house-warming; in the sight of every new
field ploughed and planted ; of every fleece carded, spun and woven ; and of
every addition to herd or flock. Amongst those who came about the middle
of the last century, and who were important accessions, were Benjamin
Jenkins, with three adult sous, from Barnstable County ; Seth Perry from
Martha's Vineyard; William Buckminster from Framiugham ; Lauucelot
Oliver from Georgetown ; William Robinson from Newton. There were also
here, at this period, two brothers Bullard and two brothers Bent ; of the latter,
one was magistrate, town clerk and t(>wn treasurer.

The Jenkins family, before mentioned, was large and influential. The first
of the name had three sons, Benjamin, Jr., Soulhworth and Timothy. The
father came first, and then returned to bring (be others. He purchased of
Nathaniel Jennison about three hundred acres of land in the western part of
the district, where he lived, and where, at fourscore years of age, he died,
having first divided the estate into three equal farms, constructed commodious
buildings, and settled his three sons, who all lived, died and were buried on
the paternal acres. Benjamin, Jr., the "old squire," was a man of strong
and vigorous understanding, quite distiuguished as a magistrate, and left, it
is said, the best farm and farm-buildings in western Worcester. Southworth,
a name traceable to the "first comers" of Plymouth Colony, left six sons.
One of these became a clergyman of eminence, and was settled first at Green-
field, then at Portland, Me., the honored f\ither of the Rev. John L. Jenkins,
now a highly-respected minister of Amherst. Timothy married a sister of
Seth Perry, and had nine children. Among the settlers who came Inter, were
the Ilarwoods, Sibieys, Hollands, Howlands, Broads, Hardings, Robinsons,
Adamses and others whose coming was for strength and honor. To that part
of Shrewsbury now Boylston, wc are indel)ted for the Hollands, who "have
made a mark iu the community as straightforward, honorable men, prompt and
energetic in discharge of all public duties, and truly valuable citizens." Cer-
tainly, their record of official service is most creditable to them, some one of
the family having filled important posts in the town for more than sixty years.
Daniel Harwood came from Sutton, and brought with him ten children,
remarkable for longevity. The father died at the age of eighty-seven years,
and the aggregate age of the ten children was seven hundred and ninety-nine ;
making an average of a fraction less than eighty years. The sons all settled
here, possessing themselves of some of the best land in town, and becoming
foremost anions: its agriculturists. One of them — Daniel Harwood, M.D.,
of Boston — reflects particular honor upon his native town by the eminence he
has attained in his profession, having stood for years confessedly at the head
of it in his chosen department. When a chair of instruction in it was estab-
lished at Haivard University, he was selected by the government to fill the -
professorship, but felt compelled to decline the honor and service. Samuel

CHURCH HISTORY. 259

and Job Sibley also came from Sutton, and settled in the cistcrly part of the
town. The former bioiight with him four sons, all remarkable for muscular
development and strength. One of the sons, Capt. Lyman, born I\Iay 18,
1784, began early to take an active part in town affaii's. JMoro t'.ian forty years
be was the accurate and popular town clerk. Tho?e of the generation now
passing away will recall the interest with which, after the benediction at the
close of the afternoon service on Sunday, his clear, ringing voice proclaimed,
above the clatter of the pew seats as they came down, "the intention of mar-
riage" between sundry parties about to enter the bands of wedlock. In winter,
for many years, he was a successful teacher. Ho was the father of a nunicrotis
family. Into the same section of the town where the Sibleys lived had
come, somewhat earlier, from Holliston, David Underwood. Of him vvas
Joseph, and of him Gen. Orison, who has long been a prominent cilizcu of
jNIilford, and, till lately, the head of a large mercantile house in Boston. His
career from the smallest beginnings has been highly successful, and ho has
received many marks of consideration from the political party to which ho
belongs. But that which is regarded as his chief distinction is his l)cing the
father of another Gen. Underwood, the hero of no sham fight of a holiday
muster, but the intrepid commander and leader of the jNIassachusetts thirty-
third in the storming of Lookout Mountain, whence he was borne witli loss of
a leg and his body riddled with bullets. For his conduct and bravery in the
battle, he was promoted brigadier-general by Hooker on the spot; and subse-
quently, by Secretary Stanton, in person, was breveted major-general.

The first vote passed at the proprietors' meeting, in Novemlier, 1733, had
reference to the location of the meeting-house. The locality having been
selected, the work of l)uilding the same went forward rather slowly ; but in the
year 1753 the citizens had the satisfaction of seeing it completed. The
meeting-house completed, they pi-occeded, with the help of neighboring
ministers, to organize a church. This was accomplished July 29, 1753, and
in the mouth of October following the Rev. Thomas Fink was installed pastor
over "The Congregational Church and Society in Rutland District." lie was
born in Sudbury, and was giaduatcd at Harvard University in 1722. Of his
ministry here not much is known to his advantage. The notices of him are
few and meagre ; nevertheless, they are suflicient to indicate that he was a
man of more than ordiuarv abilities and great strensth of will, which, com-
bined with an irascilile temper, made him self- asserting and imperious. He
was dismissed in 1760, after a pastorate of thirteen years, by a council com-
posed of eminent men, both clerical and lay, all from distant churches, which
was in session six days. Rev. Jonathan Mayhew of the West Church in
Boston was moderator. He died in Rutland, Aug. 21, 1777. The church was
without a pastor for nearly a year, at the end of which time, July 9, 17()7, Mr.
Josiah Dana of Poinfrct, Conn., accepted a call. His ordination took place the
7th of October following. He was a graduate of Harvard, of the class of 1763.

260 TOWN OF BARRE.

During the thirty years preceding peace with England, little or nothing had
been done in the way of repairing and preserving the meeting-house, and it
was baginning to show signs of decay. A committee was chosen to take the
matter in charge ; they reported : " Taking into consideration the intimations we
have of late of a peace which, if wo arc favored with so great a l)lessing, will
make a very considerable alteration in the circumstances of men and things, we
recommend a postpcjoement till September, 1783." Nothing more was done
unlil two years later, when the business was taken up in earnest, and an
addition was made, by purchase, to the common or meeting-house lot. The
meeting-house was completed, and at a meeting it was voted "to meet, the
Sunday after next, it l)eing the seventh day of November, 1790, for the public
worship of God, in the new meeting-house, for the time to come."

Not far from tlie meeting-house, and in every remote neighborhood, was a
burying-ground ; and whenever a death occurred the remains were liorne on a
bier to tlieir final resting-place. Often the distance was long, and the service
of the bearers wearisome. For greater ease and convenience the town voted,
March, 1789, "to procure a carriage to carry the corpse from any distressed
house to the burying-ground." The location of the tirst meeting-house was
nearly opposite the present post-office ; that of the second at the east side of
the park; while the meeting-house lot in the pi'oprietors' plan was a little south
of the house of Samuel Hamilton.

Rev. Josiah Dana died Oct. 1, 1801, after a ministry of thirt}^-four
years. The vacancy caused by his decease was tilled, two years later, by a
candidate, who Ijcgan to preach on the first Sunday of October, 1803.
November 28 of this year it was voted to invite Mr. James Thompson to the
pastoral charge of this church and people. Some time in the year 180G it was
voted by the society to "build a handsome and beautiful steeple, cupola or
belfry, provided there be raised by subscription sufficient to purchase a bell
and clock." The work was entered upon without delay, and, when completed,
the church, with its large, shapely pillars, and finely proportioned steeple, was
regarded as the handsomest in the county.

The tirst indications of a ch;in2;e in the relisious fecline's of the citizens
occurred in 1813, when seventeen certificates of membership in the Baptist
Society were filed with the town clerk. In the year 1818 there was a com-
plaint made by some of the citizens against the method of raising money for
support of the ministry. In 1821 was tiled a certificate of membership in the
Universalist Society; and in 1827 a certificate of thirty-four members of the
Evangelical Congregational Society was filed. Up to this time the whole
people of the town had been united in one religious society of the Congrega-
tional order, with (he exception of a small body of Baptists living on the
easterly border, and a small organization of Universalists at Barre Plains.
The portion of the Congregational Society which withdrew were organized by
an Ecclesiastical Council, convened for the purpose, Aug. 15, 1827, as

CHURCH HISTORY. 2G1

" The Evangelical Congiegatioual Church in Barre." Dr. Thompson reported
to the Council : "That the aggrieved brethren had applied to the church under
his care for a dismission, that they might bo organized into a new church, and
that the i-equest was not granted ; that a fm-ther request for p, mutual council
was desired; that their proceedings, so far as he knew, had been regular;
that they were under no ecclesiastical censure; and that the church had no
communication to make to the Council." In November, 1828, the newly-formed
church and society extended an invitation to Rev. John Storrs to settle, which
be accepted, and was ordained Jan. 29, 1829, a church having i)eeu in the
meantime erected. He was dismissed in 1832. His successors have been
Rev. Moses G. Grosvenor, Rev. John F. Stone, Rev. Samuel A. Fay, Rev. E.
D. Moore, Rev. Amos Bullard, Rev. C. M. Nickels, Rev. George Deuham,
Rev. David Peck, and Rev. Edwin Smith.

Through a large number of the pastorates of the Orthodox church, and
througli another secession and formation from this, the old church, of a
considerable number, who constituted a Universalist Society and erected a
meeting-house, the ministry of Rev. Dr. Thompson continued uninterrupted.
At his request a supply was obtained, and Rev. Mr. Wellington preached a
year or thereabouts, but the first colleague, Rev. Henry F. Bond, was ordained
Jan. 7, 184(5. The third pastor of the original church died on the 14th of
May, 1854. Dr. Thompson was born in Halifax, Plymouth County, Mass.,
on the 13th of April, 1780 ; he w.as graduated with high honors at Brown
University, in Providence, R. I., in 1799 ; read divinity with the Rev. Jonathan
French of Andover. He acquired a high reputation as a preacher and orator
in the part of the Commonwealth in which he was situated. By nature and
culture he possessed a combination of extraordinary qnalificatious for the
ministry. A noble form, a commanding presence, a full, rich and musical
voice, a quick and clear apprehension of truth, a strong good sense, deep
sensibility, a fervid, earnest manner and unmistakable sincerity were his.
He was very greatly respected, and died much lamented. The second
colleague of Dr. Thompson was the Rev. Charles E. Hodges, who was
ordained Juno 11, 1851. The succeeding pastors have been Rev. William
A. Fuller, Rev. Henry Westcott, Rev. J. B. Beach, Rev. Henry R. Smith,
and Rev. Alvin F. Bailey, the present pastor. The successive pastors of the
Universalist Society were Rev. Samuel Brimblccom, Rev. Benjamin V.
Stevenson, and Rev. J. J. Locke. This society sold their edifice to the
Methodists. Their successive pastors have been : Revs. jMessrs. Wallingford,
Kilburn, Gordon, Bigelow, Andrews, Braman, Middleton, Olds, Clark,
Morey, Eastman, Parkhurst, Noyes, AVoods, McCurdy, Lansing, George,
Bent, Hudson, Baird, Joues and Noon ; while over a society of independent
thinkers or free worshippers, who convened in the Town Hall, Rev. Mo-^es
Kimball was pastor. The character of these workers in the moral vineyard,
and the nature of the influence each one exerted, are well kuown. In

262 TOWN OF BARRE.

1849 the old church of sixty years was sold, its steeple taken down, and the
main building moved across the Common to the corner of Broad Street,
where the handsome eolnnins of its steeple in front made the colonnade,
where a varied form of enter|)rise %vas carried on until 18G2, when it was
destroyed by fire, and Smith's block rose upon its ruins. A new and beautiful
design for a church was adopted by the Unitarian Society, and strikes the
visitor as a unique and pleasant feature of our town. In the same j'car the
Orthodox Society built a new and tasteful church, Aicing the Common, which
had been enlarged l)y the liberality of the tir^^t parish, and the generosity
of the owners of the land acquired.

The proprietors of the township, with that forecast and fidelity to their
conviciions of duty characteristic of the founders of the Colony, amongst their
first acts, made provision for the church and school, the two great educators of
society in religion and knowledge ; and thus oflcred new inducements to those
who were inclined to come and make their homes here. At the proprietors'
meeting in 1733 a lot of land containing fifty acres was laid out for the school
forever. Brfore school-houses could be erected the settlers opened rooms
in fhcir own houses, where the children could be gathered for instruction, and
whenever money was appropriated for the support of religion, the same was
done for the schools. The annual appropriations were liberal for their circum-
stances ; and all through the Revolutionary war they were continued without
material diminution. At first the selectmen were instructed to engage suitable
teachers and establish them at their discretion ; then the places where schools
should be kept, were voted at each successive annual town meeting. In the
year 1790, it was voted "to assess the inhaljitants £400 to build eight school-
houses," having previously divided the town into eight school districts. The
first school ccnnmittee, chosen in 1799, were Rev. Josiah Dana, Major Cald-
well, and Deacon Jonas Eaton.

These school districts became organized coi'porations, and though the town
at first built a school-house in each, yet afterwards the care of the school, its
repair and management, and the general oversight, was managed in these
neighborhood meetings. Though for a number of years the agent or executive
of the district was appointed by the town, he was the agent of the district and
the acknowledged head. He was instructed by the town as to the length of
the i^chool, and the time for its commencement and close, and when it became
apparent that the money was not wisely exjJended, it was the district and not
the asrent that decided to close the school. It is gratiiVing to observe that
education has received increasing attention here during the progress of the
present century. This increase is partially shown by the following figures : —

In ISIO, the population was ...... 1,971

" the valuation was ....... $G59,G00

" the appropi'iatiou fur schools was .... $800

SCHOOL HISTORY. 263

In 1870, the population was ...... 2,u72

" the valuation was $1,832,888

" the appropriation for schools was .... S-1,220

This gives the praisoworthy result that, while the population iu sixty years
increased only thirtj-four per cent., and the valuatiou not quite two hundred
per cent., the appropriations for schools advanced to four hundred and twenty-
five per cent ! *

The germs of our public high school are found in our annals far back iu our
history, when the town voted to instruct the selectmen to employ a teacher
qualified to instruct in the higher branches of Englif^h education, who should
teach iu the several districts in succession : and still later in the effort to estab-
lish an academy, which, although it proved a failure, turned aml)itiou iu the
right direction. In the year 1834, a private high school or academy was estab-
lished here b}' Mr. Moses Mandell ; who continued to serve as teacher in our
public schools for a number of years, and succeeded in inspiring in his scholars
an enthusiasm iu their work, and a respect for their teacher that terminated
only with his life. When Horace Mann was stirring up pul^lic sentiment on the
subject of education throughout the Commonwealth, considerable interest was
manifested here. A convention of the friends of education was held iu the
Unitarian Church, in which its minister, and Mr. Fay, the Rev. Josiah Clark of
Rutland, Rev. Luther Willson of Petersham, and many others active!}' partici-
pated. The result was that the second of the State Normal Schools of Massa-
chusetts was established in this town in 1839, notwithstanding there were many
competitors for the honor. The town labored under the disadvantage of having
no access b}' railroad, yet, in consequence of the educational interest here
manifested, as well as the beauty and healtiifulncss of the place, it was tinally
accorded to Barre. The Rev. S. P. Newman, a professor in Bowdoin College,
was appointed its principal. It flourished f)r a few j-ears ; but the inconven-
ience of the location was found to be too great, and to the regret of the people
of the town it was discontinued ; but its influence was a lasting benefit.

Our public schools have been taught by such men as Gen. Crawford, Col.
Samuel ilixter, Alphcus Harding, Gen. Lee, Seth Lee, Samu< I Caldwell. Pitt
Grosvenor, James W. Thompson, Capt. Sibley, David Lee, David Rice, Otis and
Horatio Allen, James W. Jenkins, and Capt. Teuny. In 1852 the high school
was permanently established hero, and its usefidness and general beneficial influ-
ence, as well as the advantage it aff'ords to all for a sufflcient English education
to meet the ordinarj^ duties of life, without the expense and the hazard of a
residence away from home guardianship and care, are obvious and are appi'e-
ciated. Its teachers have served with varied success, and will be cherished
iu the memory of the young men and women of this generation, as faithful
instructors and warmly remembered friends.

* Kev. Dr. Thomjisou's C'cuteuuial Discourse.

2G4

TOWN OF BARRE.

As belons^iug to the general subject of educatioii, we add a list of all

college graduates : —

Date of

Graduation.

William Caldwell

Harvard.

1773

Ezra Ripley, D. D.,

'•

1776

Rev. Lincoln Riploy,

Dartmouth.

1796

Rev. Alphcus Harding, .

180,5

Rev. Charles Jenkins, .

Williams.

isi:j

Rev. Seth E Winslow, .

Brown

l.SU

Samuel Caldwell, .

Harvard.

1818

George Brooks James, .

1821

Daviil O. Allen, D. D., .

Amherst.

1823

Charles Wadsworth,

Brown.

1827

James W. Thompson, D. D.,.

«(

1827

Henry L. Plummer, M. D.,

Union. .

1829

Charles Eames,

Harv.ard.

1831

Brig. Gen. Daniel Ruggles,

West Point.

1833

Rev. Robert T Conaut, .

Amherst

1836

Rev. Abraham Jenkins, Jr., .

1838

Rev Reuben T Robinson,

Harvard.

1841

Ma.j. Gen. Joseph P. Plumme

West Point.

1841

J. Martin Gorhara,

Harvard.

18.01

Adj. Samuel F. Woods,

Yale.

1856

Rev. William Crawford,

Amherst

18.57

Joseph W. Grosvcnor, M. D

Dartmouth.

1859

Rev. Sidnev Crawford, .

Amherst

18G1

Charles L.Bixby, .

Harvard.

1861

William B. Durant, LL. B.,

186.5

Rev. James T Bixby, .

1864

Frederick Holland,

Amherst.

1865

George F, Babbitt,

Harvard.

1872

Charles II. Bixby, .

West Point.

1873

Emory A. Ellsworth,

Amherst Agl.

1871

P Mirick Ilarwood,

" "

1875

J. Frank Barrett, .

(( it

1876

Frank II. Rico,

It ti.

1875

J. Edward Root, .

tt n

1876

Cliarles Baliliitt, .

Dartmouth

1879

John L. Smith,

Amherst Agl.

—

THE REVOLUTIOX. 265

CHAPTER II.

MILITARY HISTORY REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT SHAYS' REBELLION LIGHT

INFANTRY COMPANY COJ13IANDEES ATTITUDE IN THE REBELLION BUSI-
NESS AND MANUFACTURES PROFESSIONAL MEN TOPOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL

FEATURES AND SCENERY NATURAL PRODUCTIONS TOWN HALL AND PUB-
LIC BUILDINGS SOCIETIES.

As the series of events that preceded the Americau Revolution gave token
of the approaching storm, and that the question was soon to be decided whether
the Colonics woidd tamely submit to the denial of the rights of English sub-
jects, it may l)e that the men who had been learning for a quarter of a century
to orovern themselves became dissatisfied with their relation to the sjovern-
mcnt. A circular letter from the town of Boston concerning the state and
rights of this Province was considered in open town meeting, and a committee
of leading citizens reported a series of spirited resolutions endorsing the views
of Boston and thanking them for the zeal displayed, were unanimously adopted
]\Itirch 1, 1773, and on the next 15th day of March a warrant for a town meet-
ing "to see if the District will petition the Great and General Court to be set
off as a town, or act anything relative thereunto." It is needless to repeat the
story of the result of this vote. June 10, 1776, the town voted "to abide by
the Continental Congress if they should declare us an Indepeudaut State and
that we will defend the same with our lives and fortunes." When a requisition
was made upon the town for soldiers a feeling came into existence that this
cause concerned all alike, and that justice demanded that all should contribute
alike to meet the expense. And a committee was raised to estimate the pro-
portion that each should pay according to his property and the amount in money
and service that each had paid, to the end that those who had overpaid should
be reimbursed, while those who had fallen short should make up the deficiency.
This was the stern demand of justice for an equalizing of public burdens. The
minute-men from this town in the Continental army did their proportion of
service, being led by their brother farmer, the cool, brave Buukminster, who
was our principal hero in the war. He was born in Framingham, Dec. 15, 173G,
son of Joseph, and grandson of Joseph, of Muddy River. In 1757, he removed
to this town and devoted himself to agriculture. Of recoi>;nized character and
ability, he soon became a leading and influential citizen. The minute-meu
raised here were commanded by him. At Cambridge, where he had marched
his company, the militia was reorganized, and from a captaincy, he was pro-
moted to the office of lieutenant-cohnicl in the regiment commanded by Col.
Jonathan Brewer of Waltham. In the battle of Bunker Hill he acquired a

26G TOWN OF BARRE.

reiDutatioii fur prudence and bravery. Just before the retreat of the Ameri-
cans, he received a severe and dangerous wound from a musUet-sliot, which
prevented his performing further military service, though his name was con-
tinued on the army list until the close of the war. He died here June 22,
1786, much respected.

Gen. Samuel Lee was also distinguished. Born here in 1767, he enlisted as a
soldier in the arn)y in 1780 ; joining the army at West Point about the time of
Arnold's treason, he was transferred to a iiying regiment under Col. Alexander
Scammcl in New Jersey, and was engaged in many severe actions, Yorktovvu
being the most important. Returning home at the end of the war he was sub-
sequently chosen a brigadier-general of militia, representative, state senator,
and presidential elector. lie was a man of unquestioned integrity and public
spirit, of sound judgment and manly presence, and was one of the most
honored fathers of the town. He died Oct. 17, 1839, aged seventy-two
years.

The taxes during the Revolution were so high that one year they made no
appropriation for paying debts, or for roads, and their debt and credit meet-
ings seemed to have been trials of patriotism. But through the whole struggle
I find no evidence of a disposition to retreat or to give up the fight. I tind on
one occasion when money was scarce, the town appropriated beef; and again
when citizens procured new suits of clothiug for the soldiers they [)uid a man
his expenses to go aud carry them, in repeated instances. I think that a spirit
of justice and sympathy characterized the leading men in our town during the
Revolutionary war. They proved themselves equal to the situation, mindful
of the duties incumbent upon them; and, though but a young town, they
made a record which favorably compares with the other towns of the Common-
wealth.

Our men were in some of the distinguished battles of the Revolution. The
services of Buckminster and Lcc were not solitary instances of bravery and
etEciency, though they secured a more distinct recognition. Forty-five Barre men
went with Buckminster to Cambridge alter the Concord light. Capts. Benjamin
Nye and Benjamin Gates and Lieuts. Aaron Holden, Andrew Parker, John
Patrick and James Black were commissioned officers from Barrc. From the
adoption of the Constitution to the Treaty of Peace, in 1783, the town was
busily and anxiously engaged in providing men, clothing, and money for the
prosecution of the war. It was a period of depression aud difficulty.

In that unfortunate uprising, Shays' Rebellion, were many of the worthy citi-
zens of Barre, and when their cause was lost and their army dispersed at Peter-
sham, the town took towards them aud the outraged government the position of
mediator. The petition to the Governor and Legislature for clemency and par-
don to these misguided men is a fine tribute to the generous character of the
town. After the Revolution, for many years, it was a part of the duty of towns
to keep on baud a stock of powder and balls agiinst any emergency that might

MILITARY MEN. 207

arise. The stock of Barre was kept in the liarn of Maj. David Fisk. Al>i)ut
the time of Shays' Rebellion its loss occasioned quite a commotion and many
town meetings were held and much research niiide for its recovery. It was
finally found in the barn of Capt. Joseph Smith, where it was undoubtedly
transferred in secret l)y the town authorities or some person or persons in their
employ, to prevent its being seized by the insurgents.

The battalion of artillery raised in 1791 was commanded from its organiza-
tion until 1797 by Maj. Seth Caldwell, when he was succeeded by Maj. Wil-
liam Caldwell, who was the first captain of the company raised in this town.
Ilis successors as captain were : Nathaniel Jones, John Allen, Jonas Eaton,
Joel Rice, Abncr Ilarwood, Nathan Patridge, Nathaniel Holland, AVilcut Ilar-
wood, Joshua Browning, Ephraini Holland, John Holland, Nathan Hammond,
George W. Reid, Hiram S. Ilarwood and Silas O. Harding, who commanded
the company when it disbanded in 1837.

The Baire Light Infantry, in the Third Regiment, Second Brigade, and Sixth
Division of the IMassachusetts Militia was first commanded by Warren Sibley,
subsequently by Charles Siblc}-, John Fisk, Henry Brigham, Jonathan Sibley,
Benjamin Felton, James Holland, Hooper Holland, Sardius Sibley, Jr.,
Charles Kimball, ^Marshall D. Eaton, William Robinson, Jr., and Haskell S.
McCullock. This company attairicd a high degree of proficiency in its drill,
and was very popular with the citizens. A cavalry company flourished here
and its commanders were : James Holden, Skelton Felton, Seth Caldwell, Seth
Ilolden, Joseph R(jbinson and Alansou O. Green. All the able-bodied men in
town not belonging to either of the above companies, and not exempt by
law from military duty, were enrolled in one company that was called "the
Standing Company," " the Slam-bangs " or " the Floodwoods." Its C(jmmand-
ers were: Micah Hamilton, James W. Jenkins, David Lee, Harding Allen,
Larkin Smith and Bliss Bacon.

May 1, 18G1, a legal town meeting was held to see what action the town
would take "to render aid and encouragement to a volunteer company now
forming in this town" for the war of the late Rebellion. It was voted, to
appropriate four thousand dollars to increase the pay of those who may be
called into the military service of the United States to eighteen dollars a month,
"and to assist th<! families of such soldiers and ofBcers as may need assistance."
A thousand dollars were also appropriated to pay to each member of the com-
pany fifty cents for every half-day he may be engaged in drilling. July 12th,
the town voted to appropiiate eight hundred dollars "to uniform a vohmteer
company now forming in the town."

July 17, 18G2, the town voted that the treasurer be directed to pay, under
the order of the selectmen, to each and every inhabitant who shall have been
or may heieafter be nnistered into the service of the United States, as a i)art
of the quota of the town, the sum of one hundred dollars "as an additional
bounty." August 27th, the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dol-

268 TOWN OF BARRE.

lars to each volunteer who should enlist to the credit of the town for uine months'
service, and appropriated two thousand dollars to provide State aid for the
fiimilies of volunteers.

In the year 1863, little was done but recruiting.

On the 28th of March, 1864, the town voted, "to raise the sum of four
thousand dollars for the purpose of filling the quota of the town on the recent
call of the President for more men." April 18th, voted to appropriate thirty-
five hundred dollars to aid the families of volunteers. June 10th, voted to
raise five thousand dollars to recruit volunteers to fill the quota of the town
"under any call or order of the President of United States." And again,
March 6, 1865, to raise three thousand dollars to pay State aid to the families of
soldiers.

This town furnished three hundred and nineteen men for the war, which was
a surplus of twenty-four over and above all demands. Eleven were commis-
sioned officers. The total sum of money raised and spent by the town for
war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was $24,356. The amount of money paid
by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by
the Commonwealth, was as follows : 1861, $310.49 ; 1862, $2,137.05 ; 1863,
$4,053.90; 1864, $3,019.60 ; 1865, $1,700; total, $11,230.04.

As the selectmen during these years took a prominent part, I add the list:
1861, David Rice, Stephen Heald, Silas Rawson, James F. Davis, Franklin
Smith ; 1862, Franklin Smith, James F. Davis, Warren Mandcll, Stephen
Heald, A. H. Holland; 1863, David Rice, Ezekiel L. Pierce, Willard Broad,
Henry Ellsworth, Caleb Harwood ; 1864, A. H. Holland, James F. Davis,
Henry E. Rice, Austin Hawes, Wilcut Harwood, Jv. ; 1865, A. H. Holland,
James F. Davis, Henry E. Rice, Wilcut Harwood, Jr., Austin Hawes.

On the Common, the eye is attracted by a finely proportioned marble monu-
ment, erected to commemorate the patriotism and valor of fifty-nine brave sons
of the towu, who fell in the late war of the Rebellion.

During the first fifty years of this century, the local ambition which had
existed from the start became a marked feature. The leading men were puljlic-
spirited. They could tolerate no narrow policy in matters pertaining to the
interests of the town. They were not men to be satisfied with anything short
of the best attainable, whether in their crops, their horses, their In-eeds of cat-
tle, their barns, their schools, or their preaching. Everything projected by
them was on a larger scale than in the other towns adjacent. AVith such men
as Hon. Nathaniel Jones, James Holland, Samuel Lee, Harding P. and Edwin
Woods, Willard Broad, David and Charles Lee, James W. Jenkins, Moses
Holden, Dr. George Brown, Seth Holden, Benjamin Clark ei als. for adminis-
trators of its affairs, it is not strange that the towu flourished.

Until about the close of the first quarter of this century, the business here
was almost exclusively agricultural. There were a few tanneries, one or two
fulling-mills for finishing homespuns, and grist and saw mills sufficient for the

PROFESSIOXAL MEX. 2G9

uses of the town. There were also mechanics' shops for such work as was
indispensable in farming ; stores, three or four, which drove a flourishing trade ;
and generally two good taverns or inns for the accommodation of travelers —
and other purposes ! In 1S05, Capt. Seth Pratt, formerly of Shrewsbury,
built a dam on Ware River, and dug a canal through a hill ; and then, on a
water-power thus made, several mills were erected, one of which, built and
owned by ]\Ir. Phineas Ilcywood, was a factory for making woolen frocking
of a superior quality ; and near this establishment there grew up a pleasant
village of considerable trade, known as Barre Plains. But with these, and
perhaps a few other minor exceptions, the all-engrossing pursuit was agricul-
ture. The followins; is an estimate furnished by a jrentlcman who was eno'ao'ed
in vending cheese and pork (besides other products) for the years 1846 to
1850 : Cheese, 2,754,G64 pounds, bringing into market (all transported in
wagons), $220,373.12; pork, 539,998 pounds, bringing $37,799.8G ; total,
$258,172.98. And this exhibits only a small portion of the agricultural
products. In 1825, a new enterprise was projected by Mr. Benjamin Clark
in the erection of a cotton factory on Ware Eiver, near Coldbrook. This
property finally passed into the hands of the Smiths, the present owners. The
village is known by the nameof Smithville. In 18fi5, there were manufactured
here palm-leaf hats of the value of $47,941, and Shaker hoods of the value of
$158,583. In the tweiity j'ears ending with 1873, one concern — Desper,
Rogers & Co. — finished 1,929,010 dozen hats.

Tliis town has had seventeen lawyers and an equal number of doctors. Of
the lawyers, eight were graduates of colleges ; namely, four of Harvard Uni-
versity, two of Yale, one of Dartmouth, one of Brown University. Of the
doctors, four are collegiate graduates ; namely, three of Harvard University,
and one of Dartmouth College. In the legal profession, of those now living,
one, the Hon. P. Emory Aldrich, after reaching an eminent position at the
bar of the county, was appointed a justice of the Superior Court of jNIassachu-
setts, and has already attained a high rank as judge. Of the deceased, Eleazer
James was the first to open an ofBce here in 1793. He was born in Cohasset,
and was graduated at Harvard in 1767. During a period of eight years, he
was tutor in Harvard College, and whilst here he studied for the ministry, and
preached a few Sundays; but an insufTicient voice and hesitating manner soon
discouraged him, and he abandoned the profession. Entering the law ofBce of
Levi Lincoln, Sr., of Worcester, he was admitted, in duo time, to the bar
of this county, and opened .an office in Rutland ; here he remained only a year,
and then removed to this town, where he married a daughter of Dr. Brooks.
His scholastic attainments were probably not excelled by those of any man in
this part of the State. He was a gentleman of taste, refinement and general
culture, and greatly respected.

A ver}' difterent man was Seth Lee, born in 1770, and a lawyer b}' reputa-
tion. He began life a farmer, with only the scant education of our common

270 TOWN OF CARRE.

schools, niid not until he was married and had a family did he enter on a course
of study for liis profession. This was pursued under many cmhariassments ;
but lie had great perseverance, and in August, ISO'), was admitted an attorney
of the Court of Common Pleas, and at once opened an office in this town. An
inhabitant by birth, nearly everybody was personally acquainted with him, and
his practice soon became considerable.

Contemporary with Gcu. Lee was Nathaniel Houghton, Esq., a native of
Sterling, who came here, in the first decade of the century, a young man
of prepossessing appearance and pleasing address. His practice, after a few
years, became quite lucrative. In politics, he was a Republican, and an ardent
supporter of this party, of which, when in the ascendancy, he w;is often chosen
rejiresentative, several times senator of the State, and twice a nn'mbor of the
E.vecutive Council. There are other names in the legal profession, such as
Christopher C. Baldwin and Walter A. Bryant, men of eminent gifts and bril-
liant accomplishments, who for thirty years attained to the foremost rank of
counsellors and advocates in the "Heart of the Commonwealth."

The first physician was Dr. Ci'ooks. He was followed by Dr. Ebenezer
Rice, who was characterized by Dr. Thomi)son, in his half-century sermon, as
"a ripe scholar," "an accomplished man," "a sound Christian," "dignified and
url)ane in maimers," and "highly respected in all the relations of life." Dr.
Asa Walker was here in full practice before the end of the last century, and
continued to be a popular physician till his retirement at an advanced age.
Dr. Anson Bates, a young man from Fairhaven, after a course of professional
study at Hanover, N. H., established himself in this town, and, in a short time,
proved to be a man of much skill, both in medicine and surgery. Of fine
personal appouranee, of great energy and power of endurance, cheerful and
hearty in social relations, he easily gained the confidence and attachment of his
patients. Dr. Bates was a man of marked points, entertaining in conversation,
decided in opinion, attached by early education and the convictions of his
mature life to that branch of the church known as "Orthodox," and lending to
its support the whole weight of his character and influence. He died greatly
lamented, in the peace of the Christian faith, July 14, 1836. He was the
father of Drs. George and Joseph N. Bates, now residing in Worcester, where
they have attained a high rank in the medical profession, being well known
throughout the county and State. In June, 1848, Dr. Hervcy G. AVilbur estab-
lished an institution here for the care, comfort, training and hygienic treatment of
children and youth of defective mental organization. The first private asylum
of the kind in America, it soon became widely known ; and under the direction
of its original organizer and his accomplished successor, Dr. George Brown,
has been sustained and commended by a large patronage from almost every
State in the Union. The sitiuition of the several buildings on Broad Street,
the grounds and appointments of every kind, present one of the most, if not
the most, attractive feature of our town.

SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS. 271

The town of BaiTc is large in extent, being more than six miles square. It
is one of the best townships of land in the county, the soil being exceed-
ingly rich and strong. The land in general is very hilly and uneven. The
hills, though not so high, are very steep and rocky, as is the case in most
towns where the soil is excellent and moist. The town is well watered by
numerous springs and rivulets, and the people enjoy great advantages for
turning and conveying the water over their grass land. The soil is pecu-
liarly adapted to mowing and pasturage. Here great numbers of cattle are
fatted, which make the best of beef ; and here, also, are many and large dairies
from which butter and cheese are shipped in abundance. The soil bears
Indian corn well, but is not so well adapted to English grain as some other
places, though large quantities are raised here. As the town is uneven and
hilly, it affords no broad and commanding view of itself; but, from the hills,
there is an extensive pros|)ect into other towns. The pleasantness of Barre
consists in the richness and fertility of the soil, and the large, handsome, well-
finished buildings of all kinds. The farms arc large and very productive ; the
people arc industrious, and have great encouragement to labor. Their modes
of husbandry are good, and there are sure indications of industry and opulence
all over the town. In 1800, it was one of the foremost towns in the county;
there were but three which paid more of a State tax. About this time, the
the population increased so that, when the census was taken, there were nearly
two thousand inhabitants.

The general growth of wood is plentiful, including oak of all kinds,
especially white oak, considerable chestnut and pine, some walnut, birch,
beech, ash and hemlock. The town is bounded north-west by Petersham ;
north-east by Hubbardston ; south-east by Oakham and Rutland ; and south-
w-est by Hardwick and New Braintree. Its postal villages arc Barre Centre,
Barre Plains and Smithville ; the latter lying in the south and south-west. The
principal rock is calcareous gneiss, in which occur specimens of rutile, pyrites,
beryl and garnet. A huge bowlder, called "Rocking Stone," in the north-
western part of the town, is a natural curiosity. The prominent eleva-
tions are Mt. Pleasant in the north-eastern ; Stonehouse Hill in the south-
eastern ; Prospect, Allen and Farrow hills in the central ; together with Ridge
and Bascom hills in the north-western sections of the town.

Ware River, receiving as its tributaries Burn-Sliirt and Caunestow rivers,
runs through the southerly part of the town, and affords valuable hydraulic
power. Prince River, having a reservoir of two hundred acres, waters the
central, and Moose and Pine Hill brooks the westerly part of the town. Silver
Brook flows northerly into Swift River. Barre has a good town hall and
library ; two hotels, — the Massasoit and Naquag houses ; a farmer's club ; a
Masonic lodge, established in 1810 ; an excellent puldic journal, called the "Barre
Gazette," established in 1834 ; a good high school and seventeen district schools,
— all of which indicate a well-ordered and prosperous coudition of society.

272 TOWN OF BERLIN.

BERLIN,

BY REV ABIJAH P. MARVIN.

ORIGIN OF THE TOWN — TOPOGRAPHY AND SCENERY — ROADS — CHURCH HIS-
TORY BUSINESS RAILROADS SCHOOLS MILITARY RECORD DISTIN-
GUISHED CITIZENS OF THE TOWN.

The south-east part of the old town of Lancaster was cut off and erected into
the town of Bolton, in 1738. The south parish of Bolton was incorporated
April 13, 1778. On the 16th of March, 1784, this precinct, with an addi-
tion from jNIarlborough, was erected into a district by the name of Berlin.
The district had all the powers and privileges of a town except that of being
represented in the General Court by its own separate delegate ; but the people
were authorized to unite with Bolton in the choice of a representative. This
continued till Feb. 10, 1812, at which time it was incorporated as a town.
It was cidarged by an addition from Lancaster, in 1791, and from Northbor-
ough in 1806. Thus Berlin is the tirst grandchild of Lancaster. These are
the boundaries : On the north by Bolton ; east by Marlborough : south by
Northborough, and west by Boylston and Clinton. The township is on the
eastern border of Worcester County, with a gentle slope to the east, insonuich
that nearly all the streams, even those which rise on the western border, flow
easterly to the Assabet. The centre is an elevated basin, with a broken rim
of hills around it. There are several high hills in different sections. Towards
the east side is Sawyer's Hill, a long ridge running north and south. On its
western slope is Madam Eudersdorf's residence, which in July, 1879, was
rudely shaken by the great tempest. Barnes' Hill is in the south west corner,
and Wheeler's Hill is in the north. On the west side the land rises sheer
upwards from the Nashua River, in Clinton, so that the land sheds its water,
not into the river near by, but across the township, into the Assabet. The
surface generally is uneven, with not more than average fertility, Init yields
good crops to judicious cultivation. Iron ore is found, but not enough to be
protitable.

The streams are small, except the Assabet, which flows through the south-
east border, and receive affluents from other towns. The water-power is not
great. The principal pond is Gates', at the easterly foot of Sawyer's Hill.

EARLY CHURCH AND PEOPLE. 273

This is a fine sheet of water by nature, and has been raised and enlarged by a
dam at the southern end. It has been stocked with fish. On the east border
is a pleasant grove of evergreen and other trees. There is a pavilion on the
eastern bank, and boats are provided for guests. This plate is much resorted
to for picnics and other parties.

The facilities of travel arc good. The roads are kept in good repair, and
the bottom is hard and permanent. Bridges cost but little in comparison, as
there are no great and violent streams, with soft bottoms, to cross.

As the town was formerly within the limits of Lancaster, and afterwards of
Bolton, its history is included in them for more than a hundred years after the
first settlers struck their axes into the primeval fin-cst. This accounts for the
fact that Lancasternamcs abound in the town, though an admixture of others
has come in duriug the last half century. The proprietors of the mother
town settled their children on their divisions of land iu the towns that were
formed from her broad domain. Hence we find Sawyers, Carters, Wdders
and some of the Fairbanks race, as well as of others, in her records. It will be
convenient for the reader to remember that the region between Sudbury and
the Nashua Valley was left almost without inhabitants for a long period. Those
who were hardy enough to move west from the west line of Sudbury, passed
over the height of land, and settled in the beautiful valley beyond, and thus
Lancaster became a radiating centre, which sent out settlers in every direction.
Lancaster as a settlement was nearly one hundred years old before there were
people enough in Bolton to form a town. The part which is now Berlin,
became a society or district, about forty-six years later. The original inhabi-
tants were generally of the old stock. Those who came up from the lower
towns in after jears, were similar in race, religion and habits. The whole
people were homogeneous. They owned the farms which they cultivated, which
is very much the case to the present day. Hence the people have an inde-
pendent and self-respectiug character.

The origin of the church was peculiar, and, in some respects, unpleasant.
When the Rev. Mr. Goss of Bolton was dismissed by his own people, without
the orderly advice of an ecclesiastical council, the ministers and some of the
churches in the neighboring towns regarded their action as schisniatical ; and
when they proceeded to settle the Rev. Mr. Walley, were slow to recognize
him or his church as in good standing. It so happened that most of those who
proposed to form the new church in the south part of Bolton, were Walleyites,
and oppcjsed to Mr. Goss. On this account the council deliberated two days
before proceeding to the service of recognizing the new religious organization.
The council advised the church to abstain from fellowship with the Walleyites.
This led to another council, which took the same ground. These proceedings
were iu the spring of 1779. As the church was composed of both Gossites
and Walleyites, it was difficult to suit all parties. However, the church was
fiually formed, and, in 1781, the Rev. Reuben Puffer was ordained their min-

274 TOWN OF BERLIN.

ister. This was three years lioforo the district or precinct of Berlin was
authorized by law. Notwithstanding the troubles which attended the birth of
the church, it seems 1o have had a peaceable life and a healthy prowlh during
the pastorate of Dr. Puffer. The ordination services were held under a tree,
not far from the spot where the Orthodox church now stands. As there was
no meeting-house, Capt. Samuel Jones opened his tavern for the holding of
meetings. The church consisted of fifty meml)ers, and the pastor was received
as a member on the day of his ordination. AVIieu the meeting-house was
raised, rum and cider were provided, according to the ancient custom. Twelve
years later, the house was painted. The military stock of the town was kept
in the garret, or attic, in modern phrase. Mr. Puffer, when ordained, was
twenty-five years old, and was considered a handsome man. He continued in
the pastorate till 1829, a period of fort3-eight years, and died at the ripe age
of seventy-six years. He had followed nearly all who welcomed him to the
town to the grave, and also many of their children and grandchildren. He
is said to have been an earnest, friendly man, who set a good exam[)!e to his
flock. In 1820 there were seventy members in the church. He had admitted
one hundred and ten by profession, sixteen by letter, and one hundred and
eight on the half-way covenant plan. His pastorate was fairly prosperous,
considering the size of his parish. He loved peace, and during his life the
controversy which was rising between the Orthodox and the Unitarians in other
places, was kept comparatively quiet. The struggle came in choosing a new
minister. Previous to 1824, all the town belonged to the first parish unless
they joined some other religious society. From this, it followed, that often a
chiu'ch was in connection with a town, the great majority of which was not in
religions sympathy with it. Men of all sorts of belief and unbelief had a
legal right to go into the town-meeting, which was a parish meeting, and vote
for a minister whom the church could not vote for or listen to as a religious
teacher. The town, in 1830, chose the Rev. Robert F. Walcut. The church
voted against his settlement. The decision of the Supreme Court in the Ded-
ham case gave the meeting-house to the parish, and recognized the remnant of
church members who retained their connection with it, as the church. But
seven-eighths of the church did not want Mr. "Walcut, and .all, except seven,
withdrew. The Unitarian party retained the house, and the Orthodox wor-
shipped in private houses, for a lime, and had Dr. Puffer's manuscript sermons
read to them. In the course of a year, they had a house of their own, and
thus closed an unhappy period of town and church history. Leaving ecclesi-
astical matters for the present, we will attend to other things of interest.

The business of the people of Berlin, in all generations, has been princi-
pally in the agricultural line. There are about seven thousand acres of laud
within the present limits of the town. What proportion was under cultivation
in former times in comparison with the present, cannot be known with certainty,
■but it is not probable that much that was once under the plow has become

PRODUCTS AND EDUCATION.

waste land, Hioug;!! some may liave grown np to wood after the fiist g'owih
was cut. In 187."), tliire were six thousand nine liuudre 1 and ciirliti'cn atrea
of land under cr()[)s, orchards, woodland, " iniimprovcd laud, and unuiipruv-
able land." Only one hundred ten and a half acres arc counted as " uiiiui-
proval)le." There arc in the town two hundred and nine dwelling houses, and
nine hundred and eighty-seven inhabitants. The houses connected with I'aruis
number one hundred and seventeen. The barns, sheds, shops, cider-mills and
other buiklings belougiug ti) farms, are two hundred and seventeen. The ninn-
bir of fruit trees and vines is about fourteen thousand, of which about elc\en
and a half tiiousand arc apple trees. The value of doirestic animals was
nearly forty-two thousand dollars. The value of manuficlured articles imder
the head of "value of goods made and work done,"' in 1875, was one linndi'ed
and seventy-one thousand dollars. The value of .'^hoes covers nearly the whole
of this amount, being one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The value of
agricultural products was ni^arly ninety-one thousand, and the value of all }jrod-
ucts about two hundrtd and sixty-three thousand dollars. Thri valuatioa of
the town was four hundred and sixty-seven thousand two hundred and seventy-
five dollars. The income of the iidiabitants is much larijcr than the value of
the products of their labor, as their money is invested iu stocks, or in business
carried on elsewhere.

The railway connections of the town are superior. The Boston, Clinton
and Filchburg (now the Old Colony) road crosses diagonally from Northbor-
ough to Clinton, and the jMassachiisetts Central, now in pi-ccess of building,
forms a junction at West Berlin. There ai'c (our small villages in the t((wn ;
viz., Berlin Centre, West Berlin, South Berlin and Carterville. The two lirst
have post-ofEces. There is a hotel and a memorial hall in the centre. A
I'arniers' club, and a debating society fmnish instruction and amnsenjent in the
autumn and winter. There is an average degree of intellectual activity and
literary taste.

Owing to the limited extent of the town, the districts or divisions for schools
have always been few. At present, there are five schools. The average length
of the schools is six months and seven days. All the teachers are fcnudes,
and their average pay is thirty-thi-ee dollars per month. This is according to
the returns of 1877-8. The appropriation for schools was eleven hundred dol-
lars, and the expense for superintendence and printing was seventy-five dollars
in addition. There is a local school fund of a little over two thousand dollai-s,
which gives an income of one hundred and forty-one dollars. The number of
school children was one hundred and eighty-three, and the sum raised for each
child was six dollars and fifty-seven cents. The rank of the town was, in this
regard, the fifty-first in the list of fifty-eight towns. In the matter of average
attendance, the town ranks as the twenty-fourth.

Berlin has no Indian history distinct from that of the towns from which it
was derived. That there were Indians within the limits is shown by the implc-

276 TOWN OF BERLIN.

Dieiits ■which have been formerly discovered, sucli as mortars, arrow-heads and
tomahawks ; but there is no tradition that the}' had a fixed settlement here like
that at Washacum Pond ; nor is there any evidence that an}- persons were
killed on its territory in the numerous raids made on Lancaster. The men.
however, 'ucre out in the French and Lidian wars in fair proportion.

The same is true of the licvolution ; and, as Bolton included Berlin at that
time, its heroes are to be found on the rolls of her company or companies.
That they heard the news from Lexington and Concord on the 19th of Ai)ril,
1775, before many hours had passed after the fight at the North Bridge in
Concord, is certain ; and equally certain that they responded to the call of their
countiymcn.

The records in relation to the part taken by the town in suppressing the
Rebellion in 18G1-65 are more full and explicit. Though the population is
small, yet the number of soldiers supplied was one hundred and thirty. The
money raised to carry on the war was over fourteen thousand, and the State
aid was eleven thousand two hundred and thirty-three dollars. But in this
case, as in that of all the towns, the cost of the war was far greater. All the
internal revenue tax, and all the customs duties, nearly, were spent in main-
taining the government, and the people of Berlin paid their part in these forms
of taxation. The first meeting in relation to the Kebcllion was held as early
as May 6, 1861, Avhen spirited resolutions were passed. These arc some of
the sentiments: "The time has come for action, — resolute, determined, de-
cisive action. Liberty imperiled, the laws defied, the Constitution tram[)i(Hl
upon, and the old flag trailed in the dust hy traitorous hands, call in tones of
thunder to every patriot to arm and strike a blow at once for liberty and law,
for God and justice." Again : " AVe cheerfully accept the situation, and will
resolutely stand on oiu" country's defence, and, in proportion to our means and
mnnbcrs, will contribute of the same to the support of the Government until
the old flag shall wave over the whole land as the emblem of ecpality, liberty
and law." The town raised two thousand dollars at once for "fitting out
volunteers for the defence of the Government." And in 1862, it was voted to
" pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for
three years, and be credited to the quota of the town." Nine men over and
above all demands were furnished. Three were commissioned oflicei's. The
ladies of the town formed a ''Soldiers' Aid Society," and did "soldiers' work"
for the sanitary commission. They also collected over seven hundred dollars
to purchase materials to made into under-clothing, socks and other garments
for the soldiers. The average attendance at their meetings was about fifty.
Twenty-three men fell in the war by various casualties.

Returning to church aflairs, a few items pertaining to more recent history here
find a place. The successor of Mr. Walcut in the old parish was Rev. David
R. Lamson, who was settled in 1834, and received eleven into the church.
Service seems to have been omitted for a series of years ; but a Unitarian

PROMINENT MEN. 277

Society was formed in 1872, and Rev. George W. Green was the pastor. Tlio
present minister of this society is Rev. Selden C. Clark. ,

The first successor of Dr. Puffer as pastor of the Orthodox Church was Rev.
Abraham C. Bahluin, who was settled Oct. 2G, 1830. He was a graduate of
Bowdoin College, and had studied theology under Rev. Dr. Lyuian Beecher,
and Rev. Dr. Taylor of New ILiven. As a pulpit orator, he possessed uncom-
mon power. After a ministry of about two years, during which forty-six were
added to the church, he was dismissed, to the great regret of his people.
Rev. ^Michael Burdett and Rev. Eber L. Clark occupied the pulpit as pas-
tors during the next five ycai's. The latter was an aljle and useful man in
other parishes. The Rev. Robert Carver was pastor during the live years
preceding 1843, in wiiich fifty-three were added to the church. Rev. Henry
Adams was received Oct. 25, 1843 ; the two parishes were united, and he was
the minister of the united congregation. Forty-seven were added during his
pastorate. He was followed by the Rev. "William A. Houghton, a graduate of
Yalo College and Scminarj^, who was installed Oct. 26, 1853.. His connection
still continues, thcnigh the Rev. A. B. Chi'ist}' was ordained pastor of the
church and parish, July 3, 1879, with his hearty concun-ence. The centennial
of the church was held the next day, July 4, when Mr. Houghton gave an
able and most interesting historical discourse. In the afternoon, there was a
collation in a grove, and addresses were made by citizens and friends from
adjoining towns and churches. There was Methodist preaching in the town at
one time, but there is no established church of that order. Several families of
Friends or Quakers have lived here a long time. Their house of worship is in
Bolton.

Among the noted men born or residing in Berlin, the following may be
mentioned, without slighting others of honorable reputation. The Hon.
Samuel Baker filled a large place in the politics of the county soon after the
Constitution was formed, and many years later he was the leading senator from
the county in the State senate, nearly every year iVom 1780 to 1794. His
farm was in the northerly part of the town, where he built a "handsome, large
mansion house." Says the former historian of the count}-, there is here " found
a quarry of most valuable stone, of a light gray color. The stoucs are re-
markable for an excellent cjuality which resisteth the effects of fire."

The Rev. Dr. Puifer is still remembered with respect and aflection. His
sermons, in manuscript, are still kept and exhibited by the children of those
who sat under his ministry. Though living in a retired countr}- parish, and
not courting notoriot}', he was called to preach on several public occasions.
One was the election sermon in 1803, another the Dudieian lecture in 1808,
and a third, the convention sermon, as it was called, in 1811. Besides he pub-
lished an address, delivered on the fourth of July, 1810, and two discourses on
leaving the old and entering the new meeting-house in 182G. There is a
pleasant anecdote connected with the Dudieian lecture. It excited great atten-

278 TOWN OF BERLTX.

tion at the time, and was printed by request of the students. The Eev.
Dr. Joseph Allen, late of Northborough, who was then in college, gives an
interesting account of the occurrence. It appears that the students had not
heard of the preacher as a man of a])ility, and went to the service simply as
a matter of college routine, but as he entered with the president, and took
his seat, "wc were struck at once by his whole appearance, so dignified, and
yet so modest and unassuming. And when he arose to address that silent
audience, his serious aspect, his distinct and manly utterance, the music of his
voice, and the ease and grace of his gestures, at once arrested and enchained
our attention." He then speaks of the patience and interest with which all,
even to the youngest, listened to the whole lecture, and j^roceeds : — "I well
remember how, on leaving the chapel, we began to express one to another our
admiration of the discourse, and our interest in the man whose persuasive
words had so touched our hearts." Learning that he was in straitened circum-
stances, with a family of ten children, "class-meetings Mere called, and a
committee was appointed to solicit a copy for publication." An extra price
was charged, and some of tlae more wealthy students took a large luuuber of
copies. In this way a "very handsome sum was collected," w^hich was in-
creased by fifty dollars from the Dudleian fund. Dr. Puffer was a very indus-
trious man, and, what can be said of few, always had several sermons in
advance. At his decease there were over fifty which had not Ijeen preached.
It is related that when Dr. Puifer preached the election sermon before the
General Court the following incident occurred. The member from Berlin was
proud of his minister, and had often spoken of him in high terms to the
member from Westborough, who sat beside him in the house. The Doct<jr in
accordance with the usage of those invited to preach the election sermon, had
written his prayer, which preceded the discouse, and ccjmmitted it to memory.
But as this was contrary to his usual way, he soon forgot what was written,
and became embarrassed in the eflort to rememl)cr. He was near breaking
down in the midst of his devotions. The member from Westborough nudged
his friend, and said, "That's your minister, ch?" But soon the Doctor left his
written prayer, and gave himself to the spontaneous utterance of his heart,
when his petition became so pertinent, copious and earnest that the whole
assembly was held in rapt attention. At the close the member from Berlin
turned to his friend, and said, "That's my minister."

1 he records remain of a temporary diflerence which arose between Dr.
Puller, and the Eev. Peter Whitney, then of Northborough, and the historian
of liie county. The story should be told, in brief, as illustrating a state of
things which was once a matter of importance, but which has entirely parsed
away. A family in Northborough lost a member, and Dr. Puffer was invited
to ofSciatc at the funeral. He complied, whereupon Mr. Whitney was offended ,
and wrote that unless the matter was satisfactorily explained, all ministerial
intercourse must cease. This was founded on the fact that the old parishes

EMINENT MEN. 279

had tcrritoriiil limits, l)oyond which a minister was regarded as an interloper.
Dr. Puffer recognized this claim, but explained his action in this ease in such a
Avay that Mr. Whitney was satislied, and amicable relations were restored.
The correspondence is a fine specimen of precise, dignified and courteous
composition. But what a change ! No one would now think of restricting a
family in the choice of a minister on the sad occasion of a funeral.

The late Hon. Solomon Henry Howe of Bolton, who was suddenly stricken
down in the midst of his days, the present year, was a native of Bolton, and
felt a deep interest in its prosperity and good name. His place of worship
was in the church where his brother-in-law, Mr. Houghton, was the pastor.
As a merchant in Boston, an active railroad manager, a prominent actor in
political life, a president of the Worcester County Agricultural Society, and a
successful farmer, he filled a large place in the circles in which he moved.
W'illiam A. Howe, an elder brother, was a successful merchant in Boston.
He was the first president of the Eliot Insurance Company, and also of the
Eliot Bank. His death occurred in 18(53. Among the physicians of the town
in former and present times, are these : Drs. Daniel Brigham, Samuel Griggs,
J. L. S. Thompson, Edward Hartshorn, now in Somerville, and Lemuel Gott.
Rev. Barnabas M. Fay, Eev. Wiiithrop Bailey, and Eev. Wiuthrop S. Bailey,
and Joshua J. Johnson, M. D. were natives of the town.

The centre of the town is eleven and one-half miles from the court-house iu
Worcester, and about thirty-two miles from Boston.

Madame Rudersdorf, the celebrated vocalist and teacher of music, has a
permanent residence in the town, and receives musical pupils.

280 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

BLACK ST ONE.

BY JUDGE ARTHUR A. PUTNAM.

CHAPTER I.

TERRITORY AND SURFACE REASON OF NAME CIRCUMSTANCES OF SEPARA-
TION — LOCAL DIVISIONS AND VILLAGES EARLY SETTLERS CHURCHES —

QUAKERS BAPTISTS — METHODISTS EPISCOP^VLIANS CATHOLICS MILLS

AND MANUFACTURES.

Of the six towns formed, in whole or part, out of the original precinct of
Mendon, Blackstonc, incorporated March 25, 1845, was the last, in area the
least, and in population the largest. The south-easternmost town of the
county, its territory a rectangle of twelve square miles, well diversified by
hill, vale, woodland and stream, too rocky and sandy-soiled for jirotitaljlc
farming, but exceptionally favored with water-power and railway facilities —
few towns of the State arc more admirable in situation for the purposes of
business. Diagonally through the south-western portion flows in ample sweep
the river which two centuries and more ago took its name from the fii-st white
settler upon its banks, William Blackstone, the non-conformist. For him, too,
after warm debate, the town was named, those favoring the municipal name of
South jNIendon being overborne by the ardor of others, headed by j\Ir. Dan
Hill, who urged the historical fitness of thus recognizing the libcrly-Ioving
man of letters whose name was impcrishaljly associated with the valley of the
Great River. The home of this famous man, however, called "Study Hall,"
after he sold out the peniusula of Shawmut to the Puritans at Boston, and
migrated westward in 1G35, was in the neighborhood of Lonsdale, R. I.,
where he lived till 1675, "neere Master Roger Williams, but far from his
opinions."

Anomalous, in the division of towns, is the circumstance that the petition
for the incorporation of Blackstonc originated, not with the people who were
to form the new town, but with citizens of the old municipality, which would
thus lose three-fifths of its population, and over half its valuation. By a
majority of the former, the proposition was strenuously opposed ; and so did
the opposition hold over after the incorporation, that in the first election of

TERRITORY AND NAME. 281

town officers the issue was, "Who favored incorporation?" and the officers
elected wei-e all men who had opposed it.

The principal localities that guide the speech of the inhaliitants are the
viHagcs of Blackstone, "Waterford, jMillvillc, Chestnut Ilill, Covcrdalc Place,
Five Corners and East Blackstone. Blackstone and Waterford, though
merged now by growth into one village, are names still used to distinguish the
eastern from the western portion. This duplex village contains al)out two-
thirds of the population, is located along the southern border, and so laps over
into Rhode Island, with its factories and dwellings, that the State line passes
embarrassingly through an eastern fragment of it. Midway of the village, in
its cjuarter-milc stretch along the valky, is the important junction of the
Providence and Worcester, and New York and New England railways, and
nearly equidistant from it, some two and a half miles, are the other localities
above named. Through Millviile, at the north-west, pass both the railways,
and near East Blackstone runs the Woonsocket In-anch of the New York and
New England road. The proximity of tlie bulk of its population to a very
populous section of the border State, is to be remarked as an eccentric influ-
ence upon the social and Ijusincss life of the town.

The town territory includes what, by the Act of 1766, was established as
the South Precinct of Mendon. It is believed that no settlements were here
made Ijcfore the year. 1700. Between 1705 and about 1725 the flow of settlers
hither appears to have been quite constant and considerable. Among the
earliest land-owners to be named are Josiah Thayer and Eleazer Daniels, who
settled in the neighborhood of the Coverdale place; Benoni Benson, David
Thompson and Ebcuezcr Thayer, whose vicinity was Chestnut Hill ; and
Samuel Thompson and John and Daniel Darling, who first improved land in
the region of Millviile ; Samuel Thompson had a "corn mill" at the latter
place, in about 1727, and it is l)clieved was the first man above Woonsocket to
use the water-power of the Blackstone. Descendants of these early settlers
form a strong element of the present population.

The meeting-house first erected within the town limits, is the quaint struc-
ture now standing in the little hamlet of Chestnut Hill. Built in 17(!9, it is,
with its adjoining church-yard, "where heaves the turf in many a moiddering
heap," a point of much historic interest to the immediate comnumity. Of
settled pastors since the organization of the chuiv^h there seem to have l)een
but two — Rev. Benjamin Balch, who. ordained in 1768, "left in an abrupt
and clandestine manner" in 177^. ; and Rev. Preserved Smith, M'hose niiuislry,
from 1805 till about 1812, left a gracious memory. As long ago, perhaps, as
1830, the church proper became extinct ; but with varying intervals of inter-
ruption, the meeting-house has been used for preaching, stated or occasional,
down to the present day. Doubtless, the walls of no other church edifice in
New England have resounded to such a variety of doctrine and discussion.
Scarcely a sect but has here been heard, scarcely a reform but has here beeu

282 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

agitated. The famous Dr. Emmons here inciileatcd the Ilopkinsiaii theology,
and here, more than once, the eeeentric Lorenzo Dow electriiied his audience;.
Beneath the same sounding-board that still depends from its plaee stood some
of the earliest advocates of the cause of the Revolution, of anti-slavery, of
temperance, and of the Union against secession.

Hardly less remembered is the Old House as the place of many a town
meeting, especially the exciting ones that debated, what seemed to so many a
deplorable piece f)f progress, the incorpoi-ation of Blackstone. As the vener-
able structure neared its hundredth year, it was in disuse and much dilapidated.
Through the timely exertions of Caleb Thayer, John Darling, Hiraui Daniels,
Horace A. Benson, Alvin C. Robbins and others, near $1,000 was raised and
expended in repairing and improving it, and on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1809,
its centennial was celebrated with appropriate exercises, the Rev. Adiii Ballon
of Hopcdale preaching an historical discourse. Since that time there has
been afternoon preaching in the summer time by ministers of various denom-
inations frtnn far and near.

From a very early date the Friends were a growing sect in the northerly
section of the town. Sanuiel Smith, in 1799, conveyed to trustees for the
society a lot of land, on which the present meeting-house there was built in
1812, at a cost of $525. The house has genei-ally been kept in good con-
dition and is still used for weekly meetings.

The Mendon Free-Will Baptist Church of Christ, organized Oct. 30, 1822,
took the name of the Free-Will Baptist Church of Waterford, Aug. 9, 1845.
Prior to building the present meeting-bouse in 1841, the church worshipped
in private houses, in the Blackstone school-house, and during the 3'cars 1837,
1838, 1839, 1840 in the meeting-house belonging to the Blackstone Company.
The first nine yeai's of its existence the church was without a stated preacher ;
the principal ministers officiating in this interval being Elders Reuben Allen,
David Swett, Joseph White, Ahab Read and D. Williams. Elder Maxcy
W. Burlingamc became pastor in 1831, and served till 1840. Siuce his time
it should appear from the imperfect records that the church has been under
the pastoral charge of ministers, as follows : Benjamin D. Peck, from 1840 to
1848; Thomas Brown, 1848 to 1849; Martin J. Steere, 1850 to 1853; Ed-
mund M. Tappan, 1854 to 1857; Justus Erskine, 1858 to 1859; William II.
Bowen, 1859 to 1802; J. A. Howe, 1802 to 1804; E. W. Porter, 1864 to
1808; M. E. Phetteplace, 1868 to 1869; James Band, 1870 to 1872; Samuel
D. Church, 1872 to 1876. The present pastor. Rev. Theodore G. Wilder,
was installed December, 1876. For many years the church received annually
a liberal contriltution from the proprietors of the Waterford jNIills, but has
been less fortunate in this regai'd the past year or two.

The Blackstone Congregational Church, organized April 15, 1841, called as
its first pastor, Rev. JMichacl Burdett, who was dismissed Feb. 10, 1852. His
successor, Rev. Joseph W. Backus, ordained Sept. 29, 1852, resigned his min-

INTERIOR VIEW OF THE OLD CHESTNIT HILL MEETING-HOUSE, HLACKSTONE, MASS.

(Built in 1769.)

CHURCHES AND PASTORS. 283

istry March 18, 1855. From September, 1855, to November, 1861, Rev. T.
E. Bliss was the acting pastor: and from June, 1862, to June, 1872, Rev.
John E. Edwards. Rev. All)crt W. Moore, ordained Jan. 22, 1873, and re-
signing Jan. 7, 1874, was succeeded. May 21, 1876, by the present pastor.
Rev. George F. Walker. This church has been singularly fortunate in tlie
lil)cra1 support it has uniformly received iVom the Blackstoue Manufacturing
Company. The meeting-house was Ijuilt in l8r)6 by the company, who still
own and keep it in excellent condition, and allow the church its use free of
charge.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Millviile was organized ]\Iarch 3, 1850.
Rev. Daniel Fillmore was minister in 1849, '50 ; Nelson Goodrich, 1851, '52 ;
John E. Gifford, 1852, '53 ; Charles Nason, 1853, '54, '55 ; John A. M. Chap-
man, 1855, '56; Asa U. Swinerton, 1856, '57; AViliiam N. Morrison, 1857,
'58, '59 ; Charles A. Merrill, 1859, '60, '61 ; George M. Hamlin, 1861, '62, '63 ;
Lewis B. Bates, 1863, '64, '65, '66; William Kcllen, 1866, '67; Henry W.
Conant, 1867. '68; Frederick C. Newell, 1868, '69, '70; Thomas S. Thomas,
1870, '71 ; Samuel E. Evans, 1871, '72 ; Walter J. Yates, 1872, '73, '74, '75 ;
Edwin G. Babcock, 1875, '76; William H. Turkington, 1876, '77; R. D.
Dyson, 1877, '78; Avho was succeeded l)y the present pastor, Rev. John H.
Sherman.

Until this church was organized, its original members, in part, were associ-
ated with the Methodist Reformed Church, Morshipping in the meeting-house
built in 1833, and now owned by Remington Southwick. The presiding elder,
having appointed in 1849 a minister for the Reformed Methodist Church, a
disagreement arose regarding the application of "pew rents" in support of the
preaching. This led to the withdrawal of the Methodist Episcopal Chm-ch
members, who proceeded to worship in the then unoccupied meeting-house
(built in 1838) of the "Prcsliytcrian Orthodox," of- whom the church, organized
as above stated, afterwards purchased it.

The St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church at Millviile, was organized
May 14, 1849. Tlie corner-stone of the church edifice was laid by Bishop
Eastburn, July 16, 1850. The church was opened for worship at Easter, 1851,
and consecrated Dec. 7, 1854. Of the $12,000 expended for the church prop-
erty, about $7,000 was contriliuted by Edward S. Hall, to whose Christian
zeal the organization of the church Mas mainl}' due, and whose munificence is
a cherished memory in the parish. Until the completion of the meeting-house
services were held in the hall of Newton Darling. Rev. John W. Birchmore
was minister from May 14, 1849, till Easter, 1852. Rev. Spencer M. Rice
was called to the rectorship May 17, 1852, and resigned Jan. 1, 1855. Rev.
Alfred B. Goodrich, called April 1, 1855, left Aug. 16, 1859, and was suc-
ceeded, Feb. 22, 1860, by Rev. John V. Lewis, who resigned October, 1862.
Rev. George Rumncy was called Dec. 10, 1862, and remained till Feb 7,
1872, when Rev. Edward H. True became rector. After him Rev. John 1).

284 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

McConkcy, Oct. 14, 1876, assumed the cliarge, and was rector till Jan. 25,
1878. The present pastor, Rev. J. C. Hcakl, became rector July 1, 1878.

In 1847 a Methodist Society was formed at Watcrford, and supported
preaching for about two years, in what was then called "Odd Fellows' Hall,"
now a dwelling-house of James Campbell, close upon Fox Brook. Jercmi;ih
Planaford was the minister.

The Methodist Episcopal Society of East Blackstone was organized April 24,
1869. The meeting-house was built the same j'car at a cost of $3,500. For
two years previous, meetings were held in the school-house of the village. Rev.
T. B. Gurney was the minister from 1868 to 1870 ; Rev. James II. Cooley
from 1870 to 1872, and Rev. E. N. Maynard from 1872 to 1874. Rev. William
R. Mays and Rev. N. G. Axtell, then preached until the spring of 1877, when
the present pastor, Rev. Charles Nason, was assigned to the charge.

The Methodist Episcopal Society of Watcrford was organized April, 1878,
Rev. Alfred A. Prcsbury was the first appointed minister. The present
preacher is Rev. J. H. Sherman, who also preaches at Millville.

The church of St. Paul was founded in 1850. Years prior to the erection of
the chuich edifice, the more faithful of the growing Catholic population
assemljlcd, as the missionary could visit them, in private houses. The first
mass ever offered in town was in 1834, at the house of a devout Catholic,
Edward McCabe. The chui-ch is a plain Gothic structure, of stone, commenced
in the autumn of 1850, and dedicated by Bishop Fitzpatrick in 1852. In 1872
it was enlarged, adorned by a tower, and supplied with a bell. It now seats
about 900. The parish numbers some 3,000 souls. The first priest. Rev.
Charles O'Reilly, held his trust till his decease in September, 1857. His
successor. Rev. E. J. Sheridan, officiated till transferred to Boston, in 1867.
Rev. T. II. Bannou was then appointed, but ill-health compelled his resignation
in 1870, and in October of that year Rev. William A. Power, the present
devoted pastor, was instnllcd. Institute Ilall, used for the Sunday-school and
other parish purposes, is a fine building, erected in 1874, at a cost of $9,000.
Another church is in process of erection at Millville, to meet the wants of the
numerous parish. Until its completion, the Catholics of the village occupy,
under a lease, the old Methodist Reformed Church owned by Remington
Southwick.

The first of the notable pile of stone buildings which form the establishment
of the Blackstone Manufacturing Company was erected, perhaps, in 1809.
The figures " 1808," on the "Old Mill," date more truly the conception of the
enterprise, Samuel Butler, Seth Wheaton, Cyrus Butler, Nicholas Brown and
Thomas P. Ives, all of Providence, were the original proprietors. Prior to
their purchase of the land for the purpose, but one building, a mere hovel,
stood in all the vicinity now covered by Blackstone and Waterford villages.
Save a small patch or two of clear ground, the scene was of wood, rock, swamp
and thicket, through which the "Great River" poured over its winding way in

MANUFACTORIES.

285

lonely waste of power. The erection of the mill wrought a speedy change. A
villnge sprang up, whose growth kept i>ace with the successive enlargements of
the factory. These were maile in 1841, '45, '47 and '54. The original mill is
known in the yard ns Xo. 1, and the enlargements, iu the order of their con-
struction, as Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The company, under the above name, and
comi)osed of the persons named, was formed Sept. 11, 1809, under articles of
agreement, with a capital stock of $200,000, of $1,000 each. It was subse-
quently incorporated by law of Rhode Island, and by special legislative act,
Feb. 22, 1841, of this State, authorized to hold real estate in INIendon (Black-
stone) not exceeding $300,000 in value. The capital stock now is $500,000.
Besides the mill itself, the company's other property in and adjacent to the
town includes nearly the whole of the Blackstone village, and 264 acres of
land, much of it in a tine state of cultivation. Its share of the tax assessed by
the town is quite one-third part. In the last 25 years it has employed
annually about 800 hands iu the mill, and from 50 to 100 outside. Its business
is done with a system that falls little short of perfection, and ti'e entire
premises of the establishment, including the village streets and teucment-
houses, arc observable for their tidiness and thrifty condition. Order, con-
venience and cleanliness are the features of the place. The mill-yard in
simnner time, shaded by beautifid trees, and picturesque by its comljiuation of
lawn, mall and trench, presents an attractive scene, admired by travelers
passing it on the railway.

The privilege of this mill is, doubtless, of the very best in the land. The
situation is altogether peculiar. A semi-circular sweep of the river, for a full
mile, forms a cape of land, athwart which, in a half mile curve, is the siretch
of reservoir and trench. Upon the down-stream extremit}' of the island thus
made is the mill, whose huge wheels are turned by a waterlall of 32 feet. The
arrangement seems sufBciently simple, but it has been remarked that the mind
only of genius, iu a survey of the unwrought premises, could have conceived
the plan. The company's local agent, from 1834 to 1853, was Silas II.
Kimljall. He was succeeded by his son, Ilenry C. Kimball, Esq., who still
holds the p'lsition. The manufactures of tiie mill are prinf-elotiis and thcet-
iugs, and the extent of its business is indicated liy tiio following tigines :

18S5.

186S.

1875.

1878.

Cotton used, pouncis, ....

i,C7.^),ono

1,175,000

2,014,000

2,550,000

CiK\\ " tons, ....

i,nco

C50

1 ,700

1 ,200

Oil " gallons, ....

■i.SOO

3,200

4,000

6,000

Starch " pniinds, ....

•4.'5,0()0

25,000

44,000

50,000

Gas " feet, ....

],GoO,000

900,000

1,445,000

1,G50,000

Hands employed

82.5

0)17

800

7G5

Cloth m.ade, pounds, ....

1,247,000

860,000

1,605,000

2,060,000

yards, ....

7,115,000

5,772,000

9,500,000

9,880,000

286 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

The water-power at Millville lius been more or less utilized by grist a:id saw
mills since 1820. Alexander Wilson made axes for a few years from 1808,
and then was a manufacturer of scythes, until his decease in 1842. His son-
in-law, Euclid Chadcy, continued the business a short time, and was succeeded
by Newton Darling, who carried it on several years. For years preceding
woolen manufacture here, a " clothier's mill " and fulling-mill v.'cre in opcraiion.
Esck Pitts commenced making cloth in about 1812, " doing his carding and
spinning in an old building near Capron's grist-mill, and his weaving by hand,
in a shop up on his farm." In 1814 he built his woolen-mill, believed to be
the first on the Blaekstone. This ho run till 1823, when he formed a partner-
ship with his son-in-law, jMoscs Buffum. Thayer & Fairbanks leased the
"Island" in 1835, and built the mill there. In 1825 Collins Capron built the
stone mill burnt in the conflagration of 1874. In 1845 W. Farnuni Iionght
out the entire privilege, including the several mills, tenement-houses and
other buildings then appurtenant, and at once built a large mill below the
stone mill. The premises thus improved he subsequently leased to E. S. & C.
E. Hall, who, following Jlr. Farnum's failure in 1854, became the owners.
They suffered an accumulating mortgage on the property, v»hich, in 1871, was
foreclosed liy the mortgagee, A. T. Stewart of A"ew York, and in 1872 the
whole estate was conveyed to Harrison Bliss and others of Worcester, who,
in 1877, sold to the present proprietors, the Lawrence Felting Company. The
same year the compau}^ erected its large and elegant factory for (lie manufac-
ture of felt. The scytho factory, built by H. S. Mansfield in 1871, was in
operation till 1875. It was purchased by Messrs. Booth & Kidd in 1877, who
enlarged and converted it into a woolen-mill, with four sets of machinery.

The Millville privilege is among the very best, but owing to frequent
reverses, through failures and fires, the village has never attained a prosperity
proportionate to its manufacturing facilities. Its future, however, seems
now better assured by the new establishment there of the Felting Company,
added to four other mills in successful operation, and various improvements
recently made, of a permanent and growth-promising character.

At Eist Blaekstone the water-power is derived frcnn Mill River and its trib-
utaiy, Quick Stream. The river takes a southerly course from llic Mcudou
line (iirough the town. The power of this river was used at a very early date
by a grist-mill, for many years Iho only one in all the country round about, and
which is still run by Andrew Kelly, a descendant of the ancient prf)prictor.
In about 1790 Congress and Benjamin Tha^-er estal)lishcd a forgo upon the
liver, whicii was in quite successful operation for some twenty yeais. Just
below the forge, in 1809, Seth Kelly and Janies Paine built a cotton-mill which
was used as such till burned in 1804. Near the grist-mill, John, David and
Daniel Kelly built a cotton-mill, in about 1817. It was made into a woolen-
mill in 18G3, with two sets of machinery, and l)in-nt in 1874, while run by John
C. Scott. "Squat Mill," built in 181(5 by Joseph Ray, was torn down a few

MILLS AND OWNERS.

287

years ago. The brick mill, now clilapidatod, just above it, was hiiilt l)y Caleb
Colvin in 1818. This lias been in tlisiiso since 1840. Li 1815 a machine-shop
upon Qnick Stream was bnilt by Joseph Ray. It was occupictl for tiie manu-
facture of mill machinery till al):)ut 1840, when it Ijccame a cotton-yarn mill.
As such it was run for a time by Emory Scott; was bought in lS(J(j by Eiias
S. Ballon, and passed into the hands of the present proprietors, Smilh & Ballon,
in 187G. The wooleu-mill now standing near the site of the old forge, was
built in ]8()5, by Andrew Aldrirh.

Until 182") the site of Watcrford village was for the most part a waste, com-
bining bog, swale and sand-lot. That year W. & D. D. Farnnm l)uilt the
first mill; the second was built in 1828, and the third in 1835. They were
numbered one, two and three, in order inverse to the time of erection. No. 1
was iu part burnt in 1843, and immediately rebuilt with an additional story.
Partially burnt again in 18G4, it was rebuilt in suljstantially the same propor-
tions. This mill, though standing just over the State line, is so associated with
Blackstono as to be properly included in any mention of the industry of (he
village of which it forms a part. No. 3, the oldest mill, was burnt in 1877 and
has not been rebuilt. Satinets were for the first fifteen years manulactnred
with great success in this mill. It is said that in the year 1829 its proprietors
made $80,000 iu the business. No. 2 was used for the manufacture of cotton
warps till 1837, but since 1840 only woolen goods have been made in the
three mills. No. 1 has 25 sets of machinery ; No. 2, 12 ; and No. 3 had 12.

Exhibit of 3Ianufactures and related Occupations, Derived from the State

Census of 1875.

MANUFACTURES.

XumbCTof

Est:ib}|sh-

mcnts.

Capital Invested.

Vnltlc of poods

mud;' and work

duuc.

Beer, spruce, ....
Coots aiul shoes,. , , ,

Carriages,

Cassimcres, ....
Clothiunf,

Cotton sheetings and print cloths,
Cotton jarn, ....

Cutlery

Lumber and meal,

" sawed, ....

Meal,

Satinets,

Shoddy,

Spindles, bolsters, step eaps, &c.,
Toy furniture, ....
Woolen flocks, ....
Woolen goods, ....

Occupations.
Blaeksmithing, ....
Butihi'ring, ....
Cobbling,

?G00 00

605 on

3,700 00

20,000 00

500,000 00

10,500 00

6,000 0>

500 00

2,000 00

1,000 00

15,000 CO

8,000 00

3,000 00

300 00

10,000 00

200,000 00

3,325 00

17,500 00
450 00

82,420 00

1.350 00

5,000 00

661,206 00

10,000 00

625,274 00

10.0(0 00

22,000 00

2,1180 00

12,000 00

18,000 00

12,0- 10 00

o0,';0J 00

4,000 00

800 00

50,000 00

001,000 00

4,000 00

co,(;iio 00

750 00

288

TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

Exhibit of Manufactures, &c. — Coiitiuued.

MANUFACTURERS.

Number of

Estiibllsh-

mciits.

Capital invested.

V.ilue of goods

made and work

done.

Dress-making, .........

MiHiiierv

Tinsmithing

Upholstering,

WheolwrighUng,

Aggregates.

Manufaetnrcs (goods made),

Occupations (worli done),

1
1

24
18

$595 00

1,500 00

250 00

200 00

50 00

795.205 00
23,870 00

$1,400 00
900 00
GOO GO
800 00
500 00

2,139,130 00
70,450 00

By the Scamc census Ihe agricultural interest of the town is thus reflected : —

ACBES.

Value.

Number.

Value.

Land under crops,

1,910

$151,466 00

Milch cows, .

259

$13,413 00

Orchards,

4,825 00

Oxen, ....

3, Ho 00

Unimpr(jved land.

2,150

54,370 00

Horses,

106

10,205 00

TJnimprovalile land, .

202

410 00

Lime

111

1,335 00

Woodland, .

3,630

98,869 00

Houses and Ijurns,

212

1 121,135

Other farm buildings, .

114

Total, .

7,960

309,940 00

The town, when incorporated, h;ul a population of about 3,000, and a valua-
tion of about $1,070,000.

POPULATION.

Value.

POrULATION.

Value.

1850,
1855,
1860,

4,391
5,346
6,453

$1,705,166 00
2,089,506 00
1,817,911 00

1865, .
1870, .
1875, .

4,857
5,421
4,640

$1,993,024 00
2,328,155 00
2,143,923 CO

The foreign element, dominantly Irish, with a growing admixture of French
and English, forms about two-thirds of the population. In 1875 there were
1,677 foreign-born inhabitants, of whom 1,24(5 were Irish, 258 French, 130
English, 24 Scotch and 19 German.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 289

CHAPTER II.

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION — LIBRAEIES — POLITICAL HISTORY — MUNICIPAL NOTES

— NEWSPAPER — LEGAL MATTERS — PIIYSICIANS — WAR RECORD BANKS AND

SOCIETIES NOTED CITIZENS REMARKABLE SCENERY.

The first school-house wus built at Chestnut Hill in 1 796 ; it was succeedctl
by a brick one in 1822. The present house there was built in 1848. The
town, after incorporation, was divided into eleven school districts, which were
reduced to eight in 1865. Districts were abolished in 1867. Within a few
years after the abolishment three of the old school-houses were replaced by new
and commodious structures, and the large school-house built in 1855 at Black-
stone village, by the Blackstonc Manufacturing Company, was bought by the
to%vn. The high school was established in 1805, and a handsome house built
for it in 1867. In three years the town expended some $i5,000 for school-
houses. During the school-year, 1878-0, nineteen schools were taught, and
848 scholars were in attendance out of the 976 children returned between the
ages of five and fifteen. At present the schools are under the superintendence
of Adrian Scott, a cultured and devoted friend of education.

The Blackstone Library Association was formed in 1855. The first thousand
volumes of the library were selected with special pains, under the direction
mainly of Mrs. Welcome Farnum, a sister of the historian, George Bancroft.
Valuable contributions were made by her distinguished brother, as also by
Edward Everett, Jared Sparks, H. W. Longfellow, Theodore Parker and others
of her literary friends.

The Blackstone Athenoeum was incorporated Feb. 26, 1856, "for the purpose
of instituting and maintaining a library and reading-room, and promoting
public instruction." For a number of years an unhealthy rivalry existed be-
tween these two institutions, which, however, ended May 5, 1871, when they
were united under the corporate name of the Blackstone Athenajum and Library
Association. The library now contains somewhat over three thousand
volumes.

The Young Men's Catholic Union is a literary club, formed in 1875, having
a library of two hundred volumes. They hold weekly meetings for debate and
other improvement.

There are seven Sunday-school libraries whose a£o;re'jate number of volumes
is three thousand six hundred and thirty-one.

The Millvillc Agricultural Library had about two hundred volumes. The
association that gathered this library became disorganized some fifteen years
ago, and the books are mostly scattered.

By the act of incorporation Blackstone remained a part of Mendon for the
purpose of electing representatives to the General Court until the decennial

290

TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

census (jf 1850. Since that date citizens of the town have held seats in the
icffislatnre as fdliows : —

Moses D. Southwick,

Caleb Thaj'er,
Labaii Eates, .
Martin J. Stcere, .
John S. Ilaradon, .
Henry S. Mansfield,
Emanuel N. Paine,
Samnol Thaj'cr, Jr.,
John 13. White,
Joseph G. ^ay,
Charles H. Fletcher,
"Vfilliam.A. Northup,

Senators.
18G5-G6 I Jeremiah Gatchell,

Representatives.

1851
1852
1853
1855
185G
1857
1858
1859
1860
18G1
18G2

Channing Smith,
James K. Comstoclj,
John S Neeilham,
Hiram Daniels, .
Moses Farnum, .
Lj'man Paine,
John C. Scott, .
Albert Smith, .
Patricli Kennedy,
Francis N. Thayer,
Fredcricli Thayer,

1874-75

1863

1864

18G5-C7

ISCG

1868

1871

1873

1874-75

1876

1877

187i)

Chairman of Selectmen. — Emory Scott, 1845-47; Dan Hill, 1847-49;
Millcns Taft, 1849-50 ; Emory Scott, 1850-51 ; Laban Bates, 1851-53 ; Mil-
ieus Taft, 1853-55 ; John C. Scott, 1S55-G ; Lyman Paine, 185G-7 ; John
C. Scott, 1857-8; Eichard Battey, 1858-9; E. N. Paine, 1859-60; Emory
Scott, 18(50-61; John C. Scott, 1862-3; James P. ITayward, 1863-4; Syl-
vaniis 11. Benson, 1864-5; Andrew Kelly, 1865-6; Millens Taft, 1866-7; H.
K. Mcrrificld, 1867-8; George E. Bullard, 1868-70; Darius Bennett,
1870-72; II. S.Mansfield, 1872-3; Jeremiah Gatchell, 1873-75; Samuel S.
White, 1875-6; Americus Welch, 1876-79.

Of Assessors. — Jared Benson, Jr., 1845-6; Preserved S. Thayer, 1846-7
John Cady, 1847-8; Arthur Cook, 1848-51; E. N. Paine, 1851-2
Eichard Battey, 1852-3; AVillard Wilson, 1853-4; Wm. Cook, 1854-56
James B Hall, 1856-7; Arthur Cook, 1857-61; Millens Taft, 1861-2
Emory Scott, 1862-3 ; Wm. A. Northup, 1863-4 ; Silas A. Burgess, 1864-5
Arthur Cook, 1865-6; Estes Burdon, 1866-68; Lewis E.Daniels, 1868-9
Jeremiah Gatchell, 1869-70; Maurice Carey, 1870-71; J. Gatchell, 1871-73
Americas Welch, 1873-79.

Of Overseers of the Poor.— Willard Wilson, 1845-47 ; Dan Hill, 1847-8
Milieus Taft, 1848-9; Whiting Alexander, 1849-50; Caleb Thayer, 1850-51
Whiting Alexander, 1851-2; Laban Bates, 1852-3; Eichard Battey, 1853-4
James P. Ilayward, 1854-5; Willard Wilson, 1855-58; James P. Hay-
ward, 1858-9; John B. Salisbury, 1859-60; Wm. A. Kelly, 1860-61; John
C. Scott, 1861-2 ; Hiram Daniels, 1863-66 ; Clovis L. Southwick, 1866-68 ;
Willard Wilson, 1858-9 ; John G. Gatchell, 1869-72 ; Darius Bennett, 1872-3 ;
Micajah Fuller, 1873-79 ; Francis N. Thayer, 1879.

Of School Committee- — Lewis Cook, 1845-6; Arthur Cook, 1846-48;
Bcnj. D. Peck, 1848-9 ; Thomas Davis, 1849-50 ; M. D. Southwick, 1850-52 ;

TOWN OFFICERS. 291

Martin J. Stcere, 1852-3; Spencer M. Rice, li53-4; Joseph W. Backus,
1854-5; Edmund M. Tappan, 1855-58; Arthur Couli, lo58-9 ; H. C.
Kimball, 1860-Gl ; II. S. Mansfiekl, 18(51-2; Frank Kelly, 18(;2-3 ; LeRoy
Chilson, 18G3-4; J.E.Edwards, 1864-G{J ; M. D. Soulhwiek, 18llG-7 ; Wm.
A. Cole, 18G7-8; Samuel Thayer, Jr., 18G8-70 ; Wm. A.Cole, 1870-73;
John S. Noedham, 1873-75; S. D. Church, 187G-7 ; Alvin C. Robbius,
187()-78 ; Adrian Scott, 1878-9.

Toxcn Clerks.— iames P. Ilayward, 1845 to 18G0 ; Geo. E. Cullard, 1860 to
'G3 ; James K. Comstock, 18G3 to 'G9 ; Jeremiah GatchcU, 18G9 to '71 ; Junius
Bates, 1871 to '73; Aaron S. Esty, 1873 to '75; Junius Bates, 1875 to '76;
John Nugent, 1876 to '79 ; Daniel Wheelock, 1879.

Treasurers. — James P. Hayward, 1845-51 ; Alex. Ballon, 1851-53 ; Andrew
Comstock, 1853-4 ; Moses Farnum, 1854-5 ; E, W. Barrows, 1855-6 ; Wal-
ter Thorp, 1856-7; Chas. W. Baker, 1857-8; Moses Farnum. 1858-61 ; R.
K. Randolph, 1861-63; Moses Farnum, 18G3-65 ; R. K. Kand.)lph, 1865-6;
Moses Farnum, 1866-71 ; Lawrence Boylan, 1871-2 ; R. K. Randolph, 1872-3 ;
Austin A. Wheelock, 1873-75; Daniel Wheelock, 1875-6; Horatio Stock-
bridge, 1876-7; Joel Hervey, 1877-8; Austin A. Wheelock, 1878-9; Leou-
nard T. Gaskill, 1879.

Postmasters. — At Blackstonc, Daniel Kelley, 1825-31 ; James S. Warner,
1831-37 ; John Cady, 1837-53 ; Darius Bennett, 1853-61 ; Sylvanus H. Ben-
sou, 1861-65 ; James K. Comstock, 1865-67 ; Jeremiah Gatchell, 1867-69 ;
Junius Bates, since March 31, 1869.

At Waterford, James Wilson, Jr., 1831-33 ; Darius i). Farnum, 1833-41 ;
Welcome Farnum, 1841 to discontinuance of the office, in 1850.

At Millville, Willard Wilson, 1827-42; Preston Warfield, 1842-3; George
Staples, 1843-45 ; Willard Wilson, 1845-49 ; Preserved L. Thayer, 1849-53 ;
Willard Wilson, 1853-61; Preserved L. Thayer, 1861-73; Lymau Legg,
since 1873.

The South Mendon post-office was established in 1822. It was located suc-
cessively at Five Corners, Upper Canada, and in the house of Elbridge G.
Daniels, with Samuel Allen, Daniel Kelly and E. G. Daniels as postmasters.
After the incorporation of the town it was called the North Blackstonc post-
office, and in 1850 it was removed to Lower Canada, so called. In 1870 the
name of the office was changed to that of East Blackstonc. Moses Kelly, E.
N. Paine, Lyman Paine, T. B. Gurney, Amcricus Wekh and Caleb W. Colvin
held the office prior to the appointment, in 1875, of Myron Daniels, the present
postmaster.

The first number of the "Blackstonc Ciirv)nicle" was pul)lished Feb. 26, 1848.
It was a good-sized, well-printed, and, during its brief career, a very readable
paper. The editor and proprietor was the well-known journalist, Oliver John-
son. In aid of the undertaking the town loaned seven hundred dollars of the
"surplus revenue,"' and took a mortgage on the printing-press. The paper

292

TOWN OF CLACKSTONE.

womid up ill less than a year, and the town took possession of the mortgaged
press.

At one period Blaclvstone cnjo^eil rare reputation as a litigious centre. The
lawyer first on the ground was Paul P. Todd. He came in 1847. He was an
attorney of extraordinary activity. He had a voluminous docket and a vast
clientage. On return days in the Justice Court, parties and witnesses, from
far and near, l)locked the streets of the village, and other business measurably
paused. His exploits within and without the pale of court are among the
choice traditions of the towns-people. ]\Ir Todd removed to Boston in 1861,
and litigation in the region at once materially declined. Yet the seed-sown
soil long sufficed to attract, and for terms, longer or shorter, to hold repre-
sentatives of the cloth in number quite out of proportion to the denizens.
As thus : —

Napoleon J. Smith, . . 1849-51

William L. Southwick, . 1851-65

Silas A. Burgess, . . 1854-77

William F. Engley, . . 1860-Gl

Joseph B. Cook, . . 1861-03

Ilemy K. Merrifield. . . 1864-OS

Jerome B. Bolster,
Charles G. Ke3es,
Arthur A. Putnam,
Theodore S. Johnson,
John L. Utlc}', .
Francis N. Thaj'or, .

1865-66
1865-66
1866-77

1868-71

1875

1876

The Blackstone Police Court was established in 1854. It was the occasion
of various exciting town meetings and was abolished April 1, 1856. Willard
Wilson was the resident trial justice from 1858-63 ; Charles A. Wight, 1863-64 ;
Arthur Cook, 1864-67; Henry K. Merrilield, 1867; Theodore S. Johnson,
1867-71 ; and Silas A. Burgess, 1871-72.

The Second District Court of Southern Worcester, which went into operation
Aug. 1, 1872, has since held hero alternate daily sessions.

Dr. Aliel Wilder was a resident physician at Blackstone village from 1823
till a few weeks preceding his death in New York, February, 1864 ; Dr. M. D.
Southwick at MiUville from 1834 till his decease, June 9, 1875 ; Dr. B. Booth
at Blackstone from 1865 to 1874. The settlement of Dr. Wm. M. Kimball
dates from 1840, and that of Dr. Geo. E. Bullard from 1855. Dr. D. McCafi"rey
took his office Dec. 14, 1874, and Dr. Frank J. King, August, 1877.

In the war for the Union, the record of Blackstone vies in patriotic devotion
with that of any other town. AVith a population of less than 6,000 in 1860,
the town appears to have furnished (without counting 61 rc-enlistments) 652
men for the military and naval service. Of these five only were drafted.
Sixty enlisted in the navy ; 96 in company K, fifteenth regiment ; 66 in com-
pany K, fift3'-first (nine months) regiment ; and the I'est served in some seventy-
three other regiments and batteries raised in nine different States. The
commissioned officers were Capt. Moses W. Gatchell, company K, fifteenth
regiment, killed in the battle of Ball's Bluff; Capt. Daniel W. Kimball, com-
pany K, fifty-first regiment, afterwards captain in the fourth cavalry ; First

WAR RECORD. 293

Lieut. Edwin B. Staples, company K, fifteenth regiment, afterwards first
lieutenant, captain and major in the fourth cavalry; Second Lieut. Melville
Howlaud, and Caleb H. Arnold and George W. Bolster, fifteenth regiment ;
the last two promoted from the ranks successively to second and first lieuten-
ants. Lieut. Howlaud died in hospital at Poolsville, and Lieut. Arnold died
of wounds received in the memorable battle of Gettysburg. The town records,
no doubt, quite incomplete in this particular, show that twenty-seven died in
hospital from wounds or disease, and that nineteen were killed in battle.

The Worcester County Bank, located at Blackstone village, was incorporated
May 1, 1849. Capital, $100,000. The corporators were Welcome Farnum,
Silas H. Kimball and Dan Hill. It was made a national bank July, 1865, and
removed to Franklin, August, 1873. Until its removal, Henry S. Mansfield
Avas president, and, except the first year, Moses Farnum was cashier.

An act passed March 30, 1853, made Edward S. Hall, Chas. E. Hall, and
Spencer M. Rice a corporation by the name of the Blackstone River Bank, to
be located at Millville, with a capital of $100,000, but the bank was never
organized.

The Blackstone Savings Bank, incorporated April 20, 1849, failed to go into
operation, as also did a bank incorporated under the same name June 12,
1874.

The Blackstone River Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons organized under
dispensation, Jan. 1, 1856, and under its charter Jan. 1, 1857. Its number of
members is ninety-five. The Masonic building, the property of the Lodge,
was built in 1870. Cost $8,000.

The Blackstone River Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 106, organized in 1846,
surrendered its charter after a few years' existence.

The Magnolia Lodge of Good Templars, organized at Millville under a
charter from the Grand Lodge May 21, 1866, was for several years an efiicient
agency ftjr the promotion of temperance. Owing to reduced membership from
various causes the charter was surrendered Nov. 28, 1871.

The Blackstone Valley Lodge, chartered about January, 1866, was a vigor-
ous organization for a while at Blackstone village. It became extinct June,
1870. Another lodge under the same name was chartered October, 1873, and
continued in operation until June, 1877.

At East Blackstone March 22, 1869, was organized the Quick Stream Lodge,
which is still a potent influence in the cause. Its whole life has been a very
wholesome power. The weekly meetings, fully attended, are made interesting
by a variety of exercises tending to the social and mental, as well as moral,
culture of the neighborhood. Among its members are the most active and
influential citizens of the place.

Father Power of the Catholic Church instituted Oct. 22, 1877, the Young
Men's Temperance and Banking Society for boys over fifteen years of age.
Members are required to take the pledge and deposit fifty cents a month, re-

294 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

ceiviug from the pastor a deposit book. If the pledge is kept to the end of the
year, the money is returned to the member or deposited in bank to his account.
Otherwise, the sum inures to the benefit of the church. The register of the
society shows a membership of ninety-seven young men thus on the patli of so-
briety and money-saving.

The oldest inscriptions on grave-stones are found at the ancient ground, un-
enclosed, at Millville. The next in age are at Chestnut Hill. — In the woods not
far from John Darling's house is the remnant of an ancient cellar, near which
is a good well of water, whose perfect wall is monumental of colonial skill in
masonry. — The Blackstone Canal, once so prominent a feature of the town,
whose candle began to burn in 1828, and twenty years later went out in the
locomotive blaze of the Providence and Worcester Railroad, is now chiefly
remembered by a few of its visible relics — traces of the towpath, the granite
lock, moss-grown, in its shelter of woods just below Millville; a freight boat
sunk in the river hard by, its outline discernable in sunlight ; and the eighteenth
stone mile-post of the canal that enriched the public more than its proprietors.
But a few years since one of the lock-houses was extant, used as a shoemakei-'s
shop on Canal Street. — The Millville Hotel, the Lincoln House and the Union
Hotel were built respectively in 1822, 1847 and 1853. The old-time tavern-
stauds were at Coverdale Place and Five Corners. Later, near the town-
house lot, was the Vcrry Tavern, and another in the "Engley House" at
Waterford. — The town-house was built in 1845, the "Arcade" in 1843, and
the "Blackstone Block" in 1849. It is said the latter went up as by magic,
the work in part being done in night time, driven by the mandate of W.
Farnum. — Gas introduced into Blackstone from Woonsocket in 1853. — Stone-
dam at Waterford built in 1859 by Daniel Simmons. — Iron bridge over Provi-
dence and Worcester Eailroad built in 1867. — Steam fire-engine procured in
1874.— The "Harris Road "built in 1868, and the "Hiram Daniels Road" in
1873. Both these roads were stoutly resisted by the town. — Sept. 17, 1847,
first locomotive whistle heard at Blackstone of Providence and Worcester
Road. May 15, 1849 first train run over Norfolk County Railroad from
Walpole to Blackstone, bearing one hundred proprietors of the road. — July 30,
1854, cars run through Blackstone from Boston to New York over Norfolk
County road. — June 26, 1877, President Hayes, en route to Boston, accom-
panied by Mrs. Hayes, Secretaries Evarts and Schurz, Postmaster-General Key
and Attorney-General Devens, tarried twenty minutes at the Waterford Station.
A committee of the towns-people, by previous arrangement, met the distin-
guished party on their arrival, and brief speeches were made by the President
and Messrs. Schurz, Key and Devens to a crowd of some two thousand ]ieople.

Of men who have been conspicuous in the town, the name of Welcome
Farnum stands foremost. His ability and enterprise were such as would have
given him leading rank in any community. Of wonderful energy and organ-
izing capacity, rapid in the operations of a mind that joined to great ambition

NOTABLE CITIZENS. 295

au imperious will, he was, in large aud true sense, a character of Napoleonic
moukl. In au important suit he employed, as counsel, Daniel Wcl)stcr, who
is reported to have pronounced him the ablest client he ever had. It is quite
impossible to exaggerate the profound impression this man made, not only
upon the people of his community, but upon all others with whom he came in
contact. Under the influence of his genius, the town took a start, and for a
while so kept on in growth that the dreams of the towns-people prefigured the
"city of Blackstone." lie was the leading spirit in projecting and completing
the Norfolk County Railroad. He may be said to have built it single-handed
and alone. It was his first step in the execution of a grand and favorite plan ;
for the New York and New England Railroad is but the fruit of his conception.
However, it was his embarkation iu railway schemes that wrecked the fortune
he had amassed as a manufacturer. Not that his plans were ill conceived, but
that they outran the limit both of individual means aud physical endurance.
His lightning horseback trips into the neighboring country, his post-haste
drives to Providence aud Boston, and the business bustle, but clock-work
action, of his factory village, arc among the stirring things familiarly remem-
bered by inhabitants of the time. An old farmer relates how he once drove
past his field, reining up his horse to a moderate trot, and plying a half-dozen
questions that turned au hour's business into a minute-glass. His health
declined with his fortune, aud for the nine years preceding his death, May 10,
1874, he was an invalid. He died at the ago of seventy- seven, on Prudence
Islaud, Narraganset Bay, where for the lust few years of his life he lived. His
seclusion on that lonely isle, shorn of his power, but rctaiuing much of the
vigor of his mind, was, with not a few persons who knew hiui in his prime
and were familiar with his career, a singular reminder of Napoleon at St.
Helena.

Another man of power, both in the town and county, was Dan Hill. He
was active and prominent in municipal alTairs, aud possessed rare tact as a
manager. He operated lai-gely in matters of real estate, and, though not a
professional lawyer, [)erformed much legal work in which he displayed marked
ability. He was a senator of the county in 1844-45, and specially influential
in the incorporation of the town. Dnring its existence he was justice of the
Blackstone police court. He died April 14, 18G4.

Esek Pitts was a man of great eulei'prise and force of character. He has
been styled "the pioneer woolen manufacturer on the Blackstone." In the
protracted struggle over the county road from Uxbridge to Rhode Island, he
was, perhaps, chief of the party favoring the project. It was through his
efforts that other impoi'taut roads were laid out and improvements made against
much opposition. He died Sept. 12, 1834.

The late Caleb Thayer was a devoted aud influential townsman. He was a
foremost anti-slavery man, and his political faith in that cause suflered no
abatement in after years. The iirst representative of the town, ho voted the

296 TOWN OF BLACKSTONE.

"twenty-five times" for Charles Sumner in the memorable contest over his
election to the Senate.

Among others of the departed, deserving honorable mention for their prom-
inence and usefulness as citizens, may be named Darius D. Farnum, Silas H.
Kimball, Dr. Abel Wilder, Dr. Moses D. Southwick, John Cady, Hiram
Daniels, Sylvanus H. Benson, Samuel Verry and Cbanning Smith.

Of places in the town attractive for their scenery we should instance
Daniels Hill, High Rocks, and the Intervale. From the Hill, a commanding
view is had of surrounding towns, and, in a clear day, the eye easily notes the
gray summit of Wachusett at the north, and eastward catches a glimpse of the
heisihts round Boston. The view in summer is that deliffhtful one of New
England hills, —

" Broad, round and green, that in the snmmer sky,
With garniture of growing grass and grain,
Orchards and beechen forests, basking lie,
While deep the sunless glens are scooped between,
Where brawl o'er shallow beds the streams unseen."

A more rock-wild and picturesque scene than that of the High Rocks is
scarcely to be met with in the county. From the line of the Blackstone dam
the river descends abruptly over a ledge-jutting bed through a deep gorge
whose precipitous sides are walled with cliff and crag, and enshrouded and
overhung with a tangle of birch, oak, maple, chestnut and hemlock. The roar
of the heavy waterfall at the dam and the rumbling of the stream, dark in its
very foaming, as it plunges downward through the gorge, unite with the sever-
ity of the imprisoning rock-sides and over-arching woods to form a scene of
impressive solitude and grandeur.

In juxtaposition to this frowning piece of nature is the "Intervale," in scenic
effect the most opposite, by whose way the gorge may be approached. The
■walk is along a clear, gurgling brook that skirts the hillside in graceful curves,
correspondent to the majestic bend of the river, but high above its level.
Undulatiugly between the two, slopes the broad, woodless, lawn-like intervale,
down which the brook lets here and there a cascade ; while close beyond the
wide-flowing Blackstone rises a background of dense forest, whose darken-
ing shade upon the great stream is in charming contrast to the sunlit green
and the sparkling rivulet at your feet. The way along this exquisite landscape
ends abruptly in the whirl and wildness of the High Rocks. Two phases of
nature, so contiguous yet so diverse, are exceptional in the displays of scenery
anywhere.

A distressing catastrophe is associated with the place, whose mention is still
frequent in the conversation of the neighborhood. A gentleman and two
ladies, Walter Thorp, Frances Cady and Georgiana Brown, were boating on the
mill-pond in the afternoon of May 24, 1859. Too curiously trying the limit
of safe venture, they found their boat caught by the current, carried over the

SAD CASUALTY. 297

dam, and with it its three luckless adventurers. With agonizing cries for help,
they clung for a brief space to the boat, wedged end upright in the rocks.
They then essayed to reach the shore, but were swept like chips down the
rapids, the ladies to swift death, the man, sore bruised and exhausted, escaping
to tell the story of his own temerity.

It should be observed of the town that, though sigually fortunate in its
facilities for business, — an uncommon wealth of water-power, combining with a
situation centralized liy its adjacency to the most populous of States, and by the
junction of important railways, — it has nevertheless, notaljly since the decline
of "Welcome Farnum, uniformly suffered di'awback and inertia by reason of the
non-residence of the major portion of its larger manufacturers. Had it enjoyed
the growth, thrift and variety of industry that assuredly would have inured to
it if all its chief business men, M'hile profiting liy its situation, had improved it
by their residences and other home interests, it is easily calculable that Black-
stone ere now had been the foremost town, if not the second city of the county.
That the town now stands the tenth, while once it ranked the fourth muni-
cipality of the county, is due, not to the indolence of its people, but to the
circumstance that their industry has enriched capitalists of another State in
painful disproportion to their own industrial development. Assuming a state
of things quite the contrary, the words of Rufus Choate were not a mere
rhetorical flourish before the railway committee, in behalf of the Norfolk
County Railroad, in 1847 : "Give us this road, Mr. Chairman, which we pro-
pose to locate in Blackstone, and not in Woonsocket, in the State of Rhode
Island and Providence Plantations, — give it to us, and we will build a mag-
nificent city iu that old county of Worcester. Give it to us, and we will bring
into action the might}', but sleeping energies of nature, — water enough, sir,
for two Lowells ! not one, two! !"
as

298 TOWN OF BOLTON.

BOLTON

BY REV. ABIJAH P. MARVIN.

CHAPTER I.

GEOGRAPHY AND SUPvFACE WATER SYSTEM — GEOLOGY CIVIL ORIGIN —

FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH CONTROVERSY AVITH REV. MR. GOSS THE

MINISTERIAL VETO SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OTHER DENOMINATIONS.

This town, formerly a part of Lancaster, and supposed to have been named
in honor of the Duke of Bolton, was incorporated in 1738. The act was read
in the council, concurred in, and signed hy Gov. Jonathan Belcher, on the
27th of June, old style. It has lost nearly half its original territory
since its formation, but is still of respectable size, being about four miles
square. The south part was the basis of Berlin, and a large section from the
east was joined to Hudson. The present boundaries are as follows : On the
north the town is bounded by Harvard, on the east by Stow and Hudson, on
the south by Berlin, and on the west by Lancaster and Clinton.

The geography of the town has some interesting features. Bolton is made
up of hills and valleys, but the hills ai-e long and broad, while the valleys are
narrow. The hillsides, however, slope so gently th.lt they are cultivated with
profit, while they add greatly to the beauty of the scenery, and furnish splendid
views at a distance. Rattlesnake Hill is in the north-easterly part of the town,
where there is a large formation of limettonc. It was formerly worked, and
yielded a considerable quantity of good lime ; as many as a hundred and fifty
hogsheads per annum. The quarry is not exhausted, and may again be worked
with profit. This property has long been in the family of Gen. John Whit-
comb. The region is, in some parts, wild, but, on the whole, agreeable in its
aspect. Long Hill is near the eastern border. The greatest elevation in the
town is Wattoquottock Hill, which extends from about half a mile west of the
centre towards the south-west to the ijorder of Berlin. It is about three luiu-
dicd feet above the valley of the Nashua, and is the highest land between Bos-
ton harbor and Wachusett. The State House can be seen in fair weather, and
at the west and north an immense area of valley's, hills and distant mountains.
The soil is moist and fertile on every side of the hill. There is a little pond

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES. 299

ou the western side of the hill, about half way from base to summit, which,
one hundretl and twenty years ago, covered about two acres, and was supposed
to be nearly forty feet deep. Eighty years since, when Whitney wrote his
description, it had shrunk to one acre, and to half its former depth. Where
there was grass growing then, boats and canoes formerly floated. This was
known as AVeleh Pond. It is in a depression in the hill which extends from
the Forbush estate, parallel with the range of the hill to the south eud. The
pond has been filling since, till it is now very small.

Wattoquottock Hill descends gradually to its northern termination, allowing
the roads from Lancaster an easier passage to the centre of Bolton. A little
north of this spot, the chain of hill rises again almost to the southern height,
and runs north through Harvard into Middlesex County. This was sometimes
called Oak Hill. Its general name is now Bare Hill, sometimes spelled Bear
Hill. Indications of the precious metals which have awakened the expecta-
tions of geologists and experienced miners, are found in this grand old hill,
but the "diggings" have never rewarded toil. Between the southern base of
this hill and the northern base of W^attoquottock, is a narrow "bar of hard
land, about fifteen rods in width." The traveled road passes on the south side,
and the Lancaster raihva}' track crosses it in part. On either side is low,
swampy ground, fed by springs which fill it to overflowing. The wat6r, on the
south side, flows easterly and southerly through the centre, and into the Assa-
bet, turning mills ou its wa^'. The water, ou the north side, works its way,
in a swift descending brook, to the Nashua. Ou the cast side of Wattoquot-
tock, on a level with Welch Pond, and nearly opposite to it, springs flow out
and form a bi'ook of never-failing water, which descends through rich fields
into the plain below, and so on to the Assabet. The ponds are few and small,
though some of them are sparkling gems in the landscape. One pond, or lake,
or river, that was an object of curious interest and study, a hundred years ago
and more, has almost disappeared. This was called "Still River," "Long
Pond," or "Long Lake." The southern or upper end began about seventy or
eighty rods north-east of the Centre bridge (cast of the depot) in Lancaster,
and, with varying breadth, extended three or four miles, through the west
border of Bolton into Harvard. It had a small outlet into the Nashua, not far
south from Still River bridge. This was its appearance less than a hundred
years ago. Previous to that the upper end reached nearly to the base of the
plateau ou which the State Industrial School is situated. This end was a
wide swamp, and had the romantic name of "Swan's Swamp ;" across which
the old road to Concord jiasscd. North of the swamp was open water as far as
and beyond the line of Harvard. It covered part of the Capt. Joseph Whit-
ney f:irm, where Andrew S. Nonrse now resides, and the Haynes, Howard and
Woodbury intervales, farther down the river. Gradually this large space has
been filled by the annual floods, till now nothing but a narrow stream can be
found for two miles, when there is a widening of the water a few rods, and

300 TOWN OF BOLTON.

reaching some distance to the north. This part is now the only real " Still River ;"
though many, not knowing about the former slate of things, think the part of
the Nashua near Still River station is what is meant. It used to be the opinion
that the southern branch of the Nashua formerly kept along the eastern side of
the intervale, and that it joined the northern branch from two to four miles
below the present junction. This is quite probable ; and it is perhaps quite as
l^robaljlc that the northern branch once joined the southern Ijranch between the
Centre and the Athertou bridges, and that the main stream flowed alonij the
eastern side of the intervale from the causeway to the northern end of Pine
Hill. And, finally, it is not only probable, but certain, that the river, which
is the mother of the intervale, has sported all over it at its "own sweet will."

Geologically speaking, Bolton has points of interest. In it are two beds of
limestone. One of these has been referred to, as producing very tine lime,
nearly a century since. Forty years ago, it turned out annually from fifteen to
twenty thousand bushels of lime. These limestones are magnesian, aud some-
times so fetid under the hammer as to produce nausea. "Tho simple minerals
imbedded in this limestone," says President Hitchcock, "are numerous and inter-
esting. The most commctn aud abundant mineral is scapolite." It is both com-
pact and also in crystals. Some of these arc transparent ; some are opaque and
white, others are red. Bolton yields an abundance of this beautiful variety.
Augite ; actinolite ; pargasite ; and radiated, fibrous and brown hornbleode, are
found in the limestone. Phosphate of lime, green and purple ; petalite ; serpen-
tine forming a good verd-antique ; aud rhomb spar, are common. A new
mineral was found, which Dr. J. L. S. Thompson called bisilicate of magnesia,
from its composition, but which is commonly styled Boltouite. These are
species of minerals which are numerous in the town and the region north.

The town was well-wooded when the white men first came, and notwith-
standing all the waste by the first settlers, to whom forests were a nuisance, and
all the removal of wood and timber in recent years, there is still much wood-
laud, with the usual varieties of trees in this climate.

Returning to the history of the town, we find that it belonged to Lancaster
ninety-five years after that place saw its first two or three cabins, in 1G43, and
eighty-five years after it was incorporated. Only a few had settled in the part
now Bolton previous to the massacre in 1676 ; but there is reason for believing
that one of the garrisons attacked by King Philip's party, that is, Wheeler's
block-house, was on the south-west slope of Wattoquottock Hill. After the
re-settlement in 1679-82, venturesome people began to take up the land in
Bolton, and by the close of the century quite a number had erected their hum-
ble homes on its soil. When the dispute arose in Lancaster, in 1704-5, about
the location of the third meeting-house, there were enough families in Bolton
and Harvard to cause the Old Common to be selected for the site, though on
the extreme cast side of the mother town.

The most weighty reason given by the petitioners for a new town, was the

NEW MEETING-IIOUSE. 301

difBculty of attending meeting on the Sal)1)ath. They state that many of them
lived so fur from the place of public worship — some of them in "what is now
Berlin — as to make the "Sabbath which should he a day of rest, to be a day
of the hardest labor," especially to their children if they attended meeting,
and they felt bound in duty to promote their future good and well-l)eing " as
well as their own. They felt kindly to the old town, while seeking for the
new, and close with the words : " We may pay as we do now until we have
prepared for ourselves, and have the word of God preached with us." Their
lirst petition was a few years earlier; this, in 1736, prevailed, and the old
town gave the child her benediction. Here arc some of the names lonij familiar
to the annals of Lancaster and Bolton : Wheeler, Moore, Pollard, Fairbank,
Keyes, Whitney, Sawyer, Holman, Houghton, Whitcomb, Eichardson. Jacob
Houghton was the lirst town clerk, and kept his records in the beautiful chiro-
graphy of the early Houghtons.

The church was not formed until 1741, and it is supposed the people
"payed" at Lancaster until then, according to their promise in the petition
for a new town. Probably preaching and public worship were enjoyed befoi'c
the organization of the church, which took place Nov. 4, 1741, old style.
On the same day, the Ecv. Thomas Goss was ordained their pastor. A
meeting-house was built about the same time, and located near the centre of
the town. This lasted till near the year 1790, when a new house was needed;
but, though the need was generally felt, the people could not bo united in any
plan until on a " Sunday afternoon in the dog-days, in the midst of the sermon,
a tempest, which had some time been gathering, suddenly burst forth in fury ;
the black clouds himg low overhead, the storm pelted, the lightning tlashed,
the thunder growled, and a powerful gust" struck (he house. "The timbers
cracked and groaned ; women screamed and fainted, and men and boys, glad
of the chance, scuttled out at the door." This was effectual ; the voice of
Providence bade the people "arise and build." A new sanctuary was erected,
and in 1793 was dedicated to the worship of God. This house, having been
remodelled in 1844, still stands, with the original shingles on the roof. "The
underpinning of this meeting-house," said Whitney in 1793, "is very beauti-
ful, and equal to any in the county, if not in the whole State. It is a white
and pui-e stone, easily split into any size, and was discovered just when wanted."

Mr. Goss was invited to settle, Dec. 15, 1740, and his salary voted; yet,
after proceeding so far, disagreements arose, a new meeting was called, and
ail that had been done was annulled, and set aside as illegal. It was voted to
hear the candidate further, and also two other candidates. In May, 1741, it
was put to vote whether "the town would choose by lott for a minister." That
was negatived, and then it was voted "that Mr. Thos. Goss should bo the
minister of the town by forty-four votes qualified by law." Probably there
were very few other voters in the town. Mr. Goss remained the solo minister
in the town about thirty years. Though sought for with so much earnestness,

302 TOWN OF BOLTON.

:ind settled with so much prayer, the time came when a majority of his people
looked coldly upon him. The long period of trial, suffering and crimination
that ensued cannot 1)C recited in these pages. Something can he found in
other pages of this work, and more in the history of Sterling, hy Mr. Good-
win, in the old " Worcester Magazine." The story, though sad in many of its
aspects, is worthy of being told at length, since it throws light upon a period
(jf ecclesiastical history which is now closed. The opposition to Mr. Goss was
partly personal, and partly a matter of principle. He asserted the veto power
of the clergy, and the people resisted, rightly as to the point in dispute,
erroneously in the matter of form. They carried their point, and dismissed
him themselves, as no council would do it for them, and thus became, in fsict,
an Independent, instead of a Congregational Church. The neighboring minis-
ters would not fellowship them, and the difBculty was not healed fill after the
death of ]Mr. Goss.

To effect their point, his opponents brought charges against him, the chief
of which was that he drank intoxicating liquors to excess. In those days, men
of every class and profession were accustomed to drink, and (hose were very
rare who never became excited. Mr. Goss denied that he ever, on any
occasion, drank enough to destroy his control over his mind (jr body. The
charge was not substantiated to the satisfaction of any council. All the minis-
ters in the adjoining towns — and they were men of high standing — were his
friends. The following is a translation of the Latin inscription on his tomb-
stone : "Sacred to the memory of Rev. Thomas Goss, A. M., pastor of the
church in Bolton, who, for upwards of thirty-nine years, having exercised the
sacred office, departed this life, January 17, 1780, in the sixty-third year of
his age. A man adorned with piety, hospitality, friendship and other vir-
tues, both public and private ; somewhat broken in body, but endowed with
wonderful fortitude ; he was the first among the clergy in these unhappy times
to be grievously persecuted for boldly oi^posing those who were striving to
overturn the prosperity of the churches, and for heroically struggling to main-
tain the ecclesiastical polity which was handed down by our ancestors. Friends
erected this monument." He tried to maintain what was untenable ; but, if
his people had continued to like him, probably no such issue would have been
raised. Political and personal considerations became mixed in the strife. lie
was dismissed by the church and town, and forbidden, through a constable, to
occupy the meeting-house. His friends followed him to his own house, where
he held regular service until his decease.

In the meantime, the Rev. John Walley ministered to the majority in the
meeting-house, and continued in the place till his resignation, not long after
the death of Mr. Goss. The ministers who followed were as follows : Rev.
Phiiiohns AYright was settled Oct. 2G, 1785 (the two parties having been re-
united in one body), and continued till 1803, when he died at his post; Rev.
Isaac Allen, who was settled in 1804, March 14, and remained as the pastor

SUCCESSIVE PASTORS. 303

forty years, until March, 1844. Mr. Wallcy left a sum of money "as a token
of his love to the church in Bolton," the income of which was to be devoted
to the purchase of bibles. Mr. Wright graduated at FLirvard in 1772. Mr.
Allen lived and died a bachelor. He was a kind and benevolent man, combin-
ing wit and judgment. All his property, except a few small gifts, amounting
to about twenty thousand dollars, was left to the parish " of which he had so
long been minister." His successors have been Revs. Richard S. Edes, 1843-48 ;
John J. Putnam, 1849-52; Thomas T. Stone, D.D., 1852-(;0 ; Nathaniel O.
Chaffee, about two years ; Edwin C. L. Browne, 18G3-69 ; Ezekiel Fitzgerald,
two or three years, and Nicholas P. Oilman. INIr. Edes gave considerable
attention to gathering materials for the history of Bolton.

The Friends or Quakers were settled here early, and have alwaj's had a
respectable society. Some notice of them may bo found in the history of the
First Church of Lancaster. They exercised their undoubted right to form a
religious association, but were not always faithful to their covenant vows in the
mode of withdrawal from the churches. The headquarters of the Friends is
in the southern part of the town, and their meeting-house is convenient to those
who reside in Berlin. Mr. Edes says, "They have produced some of the best
material for usefulness, for promoting the general welfare and that of the rising
generation, we have ever had ; and have raised some of the best scholars that
have adorned our schools."

The Hillside Church, which was originated by the late Sampson V. S.
"Wilder and a few othei's, had a brief, but active and efficient life. It was
organized in April, 1830, with eighteen male and eighteen female members.
This enterprise met a great want at the time. There was no Orthodox Church
in several adjoining towns. It was designed to accommodate Christians of that
way of thinking in the towns of Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster, Harvard and Stow.
The effort was a great success ; but the success was the real and sufficient cause
of its end in a few years. The first pastor was Rev. J. W. Chickering, D. D.,
who was succeeded by three others in brief pastorates. The large and con-
venient church was thronged, and many were added to the list of communi-
cants. The result was that the converts from the neighI)oriug towns were
soon able and willing to organize churches and erect houses of worship for the
benefit of themselves and those living near them. In time, there were churches
in Stow, Lancaster, Clinton ; and the Baptists and Methodists were encour-
aged to new efforts. In about twenty years the work of tlie Hillside Church
was done, Mr. Wilder had moved away, and the edifice was closed, except
for occasional religious service. For many years it has been an appendage to a
large estate, where cider, vinegar aud domestic wines have been prepared.
But the fruits of the effort remain in several towns and a largo number of
churches.

A Baptist Church was organized in 1832, and has since maintained public
worship, aud been supplied with the ministry of the word. Says Mr. Edes in

304 TOWN OF BOLTON.

the address before quoted from: "Their ministers and members have been
among our respected and useful citizens, doing cordially their appreciated good
work for the temporal as well as spiritual welfare of our commuuity. Their
gem of a church adorns our principal thoroughforc, and their respected clergy-
mau is the chairman of our school committee, and is active in every enterprise
for the public benefit." Their ministers have been as follows : Elder Goddard,
1832-36; Levi M. Powers, 1836; Isaac C. Carpenter, 1843; John Walker,
1844; P. S. Whitman, 1846; Asaph Merriam, 1848; W. K. Davcy, 1856;
J. H. Giles, an Englishman, 1858; J. H. Learned, 1860; Kilburn Holt, 1863,
during whose ministry the new church aI)ove spoken of was dedicated ; Joseph
Barber, 1868 ; and Benjamin A. Edwards, who served the church faithfully
several years, and died greatly beloved and lamented in the year 1878.

CHAPTER n.

MILITARY HISTORY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION — PUBLIC LIBRARY BUSINESS

IN THE TOWN EMINENT MEN NOTES AND INCIDENTS.

The military record of Bolton lias been patriotic in every generiition. She
shared, in her measure, in the hardships from Indian depredations which fell
upon Lancaster previous to the great wars ia the reigu of George II. In both
the French and Indian wars, her quota was in the service. It was in the last
war with the Indians and the French, 1755-63, that John Whitcomb won his
reputation as a good soldier and officer. He went into the Revolution in the
full maturitv of his fiiculties, with the title of colonel. When the messenjier
from Lexington and Concord clattered through the town, on the morning after
the attack, shouting out that the red-coats were on the march, Whitcomb and
his able-bodied townsmen were ready "to do and die for their country." The
peojjle, with few if any exceptions, were fully prepared for the clash of arms.
As early as 1770 they voted in town meeting, John Whitcomb in the chair, that
they would not "purchase one single article (except in a case of absolute neces-
sity) of any merchant or trader that had imported goods contrary to the agree-
ment of the merchants of the town of Boston ; and that wc shall esteem such pur-
chasers enemies of their country and not fit to 1)0 cmplo3'ed in any business of
importance." They voted also to "abstain from the use of all foreign teas."
This feeling grew in intensity as the time drew on when the collision came.
The names of more than fifty men who were in the service are preserved in old
receipts, orders for marching and for money, and other scraps of paper. Among
them were several officers, as Col. John Whitcomb, Maj. Jonas Houghton,
Captains Nathaniel Longley and David Noursc, Surgeon Dr. Abraham Moore.

MILITARY AND SCHOOLS. 305

Col. Whitcomb became a brigadier-general iu the course of the war, and did
honor to his rank.

There is no evidence that the last war with Great Britain, 1812-15, or the
Seminole and Mexican wars awakened much enthusiasm in the town, though
there were soldiers fi"om the place in the first war above mentioned, and prob-
ably troops went to Boston when summoned to the defence of our coast in 1814.
It was felt in the later cases that slavery had much to do with the origin of all
those contests ; and there never was much love for slavery in Bolton.

But when the wicked Kebelliou showed its head in the spring of 1861, the
souls of the good people of Bolton, men, women and children, were on fire.
" When the warning voice of the great storm was first heard," are the words of
Mr. Edes, "when the mighty struggle was about to begin, which, before it
was ended, was to make four million freemen out of four million slaves, this
little town, nestled among the hills, obscure and humble though it was, was not
found cither indifferent or asleep." The story of the war cannot be told, nor
even of the part nobly done by the sous of Bolton, in these brief limits ; sufBce
it to say that the young men enlisted ; the old men encouraged ; the mothers
and wives cheered ; the sisters and maiden friends, with ftilling tears but strong
hearts, bound the girdle and sash round the manly forms that went forth to
hazard their lives for freedom and union. "While the soldiers were doing and
enduring in the field, the women were working at home. They met from week
to week to "put up hospital stores for the dear absent ones" exposed to the
hardships of war. These soldiers numbered about one hundred and twenty-five
of her own men, besides a dozen hired substitutes. Gen. Schoulcr credits the
town with nearly one hundred and fifty men, but these included those furnished
over and above the quota of the town, and who were not called into the service.
Twenty-three gave their lives for tiicir country. There are twenty-one names
on the mural tablets iu the town hall, but a few of these are claimed by other
towns, and probably many sons of Bolton arc to be found on other rolls of honor,
and are worthy of a place in the home record. It is impossible to do exact jus-
tice to all without the gift of omniscience.

The schools of Bolton are among its most cherished institutions, and teachers
are held in high estimation. There are seven schools in the town, besides the
Iloughfon School. These are open seven months and six daya yearly,
and the amount of money raised by taxes is $1 ,200 for the education of one hun-
dred and eighty-three children, or $6.5G for each one. It is too late to learn
when the first school was held within the limits of Bolton before its incorpora-
tion, but as Lancaster kept schools open in all sections of the old town, as fast
as they had scholars enough, it is not doubted that the children in the eastern
part were under ihe care of a "school dame" in summer and a " master " in
winter. As early as 1732 there were schools iu Still River and Bare Hill dis-
tricts, and it is quite possible that some children attended one or bolh of these
schools, while others might have come to the Old Common. Of course, Bolton,

306 TOWN OF BOLTON.

when it became a town, complied with the law iu relation to the education of
her children. It appears from the above figures that her schools are now open
more than a month longer, each year, than the law requires, and the average
attendance is nearly ninety per cent.

The Houghton School was endowed by the late Joseph Houghton, who died
Nov. 7, 1847. He left $12,000 in money and eighty rods of land to build
a school-house. The school was "to be kept near the centre of said Bolton, iu
which such academical instruction shall be given as said town shall decide to be
most useful." The town accepted the legacy, and the school was opened in
October, 1849, in the town hall. As soon as the school-house, which was paid
for in part, if not wholly, by taxation, was finished, the school was permanently
established within its walls. There were two singular provisions of the ■will,
one of which was set aside by the Supremo Judicial Court. Nine families
named iu the will, with their descendants for a century, were excluded from
attendance. This was set aside as opposed to good morals, and the other pro-
visions of the will weie left valid. The second curious direction was that no
teacher should occupy the position more than two years. Though this prevents
the stay of a poor teacher, it forever prevents the possibility of obtaining the
permanent services of one who is capable, and who devotes his life to the work.
As a matter of fact, most of the teachers have remained but one year, but they
have generally given satisfaction. Young men of education and talent get a year's
experience and pass on to a mure secure position. The teachers, with few excep-
tions, have been graduates of college. The others had received a good education.

In 1856, a public lil)rary, free to all the inhabitants, was begun, and it has
increased steadily iu the number and value of its books, and in their circula-
tion. This is, iu an important sense, an addition to the means of education
enjoyed by the j'outh, and all the people of the town in common. The sub-
ject, after being discussed in piivate, "was brought before a legal town meeting,
when it was found that the public sentiment was ripe for the measure. A
public library, provided for by the votes of the tax-payers, is an honor to
thcni, while, if well selected, it will be a fountain of intellectual and spiritual
life to the whole community.

The whole business of the first ueueration or two was farmino;, and such
handicrafts as were necessary to a farmiufj cominuuitv. Then came the makiuir
of pot and pearl ashes, the burning of lime, and the making of barrels, hogs-
heads and hoops. As long ago as 1790, these articles were made in consider-
able quantities. There were also "two famous brickyards," where more than
two hundred thousand I)ricks were made annually. Later, and within the
memory and personal experience of some, the comb business was carried on
quite extensively by several parties ; especially by the venerable Francis Haynes
and his brother Silas. The value of combs made iu the five factories iu 1837
was nearly twenty-six thousand dollars. The boots and shoes manufiictured
came to over six thousand dollars.

NOTED MANSIONS. 307

The population of the town in 1875 was nine hundred and eighty-seven;
exactl}' the same as that of Berlin. The number of farms was one hundred
and sixty-one ; the number of acres of land taxed was eleven thousand live
hundred and seventy-one ; and the products of agriculture were worth over one
hundred and seventy thousand dollars. The dwelling-houses are about two
hundred, and the houses connected with farms one hundred and fifty. Other
buildings belonging to farms arc two hundred and thirty-seven. The value of
domestic animals was over sixty-five thousand dollars. The value of goods
made and work done was thirty-one thousand six hundred and twenty-five dol-
lars. Most of this was in lumber, cider and vinegar.

The latitude of the centre is 42° 26'. The distance to Worcester is fifteen
miles, and to Boston about thirty-two miles. Formerly, the road from Lan-
caster to Boston, through Bolton, was a great thoroughfare, and the tavern of
Gen. Amory Holman was noted far and near as one of the best, where the
traveler was at home, and where the cookery was "done to a turn."

There are many fine building-sites in the town, and several spacious and
convenient residences. The Ilolman house in the centre is good in itself and
pleasant in its surronudings. The residence and grounds of the Lite Hon.
Solomon Henry Ilowe arc in a commanding situation. From the observatory,
one cau see over the intervening country to the State House, while many a
village and lofty eminence is scattered in every direction to the right and left.
Turning westward, the valley of the Nashua, ever beautiful, and the broader
reach of rolling country between the Bolton hills and the Wachusctt, form a
magnificent panorama. Lofty mountains are the distant background. Here
is one of the best farms is the county, which Mr. Howe took great pains, and
was at great expense to bring up to a high state of cultivation.

The mansion occupied by jNIr. Jonathan Forbush for a generation, on the
west slope of Wattoquottock Hill, is very spacious, and has interesting asso-
ciations. It was owned and occupied sixty years ago by the father of Col.
Wentworth Iligginson. He was followed by Mr. Sampson Wilder, who made
it the home of an elegant and princely hospitality. The grounds were adorned
with trees and shrubs in great variety. The woods at the south-west were
threaded with sylvan roads, and a unique cottage, styled Tadmor, was secluded in
the very depth of the forest. The stately Hillside Church, with its surrounding
grove, opened its hospitable doors to worshippers from all the region. It was at
this mansion that Mr. Wilder gave a splendid reception to Gen. Lafayette when
the latter was making his tour of the country in 1824. He left Boston on the
morning of September 3, and arrived at Bolton line about half-past eight in the
evening, where he and his party were received by an "escort of cavalry and a
large cavalcade of military ofEccrs, in full-dress imiform, in waiting, and were
conducted by them" to the house of Mr. Wilder, at which place they were
sumptuously entertained. This place was reached about ten at night, where
the nation's guest passed under an arch inscribed : "The Great Jehovah, Wash-

308 TOWN OF BOLTON.

ington and Lafayette." Mr. Wilder entertained the general, his son and
suite, besides other guests in great number, and surrounded the mansion with
an extemporized company called the "Bolton Guards." In the early morning,
the jjuests departed, but carried the memory of a brilliant reception Mr.
Wilder had known Lafayette in France, and highly enjoyed the opportunity
of giving him this proof of his admiring gratitude. But the pageant vanished,
the chief actors long since passed from mortal sight, and only a faint memory
of so much display remains. Sic transit gloria mundi.

It only remains to add a few items. Nashua River cuts through the north-
west corner of the town, and thus adds a long reach of fertile intervale to the
fruitful soil and charming scenery. The Old Colony Railroad comes into tiie
south-west corner, where there is a station convenient to a portion of the town.
The Lancaster Railroad traverses the town, ascending the western slope, and
bending through the centre, to the eastward, towards Hudson. Wiien put in
operation, it will give the inhabitants the best facilities for travel.

Among the ph3'sicians resident in the town who are still remembered, we
find the names of Amos Pai-ker, M. D., Levi Sawyer, M. D., and J. L. S.
Thompson, ]\L D. The only lawyer of note was a man by the name of Asa
Johnson, and he was noted more for his singularity than his virtues. He was
a solitarj' man, living almost alone. He had a daughter, whom he took pains
to have well trained, but whom he disinherited because she m-.rried without
his approval. His table was supplied with the flesh of all sorts of "unclean
animals," as well as with food common to decent families. But withal, he was
a man of intelligence, a sound lawyer, and had a fund of wit and humor.
Being at Worcester at a session of the court, he was rallied by a young "limb
of the law " about his articles of diet. " Do you like polly wogs ? " said the rash
youth. "Yes, but they would be unsafe for yon," was the I'eply, "because
polly wogs are sure death to goslings." The man, who had capacities for use-
fulness and respectability, was atheistic in sentiment, became a slave of his
appetites, and lost all public consideration before his decease. He was an
unpleasant anomaly in an orderly and religious community.

The late Rev. Richard S- Edes will long be remembered for his gonial ways
and public spirit. It is a matter of regret that his knowledge of the history
of the town was not left as a public benefit. The Rev. Thomas T. Stone, who
has resided in the town since the close of his ministry, is respected for his
ability and varied learning. The late Mr. George Grassie, a native of Scot-
land, who is succeeded by his son George, on the homestead, raised a literary
family. Two of his sons. Rev. William and Rev. Thomas Grassie, are highly
respected Congregational ministers. One daughter is the wife of Rev. Dr.
Pepper, professor in the Baptist Theological Seminary at Chester, Pa. The
other is the wife of Rev. Joseph H. Dudley of Wisconsin.

The Farmers' Club is one of the most spirited town organizations in the
county, and its annual fair is attended by great numbers from adjoining towns.

SURFACE AND WATERS. SOS

BO YLSTON.

BY AUGUSTUS FLAGG.

CHAPTER I.

SECTION AND BOUNDARIES PONDS AND OTHER WATERS MINERALS AND SOIL

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS VILLAGES POST-OFFICES, ETC. SETTLEMENT

AND INCORPORATION INDIANS AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION ANCIENT

CHURCH AND FIRST MINISTRY ATTITUDE OF THE TOWN IN THE REVOLUTION

AND REBELLION OLD FAMILIES.

This quiet town lies in the easterly part of Worcester County ; seven miles
north-east from the city of Worcester, and about forty miles from Boston. On
the north it is bounded by Sterling and Clinton ; on the east by Berlin and
Xorthborough. On the south lies Shrewsbury, and on the west, West Boyls-
ton. The total area of the town, including roads and water surface, amounts
to twelve thousand two hundred and forty-three acres, beiug nineteen and one-
eighth square miles. The surface is much diversified, presenting a large share
of very charming scenery. Mount Wachusett is clearly seen from the heights,
as well as from the common in the centre of the town. The views to be en-
joyed here are rarely surpassed for beauty, and the town has great attractions
for the artist and tourist.

Four i)onds of considerable size and much beauty are found here. Rocky
Pond, in the cast, is the largest, with a bottom wholly formed of huge bowlders.
It has forty-five acres of surface, by the State suiwey. Its outlet, on the west
side, falls into Cold Harbor Brook, in Northborough. Fish abound here,
especially pickerel ; and from the number of Indian relics found near, it would
seem to have been a fovorite resort of that older people. On the east of the
pond lies a rock bearing one of those curious impressions usually called " foot-
prints."

The other ponds lie in the southerly section. The chief of them is a sheet
of twcnt^'-three acres, called Pout Pond; the next has eleven acres, allbrds
plenty of fish, and is known as Sewall's Pond ; while the last is a much lesser
one, of five acres, named Spruce Pond. Sewall's Pond has an outlet to the
northward, giving power to Banister's Mills, and passing through part of

310 TOWN OF BOYLSTON.

Shi'ewsliury into Long Pond. Spruce Pond is of that class which arc slowly
filling up with vegetation ; a few poor spruce trees among the encroachment
give name to the pond.

No large stream appears here save the south In-anch of the N;isliua, which,
formed a mile and a half to the west, in West Boylstou, by the junction of the
Quinipoxet and Stillwater, runs some six miles in circuit within the lines of
Boylston. This stream is everywhere bordered by rich intervales that yield
abundant crops to the cultivator. Some lesser streams are noteworthy : Mudd}-
Brook, once called Medegaskeo, rises cast of the village and enters the Nashua
at Seal Bridge, on its way moving a saw-mill and a box-f:xctory ; Mill Brook,
which also feeds the Nashua, rises in the "East Woods," and has a westerly
course. There were formerly two saw-mills on this stream also. A third
brook runs southerly, falling into Sewall's Pond. This once had upon it the
saw and grist mill that bore the name of Locke's Mills.

Mineral indications are not wanting ; sulpliuret of iron, or pyrite, is found in
many parts ; quartz crystals are now and then observed, and gold is believed
to exist. A ledge near the meeting-house attracts attention by its brilliant
crystals, like diamonds. Good clay for bricks abounds ; and the best of build-
ing stone occurs in numerous quarries about the town.

All parts of Boylston are well accommodated with roads, and its many
bridges are kept in good repair. One of the latter is a fine structure of iron.
One hundred and tifty-niue dwellings are distributed over the territory, many
of them new and all in comfortable style. Two post-offices serve the popular
want, — one, and the older, at the northerly village, or Sawyer's Mills ; the other
at the principal one, called Boylston Centre. There is also here a substantial
town house of granite, six well-kept school-houses, a church at the Centre
occupied by the Congi-egational Society, and another by the Catholics at Saw-
yer's ISIills. The mechanical industries appear in two saw-mills, one grist-mill,
a blacksmith shop and a cotton factory, variously placed ; ))ut the principal
business of the place is, and has been, agricultural.

Two notable villages, apart from the "Centre," claim some attention. The
first, already mentioned, lies in the north section, and is called "Sawyer's
Mills." In it is the only cotton factory in town, standing on the 1n-anch of the
Nashua, and owned and operated by the Lancaster Corporation. It has 10,000
spindles, keeps 90 hands, and makes 13,000 to 14,000 pounds of yarn weekly.
Siqxrintendenf, Edward C. Forbes ; First Overseer, Albert Lee. The " Saw-
yer House," found here, is very old ; a stone in the chimney bears date 1745.
Here arc a store, post-office, a Catholic church of seventy members, and a
school with thirty-five scholars. The Massachusetts Central Kailroad passes
through this place, being the first railroad in the town.

The second village lies in the south-east part, and is known as " Straw Hol-
low." It is, substantially, the property of Hon. David T. Moore and his sev-
eral sons. Mr. Moore is one of the wealthiest farmers of the region, who enjoys

INDIAN PURCHASE. 311

great public confidence, and has held evciy prominent ofEcc in town affairs and
in the church. He is now quite aged, but highly respected bj- all. This village
is a model of modern agriculture ; here arc sixty head of cattle, and five horses,
M-ith other stock. The business here was very largely in milk till 1878, when
a "Creamery" with the "Cooley" apparatus was started, and goes on with high
success. In 1878, there was furnished iVoni this place to Boston, 55,224 charts
of milk and 17,(303 quarts of cream, selling for $G,165.13. A cider and vinegar
foctory also here, worked in the last year 19,801 bushels of apples, giving 8G6
barrels of cider.

A tract of land in the northern part of the town bears the curious name of
the "Six Nations." It is said to derive it from the singular fact that here once
lived six families, every one of a different nationality.

Not for from this territory is another, covered with forest and known as the
"East Woods." It enjoys an old-time reputation as a great haunt for rattle-
snakes.

The plain habits and salubrious air of Coylston contrilnite much to the some-
what notable longevity of the people. Twenty-six deaths occurred in the alms-
house from 1847 to 1879, most of which were of aged persons ; and the aggre-
gate of these was two thousand and ninety-one years. The population has
varied quite strikingly, as a few figures will show. Thus, it was —

In 1793, . 840

" 1810, 800

" 1820, 902

" 1830, 830

" 1879, 800

It will thus be seen that, like all the farming towns of New England, Boyls-
ton has suffered hy the desertion of her sons and daughters at majorit3% for
more attractive pursuits elsewhere.

This town received its present name in honor of the distinguished flimily of
Boylston, so well remembered in and about Boston. Before its incorporation
as a parish (by Act of Legislature, Dec. 17, 1742), and as a town, March 1,
178G, it was, in civil and religious things, comprehended, about three-fourths
in Shrewsbury and one-fourth in Lancaster. The north and north-east portions
arc of much antiquity, since they represent' part of the orighial grant to Lan-
caster (the oldest town in the county) made liy Sholan, sachem of the Nasha-
way Indians, in 1G43, who dwelt near Waushacum Pond, now in Sterling.
There was likewise another smaller tract in the northern section, conveyed bj'
George Tahauto, nephew of Sholan, by deed dated June 26, 1701 (13th year
of William III. of England). The first actual settlement was made as early as
1705, at or near Sawyer's Mills. It was done by Thomas Sawyer, a descendant
of Thomas Sawyer, who was one of the first settlers of Lancaster, about 1G47.
Thomas the younger made his will in Boylston, in ^larch. 1705. probably dying

312 TOWN OF BOYLSTON.

soon after. Of his five surviving sons, Thonicas, James, Josliua, Caleb and
Natlianiel, the first, with his sou Eiias, was carried to Canada by tlie Indians
the year of his father's settlement (1705). One John Bigelow was also taken.
Sawyer interceded with the French governor for a ransom for the three, offering
to build him a saw-mill on the Chamblay River. When the savages refused,
and would have tortured Sawyer to death, a Jesuit friar came and warned them
that unless they at ouce released him, he would send them all to purgatory,
of ^vhich he held the keys. Fear did the work; they set Sawyer free, and he
afterward built the mill, and then came home.

It is not, indeed, known that the Indians ever visited this town in a hostile
way; but the settlers kept two houses garrisoned for some time, in the days
of that anxiety, which lasted from 1705 to, perhaps, 1718. These stood near
the present dwelling of Charles Andrews. Fire-arms were customarily taken
into the fields and elsewhere ; and M'e have hints of many false alarms.
But no invasions appear on record ; though it is as good as certain, from the
quantity of arrow-heads aud stone implements found here, and the large store
offish afforded by the river and ponds, both now and anciently, that this was a
fixed residence for large numbers of Indians.

The agricultural disposition of the early people here still endiues; and as
stated, the farming interest is distinctive of the town. One hundred aud
twenty-four fixrms are found in it, generally well divided among the different
forms of soil aud product. ^luch of the more elevated land is yet very fer-
tile ; and the river bottoms aud intervales are favorable both to hay and grain.
The energy aud enterprising temper of the landholders is marked, aud the
result of this appears iu the steady and constant improvement in and arouud
the dwellings even of the humblest. They uow reckon in their personal
estate 483 cows aud 170 horses. Other live stock abounds. The valuation
for 1878, gave : —

Personal Estate, $11,065

Keal " 424,430

Total, $435,495

Rate of taxation, $11.75 ; Total taxes, $6,740.90 ; No. polls, 227. School chil-
dren between five and fifteen years of age, 180. Appropriation for schools,
$1,G00. The first such appropriation was in 178G, when the town voted fifty
pounds for school purposes.

Boylston has an excellent poor-farm, well kept aud satisfactory ; also a
social library, organized iu 1792, and now containing 384 volumes. As early
as 1718 there were pcrmauent settlors in both the north and south sections;
and we find plentiful evidence of the great care taken by all for juvenile educa-
tion, aud for the institutions of the gospel. Yet for about twenty years, or
till 1742, very little more thau this can be learued of the general history of
the town. It is rather iu the more general history of the county that we trace

EARLY PROCEEDINGS. 313

many things in wbicli the people of Boylston must have been intimately con-
cerned and interested.

As already stated, for many years the relations of the people, civil and reli-
gious, were with Shrewsbury and Lancaster. They had neither church,
society, minister, nor burying-pluce of their own. It will not be forgotten
that these were the limes of the mere bridle-path through the forest, and of
the log-house in the woods, never any too comfortable. Therefore, while these
people where willing to travel far, if it were necessary, to meet for the wor-
ship of God, they soon came to prefer a method that would allow them to
support the gospel at a point more easy of access to them.

By 1740 they began to move for the organization of a distinct position ; and,
as their largest connection was with Shrewsbury, they petitioned the people of
that town for their approval. But Shrewsbury felt weak herself, and was not
inclined to give up the help she had from the settlers in her northern woods.
She opposed the idea with energy and great unanimity. Then the settlers
resorted to the General Court, Avhere they met with more encouragement ; and,
on Dec. 17, 1742, an Act was passed to incorporate the " North Precinct of
Shrewsbury." Under the ensuing settlement, the old town purchased of the
new all their interest in the meeting-house for £32 10s., to bo paid when the
latter had a new house erected and covered. It is no small proof of energy in
those times, that the few who thus wentout, undertook to build a house, asaljovo,
and have it ready by the next June, or iu about three months. Yet they seem
to have carried out their purpose completely. Many interesting votes a[)pear
on the records of this early day, for a few of which only we have room.

About a month after the granting of the charter, or on Jan. I'J, 1743, the
people first met and accepted the incorporation. They also made a simple
organization; choosing Dea. John Keyes, moderator; John Bush, clerk; and
John Bush, Joseph Bigclow, Dea. Cyprian Keyes, Joshua Houghton and Abner
Sawyer, parish committee. At another date, February 7, following, they voted
£26 8s. to pay for the preaching already had, and £50 for the future supply of
the same. They also then ordered the place of the new house to be in the
centre of their proper territory, and set a surveyor to find and mark the spot. It
was finally located on the town common, near the old burying-ground. Near
it was an old school-house, on land now owned by Mrs. Levi Hastings. In the
next September, church relations were dissolved between the two parties, with
no objection ; and October 6, a month after, the old church was duly represented
at the gathering of the new, which had then nineteen male members. Six-
teeu females, coming from the South Church, joined the North the next
August. This made thirty-five members derived from Shrewsbury.

Rev. Ebenczer Morse was invited to settle over the new church ; and this,
after some bargaining as to salary, he consented to do. The details of the
negotiations are very entertaining. He was installed Oct. 26, 1743, six
churches assisting, when the meeting-house had neither outside finish, pulpit

40 •

314 TOWN OF BOYLSTON.

nor pews, doors nor wiaclows, nor even ;i permanent floor. It was mostly
finished in the next year (1744). Individuals built their own pews where
space was granted, as was then customary, and this continued till 17C1 at least.
Mr. Morse remained with the church twenty-five years very harmoniously.
He was born in Medfield, March 2, 1718, graduated at Harvard in 1737;
studied law with Hon. John Chandler; and was married November, 1745, to
Persis, daughter of John Bush. He was settled when twenty-five years old,
and when the wish' to do good must have been the chief inducement. But
when the disatTection of the Colonies arose and threatened revolution, Mr.
Morse appeared as a royalist. No arrangement could be made, as the church
were wholly patriotic, and he was finally dismissed, Nov. 10, 175.5. His whole
ministry covered thirty-two years and fifteen days. He remained in town,
takinii up the practice of medicine, and also fitting students for college. His
wife died May 6, 1788, and he followed her in 1802, aged something more
than eightj'-three years.

After the retirement of Mr. Morse, a vacancy continued for a while, until
the church successfully called Eev. Eleazer Fairbanks to their pulpit, and
settled him, March 27, 1777. He was a native ^of Preston, Conn., and a
graduate of Brown University. In the autumn of 1781 he married Sarah,
daughter of Dca. Amariah Bigelow ; and remained in charge of this people
till 1821, when he died in Palmico, N. Y. The church at his settlement had
seventy-one members ; during his stay it was increased by the addition of one
hundred and thirteen more.

Mr. Fairbanks was succeeded by Eev. Hezekiah Hooper, ordained March 12,
1794. A new meeting-house had then been built, finished in 179.3, at a cost
of about $4,500. His ministry was prosperous, though very brief, as he died
about the beginning of 1796. He was a graduate of Harvard, of the year
1789, and bore a reputation of the very best kind.

Rev. Ward Cotton followed, being ordained June 7, 1797. This gentleman
was born in Ptymouth, March 24, 1770, graduating at Harvard in 1793. He
continued over the church twenty-eight years, in which time ninety-eight were
added to its number. He was then dismissed : yet he seems to have borne an
excellent character.

Rev. Samuel Russell, his successor, was a native of Bow, N. II., and a
graduate of Dartmouth, 1821. He was ordained June 21, 1826, and in the
winter of 1827 married Mary, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Howe of Hopkin-
ton. Feb. 13, 1832, he asked a dismission, which was granted, and he
retired April 17, following. He was a worthy man, but gentle, even to
timidity. His ministry was prosperous, the additions to the church within the
period being one hundred and four pei'sons.

The next incumbent was Rev. W. H. Sanford, w'ho was ordained Oct. 17,
1832. This gentleman found the congregation reduced, the church diflering
over theological questions, and the towns-people little united on any suliject.

WORTHY FAMILIES. 315

He succeeded very far iu restoring harmonj' and promoting relations of peace
among all, and valuable advancements were made in many respects. A new
house of worship was built, and a new comuiuuiou service obtained, partly by
purchase and partly by donation. The Sabbath-school library was enlarged,
and one hundred and fifty members were added to the church fellowship. Mr.
Sanford was born in Bclchertown, Feb. 14, 1800. He was of the Harvard
class of 1827, together with Pres. Felton, Chief Justice Gushing of New
Hampshire, and Bissot Lee of Delaware. He married Harriet Smith of Hop-
kiutou, N. H., Aug. 23, 1830; and resigned his pastoral charge Sept. 15,
1857, having been with the church almost twenty -five years, and leaving as
delightful a memory behind him as any minister, perhaps, ever seen in their
pulpit.

A period of supply now intervened, until Oct. 17, 1861, when Rev.

Ross was ordained to the pastorate. He was a man of fine talent, and
took deep interest in the people of his charge ; but he chose at length to
retire, and was dismissed, at his own request, Jan. IG, 1866. No settled
minister has followed him ; but the pulpit is now filled by Rev. Henry S.
Kimball of Candia, N. H. The church now numbers one hundred and three
mem.bers, and is in an active and useful state, as are the several minor organi-
zations connected with it.

The attitude of Boylston in the Revolution was highlj' patriotic and faithful ;
and she furnished both men and money freely to the struggle. A few of her
people were suspected of Tory principles, and these she dealt with vigorously.
We learn of these among such : Rev. Ebenezer Morse, William Crawford,
Jotham Bush, Benjamin Fisk, and Timothy Ross. Both Mr. Morse and Mr.
Crawford were forbidden the possession of arms, and the first was confined to
the parish limits, and the latter to his farm.

In the Rebellion this town furnished forty-one men to the armj-, of whom
seven were lost. There is no monument yet erected to their memory ; but
their worth and excellence arc well remembered, and their graves, every
" Decoration Day," lie thick with flowers through the love of those who keep
up that good observance.

In regard to the antiquity of families here, it is remarkable that none can be
traced back ver}^ far, excepting that of Sawyer. The Bennetts were proba-
bly from Watertown, and the Stoxes from Andover ; while the Bigelows are
descended from John, Mho was a captive among the Indians in 1705, and who
was from Watertown. Hastings is a name from Newton, and Taylou came
from Marlborough in the person of Eleazer, who settled on land now of H. V.
Wood, near the Central school-house The Balls were early settlers, and
from Watertown. The Neavtons were from Marlborough, but arc all left, and
are thought to be in Shrewsliur}-. Keyes was an early name here, and v,-ell
distinguished, coming from Marlborough in 1720. The family now arc in
West Boylston. Temple had the same origin, and a similar reputation.

316 TOWN OF BOYLSTON.

Howe is a Watertown family, and honorably connected in England. Bush is
a name from Marlborough; the progenitor, John, settled near the meeting-
house on land now of Charles Andi'cws. Davenpout is a tamily descended
from Rev. John Davenport, an original settler at New Haven in 1637, and
thence to Boston, 1667, where liis settlement led to the founding of the Old
South. The Flaggs were early settlers here, partly from Watertown and
partly from Concord. Thomas was in the former place, 1643. Gershom
Flagg, living in Bijylston, 1729, was his great-grandson, and a direct ancestor
of the writer of this sketch.

Some brief mention of a few distinguished citizeus will be proper. Capt.
John Andrews has been a leading man here for many years, having kept the
hotel, and represented the town in the legislature in 1851. Another prominent
man is H. II. Bragdon, who was our representative in 1848. He has been
town clerk for thirty years, and parish clerk for forty. John B. Gough, the
well-known orator, has a splendid residence here, and will always have the
gratitude of the people for his kind interest in the town. Levi L. Fhigg has
filled almost every town office, and is greatly respected. A. V. B. Prouty,
Montraville Flagg, W. A. iloore, Charles Moore, George Lamson, William
Andrews, Patrick Griffin, P. P. Lane and Deacon F. B. WilUud may all be
named as standing high in public esteem, deeply interested in education, and
of notable usefulness in all the ways and duties of social and domestic life.

CHAPTEE n.

EARLY TOWN BUSINESS NEW TOWN HALL THE BOYLSTON BEQUEST THE

THREE CHURCHES, OLD AND NEW — THE OLD BURYING-GROUND THE NEW

CEMETERY INTERESTING EPITAPHS.

The first meeting of the town, after its definite incorporation, was March 13,
1786, when Ephraim Beaman was moderator, and the following ticket,
interesting from being the first, was elected, viz. :

Selectmen — Ezra Beaman, Jonas Temple, Timothy Whitne}', Jonathan
Fassett and John Hastings.

Assessors — Ephraim Beaman, Jonas Temple and Edmund Stiles.

Town Clerk, Aaron Sawyer. Town Treasurer, Joseph Bigelow.

This meeting was held in the old, or first meeting-house, which, as already
intimated, had little of comfort about it. The present town house, its contrast
in almost all respects, is of stone, sufficient in size, and two stories high. The
hall for public assembly is above, the first floor serving for a commodious
school-room. The corner-stone of this edifice was laid August 21, 1830, and

BURIAL-GROUNDS. 317

the building at once erected. It owes its existence to tlie foliowinir circum-
stance :

On account of the name selected for the new town, Ward N. Boylston, Esq.,
of Princeton, heir of Thomas Boylston, sometime of Boston, hut who died in
England, gave this town the sum of £40, to l)e kept at compound interest till
it became siifBcicnt for the erection of some public building here, as he should
direct. In a visit made here in 182G he found his fund grown to about
$1,000. Dying in the next January, he added by will $300 more, directing
that the whole should be used to build a substantial structure of stone, like
that described. This was accordingly done, and a sketch embodying these
facts, prepared by Rev. Mr. Cotton, was placed under the corner-stone. We
add the names of the present board of town oiBcers : Selectmen, H. V. Wood,
Elmer Shaw, W. A. Moore ; Town Clerk, II. H. Brigham ; Treasurer,
L. L. Flagg.

Returning to the ancient meeting-house, with its comfortless arrangements,
we find that these were helped out, to some extent, by the following expedient.
An old house then stood imteuanted on the ledge near the present church. It
was very rude; it had only a single room, in the centre of which was the
chimney, with a fire-place on each side. This was called the "Noon House,"
and was resorted to by all those worshippers who came too far to i-eturn between
services. Here they brought their lunch, buiit ihcir fires, and were comfort-
able through the intermission. This building stood till about forty-live years
ago, when, its use being ended, it was removed, and made into a dwelling-
house.

The second meeting-house, that of 1793, was a different thing from the first.
It was very large (G5 by 53 feet), and finished throughout. In its cupola
hung the bell, cast in England, and given by one of the Boylstons. Il stood
west of the Common, and somewhat lower down, very near the site of the
present Central school-house. A gallery ran round three sides, Icavins the
high pulpit on the north. A smaller gallery appeared still higher, devoted to
the "people of African descent." The square pews, and seats turned upon
hinges, will be noted as similar to all iu New England in that day. This house
had a stove, but no chimney, the funnel passing through a window instead.
The house, exclusive of land, cost some $4,000, but, on account of its location,
it was always somewhat productive of ill feeling, and after the separation of
West Boylston it proved too large for any congregation using it, and as cheer-
less, almost, as its predecessor. It was, therefore, abandoned and demolished
in 1835, and a new one erected on the east, or upper side of the Common,
being that now standing at that point. This is a neat modern structure, well
finished, and furnished very comfortably. It was dedicated Dec. 10, 1835.

The two burying-grounds of the place are both near the Centre Village, and
afford much material for local history. The "Old Yard," lying southwest of
the Common, was originally sold the town by Eleazer Taylor, about 1743.

318 TOWN OF BOYLSTON.

The first l)otly iutcrred here was of a child, as appears by the inscription on
the headstone :

"Hero lies the body of Turner Slaynard, son of Elisha and Hnlda Maynard,
who died Apr. 14, 1745, aged 11 months and 11 days." And on the foot-
stone : "This is the first body that in this bnrying-ground doth lie." This
grave is near the entrance, on the right. Many names of good local distinc-
tion arc here. Rev. El)enezer Morse, the first minister, has a granite monu-
ment ; the Andrews family a tomb, with date, 1789. A stone erected very
early bears a Latin inscription, composed by Mr. Morse. As translated by
Mr. Charles A. Stearns, it reads :

"This monument was raised, among many sighs and tears, iu memory of John
Flagg, late of Harvard College, Cambridge, New England ; who died, a citizen of
Shrewsburj', the 30th day of Jan., 17S5, aged twenty-four j-ears and twenty-nine days.
He was a son of Stephen Flagg, and of Judith, his wife. lie was a young man who
was pre-cmiueut in talent, untiring iu studies and labor, rational in religion, strong in
the Christian faith, a kinsman especially beloved by his relations. In death he was
resigned to the Divine law, triumphant over all misfortunes of life, fears of death, and
dread of the hereafter. Let those surviving .at the home of the blessed oue follow him
and imitate his example. Let them remember that they too must die."

This ground enjoys a donation from James Longley, Esq., of Boston, who
gave $500, Apr. 30, 18C3, to be invested, and the interest, at five per cent.,
to be spent in the repair and adornment of the spot.

"The New Bni-ying-Gronnd " lies west of the meeting-house. The north
part was a gift from Col. Jotham Bush, and the remainder was purchased of
his son. The first interment was of Abel Hastings, in 1845. Here are
numerous monuments of great elegance. Here, also, lie some of those who fell
in the war of the Rebellion, and one soldier of the Revolution. Ammig the
former is to be noted Fei-dinand, son of the late Willard Andrews, a young
man of great worth and talent. Also, we must not omit John Partridge, an
eminent young man of this town. His mother was the first to decorate the
soldiers' griives with flowers. And who, indeed, has a more tender heart than
a loving mother? May flowers be always scattered in the paths she travels in
this life, and after death let her grave be reverenced continually !

INTRODUCTORY NOTES. 310

THE BROOKFIELDS.

BY REV. ABIJAH P. M.-iKVIN.

The close relation of the Brookfieltls to each other requires that they should
be grouped together in this historical sketch, instead of being arrange<l in
alphabetical order with the other towns in the county'. The case is peculiar,
inasmuch as the town which is most recent in date, that is. West Brookfield, is
the scene of nearly all the events which give special interest to the early
history' of Brooklicld. ]Moreover, that part of the old town which is now called
North Brookiield became a parish before there was a church in what is now
the town of Brookfield. In other words, the most ancient events in the
town's history belong to the youngest of the three towns, as they now exist ;
and that part whieh bears the name of the original town is the youngest of the
three in the order of settlement and parochial organization. I shall therefore
give, in the first place, the history of the whole town under the name of Brook-
field, down to the time of the first division, when North Brookfield was set off,
noting with care the precise locality of events, so far as possible at this late
day, and then continue the history- of the whole remaining town until ^Yest
Brookfield was incorpoiated in the same way. From this last date the history
of Brookfield proper will be brought down to the present time. The distinct
histories of North Brookfield and West Brookfield will be given from the time
of their incorporation.

As the formation of the whole Brookfield territor}'' is a section of the county
by itself, it will bo described as a unit. That it is peculiar is evident to the
glance of the traveler, as he swiftly glides through on the express train. It
becomes plainer as he rides more leisurely in an open carriage. This section is
flanked on the east by the high and rocky hills of Spencer and Charlton, and
ou the west by the broken and almost mountainous country of Warren. Across
it, south of the middle, is a broad valley, through which, by a winding course,
runs the Quaboag Eiver, from east to west. This valley, eight or ten miles
long, is partly covered by water, partly by swampy land, a part is raised just
enough above the water level to bear English hay, and the rest is irregular
upland, gentle hills or extended plain.

The south line of the town is crossed midway by South Pond, about a mile
in length, lying partly in Sturbridge and partly iu Brookfield. A brook,

320 TOVYN OF BROOKFIELD.

widened into a canal, flows from this pond to Podiink or Quaboag Pond, a fine
siieet of water, equal to about a mile square, and lying at the lowest level
of the valley. Smith's Pond, at the village of East Brookfield, flows into
Podunk, and the united waters pass by the Quaboag River towards the west.
North of East BrookQcld is an upland swale. Between Smith's Pond and
Podiink is a grassy swamp. West of Podunk, on the sides of the Quaboag, is
another swampy formation. These swamps, so called, arc filled with liviug
water, and large sections of them are covered with grass, so as to lend a rather
pleasing aspect to the landscape.

Towards the western end of the long valley, and west of the village of West
Brookfield, lies the Wickaboag Pond, which extends a mile and a half, north
and south, and adds au inexpressible charm to the scenery. Around this little
lake and its vicinity cluster the tragic stories of early life in Brookfield. The
Quaboag River runs just south of the pond, and receives its outflow through a
brook that breaks from the south-west corner.

The long valley thus described determines the other features of the old
township. From it the land rises to tiie south into a long line of hills, down
whose sloping vales many brooks run perpendicularly to the Quaboag. In like
manner the land rises towards the north, Init into detached hills, which send
their rills and brooks southward to the larger stream in the valley. All the
hills in the northern section of the Brookficlds are fashioned after the same
model, though greatly varying in size. These hills, with scarcely an exception,
extend from north to south. A horizontal section of them would give an
eccentric ellipse, the longest diameter being north and south. Some are very
large, but others are placed between, of varialile magnitude. They rise with
great regularity on every side, from base to smooth and rounded top, and are
cultivated all over the surface. They are not parallel to each other, but on
parallel lines, and thus, by their size, their shape and their position, give a
blending of uniformity and variety which is extremely pleasing.

There is one exception to the general formation of this "hill country," and
that is the "Old Meeting-house," or "Foster's Hill," just cast of the village of
West Brookfield. The base and sides of this hill and the elevation, for aliout
two hundred feet, is similar, but the top is almost a dead level. It would
seem as if the upper third iiad been cut off", leaving the frustum of an elliptical
pyramid, whose surface is from a quarter to a third of a mile in diameter.
On this broad platform the original settlement was located, and hei'e the meet-
ing-houses stood from the beginning till the middle of the last century. From
this summit, nearly the whole of the old township is in plain sight, and it
seems as if formed to suit the convenience of all the people in the valley and
adjacent hills during the first century of the town's history.

The soil of the township is good for all kinds of trees and vegetables common
to the interior of the Stale. The grass-lands are clothed with a verdant herb-
age. The geological formation is gnoissic, and the waters are impregnated

FIRST SETTLEMENT. 321

with iron. Large quantities of iron-ore have been talcen from Wickaboag
Pond. The crops in this summer of 1879 are luxuriant, and many kinds of
fruit abound in every direction. With this meutal map in mind, the reader
will proceed to the history of the Brookfields.

BEOOKFIELD

CHAPTER I.

ORIGINAL CONDITION INDIAN INHABITANTS FIRST SETTLEMENT BT AVHITES

DISTURBANCES — OUTRAGES AND MURDERS FEMALE FORTITUDE FIRST

MEETING-HOUSE MORE DESTRUCTION FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR ATTEN-
TION TO SCHOOLS MEETING-HOUSE FINALLY BUILT WHITEFIELD'S VISIT.

The old town, including a part of New Braintrce, which once belonged to its
territory, was a favorite haunt of the Indians. It was the only place much
frequented by them between Lancaster and Worcester on the east, and Spring-
field on the west. The hills and valleys, the ponds and streams of this inland
basin, were just suited to their needs, their convenience and their taste. Here
was ample space for planting, hunting and fishing. AH that the Indian craved
of earthly good was here furnished to his hands. A lazy life, with intermittent
exertion, obtained for him just enough for present subsistence, and he was
careless of the future. His squaw could raise corn and squashes, and, when
driven by hunger, he could catch fish or game to supply his immediate want.
Of course he always sought for a place where game and fish abounded, aud
where the soil was of easy cultivation. Here, therefore, a branch of the tribe
of the Nipnets, Nipmngs or Nipmucs had their home or centre of life, though
often wandering outside of the valley in war or in the chase. Ti:e branch or
faction of the Nipnets who lived here was called the Quaboag Indians, the head
sachem of whom was Quacumquasit. Their home or headquarters was chiefly
on the west and north of Wickaboag Pond, in West Brookfield. They fre-
quented the borders of the stream that comes from New Braiutree to the pond.
This was the haunt of the Quaboags, aud the place about four or five miles
north of the pond was their "chief seat." Some writers, earlier and later,
have styled this the "chief seat of the Nipmuc Indians," but it was simply the
capital or chief seat of the Quaboag company, faction or tribelet. The first
notice of them is in connection with the murder of three of their number iu
1647, between Brookfield aud Springfield, and of five others killed in 1648,
about half way to Lancaster. These murders were committed by Indians.

322 TOWN OF BROOKFIELD.

The tribe, as we shall call this portion of the Nipmucs, engaged Mr. Eliot, the
apostle of the Indians, to make an appeal to the anthovitics in Boston to secure
the punishment of the mni-dcrers ; but, as these Indians were not then subject
to the Colony-, interference was wisely declined. Speaking of these Indians,
Winthrop writes : " There are several small factions at Quaboag, and in all
near places there are other small factions. No one faction doth rule all.
And one of these petty factions hath made friendship with Cutshamoqnin,
but I believe they will stick no longer to him than the sun shines upon him."

The first year in which white men became historically connected with the
place was 1(160, when a "grant of land six miles square" was made to certain
inhabitants of Ipswich, on condition that they would have twenty families set-
tled there within three years, and an able minister, approved by the court,
settled there within the same period, and that they should make provisions for
his support. The General Court acted on the conviction that a settlement
provided with such a minister would form a homogeneous town that would act
in harmony with similar towns and with the whole Colony.

In what year the first settlers put in an appearance is not certain. The Rev.
Dr. Fiske,who had studied the history of the town, thought it was "somewhat
probable there were some small beginnings made here by the English before
this grant." But of this there is no certain proof. The town historians date
the first occupation by the English in the year 1G60. The settlers purchased
the land of the natives, and thus acquired a double title, legal and equitable.
Their coming did not exclude the Indians, but both parties "lived together in
friendship for some time." The purchase was made on the 10th of October,
1665, of Shattocquis, who claimed to be the "sole and proper owner." Having
a grant from the General Court, the settlers felt secure against all claimants.
Although it is not possible to fix the date of the first white occupation of the
place, it is matter of record that there were enough inhabitants on the ground
to be incorporated as a town in the year 1673. There was a condition in the
act, as appears by the following words : The court judged meet to grant the
request of the inhabitants of Quaboag, "and the liberty and privilege of a
township, provided they divide not the whole land of the township till they be
forty or fifty families ; in the meantime, their dividings one to another exceed
not two hundred acres to any present inhabitant." By the summer of 1675,
there were at least twenty families in the town, who had a meeting-house and
preaching though not a settled minister.

The enterprise, so auspiciously begun, was exposed to a speedy reverse.
About the middle of July, 1675, a baud of Nipmucs from King Philip's neigh-
borhood, murdered four or five people in Mendon. This was the first war-
like attack of the Indians upon the people of the Colony since the landing of
the Pilgrims. Other signs of hostility induced the authorities to take imme-
diate measures of precaution. Agents were sent to the Nipmucs, by whom it
was made certain that they were inclined to unite with Philip. Still the Indians

INDIAN ATTACK. 323

expressed a desire for peace, and appointed a day for making a treaty. Tiie
2d of August, old style, was the day for the meeting. The Indians had
made such repeated protestations of friendly designs, that when Capts.
Wheeler and Hutchinson came with twenty men, to make a treaty, some of the
principal men of the town rode with them unarmed to the place of rendezvous.
The place was on the hill at the head, or north end of Wickaboag Pond. The
Indians were not there. Though this excited some fear, yet the party rode
forward towards the " largest collection of Indians," at that time in the region.
This was four or five miles up stream, and in the southern border of what is
now New Braintree, but was theu a part of Brooktield. Here was "the Nip-
nets' chief town." The foe was on the watch. Says Dr. Fiske, iu an histor-
ical discourse : "When they came to a place called Meminimisset, a narrow
passage between a steep hill and a thick swamp, they were ambushed by two
or three hundred Indians, who shot down eight of the company, and mortally
wounded three more, Capt. Hutchinson being one of the number." The rest
returned to their home by another path, in order to avoid a second ambush.
The Indians followed them, but the jieople, taking alarm, flocked together in
the "principal house." This house was without any doubt, a fortified house
on Foster's Hill, the flat-topped elevation oast of the village of West Brook-
field, already described. But the precise location of this "principal house"
is in dispute. The better opinion is that it stood on the north-eastern brow of
the hill, or a little way down that hill-side, and not far north-west from a house
which now stands on that slope, and known as "Mr. Marsh's house."

The people and the soldiers who survived the attack in the woods, being
gathered into the house, were compai-atively safe, though the only way in which
it was "fortified" was by rolling up some logs on the sides, and the hanging
up of a few feather beds to catch the bullets. The Indians soon followed and
" set fire to most of the buildings." About twenty houses were l)urned iu sight
of the agonized owners. All the barns and outhouses perished in the flames,
with all their contents which the savages did not secure as plunder. They next
besieged the garrison, and watched every chance to pick off a man. At one
time the besieged were surprised by a bright light in the midst of darkness.
The Indians had placed combustibles by the side of the house, and set them on
fire. The men went out, and though exposed to bullets from every available
quarter, they put out the flames without the loss of a man. " Innumerable balls
entered the house" during the siege, yet only one man, who was in t!ic cham-
ber, was killed. One day a man was wounded as he was drawing water. Ho
was hidden from the foes by a board fence, but one of them seeing the well-
pole descending, took aim at the spot where he thought the man was standing,
and hit him under the chin. The wounded man, in aflright, called out that he
was killed, when the Indian, knowing the voice, shouted, "Me kill Maj. Wil-
son." The siege continued through the second, the third and to the close of
the fourth day of August. At one time the Indians made a more elaborate

324 TOWN OF BROOKFIELD.

attempt to set the house on fire than was usual with them. Indeef], the effort
seems without parallel in their annals. They took a couple of barrels, made
holes in the centre of the heads, and inserted a pole f(n- an axle-tree. They
next joined two rows of poles together till they reached abont fourteen rods.
A string of the poles was fastened to each end of the axle, and wheels were
placed under Ihe double line of poles at suitable intervals. Next they piled
up cDmbustil)les on the end nearest the house, set them on fire, and by push-
ing at the other extremity, moved the burning mass against the garrison. It
was a fearful hour, but they escaped death by a timely interposition. Accord-
ing to Hubbard, the historian, a violent rain fell so suddenly as to extinguish
the flame. It seemed to the besieged to be a special interposition of Provi-
dence. Increase Mather does not refer to the rain, but says that Maj. Wil-
lard, followed by forty-eight horsemen, arrived just in time, late on the night
of the 4th of August, and raised the siege. He had been sent to scout in
the neighborhood of Lancaster, as it was feared the Indians meditated an
attack on that town. When within a few miles of that place, the Major,
hearing of the dire cxtrcmit}' of the garrison at Brookfield, acting on his own
discretion, hurried to the scene of action and rescued the garrison. Sentinels
were on the watch to notify the Indians of his coming, and they fired alarm
guns, but these wore not heard liy the besiegers. Thus it happened that the
Major escaped ambush, and appeared on the scene in the very nick of time.
It is said that the "cattle seemed to rejoice at his coming, and to hail him as
their deliverer." They were frightened by the burning of the buildings, the sound
of guns, and the yelling of the savages, and appeared to know that the white
men were their friends. They ran to the troops for "protection, and followed
them till they arrived at the besieged house." This stampede of the cattle served
a good purpose, for their noise made the Indians think that the troop was
numerous. They set fire to the meeting-house, and the oul}' remaining house
and barn, and disappeared in the woods. The peril of the garrison having
been made known, soldiers came in from different quarters, even from Hart-
ford, from Springfield, and from the county of Essex. But the savages were
invisible. It was afterwards learned that Philip came to Brookfield on the
fifth, heard the story, rewarded some of the leaders in the bloody ambush, and
induced the Qnai:toags to join him in another expedition, which extended towards
the towns in the valley of the Connecticut. The greater part of the troops moved
to Hadley to thwart the Indians, and protect the settlements in that quarter.
Two of the principal leaders in the attack on Brookfield, were afterwards
seized and tried for their violation of the agreement with the English, and their
assassination of Capt. Hutchinson. One of these was Sam or Shoshanim of
Lancaster. He was hanged with Neatump, sachem of Quaboag, on Boston
Common.

Here we meet a question of interest to all admirers of the noble and heroic
qualities of Maj. Simon Willard. Dr. Fiske states that his conduct in

SETTLEMENT CHECKED. 325

alteriug his course iind going to the relief of Brookfieid "being dictated by
humanity, and executed with braveiy aud success, gained him the applause of
people in general. But as it was beside his orders, he was censured by the
court aud cashiered, which disgusted his friends aud liroke his heart." Joseph
AYillard, the historian of Lancaster, iu 182G, having investigated this affair
with his usual thoroughness, was convinced that the statement was erroneous.
There is no record, in the doings of the General Court, that Maj. Willard was
cashiered or censured. Moreover, he was busy all the fall and winter iu the
public service, both as commander-in-chief iu the tield, and as a member of the
council. Hence it is inferred that the whole statement of Dr. Fiskc has no
foundation. He has even been censured by some for putting the matter in print.
But it is hardly conceivable that the Doctor had no ground for writing as he did.
He could not have invented a tiction of the kind. Is not the following the true
solution of the question? There was no formal accusation of Maj. Willard;
he had no trial, was not censured by the General Court, and was not cashiered.
But he had departed from his orders; in consequence, before his return, the
Lidiaus fell upon Lancaster, which he had been sent to defend, and several lives
were sacrificed l)y the enemy. It is not difficult to infer, human nature being
the same in all times, that the people of Lancaster and their fiiends would be
apt to censure the Major for not defending them, instead of departing from
his orders, and going to a distance. Though he was sagacious and loyal, yet
by the course he had taken, the town where he had long resided, and of which
he had been, as it were, a father, had suffered a grievous loss of life. This
must have weighed upon his sensitive spirit, aud if the censure of others came
to his ears, it is quite possible that a burdened heart hastened his decease,
which took place in the spring of 1676.

The settled part of Brookfieid on aud near Mceting-House Hill was a desola-
tion. It is said that the plantation was broken up, though one writer denies
this with spirit. If any intrepid settlers remained on the ground, there is no
record of municipal or church action for a series of years. There was a grant
of laud to Joseph Woolcot, in 1687. There is an entry on the records of
the General Court, date of 1692, in these words: — "Upon reading a petition
from the inhabitants of Brookfieid, alias Quaboag, praying that a committee
may be appointed as formerly, to direct and regulate the settlement of said
plantation, and the affairs thereof, ordered, that a committee be appointed."
By this it is clear that the plantation was in working order by 1692, or sixteen
years after the burning of all the buildings, though it did not work very
smoothly. We may rest satisfied that people had been moving in slowly during the
years between 1680 and 1692, when the above petition was sent to the General
Court. When the town was authorized, it was not endowed with full powers
of self-government, but was placed under a committee made up of gentlemen
residing in other towns, who directed and regulated all affairs. Probal)Iy here,
as was the case in Lancaster during a short period, the committee gave

326 TOWN OF BROOKFIELD.

direction to the selectmen, in relation to certain matters, and in other things,
exerted direct authority. This arrangement in Brooktield lasted until 1718, or
about forty-tive years. "Without said connnittee, says Dr. Fiske, "the inhabi-
tants could not take up for themselves, or grant to others, any lands. And it
was by the direction and assistance of said committee, that monies were
granted, a meeting-house built, and a minister chosen."

According to the Rev. Joseph J. Foot, who published a very valuable
historical discourse, " it was a long time before the inhabitants dared to return."
Otlier writers take the same view, with the exception of Rev. Dr. Whiting,
who admits that the plantation was hardly alive, but claims that it was not aban-
doned, and that the Court encouraged the planters. As the scattered families
came back, they took measures for protection. Gilbert's Fort was in the west
parish near where the school-house stood in 1828. On the hill north-west of
West Brooktield village a tower was built, from which the movements of the
Indians could be watched. It stood upon a rock. A story has come down
from early times that at the close of a cloudy day, a company of Indians were
seen lurking in the woods at a little distance, by the sentinel. The guns
belonging to the fort had by mistake been left in the tower, and the sentinel
knew that if he alarmed the people, they would come for their guns, and wliile
unarmed be killed by the enemy. Putting the guns in order for an attack,
he waited till dark, and then fired in the direction where he had seen an Indian.
The fire was returned, whereupon he shot away in the direction of the flash.
Being protected himself, he kept up this single-handed contest for some
hours, until the firing ceased. As blood was found in different places in the
morning, it was supposed that several Indians had been killed or severely
wounded.

Below the junction of the stream which flows from Wickaboag Pond with
Quaboag River is a knoll on which Marks's garrison stood. There is a story
connected with this place. Mrs. Marks, being left alone on a certain day,
saw Indians in the vicinity, who, as she su[)posed, were waiting for a chance
to attack the settlement. Putting on her husband's wig, hat and greatcoat,
and taking his gun, she went to the top of the garrison and marched backwards
and forwards, vociferating like a vigilant sentinel, "All's well; all's well."
The enemy were deceived, and, supposing there was a force within, prudently
withdrew.

Goss's garrison was west of Wickaboag Pond ; Jennings's or Barrister's
garrison was north-cast of the present village of Brooktield, probaI)ly, which
proves that settlers soon took up lauds beyond the present boundary of West
Brooktield.

Previous to the burning of the town and the dispersion of the people, a
meeting-house had been built, and meetings had been regularl}^ held ; but
there is no recorded evidence that a church had been organized, or a minister
settled. There is a tradition that there was a settled minister, and that

NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 327

Rev. Thomas James preached the first sermon ever delivered in Broolifield.
Rev. Mr. Smith was in the place previous to 1713, and in 1715 Rev. Daniel
Elmer, who had been for some time "carrying on the work of the ministry,"
left the place.

In the month of November, 1715, the people agreed to build a meeting-
house, "wherein to carry on the worship of God. It was to be forty-five
feet in length, and thirty-five feet in width." This house was set up on
Foster's Hill, and was on the north side of the road, and nearly midway of the
summit level. The exact spot where the people worshipped between the
burning of the first meeting-house in 1G75 and the erection of the second in
171(5 is not known, but it is thought by some local antiquarians that they
assembled during several years in a fortified house ; perhaps in Gilbert's Fort,
which was near the centre of the west parish. But a few years pi-evious to the
building of the second house they probably met in the "town h<njse," which
stood nearly opposite the ancient homestead of the Foster family. The second
meeting-house was built on the spot where the first had stood, and here it
remained until the third sanctuary was erected in the village of West Brook-
field in 1755.

The old meeting-houses stood in a very "sightly place," and, though the hill
was ditficult of ascent, there must have been a sense of satisfaction to the early
settlers whenever they stood on that eminence, and surveyed the goodly land
that lay outspread before them. And there, after forty years from the time
wiien their first house of worship had been destroyed by the ruthless foe, on
the 5th of April, 1716, the Rev. Thomas Cheney was invited to become the
minister of the town, by the inhabitants in town meeting assembled, Thomas
Barnes being moderator. Not till the IGth of October, in 1717, or eighteen
months later, was the church organized, when Mr. Cheney was solemnly sit
apart as its pastor. Thus he was the minister of the town as a parish before
he was the pastor of the church.

Returning to the secular history, it appears that the committee of super-
vision were ready to vacate their office. They reported to the General Court
that after "various disappointments, by war and otherwise, by the good
providence of God," the people had increased to nearly fifty families, had
nearly completed a very convenient meetinghouse, had settled a church and
ordained an orthodox and learned minister. In view of these facts ihey
desired to be released from any farther responsibility, and proposed that the
plantation should be invested with all the powers and privileges of a town.
The names of the committee were Samuel Partridge, Samuel Porter and Luke
Hitchcock. The suggestion of the committee was ratified on the 12th of
November, 1718, and Brookfield became a self-governing town. The next
year an order of the General Court, made in 1701, that the grant of Brookfield
should be eight miles square, was reaflirmed, and a new survey ordered to be
made, because the old plot had been lost. This was done, and then the action

328 TOWN OF BROOKFIELD.

of the town in choosing town officers in the preceding March was approved and
confirmed. This last action was taken on the 3d of December, 1719, by which
it may safely be couclnded Brookfield was a town to "all intents and purposes
whatsoever."

But during those years, from the outbreak of King William's war in 1(392 to
1710, the town was in an insecure and troubled state from the hostility of the
Indians. In the course of this war, the savage enemy made frequent and sud-
den attacks, killing, scalping, or carrying captive those on whom they could
safely fall. A number of men, women and children were killed ; some were
womded, and othcis were taken prisoners. According to Dr. Fiske, who
made a specialty of this part of the town's history, the fir&t inroad was made
near the end of July or the beginning of August, 1G92. The case of Joseph
Woolcot and his family is a fair example of man}' dteds of blood. A party
of Indians had broken up two or three families, and Mrs. Woolcot was filled
with apprehension. Her husband being at work, one day, at a little distance
from the house, she took the children and went out to meet him. " When they
returned to the house at noon, they found the Indians had lieen there for his
gun, and several other things were missing." Seeing an Indian drawing
towards the house, Mr Woolcot sent his wife and two little daughters to hide
in the bushes, and taking his little son under one arm, and his broad-axe in his
hand, went out with his do<j in sitrht of the enemy. "The do" l)ein<!; larije and
fierce, attacked the Indian so furiously, that he was obliged to discharge his
gun at the dog to rid himself of him ; immediately upon which Woolcot sat
down the child and pursued the Indiau till he heard the bullet roll down the
gun, the Indian charging as he ran. He then turned back, snatched up his
child and made his escape through the swamps to a fort. His wife being
greatly terrified, discovered b}- her shrieks where she was ; and the Indian soon
found and despatched both her and her children."

At another time — few dates are given by the local annalists — a party of
Indians entered the house of a Mr. Mason, while the family were at dinner.
They killed Mason and one or two children, and taking his wife and an infant
whom they had wounded, carried them captive. They seized two brothers,
Thomas and Daniel Lawrence, the former of whom they killed. John Law-
rence, their brother, "rode with all haste" to Springfield for help, when a
company under Capt. Colton, marched speedily and pursued the Indians. They
found Mason's child knocked on the head, and thrown into the bushes. Pur-
suing they found the enemy in a brush fort, and when morning came, they
drew near, and putting the muzzles of their guns through the brush fired upon
the Indians with such good aim that fourteen or fifteen were killed. The rest
fled in haste, leaving arms, blankets, powder-horns, and their two prisoners,
Daniel Lawrence and Mrs. Mason, who were taken to their homes by the sol-
diers. John Lawrence was afterwards killed. Mary Macintosh was fired upon
and killed while milking. On a certain day, — date and place not mentioned, —

FUETHER ATTACKS. 329

Robert Grainger and Johu Clary were fired upon ; Graiuger was killed at
once, and Clary, attempting to escape, was shot.

Here follows a series of horrors, in the language of Dr. Fiske : —

"Thomas Baltis of BrookGcld, riding express to Hadlej-, was killed in the wilder-
ness within llie bounds of Bclcliertowu. Early one morning John Woolcot, a lad about
ttvclve or fourteen years old, was riding in search of tlie cows, when the Indians fired
at him, killed his horse from under him, and took him prisoner. The people at Jen-
niug's garrison — just north-east of Brookfield Village — hearing the firing, and con-
cluding the people at another garrison were beset, sis men set out for their assistance,
but were waylaid by the Indians. The English knew not their danger till they saw
there was no escaping it. And, therefore, knowing that an Indian could not look an
Englishman in the face and take a right aim, the_v stood their ground, presenting their
pieces wherever the}- saw an Indian, without discharging them, excepting Abijah Bart-
lett, who turned to flee and was shot dead. The Indians kept firing at the rest, and
wounded three of them. They were preserved at last by thu following stratagem. A
large dog, hearing the firing, came to our men, one of whom, to encourage his brethren
and intimidate the Indians, called out, ' Captain Williams is come to our assistance,
for here is his dog.' The Indians seeing the dog, and knowing Williams to be a famous
warrior, immediately fled, and our men escaped."

At length we find one of the delights of a true annalist, a date, though as
usual, the place is wanting, except vaguely it was in ''the meadows," and the
date is qualified by the word " about," the last resort of a mau who can not or
who will not track a fact to its oriifin : —

" About the 20th of July, 1710, — it was now Queen Anne's war, — six men, viz.
Ebenezer Ha_\ward, John White, Stephen and Benjamin Jennings, John Grosvenor and
Joseph Kellogg, were making hay in the meadows, when the Indians, who had been
watching an opportunity to surprise them, sprung suddenly upon them, despatched
five of them, and tonk the other, John White, prisoner. White spj'ing a small company
of our people at some distance, jumped from the Indian who held him, and ran to join
his friends ; but the Indian fired after him, and wounded him in the thigh, by which he
fell ; but soon recovering and running again, he was again fired at and received his
death wound."

Another story is handed down to us which illustrates the strange fasciuation
which Indian life and habits have always had upon the minds of some who
were born in civilized, and even in Christian families. The child of Rev. Mr.
AVilliauis of Dcerfield is a well-known example. The case in Bnjokficid was
that of John Woolcot, the boy mentioned above, who was captured and taken
to Canada at the age of twelve. Remaining there six or seven years, and
living wholly with the Indians, he forgot his native tongue, and became so
familiarized to savage life as to lose all desire to return home. In some such
cases, when children taken in vei*y early years were ransomed in youth, they
became reconciled to civilized life, and even lost all hankering alter the forest
and the wigwam. Perhaps that would have been the case with Woolcot if he
had not lost his life in the following manuer : Some years afterwards, in 1728,

330 TOWN OF BEOOIOFIELD.

iu a time of peace, he came down the Connecticut River witli another man,
having a load of skins and fur. At a certain place they were hailed by Indians,
but steered for the opposite shore. The Indians pursued, and landed at a
short distance from Woolcot and his companion. Shots were exchanged, and
Woolcot was killed.

From the close of Queen Anne's war, Brookfield had a long period of peace
and prosperity. The population increased rapidly. Other towns were molested
by the Indians, — Rutland as late as 1723, — and some of their inhabitants
slain ; but Brookfield, though often alarmed, was never again invaded, nor was
any person in it killed or taken captive. Though alarms hindered their indus-
try, and at times the fear of the savages made life a scene of disquietude, they
were saved from the terrible discipline of the tomahawk and the scalping-
kuife.

During the war of 1745-48, or the old French aud Indian war, as it used to
be styled, Brookfield men were in the service, and bore their part of toil and
sufferings, yet hostilities did not come down to their borders. Fort Dummer
and other posts at the north served as a curb to the enemy, and guarded the
region below a certain line.