Full text of "History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men."

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HISTOEY

WOECESTEE COUNTY,

MASSACHUSETTS,

WITH

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

OF MANY OF ITS

Pioneers and Prominent Men.

COiMPILED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF

U. HAMIL'TON HURK.

VOL. II.

I L LTJS T I?. J^T E ID .

P H I L A D E L P II I A :

J. W. LEWIS & CO.

1889.

PRESS OF

JAS. B. RODQERS PRINTING COMPANY,

PHILADELPHIA.

77^
/V| 3'S >ch/? c, -h

y4// Rights Reserved.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

TOWN HISTORIES.

CHAPTER CXVII.

BOYLSTON

Territory iind Surface — Situation — Geology — Population
— Stiilistics — Public Library — Town Officers.

CHAPTER CXVIII.

BOYI^STON— (Continued)

Early Families and Settlements.

CHAPTER CXIX.

BoYLSTON — (Continued)

Civil and Political History.

CHAPTER CXX.

BOYLSTON — (Continued)

Ecclesiastical History.

8S5

888

891

S95

CHAPTER CXXI.

BOYLSTON — (Continued) 899

Proniiueut Persons, College Graduates, Etc,

chapter cxxii.
Upton 902

chapter cxxiii.
Grafton 921

CHAPTER CXXIV-
Grafton— (Continued) 935

An Historical Address.

CHAPTER CXXV.

Sutton 953

chapter cxxvi.
Sutton — (Continued) 957

Church History.

CHAPTER CXXVII.

Sutton — (Continued)

Educational.

CHAPTER CXXVIII.

Sutton — (Continued)
Manufactures.

CHAPTER CXXIX.

Sutton— (Continued)

Miscellaneous.

965

968

972

chapter cxxx.
Princeton 981

chapter cxxxi.
southbridge 995

chapter cxxxii.

Athol I02I

Location — Boundaries — Face of the Country— Produc-
tions — Ponds and Streams — Wild Animals, Etc,

CHAPTER CXXXIII.

Athol — (Continued) 1022

Loss of the Proprietors' Records -Efforts to Ee-establish
their Authority — Orant of the Township — Drawing for
House-lots— First Settlers— Perils from Indians — First
Meeting-House— Second Meeting-House — Call of Mr.
James Humphrey to the Pastorate — Ordination— Pas-
tor's Home— Second and Other Di visions of Lands- Acts
of the Proprietors.

CHAPTER CXXXIV.
Athol (1762-iSoo) — (Continued) . .

1028

Its Incorporation as a Town— Its Name — Its Organiza-
tion — Civil History — Provision for Schools and Relig-
ious Privileges — Patriotic Measures at the Opening of
the War of the Revolution — Service in the War — Con-
dition at the Close of the Century.

CHAPTER CXXXV.
ATHOL (1801-1888)— (Continued)

1034

Cuuditiun of the Town before tho Civil War— Excite-
ment in 1801 — Acts of the Town to Encourage Enlist-
ment of Soldiers — Eiilistnieuts— Bounties Offered —
Military Companies Organized — Private Munificence
to Obtain Recruits— Aid to Soldiers' FaTuilies — Number
of Soldiers from Athol — Expense Account of the War.

CHAPTER CXXXVI.
Athol — (Continued) 1038

Public Schools — Early Provision for Them — Interest
in Them Gradually Developed — Early School Commit-
tees — Branches Taught — Athol High School — Its Mas-
ters—Census of Scholara— Appropriations^Athol Town
Library.

CHAPTER CXXXVII.
Athol — (Continued) 1043

Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER CXXXVIII.
WiNCHENDON 1054

CHAPTER CXXXIX.
Oakham 1079

CHAPTER CXL.
MiLLBURY 1092

iii

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER CXLI.
Hardwick 1 129

CHAPTER CXLII.
Westminster . 1142

Origiu — Settlement — Eiirly Annals — Incorporation.
CHAPTER CXLIII.

Westminster — (Continued) 1149

Name — Locution — Physical Clharacteristics — Roads—
Industries.

CHAPTER CXLIV.
Westminster — (Continued) 1155

Education — Religion — Military Affairs — Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER CXLV-
Harvard 1164

chapter cxlvi.
Bolton 1165

chapter cxlvii.
Phillipston 1 168

CHAPTER CXLVIir.

Hubbardston 1170

Settlement — The Pioneers — "Old Eph Grimes" — Fami-
lies in 18U0.

CHAPTER CXLIX.

Hubbardston— (Continued) 1172

Petition for Incorporation — Act of Incorporation — First
Town-Meeting — Officers Elected — Various Votes.

CHAPTER CI,.
HUBB.\RDSTON — (Continued) 1173

Response to (Circular from Boston — Committee of Cor-
pondence — Votes — Bunker Hill — Bounties — Deprecia-
tion of Currency — Names of Soldiers.

CHAPTER CLI.
HUBB.\RDSTON^(Continued) 1177

Shays' Rebellion— War of 1S12— War of the Rebellion
— Amount E.vpended by the Town— Number of Men —
Names of Soldiers.

CHAPTER CLII.
Hubbardston — (Continued) iiSo

The First Congregational Church — The Evangelical
Congregation — Methodist Church — The Willianisville
Society — Schools — Libraries — Fire Oomp-nny — Promi-
nent persons — Centennial— Copperas Mines — Physicians
— The Militia— G. \. R.— Soldiers' Moninuent- Post-
OfBce — Manufacturing — Hubbardston Grange, P. of H.
— Civil History — -Town Officers.

chapter cliii.
Warren 1185

chapter cliv.
i,eominster 1200

Early History.

CHAPTER CLV.
Leominster — (Continued) 1203

Ecclesiastical,

CHAPTER CLVI.
Leominster — (Continued) 1213

Educational.

CHAPTER CLVII-
Leominster— (Continued) 1224

Industrial.

CHAPTER CLVIII.
Leominster— (Continued) 1236

Military.

CHAPTER CLIX.
Leominster — (Continued) 1246

Civil and Miscellaneous.

CHAPTER CLX.
MiLFORD 1261

CHAPTER CLXI.

Milford — (Continued) 1266

Boundaries— The Revolution.

CHAPTER CLXII.
Milford ��� (Continued) 1279

chapter clxiii.
Rutland 1287

Indian Deed and Grant of Twelve Miles Square- Pro-
prietorships and Hardships of Early Settlers — Location
and Surface — Roads and Schools — Revolutionary War —
Encampment of Burgoyne's Army — Indians.

CHAPTER CLXIV.
Rutland — (Continued) 1294

Ecclesiastical History— Cemeteries — Physicians — Busi-
ness Enterprises — Civil War — Grand Army— Dedication
Soldiers' Monument — Eminent Men.

chapter clxv.
Oxford 1306

CHAPTER CLXVI.
Dana 1322

CHAPTER CLXVII.
Westborough 1331

CHAPTER CLXVIir.
Dudley 1360

CHAPTER CLXIX.
RoyalsTON 1370

CHAPTER CLXX.

HOLDEN 1381

Location— Original Grant — Indian Deed — Division of
Lots— Settlement — The "Lime Lot" — First Survey —
Incorporation — Petition —Act of Incorporation — Names.

CHAPTER CLXXI.

HoLDEN — (Continued) 1383

French and Indian War — The Revolution — Sfaays' Re-
bellion—The Civil War.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER CLXXII.

HOLDEN— (Continued) 1385

Kiret Congregational — First Baptist — Roman Catholic.

CHAPTER CLXXIII.
H01.DEN — (Continued) 1387

Early Schools— Statistics of 1840— The Schools of 1888—
School Committee — The DamoD Memorial — Manufac-
tures.

CHAPTER CLXXIV.
HoLDEN — (Continued) 1389

Physicians— Masonic — The Centennial Celebration —
Town House — Distinguished Natives — Population — Val-
uation.

CHAPTER CLXXV.
HOLDEN — (Continued) 1390

The First Town-Meeting- OtBcers Elected— List of
Town Clerks from 1741 to 1889 -Selectmen — Assessors
— Treasurers— Representatives— Delegates to Provincial
Congress.

chapter clxxvi.
Douglas 1395

Territorial — Early Grants — Boundaries — Topography —
Geology.

CHAPTER CLXXVII.

Douglas— (Continued) 1398

Early Settlements.

CHAPTER CLXXVIII.
Douglas — (Continued) 1410

First Congregational Church — Second Congregational
Church — Reformed Metiiodist— Methodist Episcopal —
Catholic — Manufactures — Educational — The Willis
Fund — Masonic — G. A. R. — The Press — The Revolution
—The Rebellion,

CHAPTER CtXXIX.

Worcester 141 2

CHAPTER CIvXXX.
Worcester — (Continued) 1432

Civic and Political H istory from the Close of the Revo-
lution to the Present Time.

CHAPTER CLXXXr.

Worcester— (Continued) 1453

Ecclesiastical History.

CHAPTER CLXXXII.
Worcester— (Continued) 1491

Public Libraries.

CHAPTER CLXXXirr.
Worcester— (Continued) 1509

Educational History.

CHAPTER CLXXXIV.
Worcester — (Continued) 15 21

Societies, Associations and Clubs.

CH.\PTER CLXXXV.

Worcester— (Continued) 1538

The Newspaper Press.

CHAPTER CLXXXVI.
Worcester— (Continued) 1542

The Drama in Worcester.

CHAPTER CLXXXVII.
Worcester — (Continued) 1546

Banking and Insurance.

CHAPTER CLXXXVIII.
Worcester— (Continued) 1554

Medical History — Individuals — Societies — Hospitals.

CHAPTER CLXXXIX.
Worcester— (Continued) . . 1574

Homoeopathy,

CHAPTER CXC
Worcester— (Continued) 1576

Military History.

CHAPTER CXCI.
Worcester— (Continued) 1592

Early Encouragement of Manufactures — Saw and Grist-
Blill— The Silver Mine — Potash— Timothy Bigelow —
Early Manufacture of Cloth — PaperMills — Character
of Business prior to 1-20 - Trades-people Disconteuted
with Heavy Taxes Public Jlen Appear in Home-made
Cloth — Worcester Honorable Society- The First Exhi-
bition of the Worcester Agricultural Society.

CHAPTER CXCII.
Worcester — (Continued) 159S

streams and Mill Privileges — Population of Worcester
— Blackstone Canal — The Railroads — 'I'lie First Ex-
presses—The Old Coal Mine — Peat — Stage Lines,

CHAPTER CXCIII.

Worcester — (Continued) 1605

Textile Fabrics and Machinery for Making Them —
Early Manufacture of Cloth — Condition of Woolen
Manufacture — John Goulding — Manufacture of Cotton
and Woolen Machinery — Card Clothing — Looms — Car-
pet — Thread.

CHAPTER CXCIV.

Worcester — (Continued) 1617

Foundries — Slachinists^ Tools — Agricultural Imple-
ments — French's.

CHAPTER CXCV.

Worcester— (Continued) 1625

Wire — Wire-Workers— Copperas.

CHAPTER CXCVI-

Worcester— (Continued) 1632

Cairiagesand Cars— Wood-Working Machinery — Musi-
cal Instruments — Envelopes.

CHAPTER CXCVII.
Worcester — (Continued) 1637

Fire-Arms- Iron and Steel Business — Screws — Steam
Engines — Boilers,

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER CXCVIII.

Worcester— (Continued) 1644

Boots and Shoes — Bigelow Heeling- Machine — Leather
Belting— Boot tind Shoe fllHchinery — Lasts— Dies.

CHAPTER CXCIX.

Worcester — (Continued) 1649

Paper Machinery— Razors— Holyoke Machine Company
— Norton Eniery-Wheel Company — Corsets— Skates—
Cliaira— Gas— Contractors and Biiildeils- Summary of
Industries not lieretofore Mentioned.

CHAPTER CC
Worcester — (Continued) 1654

Reasons for Worcester's Prominence as a Manufac-
turing City — Room witli Power for Rent- Merrifield
Building — Hey wood Buildings Estabrouk Building —
Enterprise of Worcester Business Me ii — Mechanics'
A«ociation— Worcester Polytechnic Institute — Wash-
burn Shops— The Laboring Chisses — Evening Schools —
Worcester's Rapid Growth — Heart of the Common-
wealth.

CHAPTER CCI.

Worcester— (Continued) 165S

Worcester County in the Free-Soil Movement.

CHAPTER CCII.

Worcester- (Continued)

The Settlement of Kansas.

1669

Appendix :

Bench and Bar 1749

Hon. John D. Washburn.

BERLIN 1745

Business Men.

New Braintree 1745

Soldiers who served in the French War and the Revo-
lution.

Millbury 1746

Sketch of Leonard Bunnell Gate.

Holden 1747

The Damon Memorial.

Douglas 1748

List of Soldiers, continued from page 1141.

HISTORY

AYOECESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOW^N HISTORIES.

CHAPTER C X V 1 1 .
BOYI.STON.

BV GRORGK h. WRICHT.

Territorii atid Siirfari'-

-Httiiatioti — Gciilogn — Puptihilioii— Slulislii
Ltbrnry — Towii (IfflcerH.

This town is situated in the easterly part of Wor-
cester County, about seven miles northeast from Wor-
cester and Hbout thirty-five miles in a nearly due west
line from Boston. It is bounded on the north by West
Boylston, Sterling and Clinton ; on the east by Berlin
and Northborough ; on the south by Shrewsbury; and
on the west by AV^est Boylston. The boundary lines of
the city of Worcester come within about one mile ol
the present town lines. The total area of the town is
twelve thousand six hundred and eighty acres, of which
eleven thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven acres
are taxable, and three hundred and twenty-five acres
are covered by water. The surface is broken and un-
even, but not hilly. There are three swells or undula-
tions of laud extending through the town. One of
them extends across the southeast part of the town
and is a part of the range of highlands reaching from
BoFton to Shrewsbury, and here, with another range ol
hills in the southwest part of the town, forms a portion
of the water-shed between the Nashua, Assabet and
Blackatone Rivers. The third range of hills is situated
in the northwest part of the town, and extends into
West Boylston and Sterling, and on this range, just
over the town-line in Sterling, near the Waushacum
Ponds, was once the Indian town and residence of
Sholan, the sachem of the " Nashaways." On these
swells are some of the strongest lands in the town, and
they are especially adapted to grazing purjjoses. In
the southwest part of the town the soil is lighter and
largely plain land, well adapted to the cultivation of
the ditl'erent kinds of grain and market produce, and
good crops are raised with comparatively little labor.
On Muddy Brook there is a large tract of valuable
meadow land, a portion of which, now covered with
water, is knowu as the " Dover Ponds," and furnishes
power for the saw-mill of Asa Bee at Scar-bridge.

( )u the intervales of the Nashua River lies some of

the most fertile land in Worcester County, equally
adapted for grazing or arable purposes, and producing
abundant crops of the various productions common to
this section. The soil in the remaining portions of the
town is heavier and more broken, but is capable, under
a proper state of cultivation, of producing large crops.
The highlands are wooded with the different kinds of
oak, walnut, chestnut and pine. Along the intervales
of the Nashua Kiver the oak, walnut, maple, elm and
buttonwood grow in luxuriance. The scenery from
the highlands of the town is magnificent. On the
north, Mt. Wachusett, with the picturesque village of
Princeton nestling at its base and surrounded by the
lesser highlands of Worcester and Middlesex Counties,
terminating in the extreme northeast in the Monad-
nocks and hills of New Hampshire, and dotted here
and there with pleasant villages, lakes, wiudingstreams
and wooded hills and valleys, offers a fitting background
to a most charming picture of nature. From the high-
lands in the southern portion of the town a fine view
can be had of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worces-
ter, Lake Quinsigamond, and portions of the Black-
stone Valley, and from the easterly parts of the town
fine views may be had extending over some of the
pleasantest towns of western Middlesex County.
There are four natural sheets of water in the town,
the largest of which lies in the easterly part, near the
Northborough line, and is called Rocky Pond, on ac-
count of the innumerable granite boulders with which
the bottom is covered. This pond contains forty-five
acres, according to a survey made by Gardner Smith
under a resolve of the Legislature in 1830.

An outlet flowing southeasterly from this pond pa.sses
into Cold Harbor Brook, in Northborough, and thence
into the Assabet River. Sewall Pond is in the south-
erly part of the town and is a part of one of the grants
made by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay to
Judge Samuel Sewall, after whom it received its name,
and contains about eleven acres. This pond is noted
for its great depth. Adjacent to it and flowing into it
is Pout, or Mud Pond, which contains according to
Mr. Davenport, in his history of the town, about twenty-
three acres. An outlet flows from Sewall Pond .south-
erly through a part of Shrewsbury into Lake (.^uinsig-
amond. On this outlet is situated a saw and grist-

885

886

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

mill, long known as Banister's Mills. Spruce Pond, the
only other remaining sheet of water, is also situated in
this part of the town, and contains about five acres.

The south branch of the Nashua Kiver enters the
town on the west, about one and one-half miles east
of the confluence of the Quinnepoxet and Stillwater
Rivers in West Boylston, and flows in a circuitous
course nearly six miles, through the northerly portion
of the town to the Clinton line. There are also num-
erous brooks and livulets in every section of the town,
the most important of which is Muddy Brook, called
in the early records Malagasco Brook, which rises
about one-half mile easterly of Boylston Centre, and
flows in southwesterly, westerly and northeasterly
courses into the Nashua River at Scar-bridge. Another
brook rising within a short distance of the one above-
mentioned, and called on the early records Spring
Garden Brook, flows into Sewall Pond, near the house
of Sumner Moore. On this stream was formerly a
saw-mill, known as Locke's Mill.

Mill or French Brook rises in the easterly part of the
town, in East Woods (so-called), and flows westerly,
for a distance of nearly four miles, into the Nashua
River. On this stream several saw and grist-mills have
sto<id at different periods of the town's history. There
are also several smaller brooks in the westerly, north-
erlv and easterly portions of the town. The ponds are
well stocked with fish, and the brooks furnish some of
the best fronting places in Worcester County.

The geological formations consist of Merrimack
schist, calcareous gneiss and the St. .John's group.
Sulphate of iron is found in different sections of the
town. On Diamond Hill, about one-half mile south-
west of Bovlston Centre, are found large and beautiful
specimens of crystallized quartz, and which, according
to Rev. Peter Whitney, the historian of Worcester
County, gave the name to the hill from their similarity
in size and shape to diamonds. Coal, resembling that
found in Worcester, has been discovered in the north-
westerly part of the town. In the easterly part, about
two miles from Boylston Centre, on the road to Berlin,
extensive gold-mining operations were carried on un-
der the lead of the late Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D.D.,
of Southborough, a native and former minister of
Boylston. A shaft about forty feet in depth was sunk,
and considerable quantities of ore taken out and trans-
ported to New York for analysis. The precious metal
is said to exist in paying quantities; but the work was
abandoned upon the death of Rev. Dr. Bigelow, in 18S2,
and nothing has since been done. In thissection of
the town, upon the farm of Israel L. Barnes, is a val-
uable quarry of building stone. Excellent clay for the
manufacture of brick is found in several places, and a
spot of clay ground on the farm of Cliarles (1. Allen,
about one mile from Boylston Centre, was set apart by
the proprietors of Shrewsbury in 1728 for the common
use of the settlers in the manufacture of their pottery-
ware and kitchen utensils. The manufacture of brick
is now quite extensively carried on by George Hazard,
about two miles from Boylston Centre.

The town is well accommodated with very good
roads; there are nearly fifty miles of highways within
iU limits. The Nashua River is spanned by three iron

bridges, all of which have recently been erected by the
town at a cost of about $7,000. The present county
road to Clinton was built aboutl860, at a cost of nearly
$4,000. Mr. Davenport, in his history of the town
published in 1830, says the principal road at that time
was the county road, which passes through the north-
westerly, northerly and northeasterly portions of the
town to Berlin, and crossing the Nashua River at Saw-
yer's Mills. At th.at time a stage passed over this road
three times a week from Boston, and Mr. Davenport
says the road was then thought to be the most direct
and level route for a road from Boston to Northampton ,
and a petition was presented about that time to the
County Commissioners for the location of a road from
the line of Worcester County at Ware Factory Village
through Barre, Rutland, Holden and West Boylston to
the Middlesex County line,— a fact interesting as the
beginning of the project of communications between
Boston and Northampton now carried out by the Cen-
tral Mass. R. R., and being the same route taken by
that railroad, which passes through the town from east
to west, and has two stations within the town limits, —
one, called South Clinton, is in the northeast part, near
the Clinton line; the other is known as Boylston, and
is situated at Sawyer's Mills. There are two post-offices
in the town, the older of which is known as Boylston,
and is located at Sawyer's Mills, and supplies the po.stal
wants of that village, the population of which is largely
made up of operatives in the cotton-mills there and a
few farmers in the northerly part of the town and the
southeasterly part of Sterling. Thomas C. Sheldon is
the present postmaster. The other and principal post-
oflSce is located at Boylston Centre, and supplies the
wants of nearly three-fourths of the town. At this
village islocated the town-hall. Congregational Church,
public library, etc., and it consists of about thirty
dwelling-houses. John Tucker is the present post-
master. There is a small village situated in the south-
east part of the town near the Northborough and
Shrewsbury lines, called "Straw Hollow," and it was
at one time largely the property of David T. Moore &
Sons, who carried on extensive farming interests,. to-
gether with a large cider and vinegar refinery. In 1878
there were furnished from this place for the Boston
market, 55,224 quarts of milk and 17,60.3 quarts of
cream, selling for $6,165.13; 19,801 bushels of apples
were made into eider, producing 860 barrels. The cider
and vinegar refinery and the home buildings of the late
D. T. Moore were destroyed by fire several years since
and have never been rebuilt. A portion of the farm is
now called the Adelphia farm, and is operated by Clapp,
Moore & Co., who do an extensive creamery business.
In the northeast part of the town there is a tract of
land extending into the southerly part of Clinton,
known by the name of the "Six Nations," and so
called according to the tradition of there having ouce
lived families of six different nationalities at one time
within the territory. In this section of the town is a
high wooded, rough tract of land, called in the early
records Rattlesnake Hill, and said to have once been
a great haunt for these reptiles. It is said that the
other sections of the town were much infested by
them during the early settlement and that it was not

BOYLSTON.

887

uncommon for them to enter the houses of the settlers.
East Woods, a large wooded and rocky tract of land
in the easterly part of the town, was said to be another
favorite haunt of the reptiles.

It is perhaps known to but few of the present inhab-
itants of the town that a search was ever carried on
here for buried treasure. Mr. Davenport, in his his-
tory, says, about the time of the incorporation of the
town, in the autumn of the year, twenty or thirty per-
sons from tlie towns of Northborough, West BoyUton,
Hubbardston and Brookfield, upon the authority of
dream!", began to break the earth on land of Nathaniel
Davenport, E-^q., now belonging to the estate of the
late Nathan L. Daggett, where they continued their
labors, occasionally, for several weeks, until they had
made an excavation eight or ten ftet in depth, and
perhaps forty feet in circumference. The labor w:\s
principally performed in moonlight evenings, with a
table on the ground, with an open Bible and rusty
sword upon it, one man at the same time sitting upon
the bank, with smeet apple-true or witch hazelroAs in his
hands, to inform the workingmen in what particular
spot the money was, as it was believed the money had
the power of locomotion, and was, therefore, uncer-
tain whether it would remain stationary for any length
of time. The money was supposed by the searchers
to have been placed there by pirates, and that some
person was murdered and buried there to take care of
it. To appease the manes of this person a dove was one
day procured by one of the party and bled over the spot
where the treasure was supposed to have been buried,
and the blood sprinkled about the excavation. Pro-
found silence was required to be observed while
searching for the treasure. One evening a man, while
at work alone, struck the point of a bar, as he report-
ed, under the bale of the kettle which contained the
money, and heard distinctly the sound of the specie,
but hearing at that moment a discharge of musketry,
looked and saw upon the summit of the hill an army
firing upon him. Just then the bale of the kettle
slipped off the point of the bar and could be found no
more. This is said to have been the nearest attain-
ment to securing the coveted prize.

From its high elevation Boylston is essentially an
agricultural town, and offers but little opportunity for
manufacturing or other industries, but as a farming
town it takes a liigh rank with the other towns of the
county, both in the industry and prosperity of its
inhabitants and in the cultivation and appearance of
its farms. From the assessors' returns for the present
year it appears that the valuation of the town is
$.523,573 ; rate of taxation, $1.5 per $1000. There are
160 dwelling-houses, 208 ratable polls, 224 horses, 820
neat-cattle and 147 swine in the town. Its dairy
products are extensive, and it has some of the best
orchards in the county. According to the Massachu-
setts State Census of 1875, there were produced in
the town during the year ending May 1, 1875, 20,930
oarrels of apples, valued at $8,100 ; 4,639 bushels of

corn, valued at §4,706 ; 18,689 bushels of potatoes,
valued at §11,847 ; 2,240 tons of hay, valued at S37,-
053; 148,415 gallons of milk, valued at $22,211;
43,500 pounds of pork, valued at $4,521; 49,425 pounds
of beef, valued at $3,876. The total value of all
agricultural products for that year was $147,537. The
only manufacturing interests in the town are situated
at Sawyer's Mills, where there is a cotton-mill owned
and operated by the Lancaster Mills Company, of
Clinton. The resident superintendents of the mills
have been Deacon Moses Brigham, Levi Hoi brook,
James A. Weeks, Edmund C. Forbes and Thomas C.
Sheldon.

The people of the town have always been noted
for their healthfulne^s and longevity. For a period
from 1797 to 1830 there were thirty-four deaths of
persons over eighty years of age. Miss Betsey Stone,
a descendant of one of the oldest families, died June
30, 1868, at the great age of one hundred years and
eight months. Abel Farwell, a pensioner of the War
of 1812, died September 1, 1888, at the age of ninety-
seven years, and was at the time of his death the
oldest person in the town. Ezra Ball, now in his
ninetv-fourth year, at present enjoys that distinction,
and is the oldest resident member of the Congrega-
tional Church, an honor which was enjoyed by his
grandfather at the time of the settlement of Rev.
Mr. Hooper in 1794, and by his father when Rev.
Mr. Sanford became pastor of the church in 1832.
The population of the town, according to the last
census, is eight hundred and thirty-four, and it has
not varied very much from this number at any period
of the town's historj^. The greatest number of inhab-
itants at any one time was in 1808, the year of the
incorporation of West Boylston as a separate town,
when it was ten hundred and thirty. In 1885 there
were fourteen persons in the town above eighty years
of age.

There are six schools in the town. The number of
school-children, between five and fifteen years of age.
May 1, 1887, was one hundred and sixty-six. The
total number of different scholars in the schools for
the year 1887 was one hundred and seventy-seven,
and the amount expended for all school purposes was
$2,228.07.

Boylston has an excellent public library, which
was established by the town at its annual meeting,
March 1, 1880, when the sum of two hundred dollars
and the amount of the dog fund remitted from the
county treasurer was appropriated for the purpose.

On the 27th day of the following June the Boylston
Social Library — a library existing in the town, organ-
ized March 2, 1792, eighty-eight years previous, and
consisting of three hundred and eighty-six volumes —
was by vote, and subsequently by deed, added to the
library. The library was completed by the donation
of agricultural works to the amount of fifty dollars,
from the Boylston Farmers' and Mechanics' Associa-
tion, and twenty-five volumes from Mrs. John B.

888

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Gough. The library contained, when open for circu-
lation September 4, 1880, eleven hundred and ten cata-
logued volumes. It has since received many valuable
donations, the more important of which have been from
Hon. Phinehas Ball, of Worcester, the late John B.
Gough, Esq., the late Oliver Sawyer Kendall, the late
Sanford M. Kendall, Miss Ellen William?, of North-
borough, Hon. George F. Hoar and others. In 1887
Miss Hannah E. Bigelow. M.D., of Marlborough,
Mass., gave to the library one hundred and fifty dol-
lars in books and money, in remembrance of her
mother, the late Mrs. Levi Bigelow, of Marlborough,
who was a native of the town. An interesting feature
of the library is a collection of photographs of the
present and former citizens of the town and the sol-
diers of 1861-05. The collection now comprises five
large volumes and was the design of the late Oliver
S. Kendall and has been largely carried out by his
fiimity. The library now contains about twenty-five
hundred volumes. George L. Wright is the librarian,
and has held that position since its organization. A
library has also been established at Sawyer's Mills by
the Lancaster Mills Company for the use of its oper-
atives. There is also a large and flourishing Grange
of the Patrons of Husbandry in the town, of which
George A. Hastings is the present master. The fol-
lowing is a list of the town officers chosen at the
annual town-meeting in March, 1888 : Moderator,
George L. Wright; Town Clerk, Henry H. Brigham
(died June 19, 1888, and P. M. Brigham chosen to
fill the vacancy); Selectmen, George E. Hastings,
Penuiman M. Brigham, Wm. A. Andrews ; Assessors,
Elmer Shaw, Lyman S. Walker, Wm. H. Hastings ;
Overseers of the Poor, Lyman P. Kendall, Nathaniel
L. Kendall, Charles E. Smith; Treasurer and Col-
lector, Benj. C. Lane ; School Committee, George L.
Wright, F. B. Willard, Thomas C. Sheldon ; Trustees
of Public Library, P. M. Brigham, A. V. R. Prouty,
George L. Wright, Miss F. M. AVhitcomb, Mrs.
Everett Kendall.

CHAPTER CXVIIL
BOYLSTON {^Continued.)

E.4.RLY FAMII,IES AND SETTLEMEKTS.

Of the territory now constituting the town, about
three-fourths belonged to Shrewsbury, the northerly
and northeasterly portions were included in the
original grant made to the town of Lancaster by
Sholan, Indian Sachem of the Nashaways in 1643, and
the remainder, a ver)' small tract in the northerly
part of the town, was derived from the Lancaster new
grant made by George Tahanto, nephew of Sholan, in
1701. It is not certain when the settlement of the
town began, but three large grants were made within
its territory by the General Court of the Massa-
chusetts Bay long before the actual settlement began.

One of these grants was known as the "Maiden
Farm " and was made to the church in Maiden in
1655, and consisted of one thousand acres and lay in
the southwest part of the town and partly within what
is now West Boylston. This grant was the cause of a
long and vigorous suit between the proprietors of
Shrewsbury and the church in Maiden. Another
grant was that made in 1658 and confirmed in 1659
to Capt. Richard Davenport, commander of the castle
in Boston Harbor, and consisted of six hundred acres
laying in the northwesterly part of this town and
extending along the Nashua River into West Boylston.
The third grant was the Sewall farm, comprising
within its limits one thousand five hundred acres, and
was partly in Boylston and partly in Shrewsbury, and
probably adjoined the easterly line of the Maiden
farm, and was granted to Chief Justice Samuel
Sewall.

The first permanent settlement began in that por-
tion of the territory taken from Lancaster by descend-
ants of Thomas Sawyer, one of the first settlers of
Lancaster, on the farm now owned and occupied by
James E. Ball. Vestiges of the cellar of this house
may now be seen a short distance south of the present
buildings. The estate of the Sawyers included the
farm now owned by Nathaniel L. and Everett
Kendall, sons of the late Oliver Sawyer Kendall, and
descendants of the Sawyer family, and extended to
Sawyer's Mills village, where the Sawyers erected a
corn-mill on the Nashua River. It is uncertain
when they settled in that part of Lancaster now
Boylston, but they were probably there as early as
1705 or '06. The Sawyer family were long and
prominently connected with this part of the town.
Lieut. Aaron Sawyer, a member of the tiimily, was pro-
minent in Lancaster affairs during the Revolution ;
was first town clerk of Boylston, assistant United States
assessor in 1798, and a prominent land surveyor.
The house erected by his father, bearing on a stone in
its chimney the date 1745, is now standing at Sawyer's
Mills, and probably the oldest house in the town.
The settlement of that part belonging to Shrewsbury
began about 1717. Among the early settlers are
found the names of Bennett, Stone, Bigelow, Taylor,
Ball, Hastings, Newton, Keyes, Temple, Howe, Bush,
Davenport, Flagg, Andrews and Wheeler.

The Ball family was prob.ably the second family
that settled in what is now Boylston and came from
Watertown. The family is descended from John Ball,
who came from Willetshire, England, and settled in
that part of Concord now Bedford, where he died
October 1, 1655. He had Ebenezer, Eleazer, John
and Nathaniel ; the last-named was the father of
Caleb, and grandfather of Reuben, who married
Experience Flagg in 1713, and had eight children,
three of whom lived to be over ninety years of age.
The sons of the first-named John Ball settled in
Lancaster and Watertown, and were among the first
settlers in those places. John Ball, probably a son of

BOYLSTON.

8SU

the first of that name, settled at South Lancaster,
where he, wiih his wife. Elizabeth, and an infant child,
were slain by the Indians in the niassaore of February
10, 1(J76, and two others of his family were carried
into captivity. The portion of the family which
settled in Boylston located in the easterly portion of
the town, within the territory derived from Lancaster
and very near the line which separated that town
from Shrewsbury. The original farm is now occupied
b3'Alonzo Ball, and has always been in the possession
of the family since its first settlement. The family
has always been noted for its longevity.

The Bennett family were from Lancaster, where
George Bennett, a descendant of James Bennett, of
Concord, and a nephew of Richard Linton, one of the
early settlers of Lancaster, came some time previous to
1665. Bennett vpas killed by the Indians August
22, 1675. He left a widow and five small children,
among whom was Samuel, born 1665, and who suc-
ceeded to his father's estate. This Samuel Bennett,
Mr. Ward says, was i)robably the one who was in the
Shrewsbury north part as early as 1723, and whose
son Samuel was one of the permanent settlers in that
part of Shrewsbury. The place where he resided in-
cluded the farms now owned by Leonard Brewer and
Augustus Flagg, situated about one mile east of Boyls-
ton Centre, on the road leading to Berlin. The site of
the original house may be seen marked by a slight
depression in the ground, on the left of the road, a
short distance below the present buildings on Mr.
Brewer's farm, and near where the brook crosses the
road. This house was used during the early settle-
ment as a garrison-house for protection against the
Indians. The Bigelow family came from Jlarlborough,
where they settled some time between 1690 and 1700,
coming to that place from Watertown. The history
of the family can be traced in England as far back as
the time of Henry III., when the family name was
written Bagulay, and was derived from the place where
they dwelt. Richard was Lord of Bagulay in the
time of Henry VIII. ; Ralph De Bigulay was Lord of
Ollerton Hall, and died in 1540. The name has also
at different periods been spelled Biggeley, Bigulah,
Bigloh, Biglo and Biglow in the early records. John
Bigelow was the first of the family in New England,
and settled at Watertown, where he married Mary
Warner, October 30, 1642. His grandson, John
Bigelow, settled at Marlborough. In 1705 he was
taken captive by the Indians with Thomas Sawyer,
Jr., and his son Elias, and carried to Canada. Sawyer
offered to erect a saw-mill for the French government
on the Chambly River upon the condition that he
should obtain the ransom of the three captives. The
Indians, however, refused to accept the ransom of
Thomas Sawyer, and bound him to the stake for tor-
ture, when a friar excited the fears of the savages by
brandishing a key, and threatening with it to unlock
the door of purgatory and thrust them into its
fires if they did not release their prisoner. They

immediately unloosed him, and, (rue to his promise,
he completed the mill, which was the first erected in
Canada. When Sawyer and Bigelow returned home,
Elias Sawyer was detained a year longer to run the
mill. Captain Joseph Bigelow, a son of this John
Bigelow, settled in the north part of Shrewsbury
about 1729, a prominent man there, and was the
ancestor of most of the families of the name living in
Boylston. Dea. Amariah Bigelow, a son of Samuel,
of Marlborough, settled in Shrewsbury North Parish
about 1747, in that portion now belonging to West
Boylston, and on the farm now owned by George T.
Brigham, Esq. He was a prominent man and had a
large family of children. One daughter was the wife
of Rev. Eleazer Fairbanks, the second minister of the
Boylston Church.

There are several families of the name now residing
in both towns. The Stone farailj' probably came
from Andover and settled in the e.\treme northerly
part of the town. The T.iylor, Tveyes, Temple and
Bush families came from Marlborough. Lieutenant
Eleazer Taylor, first of the name in Boylston, was
probably the first settler in the central part of the
town. He resided on the place afterwards owned by
Rev. Ward Cotton, and now in the possession of
Henry V. Woods. He was the father of Anthony
and David Taylor, both of whom were noted for their
prodigious strength. The Keyes family came here
about 1720 and settled in the south part of the
town. They were prominent in church, precinct and
town affairs. John Keyes, Sr., was the first magis-
trate in the territory now Boylston, and one of the
first deacons of the churches in Shrewsbury and
Boylston, first town clerk of Shrewbury, a member of
the first Boards of Selectmen, Assessors, etc., and Re-
presentative in 1746. Cyprian Keyes was also a deacon
in both churches, one of the selectmen of Shrewsbury
eighteen years, assessor fourteen years, town clerk
seven years, etc. One of his daughters married Major
Ezra Beaman and another was the wife of Jotham
Bush and mother of Colonel Jotham Bush. Deacon
Keyes died June 18, 1802, aged ninety-five years and
nine months. His brother, Jonathan Keyes, was also
a deacon in the Shrewsbury Norlh Parish (now Boyls-
ton). The family name is now e.xtinct in Boylston.
The Temples settled in the southwest part of the
town and on territorv now embraced within the lim-
its of both Boylston and West Boylston. Isaac Tem-
ple was the first of the name and appears to have
been a very influential man in the early town and
precinct affairs. His son, Lieutenant Jonas Temple,
was a very prominent man in both Shrewsbury and
Boylston and much employed in town affairs and
Representative from both towns.

His residence was within the present limits of West
Boylston, and when that town was incorporated, in
1808, he refused to be set off to the latter town, and
the Legislature made provisions in the act of incorpo-
ration whereby he and his farm should remain a part

890

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of Boylston until his decease, which occurred Novem-
ber 3, 1815, at the age of eighty-three years. John
Bush was the first of that name who settled in Boyl-
ston, and was the son of Abial Bush, who settled in
Marlboro', in 1690. John Bush settled on the place
now owned by the estate of the late Charles Andrews,
Esq., at Boylston Centre; he was prominent in both
town and precinct aftairs and was instrumental in the
incorporation of the North Parish, their agent before
the General Court and the first precinct clerk. His
son, Jotham Bush, Jr., and his son-in-law, Rev. Ebe-
nezer Morse, M.D., were royalists in the time of the
Revolution; and Jotham Bush was compelled to leave
his estates and flee the country; he was finally taken
and sent on board a ship in Boston Harbor, where he
died of small-pox in 1778. After his deatli his estate
came into the hands of his son,' Colonel Jotham Bush,
where he erected a large and fine mansion, at the time
one of the best in Worcester County. This house was
destroyed by fire October 20, 1859; Colonel Bush re-
sided there until his death, November 13, 183ii, at the
age of eighty years. He was an honored and influen-
tial citizen, devoting himself untiringly to the best
interests of the town, and in return was honored with
nearly every oflSce within its gift. He was promi-
nently identified with the movement, in 1786, which
led to the division of Shrewsbury and incorporation of
Boylston. Three of his daughters married clergymen
and left descendants who were prominent in that and
the medical professions, among whom is Dr. William
F. Holcombe, of New York. One daughter, Mrs.
Martha Dickinson, of Brooklyn, N. Y., widow of Rev.
Baxter Dickinson, was living in 1880, at the age of
eighty-eight years. One of her sons is Rev. William
Cowper Dickinson, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; another son,
Rev. Richard Storrs Dickinson, was associate pastor
of Rev. Dr. Barnes, of Philadelphia. Deacon Jotham
Bush, son of Colonel Jotham Bush, died here in 1880
and was the last of the family in Boylston.

The Howe family came here about 1725, when
Phineas Howe, then a young man, was sent from
Marlboro' by his father to form a home in the then
more unsettled wilderness ; he settled on the farm now
owned by George Hazard, and spent the first winter
here alone. It is said that he found his way to and
from Marlboro' by blazing the trees with an axe. He
married Abigail Bennett, daughter of Samuel Bennett,
one of the earliest settlers and his nearest neighbor,
and resided here until his death. The family is de-'
scended from John Howe, E-q , wlin caine from War-
wickshire, in England, and was connected with Lord
Charles Howe, Earl of Lancaster, in the reign of
Charles I. There are many descendants of the family
now living in the town.

The Newtons also came from Marlborough, and
settled in the extreme southeast and northwest parts
of the town. The Wheelers were from Watertown.
Both of these families are now extinct. The Daven-
ports were descended from Capt. Richard Davenport,

the commander of the castle in Boston Harbor, who
came over to Salem in September, 1628, with Gov.
Endicott. He was a prominent man in the Massa-
chusetts Bay Colony, and was one of the guardians
of Adam Winthrop, Jr., a grandson of Gov. John
Winthrop, and was also much employed in the ser-
vice of the colony, and received from the General
Court, in 1659, the grant of land already mentioned,
and where his grand-ons — William and Nathaniel —
settled in 1786, and which remained in the family
for eight generations. Capt. Davenport was killed
by lightning, July 15, 1665. The family was also
connected with the families of Dr. Isaac Adding-
ton, whose son of the same name was chief justice
under Gov. Dudley, register and judge of probate for
Suffolk County, etc. and also with the family of Gov.
John Leverett. His grandson, Addington Daven-
port, was register of deeds and clerk of courts for
Suffolk County, clerk of the House of Representa-
tives and judge of the Supreme Court. The history
of the family can be traced in England in unbroken
descent from the time of the Norman Conquest, and
was very highly and honorably connected. What
relation Capt. Richard Davenport was to the distin-
guished Rev. John Davenport is not known, but the
relationship, if any, must have been distant, as they
were contemporary together, and were not father
and son, as stated by Mathew Davenport, Esq., in
his " History of Boylston." The Flaggs came from
Watertown and Concord. Thomas Flagg was in.
the former place as early as 1643. Gershom Flagg
was in Boylston in 1729, and was the direct ancestor
of the families here of that name. This family has
produced many influential men. The Hastings
family came from Watertown, in the person of Dan-
iel Hastings, who settled in the easterly part of the
town, on the farm now owned by A. V. R. Prouty.
He was a prominent man, and much employed in
town and precinct affairs. It is said that when he
settled here, in 1729, he traveled on horseback with
his family and goods through an unbroken wilder-
ness, and was several days in making the journey.
This family is of Danish origin, and dates back to
the early times, when the Danes made frequent in-
cursions into that part of England and Scotland bor-
dering on the North Sea. In one of these incur-
sions Hastings, a Danish chief, made himself for-
midable to Alfred the Great by landing a large
force of men on the English coast. He took a por-
tion of Sussex, and the castle and seaport were
held by his family when William the Conqueror
landed in England, and held it for the crown many
years. Henry was Lord of Hastings and son of
William De Hastings, steward of Henry II. They
were allied by marriage with the royal family of
England and Scotland. Sir Henry and George
Hastings, grandsons of the Earl of Huntingdon, be-
came Puritans, and fled from England to the New
World, and were the first of the family in this country.

BOYLSTON.

891

The Andrews family came here about 17415, when
Robert Andrews, a son of Robert Andrews, of Box-
ford, i-ettled on the farm hitely owned by the heirs of
Willard Andrews and now occupied by Henry L.
Shumway. This farm was in the possession of
Robert Andrews and his descendants from its first
settlement until 1887. He was a prominent man,
captain of militia and during the Revolution was one
of the selectmen of Shrewsbury. He was accidentally
killed November 11, 1789. His wife was Lucy Brad-
street, of Top.'-field, a descendant of Governors Dudley
and Bradstreet. This family has furnished many in-
fluential men to the town. Of all the Boylston fami-
lies, the Flaggs, Hastings and Andrews were the
most numerous, and many families of each name are
now residing in the town. It is not known that the
early settlers were ever attacked by the Indians in
hostile manner, but Shrewsbury and Lancaster were
among the frontier towns put into a state of defense
by the General Court in 1722, and garrison-houses or
stockade forts were early maintained. One of these
was at the house of Samuel Bennett, already described,
on the farm of Leonard Brewer. Another was at the
house of John Bush and the third stood within the
present limits of West Boylston, about eighty rods
from the present residence of George T. Brigham,
Esq. The early settlers carried firearms into their
fields of labor and many false alarms of savage incur-
sions are believed to have taken place. One anecdote,
said to be authentic, is that the wife of one of the set-
tlers who came from Marlborough was preparing
dinner, and putting her meat into the dinner-pot,
hung it over the crane, when the family were
suddenly alarmed and fled to Marlborough, returning
in about a year. She found her dinner preparations
in the same situation in which she had left them.
Specimens of Indian arrow-points, stone implements,
etc, have been found in different parts of the town,
and the sites of some of their corn-fields and grana-
ries, which were simple excavations in the ground,
have been discovered.

CHAPTER CXIX.

BOYhiirON—{Coi!tiH!tcd. )
Civil. .\ND POLITICAI, HISTORY.

As early as 1738 it is evident that the inhabitants
of the north part of Shrewsbury considered them-
selves sufficient in numbers and in strength to assume
the responsibilities of a separate town government,
and a bill was introduced into the General Co.urt for
the incorporation of the northerly part of Shrewsbury
into a separate township. This passed the General
Court, but was negatived by Cxovernor Shirley for the
reasons that the too rapid increase of new towns was
injurious, since each town was entitled to one Repre-

sentative to the General Court, and every town having
one hundred and twenty or more voters to two Repre-
sentatives. Only Boston, Salem, Ipswich and New-
bury, of all the towns entitled to send more than one,
availed themselves of the law ; some of the towns did
not send any. There were one hundred and sixty
towns, and only from one hundred and nine to one
hundred and twenty Representatives were yearly sent
to the General Court; but in a case of emergency the
number could be doubled, and even trebled, and any
matter introduced by the King's Governor which met
with their opposition would be defeated, and he accor-
dingly recommended the incorporation of precincts
and districts without the right of representation.
These matters were reported to the Royal government
at London, and in>tructions returned to the Governor
that no new town should be erected without the
King's consent. Thus defeated in their plans to
become a separate town, they soon alter made appli-
cation to the General Court for incorporation as a
distinct precinct. In this they were successful, and
on December 17, 1742, were incorporated as the
North Precinct of Shrewsbury, At the same time the
town of Lancaster voted to grant the request of
Joshua Houghton and other.s to be joined to them by
the following bounds: Beginning at Bolton (now
Berlin) line, one and one-half miles from Lancaster
(southwest corner); thence to run due west to the
Nashua River, to the town line, excluding only the
lands of Philip Larkin that might fall within the
said lines. By this a strip one and one-half miles
wide was given to Boylston. On the 19th of January,
1743, in obedience to a warrant from John Keyes,
Esq., "one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace,"
the first precinct meeting was held, and the following
officers were chosen: Moderator, John Keyes, Esq.;
Precinct Clerk, John Bush ; Precinct Committee,
John Bush, Joseph Bigelow, Dea. Cyprian Keyes,
Joshua Houghton and Abner Saw-yer. About the
same time they relinquished their rights in the meet-
ing-house to the town of Shrewsbury for £32 10.?.,
to be paid when the new parish should have erected
and covered a meeting-house. At the next meeting,
held February 7, 1743, they "voted £26 8«., old
tenor, to pay for preaching for eight days past,"
which probably included each Sabbath that there had
been since they were incorporated; also "voted £-50,
old tenor, for preaching in the future," and Daniel
Hastings, Abner Sawyer and Joseph Biglo (or Bigelow)
were chosen as a committee to provide a minister;
" voted, that the centre of the North precinct in
Shrewsbury, that is, south of the Quinnepoxet River
or the nearest convenient spot to the centre, be the
place to set the meeting-house on ;" " voted, that
Capt. Flagg be the surveyor to find the centre of the
North precinct in Shrewsbury," and Jonathan Liver-
more was chosen " in case Capt. Flagg fails this week."
This was Deacon Jonathan Livermore, of North-
borough, for many years clerk of that town, and who

892

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lived to be over one hundred years old. On the 18th
of the same month they voted to proceed to build a
meeting-house forty-five feet long, thirty-five feet
wide, and twenty feet between the joints, and that the
house should be up and covered with shingles and
rough-boarded around the sides by the 1st of the fol-
lowing June. The following year the house was
nearly completed. This church stood on the present
South Common, and nearly in front of the Old Ceme-
tery, at the north end of which was the " Noon or
Sabbath-day house," built in 1772, where the people
were accustomed to retire between services for lunch
and warmth, no fires being had in the meeting-houses.
The stocks, for the punishment of petty crimes, was
I'icated near the cemetery gate. The Old Cemetery
was purchased about the time of the erection of the
meeting-house of Lieutenant Eleazer Taylor, and
the first interment was made April 14, 1745, as appears
from the following epitaph upon a head-stone near
the gate :

Here lies ye body of Garner Maynnrd, son of BIr. Eliaba and .Mrs.
Hulduh Mayuard, who died Apr. ye Hth 1745, aeg. 11 nionlhs and
11 days.

And on the foot-atone :

ThU is ye first body that ju this burying-ground doth lie.

From this time forward the relations of the North
and Souih Precincts were largely distinct save in
town business.

September 16, 1751, Dr. Zachariah Harvey, Ed-
ward Newton and others, living in the extreme north-
western part of the precinct, at what was known as
the " Shrewsbury Leg," and near the present village
of Oakdale, in West Boylston, petitioned the Shrews-
bury North Precinct that the meeting-house might
be moved more into the centre of the precinct, or else
that they might be allowed to draw their proportional
part of the money granted for precinct and preach-
ing purposes from the treasury, so that they might
have preaching by themselves, at least during the
winter season. The precinct refused to grant the re-
quest, but voted " that the portion of the North Pre-
cinct lying between the Quinnepoxet and Lancaster
Elvers might become a separate town, district or par-
ish by themselves."

October 9th of the same year Bartholomew Par-
sons, Mephibosheth Bixby, Daniel Wheelock, Jona-
than Foster, Reuben Moore, Daniel Bixby, Josiah
Cutting, Zachariah Eager, Daniel Allen, John Par-
sons, Edward Newton, William Whitney, Ezekiel
Newton, Samuel Newton and Dr. Zachariah Harvey
renewed the petition, alleging that the distance from
the meeting-houi^e was so great as to render their at-
tendance upon divine worship inconvenient. At this
time the precinct granted the sum of six pounds to
pay the rates of the petitioners. This same year the
town of Shrewsbury voted to allow those living on
the north side of the Quinnepoxet River, and be-
tween the towns of Holden and Lancaster, to be set

off and annexed to Lancaster. The annexation,
however, did not take place until 1768.

Dr. Zachariah Harvey, named in this connection,
seems to have been the most prominent resident in
that section of the Shrewsbury North Precinct. In
1758 he gave, by deed, to the inhabitants of "Shrews-
bury Leg " a lot of land for a burying-place and a
school-house lot, and soon after removed into what is
now Princeton, where he was the first practicing phy-
sician ; and, upon the incorporation of the district of
Princeton, was chosen moderator, clerk, selectman,
assessor and agent to the General Court. The " Har-
vey " apple, well known in this section many years
ago, was introduced by him.

By an .act of the General Court, passed September
18, 1762, Bezaleel Howe, Josiali Bennett, Levi Moore,
Daniel Albert, Frederick Albert, Edmund Larkin,
Jonathan Goodenow, Mathias Larkin and Zebulon
Rice, with their lands bounding by a line beginning
at the northeast corner of the Shrewsbury North
Precinct, thence running to the Nashua River on the
north side of the house of Daniel Albert, and so on
the river to the precinct line at Aaron Sawyer's (now
Sawyer's Mills Village), were set off from Lancaster
and annexed to the Shrewsbury North Precinct.
April 25, 1774, the precinct voted to receive William
Dunsmore and others, with their lands, from the
First Precinct in Lancaster. About this time the in-
habitants of the Shrewsbury North Precinct renewed
their original intentions of forming a separate town
organization, and at a precinct meeting held January
13, 1772, an article was inserted in the warrant
calling the meeting, on the petition of Dea. Jona-
than Keyes and others, " to see whether the inhabit-
ants would take the proper and necessary measures
to have the precinct, and such of the inhabitants of
Lancaster as might be accommodated, erected into a
district, and this passed in the negative." At the
precinct meeting held April 25, 1774, the matter of
separation was again brought before the precinct,
when " they signified by vote their minds to be set
off from Shrewsbury as a separate town," and a com-
mittee, consisting of Capt. Joseph Bigelow, Jr., Lieut.
Jotham Bush, Benjamin Fisk, Ezra Beaman and
Thomas Andrews, was chosen to present a petition to
the selectmen of Shrewsbury for the above pur-
pose, and to see if the town would grant their desire.
This, it is supposed, the town refused to do, and in
the impending political crisis of the Revolution
which followed, all thought of an immediate separa-
tion from the parent town seems to have been laid
aside. In 1780 Aaron Sawyer, Nathaniel Lamson,
Frederick Albert, Silas Howe, John Dunsmore, Jacob
Winn, Hugh Moore, Nathaniel Hastings, Oliver
Sawyer, Silas Hastings, Samuel Bigsby, Micah
Harthan, Joseph Sawyer, Ezra Beaman, Edmund
Larkin, Levi Moore, Josiah Bennett, William Duns-
more, John Glazier, Phinehas Howe, Elijah Ball,
Robert Andrews, Jr., and Nathaniel Davenport,

BOYLSTOX.

893

some of whom resided within the limits of Lancaster,
and the others had lands there, petitioned the town
of Lancaster that they might be set off and annexed
to Shrewsbury. Some of them had already been
joined to the Shrewsbury North Precinct, although in
Lancaster, for town purposes. This request the town
granted June 23, 17S0. The line of division was the
present north line of Boylston.

March 28, 1785, the precinct again voted to take
measures to become a separate town, and a commit-
tee, consisting of Lieutenant Jonas Temple, Captain
Joseph Bigelow and Ephraim Beaman, was chostn to
again petition the town of Shrewsbury. This time
they were successful, and, at a town-meeting held
May 9, 178.5, a joint committee from the two parishes
was chosen "to perambulate the line and renew the
boundaries between the precincts, as also to settle all
matters relating to a separation of .Parishes," etc.,
and Colonel Job Gushing. Captain Jonah Howe and
Major Asa Rice were chosen on the part of the South
Precinct, and Lieutenant Jonas Temple, Captain
Joseph Bigelow and Major Ezra Beaman were chosen
on the part of the North Precinct. At a subsequent
meeting, held January 2, 1786, it was voted to set off
the North Precinct as a separate town ; and on the
1st day of March, 178G, the town of Boylston was
incorporated. It received its name in honor of an
eminent family of Boston and Roxbury, two of whom
were skillful physicians in succession, and another
founded the chair of rhe'oric and oratory in Harvard
University. This family, through Ward Nicholas
Boylston, Esq., of Princeton, gave to the two churches
a large pulpit Bible, communion cup and bell, and in
1799 the sum of forty pounds sterling, directing the
town to keep it on interest until it should amount to
a sum sufficient to-erect some public building for the
use of the town. In January, 1827, he died, and in
his last will he directed that the sum of three hun-
dred dollars should be added to that already given>
and that the present Town Hall should be built,
which was completed in 1830. The first town-meet-
ing was held March 13, 1786, and these officers were
chosen : Moderator, Lieutenant Ephraim Beaman ;
Town Clerk, Lieutenant Aaron Sawyer; Selectmen,
Major Ezra Beaman, Liutenant Jonas Temple, Lieu-
tenant Timothy Whitney, Captain Jonathan Fassett,
John Hastings ; Assessors, Ephraim Beaman, Jonas
Temple, Edmund Stiles; Town Treasurer, Captain
Joseph Bigelow.

June 1-1, 1796, the westerly part of the town, with
certain other lands, taken from the towns of Sterling
and Holden, were set off and incorporated as the
Second Precinct in Boylston, Sterling and Holden.
Two years previous, in 1794, Major Ezra Beaman and
twenty-seven others, living in this portion of the town,
had presented a petition to the town, asking its con-
sent that they might be set off and incorporated,
either as a town, district or society. This petition
the town had refused to grant, and application had

been made to the General Court, which resulted in
their incorporation as a precinct. By the terms of the
act of incorporation, those persons residing within the
territory embraced within the limits of the Second
Precinct, who should signify, in writing, to the clerk
of the Second Precinct, within six months from the
passage of the act, their choice to remain within the
First Precincts of the respective towns from which
the new precinct was composed, should thereafter be
considered as members of said First Precincts. Among
those from Boylston to avail themselves of the terms
of the act of incorporation was Lieutenant Jonas
Temple, who had been most prominently identified
with the affairs of Shrewsbury North Parish, and
thus far with the affairs of the town of Boylston, while
most prominent among the seceding portion were
Major Ezra Beaman and Captain Joseph Bigelow, Jr.,
both of whom had been very active in the affairs of
the town and church. The new precinct had already
erected their meeting-house three miles westwaid
from the centre of the town, where the old church
now stands on West Boylston Common. From this
time forward the church and parochial affairs of the
two sections of the town became separate and dis-
tinct.

The pari.sh affairs of the old precinct were sepa-
rated from the affairs of the town, and vested in the
First Precinct in Boylston, which organized Septem-
ber 5, 1796, with the following officers : Moderator,
Captain Robert Andrews ; Precinct Clerk, Lieutenant
Aaron Sawyer; Precinct Committee, Dr. Samuel
Brigham, Deacon Levi Moore, Lieutenant Aaron
Sawj'er ; Assessors, Captain James Longley, Lieu-
tenant Jacob Hinds, Jonathan Fassett, Jr. ; Treas-
urer, Captain Robert Andrews ; Collector, Major
Jotham Bush, and were so continued separate from
the affairs of the town until the incorporation of the
Second Precinct into the town of West Boylston, in
1808, when the parish affairs were again vested in the
town, and so continued until 1823, when the organi-
zation of the parish was revived. That Boylston was
in as prosperous condition at this time as most of the
other towns of the period may be seen from the fol-
lowing extract, taken from the " History of Worcester
County," published in 1793 by Rev. Peter Whitney,
of Northborough. This reverend author says, "It
may be styled a rich town, for they are not only clear
of debt, but have several hundred pounds in their
treasury. There are sure indications of n-eallh and
prosperity among them. Here are some large and
good farmers as perhaps anywhere in the country,
who keep large stocks of cattle. The people raise
all kinds of country produce, especially beef, pork
and grain, butter and cheese ; vastly more than they
consume, and carry more into the market, perhaps,
than any town of its size and numbers." Previous to
1808 it is said that not les-s than three thousand
bushels of rye, with not less than the same quantities
of corn and oats, were produced; and during the

894

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

winter seasons the farmers carried large quantities of
rye meal to Boston, lor which they received $1.25 per
bushel. Large quantities of cider were annually
made, and at this time there were not less thau thirty
cider-mills in the town.

The division of the town into parishes did not, how-
ever, restore the harmony expected, and much oppo-
sition was continually manifested between the two
sections of the town until 1807, when a petition,
signed by Ezra Beaman, Jonathan Plyrapton, Paul
Goodale and William Fairbank, as agents in behalf
of the parish in Boylston, Holden and Sterling, was
presented to the General Court, asking that body that
"they might be incorporated into a District by some
proper name and vested with all the powers and priv-
ileges which by law appertained and belonged to dis-
tricts." This petition was received by the General
Court January 2.S, 1807, and referred to the commit-
tee on towns, who thereupon reported an order that
the petitioners serve the towns interested in the pro-
posed district with a copy of the petition and order at
least fifty days before the first Tuesday of the first
session of the next General Court, which date was as-
signed as the time for the hearing of the petition and
any remonstrances that might be brought against it.
In reply thereto, Captains James Longley and Robert
Andrews and Aaron White, Esq., appeared as agents
on the part of the town of Boylston, and protested
against the prayer of the petition, provided the pro-
posed district was to be annexed to the town of Boyls-
ton. Another remonstrance agaijist annexation was
also presented to the Legislature by Jonas Temple
and sixty-one others. Some time afterwards the
agents of the town and precinct met and signed
articles of agreement, the first of which was that "the
precinct might be incorporated into a town," and
January 30, 1808, an act passed the General Court to
that eflect, and the Second Precinct of Boylston,
Holden and Sterling became a town by the name of
West Boylston.

The history of the town of Boylston during the first
century of its existence was, like that of most country
towns of its size and situation, quiet and uneventful.
As a part of Shrewsbury it took an earnest and active
part in the events of the Revolution, and, with the ex-
ception of a very few, its inhabitants were ardent
patriots and well-wishers for the independence of the
colonies ; and the North Precinct of Shrewsbury
sent its full quota of soldiers into the Continental ser-
vice. The town of Boylston was well represented in
the War of 1812, and on its town records are spread
some able memorials and papers relating to national
aflairs for the period between 1790 and 1812. It sent
eighty soldiers into the War of the Rebellion, which
was a surplus of one over all demands made upon it,
one of whom was a commissioned oiBcer. The first
recorded action of the town relating to the war was
taken April 29, 1861, when it was voted that "whereas
the President has called upon the loyal States for

men to defend the integrity of the Union, therefore,
it was the duty of all good citizens, forgetting all past
ditferences, to rally and unite as one man to sustain
the government and put down rebellion." A commit-
tee consisting of Captain Lambert Lamson, A. W.
Andrews, and David T. Moore were chosen to consider
the matter of providing uniforms for all persons in
the town who should volunteer to form a military
company, and that each volunteer should be fur-
nished with a Colt's revolver and bowie-knife and be
paid one dollar a day by the town while in the United
States service and one dollar for every half-day spent
in drilling previous to being mustered into service.
It was also voted to raise the sum of two thousand
dollars to carry above objects into effect. July 28,
1862, the town voted to pay a bounty of one hundred
and five dollars to each volunteer who should enlist
before the 5th of August to fill the quota of the town.
August 25, 1862, this bounty was increased to one
hundred and twenty-five dollars. August 15, 1864,
the town fixed the sum of one hundred and twenty-
five dollars as the bounty to be paid each volunteer
enlisting to the credit of the town. The amount of
money expended by the town for war purposes, ex-
clusive of State aid, was ten thousand six hundred
and fifty-seven dollars. The amount of money paid
for State aid during the war to soldiers' families, and
repaid by the Commonwealth, was $6520.46.

At the annual town-meeting in March, 1886, the
town voted to celebrate the one hundredth anniver-
sary of its incorporation, and a sum of money was
appropriated to carry this vote into eflect. At a
special meeting in month of April following the
proper committees were chosen to carry out the pro-
posed centennial gathering. The 18th of August was
selected as the date. The day prove'd unusually pleas-
ant and the features of the celebration were most
successfully carried out. Very many of the residences
in the town were elaborately and appropriately deco-
rated and it was estimated that nearly five thousand
people were present. A salute of one hundred guns
was fired by Battery "B," Light Artillery, Massachu-
setts Volunteer Militia, under Captain Fred. W. Wel-
lington. The music was furnished by the Worcester
Brass Band. The address was given by Henry M.
Smith, Esq., of Worcester, Mass., a son-in-law of
Rev. Wm. H. Sanford, a former pastor of the Boylston
Church, and the poem w.os read by Hon. William N.
Davenport, of Marlborough, a native of the town.
Hons. Phinehas Ball and Charles B. Pratt, both ex-
mayors of Worcester and natives of the town, were
respectively president and chief marshal of the day.
An interesting feature of the occasion was the presen-
tation of a tablet erected in the town hall to the
memory of the soldiers who fell in the War of the
Rebellion by George A. Cotting, Esq., of Hudson, a
former citizen of the town. This tablet is of Italian
marble and bears the following inscription in gilt
letters :

BOYLSTON.

895

This Tablet,
erected on the One nundredth Anniversary of Boylsfon, by George A.
C'otting, is in rommemoriilion of tlie valnr of its citizens wlio died in Ibe
great civil war of 1801, to preserve tlie unity of our country.

Jobn R, Roberta, private, Co. K, 2d Regt. Mass. Vols ; liilled at battle
of Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug 9, 1803 ; ffi. 25 years. He was the first
soldier enlisted front Boylston.

Elliot J. Flagg, private, Co. I, 4th Kegt. N. T. Vols. ; killed at battle
of Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 180i ; as. 23 years.

James H. Wilson, private, Co. I, alst Regt. Mass. Vols ; died of
wounds at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 15, 1862 ; x. 28 years.

Albert Hastings, private, Co. E, 2l6t Regt. Mass. Vols. ; died at Camp
Nelson, Ky., April 12, 1804; a;. 24 years.

.lobn W. Partridge, private, Co. D, 25th Regt. Mass. Vols. ; died at
Andersonville, Ga., Ma.v, 1804 ; se. 29 years.

George W. Brewer, corporal, Co. D, 25th Regt. Mass. Vols. ; killed at
Cold Harbor, Va,, June 3, 1804 ; w. 23 years.

Watson Wilson, private, Co. I, 30th Regt. Mass Vols; died of wounds
at Washington, D. C, June 28, 1804 ; m. 22 years.

John M. Forbes, sergeant, Co. C, 34th Regt. Mass. Vols. ; died at
Salisbury, N. C, Sept. 27, 1804; as. 25 years.

Ferdinand Andrews, corponil, Co. D, 25th Regt. Mass. Vols. ; died at
Boylston, Mass., Nov. 20, 1804 ; as. 25 years.

George C. Flagg, private, Co. F, Mass. Vols, ; in Me.\icau War ; at
U. S. Hospital Barracks, New Oi leans July 26, 1848 ; te. 24 years.
August 18, 1S80.

CHAPTER CXX.

BOYLSTON— (Co;/.//;/;/?,/.)
ECCLESIASTICAI, HISTORY.

The churcli was gathered on the 6th d.iy of Octo-
ber, 1743, Rev. Mr. Gushing and the church in
Shrewsbury assisting, in obedience to a re.quest from
Deacon John Keyes and twelve others. The precinct
made choice of Mr. Ebenezer Morse to settle over
them in the Gospel ministry. They agreed to give
him £400 (old tenor) settlement and £160 (old tenor)
annual salary, for the first two years, and £6 (old
tenor) additional every year until his salary should
reach £180 (old tenor), provided that Mr. Morse
should, when so desired, give to the precinct a quit-
claim of the ministerial lands that were in the North
precinct.

These terms were not satisfactory to Mr. Morse,
and at another meeting it was voted to increase his
salary £10 per year for the first two years till it be-
came £200 (old tenor) a year, and so to be higher or
lower, as the price of provisions should rise or fall ;
allowing, at that time, wheat to be twenty shillings
per bushel, rye fifteen shillings, Indian corn ten shil-
lings, oats six shillings in the North Precinct of
Shrewsbury, and poik eighteen pence per pound and
beef eleven pence per pound in Boston.

These terms wete accepted by Mr. Morse, and he
was ordained on the 2tith day of October, 174.S. It is
said that at the time of the ordination the meeting-
house was in an unfinished condition and had neither
pulpit nor pew, nor floor laid, and neither windows
nor doors.

Rev. Mr. Morse's connections with the people ap-
pear to have been harmonious until the beginning of

the Revolutionary period, when he and a few of his
friends became royalists, and they were called to an
account by the town of Shrewsbury, disarmed and
forbidden to leave the limits of the precinct. This
so excited the indignation of his parish, the majority
of whom were patriots, that a meeting was called,
early in the year 1771, to take into consideration the
difiiculties existing between them. At this meeting
they voted, by a division of thirty-seven yeas to
twelve nays, that the pastoral relations should be
dissolved, and a committee, consisting of Daniel
Whitney, Nathaniel Davenport, Jonas Temple, Fred-
erick Albert and Silas Howe, were chosen to inform
Rev. Mr. Morse that he was dismissed, and take mea-
sures to see that he did not enter the pulpit again as
their minister.

The matters between pastor and people remained
in an unsettled condition for some time longer, until
finally the church voted to call an ecclesiastical
council, which assembled and advised the precinct
to reconsider their former vote dismissing Rev. Mr.
Morse, which was done, and then, after a protracted
sitting, dissolved the pastoral relations. Rev. Mr.
Morse remained in the town, occasionally preaching
to a few of his friends, until his death, January 3,
1802, at the age of eighty-three years and nine months.
He was a native of Medfield, and was a son of Hon.
Joshua Morse. He graduated at Harvard College,
1737. Soon after his settlement here he married
Persis, daughter of John Bush, with whom he lived
thirty-three years. He was a man of unusual ability,
and, previous to his settlement, had studied law, with
a view of entering that profession. He afterwards
studied medicine and practiced that profession in
connection with his ministerial work and after his
dismis-ion. He also fitted many students for college ;
among the number was the late Rev. Dr. Thaddeus
Harris, of Dorchester, Mars.

After the dismission of Rev. Dr. Morse the church
remained without a pastor a little more than a year,
when a call was extended to Mr. Jesse Reed to settle
with them. This call he declined, and, although
urged to become their pastor, remained firm in his
decision. In the following October the church in-
vited Mr. Eleazer Fairbanks to become their min-
ister, and he was ordained March 27, 1777.

The council met on the 26ih of March, and that day
was spent in hearing Rev. Dr. Morse's objections to
his settlement, which were overruled, and he was
ordained on the following day. His salary and settle-
ment were the same as had been offered to Mr. Reed,
viz.: £66 ISs. -id. salary, and £133 Qs. 8d. settle-
ment. His salary was afterwards increased to £70,
and his settlement £180. Just previous to his settle-
ment the church voted to dispense with the Half-way
Covenant, so-called, and during his ministry important
changes were made in the manner of conducting
church music. During this time also the North Pre-
cinct of Shrewsbury was incorporated into the town

896

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of Boylston; and the erection of a new meeting-
house was undertaken, the location of which was the
subject of a great controversy; several committees
were chosen, both from this town and the neighbor-
ing towns. The town was surveyed to find the centre
orin some way to fix upon a spot that would be satis-
tory, but without success. Finally, upon the recom-
mendation of a committee consisting of Nathaniel
Longley, Esq., of Bolton, General John Whiting, of
Lancaster, and Abraham Monroe, of Northbo rough,
the location where the Centre School now stands was
selected, and the meeting-house was completed in
1793, and the present Common purchased of the
heirs' of Eleazer Taylor and Colonel Jotham Bush.
In December, 1792, Rev. Mr. Fairbanks asked his
dismission, which the church refused to grant, but
afterwards consented, and he was dismissed April 23,
1793, after a pastorate of over sixteen years. He was
born in Preston, Conn. ; graduated at Brown Univer-
sity in 1775 ; he married Sarah, daughter of Deacon
Araariah Bigelow, and after his dismission removed
to Wilmington, Vt., and then to Palmyra, N. Y.,
where he died in 1821.

November 1, 1793, the church voted to invite Mr.
Hezekiah Hooper, of Bridgewater, to settle over them
according to the Cambridge Platform. This call was
concurred in by the town and accepted by Mr.
Hooper. In the month of February previous to his
ordination the church observed a day of fasting and
prayer, and, in accordance with the usual practice of
the times, invited several of the neighboring clergy-
men to unite with them and assist on the occasion.
Eev. Drs. Reuben Puffer, of Berlin, Joseph Sumner,
of Shrewsbury, Nathaniel Thayer, of Lancaster, Reu-
ben Holcomb, of Sterling, and Rev. Peter Whitney,
of Northborough, were present. They convened Feb-
ruary 6, 1794, and were met by Rev. Mr. Morse, and
an attempt was made to adjust the difficulties between
him and the church. It was a delicate and difficult
affair, and whatever may have been the result of the
coundl, it is certain that the matter was not fully
settled until some time after the ordination of Rev.
Mr. Hooper. At the same time important changes
-were made in the church covenant, and the practice
of receiving members on the Half-way Covenant, so-
called, was renewed, which practice continued for
more than twenty years afterwards.

The onlination of Mr. Hooper took place on the
9th of March, 1794 ; the churches in Shrewsbury,
Northborough, Bridgewater, Holden, Sterling, Berlin,
Marlborough and Lancaster assisted in the ordina-
tion. The council convened at the house of Deacon
Daniel Andrews, and organized with Rev. Dr. Joseph
Sumner, of Shrewsbury, as moderator, and Rev. Dr.
Reuben Holcomb, of Sterling, as scribe. The inhabit-
ants of the westerly portion of the town presented a
paper to the council, signifying their intentions to
Ibrm a new religious society by themselves, and mani-
festing their perfect neutrality in the proceedings of

the council and in the choice of a minister. A re-
monstrance was also presented by Rev. Mr. Morse
and his adherents " against any person being ordained
over him or the church, until he had been regularly
heard in an ecclesiastical council, as he presumed he
had never had a regular dismission." The first of
these two papers was the result of the controversy
between the two sections of the town in relation to
the location of the meeting-house then recently
erected, and is the first intimation on the church re-
cords of the intention of the inhabitants of the west-
erly portion of the town to form a separate church
and precinct. The council, having voted that they
considered neither of these papers as any bar to the
ordination, proceeded to the public exercises of the
ordination. When Rev. Mr. Hooper began his labors
the church consisted of one hundred and eighteen
members. His salary was £115 per year. He was a
young man of much talent, and gave great promise of
success in the work of the ministry.

The discordant elements in the church were united.
Rev. Mr. Morse and his adherents returned and be-
came members of his congregation, and he received
the harmonious support of the church and town.
His ministry, was, however, brief, failing health forced
him to relinquish the duties of the pastorate and he
returned to his friends in Bridgewater, where he died
of consumption, December 2, 1795, having been the
minister of this people one year, nine months and
twenty-five days. During his pastorate he received
into the church fifteen members on confession of
faith and five by letter from other churches. , Agree-
ably to the desires of the deacons of the church and
the selectmen of the town, the 24th day of December,
1795, was set apart and observed as a day of fasting
and prayer, that the death of Rev. Mr. Hooper
" might be sanctified to the church and town, and the
church and town might be directed to the choice of
an able minister to settle with them in the work of
the ministry."

After the death of Rev. Mr. Hooper several candi-
dates were heard and several meetings were held to
take action in regard to the settlement of his succes-
sor. On the 19th of September, 1796, the church
made choice of Mr. Ward Cotton, of Plymouth, to
settle with them, which choice was concurred in by
the parish by a large majority, and the same salary
granted him as was paid Rev. Mr. Hooper, viz., one
hundred and fifteen pounds per year. This call was
accepted by Mr. Cotton and he was ordained June 7,

1797. .

The following October the church assisted m the
ordination of the Rev. William Nash as the first
minister of the Second Precinct. The town was now
divided into two precincts, each having its own
church and minister; this necessarily lessened the
First Precinct in numbers and strength, but had the
effect of restoring harmony to the two sections of the
town, a result which could hardly have been hoped

BOYLSTON.

89-,

for had both parishes remained together, and Mr.
Cotton found himself the pastor of a church united
both among themselves and in him as their minister.
Mr. Cotton continued as the minister of the towa
twenty-eight years, until June 22, 1825, when he was
dismissed by a mutual ecclesiastical council. His
pastorate during nearly its entire period was charac-
terized by a high degree of harmony.

In the early part of his ministry he inaugurated
some important changes in the church policy and
discipline, and in 1S17 the custom of receiving mem-
bers on the Half-way Covenant was discontiuued. In
1818 the present Sabbath-school was organized. The
only breach of harmony, which seemed to have oc-
curred during his early ministry began about 1810,
when several of the members of the church withdrew
and united with the Baptist denomination. A church
and society called the Shrewsbury and Boylston Bap-
tist Society, was organized in 1812, holding services
alternately in the two towns, and the following year,
1813, a church building was erected in Shrewsbury
twenty-five by thirty-two feet, at a cost of four hun-
dred and fifty dollars, and Rev. Elias McGregory
was ordained, in 1818, as its regular pastor. This
church soon became divided, and the services were
afterwards occasionally continued in Boylston, Rev.
Henry Archibald and others officiating.

During the ministry of Rev. Mr. Cotton ninety-
eight members were added to the church in full com-
munion ; there were also four hundred and one bap-
tisms, three hundred and si.xty-five deaths and one
hundred and sixty-seven marriages in the town, ex-
clusive of those who were married by justices of the
peace. After his dismission Rev. Mr. Cotton
preached for some time to a congregation of his
friends and adherents at the Town Hall, and contin-
ued to reside in the town until his decease, Novem-
ber 15, 1843, at the age of seventy-four years.

Rev. Mr. Sanford says of him : "As a man, Mr.
Cotton was amiable, with strong sympathies for those
who were in affliction, obliging in his disposition,
took pleasure in conferring favors and never sought
to give unnecessary paiu and trouble to those around
him." He took a deep interest in the affidrs of the
town and especially in the education of the young.
He was for many years a member of the School Com-
mittee, and for eight years represented the town in the
General Court. He was a son of Rev. John Cotton,
of Plymouth, and was born there March 24, 1770. He
graduated from Harvard College in 1793. He de-
scended from a line of ministers, illustrious in the
religious annals of New England. His father gradu-
ated from Harvard College and was settled as the first
minister in Halil'ax, Mass., in 1735, where he remain-
ed until 1756, when he resigned on account of ill
health and returned to his native town of Plymouth,
where he was chosen register of deeds for Plymouth
County, in which office he died. His grandfather was
Rev. John Cotton, Jr., born March 15, 1640, gradu-
57

ated at Harvard College 1657, and preached first at
Wethersfield, Conn., and from 1664 to 1667 to a con-
gregation of Indians and white people at Martha's
Vineyard. He was settled as the minister at Plymouth
June 30, 1669, and remained there until October 5,
1697, when he went to Charleston, S. C, and gathered
a church there, of which he was the pastor until his
death, September 18, 1699. His church erected a
handsome monument over his grave. He was dis-
tinguished for his knowledge of the Indian language
and the whole care of correcting and revising the
second edition of Elliott's Indian Bible, published at
Cambridge in 1685, was entrusted to him. His great-
grandfather was the distinguished Rev. John Cottou,
minister of the First Church in Boston.

After the dismission of Rev. Mr. Cotton the church
remained without a pastor for nearly a year, when,
after having heard several different candidates, the
church, by a unanimous choice, determined upon Mr.
Samuel Russell. This choice was concurred in by
the parish by a large majority and a call was extended
to Mr. Russell to settle with them in the Gospel min-
istry at a salary of five hundred dollars per year.
This call was accepted, and on the 21st of June, a.d.
1826, Mr. Russell was ordained by a council selected
by mutual agreement. The examination of Mr. Rus-
sell was vigorous, the council frequently assuming the
appearance of a heated theological discussion and " in
it, says Rev. Mr. Sanford in his anniversary sermon,
preached on the completion of the twentieth year of
his settlement, in 1853, "were represented all the
isms that distracted the Congregational churches of
Massachusetts at that time," which was a peculiar
crisis in the religious history of New England, and
especially in Massachusetts, the condition of this
church and people being similarly disturbed with the
other Congregational Churches of all this region, and,
in liict, through the whole of the New England States',
by the conflicting doctrines which had for some years
divided their harmony. Some of the church and par-
ish looked for a new pastor from the liberal school,
while others were more in sympathy with Calvinist
doctrines. These conflicting doctrines and the lack
of harmony resulting therefrom had been the cause of
the severest trials during the last years of Mr. Cotton's
ministry. His dismission bad by no means removed
them and it was hardly within the bounds of possi-
bility or reason that the next pastor should unite them.
To this arduous and difficult task Mr. Russell had
been called. He was at the time of his ordination
twenty -seven years of age, having been born at Bow,
N. H., September 24, 1799. He was the eldest child of
his father's fitmily and had early been intended for
the ministry, and at the age of fifteen years had
united with the church in Dunbarton, N. H., of which
the Rev. Dr. Harris was then pastor. He was gradu-
ated at Dartmouth College in the class of 1821 and
from the Andover Theological School in 1824. Soon
after coming to Boylston he was united in marriage

898

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to Miss Mary J. Howe, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel
Howe, of Hoplcinton, Mass. His religious faith aud
teachings when he entered upon his ministry agreed
essentially with the Shorter Catechism of the West-
minster Assembly. During his pastorate here the
church covenant was changed and the present articles
of faith adopted, to which all who should unite with
the church in the future should be required to give
assent, and to a large extent the entire policy of the
church was changed.

While this same controversy was going on in the
Congregational Churches of Eastern Massachusetts,
the Evangelical Churches of New England experienced
one of the most powerful revivals of religion which
had been felt since the lime of Rev. George White-
field. This revival was felt in the Boylston Church,
and many were added to its membership.

During Rev. Mr. Russell's ministry in Boylston
one hundred and four persons were added to the
church— ninety-nine on profession of laith and five
by letter from other churches. There were also one
hundred and nineteen baptisms, twenty-five mar-
riages and sixty-three deaths in the town. February
13, 1832, Rev. Mr. Russell, by letter, requested his
dismission, which was granted by the church and
parish, and on the 17th of the following April the
pastoral relations were dissolved. His ministry in
Boylston covered a period of five years, nine months
and twenty-six days. Soon after leaving Boylston he
received a call to the church in Norwich, in this
State, where he was installed September 5, 1832, and
where he remained sustaining the most harmonious
relations with his people until his death, which oc-
curred from consumption, Jan. 27, 1885, at the age of
thirty-five years. Rev. Dr. John Todd, of the Edwards
Church at Northampton, in his sermon preached
at the funeral of Mr. Russell, says of him : " In his
manners and appearance he was simple, unaflected
and kind. His judgment was clear, sound and dis-
criminating. As a husband, a friend, a pastor and a
brother he was respected and beloved. As a preacher
he was plain in manner and plain in matter, but he
was uniformly judicious and practical."

On the 9th of August, 1832, the church and parish,
by a unanimous vote, invited Mr. William H. San-
ford, of Belchertown, to become its pastor at an an-
nual salary of five hundred dollars. This ofier Mr.
Sanford accepted, although at great personal sacrifice,
and on the 17th of October, 1SS2, was ordained as
their pastor. At the time of his ordination the
church consisted of one hundred and forty-eight
members. Soon after assuming the pastorate the
present church edifice was erected, and was dedicated
December 10, 1835. So harmonious was the condi-
tion of the church and society at this time that only
eight parish meetings were held for the purpose of
transacting the business connected with the erection
of the house. When the first house of worship was
erected, in 1742, not less than fourteen precinct meet-

ings were needed for completing the house, and the
erection of the second house, in 1791, was the cause
of about twenty town-meetings and a subsequent di-
vision of the church, parish and town. During
twenty years of Rev. Mr. Sanford's pastorate, from
1832 to 1852, one hundred and thirty-five members
were added to the church. There were also one hun-
dred and forty-five baptisms, ninety-one marriages
and two hundred and fifty deaths in the town. He
had also preached one thousand aud twenty-eight
Sabbaths. He was dismissed on account of ill-health,
September 15, 1857, after having been the pastor of
the church a little less than twenty-five years.

Eev. Mr. Sanford was independent and fearless in
his manner and preaching, never hesitating to pro-
claim what he considered to be the truth, and in all
his ministrations was greatly beloved by his people.
He ever took a deep interest in the afi'airs of the
town, and especially in all matters relating to educa-
tion. During nearly the entire period of his ministry
he served as chairman of the School Committee of the
town. In 1857' he represented the town in the Gen-
eral Court. He was a graduate of Harvard College
in the class of 1827. Previous to coming to Boylston
he married Harriet S., daughter of the late Rev.
Ethan Smith, A.M., for some time city missionary of
Boston, and the author of several theological works.
After the termination of his pastorate in Boylston
Rev. Mr. Sanford removed to Worcester, where he en-
gaged in the book aud publishing business, which is
now carried on by his sons. He died in Worcester,
November 27, 1879, aged seventy-nine years, nine
months and thirteen days.

After the close of Rev. Mr. Sanford's labors a
period of supply intervened, and several clergymen
were acting pastors, among them the late Rev. Wil-
liam Murdock, of West Boylston, and Rev. Daniel
Wight, afterwards for many years librarian of the
Morse Institute at Natick, Mass., until October 17,
1861, when Rev. Abel Hastings Ross, a graduate of
Oberlin College, Ohio, was ordained. During his
pastorate the country passed through the great Civil
War, and Rev. Mr. Ross was away from his parish
for some time in the service of the Christian Commis-
sion. He was a minister of growing ability, and a
talented and eloquent preacher. He resigned to accept
a call from the Congregational Church at Springfield,
Ohio, and was dismissed from the Boylston Church
aud Society January 16, 1866. He has been quite
prominent in the Congregational denomination, and
has received the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He
has been for several years Southworth lecturer on
Congregationalism in Andover Theological Seminary
and special lecturer on Church Polity in Oberlin
College. He is now located at Port Huron, Mich.
Soon after the close of Rev. Dr. Ross' pastorate Rev.
Andrew Bigelow, D.D., became the acting pastor of
the church, and remained here until April, 1873.
During his service the interior of the church was re-

T^i^li^CiAf) yjcpi-'Ciy^ur^

BOYLSTON.

899

paired and improved by the addition of a fine organ.
Rev. Dr. Bigelovsr was a native of the town, and the
son of Andrew' and Lydia Bigelow. He fitted for
college at the Amherst Academy, under the care of
Rev. Dr. Cotton, and graduated at Amherst College
in 1838 in a class of forly-two members, nineteen of
whom became clergymen. Before en'teriug the min-
istry he was for two and a half years principal of
Rochester Academy, Mass. He read theology with
his brother, Rev. Jonathan Bigelow, and Rev. Dr-
Thomas Robbins ; was licensed by the Old Colony
Association, and ordained over the church at South
Dartmouth in 1841. He afterwards was settled at
West Needham, West Hampton and Medfield, where
he remained eleven years. His pulpit and parish
labors were characterized by soundness of theology,
spirituality of discourse, and boldness in proclaiming
what he thought to be the truth. He took a deep
interest in all educational matters, and served during
nearly all of his residence here as chairman of the
School Committee, and labored earnestly to bring the
schools to a high standard. He was twice married —
first to Emily Louisa, daughter of Hon. William
Blackler„of Marblehead, who died at Medfield July
4, 1857, and second to Nancy J., daughter of Hon.
Marshall P. Wilder, of Boston. After finishing his
labors here he removed to Southborough, Mass., where
he died September 23, 1882, at the age of seventy -two
years, nine months. In his will he made provisions
for the benefit of the Boylston Church. From April,
1873, to October 1, 1877, the pulpit was supplied by
Rev. W. H. S. Packard and Rev. Francis F. Williams
and in 1873 the present parsonage was erected. Octo-
ber 1, 1877, Rev. Henry S. Kimball became the acting
pastor, and remained until April, 1882. During this
period the church debt was paid, largely by J. Avery
White, Esq., of Fraraingham, Mas«., and Thomas W.
White, E-q., of Brooklyn, N. Y., sons of the late
Aaron White, of this town, John B. Gough, Esq., and
family, and Rev. Dr. D. O. Mears and others of Pied-
mont Church, Worcester. During this time, also, a
deep religious interest took place.

April 29, 1884, Rev. Israel Ainsworth was installed
as pastor, and remained until Sept. 21, 1887, when he
was dismissed at his own request. He is now the pastor
of the Congregational Church in South Peabody, Mass.
Rev. Mr. Ainsworth is a native of England and came
to this country about 1870, at the age of eighteen
years, and had been for two years previous to that
time a preacher in England in fellowship with the
Methodist denomination. In 1875 he entered the
regular ministry among the Methodists in the New
Hampshire Conference, and for the last two years
previous to coming to Boylston was pastor of the
church in New Boston, N. H. On his change of de-
nominational connection he became a member of the

1 Andrew Bigelow was a soldier of the Revolution, and the father of
tifteen children, three of whom became ministers.

Congregational Church at Amherst, N. H. He is a
man of fine talent, and of independent thought and
action, and a pleasing and eloquent speaker. During
his pastorate the church building was repaired and
thoroughly painted and beautified, and a neat and
commodious barn erected for the parsonage by the
young people of the parish. Many additions were
made to the church membership and a large and
flourishing society of the Young People's Christian
Endeavor was organized. Rev. Austin Dodge, a
graduate of Amherst College, 1861, and of the An-
dover Theological Seminary, ISGG, came in December,
1887, and is the present acting pastor.

The following persons have served as deacons of the
church : John Keyes, Esq., and Cyprian Keyes, chosen
1743, and were formerly deacons of church in Shrews-
bury; Jonathan Keyes, chosen 1743; Amariah Bigelow
to 1779 ; Levi Moore, 1770-1815 ; Jonathan Bond, 1779
-1793; Jonas Goodenow, 1794-1811; Cyrus Houghton,
1794-1797; Daniel Andrews, chosen 1794; Jonathan
Bond, Jr., 1797-1821 ; Joshua Stiles, 1809-a828; Rob't
Andrews, Jr., 1821-1829 ; Abijah Flagg, 1829-1837 ;
Dr. John Andrew.s, 1829-1837; Wm. HrMoore, 1837-
1846; Jotham Bush, Jr., 1837-1844; Simeon Partridge,
1844-18fi5 ; Henry H. Brigham, 1846-1888 ; Harvey
A. Stowell, 1867-1877; Preston P. Lane, 1877-1881.
Lyman S. Walker, chosen 1876, and A. V. R. Prouty,
chosen 1888, are the present officiating deacons. Of all
the persons holding the office, Deas. Levi Moore and
Henry H. Brigham held it for the longest period, about
fifty years each. At the time of his death, June 1 9, 1888,
Dea. Brigham had been town clerk for thirty-eight
years and parish clerk for fifty years, and had repre-
sented the town twice iu the General Court. He was
a man of great usefulness, and in all his long service
to both town and church labored with untiring zeal
for their best interests.

CHAPTER CXXI.

BOYLSTON— iCoi//i/t//ed. )

PROMINENT PERSON.S, COLLEGE GRADUATES, ETC.

The town of BoyUton has sent forth many men of
ability and influence who have honored the several
professions and stations in which they have been called
to act. Among the most prominent citizens of the
Shrewsbury North Parish during the dark period of
the Revolution, and one who afterwards became one
of the prime movers for the incorporation of the town
of Boylston and finally was influential in the sepa-
ration of that town and the incorporation of the town
of West Boylston, was Major Ezra Beaman. He was
born October 16, 1736, in Lancaster, in that portion
of the town which two years later became the town of
Bolton. He came with his father, Capt. Jabez Bea-
man, in 1746 to that part of the Shrewsbury North

900

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Precinct that is now included within the limits of
West Boylston. Upon the death of his father in 1757
the homestead estate came into his possession, and
upon it he resided until hisdeaih, June 4, 1811. Thus
it may be said of him that he resided successively in
the towns of Shrewsbury, Boylston and West Boy Iston
without changing his place of residence. During the
Revolution he was an ardent patriot and was con-
tinuously in the military service of the colonies. He
repeatedly served the towns of Shrewsbury, Boylston
and West Boylston in their most important town offices.
A more extended sketch of his life will probably be
given in the historical sketch of West Boylston.
Among the most prominent of the citizens of Boylston
soon after the incorporation of the town, and who were
zealous opposers of Major Beamau in the separation
of the parishes in 1795 and the ultimate division of
the town in 1808, were James Longley and Aaron
White, Esqs. James Longley, Esq., settled in Boyls-
ton soon after the close of the Revolution. He was a
native of Shirley, in this State, and the son of a large
family. At an early age he was apprenticed to a car-
penter to remain until he should have reached the
full age of twenty-one years. Under this master he
received harsh and severe treatment, was coarsely and
inefficiently clad and kept constantly at work without
obtaining a single day's schooling. After obtaining
his freedom he secured a teacher and began to study,
and by patient ettbrt gained such an education as en-
abled him afterwards to take an honorable and useful
station in life. He served throughout the Revolution-
ary War in the service of tbecolonies, first in the ma-
rine, or privateering service, and afterwards with the
land forces and was present at the battle of Saratoga,
and also took an active part in the Shays" War. After
coming to Boylston he was continually called upon to
assume an active part in the affairs of the town ; was
captain of militia, magistrate and held almost every
town office, and served as representative to the Gen-
eral Court for thirteen consecutive years. His family,
like many other early Boylston families, were of honor-
able English extraction, and of high standing in
Church and State. Several were clergymen of the
Established Church, and one of whom became Bishop
of Durham, Cardinal and Lord Chancellor. The an-
cestor of the American branch of the family embraced
the Puritan doctrines, and came to New England,
where he married a sister of Thomas Gofife, Deputy
Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Aaron White, Esq., was born in Roxbury June 9,
1771. His early education was such as the common
schools of Roxbury afforded one hundred years ago.
Evincing a fondness for reading, he had access to the
old Boston Public Library, by the means of which he
stored his mind with a good knowledge of English
history and literature. At the age of twenty-one
years, in 1792, he opened a store in the easterly part
of Holden. There he remained five years, until
1797, when he removed to Boylston and engaged in

the tavern and store business, and afterwards in the
store business alone, keeping a general country store
until within a i'ev/ years of his death, in 1847. He
served for many years as a magistrate and in nearly
all the town offices, and for several years represented
the town in the General Court.

In 1798 he married Mary, daughter of Rev. Dr.
Joseph Avery, of Holden, and by whom he had a
largo family of children, all of whom lived to grow
up and have been very successful in the business,
professional and other stations to which they have
been called.

Among the natives and others who have received
a liberal or professional education the following have
honored the ministry :

Ministers. — Rev. Jonathan Bigelow, son of An-
drew and Sarah (Fassett) Bigelow, graduated from
Brown University in 1817, and at Andover Theologi-
cal Seminary in 1820 ; married Eliza Tappan, a sis-
ter of William Tappan, the poet, and herself a ready
writer. He was ordained and settled July 11, 1821,
at Lubec, Me., where he remained until 182C. From
1827 to 1849 he was settled at Rochester, Mass., and
at Euclid, Ohio, from 1850 until his death, which oc-
curred January 26, 1854, at the age of sixty-one
years. Rev. Ashael Bigelow, also a son of Andrew
Bigelow, graduated from Harvard College in 1823,
and subsequently from Andover Theological Seminary ;
he was ordained over the Congregational Church in
Walpole, Mass., March 28, 1823, and, in 1850, was
installed at Hancock, N. H., where he died August
16, 1817, after a pastorate of twenty-five years, and a
ministry of forty-nine years. Rev. Andrew Bigelow,
Jr., D.D., brother of above, was for several years the
acting pastor of the Boylston Church. A sketch of
his life appears in connection with the history of the
church. Rev. Jonathan Longley, son of James
Longley, E<q., entered Harvard College in 1812, but
was forced on account of ill health to leave the Uni-
versity before completing his course. He studied
theology with Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D.D., and
resided at Northbridge, where he died January
26, 1850.

Rev. John Flagg graduated at Harvard College
1816 ; ordained pastor of the Second Church in Rox-
bury February 2, 1825; died March 14, 1831, aged
forty-one years.

Rev. William J. White, son of Aaron White, and
a graduate of the Andover Theological Seminary,
was ordained September 20, 1842, and is now residing
in Worcester.

Rev. William D. Flagg graduated at Amherst Col-
lege 1853; died 1859, at the age of thirty years.

Rev. William W. Whipple, A.M., graduated at
Amherst College 1841, and is now settled at Yonkers
N. Y.

Rev. Frank D. Sanford, son of Rev. Wm. H. San-
ford, is a widely-known Evangelist.

Rev. George S. Ball, of Upton, a well-known

BOYLSTON.

901

Unitariau clergyman of Worcester County, and chap-
lain of the Twenty-first Regiment Massachusetts
Volunteers during the War of the Rebellion and an
ex-member of the Massachusetts Senate, is also a
direct descendant of a Boylston family.

Lawyers. — Hon. Asa Andrews, A.M., graduated
at Harvard College 1783, studied law and settled at
Ipswich, Mass., where he was appointed by President
Washington collector of the port, which office he
held for over thirty years; he died in 1856. Mathew
Davenport, Esq., graduated at Harvard College 1802,
studied law and .settled on the homestead of the
family in Boylston, where he died in 1860. He was
the author of a ''Historical Sketch" of Boylston,
published in 1830. James Savvyer, Esq., graduated
at Brown University 1814, studied law and settled in
Texas, where he died in 1823.

Aaron White, Jr., Esq., graduated at Harvard
College 1817, studied law and settled first in Rhode
Island, where he took an active part in the " Dorr's
Insurrection." He afterwards settled in Connecticut
and in Dudley, in this county. He died in Connecti-
cut in 1887.

Thomas W. White, Esq., brother of above'uamed,
studied law, and is now engaged in business in
Brooklyn, N. Y. Hon. William N. Davenport
studied law at the University of Michigan 'and at
Hudson, Mass., and is now engaged in practice at
Marlborough, Mass., which place he represented in
the General Court in 1885-86, and has just been
elected to the Massachusetts Senate. Asa Welling-
ton, Esq , who studied law and practiced in Boston,
is now residing at Quincy, Mass.

Among the physicians of the town have been Drs.
Abraham Howe, who died October 19, 1779, aged
twenty-one years ; Amariah Bigelow, Jr., Uriah
Bigelow, Eliakim Morse, son of Rev. Ebenezer
Morse, M. D., who afterwards settled in Water-
town, and died at the age of nearly a cen-
tury ; Samuel Brigham, Seth Knowlton, Thaddeus
Chinnery, William Davenport, who died at Boston
in 1816, aged twenty-two years, and John Andrews.
The latter was the physician of the town for forty
years, and a man of much influence and prominence
in the civil, parish and church relations of the town.
William S. Bigelow, M. D., graduated at New York
HonKPopathic Medical College 1S84, and is now lo-
cated at Phillipsburg, Pa. Charles A. .Stearns, A.B.,
M,D., graduated at Amherst College 1881, and Har-
vard Medical School 1884, and is now located at
Pawtucket, R. I. Dr. Fred Bigelow, now located in
Maine. Rev. Ebenezer Morse, A.M., M.D., the first
minister of the town, united in himself the three-
fold offices of minister, lawyer and physician.
Among others who have gone from the town and
held prominent positions elsewhere should be noticed
James Longley, Jr., who settled in Boston, where he
was well-known in the hotel business, and afterwards
largely connected with several manufacturing inter-

ests. He was twice elected an alderman of the city
of Boston. In 1863 he gave the sum of five hundred
dollars to the town for the benefit of the Old Ceme-
tery.

Hon. E. Hastings Moore, of Athens, Ohio, for
several years a member of Congress from that State.

The late Major-General Aaron Sawyer Gibbs, once
prominent in the military circles of Massachusetts
and New York, and the late General Lysander
Flagg, a prominent capitalist and business man of
Rhode Island, and formerly quartermaster-general of
that State.

Hon. Phinehas Ball, of Worcester, is a native of
the town. He served the city of Worcester in 1865
as mayor, and was for many years city engineer.
He is a well-known civil engineer, and for many
years a partner of Elbridge Boyden, which firm built
Mechanics' Hall, Worcester, Taunton Insane Hos-
pital and the jails at Greenfield and Fitchburg.
He planned and constructed the water-works at Wor-
cester, Springfield and other places. He is now
president of the Union Water-Meter Company.
Hon. Charles B. Pratt, mayor of Worcester in 1877-
78-79, is emphatically a Boylston man, coming to
the town when very young. His early years were
spent here. Mr. Pratt has been city marshal, alder-
man and, in fact, has held nearly all the city offices,
and in 1859 represented the city of Worcester in the
House of Representatives, and has since been a
member of the State Senate. He is now president
of the First National Fire Insurance Company.

Hon. Charles G. Reed, ex-mayor of Worcester,
is also a descendant, on his mother's side, of another
Boylston family. Boylston has sent many men of
influence and note into the city government of Wor-
cester. Hardly a year has elapsed since Worcester
became a city, but what the town has been represented
to a greater or lesser extent. It has also many repre-
sentatives among the successful business men of the
city.

For more than forty years this town was the
chosen home of John B, Gough, the distinguished
temperance orator, lecturer and philanthropist.
Coming here in 1843, Mr. Gough married Miss Mary
G. Whitcomb, and purchased a large tract of land,
situated midway between Boylston and Worcester,
where he erected large and fine buildings, con-
structed the finest avenues through his grounds,
planted thousands of fruit and ornamental trees and
developed his beautiful homestead of " Hillside,"
the mansion of which he filled to repletion with the
bric-a-brac of all climes, and with a magnificent
library of the choicest works, and one of the finest
and most valuable private collections in America.
To this beautiful home Mr. (xough came for recuper-
ation and rest after his extended and successful lec-
ture tours through this country and abroad, and here
he delighted to gather about him the most distin-
guished and cultured of both contiueuts.

902

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUiNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The story of Mr. Gough's remarkable life is so
well known to all, that an extended notice of it
hardly seems necessary here. A brief sketch of it is,
however, appended. He was born at Sandgate, Eng-
land, a romantic little watering-place, about ten miles
from Dover. Hi.-j fatlier was a veteran of the Peninsular
War, and his mother was a schoolmistress of the vil-
lage. When about six years of age he was sent to a
seminary at Folkstone, two or three miles from Sand-
gate. About this time, attracting the attention of
the visitors at the little watering-place, he was often
sent for to read to the ladies and gentlemen gathered
at a small reading-room in the place.

In 1829, when twelve years of age, he came to
America with a family from Sandgate. He reached
New York, after a voyage of fifty-four days, and soon
after removed, with the family, to a farm in Oneida
County, iu that State. Alter remaining here two
years, he went to New York City, where he entered
the Methodist Book Concern as an errand boy and
apprentice to the book-binding trade. After this
followed the dark and discouraging period of his lifei
duringwhich he drifted about todifferentplaces, — first
to Bristol, R. I., then to Providence, R. I., and New-
buryport, Mass., and finally to Worcester, Mass.
This was during the Washingtonian Temperance
movement, and, after coming to Worcester, he was
induced to take the pledge, and, after a long and
desperate struggle, overcame his appetite for strong
drink, and entered the work as a speaker. From
1843 until the time of his death not a year passed
without his entering the lecture field.

In 18S3 he went to England at the invitation of
the London Temperance League, and was absent two
years, speaking throughout all parts of Great Britain.
In Edinborough alone seventeen thousand people
flocked to hear him, and the London Temperance
Society gave him a silver dinner service.

In 1877 he again visited Great Britain, and spent
three years in England and Ireland, delivering in
England alone three hundred and ninety addresses to
five hundred thousand people, and secured twelve
thousand signatures to the pledge. After his return
to America he began to speak on other topics besides
temperance. His published works have had a large
sale, — one million copies of his lectures have been
sold, and over one hundred thousand copies of his
autobiography.

On the 1st of January, 1886, he had delivered
eight thousand five hundred and sixty-seven lectures
and traveled five hundred thousand miles. He was
stricken with apoplexy while speaking at Frank-
ford, Pa., aad died there February 17, 1886, at the
age of sixty-eight years, six months and twenty-six
days.

Precinct Clerks — Shreivshiiri/ Nurth Precinct,
1742 to 1786.— 1742, John Bu.'ih ; 1843-1748, Deacon
Cyprian Keyes ; 1749-17y5, Daniel Hastings; 1756-
1758, Deacon Amariah Bigelow; 1759, Deacon John

Keyes; 1760, 1761, Deacon Cyprian Keyes; 1762-
1764, David Taylor; 1765, 1766, Deacon Amariah
Bigelow; 1767-1772, Captain Joseph Bigelow, Jr.;
1773, 1774, Thomas Andrews; 1775, 1776, David
Taylor; 1777, Deacon Amariah Bigelow ; 1778 to Dec-
ember, David Taylor; December, 1778, 1779, 1780,
David Goodale; 1781-1785, Dr. Amariah Bigelow.

Town Clerks — Town of Boybton, 1786 to 1888. —
1786, Lieutenant Aaron Sawyer; 1787-1799, Colonel
Jotham Bush; 1800-1818, Aaron White, Esq. ; 1819,
Pitt Moore; 1820-1824, AaronWhite, Esq.; 1825, Cap-
tain Eli Bond ; 1826-1837, Nathaniel Davenport, Esq.;
1838-1849, John T. Cotton, Esq.; 1850 to June 19,
1888, Deacon Henry H. Brigham ; June 25, 1888,
Pennimau M. Brigham.

Representatives to General Court — Shrews-
bury North Precinct, 1742 to 1786.— 1746, John Keyes,
Esq.; 1747, 1749, 1756. 1758, Isaac Temple; 1V83,
Lieutenant Jonas Temple.

To%on of Boyhton, 1786 to 1888.-1787,1788, 1792 to
1796 inclusive. Lieutenant Jonas Temple; 1789-1791,
Ezra Beaman, Esq. ; 1798 to 1810, inclusive, James
Longley, Esq. ; 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, Deacon Jona-
than Bond ; 1815, 1816, 1817, Colonel Jotham Bush;
1818, 1819, 1821, 1822, Aaron White, E,q.; 1827, 1829
to 1835 inclusive. Rev. Ward Cotton; 1837, 1838,
1839, 1840, Captain Eli B. Lamson ; 1843, 1844, 1845,
John T. Cotton, Esq. ; 1848-1880, Henry H. Brig-
ham, Esq. ; 1849, Nathaniel Davenport, Esq.; 1851,
Captain John Andrews; 1852, Robert Andrews, Jr.;
1854, Oliver S. Kendall ; 1857, Rev. William H. San-
ford ; 1860, Dr. John Andrews; 1863, Horace Ken-
dall ; 1869, Henry White; 1874, Henry V. Woods;
1884, Levi L. Flagg.

Delegates to Constitutional Conventions. —
1788, Lieutenant Jonas Temple ; 1820, Deacon Jona-
than Bond; 1853, Rev. Daniel S. Whitney.

CHAPTER CXXII.

UPTON.

BY WILLIAM T. DAVLS.

The territory constitutiog the town of Upton was
occupied before the migration of the white men from
the sea-coast to the interior by the Nipmuck tribe of
Indians. Before the incorporation of the town, in
1735, it belonged to the towns of Sutton, Uxbridge,
Mendon and Hopkinton. Among the first setilera
on this territory were John Hazeltine, David Batch-
eler, J )nathan Wood, Israel Tait, John Sadler, Wil-
liam Johnson, John Bromly, William Green, Benja-
min Perham, Samuel Nelson, Stephen Denny, Sam-
uel Watkius, Marshal Baker, Samuel Work, Samuel
ReeTcs, John Warfield, VVillson Rawsou, Robert
Tyler, Matthias Taft, Peter Holbrook, Stephen Ten-
ney and Thomas Palmer. Of these, Matthew Taft

UPTON.

903

was a settler as early as 1728, having bought his
land of Harvard College. This territory included
thirteen thousand and ninety-four acres. A portion
of it, including about three thousand acres, formed a
part of the tract of land belonging to the Hopkins
P^und, which, during nearly a hundred years, was a
source of trouble and vexation to the inhabitants.
Edward Hopkins came from England in 1637, and
settling in Connecticut, became its Governor. He re-
turned to l^ngland and died in 16ri7, giving the sum
of five hundred pounds out of his estate in New Eng-
land to trustees, after die death of his wife, to be in-
vested in houses and lands in New England, the in-
come from which sbould be devoted to the support of
students in the grammar and divinity schools at
Cambridge, and to the purchase of books to be given
to meritorious students at Harvard College. Anne
Hopkins, his wife, died in 1G98, and after a suit in
Chancery the trustees obtained, in 1715, in satisfac-
tion of the legacy, a verdict and payment of five
hundred pounds, with interest, amounting to three
hundred more. This money wa-i invested in the pur-
chase of Maguncog from the Natick Indians, which,
with other lands, finally became the town of Hop-
kinton, one of the contributors to the township of
Upton.

In 1716 the court gave to the Hopkins Trustees
the province lands in Hopkiuton, swelling their pos-
session to twenty-five thousand acres. About one-
half of these acres were lea^^ed for ninety-nine years,
dating from March 25, 1728, and the remainder were
reserved as common lands. Troubles ensued con-
cerning the payment of rent and taxes ; the courts
and the Legislature were resorted to for relief by both
trustees and tenants, and not until 1832 was peace
restored. In that year the Legislature agreed to pay
eight thousand dollars and the tenants two thousand
dollars, and for this consideration the trustees aban-
doned their claim on the lands.

The territory of Upton is not specially attractive
in soil or scenery. Its surface abounds in rocky hills,
with here and there a plain of better land, like those
on which the pleasant villages of. Centre and West
Upton are situated, while West River, the chief
stream of the locality, finds its way through the richer
meadows of the valley towards its outlet in the Black-
stone River, at Uxbridge.

On the 31st of January, 1735, John Hazeltine and
others, living on this territory, presented a petition
to the Provincial Court to be incorporated as a town-
ship, and on the 1-lth of June the following act was
passed :

.\n Alt for dividing tUo towns of Blendon, Sutton, Uxbridge «nd
Hopkinton, iind urccting a. new town in the County of Worcester by the
name of Upton.

Tna'ret(«, tlio ontlands of tlie sever.-^l towns of Mendou, Sutton, Ux-
biidge and Ilopliinlon tire completely tilled with inhabitants who labor
\iuderdiflicnltie8 by reason of their remoteness from the places of pub-
lic woiship in tlio said towns, and have therefore addressed tliis Court
that tboy may be sett off a distmct and separate township and vested

with all the powers and privileges that other towns in this Province are
vested with ;

Be it enacted by His Excellency, the Governor, Council and Repre-
sentatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the
S]ime :

Sect. 1. That all the ontlands of the aforesaid towns of Mendon,
Sutton, Uxbridge and Hopkinton comprised within the following
bounds, containing in the whole twelve thousand nine hundred and
forty-three acres, together with one hundred and fifty-one acres taken
off Mr. John Rockwood's farm, bounded as follows, viz, : beginning at a
pine tree, being the southeast corner of Grafton, and from thence ex-
tending north, bounding west on Grafton till it comes to the northeast
corner thereof; and from thence bounding by Westboro' line till it
meets with Hopkinton line ; from thence extending southerly two hun-
dred and twelve perch in the bounds between Sutton and Hopkinton;
from thence south nine degrees east four hundred and ninety perch, to
a stake and heap of stones ; from thence south tliirty-one degrees and
thirty niiuutes east one hundred and forty perch ; from thence south
sixty-one degrees thirty minutes east two hundred perch to a heap of
stones at Haven Meadow ; from thence eafiterl.v one hundred and thirty-
four perch to the north end of a pond called North pond and there
bounded easterly on said pond till it comes to the place where tlie Mill
River runs out of said pond ; and thence bounding by said River till it
comes to a wading place called Peck's Wading Place, above the lower
North Meadow, from thence south thirty degrees thirty minntes west
two huudred and seventy-four perch ; from thence soutli forty de-
grees west ninety perch to Tyler's lane alias Marlborough road ; from
thence south fifty-five degrees west four hundred perch to Uxbridge,
where Uxbridge and Mendon meet ; thence bounding by Misco Hill
Brook till it meets with West River so called; then runs north twenty-
five degrees west ten hundred and twenty-two perch on Uxbridge line
to a heap of stones at Hazeltine's goat pasture ; from thence nortlierly
to a pine tree; thence easterl,v to a stake in a meadow ; and thence
north twenty-five degrees and thirty minutes west one hundred and
seventy perch to Grafton south line ; and thence bovinding northerly on
Grafton one hundred and ninety-six perch to tiie bounds first men-
tioned ; be and hereby are set off a distinct and separate township by
the name of Upton.

Srct, 2. And that the inhabitants thereof be and hereby are vested
with all the powers, privileges and immunities that the other towns in
this Province are or ought, by law, to be vested witii.

Provided,

Sect. 3. That the whole of Mr. Nathan Tyler's farm be and hereby is
excluded out of the abovesaid township and he and it forever remains
to the town of Mendon as heretofore.

Provided also,

Sect, 4, That the inhabitants of the said town of Upton do within
three years build a suitable and convenient house for the public worship
of God and settle a learnedorthodox minister and provide for his com-
fortable and honorable support.

By an order of court passed June 17th John Hazel-
tine, as one of the principal inhabitants of the new
town, was authorized to notify and warn the inhabit-
ants to meet on the 28th of July and choose town
officers. On that day the town met at the house of
John Sadler and John Hazeltine was chosen moder-
ator, Jonathan Wood was chosen clerk and Samuel
Work treasurer. The condition of the town records
is such that it is impossible to learn who composed
the first Board of Selectmen. Mr. Work, the treas-
urer, died not long after his election, and on the 10th
of November Jonathan Wood was chosen in his
place.

The following is a list of persons who have served
as selectmen in the years set against their names:

John Hazeltine.
Israel Taft,
Jonathan Wood.
William Green.
John Sadler.
Jonatbau Nelson.

1738.

John Hazeltine,

Sanmel "Watkins,

- Sn]ith.

Tafr.

Jonathan Wood.
1739. Matthew Taft.

904

HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Stephen Tenney.
William Gieen.

1740. John HazeltiD©.
Jonathan Wood.
Bubei-t Tyler.

1741. John Hrtzeltine.
Jonulhan Wood,
Stephen Tewney,

1742. StepheD Tenney.
Jonatliiin Wood,
Sunuiel Nelaon.

1743. Jonutban Wood.
WfttthiaaTaft.
Wilaon Ruwboik
Stephen Tenney.

1744. Wilson Rawsou.
.ToDas Warreis.
Robert Bradish.
Benjamin Stewart,
Ebenezer ¥istk.

1745. John Sadler.
JoiKithaa Wood.
Stephen Tenney.
SeDJamiu Palmer,
Jonas Warren.

1746. Jc^iathan Wood.
John Hazeltine.
Wile«.iu Rawson.

1747. Wilatui llawaon.
Jo-uathrtu Wood.

' JonathaD NelaoDi.
174i&. John Sadler.

Jubn Hazeltine.

Jonathan Wood.
174^ JonathaB Wood.

John Ha'/eltintr.

Jooas Warren.
1750. John HazeltiDe.

Jonas Warren.

Jonathan Nelson,
17&1. Beriab Rice.

David Wood.

Ebenozer Fisk.
1762. John Sadler.

Beriah Rice.

Francis Nelson.
1755. Marshal Buker.

Benjamin Perham,

Jonas Warren, Jr.

1754. 3Iarsl>aI Baftw.
Matthew Lackey.
Epliraini Whitney,

1755. Jonathan Wood.
Stephen Sadler.
Wilson Rawaon.

1756. Matthew Taft.
Abiel Sadler.
Ephraini Whitney,

1757. Wilson Rawaon.
Steplien Sadler.
Ephraini AVhitney.

17p«. Samue) Wright,
Jonathan Kelson.
Benjamin Perham,

1759. Ahiel Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Xzra Wetxl.

1760. Abiel Sadler.
Ephraim Whitney.
Daniel Batchelor.

1761. Same,
17C2. Abiel SadkT.

Sleplw-n Sadler,
Nathan Tyler,
1763. Joiiatlian Wouii.
Wilrion Kaweoi>.
Abitl SuUlev.

1764. Abiel Sadler.

Ezra Wood.

Nathan Tyler.
17G5. Abiel Sadler.

Elijah Warren.

Elisha Taft.

1766. Abiel Sadler,
Nathan Tyler.
Ezra Wood.

1767. Nathan Tyler,
Stephen Sadler.
Ezra Wood.

1768. Nathan Tyler.
WilBon liawsoD.
Elieha Talt.

1769. Josiab Deaue.
Ephraim Whitney.
Robert Taft.

1770. Abiel Sadler.
Elisha Taft.
Elijah Warren,

1771. Joseph Sadler,
Robert Talt.
Josiah Childa.

1772. Josiab Deane.
Ezra Wood.
Beujauiiu Farrar.

1773. Elijah Warren.
Abiel Sadler.
Elisha Taft.

1774. Ezra Wood.
Ephraim Whitney.
Benjuuiia Fisk.

1775. Josiab Deane.
Stephen Sadler.
Nathaniel Flagg.

1776. Marshal Baker.
David Nelson.
John Taft.

1777. Josiah Deane.
Stephen Sadler.
Epbraim Whitney,

177S. Epbraim Whitney.

Thomas Nelson.

James Torrey.
1779. Josiab Deane.

David Kelly.

Wm. Fisk.
17SD. Ephraim Whitney,

Joseph Sadler.

Ebeuezer Walker.
1781. Abiel Sadler.

Thomas Forbush.

Abner Palmer.
17S'2. Thomas Forbusb,

Ezra Wood.

Jonathan Batcheler.

1783. Thomas Forbush.
Asa Hazelline.
Stephen Sadler.

1784. Jonathan Batcheler.
Elisha Brodish.
Elijah Warren.

1785. Jonathan Batcheler.
Beujamiu Farrar.
Jonas Hayward.

1786. Jonathan Batcheler.
Ezra Wood.

John Taft.
Epbruim Whitney.

1787. Ezra Wood.
Robert Fisk.
Simeon Holbrook.
Thomas M. Baker.
Nahum Warren.

178S. Ezra Wood.
Robert Fisk.

Simeon Holbrook.
Thomas M. Baker.
Nahum Warren.

1789. Wilson Rawson.
Benjamin Fisk, Jr.
Abner Palmer.
Enoch Batcheler.
Jonathan Batcheler.

1790. Ezra Wood.
I<}lisba Bradish.
David Chapin.
Jonas Warren.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.

1791. Ezra Wood.
Elisha Bradish.
David Chapin.
Jonas Warren.
J. Rawson.

1792. Ezra Wood.
Elisha Bradish.
David Chapin-
Silas Warren.
Nahum Wood.

1793. Same.

1794. Elisha Bradish.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Wilaoii Rawson.
Paul Nelson.
Amos Whitney,

1795. Elisha Bradish.
Abiel Sadler.
John Taft.
David Chapin.
Ebenezer Stearns.

1796. Ezra Wood.
Paul Nelson.
Thomas NeUon, Jr.
Amos Bradish.
Wihon Rawson.

1797. Ezia Wood.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Wilson Rawson.
Enoch Batcheler.
Constant Ilandy.

1798. Ezra Wood.
Wilaou Kawson.
Enoch Batcheler.
John Childs.
Daniel Fisk.

1799. Ezra Wood.
Elisha Bradish,
Elisha Taft.
Ephraim Whitney.
Ilezekiah Rockwood.

ISOO. Ezra Wood.

Elisha Bradish.
Wilsou Kawson.
Ephraim Whitney.
Hezekiah Rockwood.

1801. Ezra Wood.
Amos Bradish.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezekiel Stoddard.
Peter Forbush.

1802. Ezra Wood.
Amos Bradish.
Danitl Fisk, Jr.
AsaChilds.
Wilson Rawson.

1803. Ezra W' ood.
Amos Biauisb.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Asa Cbilds.
Nathaniel Flagg.

1804. Ezra Wood.
Amos Bradish.
Daniel Fi»k, Jr.

Conatant Hardy.
He/ekiah Rockwood.
1806. Amos Bradish.
Wilson Rawson.
Constant Ilardy.
Hezekiah Rockwood.
Stephen Taft.

1806. Wilson Rawson.
Elisha Bradish.
Amos Whitney.
Daniel Fisk.
John Sadler.

1807. Wilson Rawson.
Elisha Bradish.
Amos Whitney.
Daniel Fisk.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.

1808. Daniel Fisk.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Wilson Rawson,
Elisha Bradish.
Amos Whitney.

1809. Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Elisha Bradish.
Enoch Batcheler.
Silas Warren.

1810. Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Enoch Batcheler.
Silas Warren.
Jonathan Ward.

1811. Daniel FiaU, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Silas Warren.
Jonathan Ward.
Stephen Taft.

1812. Same.

1813. Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Elisha Fisk.
Jonathan Ward.
Stephen Taft.

1814. Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Jonathan Ward,
Stephen Tftft.
Elisha Fisk.

1815. Jonathan Ward.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ward Palmer.
John Sadler.
Ephraim Taft.

1816. Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Amoa Whitney.
Elisha Bradish.
John Sadler.
Hezekiah Rockwood.

1817. Ezra Wood.
Amos Whitney.
EHsha Fisk.
Daniel Holbrook.
Jonathan Ward.

1818. Ezi-a Wood,
Amos Whitney.
Silas Warren.
Daniel Holbrook.
Josiah Rockwood,

1819. Jonathan Ward.
Amos Whitney.
Josiah Hockwood.
Samuel Forbush.
Elisha Chapin.

1820. Ezra Wood.
Elisha Chapin,
Ward Baker.
Elisha Fisk.

UPTON.

905

3822.
1823.

1828.

1831,

1833.
1834.

1835.
1836.
1837.

Janiea Vial.
Ezra Wood.
Eliaba Cliapin.
Jamee Vial.
Eli Warren.
Wm. Flsk.
Same.

Daniel Fiak, Jr.
Ezra Nelson.
Elisha Fisk.
Elijah Warren.
Moses Whitney.
Daniel Fibk, Jr.
Ezra Nelson.
Elisha Fiek.
Elijah Warren.
Reuben Wood, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Elisha Fi»k.
Janiea Vial.
Reuben Wood, Jr.
Eliab Lelaud.
Elialia Fisk.
Elijah Warren.
Eliaba Chapin.
Joseph Wood.
Stephen Taft.
Eliaba Fisk.
Stephen Talt.
AVm. Fisk.
Elijah Whitney.
Jonathan Nelson.
Eliaha Fisk.
Stephen Taft.
Eliab Leland.
EliJHh Whitney.
Jonathan Nelson.
Elisha FiBk.
Stephen Taft.
Elijah Nel»OD.
Clark Fisk.
Joseph B. Chapin.
Elisha Fiak.
Stephen Taft.
Elijah Nelson.
Clark Fisk.
Joseph B. Chapin.
Ezra Nelson.
Stephen Taft.
Elijah Nelson.
Clark Fisk.
Joseph B. Chapin.
Wm. Legg.
Ezra Wood.
Joseph B. Chapin.
Daniel Nelson.
David Batchekr.
Same.
Wui. Legg.
Elijah Warren.
Stephen Taft.
Jonathan Nelson, Jr,
Joel Taft .
Same.
Same.

Joseph B. Chapin.
David Batclieler.
Abel Walker.
Elijah Nelson (2d).
Orra Wood.
Joseph B. Chapin.
Elijah Nelson (2d).
Orra Wood.
J. B. Bradish.
David C. Wood.
Ori-a Wood.
Elijah WaiTen.

1841.

1844.

1849.

1850.

1853.

1866.

W. B. Hall.

Joaiah A. Rockwood.
Wm. Knowlton.
Eliaha Fisk.
Stephen Taft.
Amos Stearns.
John Hunt.
Henry Barna,
Jothani Bradish.
Joel Taft.
Moses Whitney.
Perley P. Taft.
Fisher Taft.
Nahum W. Holbrook.
Loring Johnson.
Jonathan Nelson (2d).
Wm. Legg.
Elijah Nelson.
Henry Barns.
J. T. McFarland.
Chapin Wood.
Wm. Legg.
Elijah Nelson.
David C. Wood.
Levi Fiak.
Hartford Stoddard.
Elijah Stoddard.
Thomas J. Hal I.
David Batcheler.
John H. Leseur.
Elisha Fisk, Jr.
Elijah Stoddard.
Wm. Hall.
Thomaa J. Hall.
Jonathan E. Ward.
David W. Batcheler.
Elijah Stoddard.
Wm. Hall.
Thomas J. Hall.
John Hniit.
David W. Batcheler.
Wm. Hall
John Hunt.
David W. Batcheler.
Velorous Taft.
Nahum W. Hail.
David C. Wood.
J. T. McFarland.
Thomas J. Hall.
David G. Chapin.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Thomas J. Hall.
J. T. McFarland.
Elisha Fisk.
Ste]iheu L. Boswfrth.
Velorous Taft.
Nahum B. Hall.
Elisha Fisk.
Jonathan E. Ward.
J. T. McFarland.
A'elorous Taft.
J. C, Ward.
G. N. Morse.
Whitman Holbrook.
Elisha Fisk.
Velorous Taft.
J. C. Ward.
G. A. Morse.
Lewis Fisk.
Arba T. Wood.
Elisha Fisk.
John C.Welch.
Perley P. Taft.
Jolin Hunt.
Arba T. Wood.
Arba T. Wood.

1865.
186G.

Elisha Fisk.
Stephen L. Bcsworth.
Royal Lackey.
John C.Welch.
Velorous Taft.
ArbaT. Wood.
Henry T. Barnes.
Emory W. King.
Elisha Wood (2d).
Arba T. Wood.
Thomas J. Hall.
Melvin Webster.
Elisha B. Fiak.
Wesley L. Fisk,
Arba T. Wood.
Thomas J. Hall.
Elisha B. Fisk.
Wesley L. Fisk.
Emerson Haven.
Stephen L. Bosworth.
Edward S. Leiand.
Emerson Haven.
Levi W. Taft.
Rufua H. Harbauk.
Stephen L. Bosworth.
Edward S. Leiand.
Elisha Fisk.
Benjamin F. Holbrook.
Calvin H. Ruggles.
Arba T. Wood.
Perley P. Taft.
Adams Fisk.
Arba T. Wood.
Calvin H. Ruggles.
Adams Fisk.
Velorous Taft.
Arba T. Wood.
Henry W. Whitney.
Same.

Velorous Taft.
Arba T. Wood.
E. S. Leiand.
C. H. Leiand.
Fi«her Taft.
Whitman Holbrook.
Arba T. Wood.
Fisher Taft.
Wuithrop B. Fay.
Arba T. Wood.

1870.

1873.

1874.

1876.
1877.

1879.
1880.

188i.
1885.
188C.

Emery W. King.
C. N. Harrington.
Whitman Holbrook.
Emery W. King.
Dennis T. Fisk.
Arba T. Wood.
Eli W. Batcheler.
Thomas J. Hall.
Thomas J. Hall.
Horace Forbush.
B. A. Jourdan.
Thomas J. Hall.
Horace Forbush.
B. A. Jourdan.
Thomas J. Hnll.
Horace Forbush.
B. A. Jourdan.
Thomas J. Hall.
B. A. Jourdan.
James J. Nelson.
Same.

Velorous Taft.
Charles A. Davis.
Dennis T. Fisk.
Thomas J. Hall.
B. A. Jourdan.
James J. Nelson.
Same.

Thomas J. Hall. ■
B. A. Jourdan.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
George D. Whiting.
H. C. Holbrook.
Thomas J. Hall.
B. A. Jourdan.
J. Plummer Taft.
Thomas J. Hall.
B. A. Jourdan.
Velorous Taft.
Same.
Same.

Dennis T. Fisk.
George D. Whiting.
Velorous Taft.
Thomaa J. Hall.
Dennis T. Fisk.
Wm. H. Willington.
Same.

At this point in our narrative a completion of the
list of perilous who have held the more prominent
offices of the town would he proper. The following
is a list of the moderators of annual meetings, of
treasurers and town clerks for the years set against
their names:

Moderators.

1735. John Hazeltine.

1736. John Hazeltine.

1737. John Hazeltine.

1738. Jonathan Nelson.

1739. William Green.

1740. John Hazeltine.

1741. Matthew Taft.

1742. W illiam Green.

1743. William Green.

1744. John Sadler.

1745. John Sadler.
174G, John Hazeltine.

1747. John Hazeltine.

1748. John Hazeltine.
1740. John Hazeltine.
175U. John HaZ';Itiuc.
1751. John Hazeltine.

Treasurers.
Samuel Wood and

Jonathan Wood.
John Sadler,
Jonathan Wood,
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood,
Jonathan Wood,
Israel Taft.
Jonathan Nel.-*on.
Jonathan Nelson.
John Sadler.
John Sadler.
John Sadler.
John Sadler
Matthew Taft.
Matthew Taft.
Julin Sadler.
Jonathan Wood.

J'own Clerks.
Jonathan Wood.

Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood,
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.

906

HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS,

1752.

1753.

1754.

1755.

1756.

1757.

1758.

1759.

1760.

1761.

17G2.

17G3.

1764.

1765.

17(;G.

1767.

1768.

17G9.

1770.

1771.

1772.

1773.

1774.

1775.

177G.

1777.

1778.

1779.

1780.

1781.

1782.

1783.

1784.

1785.

1786.

1787.

1788.

1789.

1790.

1791.

1792.

1793.

1794.

1795.

1796.

1797.

1798.

1799.

1800.

1801.

1802.

1803.

]80i.

1S06.

ISOG.

181(7.

1808.

1809.

1810.

1811.

1812.

1813.

1814.

1815.

181G.

1817.

1818.

1819.

1820.

1821.

1822.

1823.

1824.

1S25.

1826.

1827.

Moderators,
John Sadler.
Marslial Baker.
Marshal Baker.
Wilson Kawson.
Marshal Baker.
Wilson Rawson.
Slarshal Baker.
Marshal Baker.
WilsuD Rawson.
"Wilson Rawson.
Eben. Wadsworth.
Marshal Baker.
Ezra Wood.
Marshal Baker.
Marshal Baker.
John Hazeltine.
Nathan Tyler.
Wilson Rawson.
Abiel Sadler.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Wilson Rawson.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood,
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Benjamin Farrar.
Benjamin Farrar.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Benjamin Farrar.
Jonathan Batcl.eler.
Ezra Wood.
Benjamin Farrar.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra W^ood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Tliunias M. Baker.
Thomas M. Baker.
Thomas M. Baker.
Jonathan Batcheler.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Elisha Bradish.
Stephen Bradish.
Wilson Rawson.
Wilson Rawson,
Elisha Bradish.
David Chapin.
David Chapin.
David Chapin.
David Chapin.
Wilson Rawson.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra AVood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Daniel Holbrook.
Daniel Holbrook.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Lyman Stoddard.
Ezra Wood, Jr.
Ezra Wood, .Ir.
. Ezra Wood, Jr.

Treasurers.
Jonnthan Wood.
Jonathan WooU-
Jonas Warren, Jr.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen .Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
Wilson Rawson.
William Fisk.
William Fisk.
Josiah Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Josiah Pease.
Aaron Warren.
Stephen Sadler.
William Fisk.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Josiah Deane.
Robert Taft.
Stephen Sadler.
Stephen Sadler.
John Talt.
John Taft.
John Taft.
John Taft.
John Taft.
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Thomas Nelson, Jr,
Thomas Nelson, Jr. Jonathan Balch
Thomas Nelson, Jr. Ezra Wood.

Town Clerks.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
iJonathau Wood.
Jonathan Wood.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Abiel Sadler.
Josiah Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Joeiali Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Elijah Warren.
Josi.th Dean.
Josiah Dean.
Jo:iiah Dean.
Ephraim Whitney.
Ephraini Whitney.
Josiah Deane.
Ephraim Whitney.
Abiel Sadler.
Thomas Forbush.
Thomas Forbuah.
Jonathan Batcheler.
Jonathan Batcheler.
Jonathan Batcheler.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra W'ood.

EHsha Bradish.
Henry Fisk.
Daniel Fisk.
Daniel Fiak.
Daniel Fisk.
Jonathan Ward.
Jonathan Ward.
Daniel Fisk.
Daniel Fisk.
Amos Whitney.
Amos Whitney.
Amos Whitney.
Amos Whitney.
Eli.sha Fisk.
Elisha Fisk.
Mayuard Wood.
Maynard Wood.
Calvin Ruggles.
Calvin Ruggles.
Job Carpenter.
Elijah Warren.
Ezra Nelson.
Ezra Nelson.
Ezra Nelson.

Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Elisha Bradish.
Elisha Bradish.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, .Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.

Samuel Forbush, Jr. Jonathan Ward.
Samuel Forbush, Jr. Daniel Fisk, Jr.

1828.
1829.
1830.
1831.
1832.
18.33.
1834.
18.35.
1836.
1837,
1838.
1839.
1840.
1841.
1842.
1843.
1844.
1845.
1846.
1847.
1848.
1849.
1850.
1851.
18V2.
1853.
1854.
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.

1859.

1860.

1861.

18G2.

1863.

1864.

1865.

1866.

1867.

1868.

1869.

1870.

1871.

1872.

1873.

1874.

1876.

1877.

187t.

1879.

1880.

1881.

1882.

1883.

1884.

1885.

18S6,

1887,

Ezra Nelson.
Eli Warren.
Eli Warren.
Eli Warren,
Daniel Fisk, .Tr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Jonatlian Ward.
Eli Warren.
Ezra Nelson,
Ezra Nelson.
Ezra Nelson.

Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wudd.
Jonathan Ward,
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Ezra Wood.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Elisha Fisk.
Elisha Fisk.

Moderators.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Ezra Wood.
William Legg.
William Legg.
Elijah Nelson.
Elijah Nelson.
Abel Walker.
Nahnm W. Holbrook.
Lyman Stoddard.
Timothy B. Allen.
AVilliam Legg.
NahumW. Holbrook.
Joseph S. Farnum.
Hiram Fowler.
Hiram Fowler.
Velorous Taft.
Yelorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorons Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Taft.
Velorous Tafr,
Stephen L. Bosworth.

Stephen L Bosworth.

Stephen L. Bosworth.

Velorous Taft.

Arba T. Wood.

Velorous Taft.

Charles C. Mower.

Levi W. Taft.

Arba T. Wood.

Albert Davis.

Velorous Taft.

Vc-Iorous Taft.

Whitman Holbrook.

Velcrous Taft.

Velorous Taft.

Velorous Talt.

Velorous Taft.

Velorous Taft,

Velorons Taft.

Velorous Taft.
. Velorous Taft.

Thomas J. Hall.

Velorous Taft.

lYeasitrers.
Ezra Nelson.
Ezra Nelson.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Br dish.
Harvey Bradish,
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Ilradish,
Harvey Bradish,
Harvey Bradish,
Joseph Perry.
Joseph Perry.
Joseph Perry.
Joseph Perry.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson.
Elisha B. Fisk.
Elisha B. Fisk.
Elisha B. Fisk.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson.
James A. Nelson,

Charles H, Leland.

Charles H. Leiaud,

Horace Forbush.

Horace Forbush,

Winthrop B. Fay,

Winthrop B. Fay.

Winthrop B Fay.

Winthrop B, Fay,

AVinthrop B. Fay.

Winthrop B. Fay.

Edwin Nelson.

Elisha B. Fisk.

Whitman Holbrook

Horace Forbush.

Horace Forbush.
Horace Forbush.

Horace Forbush.

Horace Forbush.
E. S. Leland.

E. S. Letand.

E. S. Leland.

J. J. Nelson.
J. J. Nelson.

J. J. Nelson.

J. J. Nelson.
S. B. Fisk.

S. B. Fisk,

S. B. Fisk.

Town Clerks.
Elisha Fisk.
Elisha Fisk.
Elisha Fisk.
Ezra Nelson,
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr.
Daniel Fisk, Jr,
Daniel Fisk, Jr,
Daniel Fisk, Jr .
Harvey Bradish.
Elisha Fisk.
Harvey Bradi»h.
Harvey Bradish,
Harvey bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Harve^' Bradish.
Harvey Bradish.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
PeiTy G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G, Wood.
Perry G. Wood.
Perry G. Wood,
Perry G. Wood.
Edwin Nelson.
Edwin Nelson.
Winthrop B. Fay.
Winthrop B. Fay.
C. H. Leland.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wiimartli,
Jerome Wilm.irth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wiimartli.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerinne Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmarth.
Jerome Wilmanh,
Jerome Wihuartb.
Francis T. Nelson.

On the 10th of November, 1735, five months after
the incorporation of Upton, the town voted to build a
meeting-house on a part of the old burial-ground,
about fifty rods north of the south road to Mendon
and about one mile from the centre. It was to be
forty feet long and thirty-five feet wide, and the sum
of one hundred pounds was raised towards defraying
its cost. From year to year small sums were raised
to complete it, but it was never entirely finished.
Twelve years elapsed before a pulpit was built and
five yeara before all the windows were glazed. Dur-

UPTON.

907

ing the first three years the town-meetings were held
in private houses, but after that time the meeting-
house was so far finished that town-meetings were
held within its walls. On the 18th of August, 1735,
Rev. Thomas Weld, of Eoxbury, and a graduate of
Harvard in 1723, was invited to become pastor and
was ordained January 4, 1738.

The sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor,
was given to him as a settlement, and eighty pounds
as an annual salary. He was dismissed in December,
1744, and was afterwards settled in Middleboro'. Dur-
ing the French War he entered the army as a chaplain
and died in the service. Rev. Elisha Fisk was invited
January 2-5, 17.51, and ordained June .Sth, with aset-
tlement of one hundred and twenty pounds, and a
salary of sixty pounds. Mr. Fisk was a native of Ston-
ington, and graduated at Harvard in 1750. He
married Hannah Forbes, of Westboro', and died
August 6, 1795, having had nine children.

During the ministry of Mr. Fisk, in 1761, many of
the people became dissatisfied with the location of
the meeting-house, and three questions were con-
sidered : whether the old meeting-bouse should re-
main where it was and be finished at once ; whether
it should be moved ; and whether a new house should
be built. The territorial centre was found to be on
the plain not far from the new burial-ground on the
Westboro' road, and three sites were at various times
discussed : the centre, the ground on which the meet-
ing-house of the First Church now stands and a small
hill, which was called Meeting-house Hill. Finding
it impossible to come to any harmonious agreement,
the town voted to refer the question to a committee
composed of Captain Edward Davis, of Oxford;
Hezekiah Rice, of Framingham; Colonel Oliver
Wilder, of Lancaster ; Major Daniel Hayward, of
Worcester; and Captain Caleb Hill, of Douglas. On
the 24th of June, 1761, the vote, however, was re-
scinded, and it was voted to let it remain seven years
and then to move it to the spot on which the meeting-
house now stands. On the 23d of March, 1768, at
the expiration of the seven years, at a meeting of the
town, action was had on the following articles in the
warrant:

Will the towD remove the meeting-honse tu the epot agreed upon
June 2t, 1761 ? Will the town divide into two pjirishes? and will the
town choose a committee to report what in their judgment would be the
best coui-se to pursue? On the tiist two questions the town voted in the
negative, and on the last in the affirmative. The committee selected
consisted of Jonathan Livermore. of Northboro' ; Samuel Keed, of U.x-
bridge ; William Jenuison, of Meudon ; and Hezekiah Taylor, of Graf-
ton. This committee at a subsequent meeting reported as follows:
•'Having taken into serious consideration your complaints and your
different opinion«, and after a very patient hearing of all parties so
deeply concerned, we are of the opinion that it will he best for the in-
habitants of this town to let their meeting-house remain where it now
Is. being fully sHti tied that the town will be divided into two parishes
before many years. All things, therefore, being duly considered, we thus
Judge."

Notwithstanding this advice, two years later, in
1770, the majority voted to build a new house. In
1821 the church built in 1770 was repaired, a belfry

added to it, with a bell, and a clock was given by
George Hoi brook, of Med way.

In 1848 the present meeting-house was built on the
west side of the Common, and dedicated January 3,
1849. The old house was sold to D. B. Fisk, and now
stands on the easterly side of the Common, devoted
to other uses.

Rev. Benjamin Wood was invited to settle as the
successor of Mr. Fisk, December 17, 1795, and was
consecrated June 1, 1798, with a salary which, at the
end of fifteen years, was raised to four hundred dol-
lars, and which, during his (lastorate of fifty-one
years, never exceeded that sum. Previous to 1812 the
church had only a covenant, but in that year adopted
articles of faith, and not until 1834 was the parish
legally organized. On the 25th of June, 1835, Mr.
Wood delivered a centennial address of much interest
and value, and in 1848 an address commemorative of
the fiftieth year of his settlement. He died April
24, 1849, at the age of seventy-six years, and at his
funeral services Rev. A. H. Tracy, of Sutton, preached
the sermon. He was born in Lebanon, N. H , Sep-
tember 15, 1772, the youngest of twelve children, and
graduated at Dartmouth in 1793. An older brother
of Mr. Wool was the teacher who, it is said, fitted
Daniel Webster for college.

Rev. William Warren, a native of Maine, and a
graduate of Bowdoin, was installed November. 14,
1849, and dismissed April 29, 1856. His successor
was Rev. Andrew J. Willard, a native of Vermont
and a graduate of Vermont University, who was or-
dained April 30, 1857, and dismis-ed July 8, 1865.
After the dismissal of Mr. Willard, Rev. Spencer O.
Dyer supplied the pulpit from November 30, 1865, to
November 30, 1870, and was followed by Rev. John
E. M. Wright, who was installed November 15, 1871,
and dismis!^ed March 31, 1875. Rev. Frank J. Marsh
was ordained January 26, 1876, and was succeeded by "
the present pastor. Rev. Almon J. Dyer. Mr. Marsh
was a native of Leominster, and a graduate of Am-
herst.

A Baptist Society was organized in 1751, but was
never vigorous, and, after a few years under the min-
istrations of Elder Abraham Bloss, it was dissolved.
In 1787 a new society was formed, which at various
times was presided over by Elders Ingalls, Simeon,
Snow, Sawyer, Smith and Bullard. After the de-
parture of Mr. Dexter Bullard the society was merged
in the First Unitarian Society, which was organized
in 1846. The last-mentioned society built a church
on the easterly side of the Common, which was dedi-
cated in 1848. The first pastor of the society was
Rev. William Cutter Tenney, a Harvard graduate in
1838, who left in 1849, and w'as succeeded by Rev.
George S. Ball, whose service has continued up to the
present time, with the exception of two years (1857-
58) when he was the settled minister over the First
Church in Plymouth. During the War of the Rebel-
lion, Mr. Ball served eighteen months as chaplain of

908

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the 21st Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and
is remembered by all who come within his influence
as a fearless soldier as well as a faithful minister of
God. As a pastor he extends his sphere of useful-
ness beyond his church and his flock, and is univer-
sally beloved as a citizen, neighbor and friend. In
1873 Hon. William Knowlton built a church at West
Upton, the use of which he gave to the Unitarian
Society, and in 1874 the old church was sold to the
bishop of the diocese for Catholic worship. The
Catholic Society has been organized only a few years,
but it is steadily gaining in strength and vigor.

A Universalist Society was incorporated March 9,
1825. Like the Baptist Society, it had no church,
and when the Unitarian Society was organized the
members of the two societies became united.

A Methodist Society was formed in 1873, and has a
commodious and handsome house of worship at the
southerly end of the Common, in Upton Centre. Its
first pastor wa? Kev. N. B. Fisk, who served three
years, and was followed by Rev. John Short, the Rev.
Mr. Hubbard and the present faithful pastor. Rev.
Wm. P. Blackmer.

In the latter part of the last century there was a
respectable body of Quakers in the town, but no dis-
tinct society was ever organized.

With the incorporation of the town and the organi-
zation of its church, the municipal machinery of
Upton was complete. Like all other towns in Massa-
chusetts, in their earlier days, the town was the parish
and the parish was the town. The town settled the
minister, fixed and raised his salary, built and main-
tained the place of worship, and the collector of the
town collected the precinct or parish tax. With one
parish, with united and harmonious interests, and
with an industry — that of agriculture — in which most
. of the people were engaged, the early life of the town
was passed with no disturbance of the public peace
to check its development and growth. Before many
years, however, had passed away the French War
checked for a time its advancing prosperity, and called
on its sons to bear their share of the burdens of the
strife. Exactly what part the town performed in the
war it is difficult to learn from available records. From
what can be gleaned from the archives of the State
concerning its activity in some of the events of the
war, it may be fairly inferred that in all its varying
scenes it thoroughly performed its part.

The records state that the following Upton men
enlisted " for the intended expedition, in 1756, against
Crown Point, under the command of General John
Winslow/' and were attached to the regiment of Col.
Richard Gridley :

Nathan Tyler, captain.
James Steward. Jonathan Pritchard.

Benjamin Jones. Thumas Rowel.

The following were mustered, October 11, 1756, in
the company of Lieutenant-Colonel Irving, attached

to Colonel Richard Gridley's regiment, to march to
Fort William Henry :

Benjamin Stewart. Benjamin Jones.

James Stewart. Ephraim WarfieJd.
Jonatlian Pritchard.

The following is " a list of training soldiers, March
23, 1757, in Upton, under command of Captain Jona-
than Wood, alarm-man, and who stand in a body."

Moses W'ood, sergeant, Joseph Plunily.

Abiel Sadler, sergeant. Daniel Wood.

Stephen Sadler, sergeant. Samuel Taft.

Ebenezer Sadler, corporal. David Nelson.

James Flagg, corporal. Benjamin Perham, Jr.

Preserved Partridge, corporal. lieinnel Perham.

Samuel Wright, drummer. Benjamin Farrar.

Joaiah Peas, drunmier. Moses Baker.

Josiah Peas, Jr. John Wood.

Elijah Rice. .John Lackey.

Samuel Forbush. Daniel Fislier.

Ephraim Whitney. Ebenezer Walker.

Nathan Bracliett. Joseph Sadler.

Oliver Whitney. Josiah Wood.

Wm. Johnson, Jr. Elijah Tyler.

John W'ard. John Nichols.

Thomas Palmer. Benjamin Rockwood.

David Palmer. Aarou Warren.

Thomas Nelson. Zacheus Stevens.

James Torrey. Israel Taft.

Kobcrt Taft. Elisha Taft.

Wm. Green. Ephraim Warfield.

James Taft. Isaac .\hirich.

Nathan Taft, Jr. Nathan Wood.

John Taft. Adonijah Rice.

Daniel Fiak. Joseph Cody.

Benjamin Fisk. Moses White.

Samuel Fisk. Thomas Rowel.

"William Fisk. Jacob Hill.

Josiah Fielc. John Wilson, Jr.

Ebenezer Ober. Benjamin Stewart, Jr.

Ebenezer Wood. James Stewart.

Samuel W^ood, Jr. Jonas Warren, clerk.
Samuel Warren.

A list of the alarm-meu. at the same date, bears the
following names :

Rev. Elisha Fisk. Robert Bradish.

Deitcoa Jonas Warren. Thomas Newman.

Jamed Bradish. Samuel W'ood.

Eeriab Rice. Alexander Cleaton.

Marshal Baker. Jonathan Wood, Jr., miller.

Matthew Lackey. Ebenezer Wood.

Hezekiah Ward, lielltenant. Stephen Rice.

Wilson Rawson. Samuel Wood, school-master.

Wm. Patten. Francis Nelson.

Ralph Uill. Elijah Warren.

The following men enlisted for the relief of Fort

William Henry in August, 1757, in the company oi
Captain James Whipple, attached to the regiment ol
Colonel Artemas Ward :

Stephen Sadler, sergeant.
Jonas Warren, sergeant.
Preserved Partridge, sergeant.
Samuel Wright, corporal.
Samuel Fisk.
Samuel Wood.
Elijah Rice.
Daniel Fisher.
Francis Nelson.

John Nichols.
.\arou Warren.
Benjamin Farrar.
Samuel Warren.
Joaiah Fisk.
Nathan Wood.
Joseph Wilson.
Thomas Webster.
Beriah Rice.

The following enlisted for the reduction of Canada
in 1759, in the company of Captain Stephen Maynard,
attached to the regiment of Colonel Wm. Williams :

UPTON.

909

Benjamin Farrar.
John Nichols.

Nathan Wood.
Elijah Rice.

The following enli&ted for the invasion of Canada
in 1759, in the regiment of Colonel Abraham Williams,
under the command of His Excellency, Jeffry Am-
herst, general and .commander-in-chief:

Wilson Rawson. Nathan Wuod.

James Long. Samuel Wright.

John Wilson. James Flagg.

Israel Taft. Daniel Fisher.

Michael Bond. Thomas Marshal Baker.

Benjamin Stewart, Jr. John Watkins.

After the close of the French War the public mind
of the Massachusetts Province became so soon agi-
tated concerning the relations of the colonies with
the mother country, and actual hostilities broke out
after so short an interval of peace, that the small
communities into which the province ivas divided
had little time to shake ofl'ihe burdens of one season
of hostilities before they were called upon to enter
upon another with burdens largely increased and
much longer continued. It is not necessary to state
in detail in this narrative the expressions of patriot-
ism made at various times by the town in sustaining
the measures proposed by the Boston Committee of
Correspondence and of the enthusiasm with which
Upton, in common with other towns, strengthened the
arms and intensified the will of that committee in their
advancing march towards a Revolution. Let a single
extract from the town records suffice. On the 26th of
March, 1770, at a town-meeting held for the pur-
pose of considering the condition of public affairs, it
was — -

Revived, That we will treat with contempt all those persons that do
continue to import goods from Great Britain contrary to the non-impor
tatiou Hgreomeut, and that we will look upon such men with detesta-
tion, who, for the sake of their own private Interest, are willing to re-
duce their posterity and their countrj' to a state of abject slavery.

Resolved^ That we will not purchase or drink any foreign teas until
the revenue acts are repealed, and that we will discountenance in our
families the wearing of or using any foreign superfluities, and that we
will use every lawful method in our power to encourage our own manu-
factures.

As far as can be ascertained from the records at the
State-House, the following lists include the names of
men who represented Upton in the military service
during the war.

On the 19th of April, 1775, after the news of the
battle of Lexington had been received, the follow'ing
Upton men marched to Roxbury in the company of
Captain Robert Taft, attached to the regiment of
Colonel Silas Wheelock :

Kohert Taft, captain,
William Fisk, let lieutenant.
Daniel Boyden, id lieutenant.
David Nelson, sergeant.
Benjamin Sadler, sergeant.
Ebenezer Walker, sergeant.
Micah Bates, corporal.
Matthew Taft, corporal.
Benjaniin Fisk, corporal.
Jonas Warren, Jr., corporal.
Amos Wood.
Henderson Walker, Jr.

Absalom Forbes.
Jonathan Dwight.
Josiah Tenney.
Jason Batherick.
John Morse.
Seth Sadler.
Wilson Rawson.
Daniel Fisk.
Jonathan Rawson.
Elisha Wood.
Solomon Taft.
Samuel Lackev.

Daniel Wood.
Fdward Forbes.
Thomas Barns.
Benjamin Batcheller,
Joshua Felt.
Eliphalet Felt.

Thomas Xelson.
AVm. Putnam.
Ephraim Whitney.
Artemas Rawson.
Jonathan Batcheller.

On the 20th of April, 1775, the day after the battle
of Lexington, the following men marched from Upton
to Roxbury in the company of Captain Stephen
Sadler, attached to the regiment of Colonel Silas
Wheelock :

Stephen Sadler, captain,
Benjamin Farrar, lieutenant.
Asa Hazeltine, sergeant.
Levi Legg, sergeant.
Sherebiah Baker, sergeant.
Timothy Fisher, corporal.
Perrin Batcheller, corporal.
Benjamin Cotter, corp.>ral.
Jonathan Gay, fifer.
James Torrey.
Jonathan Roft.
Jonas Warren.
Jonathan Evans.

Samnel Wood.
Ebenezer Wood.
David Warren Leiand.
Josiah Flagg.
Peter Holbrook.
Aaron Ilayward.
Hezekiah Learned.
Abraham Ball.
Nathan Bratkett.
Samuel Brackett.
Thomas Wilson.
John Long.
Abraham Boyd.

The following men enlisted for three months in
August, 1775, in the company of Captain David
Batcheller, attached to the regiment of Colonel Jo-
seph Read :

Benjamin Farrar, lieutenant.
Robert Taft, lieutenant.
Sherebiah Baker, sergeant.
Thomas Barnes, sergeant. •
Abner Stanford, corporal.
Benjamin Clemons, corporal.
Eliphalet Felt, corporal.
AraoB W'ood.
Jason Batherick.
Benjamin Batcheller.
Peter Brown.
Benjamin Balch.
Charles Hudson.
Nathan Nelson.
Josiah Torrey.
Joseph Wood.
Thomas Wilson,
Henderson Walker.
Nathan Brackett.

Samuel Brackett.
Increase Daniels.
Wm. Daniels.
Absalom Forbes.
Edward Forbes.
Ichabod Fisher.
James Flagg.
Joshua Felt.
Jonathan Gay.
Aaron Hayward.
Hezekiah Learned.
Henry Chase.
Moses Haven,
Wm. Legg.
Benjamin Powers.
John Wood.
Daniel Wood.
Jonathan Wright.

The other enlistments in 1775 were Joseph Smith
in the company of Captain Edward Crafts, and
Joshua Felt and Jonathan Gay in the company of
Captain Ezra Badlam, both companies being attached
to the artillery regiment commanded by Colonel
Richard Gridley, and also Joshua Tenney in the
company of Captain Isiac Bolster, of Sutton.

The only enlistments in 177G, so f;ir as the records
show were those of Peter Holbrook, James Torrey,
Benjamin Batcheller and Samuel Wright in the com-
pany of Captain Benjamin Richardson, attached to
the regiment of Colonel Nicholas Dike, engaged for
three months in service at Dorchester.

The following enlisted in 1777 in the company of
Captain Robert Taft, for a service not stated in the
records :

Robert Taft, captain.
Thomas M. Baker, lieutenant.
.A.8a Hazeltine, lieutenant.

Thomas Nelson.
Thomas Bardis.
Enoch Batcheller.

910

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Daniel Kelley, sergeant.
Beujamin Patten, sergeant.
Benjamin demons, sergeant.
Jonathan Warren, nergeant.
Stephen Nelson, corporal.
Daniel Wood, corporal.
Francis Boon, corporal.
Thomas Foibusli, corporal.
Elijah Warren, fifer.
Edward Forbes, drummer.
Benjauiin Farrar.
Ephraim Whitney.
Daniel Fisk.
Daniel Boyden,
Jonas Warren (3d).
Enoch Forhush.
Isaac Nelson.

Matthew Taft.
Joseph Sadler, Jr.
John Morse.
Hezekiah Wood.
Ebenezer Walker, Jr.
Ahner Palmer.
Stephen Child.
Oliver Whitney.
Josiah Torrey.
Benjamin Wood.
Wilson Rawson, Jr.
Aaron Hay ward.
Joseph Patten.
Joshua Hicks.
Jonathan Evans.
Simeon Holbrook.
Elisha Wood.

The following enlisted in Capt. Nelson's company
in 1777 :

Thomas Forhush.
Aaron Hayward.
Matthew Taft.
Jonathan Warren.
Ebenezer Walker.
Ebenezer Taft.
William Hall.

Josiah Flagg.
Joshua Tenney.
Elezar Flagg.
Stephen Warren.
Jason Harrington.
John Morse.
Levi Legg.

The other enlistments in 1777 were Jona. Wright,

Samuel Brackett, Lieut. Long, Samuel Miinroe,

Frederick Nelson and Lieut. John Nelson, with an-
other whose name cannot be deciphered, in Capt.
Baldwin's company ; and Benjamin Brigham, James
Johnson, Prince Hazeltine, Abner Stanford (cor-
poral), John Perry (sergeant), and John Green
(sergeant), who enlisted in the Continental Army for
three years.

The following enlisted for service in Rhode Island,
in 1778, in Capt. Thomas Marshal Baker's company,
attached to the regiment of Col, Benjamin Hawes:

John Darling, sergt.
Jacob White, eergt.
Daniel Wood, sergt.
Oliver Fisher, eorp.
John Warfield, corp.

Elijah Nelson,
Benjamin Batcheller.
Elisha Thompson.
Gershom TwLchel.
John Nelson.
Pelotiah Gibbs.
Ebenezer Walker.
Stephen Kilborn.
Seth Thompson.
David Ward.
Hezekiah Wood.
Perrin Batcheller.
David Wheelock.
Isehemiah Nelson.
David French.
Samuel Twist.
Joshua Tliayer.
Joshua Sprague.
Thomas Nelson.
Joseph Johnson.
Simeon Lesure.
Joshua Daniels.
Grindall Taft.
Samuel Washhuin.
William Bower.
Jonas Twichell.

The following served at Dorchester three months
in the company of Capt. Mark Chase, commanded by
Col. Nathan Sparhawk :

Stephen Nelson. Baruck Bolster.

Ebenezer Taft. Eleazur Flagg.

Joel Turner, corp.
Jeptha Clark, drummer.
David Ellis, fifer.
Jonathan Wright.
William Putnam.
John Flagg.
Jonathan Evans.
Grindley Jackson.
Jonas Warner.
William Potter.
Benjamin Perhani.
Ichabod Albee.
Ebenezer Taft.
George Taft.
Joseph Laurence.
Samuel Warfield.
Jesse Chapin.
William Fuller.
William Boyes.
Samufl Lackey,
Samuel Brackett.

The following were drafted in 1778 for nine months'

service :

Edward Forbes.
Abraham Forbes.

Isaac Johns.
Ebenezer Buck.

The following recruits entered the Continental
Army in 1778, under the command of Capt. Benja-
min Farrar:

Benjamin Farrar, capt.
Jonathan Gay.
Abner Stanford.
Jason Batherick.
Timothy Batherick,
Jothain Forbes.
Joel Bolster.
John Green.
John Sullivan.
John Perry.
Prince Hazeltine.
John Hopkins.
Kathaniel Milliken.

Peletiah Harmon.
William Harmon.
Timothy Berry.
Abner Harmon.
Humphrey Tyler.
Thomai* Libby.
Joseph Waterhouse.
Robert Dodge.
Jonathan Thomas.
Thomas Middleton.
Itobert Shillingsford.
John Sadler.
Cato Fortunatus.

The following marched to Claverick, on the Hudson
River, in 1779, in the company of Capt. Thomas Mar-
shal Baker, attached to the regiment of Col. James
Denney :

Thomas M. Baker, capt.
Eliphalet Stearns, lieut.
Increase Thayer, lieut.
Frederick Taft, sergt,
Jonathan Bacon, sergt.
John Brown, sergt.
Nathaniel Torrey, Corp.
John Whitney, corp.
Baxter Hall, corp.
Joseph Daniels, corp.
Edward Forbes, drummer.
Samuel Lesure, fifer.
Aniasa Aldrich.
Francis Boon.
Benjaniiu Batcheller.
Samuel Clemons.
Benjamin Gary.
John Darling.
Peleg Darling.
Comfort Eddy.
Nathaniel Fisk.
John Flagg.
Edwaid Hunt.
Silas Holbrook.
Peter Holbrook.
William Hall.

Joseph Hayward.
William Johnson.
Grinuall Keith.
Jesse Morse.
Jesse Marsh.
Samuel Maynard.
Stephen Nelson.
John Pickering.

Thompson Raweon.
Benjamin Spooner.
Benjamin Spear.
Sylvanus Scott.
Elijah Stearns.
Solomon Stockwell.
Thouuis Streight.
Joseph Torrey.
Amos Thayer.
Noah Tytus.
Antipas White.

Timothy Wood.
Jonathan Wright.
Nathan Nelson.
Caleb Lamb.

Other enlistments in 1779 were Ezra Keys and
Grindley Jackson, for two months in Khode Island, in
the company of Capt. Thomas Fisk and regiment of
Col. Nathan Tyler ; James Lackey, Jeremiah Batch-
eller, Abiel Taylor and Wm. Patten, under Capt.
William Henry, for service at Castle and Governor's
Islands; and, James Johnson, for the Continental
Army.

The following marched to Rhode Island, in July,
1780, in Capt. Thomas Marshal Baker's company and
Col. Nathan Tyler's regiment:

Thomas M. Baker, capt. Joseph Jackson.

Robert Taft, lieut. Abram Knowlton.

Daniel Boyden, lieut. Samuel Lackey.

Benjamin Sadler, sergt. James Lackey.

Solomon Taft, sergt. John Morse.

Timothy Fisher, sergt. Alvin Munroe.

Daniel Wood, sergt. Nehemiah Moore.

Simeon Holbrook, corp. Paul Nelson.

UPTON.

911

William Putnam, Corp. Benjamin Potter.
Silas Warren, Corp. Jacob Perliam.

Selb Sadler, Corp. Matthew Taft.

Amos Wood, corp. David Taft.

Ezra Wood, corp. Joshua Tenney.

Natllan Brackett. Stephen Temple.

Enoch Batcholler. ' Samuel Wood.

Elisha Bradish. Jonathan Wright.

Jason Batherick. John Wood.

Benjamin demons. Jonas Warren.

Samuel Forbush. Amos Whitney.

Ebenezer Forbush. Daniel Warren.

Jacob Fisk. Ezi a Whitney.

Samuel Goldthwaight. Stephen Warren.

Kathaniel Gould. Nahum Warren.

Joseph Hill. Joseph Wood.

The following enlisted in 1780 for si.x months' ser-
vice at West Point:

Joseph Sadler. Joel Bolster.

John Brown. Nathaniel Hynea.

Elijah Nelson. Asa Evans.

William Potter.
Josiah Nelson, Jr.
Jotiiam Forbes.

Joseph Batcbeller.
Jeremiah Batcheller.

Others enlisting in 1780 were Samuel Laftin and
Jacob Beyer, in the Continental Army.

The following enlisted for three months in 1781,
in the company of Capt. Reuben Davis and regiment
of Col. Luke Drury :

Joseph Jackson, corp.
Stephen Temp!e.
William Patten.

Asa Evans.
Paul Nelson.

The only other enlistment in 1781 was that of
Abner Warren for four months in Captain Joseph
Eliot's company and Colonel William Thomas' regi-
ment.

After the declaration of jjeace, little else was at
first considered by the people of the town beside the
best means of meeting the jiecuniary liabilities in-
curred during the exigencies of the war and of put-
ting the town once more on the road to prosperity.
The excitement attending the Shays' Rebellion dis-
turbed, for a time, the public mind, but was allayed
as suddenly as it rose. For many years the industry
of the town was confined to agriculture; but, with
the exception of the products of the dairy, the' crops
were held for home consumption, and furnished the
farmer with little more than the means of support.
In later years the growth of the shoe business in
New England was shared by the town, and for a
time seemed well-rooted and permanently estab-
lished. At various times John Hill, Daniel Nelson,
Josiah Pease, Jr., Adams Batcheller, Adam Whee-
lock, Reuben Eames, Millet Baker, Newton Warren,
Amos Batcheller, Asa Wood, Eli Warren, Daniel W.'
Batcheller, Eli W. Batcheller, D. G. Rawson and
Tyler Rawson engaged in the manufacture; but in
Upton, as in many other small towns, the shoe busi-
ness ha? been destroyed by the tide of centralization
which has given to larger towns, with better facili-
ties for obtaining labor, a rapid growth both in pop-
ulation and wealth. The absence of railroad com-
munication with the world has had its effect,— an

effect which is now sought to be repaired by the
construction of a line from Worcester through the
westerly part of the town to Milford or some other
adjacent point.

The tannery business, too, — once an important
industry,— has di,?appeared with the shoe business,
and, with the exception of the saw-mill and box-
factory of L. W. Hill & Son, at West Upton, and the
saw and grist-mills of P. P. Taft, E. C. Fisk, L. & H.
Chase and others, the chief industry of the town is
the manufacture of straw hats and bonnets. This
business is conducted by three concerns,— Windsor
Chamberlin, who makes ladies' hats and bonnets,
Benson & Nelson, whose product is men's and boys'
hats, and William Knowlton & Sons, at West Upton,
about a mile from the centre, who are largely en-
gaged in the manufacture of ladies' hats and bonnets.
The plant of the Knowltons is a valuable one ; its
buildings are large, heated by steam and lighted by
electricity, and a large number of hands are em-
ployed in turning out an annual product largely in
excess of that of any other straw-mill in the country.
The career of William Knowlton, the founder of this
mill, is worthy of record in this narrative. He was
born in Boston, June 29, 1809, and died in Upton,
July, 188(i. His parents attended the church over
which Dr. Lowell was pastor, whose pulpit is now
occupied by Dr. Bartol, and the impressions made by
that distinguished clergyman on his youthful mind
found their fruit in the later years of his life, when,
out of the abundance of his store, he built a church,
and gave it to the Unitarian Society of his adopted
town. After the death of his father in Hopkinton,
where he had removed from Boston with his ftimily,
he was, at the age of about twelve years, placed in
the family of John Holmes, of Hopkinton, soon after
which he was apprenticed to James Bowker, who
was a farmer and cooper. At the age of twenty he
bought a year's time, and went to Northbridge to
learu the trade of bottoming shoes, and at the end of
a year found his way to Upton, and entered the em-
ploy of Asa Wood, a shoe manufacturer. In 1832 he
entered the store of Lyman Stoddard, of Upton, who
kept a country store, and bought and sold straw
braids made in the families of Upton and its neigh-
borhood. While engaged in this business he at-
tracted the attention of Colonel Elijah Stoddard, an
older brother of Lyman, and Mr. Stoddard proposed
to him a partnership in the straw business in which
he was engaged. In 1833, at the age of twenty-four,
the partnership of Stoddard & Knowlton began the
business of a country store, to which were added the
purchase of domestic straw braids and the manufac-
ture of straw bonnets. The partnership continued
until 1830, when Mr. Knowlton moved to West
Upton, and, in partnership with William Legg, car-
ried on the manufacture of ladies' goods in both for-
eign and domestic braids. Joseph S. Farnum, of
Upton, succeeded Mr. Legg in the partnership, but

912

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

after a year left the firm, and Mr. Kaowlton contin-
ued the business alone until his sons were old enough
to enter the partnership. The four sons— William,
Edwin F., George W. and Ebenezer F. Knowlton—
since the death of their father, have conducted the
business. The firm has salesrooms in New York,
which are under the management of Edwin F.
Knowlton.

Notwithstanding the engrossing cares of business,
Mr. Knowlton felt a deep interest in the public wel-
fare, and found time to make himself useful in its
promotion. He represented the Fourth Representa-
tive District of Worcester County, consisting of the
towns of Northbridge and Upton, in 1868 and 1872,
and was a member of the Senate in 1878 and 1879.
In 1880 he was a delegate to the Republican Na-
tional Convention, and was' a trustee and patron of
the Massachusetts Agricultural College. He was
also a director in the First National Bank in Mil-
ford, and held other positions of responsibility and

trust.

Up to the time of the War of the Rebellion little
occurred in the life of Upton worthy of record in this
narrative, except what has been already incidentally
referred to. In that war, as in the French and Revo-
lutionary Wars, the town performed a creditable
work. On the 11th of June, 1861, the town appro-
priated $2000 for the families of volunteers, and on
the 3d of March, 1862, $1500 for the same purpose.
On the 21st of July, 1862, the town voted to pay a
bounty of $100 to any volunteer enlisting after that
date, and March 7, 1864, it appropriated $4000 for
further aid to families of the soldiers. On the 8th of
August, 1864, it voted to pay $125 in gold to any vol-
unteer in the service. The writer finds on the books
of the town, and on the records of the adjutant-gene-
ral the names of the following volunteers credited to
the quota of the town. Many of those whose names
are included in the following list enlisted more than

Third Battalion of Eifles [three months).
Harry T. Bradisb. George E. Childa.

Silas B. Dunn. Charles K. Stoddard

Wm. H. Aldrich.

Seventh Eegimeiit {three years)

Chandler J. Pike.
Ninth Begiment (lliree yean).
Michael Keynolds. Malachi Curling.

Simeon Curling.
Thirteenth Regiment (.three years).
Wm. K. Warner, sergeant. Wm. R. Kawson.

Charles W. Conistock, corporal. John H. Johnson.
Wm. Cordwell.
David Brown.

John G. Thurston, musician.
Warren E. Bruce,

John D. Plunimer.
Willard Wheeler.
Charles H. Wellington.

Fifteenth Begiment {three years).

Wilson B. Kobbins. Charles A. Beed.

Albert Davis. Stephen Smith.

Wni. R. Dean. George F. Wellington.

John Southland. Thomas Horn.

Winsor Chamberlain. levi V. Jose.

Johti Clancy. Da^W J- Messenger.

Charles H. Stoue. Darius Murphy.

Benjamin S. Hill. Edward 0. Eames.

Sixteenth Regiment {three years).
Charles H. Burnham. Amos A. Holbrook.

Seventeenth Begiment {three years).

Stephen S. Hall.
Eighteenth Regiment {three years).

Charles M. Fales.
Nineteenth Regiment {three years).

Thomas Flanegan.

Twentieth Begiment {three years).

Frederick Volt. Albert Davis.

Henry W. Brewer.

Twenty-first Regiment {three years).

George S. Ball, chaplain. Charles K. Stoddard, lieut.

Wm. A. Aldrich.

Twenty-second Begiment {three years).

James 0. Wood.

Twenty-fifth Regiment {three years)

James W. Hanly.
George W. Wood.
Charles E- Holbrook.
Wm. H. Holbrook.
James A. Rockwuod.
George E. Cliilds, corporal
Perry C. ,\lexauder.
Harrison T. Bosworth.
Charles Beed.
George J. Drake.
Harrison K. Wood.
Edward J. Blood.
Joseph C. Rogers.

Twenty-eighth Begiment {three years).

Stephen Martin.
Thirty-second Begiment {three years).

William W. Marsh, Jr.
Tiiirty-fourlh Regiment {tliree years).
Charles W. Aldrich. Loriiig A. Walker.

Alfred H. Hall, musician. Charles L. Walker.

Charles H. Brown.
Jonathan 0. Fisk.
Lyman A. Leighton, Jr.
Wm. A. Aldrich.
Charles W. Bogers.
Charles W. Aldrich.
Davis Southland.
Lowell Southland.
George H. Walker.
Henry A. Whitney.
Leander Wood.
James W. Goodenow.

Thirty-sixth Begiment {three years).

Alonzo A. White, lieutenant.

Lysander M. Perham, corporal

Stephen S. Kogers.

Judson Southland, corporal.

Wm. H. Bailey.

George W. Bardwell.

Junius Bates.

John A. Bosworth.

Nelson H. Brown.

Lorenzo S. Chamberlain.

Orra Chamberlain.

Myron W. Claflin.

Thirty-ninth Begiment {three years).
William C. McNeal.
Fortieth Begiment {three years).
Sanford Bruce. Charles 0. Fairbanks.

Forty-second Regiment {one hundred days).
Edward H. Aldrich. Alonzo P. Taft.

Fifty-first Regiment {nine months)

Wm 0. Davenport.
Hezekiah Hall.
William Hall.
Alvah H Johnson.
Luke Lerain.
Hosea D. Leighton, Jr.
John McGrath.
Isaac K. Potter.
George A. Wood.
Junius D. Bates.
Alverado Drake.

Ezekiel Packard, lieutenant.
Hiram M. Clark, sergeant.
Band liord, sergeant.
John H. Slocum, sergeant.
Levi Smith, corporal.
Alonzo L, Benson, corporal.
Curtis M. Harrington, corporal.
Joseph F. Simpson, corporal.
John Conlon, corporal.
Charles M. Hall, musician.
William E. Drake.
Charles E. Brooks.
Frank A. Brooks.

Sylvanus W. Farrington.
Benjamin F. Gibson.
Arthur Hutchinson.
Wm. P. Kent.
Curtis A. King.
Charles H. Nichols.
George A. Norcross.
Oliver Orr.
James Orr.

Hardius N. Eockwood.
James A. Rockwood.
George W. Tuft.
Alexander A. T. Temple.

UPTON.

913

James A. Kockwood.
Thomas T. Watkin.
Moses \V. HoUis.
Charles L, Chamberluin.
Timothy Doyle.

Daniel Tenney.
Thomas T. Walker.
Elijah Ward.
Wm. G. Wilmot.
Augustus C. Young.

George Bradford.
Arthur iHaloney.

Fijti/seoevlfi Rpgiment {three }/ear$),
Wm. A. Aldrich. Albert C. Warren.

Fifly-cighth liegimenl.

Cbarles Jordan.
Sixty-first Regiment.
John Perkins.
Second Cavalry {three years).

Alexander McDonald.
James Marks.
Thomas Wat^son.
Fourth Cavairy (three years) .
Thomas Davis. Edward Galvin.

Fifth Oivalry (three years).
Tliomas Dodson. John H. Jackson.

Lewis Cooper. Stephen Durben.

Charles Smith. George Murphy.

Second Seavy Artillery (three years).
Edward Burk.
Third Heavy Artillery.
Arthurs. Johnson, sergeant. Charles H. Johnson, sergeant.

Lyman Leighton. John H. Walker.

Wm. II. Potter.
Fourth Seavy ArlUlery (three years).
Joseph Andy. Alonzo C. Southland.

Charles H. Benson. Richard Dwinell.

Albert P. Clifford. Charles D. Holmes.

Wm. E. KobbiuB. Samuel Wilson.

Wilson R. Robbins.

Second Company of Sharpshooters (three years).

James 0. Wood.

Second District of Columbia Volunteers (three jjears).

James Hill.

Veteran Reserves.

Louis Peters.

Drafted Men.

Eli W. Batebeller.
Thomas S. Brown.
Regiment Unhioica.
Charles H. Thompson. Charles E. Haynes.

Navy.
Henry Sbaw, surgeon.

The above list comprises one hundred and eighty-
three volunteers, nine less than are claimed by the
town as the number of enlistments. The remainiuo-
nine would doubtless be made up by double enlist-
ments, only a few of which are iucluded in the list.
Of these, Harrison T. Bosworth, Charles E. Haynes
and Charles H. Thompson died in Andersonville
prison, the last on the 4th of July, 1864; David J.
Messenger was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff,
Charles A. Kogers was killed at Newbern, Simon
Curling was killed at Fair Oaks, J. Orson Fisk was
killed at Newbern, and Lieutenant Charles K. Stod-
dard was killed at Annapolis Junctiou.

On the 25th of June, 1835, the town celebrated the
one hundredth anniversary of its incorporation.
Daniel Fisk presided on the occasion, assisted by Dr.
John Starkweather and Mr. 0. Walker, and Lyman
Stoddard acted as chief marshal. A procession, num-
bering fifteen hundred persons, marched through the
streets, escorted by a volunteer militia company
58

Benjamin S. Benson.
Daniel Fiak.

commanded by Captain Wood, and seven hundred
sat down at dinner. At the centennial service an
oration was delivered by Rev. Benjamin Wood, and
other parts of the service were taken by Rev. Mr.
Fisk-, of Wrentham, Rev. Mr. Long, of Milford, Rev.
Mr. Johnson, of Grafton, and Rev. Mr. Forbush, of
Northbridge ; an ode, written by Mr. Charles Thur-
ber, was sung, and the music was under the direction
of Colonel Daniel Newhall.

A public library was established by the town in
1874, a reference to which must not be forgotten.
This institution and the High School, which was es-
tablished by the voluntary action of the people, are
creditable indications of a public spirit and a regard
for the cause of education not often found in the
small towns of the Commonwealth. Various gift^
have been made to enlarge the usefulness of the libra-
ry, among which was one of §500 by Wm. Knowlton,
in 1876, and it receives an annual appropriation from
the town. It was formerly kept in Waverly Hall,
which was the old Congregational meeting-house
when the hall was used by the town, but was re-
moved to the Town House when that building was
finished in 1884. According to the last report of the
librarian, there were, on the 1st. of March, 1888,
two thousand live hundred and eighty-eight volumes
on its shelves, and si.x thousand four hundred and
eighly-eight volumes had been delivered for circula-
tion during the year ending at tliat date.

Previous to the erection of the present town hall,
it has been already stated that the town held its
meetings in Waverly Hall. Before that hall became
available, meetings were held in the meeting-house
in early times, and later, in one of the school-houses.
In the autumn of 1884 the commodious building now
in use was finished and dedicated. Its cost was 819,-
945.87. On the occasion of its dedication, George H.
Stoddard presided and after a prayer by Rev. George S.
Ball, the keys were presented to the selectmen by Velo-
rous Taft. After a poem by Mrs. M. A. Stoddard had
been read, Hon. Elijah W. Wood, of Newton, deliv-
ered an address, and was followed by Hon. Elijah
Brighara Stoddard, of Worcester, Stephen S. Taft, of
Palmer, natives of the town, Hon. S. N. Aldrich, of
Marlboro', whose mother was a native of Upton, and
Rev. Fr. Boyle, of Grafton, in interesting remarks. The
house was built on the site of the old Nelson tavern, on
the westerly side of the Common, which was one of the
ancient landmarks of the town. Ezra Perry, Joseph
Perry, Sylvanus Aldrich, E. H. Fisk, Luther Pike
and Judson Childs were among its landlords in days
when country taverns ware important features in every
town.

In an earlier part of this narrative lists of persons
who have held the prominent town offices have been
given to show who among the inhabitants of the
town were conspicuous in their day and generation.
That this may be further shown, it will be proper to
insert in this record the names of those who have at

914

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

various periods represented the town in the General
Court. The first General Court of Massachusetts,
after the adoption of the Constitution, was held in
what is now called the old State House, on State
Street, in Boston, on Wednesday, October 25, 1780.
The writer has no record of the Representatives from
Upton prior to 1786, but the following list covers the
period from that date to 1889, inclusive :

Ezra, Wood 1786

None 1787

Thomas Marshal Baker 1788

None 1789

None 1790

None 1791

None 1792

Ezra Wood 1793

None 1794

Ezra Wood 1795

None 1790

None - 1797

Jonathan Batdieller 1798

None 1799

None 1890

None 18111

Elisha Bradish 1802

None 1803

W. Rawsou 1804

None ISOo

Ezra Wood, Jr 1800

Ezra Wood, Jr 1807

EzraW'ood, Jr 1808

Ezra Wood, Jr 1809

Ezra Wood, Jr 1810

Ezra Wood, Jr 1811

Ezra Wood, Jr 1812

Ezra Wood, Jr 1813

Ezra Wood, Jr 1814

Ezra Wood, Jr 1815

Ezra Wood, Jr 1816

Ezra Wood, Jr 1817

None 1818

None 1819

Ezra Wood, Jr 1820

Hone 1821

Ezra Wood, Jr 1822

None 1823

None 1824

None 1825

None 1826

None 1S27

Ezra Wood 1828

None 1829

Ezra Wood 1830

Eli Warren 1831

Elisha Fisk 1832

Ezra Wood 1833

None 1834

Benjamin Wood 1835

None 1836

None 1837

William Legg 1838

William Legs 1839

Elijah Warren 1839

Nahum W. Holhrook 1840

Elijah Warren 1840

Nahum W. Holhrook 1841

William Legg 1842

William legg 1843

None 1844

None 1845

William Legg 1846

None 1847

None 1848

Nahum W. Holbrook 1849

None 1850

None 1851

John Forhnsh '. 1852

Velorous Taft 18i3

Gilbert Lincoln 1854

Velorous Taft 1855

Elijah W. Wood 1850

Henry D. Johnson 1837

On the 1st of May, 1857, the twenty-first article
of amendment of the Constitution, which had been
adopted by the General Court of the years 1856 and
1857, was ratified by the peonle. That amendment
provided that a census of the legal voters of each city
and town on the 1st of May shall be taken and re-
turned to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on or
before the last day of June in the year 1857 ; and a
census of the inhabitants and legal voters of each city
and town in 1865 and every tenth year thereafter. It
further provided that the House of Representatives
should consist of two hundred and forty members,
which shall be apportioned by the Legislature to the
several counties, which counties should be divided
into Representative districts by the county commis-
sioners, except in Suffolk County, where the division
should be made by the mayor and alderman of the
city of Boston. Under the apportionment made in
1857, Northbridge and Upton constituted the Eigh-
teenth Worcester District, and were represented until
the next apportionment as follows :

Henry D. Johnson, of Upton 1858

Charles P. Whitin, of Northbridge 1859

Henry D. Johnson, of Upton I860

Joshua W. Morse, of Northbridge 1861

Henry Shaw, of Upton 1862

William Kendall, of Northbridge 1863

George S. Ball, of Upton 1864

Samuel J. Fletcher, of Northbridge 1865

Arba T. Wood, of Upton 1866

Under the apportionmentof 1866, based on the cen-
sus of 1865, Northbridge and Upton constituted the
Nineteenth Worcester District, and were represented
until the next apportionment as follows :

Jonathan C. Taylor, of Northbridge 1867

William Knowlton, of Uptoo 1868

George L. Gibbs, of Northbridge 1869

Adams risk, of Upton 1870

Davis P. Gray, of Northbridge 1871

William Knowlton, of Upton 1872

Emory A. Howard, of Northbridge 1873

Nahum B. Hall, of Upton 1874

Cyrus F. Baker, of Northbridge 1875

Wesley L. Fisk, ot Upton 1876

Under the apportionment of 1876, based on the
census of 1875, Mendon, Milford and Upton consti-
tuted the Second Worcester District, and were repre-
sented until the next apportionment as follows:

William H. Cook, of Milford 1877

Augustus S. Tuttle, of Milford 1877

William H. Cook, of Milford 1878

Charles A. Davis, of Upton 1878

Homer W. Darling, of Mendon 1879

Isaac N. Crosby, of Milford 1879

Isaac N. Crosby, of Milford : 1880

Benjamin A. Jourdan, of Upton 1880

Silas W. Hall, of Milford 1881

Charles W. Wilcox, of Milford 1881

Silas W. Hall, of Milford 1882

Edward S Leland, of Upton 1882

Thomas J. Hall, of Upton 1883

David M. Eichardson, of Mendon 1883

James F. Stratton, of Milford 1884

Daniel Keed, of Milford 1884

James F Stratton, of Milford 1885

Henry J. Bailey, of Milford 1885

James F. Stratton, of Milford 1886

Henry E. Fales, of Milford 1886

Under the apportionment of 1886, based on (he
census of 1885, Northbridge, Upton and Uxbridge
constitute the Tenth Worcester District, and have
been represented as follows :

Daniel W. Taft, of Uxbridge 1887

Bowse B. Clarke, of Northbridge 1S8S

Joseph Addison Partridge, of Upton 1889

But there have been other representative men who
must not be forgotten, some of whom have passed
away and some of whom are now living, reflecting
credit on their native town in the places of their
adoption. Among these may be mentioned Hon.
Georo-e W. Johnson, who was born in Upton October
6, 1832, and became a prominent citizen of Milford,
where he died respected by the citizens of his adopted
town, and remembered with affection by his old
townsmen of Upton as their frequent and liberal
benefactor. Samuel Austin Nelson, too, who was
born in Upton October 9, 1819, and died in Charles-
ton, South Carolina, June 26, 1887, carried with him

UPTON.

915

to his distant home the seeds of his New England
training, and developed into a successful, large-
hearted Christian gentleman, who secured the respect
and love of all who were so fortunate as to live within
the sphere of his influence. Hon. Henry Chapin,'
of Worcester, was born in Upton May 13, 1811, and
died in Worcester October 13, 1878.

Nor must Colonel Elijah Stoddard be overlooked in
this narrative, who, with the exception of a temporary
residence at the South, where he had formed business
connections, was a lite-long citizen of Upton, and
filled a large space in its social and business life.
Though more than once he was a member of the
Board of Selectmen, he never sought office, and only
accepted it under the urgent pressure of his fellow-
citizens. Colonel Stoddard was descended from An-
th<my Stoddard, who appeared in Boston in 1639.
Through John, Daniel and Samuel came Jeremiah,
the son of Samuel, who lived in Hingham and mar-
ried Rebecca Bates, of Bellingham. Jeremiah Stod-
dard had a son Ezekiel, also of Hingham, who mar-
ried Lucy Forrestall. Both Jeremiah, the father, and
Ezekiel, the son, were soldiers in the Revolution.
Jeremiah Stoddard removed to Milford, and his son
Ezekiel in early life removed to Upton, where he
bought a farm and carried on the business of a farmer
until his death. His children, all born in Upton,
were Elijah, the subject of this sketch, born in 1785;
Lucy, who married Daniel Forbes ; Polly, who mar-
ried Asa Wood ; Lyman, who married Effa Colburn ;
Lucretia, who married a Moors ; Electa, who married
William Hale, of Fairhaven ; Hartford, who married
Sarah Taft ; Rebecca, who married Merrill Ruggles;
and Ezekiel Bates, who married Sarah Starkweather.
Colonel Stoddard married, in 1809, Zilpha, daughter
of Isaac and Hannah (Fisk) Nelson, and Isaac Nelson,
the father of his wife, as well as his own father, was
a soldier in the Revolution. His children were Ann
Maria, born in 1810, who married Charles H. Batch-
eller, of Grafton, and Lemuel Torrey, of Wey-
raoulh; Isaac Nelson (1812), of whom later mention
will be made; Lucy Jane (1815), who married Syl-
vanus N. Aldrich, and whose son, Hon. S. N. A.ldrich,
is at present United States sub-treasurer at Boston;
Lois Nelson (1817), who married Joseph S. Farnum,
at one time partner in business with William Knowl-
ton; Electa (1819), who died young; Electa Julania
(1824), who married David Atwood; Elijah Brigham
(1826), of whom also later mention will be made; and
Janette (1829).

Colonel Stoddard, soon after bis marriage, became
connected with business operations in Savannah,
Georgia, but returned home at the outbreak of the
War of 1812, and bought the Farmer farm, in the
south part of the town, which he occupied and man-
aged about six years. About the year 1820 he re-
sumed his business connections at the South, locating

'Sec Chapter II.

himself in Charleston, where he remained four years.
Not long after bis return he opened a store, in which
he began the business of buying and selling straw
braid, which soon developed into the liat and bonnet
manufacturing industry. In those days the farmers
about Upton brought their various products to the
town stored for sale and e.Kchange, and among these
were straw plaits, which their wives and daughters
braided from rye straw. These plaits were at first
used for trimming purposes, but became, finally, the
seed from which the large straw hat and bonnet busi-
ness of Worcester County has grown. Colonel Stod-
dard and the firm of Fisk & Bradish were among the
pioneers in this branch of industry. For a time
Colonel Stoddard was a partner with William Knowl-
ton, under the name of Stoddard & Knowlton, but
after the removal of Mr. Knowlton to West Upton,
he carried on the business alone for some years, and
finally retired to his new farm on the Mendou Road,
nut far from the Common, where he died in 1865.
He was a man of indomitable energy, of uncompro-
mising integity, and at his death was a considerable
owner of real estate, the management of which
divided his time with the usual ruutiue occupations
of the farm.

Isaac Nelson Stoddard, the oldest son of Colonel
Stoddard, was brought up in the schools of his native
town, and at the early age of fifteen years taught a
school in Medford. He was born, as above slated,
October 29, 1812, and graduated at Amherst in 1832,
having during his college career taught school in
Mendon, Upton and Holliston. Alter leaving college
he taught a classical .school in Jledway, and in 1833
became teacher of the High School in Plymouth. In
1835 he went to New Bedford to teach, remaining
there until 1837, when he returned to Plymouth and
resumed his old situation, which he continued to oc-
cupy with success until 1841. The writer of this
sketch was fitted by him for Harvard in 1838, and
among his scholars at various times were Judge
Charles G. Davis, William G. Russell, Esq., of Bos-
ton, and the late Thomas Drew, at one lime a resident
in Worcester.

In 1841 Mr. Stoddard was appointed by Harrison
collector of the port of Plymouth, and held oflice
until 1845, in which year he was appointed cashier of
the Plymouth Bank as the successor of Nathaniel
Goodwin, and succeeded to the presidency of the Ply-
mouth National Bank in 1879. He married, in 1836,
Martha Le Baron, daughter of the late Hon. John B.
Thomas, for many years clerk of the courts for Plym-
outh County, and has a large family of children
and grandchildren, one of his sons, Charles B. Stod-
dard, being the cashier of the bank of which he
(Isaac N. Stoddard) is president, and William S.
Morrissey, the husband of one of his daughters, being
the cashier of the Old Colony National Bank in the
same town. Mr. Stoddard has been successful as a
business man, and in the various trusts confided to

91C

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

■ him he has always held the confidence and esteem of
the community in which he has passed more than
iil'ty years of his life.

Of his brother, Elijah Brigham Stoddard, it will be
perhaps superfluous to speak, as the chapter on the
Bench and Bar of Worcester County contains a sketch
of his career. The writer will content himself with
stating that he was born in Upton in June, 1826, and
graduated at Brown University in 1847. He was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1849, and settled in Worcester,
where he married Mary, daughter of Hon. Isaac
Davis. Mr. Stoddard has held many offices, having
been a member of the House and Senate in the
General Court, a member of the Executive Council,
a member of the staff of the Governor, and mayor of
his adopted city. He has been a director in the
Providence and Worcester Railroad Company, and
now holds the offices of secretary of the Mechanics'
and Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and
of president of the Quinsigamond National Bank,
both in Worcester.

In closing this history of the town of Upton there
is little to add. The schools of the town are in a
satisfactory condition and in the hands of a committee
devoted to their interests. During the year 1887-88
the sum of $4840.62 was expended for their support.
The other expenditures of the town for the same
year were : For principal and interest of the town
"debt, §5803.75 ; for roads and bridges, $1993.59 ; sup-
port of poor, $2256.79 ; Fire Department, consisting of
an engine and a hook-aud-ladder company, with their
apparatus, $352.59 ; town library, $250 ; town officers,
$750.54; State tax, $1102.50 ; county tax, $655 ; State
aid, $270; military aid, $288 ; and sundries, $1243.88.
The town has no water works, but William Knowl-
ton & Sons, of West Upton, are liberally supplied
with water and apparatus, aflbrding abundant means
of protection to their own and surrounding property
in that village.

The business of the town, aside from the straw in-
dustry and the farming industry, includes a machine-
shop, conducted by A. H. Chapman ; a jewelry store,
kept by J. M. N. Barrett ; general and retail stores,
conducted by C. H. Bull, C. S. Temple, T. B. Hawes,
H. L. Patrick, C. A. Wood, E. A. Willard, H. C.
Child and Mrs. A. A. Wood ; and a drug-store man-
aged by Stephen B. Fisk.

According to the census of 1885 the following
schedule shows the agricultural product of the town :

Dairy products §32,314

Poultry • 8,619

Wood products 20,074

Cereals 3>*59

Truits 6."^20

Hay, straw and fodder 29,607

Meats and game '. 5,075

Vegetables 10,133

Domestic animals (value) 40,109

Animal products 8,811

Food products 1,852

Green-bouse products 585

Hot-house products » 270

Liquors and beverages 1,302

Other products 200

$167,628

The population of the town in 1885 was 2265,
showing an increase from 1880 of 242, and at the
same date its valuation was $880,247. Though the
increase in population and wealth has been small, and
the general business of the town has somewhat de-
clined, there is reason to hope and believe that with
the advent of a railroad, and the consequent facilities
for reaching a market for products, the prosperity of
the town will be secured.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HON. WILLIAM KNOWLTON.

In the lives of active and prominent citizens of our
New England towns may be found much that is very
instructive and inspiring to the present generation,
inasmuch as they generally achieve their positions
and fairly win their honors. Hon. William Knowlton,
long identified with the business interests of Upton
and one of the most active business men of southern
Worcester County, was born June 29, a.d. 1809, at
Boston. As a boy he was susceptible of deep and last-
ing impressions. For, although so young, he had a
deep reverence for the late Dr. Lowell, of the West
Church at Boston, where his parents worshipped.
Perhaps that impression might have come in part from
the deep reverence in which the doctor was held by
his parents, but he retained it to the last. His parents
for some reason moved to Hopkinton, Mass. There
were then three sons and one daughter, William being
the youngest. Somehow the family were in reduced
circumstances. The father died, leaving these chil-
dren to the care of the devoted mother. Each one was
called to help keep the wolf from the door of this
fatherless household, and William, though small and
not more than ten or eleven years old, was put into
the family of Mr. John Holmes, ol' Hopkinton, who
died a half-century ago. While here as a boy he
made a deep impression upon the whole family ; his
intelligence and fidelity won their hearts. While
living here", his two older brothers, then quite young
men, were drowned together in what is now called
Echo Lake, Hopkinton. His mother was so lonely
alter the death of his brothers she took her youngest
son, William, home. She lived then in Hayden row,
Hopkinton. But his energy and his mother's needs
and wisdom soon apprenticed him to the late James
Bowker as a farmer and cooper. He carried on a
small farm, bought the staves and hoop-poles stand-
ing, and went himself with his help or apprentices
into the woods to cut and split them for the casks he
made. Here he remained until he was twenty years
of age; then, honorably, he bought the remaining

"55*

-^^^^^^'-^

UPTON.

917

year's time of his apprenticeship and went to Adams'
Corner, in Northbridge, where he learned to bottom
shoes. HU sojourn here lasted about one year, when
we find him in Upton, in the employ of the late Asa
Wood. His energy and faithfulness made a most
favorable impression upon all with whom he had to
do, but tlie work was too confining and hard. His
health failed, and he went to recruit at the home of
his sister, who had married the late Daniel J. Coburn,
then of Hopkinton, afterward of Boston, and at one
time sheriff of Suffolk County, and who died at his
home in Maiden a few years ago. It became evident
to his physician that he must have a more active, out-
door life, and after recruiting at his sister's some time,
he entered the employ of Lyman Stoddard,. in Upton
Centre, in the year 1832. Mr. Stoddard kept a coun-
try store, and in connection therewith bought and
sold domestic straw braids. Here he was in the open
air a large part of the time, as he traveled to purchase
the braids, though in the intervals of such employ-
ment took his place in the store. He apparently re-
gained his health completely. While thus employed
he impressed the late Col. Elijah Stoddard as the man
he wanted. He proposed a copartnership. There
was no building open in which the new firm could
operate. They at once set about building a store, Mr.
Knowlton going into the woods with Col. Stoddard to
cut and hew the timber for it. In 1833 the firm of
Stoddard & Knowlton was in it. It was a country
store in Upton Centre, and in connection with it they
bought domestic straw braids and also manufactured
these into straw bonnets. This year, on the 1st of
January, Mr. Knowlton married Miss Caroline Taft,
and they began housekeeping over the store occupied
by the new firm. This partnership lasted until 1836,
when Mr. Knowlton moved to West Upton and formed
a copartnership with Capt. William Legg, doing a
general manufacturing business of ladies' goods in
foreign and domestic braids. Mr. Legg before many
years withdrew from the firm, and the late Joseph
Farnum, of Worcester, took hi^ place. Mr. Farnum
withdrew after one year and Mr. Knowlton continued
the business alone. Under his talents and energy it
grew into a large business. In the mean time his own
sons had grown up, and were from time to time ad-
mitted to the firm, and under the name of William
Knowlton & Sons the business has been most pros-
perous and successful. Mr. Knowlton leaves four
sons and one daughter. Some years ago the family
were saddened by the sudden death of a beautiful
daughter in the bloom of womanhood and usefulness,
and his wife has only preceded him a few months into
the invisible land.

As a man of great public spirit he has held the
town office of selectman, but found himself earlier in
life too absorbed in business to yield to the desire of
his townsmen to give him office. But, as a Republi-
can, he hiis been a liberal member of that party, and
represented later in his life his district in the State

Legislature, as a member of the House in 1868 and
1872, and in the Senate in 1878 and 1879. In 1880 he
was a delegate to the Republican National Convention
at Chicago, where he became a strong supporter of
James A. Garfield. His interest in education was
most marked. He early saw a need of higher educa-
tion in agriculture, and as a member of the State
Board he did what he could to promote it. When the
Agricultural College started he was deeply interested
in its success, and became a patron and trustee of it,
giving to it most liberally of his means; and as a
member of its executive board, rendered it in its time
of need most valuable services. He also has been a
liberal donor to the Worcester County Free Institute
of Industrial Science at Worcester, and gave some
five hundred dollars to the town library of Upton. As
a charter member of the First National Bank at Mil-
ford, he was from its start made a director, and at his
death was the last original survivor of that board. As
a townsman he was always interested in the welfare of
the town, and his liberality has been felt in all its de-
partments. His most marked traits of character were
untiring energy and perseverance. It built up and
firmly established a business that has become immense,
even against the obstacles of want of capital at first,
and frequent and severe losses, but when defeat came
that would have crushed one with less power and
energy his faith never faltered. His word was as
good as his bond in business transactions. In the year
1857 he lost largely but paid his debts at maturity.
Soon after this, at the breaking out of the war in 1861,
came another commercial panic. But amid his great
losses he met all his obligations except those of four
of his largest New York creditors, who, seeing his
burdens, advised him to make a small compromise,
but in a few years he paid them in full, dollar for dol-
lar. Thus, honest and true, he has reared a noble
monument of sterling character and a successful busi-
ness enterprise. His own opportunity for an educa-
tion was exceedingly limited, but his mind was quick
to learn in the school of life. His business ability
was somewhat remarkable. He would often decide
almost instantly in great transactions involving thou-
sands of dollars, and seldom make a mistake. Such
a man, of course, was a man of vast executive power.
He could, in his best days, conduct his manufactory,
run his farm and keep his many workmen feeling the
ubiquitous power of his master-mind. As he pros-
pered in business he grew in benevolence. He never
forgot his early poverty, and hence was most generous
to the poor. In later years he has not sought to in-
crease his estate so much as to distribute to the poor
and to help the indigent, but in all so modest and re-
ticent in his gifts as to hardly let his left hand know
what his right gave. His patriotism through the war
and since has pi-ompted him to help the disabled
soldiers and the families of such whenever he felt
they could be aided by his gifts. Rarely are riches
given to one more broad and generous. In his aflec-

918

HISTORY OF WOllCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tions he was very strong. He never forsook or forgot
a friend. The simplicity of his character grew in
beauty and attraction as he grew old. He loved little
children and they loved him. He rarely passed one
without a smile and such a gentle, winning recogni-
tion that the little one was drawn to him. And this
simplicity expressed itself in a reverence that made
him a constant attendant at church, and in earlier
days a worker in the Sunday-school. Never a secta-
rian, he worshipped with those with whom he hap-
pened to be. He, however, loved the Unitarian faith,
and gave freely to promote its interests. Identified
from the first with the Unitarian Society here, a few
years ago he built a church at West Upton and gave
its use to the society for purposes of worship, and fol-
lowed it with interest as long as he lived. In his
family, as a tender husband, father and grandfather,
his character shone out with all its ripe beauty.
When terrible suffering and pain came he bore it most
patiently and with humble submission to God's will,
and tenderly and gratefully, even when he could not
speak, by his eye and smile recognized the blessed
ministry of his own loved.

He passed to his rest Sunday, July 18, 1886, at the
age of seventy-seven. Then his active life closed, —
dust to dust, ashes to ashes, — nature claims her own
ahvay, yet he lives in what he accomplished, in his
acts of beneficence, in the hearts of the poor who
bless his name, in the affections of his family, in the
memory of little children who loved him and of his
fellow-townsmen and friends, and in the mansions of
the Father's house on high.

BEV. BENJAMIN WOOD.'
Benjamin Wood was born in Lebanon, N. H.,
September 15, 1772. He was the youngest but one
of twelve children, seven of whom were sons; of these,
three became ministers of the Gospel,— Samuel, the
eldest, known as Dr. Wood, of Boscawen, N. H. ;
Benjamin, and Luther, the youngest of the family.

Benjamin fitted for college with his brother Samuel,
and entered Dartmouth at the age of sixteen. He
graduated in 1793, commenced the study of theology
with Samuel, completing his preparation for the
ministry with Dr Nathaniel Emmons, a noted divine
of Franklin, Mass.

He preached as a candidate for the first time in
Upton the second Sunday in June, 1795, and received
a call from the church to be their pastor the following
December. The town assembled on the 31st of the
same month to see if they would concur with the
church in giving him a call to settle with them, and
the result is seen on the records of the town as
follows : " Voted, unanimously, to unite with the
church in calling Mr. Benjamin Wood to the work of
the ministry in this place, and to give him two hun-

1 By Mrs. M. A. Stoddald.

dred pounds for a settlement, and eighty pounds
annually for encouragement and support to settle
with us."

His reply was given in the aflirmative the follow-
ing March, and he was ordained and installed on the
1st day of June, 1796. Rev. Samuel Wood, D.D., of
Boscawen, N. H., delivered the ordination sermon;
Rev. Isaiah Potter, of Lebanon, N. H., gave the charge
to the pastor ; and Rev. John Crane, of Northbridge,
the right hand of fellowship. He succeeded Rev.
Elisha Fish, who had been settled with this church
forty-three years. After Mr. Wood had preached fif-
teen years, finding his salary inadequate for his sup-
port, an additional settlement was made upon him and
he was paid $400 annually.

During the following year he married Betsey Dustan ,
a descendant of the famous Hannah Dustan , of Haver-
hill, Macs. Their union was blest by a family of
eight children— six daughters and two sons— whose
names were as follows: Betsey, Palmer, Fanny,
Philena, Samuel AVillard, Judith Maria, Lue Ann
and Hannah F., who is the widow of Colonel David
C. Wood, of Upton, and is the only one now alive.

Five of Mr. Wood's children made for themselves
homes in Upton. Betsey married and went to Holden
to lii-e, Judith Maria to Westboro", and Lue Ann to
Boston. Several of them became members of the
church, .and all were highly respected citizens of the
town. Samuel Willard settled in Upton ; died
February 10, 1838, twenty-seven years of age.
leaving a widow and one daughter. Lue Ann,
wife of Clark B. Wood, of Boston, died about
forty-five years of age, leaving a husband
and three daughters. The other members of the
family lived to an advanced age, and left children
and children's children after them. Early in life
Mr. Wood was interested in Free Masonry and was
a member of Solomon's Temple Lodge of Uxbridge.

He was deeply interested in everything that con-
cerned the welfare of the town. He served one term
Representative to the. General Court, and several
years one of the Superintending School Committee.

His great province, which acquired him his fame,
was preaching. He had all the qualifications of a
fine pulpit orator. He was an able theologian, with
a commanding presence, easy and graceful in manner,
possessing a voice of rare excellence that charmed his
hearers, and made him one of the most popular
preachers in all the region round about. In the
Harmony Association, of which he was a member, he
commanded the highest respect, and was greatly be-
loved, being affectionately and reverently called
by them " Father Wood."

He was not only a pleasant speaker, but a power-
ful sermonizer. During his ministry he witnessed
eight seasons of special outpouring of the Spirit, and
admitted four hundred members to the church.

He was apt and brief on all occasions, and was
specially sought to officiate at weddings and funerals.

^- "■#

'-/'^.>...

J^.

^*^5^ ~ '^^^'^^^

^i^

O:^-'^-

UPTON.

919

Junu 25, 1835, whea the town was a hundred years
old, he delivered the centennial address, — the rec-
ords say, " in a strain of lofty and touching
eloquence." This address, his ordination sermon
anil the fir.st one he preached alter his ordination,
his farewell to the old meeting-house and the dedica-
tion of the new, with numerous other sermons, which
were printed soon after they were written, are
now preserved in a bound volume in the Upton Town
Library.

He lived with the beloved wife of his youth and
the mother of his children nearly fifty years. After
her decease, September 16, 1845, he married Miss
Almira Howe, who was a devoted wife to him during
the remainder of his life, a space of about three years.
He was well preserved physically and mentally, and
able to preach till within a short time of his death.

He had preached in the old meeting-house more
than half a century when the society began to discuss
the need of a new one. He was very anxious to keep
the church and society united and to see them
located in a new edifice while he lived, and was
gratified in the consummation of his hopes early in
January, 1849, by the dedication of a large and com-
modious house of worship by a church and society
in thriving condition. At the sale of pews soon after
its com|iletion theye was a call for more pews than
there were pews for sale. He did not preach long in
the new church. His health began to fail. He
preached his last sermon the last Suuday in March.

He was very fond of singing, and took great
interest in that part of divine worship. During his
last sickness he sent for the choir to come to his
room that he might once more listen to their voices
in a hymn of praise.

They assembled at his bedside and sung, at his
request, in his favorite tune, "Concord" —

" The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets," etc.

The love of his people was manifested in his last days,
when they formed a procession and marched by the
open door of his sick-room to take a last fond look of
their much-loved pastor. The strong attachment be-
tween him and his people was mutual.

He died April 24, 1849, in the seventy-sixth year
of his age, and fifty-third of his ministry. His funeral
sermon was preached by Rev. H. A. Tracy, of
Sutton. The inscription on his monument in the
village cemetery sums up his life in the following
touching tribute : —

" His worlis are his monument,
The aflection of his people his epitaph,
His life of duty and devotion his obituary."

L. L. WARREN.

L. L. Warren was born near Upton, August 2,
1808. His ftither. Major Eli Warren, a man of ster-
ling worth and generous spirit, had been for many
years identified with the interests of Upton, and had

given himself, with untiring energy, to everything
that pertained to the public weal.

Partaking of this nature, the son, after completing
his education at Amherst Academy, entered into
business relations with his father, and prosecuted
this vocation industriou.sly for ten years.

In 1835 Mr. Warren married Mary A. Wood, of
Upton, and soon afterward moved to Kentucky to
secure the advantages held out by the rapid immi-
gration pressing down the Ohio "Valley. Before
starting West, he had resolved to locate at St. Louis,
but during his journey met a gentleman who gave
him a glowing description of Louisville's future
prospects, and urged him to alter his plan. Follow-
ing this suggestion, he stopped at Louisville, which
was then but little more than a village, and, after
investigating the advantages ofi'ered, began the shoe
business with a small capital. This business he con-
tinued uninterruptedly and prosperously for tbrty-
eight years. His energy and prudence in business
affairs soon established for him an enviable reputa-
tion as a safe financier, and marked him as a success-
ful merchant.

During the existence of State banks Mr. Warren
was, for several years, a director in the Northern
Bunk of Kentucky. In 1864 he organized the Falls
City Bank, and, as president for twenty years, man-
aged its affairs with his usual ability and success.

In the midst of absorbing business engagements,
he took a deep interest in religious and educational
afl^airs, and an earnest con^iecration of time, labor
and means to their advancement characterized his
entire life. His early taste for the advancement of
educational interests clung to him through his long
career. He represented his ward in the School Board
of Louisville a number of terms, and for ten years,
as chairman of the Finance Committee, his keen
foresight and unerring judgment saved to the Board
many thousand of dollars. He gave much thought
to improvement in the methods of teaching in the
schools, and was one of the first to advocate the
introduction in Louisville of the training-school sys-
tem. To familiarize himself with the subject, he vis-
ited the New England States, and made a thorough
investigation of the systems at his own expense, and
by continued effort succeeded in establishing train-
ing-schools in his adopted city.

As a friend and patron of religious schools, he was
no less prominent. He was one of the founders of
the large and flourishing Presbyterian School in
Louisville, a director in Centre College and the The-
ological Seminary at Danville, Ky., and for many
years attended to the finances of these institutions.

With various other movements of both a business
and charitable nature he was prominently identi-
fied ; but it was in his church affairs that his greatest
efforts were enlisted. As an elder in the Presbyte-
rian Church for over forty years, in the city, Presby-
tery and Synod, he was an unfaltering worker. He

920

HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

was one of the founders of the old Chestnut Street
Church in 1847, and in the erection of the magnifi-
cent Tabernacle at Fourth and Broadway, which was
destroyed by fire soon after its completion, his zeal
and liberality knew no bounds. It was his cher-
ished desire to see the congregation with which he
had been so long connected worship in as thoroughly
an appointed church as could be built, and he advo-
cated the step with untiring persistence. In the
erection of so costly an edifice, the collection of the
necessary funds to carry out the design was no in-
considerable barrier to the consummation of the
task, and to many success seemed impossible. But
Mr. Warren had enlisted all of his religious zeal in
the enterpjise, and his purse was placed at the com-
mand of the Building Committee. His subscription
of twenty thousand dollars had gone into the general
fund, and the church was erected; and when the
committee appeared before the congregation to make
their finul statement, a debt of forty-three thousand
dollars was reported. It was then that Mr. Warren
reached a higher plane of disinterested devotion to
his church, and proved his faith by his works, and
wiped out the debt with a check for the needed
forty-three thousand dollars. As a manifestation of
its appreciation of his noble liberality, the congrega-
tion dropped the name of "Tabernacle," under which
the church had been dedicated, and in honor of him
called it " The Warren Memorial Church."

In public and business affairs he enjoyed the un-
wavering confidence of his associates, and his private
charities were as freely distributed as tho^e of any
one in the history of Louisville.

Mr. Warren died, after a short illness, March 19,
1884, in his seventy-sixth year. A handsome monu-
ment marks his resting-place in Louisville's beauti-
ful cemetery. It bears as his epitaph the memorable
words ihat fell from his lips : " What I have done, I
have done fjr Christ's sake." A wife and nine chil-
dren survive him.

REV. GEORGE S. BALL.

Rev. George S. Ball, pastor of the Unitarian So-
ciety in Upton, was born in Leominster, Mass., May
22, A.D. 1822, and is the son of Micah R. and Rachel
(Lincoln) Ball.

He is a fairly well-preserved man of sixty-six years
of age. He received a meagre education in the com-
mon schools until the age of sixteen, when, obtaining
from his father a release of his time, he devoted
himself to the further study in the higher schools
of his native State. He found it hard work to earn
his bread and pay for his education ; but he perse-
vered, working, as it were, with a book in one hand
and some instrument of manual labor in the other.
This required energy and self-denial, but by faithful,
continued efforts he graduated at the Meadville Theo-
logical School in the first regular das'!, that of 1847.

In the autumn of the same year the society at Ware

invited him to settle with them, and he was ordained
October 13th as their pastor. He remained there two
yejrs, when his health failed, and he asked for dis-
mission. After a rest, he was much better, and began
preaching in Upton, and at the end of some months
of labor here, be was, at their request, installed as
minister in February of 1850. The connection thus
formed has continued ever since.

Under this long pastorate, for modern times, he
has become thoroughly identified with the town and
all its interests. He represented it in the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1853. In 1861 he was elected
Representative, for the district composed of North-
bridge and Upton, to the Legislature of 1862; but
about the same time he was called to be chaplain
of one of the Worcester County regiments, already in
the field, the gallant Twenty-first Regiment of Mass-
achusetts Volunteers. He was exercised to know
which position to take. His love of his country and
its pressing needs in the hour of peril persuaded him
to forego the honor of the former, that he might do
something to mitigate the sufferings of camp and
battle-field, and thus do a little to sustain and main-
tain inviolate the government under which liberty
and prosperity had come to this peuple. He accepted
the post of chaplain, and went at once to the regi-
ment, then stationed at Annapolis, Md.

In the first battle of that regiment, at Roanoke
Island, he won the hearts of" the boys" by his brave
and efficient aid to the wounded, and in the report
of the commanding colonel to the general, a copy
of which was transmitted by the colonel to Governor
Andrew, he received warm approval.

The following paragraph is taken from the " His-
tory of the Twenty-first Regiment,"' which was writ-
ten by General Charles F. Walcott:

In the tbirteen months that he had been with ua, he had shared with
the regiment every peril and hardahip which it had been called to face
and endure, and had won the lasting respect and love of every man in
it of whatever creed. Never losing eight of bis duty as a Chj-istiao
clergyman, he had been far more than a mere chaplain to us. Ardently
patriotic, always hopeful, manly and courageous, he exerted a strong
and lasting influence in keeping up the tone of the regiment in its
soldierly as well as its moral duties. As our postmasier, no matter at
what inconvenience to himself, the mail was never left to take care
of itself, wiien by his energy it could be forced to come or go. To our
sick and wounded he had been, with unfailing devotion, a brave, tender
and a eUillfnl nurse. An honor and grace to his calling and the
service, it was a sad day in the regiment when he left «s.

So we may say Mr. Ball has been far more, in
Upton, than a mere clergyman, a good man, a good
citizen, never a strong partisan, but friend and min-
ister to all who needed or would receive his help. For
thirty-nine years he has labored in this field, save two
years, when he was colleague with the venerable Dr.
Kendall, at Plymouth, and the time of his ."ervice in
the army. He served also as chaplain to the Massa-
chusetts House of Representatives in 1863, and as a
member from his district in 1864, and as a member
of the State Senate in the years 1866 and 1867.

t Page 235.

■^'^

GRAFTON.

021

On the 18th of June, 1848, while settled at Ware,
he was married to Hannah B. Nourse, daughter of
Caleb and Orissa (Holman) Nourse, of Bolton, Masa.
They had eight children born to them, seven of whom
are now living.

Mr. Ball's life has been very active in anti-slavery
and moral reform of all kinds. But most marked is
his influence on his own townsmen and the people
of the vicinity, where his name is a tower
of strength.

CHAPTER CXXIII.

GRAFTON.

BY WILLI.4M T. DAVIS AND A HISTORICAL ADDRESS
BY HON. FRANK P. GOUI.DING.

On either side of Quinsigamond River, which flows
from the lake bearing tliat name into Blackstone
River, are various ridges of land more or leas ex-
tended, rising by easy ascent from the valley, and
most of them cleared and cultivated to the summits.
On the slopes of some of these hills, and on the
higher table lands of others, and on the banks of the
stream, are located the different villages of which the
town of Grafton is composed. The territory included
within ihe bounds of the town extends about five
miles from north to south, and four miles from east
to west, and is bounded on the north by Shrewsbury,
on the east by Westborough and Upton, on the south
by Upton and Sutton, and on the west by Sutton and
Millbury. Few towns can boast of situations more
beautiful or landscapes more attractive than those,
which one after another greet the eye of a stranger as
he enters its domain and wanders along its hillsides
and through its valleys. Sianding on the central
village and looking towards the north, Brigham Hill,
on whose eastern slope the hamlet of North Grafton
seems to be hiding itself from the setting sun, bounds
the horizon on the north and west, while along its
base the river Quinsigamond is seeking its uncon-
scious way to the sea, and in the distance Wachusett
stands guard against the unwelcome blasts of a colder
clime.

This was the territory known in early times as
Hassanamisco, and inhabited by the Hassanamesits,
a family of the Nipmuck tribe. It is memorable as
having been one of the earliest fields in which John
Eliot labored for the Cbristianizaiion of the abo-
rigines. Here the second Indian church was estab-
lished, and here the Indian James the Printer lived,
who aided Eliot in his work on the Indian Bible.

Of the Hassanamesits there is only one survivor
within the town, Sarah Maria Cisco. She occupies
about two acres ami a half of the old Indian reserva-
tion, which she has inherited from lier ancestors and
which has never been owned by a white man. In
1887 the Legislature passed a resolve providing for

the payment of an annuity of two hundred dollars to
this last representative of the old Hassanamisco tribe,
to be paid by the selectmen of Grafton quarterly after
January 1, 1887, during her life. It would be a fit-
ting and interesting memorial if, after the death of
the beneficiary, her land could remain ungranted and
unoccupied and suitably enclosed to be preserved for
all coming time as a memorial of the aborigines of our
State.

Within the territory of Grafton is to be found also
an interesting landmark, reminding us of one of the
first, if not actually the first, schoolmaster in the
Massachusetts Colony. Elijah Corlet, born in Lon-
don in 1611, graduated at Lincoln College, Oxford,
and came to New England while a young man. He
was the first schoolmaster in Cambridge, and taught
in that town from 1641 until his death, which occur-
red February 24, 1687. Owing to his efforts in behalf
of education, the General Court granted him two
hundred acres of land November 12, 1659, and Octo-
ber 23, 1668, five hundred acres. But these grants
have no connection with Grafton. On the '22d of
May, 1661, however, the Colony records state that
" in answer to the petition of Mr. Elijah Corlet the
Court judgeth it meet to grant the petitioner liberty
to purchase of Netus, the Indian, so much land as the
said Netus, said Indian, is possessed of according to
law, for the satisfaction of the debt due to the peti-
tioner from said Negus." Mr. Corlet had Indian
scholars in his school, and it is thought by some that
a son of Netus was one, and that the debt was owed
for his tuition. On the 11th of October, 1665, Ed-
mond Rice, of Marlboro', and Thomas Noyes, of
Sudbury, reported to the court that the debt due from
Netus to Mr. Corlet was seven pounds ten shillings,
and that, as authorized by the court, they had laid
out three hundred and twenty acres at the north end
of Nepnop Hill for the benefit of Mr. Corlet. In
1685, Mr. Corlet sold the land to Alice Thomas, of
Dedham, and on the 17th of October, 1716, the grand-
children of Mrs. Thomas sold it for two hundred
pounds to Benjamin Willard, housewright; Joseph
Willard, webster; Thomas Pratt, Jr., husbandman,
all of Framingham, and Nehemiah How, of Sudbury.
A description of the land may be found in the deed
from these grandchildren in the Suffolk Registry of
Deeds, Book 37, Folio 250. The land has been vari-
ously called Corlet's Grant, Willard's Farm and the
Farms District.

But it is not proposed to include in this narrative any
details concerning Hassanamisco before its settlement
by the white man. They belong rather to a history
of the Indian tribes than to that of a town whose
birth dates only back to its incorporation and earlier
occupation. When the territory forming the town of
Sutton was sold to the English by John Wampus, the
Sachem, he reserved four miles square for the use of
the Indians, and these sixteen square miles constituted
the town of Grafton at the time of its incorporation.

922

HISTOEY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

They were exclusively used by the Indians until
1718, when, with the approval of the General Court,
Elisha Johnson, of Sutton, bought of the natives a
tract wiihin their limits. Other purchases soon after
followed, and in 1728, no less than nine white families
were living on the land. In 1726, in accordance with
the petition of Samuel Chandler and John Sherman,
in behalf of themselves and other persons living in
Concord, Sudbury, Marlborough and Stow, for per-
mii-sion to purchase the territory of the Indians, a
committee of the General Court, consisting of Na-
thaniel Byfield and Samuel Thaxter, of the Council,
and John Chandler, Major Tilesston and Captain
Goddard, visited the territory and reported Septem-
ber 27, 1727, "that they had carefully viewed the
lands proposed to be sold by the natives there, con-
taining about seven thousand five hundred acres,
about one-half whereof being good soil but very
stony, the other half pitch-pine and shrub-plain;
are of opinion, and have accordingly valued and es-
timated the land at the sum of twenty-five hundred
pounds," jmd recommended that the purchase be ap-
proved on certian sfiecified conditions. The result of
the negotiation which followed was the execution of
the following deed :

To all people to whom these presents shall come:

Ami Printer, Andrew Abruliani, Moses Printer anj Ami Printer, Jr.,
Indians of Hassimamisco, in the county of Sutfolk, witliin his majesty's
Province of the Massacluisetts Bay, in New England, being owners and
proprietors of oue-seveuth part each of and in the Indian native right
of land in Hassanamisco aforesaid, Peter Bluckamaug and Sarah, his
wife, of Hassanamisco aforesaid (owners and proprietors in the right of
the Bidd Sarah), of oiie-seventli part of the said nativeright, and Christian
Misco, relict widow of <!eorge Misco, late of Hassanamisco aforesaid,
deceased, and Josliua Jlisco, of Hassanamisco aforesaid, son of the said
deceased, being owners and pruprietoi-s of two-sevenths parts ol the said
native right —

Sendetb Greeting.

Whereas^ Tlie Great and General Court or Assembly of the aforesaid
Province having been thereunto petitiimed, as well by the Indian natives
and proprietors before named, as by a number of English petitioners,
did in their late session, viz.: in tlie mouth of December last past, in
answer to the petition of Samuel Chandler, John Sherman and others,
gave liberty to tlie petitioners therein referred to to purcbHse the lands
at Hassanamisco by them petitioned for, containing about seven thousmd
five hundred acres, nioi'e or less, of the Indian natives and proprietors
thereof for the settlement of forty English families of the petitiouei-s or
their posterity and no others, exclusive of the English and Indians upon
the spots already, reserving for and unto the said Indian proprietors,
each of them, an equal dividend in said land with each of the purchasers,
to be laid out so as to comprehend and take in their present improve-
ments. And also one hundred acres more of laud there to be the pre.^ent
Indian proprietors', their lieirs and assigns forever. And also tlie sum of
twenty-five hundred pounds, to be deposited in the hands of trustees
appointed, authorized and impowered by the said Great and General
Court or Assembly, to receive and set out the same at interest, on good
and sufficient security, and said interest to be paid to the said Indian
proprietors, and the said Court shall from time to time order and direct,
together with sundry immunities, privileges and enfranchisemouta,
respecting the settlements and support of the ministry and school, as in
and by the records of said Court (relation thereunto being had) doth and
may appear.

Now Know Ye, That the said Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses
Printer, Ami Printer, Jr., Peter and Sarah Muckamaug, Christian Misco
and Joshua Misco, being the only surviving proprietors of the Indian
right of land in Hassjiuamisco aforesaid, for the consideration before
mentioned, have given, granted, bargained, sold, alienated, enfeoffed,
conveyed and confirmed, and by these p.esents do fully, clearly and

absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and confirm unto each of
the persons hereinafter named, being of the proprietore to whom such
liberty of purchasing was granted as aforesaid, or otherwise admitted by
and wiih the approbation or allowance of the said Great and General
Court, oue-fortieth part in common and undivided right of and in all
that tract or parcel of land called or known by the name of Hassana-
misco, situated and bounded by and wiili the township of Sutton, in the
aforesaid county of Suffolk, and surrounded by said Sutton, excepting
always, and reserving out of this present grant and sale, such parta and
dividends thereof aad therein unto them, the said Indian proprietors,
and to their heirs and assigns forever, as is expressed and mentioned in
a vote of the House of Representatives on the 9th of June, 1725, and
accordingly reserved by the Great and General Court as is above expressed,
excepting also and reserving out of this present grant and sale, all such
otlier parts and parcels of said tracts of land as hath been formerly (with
the allowance of said Court) grunted urito sundry English people, to be
holden of them, the said purchasers, their respective heirs and assigns
forever, conformable to the votes, acts and orders of the said Great and
General Court passed thereon in their aforesaid session— that is to eay,
to James Watson, of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, in the Province
aforesaid, mariner, Benjamin Willard, gent, and Joseph Willard, hus-
bandman, being both of or in the County of Suffolk, in the Province
aforesaid, each one-fortieth part thereof to them, their respective heirs
and assigns forever.

To Joseph Rice, Jonathan Morse, David Harrington, Samuel Biglo,
Samuel Stow, Zerubbabel Eager, Samuel Brigham, John Sherman, John
Warren, Nathan Brigham, Sen., Charles Brigham, husbandmen, Jeremiah
Barstow, trader, and Elizabeth Harrington, widow, all of Marlborough,
in the County of Middlesex, in the Province aloresaid, each one-fortieth
part thereof to them, and their respective heirs and assigns, forever.

To Samupl Chandler, John Hunt, Joseph Merriani, Eleazer Flagg,
Jacob Taylor, Ebenezer Wheeler, Josei)h Barrett and Benjamin Barrett,
husbandmen, all of Concord, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex,
each one-fortieth part thereof to them, their respective heirs and assigns,
forever.

To Samuel Hall, Simon Gates. Jr., John Collar, liusbandmen, all of
Stow, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, each one-fortieth part
thereof to them, their respective heirs and assigns, forever.

To William Rogers, gent., and William Rogers, Jr., bricklayer, both
of Wenham, in the County of Essex, in the Province aforesaid, each
one-fortieth part thereof to them, their respective heire and assigns
forever.

To Jonathan Rice and Richard Taylor, both of Sudbury, in the County
of Middlesex, aforesaid, husbandmen, each one-fortieth part thereof
to them and their respective heirs and assigns forever.

To John Jones, of Hopkinton, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex,
husbandman, one-fortieth part thereof to him, his heirs and assigns
forever.

To Jonas Houghton, of Laucaster, in the aforesaid County of Middle-
sex, husbandman, John Davis, of Ipswich, in the Covuity of Essex, in
the Province aforesaid, husbandman, and Thomas ^^■oek^, of Shi'ewa-
bury, in the aforesaid County of Middlesex, husbandman, each one-
fortieth part to them and their heirs and assigns forever.

To Thomas Pratt, of Hassanamisco, in the aforesaid County of Suffolk,
husbandman, and Nathaniel Wilder, of Lancaster, in the aforesaid
County of Middlesex, husbandmen, each one-fortieth part to them and
their heirs and assigns forever. Together with all the rights, members,
profits, privileges, emoluments, hereditanjents and appurtenances to
the said granted premises belonging or ,in any were appertaining, ex-
ceptingonly as before excepted. To have and to hold the said granted,
bargained premises, with the appurtenances and every part thereof, ex-
cept as before excepted, to them, the said James Watson, Benjanin Wil-
lard, Joseph Willard, Joseph Rice, Jonathan Morne, David Harrington,
Samuel Biglo, Samuel Stow, Zernbbabel Eager, Samuel Brigham, John
Sherman, .John Warren, Nathan Brigham, Charles Brigham. Jeremiah
Barstow, Eliza Harrington, Samuel Chandler, John Hunt, Joseph Mer-
riam, Eleazer Flagg, Jacob Taylor, Ebenezer Wheeler, Joseph Barrett,
Samuel Hall, Simon Gates, Nathaniel Hapgood, Phineas Rice, Simon
Gates, Jr., John Collar, William Rogers, William Rogers, Jr., Jonathan
Rice, Richard Taylor, John Jones, Jonas Houghton, John Davis, Thomas
Weeks, Benjamin Barrett, Thomas Pratt and Nathaniel Wilder, and
to their respective heirs and assigns forever, to their and each of their
own proper use and benefit and behoof in manner as aforesaid.

And they, the said Ami Prirfter, Andrew Abraham. Moses Printer,
Ami Printer, Jr., Peter and Sarah (Printer) ^luckamaug. Christian
Misco and Joshua Misco, for themselves, heirs, etc., respectively do, by

GRAFTON.

923

these presents, coveDant, promise and grant to and with tbe said grantees
or purchasers before named, and each and every one of them, their re-
spective heira and assigns in manner following, that is to say, that they,
the eald Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Moses Printer, Peter and
Sanih Muckamaiig, Christian Miaco, Joshua Miaco and Ami Printer,
Jr., are the true, sole and hiwful owners of all and singular the lands at
Hassiinamisco aforesaid, not otherwise heretofore disposed of in manner
aforesaid, and they, the said Indian proprietors, and their heirs respec-
tively, shall and will, from time to time, and at all times forever here-
after, warrant and defend in said granted and bargained premises, with
the appurtenances and every part thereof, excepting only as before ex-
cepted, unto the grantees or purchasei-s before named, severally and re-
spectively, and their respective heirs and assigns, against themselves and
their heirs, and against the lawful claims or demands of any other per-
son whomsoever, claiming, or to claim, the Indian or native right on
property thereof, or of any part thereof.

In witness whereof the said Indiao proprietors have hereunto set
their hauda and seals the nineteenth day of March, Anno Domini
1727.

Ami Printkr (with mark).
MosKS Printer (with mark).
Andrew Auraham (wiih mark).
Peter Muckamaug (with mark).
Sarah Mickamaug (with mark).
Christian Misco (with mark).
Joshua Misco (with mark).
Ami Printer, Je. (with mark).
Signed and sealed and delivered in presence of,

Nehemiah How.
JoNATHAM Adams.
Isaac Whitnev.
Moees Printer signed in presence of ns,

John CiiANnLEB, Jit.
John Mackintire (with mark).
Suffolk, 9s.

IIashanamisco, March 20, 1727-28.
Ami Printer, Andrew Abraham, Peter Muckamaug, Sarah Mucka-
maug, Christian Misco, Joshua Jlisco and Ami Printer, Jr., then sever-
ally acknowledged this instrument to be their respective act and deed, be-
fore me,

John Chandler, Jr.; Jitsl Pucis.
Suffolk 83.

Moses Printer then acknowledged this instrument to be liis act and
deed before me, John Chasi>ler.

July 2, 1728, received and accordingly entered and examined pr.

John BAL^A^T1NE, Eegr.

Before the deed of purchase was made the commit-
tee of the General Court, in a report made to that
body December 18, 1727, recommended the imposi-
tion of certain conditions, which they expressed as
follows:

The committee having concurred the several articles and conditions on
which the p>-litioners for Hassjiuamisco have liberty to purchase a tract
of land comnmnly known by the- name of the Indian proprietors thereof
are humbly of the o|iinion that the petitioners, before the execution of
their deeds, shall, each oue for himself, respectively be bound to the
trustees appointed for said Indians and their successors, witli sureties
for paying a - with part of the coat of building a meeting-house con-
venient for the public worship for themselves and nine English families
already settled within the said Hassanamisco, and the Indian inhabit-
ants of said Hassanamisco, as also for paying the same i)roportion to-
wards building a school-house convenient for the teaching to read and
write the children of tlie same inhabitants, as well Indian as Etiglish,
and that they will set apart twenty acres of said land for the use of said
school, to remain for said service forever, and also for paying the same
proportion for and towards the settling a learned orthodox minister, and
for sett'ing for the said minister a lot of land, equal to other allowances,
to be his own as soon as he takes office among them, and likewise the
building for bin. self (Petitioners accounts read) a dwelling-house and
breaking up four acres of laud in the lot on dividend that shall be appi>r-
tioned and set off to him, all to be within the time and according to the
limitation in the act of the Ureat and General Court relating hereunto
in their present session.

And for its much there are nine English families already settled on
lands withiu Ilassanamisco that will be accommodated by the meeting-
house, scl.ool-house, minister and schoolmaster in said Hassanamisco, as

above, the committee hunjbly propose that the said nine families be by
special act of the Great and General Court required to pay each a fortieth
part to and for erecting and finishing said meeting-house and school-
house, and (o and for the support of said minister and schoolmaster.
And inasmuch as the maintaining a minister and a scboohuaster are to be
from generation to generation, and consequently not so projier for con-
dition in a bond, — The committee humbly conceive that in the aforesaid
act of the Great and General Court the said forty petitioners, with the
other nine English families, inhabitants shall be obliged, from time to
time, forever hereafter to maintain a minister and schoolmaster for the
Indiaus and their children without cost or charge to said Indians or their
posterity.

The General Court subsequently passed the follow-
ing act, entitled : *'An act to oblige and require the
forty petitioners for a tract of land at Hassanamisco,
together with the English proprietors of the other
lands there, to pay the charge of erecting a meeting-
house and school -hou-^e, and of supporting an ortho-
dox minister and schoolmaster in the place :''

Whereas the court, at their present session, in answer to the petition
of Samuel Chandler and others to the number of forty, whose names are
subscribed to the said petition, did give them liberty to purchase the
lands at Hassanamisco by them petitioned for, containing about seven
thousand five hundred acres, more or less, of the Indian natives and pro-
prietors of Hassanamisco, upon condition that forty Englieh familiee
shall be settled upon the land, which families are to be of the pelitionere
or their posterity, and no others, and yet within tbe space of three
years they build and finish a meetinghouse for the public worship of
God ; and build a school honwe fur the instruction as well of the Indians
as English children, and settle a learned orthodox minister to preach the
gospel to them and constantly maintain and duly support a minister and
schoolmaster among them. And ytrt all the above articles shall be with-
out charge to the Indian natives :

And whereas there are sundry English jiroprietors of other lands in
Hassanamisco who will be accommodated by the said meeting-house,
schooMiouse, niiuister and schoolmaster, as well as the forty petitioners,

Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Kep-
resentatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the
samo, that the said forty petitioners be and are hereby required and
obliticd to pay each of them an equal part of four-fifths parts of the
charge of building the said meeting-house and school hoiise, and that
the said English proprietors of the other lands at Hassanamisco be and
are hereby required and obligei! to pay the other fifth part of the above-
said charge to be ap|>ortioned and assessed by the trustees of the Hassa-
namisco Indians already appointed by this court upon the said English
proprietors, according to their best judgment and discretion, they ha\'-
ing regard unto the quantity of land and other estate in Hassiina misco
belonging unto them, and to be collected by such meet person as they
the said trnstees shall appoint lor that end. The abovesjiid proportion
of charges, together with the method of assei^sing and collecting the
same, to be obseived and pursued until the said petitionersaud the other
proprietors be invested with the powers and privileges of a township.

On the 22d of March, 1727-2S, a warrant was
issued by John Chantller, justice of the peace, on the
petition of seven proprieturs,— to wit, Benjamin Wil-
lard, Jonas Houghton, Samuel Chandler, Phinehas
Kice, John Sherman, John Warren and Benjamin
Barrett, — and directed to Benjamin Willard, of
Hassanamisco, directing him to call a meeting of the
proprietors of the purchased lands on Tuesday, the
9th of the following April. The meeting was held at
the house of Jonathan How, in Marlboro', and
Edward Goddard, Jonathan Rico and Joseph Rice
were chosen moderator, clerk and treasurer, respec-
tively. It was voted that a committee consisting of
one from Marlboro', one from Sudbury and one from
Stowe or Sudbury should be appointed to take a sur-
vey of the plantation of Hassanamisco and ascertain

924

HISTOKY OF WORCESTEE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the centre of the same, and Capt. Brigham, of Marl-
boro', John Hunt, of Concord, and Richard Taylor
constituted the committee. It was also voted that
the meeting-house should be located in the middle of
the plantation " in case it be accomodable" and
otherwise at the nearest " accomodable" point, the
same to be decided by a majority of the proprie-
tors.

It was further voted that four acres be set apart for
the meeting-house and burial-place and training-
field, and by a subsequent vote that the school-house
also should be built on the same lot. A vote was
alto passed that a committee be appointed to confer
with the trustees of the Hassanamisco Indians and
to determine on some plan for " the setting out" of
the lands reserved for them and to lay out the same.
It was further voted that the committee lay out lots
for the minister and school-master. The committee
was also empowered to lay out and equalize the lots
of land aud meadow for the first division in eighty
lots of upland, each lot containing forty acres with
necessary allowance for quality, and also to equalize
the lots of meadow after the same manner, so prepar-
ing the several allotments in two parcels of upland
and two pieces of meadow to each proprietor for a
lot on draught. Capt. Nathan Brigham, John Hunt
and Richard Taylor were s^elected as members of the
committee. Other votes were passed relating to as-
sessments to defray the expenses of the proprietor, to
the method of calling meetings and other less impor-
tant matters and the meeting adjourned to the 19th
of April. On that day the adjourned meeting was
held at the house of Nehemiah How and went in a
body to visit the centre of the plantation as fixed by
the committee. It was not found to be convenient
for a mee.ing-house and a spot was selected lying
westerly on the northerly end of a hill called by the
natives Assawos=achasuck. Afterwards another spot
was viewed and finally chosen, and it was voted to set
the meeting-house by a white oak tree, about which
a heap of stones was placed. The proprietors
returned to the house of Mr. How and all questions
concerning the dimensions of the meeting-house and
school-house and the time when it would be expedient
to begin to build them were postponed for future con-
sideration. Capt. Willard, Samuel Biglow, Jonathan
Rice and Eleazer Flagg were added to the equalization
committee, and that committee was authorized to
" se-quester" lands for highways. The four acres thus
set apart now include the Common and the street'
round it in the central village of Grafton.

The plantation of Hassanamisco, managed by its
proprietors, possessed many of the attributes and func-
tions of a town. It had no formal act of incorpora-
tion and no town officers. The proprietors, however,
had their clerk and treasurer and assessors, laid
out highways, built bridges, erected saw-mills, settled
a minister, established schools, divided the lands,
raised money by taxation, set out a burial-place, and

at their meetings did all that was needful in the
administration of their affairs.

In 1730 the meeting-house was built on the lot
now constituting the Common, and in September,
1731, it was voted to invite Rev. Solomon Prentice to
settle as the minister of the plantation with a salary
of one hundred pounds per annum. Mr. Prentice
was ordained on the 29th of December, 1731, and on
the day previous the church was formed. The his-
tory of this church will be more particularly referred
to later on in this narrative. The management of
affairs by the proprietors continued until 1735, when
the town of Grafton was incorporated. The records
of the proprietors containing a full statement of their
doings, with a dencription of the lands allotted to its
members in various divisions, form a part of the
archives of the town and are full of matter of interest
and value to the historian and antiquary.

On the ISth of April, 173-5, the following act of
incorporation was passed by the General Court, in
response to the petition of a committee of the pro-
prietors chosen to present it to the court in January,
1733-34 :

An Act forcreatinga town in the County of Worcester at a plantation
called Hassanamisco by the name of Grafton.

Whereas, the plantation commonly called Hassanamisco in theCoUDty
of Worcester is competently filled with iuhabitajita who have built and
finished a convenient meeting-huuso for the piihlick worship of God,
and have settled a learned orthodox minister amongst them and have
addressed this court to be erected into a separate aud distinct township
tu hold and enjoy equal powers and privileges with the other towns in
the province;

Be it enacted by His Excellency, the Governor, Council and Repre-
sentatives in the General Courc assembled and by the authority of the
ekime :

Sect. 1. That the plantation at Hassanamisco in the county of Wor-
cester, as the saniR is hereafter bounded and described, be and hereby is
set off and constituted a separate and distinct township by the name of
Grafton.

Sect. 2. The bounds of said township being as follows : viz., begin-
ning at a pine tree on a rocky hill at the southeast corner and from
thence extending north four miles with thirty six perch allowance for
loss of measure bounding easterly on Sutton to a heap of stones on a
rock ; from thence west by the needle four miles with thirty rods al-
lowance to a heap of stones ; from thence south four miles to a heap of
stones ninety rods south of the river and a little southward of a small
pine swamp northward of a little brook; and from thence to the corner
first mentioned.

Sect. :i. And that the inhabitants thereof bo and hereby are vested
and endowed with equal powers, privileges and immunities that the in-
habitants uf any of the other towns within this province are or ought by
law to he vested or endowed with.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,

Sect. 4. That such of the grantees as have not fully complied with the
conditions of settlement be and hereby are subjected each one to pay a
fiftieth part of all rates and taxes that shall hereafter be laid on the in-
habitants of tlie said town as well as for the support of the ministry
among them and other town charges until they have fully complied
with the conditions of settlement. Passed and published April 18,
1735.

On the day of the passage of the act of incorpora-
tion the following order was passed by the court :

In the House of Representatives, April 17, 1735, ordered that Mr.
Thomas Pratt, one of the prisable inhabitants of the new town lately
made at the plantation called Hassanamisco, in the County of Worces-
ter, be and hereby is fully authorized and empowered to assemble the

GRAFTON.

925

freeholders and other qualified voters to make choice of town officers to
stand until the iinuiverearj' meeting in March next.

Sent up fur concTirrence,

J. QuiNCEY, Speal-er.
In Council April the 18th, 1735.
Read and concurred,

T. Maso.v, Dept. Secl'y.
A true copy. Converted to

J. Belchbr.
Examined,

Th.\d. Mason, Dep. SecVy.

The name of Grafton was probably suggested by
Governor Belcher in honor of Charles Fitz Roy,
Duke of Grafton, a member of the Privy Council and
a grandson of Charles the Second.

At the first meeting of the town Thomas Pratt was
chosen moderator and Nehemiah How, clerk. The
names of succeeding moderators and clerks up to
1879, as well as those of selectmen and treasurers,
may be found in the history of Gralton, prepared by
Frederick Clifton Pierce, and need not be repeated in
this narrative. The names of Representatives to the
General Courts, both from the town and from the
various Representative districts of which Grafton has
formed a part, are here given as perhaps more clearly
illustrating the prominent men in the various genera-
tions of the town. From the years 1735 to 1755, in-
clusive, none were chosen. The following persons
were Representatives in the years placed against their
names :

Ephraim Sherman 1757

None 1758

None 1759

None 1760

None 1761

None 17U2

None 1763

None 17G4

None 1765

None 1766

Epbraim Sherman 1767

Ephraim Sherman 17G8

None 1769

Ephraim Slierman 1770

Ephraim Sherman 1771

None 1772

None 1773

None 1774

John Sherman 1773

Joseph Batchellcr 1770

Joseph Batcheller 1777

Joseph Batcheller 1778

Nathaniel Sherman 1779

Joseph Batcheller 1780

None 1781

Ephraim Lyon 1782

None 1783

Joseph Wood 1784

Nathaniel Sherman 1785

Nathaniel Sherman 1786

Joseph Wood 1787

Luke Dniry 1788

Luke Drury 1789

Luke Dniry 1790

Joseph Wood 1791

Luke Dniry 1792

Luke Drury 1793

Luke Drury 1794

Joseph Wood 1795

William Brigham _ 1796

None 1797

Joseph Wood 1798

Nathaniel Adams 1799

Nathaniel Adams 180O

Nathaniel Adams 1801

Nathaniel Adams 18112

None 18U3

Joseph Wood 1804

Joseph Wood 1805

Joseph Wood 1806

Joseph Wood 18u7

Eleazer Leland 18u8

Joseph Wood 1809

William Lamb 1810

William Lamb 1811

Joshua Harrington 1812

Joshua Harrington 1813

None 1814

Jonathan Wheeler 181^

None J8i6

None 1817

None 1818

None 1819

None 1820

None 1821

None 1822

None 1823

Cyrus Leland 1824

None 1825

Cyrus Leland 1826

None 1827

Harry Wood 1828

Jonathan Wheeler 1829

Harry Wood 1830

Samuel Wood 1830

Same 1S3I

Same 1832

Samuel Wood 1833

Joshua Harrington 1833

Joshua W. Leland 1833

Samuel Wood 1834

Samuel Wood 1835

Thaddeus Read 1835

Luke Leland, 1835

Koyal Keith 1836

Oliver M. Brigham 1837

Oliver M. Bngham 1838

Samuel Wood 1838

Joseph Bruce 1839

Noah Kimball 1839

None 1840

Albert Stone 1841

Albert Stone 1842

Otis Con verse 1843

Otis Converse 1844

Jonathau Warren 1845

Esek SanndeiB 1846

Esek Sauuders 1847

Joseph Bruce 1848

None 1849

John Whitney 1850

Levi Kawson 1851

Abraham M. Bigelow 18^.2

Charles Goddard 1853

Benjamin Kingsbury 1854

Samuel C. Flagg 1855

Chandler M. Pratt 185B

Luke F.Allen 18.57

Under the operation of the twenty-first article of
amendments of ihe Coiistituiion Grafton became in
1857 the Seventeenth Representative District of
Worcester, and was represented until the next appor-
tionment as follows:

Wm. G Scandlin 1863

Joseph M. Rockwood 1864

Stephen E. White 1865

8. Davis Hall 1866

BufusE. Warren 1868

Gilbert C. Talt 1859

Charles Brigham 1860

Wm. F. Sloconib 1861

Seth J. Axtell 1862

Under the apportionment based on the census of
1865, Grafton and Shrewsbury constituted the Twelfth
Worcester Representative District, and were repre-
sented as follows :

John McClellan, of Grafton 1867

J. H. Wood, of Grafton 1868

George K. Nichols, of Grafton 1869

Tliomas Rice, of Shrewsbury 1870

J. S. Nelson, of Grafton 1871

George F. Sloconib, of Grafton 1872

George H. Harlow, of Shrewsbury 1873

Charles L. Pratt, of Grafton 1874

Thomas T. Greggs, of Grafton 1875

JohnF. Searle, of Grafton 1876

Under the apportionment based on the census of
1875, Grafton and Northbridge constituted the Third
Worcester Representative District, and were repre-
sented as follows:

Henry B. Osgood, of Northbridge 1877 .

Lucius M. Sargent, of Grafton 1878

Francis K. Fowler, of Northbridge 1879

Henry F. Wing, of Grafton 1880

George F. Searles, of Northbridge 1881

Ashley W. Rice, of Grafton 1882

Arthur F. Whitin, of Northbridge 1883

Joseph A, Dodge, of Grafton 1884

Benjamin L. M. Smith, of Northbridge 1885

Luther K. Leland, of Grafton 1880

Under the apportionment based on the census of
1885, Grafton, Westborough, Norihborough, South-
borough, Berlin and Shrewsbury constitute the
Twelfth Worcester Representative District, and have
been represented as follows :

George B. Brigham, of Westborough 1887

Samuel L. Howe, of Shrewsbury 1887

J. Henry Robioson, of Suuthborough 1888

Albert L. Fisher, of Grafton 1888

Aldon M. Bigelow, of Grafton 1889

Samuel Wood, of Northborough 1889

On the 15th of January, 1742, the following act_
was passed by the court, which should have a place
in this record:

Whereas, the proprietors of Hassanamisco lands in the township of
Grafton, by an Act of this Government passed in the firet year of his

926

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

preeeut Majesty's reign, are obliged to erect a meeting-house and school
house and to support a minister and schoolmaster there; and four-fiftJis
of the charge thereby arising was by said act ordered to be defrayed by
forty persons, to whom liberty was granted to purchase said lands ; the
other one-fifth part by nine families before that time settled there, and
that the aforesaid proportion of charges, together with the method there
assigned for raising and collecting monies to defray the same, should con-
tinue to be observed until these lands should be made a townsliip ; and
whereas said lands have since been erected into a township and that be-
fore the whole of the charges so incurred were collected in pursuance of
Baid act ; therefore, to enable said proprietors to collect the same.

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Reitresentjitivea,
That the assessors of the propriety of Grafton, alios Hassanamisco, be,
and hereby are, enabled to assess the several proprie'ors of the said ti'act
of laud purchased by said forty persons and settled or possessed by said
nine families for all charges which may still be behinil and unpaid and
wbifh arose or were occasioned by the compliance of said proprietor
with the duties required of them by the aforesaid act ; four-fifths thereof
to be apportioned upon the present proprietors of the lands petitioned
for and purchaseil by the aforesaid forty persons ; the other one-fifth on
the present proprietors of the lands which were possessed by said nine
English persons or families before the said act. And the Collector on
Collectoi's of the said proprietor of Grafton, aUas Hassanamisco, are
hereby enabled and impowered to gather and collect such taxes as shall
he committed to him or them by the assessors as aforesaid, and upon the
refusal of any of the proprietors who shall be assessed as aforesaid to pay
such sum or sums as shall be set upon or required of them, the collector
or collectors, to whom the said tax is committed, are hereby imi)owered
and directed to make sale to the liighest bidder of so much of the said
proprietor's land w ho shall so refuse to pay as shall satisfy his part of said
assessment, the overplus, i( any there be, to he set to the said proprietor ;
and the said collector or collectors shall put up a notification in some
public place in said Hassanamisco and also give notice of the intended
sale in one or more of the public newspapers at least thirty days before
the time appointed for said sale.

It has been stated that Rev. Solomon Prentice was
invited by the proprietors of Hassanamisco to settle
as the pal- tor of the plantation, and was ordained on
the 29th of December, 1731. At the ordination the
sermon was preached by Rev. Nathaniel Appleton, of
Cambridge, and the church was organized the day
preceding. The first meinbeis of the church were:
Rev. Solomon Prentice, Samuel Cooper, Benjamin
Goddard, Benjamin Willard, James Whipple, James
Whipple, Jr., Thomas Pratt, Thomas Drury, James
Leland, Joseph Willard, Simeon Willard, Nehemiah
Howe, John Collar, Jonathan Hall, Jason Whitney,
Abner Stow, Ephraim Brigham, Jamirs Cutler, Elea-
zer Flagg and Samuel Warren. The ministry of Mr.
Prentice was disturbed by a controver.«y, having its
rise in the excitement attending the prtaching of
Whitefield, and he was dismissed July 10, 1747. Mr.
Prentice was born in Cambridge May 11, 1705, and
graduated at Harvard in 1727. After his dismissal
he was settled in Easton, but finally returned to
Grafton, where he died May 22, 1773.

The second pastor of the church was Rev. Aaron
Hutchinson, a native of Hebron, Conn., and a gradu-
ate of Yale, in the class of 1747. At his ordination,
which occurred June 6, 1750, Rev. Mr. Pomroy, of
Hebron, preached the sermon. His ministry con-
tinued until November 18, 1772, after which he re-
tired to a farm in Pomfret, Vt., where he lived until
his death in September, 1800.

After au interval of four years. Rev. Daniel Gros-
venor wai ordained October 19, 1774, and the Rev.
Ebenezer Gro venor, of Scituate, preached the ser-

mon. Mr. Grosvenor continued in the ministry until
1787, when lie was dismissed. He died at Shrews-
bury March 20, 1849. Mr. Grosvenor was followed
by Rev. John Miles, a native of Westminster, and a
graduate of Brown University in the class of 1794.
He was ordained October 12, 1796, and continued in
the pastorate until October 12, 1826. He was born
in Westminster November 3, 1765, and studied for
the ministry with Rev. Dr. Sanger, of Bridgewater.
He died in Shrewsbury March 20, 1849. His ordina-
tion sermon was preached by Rev. Asaph Rice, of
Westminster.

Rev. Mr. Searle succeeded Mr. Miles, and was dis-
missed December 3, 1831. At his ordination Rev.
Samuel Green, of Boston, preached the sermon. In
consequence of the dismissal of Mr. Searle, the church
in a body, with a large minority of the parish, " with-
drew and made provision for the preaching of the
gospel in its purity, finding that theie was no proba-
bility of their continuing to enjoy the labors of an
Evangelical pastor while connected with the parish."
The church having withdrawn from the parish, the
latter having adopted the Unitarian creed, a new
church was formed out of the parish August 5, 1832,
and a meeting was held April 2, 1832, at which
Pardon Aldrich was chosen moderator ; Harry Wood
was chosen clerk ; Isaac Wood, Charles M. Pratt and
Charles Brigham, Jr., were chosen assessors; and
Henry Wood, Joseph Bruce, Royal Keith, Charles
Brigham, Henry Parker, Samuel Wood and Leonard
Wheelock were chosen a committee to report what
disposition should be made of the old meeting-house.
At a subsequent meeting the committee on the meet-
ing-house reported that, " it is expedient to dispose
of the old meeting-house, and cause the same to be
removed from ofi' the Common, and for the purpose
to choose a committee to cause the pews in the old
meeting-house to be appraised by three disinterested
and discreet men and freeholders within the county
of Worcester, afterwards to sell the same at jjublic
auction, giving suitable notice of the intended sale,
to the highest bidder, on condition that the purchaser
cause the said old meeting-house to be removed irom
the Common within such reasonable time as said
committee shall direct, and to apportion the proceeds
of the sale among the owners of the pews in said
house according to the appraisement."

A new meeting-house was built, and a new church,
now the Unitarian, called the First Congregational,
was formed. The old meeting-house was sold and re-
moved to the westerly side of the street, on the west
side of the Common, where, in a remodeled state, it
still stands, one of the oldest relics of religious edi-
fices to be found in the State, and the present Uni-
tarian meeting-house was built. The new church,
organized in the Unitarian Society, consisted of
Joseph C. Luther, Isaac W. Wood, Joseph Bruce,
Harriet Bruce, Charles Brigham, Jr., Hannah R
Batchelier, Charles L. Heywood, Asahel Fairbanks

GRAFTON.

927

Susannah Wood, Azabah S. Heywood, Annah E.
Brigham, Leonard Wheelock, Persis Wheelock, Cath-
erine L. Heywood, Betsey Jackson, Rul'us P. Chase,
Deborah Knith, Tabatha Prentice, Sarah Lesure,
Martha G. Holbrook, James Shepard, Elizabeth
Shepard, Elizabeth Adams, Polly Knowlton, Au-
gustus S. Heywood and Hepsebah Clisbee.

This church and society were formed under the
care and direction of Rev. Edward Brooks Hall, who
after a i'eve months received a call from the First Con-
gregational Society of Providence, and was there in-
stalled November 14, 1832. Mr. Hall was born in
Medford.on the 2d of September, 1800, and {sraduated
at Harvard in 1829. In 1826 he was .-ettled in North-
hampton and afterward in Cincinnati. Mr. Hall wa.s
the father of Rev. Edward H. Hall, now settled over
the Unitarian Society in Old Cambridge.

Rev. Rufus A. Johnson followed Mr. Hall, and was
installed October 16, 1833. His pastorate continued
until March 12, 1838, and he died in Upton in 1860.
Rev. Cazneau Palfrey succeeded Mr. Johnson, and was
installed April 2-5, 1838. His pastorate continued until
April 2.5, 1843. Mr. Palfrey was born in Boston August
11, 180.5, and graduated at Harvard in 1826. Previous
to his ministry at Grafton he was settled over the
Unitarian Society in Washington, where he remained
six years.

Rev. Edward B. Willson followed Mr. Palfrey, and
was ordained January 3, 1844. His pastorate con-
tinued until July 1, 1852, when, at his own request,
he was dismissed. Mr. Willson was a native of
Petersham, and born August 15, 1820. During "his
pastorate the question was raised, and probably not
for tlie first time, as to who were the rightful owners
of the records of the First Church. As has been
already stated, in 1832, at the time of the settlement
of Mr. Hall, the parish became Unitarian, and the
church seceded in a body, carrying the records with
them. The seceding church, being unanimous in its
action, claimed still to be the First Church, while the
old parish claimed that the church emanating from
and attached to the First Parish was the First
Church, and owned the records. Soon after the
secession of the church an application for the records
was made by the Unitarian Society, but refused.
Now a new application was made in the form of a
compromise, which was granted in the same friendly
and Christian spirit in which it was made. The con-
troversy was settled by the loan of the first two
volumes of the records for the purpose of having
copies made by the Unitarian Parish, and by the gift
of a copy of that part of the third volume which
contained the records of the old church previous to
the secession. In the present resting-place of the
controversy, the seceding church holds the original
records and the First Parish holds the co|)ies. It is
of little consequence which is called the First Church
and which the Second, provided each adheres to the
spirit in which the old church was founded, and per-

forms faithfully the Cnristian work for which it was

originally established.

Alter the resignation of Mr. Willson the church
was without a pastor until 1858, and during a large
part of the interval its pulpit was supplied by Rev.
Farrington Mclntire, a native of Fitchburg, and a
graduate of Harvard in 1843. In 1858 Rev. William
G. Scandlin, a native of Portsmouth, England, and a
graduate of the Meadville School in 1854, was called.
He was installed June 23, J 858, and his pastorate
continued until his death, March 17, 1871. In the
early days of the War of the Rebellion, in response to
his offer of service, he was appointed chaplain of the
Fifteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers,
and received a leave of absence from his people.
During a subsequent service as a member of the
Sanitary Commission he was taken prisoner and con-
fined for a time in Libby prison. His services, both
as chaplain and dispenser of the bounties of the Com-
mission, were widely known and gratefully acknowl-
edged. During his pastorate his meeting-house was
burned, in 1862, and immediately rebuilt. His death
was universally lamented both by his own society
and his fellow-citizens of all denominations, and the
day of his funeral was observed in Grafton as a day
of mourning.

Rev. Charles H. Tindall, a native of New Bruns-
wick, N. J., where he was born October 17, 1841, suc-
ceeded Mr. Scandlin. At first a Methodist, he finally
entered the Harvard Divinity School, from wh'ch
institution he graduated in 1872. He was ordained
at Grafton on the 5th of the following September, on
which occasion the sermon was preached by Rev.
Charles Carroll Everett, of Cambridge. After three
years of service Mr. Tindall resigned, and in August,
1875, was settled over the Unitarian Society in Fall
River.

Rev. William Smith Burton, a native of Norwich,
Vt., succeeded Mr. Tindall. He was born Septem-
ber 29, 1832, and graduated at the Norwich Univer-
sity. He had seen service in the war as a cavalry
major, had engaged in the business of farming, and
had been settled over the Unitarian Societies of
Athol and Clinton. He was installed at Grafton in
January, 1876. The present pastor of the society,
settled in 1887, is Rev. Edmund Quincy Sewall Os-
good, a native of Cohasset and a graduate of Har-
vard, who had previously been settled for several
years over the old First Parish in Plymouth.

After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Searle in 1831, to
which reference has already been made, the seceding
church and some of the members of the Old Parish
formed a new parish, and built the meeting-house
now .standing on the west side of the Common. The
first pastor of this society was Rev. John Wilde, a
native of Dorchester and a graduate of Jliddlebury
College in 1827. He was installed over "The Evan-
gelical Congregational Society," as the new society is
called, June 20, 1832. His pastorate continued until

928

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1839, after which time he resided in Conway, N. H.,
West Falmouth and Topshain, Me., Stamford, Conn.,
and Alexandria, Va., in which latter place he died,
February 10, 1868.

Mr. Wilde was followed by Rev. Thomas Curtis
Biscoe, born in Cambridge, July, 1810, and a gradu-
ate of Amherst in 1831. He was ordained July 18,
1838, and dismissed July 26, 1868. Rev. John H.
Windsor succeeded Mr. Biscoe, and was in.stalled
September 29, 1868. The present pastor of the so-
ciety, whose pastorate has now been extended four
years, is the Rev. B. A. Robie, and under his as well
as jjreceding pastorates the condition of the society
is one of union and prosperity.

The next religious society to be mentioned in the
order of its birth, assuming that the Unitarian So-
ciety and the Evangelical Congregational have a
common date of origin, is the First Baptist Society,
which, with the two societies already mentioned, is
planted at the central village. It was formed in
1767, and in 1773 had for the first time a minister of
its own. From that year until 1775 Rev. Mr. Win-
chester served, and in 1779 Rev. Mr. Eustick began
a three years' ministry. In 1784 Rev. Mr. Ingalls
became connected with the society ; but at the end
of three years his ministry terminated, and the so-
ciety gradually faded away. After the dissolution of
the society, those holding to the Baptist faith held
meetings at private houses until the year 1800, when,
on the 20th of June, the present church was organ-
ized with the names of sixty persons signed to the
Articles of Faith and Covenant. Early in the next
year a meeting-house was built which gave place in
1830 to the edifice now used by the society. After
various temporary supplies. Rev. Thomas Barrett
was ordained June 12, 1816, and remained until
1821, and, after an interval of two years. Rev. Otis
Converse was ordained June 25, 1823, and resigned
March 31, 1836.

Rev. John Jennings was installed August 10, 1836,
and resigned in 1842 to take charge of a church in
Worcester. In the year of the resignation of Mr.
Jennings, Rev. Calvin Newton assumed the pastor-
ate, and in the next year he also resigned. Mr.
Newton was followed by Rev. Benjamin A. Edwards,
who was ordained March 19, 1845. After a pastorate
of four years, he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. McCiear,
who remained only a short time, and was followed
by Rev. Joseph Smith in May, 1851. In 1857 the
pastorate of Mr. Smith terminated, and in the same
year Rev. J. M. Chick began a three years' ministry.
In 1861 Rev. Gilbert Robbins became pastor, and
remained until 1868. In the following year Rev. De
Forest Safford was installed, but remained only a few
months. In August, 1872, Rev. A. C. Huzzey was
ordained, and was followed by Rev. Frank J. Bart-
lett, the present pastor.

The Second Baptist Church, located at North
Grafton, was formed in 1836, by members from the

churches of the central village and of Shrewsbury
and Boylston. In 1838 Rev. Minor G. Clarke was
settled over the church, and in the next year a
meeting-house was built. Mr. Clarke was followed
by Rev. William C. Richards in 1841, Rev. Alfred
Pinuey in 1844, Rev. William C. Richards in 1846,
Rev. William Leverett in 1849, and at later dates by
Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood, Rev. J. D. E. Jones and
Rev. L. M. Sargent.

The Free-Will Baptist Church, in that part
of Grafton called Farnumsville, began to hold meet-
ings in Saundersville in 1838. In 1839 the church
was organized with thirteen members, and in 1840
Rev. Benjamin D. Peck was installed as pastor. He
was dismissed in 1846, and followed by Rev. George
T. Day, who was installed in December, 1846. Rev.
Joseph Whittemore was installed April 1, 1851, and
dismissed April 5, 1852. During his pastorate the
church changed its location to Farnumsville, where
it now holds its services. Rev. Joseph Thayer was
installed in 1852, and, after a season of languishment,
followed by a reorganization, the society settled Rev.
B. F. Pritchard in 1862, who remained until 1864.
Rev. M. W. Burlingame was installed March 21, 1865,
and dismissed the next year. Rev. G. W. Wallace
followed in 1867, Rev. Daniel C. Wheeler in 1870,
Rev. A. M. Freeman in 1871, Rev. Francis Read in
1876, and Rev. Andrew J. Eastman in 1878. The
present pastor is Rev. Mr. Sherw^ood, who succeeded
Rev. W. H. Ward.

St. Philip's Church was established in 1848, in
which year a small chapel was built in the central
village. Until 1858 it was a mission church, and
attended by Father Sheridan and other pastors from
Blackstone. In 1858 it was annexed to St. Ann's
Church of Worcester, and attended by Father Powers
of that church until 1869. In July, 1869, it was joined
with the Millbury Mission, and made a parish, under
the pastorate of Rev. M. J. Doherty. In October,
1869, the (irafton Mission was made a parish, to
which that of Upton was joined. Rev. A. M. Barrett
was appointed, in 1869, resident pastor, and was suc-
ceeded by the present pastor. Rev. James Boyle.
There are also Catholic societies, more recently
formed, at North Grafton and Fishersville.

The Saundersville Congregational Church was
formed in 1860, with sixteen members. Its first
pastor was Rev. William Miller, who continued his
service from that ye!^r until April 6, 1862. He was
succeeded by Rev. Simeon Waters in 1863, who
remained about three years. Rev. James E. Hall
followed in 1867, and remained one year. His suc-
cessor was Rev. Alvan J. Bates, who was installed
June 22, 1869, and who was followed by Rev. Harvey
M. Stone, whose installation took place December 18,
1878. The present pastor is Rev. B. F. Perkins.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at
North Grafton in 1842 and reorganized in 1866. Its
present pastor is Rev. E. H. Tunnicliff.

GRAFTON.

929

The town of Grafton was not destined to a career
of peace when its act of incorporation was secured.
After a few 3'ears the French and Indian War broke
out, and in Grafton and vicinity a company was
formed to aid in the relief of Fort William Henry.
Of this company thirty-six belonged to Grafton, and
the commander of the company was Captain James
Whipple, and its march began August 16,1757. In
1758 twenty-three more enlisted for the service, and
in 1759 nineteen additional. A list of the soldiers
engaged in this war belonging to Grafton may be
found in " Pierce's History," already referred to.

In the War of the Revolution Grafton was not behind
her sister towns in patriotic efforts to establish the
American Union. At a town-meeting held February
1. 1773, in answer to a letter from the Committee of
Correspondence in Boston, the town voted, " that they
would defend their rights at all hazards ; that they
would not suffer their property to be taken from them
in an unconstitutional manner, and that they were
ready to co-operate with their brethren in Boston and
other places in any measures to obtain a redress of
grievances." With regard to the importation of tea,
the town resolved, "as the people of this town, that
any one individual, or any body of men, that shall
encourage, aid or as^iist in importing or receiving any
such tea, or any other article, while subject to a duty,
the sole purpose whereof is to raise money to appro-
priate to any sordid measure, or any use whatever,
contrary to our just rights of distributing our own
property, wherewith God and nature hath made us
free, can but be viewed as criminal to our country, as
well as to the mother-State, and must be so viewed by
us." On the occurrence of the battle of Lexington,
on the 19th of April, 1775, messengers were sent
throughout the State of Massachusetts, and on the
same day two companies marched for Boston. These
companies were followed by continued enlistments
during the war, and the names of those engaged in
the war may be found in the history of Mr. Pierce,
who has made an exhaustive search of the archives
at the State-House, in order to make the lists com-
plete. It is not necessary to repeat these lists in this
narrative. It is sufficient to say that Grafton bore
her full share of the burdens of the war, and furnished
her full quota of the soldiers necessary to bring it to
a favorable conclusion.

Neither the French War with England at the close
of the last century, in which the maritime towns
severely suffered, nor the War of 1812, materially
affected the interests and welfare of Grafton. Her
interests were at that time chiefly agricultural, and
the annoyances of war failed to reach her borders.
Her people were at that time also initiating manufac-
turing enterprises, and the home market they sought
was the more thoroughly secured by the distracting
influences of the war on foreign trade. It is by no
means certain that the foreign complications, which
began with the French Revolution and closed with
oil

the peace of 1815, did not serve to establish on a
firmer foundation the manufacturing enterprises of
our country, than could have been secured with the
channels of trade clear and unobstructed.

Between the War of 1812 and the War of the
Rebellion little occurred to demand the services of
the pen of the historian. The town enjoyed a peaceful
country life, gradually enlarging its population, stead-
ily increasing and perfecting the means of educating
its people, constantly extending its manufactures, and
the better sustaining its people by honest labor in
their search for a more thorough enjoyment of life,
by the cultivation of their social and intellectual
powers. While in a condition of prosperity never
before experienced, the War of 181)1 came on. Though
the premonitions had been unfavorable, yet on the
whole the war was a surprise, and consequently the
news of the attack on Massachusetts troops in Balti-
more on the 19th of April, 1861, took the people by
surprise. On the 20th of April, the day of the
reception of the news, the selectmen called an informal
meeting of the town to be held on the afternoon of
that day. The selectmen at that time were, Jonathan
D. Wheeler, H. S. Warren, George W. Estabrook and
John McClellan. Charles Brigham was chosen moder-
ator, and James W. White, secretary. Prayer was
offered by Rev. Wm. G. Scandlin, and a committee,
consisting of Esek Saunders, Wra. F. Slocum, W. D.
Wheeler, J. S. Nelson and Thomas C. Briscoe, was
chosen to prepare business for the meeting. Benjamin
Smith, an old Revolutionary soldier, ninety-eight
years of age, was seated on the platform. At this
meeting it was resolved that " we, citizens of the
United States residing in Grafton, do pledge to our
country in this hour of trial and need, our property,
our lives and our unconditional support, and that we
will do all in our power to defend our country against
the dangers which threaten its existence." It was
also resolved that " we will encourage the organization
of a company of volunteer militia in the town of
Grafton, to be equipped, drilled and ready for service
at their country's call, and that it is incumbent on us
to see that the families of those who may be called
into service are supplied during their absence." It
was further resolved that "we recommend the holding
of a legal town-meeting as soon as may be, and that
it is the sense of this meeting that the town should
appropriate the sum of four thnusand dollars, or so
much as may be needed to defray the expenses of
organizing such company of volunteer militia, and to
render such aid to the families of those who enlist as
may be needed." A committee of seven was appointed,
consisting of Rufus E. Warren, Esek Saunders, Alfred
Morse, C. M. Pratt, W. D. Wheeler, L. M. Sargent
and Wra. F. Slocum, to procure the enlistment and
charter of a volunteer company. At the close of the
meeting the selectmen at once issued their warrant
for a town-meeting to be held on the 29th of April,
and on that occasion S. D. Hall was chosen moderator.

fl30

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Rev. J. M. Rockwood offered a prayer, and a com-
mittee of fourteen was chosen to have a general over-
sight of military affiiirs. The committee consisted of
A. M. Bigelow, Winthrop Faulkner, Rufus E. Warren,
Chandler M. Pratt, .Tas])er S. Nelson, Alfred Morse,
Levi Rawsou, Esek Saunders, S. P. Champney, J. B.
Adams, Charles Brigham, Lawson ]\runyan, S. J.
Axtell and A. M. Bigelow. At this meeting it was
voted to appropriate four thousand dollars for the
purpose of organizing a company, and to pay one
dollar per day to each volunteer who engaged in
drilling. It is not necessary, however, to repeat here
the different votes of the town passed at various times.
The town furnished three hundred and ninety-three
men for the war, ten of whom were commissioned
officers. The whole amount of money expended during
the war was .'?(38,001.09, of which the sum of
$28,650.86, expended in State aid, was repaid by the
Commonwealth.

The following list of persons who enlisted or were
drafted into the service during the war is taken from
the "Report of the Selectmen of Grafton" for the
year ending March 5, 1S(J6 :

Thomas D. Allen, three yeui-s loth Kegimeut, bund

Thomas D. Alleu. three years 20th Regiment, bantl

Beojiimin F. Allen, three veare 3f>th Regiment

Bradford E. Aldrich, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Albert D. Amsden, three years Cavalry, Capt. Reed's Co.

Joseph K. Axtoll, nine uionths 5lBt Regiment, Co. E

Seth J. Axtell, Jr., nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Ira C. Aldrich, nine months 5lst Regiment, Co. E

Cyrus R. Axtell, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles Apel, three years.

Charles M. Batchelder, three yeui-s 15th Regiment, Co. G

Henry S. Ball, threi* years loth Regiment, Co. G

Adelbert L. Brown, three years loth Regiment, C!o. G

A. T. Bryant, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Joseph Bonner, three yeai"s I5th Regiment, Co. G

Charles W. Berry, three yeais 15th Regiment, Co. G

Thomas M. Bigelow, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

George M. Bigelow, thi'ee years 3ith Regiment, Co. A

Harvey Bassutt, throe years loth Regiment, Co, G

Gilbert E. Balcom, tiirce years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Lucius Boydou, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

George R. Brown, three yeare 25tb Regiment, Co. A

John S. Burns, three years Slth Regimant, Co. A

Joseph Bardsley, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Thomas C. Bryant, three yeare 34th Regiment, Co. A

George E. Burns, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Abel H. Balcom, three years 36th Regiment

Peter Barras, three years Butler's Brigade

Joseph Buxtv.n, throe years 3Gth Regiment, Co. ('

John \V. Bigelow, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Arthur G. Biscoe, nine mouths 6l8t Regiment, Co. E

Willard Balcom, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Daniel C. Brown, nine months 51pt Regiment, Co. E

George A. Bartlett, nine months olst Regiment, Co. E

George A. Bartlett, one year Heavy Artillery

Edward Bonner, three years Heavy Artillery

B. F. Barney (drafted), three years 1st Provost Guard

Joshua Brewer, three years Heavy Artillery, Co. A

Thomas H. Brewer, three years Heavy Artillery, Co. A

Me.rcu8 M. Bryan, three years 58tli Regiment, Co. F

Edward E. Bigelow, three years 4th Cav.

Herbert Bond, three years 15th Regiment, Co. D

Wm. Blodgett, three years 15th Regiment

H. C. Brown, three years 15th Regiment

Marcus M, Bruce, one year 1st Heavy Artillery

John Brophy, one year lat Heavy Artillery

JobD. Ballou, one year .Ist Heavy ArtiUery

Alauson E. Burns, one year Heavy Artillery

^larciis D. Balcom, one year Heavy Artillery

Ambrose Boynton, one year Heavy Artillery

Alden M. Bigelow, one year Heavy Artillery

John Chappel, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles Claflin, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles Claflin, three years..: 4th I'av., Co. G

Vk'm. Collins, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Cliarles L. Caswell, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

AVillard G. Claflin, three yeara 15th Rc'giment,Co. G

Curtis Cady, three years l.'>tli Regiment, Co. G

Andrew J. Copp, three years Ifit Bat., M. V. M.

Harrison J. Clisbee, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Julius A. Clisbee, three years 16th Regiment, Co. G

Preston A. Champney, three years 2oth Regiment, Co.

Samuel G. Champney, three years 'J5th Regiment, Co. D

Leroy S. Currier, three yeare SSth Regiment, C^). K

Leroy S. Currier, throe yeai-s Uoth Regiment, Co. K

Lorin S. Clark, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Villard Clapp, three jears 34th Regiment, Co. A

Donald A. Campbell, three yeare 15th Regiment

Franklin T. Coburn, three years 15th Regiment

A. M. Cole, three years. 39th Regiment

Edward F. Chambeilin, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Edward F. Chamberlin, one year Heavy Artillery

MuscB Caswell, nine months 5l6t Regiment, Co. E

Win. A. Copp, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Henry K. ('ady, three years 4lh Cavalry

Wm. A. Clapp, three years '^d Cav., bugler

Joel F. Cobb, three years Band

Andrew S. Cobb, three j-ears 15th Regiment, Co. D

S. L. Cnmmings, three years 15th Regiment, Co, D

George G. Childe, three years 15th Regiment, Co. D

J. W. Cryan, three years Signal Corps

Jonas H. Chickering, one year Heavy Artillery

Barney Cain, three years.

Daniel Callahan, three years 17th Regiment, Co. A

John W. Davis, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

James T. Dennis, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Wm. B. Dean, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Horace Day, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

,Iuhn C. Desmond, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Augustus E. Davis, three years 25th Regiment, Co. K

Augustus E. Davis, three yeare 25th Regiment, Co. K

Orin L. Davie, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Marcus M. Daniels, nine mouths 5Ut Regiment, Co. E

James Davis, nine months 51st Regiment, (Jo. E

John H. Drury, nine months 5l6t Regiment, Co. E

John H. Drury, one year Heavy Artillery

Mariner 0. Davis, three years Heavy Artillery

George Davis, three years Heavy Artillery

Everett Davis, three years let Cav.

James Daniels, three years 15th Regiment, C^j. D

Marcus M. Daniels, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Watts E. Davis, three years 26th Regiment, Co. D

John Doran, three years Ist U. S. A., Co. H

Reuben A. Ellis, three years 15th Regiment, (!o. G

George F. Estabook, one year Heavy Artillery

W. Forehard (capt.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Levi J. Ford, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Walter J. Flags, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Alton W. Fairbanks, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Francis P. Fairbanks, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Henry A. Frissell, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

George H. French, nine months olst Regiment, Co. E

George H. French, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles N. Frenfh, nine months 5lBt Regiment, Co. E

Wm. C. Fletcher, nine months 5l8t Regiment, Co. E

Wm. C. Fletcher, one year.

George W. Ferris, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

George W. Ferris, 1 year Heavy Artillery

M'm. H. Fisher, nine months 5l8t Regiment, Co. E

Wm. S. Fullerton, three yeare 4th Cav.

Patrick Furfey, three years 11th Regiment, Co. A

John Fasell, three years 2Uth Regiment

George E. Fressell, one year Heavy Artillery

GRAFTON.

931

George A. Farren.

Henry H. Gilson, three yeai-s 26th Regiment, Co.B

Joseph Griniin, three years 2oth Regiment, Co. K

Joseph H. Grant, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

James S. Gee, three years 21st Rey;iment, Co. F

Welcome F. Gifford, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

James Gleason, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

James Gleason, one year Heavy Artillery

Perley Goddard, nine months 5l8t Regiment, Co. E

Ora S. Gibhs, three years 4th Cav.

Alex. Grovling, three years lotli Regiment, Co. G

L. F. C. Garvin, nine months olst Regiment, Co. E

Wm. H. Gilaon, three years 26th Regiment

John H. Goddard, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles Gay, three years.

Newell K. Holden, three years 16th Regiment, Co. G

Francis E. Huchens, three years 15tli Regiment, Co. G

Jamea Howarth, three years Iftth Regiment, Co. K

James Howarth, three yeare oVth Keginient, Co A

John Holland, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Cromwell L. Hill, three years l.'ith Regiment, Co. G

Eduin W. Hammond, three years 15fli Regiment, Co. G

John Flowiit, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

James Hughes, three years 15th Regiment, Co.G

Alfred A. Howe, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Edward A, Howe, three years. 21st Regiment. Co. D

Dexter B. Hathaway, three years 2lBt Regiment, baud

Dexter B, Hathaway, three years Corps D'Afrique

George W*. Hitstings, three yeai*s 25th Regiment, Co. D

Theodore E. Holt, three years 15th Regiment

Adolphus Howe, three years 15th Regiment, Co. K

Wiii. H. Hammond, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Wm. H. Hammond, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles J. Holden. nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Edwin A. Howe, three years. Heavy Artillery

Martin T. Hildreth, three years 4th Cav.

Archibald B. Hudson, three years 15th Regiment, Co. E

Michael Hennessey, three years Heavy Artillery

Charles E. Howe, three years 4th Cav.

C. M. Hanson, three years Signal Corps

Samuel D. Hall, one year Heavy Artillery

Daniel Harris, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles A. Johnson, three years I5th Regiment, Cv. G

Charles A. Johnson, three years.

R chard Johnson, three yeai"8 15th Regiment, Co. G

Richard Johnson, three years.

Edward S. Johnson, thi'ee years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Hugh Jamison, three years 25th Regiment, Co. E

Hugh Jamison, three j-ears 25th Regiment

George F. Jourdan, nine months 51st Regiment, C'O. E

Asa H. Jourdan, nine months 5l8t Regiment, Co. E

Jerome Johnson, three years 25th Regiment, Co. K

John H. Kimball, three years 15tli Regiment, Co. G

James C. Kelly, three years loth Itegiment, Co. G

.lames C. Kelly, three years Invalid Corps

James L. Keating, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

John Keyes, three years 38th Regiment. Co. E

Patrick Kelley, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

James S. Kirkup, three years loth Regiment, Co. G

Russell Kempton, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Benjamin W. Knight, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Cliarles E. Kimball, three years Signal Corps

Darwin N, Kelsea, one year Heavy Artillery

E. Walter Keith, one year Heavy Artillery

Royal A. Leland, three years 2oth Regiment, Co. D

Royal A. Leland, three years 25th Regiment, Co. D

Cheney Lathe, Jr., nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Cheney Lathe, Jr., three years. Signal Corps

John J. Leland, nine months 51st Regiment, Co, E

Thomas 0. Lucas, three years. Corps D'Afrique, band

Stephen N. Lougee, Jr., three years Corps D'Afrique, band

Augustus J. Leland, three years 25th Regiment

Isaac Laduke, three yeara.

John Lagassey, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

John Laduke, three years 5Rth Regiment, Co. K

Mack Lynch, three years 58th Regiment, Co. F

Smith J. Lee, three years 67th Regiment

Wm. Mathews, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

Frank H. Marble, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

George A. Macken, three yeare

..I5th Regiment, Go. G

Frederick C. Margerum, three yeare

..15th Regiment, Co. G

Willie E, Moore, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

John fliai-tin, three years

..15th Regiment, Co. G

John Martin, three years.

George A. Monroe, three years

....15th Regiment, Co. G

67th Ref'iment

Joseph Myott, three years

15th Regiment

Charles L. Mitchell, three years

15th Regiment

.Tolin McKenzie, three years

...1.3th Regiment, Co. G

James E. McClellan, nine months

...5lst Regiment, Co. E

51st Regiment Co E

.James W. McKenzie, nine months.

....51st Regiment, Co. E

2d Cav

John McLaughlin, nine months

Heavy Artillery

James McHenry, nine months.

Heavy Artillery

A. J. Miller, three years

....22d Regiment, Co. D

Charles W. Melney, three years

Heavy Artillery

James W. Magrath, one year

Heavy Artillery

James Msllor, one year

Heavy Artillery

John E. McClellan, one year

Heavy Artillery

Bernard Melone, three years

3d U. S. Artillery

Charles Myott, three years

20th Regiment

James Moore three years.

Wm. Morton, three years.

Palrick Mulguerry.

Elmer 31. Newton, three years

...15th Regiment, Co.G

Leroy A. Nelson, three years

....Ifith Regiment, Co. A

George M. Newton, one year

Heavy Artillery

Jonathan E. Nichols, one year

Heavy Artillery

Albert S. Newton, three years

Heavy Artillery

Charles H. Oaks, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

Francis A. Plympton, three years

..15th Regiment, Co. G

....21st Regiment Co D

Henry W. Pratt, three years

42d Regiment

Wm. H. Putnam, three years

...25th Regiment, Co. A

Wm. H. Putnam, three years.

..25th Regiment, Co. A

Joshua R. Parmenter, three years

...i'5th Regiment, Co. K

Austen Putnam, three years

...34tii Regiment, Co. A

Richard K. Pratt, three j'eare

..34th Regiment, Co. A

Otis B. Pratt, nine months

....51st Regiment, Co. E

George B. Pratt, nine months

...51st Regiment, Co. E

Samuel H.Pratt, nine months

...51st Regiment, Co. E

John Pogue (2d), nine mouths

...5l8t Regiment, Co. E

M. V. Powers (drafted) three years

Ist Provost Guard

Charles Putnam (dmfted), three years.

Ist Provost Guard

Henry A. Peckham, three yeai-s

4lh Cav.

. . . ''5th Regiment

Henry H. Pratt, three years

25th Regiment

Webster D. Plympton, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

Roliert Preston, three j'ears

Uith Regiment

Simon M. Plaisted, one year

Heavy Artillery

Luke G. Pratt, one year

Heavy Artillery

John E. Prentice, one year

Heavy Artillery

Wm. H. Putnam (2d), one year

Heavy Artillery

Frederick B. Robinson, three years

..15th Regiment, Co. G

Jatnes E. Richards, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

..15th Regiment, Co. G

Marvin A. Roods, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

Rufus A. Roods, three years

..15th Regiment, Co. K

Wm. E. Robbins, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. G

Alpheus Remick, three years

...15th Regiment, Co. I

Moses Rivod. three years

57th Regiment

John Roherson, Jr., three years

58th Regiment

Stephen Roberson, three years

58th Regiment

932

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS

Augustus Semick, three years 58th Regiment

Ira J. Rigge, one year Heavy Artillery

Nathaniel P. Reinick, one year Heavy Artillery

Henry F. Robinson, one year ..Heavy Artillery

Jonathan P. Stowe, three years loth Regiment Co. G

Albert A. Smith, three years loth Regiment Co. G

John D. Sherman, three years 15th Regiment Co. Q

Charles Snow, three years Iftth Regiment Co. G

Alfred Snow, three years 15th Ke;;inient Co. G

Peter Shurhurt, three years loth Regiment, Go. G

Charles F. Spring, three years 31th Regiment, Co. A

John Savage, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Wm. Sherry, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Orin T.Stacy, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Timothy Sullivan, three yeare .34th Regiment, Co. A

John M. Sargent, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Silas W. Smith, three years 3Cth Regiment

John R. Smith, three years lolh Regiment

Matliew Smith, thr^^e years 0th Regiment, Co. B

Lucius M. Sargent, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

J. Frank Sweeney, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

J. Frank Searle, nine months Slst Regiment, Co. E

J. Frank Searle, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles Snow {2d) (drafted), three years 1st I'rovust Guard

Edwjird R. Smith, three years 4th Cav.

Augustus Sibly, three yeara 15th Regiment, Co. D

Wm. Sibley, three yeare 15th Regiment Co. G

Edward Shambo. three yeare 57th Regiment, Co. H

Charles Skinner, three years Heavy Artillery

George K. Stratton, one year Heavy Artillei-y

James B. Stratton, one year Heavy Artillery

Ithamer F. Stow, one year Heavy Artillery

Levi Simson, one year.
Henry Stampley, one year.

John Shaw, one year, 5oth Regiment, Co. K

John G. Thornton, one year 15th Regiment, Co. K

George E. Tiffany, one year 15th Rejfiment, Co. G

Peter Tuliey, one year 21st Regiment, Co. E

Emory A. Taft, nine months olst Regiment, Co. A

Edward Terrell, three years 57th Regiment

Richard Truax, one year Heavy Artillery

Vail.

Abiam Viincuren, throe years .Slst Rej^iment, Co. E

James X>. Whitney, three yeare 21st Regiment, Co. D

James D. Whitney, three years .21st lUgiment, Co. D

George N. Wheelock, three years 16th Regiment, Co. G

Albert Wait, three years X5th Regiment, Co. G

Luther W. Whitney, three years 22d Regiment, Co. D

James White, three years 22d Regiment, Co. D

Calvin A. Wesson, three years 25th Regiment, Co. A

Hale Wesson, three years 25th Regiment, Co. A

James Wesson, three years 25th Regiment, Co. A

Frederick Whitney, three years 15th Regiment, Co. Q

Caleb W. Wlieeler, three years .34tli Regiment, Co.A

Franklin Wiiitny, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Frederick Whitney (2d), three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

W. F. Wheeler (capt.), nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

John Wheeler, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Henry A. Wessun, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

George C. N. Webster, nine mouths 51st Regiirient. Co. E

<;eorge C. N. Webster, one year Heavy Artillery

James S. Walker, nine months Slst Regiment, Co. E

Lyman A. Walcott, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

George W. AValcott, three years 4th Cav.

Joseph C. Webb, three yeare 57th Regiment, Co. H

Wm. R.Walker, three years 5Tth Regiment, Co. A

Sidney H. Whitney, three years 4th Cav.

Joseph Wilson, three years 58th Regiment, Co. F

Albert White, three years 57th Regiment, Co. G

Azor B. Wood, une year Heavy Artillery

Fred. F. Walcott, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles A. White, one year Heavy Artillery

Wm. S. Wood, one year Heavy Artillery

George T. Whitney, three years 22d Regiment

Harry Wigfall, three years.

John Wilson, three years.

George M. Newton, three years Navy

Edward Jennings, three yeare Navy

Sam\iel H. Wood, three years Navy

Arba T. Turner three years ' Navy

The following soldiers were killed or died in the
service :

Albert D. Amsden died at New Orleans^ May 13, 1K62

Henry S. Ball died December 6, 1862

Adelbert L. Brown died Jrine 19, 1862, of wounds

A. T. Bryant killed at A nti.-tam September 17, 1862

Joseph Benner died May 13, 1864, of wounds

Gilbert E. Balcom died December 12, 1862

Lucius E. Boydeu died August 26, 1862

Joseph Bardsley killed at Gettysburg in July, 1863

George E. Burns died November 6, 1862, of wounds

Peter Barris died December l;i, 1862, at New Orleans

Charles L. Caswell died December 15,1862, of wotinds

Curtis Cady killed June 4, 1864, at Cold Harbor

Harrison J. Clisbee killed September 17, 1862, at Antietam

Preston A.Cbampney died in Andereonville Prison

Sanmel G. Champney died October 10, 1864

Leroy S. Currier killed July 10, isiU

Donald A. Campbell. died in prison February lt'\ 1866

Horace Day killed at Ball's Bluff

Orin L. Davie killed at Antietam September 17, 1862

George Davis died in 1864

Reuben A. Ellis died in 1862

Francis P. Fairbanks died December 15, 1862

Henry A. Fressell died March 7, 1863, in prison

Charles N. French died February 28, 1863

John Howith died May 7, 1864, of wounds

Jauies* Hughes died September 27, 1862, of woundn

Alfred A. Howe died December 23, 1H64, in prison

Martin T. Hildreth killed October 28, 1864

Edward S. Johnson killed

Jerome Johnson died February 23, 186,"i, in prison

John H. Kimball died in prison May S, 1864

Royal A. Leland died in October, 1^64, at Newbern

Augustus J. Leland killed June 3, 1864

Wm. Mathews kille<l December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg

Frank H Marble died November 26, 1862

George A. JIackiu , died in prison June 22, 1864

Willie E. Storse died December 30, 1862, of wounds

Charles L. Mitchell died October 19, 1862, of wounds

James E. McClellan drowned July 8, 1863

Charles E. Monroe died January 28, 1^63

Charles Myott died May 20, 1864, of wounds

Elmer M. Newton killed at Ball's Bluff August 21, 1861

Leroy A. Nelsuu killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg

.Sylvester Oaks. killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg

Samuel H. Pratt died February 2, 1863

Frederick B. Robinson killed at Ball's Blutl, Augui^t 21, 1861

Abner 11. Rice killed in the Wilderness

Alpheus Remick died February 27, 1H64

Jonathan P, Stowe died October 1, 1862, of wounds

John I). Sherman killed at Ball's Bluff August 21, 1861

Alfred Snow died October Is, 1862, of wounds

Peter Shurbart lulled at Ball's Bluff August 21, 1861

John M. Sargent killed at Antietam

Matliew Smith killed June 27, 1862, at Gaines' Mills

William Sibley died in 1866

Edward Torrell died in prison

George N. Wheelock killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863

Lyman A, Walcott died June 17, 1863

Joseph C. Webb died July 30, 1864

It has been stated in the early part of this narrative
that the original Indian reservation of Hassanamisco
; was four miles square. This territory of four miles
square was what was purchased of the Indians by the
Hassanamisco proprietors, and the town of Grafton
when incorporated was limited to the same. At
some time after the incorporation of the town, and
before 1793, a strip of land a half-mile in width was
set off from Shiew&bury on the north and the same

GRAFTON.

933

amouut of laud set otl' from Suttou on the south and
both were annexed to Grafton, making that town five
miles long instead of four, as it originally was. The
dates of these annexations the writer has not been
able to learn and he only knows that they were before
1793, because they are mentioned in the "History of
Worcester County," written by Peter Whitney, and
published in that year. The original boundaries of
the town have experienced three other changes besides
those referred to. By an .ict of the General Court
passed .Tune 14, 1823, it was provided —

That Abel Willard and Juhu Willarti, witli tlie fuUowiug described
gore of land, be annexed to the town of Graftun, to wit; beginning at
the northwest corner of the town of Gmfton on Mitlbury line; thence
on Baid Millbnry line to the northeast corner of said town; thence on
the .same course north two degrees west to Flint's pond {so called); thence
bounding down said pond to the outlet thereof; thence down the thread
of said outlet until it meets little Blackstone river; thence down the
centre of said river until it intersects the line of said Grafton; thence on
said Grafton line to the first bounds; and that in future the said Abel
and John shall be entitled to all the privileges and sut'ject to all the
duties incident to the inhabitants of said town of Graftou,

By an act passed March 3, 1826, it was provided :

That Tarrant Merriaui and his family, together with a certain tract
of land situated in the town of Slirewsbury, containing about oue hun-
dred and eighty-six acres more or less, chiefly owned by said Merriaru,
and bounded as follows, to wit ; On three sides by the town of Grafton,
and on the fourth side by a line beginning at a point on the boundary
line of said Gmfton, where the corners of one Jasper Rand's land and
of the said Merriam's land meet, and on the east side of one Elijah
Brooks' land, and thence running east ten degrees south thirty-seven
rods to the road leading from said Grafton to said Shrewsbury, thence
easterly on said road until it conies to said Alerriam's land on the norfli
Bide, thence east twenty-seven degrees north one hundred and twenty-
five rods, thence east eight degrees north to a corner of the north
boundary line of said Grafton, be and the same are hereby set off from
said Shrewsbury and annexed to said Grafton, and they shall forever
hereafter be subject to all the duties and entitled to all the privileges of
inhabitants of said Graftou ; provided, however, that said Ulerriam and
the other owners of said tract of land shall be holden to l)ay all taxes
that have been lawfully assessed upon them by said Shrewsbury previous
to the passing of this act.

By still another act, passed March 3, 1S42, it was
provided that :

So iiiHch of Sutton aa lies northerly and easterly of the following
boundary lines, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of North-
bridge, thence south eighty-two degrees west two hundred and twelve
and one-half rods to the northeast corner of the school-house number
ten in Sutton, thence north four degrees and nine minutes west to Graf-
ton line, two hundred and eighty-seven and one-half rods to tJraffon
line, is hereby annexed to Graftou ; provided, however, that all persons
so annexed shall be holden to pay all taxes now due in the same manner
as if this act had not passed.

It has been stated that four acres of land were set
apart in 1828 for a meeting-house, a school-house
and a training-field. A school-house was built in
1731 on what is now the Common, and there remained
until 1832, when it was removed. It was twenty-one
feet long and sixteen feet wide. Up to 1737 it con-
tinued the only school in the town, Imt in a very few
years after that date the schotil became, a-s it was
called, a " moving school," and was taught in five
different districts in different parts of the year. It is
not necessary, however, to follow the development of
the school system along its devious way to its present
useful condition. A high school was established in
the town by means* of the incorporation i>f a Hisfh

School Association in 1850, by whom a building was
erected and leased to the town under an arrangement
which continued until 1867, when the town bought
the building for three thousand five hundred dollars
and the association was dissolved. In 1869 the old
school district system was abolished, and under a
central management the schools have become more
vigorous and useful. According to the report of the
School Committee for the year ending January 31,
1888, there were at that time in the town a high
school and twenty-one schools of higher grades. Of
the twenty-one schools, five were located at the
central village, four at North Grafton, two at Saun-
dersville, four at Farnumsville and Fisherville, and
the remaining six were the Waterville, Brigham Hill,
Farms Precinct, George Hill, Keith Hill and Mer-
riam Precinct. The High School enrollment num-
bered 69, and that of the common schools 994. The
school appropriations for the year covered by the
report were: For the High School, $1600 ; common
schools, $7000 ; fuel and janitors. $1350 ; books and
stationery, $800 ; School Committee, $1350 ; and re-
pairs and fixtures, $300 — making a total of $12,400.
The other appropriations, which it may be well to
mention here, were : For town debt, .$6600 ; Fire De-
partment, $850 ; highways, .$3000 ; support of poor,
$5000; Town-House Sinking Fund, $1360; Memorial
Day, $100 ; Common, $50 ; library at the Centre, in
addition to the dog fund, $250 ; library at North
Grafton, $50; library at Farnumsville, $25; library
at Saundersville, $25 ; water works, $2500 ; street
lights, $300 ; town officers, $1740 ; town-house ex-
penses, $750; State aid, $150; miscellaneous, $450;
road damages, $100 ; and liquor cases, $300 — making
a total, including school appropriations, of $36,000.

The Free Library mentioned in the above list was
established in 1866, when' Joseph Leiaiid, a native
and citizen of the town, gave the sum of one thou-
sand dollars for the purpose, on the condition that the
town would appropriate an equal amount. The gift
was accepted with its condition and the library is
kept in the town-house and receives the benefit of
the Dog Fund and an annual appropriation of money.
At the date of the last report of the trustees the li-
brary contained five thousand seven hundred and
fifty-three volumes, of which two hundred and sixty-
seven, including nineteen bound magazines, had been
added during the previous year.

The industries of Grafton arc distributed among
the various villages of which the town is composed.
A mill at the Central Village ; another at Saunders-
ville, on the Blackstone River; another at Farnums-
ville, also on the Blackstone River ; a mill at North
Grafton, formerly called the Grafton Mills; the
Fisher Mills, at the junction of theQuinsigamondand
Blackstone Rivers, and the lower mill at North Graf-
ton, are eng.aged in the manufacture of cotton and
fancy cloths and emery, and furnish nccupation for
a numoious and busy po|iulation. Hesiihs thcsf in-

934

HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

dustries the manufacture of shoes is carried on at the
North Village by J. S. Nelson & Co., and gives em-
ployment to nearly two hundred hands. The busi-
ness of currying is also largel}' carried on and is an
important feature in the industry of the town. A
full description of all these industries is given in
Pierce's " History of Grafton," and to that valuable
work the reader is referred.

Among the institutions in the town are the Grafton
National Bank, incorporated in 1865, as the succes
sor of the Grafton Bank, established in 1854, with a
capital of one hundred thousand dollars ; the FirsI
National Bank, incorporated in 1864, also with a
capital of one hundred thousand dollars; the Grafton
Savings Bank, incorporated in 1869; the Franklin
Lodge of Masons, established in 1852 ; the Sprague
Post of the Grand Army, organized in 1866 ; and the
Good Templars, established also in 1866. The town
has a Fire Department, established by law in 1853,
and an abundance of good water supplied by the
Grafton Water Company. The population of the
town does not largely increase. In 1875 it was 4442
and in 1885 had only increased to 4498. Such a
sluggishness of increase cannot long continue. Its
proximity to Worcester, which is fast becoming a
populous city, in connection with its own admirable
situation and desirable locations for residence easily
accessible from that city and yet away from many o(
the annoyances which necessarilv attend a bustling
and noisy place of business, must in time attract to
it a wave of immigration and give to it a healthy and
prosperous growth.

Among the men who have been prominent in Graf-
ton at various periods since its incorporation may be
mentioned : Thomas Pratt, tb.e moderator of the first
town-meeting and of nine other town-meetings be-
fore 1750, and a selectman several years ; Joseph
Willard, a selectman eight years before 1748 ; Joseph
Merriam, a selectman fourteen years before 1764;
Nathaniel Sherman, a selectman nine years before
1752; Samuel Warren, John Goulding, Joseph Wood,
Royal Keith, Joseph Bruce, Jonathan Wheeler,
Charles Brigham, Phillip Wing, Edward Bigelow, A.
M. Bigelow, James W. White, Jonathan D. Wheeler,
John W. Slocomb, Jonathan Warren, and others,
both dead and living, too numerous to mention. 01
those natives of Grafton who have distinguished them-
selves outside of its borders in wider fields of labor may
be mentioned William Brigham, Frank P. Goulding,
Henry A. Miles, Samuel D. Warren, Sherman Le-
land, Phineas W. Leland and John Leland.

William Brigham was the son of Captain Charles
Brigham, and was born in Grafton, September 26, 1806.
He graduated at Harvard in the class of 1829, which
was probably the most distinguished class of
which the alumni of the college can boast. A list of
its eminent men is almost a catalogue of the class.
Among them were Rev. Joseph Angler, Chief Jus-
tice George Tyler Bigelow, Hon. William Brigham,

Rev. William Henry Channing, Rev. James Free-
man Clarke, Hon. Francis B. Crowninshield, Hon.
Benjamin R. Curtis, justice of the United States
Supreme Court ; Hon. George T. Davis, member of
Congress; General George H. Devereux, Hon. Wil-
liam Gray, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Rev. Samuel
May, Professor Benjamin Peirce, Rev. Chandler
Rubbins, Hon. Edward D. Sohier and Judge Joshua
H. Ward. In such a class as this Mr. Brigham
found no difficulty in taking a good rank. After ad-
mission to the bar he opened an office in Boston,
which he retained until his death, which occurred
July 9, 1869. His occupation as a sound and suc-
cessful lawyer was diversified by antiquarian study,
and the various historical works of which he was
either the author or editor attest the accuracy of his
mind and the diligence of his research.

A sketch of Mr. Goulding will be found in an ap-
propriate place at the end of this narrative.

Rev. Henry Adolphus Miles is a descendant from
John Miles, an early settler of Concord, where he was
living as early as 1637. He was born in Grafton, May
30, 1809, and graduated at Brown University in 1829,
receiving an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity
from his alma mater in 1850. After graduating at the
Harvard Divinity School in 1832 he was was settled
for a time in Hallowell, Me., and from there went to
Boston to assume the duties of secretary of the Ameri-
can Unitarian Association. At later dates he was
settled in Lowell and Hingham, at which latter place
he is now living, though not in the service of his pro-
fession. Dr. Miles is a man of large intellectual
capacity, of original thought and deep and earnest
convictions. As a public speaker he has always com-
manded the earnest attention of his hearers, and in
social intercourse his genial disposition and warm
heart and rare conversational powers win to his side
all who come within their influence. If the writer
may be permitted to introduce personal feeling into
an historical narrative, he cannot refrain from saying
that there are few men whom he holds in such affec-
tion and respect as the subject of this imperfect
sketch.

John Leland, the son of James and Lucy (Warren)
Leland, was born in Grafton, May 4, 1754. From
1775 to 1791 he was a Baptist preacher in Virginia of
considerable note. From 1792 until his death, which
occurred at North Adams, January 14, 1841, he was
settled in Cheshire, Mass. His autobiography was
published in 1845.

Phineas W. Leland was the son of David W.
Leland, and with all the Lelands of Grafton was
descended from Henry Leland, who died in Sher-
burne in 1680. He was born in Grafton, October 4,
1798, and after leaving Brown University without
graduating, studied medicine in Boston and settled at
Medfield. In 1834 he removed to Fall River, where
he held the office of collector of the port for nearly
twenty years. He was a prominent and active mem-

GRAFTON.

935

ber of the Democratic party, and when that party
came into power in the State in 184S he was that
year a member of the Senate and chosen its presi-
dent.

Sherman Leland was the son of Eleazer and Eliza-
beth (Sherman) Leland, and born in Grafton, March
29, 1783. He was admitted to the Worcester County
bar in 1809 and settled in Eastport, Me. In 1814 he
took up his residence in Roxbury and opened an
office in Boston. From 1817 to 1822 he represented
Roxbury in the House of Representatives and was a
member of the Senate four years, two of which he
was its president. He was also for many years judge
of probate for Norfolk County, and in this position,
as in all others, he won and retained the confidence
and respect of the community.

With these few sketches and with an acknowledg-
ment of the aid which the writer has received from
tlie " History of Grafton " by Mr. Pierce, to which
reference has several limes been made, this narrative
must close.

CHAPTER CXXIV.

GRAFTON— (Co// //«//(■-/. )

.\N HISTORICAI, .ADDRESS.'

The love of kindred is a sentiment large enough to
include and account for that reverence and affection
which we feel for those of our ancestors whose forms
vanished from earth long before our own time. That
sentiment is not altogether dependent upon personal
presence, nor upon the mutual exchange of kindly
offices, but abides with us as a permanent and ele-
mentary principle of our nature. We find it impos-
sible, therefore, to repress a feeling of deep and inti-
mate concern in the history of a community of which
our ancestors formed a part ; and if, perchance, the
character.s with whom we are dealing were cast in a
heroic mould, or were great and happy in their for-
tunes and achievements, they become in a peculiar
sense, —

Tiie (li;ad, Imt sceptereil suvereigns, wliu still rule
Our spirits froiu tbeir urns.

One hundred and fifty years have now passed since
the incorporation of this town. You select this as a
fitting occasion to recall the memory of the father.-;
who laid the foundation of these institutions into
which you were born. You would revert once more
to the early scenes in which they played their part ;
would remember their virtues ; would sympathize
with their patient toils, and admire the courage and
fortitude with which they encountered the perils and
endured the hardships of frontier life ; would applaud

1 The following interesting historical address was delivered by Hon.
Frank P. Gouldiug at Grafton, upon the one hundred and tiftieth anni-
versivry of the incorporation of the town.

the clearness with which they saw, and the dauntless
resolution with which they maintained their rights;
would recognize, with gratitude, their steady and
unswerving devotion to the principles of civil liberty,
and the constancy with which they persevered,
against every discouragement, in establishing those
principles upon the secure basis of public education
and public morality. But, upon this occasion, the
historical theme which irresistibly attracts, at the
same time, from obvious considerations, strongly re-
pels me. The field has been so recently traversed
and so amply covei'ed, that, in attem])ting to recite
anew any part of the familiar story, I shall appear to
repeat a thrice-told tale. In 183r>, at the centennial
celebration of this event, an eminent native of the
town skillfully gathered the scattered and scanty ma-
terials which constitute its original early history, and
presented them in an address, which is at once the
best authority upon the subject it treats of, and an
able and statesmanlike survey, not only of the his-
torical facts of the period covered, but also of the
underlying forces and principles which made possible
the great progress it recorded.

And, at the centennial celebration of the nation's
birth, in 1876, another son of the town reviewed the
same ground, and, in fluent narrative and eloquent
speech, brought down the history to the present time,
and rendered superfluous any further treatment of
the subject. And, later still, in his excellent history,
composed for the county history, in 1879, Rev. Mr.
Windsor told again the simple but interesting story
and placed in permanelit and easily acce.ssible form
all that can be known of the events which marked
the dawn and early progress of civilization within
the territory of Grafton. Besides these treatises
there remain the fine historical discourse of Rev. Mr.
Wilson, preached in 1846, covering the ecclesiastical
history of the town — no unimportant part of the early
history of any Massachusetts town which can boast a
hundred years of life — as well as the town history of
Mr. Pierce. From these various essays in the annals
of this venerable municipality you must have derived
such familiarity with the initial steps and later ad-
vance of this community that I shall feel at liberty
to select such parts of our history, without regard to
consecutive narrative as shall seem best to subserve
the general purpose I have in view, to wit : to attempt
some estimate of the character and environment of
the early fathers of the town, and to assign some of
the causes which made them what they were. But it
may be of interest to repeat some portion of the his-
tory of the region prior to the settlement by the
English.

At what time the first white man's eye ever gazed
upon, or the first white man's foot ever pressed this
territory, abounding in "rich land and plenty of
meadows," it is wholly impossible to tell. It certainly
requires some exercise of the imagination to conceive
that Governor Winthrop and bis party, who, i>n

03C

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

January 27, 1631, ascended a high rock only eight
miles westerly of Watertown, " where they might see
all of Neipnett and a very high hill due west about
forty miles," could see from that point any part of
the present territory of Grafton ; and as for the sup-
position that the company of English who, in 1635,
emigrated from Massachusetts Bay to Connecticut,
traversed this territory, the probabilities are strongly
against it. For the road to Connecticut, soon after
existing, certainly lay to the north, though near the
territory of Hassanamesitt, and passed north of Lake
Quinsigamond, and there is little reason to suppose
that, when that road was established, a new trail was
struck out, instead of following the route of the first
explorers.

But, however that may be, the territory emerges out
of the darkness of barbarism into the view of history
many years before its corporate name was conferred
upon it, in honor of the second Duke of Grafton. In
the middle of the preceding century, when the royal
grandfather of that nobleman was skulking, crown-
less, on the continent of Europe, and before he had
formed his scandalous alliance with the beautiful but
profligate Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland,
who was our namesake's grandmother, and while the
imperial sceptre of England was held in the firm
grasp of Oliver Cromwell, the General Court of the
province, on the petition of Eliot, set apart the terri-
tory of Hassanamesitt for the use of the Indians.
Here was formed the third of the towns of the praying
or Christian Indians, Natick and Pakemitt or Punka-
poag (a part of Stoughton) being the first two ; and
here, in 1671, was organized the second Indian church.
Upon the organization of the church, a meeting-house
was erected, the site of which, near the old Indian
burying-ground, in the vicinity of Mr. Frederick
Jourdan's place, is still pointed out. A school was
also established, where youth were educated to
preach the go.spel to the Indians in the neighboring
towns. Of course, the services of the church were
conducted in the Indian language, and there is
ample proof in the writings of Eliot, as well as in
those of Major Gookin, the Indian commissioner of
those days, that, under the dusky skin of those prim-
itive congregations, lurked traits of human nature
common to all complexions. I cannot stop to give
more than a single example of the numerous shrewd
and diflicult questions which his Indian disciples put
to the pious Mr. Eliot. In his letters to the corpora-
tion established in London for the propagation of
the gospel among the Indians, he gives, in great
abundance, examples of these queries; but he does
not give his answer to the following, among others :

" If God made bell in one of the six days, why did
God make hell before Adam sinned?"

Gookin says of these Indians, whom he saw at-
tending upon the preaching in the churches : " And
for my part, I have no doubt, but am fully satisfied,
according to the judgment of charity, that divers of

them do fear God and are believers ; but yet I will
not deny but that there may be some hypocrites that
profess religion and yet are not sound-hearted. But
things that are secret belong to Goil, and things that
are revealed unto us and our children."

Wattascompanum, the chief ruler of the whole
Nipmuck country, resided here. He was said to be
"a grave and pious man." It is probably no im-
peachment of his gravity or piety that he was executed
in Boston in .Tune, 1677. For his crime was that he
had been induced or forced to join the party of his
countrymen in a desperate and futile attempt to
drive from their ancient domain the ever-encroach-
ing pale-faces, in whose insidious advance the pro-
phetic souls of the natives read the doom of their
own race. And popular feeling ran so high against
the Indians at the close of that sanguinary war, that
small measure of justice was likely to be meted out
to a native who had yielded to the blandishments or
threats of the foe.

In proof that these obscure natives who once
occupied this vicinity were not destitute of all the
amenities of civilized life, I must not omit to men-
tion that here, two hundred and fifteen years ago,
occurred the first seizure of liquor in this county,
under process of law, of which I have discovered any
record. It appears that Petavit, otherwise called
Robin, was one of the magistrates or rulers here at
Hassanamesitt, and he was, evidently, a magistrate
not easily deterred from the performance of his offi-
cial duty. Major Gookin gives an account of the
seizure of the liquor, as follows: "I remember sun-
dry years since, a Sagamore that lived up in the
inland country came to Hassanamesitt, and brought
with him a rundlett of strong liquor [it was more
than three per cent, alcohol, and could not be palmed
off for Schenk beer], and, lodging in his house,
Petavit, In the morn, sent for the constable, and or-
dered him, and, according to law, seized the rundlett
of liquors. At which act the Sagamore drew a long
knife, and stood with his foot on the rundlett, daring
any to seize it. But Petavit thereuiion rose up and
drew his knife, and set his foot also to the rundlett,
and commanded the constable to do his office. And
the Sagamore" —

Here the ancient manuscript breaks oft', like a se-
rial novel, in the very crisis of a thrilling scene.
We see a sudden flash of long knives in the morning
sun, and the curtain falls. We shall never know
with certainty what the issue was. But, considering
the divinity that doth hedge a magistrate, and the
dauntle-ss and resolute temper of Mr. Justice Petavit
a/ias Robin, I hasten to assure you that, in my opin-
ion, the Sagamore from the inland country, after
growling out sundry phrases in the Indian dialect,
not strictly in accordance with the discipline of the
church then established at Hassanamesitt, restored
his long knife to his belt, removed his moccasin from
the rundlett, and yielded to the inevitable.

GRAFTON.

937

The war with King Philip was disastrous to the
promising enterprise of bringing the Nipmucks un-
der English and Christian influeucea, and upon no
part of the extended and undefined domain of that
people did it fall more fatally than upon Hassana-
mesitt. Two engagements were fought in this terri-
tory, — one not certainly located, and the other on
Keith Hill. The first engagement resulted in a re-
pulse of the company of English under Captain
Henchman, with a loss of two of his men. Mr.
Brigham says, on the authority of the Gookin manu-
script, published by the American Antiquarian So-
ciety, "that upon the return of the English the next
morning to the scene of the conflict, they discovered
the heads of their two men who had fallen in the at-
tack placed on crotched poles before the wigwam,
and facing each other." But, as given in a note to
Drake's edition of Hubbard's narrative, Gookin's ac-
count of it is as follows : " Capt. Henchman told me
he judged several of the Enemy were slain in the
wigwam, but the certainty is not known ; but it was
certain he lost two of his men, whereof his Lieuten-
ant was one, Philip Curtice, of Roxbury, a stout
man. His Hands they cut off and placed upon a
crotched Pole at the Wigwam Door, faced each other,
which was seen a few days after." It may not be of
much importance, but if the note in Drake's Hub-
bard is authentic in its citation of General Gookin's
manuscript, it would appear certain it was the hands
of the stout (/. e., valiant) Lieutenant Curtice, and
not the heads of the slain, which were the subject of
the ghastly humor of the s.avages. There is some
confusion and contradiction in the original authori-
ties respecting the battle on Keith Hill. According
to Hubbard, it occurred on May (ith, and according
to Drake, on May 5, 1676. The English were accom-
panied by some Natick Indian allies, and these allies
came upon the hostiles, who were pursuing a bear.
They did not perceive at first that the Natick Indians
were not of their own party, which gave the English
some advantage. From eleven to sixteen Indians
were slain. Dr. Mather says " our Forces had proba-
bly destroyed many more of them had not an Eng-
lishman unhappily sounded a Trumpet, whereby the
enemy had notice to escape.'''

But while the devastation of battle cannot be said
to have swept the place with special violence, in
other ways the desolate track of war was left deeply
imprinted on its soil. For, through the intrigue and
force of the hostile savages, the little Indian town
whose bright promise had filled the inspired Eliot,
and the resolute, but humane Gookin, with such high
hopes, was completely broken up and dispersed. The
church and school were never rehal)ilitated, and only
a few of the surviving natives, after an interval of
many years, straggled back to the desolate scenes of

1 Mather, Brief Biit., 143. This was the first time tile Naticl£ In-
dians were employed in any such unmber by the Government. — Dral-e,
257.

the old settlement, and took up again their abode on
the land of their fathers.

In 1718 a single white man had acquired title to
some lands in the town, and in 1727-28 the title to
the whole original territory of Hassanamesitt resided
in seven individual^', who were des-cendanls of the
original native proprietors under the reservation of
1654, and in nine English families, who, under per-
mission of the General Court, had purchased lands
and settled here. In that year was granted by the
General Court the petition of forty English families,
preferred some time before, to purchase the entire
reservation of 7500 acres from the Indians, with cer-
tain restrictions. And thereupon a deed was given,
dated March 10, 1727, old style, and it is executed by
the seven proprietors and the husband of one of them.
It reserves the previous grants to the earlier white
proprietors, and to the Indian grantors an equal divi-
dend of land with each of the grantees, and one hun-
dred acres besides for the use of the Indians. It is in
the nature of a strict entailment, for it is, by its
terms, a grant for the settlement of forty English
families of the petitioners or their posterity, and no
others. By an act of the General Court, passed at
the same time, certain conditions were coupled with
the grant, the most important of which were, —

That within the space of three years they build and
furnish a meeting-house for the instruction as well of
the Indians as English children ; that they settle a
learned orthodox minister to preach the gospel to
them, and constantly maintain and duly support a
minister and schoolmaster among them, and all this
without charge to the Indians.

The expense of building the meeting-house and
school-house was imposed, by the same act, four-fifths
upon the purchasers and one-fifth on the prior Eng-
lish settlers, who were likewise required to contribute
to the maintenance of the minister and schoolmaster.
The English purchasers under this deed immediately
proceeded to execute its conditions, and, almost be-
fore the ink was dry upon the parchment, and months
before it was recorded the proprietors made provision
for the location of the meeting-house and school-
house, and only a little later began the allotment of
lands, and as early as 1730 the meeting-house was
completed, and a large portion of the forty families
had removed here, and in the following year the
church was regularly organized and a minister duly
installed.

Although the day we celebrate— April 18-29, 173.5
— is the date of the legal incorporation of the inhab-
itants with the powers and privileges of a town, the
true era of the permanent settlement of the place by
the English must be referred to the years 1730 or 1731.
We have now reached the period when first came
upon this scene the men and women by whose charac-
ters and deeds the first bias and direction was given
to the history of this community. There is a certain
unity and individuality of type lielonging to every

938

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

community, if we only had the art to discover it.
And it will be found to be a reproduction of the type
of character which predominated in the leading
founders of the community. Of course there will be
no community without concurrence of sentiment, and
the masses will finally concur with the minds of the
strongest and most positive cast of character. Tlie
first settlers of a town, surviving for a generation, will
generally set the current of popular thought and feel-
ing and establish the polity of that town for genera-
tions to come.

In that view, and in all views, it will be of interest
to inquire who these emigrants were; what they did
and what they aimed to do; what they thought;
what they hoped ; what they believed ; and, in short,
what manner of men and women they were. It will
be of interest to inquire what were some of the causes
which enabled them to establish so goodly a heritagt-
for their children, and to instil principles into the
minds and hearts of their successors, which made ol
them heroes in their turn, and enabled them, in com-
mon with the inhabitants of other towns and States,
to set examples of wisdom in counsel and courage in
action, not surpassed by anything in the annals of
man.

They were forty English families, who, with the
nine who had but a short time preceded them, made
up about fifty families. Most of them, perhaps nearly
all, were liorn in the province, and were, therefore.
Englishmen in the sense that they were born of
English parentage in the English provinces of Mas-
sachusetts Bay and Plymouth. If I should repeat
their names many of you would hear your own
names, and I should probably name few, if any, who
have not some lineal descendant \i'ithin sound of mj
voice. They came unheralded by any noise of
trumpets, blazon of fireworks, or other demonstration
of human interest. When their creaking carts,
loaded with the scanty supply of furniture which was
all-suflicient for the simple wants of their lives, rolled
slowly up these hills and into these valleys, guided
by marked trees through the primeval forests, with-
out doubt the wolves and bears regarded the inva-
sion as very important and revolutionary, and the
owls peered down at night upon the fires of the set-
tlers which looks of ominous conjecture.

But the human owls, seated in the high places of
England, could not see so far, and had no idea of
what was taking place here, and in some hundred
other places where the like things were transpiring.
Outside the few towns whence they came (Sudbury,
Concord, Wenhani, Stow, Marlboro'), the event had
absolutely no significance. When three or four years
later the town was incorporated and christened with
an English name. Governor Belcher may have men-
tioned, in a letter to the Duke of Grafton, that he
had named a little township after him up in the
woods of central Massachusetts Bay, and his grace
may have jocosely told it to his friend, Sir Robert

Walpole, the prime minister, of whose son Horace,
the great letter-writer, the Duke of Grafton was the
godfather. There is a remote possibility that the
King himself, the "snufly old drone from the German
hive," may have mentioned it to the Duchess of
Kendall as an item of news from the distant prov-
ince. But the advent of our fathers to these fields
had about as much significance to the people of Eng-
land, who supposed they themselves were making
the history of the time, as the movements of a nomad
tribe in Central Asia for a change of pasturage would
have to us to-da}'. Nor have the circumstances of
their coming attracted the attention of mankind
since. The poet and the orator have not found in
their special history a theme worthy their eflbrts.
They did not flee from religious or political persecu-
tion, nor traverse wide and stormy seas to find, on a
desolate coast, an asylum in which to worship God
according to the dictates of their own conscience.
At the end of the first third of the eighteenth cen-
tury, religious persecution of Protestants had ceased
in England, and the first settlers in this town were in
full sympathy and entire accord with the people of
the communities they left, both in politics and relig-
ion. If they endured hardships, they endured them
in common with the early settlers of one hundred
and twenty-five other towns in the province, settled
and incorporated before ours. I shall not, therefore,
claim that these early settlers of Hassanamesitt are
to be selected and set on any pedestal over the heads
of the primitive inhabitants of other towns. The
greatness I claim for them they shared in common
with many other similar communities of the same
race and time, and it is sufficient glory that they are
eminent among equals. But it detracts nothing from
the intrinsic interest of their characters that the chief
features they present are repeated in a hun<lred other
communities. It detracts nothing from the import-
ance of the experience they went through that it is
not dissimilar to that of other neighboring peoples
who settled other towns. The fact is, representative
constitutional government was first invented and put
into practical operation in this province, and it first
manifested itself in the little autonomies of the towns.
It is the people of one of these towns to which I
would call your attention, and one where I believe
will be found a remarkably pure and perfect type of
the kind of communities which were then taking root
everywhere in Xew England. They were representa-
tive New Euglanders of the first half of the eigh-
teenth century, and as such were enacting the most
important history which was then transpiring on this
round earth. Indeed, what human interest attaches
to the quarrels of Walpole and Bulingbroke, or to the
corrupt sway of the former after his full accession to
power; to the history of the South-sea Bubble ; to
the intrigues and uprisings of the exileil Stuarts to
regain their ancient throne; to the petty wars of the
first Georges, or to the endless plots and counlerjilots

GRAFTON.

939

of Whigs and Tories, as compared with the scenes
which were unfoliling on this continent, and mainly
within these old provinces, now Massachusetts, from
1720 to 1789? The men and women who came to
Grafton to settle were, like their neighbors, the heirs
and successors of those heroic men and women who,
in the preceding century, had encountered the first
perils attendant on establishing;- a foothold for civili-
zation on this continent.

They had drunk deep of the spirit of the great con-
flict with the Stuarts, which ended with the revolution
of 1688, whereby the liberties of Protestant English-
men everywhere, as they believed, were forever estab-
lished. In the first place, they were men of eminently
sound, practical common sense. You cannot open a
page of their records, or trace the faded leaves of the
church proceedings without receiving the impression
at the outset and carrying it with you to the end, that
first of all here was a race of men perfectly sound-
minded, level-headed, and intent upon the practical
aflairs of life. This Saxon good sense and business
capacity is the chief feature of their character, subor-
dinating all others. I know it is common to ascribe
to colonial settlers of pre-revolutionary days, and to
these our fathers, as the predominant trait of their
characters, devotion to religion. I do not dissent
from the estimate which gives that element a promi-
nent and controlling place. But in religious zeal
they have been surpassed by many races. I believe
our good friends the Catholics of the Irish race have,
on a thousand fields, shown a devotion to the faith of
their fathers as great as any the early settlers of this
country ever di.-played. And Spaniards and French-
men and Netherlanders and Germans and Turks and
Africans have, in all times, displayed a zeal which
would rival and eclipse that of our fathers who settled
here. When Mr. Wilson, in the excellent discourse I
before referred to says, that these "grave pioneers,
cherishing the same religious zeal which characterized
the primitive colonists of New England, made it their
first care to provide for the worship of God ; that their
first vote at their first meeting relates to the selection
of a proper situation for the house of prayer," he tells
but half the story, and the impression conveyed is
misleading. They do first attend to the building of a
meeting-house. The fact is so. But it is also a fact
that precisely that was the first condition in their
deed, to wit : that they complete a meeting-house in
three years. Their whole title depended upon that
strict condition. Like business men, therefore, they
set about doing the thing necessary to be done at once
to prevent a forfeiture. It was an act most character-
istic. But it was characteristic of sensible men of
affairs, who exactly understood the nature of their
grant, and went about complying with its conditions.
It was a practical business transaction, and the record
of the second meeting of the proprietors at the house
of Nehemiah How, here in Hassanamesitt, on April
19-30, 172S, one hundred and fifty-seven years ago to-

morrow, when they adjourned once and again, and
examined and re-examined the proposed sites and
shifted from one to the other until, after mature con-
sideration, they were satisfied that the location would
be "accommodable," furnishes a strong illustration
of the very trait of character I am now insisting on, a
sturdy practical sense, the faculty to adapt means to
ends. I should be sorry to be misunderstood. These
pioneers, as a general thing, were professors of, and
profound believers in, religion. The conditions on
which their grant was made undoubtedly received
their hearty concurrence. But none of them were re-
ligious zealots, and they were not all of them saints,
and they knew their own hearts too well to pretend
to be, and neither they nor the General Court felt it
to be safe to trust the institution and maintenance of
religious worship to anything less secure than the
express and rigid condition of the deed itself The
policy of maintaining the ordinances of religion, as
well as public education, was the settled policy of the
provinces, and these emigrants believed in it. There
was nothing impulsive or sensational in their conduct,
but all was well considered, deliberate and eminently
worldly wise.

They were, moreover, an industrious people. They
came here as a chief end to better their material
wealth ; to get on in life.' Mr. Brigham has noted at
how extravagant an estimate they held their lands,
and how they gloried in the idea that they should
leave so valuable an inheritance to their children.
He reckons ill who leaves out of the account of the
early New England settlers the fact that they were
intent upon honest gain. They desired and expected
to increase their stores, and to acquire moderate inde-
pendence. Love of money is said to be the root of all
evil, but the hope of acquiring it has sustained many
brave hearts in the midst of trials. The early settlers
in this town, like most of their contemporaries, had a
dim consciousness of the coming greatness of this
country. Of course, they knew nothing of the vast
resources that lay slumbering in the heart of the con-
tinent, and had no correct notion of the real wealth
in store for the succeeding generations. But they
believed in the boundless productiveness of the soil,
and indulged visions of remuneration for their toil of
a kind and degree destined never to be realized.
They were, indeed, a deeply religious people. They
were Puritans without being fanatics. They were
Congregationalists and Calvinists. It is evident,
however, as well from their church covenant as from
the dissensions and differences of opinion which arose
within a few years, that they held the tenets of their
creed with liberality and a tolerant spirit, and with
some conception of the rights of others, as well iis
their own, to private judgment in matters spiritual.
They were, for the age in which they lived, progres-

iSee curious pamphlet on New EnglBnd, by Rev. Higginsou ; 1

Muss, Hist, roll.. First Series, 117.

940

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

sive. I am strongly inclined to think that there was
a greater degree of liberality of views among the
original settlers in respect to religious matters at first
than later. After the divisions which arose in 1745
and 1746 in regard to Mr. Prentice, the first pastor,
that happened which usually happens is case of reli-
gious schism. Each sect draws the lines of ils pecu-
liar belief more rigidly than before, and the minor
differences which occasioned the division become the
principal and sacred essentials of doctrine.

At any rate, we know that the church creed was
revised and made more definitely Calvinistic under
the second minister, Mr. Hutchinson, in accordance
with the views of that very able and most logical and
uncompromising sectarian. That these people were
of a courageous disposition, worthy of their ancestors
and of their posterity, needs no evidence to verify.
They inherited from their fathers the courage of war-
riors, and it is not unlikely that some of the first
fdundere of tlie town had faced the enemy in battle.
The war of the Spanish succession, or Queen Anne'.s
War, which broke out in 1702, and continued a num-
ber of years, so far as this country is concerned, fell
with especial fury upon the colony of Massachusetts
Bay. The neutrality of the Five Nations protected
New York and the central colonies. The province
of Massachusetts Bay was desolated, and for her (says
Bancroft) " the history of the war is but a catalogue
of miseries."

All along the boi'ders of Maine, then a part of
Massachusetts, the cloud of war hung black as death.
And, nearer home, Deerfieldwas burnt and its inhab-
itants massacred in 1704, and Haverhill shared the
same fate in 1708. For eleven years the war raged
till the treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The troubles re-
specting the eastern boundaries of the province,
which arose about 1720, with the tribe of Abenaki
Indians, lasted about four years, and the Indians, who
had embraced the Catholic faith under the teachings
of the Jesuit Rasles, waged a war with Mas-achusetts,
animated on both sides with much religious zeal (a
circumstance which does not often mitigate the sever-
ities of war), which resulted in the success of our
colony. These conflicts may have engaged the per-
sonal participation of some of our settlers, and at any
rate had made them familiar with the wrinkled front
of grim-visaged war from their youth.

We can know but little of the persona! appearance
and daily life of these ancient pioneers, who first bore
into your fair territory the seeds of civilized life. No
photographer's art has preserved the lineaments of a
single face. For the most part they were too poor to
employ the brush of a painter to fix on the canvas
the Heeting lines of their features, even if an artist
had ever visited the region. I am bound to believe,
however, that the men were of well-knit and vigorous
frames, and possessed of no small share of manly
beauty, and the women well endowed with the
comely graces and endearing charms of their sex. If

asked the grounds of this belief, standing among the
descendants who bear their features by inheritance, I
should answer, "(S'i monunientum quaeris, dircumspice."
If you want the proof look about you. It would be
instructive and curious, if time permitted, to go into
an examination of their daily lives, as aflfected by the
implements, appliances and facilities they could com-
mand in the performance of their labor, and in pro-
viding the necessities of existence.

We, who live in this age of curious inventions and
elegant devices of convenience, designed and adapted
to facilitate labor and render delightful domestic life,
can with difliculty realize the rude and scanty tools
and implements and barren facilities with which they
prosecuted the labors of the house and farm. In the
article of dress, if we had the power to recall and
materialize the ancient worthies who assembled in
yonder old meeting-house one hundred and fifty years
ago; if we could look in upon them as through a
window, what a source of infinite amusement and in-
terest their quaint figures would excite !

A brilliant writer, describing a period fifty years
later, gives a lively picture of the dress of the New
England farmer : " If the food of such a man was
plain, so were his clothes. Indeed, his wardrobe
would by his descendants be thought scanty in the
extreme. For meeting on a iSabbath and on state
occasions during the week, he had a suit of broad-
cloth or corduroy, which lasted him a lifetime, and
was at length bequeathed, little the worse for wear,
with his cattle and his farm, to his son. The suit in
which his neighbors commonly saw him, the suit in
which he followed the plough, tended the cattle and
dozed in the chimney corner, while Abigail or Com-
fort read to him from ' Edwards's Sermons,' was of
homespun or linsey-woolsey."' I am inclined to
think this picture would be applicable to the farmers
who settled (irafton, after deducting the broadcloth,
corduroy and " Edwards's Sermons." And yet they
were by no means destitute of all ideas of refine-
ment, and most of them had seen glimpses of some of
the elegancies of life.

It is quite likely that after a few years, at least, on
the Sabbath and important occasions, .some of the
more well-to-do among them may have displayed gar-
ments more attractive than the ordinary sheepskin
deerskin, or coarse knee-breeches and frock. Some
of the ladies may even have possessed a gown of
silk. At any rate we shall ])resently see that there
was one such garment in town. The periwig, which
so scandalized the clergy of the preceding century
had established itself in fashion, and doubtless might
have been seen here early, if not at the very first.
Their education was not contemptible, as the records,
of their proceedings amply show. They had had the
benefit of the long-established policy of the colon}%

iMcMaster's " History of the People uf the I'liiteil .States," vol. L
pagea 18, 19.

GRAFTOX.

'M\

which made public education the corner-stone of the
State. They were familiar with Scripture and fa.
miliar with learned preaching. One of the condi-
tions of their grant was that they should maintain a
learned Orthodox minister. They coni])lied with the
con'lition by calling and settling in December, 1731,
the Rev. Solomon Prentice, a young graduate of
Harvard in the class of 1727, a classmate of Gover-
nor Hutchinson, of Massachusetts Bay, and Trum-
bull, of Connecticut.

In the following year the young minister married
Sarah Sartell, of Groton, and his wife, sixteen year.*
of age, is said to have been well i|ualified by her
learning and ability to assume the important posi-
tion of a pastor's wife. I have unmistakable evi-
dence that even in those rude and primitive days, in
the infancy of the settlement, the minister's wife was
not wholly unacquainted with, nor indifferent to, the
elegancies of refined life. For, among my heir-
looms, I possess an ample fragment of an elegant
dress which was the property of that lady. One tra-
' dition in the family describes it as her own wedding
dress, but the better authenticated account is that
it came from an aunt of her.'*, and was worn by
its former owner at the Court of George II.
However that may be, it was undoubtedly worn by
the fair lady herself, who was, I imagine, as well by
her position as by her accomplishments, the leader of
society here in those primitive days. As I look upon
its beautiful texture, as perfectly preserved as when,
one hundred and fifty years ago, it graced the person
of the youthful lady, when I see its unfaded and
lovely hues, — a bright canary-colored satin, elegantly
brocaded with flowers, — I am struck with the transi-
tory nature of the things we here pursue. By the
aid of this talisman I am enabled to look into the

Dark backward and abysm of tiint^,

and behold one of the figures that moved over these
scenes when the curtain of history first rolled up and
disclosed this section of the world's stage. For nearly
a hundred years, after a long life, the mother and
grandmother of a nunjerous posterity, she has slept
in yonder ancient cemetery. There remain of her
memory only a few fleeting and uncertain traditions,
scarcely more in extent than the nearly obliterated
inscription upon her tombstone. All the rest has
fallen silent and is swallowed up in oblivion, but the
frail and beautiful adornment which set off the charms
of the stately young minister's wife remains. No
shade of the cunningly-wrought design has become
in the least dimmed with age. Every line of the
delicate tracery, and every lovely variation of color,
lives as clear as on the day it left the loom. Venera-
ble ancestress ! I salute you across the gulf of years !
Is it possible to believe that this delicate fabric, this
tegument which became so intimately connected with
her destiny, is all that survives of her, that all the
rest is exhaled like the perfume of the flowers which

bloomed a hundred years ago? No ! at least she and
her contemporaries, whose lives we are now trying to
recall, live in the beneficent influence they exerted.
It is not alone by hereditary transmission that the
qualities and pecularities of one generation reappear
in another. We are creatures of imitation. The
manners and individual peculiarities of a strong per-
sonality are reproduced by force of the instinct to
imitate; and as some individuals of every generation
ire contemporaries of the next succeeding, the traits
and habits of a vigorous and original character are
continued and transmitted from .age to age. The
frail memorial, the curiously-wrought fabric, is but a
symbol of the graces of personal character which do
not perish even from this life, when the tenement of
clay dissolves, but survive

To the liist syllable of recorded tlnie.l

The pastoral relation of Mr. Prentice was dissolved
in 1747 by reason of troubles which had been brew-
ing for two or three years. I do not propose to enter
upon the subject of those troubles. It is enough to
say that no impeachment of the integrity of Mr.
Prentice was attempted, but it was his orthodoxy
alone which was brought in ijuestion. It is essential
for me to say that the records of this controversy,
faithfully set down in the beautiful handwriting of
Mr. Prentice himself, discloses a people of great inde-
pendence of thought and character, desirous to do
fight, but by no mcins to be deterred by authority
from asserting their just privileges and opinions. Mr.
Prentice was succeeded by Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, a
man of great power and great eccentricities, who re-
mained till 1772, and in 1774 Rev. Daniel Grosvenor
succeeded him. A lady friend of mine has given me
a brace of anecdotes told to her by Mr. Grosvenor
himself, one of which well illustrates his sense of the
humorous and his dislike of insincerity.

Mr. Grosvenor was dining with a lady of his par-
ish, who was a cook of exquisite skill, and she placed
before the pastor a delicious pie, of some kind, and
as she helped him to a piece of it, she remarked that
ihe hoped he would accept a piece of her poor pie.
The minister tasted it with great gravity, and said,
"Poor pie! why, I call it a very paxsab/e pie."
Whereupon the good lady was in high dudgeon.
She declared she never took more pains with a pie
in the whole course of her life, aud she did not be-
lieve there was ever a better pie made. Fishing
for a compliment, she got caught with her own
hook.

On another occasion the reverend gentleman

> I regret that a story so destitute of probability as that relating to the
domestic discord between Mr. and Mrs. Prentice, which Mr. Howe
deemed worthy of a place in his excellent address, should have received
an indorsement so respectable. The frequency with which the story has
been applied to ancient couples, who were divided in opinion upon the
special tenet of the Baptists, renders it quite too stale for adaptation (o
the cultivated and refined first pastor of Grafton and his intelligent and
spirited wife.

942

nrSTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

called upon one of his parishioners, who, it being
upon a washing day, and her dinner not being just
what she would desire to invite so august a personage
as the minister to partake of, did not mean to extend
to him the courtesy of an invitation. But the lady's
mother, who was of the family, nevertheless asked
Mr. Grosvenor to stay. He accepted, and when his
young hostess apologized for the quality of the re-
past, her mother made the following observation,
which Mr. Grosvenor thought quite notable. She
said there was no occasion for any apology ; for,
if Mr. Grosvenor was a good man, he would be
content and thankful even with a poor dinner,
and, if he was a bad man, it was good enough for
him.

I have read a sermon preached by Mr. Hutchinson
at Newbury in 1767, and the reply by him to certain
strictures thereon, by the Rev. John Tucker, pastor
of the first church in Newbury. This famous eccle-
siastical controversy related to the necessity of infant
baptism in order to insure salvation. It is hardly
necessary to say that Mr. Hutchinson maintained the
affirmative of that proposition. His discourses are
marked by great familiarity with Scriptural texts,
much classical learning, fine controversial skill, and
by a logic which may fairly be described as of deadly
precision. Admit his premises, and you cannot es-
cape his conclusions.

Mr. Hutchinson, like his great contemporary. Dr.
Samuel Johnson, coupled with great learning and
ability, the manners of a bear. The president ol
the day,' who is the repository of all the history and
anecdotes connected with the antiquities of the town
relates a story of Mr. Hutchinson, illustrating his
manners: He was dining at a conference of minis
ters, and helped himself to so large a portion of the
pudding that there was little left on the platter.
Thereupon one of his neighbors at the table helped
himself from Mr. Hutchinson's plate, and, when re-
monstrated with, remarked that he always helped
himself from the largest pile.

I do not find in the ancient records of the town,
anything to show whether the young settlen.ent con-
tributed men to the expedition which resulted in the
brilliant conquest of Louisbourg in 1745. To this
enterprise, which owed its conception and execution
to the energy of Governor Shirley, this province con-
tributed more than three thousand men, and it i.'-
probable that in the ranks were found some residents
of this town.

The treaty of Aix-la-Cha])elle restored to the French
the fortress which New England valor had placed in
English hands, and left the colonists to the long
struggle which was in store for them, with their wily
and cruel neighbors of the north ; and the first war,
after the settlement of the town, which arose to try
the mettle of the inhabitants, was the French War,

I Henry F. Wing, Esq.

in which hostilities broke out in 1754. I have already
referred to Queen Anne's War of fifty years before.
It is undoubtedly true that the protracted .struggle of
the English colonists with the French and Indians
along our extended northern frontier, from the mouth
of the Saint Lawrence to the forks of the Ohio, fur-
nished the training-school in which was raised the
generation of soldiers who fought the battles of the
Revolution. In the French War Washington won his
spurs, and many of the officers and privates who met
the British regulars on Bunker Hill, or penetrated the
thick forests of Canada and crossed the Saint Law-
rence in canoes under the lead of Arnold and Mont-
gomery, to attack Quebec, or joined in the attack on
the Hessians at Trenton, or endured the pangs of
famine and frost at Valley Forge, had also, twenty
years before, rushed upon the defences at Louisbourg,
or, under the command of Wolfe, struggled up the
cliffs to the Heights of Abraham, or marched with
Washington through the dense forests of Western
Pennsylvania to the field of Braddock's defeat. To
say that the record of this town in that long struggle
was distinguished and honorable, is but to faintly
praise where words of enthusiastic eulogy are appro-
priate. In a period of nine years its population was
more than decimated by the fatalities of that war.
Such a record is of great and unparalleled significance,
and imports that here resided a race of heroic men,
whose martial virtues were not inferior to any that
ever inspired the strains of the lyric muse. In 1757,
the fortunes of England in America reached their
lowest ebb. For more than two years, disasters had
huddled thick upon her arms. At Fort Du Quesne,
at Oswego, at Fort William Henry and throughout
the whole of the Saint Lawrence valley, an almost
unbroken succession of defeats had reduced her pros-
pects here to the verge of despair. And, at home,
the gloom which settled on the face of affairs was
scarcely less deep and rayless than that of one hun-
dred years before, when the guns of the Dutch fleet
were heard in the Thames. It was at this moment
that the elder Pitt, the great commoner, seized the
reins of power which fell from the nerveless gras]> of
the " Whig aristocracy." In less than four years he
restored the military glory of his country to the pitch
it had attained by the genius of Marlborough, and
gave to England an influence in the politics of the
world which she had not enjoyed since the days of
Oliver Cromwell. The most brilliant of the series of
victories by which these results were accomplished
was the conquest of Canada. To the conquest of
Canada no portion of the British people contributed
so much as the province of Massachusetts B.ay, and
no portion of the people of this province contributed
more of men and money, according to their numbers,
than the people of the town of Grafton.

When we read the astounding fact that eighty of
her sons out of a population of seven hundred and
fifty died in this war, we feel the intense meaning of

GRAFTON.

941!

Colonel Barry's immortal speech in the House of
Commons: "They i^rotected by your arms? They
have nobly taken up arms in your defence ; have ex-
erted a valor amid their constant and laborious indus-
try, for the defence of a country whose frontier lom
drenched in blood, while its interior yielded all its lit-
tle savings to your emoluments."

When we turn the leaf which embalms the deeds of
this town in the War of the Revolution, we find equal
cause for pride and exultation. Grafton sent forth no
conspicuous leader to the councils, and furnished no
battle-field in that great debate. She contributed no
Washington, no Adams, no Warren, no Ward, and it
was not here that —

The embattled farmers stood

And fired the shot heard round the world.

But no people in the colonies caught the echo of
that shot with more quick and responsive ear. Before
the sun had set on the 10th day of April, 177o, a full
company of nearly one hundred men, with Rev. Mr.
Grosvenor, their pastor, in the ranks, were in raj^id
march to the front. On every bloody field, from
Bunker Hill to Yorktown, the sons of this town dared
or tasted death in the cause of independence. But
the contest of the American colonies of Great Britain
with the mother country was not specially distin-
guished by the valor of the Continental troops. There
was no deficiency in that respect, but there have been
more remarkable instances of human courage and en-
durance than any displayed in that war. The long
contest of the Netherlands with the mighty arma-
ments of Spain, forty-three years in duration, recorded
in the glowing and eloquent jtages of Motley, pre-
sents an instance far more striking and wonderful of
a brave people, in the sacred cause of liberty, main-
taining an unequal contest through more than a gene-
ration, and carrying it to a triumphant issue against
intrenched power and vast resources. It was not very
wonderful that three million peiiple, situated in a
country of such resources as this, and remote from
Europe, especially in alliance with one of the great
powers of the earth, should be able to wrest their
independence from the mother country, whose peo-
ple were not completely united in policy. But
what is unexampled in this great contest, what the
file affords absolutely no precedent for, was the
calm and conservative wisdom which marked all
the councils of the revolt. The colonists were not
revolutionists, indeed, but rather conservatives. They
were not fighting to establish new reforms, but to
preserve ancient liberties. They had no constitu-
tions, in the sense in which we use the term, and
yet in all their public utterances and state papers
they perpetually refer to their constitutions, and ap-
])eal to the principles of those constitutions.

By their constitutions the people of this province
meant the Magna Charta, the declaration of rights of
1088, and the bill of rights of 1689, and all that body
of law found in the preambles of ancient statutes

and in the decisions of courts, whereby the liberties
of Englishmen were declared and secured every-
where. They believed those principles were em-
bodied by necessary implication in the charter of
li329, and in the new charter of 1691. I cannot de-
velop, and must not stop to dwell on this topic.
They were a race of constitutional lawyers. Burke
said of them : " In this character of the Americans,
a love of freedom is the predominating feature which
marks and distinguishes the whole. This fierce spirit
of liberty is stronger in the English colonies, proba-
bly, than in any other people of the earth." And
Chatham, in 177.5, thus characterized their public
papers : " When your lordships look at the papers
transmitted to us from America, when you consider
their decency, firmness and wisdom, you cannot but
respect their cause and wish to make it your own.
For myself I must declare and avow that in all my
reading and observation — and it has been my favorite
study — I have read Thucydides and have admired
the master states of the world— that for solidity of
reasoning, force of sagacity and wisdom of conclu-
sion, under such a complication of difficult circum-
stances, no nation or body of men can stand in pref-
erence to the General Congress at Philadelphia."

Now, the same characteristics which marked the
emanations of the greater bodies, and so much chal-
lenged the admiration of the great statesman, will be
found in less degree in the humble records of the
proceedings of the New England towns. I have ad-
verted to this subject to say that right here, in the
volumes containing the proceedings of this town in
1774 and '75, will be found undying evidence of the
existence here of that "fierce spirit ot liberty"
which Burke discovered, coupled with the temperate
wisdom and practical sagacity which commanded the
applause of Chatham. A single illustration is all I
can allow myself. I refer to the report of a commit-
tee adopted by the town January 4, 1774, and having
reference to a communication from Boston, sent out
upon the occasion of the destruction of tea in Boston
harbor. It is in these words : " The town of Grafton,
taking into consideration the unhappy circumstances
that this country are involved in at the present crisis,
attempts being repeatedly made infringing upon our
rights and privileges, which we consider justly alarm-
ing to all the true friends of our happy constitution,
which hath been so dearly purchased, and which we
esteem to be our most invaluable interest and rights as
Englishmen, which we have ever gloried in, more par-
ticularly at the glaring injustice of the East India
Company being allowed to send tea to America, while
subject to a duty payable in America, which we view
as subversive of our rights as Christians ; as subjects,
and as loyal subjects of our most 'gracious King
George, whose name and person we ever desire to
view as sacred. Therefore, Resolved, as the people
of this town, that any one individual, or any body of
men, that shall encourage, aid or assist in importing

944

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

or receiving any such tea or any other article while
subject to a duty, the sole purpose whereof is to raise
money to appropriate to any sordid measure, or any
use whatever contrary to our just rights of distrib-
uting our own property wherewith God and Nature
hath made us free, can but be viewed as criminal to
our country, as well as to the mother state, and must
be so viewed by us. Resolved, that this town are in
duty bound to join with and assist our sister towns
and colonies in this our common cause, so as we may
be instrumental under God of handing down that
liberty to our posterity which hath been kept so long
inviolate and preserved by our worthy ancestors.
Resolved, that the substance of the proceedings of
the town of Boston and other towns in their respect-
ive town-meetings (relative to said affair), which
have been published and come to our knowledge, are
in our apprehension consistent with truth and our
happy constitution, and we can but wish prosperity
may attend all laudable stands, so that our glorious
constitution may yet be handed down to posterity in-
violate. But to adopt any measures where private
advantage or sinister ends are apparently at the bot-
tom, and who make this though ever so glorious a
foundation for their avarice and emolument we cannot
but must detest and abhor.''

The syntax of this document will not bear exami-
nation, but the record presents an interesting type ol
the class of the counsels that prevailed everywhere.
It exhibits in the sons the same characteristics which
predominated in the fathers who settled the town —
clear, practical common sense, a people who knew
their rights and the exact extent and limits and
grounds of them ; a people who believed that liberty
was not an abstraction, but inhered in a sensible ob-
ject — a people who could not be surprised nor driven
into vain excesses, and who proposed as their ances
tors had done, to govern themselves, but by no means
to commit society to any untried and dangerous the-
ories of abstract rights, that rested not uptm the solid
basis of precedent. But our ancestors were not always
right. What Emerson said of Concord is true of
Grafton, " If the good counsel prevailed, the sneak-
ing counsel did not fail to be suggested." You will
find if you search the musty records, that while most
of the men whose blood flows in your veins were
stanch in the just cause, others of your ancestors,
perhaps, were obstinate, obstructive and wrong-
headed. If the question came up on paying the
minute-men for the time they spent in learning the
military art and for their accoutrements, you may find
some of your kindred, whoso names you would prefer
not to see in that conspicuous eminence, sullenly pro-
testing against the scheme, perhaps suspicious that it
savored too much of " measures where private advan-
tage and sinister ends were at the bottom." But
Tories were exceeding scarce, and although I find an
honored name of one who was cashiered as agent to
procure recruits for the town, "because he was not

firm and friendly to the State," yet I believe he was
restored within a few months. And you know that
when the question of the adoption of the United
States Constitution came up, the people of this town
and vicinity, concurring with the mistaken views of
many veteran patriots of the Revolution, rejected by
a very large majority that Union which, in the next
age, their posterity were destined so gloriously to de-
fend. I have left myself no time, nor was it a part of
my design, to enter upon any consideration of Graf-
ton's relation to the War for the Union. If the record
of fatalities did not reach the unparalleled extent of
the old French War, the roll of your volunteers was
swelled far beyond every requirement of the govern-
ment. For nearly every eight men your quota called
for, you furnished, out of the abundance of your
patriotism, an additional man.

Y'our eminence in this particular received ample
recognition from the Commonwealth, when its chief
magistrate .said, in measured words : " I feel bound in
truth and justice to say that no other town appears to
have contributed to the late war a larger proportion
than yours of its treasures and its men." I am speak-
ing to those who helped to make the record. I know
how appropriate the theme is ; but I could not ade-
quately treat it. To what examples of ancient or
modern valor could I refer to set in more striking
light your own ? The mind reverts to Marathon ; to
Platea ; and to the pass in the Locrian Mountains,
where the three hundred Spartans with their few
allies, held at bay a million barbarians.

The literature and art of twenty-five centuries has
invested these examples of heroism with imperish-
able glory. No immortal literature has yet wrought
its spell upon your deeds. The long arts of sculpture
and painting have notfamiliarized theeyes of seventy
generations with your achievements. Perhaps the
conditions under which you and your comrades
wrought and endured are not favorable to the repre-
sentations of art, and the Achilles of the Civil War
may never find his Homer. But 1 know of nothing
in the quality of your valor, in the circumstances
under which it was displayed, in the motives which
actuated it, or in the re-sulls it achieved, to belittle it
in comparison with the classic models of antiquity.
The Greeks, trained in war from their infancy, on
those renowned fields, confronted a foe formidable
only in numbers, to preserve for a few precious
decades a small tract of mountainous country, until
their genius might create and transmit to other ages
and other races a body of wonderful literature, monu-
ments of unequaled art, and examples of politics and
governments, of the highest interest to mankind.
You fought without previous military training,
against an equal foe, in the cause of human lib-
erty, inspired with a lofty sentiment of national in-
tegrity, and to the end, in the immortal language of
Lincoln, "that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, might not perish from the

GRAFTON.

945

earth." To quote the language of your great mili-
tary chieftain, addressed to you at the close, " Your
marches, sieges and battles, in distance, duration, res-
olution and brilliancy of results, dim the lustre of
the world's past military achievements, and will be
the patriot's precedent in defence of liberty and the
right in all time to come."

I have said the first settlers of the town were re-
markable for their sturdy sen.se and practical busi-
ness capacity, and for these their descendants have
continued to be distinguished. It would be invidious
to name the living, and difficult to select, for special
mention, from the long roll of Grafton's sons who
have united with a lofty spirit of patriotism the
practical wisdom of men of afl'airs. They are found,
in no insignificant numbers, in the ranks of those by
whom the great business interests of the country are
managed. Of profound and brlUiaut scholars, of
eminent statesmen and orators, the t<nvn has no list
to present. In the main, heretofore, the genius her
children have displayed is the genius of honest in-
dustry, perseverance, courage, Yankee sense, the ca-
pacity to gain solid acquirements, and to use them
about the practical business of life, the genius of the
true artisans who have wrought out the great material
progress and prosperity of the age. And if the past
of the town is secure, the present and future are also
luminous with hope and promise. It is true that
causes, which need not be enumerated, tend to mass
l)opulation about great industrial centres, and the
country town sufl'ers an apparent diminution of im-
portance. If it is a question of valuation for the
purposes of ta.\ation ; if it is a ((uestion of com|)ara-
tive gain of population ; if it is a question of rela-
tive municipal importance, your town has lost the
race. But the true worth of a town is not measured
by its valuation list, any oiore than the true wealth
of a man is measured by his weight avoirdupois.
When the Neto Yor/c Sun wanted to say the most dis-
paraging thing it could think of about General Han-
cock, it .said he was a good man, and weighed two
hundred and fifty pounds. If it is a question what
opportunities are here afforded to lead a rational ex-
istence ; to appreciate intelligently the great pageant
of human life as it moves before the eye ; to culti-
vate and expand your own powers ; to furnish the
minds of your children with correct opinions, and fill
their hearts with noble sentiments ; in short, to en-
joy all the blessings of civil liberty, at what period
of Grafton's history were her prospects more attrac-
tive? In 1735 Grafton was what it had been in the
days of Hubbard, " a place up into the woods beyond
Medfield and Mendon."

The Grafton of 1885 is near the centre of a repub-
lic of fifty-five millions of people. The distance of
your fathers of the year 1800 from their rural county-
seat was greater than yours, at present, from the
great city, then a straggling town, now a vast mart
of trade and the " mother of arts and eloquence."
60

Taking into account the conveniences and comforts
of modern methods of travel, as well as the element
of time, you are nearer to New York, Philadelphia
and Washington, than your fathers were to their pro-
vincial capital. " No pent up Utica contracts your
powers, but the whole boundless continent is yours.''
And it is yours in other senses than that it is acces-
sible. The old charters of Charles, and of William
and Mary, granted to the province of Massachusetts
Bay all the land lying between a north line three
miles north of the Merrimack and a south line three
miles south of the Charles, and extending westward
to the South Sea. There was an unconscious prophecy
in the vague terms of the ancient grants. The royal
grantors could deliver but a small part of the vast
region they covered by the premises of their parch-
ment. But what the royal .signet could not give title
to, the grantees and their children have, nevertheless,
possessed. The great West is but a larger New Eng-
land and a more distinguished Massachusetts. Even
the great South, so long shut up against the influence
of your free institutions, beholds the coming day.
Even there —

Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on tlie misty mountain tops.

The new South means a South which shall yield
to the genial influences of New England, such as our
fathers planted here, and which have created the
greatness of the North and the West. Meanwhile,
over your noble hills and through your lovely val-
leys, "Heaven's breath smells wooin.gly," your ample
fields have not sensibly abated their fertility, and
your thriving villages are vigorous as of old. Your
model free-schools and your noble library open wide
their portals and extend their inestimable benefits to
the rich and poor alike. No child is born within
your borders in circumstances so abject and miser-
able that the beneficent institutions you have estab-
lished and maintain will not unlock at the bidding of
his diligence and ability, every door that leads to
wealth and honorable fame. Standing at the apex (if
the second century, reverting to the past and peering
into the future, we can discover only reasons for pro-
found gratitude to the founders of the ancient town,
and to their heroic successors in every generation,
who have preserved for us so noble a heritage.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ESEK SAUNDERS.

The subject of this sketch is nearly as old as the
century, having been born in Scituate, R. I., May 21,
1800, and is still (January, 1889) living with physical
and mental powers remarkably preserved.

His father, Ebenezer, the son of Kobert and Alice
Stephens Saunders, was born in Gloucester, R. 1..

946

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

April 17, 1774, engaged in agriculture and later in
manufacturing interests, and died in Providence, R. I.,
February 12, 1835.

The ancestor of the family in this country was
Christopher Saunders, who settled at Bristol, R. I.>
and attended the first town-meeting there in 1680.
He was descended from Sir Robert Saunders, who
was knighted by Oliver Cromwell during the civil
wars of England. The family name is favorably
known in letters, being represented in London by
Mr. John Saunders, a writer of marked ability in
historical matters, and in this country by Mr. Fred-
erick Saunders, the accomplished librarian of the
Astor Library in New York.

Deborah Foster Saunders, the mother of Esek, the
daughter of Josiah and Patience Williams Foster,
was born December 20, 1776, and died at the great
age of ninety-six years, ten months and twenty days,
at Saundersville, Mass. She was an estimable woman
and retained her mental faculties to a remarkable de-
gree. The town of Foster, R. I., was named for her
family. She was a descendant of Roger Williams,
the founder of Rhode Island, and of William and
Mary Dyer, who came from England with Roger
Williams, and settled with him in Rhode Island in
1636. William Dyer was the first secretary of the
colony of Rhode Island, and Mary, his wife, was the
Quakeress who was executed in Boston during Win-
throp's administration.

Esek Saunders was one of six children, having
three brothers and two sisters. He was in the seventh
generation from Roger Williams, and was most em-
phatically the architect of his own success, having
left home at the early age of eight years, though still
for some time under the oversight of loving parents.

At sixteen we find him in the employ of Aldricb,
Macomber & Fisk, who ran the stage line from
Providence to Norwich in connection with the New
York Steamship Line, carrying the United States
mail. Here he began his connection with what was
then one of the great enterprises of the day — stage-
coaching, in which he was to have many interesting
experiences and a large degree of success. Ten years
later he was for eighteen mouths with Thomas Harts-
horn, proprietor of a large livery stable, who fur-
nished carriages to people going to all parts of the
country. In his employ young Saunders had an
opportunity to visit all the principal cities and to meet
many of the noted people whose names have become
historic. The year 1819 found him with his uncle,
John Howard, at Burlington, Vt. Here he was
placed on the line between Burlington and Boston, re-
maining until the spring of 1821, when he became
the Boston agent of the line. In 1822 he was con-
nected with the Plymouth line, and in 1823 went on
the Eastern line, driving most of the time between
Newburyport and Boston, doing an important express
business, carrying large sums of money for the
bankers, and at the same time maintaining an inter-

est in most of the other lines. Mr. Saunders became
one of the best known, most trusted and most popular
drivers of the day. His honesty, fidelity, good judg-
ment and urbanity brought him prosperity. His
strict temperance principles were remarkable for that
day, and the more so for one in his position. Favored
parties frequently oflered him cigars, wine, tickets to
theatres, etc., all of which he politely but firmly re-
fused. He now loves to tell to appreciative friends
most interesting stories of his staging experiences,
and of those who have been his passengers. John
Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State under Monroe,
afterward President of the United States, rode with
him, in 1819, from Providence to Quincy. In 1820
he had Gen. Winfield Scott with his staff on their
way to Boston, as passengers from Burlington to
Royalston. This was the beginning of an intimate
acquaintance and friendship. In 1821 he accom-
panied Gen. Lafayette from Boston to Portsmouth
and return. Almost all the men most prominent in
the history of the country, in the early part of this
century, have been his passengers, including Daniel
Webster, Judge Story, Edward Everett, Lyman
Beecher and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

In 1835 Mr. Saunders removed to the village which
came to bear his name, and |iurchased the small con-
ton-mill built by David Wilkinson. Two of his
brothers, George and Benjamin, were associated with
him, the former remaining for three years, and the
latter for five and continuing to retain afterward an
interest in the firm. The mill as purchased had a
capacity of 1000 spindles and 24 looms. It was soon
replaced by the present substantial structure, — a stone
building 175 by 51 feet, three stories in height, with
an ell 78 by 38 feet, with a capacity of 12,000 spindles
and 210 looms. Under the enterprise of the Saunders
Cotton Co., of which Mr. Saunders was the principal
stockholder, Saundersville. one of the most beautiful
villages on the Blackstone, has grown up. It was
laid out with intelligence and taste in the beginning,
and trees of the most ornamental varieties were
planted at once, and now the shaded houses with
their little lawns and gardens are in marked contrast
with those of the average mill village. Mr. Saunders
looked well to the sanitary, the educational and the
moral interests of his little kingdom. He had a care
that the children of the village might grow up to be
intelligent and worthy citizens; showed adeej) interest
in the schools, and once gave one thousand dollars
for the library of the village. He endeavored in
every way to elevate his employes. In 1838 he
erected a convenient building for a church, which,
though replaced later by a more commodious structure
of brick, is still used as a vestry and for the social needs
of the Congregational Church. Mr. Saunders has
been the principal financial supporter of the church,
always devising liberal things for its welfare. He be-
came identified with it as a member in 1867, and has
served it as deacon since 1870. He has ever been the

GRAFTON.

947

iiiinister's friend and active supporter in all good
things.

It is also true of him that he has ever been a kind
and generous friend to the poor, and has by his help-
ing hand and wise and sympathetic counsels bright-
ened many a life. It used to be said of him that " he
would never have an unworthy man in the village."
Xo saloon has ever found a roof to cover it in Saun-
dersville, and no corrupter of the people, a home.

While giving his time to the exacting demands of
a large business, and caring like a father for the wel-
fare of the place, Mr. Saunders always manifested an
intelligent interest in public aflairs. He has voted at
every Presidential election since that of John Quincy
Adams in 1824. In the palmy days of the old Whig
party he acted with them, and his counsel was fre-
quently sought. Later he became identified with the
Republican party. All local enterprises of moment
sought his advice and support. He was an advocate
of public improvements in the town of Grafton, where
he lived, and active in all movements to benefit it-
He had a large influence in getting the Providence
and Worcester Railroad through, taking a large
amount of stock, giving land for a station and set-
tling land damages for the company. He twice rep-
resented the town with acceptance in the State Legis-
lature, and served several terms as selectman, over-
seer of the poor, trustee of the cemetery, etc. ; was
director of the Grafton Bank and Savings Bank; also
of llillbury Bank and Savings Bank ; was director
also of Worcester Safety Deposit Co., and is now the
ol<lest director in the Woi'cester Manufacturers' Mutual
Insurance Co., being one of its organizers in 1855.
The fact that he was frequently called upon to act as
arbitrator shows that he was widely recognized as a
nuin of intelligence and discrimination in all busi-
ness ailiiirs.

Mr. Saunders was married at South Deerfield, Mass.,
in 1825, to Miss Minerva Boyden, and three daughters
were born to them. One, Emily B., married William
H. Jourdan, now of Worcester ; another, Harriet M.,
became the wife of John D. Chollar, Esq., of the same
city; the third, Minerva, married Robert W. Taylor
afterward of Providence. Jlr. Saunders has three
grandsons, viz. : William Saunders Jourdan, John
Howard Chollar, Bradford Newcomb Taylor; one
great-grandson, Harry Putnam Jourdan.

In 1867 Mr. Saunders married for his second wife
Miss Margaret Read White, daughter of the late
Deacon Washington White, of Grafton, who still, the
most devoted of wives, imparts the charm of her
presence to his beautiful home.

Changes have come to the village. The business
is in other bands. New proprietors are running the
mill. But though not enjoying the prosperity ihat
once was his, Mr. Saunders can look out from the
windows of his residence upon the surrounding ac-
tivities, upon the mill he erected, upon the church
he built, the trees he planted, and the beautiful vil-

lage he created, and believe that the place that bears
his name will retain, long after he has gone, the
marks of his formative hand. His influence will
live on in what be has done for village improvement,
and education and temperance and religion.

JASPER S. NELSON.

Jasper Stone Nelson, son of Josiah and Sophia
(Goddard) Nelson, was born June 2, 1822, in the town
of Shrewsbury, Mass, upon a farm still owned by the
Nelson heirs, it having been in the possession of
the family for the greater part of the last one hun-
dred and twenty years.

The experiences of Mr. Nelson's early life were
those of the farm and the district school, he attend-
ing the latter more or less until he was eighteen
years of age. This, with three months at Worcester
Academy, was all that fell to his lot in the way of
educational advantages. After leaving school he
learned the trade of shoe-making from an elder
brother, and until about twenty-three years of age
divided his time between the farm and the bench.

Mr. Nelson's career as a manufacturer of boots
and shoes began in Shrewsbury in the year 1845 and
was marked by a steady, uninterrupted growth and
successful issue. The shop in which he began busi-
ness was a plain building, ten by thirteen feet in
dimensions, situated only a few rods from the place
of his birth. This building was subsequently
enlarged to about twice its original size. To this
place he took the stock of his own selection, and
with the help of an elder brother prepared it for
market, being his own salesman. Such was the
beginning of a now large and flourishing industry,
with its agents and branch houses all through the
West and South.

In 1848 Mr. Nelson moved to what is now North
Grafton and became associated with Mr. James S.
Stone, of Boston, a native and former resident of
Grafton. In 1850 Messrs. Stone & Nelson pur-
chased a tract of land near the Boston and Albany
station, and with it a building which forms part of
the present establishment. November 1, 1857, Mr.
Nelson b<iught out Mr. Stone's interest, continuing
the business in his own name until .January 1, 18(i9,
when Mr. Geo. H. Rugg, a tbrmer emiiloy(5, became
a partner to the business. In 1873, Mr. Nelson's son,
Charles H., was admitted to the firm, and January 1,
1877, Mr. Rugg disposed of his interest to the other
meml>ers, since which time the business has been
conducted under the firm-name of J. S. Nelson
& Son.

The factory, which was originally thirty by forty
feet, two stories high, has been enlarged from time to
time to meet the requirements of a steadily increas-
ing trade, until the present buildings have a capacity
of two hundred and sixty-four by thirty feet, four
stories high in which two hundred people find steady
employment.

948

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

For nearly forty years Mr. Nelson was in close con-
tact and conapetition with business men all over the
country, yet no dishonorable act or suspicion of
unfairness was ever charged against hira ; his charac-
ter for strict integrity stood unchallenged to the end.
" His word was as good as his bond." As a citizen,
Mr. Nelson was public-spirited and patriotic, con-
cerned for the welfare of both his home and his
country. He was not, however, ambitious for polit-
ical honors, though he shrank from the performance
of no known duty.

During the War of the Rebellion he was one of a
special committee who, with the Board of Selectmen
of the town, were entrusted with the management of
its military operations, in which capacity he rendered
valuable service and was among the foremost to
assist, by word and deed, those who gave themselves
to fight the country's battles, and many a soldier
and soldier's family became the recipients of his
practical sympathy and generosity.

Mr. Nelson was twice elected and served the town
as a selectman, .and in 1870-71 represented his
district i d the State Legislature.

October 31, 1844, Mr. Nelson married Mary E.,
daughter of Gardner Wheelock, who bore him three
children — two daughters, Emma Elizabeth and Carrie
Oilman, both of whom died before reaching their
majority, and a son, Charles Horatio, who, upon the
death of the father, succeeded to the business, which,
under his wise and vigorous management is still
(1889) growing and prosperous. Brought up to labor,
Mr. Nelson's sympathies were with the laborer, and
the men in his employ both loved and respected him,
for they felt that in him they had a friend and bene-
factor, so that in the establishment of which he was
the head, serious differences between employer and
employe were practically unknown.

For whatever was false and degrading Mr. Nelson
entertained a wholesome contempt and his sympathies
were strongly on the side of temperance and moral
reform. In him the Baptist Church of the village
found a firm friend and generous supporter, and was
greatly encouraged and helped by his regular attend-
ance upon public worship— from which he seldom
absented himself when in health — as also by his
liberal contributions of money.

To know Mr. Nelson at his best was to know him
as a friend, and those thus favored — and they were
many, for he was a man to attract others — found in
him at all times, and under all circumstances, the
courteous gentleman, the genial companion and sym-
pathetic helper. He was a man of strong attach-
ments, loyal to his friends and eminently domestic
in his habits ; he loved his home and was not easily
enticed away from its luxury and comforts.

In person Mr. Nelson was a man of fine physique
and commanding presence, blessed with a vigorous
constitution, and until the closing year of his life he
enjoyed excellent health. He died October 22, 1884,

while yet upon the rising tide of a prosperous busi-
ness career, beloved and mourned by all who knew
him.

ERASTUS FISHEE.

The little town of Killingly, Conn., was the birth-
place of the subject of this sketch, as it had been the
home of his ancestors for several generations. To
this place his great-grandfather, who bore the scrip-
tural name of Barzillai (born January 6, 1730; died
January, 1813), came in 1769 with his wife, Lydia
Dexter (whom he married October 3, 1754). They
were blessed with nine children, the four oldest of
whom rendered valuable service in the War of the
Revolution. One of the sons, Nathan, was taken
prisoner, and died on the "Jersey" prison-ship.
John, the eldest (born December 29, 1755; died June
9, 1843), the grandfather of Erastus, served during
the entire war. On the farm now owned by John
Williams he bi'ought up his seven children, the
second of whom, Laban (born January 1, 1783; died
July 3, 1.860), was the father of four childien, of whom
Erastus was one. If it be true, as Oliver Wendell
Holmes has said, that " the education of a child
should begin an hundred years before he is born," the
present descendants of Erastus have much to he
grateful for in their inheritance from his mother.
Abigail Dexter (born April 2, 1789; died July 26,
1862) was a direct descendant of Rev. Gregory Dex-
ter, who came from England in 1644, who was an in-
timate friend of Roger Williams, and came to this
country at his solicitation, and who became pastor of
the Fir.st Baptist Church in Providence, R. I. On the
old homestead farm these parents reared their chil-
dren. Both father and mother were earnest, devoted
Chris'ians, not only professors but possessors of true
religion. Erastus (born November 21, 1810; died
April 20, 1880) was sent to the public school, and in
his good home he early formed those habits of indus-
try, and acquired those moral characteristics, by
which he was afterward so well known.

After his marriage, April 7, 1835, to Mary Fletcher
Dresser (born September 19, 1813; died December 6,
1880), who became a worthy helpmeet in all his
undertakings, they lived for a year on a leased farm
on Allen Hill, near fhe old homestead, where their
first son was born. Then, with assistance from his
father, he purchased the farm in Grafton, Mass., now
owned by George W. Fisher, and by hard work and
rigid economy the soil was made to yield a profitable
increase. In 1845 he bought a part interest, with his
brother Waterman A., in the cotton-mill in wha't is
now Fisherville. He took the superintendency, later
bought the whole interest, and eventually associated
with him his three sons as E. Fisher & Sons, which
firm continued until his death. On January 27, 1881,
the mills were burned, and a corporation was formed
in the following spring, composed largely of his old
business friends, and assumed in his honor the name

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lipi'

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GRAFTON.

949

of Fisher Manufacturing Company. By direction of
the company, as a testimonial of their high esteem,
an excellent crayon portrait of Erastus Fisher has
been placed in their office.

In 1861 he removed his residence to Worcester,
while his business interests continued in the town
of Grafton. He died at his home in Worcester, April
20, 1880, leaving behind him the example of a man
who prospeied in the good old-fashioned way, by his
own productive industry and by honest methods.

In business life Erastus Fisher was characterized
by invincible integrity, industry and perseverance.
He was always a man of his word, abhorring deceit,
and honorable in all his dealings and methods.
Though quiet and unassuming, he was yet outspoken
and resolute for the right. He was a good counselor,
was possessed of a large fund of that uncommon
thing called common sense, was wise in all his plans
and energetic in their prosecution.

In his family-life he was a kind husband and a faith-
ful and indulgent lather. He endeavored to bring up
his children in the way they should go, trained them
to habits of industry and honesty and efficiency, and
left them a priceless legacy in his counsels and example.

Politically he was a Whig, and cast his first vote
for Henry Clay. Later he acted with the Republican
party, and held strong anti-slavery sentiments. He
cast his vote always and conscientiously at elections!
was interested in the welfare of the town and ready
to assist in public improvements. He had no desire
for public office, but preferred to see others enjoying
its honors and rewards.

He loved to spend his time apart from business
hours in his home, yet consented to serve the town as
selectman, and while a resident was a director of the
Grafton Bank. He was also a member of the "Old
City Guards " of Worcester.

He was interested in moral reforms, was an earnest
and pronounced temperance advocate, and a total
abstainer in practice.

He was a constant attendant on public worship and
a professed Christian, he, with his wife, having joined
the Evangelical Congregational Church in Grafton in
1842. He was benevolent toward his church, and
interested in whatever tended to promote the kingdom
of God. A handsome window, memorial to him and
his wife, the gift of their sons, now adorns their
church in Grafton and commemorates their virtues.

After his removal to Worcester he was a useful and
valued member of the First Church (Old South) in
that city, and served the parish as assessor and treas-
urer. After his death highly eulogistic resolutions
were inscribed upon the parish records, from which
the following is an extract: "In the death of our
highly esteemed brother the Old South Church and
Parish have lost a wise counselor, liberal supporter,
and an earnest and devoted friend,- — one whose heart
was as full of love as was his life of noble and generous
deeds."

His children were Henry Dresser, born at Killingly,
Conn., January 18, 1836, died in Worcester March 14,
1886 ; George William (born November 18, 1843), at
present the agent of the Fisher Manufacturing Com-
pany ; and Albert Laban (born March 10, 1846), also
a resident of Fisherville, and lately a member of the
State Legislature.

SAMUEL D. WAREEJ).

Grafton, a beautiful hill-town of the county, was
the birth-place of one of the eminent business men
of this country, born there September 17, 1817. His
father, a typical New England farmer, had at one
time been in business at the South. The early school-
days of the subject of our sketch were passed in his
native town. At the tender age of thirteen, his father
being dead, he entered Amherst Academy, remaining
there two years. Like many a country youth before
him, young Warren was filled with the idea that
Boston held for him fame and fortune, which in fact
was true in his case.

To the tri-mountain city he wended his way, seek-
ing the prize before him. Disappointment was the
result, and he returned to his native town. But he
was made of the material that would not sutler him
to remain in that limited field of action. Mr. Otis
Daniell, a relative, saw the young man had a fixed
purpose to rise in the world, and offered to him a
position in Boston at small pay. The young man saw
in this a beginning — a stepping-stone to greater
things. He accepted the place with Grant & Daniell,
paper dealers. His wages being low, he was com-
pelled to be very frugal in his expenditures. His
employers soon saw in him the qualities that go to
make the successful man of business. Slowly but
surely he was mastering all the details. His success
was such, they decided, a few years after, to admit
him a member of the firm, which then became
Grant, Daniell & Co. Previous to 1853 the concern
was engaged only in selling paper. At that time
only a small portion of the paper used here was made
in this country. P'ive miles from Mr. Warren's birth-
place the first paper-mill in Worcester County had
been established, in 1776, by Abijah Burbank. As a
boy at school, young Warren had used paper bearing
the Bui'bank water-mark. No doubt he had seen the
vats of blue pulp and noted the process of paper-
making in Millbury, crude though it was.

Perhaps memories of this mill were in his mind
when, in 18.33, he determined upon manufacturing
paper himself He accordingly leased a small mill
at Pepperell, Mass., as an experiment. But, it proving
too small a field, he abandoned it and bought mills at
Cumberland Falls, Me. The mills were old and much
in need of repair, and a fortune for those days was
expended on them before he was satisfied. The best
machinery known was introduced and every appli-
ance to facilitate the business. It was a rule with
him that to successfully do a job, good tools must be

950

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

used. At that time, it is said, he was deeply engaged
in the manufacturing part of his business, leaving the
other arrangements mostly with his partners.

The business at Cumberland Falls was successful
in all its details. An enterprising community sprang
up about there, in consequence of good management.
An idea of the magnitude of the business of this firm
in paper-making can be gathered when it is known
that the daily production of the firm's mills in 1888
was forty-five tons of paper, and tlie same number
of tons of wood-pulp. A small mill was bought in
1874 at Yarmouth, Me., where a series of experiments
were begun in making pulp of wood-fibre by a chem-
ical process. With a tenacity characteristic of Mr.
Warren, he held on to his purpose until his fondest
dreams were realized. The business successfully
started grew until twenty-five tons daily were made,
all of which was put on the market.

Another pulp-mill was set up at Cumberland Falls
in 1879, to make the pulp for their own paper-mills.
Not having reached the height of his ambition as a
business man, Mr. Warren decided to add to their
other business the importation of rags. Several
journeys to Europe were made by him before his
plans were all perfected. In this, too, he was also
successful, his firm at one time becoming the largest
importers of rags in the country. About 1S75 the
firm decided to abandon this part of the business.

Mr. Daniell having withdrawn from the firm in
1855, the name of Grant, Warren & Co. was used in
the business until 1867, although Mr. Grant had died
in 1863. S. D. Warren was now alone in this im-
mense business, and continued so until 1871, when
the firm became S. D. Warren & Co. Thus, by steady
application to business, he had made for himself the
place he sought. He had scaled the heights his am-
bition had reared before him. His name was a power
in the financial and business world. He had gone
through the many paths of business for long years,
and had come out with an unspotted reputation.

Respected by his fellow-citizens, he had been hon-
ored by them with many important trusts, — a trustee
of the McLean Asylum and of the Adams Nervine
Asylum, a director in the First National Bank and
of the Provident Savings Institution; also of the
Fireman's Relief Fund.

His wife was Miss Susan, daughter of Rev. Dorus
Clarke, D.D., by whom he liad six children, of whom
four sons and one daughter are now living.

Mr. Warren died May 11, 1888. His funeral was
held at Mount Vernon Church the 14th, Rev. Samuel
E. Herrick officiating. Memorial services were also
held at the same hour at Cumberland Falls, where
his large mills were situated. The burial was at
Mount Auburn. He was a member of Mount Vernon
Church, on Ashburton Place, and his Christian deeds
are well known. Liberal in all useful ways, his
heart was ever ojjen to the needy poor. Broad in his
charity, sweet memories cluster around his name.

His was a genial nature, ever looking on the bright
side of life. For the young he ever had a kind word
of encouragement an<l advice. Numerous instances
might be given where he has a'sisted such to place
and fortune.

As a business man he had few equals. His sterling
integrity soon became known in the business world,
and " his word was as good as his bond." His name
sheds lustre upon the place of his birth. Fitting il is
that his features should be preserved in the history
of the county he loved so well.

GEORGE W. HAMMOND.

George Warren Hammond, eldest son of Josiah
Hovey Hammond and Anna Grout (Warren) Ham-
mond, was born in Grafton, Mass., April 4, 183.3. His
father was descended from Thomas Hammond, of
Lavrenham, England, who came to this country in
1636, with his wife Elizabeth (Cason) Hammond.
This family of Hammonds settled in Hingham and
Newton, and for six generations the Hammond family
lived at Chestnut Hill, where Josiah Hovey Hammond
was born in 1806. The Warren family came from
Wayland, England. Capt. Samuel Warren bought
his land in Grafton of his brother, in 1731, who bought
it of the Indians in 1728. A part of the old Warren
homestead has remained in possession of the Warren
family until recently, when it passed by will into the
hands of the subject of this sketch.

George Warren Hammond's business career began
at Cumberland Mills, Maine, April 12, 1854, under
the care of his uncle, the late Samuel D. Warren, of
S. D. Warren & Co., Boston. Mr. Hammond became
agent at Cumberland Mills iu 1863. These mills
manufacture paper of the finest quality and are among
the largest in the world. In 1874 they began the de-
velopment of the new industry of chemically-pre-
pared wood-fibre, to be used in superior pa|)er ; this
industry has been carried on at Yannouthville, Maine,
under the name of the Forest Paper Co., the sole
owners being Messrs. S. D. Warren and G. W. Ham-
mond.

Mr. Hammond married Ellen I. S. Clarke (October
15, 1874), daughter of Rev. Dorus Clarke, D.D., of
Boston. Since that time Mr. Hammond has been a
resident of Boston, although continuing the direction
of his business in Maine.

As this history of Worcester County contains rec-
ords of many of its pioneers and representative men,
there seems a peculiar appropriateness in preserving
here this mention of the four nephews of S. D. War-
ren, which appeared in the Portland Advertiser. Mon-
day, July 9, 1888, after the commemorative service to
the late S. I). Warren had been held at Cumberland
Mills and Yarmouth Mills, Maine. The Advertiser
says •—

In this oonnectiou it is not inuppnipiiutf to refer to the four nephews
uf Mr. Wiirieii, wliu wt-le Li^ upeciul buUy-guarU ut llie tunural iu Boa-

'/^,

,i^

GRAFTON.

951

ton, May 11th. They were George W. Hammond, long associated with
the Cumberland Mills as agent and later joint owner with Mr. Warren
in the Fore^it Paper Co.'s mills, for the nuiHufacture of wood-fibre, at
Yarmouthville ; John E. Warren, present agent at Cumberland Mills,
son uf Joseph A. Warren, who was born in Grafton, Mass. ; Ueury E
Merriam, agent of the Copseecook Mills, Gardiner, Maine, and M. B-
Mason, a partner in the Boston house of S. D. Warren & Co.

These nephews have faitlifiilly sought to develop,
not only the business, but the social and religious in-
terests in their respective places. These men repre-
sent the devotion, loyalty, integrity and ability essen-
tial to success. Those who rightly appreciate the
training of the home and the church, and who mark
the influence of birth and family, will note with in-
terest Mr. Warren's fortunate position in being sup-
ported and succeeded by such men.

Three of the nephews mentioned are sons of sisters
of S. D. Warren.

JAMES S. STONE.

There were two early settlers of the name of Stone,
from whom most of the very numerous families of
that name in New England are de.scended, viz., Simon
and his younger brother Gregory. The latter moved
from Watertown to Cambridge, probably about 1636.
Gregory was the ancestor of the families in this town.

Nahum Stone, born 17.53, married Hannah Haven,
died August 30, 1803; he died September 7, 1821.
Children: Gregory, born July 11, 1776, married Pru-
dence Leland ; David, born January 18, 1778, died
September 22, 1778; Albert, born August 5, 1779,
married Sally B. Kimball; Daniel, born December 4,
1781, married Sally Williams ; Josiah H., born June
28, 1783, married Betsey Bent.

Gregory Stone (Nahum), born July 11, 1776, mar-
ried Prudence Leland, born 1778. He died 1810.

Albert Stone (Nahum), born August -5, 1779, mar-
ried Sally B. Kimball.

He was a man of sound judgment and stern integ-
rity, with a liberal turn of mind. He was much
interested in town affairs, and always looked for the
welfare and prosperity of the town. He held many
town oflices, such as selectman, overseer of the poor,
assessor, and collector of ta.Kes, and was Representa-
tive for two years; he also served on various town
committees of importance.

In early life he was a clothier by trade. He had a
fulling-mill. About 1812 he built a two-story build-
ing for machinery for carding wool for farmers who
made their own cloths, as everything was high dur-
ing the war.

In about 1825 he, with his neighbors, sold out his
farm in New England Village, and later bought on
Brigham Hill, his honored wife being unwilling to
move out of town and away from their numerous
acquaintances.

Children : Hannah, born May 23, 1804, married
Benjamin Kingsbury ; Mary, born September 3, 1806,
married Lincoln Wood ; Lorana, born August 19,
1808, married Elijah L. Case ; Sally, born August 27,

1810, married William E. Tidd ; Martha, born Octo-
ber 21, 1812, married Leander S. Pratt ; Albert G.,
born November 17, 1814, died March 7, 1818; James
S., born July 4, 1816, married Mary L. Phinney June
13, 1838 ; Elbridge K., born August 23, 1818, married
Jane E. Brown; Lucy E., born June 26, 1821, mar-
ried William J. Eaton.

James S. Stone, born July 4, 1816, married JIary
L. Phinney, June l.-i, 1838.

In addition to a very limited common-school edu-
cation, he attended the Teachers' Seminary and
Phillips Academy at Andover for about two years,
teaching school during the winter seasons.

At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in the
boot and shoe business for himself in Alton, Illinois.
Selling out there in 1845, he came to Boston, resum-
ing the same business in his own name, and after-
wards was a partner in the firms of Fay, Jones &
Stone and Fay & Stone. Giving up active business
in 1875, he was later interested in real estate, and
employed his leisure time for about ten years in
building stores.

Children : Albert, born in Alton, Illinois, May
20, 1843, married Anna H. Putnam; Ellen Augusta
born in Boston August 9, 1846, died September 26,
1850 ; Edwin Palmer, born in Medford, Mass., Sep-
tember 3, 1853, married Clara O. Leland.

Elbridge K. Stone, born August 23, 1818, married
Jane E. Brown. '

In 1840 he established himself in the jobbing and
retail boot and shoe business at Quincy, Illinois,
building himself a store in 1857, continuing in the
same line of business for twenty-five years ; and later
on for eighteen years was superintendent and man-
ager of the Horse Eailroad Co. in Quincy, his son, E.
K. Stone, Jr., succeeding him in that office. Once
duriug his business life, owing to the general depres-
sion that prevailed in that section of the country, he
found himself obliged to compromise with his cred-
itors, but as soon after as he was able to do so, it
afforded him the greatest pleasure to pay them all in
full, with interest. He still resides in Quincy, Illinois,
a much honored and respected citizen.

Children: Sarah E., born July 13, 1843, died May
27, 1848; Emily H., born February 12, 1846, died
May 15. 1848; Mary J., born November 30, 1848,
married H. Newhall; Elbridge K., born in the year
1850, married Cora Edison ; Charles E., born Septem-
ber 19. 1854, died November 3, 1856.

JONATHAN CHESTER FOEBUSII.

Silas Forbush, the father of the subject of this
sketch, was a descendant of one of the old families
of Worcester County, the family of Forbush being
traced back as far as 1680, when they were settled in
Marlboro'.

Silas Forbush was born in Grafton in 1795, and
always lived there, dying at the age of uinely-two.

952

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

His life was one of great industry, integrity and use-
fulness. At an early age be began the business
of manufacturing shoes, at which he continued suc-
cessful for some years. Later he returned to his
farm, in which he always took delight. During his
entire long life he was a man of influence in the
town, being called to many important trusts.

He was certainly the very model of the old-time,
cheerful, contented and successful New England
man.

Jonathan Chester Forbush was born in Grafton,
July 14, 1825. His boyhood was spent on his father's
farm, and his education was that of the common
schools. Later he worked in his father's shoe-shop,
where he continued till early manhood, when he be-
gan the business of manufacturing shoes with Na-
thaniel Brown, also a native of Worcester County.
The firm remained in Grafion for about one year,
when they removed to the then young city of Buf-
falo, New York, where they have ever since contin-
ued the business.

Mr. J. C. Forbush's life, both in a business and
social way, has always been pleasant and very suc-
cessful. Inheriting the sturdy traits of both his
father and mother, he has always commanded the
confidence and respect of the community in which
he lived.

' WALTER P. PHILLIPS.

Walter Polk Phillips was born June 14, 1846.
Prior to his parents' removal to Providence, in 1859,
the family lived on a farm near Saundersville. Mr.
Phillips' father is Andrew Smith Phillips, now of
Providence, and his mother, before marriage, was
Roxana Minerva Drake, of Northboro'. In 1861,
Walter secured employment in the telegraph office at
Providence, with a view to becoming an operator.
He was well advanced in his studies for a boy of
fifteen, and so assiduously did he apply hiaiself to
the business which he had undertaken, that in 1867
he was formally recognized by Professor Morse, the
inventor of the telegraph, as the most expert operator
in the United States. The record made by Mr.
Phillips, in that year, in a tournament in which many
stars of the profession participated, has never been
equaled.

Mr. Phillips was now of age; he had recently
married Francena Adelaide Capron, of Attleboro', and
having made his mark as a telegrapher, he decided to
take a step forward and enter journalism. With this
object in mind, be began a special course of study,
which, he being a natural and persistent student,
rapidly fitted iiim for newspaper work. During the
next five years he combined with his telegraphic
duties a great deal of newspaper writing of various
grades, ranging from ordinary reporting to editorial
writing and book reviewing.

In 1872 Mr. Phillips established the Attleboro'
Chronicle and, pushing it quickly to phenomenal

success, disposed of it advantageously and went to
New York. Here, in due course, he found his way
into the service of the Associated Press, with which
important organization he met with marked success.
His value was recognized in 1878, in his selection for
the head of the Associated Press at Washington.
Remaining at the capital until 1883, when his reputa-
tion as a journalist and litterateur was largely
augmented, Mr. Phillips returned to New York in
that year, and assumed charge of the United Press, of
which he was made and continues to be the secretary
and general manager, as well as one of its principal
owners.

This organization, although the product of fifteen
years of experiment and unflagging endeavor, was a
weak and ineftective competitor of the Associated
Press when its affairs passed to Mr. Phillips' hands.
Under his charge the United Press has become a power
in the land, and a most prosperous business under-
taking. It was long since recognized by its rival, the
Associated Press, as a legitimate competitor, and in
the place of hostility, formerly existing between the
two organizations, there have come, under Mr.
Phillips' administration, most radically changed con-
ditions, which contemplate self-respecting co-operation
and a greater degree of usefulness for both, than was
possible in the past or dreamed of for the future.

Mr. Phillips' management of the United Press has
served to permanently fix his status as a man of
aflairs, and it is as a business man that he is now best
known after having successively won a reputation in
telegraphy, in journalism and in the wider field of
Eteneral literature.

JONATHAX D. WHEELER.

Hon. Jonathan D. Wheeler was born August
14, 1806. At the early age of seven he came to
Grafton, and resided with his paternal uncle, Jona-
than Wheeler, Esq., and while here entered Leicester
Academy, from which place he graduated. After
graduating he studied languages with Dr. Dodgett,
and in 1823 he entered the firm of Earle & Chase
(J. Milton Earle and Anthony Chase), in Worcester,
as clerk. After remaining here a few years he went
to Weston and engaged in mercantile business, where
he remained for three years, subsequently entering
the employ of the Bottomly Manufacturing Co., in
Leicester, as chief clerk in their oflSce. In 1829 he
came to Grafton and purchased the store of Samuel
Harrington, and, with Ebenezer Aldricb as partner,
conducted the business. While in this business he
married Elizabeth Davenport, of Mendnn, daughter
of Benjamin Davenport; she died May 15, 1832.

In 1832 he sold out his interest in the concern
to Jonathan Warren, and removed to Boston, where
he conducted for five years a domestic goods commis-
sion business at No. 75 Kilby Street, under the firm-
name of Farnum, Mills & Wheeler. During the

'^ ^ jy^yyliuM^^

SUTTON.

953

last two years the firm-name was Pierce, Mills &
Wheeler.

October 13, 1834, he married for his second wife,
Caroline A. Norcross, of Boston, daughter of Otis
Norcross, Esq., and sister of Hon. Otis Norcross,
ex-mayor of Boston. In 1837 he formed a co-part-
nership with Benj. Poor and conducted an extensive
commission business for nearly two years. In 1839,
with Peter Farnum, he purchased of the Wadsworth
Manufacturing Co. at Danville (Barre), Mass., the
large woolen-mills, and for a short time conducted
an esteubive manufacturing business.

He subsequently sold out to his partner and
returned to Boston. Moving again to Grafton in
1843, he entered into business with Samuel Harring-
ton (firm-name Harrington & Wheeler), and after a
short time purchased what is now known as the
Wheeler Cotton-Mills, West Millbury,

In 1863-64 he was a member of Gov. Andrew's
Council from the Sixth Councilor District. In 1868
he represented the Second Worcester Senatorial Dis-
trict and was chairman of the committee on the
Troy and Greenfield Railroad ; he declined a re-elec-
tion. Since the organization of the Grafton National
Bank he has been a director, and was president from
1864 to 1882.

He was selectman for three years, and one of the
trustees of the Grafton Savings Bank from its organi-
zation.

CHAPTER CXXV.

SUTTON. 1

BY J. W. STOCKWELL.

The township of Sutton was purchased by certain
persons residing in Boston, of John Wampus and
others. Nipmug Indians, and is described as a tract
of waste land eight miles square, lying between the
towns of Mendon, Worcester, New (Jxford, Sher-
burne and Marlborough, embracing within its limits
an Indian reservation four miles square, called
" Hassanimisco."

The origin of the name is unknown. Deacon
Leland gives an old tradition, which he regards well-
established; It is this John Wampus visited Eng-
land ; while on his return voyage to New England
he received medical aid and other kindnesses from a
fellow-passenger, Dr. Sutton, and from gratitude to
him for his kindness, suggested his name for the town-

1 In preparing this History of Sutton, the writer has selected largely
trom the " History of Sutton" printed for the town in 1878, edited by
Rev. W. A. Benedict and others, instead of culhng over again the origi-
nal material from which that work was compiled, as collected and pre-
serred by Deacon .Jonathan Lehiud and Christopher C. Baldwin. There-
fore, while I have not followed the form or arrangement of the book,
I have tiiken from that history any material facts and used tliem with-
out other acknowU'iIgment of anthotship.— J. W. S.

ship, when he gave the deed conveying it to the pro-
prietors.

The original deed from John Wampus & Co. seems
to have been lost, from the fact that the " Proprietors
of Sutton," at a meeting held February 22, 1731-32,
ordered "Tliat the Clerk shall provide a new book
and transfer this regularly, and that on the first pages
of it, the original deed of John Wampus, alias White,
together with the Grant of the General Court, be first
placed " — and though a new book was procured and
the transfer made, no deed appears. The grant re-
ferred to was recorded on the first pages, and is as
follows :

Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Captain General and Oovernor In Chief In and
over her JIajesties Province of tlie Massachusetts Bay in Xew England
in America — To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.

Whereas John Conner, Pewterer, James Smith, Shop-keeper, Willijim
>Iumford, Stone cutter, and Joshua Hewes, Innkeeper, all of Boston In
the County of Suffolk, within the Province aforesaid by their petition
presented to the said Joseph Dudley, Esqi'., Govenor, and the Genera!
Assembly of the aforesaid Province, at their last Session begun the Eighth
day of March last passt before the sale hereof. Have humbly prayed iu
behalf of themselves and company, a confirmatiuu by a grant of this
L'ourt of their right and title to a certain tract of land purchased of
John Wampus, alias White, and (.'onipany, Indians situate in the Nip-
fnug Country between the towns of Mendon, Worcester, New Oxford,
Sherburne and Slarlborougli, of eight miles square, iu which is included
a tract of land four miles square called Hassananiisco, and possessed by
the Indians. And Wherejis the said Govenor and General As^mbly
liave ordered that the prayer of said petition be granted, saving the lands
purchased by the Haynes's, and reserving the Indian property of
Hassananiisco — Provided also that they intrench upon no former grant
of the General Court, and they be obliged to settle a town of thirty fam-
ilies, and a minister upon said lands, within seven yeares after the end
of the present war with the Indians. And that they reserve three hun-
dred acres of the said lands for the firot settled minister, four hundred
acres for the ministry, and two hundred acres for the use of a school, all
to be laid out conveniently. The said tract to begin upon the line of
Marlborough next Hassananiisco, a platt thereof to be returned and ap-
proved by tliis Court, as in and by the record of said General Aesembly,
relation being thereunto liad, doth and may appear.

Know ye therefore that I, the said Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Governor,
agreeable to the above recieved order passed by the Council and Assein -
bly respectively, and pursuant to the power and authority contained
and granted in and by her Majesties Royal Charter the Governor and
General Assembly of the aforesaid Province of Slassachusetts Bay, have
granted, ratified and confirmed and by these presents do freely, fully
und absolutely grant, ratify and confirm unto the above named John
'""onner, James Smith, William Mnmford, Joshua Hewes, and others,
iheir Partners, viz.: Paul Dudley of Boston aforesaid Esqr., John Jack-
son of said Boston, honsewright, Mary Conner and Elizabeth Pittoni,
daughters and co-heirs of John Pittom Plunimer, deceased, Edward
Pratt of Newtown within the County of Middlesex, Physician, and
Elizabeth Wilson of Hartford in the Covinty of Connecticut, Widows,
their heires and assignes forever, all the aforesaid certain tract of waste
land purchased of the Indians, Native Proprietoi-s, as above mentioned,
scituate and described as aforesaid, and to be surveyed, platted and ap-
proved as above directed, with and under the severall savings, reserva-
tions. Provisos and conditions above expn-ssed, and all the estate, right,
'I'itle, Inheritance, use, property, and Interest of the said several pei-
j^ons therein and thereto— Together with all ar-d singular the fields,
feeding, herbage, pastures, soils, swamps. Meadows, Rivers, Rivulets,
Ponds, Pools, Woods, underwoods, trees, timber, stones, fishing, fowl-
ing and linnting Rights, Members, Heraiiitanients, Einolunients, Profits,
Privileges and Appurtenances thereto belonging or in any way apper-
taining. The said tract of land being hereby granted fur a township,
the same to be called Sutton. And to have, use, exercise, ami enjoy the
same powers, immunities, and privileges by Law granted to towns. To
have and to hold all the said tract of land by the name of the town of
Sutton, with all the aforesaid premises. Emoluments, Profits, Privileges
and appurtenances therefu belonging, with and under the sevenill sav-
ings, reservations, Provisos and conditions hei-ein before expressed.
.And lube surveyed, plotted, returneil and uppruv^d us ubuvu tfaid unto

954

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the said John Conner, James Smith, William MumforJ, Joshua Hewes,
Paul Dudley, John Jackson, Mary Conner, Elizabeth Pittoni, Edward
Pratt, and Elizahetli Wilson, their lieirtfs and aspignes to their proper
use and behoofe forever. Yielding, Rendering and Paying therefore
unto our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne her kings and Successors one
fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar and Precious stones, which from
time to time and at all times forever hereafter shall happen to be found,
gotten bad or obtained in any of the said lands and Premises, or within
any part or parcel thereof — In lieu and stead of all Rents, Services,
Dues, Dutys, and liemaiids whatsoever from the said lands and premises,
and for every part and parcel thereof. In Testimony Whereof I the
said Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Governor have signed these presents and
caused the Publick seal of the Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid
to be hereunto affixed.

Dated at Boston aforesaid the fifteenth day of May in the thin! year
of her Majesties Reign Anno Domini 17"4.

( The publick seal j •>■ BUDLEY.

j on a label appending C

Copy of Records Examined.

H. Adpingtov, Sec.

The tract of land included in the above grant was,
with the exception of here and there a cleared space,
on which the Indians raised their corn, and a few
marshes, called meadows, an unbroken forest, heavily
wooded with pine, oak, hickory, chestnut, birch and
maple. In its physical aspect it presented many at-
tractive features, and was a favorite resort of its na-
tive owners, who reserved a home within its limits.
Its surface is uneven and hilly, and, though none of
its hills rise to a great height, yet many of tliem are
of sufficient elevation to reveal from their summits
scenes of quiet beauty unsurpassed in any other por-
tion of New England.

The soil is varied, in the southern and eastern part
being of a samly and gravelly nature, while in the
northern and western parts much of it is a clayey
loam. In the main it is well adapted to agriculture,
though some portions, particularly in tlie southern
part, are too rocky to be brought under cultivation,
and none of it was subdued and made productive
without much p.atient toil.

The fine farms of to-day, which embellish hill-side,,
hill-top and valley, are the result of the muscle and
money the several generations that have occupied
them have contributed. This township furnishes
great facilities for manufacturing purposes, as well as
for agriculture. There are within its limits several
natural ponds, fed largely by hidden springs, who.se
outlets afford fine water privileges. The principal of
these are Dorothy Pond in the north part of the
town,' Ramshorn in the northwest. Crooked Pond
(Singletary Lake) near the centre and Manchaug
Pond in the southwest. Blackstone River — called by
the Indians Kittatuck — has its rise in Ramshorn
Pond, and passes through the town from northwest
to southeast. This river furnishes valuable water-
power. So also does Mumford River, the outlet of
Manchaug Pond. Mill Brook, the outlet of Crooked
Pond (Singletary Lake), has in the distance of a
mile a fall of one hundred and seventy- five feet,
and afibrds seven water privileges. There are several

1 Xow MiUburr.

other streams in town which the early settlers utilized
by the erection of saw-mills, grist-mills and fulling-
mills, and which in later da3's have been employed in
manufacturing of various kinds.

In its geological features the town presents nothing
of a peculiar nature. Like many other towns in
Eastern Massacliusetts, the rocky formation is chiefly
granite, quartz rock and gneiss. Gneiss predominates,
and the quarries which have been opened furnish
most excellent stone for building purposes. This rock
often contains iron pyrites, mica, lead, tin and some
other mineral substances in small quantities. The
glitter of the little, particles has led to the belief that
gold and silver might be found in this town, and, in
common with many others in the State, it has had its
excitements over wild and fruitless searches for the
precious metals.

There are natural curiosities in the town, some of
which are thus referred to in Whitney's " History of
Worcester County :" As first. In the west part of
Sutton, within sixty rods of the rise of the inlet of
Ramshorn Pond, which is the head of Blackstone
River running to Providence and falling into the sea at
Bristol, is a brook sufficiently large to carry a saw-mill
in Sutton, then bears away into Oxford, joins French
River, which unites witli the river Quinebaug, and
enters the sea at New London.

Secondly. A few rods west of the Second Parish
Meeting-house there is a swamp having tvro outlets,
one at the southwest, the other at the southeast. Both
these outlets enter Blackstone River above described,
at about one mile's distance from each other. But
the river is estimated to run ten or twelve miles after
the entrance of that one on the westerly side before
it returns and takes in that on the east.

Thirdly. In the southeastern part of the town is a
cavern in the earth or rocks, commonly called Purga-
tory. The rocks on each side of the chasm evidently
appear to have been rent asunder. People may enter
some rods under tlie ground or rocks, and there are
cracks down which the)' drop pebbles, and after these
strike the sides alternately several times they are
heard to fall into the water; and a brook issues out
at tlie bottom of the hill.

It may be acceptable to give a more particular de-
scription of this place called Purgatorj'.

It is the side of a hill which consi-sts of vast ledges
of rocks. Where the natural descent begins, a chasm
has been formed of perhaps thirty, and in some places
forty feet in width, in these ledges by some violent
concussion which left this body of stones of all shapes
and sizes to fall in. Above, it is open to the heavens,
and the ledges, on either side, are from five to ten
and so on to twenty and even forty feet in height.
This chasm is, perhaps, near eighty rods in length,
and the descent is gradual and not very difficult.
Where the greatest depth is, water issues from crev-
ices in the rocks and liangs in icicles and even in
solid bodies of ice, not only in May, as I have seen,

SUTTON.

955

but in June, although the descent is to the south.
Some small caverns were formed by the fulling of
these rocks, through which persons have descended
and come out several rods below. This is a most
stupendous place, and fills the mind of the beholder
with exalted ideas of the infinite power of the great
Creator of all things, " who removeth the mountains
and they know it not; who shaketh the earth out of
its place, and the pillars thereof tremble.''

After all, no description given of this place by
another will enable persons to form just and adequate
conceptions of it.

The ledges which Mr. AVhitney says are *'from five
to ten and so on to twenty, and even forty feet in
height," are found by actual measurement to be
in some places between fifty and sixty feet in
height. Dr. Hitchcock, in speaking of Purgatory, puts
the extreme height of the sides of the fissure at sev-
enty feet.

The settlement of the town was delayed by the war
known as " Queen Anne's War,'' which began in
1702 and was not ended until 1713.

November 17, 1714, the proprietors held the first
meeting of which there is any record. At this meet-
ing (held in Boston) it was voted, ** That three men
should be chosen for a committee to order the affairs
of that place" — Sutton. Nathaniel Brewer, Jonathan
Draper and Eliezer Daniels were chosen such coni-
niitteej and '* were to stand until others were chosen/*

It was the same day voted tliat all the charges that baa beeu and shall
ari(5f, till the next meeting should he jiajed by the rroprietors equally
accoidiiig to their several proportidiis at twenty shillings for every '>0(i
acre right.

The next meeting was held in Boston, March 2,
171^15.'

At this meeting it was voted

That Jonathan Praper, Eliezer Daniels and Nathaniel Brewer should
be a conmuttee to go and lay out sixty lots at Sutton, for the Proprietors,
of thirty acres a lot, thirty roils wide and one hundred and sixty long.

Voted the same day that all such as had one five hundred acre right
sliould have a thirty acre lott, and they who had more according to their
juxijiortion.

It was also

Voted that there should be a rate of sixty pounds, one pound on every
five hundred acre right.

It appears from these votes that the first division of
the township was into sixty live-hundred acre rights.
Each proprietor owned at least one right, some more.
Actual surveys, as will appear, were afterwards made
of lots, corresponding in number to the number of
rights, and varying in area from thirty to one hun-
dred acres. These lots were drawn by the proprietors
— each right being entitled to one — and di^iposed of
by them individually.

1 Before the adoption of the "New Stylo" in England, 1752, the year
was considered as beginning March 26th, Any date between the Ist of
January and the 24th of March would be a year too little; so to avoid
mistakes, it had become customary to give both yeai-s as 'above. March
'2d would occur in the year 1714, should the year begin tiie 25th of
March; in 171.''», should it begin llie 1st of January.

At the meeting held March 2, 1714-15, it was like-
wise

Voted, that all such as should appear to go first and live at the town
of Sutton, for their encouragement should have one hundred acres of land
given them for their own, provided they settle two years from the dato
hereof; and they to hear their proportion of town charges, tlie Proprie-
tora to bear half the charges of building a Meeting-house and settling a
nnnister the first four years.

March 18-19, 1714-15. Meetings of the proprietors
were held at which it was

Voted that every man shall have a convenient way to his lott
through his neighbor's lott, where it shall be most convenient for him
and least damage to his neighbor ; also in all after divisions in the town
every person shall have a convenient way to their lotts, which lott is to
be understood to be a proper whole lutt.

Also

Voted the same day that for encouragement of thirty families to
go and settle first, they should have four thousand acres laid out to ihem
on the northwest side of the road from Marlborough to Oxford providetl,
and it is to be understood that such as appearand are allowed by the
Committy do go and work upon their lotts within six weeks, and make
a return to the Conimitty. And upon their default the Committy shall
have liberty to putt in others as shall appear.

Voted the same day tliat the Committy shall go and survey the four
thousand acres of laud, and lay out thirty home lots in it, containing
forty acres per lott, !it the settlers' charge.

Voted the sjime day that Jonathan Draper, Edward Summer and Na-
thaniel Brewer should be a Committy to allow of the settlers.

It seems that the survey of the land granted to the
thirty families who should be approved by the com-
mittee and settle upon it within the time prescribed
was made and the thirty lots of forty acres each were
in due form laid out. But no settlement was effected
during the year. It appears that no formal " Act of
Incorporation " was ever secured, or asked for by the
proprietors or settlers of the town. The following en-
dorsement is on the back of a plan of the township on
file in the land ofiice.

In the House of Representatives,
June 18, 1715.
Ordered that the Land described and Platted, on the other side, be al-
lowed and confirmed to the Proprietor of the Township of Sutton. I'ro-
vided it Intrench on no former grant. Sent up for concurrence.

John Burrell, ^ieakev.
In Council, June 21, 171.7,
Rec'd and Concurred,

A true Copy, Examined,

Joseph Uii.lee, Clerk Cvun.
Jos. Maeion, D. Secy.

The next meeting of the proprietors of which there
is a record was held in Boston, IMarch 13, 1715-1(),
at which the following votes were passed :

Voted that every five hundred acre right should draw a second right
of one hundred acres.

The same day it was voted that wheresoever any clay wan found in
any num's lott, it should be foi' the use of the whole town till a pnhlicL
place Was found for that use.

Voted the same day that the Mill lot- and stream in the settlors'
side shall be at the Proprietors' disposal.

Voted the same day that the proprietors will be at half the charge of
building a meetitig-honse and settling a minister for the first four
years from the date hereof.

Voted the same day that the settlers shall have liberty to cutt grasse
and timber in the Proprietor's laiicl till they come to improve and to ho
laid out.

2 This lot embraced a tract of one hundred and nixteeu acres at the
foot of Crooked Pond, and included the privilege of the stream tu the
lower falls.

95G

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

During this year (1716) three families were found
of sufficient nerve and enterprise to pioneer the set-
tlement of the town. These families were those of
Benjamin Marsh, Elisha .Johnson and Natlianiel
Johnson.

They built their cabins near the centre of the
town, and spent there the winter of 1716-17. It
proved a trying winter to them. It was the winter
made memorable by the deep suow which fell the
last of February, and wholly covered the cabins.

Elisha Johnson, whose cabin was located near the
place cow occupied by Mr. Samuel Prescott, had left
his family the morning of the day the great snow com-
menced falling, for the purpose of obtaining some
supplies in Marlborough.

He was seen on his way by a friendly Indian, who,
when the storm had subsided, started on snow-shoes
for the little settlement, and found the cabin of
Mr. Johnson by the hole which the smoke from the
fire-place had made through the snow. His family
would doubtless have perished had it not been for the
kind forethought of this friendly Indian, Mrs. Johnson
said " no human voice ever sounded half so sweet as
did that." Other families were attrac'ed during the
year 1717 by the offer of a farm for the taking, so that,
at its close, the thirty fiimilies to whom a grant of four
thousand acres had been made, and for whom home-
lots of forty acres each had been laid out, were on
the ground.

The tract of land which the four thousand acres
embraced was so located on the north side of the
Oxford Road, that a north and south line dividing it
into equal parts would pass directly through Single-
tary I^ake.

The home-lots fronted some of them on the Oxford
Road, extending as far west as the place now occu-
pied by Deacon John Marble, and east as far as the
place now occupied by H. S. Stockwell. Five of
them were north of and joining those most easterly
and eight of them in what is now the " Eight Lots
District " — the most easterly of these being the place
now occupied by Mr. Solomon Severy.

The entry in the proprietors' records with reference
to the thirty families to whom four thousand aere.i
of land were given is as follows :

These are tiie names of such ai are entered settlers in the four thou-
sand acres that was given to them upon the conditions that they would
go and settle first there and bear charge with the proprietors according
to their agreement.

WiUiam Stockwell.
Freegrace Marble.

Ebenezer Cutler.
William Heywood.i

William King.
Oliver Gosse.
Joseph Sibley.
William Stockwell.
Benjamin Marsh.
Thomas Gleson.
Samuel Gowing.
John Waite.
BeDJamio Smith.
John Stockwell.
Jonathan King.
Samuel Bixbee.
Samuel Barton.

Thomas Gowiug.
Samuel Parker.
Samuel Stearns.
John Bates.
Jonathan Sibley.
William Rutter.
Timothy Manning.
John Sibley.
Samuel Uagget.
Nathaniel Johnson.
William Larned.
Klisha Johnson.
KithuiJ Gibson.

The plat of " Settlers' Land " contains four thou-
sand nine hundred and sixty acres. The south line
on the Oxford read was 1,240 rods, the west line 640,
the north line 1,240, the ea,st 700 rods. Six hun-
dred acres were allowed foi- " Crooked Pond " (Sin-
gletary Lake), and three hundred and sixty acres
for fiirm. This farm was at the southwest corner of
the plat, and fronted on the north side of the Oxford
road, the east line being near Deacon Marble's
house. For what purpose this farm was laid out
cannot now be learned. There is no record with
reference to the use to which it was put, and no al-
lusion is made to it, only as bounding the land adja-
cent as this was apportioned among the settlers.
The thirty persons above named style themselves
" Proprietors of the four thousand acres," and kept
a record of their meetings. This record contains lit-
tle of interest, as it is mainly filled up with proceed-
ings pertaining to the division of what remained of
the four thousand acres among the occupants of the
home-lots, and the boundaries of each man's portion.

The aim seems to have been so to divide the land
that no one should have reason to complain that he
had been wronged ; and that no dissatisfaction was
expressed when the allotments were made is pleasing
evidence of the good feeling which existed, and the
disposition of all to see that exact justice was done.

The mill-lot to which reference has been made was
assigned to Ebenezer Dagget, as appears from the
following entry in the proprietors' records :

Ebenezer Dagget hath the mill-Iot with tlie privilege of the stream
to the lower falls, upon condition that the said Dagget, or his Ileires,
keep a Grist-mill for the use of the town ; and if the said Dagget de-
nies or refuse to keep a mill for the use of the town he shall return the
stream to the town again.

The return of the mill-lot, with boundaries care-
fully defined, is noted in the proprietors' records of
November 23, 1717.

The first town-meeting was held at the house of
Captain John Stockwell, December 3, 1718.-' This
house was a small one, about titteeu feet by ten, and
stood near the present dwelling of Mr. Simeon Stock-
well. Elisha .Tohnson was elected moderator; and
selectmen, a town clerk and a constable were chosen
"to continue in office until the next March meeting."

Action was also taken on a proposition of the pro-
prietors, that a committee be appointed to act with a
committee whom they had chosen, to aid in the mat-
ter of building a meeting-house, and establishing the
preaching of the Gospel.

1 A few of these names will be recognized as stilt coDimon. Nu-
merous descendants of some of these families are now residents of
the town.

- Not within the house, but at the house. The moderator, Elisha John-
son, stood upon a rock, nearly flat on one side, and this rock is the
foundation-stone in the southeast corner of the cellar wall of the
house now owned by Simeon Stockwell, and illustrated on page 235
of the ''History of Sutton."

SUTTON.

057

Referring to the proprietors' records, we find that
at a meeting held in Boston, March 5, 1717-18, the
following votes were passed :

Voted the same day that the four years charges for carrying on
(he worship of Ood, and building a meeting-house should begin from
this day above mentioued.

Voted the same day that there shall be twenty pounds raised by
the Proprietors and settlers towards the carrying on of the woi-ship of
God amongst them, which money is to be paid into the Clerk's hands
to be improved for that use.

Voted the same day that Joiiatltan Diaper, Nathaniel Brigham,
John Haye, and Nathaniel Brewer are a connnittee to agree with work-
men to build and furnish a lueeting-house ; and the Proprietors obliged
themselves and heires to bear their equal proportion of said charges.

The record in reference to the action of the town
in response to the proposal of the proprietors' com-
mittee is as follows ;

'i'lie committee of the proprietors wlio wa.s chosen to nuinage the af-
fairs relating to tlie settlement of the worship of God in this Town,
having made application to the Town at this meeting, that a committee
may be appointed by this Town to joyn with them to move forward and
carry on proper managemeuts and agreements for said service —

Voted unanimously that the Town do now choose five persons to be a
committee to joyn with the Proprietor's committee aforesaid, who siiall
from time to time represent the Town in order to building and furnishing
a Meeting-house in said Town, and it is Resolved, that William King,
Samuel Stearns, Benjamin Marsli, John Stockwell and Freegrace "Marble
or the Major part of them, be a comittee for said service.

At a town-meeting held March 17, 1710, it was
voted,

That tliere siiould be a rate levied on the settlers of the four thousand
acres, according to every man's right, of one hundred pountis to defray
the charges of building the Meeting-house.

Voted the same day that "William King, Samuel Stearns and John
Stockwell shall be a committy to get a minister, by the second Sabbath
iu May, and so on for three months.

Another town-meeting was held December 25th, at
which it was voted that Mr. Macinstree should have
fifteen pounds for three months' preaching.

The meeting-house was built during this year. Its
location was on the west side of the Common, and
near by that of the Central School-house. It fronted
toward the east, was about forty teet by thirty-six, had
folding-doors in front and single ones at each end. It
was lighted by two small windows of diamond glass
set in leaden sashes, at each side and end for the lower
floor, and one window of the same fashion and size in
each side and end for the gallery.

The pulpit was on the west side of the house oppo-
site the front door, which opened into the broad aisle.
The seats first used seem to have been nothing more
than ordinary benches with backs. The gallery ex-
tended across the front side and each eud, and had two
rows of seats through its whole extent. Behind these
seats there was a narrow platform which the children
who could find no other place occupied. " A very con-
venient place," Deacon Leland quaintly remarks, " for
idlers; not much chance, however, to escape detection,
as the tything-man, in his official capacity, was ready
to notice every delinquent."

From this point we leave the " Annals of Sutton,"
and shall give the further history under its appro-
priate "Topic," illustrating the character of the town
by its public acts in support of churches, schools and

libraries ; by its enterprise and thrift on the farm and
in the manufactory ; by its prompt patriotism and
self-sacrifice in both the earlier and the later war; by
the personal history and public renown of many who
have gone out from the town and others more potent
in their influence on its history who have remained
to mould its character ; only giving the following
data as essential to its history and not included
therein :

March 13, 1823, " voted to petition the General
Court, at the next sessions, for the Inhabitance of
Hassanamisco that dwell on the southwestward side
of the Blackstone River to be laid to this Town."

The northeastern part of the town, embracing the
Indian reservation of Ha.ssanamisco and a small por-
tion of territory in addition, was incorporated as the
town of Grafton in 1735.

April 10, 1778, the town of " Ward," comprised of
parts of Sutton, Worcester, Leicester, and Oxford, was
incorporated. The name was afterward changed to
" Auburn."

June 11, 1813, the North Parish of the town was
set ofl' as a separate town by the name of "Mill-
bury."

November 3, 1828, the church erected 1751 was
burned.

November 24th measures were taken for erecting
a new house, and the Building Committee was as
follows : Amos Armsby, Jonas L. Sibley, Daniel
Tenney, Elisha Hale and Nathaniel Woodbury.
June 15, 1829, the corner-stone was laid, and the
new church was dedicated February 24, 1830.

CHAPTER C X XVI.

SUTTON— ( Continued. )

CHURCH HISTORY.

The religious history of this town is coeval with its
civil. When the Governor, Council and Assembly of
the province confirmed the purchase and made a
grant of the land to the proprietors in J704, it was
upon the condition " that they settle a town of thirty
families and a minister upon said lands within .seven
years after the end of the present war with the In-
dians."

At the first town-meeting, held at a private dwell-
ing, December 2, 1718, a prominent object of the
meeting was to provide for the establishment of the
Gospel ministry. Measures were taken in March fol-
lowing to erect a house of worship, which was com-
pleted in the course of the year.

In the fall of the year 1720, a number of the christian inhabitants of
the township of Sutton, embodied into a church state, under the directioTi
of Rev. Mr. Swift, of Vramingham, and the Rev. Mr. Breck. of Marlboro ;
at which time (after the Publick services of a Day of Fasting and prayer,
in which the Reverend minipters mentioned assisted), the following per-

058

HISTORY OF WORCESTBB COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

eons, whose names are as followeth, signed a solemn covenant to walk
together in church relation :

Timothy Manning. John Whipple.

Samuel Stearns. John Stockwell.

John Page. Ebene/.er Stearnn.

Elisha Johnson, William Lamed.

Samuel Sibley. Samuel Parker.

The pei-3ons entering into covenant.
At the same time Timothy Manning was chosen Monitor.

The above is the only record of the organization of
the First Congregational Church in this town, and it
is found in the handwritinoj of the Rev. David Hall,
the second pastor. The records of the church for the
first eight years of its existence are lost, having been
carried away by the first pastor.

The church was organized upon the Congregational
platform of the simplest and most rigid character, and
has ever maintained the principles of such organiza-
tion. Tradition says it was owing to a difference
upon the matter of church government with the
first pjiator that led to his dismission. Subsequently
an effort was made to introduce the eldership into
the church, according to the Cambridge platform,
but the proposition was unanimously rejected.

On the 0th day of November, 1720, the Rev. John
McKinstry was ordained pastor over them as a Con-
gregational Church, they calling him thereto, and
calling in the help of sister churches.-

The ministry of Mr. McKinstry continued about
eight years, when, from difficulties arising as stated
above, he was dismissed, and was subsequently set-
tled in Ellington, Connecticut, where he died.

Mr. McKinstry was dismissed September 2, 1728,
and on the 30th day of the same month the church
solemnly renewed their covenant and subscribed
their names to the same. The following is a record
of the transaction :

Sept. 30th, 172S. The Biethreu of the Church here renewed their
solemn covenant with God and one with another and subscribed thereto
as following :

T. W'e, whose names are hereunto subscribed, Promise this day to re-
new our Solemn Covenant engagements to serve the Lord God Almighty
with his grace assisting us ; apprehending ourselves called of God intu
the church state ol the gospel, do first of all confess ourselves to be un-
worthy to be so highly favored of the Lord, and admire that free and
rich grace of his which triumphed over so great nnwurthiness, and with
a Humble reliance on the aids of liis grace therein i)romiseil for the ni.
that, in a sense of their inability to do a'l^' good thing, do humbly wail
on him for all — we now thankfully lay hold on his covenant and would
choose the things that plejise him.

2ndly. We declare our serious belief of the christian Religion as con-
tained in (he sacred Scriptures, and with such a view thereof as the con-
fession of faith in our churches has exhibited. Heartily resolving to
conform our lives unto the Kales of that Holy Religion as long as we
live in the world.

;jrdly. We give up ourselves unte the Lord Jehovah, who is the Fathei
(he Son, and the Holy Spirit, and avouch him this Day to be our God,
our Father, our Saviour, and our Leader, and receive him as our Portion
forever.

4thly. We give up ourselves \into the Blessed Jesus, who is the Lord
Jehovah, and adhere to him as the Head of his People in the Covenant
of Grace, and rely upon him as our Priest, and our Prophet, and oui-
King to bring us unto Eternal Blessedness.

iithly. We acknowledge our Everlasting and Indispensible obligations
to glorify our God in all the Duties of a Godly, and a Sober, and a Right-
eous life ; and very particularly in the Uutieeof achurch State and a body
of People associated for an obedience to Him in all the ordinances of the

Gospel ; and we hereupon depend upon his gracious assistance for our
faithful discharge of the duties thus incumbent on ns.

Cthly. "We desire and intend, and (with Dependence on his pi-omit-ed
and powerful grace) we engage to walk together as a Church of the
Lord Jesus Christ iu the faith and order of the Gospel, as far as we shall
have the same revealed unto us— conscienciously attending the Pnblick
worship of God, the Sacraments of his New Testament, the Discipline of
his Kingdom, and all Ills Holy institutions in Coiiuuunion with one
auoth,er, and watchfully avoiding sinful stumbling-blocks and conten-
tion as becomes a people whom the Lord has bound up together in the
bundle of Life — at the same time we do also present our offspring with
us unt<» the Lord, proposing with his Help to do our parts in the methods
of a Reh'gious Education that they may be the Lord's. And all this we
do, flying to the blood of the Everlasting Covenant, and praying that
the glorious Lord, who is the Great Shepherd, would prepare and
strengthen vis for every good work to do his will, working in ns that
which is well pleasing in his eight, to whom be glory for ever and over.
Amen."

The men subscribing were by name as followeth :

Snttou, September :iOth, 1T-2.S.
Pevcival Hall. Nathaniel Dike. John Singletary.

iSamnel Rich, Klisha Johnson. Jolm Whipple.

FJislia PutTiam. John Sibley. Obadiah Walker.

Ebenezer Stearns. Simon Dakin. John Stockwell.

Samuel Bigsby. Israel Putnam, Ebenezer Stockwell.

Gersliom Wait. Solomon Ilohuan. James Leland.

Samuel Dudley. John Page.

After this transaction, which took place the same
mouth, Mr. McKinstry was dismissed ; we have the
following interesting record, showing with what zeal
the infant church, after a severe trial, put itself in
readiness for the work of maintaining the covenant
which they had so solemnly renewed:

At a meeting October 4th it was "agreed upon
and voted to observe the 23d of the Instant October jis
a day of Humiliation — and the Rev. Mr, Parknian
and the Rev. Mr. Troop to preach on said day if the
Town acquiest therein," and then the meeting was
dissolved.

Early in November following Mr. David Hall was
invited to i)reach to the people in this town. He
supplied the pulpit several months, to the great
acceptance of the people, and in March, 1720, received
a unanimous call to settle with them in the ministry
and become their pastor, the church and town con-
curring in the call.

This invitation was laid before Mr. Hall, and on
July 24, 1729, his acceptance of the same was laid
before the church, at a meeting called to consider the
same.

The following is Mr. Hall's answer to the invitation :

To the Chh. A Christian Inhabitants of the Town of Sutton. The In_
vitation which you gave me to settle with you in the work of ye ministry^
March ye 26th, has been with me as a matter of serious advice and Re,
ligious Consideration and I have also thought upon the Inconragment
which you coujoyned therewith and would manifest a sense of gratitude
to you for your Respect and good will discovered in both. The value of
a liundred pounds which you offer me iti work and materials for my In-
conragment in settling with you, I Return you my heafty Thanks and
shall be willing to manifest a cordial acceptance of it provided I am or-
dained among you. As for the hundred acres of Land you Proposed to
Lay out to the ministry and as such promised to give me a Lease or deed
of it to be ye Sole Propriety of me and my heires after me : T
would with respect Thereto take notice of your good will therein mani-
fest towards me, but must be excused from accepting of it under such a
proposal. But if I may have a cleare and secure Title to it from ye Pro-
prietors of ye undevided lands in Sutton and not as included in ye four
hundred acres of miniBterial Land (as there is a fair Prospect that I may)

SUTTON.

050

it not being as yet laid out to tlie ministry, upon this prOTieo I will
thanltfully accept it. and the Same shall discharge you from your obliga-
ti<ius in Reference thereto. Lastly as to the Sallery you have offered me
I observe with a suitable Resentment yt you have made provision yt it
shall be honourable & as you have made a honourable Pursuance there-
of for the present Considering your abilities and niy present necescities
in voting a hundred pounds sallery in money, equivalent to silver at six-
teen shillings an ounce, which is the standing value of money, wherein
yon have agreed that I shall receive my yearly sallery according to which
standard I do accept of an Hundred pounds a year at present, and doubt
not and e.xpect that as my necessities sliall require, you will continue to
make Good your obligation as God shall bless yon, that my necessities
and charges if they should increase may nevertheless be honourably
supplied, and with these provisos, I do now accept of your call, which,
if you will pleiu^e to receive and record in confirmation of and compli-
ance with what amendments I have made, and prineyouiselves a willing
and Honourable People unto me, I shall acctuint that necessity is laid
upon me as at this day, and, according to help from Christ, will endea-
vour to labor with and for you in the gospel.

D.wiD Hall.
July loth, 1729.

After this answer was read to the church, " it was
put to vote to see whether the church would accept
of the said answer, provided Mr. David Hall would be
ordained according to the church platform, i.e., in the
Congregational way ; and the vole passed in the
affirmative."

A committee was then appointed to wait upon Mr.
David Hall to see whether he would take office
according to the fore-mentioned vote.

The following is the answer of the candidate:

In compliance with the Terms of the church with respect to Governing
the same I shall as far as I am concerned therein endeavour to conform
to the platform drawn up by the Synod of ovir churches of New England
in every article so far as it may he tliought in reason to be consistent
with the interest and peace of the church provided it be agreeable to the
great rule of the gospel. David Hall.

This was acceptable to the church, which then pro-
ceeded to take measures for Mr. Hall's ordination.

This extreme jealousy for their liberty and rights
as a Congregational Church arose in part, if not
wholly, from the controversy with Rev. Mr. Mc-
Kinslry, their first minister. The answer of the can-
didate exhibits a degree of caution, even while
assenting really to the proposition of the church,
worthy of all praise. He would consult their interest,
while maintaining the integrity of the Gospel in all
matters of church government and discipline.

October 1.5th, 172il. The Rev. Mr. David Hall was ordained to the
Pastoral office in Sutton. The Rev. IMr. Troop, of Woodstock, began
with prayer. The Rev. Mr. Williams preached the sermon from 1st
1'hess. .") : 12-13, The Rev. Mr. Swift, of Frainingliani, gave the solemn
charge. The Rev. Mr. (Auiiiibell, of O.'if.ird, gave tlie Righl-liand of
fellowship.

The young pastor thus ordained to the work of the
ministry in this town commenced his labors with con-
siderable zeal, and prosecuted them faithfully for a
period of nearly sixty years.

The records of the church during his administration
furnish little more than a few hints concerning its
history except as to its discipline, which seems to
have been faithfully and kindly administered, con-
tributing largely to its almost uniform prosperity.
At times the pastor and people passed through great
trials, and at others great peace and prosperity

attended the preaching of the Word and administra-
tion of the ordinances. One fruitful source of trouble
was the admission of persons to the ordinance of bap-
tism, but not to full communion in the church. This
is called in the records of the church the covenant of
baptism, but is known in history as the "half-way
covenant."

There is no record of any form of covenant used in
the admission of such members.

The list of the names of those who were thus ad-
mitted is preceded by the following introduction :

The following have owned the covenant of Baptism, and some of them
were hajitized.

The first entry is made May 10, 1730, when "Joseph,
John, James and Elizabeth, children of Joseph Sibley,
owned the covenant and were ba])tized." It would
seem from this and other entries that .some took this
step for themselves, while others owned the covenant
and had their children baptized. The last entry is
made October 28, 1781, when Nathaniel Cheney and
Mary Cheney, his wife, owned the covenant and had
their children baptized.

Out of this unscriptural measure grew up many
things to trouble the church. It led, in large part, to
the separation of a portion of the members, both
from the public worship and ordinances of the church.
With these separating brethren and sisters the pastor
and church had long labor and severe trials, in all
which they seem to have been actuated by the gentle-
ness and Ibrbearance of Christ.

All those who occasioned the trouble finally returned
to the church and were restored to its fellowship.
Another subject that at times was a source of trouble
was sacred music. At first, and probably for a long
time, the singing was congregational, led by one who
was called the precentor or chorister. The hymn or
psalm was lined by one appointed for that purpose.
The tunes were few and simple, and were not sung by
rule, as it was called, for this gave great oftence to
some. It seemed to them less devotional if there were
any rule or order about it. The objection to singing
by rule seems to have led to the resignation of the
choristers at a certain time.

Under date of April 8, 1779, is the Ibllowing record :

The church was stayed on .account of some uneasiness about singing
hy rule, but the church adjoiirneti the matter to April HIth.

April 10th. The Church and Pastor being notified assembled upon th;it
occasion — a letter was read from the Choristers befcU'O dejiuteil — .lohn
Woodbury and John Hall giving up that service. After some discoui-so
the church voted :

Ist. To encourage singing by rule.

2nd. That some of the old tunes be studied and learnt, as Ion Old and
Now, and Canterbury.

3dly. That Amherst and the six line metre be sung.

Ithly. They desire new tunes he not multiplied, though tlidy mean
not wholly to exclude them.

othly. Chose .lohn Woodbury and John Hall to he Choristel-s.

In all these votes the People of the Parish voted concurrouce and no
vote in opposition when put to the Parish.

Subsequently, in November following, in conse-
quence of the refusal of the above-named to act as

flfiO

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

choristers, the church and parish in meeting assembled
requested by vote David Town and John Harbacli
" to be helpful in that service, and that they don't
set the tune called the 34th Psalm tune which so
many have been ofTended at."

But the trouble was not yet at an end, for in May
following, 17S0, at a church meeting, "after a long
discourse on the affair of singing, voted to choose a
committee of three brethren to consider what tunes
were proper to be sung and coniine the Choristers not
to exceed, and see if they could get one to set the
tune, and the church by vote chose Deacon Putnam,
Bartholomew Town and Caleb Chase, and afterwards-
Nehemiah Putnam, to act in the affair and make re-
port to the church at their next meeting — and then
the church meeting was adjourned to the first Mon-
day in June ne.xt at 4 o'clock, by vote of the church-
June 5th, 17S0. The church met on adjournment and
after long reasoning the church voted the followiiiii
tunes be sung in our Publick assembly — Buckland
tune, Bangor, Barley, Canterbury, Funeral Thought,
London New, Little Marlborough, New York, Plym-
outh, Portsmouth, fiOth Psalm, Rentham, lOOtb
Psalm Tune old, Quincy, Amherst, St. Martyns
Standish, Southwell, Windsor, Brookfield, Colchester
new, 113th or Proper Tune, Trinity,. Aurora. No
objection being made against them."

This measureof the church did not, however, satisfy
all the members, for in Januai'y, 1781, after two
meetings of the church called to treat with two of tht
brethren who had ab-sented themselves from publii
worship and ordinances, it is recorded that the " mat-
ter of great uneasiness expressed by both was respect-
ing the singing of new tunes at which they were offend-
ed. " It is also stated that this expression of their un-
easiness was accompanied by some " unbecomini;
reflections."

At what time the change was made from congrega-
tional singing to singing solely by a choir no mention
is made, but it must have been about this time, and
this increased the trouble. Tradition states that on
the Sabbath when this took place, Dea. Tarrant Put-
nam, whose office it was to line the hymn, began a^
usual to discharge his duty, but after reading the first
two lines, the singers took the matter into their own
hands, and proceeded without pausing for the re
mainder; the good deacon, however, kept on, and
lined the hymn as usual, both reader and singers
reaching the end of the hymn about the same time,
though not in exact harmony. The congregation
were in great commotion, and the pastor rising to ex-
plain that he had no hand in the matter, was saluted
by one of the offended brethren with the declaration:
"David Hall, you lie!" then turning to his wife,
seizing her hand, he said, " Sally, it is time to go."
They left the house of worship and never entered it
again. This trial in relation to sacred music, involved
both church and parish.

The ministry of Dr. Hall was long continued and

unusually blessed among the people. At his settle-
tlement the church consisted of forty-nine members —
twenty males and twenty-nine females.

Religion was in a low and languishing condition,
and wicked men abounded. There were about eighty
families in the town and not far from four hundred
inhabitants. The profaneness and other vicious
practices of the people seemed to have greatly dis-
tressed the pastor, both before and after his ordina-
tion. He says in his half-century sermon : " I can
never forget my vehement struggles at the throne of
grace just before I was here ordained a pastor, lest I
should fail of success among this people." Immedi-
ately after his settlement religion was greatly revived.
In a communication published in " Prince's Christian
History," giving an account of the work of God
among his people in 1741-42, he says: "There was,
soon after my settling here by the favor of God, some
considerable abatement of that too common profane-
ness and other vicious practices visible among us, and
within the space of two years we had a very large ad-
dition to the church, more than doubling the number
of communicants." In five years' time eighty-one
persons were added to the church, the most of them
on profession of faith.

In the years 1741-42 there was enjoyed a season of
great religious prosperity. The labors of the pastor
were abundant and successful. It was a season of
great religious excitement throughout New England.
This powerful and wonderful work of God in this
town continued for some months, with various de-
grees of power. It seemed to be free in a great mea-
sure from those excesses that were witnessed in some
other places. Dr. Hall set himself resolutely against
these, and discountenanced all extravagances; though
some over-zealous brethren (as he calls them) gave
him considerable trouble.

By this religious interest the whole face of the com-
munity was changed. The additions to the church
during this period were ninety -eight by profession and
forty by letter.

During the first fifteen years of Dr. Hall's ministry,
two hundred and sixty-one persons were added to the
church — one hundred and eighty-one by profession
and eighty by letter. These additions, considering the
small number of inhabitants, show that the people
had been greatly prospered in spiritual things. There
were at times, during the ministry of this faithful pas-
tor, seasons of revived religious interest, and others of
great trial from laxness and indifference. Dr. Hall
continued to labor and feed the tiocK over which the
Holy Ghost had made him overseer, until the time of
his departure drew near. He closed his labors in the
pulpit but a short time before he was called to a
higher and purer service in the sanctuary above. He
died May 8, 1789, aged eighty-four years, having
preached the Gospel to this town more than sixty
years. He came to his grave " in a full age like as a
shock of corn cometh in his season."

SUTTON.

rtfii

The successor of Dr. Hall in the ministry of the
first church in Sutton was Rev. Edmund Mills, who
was a native ofKent, Conn. He preached his first ser-
mon on Sabbath, October 25, 1789, about six months
from the date of Dr. Hall's decease. " The next spring
he received an invitation from the church and people
to settle with them in the evangelical ministry, which
invitation he accepted and was ordained pastor of the
First Congregational church and congregation in
Sutton on the 22d day of June 1790," a little more
than a year after the decease of Dr. Hall. In May,
1790, immediately preceding the ordination of Mr.
^lills, the following important articles or by-laws
were adopted :

Ist. Wp iue fully of thf> opinion that the Sacrament of t!ie Lord's
Supper is designed particularly for the real friends of Christ or those
savingly converted, and that of cnnsequeuce we ought to proceed in ad-
mitting members on the ground that they are such.

1. For the satisfaction of the church in regard to the qnalitications of
persons to he admitted, we think it most wise fur the church and person
nr persons to he admitted, to meet in some convenient place for mutual
conference.

X We are fully of the opiniun that the half-way practice, as it is
called, is not supported by scripture and ought not to be favored,

■I. That a strict regard to discipline is an indispensable duty and
necessary for the happiness and prosperity of the church, and that
the outlines of it are contained in the eighteenth chapter of Mat-
thew.

In "April, 1811, the church being regularly con-
vened, proceeded to the consideration and adoption
of the following confession of faith, unanimously : "

1 . W'p believi; there is one tiod sulwisting in three persons, whose aji-
pellatioDR in Scripttire are Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who are the
panif in essence and equal in every divine perfection.

2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were
written by men divinely inspired, and contain all the truths necessary
to he known in order to salvation.

A. We believe that God liath a perfect knowledge of all his works, of
the final issue of every event and of the endless condition of every in-
telligent creature, consequently a concerted plan relative to creation,
providence and redeiuption from eternity.

4. We believe that God created man in his own image, holy or up-
right, and constituted him in regard to the moral state of his posterity
their public head and representative.

5. We believe that, consequent upon man's fall and apostacy from
God, human creatures come into existence with hearts deceitful above
all things and in a state of entire moral depravity.

fi. We believe that for the purpose of carrying forward the great
wurk of man's redemption, the Ijord Jesus Christ hath suffered and died
in their room and stead, and iu this way wrought out a complete atone-
ment, tasted death for every man, magnified the divine law and became
its end to every one who believeth iu him.

T. We believe that divine and saving grace correspondent to the im-
mutable and eterual design of God, and in a sovereign way and manner,
will be so far displayed in the recovery and salvation of the hell deserv-
ing, and particularly in the millennial state of the world, as shall be
on the whole most promotive of his glory and the happiness of the in-
telligent universe.

8. We believe that in order for the impenitent to become the subjects
of right affections of heart, and interested by faith in the atonement of
Christ, they must be renewed in the temper of their minds by the ir-
resistible and gracious influences of the Holy Spirit.

9. We believe that a dutiful celebration of the Lord's supper requires
a sincere and cordialfriendship to Christ, and that a profession of this
friendship ought to be required of all those who are received to com-
munion.

III. We believe that sprinkling is the proper mode, and infants and
children of believing parents proper subjects of Christian baptism.
11. We believe that God hath mercifully engaged to keep all who are

renewed by the Divine Spirit from final apostacy, and enable them to
persevere in holiness until they shall be made perfect in glory.

12. We believe that God hath appointed a day in the which he will
judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, when he will admit the
godly to everlasting happiness and doom the wickeil to everlasting sor-
row.

Though there was some increase of religious inter-
est in the year 1800, and a few were added to the
church, yet the number of members in the church
was reduced by death and dismis.sion nearly one-half
in twenty years. In 1810 there were but fifty-five
members. During this year and the following re-
ligion was greatly revived, aud the interest prevailed
generally through the town. A universal seriousness
pervaded the face of society. All minds were more
or less affected by religious truth. Si.xty-seven were
added to the church as fruits of this revival, the ma-
jority of whom were heads of families. The num-
ber of members in the church was increased from
fifty-five to one hundred and twenty-five. Again, in
1820, there was another season of special religious
interest that greatly strengthened the church. Be-
tween forty and fifty were added to its membership.

The venerable pastor continued to preach with his
usual ability and acceptance till seized with disease
a short time before his death. A few weeks before
the close of his earthly pilgrimage he preached his
last sermon with unusual animation and solemnity.
He calmly anticipated his approaching dissolution,
and cheerfully committed his spirit into the hands of
his Redeemer November 7, 1825, aged seventy-three
years, having sustained the pastoral ofiice thirty-
five years and five months. Dr. Hall and Mr. Mills
served this people in the ministry ninety-six years.

Mr. Mills was an uncommon man. His erect and
commanding person, the dignity and urbanity of his
manner, and his great sensibility and kindness of
heart fitted him in an admirable degree to gain the
respect and good will of all who knew him. These
traits of character, as much as his original and inter-
esting manner of unfolding and presenting truth,
deeply seated him in the affections of his people.
He was a man universally respected and admired.

The successor of Mr. ]\Ii!ls was the Rev. .John
Maltby. He was born in Northford, Conn., gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1822, received his theological
education at Andover, and was ordained "June 28,
1826 — a little more than seven months from the de-
cease of Mr. Mills.

The year 1828 was characterized by a serious ca-
lamity to the church and society — their house of
worship, erected in 1751, and endeared to them by
many precious associations, was consumed by fire in
November. Measures were immediately adopted for
the erection of another ; and in fourteen montlis the
beautiful and commodious house of worship that now
adorns the centre of the town was completed and
dedicated to the worship of the one only living
and true God, the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost.

962

HISTORY OF WORCESTER' COUNTY, MASSACHTTSETTS.

Soon after this there seemed an evident increase of
piety in the church ; and the way was evidently pre-
paring for the rich shower of divine grace which
watered this part of llie Lord's vineyard not long after.
In 1830 there was a season of considerable interest,
which continued for a short time, and about twenty
were added to the church on profession of faith. The
summer following. Christians were more than usually
awake, and many began to feel that the set time to
favor Zion had indeed come.

There were added to the church as fruits of the re-
vival more than one hundred individuals, increasing
the church to two hundred and thirty-one members;
of the number added, thirty-six were heads of fami-
lies — twenty of these were husbands and wives
jointly. The voice of prayer was henceforth heard
in many habitations where before God had not been
called upon.

The church continued to enjoy an unusual degree
of prosperity during the remainder of Rev. Mr.
Maltby's ministry. Mr. Maltby closed his short but
successful ministry with the church in June, 1S34,
for the purpose of taking the oversight of the Ham-
mond Street Church, in Bangor, Me., where he was
permitted to reap the fruits of his labor. His dis-
mission was caused by no dissatisfaction on the part
of the people, or their pastor ; but by the pro.spect of
greater usefulness in the field to which he was in-
vited. Mr. Maltby continued in the minii-try in Sut-
ton eight years.

The next pastor was Rev. Hiram A. Tracy, a native
of Lisbon, Conn., who obtained his classical educa
tion at Plainfield Academy, while engaged as a
teacher in the same. His theological education was
olitained at Andover. He was invited to supply the
pulpit while yet a student at Andover, and came
directly from the seminary to Sutton, preaching
here for the first time on the second Sabbath in Sep-
tember, 1834. In October following, he received a
call to become the pastor of the church. Having
accepted this invitation, he was ordained pastor
January 1, 1835, — a little more than five months
from the dismission of his predecessor.

During the first five years of Mr. Tracy's ministry
only eighteen persons united with the church on
profession of faith. In the autumn of 1839 this
church, in view of the low state of piety in the com-
munity, was impressed with the importance of earn-
estly seeking the Lord by repentance and prayer.
As fruits of the revival which followed, forty-eight
individuals were added to the church, increasing its
membership to two hundred and sixty-one, the
largest number that has been connected with it at
any one time.

The church continued to enjoy prosperity and
peace during the remaining ten years of Mr. Tracy's
ministry. There were occasional additions to the
church during this period, but no seasons of general
interest like that in 1840.

In August, 1842, the church, upon the recommend-
ation of a committee, voted unanimously to dispense
with the use of alcoholic wine in the administration
of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. This vote
has been adhered to from that time to this.

November 24, 1850, Mr. Tracy resigned the pas-
t(jral office to accept the appointment of district sec-
retary of the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions in the district of Cincinnati, which
embraced Southern Ohio, Indiana and Southern and
Central Illinois. A council convened December 11,
1850, dissolved the relation which had continued
with great harmony for sixteen years. The number
of members in the church at the close of his ministry
was two hundred and five.

After several attemjits to unite in calling a pastor,
the church and society agreed upon Rev. George
Lyman, of Easthampton, and to him an invitation
was extended to become their pastor and teacher.
This invitation was given to Mr. Lyman September
26, 1851, and accepted October 18, 1851. He was
ordained November 12th following, Rev. R. S. Stone,
of Easthampton, preaching the sermon ; Rev. J. H.
Bisbee, of Worthington, giving the charge, and Rev.
L. F. Clark, of Whilinsville, the right-hand of fel-
lowship. The number of members in the church at
the ordination of Mr. Lyman was one hundred
and ninety-three.

There were occasional conversions and additions to
the church. In October, 1858, nine persons were
admitted to membership, indicating a previous state
of revived religious feeling in the church and congre-
gation. Again, in 1863, the church was enlarged by
the addition in May of nineteen on profession of faith,
and in November following thirteen were added.

The ministry of Rev. Mr. Lyman was characterized
by continuous interest and frequent conversions and
additions to the church of those who were its strength,
so that this ministry was a fruitful one, and the church
was strengthened. The average of conversions was
greater than any preceding pastorate, excepting the
ministry of Rev. John Maltby.

Mr. Lyman resigned June 30, 1867, to take effect
the 12th of November following, the anniversary of
his ordination and settlement as pastor of the church.
A council was called which met October 15th, and
sanctioned the action of pastor and church, and Mr.
Lyman retired from his labors here November 12,
1867.

After considerable delay and several attempts to
unite upon a pastor, the church and society gave a
call to the Rev. F. E. Fellows, who had been pre-
viously pastor of the Congregational Church in Bridge-
ton, Maine. This invitation was accepted July 4,
1800, and Mr. Fellows was installed by council (October
26th following. Mr. Fellows' ministry was a short one.
He labored among this people a little more than
eighteen months, but during this period there was a
■■reason of religious interest, bringing into the church,

SUTTON.

963

upon profession of their faith, forty-three persons;
nevertheless his ministry was not wholly happy in its
results.

In December, 1870, Mr. Fellows resigned, and closed
his labors as pastor of the church on the second iSab-
bath of January, 1871. The following Sabbath the '
l)ulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Tracy, who had
returned from Ohio on account of the health of his
family.

( )n Monday, at the annual meeting of the society,
he was invited to be the acting pastor tor one year,
which invitation he accepted, thus renewing his labors
in the field of his tirst settlement, after a lapse of
twenty years. From this time on, during a period of
four years and nine months, the church, under the
labors of Mr. Tracy, performed for the greater part of
the time through severe infirmities, enjoyed an uiuisual
degree of prosperity.

Pearly in September, 1875, Jlr. Tracy gave notice
that he must close his labors after the second Sab-
bath in October. In the mean time, upon his recom-
mendation, Rev. William A. Benedict, of Plainfield,
Conn., was engaged to supply the pulpit for six
months, and commenced his labors on Sabbath, Octo-
ber 16th, following Mr. Tracy's retirement. There
was almost immediately a revived state of religious
feeling, and during the winter many souls were con-
verted. In January Mr. Benedict received an invita-
tion from the church and society to become their pas-
tor, which invitation he accepted, and was installed
by council February 1(3, 1876.

Rev. Mr. Benedict closed his pastorate, and Rev.
Philander Thurston was invited to supply as pas-
tor and teacher, and is at the present time accept-
ably laboring in this ancient church, whose history
we have followed from the date of the earliest settle-
ment of the town of Sutton.

First Baptist Church (West Sutton). — The first
Baptist Church in this town was organized September
16, 1735. It was the fourth oldest church of the de-
nomination in Massachusetts. Backus, the Baptist
historian, says, in regard to the founding of this first
Baptist Church at Sutton, that a Mr. James Bound, a
sensible Baptist, who had immigrated from I'jiigland
and located in Salem Village, and had, with others
become imbued with Baptist principles, removed and
began a Baptist Society in Sutton.

In 1737 Benjamin Marsh and Thomas Green were
ordained its joint pastors the same year. Thomas
Green became pastor of a Baptist Cluirch in Leices-
ter. Eider Marsh was the jjastor till his death. He
died in 1775, and the church was disbanded l)eeause
"rent with dissensions." In 1785 another church was
organized, which continues its existence to the pres-
ent day.

The several pastors have been: Ebenezer Samson,
1788-94; William Batcheller, 171)4-99; Samuel
Waters, 1799-1825. Next Rev. Moses Harrington,
three years ; Rev. John Walker, six years; Rev.

Charles H. Peabody, three years ; Rev. Otis Con-
verse, two years ; Rev. Samuel Richards, one year ;
Rev. George Deland, three years ; Rev. Job Boomer,
three years ; Rev. G. W. Benton, one year ; Rev. J.
Thayer, two years; Rev. S. O. Lovell, four years.
From 1856 to 1863 the church was, for most of the
time, without a pastor. 1863, Rev. C. S. Baker, one
year ; 1864, Rev. J. Barber, one year ; 1865, Rev. G.
Stone, one year; 1869, Rev. A. E. Batelle, one year;
1870-71, church supplied, two years; 1873, Rev. C.
F. Myers, three years; 1876, Rev. E. J. Stevens, one
and one-half years ; 1877, Rev. Joel P. Chapin, three
years; 1880, Rev. Charles Xewhall, four years; 1885,
Rev. Albert Green, three years. Rev. Benj. Tuck,
the present pastor, began his labors Sept. 2, 1888.

It is satisfactory to know that since 1735 the town
of Sutton has had a Baptist Church, the oldest and
for two years the only one in all this part of the
State, and that its days are yet full of life, and vigor,
and good works.

Second Baptist Church (South Sutton). — The
Second Baptist Church was organized Oct. 9, 1792.
In 1804 the society began the building of a meeting-
house, which was tinished and dedicated July 2, 1805.
In 1809 Rev. Nathan Leonard became pastor for one
year. From that time Elder Wm. Batcheller was its
pastor until Nov., 1816. Following was the ministry
of Rev. Job C. Boomer, from 1819 to 1841. The
church was repaired and rededicated Oct. 9, 1845.
The pastors of the church have been as follows: El-
der William Batcheller, 1792 ; Brother Nathan Leon-
ard, 18(t9, ordained; Elder William Batcheller, 1810;
Brother Job B. Boomer, 1819, ordained ; Brother
Austin Bobbins, 1841; Elder U. Underwood, 1842;
Elder Nelson B. Jones, 1845 ; Brother Joseph Thayer,
Oct., 1847, ordained; Brother J. B. Boomer, 1849;
Brother R. G. Lamb, 1852; Brother Charles A. Snow,
1853 ; Rev. Abial Fisher, D.D., 1855 ; Brother Justus
Aldrich, 1858; Rev. J. B. Boomer, 1859 ; Rev. Joseph
P. Burbank, 1862 ; Rev. N. J. Pinkham, 1869 ; Rev.
J. P. Burbank, 1870 ; Rev. Philip Berry, 1873 ; Rev.
J. P. Burbank, 1875, to the present time.

The Free- Will Baptist Church. —This church
was organized November 1, 1834, under the labors of
Rev. Willard Fuller, with a membership of eleven —
five brethren and six sisters.

The meeting-house was largely built, and the ex-
penses of the church were for the most part borne
by, the pastor.

Services continued to be held until 1858 or 1859,
and perhaps occasionally later than that date.

The church had but one minister, Rev. Mr. Fuller.
It was his request that after his death the meeting-
house should be sold, and the proceeds given to the
Free- Will Baptist Home Missionary Society, which
was done. He died December 8, 1875.

It is fitting in this connection to say of him, that
in the public and private relations of life, he emi-
nently illustrated the graces of the Christian.

964

HISTOKY OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Univeesalist Society. — This society was formed
during the summer of 1840. In March, 1841, Rev.
Alvin Abbott was engaged to preach one-half the time
and the meetings were held in the hall at West Sut-
ton. Mr. Abbott continued to preach for two years.
After he left the society weakened and the last meet-
ing of which there is any record is April 5, 1847.

Baptist Church in Manchaug. — This church
was organized May 18, 1842, with thirty members,
and was named "The Manchaug Baptist Church."
A few of the original members still survive and bear
an honorable record.

Its house of worship is situated in the manufactur-
ing village of the same name, and as most of its resi-
dent membership and of the congregation are em-
ployes and operatives in the mills, the Manchaug
company have ever borne a noble and principal part
in supporting the pastors. The following is a list of
pastors, with their terms of service, as nearly as can
be readily attained by the records: Rev. W. H. Dal-
rymple, one year and two months; Rev. N. B. Jones,
one year and four months; Rev. George Daland, one
year and six months; Rev. Abial Fisher, four years;
Rev. N. Chapman, two years; Rev. J. S. Harradon,
six years and nine months; Rev. N. J. Piukham, one
year and seven months; Rev. Addison Browne, seven
months; Rev. D. A. Dearborn, four years; Rev. C. L.
Thompson, four years and five months.

Rev. J. C. Boomer is the present incumbent, a
worthy man and a good pastor; holding the love and
respect of the church, the parish and the community.

The Third Baptist Church.— This church seeoas
to have had its origin in an association of a few per-
sons who had been connected with the Baptist Church
in Thompson, Connecticut. Difficulties arose in this
church, which led, in 1797, to a separation, the one
part adhering to the elder John Martin, and the other
to Deacon Parsons Crosby, who was ordained their
elder.

This church seems not to have entirely separated
from dilBcuIties, and, after a troublous life, the records
are lost, and it is supposed that at about this time it
ceased to exist.

St. John's Church (Wilkinsonville). — This society
was incorporated March 10, 1827, under the name and
title of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church. The
present house was built in the year 1828. The corner-
stone was laid June 24, 1828.

The first rector was the Rev. Daniel Le Baron
Goodwin, who commenced his services July 17, 1825,
and closed in April, 1854 ; length of service, nearly
twenty-nine years.

His successor was Rev. Benjamin H. Chase, whose
service commenced in April, 1854, and closed in April,
1858. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Decatur
Spalter, whose term of service commenced in June,
1858, and closed in December, 1859. He was suc-
ceeded by the Rev. William George Hawkins, who
commenced his services in April, 1860, and closed in

April, 1862. He was succeeded by Rev. George
Sturges Paine, whose term of service commenced in
September, 1862, and closed in September, 1863; who
was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel S. Spear, whose
term of service commenced in January, 1864, and
closed in January, 1867 ; who was succeeded by the
Rev. Thomas L. Randolph, whose term of service
commenced in January, 1867, and closed in December,
1870. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry A. Met-
calf, who commenced his services in June, 1871, and
closed in June, 1874. He was succeeded by the Rev.
James S. Ellis, who commenced his services July 5,
1874, and remained in charge until 1882, when he re-
signed, and the Rev. John Gregson became his suc-
cessor, and is the present rector. Mr. Gregson adds
to his energy and zeal in church work an active in-
terest in the advancement of every educational and
moral interest, and his true, earnest work as chairman
of the School Board is appreciated by all his towns-
men.

United Presbyterian Church (Wilkinsonville).
— The Associate Church, to which the Sutton United
Presbyterian congregation first belonged, was origin-
ally a secesfion from the church or kirk of Scotland
in the year 1733, ancl was known as the Seceders'
Church. The original founders of the Sutton United
Presbyterian congregation were families from the
province of Ulster, Londonderry County, Ireland ; and
were from their earliest associations trained up in the
Pre.sbyterian faith, and when here, longed for the
church of their choice, in which their children could
be taught the Shorter Catechism, and otherwise in-
structed in the distinctive principles of that faith
which they had carried with them from their home-
land beyond the seas.

The first settled minister was the Rev. James Wil-
liamson, who was installed February, 1856, and con-
tinued in his pastorate nearly eight years. Mr.
William.son was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, and
was educated in the Glasgow College, and also studied
theology under the celebrated Doctors McCrie and
Paxton, of Edinburgh, in connection with the original
Seceder Church.

The second pastor, the Rev. P. Y. Smith, was or-
dained and installed February 28, 1866. Mr. Smith
was educated in the University of Glasgow, Scotland,
and studied Hebrew and theology in the city of New
York, and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the
Second Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church,
New York City, September 15, 1863. He died July
21, 1885. Mr. Smith was a man of large views, a
constant student and deeply interested in education.

Rev. William Calbraith was installed October 8,
1886, and i.s the present pastor of this church.

Methohlst Epi.scopal Church.— During the au-
tumn and winterof 1852, Rev. Mr. Jones, of East Doug-
las, was invited by some resident members of Method-
ist churches residing in the centre of the town to hold
occasional meetings in Washington Hall, and the

SUTTON.

965

next spring they felt justified in petitioning the New
England Conference, at its annual meeting in April,
1853, to send them a preacher. The petition was
favorably entertained, and the Rev. John W. Lee
stationed here. Washington Hall was procured, and
he entered at once upon his labors, with a congrega-
tion not large, but constantly increasing.

In 1854 Mr. Lee was returned to this charge ; the
church prospered. A house was built, the corner-
stone laid July 4, 1854, completed March, 1855, dedi-
cated 2'2d day of same month. Mr. Lee's labors closed
April 8th. He was followed by Rev. J. H. Taylor,
for one year. In 1856 Rev. Rodney Gage was sta-
tioned for two years; 1858, by Rev. N. S. Spaulding;
1859, Rev. William A. Clapp; 1860, Rev. J. J. Wood-
bury; 1861, Rev. C. W. Mackreading, Jr. ; 1862-63, by
Rev. S. O. Brown, and in 1864 the church property
was given into the hands of its creditors, and the
church became extinct.

CHAPTER CXXVII.

SUTTON— ( Continued. )

EDrCATION.\L.

The first settlers of this State were the founders of
the free-school system. They had received some in-
spiration from the schools of learning in Europe,
established for the favored classes, and more from
revelation. They did not believe that knowledge,
power and wealth were intended for the few, but that
the avenues to their attainment should be open to all.

It was because they saw no hope of securing to
themselves and their posterity their God-given rights,
that they crossed a stormy ocean, seeking a home as
remote as possible from opposing influences made
strong by long-conlinued growth and prejudice ; and
here in this western wilderness, amid the toils, anxie-
ties and perils attending a new settlement so remote
from sources whence supply of almost every want,
aside from food, must come, they inaugurated a sys-
tem of education for the masses, which, improved
from time to time, gradually extended through the
New England States and over a large portion of the
country.

In 1642 a law was passed requiring that those
chosen to manage " the prudentials of every town in
the several precincts and quarters where they dwelt,
shall have a vigilant eye over their neighbors, to see,
first that none of them shall suff'er so much barbarism
in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach by
themselves or others, their children and apprentices
so much learning as may enable them to read per-
fectly the English tongue, and a knowledge of the
capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each
neglect therein."

It was not, however, until 1647 that a law was
enacted ordering the establishment in every town of
fifty householders of a public school, in which the
children should be taught to read and write, and,
when the families shall have increased to an hundred,
of a grammar school in which the young men might
be fitted for the university.

In this town there is no mention of a school until
1725, and then only in connection with a proposed
sale of the school land— two hundred acres — which
had been given by the proprietors in accordance with
the conditions of the grant of the General Court con-
firming the purchase of the township from the
Indians.

The children may have had instruction in private
schools, but no action seems to have been taken by
the town in the matter of the establishment of a pub-
lic school previously to 1730, when it was voted that
a school should be kept for four months in four places,
at the discretion of the selectmen, one month in a
place.

In 1731 it was voted that there should be school-
dames.

No record can be found of an appropriation for the
support of a school until 1732. The name ot John
Smith appears upon the treasurer's book as the
schoolmaster for this year. The school was kept at
the house of Mr. John Gibbs, who was paid fifteen
shillings for its use.

From this time onward the records of the town
show that schools were provided and enlarged as the
needs of the town demanded. In these schools only
the rudiments were taught.

Each district employed its own teacher, and had the
general supervision of its schools. The only official
visits made the schools at this time were those of the
minister of the parish for the purpose of catechising
the children.

Persons might have been, and probably were, dele-
gated to give instruction to any who might wish to
pursue the studies which were then considered as be-
longing to a grammar-school. There were very few
of this class of pupils before the time above
mentioned. Joseph Hall, son of Rev. Dr. David, is
the first and only one who seems to have been
appointed grammar schoolma.ster, and authorized to
present his bills as such. His first bill was in 1794,
for teaching grammar-school in 1793, £4 8s. 'Id., and
as his bill varied from year to year, it is evident that
his salary depended upon the number of his scholars.
About this time summer schools, for terms of four or
six weeks, were established in most of the districts.
The winter schools were kept from eight to ten weeks,
and taught exclusively by male teachers.

A desire for advantages, the common schools and
the grammar-schools, as taught by Mr. Hall, did not
furnish, began to find expression in the establishment
of private schools. Among the first of these were
those taught in 1806 by Miss Mary T. Morse in the

966

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

South Parish, and Miss Caroline M. Warren in the
North Parish.

Miss Morse's school was for young ladies only, in
which instruction was given in "Reading, writing,
orthography and English grammar; also plain sew-
ing, marking, working muslin and embroidery; also
drawing and painting in water-colors and filigree
work." Miss Warren's school was open to youth of
both sexes, and " instruction was given in reading,
writing, orthography and English grammar, rhetoric,
logic, and English composition ; also arithmetic,
geometry, geography, astronomy and the Latin lan-
guage." Young ladies were likewise instructed in
the ornamental branches.

It is quite impossible to give a history of the many
private schools that were established in town after 1811,
as no records were kept, and the '' oldest inhabitants ''
can impart little information.

A few of these schools, however, are remembered,
and worthy of particular mention. One of them,
called "Sutton High School," was established by
Kev. George A. Willard, in 1835, in the hall of the
brick mansion built l)y Mr. .James Freeland ; the school
was afterward removed to West Sutton and continued
several years. Mr. Willard was a superior teacher,
as several of his former pupils now resident in town
can testify.

Looking at our schools from the standpoint of the
present, we believe they are improving in the stand-
ard of attainments, while, except in the villages,
they are sadly decreasing in numbers to such an ex-
tent that emulation to excel is not duly excited.

As it regards the improvements, we would mention
the tasteful and commodious school-houses which
have taken the place of the rude structures of
olden time — the attractive furnishing of most o(
these houses, the introduction of maps, blackboards
and apparatus affording facilities for the illustration
of the various l)ranches of study, text-books adapted
to the wants of scholars of every grade, singing and
drawing, the encouragement of a taste for the useful
and beautiful, less severity in punishment, more
governing by love, and an appeal to the reason of a
child rather than his sense of physical pain.

The character and attainments of the teachers, pre-
pared most of them in the normal schools, is a pres-
ent study to the child, and an incentive to correct
deportment, while calisthenics and physical training
are taught, that the child may be sound in body as
well as strong in mind.

High School. — In this brief historical sketch of
the efforts of the friends of a more liberal education,
and the action of the town which culminated in the
establishment of our present jiopular high school, we
shall confine these notes to such facts as have refer-
ence to the high school recognized by legislative
acts, and maintained by the town in its municipal
capacity. We regret the necessity for this omission,
for these subscription schools, by. introducing some

of the higher branches, Induced a more correct appre-
ciation of such branches, and created a demand for
the high school.

The historians of our common-school system begin
by referring to the legislative acts of the Massa-
chusetts colonists in 1647, as the inception and foun-
dation of that system. By this early legislation the
support of schools was made compulsory, and the
means of education became common and free. The
same legislation laid the foundation for the high
school, for it included an enactment requiring every
town of one hundred families or householders to set
up and maintain a "Grammar school," under a
master competent to instruct youth in such branches
as were required to fit them for the university.

Because the wish is often parent to the thought,
the thought to action, and tiie action to beneficial
results, we are pleased to find in the report of the
School Committee for 1859, Foster Freeland, chair-
man, a strongly expressed wish that Sutton might
have the advantage of grammar school instruction ;
and a recommendation that the excess of school
money raised by the town, above a specified amount,
then deemed sufficient for the common district
schools, should be appropriated to the establishment
and maintenance of two " grammar schools ; " and
this followed by a suggestion that the school acts
should be so amended as to give the income of the
State school fund to the several towns of the
Commonwealth to aid in the maintenance of such
schools.

In the warrant of the selectmen, Horace Leland,
chairman, for the annual meeting of 1800, we find :

Art. 1;!. To see if the town will establish a ili'jU School or act or do
any thing relative to the same.

This action was negatived by the town for the rea-
sons set forth in the School Committee's report of the
same year, as follows:

" Your committee conciir in the opinion that whatever ig appropriated
for this noble cause" (a liifiher education) "considering the territorial
structure of our town and the sparsely located proper recipients of High
School privileges, the greatest good to oil lite iulmhitottts of tht town will
be attained hy the division of the fiuiil in the di^tricti."

However, something had been gained, in that the
attention of the town had been called to its necessity,
to the violation of the State law, and to the strength
of its friends.

In 1860 the following articles were inserted in the
warrant for the annual meeting :

Ist. To see if the town will maintain a high school, or act or do any-
thing relative thereto.

2d. To see if the town will raise and appropriate live bundled dollal-s,
to aid the pupils in Sutton in prosecuting their studies in the higher
branches in some of the high schools and academies of the neighboring
towns, or act or do anything relating thereto.

These articles were passed over " without note or
comment " by an indefinite postponement, and thus
ended the second direct attempt to establish this
school.

The action of Massachusetts Board of Education in
procuring the passage of the law " That no distribu-

SUTTON.

967

tion or apportionment of the annual income of the
State school fund should be made to towns not (com-
plying wiih certain requisitions of chapter 38, sec-
tions 1 and 2, general statute, including the mainten-
ance of a high school," strengthened the friends of a
higher education, and in March, 1883, the following
articles were inserted in the warrant for the approach-
ing annual meeting:

Article 14. To see if the town will miiinl«iii ii liigh r^iliuul uccoriling
to the requirements of statute law, or act to do an,vtliing in relation to
the same.

Article 15. To see if the town will raise money for tiie maintenance
of a high school.

After a dispassionate discussion and a more detailed
statement of the case than is found in the foregoing
extract, the affirmative of both articles was sustained
by an almost unanimous vote of the persons jiresent
and voting.

Under Article 14 — " Voted that the town will main-
tain a high school to hold one term of three months
at Wilkinsonville, one term of three months at Sutton
Centre, one term of three months at West .Sutton, and
one term of three months at Manchaug Village."

Under Article 15 — " Voted to raise and appropriate
five hundred dollars for the maintenance of the high
school."

The success of the measure was principally due to a
higher standard of public opinion, und an appreciation
of a higher culture and a demand therefor. Many
good citizens had labored to bring about this improve-
ment in public opinion, prominent among whom wert
Rev. H. A. Tracy and James W. Stockwell, Ei^q., and
last for the first I. B. Hartwell, Esq., of whom it is
a pleasure to say that no one in town has labored
more earnestly, both in a private and public capacity,
to improve onr common schools, to foster the desire
for a more generous course of study than they atlbrd,
and to furnish facilities for the gratification of such
desire. He was chairman of the School Committee
during several years preceding the establishment ol
the high school, at the time when the agitation
attending the discussion of the matter was the great-
est, and brmight all the influence which his position
commanded, to bear in support of the measure. His
faith in the good sense of the people, and in their
ultimately favorable action, never faltered.

From that day the school has been successful, the
town has fostered it liberally and its results have
been beneficent.

The first teacher of the high school, Walter A.
Wheeler, gave permanency and character to it. He
was a Christian gentleman, earnest and enthusiastic
in his work, combining the rare faculty of imparting
knowledge and the love of it to all under his care.

The Free Public Library. — December 2, 1874,
J. W. Stockwell, Es(i., proposed for discussion before
the Farmers' Club in Sutton Centre the following
question: " Social I>ifc and Culture, How Best Pro-
moted in this Town?" The record of the meeting

reads as follows : " After the discussion of the subject
showing the need of books for intellectual growth, J.
W. Stockwell proposed to form a club, if twenty per-
sons could be found willing to contribute one dollar
each to a fund for the purchase of books for this win-
ter's reiding. He was followed by other speakers
favoring such a proposal, and so well was the idea of
the nucleus of a Free Library received that at this
meeting a ' committee of five ' was chosen to solicit
for a library and purchase books. .T. W. Stockwell,
Rev. H. A. Tracy, W. A. Wheeler, Misses Ellen C.
Woodbury and Sarah M. Mills were selected as such
Committee."

The above extract indicates the inception and be-
ginning of the Sutton Free Library, which now num-
bers three thousand two hundred and fifty volumes.

Dr. J. H. Armsby early wrote for information in
regard to its plan and purpose, and finding its pro-
moters held large hopes for its future success, at once
took an active interest in its prosperity and enlarge-
ment, and his contributions to aid in establishing
"The Free Public Library" were frequent, large and
valuable. A suggestion from a member of the com-
mittee to those who had left their native town for
wider fields of usefulness brought liberal returns and
many were the donors, while from those within the
town were earnest workers and liberal donors. A val-
uable selected library was given by Hon. John D.
.\IcCrate, and other large contributions were received
from Rev. H. A. Tracy, George P. Stockwell, Hervey
F. Lombard, Rev. George Lyman, J. S. C. Armsby,
E. J. Mills, J. W. Stockwell, D. T. Thurston, Mrs.
H. W. Beecher, Professor Homer B. Sprague, Rev.
Frederick N. Knapp, H. C. Batchellor, Mrs. J. W.
Clark, Dr. A. L. Stickney, and many others.

Thus far the library was the property of tlie origi-
nal pnjprietors, but the time was at hand for trans-
ferring it by deed to the town, and this was proposed
on the single consideration that it should ever be
maintained as a free public library in the centre of
the town or revert to the grantors. At the annual
meeting of the town, March 20, 1876, the town voted
to accept the library on the terms proposed, and it
was transferred by deed, dated March 21, 1870, and
thus was established "The Sutton Free Library."

The friends of the library did not abate, in the
least, their interest in its prosperity, and donations
of books increased rather than diminished, and this
enterprise is largely the work of its founders and
friends, and less the gift of the town.

The question of dividing the now large library of
about two thousand five hundred volumes and placing
a part in the other villages of the town was agitated at
the annual meeting, but the deed to the town pre-
vented such dismemberment of it, and at the next
annual meeting it was voted, on motion of Jason
Waters, Esq., to establish branch libraries in each of
the villages; these, far from taking from the enthu-
siasm for the Free Public Library (which now con-

968

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tained so many donations that were memorials of
friendship and love from deceased friends] of the
town that its care had become a duty), only demon-
strated to the entire people more fully thao ever be-
fore the inestimable value of books. From the
annual reports of the librarian, April 1, 1885, we in-
sert the following extract:

The dawu of '85, its tenth birthday, sees the Library established in a
pleasant, commodious room, its friends and patrons rejoicing in its re-
moval to a suitable place, in the new Town Hall, adapted to its require-
ments.

Looking back from this standpoint in the history of the Library, the
projector and founder of the plan "to secure good reading," with the
little band of sujiporters, may feel repaid for all efforts and sacrifices
made in the interest of true progress, and may be pardoned if there is
pleasure and pride in recalling its steady growth, and seeing its estab-
lishment in a new and permanent home. That another decade may
still find it an honor to the town, a source of education and advance-
ment with refining influence, it is essential that no citizen should be
indifterent to its advantages, or neglect to avail himself of its privileges.

At the annual town-meeting, April G, 1887, a Board
of Trustees for these libraries was elected, — Rev.
John Greyson, Miss Sarah M. Mills, Jason Waters,
(/ieorge H. Clark and George W. Albee. In 1888 the
town approjiriated five hundred dollars for books and
care (the largest grant ever made by the town), to be
divided between the several libraries according to
weekly circulation from each. D. T. Thurston was
the first librarian and gave a room in his house for
its use. At his death J. W. Stockwell assumed the
care and held the position till April 1, 1883, when
Miss Sarah M. Mills became librarian, and holds the
position at the present time.

The library and branch libraries now number vol-
umes as follows :

Vulames.

Sutton Free Library 3250

Manchaug Branch Library 7-1

West Sutton Branch Library * 360

Wilkinsonville Branch Library 300

South Sutton Branch Library 307

Total 49il8

( ; H A P T E R C! X X \' I n .

i^vrraN—{Coi//iiiiifd.)

manufacti'rp:s.

It is a well-known fact that England for a long
period discouraged manufacturing in her colonies.
She thought by so doing to increase the demand for
her own products, tmd make her dependencies more
dependent.

The first Provincial Congress of Massachusetts,
which met at Salem October 5, 1774, took the matter
in hand, and, ajipealing to the patriotism of the
people, strongly recommended the proiluction of
wool, the raising of flax and hemp, the making of
nails, steel, tin-plate, fire-arms, saltpetre, gunpowder,

paper, glass, buttons, salt, combs, cards and the estab-
lishment of all such arts and manufactures as might
be useful to the people.

As early as 17(58 the people of this town, in hearty
sympathy with every movement designed to relieve
the colonies from dependence upon England for nec-
essary articles of wear and use, passed a resolution
encouraging manufactures.

Mo.st earnestly did the people set themselves at
work to provide for their necessities. Every house
was a manufactory of cloth, every farmer a producer
of wool and flax. As the carding was all done by
hand, it was natural that the first manufacturing of
the town should be the production of those articles
most needed in making woolen and linen cloth. So
we find hand-cards among the first, if not the first
articles manufactured in Sutton. These were made
by Jonathan Hale, who came from Newbury not far
from 1747, his name appearing upon both the chnrch
and town records that year.

Mr. Hale removed to Coos, N. H., in 1771, and the
business of card-making was carried on in town for
two or three years by Joseph Rockwell, born in Mid-
dletown, Conn., who learned his trade of Sir. Hale.

Rockwell went from Sutton to Philadelphia, where
he continued his trade. He was succeeded in the

card-making business by Sibley, who made a

great improvement in the machine for cutting and
bending the teeth. Mr. Sibley cmitiuued the busi-
ness until about 1795, from which lime nothing far-
ther was done in that line in town.

Comb-making was introduced in town about 1780
by Simeon Carpenter, who came from Attleboro', and
continued by him until 1815. Levi and .Jonathan
Fuller, who came from Attleboro' about the same
time with Mr. Carpenter, were also comb-makers by
trade, and carried on the business for many years.
These combs were made from horn, bone, ivory, tin
and lead. Comlis were also manufactured by one of
the Chases, on the place now occupied by Andrew
Boyce, in the Slocomb District.

Scythe, hoe and axe-making were also carried nn at
an early date — scythe-making in particular. All these
were at first beaten out by hand, afterward by the
trip-hammers, operated in .some cases by water-power
and in some by horse-power.

There are several places in town wbicli lay claim to
the introduction of the first trip-hammer.

Mr. Oliver Hall says the first was put into opera-
tion by horse-power by Mr. Nathan Putnam, who had
a scythe shop near the house in which Mr. Hall now
lives.

Mr. Putnam afterward erected a building (the
foundations of which may still be seen) on a stream
emptying into Manchaug Pond, just below the village
of West Sutton, a little west of the road to Manchaug,
in which he had a trip-hammer operated by water-
power. He forged his scythes in this building and
finished them in the shop near his house. Scythes,

SUTTON.

061)

hoes and axes were made at West Sutton — hoes and
axes were made by Elder Samuel Waters and his son-
in-law, Amos Waters, and axes by Cornelius Putnam.

Scythes and hoes were also made by Abel Chase
and Nathaniel Whitiuore & Sons, on the place now
owned by Lewis Uriggs, called the Deacon Hall
place. Scythes were likewise made near the place
where Estes Putnam now has a shingle-mill ; at
Marbleville by some of the members of the Marble
family; at Manchaug by Joseph and Cornelius Put-
nam and Colonel Reuben Waters ; in the Union
District by Joel Lackey; at South Sutton, and in
what is now Millbnry, on the stream running from
Crooked Pond, which will have more particular men-
tion in connection with what will be said upon the
early manufacturing along this stream.

The fine water-privileges along the outlet of Crooked
Pond (now Singletary Lake) were at an early date
utilized for nuuuifacturing purposes. The first ])rivi-
lege was occupied by the grist-mill built by John
Singletary, who bought the "mill-lot'' of Ebenezer
Dagget, to whom it was given upon condition that he
should " keep a grist-mill for the use of the town.''
The exact date of the building of this mill cannot be
ascertained. Mr. John Singletary came to town about
the year 17'20, and undoubtedly bought the right of
Mr. Dagget, and built the mill soon after. On the
next privilege it is said there was a blacksmith shop,
with a trip-hammer, in which scythes were made on
a small scale, and perhaps other articles used on a
farm. The next privilege, where the mill of M. A.
Lapham now is, was occupied by the paper-mill of
Abijab Burbank. This was the first paper-mill built
in the county, and the fourth or fifth in Massachu-
setts. Its erection appears to have been suggested
by a resolution passed in a convention of the Com-
mittees of Correspondence and delegates from the
several towns of the county of Worcester.

This mill was, during most of the Revolutionary
War, the main dependence, and at times the sole de-
pendence, for paper, of the printing-office of Isaiah
Thomas in Worcester.

Its capacity, according to Deacon Leland, was thirty
reams per week, during eight mimtlis of the year.

Mr. C'aleb Burbank, son of Abijab, was ussuciated
with his father, and succeeded him in the business of
paper-making, increasing somewhat the production,
and greatly improving the quality.

Just below the paper-mill was an oil-mill, jointly
owned by JonatliMu Holman, Abijah Burbank, .Jona-
than Waters and Andrew Klliot. The building of this
mill was begun in 17H9, as appears by a charge in the
memorandum book of Colonel Holman, in which be
makes note of money due him for getting timber for
the oil-mill.

The same book contains several entries giving the
number of gallons of oil sold to various persons, by
which it is seen that quite an extensive business was
done.

Just below this was a carding and fulling-mill ; still
farther down the stream a powder-mill, which seems
to have been run but a few of the first years of the
Revolutionary War.

Next to the powder-mill was a gun manufactory;
changed afterward into a manufactory of scythes, axes,
saws, mill-iron, steel-plates, etc., in which an exten-
sive business for that day was done.

Tanning and currying was also carried on by John
Morse, Captain Joseph Griggs and possibly others
whose names have not been brought to our notice.

Printing was done previously to 1813, by Sewall
Goodrich, in a building which stood near the residence
of Mr. Tyler Waters, in the part of the town which
became Millbnry the above date.

The boot and shoe business was also quite e.xten-
sively carried on at the centre of the town, and some-
thing in the same line was done in several other
places.

As early as 1837, according to statistics furnished
for Barker's "Historical Collections," there were made
9314 pairs of boots and 51,968 pairs of shoes, of the
value of $o.5,fj.')(>.

The business was started not tar from 183."), and car-
ried on by various parties, the principal of whom
were Simon J. Woodbury, N. G. King, W. C. Chase
: & F. F. Sibley, B. L. & Henry C. Batcheller, B. F.
& D. A. Tenney, Loren C. Howard & E. A. Dudley,
afterward L. C. Howard alone.

Marbleville. — Jose]di Hathaway began the man-
ufacture of shuttles at this place. He sold to .Mr.
Ezra S. Marble, who carried on the same business un-
til his death, making from five thousand to seven
thousand dollars' worth of shuttles per year. Since
his death the business has been continued by his son,
Ezra W. Marble, who sufTered a heavy loss by the
burning of the shop in 1874. He rebuilt in 1875, and
resumed business in the spring of I87t). He has in-
vented and patented an ingenious contrivance for
holding the bobbin, which is attached to the spindle,
making his shuttle one of the best, if not the best, now
in use.

Woodbury VrLLAGic. — Where the Woodbury fac-
tory now stands, there was, in the early settlement of
the town a saw-mill, built and owned by Deacon
Percival Hall, then owned by his son, Willis. Cap-
tain Josiah Hall built a new .saw and grist-mill there
i in 1797. The mill-work was done by Captain Fran-
I cis Putnam. Captain Hall sold to Captain I)avid
Dudley in 1813. Captain Dudley, Charles Hale,
Luther Woodbury and Leonard Woodbury com-
menced manufacturing scythes there the same year,
continuing the business two or three years, when they
sold to Captain Asa Woodbury, who continue<l the
same business a few years.

The old building was repaired, enlarged ami
changed into a woolen-mill or factory; burnt in 1835,
rebuilt soon after, and operated by Captain Asa Wood-
bury and Henry Boyden, under the name and firm

970

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of Woodbury & Boyden. It was afterwards operated
by Woodbury alone.

It was burnt in 1855 and rebuilt in 1856. The new
mill was first operated by Woodbury, Brown & Cooper,
owned by Woodbury, and afterwards run by him
alone. Stockwell & Prescott run the mill for him
awhile. Hall & Pre.scott hired the mill and run it
for a year or so, making very nice jeans. After the
death of Captain Woodbury it was sold at auction to
Crawford & Fisher, and run from 1866 to 1871 by
Crawford, and since that time rented to different
parties, and at the present time doing a flourishing
business under the management of Geo. A. Bigelow,
of Worcester.

Pleasant Valley.— A card aud fulling-mill was
built at this place by Thomas Harback about 1776.
His son, Thomas, Jr., built in 1822, near the site of
the old fulling-mill, a factory for the manufacture of
broadcloth, and here, first in town, was cloth woven
by power-looms.

The factory was next owned by Mallalieu, Roberts
& Graham, then by the Goodale Manufacturing
Company. They sold in 1836 to Freeman & Sibley.
In 1837 the company was incorporated as the Sut
ton Woolen-Mills Company, and the (iroperty was
mortaged to Francis Sibley. In 1841 the factory was
burned, and Sibley took possession on his mortgage
soon after. He sold to Stephen B. Holbrook and
Sumner F. Sutton in August, 1845, who built, in
1846, the main building of the present factory.

Partridge & Wakefield rented and operated it
from 1846 to 1849, manufacturing print- cloths.
They also built the small house and saw-mill.

William Yearnshaw made bags there; Leander
Lackey made bits, bit-stocks, etc.

William Nolan manufactured print-goods in 1850.

Holbrook made cotton flannel.

John M. Daniels & Son made satinet warps from
1860 to 1864.

H. H. Chamberlain engaged in wool-cleansing and
the manufacture of woolen warps and cotton yarn.
Holbrook sold to James C. Southwick, and he to
George C. Ripley, of New York ; he to E. B. Stod-
dard, of Worcester, Stoddard to Holbrook and he to
F. B. Smith, September, 1870.

Mr. Smith made many improvements in the mill ;
built a picker-room of brick, fire-proof, forty feet by
thirty feet; an engine-house, forty feet by fifteen
feet, and put in a fine engine of thirty horse power.

He died — and the mill has since been run by his
son, F. S. Smith, agent Fred. B. Smith estate. It was
burned 1885, and at once rebuilt, enlarged and im-
proved, and is now doing a large and increasing busi-
ness.

WiLKiNSONViLLE. — Asa Waters, of Millbury, pur-
chased of Jeremiah Stone in 1815 what was known
as the Dudley farm, including water-power, etc. Said
Waters deeded the premises to David Wilkinson, of
North Providence, R. I., by deed bearing date of

April, 1823. Mr. Wilkinson built the east part of the
stone factory the same year, and in 1828 added the
west end, and in 1832 the brick wing, twenty-four by
twenty-five feet.

The main building is one hundred and eleven feet
long by thirty-eight feet wide, four stories high, with
attic.

During Mr. Wilkinson's administration the place
was very much improved in the erection of the hotel
buildings, the Episcopal Church and several dwelling-
hou.ses. In the year 1829, when the manufacturing
interests throughout New England were in a depressed
condition, the financial aftairs of the proprietor of the
village were such that the property passed into the
hands of Samuel Slater & Sons. In 1832 an act of
incorporation was obtained, under the name of Sutton
Manufacturing Company. The capacity for manu-
facturing purposes has increased from time to time,
and is now ten thousand spindles and two hundred
and forty-one looms.

The annual production is two million yards sixty-
four square printing-cloths, which are sold at different
printing establishments in New England, New York
and Philadelphia.

H. N. Slater, of Providence, is treasurer of the cor-
poration.

Shuftle Works nf D. T. Dudley & 6'ore.— These works
are situated in Wilkinsonville, on the road from the
village to Millbury. They were built in the tall of
1866 by Warren Wilder.

January 1, 1867, D. T. & H. T. Dudley purchased
a two-thirds interest in the business, and carried it on
with Mr. Wilder until the fall of 1867, when the
partnership was dissolved, the Dudleys purchasing
the wdiole property and carrying on the business
under the name of D. T. Dudley & Son.

At first they manufactured shuttles only, employ-
ing six or seven hands. But the busine.ss was soon
enlarged. Machinery was introduced for making
shuttle-irons, and the business increased to such an
extent that seventeen hands were employed.

The machinery is operated most of the year by
water-power, furnished by streams from what are
known as the Sutton and the Sibley reservoirs, unit-
ing at Woodburyville. A steam-engine has been
provided for running the machinery when water fails.

There is a large demand for their goods, which are
sent to all parts of the United States, the Canadas,
South America and Mexico.

The buildings are wooden structures. In the main
one, which is two and a half stories high, shuttles are
made; in the low building adjoining this, the shuttle-
iroDS are forged. About one hundred feet southeast
of this is another building, two and one-half stories
high, used for storage and drying purposes. The
beautiful dwelling which stands upon the elevation
easterly of the mill is occupied by the junior partner.

Manchaug. — The village of Manchaug derives
its name from a noted Indian chief who was drowned

SUTTON.

971

in the pond now known by that name. It is situated

upon the north branch ofMumford River, a tributary
of the Blackstone. Its hydraulic power is derived from
this stream, which is, in reality, the outflow of a chain
of ponds lying within a radius of four or five miles, and
covering an area of one thousand acres, nearly. The
e.xtent of country drained is estimated at eleven thou-
sand five hundred acres.

The quantity of power derived is attributed to the
springs found in the surrounding country, and the
great and rapid fall of the river, which in less than
one-fourth of a mile is eighty-three feet. The remark-
able advantages of this stream as a motive-powerhavc
been increased by building a dam at the outlet of each
of these ponds or reservoirs, which give the water an
additional fall of several feet.

It was about the beginning of the year 1820 that a
number of gentlemen from Providence, R. I., on
their way to Worcester and Boston, conceived the
idea of utilizing this stream for the purpose of manu-
facturing.

After many interviews with Mr. Elliot a sale was
eft'ected, and in January, 1826, the deed conveying
forty-eight and one-half acres was passed from Aaron
Elliot and his wife, Susan Elliot, to Jonathan Cong-
don, Randall H. Green and Samuel Congdon (mer-
chants), all of the city of Providence.

February 12, 1827, Welcome and Samuel Cong-
don becoming members of the firm, the standing was
as follows: Jonathan Congdon, one-fourth ; Randall
H.Green, three-eighths; Arnold Congdon, one-eighth ;
AVelcnme Congdon, one-eighth ; Samuel Congdon,
one-eighth.

May 17, 1828, Baxter Morse sold to the Manchaug
Company, as constituted above, twenty-eight acres
of land. This completed the purchase of real estate,
as far as known, by the originators of this company.
A successful business is supposed to have been done
by the gentlemen composing the company until July
29, 1829, when they sold out all their interest to
Peter Pratt and William R. Staples, they in turn
transferring it, May 1, 1830, to Samuel Shore, pre-
vious purchases and improvements having augmented
this estate to nearly two hundred acres improved and
wood land, three cotton-mills, eleven dwelling-
houses, etc. I'nfortunately, February 1, 1834, afier
a somewhat checkered experience, Samuel Shore
transferred all the above property by deed of assign-
ment to John Whipple and Dexter Thurber for the
benefit of his creditors. The assignees above named,
on the 2Sth of May, 1835, sold to OIney Whipple,
of North Providence, all the above |)roperty, anil
August 21st of the same year, Benoni Cook, Isaac
Brown and Dexter Thurber (manufacturers). Earl
Douglass Pierce (gentleman) and Lewis Baxter
(yeoman), all of Providence, with the exception of
Lewis Dexter, who was a resident of Smithfield,
R. I., purchased the entire property, and Charles
Thnrlier was appointed resident manager. Under his

management the business was materially improved,

and quite successful until September 13, 1839, when
he died, Mr. Dexter Thurber assuming the manage-
ment, and continuing in that capacity until October
1, 1841, when Messrs. Asahel Wall & Co., together
with Stephen Randall as resident manager, leased the
mills, agreeing to furnish eighty-seven and a half
pounds of print cloth for every one hundred pounds
of cotton and to receive two and three-fourths cents
per yard for manufacturing the same; the owners
keeping in repair all dams, flumes, permanent shaft-
ing, wheels, etc, and furnishing all necessary supplies
for the maintenance of the same. This they con-
tinued to do until Ai)ril 1, 1843, when the contract
was annulled and the business was again conducted
under the management of the old company, Mr.
Randall continuing in the capacity as manager until
1846. Messrs. Thomas & Colt leased the mills for the
manufacture of print cloths and continued from
July 21, 1846, until JIarch 29, 1847, when Mr. Colt
took the lease and continued until i\Iay 8th to manu-
facture by the yard on the same terms as A. Wall &
Co. (two and three-fourth cents per yard) ; they, as in
the case of Wall & Co., having the waste. Thread
was manufactured at No. 2 Mill and woven into print
cloths at the other mills.

September 1, 1853, James M. Cunlitf, of Providence,
was admitted as a partner, having been in 1848 ap-
pointed resident manager, which position he held
until April 1, 1870.

Scott W. Mowry was also admitted as a partner at
the same time with Mr. Cunlitf, Mr. Dexter Thurber
retiring.

It was during the administration of Air. Cunlilf
that several valuable improvements were made in
connection with this property. An addition was
made to the lower or No. 1 Mill in 1852, of granite,
two stories high, of the style called "Rough Ashlar,"
fifty feet by one hundred and eighteen feet. It was
built by Lafayette Reynolds, of Pascoag, Rhode
Island.

In 1862 a further addition of four stories of granite,
seventy feet by one hundred and forty-three feet, was
built.

In 1868 the foundation of the new or No. 3 Mill
wa.s laid, and the building erected under the care of
Nathan Staples i*i Sons, of Lowell.

It was constructed of granite obtained from the
quarries of this village, and is of the style called
" Rough Ashlar."

The dimensions of this mill are as follows: three
hundred and ten feet long, lilty-two wide, four stories
high, with two towers to connect the several stories,
twenty feet square. A picker-house eighty-four feet
long by forty feet wide, three stories high ; one boiler-
house forty-eight feet long by thirty-six feet wide,
one story high.

After the completion of this mill print cloths were
manufactured until the summer of 1873, when there

D72

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

was a change to what is known as " Fruit of the
Loom."

Mr. James M. Cunliff, after a successful manage-
ment of twenty-two years, retired, leaving it in the
hands of his son, Lemuel H. Cunliff, under whose
superintendence the interests of the company became
somewhat clouded.

At this period Messrs. B. B. and R. Knight, of
Providence, Rhode Island, purchased an interest, and
the other parties retired, with the exception of Mr.
De.xter, the firm then standing, as at the present
time, "Lewis De.xter, B. B. & R. Knight."

With the increase of wealth and skill in manufac-
ture, it was evident that none but a man of ability
and strict business integrity could assume the respou-
sibility of tlie large property and make it a success-
ful and profitable business. Hence the owners were
anxious to secure the services of a man who could
meet the requirements of the time and place. After
several interviews with different parties, Robert
McArthur, at the time located at Millville, N. J.,
.was induced to accept the management. Mr. McAr-
thur assumed the entire control as resident manager
and agent in the fall of 1873, and continued as such.
It is but justice to Mr. McArthur to say that, through
his untiring energy and careful discrimination, the
business has been made successful. Constant im-
provement marks the growth of this village, and
within the last three years, under the efficient man-
agement of the present superintendent, (ieorge H.
Clark, Esq., three of the mills have been enlarged,
new tenement houses have been erected and neatness
and order are everywhere apparent.

As illustrating the progress of this company, we
give a list of the product each decade: 1840, 034,775
yards; 1850, 1,300,480 yards; 1860, 2,444,832 yards;
1870, 4,0ti5,320.

Add to this the increased value of the product
from print cloths to " Fruit of the Loom " cottons, to
realize the growth of this village.

CHAPTER CXXIX.

SUTTON— ( Continued. )

MlSCKI.I^.^NEOITS.

The Revolution. — On the breaking out of the
Revolutionary War few towns in the Commonwealth
rallied to the cause with such spirit and unanimity as
the town of Sutton. The first gleaming ray from the
torch of liberty kindled to a flame the whole sur-
rounding region, and volunteers flocked to its stan-
dard in great numbers. Long before the battle of
Lexington they had formed a band of ''minute-men,"
well mounted and armed, and under the command
of Colonel Jonathan Holman, who had been a vet-

eran in the British service in Canada during the old
Frencli War.

As soon as the news of that fight reached them
they sprang to tlieir saddles, and, riding with all
speed through the whole night, reached Concord just
as the enemy were retreating to Boston.

It was not thirty days after that fight before Sutton
and the neighboring towns had raised a full regiment
of ten companies, all volunteers, and they were on
the march to the field of action.

They were organized under the command of Colo-
nel Ebenezer Larned, of Oxford ; marched to Rox-
bury, where they arrived more than two months
before Washington came to take command of the
army.

Another regiment was immediately formed of
men coming from "Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge,
Charlton and Dudley, including adjacent lands," and
placed under the command of Colonel Jonathan Hol-
man, of North Sutton.

The following entry is found in the journal of the
Massachusetts Council :

Massachusetts Counco., Feb. 7, 1776.

lu tile Houee of Representatives : The House made clioice by ballot
of the foHowing gentlemen for Field Officers of the Fifth Regiment of
Militia in the County of Worcester, viz. : Jonatbiin Holman of Suttou,
Colonel ; Daniel Plympton, Lieut. Colonel ; William Larned, First Ma-
jor ; Jacob Davis, 2d Major.

In Council : Read and Concurred.

This regiment, being composed largely of men from
Sutton, and under the command of a Sutton officer,
was usually known and styled as "The Sutton Regi-
ment." It was destined to a very severe and long-
continued service of nearly two years, during which
it was engaged in many battles with the enemy, and
finally, if we accept the evidence of a high British
authority, in the great decisive battle of the war, the
battle of Saratoga.

In the battle that ensued Colonel Holman's regi-
ment was actively engaged, and that they acquitted
themselves bravely may be justly inferred from the
fact that after the battle this regiment was desig-
nated " to take possession of Fort Edward, and to
hold it, until the dispersion of Burgoyne's army,"
which they did.

The regiment was then honorably discharged, and
the men returned to their homes.

This battle, followed by the surrender of Burgoyne
and his whole army, virtually ended the war in New
England. The British, after fighting the obstinate
Yankees for two years and a half, became discouraged
and moved the theatre of war down South.

January 19, 1770, there was a call for more men,
and a levy was made upon all the towns in the Stale,
ihe number to be raised being apportioned according
to the size and strength of the towns.

For Worcester County the drafts were as follows:

Brookfield, forty-nine; Lancaster, forty -six; Suttou,
thirty-nine; Meudon, thirty -three ; Worcester, thirty-

SUTTON.

HTc

two ; Hardwick, twenty-nine ; Shrewsbury, twenty-
five; Bolton, twenty-three; Lunenburg, twenty;
Sturbridge, seventeen ; Westboro', seventeen ; Charl-
ton, sixteen ; Douglas, fifteen ; Grafton, fifteen ;
Dudley, twelve ; Leicester, thirteen ; Uxbridge,
thirteen ; Oxford, eleven ; Northbridge, six ; and so
on.

In a levy made upon the towns for blankets, they
were apportioned as follows: Lancaster, tliirty-three ;
Sutton, thirty ; Brookfield, thirty ; Worcester, twenty-
seven ; and so on in lesser numbers.

In the Provincial Congress held at Watertown, May
1, 1775, provision was made for the support of the
people who had been driven from their homes in
Boston by the entrance of the British army.

They were assigned to the several towns in the State,
to be supported as far as necessary.

In Worcester County they were assigned as follows :
Lancaster, one hundred and tliree persons ; Brookfield,
ninety.

The evidence, therefore, appears to be conclusive,
that in the great and arduous struggle to gain our
independence, Sutton ranked among the forty-three
towns in Worcester County as the third, Brookfield
and Lancaster alone having a better record, they being
larger towns.

Sutton may well be proud of her contribution to the
grand result; and, in common with all the towns of
the Commonwealth, her glory is still more enhanced
by the fact brought out by Charles Sumner, in his
celebrated debate with Senator Butler, of South
Carolina, in which he provd bi/ docamentnry evidence
from the War and Treasuri/ Departments, that, in the
Revolutionary War, Massachusetts alone furnished
more men, and more money, than all the Southern States
combined.

Civil War. — April 11th. Fort Humter was tired
upon, and the War of the Rebellion inaugurated.

April 1.5th. The President issues his proclamation
calling for seventy-five thou.sand of the militia of the
several States to " re-possess the forts, places and
property " which had been seized, " to maintain the
perpetuity of popular government, and to redress
wrongs loug enough endured."

These men were called for three months' service.

April 29th. An impromptu meeting of citizens of
the town was held for the purpose of discu.ssing the
situation, and a committee appointed to draft a series
of resolutions for the action of a meeting of the town
called for the day following.

April .30th. At the meeting of this date the feeling
of indignation at the atrocity of the act of firing on the
national Hag, of patriotic devotion, and of determined
purpose to crush rebellion, w;us in full harmony with
that which prevailed throughout all the loyal States.
In view of the peril of the hour, and the necessity of
wise action, it was proposed that the proceedings be
opened with prayer ; and it is recorded that the Rev.
Mr. Hawkins, being called upon " to address the

Throne of Grace, responded in a fervent and appro-
priate prayer.''

On motion of E. J. Mills, it was " voted that a Com-
mittee chosen at a meeting held last evening to pre-
sent the subject for action to-day be invited to do so
now, and the Hon. J. D. McCrate, Chairman of said
Committee, responded in the following resolutions:

Res'^lved, That in this niuMt unnatural contest, waged against otir
Country by a band of traitors in the Southern States, we, the inhabitants
of Sutton, believing that the whole strength of the country should be
exerted in an official manner to put down rebellion, call upon the Gov-
ernment of the United States to make no terms or compromises with
traitors, but to carry on the war in such a niajiner, and with such force
as will strengthen the union sentiment which we believe still exists in
portions of the rebellious .States, and intimidate and overwhelm those
who, regardless of all obligations, seek a division of our beloved
Country.

Refolved, That we are neither advocates of nor believers in the right
of Secession, That we regard the coni*se taken by the self-styled Seced-
ing States as Revolution without justifiable cause, and that the Gov-
ernment of the Country is therefore bound to put it down by the sti'Ong
arm of force.

Resolved, That we appropriate the sum of six thousand (SfiWO) dollars
fol the specitic object of taking care of the families and of uniforming
such of the inhabitants of this Town as shall enlist either for the war
or for three years or raore, and shall be called out to serve for that
period, and be accepted by the regularly constituted authorities of the
Country.

Refolved, That the above sum, or whatever portion thereof he neces-
sary, shall he expended under the direction of a Committee of three, to
be chosen at this meeting.

Renolied, That Col- John D. McCrate, A. Dudley Chase and .James Tay-
lor be a Committee for the purpose above mentioned.

August 2d. The town " Voted to offer a bounty of
one hundred and fifty ($1.50.0(») dollars to any person
who, on or before the eighteenth day of August, will
enlist as a Volunteer in the Army of the United
States as one of quota of twenty-eight men from Sut-
ton, the same to be paid as soon as such person shall
have been accepted and mustered."

August 23d. The call for nine months' men was
promptly responded to by the town, which " voted to
take measures to procure by enlistment our quota of
troops, and to pay to each person enlisting as one of
said quota a bounty of one hundred and fifty (.fl50.0<l)
dollars."

The town furnished two hundred and twenty-three
men for the war, which was a surplus of eight over
and above all demands.

Two were commissioned officers. The whole amount
of money appropriated and expended on account of
the war, exclusive of State aid, was twenty-five thou-
si'ud one hundred and eighty dollars and fourteen
cents (!?2."),180.14). The amount of money paid by
the town for State aid to soldiers' families during the
war, and afterward repaid by the State was as follows:
In 1861,1501.91; 1862, $2,410.71 ; 1863, $3,212.70 ;
1864, Sil,725.76; 1865, $1,901.26. Total amount,
$9,752.34.

The ladies of Sutton furnished a great many articles
for the soldiers during the war, to the money value of
about one thousand dollars. Among the articles were
shirts, drawers, socks, lint, bandages and other useful
stores. They were forwarded to the front generally
through the Sanitary and Christian Commissions.

074

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Centennial. — 1876, March 20th. The town made
an appropriation for a centennial celebration.

There was, upon July 4th, a large and enthusiastic
gathering of the citizens of the town in the grove a
little east of the house of Mr. F. H. Marble.

A procession of citizens and Sunday-school children
was formed at the Congregational Church, under the
direction of Messrs. Edmund J. Mills, Amos Batch-
eller, H. S. Stoekwell and Charles H. Chase, marshals ;
and, escorted by the O.xford Brass Band, marched
to the grove, where appropriate services were held
under the direction of E. J. Mills, president of the
day. Prayer was ofl'ered by Rev. W. A. Benedict, the
Declaration of Indeitendence read by Miss Hattie A.
Holbrook, and patriotic speeches were made by Rev.
H. A. Tracy, Messrs. I. B. Hartwell, Reuben R.
Dodge, J. W. Stoekwell and Rev. W. A. Benedict.

Old-time and modern songs were sung, and stirring
music was given by the baud. As the day wore on to
its close the crowd slowly and reluctantly dispersed,
some, at least, praying that they who shall upon the
same ground celebrate the nation's bi-centennial, may
look upon our flag studded with many new stars, still
proudly waving over an undivided people, who have
maintained their civil and religious institutions in
their integrity, strengthened their government by the
promotion of virtue and intelligence, and made as
rapid progress in the second as in the first century of
the nation's life, in all that constitutes true national
greatness.

Sutton a Farjiing Town. — Sutton is pre-emi-
nently a farming town, and has ever been noted for
its advanced position in agriculture. Its fine stock
has been remarked at all cattle fairs, from the first
exhibition of the Worcester County Agricultural
Society to the present time. Its fine oxen have been
sought after from all the adjoining country.

When Daniel Webster was in England and was
asked at one of their fairs if he had ever seen as beau-
tiful oxen, he replied, " Yes ; at the fair in Worcester
County, Mass., and they were raised in Sutton."

From the earliest times to the present, trained oxen
have been a specialty in this town, though now the
horse is fast usurping the place of the slower ox. Nor
have the farmers of this old town been behind in other
branches of good husbandry. The grass crop is im
mense ; the fruit product is equal to that of any^town of
its extent in the State, while in mixed farming it
takes high rank, and well it may, for its soil is natur-
ally productive, and its culture has been thorough ;
therefore its farmers are intelligent, prosperous and en-
terprising. They are the conservative force that has
influenced the acts of the town, shaping its policy and
carrying forward its history. Their moral influence
is seen in the liberal policy of the town, the advance-
ment of the school, and the support of the ministry,
and they can to-day take pleasure in the neatness of
their dwellings, the beauty of their fields, and their

productiveness, and the consequent large return for
their labor.

The Homes of Sutton. — And now, gentle reader,
a glance at the homes of Sutton. A history of
these is really the history of the town ; for in these
homes the influences, secret and silent, direct and
open, conscious and unconscious, have been in op-
eration that have molded the characters of the men
and women of the town, and established them in those
principles which they have exemi)liHed in every line
of action. They were men who knew what it was to
go out into the wilderness and fell the trees, build
houses, subdue the soil, found churches and schools,
establish civil government and put in operation the
variul forces by which social order is maintained and
social progress advanced.

And they were equal to the W(nk. They were not
what may be called educated men, and yet they were
not ignorant. They had good common sense, sound
judgment and strong purpose. They knew what the
rights of men are, and possessed the independence to
assert, and the will to maintain them.

Most of these homes were Christian homes, and all
that were not professedly so were occupied by those
who sincerely respected religion, and contributed, by
a cheerful payment of the " ministry tax," to the
support of the institutions of the Gospel. -Ml had
seats in the house of God, and few were the families
that did uot make their arrangements to be repre-
sented there upon the Sabbath ; and from these
homes has naturally grown the history of the town.

Those who went out from us may have reflect-
ed honor on our history, but those who remain,
the quiet, unnoted ones, have moulded the character
of the town, and to them belongs the praise. Of
them it may truly be said, "Son, thou wast ever with
me, and all that I have is thine." In the church and
in the support of the Gospel in all these "meet-
ing-houses," in the town-meeting and the responsi-
bilities of State, in the school and the support of
education, in the moral and social life nurtured
within its boundaries, has been sown the seeds of
character that we now look back upon and read in
history. Their names known to comparatively few,
their characters known only within the family circle,
have yet an influence felt in the community, and
broadening through time. Therefore, in closing, let our
last, best words be for the noble lives, lived within our
borders, which have prepared these beautiful hillside
fields, and dotted them with happy homes; these
villages, prosperous and enlarging their borders, be-
cause of local interest and local pride; these churches,
with their uplifting influence, and these schools, nur-
series of learning. In these lie the foundation of
character, wherein is enfolded the future, not only of
our town, but of the State and nation.

Membersof the Provincial Congress: 1774, Edward
Putnam ; 1775, Captain Henry King, Elder Amos
Singletary ; Member of United States Congre.ss :

SUTTON.

075

Hon. Jonas Sibley ; Members of the State Senate :
Hon. Jonas Sibley, Hon. William R. Hill, Hon.
James W. Stockwell ; Members of the House of Rep •
resentatives : Samuel Dudley, Percival Hall, Henry
King, Amos Singletary, Captain Mark Chase, Captain
Timothy Sibley, David Harwood, Dr. James Free-
land, Captain Jonathan Woodbury, Solomon Leland,
Major Samuel Waters, Dr. Stephen Monroe, Jonas
Sibley, Josiah Styles, Estes Howe, Darius Russell,
Abijah Burbank, Josiah Wheelock, Elisha Hale,
Jonas L. Sibley, Daniel Tourtelotte, Joshua Armsby,
Edmund J. Mills, Samuel Taylor, Sumner Cole,
Darius Putnam, Asa Woodbury, Welcome Whip|de,
Peter Putnam, Benjamin Woodl)ury, Sylvanns Put-
nam, Zelek Darling, Zadock Woodbury, Salem Chani-
berlin, Timothy Burnap, A. A. Lombard, B. L.
Batchellor, Simon J. Woodbury, William R. Hill,
Jason Waters, S. D. King, James M. Cunlif, E. H.
Hutchinson, William Abbott, M. M. Hovey, George
W. Rice, Henry S. Stockwell.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

THOMAS BLANCHAED.

Thomas Blanchard, the inventor, was born in Sut-
ton June 24, 1788. His fether, Samuel, was a farmer,
and lived on a poor remote strip of land, where there
was absolutely nothing to suggest a mechanical mo-
tion. He was of French origin, his name being de-
rived from the French word Blanchir (to whiten),
and many distinguished men ap|)ear in the annals of
France bearing that name.

Much dispute has arisen as to his nativity, and hence
the honor of his inventions.

Six claimants for the honor of Blanchard's inven-
tions have already appeared, viz. : Sutton, Millbury,
Oxford, Springfield, Boston, and lastly, France. That
he was born on a strip of land lying between Sutton
township and Oxford proper, called "Oxford Gore,"
all agree. The very house is still pointed out.

Sutton bases her claim upon the following facts ;
That said strip projects or gores into, in a zigzag
course, her territory as defined on ancient maps by
straight lines ; that her records show that Samuel
Blanchard paid his taxes to Sutton, and must have
voted there if anywhere ; that the births of most of
his children are recorded there, all which would seem
to establish the citizenship of the father in Sutton,
and that would of course carry the birth-place of the
children. Besides, it is well known that Thomas, who
ought to know, always told his Ijiographers that he
was born in Sutton, and they have so recorded it.

While on the farm, Thomas gave little if any
promise of the latent powers within him. There was
nothing in his surroundings to excite them. He was
misplaced; schools were remote, and he seldom at-
tended, for he was atHicted with a perverse impedi-

ment of speech, so that the boys called him " stam-
mering Tom." His prospects were anything but
promising. At length, when he had arrived at the
age of eighteen years, his eldest brother, Stephen,
started in West Millbury a tack factory, with horse-
power, and he promoted his unfortunate brother to the
position of heading them in a vise, with a hand-ham-
mer, one by one. Once in a mechanic shop his dor-
mant genius began to wake up.

Ere that youth had spent many months heading
tacks, one by one, he had designed, constructed and
put in operation a machine which would cut and head
them at one motion twice as fast as the ticking of a
watch, and better finished than those made by hand.
So perfect was it in design and construction, it was
continued in use more than twenty years. It is said
to be still in existence, and experts who have seen it,
say no essential improvement has ever been made
upon it.

Colonel Asa Waters, at the armory, had succeeded
in turning gun-barrels so far as they were round, but
to turn the irregular shape of the butt baffled his
efforts. At length, having heard of a young man
living in West Millbury, as having developed some
inventive talent, he sent for him to come to his
armory. When he came he seemed an utter stranger
to all present, uncouth, diffident, had a stammering
tongue, and little was expected of him.

He was shown the machine and given to understand
what was wanted.

Glancing his eye over the machine, he very soon
suggested an additional, very simple, but wholly orig-
inal, cam motion, which, upon being applied, was
found to relieve the difficulty, and proved a perfect
success. Mr. Waters was delighted. Turning to
Thomas, he said, " Well, Thomas, I don't know what
you won't do next. I should not be surprised if you
turned a gun-stock ! " naming that as the most im-
possible thing in mechanics he could think of.
Thomas hesitated a moment, then stammered out,
"We-we-well, M'll try that."

As soon as he had completed his cam motion at
Millbury, he was called to Springfield to adjust similar
motions in the United States armory there. On a re-
turn journey, when passing through Brimfield, soli-
tary and alone in his carriage, in deep meditation, he
was heard to exclaim with great glee, like Archimedes
of old, '• I've got it ! I've got it ! I've got it ! " Two
men who were by the wayside overheard him, and
one says to the other, " I guess Hint man is crazy."

He had the idea only, and it required two years of
study to bring out the wonderful invention — for turn-
ing irregular forms.

It was really the discovery of a new principle in
mechanics whereby the machine is made the obedient,
faithful servant of man to work out his designs after
any given model, be it round or square, crooked or
straight, however irregular, and m.ade to reproduce
the original shape exactly, every time.

976

HISTORir OF WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

For this great invention, whose worth to this coun-
try and Europe can only he computed in millions
Blanchard himself received hut a meagre compensa-
tion. For the first two terms of his patent he was
continually harassed by infringements and lawsuits,
and even in the few years while he was busy at the
armory, more than fifty violators had pirated his in
vention and started up works in various parts oi' the
country for making lasts, spokes, etc.

When the second term of his patent had nearly ex-
pired, he said he had expended a Imnffred ihousaml
dollars in defending his right, and had realized to
himself little more than "his board and clothes;"
that is to say, a fair living.

iMOSES L. MORSE.

Moses L. Morse, who lived on this place, was a great
inventor. He invented the first pin-making machine
ever made in this country. The pins made had solid
heads, and the principle involved in their manufacture
was the same as that introduced in the best machines
now in use, which make two barrels a day. Some one
who has written on the subject gives a Mr. Wright
credit for inventing the first machine for making pins
with solid heads in 183.3, but it is a mistake. Solid-
head pins were made by Morse's machine during the
war of 1812. He also invented and had patented
scales for weighing coins and other substances hydros-
tatieally. He says a gentleman came into the shop
one day, and having his attention called to the new
scales, took out a new Spanish dollar and asked Mr.
Morse to test his scales on that dollar ; so he weighed
it and pronounced it a rank counterfeit. The man
was provoked at the idea, for it was a very perfect
coin. So Mr. Morse gave him another dollar that he
might test the one in dispute ; then he took his drill
and bow and began to tap the dollar, which proved to
be made of copper, slightly plated with silver. Then
the man declared the scales the greatest invention of
the age, and ordered one immediately for his own use.
The scales had a graduated face not unlike a clock-
face, with hands to point out the result.

Mr. Morse afterward established a cutlery manufac-
tory in Worcester, at what was known as the red mills.
He had two children, tlharles Willard (a very noted
and effective preacher), and Kuth Sibley, who married
Rev. Charles F. Allen, D.D., a celebrated preacher
and educator, the first president of the Maine Agri-
cultural College, Orono.

HOX. JONAS SIBLEY.'

Hon. Jonas Sibley, the subject of this sketch, was
a native of the town of Sutton and always a resident
within its limits. He was largely self-educated, the
.schools of this town being his only aids. A man of broad

1 The portrait which accompanies this sketch is taken from one painted
by Styles, of Worcester.

views, strong intellect, self-reliant, and thoroughly
conscientious. He was a farmer, faithful to its inter-
ests and prominent in all agricultural iinprovements.

At the present day it is not easy to understand the
influence of such a sturdy, honest character on the
yeomanry of the town. It then represented what to-day
the press does in its influence on the political, moral
and philanthropic acts of a community ; it moulds the
character and controls the policy of the people. Such
prominence and influence belonged to Jonas Sibley
in the town of Sutton, and in the southern part of
Worcester County, and on many important elections
he led the voters from his own door to the polls and
under his guidance were deposited the ballots that
determined the policy ol'the town, or the influence of
its action on the state and nation. He represented
this town in the State Legislature, was also in the
Mass. Senate ; and for one term, 1822 and 1823,
eighteenth session, he was Representative for the
County of Worcester in the Congress of the United
States (the only term when represented by a Democrat
until the election of Hon. John E. Russell in 1886,
fiftieth session). Beside these positions he was con-
stantly in public service lor the town as Moderator,
Assessor, Selectman, and School Committee.

The following description of him is from the
"History of Sutton": — "He was a man of gentle-
manly deportment, candid, una,ssuming, and faithful
to every trust.''

His thorough honesty of |nirpose and independence
of party dictation on that national stumbling-block —
the Tariff' — lost him a re-election, as his action on
some points could not satisfy the diversified interests
of his constituents. A great truth was covered in the
words of General Hancock, wheu he said the tariff"
was a "local issue" so strongly do local interests
influence the action of the voter, and bias the judg-
ment of the statesman. Thus we find Jonas Sibley
opposed to higher duties and voting against the bill,
but on all amendments to the bill voting in the
interest of his section and his calling. Therefore on
woolen and cotton goods to reduce the tariff; on
wool, sugar, molasses, to hold the duty, and on salt to
free it from duty. It is interesting to note that
generally his vote was in accord with that of Daniel
Webster, even to the final vtite " shall the bill pass? "
both voting in the negative.

Jonas Sibley, son of Capt. Nathaniel Sibley, married
Lydia Rice, daughter of Asahel Rice, August 18, 178.5.
Children : — first, Susanna, born June 27, 1786,
married Daniel Hovey, died August 11, 1811 ; second,
Jonas Leonard, born .lanuary 8, 1791, married
Margaret M. Monroe, died February 1, 18;'i2 ;
third, John Jay, born November 12, 1792, died
March 10, 1815.

John Jay graduated in advanced classes at Brown
University, 1814, as valedictorian of his cliiss, but
close application to study had undermined his health,
and while delivering the address he was attacked

e::>t^t

SUTTOxNT.

with a hemorrhage which resulted fatally, March 10,
1815.

Jonas Sibley died February 5, 1834, aged seventy-
two years, and his wife died December 27, 1837, aged
seventy-six, on the homestead in Sutton, which has
remained in possession of the family to the present
time.

The first Sibleys came from England in the Fleet
in 1G20 — only nine years after the settlement of Ply-
mouth — and settled in the town of Salem. They were
supposed to be brothers (.lohn and Richard), and both
married. They united with the church in Charles-
town, December 21, lG3-t, and .Tnhn Sibley took the
freeman's oath. May 6, 1635. He was a selectman of
the town of Salem and a member of the General
Court from that town. Joseph Sibley, son of John,
was the father of this bianch of the Sutton Sibleys ;
three of his sons, Joseph, John and Jonathan, were
among the thirty families who were entered as settlers
in 1717, in the four thcmsand acres that was given
them upon condition that they vvoiild go and settle
there first, and the thirty persons thus going style
themselves " Proprietors of the four thousand acres."

Each branch of the family has developed sturdy
character and contributed distinguished names to the
history of Sutton.

In the line of Joseph, son of Joseph, is found Jane
Walter, daughter of Gibbs Sibtey. She married Sir
Curtis Miranda Sampson, of New Haven, Vermont.
They were married in New York, 1827. When the
Atlantic Cable was finished he accepted a baronetcy
tendered him as an acknowledgment of his services
in pushing that enterprise to completion. Theyliave
two sons and two daughters ; one of the daughters, a
lady of marked ability and culture, is married to Mr.
Frederick Lockyer, a well-known man of letters and
of society, whose " Vers de Societe " have been re-
published in this country. Sir Curtis and Lady
Sampson had a seat at Rawfant, in Sussex, England.

Also Hon. Solomon Sibley, who studied law with
William Hastings, Esq., of Boston, and removed to
Detroit, Mich. He was delegate to Congress ; United
States Attorney ; and for many years judge of the
Supreme Court of the territory. His son, Henry H.,
was elected member of Congress from the territory of
Wisconsin, and was commissioned Brigadier-General
for gallant and meritorious service in 1865.

Caleb, son of Nathaniel Sibley, graduated at West
Point in 1828, and remained in the service till his
death. He won a high reputation as a gentlemanly,
conscientious and able officer, and rose by promotion
to the rank of brigadier-general.

The famous "Sibley Tent" is the invention of
General H. A. Sibley, descendant of John, who emi-
grated to Louisiana and settled there. His claims for
use of this invention, which was of such valuable
service to the government during the late Civil War,
are now before Congress for recognition.

In the earlier history of our country we find this
G2

family represented in the colonial service as follows :
Capt. John Sibley ; Ensign Jonathan Sibley ; Sergeant
Samuel Sibley; Privates, Elijah; David; Elisha;
John, Jr.; Jonathan, .Jr.; Joseph; Joseph, Jr.;
Stei)hen ; William and William, Jr. In the Revolu-
tionary War: David, Daniel, Richard, Stephen, and
William Sibley, Ijeside the Minute Men from Sutton
who marched to Concord, April 19, 1775 : Joseph,
Daniel, Elia.s, Gideon, Peter, Samuel, Jr., Tarrent and

Sibley.

In the control of town affairs; in its political his-
tory; and in church matters is equally seen the influ-
ence this family has exerted on the character and his-
torv of this town.

.lOSAS L. SIBLEY.'

Jonas Leonard Sibley, son of Hon. Jonas Sibley,
was born in Sutton, January 8, 1791. He was
educated in the schools of the town and prepared for
college under the instruction of " Master Hall," and
graduated at Brown University in the class of 1814.
He studied law with Hon. Levi Lincoln, and was
admitted to the bar and began practice before the
courts in 1817.

He married Margaret N. Monroe, daughter of
Stephen Monroe, M.D., and had eight children, only
four of whom survive.

Susan Maria, the eldest, married Hon. John D.
McCrate. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College ;
studied law with Judge Bailey, of Wiscasset, Maine,
J. E. Smith, Esq., of Boston and Hon. Peleg Sprague,
of Hallowell, Maine. He represented the town of
Wiscasset for five successive years in the State Legis-
lature; he was appointed commissioner of insolvency
for the State in 1829 and 1830 ; collector of the dis-
trict of Wiscasset in 1836 by President Jackson ; and
elected to Congress from the Oxford and Lincoln
District 1844. He was a man of rare strength of
mind and memory. He died September 11, 1879, in
Sutton, on the old homestead where his widow now
resides.

The second daughter Joanna Le Baron, married
Rev. John Pierpont, Jr., son of John Pierpont,
preacher, poet and philanthropist. She died in
Medford, March 30, 1852.

John Monroe, the eldest son, was born Ju'y 7,
1822. He. graduated at Yale College, and was for
many years superintendent of schools for the State
of California and a prominent educator on the
Pacific slope. He has now retired from active work.

The second son, Henry Jonas, was for a time a
broker in Chicago ; he is now engaged in mining
interests in California.

Frances Mary married Hon. James W. Stockwell,
son of Simeon Stockwell, of this town. He has held
the offices of selectman, school-committee and treas-

1 The portrait which accompanies this sketch is taken from one painted
by Henry W'illard, of Boston, a native of Grafton, AVorcester Co., Mass.

078

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

urer and collector. He represented the Third Worces-
ter Senatorial Di.strict in the Senate of Massachusetts
for the sessions of 1879-80 ; was api)ointed (1887) on
the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture by
Governor Ames to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and re-appointed in
1889 his own successor.

Jonas L. Sibley represented his native town for
several years in the State Legislature. He was a
sincere friend and strongsupporterof President Jack-
son, and was by him appointed Marshal of the United
States Di.strict Court of Massachusetts, at Boston,
which office he held for a period of eight years. In
this position he performed valuable service in re-
organizing and systematiziilg the departments of this
Court — a service duly appreciated by his superior.
He was presented by him with his portrait, life size,
one of the finest portraits in citizen's dress ever
painted of General Jackson.

In his profession be held to a large degree the
confidence of the community, and his practice was
that of the true lawyer — the settlement of differences
between the two parties instead of carrying them
before the courts ; yet his practice was extensive,
having for a single term of court eighty cases on the
docket.

Mr. Sibley was a man of fine presence and pre-
eminently public-spirited, and every enterprise
having for its object the welfare of the people, or
the improvement of the town, received ready support
and active co-operation. He was attable, courteous
and kind, and his memory is held in loving remem-
brance by the wide circle of his friends. He was
especially interested in agriculture. He owned one
of the finest farms in town, located a short distance
west of the centre of the town, and extending,
northerly in an oblong square to Singletary Lake and
including one of its most beautiful shores, and
southerly in a smaller square of similar form. Here
his leisure time was employed in planning improve-
ments and carrying forward the work. His orchards
were the finest, his crops the largest, his stock the
most choice, and his fields the most perfectly tilled.
As most of them were within the view from the
house, every improvement was a pleasure to him and
his interest in farming and in his farm never abated,
even during his long and painful sickness. It was a
constant source of [deasure to him — possibly not of
profit.

At the burning of the Congregational Church, No-
vember 3, 1829, be, in endeavoring to save valuable
papers from the flames, was struck on the back by a
falling timber. The injury was at the time supposed
to be slight, but its serious nature was soon apparent,
and, notwithstanding the ertbrts of the best medical
skill, it could not be stayed, but resulted in paralysis
of the right arm and later of the lower limbs. This
episode represents years of pain and sufl'ering, borne
heroically and patiently. As the right hand became

useless and refused to obey the dictates of the will, he
learned to use the left with greater facility, and his
penmanship, written with the left hand, is a model of
neatness. He abated in no particular or degree his
interest in the welfare of the town, or for years in the
practice of his profession. In the rebuilding of the
church be was an active member of the building com-
mittee and prompt in meeting its responsibilities. To
his artistic eye the town is indebted for the (at that
time) rare architectural beauty of this church, which
is a model in its harmonious proportions and perfect
acoustics.

In his oiBce Christopher C. Baldwin collected, placed
in order, and preserved the old records and data of
the town that have been of incalculable value to the
later historians. Hon. Isaac Davis, Christopher C.
Baldwin, Esq., Edward Clark, Esq., and others studied
law under his teaching and in this office. He was
one of the founders of the Worcester Agricultural
Society, in 1819, and one of its officers later. He was
a prominent and active Mason ; a member of Olive
Branch Lodge, which was chartered in 1797, and its
W. M. from 1821 to 1825, inclusive. Though not able
to attend its meetings in his later years, yet his inter-
est in Masonry remained unabated, and at his death
he was buried with Masonic honors — many prominent
Masons from other lodges being present to honor his
memory.

Though his religious views were more broad, and
nearer in accord with the Unitarian faith, be was an
active member and liberal supporter of the orthodox
Congregational Society located in the centre of the
town. Naturally sympathetic, he cultivated the
kindly virtues, and his life was full of kind deeds.
None came to him for sympathy, for counsel, or for help
and turned away unassisted — their need was his ex-
cuse for giving them his best service. Yet, his tender-
ness was ever in abeyance to his moral courage, which
never flinched from duty, and whether in shielding
the defenceless little African boy, who, noting sym-
pathy in his face, ran to him for protection and would
not be taken away, or in the hanging of the pirates,
Marshal Sibley was the same, — tender yet true, — in
enforcing the law, or in i)rotecting the defenceless.
Such was his life, broad and beneficent, and his death
calmly awaited as a happy release from physical suf-
fering such as falls to the lot of but few. He died
February 1, 1852.

Oenealogy. — Jonas L." (Jonas," Nathaniel,' Samuel,'
Joseph,- John '), married Margaret N., daughter of
Stephen Monroe, November 12, 1817; she was born
January 17, 1795; died December 27, 1858. Children,
— 1. Susan Maria, born August 31, 1818 ; married John
D. McCrate, Esq. ; 2. Joanna LeBaron, born May 1,
1820; married John Pierpont, Jr. ; 3. John Monroe,
born July 7, 1822 ; 4. Frances Lydia, born February
22, 1824; 5. Mary LeBaron, born March 16, 182G; 6.
Henry Jonas, born April 21, 1828; resides in Califor-
nia; 7. Frances Mary, born August 29, 1830; married

SUTTON.

979

J. W. Stockwell of Button, June 26, 1867; 8. Marga-
ret Louisa, born October 26, 1832.

John M.' (.Tonas L.,^ Jonas,' Nathaniel,* Samuel,''
Joseph,- John'), married Experieuce C. Wheelock.
Children, — 1. John Pierpont, born July 4, 1849; lives
in N«w London, Conn.

WILLIAM R. HILL.

William Robinson Hill, son of Deacon Micah and
Sally (Marsh) Hill, was born in Douglas, Mass., Feb-
ruary 10, 1815, and died in Wilkinsonville, November
19, 1887. His ancestry can be traced through seven
f!;enerations to John Hill, who came from England to
Plymouth Colony among the early settlers (previous
to the year 1632), and whose descendants for several
generations lived in the towns in Eastern Massachu-
setts, chiefly in Medway, Dorchester and Sherborn.

John Hill became a member of the Boston Artil-
lery Company in 1633, and died in 1664. The records
of Sherborn contain an entry of three grants of land,
comprising ten thousand seven hundred acres, by "The
Great General Court of Mass. Bay " to the people
of Sherborn. This land was divided into lots to be
drawn by the inhabitants of Sherborn, and were situ-
ated in what was thea called New Sherborn, now
Douglas.

John Hill (2d), son of John Hill, was a large land-
holder in Sherborn. In 1715 he drew thirty-three
acres of land in Douglas. He died in Sherborn, Jan-
uary 23, 1718. His sons — Samuel, Dr. Eleazer and
Ebenezer Hill — drew lands in Douglas in 1715.

Capt. Ephraim Hill (of the fourth generation), son
of Samuel and grandson of John Hill (2d), was born
in Sherborn, November 5. 1688.

Twenty acres of land were given him in Douglas,
December 29, 1721, " in consideration of his being the
flrst-settled inhabitant in town." He died in Douglas
in 1795, being one hundred and seven years old.

Ephraim Hill's name appears often on the records
of the proprietors of land-grants. He serve 1 on com-
mittees to transact business concerning the interests
of the grants in the settlement of any trouble from the
time the grants were made to the time of the Decla-
ration of Independence in 1776, and after that date
his name was among the olficers of the town of Doug-
las, which was incorporated in 1746.

Caleb Hill, son of Ephraim Hill, was born in Med-
way, May 23, 1716. The town records of Douglas
show that in 1750 " a grant of land was made to Col.
Caleb Hill, Innholder."

He was an active man in proprietary affairs to the
time of the Revolution, and in town business after
that era. For thirty years he was a deacon of the
church in Douglas.

Moses, the oldest son of Caleb Hill, was born in
Douglas August 17, 1757. He married Dinah Robin-
son in Dudley September 20, 1780, and died Septem-
ber 1, 1800. " In the death of Lieut. Moses Hill, at

the age of forty-three years, his family, society and
the town met with a severe loss."

Micah Hill, son of Lieutenant Moses Hill, was
born in Douglas September 27, 1787, and in 1809 was
united in marriage to Sally Marsh, daughter of Aaron
and Sarah (Fuller) Marsh. For many years he was a
deacon of the Congregational Church in Douglas. He
died June 20, 1836, leaving a widow and six sous, all
of whom lived to maturity and filled places of trust
and responsibility.

William R., the third son of Micah Hill, at the age
of twelve years, entered upou a clerkship in the store
of his uncle, Benjamin Cragin, in East Douglas. He
remained there for two years attending school during
its se.ssions, and devoting the remaining hours of the
day and his vacations to his duties in the store. In
the spring of 1829 he engaged as clerk in the store of
the Manohaug Manufacturing Company. Th^ suc-
ceeding fall found him a clerk for Wadsworth &
Fowler in East Douglas. In April, 1830, he went to
New Worcester and remained one year with Wads-
worth & Metcalf. In the spring of 1831 he went to
Uxbridge as clerk for Amasa Dudley, and remained
till March, 1833, when he was employed by J. L.
Dudley, Wilkinsonville, and remained with him two
years. On the 1st of April, 1835, he returned to the
store of Amasa Dudley, in Uxbridge. In 1836 he
took up his peruuinent residence in Wilkinsonville
(in the townshi]i of Sutton) as a partner in mercantile
business with James L. Dudley. This partnership
was dissolved in 1844 by the death of Mr. Dudley.
The busine.ss w.is continued by Mr. Hill in the same
place until December, 1884. During these forty-eight
years he was the book-keeper and pay-master for the
Sutton Manufacturing Company. For thirty years he
was postmaster, holding this office at the time of his
death.

He was always active and interested in the afiairs
of the town in which he lived (Sutton) and satisfac-
torily filled positions on the Boards of Assessors,
Selectmen and School Committee. His fellow-towns-
men sent him to the House of Representatives in
1861, and in 1862 and '63 he was sent to the State
Senate. In politics he was a thorough Republican.

On the temperance question he advocated total ab-
stinence. He was for several years the president of
the Worcester County (South) Temperance Union,
and from its organization deeply interested in its
work. Tobacco in any form was abhorrent to him.

For twenty-three years he was a director of the
Grafton National Bank ; for ten years the president
of the Millbury Savings Bank, being in office at both
places when he died.

The office of treasurer of the Worcester South Con-
ference of Churches was for many years faithfully
filled by him.

Mr. Hill possessed a pure tenor voice of rare sweet-
ness. It was also a voice of unusual compass, being
erjually pure and full in the upper and lower regi.s-

980

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ters. It may be said to be bis maternal inberitance,
as several members of the family were equally gifted.
He was deeply interested in musical matters.

During his residence in Uxbridge be was organist
at the Congregational Church, and was leader in the
choir of the West Church in Grafton for nearly half
a century.

For fourteen years he faithfully served the Worces-
ter County Musical Association as president, dis-
charging its duties for nearly one-half the period
covered by its history. His labors were very vakiable
in securing the incorporation of the association, over
which he ever presided with dignity and efficiency.

He was also leader in the singing at the meetings
of the Worcester Congregational Club, of which be
was long a member.

When seventeen years of age he made a public con-
fession of fiiith in Christ, uniting with the Congre-
gational Church in Uxbridge, Kev. Mr. Grosvenor,
pastor.

In the West Church at Grafton, to which, for forty-
five years he belonged, he was, till the end of life, an
active and consistent member, sincerely beloved and
honored, and achieving through its channels of use-
fulness a most noble service for the Master.

His was an active and well-spent life, his energetic
spirit leaving no hour unemployed, and by patient^
persevering industry, prudence and good judgment,
he achieved success.

Promptness was cotisidered by him one of the car-
dinal virtues, and his presence could always be relied
upon at the time ajjpointed. He was very methodical
and always met and faithfully discharged every obli-
gation.

Quiet and unassuming in manner, a careful investi-
gator of business and municipal problems, his sound
and discriminating judgment was supplemented by
a keen sense of honor and a desire to do that which
was for the best interest of all concerned.

He was generous to his opponents, considerate of
bis friends, but in that generosity and consideration
was never found countenance of questionable public
or private action.

Willing at all times to counsel with those who
sought his advice, he never intruded his opinions upon
others, while to those in distress through the misfor-
tune of this life he gave generously of his means,
never refusing an appeal, and quietly seeking out and
assisting those in trouble.

He was one of the stanchest supporters of the
Evangelical Congregational Church in Grafton, and
at the time of his death was its senior otiicer. He was
a generous supporter of the church, and at his death
left it a legacy of ($2000) two thousand dollars.

He manifested a deep interest in the Sunday-schoob
and in early life, and later, for a term of years filled
the position of superintendent.

The cause of missions, both home and foreign, re-
ceived his hearty support and regard. Deprived of

the advantages which a collegiate course would have
conferred, he was ever solicitous for the educational
privileges of childhood and youth ; his benefactions
were not confined to the more public charities, but
were rendered through many private ministrations.

It was in the home circle that his death was most
deplored, for home was to him the dearest place ; and
welcomed as be was in public life, it was here that the
graces of the man shone the brightest, tienial in
temperament, fond of quiet conversation with his
friends, the pleasantry and playfulness of manner so
frequently manifested were characteristic of his
nature. Tall and commanding in stature, and of fine
personal presence, his appearance drew even strangers
towards him.

In the swiftness of the summons which called him
to his heavenly reward, his earnest desire was grati-
fied. Closing one day with the knowledge of daily
duty faithfully done, the sleep of earth was succeeded
by an awakening in the presence of the Lord.

There was a large attendance at the funeral, which
took place November 22, 1887, at the West Church,
and to quote from the public press — " It was a day
of mourning in Grafton and in the neighboring
towns. Mr. Hill was loved by all who knew him,
young and old, rich and poor ; and those who did
not know him personally, honored and respected him
as a man of absolute integrity." The directors of
both of the banks in Grafton, and the trustees of the
Millbury Savings Bank attended the funeral, and
also a delegation from the Worcester County Musi-
cal Association.

The words of his pastor. Rev. B. A. Robie, on this
occasion, were a fitting eulogy :

While I would not predicate of Mr. Hill the poissewwion, to atiy pre-
eminent degree, of ihose qualities which go to make up tlie ijreiUness of
u man's character, yet if it is true that in gooilnese tliere is true great-
ness, then he certainly was in the truest sense a jj-eat man, and few of
Its ever l£uew a better. In the qualities of Christian goodness his life
shoue witli uniform lirightuess. He was gentle, and pure, and bonevo
lent. . . .

He gave with a lavisli hand, liis benefactions Iwing regulated by a
wisdom that ever regarded the worthiest claims upon his charities. In
addition to these gentler qualities of the Christian character, thfre
were exhibited in Mr. Hill's life those more sterling virtues which go
to make np the successful l>usiness man. Indeed, so combined in him
were the two— the characteristics of the merchant, and those of the
philanthropist — that had God in his providence cast his lot in any of our
metropolitan cities, his name would ihave been enrolled, without ques
lion, among those of the Lawrences, an Otis, \Vm. E. Dodge and
many others, whose histories .are a standing protest against the popular
idea that a man cannot carry on business to-day upon strict Christian
I'rinciples and succeed.

Through the fifty years of Mr. Hill's business career, not one act of
questionable integrity, or so much as a thought thereof, ever stained
its record. He was the soul of honor— his life immaculate in its purity
— liis simple x'ord, in commercial circles, a bond as good as gold. To
his wisdom and experience his associates in financial circles were accus-
tomed to submit questions of importance with a degree of confidence
which few men could command. His death has created a vacancy
among them which it will be hardly possible for them to till.

Observation teaches us that most men shine more or less conspicu-
ously in some one sphere of uscfulne.ss alone, being, as we say, specially
"adapted " for the sphere in which they serve.

But with Mr. Hill it seems otherwise— not only in one, but in many
and varied positions his life seemed most successful, whether in the

PRINCETON.

981

home, the place of business at the store, office or bank, in political and
social life, be was a mau of character and of prayer.

From whatever 8taniii)oint you looked at him he seemed the same —
and the words of the poet in their application to bim are true :
*' The elements
So mix'd in him that nature might stand up
And say to all the world ThU was a Man ! "

Upon the death of Mr. Hill resolutions of the
high regard in which he was held were passed by
the Millbury Savings Bank, the Grafton National
Bank and the Worcester County Musical Associa-
tion.

Mr. Hill w;i8 united in marriage, May 21, 1839, to
Miss Emily B. Wheelock, daughter of the late Capt.
Francis Wheelock, of Sturbridge, who survives him,
with two of tlieir four daughters — Caroline Wheel-
ock and Ellen Agnes — the latter the wife of Albert
L. Fisher, of Fisherville.

CHAPTER CXXX.

PRINCETON.

BY NATH.\N ALLEN, M.D., I.L.D.'

The following names are found recorded in the
town records, January 1, 1770, as heads of families : — ■

Isaac Abbot, Joseph Abbot, Samuel Bailey, John
Barber, Phineas Beaman, Timothy Billings, John Bart-
lett, Stephen Brigham, Thaddeus Bowman, Aaron
Brooks, Charles Brooks, Enoch Brooks, .Job Brooks>

Brown, J. Bullard, Richard Cheever, Ebenezer

Colburn, Conant, Robert Cowden, Oliver

Davis, Davis, Eager, Joseph Eveleth,

David Everett, Nathan Farron, Robert Forbes,
William Foster, John Frost, Elisha Gale, William
Gibbs, Moses Gill, Joseph Gibbs, John Gleason,

Peter Goodnow, Gregory, Asa Harris, Abi-

jah Harrington, Ephraim Hartwell, C. Hart-
well, Samuel Hastings, Joseph Haynes, Elisha
Hobbs, Colonel Benjamin Holden, Abner Howe,
Adonijah Howe, Eliphalet Howe, Artemas Howe,

Howard, Silas Houghton, Joel Houghton,

Ebenezer Jones, Colonel Elisha Jones, Isaac Jones,
John Jones, John Jones, Robert Keyes, Timothy
Keyea, Tilly Littlejohn, Sadey Mason, Thomas
Mason, Paul Mathews, Caleb Mirick, James Mirick,
John Mirick, Josiah Mirick, Lieut. Boaz Moore,

Humphrey Moore, Jacob Moore, Morse, Samuel

Moseman, Timothy Jloseman, William Moseman,
William Muzzy, Michah Newton, Isaac Norcross,
Joseph Norcross, Noah Norcross, David Parker,
George Parkhurst, Aaron Perry, Joseph Phelps, Silas
Plympton, Amos Powers, Jonathan Powers, Stephen

iThe preparation of this history of Princeton was Dr. Allen's last
work. He was ably aided by bis daughter, Annie Louise Allen, who
completed some of bis untinislied manuscripts. — Editor.

Ralph, William Raymond, Joel Rice, Philip Rogers,
James Robinson, Robert Rossier, Joseph Sargent,
Abraham Savage, Seth Savage, Warren Sawin,
William Skinner, Nathan Smith, George Smith,
Jonathan Smith, Isaac Stratton, Jabez Stratton, J.
Stanley, Daniel Sumner, Joseph Wooley, Dr. Ephraim
Woolson, Chas. Wyman.

Ecclesiastical History. — The early settlers
here, like all our New England towns, were decidedly
a religious people. In October, 1759, when Prince-
ton was incorporated, the Rev. Mr. Harrington, from
Lancaster, preached the first sermon to a mere hand-
ful of people at Mr. Abijah Moore's. In 1762 the
first meeting-house was erected and preaching was
conducted here till 1764, when a church was organ-
ized, consisting of eighteen members. The Rev.
Timothy Fuller was ordained as the first pastor of
this church in 1767, and dismissed in 1776. The
following succeeded him as pastors : Rev. Thomas
Craft from 1780 to 1791 ; Rev. Joseph Russell from
1796 to 1801 ; Rev. James Murdock, D.D., from 1802
to 1815. At this time a division occurred in the
church ; a large majority of its members, being dissat-
isfied with the ministrations of Rev. Samuel Clarke,
withdrew and organized as a Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Clarke was settled, in 1817, in fellowship with
the Unitarian denomination, and continued his pas-
toral labors here until 1832. After his dismission
their society employed what were considered evan-
gelical preachers. Rev. John P. Cowley was settled
in 1S33 and dismissed in 1834 ; Rev. Elijah Demond
was pastor from 1836 to 1839; Rev. Willard M.
Harding from 1840 to 1844 ; Rev. Alfred Goldsmith
from 1845 to 1849 ; Rev. Henry Weeks from 1852 to
1855; Rev. William T. Briggs, 1856 to 1863; Rev.
Mr. Zelie, 1864 to 1867 ; Rev. Roger M. Sargent,
1869 to 1871 ; Rev. George M. Howe, 1876 to 1884 ;
Rev. A. L. Love, 1885 to 1887 ; and at present the
church is supplied with Rev. Charles A. White. In
1817 a Baptist Society vvas organized by residents of
the town and of Holden ; and in July, 1822, a church
was formed, and in 1826 Rev. Elias Johnson became
its pastor. In 1828 a small brick meeting-house was
built a mile north of the centre of the town.

From 1830 to 1832 Rev. Appleton Morse supplied ;
from 1832 to 1836 Rev. Nehemiah G. Lovel; from
1837 to 1841 Rev. Mason Ball ; and from 1841 to 1844
Rev. Orlando Cunningham. During this time the so-
ciety built a new meeting-house in the centre of the
town, near the Congregational Church, but in 1844
this society, becoming much reduced in numbers
and means, ceai^ed to exist, and its place of worship
was sold, and became a hotel, now known as the
" Prospect House." In 1839 a Methodist Church was
organized, and in 1840 a meeting-house was built one-
fourth of a mile northwest of the centre of the town.
This church has been since supplied by a regular
series of pastors, changing often, according to the
practice of that denomination. The formation of

982

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

this society was much indebted to changes in another
church organization. In 1817, upon the settlement
of Kev. Samuel Clarke over the old Congregational
Society, the main body of the church being dissati.sfied
with his preaching and doctrines, withdrew and
formed a new church, called Presbyterian. In 1820
Rev. 'Alonzo Phillips was ordained its pastor and
preached here with great acceptance till J 836. At this
time, by the advice of a council, a formal union took
place between the two churches, who had worshipped
in separate houses for sixteen or seventeen years.
Being dissatisfied with the result, quite a number of
the leading families connected with Mr. Phillips'
church joined in a movement for the formation of a
Methodist Society and church in the town.

Name. — Princeton bears an honorable name. Its
first cognomen was the East Wing of Rutland. As
early as 1686 certain Indians conveyed by deed to
Hervey Willard and others a large tract of land
twelve miles square, of which Rutland became the
centre. From this tract several towns were formed,
and the eastern part, comprising about 12,000 acres,
was designated East Wing of Rutland. In 1759 the
proprietors of this land petitioned the Legislature
for incorporation, and it was proposed, as Rev.
Thomas Prince was by far the largest proprietor, to
call the place Prince-town. Rev. Thomas Prince,
besides being associated pastor of the Old South
Church, Boston, was the most distinguished writer of
his day. In 1771, after other additions of land
amounting to some eight thousand acres, had been
annexed, the inhabitants petitioned that the town
be called Princeton.

Settlement in Princeton. — The first settlement
was made. in 1743 by Joshua Wilder, from Lancaster,
which had then been settled one hundred years, and
was the first place settled in Worcester County. Wil-
der built a block-house on land since known as the
Houghton place and lived here several years, being
the only family.

In 1750, Abijah Moore settled on land known as
the Reed place, and about the same time a Mr.
Cheever settled in the southern part of the town on
land since known as the Cobb place. In 1751,
Robert Keys settled on land at the easterly base of
Wachusett Mountain, and soon after Oliver Davis
settled in the western part of the town, known since
as Clark Hill. In 1752 these five families were the
only ones permanently located in the place, but
after this new families came alid gradually increased
till 1759, when they numbered thirty. At this time
there were seventy-four names attached to a petition
for incorporation, but it is understood that more than
one-half were single men seeking a settlement.

Territory. — The exact amount of land contained
in the East Wing of Rutland was eleven thousand
six hundred and twenty-six acres. Along the north-
ern boundary of this section there were three thousand
acres of uncultivated land, known as the Watertown

Farms, taking this name from the fact that the Gen-
eral Court, for certain considerations, had conveyed
to Watertown this strip of land, which was included
in the act of incorporation. It seems, also, there was
at the same time another large tract of land, not
incorporated, called "Province land," which, with
five hundred acres including the Wachusett Moun-
tain, were annexed in 1771 to Princeton by the Legis-
lature, amounting in all to about five thousand acres.
In 1810 a strip of land — five hundred acres — was
taken from Hubbardston, and in 1828 a grove of land
called Natown, adjoining Leominster, were both an-
nexed to Princeton. The whole area of land does not
vary much from twenty-two thousand acres.

Boundary. — The town is bounded north by West-
minster ; east by Leominster and Sterling ; south by
Holden and Rutland, and west by Hubbardston. It
is seated nearly fifty miles from Boston due west, and
is about the same distance east of Connecticut River,
occupying the highest ground between these localities
and constituting a water-shed, from whence the
streams flow either to this river or the ocean. It is
situated fourteen miles from Worcester, a little west
of north, and only a few miles south of the centre ot
the county.

Indian History'. — There is little to be said on
this subject. The Indian history of the place is not
characterized by so many stri}cing incidents as some
places. The Indians generally sought abodes on plain
land easy of cultivation or bordering on ponds and
rivers ; hence Lancaster and the grounds around the
Wachacum Pond in Sterling were jilaces of freciuent
rendezvous. Reports state that they gathered occa-
sionally in large numbers around Washusett Moun-
tain for hunting, but, with one exception, no depreda-
tions were committed upon the inhabitants here. It
may be the tribe — the Nashaways — traversing this re-
gion were of a more peaceable disposition and had to
some extent come under the favorable influence of the
white population. A most noticeable event occurred
here long before the place was settled, in the deliver-
ance of Mrs. Rowlandson, taken in 1676 at the burn-
ing of Lancaster and carried away captiv^ by the In-
dians. In another place a particular account of this
event will be given, together with the report of the
Indians stealing in 1775 a young child, by name Lucy
Keyes, and carrj'ing her away into captivity. It may
be said that no Indians were ever seen by the settlers
in this region.

Soil and Production.?. — The most marked fea-
ture of the place is its rocks. These give shape and
character to the land. Peter Whitney, in his his-
tory of the county in 1790, says, " the land here is
naturally moist and springy, hilly and rocky, exceed-.
ingly well adapted to pasturage and the growth of
English grass. The soil being rich and very produc-
tive, people have every encouragement to settle and
cultivate the lands. The growth of wood is oak of
the various kinds, chestnut, white ash, beech, black

PRINCETON.

983

birch and maple, together with some butternut and

walnut."

Roads. — -On account of the rocks and hills the
making of roads has been attended with great hard-
ship and difficulty since the first settlement of the
town. One of the first steps was to provide by legis-
lation a land-tax for this purpose. There was also
much trouble in agreeing on the location of roads by
marked trees or otherwise, and, as a general thing,
the roads were laid out two rods wide. There seemed
to be a strong proclivity to lay out roads over the
hills rather than on level ground or in the valleys,
and when once made, any change was attended with
much difficulty. For a hundred years or so, the roads
were supported by what was called a '' Highway tax,"
which could be worked out or paid in money, but now
a direct appropriation is made for this purpose.
The cost of building and taking care of roads has
always been a large annual expenditure. On account
of the hills and rocks the roads are constantly exposed
by storms and drainage to injury, and require frequent
repairs. But notwithstanding this great draft of ex-
pense and labor, the roads have been kept in remark-
ably good condition. Few towns in the State can
present such roads, and in very lew places can there
be found so many pleasant and rural rides. Good
roads are not only a great convenience for permanent
residents, but are very desirable for strangers or sum-
mer company. In several instances the town has ex-
pended large sums of money in the construction and
improvement of its roads, particularly upon the road
from the centre to the railroad — also upon the one
over the western part of Meeting-House Hill and
again at the base of Wachusett Mountain.

Topography. — Few towns are so diversified by
hills, both large and small, of every description. In
fact, the place is made up of rough and uneven land,
without plains or valleys worthy of notice. It em-
braces a range of high lands starting with the White
Mountains in New Hampshire, running southward
and extending through Worcester County into the
State of Connecticut. Wachusett is the highest peak
in this range and the most attractive mountain in the
State, of which a more particular description will be
given in another place. The two next highest peaks
are Pine Hill in the east, and Little Wachusett near
the centre. The high range of land running north
and south through the town constitutes a water-shed,
so that the waters falling here divide and flow away
by small streams in three directions. It will be seen
that as no streams run into the town there can be found
no large collections of water or much water-power.
Thus, the rain falling in drops on the highest points
of land, these immediately separate — a part flow into
the Atlantic Ocean and a part into Long Island
Sound. As these waters gather at the base of the
mountain they are called Wachusett's Brooks — East,
South and West — -the first entering into the Nashua,
the second into the Quinnepoxet Pond, and thence

into the Blackstone River, and the West flows into
the Ware River and thence into the Connecticut.
There are two small ponds in the town — the Quinne-
poxet, in the southern part, on the boundary of Hol-
den, and the Wachusett Pond, a part of which is in
Westminster. On account of the great number of
natural springs in the mountain and hills, the town
has for all necessary purposes an aliundance of the
purest water.

Old Homesteads — Old Homes of the Early Set-
tlers. — There were some peculiarities in the settle-
ment of this town which had an effect on the charac-
ter of its people. The first settlers came here, not
in colonies, nor in the way of relationship or acquaint-
ance, but single and alone, and were mostly young
men seeking a home of their own. They did not
come in large numbers from any place, but came
from almost as many different places as there were
individuals. It is evident that the leading influences
controlling them were of a decidedly religious charac-
ter. A few came from places near by, as I/ancaster,
Shrew-sbury and Rutland, but most of them came
from a distance, as Sudbury, Medfield, Dedham,
Watertown, Cambridge, Boston, Charlestown, Con-
cord and Lexington. There was one element that
entered largely into the character of these settlers.
They must have had some knowledge of the place
where they were to make their homes. Here were
rocks, hills and forests unequaled at the time. The
soil was rich, but required the hardest possible labor
for its cultivation. To overcome such obstacles one
must have indomitable courage and energy, a self-
reliance and a will-power that ne'ser tires, and only
those who had such qualities would here seek a home.
The presumption is that these settlers linew what
hardship, toil and self-denial were in their old homes.

Public Bitildixgs — Meetinq -houses. — In the set-
tlement of all the New England towns one of the
first steps to be taken was the building of a meeting-
house. This was sometimes coupled with another
question : Where was the centre of the town ? It was
generally admitted that their house of worship should
stand near the centime of the place. It was not easy
to find this spot in Princeton, on account of the hills
and the rocks. There was so much difference of
opinion on the subject that the voters agreed to sub-
mit the question to a committee of three persons, re-
siding in other towns ; but being dissatisfied with the
report of their committee, they voted, July, 1761, to
locate the meeting-house on the highest part of the
land given by John and Caleb Mirick for this pur-
pose. In 1762 a meeting-house was built, forty
by fifty feet, with sufficient height for galleries.
It was soon occupied, but not fully completed for
several years. The first attempt to settle a minister
was in 1765, and the one first settled was Rev. Timo-
thy Fuller, in 1767. This house continued to be the
place of worship till 1795. In the mean time the
population had increased to over one thousand in-

984

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

habitants, rendering a larger place of worship neces-
sary. A new house was built on the same spot,
seventy by fifty-five feet, containing seventy-five
ground and twenty gallery pews. As this house
stood on high ground, and had a tall spire, it was a
conspicuous object in the whole region. It continued
to be the place of worship till 1838, when it seemed
desirable, not only to have a new church, but to
change its location — to go south — towards the Wa-
chusett Hotel, about half way up on the slope of the
hill. This house, built more in the modern style of
churches, is still used, though within a few years it
has been removed to the eastern side of the road.
Town-Hall. — The business meetings of the town

reception and dining rooms. It is admirably adapted,

not only for town business, but for other purposes,
such as lectures, concerts, exhibitions, etc.

There is a frequent demand for the hall for such
purposes. A very correct view of this building is
here presented.

Ooodmm Memorial Building. — No town in the county
or State can present a public building so conspicuous
in position or so beautiful and attractive in its ap-
pearance. It is situated in the centre of the town, on
the southern slope of what is known as " Meeting-
house Hill," with a triangular tower in front, while
on the right is the new Town Hall, and on the left
stands the Congregationalist Church. We have here.

BAGG HALL.

GOODNOW MEMORIAL LIBRARY BUILDING.

were held in the church from 1762 to 1797, when,
upon the building of a new meeting-house, the busi-
ness was transferred to a school-house located near
by, where it was continued till 1842. At this time a
new building was erected for town business, at the
foot of the hill, nearly opposite the new church,
called " Boylston Hall," from the fact that W. N.
Boylston contributed money for its erection. In 1882
this hall was destroyed by fire, and soon steps were
taken for building a new town-hall. This was dedi-
cated in September, 1887, and ])resents quite a con-
trast with the old hall. It is built of brick, two stories
high, having a large hall on each fioor, with kitchen.

side by side, in one row, the three representatives or
pillars of the highest type of civilization — the church,
the free school and library and the hall for town
business. These public buildings stand on higher
ground than any others of the kind in the State,
while from these buildings a magnificent view of the
country can be seen south, east and west; at the
same time these edifices can be distinctly recognized
at great distances in each of these directions. The
Goodnow Memorial Building derives its name from
Mr. Edward A. Goodnow, a native of Princeton, but
for a long time a resident of Worcester. Some years
since Mr. Goodnow conceived the idea of doing some-

PRINCETON.

985

thing for the permanent benefit of his native place,
and at the same time connect with it a memorial of
the loss of two wives — natives of the town — and also
the loss of his only child. The beautiful building is
the result of this design. This structure is pronounced,
from every point of view, the perfection of beauty.
No language can adequately describe the building or
compute the importance and value of the uses to
which it is appropriated.

Its object is education of the people of the town,
— schools for the young, and a library and reading-
room for all, in the broadest and freest sente.

Municipal Officers from 1760 to 1852 — Toion
Clerks. — Dr. Zachariah Harvey, 17GO-(51 ; Caleb Mi-
rick, 1762, 70-71 ; Samuel Woods, 1763 ; Peter Good-
now, 1764, '65; '67; Boaz Moore, 1766; Ephraim
Woolson, 1768, '69, '72, '73, '75, '78 ; William Rich-
ardson, 1774; James Mirick, 1776-77; William
Dodds, 1779-93, '97-1814; John Dana, 1794-96;
Artenias How, 181.5-18; Jonas Hartwell, 1819-20 ;
Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1836 ; Charles Russell, 1821-
35, '37-49 ; David H. Gregory, 1850-52.

Selectmen.— Pa^r Goodnow, 1760, '64, '65, '67;
Abijah Moore, 1760, '61, '63 ; Dr. Zachariah Harvey,
1760-61; Joseph Gibbs, 1760, '61, '63, '67, '68, '70;
Timothy Moseman, 1761-62; Eliphalet How, 1762;
Boaz Moore, 1762, '63, '66, '70-72, 78, '81-92 ; Robert
Keyes, 1762; Caleb Mirick, 1762, '70, 71, 1808, '09;
Ebenezer Jones, 1763, '66-72, '74-76 ; Samuel Woods,
1763 ; BenjaTnin Holden, 1764, '69, '73, '80-82, '90, '91 ;
Stephen Brigham, 1764, '65, '68, 71, '75-77 ; Tilly
Littlejohns, 1764; William Muzzey, 1764, '69; Sadey
Mason, 1765, '66, '78-91 ; William Thompson, 1765,
'66, '72-77 ; Benjamin Taynter, 1765, '67 ; Robert
Cowden, 1766 ; Oliver Davis, 1767 ;' Ephraim Wool-
son, 1768, '69, '72, '73, '75, '78 ; Adonijah Howe, 1768,
'76, '77, '79, 1818 ; Joseph Sargent, 1769,'70,78, '82-85,
1807, '08; James Mirick, 1771, '76, 77; James
Phelps, 1772 ; Paul Mathews, 1773-80 ; Joseph Eve-
leth, 1773, '7.5, '81, '85, 1809; William Richardson,
1774; Charles Brooks, 1774, '80; Elisha Hobbs, 1777,
'79, '94, '95; Samuel Hastings, 1778, 1810-12; Eph-
raim Hartwell, 1779; Abraham Gale, 1779; .John
Mirick, 1780; Asa Whitcomb, 1781 ; William Dodds,
1783-93, '96, 1807; Abner How, 1786-89; Ebenezer
Parker, 1786-92, '96, '98, 1804, '05; Abijah Harring-
ton, 1792, '93, '96, '97 ; Ephraim Mirick, 1792, '93 ;
Isaac Hartwell, 1793-95 ; David Rice, 1793-1800, '04-
07 ; John Dana, 1794, '95, 1801-09 ; John Watson,
1794, '95; Jonas Beaman, 1796-99; Andrew Whit-
ney, 1798-1800, '04, '0(!; Samuel Dadman, 1799-
1802; Ephraim Wilson, 1800-03; Amos Meriam,
1801-03, '23-29; Bartholomew Cheever, 1803 ; Simon
Davis, 1803-09; Samuel Stratton, 1808, '09; Joseph
Eveleth, 1810-12; Charles Mirick, 1810-12; Benja-
min Harrington, 1810 ; Artemas How, 1810-15 ;
Jonas Brooks, 1811-14; Samuel Stevenson, 1813-17 ;
Jonas Hartwell, 181.3-20; Samuel Brooks, 1813;
Israel How, Jr., 1814, '16, '20-22 ; William Everett,

1814, '15; Henry Prentiss, 1815; Calvin Bullock,
1716, '17; Azar Maynard, 1816; Jacob W. Watson,
1816-18, '28, '29, '36, '37, '49; Moses Hobbs, 1817, 18 ;
Jo.seph Cutting, 1817, '18; Nahum Wilder, 1818;
Israel Howe, 1819, '20; Joshua Temple, 1819;
Thomas Wilder, 1819; Moses Bullard, 1819-22;
.lohn Mirick, Jr., 1820-21 ; Clark Mirick, 1820-
22; Joseph Mason, 1821, '27,'30, '36 ; Ephraim Mir-
ick, Jr., 1822-27; John H. Brooks, 1823, '29, '36;
Moses G. Cheever, 1823, '28, '30-31; Gamaliel
Beaman, 1828-29; Ebenezer Parker, Jr., 1829;
Rufus Davis, 18.30-32; John Whitney, 1830-35;
Israel Everett, 1830-33, '40-12; Enoch Brooks,
1831-33; Caleb Dana, 1832-34, '37, '38; Harlow
Skinner, 1834-36 ; Nathan Meriam, 1834-35 ; Joshua
T. Everett, 1834-35 ; Daniel Parker, 1835, '45 ; Alfred
Beaman, 1886-37; Sewall Mirick, 1837-38; John L.
Boylston, 1837-39; William How, 1838-39; John
Brooks, 1838, '45, '47, '48 ; Henry Boyles, 1839-41, '49,
'.50; Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1839— tl ; Edward A. Goodnow,
1840-41; Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1842-43; Alphonso
Brooks, 1843, '44, '46, '47 ; Chas. Russell, 1844-46 ;
David H. Gregory, 1846-48 ; Ebenezer Smith, 1848-
49 ; Asa H. Goddard, 1850-51 ; Solon S. Hastings,
1850-51 ; William H. Brown, 1851-52 ; Charles A.
Mirick, 1852 ; George O. Skinner, 1852.

Ansessors. — Zachariah Harvey, 1761 ; Abijah Moore,
1761 ; Peter Goodnow, 1761 ; Joseph Eveleth, 1762-
64, '67 ; Boaz Moore, 1762, '63, '70-72, '87 ; Caleb
Mirick, 1762 ; Samuel Woods, 1763, '64, '67, '70, '72,
73, '75, '76, '78, '79, '83, '84; Thomas Mason, 1764,
'66, '68, '69, '71, '73, '76-81, '85, '86, '94-99 ; Robert
Cowden, 1765; William Muzzey, 1765, '66, '68, '69;
.\donijah Howe, 1767 ; Ebenezar Jones, 1768 ; Joseph
Sargent, 1769-70 ; James Mirick, 1771 ; John Jones,
1772, '74, '75; Benjamin Holden, 1773; Enoch
Brooks, 1774-78 ; William Richardson, 1774; William
Dodds, 1777, '80-93, '95-1809 ; James Curtis, 1779-
80; Humphrey Moore, 1781, '88-90; Ephraim Hart-
well, 1782; Ebenezar Parker, 1782-93, '96-1805;
Michael Gill, 1791 ; David Rice, 1792, '93, 1806-09,
18, '19; John Dana, 1794, 1802-09; Timothy Fuller,
1794-95 ; John Roper, 1800-01 ; John Moore, 1810-
11 ; Joseph Mason, 1810-13, '21-26, '30 ; Artemas
How, 1810-19; Jon;is Hartwell, 1812-20; Samuel
Stevenson, 1814-17 ; Moses Hobbs, 182(», '23 ; Ephraim
Mirick, 1820-26; Charles Mirick, 1824; Amos
Meriam, 1825-29; Ephraim Mirick, (2d), 1827;
John Whitney, 1827-29, '32-35, '37-39, '44, '45;
Jacob W. Watson, 1828-29; Moses G. Cheever, 1830,
'31, '36; Rufus Davis, 1830-32, '48, '50; Israel
Everett, 1832, '33, '37-39, '44, 50; Harlow Skinner,
1833-34; Joshua T. Everett, 1834-35; Nathan
Meriam, 1835 ; Hamilton Wilson, 1836-39 ; William
S. Everett, 1836 ; John Brooks, 1840, '41, '50 ; Joseph
Meriam, 1840-43; Caleb Dana, 1840; Charles B.
Temple, 1841-44; Joseph Hartwell, 1842^3; Asa
H. Goddard, 1845-47; Marshall Meriam, 1845;
Caleb S. Mirick, 1846-48; George O. Skinner, 1846-

986

HISTORY OF WORCEST^ER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

47 ; Ephraim Beaman, 1847 ; Phineas E. Gregory,
1848 ; Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1849 ; Frederick Parker,
1849, '51, '52 ; William D. Clieever, 1849, '51, '52 ;
Henry Boyles, 1851 ; Joseph Whitcomb, 1852.

Town Treasurers. — Peter Goodnow, 1761 ; James
Mirick, 1762-63; Timothy Keyes, 1764-45; Sadey
Mason, 1766 ; Joseph Sargent, 1767, '70, '71 ; Abner
Howe, 1768-69; Joseph Eveleth, 1772-73; Robert
Cowden, 1774-77 ; Charles Brooks, 1778 ; Joseph
Haynes. 1779; Enoch Brooks, 1780-1812, '14-16;
David Eice, 1813 ; Benjamin Harrington, 1817-21 ;
Thomas Wilder, 1822 ; Jacob W. Watson, 1823-24 ;
Jonas Brooks, 1825, '33 ; Charles Mirick, 1826, '32 ;
Moses G. Cheever, 1827-30, '42 ; John Brooks, 1831 ;
Jacob W. Watson, 1834-36 ; Joseph Mason, 1837-41 ;
Daniel Howe, 1843-44 ; Alphonso Brooks, 1845-48 ;
Warren Patridge, 1849 ; Joseph A. Read, 1850-52.

Representatives. — Moses Gill, 1780, '84, '95 ; Asa
Whitcomb, 1783 ; Ebenezar Parker, 1797, '98, 1800 ;
David Rice, 1801, '02, '13-18, '21 ; John Dana, 1804,
'05, '12; William Dodds, 1806, '08-11; Ephraim
Mirick, Jr., 1823 ; Charles Russell, 1826-32; Joshua
T. Everett, 1833-35 ; Jonathan Whitney, 1834 ; John
Brooks, 1835-36; John Whitney, 1836; Alphonso
Brooks, 1838; Sewall Mirick, 1839-45; Ebenezar
Parker, 1840-42; Israel Everett, 1843-44; Caleb S.
Mirick, 1847; Henry Boyles, 1848 ; Ebenezar Smith,
1849 ; Ephraim Beaman, 1850 ; Luther Crawford,
1851.

Libraries. — One of the first jjublic libraries es-
tablished in Worcester County was in Princeton. In
1793 Peter Whitney, in his history of this county,
states that in Princeton they have a " very handsome
social library established, of the value of seventy
pounds," called the " Gill Library," from the fact
that he gave ten pounds towards it. This library
contained some five hundred volumes, and was owned
by stockholders ; and outsiders paid a small tax foi'
the use of books. This library gradually ran down
for want of care, patronage and by the loss of books,
and was burnt up in 1813.

In 1859 the Ladies' Reading Society started a
social library, which steadily increased in numbers
and interest until 1884, when they had one thousand
one hundred and twenty-si.\ volumes. At this time
the Goodnow Memorial Building was completed and
its library-room opened. There were two other
small libraries in the town at this time, — an Agricul-
tural Library of seventy-eight volumes, and a Law
Library of four hundred and forty-eight volumes, —
these three libraries were united and placed in the
hands of a Board of Trustees, constituting the Free
Public Library of the town. By a legacy left by Mr.
Goodnow, it is stipulated that fifty dollars be paid
every year to this Board of Trustees for the benefit of
this library, provided the town itself appropriates
annually the same amount for_ this purpose. This
library is free to all permanent residents of the town,
but a small amount is required wf non-residents. The

Board of Trustees are required to make a report
every year of their doings and of the condition of the
library. A neat catalogue of the library has been
published, making a classification of the books into
twelve divisions, according to their subjects. This
arrangement aids very much in the selection of books,
and the report made in February, 1888, represents
the whole number of books in the library as two
thousand three hundred and forty-seven volumes.

Histories of Princeton. — The first sketch of the
town appeared in Rev. Peter Whitney's " History of
Worcester County " in 1793, in which all the towns
of the county were alike noticed. The first regular
"History of Princeton" was published in 1838, writ-
ten by Charles Theodore Russell, a native of the
place, but for many years a resident of Boston. A
careful account of the early history of the town is
given, but considerably more than one-half of the
work is taken up with its ecclesiastical affairs, parts
of which were thought by some to be one-sided,
which proved a stimulus for another history of the
town. This was written by Rev. Mr. Hannaford and
published in 1852. While , this history covers the
same ground as the other, it is largely given up to
the religious history of the place, and in this way
incurs the same objection as the other. We find
many facts related in one which are not found in the
other.

In 1859 a centennial celebration of the incorpora-
tion of the town was held, at which many items of
great interest were brought out. The principal ad-
dress on this occasion was given by Hon. Charles T.
Russell, of Boston, followed by a poem from Profes-
sor Erasmus Everett, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Speeches
were made by a Targe number of individuals, natives
of the town, narrating many interesting facts in the
history of the place. There is another medium by
which the town has become extensively known to the
public. In the course of twenty or thirty years
great numbers have made the place a summer resort
for a longer or shorter period, and have furnished the
press with communications, describing the peculiar-
ities and beauties of the town. By this and other
means probably no rural town in the State has be-
come so well known to the public as Princeton.

Business. — The business of the place is almost
exclusively agricultural. Whitney, the historian of
the county in 1793, says "the land is naturally moist
and springy, hilly and rocky, exceedingly well
adapted to pasturage and the growth of English
grass; hence, the finest of beef is fatted here, and
vast quantities of butter and cheese are produced in
the town." This statement was made nearly one
hundred years ago, and the soil remains the same.
Fatting cattle for the market and raising good stock
have always been a primary business ; but, instead
of making butter and cheese in excess for home use,
the milk is now disposed of for use in the city.
There has never been much manufacturing or me-

PKINCBTON.

987

chanical business done in the place. In 1750 Oliver
Davis settled in the western part of the town, and
built a saw-mill, which was the first application of
water-power in the vicinity to mechanical purposes.
A grist-mill was soon afterwards built upon the same
stream, now called Ware River. A small settlement
has grown up in the same place, called "Slab City;"
but the water-power is small and not permanent. In
the eastern part of the town there started some fifty
years ago quite a business in chair-making, which
flourished for a while ; but the water-power is small,
and, with other changes, this business is continued
in a moderate way. This place has been known as
"East Princeton," and a post-ofiice has been estab-
lished there. About a mile south of this village
there was built a small cotton factory, which was run
for a few years by Benthall ; but it was soon discon-
tinued on account of the water-power being small,
combined with several other causes. There was a
short period when the straw business had quite a
run, and the shoe busine.ss also became prominent,
but both these industries flourished but a short time.
The most important business of the town of late
years has been the, entertainment of " Summer Com-
pany," which will be described more fully in another
place.

Redemption Rock. — This rock represents one of
the most remarkable incidents that can be found in
history. It will be seen in the narrative that the
term " redemption" has here a meaning. In 1676,
Lancaster, the oldest town in Worcester County, had
a settlement of fifty families. King Philip, that
distinguished Indian chieftain with fifteen hundred
followers, on the 22d of February, early in the morn-
ing, assaulted this town, burning most of the houses
and killing nearly all the inhabitants. A few women
were spared, among whom was a Mrs. Rowlandson,
the wife of the parish minister. The Indians carried
her through the forests in a westerly direction, camp-
ing a short time at the foot of Wachusett Mountain.
In a most thrilling narratii'e Mrs. Rowlandson
describes how she left this region and traveled with
the Indians in the wilderness as far as the Connecti-
cut River amidst sufferings and wanderings ; and
after spending some two months or so in this way,
they returned to Wachusett. It seems the Indians
gathered here in great numbers with the design of
destroying other settlements in the vicinity of Lan-
caster. While they probably had several camps in
the region, Mrs. Rowlandson describes the place
where she was stationed — in a meadow or low ground
near the mountain, and near some water. Tradition
has fixed this locality near Everettville, on the west
side of the road, between the pond and base of the
mountain. Here was a gigantic boulder, which has
long been designated as " Redemption Rock," from
the fact that around this lock the council of Indians
was held whereby Mrs. Rowlandson was redeemed
from her captivity. Mrs. Rowlandson, in her narra-

tive describing her return from her winter wandering,
says : " As we came to Wachusett through a great
swamp, up to our knees in mud and water, having
Indeed my life, but little spirit, Philip came to me and '
took me by the hand and said, ' Two weeks more and
you will be mistress again.' I asked him if he spoke
true ; he auswered ' Yes, and quickly you shall come to
your master again.' " It would seem by this that Philip
h.ad some idea of her being redeemed and I'eturned to
her friends. Mrs. Rowlandson does not statejust how
long she remained here, but probably some weeks.
The Indians, while she was here, made an attack on
Sudbury, as she describes their pow-wow preliminary
to the assault. It seems that not far distant from the
mountain they built a great wigwam, big enough to
hold a hundred Indians, which was done in prepara-
tion for a great day of dancing. They came in from
all quarters to the merry dancing day. Not only was
King Philip present with his captives, but several
others of the leading sagamores, and among them
Quinnapin, the master of Mrs. Rowlandson, and his
wife, the celebrated squaw sachem Matamoo, " Queen
of Pocassett," " a severe and proud dame," says Mrs.
Rowlandson, " bestowing every day in dressing her-
self nearly as much time as any of the gentry of the
land, powdering her hair and painting her face." At
this time there were certain Indians partially civilized
and friendly to the whites passing throu<,'h the
forests between the Indian camps and the English
settlements, so that news of Mrs. Rowlandson's
return to this region had been communicated to some
of the leaders in other settlements.

As a sequel, Mr. ,Iohn Hoar, a well-knowi! citizen
of Concord, either was deputized or went of his own
accord to visit the Indians here with reference to the
release of Mrs. Rowlandson. The diplomatic inter-
view carried on between the two parties developed
some curious features. " In the morning," says Mrs.
Rowlandson, " Mr. Hoar invited the sagamores to
dinner ; but when we went to get it ready, we found
they had stolen the greater part of the provisions
Mr. Hoar had brought ; and we may see the wonder-
ful power of God, in that our passage, when there
was such a number of them together and so greedy of
a little good food, and no other English present but Air.
Hoar and myself, that it was a wonder they did not
knock us on the head and take what we had.'' In
order to conciliate the Indians, or their leaders, Mr.
Hoar brought something else besides provisions.
Just what all the diplomatic proceedings were
between Mr. Hoar and these Indians we have no
means of knowing. It has been stated that one
Quinnapin was called her '' master," who might be
supposed to take a prominent part in the business.
Mrs. Rowlandson states that " Jlr. Hoar was obliged
to conciliate the royal Quinnapin with a pint of rum,
upon which he at ^ once became beastly drunk.''
Without being made acquainted with the details of
Ibis negotiation, it is sufficient to know that Mr.

988

HISTORY OF WOECESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hoar succeeded in obtaining the release of Mrs.
Rowlandson and her return to Lancaster. In the
summer of 1880, Hon. George F. Hoar, of Worcester,
who is a descendant of John Hoar, of Concord, in
the fifth generation, purchased about half an acre of
land, in the centre of which " Redemption Rock'' is
located. This rock is situated about sixty feet south
of the highway and rises in the rear some twelve
feet above the level of the ground. Upon this part
of the rock these words are engraved in clear letters:
" Upon this rock. May 2, 167G, was made the agree-
ment for the release of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, of
Lancaster, between the Indians and John Hoar, of
Concord. King Philip was with the Indians, but
refused his consent."

Population. — At its incorporation in 1759, with
30 families, the whole number of inhabitants, as the
families were young, did not probably much exceed
100 persons. The first census taken was in 1790^
when the population was 1016. This shows a hand-
some increase in thirty years, considering that the
whole business of the place was farming. But for
the next ten years the increase was only 5, the census
reporting 1025 ; and for the next ten years the in-
crease was small, the census being 1067 ; but after
that we find a larger increase: 1820, 1261; 1830
1346; and 1840, 1347. This increase was undoubtedly
occasioned by the introduction of two new kinds of
business- — chair-making and shoe manufactures. As
these declined we find the population decreasing, as
the census shows: 1850, 1318; 1860, 1201; 1870,
1279; but in 1875 it was only 1063; and in 1885,
1038. By these figures the population assumes a
stationary state, as the business is confined almost
exclusively to farming. Aside from the farm, the
only permanent business which is likely to increase
is the entertainment of summer company, but thi-
has not much effect in the increase of population.
It is possible that there may be a larger foreign ele-
ment coming in to engage in farming, which would
gradually increase the population. If there are
many young people in the American families, it is
pretty certain that they will leave for the city or go
West or South. Thus, taking all things into account,
it would look as though the population of Princeton
might remain in a stationary state for a long time.

Schools. — The first settlers were so scattered that
they could not unite in supporting a school, but the
parents taught their children in their houses. The
first school opened was in 1762, and was kept at the
place formerly known as Captain Nahum Wilder's.
This school was taught by Mr. Samuel Woods, who
became famous in the town as a teacher, and was
called " Master Woods." The first appropriation for
schools was in 1764, and was only six pounds, or
twenty-seven dollars; but this appropriation was
steadily increased till 1769, when the town was
divided into six school districts. These districts con-
tained the following number of families: The First

District had 36 ; the Second District, 20 ; the Third
District, 10 ; the Fourth District, 18 ; the Fifth Dis-
trict, 14 ; and the Sixth District, 21. This makes 139
families, showing a rapid increase in ten years, from
1759 to 1769, when there were only some 30 families.
But no school-houses were built till 1773, when the
town commenced building a school-house in each
district. These houses were occupied till 1792, when
some changes were made in the number of districts,
and it was decided to build new houses, though not
completed till 1797. These houses continued till
1836, when they were rebuilt, most of them with
brick.

Education. — Aside from the common schools,
there are other modes ef applying the term education
to a people. One test is the average intelligence of
a people. While the exact knowledge of every in-
dividual cannot be measured, neither can the intelli-
gence of one community easily be compared with
that of another, we believe that the great mass of the
inhabitants of the town will compare favorably with
those of other places.

In fact, from the fine physical organization of this
people, as well as from living in the healthiest region
to be found, they should have advanced to a higher
education. There is another test: the proportional
number of teachers to the population of the place.
This class in Princeton has always been large. It has
not only supplied the town with most of its teachers,
but every year sent out a goodly number to other
places. Many have inherited the right kind of quali-
ties to make good teachers, viz. : energy and talent,
with ambition and love of power. It is not merely
temporary teaching, but permanent, making a pro-
fession or business of it. There is another test — that
is, the number of college graduates. It has been
maintained that those towns having a permanent
classical school send relatively a larger number to
college, but the comparison should be made with a
population similarly situated, that is, a country town
made up mainly with-a plain and hard-working farm-
ing people.

Epur-ATKl) Mkn yuOM Princkton.
Names. Collt'ge.

Leonard Wood, 1796 Harvard

Thomas Mason, 1796 Harvard

Wm. Maaon Harvard

Huniplirey Moors Harvard

Stephen Baxter

Abel Wood.s ,

Chas. Brooks

John Hays

Josliua Eveleth

EphraimEveleth

David Ohver Allen, 1823 Amherst

William Allen, 1832 Amherst

Nathan Allen, 1830 Amherst

Chas. T. Russell Harvard

Thomas Russell Harvard

Ezra Newton

ErastUB Everett Dartmouth

George W. Moore

Sanmel Everett

Sylvanus Hayues

PRINCETON.

989

Elisha Perry

William P. Smith..
William Phillips....

Joel Gleason

.lohn P. Rice

Pavid Everett, 1795 Dartraoulli

Chas. Pratt Amherst

Harris H. Wilder Ajnheret

Harry Beaman Harvard

Leonard Wood and Thomas Mason were tbe first
college graduates from the town. They belonged to
the class of 1796 (Harvard), Leonard Wood being
valedictorian and Thomas Jlason the greatest wrest-
ler, thus showing that one excelled in mental power,
and the other in physical.

Revolution. — The town records show that its

that this action took place some time before the war
broke out.

It is related that when word reached the place that
a baud of the Kiug's troops had made an excursion
up the Mystic River and carried off a quantity of gun-
powder from the Charlestown Arsenal, it thoroughly
aroused the inhabitants, and they spent the night in
converting pewter plates into musket-balls. In March,
1775, a company of minute- men was formed, and or-
dered to train once a week. On the 19th of April
an express came to the town shouting, "To arms!
the war is begun." As the news spread, the imple-
ments of husbandry were thrown aside in the field,
and this company seized their arms and started at
once for Lexington and Concord. The records of the

inhabitants took a very lively and active part in the town from 1775 to 1783 furnish the strongest possi-

As early as in 1768, ' ble evidence of the sagacity, energy, boldness and

great work of the Revolution,
at a public town-meeting, the voters denounced the
act of Parliament imposing duties on paper, glass,
painters' colors and tea imported into the colonies.
When, in January, 1773, the grievances under which j
they labored from British rule came up for discussion
in a public meeting, the subject was referred to a
committee to draw up an expression of their views.
Dr. Ephraiin Woolson was chairman of this com-
mittee, and the following resolutious furnish abundant
evidence that he was a complete msister of his
subject.

Hesoli-ed, 1. Tliat tbe comiecOon between the mother- country and
these colonies is of great consequence to both, if mutually kept up ; but
when digressions are made from established compacts, that connection
begins to lessen, and, of course, creates an alienation, the effects of
which must be attended with bad conseiinences. For tbe resolute mau,
in a just cause, while in a state of freedom, never will consent to any
abridgements or deprivations of his just rights, and disdains threats, or
any measures of compulsion, to submission thereto— not like tbe dog,
the more he is beaten the more he fawns— but, on tbe contrary, witli a
noble mind, defends to the last, and every stripe stimulates his efforts and
endeavors in defence of his own or Lis country's cause,

2. That this town, as a part of this province, whensoever their rights,
libeitiesaud properties are infringed upon, by what authority soever,
that they, in honor to their forefathers, by whose solicitude and industry,
under God, they for many years have enjoyed the fruits of their labors
—for the regard they bear to posterity- as friends to their country have
good right to complain, and manifest their uneasiness at such pro-
ceedings.

3. That the repeated attempts to make the people of this province
subject to unjust taxation, and absolute dependency upon the crown
together, appear subversive of, and inconsistent with, the constitution of

. a free people.

4. That such measures are unconstitutional, and demand the attention
of all well-disposed people, and a mutual connection and joint adherence
in proper means for redress, that thereby the rights and libertiei
and religious, which have been transmitted to us from on
ancestors, might be kept inviolate by us, their posterity.

.',. That they shall be always ready to concur in all just and proper
means that this provicice and the neighboring colonies may come into
for the common good, and in conjunction with the friends of liberty,
shall bear testimony to all invasions upon our rights and liberties.

B. That this report (these resolutions) be put upon the town records,
that posterity may know they bad a sense of their invaluable rights and
liberties, and were not willing to part with them but by their own con-
sent, and that thn/ are determin d lo vindkate and support them, at timet
and orcasioits may call for.

The above resolutions were unanimously adopted
as the sense of the town. It should be borne in mind

, civil
illustrious

self sacrificing spirit of its citizens in all matters per-
taining to carrying on the war. No town in the State
can show a better record in furnishing soldiers or pro-
viding means for this purpose.

Princeton as a Health Resort. — The three
great natural sources of health are pure air, pure
water and a pure soil. Where, then, can pure air
be found? Certainly not about cities, or villages, or
low ground ; generally, in such places the air is more
or less contaminated with poisonous gases or etfluvia
arising from sewers, from accumulation of filth, from
decomposition of animal and vegetable matter, etc.,
while about mechanical and manufacturing places the
air is vitiated by steam, by smoke, by chemical,
mechanical and other impurities. Then, the air
passing over a thin or sandy soil, with few trees, be-
comes parched or dry, while that along the rivers
and about large bodies of water is too moist or damp.
On the other hand, the air on high mountains is too
bracing and changeable for weak lungs and cannot be
favorable to good health in any class of persons.
Where, then, can the best air be found? It must be
upon high ground, sufficiently elevated above the
surrounding country to obtain generally a fresh breeze
from the four points of the compass. At the same
I time the ground should not be level, but so inter-
rupted by hill and valley as to cause not only frequent
changes in the circulation, but that the whole surface
should be so undulating as to be thoroughly drained
and frequently washed by the showers of heaven.
The earth itself should not be too rich or highly cul-
tivated, must not all be open land, nor all covered
with woods, but always green with vegetation and
dotted here and there with trees. The description
here given applies pre-eminently to this town. I
' venture the opinion that there is no region or spot
in New England where the atmosphere, in quantity,
, purity, perhaps in all life-giving properties, can be
I found so well adapted in every respect for comfort,
health and longevity as in this place.

The next agent most productive of health is pure
water. Its virtue does not arise so much from its use

;t90

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

as a beverage as for culinary purposes. Here it is
used in a variety of ways, combining with almost
every kind of food cooked. In this way it has a
powerful influence upon the liuman system, either for
good or evil. As its immediate effects are not so per-
ceptible as some other agents, so in a quiet, gradual
manner, comparatively unseen and unfelt, its bad
effects became more destructive and fatiil. Many
diseases can be traced directly to its impurities, and
others indirectly; while, if we could go back and
analyze all the primary and occult causes iu produc-
ing diseases and derangement of the system, we should
be surprised at the great number of diseases produced
from impure water.

There are certain conditions connected with the
earth which are indispensable for securing the best
quality of water. It must come from natural springs
suitably located in the ground, where it may be found
in abundance and at the same time be fed alone from
the rains from the heavens. While the soil should
be good— but not too rich — it must not be composed
of a clay or lime formation. The rocks should be
granite or hard, not soft, nor composed of mineral
substances, where, by the laws of chemical afl3nity, the
least particle of matter, mineral or gaseous, can be-
come mixed with the water. Neither should there be
any decaying animal or vegetable matter upon the
surface of the ground or imbedded in it, with which
the water can come in contact. It will be seen at
once that it is very difficult to find all these condi-
tions combined in one place. But here nature has
provided springs orfountains of water, with the means
of purifying it, far better than can be furnished by
artificial reservoirs, and expedients for filtering it
that can be devised by human skill and ingenuity.
Nowhere else can water in quantity, purity and
health-giving properties be found equal to that found
here.

Pure Soil. — This as a condition of health may not
seem so important as that of pure air and pure water.
In fact, the two latter cannot be found in their best
state unless the earth itself is of the right quality.
This must be composed of just such materials as
make up every part and parcel of this rocky, hilly
town. It is said there is not an acre of level ground
by itself in the place. There are no swamps and
scarcely any decaying animal or vegetable matter.
The whole structure of the earth is here made up
largely of rocks of the hardest kind, which never
breed disease. There are other considerations favor-
able to health, both of body and mind. These are
the stillness and quiet of the place, pleasant rides
over fine roads, grand opportunities for exercise by
walking amid beautiful scenery, and Wachusett
Mountain adds greatly to the advantages and attrac-
tions of the place, especially with reference to health
and recreation. Such are the relations between the
body and the mind that, in order to secure the high-
est state of health, the proper exercise of both must

be taken into account. Pure air, pure water and a
pure soil are conditions indispensable for the sanita-
tion of the body, but mental development, improve-
ment and enjoyment require something more. This,
in part, is obtained by observing and studying the
beauties of nature, in such scenery as this town
affords. No town in the State can excel this in the
variety, beauty and extent of its scenery. This last
condition adds greatly to the merits and attractions
of the place as a health resort.

FiEST Town-Meeting.— The following officers
were chosen at the first regular town-meeting, March
16,1761: Moderator, Dr. Zachariah Harvey; Clerk,
Dr. Zachariah Harvey; Selectmen, Dr. Zachariah
Harvey, Joseph Gibbs, Abijah Moore and Timothy
Moseman ; Assessors, Dr. Zachariah Harvey, Abijah
Moore and Peter Goodnow; Treasurer, Peter Good-
aow; Constables, Caleb Mirick and Sadey Mason;
Tythingmen, Samuel Nichols and Joseph Kugg;
Highway Surveyors, Paul Mathews, Silas Whitney,
Stephen Brigham, Tilly Littlejohn and Timothy
Keyes ; Clerks of the Market, Samuel Hashu and
Timothy Keyes; Fence-Viewers, Samuel Hastings
and Amos Spring; Field-Drivers, James Mirick and
Oliver Davis ; Deer-Reeves, Robert Cowden and Ed-
ward Wilson ; Hog-Reeves, Amos Powers and Sam-
uel Hastings; Surveyor of Boards and Shingles,
Sealer of Leather, Stephen Brigham ; ^Vardens, Peter
Goodnow and Timothy Moseman ; Agent to the Gen-
eral Court, Dr. Zachariah Harvey.

A list of these officers is here presented partly for
instruction and partly from curiosity. One, a physi-
cian, is chosen to five of the most important offices.
Twenty other men are chosen to office, making full
one-half of all the heads of families.

In 1759 there were only thirty-one voters, but in
1771 they had increased to one hundred voters. In
1791, when the first census was taken, there were one
hundred and forty-four dwelling-houses and one
thousand and sixteen inhabitants, all within fifty
years, showing a rapid increase.

PERSONAL AND FAMILY HISTOKY.

Moses Gill was born in Charlestown in 1733, and
engaged early in mercantile pursuits in Boston. In
1769 he married Miss Sarah Prince, the only sur-
viving daughter of Rev. Thomas Prince, then pastor
of the Old South Church. In 1767 he took up his
residence in Princeton, where he inherited from the
Prince estate some three thousand acres of land.
Here he held important offices, both in the town and
the State. Mr. Gill was the first Representative of
the town in the Provincial Congress held at Water-
town, and of the General Court at Salem in 1774 and
1775. He was a member of the Legislature up to
1780, when he was elevated to the Senate Board, re-
maining there till 1789. In 1794 he was chosen
Lieutenant-Governor, and was annually re-elected,
and upon the death of Governor Strong in May, 1800,

AJ (^'L-^^"^

va^^ /-f--

PRINCETON.

I)!)]

Mr. Gill officiated as Governor till the close of the
year. He died May 20, 1800, while holding the office
of Ijieiitenant-Governor. Aside from these offices he
was appointed, in ITT.i, judge of the Court of Common
Pleas for Worcester County, which office he held till
1789, when he was transferred to the Governor's
Council.

Mr. Gill lost his first wife in 1769, and in 1772 he
married Rebecca Boylston, niece of Thomas Boylston
and sister of Jlrs. Mary Hallowell, mother of Ward
Nicholas Boylston. This marriage formed the link
between these two families.

In Ins " History of Princeton " C. T. Russell says
of Mr. Gill, " Throughout his whole life he maintained
the character of an upright man, a firm, uncom-
promising patriot, a devoted husband, a liberal towns-
man, an exemplary public officer, and a consistent
Christian."

Warp N. Boylston. — His original name was
^Vard Hallowell, son of Benjamin Hallowell, and
born in Boston, November, 1749. His mother was a
sister of Thcmas Boylston, and at the solicitation of
his maternal uncle, Nicholas Boylston, the distin-
guished benefactor of Harvard University, he dropped
the name Hallowell and added that of his uncle.
His full name was known afterwards as Ward Nicho-
las Boylston. In 1773 he visited Europe for his
health, and from 1775 to 1800 he resided in London,
engaged in trade. In 1800 he returned to Boston
and purchased the estate in Princeton, where he
resided summers until his decease in 1827. This
place had become famous in this region for its size
(three thousand acres), its large and splendid build-
ings, as well as the high cultivation of its land.
Whitney, in his "History of Worcester County in
1793," says at that time, " It is not paralleled by any
in the New England States, and perhaps not by any
on this side of Delaware." Mr. Boylston spent his
winters at Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, where he pos-
sessed a beautiful situation. While in Princeton he
lived in a princely style, and was remarkable for his
politeness to all with whom he came in contact. He
possessed an unusual amount of intelligence and
liberality in his benefactions.

While residing in London he became familiarly
acipiainted with the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and
having had two uncles in this country distinguished
members of the medical profession, he became greatly
interested in all matters pertaining to medicine. For
this purpose he made several handsome donations to
Harvard University, so that the name Boylston is
honored, being attached to a medical library, an
anatomical museum, a medical society, and prize
medals for essays to improve medical science. Thus
it was said, "He has done more towards raising the
standard of the medical profession in this Common-
wealth than all others of the profession."

Timothy Fuller was the first minister of Prince-
ton. He was born in Middlesex, near Salem, in 1738,

and graduated at Cambridge in 1760. He was settled
in Princeton in 1767, and became a conspicuous char-
acter in the history of the town.

In 1774 and '75 there arose a sharp variance of
feeling and opinion between him and his people. A
bitter controversy ensued. He was charged with ne-
glect of pastoral duties and Toryism, which he indig-
nantly denied. There was fault on both sides, each
being positive, self-willed and determined. Mr. Ful-
ler was dismissed and left the town in 1776. But after
awhile he returned and spent several years there. In
1788 he represented the town in the convention which
adopted the Federal Constitution. In 1796 he re-
moved to Merrimac, N. H., and engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits, where he died in 1805. One of the
peculiar incidents of Mr. Fuller's residence in Prince-
ton was that he became the first owner of Wachusett
Hill, which previously was Province land.

The General Court, in 1768, upon Mr. Fuller's pe-
tition setting forth a small salary and hard getting
along in the ministry, passed an act giving the moun-
tain, containing five hundred acres, to him. Mr. Ful-
ler married, in 1770, Sarah Williams, daughter of
Rev. Mr. Williams, minister of Sandwich, and was
the head of a venerable family, several of his children
being born in Princeton. Timothy Fuller, his oldest
son, formerly a resident of Groton, was a member of
Congress and the father of Margaret Fuller, one of
the most remarkable women this country ever pro-
duced. H. H. Fuller, another son, became a distin-
guished attorney in Boston. Other descendants of
Rev. Timothy Fuller have made their mark in the
world.

Samuel Woods. — From the best authorities
known, he came from Chelmsford, and became a
resident here about the time of the incorporation of
Princeton in 1759. Soon after this he opened the
first public school in the town near the Wilder
place. He became known as " Master Woods," and
was the head of a most distinguished family. From
the little incidents known about him, it is evident he
possessed a brain of remarkable power. As he was
noted for his originality. Governor Gill christened
him with the name "Philosopher." His s<m, Leon-
ard Woods, was born in 1774, and was graduated
from Harvard College in 1796. He became one of
the most distinguished preachers and writers in the
country. He was graduated at the age of twenty-
two, with the highest honors in the class. He was
professor in the Andover Theological Seminary for
years, and his writings on theology and other sub-
jects are well known. He died August 24, 1856, in
his eighty-first year, from heart-disease, brought on
from over-exertion and heat.

Solon S. Hastincs.' — The names of men who
distinguish themselves for the possession of those
qualities of character which in a large degree con-

1 By G. B. H.

992

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tribute to the success of private life, who have been
exemplary in the personal and social relations, thus
winning respect and confidence, ought not to perish.
Among the individuals of this class, few are better
entitled to be held in respectful remembrance than
the subject of this sketch.

Solon S., son of Stephen and Silence (Sawyer)
Hastings, was born in Sterling, Mass., December 26,
1806. His father was an enterprising and successful
farmer, and was one of the early members of the
Worcester Agricultural Society, taking an active part
in extending the benefits of the organization.

Solon passed his childhood and youth at the farm-
house, becoming familiar with the experiences and
incidents peculiar to New England farm life, and, in
fact, he remained there until the death of his father
in 1840. His educational advantages were of the
sort jieculiar to the times, attending the district
school in the winter months and working on the farm
in the summer. He had, in addition to this, a course
of instruction at the Leicester Academy, and in hit
early manhood engaged in leaching winter schools in
his native town and vicinity, where, for twelve years,
he was known as a successful teacher, frecjuently
teaching for two terms in the same season in different
districts. He also was a teacher in a private school
in the city of Boston.

He has always been interested in agriculture, and
iu early life became a member of the same society in
which his father was so jirominent, as well as in
other kindred organizations.

He was actively interested in military atl'airs, and
held the offices of brigade and division inspector, with
the rank of major in the brigade and lieutenant-
colonel in the division.

In 1840 he married Lois R., daughter of Edward
and Rebecca (Beaman) Goodnow, of Princeton, Mass.,
to which town he removed in 1841, and where he
now resides.

He has held offices of trust and importance in both
his native and adopte<l towns, and discharged the
duties thereof with fidelity and intelligence.

For more than twenty-five years he has been a
director in the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, the oldest institution of its kind in the
county. In 1859 he was the Representative to the
General Court for the towns of Princeton, Rutland
and Oakham, and was also, iu 1864, a member of the
Senate of Massachusetts.

■He held a clerkship in the Naval Office at Boston
under Hon. Charles Hudson, and in 1850 and 1870
was engaged in taking the United States census for
his section. He is of a naturally retiring disposition,
conscientious and conservative in all his relations,
whether religious, civil or financial.

He has always been much interested in educational
matters, and a regular attendant upon and supporter
of religious institutions.

During these later years, with comfortable leisure

at his command, he has alternated between town and
country, spending his summers at his quiet home in
Princeton, directly under the brow of " Old Wachu-
aett " Mountain, and his winters in the neighboring
city of Worcester.

He had two brothers, — Rufus, twelve years his
senior (now deceased), and Aaron S., who died in
childhood.

The family is of Danish origin, and has held prom-
inent place in the history of England. In the early
days of the British kingdom the Danes made fre-
quent incursions upon that part of England and
Scotland bordering on the North Sea. One of these
incursions was made by a Danish chief of this family,
who landed a large body of his men upon the coast and
took possession of Sussex, and the castle and seaport
were held by his family when William the Conqueror
landed in England, and they held it from the crown
for many generations. William de Hastings was
steward of King Henry 11. Sir Henry and George
Hastings were grandsons of the Earl of Huntingdon.

The first of this family to come to America was
Thomas, from whom Solon S. is in direct line. He
settled in Watertown, Mass. (then known as a portion
of the Massachusetts Bay Colony), in 1634.

For further detail see " Genealogical History of
Descendants of Thomas Hastings," by Lydia Nelson
(Hastings) Buckminster, published by Samuel G.
Drake in 1866.

John Brooks was born in Princeton, February
"22, 1789, being the ninth of fourteen children. His
father was a master carpenter, and built fourteen
meeting-houses; the son worked with his father till
he was twenty-four years of age, and was a good me-
chanic. He went to Boston and was in the broker's
business there, at the, corner of State and Kilby
Streets. The building in which his office was located
is still standing. During or soon after the War of
1812 he went to Canada to buy Spanish dollars for
the purpose of selling them again for the broker with
whom he wiis in business. He thus earned the so-
briqiiet of " Broker Brooks," by which name he was
called for a long time.

He was married, in 1818, to Miss Sarah Eraser,
daughter of John Eraser, of Franklin Street, Boston.
He went to Princeton in 1824, and took the care of
his father's farm and family, the farm being then
worth eight hundred dollars, but now it is valued
at twelve thousand dollars, the gain being due to the
good management of the present owner, his son,
John Brooks. He has served in all the offices of the
town with the exception of that of town clerk, and
has been Representative and Senator in the General
Court. He was president of the Worcester Agricul-
tural Society and a member of the State Board of
Agriculture, also one of the founders of the Mutual
Life Insurance Company of Worcester. He died in
Princeton, at the home of his childhood. May 1, 1863.
Resolutions were passed on the occasion of his death

^^^ '

J\uX?vvww^ JMJ^i

■VVVy

PRINCETON.

993

by the Worcester Agricultural Society and the State
Board of Agriculture, both testifying to his useful
life as a citizen and a devoted patriot ; to his culti-
vated mind, his courteous manners and his unswerv-
ing integrity, together with his ever-active and earnest
labors for the advancements of the pursuits of hus-
bandry. Eev. W. T. Briggs officiated at his funeral
and testified to his high character and useful life,
and showed that in the midst of life he was prepared
for death, and was ready when the summons came to
join that innumerable throng of which the poet Bry-
ant so grandly sings.

Doctors in Princeton. — Zachariah Harvey,
Ephraim Woolson, Henry Bagg, Warren Patridge,

Orville Brooks, Titus, Henry Eldridge, Luther

Allen, Martin Howe, Brainard, Alphonso

Brooks, Chandler Smith, Joseph O. West, W. H.
Kelsey, R. H. Mansur.

Other Men of Note.— Edward Savage, born in
the western part of the town 1761 and died in 1817,
became a distinguished portrait-painter.

David Everett, born in 1770 and died in 1813, was
a noted journalist and author. He was the author of
those well-known school-boy verses, commencing,

"You'd scarce expect one of my age.
To speak in public, on the stage."

Nathan Allen, M.D., LL.D.— Nathan Allen was
born at Princeton, Mass., April 25, 1813. His pa-
rents, Moses and Mehitabel (Oliver) Allen, were both
born in Barre, in the same State. The Allen pa-
tronymic is borue by numerous families in the Old
and New Worlds. That one with which Dr. Allen is
identified is lineally descended from Walter Allen,
one of the original proprietors of Old Newbury, in
IfilS, andwho died at Cliarlestowu, Mass., in 1G73.
The early years of Dr. Allen were spent on the pater-
nal farm. There he was habituated to hard work
till the age of seventeen, and consequently received
line of the best kinds of preparation for future activi-
ties. After an absence of forty years,— ten of which
were spent in continued studies and thirty in pro-
fessional pursuits,— in delivering an address at an
agricultural exhibition in his native place, which was
published, Dr. Allen alluded to his early life as
follows:

I wish here to malce uiy public acknowlddgmenta to that overruling
I'rovidence which ordered my birth and early training in this place,
distinguished no less for intelligence and morality than for health and
devotion to agricultural pursuits. The greatest gift that any human
being can receive in this world is that of il sound constitution, which
can come alone from parents perfectly healthy in body and mind. The
next greatest blessing is that this constitution be early strengthened
and developed iu accordance with natural laws, while at the same time
llio mental habits and moral character receive proper training and right
direction. To these blessings I confess the strongest possible obliga-
tions; first, to the Creator; second, to parents; and third, to the
healthy educational and mor.al influences of this quiet rural town.

At the age of seventeen he commenced academical
studies, and matriculating at Amherst College in
1832, he graduated from it in 1836. Having de-
cided to study medicine, and wishing to avail him-
63

self of the best advantages in the country, he went to
Philadelphia in the autumn of 1837. Here he pur-
sued medical studies and attended lectures till ihe
spring of 1841. During his residence in this city he
had the entire charge for three years of the American
Phrenological Journal, which proved, in many ways,
a valuable experience. Here he learned some things
respecting the use of the pen and the power of the
press, and also to do his own thinking. He was also
brought into contact with a variety of persons, some
of them distinguished. Among these were Dr.
Charles Caldwell, of Kentucky, the profoundest
physiologist of his day ; the Hon. Horace Mann, of
Massachusetts, who, as an educator, has never been
excelled; and also George Combe, Esq., of Edin-
burgh, unequaled as a practical philosopher. From
correspondence and personal acquaintance with these
men Dr. Allen acknowledges that he obtained most
instructive lessons for future life.

In March, 1841, he received the diploma of M.D.
from the Pennsylvania Medical College, upon which
occasion he presented a thesis upon "The Connection
of Mental Philosophy with Medicine." This essay
was published in tlie American Phrenological Journal
and in pamphlet form. It attracted much attention
at the time and indicated the department of scientific
investigation, in which he has since become distin-
guished.

In the autumn of 1841 Dr. Allen settled in Lowell,
Mass., and from that time until his death, January 1,
1889, a period of nearly fifty years, he continued to
be a most active and successful medical practitioner
in that city. Soon after commencing medical prac-
tice Dr. Allen's attention was arrested by the great
difference in the birth-rate between the native New
England women and the English, the Irish, the
Scotch, the Canadian French and the German ; and
also by the small number of children in a New Eng-
land family compared to what it was fifty or a hun-
dred years ago. From many years of study and ob-
servation he became convinced that the " arts of
prevention and destruction " were not sufficient in all
cases to account for this great diflTerence in birth-
rate, but that there must be some other primary
cause — that there might exist some difference or
change in the organization itself to account for it.
This inquiry led to a wide range of studies, such as
census and registration reports, works on population,
vital statistics and obstetrics. His works were not
confined to these matters, but he also published
essays on physical culture and degeneracy, insanity
and state medicine, heredity and hygiene, education
and temperance, divorces and the femily institution.
There were over thirty publications of different
kinds, and these were in quarterly journals and re-
views, and were widely copied by the press, and some
of them were published in Great Britain and com-
mented on by distinguished scholars. In France and
Germany his writings have also attracted attention.

994

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUxNTY, iMASSACHUSETTS.

The following is a list of the titles of the various
pamphlets that have originated from his i)en :

Title. Pages

1. Oonuection of Mental Philosophy Avitti Mediciue 32

2. The Opimn Trade between India and China 80

3. Law of Human Increase 58

4. Physical Culture in Amhei-st College 46

5. Intermarriage of Relations TiS

H. Population; Its Law of Increase 42

7. Physical Degeneracy 42

8. The Physiological Laws of Increase 28

U. Foreign Population in Massachusetts IG

10. Address before the Agricultural Club of Princeton 38

11. Changes in Population 8

12. Treatment of the Insane 20

IM. Lessons on Population from Grecian and Roman History 16

14. Essay on Hereditary Diseases 16

15. Effects of Alcohol on Offspring 8

16. Hereditary Influences in the Improvement of Stock 30

17. Law of Longevity 16

18. Medical Problems of the Day 02

19. Report to the Legislature on Lunacy 80

20. State Medicine and Insanity 32

21. Normal Standard of Woman for Propagation 40

22. College Si)orts 8

23. Changes in New England Population 24

24. Prevention of Disease, Insanity, Crime and Pauperism 20

26. Supervision of Lunatic Hospitals 10

26. Divorces in New England IG

27. Prevention of Insanity 20

28. Laws of Inheritance 12

2'J. Education of Girlfl, Connected with their Growth and Develop-
ment 32

30. Medical Profession and Lunatic Hospitals 24

31. The New England Family 24

32. Intluence of Medical Men 8

33. The Decadence of the New England Family 24

Octavo Pages 102G

Since this list was published, Dr. Allen has written
several other papers, among which was " The Rela-
tions between Sanitary Science and the Medical Pro-
fession," written and read by him at the fourteenth
annual meeting of the American Health Association,
October 5, 188ti, at Toronto, Canada, also the " Dedi-
catory Address for the Goodnow Memorial Building''
at Princeton, September G, 1887. He was also skilled
in genealogy and in local history, and at the time of
his death was engaged upon a history of his native
Princeton for the Worcester County history. In
1872 Dr. Allen visited Europe. He went as a dele-
gate, commissioned by Governor Washburn, to the
International Congress of Prison Reform. His repu-
tation had preceded him, and secured a cordial wel-
come from eminent men in his own profession. In
attending a large, public health meeting in London,
presided over by Mr. Edwin Chadwick, being called
upon to speak, he apologized, after making remarks,
saying that he was a stranger, etc., whereupon .several
gentlemen as.sured him he was not a stranger, as his
name was quite familiar to them by his writings.

During his forty-eight years' residence in Lowell
Dr, Allen was always prominent in local and State
affairs. He served on the School Committee in 1851,
and in the Common Council in 1867, and was city
physician in 1864 and '65. He was ihree terms on
the Board of Health, and was at one time a nominee

for State Senator. He was a prominent member of
the Massachusetts and the North Middlesex Medical
Societies. He was secretary of the medical staff of
St. John's Hospital for over twenty-five years, for
over twenty years president of the City Institu-
tion for Savings, president of the Board of Physicians
at the dispensary, president of the Amherst Alumni
.\^8sociation of Lowell, and not long since his alma
mater conferred on him the degree of LL.D. In 1856
he was chosen by the Legislature a trustee of Amherst
College, and took a leading part in establishing the
department of physical culture in that institution.
Dr. Edward Hitchcock, professor of hygiene in the
college for over twenty-five years, pays Dr. Allen a
high compliment, in which he calls him the god-
father of this department.

In January, 1888, the Amherst Alumni A.ssociation,
of Lowell, presented to the gymnasium a life-size oil
portrait of Dr. Allen.

Dr. Allen was a member of the American Medical
Association, the American Academy of Medicine, the
American Pul)lic Health Association, the Massachu-
setts Medical Society, and was one of the founders of
the American Social Science Association, and the
National Conference of Charities, and frequently
wrote pai)ers and reports for those bodies.

Dr. Allen sustained concussion of the brain as the
result of a serious fall at his home, December 16,
1888. By means of his vigorous constitution and
great vitality he lingered in an unconscious condition
for two weeks, but just at sunset, on the first day of
the new year, he breathed his last, and we know that
he has gone to his reward, and that he will long be
"remembered by what he has done." '

SuJiMER Guests of Hide and Seek Town. —
Hide and Seek town, as Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson so
aptly christened the Princeton of to-day, is most
charmingly described in a delightful sketch written
by her for Scribner^s Monthli/, and published in
■Vugust, 1876. In this sketch the real name was not
revealed, and very likely it was this mysterious veil-
ing of the town's identity that gave so much interest
to it. But the summer guests whose good fortune it
had already been to have traversed its hills and dales,
and tasted of its delicious and invigorating air, re-
cognized at once its alluring descriptions, and its
(juaint and truthful illustrations. A'ery likely this
sketch did much in its way to advertise the town's
attractions, and so increase its annual influx of sum-
mer guests. It is said that " the quiet hill town of
forty years ago has become each season the popular
New England summer Mecca for eight or nine hun-
dred seekers of health, and pleasure.'' Although
Princeton has long been known to the outside world
as a healthy summer resort, it is only within the last
fifteen or twenty years that it has become widely
enough known to attract any large number of people.

' By Annie Louise Allen.

SOUTHBRIDGB.

995

In the centre of the town the " Wachusett House "
is the largest hotel, and also the oldest established ;
its i)ro])rietor and owner, Mr. P. A. Beaman, may be
called the pioneer in the summer hotel business,
having been connected with the Wachusett House for
over thirty years. When he fir.it took charge of the
hotel it was simply a country tavern, probably an
old-time " tavern-in-the-town," open all the year ;
but although having more guests in the summer,
l>n)bably there were not more than one-tenth of the
number who now annually spend their summers
there. From time to time improvements were made
to this house, and its capacity increased. It now
accommodates from one hundred and fifty to one hun-
dred and seventy-five guests, and for a period of over a
month, during the last summer the guests numbered
nearly two hundred. During the last twenty years
the Howard House, Mount Pleasant House, Linden
House, Forrest House, and Princeton House have
been opened for the accommodation of summer com-
pany. Additions were made to the Wachusett House,
Prospect House and Mountain House, which now
accommodates one hundred and fifty, and is so delight-
fully situated several miles from town, nestling close
to the mountain's side and commanding a most ex-
tensive and beautiful view of the surrounding country
for miles around. Its latch-string is always open, and
its hospitable proprietor and owner, Mr. M. H. Bull-
aril, is ever ready to " welcome the coming, speed the
parting guest." Several farm-houses have also made
themselves known to city families, and, indeed, it
seems as if every man, woman and child in the place
were only too glad to welcome the city travelers and
share with them their privileges.

A comfortable and attractive house has been built
on the top of Mount Wachusett, and this, together
with the ease of traveling to the summit over a fine
road, has drawn an immense number of tourists. The
present Summit House, which is kept by Mr. G. A.
Derby, was built in 1884 by Beaman & Son, of the
\Vachusett House.

They came into possession of the whole mountain
aljout the year 1880, buying it from a land company
who had built the road to the summit a few years
before.

The number of visitors to thetoi)ofthe mountain
is now estimated at ten thousand to fifteen thousand
yearly, and some two thousand horses go over the
road.

Princeton now has an extra summer population of
over si.K hundred people, and probably twenty-five
hundred tourists visit the town every summer, exclu-
siveof those already mentioned as going to the moun-
tain top. Of course neai-ly all of these twenty-five
hundred make the trip to the top of the mountain
during their stay in the town, and so the number who
visit the summit — ten thousand to fifteen thousand —
may be taken as the estimate of the guests who yearly
visit Princeton. Before the opening of the Boston,

Barre and Gardner Railroad, in 1869-70, the difficulty
in reaching Princeton kept away many people. Then
the summer guests were obliged to ride seven miles
by coach from the nearest station to Princeton Cen-
tre, while now the iron horse ploughs his way to
within a mile of the Centre hotels. Formerly the
visitors to Princeton went with the intention of re-
maining through the entire season ; but now the town
is so easily reached from Worcester, Boston and the
other large cities, that people come and go to a much
greater extent, and during the course of the season
the number of guests is greatly increased. These
guests go from Boston, Worcester, Lowell. Providence,
N'ew York, New Haven, Fall River, Philadelphia,
Baltimore and many other places. In fact, the repu-
tation of Hide and Seek town is now so well estab-
lished that, while other resorts complain of a lack of
patronage, no such report comes forth from Princeton.
For the summer visitors soon learn to love the quaint
old town, and their days spent there are long remem-
bered, and amid the chilling blasts of winter their
memories and fancies go back to the happy summer
time, and they commence then to plan their next
summer's visit to gain new strength and life.'

CHAPTER CXXXI.
vSOUTHBRIDGE.

BY LEVI B. CHASK.

SouTHBRlDGE is situated in the southwestern part
of the county of Worcester. It has Charlton on the
north, and Dudley on the east; sjuthward it is
bounded by the State of Connecticut, and west by
Sturbridge. The centre of the town is in latitude
42° 5', and the distance from the court-house in
Worcester is seventeen and one-half miles. For-
merly the great route of travel from Worcester to
the southwest was through Charlton and Sturbridge.
The connection with the shire-town is now by the
New England Railroad to Webster, and thence by .
the Norwich and Worcester line. There is direct
railway connection with Boston through Webster,
Blackstone, etc., by the New England Railway. The
number of square miles in the town is about nine-
teen, and the number of acres is twelve thousand
and seventy-four.

The surface of the town is much broken by hills
and valleys. The hills rise northward aud south-
ward from the valley of Quinebaug River, some of
them gradually, and some with abrupt and rugged
sides. Hatchet Hill, in the south part, near Con-
necticut line, is sixteen hundred feet above the level
of the sea, and the summit furnishes an extensive
prospect.

1 By Annie Louise Allen.

996

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The main river is the Quinebaug, which comes in
from Sturbridge on the west, and runs across the
township north of the middle in an easier!}' and
southeasterly course. The river is fed by Globe,
Cady and McKinstry Broots on the north, and
Hatchet, Cohasse and Lebanon Brooks on the south,
all of which empty within the limits of the town.
The valleys of these streams greatly diversify the
scenery.

From west to east the Quiuebaug River has its
course, furnishing the power for various and impor-'
tant industries. This river has been the principal
factor in the building up of this wealthy and enter-
prising town. Hence it is fitting, in proceeding to a
partial description of some of the prominent features
that strike the eye of a casual observer, to begin with
the entrance of the Quinebaug.

The Quinebaug flows quietly through the valley of
Sturbridge, then turns eastward through a gorge be-
tween rocky hills. Before it quite passes the narrow
valley, one-half of the width of it, by lines estab-
lished, becomes included in the territory of South-
bridge. Then it flows unhindered through the ruins
of the old dam at Westville, past the old mill foun-
dation, the bridge and the little village that has seen
better days. Immediately afterwards, being con-
fronted by a large hill, it turns squarely to the north,
imparting power, as it passes, to the Litchfield Shut-
tle Shop, and beyond glimmers brightly along a
secluded valley, beautiful in its varied scenery of
wooded grove and dell, level intervale, sloping field
and hill-side pasture, ending abruptly, northward,
at a high rocky precipice. In ordinary times the
river flows shallow in this valley. When all between
the towns of Brookfield and Woodstock was a soli-
tary wilderness, a path or road from one place to the
other had its crossing here. It is inferred from facts
known that this was the fording-place of the great
trail of the Indians, from Narragansett and Wabba-
quassett to the Quabaug towns and the Connecticut
River at Hadley and above. Pursued by Captain
Henchman and Oneco, son of Uncas, it was here
that King Philip and his feeble following hurried
across, the 3rd or 4th day of August, 167.'"). As
will be seen further along, the first settlers had a
fordway here.

The northern course of this valle\', of about a mile
in length, is ended by a rocky bluflf, causing an angle
in the river, near which the line between this town
and Sturbridge runs north, leaving the eastward flow
wholly in the former town. Down a rocky gorge, a
precipitous clifiT on the left and a more rounded hill
sloping up to the southward on the right, rushes the
Quinebaug of the Indians. Now this entire space is
occupied by a pond ; the water being held by what is
commonly called the " Big Dam," a magnificent
structure across just where the river leaves the com-
panionship of these hills.

The Quineoaug is held, bitted and harnessed and

made to work the will of man, not only here, but all
along its winding way below, f)r miles; it encounters
structures of similar intent and purpose. Here, years
ago, small industries were started with cheaper struc-
tures. A population was collected to control, direct
and make a useful servant of the never-ceasing power,
brought into subjection by ca])ital and skill. Money
was earned, resulting in increased facilities for manu-
facturing or the starting up of new industries. Ex-
change of commodities necessitated the trade class
and middle men. The exercise of the various occu-
pations was created by the demands or needs of the
community. Thus a symmetrical growth was estab-
lished ; and a steady and unvarying prosperity has
been the rule in this place.

Below the big dam, the course of the Quinebaug,
in a winding way, tends eastward across the opening
of the valley of McKinstry Brook, which tributary it
, receives from the north, and then strikes another hill
or cliff", which rises abruptly upon the north side of
the river. Cliff Street passes over along the height,
and here one obtains a view of remarkable variety
and interest. The Cliff' is distant about a third or
; half a mile eastward from the big dam, and that por-
tion of the river is occupied by the factories of the
Hamilton Woolen Company. Four large mills and
more smaller factories and buildings used in their
business are in view. The lower mill is opposite the
[ Cliff, and from this height one looks down upon the
I very bell-tower, the massive building and the pigmv
people below.

The course of the Quinebaug from this point is in
a southeastward direction. The site and ruins of the
I Dresser JIanufacturing Company's factory is beneath
' the Cliff", and beyond, a fourth of a mile, is the large
establishment of the Central Mills Company. Next,
[ is the large and many-lighted building of the Ameri-
can Optical Company, about three-fourths of a mile
farther down the river ; close by which is Plimpton's
laundry, J. & L. D. Clemence's lumber-working es-
tablishment and I. P. Hyde & Co.'s cutlery works.
Beyond, is the large brick building recently erected
by the American Optical Company, in which they are
commencing the extensive manufacture of lenses.
This plant is on the site of the old Columbian Mill,
and the locality is now called Lensdale.

Saundersdale, about a mile farther down the river,
is hidden from view. It is there that the plant
occupied by the Southbridge Printing Company is
located.

The Cliff", or the Clemence Hill, back of it, afl'ords
the visitor a fine panoramic view of a large portion
of the villages of Southbridge Centre and Globe Vil-
lage. Immediately in front the view takes in a
broad and not high swell of land, not long ago de-
voted wholly to forest and agricultural purposes,
and appeared to form a separation between Globe Vil-
lage and the Centre. This is now cut up into streets,
and largely occupied by the homes of the industrious

SOUTHBRIDGE.

9d7

and the finer residences of the wealthy. The rail-
road depot, freight-house and the odd-shaped build-
ing containing the "stalls" for the "iron horses," are
just over the river from the Cliff.

To the right is the denser population of Globe Vil-
lage, extending up the far slope to the southward,
and northward crowding up the McKinstry Valley.

To the left of the ridge that has been mentioned
as being in the centre of our view, and looking as
the needle points nearly south, the tops of the large
business blocks and the public buildings are seen,
around which we also have a perspective view of a
7)ortion of the main village.

All about among the distant hills and valleys are
farm-houses, fields and woodlands — it is the combina-
tion that produces the effect, and the visitor on a
jjleasant day can but exclaim with delight.

The central portion of the main village is fast
taking the appearance of a city. The industrious
town has expended for new roads and streets since
1870, a period of eighteen years — exclusive of gen-
eral appropriations for repairing highways and
bridges, which is generally from ?3000 to $5000 an-
nually— S53,682.

Aggregate expenditures on sidewalks in the same
length of time has been $54,700. For the erection
of new school-houses $20,700 has been expended
within the last eighteen years.

The total expenses of the free public library have
been $31,397. The town is now erecting a town hall,
high school and memorial hall building, for which an
appropriation has been voted of $65,000. The town's
valuation for 1868 was $2,200,500 ; for 1887, $3,158,210.
The population is now about 7000. But above all,
Southbridge is justly proud of its large number of
homes which its working people and business men
have made for themselves. Also in having the larg-
est Young Men's Christian Association in the world
in proportion to the number of its inhabitants.

Individual ownership began here one hundred and
fifty-eight years ago. In going back to note the early
settlements, we are necessarily confined wholly to the
public records of the town of Sturbridge. The rec-
ords of Dudley and Charlton, were they consulted,
would shed little light in matters of much impor-
tance. The first effort will be to locate some of the
old lines, as laid by the first proprietors, upon the por-
tion of their lands that may be seen from Clemence
Hill.

A section of the old Oxford line is found in the
west line of Mr. J. T. McKiastry's house-lot upon
the pinnacle of Clemence Hill. From that point
running south about four degrees east, it crossed the
river just below Hamilton Woolen Company's lower
mill, passing near the centre of Chapin's block,
corner of Hamilton and Crane Streets, along near
the centre of Whitford's block, corner of Hamilton
and Main, and to near the centre of the new town
hall building.

Lot 20 east, of the proprietor's first division, is
south of Mr. W. F. McKinstry's farm. It was
bounded east on Oxford line, aud carrying the same
length of Mr. McKinstry's lot westward, extended
soutli to the river. It is that part of the valley of
McKinstry Brook next to the river, and is westward
of the Cliff and Clemence Hill. It was drawn to the
original right of Abraham Harding.

Over the river there was a tier of four lots between
the valley beyond the bend of the river above the
Big Pond and the line between the homesteads of the
late Deacon Henry Fisk and land formerly owned by
Mr. J. J. Oakes. The lines ran from the river, south
40° west, and the long lots abutted on a line running
east 40° south, which is believed to be the north
bounds of the farm of the late Jlr. Palmer Harding.
The position of the first line is now marked by a
sunken wall in the Hamilton Woolen Company's
pasture, the line extending to the river again below
the- shuttle shop 192 rods, and this lot, No. 61,
bounded everywhere else by the river, was drawn to
the original right of Samuel Ellis. Lot No. 60,
I bounded northwest by 61, extended on that line 160
rods, then east 40° south 68 rods, north 40° east 153
j rods, striking the river not far from the " Big Dam."
Joseph Clark was the original proprietor. Lot No.
62, drawn by James Denison, original proprietor, was
; parallel, 60 rods wide, extended on the river to a little
I below Mr. Gleason's store. It was 217 rods on its
; long or southeast side. Lot No. 63, drawn by Ezra
Bourne, original proprietor, "Begins at the river"
(point of termination of lot 62), runs E. 40° S. 64 rds,
S. 40° W. 217 rds. West 40° N. 64 rds, N. 40° E. 217
rds to the beginning. Traces of the southeast line of
this lot can be seen, as stated above, also between the
house-lot of Mr. H. M. Fiske and Mr. Rowley. Lot
No. 64 "begins where Oxford line crosses the river,
south along the line 116 rds, W. 40° N. 124 rds, N.
40° E. 23 rds, W. 40° N. 64 rds, N. 40° E. 23 rds. W.
40° N. 64 rds to the river, along the river to the be-
ginning." Drawn to original right of Ezra Clark.
Lot No. 65, drawn to original right of Thomas
Learned, of Oxford, was bounded northwest on 63,
northeast on 64, east on Oxford line, southwest on
undivided land ; begins in the line of 63, runs east
40° south 124 rods to Oxford line (corner of 64), south
on Oxford line 104 rods, west 48° north 158 rods,
south 40° west 45 rods, west 48° north 33 rods, east
40° south to first corner. This lot, No. 65, was pur-
chased by Capt. Moses Marcy ; also all that part of
lot No. 64 northward of it, lying eastward of a con-
tinuation of the northwest line of 65 to the river.
Mr. Marcy, finding an eligible site upon these lots,
there established his homestead, building a large
house in 1740, which still remains. The noble old
house has had good care, and shows no outward signs
of decay. It may as well be said here that Mr.
Marcy owned four hundred acres adjoining upon the
Oxford side of the line. The long lot. No. 63, next

998

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to Mr. Marcy's, was purchased and probably settled

by Moses Clark.

James Denison had at first two shares — two-fiftieths
of the proprietors' land. Hensdale Clark purchased
one of Mr. Denison's shares and in that way came
in possession of lot 62, and built his house where
Mr. Harvey Newell lives and his barn on theopposite
side of the road, farther west on the westward slope
of the hill. He subsequently owned all the land to
the bend of the river, lots 60 and 61, and when the
large estate was divided among his children, other
old Clark homesteads were built. Besides Mr. Marcy
and Hensdale Clark, the settlers known to have been
located within the limits of Southbridge before Stur-
bridge was incorporated, were : Jonathan Perry, site
of the old homestead of the late Mr. T. K. Harding ;
James Denison, near the residence of the late Mr.
Lewis Morse; Jonathan Jlason, now James H.
Mason ; Joseph Morse, now Andrew H. Morse, and
Daniel Thurston, somewhere southerly of Mr. Marcy.

In March, 1739 (our dating), the first road was laid
within the limits of this town. It began at the
meeting-house in Sturbridge, past the dwellings of
Deacon Isaac Newell, Mr. Rice, Deacon Daniel Fiske,
Henry Fiske, Mr. " Martains," Henry Hooker,
"thence southerly by the house where Ebenezar
Stearns dwells, so on the south end of a hill; then
leaving the old path, turning down the river to a white
pine, then through the river, then turning up the river
to the old path, thence running southerly in the old
path till it comes to where the trees are newly marked
for a road, still keeping a southerly course to where
the southeast corner of lot No. 66 is marked, thence
running southward by a line of marked trees, east of
a small frame house, thence keeping much the same
course to the west of Jonathan Mason's house, thence
to the west of Joseph Morse's house. So near the same
course to the common land."

It will be understood that the "old path" mentioned
here was an old Brookfield and Woodstock road.
This first town-way intersected it near the residence
of Mrs. F. W. Emmons, at which point there is men-
tion of the " path or road leading from Brookfield to
Woodstock," entered upon the proprietors' records in
1730, before any settlements were made here. The
dwelling of Ebenezer Stearns was upon the place now
owned by Mrs. Malcom Ammidown, in Sturbridge,
and the above road passed down the slope, by the
brick-yard to the river. On Southbridge side of the
river, traces of this road (and consequently the ancient
path) may be seen in the pasture-land upon the side-
hill above the residence of Mr. C. D. Chace.

The second road laid out by the town of Sturbridge
within the territory now in Southbridge is dated most
four years later, viz., December, 17-12. It began at a
white "oke" tree beside the old path down the river
below the shuttle-shop, and in winding up the side
hill it passed a " grate Rock In the old fence," to the
" south side of the stock of a chimney," then " south

of a swamp hole," and from this point, near Mr.
Manning Plimpton's, the description appears to be
identical with the present location of the road and
South Street.

There was a line of marked trees to a " white oke "
marked "y' north point of a hill," . . . "thence to
Hensdale Clark's barn — the road runs the north side
of the four last bounds — thence south of s"* Clark's
now dwelling-house, thence the north side of a heap
of stones, on a little ledge, and a white oke tree
marked, then to a heap of stones at the line of s''
Marcy's land ; s'' heap of stones on the south side of
the highway by said Marcy's fence." It appears that
Mr. Marcy was not at that time ready to have his land
cut up with roads. The location of the fence that the
town ran against and stopped — carefully avoiding the
heap of stones — was in front of the residence of Mr.
H. M. Fiske.

March 23, 1744 (our dating), a road was laid out
and is described as "Beginning at the south side of
the river, on Moses Marcy's land, by a large rock :
thence over the river north ; thence turns westerly as
near the river as is convenient till it comes to the old
road now trod, to a pitch pine tree ; thence to a black
oak ; then running a northerly course to a pitch pine
near the line between Jabez Harding and Jonathan
Perry." The road was described in its continuance
by various marks until it " comes into the road that
leads from Aaron Martin's to Denison Bridge."
Aaron Martin's was where Mr. Horatio Carpenter
now lives, on Fisk Hill.

We find here that in 1744 lot No. 20 was owned
by Jabez Harding, who was a son of Abraham Hard-
ing, original proprietor of that lot. The crossing of
the river from the "large rock," in Mr. Marcy's land,
was not far from the east end of the Hamilton
Woolen Company's lower mill, and near Oxford line.
From that point to Cliff Street the road can now be
traced along the steep side-hill. The road went
north of the pond called Pleasant, by where Dr. L.
W. Curtis now resides.

One year later, March 4, 1745, among the town's
creditors we find: "Then Mr. Hensdale Clark
brought in his account^ which was three pounds,
twelve shillings, old tenor, for the sawing plank for
the bridge." The location of Mr. Clark's saw-mill
will be referred to in another place.

In March, 174-5, the above-mentioned road was
continued : " Beginning at a large rock the south
side of the river in Mr. Marcy's land, then runs
southeasterly to a small pitch pine tree, then over a
small run of water to the end of a rocky knoll ; then
turning more south to a great rock with stones upon
it the west side of the road ; thence near the same
course by a fence the east side of the said road till it
comes to the corner of said fence ; then turns easterly
by said Marcy's house and barn, which are the north
side of this road ; then a little more southerly to Ox-
ford west line. Then this road begins again in Stur-

SOUTH BRIDGE.

999

bridge, the west side of Mr. Samuel Freeman's land.
Then was laid out the Woodstock road over Lebanon
Hill. The record gives the names of three settlers
on the line of that road to Woodstock, — Nehemiah
Underwood on the location long known as the Clark
place, John Ryan just lieyond, and where now is
Southbridge Paujier Asylum was Joseph Hatch.

The road down under the clitf was never a popular
way, and why it was located there is hard to under-
stand, unless it might have been expected at the
time that the town of Oxford would extend it to Mr.
Marcy's mills. The people preferred the fordway
near Denison's Bridge, and in March, 1750, the town
accepted a road " as now trod more easterly through
Hensdale Clark's land, instead of the one from the
ford up stream to Denison's Bridge." This road can
be traced in the Hamilton Woolen Company's pas-
ture land along the hill-side above the pond.

In JIarch, 17.53, an alteration was made. "From
the meeting-house to Moses Marcy's. Beginning in
Reuben Ellis's land, the north side of the river,
the north end of a knoll, then southerly to and over
the river," etc. This road may be described more
briefly ; it began opposite the residence of Dr. L. W.
Curtis, passed the location of the company's " Big
Mill," across the river in Hensdale Clark's land,
turned a little east towards the Union Church, then
southward into Moses Clark's land ; thence over a
small run, and up over the hill where it may now be
seen in the pine grove on Main Street. This road
united with that of 174-5, from the Clift' Bridge, which
entered South Street near the low house owned by
Mr. J. J. Oakes. The old road around by the bridge
under the Clitf was then discontinued. Reuben
Ellis built his house on that section of the road be-
tween Dr. Curtis' residence and the river. That
house and property was afterwards owned and occu-
pied by Samuel Fiske, Sr., and when the Hamilton
Woolen Company made their improvements at the
" Brick Village " so called, it was moved to a back
street, and there occupied until within a few years.

These roads that have been mentioned comprise
all that were laid out in the part of Sturbridge now
included in this town, previous to 1753.

It was about this time that two young men came
in, whose descendants have been prominent in various
departments of the town's progress and history.

Gershom Plimpton came on foot with his pack,
gun, ammunition, etc. He was a clothier by trade,
and established that business at what is now Globe
Village. He married Martha, daughter of Moses
Marcy, and they lived several years in a part of the
clothing shop. He bought of his father for " 9
pounds lawful money," ten acres of land in Stur-
bridge, bounded south on the Quinebaug, west by
land of Jonathan Perry, northerly by the highway,
and easterly by the land of Reuben Ellis. Deed
dated April 21, 1759. Near the east end of this lot,
the north side of the river, on a beautiful site, he

built his house. The location is now occupied by
Alden's magnificent block. A bridge at this place —
now Main Street Iron Bridge — is mentioned in the
town records along in the seventies of last century,
and called " Gershom Plimpton's bridge." A more
direct road, crossing Pleasant Pond, south of Gershom
Plimpton's house, and over the river by the clothier's
mill, superseded the one below, which crossed by
Reuben Ellis' saw-mill.

William McKinstry, of Scotch-Irish descent, landed
from Ireland in 1741, without capital, except his own
innate love of industry and frugality. He settled lot
No. 19, next north of 20, where his great-grandson,
Mr. William F. JIcKinstry, now resides. Mr. Wil-
liam McKinstry married Mary, daughter of Joseph
Morse, who, as well as Martha Marcy, had grown up
in this new place.

To illustrate the times, the following is Copied from
Mr. Moses Plimpton's " Historical Lectures," deliv-
ered before the Southbridge Lyceum, March, 1836 :

From a person who, some years since, had an interview with the late
Capt. Abel Mason, Sen., for the purpose of making inquiries, I have the
following facts: "When Mr. Jonathan Mason first came to this place,
bears, wolves and deer were numerous, and made depredations upon the
flocks of cattle and sheep and fields of grain.

•■The people were in the habit of attending nieetingat all times when
it was possible to go. Mr. Mason and those in his neighborhood had to
travel 5 or G miles througli the woods, and ford the Quinebaug in the
summer, and they sometimes felled trees across to pass upon, which
would remain until carried oft" by freshets. In winter the men of one
neighborhood assembled early, and, by the aid of snow-shoes, or rackets,
beat a track, all going single file. The women and children would fol-
low, and mothers often carried young children in their arms." Another
incident of the lecturer's grandfather, Gershom Plimpton, is as follows :
"Some years after he began, probably about 17.^>f,, there was nothing
but a foot-path from this place to the old Col. Cheney house, so-called,
which was near the place of Larkin Ammidown's factory. Coming
from Col. Cheney's in the evening, and when near the place of the
Columbian factory, he heard the howling of wolves not far from him,
and he supposed they had seen or smelled him, and were collecting to
pursue him. It may be imagined that his speed was soon increased to a
maximum, and, being very active and swift of foot, he in a few minutes
readied Mr. Freeman's in this village, and the wolves had to make
other provision for their supper."

It was under such circumstances that, for more than
twenty years, the little children were gathered from
the scattered homes to receive the small amount of
education which the times allotted to them. The first
teacher in that part of Sturbridgejnow included in
this town was Margaret JManning and she gathered
her pupils at the house of James Denison, on the site
of ihe homestead of the late Lewis Morse. The first
school-house was built about twenty rods west of Mr.
Denison's house, in 17.54. The first school district
was all of Sturbridge, south of the river, that is in-
cluded in this town. The school district in the Pratt
neighborhood was established in 1770, and the centre
district in 1775, the location of the Denison school-
house being moved farther south.

The first saw-mill in this town was built by Moses
Marcy before November, 1733, to which he added a
grist-mill before the last of .September, 1736. The
second saw-mill in this town and the first improve-
ment of water-power in (ilobe Village was Hensdale

1000

HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Clark's, built before 1744 and situated on or near the
site of a little mill, which (whatever is done in it
now) was a grist-mill some twenty- five years ago. It
was down the river, not far below Mr. Gleason's store.
This early saw-mill was subsequently owned by Reu-
ben Ellis.

It will now be appropriate with the design and
brevity of this article to pass lightly over a period of
about half a century, a period of gradual growth in
population and a corresponding change in the appear-
ance of the country. New farms were wrought by
the second and third generations from the first set-
tlers. The whole surface of the town was brought to
about the same general appearance — style of build-
ings excepted — as may now be seen in all the rural
districts. Along the Quinebaug, the Marcy saw and
grist-mill ; and on the location of Globe Village,
Gershom Plimpton's clothing-mill, and later his son's
grist-mill, accommodated the agricultural community.
Yet, in the midst of this half=century of quiet pro-
gress occurred that which formed a great epoch in
the world's history — the American Revolution.
Strong men went out from these homes to the con-
flict and helped to achieve the right of the people to
govern themselves. Their names, so far as has been
ascertained, are found on the rolls of the Revolution-
ary soldiers of the towns of Sturbridge and probably
Charlton and Dudley. Some of those who survived
the war were no less strong in the affairs of civil gov-
ernment, and their names are identified with the
early movements that preceded and finally re.»ulted
in the establishment of the town of Southbridge.

The thought of a new town existed in the minds of
far-seeing men when there were not above five hun-
dred inhabitants in all the territory; and being put
in an enduring form by the pen of Joshua Harding,
and banded down by Moses Plimpton, is here inserted
as an important link in the chain of movements
between the early conditions and present develop-
ments.

At a meeting of parties interested, in 1796, a com-
mittee was appointed, consisting of Oliver Plimp-
ton, Daniel Morse, Joshua Harding, Jr., Asa Walker,
Luther Ammidown, Eleazer Putney, Jr., and James
Dyer, to whom was referred the subject of forming a
new town, and who were to report thereon. They re-
ported as follows :

The committee to whom was referred the subject of forming a num-
ber of the inhabitants of tlie sontheast part of Sturbridge, southwest
part of Charlton and west part of Dutiley into a town, liave attended
tliat service, and beg leave to report as follows, viz. : The first article of
instructions to your conunittee was to report the most convenient spot
for a meeting-liouse. In the public opinion, three spots have been re-
ferred to, at a moilerate distance from each other. Your committee,
having paid particular attention to each of them, are tinaninious in
their opinion that the central, which is a rising ground on Capt. Mar-
cy's land, north of Col. Freeman's barn, concentrates convenience, ele-
gance and beauty.

The second article of instruction to your committee was to report
tlxe principles on whicli said house is to be built. As it is natural to
expect that in a class of citizens so numerous as is comprised in the
proposed new town, there will be diiferent sentiments in regard to

modes of religious worship, this part, therefore, of your committee's
instructions forms the most arduous and difficult task. But, as a liberal
and conciliatory plan appears to be the general wish, your committee
propose the following: That a subscription be opened to raise a sum
sufficient to erect a frame and belfry for a meeting-house and complete
the outside, and that the pews be sold at public vendue to complete the
inside; that every denomination be equally privileged in said house,
according to their interest therein ; this clause, however, not to be con-
structed so as to operate against the major part governing, but to con-
firm the free use of said house to tlie minority, when the majority are
not improving the same.

Your committee foresee with concern that the liberality of this plan
will be objected to by many respected characters as having a teudency
to deprive the town of a stated, settled, Orthidox ministry, to which
objection your committee beg leave to make the following observations ;
Ist. The difference in sentiment betwixt the Congregationalists and
Baptists is piincipally confined to the administration of the ordinance of
Baptism, a very immaterial difference inileed. Were both jjarties seri-
ously to reflect that religion consists in purity of heart, and give no
more weight and consider.ation to modes and forms of worehip than
they really deserve ; and if a minister should be settled disposed to ad-
minister that ordinance in the manner most agreeable to the subjects of
it, we might look forward to that wished-for period, when both parties
might be happily united in one society.

2d. That every denomination being equally privileged in said house,
according to their interests, will have a material tendency to uuite and
cement themselves together in one society.

3d. That there are comprised in the proposed town as large a num-
ber, and reputable both as to character and interest as new towns are
generally composed of, (and) it would be ungenerous to say they were
not as well disposed towards supporting the Gospel.

The third article of instructions to your connnittee was to ascertain
the bounds of said town.

Your committee propose the following ; Beginning at the Southeast
corner, on the State line, to include .James Haskell, Benjamin Stone,
Thomas Cheney, Lieut. Eleazer Putney, Eliakim Chamberlain, Jesse
Merrit, Paul Rich, Asa Dresser, Alexander Brown, John Chub, Joseph
and William McKiustry, Jonathan Perry, to the river ; thence include
John Plimpton, Capt. Elias Plimpton, Fletcher Foster, Capt. Samuel
Ellis, Jedediah Ellis, Simeon Mason and Chester May, to the State
line. But as an actual survey will be necessary, before an act of incor-
poration can be applied for, your commiltee are of opinion to refer
minute circumstances respecting boundaries to that period.

The fourth article of instruction to your committee was to report a
plan of the meeting-house, which will accompany this report.

The fifth article of instruction to your committee was to see what
number of persons will come forward to build said house. Although
your committee as yet are not well enough informed to detail the par-
ticular disposition of every person, yet from what information your
committee liave already obtained, the disposition of the people appears
to be very gener.ll in favor of the plan. Y'our committee propose to
bring forward subscription papers at the present meeting, which will
give that point the fairest decision ; and all moneys, either by subscrip-
tion or sales of pews, to be considered as binding, whenever an act of in-
corporation takes place, otherwise to be void and of no effect.

Your connnittee, in closing this report, are disposed to present to
your view the geographical situation of the proposed town. The great
parent of nature seems to have been profuse in his favors to this place.
The Quinebaug River, which falls so nearly central through, with its
excellent seats for mills and other water-works, are circumstances
highly favorable to the introduction of useful mechanics, and render-
ing it a place of activity and business. The goodness of the soil, with*
the excellent forests, abounding with all kinds of timber for building
are estimated of great consequence to the general plan.

Abstractly considered from the value it will add to the j-eal estate if
we take into view the benefits that would naturally result from a re-
ligious society, where there are so large a number of youths, in farniiu"-
their minds for accomplishments, usefulness and virtue, when they are
at present, by reason of local situation, notoriously neglected are, in
the opinion of your committee, considerations of so much weight that
(they) ought to bear down obstacles that present themselves in the way
of the accomplishment of an object so noble, so great and so good.
From every view of the subject your committee recommend, with steadi-
ness, energy and vigor, to take the most effectual measures to carry into
complete effect an object of so much consequence, as soon as time and
other circiunsfances will permit. (Iteport made February 29, ITDfi.J

SOUTH BRIDGE.

1001

This report was signed by the whole committee,
and undoubtedly expressed their views and feelings;
but it is due to one of them (says Moses Plimpton)
" to state that it was from the pen of Joshua Hard-
ing, who was usually required to draft instruments of
this kind ; and it will, perhaps, be sufficient commen-
dation of the report and of its author to say that it dis-
covers sound judgment and ability, and, in particular,
that the candid and liberal views and high moral
tone which pervade it throughout were literally but
specimens of his pure and benevolent mind."

Twenty years afterwards the purpose in the minds
of the people, so well expressed in the foregoing re-
port of the committee, resulted in the formation of a
new town. Their object was retarded by the opposi-
tion of all three of the old towns and more especially
of Sturbridge, that town being unwilling to lose so i
much of her territory.

The meeting-house, however, was built and a poll
parish formed. The meeting-house frame was raised
under the direction of William Love, July 4, 1797,
and this first public building within the limits of this
town was dedicated July 4, 1800, which was, of course,
just eighty-eight years before the laying of the corner-
stone of Southbridge's magnificent Town Hall.

The act erecting a poll parish here was approved
February 28, 1801. The preamble of the act contain-
ing the reasons for the same is as follows : " Whereas,
for the convenience and satisfaction of a number of
the inhabitants of the towns of Sturbridge, Charlton
and Dudley, in the county of Worcester, with respect
to their attending jniblic worship, it is found neces-
sary to set them off, and erect them into a poll parish."
The names of ninety legal voters were affixed to the
act. The number of acres of land included in the
estates taken from each of the three towns was : Dud-
ley, 2229; Sturbridge, 9445; Charlton, 2429. The
parish was known by the name of " Honest town."

The agitation for a new town was commenced again
in 1811, and continued from year to year until an act
of incorporation was obtained.

In March, 1814, Oliver Plimpton was chosen an
agent "to attend the next session of the general
court, and use his endeavors to obtain an order of no-
tice, or at least an examining committee, for business,
relative to being set off as a town." In May follow-
ing. Major Calvin Ammidown was chosen an addi-
tional agent to attend the General Court. At another
special meeting, December 6, 1S14, Jason Morse was
chosen as an additional agent, and Joshua Harding,
(Jershom Plimpton and Fordyce Foster a committee
to draft an act of incorporation. On the subject of a
name for the new town, all were invited to bring for-
ward their favorite, and a committee of five was
chosen to select from the list. This committee was:
Abel Mason, Sr., Joshua Harding, Gershom Plimp-
ton, Fordyce Foster and Jacob Endicott. The ven-
erable Captain Abel Mason, Sr., brought in the name
of Southbridge. The committee selected from the list

the names of Southbridge and Quinebaug for the
consideration of the parish, and Southbridge obtained
the vote. New agents were chosen in March, 1815,
viz. : Calvin Ammidown, Frederick W. Bottom and
James Wolcott.

The "act to incorporate the town of Southbridge "
was approved by the Governor and thus became a law
February 15, 181G.

The warrant for the first town-meeting was issued
by Oliver Plimptoir, Esq., to Dexter Clark, dated
"February 21, 181G,'' directing the calling of the
legal voters " to assemble at the meeting-house, where
the parish meetings have heretofore been held," March
6, 1810.

At this meeting the following were elected, to wit:
Moderator, Gershom Plimpton ; Town Clerk, Timothy
Paige; Town Treasurer, Luther Ammidown, Sr. ;
Selectmen, Gershom Plimpton, Samuel Fiske, Joshua
Mason, William Morris and Fordyce Foster ; Asses-
sors, John McKinstry, Edward Baylis and Joseph
Marcy ; Constable, Dexter Clark.

At that time was founded a new town, eighty-three
or four years after the entrance of the first settler,
and seventy-six years after the Marcy house was
built.

The limits of this article will not admit of anything
like a history in detail of the seventy-two years inter-
vening between that and the present. The aim will
be to illustrate to some extent the remarkable growth
in the various departments, forming the conditions
which makes this as high as the seventh town in
population, and other characteristics, iu the county.
It being allowable only to bring out the prominent
features which make up the main issue, it is seen
that in the elimination of a portion of the large
amount of data in hand, much of interest, and many
persons and factoi's of importance, must necessarily
be excluded.

The population of this town was in 1820, 10(50 ;
1830,1444; 1850,2824; 1875,5740; 1885,6500. The
increase since 1850 has been mainly from immigrants
and their descendants. They are German, Scotch,
English, Irish and Canadians ; the latter being the
most numerous. The English and Scotch are few —
mostly skillful workmen in some of the departments
of manufactures. The honest labor of the frugal
people has formed the base of every enterprise in the
progress here for the last forty years. We see the
marks of their toil in every structure and excavation,
and in every product of the mill anil the workshop.
These immigrants came here poor, and as a rule have
become well to do — some are wealthy ; and the rising
generation are having the benefit of the educational,
moral and social advantages bestowed by the capital
which their fathers have helped to create in this
place. Constituting two-thirds of the population, it
is hopeful for the future welfare of the town that a
goodly number are adiaticing with vigor in the
various enterprises, and in llie formations that serve

1002

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

to promote temperance and the best interest of the
community.

Appropriations for all purposes the first year of the
town were $1600; 1830, S1600 ; 1839, $5493; 1848,
$3200; 1869, $35,864; 1880, $41,899; 1888, $45,000,
exclusive of the special appropriation of .$65,000 for
the town hall. Valuation : Total in 1869, $2,124,796 ;
1879, .$2,906,461 ; 1887, $3,158,210— an increase of
$1,033,414 in eighteen years.

Early Manufactures and Extinct Corpor-
ations AND Companies.— The business of manu-
facturing at the " Globe Village " began in 1814.
The spinning was commenced in the old mill — lin-
seed oil mill of Captain Gershom Plimpton — which
stood near the road on the south side. The first
owners were Thomas Upham, David Fiske, Samuel
Newell, James Wolcott, Jr., Perez B. Wolcott, Josiah
I. Fiske, Francis Wheelock, Ephraim Angell, Moses
Plimpton and Samuel L. Newell, a part of whom
were incorporated by the name of the " Globe Manu
facturing Company," in October, 1814. The same
year this company erected the "Globe Mill," which
still remains near the bridge. The factory building
below the road was erected in 1816. It was at first,
and until 1817, a cotton factory. In that year there
was a division of the property among the owners, the
south side being taken by James Wolcott, Perez B.
Wolcott, Samuel A. Groves and Ephraim Angell, and
the other side by the remaining pi'oprietors. Addi-
tions were soon made to the south side, and the
woolen busine.ss established, and in 1820 the owners
of the other side, who still composed the "Globe
Manufacturing Company,'' sold out the whole of their
property to Mr. Wolcott and his company.

After the purchase from the "Globe Manufacturing
Company," in February, 1820, James Wolcott, Jr.,
Perez B. Wolcott and Samuel A. Groves were incor-
porated by the name of the " Wolcott Woolen Manu-
facturing Company," and the company was increased
by new proprietors in Boston, who made investments
to considerable amount. After the great misfortune
occasioned by the falling of the dam, and the de-
struction of property it occasioned, the Boston owners
determined to abandon the concern and get rid of
their interest. In 1829 it passed into the hands of
Messrs. Willard Sayles and Samuel A. Hitchcock, of
Boston, and in 1832 they obtained a new act of incor-
poration by the name of the " Hamilton Woolen
Company" (see Existing Corporations).

The factory afterwards owned by the " Dresser
Manufacturing Company" was put in operation in
1814. It was then in Charlton, and the first water-
power that side of the line. The owners were John
Green, of Rhode Island, and William Sumner, the
latter having the care of the business and living in
this town. This privilege was owned in part by
Major George Sumner, who erected clothing works
below the cotton factory, and that business and wool-

carding was continued until the whole became the
property of S. H. Babcock, of Boston, by whom it
was sold to Harvey Dresser. This cotton-mill, with
all the real estate and machinery, was incorporated'as
the " Dresser Manufacturing Company," February
14, 1834 ; the corporators were Harvey Dresser, Jerry
Merritt, of Charlton, Samuel Stafford, of Providence,
and Benjamin W. Kimball and their associates, with
a corporate capital of seventy-five thousand dollars
real estate, and one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars personal estate. Subsequently reorganized
under the same act, it continued in the name of the
" Dresser Manufacturing Company " until the mill
was destroyed by fire. The water-power is now un-
employed.

The Marcy privilege, located next below the pre-
ceding, with the saw-mill and grist-mill, became the
property of Jedediah Marcy, Jr., grandson of the first
proprietor, in 1789. The following year John Gray
introduced at this place the clothier and wool-carding
business; and, after conducting it about eight years,
sold his intere-st to Zebina Abbott. Mr. Abbott sold
the clothier business to his brother-in-law, George
Sumner, of Spencer, who came here about 1802.
After Mr. Sumner moved to the next privilege above
(Dresser Manufacturing Company's), about 1814, a
company was formed, and, after conducting business
about two years as the " Charlton Manufacturing Com-
pany," were incorporated February, 1816, as the
" Southbridge Factory Company, for the purpose of
manufacturing wool in Southbridge." Two years af-
terwards the company fiiiled, and the property passed
back to the heirs of the JIarcy estate. This property
had been in the name of the Marcy family ninety-
five years, when, in 1827, it passed by deed from
Hon. Jedediah Marcy to Deacon ElishaCole. Mr. Cole
deeded to Mr. Royal Smith in 1832, who conveyed
his whole interest, including the mills and water-
power here and twelve acres of land, to Mr. Ebenezer
D. Ammidown, January 20, 1836 ; consideration, nine
thousand dollars. The same day, Mr. Ammidown
deeded this property to the Dresser Manufacturing
Company, and that company conveyed the same,
with additional power, to the Central Manufacturing
Company, which was at that time organized by Mr.
Aminidown. This company erected a mill in 1837,
putting in 4480 spindles and other preparations,
with 120 looms, for making fine shirting and sheeting.

On the 27th December, 1845, the company was re-
organized, with the capital increased to $80,000 — $1000
each share, subscribed for as follows, viz. : Ebenezer
D. Ammidown, 40 shares ; Linus Child, 10 ; Manning
Leonard, 15; Chester A. Dresser, 15; the last two
not being among the first corporators.

At the organization of this company E. D. Ammi-
down was elected agent, C. A. Dresser, superin-
tendent, and M. Leonard, clerk.

In 1852 the manufacturing property was leased to
Chester A. Dresser and Manning Leonard, who oper-

SOUTHBRIDGE.

ions

ated for the company on contract for a period of five
years.

March 30, 1859, the whole estate was conveyed by
Samuel M. Lane, as assignee of the Central Manu-
facturing Company, to Chester A. Dresser and Man-
ning Leonard for forty thousand dollars, who operated
as co-partners. Then Mr. Dresser bought Mr. Leon-
ard's one-half interest for twenty-five thousand dol-
lars, and organized the " Central Mills Company," to
whom the whole estate was conveyed by deed dated
February 16, 1808, for fifty thousand dollars. (See
Central Mills Company.)

Columbian Cotton Mill, located about a mile below
the Marcy privilege. The first mill was erected in
1821. The business was conducted under a general
partnership up to the year 1825. The owners were :
Ebenezer D. Ammidown, Lament Bacon, Samuel
Hartwell, Moses Plimpton and Samuel L. Newell.
Mr. Newell lost his life by being caught in a belt.
The other partners obtained an act of incorporation
June, 1825.

The mill was destroyed by fire in December, IS-H,
and the water-power remained unused until 1850,
when Hon. E. D. Ammidown erected a brick mill on
the premises, and commenced the manufacture of
cotton jeans and flannels. This business was after-
wards conducted by his sons, Malcolm and Henry C,
to whom the projierty had been conveyed by deed.
Lieutenant Malcolm Ammidown lost his life in the
war. The property was then sold for the purpose of
eft'ecting a division of interests, and was purchased
by the brother, who sold, in 180G, to Henry T. Grant,
of Providence, R. L; consideration, thirty-seven
thousand dollars. Mr. Grant erected a large addition
to the mill, and put in forty-seven hundred and
thirty-six spindles and one hundred and eight looms,
with other preparations for making print cloths. In
1879 a foreclosure brought about a public sale, and
the property changed hands. Afterwards the mills
were destroyed by fire, and the water-power was un-
used until purchased by the American Optical Com-
pany. (vSee American Optical Co., p. 1012.)

Ashland was the former name of the location of
the mills, the lowest down the river in this town.
The first improvement of the water-power here was a
sawmill at the mouth of Lebanon Hill Brook, built
by Adolphus Ammidown in 1831. His brother,
Larkin Ammidown, built the first mill on the Quine-
baug, at this point, in 1835, and began spinning
cotton in 1836, and the same year sold the estate to
Silas H. Kimball.

In 1843 it came into the hands of a mortgagee, who
sold the estate in 1847, one-half to Stephen P. Irwin,
one-fourth to Moses E. Irwin and the other fourth to
W. A. J. Wilkinson. These grantees operated the
mill about two years, until June 5, 1849, when the
cotton-mill and machinery were destroyed by fire.
The water-power, except for a saw-mill operated part
of the time, was unused until sold to Mr. James

Saunders, of Providence, R. I., in 1864. Afterwards,
the village that had been called Ashland became
Sandersville (see p. 1012).

In the War of the Rebellion, Southbridge bore an
honorable part, with the expenditure of much money
and the loss of many valuable lives. The selectmen
during these eventful years were : Verney Fiske,
Adolphus Merriam, Malcolm Ammidown, William
C. Steadman, Manning Leonard and John 0. Mc-
Kinstry. The town clerk was Daniel F. Bacon.
Samuel M. Lane was treasurer in the years 1801-04,
and Daniel F. Bacon in 1865.

A special town-meeting was called May 0, 1861,
to contrive measures for the aid of the government
against the Rebellion, when the sum of eight thou-
sand dollars was appropriated for raising and equip-
ping a military company and for the support of the
families of these who might enter the service. Wil-
liam Beecher, John O. McKinstry, John Edwards and
Chester A. Dresser were united with the selectmen to
form a committtee to take charge of the appropria-
tion and expend it "according to their best discre-
tion." This committee were authorized to pay for
each volunteer, who resided in tlie town, a dollar and
a half each week to the wife and half a dollar to each
child under twelve years of age, during the term of
the volunteer's active service. The committee were
also to pay to each enlisted man eight dollars a month
while in active service and fifty cents for each half-
day spent in preliminary drilling. On the 7th of Oc-
tober the selectmen were authorized to pay State aid
to the families of soldiers, as provided by a law passed
at the extra session of the Legislature.

July 1, 1862, the town voted to give a bounty to
each soldier, not to exceed thirty-eight, the sum of
one hundred dollars, to be paid when the soldier was
mustered into the military service for three years and
credited to the quota of the town.

In August, the same bounty, one hundred dollars,
was voted to each volunteer, to the number of sixty,
who should enlist in a nine months' regiment and be
credited to the quota of the town.

In September, 1863, it was voted to pay State aid
to families of drafted men as well as the families of
volunteers; and in November to pay State aid to the
families of men who had died or become disabled in
the military service.

On June 20, 18l!4, the bounty to volunteers for three
years' service W'as fixed at one hundred and twenty-
five dollars.

On March 6, 1866, the sum of three thousand five
hundred dollars was raised to refund to persons who
had paid money upon subscriptions used for recruit-
ing purposes.

The number of men furnished by the town for the
war was four hundred, which was nineteen above all
demands. Among them were four commissioned
officers. The town expended on account of the war,
exclusive of State aid, $17,313.65. For State aid, half

1004

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of which was refunded by the State, $18,367.98.
Individuals voluntarily contributed $5757 more than
Avas refunded by the town. The ladies worked with
increased interest until there was no further call for
supplies. The Soldiers' Aid Society sent money and
other contributions to the amount of nearly $1200.

The auditing committee for the year ISGO reported
in the words following, referring to the list of soldiers
on the records of the town :

Below we give a list of those who have served in the Fedeiul iirmy as
soldieis during the hite war, and, so far as is known, their record.

It is, inilet'd, a Roll of Honor, to which we shall he prond to refer aa
our att'Station of the loyalty and devotion of our peoplo to the Union
of the States, an<l the canae of republican liberty. There are among
them few of rank, hut all are of honor, save in one or two instances, and
served their country well in all the vicissitudes of the war; and wt*
desire to perpetuate the nu-mory of tlie fallen and the title of the living ,
braves, by inscribing their names njion onr public Records as part of our ■
tjeht of gratitnde to them. i

Second Iiifantnj.—C. 0. McKinstry (sergeant), re enlisted in the same ; i
promoted second lieutenant.

Fourth Iiifnutry. — James liyan.

Fifth Iiifttntnj. — Wiliiaiu P. Plimpton, second enlistment.

Ninth /*i/«(i/)i/.— Kdward Byrne, Augustus Benway, John Gieason,
killed at tJaines" Mill, Virginia, June 27, l.SiJ2 ; Patrick Maher, kilhd at
Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1862; John Innis.

Tenth Infnntry. — George W. Ilersey, David F. Sniilli.

Twelfth Iiifantri/.— John C. Freeman, died a- prismierat Florence, South
Carolina, February, 18G5.

Thirteenth iH/dn^ry.— Charles C. Bigelow, L. A. Chapman, Albert E.
Morse.

Fourteenth /H/<oj?rv.— I'ortcr Plimpton.

Fifteenth Infintnj. — t'onrad AntliDU, Alexander Bryson, James C.
Barlow, .S.inford Bottom, Peter Cain, was previously in Fort Sunitcr
when bombarded, April 14, l.sfil ; Watson Cheney, Henry M. Carpenter,
George W. Faulkner, promoted to commissary sergeant; Charles M.
Hersej-, William F. Miller, corponil ; Eliot F. McKinstry, re-enlisted;
Lucian G. Lamb, W. H. Nichols, William H. Smith.

Eighlteuth fnfuntnf. — llavid Brown.

'I\pe>it!/-Jirst InfaHtry. — Timothy Cranny, James Bryson, died of fever at
Annapolis, Maryland, November 27, 1861, the first martyr from this town ;
Lucian Cunvers, Timothy Collins, killed in battle at Newbern, North
Carolina, ]March 14, 18r>2; Charles H. Greenleaf, Joseph Harman, killed
in battle, Roanoke tt^land, February 8, 1862; Charles L. Florton, Dennis
Mdhan, Charles W. Melleney, Samuel H. Marble, re-enlisted; Samuel
G. Irish, JamesS. O'Brien, OliverStone, Albert Saunders, Waldo Vinton,
Kdward Wald, Lucian W^ Spencer.

Twenty-second Infantry. — Nathan B. Angell, Benjamin S. Aldricb,
Harrison A. Bond, corporal, died August 22, 1863, from a gun-shot
wound received at Gettysburg ; John L. Bartlett, Andrew J. Clark,
Henri Elkins, died August 4, 1802, from wounds received at Gaines' Mill ;
David K. Horton, Adbou Jlorse, J. Marra, John F. Pratt, Daniel Walker,
sergeant.

Twenty-fourth Infantry. — Marvin G. Marcy, re-enlisted ; Louis Rivers,
by transfer; Andrew H. Blorse, by transfer.

Twenty-fifth Infantry. — .John E. Bassett, Samuel S. Dresser, James A.
McKinstry, EliasIM. McKinstry, A. J. McKinstry, John G. Leach, George
Link, Dwight Muore, John Ryan, John Stone, Alonzo Vinton, first
enlistment.

Thirty-fourth Tufantry. — Malcolm Ammidown, second lieutenant, taken
prisoner at Newmarket, Virginia, May 15, 1864, and died at Charleston,
South Carolina, October 1, 1804 ; bis name is given to Post 1G8, Depart-
ment of Massachusetts, G. A. R,; EberC. Pratt, first enlistment ; Francis
Arnies, first enlistment ; Linus C. Albee, Nathan B. Angell, second
enlistment ; John Bryson, was in Andersunville prison-pen; Albert O.
Blanchard, killed by accident, May 20, 1804 ; Stephen Blackmar, sergeant,
died at llai-per's Ferry, March 4, 1804 ; Charles E. Blackmar, Edwin
Bennett, Sanfwrd Broadbent, Edwin S. Beecher, Michael Bowler, W. H.
H. Cheney, member of the band ; George W. Corey, sergeant ; Joseph B.
Corey, Walter B, Cutting, killed in battle at Stickney's Farm, October
13, 1864 ; Arnold Capron, killed iu battle June 6, 18(34, at Piedmont,
Virginia; George Cougdon, George U. Dean, sergeant; George F. Fisko,
died May 2, 1864; David Fairfield, Arthur L. Fox, killed in battle at

Piedmont, Va. ; Henry C. Green, George E. Hubbard, Frederick Holmes,
David Marcy, William B. Morse, John Mack, Patrick Moriarity, David
T. T. Litchfield, member of band ; J. H. Lumbard, Ebenezer Leach,
Andrew H. Morse, transferred to Twenty-fourth ; Louis Rivers, trans-
ferred to Twenty-fourth ; MunroB Reynolds, William A. Sears, died of
wounds June IS, 1804 ; Paul Sarboro, S. Judson Tiffany, died at Ander-
soDTille slaughter-pen, Ga. ; Kaysou Tieruay. Alexander Wald.

TJiirty-eighUi Infantry.— Di\ S. C. Hartwell, volunteer surgeon to the
Army of the Potomac from April !) to May 17, 1802 ; afterwards sur-
geon of Thirty-eighth Massachusetts, and also Medical director of Gen-
eral Emory's division; resigned March 2, 1804; Andrew J. Plimpton,
surgeou's assistant.

Thirty-ninth Infantry.— WiU'mm P. Plimpton, third enlistment.

Fortieth /»(/(ii((r;^.— Richmond Barrett, sergeant ; George Eccleston,
William E. Horton, Alden Potter.

Forty-second Infantry. — James A. Knight, died in the service.

Forty-fourth Infantry. — Samuel S. Perry.

Forty-fifth Infantry.— Frank II. Dean, Charles H. Leonard, Barnard
A. Leonard, Charles A. Howard, James H. Mason, Edwin T. Moi-se,
Danforth K. OlneV, member of the band ; William P. Plimpton, first
enlistment ; Charles B. Sumner, Edwin K. Tiffauy, first enlistment.

Fifty-first /»/aH^v/.— Edward Amies, Charles G. Blanchard, Thoniaa
Burns, Jasper Bugbee, Henry M. Clemence, Philiji Cain, Flavius J.
Cheney, Joseph Corey, William B. Card, James J. Callahan, Edwin
Dexter, first enlistment ; Marcus Dillabar, James Flynn, fii-st sergeant ;
Luther S. Fox, Charles Green, George S. Lafflin, drummer ; Albert
Holmes, George A. Hanson, Fitz Henry Hall, Adelbert 0. Ucrne, first
enlistment ; Philip W. Harris, Charles N..Hager, Frederick Ivind, James
J. Leary, first enlistment ; W. 0. Mason, first enlistment ; Juhn Murray,
Joseph Moore, first enlistment ; Norval Newell, William H. Parsons,
William Ryan, fii-st eulistnient ; Thomas Ratigan, Frauds F. Spencer,
Thomas A. Stone, sergeant ; Terence Smith, Alvin S. SEreeter, William
Sabin, first enlistment ; Leonard G. Webster, John K. M'alker.

Fifty-fonrth Infantry.— :iii\\n Tanner, killed July 13, 1S(J4.

Fifty-seventh Infantry.— John Tully, Thirty-fourth, enlisted in Co. A,
Fifty-seventh, and died at .\lexandria, Va., 31ay li"., l&Oo.

Sicty-first Infantry. — WiUiam O'Brien, killed at Petei-sburg, Va.

Sixty-second Infantry. — John W . Clark.

Other Massachusetts organizations:

Thirty-fourth Slasxuchnsetts Regulars. — Julin R. Amiduu.

First Caval>T/. — William H. Belknap, died at Hartford, Conn., Decem-
ber 17, 1864 ; Ambrose Fogle, David Stone.

Fourth Cavalry. — Robert S. Bryson, Edward Egan, James Flynn,
second euliatmeut ; Edward C. Hughes, bngler ; Francis HeflTenan,
James J. Leary, second enlistment ; Joseph Link, Peter Porter, farrier ;
John Powers, Wilham Ryan. sfc<md enlistnieut, corporal ; Jason G.
Smith, first sergeant, second enlistment ; William Shumaker. died at
Andersonville slaughter-pen, Ga. ; John Spencer, died November I'.i
1864; Everett A. Town.

Fifth Cavalry.- Geovge W. Coffin (colored), died May 17, 18G4 ; Wil-
liam G. Coffin (colored).

Second Battery, Light Artillery.— Ucnry B. Blodgett, John D. Fiske,
sergeant, Nim's Battery, re-enlisted in the same.

TJiird (B) Battery. — Henry G. Ammidown. George Blackmore, died at
Hall's Hill, 1862.

Fifth Battery —Frank A. Prescott, clerk of battery.

SecoiW Heavy .irtillery. — Watson Cheney, Edwin Dexter, second en-
listment; John A. Frost, died at Newbern, N. C, October 19, 1804 ; John
W. Lucia, Isaac F. Irish, John Kelly, died May 17, ISOo; Jamca S.
O'Brien, second enlistment, died at Andersonville prison-pen, Ga.,
August 29, 1864 ; Thomas O'Harry, George Remington, Albert Saun-
ders, second enlistment ; Charles Seymour, died a prisoner at Charles-
ton, S. C. ; Alonxo A'inton, second enlistment ; Albei'tus A. Wilbur.

llolden Hifiemen. — Henry G. Annnidowu.

Fifteenth BaUery (bought). — Joseph Cub\irn, James Couologue, John
Devius, John Gilniure, James Gayton, Theodore C. Lewis, Edward
Murry, George T. Brown, William Dewitt, Samuel Newhall, William
Ripley, Aaron Bell, Thomas Brown, John Miller, Thomas Mclntire,
James McDonald, Jones Riley, George Rickert, Patrick Quinn, William
D. Waddell, George H. Cutter, Edward Farrell, Thomas Higgins, Charles
Hei-sey, James A. Johnson, John Kinney, John E. Mathews, John Wil-
liamson, Michael Walker, George Hazlett, Peter McPhail, John Scott,
Daniel Boyce, Albert Burton, George Reese, Raymond Russell, John
Smidt, Charles Sherman, Frank Turner, Henry Viuce.

Sixth United States Coloied Troop*.— Eber C. Pratt, second enlistment,

SOUTHBRIDGE.

1 005

ftecoDd lieutenaDt, acting on the EtafT of Colonel Duncan, and died De-
cember 1.5, 1864, of wounds received at Chajiin's Bluff, Va., September
29, 1864.

Corcoran Lfffion.- Timothy Crauney, second enlistment, and was pro,
nioted to first lieutenant.

Second District Columbia. — Samuel F. Plimpton, promoted commissary
sergeant, died Marcli 6. 1804; Francis D. Plimpton, died June, 180.5.

United States Caialri/, Segiiliiys — .Vndrew L. Bigelow.

Organization UnJcnoien. — Alistin Stevens, E. N. Pubbins, Henry E.
tiilbcrt.

Organizations of other States:

Third Buttery, B/wrfe filiMui.— William Calvert, rc-enlistcd.

Fifteenth Badinj, Rhode Islawl.—H. W. Brown.

Third Cauatrif, Rhode Island. — Pliilip Cain, second enlistment, died at
New Orleans.

Serenth Infantry, (hnneclicnt. — David Jiryson, died at Folly Island, S. C,
July 10, 1863.

Seventh Infantrtf, ConneclictU. — Joseph Goodale, Oliver H. Mason, ser-
geant.

Eleventh Infantrij, Connecticnt. — Francis Amies, second enlistment.

Kifjhteenth Infantry, Connecticitt. — E. P. Bowen.

First Cavalry^ AViy Hampshire — Calvin Claftlin, quartermaster-ser-
geant.

Seventh Infantry, New Hampshire. — Sanfurd Bottom, killed before Petei's-
burg, Va., September 10, 1804.

Fourth Infantry, Vermont. — Kev. Salem 31. Plimpton, chaplain.

Serrnlh Infantry, Venuont. — Philip Lucia, was in .\ndereonvine prison-
pen ten months.

Thirty-sirth Infantry, Kew York. — Bernard Flynn.

Thirty-seventh Infantry, Netv York. — Stanley F. Newell, secomi lieu-
tenant.

Thirteenth Battery, New York. — Stanley F. Xewell, second enlistment,
second lieutenant.

Tenth Cavalry, A>m York.— Warren F. Sikes.

Sixteenth Cavalry, foiou. — Edwin T. Pliniprori, died June 14, 1802.

Xavy. — William IJlute, John IJrtrns, frigate " Santee ; " Cornelius
Cummins, West Gulf Squadron, ship " Lackawana ; " Michael Eagan,
gunboat " Tasca ; *' F. A. llnrd, gunboat " Kennebec ; " Dennis Kehay,
Alexander Longmore, frigate "Santee;" Cliai'les L. Newhall, frigate
"Minnesota" and '* San Jacinto ;" Joseph Gluey, frigate "Cumber-
land."

Mention of: Captain Salem Mareh, fell at Chancellorsville, May 1,
1863, in connnand of the Second United States Regulars, twenty-eight
years of age, a graduate of West Point in ISC'O, a native of this town.

The foregoing list is rearranged from a list hav-
ing the names in ali>habetical order, found in a liis-
torical sketch of Southbridge by Holmes Animidown,
Esq.

Grand Army of the Republic. — Malcolm Am-
midown Post, No. 168, Department of Massachusetts,
G. A. R., has a fine organization, and the town will
furnish them with a Memorial Hall and convenient
quarters in the new Town-Hall building. The pres-
ent commander is Edwin T. Morse.

Auxiliary to this is the Malcolm Ammidown Re-
lief Corps, No. 71, conducted with much interest and
efficiency by the ladies.

Southbridge Light Infantry. — The grant for
a new military company in Scmthbridge, to be at-
tached to the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, was
signed by Oliver Ames, Governor and commander-
in-chief, March 26, 1888. The company was organ-
ized as Company K, and attached to the Sixth Regi-
ment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. Officers
elected were, — Cajitain, John M. Cochran; First
Lieutenant, W. F. Heron ; Second Lieutenant, F. E.
Newbury. Permanent quarters were prepared for
the company in M. J. Suprenaut's new block on

Central Street. A dedication and reception of vis-
itors occurred there December 20, 1888.

Religious Societies, Churches and Minis-
ters. — The Congregational Church originated from
a withdrawal of twenty-one members of the Congre-
gational Church in Sturbridge. They were residents
in the poll parish that was established here by an
act of the Legislature, February 28, 1801. These
members were dismissed from the church in Stur-
bridge, and organized this church on the IGth day
of September following. This small colony united
in their public religious worship with the Univer.'sal-
ists, Baptists and Jlethodists in the parish meeting-
house. With the addition of five more members,
this was the condition of the church when the parish
was, by an act of the Legislature, made a town by
the name of Southbridge, February 15, 1816. The
church members now number two hundred and fifty-
six, and two hundred and seventy-five attend the
Sunday-school. Sunday-school superintendent, H.
R. Beecher.

The " Congregational Religious Society in South-
bridge" was incorporated December 13, 1816. There
were sixty-two original corporators, "with their fam-
ilies and estates, together with such others as may
hereafter associate with them, and their successors."
August 28, 1818, for the consideration of eighteen
hundred dollars, the society obtained of Major Calvin
Ammidown the deed of one and one-fourth acres of
land, with a house designed for a parsonage. Their
meetiiig-house was erected in 1821, and dedicated
January 1, 1822. The house was remodeled in 1839,
and dedicated anew September 5th, and again re-
paired and some changes made in 1869; re-dedicated
September 24th. This liouse was removed, and a
large and elegant edifice of brick erected on the
same site, which was dedicated ini October, 1885;
located on Elm Street.

Pastors: Rev. Messrs. Ja.son Park, 1816-32; Henry
J. Lamb, 1833-35; Eber Carpenter, 1835-64; Edwin
B. Palmer, 1864-69; E. L. Jaggar, 1869-72; J. E.
Fullerton, 1873-76; Joseph Danielson, 1877-88;
Charles H. Pettibone, 18^8.

Deacons: Asa Walker, 1801-14; Daniel Morse,
1801-32; Jason Morse, 1821-31; George Sumner,
1822-39; Henry Haynes, 1831-39; Josiah Hay ward,
1839-42; Elbridge G. Harding, 1837-51; Jonathan
Cutting, 1842-75; Samuel M. Lane, 1851-86; Wil-
liam P. Plimpton, 1875; E. S. Swift, 1886.

Baptist. — The First Baptist Church of Southbridge
was established January 28, 1817. It was composed
of a colony of twenty-six, of both sexes, who with-
drew from the Baptist Church of Sturbridge.

The Central Baptist Church originated in some
diffisrences in the management of the prudential
aflairs of the First Baptist Church and Society, when,
for the sake of harmony and peace, a majority of the
members of that church withdrew their membership
in 1842, and on Sunday, the 18th of September fol-

1006

HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

lowing, organized themselves into a new church by
the name of " The Central Baptist Church of South-
bridge."

Before the division the First Baptist Church had
about one hundred ard seventy-five members; after-
wards, in the course of a few years, the old church
became extinct. The Central Baptist Church had, in
1884, one hundred and eighty-two members. The
church and society are both in prosperous circum-
stances. Three only of the twenty-four churches
that form the Worcester Baptist Association have
contributed more for outside charitable and religious
purposes. Their Sunday-school has a membership of
one hundred and seventy-eight, consisting of thirteen
classes and teachers. Their Sunday-school library is
large, and is mainly supported by the annual income
from a fund left for the purpose by one of the town's
business men, the late John Edwards, Esq.

A society was incorporated by the name of the
" First Baptist Society of Southbridge," January 29,
1822. Other denominations held meetings in the old
parish meeting-house occasionally until 1835. At
that time the house was sold at auction, bought, re-
paired and sold again in the form of slips, the deeds
of which limited the kind of preaching to that of the
Baptist belief.

In the year 1841 an association was formed and in-
corporated, styled the "Southbridge Baptist Meeting-
House Association." Measures were taken for the
erection of a new house, which was completed and
dedicated on Wednesday, October 25, 1848. This
building was burned on the evening of the 14th of
November, 1863, and entirely destroyed.

The society erected and finished, in the year 1866,
at a cost of over twenty thousand dollars, the sub-
stantial and fine-looking brick edifice they now
occupy. The organ, the cost of which was two
thousand dollars, was given by Chester A. Dresser,
Esq., and the late John Edwards, Esq., the whole
being the sole property of the society. They have
recently purchased a handsome parsonage, and are
entirely free from debt.

Pastors: Rev. Messrs. George Angell, 1816, died
1827; Addison Parker, 1827-32; David C.Bowles,
1833-35; Joseph G. Binney, 1835-37; Sewell S.
Cutting, 1837-45 ; C. P. Grosvenor, last pastor of the
First Church, 1842-44; Timothy G. Freeman, 1845-
47; Oakman S. Stearns, D.D., 1847-54; Shubal S.
Parker, 1855-67; B. F. Bronson, 1867-73; H. H.
Rhees; A. G. Upham, 1877-83; Goram Easterbrooks,
1884.

Deacons, First Church: Cyrus Ammidown, 1817-
21; Joshua Vinton, 1817-21; Elisha Cole, 1821-44;
Samuel Fiske, 1821-35 ; Marvin Cheney, 1835-44.

Deacons, Central Baptist Church : Marvin Cheney,
Henry Fiske, Adouiram Coombs, Charles E. Steward,
Alpha M. Cheney, 1878 ; Joseph F. Esten, 1883-85 ;
Lucius E. Ammidown, 1885.

Methodist Episcopal. — During the existence of the

poll parish the several families of Methodists here
joined in support of religious worship with the other
denominations, and occasionally had a preacher of
their own belief. In the year 1832 they for the first
time maintained separate worship in Southbridge.
Their meetings were held in the district school-house
in the Globe Village for a period of nearly six years.
The Rev. Hezekiah Davis, of Dudley, conducted ser-
vices there the first year or two.

When their church was formed, in 1834, the Meth-
odist Conference provided for this new church. Rev.
F. P. Tracy was placed here, a young man about nine-
teen years of age. He was an able scholar and pos-
sessed remarkable powers of eloquence. The church
and society increased rapidly under his ministry. It
soon became necessary to obtain larger quarters to
accommodate the crowds of eager listeners.

In the year 1840 this society moved into the second
story of the old Globe Factory, and held their meet-
ings there about three years. At the close of this
period it was decided to take measures for erecting a
I meeting-house. An eligible location was obtained
through the liberality of Jedediah Marcy, Esq., and
during the year 1843 the Methodist Church was built.
Since 1870 it has been remodeled and beautified inside
and out. It is located on Main Street, opposite the
Marcy house.

The present number of church members (1888) is
one hundred and seventy-eight. The Sabbath-school,
George T. McVey, superintendent, has two hundred
members. The ministers furnished them by the
Methodist Conference, since they entered their own
house, are as follows : Rev. Messrs. Stephen P. Cush-
^ ing, 1844; L. R. Thayer, 1845-46; Chester Field,
1847; Mark Staples, 1848-49; Charles McKeddiug,
i 1850; William R. Raynall, 1851-52; David Sherman,
1853-54 ; Joseph Denison, 1855 ; John Caldwell, 1856 ;
J. B. Bigelow, 1857-58 ; Ichabod Marcy, 1859-60 ; I.
W. Morey, 1861-62 ; N. D. George, 1863 ; T. J. Ab-
bott, 1864; J. W. Lewis, 1865-67; W. A. Braman,
1868-69; William Silverthorn, 1870-72; W. A. Not-
tage, 1873-75; John C.Smith, 1876-78; E. S. Best,
1879; J. M. Avann, 1880-82; G. Beekman, 1883-84;
W. J. Pomfret, 1885-87; N. Fellows, 1888.

The First Universalist /Sbc/e/e/.— Universalism was
.strong, even in the days of the parish, and they con-
timied their right and occasional occupaucy in the
parish meeting-house until it became exclusively the
property of the Baptist Society in 1836.

In 1838 the form of constitution as contained in the
Revised Statutes of Massachusetts, in Chapter XX.,
Sections 26, 27 and 28, was circulated, and eighty sig-
natures were obtained as male members. Preliminary
steps having been taken, the first meeting of the so-
ciety was held at the New England Hotel (located on
the present site of the Edwards house), April 14, 1838,
and was called to order by Benjamin D. Hyde, Esq.,
when the proper officers were elected for the organi-
zation of the society. It was voted that the society

SOUTHBKIDGE.

10(17

be called by the name of The First Universalist So-
ciety of Southbridge.

Their meetings were held, first in Dr. Hartwell's
Hall, afterwards in the then new Town Hall. Their
present church building, corner of Hamilton and
Main Streets, was erected and the bell purchased in
1842. Pastors: Kev. Messrs. John Boyden, 1838-40;
Franklin Whitaker, 1841-43; J. M. Usher, 1844;
R. O. Williams, 1845-46; Day K. Lee, 1847-49; B.
F. Bowles, 1850-51 ; Mr. Cambridge and Mr. Eliot,
1852; J. W. Lawton, 1853-55; John Nichols and B.
F. Bowles, 1856; W. W. Wilson, 1857-63; A. B.
Hervey, 1864; F. C. Flint, B. V. Stevenson, Frank
McGuire, 1882-88; Ephraim A. Reed, 1888. Sun-
day-school superintendent, George C. Winter.

Evangelical Free Church, Globe Village. — This
church had its origin in a movement of some of the
members of the other evangelical churches of this
town. A conference was held in this village in De-
cember, 1853, when it was unanimously decided:
" That the necessities of this village require estab-
lished preaching and the ordinances of the gospel ;
and that it is the duty of Christians in this vicinity
to unite in the support of this object." At a meeting
held January 21, 1854, the Rev. G. Trask, of Fitch-
buig. Rev. Oakman S. Stearns and D. Sherman, of
Southbridge, were present and united their efforts in
sustaining the measures for laying the foundation of
this church. Statements of the necessities and mo-
tives for prompt action in its favor wei'e made by L.
W. Curtis, M.D., George Hanson, Robert lOUiot and
Oliver Plimpton. The Evangelical Free <!hurch was
then organized, with twenty-nine members, — eleven
males and eighteen females, — who were originally
connected with the Congregational, Baptist, Method-
ist, Presbyterian and Protestant Episcopal Churches.

Public worship was held in Gothic Hall until 1869,
when the Hamilton Woolen Company placed at the
disposal of the society a beautiful and capacious
brick church.

The success of this movement has proved that
Christian unity, ignoring sectarian divisions, does
not decrease the interest felt for religious services,
but tends to greater sympathy and purer motive*,
])roducing harmony and prosperity. Number ot
members in the church, one hundred and sixty-one.
The Sunday-school numbers one hundred and forty,
B. U. Bugbee, superintendent. Pastors : Rev. Messrs.
J. Cunningham, 1855; W. C. Whitcomb, 1856-57;
Henry Loomis, 1859; Thomas Morony, 1860-63;
Martin L. Richardson, 1863-66; Austin Dodge, 1867 ;
Frank A. Warfield, George A. Jackson, 1878; G. H.
Willsou, 1878-80 ; Rev. Sylvanus Hayward, installed
December 28, 1880, is the present pastor.

Catholic Church of Si. Mary's. — In the year 1840,
month of September, the Rev. G. Fitton, afterwards
pastor of South Boston, called the Catholic people
together at the house of Lawrence Seavy in Globe
Village. There were present at this first meeting

twelve persons. For the next six years they were
visited about twice a year by the following priests,
viz.: Rev. G. Fitton, 1840-43; Father Williams, 1844-
Father Gibson, 1845, and Father Logan, 1846, the
last named being the first to visit them on Sunday.
Afterwards the Rev. John Boyce, of Worcester, found
it necessary to engage the town hall every two months
to give service to this people. Having decided, in

1852, to erect a church, Mr. Wm. Edwards gener-
(U*ly gave them the land for a location, upon which
[hey commenced July 12, 1852. On Sunday, Jlay 1,

1853, their church was dedicated under tlie invocation
of Saint Peter by the Kt. Rev. J. B. Fitzpatrick,
Bishop of Boston. In August, 1858, the Rev. James
Quan was appointed pastor here and at Welsster, as
one parish.

In September, 1865, the Catholic Church of South-
bridge was set aside as a parish by itself, and a pastor,
Rev. A. M. Barrett, D.D., appointed for it. The
parish, as then organized, included Southbridge,
Sturbridge and Charlton, and numbered about two
thousand souls.

The Rev. Dr. Barrett was dismissed from this serv-
ice in the autumn of 1869, when followed the division
of this first society.

The Rev. J. McDermott was in charge of the Irish
portion about a year; then the Rev. John Kremmens
was assigned by Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield, to
the pastorate.

Father Kremmens was "a man of a reat strength of
will, and ]>ower and capacity to build, guide and care
tor his charge, and to lead it on to a surprising unity,
strength and prosperity — constant and successful."
The parsonage was burned soon after he came here,
but the present one was soon built. The old church
was removed to the west side of the lands, the surface
of the lot wss graded and set out with trees, the new
and commodious edifice for worship was erected and
all these were paid for during his services here, be-
sides the neat little chapel at Fiskdale.

"Those grounds, embowered with shading trees and
carpeted in nature's living green, wherein he lived
his cheerful, helpful life and serenely died — wherein
his remains now lie, at his request, entombed beneath
the shadow of the beautiful church edifice he designed
and built as a monument of his taste, and of his
faith in his work in behalf of his people — will long
be looked upon, as time shall pass away, as the evi-
dence of his genius and ability to surmount obstacles
and inspire others with something of his own sense
and enterprise and energy." He died July 18, 1886,
and was buried near his beautiful tree-embowered
church. Over his grave has been placed a fine mon-
ument, in which is canopied a portrait bust chiseled
in enduring marble.

The Rev. James Donohoe is the present pastor of
St. Mary's.

The French Catholics withdrew from the Irish the
latter part of the year 1869, under the charge of Rev.

[(MR

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

M. F. Le Breton as priest. The Notre Dame Church,
the largest house for public religious worship in this
town, was erected by them on Pine Street upon land.s
adjoining those of the old society. The Rev. M. F.
Le Breton was succeeded by Rev. G. E. Brochu, who
at present officiates as priest of Notre Dame.

Schools. — School districts, seven in number, were
established when the town was organized in 1816;
and so remained, with little alteration as to territory,
while the district system was in operation.

In 1868, March 2d, by vote of the town, the sev-
eral school districts were abolished ; and the town
entered upon and look possession of the property ot
the districts, in accordance with the provision of the
general statutes, chapter xxxix., section 3.

The numagement of the public schools by the
town has been in accordance with the provisions of
the general statutes, from time to time enacted ;
adopting such changes as the needs of the town and
the spirit of the times have demanded.

A committee of six, serving three years, two of the
number being elected annually and two retiring,
constitutes the School Committee of the town. A
superintendent of schools is employed by the year to
devote his whole time to the school interests. The
report of that officer, Mr. J. T. Clarke, for the year
ending February 29, 1888, being the third of the
series of the annual reports of the superintendent of
schools, furnishes statistics from which is obtained
the following :

The town supports a High School, eighteen graded,
and three ungraded schools ; also evening schools to
.answer the requirements of the "Illiterate Minor
Bill" of June, 1887, are established.

"The May enrolment of the children of school
age gave 1515, an increase of 9G over the previous
enrollment. The public schools have enrolled 999,
which is 111 more than last year. The parochial
school reports 625 as the number enrolled, with an
average attendance of 490. Allowing for those over
15, and for the duplicate enrollment of the few who
have attended both the parochial and the public
schools a part of the year, the result indicates that
there are very few children of school age in town
who have not attended school a part of the year."

The total expenditures of the town, less the perma-
nent repairs, for the year was §14,608.15.

A High School was established in 1841, and main-
tained by private contribution until appr()i)riations
were made by the town beginning in 1864. A room
in the upper story of the old town house was occu-
pied by the High School until that building was
taken down in 1887. Very fine accommodations in
the lower story of the new Town Hall-High School
building combined will be furnished at an early
day.

The Southbridge Public Library was established
by vote of the town March, 1870, at which time one
thousand dollars and the dog fund, $176.17, was ap-

propriated. At first the books were kept in Whit-
ford's Block, but on the 1st of January, 1872, the col-
lection was removed to the commodious rooms in
Ammidown Block, designed expressly for the pur-
pose.

By the report of March 1, 1888, the library at that
time contained 12,141 books and 1557 pamphlets and
periodicals unbound. During the year the total
number of books consulted at the library was 3199;
total number of volumes taken for home use, 14,949.
A reading-room is connected with the library, which
is also supplied with current periodicals. A museum,
containing natural curiosities and antiquities, is in
the same building. Miss A. J. Comins is the libra-
rian, and Miss J. S. Smith, assistant.

Societies. — There are two Masonic Lodges, viz.,
the (Juinebaug Lodge, F. and A. JL, and Doric
Chapter, R. A. M., meet at Masonic Hall, Main,
corner of Hamilton Streets ; Phoenix Council, No.
333, Royal Arcanum, meets in their hall in Ammi-
down Block, Jlain Street ; Southbridge Lodge, No.
47, I. 0. O. F., meets at Odd Fellows' Hall, Savings
Bank Building; Ancient Order of Hibernians, organ-
ized in 1873; St. Jean Baptiste Society, meets at Me-
morial Block, Main Street; St. Mary's Total Absti-
nence Society, meets at their room in Chapin's Block,
Hamilton, corner of Crane Street ; and many more
of a social, literary, musical or benevolent character.
The Good Samaritan and the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union Societies have ilone good work;
also the Young Women's Christian Temperance
Union, which still exists.

A Young Men's Christian Association was organ-
ized in 1882, and started oif very auspiciously. A
Star Course of Lectures has been instituted, and kept
up each winter season. Their rooms, in Edwards'
Block, are open every week-day evening until ten
o'clock. The association has purchased an elegible
site, corner of Main and Elm Streets, now occupied
by the " Columbian " building, where they contem-
plate erecting, at some future time, a suitable edifice
for the prosecution of their work. President, George
W. Wells ; Vice-Presidents, F. W. Eaton and B. U.
Bugbee ; Executive Secretary, C. D. Munroe ; Clerk,
F. C. Hill; Treasurer, E. A. Wells.

Banks. — The Southbridge Bank was incorporated
in 18.36; capital, one hundred thousand dollars. This
bank was authorized to increase its capital stock fifty
thousand dollars in 18.'>4, which sum was subscribed
and paid in the same year. It was converted into a
National Banking Association under the act of Con-
gress of June, 1864, and commenced business as such
April 1, 1865, with a capital of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. The presidents of the Southbridge
Bank and Southbridge National Bank have been as
follows: Samuel A. Hitchcock, 1836-52; Jacob Ed-
wards, Jr., 1852-62; Samuel M. Lane, 1862; Jacob
Edwards. The cashiers have been : Samuel M. Lane,
1836-62; Henry D. Lane, 1862-67; Francis L.

SOUTHBRIDGE.

1009

Chapin, 1867 to the present time. Southbridge Sav-
ings Banlc, incorporated by an act of the Legislature,
approved April 28, 1848, and commenced business in
,Tune following. E)benezer D. Animidown, Esc)., was
elected the first pre.sident, in 1848, and continued till
1849; he having resigned, Dr. Samuel Hartwell was
elected his successor in 1850. Manning Leonard,
Esq., was chosen the first secretary, and Samuel M.
Lane, Esq., treasurer. The present officers are:
President, Robert H. Cole; Treasurer, C. D. Mun-
roe; Vice-Presidents, S. Dresser, C. A. Paige and C.
A. Dresser ; Secretary, 0. D. Munroe.

Newspapers.— Beginning in 1828, when there
were but two other papers in this county, Pierpont <
Edwards Bates Botham started the Reformer and \
Mnraii.tt, a four-page paper, nineteen by thirteen
inches, advocating firmly the cause of temperance,
upon the total abstinence principle. The name of
the paper, after the first year, was changed to Tlie
Moralist and General Intelligencer. It was located
in the old brick house opposite the residence of the
late Dr. Hartwell. Mr. Botham failed, and the prop-
erty passed into the hands of Moses Plimpton, who
sold it to Josiah Snow, of Providence. Under the
direction of L. H. (xoland the •Southbridge Register
appeared in February, 1829. In 1832 Mr. Snow sold
the property to Joslin & Tiffany, who, on the 7th of
February 1832, i.ssued the first number of The Vil-
lage Courier. Edwin D. Tiffany wishing to conduct
a political paper in the interest of the Whig party,
bought out Milton Joslin, and hung out the Henry
Clay flag in August following; while an opposition ,
paper, called the True Republican, supporting An- |
drew Jackson, was started by H. G. O. Parks, and
continued until the close of the campaign. The last
issue of the Courier was No. 52, on the 31st of Janu-
ary, 1833. In 1830 the Ladies' Mirror was started.
Each number contained eight pages, nine by eleven
inches. One volume and a few numbers of the sec-
ond were issued, George W. H. Fiske, Josiah Snow
and W. W. Sherman successively publishing it. We
have no account of any printing in this town from '
that time until 1853, in October, when W. F., Brown,
of Brookfield, and W. L. (Jreene started t\\e South-
bridge Press in a house on the site of the C. A. Dresser
house. Nine numbers only of this paper were issued
by the above firm. They sold the paper to Sidney
Clarke, who, in January, 1854, recommenced the
publication of the Press. Later he associated Clarke
.Fillson with him, and the paper was issued by them
until 185(i, when Mr. Clarke was again alone, con-
tinuing until 1857, when E. A. Denny bought and
published it until 1858. Then Mr. Charles L. New-
hall started the Saturday Morning News, which, in
turn, in 1860, gave way to the Quinebaug Item, of O.
D. Haven.

The iSo«i;/t6r«/f/eJo!(r?j«; superseded the above paper
in 1861, and was issued by Henry C. Gray until
August 17, 1868. William B. Morse became proprie-
64

tor and editor and conducted the business till Decem-
ber, 1871, when George M. Whitaker became his asso-
ciate. Mr. Whitaker became sole proprietor anil edi-
tor, 1874, in January. Under the able management
of Mr. Whitaker, the journal has been brought to
rank among the best, and its influence in favor of edu-
cation, temperance and good morals is outspoken and
decided. In 1887 Mr. Maitland P. Foster became sole
proprietor and editor of the journal.

The Enterprise was started in 1874, by Charles L.
Newhall and P. L. Schriftgiesser. The Journal office
was burned out in December of '74, and the outfit of
the Enterprise was sold to Mr. Whitaker, of the former
paper.

In 1878 Mr. William W. Corbin started the Tran-
script, which did not live a year.

The Southbridge Herald, started by INlr. W. ^V.
Corbin in 1881, was a success, and gained a firm foot-
hold in the community before the death of Jlr. Cor-
bin in 1884. The present editor and proprietor, Mr.
William T. Robinson, took the management in 1886,
and by his enterprise and ability has brought the
Herald to be one of the best of country locals.

A paper in the French language, called the L'Etoile
de I' Est, was started in 1872 by C. Desmarais ; but the
portion of the community even then, who could not
read the English papers was too small to give it ade-
quate support, and it was discontinued.

Mutual Gas-Light Company. — President, Hiram
C. Wells; Treasurer, C. A. Dresser; Directors, C. A.
Dresser, Hiram C. Wells, Andrew Hall, 1. P. Hyde,
J. M. Cochran.

Southbridge Electric Light Company. — In-
corporated in 1887 with a capital of fifteen thousand
dollars. President, Chester A. Dresser ; Treasurer,
Hiram C.Wells; Directors, C. A. Dresser, Andrew
Hall, E. I. Garfield, H. A. Pattison, Thos. T. Robin-
son ; Clerk, J. M. Cochran.

Aqueducts. — The first aqueduct company in South-
bridge was organized in the year 1825. The principal
object was the introduction of water to the new hotel,
built that year on the site where the Edwards house
now stands. The proprietors were jAither, I.,arkin,
Oliver and Holmes Ammidown, owners of the hotel,
and Elisha Cole.

The Southbridge Aqueduct Company was organized
June 22, 1831. It was originated by Holmes Ammi-
down for the purpose of introducing water to his
dwelling-house, erected in the year 1830, and with
that view the water was cxmdticted to a reservoir near
the house. From that point, now the residence of
Mr. C. A. Paige, the water was distributed to the
shareholders, about fourteen in number, comprising
nearly all the dwelling-houses at that time in the
village.

The Southbridge Water Supplg Company was or-
ganized in 1881. President, F. L. Chapin ; treasurer,
F. W. Eaton. This company entered upon the work
of furnishing the more copious supply of water,

1010

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

which was the pressing need of the village. A
reservoir was made on elevated land southwest of the
village, and the laying of pipes has progressed from
year to year. In 1888 a new reservoir was con-
Btructed, on the same stream, of larger dimensions,
and in the most thorough and scientific manner.
This reservoir is of an average depth of sixteen feet,
and has a surface of four acres.

Fire Department. — The manual force consists of
a chief and four assistants, two steamer companies of
fifteen men each, and two hook-and-ladder companies
of ten men each ; also eleven hoi'ses subject to the
call of the department. Chief, Calvin Claflin ; first
assistant, A. H. Cozzens; second assistant, B. C.
Stone ; third assistant, J. W. Robinson ; fourth as-
sistant and clerk, Michael Egan.

Railroad. — A road from Southbridge to Black-
stone, about thirty-four miles, was chartered May 1,
1849. The completion of this road, so anxiously
looked for by the people of this town, was not ac-
complished until 1866. Other sections making a
through connection with Boston, having been pre-
viously completed, the entire line to the depot in
Southbridge was finished by putting down the last
rail at 5J o'clock p.m., November 9, 1866, when the
first train of cars, the same evening, having run from
Boston over the whole line, entered the depot
grounds.

This point is now the terminus of the " South-
bridge Branch " of the New York and New England
Railroad.

The road furnishes the convenience of outside
communication and of freight transportation, which
has made possible the recent remarkable growth of
the town.

District Court. — The First District Court of
Southern Worcester was established by an act of
the Legislature, approved May 26, 1871, to take ef-
fect the first day of August following. The jurisdic-
tion of this court embraces a district composed of
the towns of Sturbridge, Southbridge, Charlton^
Dudley, Oxford and Webster. This court consists of
one standing justice and of two special justices-
Hon. Clark Jillson, the first appointed standing jus-
tice now (1888) holds that office. Frederick W. Bot-
ham, Esi|., of Southbridge, one of the two first ap-
pointed special justices is deceased, and Eli-ha M.
Phillips, Esq., of Southbridge, has that position.
These courts are held for criminal offenses on Mon-
day, Wednesday and Friday at Southbridge, and on
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at Webster, in each
week, except legal holidays; and for civil business
in Southbridge on Monday, and at Webster on Tues-
day of each week, and at such other times as may be
fixed according to law.

Agriculture. — The soil of this town is usually
good ; some tracts may be called excellent.

Several good farms have remained in the families
of the early settlers ; more proportionally, perhaps.

than is usual. In the southeast part of the town
Mr. Daniel Pratt lives, where his ancestor, Henry
Pratt, settled on lot No. 42, second division, surveyed
in 1733, and drawn to the original right of Ephraim
Partridge. Next north of Mr. Pratt is Mr. W.
Morse, who lives where his ancestor, Daniel Morse,
settled on lot No. 41. In the southerly central part
of the town Mr. A. H. Morse lives where his great-
great-grandfather settled before 1738, on two lots:
No. 17, originally the minister's right, Rev. Caleb
Rice; No. 18, drawn to the original right of John
Shearman, who sold his shares, in 1735, to Ezekiel
Upham.

The next farm north of the last-named is that of
James H. Mason, on lot No. 16, drawn to the origi-
nal right of Ichabod Harding; has been in the fam-
ily since 1738, when Jonathan Mason bought of
David Morse.

The Clark place, on the road to Lebanon Hill, has
been in the family since 1744. It was lot No. 33,
originally drawn to the right of .Joshua Morse.

In the north part of the town Provostus and W.
F. McKiustry occupy lands upon which their ances-
tor, William McKinstry, settled, as mentioned in an-
other place.

The farms above mentioned, to which may be
added, in the southeast part, those of Hiram and
Manson Morse, A. Haskell, Lucien and the late L.
A. Lyon ; in the southwest, the farms of the late
Lewis Morse, A. J. Plimpton and A. Marcy ; north
of the river, the late T. N. Harding, Nathan McKin-
stry and others in various parts of the town, little, if
any, less worthy of mention, atlbrd examples of
thorough and successful farming in the conservative
style, new methods being ado]jted to some extent.
The well-known farms of Dr. L. W. Curtis, George
L. Clemence and W. H. H. Cheney furnish fine ex-
amples of progressive agriculture.

As reported in the census of Massachusetts of 188.5,
there are 2108 acres under cultivation, including
grassland and orcharding, and 396.5 acres iu perma-
nent pasture in the town. This amount of land is
divided into 77 farms of sizes ranging from less than
2 to over 500 acres ; about half of the number con-
taining between lOu and 300 acres.

The number of farm laborers was 129, owners and
others making up the total of 217 employed in agri-
culture. The total value of agricultural products was
$102,206.

The first town-bouse was built in 1837-38, at a
total expense, including land, of .'i?3S09.78. The
town's portion of the United States surplus revenue
of 1837 (a part of which was distributed to the States
that year) was appropriated to this use. The walls
were of brick, two stories in height, and a small
cupola on the top of the building. The lower story
was fitted up for a town-hall, and the upper for the
High School.

When the town decided, in 1887, to erect a new

SOUTHBRIDGE.

1(111

building on the same spot, the old town-house was
taken down.

The Town Hall-High School building, now being
built, is seventy-five feet in width and one hun-
dred and nineteen feet in length, and will contain the
following rooms, viz. :

In the basement, two play-rooms, laboratory,
boiler-room, water-closets, etc.

In the first story, a school-room for the High
School, two recitation-rooms, one for a library, one
for the superintendent of schools, a small hall, a
memorial hall, town clerk's office, etc.

In the second story, a town-hall, with capacity to
seat twelve hundred and fifty persons, and four large
rooms to be used in connection with it.

The structure has a granite basement, and above
that the materials are bricks, brown-stone and terra-
cotta. There will be a tower one hundred and thirty-
seven feet in height.

The whole building will be a very substantial
structure, and for adaptability to the purposes in-
tended and for architectural appearance, it will rank
in the first class in the State.

The corner-stone was "laid by all the rights of the
Masonic Order" by the M. W. Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts. It was just eighty-eight years from
the dedication of the first meeting-house in old
Honest-town to the laying of the corner-stone of the
grandest structure ever erected in Southbridge.
These events occurred — as did also the raising of the
frame of the old meeting house in 1797 — on the 4th
of July, and represent epochs in the history of the
town.

Manuf.vctures, — Exi.sTiNG Corporations on
THE QuiNEBAUG. — LUchfield Shuttle Company, in-
corporated in 1878, with a capital of twenty-one
thousand dollars. The President is P. T. Litchfield ;
Treasurer, John M. Cheney ; Clerk, Frank C. Litch-
field. Their plant is located on the Quinebaug, be-
tween Westville and Globe Village, where they have
oue of the largest and fiaest factories for the manu-
facture of shuttles in this country. The)' produce
shuttles and shuttle-irons and are also sole manufac-
turers of the Thompson patent adjustable tension eye-
shuttle. None but the most thoroughly seasoned
stock is used, and their customers number many of
the fine, large mills both in New England and the
South. Their reputation as manufacturers of a high
grade of shuttles is second to none.

The Hamilton Woolen Company, with a corporate
capital of two hundred thousand dollars, organized
June 29, 1831, as follows: Samuel A. Hitchcock,
president ; Willard Sayles, clerk ; Samuel A. Hitch-
cock, Willard Sayles and Lorin Norcross, directors.
The productive power at this time was five sets of
machinery, with the dyeing and finishing apparatus
suitable for the manufacture of broad-cloth. There
were twenty-eight broad looms, and there were man-
ufactured in the first year of their operations forty

thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight and one-
half yards of broad-cloths.

The factory buildings were the old " Globe" mill,
which gave name to the village, and is now the car-
penter's shop standing near the bridge, and the
" Wolcott brick mill," which has given place to the
larger structures of the '' Print works."

To illustrate in a small measure the growth of
business at Globe Village, the larger constructions
and improvements, with the increase of capital stock,
may be briefly mentioned.

The " Big Dam " was raised in height about three
feet above its former condition, and greatly strength-
ened ; the great six-story brick mill was erected and
filled with machinery 1836-38. This more than
doubled the productive capacity for making broad-
cloths. Monthly payment to employes was inaugu-
rated, the manufacture of delaines introduced, and
the wooden mill near the dam erected in which to
make the cotton warp in 1844. An increase of capital
stock was granted in 1845 to five hundred thousand
dollars. An act for the further increase of the capital
of this company to one million dollars was granted
by the Legislature and approved February 14, 1846,
and in September, 1849, the company voted to issue
new stock to the amount of one hundred thousand
dollars, which increased the paid-in capital to six
hundred thousand dollars. The same year the brick
mill near the big dam was erected. December 9,
1850, the large six-story brick mill was destroyed by
fire. It was rebuilt in the year 1851, with the addi-
tion of the two-story wing.

The lower mill, near the depot and opposite the
Cliff, was erected in 1860, and was ]iut in operation
in 1864. In 1861 the big dam was greatly strength-
ened and made a substantial and durable structure ;
also, this year, the print-works were greatly enlarged
and improved.

In 1865 the company made a large addition to
their reservoir supply of water by the construction of
extensive works in the town of Holland, which in-
sures a constant supply. The great dam was raised
again to the amount of four feet above its former
height, about 1872. The whole plant, flowage and
all, occupies the river fully a mile, of which the com-
pany owns the land on both sides, with numerous
tenement houses, business blocks, other building and
farm-lands.

Since 1873 the Hamilton Woolen Company have
used their reserve funds in the purchase and fitting
up of the old Salisbury Mills at Amesbury, Massachu-
setts; consequently no further enlargement or im-
provement has been made at Globe Village. They are
now running at this place 25,632 spindles and 942
looms, giving employment to 1097 hands. The yearly
production of worsted dress goods and cassimeres is
12,000,000 yards.

Samuel A. Hitchcock had charge of the works here
from the organization of the company until 1836.

1012

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Samuel L. Fiske was agent from 1836 to 1846. Joshua
Ballard, Jr., succeeded Mr. Fiske as agent, which
position he held until elected treasurer of the com-
pany in ISO."), when his brother, (Jay ton Ballard,
succeeded him as agent.

The present officers in charge of the works at Globe
Village are: Mr C. A. Coleman, treasurer; and Mr.
John Tatterson, agent. Mr. Tatterson commenced
his agency here in the beginning of the year 1878.

The Central Mills Company. — The corporators of
this company were : Chester A. Dresser, of South-
bridge, Samuel and William Foster and T. A. Randall,
of Providence, R. 1.

The manufacturing interests of the company have
been successfully managed by Mr. Chester A. Dresser,
the resident proprietor, to the present time. Mr.
Dresser is now president and treasurer of the com-
pany, and his son, Mr. Henry B. Dresser, is the
superintendent.

At a regular semi-annual meeting of the company
in July, 1888, it was decided to build an addition to
the wing on the east side of the mill — the new ])art to
be one hundred and twenty-five feet in length by
sixty-five feet in width, and three stories high. This
(January, 1889) has been accomplished. The addi-
tional room increases the machinery from 6000 spin-
dles to about 10,000, and the looms from 150 to
above 260 ; this, with the improvement in machinery
and methods, will more than double the productive
capacity of ten years ago.

Soiithbridye Steam Laundrtj, owned by Jlr. ^V'ilIianl
P. Plimpton, is the next on the river.

American Optical Company, Manufacturers, of Spec-
tacles and Eye-glasses, in Gold, Silver and Steel.— Au
examination of the industries of Southbridge reveals
the fact that there are several extensive enterprises
carried on here which demand special attention at
our hands, and which will arouse the interest of the
reader, not only by their magnitude, but by the pre-
eminence which they have achieved. Foremost
among such is the enterprise of the xVmerican Optical
Company, known ihroughout the world as manufac-
turers of lenses, spectacles and eye-glasses, in gold,
silver and steel. The character of the business and
the impetus which its prosecution has given to the
general thrift of this community make it a fit theme
for comment, and entitle it to a prominent jdace in
the pages of this volume. The business was first
inaugurated, in 18o3, by Mr. William Beecher, who is
still an honored resident of Southbridge. About 1812
he disposed of the business to Messrs. Ammidown &
Putney, which firm was soon after succeeded by
Messrs. Ammidown & Son. In 1856 Mr. Beecher
returned to his first love, and, in company with Mr.
R. H. Cole, now the president of the company, formed
the firm of Beecher & Cole, who conducted it till
1862, when the firm of R. 11. Cole & Co. was organized,
remaining as proprietors until 1869, when the present
company was incorporated. The officers of the com-

pany are Mr. R. H. Cole as president ; G. W. Wells,
treasurer ; and H. C. Cady, superintendent. The
main factory, used for the manufacture of spectacle
and eye-glass frames, is a three-story frame building,
with finished brick basement, which was erected in
1872, to which additions were made in 1879, 1882 and
1886, comprising some sixty thousand feet of floor
space. The lens factory was built in 1887 and is two
stories in height, two hundred and thirty-two feet
long, sixty-three feet v.ide and is specially constructed
and adapted to the business of manufacturing lenses,
and contains forty thousand feet floor space. This
firm employs over six hundred workmen, all proficient
in their work and experienced in the art of manufac-
turing. The machinery, much of which is extremely
ingenious, and a large portion of which was designed
by active members of the firm, for the special uses
to which it is applied, is operated by water-power,
aggregating three hundred horse-power, with steam
auxiliary of seventy-five horse-power. The company
have invested in the business about six hundred
thousand dollars, and their output aggregates over
four hundred dozen spectacles and eye-glasses per
day (fifty dozen of which are gold), or one million
five hundred thousand pairs per year, and much more
than the above of lenses. The demand for their
goods comes from all parts of the country, and also
from many foreign countries. The management has
brought the business to a wonderful degree of elabo-
ration and system, and they have the satisfaction of
knowing that their goods are not excelled by any in
the markets of the new or the old world, and that
they have the largest and most complete manufactory
of the kind in the world. The company nielled in
the year 1888 two hundred and eighty-eight thousand
five hundred dollars of gold and silver, and their
pay-roll amounts to over five thousand dollars per
week.

The Lumber Yard and Manufactory of Jolin &
L. D. Clemence is on Mechanic Street, and employs
the water-power next below the American Optical
Com])auy's factory. This firm does a large business
in builders' furnishings.

Hyde Manufacturing Company, incorporated in
1881, located on Main Street between the above-
mentioned lumber-yard and Lensdale, manufacture
shoe-knives, shaves and other shoe-tools. President,
Treasurer and Clerk, I. P. Hyde.

Sandersdale. — This pretty little hamlet, pleasant-
ly situated on the banks of the Quinebaug River, one
and three-quarters miles from Southbridge, deserves
more than a passing notice, as it has gained celebrity
not only through earnest and successful endeavor on
the part of the late James Sanders, from whom it de-
rives its name, but by persistent and untiring efforts
of Thomas and James H. (sons of the deceased found
er), who, having been thoroughly instructed in the
art of calico printing, and endowed with excellent

SOUTHBRIDGE.

1013

business qualifications, have brought the works to its
present high standard.

James Sanders, now deceased, was born in Lanca-
shire, Enghind, in 1811, and at thirteen years of age
was apprenticed to a block printer. After a seven
years' apprenticeship he continued at his trade until
1842, when he came to this country and settled in Fall
River, Mass., entering the employ of the American
Print Works. He married in 1844, and moved to
Rhode Island in 1848, and in 1850, in company with
his brother-in-law, the late James Abbott, leased the
Crompton Print Works. After a business connection
of ten years, H. N. Slater purchased Mr. Abbott's
share, and the new firm continued for nearly three
years, when James Sanders took entire control.

In 18154 he purchased what is now known as Sand-
ersdale, but at that time as Ashland, the area com-
prising several hundred acres of land and three or
four houses, together with excellent water-power and
water privileges suitable for the purposes of a print
works. Having amassed a handsome fortune, he com-
menced ihe erection of the present works in 1868, and
the chart hanging in the office shows the following
dimensions, the buildings, being designated as No. li
2, 3, etc. :
No. 1. 'Printing building, 265 feet by 57 feet.
No. 2. Dyeing, bleaching, finishing and boiler build-
ing, 250 by 107.

No..?. F^igraving and packing room building, 115
by 48.
No. 4. Boiler house and engine-room, 65 by 50.
No. 5. Liquor shop, 70 by 40.
No. 6. Kier-room and wheel-house, l.) by 25.
No. 7. Office, 40 by 33.
No. 8. Mechanic shop, 76 by 40.
Tbe several buildings, with the exception of the
mechanic shop, which is part brick and part stone, are
wholly constructed of brick, compactly built, pre-
senting a neat and substantial appearance.

In 1870, when all was in readiness, the machinery
use<l in the Crompton Print Works was transferred to
the new quarters, the amount necessary occupying
over thirty freight cars, and in the same year Mr.
Sanders and family moved to Southbridge, the works
commencing operations under the firm-name of T. &
J. H. Sanders (sons of the founder), in the spring of
1874, and continued under their management until
the spring of 1884. During that time the product
consisted principally of prints, mostly shirtings and
cheviots, the capacity averaging ninety thousand yards
per day.

On December 31, 1884, The Southbridge Printing
Co. was incorporated, and the property and plant
purchased, and as the demand tor specialties outside
of the straight line of prints was so great, extensive
alterations, especially in the dye house, were neces-
sary, which with the addition of new and more modern
machinery throughout the works, placed the new cor-
poration in a position to successfully compete with

others who had been more favored in the past, thus
enabling a production of silesias, cambrics and all
kinds of cotton goods subject to a dyeing process, in
connection with the straight prints.

A glance at the present production is worthy of pe-
rusal. In prints may be found shirtings of coarse and
fine grades, in both narrow and wide goods ; flannels
and sheetings; wide and narrow cheviots; sleeve lin-
ings, from a light cheap quality to the finest forty-four
inch sateen, in both loose and fast colors, especially
for the clothing trade. In dyed goods the variety is
equally as great, if not larger than in prints, consist-
ing of brocades, cashmeres, Hollands, pocketings,
cambrics (from an ordinary quality to a thirty-.six-inch
French cambric), silesias, flannels, Italians, serges,
etc., etc., etc.

Water is the principal motive-power, an excellent
fall being obtained, graduated to three hundred horse-
power, and in case of necessity steam can be substi-
tuted, as two ponderous engines are ever ready to be
set in motion, should an accident to the turbine wheel
or connections thereto occur.

Considering the many varieties of work, the daily
production averages from fifty thousand to seventy-five
thousand yards, which is an excellent showing, re-
flecting credit upon the management entire.

The officers of The Southbridge Printing Co. remain
the same as when incorporated, viz.: — President, Ja-
cob Booth ; Treasurer, Thomas Sanders ; Superintend-
ent, James H. Sanders.

Southbridge Optical Company was incorporated in
1883. The President is Mr. A. H. Wheeler; Sec-
retary and Treasurer, Mr. B. U. Bugbee. The com-
pany manufacture spectacles and eye-glasses. They
erected, in 1888, a new building upon Marcy Street,
with machinery fitted up for their manufactures.
The factory is of wood, two stories in height, with
a brick basement, and is one hundred feet long
by forty wide.

Stephen Richard, manufacturer of shoe-knives
and razors, has a high reputation for quality of
goods produced.

Other establishments of business or employment,
not included in the foregoing list of particular
mention, can only be enumerated, and are, so far
as ascertained, as follows, viz. : apothecaries, 5 ;
artist, 1 ; auctioneer, 1 ; bakers, 4 ; banks, 2 ; barbers,
4 ; blacksmiths, 6 ; books and stationery, 5 ; boot
and shoe dealers, 9; boot and shoemakers, 6; brick
manufacturers, 2 ; calico printer, 1 ; carpenters and
builders, 4; carriage-makers, 4; clothiers, 7; coal
dealer, 1 ; dentists, 2; dressmakers, 19; dry goods
dealers, 8 ; expresses, 3 ; fish and oysters, 1 ; florist,
1; flour and grain, 5; furniture, 3 ; gents' furnishing
goods, 5 ; grist-mill, 1 ; groceries, 17 ; hardware and
cutlery, 4; harness-makers, 2 ; hotels, 3 ; insurance
agents, 2; laundries, 2 ; lawyers, 4; livery stables, 5;
lumber dealers, 2 ; marble-works, 1 ; meat-markets,
7 ; milliners, 7 ; music-stores, 2 ; music-teachers, 5 ;

1014

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

newspapers, 2 ; news-rooms, 3 ; painters, house and
sign, 7; paints and oils, 4; photographers, 3 ; physi-
cians, 13; pool-room?, 2; printers, 2; restaurants, 5;
rifle-range, 1; saloons, 2; sewing-machines, 3; shoe-
knife manufactories, 3 ; spectacle manufactories, 3 ;
stoves, ranges and tin, 4 ; tailors, 4 ; tea, coffee, 2 ;
telegraph office, 1 ; telephone office, 1 ; trunks and
bags, 1 ; undertakers, 2 ; upholsterer, 1 ; watches and
jewelry, 6; wood dealer, 1.

In the month of December, 1858, the tavern on the
corner of Main and Elm Streets, built of wood in
1825, was destroyed by fire, together with other build-
ings in the immediate vicinity. This event preceded
the appearance of the first of the many fine business
blocks whic'\ now enrich and adorn the town. That
vacancy, and along that side of the street, was soon
afterwards occupied by the ornamental and massive
brick buildings erected by Messrs. William C. Barnes,
Sylvester Dresser, and William and John Edwards
(last two now deceased) — names identified with the
last thirty years of the town's history and progress.
Besides the long line of first-class accommodations
for trades people and employments, there are the
Memorial Block Hall, Edwards Hall and Dresser
Opera-House.

Daniel Whitford and Elbridge Ellis built on the
opposite side of street, corner of Main and Hamilton,
the large and fine structure bearing their names.

Hartwell's block, built by the late George H. Hart-
■ well, is on the corner of Main and Central Streets.
In 18G3 a fire swept away the Baptist Church, the old
parish meetinghouse — then used for business pur-
poses — and other buildings. The brick church of the
Baptists was erected in '(50, and what was once the
" rising ground on Capt. Marcy's land, opposite Col.
Freeman's barn," was leveled down, and Mr. Holmes
Ammidown built his public library building in 1870
or '71. Then, on the corner of Main and Central
Streets, Mr. Chester A. Dresser built the C. A.
Dresser house, costing — furnishing and all — about
eighty thousand dollars,

Alden's Block, built by William E. Alden, Sr., in
1878-79, is a fine structure of brick with granite
trimmings and metallic cornices, standing on the site
of the old Plimpton house, in Globe Village.

Recently the new bank building on Main Street
and Suprenaut's Block, on Central Street, have added
to the architectural appearance of Centre Village.

These buildings, with the mercantile or other es-
tablishments which they enclose, will comparfi favor-
ably with those of the same class in any town in the
county.

Southbridge also contains even within the limits
of her villages much of quiet rural beauty. Whole
neighborhoods of fine cottages, surrounded by ample
grounds and smoothly-shaven lawns, — entire absence
of fences and unsightly objects, — this is the enviable
home, the place where the tired business man retires
to the quiet enjoyments of family and friends.

In the midst of all that has been described in this
article on Southbridge is the old Marcy house,
erected there when all around was literally a howling
wilderness. The same sturdy arms that spotted the
trees for the first paths, " slashed " the trees in the
first clearings, and wrought out the first homes about
here, also hoisted in place the massive timbers which
form the frame-work of this old house. Its simple
grandeur, made beautiful by antiquity and associa-
tions, is unabashed in the presence of the finest of
modern residences, though set in " pillars of gold."

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ilANXIXG LEONARD.

Manning Leonard was born in Sturbridge, June
1, 1814; died in Southbridge, July 31, 1885. Among
those interested in the history of Worcester County
Manning Leonard was one well deserving special
mention in these memoirs, both because of his con-
nection with those who had no little part in shaping
the history of the towns of Sturbridge and South-
bridge, and because of his own honorable record as
a citizen. •

His mother, Sally Fiske, daughter of Henry, was a
grandchild of both Henry and Daniel Fiske, the first
white settlers in the town, who located on what is
now known as '" Fiske Hill " in 1731, and from one
of whose descendants Fiskedale in Sturbridge was
named.

His father. Rev. Zenas Lockwood Leonard, fifth in
descent from Solomon, who landed at Duxbury in
1636, was born at Bridgewater 1773 ; graduated at
Brown University in 1794 and came to Sturbridge as
a Baptist minister in 1796. During his long pastor-
ate of thirty-six years he had a more than ordinary
interest and influence in the affairs of the commu-
nity.

Though on a small salary, never exceeding two
hundred dollars, he maintained a hospitable home,
gave his children a good education (sending his eld-
est son through Brown University), kept free from
debt and gave his family an honorable position in
the community. In all hou.-ehold affairs he was ably
aided by his wife, who was a model of quiet effi-
ciency.

Of their seven children, Muniiing was the fifth,
having a brother and two sisters older and a brother
and sister younger than himself. Reared in a home
of order, thrift and industry, he naturally developed
such a degree of self-reliance, diligence and self-re-
spect as gave early promise of sure and honorable
success in life. Generously determining to forego
the advantages of a college education, he defrayed
his own expenses during a course in Euglish and the
mathematics at Amherst Academy, under the tuition
(if Rev. Simeon Coltou, D.D., taught school a term

*«»*.

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SOUTHBRIDGE.

1015

at South Amherst and then, to school himself for
business life, became a clerk in the dry-goods house
of Tiffany, Anderson & Co., of New York City.
After three years spent in an earnest endeavor to
master every detail of the business, he went West in
1835, the year of his majoritj', and in 1838, joining
with George M. Phelps, a young man also from
Worcester County, established himself in business in
Madison, Indiana. He prospered. In 1840 he married
Mary F., daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Davis Ammi-
down, of Southbridge, Mass., than whom no one
had greater part in making Southbridge the beauti-
ful town it is, or contributed more to its material ad-
vancement.

In 1844 he returned to Southbridge, and first, with
his father-in-law, and later with Chester A. Dresser,
was for twenty years engaged in the cotton manufac-
turing business at what is known as the Central
Mills. On account of failing health he retired from
active business in 1863. Nevertheless, he did not
subside into listlessuess and idleness, but maintained
an active interest in public affairs; was on the Board
of Selectmen during the early years of the war ; was
a representative in the State Legislature, and for
many years a member of the Southbridge Public Li-
brary Committee ; a prime mover iu the establishment
of the Southbridge Savings Bank in 1848, he was
secretary of that corporation until his death, and also
was a director in the National Bank.

He was an active and consistent member of the
Congregational Church for more than fifty years, and
generous in his support of the great work of home
and foreign missions as well as various undenomina-
tional charities.

For many years, more or less of an invalid, he
traveled much for health as well as for business —
twice visiting Europe, once California and many
times going to the great prairie States. Yielding to
a complication of diseases, he died at Southbridge
July 31, 1885, having completed his seventy-first
year two months before.

In early life ever striving to fit himself for the
task of the morrow, while faithfully fulfilling the
duties of the day, he won promotion by merit rather
than sought it by favor.

In middle life a man of reserve power, whose sa-
gacity and foresight gave him success where others
failed, and being eminently a just man, he was
made the recipient of many public as well as many
private trusts.

In maturer years more conservative and cautious,
yet never a caiitious obstructionist, his counsels were
the more valuable because his course had been always
consistent — ever securing not the applause of the
many, but the approval of the best ; he had been not
a partisan, but a patriot.

CALVIN A. PAIGE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Southbridge,
Mass., June 7, 1820 ; son of Timothy Paige, Jr., Esq.,
and Cynthia (Ammidown) Paige. His parents died
when he w'as but eight years of age, and after their
decease he made his home in the family of his guar-
dian. Dr. Samuel Hartwell. At thirteen he entered
the employ of Messrs. Plimpton & Lane, as a clerk
in their store in Southbridge. At fifteen he went to
Northfield, Vt., where for about two years he was
emplo)'ed in the store of Charles Paine, afterwards
Governor of Vermont, and president of the Vermont
Central Railroad Co. Returning home to South-
bridge, he was employed until 1843 in the store of
John Seabury & Co., then kept iu the old Columbian
Building, now standing on Main Street, known as
the " Factory Store.'' This store was in those days
an important factor in the business enterprises and
trade of the town, involving large transactions and
no inconsiderable number of small details, by a sys-
tem of orders by which the Dresser, the Columbian
and the Central Manufacturing Companies paid their
operatives.

In 1844 he became clerk and bookeeper in the em-
ploy of the Dresser Manufacturing Company. This
mill was one of the first cotton-mills erected in this
locality by William Sumner and others soon after
1814, when the privilege was purchased. The premi-
ses included the water-power, mill, land and tenant-
houses, situated on what is known as "Dresser Hill,"
and in 1831 the same was purchased by Harvey Dres-
ser, then an active, enterprising business man of
Charlton, who organized the Dresser Manufacturing
Company in 1834, to operate the mill. Mr. Dresser
died in 1835. After his death this company was
reorganized under the agency of E. D. Ammidown.
Until 1845 Colonel Alexander De Witt, of Oxford,
succeeded to the agency until 1850, when Calvin A.
Paige was appointed agent, and operated the mill
until it was destroyed by fire in 1870. May 9, 1843,
Mr. Paige married Mercy Dre-ser, daughter of Har-
vey Dresser, by whom he had two children — Mary E.
Paige, born April 7, 1846, who died September 2,
1848, and Calvin D. Paige, born May 20, 1848, who is
now residing in Southbridge. From 1844 until he
became the agent, Mr. Paige acted not only as clerk
and bookkeeper, but was also practically the managing
and business agent of the company during the whole
period, conducting its affairs safely and prudently,
and with profit to its owners. He became himself an
owner of the stock of the company, and after the
mill was burned sold the mill-site and water-power
to the Central Mills Company, retaining the land
and tenements on " Dresser Hill," which he now
owns, and since then has not been engaged in any
regular active business.

Mr. Paige married for his second wife Ellen Jane
Scholfield, of Dudley, February 20, 1856, by whom
he has one son, Frank S., born May 18, 1857, now

inif;

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

living in Soiithbridge. After 1870 the leisure time
at his command, his thorough business training, habits
and experience, have set him apart as a citizen well
qualified and acceptable to discharge numerous public !
duties, in which he has been long conspicuous and of
great advantage and service to the town and coramu- '
nity for a period of more than twenty-five years. He
was a leading member of the town committee to
oppose the division of the town before the Legislature
of 18.54, and one of its most zealous and effective
workers in defeating that project. In 1850 he was
commissioned a notary public by Governor Briggs,
and still holds that ofiice. During the Rebellion he
was appointed United States enrolling otEcer for the
town, and in 1883, by Governor Long, commissioner
to qualify civil officers ; and was elected a member of
the House in the Legislature of 1863. For thirty
years he has been a director in the Southbridge
National Bank, and a trustee of the Southbridge
Savings Bank. He has been elected many times to
the offices of selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor
and other town offices and positions, and in all these
positions he has discharged his duties with singular
ability and unvarying success. His great caution,
accuracy of knowledge, thorough business training,
promptness and experience in public affairs have been
long recognized and repeatedly called to service in
town matters, and probably few unprofessional citizens
are better posted in matters relating to town govern-
ment and its proper administration — especially in
relation to the pauper laws — or more serviceable to
the public in these respects than he is. Whatever
falls to his management is promptly and correctly
done, and with due consideration to the public
interest. His books and records are always kept
correctly and with business-like completeness and
care. His worth in these respects is so generally con-
ceded by his fellow-townsmen that party politics rarely
defeat him as a candidate for public office, although
he is a strong party man. He has discharged numerous
trusts as administrator, guardian, assignee and trustee
in bankruptcy and in insolvency, and in these rela-
tions found capable, honest and efficient. He is ready
to accept responsibility and to do his duty, but is
guided by a conservative good sense and caution to
first learn what his duty is.

Mr. Paige has long been an earnest and influential
citizen in promoting town enterprise and improve-
ments, and uniformly advocated whatever tended to
these results. He sustained the plan adopted to estab-
lish the public library, and usually advocated the
laying-out and grading of new streets, the building of
sidewalks, the lighting of streets and the introduction
of electric street lights, and was recently one of the
most influential workers in obtaining the Town Hall
building. He is active and persistent, ambitious of
carrying his points and usually successful. He has a
wide personal acquaintance, and enjoys the confidence
and respect of those who know him. He is naturally

kind-hearted, cordial and generous in his association
and dealings with men, and almost impulsive in his
vigor and show of enthusiasm. He is a stalwart in
his convictions when once formed, but cautious and
conservative in forming them. He is an active and
zealous partisan in politics, and always an ardent and
uncompromising Republican, willing to work for the
Republican cause, and a great admirer of Hon. James
G. Blaine. His energy and push partake largely of
his great natural spirit of enthusiasm.

The history of the town would be incomplete with-
out special mention of the life and active career of
Mr. Paige, in view of all he has accomplished for
himself and for the general welfare — having so
long been a prominent figui-e among the people in
this community.

The ancestors of Mr. Paige were natives of Hard-
wick, Mass, where they were prominent citizens, as
the town history shows. His great-grandfather, the
first Timothy Paige, was a farmer, who served in the
Revolutionary period as a captain of a militia com-
pany, led his company to Bennington at the alarm
in August, 1777, and to West Point in 1780, and
served in many town offices. His grandfather, the
second Timothy, was a member of the company of
"minute-men" who marched to Cambridge upon the
Lexington alarm, and served for short periods sev-
eral times during the Revolution.

He was a conspicuous man in public matters,
holding justice courts and many town ofiices, and at
his death, October 21, 1821, the Ke^v England Palla-
dium described him as one of the oldest members of
the House of Representatives ; a man who united
very many excellent and useful qualities, and who
was universally esteemed among his acquaintances
for his intelligence and unbending integrity.

The C'lilumhian Coitinel referred to him as "one of
the oldest members of the House of Representatives
of this State, an undeviating patriot and an intelli-
gent man." He was Representative to the General
Court seventeen years successively, from 180.5 to 1821,
and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in
1820.

His father, Timothy Paige, Jr., was a lawyer of
good standing in his profession, and of much literary
taste. He was the first town clerk of Southbridge
and won an enviable repute as a poet. His pnems
were published as written in the public journals and
bore the signature of "Jacques." The last poem he
wrote was published in the Massachusetts Spy shortly
after his death, November 17, 1822, entitled " Fare-
well to Summer."

Rev. Lucius R. Paige, LL.D., of Cambridge, Mass.,
the historian of Hardwick and Cambridge, and a man
of literary attainments, is a brother, and uncle to the
subject of this sketch.

SOUTHBRIDGE.

ion

CHESTER A. DRESSER.

Chester A. Dresser, of Soiithbridge, Mass., was born
ia that town on the 2d of September, 1818, and, with
the exception of a few years, has always resided in
that place.

His early life was similar to many another New
England boy's, who has plodded his way along rngged
paths, surmounting all obstacles with a fixed purpose
to guide him and a determination to become a useful
and intelligent man. His mother, with her three
children, of which the subject of our sketch was the
second, resided in what was then and is to the present
day known as the ('olumbian Block, situated on the
corner of Main and Elm Streets, at that time the
property of his grandfather and now owned by the
Young Men's Christian Association. When ten years
of age, upon the death of his mother, he w'as left in
charge of his uncle, Ebenezer D. Ammidown, who was
appointed his guardian. His education was acquired
at the district school of the village, which he attended
irregularly for several years, and he was a student at
Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., and at Monson
Academy — two terms at each institution. During the
winters of 1830-31 he lived in the family of Hon.
Linus Cliilds, who was an old friend of his mother,
performing the duties of" chore boy " as remuneration
for his board and attending school.

At the age of fourteen he chose Dr. Samuel Hart-
well as his guardian and made his home at his house
when not employed elsewhere. For a short time he
was employed in the store kept by Milton Joslin, but
he had now arrived at the age when, in those days, it
was thought that a boy .should have some aim in life,
and the subject of a " trade " was taken into considera-
tion by his friends, and their advice freely given.

Learning of an opening in the village harness-shop
for a boy, his guardian advised him to enter as an
apprentice, but this employment not being entirely
agreeable to his tastes, he sought the advice of his
uncle, Harvey Dresser, and of Moses Plimpton, Esq.,
who was then the agent of the Columbian Manufactur-
ing Company, engaged in the manufacture of cotton
sheetings. Mr. Plimpton recommended his becoming
a manufacturer, whereupon an engagement was en-
tered into, the remuneration to be forty dollars per
year and board. The price for board was one dollar
and twenty-five cents per week and all lost time at
the mill was deducted at the rate of forty dollars per
annum, while there was no deduction for board. His
initiatory apprenticeship was in the repair-shop of the
company, in charge of an English mechanic, whose
motto was "learn to do work well, after which do all
you can."

After serving one year in the machine-shop, he was
employed, in turn, in every department of the mill,
learning to card, spin and weave. During these
years of service, to strengthen his finances, he
worked at night by moon and lamp-light, carrying in
and packing wood, at eight cents per cord, and fold-

ing and packing cloth. Oftentimes the midnight
hour would find him hard at work.

Feeling that he was yet deficient in the mathemat-
ical education necessary for a thorough knowledge of
I the business which he had chosen, he attended school
for three months during two winters, and devoted all
his leisure time during his apprenticeship to the
study of those problems which he had to solve and
in the improvement of his handwriting. When the
" financial crisis " of 1837 came, the mill was stopped
during a part of that year, and he worked at farming
through the summer, and took a position late in the
fall as overseer of the warp-spinning, when the mill
resumed operation. Being anxious to gain a more
thorough knowledge of the weaving of cotton fabrics
than the facilities of the small weaving-room at this
mill aflbrded, the following spring he obtained a sit-
uation in the weaving department in charge of Nel-
son Drake, at the Fiskdale Mills.

"What wages do you expect?" asked Mr. Drake.
" Give me whatever you think I am worth; I am not
seeking wages, but a knowledge of the business in all
its details," was the reply. So acceptably did he
perform his duties that his wages were constantly in-
' creased while he remained in this department. In
the spring of 1840 he entered the company's count-
ing-room to obtain a knowledge of mercantile, manu-
facturing and double entry book-keeping, under the
instruction of Avery P. Taylor. His career as man-
ager Ijegan in September, 1840, when he was en-
gaged to take charge of a mill of four thousand spin-
dles at Swift Creek, near Petersburg, Va., where he
I remained for two years. He then returned to his
native town, in feeble health, and was seriously ill
j and incapacitated for business for some time.
! In November, 1842, he assumed the management
i of the cotton-mill located at Westville (a village in
the westerly part of the town), and at the same time
kept the " factory store.''

He was married to Mary C. Bartlett, of Petersburg,
Va., in 1843, and in the spring of 1845 removed from
Westville to take charge of the Dresser Mill, in the
Centre village, succeeding Benjamin F. Kimball as
superintendent. It was then that he established a
marked reputation, in this vicinity, as a manufac-
turer. Up to this time Mr. Kimball had been the
acknowledged authority on cotton manufacturing in
this locality. The work at the Dresser Mill was
running badly ; to use the language of a manufac-
turer, it was " completely bunged up." The manager
and directors had made many fruitless efforts to
ascertain the cause of the trouble, and finally came
to the conclusion that the fault was in the raw mate-
rial. A change in the quality of the cotton was con-
sequently made, but no improvement in the running
of the work resulted. The product was diminishing,
the quality of work was inferior, the operatives were
dissatisfied, many of them had given notices to leave,
and the owners w ere disheartened.

1018

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The directors assembled one afternoon and sent for
the young superintendent at Westville, requesting
him to go over to the mill and, if possible, tell them
what was the matter. He complied with their re-
quest, so far as to visit the mill; but when asked if he
knew what the trouble was, replied that he would
go there, take off' his coat and go to work, and if, at
the end of two days, he could not correct the difficulty
he would not remain. The new superintendent dis-
covered the cause of all the trouble very soon after
he entered the mill, at once applied the needed rem-
edy and very soon the equilibrium was restored.

In December, 1845, he became the superintendent
of the Central Manufacturing Company, where he
remained until 1857, having, in the mean time, be-
came one of the stockholders. In response to a very
urgent request from the agent of the Amoskeag Man-
ufacturing Company, of Manchester, N. H., he ac-
cepted the position as manager of the upper level,
embracing three mills and dye-house. While in the
employ of this corporation he brought about great
improvements in the dyeing department and in all
the mills under his supervision. The Central Manu-
facturing Company having become financially em-
barrassed, self-protection rendered it necessary that
he should again return to Southbridge, in 1859, and
attempt a settlement of their affairs. In this he was
successful, and Manning Leonard and himself be-
came joint owners of the property and thus carried
on the business until the breaking oat of the Civil
War, when the machinery was stopped and remained
idle until November, 1863. At this time Mr. Leon-
ard withdrew from the concern, selling his interest
to Dresser, who, with new associates, established the
present incorporated concern, called the Central Mills
Company, which, having been thoroughly remodeled
and supplied with improved machinery, has been
successfully operated for the last twenty-five years,
with C. A. Dresser as treasurer and manager.

JOHN EDWARDS.

Mr. John Edwards was born in Southbridge, Mass.,
June 12, 1822, and died there July 2, 1872.

He came from good, native New England stock on
both sides, the son of Jacob Edwards and Hannah
Marcy Edwards, who was a sister of ex-Governor
William L. Marcy, of New York.

He married Mary E. Irwin, eldest daughter of Ste-
phen P. Irwiii, by whom he had three children, — one
son, John M., who died in infancy, and two daugh-
ters, now living, Lizzie I. Edwards and Ida P., wife
of Calvin D. Paige.

His early education was limited to the instruction
aftbrdeil by the public schools of the town and a
course of study at Wilbraham Academy, after which
he was for a time employed in the store of William
and Jacob Edwards, Jr., his brothers, who carried on
the leading dry goods and grocery business of the
town.

In 1844 he became a partner in the firm, which
continued until 1852, when Jacob Edwards, Jr., sold
out his interest to his brothers, William and John,
who divided their interest, William taking the gro-
cery department and John the dry goods department,
doing business under the firm-name of "John Ed-
wards & Co." until January, 1871 , when, in conse-
quence of failing health, he retired from active busi-
ness.

In 1859, when his store was greatly injured by fire
in an adjoining building, he was brought face to face
with the question of rebuilding or of removing to a
larger field, but upon mature consideration he deter-
mined to stay and enlarge his business. He erected
he large brick block on Main Street, using the two
lower floors for his business and the third floor as the
■' Edwards Opera House," — at this time this being the
largest retail dry goods store in the county, and now
considered one of the best appointed stores in this
section.

The erection of this block was the commencement
of the construction of the fine business brick blocks
which give Southbridge its prominence and distinc-
tion, and had not a little to do with attracting atten-
tion to the business capacity and interests of the
town, that led to the completion of the railroad.

His stock of goods was large, varied and expensive,
and attracted the people from all the surrounding
towns, his business being conducted with a system
and attention to details unexcelled even at the pres-
ent day in metropolitan centres of trade.

His success as a merchant established his reputa-
tion as a man of unusual business capacity.

For twenty years he was a director in the South-
bridge National Bank and a trustee of the South-
bridge Savings Bank.

Although of a retiring disposition, he held several
public offices and represented the town in the Massa-
chusetts Legislature of 1855.

He was an inffuential member of the Baptist So-
ciety, and when the church was destroyed by fire in
1863, it was largely through his labors that the pres-
ent edifice was built, he contributing both time and
money liberally towards its construction.

He took a deep interest in the welfare of the soci-
ety, and at his decease left to the society, in trust for
the benefit of the society and several Baptist institu-
tions, a legacy known as the " Edwards legacy."

He first introduced gas into the town, putting in
the gas works, first for his own use, and afterwards
running them several years successfully for the pub-
lic generally, until disposed of to the Mutual Gas-
Light Company.

He purchased land on Main Street and improved
it by opening and building Everett Street. In 1867
he built his new residence on the corner of Main and
Everett Streets, which, with the fine grounds surround-
ing it, continues to be one of the most spacious and
beautifijl places in the village.

■-fx~/^-^^<i:^-<^

t^^

SOUTHBRIDGE.

1019

In public matters he was liberal, public-spirited
and enterprising in all things that tended to the
growth and welfare of the town, and he was always
found an active and influential adviser and worker in
that direction.

This brief sketch of Mr. Edwards .sufficiently indi-
cates his rank in the social, business and political life
of the 'town, and the confidence and respect he
enjoyed as a citizen among those who knew him best,
but is, after all, deficient in conveying to any but
those who knew the detail of his life-work his real
worth to the community in which he lived, and the
distinguished part he acted in contributing to the
public thrift and progress here.

He was always looking ahead, and desired to keep
matters moving, and was eager to put his own
shoulder to the wheel of progre-ss, whenever occasion
required it.

In all the councils upon such affairs Mr. Edwards
was a leader.

He was reserved and modest in manner, courteous
and obliging, sagacious and prudent, helpful in worthy
instances, and kind-hearted and sympathetic.

He had traveled in this country extensively, was
always an intelligent observer, and therefore interest-
ing as a companion. In these respects, for many
years he filled a large and important place in his
native town, and left behind him a memory that
will endure, as one of its successful and worthy
citizens.

There was nothing fortuitous in his career. He
was the substantial architect of his own fortunes —
most truly a self-made man — and will long be remem-
bered as such.

Measuring his worth by what he was able to accom-
plish in life, few citizens of Southbridge have merited
so prominent a place on the scroll of fame.

HON. LINUS CHILD.

Hon. Linus Child, third child and third son of
Rensselaer and Priscilla Corbin Child, born in Wood- ^
stock, Ct., February 27, 1S03, and married, October
27, 1827, Berenthia Mason.

Hon. Mr. Child passed his early years on his
father's farm, with the usual attendance upon the
public school. He began his preparation for college
under the tuitiori of Rev. Samuel Backus, of East
Woodstock, and completed his preparatory studies at
Bacon Academy, in Colchester, Conn., in the autumn
of 1820. The following winter he entered Yale Col-
lege, New Haven, whence he graduated in 1824. Mr.
Child did not reach the highest rank in college as a
scholar, but for honest, actual mastery of the pre-
scribed course few were before him. After he gradu-
ated he became a member of the law school in New
Haven, and studied in the oflice of S. P. Staples. He
was also under Judge Daggett's instruction. Six
months later he became a student in the office of Hon.

Ebenezer Stoddard in the West Parish of his native
town, and after eighteen months' stud)' there was ad-
mitted to the bar of Connecticut. He spent a year in
the office of Hon. George A. Tufts, of Dudley, Mass.,
when he was admitted to practice in the courts of
Worcester County, Mass. He resided in Southbridge
some eighteen years. During this period he was six
times elected Senator from Worcester County to the
State Legislature. In 1845 he removed to Lowell,
and held the agency of one or two of the largest man-
ufacturing corporations of that city. He possessed
the unusual stature and frame of his father and grand-
father, was cordial and genial in look and manner
earnest in the promotion of all efforts for the public
weal, and prominent iu church and missionary in-
terests, a member of the American Board of Foreign
Missions.

In 1862 Mr. Child removed to Boston and resumed
his profession, associating with him his son, Linus
M. Child.

Hon. Mr. Child died in Hinghara, Mass., after a
short illness, August 26, 1870.

THE AMMIDOWN FAMILY.

This is, doubtless, a typical New England family,
and, as such, the record is interesting as illustrating
the origin and growth of that portion of the people
of New England which has given to this part of the
United States its peculiar character. It is also inter-
esting from the fact that the peculiarities of New Eng-
land character have been broadly impressed upon the
whole nation, and, more than any other, have contrib-
uted to make the people of this country a distinct and
original race, endowed with high purposes and strong
qualities, fitting them for leadership in human progress.

The earliest mention of the family in this country
appears in the records of the town of Salem in the
year 1637. It is of French origin, and belonged to
that numerous class of early settlers in this country
known as Huguenots, who fled from persecution in
their native land to find freedom for their religious
convictions.

It is believed that the name was originally Amadon ;
but, by changes common in our early history, it may
be found at this day in various forms, among which
the more common are Ammidown, Amadon, Amidon
and Ammidon.

The first settler at Salem was Roger Ammidown.
He removed to Weymouth before 1640. On the rec-
ords of that town in 1640 ajipears the birth of a child,
Sarah, daughter of Roger and Sarah Ammidown. We
next find him in Boston, where another child, Lydia,
was born on the 22d of February, 1643. This is the
first birth recorded in the Boston records under the
letter "A." From Boston he joined a company from
Weymouth, and founded the ancient town of Reho-
both, then in Plymouth Colony. Among his associ-
ates was Rev. Samuel Newman. The deed of convey-

1020

HISTOKY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ance of the land is from Governor William Bradford,
dated 1641. The first meeting of these founders was
held at Weymouth, October, 1643, and it was agreed
that they should move to their new home before April,
1644. The settlement was incorporated in 1645, and
Roger Ammidown is named as ©ne of the original
proprietors. His lot wiis located on the border of the
Palmer River, about six miles west of the present
centre of the town. He passed the remainder of his
days at this place, and was buried there on the 13th
of November, 1673. This founder of the family had
a son Roger, who married, in 1666, Joanna Harwood,
at Rehobotli. The family continued at this place for
many years ; but, about the beginning of the next
century, Philip, a son of Roger — the third generation
— and born in 1669, moved to Mendon. He had mar-
ried, for his second wife, Ethemore Warfield, and the
records of Mendon show that he had there a large
family, born between 1704 and 1717. At a later per-
iod he removed to Oxford and became a proprietor in
the English settlement of that town. He was also,
with his wife, a member of the First Church of Ox-
ford, when it was formed in March, 1721, under the
charge of Rev. John Campbell, a remarkable man,
whose descendants have held a conspicuous place in
the annals of this country. Philip Ammidown died
in Oxford March 15, 1747, aged seventy -eight. He
had brought all his children with him to Oxford,
where we find on the town records the dates of their
marriages and of the births of their children. They
have now grown too numerous to follow, and have
become connected by marriage with many families,
whose names are known in all parts of New England :
the Cheneys, Davises, Chamberlains, BuUards, Cur-
tises, Hastingses, Aldrichs, Sumners, Holdens, Tafts,
Sabins and many others.

Among the children of Philip, who died at Oxford
in 1747, was Philip — the fourth generation — born in
1708 at Mendon. He married, at Oxford, Submit
Bullard, and lived in the west part of that town, on
the fertile hills at a later period (in 1754) set oft' and
incorporated in the town of Charlton, and still later
(in 1816) included in the corporate limits of the town
of Southbridge. He had three children, from whom
have descended those members of the family whose
names have been most widely known since the begin-
ning of the present century. These children — the
fifth generation — were Caleb, born August, 1736;
Joseph, born August, 1741, and Reuben, born Sep-
tember, 1747. From the middle of the last century
down to the present time the public records of Wor-
cester County bear frequent evidence of the part these
men and their descendants have taken in jjublic and
private affairs.

Caleb Ammidown was a remarkable man, and, as
one of the contributors for founding Leicester Acad-
emy, the late Governor Washburn refers to him as
follows : " He was of a class of men which were once
scattered through the country, whose independence

of thought and opinion gave character and consistency
to public sentiment of the community at large."

The children of Caleb remained in the town where
they were born. They were among its most influen-
tial citizens. Their work may be found in the roads,
bridges and important public edifices of their native
town. Their tomb-stones, with the record of their
birth and death, may be found in the town cemetery.
But, although in the early part of this century the
name was among the most conspicuous in this town,
and now is among the most frequent in its cemetery,
this family has been gradually dispersed, and at the
present day is represented by comparatively few per-
sons. These few, however, bear many of the traits
which distinguished their progenitors. They are gen-
erally useful citizens, ready to perform the duties of
citizenship, and in both public and private life acting
well their part.

The children of Joseph (brother of Caleb) nearly
all moved away from the place of their birth, and lo-
cated in the State of New York.

The children of Reuben (brother of Caleb) also,
many of them, moved to other parts of the country.

Among the children of Caleb were three men, who
made their mark locally. They were : John, born in
1759 ; Luther, born in 1761, and Calvin, born in 1768.
These men were of the sixth generation. Luther was
the most widely known, and, like his father, was a
member of the State Legislature. He died in 1835.

Among the children of the seventh generation was
the late Holmes Ammidown, born in Southbridge
June 12, 1801. He died in St. Augustine, Florida,
April 3, 1883. Holmes Ammidown was a member of
the State Legislature in 1836. He afterwards became
prominent as a merchant in Boston, and, by his pub-
lic and private character, illustrated the traits which
have marked the family career from its earliest known
period. An account of his life, with a portrait, may
be found in the Proceedings of the Worcester Society
of Antiquity, for the year 1883.

Among the children of Calvin Ammidown was
Eben D. Ammidown, of the seventh generation, prom-
inent as a manufacturer and as a member of the State
Senate. His mind, remarkably strong and fertile,
was constantly engaged in pidjects for public im-
provements.

The Ammidown family is now scattered throughout
the United States. Although n^ver a numerous
family, it has made its mark in every generation,
never reaching the highest distinctions, but always
conspicuous for the qualities which make good
citizens.

In former times they were generally farmers ; in
later years they have engaged successfully in various
pursuits — farming, manufacturing, mercantile and
professional.

Several of the family have already been specially
named as holding prominent positions in life. Among
others of note may be mentioned Philip, of Mendon,

f#-

/>^C^i/

^^i

ATHOL.

1021

of the sixth generation, and his son Otis, who became
distinguished as a merchant, both in Europe and
America, and died in Philadelphia in 1858, aged
eighty-seven. A daughter of Philip, of Mendon
(Sylvia), was the wife of Jonathan Russel, who was
one of the Commissioners signing the Treaty with
Great Britain in 1814. A grandson of Philip, of Men-
don (the seventh generation), was graduated at Har-
vard College in 183(». Another, of the Southbridge
branch of the family, Edward Holmes (of the eighth
generation), was graduated at Harvard College in
1853. Another, Albert (of the ninth generation), also
of the Southbridge branch, was graduated at Harvard
College in 1868.

The death of another member of this family, Mr.
HoUis Auiidon, has this week (.January 22, 1889)
l>een announced in the papers at Washington, D. C.
It is not known to the writer to what branch of the
family he belonged, but the language of the obituary
notice of him indicates that the family traits found
marked expression in his career. It says : " He died
at the advanced age of eighty-two. He represented
the Department of Agriculture in the Centennial
Exhibition. He w;is a man of rare intellect, and
contributed many articles to the press. He was much
liked by all who knew him."

CHAPTER CX X X II.
ATHOL.

BY RKV. JOHN F. NORTON, A.M.

Locntinji — BfiJiudanef — Face o/ Hie Country — rrvdnctions — Pothls and
Sfrpiims — WiJd Aiiininh, etc.

Athol {Pleasant Jmiui) lies in the northwest part
of Worcester County, bordering on Franklin County.
As originally surveyed, in October and November,
1732, the township was six miles square. It is
liounded on the north by Royalston and Orange, on
the east by Phillipston and Petersham, on the south
by Petersham and New Salem, on the west by New
Salem and Orange. The southwest corner probably
remains unchanged; but the southeast corner, as at
first surveyed, was south of the meeting-house now
standing in Phillipston ; the northeast corner was
northeast of South Royalston meeting-house; and
the northwest corner was a few rods south of North
Orange meetinghouse. By the territorial changes
which have been made since the opening of the town-
ship for settlement, portions of Athol were annexed to
Royalston, February 2(), 1799, and March 7, 1803 ; a
jiart was set off to form Gerry (now Phillipston) in
178G ; the northwest corner was taken to form Orange.
A part of Gerry was restored to Athol, February 20,
1806 ; a part of Orange, February 7, 1816 ; and parts
of New Salem were annexed February 5, 1830, and

March 16, 1837. (See " History of Athol," by George
W. Horr, LL.D., "History of Worcester County,"
1879). The original boundary lines appear to have
been straight, or nearly so, but at present they are
far from being straight, as a glance at any mndern
map of Athol will show.

The surface of the land is very irregular, affording
fine .scenery. Edward Everett set it down as one of
the most picturesque of the Massachusetts towns.
The hills are high, and through them, in a general
course from east to west. Miller's River finds a wind-
ing channel. From all the heights there is a full
view of Monadnoik, giving the besst outline of that
mountain. A little south from Monadnock lie Wachu-
sett and Watatic, while the nearer hills. Mt. Grace,
TuUy, Lion's Head and others, help to form a land-
scape of unusual beauty. The outlook from Athol
Centre is especially fine, with the above-named hills
as a background for the bend in Miller's River, as it
comes in from the northeast. A little off from Pleas-
ant Street, about a mile from the Centre, is a spot
where, across the tops of a near grove, one can look
down into a sunken valley, with ranges of hills
beyond, and enjoy an almost endless variety of light
and shade. "The Gulf" is in the northeast part of
the town, reached by a true mountain road, but the
wild scenery amply compensates the visitor. The
modern custom of dispensing with door-yard fences
in the establishment of new village homes, and the
removal of those erected many years ago, has added
surprisingly to the original beauties of the place.
This custom cannot be too highly commended.

The climate of the whole region is cold, though
the hills so .shelter some sections of Athol as to make
the winters milder than in many of the adjacent
towns, but the winds sweep violently up the river,
lowering the temperature of its valley several de-
grees.

When the town was opened for settlement the for-
ests were very heavy, and the work of clearing the
land for tillage was extremely exhausting. Huge
pines, beeches, chestnuts, ashes and maples abounded.
Few of the virgin trees remain, but the woodlands
have become very valuable property. Of the com-
mon fruit-trees, the apple is almost the only one that
secures confidence for a long term of years. Wild
grapes are plentiful, and all the earlier (the e are
often the choicest) kinds can be cultivated with suc-
cess. The wild small fruits, such as the strawberry,
the raspberry and the blueberry, abound, and have
nowhere a richer flavor.

Though it has some fine farms, agriculture is not
the chief business of Athol. The soil yields fair
crops to the cultivator, not, however, repaying labor
like the valley lands of the Connecticut River. The
excellent and abundant water-power furnished by
Miller's River and its tributaries offers more lucrative
employment than tillage. Hence the population
tends steadily towards the villages, and many outly-

1022

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ing farms have passed into the hands of new owners,
some of whom are of foreign birth. Miller's River —
originally the Pequoig River, but unfortunately re-
named for a man who was drowned while crossing it,
more than a century and a half ago - has a rapid
current, and supplies power for various manufactur-
ing establishments. It is a tributary of the Connec-
ticut. Its own feeders in passing through Athol are
Tully's Brook and Mill Brook, both of which carry
numerous mills that stand upon their banks.

Much the largest sheet of water in the town is South-
west Pond. Lake Ellis, near the Worcester North-
west Fair Grounds, is a picturesque spot with wooded
islands and shores, and is a popular resort for pic-nic
parties. Silver Lake lies low down among the hills
near the railroad station, and is noted for the quiet
beauty of its surfiice and shores.

The early settlers found the river and streams
stocked with choice fish : trout, pickerel and salmon
were plentiful. The forests abounded with .small
game, while the deer, the bear, the wolf and the cata-
mount roamed through the region. The three last-
mentioned animals were a source of terror and of con-
siderable loss to the settlers. As wolves rarely attack
men except when nearly starved, they were chiefly
dreaded for their depredations on the calves and sheep.
The bear and the catamount were more dangerous,
and encounters with them, and hunting parties in
pursuit of them, broke up somewhat the monotony ol
life in the colony. Jit. Monadnock was the strong-
hold of these beasts, but they raided the cattle-pens,
even as far as Gardner and Templeton. The children
were employed to watch the herds by day and at night
they were driven into strong enclosures. A large
bounty was paid for each wolf killed. The most noted
wolf-hunt in the region was in the winter of 1819-20.
The parties engaged in it came from Southern New
Hampshire, and days were spent in the pursuit of the
three-legged animal. It would invade the farm-yards
of the very houses in which the hunters were sleeping
and feast on the sheep and calves.

The catamount, which one hundred years ago was
occasionally fouud in the Monadnock region, was a
very formidable and dangerous beast to encounter.
The last of its race was taken in a powerful steel
trap, near the foot of the mountain. From the nose
to the end of the tail it measured thirteen feet and
four inches. For its stuffed skin the proprietors of the
Boston Museum are said to have paid forty-five dollars.

In the southerly part of the town there is a sul-
phur spring, whose waters have been deemed effica-
cious in the treatment of certain diseases. It can
hardly be said that these are pleasant to the taste,
but they may have virtues nevertheless. At present
the locality of this spring does not bid fair to become
a popular resort.

Whitney, in his "History of Worcester County,"
published in 1793, gives us this information concern-
ing another spring in Athol :

There is a very fine Bpring in this town, which issues out of a very
high bank on the side of Miller's River, perh.ips twenty feet above the
sui-face of the river. The water whereuf is niciiiciiial. Many persons
who liave dranit freely tliereof liave foinid it tu art as a gentle ca-
thartic, and some wlio liave been poisoned have been speedily cured by
wasliiug the parts atTected therewith. Several who have been afHicted
with rlienmatic complaints bathed in the water of this spring in a cis-
tern, some few yeai-s ago provided to receive them, and found great re-
lief.

And what is worthy of notice is tliis. Tliesc waters have the same
efficacy and virtue without soap in washing uf jiersous which other
waters have with.

This spring, which was so celebrated a century ago,
is supposed to be identical with the one that issues
from the north bank of Miller's River, very near the
north end of the bridge that is crossed on the way
from Athol Centre to Chestnut Hill and Royalston,
but whether its remarkable value for economic pur-
poses is as great as formerly, is somewhat uncertain.

CHAPTER CXXXIII.

\rii01,—(CoHtiii ucd .)

P.\QUOA.G ' ON MILLER'S RIVER.

Loss of tb>' Proprielors' Records — Efforts to Ee-establUh their Authority-
Grant of the Totcmhip- -Drawing for House-Lots — First Settlers — Perils
front Indiuiis — First Meeting- House — Second Meeting-Honse — Call of
Mr. James Humphrey to the Pastorate — Ordination — Pastor's Home —
Second and other Divisions of Lands — Acts of the Proprietors.

This, as given in the original grant, was the name
of the township which, at its incorporation, was
called Athol. Generally speaking, the Proprietors'
Records are the great store-house from which the
historian of a New England town must obtain most
of his information respecting its settlement and con-
dition during the earlier period of its history.

For the most part these records were kept with
commendable care, whatever else was neglected, for
the proprietors' clerks were often men of education,
and were justly regarded by their contemporaries as
holding a most important and responsible office.
But, in a very important sense, the earliest records of
the proprietors of Paquoag on Miller's River are not
accessible in the preparation of this history. The
facts regarding this appear to have been substantially
these : very soon or immediately after the grant of
this township to certain individuals by the General
Court of the province of Massachusetts, which must
have been as early as 1734, the proprietors named in
the grant chose for their clerk Dr. Joseph Lord, who,
coming from Sunderland, Mass., was one of the first
settlers of the township. Dr. Lord was a capable
man, and, for anything that appears to the contrary,
enjoyed for a number of years the confidence of all
the parties concerned. But for a ctmsiderable period

1 This name will be found spelled in at least ten ilili.'rent ways in the
various records.

ATHOL.

1023

before 1758 a majority of the proprietors had been
dissatisfied with the proceedings of their clerk, and
in tlie month of June of that year had disphiced him
and appointed a new treasurer and clerk. Dr. Lord
having refused to deliver up the books and papers
that were in his hands to the new and legally ap-
pointed clerk, a suit was commenced against him,
and all his property that could be found was attached
to satisfy the claims of the proprietors. In Novem-
ber of 1758 the court decided that Dr. Lord mu.?t de-
liver up all the books and paper> in question or pay
illOOO in lawful money as damages and the costs ol ,
the court, amounting to £23 8s. Id., but before this
decision was rendered Dr. Lord had left the State, '
taking with him, if he had not j)reviously destroyed
them, all the early records and valuable papers of the
jiropriety. Certain it is these were never recovered.
Whether the property of Mr. Lord, which had been
attached and was sold at auction, yielded a sum suffi-
cient to meet these demands upon his estate is uncer-
tain, as no complete record of this transaction was
made.

The most that can be learjied respecting this mat-
ter is that on March 25, 17til, the proprietors voted j
that their committee having this business in charge
should proceed to execute " good and sufficient Deeds
to such person or persons as have purchased said
lands or any part of them" (meaning the estate of
Dr. Lord) and adding : " And we engage for our-
selves and heirs to indemnify the said Committee,
who have managed the- controversy with said Lord |
on behalf of the proprietors and their heirs from all
damages which may rise to them on account of said
controversy and the sale of said lands." Measures
were soon ado])ted lo replace the lost records as far
as possible, and for this purpose a petition, signed by
Abraham Hill and John Caldwell, as a committee ol
the proprietors, was presented to the General Court
in June, 1760. The result of this was that "Rev- i
Mr. Abraham Hill was empowered and directed to '
make a new B((ok of the Records of said Proprietors
during the time that the said Joseph Lord was Pro-
|)rietors' Clerk," drawing his information from all
jjapers within his reach and " the remembrance of
the Proprietors," and then to lay the same before the
General Court, that it might be established as the
legalized Records of the Propriety. This was done,
and hence we have the Proprietors' Records as we
find them in Vol. I., more than fifty pages of which
arc covered by material obtained in the manner
indicated above. Rev. Abraham Hill, of Road
Town (now Shutesbury), appears to have been inde-
fatigable and cautious in the performance of the dif-
ficult task assigned him, and his work was as eshaus-
liveand correct as the circumstances would admit.

But with the best intentions and the most laborious
and careful research, it was plainly impossible for
him to recover and replace very many important items
that must have been inserted in the original records,

such as concerned the laying out and construction of
some of the roads, the building of bridges, arrange-
ments for a school, etc. Mr. Hill's name does not
appear in the list of the first proprietors, and like
many other clerks of similar bodies, he was not a res-
ident of Paquoag on Miller's River.

He was the clerk of the proprietors for about four
years, or until 1762, and of course the items recorded
of transactions before 1758 lack, with the historian, a
measure of authority.

In July, 1732, the General Court of JIassachusetts
opened for sale and settlement a new township in the
northwest part of Worcester County, called from the
Indian name of the river which passes through it,
" Paquoag on Miller's River." The date of the grant
was April 20, 1733.

The grant provided that the township should be
divided into sixty-three equal parts, one of which
should become the property of the first minister,
another should be set apart for the support of the
ministry and another for the support of a school,
while the remaining sixty parts should aftbrd house-
lots for sixty settlers, each of whom must occupy his
lot in person or in the person of one of his children.

Each settler was required to build, within three
years, a house on his lot of at least " 18 feet square
and of seven feet stud," and to clear and fence eight
acres of his land in the same period, or forfeit twenty
pounds for the use of the other settlers. Each was
also required to pay five pounds into the Provincial
Treasury when he was admitted as a proprietor, while
the proprietors were required within five years to
erect a suitable meeting-house and settle a learned
Orthodox minister.

These conditions were similar in most respects to
those under which a large proportion of the county
townships of New England were settled. In Connec-
ticut provision was often made for two additional
shares, one for the State School Fund and a second
for Yale College, while in New Hampshire the pro-
prietors were not by any means always required to
occupy their lots in person or by their children, but
had power to sell them.' On the second page of the
Proprietors' Records, as prepared by Rev. Abraham
Hill, proprietors' clerk, there is this entry under date
of August 21, 1761 :

The following is a list of tlie names uf tlie men admitted by the
Hon^B Willijun Dudley, Chair Man of the Com" & othere. the Great
and Generul Court's Committee, to draw House-Lotts in the township of
Pequoiag on Miller's Itiver, on tlie JG uf June, 17^4, at Concord, as Set-
tleiTS of eaid Peijiioiap;-"

Following this is a tabular view of the drawing for
house-lots, with the location of these as north or
south of the river and east or west of the highway,
with the number of each. After the lapse of one
hundred and fifty-four years from the date of this im-

1 Of the twentv-three original proprietors of Monadnock No. 4 (now
Filzwilliam, N. H.), only a single one, Gen. James Reed, of Revolu-
tionary fame, beianie an^ctnal rf't^idfnt of the township.

1024

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

portant transaction at Concord, and the changes that \
have taken place in the ownership of tlie Athol lands
during this period, a reproduction of this table is
hardly deemed necessary in this historical sketch.
The curious are referred to the volume of Records
named above. Only the names of the proprietors
are here given, as follows :

Edward Oodiiard, Daniel Epps. Sr., Daniel Epps, Jr., Ebenezer Ood-
dard, Zecliariali Field. Neheniiah Wright. Rii-liard Wheeler, Richard
Morton, Samuel ftlortou, Epbraini Smith, Nathan Waite, .Tolin Woiid,
Benjamin Townsend, Jonathan Slorton, Joseph Smith, William Oliver,
Moses Dickinson, Joshua Dickinson, James KcUo^g, Richard Crouch,
Ezekiel Wallingfnrd, James .Tones, Charles Duharthy, Gad Waite, Joseph
Lord, Benoui Twichel, John Wallis, Samuel Willard. John Snieed, Win.
Chandler, Jonathan Marhle, William Higgius, James Kennej, Abuer
Lee, Abraham Nutt, John Ileadly, Isaac Fisk, Thomas Hapgood, Rich-
ard Ward, Satnnel Tenney, John Grout, Daniel Adams, John Cutting.
Samuel Kendall, Jonathan Page, John Longley, Joseph Brown, John
Child, Nathaniel Graves, George Danforth, James Fay, Capt. Joseph
Bowman, Francis Bowman, Stephen Fay, Israel Hamoud, Benjamin
Bancroft, Joseph Harrington, James Uolden, Daniel Fisk.

N.B. — I transcribed the above from a List under the Hand of Joseph
Lord, who has made Oath to the Truth of it, and adds the following :
N.B., viz.: This above mentioned List is what the Clerk of Petpuuag has
always made use of for Want of an Attested Copy, and also entered in
their Book of Records without .\tteRt. The above entered per

A. Hill, Prop. Clerk.

Aug. 2"'l, n«i.

From the table containing the results of the draw-
ing for lots in Pequoiag, it appears that prior to
June 26, 1734, a highway had been laid out, if not
opened, through the township, north and south,
which probably passed over " The Street," through !
the upper village and, crossing Miller's River some- ,
where in the vicinity of the existing bridge, continued
over Chestnut Hill or west of it to the northern line
of the grant. At the drawing for lots it is probable
that this highway was confined to the plan of the ,
township and simply aided in the location of the ;
lots. ■

From an intimation given in the legislative act
that created the townshi]), it would appear that the
cost of the survey and laying-out of this highway was
paid from the provincial treasury, but with the expec-
tation of its being reimbursed from the fund received
through the X5 required of each proprietor, which he
was to pay within one year after the survey, for the
admission of settlers. The way was now prepared for
the location of settlers in the new township.

Tradition asserts (for no record has been discovered
respecting it) that on September 17, 1735, five men
with their families arrived here from the earlier settled
townships in the valley of the Connecticut River.
These were Richard Morton, Ephraim Smith, Samuel
Morton, John Smeed and Joseph Lord. The four first
named are said to have come from Hatfield, while the
last-mentioned was a physician, who had previously
been established in his profession for a longer or
shorter j)eriod in Sunderland, and was plainly the
leading spirit in the enterprise. That they brought
with them through the wilderness their clothing,
cooking utensils and as much food as they could
carry, is certain, but the supply of each must have

been scanty, for they made the journey on foot, and
by marked trees in the thick forest. During the i
following winter their supplies were obtained from the
Connecticut Valley in the same manner.

Most, or all, of these five families erected their huts
upon The Street, but at considerable distance from one
another, for the lots which they drew, and doubtless
commenced clearing at once, were by no means in
close proximity.

That the winter of 1735 and '36 was one of con-
stant anxiety and great hardship with these pioneer
families cannot be doubted, for in three of the huts a
son was born, while warm rooms, good beds and a
full supply of substantial clothing and suitable food
were out of the question.

But the greatest perils arose from other sources, for
not far away and on nearly all sides were Indians,
not a few of whom were hostile, and the settlers
must have been familiar with the fearful cruellies
inflicted by the savages in Lancaster, Brookfield and
other places.

The rich meadows upon the banks of the Pequoig
in this township were a favorite haunt of the red
tribes for a considerable period after they had de-
serted the neighboring regions. Here were their
corn lands, which were unusually productive, and
the place was easy of access, being upon the Indian
trail most frequently used from the southeastern sec-
tions of New England to the Caiiadas. There were
two Indian crosings of the Pequoig within the limits
of this township — one a little above Lewis Bridge,
and the other not far from the house of the late
James Lamb. The remains of these are .still to be
seen. Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, of Lancaster (the
murder of whose infant daughter, Grace, by the
Indians is said to have given the name to Mt. (irace
in Warwick), was taken captive by the Indians in
Lancaster, February 10, Ui75. She was brought to
this place, as it appears from her narrative, and here
crossed the " Payquage " or " Bacquag '' River upon
a kind of raft constructed by her captors. And it is
understood that the breaking up of this favorite
haunt, where some of the most cruel and perfidious
Indian tribes congregated, was one of the objects of
the Colonial Government in the votes that were
passed in 1732 with reference to the settlement of
this region.

The perils of the first .settlers in this township from
ihis source were great indeed, almost beyond concep-
tion. Penhallow, in his " History of the fiuliaii
Wars," describes the Indians "as implacable in their
revenge as they are terrible in the execution of it, and
will convey it down to the third and fourth gener-
ation."

When, in 1759, the colonists suddenly attacked the
Arosaguntacook or St. Francis Indians in Canada and
defeated them, among other things found in the set-
tlement were six or seven hundred English scalps
suspended on poles, the trophies of their barbarous

ATHOL.

1025

warfare. And for forty years after 1703, wherever
settlements were made in Xew Hampshire and in the
adjacent parts of Massachusetts, the Indians, incited
l>y the French, were ready to fall upon them at the
most unexpected moment, as when the people wen
at church or attending a wedding.

I'euliallow's sickening record gives the names and
particulars of the capture, torture and murder in cold
blood of hundreds duriug this period, as well as of thi
fearful sufterings that the prisoners of both se.xes ex-
perienced while wading through the deep snows to
Canada and during iheir captivity, before redemption
or death put an end to their miseries.

War could be no sooner proclaimed between Franci
and England than the Indians seemed to become ac-
quainted with the fact, as it were instinctively, when
the signal would be given to renew the work of pillage,
burning and butchery.

The Indians were very early instructed in the use
of fire-arms and supplied with powder and balls by
renegade whites, conspicuous among whom was Baron
Castine, a French nobleman, who settled among the
Indians in Maine, and filled his house with Indian
women. Thomas Morton, the ring-leader of a com-
pany of outlaws, whose headquarters were in Brain-
tree, Mass., was engaged in the same infamous business
and severely punished for his crime.

Notwithstanding the hardships and exiiosures of the
five families that settled in this township in the au-
tumn of 1735, the spring of 1736 brought with it other
settlers. These came from different parts of the
Province, l)ut largely it is supposed, from the Connec-
ticut Valley, and their arrival added not a little to the
strength of the colony. The common exposure led
them to do everything in their power to protect one
another. As soon as might be, forts were erected in
different parts of the township, to which all the fami-
lies might flee in case of an attack. These were built
of trees set close together in the ground, with small
openings between them for the free use of fire arms.

Each fort had its well inside the enclosure and was
furnished with a good supply of provisions.

r?uch a stronghold, with a goodly number of well-
armed and resolute men and women inside, could not
easily be captured or burned. Thirty years ago a
number of persons were living in Athol, who distinctly
remembered having seen in childhood and youlh the
remains of these ancient places of refuge.

One of these forts (and probably the one first con-
structed) was located on "The Street," nearly in front
of the house then occupied by the late Mrs. Betsey
Humphrey, the home of Mr. John F. Humphrey and
Mrs. Ebenezer Brock in their childhood. The well
of this fort, now to be seen, has long furnished water
for the first parsonage, the home of the first pastor and
his descendants bearing the nameof James Humphrey
for four generations. Where the Pequoig House now
stands tradition has located a second of these forts,
while a third wa.s located northwest of the Lower Vil-
65

lage, on the hill which commands a view of the ancient
corn-fields on the banks of Tully Brook and Miller's
River.

Notwithstanding all the precautions which ex-
tended to the carrying of loaded fire-arms into the
fields which the settlers were clearing, and a loaded
musket into the pulpit by the pastor, the settlement
did not wholly escape, for, after eleven years of
watchfulness, Ezekiel Wallingford, one of the origi-
nal proprietors, who. lived at the fort on West Hill,
fell a victim to Indian atrocity. Contrary, it is said,
to the advice of his friends, he went one night from
the fort to protect his corn-fields from the bears, when
a ball from the gun of an Indian fractured his thigh,
and he was quickly dispatched by the murderous
tomahawk. Soon after the murder of Mr. Walling-
ford Jason Badcock was fired upon, wounded and
captured by the Indians, who, according to their cus-
tom, carried him to Canada. After a few months he
was redeemed and returned to Pequoiag.

About this time, 1740, when the settlement had
been maintained for eleven years, the peril was so
great that a number of families are said to have re-
linquished all their improvements and to have re-
moved, for safety, to less exposed parts of the Prov-
ince. These Indians were of the Nipmuck or Nipnet
tribe. Their territory John Eliot described in KJ.il
as "a great country lying between Connecticut and
the Massachusetts, called Nipnet, where there be
many Indians dispersed."

They seem to have ranged over the Province as far
west as the Connecticut River and over the northern
central portions of the State of Connecticut, while
their villages were chiefl)' located in Worcester
County.' Plainly nothing but the indomitable cour-
age and strong will of the majority of the scattered
settlers in 1746 saved the colony from practical aban-
donment.

Soon after the occurrences named above the In-
dians seem to have retired permanently i'rom the
region and the population of the township began to
receive larger accessions from the older settlements.
The first settlers, consisting of five families, received
considerable accessions to their numbers, probably in
the spring of 1736.

These were mostly from Hatfield or from towns
in that vicinity, and plainly were part of a company
that had been previously organized for the settlement
of Pequoig on Miller's River. Of the physical, in-
tellectual and moral characteristics of these pioneers
something is learned through tradition, but more
probably through the well-known habits and deeds
of their descendants of the next generation.

The names of Aaron Smith, Samuel Dexter, Noah
Morton, Robert Young, Robert Marble, Nathaniel
and Eleazer Graves, and of the four brothers, Wil-
liam, John, James and Robert Oliver, appear upon

1 See Lincoln^s " History of Worcester," page 16.

1026

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the list of settlers in 1736. Most or all of these were
able-bodied, industrious, resolute men in their va-
rious callings and did much to give a healthy tone to
the newly-organized society of the township.

The provision made in the original grant for the
establishment of religious privileges among the settlers
has been already noted. Owing, doubtless, to the
loss of the earliest records, we are obliged to rely
chiefly upon tradition for the truth of what follows.
Measures were taken as early as possible to erect a
house for religious worship. This was built of logs
and stood upon eight acres of land, a part of the lot
of fifty-eight acres laid out for " Lieutenant Samuel
Kindle on the original right of Jonathan Marble,"
the lot exceeding in size the others laid out at the
same time by eight acres. The plan was that these
eight acres should lie in common for a " Burying-place
and a Meeting-house plaice," according to the discre-
tion of the proprietors.'

These eight acres Lay upon the north bank of Mill
Brook, sixty or seventy rods southeast of the railroad
station and covered the old cemetery lot, which was
recovered, cleared and fenced by the town in 1859,
with considerable territory north and east of this
which had been under cultivation.

This first meeting-house probably stood a few rods
northeast of the granite monument which the town
erected at the rededication of the ancient cemetery,
July 4, 1869, to which allusion will be made here-
after. From the papers discovered by Rev. Mr.
Clark, it would appear that this building for church
purposes could not have been erected before 1741,
which was too late for compliance with the conditions
of the grant. Be this as it may, the first church was
doubtless erected upon that spot, with the first ceme-
tery adjacent, according to the custom prevailing
very generally one hundred and fifty years ago. The
reason for the selection of this spot for the location
of the church and cemetery is apparent when we
consider that it lay just about half-way between the
two principal settlements of the township at that
date, the one being on The Street and the other
around the fort on West Hill, northwest of the Lower
Village. In those days foot-paths took the place of
our highways, and there was plainly such a path
leading from The Street, by the church and cemetery
lot, to the northwest settlement.

This log church was never finished, but no such
building was ever speedily finished in those days.
The probability is that it was so far completed that
it could be used for public worship, but how long it
was used for this purpose, or by whom the religious
services in it were conducted, we have no informa-
tion. In some family records the title of Rev. is at-
tached to the name of Dr. Joseph Lord, but it can
hardly be supposed that he was ever a regularly or-

1 See the documentary evidence bearing upon this matter in the Ap-
pendix to Rev. Mr. Clark's "Centennial DiscourBe." page 60.

dained minister of the Gospel, for one hundred and

fifty years ago this title was most jealously guarded.

That he was a man of marked ability is certain,
and that he was a fluent speaker is probable. With-
out much doubt he was an exhorter or lay preacher,
and conducted for some years the religious services
of the early settlers.

This first meeting-house was soon consumed by
fire, lighted, it h.as been generally supposed, by In-
dians."

• The site was now abandoned for this purpose, al-
though burials took place in the first cemetery for
some years longer.

The settlement on The Street or " East Pequoiag
Hill," as it was called, having had the most rapid
and largest growth, was soon regarded as the centre
of the township, and there the second meeting-house
was erected. No record is found that throws light
upon the exact date of the erection of this building,
its size or cost. It is said to have had, certainly at
first, but a single pew, and this was doubtless in-
tended for the family of the first minister. The
house stood not far from the fort already noticed.

The proximity of these two structures was plainly
a precautionary measure. As yet no " learned Or-
thodox Minister" had been settled in this township,
according to the conditions of the original grant, and
all the improvements that had been made were tech-
nically forfeited. But the Province of Massachusetts
was more lenient in its treatment of such cases one
hundred and fifiy years ago than the land companies
are now, near the close of the nineteenth century,
and the settlement made sure though slow progress.
A Mr. Brown preached at least one Sabbath in 1749,
and the proprietors allowed him five pounds, old
tenor, for his services.

Rev, John Mellen, pastor of the first church in
Sterling, Mass., is supposed to have supplied the pul-
pit more or less during the same year.''

So far as is known Mr. James Humphrey, of Dor-
chester, was the first regular candidate for settlement
as the minister of this township, and he commenced
his probationary work as preacher early in December,
1749, and preached eighteen Sabbaths.

His services were so acceptable that at a legal

- The old tradition about the burning of the first church is contra-
dicted by an ancient document, just received from Mrs. Mary R. Hum-
phrey, of Dedham, widow of .lames Humphrey, the fourth of the name
in regular succession, in which it is stated that "by setting the woods
afire it caught the Meeting House, which was Iturnt down." This ia
doubtless a true statemeut of the case. It is addeii that liiis was a
heavy burden to tlie people, still being desirous of continuing tlieir re-
ligious privileges. They immediately commenced building a new meet-
ing-house on " The Street," within about twenty rods of the fort. Thie
also is added, " When a part was in the sanctuary a number was
obliged to watch at the post of her dooi-s with their arms at their side,
to Iveep off their devouring enemy whilst others were worshiping God
within."

3 Mr. Mellen was a man of influence in the Province, and was aonie-
times employed to arrange civil matters with the Royal Govei-uors and
Councils. See " History of Fitzwilliani," N. H., pages 12(i, 127.

ATHOL.

1027

meeting of the proprietors on the third Wednesday
of May, 1750, Samuel Kendall being moderator, it
was

Voted that we choose an Orthodox 3Iinister to settle in this Place.

Voted that Mr. James Hunifries, our present Prearlier, be tlie Ortlio-
dox Minister in tliis Place.

Voted that we give Mr James Iliimfries, our present Preacher, the
Sum of Fifty Pounds, lawful Money of this Province of the Massachu-
setts Bay, per Annum, while he continues in the Work of the Gospel
Ministry in this Place, and further add to that Right or whole Share of
T,and in the Township of PequoiaK laid out hy the General Court for the
first Jlinister of s'' Pequoiag, of which the House Lot on East Pequoiag
Hill, on the West Side of the High Wfiy — Number Kight is part— the
Sum of Sivtii Six Potnids thirteeit Shillintjs and /our Pence, lawful money
of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, to he paid, one-half within
One Year after his Ordination, the other half within one Year after the
Payment of the first half, if he accepts of the Work of the Gospel 3Iin-
istry in this Place.

This call was communicated to Mr. Humphrey by
a committee, but his answer was delayed till August
of the same year, for he plainly de.sired time to con-
sider a matter of such importance. The answer was
as follows :

To Ike Proprietors of Ihn New 2'owH8hip, cdlled Pequoiay, at their Meet-
ing, oontinued bt/ Adjouniinent fioin Maij \iSth t" August SIh enfiiiiiig :
Geutleui" ;

I received, by the Hand of Lieut. Ilichard Morton, a Copy of your
Votes, passed at your Meeting on Hie IBth of May last, respecting my
settling among you in the Capacity of a Gospel Minister. And in An-
swer thereto, — In the first Place I do heartily thank you for the good
will you have expressed to me in your Invitation. After mature De-
liberation upon the important affairs, I now signify my acceptance of
the Salary and Encouragement you have given me to Settle in the Work
of the Ministry among you in this Place, in case the Propriety will make
me an ,\dditiou of Fori)' Shillings lawful money to .your former En-
couragement for my Annual Support, and if it please God in his all-dis-
posing Providence regularly to introduce me into the Pastoral Otfiee
over you, I hope by his grace and .Spirit I shall be enabled, in some
good measure, to fulfil my Miuistry.
So I remain, with hearty Regards, your Servant in Christ Jeans,

Jamks Humfrf.y.
Pequoiag, August fi, ITSO.

At the meeting of the proprietors, August 8, 1760,
after the answer of Mr. Huniplirey had been received
it was " voted that Mr. Humfrey has Forty Shillings
lawful money of this proviuce added to the former
Encouragement we have given Him for his annual
support or Salary.'" A committee was also appointed
to make arrangements respecting the proper ordina-
tion, and "to take care to send to a neighboring
Minister or Ministers to Assist them in a Fast and in
Gathering a church in this place.'

The church was organized August 29, 1750, Rev.
Samuel Kendall, of New Salem, Rev. Abraham Hill,
of Shutesbury and Rev. Aaron Whitney, of I'eters-
liam, taking part in the service. The entry in the
ancient church records is that they " met in Peiquage,
and, after solemn prayer to Ciod, they gathered the
cliurch, and it was Irabodied and each member signed
the Covenant."

A little more than two months later the ordination
of the first pastor, Rev. James Humphrey, took place.
All that is known respecting it is found in the follow-
ing entry in the church records :

Peiquage, November the 7, ITrtO. An Ecclesiastical Council, convened

in Peiquage ; the council consisted of the Chnrch of Christ in Dor-
chester, ye Chh. in Hatfield, ye Chh. in New Salem, ye Chh. in Road-
town,' ye Chh. in Nitchawoag,^ and ordained Mr. James Humphrey
pastor over the Chh. and Congregation in said Place.

Attested by Jonathan Bowman, Mod.

This entry was maile by Mr. Humphrey, who had
been chosen, or acted, as the clerk of the church, and
the same hand, about eleven months later, made this
additional entry: "Dorchester, Oct. the 9th, 1751,
James Humfrey and Esther Wiswell was married,
and the 3rd day of November we got home to Pei-
quage."

For about twenty years Rev. Mr. Humphrey ap-
,)ears to have enjoyed a peaceful pastorate. His
salary was always small, and not always paid prompt-
ly, but this was doubtless true in a large majority of
the county congregations in Massachusetts.

Before the expiration of these twenty vears of
peaceful labor the township of Pequoig, on Miller's
River, had become the town of Athol, when the pay-
ment of the pastor's salary was assumed by the town.

The lot of which he became possessed by becoming
the first pastor was on the west side of the highway
leading over The Street, and upon this he erected his
house, the well-known dwelling of himself, of his son,
General James Humphrey, and of his grandson, the
James Humphrey whom not a few of the present resi-
dents of Athol well remember.

Portions of the house, as it now stands, were a part
of the original structure. The second, the third and
the fourth James Humphrey were born under this
roof, while the first, the second and the third died
there. The fourth in the succession bearing that
name removed to Dedham — not far from twenty-five
years ago — and died there. The old jiarsonage is
now owned by Mr. I. L. Cragin.

The aged elms that have so long shaded the dwell-
ing were planted 1-y the first pastor, according to the
family tradition.'

From this point the history of the first pastorate
|)roperly becomes ecclesiastical.

The meagre account already given respecting the
idlotment of the lands of this township may be mis-
leading. It is to be remembered that the territory
embraced in the grant was six miles square and
contained thirty-six square miles, or twenty-three
thousand and forty acres, including ponds and rivers.
At first but a small part of this territory was allotted
to the individual proprietors.

From what seems to be an authentic statement
respecting the laying out of the eight acres for the
first cemetery and lot upon which to build the first
meeting-house, it is nearly certain that in the first

' Now Shutesbury. -Now Petersham.

3. fames Humphrey (the third) had three children, — Antoinette, who
married a brother of Gov. Bullock and died in Athol, leaving a son,
Hufus A. Bullock, who is a lawyer in Boston ; James, who married
Mary D. Ripley, was a merchant in Boston, and left a widow and three
children — two daughters and a son, James Humphrey, now about seven-
teen years of age ; Fred., who died in his youth in Athol.

1028

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

division only a fifty-acre lot was assigned to each
proprietor. If so, but tbree thousand one hundred
and fifty acres were included in the first allotment,
leaving nineteen thousand eight hundred and ninety
acres of common land to be aftewards divided as cir-
cumstances might seem to require. An attested record
of the first division was doubtless contained in the
book which disappeared with Dr. Joseph Lord, as
already noticed ; but in the volume prepared to take
the place of this, and legalized by the General Court,
no information respecting the first division is found.

With regard to the second and succeeding divi-
sions of the lands owned in common after the first
division, the records are now satisfactory.

In the second division thirty-acre lots were laid
out, though they frequently contained from two to
five additional acres. A greater or less surplusage
was allowed all along, in making these various allot-
ments, for streams, ponds, land for roads, and possibly,
in some cases, for what were called waste lauds, or
such as were declared absolutely valueless.

In the third division thelots consisted often acres;
in the fourth, one hundred acres, in the fifth, fifty
acres; of the sixth and seventh the records are indefi-
nite, but one of them must have been on the basis
of eight acres, while the eighth was for one hundred
acres, and the ninth for thirty acres. These several
divisions as here stated would have amounted in the
end to an allotment of three hundred and seventy-
eight acres on each right, which would be almost
eight hundred acres in excess of the contents of ihe
whole township. But it is found that while some of
the assigned lots exceeded in size the unit of division,
others fell far short of it, sometimes twenty or twenty-
five acres on the large divisions. Moreover, " delin-
quents," as they were called in the ancient records,
were common in those days, and their lots may some-
times have been entered for re-allotment.

With regard to the method adopted in making these
divisions after the first, some information may be
gained from the directions adopted for this purpose
by the proprietors. May 29, 1765.

The committee appointed to make a new allotment
was directed to accommodate each proprietor already
in possession of a lot or lots by laying the new lot on
the line of the adjoining lots already owned and
possibly improved, so that the whole might be as
compact as possible. It was a delicate business to
make these allotments, but no complaints of the work
of the committee are on record.

The rights to lay out the common land under the
direction of the proprietors were soon bought and
sold like any other property.

During the years immediately succeeding the incor-
poration of the town, viz., 1762-65, this work of
allotment made the greatest progress, but the common
land was not all discovered and sold before 1824.

The last meeting of the proprietors of which there
is any record was held September 29th of that year.

Nathan Goddard was the proprietors' clerk for
some years, succeeding Rev. Abraham Hill, and
Jesse Kendall held the same office after 1768. After
1820 James Oliver was clerk of the proprietors.

A very singular warrant for a proprietors' meeting
is found recorded on page 60, 2nd vol. of Proprietors'
Records. It reads as follows :

[Seal. "I Provin»:e of the M.\ssachlsetts B.^t in New ENc.EANn.
To Nathaniei Graves, of P,i.i-to}i, in thp CounUj of Worcester, New England,

Gentleman :

Greetiug —
You are hereby required to notify the Proprietors of said Paxtou,
lately known by the name of PequoiHg, lying on Miller's River so-
called, in th e County of Worcester, that they assemble and meet at the
Publick Meeting-House in said township on the 2d Wednesday of
March nest, for the transaction of their usual business, Ac.

This warrant was dated February 22, 1762, only
twelve days before the Great and General Court in-
corporated the township, giving to the town an en-
tirely different name. Nathaniel Graves was a well-
known citizen of Pequoiag, and it seems certain that
the clerk of the proprietors. Rev. Abraham Hill, a
non-resident, knew but little of what was transpir-
ing in the township at that time, and so took it for
granted that the new town had received, or was to
receive, the name of Paxton.

Possibly this was the general understanding when
the movement for incorporation was made.

The name Paxton had not then been appropriated
to a township in Worcester County, but another
name for the settlement on Miller's River had been
suggested, which met with general favor, and this,
perhaps, at the last moment, went into the request
for incorporation. The meeting called by the war-
rant alluded to is stated to have been held in Pe-
quoiag March 10, 1762, four days after the township
had become the town of Athol. Important news
traveled slowly in those days.

CHAPTER C XXXIV.

ATHOh—iCoiiN/iucd).

ATHOL— 1 762-1800.

Its Incorporation as a Town — Jtfl Name— Its Organization — Civil History —
Provision for Schools and Relicfioits Privileges — Patriotic Pleasures at ihe
Opening of the War of the Revolution — Service in the War — Condi-
tion at the close of the Centnr//

By whom the movement was made for the incor-
poration of '■ Pequoig on Miller's River " into a town
is uncertain, but tradition asserts that the petition
for this purpose was headed by John Murray, Esq-
The same authority informs us that Mr. Murray was
a resident of Athol for a number of years before he
removed to Rutland, Mass. The charter was granted
March 6, 1762, and is recorded in Chapter XX. of
"Acts and laws passed by the Great and General

ATHOL.

1029

Court or Assembly of His Majesty's Province of the
Massachusetts Bay in New England," and is as fol-
lows :

Anno Regni Regis, Georg'ti III., Sevuiido, 1762.
Chapter XX.
Au act for erfcting the new Plantation called Paj'qnage, in the
County of Worcester, into a Town by the Name of Athol. mtereas, it
hath been represented to this Court that the inhabitants of tlie Planta-
tion of Payijuage, in the County of Worcester, labour uuder great diffi-
culties by reason of their not being incorporated Into a Town, and are
desirous of being so incorporated • Be it thert/ore fiiavted by the Governor,
Council aiKl House of Rf^preseulattves, That tliesaid Plantation be, and
hereby is, erected into a Town by the Name of Athol, bounded as fol-
lows, viz. : Northerly on the Plantations of Hoyasliire and Mount-grace,
Westerly on Ervingshire and New Salem, Southerly on Peteraham and
the Plantation called Number Six and Easterly on said Number Six ; and
that the Inhabitiints thereof be. and hereby are, invested with all the
Powers, Privileges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of the Towns
within this Provinceare by law vested with. Ari'l be it further enacted,
that John Murray, Esipiire, be, and hereby is, directed and empowered
to issu* his Warrant directed to some of the principal Inhabitants with-
in said Town requiring them to warn the Inhabitants of said Town
qualified to vote in Town .Affairs to assemble at s mie suitable Time and
Place in said Town, to choose siicli Officers as are necestsary to manage
the Affairs of said Town t Prodded, nevertheless, the Inhabitants of said
Town shall pay their proportionahle part of. sucli County and Province
Charges as are already assessed in like Mannei", as tbo' this Act had noj
been made.

With regard to the name of the town thus created
the uniform tradition is that it was named for the
second Duke of Athol, a Scottish nobleman, and in
part because the scenery of the new town resembles
that in the vicinity of Blair Castle, the palatial resi-
dence of the Dukes of Athol. The castle is situated
in Blair, Scotland, and occupies a beautiful and ro-
mantic locality on the southern slope of the Gram-
pian Hills.^

1 It is almost certain that the JoJin Murray, Eacjnire, mentioned in
the act of incorporation, was largely responsible for the name under
which the plantation was cliartered. Murray, as is well known, is the
family name of the Dnkes of Athol or .Athole, aa it is sometimes
spelled in Scotland. John Murray, Esq., held proprietors' rights in Pe-
quoig as early ss November, 17G1, ami before the town was incorporated
waa owner of 340 acres of land in the township. Later, viz.. in 1762
and 170.'}, he was in possession of 2;iS additional arres — in all 578 acres.
The title Esq. is invariably attached tu hirf name upon the records, a
distinction accorded to no other proprietor. March 31, 1708, when pro-
vision was made for a new allotment, John I^Iurray, Esq., drew No. 19
for the selection of a " pitch " when tlie additional division should be
made. How lon^; lie resided in the township before removing to Rut-
land is uncertain, but, evidently, he was for years the most distinguished
man in both places. It will be seen from these statements that it wae
eminently proper he should be selected as the moderator of the first
towii-meetiiig in Athol.

The following incidents of his life were obtained by the efforts of
Rev. Charles P. Lombard, pastor of the First Church in Plymouth
Mass., and late pastor of the Second I'nitarian Church of Athol :

Mr. Murray's third wife was Lucretia Chandler. In a genealogy of
the Chandler family, collected in ISHU, it is recorded that Col. John
Munay "came from Ireland, and it has been supposed with yood reason
that he was the youngest and wayward .son of the Duke of Athol, Scot-
land. He had a plate with the Duke'i^ family arms on it. In the grant
of the town of Athol by the Geneial Court, the first name was that of
John Murray, who probably gave the name of his ancestral honors to
the new town. The ' History of Rutland' says he was too poor when
he came ov«r to pay his passage. He lost his wife on the voyage. At
first he peddled about the country, and then settled at Rutland as a
merchant. Some of the doors of the house of Col. John Murray were
used in building the State House of Ohio, by mistake for those of Gen.
Rufus Putnam's former residence in Rutland, whose memory (Putnam'sj
the people wanted tu honur.

The call for the first town-meeting was as follows:

Worcester SS. To George Cutting, of Athol, in the County of Wor-
cester and one of the Principal Inhabitance of Said Town Whare as I
the Subscriber, am Impowered bj' act of the Grate and General Cort To
Call a meeting of the Inhabitance of the said Town of Athol to Choose
Town officera, itc.

These are Therefore In his majesties Name to Require you forth with
to Warn and Notifie the Said Inhabitanc of Athol Qualified to vote in
Town affairs that they meet at the meeting-House in Said Town of
Athol, on Monday, the 29 of this Instant, march, at one of the Clock in
the afternoon, then and there to Choose a moderator, Selectmen, Town
Clerk, assessors. Town Treasurer, wardins. Constables, Surveyors of
Highways, Tythingmen, fence- viewers, Sealers of Leather, Sealers of

"Colonel John Murray was a man of great influence in his vicinity and
in the town of Rutland, which he represented many yeare in the General
Court of Massachusetts. On election days his house was open to his
friends, and the good cheer dispensed free to all from his store, told in
his favor at the ballot-box. His wealth, social position anrl political in-
fluence made him one of the colonial noblemen, who lived in a style
that has passed away in New England. He won, in 1774, appointed by
King George III. and Lord Dartmouth, ' Mandamus' Councilor; but he
was not sworn into the ottice because a party of about five hundred
stanch Whigs, with the Committee of Correspondence, repaired to his
house in Rutland and requested him to resign his seat in the Counc:il.
He left his house on the 2oth of August, 1774, and lied to Boston, as he
stated in his memorial.

" In 1745 he had commanded the provincial troops, in conjunction with
the British, against the French. Like must, who at that day held office
aiul station from'the royal hand, he gave his influence and support to
the cause of the government and his King, which brought down npon
him the displeasure of the Whigs. Frank Moore, in his* Diary of the
American Revolution,' page 4(i, vol. i,, says, *Col. Murray, of Rutland,
one of His Majesty's Council, has been obliged to leave a large estate in
the country and repair to Boston to save himself from being handled
by the mob, and compelled to resign his seat in the Council,'

" In reference to him and Israel Williams (who was put into a room
with a fire, the chimney -tup being covered and the doors closed by the
Whigs, and kept there several hours in the smoke), Trumbull, in his iMc-
Fiugal, asks the Whig mob—

" ' Have you made Murray look less big.
Or smoked old W^illiams to a Whig?'

"In 1776, with his family of six persons, he accompanied the royal
army to Halifax. In 1778 he was proscribed and banished, and in 1779
lost his extensive estates under the Conspiracy Act, except one farm, for
his son .\lexander. He built a house in Prince William Street, St. John,
where he afterwards resided.

"In person he was aboutsix feet three inches high and well-proportioned.
The Hon. Robert L. Hazen, member of the Executive Council of New
Brunswick, and a grandson of Colonel Murray, h.-is hisportrait by Coi)ley.
He ia represented as sitting and in the full dress of a gentleman of the
day. There is a hole in the vpig; and the tradition in the fiin)ily is that
a party who sought the colonel at his house after the flight, vexed be-
cause he had eluded them, vowed they would leave their mark behind
them, and accordingly pierced the canvas with a bayonet.

*'0n a mausoleum, in the rural cemetei-y at St. John, N. B., removed
froiu the oM ground, is inscribed —

The dead, how sacred ! Sacred is the dust.
And Sacred may this marlde long remain.
To the memory of
John Murray, Esquire,
Who was born in Ireland
The 22"'i Day of November, 1720,
And died in this City, August :J0"', 1794."
Miss Ellen Murray, now of Fi'ogmore, St. Helena Island, S. C, sent
the following sketch to Rev. Mr. Lombard, copied " from a family ac-
count written by our mother, Harriet Letitia Murray:"

*' My husband's grandfather was Colonel Murray, the younger son of
a Duke of Athol in Scotland. Becoming displeased with his family, he
left his country and sf'ttled in America before the Revolution, He had
a large grant of land, and named a town 'Athol.' He had been mar-
ried thre« times, and with the third wife fled to New Brunswick in the
beginning of the war with the mother country. Mr. Hazen, my hus-
band's grandfather on the other side, escjipud with him. In the dark-

1030

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

weights and measures, Field Drivers, Hog-Reaves and all other ordinary
Town offices as Towns choose in the month of March annually Here
of Fail not and make Return Here of with your Doings here on unto

me before Said meeting

Given under my Hand and Seal at Rutland in Said County tliis fif-
tenth day of March, 17G2, in the Second year of his present majesties
Reign, &c.

John Murray, Jus. Peace.

At this meeting, presided over by John Murray, Esq.,
of Rutland, and held March 29, 1762, the most impor-
tant town offices were filled as follows :

Selectmen and Assessors, William Oliver, Aaron
Smith, John Haven ; Town Treasurer, Nathan God-
dard; Wardens, Robert Young, Nathan Goddard;
Constable for South Ward, Richard Morton; Con-
stable for North Ward, Ephraim Smith; Surveyors
of Highways, Nathan Goddard, John Oliver, Seth
Kendall ; Tythingmen, Jesse Kendall and Jotham
Death.

No town clerk was chosen at this meeting, nor at
the meeting of May 25th of the same year; but the
record of the proceedings of the former was signed
by John Murray, moderator, and that of the latter
by William Oliver, moderator. The first town clerk-
was John Haven, who was elected at the annual meet-
ing March 7, 1763. It is not easy to understand the
delay in filling this important office.

The town now entered upon its mission as an in-
tegral part of the Province of Massachusetts, and as-
sumed the support of the pastor, laid new highways,
built new and better bridges, made appropriations for
town charges and the support of the schools, and ar-
ranged a multitude of other matters for the promotion
of the general good.

What the population of the town was at the time of
its incorporation is not known, but it could not prob-
ably have exceeded three or four hundred, as it was
only eight liundred and eighteen when the census was
taken in 1790.

From the beginning the custom has generally pre-
vailed of filling the most important offices in this town
from the ranks of its most capable citizens, and there
has hardly been a time during the space of one hun-

ness of the night they fled to the woods, and only the ladies knew of
their hiding-place, and supplied them with food. Afterwards tliey
reached SI. John, tlieir properly in Athol, being confiscated. There is
LOW in St. John a beautiful picture, by Copley, of Colonel Murray, in
satin waistcoat, bag-wig and purple coat. The Revolutionary party en-
tered his house, and not finding him, ran a bayonet through the picture
— the jagged rent is still there. A Mrs. English, who visited the
Duchess of Athol some thirty or forty years since, was shown in an
old chronicle of the family the name of John Thomas Murray, younger
son of the family, who, some years before the .\merican Revolution,
had quarreled with lii!> family, and securing a grant of land, had settled
in New England, and named a town '.Vthol.' " Miss Murray adds, "Some
twenty years ago, a gentleman from Athol came to see our mother to se-
cure a quit-claim to a tract of wooded hill land near the town. When
the rest of Colonel Murray's property had been sold by the victorious
Revolutionary party, this tract was overlooked, and when a dispute arose
about it, it was found that by the wills of the three Murrays, we were
the rightfiU owners. My mother relused the quit-claim and tried to se-
cure the land, but found it too vexatious and expensive an attempt, and
abandoned it."

For some other documents upon the same matter there is no space.

dred and twenty -five years when men of broad and far-
reaching views could not be obtained for this purpose.
Especially in times of excitement and danger, like the
period 1861-65, the services of such men as Calvin
Kelton and Nathaniel Richardson were invaluable;
and Athol has always had a goodly company of citi-
zens of like ability and patriotism from which to fill
the principal public offices. Few realize how largely
the prosperity of the town ha.s been due to this cir-
cumstance.

March 7, 1763, the town voted " to Rais £13 6s. 8d.
to provide a School, and chose Nathan Goddard,
Jesse Kendall and John Oliver Committee to hire a
school Master, and 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 said sum." This was the first action of
the town in relation to schools, and it seems to indi-
cate that the same master was expected to teach on
the two sidfs of the river alternately.

As bearing upon the matter of obedience to law,
the item following has interest: May 24, 1764, the
town " voted to David Twitchel the money that was
taken for Fines the last year for Breach of Sabbath."

At the same meeting, under the article relating to
providing a school, the town voted to provide a
school and to divide the school money as before;
also "chose Robert Young, John Oliver and John
Farbank, Comitte, to take care of and provide for
the school on the south bank of the river, and John
Haven, Samuel Morton and Nathan Goddard Com-
mitty on the north side." Eight hours were also
made to constitute a day's work on the highways.

In 1764 the town voted not to send a representa-
tive to the General Court. In 1766 the town voted
"to build two School Houses and to reconsider the
vote." Then it was voted to divide the town into
five " Squadrons," whicli was also reconsidered.
Later it was " voted to build two School Houses, one
on the West Hill, between Aaron Smith's and Icha-
bod Dexter's ; the other on East Hill, at the head of
Capt. Field Lain (so called); and the above houses
are to be built sixteen foot wide, and eighteen foot
long, and six foot and half stud." Separate commit-
tees were appointed "to set men to work" lor the
erection of each house. Later, during the same
year, it was " voted to raise £26 13«. -id. to build two
school-houses, and that men should be allowed to
work out their Raits on the School Houses at two
shillings and four pence pr day."

In 1767 a vote was passed to sell the school lands
and the ministerial lands, with the consent of the
pastor for the latter sale, and to have five pounds
and four shillings of the money granted for high-
ways "worked out on the Burying Places."

In 1768, £16 were raised for the use of the school,
£52 to pay the pastor's salary, and £3 for town
charges.

ATHOL.

1031

In 1769, £6 were raised to repair the old meeting-
liouse.

In 1770, £6 were raised to provide a "stock of
amonition lor the town," the people evidently be-
ginning to anticipate the conflict which was soon to
arise with the mother country. The same year it
was " voted to have a school kepted at the south end
of Meeting House hill, and one at the north end;
one on the east part of the town ; one at the south-
west part; one on West hill, and one on Chestnut
hill," "each part to enjoy the benefit of the money
they pay for school in}^."

In 1771 it waa voted not to set a new meeting-
house on the site of the old one on The Street, but to
place it "between the Slow on John Brooks' lott,
near the mill brook, and the little new bridge in said
lott, on the east side of the County Road." After a
recess of one hour and a half, this action was made
more definite by explaining in a vote that the meet-
ing house was to stand " near the southeast corner
of corn mill lot (so called), the east side of the road,
and said lot now owned by John Brooks, of Lancas-
ter, and is the plot of land next and near a little
slow," etc., all of which was doubtless more easily
comprehended one hundred and eighteen years ago
than it can be by the reader to-day.

The question of dividing the town so that the west
part of it might constitute a town by itself, which
was submitted to this meeting, was decided in the
negative.

A little later, during the same year, it was voted
til raise one hundred and twenty pounds to build a
meeting-house to be forty-six feet wide and fifty-six
long. In July, of the same year, the location of the
house was still under discussion, when it was " voted
tb prefix a spot to sit a new meeting-house and to sit
it within thirty rods north of the place where it was
placed in January." The next month the town
" voted to refer it [the location] to a Committee that
they shall choose to prefix a spot for the inhabitants
of Athol to set a meeting-House," and under this vote
the committee chosen consisted of " Capt. Oliver
Witt, of Paxton ; Capt. Stephen Maynard, of West-
borough ; and Col. John Whitcom, of Boldton,"
doubtless Bolton. The report of this committee,
dated January 28, 1772, was in favor of " sitting said
Meeting-House on a small rise of land on the west
side of the County Road on the north side or ad-
joining some hewed timber prepared for a house."

This location is supposed to be the one finally
adopted, which was upon the north end of what is
now the Common, in the Upper Village. From the
various measures taken by the town in 1772 it would
appear that the erection of the new house on the spot
indicated above was commenced and carried forward
during the earlier part of that year, although there
was not a little dissatisfaction with the doings of the
building committee.

In March, 1773, the work had so far advanced that

the town " Voted to reserve the pew ground on the
west side of the pulpit nearest the pulpit for the use
of the Ministry." Also "Voted that each man
should Pick his pew according to his pay to the
meeting-house on his real and personal estate."
Also " Voted that each man that draws a pew shall
build his own pew." To understand these votes it is
to be remembered that a hundred and twenty-five
years ago it was customary in our country towns, after
the floor of a new church was laid, to sell, usually at
auction, what was called the " pew ground," which
was a certain space marked ott' for the location of a
pew. Generally, at the first sale the parts of the
floor adjacent to the walls of the edifice were disposed
of, leaving the interior portion to be filled with
cheaply constructed seats for such as did not erect or
occupy pews. Each one purchasing or drawing pew
ground was expected to build his pew at his own
expense and in a style agreeable to his taste and the
amount of money he could aft'ord for such a purpose.
A meeting-house furnished in this manner, as a mat-
ter of course, must have presented, for a considerable
period, a singular and unsightly appearance with its
vacant spaces, long seats and various styles of work-
manship. No paint was used to bring the difterent
kinds of lumber employed in pew construction to a
common color — indeed, no paint at all upon the in-
side work, excepting upon the pulpit and on the win-
dow-casings.

May 19, 1778, the town " Voted to meet in the new
meeting-house the first Sabbath Day in July next."
In June of the same year the town accepted a plan
for pews in the galleries, and " Voted that the select-
men desire Mr. Humfray to preach a lecture in the
new meeting-house before the first Siibbath in July
next."

During the years in which the location and erec-
tion of this house of worship occupied so much of
the attention of the people, the work of relocating
and building roads and constructing new and better
bridges went on uninterruptedly, and, considering
the number of the people and the straitened cir-
cumstances of many among them, the appropriations
made for all public purposes were liberal. Founda-
tions were to be laid and almost everything was to
be done, but money was not abundant.

We are now approaching a period when new and
most important duties devolved upon the town officers
and the entire population of Athol, for the whole
Province and the whole people of the thirteen Colo-
nies were beginning to feel the pressure of British
encroachments. March 7, 1774, Deacon Aaron
Smith, James Stratton, Jr., and James Oliver were
chosen selectmen, and July 7th, of the same year,
"after very close and serious Debates on what meas-
ures were most likely to affect a deliverance from the
burdens and oppressions that America in general,
and this Province in particular, are laboring under,
it was unanimously agreed to enter into a League or

1032

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS

Covenant, binding ourselves to Kenounce the use
and consumption of all goods that shall arrive in
America from Grate Britain from and after the last
day of August next ensuing, untill the act of block-
ing up the harbor of Boston shall be repealed, and
we' restored to the free use and enjoyment of our
national and charter rights, or untill other measures
shall be adopted by the Body of the people or the
General Congress of the Colonies that is soon to meet,
that shall be thought more likely to affect a Deliver-
ance." At the same meeting a Committee of Corre-
spondence wiw chosen, consisting of Deacon Aaron
Smitli, William Bigelow, Josiah Goddard, Captain
John Haven, Ephraim Stock well, James Oliver, Ab-
ner Graves, James Stratton, Jr., and Daniel Lamson.
The other towns in the county of Worcester hav-
ing appointed similar committees, a general meeting
of these was held in Worcester, August 0, 1774, and
continued by adjournment. At this meeting resolu-
tions were passed, expressing true allegiance to His
Majesty, George III., declaring that the people of the
Colonies should enjoy the same rights as His Majes-
ty's subjects in Great Britain, claiming the right to
originate here the laws under which the people of this
Province shall live, deprecating the attacks recently
made upon their chartered privileges which place
their lives and property at the disposal of the British
Government, declaring the closing of the Port of
Boston a most unjust and cruel act, and then asserting
in the plainest language that it was the duty of all
Americans, especially of the people of this Province,
" to save our money, encourage our own manufac-
tures, and reform our manners" by non-consumption
of " Brittish Goods," all of which " will have a ten-
dency to convince our brethren in Britain that more
is to be gained in the way of Justice by our friend-
ship and affection than by extortion and arbitrary
power."

When these resolutions were read in open town-
meeting in Athol, September 2, 1774, they were " ac-
cepted and ordered on record." A few days be-
fore this action, viz., on August 25th, the town held
a very important meeting, and passed unanimously

seven resolutions, of which the following is a sum-
mary:

The 1st points to a closer and firmer bond of union

between the colonies.

The 2d acknowledges the loyalty of the people to

King George III. so long, but only so long, as he

shall govern according to the English Constitution

and the chartered rights of the people.

The 3d condemns the blockade and jilumler of

Boston.

The 4th complains of the injustice involved in the

practical repeal of the charters of the colonies.
The Oth is a pledge of resistance to the unjust

measures pursued by the British Government.
The ISth provides for a representation in a county

meeting that was soon to be held at Worcester.

The 7th is as follows : " Resolved, That if any per-
son shall accept a commission or post of office to
serve under the new Establishment (that is, British
regulations then going into force), he ought to be
looked upon and treated as an enemy to his country ;
as he thereby is joined with, and lending a helping
hand to those who are endeavoring to enslave us."

The seventh resolve shows how exceedingly jealous
the people of Athol were with reference to what were
then called Tory influences.'

In 1774, September 29th, the town " Voted to inlist
thirty men, exclusive of officers, to send in case of an
alarm," and later, under the same article, they
" Voted to have two companies of Militia in the
town, and that the division of the aforesaid compa-
nies be made by the River." Also " Voted to rais
sixteen pounds, Lawful money, to provide a town
stock of ammunition.'' William Bigelow was chosen
as a delegate to attend a Congress, called to meet at
Concord on the second Tuesday of October, 1774,
and also to represent the town in the adjourned
Provincial Congress, to assemble November 23d of
the same year at Cambridge.

On the nth of January, 1775, the town "Voted
that we do approve of and adopt the non-importa-
tion agreement Recommended by the Continental
Congress." At the same meeting a Committee of In-
spection was chosen, which consisted of .lohn Haven,
James Stratton, Jr., William Bigelow, Deacon Aaron
Smith, Hiram Newhall, .losiah Goddard and James
Oliver. The business of this committee, according
to the warrant under which it was raised, was " to
see that the Resolves of the Continental and Provin-
cial Congresses are faithfully observed."

At that stage of the great conflict which was im-
pending, hardly any other town office imposed upon
those who held it such grave responsibilities as con-
fronted those Committees of Inspection.

Generally they were composed of men in middle
life, men active, energetic, fearless and eminently
patriotic. In their respective towns they were ex-
pected to maintain a sleepless vigilance over all the
interests involved in self-government and the deliv-
erance of the Province and country from British op-
pression. It ought to be borne in mind that in the
beginning of the struggle for liberty and, to a consid-
erable extent, through all the vicissitudes of that

1 Upon the west side of Pleasant Street, and .almost within llie pres-
ent limits of the Upper Village, there stood the ancient tavern of Atliol,
kept in the Uevohltionary times by a man named W'ard. Tradition Buys
that he and his family held to the King's party, for whicli reason a
guard was stationed at one or more points in tlie vicinity, and als*> iipun
the canseway east of tlie tavern,— then the highway from Tlie Street to
IJoston was laid from tlie tavern east across tlie swamp that is now cov-
ered by Lake Kllis. The object of this guard wjts to discover, if possi-
Iile, whether there was any communication between the Ward family
and Tories in the eastern parts of the connty. Whether this precau-
tionary measure was followed by any practical results is unknown, but
the whule movement shows that at the commencement of tlie war the
people of Athol were ready at all luizarils to nuiiutaii] what lln-y
deemed their iualienable rights.

ATHOL.

1033

contest, there was hardly a town in New England
that had not a number of Tories. Some of these
were men of property, education and influence, while
others were bold adventurers, determined to make
money, however much the people generally might
sufl^er. Both of these classes needed watching, and
the Committees of Inspection were expected to dis-
cover and thwart their plans as far as possible. Un-'
der the restrictions imposed by the action of the
Continental and Provincial Congresses with regard
to the non-importation of goods from Great Britain,
and tlie abandonment of their use by the people,
many were restive, and some of these were ready to
sacrifice almost everything for the gratification of
their desires. Especially was it deemed hard to be
deprived of tea, and the demand for this article led
not a few unprincipled men to run great risks in fur-
nishing it secretly to such as would purchase it.
Small traders, with bags of tea on horseback, spread
themselves over the country, and in almost every town
would find some one to aid them in their dishonora-
ble enterprise. The encounters of such men with
the Committees of Inspection occasioned very sensa-
tional scenes in various places.'

There is a tradition that, influenced Ijy their passion
for tea, some even of the patriotic ladies of New Eng-
land would secretly procure it, and stop up the key
holes of their doors while the fragrant herb was steep-
ing over the coals, lest they should be betrayed by
tlie well-known vapor.

As the cloud of war became more portentous, tlie
people of Athol were found furnishing and equipping
soldiers, and supplying provisions for the Continental
Army. There was no backwardness, no hesitation,
but a noble spirit of self-sacrifice animated them.

If it were possible, a full record of the soldiers that
this town furnished during the War of the Revolution
should here be presented. It would be pleasant to
know to what companies and regiments each of them
belonged, under what commanders they fought, in
what battles they were engaged, what feats of valor
they performed, and how many of them survived the
hardships and perils they encountered ; but this can-
not be satisfactorily done till months and years shall
be spent in sorting and arranging the ancient docu-
ments that are in the possession of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts. It is to be remembered that dur-
ing the war, soldiers were often transferred from one

' One uf tlie iiioi^t obnoxious of these Tory peddlers in Soutbwestern
New Uanipsliire wus Breed liaclielor, a notorious character, who in
ITTlj visited a number of towns to dispose of liis contraband goods. En-
ronntiTing some members of the Committees of Inspection from Fit/,-
William and Marlborough, who were watching for him, Baclielor had
tlie temerity to strike Mr. Tucker, one of the Marlborough conunittee,
with a club that he carried in hia hand. Mr. Tucker was wounded by
the blnw, when the miscreant rode otl" as fust us possible. Being pur-
sued, he was brought back, and the pecuniary benefit derived from his
venture w:is very small. A complaint was made out against him and
presented tti the tleueral Assembly uf the colony of N'ew Hampshire
by the Fitzwilliarii rnmmittee of Insjiectioli, Ijul be s,jon disap-
peared.

company to another, companies from one regiment to
others, regiments from one division to another, and
that not unfrequently all the records of these changes
were made upon loose scraps of paper. Books of
record for military use were few during the Revolu-
tionary VVar.'-

The following are the marching-orders that were
sent to an Athol cai)tain, probably in 1776 :

To Citpl. Kph'iii tSlockwrll :

Sir ; — By virtue of an express from Gein'I Warner in which i am
Directed to detach every Sixth mau out of my Kegimelit to go to the
releaf of our llistressed Breatheren at the westward,

1 do Hearby Direct and Order you fortb-with with-out the Least Delay
and with the utmost t'lspatch to Det'ich Every Sixth mau out of the
Training Baud and alarm List of your Company for the purpose atibres'd
and See that Uiey are actpiipt according to Law with armea ammunition
also with Kittles and Cooking utensils. The Selectmen are Jhrected to
acquip those that are not acriuiped, you are also to Detach one Corporal.
-\nd when you have so Done you are to marcli them to Petersham on
inonday the Twenty Eight day of this Instant July to meet on the Pal'aid
near the Meeting House in said Town at nine o'clock in the forenoon,
you are also to take the command of the mtn Detached from captains
Nye, llenery and Lord's Compatiys, Together with your own Detachment.
.\nd from s' Petersham yon are to make your Route By the way of
Bennington where you are to receive further orders from Colo, dishing,
you are to Return me a List of the names of those men Detached from
voui Company Inimediately.

NaTH.VN SFAKilAWIi, Col.

This company was in the battle of Bennington, and
afterward captured in New Jersey a British detach-
ment, one less in number, without firing a shot. In
the terrible conflict of White Plains two of its men
were killed who bore the Athol names of Morse and
(ioddard. The first pastor of Athol, Rev. James
Humphrey, has left this record respecting them : " .Mr.
Earl Cutting, their townsman and messmate, was be-
tween them when they fell." Tradition adds that one
of them, when wounded, leaped over a fence and died
ivithout uttering a word.^

The following will throw light on the distribiitiim
of the Athol soldiers in the Continental Army, as well
as upon the unselfish spirit by which they were actu-
ated in this service. Their wages were paid by the
town :

Athol, in the State of Massacliuselts bay ; the men fur the war for the
years 177."!, 177l'> .V 1777. Minute men who went to Cambridge were paid
>i shillings each :

Eight nionths' men to Canihritlge, tJ*. per mouth.

Six weeks' men to Koxiiury, 4ii. per month.

Two months' men to Dorchester, tis. per month.

Twelve months' men to Dorchester, 10s. per month.

Seven months' men to " Nuntastick," '*«. per month.

Five montiis' men to *' York," ISs. per month.

Four months' men to Ticonderoga, '2<!«. per month.

2 So far as know ii. New Hampshire is the only one of the original
thirteen States that has entered systematically and thoroughly upon the
work of arranging and printing its an;ient State papers and Revolu-
tionary rolls. Many of these were edited and carried through the press
under the suiiervision of the late Rev. Dr. Bonton, of Concord, X. II.,
while the work upon the old documents of the Revolution is now ably
conducted by IIoli. Isaac W. Hauiniond. \ copy of each volume as
printed is deposited with the clerk of each town and city.

■H'apt. Stuckwell was the grandfather of the late George Sprague, of
.\tliol, who had in his possession, in Isii'.t, the original document from
which the order inserted above was copied. The lieutenant of the
company was Benjamin Townsend. grandfather of the late Col. Thomas
Townsend.

1034

HISTORY OP WOKCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Four months^ men to Dorchester, 49. per month.
Two months' men to Tarrytown, 20s. perraontli.
Three months' men to " the Jerseys," 20s, per month.
Two months' men to Khode Island, Ss. per montli.
Six weeks' men to Bennington, 20s. per month.
*' Larrum " men to " Williainston," 8 days, Ss. per month.
Three months' men to "iSarratogue," 15«. per month.
To Fort Edward, 4 weeks, 18s. per month.

The farther they went from home the greater were
their wages, but these were small at the best.

It appears from the town records that soldiers were
furnished, equipped and paid in like manner through
all the years of the war ; and before it ended it was
doubtle.s3 true of Athol, as it was of many towns of
New England, that nearly every able-bodied man
was, at some period of the struggle, enrolled in the
army. It may be added that this service embraced,
very often, young men who had reached the age of
fifteen or sixteen years only. In 1778 more than fif-
teen hundred pounds were raised at one time to pay
wages to the soldiers. The requisitions of the prov-
ince upon the town for beef and other supplies for
the army were cheerfully and, in general, promptly
met.

How all these burdens were sustained for so many
years without financial ruin it is not easy to under-
stand. Only the strictest economy in household ex-
penses, and untiring industry and frugality on the
part of all the people, could have enabled the town to
meet such a crisis. It is to be borne in mind that at
the close of the war the population at Athol could not
have much exceeded five or six hundred. The cur-
rency of this, and of the neighboring provinces, had
depreciated to such an extent that as many as ninety
dollars in paper money were often exchanged for a
single dollar in silver. The proposed improvements
upon the farms had been seriously interrupted by the
absence of so many of the men in the army, while
every necessary article manufactured elsewhere, could
be purchased only at an enormous price. Athol was
then far from any large and regularly supplied mar-
ket. The people were mostly farmers, but to trans-
port the surplus products of the farm and the forest
to market was a slow and expensive process. The
hills over which the highways passed — especially on
the east and west roads — were long and steep ; and
the roads themselves were narrow and poor ; yet the
town was, on the whole, prosperous. Before the close
of the century it could meet its liabilities, and debt
pressed less heavily upon the people. The farms
showed signs of permanent improvements ; small
manufacturing establishments were projected — if not
actually built — upon the banks of the streams, school-
houses were provided for the several " squadrons,"
and the range of studies enlarged, while the military
spirit was not suffered to die out in the town for want
of organizations and public encouragements.

CHAPTER CXXXV.

ATHOL— ( a>«//«?^ea'. )
.\THOi. — 1801-1888.

Condition of the Town before thf Civil irur — Excitement in 1861 — .40^8 of
iJtt Town to Encoinage Enlisloienl »f Soldiers — Enlistments — Boniities Of-

t fered — Mililnnj Conijianies Ch-ganized — Private Mutiijirence to Obtain
Recruits — Aid to Soldiers^ Famtlien — Number of Siddiers from Athol
— Expense ^cco«(i( of the. War.

The present century opened with Rev. Joseph
Estabrook as the minister of Athol, who had been
ordained November 21, 1787. His predecessor, Rev.
James Humphrey, had been dismissed about five and
I a half years before, viz. : February 13, 1782, after a
pastorate of about thirty-two years, and had died
May 8, 179(), in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
The town was gradually recovering from the disturb-
ance, if not the breaking up, of its most important
business interests, and from the great losses occasioned
by the Revolutionary War. Its population had in-
creased but slowly — only one hundred and seventy-
five between 1790 and 1800 — and now numbered nine
hundred and ninety-three. The conditions for gene-
ral improvement in the near future, though not as
good as could have been desired, were, on the whole,
fair, and the town entered upon the work of the
nineteenth century with increasing courage and
hope.

There was little to disturb the general quiet of the
place until the war with Great Britain commenced in
1812. As is well known, this was very unpopular
throughout New England. The majority of the peo-
ple in this part of our country were not at that time
in sympathy with the national administration, and
strenuously maintained that the war must prove disas-
trous to their shipping and other interests. To this
intense feeling expression was given August 31, 1808,
in a petition to the President of the United States,
which was accepted by the town. In 1814, January
31st, the town again took action upon the same matter
in a petition to the Legislature, which was couched in
very significant language. But the general prosperity
of the town was not seriouslj' interrupted by this
excitement. In those days the electoral votes of New
England were not usually cast for the successful can-
didates for the Presidency ; and that fact may have
had something to do with the strong opposition which
prevailed in this part of the country to the War ot
1812.

During the sixty years from 1800 to 1860 the popu-
lation of Athol increased from nine hundred and
ninety-three to two thousand six hundred and four,
and there was a steady gain in financial strength and
business enterprise. During this period agricultural
interests received more and more attention, while
factories and mills for manufacturing purposes were
erected in considerable number, as will presently
appear.

ATHOL.

1035

The coustriiction of expensive county roads and
other highways, largely for the accommodation of the
inhabitants of the neighboring towns, has for many
years made heavy drafts upon the treasury of Athol,
but the debts thus created have been paid in part by
the town becoming a business centre for not a little
of the adjoining territory.

From its beginning the people of Athol have had
an almost passionate regard for civil freedom and in-
dividual liberty, and oppression in any form has
always been looked upon as a crime. The repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and the desperate attempts
to fasten the institution of slavery upon Kansas, that
made memorable the years just jireceding 1860,
aroused the deepest indignation here, and did much
to prepare the way for the unanimity, steadfastness of
purpose, and spirit of sacrifice that characterized all
the proceedings of the town when the Civil War
began.

"Athol in Suppressing the Great Rebellion."
This is the title of a volume of two hundred and si.xty-
four pages, the entire contents of which belong to the
history of Athol. The book originated in this man-
ner : in the warrant lor the town-meeting of Athol
for April 7, 18(i2, Article 4th was as follows :

To see if the Town will ciioose a Committee to collect and preserve
facts and incidents which may have a historic interest to the people of
the Town as showing the part they have taken in aiding to suppress the
Great Rehellion.

At the town-meeting held under this warrant it
was " voted to choose a committee of three to collect
and preserve such facts as they may think best ; and
said committee will work free of charge to the town.
Chose Rev. John F. Norton, John JI. Twichell and
Dr. A. G. Williams; and then voted to add one, and
chose Dr. James P. Lynde."

This committee was organized by the appointment
of Rev. J. F. Norton, chairman, and Dr. J. P. Lynde,
secretary.

Dr. A. G. Williams having accepted a commission
as a surgeon in the army, at a town-meeting March
2, 1863, Mr. Charles W. Bannon was added to the
committee at the request of the other members. He
had previously rendered much assistance in collecting
and arranging many of the facts that relate to the
early history of recruiting in Athol.

At the town-meeting November 7, 1865, on motion
of Nathaniel Richardson, Esq., it was " voted that the
Town authorize its Committee in charge to publish
by subscription the Record entitled 'Athol in Sup-
pressing the Great Rebellion,' with such changes as
said Committee may deem desirable.

"Voted that the Selectmen be authorized to sub-
scribe in the name of the Town for Fifty Copies of
the Record, provided it can be furnished at a price
not exceeding two dollars per copy.''

The committee at once entered upon its work (the
chairman making the entries in the record) and prose-
cuted it till the close of the war. Nearly every soldier

from the town, who lived to return, was visited as soon
as possible after his discharge and his personal expe-
rience recorded. All reliable documents concerning
the killed and wounded were examined. The infor-
mation contained in the volume is deemed in every
respect reliable, and a summary of it is here given :'

The people of Athol, in common with all their loyal
countrymen, were filled with amazement and the most
gloomy apprehensions by the bombardment of Fort
Sumter, a fortress of the United States in the harbor
of Charleston, S. C. The attack upon this fort, which
was the opening scene of the Great Rebellion, was
made April 12, 1861 ; and the little garrison, under
the heroic Colonel (afterwards General) Robert An-
derson, surrendered to the rebel host that assailed it
after a bold resistance for about thirty-six hours.

Washington was at once menaced by an army of
rebels that poured into Virginia. But a few days
elapsed before Massachusetts men were shot in the
streets of Baltimore while on their way to rescue the
National Capitol. The whole South was in commo-
tion; and every hour the rebel cause gained strength
till it assumed frightful proportions.

The news of these events aroused all the patriotism
of the North; and the people of Athol determined to
do their part for the support of the government against
the mighty combination that threatened to destroy it.
From all parts of the town men, women and children
came together to raise and honor the glorious flag of
our Union, and to determine on the course of action
which the crisis demanded. Processions were formed,
and the gatherings in different jiarts of the town were
large and enthusiastic. At a public meeting in the
Town Hall, on the evening of April 19, 1861, forty or
more young men offered themselves for the formation
of a military company.

A town-meeting was at once called, at which five
thousand dollars were appropriated to encourage vol-
unteers and to provide for the families of such as
were married, in their absence.

Enlistments now commenced, the first name upon
the roll being that of Leander W. Phelps. Then
came the names of David E. Billings, J. B. Billings,
Delevan Richardson, Hubbard V. Smith, Edward L.
Townsend, Charles II. Hill, Charles S. Green, Colum-
bus Fox, William L. Clutterbuck, Horace Hunt, Wil-
liam Nute, Frederic Cummings, John D. Emerson,
Thomas Johnson and Aurin B. French ; and, a little
later, John F. and James L. Merrill went to the seat
of war in the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment. July
10, 1861, the town made still more liberal offers to
those enlisting as soldiers, especially with regard to
such as might be dependent upon these for support,
and numerous enlistments followed. Twenty-three
men soon joined the Twenty -first Regiment, and were

^ As the author of the volume noticed above is also the author of this
historical sketch, the utmost freedom with its contents is allowable. It
may be added that it was printed and distributed under the personal
responsibility of the chairman of the committee.

1036

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

connected with Company A, under command of
Captain (afterwards Major and Lieutenant-Colonel)
George P. Hawks, of Templeton.

Mr. Adin W. Caswell now undertook to recruit a
company chiefly from Athol, and in the short space
of ten days obtained the requisite number of men.
On the 4th of October, 1861, which was the day of
the annual cattle show and fair, a dinner was given
to this company ou the Common at Athol ; and the
men were addressed from the balcony of the Summit
House. Dr. James P. Lynde presided and addressed
the soldiers and the immense audience assembled.
A sword, sash, etc., were presented to Captain Cas-
well, Hon. Charles Field makiug the presentation
address. Captain ('aswell responded, and addresses
were afterwards made by Hiram Woodward, Esq., of
Orange; James Brooks, Esq., of Petersham; J. H.
Goddard, Esq., editor of the Barre Gazette; Rev. I.
S. Lincoln, of Warwick ; Rev. A. Harding, of New
Salem ; Calvin Kelton, Esq., chairman of the Board
of Selectmen ; Rev. Ira Bailey and Rev. John F.
Norton, of Athol. A patriotic poem, which he had
prepared for the occasion, was recited by Rev. D. J.
Mandell, also of Athol. Bouquets of flowers were
presented to all the soldiers composing the company
by young ladies who volunteered for this service,
while patriotic songs, in which a multitude of voices
joined, enlivened the occasion. The exercises at the
Summit House were closed with prayer by Rev. J. F.
Norton ; and almost the entire assembly went with
the company to the depot, where the soldiers took the
cars for the camp at Springfield. The Athul Cornet
Band was present during the day and added to its
interest, while the Athol High School Guard, under
the command of the master of the school, Mr. An-
drew J. Lathrop, with fifty mounted men of Athol
and nearly the same number from Royalston, did
escort duty. The company left with the cheers and
benedictions of the assembled multitude. At Spring-
field the men were mustered into the service of the
United States, and constituted Company B of the
Twenty-seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volun-
teers.

At the close of 18(Jl .Vthol had ninety eight men in
the army and navy as volunteers and seven others in
the regular army.

Near the opening of 18G2 sixty-eight men from
Athol encountered the perils and losses of the Burn-
side Expedition to North Carolina. In the battle of
Roanoke Island they sufl'ered severely in the miry
swamps and while fighting the enemy were standing
up to their knees in water. William Hill, the first
Athol soldier who fell in action, was there killed.
In the battle of Newbern, a few days later, James C.
Parker and William H. Johnson were killed, while
many others were severely wounded. The suflierings
of the Athol men in North (Carolina were so great
„li;it the citizens of Athol at once raised funds and
dispatched Laban Morse, Esq., for their relief He

left March 21st with two hundred and twenty-seven
dollars, contributed in a few hours, and was joyfully
welcomed at Newbern. Of money there was scarcely
any in the regiments, and all the sufl^ering shared
alike in the food and medicines purchased by Mr.
Morse. He slept, rolled in his blanket, on the floor
of the hospital and was ready to act at a moment's
call.

Then came other calls for soldiers, six hundred
thousand in the months of July and August, one-half
to be raised by draft. Town and citizens' meetings
were now held, bounties were offered for enlistments
and soon Company E, of the Fifty-third Regiment,
was recruited, largely from .\thol, with Farwell F.
Fay as captain. This regiment endured great hard-
ships, but did good service in Louisiana and was in
the fight at the capture of Port Hudson.

In 18(53 the first draft was made of sixty-.six men
from Athol. Only twenty of these were found fit for
service, of whom fourteen procured substitutes, two
paid the commutation (three hundred dollars each)
and four reported for service.

To fill the quota for Athol under the five calls for
soldiers that followed, in which one million eight hun-
dred thousand men were asked for, substantially the
same process was adopted. Men and money did not
fail. According to the reports of the Adjutant Gen-
eral, Athol had, December 1, 1864, a surplus of ten
men, and nineteen days later, of twenty-eight men.

In the record will be found the names of three
hundred and thirty-five men furnished by Athol.
Of these, nineteen re-enli-ited and seventeen others
re-entered the service after recovering from the dis-
abilities for which they had been discharged; four
musicians were included in the number, who had
been discharged under an order discontinuing regi-
mental bands of music. In arriving at the sura total,
the re-enlisted men must, of course, be counted twice.
There may be added fifteen who were credited to
Athol through the enlistments of Massachusetts men
in the navy, and one more was also credited to the
town of whom nothing further is known. The whole
number furnished by Athol was, therefore, three
hundred and eighty-seven.

The speedy suppression of the Rebellion seemed
certain at the opening of 186ri. April 3d, of that
year, General Grant's army entered Richmond, and
soon after the soldiers began to return home. Fifty-
one Athol men died from wounds or diseases con-
tracted in the service; Captaiu Fay's company, in
the Fifty-third Regiment, lost seventeen men.

In general the soldiers from Athol proved them-
selves brave and patriotic, but this cannot be said of
some obtained through brokers. Athol furnished
fifteen commissioned officers, viz.: George H. Hoyt,
lieutenant-colonel Fifteeth Kansas Cavalry ; James
Oliver, Jr., surgeon in the Twenty-first and Sixty-
first Regiments ; Alfred G. Williams, surgeon in the
Eleventh Regiment; John N. Mars, chaplain of the

ATHOL.

1037

First North Carolina (Colored) Regiment ; Farwell
F. Fay, captain in Fifty-third Regiment; Adin W.
Coswell, captain in Twenty-seventh Regiment; Ran-
som Ward, captain in First Kansas (Colored) Regi-
ment; Daniel W. Larned, captain in Twenty-seventh
Regiment; George R.Hanson, captain in P^ourteenth
United States (Colored) Heavy Artillery; Albert D.
Pond, first lieutenani Twenty-seventh Regiment;
John O. Mowry, first lieutenant Fifty-fifth (Colored)
Regiment; Lovell H. Horton, second lieutenant
Twenty-seventh Regiment ; Asa L. Kneeland, first
lieutenant Thirty-second Regiment ; John D. Kmer-
son, second lieutenant Second New York Heavy Ar-
tillery ; Seth F. Hale, second lieutenant Massachu-
setts Militia.

Of the families in Athol that made great sacrifices
to aid the Government, many deserve an honorable
mention.

James L. JNIerriU turnislied five sons for the army,
all courageous and faithful soldiers. Three of them
were severely wounded, while a fourth nearly sacri-
ficed his life to save that of a wounded brother.

The family of Leander Phelps gave four to fill the
quotas of Athol, two of whom re-enlisted, and an-
other entered the service a second time and was se-
verely wounded.

Franklin Oliver had four sons in the service, one
of whom was severely wounded, and another died in
the rebel prison at ADdersonville, Ga.

Isaac King had also four sous in the service, two of
whom died.

Albert Siinonds followed two of his sons into the
ranks, and one of the latter was a prisoner at Ander-
sonville and in other rebel prisons.

Laban Morse, Esq., was the agent for the relief of
the town's sick and wounded at Newbern, N. C, and
sent two sons to the war.

George Morse went himself, and two sons went
also.

Edward Nickerson had three sous in the army, one
of whom was imprisoned at Andersonville and in
other places.

Widow Dorinda Foster sent three sous, one of
whom died in the service and another not long after
his discharge.

William Hill went into service with two sons. He
was killed at Roanoke Island, and one son died at
the same place.

The citizens of Athol raised by subscription, to fill
the various cjuotas, the sum of if 12,777.78. Hospital
supplies were sent to the soldiers without stint.
About $.350 were forwarded to the Christian Commis-
sion. The Ladies' Society in the centre of the town
dispatched supplies valued at $1,223.47, while the
Soldiers' Aid Society of the Depot Village sent
through the Sanitary Commission stores valued at
$808.43. Large sums were contributed for the com-
fort of the soldiers in a less public manner. The
total indebtedness incurred by the town on account

of the war was $18,880.94. The credit of the town
continued goo<l, notwithstanding these heavy ex.-
penses.

Just before the breaking out of the war, (jr .latiii-
ary 1, 1861, the net indebtedness of Athol was $H,ti72.
Six years later it was but $8,200, the people having
willingly submitted to increased taxation to keep the
debt as small as po.ssible. The valuation of the town
in 1867 was $1,194,559. In 1870 the net indebtedness
was $14,775. In 1876 the ordinary debt was $28,571
and the railroad debt was $90,600.

In 188(1 the total indebtedness on town notes was
$96,680, which was reduced January 1, 1888, to $64,-
500, with interest at four and one-half per cent.

The period since the Civil War has been one of
general prosperity. Agricultural products have been
in good demand at fair prices, while the manufacUir-
ing interests of the town have acquired very large
proportions, as will be seen iu the sequel.

Among the town officers e'ected in March, 1888,
were the following ; J. D. Holbrook, town clerk ; C.
F. Richardson, Ira Y. Kendall and A. J. Nye, select-
men ; Samuel Lee, treasurer; William W. Fish,
James \V. Hunt and James F. Whitcomb, assessors ;
Calvin Miller, collector of taxes ; L. B. Caswell, A.
J. Nye and E. V. Wilson, School Committee.

May 1, 1888, the number of polls in Athol was
1490: viz., males, 1486; females, 4. The value of
personal estate, excluding resident bank stock, was
$529,452. The value of resident bank stock was
$102,185. The real estate was assessed at the same
time at $1,813,667 in buildings, and $828,388 in land,
making a total valuation of $2,773,692. The taxes
laid amounted to $47,353.07, the rate per cent, being
$16 per thousand. The number of dwelling-houses
taxed was 1021. The number of acres of land as-
sessed in the town was 18,777. The number of tax-
payers was 1910: viz., 1236 on property, and 674
paying a poll-tax only.

The population of Athol iu 1790 was 848 ; in 1840,
1591; in 1860,2604; in 1870, 3517; in 1880, 4307;
in 1885, 4758. It is supposed at this time, January,
1889, to exceed considerably 5000.

The Athol representatives in the (ieneral Court
during the last ten years have been as follows, Roy-
alston having had the member in the years 1883 and
1886: J. Sumner Parmenter, 1878; L. B. Morse,
1879 ; Russell Horton, 1880 ; Ira Y. Kendall, 1881 ;
Henry M. Humphrey, 1882; C. F. Richardson, 1884;
Washington H. Amsden, 1885; Sidney P. Smith,
1887-88 ; J. I). Holbrook, 1889.

Benjamin Estabrook was a member of the Senate
in 1843, Charles Field in 1858-59, and Alpheus Har-
ding in 1879.

In politics the town of Athol is strongly Republi-
can, and has been ever since the organization of the
Republican party. The same is true of Royalston
which town with Athol constitutes a Representati'^t!
district. As a matter of course, it is generally expect-

1038

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ed that this district will be represented in the General
Court by a Republican ; usually this has been the
case ; but occasionally, through discordant opinions
and wishes in the dominant party, or the nomination
of an exceptionably able and popular candidate by
their opponents, or both combined, a Democrat may
be elected, as was in true in 1879.

At the memorable election, November 6, 1888, the
town voted for Presidential electors and Governor as
follows: Republican electoral ticket, 501 ; Democratic,
315 ; Prohibition 41. The Republican candidate for
Governor had 502 votes; Democratic, 315; Prohibition,
41. For Representative, Mr. J. D. Holbrook had 504
votes ; Mr. Raymond, 291 ; Mr. Lindsay, 32. There
are in town about 980 votes.

CHAPTER C X X X V I .

ATUOh—{Con/iiiucd.)

EDUCATIONAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL.

Public ^rhofils — Enrhj Provision for Thern — Interest in Them Gradnnlly
Develojfed — Eariy School Conmiiltees — Brandies Taitghl — AUiol High
ScliOol — Its Masters — Census of Sriwhtrs — Appropriations — Athol Toivn
Library,

The school-house was always found by the side of
the church in the settlement of New England, for the
fathers well knew that ignorance and barbarism go
hand-in-hand the world over. As already noticed,
one sixty-third part of the twenty-three thousand and
forty acres of land embraced in the grant to the pro-
prietors of " Pequoiag on Miller's River "was reserved
and forever set apart " for the support of a School."
Possibly six or eight years elapsed after 1735 before a
school was opened. The records give no information
concerning the location of the first school, but very
early the proprietors appropriated money for its sup-
port, and as the population increased new schools
were opened. As new divisions of the common land
in the township were made, the "School Right ' was
carefully looked after, until the several lots laid out
for it were sold or leased, and the fund thus created
was turned into the town treasury, the town assuming
the support of the schools.

Whether the benefit accruing to the youth and
children of the town from this source was small or
great, the purpose manifested to educate the rising
generation of the province was praiseworthy. The
buildings early constructed on the two sides of the
river for the iirst schools were doubtless built of logs,
with seats and warming apparatus of the rudest kind ;
but boys and girls hungry for knowledge could and
did there acquire an invaluable ac<iuaintance with
reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic — branches to
which a common-school education in those days was
chiefly confined. In 1792 ten pounds were appro-
priated " for the use of a Singing-School." In 1770

the town "voted to appropriate the interest money
coming by the sale of the ministerial and school rights
of land (exclusive of Mr. James Humfrey's part of
the interest) to the use of the schools.''

In 1774 the school districts (or squadrons, as they
ivere then called in all the region) were six in num-
ber, and each of these seems to have been provided
ivith a rudely constructed school-house and to have
maintained a school during a part of the year. School-
teachers were not then abundant, for the wages paid
Tor such service were necessarily low, as was true of
-^very avocation and so also was the cost of living. In
1792 the town appropriation for schools was eighty
pounds. From decade to decade this sum was grad-
ually increased until, in 1876, Athol was the sixth
town in Worcester County in the amount of its ap-
propriations for schools — the sura raised being S13.03
for each child between five and fifteen years of age;
the total amount being seven thousand dollars.

The early records give but little information
concerning the supervision of the schools. As
was true generally, the minister was expected to
know something concerning the qualifications of the
teachers and to be present at the closing examina-
tions, which were by no means rigid. For eighty or
ninety years the prudential committees, as they have
been more recently called, seem to have provided the
teachers and supervised the schools officially. In
1829 a town School Committee was chosen, consisting
of Rev. Joseph Estabrook, Horatio Willard and Abel
Sweetser, and from this date a marked and constantly
increasing interest in the schools was developed. As
late as 1850 a number of the district school-houses
were very poor and inconvenient, but happily these
have disappeared in the march of improvement. The
olde.st printed school report that has been obtained
covers the year 1848-49. The town School Commit-
tee at that time consisted of Rev. Richard M. Chip-
man, Rev. S. F. Clark and Dr. George Hoyt. The
wages of the teachers for the summer schools varied
from eight dollars to $4.(56, and for the winter schools
from twenty-seven dollars to four dollars per month.

The names of the teachers are not given in this re-
port. The schools are represented as having been in
a fair condition, though the committee administered
a rebuke to the town by asserting that " the relative
position of Athol as to the proportion of money paid
tor schooling has been sinking from year to year."

Two years before Athol stood No. 8 in the county for
its school appropriations, but when this report was
Issued it was No. 27, and there were one hundred and
sixty towns in the State which were making larger
relative appropriations. An improvement in this re-
spect was soon manifest.

In 1856 the town had five hundred and thirty-six
families, and was required by law to establish a High
School. The location of a High School house caused
considerable excitement, as is often the case in the
erection of public buildings.

ATHOL.

1039

The house was built in 1856, and ready for occu-
pancy in the spring of 1857. Rev. John F. Norton,
Dr. George D. Colony and Mr. C. B. Swan were then
the acting School Committee. Mr. fTeorge A.
Wheeler was the first master employed, and was
followed by Mr. Farwell F. Fay. Mr. Fay was an
excellent teacher. During the remainder of the year
Mr. D. D. Leavitt, from Dartmouth College, was
master of the school, and gave universal satisfaction.
Mr. Leavitt was succeeded for two terms by Mr.
Horace Toothaker, from the same college, who was
also an excellent teacher. During the year following
Mr. George B. Towle was master, and was succeeded
by Mr. A. J. Lathrop, who was well known as the
popular and successful principal of New Salem
Academy.

The work of Mr. Lathrop for four terms in the
High School was marked by great success. His suc-
cessor was Mr. L. S. Burbank, whose service for two
years was acceptable. Upon the resignation of Rev.
John F. Norton, Dr. James P. Lynde became the
chairman of the School Committee. After a little
time Mr. H. F. Lane, of Tenipleton, taught the
school successfully for two terms, being succeeded
by Mr. Joel D. Miller, a native of Atthol, and for-
merly a pupil in its High School, but for the last
twenty years the successful master of the Leominster
High School, and now al.so the editor and publisher
of the Leominster Enterprise. Mr. Sidney P. Smith,
now a lawyer in Athol, was a successful master of
the school for three years.

Mr. W. H. Terrill was master when the last report
was issued. A very large majority of the twenty-five
masters of the school were excellent teachers, and
did much to mould the habits and expand the intel-
lects of the youth of Athol.

Gf the teachers in the grammar and other schuols,
much might be said, for this town has long followed
the custom of retaining the services of the ablest
teachers as long as pos-ible. When the last report
was prepared by Messrs. A. J. Nye, L. B. Caswell
and E. V. Wilson, committee, the schools were gene-
rally in a good condition.

The graded system adopted in the larger schools in
1873 works admirably. Lately a new and well-fur-
nished school-house has been erected on very nearly
or exactly the spot where the first meeting-house was
built about 1741, and near the granite monument
dedicated by the town in 1850 to mark the locality of
the ancient burying-ground.

With the growing interest in popular education
and the larger number of youth and children to be
educated, the appropriations made by the town for
the support of schools have gradually increased.
The master of the High School is now paid 81000
salary, and his assistant at the rate of $500 per
annum. In the grammar schools the highest wages
amount to S12.-50, and the lowest to Sll per week.
In the intermediate and advanced primary schools

nearly all the teachers receive $10 per week, and in
the mixed schools nine teachers are paid $7, and fif-
teen $6 per week. During the year ending March,
1888, thirty two teachers received in wages the sum
of $7408.45. The town appropriation for that year
was $8000, and this was increased from other sources,
so that the sum actually expended was .$88.37.12. To
this there are to be added for repairs of school-
houses $3li8.90 ; for books, $611 35, and for other
supplies, $147.00, making a total (not including the
cost of a new school-house) of $9965.06.

The number of children in town between five and
fifteen years of age, May 1, 1887, was seven hundred
and ninety, and during the year following the scholars
in attendance numbered eight hundred and ninety-
seven. Recently the School Committee has been giv-
ing an unusual amount of attention to the sanitary
condition of the school-houses, and from their leport
ind recommendations the most valuable improve-
ments may be expected. Plainly the School Com-
mittee is taking large and comprehensive views of the
duties of the town respecting the education of its
youth and children. Among those who served on the
School Committee for a number of years, between
1850 and 1870, were Rev. S. F. Clark, Dr. George D.
Colony, Dr. J. P. Lynde, L. W. Hopgood, Esq., Mr.
Edwin Ellis, Rev, Lysander Fay and Rev. John F.
Norton.

Libraries. — ^Forty years ago a library, which was
kept in the Depot Village, furnished not a little ex-
cellent reading to the people of Athol ; but a larger
organization being deemed necessary to meet the in-
creasing wants of the growing population, "The
Athol Library Association " was formed in December,
1878, with Hon. Charles Field as its president. Val-
uable donations of books were received from various
luarters, and the library, though small at first, soon
jecame an important factor in the intellectual and
noral education of the people. But before five years
liad passed a strong public sentiment called for a
Free Public Library, and at the town-meeting in
April, 1882, a Library Committee was chosen consist-
ing of Hon. Charles Field, Rev. H. A. Blake, Rev. J.
H. Cox, E. V. Wilson, Esq., and Mr. L. B. Caswell.
.Mr. Field was the chairman of this committee and
Mr. Caswell its secretary and treasurer. The Athol
Library Association now made over its library of one
thousand and sixty-three volumes to the new organ-
ization, and the Free Public Library of Alhol was
establislied.

The efficient librarian of the Athol Library Asso-
ciation, Mrs. E. F. Doane, was secured to take charge
of the Free Library. The appropriation of the
town for new books in 1882 was three hundred dollars.
During the next year ten thousand and twenty books
were delivered, and by purchase and gift the number
of volumes was increased to one thousand four hun-
dred and twenty.

The first ten volumes of the " Official Record of

1040

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the War of the Rebellion " had been received from
Hon. Amasa Norcro.ss, of Fitchburg, before March,
1884.

A donation of six full volumes of the excellent
journal The Athol Transcript was also received
from its editor, Mr. W. L. Hill. For the year ending
March, 1885, the town appropriation for the library
was five hundred dollars, and it was constantly becom-
ing more and more popular and useful. During the
following year Mr. L. B. Caswell was the chairman ol
the committee, and the appropriation for the purchase
of new books was five hundred dollars. One year
later Rev. C. P. Lombard was the chairman of the
committee, and the library was increasing in size and
value. At the date of the last report the library had
been removed to a convenient building which had
been leased for five years, and the town was continuing
its appropriation of five hundred dollars annually for
new books. Mrs. M. S. Doaiie was librarian.

Ecclesiastical. — In the earlier part of this history
will be found a somewhat detailed account of the
action of the proprietors of the township relative to
the building of the first and second meeting-houses,
and the settlement of the first minister. Rev. James
Humphrey, while later mention is made of the as-
sumption of the support of the pastor by the new
town of Athol, and of the location and building'of the
third meeting-hduse, which stood, as already stated,
on the north end of the Common in the upper village.

Not long after the erection of this edifice dis-sensions
began to arise in the church, though not at first affect-
ing its relations to its pastor. He, however, was soon
involved in the trouble, but the records contain no
charge against him whatever. From time to time
town-meetings were called for the purjwse of effecting
his dismission. The.se eftbrts took form as early as
1779, but the attachment of the people to their pastor
was strong, and he was not willing to be dismissed
until certain questions relating to the exemption of
his estate from taxation, according to law, and the
payment of his over-due salary, could be settled.
Early in 1782 Mr. Humphrey's proposals for the
settlement of difficulties were accepted by the town,
and on February 13th of that year he was dismissed.
Between five and six years now passed, during which
the people w'ere listening to various candidates for
settlement, but in July of 1787 the church, by a
unanimous vote, called to the pastorate Mr. Joseph
Estabrook, a native of Lexington, and graduate of
Harvard College. A month later the town voted to
concur with the church in extending the call to Mr.
Estabrook, offering him an annual salary of £75 in
cash and twenty cords of good fire-wood each year,
besides the gift of £200 as a settlement.

Something like this last-mentioned ofler was com-
mon in those days when a call was given to a minister.

The conditions of the call proving satisfactory, Mr.
Estabrook was ordained November 21, 1787. His
long pastorate of between forty-two and forty-three

years in Athol was peaceful. He was a man of great
natural kindness, and his friendly disposition won
and retained the hearts of his people. " Prudence
was the one virtue above all others by which he en-
deavored to govern his ministerial conduct." "Mr.
Estabrook would not himself preach upon doctrines
which were warmly contested, nor did he wish others
to do so in his pulpit."' During the closing years of
his ministry elements were smouldering which at
length caused a disruption of the church and congre-
gation, but, happily for him, he did not live to see it.
It was a time of unrest in the churches, especially
in Massachusetts, and divisions were taking place
on every hand. To settle a successor to Mr. Esta-
brook over the whole people of Athol was a delicate
and difficult undertaking. As a matter of course, it
is no part of the historian's duty in this place to de-
cide upon the merits of the controversy that, about
1880, rent so many of the churches asunder. Mr.
(ieorge J. Tillotson, from the Theological Seminary
at New Haven, Conn., was soon engaged as a candi-
date. He was a good scholar and an earnest
preacher, but had adopted what were called the
Orthodox views of religious doctrine and ministerial
responsibility. The rupture occurred when the test
of exchanging pulpits with ministers of what were
called more liberal sentiments was a|)plied.

A large part of the church seceeded, with the two
deacons, Messrs. Elijah Goddard and Elijah Ballard,
and organized what has since been known as the
Evangelical Church of Athol.

The town was still responsible for the support of
the minister of the ancient church, and in October,
1830, it voted unanimously to give Rev. Josiah Moore
a call to become the pastor of the First Congrega-
tional Church and Society of Athol, stipulating,
however, that '' he shall exchange ministerial labors
with all the Congregational clergymen in the neigh-
borhood who are of regular standing, and who will
exchange with him." Rev. Mr. Moore was succeeded
by Rev. Messrs. Linus H. Shaw, Stephen A. Barnard,
Crawford Nightingale, E. J. Gerry, S. F. Clark, D.
C. O'Daniels, Ira Bailey, W. S. Burton, S. R. Priest,
E. P. Gibbs, W. C. Litchfield and Daniel H. Rogan.

.Vt the first communion service of the ancient church
after the separation, eight persons were present as
members, the great majority having seceded to form
the Evangelical Church.

The church edifice, which was erected in 1773, on
the north end of the Common, in the upper village,
was the meeting-house of the town for fifty-four years,
when it was destroyed by fire, the work, as it has al-
ways been .supposed, of an incendiary.

The next year, 1828, the present edifice, known as
the First Unitarian Church and Town Hall, was built
at the cost of between five thousand and six thousand
dollars.

I See Rev. S. F. Clark's Centennial Aildress, page 34.

ATHOL.

1041

This building is one ofa number of churches erected
about the same time in the vicinity resembling one
another in the general harmony and beauty of their
proportions. Reference is here made especially to
the Unitarian Churches in Petersham and Templeton,
and to what is now the Town Hall in Fitzwilliam,
N. H. Modern chuixh architecture has not produced
nobler structures in the country towns of Xew Eng-
land.

In 1847 the Atliol Church was remodeled and made
substantially as it now is, the Town Hall occupying
the upper story, and the First Congregational Church
and Society the lower, as their house for religious
worship. Mr. Samuel Sweetser donated the land upon
which this edifice stands. This society is usually
known as the First Unitarian Society.

Evangelical Church. — As already stated, a diver-
gence in religious views occasioned in 1830 the with-
drawing of the great majority of the ancient Congre-
gational Church with the two deacons and the forma-
tion of the Evangelical Church and Society in Athol.
Articles of Kaith were adopted by the new church in
March, 1831. For about two years this organization
worshipped in the Town House, but in 1833 erected a
church edifice where their present house of worship
stands. The original structure was vastly inferior to
that which is now an ornament to the village. It had
no vestry or rooms for Sabbath-school and social and
religious gatherings, except a long, narrow, poorly-
lighted room under its roof, which it was difficult to
reach or to leave.

From the first the congregation was large, and in
1S.")9 had outgrown its church accommodations. In
the year just named the edifice was substantially re-
built. The building was raised about eight feet, giv-
ing space for a commodious vestry and other necessary
rooms; land was purchased and an addition was made
to the rear end of the building, new pews were built,
new windows were put in, and a new and beautifully
|iroportioned spire erected. The original pews were
private property and were appraised and accounted for
in the sale of the new pews, which, though a part of the
estate of their occupants, are subject to a possible an-
nual tax. The singers were stationed, for a number
of years, in the front gallery, at the back of the audi-
ence, and as a large majority of the congregation were
anxious to see as well as to hear them, the custom of
rising and turning around in the pews prevailed longer
than in most congregations. Later, the singers were
stationed on the left of the pulpit, in front of the
audience, and other changes made the rooms below
much more pleasant and convenient.

In 1850 the membership of the Evangelical Church
was 153 ; iu 1860 it was 230, when it had become the
largest church in the Worcester North Conference ;
in 1870 it was 206 ; in 1878, 282, and in 1888 it was
still the largest in the Conference, numbering 278.

This church has had seven pastors, as follows : Rev.
B. B. Beckwith, 1831-34; Rev. ffames F. Warner,
60

1835-37; Rev. Richard M. Chipman, 1839-51; Rev.
John F. Norton, 1852-67; Rev. Temple Cutler,
1868-76; Rev. Henry A. Blake, 1876-82; Rev. Her-
bert W. Stebbins, 1883-88.

Mr. Chipman, ordained in 1835, is still living iu
Bethlehem, Ct.; Mr. Norton resides in Natick, Mass.;
Mr. Cutler is a pastor in Essex, Mass.; and Mr. Blake,
recently a pastor in Providence, R. I., is just entering
upon a new pastorate in Webster, Mass.

Considering its pecuniary means, the contributions
of the Evangelical Church for benevolent objects
have been liberal, reaching, in 1871, the sum of
$1,653.66.

When it was organized in 1831 its deacons were
Messrs. Elijah Goddard and Elijah Ballard. Other
deacons have served this church as follows : William
Cutting and Samuel Sweetser were elected deacons
in 1834. Later, this oflice was filled by Samuel Clapp,
James I. Goulding, Goodell Goddard, Joab Kendall,
Edwin Ellis and J. Sumner Parmenter, all of whom
are dead. The deacons more recently elected are
Lewis Thorpe, Frank C. Parmenter, Ira Y. Kendall,
Frederick Allen, Samuel S. Tower and Elbridge E.
Spaulding.

Tlte Baptist Church. — Whitney, in his " History of
Worcesjer County," published in 1793, says under
the head of Royalston : " There were nine or ten
families of the Baptist denomination among the first
settlers. At what time they were embodied into the
church state is not known to us. A Mr. Elisha Rich
was their teacher, but he was never ordained among
them. He was succeeded by Mr. Whitman Jacobs,
who was installed December 13, 1770. He lived in
Athol, to which town a part of his society belongs,
and there he now resides.''

The same historian, under the head of Athol, fur-
nishes this information : " There are about ten fami-
lies of Anabaptists in this town ; nor any stated
teacher of this denomination iu the place."

On the ancient records of Athol we find a num-
ber of certificates similar to the one here copied:

We, tlie Subscribei-s, Being clioscMi ,a Committee by the Society of the
[leople calleil antipetlo-baptist, wlio meet together for religious worship
on tile Lord's day in Koyalston and .\tllol, to exhibit a list or lists of
the names of such persons as Do belong to Siiid Society or ("ongregation,
do certify that Martin Morton Dos frequently and usually, when able,
attend with us in our Meeting for religious woi-ship on the Lord's day,
and we do verily believe is, with respect to the ordinance of liaptism, of
the same religious sentiments with us. Dated .\ugnst the 31, 1774.
Whitman .I.^cobs, Elder. /
Simeon Chamberlain, < Commiilce.^

Eliphalet Moor. t

Upon the same page are certificates to the same
effect and couched in similar language, respecting the
religious belief of twelve other persons.

To understand this matter it is to be remembered

I The terms " Antipedo-baptist" and " .\nabaptist " long since disap-
peared from the reportsof the Baptist denomination, the former signi-
fying a person opposed to infant or child baptism, while the hitter de-
noted such as maintain the doctrine that those baptized in infancy
should berebapiked on making a public profession of religion.

104S

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

that at that time all those who did not iu this manner
" sign off" from the Congregational Church were
liable to taxation for its support, church and State
being practically united in a considerable part of
New England.

From the printed " Historical Sketch " of the
Baptist Church in Athol the facts that follow are
gleaned. In 1810 the families of this denomination
living in Athol were constituted a branch of the Bap-
tist Church of Templeton, and three years later the
members of this branch church — twenty-two in number
— were recognized as an independent church by a coun-
cil. For seven yeai-s religious services were main- '
tained, chiefly by the deacons, when one of these,
Deacon Briggs, was ordained to the pastoral office
October 4, 1820. This pastorate continued thirteen
years. In 1828 or '29 the first house of worship was
erected in the Upper Village, the same as is now
owned and occupied by the Roman Catholic de-
nomination. After a season of considerable trial
the second house of worship was erected where the 1
Baptist Church now stands, iu the Lower Village.
Since the change of location the growth of the church
has been constant and healthy, if not rapid. Two
hundred and twelve names are found upon the
printed list of members for 1888. !

Fi'om the list of pastors it appears that Rev. Mr.
Briggs was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Merriam for six
and one-half years. Then followed Rev. D. H. Stod-
dard, for seven years ; Rev. Ambrose Day, for two
years; Rev. J. (Hazier, for two years; Rev. O. Tracy,
for one year; Rev. Charles Farrar, for three years;
Rev. D. Reid, for a Httle time; Rev. Charles Ayer,
for one year and a half; Rev. G. L. Hunt, for three
years ; Rev. J. C. Emery, for two years ; Rev. E. M.
Bartlett, for four years ; and Rev. J. H. Cox, for six
years. Rev. Horace F. Brown, the present pastor,
began his work in Athol September, 1887.

In 1886 the church edifice was thoroughly
renovated, new pews having been put in and a new
and valuable organ furnished. The repairs cost
$3,363,85, the organ $1750 and the furnishing $242.56,
making a total of $5,356.41. The church was re-
opened for worship October 1, 1886.

Methodist Episcopal Societies. — The oldest of these
is the church at South Athol, which was probably
organized about the year 1830. Their house of wor-
ship was erected in 1836, and Mrs. Melatia Crossman
has now iu her possession the builder's contract.
This is an agreement between nine trustees and two
carpenters to build a church forty-two by thirty-two
feet and fifteen feet from top of sill to plate. The
lumber was to be furnished by the trustees, and the
doors, windows, sashes and blinds by the contractors.
Forty-four pews were to be built " after the style of
the Orthodox Church of Athol." The lumber was
furnished by subscription, and the contractors were
to receive three hundred dollars for their work.
At present there are thirty-six pews in this church.

and it has a cottage organ and melodeon for instru-
mental music. Originally it stood in New Salem,
but the changes of territory have brought it into
Athol.

In 1839 a pulpit Bible was given to this church by
a man in AVendell, with the request that all names
of pastors, with dates, should be written in the
" Family Record."

Rev. Greorge Hudson, commencing in 1887, is the
minister at present.

In 1851 a Methodist Episcopal Church was organ-
ized in Athol, with Mr. George Gerry as class leader.
A congregation of considerable size was soon col-
lected, and public worship was held in halls in the
Lower Village until a convenient church edifice was
erected and dedicated in 1861. The pastors of this
church have been Rev. John Goodwin, Rev. Linus
Fish, 1857-59; W. J. Hambleton, 1859-60; Rev. J.
B. Bigelow, 1860-62 ; Rev. J. W. Coolidge, 1862-63 ;
Rev. F. T. George, 1863-65; Rev. John Capen,
1865-66; Rev. C. H. Hannaford, 1866-68 ; Rev. W.
T. Harlow, 1868-69 ; Rev. C. L. McCurdy, 1869-72 ;
Rev. John Peterson, 1872-75 ; Rev. A. F. Herrick,
1875-78; Rev. L. A. Bosworth, 1878-81 ; Rev. Wni.
Full, 1881-83 ; Rev. A. R. Nichols, 1883-84 ; Rev. P.
M.Vinton, 1884-87; and Rev. W. N. Richardson,
1887.

Second Advent Society. — This was organized May
17, 1863, with a membership of twenty-eight jiersous.
For some time the meetings were held in the Engine
House Hall, the preacher being Dr. James Heman-
way. In 1873 their house of worship was built, at an
expense of about two thousand doll ars. Their first and
only settled minister was Roland D. Grant, who was
called January 5, 1876, and resigned November 1st of
the same year. The officers of the church at present
are James Hemanway and J. F. Sawtelle, elders ;
George Stockwell and Austin Sheldon, deacons ; O.
T. Brooks, treasurer; and H. A. Wilder, clei-k.

The Second Unitarian Church and Society. — This
society was legally organized February 22, 1877, the
first meeting to consider the matter of such an organ-
ization having been held during the previous Novem-
ber. Preaching for the new congregation was estab-
lished in Starr Hall in F^ebruary, 1877. Rev. J. C.
Parsons was installed as pastor June 12, 1877. Land
was purchased for the erection of a church edifice at the
cost of $4,000, and the church was built at the cost of
$7,458.48. The furnishing of the same involved the
additional expense of $2,994.50. The hall and vestry
were built at the cost of $5,348.49, and furnished for
$383.19, making the total cost of the entire property,
$19,134.66.

The whole amount of cost was raised by subscrip-
tion. Unity Hall was dedicated June 11, 1885.

Rev. Mr. Parsons having retired, Rev. Charles P.
Lombard was called in March, 1882, and remained as
pastor about six years, when he removed to Plymouth,
Mass., to take charge of the First Congregational

ATHOL.

1043

Church in that town. The present pastor, Kev. Chas.
E. Perkins, was invited to this pastorate May 30,
1888.

The records of this church show that it has at this
time one hundred and twenty-six members.

Roman Catholie Church. — Rev. Jlr. Martin, in
charge, has furnished the facts that are here given.

Prior to 1850 the Catholics of this town were vis-
ited at irregular intervals by different priests, but
after the above date Athol became a mission and was
attended by Rev. M. W. Gibson, of Worcester, who,
in 1853, purchased the old Baptist Church in the
Upper Village. After this the wants of the people
were better supplied. In 1855 Rev. Father Turpin
took charge of this mission. About the year 1862
Otter River became a parish with resident priest,
Rev. Mr. Bannon, who visited Athol monthly. Suc-
ceeding him were Rev. Messrs. Orr (now of Cam-
bridge), the two by the name of McManus (since
dead), Robert Welch (uow of Worcester), R. .J.Dono-
van (since dead) and Joseph Coyne, who attended
three times each month till March, 1882, when the
present incumbent. Rev. E. F. Martin, was appointed
resident rector. Attached to the newly-formed parish
are the Catholics of Orange, who have services every
Sunday. This denomination has in Athol a prop-
erty costing about twelve thousand dollars, four acres
of land lying centrally between the two villages;
also a basement roofed over until there are sufficient
means to build the superstructure ; also a substantial
parochial residence. The Catholic population of
Athol numbers about nine hundred, the majority of
whom are permanent residents, owning their houses
and highly esteemed by their fellow-townsmen of all
denominations.

Protectant Episcopal Church, St. John's Parish. — In
1793, as Whitney informs us, there was one family of
Episcopalians in Athol.

The first Episcopal services held in this town were
in 1864, and the meetings were in the Town Hall.
Rev. Messrs. French, of Greenfield, and Denham, of
South Boston, were among the officiating clergymen
at that time. Bishop F. D. Huntington, Rev. W. H.
Huntington and others officiated later, and Septem-
Vier 3, 1866, St. John's Parish was organized and
three months later was incorporated. Rev. James D.
Reid was at once chosen as rector, but after laboring
for a year he removed from town. From that time
till 1881 but few services were held, but when, in the
autumn of that year. Rev. J. S. Beers was elected
diocesan missionary, the interest in this organiza-
tion was revived under his faithful labors. At the
present time there are about sixty communicants;
the Town Hall is engaged for six months or until a
chapel or church edifice can be erected, while a lot
for this has been secured on the corner of Park Ave-
nue and Allen Street, towards which Mr. Hollon
Farr has generously contributed two hundred dollars.
It is expected that the building will be commenced

with the opening spring, and that arrangements can

be made so that, for the present, the same rector can
officiate in Athol and Winchendon. The clerk
is H. M. Burleigh ; Mrs. E. J. G. Parmenter is treas-
urer ; C. W. Sibley, assistant treasurer ; and Mrs. H.
M. Burleigh, organist.

CHAPTER CXXXVII.

ATHOL— ( Continued. )

MISCEI,I,ANEOUS.

The Mu^lee's River Bank. — This bank com-
menced business September 12, 1854, with a capital
of one hundred thousand dollars, which, later, was
increased to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Its presidents have been : John Boy nton, 1854; Seth
Hapgood, 1855-64 ; Isaac Stevens, 1864-65; and Al-
pheus Harding, from 1865 to the present time.
Cashiers : Merrick E. Ainsworth, for two years ; Al-
pheus Harding, Jr., 1856-65 ; Albert L. Newman,
1865-81; William D. Luey, 1881, incumbent with
William B. Harding, assistant. January 12, 1865, it
became Miller's River National Bank. Directors :
A. Harding, John G. Mudge, George T. Johnson,
Rodney Hunt, A. L. Newman, George Whitney, H.
R. Stowell, George D. Bates and "William D. Luey.
This bank has paid semi-annual dividends ever since
its organization, and for the last twenty years these
have been at the rate of twelve per cent, annually,
amounting to three hundred and ."ixty thousand dol-
lars. The reserve fund is one hundred thousand
dollars.

Athol Savings Bank. — This bank commenced
business in 1867. Presidents, Charles C. Bassett,
1867-82, and John G. Mudge (incumbent), chosen in
1882. Alpheus Harding has been its treasurer from
the beginning ; Assistant Treasurer, William D.
Luey. It has always paid semi-annual dividends.
Its standing is: Deposits, •*!, 357,817.09; guarantee
fund, $40,000 ; undivided earnings, 129,763.38. Di-
rectors: A. Harding. J. G. Mudge, G. T. Johnson,
Rodney Hunt, James G. Smith, J. C. Hill, James M.
Lee, Solon W. Lee, Lucian Lord, O. T. Brooks,
George N. Kendall, Lewis Thorpe and Henry R.
Stowell.

Athol National Bank. — This bank began bus-
iness September 15, 1874, with a capital of one hun-
dred thousand dollars. Its first Board of Directors
consisted of Thomas H. Goodspeed, Solon W. Lee,
Lyman W. Hapgood, Edwin Ellis, James M. Lee,
Washington H. Amsden and Gilbert Southard, of
Athol ; S. S. Farrar, of South Royalston ; Edward
Powers, of Phillipston ; D. C. Paige, of Petersham ;
and Isaac Brown, of Templeton.

The present Board of Directors consists of Thomas

1044

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

H. Goodspeed, O. A. Fay, J. D. Holbrook, C. A.
Chapman, James M. Lee, F. C. Parmenter and James
G. Smith, of Athol; Isaac Brown, of Terapleton ;
H. C. Longly, of Dana ; and J. H. Lee, of Boston ;
with one vacancy.

The president of the bank is Thomas H. Good-
speed and the casliier C. A. Chapman. The amount
of loans is sixty-five thousand dollars, the amount of
deposits is ninety-four thousand dollars and the
amount of surplus and profits is thirteen thousand
dollars.

Connection with the World. — Athol has good
carriage-roads leading to all the neighboring towns, and
railroad counection with most of them and with the
world at large. The Vermont and Massachusetts Rail-
road (from Fitchburg to Greenfield) was opened in
1847. This is now an important link in the great
Fitchburg Railroad system. It has now a double track,
and affords excellent facilities for travel and business.
In years gone by, especially after snow-storms, close
connections with other roads were very uncertain.

The Athol and Enfield Railroad, which lias since
become the Springfield and Northeastern Railroad,
was opened in part in 1S7L This road now belongs
to the Boston and Albany Railroad system, and opens
an important outlet for business, and will probably
become more and more valuable to the town.

The spacious and convenient railroad station at
Athol, costing about thirty thousand dollars, was
erected in 1873. At this station some of the passen-
ger trains stop for refreshments. There is a railroad
station at South Athol, on the Athol Branch of the
Boston and Albany Railroad.

PosT-OrFiCES. — List of postmasters' at Athol
(now Athol Centre) from the establishment of the
office :

Appointed

Josepli Esterbrook October 1, 18112

Solomon Strong April 1, 180.3

James Humphreys- .\pril 1, 1805

Josepb Proctor February 11, 1809

Reappointed May 8, 1819

Nathaniel C. Esterbrook September 13, 1822

C'lough B. Miles March 24, 1823

Reappointed July 15, 1828

Lincoln B. Knowltou February 25, 1835

William H. Williams August 24, 1837

Isaac Stevens July 13, 1841

William U. Williams September 5, 1842

Benjamin Esterbrook December 30, 1847

Stillman Sinionds -. August 25, 1849

Isaac Stevens June 10, .1850

John H. Williams May 13, 1854

Samuel Lee March 27, 1868

Thomas H. Goodspeed June 25, 1862

Reappointed April 22, 1873

Frank H. Raymond (incumbent) July — , 1885

List of postmasters at Athol Depot (and later
Athol) from the establishment of the office:

Appointed

Joseph W. Hammond August 4, 1849

Sylvanus E. Twitchell August 7, 1851

1 This list was procured and kindly furnished to the author by the
proprietors of Ttie Athol Transcript.

Howard B. Hunt November ], 18fi4

Reappointed March 2, 18G7

Lucien Lord April 21, 1869

William W. Fish (incumbent).

The post-office at Athol Centre has been kept in
dwelling-houses, stores and other buildings too numer-
ous to mention.

The office in "The Factory Village," later "The
Depot Village," and now Athol, was opened in 1849
in a small house, a little west of the Methodist
Church. Two years later Mr. S. E. Twitchell estab-
lished it in a small room in the Pequoig House.
Mr. Hunt kept it for a time in the ell of the same
hotel, and then removed it to his music store.

Mr. Lord having erected Masonic Block in 1874,
reserved in it spacious and convenient quarters for
the post-office. The present names of the two offices
were given them June 8, 1875.

From the list of postmasters and their appointment
as given above, it appears that relatively the post-
office in Athol was established quite early, for towards
the close of the last century nearly the whole of
Worcester County was served by the office at Worces-
ter. In the 31assaclmsetts Spy, 1801, the postmaster
of Worcester advertised letters for nearly all the
towns in the county and for some of the towns in ad-
joining counties.

The Worcester Northwest Agricultural and
Mechanical Society. — For some years previous to
1867 annual fairs were held in Athol, at which the
exhibitions were highly creditable and awakened a
great amount of interest. These gatherings, which
were largely attended, doubtless prepared the way for
the incorporation of the society named above. This
was established in the town of Athol in 1867, and
issued its first report in that year. Its officers at that
time were as follows: Calvin Kelton, president;
Josiah Haven and J. F. Packard, vice-presidents ;
Thomas H. Goodspeed, treasurer ; E. T. Lewis, secre-
tary ; and L. W. Hapgood, Benjamin Estabrook, F.
F. Fay, C. H. Baldwin, A. G. Strattou and E. J.
Sage, trustees, all of Athol, except Mr. Baldwin, wh<j
belonged in Phillipston. The exhibition of horses
and farm stock took place on the Common, while
that of fruits, vegetables, flowers and manufactured
articles was in the vestry of the Orthodox Church.
Premiums amounting to about one hundred and ten
dollars were awarded. The list of members contained
the names of eighty-five men and women of Athol
and of nineteen others, belonging mostly in Phillips-
ton, Royalston and New Salem.

For the year 1868 F. F. Fay, Esq., of Athol, was
president, and seven well-known gentlemen of this
town and vicinity, vice-presidents. The society re-
ceived from the State, as its share of the State bounty,
about $218, and paid out for premiums $219. The
chief event of that year affecting the society was the
purchase of land for fair grounds. A lot was bought
of Mr. Benjamin Estabrook for $1500, and another

ATHOL.

1045

lot adjoining of Mr. S. D. Prouty for $1300. There
was cash in the treasury to pay $300 on these pur-
chases, and notes were given for $2500, with interest
at five percent. Within the grounds there is a beauti- j
ful grove, while a lake borders the same upon one of j
its sides. During 1869 an exhibition hall was erected, [
one hundred by fifty feet, two stories high. In the
second story is a hall for addresses, .society dinners,
etc., with offices for the officials of the society. A
track was prepared for the exhibition of horses and
a stand for judges erected. These permanent im-
provements upon the grounds cost $8853. During
the year 1871 $1200 of the debt of the society were
paid, the sum total of the receipts for the year having
been $4846. Of this amount $600 were received from
the Commonwealth. The number of members was
also largely increased. From year to year it has
been customary to enlarge the range and amount of
premiums offered and to diminish as rapidly as possi-
ble the debt of the society. In 1875 this amounted
to $9722. In 1880 this debt bad been reduced to
$7125, and in 1887 it appears from the reports to have
amounted to only $1400. I'^rom the beginning, the
whole enterprise has been eminently successful.

Physicians axd Surgeons.' — Dr. Joseph Lord,
first physician, exhorter and clerk of proprietors,
died in Vermont; Dr. Ellinwood, home at the Ellin-
wood place, on The Street ; Dr. Royal Humphrey, son
of first pastor, on The Street; Dr. Ebenezer Chaplin,
on the Common ; Dr. Rice, removed, lived in the
house of Theo. Jones ; Dr. Holmes, removed to Lei-
cester, dead ; Dr. Morton, lived on Sawyer place.
Orange Road ; Dr. William H. Williams, Brick
House, Centre, dead ; Dr. George Hoyt, water cure
founder, dead ; Dr. George Field, water cure, dead ;
Dr. J. H. Hero, removed to Westborougli, water
cure; Dr. Hutchinson, contemporary with Dr. Hoyt,
dead ; Dr. George D. Colony, in Depot Village, re-
moved to Fitchburg; Dr. Austin, in Centre, acci-
dentally killed in 1856; Dr. A.G. Williams, in Depot
Village, removed to St. Albans, Vt., dead ; Dr. James
Cooledge, successor of Dr. Colony, died in Depot
Village; Dr. J. B. Gould, removed to Somerville;
Dr. Kendall Davis, removed to Templeton, dead; Dr.
O. M. Drury, removed to Orange, dead ; Dr. H. A.
Deane, removed to East Hampton, Mass. ; Dr. V. O.
Taylor, removed to Providence, R. I.; Dr. Jackson,
removed to Somerville, Mass. ; Dr. Kemp, removed to
Danvers ; Dr. King, removed to Huntington ; Dr.
Donnell; Dr. A. N. Parsons, removed to Mexico, and
Dr. C. W. Parsons, I'emoved to Worthington, dead,
brothers; Dr. Chamberlain, lived on The Street, re-
moved to New Salem ; Dr. James P. Lynde, now
resident since 1856, Centre; Dr. James Oliver, resi-
dent since 1877, Centre; Dr. H. 0. Dunbar, came in
1873, Depot Village; Dr. M. L. Linsey, 1882, Depot

1 The names of these and dates have been kindly fnrnished hy Dr.
James P. Lynde.

Village; Dr. Smith, 1888, Depot Village; Dr. H. H.
Burns, 1888, Depot Village ; Dr. R. H. Dunne, re-
moved to New Haven, 1888.

Eclectic Physicians. — Dr. Simmonds, Depot Village,
removed ; Dr. Chase, on HoUis Goddard place, re-
moved ; Dr. Maybe, Depot Village, removed ; Dr.
Green, removed to Paris, Maine, Riceville; Dr. D.
D. Davis, Centre, removed.

Homwopalhic P/ii/sicians,— Dr. Cragin, Depot Vil-
lage, removed ; Dr. Broons, removed to East Boston ;
Dr. Thayer, removed; Dr. Ctolburn, removed; Dr. C.
H. Forbes, resident between the villages. Drs. A.
G. Williams and James Oliver were surgeons in the
army during the Rebellion. Dr. G. D. Colony is
widely known as a consulting physician in Fitchburg
and vicinity, and so is Dr. Lynde in the northwestern
part of Worcester County. Dr. Lynde is treasurer
of the Board of Control of the State Agncullural Ex-
periment Station. Drs. Colony, Lynde and Oliver
have been efficient members of the Athol School Com-
mittee, the former two for a series of successive years.

In the list given above, there are the names of
some others who, from time to time, took an active
part in the business, educational ami religious interests
of the town.

Lawyers. — No public record has been preserved
respecting the earliest lawyers in Athol. In 1850,
and for about fifteen years afterwards, till the time of
his death, 7»a'(c Sfevensh&d his law-office in the Upper
Village. He was a useful citizen, and very favorably
known in his profession as a member of the Worcester
County bar. For a short time he was the president of
Miller's River National Bank, also postmaster at Athol
for some years.

Among the lawyers of Athol who have died. Far-
welt F. Fay may be mentioned. He was a native of
New Salem, and was first known in Athol as a suc-
cessful teacher in one of the common schools. Later
he became master of the High School, but relinquished
this position to study law in the Law Department of
Harvard University. After his graduation he settled
as a lawyer in Athol. In 1862 Mr. Fay recruited a
company of soldiers — chiefly from Athol — for nine
months' service against the Confederacy, and was
chosen their captain. This was Company E of the
Fifty-third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and
served during the tedious campaign in Louisiana.
For some years after his return from the war he Wiis
a member of the School Committee. Later he opened
a law-office in Boston, and died there in 1888.

Charles Field is one of the senior members of the
Worcester County bar, and one of the vice-presidents
of the Bar Association. He was born in Athol and
removed in early youth to Greenfield. He studied
law in the oflice of Hon. Daniel Wells, afterwards
chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. After
his admission to the bar he spent four years in the
West and Southwest, returning thence to Massachu-
setts and to his native town, which he has since made

1046

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the place of his residence. In 1857 he was elected to
the House of Representatives, and in the two years
following was a nipmber of the State Senate. In 1860
he was a Republican Presidential elector, and, with
Chief Justice Chapman, John G. Whittier and others,
cast the electoral vote of Massachusetts for Abraham
Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. Since then he has
confined himself to the duties of his profession. On
the establishment of the First District Court of North-
ern Worcester, in 1884, he was appointed justice of
the same, and still holds that office. In 1856 he mar-
ried Caroline C. Alden, and has one son, Charles
Field, Jr., who follows his father's profession.

Though not in the army during the Civil War, the
services of Mr. Field were eminently helpful. For a
number of years he was the collector of internal rev-
enue in the district embracing Athol.

George W. Horr, a member of the Harvard Law
School Association, the senior member of the bar of
Northern Worcester, is a native of New Salem. He
received his academical education in his native town,
in Quoboag Seminary, Warren ; in Phillips Academy,
Andover ; and Williston Seminary, Easthampton,
from the last of which he graduated as salutatorian in
1848. He then pursued science and law at Harvard
University. Later he was in law-offices in Greenfield
and New York City, and, later still, as a partner of
the late Charles G. Colby, opened a literary bureau
in Brooklyn, N. Y'. Returning to Massachusetts, he
was admitted to the bar in 1860, and received the de-
gree of LL.B. from Harvard. Mr. Horr filled various
important positions in his native town before remov-
ing to Athol in 1863. During the Rebellion he en-
listed as a soldier, but a severe injury received before
the war prevented his acceptance. In Athol he has
served as chairman of the School Committee and
moderator of the town-meetings. A Democrat, he
cast the one solitary vote for the Democratic candi-
date for Governor in 1865. On various occasions Mr.
Horr has delivered literary and scientific addresses,
and at the celebration in Athol, July 4, 1887, he was
the orator.

For the ''History of Worcester County," published
in 1879, Mr. Horr prepared the histories of Athol,
Dana, Petersham, Phillipston and Royalston. His
law practice is large, particularly in the Department
of the Interior, at Washington.

Sidney P. Smith, A.B., LL.B., attorney-at-law,
Athol, Mass., was born in Princeton, 111., July 13,
1850, and fitted for college at the High School in his
native town, and entered Amherst College, Amherst,
Mass., 1870, and graduated in 1874. He was principal
of the Athol High School from 1876 to 1880. He
graduated at Union College of Law, Chicago, in
1882, and the same year was admitted to the bar ia
Illinois, and in 1883 to the Massachusetts bar. He
has been special justice of the First District Court of
Northern Worcester since 1884, and represented the
First Worcester District in the Massachusetts House

of Representatives in 1887 and 1888. He married, in
1879, Miss Stella M. Parmenter, of Athol, by whom
he has had two children.

Henry M. Burleigh, counselor-at-law, Athol,
Mass., was born in Hartford, Conn., March 2, 18.35;
was fitted for the bar under private tutors, and ad-
mitted to the bar of Sufiblk County, Mass., as an
attorney and counselor-at-law July 17, 1856. He
was commissioned second lieutenant in First Regi-
ment New York Volunteers, April, 1861 ; promoted
to adjutant, and afterward captain of Company D. He
was also commissioned assistant adjutant-general of
volunteers in April, 1862, and served on the general
staff of the United States Army till the close of the
war. He was wounded three times — at Antietam Sep-
tember 17, 1862 ; again July 4, 1864, and at Win-
chester in April, 1865. He was mustered out Sep-
tember, 1865. He settled in Kansas, and in 1866 was
appointed United States commissioner, and also
served two terms as prosecuting attorney of Allen
County. In 1878 he settled in Athol. He married
Clara Hoyt, daughter of Dr. George Hoyt, of Athol,
in May, 1871, but has had no children.

E. V. Wilson, counselor-at-law. — Mr. Wilson was
born at Winehendon, Mass., July 1, 1847. After
fitting for college in New Hampshire, he graduated
from Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y'., in 1872.
He read law with Wheeler & Falkner in Keene, N.
H., and was admitted to practice in the New Hamp-
shire Courts in 1875. In 1876 he was admitted to
the Massachusetts bar at Greenfield, and established
himself in his profession in Athol in May of the
same year. Mr. Wilson was auditor for the town in
1887, and at the last election was chosen a member
of the School Committee for the terra ending in
1890.

Charles Field, Jr., counselor-at-law. — Mr. Field
was born in Cambridge, Mass., fitted for college at
Phillips Academy, Andover, and with private tutors ;
entered Williams College in 1877, and graduated,
B.A., in 1881. He studied law in the office of his
father. Judge Charles Field, of Athol, for two years ;
also read law two years in the Boston Law School,
and was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in June,
1886. Mr. Field is in practice in Athol.

Traders in Athol (1888) — Athol Centre. — Fay
& Fay, grocers ; Stevens & Co., grocers ; A. P.
Wheeler, painters' supplies ; J. E. Goodnow, meat
market ; W. N. Ward, meat market ; Highland
Bakery, bakers ; Cyrus Smith, tinware and stoves ;
F. G. Amsden, clothier ; George W. Rickey, jewelry ;
J. A. Holton, boots and shoes ; Frost & Whitcomb,
stoves and tinware ; T. W. Savage, dry goods ; H. M.
Humphrey, apothecary; Samuel Lee, hardware;
E. E. Kelton, groceries ; Miss Ryan, milliner.

Athol. — C. H. Tyler, groceries; C. F. Gage, variety
store; George Woodbury, meat market; F. G. Lovel,
footwear ; L. A. Smith, tailor ; E. Deney, dry goods ;
H. R. Barber, harnesses; C. F. Paige, hardware: H.

ATHOL.

1047

Arsenault & Co., apothecaries ; Parmenter & Ken-
dall, clothing; Boston Millinery Store, millinery;
Amsden Brothers, clothing ; Geo. O. Faye & Son,
jewelry ; John Glennon, groceries ; Parmenter &
Tower, dry goods ; E. W. Train & Co., stoves and
tinware; J. D. Holbrook, dry goods; O. T. Brooks
& Co., groceries ; Henry Cook, furniture ; A. V.
Fletcher, stoves and tinware ; Albert Ellsworth,
baker ; T. S. Estabrook, drugs and medicines ; G. M.
Ainsworth, plumber ; J. B. Cardany, furniture ; P. J.
Talbot, tailor ; \V. A. Beaman, bicycles and guns ;
Athol Fruit Store, fruits ; C. M. Lee, stoves and tin-
ware ; J. W. White, groceries ; M. Lehrberg, mil-
linery ; Converse Ward, apothecary ; W. W. Norton,
dry goods ; F. W. Lord, apothecary ; J. L. Balcom,
footwear ; Lucien Lord, books, stationery, etc.; C. A.
Carruth, clothier ; Johnson & Whittemore, groceries ;
Miss Ward, millinery ; A. S. Davis, footwear ; C. R.
Chandler, millinery ; S. N. FoUansbee, jewelry ; L. S.
Rich, millinery ; L. C. Parmenter, millinery ; Geo. H.
Cleveland, footwear.

CEJfETERlES. — So far as can be ascertained, no
complete and reliable record of the deaths in Athol
has been preserved. During the long pastorates of
the early ministers they kept a record of the funerals
which they attended, and of the deaths of some others,
as was the custom in those days, but for the last fifty
years little or nothing has been done to combine the
old with the more recent records, and make the list
complete.

The oldest cemetery was laid out in 1741 on a lot of
eight acres, situated on the north bank of Mill Brook,
about sixty rods southeast of the railroad station. For
years before 1859 this "Old Burying-Ground " had
been wholly neglected and was almost forgotten, being
held as private property. In that year, through the
efforts of Colonel Thomas Townsend and Messrs.
George Sprague and Amos L. Cheney, the town ob-
tained a legal title to a lot eight rods long and four
rods wide (which contained nearly all the graves
that could then be distinguished), fenced the same,
and reconsecrated it with religious services July 4,
1859, erecting, at the same time, a suitable granite
monument. The proceedings on that day were soon
printed in two editions, under the title, " The Home
of the Ancient Dead Restored." The lot was given
to the town by Messrs. Ethan Lord and Amos L.
Cheney. In 1859 about forty graves could be dis-
tinctly traced, but no marks upon the rough stones
gave any indication of the names of the occupants.
Five children of Ephraim Stockwell were buried
there, and five graves, side by side, are seen, answer-
ing in length to the recorded ages of the children.

The second cemetery laid out was what has long
been known as the Village Burying-ground, just be-
yond the covered bridge on the road to Orange. This
appears to have been opened as early as 1746.

The third was the ancient burying-ground, a little
off from Pleasant Street in the Upper Village, just

back of the house owned by Mr. Eliezer Judd. This

is sometimes called " The First Church Cemetery."
The interments in this cemetery were almost wholly
between 1773 and 1846.

The fourth cemetery (sometimes called " the Main
Street Burying-ground ") was opened in the south
part of the Upper Village in 184,3. The remains of
many of the leading men of the town repose there,
and the town makes an annual appropriation to keep
it in order.

The cemetery on Chestnut Hill is probably older
than the one just noticed, but it is not known when
it was opened.

In 1883 the town purchased a pleasantly-located
tract of land containing nearly thirty acres for a new
cemeteiy. It lies upon the north side of Miller's
River, and upon the side of the road leading to Orange
Furnace. It is called the "Silver Lake Cemetery,"
as it borders upon the beautiful lake of that name.
The grounds have been laid out with good taste, and
there is not in all the region a more suitable spot for
the resting-place of the dead. The cemetery was
dedicated May 10, 1877.

The most ancient tombstone found in the Lower
Village Cemetery has this inscription:

In memory of Mr. Ebeuezer Goddard, who died Nov. ye ■29th, in
ye year 1752, in ye 49th year of his age.

In the ancient Upper Village Cemetery, on Pleas-
ant Street, is a gravestone inscribed thus :

Mr. Calvin Humphrey, Son of the Rev. James Humphrey and
EsTEE, his wife.
He departed this life Nov. 'iOth, 1773, aged 6 years and (3 in.

All, death ! how crnel is thy reign.
Thine arrows make the parents Pain.
But faith anticipates the day
When thon mnst yield a Pall thy Prey !

Over this inscription is a large cherub, with ex-
panded wings, a favorite device for tombstone orna-
mentation during the eighteenth century.

The first pastor of Athol, Rev. James Humphrey,
was laid at rest in a tomb in this old cemetery, but
there was no inscription upon it in 1850. It is pos-
sible, perhaps probable, that this tomb was private
property, but the hand of time and, what is infinitely
worse, the handsof the lawless, have long sincemadeit
a heap of ruins. In the same cemetery was another
tomb, perhaps a receiving tomb, which has shared
the same fate. A third tomb survives, viz. : that ef
Joel Morton and family. Depredators broke into
this some years since, and took such relics as they
could find, but the breach was repaired and the en-
trance carefully sealed.

The locality and surroundings of this cemetery are
not such as to encourage eftbrts in the way of im-
provement like the cemeteries that are now used for
the interment of the dead; still it hardly comports with
the respect we ought to show to the honored men and
women of the past that this ancient burying-ground
should be so sadly neglected.

1048

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Hotels. — Mr. Daniel Bigelow (now eighty-eight
and a half years of age, and one of the oldest men in
town) says he can remember when the Pequoig House
was a private dwelling. From other sources it is
learned that it was not opened as a hotel until 1830.
From Mr. Bigelow's statements it appears that the
" Factory Boarding-house " was erected in 1811, and
that two or three years later it was opened as an inn,
and so kept for a number of years. Captain Orcott's
tavern was erected very early in the history of the
town. It stood just above the centre of Athol, and
was the first house on the Templeton road, very near
the Fair Grounds. In the old elm-tree opposite, the
staple still remains on which the ancient tavern-sign
was hung. Probably the oldest tavern in Athol was
on " The Street," not far from the present residence
of Mr. C. K. Wood. During the Revolutionary War,
as already stated, it was supposed to be the head-
quarters of a little company of Tories, and was care-
fully watched or " inspected," as the term was in those
days. Captain William Crosby is said to have kept
the same house as an inn. Whei'e, or nearly where
the Summit House now stands, Mr. Samuel Sweetser
is said to have kept a public-house during the later
years of the last century, and Thomas Lord was his
successor. Others owned the place and kept the tavern
before it came into the possession of Mr. John Brooks,
the father of Mrs. Doctor Lyude. Captain Kendall
once kept a hotel where Mr. Gilbert Southard now
lives. It is certainly singular that so little definite
information can now be obtained respecting the old
taverns of Athol, for a century ago the country tavern
was a most important institution. Travelers were to
be entertained in considerable numbers, horses were
to be cared for, the ground in front was the place for
military parade, while all, young and old, were wel-
come in the bar-room.

It should be added that the landlord of the Summit
House at the present time is Mr. George H. Prouty,
while Mr. George F. Lord has the charge of the
Pequoig House, under a lease given by its owner, Mr.
Adolphus Bangs. Mr. Bangs was the keeper of the
Pequoig for about nineteen years previous to 1886.

Free Masons. — Upon the rolls of some of the older
Masonic lodges in the county, and of the lodge in
Greenfield, the names of Athol men appear. In 1803
the Harris Lodge was instituted in Athol, and in 1804
ajiew lodge, the Star Lodge, was organized. This
was followed in 1866 by the Union Royal Arch Chap-
ter, and later the Athol Commandery of Knights
Templar was instituted.

Major Warren Horr, of Athol, is doubtless one of
the oldest Masons in Worcester County. His certifi-
cate of membership, written in both English and Latin
is a curiosity that merits preservation : " Brother

1 In conflict with this opinion ia tlie fact, as stated in the Athol Tran-
scriiiVi Annual fur 1888, that MiB, Sally Fish hail a Jeed in which tlie
Pequoig House building was described as a tavern more than one hun-
dred years ago.

Warren Horr, Jr., to whom we have granted these
letters, was admitted to the third degree of Masonry
in Golden Rule Lodge", on the 25tli day of Oct. A. L.
5825. Distinguished for his virtues and fidelity to the
craft, he is recommended to their favor and protection.
In testimony whereof we have caused our Brother to
write his name in the margin and to these presents
and have affixed the Seal of our Lodge. Witness our
Master and Wardens at New Salem this 23d day of
January a.d., 1826.

"Samuel Woodbitrn, Sec'y-"

On the sides of the certificate are the names of other
officers of the lodge, and then follows an official dec-
laration that the lodge in New Salem is in good
standing, signed by the Grand Secretary. Mr. Horr
is eighty-five years of age.

Water- Works. — The history of these is as fol-
lows :

Robert Wiley and S. L. Wiley, co-partners under
the firm-name of the " Athol Aqueduct Company,"
agreed, under seal, with the inhabitants of Athol to
furnish them with pure water for fire and domestic
purposes, and to provide fifty hydrants at fifty dol-
lars each per year, and others, as needed, at the same
rate. This agreement was signed by Robert and S.
L. Wiley and the selectmen of Athol June 7, 1876,
and approved by a vote of the town at a town-meet-
ing held June 13, 1876.

The next year, by act of the Legislature, the two
Wileys and two citizens of Athol, their associates
and successors, were made a corporation by the name
of the Athol Water Company (the Wileys being
really the corporation), for the purpose of furnishing
Athol with pure water, which carried out, so far as
it has been carried out, the original agreement re-
ferred to above.

Fifty hydrants were furnished, and five or six more !
have been added. The act of incorporation bears
date of April 10, 1877, and the constructed works
were accepted by the town July 7, 1877.

The water furnished by this corporation comes
from Wellington Brook, in Phillipston, Buckman
Brook, in Athol, and a small brook that rises near
the residence of Charles H. Barton, in Phillipston.
There are three reservoirs for storing and distributing
the water. The main one has an area of nineteen
acres, and is partly in Phillipston and partly in
Athol, with an elevation of five hundred and fifty
feet above the Lower Village. This is chiefly for
storage. A second reservoir, of about one acre, is a
little distance east of the Calvin Kelton homestead,
and this supplies the Upper Village or Athol Centre,
while a third, of about the same size, situate a little
north of the Upper Village Cemetery, supplies the
Lower Village.'

From the report of the Water Committee for 1888,
to which reference is made in the notice of the Fire

2 These facts have beeu kiudiy furnished by Judge Charles Field.

ATHOL.

1049

Department, it appears that there is not a little dis-
satisfiiction with the working of some, at least, of the
hydrants.

The Athol Gas-Light Company. — In 1874 this
company was organized. Its capital was fixed at
forty thousand dollars. What effect the general in-
troduction of electric lights will have upon this com-
pany's prosperity remains to be seen. This company
has recently been incorporated with the Athol Elec-
tric Light and Power Company.

The people of Athol may be congratulated upon
their miles of excellent brick and concrete side-
walks.

The spacious and beautiful Music Hall, erected in
Athol Centre, opposite the Summit House, and
which was destroyed by fire in 1875, has not been re-
built.

Newspapers. — As has often proved true in other
places, the first efforts to establish a good newspaper
upon a permanent basis were not successful in Athol,
Freedom's Sentinel, started in 1827, and The Wliite
Flag, which first appeared in 1850, had but a brief
existence. Those of a later date have been more for-
tunate, either because tliey have been better man-
aged financially or have better supplied the wants of
the community. In 18(56, at a meeting of the citi-
zens of Athol, called to consider the matter " of offer-
ing suitable inducement to a competent person to
establish in town au independent weekly ijaper," a
committee was appointed to attend to this business;
and, as the result, Mr. R. W. Waterman, publisher
of the Worcester West Chronicle, then printed in
Barre, was invited to remove his establishment to
Athol aiid issue his paper from this place. Mr. Wa-
terman accepted the invitation, and for twenty-three
years has edited and published the Chronicle in Athol.
He has done good service in procuring, arranging and
printing, from time to time, a multitude of facts re-
lating to the history of his adopted town. If the
Chronicle has a specialty, it is believed to be the col-
lection weekly, through correspondents, of the local
news from nearly every town in the northwest part of
Worcester Count)', and giving the same to the public.

The Atltnl Trdnscript, which is designed to be " a
first-class home paper and a popular advertising me-
dium," was started, in 1871, by Messrs. Lucian Lord
and Edward F. Jones, with Dr. V. 0. Taylor as ed-
itor. Later, Col. George H. Hoyt was connected with
it as owner in part and editor. In 1873 Mr. W. L.
Hill purchased a small interest in it and became its
editor, a position which he has held uninterruptedly
for the last sixteen years. Mr. Lord and Mr. Hill
are now equal owners in the establishment, and the
paper is very prosperous. From the first it has been
the aim of Mr. Hill to make the Transcript a reliable
and outspoken organ of local public opinion and
progress, and how well he has accomplished his pur-
pose is attested by the esteem and financial support
secured. The editorials of few country papers find

their way into city journals as often as do those that
first appear in the Tratiscript.

With the opening of 1888, the Transcript Company
prepared and printed for circulation An Annual,
which is crowded with historical and other informa-
tion of very great and permanent value. Few, per-
haps, will appreciate the amount of time and labor
expended upon this unpretending work, but whoever
shall study it will become familiar with the principal
facts regarding Athol's settlement and progress.

Fire Department. — From the last printed re-
port of this organization it appears that the appro-
priation to maintain it for 1887-88 was $2,100,
while the amount actually paid out to meet necessary
expenses was $3,261.41. This expensive, but abso-
lutely necessary organization, is an honor to the
town.

The two steamers, Athol and Pequoig, the hose
companies and the LTnion Hook-and-Ladder Com-
pany, have all efficient men at their head and enough
assistants to do good execution in case of a fire. But
serious complaint is made by the water committee re-
specting the working of the hydrants, which have
been from the beginning, with the entire water- works,
private property. And this matter has become of
such pressing importance that the water committeee
have examined several other sources of supply, and
earnestly recommend to the town to take immediate
action for the purpose of obtaining the right to take
water for domestic and other purposes from a pond,
which is large and natural, in the southeast part of
Phillipston. The engineers who receiveil compen-
sation for the entire year were Charles Gray and J
C. Blake, while A. L. Pike was paid for six months'
J. L. Dexter, J. H. Hoskins and H. F. Boutelle, for
nine months each; and J. A. Carter for twelve
months, but by two orders on the treasury.

Local Building in 1888.' — During the last year
an unusual number of dwelling-houses and manufac-
turing establishments have been built in Athol. Of
the former thirty-six have been erected, while many
others have been thoroughly renovated or enlarged
to such an extent as to be practically new. The
houses erected on the Ridge Hill property are pleas-
ant and attractive homes ; and the same may be said
of nearly all the dwellings recently erected or reno-
vated. From year to year the style of dwelling-
house architecture in Athol improves, and arr^ge-
ments for family convenience and comfort are mul-
tiplied.

Respecting new manufacturing establishments this
may be said : The new Hill it Green shoe-shop,
which is nearly completed, will cost about $15,000.
A new piano-case shop has been erected on Cottage
Street, while Bates Bros., wallet manufacturers, have
doubled their capacity for work. Mr. J. B. Cardany

•The facta respecting tins matter have been gleaneil from u very full
anil valuable staterueut, compiled by the Athul Tiaiisciipt,iu\-'\U\mn>i
January S, 1889.

1050

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

has built a new block, and added to his store on Ex-
change Street until he has doubled his room for
business, expending $12,000 in those enterprises.
The Athol Silk Company and Athol Machine Com-
pany have put in much new machinery, while L. S.
Starrett's tool business has been augmented by the
addition to it of Charles I. Fay's extensive tool indus-
try, lately removed from Springfield. L. Morse & Sons
have made a large addition to their factory and built
new sheds and dry-houses. A. F. Tyler and E. Ellis
& Son have made additions to their factories for
manufacturing sashes and blinds. For the Soap-
stone )Vorks a new building has been erected, and
the cabinet works of Scott & Nye have been enlarged.
Hapgood & Smith have made very important im-
provements in their match-factory. The establish-
ment of the Athol Electric Light and Power Com-
pany, and its recent consolidation with the Athol Gas
Company, show that the town is making progress in
industrial matters. It is estimated that during the
year 1888 more than $130,000 were invested by the
citizens of Athol in building oi^erations.

College and University Honors.— Williams
College appears to have been the favorite resort of
the young men of Athol who have acquired a
collegiate education. The following appear to have
graduated from it, viz. : — Jesse Slratton, John Wis-
wall Humphrey, John Drury, Jr., William La Koy
Haven, for many years an educator in New Jersey,
Joel Drury Miller, clergyman, teacher and editor in
Leominster, and Frederic Eugene Stratton. Henry
H. Sprague, of Boston, and George A. Black gradu-
ated from Harvard University. Lewis M. Norton
took his degree, Ph.D., at Gottengen, Germany, and
is professor of organic and industrial chemistry in
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while
James P. Lynde is a graduate of that institution.
Charles H. Sweetser, a graduate of Amherst College,
has been an able editor and is well known as the
author of the "History of Amherst College."

Grand Army or the Eepublic has two posts
in Athol : viz., Parker Post, No. 123, whose head-
quarters are in Masonic Block in Athol Centre. This
post holds in memory James C Parker, who was
sexton of the Evangelical Church before going to
wai'. He was killed at the battle of Newbern, N. C,
while in the thickest of the fight, his rifie missing
fire as often as he attempted to discharge it. Mr.
Parker left a widow (since dead) and three children.

H. V. Smith Post, No. 140, meets in Grand Army
Block. This post holds in memory Hubbard V.
Smith, one who was among the first to enlist upon
the breaking out of the war. In the engagement
near Strasburg, Va., a minie ball entered his body
just above the right hip, and passed so nearly through
him that it was extracted above the left hip. Mr.
Smith was taken prisoner, but later was paroled for
exchange, and was brought home alive, though a
great suflerer.

Of the organizations for the promotion of tem-
perance and the various reforms for mutual help in
case of disability, to strengthen the social tie, and to
improve society in various ways, Athol has a very
large number which are in successful operation, one
of the most important of which is the one entitled
"Sons of Veterans," General Sherman Camp,
No. 65.

Deputy Sheriffs. — William Bigelow and Joseph
Pierce held this office before 1807. Since that date
James Oliver, 1807-28 ; Flavel Humphrey, Abijah
Hill, 1828-38; John H. Partridge, 1838-59; and
Gardner Lord (Incumbent), 1859, have been Deputy
Sherifl's.

Manufacturing Establishments.' — The follow-
ing notices of these are given without any particular
regard to chronological order, or to the kind of goods
manufactured.

It was very early perceived that the streams aris-
ing in and running through this town were sufficient
in volume of water and rapidity of descent to furnish
power for a great number of mills. Miller's River,
Tully Brook (which the historian Whitney said in
1793 should have been called a river), Mill Brook
and another stream in the south part of the town all
have a permanent and large supply of water for man-
ufacturing purposes, and soon after the settlement of
the township a number of saw and grist-mills were
built upon their banks.

In 1793 there were in Athol four grist-mills, six
saw-mills, one fulling-mill and one shop with a trip-
hammer, all carried by water-power. These were a
necessity in supplying food, building materials,
clothing and tools for the resident population. It
was a later discovery that Athol might become one
of the manufacturing centres for the Commonwealth
and country. This business, which has now become
of the first importance in the town, has been very
gradually developed.

About seventy years ago Mr. Eliphalet Thorpe was
manufacturing paper for the general market, as his
old mill-book, dated January, 1825, and running
about twenty years, shows. The manufacture of cot-
ton-cloth was among the earlier industries of Athol,
three hundred and sixteen thousand yards having
been made at the Athol Cotton-Factory in 1837.
This factory was built in 1811, and has had very
many owners, not all of whom have been .successful.
Bennett & Van Vaulkenburg now employ thirty-seven
persons in it, and it is understood that they are con-
ducting their business with enterprise and with re-
munerative profits.

Ethan Lord's Grist-Mill. — This was built between
1757 and 1760, and it then stood opposite Richard-
son's machine-shop, and before 1770 it was moved to

1 The facts now given respecting the manufacturing establishments of
Athol, as they were forty or fifty years ago, have bsen k-indly furnished
by Deputy Sheriff Gardner Lord, and many of them are corroborated by
the author's distinct recollection.

ATHOL.

1051

its present site. Later Simeon and Ezra Fish owned
and operated tlais mill, and it was known as " Fish's
Mill." Their successors were William and Augustus
Newhall, and Joshua Newhall succeeded them.
Joseph Richardson then became the owner, but the
entire property is now in the possession of Mr. Ethan '
Lord.

Sibley Scythe »S'Aop.— Before the close of the last
century David Lilley made nails on the site of this
shop, but about 1800 sold the premises to Perley Sib-
ley and Stephen Hammond, who turned them into a
scythe factory. Mr. Hammond died in 1835, and his
interest in the shop was purchased by Russell Smith.
Mr. Smith having died in 1868, and the Sibley family 1
wishing to give up the business, the whole was bought j
by Ethan Lord, and is now occupied by the Athol
Silk Company.

In the manufacture of footwear, which is the lead-
ing industry of Athol, Mr. Charles Milton Lee was
early in the field, and has been eminently successful.
He is the son of William D. Lee, and in youth was a
farmer. In 1850, with about one hundred dollars, he
walked to Boston and purchased a small stock of
leather. During that year he employed no help, but
the goods made and sold by himself brought about
six hundred dollars. His business card (now before the
writer) represents, not only his large and well-fur-
nished factories as they now are, not far from the
railroad station, but also the one-story home of his
childhood and youth, and the still more unpretending
shop in which he laboriously made his first pairs of
boots and shoes for the general market. After this
venture he employed help and enlarged his business.
In 1858 he formed a partnership with his two brothers

John Howard and Solon W.— which continued for

ten years, meanwhile establishing a business house
in'Boston for the sale of their goods. In 18(59 this
partnership was dissolved, Mr. C. M. Lee continuing
the manufacture while his brothers carried on the
business in Boston. During the twenty years since
1869 Mr. Lee's business has been constantly increas-
ing, and he is now the owner of a group of three large
and well-appointed brick factories in Athol, one of
which he takes charge of in person, while his two
sons, W. Starr and Auburn H., conduct the others.
A third son, George M., has charge of his store in
Boston. Children's shoes are the specialty manufac-
tured in this immense establishment, and the sales
amount to about five hundred thousand dollars
annually. Mr. C. M. Lee was among the first to
substitute steam-power for human muscle in the man-
ufacture of foot-wear, and to introduce the best ma-
chinery into his factories.

Tools. — Mr. L. S. Starrett is the manufacturer of
fine tools for mechanics. He commenced this busi-
ness in 1880, employing, during the first year, ten
men, which number is now increased to forty. Jan-
uary 1, 1888, Mr. Starrett issued a finely-illustrated
catalogue and price-list of his goods, from which it

appears that, among other exceedingly well-made im-
plements for mechanical work, he puts upon the
market his Patent Combination Square, Improved
Bevel Protractor, Patent Double Square, Double Steel
Square, Universal Bevel, Patent Inclinometer, Uni-
versal Bevel Protractor, Caliper Square, Micrometer
Caliper Square, gauges of different kinds, slirink
rules, calipers of various patents, dividers of all kinds,
levels, speed indicators, etc.

The Athol Machine Co. was organized under the
General Statutes of Massachusetts in 1868. Capital
stock paid in, $50,000. This company have an iron
foundry, and manufacture hardware specialties, vises,
meat-cutters and machinists' tools in general, employ-
ing forty workmen. Their products are sold in every
State of the Union, and in many foreign countries.
The president of this company is George T. Johnson ;
D. A. Newton is secretary and treasurer, S. H. Bel-
lows is superintendent, and these form, with A. Bangs
and W. H. Parmeuter, the Board of Directors.

The Millers River Manufaciiiring Company, incorpo-
rated in 1863, had at first a capital of $40,000, but this
has since been reduced to $30,000. On two occasions
this company has suffered much by the destruction
of their property by fire. They employ seventy
workmen, and manufacture satinets and blankets.
Before the death of Mr. C. C. Bassett, he and Mr.
George T. Johnson were understood to have a con-
trolling influence in this company.

George Oerry & Son are manufiictures of wool,
waste-dusters, mill gleanings, &c., employing five
workmen. Mr. Gerry has been in business about
forty years.

Lewis Sanders manufactures kegs, half barrels, &c.,
employing about forty men. This business was es-
tablished in 1882.

George S. Brewer commenced business as a wood-
turner in 1870, employing three workmen. He
leased his shop to Dennis Goddard in 1887. Mr.
Brewer was the contractor for laying the foundations
and building the dam for the New Co-operative Com-
pany's shoe shop in the Upper Village.

Lewis Cheney is a prosperous manufacturer of car-
riages in Athol Centre.

E. E. Partridge manufactures warps, satinets and
woolen-goods at his mill in Partridgeville. He is
understood to be the owner of the mill, and employs
about fourteen persons.

Cutler (£• West employ thirteen men in their steam
box-mill at South Athol. This mill was built by
Foster & Chamberlain, about 1852.

Another mill at South Athol, which is much older,
is occupied by H. H. Rice & Co., who also manufac-
ture boxes.

The Athol Carriage Works were started in 1876. L.
C. Sawin is the proprietor. He employs but little
help, and makes no estimate of the amount of his
business.

J. W. Goodman came from Dana to Athol in 1880,

1052

HISTORY OP WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and established the manufacture of billiard-tables,
employing from twenty to twenty-five men. He does
cabinet-work also.

Edwin Ellis (who died in July, 1888) commenced
the manufacture of doors, sashes and blinds in
1847. More recently the business has been con-
ducted by

E. Ellis & Son, and the manufacture is confined to
sashes and blinds. Fifty men are employed in this
establishment, and the value of the annual product is
sixty thousand dollars.

L. Morse (& Sons (an old establishment dating from
1850) manufacture cribs, cradles, towel-racks, tables
and washstands. Their factory was built in 1869.
The " Morse Patent Folding Settees," which are
vastly superior to everything else of the kind in the
market, and are found in a multitude of halls and
vestrys, come from this establishment, in which sixty
men are employed. The value of the annual product
is seventy-five thousand dollars.

Dennis Goddard commenced the manufacture of
shoe-boxes in 1887, and employs four persons. His
sales amount to two thousand dollars annually.

Stratlon Brothers d: Co. established themselves in
the manufacture of house-finish, packing-boxes, etc.,
in 1886. Tliey employ seven men, and their annual
product amounts to fifteen thousand dollars.

C. Warren Cheney has a job machine-shop, com-
mencing his business in 1870. He is the inventor of
the Climax Lawn Mower, and sold his right in this
machine to a New York company in 1888.

E. S. Handy engaged in the manufacture of sati-
nets in 1879.

In 1880 IF. H. Kauffman went into business with
Mr. Handy, and in