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Book  'WlMl^S^ 


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Xo.  XVII. 


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PROCEEDINGS 


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For  The  Year 

1881. 


WORCESTER,  MASS.  : 
PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 

1882. 
U.  S.  A.  CVI. 


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VOLUME  V, 


WORCESTER,  MASS.  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 

1883. 

U.  S.  A.  CVII. 


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PROCEEDINGS 


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For  The  Year 

1881. 


WORCESTER,  MASS.  : 
PUBLISHED  EY  THE  SOCIETY. 

1882. 
U.  S.  A.  CVI. 


WORCESTER  : 
PRESS  OF  CLARK  JILLSON. 

1882. 


/ 


OFFICEES  FOR  1882. 


PRESIDENT, 

ELLERY  BICKNELL  CRANE. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

ALBERT  TOLMAN,    GEORGE  SUMNER. 


SECRETARY, 

HENRY  LORISTON  SHUMWAY. 


TREASURER, 

HENRY  FRANCIS  STEDMAN. 


LIBRARIAN, 

SAMUEL  ELIAS  STAPLES. 


Departments  of  Work. 

♦ 

ARCHAEOLOGY  AND  GENERAL  HISTORY. 
CHARLES  R.  JOHNSON,  Chairman. 

William  H.  Bartlett,  Francis  T.  Blackmer,H.  W.  Hubbard, 
Thos.  A.  Dickinson,  Alfred  AYaites,  Tliomas  Stansfield, 

John  W.  Brigham,     Clias.  F.  Washburn,  John  G.  Brady, 
Henry  F.  Stedman,    Charles.  W.  Clark,     F.  E.  Lancaster, 
Charles  A.  Morgan,  Samuel  E.  Staples, 
James  L.  Esty,  Franklin  P.  Rice, 

William  L.  Clark,       Theodore  C.  Bates, 
Eben.  F.  Thompson,  Reuben  Colton, 
Ellery  B.  Crane, 


Edward  B.  Glasgow, 
E.  H.  Thompson, 
William  T.  Harlow, 
Sullivan  Forehand. 


LOCAL  HISTORY  AND  GENEALOGY. 


ELLERY  B.  CRANE,  Chairman. 


Alfred  S.  Roe, 
Harvey  B.  Wilder, 
Thos.  E.  Bartlett, 
Franklin  P.  Rice, 
Clark  Jillson, 
Daniel  Seagrave, 
Albert  A.  Lovell, 
George  A.  Jordan, 
E.  H.  Marshall, 


Samuel  E.  Staples, 
Charles  A.  Chase, 
James  A.  Smith, 
E.  R.  Lawrence, 
Benj.  John  Dodge, 
William  T.  Harlow, 
A.  B.  R.  Sprague, 
Burton  AY.  Potter, 
Nathaniel  Paine, 


Albert  Tyler, 
Henry  M.  Smith, 
Ephraim  Tucker, 
W.  H.  Bigelow, 
Manning  Leonard, 
Frank  E.  Blake, 
Henry  P.  Upham, 
J.  Chaunce}'  Lyford. 


ANCIENT   MANUSCRIPTS.  PUBLICATIONS  AND  ENGRAVINGS. 


CL 

AYm.  B.  Harding, 
Albert  Tyler, 
Augustus  Coolidge, 
Merrick  Bemis, 
Samuel  E.  Staples, 
Charles  C.  Baldwin, 
Albert  Tolman, 
Edward  I.  Comins, 


ARK  JILLSON,  Chairman. 

Chas.  B.  AYhiting,      Reuben  Colton, 
Chas.  AY.  Estabrook,Theo.  S.  Johnson, 
Nathaniel  Paine,         Chas.  AA''.  Fenno, 
Fisher  A.  Eosworth,  George  Sumner, 
Augustus  E.  Peck,     Addison  Prentiss, 
Jolm  Cort,  Albert  P.  Marble, 

Henr}'  L.  Shumwa}-,  Alfred  Waites, 
AVilliiim  A.  Smith,     Josiah  Pickett. 


RELICS,  COINS,  AND  CURIOSITIES. 
SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES,  Chairman. 


Henry  Phelps, 
Richard  O'Flynn, 
AA'illiam  B.  Ilowe, 
Nelson  R.  Scott, 
George  Sumner, 
Franklin  C.  Jillson, 
Olin  L.  Merriam, 
Edwin  Ames, 


Jei-ome  Wheelock, 
Augustus  Stone, 
Joseph  N.  Bates, 
Edgar  AY.  Warren, 
Norton  L.  Cook, 
Edwin  H.  Marble, 
Frank  J.  Kinne}', 
Geo.  E.  Bojden, 


Pardon  A.  Lee, 
Albert  G.  Mann, 
Stephen  C.  Earle, 
Charles  F.  Rugg, 
A.  K.  Gould, 
Geo.  F.  Thompson, 
Henr}'  King, 
Fred.  G.  Stiles. 


dOMMiWsJ^^  j^'ofj  i§§^ 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

ELLERY  B.  CRANE,   GEORGE  SUMNER, 
ALBERT  TOLMAN,    HENRY.  L.  SHUMWAY, 
HENRY  F.  STEDMAN. 


STANDING  COMMITTEE  ON  NOMINATIONS. 

CHARLES  R.  JOHNSON,  for  1  year; 
EDWARD  R.  LAWRENCE,  for  2  years; 
DANIEL  SEAGRAVE,  for  3  years. 


COMMITTEE  ON  BIOGRAPHY. 

HENRY  L.  SHUMWAY,     ALBERT  TYLER, 
ALFRED  S.  ROE. 


COMMITTEE  ON  PUBLICATION. 

CLARK  JILLSON,  SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES, 

HENRY  M.  SMITH,         FRANKLIN  P.  RICE. 


Publications  of  the  Society. 


No.  I.  Proceedings  for  1875-1877.  (pp.  70.) 

No.  II.  Constitution    and    list    of  officers  (com- 

prised in  No.  I.). 
No.  III.        Proceedings  for  1877,  with  Inscriptions 
from  Old  Burial  Grounds  in  Worces- 
ter, (pp.  168.) 
No.  IV.         Inscriptions  from  Old  Burial  Grounds  in 

Worcester,  (comprised  in  No.  III.) 
No.  V.  Proceedings  for  1878.  (pp.  150.) 

No.  VI.         Early  Records  of  the   Town  of  Worces- 
ter, Book  I.,  1722-1739.  (pp.  142.) 
No.  VII.       Proceedings  for  1879.  (pp.  150.) 
No.  VIII.     Early  Records  of  the  Town   of  Worces- 
ter, Book  IL,  1739-1753.  (pp.  145.) 
Nos.  IX.       to  XII.     Records  of  the  Proprietors  of 
Worcester,  1667  to  1788,  with  nearly 
300  plans,  (pp.  336.) 
No.  XIII.    Proceedings  for  1880.  (pp.  80.) 
Nos.  XIV.    to  XVI.     Worcester  Town  Records  from 

1753  to  1783.  (in  press.) 
No.  XVII.   Proceedings  for  1881.  (pp.  164.) 


l^  Nos.  I.  to  XVI.  are  arranged  to  form  four  volumes  under 
the  name  of  Collections.  A  pamphlet  containing  Title  Pages, 
Indexes  and  directions  for  binding  the  first  three  volumes  will 
be  furnished  by  the  Librarian.  No.  XVI.,  now  in  press,  will 
contain  title  page  and  index  for  volume  IV. 


PROCEEDINGS 


Page  15,  line  16,  for  1754  read  1755. 
"      17,    "    21,  "    Tonsley  read  Towsley. 
"      20,    ',     19,  "    Cutler  read  Cutter. 
"      23,    "     1,     "    82  read  81. 


PROCEEDINGS 


For    i88i. 


=*-^H=^>-j-^^s» 


S  ''"^  Wi  ^-^  ^^^^  regular  monthlj^  meeting  of  the 

T%  year  was  held  at  the  Hall  of  the  Society, 
¥M  fS  ^^^  Tuesday  evening,  January  4,  1881,  and 
m  ^&^,\..m  ^^^  called  to  order  by  the  President,  Mr. 
Ellerv  B.  Crane. 

Present,  Messrs.  Clark  Jillson,  Shuniway,  Ames, 
J.  A.  Smith,  Potter,  Staples,  Roe,  F.  C.  Jillson,  Sea- 
grave,  Lovell,  Marsliiill,  Metcalf,  Tucker,  Sumner, 
Paine,  Lee,  Dodge,  Barton  and  F.  P.  Rice — 20. 

The  oath  of  office  was  administered  to  Clerk  Shum- 
way  and  Treasurer  Smith  by  the  Hon.  Clark  Jillson. 
The  President  in  assuming  the  duties  of  his  office 
made  the  following;  address: — 


10 

Members  of  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity : — Through 
the  chano;e  of  certain  events  over  which  I  had  no  immediate 
control,  3'ou  have  seen  fit  to  select  me  as  the  presiding  officer  of 
this  Association  for  the  year  1881  ;  an  honor  which  was  certainly 
not  expected,  and  a  position  which  1  feel  myself  illy  prepared  to 
occupy  ;  and  while  with  much  diffidence  I  accept  the  responsi 
bility  and  return  sincere  thanks  for  this  distinguished  marlc  of 
your  esteem,  I  cannot  forget  the  valuable  services  rendered  this 
Society,  by  those  who  have  so  ably  filled  the  office  of  President 
in  times  past,  and  the  great  difficulty  under  which  I  shall  labor, 
with  my  short  comings,  not  to  make  my  efforts  comparative 
failures. 

To  me  the  re-election  of  our  late  President  was  by  no  means 
a  surprise  ;  but  his  prompt  and  unqualified  resignation  of  the 
office  was  a  complete  surprise,  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  we 
were  so  summarily  deprived  of  the  valuable  services  of  one  so 
well  qualified  by  long  experience  as  a  presiding  officer,  and  in 
the  possession  of  such  rare  qualities,  so  essentiall}'  needed  in  tlie 
chief  officer  of  this  Society.  I  trust,  however,  that  although  he 
declined  to  accept  the  office  of  President,  we  shall  continue  to 
have  the  aid  of  his  good  counsel  and  untiring  zeal. 

In  looking  over  my  morning  paper,  one  of  the  first  items  that 
Impressed  me  was,  that  an  address  was  to  be  made  by  President 
Crane.  This  certainly  was  news,  for  that  was  my  first  intima- 
tion of  it,  but  I  consoled  myself  by  thinking  that  it  was  a  mis- 
print, the  fact  of  the  case  being,  that  the  President  had  sent  a 
notice  that  an  address  would  be  delivered  this  evening,  meaning 
of  course  his  valedictor}',  and  that  the  adding  of  my  name  was 
a  most  serious  mistake.  Another  thought  that  impressed  me, 
was  the  need  and  existence  in  our  midst,  of  so  great  a  number 
of  societies,  I  say  need,  for  their  very  existence  proves  their 
necessit}'.  Men  are  so  constituted  that  they  arc  not  satisfied 
with  their  own  narrow  limitations.  Believing  in  progression, 
they  are  ever  striving  to  enlarge  the  circle  of  their  information 
and  usefulness.  From  their  varied  inclinations  and  sensibilities 
spring  up  these  varied  and  numerous  societies  of  which  there  are 
about  100  in  this  city.  Their  objects  are  mainly  to  promote 
Charity,  Sociability,  Education,  Temperance,  Development  and 


11 

Kcformation.  Well  eoiulucted  tliov  nro  all  usofiil  ngcnts  for 
iTood.  There  arc  those  who  must  have  their  Dehatino;  Clubs, 
Social,  Teuiperauce,  lielbrui  and  CoiiimonwcaUh  Clubs,  Masonic 
Conclaves,  Horticultural  and  Agricultural  Societies,  in  which 
thej'  are  helped  and  elevated. 

It  is  vv'ith  supreme  satisfaction,  and  this  is  said  with  no  spirit 
of  boasting,  that  we  can  look  back  over  the  history-  of  this  j'oung 
organization.  Six  years  ago  this  present  month  was  held  the 
first  preliminary  meeting,  and  from  that  event  this  Society  dates 
its  existence.  There  was  no  ostentatious  displa}-  at  its  birth, 
and  the  beginning  of  the  second  year  of  its  usefulness  found  ])ut 
twelve  members  upon  its  official  register.  Firm  and  steady  has 
been  the  growth.  In  April,  1877,  there  were  thirty-seven  names 
upon  the  roll,  while  we  begin  this  new  year  with  a  list  number- 
ing one  hundred  and  tiventy-six ;  88  active,  21  corresponding, 
17  honorary.  So  well  were  the  foundations  laid  for  a  stable 
structure  that  not  a  single  l)ackward  step  has  been  required. 
The  genuine  interest  and  manly  determination  everywhere  dis- 
played by  the  members  of  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity 
has  given  this  organization  a  well  deserved  prominence  among 
kindred  societies  throughout  the  country,  and  it  is  fair  to  con- 
jecture that  )io  elTort,  however  arduous  it  may  be,  will  be  spared 
to  retain  that  honoral>le  position. 

Our  first  pu1)lication  (No.  I.)  appeared  in  March,  1877,  and 
since  that  date  we  have  given  to  the  public  10  numbers,  each 
averaging  al)Out  1;^8  8vo.  pages,  containing  much  valuable  his- 
torical matter,  a  considerable  portion  of  which  is  now  to  be  found 
only  in  the  publications  of  this  Society.  Surely  we  have  lieen 
so  far  true  to  the  objects  of  our  organization.  It  is  especially 
gratifying  to  thus  contemplate  the  progress  made  in  the  past, 
and  I  sincerely  hope  tliat  our  growth  lias  not  been  so  rapid  but 
tliat  the  fntuie  may  give  us  a  picture  none  the  less  pleasing  to 
look  upon.  Certainly  never  were  our  prospects  more  promising 
than  now.  These  well  filled  shelves  and  this  crowded  room  are 
indeed  symbols  of  prosperity  and  success.  The  Librarian  in- 
forms us  that  already  more  room  is  needed  to  enable  him  to 
display  to  advantage  our  rapidly  increasing  collection  of  books 
and  curiosities,  a  fact  that  would  at  once   suggest  the  enlarge- 


12 

mcnt  of  our  quarters,  necessitating  an  increase  of  the  annual 
expense.  Additional  room  would  certainlj-  l)e  a  most  welcome 
aquisition,  and  it  would  no  doubt  be  greatly  to  our  advantage  to 
have  it,  but  I  hope  that  careful  attention  will  be  given  to  the 
subject  before  an}-  action  is  taken  that  will  tend  to  increase  our 
running  expenses.  Perhaps  it  would  be  better,  for  this  3'car, 
to  be  considerably  crowded  by  the  voluntary  contributions  of 
friends,  than  to  crowd  our  friends  to  assist  in  paying  for  more 
spacious  rooms  ;  however,  this  matter  is  in  your  hands,  and 
whichever  way  3'ou  may  decide,  will  no  doubt  tend  to  promote 
the  best  interests  of  the  Society. 

Our  monthly  meetings  have  always  been  one  of  the  chief  fea- 
tures of  this  organization.  They  are  exceedingly  social,  and 
there  is  a  certain  amount  of  inspiration  to  be  derived  in  coming 
together  in  this  room  at  least  once  a  month  and  enjoying  a  brief 
discourse  on  some  subject  in  harmony  with  our  personal  relish 
or  in  the  interest  of  the  objects  of  the  Society.  It  is  hoped  that 
every  member  will  value  these  meetings,  and  not  onh-  be  pres- 
ent, but  contribute  in  every  wa}'  possible  to  their  enjo3'nient. 
An  earnest  eifort  will  be  made  to  have  something  in  the  form  of 
an  essay  read  before  the  Society  at  least  once  a  month  during 
the  year,  and  to  secure  such  a  result  I  would  invite  every  mem- 
ber to  contribute,  and  would  esteem  it  a  special  favor  if  those 
willing  to  so  contribute  would  hand  in  their  names  and  give  the 
time  when  they  can  be  called  upon. 

A  word  or  two  on  finance.  It  ought  to  be  said  to  the  credit 
of  our  Executive  Committee,  that  should  all  dues  to  the  Socictj-, 
including  the  S3  tax  levied  for  the  3'ear  1881,  be  paid  to  the 
Treasurer,  there  would  be  funds  sutHcient  to  pa^'  all  probable 
obligations  for  the  present  j'ear  and  leave  us  free  of  debt  Jan. 
1,  1882.  We  must  not  overlook  the  fact  that  our  success  as  a 
Society'  has  been  mainl}-  due  to  the  united  exertions  of  individ- 
ual inembers,  and  that  by  our  own  hands  we  must  stand  or  fall. 


13 

lion.  Byron  Weston  of  Dalton,  Mast?.,  was  elected 
an  honorary  member ;  a-nd  Tlieodore  C.  Bates,  Ed- 
gar W.  Warren  and  Reuben  Colton,  of  Worcester, 
and  Frank  F.  Starr  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  were 
elected  active  members. 

Mr.  Lovell  presented  resolutions  complimentary 
to  the  Hon.  Clark  Jillson  ;ind  Mr.  Diiniel  Seagrave 
upon  their  retirement  from  the  offices  of  President 
and  Secretary  in  which  thay  had  so  ably  served 
the  Society.  They  were  unanimously  adopted  and 
ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Proceedings  of  1880, 
where  they  will  1)0  found.  Brief  remarks  were 
made  by  Messrs.  Roe,  Paine,  Jillson,  Seagrave,  Bar- 
ton, Potter  and  others,  and  after  some  unimportant 
discussion  upon  matters  pertaining  to  the  conduct 
of  the  Society,  the  meeting  was  adjourned. 

The  next  regular  meeting  was  held  Tuesday  eve- 
ning, Feb.  4,  President  Crane  in  the  chair.  Twenty- 
two  members  were  present.  Correspondence  from 
several  societies  and  institutions  and  the  following 
letter  from  the  Hon.  Byron  Weston  were  read : — 

CommonweaWi  of  Massachusells, 
Council  Chamber. 

Boston,  Jan'y  19,  ISSl. 
Henry  L.  Siiumway,  Sec't'y  ; 

My  dear  sir: — Please  thank   "The  Worcester  Society  of 

Antiquity"  for  doing  me  the  honor  of  electing  me  an  Honorary 

Member.     I  appreciate  their  kindness  and  accept  with  great 

pleasure.     I  am,  dear  sir, 

Yours  trulv, 

BYRON  WESTON. 


14 

The  Committee*  appointed  at  the  December  meet- 
ing for  procuring  additional  room,  made  a  report 
recommending  the  hiring  of  the  apartment  next  east 
of  the  one  occupied  by  the  Society.  The  report  was 
accepted  and  the  committee  authorized  to  engage 
the  room. 

Mr.  Thomas  A.  Dickinson  read  an  interesting 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Eleazer  Smith,  the  inventor  of 
the  Card-setting  Machine,  from  an  autobiographical 
manuscript  in  his  posession.  This  with  some  modi- 
fications is  here  printed.  Mr.  Dickinson  exhibited 
a  portrait  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  also  one  of  the  first 
machines  made  by  him. 


STcelch  of  Die  life  of  Eleazer  Smith,  Vie  inrcnlor  of 
Vie  Card-Selling  Machine,  from  a  manuscript  wriilen 
hy  himself,  aboul  Vie  year  1828. 


]iY  THOMAS    A.  DICKINSON. 


During  the  revolutionary  war,  and  clirectl}'  after,  hand  cards 
for  carding  cotton  and  wool  were  made  in  a  few  places  in  New 
England,  including  Boston,  Framingham  and  Cunil)erland.  The 
process  of  manufacture  was  almost  wholly  by  hand.  In  1785, 
Edmund  Snow  began  the  manufacture  of  hand  cards  in  Leicester. 
In  1790,  Pliny  Earle  made  the  first  machine  cards  for  Samuel 
Slater.  The  holes  in  the  leather  numbering  100,000  were  prick- 
ed bj'  Mr.  Earle  with  two  needles  in  the  end  of  a  stick.  From 
this  commencement  the  business  of  card  making  rapidl}'  increased 
in  this  town  until  Leicester  became  the  great  center  of  the  trade 
in  this  country,  and  before  the  introduction  of  card  setting 
machinery,  cards  were  made  here  to  the  value  of  $200,000. 


*  Messrs.  Lovell,  Crane  and  Dodge. 


15 

The  holes  were  pvickod  in  the  leather  ami  the  teeth  eut  and 
bent  1)}'  a  maehine  (of  wliich  we  have  one  here  to-night,  made 
by  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  for  Pliny  P^^arle  &  Brother,  of  Lei- 
cester) and  all  set  in  by  hand,  giving  employment  to  hundreds 
of  families  in  the  vicinity.  In  Is;)!  there  were  17  Card  Facto- 
ries in  the  town  of  Leicester,  and  from  this  center  grew  the  other 
manufactories  which  were  started  about  this  time  in  Worcester, 
P^nfield,  rhiladelphia  and  other  places.  The  manuscript  from 
which  the  following  sketch  is  drawn,  was  obtained  from  Mr.  Eli- 
jah Thompson,  of  Wal[)()le,  (now  deceased)  who  was  with  Mr. 
Smith  during  his  last  sickness,  and  received  it  as  a  gift  from 
him.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Thomas  A.  Dickinson  of 
Worcester.  It  is  written  in  Mr.  Smith's  own  hand,  plain  and 
distinct,  and  is  entire  with  the  exception  of  the  first  two  pages, 
whicn  relate  to  his  boyhood. 

He  was  born  in  Medfield,  Mass.,  April  1,  ITod,  but  in  early 
life  removed  to  the  adjoining  town  of  Walpole.  His  house  and 
shop  which  stood  on  the  highest  elevation  of  land  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Walpole,  and  one  of  the  fnust  locations  in  the  town, 
was  long  since  demolished.  Tlie  cellar  hole,  a  few  old  bricks 
and  some  old  poplar  trees  only  remain  to  mark  the  spot. 

His  education  was  simply  what  the  village  schools  of  those 
days  afforded.  He  was  a  good  reader,  possessed  a  very  reten- 
tive memory,  and  had  considerable  knowledge  of  astronomy, 
chemistry  and  l)otany,  and  was  also  quite  skillful  in  certain 
branches  of  surgery.  It  is  said  that  he  was  frequently  visited 
by  professional  gentlemen  among  whom  was  Dr.  Jackson,  of 
Boston.  But  it  was  in  mechanical  inventions  and  operations 
that  he  displayed  his  greatest  genius.  When  a  boy  he  made  a 
wooden  spring  tiap  lor  catching  rabbits,  very  similar  to  the 
common  steel  trap  now  in  use. 

At  the  age  of  IT)  he  made  a  watch  complete,  the  case  being 
made  of  pewter.  He  says  "The  construction  of  this  watch 
movement  was  so  calculated  that  it  had  to  beat  a  third  quicker 
than  common,  to  go  fast  enough,  until  I  put  in  a  crown  wheel 
with  a  less  number  of  teeth."  The  tools  which  he  used  consisted 
of  a  pocket  knife,  a  three-square  file  and  compasses.  The  watch 
he  presented  to  Mr.  Aaron  Wight,   of  Medway,   who   was   so 


16 


inucli  i)leaso(l  with,  liis  iiigennitv  tlint  lie  gave  him  liis  lioanl  (01- 
four  luoutlis,  and  ln'li)e(l  liim  make  tools  lor  watch  ami  clock 
making.  The  next  ^'ear  he  made  a  wooden  clock,  using  a  wine 
glass  for  the  bell,  the  wheels  being  made  af  apple-tree  wood. 

This  attracted  the  attention  of  one  Simon  l\!ttee,  a  clock 
maker  of  Wrontham.  who  wish.ed  to  take  young  Smith  as  an 
apprentice,  but  his  lather  could  not  spare  him,  nor  had  he  any 
faith  in  that  kind  (jf  business.  And  here  he  says  '•'My  father 
found  so  much  of  my  time  employed  in  this  way  that  he  deter- 
mined to  put  a  stop  to  it,  and  forbade  me  working  at  such  things, 
saj'ing  that  it  w'as  no  profit  to  me.  1  soon  found  myself  embar- 
rassed, and  to  give  up  the  taste  for  these  things,  I  found  impos- 
sible ;  but  not  wishing  to  disobey  m}'  parents,  I  thought  if  I 
redeemed  time  and  did  nothing  for  myself  when  he  set  me  about 
other  business  that  it  would  not  be  criminal.  Howexer,  this 
was  distasteful,  so  the  only  means  was  to  steal  time  or  work  in 
secret,  which  I  did  man}-  an  hour  by  tire-light  in   the  evening." 

The  next  thing  which  he  speaks  of  is  a  wooden  gun  lock  which 
he  applied  to  a  stock  of  wood,  with  an  iron  barrel  in  the  inside. 
This  he  carried  on  training  davs  much  to  the  anuisement  of  the 
soldiers,  who  tired  it  a  great  number  of  times.  From  this  time 
to  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war,  his  desire  for 
mechanism  increased,  and  was  chiefly  confined  to  clock  work. 
A  clock  which  he  made  about  this  time  is  now  i-unning  in  Wal- 
pole,  Massachusetts.* 

"In  the  summer  of  177(5,"  he  writes,  "there  was  a  requisition 
for  men  to  enlist  for  Ticonderoga,  and  as  the  soldiers  were  very 
loth  to  'list,  and  I  conceived  the  cause  of  liberty   to  be  good, 


*  This  clock  is  now  in  jjosscssion  of  ^Ir.  Ijowis  Eowker,  of  Walpolc  Mass. 
It  has  been  running  over  100  years,  keeps  good  time,  and  is  probably  the 
only  one  of  this  pattern  ever  made  by  Mr,  Smith.  The  construction  is  sim- 
ple and  curious.  The  workmanship  would  do  credit  to  any  clock  makc^r  of 
modern  times.  The  face  is  of  brass,  about  7  inches  in  diameter,  Avith  the 
figures  well  cut,  and  the  name  Ei.f.azer  Smith  neatly  engraved  on  the  same. 

It  has  but  three  wheels,  and  pendidum  which  beats  seconds.  The  man- 
ner of  winding  is  peculiar,  the  key  being  inserted  through  the  arbor  on 
which  the  hands  move,  and  wound  once  in  24  ho\u\s. 


17 

induced  inc  to  try  tho  military  life,  ulthougli  I  had  no  taste,  nci- 
tlier  had  I  a  constitution  for  the  task.     Wc  set  out  to  marcli 
the  2i)th  of  July,  and  reached  Ticonderoga  sometime  in  August. 
We  were  quartered  in   tents.     The  long  march  and   exposure 
brought  on  the  cami)  trouble — dysentery — making  me  unfit  for 
duty.     While  in   the   lio8i)ital   one  of  the  company,   Kphraim 
Smith,  had  a  watch  which  was  out  of  order  and  would   not  go. 
This  I  repaired  with  my  pen-knife.     On  the  14th  of  September 
I  was  arrested  and  put  under  guard  for  passing  bad  monc}',  the 
bill  being  so  large  as  40  shillings,  'Sword  in  hand'  'Massachu- 
setts,' that  I  did  not  pass  it  before,  and  Iiad  forgotten   where  I 
had  taken  it.     While  in  prison  the  same  fellow  who  had  given 
me  the  bill  was  brought  in  for  a  like  crime.     In   a  moment  it 
brought  to  mind  the  circumstance  of  my  taking  the  bill  of  this 
man,  who  tended  store  for  one  Jones  who  lived  below  the  fort. 
When  brought  before  the  court  martial,  the}'  asked  me  if  I  knew 
it  was  a  counterfeit  bill?     I  told  them  yes,  but  did  not  know  it 
when  1  passed  it.     On  holding  it  to  the  light  they  showed  me 
that  it  had  })een  scraped  out  '4  and  G  pence'  and  made  into  40 
shillings.'     I  told  them  of  the  man  I  had    taken    it   of,    whose 
name  was  Amos  Tonsle}',  then  under  guard-     This  man  was 
brought  in  and  denied  giving  me  the  bill,  saj-ing  that  he  could 
prove  that  I  told  him  I  could  not  tell  where  I  had  taken  the  bill, 
in  consequence  of  which  they  would  not  give  me  my  oath,  but 
condemned  me  to  be  guiltj-  of  passing  the  currency  of  Massa- 
chusetts, knowing  it  to  be  counterfeit.     I  pleaded  innocence  of 
the  charge  and  asked  them  to  enquire  of  the  Colonel  of  m^"- 
regiment  about  my  character,  being  liorn  in  the  same  town  and 
well  acquainted  with  me.     They  asked  me  how  I  dared  to  call 
my  Colonel  to  support  my  villainy, — that  I  was  capable  of  doing- 
it  by  examining  my  hand  writing,   and   because  I  could  mend 
watches  with  a  pen-knife.     So  I  was  sent  to  jail,  and  my  doom 
was  twice  read  in  general  orders.     Our  Lieutenant  was  sent  or 
came  to  me  desiring  me  to  own  it,  saying  I  should  fare  better 
if  I  did.     I  told  him  mj'  punishment  would  be  just  if  I  owned 
to  a  lie  ;  that  I  was  willing   to   die   for   innocence,    but   did'nt 
thank  him  for  his  advice." 


18 

It  soon  became  evident  that  young  Smith  was  not  a  dangerous 
man,  and  he  was  allowed  considerable  liberty  about  the  fort,  and 
after  15  days  was  restored  to  his  rank. 

In  another  adventure  at  Ticonderoga,  he  came  near  being  shot 
as  a  deserter.  He  was  detailed  with  some  others  to  go  to  Crown 
Point  for  wheat  and  hay.  They  made  up  their  load  by  lashing 
two  boats  together,  and  returned  to  camp  quite  late.  The  others 
left  the  boat,  but  he  got  leave  to  sleep  on  the  hay  until  morn- 
ing. During  the  night  the  wind  came  up  and  drifted  him  out 
into  the  lake  a  mile  or  more.  "The  guard  boat  came  out  and 
hailed  me.  At  first  I  did  not  answer.  The  third  time  the}^  fired 
a  ball  near  my  head  w^hich  waked  me  up.  I  expected  they 
would  help  me  off  but  they  would  not.  Being  near  the  middle 
of  the  lake,  and  finding  it  impossible  to  row  against  a  head  wind, 
and  seeing  no  signs  of  relief  and  being  hungry,  I  started  for  the 
opposite  shore,  where  near  the  land  a  boat  overhauled  me,  and 
we  returned  to  camp." 

After  this  he  was  drafted  to  go  on  a  secret  expedition  to 
Rhode  Island,  under  Capt.  Adam  Peters,  of  Medfield.  This  was 
contrary  to  his  ideas  of  liberty,  and  while  stationed  at  the  house 
of  a  Quaker  in  Little  Compton,  he  conversed  with  them  on  the 
propriety-  of  taking  arms.  The  Quakers  must  have  had  consider- 
able influence  upon  him,  for  he  seemed  never  to  have  previousl}- 
had  the  desire  to  run  awa}'.  However,  he  says,  'T  concluded 
to  go,  taking  this  resolution,  that  I  never  would  take  up  arms 
again.  I  escaped  safe  home,  and  have  never  taken  arms  since. 
I  wish  to  do  good  and  not  harm  to  m^-  fellow  creatures,  and  all 
mankind,  and  in  the  sequel  of  this  narrative  shall  endeavor  to 
show  that  I  have  contril>uted  as  much  to  the  real  advantage  of 
the  community  as  any  person  in  America." 

After  his  return  home,  and  during  the  war,  lie  seems  to  have 
been  busy  at  work  inventing  machines  for  making  cai'ds,  nails, 
tacks,  pins,  needles  &c.,  in  order,  he  sa\-s,  "to  do  without  Eng- 
land." His  father  was  something  of  a  Torj-,  and  always  disi)u- 
ted  the  possibilit}-  of  doing  without  England,  on  account  of  all 
these  articles  which  were  brought  from  there. 

One  of  his  first  machines  after  his  return  home  was  for  ma- 
king solid  headed  pins,  and  also  drawing  the  wire  for  the  same. 


19 

In  one  day  ho  made  I  r)()0  pins,  and  he  says  most  of  the  time  was 
spent  in  i)ointing  them  on  a  grindstone.  He  was  at  work  dnring 
this  time  for  John  Rogers,  of  Newton,  clock  maker.  Jeremiali 
Wilkinson,  of  Cnmberland,  card  maker,  employed  him  to  con- 
strnet  a  machine  for  making  card  teeth,  which  he  finished  in  one 
month,  capable  of  cntting  3  sorts  of  wire.  The  value  of  a  pair 
of  hand  cards  at  this  time  was  Ki  shillings.  This  machine,  he 
says,  answered  the  purpose  well,  and  he  soon  had  calls  from 
three  different  i)arties  who  wished  to  employ  him  to  construct 
like  machines. 

''By  this  time,"  he  says,  'T  found  great  difliculty  in  doing 
work  to  my  mind  away  from  home,  to  convince  people  where  I 
worked  of  the  necessity  of  having  proper  tools  and  convenien- 
cies,  therefore  I  resolved  to  have  a  shop  of  my  own.  My  father 
consented  to  give  me  a  piece  of  wild  land  and  help  me  build  a 
house.  Everything  excepting  timl^er  and  stone,  in  the  line  of 
building  material,  was  scarce  and  high."  The  chimney  w^as 
made  of  stone  excepting  500  old  brick  which  he  obtained  from 
Boston  to  furnish  the  fire-place  and  oven.  "My  building  being 
enclosed  and  all  the  implements  and  tools  I  had  collected  being 
moved  in,  and  likewise  two  of  my  sisters  to  keep  house." 

Necessarily,  in  building  his  house,  he  had  run  in  debt,  and 
here  the  great  troubles  of  his  life  commenced.  His  creditors 
pressed  him  continually  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  hire  out  by 
the  day,  clearing  woodland  and  doing  farm  work,  the  price  of 
labor  then  being  about  o  shillings  per  day. 

Aliout  this  time  Jonathan  Hale,  card  maker,  of  Framingham, 
heard  of  young  Smitli,  and  l)eing  pleased  with  his  ingenuity, 
offered  to  hire  him  and  help  pay  his  debts.  In  relation  to  his 
living  with  Hale,  he  says,  "I  worked  for  Hale  doing  anything 
he  could  not  get  done  l)y  other  men,  such  as  fixing  his  bark 
mill,  mending  cart  wheels,  improving  machines  for  making  card 
{QQth  and  card 'pritch in (/  machines:  also  machines  for  making 
card  tacks  and  hand  card  boards  ;  and  a  variety  of  other  busi- 
ness too  tedious  to  mention  or  remember.  Eighteen  months 
had  now  elapsed  and  I  had  not  began  the  Gnmd  3fachine  to 
Sticl:  Cards.  Having  made  machines  for  bending  the  teeth, 
and  otliers  for  pricking  the  holes  in  the  leather,  for  several  years 


20 

he  had  maintained  the  idea  that  the  two  couhl  l)e  united  and 
made  into  one  machine  ;  and  it  here  appears  that  Hale  was  one 
of  tlie  few  men  wlio  at  tliat  time  liad  any  faith  in  liis  plans. 
While  in  the  em[)loy  of  Hale  he  worked  under  lock  and  key,  in 
order  to  keep  him  away  from  the  .sheriff,  I\Ir.  Hale  thinking  tliat 
many  of  liis  debts  were  unjust  and  ought  not  to  be  paid. 

After  leaving  Hale,  in  17.S4,  liis  attention  was  devoted  to  ma- 
chinery for  making  nails  from  cold  iron.  The  cutting  sliears 
which  he  invented  at  this  time,  and  which  were  made  for  liim  by 
Isaac  Cozzens,  of  Sherborn,  afterwards  came  into  general  use. 
The  nail  machine  he  describes  ver\-  minutely.  Tliis  was  made 
before  any  patent  laws  existed  in  the  United  States. 

There  was  an  agreement  between  Hale  and  Smith  relating  to 
the  card  stickiiKj  nuirhiin'^  and  Hale  becoming  somewhat  dis- 
couraged, offered  to  give  up  his  right  in  the  machine  for  £'.)i). 
As  soon  as  Smitli  had  settled  tliis  matter  he  was  sent  for  liy  one 
Giles  Richards,  of  Boston,  wlio  was  then  forming  a  company 
for  the  manufacture  of  cards.  Tliis  company  consisted  of  (iiles 
Richards,  Andrew  an<l  Ciershom  Cutler,  AVilliam  and  Aukjs 
Whittemore.  Mr.  Smith  worked  for  this  comptiny  a  year  and 
nine  months,  making  improvements  in  card  making  machinery. 
While  here  he  invented  a  press  drill,  which  was  adopted  at  that 
time  as  being  the  liest. 

In  the  autumn  of  1  7<S'.),  when  Gen.  Washington  visited  Boston. 
he  was  invited  to  visit  the  factory,  and  see  the  pi'ocess  of  cai'd 
making.  In  relation  to  this,  i\Ir.  Smitli  says  that  some  one  got 
into  the  factoiy  and  so  disarranged  the  machine  that  it  would 
not  operate  well.  Xevertheless,  it  attracted  Washington's  atten- 
tion more  than  all  he  liad  seen  in  his  travels,  and  he  iiKjuii-ed 
who  made  it.  and  whelhei'  he  was  Aun'rlriin  hani. 

Al'tei'  his  retui'n  iVoiii  liosloii  he  hee.'iiiie  vei'V  Uiiieli  debilil  aled . 
oeeasioiied  li\-  close  a|)j)li('a1  ion  and  study.  The*  next  niaehiiie 
of  which  he  speaks,  was  an  inqirovemenl  which  he  made  in  Ihe 
nail  machine,  to  cut  nails  with  the  grain  of  the  iron  and  I'eed 
itself.  This  occupied  the  whole  of  a  year.  Sometime  aftei'this 
Avhile  he  was  at  work  building  a  machine  foi'  making  card  teeth, 
he  says  "I  was  visited  by  Col.  Thomas  Denny,  of  Leicester, 
who  paid  me  10  dollars  "earnest,"  and  afterwai'ds  gave   me  N.'! 


21 

(lollnrs  for  i(.  Ii>  17',).')  Jncol)  IVrkins,  of  Xcwliuryport,  sent 
lor  nw  to  work  Tor  him  in  his  Itnid  works.  1  round  lie  claimed 
tho  cutting  of  nails  fi'om  cold  iron  upon  the  same  princii)le  1  had 
made  in  17.S1.  I  would  not  consent  to  give  up  my  right  to  tho 
invention  and  so.  after  working  (!  days,  returned  Iiome,  receiv- 
ing 10  dollai-s  and  a  bogus  order  for  K!  shillings.  It-  was  said 
!)y  Perkins  that  my  hi-st  day's  woi-k  in  lifting  his  machine,  earned 
him  70  dollars  cU-ar  i)ro1it.  On  my  return  home  1  called  to  see 
AV^illiam  Whittemorc  in  Uoston,  who  asked  me  if  T  thought  it 
possible  to  make  a  machine  to  stick  cards?  1  told  him  yes,  and 
that  I  intended  to  linish  mine  as  soon  as  1  had  money  of  my  own 

to  do  it." 

It  a|)pears  from  his  conversation  with  INIr.  Whittemorc  at  this 
time,  and  also  from  the  fact  that  he  was  visited  from  time  to 
time  by  members  of  this  comi)any,  that  Mr.  Smith  mistrusted 
that  Amos  Wliittemore.  who  was  the  chief  mechanic  in  the  con- 
cern, was  at  work  on  the  card  sticking  machine.  INIr,  Smith 
had.  at  this  time,  his  nuichine  in  i)rocess  of  construction,  which 
consisted  of  an  iron  l)ed-i)late  about  'li  inches  square,  with 
wrought  iron  i)Osts  I'or  the  centers  and  working  jiarts. 

The  story  told  liy  some  of  the  old  inhabitants  of  Walpole  with 
whom  I  have  conversed,  is  that  lAIr.  Smith  completed  his  ma- 
chine so  far  as  to  1)(>  al)le  to  set  the  teeth  straight  through  the 
leather.  Amos  Whittemorc  at  the  same  time  was  at  work  on  a 
similar  machine,  and  occasionally  visiting  Mr.  Smith,  getting  all 
the  information  desired,  and  applying  it  to  his  machine.  Mr. 
Smith's  suspicion  Iteing  aroused,  he  questioned  Mr.  Whittemorc 
if  he  was  not  then  Imildirig  a  Card  Sticking  Machine,  wdiich  he 
denit'd,  and  promised  lie  never  would.  However,  IMr.  Whitte- 
morc cumpletcd  his  machine,  by  pulling  on  the  second  liend, 
and  immediately  appiitMl  foi-  a  i>atent.      This  was  in    17'.)7. 

It  is  very  eviilenl  thai  the  idea  oi'igiiiated  with  IMr.  Smith, 
\\)i-  1.")  yeais  previous  to  the  year  17;)7,  hv  had  in  his  mind  the 
combination  of  the  two  machines,  and  intended  some  day  to 
complete,  as  he  calliMl  it.  the  r//vo(J  Murlnuc  to  Stick  ('ards. 
It  is  also  evident  that  the  card  makers  of  that  time  who  knew 
Mr.  Smitli.  and  also  liis  fellow  townsmen,  were  looking  to  him 
as  the  only  man  capable  of  completing  the  machine. 


22 

In  relation  to  the  machine  patented  by  Whittemore,  in  1797, 
Mr.  William  B.  Earle,  now  living  in  Needham,  82  years  old  and 
blind,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  improve  the  card  setting  ma- 
chine, saj^s  :  "It  was  crude,  rnde  and  imperfect.  No  material 
improvement  was  made  npon  it,  nor  was  the  price  of  cards  re- 
duced during  the  2i)  years  in  which  its  use  was  confined  exclu- 
sively to  the  Whittemore  family."  Cards  were  made  by  hand 
up  to  the  3'ear  1828. 

It  is  evident  that  the  treatment  which  Mr.  Smith  received 
from  the  Whittemore  Compan}-,  and  the  fact  of  their  obtaining 
the  patent  on  the  machine,  had  a  depressing  efi'ect  upon  him  for 
several  years.  Still  he  completed  his  machine,  but  never  deri- 
ved any  benefit  from  it.  He  originated  and  improved  man}- 
other  machines,  especiall}^  that  for  cutting  nails  from  cold  iron  ; 
and  also  one  for  making  wrought  nails.  One  of  his  inventions, 
on  which  he  obtained  a  patent  in  1808,  was  a  machine  for  trim- 
ming straw  braid.  Others  profited  b}'  this,  chief  among  wlioni 
was  Dr.  Nathaniel  Miller,  of  Franklin.  The  machine  for  prcs- 
sino-  straw  bonnets,  which  was  used  for  vears  in  the  manufaeto- 
ries  of  Medfield  and  vicinit}',  was  invented  by  him.  It  is  helie- 
ved  that  none  of  his  townsmen  ever  availed  themselves  dishonor- 
ably of  his  inventions. 

Mr.  Smith  was  of  an  honest,  frank  and  candid  disposition, 
alwa^'s  ready  to  comnuniicate  his  ideas  and  plans  ;  but  it  is  said 
in  this  respect,  that  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  became 
more  cautious  and  reserved,  espociall}-  during  his  last  years, 
when  he  had  in  mind  a  machine  for  braiding  straw,  which  he  did 
not  live  to  complete.  When  at  work  upon  some  new  machine 
he  would  often  spend  days  and  nights  in  his  shop  without  allow- 
ing himself  time  to  rest  or  eat,  much  to  the  detriment  of  his  health. 

His  exti'eme  bashfiilness  when  a  l)oy,  he  snys,  worked  verv 
much  to  his  disadvantage  in  love  matters,  often  making  him  a 
subject  of  ridicule,  but  did  not  discourage  him  or  cause  him  to  re- 
linquish his  taste  for  mechanical  pursuits.  Like  many  inventors 
and  benefactors  of  our  race,  he  was  poor.  With  a  family  of  five 
or  six  children  dependent  npon  him,  liis  life  was  a  constant 
struggle,  he  often  being  obliged  to  hire  out  by  the  day  or  month 
doing  farm  work,  to  enable  him  to  support  them. 


23 

He  died  in  Walpolc,  March  9,  183(;,  nged  82  years.  In  1854 
an  ellbrt  was  made  by  tlic  iSelecluien  of  the  town,  to  erect  a 
monument  to  his  memory,  but  witliout  success.  Since  tlien  a 
plain  marl)lc  slab  has  been  erected  in  the  Walpole  Rural  Cem- 
etery, to  mark  the  spot  where  lies  one  of  the  greatest  geniuses 
America  ever  produced. 


The  reading  of  this  paper  was  followed  by  an  in- 
formal discussion  in  which  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Kent,  for 
many  years  a  Card  Machine  manufacturer  in  Wor- 
cester, Messrs.  Knight,  Staples,  Dickinson,  Shumw\ay 
and  H.  M.  Smith  participated. 


The  next  regular  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesday 
evening,  March  1,  the  President  in  the  chair;  twenty- 
five  members  and  visitoi's  were  present.  Mr.  Ham- 
mond W.  Hubbard  was  elected  an  active  member. 

Mr.  Henry  M.  Smith  then  read  a  paper  entitled 
"A  History  of , Cold  Winters,''  which  was  full  of  val- 
uable statistical  information  and  interesting  details 
of  severe  winters  in  the  past,  carefully  selected  and 
admirably  arranged.  Remarks  upon  the  same  were 
made  by  the  Rev.  George  Allen,  whose  memory, 
covering  full  four  score  years,  was  vivid  in  recollec- 
tions of  the  old-time  winters.  He  was  followed  by 
Messrs.  Tolman,  Crane,  Jillson  and  Sprague. 


24 

The  April  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday  the  5th,  President  Crane  in  the  chair. 

Mr.  William  H.  Bartlett  gave  his  '■'•Personal  Rec- 
ollections of  the  Louisiana   CamjKiign  of  1863." 

This  paper  was  a  well  written  and  interesting 
narration  of  the  exciting  scenes  witnessed  by  the 
writer  as  a  member  of  the  48th  Regt.  It  was  listen- 
ed to  with  much  jileasure.'''  Adjourned  for  two  weeks. 


A  special  meeting  was  held  on  Tuesda}'^  evening, 
April  19,  in  commemoration  of  the  Battle  of  Lexing- 
ton. President  Crane  presided,  and  40  members  and 
visitors  were  present.  Mr.  Alfred  S.  Roe  read  a 
paper  entitled  ^^  Three  April  Days^'  comprising  his- 
torical sketches  of  April  19,  1689,  April  19,  1775, 
and  April  19,  1861.  This  paper,  carefullj^  jorepared 
and  eloquently  delivered,  was  listened  to  with 
marked  attention. 


*  The  Committee  on  Publication  would  gladly  have  printed  this  paper, 
which  Avas  one  of  the  best  ever  presented  at  our  meetings,  had  not  Mr. 
Bartlett  intended  to  make  further  use  of  it. 


THREE, APKIL  DAYS 


BY  ALFRED  S.  UOE. 


Do  NOT  be  misled  by  my  title  into  thinking  that  I  am  to  discourse 
upon  the  beauties  of  Spring,  or  to  enlarge  upon  the  manifold 
pleasures  of  the  vernal  season  ;  for  it  is  not  of  Nature  that  I 
would  discourse  to-night,  but  of  man  and  his  deeds.  It  is  with 
reference  to  our  own  Old  Bay  State  and  her  interesting,  na}', 
thrilling  history  I  wouhl  deal ;  and  your  attention  is  asked  as 
we  glance  along  through  many  years  and  try  to  find  wherein 
Massachusetts  is  especially  interested  in  Three  April  Days. 

We  reckon  time  by  years,  decades,  centuries,  cycles,  accord- 
ing as  we  speak  of  ourselves,  the  state  or  the  earth.  Massachu- 
setts has  passed  into  that  age  when  she  can  reckon  her  years  in 
centuries  ;  but  her  interesting,  recurring  year  is  not  one  of  the 
hundreds.  It  is  less  by  several  years,  and  its  anniversary  falls 
in  April,  on  the  19th,  the  day  whose  evening  finds  us  gathered 
here.  Palfrey  in  his  preface  to  the  third  volume  of  the  History 
of  New  England  says  :  "In  the  History  of  New  England,  there 
are  chronological  paralelisms,  not  unworth}-  of  remark.  Some 
critical  events  in  it  were  just  a  centur}-  apart.  In  1665,  the 
courtiers  tried  her  temper  with  Lord  Clarendon's  Commission  ; 
in  176'),  they  tried  it  with  Mr.  George  Grenville's  Stamp-Act. 
In  1675  began  the  attack  on  her  freedom,  which  I  have  record- 
ed in  this  volume  ;  in  1775  began  the  invasion  which  led  to  her 
independence  of  Great  Britain.  But  the  cycle  of  New  England 
is  eighty-six  years.     Massachusetts  having  been  betrayed  to  her 


26 

enemies  by  her  most  eminent  and  trusted  citizen,  Joseph  Dud- 
ley, the  people,  on  the  19th  day  of  April,  1689,  committed  their 
prisoner,  the  deputy  of  the  Stuart  King,  to  the  fort  in  Boston, 
which  he  had  built  to  overawe  them.  Another  eighty -six  3'ears 
passed,  and  Massachusetts  had  been  betrayed  to  her  enemies  ])y 
her  most  eminent  and  trusted  citizen,  Thomas  Hutchinson,  when, 
at  Lexington  and  Concord,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  her 
farmers  struck  the  first  blow  in  the  War  of  American  Independ- 
ence. Another  eight3'-six  years  ensued,  and  a  domination  of 
slaveholders,  more  odious  than  th/it  of  Stuarts  or  of  Guelphs, 
had  been  fastened  upon  her,  when,  on  the  19th  of  April,  18G1, 
the  streets  of  Baltimore  were  stained  b}'  the  blood  of  her  soldiers 
on  their  way  to  uphold  liberty  and  law  by  the  rescue  of  the 
National  Capitol."  These,  then,  are  my  Three  April  Days,  and 
the  above  thought  of  Palfrey  mj'  text.     April  19th, 


1689, 


ms,  1861. 


The  events  which  these  days  witnessed  have  modeled  us  a 
people,  and  made  us  a  nation.  These  days  followed  each  other 
in  logical  as  well  as  chronological  order.  Without  the  first, 
neither  the  second  nor  the  third  could  have  existed.  Deprived 
of  the  deeds  of  these  days,  we  know  not  what  degree  of  abase- 
ment we  might  have  suffered,  and  the  mind  shrinks  from  the 
contemplation  of  what  might  be  our  present  condition.  But 
Massachusetts  soil  is  sterile.  The  skeleton  of  mother  earth  lies 
extremely  near  the  surface.  Men,  here,  must  delve  early  and 
work  late  to  obtain  from  the  land  a  maintenance.  The  manual 
labor  uecessar}'  to  win  from  the  earth  a  living,  earl}-  fixed  in  the 
minds  of  Massachusetts  people  an  utter  abhorrence  of  all  that 
would,  in  the  least,  detract  from  the  rights  of  self  government. 
The  acts  which  had  hardened  the  muscles  of  the  body  had  made 
equalh'  indexible  the  New  England  character.  Men  of  more 
genial  climes  might  submit  to  grinding  despotism,  but  the  sturdy 
Anglo-Saxo!i  who  might,  himself,  have  been  one  of  Cromwell's 
Ironsides,  found  tlie  soil  of  this  new  home  even  more  conducive, 
than  that  of  his  old,  to  the  vigorous  assertion  of  his  rights,  and 
we  see  him  resisting  the  demands  of  a  tyrannous  and  apostate 
King.     And  while  James  was  seeking  safety  in  the  Court  of  the 


27 

Grand  Monarchy  his  miserable  minion  Andros  was  seized  nnd 
shut  up  in  the  very  fort  wliich  he  had  built  to  overawe  the  town 
oflioston, — the  tragedy  of  Ilanian  repeated. 

But  another  king  and  another  deputy  sought  to  once  more 
lay  the  hand  of  oppression  on  Massachusetts  men,  and  agnin 
these  men  rebelled  and,  at  Concord  and  Lexington,  in  the  "8hot 
heard  'round  the  world,"  did  service  for  themselves,  for  civiliza- 
tion, for  humanity.  And  then  that  later  da}' !  Even  now  our 
blood  tingles  at  the  thought.  The  events  are  not  so  far  away 
that  we  cannot  recall  them  all,  and  in  the  memor}'  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts '•'•Sixth"  exult  over  the  proud  privilege  of  the  Old 
Commonwealth.     Thus  seriatim.     Now  to 

%£!  19,  1689. 

A  Stuart  king  was  on  the  throne  of  England  when  the  May- 
llower  put  out  on  her  memorahlc  voyage.  That  First  James, 
who  was  a  marvel  of  wisdom  and  of  folly,  and  who  surprised  all 
by  the  abundance  and  variety  of  his  knowledge,  and  equally 
disgusted  all  by  his  egotism  and  pedantry,  fully  merited  his 
cognomen  of  the  "wisest  fool  in  Europe."  To  escape  him  and 
such  as  him,  our  Pilgrim  and  Puritan  ancestors  sought  refuge 
in  this  new  world.  His  unhappy  son  was  sovereign  when  the 
Arbella  weighed  anchor  and,  sailing  from  Cowes,  bore  into 
Massachusetts  Bay  the  germs  of  the  colony,  which,  with  the  one 
at  Plymouth,  was  to  undo  tyranny  and  to  make  a  home  for  the 
oppressed  of  all  nations.  They  sought  and  obtained  certain 
priveleges  in  their  Charter.  They  Avere  practically  self  govern- 
ing. They  constituted  almost  the  ideal  Democracy  ;  perfect,  bar- 
ring some  suffrage  restrictions.  They  were  guaranteed  by  their 
Poyal  Chaiter,  the  power  forever  of  electing  their  own  Governor, 
Deputy  Governor  and  assistants,  to  make  laws  and  ordinances 
not  repugnant  to  those  of  Elngland,  for  their  own  benefit  and 
the  goverinnent  of  persons  inhabiting  their  territor}-.  The  peo- 
ple had  left  f^ngland  when  the  latter  was  most  prosperous,  and 
their  only  grievance  was  the  inability  to  hold  the  religious  belief 
agreeable  to  themselves.  Coming  to  Massachusetts,  they  held 
their  lands  by  as  good  a  title  as  that  by  which  they  had  possessed 
their  English  farms.     Of  course,  then,  this  Charter  was,  in  every 


28 

sense,  their  Palladium,  and  to  it  they  clung  with  the  utmost 
tenacit}',  but  from  an  early  date,  there  arose  a  contest,  on  the 
part  of  the  home  government  to  recall  it,  and,  on  that  of  the 
Colony  to  retain  the  same.  The  home  government  felt  that  it 
had  accorded  too  much  to  the  colonists  ;  the  latter  were  deter- 
mined to  retain  all  they  had. 

In  1635,  they  determined  to  resist  a  Royal  Governor  should 
one  be  sent  from  P^ngland.  The  fort  on  Castle  Island  was 
ordered  perfected  and  a  tower  set  up  on  Beacon  Hill  that,  dan- 
ger from  an  attack  arising,  the  country'  might  be  alarmed. 
Confusion  ensued  in  the  English  Court.  Charles  soon  found 
enough  to  occupy  himself  on  his  own  soil,  though  in  1638  there 
came  an  order  for  the  instant  return  of  the  Charter  to  England, 
on  which  the  General  Court,  after  some  months  of  pondering, 
concluded  to  send  a  letter  of  excuses  for  not  compl^'ing.  AVin- 
throp's  reply  is  worthy  of  perusal,  setting  forth  as  he  does  the 
reasons  for  the  retention  of  the  document.  And  even  when 
England  had  deposed  her  King,  and  Cromwell  ruled,  our  Colon}^ 
was,  in  no  wa}',  disposed  to  recognize  the  supremac}-  of  English 
authority.  When,  in  1651,  Parliament  desired  the  return  of  the 
old  Charter  and  the  taking  of  a  new  one  and  that  thereafter 
government  should  be  administered  in  its  name,  the  wil}'  colon- 
ists took  a  whole  3-ear  to  fashion  their  reph',  still  manifesting  a 
commendable  unwillingness  to  walk  into  the  English  spiders' 
parlor. 

When  the  "Merrv  Monarch"  or  Charles  the  II.  came  to  the 
throne  he  was  pleased  to  renew  all  the  power  of  the  original 
Charter,  though  he  added  a  dash  of  bitter  to  his  sweet  by  enjoin- 
ing the  Colon}-  to  require  the  oath  of  allegience  and  that  thence- 
forward Justice  should  be  administered  in  his  name.  Accord- 
ingly the  Colonists  published  the  "King's  Missive"  and  then  "did 
as  they  were  a  mind  to."  In  1665  came  the  fn-st  Ro3-al  Com- 
mission. Clarendon  had  sent  this  to  reduce  the  obnoxious 
Puritans  to  a  proper  condition  of  humility,  Charles  had  grant- 
ed the  territorj'  between  the  Connecticut  and  the  Delaware  to 
his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York,  and  here  we  ma}-  say  tlie  trouble 
began.  We  must  pass  over  the  debates  between  tlie  Govern- 
ment of  the  Colon}'  and  its  Royal  Commission,  though  the  latter 


29 

found  itself  beaten  at  all  points,  and  finall}-  retired  completely 
discomiited.  At  last  England  despairing  of  the  return  of  the 
Charter,  instituted  Chancery  proceedings  and  in  1(584  obtained 
a  decree  vacating  the  Charter.  Blassachusetts  by  no  act  of  her 
own  was  humbled.  She  lapsed  into  her  Ih-st  estate.  Her  terri- 
tory now  was  as  thoroughly  that  of  the  King  of  England  as  when 
discovered  b}-  the  Cabots.  In  the  same  year,  Colonel  Kirke,  of 
subsequent  West  of  England  notoriety,  was  appointed  the  first 
Royal  Governor  ;  Init  his  Royal  Masters  found  too  much  for  him 
to  do  in  England  to  spare  him  from  home,  so  Massachusetts 
was  spared  the  infliction  of  his  presence.  A  recreant  and  mis- 
creant son  of  Massachusetts,  Joseph  Dudley,  became  the  tool 
of  oppression  under  the  title  of  President. 

The  year  1686  was  just  closing  when  Sir  Edmund  Andros 
landed  in  Boston.  During  two  and  a  third  years  of  his  stay  in 
the  Colony  he  succeeded  in  making  his  name  more  hateful  than 
that  of  any  man  who  had  preceded  him  on  these  shores,  and 
moreover  a  synonym  for  tyranny  through  all  time.  James  II. 
had  made  Andros  Governor  of  New  England  with  the  expecta- 
tion that  the  recalcitrant  colonists  would  now  submit ;  but  the 
bed  to  which  Andros  had  been  commended  was  not  one  of  roses. 
He  early  set  himself  about  carrying  into  effect  the  same  plans 
which  had  rendered  his  Master  so  distasteful  to  the  people  of  old 
England.  He  claimed  that  everv  foot  of  Massachusetts  soil  was 
the  King's,  and  the  latter  might  oust  the  present  occupants 
whenever  he  chose.  More  than  that,  Massachusetts  men  were 
not  entitled  to  the  imuuinities  of  Englishmen  ;  that  they  were 
dependencies  on  the  British  Crown,  a  collection  of  Lazaruses, 
so  to  speak.  Andros  was  the  fit  tool  of  a  most  despicable  crea- 
ture ;  by  far  the  worst  of  his  erring  line.  Tie  scrupled  at  noth- 
ing that  would  enhance  his  own  or  James's  power.  His  deputed 
power  was  almost  absolute.  Hostile  to  the  prevailing  religion 
of  the  colony,  he  was  anxious  that  prelacy  should  be  supreme. 
Judoe  Sewall  says  that  sixtv  Red-Coats  attended  Andros  when 
he  landed  at  Long  Wharf  and  was  escorted  by  the  citizens  to  the 
head  of  King,  now  State  street. 

Dudley,  the  late  President,  became  a  ju'dge  of  the  Superior 
Court.     Mandates  were   sent   to   the   various   towns   and   the 


30 

Commissioners  or  Selectmen  failing  to  complj^  with  the  demands 
were  liable  to  punishment  by  fine.  The  Meeting-house  of  Bos- 
ton was  opened  for  Episcopal  service,  when  there  were  no  Epis- 
copal worshippers.  All  public  records  of  the  "late  Government" 
were  directed  to  be  brought  to  Boston.  Wills  had  to  be  pro- 
bated and  mortgages  registered  in  Boston,  where  enormous  fees 
were  charged.  The  form  of  taking  oaths  was  changed  from  the 
Puritanic  uplifting  of  the  hand  to  the  (to  them)  idolatrous  kiss- 
ing of  the  Bible.  The  imposition  of  taxes  was  wholly  arbitrary, 
and  citizens  were  obliged  to  take  out  new  patents  for  lands  the}' 
had  held  by  purchase,  in  some  instances,  from  the  natives. 

Many  of  the  towns  refused  to  compl}'  with  the  Governor's 
exactions  and  hence  followed  trials  where  juries  were  packed  in 
the  most  flagrant  manner.  To  Mr.  Wise,  on  trial,  Dudley 
said,  "You  must  not  think  that  the  laws  of  England  follow  you 
to  the  end  of  the  earth,"  and  moreover  that  he  had  no  other 
pi'ivileges  left  than  not  to  be  sold  as  a  slave.  Andros  gave  out 
that  titles  might  be  confirmed  b}'  application  to  Jiim  and  the 
payment  of  quitrents.  A  man  venturing  to  disregard  this  edict 
was  liable  to  be  dispossessed  at  any  moment,  as,  in  fact,  many 
were.  The  other  New  England  colonies  gradually  fell  in  with 
the  rule  of  Andros  and  endorsed  the  same  with  tolerable  resia;- 
nation  ;  but  at  no  time  was  the  feeling  towards  him  in  Massa- 
chusetts other  than  that  of  abhorrence.  Tradesmen  were  com- 
pelled to  restrict  their  buying  and  selling  to  their  own  towns. 
Heavy  imposts  were  laid  for  the  sake  of  increasing  liis  Majesty's 
Revenues.  Onl}-  one  town  meeting  Avould  on  any  [)retext,  bo 
allowed  during  the  year. 

Matters  went  from  bad  to  worse  till  finally  Increase  Mather 
was  sent  to  England  to  endeavor  to  obtain  some  redress  for  tlie 
Colonj-'s  many  wrongs.  The  time  of  Andros  was  spent  in  mak- 
ing semi-royal  progresses  through  his  dominions,  now  extend- 
ing from  the  St.  Croix  to  the  Delaware,  and  in  finding  new 
measures  to  oppress  his  devoted  subjects.  The  birth  of  a 
Prince  of  Wales  was,  by  him,  greeted  with  the  utmost  joy  and 
the  proclamation  of  a  day  of  Thanksgiving.  Mather,  mean- 
while was  laying  siegfe  to  James's  ear,  but  with  little  success, 
the  King  being  willing  to  make  a  show  of  sympathy  while  in 


31 

reality  his  heart  was  harder  than  Pharoah's.  But  llic  end  was 
approacliiug,  though  more  than  three  and  a  half  months  had 
passed  since  the  night  when  England's  King  had  slyly  slipped 
out  of  his  bed-chamber,  caiTving  his  country's  Seal  which  he 
spitefully  threw  into  tlic  Thames  in  his  flight.  James  had  taken 
up  his  residence  at  St.  Germain's  while  the  h;md  of  Andros  was 
tolerated  in  New  England.  The  crisis  was  impending,  though 
this  English  P2gyptian  softened  not  his  heart,  nor  for  a  mo- 
ment relaxed  his  grasp.  The  train  was  laid  and  the  explo- 
sion at  hand  when^  on  April  4th,  there  came  a  man,  named 
Winslow,  bringing  the  proclamation  of  William  of  Orange  on 
landing  in  Phigland.  The  uncertainty  of  affairs  in  the  Old  Coun- 
try' was  doubtless  all  that  had  prevented  this  uprising  months 
before.  Two  weeks  elapsed  after  Winslow's  coming  and  Andros 
had  taken  refuge  in  Fort  Hill,  where  without  any  note  of  visible 
preparation,  on  the  ISth  of  April,  Boston,  at  an  early  hour  was 
all  astir.  It  was  Thursday.  The  weekly  lecture  at  the  First 
Church  had  brought  a  concourse  from  the  neighboring  towns. 
At  the  north  end  of  the  town  it  was  reported  that  there  was  an 
uprising  at  the  south  and  vice  versa.  At  nine  o'clock  the  drums 
beat  throughout  the  town  and  the  ensign  was  set  up  on  Beacon 
Hill.  The  old  magistrates  were  escorted  to  the  Council  Cham- 
l)er,  and  the  royal  orlicers  were  arrested  and  put  in  gaol.  At 
noon  was  proclaimed  the  ''Declaration"  of  the  gentlemen,  mer- 
chants and  inhabitants  of  Boston,  and  of  the  territory  adjacent. 
The  declaration  concludes  with  these  words  :  "We  do  therefore 
seize  upon  the  persons  of  those  few  ill  men  who  (next  to  our 
sins)  have  ])een  the  grand  authors  of  our  miseries.  *  *  *  * 
We  commit  our  enterprise  unto  the  blessing  of  Him  who  hears 
the  cry  of  the  oppressed."  Palfrey  thinks  this  declaration  the 
work  of  time,  prepared  a  long  while  before,  awaiting  the  proper 
moment  for  its  promulgation,  and  that  Cotton  Mather  was  its 
author.  At  two  o'clock  the  town  was  full  of  soldiers,  the  signal 
on  Beacon  Hill  having  done  its  work.  Charlestown  held  several 
hundred  men  waiting  an  opportunity  to  cross.  Andros  had  sent 
a  messenger,  desiring  a  conference  with  the  principal  citizens  ; 
but  his  request  was  denied,  while  he  himself  was  summoned  to 
surrender  all  his  powers  on  penalty  of  having  the  fort  knocked 


32 

to  pieces  about  his  ears.  The  frigate  Rose,  lying  in  the  harbor, 
made  ready  for  a  fight ;  her  commander  declaring  he  would  die 
before  he  would  surrender  ;  but  his  boat  sent  to  the  shore  to 
bring  off  Andros  and  his  attendants  was  seized  and  its  crew 
disarmed.  Speedy  work  was  now  done.  Mr.  Nelson  arran- 
ged his  men  on  two  sides  of  the  fort  and  pointed  his  can- 
non at  the  same.  The  Governor  was  convinced  that  discretion 
was  the  better  part  of  valor  and  so  unconditionall}"  surrendered  ; 
his  attendants,  most  of  them  going  to  gaol  and  he,  under  a 
strong  guard  to  the  house  of  Usher.  So  ends  the  18th  of  April. 
A  grand  da3''s  work.  The  frigate  as  good  as  surrendered. 
The  castle  was  given  up,  and  on  the  19th  of  April,  1689,  the 
willing  tool  of  England's  last  Stuart  king  was  immured  in  the  fort. 
It  is  not  unworthy  of  record  that,  like  a  famous  man  of  later 
times,  he  tried  to  make  his  escape  in  female  apparel ;  but  was 
discovered  as  in  the  more  modern  instance  by  his  feet.  It  is  a 
difficult  thing  for  the  Devil  and  his  devotees  to  hide  their  hoofs. 
The  first  period  of  Massachusetts  histor}'  was  ended.  She  was 
again  a  ruler  to  herself. 


*»■• 


Spfii  19,  irYo. 


Concord  and  Lexington !  What  a  wealtli  of  associations 
clusters  around  these  words  !  To  Massachusetts,  to  American 
ears  they  have  come  to  be  talismanic.  The  historian  has  accu- 
rately described  and  the  poet  has  rhapsodized  and  ^-et  the  theme 
is  ever  interesting.  The  time  had  again  come  when  something 
must  be  done  to  stem  the  tide  of  British  arrogance  and  aggres- 
sion. The  mother  had  again  reached  a  point  where,  to  her  the 
chief  use  of  Colonies  was  to  pay  the  expenses  of  home  govern- 
ment, and  firm  resistance  was  necessary.  Committees  of  safety 
had  decided  that  the  stand  should  be  made.  Minute  men  had 
been  drilled.  Ever^'thing  was  in  readiness  for  the  storm  when 
Gage  arranged  to  send  his  troops  to  Concord  to  destroy  the 
stores  and  to  arrest,  if  possible,  those  "arch  traitors,"  Hancock 
and  Samuel  Adams. 

On  the  eve  of  April  18th  the  lantern  gleamed  from  the  spire 
of  the  Old  North  Church'   henceforth  to  be  Liberty's  beacon. 


33 

Paul  Revere  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  tide  had  caught  its  Hashes 
and  was  olT  on  his  mission  of  ahirni 

"'rhr()Uii;h  cvltv  Middlesex  villai^e  and  farm, 
For  the  country  folk  to  Ik-  up  and  to  arm." 

Never  man  i-ode  on  liolier  errand.  His  hoof-beats  had  not 
sunk  into  silence  before  the  country  people  were  making  ready 
for  the  conrtict  that  now  seemed  certain.  All  along  the  route, 
they  were  grasping  their  weapons  and  bidding  adieu  to  those 
who  were  to  remain  at  home.  To  many  it  was  the  final  farewell. 
These  men  had  counted  the  cost  and  knew  perfectly  well  what 
they  were  entering  upon.  At  Lexington  he  aroused  Hancock 
and  Adams  and  left  flashing  lights  behind  him  as  he  rode  on  to 
Concord  town.  It  was  half  past  four  on  the  morning  of  the 
li)th  that  the  Ked  Coats  entered  Lexington,  and  Maj.  Pitcairn 
commanded  the  militia  to  lay  down  their  arms.  Colonel  Smith 
oave  the  command  to  lu'e  and  eight  Americans  sank  in  death — 
the  first  victims  in  the  strife.  Put  the  Ib-itish  could  not  tarry 
long  in  Lexington.  They  were  soon  on  their  way  to  Concord 
and  how  strange  that  Concord  (peace)  should  be  the  name  of 
the  first  battle  in  tlie  great  struggle  for  freedom.  All  this  time 
church  bells  had  been  ringing  and  signal  guns  firing  so  that  the 
enemy  knew  perfectly  well  that  it  was  no  easy  task  they  were 
essaying.  Names,  since  become  household  words,  were  now 
heard  for  the  first  time,  l^arson  Emerson  appeared  accoutred 
for  battle.  Major  John  Puttrick  was  among  the  first „to  bestir 
himself.  Prescott,  Faulkner,  Parkman  !  Put  where  all  w^ere 
so  brave,  why  distinguisli? 

It  was  scarcely  more  than  l)ieakfast  time  when  the  Pritisli 
were  discoverecl  marching  into  the  toAvn.  The  morning  was 
such  an  one  as  we  love  to  tliink  of  associating  with  the  month 
of  April;  l)ut  still,  noted  more  for  its  exceptions  than  of  oc- 
cun'ing.  In  fact  it  seems  very  sti:ingt'  that  tlie  sensou  should 
have  liecn  so  far  :idv;iiicc(l.  WC  ni-c  told  rh;il  tlit-  iVuit  ti'ees 
were  in  lilossom  and  that  the  gi-ass  aud  grain  were  high  tMiongh 
to  \v;i\('  in  the  wimi.  •■'riic  sun  shiMii-  witli  pcculinr  splciidof. 
The  iiioniiiig  wa.N  :i  glorious  one"  It,  \v;is  in'turcn  nine  ami 
ten  o'cliick  when  the  liist   sraii<l  was  mmh'  and    Ainci'icans   lii'cil 


34 

that  first  shot  at  their  foe.  Hitherto,  as  in  the  Boston  Massa- 
cre and  at  Lexington,  our  men  had  fallen  but  there  had  been 
no  determined  resistance.  But  now  they  were  to  assume  the 
ao-o;ressive.  The  first  British  fire  had  killed  Isaac  Davis  and 
Abner  Hosmer.  The  Briton  had  provoked  the  contest  and  now 
came  Buttrick's  short,  incisive  command,  "Fire,  fellow  soldiers, 
for  God's  sake,  fire."  Fighting  is  always  provocative  of  profan- 
ity, and  men  swear  then  who  would  not  think  of  doing  so  at 
other  times.  Captain  Brown,  in  much  the  same  language  as 
that  which  Washington  is  said  to  have  used  at  Monmouth  to- 
wards Gen.  Lee,  commanded  his  men  to  fire.  British  blood  is 
shed,  and  Noah  Parkhurst  of  Lincoln  saj^s,  "Now  the  war  has 
begun  and  no  one  knows  when  it  will  end."  Two  of  the  invaders 
were  slain  and  many  were  wounded.  The  enemj'  had  found  that 
the  Americans  would  fight  and  that  henceforth  it  was  not  to  be 
a  one-sided  afl!"air.  At  noon  he  was  in  full  retreat  with  militia 
menacing  him  in  rear  and  flank.  The  Americans  were  without 
system  or  command.  They  attacked  as  they  could  and  did  such 
services  as  was  possible.  There  were  fresh  parties  constantl}' 
coming  up  from  the  neighboring  towns,  and  all  were  anxious  to 
get  a  shot  at  the  invading  foe. 

But  it  is  no  part  of  ours  to  describe  in  detail  the  incidents  of 
that  gauntlet  which  the  British  ran  in  this  retreat.  They  have 
been  instilled  into  the  minds  of  American  youth  almost  from 
infancy.  We  were  early  told  that  the  soldiers  suffered  so  much 
from  heat  and  fatigue  that  their  tongues  lolled  from  their  mouths 
like  over  heated  dogs.  As  they  approached  Lexington,  another 
set  of  patriots  met  them  with  a  warm  reception  but,  alas,  three 
more  Americans  fell  martyrs  to  their  principles.  Nothing  but 
the  arrival  of  Lord  Perc}'  saved  Col.  Smith  and  his  company 
from  annihilation.  The  proud  foe  of  the  morning  was  effectually 
humbled,  ready  indeed  to  surrender  his  arms  could  any  one  have 
been  found  in  command  of  the  Americans  to  receive  them. 
The  bloody  minded  Pitcairn  who,  in  the  morn,  would  like  to  stir 
Yankee  blood  even  as  he  stirred  the  brandy  in  his  glass,  was 
wounded  and  unhorsed  and  his  steed  was  afterward  sold  at 
auction  in  Concord.  The  close  of  the  eventful  da}'  saw  the 
battered  remnants  of  the  enemy  on  Bunker's  Hill  and  even  there 


35 

safe  from  t-apture  011I3'  b}'  the  exhaustion  of  the  pursuers'  am- 
munition. From  thirt3--onc  towns  hat!  the  farmers  gathered  and 
well  did  they  do  for  themselves  and  for  liberty.  It  seems  almost 
incredible  that  men  so  remote  from  the  lield  as  Framingham 
should  have  participated  in  the  battle,  but  like  the  war  horse 
they  nuist  have  smelled  the  fray  from  afar,  and  like  him  must 
have  speeded  to  the  contest. 

The  day  was  done  and  though  sorrow  went  into  many  house- 
holds in  Middlesex  and  P^ssex  Counties  over  those  who  were 
sleeping  the  last  sleep,  yet  it  was  not.  the  sorrow  of  despair. 
The  foe  had  been  met  and  repulsed.  The  knowledge  of  the 
victory  was  rapidly  winging  its  way  throughout  the  other  Colo- 
nies. Gallant  Putnam  was  to  catch  the  inspiration  and  to  leave 
his  plow  in  the  furrow  while  he  hurried  eastward.  This  was 
"the  clash  of  resounding  arms"  which  tlie  magnetic  Henry  had 
foretold  in  Virginia  and  truly  the  gale  swept  it  southward.  In 
one  sense  it  was  passing  strange  that  this  most  determined  re- 
sistance to  English  rule  should  have  been  made  in  the  most 
thoroughly  English  part  of  the  Colonies  where,  as  Palfrey  says, 
for  a  hundred  and  lifty  years  the  orginal  stock  had  sutfered  little 
or  no  admixture  ;  but  on  the  other  hand  the  fact  that  they  were 
so  pure  in  their  English  ancestrj'  made  them  the  less  likel}'  to 
submit  to  unjust  exactions  from  whatsoever  quarter.  The  same 
blood  that  could  force  Magna  Charta  from  Lackland  and  that 
scrupled  not  to  behead  an  ill  advised  and  tyrannical  monarch 
was  little  likely  to  yield  to  what  its  best  promptings  pronounced 
hateful  and  unlawful.  As  Hudson  says  the  Concord  Fight  as- 
sumed the  proportions  of  a  revolution  which  rolled  on  for  seven 
years,  till  Piritish  arrogance,  in  the  person  of  Cornwallis,  surren- 
dered at  Yorktown.  Another  good  day's  work  was  done  and 
April  was  truly  assuming  wonderful  significance  in  the  history 
of  Massachusetts.  On  the  first,  her  sons  had  won  a  bloodless 
victory  over  Andros  and  his  servitors.  On  the  second  she  had 
shown  England  that  she  could  fight,  if  need  there  was  to  main- 
tain her  rights. 

"By  the  rude  bridge  that  arched  the  flood 

Their  flag  to  April  breeze  unfurled, 
Here  once  the  embattled  farmers  stood 

And  fired  the  shot  heard  'round  the  world."  (Emerson.) 


36 

%fil  19,  1861. 

But  now  we  approach  da5*s  nearer  us  and  of  which  we  were,  to 
some  extent,  apart.  Massachusetts  no  longer  contended  with  a 
foreign  foe.  The  Briton  had  long  since  ceased  from  his  troubling, 
but  other  times  and  other  men  had  aroused  new  interests,  had 
precipitated  new  conflicts.  The  Declaration  of  Independence 
had  proclaimed  freedom  for  the  white  portion  only  of  the  peo- 
ple. The  serpent  of  oppression  had  been  scotched,  not  killed. 
Boston  had  seen  her  most  respected  citizens  forced  to  turn  slave 
catchers ;  pretty  business,  trul}',  for  the  sons  of  men  who  had 
fought  at  Concord.  She  had  seen  Garrison  hurried  to  his  death, 
(could  the  mob  have  found  a  convenient  lamp  post.)  Through 
her  streets  had  marched  United  States  soldiers,  escorting  An- 
thony Burns  to  the  vessel  that  was  to  take  him  back  to  slavery. 
Her  "Cradle  of  Libert}^"  had  rocked  again  when  Theodore  Par- 
ker addressed  the  assembled  multitude  as  "Fellow  citizens  of 
Virginia."  Our  own  city  of  Worcester  had  seen  much  of  excite- 
ment in  these  troublous  times.  The  Slave  catcher  had  been  here 
too  ;  but  public  opinion,  in  this  Commonwealth,  was  decidedly  on 
the  side  of  the  fugitive  and  when  Charles  Sumner  was  sent  to  the 
United  States  Senate  she  put  herself  in  the  very  van  of  progress. 
It  took  many  deeds  of  violence  to  lead  up  to  the  tragedy  of 
Baltimore.  Massachusetts  orators  had  been  hissed  and  rotten 
egged,  her  statesmen  in  peril  of  their  lives  before  the  year  1801 
began.  But  ever  on  the  alert,  she  found  John  A.  Andrew  in 
the  gubernatorial  chair  in  the  first  dawning  of  the  strife  and  he, 
equal  to  the  emergency,  early  had  Massachusetts  troops  off  for 
the  seat  of  impending  battle.  While  life  lasts,  will  continue  a 
vivid  recollection  of  those  feverish  moments  when  maddened 
South  Carolina  fired  its  first  gun  at  Sumter.  Were  there  any 
lukewarm  in  the  state  up  to  that  moment,  they  were  immediate- 
ly converted  into  stalwart  supporters  of  the  most  rigorous  meas- 
ures. It  was  the  proud  distinction  of  this  state  to  offer  the  first 
blood  on  the  country's  altar.  As  in  1775,  it  was  the  blood  of 
her  farmers  that  became  the  seed  of  the  republic,  so  here  again 
the  hves  of  her  sons  were  given  that  the  nation  might  live.  As 
we  regard  it,  now,  it  all  seems  like  a  dream.     Seward  thought 


37 

the  whole  affair  a  mere  em.eute  which  would  cease  in  a  few  days. 
The  proclamation  called  for  only  seventy-five  thousand  men. 
How  little  was  comprehended  the  immensity  of  the  task  before 
us?  On  the  very  day  of  the  fall  of  Sumter,  Gen.  Schouler, 
Adjutant  General  of  the  state,  wrote  to  the  War  Department  at 
Washington  asking  for  arms  and  suggesting  the  proper  garrison- 
ing of  the  Forts  in  Boston  Harbor.  On  the  loth,  Henry  AVilson 
telegraphed  from  Washington  that  twenty  companies  of  her 
troops  be  sent  to  the  Capitol  at  once  and  there  be  mustered 
into  service.  On  the  same  day,  the  3d,  4th,  Gth,  and  8th  Reg- 
imets  were  ordered  to  muster  at  once  on  Boston  Common.  That 
night  there  was  hurrying  through  the  seaboard  towns  like  that 
of  Paul  Revere  in  days  of  1775. 

In  token  of  the  extreme  haste  with  which  the  application  was 
responded  to,  it  is  said  that  one  of  the  Massachusetts  soldiers, 
in  tlie  city  of  New  York,  being  asked  if  there  was  any  thing  that 
could  be  done  for  him,  hesitated  a  moment  and  then  lifting  his 
foot  exhibited  a  boot  much  the  worse  for  wear  from  which  one 
of  his  toes  even  protruded.  ''How  came  you  here  with  such  a 
boot  as  that  my  friend,"  said  the  patriotic  citizen.  "WHien  the 
order  came  for  me  to  join  ray  company,  sir,"  replied  the  soldier, 
"I  was  ploughing  in  the  same  field  at  Concord  where  my  grand- 
father was  ploughing  when  the  British  fired  on  the  Massachusetts 
men  at  Lexington.  He  did  not  wait  a  moment ;  and  I  did  not 
sir."  It  is  needless  to  add  that  he  was  soon  supplied  with  a 
new  pair  of  boots. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  l()th,  came  a  train  tx)  the  Eastern  Depot 
carrying  soldiers  who  were  greeted  by  immense  throngs  of  peo- 
ple and  over  all  the  din  of  the  debarking  and  press  rang  the 
notes  of  Yankee  Doodle.  Captain  A.  W.  Bartlett  of  Newbury- 
port  was  said  to  be  the  fii-st  man  to  reach  Boston  and  report  for 
dut}'  with  his  men,  something  worthy  of  recollection,  though  it 
may  as  well  be  stated  that  just  who  was  the  first  volunteer  will 
remain  a  vexed  question.  The  17tli  saw  the  men  of  the  differ- 
ent regiments  getting  ready  for  departure.  The  Gth  marched 
to  the  State  House  and  was  addressed  by  the  Governor.  He 
gave  to  the  regiment  a  stand  of  colors.  Col.  Jones  accepting 
said  ''You  have  given  to  me  this  flag,  which  is  the  emblem  of 


38 

all  that  stands  before  you.  It  represents  m}-  entire  command  ; 
and  so  help  me  God  !  I  will  never  disgrace  it."  Thence  to  the 
Boston  and  Albany  Station,  the  troops  were  marched  and  the 
tirst  detachment  of  Massachusetts  soldiers  was  otf  for  the  war. 
On  this  date  the  Brookline  Transcript  published  the  following 
lines : — 

"Soldiers  go !     Your  country  calls ! 
See,  from  Siimter's  blackened  walls, 
Floats  no  more  our  nation's  flag, 
But  the  traitor's  odious  rag. 

Long  the  Patient  North  hath  borne 
All  their  treachery,  taunts  and  scorn ; 
Now  let  Slavery's  despots  learn. 
How  our  Northern  blood  can  burn. 
Swift  their  hours  of  triumphs  past. 
For  their  first  must  be  their  last. 

By  the  memory  of  our  sires, 
By  the  children  'round  your  fires. 
By  your  wive's  and  mother's  love. 
By  the  God  who  reigns  above — 
By  all  holy  things — depart ! 
Strong  in  hand  and  brave  in  heart. 

Nobly  strike  for  truth  and  right ; 
We  will  pray  while  you  shall  fight. 
Mothers,  daughters,  wives  all  true 
To  our  country  and  to  you — 
To  the  breeze  our  banner  show : 
Traitors  meet  you  when  you  go. 
In  the  name  of  God  on  high, 
Win — or  in  the  conflict  die. 

In  New  York  city  their  presence  had  much  to  do  in  settling 
the  Union  feeling  of  that  vast  aggregation  of  humanit}'.  At 
morn  Baltimore  was  reached.  Tlie  city  noted  for  a  great  va- 
riety of  things, — its  founder,  Lord  Baltimore, — the  writing  of 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner"  near  the  walls  of  Fort  M'=  Henry, — 
its  battle  monument  and  its  Plug  Uglies,  especially  the  latter. 
It  was  the  same  Baltimore  whose  citizens  had  threatened  as- 
sassination of  President  elect,  Lincoln,  and  now  was  determined 


39 

to  withstand  the  march  of  Massachusetts  men  through  its  streets. 
Col.  Jones,  in  expectation  of  this  trouble,  had  ordered  his  men 
to  load  their  guns,  but  not  to  fire  unless  first  molested.     The 
first  seven  companies  passed  through  unmolested  ;  but  the  re- 
maining four  who  were  separated  from  the  advance  were  sub- 
jected to  all  the  insult  and  ill  treatment  that  malice  and  hate 
could  devise.     Finalh-,  the  crowd  thinking  the  soldiers  dared  not 
fight  or  that  they  had  no  ammunition  fired  into  the  ranks,  and 
one  soldier  was  killed.     Then  came  the  first  order,  "Fire,"  and 
the  crowd  fell  back.     The  Mayor  of  the  city  placed  himself  be- 
side Capt.  Follansbee  of  Company  C,  assuring  him  of  his  pro- 
tection and  entreated  him  to  not  let  his  men  fire    but  his  own 
patience  became  exhausted  and  seizing  a  musket  he,  himself, 
shot  one  of  the  assailants  dead.     Four  Massachusetts  men  fell 
in  this  encounter.     Was  there  a  fatality  in  this  event  occurring 
on  this  particular  day  or  was  it  simply  one  of  those  amazing 
coincidences  that  make  us  believe  that  truth  is  really  stranger 
than  fiction?     For  the  third  time  was  the  state  linked  with  the 
day.     Those  men  dying  in  the  very  dawn  of  the  strife  did  more 
for  the  cause  of  the  Union  than  tliey  could  possibly  have  done 
had  they  lived  to  participate  in  scores  of  battles.     I  have  seen 
the  picture  of  Luther  C.  Ladd  one  of  the  victims  on  this  mem- 
orable occasion.     He  was  clad  in  the  somewhat  peculiar  costume 
of  the  Massachusetts  Militia,  and  his  face  young  and  winsome, 
obviously  taken  in  boyish  pride,  (for  he  was  a  lad  in  years   as 
well  as  name,)  at  the  garb  he  wore  and  the  mission  he  was  on. 
But  he  was  to  die,  not  in  battle  brave  but  by  the  hands  of  an 
irresponsible  mob,  frenzied  with  rage  at  what  it  deemed  a  dese- 
cration.    But  let  us  not  wonder  that  a  Southern  city  should  thus 
object  to  the  passage  of  Northern  troops,  for  in  our  own  adjoin- 
ing State  of  Connecticut,  one  Gallagher,  since  a  noted  politician 
there,  had  said,  "If  Massachusetts  men  try  to  pass  this  State  on 
their  way  to  fight  our  Southern  brethren,  kill  'em,  damn  'em," 
and  though  this  term  became  his  sobriquet  for  years  it  seemed 
to  lessen,  in  no  degree,  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
fellow  citizens  of  a  certain  class   in   New  Haven.     In  fact  the 
same  sentiments,  though  in  a  less  profane  form,  were  advanced 
by  the  man  who  has  just  retired  from  the  United  States  Senate 


40 

to  make  room  for  the  gallant  Hawley.  If  the  train  had  been 
laid  before,  surely  the  deeds  iu  Baltimore  effectually  fired  it. 
The  New  York  Times  closed  an  account  of  the  fray  by  saying 
that  the  Mayor  and  Governor  l)oth  notified  the  President  that 
no  more  ti-oops  could  pass  through  Baltimore  unless  they  fought 
their  way.  Did  they  suppose  such  a  notice  as  that  would  deter 
Massachusetts  soldiers?  Why,  to  fight  was  what  the}-  left  their 
native  soil  for,  and  the}'  would  as  soon  encounter  armed  treason 
in  Baltimore  as  elsewhere,  Governor  Andrew  sent  the  following 
message  to  the  Maj'or  of  Baltimore:  "I  pra^"  30U  cause  the 
bodies  of  our  Massachusetts  soldiers,  dead  in  battle,  to  be  im- 
mediately laid  out,  preserved  in  ice  and  tenderly  sent  forward  b}' 
express  to  me.  All  expenses  will  be  paid  b}'  this  Common- 
wealth," Notice  the  character  of  the  man  as  expressed  in  that 
word  '"'■  tenderly."  George  W,  Bunga}'  made  the  sentiment  the 
refrain  for  the  following  : — 

"In  their  own  martial  robes  arrayed 
With  cap  and  cloak  and  shining  blade, 
In  the  still  cottin  softly  laid, 

Oh !  send  them  tenderly. 
Our  bleeding  country's  bleeding  corps 
Of  noble  dead  can  sleep  no  more 
^V'here  monuments  at  Baltimore 

Libel  our  Ijiberty. 

Oh  touch  them  tenderly,  I  pray, 
And  softly  wipe  the  blood  away 
From  the  red  lips  of  woiinds,  that  say 

How  sweet  it  is  to  die 
For  one's  dear  country,  at  a  time 
Coincidence  crowns,  with  sublime 
Associations,  deeds  that  chime 

In  hiunan  history ! 

Deal  gently  with  the  pale,  cold  dead 
For  Massachusetts  bows  her  head — 
But  not  with  shame ;   lier  eyes  are  red 

With  weeping  for  the  slain. 
Like  Kaclu'l.  she  i>  sad  indeed; 
-Vnd  long  lu'r  hruke.n  lii'ait  v\  ill  bleed 
F(ir  children  true  in  ^^l>^d  and  deed 

She  cannot  meet  again. 


41 

Whisper  no  word  of  treason  when 
Yo  boar  a\vuy  our  bravest  men 
From  the  foul  traitor's  hateful  den, 

Red  with  our  brother's  blood ; 
A  spot  that  must  forever  be, 
Like  Sodom  simk  beneath  the  sea, 
It  sinks  in  coward  treaehery 

Unwept  beneath  the  flood. 

Lift  up  each  gallant  son  of  Mars, 
And  shroiid  him  in  the  flag  of  stars. 
Beneath  whose  folds  he  won  the  scars 

Through  which  his  spirit  fled 
From  glory  here,  to  glory  where 
The  banner  blue  in  field  of  air 
Is  bright  with  stars  forever  there, 

Without  the  stripes  of  red." 

Oh !  onr  hearts  go  out  towards  this  man  Andrew  who  so 
thoroughlj'  appreciated  the  needs  of  the  soldier.  Though  it  was 
not  his  to  bear  a  musket  nor  wield  a  sword,  3'et  he  was  as  com- 
pletely a  part  of  the  grand  defence  of  the  Nation  as  though  he 
wore  the  uniform  of  tlie  arm\'  and  he  fell,  at  last,  worn  out  by 
the  terrible  exactions  of  those  trying  days.  At  Fall  River,  on 
the  reception  of  the  news,  a  public  meeting  was  called  and  ten 
thousand  dollars  voted  to  lit  out  volunteers.  The  city  of  Phila- 
delphia voted  $1,000,000  to  equip  volunteers  and  to  support 
their  families  during  their  absence.  Norwich,  Ct.,  subscribed 
$14,000  for  the  same  purpose.  There  were  very  few  Gallaghers 
and  Eatons  there.  The  public  pulse  had  become  feverish  ;  but 
it  soon  settled  into  a  firm,  steady  heart  beat  which  throbbed  on 
till  the  last  vestige  of  treason  had  disappeared.  The  New  York 
Independent  of  April -23(1  said,  "Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Is- 
land have  won  the  praise  and  the  blessing  of  all  men.  The  sons 
of  Massachusetts  lay  dead  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore  on  the 
anniversary  day  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  before  a  single  Reg- 
iment from  New  York  had  crossed  the  border  between  the  slave 
and  the  free  states.  Soldiers  from  Massachusetts  have  made 
their  way  to  Havre  d'  Grace,  seized  a  steamboat,  reached  An- 
napolis, and  taken  a  position  liy  which  they  could  keep  open  a 
road  to  Washington,  before  a  single  troop  of  New  York  soldiers 


42 

had  found  a  passage  into  the  enemy's  country'.  Troops  from 
Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island  have  been  sent  by  sea  and  were 
thrown  into  Fortress  Munroe,  commanding  Norfolk,  while  the 
authorities  at  Albany  were  debating  upon  the  proper  official 
steps  to  be  taken  in  regard  to  the  President's  Proclamation. 
God  save  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts."  The  Massa- 
chusetts Regiments  : — 

"They  were  reared  on  the  soil  whence  the  Adamses  sprung 

That  to  Hancock  and  Warren  gave  birth, 
Descendants  of  sires  whose  proud  names  have  been  sung 

In  the  noblest  hosannas  of  earth. 

They  were  trained  in  our  shops,  they  were  trained  in  our  schools, 
They  have  been  taught  on  our  free  waves  to  sail ; 

They  have  learned  of  Progression  the  practice  and  rules, 
But  they  know  not  the  meaning  of  Fail."  (Transcript.) 

Mrs.  Sigourney  wrote  : — 

"The  Bay  State  bled  at  Lexington  but  every  drop  that  ran, 

By  transmutation  strange  and  strong  sprang  up  an  armed  man. 

Yet  when  the  born  of  Lexington  who  keep  their  natal  day 
Were  writing  four  score  years  and  six  upon  their  annals  gray, 

The  Bay  State  bled  at  Baltimore  wherefore  I  may  not  speak. 

For  sad  and  tender  memories  rush  from  heart  to  moistened  cheek." 

When  visitors  approach  the  State  Flags  in  the  rotunda  of  the 
Capitol  in  Boston,  almost  always  the  first  question  is  '-where  is 
the  flag  of  the  Sixth  ?"  It  is  not  that  the  sixth  Regiment  saw 
so  much  service,  for  the  affray  in  Baltimore  was  its  onl}'  encoun- 
ter ;  but  there  is  a  strange  interest  in  the  first  of  every  thing. 
Concord  and  Lexington  were  mere  skirmishes,  3'et  they  excite 
emotions  that  even  Saratoga  cannot  arouse.  So  here,  standing 
before  those  war  worn  ensigns,  the  eye  rests  upon  the  standard 
of  the  Sixth  and  follows  it  from  Boston  to  Baltimore  and  aijain 
lives  over  the  scenes  of  that  famous  da}-. 

Though  Massachusetts  soil  drank  not  the  blood  of  her  slaugh- 
tered sons,  the}'  fell  for  her  and  the  principles  to  which  she  was 
ever  faithful.  The  day  is  hers  ;  thrice  bound  to  her  by  associ- 
ations most  sacred,  and  looking  down  along  tlie  line  of  coming 
years  is  there  to  be  another  April  da}'  to  make  the  fourth  in  this 
wonderful  list?     When,  after  the  lapse  of  eighty-six  vears  we 


43 

come  to  r.)47  may  wc  oxpoct  Massachusetts  to  again  stand 
for  the  right ?  Who  can  forecast  the  event  and  tell  us  what  is 
to  be  the  issue  in  those  days  to  call  u^wn  sturdy  manhood  to 
assert  itself?  Will  the  demon  of  the  Commune  have  made  this 
country  the  place  of  its  abode  ?  Will  it  be  the  Nihilists  endeav- 
oring, by  assassination,  to  overthrow  established  rule?  Will 
io-norance  and  vice  have  so  enthroned  themselves  that  Macau- 
lay's  prophecy  concerning  us  will  be  verilied?  "Either  some 
Cifisar  or  Napoleon  will  seize  the  reins  of  government  with  a 
strong  hand,  or  your  republic  will  be  as  fearfully  plundered  and 
laid  waste  by  barbarians  in  the  twentieth  century  as  the  Roman 
Empire  was  in  the  fifth,  with  this  ditference,  that  the  Huns  and 
Vandals  who  ravaged  the  Roman  Empire  came  from  without  and 
that  your  Huns  and  Vandals  will  have  been  engendered  within 
3-our  country  by  your  own  institutions." 

But  let  us  hope  that  Macaulay  was  a  false  prophet  and  that 
our  dismemberment  and  his  New  Zealander  musing  on  the  ruins 
of  London  Bridge  were  the  creatures  of  a  somewhat  jaundiced 
imagination  and,  moreover,  let  us  hope  that  the  list  of  coinci- 
dences is  ended  that,  in  the  future,  unnumbered  April  days  may 
pass  with  no  need  of  popular  uprisings  to  withstand  the  hand  of 
rapacity  or  oppression.  Our  tale  is  told.  Of  the  past  we  are 
sure.  For  the  future  we  are  hopeful,  and,  with  Longfellow,  let 
us  say 

"Sweet  April !     Many  a  thought 

Is  wedded  unto  thee,  as  hearts  are  wed ; 

Nor  shall  they  fail,  till,  to  its  autumn  brought 
Life's  golden  fount  is  shed." 


44 

Interesting  remarks  were  made  by  Gen.  Sj)rague, 
Messrs.  Paine,  Lovell,  Staples,  Comins  and  A.  P. 
Marble.  Mr.  Paine  presented  the  Society  with  some 
manuscript  souvenirs  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington. 


The  next  regular  meeting  was  held  on  the  eve- 
ning of  Tuesday,  May  3d,  the  President  in  the  chair. 
Twenty-six  members  and  visitors  were  present. 

Correspondence  was  read  from  the  Librarian  of 
Harvard  College  and  the  Rev.  A.  P.  Marvin,  of 
Lancaster.  Messrs.  Frank  E.  Lancaster,  John  G. 
Brady  and  Thomas  Stansfield,  of  Worcester,  and 
Manning  Leonard  Esq.,  of  Southbridge,  were  elected 
active  members.  William  T.  ILirlow  Esq.  read  some 
extracts  from,  and  made  some  remarks  upon  the 
trial  of  John  Home  for  libel,  reported  in  Vol.  XX. 
of  English  State  Trials.  He  was  better  known  as 
John  Home  Tooke,  author  of  the  Diversions  of  Pur- 
ley.  His  ofience  consisted  in  raising  a  subscription 
for  the  benefit  of  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those 
"murdered"  by  the  king's  troops  at  Lexington. 

The  following  was  presented  by  the  Secretary  and 
adopted : — 

Voted,  Tluit  the  Society  will  publish  the  Worcester  Town 
Records  from  1753  to  1  *S3,  edited  b}'  Franklin  P.  Rice,  in  three 
parts  or  volumes,  to  be  numbered  in  regular  order  with  its  puli- 
lications. 

The  Hon.  Clark  Jillson  read  a  paper  on  the  Death 
Penalty  in  Worcester   County,  with   special   details 


45 

regarding  tlie  execution  of  Hugh  Henderson  alias 
John  Hamilton  for  burglary,  Nov.  24,  1737,  and  of 
Jabez  Green  for  murder,  Oct.  21,  1742.  This  paper 
comprised  much  valuable  historical  matter  the  fruit 
of  patient  and  extended  research.*  Remarks  upon 
the  subject  were  made  hy  Messrs.  Harlow,  Comins 
and  Lamb.  Mr.  C.  R.  Johnson  made  brief  allusion 
to  the  archaeological  researches  now  in  progress  in 
the  central  portion  of  this  continent  followed  by  a 
genei'al  commentary  on  this  topic.  Mr.  Thomas  E. 
Bnrtiett,  of  Cambridge,  made  brief  remarks  concern- 
ing the  progress  and  success  of  the  Society  and  its 
reputation  abroad. 


The  June  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday  the  7th.  Forty  members  and  visitors  were 
present.  In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Shumway,  Mr.  Dan- 
iel Seagrave  was  chosen  Secretary  pro  tern.  Mr. 
Charles  F.  Rugg  of  Worcester  was  elected  an  active 
member. 

Appropriate  action  was  taken  upon  the  death  of 
the  Hon.  Charles  Hudson,  an  honorary  member  of 
this  Society,  and  Mr.  Henry  M.  Smith  read  the  fol- 
lowing Memorial  and  Biographical  Sketch,  prepared 
by  request  for  the  occasion. 


*  This  paper  forms  part  of  a  work  now  in  progress  by  Judge  Jillson,  upon 
the  Death  Penalty  in  Worcester  County. 


Charles  Hudson. 


BY  HENRY   M.  SMITH. 


SINCE  our  last  meeting  an  esteemed  lionorar}'  member  of  this 
Societ}'  has  ended  his  long  and  useful  career.  Hon.  Charles 
Hudson  died  at  his  residence  in  Lexington,  Mass.,  on  the  4th  of 
May,  in  the  eight^'-sixth  j-ear  of  his  age.  There  are  very  few 
human  lives  that  like  his  resemble  some  rare  dnj'  in  summer, 
when  the  sun  from  rising  to  setting  shines  through  every  hour 
on  usefulness  and  occupation.  All  his  relations  to  this  Societ}' 
we  have  had  frequent  occasions  to  value.  The  more  broadly'' 
useful  and  eminent  portion  of  his  life  was  associated  with  Worces- 
ter County.  Throughout  two  generations  he  has  had  identitica- 
tion  with  important  facts  of  the  history  and  progress  of  his  own 
state  of  Massachusetts  and  of  this  nation.  M\'  associates  have 
therefore  desired  to  bring  into  suitable  form  for  our  own  records 
some  of  the  features  of  his  extended  usefulness  and  have  devol- 
ved upon  me  this  task,  on  an  occasion  where  I  would  prefer  to 
sit  a  listener. 

Every  human  life  of  four  score  or  more  years,  however  hum- 
ble, if  given  in  faithful  record,  registers  the  essential  human 
facts  of  its  epoch.  Too  much  of  permanent  history  has  been 
written  without  the  light  that  biography  supplies.  When,  as  in 
the  present  instance,  a  human  mind  well  endowed  and  well  train- 
ed and  helped  by  opportunity,  which  even  endowment  and  train- 
ing do  not  alwa^'s  command,  leaA'es  its  own  impress  and  shaping 
on  the  events  of  over  sixty  j^ears,  the  story  of  such  service  is 
part  of  the  history  of  that  period. 


47 

ClitirU's  Hudson  was  born  at  Marlborough,  Mass.,  in  171)5. 
Of  liis  birth  and  ancestry  he  says  in  his  address  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  tlie  "iUOth  anniversary  of  that  town,  in  March,  1859: 

"My  parents  and  p;ran(lparcnts  have  been  residents  among  yoii.  My  ma- 
ternal ancestors  extend  back  to  the  tirst  settlement  of  this  township.  My 
paternal  aneestor,  John  Hudson,  with  two  of  his  sous,  took  the  held  with 
other  stout  hearted  citizens  to  defend  the  colony  against  the  combined  attack 
of  French  and  Indians.  And  in  the  struggle  for  Independence  the  same 
ancestor  with  eight  hardy  sons  showed  their  devotion  to  Liberty  by  arming 
in  its  defence.  My  parents  and  three  sisters  found  a  resting  place  beneath 
vour  soil,  while  I  the  sole  member  of  the  family  remain.  Here  were  the 
sports  of  my  childhood.  In  your  venerable  meeting-house  I  was  offered  up 
to  Him  in  whose  service  I  have  attempted  to  labor  in  this  community.  In 
your  schools  I  received  my  tirst  lessons  of  instruction,  and  in  the  same  little 
seminaries,  forty  years  ago,  I  attempted  to  impart  the  rudiments  of  science 
to  your  children." 

This  strongly  outlines  the  common  characteristics  of  New 
England  village  life  and  training  in  that  earlier  day.  In  Mr. 
Hudson's  instance,  it  was  the  case  of  a  boy  early  taught  by  cir- 
cumstances and  surroundings  to  be  earnest  and  self  reliant,  and 
to  struggle  upward  and  outward.  So  well  was  this  life  duty 
accomplished  that  Marlborough  holds  him  as  one  of  her  most 
honored  sons,  and  when  her  territory  was  divided  the  new  town 
was  given  his  name,  Hudson. 

His  first  work  was  as  a  farm  helper,  his  first  step  forward  was 
towards  self  sustaining  sturdy  industry.  But  books  were  his 
companions  and  helpers,  and  from  farm  work  he  passed  into 
the  charge  of  the  village  school.  All  the  testimony  of  those 
who  knew  him  in  this  period  of  his  life  declares  that  he  was  a 
great  reader  and  student,  with  a  strong  retentive  mental  grasp, 
good  in  selections  of  models,  and  close  in  power  of  analysis. 
He  taught  with  acceptability  and  far  in  advance  of  the  common 
modes  of  those  times,  in  several  Massachusetts  towns.  A  mer- 
chant of  Worcester  whose  own  head  is  now  well  silvered,  showed 
me,  a  few  days  since,  a  little  pile  of  carefully  treasured  ''Reimrds 
of  Merit"  given  to  himself  in  his  boyhood  in  a  district  school  in 
Leominster,  signed  by  Charles  Hudson  in  1819.  And  this  early 
pupil  remembers  his  school  master  as  a  man  of  great  earnest- 
ness and  industry,  a  most  rare,  skillful  and  friendly  guide  to  his 
scholars.  From  teacher  to  preacher  transition  was  easy  and 
natural.     He  was  ordained  in    1819    and    first   preached    to    a 


48 

small  societ}'  in  Danvers.  So  well  had  he  wrought  in  the  mas- 
tery of  topics,  and  such  were  his  traits  of  research  and  construc- 
tion that  when,  a  few  years  later,  he  removed  to  Westminster  in 
the  north  part  of  tliis  count}"  to  take  charge  of  the  U uiversalist 
Churcli  in  that  town,  a  position  he  filled  more  or  less  associated 
with  other  duties  and  public  services  for  twenty  years  following, 
he  became  a  controversiahst  who  left  his  mark  broadlj*  on  the 
doctrinal  discussions  of  that  period.  His  "Letters  to  Hosea 
Ballon"  on  Future  Retribution,  1827;  "Reply  to  Balfour's  es- 
saj^s,"  1829,  are  printed  volumes  that  had  much  circulation  and 
can  never  be  omitted  from  the  stud}-  of  any  who  desire  to  ac- 
quaint themselves 'with  all  active  agencies  in  the  denominational 
religious  history  of  that  remarkable  epoch  of  New  England 
thought.  In  the  same  vein  were  his  "Sacred  Memoirs"  pub- 
lished in  two  volumes  in  1835,  and  his  "Doubts  concerning  the 
Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,"  an  ingenious  rejoinder  to  "Skepticism," 
published  during  his  more  engrossing  public  labors  in  1846. 

He  believed  in  the  power  of  the  printing  press,  and  frequently 
sought  its  help,  both  in  the  newspapers  of  the  da^',  largely  those 
of  Worcester,  Fitchburg  and  Barre,  and  in  books  and  pamphlets,- 
the  latter  an  especial  resort  of  public  writers  in  that  era.  I  find 
in  Sabin's  collections  of  Americana  quite  a  list  of  Mr.  Hudson's 
pamphlets  that  bore  their  part  in  the  memorable  controversy 
and  clash  of  doctrine  and  dogma  half  a  century  ago.  It  was 
then  and  always  a  trait  of  Mr.  Hudson's  life,  thorough  heedful- 
ness  of  all  current  topics  and  issues.  Whatever  occupied  or 
challenged  public  thought  he  carefully  studied,  first  for  himself, 
and  then  for  the  enlightenment  of  others.  Thus  he  came  into 
the  early  period  of  man's  estate,  well  trained  in  mental  industry, 
careful  and  painstaking  in  all  he  set  his  brain  or  his  hands  to  do. 
His  five  acre  homestead  on  Academy  Hill  in  Westminster,  with 
its  solid  walls  and  smooth  fields  was  tlie  model  and  example 
for  all  farmers  and  housekeepers  j-ound  about.  He  had  from 
early  associations  and  robust  traits  that  shrank  from  no  lalior 
needed  for  honorable  results,  a  thorough  love  for  the  farmer's 
calling.  Some  of  his  early  addresses  to  Farmers'  and  Agricul- 
tural Societies,  on  more  or  less  formal  occasions,  are  excellent 
wisdom  that  helped  forward  the  era  of  more  intelligent  husbandrj' 


49 

in  this  state.  He  was  laitliful  and  zealous  in  all  the  duties  that 
caine  to  hiin  from  parisli  or  townspeople,  and  it  came  to  pass 
that  the  more  secular  public  behests  outgrew  the  former.  He 
had  been  an  educator,  and  began  by  educating  himself,  but  he 
never  for  that  reason  believed  that  it  was  safe  to  leave  the  bo3's 
and  girls  of  the  Bay  State  to  be  self-taught.  Some  of  his  best 
efforts  in  early  manhood  were  put  forth  in  behalf  of  our  Massa- 
chusetts Public  School  system.  If  Massachusetts  in  her  Board 
of  Education  became  a  natural  example  and  in  such  connection 
wrote  the  name  of  Horace  Mann  among  her  most  honored  sons, 
it  was  largely  because  he  had  co-workers  that  represented  the 
best  thought  of  that  period.  The  Massachusetts  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation was  established  in  1837,  and  in  its  earliest  foundation 
work  Mr.  Hudson  was  associated  in  membership  with  such  men 
as  Everett,  Dwiglit,  Putnam,  Rantoul,  Robbins  and  Sparks,  all 
of  whom  honored  his  genial  services. 

After  his  intelligent  and  wide  relation  to  local  topics  and  in- 
terests in  central  Massachusetts  had  suggested  the  pattern  ot 
the  man,  he  began  in  1828  what  continued  until  the  close  of  his 
more  active  career  his  broader  service  of  public  interests.  I  can 
give  the  chronicle  to-night  scarcely  more  expansion  tjian  the 
crisp  chronology  of  Drake's  American  Biography,  Lanman's 
Dictionary  of  Congress  and  other  similar  registers  of  the  men  of 
their  time. 

He  was  a  mem.ber  of  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Hepresenta- 
tives  from  1828  to  1833,  and  again  for  a  shorter  period  near 
the  close  of  his  life  was  sent  to  represent  his  town  of  Lexington 
in  the  same  body.  He  was  a  State  Senator  from  1833  to  1837  ; 
a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council  from  1839  to  1841  ;  a  Rep- 
resentative in  Congress  four  successive  terms,  from  1841  to 
1849;  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Massachusetts  State 
Board  of  Education  ;  a  member  of  the  early  Legislative  Railroad 
Committees  ;  a  State  Director  of  the  Boston  and  Albany,  and 
years  later  State  Commissioner  of  the  Hoosick  Tunnel,  as  an 
associate  of  the  late  Hon.  Alvah  Crocker.  For  eight  years,  at 
two  different  periods,  he  filled  important  Federal  positions  in 
Boston  and  vicinity. 


50 

But  when  this  little  chain  of  dates  is  measured  upon  the  pub- 
lic records  of  the  time  how  much  of  human  progress  and  public 
vicissitude  is  seen  to  be  included.  As  already  stated  it  records 
a  helpful  part  of  our  noble  system  of  Public  School  education. 
It  covers  the  entire  railroad  history  of  Massachusetts  which 
laroelv  enoaoed  Mr.  Hudson's  attention  and  services  in  its 
formative  era.  He  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  development 
of  transit  facilities.  At  one  time  he  fondly  looked  to  see  canal 
boats  climb  the  levels  of  the  Nashua,  and  pass  down  the  lockage 
of  Miller's  river,  on  the  projected  water  route  from  Boston  to 
Albany.  But  he  was  among  the  first  to  welcome  the  new  rail- 
road and  its  possibilites.  He  was  among  the  earhest  public 
writers,  and  a  member  of  the  first  Legislative  Committees  to  give 
direction  and  prepare  the  way  for  the  railroad  era.  I  am  glad 
I  had  written  thus  far  in  this  part  of  m}'  theme  before  there 
came  to  me,  as  to  yourselves,  the  testimony  of  Hon.  Robert  C. 
Winthrop,  in  his  remarks  before  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society  on  Thursdaj'  evening  of  the  last  week.  On  this  very 
point  Mr.  Winthrop  says  : 

"My  earliest  association  with  Mr.  Hudson  was  in  the  Legislature  of  ]\Ias- 
sachusetts  rtiore  than  forty  years  ago,  where  he  did  more  than  any  other 
member  of  either  branch  in  the  organization  of  our  then  infant  railroad  sys- 
tem. Our  former  associate,  the  late  Nathan  Hale,  with  whom  Mr.  Hudson 
actively  co- operated  could  aloue,  as  it  seems  to  me,  be  named  as  having 
rendered  equal  service." 

This  is  evidence  that  will  not  be  questioned,  fixing  Mr.  Hud- 
son's place  in  Massachusetts  railroad  annals.  Most  of  m}- 
associates,  certainly  the  elders  among  them,  remember  the 
familiar  sign-board  that  so  long  held  its  place  over  our  highways, 
in  kindly  warning  of  the  unaccustomed  perils  of  the  public, 
written  b}'  Mr.  Hudson,  years  before  the  invention  of  the  steam 
whistle  or  the  word  Locomotive.  '■''Railroad  Crossing;  look  out 
for  the  Engine  ivJdle  the  bell  riiigs." 

But  Mr.  Hudson  became  most  widely  known  and  most  broadly 
useful  to  his  time  in  his  relation  to  national  affairs,  during  the 
eight  vears  of  his  congressional  services.  In  1841  he  succeeded 
Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  whose  immediate  predecessor  was  Hon.  John 
Davis,  as  the  representative  of  the  oth  Mass.  District.     i\Ioii  of 


51 

our  own  day  who  have  i)assefl  through  the  era  of  Rebellion  and 
Reconstruction,  if  they  would  have  the  full  meaning  of  the 
mighty  questions,  whose  solution  has  cost  our  time  so  much  blood 
and  treasure  must  study  intelligently  the  immediateh'  preceding 
epoch.  Able  writers  have  given  us  the  history  of  the  Anti- 
Slavery  struggle,  on  pages  written  too  near,  in  point  of  time, 
to  the  events  themselves,  to  be  free  from  coloring  of  pique 
and  prejudice.  The  permanent  historian  will  be  sure  to  give 
the  grand  old  Whig  party  as  its  standards  were  borne  bj'  Mas- 
sachusetts men  in  Congress,  its  share  in  that  consolidation  and 
sympathy  of  our  Americanism  which  was  needed  to  carr}-  us  as 
a  people  bej-ond  the  perils  of  foreign  interference  and  civil  com- 
motion, and  make  us  strong  enough  to  withstand  and  survive 
tlie  death  struggles  of  the  infamous  institution  of  human  bond- 
age whose  ultimate  doom  was  indeed  forecast  when  it  was  first 
wind-drifted  a  noxious  weed  over  the  walls  of  our  Garden  of 
Liberty. 

Charles  Hudson  will  stand  as  a  solid  type  of  the  Massachusetts 
Whig  of  his  period,  sturd}-,  faithful  and  earnest  in  the  first  work 
that  came  to  him,  the  protection  of  American  Industry,  and  the 
first  defences  against  slavery  aggressions  in  the  interests  of  slave 
labor.  He  came  into  congressional  life,  when,  (inspired  by  sla- 
very co-operaling  with  British  policy,)  free  trade  had  bequeathed 
to  us  in  tlie  language  of  that  most  competent  writer,  Henry  C. 
Carey, 

"A  commerce  that  gave  an  excess  of  specie,  a  people  ruined,  then  o;overn- 
ments  in  a  state  of  repudiation,  a  public  treasury  bankrupt  and  begging 
everywhere  for  loans  at  the  highest  rate  of  interest,  a  revenue  collected  and 
disbursed  in  irredeemable  paper  money,  and  a  very  large  foreign  debt." 

For  years  southern  slavehoiding  policy  had  dominated  in  the 
promotion  of  the  cotton  export  and  the  free  importation  of  all 
manufactured  products  of  the  forge,  the  loom,  and  the  shop. 
The  system  of  Compromises  begun  in  1833  had  reduced  well 
nigh  to  nothing  all  rates  on  dutiable  imposts.  Our  national 
revenues  had  fallen  to  12  millions.  We  need  not  write  of  these 
thino-s  hotlv,  but  it  would  be  un-American  and  not  altogether 
of  present  unwisdom  to  forget  that  behind  the  imperious  demand 
of  the  slave  owners   had  stood  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  the 


52 

boldly  declared  menace  of  more  than  one  British  premier  that 
the  people  of  the  United  States  must  and  would  bo  "forced  to 
give  up  their  Tariff  or  their  Union." 

It  was  at  such  a  time  as  this  that  the  new  member  from  Wor- 
cester County  entered  Congress.  He  came  full  of  his  subject. 
He  came  from  a  manufacturing  region  of  crushed  manufactures. 
He  had  looked  deep  beneath  the  outer  meaning  of  the  familiar 
signs  of  the  village  stores  of  that  period,  '■'■English  and  West 
India  Goods."  He  came  to  stand  among  sons  of_,Massachusetts 
whose  names  will  live  in  a  shining  galaxy  as  long  as  the  Bay 
State  endures  ;  Webster,  Adams,  Davis,  Choate,  Briggs,  Lin- 
coln, Rantoul.  It  was  not  a  company  wherein  a  light  and  su- 
perficial man  could  make  place  or  mark.  But  he  was  already 
trained  in  thought  and  its  presentation.  His  first  formal  speech 
was  delivered  in  his  first  term  in  Congress.  His  cherished  col- 
league and  life-long  friend,  George  N.  Briggs,  of  more  experi- 
ence at  the  Capitol,  kindly  hinted  to  Mr.  Hudson  the  possible 
peril  of  taking  the  fioor  while  so  much  a  stranger  to  his  sur- 
roundings, but  he  knew  his  own  powers,  and  with  modesty  yet 
perfect  self  possession,  delivered  his  speech  on  Discriminating 
Duties,  Dec.  27th  and  28th,  1841.  It  was  strong,  earnest,  full 
of  fact  and  statistics,  in  good  temper,  and  yet  direct  and  to  tlie 
point,  and  stamped  him  as  a  doctrinaire  of  the  first  order.  Mr. 
Adams  in  his  Diary  refers  to  it  as  *'an  excellent  speech."  It 
was  at  once,  and  has  alwa^'s  been  regarded  as  a  most  admirable 
exposition  of  an  American  doctrine,  which  our  own  recent  presi- 
dential canvass  has  shown  to  be  not  3'et  extinct  in  value  and 
meaning  in  our  national  atfairs.  It  had  the  merit  of  clear  com- 
pact statement,  and  it  was  read  more  wideh'  through  the  coun- 
try than  any  speech  of  its  period.  Of  laborious  habits,  rugged 
physical  strength  and  tliorouglily  allcutivc  to  all  the  general  and 
special  calls  ui)on  a  legishitoi'.  ]\Ir.  Hudson  made  in  the  course 
of  his  congressional  life  from  twelve  to  fourteen  speeches  and 
several  formal  committee  reports.  He  never  engrossed  time,  or 
the  floor  unless  he  had  something  to  say.  His  spee(;lies  T  have 
before  me  and  they  discuss  the  live  topics  of  a  vivid  time. 

Discriminating  Duties,  (1841)  The  Annexation  of  Texns, 
(1845)  The  Tarilf,  (1840)  The  Wheat  Tra<]e  of  the  Country, 


53 

(1840)  Tlie  Moxicun  War,  (1«4(;)  The  President's  INIessnge  on 
the  War  with  Mexieo,(184(;)  The  Three  MilUon  Approi)riation 
Bill,  (1.S47)  The  Cost  of  the  Mexican  War  and  the  Finances  of 
the  Conntr}',  (l.'-'4.s)  The  Constitutional  power  of  Congress  over 
the  Territories  and  the  Right  of  excluding  Slaver}-  therefrom, 
(184<S).     In  all  of  these    speeches   are    the   utterances    of  the 
broadl}'  national,  liberty  loving,   old  fashioned  Massachusetts 
Whig,  hating  Slavery,  bold  against  its  aggressions,   and   free 
spoken  in  warnings  of  its  inseperable  evils  and  perils.     By  his 
open  and  manly  opposition  to  the  JMexican  war  he  was  honored 
by  the  advocates  of  slavery  extension,  with  classilication  among 
the  "-ignoble  fourteen"  who  voted  according  to  the  dictates  of 
their  own  consciences.     While  we  honor  dul}'  the  earlj^  aboli- 
tionists who  carried  their  hot  picket  lines  far  beyond  the  possible 
issues  of  that  day,  and  see  a  mission  for  the  Garrisonite  and  the 
"Come-outer,  "  we  must  honor  and  permanent  history  will  honor 
the  earnest,  honest  Massachusetts  Whig  who  fought  the  broader 
battle  of  the  period  ./^/.sr  where  he  fovnd  it,  in  the  ordinance  of 
17H7  and  the  Wilmot  Proviso,  and  carried  its  victorious  stand- 
ards forward  to  sterner  lines  of  embattlement.     The   country 
was  not  ready  in  l.S4()  for  the  work  of  18(50.     We  must  give  due 
credit  to  those  Avho  shaped  and  held  together  in  onward  progress 
the  main  bodj"  of  our  northern  people,  until  God's  own  time  for 
national  deliverance  from  perils  and  shame.     Of  the  Congress 
of  1841  of  which  Mr.  Hudson  was  first  a  member,  Charles  Sum- 
ner an  onlooker  in  Washington  wrote  to  Ur.  Francis  Leiber  in 
South  Carolina  declaring  against  its   brutality    and   rufllanism. 
"One  of  its  worst  signs  is  subversion  of  the  rules.     No  person- 
ality is  too  low."     If  there  be  a  fear  lest  this  be    the    over-nice 
criticism  of  an  elegant  man  of  letters,  notyetbecome  the  states- 
man and  martyr  to  this  same  Pro-slavery  brutalism,  let  us  take 
the  testimony  of  one  who  occupied  the  reverse  standpoint.     In 
this  same  period  Mr.  Wise  a  member  fi'om  Virginia  in  the  course 
of  debate  on  the  floor  of  the  House  uttered  this  plaintive  note 
of  rebuke  :  "The  anti-duelling  law  is  producing  its  fruits.     It  is 
making  this  House  a  Bear  Garden.     We  see  and  hear  one  mem- 
ber branded  as  a  cowai'd  on  this  tlooi-.     The    other   says   back 
that  he  is  a  liar.     And,  sir,  there  the    matter    will    stop,    there 


54 

will  be  no  fight."     The  representative    Southern   man   of  that 
time  was  imperious,  willing  to  be  thought  personally  dangerous 
to  all  opponents.     Northern  men  of  Mr.  Hudson's   cool,   large 
and  sturdy  type  who  would  talk  freely  and  even  sharply  and  yet 
be  good  natured,  with  whom  a  personal  encounter  was  not  to 
be  thought  of,  and  most  likely  to  be  avoided  when   considered, 
became  at  that  time  broadly  useful  in  rallying  Northern   senti- 
ment, teaching  the  North  its  rights,  opening  its  eyes  to  the  bul- 
lying of  the  South,  and  battling  to  hold   Slavery  fast  and   firm 
within  its  limits  until  the  appointed  time  when  like  a  reptile  in 
a  rina  of  fire  it  should  sting  itself  to  death,  in  the  blaze  of  battle. 
A  scene  which  took  place  in  the  House  on  the  10th  of  Jan., 
1846,  shows  that  Mr.   Hudson   was   sufficiently   prominent   for 
virulent  attack  on  the  part  of  the   Pro-Slavery   administration 
organs  and  managers,  and  when  he  appealed  to  the  House  in 
the  face  of  insult  and  ruffianly  abuse  standing  cool  and  steady 
to  his  purpose,  so  much  was  his  assailant  shown  to  be  in  the 
wrong,  that  though  connected  with  the  Washington  party  news- 
paper he  escaped  expulsion  as  public  printer  by  only  a  few  votes. 
The  incident  is  given  in  Mr.  Adams'  Diary.     And  this  Congress 
justly  represented  a  dominant  national  sentiment  of  the  period. 
There  was  much  remaining  to  be  done  in  Norther^  states  before 
they  might  struggle  out  from  the   dark   penumbra   of  Slaver}'. 
Lovejoy  was  then    scarcely  a  regretted   martyr.     Few   of  the 
black  laws  had  been   repealed   from    Northern    statute   books. 
The  North  needed  the  burning  lessons  of  the   Chained  Court 
House  in  Boston,  the  mobbing  of  Judge  Hoar  in  Charleston, 
the  rendition  of  fugitives  from  her  free  communities,   the  story 
of  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  and  bleeding  Kansas,  before  the  heat  of 
her  hostility  to  slavery  should  rise  high  enough  for  the  task  that 
came  in  its  own  time  and  created  the  Free  Soil  and  the  Kepub- 
lican  party.     History  might  have  written  of  a  grappling  like  our 
late  struggle,  without  this  change  in   Northern   sentiment  first 
secured,  a  scene  of  confusion  and  peril  unimaginable  in  its  hor- 
rors  and  results  to  the  world's   civilization.      In  this  middle 
o-round  of  preparation  were  borne  the    standards   and   won   the 
victories  of  the  old  AVhig  party. 


55 

When  the  nomination  and  election  of  Gen.  Taylor  brought 
disruption  to  the  AVhig  organization,  Mr.  Hudson's  district  of 
"Worcester  County  was  too  strongly  Anti-Slaver}'  to  sustain 
the  position  he  chose  uianfull}'  to  occuj)y  with  reference  to  the 
canvass,  fidelity  to  the  nominees.  In  iiis  farewell  address  to 
his  constituents,  written  at  Washington  in  February,  1849,  he 
expresses  the  sentiments  of  his  class  of  Massachusetts  AVhigs  : 

"I  had  no  doubt  that  (Jon.  Taylor  would  sign  a  bill  sustaining  the  Wilniot 
Proviso,  and  that  Gen.  Cass  would  veto  such  a  bill.  Entertaining  these 
views  I  never  gave  a  more  sincere  Anti- Slavery  vote  in  my  life  than  the  one 
I  gave  for  Gen.  Taylor." 

In  Mr.  Hudson's  speech  on  the  constitutional  power  of  Con- 
gress over  the  territories  and  the  right  of  excluding  Slavery 
therefrom,  delivered  in  the  House  June  20th,  1848,  he  was  in- 
terrupted by  an  Ohio  member,  Mr.  Lahm,  who  asked  :  "li^nter- 
taininp-  these  views  on  Slavery,  will  the  gentleman  from  Massa- 
chusetts  vote  for  Gen.  Taylor?     I  give  Mr.  Hudson's  reply : 

"I  will  answer  the  gentleman  from  Ohio.  He  knows,  I  presume,  that 
there  are  two  classes  of  men  in  this  country  devoted  to  the  institution  of 
slavery  ;  a  class  from  the  South,  who  living  with  the  institution  about  them, 
and  all  their  early  associations  being  connected  with  it,  have  reconciled 
themselves  to  it,  and  see  less  evil  in  it  than  northern  men  are  supposed  to 
see ;  some  may  evTU  believe  that  under  all  the  cucumstances  of  the  case,  it 
is  no  moral  -vvron^— though  all  admit  that  it  is  a  calamity. 

There  is  another  class  from  the  North,  who  are  often  known  as  dough- 
faces, who  regard  the  institution  precisely  as  I  do ;  but  who,  nevertheless, 
for  the  sake  of  the  loaves  and  tishes,  are  willing  to  bow  to  the  slave  power — 
to  the  slave  institution — to  do  anything  and  every  thing  for  the  purpose  of 
promotion.  Now,  if  I  am  called  upon  to  select  between  men  of  these  de- 
scriptions— if  I  am  compelled  to  vote  for  either,  I  should  vote  for  General 
Taylor  in  preference  to  Gen.  Cass,  just  as  I  would  vote  for  an  honest  man 
in  preference  to  a  hypocrite." 

Mr.  Hudson  was  not  an  orator.  His  language  was  plain  and 
strongly  wrought  and  without  passionate  appeals.  All  classes 
of  readers  understood  him,  and  congressional  speeches  were 
read  in  those  times.  Years  after  their  delivery  I  found  in  the 
West  many  intelligent  citizens  who  remembered  and  credited 
instruction  to  Mr.  Hudson's  tariff  and  anti-slavery  utterances. 
He  was  in  the  House  with  Lincoln  and  Douglas,  and  more  than 
once  grappled  in  debate  with  the  latter.  With  Abraham  Lin- 
coln his  friendship  was  warm  and  for  a  lifetime  ;  and  slavery 
had  no  better  haters  than  such  representative  Whigs  as  these. 


56 

They  remained  good  Whigs  wlien  they  became  Republicans 
and  were  forecast  Republicans  while  thej'  were  yet  Whigs. 

Referring  again  to  Mr.  Winthrop's  tribute  to  Mr.  Hudson, 
that  accomplished  gentleman  who  was  in  Congress  with  bim, 
sa3'S  of  him  what  he  had  before  said  of  him  on  a  previous  occa- 
sion before  the  same  Society'.  "lie  was  one  of  the  ablest  and 
honestest  men  Massachusetts  ever  had." 

Mr.  Hudson's  residence  in  Worcester  County  closed  in  1849, 
thirty  two  years  ago.  A  generation  has  passed  away,  and  few 
of  his  cotemporaries  remain ,  but  our  older  residents  many  of 
them  retain  the  impressions  made  upon  their  earlier  manhood, 
by  one  who  has  been  thus  identified  with  important  periods  of 
our  public  affairs.  His  later  public  services  may  be  briefly  told. 
He  refused  a  position  in  Gen.  Taylor's  cabinet  as  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  but  for  the  four  3'ears  of  Fillmore's  administration 
was  Naval  officer  at  the  port  of  Boston.  His  second  Federal 
office  was  that  of  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue,  in  President 
Lincoln's  first  term  of  office. 

I  have  left  all  too  little  space  and  time  to  speak  of  a  most 
important  part  of  Mr.  Hudson's  life-labors,  which  especially 
commend  him  to  the  grateful  trilnites  of  societies  like  our  own. 
Few  in  his  own  time  have  equalled  him  as  a  laborious  and  intel- 
ligent compiler  of  local  histor}'.  Mr.  Winthrop  long  associated 
with  him  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  of  which  he 
became  a  member  in  1859,  sa\'S  of  him  : 

"As  a  local  historian  few  of  his  cotemporaries  have  done  more.  His  his- 
tory of  Marlborough,  his  native  place ;  of  ^V'estminstcr  where  he  long  re- 
sided ;  and  still  more,  of  the  far  famed  Lexington  where  he  lived  still  later, 
and  where  he  died,  make  up  a  most  important  and  interesting  contribution 
to  the  illustration  of  our  Commonwealth." 

Mr.  Hudson  became  a  member  of  the  American  Antiquarian 
Society  in  this  cit}',  in  1841.  His  contributions  to  the  Collect- 
ions of  that  and  other  Historical  Societies  including  generallj- 
our  own,  in  printed  volumes,  sketches,  and  papers  in  the  peri- 
odicals of  the  day,  or  published  among  Society  Transactions,  are 
the  sifted  grain  of  history'  made  ready  for  its  permanent  garners. 
In  the  last  report  of  the  Council  of  the  American  Antiquarian 
Society,  Oct.  1880,  reference  is  made  to  a  class  of  sketches  which 


>9i«rjirz^  ^^ 


EESIDENCE'DF  HON.  CHAIM.ES  lirHSOX,  LEXINGTON,  MASS. 


oi 


Avill  worthily  stand  as  Mr.  Hudson's  latest  contribution  to  the 
liistory  of  his  own  time,  his  manuscript  ''Memoirs  of  the  three 
Massachusetts  Governors  from  Worcester,"  Levi  Lincoln,  John 
Davis,  and  Emory  Washburn.  "A  Memoir  of  of  George  N. 
Briggs."  ''The  American  Trio,  or  the  characters  of  Henry 
Clay,  Daniel  Webster,  and  John  C.  Calhoun."  "The  lives  of 
Edward  Everett  and  Marcus  Morton,  as  Governors  of  the  State 
Contrasted."  (Mr.  Hudson  was  a  member  of  Gov.  Morton's 
Council)  "A  sketch  of  Horace  Mann."  These  with  the  Me- 
moirs of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  the  letter  to  Andrew  Johnson, 
constitute  a  remarkable  gallery  of  pen  portraits  from  one  to 
whose  intimate  association  with  his  subjects,  was  joined  rare 
power  in  preserving  and  analyzing  their  traits. 

Though  1  have  already  too  greatly  taxed  your  patient  hear- 
ing, I  should  not  be  faithful  to  the  generous  public  spirit  that 
kept  the  latest  years  of  his  life  employed,  did  I  fail  to  indicate 
though  briefly  the  connection  he  maintained  with  the  affairs  of  his 
historic  town,  Lexington.  He  personally  organized  and  man- 
aged the  great  Lexington  Centennial.  His  pen  has  helped 
make  clear  the  story  of  Lexington  light ;  and  his  labors  in  this 
direction  are  praised  l)()th  in  this  country  and  in  England.  He 
made  possible  for  Lexington  her  Town  and  Memorial  Hall.  The 
noble  town  library,  adorned  with  its  superb  statues  of  Hancock 
and  Adams,  the  Minute  Man  and  the  Boy  in  Blue  ;  and  the  last 
week  of  his  life  found  him  busy  in  labeling  and  arranging  the 
Cabinet  of  minerals  he  had  been  long  collecting  for  the  Lexing- 
ton Town  Library  and  Museum.  Says  Rev.  Mr.  Westcott,  his 
pastor,  in  his  remarks  at  the  funeral  of  Mr.  Hudson  :  "The  in- 
scription on  Sir  Christopher  Wren's  monument  might  well  be 
placed  above  the  mortal  form  of  our  friend  as  it  rests  in  the  soil  of 
the  town  he  loved  so  well  and  labored  so  earnestly  to  improve.." 

"If  you  would  see  his  monument  look  around  you." 

INIr.  Hudson  was  twice  married,  his  wives  sisters,  daughters 
of  John  Rider  of  Shrewsbury.  A  widow,  a  son  and  daughter 
survive  him.  In  the  late  war  of  the  Rebellion  his  second  son, 
Lieut.  Col.  John  W.  Hudson,  represented  the  fourth  succeeding 
■generation  of  the  name  to  bear  arms  for  his  country. 


58 


No  words  from  Mv.  Hudson  are  iiioi'e  tlivilliiig  :iii(l  drcplv 
characteristic  than  those  in  which  as  their  rresidcnt  he  adihvss- 
ed  his  vencral)le  associates,  the  \'eterans  of  the  war  oi'  1.S12.  on 
the  dishanchnent  of  their  organization  in  l.sTD. 

'■We  have  reason  to  rejoice  that  our  lives  have  been  prolonged  to  witness 
the  extension  and  t^rowth  of  our  eountry,  and  the  adaptation  t)l' our  institu- 
tions both  to  peace  and  to  war ;  and  above  all  that  we  have  lived  to  see  the 
foul  stain  of  human  servitiule  blotted  (Uit  from  our  escutcheon." 

Words  worthy  to  stnnd  lor  his  ow  n  lin.-il  l.-n-cwcll. 


59 

The  reading  of  the  above  M'us  tbllowed  by  remarks 
by  Hon.  P.  Emory  Aldrich  and  others,  eulogistic  of 
Mr.  Hudson.  The  President,  Mr.  E.  B.  Crane  read 
a  portion  of  his  paper  upon  Shays'  Rebellion ;  the 
remainder,  owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  being 
postponed  to  the  next  meeting.  Mr.  Staples  read  a 
poem  by  St.  John  Honeywood,  entitled  "x\  Radical 
Song  of  1786,"  illustrative  of  the  spirit  of  the  times. 
Mr.  William  S.  Barton  spoke  brieliy  of  the  Dorr  Re- 
bellion in  Rhode  Island.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Henry 
M.  Smith,  a  committee  of  four  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Smith,  Lovell,  C.  R.  Johnson  and 
Clark  Jillson,  to  act  with  tlie  President  in  perfecting 
arrana;ement-5  for  the  annual  excursion  of  the  So- 
cietv.     The  meetin<j;  was  then  adiourned. 


At  the  July  meeting  held  on  the  evening  of  Tues- 
day the  5th,  the  following  gentlemen  were  present : 
President  Crane,  Clark  Jillson,  F.  P.  Rice,  Lee, 
Tucker,  Lawrence,  Wm.  A.  Smith,  Tolman,  Hub- 
bard, Brady,  Dickinson,  J.  A.  Smith,  F.  C.  Jillson, 
Howe,  Cook,  Knight,  Staples,  Lovell  and  the  Rev. 
George  Allen — 19.  Mr.  Staples  was  chosen  Secre- 
tary pro  tem.  Mr.  Frank  E.  Blake  of  Boston  was 
elected  an  active  member  of  the  Society.  On  mo- 
tion of  the  Hon.  Clark  Jillson  it  was  voted, 

"'That  five  persons  be  appointed  by  the  chair,  who,  together 
with  the  President,  Vice  Presidents,  Secretary  and  Treasurer, 
shall  constitute  a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  some 
method  of  improving  the  financial  condition  of  the  Society  and 


60 

establishing  a  permanent  fund,  and  that  the}^  have  power  to  act 
in  such  manner  as  their  best  judgment  dictates." 

In  accordance  with  this  vote  the  following  gentle- 
men were  appointed :  Clark  Jillson,  Nathaniel  Paine, 
George  Sumner,  Augustus  B.  R.  Sprague  and  Wm. 
A.  Smith. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Staples,  a  committee  of  three  was 
appointed  to  prepare  for  publication  the  Proceedings 
of  the  Society  for  the  current  year,  and  contract  for 
the  printing  of  the  same.  Messrs.  Staples,  Clark 
Jillson,  Franklin  P.  Rice,  and  Henry  M.  Smith  (who 
was  afterwards  added  by  vote)  constitute  this  com- 
mittee.* 

Mr.  Crane  presented  the  concluding  portion  of  his 
account  of  Shays'  Rebellion.  The  entire  paper  is 
here  printed.  The  writer,  while  differing  from  ma- 
ny others  in  his  estimate  of  this  affair,  has  well  forti- 
fied his  position  with  facts.  The  popular  knowledge 
concerning  this  outbreak  of  the  people,  is  very  mea- 
gre, as  little  in  the  form  of  consecutive  narrative  has 
been  written  about  it.f  A  review  from  a  stand  point 
hitherto  unrepresented  will  be  considered  with  in- 
terest. 

*  Subsequently,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee,  Franklin  P.  Rice  was 
appointed  to  edit  the  Proceedings  for  the  current  year. 

t  George  Richards  Minot's  "History"  is  the  only  account  in  print  that 
merits  the  name.  The  first  edition  was  published  in  178S,  [Worcester: 
printed  by  Isaiah  Thomas]  the  second  in  1810. 


€=:« 


SHAYS'  REBELLION 


BY  ELLERY  B.  CRANE. 


F  any  person  will  take  the  trouble  to  run  his 
eye  along  that  portion  of  the  historj'  of  our 
countr}'  which  portra^-s  events  of  a  century  ago, 
and  is  not  too  superficial  in  his  research,  he 
may  find  that  there  then  lived  a  man  b}^  the 
name  of  Daniel  Shays  ;  that  our  country  was 
struggling  under  the  weight  of  a  very  heavy 
foreign  and  domestic  debt ;  that  it  was  found 
to  be  impossible  to  provide  means  to  meet  the  arrears  of  pay 
due  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  ;  that  Congress  through  the  au- 
thority vested  in  it  liy  the  articles  of  confederation  recommended 
that  the  individual  states  attempt  to  raise  their  respective  pro- 
portion of  the  debt  li}'  direct  taxation  ;  that  this  effort  produced 
great  excitement  in  many  of  the  states;  and  finally  in  1787  a 
portion  of  the  people  of  Massachusetts  openly-  rebelled  ;  that 
Daniel  Shays  marched  at  the  head  of  one  thousand  men  and 
took  possession  of  Worcester  and  prevented  a  sitting  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  and  that  he  repeated  the  same  at  Springfield  ; 
that  at  last  Gov.  Bowdoin  was  compelled  to  call  out  several 
thousand  militia  under  Gen.  Lincoln  to  suppress  the  revolt; 
that  after  capturing  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  insurgents  their 
power  was  broken  ;  and  that  this  episode  was  known  as  Shays' 
Rebellion.  The  whole  matter  is  disposed  of  in  thirt}'  or  forty 
lines.  From  this  meagre  account  given  in  our  standard  histori- 
cal works  the  student  of  histor}'  can  illy  form  a  correct  idea  of 
the  magnitude  of  this  revolt  as  it  is  called,  which  no  more  de- 
seA'es  to  be  denominated  Shays'  Rebellion  than  our  late  war 
Lee's  Rebellion.  It  might  have  been  called  Allen's  Rebellion 
had  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  the  Green  Mountain  hero,  seen  fit  to  have 
accepted  the  honor  of  commanding  the  army  of  the  insurgents 
when  it  was  proffered  him  by   Shays,   Parsons  and  Wheeler. 


62 


It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  narrative  of  tliis  popular  uprising 
against  government  has  been  furnished  us  b}'  one  who  took  sides 
against  the  Commonwealth,  or  whose  sympathies  leaned  in  that 
direction.  So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  learn  the  account  giv- 
en by  George  Richards  Minot,  a.  m.,  is  the  only  one  to  be  found 
either  in  print  or  in  manuscript ;  and  he  was  an  aristocrat,  a  na- 
tive of  Boston,  and  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  from 
1782  to  1791,  and  obviously  in  deep  sympathy  with  the  aristo- 
cratic side,  which  was  the  side  of  government.  It  is  but  a 
repetition  in  history  of  similar  movements  where  the  dominant 
party  furnishes  and  and  perpetuates  their  version  of  the  action 
and  b}'  the  rule  of  might  crushes  out  and  destroys  ever}'  vestige 
of  the  stor}'  told  b}'  their  humiliated  and  sulf'ering  subjects. 

The  long  controversy'  and  fearful  struggle  for  our  National 
existence,  had  been  brought  to  a  close.  A  remarkable  victory 
had  been  achieved  b}-  that  stalwart  band  of  patriots  who  had 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  through  this  severe  contest,  never 
wavering,  but  each  and  every  man  firm  in  the  determination  to 
rid  the  country  of  every  vestige  of  british  oppression  or  die  in 
the  attempt.  The  object  which  aroused  and  drew  forth  this 
noble  spirit  of  patriotism  and  self  sacrifice  had  been  attained. 
England  had  been  forced  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of 
the  United  States,  and  her  name  had  been  stamped  upon  the 
roll  with  the  other  self-reliant  nations  of  the  world.  The  army 
had  been  disbanded  and  the  men  left  to  return  to  their  several 
homes  without  having  received  their  quotn  of  nioney  for  their 
service  for  man}-  months.  In  fact  the  pultlic  treasury-  was  en- 
tirely empty  and  the  resourses  of  the  whole  country  were  well 
nigh  exhausted.  The  war  had  left  a  debt  including  the  promi- 
ses of  the  continental  money  of  270  millions  of  dollars,  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  which  was  owing  by  the  individual  states 
independent  of  the  obligations  of  the  general  government.  Bills 
of  credit  known  as  Continental  money  was  first  issued  in  177;'), 
and  continued  to  be  emitted  to  about  17S(),  when  100  millions 
of  dollars  were  in  cii'culation  and  40  paper  dollars  were  worth 
but  one  in  specie  ;  and  within  a  j'ear  from  that  time  it  was  en- 
tirely worthless.  Previous  to  the  war  the  private  state  debt  of 
Massachusetts  was  less  than  £100.000,  now  it  was  £l,oOO,000, 


63 

l»osi(los  €2')(),0()()  (luc  her  line  urtlic  :iviny,  ;ni<l  Ikt  ['ortioii  of 
the  i'cilcral  debt  was  conipntcd  not  less  than  uiu'  and  one  hall" 
niilHon  pounds.  In  addition  to  tliis  q\qv\  town  was  euibavrass- 
(!(!  by  advances  made  <>n  its  own  aceoiuit  to  supply  their  lull 
quota  of  men,  and  supplies  to  support  the  army. 

It  now  remained  for  the  people  to  perfect  the  union  o|' Iho 
states  and  the  articles  of  coidV'deration  that  were  to  unite  this 
new  l!e|)ulilic.  I'^or  many  years  a  lai'U'e  share  of  the  lioiie  and 
■^iiifu.  tliH  [H'odiH-l  i\  (■  clciiii'iil  of  l!ic  l;iiid.  w  a>  fii::^;iu(r|iii  Ji^lil- 
iiiii'  llie  battles  for  ficedoni.  while  the  tinanrinl  i-ondition  of  tlie 
country  was  fast  growing  from  bad  to  worse,  and  these  men  in 
till'  employ  of  government  with  families  at  home  dependent  upon 
their  earnings  for  support  were  unable  to  render  them  the  least 
assistance,  and  througlujut  Ihe  country  considerable  destitution 
and  even  sulfering  prevailed.  It  was  found  necessary-  to  choose 
committees  at  town  meetings  to  look  after  the  families  of  soldiers 
in  the  lield,  and  to  supply  them  with  the  necessaries  of  life. 
The  repeated  failures  of  government  to  meet  its  promises  to  pay, 
caused  much  dissatisfaction  in  the  army,  and  the  condition  of 
the  time  may  be  illustrated  by  a  brief  notice  of  the  action  of  a 
body  of  Pennsylvam'a  troops  who  in  .laiiuary,  17.S1,  after  asking 
in  vain  for  aid  forcibly  left  camp  at  Morristown,  N.  J.,  with 
the  determination  of  marching  to  Philadelphia  there  to  appeal 
personally  to  the  national  legislature  for  justice  ;  and  when  their 
action  was  oi)posed  by  theii-  popular  commander,  (ien.  Wayne, 
who  by  persuasion  and  threats  sought  to  turn  them  back,  they 
exhibited  their  tattered  garments  and  emaciated  forms,  and 
warned  him  not  t(j  lire  on  them,  for  as  much  as  they  loved  and 
respected  him.  should  he  do  so,  they  would  instantly  take  his 
life.  They  were  determined  to  go  to  Philadelphia  and  de- 
mand IVom  Congress  redivss  for  theii'  grievances.  This  exam- 
ple set  In'  the  Pensylvania  troops  w'as  followed  soon  after  by 
some  of  those  from  New  Jersey,  and  the  feeling  of  discontent 
l)ecame  alarming,  (ien.  Washington  sent  Gen.  Robert  Howe 
with  live  hundred  men  to  restore  order  among  the  troops,  and 
after  hanging  two  of  the  i)oor  unfortunates,  perhaps  among  the 
most  conspicuous,  the  remaindei-  (jnietly  sulnnitted  to  the  situa- 
tion. 


64 

These  men  were  uot  traitors  :  they  were  compelled  by  sheer 
destitution  to  demand  that  which  was  rightfully  their  due. 
Congress  saw  the  necessity  and  acted  promptly,  doing  all  in  its 
power  to  relieve  the  army  from  its  half-starved  and  half-naked 
condition.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  and  re- 
port on  the  condition  of  the  army.  They  reported  "That  the 
army  had  not  been  paid  for  five  months  ;  that  its  soldiers  had 
but  six  days  provisions  in  advance  and  on  several  occasions  had 
been  several  successive  da3's  without  meat ;  that  the  medical 
department  had  neither  sugar,  coffee,  tea,  chocolate,  wine  or 
spirituous  liquors  of  any  kind  ;  and  that  every  department  of 
the  arm}'  was  without  money  and  had  not  even  a  shadow  of 
credit  left."  Congress  asked  the  several  states  each  to  supply 
annuall}'  by  direct  taxation  their  proportion  of  the  debt,  but 
every  state  was  groaning  under  its  own  obligations  and  Con- 
gress was  too  weak  to  enforce  its  demands,  although  the  effort 
created  great  excitement  in  several  states.  Through  this  per- 
haps unavoidable  failure  of  government  to  make  good  her  re- 
peated promises,  men  women  and  children  throughout  the  coun- 
try had  been  made  to  suffer,  a  fact  that  had  been  forgotten,  and 
now  that  party  which  had  broken  faith  with  them  was  demand- 
ing through  its  agents,  in  many  cases  their  last  dollar  to  support, 
as  the  common  people  argued,  a  reckless  and  extravagant  gov- 
ernment whose  rulers  and  associates  were  clothed  in  purple  and 
fine  linen,  faring  sumptuoush-  every  day,  while  the}-  were  jjut  to 
their  wits  ends  to  provide  for  themselves  and  their  families  suffi- 
cient food  and  clothing  and  aAoid  the  common  fate  of  the  poor 
debtor,  incarceration  in  the  county  jail. 

Thus  were  matters  discussed  at  home  around  the  quiet  open 
fire-place,  on  the  street  corner,  by  the  road  side  and  at  the  tav- 
ern over  the  social  mug  of  flip.  Men  waxed  earnest  and  carried 
the  discussion  into  the  town  meeting  ;  resolutions  were  passed 
instructing  their  representatives  to  the  general  court  to  use  their 
influence  for  such  modifications  of  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth 
as  to  relieve  the  people  if  possible  from  their  unhappy  condition. 
The  argument  continued,  interest  in  the  subject  increased,  con- 
ventions were  called  where  towns  and  counties  were  represented 
by  delegates,  and  where  the  numerous  grievances  were  thor- 
oughly ventilated  and  numerous  suggestions  advanced  for  their 


65 

remedy  ;  memorials  were  framed  and  addressed  to  the  General 
Com-t  praying  for  certain  enactments  that  might  bring  relief. 

The  common  peo[)le  or  laboring  classes  were  indeed   sorely 
pressed  to  meet  their  private  obligations  while  levy   after  levy 
of  public  taxes  were  being  laid  upon  them   by  the  legislature. 
This  condition  bronglit  a  rapid  increase  of  civil  actions,  giving 
the  legal  fraternity  a  grand  opportunity  of  reaping  a  harvest ; 
and  so  well  did  they  perform  their  services,  and  so  vastly  were 
their  numbers  increased  that  they  became   an   eye-sore  to  the 
pubhc.     The  lawyer  was  charged  with  having  brought  about  a 
large  share  of  the  burdens  which  the  people  were  laboring  under. 
It  was  publicly  demanded  that  this  profession  should  be   abol- 
ished ;  that  its  members  certainly  should  not  be  allowed  to  hold 
public  ottice,  and  in  many  cases  the  representatives  chosen  for 
the  vear  1786  were  instructed  by  their  constituents  to  anihilate 
them.     It  was  hard  indeed  to  see  honest  and   industrious  men, 
valuable  helpers  in  society,  dragged  off  to  prison  or  their  lands 
seized  and  sold  to  satisfy  a  debt  or  for  the  payment  of  overbur- 
densome  taxes.     The  people  were  driven  to  desperation  by  such 
occurrences,  and  their  attacks  were  first  made  on  the  lawyers  who 
brought  suits,  then  on  the  courts  who  passed  sentence  ;  and  is  it 
to  be  wondered  at  that  they  desired  to  stay  proceedings  in  the 
lower  courts  until  such  time   as   the   legislature,   through   their 
representatives,  might  relieve  them  by  new  enactments?     This 
was  the  feeling  of  a  certain  element  among  the  insurrectionists, 
but  there  were  other  factions  at  work  in  and  out  of  these   con- 
ventions.    There  were  those  who  entertained  an   honest  differ- 
ence of  opinion  regarding  the  construction  of  the   constitution, 
or  articles  of  confederation.     Some  considered  them  sadly  de- 
fective and  were  striving  for  their  revision.     The  fiat  money  man 
was  there  claiming  that  an  increase  of  paper  dollars  would  re- 
lieve all  trouble.     The  toiy  was  also  at  work  adding  fuel  to  the 
flame  hoping  that  the  fire  might  consume  the  machinery  of  the 
new  government  and  that  the  people  would  be  compelled  to  re- 
turn to  the  protection  of  Great  Britain. 

According  to  the  mode  of  taxation  of  those  days  one  third 
part  of  the  whole  was  to  be  paid  by  the  ratable  polls  alone,  which 
numbered  at  that  time  a  little  more  than  90,000.     In  1784,  the 


66 

legislature  voted  a  tax  of  £140,000,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
ducing the  arm}"  debt  that  amount.  Two  years  later  they 
assessed  £100,000  more  for  a  similar  purpose.  The  inequality 
of  taxation  and  valuation  of  property  to  be  assessed  gave  rise 
to  considerable  dissatisfaction  in  many  parts  of  the  Common- 
wealth. Public  taxes  took  precedence  over  private  debts  when 
the  scarcity  of  specie  was  offered  as  an  excuse  for  not  paying 
both,  and  as  a  relief  the  Tender  Act  was  passed  July  3,  17«2, 
enabling  individuals  to  pay  private  contracts  on  other  property, 
the  value  of  which  was  to  be  fixed  by  impartial  men  under  oath. 
This  act  opened  the  wa}'  for  hostilities  between  debtor  and 
creditor  and  undoubtedly  had  its  influence  in  the  general  move- 
ment. (/ 

Early  in  the  year  1784,  the  towns  of  Wrentham  and  Medway 
invited  their  sister  towns  in  Sutlolk  county  to  meet  in  con- 
vention for  the  purpose  of  consulting  together  to  the  end  that 
some  measures  might  be  adopted  to  relieve  the  people  from  their 
many  grievances.  About  the  same  time  the  town  of  Sutton  is- 
sued a  circular  letter  calling  a  convention  for  Worcester  county. 
Although  the  meeting  was  convened,  it  adjourned  without 
adopting  an}'  strenuous  measures.  On  Tuesday-  the  22d  day 
of  August,  1784,  a  convention  was  held  at  Hatfield,  Hampshire 
county,  at  which  fift\'  towns  in  that  county  were  represented  b}' 
delegates.  Benjamin  Bonney  was  chosen  presiding  officer. 
They  were  in  session  three  days  and  drew  up  the  following  list 
of  grievances,  which  they  termed  some  of  the  sources  of  that 
discontent  so  evident  throughout  the  Commonwealtli :  1  st,  the 
existence  of  the  Senate  ;  2d,  the  present  mode  of  representation  ; 
3d,  the  officers  of  Government  not  being  annually  dependent  on 
the  representatives  of  the  people,  in  General  Court  assembled, 
for  their  salaries  ;  4th,  all  the  civil  officers  of  Government  not 
being  annually  elected  b\'  the  representatives  of  the  people,  in 
General  Court  assembled  ;  5th,  the  existence  of  the  courts  of 
Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  ;  6th,  the  fee 
table  as  it  now  stands  ;  7th,  the  present  mode  of  appropriating 
the  import  and  excise  ;  8th,  the  unreasonable  grants  made  to 
some  of  the  officers  of  Government ;  9th,  the  supplimentary  aid  ; 
10th,  the  present  mode  of  paying  the  governmental  securities; 


07 

nth,  the  present  mode  ado[)tcd  for  the  payment  and  speedy 
collection  of  the  last  tax  ;   12th,  the  present  mode  of  taxation  as 
it  operates  unequally  between  the  polls  and  estates,  and  between 
landed  and  mercantile  interests  ;  13tl),   the  present  method  of 
practice  of  the  attornies  at  law;   14th,   the  want  of  sufficient 
medium  of  trade  to  remedy  the  mischiefs  arising  from  the  scar- 
city  of  money  ;  loth,  the  General  Court  sitting  in  the  town  of 
Boston  ;   Kith,  the  present  embarrassments  on  the  Press  ;   17th, 
the  neglect  of  the  settlement  of  important  matters   depending 
between  the  Commonwealth  and   Congress   relating  to  monies 
and  averages  ;   18th,  voted  this  convention  recommend  to  the 
several  towns  in  this  county,  that  they  instruct  their  representa- 
tives to  use  their  influence  in  the  next  General   Court,   to  have 
emitted  a  bank  of  paper  money  subject  to  a  depreciation,  mak- 
ing it  a  tender  in  all  payments,  equal  to  silver  and  gold,  to  be 
issued  in  order  to  call  in  the  commonwealth's  securities;  19th, 
voted  that  whereas  several  of  the  above   articles  of  grievances 
arise  from  defects  in  the  constitution,  therefore  a  revision  of  the 
same  ought  to  take  place  ;  20th,  voted  that  it  be  recommended 
by  this  convention  to  the  several  towns  in  this  county,  that  they 
petition  the  Governor  to  call   the  General  Couit  immediately 
together,  in  order  that  the  other  grievances  complained  of  may 
by  the  legislature  be  redressed  ;  21st,  voted  that  this  convention 
recommend  it  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  county,  that  they  abstain 
from  all  mobs  and  unlawful  assemblies,  until  a  constitutional 
method  of  redress  can  be  obtained  ;  22d,  voted  that  Mr.  Caleb 
West  be  desired  to  transmit  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
convention  to  the  convention  of  the  county  of  Worcester  ;  23d, 
voted  that  the  chairman  of  this  convention  be  desired  to  trans- 
mit a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  this  convention  to  the  county 
of  Berkshire  ;  24th,  voted  that  the  chairman  of  this  convention 
be  directed  to  notify  a  county  convention,    upon    any   motion 
made  to  him  for  that  purpose,  if  he  judge  the  reasons  sufficient, 
giying  such  notice  together  with  the  reasons  therefor  in  the  pub- 
lic papers  of  this  county  ;  25th,  voted  that  a  copy  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  this  convention  be  sent  to  the  press  in   Springfield 
for  publication. 


68 

These  twentj'-five  articles  were  the  deliberate  expression  of 
delegates  representing  lift}'  towns  in  Hampshire  county,  which 
was  then  the  largest  county  in  area  in  the  Commonwealth.* 
Through  the  medium  of  town  meetings  and  conventions  the 
people  throughout  the  state,  particularly  the  western  and  mid- 
dle portion,  had  become  thoroughly  aroused  upon  the  subject  of 
their  grievances  and  the  best  manner  of  redressing  them.  It  was 
made  the  issue  at  the  ballot  box,  and  representatives  were  sent 
to  the  General  Court  to  work  out  these  much  needed  reforms. 
A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  legislature  authorizing  the  issue  of 
an  adequate  amount  of  paper  money  ;  and  to  avoid  the  difficult}' 
of  redeeming  it.  the  bill  provided  for  its  depreciation  at  fixed 
rates  in  cei'tain  giA'eu  periods,  until  at  a  suitable  time  the  whole 
should  be  extinguished.  But  this  was  too  wild  a  scheme  to 
succeed,  and  failed  to  receive  the  requisite  support  to  become 
a  law. 

The  resolution  passed  by  Congress  Oct.  21,  1780,  allowing 
officers  in  the  arm}'  half  pa}'  for  life  had,  on  account  of  the  lack 
of  funds,  proved  ineffective,  and  on  the  22nd  da}'  of  March, 
1782,  a  resolution  was  passed  commuting  it  to  five  years'  full 
pay.  This  last  act  of  Congress  gave  rise  to  a  general  expression 
of  dissatisfaction  among  the  officers  and  people  not  only  in 
Massachusetts  but  in  all  the  states.  It  seemed  to  olfcr  a  pre- 
cedent for  partial  if  not  complete  repudiation.  If  Congress 
could  by  a  single  vote  cancel  an  obligation  to  pay  a  debt  simply 
for  the  reason  that  they  had  not  the  ready  money  with  which  to 
satisfy  that  obligation,  wliy  could  not  the  poor  people  of  the 
country  be  relieved  from  the  payment  of  their  private  debts  for 
a  like  reason,  especially  those  persons  who  were  to  be  defrauded 
by  the  late  action  of  Congress  ? 

In  the  month  of  April,  1782,  the  feeling  of  unrest  and  dissatis- 
faction was  apparent  in  many  portions  of  the  state  and  one 
Samuel  Ely  was  indicted  at  Northampton  for  attempting  to  pre- 
vent the  sitting  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  at  that  place. 


*  Franklin  and  Hampden  counties  were  set  off  from  it  by  ;ict  of  the  Leg- 
islature of  1811-12. 


69 

He  pleaded  guilty  nnd  was  confmed  in  jail,  but  while  the 
guard,  who  were  composed  of  inhabitants  from  Springfield,  were 
off  duty,  Mr.  Ely's  fi lends  gave  him  his  liberty,  for  which  offence 
the  leaders  of  the  liberating  party  were  contined  in  the  same 
prison,  and  an  elfort  was  made  to  release  them  also.  At  this 
the  militia  of  the  county,  numbering  about  1500  men,  were 
called  out  to  protect  the  jail.  But  there  was  no  serious  trouble, 
and  in  the  month  of  November  following  the  General  Court 
passed  a  law  granting  the  rioters  complete  pardon. 

The  fire  continued  to  smolder  within  the  breasts  of  the  peo- 
ple ready  to  burst  out  at  any  moment  into  a  fearful  conflagra- 
tion that  might  destroy  the  life  of  the  young  Republic  ;  and  the 
political  war-cloud  that  was  soon  to  test  the    strength    of  this 
Commonwealth  was  gathering  in  its  fierceness  from  day  to  day, 
while  its  black  lines  were  distinctly  visible  from  Boston  rolling 
up  its  dark  folds  along  the  western  horizon  in  a  most  threaten- 
ing attitude.     For  more  than  four  years  the   people  had   been 
looking  to  the  Legislature  for  relief,  but  had  been  disappointed. 
Little  progress  had  been  made  ;  there  seemed   to  be  too  much 
delay.     The  people  could    wait   no   longer.     The    enthusiastic 
convention  held  at  Hartford  had  given  the  people  new  inspira- 
tion and  confidence,  and  some  of  them  determined  to  take  the 
reins  in  their  own  hands  hoping  to  accelerate  matters  ;  but  in 
this  they  were  not  wholly  united.     While  it  seemed  evident  that 
a  large  majority  of  the  people  in  the  state  west  of  the  county  of 
Middlesex  were  in  favor  of  the  desired  reformation,  and  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  general  movement,  a  considerable  portion  of 
them  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  resort  to  violence  to  accomplish 
their  purpose,  and  were  not  willing  to  join  with  their  more  zeal- 
ous and  enthusiastic  brothers  in   taking   up   arras   against   the 
o-overnment.  and  were  determined  to  remain  neutral  in  the  fight ; 
but  when  the  repeated  calls  on  the  militia,  of  which  they  were 
a  part,  were  made  to  disperse  the  insurgents  as  they  collected 
to  prevent  the  sittings  of  the  inferior  courts,  that  arm  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  which  they  looked   for   strength   was    found   to   be 
paralyzed,  and  the  officers  of  the  courts  were  powerless  and 
helpless  in  the  hands  of  the  regulators,  as  they  styled  themselves. 
Hostilities  were  carried  no  further  than   the  preventing  of  the 


70 

courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  from 
performing  legal  business.  The  destruction  of  life  or  propertj- 
was  not  contemplated  b}'  the  Regulators  any  more  than  it  was  bj' 
the  friends  of  Beiyamin  F.  Butler  when  they  took  possession  of 
Mechanics'  Hall  at  a  session  of  the  Democratic  convention  in 
this  cit}-  a  few  years  since.  They  came  out  to  exhibit  their 
strength  in  numbers  and  took  possession  of  the  Court  Houses 
to  show  their  determination  that  the}-  meant  to  have  reformation, 
not  only  in  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  but  in  the  manner  of 
their  execution.  It  was  the  spontaneous  uprising  of  an  over- 
taxed and  overburdened  people.  But  the  welfare  of  public 
peace  is  always  more  or  less  placed  in  jeopard}-  where  large  or 
even  small  bodies  of  men  are  assembled  together  entertaining 
fixed  opinions,  and  especially  where  they  display  a  willingness 
to  re-enforce  their  opinions  b}-  phj-sical  strength  ;  and  a  portion 
of  this  impoverished  people  resolved,  perhaps  unwisel}',  to  trj- 
their  success  or  defeat  in  that  wa}-.  Kowhere  during  the  cam- 
paign was  there  an  assault  made  by  them  the  object  of  which 
was  the  destruction  of  life  or  property-,  therefore  the  magnitude 
of  this  political  movement  cannot  be  measured  by  the  loss  of  life 
or  the  destruction  of  propert}' :  that  was  studioush'  avoided  by 
the  Regulators  and  onh'  done  near  the  close  of  the  contest  by 
some  of  the  most  exasperated  and  reckless  members  of  the  partj-. 
Worcester  county  had  witnessed  her  share  of  conventions. 
The  town  of  Sutton  had  per liaps  taken  the  lead  in  extending 
the  invitations.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  March,  17-S4, 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Davis  being  chosen  presiding  officer.  For  two 
years  the  regulators  had  been  gaining  strength,  and  there  seem- 
ed to  be  little  disposition  on  the  part  of  Gov.  John  Hancock  to 
push  matters  to  a  crisis.  But  on  the  election  of  James  Bowdoin 
as  Governor  in  17-S5,  the  situation  on  the  part  of  government 
began  to  assume  a  ditl'erent  aspect.  In  May,  1786,  the  town  of 
Sutton  again  issued  a  call  for  a  convention  at  Leicester,  at  which 
Mr.  Willis  Hall  of  Sutton  was  chosen  prssident.  Without 
adopting  any  definite  plans  for  the  future  the  convention  adjourn- 
ed to  meet  at  the  same  place,  August  15th,  following,  at  which 
time  37  towns  in  Worcester  county  were  represented  b^-  dele- 
gates.    A  committee    was   chosen    to    correspond    with    other 


71 

count}'  organizations  and  to  i)rcparo  on  address  for  the  people, 
and  adjourned  to  Worcester  where  nuu)erous  delegates  from 
other  counties,  also  many  persons  who  were  prominent  and  ac- 
tive in  the  movement  from  ditferent  of  the  state  had  assembled. 
As  a  result  of  this  conference,  a  petition  to  the  General  Court 
was  prepared  reiterating  their  many  grievances,  which  were  in 
substance  similar  to  the  list  already  quoted,  and  intimated  their 
intention,  unless  the  authorities  granted  the  prayer  of  their 
petition,  of  calling  a  state  convention.  At  the  same  time  the 
people  were  counseled  to  abstain  from  taking  up  arms  to  stop 
tlie  courts,  means  which  had  alread}'  been  employed  in  other 
counties.  To  the  credit  of  Worcester  county  it  can  be  said  that 
her  people  were  not  in  favor  of  appealing  to  arms  for  a  settle- 
ment of  their  troubles  at  this  time.  The  experience  of  the  past 
ten  years  had  taught  them  to  dread  war,  and  particularly  to 
stand  in  fear  of  civil  war  :  they  preferred  rather  to  rely  on,  and 
appeal  to  the  good  sense  of  the  people,  believing  that  in  its  own 
good  time  the  right  would  prevail  and  the  proper  legislation 
would  be  obtained.  The  result  shows  the}'  were  wise  in  that 
conclusion,  for  the  moment  an  armed  force  was  arrayed  against 
government,  notwithstanding  the  administration  had  been  dis- 
tasteful and  unsatisfactory,  it  drew  their  sympath}',  and  the 
party  in  opposition  to  government  lost  strength  materially  in 
numbers — onU'  the  most  desperate  and  reckless  were  left  to 
carry  on  the  warfare. 

The  town  of  Northampton,  Hampshire  county,  had  already 
been  the  scene  of  conflict  between  the  citizens  and  the  officers 
of  the  courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions.  But 
Thursday  the  2i)th  day  of  August,  1786,  the  Regulators  were 
again  determined  that  no  business  should  for  the  present  be 
transacted  b}-  that  vexatious  arm  of  the  law.  About  1500  men 
assembled  with  such  arms  as  they  could  command,  and  took 
possession  of  the  court  house  and  effectually  prevented  the  sit- 
ting of  the  official  body.  This  bold  step  called  forth  a  procla- 
mation from  his  excellency,  Gov.  Bowdoin,  in  which  he  appealed 
to  the  officers  and  citizens  of  the  state  to  suppress  such  treason- 
able demonstrations.  The  Insurgents  paid  but  little  attention 
to  the  call  of  the  Governor,  while  the  citizens  of  the  counties  of 


72 

Hampshire,  Berkshire,  Worcester,  Middlesex  aud  Bristol  were 
in  a  state  of  intense  excitement.  A  general  outbreak  seemed 
inevitable.  The  campaign  was  opened  in  good  earnest ;  one 
scene  of  excitement  after  another  followed  in  quick  succession, 
the  first  point  being  Worcester.  Monday  night,  Sept.  4th,  an 
armed  body  of  men  under  command  of  Capt.  Adam  Wheeler  of 
Hubbardston,  took  possession  of  the  court  house,  and  on  Tues- 
day morning  a  considerable  re-inforcement  joined  the  guard, 
while  numerous  S3'mpathisers  and  curiosity  seekers  gathered 
about  the  premises  evidentl}'  enjoying  the  spectacle.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  hour  for  convening  the  court,  the  Justices  and 
court  attendants  were  seen  making  their  way  to  the  court  house, 
and  on  reaching  the  door  and  finding  it  guarded  by  armed 
men  who  opposed  their  entrance.  Chief  Justice  Arternas  Ward 
demanded  why  this  armed  force  was  present  and  who  was  in 
command.  Capt.  Wheeler  replied  they  had  come  to  relieve  the 
country  from  distress  by  preventing  the  sessions  of  the  courts 
until  the  people  could  obtain  relief  from  their  greivances  by  leg- 
islation. The  Judge  reproved  the  rioters,  as  he  termed  them, 
for  the  rashness  of  their  conduct  and  then  retired  with  his  asso- 
ciates to  the  United  States  Arms  Tavern,  where  the  court  was 
formally  opened  and  immediately  adjourned  to  the  next  da}-. 
Although  the  community  had  been  forewarned  of  the  intention 
of  the  Regulators,  and  orders  had  been  issued  calling  out  the 
local  militia,  the  officers  reported  that  it  was  not  in  their  power 
to  muster  their  companies,  showing  conclusively-  that  that  aim 
of  the  government  was  in  sympathy  with  the  action  of  the  peo- 
ple. Thus  the  courts  were  shorn  of  their  strength,  and  the 
judges  accepting  the  only  alternative  adjourned  them  to  Tues- 
day, Nov.  21st. 

For  two  days  Worcester  had  been  the  seat  of  intense  excite- 
ment. At  the  first  appearance  of  Capt.  Wheeler  in  the  town, 
his  command  numbered  less  than  one  hundred  men,  V)ut  during 
Tuesday  many  recruits  joined  his  company  until  it  numbered 
four  hundred  strong,  and  the  greater  part  well  armed.  They 
must  have  created  no  little  amount  of  enthusiasm  in  this  quiet, 
rural  town,  as  they  marched  up  and  down  Main  street  to  the 
stirring  sound  of  fife  and  drum,  each  man  plumed  with  a  sprig 


73 

of  evergreen,  the  emblem  of  distress.  This  was  the  first  in- 
stance in  Worcester  where  a  tribunal  established  for  the  admin- 
istration of  justice  had  been  interfered  with  by  armed  men. 
Can  you  not  in  imagination  look  back  and  see  the  hard  handed 
son  of  toil,  the  sturdy  yeoman,  the  legal  representative  and  the 
aristocrat  standing  together  at  the  street  corner  in  heated  dis- 
cussion concerning  the  vital  political  issues  of  the  day  ?  Can 
you  wonder  that  people  were  for  the  moment  excited  ?  By 
Wednesday  the  Regulators  had  accomplished  their  work  for  this 
time  and  quietly  dispersed  to  their  homes. 

The  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Worcester  county,  consisted 
at  this  time  of  Major  Gen.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  Chief 
Justice,  Joseph  Dorr  of  Ward,  Moses  Gill  of  Princeton,  and 
Samuel  Baker  of  Berlin,  associates.  The  Court  of  General  Ses- 
sions of  the  Peace  for  the  county,  was  composed  of  all  the  Jus- 
tices in  the  county,  i)reside(l  over  by  one  or  more  of  the  four 
above  mentioned  judges.  These  two  courts  are  often  referred 
to  as  one  body,  in  fact  their  sessions  were  held  together.  They 
were  required  to  meet  in  the  months  of  February,  May,  Auo-ust, 
and  November,  each  year.  Three  of  the  judges  constituted  a 
quorum  for  business  as  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  while  the 
fourth  judge  occupied  the  chair  of  dignity  in  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions  of  the  Peace.  When  questions  of  importance  were 
pending  it  was  usual  for  all  the  judges  to  sit  in  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions.  This  tribunal  had  jurisdiction  over  the  mi- 
nor criminal  oliences  committed  in  the  county.  It  was  to  "keep 
and  cause  to  be  kept  the  laws  and  ordinances  made  for  the  good 
of  the  peace  and  for  the  conservation  of  the  same,  and  for  the 
quiet  rule  and  government  of  our  people."  To  chastise  and 
punish  all  persons  offending  against  the  form  of  these  laws  and 
ordinances  "Imprisonments,  fines,  the  whipping  post,  the  stocks 
and  the  pillory"  were  their  instruments  of  punishment.  This 
court  was  also  given  the  management  of  the  financial  aflairs  of 
the  county,  and  necessarily  had  much  to  do  with  the  enforce- 
ment of  the  collection  of  the  obnoxious  taxes  which  so  aunoj'ed 
the  people. 

The  counsellors  for  the  Regulators   had   now  determined  on 
showing  a  bold  front,  and  to  present  their  claims  for  redress  in 


74 

stronger  terms.  Their  friends  in  Ilampsliire  count}'  had  organ- 
ized themselves  for  the  purpose  of  using  force  when  necessar}-. 
Worcester  count}'  also  had  produced  an  armed  body  of  men  who 
had  successfully  overawed  the  exactions  courts  at  Worcester  ; 
the  militia  had  thus  far  failed  to  respond  to  the  calls  made  on 
them  to  sustain  the  courts,  and  to  many  of  the  Regulators  the 
way  seemed  certainly  open  to  success.  The  courts  of  Common 
Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  were  next  to  be  held 
at  Concord  and  Taunton,  both  on  the  same  day,  Tuesday  Sept. 
12th,  and  as  it  had  been  intimated  that  at  attempt  might  be 
made  to  prevent  their  sitting  at  these  places,  the  oflicers  of 
government  resolved  to  call  out  the  militia  for  the  counties  of 
Middlesex  and  Bristol,  feeling  confident  that  the  inhabitants  of 
these  districts  would  prove  more  loyal  than  those  in  the  western 
counties  had  shown  themselves.  The  call  having  been  made, 
a  delegation  from  the  people  of  Concord  and  other  towns  in  the 
vicinity  waited  on  the  proper  authorities  and  asked  that  the 
order  might  be  rescinded  ;  that  the  popular  excitement  would 
be  greatly  alleviated  by  so  doing,  while  its  enforcement  would 
only  add  fuel  to  the  flame  ;  and  they  would  see  to  it  that  com- 
petent committees  should  be  in  readiness  for  the  purpose  of 
conferring  with  such  armed  men  as  should  appear  for  the  })ur- 
pose  of  interfering  with  the  courts,  who  would  advise  them 
to  desist  from  the  use  of  force  and  adopt  more  moderate  meas- 
ures. The  delegates  were  receiAcd  with  favor  and  the  order 
countermanded  for  Middlesex,  but  was  to  remain  in  force  in 
Bristol  count}'  conditionally.  These  well  meaning  pacificators 
did  not  know  their  men  :  their  good  promises  did  not  avail  any- 
thing, for  on  Monday  Sept.  11th,  about  100  men  under  Job 
Shattuck  of  Groton  and  Capt.  Nathan  Smith  of  Shirley,  entered 
the  town  of  Concord  and  hastily  constructed  a  rude  camp  with 
boards  and  posts  in  which  several  loads  of  liay  were  furnished 
by  the  quartermaster  to  be  used  for  beds  while  several  kegs  of 
rum  were  on  tap  to  give  zest  to  the  occasion.  Tuesday,  these 
men  took  })Ossession  of  the  court  house,  and  set  sentinels  to 
guard  the  place.  About  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  one  of 
the  Regulators  acting  as  Sergeant,  accompanied  by  fife  and 
drums,  went  out  a  short  distance  from  the  court  house  and  re- 


turned  with  about  an  luuulred  more  armed  men  under  Wheeler 
of  IIubl)ardston  and  Converse  of  Ilardwick.  A  convention  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Middlesex  county  was  there  in  .session  ;  dele- 
gates from  twenty-six  or  twenty-seven  towns  had  met  at  Brown's 
tavern,  but  not  being  acommodated  with  sullicient  room  there, 
anjourned  to  the  meeting  house.  At  the  same  time  the  judges, 
justices  and  attendants  of  the  courts  were  at  Jones'  tavern  where 
they  took  clinner  and  were  Avaiting  events. 

The  following  notice  was  posted  on  the  court  house  door  : 

To  the  Hon.  Jii.stices  of  the  Court  of  iSe>tshns  of  the  Peace  and 
Court  (f  Common  Pleas^i  in  the  County  of  Middlesex. 

The  voice  of  the  people  of  this  county  is,  that  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  and  Court  of  Common  Pleas 
shall  not  enter  tiiis  court  house  until  such  times  as  the  peo- 
ple shall  have  redress  from  the  number  of  grievances  they 
labor  under  at  present,  which  will  be  set  forth  in  a  petition 
or  remonstrance  to  the  next  General  Court. 

Concord,  September  12.  17SG. 

J.  >'^S-STYij^dK. 

Later  in  the  aftei'uoou  it  received  the  following  endorsement : 

Since  Aviitin"'  the  within  it  has  been  arranoed  that  the  Court  of  Sessions 
may  open  and  adjourn  to  the  first  Tuesday  of  November  next,  without  going 
into  the  court  house. 

As  the  Judges  concluded  it  would  be  unwise  to  attempt  the 
transaction  of  business,  they  sent  word  to  the  Regulators  that 
neither  court  would  l)e  opened  as  it  was  impossible  with  the 
armed  force  before  them. 

The  Regulators  now  numbered  about  300,  some  220  armed  with 
guns,  the  remainder  with  swords  and  clubs,  led  by  Job  Shat- 
tuck  of  Groton,  Nathan  Smith  of  Shirley,  Adam  "Wheeler  of  Hub- 
bardston,  Abraham  Gale  of  Princeton,  Converse  of  Hardwick, 
and  IMorris.  During"  the  afternoon  of  Tuesday  some  of  the  sol- 
diers who  had  partaken  too  freeh'  of  the  stimulating  rations, 
became  quite  lawless,  and  one  Nathan  Smith  of  Shirley  was  so 
reckless  that  he  is  reported  to  have  said,  accompanying  the  same 
with  oaths,  that  every  person  who  did  not  follow  his  drum  in 
two  hours,  whether  he  be  court,  town  committee,  or  otherwise, 


7G 

should  be  driven  out  of  town  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  and 
whoever  should  be  left  would  be  "monuments  of  God's  sparing 
mercy,"  to  which  the  leader  of  the  company  from   Worcester 
county  replied,  telling  Smith  that  unless  he  recalled  those  words, 
he  and  his  men  would  never  join  his  company.     Smith  retracted, 
they  joined  forces,  and  the  courts  were  compelled,  at  Concord,  to 
yield  to  the  popular  demand.     At  Taunton  the  Regulators  were 
more  successful,  although  they  did  not  take  possession  of  the 
court  house  they  turned  out  in  far  greater  numbers  than  the  mili- 
tia, and  by  their  presence  prevented  the  sitting  of  the  courts.* 
At  this  time  it  was  estimated  that  not  more  than  one  quarter 
of  the  people  in  the  state  could  be  relied    upon    as   being   firm 
supporters  of  government.     This  was   well  understood  by  the 
judges  of  the  courts  as  well  as  the  chief  officer   of  state.     But 
the  remaining  three  quarters  of  the   people  while  they  desired 
reformation  in  the  government,  did  not   wish  its   annihilation, 
for  which  so  many  lives  had  been  sacrificed  and  so  much  treasure 
expended.     And  now  the  issue   came,    either   to    support   the 
government  or  take  up  arms  to  destroy  it ;  there   could   be    no 
middle  course.     ]\Iany  were  inclined  to  wait  for  the  correction 
of  abuses  in  the  new  constitution,  which  at  most  was  but  an  ex- 
periment.    This  kind  of  feeling  took  possession   of  many   who 
had  been  ardent  supporters  and  participators  in   the   numerous 
conventions  which  had  created  so  much  enthusiasm  throughout 
the  state. 


*  Here  a  greater  effort  was  made  to  get  out  the  militia,  or  they  -were  more 
willing  to  respond  to  the  eall,  and  several  companies  (about  300  men)  re- 
ported to  Major  Gen.  David  Cobb,  who  took  possession  of  the  court  house. 
This  force  consisted  of  nine  companies;  two  from  Dalton,  under  Captains 
AValker  and  Talbot ;  two  or  three  from  Bridgcwater,  under  Col.  Orr ;  two 
from  llaynham,  under  Captains  Hall  and  Washburn  ;  one  from  Rehoboth, 
under  Lieutenants  Peak  and  Carpenter ;  one  from  Taunton,  under  Captain 
Williams,  and  one  from  South  Taunton,  under  Captain  Townshend.  The 
Regulators  were  commanded  by  David  Valentine. 

The  courts  with  due  deference  to  the  majority  and  the  wish  of  the  people 
adjourned  without  day,  although  in  this  instance  they  Avere  sustained  and 
protected  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  state. 


While  this  auitation  was  "-oiiio-  on  in  Bristol  and  Middlesex 
counties,  the  excitement  was  running  high  in  the  western  por- 
tion of  the  state.  Between  two  and  three  thousand  men  assem- 
bled at  Great  Barrington,  Berkshire  county,  to  prevent  the 
sitting  of  the  courts  in  that  place.  A  correspondent,  under  date 
of  Sept.  IG,  178(!,  writes  as  follows:  "'Tuesdaj-  last  was  a 
melancholy  da^-.  From  ten  p.  m.  the  preceding  da}'  until  Tues- 
day eve  our  streets  were  crowded  with  men  in  arms — discon- 
tented people  of  the  county,  assembled  to  suppress  the  courts. 
The  militia  were  ordered  out  but  only  made  matters  worse. 
Between  two  and  three  thousand  men  were  out,  four  fifths  at 
least  were  on  the  side  of  opposition.  The  court  met  at  a  pri- 
vate house  and  adjourned  without  da}-.  The  court  house  was 
strictly  guarded.  The  Insurgents  entered  the  house  where  the 
justices  were,  and  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  extorted  such  en- 
gagements from  them  as  suited  their  capricious  and  absurd  hu- 
mors.* They  opened  the  prison  and  set  at  large  those  confined 
for  debt,  and  threatened  to  demolish  the  court  house." 

The  Regulators  now  turned  their  attention  to  Springfield, 
where  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  was  to  convene.  It  was  not 
because  they  stood  in  fear  of  indictments,  for  wherever  the 
lower  courts  had  been  able  to  transact  any  business,  they  failed 
thtough  their  jurors  of  finding  bills  against  any  of  the  Insurgents, 
llie  signal  for  an  alarm  in  Springfield  on  this  occasion  was 
sounded  on  Saturday  afternoon,  Sept.  23,  by  Elisha  Porter  Esq., 
high  sheriif  of  Hampshire  county,  who  on  his  arrival  from  Had- 
ley  informed  the  people  of  Springfield  that  men  were  assembling 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  sitting  of  the  court  at  that 
place,  and  informed  Maj.  Gen.  William  Shepard  and  also  order- 
ed the  court  house  guarded.  That  night  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  furnished  the  guard  but  were  relieved  Sunday  morning  by 
a  comi)any  of  militia  from  Northampton  ;  and  friends  of  govern- 
ment to  the  number  of  800,  armed  and  officered  with  five  or  six 


*  The  engagement  here  refered  to,  that  was  forced  from  the  justices,  was 
an  agreement  not  to  act  under  their  commissions  tmtil  the  grievances  of  the 
people  were  redressed,  which  they  signed. 


78 

hundred  spectators,  all  with  pieces  of  white  paper  in  their  hats 
to  distinguish  themselves  from  the  Regulators.  The  judges 
arrived  Monday  evening  and  Tuesday  morning,  and  proceeded 
to  business,  but  adjourned  from  da}'  to  day  to  Thursday  the 
28th,  and  then  adjourned  without  day.  The  opposition  party 
present  on  Tuesday  morning  the  25th  was  estimated  at  GOO,  and 
by  evening  had  increased  to  iJOO  well  armed  men  under  Capt. 
Daniel  Shays.  The}'  also  had  their  quota  of  camp  followers  to 
the  number  of  500,  all  with  green  boughs  in  their  hats. 

The  opposing  parties  seemed  to  be  very  equally'  matched  as 
to  numbers,  but  there  appeared  to  be  no  desire  for  crossing 
swords.  They  faced  each  other  until  Wednesday  the  27th, 
when  committes  were  chosen  b}'  each  of  the  contending  parties 
to  meet  and  devise  some  honorable  means  for  a  release  from  this 
awkward  dilemma  of  two  well  armed  forces  confronting  each 
other,  neither  wishing  to  strike  a  blow,  and  both  ready  to  ofler 
an  excuse  for  their  presence.  The  conclusion  of  the  joint 
committee  was,  that  Gen.  Shepard  march  his  troops  on  Con- 
tinental Hill  and  there  disband  ;  Capt.  Shays  to  march  his 
men  to  ground  adjacent  to  the  court  house  and  disband,  every 
man  to  immediately  return  to  his  liome.  This  Avas  done,  and 
the  report  goes  on  to  say  that  in  consequence  of  this  disturbance, 
the  high  sheriff  ordered  the  criminals  confined  in  the  jail  in  that 
town  to  be  set  at  liljcrt}'.  Quite  likel}-  this  was  a  pai-t  of  the 
the  programme  arranged  b}-  the  committees  on  Wednesday,  the 
Regulators  gaining  so  much  by  the  compromise. 

The  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  with  the  management  of  the 
affairs  of  the  state  had  now  become  trulj'  alarming.  The  excite- 
ment was  intense,  and  quite  general  throughout  the  Connnon- 
wealth,  while  tlie  same  sentiment  had  made  its  appearance 
among  the  people  of  other  states — Connecticut,  Rhode  Island 
and  New  Hampshire.  In  the  latter  state  the  legislature  having 
failed  to  grant  the  prayers  of  certain  petitions  presented  by  dis- 
affected persons,  those  persons  organized  themselves  into  an 
armed  force,  and  on  the  20th  daj-  of  Sept..  17«(!,  marched  in- 
to Exeter  and  surrounded  the  meeting  house  where  both  houses 
of  assembly  were  in  session,  and  tried  to  enforce  their  demands 
with  threats  of  death  to   any   person    wlio    should    attempt   to 


'9 


escape  until  they  were  granted.  Their  cry  Avas  for  paper  nion- 
e}',  an  equal  distribution  of  propert}',  and  a  release  from  debts. 
During  the  day  the  legislators  were  thus  held  in  confinement 
without  passing  a  single  act  for  the  relief  of  their  their  threaten- 
ing captors.  Early  on  that  Wednesday  evening  the  loyal  in- 
habitants of  Exeter  and  vicinity  rallied  to  the  relief  of  their  law 
makers,  and  the  familiar  roll  of  the  drum  calling  the  men  to- 
gether, and  their  loud  huzzas  for  government  reached  the  ears 
of  the  insurrectionists,  who  thought  discretion  the  better  part  of 
valor  and  withdrew  rather  than  provoke  an  attack  which  they 
felt  sui'e  would  come  if  the}'  continued  longer  to  hold  the  legis- 
lature in  continement.  The  same  evening  orders  were  issued 
calling  out  the  state  militia  to  quell  the  insurrection,  and  on  the 
next  day  the  chief  ofticer  in  the  movement  with  about  forty  of 
his  followers  were  arrested,  but  only  six  were  detained  for  trial 
for  treason.  Two  others  were  subsequently  arrested  and  tried 
for  the  same  olfence,  but  all  were  linally  released. 

In  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  the  courts  in  Middle- 
sex and  Bristol  counties  were  inoperative,  while  on  account  of 
organized  armed  opposition  it  was  impossible  for  the  courts  to 
transact  any  business  in  the  counties  of  Worcester,  Hampshire, 
or  Berkshire.  This  leit  but  a  very  small  portion  of  the  territory- 
of  the  state  under  the  control  of  its  governor.  A  proclamation 
had  been  issued  calling  together  the  members  of  the  General 
Court  on  the  18th  of  October.  But  the  decided  stand  taken  by 
the  opposition  party  and  their  bold  actions  influenced  Governor 
Bowdoin  to  issue  another  call,  fixing  Wednesday  the  27th  day 
of  September  for  their  coming  together ;  and  at  the  opening  for 
business  the  Governor  took  occasion  to  address  that  honorable 
body  un  the  condition  of  alfuirs  within  the  commonwealth,  stat- 
ing the  danger  that  might  come  from  such  unjustifiable  actions 
of  the  insurgents,  and  how  he  had  attempted  to  suppress  them. 
"If  the  people,"  he  said,  "would  not  be  obedient  to  orders  is- 
sued for  their  own  safety,  (referring  to  the  failure  of  the  militia 
to  respond  to  his  call)  the  consequences  were  imputable  only  to 
themselves."  The  speech  was  cordially  received,  but  the  major- 
ity of  the  General  Court  was  not  found  in  favor  of  adopting  any 
coercive  measures  towards  the  people. 


80 

They  felt  that  the  first  thing  for  them  to  do  was  to  remove, 
so  far  as  it  was  in  their  power,  all  causes  for  discontent,  believ- 
ing when  this  was  done  nothing  further  would  be  heard  of  in- 
surrections. 

County  conventions  were  again  in  order,  eighteen  towns  in 
Middlesex,  forty-one  in  Worcester,  and  all  but  one  in  Bristol, 
met  in  convention  in  their  several  counties,  and  petitions  were 
framed  and  sent  to  the  General  Court.     That  body,  however, 
looked  with  some  suspicion  upon  the  acts  of  these  conventions, 
considering  them  as  rather  wanting  the  constitutional  impress  ; 
and  that  it  was  necessary  for  these  petitions  to  be  referred  back 
to  the  several  towns  for  their  endorsements  before  they  could 
legally  come  before  them  for  their  action.     But  the  petitions, 
whether  from  the  towns  or  counties,  were  so   nearly   alike  that 
they  decided  to  consider  the  following  articles  :  The  sitting  of  the 
General  Court  in  Boston  ;  the  institution  and  regulation  of  the 
courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General    Sessions   of  the   Peace, 
with  the  mode  of  holding  the  Probate  courts  ;  the  burdens  of  the 
people  arising  from  the  scarcity  of  money   and    the    difficulties 
thereby  accruing  in  the  payment  of  back  taxes  and  private  debts  ; 
the  mode  of  appropriating  the  proceeds  of  the  import  and  excise 
duties  ;  the  fee  bill  and  the  salaries  of  the  officers  of  government. 
These  matters  were  at  once  referred  to  the  proper  committees, 
and  the  work  of  reconstruction  began.     Although   the   annual 
salary  of  the  Governor  had  been  previously  fixed  at  £1100  by  a 
vote  of  the  legislature  under  the  constitution,  this  General  Court 
voted  that  it  was  within  the  province  of  that  body  to   fix  this 
salary  from  year  to  year  ;  that  in  their  opinion  it  v.as  too  high 
at  the  present  time  and  should  be  considerably  reduced,  as  well 
as  the  salaries  of  all  other  state  officers,  at  the  first  session  of  the 
next  legislature.     In  fact  the  entire  session  was  passed  in  faith- 
fully trying  to  find  and  adopt  some  measures  that  would  afford 
relief  to  their  sufTeriug  constituency.     The  house  voted  to  re- 
move the  court  from  Boston  if  it  could  be  done  with  an3'  advan- 
tage to  the  people  ;  and  a  committee  consisting  of  one  from  each 
county  was  appointed  to  report  at  the  next  session  upon  a  suit- 
able place.     An  address  to  the  people  was  issued   and  sent  to 
every  town  in  the  state,  for  the  purpose  of  informing  them  of  the 


SI 


exact  condition  of  public  matters,  and  trying  to  show  that  much 
of  the  dissatisfaction  and  unrest  aniono-  the  people  came  largely 
from  a  lack  of  knowledge  relating  to  the  atfairs  of  state  ;  that 
false  rumors  Jiad  been  put  in  circulation  by  designing  men  to 
embitter  them  against  an  administration  that  was  doing  all  in  its 
power  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  her  people.  Mr.  Isaiah 
Thomas  in  his  Worcester  Magazine,  speaking  of  the  court,  says: 
"We  must  acknowledge,  no  General  Court  since  the  Revolution, 
have  deserved  more  of  their  countr}',  nor  could  any  court  have 
made  greater  exertions  to  restore  the  public  tranquility'  in  times 
of  ditliculty  and  danger."  A  general  pardon  was  granted  all 
persons  who  had  taken  part  in  the  insurrection,  upon  their  tak- 
ing the  oath  of  allegiance  previous  to  the  first  day  of  Jan.,  1787. 
The  suspension  of  the  writ  of /K(6fa.s  co?7>?<s  and  the  provision 
for  trying  persons  charged  with  high  treason  was  to  take  place 
under  the  same  condition.  A  bill  passed  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives to  be  engrossed  for  regulating  the  proceedings  in  the 
courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  ;  and 
after  having  given  much  time  to  the  removal  of  some  of  the 
thorns  in  the  tiesh,  they  hoped  that  discord  might  disappear, 
and  to  discourage  the  appearance  of  further  armed  resistance,  a 
riot  act  was  passed,  as  well  as  a  vote  to  sustain  the  Governor 
in  calling  out  the  militia  to  support  theSupreme  Judicial  courts 
which  were  about  to  be  held  at  Taunton  and  Cambridge.  These 
acts  of  the  General  Court  had  their  influence  upon  the  people, 
and  at  Taunton  no  opposition  was  ottered  to  the  court ;  and  in 
Cambridge  the  militia  numbering  over  2000  under  command  of 
]\Iajor  Gen.  John  Brooks  held  peaceable  possession  of  the  place. 
The  next  court  to  convene  was  that  of  General  Sessions  for 
Worcester,  which  had  been  adjourned  to  Nov.  21st.  The  oppo- 
nents of  law  and  order  had  not  forgotten  the  day  to  which  the 
court  had  been  adjourned,  and  on  its  arrival  they  had  mustered 
from  the  then  sparsel}'  populated  interior  of  Worcester  County 
quite  an  imposing  body  of  determined  men  who  had  pledged 
themselves  to  resist  the  transaction  of  legal  business.  A  little 
company'  of  armed  men,  about  GO  in  number,  under  Abraham 
Gale  of  Princeton,  arrived  in  town,  and  during  Wednesday 
others  came  in  from  Shrewsbury  and  Hubbardston,  under  Adam 


82 

Wheeler  of  the  latter  place.*  The  court  met  according  to  ad- 
jourument  at  Patch's  tavern,  and  a  petition  was  presented  by  a 
committee  from  the  Regulators,  requesting  them  to  adjourn  until 
after  a  new  choice  of  representatives.  The  court  decided  that 
it  was  not  in  their  power  to  accede  to  such  a  request.  On  being 
informed  of  this,  by  their  committee,  the  Regulators  took  pos- 
session of  the  ground  about  the  court  house.  It  was  now  left 
for  the  justices  and  court  attendants  to  perform  their  duties  so 
far  as  possible.  They  had  no  armed  force  to  sustain  them,  no 
militia  at  their  command,  but  with  true  courage  they  set  out  for 
the  court  house,  the  high  sherift',  Col.  William  Greenleaf  of 
Lancaster,  taking  the  lead.  They  were  allowed  to  proceed  to 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  steps  when  they  were  confronted 
by  three  rows  of  fixed  bayonets  which  they  were  uuable  to  pass, 
and  after  the  reading  of  the  riot  act  by  the  high  sheriff,  the  jus- 
tices dispersed  without  transacting  any  business. 


*  Mr.  Adam  Wheeler  Avho  was  in  command  of  a  company  of  Ile2;ulators 
at  the  time  just  referred  to,  had  caused  the  following  to  be  published: 

HuBBARDSTON,  Nov.  7th.  178G. 

To  THE  PUBLIC  : — We  have  lately  emerged  from  a  bloody  war  in  Avhich 
liberty  was  the  glorious  prize  aimed  at.  I  early  stepped  forth  in  the  defence 
of  this  country,  and  cheerfully  fought  to  gain  this  prize,  and  liberty  is  still 
the  object  I  have  in  view.  When  moved  with  the  distress  of  the  people,  I 
stepped  forth  in  a  private  capacity,  with  others,  to  oppose  the  sitting  of  the 
courts  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  and  when  I  was 
promoted  to  take  command  I  had  no  intention  to  destroy  the  public  govern- 
ment, but  to  have  the  courts  suspended  to  prevent  such  abuses  as  have  of 
late  taken  place  by  sitting  of  those  courts,  distressed  to  see  valuable  and 
industrious  members  of  society  dragged  from  their  families  to  prison,  to  the 
great  damage,  not  only  of  their  families  but  the  community  at  large,  wait- 
ing to  have  redress  of  such  grievances  in  a  constitutional  way,  and  as  lib- 
erty is  the  prize  I  still  have  in  view,  and  in  this  glorious  course  I  am  deter- 
mined to  stand  with  firmness  and  resolution.  The  .Supreme  court  I  never 
had  any  intention  to  disturb,  but  used  my  endeavors  to  prevent  others 
therefrom.     If  this  should  be  called  in  question  I  wish  to  be  put  to  prove  it. 

So  I  remain  the  public's  humble  servant, 

AIJAM  WHEELER. 


8?> 


At  this  time  perliaps  the  opposition  party  was  not  as  strong 
numerically  as  it  had  been  ;  the  timid  and  vacillating  ones  had 
withdrawn  ;  those  remaining  had  been  thoroughly  organized 
and  equipped  for  a  vigorous  campaign.  Governor  Bowdoin 
and  his  councillors  saw  what  must  coMe — a  sharp,  decisive  blo/o 
from  the  governme7it,  or  they  were  hopelessly  lost.  November 
25th,  the  Governor  called  upon  the  major  generals  in  the  state 
to  see  that  their  divisions  were  perfectly  organized  and  equipped 
read}-  to  take  the  field  ;  and  expressed  a  hope  that  the  militia 
would  not  be  found  wanting.*  Opportunities  for  receiving  par- 
dons prortered  by  the  General  Court  to  the  leaders  of  the  insur- 
rection had  not  been  improved  to  any  extent,  and  government 
began  to  display  her  authority'  by  issuing  warrants  for  the  arrest 
of  certain  prominent  instigators  among  the  Regulators  in  the 
county  of  Middlesex.  Early  on  the  morning  of  November  29th, 
the  sheriff  armed  with  a  bundle  of  writs,  attended  by  a  company 
of  troopers  who  had  volunteered  for  the  purpose  under  Col. 
Benjamin  Hichborn,  proceeded  from  Boston  to  Concord.  On 
their  way  they  were  joined  by  a  party  of  loyalists  from  the  town 


*  Humors  reached  the  ears  of  the  Governor  and  his  official  staff  that  a 
combined  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Insurgents  had  been  set  on  foot  to  prevent 
the  sittings  of  the  court  which  were  soon  to  convene  at  Concord  and  Cam- 
bridge, and  Monday  Nov.  21) th  Major  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln  issued  the 
following  division  orders :  "The  Major  General  directs  that  at  the  moment 
authentic  information  shall  be  received,  which  will  be  announced  by  the 
discharge  of  8  cannon  on  Fort  Hill,  that  the  Insurgents  are  embodying 
thenselves  at  Cambridge,  the  Independent  Cadets,  Independent  Light  In- 
fantry, and  the  Republican  Volunteers  are  to  take  post  at  South  River 
Bridge.  These  corps  are  to  be  relieved  as  soon  as  possible  by  the  regiments 
of  this  town.  The  company  of  artillery  post  with  them  at  the  bridge.  The 
corps  relieved  will  advance  to  Charlestown  Neck.  The  horse  are  to  be  in 
advance,  one  division  of  them  to  take  post  on  the  road  leading  from  Charles- 
town  Neck  to  Cambridge,  and  the  other  is  to  take  post  on  the  road  leading 
from  Cambridge  to  Medford.  The  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Com- 
pany to  take  post  at  the  fortification." 

On  AVednesday,  Nov.  2S>th,  the  Governor,  as  commander-in-chief,  issued 
an  order  for  the  militia  to  be  ready  to  march  at  the  shortest  notice.  Tour 
regiments  were  put  in  order  to  protect  the  courts  in  the  county  of  Essex ; 
the  militia  of  Barnstable  county  were  called  out  to  silence  a  little  unpleas- 
antness that  was  beginning  to  show  itself  in  that  quarter. 


84 

of  Groton,   under  command  of  Col.  Henry  Wood.     The  posse 
now  numbered  one  hundred  strong,  and  was  sufflcientl}'  large  to 
to  attract  public  attention,  so  it  was  divided  by  despatching  the 
Groton  party  to  serve  writs  on  on  a  little  company  of  Eegulators 
whom  they  hoped  to  take  by  surprise.     It  seems  they  were  in  a 
measure  successful,  for  they  soon  returned  bringing  with  them 
Oliver  Parker  and  Benjamin  Page,  both  of  Groton.     But  Capt. 
Job  Shattuck,  the  leader  most  coveted,  had   made  his  escape. 
That  night,  in  the  face  of  a  violent  snow  storm,  the  whole  posse 
rode  to  Groton  and  surrounded  the  house  where  Capt.  Shattuck 
lived  only  to  find  that  he  had  again  evaded  their  grasp  and  taken 
to  the  woods,  where,  after  a  dilligent  search,  he  was  discovered 
by  a  small  party  under  Col.  Henry  Wood.     Shattuck  was  not 
taken  without  some  effort  on  the  part  of  his  pursuers,  and   was 
not  secured  until  he  had  received  several  wounds,  one  of  them 
quite  serious.     Capt.  Shattuck  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  French 
war  and  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  war  of  the  revolution,   a 
man  well  qualified  to  be  a  leader  or  to  fill  an  important  place  in 
this  popular  movement.     When  arrested,  Thursday  November 
30th,  he  was  armed  with  a  broadsword  with  which  he  skilfully 
kept  at  bay  his  captors  until  forced  to  yield  to  superior  numbers. 
His  wounds  consisted  of  several  cuts  across  his  face  and  hands  ; 
but  the  one  considered  most  serious  was  a  division  of  the  cap- 
sular lio-ament  at  the  joint  of  the  riffht  knee.     He  was  at  once 
taken  to  a  house  where  his  wounds  were  dressed,  after  which  he 
was  placed  in  a  sleigh  and  taken  to  Boston  and  confined  in  jail. 
(This  was  on  the  first  day  of  December,  the  sherilf  and  his  escort 
returning  the  same  day.)     He  was  given  a  comfortable  room  on 
the  second  floor  of  the  building  and  supplied  with  suitable  bed- 
ding, a  competent   nurse    and   medical    aid.     But   his    wound 
proved  a  serious  matter,  nearly  costing  him  his  life.     So  much 
sympathy  w\t,s  expressed  for  him  by  the  public  that  a  statement 
of  his  case  was  made  through  the  Boston  papers,  Jan.  4,  1787. 
He  was  allowed  to  make  choice  of  surgeons,  consequently  Wed- 
nesday December  20tli,  he  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Kit- 
tredge  of  Tewksbury,  under  whose  care  he  recovered.     He  was 
tried  for  high  treason,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  hung,  but 
subsequently  received  a  i)ardon,  after  he  had  suffered  by  reason 


85 

of  confinement  and  a  dangerous  wound,  all  hut  death  itself."* 
About  the  same  time  tliat  the  slieritl'  with  liis  escort  pet  out 
from  Boston  for  Concord,  forty  men,  some  of  them  said  to  be 
prominent  and  wealth}-  citi;5ens  of  r>oston,  under  command  of 
majors  Spooner  and  Brimmer,  left  lloxbury  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  a  survey  of  Worcester  count}'  to  ascertain  the  possible 
strength  and  situation  of  the  Insurgents  in  that  locality,  and 
perchance  to  capture  such  of  their  leaders  as  might  come  in 
their  way.  They  were,  however,  obliged  to  return  to  Boston 
with  only  acquired  information,  after  having  wounded  one  or 
two  men  in  the  attempt  to  arrest  them  in  Shrewsbury'.! 

The  first  week  in  December  was  close  at  hand,  and  a  session 
of  the  court  of  Common  Pleas  was  expected  at  that  time  in 
Worcester.  The  Regulators  were  making  preparation  for  de- 
termined resistance  to  any  effort  tliat  might  be  made  on  the  part 
of  government  to  sustain  this  court.  A  force  one  thousand 
strong  collected  in  and  about  Worcester,  and  for  more  conveni-" 
ent  accommodation  for  the  men  they  were  divided  into  small 
detachments.  Capt.  Shays  with  his  followers  from  Hampshire 
county  marched  to  Rutland  and  took  quarters  in  the  barracks. 
Some  were  quartered  at   Shrewsbury,    others    at   Grafton    and 


*  He  was  son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Lund)  Sliattuck,  born  in  Groton 
February  11,  1735-6,  and  died  there  January  13,  1819. 

t  This  little  raid  called  forth  the  following  letter  to  Capt.  Ilervey,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Court  from  Montague. 

Shrewsbury  Dec.  2,  1776, 

Sir  :  The  seeds  of  war  are  now  sown.  Two  of  our  men  are  now  bleeding 
that  were  wounded  by  the  light-horse  that  came  from  Boston  and  Roxbury. 
I  request  you  to  let  this  letter  be  read,  and  for  you  and  every  man  to  supply 
men  and  provisions  and  relieve  us  with  a  re- enforcement.  We  are  deter- 
mined here  to  carry  our  point.  Our  case  is  yours.  Don't  give  yourselves 
rest  and  let  us  die  here  for  we  are  all  brethren.  Four  of  our  men  are  taken 
prisoners  and  carried  to  Boston,  We  must  be  relieved  or  you  know  the 
event,  take  my  meaning  for  I  am  in  haste. 

Sir',  I  remain  your  humble  servant. 

THOMAS  GROVER, 
ELISHA  PONDELL. 
Per  Order,  Daniel  Shays,  Capt. 


86 

Holden.  Orders  were  issued  by  Capt  Shays  to  many  towns  in 
Hampshire  county,  and  also  in  Worcester  county,  for  the  men 
to  turn  out  and  join  hiia  at  Rutland.  Sunday  evening  Dec.  3d, 
the  Regulators  who  went  to  Grafton  marched  into  Worcester 
under  command  of  Abraham  Gale  of  Princeton,  Adam  Wheeler 
of  Hubbardston,  Simeon  Hazeltine  of  Hardwick,  and  John 
Williams,  (a  reputed  deserter  from  the  British  army,  aud  who 
had  served  as  Sergeant  in  the  continental  line,)  aud  took  pos- 
session of  the  court  house,  their  strength  being  materially  re- 
enforced  during  the  night.  Again  the  Regulators  had  achieved 
an  easy  victor}'  through  the  unwillingness  of  the  militia  to  turn 
out  against  them.  Gov.  Bowdoin  had  intimated  his  purpose 
to  tvphold  the  session  of  the  court  at  this  time^  and  orders  had 
been  given  to  Major  Gen.  Warner  to  call  out  the  militia  of  his 
division  for  this  purpose,  and  five  regiments  were  directed  to  be 
in  readiness  to  march  at  a  moments  notice.  But  tlie  sheriff 
reported  that  a  suflicient  force  could  not  be  collected,  and  it 
was  exceedingly  doubtful  if  anv  considerable  number  of  the 
militia  could  be  relied  on  in  this  locality.  Government  then 
decided  to  raise  a  sufficient  force  of  volunteers  to  crush  out  the 
insurrection  ;  and  the  judges  were  advised  to  adjourn  the  court 
to  Tuesday  the  23d  day  of  January,  1787,  to  give  time  for  the 
organization  of  such  an  army. 

But  we  must  not  overlook  the  fact  that  there  were  loyal  men 
in  Worcester,  for  on  Monda}',  agreeal)Ie  to  orders,  the  training 
band  and  alarm  list  paraded  on  the  common.  About  170  men 
turned  out.  They  marched  to  the  Hancock  Arms  tavern,  pas- 
sing on  their  way  the  company  of  Insui'gents  who  stood  on  pa- 
rade while  they  passed.  After  reaching  the  tavern  thoy  return- 
ed to  parade  and  were  dismissed  until  10  a.  m.  the  following  day. 

In  the  evening  the  Regulators  beat  to  arms  fearing  the  ap- 
proach of  the  light-horse  said  to  be  on  the  way  from  Boston  ; 
the  alarm  however  proved  to  be  false,  but  a  guard  was  posted 
in  the  court  house,  while  the  rest  of  the  party  were  ordered  to 
la}'  on  their  arras  during  the  night.  About  sunset  a  terrific 
snow  storm  set  in,  more  severe  than  had  been  known  here  for 
years  ;  and  news  came  that  several  companies  of  militia  were 
on  the  way  from  Leominster,  Brookfield  and  other  towns. 


87 

Tuesday  the  storm  continued  with  unabated  fuiy — roads  were 
ahnost  impassible,  yet  a  number  of  men  from  llolden  and  other 
towns  came  in  and  joined  the  Insurgents.  8ome  of  the  judges 
were  unable  to  reach  the  town,  but  in  the  afternoon  court  was 
opened  at  the  Sun  tavern  and  adjourned  b}'  proclamation  to  the 
23d  of  January.  AVednesda^-  morning  8U  men  from  Belchertown 
and  other  places  came  in  and  joined  the  Regulators.  A  com- 
mittee from  Sutton  and  Douglas  arrived  in  town  after  the  court 
had  adjourned,  with  a  petition  asking  that  the  court  adjourn 
until  the  March  term  :  they  had  undoubtedl}'  been  dela^'ed  by 
the  condition  of  the  roads  and  therefore  arrived  too  late  to  be 
of  service. 

The  Regulators  were  apparrentlj'  masters  of  the  situation. 
The  Hon.  Samuel  Baker  of  Berlin,  one  of  the  justices,  was 
stopped  by  a  guard  as  he  was  leaving  town  to  go  to  his  home, 
but  was  soon  released.  Tuesday  evening  the  Insurgents  placed 
sentries  around  the  house  of  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  where  the  Hon. 
Chief  Justice  Artemas  "Ward,  late  speaker  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentatives was  stopping,  but  no  personal  violence  was  oti'ered 
him.  About  two  o'clock  on  Wednesday  afternoon  Capt.  Shays, 
mounted  on  a  white  horse,  arrived  with  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  and  after  joining  the  companies  already  in  town, 
a  grand  parade  was  made  about  the  streets.  The  men  were 
then  dismissed,  and  quartered  on  the  inhabitants  who  freely 
gave  them  food  and  shelter,  'Capt.  Shays  being  cared  for  at  the 
house  of  Col.  Samuel  Fkigg.  Thursday  the  military  leaders 
held  a  consultation  in  regard  to  future  movements,  and  while 
reports  were  rife  that  it  was  the  intention  of  this  little  army  to 
march  direct!}'  to  Boston*  for  the  purpose  of  liberating  their 
brothers  who  were  incarcerated  there,  they  were  engaged  in 
drafting  a  petition  to  tlie  Governor  and  council  and  addresses 
to  the  people  at  large,  and  Hampshire  count}'  in  particular. 


*  Governor  Bowdoin  was  so  fearful  that  they  might  come  to  Boston,  that 
he  issued  orders  to  Major  Gen.  Brooks  to  hold  the  Middlesex  militia  in  close 
proximity  to  the  Worcester  road,  and  to  despatch  persons  to  watch  the  force 
at  Worcester. 


88 

As  these  addresses  were  framed  in  Worcester  I  give  tbem  in 
full,  to  show  more  plainly  the  popular  sentiment  of  the  day. 

An  address  to  the  peo])le  of  the  several  towns  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire  noio  at  arms. 

Gentlemen  : — We  have  thought  proper  to  inform  you  of  some 
of  the  principal  causes  of  the  late  risings  of  the  people,  and  also 
of  their  present  movements,  viz  :  1st.  The  present  expensive 
mode  of  collecting  debts,  which  by  reason  of  the  great  scarcity 
of  cash,  will  of  necessity-  fill  our  jails  with  unhappy  debtors,  and 
thereb}'  a  reputable  body  of  people  rendered  incapable  of  being 
serviceable  either  to  themselves  or  the  community'.  2d.  The 
monies  raised  by  impost  and  excise  being  appropriated  to  dis- 
charge the  interest  of  government  securities,  and  not  the  foreign 
debt,  when  these  securities  are  not  subject  to  taxation.  3d. 
A  suspension  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  b}'  whieli  tliose  per- 
sons who  have  stepped  forth  to  assert  and  maintaui  the  rights 
of  the  people,  are  liable  to  be  taken  and  convej'ed  even  to  the 
most  distant  part  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  thereby  subjected 
to  an  unjust  punishment.  4th.  The  unlimited  power  granted 
to  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriffs,  deputy  sherift's  and  constables, 
by  the  riot  act,  indemnif3'ing  them  to  the  prosecution  thereof, 
when  perhaps  wholly  actuated  from  a  princijile  of  revenge, 
hatred  and  env}-.  Furthermore,  be  assured  that  this  l)ody, 
now  at  arms,  despise  the  idea  of  being  instigated  by  British  em- 
missaries,  which  is  so  strenuously  propagated  by  the  enemies  of 
our  liberties.  And  also  wish  the  most  proper  and  speedy  meas- 
ures ma}'  be  taken  to  discharge  both  our  foreign  and   domestic 

debt. 

Per  order. 

■  DANIEL  GRAY, 

Chairman  of  the  committee 
for  the  above  purpose. 

The  other  address  is  as  follows  : 

To  the  j)r inter  of  the  RepiihJirati  Herald . 

Sir  : — It  has  somehow  or  other  fallen  to  my  lot  to  be  emplo}'- 
ed  in  a  more  conspicuous  manner  than  some  others  of  my  fellow 
citizens,  in  stepping  forth  in  defense  of  the  rights  and  privileges 
of  the  people,  more  especially  of  the  county  of  Hampshire. 


80 

Therefore,  upon  the  desire  of  the  people  now  iit  arms,  1  take 
tliis  method  to  publish  to  the  world  of  mankind  in  general,  par- 
ticularly the  people  of  this  commonwealth,  some  of  the  pi'incipal 
grievances  we  complain  of  and  of  which  we  are  now  seeking  re- 
dress, and  mean  to  contend  for  until  a  i-edress  can  be  obtained, 
wliich  we  hope  will  soon  take  place,  and  if  so  our  brethren  in 
this  comn)onwealth  who  do  not  see  with  us  as  3'et,  shall  find  we 
shall  be  as  peaceable  as  they  are.  In  the  first  place  I  must  re- 
fer vou  to  a  drauglit  of  grievances  drawn  up  bv  a  committee  of 
the  peoi)le  now  at  arms,  under  the  signature  of  Daniel  Gray, 
chairman,  which  is  heartih'  approved  of,  some  others  also  are 
here  added,  viz  :  1st.  The  General  Court  for  obvious  reasons 
must  be  removed  out  of  the  town  of  Boston.  2d.  A  revision  of 
the  constitution  is  absolutely  necessary.  3d.  All  kinds  of  gov- 
ernmental securities  now  on  interest  that  have  been  bought  of 
the  original  owners  for  two  shillings,  three  shillings,  four  shil- 
lings, and  the  highest  for  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  on  the 
pound,  and  have  received  more  interest  than  the  principal  cost 
the  speculator  who  purchased  them  ;  that  if  justice  was  done, 
we  verily  believe,  nay  positively  know,  it  would  save  this  com- 
monwealth thousands  of  pounds.  4th.  Let  the  lands  belonging 
to  this  commonwealth  at  the  eastward,  be  sold  at  the  best  ad- 
vantage to  pay  the  remainder  of  our  domestic  debt.  5th.  Let 
the  monies  arising  from  impost  and  excise  be  appropriated  to 
discharge  the  foreign  debt.  Gth.  Let  that  act  passed  by  the 
General  Court  last  June  l\v  a  small  majority  of  only  seven, 
called  the  supplementary  aid,  for  twenty-five  years  to  come,  be 
repealed.  7th.  The  total  abolition  of  the  Inferior  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace.  8th.  Dep- 
uty sheriffs  totally  set  aside  as  a  useless  set  of  officers  in  the 
community,  and  constables  who  are  really  necessary,  be  impow- 
ered  to  do  the  duty,  by  which  means  a  large  swarm  of  lawyers 
will  be  banished  from  their  wonted  haunts,  who  have  been  more 
damage  to  the  people  at  large,  especially  the  common  farmers, 
than  the  savage  beasts  of  prey.  To  this  I  boldly  sign  my  prop- 
er name,  as  a  hearty  well  wisher  to  the  real  rights  of  the  people. 

THOMAS  GROVER. 
Worcester,  December  7th,  17S(i. 


90 

Again  the  Regulators  were  successful  in  Worcester,  the  ob- 
ject of  their  visit  having  been  accomplished,  and  man}'  of  them 
returned  to  their  homes.  The  exceptionall}'  severe  weather  had 
given  them  a  hard  trial  during  the  past  week,  but  their  courage 
and  physical  strength  were  equal  to  the  demands  of  the  cam- 
paign. Capt.  Shays  with  a  portion  of  his  command,  about  500 
in  number,  returned  on  Thursda}-  afternoon  b}'  wa}'  of  -Paxton 
to  the  barracks  at  Rutland.*  One  hundred  men  left  for  the 
north  part  of  the  town  in  order,  they  said,  to  quarter  at  Bige- 
low's  tavern  about  four  miles  from  the  meeting  house.  Capt. 
Luke  Da}-,  who  was  in  command  of  a  small  force  stationed  near 
Springfield,  was  ordered  b}-  Capt.  Shays  (Dec.  3d.)  to  march 
to  Worcester  at  once  ;  but  on  account  of  the  condition  of  the 
roads  he  made  slow  progress,  reaching  Leicester  on  the  after- 
noon of  Frida}',  Dec.  8th,  and  as  his  services  were  not  required 
in  Worcester,  he  remained  there  until  IMonday  the  11th,  and 
then  retraced  his  Steps  to  Springfield.  Saturday  morning,  De- 
cember Kth,  there  came  another  snow  storm,  but  about  noon  the 
remaining  Regulators  paraded  before  Patch's  tavern  and  then 
started  for  home,  one  company  from  Ward,  one  from  Holden, 
others  from  Spencer,  Rutland,  Barre,  Hubbardston  and  Peters- 
ham ;  and  by  night  the  town  was  clear  of  them,  and  peace  and 
quietness  again  took  the  place  of  the  sound  of  martial  music 
and  the  measured  tread  of  men  in  arms. 

Springtield  was  the  next  objective  point,  as  Tuesday,  Decem- 
ber 26th,  was  the  da}'  fixed  by  the  legislature  for  holding  the 
Judicial  Court  at  that  place.  Thither  Shays  marched  his  little 
army,  and  took  possession  of  the  court  house,  posting  bis  guards 
in  true  military  style.  He  then  sent  a  communication  to  the 
judges  requesting  that  no  business  be  transacted  by  the  court, 
to  which  they  readily  assented.  The  news  of  tlie  result  here 
reached  Boston  six  days  after  its  occurrence,  which  shows  the 
rapidity  with  which  news  travelled  in  those  days  ;  but  this  delay 


*  When  Buigoyne's  army  was  surrendered,  in  1777,  Rutland  was  selected 
as  a  place  of  safety  for  the  prisoners.  Here  several  acres  were  enclosed  by 
a  stockade  twelve  feet  high,  within  which  was  constructed  barracks  for  the 
accommodation  of  soldiers.     These  barracks  were  used  bv  Shavs  in  178fi. 


91 

ma}'  have  been  parti}'  occasioned  by  the  wi-etched  condition  of 
the  roads  at  this  season  of  the  year. 

It  shouh]  l)e  remembered  that  January  1st,  1787,  was  the 
limit  fixed  to  the  time  for  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  re- 
ceiving pardon.  A  considerable  number  had  availed  themselves 
of  this  opportunit}-.  l>ut  the  time  had  now  gone  by,  and  still 
men  were  in  arms  to  prevent  the  action  of  the  inferior  courts  in 
several  counties  in  the  state,  and  Gov.  Bowdoin  issued  orders 
to  raise  440U  rank  and  tile,  to  serve  for  3U  days  if  not  sooner 
discharged,  and  to  march  for  the  protection  of  the  courts  to  be 
held  at  Worcester,  January  23d,  1787,  Seven  hundred  men 
were  to  be  raised  from  the  county  of  Suffolk,  500  from  Essex, 
800  from  JMiddlesex,  1200  from  Worcester,  and  1200  from 
Hampshire;  and  Major  Gen.  Benjamin  Lincoln  was  to  com- 
mand the  force.  The  legislature  was  not  in  session,  and  there 
was  no  money  in  the  treasury-  to  equip  and  maintain  such  an 
arm}' ;  but  a  few  lo\'al  gentlemen  about  Boston  volunteered  to 
loan  the  government  £()000,  and  the  work  of  organizing  the  little 
army  went  on,  for  it  might  not  be  safe  to  trust  the  fate  of  the 
Commonwealth  to  the  militia  at  this  time. 

Governor  Bowdoin  now  had  something  to  work  with,  and 
January  12th,  he  issued  an  address  to  the  people,  in  which  he 
stated  that  he  had  ordered  a  part  of  the  militia  to  assemble  in 
arms  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  Judicial  Court  at  Wor- 
cester ;  of  aiding  the  civil  magistrates  in  executing  the  laws  ; 
of  repelling  all  insurgents  against  the  government ;  and  of  ap- 
prehending all  disturbers  of  the  public  peace,  etc  ;  and  appealed 
to  all  men  of  principle,  and  friends  of  justice,  to  give  their  sup- 
port to  his  endeavor.  He  also  issued  an  order  to  Gen.  Benja- 
min Lincoln,  (Jan.  l!)th,)  to  protect  the  courts  at  Worcester; 
and  on  the  24th  of  January  he  gave  him  additional  instructi<ms 
at  the  request  of  both  Generals  Lincoln  and  Shepard,  to  appre- 
hend, disarm  and  secure  all  persons  who  in  a  hostile  manner 
should  attempt  or  enterprise  the  destruction,  invasion,  detri- 
ment or  anno^'ance  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  particularly  all 
such  bodies  of  armed  men  as  were  or  might  be  assembled  in  the 
counties  of  Worcester,  Hampshire,  Berkshire,  or  elsewhere  in 
the  state. 


92 

On  Friday  Jan.  19th,  1787,  this  army  met  by  appointment  at 
Roxbury,  and  soon  started  on  the  march  for  Worcester,  where 
they  arrived  on  Monday  the  22d.  The  presence  of  so  large  a 
body  of  armed  supporters  of  government  contributed  greatly  to 
strengthen  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the  Governor  to  sustain 
the  administration,  and  man}'  persons  who  to  this  time  had  con- 
tinued to  labor  with  the  opposition,  were  now  won  over  to  the 
side  of  government  rather  than  encourage  a  civil  war — a  calam- 
ity which  there  seemed  no  possible  chance  to  avert  should  the 
Regulators,  who  were  well  officered  and  organized,  stand  and 
face  the  enemy  sent  for  their  captui'e  or  annihilation. 

It  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  inhabitants  of  Worcester 
County  were  not  and  never  had  been  in  favor  of  resorting  to 
armed  force  ;  and  as  no  force  came  at  this  time  from  Hampshire 
County  to  prevent  the  sitting  of  the  courts,  they  were  allowed 
to  proceed  without  molestation  for  the  first  time  in  five  months. 

All  e3'es  were  again  turned  towards  Springfield,  around  which 
place  the  Regulators  were  concentrating  a  strong  force.  Before 
Gen.  Lincoln  left  Roxbury  with  his  army,  orders  had  been 
issued  to  Gen.  William  Shepard  to  collect  as  many  of  the  militia 
in  Hampshire  County  as  he  convenient!}'  could,  and  take  pos- 
session of  that  post,  all  of  which  he  had  done,  he  having  about 
one  thousand  men  at  his  command,  well  equipped  with  arms 
from  the  continental  arsenal,  at  which  ])oint  the  miltia  were 
stationed.  Capt  Shays  with  1100  men  was  also  there  occupying 
one  part  of  the  town,  while  Capt.  Luke  Day  with  400  men  were 
stationed  at  AVest  Springfield,  and  Capt  Eli  Parsons  with  400 
more  Regulators  from  Berkshire  County  was  in  possession  of 
the  north  part  of  the  town.*  On  AVednesday.  Jan.  24th.  Capt. 
Shays  sent  a  message  to  Day  asking  his  co-operation  in  a  con- 
templated movement  to  take  place  the  following  day  in  front  of 
the  forces  under  Gen.  Sliepard.  Day  replied  that  he  could  not 
assist  him  on  the  2rHh,  but  would  on  the  2(Jth.  This  reply  was 
intercepted  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen.  Shepard.  Captain 
Shays  receiving  no  rep!}'  supposed  that  Capt.  Day  was  going 
to  act  with  him  on  the  25th. 


*  Minot  says  of  this  army,  that  it  was  respectable  from  their  numbers  and 
large  proportion  of  old  Continental  followers. 


93 


Tlie  main  body  of  the  state  troops  luuler  Gen.  Lincoln  was  at 
this  time  two  days  march  from  Springfield,  making  the  situation 
of  Shopard  and  his  men  seem  truly  a  critical  one  ;  and  so  anx- 
ious was  Gen.  Lincoln  for  their  safety-  that  he  instructed  Gen. 
Brooks  on  the  "ioth  to  proceed  with  the  Middlesex  militia  to 
Springfield  with  all  possible  speed.  The  Regulators  concentra- 
ted here  numbered  nearly  20UO,  about  double  the  force  under 
Gen.  Shepard,  and  with  the  only  re-enforcement  of  state  troops 
two  days  march  distant.  Why  did  not  Shays  order  an  assault 
at  once  ?  If  he  could  not  defeat  Shepard  now  he  certainly  could 
not  after  the  arrival  of  the  forces  under  Lincoln.  Would  he 
not  have  done  so  had  he  contemplated  an  assault?  Neither 
does  it  appear  that  he  really  thought  Shepard  would  order  an 
attack  upon  him. 

Let  me  relate  what  was  done  according  to  government  report- 
ers. Shays  on  the  ■24th  of  January-,  sent  a  communication  from 
Wilbraham  to  Major  Gen.  Lincoln,  in  which  he  stated  his  un- 
willingness to  be  accessory  to  the  shedding  of  blood,  and  from 
a  desire  to  promote  peace,  he  asked  that  the  Insurgents  might 
be  saved  harmless  until  the  next  sitting  of  the  General  Court ; 
that  persons  who  had  been  taken  by  government  should  be  re- 
leased without  punishment.  This  being  granted,  the  Insurgents 
would  return  to  their  homes  and  wait  for  constitutional  relief. 
Now  we  have  what- he  did  two  days  later. 

[Oen.  William  Shepard  to  Gov,  James  BoAvdoin.] 

'■'SprhKjJidd,  January  20,  17S7. 

Sir  : — The  unhappy  time  is  come  in  which  we  have  been  obliged 
to  shed  blood.  Shays  at  the  head  of  about  1200  men  marched 
yesterday  aiternoon  about  four  toward  the  public  buildings  in 
battle  array.  He  maix-hed  his  men  in  an  open  column  by  pla- 
toons. I  sent  several  times  by  one  of  my  aids  and  two  other 
gentlemen.  Capt.  Samuel  Bullington  and  Joshua  Woodbridge  to 
him  to  know  what  he  was  after  or  what  he  wanted.  His  reply 
was,  he  wanted  harrackH,  and  barracks  he  ivould  have  and  stores. 
The  answer  returned  was,  he  must  purchase  them  dear  if  he  had 
them.  He  still  proceeded  his  march  to  within  250  yards  of  the 
arsenal  and  made  a  halt.     I  immediately   sent  Major  AVilliam 


94 

Lymau.  one  of  m}'  aids,  and  Capt.  Bufflngtou,  to  inform  him 
not  to  march  his  troops  an}-  nearer  the  arsenal  on  his  peril,  as 
I  was  stationed  there  by  order  of  your  Excellency  and  the  Sec- 
retary of  war,  for  the  defence  of  public  property-,  in  case  he  did 
I  should  certainly  fire  on  him  and  his  men.  Mr.  Wheeler,  who 
appeared  to  be  one  of  his  aids,  met  Mr.  Lyman  after  he  had 
delivered  m}'  orders  in  the  most  peremptory  manner,  and  made 
answer,  that  was  all  he  wanted.  Mr.  Lyman  returned  with  his 
answer.  Shays  immediately'  put  his  troops  in  motion  and  march- 
ed on  rapidl}' near  100  yards.  I  then  ordered  Major  Stephens 
who  commanded  the  artillery,  to  fire  upon  them  :  he  accordingly 
did,  the  first  two  shots  he  endeavored  to  overshoot  them,  with 
the  hope  that  the}'  would  take  warning  without  firing  among 
them,  but  it  had  no  effect.  Mr,  Stephens  then  directed  his  shot 
through  the  center  of  his  column.  The  fourth  or  fifth  shot  put 
the  whole  column  into  the  utmost  confusion.  Shays  made  an 
effort  to  displa}'  the  column,  but  in  vain.  We  had  one  howitzer 
which  was  loaded  with  grape  shot,  which  when  fired  gave  them 
great  uneasiness.  Had  I  been  disposed  to  destroy  them,  I  might 
have  charged  on  their  rear  and  flanks  with  my  infantry  and  field 
pieces,  and  could  have  killed  the  greatei'  part  of  his  whole  army 
within  twenly-five  minutes  ;  there  ivas  not  a  siin/le  mufiket  fired 
on  either  side.  I  found  three  men  dead  on  the  spot,  and  one 
wounded  who  has  since  died.  One  of  our  artillery  men  by  in- 
attention was  badly  wounded.  Three  uuiskets  were  taken  up 
with  the  dead  which  were  deeply  loaded.     I  lia\e  received  no 

re-enforcements  and  expect  to  be  attacked  this  day  by  their 
whole  force  combined." 

The  names  of  the  persons  killed  at  this  time  were,  Jabez  Spi- 
cer.  Ensign  Zimri  Dickenson,  Simeon  Allen,  and  Obadiah  VV\ard. 
Here  we  have  the  evidence  of  Gen.  Shepard  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  government  troops,  that  not  a  shot  iras  fired  l/i/  iShay's 
men,  and  it  seems  conclusive  that  Capt.  Shays  gave  no  orders 
to  return  the  fire,  for  had  he  done  so,  they  certainly  would  have 
obej'ed.  Captain  Sha3-s  and  his  followers  were  no  cowards. 
A  long  list  of  them  were  war  veterans,  well  ai'med,  and  more 
than  an  even  match  for  their  opponents  in  numbers.  From  the 
information  before  me,  it  seems  more  than  jiroliable  that  Shavs 


95 

and  his  men  had  no  idea  that  the  militia  would  fire  upon  them, 
and  they  were  conipletel}'  surprised.  Had  not  they  met  before 
at  this  ver\'  place,  when  a  compromise  was  elfected  that  recog- 
nized the  p/'csewce  aiid  tfw^/tor%  of  the  Regulators?  If  Shays 
marched  his  men  to  the  front  would  they  not  again  be  received 
as  equals  and  another  compromise  be  made?  Civil  war  they 
certainly  did  not  want  or  they  could  have  returned  the  fire. 

This  tragic  movement  on  the  part  of  the  militia  struck  terror 
to  the  heart  of  many  a  Regulator ;  and  vSha3s  is  reported  to 
have  lost  200  men  by  desertion  on  his  hasty  retreat  to  the  town 
of  Ludlow,  about  10  miles  north-east  of  Springfield.  But  Fri- 
da}-  the  2(ith  he  with  the  remainder  of  his  force  formed  a  junc- 
tion with  Eli  Parsons  and  his  command  at  Chicopee.  Parsons 
was  called  the  P>erkshire  leader.  Gen.  Lincoln  with  his  men 
arrived  in  Springfield  on  the  27th  and  28th,  and  immediately 
put  in  motion  the  entire  government  force.  A  portion  of  the 
men  with  artillery  and  horse  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice  to  at- 
tack Luke  Day,  who  with  his  command  was  still  at  West  Spring- 
field. They  however  made  a  hasty  retreat  to  Northampton, 
and  the  reward  of  that  chase  was  only  a  few  stragglers  picked 
up  by  the  light  horse.  In  the  mean  time  Gen.  Shepard  with 
his  Hampshire  County  militia  moved  up  the  river  bank  to  pre- 
vent the  union  of  Day  with  Shays,  while  Gen.  Lincoln  pushed 
on  after  the  main  body  of  the  Insurgents  as  rapidly  as  the  se- 
verity of  the  season  would  permit,  reaching  the  town  of  Amherst 
Just  in  time  to  find  that  Shays  witli  his  main  army  had  passed 
through  there  on  their  way  to  Pelham,  and  for  the  time  being 
were  out  of  his  reach,  so  he  turned  aside  to  the  town  of  Hadley 
to  quarter  his  troops  for  the  night.  In  the  morning  information 
came  of  the  capture  of  a  number  of  Shepard's  men  by  the  Insur- 
gents at  Southampton.  Col.  Baldwin  in  command  of  the  Brook- 
field  volunteers.  50  men  in  sleighs,  and  Col.  Ebenezer  Crafts 
of  Worcester  with  100  horse,  were  immediately  sent  in  pursuit 
to  retake  the  prisoners.  About  1 2  o'clock  the  same  night  they 
came  up  with  them  at  Middlefield  ;  it  was  soon  ascertained  that 
there  were  about  <S0  Insurgents  under  Capt.  Luddington,  and 
that  about  one  half  of  these  men  with  their  commander  were 
quartered  at  a  house  together,  while  the  remainder  had  taken 


96 

shelter  at  other  houses.  The  house  where  Luddington  had  tak- 
en lodgings  was  iramediatel}'  surrounded  and  the  surrender  of 
himself  and  part}'  demanded.  Slight  demonstrations  towards 
resistance  were  made,  the  alarm  was  given,  and  their  fellows 
came  to  their  support  and  the  taking  of  life  was  only  prevented 
b}'  the  cool  calculation  and  good  judgment  of  those  in  command 
of  the  contending  parties  ;  a  few  moments  parle}'  and  with  an 
over  estimated  understanding  of  the  strength  of  the  state  troops 
before  them,  the  Insurgents  laid  down  their  arms,  and  5'J  pris- 
oners with  9  sleigh  loads  of  provisions  was  the  prize  with  which 
Colonels  Baldwin  and  Crafts  returned  to  the  head  quarters  of 
Gen.  Lincoln  on  the  next  day. 

The  main  body  of  the  Insurgents  under  Capt.  Shays  was 
now  posted  on  two  high  hills,  known  as  East  and  West  hills,  in 
the  town  of  Pelham.  On  Tuesday'  Jan.  30th,  Gen.  Lincoln 
sent  a  letter  addressed  to  Ccq^t.  Shays  and  officers  commanding 
men  in  arms  against  the  government  of  the  Commomvealth,  the 
purport  of  which  was  an  appeal  to  their  best  Judgment  whether 
the  taking  up  arms  in  support  of  their  cause  had  proved  an  er- 
ror or  not ;  and  asked  them  to  disband  their  deluded  followers, 
and  warned  them  that  unless  such  action  was  taken,  he  nuist 
advance  on  them,  and  if  they  fired  upon  his  troops,  the  conse- 
quences might  prove  fatal  to  many  ;  and  in  order  to  prevent 
the  shedding  of  blood  reccommended  th(tt  th('i/  lafj  down  their 
arms  an^d  surrender  themselves,  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  Commonwealth,  and  he  v:oidd  reeominend  them  to  the 
tnercy  of  the  General  Court.  To  this  Capt  Shays  replied  that 
whether  tho\'  had  committed  an  error  or  not  in  taking  up  arms, 
circumstances  had  brought  them  where  they  were  ;  that  they 
deplored  the  state  of  things  and  not  desirous  of  staining  the  land 
they  had,  helped  to  acquire  in  the  laW  war,  nv'th  the  blood  of  their 
brethren  and  neighbors  :  therefore  asked  that  hostilities  might 
cease  on  the  part  of  government  until  the  General  Court  might 
take  action  on  a  certain  petition  which  had  been  submitted. 
Gen.  Lincoln  replied,  "•Your  request  is  totall}-  inadmissible  as 
no  powers  are  delegated  to  me  which  would  justify  a  delay  of 
m}'  operations.  I  have  again  to  warn  the  people  in  arms  against 
the  government  that  they  must  immediately   disband   to   avoid 


97 

the  ill  consequences  tliut  may  ensue  should  they  he  inattentiA'e 
to  this  caution." 

It  was  now  evidently  the  intention  of  Shays  and  his  followers 
to  gain  some  position  that  would  be  comparativeh-  secure  from 
an}'  further  assault  until  thej'  could  gain  the  attention  of  the 
General  Court  which  stood  adjourned  to  the  30th  day  of  Jan., 
on  wliich  day  their  petition  was  signed  at  Pelhani.  But  owing 
to  the  excitement  and  general  confusion  throughout  the  state, 
the  representatives  could  not  be  collected  until  February  3d, 
four  days  later. 

In  this  petition  which  the  Insurgents  had  presented  to  the 
legislature,  the}'  acknowledged  their  sense  of  error  in  having 
had  recourse  to  arms,  and  in  not  seeking  redi'ess  in  a  consti- 
tutional wa}' ;  that  they  were  heartily  in  favor  of  constitutional 
government ;  that  they  would  lay  down  their  arms  and  retire 
quieth'  to  their  respective  homes,  provided  the}'  and  their  breth- 
ren could  receive  a  general  pardon  for  all  past  and  present  of- 
fences. It  was  signed  by  Francis  Stone,  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  counties  of  Worcester,  Hampshire,  Middlesex  and 
Berkshire,  read  and  accepted  by  the  officers. 

All  along  the  line  of  march  of  Shays'  army  from  Chicopee  to 
Pelham,  the  sympathising  inhabitants  had  given  them  food  and 
shelter,  and  many  had  also  offered  their  services  to  aid  the  cause. 
General  Lincoln  found  as  he  passed  through  the  town  of  Am- 
herst, that  most  of  the  male  population  had  deserted  their  homes 
to  follow  Capt.  Shays.  It  was  estimated  that  notwithstanding 
many  desertions,  he  had  at  least  2000  men  with  him  at  Pelham. 
After  the  sudden  flight  of  the  Insurgents  from  Springfield  the 
officers  of  government  concluded  they  might  spare  some  of  their 
volunteers,  and  about  2000  were  discharged  and  sent  home  ; 
but  as  the  accessions  exceeded  the  desertions  among  the  Insur- 
gents, Gov.  Bowdoiu  issued  an  order  for  2600  more  of  the  mili- 
tia to  take  the  field.  Aljout  this  time  however,  it  was  apparent 
that  a  decided  reaction  was  taking  place  in  favor  of  government 
was  taking  place  in  the  central  portion  of  the  state,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  eastern  portion  had  previously  increased  their  pat- 
ronage in  that  direction,  many  of  the  towns  that  hitherto  had 
encouraged  opposition  to  the  administration,  and  furnished  their 


98 

quota  for  Shays'  army,  were  now  exerting  an  influence  through 
their  several  committees  to  have  that  suppoi't  withdrawn  ;  and 
many  of  the  Insurgents  were  made  to  see  and  admit  their  error 
in  resorting  to  arms,  being  quite  ready  to  lay  down  their  weap- 
ons, take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Commonwealth,  and 
return  to  their  homes  wiser  if  not  better  citizens.  Discourage- 
ment became  so  rife  in  Capt.  Shays'  camp  that  to  obtain  pardon 
for  all,  rank  and  file,  was  now  the  chief  concern.  After  a  few 
days  of  rest  and  reflection,  Shays  and  his  followers  left  Pelham 
on  Saturday,  Feb.  od,  arriving  at  Petersham  the  same  night. 
This  was  the  last  march  made  by  any  considerable  number  of 
the  Insurgents  together,  for  as  soon  as  intelligence  reached  Gen. 
Lincoln  at  Hadley  that  Capt.  Shays  had  left  East  and  AVest 
hills,  orders  were  issued  to  have  his  men  read}'  at  a  moments 
warning  to  march  in  pursuit.  Already  the  government  Light 
Horse  had  been  dashing  close  at  the  heels  of  the  Regulators  ; 
and  at  one  time  (nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon)  were  within  half 
a  mile  of  their  commander-in-chief,  but  he  was  not  so  easih'  to 
be  taken  b}'  surprise.  They  did  however  capture  several  sleigh 
loads — some  L50  men. 

On  the  report  being  verified  that  Cui)t.  Shays  had  left  Pelham, 
Gen.  Lincoln  set  his  army  in  motion  at  <s  o'clock  on  the  evening 
of  Feb.  3d,  and  by  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  had  reached  New 
Salem.  After  a  very  brief  halt,  the  march  was  continued,  the 
advance  guard  under  Col.  Haskell  reaching  Petersham  about  9 
the  morning  of  the  4th,  covering  a  distance  of  30  miles  in  13 
hours,  in  the  night  time,  over  rough  roads  and  during  a  very 
inclement  season  of  the  year — "an  accomplishment,"  says  Mr. 
Minot,  "never  before  achieved  in  America."  The  same  writer 
also  says,  "had  the  Insurgents  turned  upon  the  government 
troops  at  this  time  when  they  were  so  greatly  fiitigued,  the}- 
might  have  given  them  a  severe  check  If  not  a  total  dffrat," 

But  Capt.  Shays  made  no  effort  to  oi)pose  Gen.  Lincoln,  and 
I  find  no  evidence  tliat  he  even  contemplated  an  attack  upon 
him  at  any  time,  much  less  at  this  period,  when  it  seemed  best 
to  no  longer  contend  even  with  the  show  offeree.  As  soon  as 
the  government  troops  reached  Petersham,  the  insurgent  army 
besan   to   disband   and   scatter   to   their   several  homes,  only  a 


99 

sufficient  number  of  them  holding  together  to  safely  escort  Capt. 
Shays  and  other  prominent  leaders  beyond  the  bounds  of  this 
Commonwealth.  This  they  lost  no  time  in  doing,  going  directly 
to  Athol  on  Sunday,  passing  through  Warwick  on  Monday  the 
oth,  accompanied  by  about  100  men  including  Abraham  Gale, 
who  had  been  severely  disabled  b}-  a  kick  from  a  horse.  Eli 
Parsons  went  over  to  llubbardston  before  he  left  for  Vermont. 

The  Insurgents  never  again  appeared  in  any  considerable 
force,  although  little  bands  of  them  were  now  and  then  attract- 
ing attention  in  ditferent  portions  of  the  three  western  counties 
by  arresting  Loyalists,  with  the  intention  of  holding  them  as 
hostages  for  some  of  their  own  men  who  had  previousl}^  been 
apprehended  and  were  now  held  by  government.  Some  they 
paroled  as  prisoners  of  war  not  to  take  part  ia  favor  of  govern- 
ment against  people  who  styled  themselves  "Regulators." 

Friday,  Feb.  2d,  news  reached  Gen.  Warner,  who  was  in 
command  of  the  loyal  troops  at  AVorcester,  that  a  body  of  Reg- 
ulators were  at  New  Braintree  arresting  people.  He  immediate- 
ly sent  a  detachment  of  about  ISO  men  to  capture  them.  They 
proceeded  to  the  house  of  Moses  Hamilton,  a  tavern  keeper, 
where  it  was  expected  the  Insurgents  would  be  found  ;  but  the 
news  of  their  coming  had  preceded  them,  and  the  Insurgents 
had  posted  themselves  behind  a  stone  wall  read}'  to  receive 
them,  and  as  the  party  from  Worcester  came  up,  a  few  shots 
were  leveled  at  them  by  men  said  to  be  under  the  leadership  of 
Reuben  Lamb  of  Oxford.  Mr.  Jonathan  Rice,  a  deput}-  sheriff, 
received  a  Itall  through  his  arm,  and  another  through  his  hand. 
His  horse  was  also  wounded,  and  David  Young  received  a  ball 
through  liis  knee.  The  Insurgents  then  fled  towards  Rutland, 
leaving  at  the  house  the  proprietor  and  three  men  guarding  Col. 
Samuel  Flag  and  John  vStanton,  both  of  Worcester,  who  had 
been  captured  while  attending  to  private  business  in  Leicester 
the  day  previous,  by  a  few  men  under  the  lead  of  Reuben  Thayer 
of  Uxbridge,  of  whom  it  was  reported  that  he  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  Dec.  30th,  1786,  but  soon  after  went  to  Providence, 
R.  I.,  purchased  some  powder  and  again  joined  the  Insurgents. 

Capt.  Shays  and  several  of  his  associate  officers  were  now 
beyond  the  reach  of  Gov.  Bowdoin  and  his  troops,  and  Feb.  4th, 


100 

I 

he  offered  the  following  rewards  for  their  capture  and  return  to 
the  proper  authorities  :  For  Daniel  Shays  of  Pelham,  £150  ;  for 
Luke  Day  of  West  Springfield,  Adam  Wheeler  of  Plubbardston, 
Eli  Parsons  of  Adams,  £100  each.  Vigorous  attention  was  also 
given  to  persons  throughout  the  state  who  were  b}'  speech  and 
actions  inciting  the  people  against  the  administration. 

Thursday,  Jan,  25th,  Col.  Luke  Drury  of  Grafton,  on  account 
of  his  inimical  disposition  to  government,  was  escorted  to  Bos- 
ton and  placed  in  prison.  Mr.  Drury  was  a  representative  to 
the  General  Court,  and  as  Captain  led  the  Grafton  minute  men 
to  Concord  and  Lexington  ;  enlisted  a  company-  April  24,  1775  ; 
received  a  commission  and  joined  the  forces  at  Cambridge  ;  was 
in  the  regiment  of  Col.  Artemas  Ward  of  Shrewsbury,  and  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  often  moderator  at 
the  public  meetings  of  the  town,  and  filled  acceptably  the  offices 
of  constable,  deputj'  sheriff',  collector  and  selectman.  Friday 
the  2Gth,  Mr.  Caleb  Curtis  of  Charlton,  was  also  taken  to  Bos- 
ton jail.  Mr.  Jonah  Goulding  had  previously  been  incarcerated 
at  Boston  for  stopping  the  courts  in  Worcester,  and  petitioned 
the  General  Court  Feb.  7th,  1787,  for  a  pardon. 

The  most  reckless  and  desperate  of  the  Insurgents  were  now 
to  be  found  in  Hampshire  and  Berkshire  counties,  and  General 
Lincoln  turned  his  attention  in  that  direction,  after  dismissing 
3  companies  of  artillerj-  and  ordering  two  regiments  to  Worces- 
ter. With  the  remainder  of  his  army  took  up  his  march  lor 
Pittsfield,  passing  through  the  towns  of  Amherst,  Hadley,  Ches- 
terfield, Partridgefield  and  Worthington,  arriving  at  Pittsfield 
Feb.  12th.  Just  previous  to  this  date,  about  300  Pegulators 
under  command  of  Major  Wile}',  concentrated  about  West 
Stockbridge  and  Lee  to  prevent  the  action  of  the  courts  at  the 
latter  place.  Gen.  Patterson  led  out  the  militia  in  that  vicinity 
and  confronted  them.  A  compromise  was  effected,  by  which  the 
Insurgents  were  to  disperse,  and  thev  would  not  be  arrested  or 
pursued  by  Patterson  or  his  men,  unless  further  ordered  so  to  do 
by  Gen.  Lincoln.  Unfortunately,  however,  as  INIajor  Wiley  and 
his  men  started  off",  some  of  them  discharged  their  muskets  into 
the  air,  which  was  taken  by  the  state  troops  as  an  attack,  and 
they  soon   arrested   about  50  of  the  Insurgents,  a  circumstance 


0 


which  lidded  much  to  the  feeling  of  resentment  among  the  latter.* 
Immediately  on  the  tirrivnl  of  Gen.  Lincoln  tmd  his  arm}^  at 
Fittsiield,  he  disi^atched  Col.  Tvler  with  a  small  force  to  the 
house  of  Major  Wiley  in  the  town  of  Dalton,  with  the  hope  of 
apprehending  him.  lie  also  sentCapt.  Francis  with  a  company 
of  militia  to  Williamstown,  hoping  to  lind  Parsons  and  perhaps 
other  chiefs  who  were  supposed  to  be  there.  These  expeditions 
were  not  entirely  fruitless,  although  neither  found  the  object  of 
their  search.  Col.  Tyler  returned  with  six  prisoners,  one  a  son 
and  aid  to  Major  Wiley,  a  Mr.  Chamberlin,  second  in  command, 
and  four  others.  Capt.  Francis  brought  in  nine  prisoners,  none 
of  them  prominent  men. 

About  this  time  Mr.  John  Wheeler,  one  of  Shays'  aids,  Mr. 
Mathew  Clark,  and  Dr.  Whiting,  judge  of  the  court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  Berkshire  County,  had  been  taken  into  custody. 
The  same  week  an  attempt  was  made  to  arrest  Capt.  Jason 
Parmenter,  who  with  his  associates  were  seeking  refuge  in  the 
state  of  Vermont,  across  the  line  from  Northfield.  Mr.  Whit- 
ney, a  representative  from  that  town,  with  j\Ir.  Jacob  Walker 
of  AVhately,  a  member  of  the  volunteer  horse  from  Hampshire 
County,  suddenly  came  upon  Parmenter  in  the  road.  Walker 
fell,  shot  through  the  body,  and  died  within  half  an  hour.  Par- 
menter lied  to  the  woods  where  he  was  captured  the  next  day 
by  a  party  under  Capt.  Buffington.  Feb.  21st  closed  the  time 
for  which  the  militia  under  C4en.  Lincoln  were  engaged  to  serve 
in  the  field,  and  during  the  last  week  in  February  the  greater 
part  of  his  army  passed  through  Worcester  on  their  return  home. 
The  General  remained  in  Berkshire  County  awaiting  the  arrival 
of  the  new  quota  of  four  months  men  raised  to  finish  the  contest. 
Several  hundred  Insurgents  who  had  rendezvoused  at  a  place 
called  New  Canaan,  Columbia  Co.,  New  York,  proposed  to  take 
advantage  of  this  opportunity  by  making  a  raid  into  Berkshire 
County  for  the  purpose  of  retaliation,  not  forgetting  even  the 
possil)ility  of  carrying  off  Gen.  Lincoln  himself  should  the  op- 
portunity present  itself,  consequently  about  midnight,  Monday 


Among  these  prisoners  was  Capt.  Hubbart  a  man  of  considerable  property. 


102 

the  26th,  news  reached  Pittslield  that  the  Rebels  were  in  motion 
and  that  that  place  was  the  objective  point.  About  eight  o'clock 
the  next  morning  100  of  them,  under  Capt.  Hamlin,  were  at 
Stockbridge  taking  horses  and  sleighs,  with  such  other  articles 
as  they  stood  in  need  of.  They  also  held  20  of  the  most  re- 
spectable inhabitants  of  the  town  as  prisoners.  Gen.  Lincoln's 
force  in  Pittsfield  was  so  small  that  he  could  otfer  but  little  op- 
position to  the  onward  march  of  the  Insurgents  ;  but  that  eve- 
ning 50  men  were  sent  out  for  the  object  of  re-capturing  the 
prisoners  and  property.  On  Wednesday  the  28th,  some  80  of 
the  loyal  people  of  Great  Barrington  under  Capt.  Ingersoll,  and 
Sheffield  under  Lieut.  Goodrich,  joined  forces  under  Col.  John 
Ashley,  and  overtook  the  raiders  in  the  town  of  Sheffield,  where 
a  little  skirmish  took  place  in  which  Mr.  Gleason  of  Stockbridge 
and  Mr.  Porter  of  Great  Barrington  were  killed,  and  three  other 
militia  men  wounded.  The  raiders  had  two  killed  and  five 
wounded  ;  among  the  latter  was  Capt.  ILamlin.  Gen.  Patter- 
son with  the  militia  arrived  just  in  season  to  make  the  rout  of 
the  raiders  complete,  leaving  in  the  hands  of  Col.  Ashley  about 
70  prisoners  besides  the  men  and  property  they  had  captured 
at  Stockbridge 

March  Sth  the  report  came  to  headquarters  that  the  spirit  of 
opposition  still  raged  in  Berkshire  and  was  far  from  being  sub- 
dued, and  that  small  parties  were  making  prisoners  of  those 
who  distinouished  themselves  as  friends  of  government,  and 
plundering  their  houses.  The  houses  of  Mr.  Sedgwick  and  Mr. 
Edwards  were  robbed  of  property  the  week  before  ;  but  at  this 
time  Shays,  Wheeler,  Major  Wiley,  Captains  Billings,  Conkey, 
Cornell,  and  Hinds,  Mr.  Gray  one  of  the  Councillors,  and  Mr. 
Billings  a  brother  of  the  Captain,  also  two  other  prominent  in- 
surrectionists were  quietly  passing  their  time  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Vermont. 

Monday  March  oth.  Daniel  Baird  of  Worcester  a  selectman 
and  late  member  of  the  county  convention  ;  also  Daniel  Broad 
and  George  Marston  of  Pepperell,  persons  considered  danger- 
ous to  public  safety  were  taken  to  Boston  jail.  Tlie  jails  in  the 
counties  of  Worcester,  ^lampshire  and  Berkshire  had  become  so 
over  crowded  with  occupants  that  February  26th,  a  resolve  was 


103 

passed  in  the  senate,  that  it  was  expedient  to  admit  to  bail  such 
persons  confined  in  these  counties  whose  lilierty  would  not  be 
considered  dangerous  to  the  public  saletv  ;  that  an}'  two  justices 
could  act  on  recomuiendation  or  request  ol'  any  general  officer 
coninianding  troops  in  either  count}". 

Saturday'  March  10th,  the  General  Court  appointed  Hon. 
Samuel  Phillips  Jr.  Esq.,  President  of  the  Senate,  Hon.  Benja- 
min Lincoln  Esq.  and  Samuel  Allyne  Otis  Esq.,  Commissioners 
to  proceetl  to  the  'W^estern  counties  for  the  purpose  of  granting 
pardons  to  persons  concerned  in  the  Rebellion  who  might  apply 
for  the  same,  other  than  the  leaders,  or  such  as  had  fired  upon 
good  citizens  of  this  commonwealth  or  acted  as  a  council  of  war. 

After  the  collision  at  Snffield,  Gen.  Lincoln  despatched  a 
messenger  to  the  Governor  of  New  York  with  the  details  of  the 
engagement  on  the  'idth  of  February,  as  well  as  an  account  of 
the  support  and  assistance  the  Insurgents  were  receiving  at  the 
hands  of  the  inhabitants  of  his  state.  The  matter  was  laid  be- 
fore the  legislature,  and  at  the  suggestion  of  that  body,  Gov. 
Clinton  repaired  at  once  to  the  scene  of  action,  arriving  at  New 
Lebanon  N,  Y.,  Tuesday  March  Gth,  where  he  was  met  b}'  Gen. 
Lincoln  ;  and  after  the  interview  Gov.  Clinton  returned  with 
Gen.  Lincoln  to  Pittstield,  passing  Wednesday  night  at  that 
place.  Satisfactory  arrangements  were  made  to  take  care  of 
the  Lisurgents  who  hnd  sought  shelter  in  New  York  State  ;  and 
March  12th  brought  forth  a  proclamation  from  Gov.  Clinton, 
offering  the  same  rewards  for  the  appreliension  of  the  leaders  as 
had  been  named  by  Gov.  Bowdoin,  and  requesting  his  people 
not  to  aid  the  refugees.  John  Sullivan,  governor  of  New 
Hampshire,  issued  a  similar  proclamation,  as  also  did  the  Gov- 
ernors of  Connecticut  and  Pennsylvania. 

Col.  Newel  with  about  oOO  newly  enlisted  four  months  men 
from  AYorcester  County,  arrived  at  Northampton  at  noon, 
Wednesday  March  9th,  on  their  way  to  Pittsfield.  A  sufficient 
number  of  new  recruits  had  now  arrived  in  the  western  part  of 
the  state  to  overawe  and  keep  in  check  the  reckless  and  discord- 
ant element.  Ensign  Stoddard  who  left  Great  Barrington 
March  21th,  stated  in  Boston  where  he  arrived  on  the  27th,  that 
''Although  the  rebellion  appears  to  be  crushed  in  the  western 


104 

part  of  the  state,  it  will  require  the  utmost  wisdom  and  persever- 
ance of  our  rulers  to  restore  peace  to  that  distracted  part  of 
the  Commonwealth." 

The  courts  were  now  free  to  act ;  and  the  officers  of  the  law 
were  active  in  bringing  offenders  before  the  bar.* 

Major  Samuel  Cookson  reported  March  23d,  that  not  less  than 
700  families  had  removed  to  Vermontf  within  six  weeks,  from 
the  three  western  counties  of  Massachusetts.  So  general  was 
the  depopulation  that  in  some  towns  it  was  reported  there  were 
not  left  a  sufficient  number  of  inhabitants  to  fill  the  town  offices. 
The  feelino;  of  dissatisfaction  was  carried  to  such  an  extent  that 
in  several  towns  in  the  count}-  of  Berkshire,  many  of  the  ladies 
wore  green  feathers  in  their  hats  in  place  of  the  evergreen  to 
show  to  which  side  they  gave  their  sympathy.  Even  Noah 
Webster  found  it  necessary  in  order  to  prevent  his  name  from 
being  catalogued  among  the  Insurgents,  to  address  a  note  (May 
8th,  1787,)  from  Philadelphia  which  appeared  in  public  print, 
to  show  that  certain  rumors  that  he  was  an  enemy  to  public  faith 
were  incorrect. 

Expressions  like  the  following  give  some  idea  of  the  very 
critical  condition  in  which  the  political  affairs  of  the  country 
stood:  "It  is  now  the  general  opinion  that  unless  some  wise 
plan  should  be  proposed  by  the  federal  convention  and  adopted 
by  the  several  states,  our  republican  governments  will  speedily 
terminate :  what  will  take  their  place  heaven  only  knows." 


*  790  persons  availed  themselves  of  the  privilege  of  the  commission, 
t  Vermont  was  admitted  into  the  union  March  4,  1791. 


105 

APPENDIX. 

I. 

As  an  illustnitioii  of  the  excessive  impost  to  wliich  tlie  people 
were  subjected  I  have  copied  the  following  from  the  announce- 
ment of  a  sale  of  laud  by  government  for  the  payment  of  taxes  : 
Timothy  Paine  of  Worcester  assessed  on  2714  acres  of  land  in 
the  town  of  ilerryfield,  Hampshire  County,  10  shillings  per  acre. 
State  and  Continental  tax  May  26,  1779,    -  -  -      £260  18s. 

"     Oct.  "  -         -  107  18s. 

Town   tax   and  repairing  highways  April  15,  1779        -         22  12s. 
"  "      supplying  Soldiers  families  Nov.   1779        -         58  12s. 

Total,  £540. 

EBENEZER  STOW,  Constable  of  Merryfield. 
June  5,  1780.     To  be  sold  at  Edward  Wright's  house,  July  17,  1780. 

II, 

Captain  Daniel  Shays  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ilopkinton, 
Mass.,  in  the  year  1747,  and  belonged  to  a  poor  famil}'.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war  he  was  23  j-ears  of  age 
and  living  on  a  farm  in  Brookfield,  but  at  once  enlisted  in  the 
cause  of  his  country' ;  was  Ensign  in  Col.  Woodbridge's  Reg- 
iment at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  afterward  enlisted  a 
company  of  men  and  succeeded  to  the  rank  of  Captain,  doing 
honorable  service  throughout  the  Revolution,  and  with  other 
officers  was  in  1780,  presented  with  an  elegant  sword  b}-  the 
marquis  de  La  Fayette  as  a  pledge  of  his  aflection.  Capt  Shays 
was  a  man  of  undoubted  courage  and  a  good  soldier.  He  was 
not  prominent  at  the  camraencement  of  the  insurrection  at  which 
time  he  resided  in  Pelham,  and  was  not  desirous  of  becoming 
its  leader,  for  he  sent  Luke  Day  and  Eli  Parsons  to  Col.  Ethan 
Allen  of  Vermont  with  the  earnest  solicitation  that  he  would 
take  command  of  the  insurgents;  but  on  Col.  Allen  refusing 
to  accept  the  command.  Capt.  Shays  continued  as  its  chief 
officer.  But  at  Springfield  during  the  colloquy  with  Gen.  Wra. 
Shepard,  when  the  latter  addressed  Capt.  Sha3's  as  General, 
thus  making  him  equal  in  rank.  Shays  resented  it,  telling  Shep- 
ard that  he  should  consider  it  as  an  affront  if  he  continued  call- 
ins-  him  Genernl.  and   should   demand  satisfaction.     After  the 


106 

failure  of  the  insurrection  Shays  went  to  Vermont,  where  he 
remained  about  a  year,  and  on  his  petition  received  full  pardon 
and  removed  to  Sparta,  N.  Y.  where  he  died  Sept.  29,  1825,  a 
Revolutionary  pensioner. 

III. 

NAMES  OF  MEN  WHO  SERVED  AS  CAPTAINS  IN  THE  INSURRECTION. 

Daniel  Luddington  of  Southampton  was  tried  at  Northamp- 
ton, convicted  of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  death  during 
the  second  week's  session  of  court  ending  April  21,  1778  ;  par- 
doned and  released  Friday,  May  5th. 

Artemas  Dryden  of  Holden,  surrendered  to  the  sheriff  of 
Worcester  County,  February  15th  and  was  placed  in  Boston  jail. 

John  Wheeler  of  Hardwick,  (aid  to  Shays)  was  tried  at 
Northampton,  convicted  of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  death 
during  the  two  weeks  session  of  court  ending  April  21,  1787; 
pardoned  and  released  Friday,  May  5th. 

Job  Shattuck  of  Groton,  was  tried  in  May,  1787,  at  Concord, 
convicted  of  high  treason,  sentenced  to  death  May  22d,  and  to  be 
executed  Thursday  June  28,  1787.  He  was  then  reprieved  to 
Aug.  2d,  and  before  the  arrival  of  that  day  a  respite  for  seven 
weeks  was  granted  him  by  the  Governor. 

Bingham  was  placed  in  jail  at  Northampton  May,   1787. 

Abraham  Gale  of  Princeton,  John  Brown  of  Whately,  Aaron 
Jewel  of  Chesterfield,  Luke  Day  of  West  Springfield,  Edward 
Kibby,  Jones.  Black,  Hubbart,  Billings,*  Fisk.* 

IV. 

NAMES  OF  SOME  OF  THE  MEN  PROMINENT  AND  ACTIVE. 

James  White  of  Colerain  was  tried  at  Northampton,  convicted 
of  hiffh  treason  and  sentenced  to  death  at  the  session  of  court 
ending  April  21,  1787.  Pardon  received  May  4th  and  liberated 
May  5  th. 

Alpheus  Cotton  of  Long  Meadow  was  tried  at  Northampton, 
convicted  of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  death  at  a  term  oi 


*  Called  captains. 


107 

court  endino;  April  11,  1787.     Pardon  received  Ma^'  4th,   and 
liberated  tlie  next  day. 

Henry  McCiilloek*  of  Pelham  was  tried  at  Northampton,  con 
victed  of  hiii'ii  treason  and  sentenced  to  death  at  a  term  of  court 
ending  April  21,  1787.  His  death  warrant  was  received  by  the 
Sheriff  May  4th,  to  be  executed  May  24  ;  reprieved  till  June 
21  ;  again  reprieved  to  Aug,  2d.  Before  that  time  arrived  the 
Governor  granted  him  a  respite  for  seven  weeks. 

Jason  Parmeuter*  of  Bernardston,  who  shot  Mr.  Walker  was 
tried  at  Northampton,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  death.  The 
death  warrant  was  received  by  the  high  sheriff  of  Hampshire 
County  JMay  4th,  to  be  executed  May  24  ;  reprieved  until  June 
21st, ;  again  reprieved  to  Aug  2nd.  Before  that  day  came  an- 
other respite  of  seven  weeks  was  granted. 

Smith  of  New  Salem,  late  a  Lieut,  Colonel  in  the  militia; 
Smith  of  Barre  ;  William  Smith  of  Hampshire  County  ;  Dr. 
Hinds  of  Pelham. 

J.  Powers,  R.  Dickinson.  J.  Bardwell  and  J.  Billings,  signed 
letters  to  excite  the  people. 

Eli  Parker,  late  representative  from  Amherst,  pleaded  guilty 
of  seditious  practices,  in  court  at  Northampton,  April,  1787. 

Abner  Fowler,  late  member  of  the  convention  and  General 
Court  from  Southwick,  pleaded  guilty  of  seditious  practices,  at 
Northampton,  April,  1787,  and  was  sentenced  to  pay  £50,  be 
imprisoned  1 2  months  and  recognize  to  keep  the  peace  5  years. 

Joseph  Jones,  for  tiring  a  pistol  at  a  deputy  sherirt'  was  sen- 
tenced to  sit  1  hour  on  the  gallows  with  a  rope  around  his  neck, 
pay  £80  and  furnish  security  to  keep  the  peace  and  be  of  good 
behavior  for  2  vears. 

Silas  Hamilton  Esq.  of  Whitingham  Vt.,   was  sentenced   to 


*  On  Thursday  June  21,  1787,  these  two  men  (Henry  McCulloek  and 
Jason  Parmenter)  who  were  confined  at  Northampton,  were  taken  from  the 
jail  under  a  {ruard  of  400  militia  to  the  meeting  house,  where  the  Rev.  Mo- 
ses Baldwin  of  Palmer  delivered  a  discourse  taking  for  his  text  Romans  vi ; 
xxi.,  after  which  they  were  escorted  to  the  gallows  and  the  death  warrants 
read  limiting  their  time  to  8  p.  m.  Coffins  were  in  readiness,  but  they  were 
not  needed,  for  two  minutes  before  that  hour  they  were  reprieved  to  Thurs- 
day, Aug.  2nd,  and  returned  to  jail. 


108 

stand  1  hour  in  pillory  and  to  be  publicly  whipped  on  his  naked 
back  20  stripes,  for  stirring  up  sedition  in  this  Commonwealth. 

Abel  Patridge  was  ordered  to  pay  a  fine  of  £100  to  the  use  of 
the  state,   and  recognize  in  £300  to  keep  the  peace  for  5  j-ears. 

John  Severance  was  fined  £30  and  ordered  to  recognize  in 
£100  to  keep  the  peace  for  3  3'ears. 

Thomas  Killum  was  ordered  to  pay  £20  and  recognize  in  £50 
to  keep  the  peace  for  three  years. 

Samuel  Rose  was  ordered  to  stand  1  hour  in  pillory  and  re- 
ceive 20  stripes  on  his  naked  back. 

Thomas  Gould  Esq.  was  arrested,  tried,  convicted  and  sen- 
tenced to  pay  £50  and  recognize  for  good  behavior  for  3  years. 

Samuel  Slocura  was  prominent  at  conventions  and  was  mod- 
erator at  the  convention  in  Rutland,  Jan.,  1787. 

Gideon  Dunham  and  George  Baker  were  arrested  in  Vt.  July, 
1787,  and  placed  in  jail  at  Northampton  but  escaped  Aug.  22d. 

Lieut.  Isaac  Bullard  was  jailed  at  Northampton  in  Ma\-,  1787. 

Jenkins  and  Davis  of  West  Stockl)ridge  were  captured  but 
escaped. 

Robert  Jo3'ner  was  put  in  jail  at  Great  Barrington. 

Lieut  Rufus  Tyler,  Lieut.  Joseph  Babcock,  Samuel  Booth, 
Samuel  Clark  Nathan  Mower,  Simeon  Ilazletine  of  Hardwick, 
Billings  of  Amherst,  and  Serg't  John  Williams,  were  en- 
gaged in  enlisting  men  for  Shays'  ami}'. 

Esq.  Perry  of  Eastown,  was  apprehended  on  a  seditions  visit 
to  Egremont. 

Ebenezer  Tolman  and  Ethan  Billings  of  Conway,  Hampshire 
County  ;  Eli  Parsons,  Jacob  Fox,  Perez  Hamlin,  Ebenezer  Cut- 
tender  and  Elisha  Manning  of  Berkshire  Comity.  Col.  Hazelton, 
Nathan  Smith,  Daniel  Gray,  Dr.  Samuel  WilUii'd,  Hezekiah 
Chapman,  Elijah  Day,  Thomas  Grover.  Lieutenants  Henry  and 
Baldwin,  and Ware.     Dr.  Elisha  Forbes  of  Norwich. 

Mr  Bruce's  house  in  Leicester  was  a  resort  for  the  Insurgents. 

Jonah  Goulding  of  Ward,  was  taken  to  Boston  jail  for  stop- 
ping the  courts  at  Worcester  in  Dec,  1  78(>.  He  petitioned  the 
General  Court  for  pardon  Feb.  7,  1787,  and  was  released  on 
bail  March  23d. 

Col.  Luke  Drnry  of  Grafton  was  sent  to  jail  in  Boston  January- 
2G,  178(1.     Caleb  Curtis  was  arrested  and  confined  in  jail. 


10!) 


Adam  Wheeler  of  Iliibbardston  was  a  constable  previous  to 
the  insurrection  and  a  prominent  man  of  that  town.  He  was 
captured  in  Vermont  l)v  a  party  of  government  men  under  Royal 
Tyler  Escj.,  l)ut  tliev  were  onl^-  able  to  hold  him  4  hours  when 
he  was  liberated  I)}'  a  i)art3'  of  40  sympathizers  from  over  the 
line  in  the  state  of  New  York. 

Daniel  Baird  of  Worcester  was  sent  to  jail  at  Boston,  but  he 
was  released  on  bail  March  23,  1787. 

W^illiam  Berais  of  Spencer,  petitioned  for  pardon  Oct.  28, 
178G.     He  was  Capt.  in  the  militia  and  an  honored  citizen. 

Justus  Wright  was  arrested  and  confined  in  jail. 

Capt.  Moses  Harvey  of  Montague,  a  member  of  the  General 
Court,  was  tried  at  Northampton  in  April,  1787,  and  convicted 
for  uttering  seditious  words.  He  w-as  sentenced  to  sit  on  the 
gallows  1  hour  with  a  rope  around  his  neck  and  pay  ^50  to  the 
state  and  recognize  to  keep  the  peace  for  5  years.  On  Fridaj', 
April  30,  the  legislature  voted  to  expel  him. 

Hezekiah  Hicks  was  jailed  at  Taunton  March  26th,  1787, 

Enoch  Tyler  of  Egremont  with  two  other  insurgents,  w'ere 
jailed  at  Albany  N.  Y.  the  latter  part  of  JNIay,  1787.  This  was 
probably  his  second  offence. 

V. 

NAMES  OF  PERSONS  CONVICTED  BY  THE  SUPKEME  JUDICIAL  COURT 
FOR  BERKSHIRE  COUNTY  AVHICII  CLOSED  ITS  SESSION  IN  APRIL,  1787. 

William  Whiting  P^sq.  of  Great  Barrington,  Chief  Justipe  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  county  of  Berkshire,  was 
convicted  of  making  seditious  speeches  and  sentenced  to  six 
months  imprisonment,  fined  ^{^100,  and  ordered  to  give  sureties 

to  keep  the  peace  .';  years. 

Aaron  Knapp  of  West  Stoekbridge,  Enoch  Tyler  of  Egre- 
mont, Joseph  Williams  of  New  Marlboro,  Nathaniel  Austin  *of 
Sheflield,  Peter  Wilcox  Jr.*  of  Lee,  and  Samuel  Rust  of  Pitts- 
field,  were  convicted  of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  death. 


*  On  Friday  night,  at  Great  Barrington,  as  the  time  was  approaching  for 
the  execution  of  these  two  men,  (Wilcox  and  Austin)  two   women  armed 


110 

Knapp,  Tyler,  Williams  and  Rust  were  pardoned  May  4th, 
Austin  and  Wilcox  were  reprieved  May  24th  to  June  21st,  and 
before  that  day  arrived  they  were  again  reprieved  to  Thursday, 
Aug.  2d. 

John  Hubbard,  David  Sackett,  John  Deming,  Peleg  Green, 
Oliver  Root,  Enos  Haskins,  and  John  fStrong  were  convicted  of 
exciting  sedition.  Isaac  Wood,  Aaron  Noble,  Moses  Wood, 
AVilliam  Sheldon  and  Anthony  Ames  were  convicted  of  inciting 
a  riot,  and  Joseph  Wood  for  setting  fire  to  a  barn.  100  more 
were  convicted  but  fled  be3-ond  the  reach  of  the  officials. 

VI. 

Tuesday  April  25th,  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  convened  at 
Worcester  and  was  in  session  two  weeks.  James  Sullivan, 
Thomas  Dawes  and  Levi  Lincoln  were  assigned  as  counsel  for 
the  prisoners.  Henry  Gale  of  Princeton,  was  convicted  of  high 
treason  and  sentenced  to  death,  Jan.  11th,  1787.  The  town  of 
Princeton  joined  in  a  petition  for  his  pardon.  Thursday,  June 
21st  he  was  taken  to  the  gallows  on  the  common  and  there  re- 
prieved to  Aug.  2d,  and  again  a  respite  of  7  weeks  was  granted. 
Silas  Livermore  of  Paxton,  and  Jacob  Chamberlin  of  Dudley, 
indicted  for  high  treason,  were  acquitted. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  proceedings  that  fourteen  per- 
sons were  convicted  of  high  treason  and  sentenced  to  death. 
Eight  of  them  were  granted  full  pardon  within  a  very  short  time 
after  conviction,  while  the  remaining  six  were  reprieved  from 
time  to  time  for  a  few  months,  and  then  they  are  also  jiardoned  ; 
so  that  the  most  prominent  among  the  insurrectionists  were  not 
punished  beyond  a  short  imprisonment,  and  soon  after  their 
release,  were  found  occupying  responsible  positions  of  honor 
and  trust  in  the  several  communities  where  they  resided,  show- 
ing conclusiveh"  that  the  public  sentiinent  was  not  to  brand  them 
as  traitors,  but  to  allow  respect  for  honest  difference  of  opinion. 


with  a  bottle  of  spirits  introduced  themselves  to  the  sentry  Avho  stood  guard 
over  the  prisoners.  He  not  being  above  the  average  of  the  human  family  in 
intellect,  was  soon  brought  under  the  control  of  these  cunning  artihcers, 
who  succeeded  in  accomplisliing  the  object  of  their  visit,  the  setting  at 
liberty  of  the  two  condemned  men.  As  soon  as  their  escape  was  made 
known,  the  sentry  with  one  of  the  women  who  had  been  arrested,  were  im- 
prisoned in  the  same  jail. 


II. 


VII. 

CN'Dte  to  page  70.] 

In  November,  I7S6,  His  Excellency,  Gov.  Bowdoin,  informed  the  General 
Court  that  letters  had  been  sent  to  the  selectmen  of  several  towns  in  Hamp- 
shire County,  asking  them  to  call  together  the  inhabitants  of  their  several 
towns,  and  see  that  they  were  properly  supplied  with  arms  and  amunition, 
and  organized  according  to  law ;  and  that  the  militia  be  furnished  with  60 
rounds  of  cartridges,  and  hold  themselves  ready  to  march  at  a  moments 
warning.  This  communication  was  reported  to  a  committee  of  the  house 
who  soon  presented  a  report  containing  the  following  recommendations  : 

1.  A  suspension  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus.  2.  A  provision  for  try- 
ing traitors  in  any  county.  3.  A  pardon  for  all  persons  concerned  in  the 
late  insurrections,  excepting  the  ringleaders,  upon  their  taking  the  oath  of 
allegiance  and  abjuration.  The  house  at  once  took  up  the  subject  with  the 
result  that  a  general  indemnity  shall  be  granted  to  all  the  insurgents  upon 
their  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  previous  to  the  first  day  of  January  next 
and  not  persevering  in  the  crime  after  the  passing  of  the  act  then  under 
consideration ;  and  that  the  suspension  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  and 
trying  persons  on  charge  of  high  treason  should  take  place  under  the  same 
condition.  Bills  to  this  effect  were  read  for  the  third  time  and  passed  to 
be  engrossed ;  and  the  bill  for  suspension  of  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus 
passed  both  branches  of  the  legislature. 


im 


112 

The  reading  of  the  paper  was  followed  by  remarks 
from  the  Rev.  George  Allen,  and  Messrs.  Tolman 
and  Knight.     The  meeting  was  then  adjourned. 


In  response  to  an  invitation  extended  to  the  Wor- 
cester Society  of  Antiquity  by  Mr.  George  Sumner, 
to  visit  his  summer  home  ot  Shrewsbury,  a  party  of 
about  thirty  gentlemen*  left  the  Rooms  on  Foster 
street,  at  half  past  one  on  the  afternoon  of  Wednes- 
day, August  10th.  The  conveyance  was  a  large 
six-horse  omnibus,  and  the  ride  occupied  about  an 
hour.  The  company  received  a  warm  welcome  from 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sumner  and  their  family,  and  an  hour 
was  spent  in  exploring  the  old  mansion  and  viewing 
the  antique  treasures  it  contains.  The  house,  which 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  for  four  gen- 
erations, was  the  home  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Sumner, 
D.  D.,  Minister  of  the  town  from  17G2  to  1823. 


*  The  following  gentlemen  composed  the  party:  Ellery  B.  Crane,  Albert 
Tolman,  Henry  L.  Shumway,  James  A.  Smith,  Dr.  George  Chandler,  Clark 
Jillson,  William  A.  Smith,  A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  Samuel  E,  Staples,  Franklin 
P.  Rice.  Hammond  W.  Hubbard,  Addison  Prentiss,  Norton  L.  Cook,  Aug. 
E.  Peck  Augustus  Coolidge,  Nelson  R.  Scott,  Pardon  A.  Lee,  Ephraini 
Tucker,  Daniel'Seagravc,  Thomas  M.  I.amb,  James  L.  Esty,  Franklin  C. 
Jillson,  and  E.  Francis  Thompson.  The  above  are  members  of  the  Society. 
Also  by  invitation,  John  G.  Smith,  Samuel  H.  Putnam,  Alfred  Waites. 
Herbert  R.  Cummings  and  Master  Everett  Shumway. 

The  following  gentlemen  joined  the  party  at  Shrewsbury  :  George  Sum- 
ner, Reuben  Colton,  and  William  L.  Clark,  Members  ;  and  the  Rev.  George 
Allen,  Otis  A,  Putnam,  and  William  D.  Clark.  Messrs.  Brown,  Harlow, 
Howe,  Stone,  and  Dr.  Brigham  all  of  Shrewsbury  were  also  present  at  the 
Sumner  House. 


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113 

The  old  furniture,  crockery  and  household  imple- 
ments used  in  his  family,  as  well  as  his  library,  fam- 
ily portraits,  relics,  etc.,  have  been  carefully  pre- 
served by  his  grandson,  the  present  proprietor,  who 
has  added  from  time  to  time,  many  rare  and  curious 
articles,  until  a  collection  has  been  formed  unrival- 
ed in  these  parts  in  size  and  value.  Rare  old  tables, 
sideboards,  and  chests  of  drawers  in  mahogany  and 
cherry,  antique  chairs  in  angular  frames  or  in  mas- 
sive stuffing,  beds  with  drapery  and  curtains,  the 
old  clock,  large  and  small  spinning  wheels,  the  clock 
reel,  the  quill-wheel,  the  open  fireplace  with  and- 
irons, presented  to  the  eye  a  picture  of  by-gone  days. 
In  the  kitchen  was  the  dresser  piled  with  pewter 
plate,  while  tankards,  beakers,  ancient  knives  and 
forks,  candlesticks,  tinder  box,  piggin,  skillet,  and 
other  minor  articles  of  culinary  use  made  up  the 
accompaniment.  The  crane  in  the  fireplace,  the 
bare  lloor,  the  settle  and  the  candle  molds,  were 
suiJ-grestive  of  the  discomforts  and  inconveniences  of 
a  past  generation,  and  in  striking 'contrast  with  the 
methods  and  manners  of  the  present.  Upon  the 
walls  of  the  '^'keeping  room"  are  the  portraits,  in  oil, 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner  and  members  of  his  family, 
with  other  ancient  paintings  and  prints  of  the  style 
of  the  last  century.  The  title  deeds  of  the  place 
dating  back  to  1750  were  exhibited  framed  under 
glass.  In  the  library,  among  other  rare  books,  is  a 
copy  of  a  ^'Confession  of  Faith"  in  the  Indian  lan- 
guage,  compiled  by   Grindal   Rawson.     The  place 


114 

will  well  repay  the  visit  of  the  antiquary,  and  would 
furnish  ample  material  for  an  illustrated  magazine 

article. 

From  the  house  the  party  proceeded  to  the  famous 
Balanced  Rock,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the 
town,  on  the  road  to  Boylston.  It  is  an  immense 
boulder — an  irregular  cube  of  perhaps  25  by  15  feet, 
resting  on  one  of  its  angles  on  the  surface  of  a  Hat 
ledge  on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  It  is  very  curious,  and 
suggests  an  idea  of  the  prodigious  glacial  forces 
which  probably  drifted  it  to  its  present  position  and 
dropped  it  gently  and  evenly-  balanced.  Beneath 
the  boulder,  upon  the  surface  of  the  ledge,  the  strice 
or  glacial  markings  can  be  plainly  seen,  the  over- 
hanging mass  having  sheltered  them  from  the  action 
of  the  elements.  At  the  request  of  the  Rev.  George 
A.llen,  who  accompanied  the  party  thither,  and 
whose  enthusiasm  equalled  that  of  the  youngest,  the 
president  measured  the  height  and  breadth  of  the 
rock.  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Putnam  ascended  to  its  sum- 
mit, and  a  sketch  was  made  from  a  convenient  point 
by  Mr.  Norton  L.  Cook.* 

Returning  to  the  village,  some  time  was  spent  in 
exploring  the  ancient  portion  of  the  cemetery,  and 
deciphering  the  quaint  inscriptions,  the  oldest  found 
being  of  1740.  The  massive  tomb  of  Gen.  Artemas 
Ward  of  Revolutionary  fame  was  also   an   object  of 


*  The  illustrations  which  accompany  this  account  are  from  sketches  made 
later,  bv  Mr.  William  A.  Emerson. 


115 

interest.*  The  old  church  was  then  visited,  but  it 
has  been  modernized  to  an  extent  that  destroys  its 
antiquarian  interest.  Its  pulpit  was  occupied  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner  and  later  by  the  Rev.  George 
Allen.  A  number  of  the  party  ascended  to  the  bell- 
deck  where  an  extensive  view  was  obtained,  embra- 
cing more  than  a  score  of  towns,  from  the  heights 
of  Dorchester  to  the  hills  of  Westminster.  It  is  a 
fact  not  generallj^  known  that  Shrewsbury  and 
Princeton  are  on  the  same  level  above  tide  water, 
and  the  view  from  the  former  does  not  lose  in  com- 
parison with  the  latter.  The  day  was  an  admirable 
one,  and  the  party  was  amply  repaid  for  the  trouble 
of  climbing  the  narrow  stairs. 


*  The  following  are  the  inscriptions  on  the  Ward  monument : 

EAST  SIIJE. 

SARAH,  wife  of  Gen.  Artemas  Ward,  Dec.  13,  1788  je  63. 
.^laj.  Gen.  ARTEMAS  WARD.  Sou  of  Col.  N.  Ward  H.  U.  1748-1762, 
a  Justice  &  1776  Chief  Justice  of  the  C.  C.  Pleas  For  the  Co.  of  Wor,  1778, 
a  Major  in  the  expedition  against  Canada  1751).  appointed  Col.  1766.  his 
Commission  as  Col  revoked  for  his  inflexible  opposition  to  arbitrary  power, 
whereupon  he  informed  the  Royal  Gov.  that  he  had  been  twice  honored — 
1768  chosen  one  of  the  executive  Council  and  by  the  same  Royal  Gov.  and 
for  the  same  reason  negatived  and  deprived  of  a  seat  at  that  Board — 1775 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  army  at  Cambridge  and  by  the  Continen- 
tal Congress  first  Maj.  Gen.  of  the  army  of  the  revolution.  1779  appointed 
a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  under  the  Federal  Government 
repeatedly  elected  a  member. — 16  years  a  Representative  of  this  town  in  the 
Legislature  &  in  1786,  Speaker  of  the  house  of  Representatives.  Firmness 
of  mind  &  integrity  of  purpose  were  characteristic  of  his  whole  life  so  that 
he  was  never  swayed  by  the  applause  or  censure  of  man  but  ever  acted  un- 
der a  deep  sense  of  duty  to  his  Country  &  accountability  to  his  God — long 
will  his  memory  be  preserved  among  the  friends  of  liberty  &  religion. 

Oct.  27,  1800.  X  73. 


116 

Returning  to  the  Sumner  Mansion,  they  were  met 
by  Dr.  Brigham,  who  in  honor  of  the  guests  had 
come  in  an  ancient  narrow  gig-chaise,  painted  bright 
yellow,  and  unlike  Dr.  Holmes'  "one  boss  shay," 
built  to  withstand  the  ravages  of  time  for  genera- 
tions yet  to  come.  This  vehicle  was  used  by  Sher- 
iff Thomas  W.  Ward,*  in  his  official  journeys.  Dr. 
Brio-ham    also    brought    the    medicine   chest  of  his 


Capt.  NAHUM  W' AllI)  son  of  Gen.  Ward,  March  7,  1778,  in  the  army,  m  24. 
MAllTIIA  daughter  of  Gen.  Ward  July  25  1781,  je  21. 

SOUTH  SIDE, 

^VARD.  Deacon  AVILLIAM  WARD,  from  England,  Marlboro,  Aug.  10, 
1G87,  M.  87.  Col.  NAHUM  WARD,  son  of  Capt.  W.  Ward,  May  7,  1754, 
X.  70.  Capt.  WILLIAM  WARD,  son  of  Dea.  W^ird,  Marlboro,  Nov.  25, 
1G97,  JE.  57.  BENJAMIN,  son  of  Col.  Nahum  &  Martha  Ward,  April  22, 
1717,  JE.  12  mos.  First  Death  in  town.  MARTHA,  Relict  of  Col.  Nahum 
Ward,  July  1,  1755,  je.  68,  MARTHA,  daughter  of  Col.  Nahum  &  JMartha 
Ward,  July  2,  1794.  je,  78. 

■WEST  SIDE. 

CHARLES  G,  WARD,  son  of  T.  W.  &  II.  P.  W.  Adj't.  24  Reg.  Mass.  vol. 
killed  in  Battle  at  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.  May  10,  18G4,  je.  34.  HARRIET  P. 
wife  of  Thomas  W.  Ward,  Miir.  25,  187G,  je.  75  yrs.  ARTEMAS,  son  of 
Thomas  W.  &  Harriet  P.  ^^■ard,  Oct.  28,  1833,  je.  5  vs. 

NOKTH  SIDE, 

ARTEMAS  WARD,  son  of  Thomas  W.  &  Elizabeth  Ward  Dec.  31.  1816, 
^.26,  JOSEPH  WARD,  son  of  Thomas  W.  &  Elizabeth  Ward,  Oct  2, 
1821,  JE.  32.  THOMAS  WALTER  WARD  Esq.,  18  years  High  Sheriff 
of  this  Co.,  Aug.  20,  1835.  je.  77.  A.  H.  WARD  son  of  T.  W.  &  E.  Ward, 
Feb.  18,  1864,  je.  79.  NAHUM  AVARD,  son  of  T.  W.  &  E.  Ward  April 
6,  1860,  JE.  74.  HARRIET  V^ILLIAMS,  wife  of  A\"illiam  Williams,  & 
daughter  of  Thomas  W.  &  Elizabeth  Ward,  Nov.  13,  1824  je.  37.  JOHN 
TUCKER,  son  of  A.  H.  &  S.  H.  Ward,  died  in  Boston,  Nov.  2,  1840,  je. 
24,  5  mos.  ELIZABETH,  Relict  of  T.  W.  Ward  Esq.,  Nov,  18,  184G  je.  87. 
ELIZA  MARIA  ANTOINETTE.  Oct.  26,  1821,  je.  3  yrs  8  mos.  &  8  ds. 
FRANCES  CAROLINE  AUGUSTA,  23  Oct.  1824,  je,  18  mos.  &  20  ds., 
daughters  of  Andrew  H.  &  Sarah  II.  Ward. 


*  Thomas  Walter  Ward  was  son  of  Gen.  Artemas  Ward.     He  was  sheriff 
of  Worcester  Countv  from  1805  to  1824. 


WAItl)  MOIvUME.NT,  SIIKEWSBUllY,  MASS. 


117 

father  who  was  for  many  years  a  physician  in 
Shrewsbury.  Its  contents  were  inspected  with  in- 
terest. 

At  the  close  of  the  afternoon  a  generous  colhition 
was  served,  the  divine  blessing  being  invoked  by  the 
Kev.  George  xillen.  Several  citizens  of  Shrewsbury 
joined  the  party  in  the  evening  which  was  passed 
with  music  and  pleasant  conversation  until  eight 
o'clock,  when  the  company  returned  to  the  city  ar- 
riving about  nine,  with  the  memory  of  an  agreeable 
and  profitable  experience,  which  will  be  a  lasting 
one. 


The  September  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening 
of  Tuesday  the  Gth,  President  Crane  in  the  chair. 

The  following  persons  were  present:  Messrs. 
Crane,  Roe,  Paine,  E.  H.  Marble,  Tucker,  F.  P.  Rice 
Stone,  Clark  Jillson,  B.  J.  Dodge,  Cook,  Dickinson, 
Estey,  Staples, ;  and  by  invitation,  Mr.  John  G.  Smith, 
Albert  H.  Hoyt,  Esq.,  of  Cincinnati,  and  J.  A.  Mc- 
Clellen,  LL.  D.,  of  Toronto,  Government  inpector  of 
High  and  Normal  Schools  for  the  Province  of  Onta- 
rio, Canada — 16. 

Edward  B.  Glasgow  was  elected  an  active  member. 

The  President  alluded  to  the  recent  visit  of  the 
Society  to  Shrewsbury,  and  the  Hon.  Clark  Jillson 
ofiered  the  following  preamble  and  resolution,  which 
were  unanimously  adopted : 


118 

Whereas,  On  the  lOth  day  of  August,  1881,  hy  special  invita- 
tion Irom  George  Sumner  Esq.,  The  Worcester  Society  of  An- 
tiquity visited  his  ancient  and  uniquely  furnished  mansion  in  the 
town  of  Shrewsbur}-,  where  the  members  enjoyed  an  afternoon 
of  rural  delight,  paying  their  respects  to  several  points  of  his- 
toric interest  as  well  as  natural  curiosit}',  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  burial  place  of  Major  Gen.  Artemas  Ward,  and 
Equipoise  Rock  ;  being  accompanied  thither  by  their  venerable 
friend,  the  Rev.  George  Allen,  who  visited  on  that  da}',  perhaps 
for  the  last  time,  the  scene  of  his  earh-  labors  in  the  christian 
ministry  nearly  three  score  3-ears  ago,  therefore, 
^Resolved,  That  a  vote  of  thanks  be,  and  the  same  hereby  are 
tendered  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sumner,  for  their  generous  invitation, 
their  liberal  entertainment,  and  all  their  etlbrts  to  make  the 
occasion  worthy  of  continued  remembrance. 

A  donation  of  two  specimens  of  early  wood  en- 
graving was  received  from  C.  J.  Sawtell  Esq.,  of 
New  York  city,  through  Mr.  S.  E.  Staples.  They 
were  the  work  of  Hans  Leonard  Sciraull'elin,  a  pupil 
of  Albert  Durer.  A  vote  of  thajiks  was  tendered 
for  the  same. 

A  portrait  in  oil  of  Elihu  Burritt,  late  an  honor- 
ary member  of  the  Society,  was  presented  in  behalf 
of  several  members,  by  Mr.  S.  E.  Staples,  mainly 
through  whose  eflbrts  it  was  secured.  This  portrait 
was  painted  in  1841,  and  is  considered  a  good  like- 
ness, 

Mr.  Alfred  S.  Roe  was  then  called  upon,  and  gave 
a  very  interesting  and  graphic  account'"''  of  a  visit  he 


*  Since  published  in  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  and  reprinted  in  the  Bos- 
ton Sunday  Herald.  New  York  Sun  and  other  papers. 


119 

made  on  the  4tli  of  July  last,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Samuel  H.  Putnam  of  this  cit}-,  to  the  Wolf  Den, 
made  f\imous  by  the  exploit  of  Gen.  Israel  Putnam. 
They  also  visited  the  house  in  which  he  lived  and 
his  burial  place  at  Brooklyn.  Brief  remarks  fol- 
lowed by  Messrs.  Tucker  and  E.  H.  Marble. 

Dr.  McClellan  of  Toronto  was  introduced,  and 
responded  by  interesting  remarks  in  an  appropriate 
and  happy  manner. 

The  President  announced  in  suitable  and  becom- 
ing terms,  the  death  of  Samuel  Foster  Haven,  LL.  D., 
forty  years  Librarian  of  the  American  Antiquarian 
Society ;  and  on  motion  of  Mr.  B.  J.  Dodge,  a  com- 
mittee of  three  was  appointed  to  draft  suitable  reso- 
lutions to  be  reported  at  the  next  meeting.  Messrs. 
Dodge,  Clark  Jillson  and  Roe  were  appointed. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned. 


The  October  meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday  the  4th.  The  following  persons  were  pres- 
ent: Messrs.  Staples,  Tucker,  C.  Jillson,  Lawrence, 
Dodge,  Hugg,  Paine,  Metcalf,  Stone,  Warren,  Estey, 
Hubbard,  H.  M.  Smith,  Shumway,  Seagrave,  Lovell, 
C.  R.  Johnson,  J.  A.  Smith,  F.  C.  Jillson,  Rice,  and 
three  visitors — 2o. 

Mr.  B.  J.  Dodge  from  the  committee  appointed 
at  the  last  meeting  presented  the  following  resolu- 
tions, which  were  unanimously  adopted,  and  on  mo- 
tion of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Paine  were  ordered  to  be 
transmitted  to  the  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  Haven. 


120 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  duty  of  framing 
resohitions  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Haven,  respectfully  offer  the 
following : 

Resolved,  That  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity,  with  a 
deep  sense  of  bereavement,  take  formal  notice  of  the  removal 
by  death,  which  occurred  on  the  5th  of  September  last,  at  his 
home  in  this  city,  of  Samuel  Foster  Haven,  LL.  D.,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-five  years  three  months  and  eight  days. 

Resolved,  That  Dr.  Haven,  -through  the  whole  of  the  long 
period  of  forty-three  years  which  marked  his  term  of  service  as 
librarian  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  has  furnished  to 
us  an  example  of  patient  study,  accurate  perception  and  ready 
sympathy,  which  gave  him  remarkable  power  to  perform,  and 
which  is  fully  exhibited  in  the  growth  add  prosperity  of  the 
Society  which  he  served. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  Dr.  Haven  as  a  conscientious  and 
accurate  historian,  as  witnessed  by  the  valuable  historical  arti- 
cles which  have  from  time  to  time  emanated  from  his  graceful 
pen. 

Resolved,  That  we  shall  miss  his  genial  manners,  his  happy 
faculty  of  speech,  and  his  always  ready  and  kindly  response  to 
the  demands  of  those  of  us  who  have  enjoyed  his  acquaintance, 
and  also  have  had  occasion  to  consult  with  him  upon  historical 
or  other  matters,  in  which  he  was  the  leader  of  us  all. 

Resolved,  That  to  his  more  immediate  personal  friends,  and 
the  circle  of  his  own  family  we  tenderlj'  express  our  sympathy 
and  deep  sense  of  their  bereavement. 

Alfred  Waites  was  elected  an  active  member. 

A  letter  from  Dr.  George  W.  Brown  of  Rockford, 
111.  was  read  and  a  proper  reply  was  ordered.  A 
copy  of  his  pamphlet  relating  to  John  Brown,  of 
Kansas  fame,  accompanied  the  letter. 

Remarks  upon  the  death  of  president  Garfield 
were  made  by  C.  R.  Johnson,  H.  M.  Smith  and  J. 
L.  Estey. 


121 

Mr.  H.  M.  Smith  in  behalf  of  the  Washburn  and 
Moen  Manufacturing  Company,  presented  a  set  of 
their  publications  relative  to  the  manufacture  of 
Barb  Fence,  Telegraph  and  other  wire. 

Mr.  I.  N.  Metcalf  presented  copies  of  programmes 
of  the  recent  Musical  Festival  in  Worcester. 

The  thanks  of  the  Society  were  voted  to  Mr.  S.  E. 
Staples  for  his  efibrts  in  securing  the  portrait  of 
Elihu  Burritt,  presented  to  the  Society  at  the  last 
meeting. 

Mr.  A.  S.  Roe  extended  to  the  members  an  invi- 
tation to  be  present  on  the  occasion  of  the  presen- 
tation of  the  portrait  of  John  Adams  to  the  High 
School,  to  take  place  on  the  19th  of  October,  in  the 
hall  of  the  high  school  building.     Adjourned. 


At  the  regular  monthly  meeting  held  Tuesday 
evening,  Nov.  1st,  twenty  persons  were  present, 
namely  ;  Messrs.  Crane,  Roe,  Rice,  Sumner,  Harlow, 
C.  Jillson,  Manning  Leonard  of  Southbridge,  Rugg, 
Prentiss,  J.  A.  Smith,  Stone,  Cook,  Lee,  Lawrence, 
B.  J.  Dodge,  Waites,  Staples  and  Knight,  members ; 
and  Mr.  George  Estey  and  Master  Lawrence  visitors. 
Mr.  Staples  was  chosen  Secretary  pro  tem. 

The  following  letter  from  Mrs.  Frances  W.  Haven 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  resolutions  adopted  by 
this  Society  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Samuel  F.  Haven, 
was  read : 


122 

62  Elm  st.,  Oct.  18th,  1881. 

Henry  L.  Shumway  Esq.,  Secretary  of  The  Worcester  Society 
of  Antiquity, 

Sir,  Please  accept  my  acknowledgments  for  a  copj'  of  the 
Resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  The  Worcester  Society  of 
Antiquity,  Oct.  4th,  1881,  in  relation  to  my  lamented  husband. 

I  sincerely  thank  tlie  members  of  the  Society  for  these  kind 
expressions  of  appreciation  of  him,  and  of  sympathy  with  his 
bereaved  family. 

Mr.  Haven  felt  a  cordial  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Society 
of  Antiquity,  and  wished  for  it  abundant  prosperity  and  useful- 
ness. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

FRANCES  W.  HAVEN. 

A  letter  from  W.  II.  Bigelow  of  New  Haven,  Ct. 
transmitting  a  biographical  sketch  of  himself  was 
read.  Abraham  K.  Gould  was  elected  an  active 
member. 

The  President  gave  an  interesting  account  of  the 
recent  Crane  family  reunion  in  New  York  city,  and 
of  an  excursion  up  the  Hudson  river  to  Alban}'. 

Mr.  Roe  presented  a  collection  of  the  leading 
newspapers  from  nearly  every  state  and  territory  in 
the  union,  containing  notices  upon  the  death  of 
President  Garfield,  from  which  he  read  extracts 
interspersed  with  appropriate  and  intei'esting  re- 
marks. Manning  Leonard  Esq.,  of  Southbridge,  a 
life  member,  made  remarks  expressing  his  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  Society.  It  was  then  voted  to 
adjourn. 


123 

The  Annual  Meeting  was  held  on  the  evening  of 
Tuesday,  Dec.  Gtli.  The  following  members  were 
present :  Messrs.  Crane,  C.  Jillson,  Shumway,  Estey, 
Sprague,  Tucker,  Lovell,  Dodge,  Potter,  Tolman, 
Phelps,  Stone,  Dickinson,  F.  C.  Jillson,  Marshall, 
Gould,  C.  R.  Johnson,  Lawrence,  Cook,  J.  A.  Smith, 
W.  H.  Bartlett,  Paine,  Sumner,  O'Flynn,  F.  P.  Rice, 
H.  M.  Smith ;  and  by  invitation  Mr.  Joseph  Lovell. 

Albert  Curtis  Esq.  was  elected  an  honorary  mem- 
ber; Charles  H.  J.  Douglas  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  a 
corresponding  member,  and  Sullivan  Forehand  an 
active  member. 

The  Treasurer  presented  his  annual  report  as 
follows : 

TREASURER'S  REPORT. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of 

The  Worcestei-  Society  of  Antiquity^ 
Gcnllcmeii: — Agreeable  to  the  requirements  of  the  by-laws  of 
this  Societ}',  I  herewith  submit  this  my  sixth  Annual  Report, 
showing  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Society,  from  Dec. 
7th,  1880,  to  Jan.  3rd,  1882,  as  follows:— 


Cash  Received. 
1881.  Dr. 

Assessments,  .  .  .  $176,00 
Admissions,      .     .     .       18,00 

Donation, 3,00 

Sale  of  Proceedings,  .  .  5,18 
Life  membership,  .  50,00 
Terap'y  loan  of  Treas.,  237,95 

$490,13 


Cash  Paid. 
1881.  Cr. 

Rent, $211,25 

Gas,        7,45 

Stationery  &  Printing,  89,35 
Express  &  Postage,  .  23,32 
Cleaning  &  rep'g  rooms,  14,81 
Loan  of  Treas.,  1880,     143,95 

$490,13 


There  are  accounts  to  the  amount  of  $170  due  the  Treasurer 
at  this  date,  all  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted, 

JAMES  A.  SMITH,  Treasurer. 


-^ 


124 

Mr.  Albert  A.  Lovell,  the  Librarian,  presented  his 
report  for  the  year  1881,  accompanied  by  an  inter- 
esting sketch  of  Ezra  Beaman. 

LIBRAKIAN'S  REPORT. 


To  the  Officers  and  Memhers  of 

The   Worcester  Societt/  of  Aiitiqidty. 

Your  Librarian  respectfully  presents  the  following  Report  for 
the  year  1881  : 

SINCE  the  last  report  the  Societ}-  has  issued  the  following 
publications:  No.  XI.  and  XII.,  Records  of  the  Proprietors 
of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  Parts  III.  and  IV.  No.  XIII, 
Proceedings  of  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  for  the  year 
1880.  No.  XIV.  Worcester  Town  Records,  1753-1765.  The 
following  are  now  in  press  and  will  soon  be  issued  :  Nos.  XV. 
and  XVI.,  Worcester  Town  Records  comprising  the  Revolu- 
tionary period,  and  No.  XVII.,  Proceedings  of  The  Worcester 
Society  of  AntiquitA- for  the  year  1881.  Two  sets  of  the  Col- 
lections of  the  Society  have  been  suitably  bound  for  the  library. 
In  binding  the  several  publications  the  first  thirteen  numbers 
form  three  volumes  of  Collections,  and  Nos.  XIV..  XV.,  and 
XVI.,  are  designed  to  form  the  fourth  volume.  It  ma}-  be  well 
to  suggest  to  members  and  others  who  have  not  had  their  publi- 
cations bound,  that  it  is  desirable  that  this  order  be  followed  so 
as  to  preserve  uniformity.  Within  the  past  year  our  library 
accommodations  have  been  improved  by  an  additional  room  for 
our  increasing  collections.  The  Catalogue  of  the  library  beo-un 
some  time  ago  will  be  completed  before  the  next  monthly  meet- 
ing. There  have  been  received  during  the  year  as  contributions 
to  the  library  1G5  bound  volumes,  G57  pamplilets,  26  miscella- 
neous articles. 

I  desire  to  call  attention  to  a  gift  from  individual  members  of 
the  Society,  of  a  framed  oil  portrait  of  Elihu  Burritt.  a  deceased 


125 

honorary  member;  to  Mass.  Colon}-  Records,  from  Geo.  Sum- 
ner ;  to  the  Arm}'  Chest  and  papers  of  Company  A,  2r)tli  Regt. 
Mass.  vols,  from  8.  H.  Putnam  ;  to  a  set  of  the  American  Al- 
manac, bound,  from  Clarendon  Harris  Esq.,  and  also,  to  a  list 
of  donations  accomi)an3ing  this  report. 

The  interest  which  has  been  developed  in  tliis  Society  b}-  a 
recent  visit  to  Shrewsbury,  renders  whatever   pertains  to  that 
town,  so  rich  in  historic   material,   appropriate   in   this   report. 
Shrewsbury,  staunch  and  true  to  every  cause  which  tends  to  the 
advancement  of  religion,  liberty  and  law,  is  and  always  has  been 
a  representative  New  England  community,  solid  and  substantial 
as  the  hills  on  which  she   rests.     While   she  holds  in   grateful 
remembrance  the  name  of  Ward,   the   first  commander  of  our 
infant  army  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  ;  of  Sumner,  the  beloved 
pastor  who  led  his  flock  by  the  still   waters  of  happiness   and 
peace;  of  Cushing,  the  military  leader  in  the  struggle  for  free- 
dom ;  she  is  not  unmindful  of  the  services  of  Ezra  Beaman,  the 
patriot  and  the  man  of  enterprising  public  spirit,  ever  ready  to 
defend  the  colonies  from  the  encroachments  of  arbitrary-  power, 
and  to  do  whatever  tended  to  the  advancement,  of  the  material 
prosperit}-  of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.     It  seems  proper 
that  the  history  of  this  man  should  be  presented  in  connection 
with  whatever  pertains  to  the  history   of  Shrewsbur}-,  for,   al- 
though his  abode  through  nearly  his  whole  life  was  in  one  locali- 
t}',  he  lived  in  three  separate  townships,  the  division  and  re-divis- 
ion of  the  territorv  which  orisinallv  fell  to  the  lot  of  Shrewsbury 
rendering  such  the  case.     His   v.  hole   life  except  the   first  ten 
years,  was  connected  with  this  town  or  territory  set  off  from  the 
original  grant.     I  have  deemed  it  best  at  this  time  to  present 
briefly  some  facts  concerning  Major  Beaman,  who  was  an  active 
and  leading  man  in  the  immediate  vicinity  where  he  resided,  and 
who  sustained  and  exercised  an  extensive  and  controlling  influ- 
ence in  the  community  at  large.     It  is  in  the  lives  of  the  leading 
spirits  of  these  early  days  that  we  must  look  to  find  the  spring 
that  watered  and  nourished  feeble   settlements  until  they  had 
struck  their  roots  into  deeper  and  stronger  soil,  and  had  attain- 
ed such  a  growth,  and  were  so  firmly  established  in  the  principles 


126 

of  self-government  that  the  summer  heat  of  political  agitation, 
and  the  winter  blast  of  infidelity,  communism  and  private  am- 
bition pass  harmlessly  by  and  leave  no  trace  behind. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  lay  before  you  a  full  and  complete 
survey  of  the  life  and  services  of  P2zra  Beaman,  but  to  pass 
them  in  hasty  review  and  make  this  report  in  some  degree  doc- 
umentary. 

^MZRA.  beaman  was  born  in  Bolt(m,  Mass.  ,October  16,1736. 
He  was  the  son  of  Jabez  Beaman,  who  having  purchased 
^i^  a  large  tract  of  land  in  the  westerly  part  of  the  town  of 
Shrewsbury,  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Nashua  River, 
including  some  of  the  most  fertile  in  that  region,  removed  thence 
with  his  family  in  1746.  Jabez  Beaman  dying  in  1757,  the 
homestead  came  under  the  proprietorship  of  Ezra  the  eldest  son 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  In  1758  he  married  Persis, 
daughter  of  Cyprian  Keyes,  with  whom  he  lived  thirty  years. 
She  died  November  7th,  1788,  at  the  age  of  50  years.  By  this 
marriage  he  had  six  children.  He  afterwards  married  Mar}-, 
daughter  of  Richard  Boylston  of  Charlestown,  wlio  survived  liim. 

It  was  a  characteristic  of  Major  Beaman  that  he  was  constitu- 
ted with  an  active  and  vigorous  mind,  combined  with  wonderful 
energy,  decision,  firmness  and  perseverance.  Thus  constituted 
he  was  constantly  engaged  in  projects  both  of  a  public  and  pri- 
vate nature  which  accrued  to  his  own  emolument  and  to  great 
and  essential  advantage  to  the  whole  community.  His  judg- 
ment was  almost  unerring,  and  his  designs  general!}-  resulted  in 
accordance  with  his  expectations  and  desires.  Such  was  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him,  and  in  such  high  estimation  was  he 
held  by  the  people  not  only  of  his  own  town  but  of  a  large  sur- 
rounding section,  that  whenever  any  project  of  a  public  nature 
bearing  upon  the  well  being  of  the  people  at  large  was  to  be 
considered,  he  was  at  once  consulted  and  generally  in  accord- 
ance with  his  expressed  opinion  either  for  or  against,  was  the 
scheme  adopted  or  rejected. 

In  1704  he  erected  a  dwelling  house  on  the  tract  purcliased 
by  his  father  which  he  occupied  until  liis  death,  and  which  his 
son  bearing  the  same  name  continued  to  occup}'  for  half  a  cen- 
tury later.     ■ 


127 

This  house  in  the  thoroughness  of  its  construction,  its  size 
and  its  architectural  proportions,  was  probably  unsurpassed  by 
anything  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  This  was  known  as  the 
Beaman  Tavern,  and  for  a  century  was  a  t^-pical  Way-side  Inn  ; 
and  fiom  it  went  out  an  influence  which  was  felt  not  only  in  its 
immediate  vicinity  but  throughout  a  large  extent  of  country. 

The  tavern  of  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  even  up  to  the  time 
when  the  railroad  superceded  the  stage  and  the  team  as  a  means 
of  transportation  for  passengers  and  merchandise,  especially 
when  its  proprietor  was  a  person  of  prominence  and  force,  was 
a  power  in  the  communit}-.  During  the  da3s  of  the  Revolution 
the  tavern  was  the  resort  of  tories  or  patriots  according  to  the 
political  proclivities  of  the  landlord,  and  here  were  schemes  de- 
vised, either  for  or  against  the  patriot  cause  according  to  the 
political  character  which  it  assumed.  It  was  at  the  tavern  where 
the  people  most  frequently  assembled  either  in  a  formal  or  in- 
formal manner  to  discuss,  debate,  devise  and  carry  forward  such 
plans  and  projects  as  from  time  to  time  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  people.  Its  good  cheer  no  doubt  lent  its  aid,  and  who 
can  tell  what  inspiration  it  imparted  ?  The  influence  of  the 
Beaman  Tavern  was  decidedly-  in  favor  of  the  patriot  cause  and 
a  favorite  stopping  place  for  soldiers  on  their  way  to  and  from 
the  army,  there  to  impart  or  receive  the  latest  information  in 
regard  to  events  so  rapidly  transpiring. 

Major  Beaman  was  a  true  and  ardent  patriot.  When  the  first 
encroachments  of  arbitrary  power  were  beginning  to  be  felt  he 
was  convinced  that  nothing  short  of  forcible  resistance  would 
be  of  any  avail,  and  during  the  struggle  he  was  an  active  and 
unflinching  spirit  in  behalf  of  the  liberties  of  the  people.  He 
was  with  the  army  near  Boston  in  1775,  and  during  the  whole 
war  was  actively  engaged  in  whatever  tended  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  cause.  His  time,  his  influence,  his  property,  were 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  colonial  independence,  making  the  pledge 
his  own,  of  life,  property'  and  sacred  honor. 

The  people  of  Shrewsbury  manifested  their  confidence  in  him 
by  repeated I3'  electing  him  a  member  of  the  board  of  selectmen. 


128 

He  was  thus  chosen  in  1766-69-70-71-72-73-76-79-84-85.  We 
of  this  day  can  hardly  realize  the  importance  of  the  office  of  se- 
lectman of  a  town  for  the  years  immediately  preceding  and 
during  the  Revolution.  The  position  seems  to  have  implied  but 
little,  but  in  reality  it  implied  much.  In  towns  true  to  the 
patriot  cause  it  implied  a  lofty  patriotism  and  an  unyielding 
firmness,  and  was  an  office  of  the  utmost  importance  and  re- 
sponsibility. Not  only  were  the  selectmen  called  upon  to  take 
care  of  the  ordinary  interests  of  the  town,  but  much  additional 
labor  was  required.  The  procuring  of  soldiers  to  fill  requisitions 
for  men,  the  raising  of  money  and  supplies  of  provisions  and 
clothing  for  the  army,  the  care  of  the  families  of  soldiers  besides 
the  carrying  on  of  the  war  to  a  great  extent  on  the  part  of  the 
town.  As  was  often  the  case  the  Committees  of  Safety  and  Cor- 
respondence were  made  up  wholly  or  in  part  from  their  num- 
ber. In  accordance  with  recommendations  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  the  town  exercised  largely  legislative,  executive  and 
judicial  functions  ;  its  votes  were  laws,  its  judgment  as  to  wheth- 
er a  man  was  a  patriot  or  a  tory  was  final,  and  from  the  ver- 
dict of  hostility  there  was  no  appeal ;  and  the  selectmen  and 
committees  executed  their  decrees  with  spirit  and  firmness. 
By  direction  of  the  town  they  entered  tories'  houses,  disarmed 
them,  confined  them  to  limits  or  in  jail  as  the  case  might 
require.  Thus  the  office  was  no  sinecure,  but  on  the  contrary 
one  of  great  labor,  and  probably  at  no  time  in  the  historj-  of  the 
colonies  or  the  states,  has  such  care  been  exercised  in  the  choice 
of  town  officers  as  during  this  period  of  toil  and  strife.  It  is 
difficult  at  this  day  to  realize  the  amount  of  labor  and  responsi- 
bility which  devolved  upon  them. 

Major  Beaman,  aside  from  his  services  in  the  army,  acted  a 
prominent  part  in  the  revolutionary  proceedings  of  the  town. 
As  selectman,  member  of  the  committee  of  inspection,  commit- 
tee of  correspondence  and  safety,  as  a  prosecutor  of  persons 
inimically  disposed  towards  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  as  one 
chosen  to  procure  men  and  supplies  for  the  continental  array, 
he  was  zealous  and  indefatigable. 


129 

111  17S1  the  pcoi)lc  of  the  North  Finish  desiriiij^'  to  ohtuui  an 
act  of  incoii)()ration  :is  a  town,  took  steps  in  that  direction. 
In  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  to  be  held  in  ^lay  of  that 
year,  the  i")th  article  was  as  loUows:  "To  hear  the  petition  of 
Ezra  Beanian  and  others  prating  to  be  set  off  a  separate  town." 
Some  opi)t)sition  manifesting  itself,  it  was  not  until  ITSO  that 
an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained.  Of  the  new  town  which 
was  named  Boylston,  Ezra  lieainan  was  chosen  chairman  of  the 
board  of  selectmen,  wliich  office  he  held  during  the  ^ears  178G- 
.SS-89-i>0-  *J1-1>2,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  daring  the 
3-ears  l<S0,')-4-r).  He  was  also  representative  from  this  town  to 
the  (ireat  and  General  Court  in  17'S'J-17i)l,  and  town  treasurer 
17I)l-!)2-!):)-!)4.  In  17'.)4  a  controversy  arose  in  relation  to  the 
location  of  a  new  meeting  house  about  to  be  erected.  Major 
Beanian  whose  residence  was  some  three  miles  west  from  Bo^'l- 
ston  centre,  was  desirous  that  the  new  house  be  erected  half  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  old  one.  After  a  [)rotracted  struggle  the 
majority  decided  to  build  upon  the  old  site.  Major  Beaman, 
with  others  seceded,  and  he  at  his  own  expense  built  a  meeting 
house  about  three  miles  to  the  westward,  and  this  difficult}'  in 
relation  to  the  meeting  house  culminated  after  much  opposition 
in  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  "West  Boylston  in  ISOS. 
Of  the  new  town  he  was  (;h<)sen  chairman  of  the  board  of  select- 
men, town  treasurer  and  representative  to  the  General  Court 
each  year  until  his  death  in  1811.  Benjamin  F.  Keyes  in  a  very 
brief  history  of  West  Boylston  published  in  lHr)8  says:  "Al- 
thouo-h  it  mav  in  truth  be  said  that  AVest  Bovlston  eventually 
became  a  town  almost  wholly  in  consequence  of  his  great  exer- 
tions and  untiring  efforts,  and  that  he  laid  the  foundation  for 
its  future  growth  and  prosperity,  and  although  he  did  more  to 
promote  the  general  interest  thereof  than  all  others  associated 
with  him,  yet  very  little  if  anything  of  adequate  importance  has 
been  done  (aside  from  a  common  toinb-stone  erected  at  his 
grave)  either  by  individual  citizens  or  the  town,  as  a  testimony 
of  his  extensive  intiuence,  usefulness  and  great  worth  as  a  citi- 
zen and  i)ublic  benefactor,  or  for  the  perpetuation  of  his  mem- 
ory as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  influential  of  the  town 
and  community  in  which  he  resided. 


130 

A  few  3-ears  ago  however  the  town  desiring  to  do  honor  to 
his  memory  as  its  principal  founder,  voted  by  a  large  majority 
to  petition  the  legislature  for  a  change  of  name  to  that  of  Bea- 
man.  Some  opposition  appearing,  and  the  then  representative 
of  the  family,  a  son  of  him  for  whom  it  was  to  be  named,  object- 
ing, the  petition  was  never  presented. 

Ezra  Beaman's  death  occurred  June  4,  1811,  and  his  remains 
were  buried  in  the  plot  of  ground  appropriated  by  his  father 
previous  to  his  death  as  a  family  burying  ground,  and  in  which 
several  generations  of  the  family  now  lie.  This  ground  is  on  a 
ridge  of  land  half  a  mile  from  the  old  Beaman  Mansion,  near 
the  public  road  leading  to  Boylston.  It  overlooks  a  beautiful 
scenery  of  intervale  bordering  on  the  Nashua  river  and  is  en- 
closed b}'  a  remarkably  solid  and  substantial  stone  wall  with  an 
iron  gateway.  At  his  funeral  people  came  from  far  and  near  to 
pay  respect  to  his  memory.  A  lady  still  living  who  was  present 
on  that  occasion,  seventy  3'ears  ago,  informed  me  that  although 
the  place  of  burial  was  half  a  mile  from  the  house,  the  head  of 
the  procession  had  arrived  back  to  its  starting  point  before  the 
rear  had  left  it. 

The  inscription  on  the  stone  which  marks  his  grave  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

ERECTED 

IN    MEMORY    OF 

EZRA  BEAMAN  Esq" 

WHO     DIED 

June  4  1811 

Aged  74  years  7  months 

19  days. 

Friends  &  Physicians  could  not  save 
My  mo]tal  body  from  the  grave 
Nor  can  the  grave  confine  me  here 
When  Christ  shall  call  me  to  appear. 

Major  Beaman  was  ratlier  short  in  stature,  quick  aud  energetic 
in  motion.  He  took  much  pride  in  beautifying  the  roadside  of 
the  town  by  planting  along  the  highway  adjoining  his  vast  es- 
tate, trees  of  various  kinds  with  a  view  to  beauty  and  shade. 
There  is  a  large  buttonwood  tree  standing  by  the  roadside  near 
the  old  location  of  the  ancient  Beaman  house  bearing  the  marks 


131 

of  age,  which  was  planted  by  him  in  1749,  he  being  then  thir- 
teen years  of  age.  His  life  was  devoted  to  whatever  tended  to 
the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  the  community,  and  his 
death  was  sincerely  mourned.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Con- 
areoational  Church  and  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  cause 
of  religioQ. 

I  have  deemed  it  best  to  present  copies  of  a  few  records  and 
documents  pertaining  to  Ezra  Beaman  which  convey  informa- 
tion relative  to  public  matters.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
the  papers  that  belonged  to  him  and  which  undoubtedly  con- 
tained much  of  a  public  and  personal  nature  have  been  so  wide- 
ly scattered  or  destroyed.  Upon  his  death,  these  came  into  the 
custody  of  his  son  who  succeeded  him  in  the  possession  of  the 
homestead,  who  preserved  them  with  the  most  religious  care,  as 
he  ever  did  everything  that  pertained  to  his  father,  and  although 
he  lived  to  the  age  of  94  years  he  always  spoke  of  him  with  the 
most  tender  and  fdial  respect.  At  his  death  in  1863,  he  never 
having  married,  the  personal  effects  were  scattered  far  and  wide, 
through  a  general  desire  to  obtain  some  memento  of  the  distin- 
guished person  to  whom  they  once  belonged.  Thus  they  have 
been  destroyed  or  rendered  inaccessible.  But  these  which  fol- 
low I  have  brought  together, 

"Ere  yet  Decay's  destroying  fingers 

Have  swept  the  lines  where  merit  lingers." 

In  September,  1774  the  town  of  Shrewsbury  voted  to  have  two 
companies  of  militia  or  training  soldiers  in  the  South  Parish  ; 
the  second  or  North  Parish  had  already  taken  action  in  this 
direction  and  chosen  Ezra  Beaman  captain. 

December  ■27th,  1774,  the  town  of  Shrewsbury  voted  unani- 
mously to  adopt  the  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
and  in  addition  thereto,  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  5th  of 
December,  relative  to  the  non-importation  and  non-consumption 
of  Bi'itish  goods  ;  and  in  order  to  see  the  same  carried  into  vig- 
orous execution,  chose  a  Committee  of  Inspection.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  fifteen  members  of  which  Ezra  Beaman  was 
one. 


132 

On  the  arrival  of  the  news  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington  a  com- 
pany of  men  marched  from  this  town  with  Job  Gushing  as  Cap- 
tain, Ezra  Beaman  1st  Lieut,  and  Asa  Rice  2d  Lieut.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  army  a  majority  remained.  This  com- 
pany was  assigned  to  the  regiment  of  Col.  Ward  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  seige  of  Boston. 

Herewith  is  a  copy  of  the  Commission  of  Lieutenant  Beaman. 

The  Congress  of  the  Colon?/  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 
To  Ezra  Beaman,  Gentleman, 

Greeting : — We,  reposing  especial  Trust  and  Confidence  in 
your  Courage  and  good  Conduct,  Do,  b3^  the  Presents,  Constitute 
and  appoint  yoxx  the  said  Ezra  Beaman  to  be  a  Lieutenant  in  the 
Company  Commanded  by  Cap'  Job  Gushing  in  the  Regiment  of 
Foot  whereof  y**  hon'*''^  Artemas  Ward  Esq.  is  Colonel  raised  by 
the  Congress  aforesaid  for  the  Defence  of  said  Colon}'. 

You  are  therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the 
Duty  of  a  Lieutenant  in  leading,  ordering,  and  exercising  the 
said  Compau}'  in  Arms  both  inferior  Officers  and  Soldiers,  and 
to  keep  them  in  good  Order  and  Dicipline  ;  ami  they  are  hereby 
commanded  to  obey  you  as  their  Lieutenant,  and  you  are  your- 
self to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  Instructions  as  you 
shall  from  Time  to  Time  receive  from  the  General  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Forces  raised  in  the  Colon}"  aforesaid, 
for  the  Defence  of  the  same,  or  anv  other  your  superior  officers, 
according  to  military  Rules  and  Disipline  in  War  in  Pursuance 
of  the  Trust  reposed  in  you. 

Dated  the  29th  of  May  By  order  of  the  Congress 

A.  D.  1775  JOS.  WARREN 

SAM'L  FREEMAN  Secretary  P.  T.  President  P.  T. 

Lieutenant  Beaman  was  present  and  took  part  in  the  action 
on  Bunker  hill,  and  the  part  performed  by  the  regiment  of  Col. 
Ward  on  that  day  is  worthy  of  mention.  AV'hen  General  Wai'd 
had  learned  that  a  reinforcement  of  British  troops  had  been  sent 
over  to  Gharlestown,  thereby  reducing  the  disposable  force  of 
the  enemy  so  that  an  attack  upon  headquarters  at  Cambridge 
was  improbable,  he  ordered  the  regiment  of  Col.  Jonathan  Ward 
to  march  immediatel}'  to  Gharlestown.  The}'  had  proceeded  to 
within  a  little  over  a  mile  of,  the  scene  of  action,   when  they 


133 

were  met  by  a  liorseman,  said  to  have  been  Dr.  Benjamin 
Church,  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  who  afterwards  proved 
a  traitor,  coming  from  Charlestown,  who  asked  Ward  if  he  had 
not  received  counter  orders?  "No,"  was  the  answer.  "You 
soon  will,"  said  Church,  "Halt  here."  Part  of  the  regiment 
remained  here,  the  other  part  found  means  to  advance,  and  took 
part  in  the  engagement.  That  part  of  the  regiment  which  had 
halted,  after  remaining  on  the  ground  an  hour  or  more  advanced, 
but  soon  met  the  other  part  of  the  regiment  returning  under  a 
cannonade  from  the  British.  The  regiment  returned  to  Cam- 
bridge the  next  morning.  Lieut.  Beaman  was  among  those  who 
advanced  and  took  part  in  the  engagement. 

The  whereabouts  of  Lieut.  Beaman  during  the  summer  and 
fall  can  be  gathered  from  the  following  orders  and  passes  : 

Head  Quarters  Cambridge  June  3  1775 
Gen.  Orders 

That  Lieut.  Beaman  proceed  immediately  to  Shrewsbury  & 
apprehend  &  bring  back  Daniel  Holden,  Asa  Smith  &  William 
Rusforth  who  have  deserted  &  bring  them  back  to  Camp,  who 
are  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  Nature  of  their  Crime,  & 
the  Horse  that  was  taken  from  one  of  the  Islands  (if  either  of 
the  above  Persons  carried  away  any  such  Horse)  is  to  be  brot 
back.  The  Selectmen  are  desired  to  afibrd  all  the  assistance 
Lieut.  Beaman  may  stand  in  need  of. 

S.  OSGOOD  Maj--  of  Brigade 

Permit  Lieut  Beaman  to  pass  the  Guards  from  Headquarters 
Camp  at  Cambridge  June  9"^-  J.  WARD  Secretary 

Lieut.  Ezra  Beaman  has  leave  to  pass  the  Guard  to  and  from 
the  Camp  in  Dorchester 

July  28^^  1775  J.  WARD  Colonel 

Camp  at  Roxhury  8th  Sejyt.  1775 

Lieut.  Beaman  in  Gen.  Ward'  Reg'  has  a  Furlough  for  six  days. 

P>v  order  of  Gen'  Ward 

J.  WARD  A.  d.  C. 

The  Powder  Horn  of  Lieut  Beaman  now  in  possession  of  The 
Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  is  a  beautiful  and  interesting 
relic.  The  inscription  upon  it  is  as  follows  :  Lieut.  Ezra  Bea- 
man, his  horn,  made  at  Fox  Poynt  so  called,  in  Dorchester 


134 

September  the  30  y*  1775,  in  Thomas  Gage's  war  who  came  to 
Boston  y®  Americans  for  to  enslave  and  take  tlieir  rights  away. 
Made  by  Micah  Briard.  The  engraving  on  this  horn  is  most 
beautifully  done,  and  was  the  work  of  Micah  Briard,  a  Serjeant 
in  Beaman's  company. 

In  October  Beaman  sent  the  following  letter  to  Colonel  Ward  : 

Dorchester,  October  27th,  1775. 
To  Jonathan  Ward  Esq.  Commander  of  a  Regiment  of  Foot  in 
the  Contiyiental  Army  at  Dorchester. 

S''.  Being  required  by  Gen!!  Orders  to  make  return  in  this  way 
of  my  Design  whether  to  Continue  in  said  Continental  Arm}-  or 
not,  and  being  first  Lieutenant  of  a  Company  whereof  Mf.  Job 
Gushing  is  Cap'  in  your  Honors  Regiment  &  therefore  of  little 
Importance  which  is  a  Strong  argument  for  my  being  excused, 
notwithstanding  am  willing  but  Desirous  to  use  and  exercise  the 
utmost  of  Indeavor  to  preserve  &  Defend  the  Rights  &  Liberty's 
of  my  Country  both  Civil  &  Sacred,  yet  the  many  luconvenien- 
cies  &  almost  Impossibilities  that  attend  my  Continuance  in  S** 
Arm}'  urges  in  favor  of  my  Dismission  at  the  last  of  Decem'' 
next.  Being  assured  that  I  can  be  ten  fold  more  Servisable  to 
the  Arm}-  being  in  my  usual  Business  than  present  with  it. 

Am  S'  Your  Hon''^  most  Obd'  &  Hum'  Serv*. 

EZRA  BEAMAN. 

His  request  for  dismission  was  granted  as  the  roll  of  the  com- 
pany repoi'ts  him  in  the  service  eight  months  from  April  19th, 
1775,  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  Shrewsbury,  in  177G, 
soon  after  his  return,  he  was  chosen  one  of  its  Committee  of 
Correspondence,  Safety  and  Inspection. 

That  he  was  actively  engaged  in  preparing  and  forwarding 
men  to  the  Continental  Army  is  shown  by  the  following  orders. 

To  Samuel  Andrews,  Corporal 

^hs^  You  are  Required  forthwith  According  to  the  Trust  Re- 
1^  M  posed  in  me  by  Direction  of  the  Commander  of  theCol- 
onv  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  to  Notifie  &  warn  all  tlie  Soldiers 
under  my  Command  Living  upon  the  southward  side  of  the  Riv- 
er above  the  Scar  Bridge  So  called  and  thence  to  the  meeting 
house  all  to  the  Road  leading  to  Worcester,  But  Not  on  S''  Road, 
to  Appear  at  the  Meeting  house  in  the  Second  Parish  in  Shrews- 
bury on  Wednesday  the  5th  Day  of  June   177G    at   two   of  the 


135 

Clock  in  the  After  Noon  witli  their  Arms  Conipleat  for  exercise, 
their  to  Attend  further  orders  from  myself  or  some  one  of  their 
oth'cers  ;  hearof  fail  not  &  make  Return  of  this  warrant  with 
your  Doings  thereon  to  myself  or  in  my  Absence  to  Lieut.  Faw- 
cett  at  or  Before  the  Hour  mentioned. 

given  under  my  Hand  and  Seal  this  28  Daj-  of  May. 
Anno.  do.  177G 

EZRA  BEAMAN  Capt. 

To  Capt,  Ezra  Beaman  or  the  Chief  officer  Present  of  said 
Com'pany,  Shrewsbury. 

t 

You  are  Required  forthwith  to  Inlist  into  the  Colony  Service 
or  Draft  everv  25*''  man  in  the  Compan}'  under  your  Command 
Both  of  the  trainining  Band  and  of  the  Alarm  List  and  see  that 
they  Are  aquipt  With  Arms  and  ammunition  according  to  Law 
and  Ready  to  march  at  the  Shortest  Notice  to  Dorchester 
Heights,  according  to  Resolve  of  Council  of  the  Colony  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bay  at  ^V^atertowu  July  18"*  and  order  also  of 
Brigadier  Warner  to  me  Directed  July  22  and  make  a  Return  of 
their  Names  so  Inlisted  or  Drafted  to  me  July  27  or  on  Mon- 
da}'  morning  Jul}-  2i)"'. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Grafton  this  2-1*  Day  of  July  177(j. 

JOHN  GOULDING  Col. 

To  Capt.  Ezra  Bea^nan^Shreivshnry,  the  Chief  officer  of  said 

ComjKcny,  these  presents  (are)  according  (to)  orders  from  Brig- 
adier {Gen  W)  araer  to  me  directed. 

You  are  hereb}'  required  forthwith  to  Cause  to  be  mustered 
the  Company  under  your  Command  and  Draft  ever3-  fifth  man 
according  to  a  resolve  of  the  Grait  &  General  Court  of  the  Col- 
ony of  the  Massachusetts  Ba^'  which  I  send  here  enclosed  and 
make  a  return  to  me  by  Tuesday  night  or  Wednesday'  morning 
Next. 

Grafton  September}'^  15  1776. 

JOHN  GOULDING  Col. 

To  /Samuel  Andrews,  Corjmral 

^77^  Greeting — You  are  Required  forthwith  According  to  the 
t",  ""'?j  Trust  Reposed  Tn  me  By  Direction  of  the  Council  of  the 
Colon,y  of  the  INIassachusetts  Ba}-  to  Notifie  &  warn  all  the  Sol- 
diers under  my  command  Belonging  to  the  training  Band  &  also 
the  Alarm  List  to  meet  at  the  meeting  house  In  the  Second  Par- 
rish  in  Shrewsbury  on  Tuesday  the  17  Day  Sep'  177G  at  Eight 
of  the  Clock  in  the  morning  with  their  Arms  Compleat  on  Pen- 
alty of  Paying  a  fine  of  ten  Pounds  for  Non-appearance. 


136 

hereof  fail  Not  &  make  Return  of  this  warrant  with  your  Do- 
ings hearon  to  myself  or  in  my  Absence  to  the  Next  ottieir  in 
Rank  at  or  Before  the  Hour  above  mentioned. 

given  under  my  hand  &  Seal  this  fifteenth  Day  .Sep*  177G. 

EZRA  EEAMAN  Capt. 

N.  B.  the  Division  for  you  &  David  Andrews  to  Be  the 
westerly  Parts  of  the  Parrish  from  the  first  Parrish  to  the  Sec- 
ond Parrish  By  the  Road  that  Leads  to  Sawyer's  Mills, 

Corjjoral  Caleb  Kendall 

.^S^^,  Qreellng — You  are  Required  forthwith  to  Notify  & 
i^i  warn  Both  Training  Baud  &  the  alarm  men  Belonging  to 
my  Company  on  the  East  side  of  the  Road  that  Leads  from  the 
first  Parrish  in  Shrewsbury  to  the  Second,  so  Leading  to  Saw- 
yers Mills,  to  meet  at  the  nieeting  house  in  S'l  Parrish  on  Wed- 
nesday the  twelfth  Day  of  this  Instant  February  at  one  of  the 
clock  In  the  afternoon  with  their  Arms  Complcat,  their  to  At- 
tend further  orders. 

Hearof  Fail  not  &  make  Return  of  this  warrant  with  your 
Doings  thereon  at  or  Before  the  hour  al)Ove  mentioned. 

given  under  mv  hand  <fc  Seal  the  fifth  Day  of  February  A.  D. 

1777 

EZllA  BEAMAX  Capt. 

On  the  lOth  day  of  June,  1777,  Ezra  Beaman  was  commis- 
sioned Major  in  the  Sixth  Worcester  regiment,  commanded 
by  Col.  Job  Cushing  of  Shrewsbury.  This  regiment  was  engag- 
ed in  the  movements  of  the  northern  army  which  culminated 
in  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Burgoyne. 

Previous  to  the  battle  5f  Bennington  this  regiment  had  passed 
through  that  place  and  pushed  on  towards  Ticonderoga.  Re- 
ceiving orders  to  return  and  reinforce  General  Stark  without 
delay,  it  arrived  at  Bennington  on  Sunday,  the  day  after  the 
battle,  and  performed  guard  duty  over  tlie  P)ritish  prisoners. 

The  following  are  from  Shrewsbury  Town  Rccoids  : 
"D'  Edward  Flint  et  Cap'  Ezra  Beaman  were  chosen  <>ii  the 
17  day  of  February  1777.  delegates  to  a  convention  proposed  to 
be  heid  at  the  request  of  tlie  town  of  Sutton  at  the  house  of  Wid- 
ow Stearns  in  Worcester  on  the  2i\  of  Feb'y,  to  come  into  some 
measures  for  the  repeal  of  an  act  passed  in  the  Great  &  General 
Court  last  spring  called  an  act  for  the  more  equal  Representation 
of  the  several  towns  in  this  state." 


"IMaj.  Ezra  Beanian  was  chosen  unanimously  to  procure  & 
lay  before  the  court  at  a  special  session  of  the  Peace,  the  evidence 
that  may  be  had  of  the  Inimical  disposition  Towards  any  of  the 
united  States,  of  any  Inljabitaut  of  said  town  who  sliall  be  charg- 
ed by  the  freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  thereof  of  being  a  per- 
son whose  residence  in  this  State  is  dangerous  to  the  Public 
Peace  or  Safety." 

October  20  1777  "chosen  a  member  of  a  committee  to  adjust 
the  duty  done  by  each  individual  in  said  Town  in  the  war  since 
the  PJtii  day  of  April  1775." 

November  16  1778  "Granted  to  Major  Beaman  for  the  ex- 
pense of  17  days  in  attending  special  court  &  collecting  evi- 
dence in  the  prosecution  of  inimical  persons  in  the  vear  1777 — 
£ll-U)s-Od  and  for  cash  paid  M"'  Lincoln  for  assisting  in  the 
prosecution  of  these  inimical  persons." 

August  9th  1779  chosen  a  member  of  a  "committee,  the  town 
having  voted  to  adopt  the  measures  proposed  by  the  convention 
at  Concord  14th  July  1779  &  to  regulate  prices,  and  to  see  the 
resolves  referred  to  are  strictly  and  duly  executed." 

25th  May  1780  chosen  member  of  a  "committee  to  frame 
amendments  to  the  Bill  of  Rights." 

January  1  1781  "chosen  to  procure  men  for  the  Continental 
Armj'." 

February  8th  1781  "chosen  one  of  a  committee  for  hiring  mon- 
ey for  the  payment  of  men  for  the  Continental  Army." 

March  20  1782  In  a  Tax  of  £65  for  a  Continental  Man  for 
the  arnn'  for  three  years,  in  a  class  of  fort}'  eight  names  Ezra 
Beaman's  proportion  was  £15-8s-5(;-2g  nearly  one  third  of  the 
whole  tax.     In  another  Tax  of  £72  his  proportion  was  £17-2s 

The  following  petition  to  the  Great  and  General  Court  is 
without  date. 

CommonwealVh  of  MassacTiusells. 

To  the  lion,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  assembled: 

HUMBLY  Shews  Ezra  Beaman  of  Shrewsbury  in  the  County 
of  Worcester  and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  aforesaid 
Esquire,  That  he  was  at  great  expense  during  the  late  war  in 
detecting  and  prosecuting  persons  inimically  disposed  to  the 
general  interests  of  the  country  ;  That  he  was  at  great  expense 
«fe  trouble  in  detecting  Jotham  Bush  of  Shrewsbury  guilty  of 


138 

uttering  large  sums  of  counterfeit  money  ;  procuring  witnesses 
for  attending  on  the  Courts  from  time  to  time  when  the  said 
Bush  was  recognized  for  the  crime  of  uttering  &  passing  coun- 
terfeit money  in  the  Counties  of  Middlesex  and  AVorcester  ;  That 
vour  Petitioner  spent  considerable  sums  of  Money    and   much 
Time  in  detecting  Solomon  Houghton  of  Lancaster,  suspected 
and  charged  with  uttering  and  passing  large  sums  of  counterleit 
money,  and  that  he  was  recognized  as  an  evidence  against  said 
Houghton  on  eleven  ditierent  indictments  from  Term  to  Term, 
for  more  than  three  years  and  expended  a  large  sum  of  money 
in  sending  into  the  Eastern  Country  after  the  said  Houghton  at 
the  express  request  of  the  Attorney  General  and  was  obliged  to 
advance  considerable  sums  of  money  to  support  evidence  at  Court 
from  time  to  time  on  the  ditferent  Indictments  against  the  said 
Houghton  ;  and  that  he  was  at  great  expense  in  sending  to  Bos- 
ton to  apprehend  one  David  Bush  who  was  suspected  of  having 
a  large  sum  of  Counterfeit  Money  with  him,  the  attendance  as  a 
prosecutor  of  the  said  Bush  a  number  of  Courts,  paying  and  sup- 
porting at  his  own  expense  divers  witnesses  against  said  Bush  ; 
That  he  attended  a  number  of  Terms  as  a  witness  against  one 
John  Williams  charged  with   high    Crimes    and    Misdemeanors 
against  the  Government,  and  that  for  more   than    seven   years 
vour  Petitioner  was  constantly  recognized  as  a  witness    in    the 
County  of  Worcester  against  i)ersons  dangerously   inimical  to 
the  Community  and   charged  with  counterfeiting   the    common 
currenc}'  of  the  Country' ;  That  he  was  instrumental  in  detect- 
ing divers  persons  suspected  of  the  Crimes  aforesaid.  For  which 
service  he  has  never  received  any  recompense,  neither  hath  he 
ever  been  refunded  the  mone}'  expended  by  him  in  the  business 
aforesaid  ;  That  he  has  regularly  with    others    made    certificate 
of  his  travel  and  attendance  in  the  cases  of  tiie  Commonwealth 
against  Houghton  and  John  Bush  and  delivered  the  same  to  the 
Attorney  General  but  without  any   kind  of  effect,  Wherefore 
your  petitioner  humbly  prays  the  Hon^'*'  Court  that  they  would 
take  such  measures  as  thej'  in  their  wisdom  should  judge  proper 
in  order  that  your  Petitioner  ma}'  have  some  reasonable  Com- 
pensation for  his  great  trouble.  Time,  expenses  &  disbursements 
and  as  in  Duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

The  following  has  an  interest  as  connected  with  the  incorpo- 
ration of  the  town  of  Boylston  : 

At  a  leo;al  meeting  holden  at  the  Second  Precinct  in  Shrews- 
bury  on  Monday  the  Ninth  day  of  May  A,  D.  1785,  the  warrant 
for  said  meeting  contained  the  following  article  viz  :  "2"*"^  To 
hear  the  Petition  of  the  Committee  of  the  Second  Precinct  in  S"^ 


139 

Shrewsbury  requesting  the  Town  would  choose  a  Joynt  Com- 
mittee from  each  Precinct  to  peramhukite  the  line  and  renew 
the  Bounds  between  the  Precincts,  as  also  to  settle  uU  other 
matters  relating  to  a  Seperation  of  Parishes  &  to  act  anything 
relative  thereto  the  the  toun  may  think  in'oper."  The  town  vot- 
ed a  committe  consisting  of  six,  three  m  each  precinct,  viz  ; 
Col"  Job  Cushing,  L'  Jonas  Temple,  Capt.  Jonah  Howe,  Capt" 
Joseph  Bigelow,  Maj*^  Ezrah  Beaman  and  Maj'  Asa  Rice  who 
reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  that  they  had  "run  the  bounds 
&c.  ;  that  the  one  half  of  the  town  securities,  Town  Stock  of 
Ammunition  &  Intrenching  tools  which  are  the  Property  of  said 
Town  shall  belong  to  the  first  precinct,  and  the  other  half  shall 
be  the  property  of  the  second  Precinct,  being  equally  divided. 
The  Weights  &  Measures  to  be  the  property  of  the  first  pre- 
cinct."    The  poor  are  severally  assigned.     Voted  to  sett  oft". 

The  following  receipts  are  interesting  as  showing  the  position 

of  the  town  of  Boylston  in  Shays'  Rebellion,  and  as  giving  the 

names  of  persons  who  served  in  suppressing  that  insurrection. 

Boyhton  May  the  4  A  D.  1787 

Then   Received  of  Ezra  Beaman  the  wages  that  is  due  to  us 

the  Subscribers  as  they  are  made  up  in  Capt.  Robert  Andrews' 

Muster  Roll,  for  servisses  Dun  in  surpressing  the  Late  Rebellion 

JOSEPH  HERENY 
EHIJAH  PIKE 
SILVANUS  DINSMOOR. 

Boylston  May  10  A.  D,  1787 

Then  Receivd  of  Ezra  Beaman  all  the  wages  that  is  Due  to 
us  the  Subscribers  for  Serveises  while  we  ware  in  Capt.  Jonah 
How's  Company  in  Sirpressing  the  Late  Rebellion  in  the  west- 
ward Countyis 

JAMES  LONGLEY        SAMUEL  WHITCOMB     ALMER  GOODNUF 
JOHN  ANDERSON       STEPHEN  BIGLO  DAVID  RICE 

JONAS  GOODNUF        JASON  GLAZIER  KING  HOW 

JOTHAM  GOODNUF    ROBERT  HUDSON  JOSHUA  STILES 

LEVI  MOORE  AMARIAH  SAWYER       JOHN  WHEELER 

JOHN  HASTINGS  Jr    WILLIAM  SAWYER        LEVI  BIGLOW 
SAMUEL  IIARTHAN  JOSEPH  BIGELOW  Jr     JONATHAN  BOND 

Boylston  May  the  4th  1787 

Then  Received  of  Ezra  Beaman  the  wages  that  is  due  to  us  the 

Subscribers  as  they  are  made   up    on    Cap'  Hollowell   Taylers 

Muster  Roll  for  Servisses  Dun  in  Surpressing  the  Late  Rebellion 

in  the  westward  Counties. 

AMHERST  MORSE 

JONATHAN  BOND  Jr 

JOHN  ANDREWS. 


140 

I  find  a  quaint  order  to  Ezra  Beaman  as  Precinct  Treasurer. 

Shreivsbury  Second  Precinct  January  3  1184 
To  Major  Ezra  Beaman  Precinct  Treasurer 

You  are  directed  to  pay  ^-ourself  Sixteen  Pounds  Six  Shillings 
and  a  peniiy  two  farthings  for  Money  spent  in  defending  the 
Action  brought  by  Jotham  Bush  against  the  collectors  &  As- 
sessors of  said  precinct  and  Eleven  Pounds  fifteen  shillings  «fe  two 
pence  being  money  laid  out  in  Repairing  the  Meeting  House 
and  this  order  shall  discharge  you  so  much 

LEVI  MOOR  \  Committee  for 

JONATHAN  BOND  /  said  Precinct. 

The  documents  which  follow  have  an  interest  as  presenting  a 
portion  of  the  history  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  West 
Boylston.  In  1794  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  town  of 
Boylston  as  follows  : 

To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Totvn  of  Boylston,  Gentlemen — 
The  petition  of  the  Subscribers  Humbly  Shetceth 

That  your  Petitioners  view  the  time  as  being  near  at  hand 
when  circumstances  will  admit  of  their  enjoying  Ecclesiastical 
privileges  in  a  more  conscientious,  agreeable  &  in  a  Much  more 
convenient  &  enlarged  manner  than  they  have  hitherto  done,  & 
being  sensible  that  Religion  the  basis  of  human  happiness  is  a 
natural  concomitant  of  these  privileges,  we  think  it  our  duty  to 
request  that  you  would  fully  consent  to  our  being  incorporated 
into  a  separate  Town,  District  or  Society,  as  you  think  most 
proper.  We  do  not  solicit  this  favor  wliolly  with  a  view  to  pro- 
mote our  Interests,  Einolunient  or  convenience,  but  ibr  the  good 
of  a  respectable  number  of  our  Neighbors,  the  welfare  of  our 
own  &  their  Children  &  succeeding  generations.  Your  compli- 
ance or  non  compliance  with  our  request  we  do  not  consider  as 
desisive  of  the  cause  we  have  undertaken  ;  but  we  view  it  in 
your  prese;it  power  either  to  aid  or  oppose  our  pursuit  of  the 
object  we  aim  at. 

We  now  declare  unto  you  Gentlemen,  that  we  do  not  wish  to 
obtain  the  Prayer  of  our  Petition  to  .you,  or  of  a  similar  one  to 
higher  power,  by  any  unhiwful  or  unfair  means  ;  but  by  con- 
trary means.  We  are  iuHexibl^-  determined-  to  use  our  utmost 
efforts.. Because  Ave  are  persuaded  that  our  request  is  not  only 
reasonable  but  that  there  is  a  fair  prospect  of  our  being  separat- 
ed from  you.  That  this  is  the  case  we  think  you  will  not  deny. 
If  so,  will  it  not  be  consistent  with  your  own  &  our  Interest  to 
grant  us  our  request.     We  think  it  will. 


141 

Consider  3'onr  Petitioners  as  separate  from  yon,  and  you  will 
still  be  a  respectable  so(iety,  more  numerous,  of  greater  ability 
than  many  other  Towns  in  this  State.  Is  a  forced  connection 
Avith  us  worth  couU'udini>'  for.  Again,  we  ask  what  injury  can 
you  sustain  by  parting  with  us.  To  this  you  may  reply  that 
vour  IMinisters  tax  will  be  a  little  augmented.  This  will  not  we 
think  alford  you  a  suflicient  plea  to  withstand  or  even  induce 
you  to  engage  in  an  uncertain  contest.  These  things  Gentlemen 
we  request  you  would  wisely  consider  &  ^our  I'etitioners  as  in 
dutv  bound  shall  ever  prav. 

EZRA  BEAMAN 
&  27  others. 

This  petition  the  town  refused  to  grant  and  the  following  was 
sent  to  the  Great  and  General  Court : 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Senate  and  House  of  RepresentaMves  in 
General  Court  Assembled. 

HUMBLY  shew  the  Subscribers  your  petitioners,  agents  for 
the  second  parish  in  Boylston  Holden  and  Sterling  in  the 
County  of  Worcester  that  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Parish  are 
desirous  that  the  Territory  belonging  to  said  Parish  may  be 
constituted  and  incorporated  into  a  District  by  some  proper 
Name  and  vested  with  all  the  Powers  and  Privileges  which  by 
law  appertain  and  belong  to  Districts. 

Your  petitioners  believe  that  the  Happiness  and  Comfort  of 
the  second  Parish  aforesaid  will  be  promoted  h\  an  incorpora- 
tion into  a  District,  that  their  concerns  will  be  managed  with 
more  facility,  convenience  &  with  less  Difficulty  than  in  their 
present  situation,  that  no  possible  injury  can  accrue  to  the  towns 
of  Boylston,  Holden  &  Sterling  or  anv  other  place,  by  your 
granting  tlieir  request.  Confidently  relying  on  the  Justice  & 
Wisdom  of  the  Legislature  they  humbly  hope  that  their  petition 
will  lie  granted  and  as  in  Duty  bound  will  ever  pray 

Jan'v  1S()7  EZRA  BEAIMAX  "]  Assents  for  and 

JONATHAN  PL YM  PTON     I  in'behalf  of  the 
PAITI.  GOODALE  -  Parish  in  Boylston 


WILLIAM  FAIRliANK  Holden  &  Sterling 


'ft* 


In  House  of  Representatives 
July  23,  1)^07  Received  &  Committed  to  Committe  on  Towns. 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence  PEREZ  MORTON  Speaker. 

In  Senate  Jan'y  23  1807,  Read  &  Concurred 

J.  BACON  President. 


142 

The  Committee  of  both  Houses  appointed  to  consider  the 
Applications  for  the  Incorporation  of  Towns  &c.  on  the  Petition 
of  Ezra  Beaman  and  others  report  the  following  order  which  is 

submitted. 

SALEM  TOWNE  Per  order. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

Ordered :  That  the  Petitioners  cause  an  attested  Copy  of  their 
Petition  with  this  order  thereon,  to  be  served  on  the  respective 
Town  Clerks  of  the  Towns  of  Boylston,  Holden  &  Sterling, 
Forty  days  at  least  before  the  first  Tuesday  of  the  first  session 
of  the  next  General  Court,  that  all  persons  may  then  appear, 
and  show  cause  (if  any  they  have)  why  the  prayer  of  said  Peti- 
tion should  not  be  granted. 
In  Senate  Jan'y  24th  1807 

Read  and  passed.     Sent  down  for  Concurrence. 

J.  BACON  President. 

In  House  of  Representatives  Jan'y  26th  1807 

Read  &  Concurred 

PEREZ  MORTON  Speaker. 

A  copy  of  this  petition  was  served  upon  the  town  clerk  of 
Boylston  by  Silas  Beaman.  A  copy  was  served  upon  the  town 
clerks  of  Holden  and  Sterling  by  Robert  B.  Thomas. 

This  petition  brought  out  the  following  remonstrance  : 

To  the  HonoraUe  Seriate  &  House  of  RepresentaMves  in  General 
Court  Assembled. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boylston  in  the  County  of 
Worcester  being  cited  on  the  Petition  of  Ezra  Beaman  &  others 
to  shew  cause  why  the  second  Precinct  in  the  Town  of  Boylston, 
Sterling  &  Holden  should  not  be  Incorporated  into  a  District : 
The  Subscribers,  agents  for  said  Town  duly  authorized  &  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose  Respectfully  submit  to  your  considera- 
tion their  answer  to  the  prayer  of  said  petition. 

An  unfortunate  division  having  arisen  in  said  Town  in  tlie 
year  17'.)4  relative  to  tlie  location  of  a  IVIeeting  house,  then  about 
to  be  erected,  a  few  disattected  individuals  have  from  that  pe- 
riod been  indefatigable  in  their  exertions  to  produce  the  dis- 
memberment &  eventually  the  total  ruin  of  the  Corporation. 
In  pursuance  of  this  object  the  leading  Petitioner  availing  him- 
self of  the  Power  and  Influence  derived  from  an  ample  fortune, 
erected  a  Meeting  house  at  his  own  Individual  expense  within 


14 


Q 


the  limits  of  the  present  precinct,  publicly  [)roclaiming  his  inten- 
tion to  bring  a  separation  as  the  most  direct  and  certain  means  of 
destroying  the  Town.  A  petition  was  accordingly  presented  to 
the  Legislature  for  the  Incorporation  of  a  new  Town  to  be  com- 
posed of  certain  sections  of  the  towns  of  Boylston,  Sterling  & 
Holden  ;  on  this  Petition  the  said  towns  were  cited  and  their 
opposition  having  proved  successful,  the  next  effort  was  to  ob- 
tain an  Incorporation  of  the  present  Precinct.  Not  satisfied 
with  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  a  petition  was  soon 
after  preferred  for  an  enlargement  of  the  precinct  by  lopping 
c»lf  another  section  of  the  said  Town  of  Boylston.  The  Inhabi- 
tants were  again  cited  and  notwithstanding  their  strenuous  op- 
position the  object  was  eli'ected. 

Having  thus  gradually  severed  from  the  original  Corporation 
by  far  the  most  valuable  and  fertile  portion  of  the  Territory  & 
more  than  one  quarter  of  the  whole  number  of  ratable  polls,  the 
remaining  Inhabitants  had  flattered  themselves  that  the  enemy 
would  '•'■Cease  from  troubling"  and  that  they  should  be  permitted 
to  enjov  in  tranquility'  the  privileges  which  had  been  left  to  them 
after  this  injurious  encroachment. 

It  being  discovered  however  that  the  Town  would  survive  the 
shock  and  that  something  more  remained  to  be  done  before  the 
Antient  Corporation  would  be  completelv  subverted,  a  new  Pro- 
ject is  devised  &  an  attempt  is  now  made,  (with  a  spirit  of  ob- 
stinate i)ei'severance  for  which  our  leading  opponent  is  particu- 
larly distinguished)  to  convert  the  Precinct  into  a  district  more 
effectually  to  Impair  our  privileges  and  to  accomplish  this  sys- 
tematic work  of  Destruction.  Possessing  advantages  for  an 
Increase  of  Population  much  superior  to  the  first  Precinct  (from 
the  better  qualitv  of  their  Land  &  other  local  causes)  it  is  cal- 
culated with  confidence  by  the  Petitioners  that  the  ratable  polls 
within  the  intended  district  which  are  now  nearly  equal  will  soon 
exceed  in  number  those  within  the  Town  of  Boylston.  By  thus 
bringing  to  their  aid  a  small  portion  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Ster- 
ling and  Holden  (who  will  compose  a  part  of  the  district)  it  is 
intended  b}-  our  enemies  Inhabiting  this  disaffected  section  to 
deprive  the  Town  of  the  important  privilege  of  Representation. 
Such  will  l)e  the  Inevitable  consequence  of  incorporating  the 
petitioners  into  a  district.  Provided  such  district  is  attached  to 
the  Town  of  Boylston. 

Such  we  know  to  be  the  object  of  their  leaders  because  it  has 
been  openly  avowed,  and  although  the  petition  is  silent  on  the 
subject  of  annexation  they  have  pul)licly  declared  their  intention 
to  be  annexed  to  the  Town  of  Boylston. 

With  this  impression,  with  an  anxious  desire  to  preserve  our 
Corporate  existence,  to  retain  the  privilege  of  representation 


144 

fully  &  earnestly  to  remonstrate  against  the  prayer  of  said  pe- 
tition, 'provided  the  District  thus  to  be  incorporated  in  to  he  an- 
nexed to  the  town  of  Boijlston  of  which  ice  are  Inhabitants. 

At  the  same  time  we  wish  it  to  be  explicitly  understood  that 
all  opposition  on  our  part  is  withdrawn  if  it  be  consented  on 
the  part  of  the  petitioners  or  is  found  expedient  by  the  Legisla- 
ture to  annex  the  intended  District  to  Sterling,  Holden  or  any 
other  Town  in  the  County.  For  although  we  have  most  sensibly 
felt  the  injury  resulting  to  us  from  the  partial  dismemberment 
of  this  small  but  once  united  &  flourishing  Corporation,  yet  our 
peace  has  been  so  incessantly  disturbed  by  new  projects  of  en- 
croachment, and  we  have  encountered  so  much  trouble  and  ex- 
pense in  opposing  these  projects  that  we  are  now  fully  pursuad- 
ed  we  shall  never  be  at  rest ;  that  our  existence  as  a  Corpora- 
tion will  be  in  perpetual  jeopardy  until  this  troublesome  and 
oftending  member  is  totally  severed  from  the  body  which  it  thus 
threatens  to  destro}'. 

For  the  fourth  time  the  Town  of  Boylston  is  now  cited  before 
the  Legislature  to  answer  to  the  petition  of  Ezra  Beaman  and 
others.  The  object  of  each  of  these  petitions  has  been  most 
essentially  to  injure  if  not  destroy  us  as  a  Corporation.  Let 
Ezra  Beaman  &.  others  become  a  Corporation  totally  detached 
from  us,  &  whatever  may  be  the  evil  we  will  Patiently  submit. 
We  trust  with  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Legislature  to 
discern  the  object  of  the  present  petition,  &  we  trust  with  equal 
confidence  that  they  will  be  influenced  l)y  a  desire  of  justice  & 
a  regard  to  the  essential  interests  of  a  small  but  peaceable  com- 
munity, to  refuse  an  act  of  incorporation  annexing  the  i>roposed 
District  to  the  Town  of  Boylston  against  the  earnest  wishes  and 
settled  ojiposition  of  every'lndividual  who  feels  a  solicitude  to 
preserve  our  existence  as  a  Corporation 

Boylston  May  26  1807  JAMES  LONGLEY      ")  Agents  for 

ROBERT  ANDREWS  \  the  town  of 
AARON  WHITE  J  Boylston. 

A  remonstrance  against  annexation  signed  by  Jonas  Temple 
and  sixty-one  others  was  also  presented  to  the  Legislature,  the 
principal  argument  being  that  it  would  aff"ect  the  privilege  of 
representation.  vSometime  afterwards  agents  of  the  town  of 
Boylston  and  of  the  precinct  in  Boylston  Holden  and  Sterling, 
met  and  signed  articles  of  agreement,  Article  1st  of  which  was 
as  follows  :  "It  is  agreed  that  the  Precinct  shall  be  incorporated 
into  a  town," 


^'°l^^-  "<r^--'*'?*'^^>^^S-''' 


145 

DONATIONS. 

* 

^     Ml'     ^ 

Aldrich,  p.  Emory, — Autograph  of  Thomas  Sirams,  framed. 

AsTOR  Library,  New  York. — 32d  Annual  Report. 

Barrows,  Alonzo  M. — Framed  Portrait. 

Bartlett.  Thomas  E..  East  Cambridge,  Mass. — 2  volumes. 

Bates,  Phineas  Jr.,  Boston. — Boston  School  Documents  as  issued. 

Caldwell,  Augustus. — 14  numbers  Antiquarian  Papers. 

Canadian  Institute,  Toronto.  C,  W. — Proceedings,  1881. 

Chamberlin,  Henry  H. — Manuscript  of  his  "Trade  of  Worcester"  read  be- 
fore the  Society. 

Chandler,  George,  M.  D. — 1  volume  ,  8  pamphlets. 

Clemence,  Henry  M. — 3  volumes,  4  pamphlets. 

Cook,  Norton  L. — 1  paper. 

Crane,  Ellery  B. — 2  volumes,  6  pamphlets,  1  piece  Colonial  Currency, 
Ballots,  his  Map  of  Old  Worcester. 

Davenport  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences.  Davenport,  Iowa. — Proceed- 
ings, Vol.  III.  No.  I.     Proceedings,  Vol.  II.  Part  II. 

Davis,  Hon.  Horace,  San.  Francisco,  Cal. — His  sketch  of  the  life  of  Dolor 

Davis, 
Dickinson,  Thomas  A. — 1  volume,  Anti  Slavery  paper  found  among  the  pa - 

papers  of  John  Milton  Earle,  Straw  Splitting  Machine  found  in  the  house 

of  Mrs.  Polly  Tucker  in  1879. 
Dodge,  Benjamin  J. — 1  volume,  11  pamphlets,  1  broadside.  1  paper. 

Emerson,  William  A. — A  copy  of  a  specimen  of  Pottery  found  by  Dr.  Schlie- 

mann  at  ancient  Troy. 
Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass.— Essex  Bulletin  as  published. 
EsTEY,  James  L. — Indian  god  from  Alabahad,  India. 
Fenno,  Charles  W.,  East  Orange,  N.  J. — 7  pamphlets. 
Fisher,  Charles  H.— 2  volumes. 
Harris,  Clarendon. — 3G  volumes,  bound,  American  Almanac ;   2  National 

do.,  4  volumes, bound.  Tribune  Almanac. 
Harvard  University. — Harvard  University  Bulletin  as  published. 
Henshaw,  Miss  Harriet  E.,  Leicester,  Mass, — 2  volumes,  2  portraits. 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania— Pennsylvania  Magazine  as  published. 

Howard,  Joseph  Jackson  LL.  D.,  London,  England. — Miscellania  Genea- 
logica  et  Heraldica  as  published. 

JiLLsoN,  Clark — 14  volumes,  24  pamphlets,  9  magazines,  2  newspapers, 
counterfeit  money,  his  Annual  Address  as  President,  and  Memorial  Re- 
marks before  the  Society,  2  copies. 

Johnson,  Charles  R.  18  pamphlets,  package  of  political  circulars. 

Kingsbury,  H.  H.,  Spencer. — 1  volume. 

Kinney,  B.  H. — 1  pamphlet. 


146 

Lawrence,  E.  R.— 1  volume,  4  pamphlets. 

Lee   Pardon  A.— 2  flags  from  Arlington  Heights,  Horse  Nails  made  by 
machinery,  ancient  Work  Bag,  Lamp  used  in  Massachusetts  State  House 
1812,  1  napkin  ring. 
Library  Company  of  Philadelphia.— Bulletin,  new  series.  No.  7. 
Lowe,  Moses  H. — 5  volumes. 

Marble.  Albert  P.,  Ph.  D.— His  Address  to  the  public  school  teachers  of 
Worcester,  March  30,  1881,  three  copies.  Report  of  Wocester  Schools,  1880 

six  copies. 
Marble,  E.  H.— Indian  Hunting  shirt   from   Oregon,    specimen   of  crude 
sulphur. 

Marshall,  E.  H.— 5  volumes,  1  pamphlet,  1  broadside,  geological  specimens. 
Maynard,  M.  a.— File  of  Heart  and  Hand,  Minnesota  Historical  Society 

Biennial  Report,  1881. 
Members  of  the  Society. — Oil  portrait  of  Elihu  Burritt,  framed. 
New  England  Historic  Genealogical  Society. — New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Register  as  published ;  Vol.  L  Memorial  Biographies, 
Knox  manuscripts.  Proceedings,  25  Oct.,  1880. 
O'Flynn,  Richard. — 1  manuscript  sermon,  1  broadside. 
Paine,  Nathaniel.— Paine  Family  Records,  Nos.  IX-X ;  his  Genealogical 
Notes  of  the  Paine  family  of  Worcester ;  photograph  of  the  Old  U.  S.  Ho- 
tel, AVorcester ;  certiticatc  in  manuscript  dated  Lexington,  April  4,  1776  ; 
manuscript  account  of  damages   from  British  troops,   Lexington  Mass., 
1775,  4  pamphlets,  1  paper. 
Parker,  Edward  O.— 2  copies  Garfield  Memorial. 
Peck.  Augustus  E. — 1  volume,  2  pamphlets. 

Peirce,  Henry  B.,  Boston.— 11  volumes  Massachusetts  documents. 
Phelps.  Henry. — 25  pamphlets,  1  autograph. 
Plummer,  Israel,  Northbridge. — Old  flint-lock  rifle. 
Prouty,  Augustus  B.— Card  tooth  machine,  made  by   Capt  Joshua  Lamb 

of  Leicester,  in  1828. 
Providence  Athenaeum. — 46th  Annual  Report. 

Putnam,  Samuel  H. — Military  chest  of  Company  A,  2oth  Regiment  Mass. 
Vols.,' containing  books,  papers  &c.  relating  to  the  service  of  the  company 
in  the  Rebellion. 
Putnam  &  Davis. — Miscellaneous  lot  of  book  catalogues. 
Raymond,  Edward  T. — 1  paper. 
Rhode  Island  Historical  Society.— Proceedings  of  the  Society   1880-81, 

12  volumes  of  R.  I.  State  documents. 
Rice,  Franklin  P. — 14  Boston  Almanacs,  newspaper  cuttings. 
Rice,  Hon.  W.  W. — 2  volumes  U.  S.  documents. 

Roe.  Alfred  S.,  A.  M. — 5  volumes,  package  of  amateur  papers,   40  maga- 
zines, 1  sermon,  newspapers  from  nearly  every  State   and   territory   with 
notices  of  the  death  of  President  Garlield. 
Rogers,  James  S.,  Foster  Brook,  Pa. — 1  paper. 

RuGG,  Charles  F. — Piece  of  ramrod  from  ship  Somerset   that   covered   the 
advance  of  the  British  troops  at  Bunker  Hill,  June  17,  1775. 


147 

Russell,  John  E. — 1  pamphlet. 

Salisbury,  Stephen  Je. — North  American  Review  1881. 

Seagrave,  Daniel. — His  Genealogy  of  the  Seagrave  family,  file  of  Massa- 
chusetts Spy  1818,  1  broadside. 
Sheldon,  Hon.  George.,  Deerlield,  Mass.^ — 1  newspaper. 

Shumway,  Henry  L. — -t  volumes,    80   pamphlets,    Magazine   of   American 
History,  1881,  1  paper. 

Smith,  Henry  M. — 1  volume. 

Smith,  "William  A. — Declaration  of  Independence   electrotyped   in   metal, 
framed.  2  pamphlets. 

Snoav  &  "Woodman. — I  volume. 

Staples,  Samuel  E. — 3  volumes,  39  pamphlets,  2  manuscripts,  6  almanacs, 
4  broadsides,  brick  made  from  silt  of  Hudson  River  Tunnel, 

Stone,  Augustus. — 1  volume,  32  pamphlets,  5  papers,  4  magazines. 
Stone,  Rev.  Edwin  M.,  Providence,  R.  I. — 1  pamphlet. 
SuNNER,  George. — 10  volumes,  63  pamphlets,  4  newspapers,  Constitution 
of  New  York  1859  extraordinary  size. 

Surrey  Archaeological  Society.  London,  England, — Collections  of  the 
Society,  Vol.  VII.  Part  III.,  Vol.  VIII.  Part  I. 

Thompson,  George  F. — 82  volumes  Mass.  documents,  12  magazines. 

Thompson,  H.  H. — Rebellion  envelopes. 

Thompson,  E.  F. — 6  pamphlets. 

Tillinghast,  C.  B.,  Boston. — Report  of  the  Librarian  of  the  Mass.  State 
Library,  1881 ;  sermon  delivered  at  the  Annual  Election  Massachusetts, 
January  5,  1881,  by  Daniel  L.  Furber  D.  D„  Suffolk  county  deeds  Liber  1, 

TowNE,  Enoch  H, — 3  volumes. 

Vermont  Historical  Society. — 1  volume  Governor  and  Council  of  Ver- 
mont, Vol.  VIII. 

Washburn  &  Moen  ISIanueacturing  Company.— 2  volumes  and  collection 
of  pamphlets  illustrating  the  manufacture  and  use  of  Barb  Fence  and 
Telegraph  wire. 

Wesby,  Edward, — 35  pamphlets. 

Wesby,  Herbert. — 4  pamphlets. 

Wesby,  J.  S.  &  Son.— 60  pamphlets,  file  of  Springfield  Republican. 

"Whiting,  Charles.  B. — 1  pamphlet. 

"Wilder,  Harvey  B. — 3  Old  Almanacs. 

"Wisconsin  Slate  Historical  Society. — Catalogue  of  library,  Vol.  V. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

ALBERT  A.  LOVELL, 

Librarian. 


m=^t 


148 

The  President,  Mr.  Ellerj  B.  Crane,  presented  the 
report  of  the  department  of  Local  History  and  Gen- 
ealogy. This  with  the  reports  of  the  other  depart- 
ments will  be  found  at  the  end  of  these  proceedings. 

The  Society  then  proceeded  to  ballot  for  officers 
for  1882,  previous  to  which  action  the  Treasurer, 
Mr.  James  A.  Smith,  and  the  Librarian,  Mr.  Albert 
A.  Lovell,  declined  a  re-election.  The  following 
were  chosen: 

President:  Ellery  B.  Crane.  Vice  Presidents: 
Albert  Tolman,  George  Sumner.  Secretarj^ :  Henry 
L.  Shumway.  Treasurer:  Henry  F.  Stedman.  Li- 
brarian: Samuel  E.  Staples.  Standing  Committee 
on  Nominations  for  three  years:   Franklin  P.  Rice.* 

On  motion  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Bartlett  the  thanks  of 
the  Society  were  given  to  the  retiring  officers, 
Messrs.  Curtis,  Smith  and  Lovell. 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  for  two  weeks. 


A  special  meeting  of  the  Society  was  held  on  the 
evening  of  Thursday  Dec.  15th,  in  Natural  History 
Hall. 

Burton  W.  Potter  Esq.  read  an  interesting  paper 
on  "The  Utilization  of  Sewage,"  preceded  by  an  his- 
torical sketch  relating  to  his  subject. 

The  address  of  Mr.  Potter  was  listened  to  with  the 
strictest  attention.     He  gave  a  detailed  account  of 


*  At  the  meeting  in  January,  1882,   Mr.  Rice  was  excused  and  Daniel 
Seagrave  elected  in  his  place. 


149 

various  methods  resorted  to  in  Europe  for  the  dis- 
posal of  sewage  in  ancient  and  modern  times,  giving 
a  minute  description  of  the  sewage  farm  at  Croydon, 
Enghmd,  a  city  larger  than  Worcester,  and  intima- 
ting that  the  same  system  might  be  adopted  here 
with  reasonable  hope  of  success,  in  case  five  or  six 
hundred  acres  of  land,  favorably  located,  could  be 
put  in  proper  condition  for  irrigation. 

This  address  contains  a  large  amount  of  valuable 
information  relating  to  sewers  and  sewage. 

When  the  speaker  had  concluded  his  remarks,  an 
opportunity  was  given  to  all  present  for  an  inter- 
change of  opinion  upon  the  subject  so  ably  discussed 
bv  Mr.  Potter. 

The  different  opinions  expressed  as  to  the  man- 
ner of  dealing  with  sewage  were  about  equal  to  the 
number  of  persons  who  had  anything  to  say  upon 
the  subject. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Perry  claimed  that  vegetables  or  grass 
grown  on  a  sewage  fiirni  would  be  rank  and  unfit 
food  for  man  or  beast.  He  advocated  the  theory 
that  all  sewage  should  be  gathered  up  and  carried 
away  by  teams  instead  of  wasting  water  to  wash  it 
into  the  Blackstone  River. 

Hon.  Thomas  J.  Hastings  said  that  the  pollution 
of  streams,  so  much  complained  of  at  the  present 
time,  was  largely  due  to  the  use  of  chemicals  for 
cleansing  and  other  purposes  in  the  mills  situated 
near  the  water  courses,  and  not  the  result  of  sewage 
alone. 


150 

The  discussion  was  continued  by  remarks  from 
Messrs  Dexter  Rice,  Clias.  B.  Long,  Elbridge  Boy- 
den,  Wm.  H.  Earle,  Wm.  T.  Harlow,  A.  B.  Lovell, 
Edwin  Ames  and  others.  Some  advocated  the  phm 
of  Mr.  Potter,  others  thought  that  agitation  was 
the  one  thing  needful,  and  that  sewage  might  be 
purified  by  motion  and  contact  with  the  atmosphere. 
Others  advocated  the  plan  of  conveying  the  sewage 
of  Worcester  into  and  over  a  series  of  vats  or  basins 
far  enough  to  allow  the  sediment  to  settle  and  the 
the  water  become  purified. 

Hon.  Clark  Jillson  said  that  each  person  who  had 
spoken  was  the  advocate  of  at  least  one  theory  dif- 
fering from  all  the  rest,  and  that  he  did  not  care  to 
add  another  to  the  list,  but  would  only  predict  that 
"When  the  sewage  of  Worcester  is  properly  and 
satisfactorily  disposed  of,  it  will  be  by  means  of  me- 
chanical filtration." 


The  adjourned  Annual  meeting  was  held  at  the 
rooms,  Tuesday  evening,  December  20th. 

The  folloAving  were  present :  Messrs.  Crane,  Lee, 
Shumway,  Lovell,  Marshall,  Rice,  Gould,  Seagrave, 
Tucker,  James  A.  Smith,  and  Cook — 11. 

On  motion  it  was  voted  that  the  Treasurer  report 
to  the  Secretary  the  names  of  delinquent  members 
for  record.     The  annual   assessment   for   1882   was 
fixed  at  three  dollars.     Adjourned. 
This  closes  the  record  of  the  Society's  work  for  1881. 


151 


REPORT  ON  ARCHEOLOGY  AND  GENERAL  HISTORY. 

THE  past  year  has  witnessed  important  developments  in  the 
field  of  archaeological  research.  Investigations  have  been 
vigorously  pushed  forward  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  in 
most  instances  these  elforts  have  been  attended  with  gratifying 
success.  A  few  illustrations  will  perhaps  suffice  to  indicate  the 
progress  that  has  been  made. 

Mr.  Holmuzd  Rassam  in  excavating  on  the  site  of  ancient 
Babylon  has  discovered  the  ruins  of  what  was  once  the  great 
commercial  exchange  of  that  opulent  city.  Here  have  been 
unearthed  innumerable  inscribed  tablets,  the  records  of  the  ex- 
change. The  inscriptions  relate  to  nearly  every  kind  of  monetary 
transaction,  aud  prove  that  the  difficult  subject  of  finance  was 
understood  at  that  early  day  almost  as  well  as  now.  Among 
other  curiosities  are  tax  receipts  that  show  how  the  revenue  was 
raised,  petitions  against  the  oppression  of  tax  collectors  and 
deeds  of  mortmain.  Mr.  Rassam'has  also  brought  to  light  some 
important  inscriptions  relating  to  the  history  of  the  city  during 
the  period  immediately  preceding  its  capture  by  Cyrus,  together 
with  a  record  of  the  achievraents  of  that  monarch,  and  an  ac- 
count of  the  triumphs  of  Alexander  the  Great.  Exploring  in  like 
manner  the  ruins  of  some  cities  lying  to  the  North  of  Babylon, 
and  evidently  older  tlian  the  latter,  Mr.  Rassam  has  unearthed 
monuments  whose  inscriptions  chronicle  events  in  the  earliest 
Chaldean  history,  and  carry  us  back,  in  imagination,  to  the 
before  the  flood. 

Important  as  are  these  discoveries  they  hardly  approach  in 
interest  those  made  last  season  in  Egypt.  In  a  secret  subter- 
ranean cliamber  in  the  Lydian  mountains  Herr  Emil  Bruysch, 
brother  of  the  noted  archaeologist.  Dr.  Henry  Bruysch,  has 
found  the  mummies  of  not  less  than  thirty  Theban  mouarchs 
too-ether  with  an  almost  counties  number  of  other  valuable  relics. 
Among  these  mummies  are  those  of  Thothmes  III.  who  ordered 
the  construction  of  the  obelisk  recently  brought  to  New  York, 


152 

Rameses  II.,  the  great  Sesostris,  and  Queen  Hatasoo.  The 
chamber  or  pit  where  the  mummies  were  found  was  excavated 
out  of  solid  rock  and  is  thirty -five  feet  deep.  It  is  approached 
by  a  gallery  two  hundred  feet  long,  also  hewn  out  of  the  rock. 

It  is  situated  about  four  miles  from  Thebes.  The  bodies  had 
evidently  been  hurriedly  brought  thither  from  the  royal  tombs 
by  the  priests  in  view  of  some  impending  calamity,  probably  the 
invasion  of  Cambyses.  One  of  the  most  singular  and  valuable 
discoveries  was  an  immense  leather  tent  bearing  the  seal  of  king 
Pinotim  of  the  21st  dynasty.  It  was  well  preserved,  and  cover- 
ed with  hieroglyphs  embroidered  in  red,  green  and  yellow  leath- 
er, the  colors  being  quite  fresh  and  bright.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  papyri,  of  which  a  number  were  found,  will,  when  de- 
ciphered, throw  new  light  upon  the  history  of  ancient  Egypt, 
and  give  us  a  clearer  view  of  those  early  races  contemporary 
with  the  Egyptians,  of  whom  we  now  have  but  a  dim  and  shad- 
owy outline.  In  any  event  the  importance  of  this  discovery 
from  an  archii?ological  standpoint  can  hardly  be  over  estimated. 

The  archaeologists  of  the  western  hemisphere  have  not  been 
less  diligent  than  their  brethren  of  the  eastern  hemisphere, 
though  the  results  of  their  labors  mav  not  have  been  so  remark- 
able.  M.  Desire  Charnay  has  continued  his  researches  in  Cen- 
tral America  and  Mexico,  and  after  long  and  patient  study  has 
reached  the  conclusion  that  the  ruins  found  in  those  countries 
are  of  a  far  more  recent  origin  than  has  geuerallv  been  supposed. 
He  attributes  to  none  of  them  an  age  of  more  than  a  thousand 
years,  and  adduces  manv  facts  which  seem  to  indicate  that  his 
reasonins;  is  correct.  His  studies  have  also  led  him  to  believe 
that  what  seems  to  be  distinct  civilizations  among  the  ancient 
peoples  of  that  region  are  all  of  common  origin,  or,  as  he  puts 
it,  all  the  civilizations  in  Mexico  and  Central  America  are  Tol- 
tec,  as  all  those  of  I^urope  are  Grecian. 

Dr.  A.  Le  Plongeon,  on  the  other  jjand,  who  has  devoted 
much  time  to  investigation  in  the  same  localities  has  formed  en- 
tirely different  opinions.  In  a  recent  private  letter  to  a  friend 
he  says  that  as  a  result  of  his  studies  he  is  convinced  that 
America  was  the  cradle  of  the  human  race,  and  that  from  thence 
proceeded  civilization,  to  enlighten  the  Eastern  world. 


153 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  refei-  to  the  many  other  scholars  who 
are  devoting  their  best  energies  to  archaeological  research  on 
this  side  the  ocean.  They  are  to  be  found  delving  in  the 
mounds  of  the  West  and  South,  climbing  to  the  deserted  homes 
of  the  cliff-dwellers  in  New  Mexico,  threading  the  labyrinthine 
forests  of  Yucatan  aud  Central  America  in  quest  of  long  lost 
cities,  or  striving  to  rescue  ancient  grandeur  from  oblivion,  on 
the  rich  table  lands  of  Eucador  and  Peru.  We  may  well  expect 
large  returns  from  the  industry  of  so  many  laborers. 

The  increased  interest  on  this  subject,  manifested  on  all  sides, 
argues  well  for  future  progress.  If  this  interest  continues  un- 
abated rich  results  may  be  looked  for  in  the  next  few  years,  and 
the  solution  of  most  of  the  great  problems  of  history  will  not  be 
long  deferred.  We  shall  know,  for  example,  for  what  purpose 
the  pyramids  of  Egypt  were  built;  what  became  of  the  "Ten 
lost  Tribes  of  Israel ;"  the  origin  of  the  Mound  builders,  and, 
with  the  decipherment  of  the  hieroglypic  inscriptions  of  Yucatan 
and  Central  America,  the  true  story  of  Atlantis.  Let  us  hope 
that  these  grand  results  will  erelong  be  attained,  and  that  when 
attained  our  Society  may  in  some  degree  share  in  the  triumph. 

CHARLES  R.  JOHNSON,  Chairman. 


REPORT  ON  LOCAL  HISTORY  AND  GENEALOGY 

ANOTH  ER  revolution  of  time  has  been  noted.  Another  cycle 
of  events  have  passed  into  history,  and  the  department  of 
Local  History  and  Genealogy  is  for  the  fourth  time  called  upon 
to  give  some  little  account  of  its  stewardship  for  the  year  that 
we  are  now  just  rounding  out. 

The  rapid  growth  of  our  city  during  the  past  two  years  tells 
us  more  truly  than  simple  words  can  do,  of  the  genuine  pros- 
perity which  the  people  of  AVorcester  have  been  and  are  now 
enjoying.  It  was  claimed  that  more  money  was  expended  in 
the  erection  of  new  buildings  and  the  remodeling  of  old  ones 
during  the  year  1880  than  had  been  expended  in  any  one  of  the 


154 

seven  preceding  j-ears,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  the  thrift  so 
apparent  last  year  has  not  as  yet  in  the  least  diminished,  but 
that  the  growth  of  our  city  in  1881  will  compare  favorably  with, 
if  not  exceed  that  of  the  previous  year. 

This  natural  development  which  is  going  on  necessarily   cre- 
ates radical  changes  in  many  portions  of  the  city  :  the  old  famil- 
iar haunts  are  fast  disappearing,  while  massive  blocks  of  brick 
and  stone  suddenly  spring    up   in   their   places.     The   general 
appearance  of  Front  street  has  been  greatly  improved  by  nu- 
merous alterations  the  most  important  of  which  was  the  remodel- 
ing of  Mr.  Amos  B.  Hall's  old  two  story  building  into  a  fine  five 
story  block  having  one  of  the  finest  fronts  in  the   city,   extend- 
ing on  Front  Street  from  Warren  Street  to  Vine  Street  (an  old 
wooden  building  having  been  removed  from  the  lot  on  the  corner 
of  Vine  and  Front  Streets  to  make  room  for  a  portion  of  the  New 
Block).     The  old  wooden  building  which    for   so    many   years 
stood  on  the  Westerly  corner  of  Church  and  Front  Streets  known 
as  the  Abijah  Bigelow  Estate  and  which  was  used   as  our  first 
cit}'  Hospital,  which  was  incorporated  in  1871,  and  later  for   a 
free  Medical  Dispensary,  has  been  removed,  together   with   the 
other  wooden  buildings  which  stood  west  of  it,   to   make   room 
for  the  erection  of  more  durable  and    substantial   buildings   by 
the  present  owner  of  the  land,  Mr.  Jonas  G.  Clark.     This  geutle- 
man  now  has  in  progress  of  construction  upon    a  lot  on  JMain 
street,  west  of  the  old  common,  including  the  spot  where  recent- 
ly stood  the  residence  of  Dr.  Joseph  Sargent,   a  building  that 
the  citizens  of  AVorcester  may  justly  be  proud  of,   and  con- 
gratulate themselves  for  having  among  their  number  such   an 
enterprising  man,  so  willing  to  do  and   so  abundantly  able  to 
carry  forward  an3'  improvement  he  may  see  fit  to  undertake. 
But   the   growth    oi    our  city  is  seen  in  other  directions.     The 
Hon.  Stephen  Salisbur}^,  together  with  his  son,  have  been  con- 
tinuing their  extensive  improvements  so  timel,y  inaugurated  a 
few  years  since  on  Union  street  near  Lincoln  Square,  where  no 
one  can  fail  to  admire  the  massive   and  comely  buildings  that 
now  adorn  the  land  so  recently  the  deposit  for  ashes  and  street 
sweepings     But  it  is  not  my  purpose  in  this  report  to  partic- 
ularize,  but  rather  to  express  general  information.     Several 


155 

sizable  machine  shops  have  been  erected  and  put  into  use,  three 
hundred  and  fifty  to  four  hundred  new  dwelling  houses  have 
been  constructed,  showing  that  AVorcester  is  growing  more 
rapidly  perhaps  than  ever  before. 

While  we  can  say  so  much  for  the  growth  and  development 
of  Worcester,  what  shall  we  say  of  her  decay  in  the  death  of 
her  prominent  citizens  ?  The  first  name  we  find  on  our  list  is  that 
of  Mr.  Charles  Hadwen,  who  died  Tuesday  night  Feb.  8,  1881, 
at  his  residence  on  Hadwen  Lane,  aged  84  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Mr.  Had- 
wen was  born  in  Newport,  R.  I.,  Jan  4,  1797.  For  a  time  he 
was  a  merchant  in  Providence  R.  I.,  and  afterwards  for  several 
years  a  cotton  manufacturer  in  the  town  of  Scituate  in  that  State, 
but  came  to  Worcester  in  1834  and  purchased  the  farm  pre- 
viously owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Wing  Kelley.  Here  Mr. 
Hadwen  made  his  home,  and  here  he  remained  until  his  death. 
Charit}'  was  one  of  the  cardinal  virtues  of  his  life.  He  left  three 
children,  residents  of  Worcester,  Mr.  Obadiah  B.  Hadwen,  Mrs. 
Dorcas  B.  Lee  and  Mrs.  George  A.  Kimball. 

March  15th  we  have  to  record  the  death  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Flagg,  which  took  place  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Aaron  Flagg. 
in  Springfield,  Mass.,  where  he  was  for  the  time  stopping.  Mr. 
Flaog  was  at  the  time  if  his  death  the  oldest  male  citizen  of 
Worcester,  being  in  his  01st  year.  He  was  the  son  of  Phineas 
Flagg,  and  grandson  of  Col.  Benjamin  Flagg  who  commanded  a 
company  of  Minute  Men  that  marched  from  Worcester  for  Lex- 
ington on  the  alarm  April  19,  1775.  Mr.  Flagg  was  born  June 
12,  1790,  at  the  old  family  homestead  on  Millbury  avenue,  being 
a  direct  descendant  of  Benjamin  Flagg  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Worcester  who  came  from  Watertown,  where  he  was  born 
June  25,  ir)(;2.  The  confidence  and  esteem  in  which  the  late 
Mr.  Flagg  was  held  by  his  fellow  townsmen  may  be  seen  by  the 
fact  that  he  was  chosen  Selectman  in  1831  and  1837,  Repre- 
sentative in  1835  and  1851,  and  Alderman  in  1849  and  1853. 

The  funeral  of  Col.  Isaac  N.  Ross  was  held  in  the  town  of 
Holden  March  29th.  Although  Col.  Ross  was  not  a  native  of 
Worcester  County,  but  for  some  years  a  resident  in  it,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  public  affairs  ;  was  member  of  the  legislature 


156 

in  1871  and  1872,  and  for  a  time  one  of  the  state  directors  of 
the  Boston  and  Albany  Railroad.  He  was  deeply  interested  in 
the  completion  of  the  Boston  Barre  and  Gardner  Railroad,  and 
was  for  some  time  the  Superintendent  of  that  road.  He  was 
born  in  Hanover  N.  H.  August  22,  1824.  When  a  young  man 
he  resided  for  a  time  in  South  Boston  Mass.,  but  in  1852  went 
to  the  state  of  Ohio  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business. 
In  1861  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature.  Being 
a  strong  Union  man,  and  anxious  to  participate  more  actively 
in  the  conflict  then  going  on.  Gov.  Todd  sent  him  a  commission, 
and  with  his  characteristic  promptness  he  raised  two  regiments 
for  the  war  within  two  weeks,  the  114th  and  90th,  and  as  Col. 
of  the  latter  went  at  once  to  the  front  where  he  rendered  excel- 
lent service,  especiall}'  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  where,  while 
leading  his  men  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  he  was  severely 
wounded.* 

April  4th  Mr.  Nathaniel  Waters  died  in  Millbur}-.  He  was 
a  native  of  that  town,  having  been  born  April  2d,  1791,  on  the 
John  Wood  estate  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812. 

June  17th,  Mr.  Calvin  Taft  died  at  his  home  on  Main  street 
in  this  city.  Although  Mr.  Taft  had  not  been  a  resident  of 
Worcester  but  about  twenty  years,  he  was  favorabl}^  known  as 
one  of  our  most  active  and  energetic  business  men.  He  was 
the  son  of  JMr.  Adolphus  Taft  of  Roxburv  Mass.,  born  in  Jan., 
1813.  Mr.  Taft  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Safe  Deposit 
and  Trust  Company,  and  one  of  the  Directors  until  incapacita- 
ted by  failing  health. 

Mr.  Francis  Harrington,  a  native  of  Worcester,  died  July  2d. 
He  was  son  of  Francis  Harrington  and  born  August  11,  1811. 
For  more  than  forty  years  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits 
in  Worcester  ;  a  member  of  the  City  Council  in  1855,  and  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  in  the  year  1860. 


*  The  remains  of  Colonel  Ross  were  cremated  at  Washington,  Penn.,  in 
accordance  with  his  request. 


157 


A  few  days  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Harrington  we  have  to 
record  that  of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Curtis  Moore,  in  his  81st  year. 
He  was  son  of  Willard  Moore  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Ephraim  Beaman  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  at  that  time, 
died  Saturday  Aug.  18th.  He  was  born  in  Princeton  July  3d, 
1793,  and  carried  on  farming  and  stock  raising  on  the  old 
homestead  until  within  a  few  years. 

Monday*  Sept  5th  ended  the  career  of  usefulness  of  one  of  our 
most  unassuming  painstaking  historical  students,  Samuel  Foster 
Haven  LL.  D.,  Librarian  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society 
for  more  than  43  years.  Dr.  Haven  was  born  in  Dedham  Mass. 
May  2S,.]80G,  son  of  Judge  Samuel  Haven  of  that  place.  He 
graduated  at  Amherst  college  in  1826,  and  for  a  short  time 
thereafter  resided  in  Lowell ;  was  chosen  Librarian  of  the 
American  Antiquarian  Society*  in  1838,  from  which  time  until 
stricken  down  with  his  last  sickness,  he  applied  himself  with 
iincomnion  zeal  and  earnestness  to  historical  research.  Aided 
by  thorough  mental  training  and  a  love  for  his  work  that  knew 
no  l)ounds,  he  has  been  able  to  leave  behind  him  a  lasting 
reputation,  not  only  for  his  scholarly  attainments  and  historical 
learning,  but  for  his  usefulness  and  excellent  judgment  in  assist- 
ing to  build  up  a  public  institution  which  is  not  onh'  an  orna- 
ment to  Worcester  but  to  the  countr}'. 

The  8th  day  of  September  closed  the  life  of  one  of  our  most 
remarkable  citizens.  Stephen  Symonds  Foster  was  born  in 
Canterbury  N.  H.  Nov.  17,  1809,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
College,  class  of  1838,  began  to  study  for  the  ministry,  but 
changed  his  mind  feeling  that  he  could  not  use  his  voice  in  the 
interest  of  any  institution  that  was  willing  to  protect  Slavery 
and  the  Slave  holder.  He  at  once  espoused  the  cause  of  Free- 
dom, and  became  one  of  the  most  radical  of  the  reformers.  His 
boldness  and  courage  as  an  antislavery  agitator  was  not  exceed- 
ed even  by  Wm.  Llo^d  Garrison  or  Wendell  Phillips.  At  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  American  Antislaverj-  Society  held  in  the 
city  of  New  York,  in  1840,  Mr.  Foster  introduced  a  resolution 
severely  criticising  the  American  church  and  clergy  for  their 
wrong  position  on  the  question  of  human  slaver3'.     To  one  of 


158 

his  printed  publications  he  gave  the  title,  "The  Brotherhood  of 
Thieves,  a  true  picture  of  the  American  Church  and  Clerg3\ 
Mr.  Foster  was  a  man  of  firm  convictions  and  never  hesitated 
to  express  himself  in  plain,  unmistakable  language  ;  and  his 
hearers  knew  just  where  he  stood,  and  just  what  he  meant.  Ilis 
life  and  public  career,  while  contending  with  opposition  from 
every  side,  being  hustled  by  the  mob,  imprisoned  in  Hanover 
jail,  all  together  would  make  an  exceedingly  interesting  sketch 
contrasting  the  public  sentiment  at  the  present  time  with  that 
of  forty  years  ago. 

The  death  of  Timothy  Keese  Earle  occurred  at  his  home  in 
this  city  Oct.  1st.  He  was  son  of  Henry  Earle,  and  born  in 
Leicester  Jan  11,  1823.  Mr.  Harle  was  one  of  the  most  ener- 
getic and  successful  business  men  of  our  city,  a  zealous  worker 
in  whatever  cause  his  convictions  led  him,  but  always  frank  and 
open  in  his  speech  and  action.  He  w'as  an  earnest  advocate 
for  temperance  reform,  taking  a  prominent  position  in  the  pro- 
hibitory party,  and  twice  (1880  and  1881)  its  candidate  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  my  report  for  the  year  1880  attention  was  called  to  the 
printing  of  the  Proprietor's  Records,  of  Worcester,  announcing 
the  fact  that  we  had  published  those  records  from  the  earliest 
date,  1667,  to  May  2,  1711).  I  take  great  pleasure  in  now  sta- 
ting that  through  the  exertions  of  INIr.  Franklin  P.  Rice,  the 
work  has  been  continued  to  the  year  1788,  with  nearly  300  plans 
illustrating  the  land  grants  of  the  early  settlers,  and  that  this 
work  can  be  found  in  Vol.  III.  of  the  Society's  publications. 
We  have  in  press  for  Vol.  IV.  Worcester  Town  Records,  from 
the  year  1753  to  1783. 

In  addition  to  the  very  valuable  productions  of  this  Society 
on  local  history,  we  have  received  the  following  volumes  since 
the  last  report :  Suffolk  Deeds,  publications  of  the  Vermont 
Historical  Society,  History  of  Antrim  N.  H.,  Mr.  Marvin's  new 
edition,  Worcester  in  the  Rebellion,  New  Guide  for  Worcester, 
History  of  the  wire  business  including  Fence  wire,  only  thirty 
copies  of  which  were  printed.  Orderly  Book  of  Colonel  William 
Henshaw  of  Leicester  during  the  Revolution,  Memorial  of  Hon. 
Charles  Allen,  Memorial   Biographies   by   the   New   England 


159 

Historic  Genealogical  Society,  Reports  of  the  Record  Commis- 
sion of  Boston,  the  Okl  Worcester  Magazine  printed  in  1787-8, 
published  by  Mr.  Thomas  in  place  of  his  paper,  for  the  purpose 
of  evading  the  heavy  dutj'  laid  upon  newspapers  of  that  day  ; 
Genealogical  notes  by  Goodwin,  New  England  Historical  and 
Genealogical  Register,  Miscellania  Genealogia  et  Heraldica,  b}' 
Joseph  Jackson  Howard,  Brights  of  Suffolk,  England. 

Many  other  books  bearing  on  local  history  and  genealogy 
have  been  received  within  the  year,  all  of  which  are  now  arran- 
ged and  read}'  for  consultation. 

ELLERY  B,  CRANE,  Chairman. 


REPORT  ON  ANCIENT  MANUSCRIPTS,  PUBLICATIONS  AND  ENGRAVINGS. 

TWO  of  the  most  important  arts  known  to  mankind,  wood 
engraving  and  printing,  sprung  up  in  Europe  at  about  the 
same  period  of  time.  The  earliest  wood  engraving,,  claimed  as 
authentic  on  account  of  its  date,  is  said  to  have  been  made  in 
1423  ;  and  the  earliest  print  from  movable  type  only  dates  back 
to  1454,  leaving  a  space  of  time  between  these  two  great  events 
of  31  3'ears.  Unlike  printing,  wood  engraving  had  an  infancy, 
the  rudeness  of  which  may  be  seen  in  all  the  early  illustrated 
prints.  The  first  book  illustrated  to  any  considerable  extent 
with  wood  cuts  was  printed  in  1461  ;  the  earliest  copperplate 
engraving  was  made  the  same  3-ear. 

The  engraving  knowm  as  the  ^UU'hcim  ^aittt  ^ht'i.'&tayhfV,  is 
supposed  by  some  to  be  the  oldest  wood  cut  bearing  a  date  ; 
but  this  date  (1423)  is  declared  to  be  false  by  at  least  three 
eminent  critics,  Mr.  Koning,  Mr.  Sotzmann  and  Mr.  Pinkerton, 
who  claim  that  the  true  date  is  1460. 

I  have  a  book  printed  in  the  year  1495,  which  contains  a  num- 
ber of  wood  cuts  of  a  similar  style,  but  inferior  as  works  of  art, 
to  the  Saint  Christopher.  Both  of  these  early  prints  being  rude 
in  their  manner  of  execution  and  of  the  same  general  style  of 
engraving,  the  question  is  naturally  raised  as  to  the  probability 
of  their  being  wrought  at  or  near  the  same  date. 


160 


Bat  if  1423  is  the  true  date  of  the  Saint  Christopher,  the  other 
was  probably  engraved  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  centur}-  later, 
during  which  time  it  is  fair  to  presume  there  ought  to  haA^e  been 
some  improvement  or  change  of  style,  perhaps  both, 

I  also  have  another  book  printed  in  15G4,  sixty-nine  3'ears 
later,  containing  wood  cuts  far  superior  to  those  of  1495,  indi- 
cating that  the  first  two  engravings  mentioned  were  made  at 
dates  less  than  seventy  years  apart. 

Mr.  H.  E.  Holt,  in  '*Notes  and  Queries"  for  1868,  makes  the 
positive  declaration  that  the  Saint  Christopher  was  executed  b}' 
Albert  Durer  at  Colmar  in  1493.  This  would  be  but  two  years 
previous  to  the  publication  of  the  first  mentioned  book,  which 
would  in  some  measure  account  for  the  striking  similarity  of  the 
two,  which  could  not  well  be  done  if  the  other  date  (1423) 
is  admitted  to  be  correct.  There  are  many  facts  and  circum- 
stances to  indicate  that  the  Saint  Christopher  was  engraved 
much  later  than  1423.  In  the  first  place  the  date  is  not  au- 
thenticated beyond  reasonable  grounds  Jbr  suspicion,  there  being 
no  other  wood  engraving  with  so  early  a  date,  but  many  having 
the  appearance  of  being  as  old  and  even  much  older.  It  is 
claimed  by  some  that  this  picture  undoubtedly  bore  a  date,  but 
that  it  has  sometime  been  changed  from  1493  to  1423,  a  trick 
that  would  create  no  surprise  in  the  more  advanced  stage  of 
civilization,  four  hundred  years  later. 

It  is  a  well  established  fact  that  cross-hatching  M'as  first  em- 
ployed in  1486,  on  a  frontispiece  used  in  the  Latin  edition  of 
Breydenbach's  Travels  ;  but  the  Saint  Christojiher  contains  that 
style  of  engraving,  which  shows  that  if  1423  is  the  true  date 
more  than  sixty  3'ears  elapsed  before  any  more  cross-hatching 
was  done,  which  would  seem  improbable. 

It  is  also  claimed  that  this  picture  was  produced  bj'  a  print- 
ing press  with  printer's  ink,  neither  of  which  existed  in  1423. 
It  was  printed  on  paper  such  as  was  used  by  Albert  Durer  be- 
tween 1480  and  1500,  known  b^'  its  peculiar  water  mark,  viz,  a 
bull's  head  with  an  upright  line  rising  between  tiie  horns,  sur- 
mounted b}'  a  flower  or  star.  There  is  no  record  to  show  that 
paper  thus  marked  was  used  in  1423.  It  is  also  apparent  that 
the  design  and  st^'le  correspond  with  that  of  Durer  ;  and  it  is 


16  L 

admitted  that  there  was  no  other  wood  cut  in  existence  in  1423, 
or  for  lialf  a  centiirj  after,  that  would  in  any  degree  compare 
with  the  Saint  Christoplier  as  a  work  of  art.  In  fact  only  four 
wood  eugravini^s  are  known  to  have  been  made  previous  to 
1450,  and  but  few  up  to  the  time  when  Durer  began  his  remark- 
able career  as  a  designer  and  engraver  on  wood. 

If  it  is  admitted  that  the  Saint  Christopher  was  engraved  as 
earh'  as  1423,  it  must  also  be  admitted  that  it  was  not  equalled 
for  at  least  seventy  years,  nor  was  its  author  discovered  during 
that  period. 

"With  all  these  facts  before  us,  it  does  not  seem  unreasonable 
to  presume  that  Albert  Durer  was  the  designer  and  engraver  of 
the  Buxheim  Saint  Christopher,  there  being  no  other  jjicture  of 
special  merit  previous  to  his  time,  nor  any  engraver  whose  rep- 
utation has  been  preserved. 

CLARK  JILLSON,  Chairman. 


REPORT  ON  RELICS,  COINS  AND  CURIOSITIES. 

IN  the  department  of  Relics,  Coins  and  Curiosities,  there  has 
been  some  improvement  during  the  last  twelve  months,  as 
will  appear  evident  to  all  who  may  be  interested  in  examining 
the  additions  that  have  been  made  to  our  cabinet.  It  is  believ- 
ed, however,  that  not  so  much  attention  has  been  given  to  this 
department  of  work  as  its  object  and  design  would  seem  to  war- 
rant and  demand.  Possibh'  as  much  has  been  accomplished  by 
the  members  comprising  this  class  as  by  those  who  are  assigned 
to  the  other  departments.  By  this  classification  of  work,  and 
with  a  determined  purpose,  much  more  probably  could  be  done 
than  has  been  thus  far  ;  still,  where  so  much  improvement  is 
manifest,  so  much  information  collected  and  put  in  permanent 
form,  so  manj'  articles  procured  illustrating  the  usages  and  hab- 
its of  past  generations,  it  would  be  evidently  unjust  to  speak  of 
the  work  of  these  departments  as  a  failure,  or  even  as  a  useless 
and  unnecessary  classification,  though  all  that  their  projectors 
contemplated  may  not  have  been  fully  realized. 


162 

The  contributions  to  this  department  during  the  last  year  are 
considerable,  all  of  which  have  their  value,  and  some  of  them 
so  rare  that  other  specimens  of  like  character  are  hardly  to  be 

obtained. 

In  portraiture,  we  have  been  exceedingly  fortunate  in  secur- 
ing the  only  known  oil  painting  of  the  late  Elihu  Burritt.  It  was 
executed  in  this  city  in  1841,  from  life,  by  an  artist  then  resid- 
ing here,  named  Elwell,  who  now  resides  in  Springfield.  This 
portrait  is  pronounced  by  those  who  knew  the  subject  well,  to 
be  an  excellent  likeness  of  the  departed  scholar  and  reformer  ; 
and  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  may  be  thought  ex- 
ceedingly fortunate  in  possessing  this  rare  work.  It  is  also 
creditable  to  the  city  where  we  dwell,  and  where  the  subject  of 
this  portrait  dwelt,  and  established  his  reputation  as  one  of  the 
greatest  linguists  of  his  time,  that  his  portrait  should  be  here, 
where  future  generations  may  behold  the  picture  of  him  who  was 
styled  and  recognized  as  the  "Learned  Blacksmith." 

In  another  department  of  art  are  specimens  of  early  wood 
engraving,  executed  by  Hans  Leonard  Schauftlin,  a  pupil  of 
Albert  Durer,  presented  to  this  Society  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Sawtell 
of  New  York  city,  who  received  them  from  a  friend  residing  in 
Germany.  These  specimens  are  quite  rare,  and  are  a  very  in- 
teresting study  to  all  who  are  connoisseurs  in  art.  In  the  Metro- 
politan Museum  of  Art,  Central  Park,  New  York  city,  may  be 
seen  two  volumes,  the  illustrations  of  which  are  by  this  artist, 
and  the  date  of  their  publication  is  there  given  as  1513.  Hans 
Schaufflein  was  one  of  the  best,  as  he  was  one  of  the  earliest 
wood  engravers,  and  his  work  was  not  infrequently  taken  for 
that  of  his  instructor,  Durer,  whom  he  closely  imitated,  though 
probably  not  fully  equalled.  But  his  productions  will  go  down 
to  future  generations  as  remarkable  specimens  of  a  beautiful  art. 

Among  our  relics,  and  perhaps  the  most  important  of  them 
all,  is  the  contribution  from  Mr.  Samuel  H.  Putnam,  of  the  Com- 
pany chest  of  Company  A,  25th  Regiment  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers, containing  books  and  pnpers  relating  to  the  service  of 
the  company  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Allied  to,  but  preced- 
ing this,  is  a  framed  autograph  of  the  fugitive  slave,  Thomas 
Simms,  presented  by  Hon.  P.  I^mory  Aldrich.     These  remind- 


163 

ers  speak  impressivnly  of  what  was  in  days  gone  by,  but  fortu- 
nately never  to  return. 

Among  the  other  contributions  are  geological  specimens, 
from  E.  H.  Marshall ;  from  Wm.  A.  Emerson,  copy  of  a  speci- 
men of  pottery  found  by  Dr.  Schliemann  at  ancient  Troy  ;  a 
piece  of  a  ramrod  from  the  ship  Somerset,  presented  by  Charles 
F.  Rugg  ;  photograph  of  the  old  United  States  Hotel,  presented 
b}^  Nathaniel  Paine  ;  two  small  U.  S.  Flags,  from  Arlington 
Heights,  a  card  of  horse-nails,  made  by  machinery  at  the  Cen- 
tennial Exhibition  at  Philadelphia,  Lamp  used  at  the  Massachu- 
setts State  house,  1812,  presented  by  Pardon  A.  Lee  ;  Flint- 
lock Ritle,  from  Israel  Plummer  ;  two  Antique  Powder  Horns, 
from  Hon.  Clark  Jillson  ;  Straw  Splitting  Machine,  from  Thom- 
as A.  Dickinson  ;  Colonial  and  Confederate  currency',  from  E. 
B.  Crane  ;  an  Electrotype  plate,  handsomely  framed,  of  the 
Declaration  of  American  Independence,  from  Wm.  A.  Smith  ; 
a  Card  tooth  Machine,  made  by  Capt.  Thomas  Lamb  of  Leices- 
ter, in  1828,  presented  by  A.  B.  Prouty,  and  an  Indian  Hunt- 
ing Shirt  from  Oregon,  by  E.  H.  Marble.  Dr.  George  Chand- 
ler presented  a  pair  of  Metalic  Tractors,  accompanied  by  the 
following  interesting  historical  and  biographical  sketch  : — 

"Dr.  Elisha  Perkins  of  Plainfield  Conn.,  was  the  inventor  of  the  Metalic 
Tractors,  used  by  him  in  the  cure  and  relief  of  nervous  affections,  rheuma- 
tism, sprains  and  other  diseases.  They  were  two  small  pointed  instruments 
or  pencils,  one  of  steel  and  the  other  of  brass,  about  three  or  four  inches 
long,  flat  on  one  side  and  oval  on  the  other.  The  operator  held  them  be- 
tween his  thumb  and  Angers  and  drew  them  backwards,  lightly,  over  the 
part  affected. 

Dr.  Elisha  Perkins  was  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Mary  (Bushnell)  Perkins, 
of  Norwich,  Conn.,  and  Avas  born  Jan.  16,  1741 ;  studied  medicine  with  his 
father  and  settled  in  Plainfield  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  soon 
became  widely  known  for  his  invention  of  the  Tractors,  and  for  the  intro- 
duction of  a  powerful  antiseptic  in  his  practice.  He  was  a  man  of  strong 
physical  frame  aud  had  great  endurance  of  fatigue.  It  was  said  that  he 
often  rode  daily  on  horseback  sixty  miles  visiting  his  patients.  He  used 
no  spirituous  drinks,  and  indulged  in  only  four  or  five  hours  of  sleep  nights. 

A  grand  daughter  of  his  wrote,  "Dr.  Elisha  Perkins  was  a  physician  of 
great  skill  and  had  a  large  practice  which  called  him  much  from  home,  yet 
he  founded  and  largely  sustained  an  Academy  in  Plainfield  which  is  still 
flourishing.  He  opened  his  own  house  for  treatment  of  the  sick,  among 
whom  was  Calvin  Goddard,  afterwards  Mayor  and  Judge,  of  Norwich,  Ct., 


164 


who  often  said  "When  I  left  college  I  Avent  to  Plainfield  in  poor  health  and 
with  all  my  worldly  possessions  in  a  pack  on  my  back,  and,  if  I  have  any 
goodness  or  hospitality  in  me  I  owe  it  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins. 

In  the  war  of  the  llevolution  Plainfield  sent  many  men  into  the  field,  and 
among  them,  said  Miss  Ellen  D.  Larned,  the  historian  of  Windham  County, 
her  most  beloved  physician.  Dr.  Elisha  Perkins  who  served  as  surgeon  in 
the  8th  regiment  under  Col.  Jedediah  Huntington.  Dr.  Albigence  "Waldo 
of  Pomfret  went  as  assistant  surgeon.  Dr.  Perkins  re-enlisted  as  surgeon 
in  the  campaign  of  1776  under  Col.  John  Douglas,  Miss  Calkins  in  her 
history  of  Norwich  said  this  regiment,  the  8th  Connecticut,  Avas  the  best 
equipped  of  any  in  the  Colony,  sporting  for  uniform  a  quantity  of  red-coats 
taken  in  a  prize  vessel. 

Dr.  Perkins  was  expelled  from  the  Connecticut  Medical  Society  in  1797, 
on  account  of  his  invention  and  use.  in  his  j)ractice,  of  the  Metalic  Tractors. 

To  show  his  faith  in  his  inventions,  he  went  to  New  York  city  during  the 
prevalence  of  yellow  fever  in  that  city,  and  after  about  four  weeks  of  assid- 
uous labor  among  those  sick  with  that  dreadful  disease,  he  took  the  fever 
himself  and  died  of  it  on  the  6th  of  September,  1799. 

Dr.  Perkins  married  Sei^t.  23d.  1762,  Sarah  Douglas,  of  Plainfield,  and  by 
her  had  eight  children,  ancestors  of  a  numerous  race.  His  son,  Benjamin 
Douglas  Perkins,  Avent  to  London,  England,  and  established  a  "Perkins 
Institution"  on  the  principles  of  tractoration,  Avhich  for  a  time  was  very 
popular,  and  by  which  he  accumulated  a  handsome  property." 

This  clepartmeut  recognizes,   with  gratitude  to  its  friends, 

their  various  contributions  in  the  past,   and  confidently   hopes 

that  in  the  future  they  will  continue  their  generous  aid,  so  that 

eventually  the  cabinet  of  our   Society   may  become  one  of  its 

most  useful,  as  it  will  be  one  of  the  most  attractive  features  of 

our  organization. 

SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES,  Chairman. 


165 


Index  to  Proceedings  for  1881, 


Aldrich,  P.  Emory,  59.  Uo. 

Allen,  Rev.  George,  23,  5'J,  112,  114, 

117. 
Ames,  Edwin,  4,  i),  150. 
Annual  Address,  10-12. 
Assessment  for  1882,  150. 

B 

Balanced  Rock,  114. 

Baldwin,  Charles  C,  4. 

Bartlett,  Thomas  E.,  4,  45. 

Bartlett  William  H.,  4,  24,  123,  148. 

Barton,  William  S.,  !),  13,  5!). 

Bates,  Joseph  N,,  4. 

Bates,  Theodore  C,  4. 

Beaman,  Ezra,  sketch  of,  125-144. 

Bemis,  Merrick,  4, 

Bigelow,  William  H.,  4,  122. 

Blackmer,  Francis  T.,  4. 

Blake,  Frank  E.,  4,  59. 

Bosworth,  Fisher  A.,  4. 

Boyden,  Elbridge,  150. 

Boyden,  George  E.,  4. 

Brady,  John  G.,  4,  44,  59, 

Brigham,  John  W,,  4. 

Brown,  Dr.  George  W.,  120. 

Brown,  John,  Pamphlet,  120. 

Burritt,  Elihu,  Portrait,  118,  121. 

C 

Chase,  Charles  A.,  4. 
Clark,  Charles  W.,  4. 
Clark,  William  D.,  112. 
Clark,  William  L.,  4,  112. 
Cold  Winters,  History  of,  23. 
Colton,  Reuben,  4  13,  112. 
Comins,  Edward  I,  4,  44,, 45. 
Committees,  5,  59,  GO,  119. 


Cook,  Norton  L.,  4,  59,  112,  114,  117 

121,  123,  150. 
Coolidge,  Augustus,  4,  112. 
Cort,  John,  4. 
Crane,  EUery  B.,  4,  5.  9,  23,  59,  112, 

117,  121,  123,  148,  1.50. 
Crane  Family  Reunion,  122. 
Cummings,  Herbert  R.,  112. 
Curtis,  Albert,  123. 

D 

Death  Penalty  in  Worcester  County, 

44-45. 
Delinquent  Members,  150. 
Department  Reports,  151-184. 
Departments  of  Work,  4. 
Dickinson,  Thomas  A.,  4,  14,  59,  117, 

123. 
Dodge,  Benj.  J.,  4,  9,  117,  119,  121. 
Donations,  145-147. 
Dorr  Rebellion,  59. 
Douglas,  C.  H.  J.,  123. 

E 

Earle,  William  H.,  150 

Election  of  Members,  13,  23,  44,  45, 

59,  120,  122,  123. 
Emerson,  William  A.,  114. 
Errata,  8. 

Estabrook,  Charles  W.,  4. 
Estey.  James  L.,  4,  112,  117, 119,120. 

123. 
Estey,  George,  121. 
Excursion  to  Shrewsbury,  112-117. 


Fenno,  Charles  W.,  4. 
Financial  condition  of  Society,  59 
Forehand,  Sullivan,  4,  123. 
Funds,  Committee  to  raise,  60. 


166 


G  I  Lovell,  Albert  A.,  4,  9,  59,  Hi),   12;^, 

Garfield,  President,   death  of,    120;  124,150. 

Newspaper  obituaries,  122.  r°''^"'  ''^'  ^-  ^^'^• 

Lovell,  Joseph,  123. 

I.yford,  J,  Chauneej',  4. 


Glasgow,  Edward  E.,  4,  117. 
Gould,  Abram  K.,  4,  122,123,  1-30. 


H 


M 


Mann,  A.  (>.,  4. 
Marble,  Albert  P.,  4,  44. 
Marble,  Edward  H.  4,  117. 
IMarshall,  Elijah  H.,  4,  9,  123,  150. 
Miirvin,  A.  P.,  44. 


Harding,  A\'ni.  B.,  4. 

Harlow,  Wm.  T.,  4,  44,  121,  150. 

Hastings,  Thomas  J.,  149. 

Haven,  Frances  W.,  letter,  122 

Haven,  S.  F.,  Resolutions,  1 19,  120.      Z7'u   ^'  ''•'  "^^• 

Honeywood,  St.  John,  59.  McLellan,  J.  A.,  117,  119. 

Howe,  William  B.,  4,  59. 
Hoyt,  Albert  H.,  117. 
Hubbard,  Hammond  ^V.,  23.112,119 
Hud.-on,  Charles.    .MfiiKirial   Sketch, 
4(;-.-i,s. 

J 


Merriam,  OHn  I>.  4. 

Metcalt;  Isaac  N.,  9,  119,  121. 

Morgan,  Charles  A.,  4. 

0 


Jordan,  George  A.,  4, 


K 


(Jfficcr.s  foi'  l,s,S2.  5. 

t;ii  /.I     1      ,    -  G'Flyim,  llichard,  4,   123. 

Jillson,  Clark,  4,  5,  9,  13,  23,  44,  59,  i 

60,  112,  117,  119,  121,  123,  150.'  i  P 

Jillson,  Franklin  C,  49,  59,  119   119      ,-,  . 

123.  '      "     -^""^'^'  ^'athaniel,4,  9,  13,  44,GO.I17, 

Johnson,  Charles  R.,  4,  5,  45,  5!)  ]  ]9.     r,    ,  ^"?" 

120,  123.  ■  '  Augustus  E.,  4.  112. 

Johnson,  Theodore  S.,  4.  Personal  Recollections  of  the  Louis- 

iana Campaign,  24. 
Perry,  Joseph  S.,  149. 
Phelps,  Henry.  4,  12.".. 

x'  '  ^.    a  ,  „.  Pickett,  Josiah,   I. 

Aent,  Samuel  W.,  23.  u  ^^       ,, 

King,  Henrv   4.  .""'"'  ^^^^"'^'^  ^^  -  ''  ''•  '-  ^'^■"  1^«- 

Kinney,  Frank  J..  4.  ]"T"-  ^f'""'  ''  '''■  ''^• 

Knight.  CharlesB.,  23,50    IJ.    19,  i    ;\''  l'"^^^!""  ^'-""uttoe,  GO. 

'  -'''•'•''  ^^^'  l^i'  j  Publications  of  the  Society,  C. 

L  Putnam,  Samuel  11.,  112,  114,  119. 

Putnam,  Otis  A.,  112. 
Lamb,  Thomas  Melvin,  4,  45,  112. 
Lancaster,  Frank  E.,  4.  44.  j  R 

Lawrence,  E.  R.    4    5   5'i    n<i    i'>i        i>    i-     .    , 

'  •'  ^'  '^'  '^•''  il'''  J-'l-  ,  Radical  Song  of  17,S(;.  59. 

Lee,  Pardon  A.,  4,9  59  11')  ^■>^  ^-,l\        n       1   .• 

•-■*,.',>'.', 11^, 1.^1, l.K).       Resolutions,  13,  1  lis    190 

Leonard,  Manning.  4,  44,  121,  122.         Rice,  Dexter    150  '  ' 

Lexington,  Battle  commemorated,  24.     Rice,  Franklin  P.,  4.  5,  9  44   59   GO 
Librarian's  Report,  124-147  no    n-    ,,-.      '  ^>  ->,  t-*,  0.1,  bO, 

Lon<^  C  B    15()  112,  11<,  119,121,123,148,150. 

^''^•^•''^'-  Ro'-N  Alfreds.,  4,  .5,  9,  1.3,  117,  118, 

121,  122. 


167 


llviji-.  ("harles  J.,  t.  4,-),  121. 

S 

Sfuvtell,  C.  J.,  118. 

Scott,  Nelson  R.,  4,  112. 

Scagmve,  Dixniel,  4,  T),  i),  U!,  45,  112, 

11!),  150. 
Sewerage,  utilization  of,   I'ai^or  on, 

148-149. 
Shays'  Rebellion,  6!) ;   Paper,  61-111. 
Shunnvay,  Edward  Everett,  112. 
Shumway,  Henry  L.,  4,  ">, !),  2;5,  112, 

119,  123,  148,  150. 
Smith,  Eleazer,  Sketch  of,  14-23. 
Smith,  Henry  M.,  4,    5,    23,    45,    59, 

119,  121,  123. 
Sir.itli.  .Tanu's  A..  4,  9,  59.    I  ]•>.    1  1'.), 

IL'I.   11'.-!.   i:.(). 
Siiiitli.  John  (i..   I  12.  117. 
Smith.  William  A..  4,  59.  (K).    112, 
Sprague,  A.  15.  11.,  4,  23,  44.  (10,  112. 

123. 
Stan.sfield,  Thomas,  4,44. 
Staples,  Samuel  E..  4,  5,  9,  23,  44,  5!), 
CO,  112,  117.  lis,  11'.),  121,    14S. 
Starr,  Frank  F..  1;!. 
Stedman,  Henry  F.,  4,  5. 
Stiles.  F.  (;.,  4. 

Stone,  Augustus,    4,    117,    119,    121, 
123. 


Sumner,    George,   4,  5,   9,   00,    112, 
118,  121,  123,   148. 


Thompson,  Eben  F.,  4,  112, 

Thompson.  Edward  H„  4. 

Three  April  Days,  25-43. 

Tolman,  Albert,  4,  5. 

Tooke,  John  Home,  44. 

Town  Records,  vote  to  pxiblish,  44. 

Treasurer's  Report,  123. 

Tucker,  Ephraim,  4,  59, 112, 117,  119, 

123,  150. 
Tyler,  Albert,  4,  5. 

U 

T"i)]iam,  Henry  P.,  4. 

W 

W'aites,  Alfred,  4,  112,  120. 
Ward,  Artemas,  Tomb  of,  115-116. 
Warren,  Edgar  W.,  13,  119. 
Washburn,  Charles  F.,  4. 
Washburn  &  Moen  Publications,  121. 
Weston,  Byron,  13. 
Wilder,  Harvey  B.,  4. 
Wolf  Den,  visit  to,  1 19. 


jvo.  X  nil. 


RECORDS 


OF  THE 


Court  of  General  Sessions 


OT^°  THE  PEACE 

^  Fd-R  THE  County  of  Worcester,  Massachuset 
From  1731  to  ijsfi 


Edited  by 
FRANKLIN  P.  RICE. 


V 


«► 


WORCESTER,  MASS. : 
THE  WORCESTER  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUITV 

1883. 


U.  S.  A.    CVII. 


ll 


$ 


Mr 


.1 


RECORDS 


\\\-<\<b'b-2\  C'hU'Se-A 


OF  THE 


Coind  of  General  Sessions 


OF  THE  PEACE 


For  the  County  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts, 


From  1731  to  1737. 


Edited  by 
FRANKLIN  P.  RICE. 


-.|%»v 


WORCESTER,  MASS. : 
THE  WORCESTER  SOCIETY  OF  ANTIQUITY. 

1882. 

U.  S.  A.    CVI. 


EDITION : 
TWO  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-FIVE  COPIES. 

No.J._3..4. 


Prefa 


ce. 


'npHIS  VOLUME  contains  the  Records  of  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  Worcester  County,  from  August, 
1 731,  to  the  close  of  the  May  term,  1737.  The  Records  of  this 
Court  and  those  of  the  Inferior  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the 
corresponding  period,  were  entered  in  the  same  volume,  but  were 
afterwards  kept  in  separate  books.  The  matter  here  printed  forms 
an  important  and  interesting  part  of  the  early  history  of  the  County  ; 
and  illustrates  in  a  degree  the  manners  and  morals  of  the  people 
of  that  time.  A  brief  introdu6lion  and  some  notes  have  been 
added  ;  and  a  full  index  will  be  found  at  the  end. 

Thanks  are  due  William  T.  Harlow,  Esq.  and  others  in  the  office 

of  the  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  for  information  given,  and  for  facilities 

afforded  in  procuring  the  copy  for  this  volume. 

F.  p.  R. 


Introduction; 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  presenting  the  Records  of  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of 
Worcester,  for  the  first  six  years  of  its  existence,  a 
brief  review  of  the  origin  and  growth  of  the  judicial 
system  in  Massachusetts  will  not  be  out  of  place. 
Under  the  Charter  of  the  Colony,  the  power  of  en- 
abling and  enforcing  laws  for  the  government  of  its 
inhabitants  was  assumed  by  the  Governor,  Deputy 
Governor,  Assistants,  and  the  General  Court  which 
comprised  all  the  freemen.  The  General  Court  met 
four  times  a  year  for  the  consideration  of  matters 
relating  to  the  general  government  or  individual 
welfare  of  the  community,  A  monthly  court  was 
also  held  by  the  Governor,  or  in  his  absence,  the 
Deputy  Governor,  and  at  least  seven  Assistants,  for 
the  purpose  of  transacting  minor  civil  or  criminal 
business  that  required  immediate  attention.  This 
was  termed  the  Court  of  Assistants.  The  Assistants 
numbered  eighteen,  and  were  ex  officio  Justices  of 
the  Peace.  They  discharged  the  functions  of  a 
Council  to  the  Governor. 


8  Jnirodttflion. 

In  1634  the  number  of  freemen  had  greatly  in- 
creased, and  some  of  them  having  removed  to  a 
distance,  their  meetings  became  inconvenient  and 
difficult,  and  delegates  were  chosen  to  attend  to  the 
affairs  of  the  several  towns  and  distri6f  s.  This  was 
the  origin  of  the  present  representative  system. 

Juries  were  first  established  in  1634.^  In  1639  a 
law  was  passed  requiring  records  of  the  judgments 
of  the  courts  and  magistrates  to  be  kept.^ 

It  was  not  until  several  years  after  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Colony  that  a  regular  system  of  Courts 
of  Justice  was  setded,  and  even  then,  the  powers 
and  jurisdi6lion  of  some  of  them  were  left  vague 
and  indefinite.  The  principal  of  these  were  the 
General  Court,  the  Court  of  Assistants,  County 
Courts,  Strangers'  Courts,  Inferior  or  Magistrates' 
Courts,  Military  Courts,  and  Courts  of  Chancery.^ 
Of  these  the  General  Court  was  supreme,  the  next 
in  dignity  being  the  Court  of  Assistants.  Appeals 
lay  to  them  from  the  inferior  courts,  and  capital  of- 
fences were  tried  before  the  Assistants. 

The  County  Courts,  which  were  established  in 
1639,  had  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  civil  and  criminal, 
except  cases  of  divorce  and  crimes  the  penalty 
whereof  extended  to  life,  limb  or  banishment.    They 


'Massachusetts  Records,  i..  ii8.         ^ j^jj^^^gachusetts  Records,  i.,  275. 
^Washhurn's  Judicial  History  of  Massachusetts. 


IntroduElion.  9 

were  presided  over  by  one  or  more  of  the  Assistants 
belonging  to  the  county  in  which  the  court  was  held. 
These  courts  were  authorized  to  summon  erand  and 
petit  jurors,  and  to  appoint  their  own  clerks  and 
other  officers.  Among  other  duties  they  laid  out 
highways,  licensed  houses  of  entertainment,  and 
were  "charged  to  see  that  there  was  an  able  minis- 
try and  that  it  was  well  supported."^  Their  fun6tions 
corresponded  nearly  with  those  of  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions  established  later.  They  also  consti- 
tuted the  Courts  of  Probate. 

No  further  change  of  consequence  in  management 
or  forms  was  made  under  the  Colonial  Government. 
After  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary  and  the 
reception  of  the  Provincial  Charter,  an  a61;  was  passed^ 
re-organizing  the  courts  under  a  system  which  was 
continued  with  few  modifications  until  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  courts  then  constituted  were,  in  the  order 
of  their  importance.  Courts  of  Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Courts  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  Courts  of 
Common  Pleas,  a  Superior  Court,  and  a  Court  of 
Chancery.  By  an  a6l  passed  in  1699  the  name  of 
the  Courts  of  Quarter  Sessions  was  changed  to  that 
of  Courts  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace. 

The  jurisdi6lion  of  the  Courts  of  General  Sessions 
was  partly  criminal  and  partly  civil.     They  could 

'Washburn.     Felt's  Annals  of  Salem.  ^November  25,  1692. 

2 


lo  Introduction. 

hear  and  determine  all  matters  relating  to  the  con- 
servation of  the  peace,  and  the  punishment  of  of- 
fenders; and  trials  were  had  by  juries.  In  their 
civil  capacity  they  had  charge  of  the  financial  con- 
cerns of  their  respe6live  counties,  controlled  the 
houses  of  corre6lion,  granted  licenses  to  innholders 
and  retailers,  and  located  and  established  highways, 
discharging  the  duties  now  performed  by  county 
commissioners.  In  short  these  courts  had  charge 
of  the  prudential  affairs  of  the  several  counties;  and 
a  general  jurisdi6lion  in  all  criminal  matters,  the 
punishment  of  which  did  not  extend  to  life,  member 
or  banishment.^  They  were  presided  over  by  all  of 
the  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  county,  with  one 
or  more  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas.  The  powers  and  management  of  these  courts 
remained  much  the  same  until  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century. 

The  County  of  Worcester  was  incorporated  by  an 
a6l  passed  on  the  2nd  of  April,  1731,  to  take  effeft 
the  loth  of  the  following  July.  The  first  session  of 
the  inferior  courts  was  held  on  the  loth  of  August, 
on  which  occasion  the  Rev.  John  Prentice  of  Lan- 
caster preached  a  sermon  from  the  appropriate  text, 
2nd  Chronicles,  xix.,  6  and  7. 

The  A61  of  Incorporation  of  the  County  is  here 
printed : 

'  Washburn's  Judicial  History  of  Massachusetts. 


IntroduBion.  1 1 

An  Act 

for  ere6ling,  granting  and  making  a  County  in  the 
Inland  Parts  of  this  Province,  to  be  called  the  County 
of  Worcester,  and  for  establishing  Courts  of  Justice 
within  the  same. 

§25  it  cuactttt  Iji?  ijis  2£vccUcuc»  X\)t  toUcruoiiv, 
(Jtouncil  anti  iicprtscntatiijts  in  ©rncral  <il:ourt 
asscmljlcti,  aii^  tii>  tijf  ^utijocitw  of  tije  same,    That 

the  Towns  and  Places  hereafter  named  and  expressed,  That  is  to 
say,  Worcester,  Lancaster,  We s thorough,  Shrewsbury,  South- 
boroiigli,  Leicester,  Ritthmd,  and  Lunenburg,  all  in  the  County  of 
Middlesex;  Mendon,  Woodstock,  Oxford,  Sutton-,  (including  Nas- 
sananiisco)  Uxbridge,  and  the  Land  lately  granted  to  several  Pe- 
titioners of  Medfield,  all  in  the  County  of  Suffolk;  Brookfield  in  the 
County  of  Hampshire,  and  the  South  Town  laid  out  to  the  Nar- 
ragansett  Soldiers  ;  and  all  other  Lands  lying  within  the.  said  Town- 
ships, with  the  Inhabitants  thereon,  shall  from  and  after  the  tenth 
Day  of  yuly,  which  will  be  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  One  Thousand 
seven  Hundred  and  thirty  one,  be  and  remain  one  intire  and  dis- 
tin6l  County,  by  the  Name  of  Worcester,  of  which  Worcester  to 
be  th«  County  or  Shire  Town  :  And  the  Said  County  to  have,  use 
and  enjoy  all  such  Powers,  Priviledges  and  Immunities,  as  by  Law 
other  Counties  within  this  Province  have  and  do  enjoy. 

^nti  ijc  It  furtf)cr  nxactcti  tJi>  t!)C  Stutljon't^  afore- 

SaflJ,  That  there  shall  be  held  and  kept  within  the  said  County 
of  Worcester  yearly  and  in  every  Year,  at  the  Times  and  Place  in 
this  A6t  hereafter  expressed,  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  and  an  Inferiour  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  to  sit  at  Wor- 
cester on  the  second  Tuesdays  of  May  and  August,  and  the  first 
Tuesdays  of  November  and  February  yearly  and  in  every  Year, 
until  this  Court  shall  otherwise  order  :  Also,  That  there  shall  be 
held  and  kept  at  Worcester  within  the  said  County  of  Worcester 
yearly  and  in  every  Year  until  this  Court  shall  otherwise  order,  a 
Superiour  Court  of  Judicature  Court  of  Assize  and  General  Goal 


1 2  Introdtcnion. 

Delivery,  to  sit  on  the  Wednesday  immediately  preceeding  the 
Time  by  Law  appointed  for  the  holding  of  the  said  Superior  Court 
of  Judicature  Court  of  Assize  and  General  Goal  Delivery  at  Spring- 
field, within  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire :  And  the  Justices 
of  the  said  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  Inferiour  Court 
of  Common  Pleas,  Superiour  Court  of  Judicature,  Court  of  Assize 
and  General  Goal  Delivery  respe6lively,  who  are  or  shall  be  there- 
unto lawfully  commissioned  and  appointed,  shall  have,  hold,  use, 
exercise  and  enjoy  all  and  singular  the  Powers  which  are  by  Law 
already  given  and  granted  unto  them,  within  any  other  Counties 
of  the  Province,  where  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace, 
Inferiour  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Superiour  Court  of  Judicature, 
Court  of  Assize  and  General  Goal  Delivery,  are  already  estab- 
lished. 

Provided,  That  all  Writs,  Suits,  Plaints,  Process,  Appeals,  Re- 
views, Recognizances,  or  any  other  Matters  or  Things  which  now 
are,  or  at  any  Time  before  the  said  tenth  Day  of  J^niy,  shall  be 
depending  in  the  Law  within  any  Part  of  the  said  County  of  Wor- 
cester ;  and  also  all  Matters  and  Things  which  now  are,  or  at  any 
Time  before  the  said  tenth  of  J^uiy,  shall  be  depending  before  the 
Judges  of  Probate  within  any  Part  of  the  said  County  of  Worces- 
ter, shall  be  heard,  tried,  proceeded  upon  and  determined  in  the 
Counties  of  Suffolk,  Middlesex  and  Hampshire  respe6lively,  where 
the  same  are  or  shall  be  returnable  or  depending,  and  have  or 
shall  have  Day  or  Days. 

Provided  also.  That  nothing  in  this  A61  contained,  shall  be  con- 
strued to  disannul,  defeat,  or  make  void  any  Deeds  or  Convey- 
ances of  Lands,  lying  in  the  said  County  of  Worcester,  where  the 
same  are,  or  shall  be  before  the  said  tenth  of  yitly,  recorded  in 
the  Register's  office  of  the  respe6live  Counties  where  such  Lands 
do  now  lie  ;  but  that  all  such  Deeds  or  Conveyances  so  recorded, 
shall  be  held  good  and  valid  as  they  would  have  been  had  not  this 
A61  been  made. 

SlnTi  l)c  It  fttrtijcr  cnactcTr  li»  tijc  Slutljoriti)  aforr= 

StTlU,  That  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  at  their  first  Meeting  in  the  said  County  of  Worcester,  shall 
have  full  Power  and  Authority  to  appoint  some  meet  Person  within 


Introdunion.  i 


J 


the  said  County  of  Worcester  to  be  Register  of  Deeds  and  Con- 
veyances within  the  same,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful  Dis- 
charge of  his  Trust  in  the  said  Office,  and  shall  continue  to  hold 
and  exercise  the  same  according  to  the  Directions  of  the  Law, 
until  some  Person  be  elefted  by  the  Freeholders  of  the  said  County 
of  Worcester,  who  are  hereby  impowered  to  choose  such  Person 
on  the  first  Thursday  of  September  next  ensuing,  by  the  Methods 
in  the  Law  already  prescribed,  to  take  upon  him  that  Trust :  And 
until  such  Register  shall  be  so  appointed  by  the  said  Justices  and 
sworn,  all  Deeds  and  Conveyances  of  Lands  lying  within  any  Part 
of  the  County  of  Worcester,  which  shall  be  recorded  in  the  Reg- 
ister's Office  of  the  respe6live  Counties  where  such  Lands  do  now 
lie,  shall  be  held  and  deemed  good  and  valid  to  all  Intents  and 
Purposes  as  to  the  recording  thereof. 

^n^  lie  It  furtijrr  cnactcti  i)^  tijr  ^iit<)oritfi  afore- 

ScllTf,  That  the  Methods,  Dire<5lions  and  Proceedings  by  Law 
provided  as  well  for  the  ele6ting  and  choosing  a  Register  of  Deeds 
and  Conveyances  as  a  County  Treasurer,  which  Officers  shall  be 
appointed  in  the  same  Manner  as  is  by  Law  already  provided,  on 
the  first  Thursday  of  September  next,  and  also  for  the  bringing  for- 
ward and  trying  any  A6tions,  Causes,  Pleas  or  Suits  both  Civil  and 
Criminal  in  the  several  Counties  of  this  Province  and  Courts  of 
Judicature  within  the  same,  and  choosing  of  Jurors  to  serve  at  the 
Courts  of  Justice,  shall  extend  and  be  attended,  observed  and  put 
in  Pra6tice  within  the  said  County  of  Worcester,  and  by  the  Courts 
of  Justice  within  the  same  :  Any  Law,  Usage  or  Custom  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding. 

Provided  always.  That  the  Inhabitants  of  the  several  Towns  and 
Places  herein  before  enumerated  and  set  off  a  distin6l  County, 
shall  pay  their  Proportion  to  any  County  Rates  or  Taxes  already 
made  and  granted,  in  the  same  Manner  as  they  would  have  done, 
had  not  this  A61  been  made. 


RECORDS 


OF  THE 


Court  of  General  Sessions 


OF  THE  PEACE. 


A  Copy  of  the 

General  Commission  for  the  Peace 

for  the  County  of  Worcester 


^  Seal  \ 


George  the  Second  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Brittain 
France  and  Ireland  King  Defender  of  the  Faith  &c' 

To  our  Trusty  and  well  beloved  John  Chandler  Joseph  Wilder 
\Villiam  Ward  William  Jennison  Daniel  Taft  John  Chandler  Jun"" 
Benjamin  Willard  Samuel  Wright  Josiah  Willard  Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley  Henry  Lee  and  Nahum  Ward  Esq"  Greeting 

Know  ye  that  we  have  assigned  you  and  every  of  you  our 
Justices  to  Keep  our  Peace  in  our  County  of  Worcester  within  our 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  and  to  Keep 
and  Cause  to  be  Kept  the  laws  and  Ordinances  made  for  the  good 
of  the  Peace  and  for  the  Conservation  of  the  Same  and  for  the 
Quiet  Rule  and  Government  of  our  People  in  our  Said  County  in 
all  and  every  the  articles  thereof  according  to  the  force  fform  and 
effe6l  of  the  Same  and  to  Chastise  and  Punish  all  Persons  offend- 
ing against  the  form  of  those  laws  &  ordinances  or  any  of  them 
in  the  County  aforesaid  or  according  to  the  form  of  those  laws  and 
ordinances  Shall  be  fitt  to  be  done,  and  to  Cause  to  Come  before 
you  or  any  of  you,  all  those  thatt  Shall  breake  the  peace  or  at- 
tempt anything  against  the  Same,  or  that  Shall  threaten  any  our 


1 8  Court  of  General  Sessions. 

People  in  their  person  or  in  burning  their  houses  to  find  Sufficient 
Security  for  the  peace  or  for  the  good  behaviour  towards  us  and 
our  people  and  if  they  shall  refuse  to  find  such  security  then  to 
cause  them  to  be  Kept  Safe  in  Prison  untill  they  shall  find  the 
same  and  to  do  and  perform  in  the  County  aforesaid  all  and  what- 
soever according  to  the  laws  and  Ordinances  of  our  Province  afore- 
said or  any  of  them,  Justices  of  the  Peace  may  or  ought  to  do  & 
perform  and  we  Command  you  and  every  of  you  that  you  Deli- 
gently  intend  the  Keeping  of  the  Peace  and  of  the  laws  and  Ord- 
inances aforesaid ;  and  that  at  such  certain  days  and  places  as  are 
or  shall  be  by  law  Stated  and  appointed  (whereof  any  of  you  The 
said  John  Chandler  Joseph  Wilder  William  Ward  &  William  Jen- 
nison  always  to  be  one)  enquire  by  the  Oaths  of  good  and  Care- 
full  men  of  our  Said  County  by  whom  the  Truth  may  be  the  better 
Known  of  all  and  all  manner  of  Thefts,  Trespases,  Riots,  Routs, 
and  unlawfuU  assemblys  whatsoever,  and  all  and  singular  other 
misdeeds  and  offences  of  which  by  law  Justices  of  the  peace  in 
their  Generall  Sessions  may  or  ought  to  Inquire,  by  whomsoever 
or  howsoever  done  and  Perpetrated,  or  which  shall  hereafter  hap- 
pen howsoever  to  be  done  or  attempted  in  the  County  aforesaid, 
Contrary  to  the  form  of  the  laws  and  Ordinances  aforesaid,  made 
for  the  Common  good  of  our  province  aforesaid  and  the  People 
thereof,  and  to  Inspect  alllndidments  So  before  you  taken  or  to 
be  Taken,  and  to  make  and  Continue  the  Process  thereupon 
against  all  and  every  person  or  persons  so  Indi6led  before  Shall 
hereafter  happen  to  be  Indi6led  before  you  untill  they  be  appre- 
hended render  themselves  or  be  outlawed,  and  to  hear  and  De- 
termine all  &  Singular  the  said  Thefts,  Trespasses,  Riots,  Routs, 
unlawfuU  assemblys,  and  all  and  Singular  Other  the  premises,  and  to 
do  therein  as  to  Justice  appertaineth  according  to  the  laws  Statutes 
and  Ordinances  aforesaid  ;  Saving  to  us  the  amerciaments  and 
Other  things  thereof  to  us  belonging  ;  and  we  likewise  Command 
that  at  such  days  and  places  as  are  or  shall  be  by  law  appointed 
for  holding  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  peace  as  aforesaid 
and  Such  and  So  many  good  and  lawful!  men  of  the  County  afore- 
said you  cause  to  come  before  you  or  any  Three  or  more  of  you 
as  aforesaid,  by  whom  the  Truth  in  the  premises  may  be  Known 


Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  19 

and  Inquired  of;      In  testimony  whereof  we  have  Caused  the 
PubHcke  Seal  of  our  Province  aforesaid  to  be  hereunto  affixed 

Witness  Jonathan  Belcher  Escf  our  Cap'  Generall  and 
Governour  in  Chief  in  and  over  our  Said  Province  at  Boston  the 
thirtyth  day  of  June  1731  in  the  fifth  year  of  our  reigne 

J  Belcher 

By  order  of  the  Gov""  with  the  advice  and  Consent  of  the 
Councill  J.  WiLLARD  Secry. 

John  Chandler  John  Chandler  Jun""  Joseph  Dwight  and  Sam- 
uel Dudley  Esqrs 

Sworn  in  Councill  July  i^'  1731     J  Willard  Secy 

Joseph  Wilder  William  Ward  William  Jennison  Daniell  Taft 
Samuel  Wright  Josiah  Willard  Henry  Lee  &  Nahum  Ward  Esq's 
Sworn  by  Dedimus  from  his  Exce'y  the  Gov''  before  us 

John  Chandler     John  Chandler  Jr     Joseph  Dwight 

A  true  Copy  from  the  Originall  Commission 

attes'     John  Chandler  Jr  Cler  Pac. 


NOTES. 


Of  the  persons  named  in  the  foregoing  Commission,  John  Chandler,  Jo- 
seph Wilder,  William  Ward  and  William  Jennison  were  the  Justices  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County.  John  Chandler  of  Woodstock, 
(now  in  Connecticut  but  formerly  included  in  Worcester  County)  was  a  man 
of  considerable  prominence.  He  was  the  first  Judge  of  Probate  for  the 
County;  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  of  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions;  Colonel  of  the  regiment  of  militia;  Representative,  and  a 
member  of  his  Majesty's  Council.     He  died  in  1743. 

Joseph  Wilder  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Lancaster,  and  a  man  of  influ- 
ence in  the  County.  He  became  Chief  Justice  on  the  death  of  John  Chand- 
ler in  1743. 

William  Ward  of  Southborough  was  born  in  1680  and  died  (probably) 
in  1745.     He  was  a  Colonel  of  the  militia. 

William  Jennison  lived  in  Worcester,  where  he  held  various  offices  of 
trust.     He  died  in  1741. 


20  Court  of  General  Sessions. 

Of  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  Daniel  Taft  resided  in  Mendon  ;  Benjamin 
Willard  in  Hassanamisco,  now  Grafton;  Samuel  Wright  in  Rutland;  Josiah 
Willard  in  Lunenburg;  and  Henry  Lee  in  Worcester. 

Nahum  Ward  of  Shrewsbury  was  a  lawyer  of  some  note,.and  subsequently 
became  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  was  father 
of  Major  General  Artemas  Ward  of  revolutionary  fame. 

John  Chandler  Junior  was  born  in  Woodstock  in  1693,  and  removed  to 
Worcester  in  1731.  He  was  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  Register  of  Deeds,  etc.; 
and  succeeded  to  most  of  the  offices  held  by  his  father.     He  died  in  1763. 

Joseph  Dwight  was  born  in  Hatfield  in  17^3,  and  graduated  at  Harvard 
College  in  1722.  He  Hved  for  some  years  in  Brooktield,  and  represented 
that  town  in  the  Provincial  Legislature.  He  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  1749,  and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Council.  Dis- 
tinguished for  his  military  talents  he  attained  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General, 
and  for  his  bravery  at  the  siege  of  Louisburg.  where  he  commanded  a  regi- 
ment, was  publicly  commended  by  Sir  William  Pepperell.  Dwight  was 
Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  County  of  Worcester  from 
1743  to  1750,  and  afterwards  held  the  same  office  in  Berkshire  County.  He 
died  at  Great  Barrington  in  1765. 

Samuel  Dudley  was  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  of  Sutton,  and  a  man 
of  infiuence  and  prominence.  He  was  born  in  Concord  in  1666,  and  died 
in  1775  at  the  great  age  of  109  years. 


Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  21 


Worcester  ss 

Memorandum   Worcester  Aug^*  12"'  1731 

Att  y^  first  meeting  of  the  Justices  of  tlie  County  aforesaid,  John 
Chandler  Jun''  Esq  was  appointed  Register  of  Deeds  for  Said 
County  and  Sworn  to  the  faithful!  Discharge  of  the  Said  Trust  be- 
fore all  the  Justices  by  the  Hon'''''  John  Chandler  Escjr  The  first 

Justice 

Attestator     John  Chandler  J"'  Cle  Pac  : 


August  13*  M''  Jonathan  Houghton  of  Lancaster  was  appoint- 
ed &  Sworn  County  Treasurer 

Attest     John  Chandler  J'  Clck 

Same  day  John  Chandler  Jun""  Esqr  Register  of  Deeds  gave 
bond  to  the  County  Treas'  with  two  Suretys  in  five  hundred,  for 
his  a6ling  faithfully  as  Register  of  Deeds  This  was  done  by  order 
of  the  Justices  Attes'     John  Chandler  J'  Cler  Pac 


Worcester  ss  Anno  Regiti  Regis  Georgij  Secu7idi 
nunc  Macrnice  BrittanicB  Francice  et  Hibernics 
Quinto  ^ 

Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  and  within  the  County  of 
Worcester  The  Second  Tuesday  of  Aug^*  being 
the    Tenth    day  of  Said  Month  Annoq  Dom 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jennison  . 
Daniel  Taft 
John  Chandler  Jun 


Quo: 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Samuell  Wright 
Josiah  Willard 
Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley 
Henry  Lee 
Nahum  Ward 


>  Estf 


Esq"" 


Coroners,     M''  Joseph  Wilder     M""  Seth  Chapin  Jun""     M''  Jo- 
seph Wright 


Grand  Jurors  that  were  Returned  &  Served  are  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester     M''  Gershom  Rice 
Mendon     M'  James  Keith 
Brookfield  M' Joseph  Banister 


Oxford     M''  Isaac  Lernard 
Leicester     M""  Daniell  Denney 
Shrewsbury     M"'  David  How 
Uxbridge     M^  Robert  Taft 


Lancaster     M''  Ebenezer  Wilder 

Woodstock     M""  Joseph  Baron 

Westboro'     M''  Thomas  Rice 

foreman 

Sutton     Parcivall  Hall 

Southboro'     M""  John  Woods 

RutUand     M'  Joseph  Stevens 

Lunenburg   M''  Edward  Hartwell 


Each  Served  Two  Days 


24  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \^t^^S^ 

Phillip  Chase  of  Sutton  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  Husbandman 
and  Others  Came  into  Court  and  Complained  that  Solomon  John- 
son Resident  in  Said  Shrewsbury  Gent  in  the  Night  following  the 
ii"*  Instant  was  Guilty  of  y*^  Breach  of  y*^  peace  by  Stocking  him 
the  Said  Chase  on  the  face  with  his  hand  and  of  Speaking  Insult- 
ing and  threating  words,  The  Said  Solomon  Johnson  appeared 
before  y*^  Court  and  pleaded  not  Guilty  and  in  the  Court  behaved 
himself  in  a  very  Insolent  Rude  and  unbecoming  manner  both  to 
the  Court  &  Officers  thereof  Capt  Thomas  Baker  and  Said  Chase 
were  Sworn  as  Evidences  in  the  Case  and  after  due  Examination 
the  Case  being  fully  heard  the  Said  Solomon  Johnson  is  Judged  to 
be  Guilty  of  the  Breach  of  y^  peace  in  Striking  Said  Chase  and 
useing  threatning  words  and  thereupon  order  that  for  Said  offence 
he  pay  as  a  fine  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  &61  Twenty  Shill- 
ings and  for  his  Said  Rude  and  Insulting  Behaviour  he  also  pay  as 
a  fine  to  our  said  Lord  the  King  the  Sum  of  fourty  Shillings  that 
he  give  bond  with  Two  Suretys  for  his  peacable  and  good  be- 
soiomon  Johnson  havlour  till  thc  ucxt  Court  of  General  Sessions  of 
principal  5(11  ^j-^g  pgacc  to  bc  holdcn  at  Worcester  &a  the  first 
^jrep^^cJo'by  "  Tuesday  of  November  next  viz'  The  Said  Solomon 
Surety  25 1  Each  johusou  as  principall  In  y*^  Sum  of  fifty  pounds  & 
the  Suretys  in  Twenty  five  pound  Each  and  Pay  Costs  &  Stand 
Committed  till  Sentance  be  Performed  Costs  Taxed  at  one  pounds 
nine  Shillings  The  Said  Solomon  Johnson  appealed  from  this 
Sentance  unto  the  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  to 
be  holden  at  Worcester  the  4*  Wednesday  of  September  next  and 

Chase  &  Baker  Entered  iuto  Recognizance  with  Two  Suretys  to 
S^^ppelfaVwi'™^  prossecute  his  appeal  to  Effed  and  to  abide  and 
perform  y^  order  or  Sentance  of  Said  Court  thereon 
and  to  be  of  y^  Good  behaviour  in  the  meantime 


Joseph  Crosby  of  Worcester  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Sadler, 
was  bound  over  to  this  Court  by  M''  Justice  Jenison  on  the  Com- 
plaint of  Isaac  Miller  of  Shrewsbury  In  Said  County  Husbandman 
for  abusing  &  Striking  him  &<Sl :  as  by  the  Complaint  &  writt  will 


173  I- 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  25 

appear  said  Miller  being  bound  by  Recognizance  to  prosecute  his 
Complaint  the  Case  was  delivered  to  the  Grand  Jury  who  Did 
upon  their  Oaths  Return  Ignoramus,  whereupon  Said  Crosby  was 
Delivered  from  his  Recognizance,  and  the  Court  adjudged  Said 
Miller  to  pay  Cost  of  Court  Taxed  at  four  pounds  nineteen  Shill- 
ings &  Tenpence 


John  Hazeltine  of  Sutton  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Husband- 
man upon  y*^  Complaint  of  Christian  Indian  Woman  Widdow  of 
George  Misco  late  of  Hassanamisco,  for  his  Said  Hazeltines  Sell- 
ing Strong  Drink  to  y*^  Indians  Contrary  To  law^  (&6t  was  bound 
over  to  this  Court  by  M''  Justice  Jenison  to  answer  to  Said  Com- 
plaint The  Court  having  Considered  the  Case  order  that  his 
Recognizance  be  Continued  to  the  next  Court  of  Generall  Sessions 
of  y^  peace  to  be  holden  at  Worcester  for  y'^  Said  County  of  Wor- 
cester y'^  fs'  Tuesday  in  Novemb""  next 

And  then  y^  Court  was  adjourned  to  y^  4""  Wednesday  in  Sep' 
Next  att  Ten  oClock  in  y^  forenoon.  To  y^  House  of  William 
Jenison  Esq  in  Worcester 

attest'     John  Chandler  Jr  Cler  pac 

'  See  Note  on  page  28. 
4 


Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y®  Peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  and  within  the  County  of 
Worcester  by  adjournment  on  Wednesday  the 
2  2^  day  of  September  1 73 1 


PRESENT 


John  Chandler   Joseph  Wilder  William  Ward  &  W"  Jenison 
Esq"  Jus'  of  y^  pea'  &  Quo  : 

John  Chandler  Junr  Samuell  Wright  Joseph   Dwight   Samuel 
Dudley  &  Henry  Lee  Esqs  J  p 


The  Several  Towns  having  made  Return  of  their  Several  Choices 
for  a  Register  of  Deeds  and  a  County  Treasurer  according  to  law, 
William  Ward  John  Chandler  Jun''  &  Joseph  Dwight  Esqrs  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  view  &  Sort  the  Same  and  Report  To 
y^  Court  who  were  Chosen,  The  Said  Committee  Having  Sorted 
the  votes  of  the  freeholders  for  a  Register  of  Deeds  made  Report 
that  John  Chandler  Jun'  Esq  was  Chosen  by  a  very  great  majority 
of  Votes  The  Said  Committee  having  Sorted  the  Votes  Returned 
for  a  County  Treas'  made  Return  that  Mr  Jonathan  Houghton  was 
Chosen  by  a  great  majority  of  votes  The  Said  persons  were  Re- 
speftively  Sworn  to  the  faithfuU  Discharge  of  their  Respedlive 
offices  in  Court  and  the  Register  of  Deeds  gave  Bond  with  Suretys 
according  to  Law 

Attes'         John  Chandler  Jun  Cler  pac 


The  Court  order  that  a  House  of  the  following  Dimensions  be 
built  at  the  Charge  of  the  County  for  a  Prison  House  and  Prison 
namely  Thirty  six  feet  Long  Seventeen  feet  wide  fourteen  feet  post, 


i73i-i         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  27 

The  Prison  End  to  be  Studed  with  Timber  of  Five  Inch  &  four 
Inch  and  placed  within  five  inches  of  one  another  and  that  the 
Joyce  be  of  the  same  bigness  and  placed  at  the  Same  Distance 
and  that  it  l)e  planked  within  and  without  with  good  plank  Spiked 
on,  and  that  there  be  a  Dungeon  under  the  same  and  that  the 
Other  End  of  the  House  be  finished  after  the  usuall  manner  of 
Dwelling  Houses  and  that  there  be  a  Sutable  Prison  Yard  of 
Twenty  feet  Deep  &  thirty  feet  Long  against  the  House  made  with 
boards  nailed  To  Sutable  posts  about  Eight  or  Ten  feet  high  that 
there  be  a  Chimney  built  in  y^  Dwelling  part  with  a  fire  Room  be- 
low and  one  in  the  Chamber — and  William  Jenison  Henry  Lee 
and  Nahum  Ward  Esqrs  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  See  the 
work  be  done  and  at  as  Cheap  a  lay  as  may  be  and  it  is  further 
ordered  that  the  Said  Prison  House  &61  be  Sett  not  Southward  of 
the  land  given  by  William  Jenison  Esq  to  the  County  nor  North- 
ward of  the  Reverend  m''  Burrs  Barn  and  on  the  Westerly  Side  y"^ 
Highway  in  the  most  Convenient  place 

The  Court  order  that  untill  the  prison  be  built  That  the  House 
of  William  Jenison  Esq  by  his  consent  be  the  Prison  and  that  a 
Sutable  Cage  be  built  in  y"^  Back  part  thereof  and  that  the  prison 
yard  Shall  Extend  Twenty  feet  on  the  South  Side  and  Elast  End 
thereof  and  so  far  on  the  North  Side  and  West  end  thereof  as  shall 
Include  y^  House  &  Office.  The  Court  also  order  a  County 
Tax  or  assesment  on  y^^  Several  Towns  amounting  to  303''' :  5,,  4*^ 
being  a  Tax  eaquall  with  the  previous  Tax  and  That  the  Clerk 
send  out  warrants  accordingly  Requiring  the  Sele6lmen  or  assessors 
of  each  Town  to  assess  the  Same  and  that  it  be  Colle6led  and 
paid  into  the  County  Treasury  at  or  before  the  last  day  of  march 
next  for  defraying"  the  Charges  of  the  County 


(28) 


NOTE. 

Penalty  for  Selling  Strong  Drink  to  the  Indians. — (See  page  25.) 
In  1693  the  General  Court  passed  "An  A<51  for  the  better  Rule  and  Govern- 
ment of  the  Indians  in  their  Several  Places  and  Plantations,  To  the  Intent 
that  the  Indians  may  be  forwarded  in  Civility  and  Christianity;  and  other 
Vices  the  more  effectually  Suppressed  amongst  them:" 

One  clause  of  this  acft  was : 

" That  no  Person  or  Persons  whosoever,  shall  diredtly  or  indiredlly, 

sell,  truck,  barter  or  give  to  any  Indian,  any  strong  Beer,  Ale,  Cyder,  Perry, 
Rum,  Brandy,  or  other  strong  Liquors,  by  what  Name  or  Names  soever 
called  or  known ;  on  Pain  of  forfeiting  the  sum  of  forty  Shillings  for  every 
Pint;  and  proportionably  for  any  greater  or  lesser  Quantity  so  sold,  truck'd 
bartered,  given  or  delivered  to  any  Indian  diredlly  or  indiredlly  as  aforesaid  ; 
upon  Convidlion  thereof  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  where  the  Penalty 
does  not  txcetd  forty  Shillings;  and  if  it  exceed  that  .Sum,  at  the  Sessions 
of  the  Peace  to  be  holden  for  the  same  County  where  the  Offence  is  com- 
mitted :  one  Moiety  of  all  such  Forfeitures  to  be  unto  their  Majesties,  for  and 
towards  the  Support  of  the  Government;  and  the  other  Moiety  to  him  or 
them  that  shall  inform  and  prosecute  the  same  by  Bill,  Plaint,  or  Informa- 
tion. And  if  the  Offender  be  unable,  or  shall  not  forthwith  pay  and  satisfy 
the  said  Penalty  or  Forfeiture,  then  to  be  committed  to  the  Goal  of  the 
County;  there  to  remain  until  he  pay  and  satisfy  the  same,  or  suffer  two 
months  Imprisonment. 

"Provided,  This  hA  shall  not  be  intended  or  extend  to  restrain  any  Adl 
of  Charity  for  relieving  any  Indian  (bona  fide)  in  any  sudden  Exigent  or 
Faintness  or  Sickness,  not  to  exceed  one  or  two  Drams;  or  by  Prescription 
of  some  Physician  in  writing,  or  by  allowance  of  a  Justice  of  Peace." 

The  accusation  and  affirmation  of  an  Indian  were  received  as  evidence. 

Intoxication  in  Indians  was  punished  by  fine  or  whipping;  and  liquor 
found  in  their  possession  was  seized. 


Worcester  ss  Anno  Reg7ii  Regis  Gcorgij  Secundi 
7iunc  Maznics  Britta7iicE  Francis  et  Hiberni^ 
Quinto"^ 


Att  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  y®  peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  &  within  y*^  County  of  Wor- 
cester y®  i^"^  Tuesday  of  Nov'"  being  y®  2''  day 
of  Said  Month  Annoq  Dom  1731 

PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esq  Joseph  Wilder  Esq  W"'  Ward  Esq  W"'  Jen- 
ison  Esq  of  y^  Quo'" 

Jno  Chandler  J''  Sam"  Wright  Joseph  Dvvight  Samuel  Dudley- 
Henry  Lee  &  Nahum  Ward  Esq  J  p  : 

The  Same  Grand  Jury  attended  as  did  y'^  first  Court,  and  At- 
tended one  day 


The  Court  order  That  the  floors  in  y^  Prison  End  of  y^  House 
ordered  to  be  built  at  the  last  Court  be  laid  with  plank  and  that 
there  be  a  Cellar  under  y^  Same  and  an  oven  in  the  Chimney  and 
it  is  left  to  the  Committee  to  plank  or  board  y^  Outsides  as  they 
think  proper 


The  Reverend  M'  David  Parsons  of  Leicester  Preferred  a  Peti- 
tion or  Complaint  to  this  Court  Shewing  that  in  ys  year  1721  he 
accepted  the  Call  of  the  Church  and  Town  of  Leicester  to  y^  Gos- 
pell  ministry  among  them   with  an   Incouragement  of  an   Hon" 


30 


Court  of  General  Sessions. 


\ 


novemiieb 
Tekm, 


Support  of  Seventy  five  pounds  &61— from  year  to  year  In  which 
Service  y^  Said  Petitioner  has  Continued  Ever  Since  according  to 
his  poor  Capacity  Heartyly  endeavoured  to  be  faithfull,  butt  that 
through  the  negligence  of  the  Town  he  has  not  Rec**  any  part  of 
his  dues  from  them  since  march  :  i  730  butt  that  they  have  been 
wholly  Deficient  Since  that  time  praying  for  Reliefe  according  to 
the  Diredions  of  y^  good  and  wholesome  laws  of  this  province, 
which  petition  being  duly  Considered  The  Court  order  and  Dire6l 
the  Sele6lmen  of  y<=  Town  of  Leicester  be  by  warrant  under  the 
Clerks  hand  Convented  before  y^  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  y*^ 
peace  to  be  holden  at  Worcester  for  and  within  the  County  of 
Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  February  next  To  answer  To 
Said  Petition  ^ 


John  Hazeltines  Recognizance  being  Continued 
to  this  Court  by  which  he  was  bound  To  answer 
to  the  Complaint  of  Christian  Indian  Widdow 
of  George  Misco  &61  for  His  said  Hazeltines 
Selling  Strong  Drink  to  y'^  Indians  Contrary  to 
law  &61  The  Said  John  Hazeltine  appeared  in 
Court  and  to  y^  Complaint  Pleaded  not  Guilty 
and. put  himself  on  his  Country  for  Tryall  The 
Complainant  also  appearing  in  Court  affirming 
That  the  said  John  Hazeltine  was  Guilty  of  Sell- 
ing Great  Quantitys  of  Strong  [drink]  to  Indians 
and  the  Case  after  a  full  hearing  was  Committed 
to  y^  Jury  who. were  Sworn  to  Try  y^  Same  ac- 
cording to  law  who  Returned  y*^  following  Ver- 
di6l  viz*  We  find  the  Defendant  Guilty  of  giving  order  for  one 
Jill  of  Rum  to  be  delivered  to  an  Indian  Its  therefore  considered 
by  the  Court  that  the  said  John  Hazeltine  pay  a  fine  of  Ten  Shill- 
ings one  half  to  his  majesty  the  other  half  to  the  Informer  and  pay 
Costs  Taxed  at  Seven  pound  nine  Shillings  &  Two  pence,  which 


JURY 
Capt  Joniis  Rice 
Capt  Richard  Moore 
Mr  Epm  Child 
Mr  Bezaleel  Sawyer 
Mr  Richard  Ward 
Mr  Comfort  Barna 
Mr  Perez  Rice 
Mr  Peter  Smith 
Mr  Wm  Brown 
Mr  Isaac  Anisdeu 
Mr  Eli  Ball 
Mr  Nathan  Dyke 


'  See  Note,  next  page. 


173  I- i         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  31 

fine  and  Costs  he  paid  down  in  Court  and  the  Same  was  Delivered 
to  the  Respe6live  persons  to  whom  y'^  Same  is  Due  :  Excepting  y^ 
Kings  part  which  is  in  y*^  hands  of  y*^  Clerk. 

and  then  the  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 

Attes'     John  Chandler  J""  Cler  p*' : 

memorandum     a  By  law  of  the  Town  of  Woodstock  was  first 
approved  of  y*^  Court  [  ] 

att     Jn"  Chandler  Jr  Cle  pac 


NOTE. 


Case  of  the  Reverend  David  Parsons. — (See  page  29.)  The  Rev. 
David  Parsons,  whose  troubles  frequently  claimed  the  attention  of  this  Court, 
was  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Parsons,  a  large  land  holder  (but  not  a 
resident)  of  Leicester.  They  were  grandsons  of  Joseph  Parsons,  the  emi- 
grant, who  was  in  Springlield  in  1636.  David  was  born  at  Northampton, 
February  I.  j68o;  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1705.  He  became 
the  minister  of  Maiden  in  1708;  and  in  1721,  in  consequence,  it  is  said,  of 
some  difficulty  with  his  people,  he  accepted  the  call  of  the  Church  of  Leices- 
ter and  removed  to  that  town.  The  connection  then  formed  proved  unfortu- 
nate in  the  extreme  :  a  serious  quarrel  began  and  kept  the  town  in  tumult 
for  twelve  or  more  years.  Blame  probably  rests  with  both  parties.  The 
principal  ground  of  the  minister's  complaint  was  the  nonpayment  of  his  sal- 
ary. The  town  in  extenuation  declared  that  they  were  unable  through  pov- 
erty to  meet  his  requirements;  and  offered  other  excuses  to  put  off  his  de- 
mands. The  fadt  seems  to  have  been  that  Mr.  Parsons  was  not  agreeable 
to  a  large  portion  of  his  parishioners,  and  they  probably  did  not  exert  them- 
selves with  proper  zeal  to  secure  his  support,  hoping  that  their  neglefl  would 
drive  him  to  resign  his  charge.  He,  with  the  common  understanding  of  the 
time  that  a  settlement  was  for  life,  resisted  these  attempts  and  slights  to  the 
utmost. 

Mr.  Parsons  petitioned  the  Cleneral  Court  for  relief,  and  entered  com- 
plaints from  time  to  time  in  the  Courts.  Counter  petitions  were  presented, 
and  at  one  time  the  General  Court  passed  an  adl  relieving  the  town  from 
his  support,  which  Governor  PjeJcher  vetoed.  A  dangerous  schism  in  the 
church  and  town  followed.  Finally  the  quarrel  became  so  scandalous  that 
in  the  interest  of  good  order,  other  towns  interfered;  and  in  1735,  a  Council 


3  2  Court  of  General  Sessions. 

was  called  by  mutual  agreement,  and  the  result  was  the  dismission  of  Mr, 
Parsons.  He  left  the  place,  but  returned  after  a  year  or  two.  and  resided 
there  until  his  death  which  occurred  in  1743.  He  Ijrought  suits  against  the 
town  after  his  return. 

He  carried  his  resentment  against  his  former  parishioners  to  the  grave; 
and  according  to  his  request  was  buried  in  the  center  of  an  open  held  owned 
by  him,  at  a  distance  from  the  general  l^urial  ground.  In  the  couise  of  time 
his  grave  was  plowed  over.  The  stone  was  used  in  Iniilding  a  chimney  for  a 
house  in  Leicester;  and  a  few  years  since  the  inscription  was  seen  on  the 
inside  wall  of  an  ash  hole.     It  was  as  follows : 

In  memory  of 

Rev.  Mr.  DAVID  PARSONS 

who  after  many  years  of 

Hard  Labour  and  Suffering 

was  laid  here 

oa.  12.  1743 

aged  si.xty-tliree 

An  account  of  the  Parsons  controversy  will  be  found  in  Washburn's  His- 
tory of  Leicester. 


Worcester  ss  Aitiio  Regni  Regis  Gcorgij  Secundi 
niLiic  MagnicE  Brittaiiice  Francice  et  HibemiKe 
Quiiito"^ 

Att  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  &  within  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester the  first  Tuesday  of  February  being  the 
first  day  of  Said  Month  Annoq  Dom  1731 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
WILLL4M  Ward 

WlLLLAM  JkNISON 

Daniel  Taft 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 
^  Esqrs  Jus 


L  of  Peace 
'         & 
Quorum 

I  Esqrs 


John  Chandler  Jun'  )  Justices 


JOSIAH  WiLLARD 

Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley 
Henry  Lee 
Nahum  Ward 


Esq" 
Justices 


Names  of  the  Grand  Jurors  who  ser\ed  this  Court 


viz' 


M""  Thomas  Rice  M'  Isaac  Learned 

foreman 

M""  Gershom  Rice  M'  Parcivall  Hall 

W  Ephraim  Wilder  M""  Daniel  Denny 

M""  James  Keith  M'  John  Woods 
M''  Joseph  Banister 

Each  attended  Two  days 


W  Daniel  How 

M'  Joseph  Stevens 
M'  Robert  Taft 
M'  Edward  Hart- 

[well 


34  Court  of  General  Sessions.  Y^Tll^'i'f 

Whereas  at  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  Held  at 
Worcester  for  the  County  of  Worcester  by  adjournment  on  Wed- 
nesday the  22''  day  of  September  last  past  The  Justices  Then  or- 
dered a  Prison  or  Goal  to  be  built,  and  appointed  a  Committee  to 
See  the  Same  Effe6led  and  Nothing  as  yett  being  done  in  the  af- 
faire This  Court  now  order  that  John  Chandler  Jun''  be  added  to 
said  Committee  and  that  they  do  with  all  Convenient  Speed  at  the 
Charge  of  the  County  Build  &  Erecl  a  good  Sufficient  and  Sub- 
stantiall  Prison  or  Goal  with  a  house  to  the  Same  att  the  place 
where  it  was  formerly  Stated  in  Worcester,  of  the  following  Di- 
mensions In  Lieu  of  that  formerly  ordered  to  be  built  namely 
fourty  one  feet  Long  Eighteen  feet  wide  and  Eight  feet  Studd  that 
that  part  which  is  for  a  Goal  or  Prison  be  Eighteen  feett  Square 
and  made  of  good  Substantiall  White  Oak  Timber  That  the  Studs 
be  four  Inches  thick  five  Inches  broad  and  placed  within  five 
Inches  one  of  another  all  round  the  Said  Goal  that  there  be  a 
lower  Summer^  &  floor  of  Joyce  and  a  Chamber  Summer  &  floor 
of  Joyce  The  Joyce  of  the  Same  bigness  with  the  Studds  and  placed 
the  Same  Distance  asunder,  That  it  [be]  planked  within  Side  with 
full  Inch  &  half  Plank  and  with  out  Side  with  full  Two  Inch  Plank 
and  to  be  spiked  on  so  as  to  every  plank  of  Twelve  Inches  wide 
against  Every  Studd  there  be  Two  Spikes  at  least  that  the  floor  be 
of  Two  Inch  Plank  Spiked  on  and  the  lower  floor  lined  with  boards 
That  there  be  Sutable  Grates  Doors  and  bolts  &  Locks  to  it  &  Di- 
visions so  as  to  make  three  Rooms  in  all  and  a  Sufficient  Dungeon 
under  the  Same  built  as  y*^  Committee  may  think  proper  That 
the  other  Part  of  the  House  be  finished  in  all  Regards  after  the 
manner  of  a  Dwelling  house  Compleat  with  a  Chimney  Cellar  and 
oven  The  Ruff"  of  the  whole  house  to  be  of  the  fashion  Called 
Gamber  Ruff'  the  out  Sides  &  Ruff  to  be  boarded  Claboarded 
&  Shingled  as  usuall  and  the  Prison  or  Goal  also  to  be  Claboarded 
save  that  Round  the  bottom  of  the  whole  y'  may  be  boarded  about 
Two  feet  high  as  y*^  Committee  may  order  and  that  there  be  made 
adjoining  to  the  Goal  or  Prison  a  Yard  of  Eight  feet  high  with 
boards  to  be  Thirty  feet  Long  and  Twenty  feet  Wide,  and  the 

'A  central  floor  limber,  also  called  a  summer-tree. 


1 73  I "2. 1      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  35 

Committee  or  major  part  of  them  are  hereby  Impowered  to  lett  the 
Same  out  To  Such  person  or  persons  as  may  appear  to  perform 
the  Service  or  to  have  it  Done  in  Such  other  manner  as  they  may 
think  proper,  and  in  the  mean  time  and  in  Heu  of  the  prison  al- 
ready appointed  this  Court  order  and  appoint  that  the  Cage  (as  so 
Called)  already  built  be  Removed  to  the  Chamber  of  the  house  of 
Daniel  Haywood  in  Worcester  and  be  the  Goal  till  Said  Chamber 
be  Sutably  finished  for  a  Goal  and  that  then  Said  Chamber  be  y^ 
Goal  for  Said  County  and  Said  Cage  remain  as  one  of  the  appart- 
ments  thereof,  untill  the  Prison  &<5l  now  agreed  upon  be  built  and 
that  Twenty  feet  on  Ends  &  back  side  the  House  and  four  perch 
on  the  South  Side  the  House  be  accounted  the  Prison  Yard. 

and  it  is  Further  ordered  by  this  Court  that  the  Clerk  doe  and 
he  is  hereby  ordered  to  Issue  out  a  Warrant  Directed  To  the 
Sheriff^  Requiring  him  to  Remove  all  Such  Prisoners  as  may  be 
in  the  Goal  heretofore  appointed  to  the  Goal  now  appointed,  ^ 

Which  was  done  the  3''  Day  of  Feb-^'  Instant 


A  List  of  the  Presentments  made  by  y*"  Grand  Jurers  to  this 
Court  viz'  The  Grand  Jury  for  the  body  of  the  S*^  County  do  pre- 
sent [  ]  The  Towns  of  Worcester  Brookfield  Uxbridge 
Southborough  &  Lunenburg  Each  and  Every  of  them  for  their  not 
being  provided  with  Stocks  as  the  Law  Requires* 

2ndiy  -pi^g  Towns  of  Brookfield  Leicester  Southborough  and 
Lunenburg  Each  and  Every  of  them  for  their  not  being  provided 
with  weights  &  measures  as  the  law  Requires. 

3'y  The  Town  of  Rutland  for  not  being  provided  with  weights 
as  the  law  Re(juires. 

^thiy  'Y\^Q  Towns  of  Uxbridge  and  Southborough  and  Each  of 
tliem  for  not  being  provided  with  a  writing  and  Reading  School 
master  as  the  law  Requires.^ 

^thi.v  John  Jordan  of  Brookfield  Husbandman  and  Submitt  Jor- 
dan of  Brookfield  y^  wife  of  the  said  John  Jordan  Housewife  and 

'The  first  Sheriff  of  the  County,  was  Daniel  Gookin.  son  of  the  Maj.  Gen. 
*  ^  ^  See  Notes  at  the  end  of  the  Record  of  this  term  of  the  Court. 


FEUEUARY 


36  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \   tkkm' 

William  Cratten  of  Uxbridge  Husbandman  and  Easter  Cratten  of 
Uxbridge  aforesaid  wife  of  y^  Said  William  Cratten  Housewife  Each 
and  every  of  them  for  the  Sin  of  Fornication^ 

6*iy  John  Hastings  of  Lunenburg  Husbandman  Jonathan 
Wheeler  and  Jonathan  Moore  Junr  Husbandmen  and  both  of  Lan- 
caster and  all  in  the  Said  County  Each  and  all  of  them  for  their 
absenting  themselves  from  y'^  Publick  worship  of  God  for  more 
than  one  month  ^  last  past,  all  which  things  are  against  the  peace 
of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  his  Crown  and  Dignity 

Joseph  Dwight  att  pro  Reg" 

Billa  Vera         Thomas  Rice  foreman 


Jonathan  Wheler  of  Lancaster  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman being  presented  by  the  Grand  Jurors  of  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King  for  that  he  the  said  Jonathan  has  absented  himself 
from  the  Publick  worship  of  God  for  more  than  one  month  last 
past  against  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  his  Crown 
and  Dignity,  the  said  Jonathan  Wheler  Came  into  Court  and 
Pleaded  not  Guilty'  putt  himself  upon  Tryall  by  the  Court  the  mat- 
ter being  duly  considered  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Court  that  the 
said  Jonathan  Wheler  is  not  Guilty  of  absenting  himself  from  the 
Publick  worship  of  God  for  more  than  one  month  last  past  &  there- 
fore order  that  the  said  Jonathan  Wheler  be  Dismissed  paying  the 
Cost  of  his  prosecution  Taxed  at  Twelve  Shillings  &  Sixpence  from 
which  Judgment  the  Said  Jonathan  Wheler  appealed  to  the  next 
Court  of  assize  and  General  Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  for  this 
County  at  Worcester  within  and  for  said  County  on  the  Wednes- 
day Liimediately  preceeding  the  time  by  law  appointed  for  the 
holding  y^  said  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  at 
Springfield  within  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire  Li  September 
next  and  entered  into  Recognizance  with  Two  Suretys  as  the  law 
Dire6ls  for  prosecuting  his  appeal  with  Effe6t  and  to  abide  and 
perform  the  order  or  Sentence  of  Court  thereon. 

Cost  p**  &  appeal  withdrawn 
*  ^See  Notes  at  the  end  of  the  Record  of  this  term  of  the  Court. 


1 73 1  "2. 1      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  37 

Jonathan  Moore  of  Lancaster  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  the  body  of  said 
County  For  that  he  the  Said  Jonathan  Moore  has  absented  him- 
self from  the  Publick  worship  of  God  for  more  than  one  month 
last  past,  against  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  his 
Crown  and  Dignity.  The  said  Jonathan  Moore  came  into  Court 
&  Pleaded  not  Guilty  &  putt  himself  upon  Tryall  by  the  Court  and 
the  Court  Taking  the  Case  into  their  Consideration  &  having  ma- 
turely Considered  thereof  are  of  opinion  that  the  Said  Jonathan 
Moore  is  not  Guilty  of  absenting  himself  from  the  Publick  Worship 
of  God  for  more  than  one  month  last  past  and  therefore  order  that 
the  said  Jonathan  Moore  pay  the  Cost  of  his  prosecution  Taxed 
at  Twelve  Shillings  and  Six  pence  ;  from  which  Judgment  the  said 
Jonathan  Moore  appealed  to  the  next  Court  of  assize  and  Generall 
Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the  County 
of  Worcester  on  the  Wednesday  Imediately  preceeding  the  time 
by  law  appointed  for  the  holding  the  said  Court  of  assize  &  Gen- 
erall Goal  Delivery  at  Springfield  within  and  for  the  County  of 
Hampshire  In  September  next  and  Entered  into  Recognizance 
with  Two  Suretys  as  the  law  Dire6ls  for  prosecuting  his  appeal 
with  Effe6l  and  to  abide  &  perform  y^  order  or  Sentance  of  Court 
thereon 

Cost  paid  &  appeal  withdrawn 


Benjamin  Whitney  of  Lancaster,  In  the  County  of  Worcester 
Husbandman  being  bound  over  by  way  of  Recognizance  to  this 
Court  by  m''  Justice  Wilder  to  answer  for  his  being  Guilty  of  the 
Sin  of  fornication,  appeared  in  Court  &  Pleaded  Guilty  whereupon 
the  Court  ordered  that  he  pay  as  a  fine  The  Sum  of  Twenty  Shill- 
ings &  Cost  2/6  which  he  paid  Down  in  Court  and  his  Recogni- 
zance Cancelled 


A  Petition  of  William  King  and  Others  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Sutton  Shewing  that  they  are  of  the  perswasion  of  those  Called 


Fkhbi^ary 


38  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  'TifK^,' 

annabaptists  praying  they  may  obtain  the  favour  granted  them  by 
the  laws  of  the  province  made  in  y*^  first  &  Second  years  and  in 
the  third  year  of  his  present  majestys  Reigne.^  and  that  the  Court 
would  appoint  Some  meet  persons  to  bring  into  this  Court  a  list  of 
all  such  persons  within  Said  Town  of  Sutton  that  profess  them- 
selves to  be  of  the  Said  Denomination  and  usually  attend  Such 
meetings  according  to  y^  law.  Read  tV  being  Duly  Considered 
Ordered  that  Cap"  William  King  &  m""  Benjamin  marsh  be  Im- 
powered  to  take  and  bring  into  this  Court  at  the  Sessions  In  august 
next  a  list  of  all  Persons  within  the  Town  of  Sutton  that  are  of  the 
Denomination  Called  annabaptists  and  usually  attend  Such  meet- 
ing That  the  Court  may  advise  and  a(?t  thereupon  agreeable  to  law. 


A  Petition  of  Thomas  Green  and  Others  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Leicester  Shewing  that  they  are  of  the  perswasion  or  Denomina- 
tion of  those  Commonly  Called  annabaptists  praying  that  they  may 
obtain  the  favour  and  Priviledge  Granted  to  them  by  the  laws  of 
the  province  made  in  the  first  &  Second  years  and  in  the  third  year 
of  the  Reign  of  his  present  majestys  &6t  and  that  the  Court  would 
appoint  Some  meet  persons  to  bring  into  this  Court  a  list  of  all 
such  persons  within  the  Town  of  Leicester  that  profess  themselves 
to  be  of  Said  Denomination  and  usually  attend  such  meetings  ac- 
cording to  the  law 

Read  and  the  same  being  Duly  Considered  Ordered  that  m' 
Thomas  Green  &  m'  Daniell  Denney  be  Impowered  to  take  and 
bring  Into  this  Court  at  the  Session  in  august  next  a  list  of  all  per- 
sons within  the  Town  of  Leicester  that  are  of  the  Denomination 
Called  annal)aptists  and  usually  attend  Such  meetings  that  the 
Court  may  advise  and  a6t  lliereupon  agreeable  to  law 


Benjamin  Wheler  of  Lancaster  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman being  bound  over  to  this  C'ourt  by  m''  Justice  Wilder  to 
answer  to  his  presentment  by  the  Grandjurors  of  our  Sovereign 


'  See  Notes  at  the  end  of  the  Record  of  this  term  of  the  Court. 


1 73  I -2- j      IVorcesier  County,  Massachusetts.  39 

Lord  the  King  for  his  negledling  to  attend  the  Publick  worship  of 
God  for  more  than  one  month  last  past  which  is  against  y^  good 
and  wholesome  laws  of  this  province  and  against  the  peace  of  our 
Sovereign  the  King  his  Crown  &  Dignity  Came  into  Court  &  to  his 
presentment  Pleaded  not  Guilty  &  put  himself  upon  Tryall  by  the 
Court  The  Case  being  fully  Considered  The  Court  are  of  opinion 
that  the  Said  Benjamin  Wheler  is  not  Guilty  of  negle6ling  to  attend 
the  Publick  Worship  of  God  for  more  than  one  month  last  past  as 
Sett  forth  in  the  Said  presentment  and  therefore  order  that  the 
Said  Benjamin  Wheeler  be  Dismisst  from  his  bonds  cv  pay  the  Cost 
of  his  prosecution  Taxed  at  one  pound  Six  Shillings  &  Sixpence 
from  which  Judgment  the  Said  Benjamin  AVheler  appealed  to  the 
next  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  at 
Worcester  within  and  for  the  County  of  Worceste.r  on  the  Wednes- 
day Imediately  preceding  the  time  by  law  appointed  for  the  hold- 
ing the  said  Court  of  Assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  at  Spring- 
field within  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire  In  September  next 
and  entered  into  Recognizance  with  two  Suretys  as  the  law  dire6ts 
for  his  prosecuting  his  appeal  with  P]ffe6t  an(f  to  abide  &  perform 
the  order  or  Sentance  of  Court  thereon 

Cost  i)aid  appeal  withdrawn 


Mary  Moore  Housewife  of  lancaster  in  the  County  of  Worcester 
wife  of  Jonathan  Moore  Jun'  of  Said  Lancaster  being  bound  over 
to  this  Court  by  m'  Justice  Wilder  to  answer  to  her  presentment 
by  the  (irandjurors  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  for  Said  County 
for  her  neglecting  to  attend  the  Publick  worship  of  God  for  more 
than  one  month  last  past,  which  is  against  the  good  and  wholesome 
laws  of  this  province  and  against  the  Peace  of  our  Sovereign  lord 
the  King  his  Crown  and  Dignity,  Came  into  Court  &  to  her  pre- 
sentment pleaded  not  Guilty  and  put  herself  upon  Tryall  by  the 
Court,  The  Case  being  fully  heard  &  Duly  Considered  the  Court 
are  of  opinion  that  the  said  Mary  Moore  is  not  Guilty  of  negledting 
to  attend  the  Publick  worship  of  (}od  for  more  than  one  month 
last  past  as  sett  forth  in  the  j^resentment  and  therefore  order  that 


40  Court  of  General  Sessions.  T'tmIm,"'' 

the  Said  Moore  be  Dismisst  from  her  bonds  and  -pay  the  Cost  of 
her  prosecution  Taxed  at  one  pound  Eleven  Shillings  &  Three 
pence  from  which  Judgment  the  Said  Mary  Moore  appealed  to  the 
next  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  at 
Worcester  within  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  on  the  Wednes- 
day Imediately  preceeding  the  time  by  law  appointed  for  the  hold- 
ing the  said  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  at  Spring- 
field within  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire  In  September  next 
and  entered  into  Recognizance  with  two  Suretys  as  the  law  dire6ls 
for  her  prosecuteing  her  appeal  with  Effe6t  and  to  abide  &  per- 
form y*^  order  or  Sentance  of  Court  thereupon 

Cost  paid  appeal  withdrawn 


David  Parsons  of  Leicester  in  y*^  County  of  Worcester  Clerk  ^ 
Complainant  versus  the  Sele6lmen  of  Leicester  aforesaid  Defend''. 
&61  as  pr  the  writt  &  Petition  on  file  may  appear.  The  Selectmen 
desiring  the  Case  may  be  Continued  To  the  Session  in  may  next 
and  m''  Parsons  Consenting  thereto  The  Same  is  accordingly  Con- 
tinued under  view  that  in  the  mean  time  the  matter  may  be  ac- 
comodated 

this  Court  is  adjourned  to  the  2'^  Tuesday  in  march  next  to  sitt 
[in]  Worcester,  at  y^  house  of  Daniell  Haywood 

'  The  title  of  (TAv/' was  formerly  given  to  a  clergyman  or  any  educated 
person. 


Worcester  ss    Anno  Regni  Regis  Geoj^gij  Secundi 
Magnce  Brittanice  Francice  Hibernics  Quinto 

Att  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  &  within  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester the  Second  Tuesday  of  March  being  the 
14"'  day  of  Said  Month  Anno  Dom^  173 1-2  by 
adjournment  from  the  i^'  Tuesday  of  February 
last  past 


Benjamin  lownsend  of  Worcester  in  said  County  Husbandman 
being  bound  over  to  tliis  Court  by  m''  Justice  Jenison  to  answer  to 
such  matters  and  things  as  shall  be  objeaed  against  him  on  his 
majestys  behalf  and  Especially  for  the  abuse  he  offered  at  a  Court 
held  before  the  said  William  Jenison  Esq  the  22"*^  day  of  February 
last  past  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Starnes  in  Worcester  in  said 
County  Inholder  which  Court  was  held  by  virtue  of  a  speciall  war- 
rant, and  the  said  Townsend  to  be  of  the  good  behaviour  in  the 
mean  time  towards  his  majesty  and  all  his  Leige  people  &a  the 
said  Benjamin  Townsend  came  into  Court  and  to  the  matters  al- 
ledged  against  him  pleaded  not  Guilty  and  putt  himself  on  Tryal 
by  a  Jury  whereupon  the  Court  Order  that  the  Case  be  Continued 
to  the  next  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  to  be  holden 
at  Worcester  aforesaid  on  the  Second  ^Fuesday  of  May  next  and 
that  the  said  Benjamin  Townsend  give  bond  with  two  Suretys  for 
his  appearance  at  said  Court  and  abideing  Judgment  &a  and  In 
the  mean  time  to  be  of  the  good  behaviour  towards  his  majestye 


Febbuaey 


42  Court  of  Geiieral  Sessio7is.  \   teem,' 

and  all  his  Leige  people,  The  said  Benjamin  Townsend  Recog- 
nized as  principall  In  the  Sum  of  Thirty  pounds  &  Thomas  Hap- 
good  and  Jotham  Rice  as  Suretys  in  fifteen  pounds  Each  ;  for  the 
said  Benjamin  Townsends  appearance  &  abiding  the  Judgment  of 
said  Court  &  being  of  y^  good  behaviour  in  y^  mean  time  &6\ 
The  above  Recognizance  was  Discharged  may  1732 


Sarah  Read  of  Rutland  In  the  County  aforesaid  Housewife  & 
wife  of  Thomas  Read  of  said  Rutland  being  bound  over  by  way  of 
Recognizance  to  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  In 
February  last  past  by  m''  Justice  Wright  to  answer  for  the  Sin  of 
fornication  &61  and  being  not  able  to  Travell  to  said  Court  her 
bonds  were  Continued  to  this  time  She  now  appeared  in  Court 
and  Pleaded  Guilty  where  upon  the  Court  order  that  for  her  Crime 
she  pay  a  fine  of  three  pounds  or  be  whiped  on  the  Naked  back 
five  Stripes  &  pay  the  Cost  of  her  prosecution  and  stand  Com- 
mitted till  Sentence  be  Performed,  Cost  Taxed  at  one  pound  six 
shillings  &  six  pence.  She  paid  the  fine  &  Cost  in  Court  which 
was  Divid  to  the  Justices  present  in  part  of  what  is  due  to  them 
being  8/7  apeice 


The  Town  of  Worcester  being  presented  by  the  Grand  Jurors 
of  said  County  for  their  not  being  provided  with  Stocks  as  the  law 
Dire6ts  at  this  Court  in  February  last  past  appeared  before  this 
Court  by  their  Selectmen  and  pleaded  Guilty  to  the  presentment, 
and  makeing  it  appear  that  they  have  now  a  good  and  lawfiill  pair 
of  Stocks  and  praying  the  Courts  favour  Its  ordered  that  the  said 
Town  be  Discharged  from  paying  a  fine  for  said  Defect:  &  that 
they  pay  Cost  Taxed  at  one  pound  Eight  Shillings  &  Sixpence 

y^  Cost  is  paid 


The  Committee  appointed  by  this  Court  in  February  last  past 
for  the  building  a  Goal  &61  laid  before  them  an  ace*'"  of  their  pro- 
ceedings which  was  approved  on 


1 73 1 "2- )      Worcester  Cozmty,  Massachtisetts.  43 

The  Severall  accompts  following  were  laid  before  the  Court  and 
were  allowed  and  payment  ordered  to  be  made  to  Discharge  them 
out  of  the  County  Treasury  vizt 

an  accott  of  John  Chandler  Jun  Esq  amounting 
unto  Twenty  Three  pounds  Ten  Shillings 
i\:  nine  pence      .  23  lo    9 

an  accott  of  William  Jenison  Esq  of  one  pound 

fifteen  Shillings  &  six  pence  I   15     6 

an  accott  of  Henry  Lee  Esq  one  pound  ten  shill- 
ings &  three  pence  i  10    3 

an  accot  of  Richard  Wheeler  &  others  of  four 

pounds  five  shillings  4    5 

an  accott  of  Robert  Barber  of  one  pound  Ten 

shillings  &  nine  pence  i  10    9 


Amounting  in  the  w  hole  to  Thirty  two  pounds 

Twelve  Shillings  t^  3  pence  32  12 


And  the  Clerk  is  accordingly  ordered  To  Signifie  the  Same  to 
the  County  Treasurer. 

also  To  Phinehas  Ilayvvard  20/  for  Irons  for  the  Cage 
And  the  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 


NOTES. 


TuK  First  Iail.  (page  35)  The  first  Jail  proper,  which  was  not  completed 
until  1733.  was  on  the  present  Lincoln  Street,  a  short  distance  from  Lincoln 
Square.  The  house  of  Judge  Jennison,  where  the  pri.soners  were  kept  for  a 
time,  was  on  the  site  of  State  .Street,  about  half-way  up  the  hill.  Daniel 
Heywood  lived  where  the  ISay  State  House  now  is.  corner  of  Main  and  Ex- 
change Streets. 

Stocks,  Weights  and  Measures,  (page  35)  Each  town  was  to  be  pro- 
vided with  Stocks  and  a  full  set  of  weights  and  measures  under  the  penaUy 
of  fines  for  non-compliance. 

f5cH()()EMASTER.  (page  35)  The  penalty  for  negledling  or  refusing  to 
maintain  a  school  a  certain  number  of  months  in  the  year,  was  thirty  pounds 
for  everv  town  of  i  =;o  families,  forty  pounds  for  200  families,  and  so /re  ;-///</. 


44  Court  of  General  Sessions, 

Punishment  for  Fornication,  (page  36)  Fornication  was  punishable 
by  a  fine  not  to  exceed  five  pounds  or  whipping  on  the  naked  body  not  to 
exceed  "ten  stripes  apiece."  The  offence  of  adultery  appears  to  have  been 
ignored  by  this  Court,  married  and  single  alike  being  tried  for  fornication. 

Neglect  to  Atfend  Public  VVokshik  (page  36)  "And  be  it  .  .  enacled. 
That  if  any  Person  being  able  of  Body  and  not  otherwise  necessarily  pre- 
vented, shall  for  the  space  of  one  Month  together  absent  themselves  from 
the  publick  Worship  of  God  on  the  Lord's-Day,  they  shall  forfeit  and  pay 
the  Sum  of  ten  Shillings. 

"Provided  always,  That  if  upon  Trial  it  shall  appear  that  any  Person  so 
charged,  had  good  and  sufficient  Excuse  for  their  Absence,  such  Person 
shall  be  dismissed  without  Costs." 

It  will  be  observed  in  the  foregoing  cases  that  the  persons  tried,  while 
declared  innocent,  were  ordered  to  pay  costs,  notwithstanding  the  law  ex- 
pressly provided  for  exemption  in  such  cases.  Numerous  other  instances 
of  this  method  of  dispensing  justice  will  be  found  in  the  records  of  this  Court. 
In  the  matter  of  leaving  his  cash  behind,  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  culprit 
made  little  difference.  This  sagacity  is  ofttimes  emulated  in  our  modern 
courts. 

Anabaptists,  (page  38)  Anabaptists  and  Quakers  were  exempted  from 
paying  the  general  ministerial  tax.  The  law  required  that  a  list  of  the  names 
of  such  persons  in  each  town  should  be  presented  to  the  Court. 


Worcester  ss  Anno  Regiti  Regis  Geo^^gij  Secu7idi 
nunc  Magnice  Briitanics  FrajicicB  Et  Hiberni^ 
Quinto^^ 

Att  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  y*"  peace  Holden 
at  Worcester  for  and  within  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester the  Second  Tuesday  of  May  being  the 
Ninth  day  of  Said  Month  Annoq  Dominij  1732 


John  Chandler  ^  Esqrs 

,,,  justices  of 

Joseph  Wilder         -"the  Peace 

William  Ward  & 

...  ,  I    Quorum 

William  Jenison  >    ^ 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Samuell  Wright 
Josiah  Willard 
Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley 
Henry  Lee 


Daniel  Tafi-  |  Esqrs 

^  T     r  r  Tnstires     Nahum  Ward 

John  Chandler  Jun'  )  justices 


Esqr' 
['Justices 


Names  of  y''  Grand  Jurors  who  served  this  year 


M'  Thomas  Rice  Foreman 

M'  Eben""  Wilder 

M""  James  Keith 

M"^  Isaac  Learned 

M""  Daniell  Denney 

M-"  Daniell  How 

M'  Robert  Taft 


W  Gershom  Rice 
M'  Josiph  Baron 
M"'  Joseph  Banister 
M'  Parcivall  Hall 
M"^  John  Woods 
M""  Joseph  Stevens 
M'  ?"dward  Hartwell 


Served  2  days 


46  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  tkbm, 

The  names  of  the  Grand  Jurers  who  were  Returned  to  Serve 
the  present  year     vizt. 

Oxford  Cap'  Ebenezer  Learned     Worcester  M'  James  Taylor 

foreman 

Lancaster  M'  John  Bennitt  Mendon  M'  Ebenezer  Daniells 

Woodstock  M""  Ephraim  Child       Brookfield  M''  Samuell  Barnes 

Westboroiigh  M''  Isaac  Tomlin      Sutton  M""  Nathanael  Dyke 

Leicester  M""  Thomas  Richardson  Southborough  M""  Samuel  Ward 

Rutland  M''  Edward  Rice  Shrewsbury  M''  John  Crosby 

Uxbridge  M""  Woodland  Thompson 

Lunenburg  M'  Ephraim  Peirce 

who  were  Sworn  &  the  Charge  being  given  them  were  Dismist  Till 
The  next  Term.     Each  attended  one  day  : 

Constables  that  attended  were  Robert  Peibles  2   days   James 
Calwell  4  days 


The  Court  proceeded  To  sort  y^  Votes  for  y^  Choice  of  a  County 
Treasurer,  And  M""  Jonathan  Houghton  of  Lancaster  was  Chose 
by  a  major  Vote  &  was  Sworn  accordingly 


The  acco'  of  y^  Charge  of  y*^  Grandjurors  That  Served  at  y^ 
Court  of  Assize  &  Generall  Goal  Delivery  in  September  last 
amounting  unto  thirteen  pounds  thirteen  Shillings  was  Examined 
&  allowed  and  payment  ordered  thereupon  accordingly  for   13   13 

also  y^  ace'  of  y*^  Grandjurors  that  Served  at  y^  Court  from  au- 
gust last  amounting  unto  forty  nine  pounds  Seventeen  Shillings 
was  accordingly  allow'd  &  paym'  ordered  for  49   19 


The  order  given  accordingly  Totall  63   1 2 


The  Towns  following  being  presented  by  y*^  Grandjurors  for 
Sundry  Defeats  appeared  by  their  Respective  Selecftmen,  and  were 
Excused  paying  C'osts  viz' 


1 732. 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  47 

Southborough  three  presentments — Uxbridge  two  presentments 
—  Brookfield  one  presentment —  Lunenburg  one  presentment — 
Rutland  one  presentment — and  Cost  were  paid  accordingly 


The  Committee  appointed  for  building  y*^  Goal  &61  laid  before 
y*=  Court  an  acco'  of  their  proceedings  which  were  approved  and 
thereupon  the  Court  ordered  that  the  County  Treasurer  pay  to  y^ 
Committee  or  their  order  the  Sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  by  the 
last  day  of  May  next  &  the  further  Sum  of  Seventy  pounds  by  the 
last  day  of  July  next  To  Enable  them  To  pay  the  Two  first  pay- 
ments they  are  obliged  To  towards  building  the  Said  Goal  &61 


Upon  Reading  the  Petition  of  the  Reverend  M'  David  Parsons 
of  Leicester  in  behalf  of  himself  &  family  Seting  forth  that  the  Pe- 
titioner accepted  the  Call  of  the  Church  and  Town  of  Leicester, 
to  the  Gospell  ministry  among  them  Sometime  in  the  year  1721 
with  an  Incouragement  from  them  of  an  Honourable  Support  of 
Seventy  five  pounds  &(!:t  from  year  to  year  in  which  Service  the 
Petitioner  has  Continued  ever  since  according  To  his  poor  Ca- 
pacity heartily  Endeavoured  to  be  faithfull.  But  the  Town  has 
been  formerly  very  negligent  in  Supporting  of  him  and  his  family 
which  has  necesitated  him  to  many  Long  and  Grevious  processes  at 
y*^  Session  in  Middlesex  for  the  Same  where  he  Recovered  Judgment 
against  them  at  least  for  a  part  till  y"^  year  i  730,  which  began  with 
march  Since  which  they  have  been  wholly  Deficient  in  Every  part 
which  has  put  him  to  Distressing  Difficultys  to  Support  himself  & 
Carry  on  his  Work  &ct  praying  the  Court  would  take  his  Case  into 
their  Serious  Consideration  and  in  their  Wisdom  and  Justice  accord- 
ing to  the  Direction  of  the  good  laws  of  this  province  take  Effe61;ual 
Care  for  the  Support  of  the  Petitioner  &  his  family  by  causing  the 
Town  of  Leicester  Imediately  To  pay  in  a  Sutable  Consideration 
for  the  Petitioners  Service  in  the  Ciospell  ministry  amongst  them 
for  y-^"  year  i  730  &  otherwise  to  find  Such  further  or  other  Reliefe 
in  the  premises  as  the  Court  Shall  think  fitt  to  Inable  the  Petitioner 


48  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  tekm, 

in  his  duty  for  y^  future  &(ft  as  by  the  Petition  on  file.  The  Se- 
lectmen of  Leicester  being  Summoned  by  a  warrant  from  this  Court 
to  make  answer  to  this  Petition  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions 
of  the  peace  held  at  this  place  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  February 
last  past,  appearing  Desired  this  Case  might  be  Continued  To  this 
time  under  a  view  that  the  matter  might  be  accomodated  to  which 
m""  Parsons  Consented  and  now  the  S*^  Selectmen  appeared  vizt 
Richard  Southgate  Daniell  Denney  Thomas  Newhall  Thomas 
Richardson  &  Samuel  Green  and  acknowledged  the  Town  of 
Leicesters  Contra6l  with  the  Rev''  m''  Parsons  and  that  his  yearly 
Sallary  was  Seventy  five  pounds  a  year  and  that  the  Town  had  been 
negligent  in  not  Supporting  Said  m'  Parsons.  The  Court  having 
therefore  Duly  Considered  the  Case  are  of  opinion  that  they  are 
Guilty  and  order  that  the  said  mes"  Richard  Southgate  Daniel 
Denney  Thomas  Newhall  Thomas  Richardson  and  Samuel  Green 
the  said  Sele6lmen  be  fined  the  Sum  of  four  pounds  each  accord- 
ing to  The  direction  of  the  law  in  that  Case  made  and  provided 
for  that  it  appears  to  be  a  Second  negleCt  of  the  maintainance  of 
their  minister,  and  to  pay  Costs  of  prosecution  Taxed  at  Three 
pounds  nine  shillings  &  Six  pence,  and  Samuel  Wright  Esq  Mess" 
Benjamin  Flagg  Jun.  of  Worcester  &  m''  Jonas  Houghton  of  Lan- 
caster be  assessors,  to  assess  and  apportion  the  Sum  of  Seventy 
five  pounds  upon  the  Inhabitants  of  Said  Town  of  Leicester  in 
Such  manner  as  is  Dire6led  for  raising  other  Publick  Charges  and 
to  present  Such  assessment  unto  Two  Justices  of  the  peace  Quorum 
Unus  that  so  a  Warrant  may  be  affixed  thereto  for  the  leveying 
and  Colle6ling  the  Same  according  to  the  laws  of  this  province 
and  upon  Such  Collection  to  pay  the  Same  to  Henry  Lee  Esq  of 
Worcester  who  is  appointed  by  this  Court  To  Receive  and  pay  the 
Same  to  the  Rev''  m""  David  Parsons  for  his  Sallary  for  the  year 
1  730,  begining  with  march 

The  Selectmen  of  Leicester  appealed  from  the  Judgment  of  this 
Court  to  the  next  Court  of  assize  and  General  Goal  Delivery  to  be 
holden  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the  C'ounty  of  Worcester,  on 
the  Wednesday  Imediately  preceeding  The  time  by  law  appointed 
for  holding  Said  Court  of  assize  &  Generall  Goal  Delivery  at 
SpringfieKi  in  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire  in  September  next 


1732.J         Worcester  Cojcniy,  Massachusctfs.  49 

and  Entered  into  Recognizance  pursuant  to  law  to  prosecute  their 
appeal  as  aforesaid  with  Effe6l. 

Richard  Southgate  of  Leicester  In  the  County  of  Suffolk  Hus- 
bandman as  principal  In  the  Sum  of  Twenty  pounds  &  Daniell 
Denney  and  Thomas  Newhall  as  Suretys  in  Ten  pounds  Each  ac- 
knowledged themselves  to  be  Indebted  to  m'  David  Parsons  of 
Leicester  Clark  to  be  Leveyed  on  their  Severall  goods  or  Chattells 
Lands  or  Tenaments  and  in  want  thereof  on  their  bodys  for  the  use 
of  the  said  David  Parsons  Conditioned  that  the  said  Seledmen  of 
the  Town  of  Leicester  shall  prosecute  their  appeal  as  aforesaid 

with  Effea 

Attes'     John  Chandler  J'  Cler  pea 

The  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 


Worcester  ss     Anno  R  R    Georgij  Sccundi  nunc 
MagniiB  Brittanics  FrancicE  Et  HibemiicE  Sexto 

At  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  held 
at  Worcester  for  and  within  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester on  the  Second  Tuesday  of  Aug^^  Being 
the  Eighth  day  of  Said  Month,  Anno  Dom; 
1732 

JUSTICES  PRESENT  WERE 
John  Chandler  Esq^  Justices  of        Samuell  Wright  Esq 

\  the  Peace 

&  Quorum 


Joseph  Wilder  Esq 
William  Ward  Esq 
William  Jenison  Esq 

Daniel  Taft  Esq  _ 
John  Chandler  J  Esq 


JosiAH  Willard  Esq 
Joseph  Dwight  Esq 
Samuel  Dudley  Esq 
Henry  Lee  Esq 
Nahum  Ward  Esq 


Names  of  the 

Capt  Ebenezer  Learned 
M""  James  Taylor 
M""  James  Holden 
M'  John  Bennitt 
M""  Jonas  Houghton 
M-"  Nath"  Dyke 
M'"  Ephraim  Childs 
M'  Isaac  Tomlin 


Grandjurors  that  attended 

foreman     M""  Thomas  Richardson 
M'  Samuel  Ward 
M'  John  Crosby 
IVr  Woodland  Thompson 
M'  Ephraim  Peirce 
Served  2  days  each  and  M'  John 
Eddy  Constable   of   Oxford   at- 
tended them 


i732.(         Worcester  Comity,  Massachusetts.  51 

A  Petition  or  Complaint  of  Daniel  Taft  of  Mendon  In  y^  County 
of  Worcester  Esq — Shewing  that  there  being  no  Publick  highway 
or  Countey  Road^Leading  from  Worcester  To  Mendon  whereby 
persons  who  have  (Since  y«  Ere6ling  a  County)  dayly  business  To 
Transacl  in  the  Shire  Town  &ct  are  greatly  damaged  &6t  humbly 
moving  to  the  Court  that  they  would  Conformable  to  Law  order  a 
Committee  to  view  the  lands  in  and  between  Said  Towns  &61  and 
make  Report  to  this  Court  at  their  next  Session,  or  at  this  present 
Session  in  Case  that  it  Should  be  adjourned  that  the  Court  may 
a(5l  thereon  as  by  the  Petition  on  file  will  appear  Read  and  the 
Court  appoint  W"  Jenison  Daniell  Taft  &  Sam"  Dudley  Esqrs  a 
Committee  To  view  The  lands  in  &  between  y^  Towns  of  Worces- 
ter &  Mendon  and  make  Report  as  Soon  as  may  be  what  may  bee 
what  may  be  proper  for  the  Court  To  a61  concerning  y'=  premises 


A  List  of  the  Presentments  made  by  the  Grand  Jurors  to  this 
Court  vizt  The  (irandjurers  for  y^  body  of  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester upon  their  Oaths  do  present  Margaret  Newton  of  South- 
borough  in  the  Said  County  Spinstress  for  her  being  Guilty  of  For- 
nication and  do  Likewise  present  y'^  I'own  of  Shrewsbury  for  their 
not  being  provided  with  a  writing  &  Reading  Schoolmaster  as  y^ 
law  Reciuires  which  things  are  against  the  good  and  wholesome 
laws  of  this  province  and  y^  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
his  Crown  &  Dignity  Joseph  Dwight  attor  pro.  Rego  : 

Billa  vera  Ebenezer  Learned  foreman 


A  memoriall  of  Eleazur  Fletcher  of  Sutton  Showing  that  the 
m[em]orialist  lives  Six  miles  distance  from  the  meeting  house  in 
Sutton  tS:  that  about  Two  miles  thereof  there  is  no  Road  or  way 
laid  out  and  that  he  with  Others  his  neighbours  are  necessatated 
to  Trespass  on  other  mens  lands  to  go  to  meeting  &  having  adrest 
y^  Selea  men  of  Sutton  for  Reliefe  are  Refused  any,  praying  this 
Court  would  be  pleased  to  Redress  the  great  Difficulty  he  with 
others  at  present  T^abour  under  as  by  the   memorial   on   file  will 


5  2  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  'YmmT 

appear  the  Court  Order  that  the  Sele6lmen  of  Sutton  be  Cited  to 
appear  before  this  Court  on  Wednesday  y^  20""  of  Sep''  next  at  two 
acloclc  afternoon  To  make  answer  to  y""  above  memoriall  or  Com- 
plaint &  Shew  Cause  if  any  they  have  why  the  prayer  of  [the  pe- 
titioners] Should  not  be  granted 


David  Parsons  of  Leicester  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Clr  ver- 
sus The  Sele6l  men  of  Leicester  &61  as  by  the  Sumons  will  appear 

The  partys  appeared  in  Court  &  desired  the  Case  might  be  Con- 
tinued till  The  next  Terra  and  it  accordingly  was. 


Samuel  Gibs  and  Lydiah  his  wife  and  Hezekiah  Moore  were 
bound  over  by  way  of  Recognizance  by  Joseph  Wilder  Esq  To 
appear  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace  held  in  may 
last,  to  answer  Severally  for  the  Sin  of  fornication  their  Recogni- 
zances were  Continued  to  this  Court,  and  the  persons  now  all  ap- 
peared &  Pleaded  Guilty  The  Court  thereupon  order  that  they 
pay  each  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  &  Cost  of  Suit,  or  be  whiped  on 
the  naked  body  five  Stripes  Each  which  was  done  in  Court  &  they 
were  discharged 


Jonathan  Newton  &  Tabitha  his  wife  were  bound  over  by  way 
of  Recognizance  by  W'"  Ward  Esq  to  appear  at  this  Court  to  an- 
swer for  the  Sin  of  fornication  Committed  by  them  before  mariage 
the  partys  appeared  &  pleaded  Guilty  The  Court  thereupon  or- 
der that  they  each  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  &  Cost  of  Court  or 
be  whipt  on  y^  naked  body  five  Stripes  each  &  stand  Committed  till 
Sentance  be  performed         Judgment  Satisfied  in  Court 


The  Towns  of  Brookfield  and  Lunenburg  be[ing]  presented  by 
the  Grandjurors  for  not  being  dulv  provided   with   a   Standard   of 


i732.[         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  53 

weights  and  measures  as  the  law  Requires  appeared  by  their  Se- 
lectmen and  being  now  provided  therewith  were  Excused  paying 
Costs 


Samuell  Leightle  &  Mary  Warden  being  Bound  over  to  this 
Court  by  way  of  Recognizance  by  Joseph  Dwight  Esq  to  appear 
at  this  Court  To  answer  for  their  presuming  to  Lye  together  in  one 
and  the  same  bed  being  both  undress'd  appeared  in  Court  & 
pleaded  Ckiilty  The  Court  thereupon  order  that  they  pay  as  a 
fine  for  their  offence  Twenty  Shillings  each  &  Costs  which  was 
done  in  Court 


The  Court  now  order  that  a  Sutable  and  Convenient  Court  house 
be  built  on  the  land  Given  by  W'"  Jenison  Esqr  for  that  Purpose, 
and  W"  Jenison  John  Chandler  Jun  &  Henry  Lee  Esqrs  or  any 
Two  of  them  are  appointed  a  Committee  In  the  Name  of  this  Court 
to  Inform  the  Gent  at  Boston  or  Elsewhere  who  have  an  Interest  in 
land  (in  y*"  County  and  Especially)  in  y^  Town  of  Worcester  and 
by  that  Towns  being  made  the  Shire  Town  are  greatly  advanced 
of  the  Courts  Intention  &  to  Know  what  any  of  them  will  be 
pleased  to  give  towards  building  &  adorning  Said  house  and  Said 
Committee  are  desired  to  wait  upon  said  Gents  and  with  them  to 
advise  what  manner  of  a  House  to  build,  and  to  make  Report  to 
this  Court  thereof  and  of  what  it  may  Cost  as  soon  as  may  bee  that 
So  the  Court  may  the  better  Know  what  measures  to  take  Resped- 
ing  the  affair 

[A  copy  of  this  record  was  given  to  Henry  Lee  indorsed  as  follows: 

To  Henry  Lee  Esq 

Sr  We  desire  you  to  act  in  our  Names 
Concerning  the  within  mentioned  premises  as  fully  as  if  either  or  both  of  us 
were  in  ISnston 

yr  friends  &  Servts 

WlI.I.IAM  Jknison 
John  Chandi.kk  jr  ] 


S    AIniiiHT 

1  'I'l.'UU 


^4  LGurt  oj  CTcncral  <>icssi07is.  <  tkkm, 

The  Court  Order  that  the  Committee  appointed  for  builchng  the 
Prison  \'6t  make  Such  additions  thereto  as  they  may  judge  most 
proper  and  I'^specially  to  luilarge  the  yard 


An  acco"  of  Daniel!  C.ookin  Kscir  Sheriff  of  the  County  presented 
for  payment  Read  cS:  ordered  that  the  Hon"  Joseph  Wilder  Es(i'' 
tS;  Henry  Lee  F^sqr  be  a  Committee  to  auditt  ^:  Kxamin  the  Same 
and  Report  what  may  be  proper  for  the  Court  to  do  thereon  at 
the  adjournment  in  September  next 


In  as  nuuh  as  the  Prison  or  Coal  is  in  a  great  measure  finished 
It  is  ordered  by  the  Court  that  the  Cage  in  the  Chamber  of  y-^ 
house  of  m'' Dan"  Heyvvood  be  forthwith  Taken  down,  but  that 
the  house  remain  a  Coal  (Still  for  Such  persons  as  give  bond  for 
the  Liberty  of  the  Yard  &6t)  Till  the  further  order  of  this  Court 
together  with  the  new  Coal,  and  as  occasion  may  be  the  Sheriff  is 
direded  and  Impowered  to  Remove  siu  h  prisoners  as  are  or  may 
be  under  his  Care  as  Coal  Keeper  To  and  from  either  Coal  for 
their  more  Safe  Keeping 


A  Petition  of  the  Selei'l  men  of  Brookfield  shewing  that  one 
Hinds  an  ancient  woman  antl  an  Inhabitant  of  Said  Town  having 
no  means  to  Sujjport  her  self  has  of  late  become  a  Town  Charge, 
but  that  they  a])prehend  her  children  or  some  of  them  ought  by 
law  to  be  Charged  with  her  maintanance  praying  the  Court  would 
take  y"  premises  into  Consideration  so  that  what  to  Justice  doth 
appertain  may  be  done  as  by  the  Petition  on  file  i\:<^l— Read  vS; 
being  duly  Considered  ordered  that  the  Children  of  y'=  said 
Hinds  be  Cited  to  appear  before  the  Court  of  (ienerall  Sessions  of 
y"  peace  to  be  held  at  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Novem- 
ber next  To  shew  Cause  if  any  they  have  why  they  should  not  be 
assessed  according  to  law  for  the  maintainance  of  their  said 
mother 


1 732. 1         Worcester  Coiuity,  Massachusetts.  55 

William  King  i!v  Heiij"  Marsh  Kcturncil  a  list  of  y'^  Ana  Baptists 
in  Sutton  according  to  the  Courts  order  of  Feb"'  last  past — and 
under  oaths  thereto 

Thomas  Green  and  Daniell  Denney  Returned  a  List  of  the  ana 
baptists  in  Leicester  according  to  y*^  Courts  order  of  Feb  :  last  past 
&  made  oaths  thereto 

Then  the  Court  adjourned  to  Wednesday  y"^  20  of  Sep''  next  to 
this  place  2  "Clock  P  :  m — 


Worcester  ss  An7io  Regni  Regis  Georgij  Secuiidi 
nunc  MagnicB  Brnttanice  Fr-ancice  et  Hiber?ii(s 
Sexto  O 

At  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held 
(by  adjournment  from  y**  Second  Tuesday  of 
Aug^''  last  past)  at  Worcester  for  and  within  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  Sept.  20.  1732 


William  Jeuison  Daniell  Taft  &  Samuel  Dudley  Esq""^  a  Com- 
mittee appointed  by  this  Court  to  view  the  lands  in  and  between 
the  Towns  of  Mendon  &  Worcester  in  answer  to  a  Petition  of  Dan' 
Taaft  Esq  in  order  for  a  Publick  highway  or  Countey  Roads  being 
laid  out  &61  made  Report  as  on  file  and  accepted  ;  The  said  Com- 
mittee laid  before  the  Court  an  acco'  of  their  Charge  amounting 
unto  the  Sum  of  Seven  pounds  one  Shilling  &  Ten  pence  which 
was  also  approved  of  by  the  Court, — And 

This  Court  order  the  Clerk  in  their  name  to  make  out  a 
warrant  Direded  To  the  Sheriff  or  his  Deputy  To  Sumons  a 
Jury  of  Good  and  lawfull  men  Quallyfyed  according  to  law  to  meet 
at  the  Dwelling  House  of  M'  William  Rawson  in  Mendon  in  said 
County  on  monday  the  Second  day  of  06lober  next  who  after  they 
have  had  an  oath  duly  administered  To  them  by  a  Justice  of  the 
peace  lay  out  the  way  above  Refered  to  according  to  the  best  of 
their  Skill  and  Judgment  pursuant  to  law  having  a  due  Regard  to 
the  Report  of  the  Com'"'  the  Said  Sheriff  or  his  Deputy  To  make 
due  Return  of  their  doings  to  this  Court  at  their  next  Court  of 
Gen"  Sessions  in  November  next  as  well  under  his  own  as  the 
hands  of  the  furors  by  whose  oaths  the  Same  is  laid  out. 


Worcester  ss  Afino  Regni  Regis  Georgii  Secundi 
nu7ic  MagncE  Brittahiice  Francia  et  Hihernice 
Sexto  O 

At  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y*^  peace  held 
at  Worcester  in  &  for  the  County  of  Worcester 
the  first  Tuesday  of  November  being  the  7"^ 
day  of  Said  month  annoq  Dom.  1732 


PRESENT 


John  Chandler  Esq  Joseph  Wilder  Esq  VV"  Ward  Esq  W"  Jen- 
ison  Esq  Jus' :  pac  :  &  Quo. 

John  Chandler  J'  Joseph  Dwight  Samuel  Dudley  Henry  Lee  & 
Nahum  Ward  Esq'  Jus  :  pac 

The  whole  Grandjury  attended  one  day  «&  W"  Calwell  attended 
them 


The  presentments  of  y«  Towns  of  Sutton  were  read  and  Said 
Towns  were  excused  paying  Cost 


David  Parsons  of  Leicester  In  y"^  County  of  Worcester  Cler  pla' 
versus  the  Seledmen  of  y=  Town  of  Leicester  Def  &61  as  ^  y^ 
Sumons  will  ai:)pear  ;  the  partys  apeared  in  Court  and  y^  a6lion  at 
y^  desire  of  y«  said  Seleftmen  M'  Parsons  Consenting  was  Con- 
tinued To  v*^  next  Term  in  Febrv 


8 


58  Cow^t  of  Geiieral  Sessio7is.  \^T^ilt,^'' 

John  Sibly  of  Sutton  &  his  wife  John  Stebings  of  Leicester  &  his 
wife  abner  Newton  Southboro'  and  his  wife  being  Severally  bound 
over  to  this  Court  to  answer  for  y^  Sin  of  fornication  Severally 
pleaded  Guilty  &  were  fined  thirty  Shillings  each  and  payd  Costs 
iS:  were  dismist 


]Vr  Sheriff  Gookin  withdrew  his  former  acco"  and  at  this  Court 
Exhibitted  a  new  acco"  was  comitted  to  Joseph  Wilder  &  Henry 
Lee  Esq'  to  auditt  Examin  &  Report  on  y^  Same  to  y^  Court  in 
Febry  next 


The  Court  desire  [and]  order  that  the  Sheriff  at  y^  Charge  of 
y'^  County  provide  Two  Course  Straw  beds  &  Two  Straw  bolsters 
&  four  blanketts  for  y^  use  of  such  prisoners  as  are  now  or  may 
hereafter  be  in  his  majestys  Goal  in  this  County  and  lay  his  acco' 
before  y«=  Court  for  payment 


The  Court  order  that  for  y*-*  present  and  untill  the  further  order 
of  this  Court  that  the  prison  be  y^  House  of  Correction  and  y*  y^ 
Goal  Keeper  be  the  master  of  said  House  of  Correction  attending 
to  y*^  Directions  of  y^  Law  in  Such  Case  made  and  provided 


The  Court  order  that  William  Jenison  John  Chandler  Henry 
Lee  Esqs  &  m''  Benjamin  fflag  Jun""  be  a  Comittee  for  Seeing  y^ 
Court  house  built  &  finished  which  the  Court  have  agreed  To 
build,  &  the  said  house  not  to  Exceed  Thirty  six  feet  Long  Twenty 
six  feet  wide  &  thirteen  feet  post,  &  to  be  done  after  their  best 
Judgment  &  discretion  either  by  hiring  men  or  leting  the  Same 
out  by  the  Great  &  Report  what  they  Doe  to  y"^  Court  in  February 
next 


I732.J         Wo7'cester  County,  Massachusetts.  59 

The  Court  order  that  there  be  a  County  Tax  or  assessment 
amounting  to  y^  Sum  of  Three  hundred  &  Eleven  pounds  one 
ShiUing  ^i  fourpence  Raised  on  the  Severall  Towns  within  the 
County  according  to  the  Direftions  of  the  law  for  defraying  the 
usuall  necessary  Charges  of  y^  County  &  for  building  a  Court  house 
and  that  the  Clerk  of  the  Court  forthwith  Send  out  warrants  to  the 
Selectmen  or  assessors  of  the  Respe6live  Towns  for  assessing  y*^ 
Severall  Towns  proportion  thereof  as  y^  law  dire6ts  &  for  paying 
in  y^  Same  to  m''  Jonathan  Houghton  County  Treasurer  his  Suc- 
cessor or  his  order  at  or  before  y*^  last  day  of  may   next   Insuing 

The  Severall  Towns  Proportion  are  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester      Twenty  Two  pounds  fifteen  Shillings  &  4d 
Lancaster     Sixty  Two  pounds  Sixteen  Shillings  &  8d 
Melidon        Thirty  Six  pounds 
Woodstock      Thirty  Two  pounds 

Brooktield     'Twenty  Seven  pounds  one  Shilling  &  4d 
Southhoro'     Seventeen  pounds  Six  Shillings 
Leicester     thirteen  pounds  nineteen  Shillings  &  4d 
Rutland       Seven  pounds  Sixteen  Shillings 
Westhoro'     Kighteen  pcninds  Two  Shillings 
Shrewsbury     fourteen  pounds  fourteen  Shillings 
Oxford  ftiurteen  pounds  four  Shillings 

Sutton  Twenty  four  pounds  Ten  Shillings 

I'xbridge     Twelve  pounds  &  8d 
Lunenlnirg     Seven  pounds  Sixteen  Shillings 


22 

15 

4 

62 

16 

8 

36 

32 

27 

I 

4 

17 

6 

13 

19 

4 

7 

16 

18 

2 

14 

14 

14 

4 

24 

10 

12 

0 

8 

7 

16 

Sum  'Total  £,T)\\ 


Warrants  were  accordingly  Issued  out  Nov""  14  :   1732 

Att         John  Chandler  y  Cler  pac 


The  Town  of  Lunenburg  having  Chosen  M"'  Isaac  Farnsworth 
Sealer  for  weights  &  measures  he  was  according[ly]  SwOrn  in 
Court  att     John  Chandler  J""  Cle  par 


This  Witnessetli  That  I  James  Buttler  of  Lancaster  in  y''  County 
of  Worcester  husbandman  do  herebv  fullv  freelv  and  absolutely 


6o  Court  of  General  Sessions. 

Release  acquit  &  Discharge  Jolin  Hind  Hopestill  Hinds  and  Enoch 
Hinds  all  of  Brookfield  &  Jacob  Hinds  of  Shrewsbury  all  in  Said 
County  of  Worcester  and  province  of  y«  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England  from  all  &  any  manner  of  Payments  Charge  or  Ex- 
pence  for  or  towards  the  maintainance  Subsistance  or  Support  of 
Mary  Hinds  y^  naturall  mother  of  y*^  aforesaid  Hinds  viz'  John 
Hopestill  Jacob  &  Enoch  Hinds  as  afors*^  and  do  hereby  under- 
take and  engage  to  maintain  and  Support  y«  Said  Mary  Hinds 
dure[ing]  her  naturall  life  in  Comfortable  and  Decent  manner  and 
for  me  my  heirs  Ex"  &  adm"  do  promise  and  engage  to  free  Dis- 
charge the  Said  John  Hopestill  Jacob  &  Enoch  Hinds  aforesaid 
from  any  manner  of  Charge  or  expence  for  the  Support  or  main- 
tainance of  the  said  Mary  Hinds  during  her  natural  life  as  afore- 
said in  Witness  whereof  I  do  hereunto  Sett  my  hand  y^  8"^  day 
offebry  1732/33  his 

witness  James  X  Butder 

Richard  Wilds  mark 

Howard  Southgate 

Worcester  ss  Worcester  Feb'  8"':  1732/3  James  Butler 
within  named  personally  appearing  freely  acknowledged  this  In- 
stm'  to  be  his  a6l  &  Deed     Before  me     John  Chandler  J*"  Jus  pac 

Entered  from  y^  originall  Rec'*  Feb''  8"^  1732/3 

^     John  Chandler  J'  Cla  pac 


Worcester  ss      Aiino  R"  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
Mas:nc?  Britanics  Francic?  et  Hibernice  Sexto 


•<^ 


At  His  Majestys  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  begun  and  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for 
the  County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  February  being  the  Sixth  day  of  Said  month 
Anno  Dom  :   1732-3 

j usiiCES  Present 

John  Chandler  Esq  Joseph  Wilder  Esq  W"  Ward  Esq  W"  Jen- 
ison  Esq  Jus  of  y^  Pac  &  Qurum 

John  Chandler  J''  Samuel  Wright  Joseph  Dwight  Sam'  Dudley 
Henry  Lee  &  Nahum  Ward  Esq"  Justices  of  y^  Peace. 

Names  of  y'^  Grandjury  that  attended  this  Court 

Capt  Ebenezer  Learned  foreman      M''  James  Holden 
M'  John  Bennett  M''  Ephraim  Child 

M''  Isaac  Tomlin    .  M''  Thomas  Richardson 

M''  Edward  Rice  Capt  Jonas  Houghton 

M'  James  Taylor  M'  Sam'  Barns 

M''  Eleazur  Daniells    '  M''  Sam'  Ward 

M''  Nathan"  Dyke  each  attended  two  days  and  W"' 

M""  Woodland  Thompson  Colwell  Constable   attended  on 

them 


Ralph  Hill  of  Mendon  &  Hannah  his  wife  being  heretofore 
presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  being  Guilty  of  y=  Crime  of 


62  Court  of  General  Sessions.  J*t''ebm';'"' 

fornication  before  marriage  &  being  Recognized  To  appear  at  this 
Court  now  appeared  &  pleaded  Guilty,  were  find  Each  fifty  Shill- 
ings To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  &  Cost  w'''*  they  paid  &  were 
dismiss'd 


Margarett  Newton  of  Southboro'  appeared  before  y'^  Court  & 
pleaded  Guilty  to  her  presentment  for  the  Crime  of  fornication, 
was  fin'd  to  our  Lord  y^  King  in  y^  Sum  of  thirty  Shillings  &  Cost, 
She  paid  y'^  fine  and  was  Dismiss'd,  y^  Cost  given  to  her 


John  Ellis  of  Uxbridge  appeared  before  y^  Court  and  Com- 
plained of  himself  for  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  fornication  with 
Han*  his  wife  before  marriage,  was  find  to  our  Lord  y^  King  &6t 
ye  Sum  of  thirty  Shillings  &  to  pay  Costs  which  he  paid  and  was 
Dismiss'd 


Personally  appeared  before  y^  Court  John  Ellis  of  Uxbridge  in  S** 
County  Husbandman  and  John  Harwood  of  Said  Uxbridge  Re- 
tailer &  acknowledged  themselves  bound  to  our  Sovereign  Lord 
the  King,  &(5l  viz'  The  Said  John  Ellis  as  Principal)  In  the  Sum  of 
Ten  pounds  &  y"^  said  John  Harwood  as  Surety  in  y*^  Sum  of  Ten 
pounds  &61  Conditioned  that  if  Hannah  Ellis  wife  of  the  said  John 
Ellis  shall  appear  before  the  next  Court  of  Gen*'  Sessions  of  y*^ 
peace  to  be  held  here  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of  may  next  to  an- 
swer to  her  being  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  fornication  Then  y^ 
Recog'  to  be  void  Else  to  Remain  in  full  force  &  virtue 


George  Wicker  Servant  of  Baldwin  now  living  in  Leices- 

ter in  this  County  having  absented  himself  from  his  Said  masters 
Service  and  y^  Charge  of  pursuing  and  Recovering  him  amounting 
to  eight  pounds  Sixteen  Shillings  and  the  Said  George  being  before 


1732-3.1      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  63 

y^  Court  and  acknovvledgeing  y*^  Same  the  Court  therefore  order 
that  the  Said  apprentice  Serve  his  Said  master  his  heirs  Excuf*  or 
adm"  eight  months  next  after  the  determination  of  y*^  present  In- 
denture 


Oba(hah  CooUge  of  Marlborough  in  y^  County  of  Midlesex 
Cordwainer  who  was  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  by  Nahum 
Ward  Esqr  one  of  his  Majestys  Justices  of  the  peace  for  y«  County 
of  Worcester  To  appear  before  y*^  Justices  of  our  Lord  y^  King  at 
the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  held  at  Worcester  &61 
on  y^  first  Tuesday  of  Nov'',  last  past  to  answer  to  Such  matters 
and  things  as  Should  be  Objected  against  him  on  his  maj'"'  behalf 
and  Especially  to  answer  To  a  Complaint  made  against  him  before 
S''  Justice  for  theifishly  Taking  a  fourty  shilling  bill  out  of  y^  house 
of  Simon  Maynard  in  Shrewsbury  on  or  about  y^  2 1 "  day  of  aprill 
1732  &6t  as  by  y^  Recognizance  will  appear  having  faild  of  ap- 
pearing said  Recognizance  was  by  the  Said  Court  then  declared  for- 
fieted  ;  but  he  now  appearing  and  producing  Testimony  Sufficient 
that  he  was  under  such  bodily  Indisposition  as  Rendered  him  un- 
able of  attending  at  y"^  Court  praying  the  forfieture  of  y-'  Recog'  : 
may  be  Remitted,  for  that  Reason  that  he  might  be  admitted  to  a 
Tryall  The  Court  thereupon  order  that  upon  his  Entering  into  a 
new  Recognizance  with  Two  Sufficient  Suretys  viz'  The  said  Oba- 
diah  Coolidge  as  principall  In  y'^  Sum  of  Twenty  pounds  &  his 
Suretys  In  'Fen  pounds  Each  To  appear  at  the  next  Court  of  Gen" 
Sessions  of  the  peace  To  be  held  at  this  place  on  the  Second 
Tuesday  of  may  next  To  answer  To  y^  aforesaid  Complaint  &6't 
that  said  forfieture  of  said  Recognizance  be  Remitted,  and  further 
ordered  that  Symon  Maynard  the  Complainant  Enter  into  Recog- 
nizance with  Surutys  as  well  To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  to 
prosecute  his  Complaint  ag"  y"^  Said  obadiah  Coolidge,  as  also  to 
y*=  said  obadiah  Coolidge  To  answer  all  Damages  in  Case  he  Dont 
Supporte  his  Complaint,  The  said  Maynard  accordingly  Recog- 
nized himself  as  princii)all  in  Twenty  pounds  Each  Recognizance 
iS:  Gershom  Rice  yeoman  ^:  Benj"  fflagg  Jun'  Gent  both   of  Wor- 


FEIiBUAKV 


64  Court  of  General  Sessions,  \  te"km, 

cester  in  said  County  as  Suretys  in  Ten  pounds  each  in  Each  Re- 
cognizance ;  but  the  said  Coohdge  faild  of  Renewing  his  Recog- 
nizance 


Daniel  Gookin  Esqr  Sheriff  of  y'^  County  pursuant  to  a  warrant 
Issued  by  the  Clerk  by  order  of  this  Court  having  Impanelled  a 
Jury  &  Laid  out  or  Bounded  y^  Road  from  mendon  to  Worcester 
made  Report  at  the  last  Court  of  (}enerall  Sessions  of  the  peace 
held  here  in  Nov""  last — as  also  an  acco'  of  the  Charge  thereof 
which  was  Refered  to  this  Court,  &  the  Court  now  order  that  the 
further  Consideration  thereof  be  Refered  To  y^  Second  Tuesday 
of  May  next ; 


A  Petition  of  y'^  Town  of  Sutton  and  also  a  Petition  of  Sundry 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  Hassanamisco  praying  the  Road  lately  laid 
out  by  order  of  this  Court  Leading  from  Worcester  to  Mendon 
may  not  be  Confirmed  but  that  it  may  be  laid  out  thro'  Hassana- 
misco for  Reason  In  Said  Petitions  mentioned  Read  &  ordered 
that  The  Petitioners  Serve  the  Town  of  Mendon  and  Uxbridge 
with  Copys  of  Said  Petitions  that  they  Shew  Cause  if  any  they 
have  at  y"  next  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y«  peace  to  be  holden 
at  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of  May  next  why  the  Prayer 
of  Said  Petitions  should  not  be  answer'd 


A  Petition  of  John  Harwood  in  behalf  of  the  Town  of  Uxbridge 
Returning  the  thanks  of  said  Town  to  the  Court  for  y^  Road  lately 
laid  out  from  Mendon  to  Worcester  &  praying  they  mas  have  a 
Road  laid  out  from  Uxbridge  to  meet  with  the  aforesaid  Road  &61 
Read  and  Refered  to  the  Second  Tuesday  of  May  next  for  further 
Consideration 


An  acco"  of  y«^  Grand  Jurers  that  attended  on  his  Majestys  Court 
of  assize  and  Gen"  Goal  Delivery  begun  and  held  at  Worcester  y 


1732-3-1     Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  65 

third  Wednesday  in  Septem'' anno  Dom'  1732  present  for  allow- 
ance amounting  To  14'  4'/  Read  &  Examined  and  The  Treas- 
urer of  the  County  is  hereby  ordered  to  pay  the  Same  to  y^  persons 
to  whome  the  same  is  Respedtively  due  or  to  their  orders  in  full 
discharge  thereof 


An  acco'  of  John  Chandler  Jun'  amounting  to  Six  pounds  was 
presented  for  allowance  Read  &  ordered  that  the  Treasurer  of 
the  County  pay  the  Sum  of  Six  pounds  to  the  accompttant  in 
full  Discharge  thereof 


Joseph  Wilder  Esqr  from  y^  Committee  appointed  the  7"*  of 
Nov'  1732  to  Examine  the  acco'  of  Daniel  Gookin  Esq  Sheriff  of 
this  County  made  Report  thereon  which  was  Read  cS:  accepted  & 
thereupon  The  Court  Order  that  the  Treas""  of  the  County  to  pay 
To  y  Said  Daniell  Gookin  Esq  fifteen  pounds  Twelve  Shillings  in 
full  Discharge  thereof 


The  presentment  of  the  Grandjurors  To  this  Court  is  as  follows 
Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace  holden  at  Worces- 
ter within  and  for  y=  County  of  Worcester  on  Tuesday  y^  6"'  day 
of  febry  anno  Dominij  i  732/3  The  Grand  Jury  for  y*^  body  of  y^ 
Said  County  upon  their  oaths  do  present  Peter  Corlile  of  Leicester 
within  y^  said  County  Husbandman  for  prophane  Swearing^  on 
Tuesday  y^  30"'  (iay  of  January  last  and  also  for  uttering  many 
menaces  and  threatning  Speeches  ag''  Thomas  Richardson  of  Lei- 
cester aforesaid  Inholder,  and  also  do  present  James  Nuting  Hus- 
bandman Josiah  Nuting  Husbandman  and  John  Nuting  Husband- 
man all  of  Hassanamisco  in  y^  Said  County  each  and  all  of  them 
for  Travelling  Unnecessarily  on  y'^  Saturday  evening  after  Sun  sett 
before  y''  Lords  Day'  from  Lancaster  to  Groton — also  Philip  Chase 
of within  the  said  County  of  Worcester  for  Labouring 


See  Notes,  next  page. 


FEBBL'ARV 


66  Court  of  General  Sessto?is.  \  ^i-^^ 

unnecessarily  on  y^  Lords  day,  as  also  Elisha  Johnson  of  Sutton  in 
the  County  aforesaid  Gent  for  not  building  &  keeping  in  Repair 
two  bridges  on  the  Two  Branches  of  Black  Stones  River  in  y^ 
bounds  of  Hassanamisco  as  by  his  own  Covenant  and  by  law  he 
ought  all  and  every  of  which  things  are  against  the  peace  of  our 
Lord  the  King  his  Crown  and  Dignity  and  the  good  and  wholsome 
laws  of  this  Gov'  Joseph  Dwight  attorney  pro  Rego 

Eben""  Learned  foreman 

Entered  "^  John  Chandler  y  Cle  pac 


This  Court  order,  The  Clerk  in  the  name  of  the  Court  To  Re- 
turn their  thanks  to  m'  Jonas  Clark  of  Boston  Brazier  for  the  Coat 
of  arms  he  has  made  the  County  a  present  off  and  for  the  Con- 
stables Stafs  ; 

Then  the  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 

Att"     John  Chandler  J'  Cle  pac 


NOTES. 


The  laws  against  profanity  and  sabbath-breaking  in  force  at  this  date  were 
as  follows :  (See  page  65.) 

SWEARiNt;. — "Be  it  enaded"  etc.  "That  if  any  Person  or  Persons  shall 
prophanely  Swear  or  Curse  in  the  hearing  of  any  Justice  of  the  Peace,  or 
shall  be  thereof  convided  by  the  Oaths  of  two  Witnesses,  or  Confession  of 
the  Party,  before  any  Justice  or  Justices  of  the  Peace  :  Every  such  Offender 
shall  forfeit  and  pay  into  the  Use  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town,  where  the  Of- 
fence shall  be  committed,  the  Sum  oi five  Shillings.  And  if  the  Offender  be 
not  able  to  pay  the  said  Sum.  then  to  be  set  in  the  Stocks,  not  exceeding 
two  Hours.  And  if  any  Person  shall  utter  more  profane  Oaths  or  Curses  at 
the  same  time,  and  hearing  of  the  same  Person  or  Persons,  he  shall  forfeit 
and  pay  to  the  Use  aforesaid,  the  Sum  of  tivelve  Pence  for  every  Oath  or 
Curse  after  the  first;  or  be  set  in  the  Stocks  three  Hours. 

"■Provided.,  That  every  Offence  against  this  Law  shall  be  complained  of 
and  proved  as  aforesaid,  within  thirty  Days  next  after  the  Offence  com- 
mitted." 


1 732-3- i      Worcester  County,  Massac liusetts.  67 

Sabuath  Breaking. — "Be  it  enacted  That  all  Persons  who  shall  be  found 
in  the  Streets,  Wharffs,  Fields,  or  other  Places  within  any  Town  on  the 
Evening  following  the  Lord's  Day,  disporting,  playing  making  a  Disturb- 
ance, or  committing  any  Rudeness:  The  Persons  so  offending,  shall  each  of 
them  pay  a  line  oi five  Shillings,  or  suffer  twelve  Hours  Imprisonment,  or 
sit  in  the  Stocks,  not  exceeding  two  Hours.  All  Fines  and  Forfeitures  aris- 
ing by  Virtue  of  this  Ad, shall  be  to  and  for  the  Use  of  the  Poor 

of  the  Town  where  the  Offence  shall  be  committed,"  etc. 

"And  the  Constables  of  the  respedlive  Towns  are  hereby  direded  and 
specially  impowered  to  prevent  the  Prophanation  of  the  Lord's  Day,  by  re- 
straining Persons  from  walking,  recreating  and  disporting  themselves  in  the 
Streets,  Wharffs,  or  Fields,  in  the  Time  of  publick  Worship." 

In  the  olden  time  in  New  England  the  Sabbath  began  at  sunset  on  Satur- 
day and  ended  at  the  same  time  on  Sunday. 


Worcester  ss      Anno  R^  R^  Georgij  Secimdi  nunc 
Magncs  Brittainics  Francice   et   Hibernice  Sexto 

Att  his  majestys  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  y''  County 
of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of  May 
being  y"*  8'^'  day  of  Said  month  Anno   Dom. 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esq  Joseph  Wilder  Esq  W"'  Ward  Esq  \\''"  Jen- 
ison  Esq  Justices  of  y^  peace  &  Quorum 

Daniel  Taft  John  Chandler  Samuell  Wright  Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley  Henry  Lee  &Nahum  Ward  Esq"'''  Justices  of  y« 
peace 


Grand  Jurors  that  attended  this  Court 

Capt  Ebenezer  Learned  foreman  M'  Thomas  Richardson 

Capt  Jonas  Houghton  M""  John  Crosby 

M'"  Ephraim  Child  M'  James  Holden 

M'  Nathanael  Dyke  M"'  Eleazer  Daniells 

M'  Edward  Rice  M'  Isaac  Tomlin 

M'  Ephraim  Peirce  M'  Samuel  Ward 

M""  James  Taylor  M'  Woodland  Thompson 

M'  John  Benett 

M""  Samuel  Barns 


^733-\         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  69 

The  names  of  y*^  Gent  Returned  to  Serve  on  y'^  Grand]  ury  for 
the  Current  year 

M''  Gershom  Rice  foreman  M"'  Moses  How 

M"'  Hooker  Osgood  M''  Samuel  Johnson 

M""  VV"  Old  M'  James  Moore 

M^  W™  Brown  M""  Thomas  I'hayer 

Cap*  Richard  Moore  M'  David  Maynard 

M''  Richard  Davenport  M"'  Edward  Morris 

M''  Jonathan  Farnsworth  M''  Samuel  Lillie 

M'  \V"'  Richardson  M""  James  Newton 

M"'  John  Emerson 

The  Said  Gent,  were  Sworn  Received  there  Charge  and  were 
Dismissed  till  y""  next  Court  all  but  M'  James  Moore 


Whereof  The  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y"  peace  held  at 
Worcester  In  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  of  y^  Second  Tues- 
day of  august  last  past  Did  order  that  the  House  of  m''  Daniel 
Haywood  in  Worcester  Remain  a  Goal  (for  such  persons  as  give 
bond  for  y''  Liberty  of  y*^  Yard  &61)  till  the  further  order  of  the 
Court  &6t  The  Court  now  order  that  said  House  Remain  a  Goal 
for  the  ends  aforesaid  no  Longer  Then  the  first  day  of  June  next, 
and  that  Such  Prisoners  as  may  be  then  Retained  in  Said  house 
as  prisoners  that  have  the  Liberty  of  the  Yard  be  Removed  by  the 
Sheriff  of  y'=  County  to  his  majestys  Goal  newly  Ere6led  and  be 
there  Retained  under  the  Same  Circumstances  as  now  they  are 
and  the  Sheriff  is  hereby  ordered  to  Remove  them  accordingly 


Elisha  Johnson  of  Sutton  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Gent  be- 
ing presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  the  body  of  the  Said  County 
at  the  Court  of  (jenerall  Sessions  of  y"^  peace  Held  at  Worcester 
In  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  on  the  Sixth  day  of  Febry 
last  past  for  not  building  and  Keeping  in  Repair  two  bridges  on 
the  Two  Branches  of  BlackStones  River  in  y^  bounds  of  Hassana- 
misco  in  v''  County  of  Worcester  as  bv  his  own  Covenant  and  by 


70  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  tek.m, 

law  he  ought  which  is  against  y'^  peace  of  our  Lord  y*^  King  his 
Crown  &  Dignity  and  the  good  and  wholesome  laws  of  this  Gov- 
ernment «S:6l  and  being  bound  over  by  m'  Justice  Jenison  To  this 
Court  to  make  answer  To  said  Presentment  now  appeared  and  by 
his  attorney  m''  Edm*^  Gouff  aP  Trowbridge  Comes  into  Court  & 
Defend'  y^  [  ]  &  Injury  &61  and  prays  Judgment  of  y^  pres- 

entment aforesaid  for  that  the  presentment  aforesaid  and  the  mat- 
ter therein  contained  is  Insufficient  in  law  to  maintain  a  present- 
ment and  to  which  the  def  by  the  law  of  the  land  is  not  bound  to 
make  answer  and  this  he  is  ready  to  Verifie  wherefore  for  the  In- 
sufficiency of  y*^  presentment  aforesaid  y"^  Deft  prays  Judgment 
that  he  may  be  Dismissed,  &(5l  which  pleas  Together  with  y*"  an- 
swer of  John  Overing  Esq  attorney  To  our  Sovereign  Lord  y*^  King 
being  Duly  Considered,  The  Court  are  of  opinion  that  a  present- 
ment Lyes  in  this  Case  and  the  Said  Elisha  Johnson  not  main- 
taining his  Demurer  is  adjudged  by  the  Court  Guilty  according  to 
the  presentment  and  therefore  order'd  That  he  doe  by  the  first  day 
of  august  next  Effectually  Repair  both  Said  Bridges  or  in  default 
.thereof  That  he  pay  as  a  fine  to  our  Said  Lord  the  King  The  Sum 
of  Eighty  pounds  and  Cost  Taxed  at  pounds  Shillings 

&  pence 

The  Said  Elisha  Johnson  appealed  from  this  Judgment  to  the 
next  Court  of  assize  &  Generall  Goal  Delivery  To  be  holden  at 
Worcester  in  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  In  September  next, 
&  Entered  into  y^  following  Recognizance  for  prosecuting  his  ap- 
peal with  Effect  pursuant  to  law  viz'  The  Said  Elisha  Johnson  as 
principall  In  the  Sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  &  Samuel  Dudley 
Esq  &  Timothy  Carter  yeoman  both  of  Sutton  in  the  County  of 
Worcester  Suretys  in  the  Sum  of  fifty  pounds  Each  acknowledged 
themselves  Severally  Indebted  in  the  aforesaid  Sums  to  our  Sove- 
reign Lord  the  King  to  be  Levej'ed  upon  their  Severall  goods  or 
Chattells  Lands  or  Tenements  for  y=  Use  of  said  Lord  the  King 
or  his  Successors  Conditioned  that  the  said  Elisha  Johnson  prose- 
cute his  appeal  aforesaid  with  Effe6t. 


i733-i         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  71 

Peter  Corly  of  Leicester  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 
being  bound  over  To  this  Court  by  way  of  Recognizance  To  an- 
swer To  his  presentment  by  y^  Grandjury  for  prophane  Swearing 
&61  came  into  Court  &  pleaded  Guilty  Its  therefore  ordered  by 
the  Court  that  he  pay  as  a  fine  To  our  Lord  the  King  five  Shillings 
&  Costs,  &  Stand  Committed  till  Sentance  is  performed  which  he 
paid  in  Court  and  was  Dismissed 


William  M'^Michell  &  Margarett  his  wife  of  Woodstock  In  y= 
County  of  Worcester  came  into  Court  and  Complained  of  them- 
selves for  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  fornication  before  marriage, 
were  find  Each  Thirty  Shillings  To  our  Lord  y^  King  &  Costs 
which  they  paid  &  were  Dismissed 


Alexander  Turner  of  Worcester  &  Mary  his  wife  came  into  Court 
and  complained  of  themselves  for  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  for- 
nication before  marriage,  were  find  To  our  Lord  y*^  King  the  Sum 
of  Thirty  Shillings,  Each  &  Cost,  which  they  paid  &  were  dismissed 


Solomon  Johnson  of  Leicester  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  Gent 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  being  drunk  ^  &6t,  came 
into  Court  &  put  himself  on  Tryall  and  was  acquited  paying  Cost 
which  he  paid  &  was  Dismissed 


Phillip  Chase  of  Worcester  In  y"^  County  of  Worcester  husband- 
man being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  Working  unecessaryly 
on  the  Lords  day  &61  came  into  Court  &  put  himself  upon  Tryall 
by  the  Court  &  was  acquitted  paying  Cost 


'The  penalty  for  drunkenness  was  a  fine  of  five  shillings;  or  in  lieu  there- 
of the  offender  was  to  sit  in  the  stocks  not  exceeding  three  hours. 


7  2  Court  of  Genei'al  Sessions.  \ 


Mai 

Tebm, 


Dom  Rex  Our  Sovereign  Lord  y*^  King  pla'  versus  Perez 

vs  Rice  late  of  Westboro'  In  the  County  of  Wor- 

Rice  cester  now  of  Sutton  in  Said  County  Deft, 

JURY  The  Said  Rice  was  now  appel'  from  a  Judg- 

Mr  James  Keyes  mcnt  givcn  against  him  by  m'  Justice  Ward  for 

Mr  jahn  Curtice  Lying  Or  falsc  Socaking 

MrJohnBiglo  ^       O  r  o 

Mr  George  Bruce  ^Yh^  Said  aDD^"  appeared  &  pleaded  not 

Mr  Eben :  How  1  I  1  1  1 

Mr  Jacob  Amsden  Guilty  &  thc  Casc  after  a  full  hearing  was 

Mr  joshua^cimverss  Committed  to  thc  Jury  who  were  Sworn  ac- 

Mr  symon  dakin  cording  to  law  To  Tryc  the  Same  and   Re- 

Mr  John  Bush  °  ^  -' 

Mr  Nathan  Brigham  tuHi'd  thcrc  Verdi6t  in  as  follows  viz'     That 

Mr  Daniel  Davis  ,  .  ^i      -i  r      t      ■  ,-   i 

the  appelt  is  not  Guilty  of  Lying  or  false 
Speaking  The  Court  thereupon  order  That  the  Said  Perez  Rice 
be  dismissed  paying  Costs  which  were  accordingly  paid  The 
Court  Thereupon  order  That  the  fine  of  five  Shillings  be  Remitted 
&  y^  S''  Justice  ordered  to  pay  the  Same  to  the  S*^  Rice 


The  Court  proceeded  to  Examin  <&  Sort  the  Votes  Sent  from  the 
Severall  Towns  for  y*^  Choice  of  a  County  Treasurer  &  it  appeared 
That  M'  Benjamin  Flagg  Jun''  was  Duly  Elected  &  an  oath  was 
administered  To  him  before  the  Court  by  the  Clerk 


The  Court  order  that  the  County  Treasurer  Pay  to  y"^  Comittee 
appointed  for  building  y^  Goal  Sixty  five  pounds  being  the  last 
payment  agreeable  to  there  Contract  &  the  further  Sum  of  five 
pounds  To  pay  for  Such  things  as  were  omited  in  the  Said  Con- 
tract. 


The  Court  now  order  that  the  Clerk  Send  forth  a  Scire  facias 
agts  Obadiah  Colidge  and  his  bondsmen  to  appear  at  the  next 
Court  of  Gen"  Sessions  of  y^  peace  to  give  reason  why  there  bonds 
should  not  be  declared  forfiet  also  a  warrant  to  bring  him  to  his 
trvall  for  the  Crime  laid  to  his  Charge 


1 733- 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  ']^ 

An  acco'  of  Nahum  Ward  Esqr  for  Service  done  y'=  County  about 
the  Goal  amounting  to  thirty  five  Shillings  Read  and  allowed  & 
the  Treas""  of  y''  County  is  according  ordered  To  pay  y«^  Same  to 
the  Said  Nahum  Ward  Esq  in  full  Discharge  thereof 


An  acco'  of  William  Gray  J'  late  Constable  for  atj;endance  on 
the  Grandjury  four  days  Read  &  Ordered  that  y^  County  Treas- 
urer pay  To  y^  Said  William  Gray  J"'  Sixteen  Shillings  in  full  dis- 


charge thereof 


A  Petition  of  Thomas  Richardson  of  Leicester  Shewing  the 
Damage  he  Sustains  by  Reason  of  the  Escape  of  Thomas  Hall 
from  his  majestys  Goal  in  Worcester  where  he  was  Comitted  by 
Virtue  of  an  Execution  the  petitioner  had  Served  on  him  and  that 
he  apprehends  it  was  thro'  Some  defe6l  Either  for  want  of  a  Suffi- 
cient Goal  Goal  Keeper  &61  praying  for  Releife  Upon  Reading 
this  Petition  m''  Sheriff  Gookin  came  into  Court  and  Informed 
them  that  he  had  lately  heard  that  the  within  named  Thomas  Hall 
was  in  y'^  Colony  of  Conne6licot  and  that  he  would  Send  out  ad- 
vertisements after  him  in  order  for  his  being  Taken,  Therefore  or- 
dered that  the  petition  be  Referred  To  y<=  next  Court  of  General! 
Sessions  for  further  Consideration 


A  By  law  of  the  Town  of  Leicester  being  presented  To  this 
Court  was  Read  and  approved  of  by  the  Court  for  the  Term  of 
three  year  and  is  on  file 


At  the  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  holden  at  Worcester  with- 
in and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of 
may  1733  The  Grandjury  for  the  Body  of  the  Said  County  Upon 
their  Oaths  do  present  John  Jenings  Husbandman  and  Elisabeth 
Jening  Housewife  wife  of  the  Said  John  Jennings  and  Eliner  Kel- 
log  Spinster  all  of  Brookfield  In  y«=  County  aforesaid  Each  and  all 
10 


74  Court  of  Ge7ic7'al  Sessions.  \  tekm, 

of  them  for  the  Crime  of  fornication  and  Matthew  Addleton  Cooi)er 
and  Thomas  ainsworth  Husbandman  both  of  Brookfield  afore- 
said for  Unnecessarily  absenting  themselves  from  y'=  publick  wor- 
ship of  God  on  the  Lords  days  for  more  than  Two  months  last 
past  and  also  Jonathan  Waldo  &  I'homas  Fayerweather  Gent  for 
Travelling  Unnecessaryly  on  the  last  lords  day  from  oxford  to 
Worcester  In  the  Said  County  and  also  the  Town  of  Leicester  for 
their  not  being  provided  with  a  writing  &  Reading  School  master 
all  which  things  are  against  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the 
King  his  Crown  &  Dignity  &61         Ebenezer  Learned  foreman 


Mr  Jonathan  Waldo  &  Mr  Thomas  Fayerweather  pleaded  To  y^ 
Lisufficiency  of  there  presentment  which  being  Duly  Considered 
the  Court  ordered  That  they  should  be  dismissed  paying  Cost 
which  was  paid. 


The  Petitions  of  y«  Town  of  Sutton  and  Hassanamisco  present- 
ed this  Court  at  their  Sessions  in  February  last  praying  that  the 
Road  lately  laid  out  by  order  of  this  Court  leading  from  Worcester 
To  Mendon  &6t  Read  again  together  with  y*"  answers  of  y^  Towns 
of  Mendon  &  Uxbridge  and  being  Duly  Considered  ordered  that 
Said  Petitions  So  far  as  they  Relate  to  the  altering  Said  Road  be 
Dismissed  and  the  Said  Road  is  by  the  Said  Court  fully  absolutely 
Settled  &  Determined  to  be  the  County  Road  leading  from  Wor- 
cester to  Mendon  &  y^  Report  or  Return  of  y*^  Sheriff  &  Jury  there- 
upon ordered  to  be  Recorded 

The  acco"  of  the  Charge  viewing  &  Laying  out  Said  Road 
amounting  unto  the  Sum  of  Thirty  one  pound  Seven  Shillings  al- 
lowed of  by  the  Court  &  is  due  To  y«=  following  persons  viz' 

To  ye  Comittee  for  viewing  &dl  7  '  '° 
To  Mr  Sheriff  Gookin  :  3^  2/     To  Justice  Dudley 

attending  on  ye  Jury  38/  5  °  ^ 

To  the  Jury  Each  30/   18^:  To  ye  Clerk  writing:  &(fl  25/2  19  5  2 

;^3i     7     o 


i733-i         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  75 

The  Court  thereupon  ordered  that  Said  Charge  be  paid  by  the 
Respedtive  Towns  through  [which]  y*^  Said  Road  Runs  Viz' 

The  Town  uf  Mention  'l"o  pay  Seven  pounds  Eight 

Shillings  &  Sixpence  786 

Uxbiidge  Thirty  three  Shillings  113     o 

Hassanamisco  Three  pounds  Six  Shillings  360 

Sutton  Twelve  pounds  Seven  Shillings  &  Sixpence  12     7     6 

Worcester  Six  pounds  Twelve  Shillings  6   12     o 

£Z^      7     O 

and  order  that  the  Clerk  Serve  y'=  Towns  with  a  Copy  of  This  order 
That  they  assess  tlie  Respective  Sum  Laid  on  them  and  that  the 
Same  be  paid  To  William  Jenison  Esqr  To  be  by  him  paid  To  y« 
persons  to  whom  the  Same  is  Respe6lively  Due 

The  Return  of  y"^  Sheriff  &  Jury  is  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester  ss     To  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Worcester  his 
under  Sheriff  or  Deputy  Greeting 

Whereas  the  Committee  lately  appointed  by  his  majestys  Court 
of  Gen"  Sessions  of  y^  peace,  for  the  County  of  Worcester  have 
made  Report  Concerning  a  Publick  Highway  or  County  Road  be- 
tween the  Towns  of  Worcester  and  Mendon  being  necessary  and 
Convenient  &6t  as  ^  their  Report  may  appear 

^^  These  are  therefore  In  his  Majestys  name  to  Require 

\  )  and  Command  you  to  Sumon  a  Jury  of  Good  and  lawfull 
men  Quallyfyed  according  to  law  to  meet  &  assemble  at 
the  House  of  Cap'  William  Rawson  in  Mendon  aforesaid  on  mon- 
day  the  Second  day  of  06lober  next  which  Jury  So  Sumoned  or 
Impanneled  you  are  to  Cause  a  proper  oath  to  be  administered  to 
them  by  a  Justice  of  the  peace  for  the  County  aforesaid  and  then 
proceed  to  view  &  lay  out  a  Publick  highway  or  County  Road  be- 
tween the  Towns  aforesaid  pursuant  To  the  laws  of  this  province 
and  having  a  due  Regard  to  the  Report  of  the  late  Comittee 

hereof  fail  not  &  make  due  Return  hereof  with  your  doings  herein 
to  this  Court  at  their  next  Sessions  of  the  peace  to  be  held  here 
on  the  first  Tuesday  of  November  next  as  well  under  your  own 


76  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  tebm, 

hand  as  the  hands  of  the  Jury  aforesaid  Dated  at  Worcester  this 
25'''  day  of  September  In  the  Sixth  year  of  his  majestys  Reigne 
anno  :  Dom  :  1732 

By  order  of  Court  John  Chandler  J  Cle  pac  Worcester  Octo- 
ber 2^  I  732  ; 

1732  In  Observance  of  the  within  written  warrant  I  have  Im- 
pannelled  a  Jury  as  the  law  direfts  who  after  being  Sworn  went 
upon  the  Spot  and  laid  out  the  County  Road  from  mendon  meet- 
ing House  to  Worcester  meeting  House  as  "^  y^  annexed  Dis- 
cription  will  appear  under  their  hands 

Daniell  Gookin  Sheriff— Worcester  O6I0  2*^  1732 

In  Observance  of  an  order  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of 
the  peace  for  the  County  of  Worcester  held  at  Worcester  by  ad- 
journment of  the  third  Wednesday  of  September  Last  past  ordered 
the  Sheriff  of  S'^  County  to  Impoint  a  Jury  of  Good  &  Lawfull  men 
&  Have  them  Sworn  before  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the 
peace  of  S''  County  to  Lay  out  a  Country  Road  from  Mendon  to 
Worcester  meeting  House  Accordingly  the  Sheriff  of  S**  County 
Hath  Impointed  a  Jury  as  afores**  whose  names  are  Hereafter  Sub- 
scribed &  Legally  Sworn  have  Layed  out  S**  Country  Road  on 
oath  as  Hereafter  Discribed  Imprimis  beginning  at  mendon  meet- 
ing House  as  the  Road  now  Lyeth  until  it  comes  to  the  House  of 
Decon  John  Teilor  &  from  thence  to  a  Rhoad  of  four  Rods  wide 
until  it  Comes  to  the  House  of  Robert  Teilor  from  thence  by  the 
Westerly  side  of  a  meadow  Called  eight  acre  meadow  from  thence 
to  a  Small  Black  oak  tree  Standing  on  the  edge  of  a  brook  near  a 
great  Rock  near  the  House  of  John  Sadler  &  from  thence  as  the 
Road  is  now  Drawn  until  it  come  to  a  Red  oak  tree  marked  upon 
[  ]  near  a  Brook  by  Sam"  Woods  Sawmil  &  from  thence 

by  marked  trees  to  a  very  High  Rock  near  the  House  of  John 
Perim  then  Running  between  the  House  &  barn  of  S**  Perrim  & 
So  between  the  House  &  barn  of  Eleazer  ffletcher,  &  So  on  till  it 
Comes  to  the  Land  of  Jacob  Whipple  &  through  S^  Land  till  it 
comes  to  a  White  oak  tree  on  the  bank  of  the  River  So  Crossing 
Blackstons  River  &  running  to  a  heap  of  Rocks  in  Isaac  Chases 
Land  &  So  on  to  a  White  oak  tree  near  the  House  of  John  Ward 


^733-\         Worcestei'  County,  IM a ssachusetts.  jj 

from  thence  Leading  to  the  Country  Road  by  the  House  of  ni' 
James  Lealand  then  turning  Westerly  &  Running  by  marked  trees 
till  it  comes  to  a  Red  oak  tree  Standing  on  the  Land  of  Sam" 
Chase  &  So  on  till  it  comes  to  a  white  oak  tree  Standing  near  the 
Dwelling  House  of  Frances  Dudley  So  Running  to  a  white  oak  tree 
neare  the  House  of  Sam"  Dudley  Esq  &  So  on  to  a  Heap  of  Stones 
&  So  by  marks  to  Stump  of  a  tree  &  a  heap  of  Stones  in  Will"' 
Waits  Land  then  Crossing  the  River  by  a  black  oak  tree  marked 
&  So  Running  on  by  the  House  of  Skiper  Fairfield  by  marked 
trees  till  it  Comes  to  the  House  of  Deacon  Natha"  Moore  in 
Worcester  &  by  the  House  of  Jonas  Rice  thence  to  the  House  of 
Tirus  Rice  &  So  running  by  the  House  of  the  Revr^  M""  Isaac  Burr 
untill  it  Comes  to  the  meeting  House  in  Worcester  bounded  being 
on  the  Northerly  &  Easterly  Side  of  S'*  Road  &  S"  Road  to  be 
four  Rods  on  the  Southwesterly  Side  afores''  Boundaries 

Gershom  Rice  Jonas  Rice  James  Keith  William  Rawson  Jo- 
seph White  Daniell  Haywood  James  Holdin  James  Lealand 
Joseph  Crosby  John  Sibley  John  Sadler  Robert  Barber 


Mr  Jonathan  Houghton  County  Treasurer  presented  his  acco" 
To  the  Court  the  ballance  due  to  the  County  being  twenty  four 
pounds  1/4  Read  Ex^  &  accepted  &  the  Clerk  ordered  to 

Signe  the  Same  in  the  name  of  the  Court, 

Then  y'=  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 

att'     John  Chandler  J  Cler 


Worcester  ss      Anno  R^  R^  Gcorgij  Secundi  7tunc 
Mag7ice  Brittainice  et   Hibernice  Septimo  O 

Att  his  majestys  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y" 
peace  begun  and  held  at  Worcester  in  and  for 
the  County  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tues- 
day of  August  being  the  14^''  day  of  Said 
month  Anno  Dom  :  1733 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jenison 
Danl  Taft 


1 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Jun     Henry  Lee      \ 

"^  \  Esqs 

I  NahumWard) 


J 


Sam'  Wright 

I 
\  Esqs    Josiah  Willard         [-  Esqs 

I 
Joseph  Dwight  | 

J 
Sam'  Dudley 

Grand  jury  that  attended. 


M''  Gershom  Rice  foreman 

Cap'  Richard  Moore 

M'  Hooker  Osgood 

M""  James  Moore 

M'  William  Richardson 

M'  Thomas  Thayre 

M'  Edward  Morris 

Cap'  W"  Old  : 

M'  David  Maynard 


M^  Sam'  Lillie 

M'  W'"  Brown 

M'  James  Newton 

M''  Moses  How 

M"'  Richard  Davenport 

M'  John  Emerson 

M''  Sam'  Johnson 


M''  Jon"  Farnsworth 
Each  attended  2  days  Except  Cap'  Old  who  attended  one  day 
Isaac  Moore  Constable  i  day 


i733-i         Worcester  Cotmty,  Massachusetts.  79 

Worcester  ss     The  Grandjurors  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
for  the  body  of  y«  Said  County  at  a  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace 
holden  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the  said  County  of  Worcester 
on  y^  Second  Tuesday  of  August  1 733  upon  their  Oaths  do  present 
That  Jonathan  Lamb  Gent  and  Lydia  Lamb  Housewife  and  wife 
of  the  Said  Jonathan  Lamb  and  Solomon  Johnson  Gent  all  of  Lei- 
cester in  Said  County  Each  and  all  of  them  have  absented  them- 
selves from  the  Publick  Worship  of  (iod  on  y«^  Lords  days  for  more 
then  Twelve  weeks  last  past     That  Solomon  Johnson  aforesaid  on 
or  about  y'^  thirteenth  day  of  July  last  past  was  Guilty  of  Drunken- 
ness in  Leicester  aforesaid.     That  the  Said  Solomon  Johnson  on 
ye  14"'  day  of  August  Current  did  prophanely  Swear  in  Worcester 
in  y-  County  aforesaid     That   Richard  Wheeler  of  Worcester  in 
our  Said  County  Housewright  hath  not  attended  the  Publick  Wor- 
ship of  God  on  y*^  Lords  days  for  more  than  Eight  weeks  last  past 
That  Daniel  Eliott  of  Sutton  in  Said  County  husbandman  on  y^ 
last  Lords  day  being  in  Uxbridge  did  unecessarily  IVavell  To  Sut- 
ton in  Said  County.     That  Rachell  Wilder  of  Lancaster  in  Said 
County  Spinster  on  the  first  day  of  September  last  past  was  Guilty 
of  the  Crime  of  Fornication  in  Lancaster  aforesaid.     That  Joseph 
Perry  of  Brookfield  in  Said  County  hath  not  attended  y^  Publick 
Worship  of  God  on  Lords  days  for  more  than  Eight  weeks  last 
past  all  which  severall  adions  of  the  Severall  forenamed  persons 
are  high  Criminall  and  against  y^  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord 
George  by  y-'  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain  France  and  Ireland 
King  Defender  of  the  ffaith  <S:6l  and  the  Good  and  wholsom  laws 
of  this  province  Joseph  Dwight  attorney  pro  Dom  Reg" 

Billa  vera     Gershom  Rice  foreman 


Richard  Wheeler  of  Worcester  in  y*^  County  of  Worcester 
Housewright  being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  y"^  body  of  y'^ 
County  of  Worcester  To  this  present  Court  for  not  attending  on 
the  Publick  Worship  of  God  on  y«^  Lords  days  for  more  than  Eight 
weeks  last  past  Came  into  Court  and  Confessed  himself  Guilty  but 
gave  his  Reasons  therefor  The  Court  thereupon  order  he  be  Dis- 
missed paying  Costs  which  he  did  c^  withdrew 


Ar<it:KT 


80  Court  of  General  Sesstons.  \  TE*'Ji" 

James  Nuting  and  Josiah  Nuting  both  of  Hassanamisco  In  y<^ 
County  of  Worcester  husbandmen  appeared  in  Court  and  to  their 
presentment  by  y«  Grandjurors  for  y^  body  of  y^  County  of  Wor- 
cester In  Febry  last  past  for  Traveling  Unecessarily  on  y<^  Saturday 
evening  after  Sun  Sett  before  the  Lords  day  from  Lancaster  to 
Groton  pleaded  not  Guilty  &  putt  him  Self  on  Tryall  by  the  bench 
and  after  a  full  hearing  The  Court  ordered  they  Should  be  dis- 
charged paying  Cost  vv'^''  they  p'' 


Mathew  Addleton  of  Brookfield  in  y'^  County  of  Worcester, 
Cooper  being  presented  by  y*^  Grandjurors  for  y<^  body  of  y'^  County 
of  Worcester  in  may  last  for  Unnecessaryly  absenting  himself  from 
y^  Publick  worship  of  God  &6t  appeared  in  Court  &  pleaded 
Guilty  Whereupon  y<=  Court  ordered  him  To  pay  a  fine  to  our 
Sovereign  Lord  y*^  King  of  five  Shillings  &  Cost  of  prosecution 
Standing  Comitted  till  Sentance  be  performed  which  he  paid  & 
was  discharged 


John  Elisons  Recognizance  was  Discharged. 
Paul  Rich's  Recognizance  Discharged 


Eleaner  Kellog  being  bound  over  by  way  of  Recognizance  by 
m""  Justice  D wight  To  answer  To  her  presentment  by  the  Grand- 
jurors &61  for  her  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  fornication  appeared 
in  Court  and  pleaded  Guilty  of  having  a  bastard  Child  born  of  her 
body  The  Court  Thereupon  ordered  that  She  pay  as  a  fine  to 
our  Sovereign  Lord  y«  King  The  Sum  of  five  pounds  or  be  whipt 
on  the  naked  body  Ten  stripes  &  pay  Cost  of  prosecution,  y'^  fine 
&  Cost  were  paid  and  her  Recognizance  Discharged 


Martha  McKintree  of  Dudley  Spinster  being  bound  by  way  of 
Recognizance  to  appear  at  y^  Court  of  Gen"  Sessions  of  y^  peace 


1 733-!         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  8i 

held  here  in  may  last  To  answer  for  being  Guilty  of  Fornication 
and  not  being  able  To  Travell  then  her  bonds  were  Continued  To 
this  Court  She  now  appeared  in  Court  pleaded  Guilty  where- 
upon the  Court  Order  That  for  her  Crime  She  pay  a  fine  of  four 
pounds  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  pay  Costs  of  prosecution 
and  Stand  Comitted  till  Sentance  be  performed  The  fine  &  Costs 
were  paid 


The  Town  of  Leicester  being  presented  to  the  Court  in  may 
last  for  not  being  provided  with  a  writing  &  Reading  Schoolmaster 
as  y^  law  Requires  appeared  by  their  Seledmen  &  it  appearing 
that  they  are  now  provided  they  were  Exempted  They  paying 
Costs 


Timothy  Sewell  of  Mendon  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  &a  hus- 
bandman being  bound  over  to  this  Court  by  m'  Justice  Taft  with 
Two  Suretys  To  answer  to  Such  things  as  Should  be  Objeded 
against  him  on  his  majestys  behalf  Relateing  To  a  Complaint 
against  him  by  Eben""  Cook  of  Mendon  &a  and  failing  of  ap- 
pearing the  Recognizance  was  by  the  Court  declared  forfeited 
and  the  Clerk  ordered  To  Send  out  a  Scire  facias  against  y^  Said 
Sewall  &  his  Suretys  to  appear  at  the  next  Court  of  Gen"  Sessions 
of  y*^  peace  to  be  holden  here  in  Nov'  next  To  give  Reason  if  any 
they  have  wherefore  Execution  Should  not  be  awarded  against 
them  &61 


Samuel  Wadkins  of  Hopkinton  in  y*^  County  of  midlesex  &61 
Joyner  al'  Husbandman  being  bound  over  to  this  Court  by  m'  Jus- 
tice 1  afft  with  Two  Suretys  to  answer  To  Such  Things  as  should 
be  objeded  [against]  him  on  his  majestys  behalf  Relateing  to  a 
Complaint  made  against  [him]  by  one  Samuel  Woods  of  mendon 
ckft,  and  failing  of  appearing  the  Recognizance  was  by  y*^  Court 
declared  forfeited  and  y^  Clerk  ordered  To  Send  out  a  Scire  facias 


I  I 


82  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  r^^^J 

against  Said  Wadkins  &  his  bondsmen  To  apear  at  y^  Court  of 
Gen"  Sessions  of  y^  peace  in  Nov''  next  To  give  Reason  if  any 
they  have  wherefore  Execution  Should  not  be  awarded  against 
them 


The  Sele6l  men  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  Returned  a  warrant 
whereby  they  had  warned  one  Thomas  Peirce  with  his  wife  martha 
&  four  Children  namely  Heaty  John  Nicholas  &  Thomas  to  depart 
the  Town  it  being  probable  they  be  become  a  Town  Charged 
which  was  approved  off  &  is  on  file 


Thomas  Green  &  Dan'  Deny  Return'd  a  list  of  y^  Baptists  in 
Leicester  according  To  y^  Order  of  Court  of  Febry  1 731/2  ap- 
proved off  as  also  the  list  from  Sutton 


A  Petition  of  y^  Rev''  m""  David  Parsons  of  Leicester  Seting  forth 
ye  necesaty  of  Road  or  way  being  laid  out  leading  from  Rutland 
to  Leicester  from  meeting  House  to  meeting  house  praying  Ef- 
fe6lual  Care  may  be  taken  to  settle  a  way  there  as  y*^  law  Dire6ts. 
Read,  as  also  a  petition  of  Daniel  Deny  &  John  Whitemore  against 
Said  petition  being  adted  upon,  also  Read  ;  and  In  answer  thereto 
ye  Court  order  that  Said  Petitions  be  Refered  to  the  next  Court 
of  Gen"  Sessions  of  y^  peace  to  be  holden  here  in  november  next 
and  In  the  mean  time  the  Court  appoint  William  Ward  &  Sam' 
Wright  Esqr'  and  Cap'  Ebenezer  Learned  of  oxford  to  be  a  Com- 
ittee  to  view  y^  lands  in  and  between  the  Towns  of  Rutland  and 
Leicester  and  make  Report  To  the  Said  Court  what  may  be  proper 
to  be  Done  in  the  premises. 


An  acco"  of  William  Calwell  Late  Constable  of  Worcester  for 
Attending  on  the  grandjury  amounting  to  Thirty  two  Shillings. 
Read  and  allowed  of  by  the  Court  and  the  County  Treasurer  is 
accordingly  ordered  to  pay  the  Same 


1 733- 1         Worcester  County,  ATassachuseiis.  8 


o 


The  Honourable'  Jolin  Chandler  Esqr  made  a  motion  to  y^ 
Court  Informing  them  of  y^  necessaty  of  a  County  Road  being 
laid  out  from  y"  Road  leading  from  Worcester  To  Mendon  lately 
Established  by  this  Court  &  the  Southern  bounds  of  the  Town  of 
Dudley  to  the  bounds  of  Conne6licott  Colony  &  also  of  y''  Diffi- 
culty persons  Travelling  To  the  Shire  Town  from  the  Southward 
parts  of  y*"  County  Lye  under  for  want  of  a  Sutable  &  Convenient 
Road  moveing  for  Remedy,  The  Court  having  Considered  y"^ 
matter  Order  «Sr  appoint  That  William  Jenison  Esqr  Cap'  Richard 
Moore  &  Cap"  Ebenezer  Edmunds  be  a  Comittee  To  view  &  make 
Report  what  they  think  proper  for  the  Court  To  a6l  hereon,  and 
they  are  desired  to  Report  To  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of 
y'^  peace  In  november  next 


Ordered  that  the  Clerk  of  y'=  Court  Signe  an  order  Dire6ling  y^ 
County  Treasurer  from  time  to  time  to  ])ay  To  y^  Comittees  for 
building  The  Court  house  &  Prisons  Respe6lively  Such  Sums  of 
money  as  are  Still  due  according  to  their  Contra6ls  for  building  the 
Same  and  also  what  may  be  due  for  Such  ffurther  aditions  as  are 
made  over  and  above  y«^  originall  Contra6ls 


Worcester  ss  Afino  Regni  Regis  Georgij  Sccundi 
nunc  Mag7ice  BrittainicE  Francice  et  Hibcrnice 
Septimo  ^3 

/\.tt  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y''  peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
November  being  the  Sixth  day  of  Said  month 
Annoq  Dom  :  1733 


PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esq     Joseph  Wilder  Esq 
William  Jenison  Esq   Danl  Taft  Esq 
Joseph  Dwight  Esq     Nahum  Ward  Esq 


William  Ward  Esq 
Samuel  Dudley  Esq 
John  Chandler  Jr  Esq 


Names  of  y^  Grandjurors  that  attended 

M'  Gershom  Rice  foreman  . 
Cap'  Richard  Moore 


M'  Hooker  Osgood 
M''  James  Moore 
M''  WiUiam  Richardson 
M''  Thomas  Thayre 
M""  Edward  Moris 
Cap'  W"  Old  : 


M''  David  Maynard 
M^  Sam'  Lillie 
M""  W'"  Brown 
M'  James  Newton 
M'  Moses  How 
M''  Richard  Davenport 
M''  Sam'  Johnson 
M''  Jon"  Farnsworth 


Each  attended  Two  days  and  Constable  Isaac  Moore  2  days 


1733-1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  85 

Worcester  ss  att  a  Generall  Sessions  of  y«  Peace  holden  at 
Worcester  within  and  for  tlie  County  of  Worcester  on  Tuesday  y'= 
Sixth  day  of  November  anno  Domini  1 733,  The  Grandjurors  for 
ye  body  of  y^  Said  County  upon  their  Oaths  do  presentt ;  That 
Dudley  Jordan  and  Benjamin  Smith  both  of  Lambs  Town^  as  So 
Called  in  Said  County  Husbandman  did  on  y"^  28"'  day  of  oftober 
last  past  being  y'^  Lords  day  Unnecessaryly  Travell  through  y^ 
Town  of  Shrewsbury  In  Said  County — and  also  that  the 

wife  of  Thomas  Hutchins  of  Dudley  in  Said  County  hath  Unneces- 
saryly absented  herself  from  the  from  y'^  Publick  Worship  of  God 
on  y'^  Lords  days  for  more  than  Two  months  last  past,     and  also 
That  David  Haynes  of  Sudbury  in  y'^  County  of  Midlesex  Gent 
and  Samuel  Waldo  of  Boston  in  y<=  County  of  Suffolk  merchant 
and  George  Mareiss  of  Boston  aforesaid  Waiter  did  each  and  all 
of  them  Unecessaryly  Travell  from   Rutland  to  Worcester  On   y« 
Lords  day  being  y^  23''  day  of  September  last  past — and  also  that 
Samuel  Bridges  Husbandman  &  Mary  Godman  Housewife  and 
Mehittable  Bridges  Spinster  all  of  Mendon  in  y'^  County  of  Wor- 
cester and  Bethhya  Gassett  of  Southborough  in  Said  County  Spin- 
ster Each  and  all  of  them  for  Unecessaryly  absenting  themselves 
from  Y'  Publick  Worship  of  God  for  more  then  Two  months  last 
past ;  and  also  that  Daniel  Taft  of  Mendon  in  y<=  County  of  Wor- 
cester Esqr  about  Six  weeks  Since  at  y<^  House  of  William  Jenison 
iLsqr  in  Worcester  in  Said  County  did  Wittingly  and  WiUingly 
make  and  Spread  a  false  Report  against  Samuel  Terry  of  Mendon 
aforesaid  Clerk  with  Litent  to  abuse  and  deceive  y^  Said  Terrey 
and  Others  by  Saying  that  m"  Rawson  Told  him  y'  the  Said  Ter- 
rey was  so  bad  of  it  (meaning  that  he  was  So  disguised  with  drink 
that  he  was  led  or  put  To  bed  on  one  Scacrament  day  night  and 
that  Grindall  Rawson  and  m""  Dorr  were  y^  persons  that  put  him 
To  bed  all  which  things  are  against  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign 
Lord  George  by  y<=  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain  France  and  Ire- 
land King  defender  of  y-^  faith  &a  and  y^  Good  and  wholsome  laws 
of  tliis  province  Joseph  Dwight  attorney  pro  Rego 

Gershom  Rice  foreman 

Entered  ^  Jn"  Chandler  J^  Cle  pac 

'  Now  I  lardwick. 


NoVEMliEK 


86  Court  of  General  Sessions.  P"rMM, 

Amariah  Bush's  Recognizance  Discharged 

Nathaniel  Waits  Recognizance  Discharged 

Abigaill  Lesure  Recognizance  Discharged  &61 

Sam"  Terrey  Clerk  Complaint  against  Abigal  Lesure  withdrawn 

Samuel  Wadkins  Recognizance  discharged 

Timothy  Sewell  Recognizance  Discharged 


William  Ward  Esqr  one  of  y*^  Comittee  To  whom  the  Petition  of 
the  Revered  m""  David  Parsons  was  present  to  y^  Court  in  august 
last  past  was  comitted  made  a  report,  whereon  Upon  y*^  Court  or- 
der that  the  affair  Relating  thereto  Lye  till  y'^  further  order  of  this 
Court 


A  vote  or  By  Law  of  y^  Town  of  Woodstock  being  presented  to 
y*^  Court  for  their  allowance  and  approbation  y*^  Same  was  accord- 
ingly approved  off  and  is  on  file 


A  memoriall  of  Thomas  Palmer  Esqr  Seting  forth  y'  y^  Jury  in  lay- 
ing out  the  way  To  Mendon  runs  it  through  his  Orchyard  &  mowing 
land  &  not  agreeable  To  y^  Report  of  y*^  Comittee  which  is  as  he 
apprehends  through  a  mistake  pray  the  Said  mistake  may  be  Re6li- 
fied  &61  Read  and  ordered  that  the  Said  memoriall  &  y^  Subje6l 
matter  thereof  be  Comitted  To  William  Jenison  &  Henry  Lee  Esq"" 
That  they  view  y'^  Road  where  y'^  mistake  is  Supposed  To  be  done 
&  Report  as  Soon  as  may  be  what  they  may  think  proper  for  the 
Court  to  doe  thereupon. 


An  acco"  of  Daniel  Gookin  Esqr  Sheriff  of  y^  County  of  Wor- 
cester amounting  unto  y^  Sum  of  Twenty  Two  pounds  three  Shill- 
ings for  Sundry  Services  &  Sallary  &61  as  ^  y^  acco"  appears 
Read  &  Examined  and  order  that  the  Said  acco'  be  allowed  &  The 
Treasurer  of  y^  County  is  accordingly  ordered  To  [pay]  y^  Said 
Sum  of  Twenty  Two  pounds  three  Shillings  To  Daniel  Gookin  Esqr 
in  full  Discharge  thereof. 


1 733- 1         Worcester  Cotmty,  Massachusetts.  87 

Samuel  Terrey  of  Mendon  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Clerk 
appellant  from  a  Sentance  given  against  him  by  Daniel  Taft  Esqr 
one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the  peace  for  Said  County  Upon 
y^  Complaint  or  information  of  William  Torrey  of  Mendon  aforesaid 
Husbandman  on  his  majestys  behalf  for  his  the  Said  Terrys  being 
Drunk  in  y*^  Town  of  Mendon  &61  whereby  he  was  Sentanced  To 
pay  a  fine  for  the  Use  of  y^  poor  of  y*^  Town  of  Mendon  y*^  Sum 
of  five  Shillings  &  fees  &  Cost  of  Sute  &61  as  "^  y*^  Complaint  The 
Sentance  appears  and  now  y*^  appellant  appeared  and  put  him 
Self  upon  Tryall  of  his  plea  of  not  Guilty  by  the  Court  The  Evi- 
dences in  behalf  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  y'^  King  were  Sworn  &  y^ 
Case  fully  and  maturely  heard  Its  Therefore  Considered  by  the 
Court  That  the  former  Sentance  be  Confirmed  &  that  therefore 
y«=  Said  Samuel  Terrey  pay  as  a  fine  To  y^  Use  of  y'^  poor  of  y^ 
Town  of  Mendon  The  Sum  of  five  Shillings  with  former  and  ad- 
ditional Costs  and  Stand  comitted  untill  This  Sentance  be  per- 
formed, y«^  fine  &  Costs  were  paid  in  Court  &  y'=  appel'  Dismissed 


Eben"'  Albee  of  Mendon  &6t  appel'  from  a  Judgment  given 
against  him  by  William  Jenison  Esqr  as  appears  by  y'  Judgm*  on 
file,  This  Case  was  comitted  to  the  Jury  and  it  appearing  To  be 
a  mistryal  inasmuch  as  y*^  Jury  Seperated  before  they  had  agreed 
upon  a  Verdi6l  Therefore  y^  Court  order  That  This  Case  be  Con- 
tinued To  y^  i"  Tuesday  of  Febry  next  of  which  all  persons  Con- 
cerned are  To  take  notice  and  Conform  them  Selves  accordingly 


Tom  Negro  of  Leicester  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Labourer 
Servant  of  Cap"  Thomas  Steel  of  Boston  Gent  being  presented  by 
ys  Grandjurors  for  the  body  of  the  County  aforesaid  for  y'  y«  Said 
Tom  Negro  being  at  Worcester  aforesaid  on  or  about  y*^  22''  day 
of  September  last  past  did  find  a  Certain  Pockett  book  or  Case 
with  a  Three  pound  Bill  and  one  Ten  Shilling  Bill  and  a  letter 
therein  all  which  things  belonged  to  Ralph  Earl  of  Leicester  in 
Said  County  Yeoman  and  y«^  Said  things  y*^  Said  Tom  having  So 


XOVKMBEB 


88  Coui't  of  Genei^al  Sessions.  P"term,' 

found  did  and  doth  Still  negle6l  &  Refuse  to  enter  with  y^  Town 
Clerk  Cry  and  post  as  y^  law  Requires  all  which  is  against  y^  peace 
of  our  Lord  y*^  King  his  Crown  &  Dignity  «S:  y<^  good  andWhol- 
some  laws  of  this  province  as  appears  by  y^  presentment  The 
said  Tom  Negro  came  into  Court  &  pleaded  To  y^  Insufficiency 
of  y*^  presentment  as  ^  y'^  pleas  on  file  which  were  over-Ruled  and 
the  said  Tom  Negro  pleaded  not  Guilty  &  put  himself  upon  Tryall 
by  y^  Court,  The  witnesses  In  the  Case  were  Sworn  and  the  mat- 
ter being  duly  Considered  the  Court  are  of  opinion  that  the  Said 
Tom  Negro  found  the  Three  pound  bill  and  The  Ten  Shilling  bill 
as  sett  forth  in  y^  presentment  and  y^  pockett  book  of  y'^  Value  of 
one  Shilling  and  that  he  hath  neglec?ted  Entering  crying  and  post- 
ing up  the  Same  according  to  law  I'hat  therefore  the  Said  Tom 
Negro  Hath  forfeited  to  y*^  use  of  y*^  poor  of  y^  Town  of  Leicester 
The  sum  of  Twenty  three  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  for  his  negledi: ; 
&  y'  pay  y*^  Sum  of  three  pounds  Eleven  Shillings  To  y^  Said  Ralph 
Earl  being  y^  money  found  &  y^  Value  of  y^  Book  and  pay  Costs 
Standing  Comitted  Till  This  Sentance  be  performed.  The  Said  Tom 
Negro  appealed  from  This  Sentance  To  y^  next  Court  of  assize  and 
General  Goal  delivery  To  beholden  at  Worcester  in  and  for  y^  County 
of  Worcester  on  the  Wednesday  Imediately  preceeding  The  time 
by  law  appointed  for  holding  Said  Court  of  assize  and  Generall 
Goal  delivry  at  Springfield  in  and  for  the  County  of  Hampshire 
in  September  next  and  entered  into  Recognizance  with  Two  Suffi- 
cient Suretys  to  prosecute  his  appeal  with  EffecSl.  —Tom  Negro  of 
Leicester  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Labourer  as  principall  In  y^ 
Sum  of  Twenty  pounds  and  Thomas  Steel  Jun''  of  Boston  In  y*^ 
County  of  Suffolk  Gent  and  Edmund  Goff  al"  Trowbridge  of  Cam- 
bridge in  the  County  of  Midlesex  Gent  as  Suretys  In  Ten  pounds 
Each  acknowledged  themselves  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  To 
our  Sovereign  Lord  y^  King  his  heirs  and  Successors  to  be  Leveyed 
on  their  Severall  goods  or  Chattells  lands  or  Tenements  for  the  use 
of  our  Lord  y^  King  Conditioned  that  the  Said  Negro  Tom  prose- 
cute his  appeal  as  aforesaid  with  Effe6f 

att'     John  Chandler  L  Cle  pac 


1 733- 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  89 

Our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  pla'  versus  Obadiah  Coolidge  of 
marlbro'  In  the  County  of  midlesex  Cordwainer  Versus  William 
Taylor  &  abraham  Eager  Jun''  both  of  Shrewsbury  In  the  County 
of  Worcester  Deft^  as  '^  a  Scire  facias  Served  on  them  &  duly  Re- 
turned dated  July  2''  1 733,  appears,  and  now  y^  Said  Obadiah 
Coolidge  who  was  the  principal  did  not  appear  but  the  said  Wil- 
liam Taylor  «S:  abraham  Eager  y^  Suretys  appeared  and  pleaded  in 
abatement  of  y^  process  as  appears  by  y^  pleas  which  being  duly 
Considered  by  the  Court  Its  ordered  that  y'^  writt  of  Scire  facias 
abate 


12 


Worcester  ss      An7io  F}  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nu7ic 
MagncE  Bintanice  FrancicB  et  HibernicB  Septimo 

/Vtt  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y""  peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
February  being  the  fifth  day  of  Said  month 
Annoq  Dom.  1733/: — 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esq""     Danl  Taft  Esq""  Joseph  Dwight  Esq"" 

Joseph  Wilder  Esq"'      John  Chandler  JrEsq""  Sam'  Dudley  Esq"' 
William  Ward  Esq''      Samuel  Wright  Esq"'    Nahum  Ward  Esq"" 
William  Jenison  Esq''   Henry  Lee  Esq'  Edward  Hartwell  Esq'' 

John  Keyes  Esq"" 

Grandjury  that  attended  were 

M""  Gershom  Rice  foreman  M""  Tho'  Thayer 

Cap'  Richard  Moore  M""  Edward  Morris 

M'  Hooker  Osgood  Cap'  William  Old 

M""  James  Moore  M""  David  Maynard 

M""  Samuel  Lillie  M''  Richard  Davenport 

M'  William  Brown  M'  Sam'  Johnson 

M""  James  Newton  M''  Jonathan  Farnsworth 

M'  Moses  How  M""  John  Emerson 

Each  attended  2  days  and  Isaac  Moore  Constable  also 

The  presents  are  on  file 


i733-i         ViWcester  County,  Massachusetts.  91 

The  Court  order  that  for  y^  future  and  untill  y^  further  order  this 
Court  that  Thursday  be  y^  day  more  Imediately  Set  a  part  for  y^ 
Doing  of  Sessions  business 


John  Jennings  of  Brookfield  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman and  EHzabeth  Jenings  his  wife  being  presented  by  the 
Grandjurors  &61  for  y"^  Crime  of  fornication  appeared  &  Confessed 
themselves  Guilty  were  find  Each  fourty  Shillings  To  y^  King  w"*" 
they  pay'd  &  also  Cost  and  were  Dismissed 


Peter  Marville  of  Mendon  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Physitian 
being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  &61  as  "^  y*^  presentment  ap- 
pears, appeared  and  pleaded  to  the  Insufficiency  of  y'^  presentment, 
which  being  duly  considered  ordered  That  y^  presentment  be 
Quashed  &  y^  Said  Marville  was  Dismissed  paying  Cost 


Samuell  Crawford  of  Hassamisco  In  y^  County  of  Worcester 
weaver  appellant  from  a  Judgment  given  ag''  him  by  John  Chand- 
ler J'  Esqr,  as  "^  y^  Judgt  &  recognizance  appears  came  into  Court 
&  fulfilled  y«  Judgm'  of  y^  Justice  &  leave  himself  on  y^  mercy  of 
the  Court,  he  was  Dismissed  paying  Costs  &61 


Daniel  Eliott  J''  of  Sutton  &61  being  presented  by  y^  Grand- 
jurors for  Rideing  on  the  Lords  day  as  "^  y^  presentment  appears 
appeared  and  was  Dismissed  paying  Cost 


Benjamin  Davis  also  Ephraim  Haywood  &  Jonas  Haywood  the 
Recognizances  Discharged  by  order  of  Court 


A  Report  of  William  Jenison  Esqr  &  Eben''  Edmunds  Two  of  a 
Comittee  appointed  by  this  Court  in  august  last  past  to  view  & 


Fkbbuaky 


92  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  "tekm 

Report  to  this  Court  concerning  y^  laying  out  a  Country  Road 
leading  from  the  Country  Road  lately  Established  by  S''  Court 
from  Worcester  to  mendon  to  the  Southerly  bounds  of  y^  Town  of 
Dudley  &.&.  made  Report  of  their  doings  which  Vere  Read  &  ac- 
cepted and  ordered  To  lye  on  file  &  the  Charge  thereof  being  five 
days  to  William  Jenison  Esqr  fifty  Shillings  &  four  days  to  Eben' 
Edmunds  fourty  ShiUings  &  their  Expenses  being  fourty  Shillings 
also  allowed 


The  Selectmen  of  Brookfield  presented  to  y^  Court  y^  warning 
of  margarett  m'^Troy  with  her  Child  Dan'  m'Troy  also  James  Tute 
and  his  wife  Kesiah  Tute  with  their  Children  viz'  mary  Tute  thank- 
full  Tute  and  amos  Tute,  as  ^  y^  warrant  warning  &61  appears  and 
is  on  file 


The  Sele6l  men  of  y^  Town  of  Southboro'  under  their  hands  In- 
formed this  Court  that  one  John  Steer  &  his  wife  late  from  the 
Kingdom  of  Ireland.  &6t  had  been  warned  out  of  their  Return, 
praying  Caution  may  be  Entered  thereof  as  ^^  y'=  Information  on 
file  appears 


The  Seleftmen  of  the  Town  of  Harvard  presented  a  warrant 
which  was  Executed  by  John  Daly  Constable  of  S*^  Town,  where- 
by Seth  Colwes  &  his  wife  &  Children  were  warned  To  Depart 
Said  Town,  which  is  on  file 


A  Vote  or  By  law  of  y*^  Town  of  Rutland  was  presented  to  this 
Court  by  Sam"  Wright  Esqr  In  behalf  of  Said  Town  viz',  Att  a 
Town  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Rutland  legally  warned  De- 
cember 12"'  1733.  &  Vote  in  Said  meeting  that  a  Tax  of  five  Shill- 
ings '^  head  shall  be  laid  on  all  horses  &  neat  Cattle  that  be  brought 
into  the  Town  of  Rutland  to  Graze  or  Sumer  there  by  any  person 
or  persons  other  then  proprietors  and  they  for  any  other  then 
proprietors  Cattle  or  horses  or  oxen  hired  to  work  or  Cows  to  give 


1733-4-5      Worcester  Coufity,  Massachusetts.  93 

milk  and  that  if  any  person  or  persons  living  in  or  belonging  to 
Rutland  aforesaid  Shall  bring  in  or  take  any  Strangers  Cattle  or 
horses  brought  into  Said  Town  to  keep  or  take  Care  or  Charge  of 
Such  Creatures  Shall  be  obliged  to  Render  an  acco"  upon  oath 
what  e^  how  many  Such  horses  or  Cattle  they  have  y^  Charge  of 
or  Knowing  to  and  Shall  pay  five  Shillings  "^  head  for  all  Such 
horses  or  Cattle  as  are  in  their  Care  or  Charge  the  money  to  be 
for  the  use  of  y^  Town  and  this  a6l  to  be  laid  before  the  Justices 
at  y^  next  Quarter  Sessions  to  be  held  at  Worcester  for  y^  County 
of  Worcester  for  their  Confirmation,  Voted  that  Samuell  Wright 
Esqr  is  Chosen  by  the  Town  to  lay  y^  above  Written  a6l  before  y'^ 
Said  Court  for  Confirmation  Samuel  Wright  moder'', 
which  is  accepted  alowed  &  approved  of  y''  Justices  &61 


Lydia  Lamb  Recog'  Discharged 
Jonathan  Lamb  Recognizance  Discharged 
John  Hambleton  Recognizance  Discharged 
Samuell  Bridges  Recog'  Discharged 


Solomon  Johnson  of  Leicester  being  presented  by  y^  Grand- 
jurers  for  y'^  Crime  of  Drunkeness,  was  bound  to  appear  at  y^  Court, 
did  appear,  and  there  being  no  Evidences  against  him  was  Dis- 
missed paying  Cost  which  was  38/6 

Solomon  Johnson  above  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  for 
unecessaryly  absenting  him  Self  from  y^  publick  Worship  of  God 
&  bound  To  answer  it  at  this  Court  appeared  and  y'^  Evidences 
not  being  to  be  had  he  was  dismissed  paying  Cost  w'^''  was  38/6 

Solomon  Johnson  above  being  presented  by  the  Grandjurers  for 
ye  Crime  of  prophane  Swearing  y^  Evidences  not  appearing  he  was 
dismissed  paying  Cost  w''"'  was  38/6 

Solomon  Johnson  above  appelant  from  Judgment  of  William 
Ward  Esqr  appeared  &  Submitted  y"^  matter  To  y'^  Court  who  Con- 
firmed former  Judgment  with  additional  Cost  y'^  whole  being  54/ 
&  y^  fine  5/ 


94  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  ^^tII^^^ 

The  Court  order  that  there  be  a  County  Tax  or  assessment 
amounting  unto  the  Sum  of  one  hundred  &  fifty  Seven  pounds 
Eight  Shillings  &  nine  pence  Raised  on  the  Several]  Towns  within 
this  County  for  defraying  the  usuall  necessary  Charges  arising  with 
the  Same  and  that  the  Clark  of  this  Court  forthwith  Send  out  war- 
rants To  y^  Sele6l  men  or  assessors  of  y'^  Respective  Towns  for 
assessing  their  Severall  parts  or  proportions  thereof  according  to  y'' 
rule  for  assessing  the  province  Charges  as  the  law  direft  &  for  pay- 
ing in  the  Same  to  Capt  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  at  or 
before  the  last  day  of  may  next  ensueing. 

The  Severall  Towns  proportion  thereof  is  as  follows  — vizt 

Worcester  Eleven  pound  Seven  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  ii      78 

Lancaster  Twenty  Six  pound  three  Shillings  &  four  pence  26     3  4 

Mendon  Eighteen  pound  18 

Woodstock  Sixteen  pound  16 

Brookfield  thirteen  pound  Ten  Shilling  &  Eight  pence  13  10  8 

Southboro  Eight  pound  thirteen  Shilling  8130 

Westboro'  Nine  pound  one  Shilling  9     I  O 

Leicester  Six  pound  nineteen  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  6198 

Shrewsbury  Seven  pound  Seven  Shillings  7     7 

Sutton  Twelve  pound  five  Shillings  12     5 

Oxford  Seven  pound  Two  Shilling  7     2 

Uxbridge  Six  pound  &  fourpence  604 

Rutland  three  Pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   18  o 

Lunenbifrg  three  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   iS 

Harvard  Seven  pound  Three  Shillings  &  one  peny  7     3   1 

Sum  Total  157     89 

And  warrants  were  accordingly  Issued  out  march  i^'  1733/4 

att'     John  Chandler  Cle  :  pac 


Jonathan  Lamb  of  Leicester  In  y'^  County  of  Worcester  Gent', 
being  Complained  of  by  m""  Richard  Davenport  and  m''  William 
Brown  two  of  the  present  Grandjurymen  for  this  County  &61  In 
behalf  of  them  Selves  &  Said  Grandjurors  as  well  in  behalf  of  our 
Lord  the  King  that  y*^  Said  Jonath  Lamb  about  Ten  days  Since  in 
y^  Town  of  Shrewsbury  in  Said  County  and  at  other  times  did  abuse 


i733"4'i      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  95 

and  Defame  y'^  Said  Grandjurors  by  Saying  that  they  were  perjured 
&61  against  y^  peace,  being  by  order  of  Court  by  warrant  from  y*^ 
Clark  brought  To  answer  to  Said  Complaint,  acknowledged  the 
fa6ls  laid  against  him  whereupon  the  Court  adjudged  the  Said 
Jonathan  Lamb  was  Guilty  of  abuseing  y^  Grandjurors  aforesaid, 
and  the  Said  Jonathan  Lamb  behaving  himself  in  a  Rude  &  dis- 
orderly maner  in  y'^  Court,  the  Court  [order]  that  he  be  Comitted 
To  his  majestys  Goal  there  to  Remain  Till  y*-'  further  order  of  this 
Court  and  he  was  accordingly  Comitted,  and  upon  his  humble  and 
hearty  Concern  for  his  offences  as  Expressed  in  his  petition  pray- 
ing y^  favour  of  y*^  Court  &6t,  the  Court  order  that  for  his  Said  of- 
fences he  pay  a  fine  to  the  King  of  fourty  Shillings  &  pay  Cost  & 
fees  &  to  Stand  Comitted  till  this  Sentance  is  performed  which 
he  paid  in  Court 


Sarauell  Terry  of  Mendon  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  Clerk  ap- 
pellant from  a  Sentance  given  against  him   by  Daniel  Taft   Esqr 
one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the  peace  for  the  Said  County  Up- 
on a  Complaint  or  Information  of  William  Torrey  of  Mendon  afore- 
TERRY  said  Husbandman  on  his  majestys  behalf  for 

DOM  REX  his  y^  Said  Terrys  being  drunk  in  the  Town  of 

JURY  Mendon  &61  whereby  he  was  Sentenced  to  pay 

Mr  James  Houiin?         ^  hic  for  y*^  usc  of  y*^  poor  of  the  Town  of 
Mrpiniiaywoud  Mcudou  fivc  Shillings  &  Cost  &  fees  as  19  y^ 

Jlr  David  Osgiiml  o  \i      J 

Mr  Kb:  Walker  Complaiut  &  Sentaucc  of  Said  Justice  appears 

'MrihiprstiniiiiKis  This  appeal  was  originally  brought  To  y^  Court 

MTln'^oMatu!! ' '' '  of  Gcnerall  Scsslous  of  y^  pcacc  held  here  on 

Mr  Na:  Parks  ^j-^g  f^j.^^  Tucsday  of  Nov""  last  when  &  where 

Mr  D.  Ilnbard  -' 

MrAaruiiRice  y^  Scutcnce  of  Said  Justice  was  Confirmed  &61 

Mr  Win  Holdway  ,  r^-ir~.  it.  »i  •!• 

and  upon  y*^  Said  Samuel  Terry  Adressing  hun- 
self  To  y^  Great  &  Gen'  Court  or  assembly  of  y*=  province  he  was 
Enabled  now  again  to  prosecute  his  appeal  as  "^  y^  order  of  Said 
Court  of  Jan'y  last  past  appears,  and  now  the  Said  Samuell  Terry 
appeared  and  pleaded  not  Guilty  and  the  Case  being  fully  argued 
&  heard  it  was  Comitted  To  y^  Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to 


q6  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  ^^11^^^ 

law  To  trye  the  Same  &  Returned  their  Verdi6l  in  that  y'^  Said 
Samuell  Terry  is  not  Guilty  The  Court  Therefore  order  Rever- 
sion of  y^  former  Judgment  &  that  the  Said  Samuell  l^rry  be  dis- 
charged paying  Cost  &  fees  Taxed  at  Seven  pound  and  upon  his 
nedeilins  so  to  do  the  Court  order  Execution  to  be  awarded  for 
y^  Same  and  that  it  be  paid  into  y^  hands  of  the  Clark  of  this  Court 
to  be  by  him  paid  to  whom  the  Same  is  due 


DOM^REx  Ebenezer  Albee  of  mendon  in  y^  County  of 

EB.  ALBEE  Worcestcr  Husbandman  appel'  from  a  Judg- 

samejurjjnsmyecase  nient  Or  Sentauce  given  against  him  by  William 
Jenison  Esq  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  y^ 
peace  for  Said  County  Upon  y'^  Complaint  of  Samuell  Terrey  of 
mendon  in  Said  County  Clark  on  his  majestys  behalf  as  well  as  of 
his  own  as  ^  y'^  Complaint  appears  &  Sentance  was  given  by  Said 
Justice  y'  y^  Said  Eb  albee  pay  a  fine  of  Ten  Shillings  to  y^  use  of 
y^  poor  of  mendon  &  Cost  as  ^  Sentence  will  appear  and  now  y*^ 
Said  Ebenezer  Albee  appearing  and  pleaded  not  Guilty,  The  Jury 
being  Sworn  according  to  law,  The  Case  after  a  full  hearing  on 
both  Sides  was  Comitted  To  the  Jury  To  Trye  y'^  Same  who  Re- 
turned there  Verdi6l  therein  as  follows  vizt  Not  Guilty  Its  there- 
fore Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  Sentence  of  y«  Said  William 
Jenison  Esqr  be  Reversed  and  that  the  Said  Ebenezer  Albee  be 
Discharged  pay  ffees  &  Costs  which  ffes  and  Costs  is  Taxed  at 
fourteen  pounds  Eighteen  Shillings  atid  upon  his  neglening  to  pay 
the  Same  The  Court  order  Execution  to  be  awarded  for  the  Same 
and  that  it  be  paid  into  y^  hands  of  y'^  Clerk  of  this  Court  to  be 
by  him  paid  to  whom  the  Same  is  due 

Sep'.  1 6  :  Satisfied     att'  John  Chandler  J  CI 


TORREY  William  Torrey  of  Mendon  in  the  County  of 

noM.  REX  Worcester  app"  from  a  Sentence  given  against 

^^'other'-casel"-'"        him  by  William  Jenison  Esqr  one  of  his  majes- 
tys Jus'  of  y«  peace  for  Said  County  upon  y« 
Complaint  or  Information  of  Samuel  Terrey  of  Mendon  in  Said 


1 733-4- i      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.  97 

County  Clerk  who  did  Complain  on  his  majestys  behalf  as  well  as 
of  his  own  That  about  y*^  month  of  October  last  past  before  y^ 
Complaint  at  mendon  aforesaid  y<=  Said  William  Torrey  being 
minded  to  abuse  Scandalize  &  defame  y^  Complain'  did  then  & 
there  wittingly  &  willingly  Publish  a  Lye  of  y*"  Complain'  &61  by 
Saying  he  had  drunk  &  he  could  prove  it  or  Sware  to  it  or  words 
to  that  Effect  or  Import  as  ^  y'^  Complaint  at  large  ai)pcars  &  the 
appeP  was  Sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  to  y^  King  Ten  Shillings  and 
pay  ffees  &  Cost  &61.  and  now  y^  appel'  appeared  and  to  Said 
Complaint  pleaded  not  Guilty.  The  Evidences  on  y^  part  of  the 
King  being  Sworn  &  the  Case  fully  heard  It  was  Comitted  To  y«^ 
Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to  law  To  Trye  the  Same  &  Re- 
turn'd  their  verdi6t  therin  upon  oath  viz'  That  y*^  said  William 
Torrey  is  not  Guilty  Its  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  that 
the  Sentence  of  the  Said  Justice  be  reversed  &  that  y«  Appel'  be 
Discharged  paying  Cost,  Taxed  at  Twenty  pound  nine  Shillings  & 
Sixpence  but  upon  his  neglecting  to  pay  y*=  Same  The  Court  order 
Execution  to  be  awarded  for  the  Same  and  that  it  be  paid  into  y^ 
hands  of  y'=  Clark  of  this  Court  to  be  by  him  paid  To  whom  y^ 
Same  is  due 


GOWEN 
vs 

DO.M.  REX 


Same  Jury  as  in  ye 
UtUcr  Cases 


Benjamin  Gowen  of  Sutton  in  y^  County  of 
Worcester  Yeoman  app"  from  Sentence  given 
against  him  by  John  Chandler  Junr  Esqr  one 
of  his  majestys  [justices]  of  y^  peace  for  Said 
County  upon  the  Complaint  of  Robert  Jenison  of  Said  Sutton  Yeo- 
man who  Complained  on  his  majestys  behalf  as  well  as  of  his  own 
&ct  and  l)y  Said  Sentence  y*^  now  appel'  was  sentenced  to  pay  as 
a  fine  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  y^  King  five  Shillings  &  pay  Costs  & 
fees  &6\  as  "^  y^  warrant  and  Sentence  of  Said  Justice  fully  appears 
— and  n(^w  y'^  appel'  appeared  &  to  the  S''  Complaint  pleaded  not 
Guilty  the  Case  being  fully  &  largely  argued  &  heard  It  was  Com- 
itted to  y<^  Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to  law  To  Trye  y^  Same 
&  Return'd  there  Virdid;  therein  upon  Oath  that  is  To  Say  The 
said  Benjamin  Gowen  is  not  Guilty  Its  therefore  Considered  by  the 

13 


98  Court  of  Gejteral  Sessions.  T'rEBMf"' 

Court  that  the  Sentence  of  y^  Justice  shall  be  reversed  and  that  y^ 
appelt  be  Discharged  paying  Cost  Taxed  at  Nine  pound  Two 
Shillings  &  four  pence  and  upon  his  negle6ling  to  pay  y*^  Same  the 
Court  order  Execution  to  be  awarded  for  y^  Same  and  that  it  be 
paid  into  the  hands  of  y^  Clark  of  this  Court  to  be  by  him  paid  To 
whome  y^  Same  is  due  Ex*^  July  11  :  1734 


NEWELL  Thomas  Newell   of  Dudley  in  y^  County  of 

DOM  REX  Worcester  Cordwainer  app"  from  a  Sentence 

JURY  given  against  him  by  John  Chandler  J  Esq''  one 

Mr  James  Holding  ^f  |-,jg  niajcstys  Tustices  of  y^  peace  for  Said 

Mr  Phi-  Haywood  J         J       J  J        f 

Mr  David  Osgood  Couuty  upon  y^  Complaint  of  John   Runel  of 

Mr  Hopestiii  Hhids         SaldDudlcy  Joyner  who  Complained  on  his 
Mr  Samuel  Beamons       majcstys  behalf  as  wcll  as  of  his  own  &a  for 

Mr  John  Matthis  •'         •' 

Mr  Na.  Parks  that  y^   S'^   NCWCU   being   minded   to  abuse  &  de- 

Mr  Oanl  Hubbard  ^  „     /-^  1      »     O     r-,      1  >  •    1     TtT.        .  ,  o  -If  > 

Mr  Aaron  Rice  fauic  y'^  Compla'  (icct  Did  Wittingly  &  willingly 

L^'"'^?'\V."I?"''^'  make  and  Publish  a  Lye  of  y«^  Complain'  &a 

Mr  Ob :  V\  alker  -^  ^  <^ 

&  Sentence  was  that  he  pay  as  a  fine  to  his 
majesty  Ten  Shillings  &61  &  pay  Cost  &  ffees  &61  as  '^  y"^  Sentence 
of  S''  Justice  fully  appears  dated  Dec^  12  :  1733.  &  now  y^  app" 
appeared  and  pleaded  not  Guilty  &  y^  Case  being  fully  heard  It 
was  Comitted  to  y*^  Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to  Law  to 
Trye  y^  Same  &  Return'd  there  Verdi6l  therein  upon  oath  vizt 
that  y^  Said  Thomas  Newell  is  not  Guilty  Its  therefore  Consid- 
ered by  the  Court  the  Sentence  of  the  S'^  Justice  be  reversed  and 
that  y^  app"  be  discharged  paying  Cost  Taxed  at  Twenty  one 
pound  three  Shillings  &  Six  pence  and  upon  his  negle61:ing  to  pay 
y^  Same  y^  Court  order  Execution  to  be  awarded  and  that  it  be 
paid  into  y^  hands  of  y^  Clark  of  this  Court  to  be  by  him  paid  to 
whom  it  is  due 


Worcester  ss      Anno  7?'  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
Magnce  Britanice  Fra?icice  et  Hibernice  Septimo 

Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  The  Second  Tuesday 
of  May  being  the  fourteenth  day  of  Said  month 
Annoq  Dom  1734 — 


John  Chandler  Esq'' 
Joseph  Wilder  Esq' 
William  Ward  Esq' 
William  Jenison  Esq"" 
Daniel  Taft  Esq' 
John  Chandler  Jr  Esq"" 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

I  Justices  of 
I  the  Peace 
V         & 
Quorum 


Joseph  Dwight  Esq' 
Samuel  Dudley  Esq'' 
Henry  Lee  Esq' 
Nahum  Ward  Esq' 
Samuel  Willard  Esq' 
John  Keyes  Esq' 


Grandjurors  that  attended  this  Court 


M'  Gershom  Rice  foreman  M' 

Cap'  Richard  Moore  M' 

M'  Hooker  Osgood  '               M' 

M'  James  Moore  M' 

M'  William  Richardson  M' 

M'  Thomas  Thayer  M' 

M'  William  Old  M' 

M'  David  Mavnard  M' 


Samuel  Lillie 
William  Brown 
James  Newton 
Moses  How 
Richard  Davenport 
John  Emerson 
Samuel  Johnson 
Jonathan  Farnsworth 


Each  attended  Two  days  &  Dep'  Sheriff  with  them 


lOO  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^tebm. 

Names  of  the  new  Grandjurors  who  were  Sworn  and  the  Charge 
given  them  &  then  Dismissed  till  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of 
the  peace  in  ang"'  next  viz' 

M'  Joshua  Child  foreman  \  M""  Thomas  Gleason  Oxford 

M'  Jotham  Rice  j  Worcester 

M"^  Josiah  White      \  M''  Benjamin  Johnson  Leicester 

M""  Bazeliell  Sawyer  J  Lancaster  M''  Daniel  Warren  Westboro' 

M'  Jonathan  Bugbee  Woodstock  M""  Isaac  Amsden  Southboro' 

M''  Joseph  Sumner  Mendon  M'  William  Taylor  Shrewsbury 

Cap'  Thomas  Gilbert  Brookfield  M^  Eleazer  Ball  Rutland 

M"'  Eben"'  Read  Uxbridge  M""  Nathan  Heywood  Lunenburg 

M'  Joseph  Sibly  Sutton  M""  Simon  Stone  Harvard 


David  Haynes  of  Sudbury  In  the  County  of  Midlesex  Gent  be- 
ing presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  Unecessaryly  Rideing  on  the 
Lords  day  y"^  23*^  day  of  Septem""  last  &  bound  to  this  Court  to 
answer  his  presentment  pleaded  to  the  Insufficiency  of  th'e  present- 
ment which  was  alowed  of  by  y*^  Court  &  he  dismissed  paying  Costs 


An  acco"  of  the  Grandjurors  Travell  and  attendance  from  may  : 
1733  To  this  time  amounting  to  y*^  Sum  of  Seventy  Eight  i)ounds 
Eighteen  Shillings  presented  for  allowance  which  was  according 
allowed  of  and  ordered  that  the  Clerk  Certifie  y*^  Same  To  y^ 
County  Treas""  for  payment 


The  Court  order  that  y*^  Treasurr  be  dire6led  To  pay  The  Sum 
of  fourty  Shillings  To  Isaac  Moore  a  Constable  for  his  attendance 
on  The  Grandjurors  the  year  past  viz'  Ten  days 


Cap"  Benj"  Flagg  County  Treas""  presented  his  acco""  which 
were  Examined  &  allowed  of  by  the  Court  the  ballance  Due  to  y 
County  being  thirteen  pounds  nineteen  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  & 
ordered  the  Clerk  To  Sign  y'=  Same 


i734-i         IVorcestei'-  Coiuity,  Massachusetts.         loi 

The  Court  order  that  y^  Expenses  of  y*^  Comittee  ah'  y^  Court 
House  being  thirteen  Shillings  be  paid  out  of  y^  County  Treasury 
&  that  v"  Clerk  Certifie  v'^  Same. 


Ezekiel  Upham  Resident  in  Hassanamisco  in  y*^  County  of  Wor- 
cester Housewright  appelant  from  a  Sentance  given  against  him  by 
Nahum  Ward  Esq""  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  y^  peace  for 
Said  County  Upon  y*^  Complaint  of  Peter  Lawrance  Indian  Planter 
of  Hassanamisco  aforesaid  who  Complained  on  his  majestys  behalf 
as  well  of  his  own  &:6l  for  his  Taking  five  or  Six  bushells  of  Indian 
Corn  out  of  a  Corn  Cribb  in  Hassanamisco  aforesaid  of  his  the 
Said  Lawrances  in  a  thiefish  maner  Sometime  in  the  Winter  past 
(Sift  &  Sentence  was  that  y*^  Said  Upham  is  Guilty  of  Taking  two 
bushells  of  the  Corn  he  was  Charged  with  in  a  theifish  maner 
which  Corn  was  of  Twelve  Shillings  Value  that  he  pay  as  a  fine  to 
y*^  King  Ten  Shillings  &  threeble  damages  for  Said  Corn  to  y^  Said 
Peter  being  thirty  Six  Shilling  &  Costs  &  ffees  &  Stand  Committed 
till  Sentence  be  performed  as  "^  the  Sentence  of  the  Said  Justice 
Dated  aprill  15"'  1734  appears  and  now  y^  appelant  appeared,  to 
prosecute  his  appeal  but  an  Exception  being  taken  To  the  Reasons 
of  appeal  for  that  they  were  not  properly  Directed  to  the  Court 
which  Exception  &  y^  pleas  of  Each  party  thereon  being  duly  Con- 
sidered The  Court  are  of  Opinion  that  y*^  Dire6tion  of  the  Said 
Reasons  of  appeal  are  Improper  &  Insufficient  To  Support  the 
Same,  Its  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court,  That  the  Sentence 
of  y^  Said  Justice  be  Confirmed  with  additionall  Cost  viz'  that  the 
Said  Ezekiell  Upham  pay  as  a  fine  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
The  Sum  of  Ten  Shillings  that  he  pay  to  y*"  Said  Peter  Lawrance 
Threeble  Damages  for  Said  Two  bushells  of  Corn  being  in  y*^  whole 
thirty  Six  Shillings  the  Corn  if  any  Return'd  to  be  part  thereof  & 
pay  Costs  &  ffees  in  the  Taxed  at  the  Sum  of  Seven  pounds  one 
Shillings  &  Seven  pence  and  upon  his  negle6ling  to  pay  y^  Same 
y^  Court  order  Execution  to  be  awarded  for  y^  Same  and  that  it  be 
paid  into  y^  hands  of  y^  Clark  to  be  by  him  paid  To  whom  the 
Same  is  due. 


I02  Court  of  General  Sessions.  Jtkkm, 

Oliver  Wallis  of  Worcester  bound  over  by  way  of  Recognizance 
as  ^  y^  Recognizance  appeared  his  Recognizance  was  discharged 


Tho"  Gibbs  &  Moses  Rice  who  were  bound  for  y^  appearance 
of  Jos  Perey  moved  they  might  be  discharge  &  were  paying  Cost 
as  see  y"^  papers  on  file 


A  Petition  of  David  Parsons  of  Leicester  in  y^  County  of  Wor- 
cester Cler'  presented  to  this  Court  in  Febry  last  &  Continued  to 
this  Court,  now  Sitting  Seting  forth  the  great  Inconveniencys  & 
hardships  he  labours  under  by  Reason  of  a  Highway  being  laid 
as  he  apprehends  Illegally  a  cross  his  lands  in  Leicester  praying 
Relief  as  "p  y'=  petition  will  appear,  at  which  Court  he  was  direded 
to  Serve  y^  Town  of  Leicester  &61  &  one  John  Lynds  with  a  Copy 
of  the  Petition  now  to  shew  Cause  why  the  prayer  thereof  Should 
not  be  granted  &  now  all  y^  partys  appeared  &  after  y^  Affair  was 
fully  debated  and  maturely  Considered  y^  petition  was  dismissed 
&  y^  petitioner  ordered  to  pay  Cost  which  were  done  in  y-"  Court 


A  Petition  of  Paul  Moore  of  Worcester  housewright  Sheweing 
that  he  together  with  Cap'  Jonn  Hubard  of  Worcester  entered  into 
a  Contra6l  with  a  Committee  appointed  by  this  Court  for  building 
y^  Court  House  which  he  has  performed  to  good  acceptance  and 
doing  which  he  has  reely  Expended  about  thirty  or  fourty  pounds 
more  y"  he  Engaged  y*^  Same  for  as  will  appear  by  a  schedule  of 
Said  work  anexed  to  his  petition  praying  allowance  therefore  as  to 
y^  Court  shall  seem  meet  Read  &  ordered  that  William  Jenison 
John  Chandler  Jr.  Henry  [Lee]  Esq"  and  Cap*  Benjamin  Flagg 
y^  Comittee  for  building  Said  house  take  said  Petition  and  acco' 
into  y'  Consideration  &  make  report  To  this  Court  in  august  next 
what  they  may  think  proper  for  y^  Court  to  do  thereon  and  that 
y^  Petition  be  Refered  To  that  time 


1 734- 1         Worcester  County,  jVIassachusetis.         103 

A  By  law  of  y^  Town  of  Brookfield  RespecSling  persons  taking 
Cattle  into  Said  Town  &(5l  presented  by  Col°  Dwight  the  Same 
was  accordingly  approved  of  and  is  on  file 


Dudley  Jordan  of  a  place  called  Lambstown  in  y^  County  of 
Worcester  husbandman  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  for 
unecessaryly  rideing  on  y*^  Lords  day  being  y^  28"'  day  of  06lober 
last  past  Came  into  Court  and  put  himself  on  the  mercy  of  y'= 
Court  and  was  dismissed  paying  Cost 


David  Aldriches  two  Recognizances  Discharged  about  his  ab- 
senting himself  from  y'=  Publick  worship  of  God 


David  Aldrich  of  Uxbridge  &61  being  presented  to  y^  Court  by 
the  Grand  jurors  pleaded  Guilty  whereupon  y*^  Court  ordered  that 
he  pay  a  fine  to  y^  King  of  fifty  Shillings  &  Cost  &  fees  &  Stand 
Comitted  till  this  Sentance  is  performed  which  he  paid  and  was 
dismissed. 


Thomas  adams  of  Worcester  Husbandman  and  his  wife  Ruth 
Jessoniah  Rice  of  Worcester  Husbandman  and  Lydia  his  wife  all 
came  into  Court  &  Severally  acknowledged  themselves  Guilty  of 
the  Crime  of  fornication  were  fined  to  y'^  King  Each  Thirty  Shillings 
which  they  paid  with  Cost  &  were  dismissed 


The  Court  order  that  for  the  future  y"^  Clerk  do  not  Signe  or 
grant  out  any  Sumonses  for  witnesses  In  Criminall  Cases  but  what 
are  directed  to  the  Sheriff  or  his  deputy  or  to  a  Constable  to  Serve 
&  return 


The  Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  being  Laid  before  y^  Court 
Joseph  Dwight  Nahum  Ward  &  John  Chandler  J""  Esq'  were  ap- 
pointed a  Comittee  To  Sort  &  number  them  and  Report  who  is 


I04  CoiLrt  of  General  Sessions.  |  t^rm, 

Chosen  attended  y'  Service  and  Reported  that  Benjamin  Flagg  J'' 
was  Chosen  and  y^  Oath  of  Ofifice  was  accordingly  administered 
To  him  by  y^  Clark  of  y'^  Court  by  order  of  &  in  y^  Court 


Two  orders  or  by  laws  of  the  Town  of  W^orcester  one  Respeft- 
ing  Cattle  and  horses  y^  dther  Rams  were  present  for  approbation 
&  were  accordingly  approved 


The  Sele6lmen  of  mendon  presented  to  y^  Court  y*^  warrant  & 
warning  of  mary  Thompson  and  also  of  Sarah  Price  with  her  Child 
all  depart  Said  Town  of  mendon  &  are  on  file 


The  Sele6lmen  of  y'^  Town  of  Worcester  presented  to  y^  Court 
a  warrant  with  y^  Constables  return  for  warning  Hanah  Troy  aP 
[  ]  Margarett  Troy  to   Depart  their  Town  also  a  warrant 

with  y^  Constables  Return  thereon  for  y^  warning  David  Smiley  & 
Eliza  Smiley  depart  their  Town  also  a  warrant  with  y'=  Constables 
Return  thereon  for  the  warning  an  aged  woman  named  Eliz"  moore 
with  her  Two  Sons  Robert  &  Joseph  moore  and  a  young  Child 
named  Thomas  Rodes  all  to  Depart  their  Town  praying  the  return 
thereof  may  be  entered  &  approved  which  was  done  accordingly 
by  y^  Court 


The  Court  now  order  that  y'=  Comittee  for  y*^  meeting  house 
from  time  to  time  untill  further  order  of  the  Court  take  Care  To 
Keep  y^  Court  house  in  Repair  that  they  do  make  Sutable  ways  to 
ascend  y«  hill  on  which  it  Stands  Clear  the  brush  near  the  Same  & 
lay  their  Charges  from  time  to  time  before  y*^  Court  for  allowance 


The  Seleftmen  of  y^  Town  of  Shrewsbury  presented  to  y'^  Court 
y^  warrant  &  warning  of  John  Wilson  &  family  To  depart  their 
Town  and  is  on  file 


Worcester  ss      Aitno  E}  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
MagncB  Br  it  antes  FrancicB  et  Hibeiniics  Octavo 

/Vtt  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  The  Second  Tuesday 
of  August  being  the  thirteenth  day  of  Said 
month  Annoq  Dom  1734 — 


Juhn  ("handler  Esq"" 
Joseph  Wilder  Esq"" 
William  Ward  Esq"" 
William  Jenison  Esq"" 
Daniel  1  "aft  Esq"" 
John  Chandler  Esq"" 
Samuel  Wright  Esq 
Jossiah  Willard  Esq 


Captain  James  Wilder 
M'  Seth  Chapin 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Justices  of 
y=  Peace 

& 
Quorum 


CORONERS. 


Joseph  Dwight  Esq"" 
Samuel  Dudley  Esq'' 
Henry  Lee  Esq"" 
Nahum  Ward  Esq"" 
Samuel  Willard  Esq"" 
John  Keyes  Esq''    . 
Edward  Hartwell  Esq 


M''  Joseph  Wright 
M""  Gershom  Rice 


GRAND  JURORS 

M'  Joshua  Child  fore 

man 

M^ 

Thomas  Gleason 

M""  Josiah  White 

M^ 

Benjamin  Johnson 

M""  Jotham  Rice 

M-- 

Daniel  Warren 

M''  Bazeliell  Sawyer 

M-- 

Isaac  Amsden 

M""  Jonathan  Bugbee 
14 

M^ 

William  Taylor 

io6  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \tS^S[ 

Cap*  Thomas  Gilbert  M'  Eleazer  Ball 

M''  Joseph  Sumner  M"  Nathan  Heywood 

M'  Ebenezer  Read  N.  B.  M""  Simon  Stone  of 

M'  Joseph  Sibly  Harvard  was  Sick  &  did  not  attend 

The  Jury  attended  three  days  &  an  ofhcer  vizt  with  them 


Peter  Kendall  of  Lancaster  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Labourer 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  y'=  body  of  Said  County  for 
y'  he  Said  Peter  Kendall  at  Lancaster  aforesaid  on  or  about  the 
midle  of  July  i  733  did  Comitt  the  Crime  of  Fornication  on  y^  body 
of  Beriah  Knight  of  Lancaster  aforesaid  Spinster  which  is  Contrary 
to  y*^  peace  of  our  Lord  y^  King  his  Crown  and  dignity  &  y*^  Good 
&  wholesome  laws  of  this  province  as  ^^  y^  presentment  on  file  ap- 
pears To  which  y^  Said  Peter  Kendall  pleaded  not  Guilty  and  put 
him  Self  on  Tryall,  The  Jury  being  Sworn  according  to  law  to 
Trye  y^  Case  y*^  Delinquent  after  a  full  hearing  was  Comitted  To 
y^  jury  who  Return'd  there  verdi6l  therein  upon  oath  as  follows 
viz'  that  y"^  Said  Peter  Kendall  is  Guilty  in  form  aforesaid  Its 
Therefore  Considered  by  The  Court  That  the  Said  Peter  Kendall 
pay  as  a  fine  therefor  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  y*^  King  The  Sum  of 
fifty  Shillings  &  pay  Costs  &  Fees  Taxed  at  nine  pound  Seventeen 
Shillings  and  Stand  Comitted  Till  this  Sentence  be  performed,  at 
which  time  the  said  Peter  Kendall  appealed  To  y^  next  Court  of 
Assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  at  Worcester  with- 
in and  for  y^  County  of  Worcester  on  y^  Wednesday  Imediately 
preceding  the  time  by  law  appointed  for  holding  y^  Said  Court  of 
Assize  and  Generall  Goal  delivery  at  Springfield  within  and  for  y^ 
County  of  Hampshire  In  September  next  and  Entered  into  Re- 
cognizance with  Two  Sufficient  Suretys  according  to  law  To  prose- 
cute his  appeal  with  Effe6l. 

Peter  Kendall  of  Lancaster  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Labourer 
as  principall  In  y^  Sum  of  fourty  pounds  &  Ralph  Kendall  Taylor 
and  Oliver  Wilder  Gent  both  of  Lancaster  In  Said  County  as  Sure- 
tys in  Twenty  pounds  Each  acknowledge  themselves  to  be  In- 
debted To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  to  be  Leveyed  on  their 
Severall  goods  Chattells  lands  cV  Tenaments  and  in   want  thereof 


i734-(         Worcester  Cotuity,  Massachusetts.         107 

on  their  bodys  for  y^  use  of  our  Said  Lord  y^  King  his  heirs  or 
Successors  Conditioned  that  y^  Said  Peter  Kendall  prosecute  his 
appeal  To  Effecl  at  y*^  Said  Court  of  Assize  &  Generall  Goal  de- 
livery To  be  holden  in  &  for  Said  County  of  Worcester  and  abide 
y*^  Judgment  of  said  Court  &  not  Depart  without  Leave  and  in  the 
mean  time  be  &  Remain  of  y'^  Good  behaviour 


Beriah  Knight  of  Lancaster  Single  Woman  being  presented  by 
the  Grandjurors  for  her  being  Guilty  of  y'^  Crime  of  Fornication 
came  into  Court  Confessed  herself  Guilty  was  find  thirty  Shillings 
which  She  paid  &  was  Dismissed 


Jolm  Brown  of  Watertown  &61  being  presented  by  y^  Grand 
Jurors  for  his  Unecessaryly  Rideing  on  y^  28"*  day  of  aprill  last 
past  being  y^  Lords  day  came  into  Court  &  pleaded  To  y'^  Insuffi- 
ciency of  y^  presentment  for  y'  he  has  not  his  addition  properly 
given  him  was  Dismissed  paying  Cost  w*"''  he  paid 


Megee  Dupee  of  Lancaster  being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors 
for  being  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  Fornication  &  bound  over  To 
answer  for  y^  Same  by  m'  Justice  Wilder  appeared  and  pleaded 
She  was  not  bound  to  answer  y*^  Same  She  not  having  her  right 
name  The  Court  Considered  y^  Same  &  She  was  Dismissed  pay- 
ing Cost  w*-'^  she  paid. 


Thomas  Currier  and  John  Damon  being  presented  by  y*  Grand- 
jurors for  Rideing  Unecessaryly  on  y'=  Lords  day  as  '^  y^  present- 
ment appeared  and  pleaded  they  were  under  a  necesaty  of  rideing 
y'^  Court  order  y'  yy  be  dismissed  paying  Cost  w"*"  were  paid 


William  Gray  Jun'  &  Sam"  Gray  both  of  Worcester  being  Sev- 
erally presented  by  y^  Grand  Jurors  for  being  Guilty  of  drunken- 


io8  Court  of  Geiier ill  Sessions.  \^tS^^^ 

ness  appeared  before  y^  Court  &  Severally  pleaded  Guilty  to  their 
presentments  were  each  find  five  Shillings  to  y*=  use  of  y^  poor  of 
y^  Town  of  Worcester  &  to  pay  Costs  w'^''  they  paid  &  were  dis- 
missed 


Ephraim  Smith  of  Shrewsbury  &  Hari"  his  wife  both  being  pre- 
sented by  y'^  Grandjurors  for  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  Fornica- 
tion came  into  Court  and  Confessed  them  Selves  Severally  Guilty 
were  find  Each  To  y^  King  thirty  Shillings  &  to  pay  Cost  which 
they  paid  &  were  dismissed 


Daniel  Hill  Husbandman  &  Nath"  Emerson  Cordwainer  both 
of  Mendon  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  &61  as  "^  y^  pre- 
sentment appears  for  Rideing  Unecessaryly  on  y^  third  day  of 
Febry  last  past  &61  being  y«  Lords  day  came  into  Court  &  pleaded 
Guilty  were  fin'd  Each  thirty  Shilling  To  the  poor  of  y-  Town  of 
mendon  &  to  pay  Cost  -paid 


Meriam  Jones  wife  of  Daniel  Jones  of  Brookfield  Came  into 
Court  &  Confessed  that  She  was  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  Fornication 
was  fin'd  thirty  Shillings  &  Dismissed  paying  Cost 


Nath"  Bartlett  of  Brookfield  Confest  himself  Guilty  of  y^  Crime 
of  Fornication  was  Sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  &  Cost 
which  he  p**  &  was  Dismissed 


The  Town  of  Southborough  being  presented  for  not  having  a 
writing  &  reading  Schoolmaster  &6t  by  their  Sele6lmen  &  were 
dismissed  paying  Cost 


1 734- 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         109 
Solomon  Johnsons  Petition  Dismissed 


Jane  Morss  wife  of  Sam'  Morss  of  Uxbridge  &(?t  being  presented 
for  her  Unecessaryly  absenting  herself  from  y^  publick  Worship  of 
God  as  ^  y^  presentment  appeared  &  put  her  Self  on  y^  mercy  of 
y^  Court,  was  dismissed  paying  Cost 


Peter  Kendall  &  Hepzibah  his  wife  of  Lancaster  appeared  in 
Court  and  Confessed  y'"selves  Guilty  of  fornication  were  find  Each 
thirty  Shillings  &  dismissed  paying  Cost 


The  Sele6l  men  of  y^  Town  of  Woodstock  presented  a  warrant 
with  their  Constables  Return  for  warning  on  W™  Russell  &  his  wife 
to  leave  their  town  w*^''  was  approved  by  y^  Court 


William  Peirce  of  Westborough  in  y*^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman upon  y'=  Complaint  of  Asher  Rice  of  S*^  Southborough  to 
Nahum  Ward  Esq  was  by  him  bound  over  to  this  Court  as  '^  y* 
Recognizance  and  Complaint  appears  The  affair  was  laid  before 
the  Grandjury  who  upon  a  bill  prepared  by  y^  Kings  attorney  Re- 
turn'd  y^  Same  Ignoramus  whereupon  y'^'  Court  dismissed  y^  affair 
&  Each  party  bore  his  own  Cost 


Eliphalett  Warfield  of  Mendon  In  y'^  County  of  Worcester  was 
bound  over  to  this  Court  by  Dan"  Taft  Esqr  to  answer  to  his  pre- 
sentment by  the  Grandjury  for  Unecessaryly  labouring  on  a  public 
fast  &6t  as  "^  y^  presentment  pleaded  to  y^  Insufficiency  of  y^  Same 
and  was  ordered  to  be  dismissed  pay  Cost  Taxed  at  five  pound  & 
Ten  pence  w''''  he  refuseing  to  do  was  '^  order  of  Court  Comited 
to  his  majestys  Goal  there  to  remain  till  dismissed  by  order  of  law 


I  lo  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \^mS^, 

John  Hamilton  of  Shrewsbury  in  the  County  of  Worcester  La- 
bourer appearing  in  Court  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y" 
Grandjurors  for  that  he  the  Said  John  Hamilton  at  Worcester  In 
y^  County  of  Worcester  on  y"^  fourteenth  day  of  august  Instant  in 
y^  night  time  did  feloniously  take  and  Steel  out  of  y^  Pockett  of 
Samuel  Lawdy  of  medfield  in  y^  County  of  Suffolk  Gent  about 
four  or  five  pound  in  bills  of  Creditt  with  Some  papers  being  y^ 
proper  Estate  of  y'=  Said  Lawdy  all  which  is  against  y^  peace  of 
our  Said  Lord  y^  King  his  Crown  and  dignity  and  y^  good  and 
wholsome  Laws  of  this  province  as  %]  y'^  presentment  on  file  To 
which  y*^  Def"  pleaded  not  Guilty  and  put  himself  on  Tryall  by  a 
Jury  who  were  Sworn  to  Try  y^  Same  y^  Deft  having  been  fully 
heard  y^  Jury  went  out  to  Consider  thereof  &  Return'd  there  ver- 
di6l  Therein  finding  y'^  Def"  [Joseph  Crosby  not  Guilty]  ^ 

Its  Considered  by  y'^  Court  that  y^  Defend"  be  Dismissed  pay- 
ing Cost  &  ffees  Taxed  at  five  pound  &  Tenpence  Standing  Com- 
itted  Till  Sentence  be  performe'd 


Ezekiell  Upham  of  Hassanamisco  in  y^  County  of  Worcester 
Housewright  appel"  from  a  Sentence  given  against  him  by  Nahum 
Ward  Esq''  one  of  his  majestys  Jus**  of  y^  peace  for  said  County  on 
y*^  Complaint  of  Peter  Lawrence  of  Said  Hassanamisco  Indian 
planter  for  stealing  Corn  &6t  as  "^  y^  Sentence  of  Said  Justice  on 
file,  (This  Tryal  now  being  by  order  of  y^  Great  &  Gen"  Court) 
&  now  y*^  Def"  pleaded  not  Guilty  &  put  himself  on  Tryall  by  a 
Jury  who  were  Sworn  to  try  y'^  Same  y^  Deft  ha\'ing  been  fully 
heard  y"^  Jury  went  out  to  Consider  thereof  &  Return'd  there  Ver- 
di6t  therein  finding  y^  Def"  not  Guilty  Its  therefore  Considered  by 
the  Court  That  y"^  Said  Ezekiel  upham  be  dismissed  paying  Cost 
&  ffees  Taxed  at  five  pound  18/  &  Sixpence  and  upon  his  negleft- 
ing  To  pay  y'^  Same  The  Court  order  Execution  To  be  granted 
therefor  and  y'  it  be  paid  into  y^  hands  of  y^  Clerk  of  the  Court  To 
be  paid  To  whom  it  is  due 

'Words  in  brackets  cancelled. 


I  734- 1         Worcester  Coiuity,  Massachusetts.         iii 

John  Fitz  Gerald  al"  John  Hayes  aP  John  m'neal  a  Transient 
person  now  Resident  in  Worcester  In  said  County  appearing  in 
Court  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y"  grandjurors  for  y'  he  on  or 
about  the  29  day  of  July  last  past  at  medfield  in  the  County  of 
Suffolk  did  then  and  there  feloniously  take  Steal  and  Carry  away 
fifty  pounds  in  bills  of  Creditt  and  merchants  notes  and  Six  Silk 
handkerchiefs  of  the  Valine  of  Ten  Shillings  Each  being  y'^  proper 
Estate  and  then  in  the  possession  of  Samuel  Lawdy  of  medfield 
aforesaid  Gent  and  did  also  Continue  the  Said  theft  at  Worcester 
in  y''  Said  County  of  Worcester  by  concealing  the  said  bills  of 
Creditt  notes  and  Handkercheifs  all  w'^'^  is  highly  Criminall  and 
against  y"^  peace  of  our  Said  Lord  the  King  his  Crown  &  Dignity 
and  ye  Good  and  wholsom  Laws  of  this  province  as  "^  y^  pre- 
sentment To  which  y^  Def"  pleaded  not  Guilty  &  put  himself  on 
Tryall  by  a  Jury  who  were  Sworn  to  Trye  y-^  Same  The  Def"  hav- 
ing been  fully  heard  The  Jury  went  out  to  Consider  thereof  and 
Return'd  there  Verdict  therein  finding  y'^  Def"  Guilty 

Its  Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  Said  John  Fitz  Gerall  aP 
John  Hays  a''  John  m'-'neal  be  whipt  on  y^  naked  body  Twenty 
Stripes  That  he  pay  the  Said  Samuell  Lawdy  threeble  y=  mony  & 
(roods  Stole  viz*  one  hundred  &  fifty  nine  pounds  The  mony  & 
goods  found  To  be  part  thereof,  and  upon  his  negleding  to  pay 
y^  Same  That  he  be  bound  To  y^  S''  Sam"  Lawdy  his  heirs  and 
assigns  At  Ten  pounds  ^  year  to  pay  y^  Same  that  he  pay  Cost  & 
fees  taxed  at  fourteen  pounds  nine  Shillings  &  Six  pence  and 
Stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  be  performed 

[Worcester  ss  august  18  :  1734  Capt  Lawdy  rec"*  fifty  one 
pound  fifteen  shillings  &  nine. pence  besides  paying  y^  Cost  14:9:6 

att'     Jn°  Chandler  Jr  Cler]  ^ 


Abraham  Anderson  of  Harvard  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman appearing  in  Court  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y« 
Grandjurors  for  that  the  Said  Abraham  Anderson  at  a  place  Called 


'  Sentence  in  brackets  written  on  the  margin. 


S August 


I  1 2  Court  of  General  Sessions.  <  tmm*,' 

Concord  in  Harvard  aforesaid  on  or  about  the  Twenty  first  day  of 
May  last  past  did  feloniously  Take  Steal  and  drive  away  a  Certain 
Cow  being  the  Proper  Estate  of  Hekekiah  Wheeler  of  Concord  in 
ye  County  of  Midlesex  Yeoman  and  in  his  Yard  &  possession  then 
being  which  is  against  the  peace  of  our  Said  Lord  The  King  his 
Crown  &  Dignity  and  y'^  Good  and  wholsom  laws  of  this  province 
as  ^  y*^  presentment  on  file  To  which  y«  Def  pleaded  not  Guilty 
&  put  himself  on  Tryall  by  a  Jury  who  were  Sworn  To  Trye  y*^ 
Same,  The  Deft  being  fuly  heard  The  Jury  went  out  To  Consider 
thereof  and  Returned  there  Verdi6t  thereon  finding  y«  Deff'  Guilty, 
Its  Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  Said  Abraham  Anderson  pay 
as  a  fine  To  our  Lord  y«  King  y'^  Sum  of  fifty  Shillings  That  He 
pay  To  y«  Said  Hezekiah  Wheeler  Eighteen  pounds  be[ing]  three- 
ble  y^  Vallue  of  the  Cow  said  Cow  if  return'd  to  be  part  and  pay 
Cost  &  fees  &  Stand  Coraitted  till  this  Sentence  be  performed 


The  Court  order  that  the  Committee  for  building  the  Court  house 
alter  the  Jury  Seats  So  as  that  they  will  Comfortable  Hold  the 
Jurys  and  that  they  make  Sutable  ways  for  going  To  y*^  Court  house 
ye  Charge  to  be  laid  before  y=  Court  for  their  attendance 


The  Court  order  that  the  Charge  of  y"  Search  after  one  Thomas 
Peirce  who  had  murdered  a  person  on  Rhoad  Island  be  paid  To 
William  Jenison  &  John  Chandler  J'  Esq  to  be  by  y"'  paid  to  whom 
it  [is]  due 


1 734- 1         Worcester  Cotinty,  Massachusetts.         113 


Tavern  Keepers  and  Retailors 
Lycenced  y^  year  Ensuing  &  y'  gave  bond 


V  Inholde 


rs 


Worcester 

Capt  Haywood 
Moses  Rice 
Thos  Starns 
(jershoni  Rice  Jr  J 
John  IJigelow 
Lieutt  Davis 


Lancaster 

Capt  (Jarter 
Mr  \Vm  Richardson 
Mr  Josiah  Richardson 
Mr  [onathan  Houghton 

Inholders 

Colo  Saml  VVillard  retailer 

Mendon 

Capt  Wm  Rawson 

Mr  b'.henr  Mencon 

Mr  John  Sadler  Inholders 

Capt  Lovett  retailor 

Woodstock 

Capt  Jona  Payton 
Mr  Joseph  Wright 

Inholders 


Brookfield 

Mr  Moses  Leonard 
Mr  Elea:  Heywood 
Mr  Solomon  Keyes 

Inholders 
Leicester 

Capt  Converse 

Mr  Thomas  Richardson 

Mr  Jona  Sargent        | 

Mr  Rowland  Taylor  I  Inho 

Mr  Wm  Larkin  retailor 


Hassanamisco 

Capt  Leland 
Capt  Willard 
James  Cuttler 
Nehe  :  How 


\  Inholder 


Uxbridge 

Mr  Ezekiel  Wood 

Mr  Solomon  Wood 

Mr  Saml  Read    Inholders 

Mr  fno  Harwood  retailor 

Oxford 
Elijah  Moore  Inholdr 

Shrewsbury 

Mr  Daniel  How 

Mr  John  Hurts  Inholders 

Nahum  Ward  Esqr 

Mr  Jonas  Keyes  retailors 

W'estboro' 
Capt   [no  Fay  Inholder 

In  all  53 


Southborogh 

Mr  Robert  Horn 
Mr  Caleb  Witherbee 
Inholds 

Lunenburg 

Capt  Jona  Hubbard 

Inholder 
Colo  Josiah  Willard 
Iders  retailor 

Harvard 

Mr  John  Atherton 
Mr  Ebenr  Robins 
s  Inholders 

Mr  Ebr  Sprague 

R  etailor 
Sutton 

Mr  Perez  Rice 

Mr  Obediah  Walker 

Mr  Ino  Hazeltine 

Inholders 
Capt  Elisha  Johnson 
Mr  Wm  Hartwell 

retailor 

New  Sherborn 

Mr  Eph  Hill 

Inholder 

Dudley 
Mr  Danl  Cob  urn 

Rutland 
(  apt  John  Hubbard 


Capt  Philip  ( ioss  approbated 
but  no  bond  given 


'5 


(ii4) 


NOTE. 

License  Law.     The  following  ad  regulating  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors 
was  in  force  at  this  time  : 

"  An  AA  for  the  suppressing  of  Unlicensed  Houses,  and  the  due  Regula- 
tion of  such  as  are.  or  shall  be  Licensed. 

"Be  it  ordained  and  Enaded  by  the  Governour,  Council  and  Representa- 
tives convened  in  General  Court,  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  same.  That 
no  Person  or  Persons  whatsoever  (other  than  such  as  upon  producing  Cer- 
tificate from  the  Select-men  of  the  Town  where  they  dwell  or  who  shall  be 
otherwise  thought  fit  by  the  Justices  themselves,  shall  be  licensed  by  the 
Justices  in  Quarter  Sessions)  may  presume  to  he  a  common  vidualler.  Inn- 
holder,  Taverner,  or  Seller  of  Wine.  Beer.  Ale.  Cyder,  or  Strong  Liquors  by 
Retail :  nor  shall  any  presume  without  such  License,  to  sell  Wine  or  strong 
Liquors  privately  by  a  less  Quantity  than  a  Quarter  Cask,  and  that  delivered 
and  carried  away  all  at  one  time  ;  on  pain  of  forfeiting  the  Sum  of  For/j 
Shillitigs  ior  every  such  offence,  upon  due  Conviction  thereof;  one  Half 
thereof  to  the  Informer,  and  the  other  Half  to  the  Use  of  the   Poor  of  the 

Town  where  such  offence  is  committed 

"Be  it  further  enaded  by  the  Authority  aforesaid.  That  all  Licences  be 
renewed  yearly,  and  the  Bond  given  for  the  due  observance  of  the  same  and 
of  the  Laws;  and  that  the  Person  licensed  shall  use  his  License  in  such 
Houses  as  shall  be  therein  named,  and  no  other." 

If  the  offender  refused  or  was  unable  to  pay  his  fine,  he  was  publicly 
whipped. 


Worcester  ss      Anno  R^  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
Mao'iKs  Britani^E  Frajicics  et  Hibernice  Octavo 


"t, 


Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  The  first  Tuesday 
of  November  being  the  fifth  day  of  Said  month 
Annoq  Dominij  1734 — 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Joseph  Wilder,  William  VV^ard  &  William  Jenison  Esq"  Justices 
of  the  Peace  &  Quorum  —  John  Chandler  J'  F.d\vard  Hartwell 
Henry  Lee,,  Nahum  Ward  and  Samuell  Willard  Esq"  Justices 


NAMES  OF  CORONERS 


Capt  James  Wilder      M''  Seth  Chapin  J""      W  Joseph  Wright 

M'  Gershom  Rice 


M'  Joshua  Childs  M""  Josiah  White  W  Baztliell  Sawyer  M' 
Jonathan  Bugbee  M""  Joseph  Sumner  W  Eben'  Read  M'  Joseph 
Sibley  M''  Benjamin  Johnson  M'  Daniel  Warren  M'  Isaac  Amsden 
M""  William  Taylor  M'  Kleazer  Ball  M'  Nathan  Heywood  M''  Jo- 
tham  Rice  Each  2  days  cS:  Richard  Wilds  attended  on  them 


1 1 6  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \   tT^m.'^* 

Hannah  Dankin  being  bound  over  to  this  Court  by  m'  Justice 
Jenison  To  answer  to  her  Crime  of  fornication  appeared  in  Court 
&  Confessed  she  was  Guilty,  She  was  Sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of 
thirty  ShilHngs  &  Cost  which  She  did  &  was  dismissed 


The  Town  of  Lunenburg  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  for 
not  having  a  writing  &  Reading  Schoohnaster  agreeable  to  law  ap- 
peared &  were  Excused  paying  Costs 


John  Wallis  of  Townsend  in  y*^  County  of  Midlesex  husbandman 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  his  Unecessaryly  Traveling 
on  y^  Lords  Day  &6t  appeared  and  gave  his  Reasons  &  was  Ex- 
cused 


The  wife  of  Nathaniell  Bartlett  of  Brookfield  in  y^  County  of 
Worcester  appeared  in  Court  &  Confessed  She  was  Guilty  of  the 
Crime  of  Fornication  was  find  Thirty  Shillings  &  paid  Costs  &  was 
Dismissed 


John  Dunsmore  &  wives  Recog'  Continued  To  Feb''y 
Nath"  Davenport  &  wives  Recognizance  continued  To  Feb^y 
Benj"  ChaQee  Recognizance  Continued  To  Feb'y 
Town  Leicesters  presentment  continued  to  Feb''y 


A  Petition  John  Harwood  agent  for  y^  Town  of  Uxbridge  Seting 
forth  the  great  Burden  &  Difficulty  y'^  Said  Town  labour  under 
Respe6ling  y°  Charge  of  building  Bridges  in  said  Town  as  more 
particularly  appears  by  y^  Petition  praying  for  relief  Read  &  Re- 
fered  to  y^  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace  in  P'eb""  next  for 
further  Consideration  &  ordered  that  the  petitioner  Serve  y^  Town 
of  Mendon  with  a  Copy  thereof  that  they  Shew  Cause  if  any  they 
have  why  y*^  prayer  thereof  Respe6ling  mendon  Should  not  be 
granted 


Worcester  ss    A7ino  R'^  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
Mag7i6B  BritaijiicB  Francice  et  HibernicB  Oflavo 

/\t  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
February  being  the  fourth  day  of  Said  Month 
annoq  Dom  :  1734-5 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jenison 

1  )aniel  Taft 
John  Chandler  Jr 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley 
Henry  Lee 
Nahum  Ward 
John  Keyes 
Esq"  Edward  Hartvvell 


F^sq"  Justices  of 
)■  y^  peace  &  Quo' 


Esq' 


Names  of  Coroners  Cap'  James  Wilder       M'  Joseph  Wright 

M""  Seth  Chapin  M'  Gershom  Rice 


Capt  Daniel  Warrin 
W  Josiah  White 
M"  Jotham  Rice 
AP  Bazeliell  Sawyer 
Af  Jonathan  Bugbee 


Grandjury  y'  attended 

M'  Eben""  Read       M'  William  Taylor 
.  M'  Joseph  Sibley     M'  Eleazer  Ball 
M'  Thomas  Gleason 
M''  Benjamin  Johnson 
M""  Isaac  Amsden    M'  Nathan  Heywood 
M""  Simon  Stone 


W  Wilds  attended  on  v'"  cl'  thev  attended  Two  days  Each 


FEBRtTARY 


1 1 8  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^^t?em 

Tabitha  Bellows  of  Southborough  appeared  in  Court  and  Con- 
fessed She  was  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  fornication  by  one  Benony 
Salter,  for  which  she  paid  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  &  was  Dismissed 
paying  Cost  also  Mary  Latiney  of  Westborough  Single  Woman 
came  into  Court  &  Confessed  She  was  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  For- 
nication with  one  Thomas  Dooley  find  Thirty  Shillings  &  dismissed 
without  Costs 


Nathaniel  Davenport  of  Woodstock  &  Elizabeth  his  wife  being 
presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  the  Crime  of  Fornication  The 
Said  Nathaniel  appeared  and  Confess'd  the  Same  &  paid  a  fine  of 
fifty  Shillings  &  Cost  &  was  dismissed  his  wife  not  being  able  To 
attend  her  Recognizance  was  continued  to  may 


John  Dunsmore  of  Lancaster  &  Unice  his  wife  being  presented 
by  the  Grandjury  for  y^  Crime  of  Fornication  came  into  Court  & 
plead  To  y*^  Insufficiency  of  the  presentment  which  was  by  the 
Court  adjudged  Insufiicient  &  they  were  Dismist  paying  Costs 


The  Court  now  order  that  a  Tax  or  assessment  amounting  unto 
the  Sum  of  One  hundred  &  fifty  Seven  pound  Eight  Shillings  & 
nine  pence  be  ra'sed  in  the  Severall  Towns  within  this  County 
for  defraying  y^  usuall  necessary  Charges  ariseing  within  y^  Same 
and  that  the  Clerk  forthwith  Send  out  Warrants  diredted  To  y'-' 
Selectmen  or  assessors  of  the  Respective  Towns  within  y^  County 
for  assessing  their  Severall  parts  or  proportion  according  to  y^  Rules 
for  assessing  y^  last  province  Tax  as  y^  law  dire6ts  and  for  paying 
in  y^  Same  To  Cap'  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  or  his  order 
at  or  before  y*^  last  day  of  may  next — 


i734"5-l      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         119 

The  Sevemll  Towns  proportion  thereof  is  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester     Eleven  pound  Seven  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  1 1      7     8 
Lancaster      Twenty  Six  pound  three  Shillings  &  four  pence   26     3     4 

Mendon     Eighteen  pound  18 

Woodstock     Sixteen  pound  16 

Brookfield     thirteen  pound  Ten  Shillings  &  8d  '3   10     S 

Southhorouh     Eight  pound  thirteen  Shillings  8   13 

Westborough     nine  pound  one  Shilling  9     i 

Leicester     Six  pound  nineteen  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  6198 

Shrewsbury     Seven  pound  Seven  Shillings  7     7 

Sutton     Twelve  pound  five  Shillings  12     5 

Oxford     Seven  pound  Two  Shillings  7     2 

Uxbridge     Six  pound  &  four  pence  604 

Rutland     three  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   18 

Lunenburg     three  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   18 

Harvard     Seven  pound  three  Shillings  &  one  peny  7     3      i 

«57     8     9 

the  Warrants  were  Granted  out  Febry  g*"  1 734 

att'     Jn°  Chandler  J  Cler' 


Ordered  that  The  Sum  of  Six  pounds  be  paid  out  of  y=  County 
Treasury  To  William  Jenison  Esqr  for  Inlarging  y*^  Prison  Yard 
laying  a  double  floor  in  y^  Prison  Chamber 


An  acco"  of  M''  Sheriff  Gookin  amounting  unto  y^  Sum  of  Sixteen 
pound  Seven  Shillings  Read  and  ordered  that  the  Sum  of  fifteen 
pound  nine  Shillings  be  paid  out  of  y*^  County  Treasury  To  M"' 
Sheriff  Gookin  in  full  discharge  thereof  Nineteen  Shillings  Taken 
out  of  y*"  5*''  article 


.  David  Parsons  of  Leicester  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Clark 
appellan"  from  a  Sentence  given  against  him  by  William  Jenison 
Esq''  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  Said  County 


I20  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \^^^ltu^ 

DOM  REX  ypQj^  ^  Complaint    of   Benjamin  Johnson  of 

^^  Leicester  aforesaid  Yeoman  on  His  majestys 

PARSONS  behalf  as  well  as  of  his  own  (which  Complaint 

JURY  ^^g  originally  made  to  John  Chandler  J'  Esq"' 

mL^r'S'"  ^"^    ''^    ''^'  majestys  Justices    of   the  peace 

Mr  Eb:  Beman  for  Said  County )  Egainst  the  appel"  Seting  forth 

Joseph  Walker  .-i     •  j    r^        •   i    r 

John  Moss  y  y*^  baid  David  Parsons  at  Leicester  aforsaid 

EuZHSe  on  the  Seventh  day  of  Oaober  last  past  did 

Tim:Bngham  ygj.y  i^-mf-]-,  abusc  misuse  belye  and  Defame  the 

Aaron  Forbush  ^  •' 

Wells  Ayres  Coplainant  by  Saying  y^  Complain'  was  a  Tat- 

Wm  Haywood  ^>      i  i  ,  r 

Israel  Keith  Img  man   or  a    latler  and   went  about   from 

House  to  House  Raising  FacStions  (meaning 
as  the  Complainant  Supposes  against  him  Said  Parsons)  and  by 
Saying  that  the  Complainant  had  Stolen  Two  years  Sallary  from 
him  Said  Parsons  Litending  thereby  as  y^  Complain"  apprehends 
to  very  much  abuse  misuse  belye  &  defame  y^  Complain'  &(St  as 
■^  y^  Complaint  at  large  appears,  and  was  thereof  Convi6ted  before 
the  Said  William  Jenison  Esq""  &  Sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  to  the 
King  Ten  Shillings  and  pay  all  Costs  &  Fees  &  Stand  Comitted 
till  Sentence  be  performed — and  now  the  appellant  appeared  and 
to  the  Said  Complaint  Pleaded  not  Guilty ;  The  Evidences  in  the 
Case  being  Sworn  and  the  Case  fully  Argued  and  heard  on  both 
Sides  the  Same  was  Comitted  To  the  Jury  who  were  Sworn  ac- 
cording to  law  to  Trye  y*^  Same  and  Return'd  there  Verdict  there- 
in upon  Oath  as  follows  viz',  That  the  Said  David  Parsons  Is  Guilty 
according  to  the  Complaint  Its  therefore  Considered  by  the 
Court  that  the  Said  David  Parsons  Pay  as  a  fine  To  our  Sovereign 
Lord  the  King  for  and  Towards  the  Support  of  the  Goverm'  of 
this  Province  and  the  Incident  Charges  thereof  Ten  Shillings  and 
that  he  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Taxed  at  fifteen  pound  one  Shilling,  & 
Stand  Comitted  Till  Sentence  be  performed,  &  he  was  accordingly 
Comitted  To  JVP  Sheriff  Gookin  till  the  Sentence  be  complyed  with 


A  Complaint  of  John  Overing  Esq""  his  majestys  attorney  Gen- 
eral for  the  province  of  the  Massachusetts  in  behalf  of  our  Said 
Lord  y'^  King  Seting  forth  that  one  James  Orns   was  convi6led 


I734"5-!      lVo7'cester  County,  Massachusetts.         121 

before  the  Worshipfull  Justice  Joseph  Dwight  Esq^  upon  a  Com- 
plaint Exhibitted  at  the  Instance  of  Seth  Banister  &  Francis  his 
wife  for  speaking  Defamatory  words  of  y*^  Said  Francis  of  which  he 
was  Convi6l  then  &  there  &  ordered  to  pay  y^  Sum  of  Twenty 
Shillings  as  a  fine  (from  which  sentence  he  appealed  &  found 
Suretys  for  his  good  behaviour)  &  pay  Costs  &  fees  To  this  Hon" 
Court  butt  having  faild  to  prosecute  to  Effe<5l  prays  affirmation  &(5l 
To  which  y^  Said  Orms  pleaded  that  there  was  not  a  Sufficient 
time  from  y^  Sentence  given  ag**'  him,  To  the  Court  appealed  To 
for  him  to  file  his  reasons  of  appeal  &  moved  The  whole  proceed- 
ing might  be  Quash'd  Its  Considered  by  the  Court  That  there 
was  not  a  Sutable  time  agreeable  To  law  between  y'^  giving  of  the 
Sentence  &  y*^  Court  appeald  to  whereby  y^  Said  Orms  Could  sea- 
sonably file  his  reasons  of  appeal  &  therefore  order  he  be  dismiss'd 
paying  Cost  &  fees  Taxed  at  Eight  pounds  &  Two  pence  and  upon 
his  Negle6ling  to  pay  y"-"  Same  y'^  Court  order  Execution  to  be 
awarded  for  y"  Same  Ex  :  March  i  :  i  734/5 


S  uiuiell  Morss  of  Uxbridge  Recognizances  Discharged 

Benjamin  Chaffee  of  Woodstock  Recognizances  Discharged  y^ 
woman  &  Child  being  Dead 


A  Petition  of  John  Harwood  agent  for  the  Town  of  Uxbridge 
prefered  To  the  Court  of  Gen"  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  In  No- 
vember last  Came  under  Consideration  as  also  the  answer  of  y^ 
Town  of  Mendon  l)y  their  agent  or  attorney  &  y^  Same  being  Duly 
Considered  ordered  that  said  Petition  be  Dismissed 


The  Select  men  of  Worcester  presented  to  the  Court  a  warrant 
with  a  Return  thereon  by  W"'  Gray  J'  Constable  for  warning  Sun- 
dry persons  out  of  their  Town  also  a  warrant  with  a  Return 
thereon  by  Joseph  Rug  a  Constable  for  warning  Sundry  persons 
out  of  their  Town  both  which  were  approved  by  the  Court 
16 


1 2  2  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  ^t'eem'*'' 

The  Sele6l  men  of  Shrewsbury  presented  to  the  Court  Two  war- 
rants one  for  Warning  Josiah  Pratt  &  his  wife  The  other  Phillip 
Gleason  &  his  wife  to  depart  Said  Town  with  the  Constables  Re- 
turn Thereon  which  were  accepted  by  the  Court. 


An  acco"  Signed  John  Chandler  ]"■  amounting  To  the  Sum  of 
Ten  pound  Eleven  Shillings  &  Sixpence  ariseing  on  acco"  of  y^ 
Charge  of  pursuing  &  Searching  after  Thomas  Peirce  who  had 
murdered  a  person  at  New  :  port  Read  &  ordered  that  the  Sum 
of  Ten  pound  Eleven  Shillings  &  Sixpence  be  paid  out  of  the  Pub- 
lick  Treasury  of  y^  County  To  John  Chandler  J""  Esq''  To  be  by 
him  paid  To  whom  the  Same  is  Respectively  due  in  full  discharge 
thereof 


Mathew  Barber  of  Shrewsbury  in  the  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman being  Presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  the  body  of  said 
County  on  their  Oaths  for  unecessaryly  Traveling  on  the  Lords 
day  in  the  month  of  06lober  last  from  Shrewsbury  To  Worcester 
in  Said  County  and  Bound  over  to  this  Court  by  way  of  Recog- 
nizance To  answer  To  his  presentment  appeared  in  Court  and 
Confessed  he  was  Guilty  of  Rideing  from  Shrewsbury  to  Worcester 
The  time  mentioned  in  the  presentment,  but  Justifyed  his  So  doing 
because  his  Rideing  was  Only  from  his  own  House  To  a  place  of 
Publick  Worship  in  Worcester  where  he  found  by  Experience  Twas 
most  for  his  Spirituall  advantage  to  attend  The  Case  being  duly 
Considered,  The  Court  are  of  opinion  that  the  Said  Mathew  Bar- 
ber is  Guilty  of  unecessaryly  Traveling  as  set  forth  in  y^  present- 
ment and  therefore  adjudge  that  he  pay  as  a  fine  the  Sum  of  Thirty 
Shillings,  vizt  fifteen  Shillings  part  thereof  to  be  for  the  benefitt  & 
Relief  of  y^  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Shrewsbury  and  fifteen  Shillings 
Part  thereof  to  be  for  the  benefitt  &  Relief  of  y^  Poor  of  the  Town 
of  Worcester,  and  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Taxed  at  one  pound  fifteen 
Shillings  &  nine  pence  from  which  Sentence  The  Said  Mathew 
Barber  appealed  To  the  next  Court  of  Assize  and  Generall  Goal 
Delivery  to  be  holden  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the  County  of  Wor- 


I734"5-'      Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         123 

cester  in  September  next  and  Entered  into  Recognizance  pursuant 
to  law  to  prosecute  his  appeal  with  Effe6t 

Mathew  Barber  of  Shrewsbury  In  the  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman principall  In  the  Sum  of  Ten  pounds  and  Robert  Barber 
Clothier  and  Hugh  Kelso  husbandman  both  of  Worcester  In  y^ 
County  aforesaid  as  Suretys  in  five  pounds  Each  acknowledged 
themselves  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  To  our  Sovereign  Lord 
the  King  his  heirs  or  Successors  To  be  Leveyed  on  their  Goods 
or  Chattels  lands  or  Tenements  for  the  use  of  our  Said  Lord  the 
King  Conditioned  that  the  Said  Mathew  Barber  shal  personaly  ap- 
pear at  S''  Court  of  Assize  &  prosecute  his  appeal  aforesaid  apeal 
with  F^fiecl  &  in  the  mean  time  be  of  the  good  behaviour. 


A  By  law  of  the  Town  of  oxford  Respe6ting  persons  takeing  in 
Cattle  or  horses  into  Said  Town  under  a  penalty  &61;  being  pre- 
sented by  Captain  P^benezer  Learned  was  allowed  and  approved 
off  and  is  on  file 


Cap'  Samuel  Lawdy  Representing  to  this  Court  That  a  Certain 
Double  Silk  Gown  a  black  Silk  apron  &  Scarf,  which  goods  found 
with  Juhn  Fitz  :  Gerald  al'  John  Hayes  aP  John  m'neal.  who  had 
StoUen  a  Considerable  Quantity  of  mony  &  goods  from  him  and 
of  which  he  was  Conviclied  in  august  last,  are  now  in  the  hands  of 
Daniell  Gookin  Esq^  Sheriff  of  this  County  and  were  ordered 
there  to  Remain  till  the  further  order  of  this  Court,  moving  that 
pursuant  to  the  Judgment  of  Court  he  may  have  y*^  goods  afore- 
mentioned in  part  of  Satisfaction  of  Said  Judgment  Especially 
Since  the  S*^  Fitz  Gerald  &6t  Broke  Goal  cS:  Run  away.  Ordered 
that  Said  Double  Silk  Gown  black  apron  li:  Scarf  be  delivered  to 
Said  Capt  Samuel  Lawdy  or  his  order  ami  John  Chandler  J'  Esq'' 
is  desired  to  appoint  &  put  under  oath  three  Sutable  persons  to 
apprize  Said  Goods,  and  that  Said  Lawdy  Receive  them  at  Said 
apprizement  in  part  o?  Satisfaction  for  Said  Judgment  of  Court 

atf     John  Chandler  J'  C  le. 

May  13"':  1735  the  above  Goods  were  apprized  &  delivered 
To  Capt  Lawdy     See  his  Rec'  in  Sessions  affairs  for  may  1735 


Worcester  ss  A^mo  Regni  Regis  Georgij  Senmdi 
nunc  Magnet  Britania;  Francice  et  Hiber7iicB 
Octavo 

Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  The  Second  Tuesday 
of  May  being  the  thirteenth  day  of  Said  month 
Anno  Dom:  1735 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jenison 


1 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Jr 
Samuel  Wright 
Joseph  Dwight 
Samuel  Dudley 


1  Esq"  Justices  of 
r  y^  peace  &  Quo' 


Esq^ 


Henry  Lee 
Nahum  Ward 
John  Keyes 


Coroners     Capt  James  Wilder      M""  Seth  Chapin  J^ 

M""  Joseph  Wright     M""  Gershom  Rice 


Grandjurors  :   Names 

M'  Joshua  Child  foreman 

M""  Josiah  White  M""  Eben^  Read        M''  Eleazer  Ball 

M'  Jotham  Rice  M'  Joseph  Sibley      M^  Nathan  Heywood 

M"^  Bazeleel  Sawyer      M""  Thomas  Gleason  M^"  Simon  Stone 

M'  Jonathan  Bugbee    M'  Benjamin  Warrin 

Cap'  Thomas  Gilbert    M-^  Isaac  Amsden     M^  Benj"  Johnson 

M'  William  Taylor 
Each  attended  Two  days  and  M'^  Wilds  attended  them 


^735-!         Wo7'cester  Cotmty,  Massac Jiusetts.         125 

New  Jury  were 

M'  Jonathan  Houghton  foreman 

M'  Joseph  Crosby  M'  W"  Ayres  M''  James  Heaton 

M'  John  Starnes  M''  WiUiam  Green  M' Thomas  Hapgood 

M'  Isaac  Thayer  Cap' Daniel  Taylor  M'  William  Jones 

M'  Eliphalett  Carpenter  M""  John  Stock        M'  Caleb  Sawyer 
W  ^Villiam  Ayres  M'  Gershom  Keith  Cap'  John  Fay 

They  were  Sworn  &  Dismissed 


Capt  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  presented  his  acco" 
which  were  Examined  and  allowed  oi"^  the  Court  there  being  due 
to  the  Treasurer  Twenty  one  Shillings  and  four  pence  and  ordered 
the  Clerk  to  Sign  the  Same 


Bemsley  Peters  of  Woodstock  In  y'^  County  of  Worcester  Felt- 
maker  appeared  Court  &:  also  Han"  his  wife  &  Confessed  they 
were  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  Fornication  before  marriage  were  fin'd 
30/  Each  &  ordered  to  pay  Cost  which  was  done  &  they  were 
Dismissed 


Elizabeth  Davenport  wife  of  Nathaniel  Davenport  of  Woodstock 
In  the  County  of  Worcester  husbandman  being  bound  over  by 
John  Chandler  Esqr  to  answer  for  the  Crime  of  Fornication  ap- 
peared in  Court  &  Confessed  She  was  Guilty,  was  find  fifty  Shill- 
ings &  to  pay  Costs  which  She  did  cv:  was  Dismissed 


Joseph  Baxter  of  Uxbridge  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Cord- 
wainer  being  bound  over  by  way  of  Recognizance  To  answer  for 
the  Crime  of  Fornication  appeared  in  Court  and  Confess'd  him 
Self  Guilty  was  find  thirty  Shillings  w"''  he  paid  with  the  Costs  & 
was  Dismissed 


126  Coiud  of  General  Sessions.  Jt^:bm, 

The  Seledtmen  of  Woodstock  presented  to  the  Court  a  warrant 
direfted  to  Joseph  Childs  one  of  their  Constables  to  warn  one 
Susanna  Carter  To  depart  there  town  with  the  Constables  Return 
thereon  which  was  approved  by  the  Court 


William  Wait  of  Sutton  in  the  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  that  on  or  about  the  16"" 
day  of  January  last  past  at  Sutton  aforesaid  he  with  force  &  arms 
an  assault  on  y^  body  of  Joseph  Wait  in  y^  peace  of  our  Lord  the 
King  did  Comitt,  &(5t  appeared  in  Court  &  pleaded  Guilty  and 
have  himself  on  the  mercy  of  the  Court  &  Shew'd  himself  very 
penitent  Its  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  that  the  Said  Wil- 
liam Wait  pay  a  fine  of  Ten  Shillings  to  our  Lord  y^  King  That  he 
pay  Costs  &  fees  Taxed  at  Two  pound  Thirteen  Shillings  and  up- 
on his  negle6ling  So  to  do  The  Court  order  Execution  To  be 
awarded  for  the  Same 


A  Petition  of  Isaac  Tomlin  of  Westborough  &61  presented  to  y= 
Court  praying  y'  y^  Children  &  Grand  Children  of  his  mother  in 
law  Ruhamah  Wait  widow  may  be  obliged  to  Contribute  towards 
y=  maintainance  of  y^  Said  Widdow,  Read  and  ordered  that  the 
Petitioner  Serve  y^  Children  and  Grand  Children  (whose  proper 
ancestor  is  Dec*^)  of  the  S''  Ruhamah  Wait  with  a  Copy  of  this 
Petition  that  So  they  Show  Cause  if  any  they  have  at  y*-"  next  Court 
of  Genl  Sessions  of  the  Peace  to  be  held  here  on  the  Second  Tues- 
day of  august  next  vizt  on  the  first  Thursday  of  the  Courts  Seting 
why  they  Should  not  be  assessed  according  to  law  towards  the 
Support  and  maintainance  of  ye  Said  Ruhamah  Wait 


An  acco'  of  the  Grandjurors  Travell  and  attendance  from  may 
1734  To  may  1736  being  presented  amounting  unto  y^  Sum  of 
of  Seventy  Eight  pounds  Eight  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  allowed  of 
by  the  Court  and  The  Treasurer  is  accordingly  ordered  To  pay 
the  Same 


^735-i         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         127 

The  vote  for  a-  County  Treas'  Sent  in  from  the  Several  Towns 
were  opened  &  Sorted  in  the  Court  and  it  appeared  that  Cap' 
Benj"  Flagg  was  Chosen  Unanimously  &  the  oath  of  office  was 
admin'stred  to  him  In  Court  by  The  order  of  the  Court 


Worcester  ss    Anno  R'^  R^  Georgij  Senmdi  nunc 
MagncB  BritainicB  Francice  et  Hibej-nicE  Nono 

At  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of 
August  being  the  Twelfth  day  of  Said  Month 
annoq  Dom    1735 


John  Chandler  Esq' 
Joseph  Wilder  Esq' 
William  Ward  Esq' 
WiUiam  Jenison  Esq' 
Daniel  Taft  Esq' 
John  Chandler  Jr  Esq' 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Samuel  Wright 
I  Justices  of  the   Joseph  Uvvight 
peace  cS:  Quo-    ^^^^^^^j  ^^^^y^^^, 

Henry  Lee 
Nahum  Ward 
Sam'  WiUard 


rum 


John  Keyes 
Edward  Hartwell 


Esq' 


Esq' 


Coroners  Present     Capt  James  Wilder 
M'  Edward  Godard  Jun' 


M'  Joseph  Wright 
M'  Gershom  Rice 


Grandjury 

M'  William  Ayres 
M'  Will :  Green 
Cap'  Dan'  Taylor 
M'  John  Stockwell 

M' Gershom  Keith  attended  three  day  and 
M'  EHphaiett  Carpenter  Cap'  John  Fay  M'  Wilds  attended  on  them 


M'  Jon'  Houghton 
M'  Joseph  Crosby 
M^  John  Starnes 
M'  Isaac  Learned 
M'  Isaac  Thayer 


M'  James  Heaton 
M'  Thomas  Hapgood 
M'  William  Jones 
M'  Caleb  Sawyer 


^735-1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         129 

Benjamin  Rullard  of  Lancaster  &<5l  being  bound  to  appear  at 
this  Court  To  answer  for  the  Crime  of  Fornication  with  Ruth  his 
wife  before  marriage  Came  into  Court  &  Confes'd  y'=  Same  was 
fined  thirty  Shillings  &  dismissed  paying  Cost :  his  wife  bond  Conti^ 


The  Sele6l  men  of  mendon  presented  to  y^  Court  a  warr'  for 
warning  Jane  Pollen  To  depart  their  Town  with  y^  Constables  Re- 
turn thereon  ;  accepted  by  y*^  Court 


A  list  of  Tavern  Keepers  and  Retailors  Lycenced  by  this  Court 
&  y^  names  of  the  Suretys 

Capt  Daniel  Heywood  principall  in  50/:  Capt  Benja  Flagg 

&  James  Moore  Gents  Suretys  25/  Each 
Capt  Moses  Rice   Ditto   50/      Capt   Flag  &  John    Harwood 

Suretys.  25/  Each 
Worcester     ]  Mr  Thomas  Starnes   Do   50/     Capt   Flagg  &   Daniel   Ward 

Suretys  25/  Each 
Mr  Simon  Davis  Do  50/     John  Bigelow  &  Caleb  Witherbee 

Southboro'  Suretys  Ditto 
Mr  John  Bigelow  Ditto  50/  Simon  Davis  &  Caleb  Wither  Do 

Capt  Thomas  Carter  -\  Mr  Jona  Houghton  of  Lancaster 

Capt  William  Richardson  (^  waS  Principall  for  Each  of  them 
Mr  Josiah  Richardson  (  in  50/  Each  and  Capt  Jonas 
Mr  Jona  Houghton  )  Houghton    &    Elias  Sawyer  of 

Lancaster  Suretys  for  Each  in  25/  Each 
Mr   Benja:    Houghton:     Principall:       Suretys    Capt    Jonas 

Houghton  &  Henry  Lee  Esqr 
Saml  Willard  Esqr   Retailor:       Edward    Hartwell    Esqr   his 
principall  Suretys  Ephraim  Witherbee  and  Fairbank  Moore 


Lancaster 


Mendon 


Capt  William  Rawson  principall  Surety  Jno  Sadler  of  upton 

&  Jno  atherton  of  Harvard 
Mr  Ebenr  Merriam  Do  )  Suretys  for  Each  other  &  John  Sad- 
Capt  Daniel  Lovett  Do  j  Retailor  |        ler  for  them  both 


Woodstock  \  ^^P^  Jonathan  Payson  |  Capt  Flag  principall  for  Each  in  50/ 
J  Mr  Joseph  Wright  |  Henry   Lee   and   Edward    Hartwell 

Esqrs  Suretys  for  Each  in  25/ 


17 


I30 


Court  of  General  Sessions. 


\ 


ArorsT 
Tebm, 


Brookfield 


Oxford 


Sutton 


Rutland 


Southboro' 


Leicester 


Mr  Eleazer  Heywood  principall:  50/:  Suretys  Jonas  Keyes 

&  Israel  Richardson 
■  Mr  Soloman  Keyes :    Jonas  Keyes  principall    Suretys   Isrel 

Richardson  &  Elea'  Hevwood 
Mr  Nathll  Read  principall  Colo  Dwight  &  Capt  Flagg 

Mr  Elijah  Moore  :  Capt  Moore  principall.  Suretys  Capt  Flagg 

&  Joe :  Crosby 
Mr  Moses  Marcy  principall — Suretys  Capt  Flagg  &  Jno  Stacy 

New  Medtield 

Mr  Perez  Rice  Samuel  Dudley  Esqr :  principall,  50/  Suretys 
Joseph  Boyden  \Vm  Stockwell 

Mr  Obadiah  Walker,  principall :  Suretys  Capt  \Vm  Rawson 
John  Atherton 

Mr  Joseph  Boyden  principall  Suretys  Samuel  Dudley  Esqr 
Wm  Stockwell 

Mr  William  Stockwell  Retailor  principall  Suretys  Saml  Dud- 
ley Esq  Joseph  Boyden 

Capt  John  Hubbard  principall  Suretys  James  Heaton 
Nathll  Read 

\  Mr  Robert  Horn  principall,  Suretys  Jno  Harwood  Epm  Hill 
[-  Mr  Caleb  Witherby  principall  Suretys  Simon  Davis  John 
)  Bigelow 

Mr  Thomas  Richardson  principall  Suretys  Henry  Lee  Esqr 
Eleazer  Heywood 

Capt  Josiah  Convers  principall  Mr  Wm  Larkin  Capt  Benja 
Flagg 

\  Mr  Jona  Sargent  principall:  Suretys  Isaac  Richardson  Elea- 
zer Hevwootl 

Mr  Wm  Larkin  Retailor :  principall  Suretys  Capt  Convers 
&  Capt  Flagg 


Uxbridge 


Lunenburg 


Mr  Ezekiel  Wood    . 

Mr  Solomon  Wood  '-  Each  principall  &  bound  one  for 

Mr  Samuel  Read      -*  another 

Mr  John  Harwood  principall  Suretys  Robert  Horn  Ephraim 
Hill 

Mr  Benja  Force  Jno  Harwood  principall :  Suretys  Mr  Edmd 
Gofte  als"  Trowbridge  of  Cambridge  and  Mr  Isaac 
Coolidge  of  Sherborn  both  in  ye  County  of  Midle^ex 

Mr  Ephraim  Witherbee  principall:  Suretys   Edwd  Hartwell 

Esqr  Fairbanks  Moore 
Mr  Isaac  Farnsworth 
Josiah  Willard  Esqr.  Edwd  Hartwell  principall  Suretys  Ep : 

Witherbee  Fairbanks  Moore 


Grafton 


Capt  James  Leland     . 

Capt  Samuel  Willard  '-  Each  principall  and  bound  fur  each 

Mr  Nehemiah  How    •*  other 


^735-!         Wo7'cester  Coiuity,  Massachusetts.         131 


Dudley         Mr  Daniel  Coburn  principall :  Suietvs  Jno  Marvvourl  Richard 
Wilds 

Capt  Daniel  How:    Nahum  Ward  Esqr  principall    Suretys 

Ca]jt  I''la{,'g  &  Jno  Harwood 
Mr  John  Hush  principall  Surety  Jona  Sargent  &  Jno  Harwood 
Shrewsbury     [-Nahum  Ward  lisqr  Retair:  principall  Suretys  Capt  Flagg  & 

Jno  Harwood 
Mr  Jonas  Keyes  Retair :   principall.  Suretys   Eb  :  Hey  wood 

&  Israel  Richardson 

Westborough     Capt  John  Fay  Do  Suretys  Wni  Stockwell  &  Samuel  Dudley 
Esqr 

Upton        \  "^^"^  •^'^^"  Sadler        \  Each  principall  &  Each  Surety   for  ye 
'  j"  Mr  John  Hazeltine  /  other :  &  Ebenezer  Merriam   for   both. 

Mr  John  Atherton  principall  Surety  Capt  Wm  Ravvson  & 

John  Sadler 
Harvard       I  ■^^'  Eleazer  Robins  Do  Suretys  Capt  Jonas  Houghton 

Eleazer  Sawyer 
Mr  Ebenr  .Sprague  Retair :  Do  Suretys  Jno  Atherton  & 

Jno  Bush 

New  Medfield     Mr  John  Stacy  Do  Suretys  Joshua  Morss  &  Moses  Marvin 

New  Sherborn     Mr  Ephraim  Hill  Do  Suretys  John  Harwood  &  Robert 
Horn 

Lambstown     Mr  Nathan  Carpenter  Do  Surety  John  Frissell  &  David 
Wallis 

Each  principall  bound  in  fifty  pound  &  Each  Surety  in  Twenty  five 
pounds  Each 


132  Court  of  Genej'al  Sessions.  \  "teem? 

The  Sele6lmen  of  Worcester  presented  to  y'^  Court  Sundry  War- 
rants dire6led  to  their  Constables  for  warning  persons  out  of  their 
Town  viz'  on  to  Constable  Daniel  Biglo  To  warn  James  Culver  to 
depart  the  Town  one  To  y^  Same  Constable  To  warn  Joshua  Wheat 
&  family  To  depart  there  Town  one  To  y^  Same  Constable  to  warn 
W'"  Campbell  &  James  Bettys  To  depart  y«  Town  all  which  being 
done  as  "^  y'=  Constables  Return,  they  were  approved  of  by  y^  Court 


Robert  Allen  of  Shrewsbury  being  bound  over  To  this  Court  by 
way  of  Recognizance  by  W"  Jenison  Esq'  as  ^  y^  Recog'  appears 
moved  to  be  Discharged,  but  Sundry  persons  appearing  and  oposed 
it  The  Court  order  that  he  Renew  his  bonds  with  Suretys  untill 
the  Next  Term  which  he  Did  viz'  himself  in  Fifty  pound  &  Sam" 
Calhoon  of  S''  Shrewsbury  and  James  Furbus  of  Worcester  as  Sure- 
tys in  Twenty  five  pounds 


Abigail  Willard  of  Lancaster  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Single- 
woman  being  bound  over  To  this  Court  by  M'  Justice  Hartwell  for 
the  Crime  of  Fornication  appeared  and  Refuseing  to  Tell  who  y*= 
father  was  She  was  Sentenced  To  pay  a  fine  of  fifty  Shillings  &  Cost 
&  Fees  &  Stand  Comitttrd  till  Sentence  be  performed — which  She 
paid  in  Court  and  by  y^  order  of  Court  Entered  into  Recognizance 
with  Suretys  To  Save  y*^  Town  of  Lancaster  from  any  Charge  on 
acco"  of  her  Bastard  Child  viz'  The  Said  Abigail  Willard  as  prin- 
cipall  in  One  hundred  pound  &  Aaron  Willard  &  Fairbanks  moore 
both  of  Said  Lancaster  Yeomen  as  Suretys  in  fifty  pound  Each  to 
y^  Seled  men  of  Lancaster  aforesaid,  &  to  their  Successors  for  that 
purposs. 


Whereas  its  found  very  Inconvenient  To  y<=  County  For  y^  Court 
of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  and  Inferiour  Court  of  Comon 
pleas  which  by  law  are  appointed  to  be  held  and  Kept  on  the 
Second  Tuesday  of  August  yearly  l)y  reason  its  Then  a  very  busy 
time  of  year  and  thereby   Detrimentall   for  Jurors  &  Others   who 


^735-\         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         133 

have  business  at  Said  Courts  to  give  their  attendance.  Ordered 
That  the  Hon'  Joseph  Wilder  Esqr  John  Chandler  J'  &  Joseph 
Dvvight  F^sqrs  be  desired  in  the  name  and  by  order  of  this  Court 
To  prefer  a  Petition  To  his  Excellency  The  Gov''  &  The  Gen" 
Court  as  Soon  as  they  Conveniently  can  To  have  the  time  for 
holding  Said  Court  for  the  future  to  be  on  the  third  Tuesday  of 
August  annually,  and  Whereas  it  might  be  of  Service  To  y^  County 
to  have  the  time  for  holding  y^  Court  of  Assize  &  Gen"  Goal  De- 
livery &  Superior  Court  of  Judicature  which  by  law  is  now  holden 
on  the  Wednesday  Imediately  preceeding  the  time  appointed  for 
holding  Said  Court  at  Springfield  in  and  for  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire The  Said  persons  are  desired  To  Consult  The  Hon"  His 
majestys  Justices  of  y"  Said  Court  of  assize  &61  for  their  advice 
what  other  time  may  be  more  accomodable  for  holding  the  Same 
&  if  they  then  shall  think  it  proper  that  they  Prefer  a  Petition  ac- 
cordingly 


A  Petition  of  Isaac  Tomlin  as  Entered  at  the  Last  Term,  being 
duly  Served  on  the  Children  &  Grand-Children  of  y''  Widdow  Ru- 
hamah  Wait,  and  all  y''  partys  now  appearing  and  fully  heard  there- 
upon The  Court  order  that  the  Cost  &  Charge  which  the  Said 
Isaac  Tomlin  hath  hirtherto  been  at  iii  the  Support  of  the  Said 
Ruhamah  Wait  and  his  Charges  &  Cost  in  prefering  his  Petition 
&61  amounting  unto  the  Sum  of  Twelve  pound  Two  Shillings  be 
paid  as  follows  W"  Wait  &  Joseph  Wait  of  Sutton  Two  of  y*^  Sons 
of  y^  Said  Widdow  Each  Three  pound  &  Six  pence  David  Joss 
Joshua  Josiah  Kesiah  &  martha  newton  Grandchildren  of  y^  Said 
Widow  Each  Ten  Shillings  &  one  peney  &  that  the  Remaining 
three  pound  <S:  Sixpence  be  born  by  the  Said  Isaac  Tomlin,  & 
Nathaniel  Pratt  of  Framingham  who  maryed  a  daughter  of  y^  Said 
Widdow  being  uncajjable  to  Labour  and  unable  To  pay  Towards 
her  Support  is  freed  therefrom  till  y'^  further  order  of  this  Court 

And  the  Court  further  order  that  Dureing  the  time  the  Said  Ru- 
hamah Wait  Shall  board  at  y*^  Said  Isaac  Tomlins,  I'hat  The  Said 
William  Wait  Pay  towards  her  Support  Till  y^  further  order  of  this 


134  Cou7't  of  General  Sessions.  \  tmm? 

Court  one  Shilling  &  three  pence  '^  week  the  Said  Joseph  Wait 
pay  y^  like  Sum  of  one  Shilling  &  three  pence  "^  week  and  that 
the  Said  David  Joss  Joshua  Josiah  Kesiah  &  martha  Newton  pay 
Each  of  them  one  peny  half  peny  ^  week  &  that  the  Same  be  paid 
Quarterly  unto  the  Said  Isaac  Tomlin  and  upon  their  Negle6t  Re- 
spe6tively  of  making  payment  of  the  Sums  aforesaid  They  Forfeit 
Twenty  Shillings  apeice  '^  month  agreeable  to  law  To  be  Leveyed 
&  Imployed  as  "^  y^  Law  for  that  end  is  appointed 


An  acco'  of  John  Chandler  J''  Esqr  procureing  Cushings  &61 
amounting  unto  Seven  pound  one  Shilling  &  Sixpence  allowed  & 
the  Treasurer  of  the  County  is  ordered  to  pay  y'=  Same  accordingly 


William  Jenison  Esqr  Informing  this  Court  that  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Grafton  ^  formerly  Called  Hassanamisco  neglect  & 
Refuse  to  pay  their  part  or  proportion  of  the  Charge  of  laying  out 
The  County  Road  from  Worcester  To  Mendon  being  three  pound 
Six  Shillings  The  Court  Therefore  order  the  Clerk  To  Send  forth 
an  Execution  or  Warrant  of  Distress  ag''  The  Sele6l  men  or  Some 
other  principall  person  of  Said  Town  of  Crafton  for  Said  Sum 

Then  y^  Court  was  adjourned  to  Thursday  y^  21  :  Instant  9 
o'clock  forenoon 

'  Incorporated  as  a  town  in  1735. 


Worcester  ss    Anno  R'^  R^'  Geoi^gij  Secundi  nunc 
Mas'ncE  Britainice  FrancicB  et  Hibernice  &n  Nono 

J\t  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held 
at  Worcester  by  adjournment  on  Thursday  the 
2 1®*^  day  of  August,  Annoq  Dom  :  1 735 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 


John  Chandler  John  Chandler  J''         Samuel  Willard  Esq 

Joseph  Wilder  \  ^  Josiah  Willard      |  ^ 

^Villiam  Ward    j  Nahum  Ward        ) 

William  Jenison  Henry  Lee  John  Keyes  Esqr 


The  Court  agreed  To  present  the  following  Congratulatory  ad- 
dress To  His  Excellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq'',  Capt  Gen"  and 
Governour  in  Chief  in  and  over  His  Majestys  Province  of  y^  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  in  New  England  now  in  the  Town  of  Worcester 

May  It  Please  your  Excellency. — We  his  majestys  Justices  of 
the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  now  held  In  this  place 
for  the  County  of  Worcester  by  adjournm*,  humbly  beg  leave  to 
Congratulate  your  Excellencys  Safe  arrivall  in  this  part  of  your 
Government — It  is  with  hearts  full  of  Joy  that  we  now  See  your 
Excellencys  face  together  with  the  Hon"  Councill  in  the  Shire 
Town  of  this  County  which  has  Rec''  its  being  and  Constitution  by 
y^  favour  of  your  Excellency  under  y^  Divine  Conduct  and  Bene- 
di6lion,  and  by  whose  wise,  mild  and  Just  administration,  this 
whole  Province  enjoys  great  Quietness,  which  we  Trust  will  be 
Continued  and  accepted  in  all  places,  with  all  thankfulness.  We 
are  also  Sensibly  affe6led  that  your  Excellency  has  Condescended 


Attgust 


136  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^  Sm 

and  is  now  pursuing  a  very  necessary  (altho  a  very  Difficult  and 
Tedious)  Journey  to  visitt  the  Western  Frontiers  &  meet  with  the 
Cagnawaga  Indians  and  Such  Tribes  as  may  be  desireous  to  renew 
their  friendships  with  this  Government  in  order  to  preserve  and 
perpetuate  the  happy  Peace  Subsisting  with  them — may  your  Ex- 
cellency and  the  Honourable  Gent  of  the  Councill  and  Such  of 
the  Hon"  House  of  Representatives  who  attend  you.  be  encom- 
passed with  the  Divine  favour  as  with  a  shield  and  in  due  time 
return'd  in  Safty  to  your  Respe6live  Habitations 

Worcester  August  21  :  1735  which  was  Read  To  his  Ex- 
cellency by  the  Honbl  John  Chandler  Esqr  first  Justice  of  the 
peace  in  the  County,  To  which  his  Excellency  was  pleas'd  to  Re- 
turn the  following  answer 

Gent  I  thank  you  very  Kindly  for  y*^  welcome  you  give  me  with 
y^  Honll  Gent  of  his  majestys  Councill  and  the  Gent  of  y*^  House 
of  Representatives  into  this  part  of  his  majestys  province  ;  I  take 
this  opportunity  of  assureing  you  that  I  shall  always  Cheerfully 
Joyn  my  power  with  yours  that  Justice  and  Judgment  may  flourish 
in  the  County  of  Worcester  which  will  greatly  Contribute  to  the 
Happiness  and  welfare  of  the  People 

after  which  the  Justices  of  Said  Court  Return'd  to  y*^  Court  house 
and  the  Court  was  adjourned  without  day 


NOTE. 


Jonathan  Belcher  was  governor  of  Massachusetts  from  1730  to  1741.  He 
was  born  in  Cambridge  in  1682.  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1699. 
While  on  a  visit  to  Europe  he  formed  an  acquaintance  with  the  Princess 
Sophia  and  her  son,  afterwards  George  I.;  and  to  this  circumstance  he  was 
indebted  for  his  future  honors.  His  administration  in  Massachusetts  was 
creditable;  and  he  maintained  his  popularity  until  his  removal,  which  was 
accomplished  through  the  intrigues  of  certain  parties  whose  schemes  he  had 
opposed.  Appointed  governor  of  New  Jersey  in  1747.  he  died  in  office  ten 
years  later. 

Governor  Belcher  visited  Worcester  again  in  1740.  in  company  with  White- 
field,  the  celebrated  preacher. 


Worcester  ss    Anno  R'^  R^  Georgij  Secundi  nunc 
MagncE  Britaini(B  Francics  et  Hiberni(B  Notio^^ 

At  a  Court  of  General!  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
November  being  the  fourth  day  of  Said  Month 
anno  :  Dom  :  1735 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esqr     >,  John  Chandler  J'  Esqr 

Joseph  Wilder  Esqr         Justices  of     ^ahum  Ward  Esqr 
William  Ward  Esqr  ^  Quorum     Samuel  Willard  Esqr 

William  Jenison  Esqr  J  John  Keyes  Esqr 

Justices  of  the  Peace 


Grandjury 

M""  Jonathan  Houghton  foreman 

M-"  Joseph  Crosby  M""  W"  Green  Cap'  Dan'  Taylor 

M'  John  Haines  M''  John  Stockwell     M""  William  Jones 

M''  Isaac  Learned  M''  Gershom  Keith      M''  Caleb  Sawyer 

M""  Eliphalett  Carpenter  Cap'  John  Fay  M""  James  Heaton 

M''  Thomas  Hapgood 
Each  att''  three  days  &  M'  Wilds  attend  y"" 


David  Young  of  Worcester  within  y^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  for  y^  County  afores** 


18 


1 3  8  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^7™^'' 

YOUNG  D  Iqj.  i^jg  Unecessaryly  Travelling  at  Rutland  and 

JURY  Worcester  in  y^  County  aforesaid  on  the  last 

Mr  Thos:  Pratt  Lords  Day  before  the  presentment,  as  "^  y^ 

Will:  NicoUs  •'  ^  >  \j      J 

Epm:  Wilder  jr  presentment  appears  was  bound    by    way    of 

Maturin  Allanl  _  .  ,  ,    ,\         r^  ^       c  r^ 

Simeon  Mayiiard  Kccognizance  1  o  appear  at  the  Lourt  oi  uen- 

joiin  Gibbs  gj.^]j  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  on  the  Second 

Caleb  Barton 

Jon  Hobs  Tuesday  of  August  last  past,  at  which  Court 

Jno  Sanderson  r-i    •  i   t->  •  t^  ■  i  i   •     /-• 

Simon  Davis  baid  Recognizancc  was  Contmued  to  this  Court 

Timo^crrur  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^hc  Said  David  Young  appeared  and 

pleaded  not  Guilty  upon  which  plea  y^  Case 
after  a  full  hearing  was  Comitted  to  the  Jury  who  were  Sworn  ac- 
cording To  Law  to  Try  y*^  Same  and  Returned  their  Verdi6l  there- 
in upon  Oath  as  follows  viz'  that  the  Said  David  Young  is  Guilty, 
Its  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  That  the  Said  David  Young 
Pay  as  a  fine  to  the  Sele6lmen  or  overseers  of  the  Town  of  Rut- 
land for  y'^  Use  of  the  Poor  of  the  Said  Town  thirty  Shillings,  that 
he  pay  Costs  &  Fees,  Taxed  at  Six  pound  four  Shilling  and  Stand 
Comitted  till  Sentence  is  performed  which  he  Refuseing  to  pay 
was  Comitted  according 


The  Seledlmen  of  Worcester  presented  a  warrant  directed  to  one 
of  their  Constables  To  warn  John  Partrick  his  wife  and  family  to 
depart  their  Town  and  it  being  duly  served,  its  accordingly  ap- 
proved of  by  y^  Court 


The  Court  now  order  that  a  Tax  or  assessment  amounting  unto 
the  Sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Seven  pound  Eight  Shillings  & 
nine  pence  be  raised  on  the  Severall  Towns  within  this  County  foi- 
defraying  the  usuall  necessary  Charges  ariseing  within  the  Same  and 
that  the  Clark  forthwith  Send  out  Warrants  direded  to  the  Sele6l- 
men  or  assessors  of  the  Respe6live  Towns  within  y^  County  for 
assessing  their  Severall  Parts  &  proportions  according  to  the  Rules 
for  assessing  the  last  province  Tax  and  for  paying  in  y^  Same  to 
Cap'  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  or  To  his  Successors  at  or 
before  the  last  day  of  may  next. 


1 735- 1         Worcester  Coufity,  Massachusetts.         139 

The  Severall  Towns  Proportion  thereof  is  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester     Eleven  pound  Seven  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  1 1     78 

Lancaster     Twenty  Six  pound  three  Shillings  &  four  pence  26     3  4 

Mendon     fifteen  pound  fourteen  Shillings  15   14 

Woodstock     Sixteen  pound  16 

Brookfield     Thirteen  pound  Ten  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  13  10  8 

Southboro'     Eight  pound  thirteen  Shillings  8   13 

Westborough     Nine  pound  one  Shilling  9     i 

Leicester     Six  pound  nineteen  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  6  19  8 

Shrewsbury     Seven  pound  Seven  Shilling  7     7 

Sutton     Eleven  pound  five  Shilling  1 1      5 

Oxford     Seven  pound  Two  Shillings  7     2 

Uxbridge     Six  pound  &  four  pence  604 

Rutland     three  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   18 

Lunenburg     three  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  3   18 

Harvard     Seven  pound  three  Shillings  &  one  peny  7     3   I 

Upton     Three  pound  Six  Shillings  3     60 


Sum  Total  157     89 

Warrants  were  Issued  out  Nov':  ii""  1735 

att'     Jn".  Chandler  J""  CI 


An  acco'  of  Daniel  Gookin  Esqr  Sheriff  of  y^  County  amounting 
unto  Seventeen  pound  thirteen  Shillings  &  four  pence  Read  and 
ordered  That  the  Sum  of  Seventeen  pound  thirteen  Shillings  &  four 
pence  be  paid  out  of  the  County  Treasury  in  full  discharge  there- 
of to  the  Said  W  Sheriff  Gookin  in  full  Discharge  thereof 


An  acco"  of  John  Chandler  J""  Esq  amounting  unto  Seven  pound 
Sixteen  Shillings  Read  and  allowed  and  order'd  that  the  Said 
Sum  of  Seven  pound  Sixteen  Shillings  be  paid  out  of  the  County 
Treasury  to  the  Said  accomptant  in  full  discharge  thereof. — This 
aco'  is  withdrawn  after  it  pas'd 


Betty  Houghton  being  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  To  ap- 
pear at  this  Court  To  answer  To  the  Crime  of  fornication,  Did  not 


1 40  Cow't  of  General  ^>essio?is.  I  term, 

appear  but  forfieted  her  bond  which  was  Ten  pound   which  was 
paid  in  Court 


AUexander  M'Clure's  Recognizance  Discharged  paying  Cost  of 
Court  w'^''  was  p*^ 

John  M'Jerald's  Recognizance  Discharged  pay  Cost,     p** 

Robert  Hunters  Sam"  Dunkins  &  Robert  Aliens  Recognizance 
discharged 

Mary  Barbers  recognizance  at  her  husbands  request  Continued 
to  February  she  not  being  well 


Nathaniel  Sawyer  of  Lancaster  In  the  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman and  Mary  his  wife  being  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance 
to  appear  at  this  Court  to  answer  to  the  Crime  of  Fornication  ap- 
peared &  Confess'd  the  same  were  fin'd  Each  thirty  Shilling  &  Costs 
vv''"  they  paid  &  were  dismissed 


Simon  Stone  of  Shrewsbury  Husbandman  &  Easter  his  wife  and 
his  Son  Daniel  Stone  al  being  presented  by  y<=  Grand  Jury  for 
Unecessaryly  absenting  themselves  from  the  Publick  Worship  of 
God  &6t  appeared  &  gave  their  Reasons  and  were  Excused  paying 
Costs  which  were  paid 


Experience  Bartlett  of  Brookfield  Spinster  being  bound  to  ap- 
pear at  this  Court  To  answer  for  the  Crime  of  Fornication  appear- 
ed &  Confessed  the  fa6l  but  not  being  delivered  Her  bonds  were 
Continued  To  the  next  Term 


Joseph  Doolitde  of  Kingstown  in  the  County  of  Hampshire  now 
Resident  in  Brookfield  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 


1 735- 1         Worcester  Cotmty,  Massachusetts.         141 

being  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  To  appear  at  this  Court  To 
answer  To  a  Complaint  made  ag''  him  by  Experience  Bartlett  of 
of  Said  Brookfield  Spinster  for  his  begitting  her  with  Child  by  for- 
nication and  she  not  bein  yet  delivered  The  Court  order  That  he 
Renew  his  Bonds  Namely  him  Self  in  the  Sum  of  one  hundred 
pound  «&  Two  Suretys  in  fifty  pound  Each  for  his  appearing  at  the 
next  Term  and  abideing  y^  Order  of  Court  &  not  to  depart  with- 
out lycence. 


Thomas  Mackintire  of  Rutland  In  the  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  for  Said  County  for 
y'  on  y'=  25"'  day  of  Augs'  1734  being  Sabath  day  he  did  wilfully 
and  unecessaryly  presume  to  Travel!  from  Rutland  aforesaid  To 
Worcester  in  y'^  County  of  Worcester  aforesaid  being  the  Space  of 
Twelve  miles  as  '^  the  presentment  appears  The  said  Thomas 
M^Kintire  was  brot  before  y^  Court  and  Confess'd  he  Did  Travell 
as  Set  forth  in  y«  presentment  but  Said  it  was  not  Unecessary 
Travell ;  and  being  fully  heard  thereon  The  Court  Judge  the  Said 
Thomas  M^'Kintire  is  Guilty  of  Unecessary  Travell  as  set  forth  in 
y«=  presentm' :  and  therefore  Sentence  y^  Said  Thomas  M'^Kintire 
to  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  to  the  Sele6lmen  or  overseers  of  y« 
Poor  of  the  Town  of  Worces  for  the  use  of  y=  Poor  of  Said  Town 
That  he  pay  Cost  &  fees  Taxed  at  four  pound  Eleven  Shillings  & 
Stand  Comitted  Till  Sentence  is  performed.— and  he  Refuseing  to 
pay  the  Same  was  Comitted  accordingly 

Nov'.  12  :  1735  he  paid  y^  fine  &  Costs  &  was  accordingly  Dis- 
charged 


John  Slarah  of  Rutland  in  the  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  ibr  said  County  for  that  on  y^ 
25""  day  of  August  1734  being  Sabath  day  he  did  wilfully  and  un- 
necessaryly  presume  to  Travell  from  Rutland  aforesaid  to  Worces- 
ter In  y^  County  of  Worcester  afores'^  being  the  Space  of  Twelve 
miles  &(5l  as  "^  y^  presentment  appears  The  Said  John  Slarrah 
was  brought  before  the  Court  and  Confess'd  he  did  Travell  as  set 


NOVKMHEB 


142  Court  of  General  Sessions.  V-xil'^ 

forth  In  the  presentment  but  said  it  was  not  unecessary  Travell  and 
fully  heard  thereon  The  Court  Judge  the  said  John  Slarrah  is  Guilty 
of  unecessary  Travell  as  set  forth  In  y<^  present  and  therefore  order 
that  the  said  John  Slarrah  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  to  the  Se- 
le6lmen  or  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  for  the 
use  of  the  Poor  of  Said  Town  that  he  pay  Cost  &  fees  Taxed  at 
four  pound  Sixteen  Shillings  and  Stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  is 
performed  and  he  refuseing  to  pay  y"^  Same  was  Comitted  accord- 
ingly 

Nov''  12  1735     he  paid  y*^  fine  &  Costs  &  was  Discharged 


Andrew  M^Clain  of  Rutland  In  y*-'  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  present  by  the  Grand  Jurors  for  said  County  for 
that  on  the  25""  day  of  august  1735  being  Sabath  day  he  did  wil- 
fully and  Unecessaryly  Travell  from  Rutland  aforesaid  To  Worces- 
ter In  y*^  County  of  Worcester  aforesaid  being  the  Space  of  Twelve 
miles  &61  as  ^  y^  presentment  appears  The  said  Andre^v  M'Clain 
came  into  Court  and  Confess'd  he  did  Travell  as  set  forth  in  the 
presentment  but  said  it  was  not  Unecessary  Travell  and  being  fully 
heard  thereon  The  Court  Judge  The  Said  Andrew  M''Clain  is  (iuilty 
of  Unecessary  Travell  as  Set  forth  in  the  presentm'  and  therefore 
Sentence  the  Said  Andrew  M''Clain  [to]  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shill- 
ings To  the  Sele6lmen  or  overseers  of  y*^  Poor  of  y^  Town  of  Wor- 
cester for  y'^  Use  of  Said  Poor  that  he  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Taxed  at 
Three  pound  Eleven  Shillings  and  Stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  is 
performed,  and  he  Refusing  to  pay  y*^  Same  was  accordingly  Com- 
itted, Nov''.  12  :  1735  ^'"^  P'^  y*^  Same  &  was  discharged 


Thomas  Ward  of  Westborough  In  y*^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  with  Suretys  To 
appear  at  this  Court  To  answer  To  his  presentment  by  the  Grand 
Jurors  for  his  willfully  &  Unnecessaryly  negle6ting  to  attend  the 
Pubhck  worship  of  God  on  Lords  days  for  more  than  one  month 
last  past  before  y^  presentment  as  ^  y'^  presentment  appears, 
appeared  in  Court  and  pleaded  not  Guilty,  The  Case  after  a  full 


1735- !         Worcester  County,  Afassac/msctts.         143 

D  Kis.  T.  WARD       hearing  was  Comitted  to  y^  Jury  who    were 

JURY  Sworn  according  to  law  to  Trye  y^  Same  &  Re- 

"i"''"- ''""  turn'd  there  Verdi6l  therein  upon   foath]   as 

Mr  Will  Nieolls  '  '-    _  "^  . 

Kpm  Wilder  jr  follows  viz'  that  the  Said  Thomas  Ward  is  Guilty 

simeonViu/iIara  Its  therefore  Considered  by  y^  Court  That  the 

Caleb  Barton  g^j^^j  Thomas  Ward  pay  a  fine  of  Twenty  Shill- 

jiio  (;ii)i)9  ^    •'  ^ 

jona  Hobs  ings  To  thc  Selectmen  or  overseers  of  y^  Poor 

simonDavir"  of  y®  Town  of  Westborough  for  y^  use  of  the 

'^''"  '^""'■"  poor  of  said  Town  That  he  pay  Costs  &  Fees 

Tim:  Carter  ^  ^     ■' 

Taxed  at  Two  pound  Two  Shillings  «&  four 
pence  and  Stand  Comitted  Till  Sentence  be  performed,  From 
which  Sentence  y*^  Said  Thomas  Ward  appealed  To  the  next  Court 
of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  to  be  holden  at  Worcester 
within  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester  In  September  next  and 
Entered  into  Recognizance  with  Suretys  according  To  law  for 
prosecuting  his  appeal  with  Effe6l  &61  viz'  Thomas  Ward  of  West- 
borough  Husbandman  Benjamin  Flagg  y  of  \Vorcester  Gent  & 
John  Harwood  of  Uxbridge  Joyner  all  in  the  County  of  Worcester 
appeared  before  y^  Court  and  acknowledged  themselves  bound  by 
way  of  Recognizance  viz'  The  Said  Thomas  Ward  as  principall  in 
Twenty  pound  and  the  Said  Benjamin  Flagg  J""  &  John  Harwood 
as  Suretys  in  Ten  pound  Each  To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
his  heirs  or  Successors  to  be  Leveyed  on  their  Goods  or  Chattells 
lands  or  Tenaments  for  y«  Use  of  our  Said  Lord  y^  King  &c  Con- 
ditioned That  if  the  Said  Thomas  Ward  Shall  personally  appear  at 
Said  Court  of  assize  and  Gen'^  Goal  Delivery  and  Shall  prosecute 
Said  appeal  with  Effe6l  and  Shall  do  and  perform  what  Shall  by 
Said  Court  be  Lijoyn'd  him  &  not  depart  without  Lycence  &  in 
the  mean  time  be  of  the  good  behaviour  then  said  Recognizance 
To  be  void  Else  To  abide  in  full  force  and  Virtue — Sep'  6.  1736 
M''  Tho  :  Ward  paid  the  fine  &  Cost     att^  Jn°  Chandler  J'  CI 


Thomas  Ward  of  Westborough  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  with  Suretys  to  ap- 
pear at  this  Court  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  the  Grand 
Jurors  in  nov''  i  734  for  his  wilfully  &  Unnecessaryly  negle6ling  to 


144  Court  of  General  Sessions.  l%Yk"r^ 

DOM^  REX  attend  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  on  Lords 

TH  WARD  jj^yg  f-Qj.  i-j-iQre  than  one  month  last  past  before 

Same  Jury  as:  1st:  case  ye  presentment  as  "^  y«  Same  appears  appeared 
in  Court  and  pleaded  not  Guilty,  The  Case 
after  a  full  hearing  was  Comitted  to  the  Jury  who  were  Sworn  ac- 
cording to  law  to  Trye  y=  Same  and  Returned  there  Vertii6l  there 
in  upon  [oath]  as  follows  viz'  That  the  said  Thomas  Ward  is  Guilty 
Its  therefore  Considered  by  the  Court  That  the  Said  Thomas  Ward 
pay  a  fine  of  Twenty  Shillings  to  the  Sele6lmen  or  overseers  of  y^ 
Poor  of  the  Town  of  Westborough  for  the  use  of  the  Poor  of  Said 
Town  that  he  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Taxed  at  Two  pound  Two  Shillings 
&  four  pence  and  Stand  Comitted  Till  Sentence  be  performed 

From  which  Sentence  The  said  Tho^  Ward 
appealed  To  the  next  Court  of  assize  and  Generall  Goal  Deliv- 
ery to  be  holden  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester 
in  September  next  and  entered  into  Recognizance  with  Suretys  ac- 
cording to  law  for  prosecuting  his  appeal  with  Effect  &dl  as  follows 
viz'  The  said  Thomas  Ward  as  principall  In  the  Sum  of  Twenty 
pound  and  Benjamin  Flagg  J''  of  Worcester  Gent  and  John  Har- 
wood  of  Uxbridge  Joyner  both  in  the  County  of  Worcester  as 
Suretys  in  Ten  pounds  Each  personally  appearing  before  the  Court 
and  acknowledged  themselves  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  In 
y^  aforesaid  Sums  Respe6lively  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
his  heirs  or  Successors  To  be  Leveyed  upon  their  Goods  or  Chat- 
tells  lands  or  Tenemt'  for  the  Use  of  our  Said  Lord  y^  King  &61 
Conditioned  that  If  the  Said  Thomas  Ward  Shall  personally  appear 
at  Said  Court  of  Assize  and  Generall  Goal  Delivery  and  Shall  pros- 
ecute Said  appeal  with  Effe6l  and  Shall  doe  and  perform  what  by 
Said  Court  Shall  be  Injoyned  him  and  not  Depart  without  Lycence 
and  in  the  mean  time  be  of  y^  Good  behaviour  Then  said  Recog- 
nizance to  be  void  Else  to  abide  In  full  force  &  virtue 

Sepr  6.  1 736     M'  Tho  Ward  paid  y^  fine  &  Cost 

att'     Jn"  Chandler  J'  CI 


Worcester  ss    Aii7w  R^  R^  Gco^^gij  Secundi  nunc 
Magnce  Britainice  Francice  et  Hibernice  Nono"^ 

At  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
Febry  being  the  third  day  of  Said  Month  anno 
Dom  1735-6 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler     a  Sam"  Wright  Esq"- 

Joseph  Wilder  Esqrs  Justices,  Samuel  Dudley  Esq-" 

William  Ward        ,'    ^^^  the  Peace    j^enry  Lee  Esq^        )  J"^f  J^J 

^:  Quorum       ^.^  ,         -..r    j  7-     r     V    o*  ^he 

William  Jenison  >  Nahum  Ward  Esq'     f    peace 

Samuel  Ward  Esq'     ^ 
Daniel  Taft  |  p  y  ^     Reyes  Esq' 

John  Chandler  J'  j  ^^^ '  ^  -'  ^  ^ 


Grand  Jury 

M'  Jon*^  Houghton  foreman 

M""  Joseph  Crosby          M'  W"  Green  M'  Caleb  Sawyer 

M'  John  Starnes              M'  Dan'  Taylor  M'  Isaac  Thayer 

M'  Isaac  Learned           M'  John  Stockwell  M'  William  Ayres 

M'  Eliphalett  Carpenter  M'  Gershom  Keith  M'  James  Heaton 

M'  Thomas  Hapgood     Cap*  John  Fay  M'  William  Jones 

M'  Richard  Wilds  Dep'  Sheriff  attended  them 

19 


Febeitaey 


1 46  Court  of  Ge7ieral  Sessions:  \   t?rm! 

Stephen  Chapman  of  Woodstock  &61  bound  over  to  this  Court 
for  Breach  of  Peace  appeared  acknowledged  The  fadl  was  find  five 
ShilHngs  &  to  Pay  Costs  which  he  did  and  was  Dismissed 


The  Selectmen  of  Worcester  presented  a  Warrant  diredled  to 
one  of  their  Constables  To  warn  one  Thomas  Green  his  wife  & 
family  1  o  depart  their  Town  and  it  being  duly  Serv'd  its  approved 


Isaac  CoUer  Oliver  Coller  &  Lydia  Coller  all  of  them  being  pre- 
sented for  not  attending  on  y^  Publick  Worship  of  God  &6t;  all  of 
them  appeared  and  pleaded  their  poverty  &  not  living  within  any 
Town,  and  promising  as  soon  as  they  could  to  Reform  were  dis- 
miss'd 


Thomas  Ward  of  Westborough  &61:  being  presented  for  his  un 
ecessaryly  Traveling  on  y^  Lords  [day]  &61  appeared  &  made  hi 
Excuse  &  was  dismissed  paying  Costs 


Joseph  Sanouse  an  Indian  being  presented  for  Unecessaryly 
Traveling  on  y^  Lords  day  &61  appeared  &  made  his  Excuse  & 
was  dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


Mathew  Barber  of  Shrewsbury  being  presented  for  Unecessaryly 
Traveling  on  the  Lords  day  &61  appeared  &  made  his  Excuse  & 
was  dism'^  paying  Cost 


Mary  Barber  wife  of  Mathew  Barber  being  presented  for  L^nec- 
essaryly  Traveling  on  the  Lords  [day]  Sep^  14  :  1735  appeared  & 
made  her  Excuse  &  was  Dismissed  paying  Cost 


1 73  5 "6- (     Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         147 

Robert  M'^Cain  of  Rutland  being  presented  for  Unecessaryly 
Travelling  on  y^  25"'  of  Aug  :  1734  appeared  and  made  his  Excuse 
and  was  dismis*^  paying  Cost 


The  Town  of  Brookfield  being  presented  for  want  of  a  Bridge 
over  Marks  River  &c  appeared  and  assured  the  Court  they  would 
speedily  build  y'^  Same  were  dism''  paying  Cost 


The  Court  now  order  that  for  the  future  Wednesday  y^  Second 
day  of  the  Courts  Siting  being  at  the  Severall  Courts  hereafter  held 
in  November  and  Feb''y  be  Sessions  days  and  thursday  the  third 
day  of  the  Courts  Siting  at  the  Severall  Courts  hereafter  held  in 
mav  &  august  be  Sessions  days. 


The  Court  order  that  a  well  be  dug  on  the  Prison  ground  or  as 
near  the  Same  as  may  be  at  the  Charge  of  the  County  &  William 
Jenison  John  Chandler  J""  &  Henry  Lee  Esq"  &  M"'  Sheriff  Gookin 
are  desired  to  fix  y^  place  for  y^  Same  &  See  it  dug  &  well  Stone 
on  as  Easy  Terms  as  may  be 


This  Court  order  that  a  Cart  Bridge  be  Ere6ted  and  built  at  the 
Charge  of  the  County  over  a  River  Called  French  River  between 
Worcester  (^  Oxford  at  or  near  the  place  where  y*^  present  Road 
Crosses  Said  River  it  being  not  in  any  Town  &  there  being  great 
need  of  a  Bridge  there  and  to  be  from  time  to  time  Repaired  at 
the  Charge  of  the  County  till  the  Court  Shall  order  otherwise  & 
Cap'  Benjamin  Flagg  and  M""  Gershom  Rice  Jun''  are  appointed  a 
Comittee  To  Se  y^  Same  Effe6led  and  then  to  lay  their  acco'  be- 
fore y*^  Court  for  their  approbation  &  allowance 


Joseph  Doolittle  and  Experience  Bartlett  being  bound  over  to 
this  Court  by  M'  Jno  Dwite  To  appear  at  the  last  Term  as  appears 


FEIiKUARY 


148  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \   term,' 

by  their  Respedlive  Recognizances  were  then  again  Bound  to  ap- 
pear this  Court  &  now  they  appeared  and  Confess'd  they  were 
Guilty  of  y'=  Crime  of  fornication  were  find  Each  thirty  Shillings  & 
Cost  and  were  dism*^ 


John  Rich  Jun"'  of  Dudley  &61  being  bound  To  appear  at  this 
Court  by  the  Hon^  John  Chandler  Esqr  To  answer  to  a  Charge 
Exhibitted  against  him  &61  as  ^  y^  Recognizance  appears  Came 
into  Court  &  promising  Reformation  of  what  was  amiss  in  him 
was  dismiss 'd. 


The  Sele6lmen  of  Grafton  presenting  a  warrant  dire6led  by  them 
to  the  Constable  of  Grafton  To  warn  John  Ward  his  wife  &  family 
&  nath"  Whitemore  his  wife  &  family  to  depart  there  Town  &6t  it 
was  ordered  to  be  put  on  file 


DOM  REX  David  Parsons  of  Leicester  in  y*=  County  of 

■^^  Worcester  Clerk  being  presented  by  the  Grand 

PARSONS  Jurors  for  said  County  for  that  y^  said   David 

Parsons  at  the  meeting  House  in  Leicester 
aforesaid  on  the  Twentyth  day  of  aprill  last  past  it  being  the  Lords 
day  Did  then  and  there  make  a  Disturbance  in  the  Publick  wor- 
ship of  God  by  words  and  a6lions  &61  as  '^  the  presentment  fully 
and  at  large  appears,  was  bound  by  way  of  Recognizance  with  sure- 
tys  to  appear  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  at 
Worcester  the  first  day  of  November  last  past  at  which  Court  M""  Par- 
sons appeared  and  at  his  desire  the  Case  was  Continued  to  this 
Term  &  now  y*^  Said  Parsons  appeared  and  pray'd  the  presentment 
might  be  Quas'd  as  "^  his  pleas  on  file  appear  Which  were  over- 
Ruled  by  the  Court  &  to  the  presentment  or  Crime  alledged 
pleaded  not  Guilty,  Upon  which  plea  the  Case  after  a  full  hearing 
was  Comitted  to  the  Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to  law  to 
Trye  y^  Same  and  Return'd  their  Verdi6l  therein  upon  oath  vizt 
That  the  said  David  Parsons  is  Guilty      Its  therefore  Considered 


1735-6-!     Worcester  Cotifity,  Massachusetts.         149 

by  the  Court  that  the  said  David  Parsons  pay  as  a  fine  to  our 
Sovereign  Lord  the  [King]  as  a  fine  twenty  five  ShiUings  That  he 
pay  Cost  &  Fees  &  Stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  is  perform 'd,  he 
paid  y^  fine  &  Cost  in  Court  &  was  dismiss'd 


William  M'carry  of  Wrentham  In  y'^  County  of  Suffolk  Husband- 
man being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  of  our  Lord  y'^  King  for 
the  County  of  Worcester  for  that  y^  Said  William  on  or  about  the 
Twenty  ninth  day  of  December  last  past  at  a  place  called  Boston 
in  the  Township  of  Worcester  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  afores*^ 
at  the  House  of  M''  Maylems  did  take  Steal  and  Carry  away  a 
pockett  Book  or  mony  Case  wherein  was  one  pound  five  Shillings 
&  Sixpence  in  paper  Bills  and  in  bonds  and  notes  of  hand  and 
accounts  to  y'^  Valine  of  Sixty  or  Seventy  pounds  and  of  the  proper 
Goods  or  Estate  of  one  John  Salisbury  of  Bristoll  in  y<^  County  of 
Bristol!  Inholder  alwhich  is  highly  Criminall  and  ag''  the  peace  of 
our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  &iQi  The  Deft  appeared  &  pleaded 
not  Guilty  The  Case  after  a  full  hearing  was  Comitted  to  the 
Jury  who  were  Sworn  according  to  law  to  Trye  y^  Same  and  Re- 
turn'd  there  Verdi6l  therein  upon  oath  as  follows  viz'  that  the  Said 
William  M'Carry  is  not  Guilty  Its  therefore  Considered  by  y*^  Court 
that  the  Said  William  M'"Carry  be  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


Worcester  ss  Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgi  Secundi 
nunc  Magnce  Britanics  FrancicB  et  Hibernics 
Nono''^ 

/\tt  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of 
May  being  the  iith  day  of  Said  Month  anno 
Dominij  1736 


John  Chandler  Esq'' 
Joseph  Wilder  Esq"' 
William  Ward  Esq"" 
William  Jenison  Esq"' 
Jphn  Chandler  J""  Esqr 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Samuel  Dudley  -n     Esqrs 
)  Justices  of  Henry  Lee  [  Justices 

\  the  Peace   Nahum  AVard     )      °*  ^^^ 
\  and  Quo- 
rum 


Peace 


Coroners  Capt  James  Wilder   M""  Seth  Chapin  J""    NP  Joseph 
Wright  &  M""  Gershom  Rice 


Old  Grand  Jury 

M''  Jon"^  Houghton  foreman 

M"'  Joseph  Crosby  Cap'  Daniel  Taylor    M""  James  Heaton 

M""  John  Starns  M""  William  Green  M'  Thomas  Hapgood 

M""  Isaac  Thayer  Cap'  John  Fay  "  M''  Caleb  Sawyer 

M""  Eliphalett  Carpenter  M'  Gershom  Keith     M'  William  Jones 

W  William  Ayres  M""  Isaac  Learned  W  John  Stockwell 

M''  Richard  Wilds  De])'  Sheriff  attended  on  them 


1736.'         Woi^cester  County,  MassacJi2isetts.         151 

New  Grand  Jury  for  i  736 

Sutton     M""  Robert  Goddard  foreman 

Worcester     M"  Thomas  Rice         M''  Nath"  Green  Leicester 

M""  Cyprian  Stevens     M''  Jon"  Furbush  Westboro' 
Mendon     M""  Nathan  Tyler  M'  Joseph  Taft  Jun'  Uxbridge 

Woodstock     M"'  Joseph  Lyon        Rutland  M""  James  Wright 
Brookfield     M''  John  Ayre  Lunenburge  M*"  Benjamin 

iVr  David  Fay  Southborough  Goodrich 

M"'  Symon  Maynard  Shrewsbury    Harvard  M''  John  Daly 
M'  Samuel  Davis  Oxford  Grafton  M"'  James  Whiple 

Lancaster  M''  Elias  Sawyer 

They  were  Sworn  &  Sent  home 


David  Farnsworth  and  Hanah  his  wife  both  of  Lunenburg  &6t 
came  into  Court  and  Confessd  themselves  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of 
fornication  were  find  thirty  Shillings  Each  and  Cost  &  then  dism** 


Sarah  Bucknum  of  Sutton  Singlewoman  came  into  Court  &  Con- 
fess'd  she  had  been  Guilty  of  y'^  Crime  of  fornication  was  find 
thirty  Shillings  &  Cost  &  then  dismiss'd. 


James  Magregore  of  Grafton  &(5l  being  presented  by  the  Grand 
jury  for  Uuecessary  Traveling  on  the  Lords  day  made  his  Excuse 
and  was  dismissd  paying  Costs 


The  Sele6l  men  of  Mendon  presented  a  warrant  directed  to 
their  Constable  to  warn  Mary  Thoits  to  depart  their  Town  &  being 
duly  Served  was  approved 


An  acco'  of  John  Chandler  J""  Esqr  amounting  unto  the  Sum  of 
of  fourteen  pound  Six  Shillings  allowed  of  by  the  Court  and  the 
County  Treasurer  is  accordingly  order  to  pay  y^  Same 


152  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^tIrm. 

Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  presented  his  accounts  from 
may  1735  To  May  1736.  which  were  Carefully  Examined  by  the 
Court  and  accordingly  approved  of  the  ballance  in  favour  of  the 
County  when  all  y«  Taxes  are  paid  is  fifty  Three  pounds  fourteen 
Shillings  &  Ten  pence  &  the  Court  dired  the  Clark  to  Signe  y« 
Same  in  y^  name  of  y^  Court 


The  Votes  Sent  in  from  the  Several  Towns  in  the  County  for 
the  Choice  of  Register  of  Deeds  were  opened  in  &  Sorted  [by] 
the  Court.  The  Number  of  Votes  wer  522  :  and  it  appeared  that 
John  Chandler  J'  Esqr  was  Eledted  by  5 1  7  Votes  and  was  accord- 
ingly Sworn  to  the  faithfull  discharge  of  his  office  by  the  Hon"  Jo- 
seph Wilder  Esqr 


The  Votes  Sent  in  from  y^  Several  Towns  for  y^  Choice  of  a 
County  Treasurer  being  opened  &  Sorted  by  y^  Court  it  appeared 
that  there  were  Two  hundred  Sixty  Eight  Votes  and  that  Cap* 
Benjamin  Flagg  was  Ele6ted  by  266.  votes  and  was  according 
Sworn  to  y*^  faithfull  discharge  of  his  office  by  y*^  Clerk  in  &  by 
order  of  the  Court 


A  By  law  of  the  Town  of  Lunenburg  prohibiting  Cattle  &  Horses 
from  being  brought  into  their  Town  &61  was  presented  to  the 
Court  and  according  allowed  of  and  approved  by  the  Court 


A  Petition  of  Nathaniel  Dike  &  nine  others  Inhabitants  of  Sut- 
ton Seting  forth  the  Great  Difficulty  they  Labour  under  for  want 
of  a  Sutable  Road  from  Sutton  to  Worcester  the  Shire  Town  of  y"^ 
County  Read  &  ordered  that  William  Jenison  Esq  Major  Jonas 
Rice  and  Cap'  Benjamin  Flagg  be  a  Comittee  to  Consider  of  Said 
Petition  as  to  the  necessaty  of  a  Road  being  laid  out  and  to  view 
and  make  Report  as  Soon  as  may  be  To  this  Court  of  what  they 
may  think  proper  to  be  done  \x\  answer  to  Said  Petition 


Worcester  ss    Aimo  R''  R^  Gcorgij  Sccundi  nunc 
Magnce  Britamics  FrancicB  et  Hibernice  Decimo 

/\tt  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday  of 
August  being  the  Tenth  day  of  Said  Month 
annoq  Dominij  1736 

JUSTICES  PRESENT 

John  Chandler  Esqrs  Josiah  Willard  Esq"" 

Joseph  Wilder       -n  Justices  of  Nahum  Ward  Esq-- 

William  Ward        C  the  Peace    Joseph  Dwight  Esq' 

William  Jenison    )  '    ^^^^^^  Sam"  Willard  Esq'' 

John  Chandler  J""  Samuel  Dudley  Esq'' 

Henry  Lee  Esq'     Edward  Hartwell  Esq""      John  Keyes  Esq'' 
Justices  of  the  Peace 


Capt  James  Wilder    W  Seth  Chapin  J""    M'  Joseph  Wright  &  M"" 
Gershom  Rice  Coroners 


Grandjury 

M'  Robert  Goddard  foreman 

M'  David  Fay 
M'  Thomas  Rice 
M''  Cyprian  Stevens 
M'  Elias  Sawyer 


M'  Nathan  Tyler 
M'  Joseph  Lyon 


M""  Symon  Maynard 
M''  Benj"  Goodrich 
M'  John  Daly 
M"'  James  Whiple 
M""  Sam"  Davis     Each  atf^  Three  days  and 
M""  James  Wright        M""  Isaac  Farnsworth 
l)ep'  Sheriff  attended  on  them 


M'  Nath"  Green 
M--  Jon''  Furbush 
W  Joseph  Taft 


1^4  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^Ymm? 

The  Court  Taking  into  Consideration  the  small  Extent  of  the 
Prison  yard,  and  M""  Jotham  Rice  the  under  Keeper  of  the  Prison 
who  has  got  a  Dweling  House  &  land  adjoining  thereto  being  will- 
ing to  Subje6t  it  for  that  use  The  Court  therefore  order  the  Prison 
yard  be  Inlarged  viz*  on  y^  Side  next  the  County  Road  To  Extend 
Southerly  on  y^  Same  Course  y'^  Yard  now  is  so  far  as  That  a  line 
Extending  westward  as  said  Rices  fence  now  Stands  will  Include 

said  Rices  house  &  So  to  Extend  Westward as  far  as  Said 

Rices  land  goes  —  —  and  northward  as  far  as  y^  prison  yard  now  is 


Solomon  Johnson  of  Leicester  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Gent, 
being  Convi6led  of  Drunkenness  by  the  View  of  the  Justices  in 
Court,  &  it  being  a  second  Convi6lion — The  Court  thereupon  or- 
der &  Sentence  him  that  he  pay  a  fine  of  Ten  Shillings  to  the  use 
of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Worcester  where  the  offence  was  (Jom- 
itted  or  Stand  Comitted  in  his  majestys  Goal  in  Worcester  by  the 
Space  of  Twenty  four  Hours  &  pay  Cost  &  Fees  and  Give  bond 
by  way  of  Recognizance  with  Suretys  for  the  Good  behaviour  till 
the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  peace  to  be  held  here  in  No- 
vember next  viz'  The  said  Solomon  Johnson  in  Ten  pounds  &  the 
Suretys  in  five  pound  Each  and  to  stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  is 
performed  &  he  failing  of  So  doing  The  Court  ordered  The  Clerk 
To  Issue  out  a  mittemus  accordingly  which  was  done 


The  Court  now  order  that  a  Sutable  Vault  for  Receiving  the 
ordure  of  those  who  are  or  may  be  Confined  in  the  Goal  in  Wor- 
cester be  made  as  Soon  as  may  be  tS:  that  due  Care  be  had  in 
making  the  Same  Strong  and  well  plateing  the  hole  to  be  Cut 
through  the  floor  into  the  Same  &  making  of  it  very  secure  and 
William  Jenison  and  Daniell  Gookin  Esq""  are  appointed  To  See 
the  Same  Effe6led  at  the  Charge  of  the  County 

The  Sele61;  men  of  Lunenburg  presented  a  warrant  dire6led  to 
their  Constable  to  warn  Ebenezer  Slinglee  &  his  family  to  depart 
their  Town  and  being  duly  Served  was  approved 


1 736. 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         155 

The  Sele6l  men  of  Dudley  presented  a  warr'  dire6led  to  their 
Constable  to  warn  Martha  Mackintire  to  depart  their  Town  &61 
which  was  approved  it  being  Duly  Served 


The  Sele6lmen  of  Mendon  presented  a  Warr'  dire6led  to  their 
Constable  to  warn  Mary  Wilson  to  depart  their  Town  &61  which 
being  duly  Served  was  approved — also  another  To  warn  Benj"' 
Ramsdell  <&  his  wife  to  depart  their  Town  approved  in  like  maner 


The  Selecft  men  of  Shrewsbury  presented  a  warrant  dire6led  to 
their  Constable  to  warn  Thomas  Foster  to  depart  their  Town  which 
being  duly  Served  was  approved 


A  By  law  of  the  Town  of  Mendon  Respe6ling  Rams  was  pre- 
sented for  allowance  &  Disapproved 


Ebenezer  Hows  Recognizance  Discharged 


John  Dakin  of  Lancaster  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  &6t  for  not  attinding  y'^  Pub- 
lick  Worship  of  God  &61  appeared  &  made  his  Excuse  &  was  dis- 
miss'd  paying  Cost 


A  Vote  or  By  law  of  the  Town  of  Brookfleld  Relateing  To  Rams 
approved  of  by  the  Court 


Jonathan  Harwood  of  Sutton  in  y*^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman appeared  in  Court  To  answer  To  his  presentment  for 
not  attending  on  y'=  Publick  Worship  of  God,  and  made  his  Excuse 
&  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Costs 


1^6  Co2irt  of  General  Sessions.  I'tS,'' 

Martha  Mackintire  of  Dudley  or  Resident  in  Dudley  Single 
woman  Stood  bound  over  To  this  Court  by  way  of  Recognizance 
by  John  Chandler  Esqr  To  answer  for  the  Crime  of  fornication 
appeared  in  Court  &  Confess'd  y''  Crime  was  find  To  the  King 
thirty  Shilling  &  Cost  which  She  paid. 


Ruth  Ballard  of  Lancaster  &61  being  bound  over  to  this  Court 
In  aug  :  1 735  by  M'  Justice  Wilder  To  answer  for  y'^  Crime  of  for- 
nication her  Recognizance  was  Continued  To  this  Court  &  She 
now  appeared  &  Confess'd  her  Self  Guilty  was  find  thirty  Shillings 
To  v=  King  &  Cost  w<^'^  She  paid 


Sam"  Davenports  Recognizances  Discharged 


Nathan  Dennis  of  Dudley  in  the  County  of  Worcester 
husbandman  being  bound  over  To  this  Court  by  way  of  Recog- 
nizance, By  John  Chandler  Esqr  To  answer  To  a  Complaint  made 
against  him  by  Martha  Mackintire  of  Said  Dudley  or  Resident 
in  Said  Dudley  Singlewoman  for  his  being  the  father  of  a  Bastard 
Child  begotten  of  her  body,  &6t  appeared  in  Court,  but  made  no 
Defence,  To  the  Charge  made  against  [him]  Whereupon  the  Court 
ordered  that  the  Said  Nathan  Dennis  Enter  into  Recognizance 
with  Suretys  To  Save  y^  Town  of  Dudley  from  any  Charge  on  acco' 
of  Said  Bastard  Child  vizt  y^  Said  Nathan  Dennis  in  the  Sum  of 
one  hundred  pounds  &  his  Suretys  in  fifty  pound  Each  which  he 
then  Did  &  John  Rich  of  Dudley  aforesaid  &  William  Wait  of  Sut- 
ton In  said  County  were  his  Suretys,  and  is  as  follows,  personally 
appeared  the  said  Nathan  Dennis  John  Rich  and  \V'"  Wait  and 
acknowledged  themselves  Indebted  To  Jonathan  Hobbs  of  Dudley 
aforesaid  husbandman  &  Treasurer  of  Said  Town  of  Dudley  and 
to  his  Successors  for  y^  tise  of  Said  Town  of  Dudley  in  the  Re- 
spe6tive  Sums  following  viz'  the  Said  Nathan  Dennis  Principall  in 
the  Sum  of  one  hundred  pound  and  the  Said  John  Rich  and  Wil- 
liam Wait  Suretys  in  the  Sum  of  fifty  pounds  Each  To  be  Leveyed 


1736.  (         Worcester  Co2inty,  MassacJiiisetts.         157 

upon  their  goods  and  Chattells  Lands  or  Tenaments  &  for  want 
thereof  upon  their  bodys  for  the  Use  of  y^  Said  Jonathan  Hobbs 
present  Town  Treasurer  of  Said  Dudley  and  of  his  Successors  in 
said  office  for  the  use  of  Said  Town  if  Default  be  made  in  the  per- 
formance of  y*^  Conditions  here  under  written  The  Condition  of 
this  Recognizance  is  such  That  if  the  said  Nathan  Dennis  Shall  & 
doo  well  ^:  Truely  save  and  Indemnifie  said  Town  of  Dudley  from 
any  Charge  Legally  laid  upon  them  On  acco'  of  Said  Bastard  Child 
Then  the  Recognizance  to  be  void  Else  to  abide  in  full  force  & 
Virtue     Recognized  before  y^  Court     Att'  John  Chandler  J'  Cler 


A  Petition  of  Isaac  Tomlin,  of  Westborough  in  y^  County  of 
Worcester  Yeoman  one  of  the  Children  of  Rahamah  Wait  late  of 
Southborough  Dec*^  Seting  forth  that  some  time  since  y^  Court 
were  pleased  To  order  how  the  said  Ruhamah  should  be  main- 
tain'd  by  her  Children  &6t  Dureing  her  natural  life  but  no  pro- 
vision was  made  respefting  her  funerall  Charges  praying  the  Courts 
Direction  herein  Read  and  The  Court  order  That  the  funerall 
Charges  of  the  said  Ruhamah  Wait  being  Three  pound  Seven 
Shillings  Together  with  the  Cost  of  prefering  this  petition  be  paid 
by  the  Children  and  Grand  Children  of  y''  Said  Dec*^  in  the  Same 
proportion  as  her  maintainance  was  ordered  by  this  Court  in  Au- 
giist  I  735 


A  Petition  of  Daniel  Mackintire  and  Sundry  others  Lihabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Oxford  Seting  forth  the  Great  Difnculty  they  labour 
under  for  want  of  a  Sutable  and  proper  Roaci  from  their  Dwellings 
to  Travell  in  on  Lords  days  To  y'=  Publick  worship  of  God  in  Said 
Town  as  well  as  on  other  days  on  their  own  business  and  that  al- 
tho'  they  have  applyed  To  y^  Select  men  of  oxford  cant  as  yet  ob- 
tain the  same  praying  for  Reliefe  according  to  law  which  Petition 
was  accompanyed  with  a  Petition  from  the  Sele6tmen  of  said  Town 
of  Oxford  Showing  to  this  Court  That  Sundry  of  the  Lihabitants 
and  proprietors  of  said  Town  have  of  late  made  application  to  them 
for  private  and  Town  ways  which  The  petitioners  apprehend  ought 
to  have  Refference  to  Country  and  County  highways  with  Respe6l 


1 5  8  Court  of  General  Sessio7is.  \  "Vi^rm? 

to  Causeways  &  Bridges,  &61  praying  the  Court  to  Interpose  in  y<= 
affair  and  that  proper  highways  in  said  Town  may  be  ascertained, 
which  Petitions  were  Read,  and  the  Court  order  That  WiUiam  Jen- 
ison  &  Henry  Lee  Esq"  and  Cap'  Benjamin  Flagg  or  any  two  of 
them  be  a  Comittee  to  Repair  to  oxford  and  to  view  &  Consider 
what  highways  are  of  necessity  to  be  laid  out,  in  said  Town,  and 
also  what  may  be  proper  for  the  Court  to  doe  with  Respe6l  To  y^ 
Petition  of  Dan"  mackintire  and  others,  and  make  Report  as  soon 
as  may  be  and  the  Petitions  are  Refered  in  the  mean  time  for  fur- 
ther Consideration 


Joss  Wheeler  Son  of  Benjamin  Wheler  of  Lancaster  In  y^  County 
of  Worcester  husbandman  being  presented  by  y^  Grand  Jurors  of 
Said  County  for  droping  and  Covering  Indian  Corn  on  the  ninth 
day  of  May  1736  at  Lancaster  aforesaid  which  day  was  y*^  Sabath 
or  Lords  day  which  a6lion  is  Contrary  to  y*^  peace  of  our  Lord  y« 
King  his  Crown  &  Dignity  &  y^  laws  of  this  province  in  y'  behalf 
made  <&  provided  cs:6t.  appeared  in  Court  and  Confessd  him  Self 
Guilty  of  Labouring  but  said  he  was  Ignorant  that  therein  he  had 
broke  y^  laws  of  y^  land,  and  being  fully  heard,  Its  Considered  by 
ys  Court  that  the  Said  Joss  Wheeler  pay  as  a  fine  for  y^  use  of  the 
Poor  of  y*^  Town  of  Lancaster  the  Sum  of  fifteen  Shillings  that  he 
pay  Costs  &  fees  &  Stand  Comitted  Till  Sentence  is  performed. 

he  paid  y*^  fine  &  Cost  in  Court 


Hanah  Wheeler  wife  of  Benjamin  Wheeler  of  Lancaster  in  y^ 
County  of  Worcester  husbandman  being  presented  by  y^  Grand 
Jurors  of  Said  County  for  droping  or  planting  Indian  Corn  on  the 
ninth  day  of  May  1736.  at  Lancaster  aforesaid  which  ninth  day  of 
May  was  y'^  Sabath  or  Lords  day  which  action  is  Contrary  to  y^ 
peace  of  the  King  &61  as  ^  y^  presentment  appears — appeared  in 
Court  and  Confess'd  herself  Guilty  of  Labouring  but  said  she  was 
Ignorant  that  therein  she  had  broke  y^  laws  of  y'=  land  and  being 
fully  heard,  Its  Considered  by  y^  Court  that  y«  said  Hanah  Wheeler 


i736.(         Worcester  Cotinty,  Massachtisetts.         159 

pay  as  a  fine  for  y*^  use  of  y^  Poor  of  y^  Town  of  Lancaster  the 
Sum  of  fifteen  Shillings  that  she  pay  Cost  &  Fees  and  Stand  Com- 
itted  till  Sentence  is  performed  :  She  paid  y^  fine  &  Cost  in  Court. 


Benjamin  Wheeler  of  Lancaster  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Hus- 
bandman being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  of  Said  County  for 
droping  Corn  and  Covering  it  on  y^  ninth  day  of  May  1736  at 
Lancaster  aforesaid  which  day  was  y^  Sabath  or  Lords  day  Con- 
trary to  y^  peace  of  y*^  King  &61  as  '^  y'^  presentment  appears,  he 
appeared  in  Court  and  Confess'd  himself  to  be  Guilty  of  Labour- 
ing but  said  It  was  Ignorantly  done  &  not  with  intent  to  Break  y^ 
laws  of  y^  land,  and  being  fully  hear[d]  Its  Considered  by  y^  Court 
that  the  Said  Benjamin  Wheeler  pay  as  a  fine  to  y^  use  of  y'^  Poor 
of  y^  Town  of  Lancaster  The  Sum  of  fifteen  shillings  that  he  pay 
Cost  &  fees  &  Stand  Comitted  till  y^  Sentence  is  performed  He 
paid  y^  fine  &  Cost  in  Court 


Rachell  Newton  y=  wife  of  Abraham  Newton  of  Southborough 
in  y*^  County  of  Worcester  Husbandman  being  presented  by  y^ 
Grandjurors  for  said  County  at  y^  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of 
the  Peace  held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the  County  of  Wor- 
cester on  the  first  Tuesday  of  feb''y  last  past  for  not  attending  y^ 
Publick  Worship  of  God  for  more  y"  one  Month  preceeding  the 
presentment  and  The  Said  Abraham  Newton  Recognizeing  to  his 
Majestye  before  William  Ward  Esqr  one  of  his  Majestys  Justices 
of  y^  peace  for  Said  County  in  five  pounds  for  the  Said  Rachells 
appearing  at  this  Court  and  to  do  and  Receive  that  which  by  the 
Court  shall  be  then  &  there  enjoyned  her  &  not  to  depart  without 
Lycence,  The  said  Rachell  now  appeared  and  made  her  Excuse 
and  being  fully  heard  Its  Considered  by  tl)e  Court  that  the  Said 
Rachell  Newton  Pay  Cost  Taxed  at 

and  then  be  Dismissed,  but  She  failing  of  so  doing,  and  Departing 
without  the  Lycence  of  y^  Court,  and  the  said  Abraham  Newton 
failing  of  appearing  and  paying  the  Same  altho'  he  was  three  times 
Solemnly  Called  upon  to  bring  her  into  Court  his  Recognizance 


i6o 


Court  of  General  Sessions. 


S  Al'OUST 

\  Tkbm, 


was  by  the  Court  declared  forfeited  and  the  Clerk  ordered  to  put 
the  Same  in  Suit  accordingly  after  which  Said  Abraham  appeared 
and  moved  To  have  y'^  affiiir  Reconsidered  &61  was  &  further  Re- 
feree! To  november  next 


A  List  of  Inholders  and  Retailors  Lycenced  by  this  Court  with 
ye  Names  of  their  Suretys  Each  principall  Recognized  in  fifty 
pound  and  Each  Surety  in  Twenty  five  pounds 

The  following  persons  are  Inholders  unless  Retailor  is  added  to 
there  names 


Worcester 


'Capt  Danicll  Ileywood     Suretys  Capt  Moses  Rice   Capt 

Benja  Flagg 
Capt  Moses  Rice  Suretys  Capt  Benja  Flagg  iS:  John  Ilarwooil 
Mr  Till)  Starns     Suretys  Capt  I'lagg  \-  Ilt-nry  Lee  Esqr 
Mr  John  Bigelo     Suretys  Isaac  Farnswurth  Robt  Horn 
Mr  John  Crosby  Retailor     Suretys  Danl  Hubbard  Jona 

Sargent 

'Capt  Thomas  Carter     Suretys  Samll  Willard  Esq   Capt  Wil- 
liam Richardson 
Capt  William  Richardson     Suretys  Saml  Willard  Esq  Capt 

Tho  Carter 

Lancaster     \  Mr  Jonathan  Houghton  Jr     Suretys  Saml  Willard  &  Edward 

Hartw  ell  Esqr 
Mr  Benja  Houghton     Suretys  Eleazer  Heywood  &  John 

Sadler 
Samuell  Willard  Esqr  Retailor     Suretys  Capt  Tho  Carter  & 

Capt  William  Richardson 


Mendon 


Woodstock 


(Mr  Ebenr  Merriam 
Capt  William  Rawson 
Capt  Daniel  Lovett 


bound  for  one  another 


/  Capt  Jonathan  Payson     Suretys  Joseph  Lyon  &  Eleazer 
\  Heywood 

'\  Mr  Joseph  Wright     Suretys  Capt  Jona  Payson  &  Capt 
(^        "  Benja  Elagg 


'  Mr  Eleazer  Heywood     Surety  Daniell  Gookin  Esqr  Capt 
Mr  Solomon  Keyes  [Jno  Hubbard 

Mr  Nathaniell  Read     Suretys  Capt  James   Leland  Capt  Jo- 
seph Willard 

Brookfield    ■{  Capt  Phillip  Coss     Capt  Moses  Rice  principall  Suretys  Capt 

Flagg  |no  Harwood 
Mr  Israel  Richardson     Suretys     Jonathan  Sargent  Israeli 

Richardson 


1736.J         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         161 


Shrcwshuiy 


Sutton 


Rutland 


Leicester 


C'apt  Danicll  How     Surctys  Calel)  Witlierbee  John  Crosby 
Mr  John  Bush  Suretys  Nahum  Ward  Ksqr  Cajit  Benja  Flagg 
Nahum  Ward  Esqr  \  ,,^,,;,^,.^    Suretys  Capt  Benja  Klagg 
Mr  John  Crosby       (  l^etailois  ^^^^  Marwood 

Suretys  Peter  Smith  Danll  Hubbard 

Mr  I'ercz  Rice     Saml  Dudley  Ks(]r  ])rincipnll   Suretys  Edwd 

Hartwell  Ksip-  Benja  Flag 
Mr  Obadiah  Walker  |  Suretys  for  each  other  &  Sandl  Read 
Mr  Josei)h  l^oyden     j  for  both 

Mr  Fleazer  Fletcher     Suretys  Nathll  Sherman  Samuel 

Wadkins 

Capt  Hubbard     Moses  How  principal!)  Nehcmiah  How  & 
Mr  M(.)scs  How  Retailor  /  Eleazer  Hey  wood 

Suretys  for  both 


I 


Southborough 


Uxbridge 


Westborough 


Harvard 


Lunenburg 


Oxford 


Mr  Jonathan  Sargent  Suretys  Fleazer  Robins  Ephraim 

Witlierbee 
Mr  Thomas  Richardson  Suretys  David  Fay  Isaac  Farnsworth 
Mr  James  Smith    Suretys  Israel  Richardson  Jona  Sargent 
Mr  Wm  Larkin  Retailor  Suretys  Nahum  Ward  Esqr  Nathan 

( 'arpcnter 

(  Mr  Rol)ert  Horn     Suretys  John  Crosby  iS:  Joseph  Crosby 
'1   Mr  Caleb  Witherbee  Suretys  John  Croseby  &  Joseph  Crosby 

Mr  Samuell  Read     Suretys  Joe  Boyden  Obediah  Walker 
Mr  IC/.ekiell  Wood     Surety  Danll  Hubbard  I'erez  Rice 
Mr  SolcHium  Wood  principall  Samll  Read  Suretys  Joseph 

Boyden  Obedia  Walker 
Mr  John  Ilarwood  Retailor  Suretys  Capt  Flagg  &  Joseph 

Dyer 

(  ("apt  John  Fay     Suretys  Saml  Willard  and  Edward  Hart- 
I  well  Esqrs 

j    [ohn  Maynard     Suretys  Saml  Willard  and  Edwd  Hartwell 
i  "  Esqrs 

Barzalcel  Eager  Retailor     Suretys  Nahum  Ward  and  Henry 

Lee  Esqrs 

r  Mr  Eleazer  Robins  Suretys  Jonathan  Sargent  Ephraim 

I  Witherbee 

I  Mr  Eb  :  Sprague  Suretys  Benja  H(nighlon  James  How 

Mr  Ephraim  Witherbee  Suretys  Saml  Dudley  Edward 

Hartwell  Esqrs 
\  Mr  Isaac  l-'arnsworth     Suretys  John  Biglo  Robert  Horn 
Ijosiah  Willard  Esqr  Retailor  Suretys  Caleb  Witherbee  & 

Saml  Dudley  Es(ir 

Mr  Elijah  Moore     Capt  Moore  principall  Suretys  Danl 

Nevvhall  Joe  :  Crosby 

Capt  Moses  Marcy     Capt  Flagg  principall  Suretys  Jno 

Ilarwood  Joseph  Dyer 


f 


21 


l62 

Dudley 

Grafton 
Upton 


New 
Sherborn 


Court  of  General  Sessions. 


S  AlIGirRT 
\  Tekm, 


I  Mr  Daniel  Coburn     Suretys  Isaac  Barnard  Moses  How 

Capt  James  Leland  Suretys  Capt  Joseph  Willard  Nath  Read 
Mr  Xehemiah  How     Suretys  Moses  How  Eleazer  Heywood 
Capt  Joe  Willard     Suretys  James  Leland  Nathll  Read 
Mr  Nathll  Sherman     Suretys  Isaac  Barnard  Ele  :  Fletcher 

Mr  John  Sadler     Suretys  Benja  Houghton  Ephraim  Hill 
Mr  John  Hazeltine     Jno  Hazeltine  principall  Suretys  Capt 

Flagg  &  Jos  :  Dyer 
Mr  Saml  Watkins  Retailor     Suretys  John  Sadler  Ephraim 

Hill 

f  Mr  Ephraim  Hill     Suretys  John  Sadler  Ephraim  Hill 
\  Mr  William  Stockwell 


New  Medfield  |  Mr  John  Stacy  Capt  Flagg  principal     Suretys  Jno  Harwood 

&  Joseph  Dyer 

Lambs  Town  |  Mr  Nathan  Carpenter     Suretys  Joseph  Dwight  Esqr  William 

Larkin 

At  one  of  ye  Narragansett  Towns  |  Fairbank  Moore    Suretys  Joseph  Dwight 

Samll  Willard  Esqrs 


William  Jenison  Esc^r  from  y'^  Comittee  appointed  by  this  Court 
in  May  last  on  a  Petition  of  Sundry  persons  to  view  and  make  Re- 
port of  y^  necessaty  of  laying  out  a  Publick  Road  from  the  Town 
of  Worcester  To  Sutton,  made  Report  which  was  accepted  and  the 
Court  order  that  the  Clerk  Grant  out  a  warrant  Dire6led  to  the 
Sheriff,  To  Impanel!  a  Jury  agreeable  to  law  for  y*^  laying  out  Said 
Road — to  assemble  at  y'^  Dwelling  House  of  M'  Joseph  Boyden 
in  Sutton  on  Tuesday  the  first  day  of  06tober  next  to  be  duly 
Sworn  for  that  end  and  that  in  laying  out  said  Road  they  have  due 
Regard  to  the  Report  of  the  Comittee 


Worcester  ss  Anno  Regni  Regis  Georgi  Secundi 
nunc  Maznce  Britanice  FrancicE  et  Hibernice 
Decinio  "^ 

Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  In  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  on  the  first  Tuesday  of 
November  being  the  Second  day  of  Said  Month 
anno  Dom"  1736 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jenison 
John  Chandler  J^ 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 

Henry  Lee  Esq"" 
Nahum  Ward  Esq'' 
John  Keyes  Esq'' 

Justices  of  the  Peace 


Esqrs 
Justices  of 
the  Peace 
and  Quo- 
rum 


Capt  James  Wilder     M'  Seth  Chapin  Jun"-     IVP  Joseph  Wright 
M''  Gershom  Rice  Coroners 


(irandjury 

M''  Robert  Goddard  foreman 

M''  David  Fay 
M'  Thomas  Rice 
M''  Cyprian  Stevens 
M'  Elias  Sawyer 
M'  Nathan  Tyler 
M''  Joseph  Lyon 


M""  John  Ayres 
M''  Nath"  Green 
TvP  Joseph  Taft 
W  Sam"  Davis 


M''  John  Daly 
M''  James  Whiple 

Each  attended  Two  days 
and  Richard  Wild  Dept 


M""  Symon  Maynard    Sheriff  attended  them 


164  Court  of  General  Sessions.  P'xERMf'' 

An  acco'  of  Daniel  Gookin  Esq''  Sheriff  of  the  County  amount- 
ing To  Twenty  one  pound  four  Shillings  Read  and  allowed  and 
ordered  that  the  Sum  of  Twenty  one  pound  four  Shillings  be  paid 
out  of  the  County  Treasury  to  Said  M'  Sheriff  Gookin  in  full  dis- 
charge thereof 


James  orcutt  bound  over  to  this  Court  by  the  Hon"  John  Chand- 
ler Esq'  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y^  Grandjurors  for  the 
Crime  of  fornication  appeared  and  was  dismiss'd  paying  Cost 

The  Court  now  order  that  a  Tax  or  assessment  amounting  to 
the  Sum  of  Two  hundred  pounds  be  Raised  on  the  Severall  Towns 
within  this  County  for  defraying  the  usual  &  necessary  Charges 
ariseing  within  the  Same  and  that  the  Clark  forthwith  send  out 
Warrants  direfted  to  the  Sele6lmen  or  assessors  of  the  Respet^tive 
Towns  within  the  County  for  assessing  their  Severall  parts  &  pro- 
portions according  to  the  Rules  for  assessing  the  last  Province  Tax 
and  for  paying  the  Same  to  Capt  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer 
or  to-  his  Successor  at  or  before  the  last  day  of  May  next. 

The  Severall  Towns  Proportion  thereof  is  as  follows  viz' 

Worcester  Twelve  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  &  three  ])ence  12   18     3 

Lancaster     Twenty  nine  pound  Six  Shillings  &  three  pence  29     6     3 

Mendon     Nineteen  pound  Six  Shillings  &  Ten  pence  19     6   10 

Woodstock     Twenty  pound  four  Shillings  20     4 

Brookfield     Sixteen  pound  Eight  Shillings  &  Eight  pence  1 6     8     8 

Southborough     Elevin  pound  live  Shillings  &  nine  pence  11      59 

Leicester     Nine  pound  Twelve  Shillings  &  five  pence  912     5 

Rutland     Six  pound  one  Shilling  &  five  pence  615 

Lunenburg     Six  pound  Eight  Sliillings  &  Eight  pence  6     8     8 

Westborough     Eleven  pound  Seven  Shillings  &  Six  pence  11      76 

Shrewsbury     Eleven  pound  four  Shillings  &  five  pence  11     4     5 

Oxford     Six  pound  Eighteen  Shillings  &  five  pence  618     5 

Sutton     thirteen  pound  Sixteen  Shillings  &  Seven  pence  13   16     7 

Uxbridge     Nine  pound  Nineteen  Shillings  &  Eleven  pence  9   19   11 

Harvard     Eight  pound  &  three  pence  803 

Grafton     Seven  pound  &  Eight  pence  708 

Sum  Total!  ;^2oo     o     o 

Warrants  were  Issued  out  November  15"*  1736 

att*     Jn"  Chandler  J'  Clr 


1736. 1         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         165 

Upon  a  Motion  made  &  Seconded  The  Court  order  that  Daniel 
Gookin  Esq'  Sheriff  of  this  County  do  at  y^  Court  of  Generall  Ses- 
sions of  the  Peace  to  be  held  here  in  Febry  next  Give  Surety  unto 
ye  Kings  majesty  for  y-'  Due  &  faitlifull  discharge  and  performance 
of  His  office  in  all  the  parts  thereof  with  two  Sufficient  Suretys 
himself  in  one  Thousand  Pound  lawful  money  and  his  Suretys  in 
Five  Hundred  pound  Each  and  dire6led  that  the  Clerk  notifye 
him  of  this  order  that  So  he  Comply  Therewith  agreeable  to  y^ 
province  Law  in  Page  120 

And  the  Justices  of  Said  Court  being  apprehensive  it  may  be  of 
Dangerous  Consequence  for  y^  Keye  of  the  Prison  to  be  Kept  at 
any  place  from  y^  Same  desire  M'  Sheriff  Gookin  to  have  y'=  [key] 
Kept  by  y^  the  Resident  Keeper  of  Said  Prison  that  So  if  any  ac- 
cident by  fire  should  hapen  the  Prisoners  might  not  Perish  by  fire 


The  Court  order  that  the  Sum  of  fourteen  pound  one  Shilling 
be  paid  out  of  the  County  Treasury  To  M'  Gershom  Rice  Jun'  to 
Reimburse  him  the  mony  he  has  advanced  for  Labour  in  building 
a  bridge  over  a  River  Called  french  River  between  Worcester  and 
Oxford  not  in  y^  Bounds  of  any  Town  Twenty  Shillings  thereof  to 
be  paid  To  Capt  Benjamin  Flagg  for  his  Trouble  &  Service  asone 
of  the  Comittee  The  Residue  To  be  in  full  for  his  own  Service  & 
mony  advanced  as  aforesaid  Said  Bridge  being  built  by  order  of 
Court 


Abigail  Richardson  Recognized  for  her  appearance  at  this  Court 
To  answer  for  presentment  by  y*^  Grandjurors  for  Seling  Strong 
Licjuor  &6t  appeared  &  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


The  Selea  men  of  The  Town  of  Shrewsbury  presented  a  War- 
rant direded  to  their  Constable  to  warn  Eleazer  Harthan  &  his 
wife  to  depart  their  Town  and  y*^  Same  being  duly  Served  was  ap- 
proved by  y^  Court 


NOVEMnEE 


1 66  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  "tekm,' 

The  Sele6l  men  of  Worcester  presented  a  Warr'  dire6led  to  one  of 
their  Constables  to  warn  James  Hawes  and  Han"  Hooker  to  de- 
part their  Town  w'=^  being-  duly  Served  is  approved 


Skipper  Fairfield  of  Sutton  MX  Husbandman  Recognized  before 
M''  Justice  Jenison  To  appear  at  this  Court  &61  appeared  and  was 
Discharged 


William  Chapman  and  Ann  his  wife  both  of  Woodstock  appear- 
ed before  Court  pursuant  To  their  Recognizance  Given  To  the 
Hon"  John  Chandler  Esq""  To  answer  for  their  being  Guilty  of  y'= 
Crime  of  Fornication  were  find  30/  Each  &  to  pay  Cost  w'*'  They 
paid 


Nathan  Ainsworth  and  Hulda  his  wife  both  of  Woodstock  Stand 
bound  over  To  this  Court  by  the  Hon"  John  Chandler  Esqr  To 
answer  To  their  being  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  Fornication  appeared 
were  find  Thirty  Shillings  Each  &  Cost  w'^'^  they  paid 

Abraham  Newton  of  Southborough  in  y^  County  of  Worcester 
husbandman  having  recognized  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
In  y^  Sum  of  five  pound  before  William  Ward  Esq""  one  of  his 
maj'^^  Justices  of  y'^  peace  for  the  County  aforesaid  that  his  wife 
Rachell  now  should  appear  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of 
the  peace  held  here  in  August  last,  which  was  Continued  over  To 
this  Court  To  answer  to  her  presentment  for  not  attending  y^  Pub- 
lick  Worship  of  God  &(5l  &  y'^  Said  Rachell  not  appearing  altho' 
Solomnly  Called  to  come  into  Court  but  made  default  and  the  Said 
Abraham  Newton  was  Solomnly  Called  to  Bring  her  into  Court  and 
did  not  appear  but  made  default  The  Court  therefore  declare  y^ 
Recognizance  forfeited  and  that  a  writt  of  Scire  facias  be  Taken 
out  against  the  said  Abraham  Newton  for  y*^  Sum  of  five  pounds 
and  also  for  y*^  Costs  and  Charges  occasioned  by  the  non  appear- 
ance of  y^  Said  Rachell  Newton 


1 736. 1         Worcester  Cotmty,  Massachusetts.         167 

Abraham  Newton  of  Southborough  In  y^  County  of  Worcester 
husbandman  having  Recognized  To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
In  y«  Sum  of  five  pounds  before  William  Ward  F^sq''  one  of  his 
Majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  aforesaid  that  his 
Daughter  Sybella  Newton  should  appear  at  the  Court  of  Generall 
Sessions  of  the  peace  held  here  in  febry  1735/6  To  answer  to  her 
presentment  by  y^  Grandjurors  for  not  attending  on  y^  Publick 
Worship  of  God  &6t  and  the  Said  Recognizance  has  been  Con- 
tinued to  this  Court  and  the  Said  Sybella  altho'  Solemnly  Called 
to  come  into  Court  did  not  appear  but  made  Default  and  the  Said 
Abraham  Newton  tho'  Solemnly  Called  to  bring  the  Said  Rachell 
into  Court  did  not  appear  but  made  Default  also  the  Court  then 
declare  the  Said  Recognizance  to  be  forfeited  and  that  a  writt  of 
Scire  facias  be  Taken  out  against  the  said  Abraham  Newton  for 
the  Sum  of  five  pounds  and  also  for  the  Cost  and  Charges  Oc- 
casioned by  y^  non  appearance  of  y^  Said  Sybella  Newton 


Daniell  Gookin  Esq"'  Sheriff  made  Return  of  the  Warrant  Di- 
re6led  to  him  by  order  of  ^ the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  in  August  last  for  the  laying  out  of  a  Road  from  Worcester 
to  Sutton  under  his  own  hand  and  Seal  as  also  under  the  hands 
and  Seals  of  The  Jury  by  him  impanelled  which  was  accepted  of 
by  this  Court  and  the  Road  Laid  out  &  described  therein  is  by  the 
Court  fully  Established  and  the  Warrant  &  y«  proceedings  there- 
upon are  ordered  to  be  Recorded,  and  is  as  follows 

Worcester  ss  To  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Worcester  or  his 
Deputy  Greeting  Whereas  y«  Comittee  appointed  by  y^  Court 

of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace  in  may  Last  past  have  made  Re- 
port Concerning  a  Publick  Highway  or  Country  Road  between  y« 
Towns  of  Worcester  and  Sutton  being  necessary  to  be  Laid  out  as 

^  ye  Report  on  file  appears.  These  are  therefore  in  his  maj- 
[seal]  esties  Name  to  Require  and  Comand  You  or  one  of  you  to 

Sumon  and  Impanell  a  Jury  of  good  and  Lawful  men 
Qualified  according  to  Law  to  meet  &  assemble  att  y^  Dwelling 
House  of  M' Joseph  Boyden  in  Sutton  aforesaid  Inholder  on  Fryday 


1 68  Court  of  General  Sessi07is.  ^'tekm,"* 

y«  first  Day  of  06lober  next  which  Jury  So  Sumoned  and  Impan- 
elled you  are  to  Cause  a  proper  oath  to  be  administered  to  them 
by  a  Justice  of  y^  peace  for  y'^  County  afores'*  and  then  to  proceed 
to  view  and  Lay  out  a  Publick  Highway  or  Country  Road  between 
y^  Towns  aforesaid  Pursuant  to  y*^  Laws  of  this  province  &  haveing 
a  Due  Regard  to  y^  Report  of  y*^  Late  Comittee  hereof  fail  not  and 
make  Due  Return  hereof  with  your  Doings  herein  to  this  Court  att 
their  next  Sessions  of  y^  peace  to  be  held  here  on  y'^  first  Tuesday 
of  Novem''.  next  as  well  under  your  own  hand  as  y^  hands  of  y* 
Jury  aforesaid  Dated  att  Worcester  this  twenty  eighth  Day  of  Sep- 
tember in  y*^  tenth  Year  of  his  majesties  Reign  anno  Dom  1736 

By  Order  of  Court John  Chandler  J""  Clerk  pa' 

Worcester  ss  06tober  i.  1736  By  virtue  of  y'^  within  Written 
Warrant  I  have  Impanelled  a  Jury  of  twelve  good  and  Lawful  men 
and  had  them  Sworn  as  y^  Laws  Direct'  who  met  att  Sutton  and 
then  Laid  out  a  Country  Road  from  Sutton  to  Worcester  meeting 
House  as  '^  y^  Jurys  Report  herewith  all  adjoyned  will  appear 

Daniel  Gookin  Sh 

Worcester  ss  06tober  y*^  i  :  i  736  then  y'=  Jury  that  was  ap- 
pointed by  Daniel  Gookin  Esq""  Sheriff  of  said  County  to  Lay  out 
a  way  from  Sutton  to  Worcester  according  to  y*^  writtin  Warrant 
personally  appeared  and  was  Sworn  to  a6l  Imparcially  and  In  Dif- 
ferently to  Lay  out  Said  way  and  in  Laying  of  it  out  to  have  a  Re- 
gard to  y'^  Conveinance  of  y®  Publick  as  well  as  to  particularly 
parsons  Interest  and  to  have  a  Regard  to  y^  Courts  order  in  Lay- 
ing y*^  Same     Sworn  before  me  William  Jenison  Just  of  peace 

Worcester  ss  :  06lober  2''.  i  736  we  whose  names  which  have 
hereunto  Subscribed  being  Sumoned  &  impannelled  by  Daniel 
Gookin  Esq'.  Sheriff  of  Said  County  for  to  Lay  out  a  Country  Road 
of  a  Sufficient  Wedth  from  y^  town  of  Sutton  to  y*^  Town  of  Wor- 
cester according  to  y^  Dire6tion  of  y'^  Warrant  herewith  annexed 
being  Sworn  before  W"'  Jenison  Esq""  one  of  his  majesties  Justices 
for  y*^  County  of  Worcester  have  viewed  y*^  premises  and  have  Laid 
out  Said  Road  as  followeth  (viz')  begining  att  y"^  End  of  y*^  Lane 
[  ]  the  meeting  House  in  Sutton  &  so  by  marked  trees  and 
heaps  of  Stones  in  y'^  Westerly  Side  of  Said  Road  as  formerly  Laid 


1736.J         Worcester  County,  MassacJnisctts.         169 

out  by  y^  Select  men  of  Sutton  by  y'^  house  of  Ebe  :  Daggit — Sam- 
uel  Lilly  John  Singletary  John   Brown   Robert  Goddard  and  y<= 
Dwelling  House  which  James  Hulnow  Dwellsin  and  to  Sutton  Line 
So  by  marked  trees  on  y«  Westerly  Side  of  Said  Road  to  Worces- 
ter Line  said  Road  to  be  three  Rods  wide  through  Sutton  and  to 
Worcester  Line  Excepting  through  y«  Land  of  Philip  Chase  two 
Rod  and  half  by  marked  trees  to  y«  Said  Chases  Barn  So  to  Run 
between  Said  Chases  House  and  Barn  by  marks  on  y«  Southerly 
Side  of  y^  Crick  to  a  Small  tree  marked  near  y^  Old  Bridge  over 
Said  Crick  thence  to  Run  on  y*^  Easterly  Side  of  a  white  oak  tree 
marked  on  y*^  west  Side  of  y^  Road  to  y'=  River  thence  over  y« 
River  to  a  marked  tree  on  y"^  west  Side  of  Said  Road  and  So  as  y^ 
Sele6l  men  of  Worcester  hath  Laid  out  a  Town  Road  and  as  y^ 
Road  is  now  trod  to  y^  meeting  House  in  Worcester  Said  Road 
from  y^  River  to  Worcester  meeting  House  to  be  as  y*^  Sele6l  men 
have  Laid  out  formerly     Said  Road  was  Laid  out  through  Phillip 
Chases  Land  by  Consent  of  Said  Chase  Who  freely  Gave  y^  Land 
for  Said  Road  through  his  farm         Dated  at  Worcester  06lober 
y^  2**.  I  736     Gershom  Rice  and  a  Seal  Samuel  Dudley  and  a  Seal 
Daniel  Heywood  and  a  Seal  Benj".  Flagg  Jun^  and  a  Seal  John 
Stockwell  and  a  Seal    Perez  Rice  &  a  Seal   Robert  Goddard  tSz  a 
Seal  John  Stearnes  &  a  Seal  Thomas  Stearnes  and  a  Seal  Jotham 
Rice  and  a  Seal  Jeremiah  Bucknum  and  a  Seal  Daniel  Ward  &  a 
Seal  Daniel  Gookin  Sh  &  a  Seal 

Entered  '^  John  Chandler  J'  Cle  pac 

The  account  of  y^  Charge  of  Viewing  and  laying  out  the  afore- 
said Road  amounting  to  the  Sum  of  Seventeen  pound  five  Shillings 
allowed  of  by  the  Court  and  is  Due  to  the  following  Persons  vizt 

£  s   d 

To  the  Comittee  for  viewing  &61  Each  10/  i    10  o 

To  Daniell  Gookin  Escjr  Sheriff  fourty  four  Shillings  2  04  o 

To  ye  Justice  for  his  Travell  &  Swearing  the  Jury  0120 

To  the  Jury  Each  10/  ^f"  day  being  on  ye  Service  Two  days  12     00 
To  the  Clerk  for  writings,  Copys,  Recording  orders 

Xa  thirty  Shillings  I    10  o 

17   16  o 

22  » 


1 70  Court  of  Genej^al  Sessions.  \   t'ekm,'"* 

Ordered  that  the  Charge  of  viewing  and  laying  out  the  County 
Road  from  Worcester  To  Sutton  amounting  to  the  Sum  of  Seven- 
teen pound  fifteen  ShilHngs  be  paid  By  the  County  The  Town  of 
Worcester  and  the  Town  of  Sutton  In  the  proportion  following 
viz'     The  County  To  pay  fourty  four  Shillings  &  Six  pence 

2     46 
The  Town  of  Worcester  The  Sum  of  four  pound 

nine  Shillings  490 

and  The  Town  of  Sutton  The  Sum  of  Eleven  pound 

Two  Shillings  &  Sixpence  11      26 

17   160 

and  that  the  Clerk  Send  To  the  Said  Towns  Copys  of  this  order 
that  So  they  may  Respectively  Assess  the  Respeftive  Sums  laid  on 
them  and  pay  the  Same  To  the  County  Treasurer  or  his  Successor 
at  or  before  the  Last  day  of  May  next  Which  Together  with  the 
Sum  Which  the  County  are  to  pay  as  abovesaid  he  is  to  pay  to  y*^ 
persons  to  whom  the  Same  is  Respe6lively  [due] 


Ordered  that  Phillip  Chase  His  heirs  or  assignes  have  Liberty 
dureing  the  Pleasure  of  the  Court  to  Keep  Gates  well  hung  a  Cross 
the  Country  or  County  Road  lately  laid  out  a  Cross  his  land  in 
Two  particular  places  provided  he  Suffer  no  other  Incumbrance  on 
the  Same,  &  the  Gates  are  Kept  in  proper  order  &  Repair  at  all 
times  to  be  opened  as  may  be  needed 


Solomon  Johnson  of  Leicester  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Gent 
having  on  the  Seventeenth  day  of  August  Last  past  Recognized 
before  John  Chandler  Jun''  Esq''  one  of  his  majestys  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  the  County  of  Worcester  To  our  Sovereign  Lord  the 
King  In  the  Sum  of  Ten  pounds  with  Suretys  viz'  Thomas  Hop- 
kins of  Leicester  Mason  and  Simon  Gleeson  of  Oxford  Labourer 
both  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  Each  in  y*^  Sum  of  five  pounds 
C'onditioned  for  y*^  Said  Solomon  Johnsons  appearance  at  this  Court 


1736.J         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         171 

To  answer  To  Such  matters  &  things  as  should  be  obje6leti  against 
him  on  his  majestys  behalf  &  to  Continue  &  be  of  y=  Good  be- 
haviour towards  his  majestye  and  all  his  Leige  people  &61  as  ^  y^ 
Recognizance  appears  and  the  Said  Solomon  Johnson  not  appear- 
ing, altho'  Solemnly  Called  to  Come  into  Court,  but  made  default 
and  the  Said  Thomas  Hopkins  and  Simon  Gleeson  The  Suretys 
being  also  Solomnly  Called  to  bring  The  Said  Solomon  Johnson 
into  Court  did  not  appear  but  made  default  The  Court  therefore 
order  that  the  Said  bond  be  forfeited  and  it  was  accordingly  for- 
feited and  ordered  that  a  writt  of  Scire  Facias  be  Issued  out  against 
y^  Said  Thomas  Hopkins  and  Simon  Gleeson  for  y^  Sum  of  five 
pounds  Each  and  also  for  y^  Costs  &  Charges  occasioned  by 
the  non  appearance  of  the  Said  Solomon  Johnson 


Obediah  MacKintire  of  Oxford  In  y"^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman being  presented  for  [not]  attending  y^  Publick  Worship 
of  God  appeared  and  made  his  Excuse  and  was  dismiss'd  paying 
Cost 


On  a  motion  made  ordered  that  the  Clerk  write  to  y^  Seledmen 
of  Grafton  a  Copy  of  the  order  of  this  Court  In  May  1733.  Re- 
lating to  y^  mony  laid  on  them  for  their  part  of  y^  Laying  out  y^ 
County  Road  from  Mendon  to  Worcester  that  So  they  assess  their 
Town  &  pay  y«  Same  to  W™  Jenison  Esqr 


Worcester  ss  Anno  R^  R^  Georgij  Secundi  7iunc 
Magncs  Britainice  Francics  et  Hibcrnice  &fl 
Decimo  "^ 

Att  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  be- 
p-un  and  Held  at  Worcester  within  and  for  the 
County  of  Worcester  by  adjournment  by  order 
of  y"  Great  and  General  Court  from  the  first 
Tuesday  of  February  1736/7  to  the  third  Tues- 
day of  Said  month  being  the  fourteenth  day  of 
Said  month,  and  then  Sett. 


JUSTICES  PRESENT 


John  Chandler 
Joseph  Wilder 
William  Ward 
William  Jenison 
John  Chandler  Jun"" 


Esqrs 
Justices  of 
the  Peace 
and  Quo- 
rum 


Henry  Lee      |  Esqrs  Justices 
Nahum  Ward  \  of  the  Peace 


(jrandjury 

M''  Robert  Goddard  foreman 

M'  John  Ayres 
Mess"  Thomas  Rice 

Cyprian  Stevens 

Elias  Sawyer 

Nathan  Tyler 

Joseph  Lyon 


Mess"  Symon  Maynard 
M-"  John  Daly 
M''  James  Whiple 
attended  Two  days  Each 

M'  Samuel  Davis  and  M'  Wilds  waited  on 

M""  James  Wright         them 


M'  David  Fay 
M'  Nath"  Green 
M^  Joseph  Taft 


1 736-7. 1      Worcester  Coimty,  Massacluisctts.         173 

Joseph  Dyer  of  Worcester  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Gent 
appelant  from  a  Sentence  given  against  him  by  William  Jenison 
Esq'  one  of  His  majestys  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  said  County 
upon  the  Complaint  of  Hannah  Hooker  of  Worcester  in  said  County 
Spinster  on  his  majestys  behalf  as  well  as  of  her  own  Seting  forth 
that  the  Said  Joseph  Dyer  at  Worcester  aforesaid  on  or  about  y*^ 
month  of  06lober  last  past  and  since  that  time  at  Worcester  afore- 
said did  wittingly  and  willingly  make  or  Spread  a  lye  or  false  Re- 
port of  y''  Complain'  by  saying  she  y''  Complain'  was  with  Child 
when  he  had  no  Just  Grounds  for  his  So  doing  all  which  a6lion 
was  with  a  designe  to  belye  defame  and  abuse  y^  Complain'  &61  as 
"^  the  Warrant  dated  the  Thirty  first  day  of  December  last  past 
appears  and  before  y^  Said  Justice  was  convi6led  of  Spreading  a 
false  Report  of  the  Said  Hannah  Hooker  by  Saying  that  She  was 
with  Child  as  set  forth  in  y^  Warrant  &  thereupon  Sentenced  To 
pay  a  fine  To  the  King  6e6l  of  Ten  shillings  &  to  pay  all  Cost  &6t 
as  ^  the  Sentence  of  Said  Justice  appears,    and  now  the  appellant 
appeared  and  to  the  Said  Complaint  Pleaded  not  Guilty      The 
Evidences  in  the  Case  being  Sworn  and  the  Case  fully  heard  on 
both  Sides  was  Committed  to  the  Jury  who  were  Sworn  according 
to  law  to  Trye  y^  Same  and  Return'd  their  Verdi6l  therein  upon 
Oath  as  follows  vizt      That  the  Said  Joseph  Dyer  is  Guilty  of 
Spreading  an  evil  Report  of  Hannah  Hooker     Its  therefore  Con- 
sidered by  the  Court  that  the  Said  Joseph  Dyer  Pay  as  a  fine  to 
our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  for  and  toward  the  Support  of  the 
Government  of  this  province  and  the  Incident  Charges  thereof 
Ten  Shillings  and  that  he  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Tax'd  at  Six  pound 
fourteen  Shillings  &  nine  pence  and  upon  his  negle6ling  to  pay  the 
Same  The  Court  order  Execution  To  be  awarded  therefor  and  that 
it  be  paid  into  the  hands  of  the  Clerk  to  be  by  him  paid  To  whom 
the  same  is  due     Ex  :  march  :    14'":    1736/7,  &  y^  fine  &  Costs 
paid  into  the  Court  by  M'  Sheriff  Gookins 


Amariah  Lyon  late  of  Shrewsbury  now  of  Poquiog  ^  so  Called  in 


Now  Athol. 


Feuriary 


1 74  Court  of  General  Sessions.  \  t'erm,' 

y<=  County  of  Worcester  Husbandman  appellant  from  a  Judgment 
given  against  him  by  Samuell  Wright  Esqr  &a  as  ^  y^  Sentence 
appears,  upon  y^  Complaint  of  William  Temple  of  Worcester  &ct 
upon  his  majestys  behalf  as  well  as  of  his  own  The  partys  ap- 
peared and  the  Case  fully  Considered  The  Court  order  the  whole 
proceedings  to  be  Quash'd  &  Each  jiarty  to  pay  his  own  Cost 


Amariah  Lyon  late  of  Shrewsbury  now  of  Poquiog  So  Called  In 
ye  County  of  Worcester  appel"  from  a  Judgment  given  against  him 
by  Samuell  Wright  Esq'  upon  the  Comp"  of  William  Temple  of 
Worcester  &61  as  ^  y^  Compla'  &  Sentence  appears  The  partys 
appeared  and  the  Case  being  fully  Considered  The  Court  order 
The  whole  proceeding  to  be  Quash'd  and  Each  party  bear  his 
Costs 


Samuell  Stow  of  Lunenburg  in  y"  County  of  Worcester  Gent 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  of  Said  County  for  not  attend- 
ing the  Publick  Worship  of  God  &61  appeared  and  made  his  Ex- 
cuse &  was  dismiss'd  &  he  is  to  pay  Cost  Tax'd  at  and 
not  to  depart  without  Lycence  of  the  Court 


The  Town  of  Lunenburg  being  presented  by  y"  Grandjurors  &61 
for  not  being  provided  with  a  Schoolmaster  agreeable  to  law  &61 
appeared  by  their  Sele6lmen  and  were  Dismiss'd  pay  Cost  which 
were  paid 


The  Town  of  Mendon  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  &61 
for  not  being  provided  with  a  Gramer  School  master  according  to 
law  appeared  by  their  Seledlmen  and  it  appearing  They  were  now 
provided  they  were  dismiss'd  paying  Cost — p'' 

Jacob  Aldrich  Sealer  of  Leather  for  mendon  Sworn  l)efore  the 
Court 


1 736-7.  j     Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         175 

The  Town  of  Sutton  being  presented  by  y^  Grandjurors  &61  for 
not  being  provided  with  a  School  master  &61  appeared  by  their 
Sele6tmen  &  were  Excused  paying  Cost     p*^ 


Nathan  MacKintire  of  Oxford  in  y'=  County  of  Worcester  being 
presented  by  the  Grandjurors  appeared  and  made  his  Excuse  and 
was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost     p** 


Naomi  ffarr  wife  of  Joseph  ffarr  of  Southborough  in  y^  County 
of  Worcester  Husbandman  being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for 
not  attending  on  y*^  pubhck  worship  of  God  &61.  She  not  being 
able  to  Come  to  Court  her  husband  appeared  and  it  appearing 
that  it  is  through  Indisposition  of  body  That  has  Rendered  her 
Uncapable  of  attending  She  was  Dismiss'd  pay  y^  officer  &  attor- 
ney their  Fees 


William  Temple's  Recognizance  Discharged 


The  Sele6lmen  of  Worcester  presented  to  the  Court  a  warrant 
dire6led  to  one  of  their  Constables  To  Notifi  Henry  Wisdom  with 
his  wife  and  Three  Children  to  depart  y*^  Town  &61  and  it  appear- 
ing to  have  been  duly  Served  was  approved  by  y^  Court 


Worcesters,  Leicesters,  &  Rutlands  presentments  Continued  Till 
may  next 


Duncan  m'farland  of  Rutland  in  y-^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman before  y«  Court  behaveing  himself  in  a  Rude  manner  & 
especially  towards  W'"  l^emple  of  Worcester  In  y*^  County  of  Wor- 
cester husbandman  the  Court  order  y'  he  Recognize  with  Two 
Suretys  himself  in  Twenty  pound  and   his   Suretys   in  Ten  pound 


<  Fkbeiaky 


1-6  Coiu't  of  Gc?ia'al  c>cssiofi6.  i   tebj, 

Each  for  his  appearance  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^ 
peace  to  be  held  at  Worcester  In  and  for  y  County  of  Worcester 
In  may  next  To  answer  To  Such  matters  &  things  as  shall  be  ob- 
jectted  against  him  on  his  majestys  behalf  and  in  y^  mean  time  to 
be  of  }•*  Good  behaviour  towards  his  majesty  and  all  his  Leige 
people  and  Especially  Towards  y«  Said  W"  Temple  and  to  doe 
and  Receive  that  which  by  \-^  Said  Court  Shal  be  then  &  there 
enjovned  him,  &cl  w'^  he  did  &:  Daniell  Campbell  of  Rutland 
aforsv*^  6c  Benjamin  Bartlett  of  Brookfield  in  said  County  Husband- 
men were  his  Suretvs 


William  Temple  of  Worcester  In  y*  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman before  y^  Court  behaveing  himself  in  a  Rude  maner  and 
Especially  towards  Duncan  m'farland  of  Rutland  in  y^  County  oi 
Worcester  husbandman  The  Court  order  that  he  Recognize  with 
Two  Suret}"s  himself  in  Twenty  pound  and  his  Surety  Ten  pounds 
Each  for  his  appearance  at  the  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y"= 
peace  to  be  held  at  Worcester  In  and  for  the  County  of  Worcester 
in  May  next  To  answer  to  Such  matters  and  things  as  Shall  be  ob- 
jected against  him  on  his  majestys  behalf,  and  in  the  mean  time 
to  be  of  )■*  good  behaviour  towards  his  majestye  &  all  his  Leige 
people  and  Especially  Towards  y^  Said  Duncan  m^farland  and  to 
doe  and  Receive  that  which  by  Said  Court  shall  be  then  and  there 
enjoyned  him  &61  which  he  did  and  Joseph  Wooly  housewright 
and  Peter  Jenison  Taylor  both  of  Worcester  aforesaid  were  his 
Suretvs 


John  Biglo  of  Worcester  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Inholder 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  \^  County  of  Worcester 
for  allowing  W"  Temple  of  Worcester  afores**  Husbandman  to  be 
at  his  house  at  an  unseasonable  time  of  y^  night  &  there  Suffering 
of  y'  Said  Temple  to  abuse  Duncan  m^farland  &cl  appeared  in 
Court  and  made  his  Excuse  &  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


^7Z7-\         Worcester  County,  Massachusetts.         177 

The  Selectmen  of  y*  Town  of  Worcester  presented  to  y^  Court 
a  Warr'  directed  to  one  of  their  Constables  to  notifie  &  warn  Henry 
Wisdom  with  himself  &  three  Children  to  depart  y«  Town  &cl  be- 
ing duly  Served  is  accordingly  approved. 


A  Petition  of  Daniell  Taylor  John  Amsden  and  John  Snow  agents 
for  the  Town  of  Southborough  In  the  County  of  Worcester  pre- 
sented to  y^  Court  a  petition  Seting  forth  That  Margarett  Taylor 
wife  of  John  Taylor  late  a  Resident  in  y*^  Town  of  Southborough 
&  a  little  boy  named  Abraham  Son  of  y^  Margarett  being  about 
Two  years  old  are  in  poor  and  Indigent  Circumstances  (The  Said 
John  Taylor  haveing  gon  away  &  left  them)  and  Stand  in  need  of 
Releife  and  are  put  upon  the  Town  and  also  Shewing  That  Abra- 
ham Newton  an  Inhabitant  of  Said  Southborough  Father  of  y^  Said 
Margarett  &  Grandfather  of  y^  Said  Abraham  Son  of  y^  Said  Mar- 
garett, is  possess'd  of  a  Considerable  Estate  notwithstanding  which 
he  does  nothing  towards  y^  Relief  of  his  Said  Daughter  &  Grand- 
son yjraying  y*^  Court  To  order  proper  Reliefe  to  be  made  by  Said 
Abraham  towards  y^  Relief  of  y^  his  Daughter  &:d:  Read  and  or- 
dered that  the  Petitioners  Serve  The  Said  Abraham  Newton  with 
a  Copy  of  this  Petition  that  So  he  Shew  Cause  if  any  he  have  at 
the  next  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  the  Peace  To  be  holden  at 
^Vorcester  in  and  for  y^  County  of  Worcester  on  y^  Second  Tuesday 
of  may  next  why  he  Should  not  be  assessed  according  to  law  for 
y^  Support  and  maintainance  of  his  Said  Daughter  &  Grandson 


The  Court  order  that  The  Sum  of  Seven  Shillings  be  paid  out  of 
y®  County  Treasur}'  To  Capt  Daniel  Heywood  for  Expences  in  ap- 
prehending Phillip  Kenison  a  Criminall  or  Capitall  offender 


The  Selectmen  of  y*  Town  of  Lunenburg  presented  to  y^  Court 
a  warrant  directed  to  one  of  their  Constables  to  warn  Nathan  Bar- 
ron of  Groton  &cl  with  his  wife  and  Three  Small  Children  To  leave 
their  Town  and  it  being  duly  Served  was  approved  by  y^  Court 

23 


V.'  -    Anno  /?*  R*  Georgij  Sccuttdt  nunc 

Mai^nce  liritainia  Frand<z  et  Hibernia  Decimo 

fiiXX  a  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  oi  lac  i'cax:*:  be- 
gun and  Held  at  Worcester  in  and  for  the 
Couoty  of  Worcester  on  the  Second  Tuesday 
of  May  being  the  Tenth  day  of  Said  month 
anno  Dom  1737 


J ,  •  l>ankl  Taft 

I,  1^:stirps  of  V*     T,.w-..i    ?>...; -It 

WiWisTTj  T*"n;-ion    ^    ^,jw/*«w         Henry  L^        ^     ^.'^ 
y.  Nahum  Ward    ' 

8am'  WiHard 
John  ICeyc« 


Old  f  ^rsruiiiiiy 

jif  f )  s\.\  Pay  M'  I4enj*  GootJrich 

M'T^iO!Tj3<  Ki'^         ^'  Maynard  M' /anjcs>  Ua!y 

M'<  FerlMii>  M'Janje!»W 

M'  I  yer  M'  Nath"  iiftpm  Kichard  Wilds  Uef/ 

M'  J^aihan  I  yl'^f        M'  ^mm\  Davis  Sheriff  attciulcd  on 

M'  J<^^Mr|>h  J.s'Ai  M'  Jiiiftr:>  Wrij-fht  them  and  Ea^h  i>ct- 

'    *  Jin  Ayrci  M'  Jo>cj4)  lafi  Jun'  ^m  aturndcd  3,  <lays> 


>737S 


//  WiYsftr  C&mMh.  Mitssiic^xseUs.         \  79 


SouthU>rvHigh  Cap'  I^An"  Taykw  foir\:n>itan 

Won^ster  M'  James  Hv>ldin 

Lancaster  M'  GamalieM  Benvtn 
Mendon  M*  Kv>iah  Avllams 


l.ekx'sHer  M"  J|k>hin  Whitisewi-^re 


XWxxJstvxk  Xr  John  May[     7 
l^x>krteKi  \r  John  Rich 

W  cstWrovjgh  Xr  Chs^rles  Rk\ 

Shrewsbury  M'  Saa\ '  CVxsUv 


l.u»>ent>tiiir5j  M'  Jt.>hn  Hevwvxxi 
Harvarvi  M"  K>4WihiA«  Si*wver 


^IraftvMt  \r  Nehewiah  ^^•.>^'> 

were  Swvvrti  alH  thv>se  \  luve 

y*  nv.«rk  «wder  their  «u'-^-> 

vw <S:  st^nt  hv>««e  au^ :. 

Y*'  Ck;i;ir^e  was  jjtven 


John  ChanvMer  Jun'  Ksqr  presenttxl  an  a^xx>'*  liv>r  l>WYii>g  Ihre^^ 
Ux>ks  anv>nnl  to  the  S\n\\  of  fourteen  jK>un<ill  fourteen  shith«\^s  w''* 
was  aUowtxl  v)>f  l>>  the  (.\>urt  ami  orvier  that  the  l\eas«rer  of  y* 
County  |v;»y  1\>  y*  acvountant  John  ^'hanvUer  Jun'  K*>ir  fv>nrteen 
jH>unvl  fv'urteen  ShiUiiVit^i  in  fuU  the»\^>f 


An  a«LxV  of  the  lYaveU  and  attendance  of  the  Crandjury  frv>n\ 
may  »73i6  To  may  »7,u  an\ounti»\ii  unto  y*  Sunw  of  Ki^ithty  Ki^^ht 
|K>und  fv>urttvn  ShiUi»\iis  l>ei»Vi*  )x>vsente\l  fvxr  aUowanv e  was  Ia- 
amineil  by  y*  Covnt  anvl  allowed  and  The  lVei\surt^r  kxivler  Tv*  \k»y 
N^"  Svune  tv>  whvnne  it  is  l>\)e 


tmxlereil  that  the  Sum  of  IVenty  Seven  shilh»\i;s  he  allowed!  and 
j>aid  out  of  the  County  h>?asury  To  WiUiam  Jenison  Rs\j'  fvxr  di^- 
in^  a  vault  v\;ol  under  the  iioal 


1 80  Cottrt  of  General  Sessions.  \  term  , 

Cap*  Benjamin  Flagg  County  Treasurer  presented  his  acco"  from 
may  1736  To  may  1737  which  was  Carefully  Examined  in  Court 
whereby  it  appears  he  has  made  payments  amounting  To  y«  Sum 
of  one  hundred  Sixty  two  pounds  &  three  pence  of  which  he  is 
discharged  &  y^  ballance  of  his  acco"  being  ninety  one  pound  four- 
teen Shillings  &  Seven  pence  he  is  Still  to  acco"  for  when  Rec** 
and  the  Court  direft  the  Clerk  to  Sign  his  acco'  in  their  name 


Benony  Boynton  of  Lunenburg  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman having  on  the  Tenth  day  of  September  last  past  Recog- 
nized before  Josiah  Willard  Esqr  one  of  his  Majestys  Justices  of  y^ 
peace  for  y'^  County  of  Worcester  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King 
In  tjie  Sum  of  five  pounds  lawfuU  mony  of  New  England  with 
Suretys  viz'  Benjamin  Bellows  of  y^  Town  &  County  aforesaid  hus- 
bandman and  Samuell  Davice  of  y^  Town  &  County  aforesaid  Car- 
penter in  y^  Sum  of  fifty  Shillings  of  y^  Like  mony  Each  Condi- 
tioned that  the  Said  Benony  Boynton  Should  personally  appear 
before  y^  Court  of  Generall  Sessions  of  y^  peace  held  here  in  No- 
vember last  (which  Recognizance  was  Continued  from  Court  to 
Court  till  this  time)  to  prosecute  to  Effe6l  an  appeal  by  him  made 
from  a  Judgment  Recovered  against  the  Said  Benony  Boynton  by 
John  Grout  on  behalf  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  at  a  Tryall 
before  the  Said  Justice  on  y^  Day  &  year  aforesaid  for  y^  payment 
of  Cost  &61  as  ^  y^  Recognizance  appears  and  the  Said  Benony 
Boynton  not  appearing  tho'  Solomly  Called  to  Come  into  Court 
but  made  Default  and  the  Said  Benjamin  Bellows  &  Samuell  Da- 
vice  the  Suretys  being  also  Solomly  Called  to  bring  y*^  Said  Benony 
Boynton  into  Court  did  not  appear  but  made  Default  The  Court 
therefore  order  that  the  Said  Recognizance  be  declared  forfieted 
and  it  was  accordingly  declared  forfieted  and  ordered  that  a  writt 
of  Scire  facias  be  issued  out  against  the  Said  Benjamin  Bellows  & 
Samiiell  Davice  for  y*^  Sum  of  fifty  Shillings  Each  lawfull  mony  of 
New  England  for  y^  use  of  our  Lord  the  King  &  also  for  y^  Cost 
&  Charges  occasioned  by  y^  non  appearance  of  y^  Said  Benony 
Boynton 


1737- 1         Worcester  County,  Massach7isetts.         i8i 

Gedion  Cumstock  of  Smithfield  in  y<=  Government  of  Road  Island 
being  bound  over  To  this  Court  by  M'  Justice  Taft  as  "^  y^  Re- 
cognizance appears  Came  into  Court  To  answer  y«  Same  &  was 
Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


An  Foster  of  Lunenburg  appeared  in  Court  to  answer  to  her 
presentment  for  not  attending  on  y^  PubHck  Worship  of  God  &61 
&  was  Excused  &  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


Oliver  Bly  and  Mary  his  wife  being  bound  over  to  this  Court  to 
answer  to  their  being  Guilty  of  the  Crime  of  Fornication,  appeared 
in  Court  &  Confess'd  themselves  Guilty  The  Court  therefore  or- 
der they  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  Each  &c  &  Cost  &  fees  which 
They  paid  &  were  dismiss'd 


Dunkin  IV^'farlands  Recognizance  Discharged 

Vallontine  Butler  of  Shrewsbury  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  be- 
ing presented  by  y''  Grandjurors  for  Traveling  &61  on  y'^  Lords  day 
appeared  and  made  his  Excuse  &  was  dismiss'd  paying  Cost 

William  Linsey  of  Rutland  in  y«=  County  of  Worcester  being  pre- 
sented by  y^  Grandjury  for  prophane  Cursing  and  Swearing  ap- 
peared in  Court  pleading  Guilty  was  find  Ten  Shillings  «S:  Cost  & 
fees     pa'd 

John  Hinds  of  Brookfield  in  y<^  County  of  Worcester  husbandman 
being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  the  Crime  of  Drunkeness 
pleaded  Guilty  &  find  Ten  Shillings  &  paid  Cost— In  Two  Cases 


John  Hinds  of  Brookfield  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  husband- 
man being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  absenting  himself 


1 82  Cou7't  of  General  Sessions.  ^^EBM, 

from  y^  Publick  Worship  of  God  appeared  in  Court  &   made  his 
Excuse  &  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


The  Sele6lmen  of  Westborough  presented  to  the  Court  a  War- 
rant Dire6led  to  one  of  their  Constables  To  Notifie  &  warn  Do6lor 
Joshua  Wheat  with  his  wife  EHzabeth  &  four  Children  to  depart 
y'  Town  &  it  appearing  to  be  duly  Servd  was  approved 


Josiah  Wadkins  of  Upton  in  y<=  County  of  Worcester  husband- 
man appellant  from  a  Sentence  or  Judgment  given  ag"  him  by 
Dan"  Tafft  Esq'  &61  appeared  in  Court  was  find  Ten  Shillings  & 
to  pay  Cost  &  fees  w''h  he  paid 


The  Sele6l  men  of  y^  Town  of  Worcester  presented  to  y^  Court 
for  approbation  a  Town  Vote  or  Buy  Law  Relateing  to  Rams  &  was 
approved  accordingly 


Elizabeth  Warner  of  Harvard  In  y^  County  of  Worcester  Single 
being  bound  over  by  M""  Justice  Wilder  To  this  Court  to  answer 
for  her  being  Guilty  of  y^  Crime  of  Fornication  appeared  Confess'd 
y"^  fait  &  was  dismiss'd  paying  a  fine  of  thirty  Shillings  &  Cost 


The  Town  of  Leicester  being  presented  for  not  being  provided 
with  a  Schoolmaster  according  to  law  appeared  and  made  an  Ex- 
cuse in  behalf  of  the  Town  which  being  duly  Considered  they  were 
Excused  paying  Cost 


Thomas  Ainsworth  of  Brookfield  in  y^  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman appeared  in  Court  to  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y^ 
Grandjurors  for  Wilfully  absenting  himself  from  y^  Publick  Worship 
of  God  &61  and  made  his  Excuse  tS:  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


1737- !         Worcester  Cotmty,  Massachusetts.         183 

Phillip  Negro  Serv'  To  Samuell  Dudley  Esq'  appeared  in  Court 
to  answer  To  his  presentment  by  y®  Grandjurors  his  master  beipg 
present  who  made  his  Excuse  and  he  was  dismiss'd  paying  Cost 
&  fees 


Nathaniell  Dike  Jun'  of  Sutton  in  y<^  County  of  Worces[ter]  hus- 
bandman appeared  in  Court  To  answer  to  Two  presents  against 
him  for  Wilfully  absenting  him  Self  from  y*^  Publick  Worship  of 
of  God  &61  &  made  his  Excuse  which  was  accepted  &  he  was 
dismiss'd  paying  Cost 

Wilham  Temples  Recognizance  Discharged 


David  Sanger  of  Woodstock  In  the  County  of  Worcester  hus- 
bandman appeared  in  Court  To  answer  to  his  presentment  by  y^ 
Graudjurors  for  absenting  himself  from  y"^  Publick  of  God  &61  as  ap- 
pears '^  y^  presentm'  he  made  Excuse  &  was  Dismiss'd  paying  Cost 


Peter  Laurance  of  Grafton  In  the  County  of  Worcester  Indian 
planter  appeared  in  Court  To  answer  for  his  absenting  himself  from 
y^  Publick  Worship  of  God  &c  as  '^  his  presentment  appears  & 
made  his  Excuse  which  was  accepted  and  he  was  Dismiss'd  pay- 
ing Cost 

The  Votes  Sent  in  from  y*^  Severall  Towns  for  y«  Choice  of  a 
County  Treasurer  and  being  opened  in  Court  &  Inspe6ted  it  ap- 
peared that  Capt  Benjamin  Flagg  of  Worcester  was  Ele6led  by 
Every  Vote  and  he  was  Sworn  in  Court  to  y^  faithfuU  Discharge 
of  his  Office  by  y^  Clerk  ^  order  of  Court 


Eleoner  Kellog  of  Brookfield  in  y'^  County  of  Worcester  Single- 
woman  being  presented  by  the  Grandjurors  for  our  Lord  y^  King 
upon  Oath  for  Comitting  y^  Crime  of  fornication  at  Brookfield 


184  Court  of  General  Sessions.  ^^kbm, 

aforesaid  having  had  a  bastard  Child  there  born  of  her  body  Some- 
time in  y^  month  of  July  1736.  Contrary  to  the  peace  of  &6t  as 
also  to  the  law  in  that  Case  made  and  provided  as  "^  y^  present- 
ment made  in  aug"  1736  appears,  and  now  the  Said  Eleoner  Kel- 
log  being  brought  before  y*^  Court  To  answer  for  y^  Same,  She 
pleaded  not  Guilty  &  Thereupon  The  Court  order  that  She  pay  as 
a  fine  to  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  fifty  Shillings  or  that  She  be 
Severely  Whip'd  on  the  naked  body,  Ten  Stripes  on  the  Twelfth 
Instant  between  y^  Hours  of  Three  and  four  of  the  Clock  afternoon 
&  that  She  pay  Cost  &  Fees  Taxed  at  five  pound  five  Shillings  & 
Two  pence  &  Stand  Comitted  till  Sentence  be  performed  &  She 
was  Comitted  to  the  Sheriff  according  with  a  Copy  of  the  Sentence 


Samuell  Dudley  Esq''  of  Sutton  in  y'^  County  of  Worcester  being 
presented  by  y*^  Grandjurors  for  Prophane  Swearing  appeared  t\: 
pleaded  to  y^  Insufficiency  of  y*^  presentment  w*-'''  being  duly  Con- 
sidered The  Court  order  presentment  to  be  Quash'd  &  y'=  S''  Dud- 
ley paid  Costs 


A  memoriall  of  y*^  Sele6l  men  of  Sutton  Dated  may  9"'.  1737 
praying  y*^  Court  To  alter  y^  Country  Road  Lately  laid  out  from 
Sutton  To  Worcester  viz'  part  thereof  near  y^  present  Dwelling 
House  of  Phillip  Chase  &61     Read  and  it  is  accordingly  allow'd  of 

Att^     John  Chandler  Jun  Cle  pac 


General  Index. 


I 


General  Index. 


Adams.  Josiah,  179. 

Ruth  and  Thomas,  103. 
Addleton,  Matthew,  74.  80. 
Adultery  ignored  by  this  court,  44.  n 
Ainsworth,  Huldah  and  Nathan.  166. 

Thomas,  74,  182. 
Albee,  Ebenezer,  87,  96. 
Aldrich,  David,  103. 

Jacob.  174. 
Allard,  Maturin,  138,  143. 
Allen,  Robert,  132,  140. 
Amsden.   Isaac,   30,    100,    105,    115. 
117,  124. 
Jacob,  72. 
John.  177. 
Anabaptists.  t,%.  44,  55,  82. 
Anderson,  Abraham,  iii. 
Arms,  Coat  of,  gift  to  the  County.  66 
Assault,  cases  of,  24,  126. 
Assistants,  Court  of.  7,  8. 
Atherton.  John,  113,  129.  130,  131. 
Ayres,  John,  151,  163.  172,  17S. 
Wells,  120. 
William,  125,  128,  145,  150. 


Baker,  Thomas,  24. 

Ball,  Eleazer,  100,  106,  115,  117,  124. 

Eli,  30. 
Ballard,  Ruth,  156. 
Banister,  Francis.  121. 

Joseph,  23,  12,.  45- 

Seth,  121. 
Barber,  Mary,  140,  146. 

Matthew,  122,  146. 


Robert,  43,  77,  ,23. 
Barnard,  Isaac,  162. 
Barnes,  Comfort,  30. 

Samuel,  46,  61,  68. 
Baron,  Joseph.  23.  45. 

Nathan,  177. 
Bartlett,  Benjamin,  i  76. 

Experience,  140.  14,,  147. 
Nathaniel,  loS,  116. 
Barton,  Caleb.  138.  143. 
Bastardy,  80,  132.  141,  ,56,  184. 
Baxter,  Joseph,  125. 
Beamons,  Samuel.  98. 
Beds  for  the  jail.  58. 
Belcher,  Governor,  19.  13^,  ,,5 
Bellows,  Benjamin,  180. 

Tabitha.  118, 
Beman,  Ebenezer,  120. 

Gamaliel,  179. 
Bennett,  John,  46,  50,  61,  68. 
Bettys,  James,  132. 
Bigelow,  Daniel,  132. 

John.  72,  113,  129.  130,  160,161. 
176. 
Blackstone  River.  66,  69. 
Bly.  Mary  and  Oliver,  181. 
Bonds  required  of  Sheriff,  165. 
Boyden,  Joseph,  130,  161,  162,  167. 
Boynton.  Benony,  180. 
Bridge  over  French  River,  147.  165. 
Bridges.  Mehitable.  85. 

Samuel.  85,  93. 
Brigham,  Nathan,  72. 

Timothy.  120. 
Brookfield.  35.  52.   54.  59.  94,  ,03. 
119,  139.  147-  155.  164. 


i88 


General  Index. 


Brown.  John,  169. 
Samuel.  179. 
William.  30,  69.  78,  84.  90,  94, 

99,  138,  143- 
Bruce,  George,  72. 
Bucknam,  Jeremiah,  169. 

Sarah,  151. 
Bugbee.  Jonathan,  100,  105,  115,  117, 

124. 
Bullard,  Benjamin  and  Ruth,  129. 
Burr,  Isaac,  77. 
Burts,  John,  113. 
Bush,  Amariah,  86. 

John.  72.  131,  161. 
Butler,  James,  59,  60. 

Valentine,  181. 


Cage  in  the  jail,  43. 
Caldwell,  James,  46. 

WiUiam.  57,  61,  82. 
Calhoon,  Samuel,  132. 
Campbell,  Daniel,  176. 

William,  132. 
Carpenter,  Eliphalet,   125,    128,   137, 
145,  150. 
Nathan,  131,  161,  162. 
Carter,  Capt.  113. 
Susanna,   126. 
Thomas,  129,  160. 
Timothy,  70,  138,  143. 
Cattle,  tax  on,  92. 
Chaffee,  Benjamin,  116.  121. 
Chandler.  John,  17-19.  23,  26,  29,  33, 
45-  50.  57.  58,  61,  68,  78,  83, 
84,  90,  99,  105,  117,  124.  128. 
135,  137,  145,   148,   150,   153, 
155,  163,  164,  166,  172,  178. 
John,  Jr.,  17,  19-21,  23,  26,  29, 

?>l^  34.  43-  45'  49.  50.  53.  57- 
59-61.  65,  68,  76-78,  84.  85. 
88,  90,  91,  94,  96-99,  102,  103, 
105.  III.  112,   117.   119.   122- 


124,   128,    133-135.    137,   139, 

143-145-   150,    151,   153.    163, 
164,    168-170.    172,   178,   179, 
184. 
Chapin.  .Seth,  23,  105.  115.  117,  150, 

153,  163. 
Chapman.  Ann.  166. 

Stephen,  146. 

William.  166. 
Chase,  Isaac,  76. 

Philip.  24,  65,  169,  170,  184. 

Samuel,  77. 
Child,  Ephraim,  30.  46,  50,  61,  68. 

Joseph,  126. 

Joshua,  100,  105,  115,  124. 
Clark,  Joseph,  66. 
Clerk,  title  of,  40. 
Coburn,  Daniel,  113,  131,  162. 
Coller,  Isaac,  Lydia  and  Oliver,   146. 
Colwes,  Seth,  92. 
Constables,  46. 
Converse,  Capt.  113. 

Joseph,  130. 

Joshua,  72. 
Cook,  Ebenezer,  81. 

John,  179. 
Coolidge,  Isaac,  130. 

Obediah,  63,  72.  89. 
Corlile,  Peter,  65,  71. 
Coroners,  23,  105,  115,  124,  128,  150, 

153,  163. 

Corre6lion,  House  of,  58. 

Costs  exacted  of  innocent  parties,  44. 
County,  A61  of  Incorporation,   10-13. 
Towns  comprised  in,  11. 
Officers  eledled,  21,  26,  46,   72, 

104. 
Tax,  59. 
Court  House,   53,   58,   83,    102,    104, 

112. 
Courts,  Assistants',  County,  Strangers' 

etc.  8. 
Craggin,  Benjamin,  98. 


Gejieral  Index. 


189 


Cratten,  Easter  and  William,  36. 
Crawford,  Samuel,  91. 
Crosby,  John,  46,  50,  68,   145,   160, 
161. 

Joseph,   24,   77,   125,   128,   130, 
137.  150,  161. 

Samuel,  179. 
Culver,  James,  132. 
Cumstock,  Gedion,  iSl. 
Currier,  Thomas.  107. 
Cursing  and  Swearing,  see  Siueariitg. 
Curtis,  John,  72. 
Cushions,  134. 
Cutler,  James,  113. 

D 

Daggit,  Ebenezer,  169. 
Dakin.  John,  155. 

Simon,  72. 
Daly.  James,  178. 

John,  92,  151,  153,  163,  172. 
Damon,  John,  107. 
Daniels,  Ebenezer,  46,  61,  68. 
Dankin,  Hannah,  116. 

Samuel,  140. 
Davenport,  Elizabeth,  118,  125. 

Jonathan,  69. 

Nathaniel,  116,  118,  125. 

Richard,  78.  84,  90.  94.  99. 

Samuel,  156. 
Davis,  Benjamin,  91. 

Daniel,  72. 

Lieut.,  113. 

Samuel,  151,  153.  163,  172.  178, 
199. 

Simon,  129.  130,  138.  143. 
Defamation,  94,  95,  98,  120,  121,  173. 
Dennis,  Nathan,  156. 
Denny,  Daniel,  23.  t,?,-  38,  45,  48,  49, 

55.  82. 
Doolittle,  Joseph,  140,  147. 

Dorr, ,  85. 

Drunkenness,  penalty,  71;  cdses,  71, 


85'87,  93,  95.  107,  i54.  181. 
Dudley,  Francis,  77. 

Samuel,  17,  19,  20.  23,  26,  29, 

33,45,  50,  51-  56.  57.  61,  68, 
70,  77,  78,  84,  90,  99.  105, 
117,  124,  128,  130,  131,  150, 
153,  161,  169.  183.  184. 

Dunsmore,  Eunice,  118. 
John,  n6,  118. 

Dupee,  Megee.  107. 

Dwight,  Joseph,  17,   19,  20,   23,  26, 

29,  32,^  36,45.50.  5i«  57-  61, 
66,  68,  78,  79,  84,  85,  90.  99, 
102,  103,  105,  117,  121,  124, 
128,  130,  133,  147,  153,  162, 
178. 

Dyer,  Joseph,  161,  162,  173. 

Dyke,  Nathan,  30. 

Nathaniel.  46,  50,  61,  68,   152, 
183. 

E 

Eager,  Abraham,  89. 

Bezaleel,  161. 
Earl,  Ralph,  87,  88. 
Eddy,  John,  50. 

Edmunds,  Ebenezer,  83,  91,  95. 
Elliott,  Daniel.  79,  91. 
Ellis,  Hannah.  62. 

John,  62.  80. 
Emerson,  John,  69,  78.  90,  99. 

Nathaniel,  108. 


Fairfield,  Skipper.  77,  166. 
Farnsworth,  David,  151. 

Hannah,  151. 

Isaac.  59.  130,  153,  160,  161. 

Jonathan,  69.  78,  84.  90,  99. 
P^arr,  Joseph  and  Naomi.  175. 
Fast,  laboring  on  a  public,  109. 
Fay,  Daxid,  151,  153,  161,   163,    172, 
178. 


IQO 


General  Index. 


John,  113,    125.   128,   131,   137- 

145,  150,  161. 
Fayervveather.  Thomas,  74. 
Fine  divided  among  the  Judges.  42. 
Fire,  accidents  by,    to    be    guarded 

against,  165. 
Fitz  Gerald,  John,  ill,  123. 
Flagg,  Benjamin,  48,  58,  63,  72,  94, 

100,  102,   104,   118.   125,   127, 

129-131,   138,   I43i   I44>    147' 
151,   160-162,   164,   165,    169, 
180,  183. 
R.,  120. 
Fletcher,  Eleazer,  51,  76,  161,  162. 
Floor  in  prison  chamber,  119. 
Forbush,  Aaron,  120. 
James.  132. 

Jonathan.  151,  153^  178- 
Force,  Benjamin,  130. 
Foster,  Ann,  181. 
Thomas,  155. 
Fornication,   punishment,   44;    cases 
of,  36,  37^  42.  52-  53-  58,  62, 
71,  80.  81,  91,  103,   106-109, 
116,  118,  125,  129,  132,  139, 
140,  148,  151,  156,  164,  166. 
181-183. 
Frissell,  John,  131. 

G 

Gaol,  (usually,  in  old  records,  spelled 

Goal:)  See  Jail. 
Gassett,  Bethia.  85. 
Gibbs,  John,  138,  143- 

Lydia  and  Samuel,  52. 

Thomas,  102. 
Gilbert,  Thomas,  lOO,  106,  124. 
Gleason,  Philip,  122. 

Simon,  170,  171. 

Thomas,  100,  105,  117,  124. 
Goddard.  Edward,  128. 

Robert,  151,  153.  163,' 169,  172. 
178. 


Godman,  Mary,  85. 
Goffe,  Edmund,  78,  88,  130. 
Goodrich,  Benjamin,  151,  153,  178. 
Gookin,  Daniel,  First  Sheriff..  35,  54, 
58,  64,  65,  73,  86,  119,   120, 
123,  139,  154,   160,  164,  165. 
167-169,  173. 
Goss,  Philip,  113,  160. 
Gowen,  Benjamin,  97. 
Grafton,  134,  164,  17 1. 
Gray,  Samuel,  107. 

William,  73,  107,  121. 
Green,  Nathaniel,  151,  153.  163.  172, 
178. 
Samuel,  48. 

Thomas,  38,  55,  82,  146. 
William,  125,  128,  137,  145,  150. 
Grout.  John,  180. 

H 

Hall,  Parcivall,  23.  33,  45. 

Thomas,  73. 
Hambleton,  John,  93,  no. 
Hapgood,  Thomas,  42,  125,  128,  137, 

145,  150. 
Harris,  James,  166. 
Harthan,  Eleazer,  165. 
Hartvvell,   Edward,   23,    t,1,    45,    90, 

105,  115,  117,    128,   129,   153, 

160,  161. 
William,  113. 
Harvard,  94,  119,  139,  164. 
Harwood,  John,  62.  64,    113,    116, 

121,   129-131,   143,   144,    155^ 

160,  161. 
Hassanamisco,    (now    Grafton)     64, 

66,  69,  75. 
Hastings,  John,  36. 
Hayes,  John,  in. 
Haynes,  David,  85,  100. 
Hazeltine,  John,  25,  30,    113,    131, 

161. 
Heatop,  James,   125,  128,   130,  137, 

145,  150. 


General  Index. 


191 


Hedge,  Elisha,  120. 
Heywood,  Capt.,  113. 

Daniel,  40,  43,  54,  69,   77,   129, 
160,  169,  177. 

Ebenezer,  131. 

Eleazer.  113.  130,  160,  161. 

Ephraim.  91. 

John,  179. 

Jonas,  91. 

Nathan.  100,  106,  115,  117.  124. 

Phineas,  43,  95,  98. 

William,  120. 
Hill.  Daniel,  108. 

Ephraim,  113.  130. 

Ralph,  61. 
Hinds,  Enoch.  60. 

Hopestill,  60,  95,  98. 

Jacob,  60. 

John,  60,  181. 

Mary,  54,  60. 
Hobbs,  John,  138,  143. 

Jonathan,  156. 
Holden,  James,   50,   61,   68,    77.  95. 

98,  179. 
Holoway,  William,  95,  98. 
Hooker.  Hannah,  166,  173. 
Hopkins,  Thomas,  170,  171. 
Horn,  Robert,   113,   130,   131,    160, 

161. 
Houghton,  Benjamin,  129.  160-162. 

Betty,  139. 

Jonas,  48,  50,  61,  68.  129,  131. 

Jonathan,  21,  26.    46.    59,    77. 
113,  125,  128,  129.   137.   145. 
150,  160. 
House  of  Corre61ion,  58. 
How,  Daniel,  23,   ^t,,  45,    113.   131. 
161. 

Ebenezer.  72,  155. 

James.  161. 

Moses,  69,  78.  84.  90.  99,  161. 

Nehemiah,  113,  130,  161.  179. 
Hubbard,  Daniel,  95,  98,  160,  161. 


John,  102.  113,  130. 

Jonathan,  113,  160. 
Hulnow,  James,  169. 
Hunter,  Robert,  140. 
Hutchins,  Thomas,  85. 

I 

Indians,   penalty   for    selling    strong 

drink  to,  25,  28. 
Innholders'  names,  113,  129,  160. 


Jail,  26.  27,  29,  42,  43,  47,  54.  58,  69, 
72. 

Jennings.  Elizabeth  and  John,  73.  91. 

Jennison.  Peter,  176. 
Robert,  97. 

William.  17,  19.  23-27.  29,  33, 
41,45.  50,  51,  56-58,  61,  68, 
70,  75,  78,  83-87,  90.  91,  96, 
99,  102,  105,  112.  115,  117, 
119,  120,  124,   132,   134.   137, 

i4S<    150.  152-154,   158-  162, 
163,  166,  168,  171.  172,  178, 
179. 
Johnson,   Benjamin,    100,    105,    115, 
117,  120,  124. 
Elisha,  66,  69,  70,  113. 
Samuel.  69.  78,  84,  90,  99. 
Solomon,   24,    71,   79,    93.     109, 
154,  170. 
Jones,  l)aniel  and  Merriam,  108. 

William,  125,  12S,  137.  145,  150. 
Jordan,  Dudley,  85,  103. 

John  and  Submit.  35. 
Juries,  first  established,  8. 

Grand,  23,  33.  45.  46,  50,  61,  68, 
69,  99,   100,    105,    124.    125, 

137,  I45>   I50>   151,   153-   163, 
172,  178.  179. 
Petit,  30,   72,  95,  98.   120,   138, 
143,  169. 
Jury  seats  to  be  made  comfortable,  1 1 2 


192 


General  hidex. 


K 

Keith,  Gershom,  125,  128.  137,  145, 

ISO- 
Israel,  120. 
James,  23.  T^i,,  45,  77. 

Kellog,  Eleaner,  73,  80,  183. 

Kelso,  Hugh.  123. 

Kendall,  Hepzibah,  109. 
Peter,  106,  109. 

Kenison,  Philip,  177. 

Keyes,  James,  72. 

John,  90,  99,  105,  117,  124,  128, 

135.  137,  I45>  153,  163,  178. 
Jonas,  130,  131. 

Solomon,  113,  129.  160. 
King,  Henry,  120. 

William,  37,  55. 
Knight,  Beriah,  106,  107. 


Lamb,  Jonathan,  79,  93-95. 

Lydia,  79,  93. 
Lancaster,  59,  94,  119,  139,  ig^. 
Larceny,  63,  11 1.  112. 

Larkin,  ,  113. 

William,  130,  161,  162. 
Latiney,  Mary.  n8. 
Lawdy,  Samuel,  no,  in,  123. 
Lawrence,  Peter,  loi,  no. 
Learned,  Ebenezer,  46,  50,  51,   61. 
66,  68,  74,  82,  123. 
Isaac,  23,  T,T,,  45,  128,  145,   150. 
Lee,  Henry,  17,   19,  20,  23,  26,  27, 
29>  ZZ^  43^  45,  48,  50,  53,  57. 
58,  61,  68,  78,  86,  90,  99,  102, 
105.  n5,  n7,  124,  128,  129, 

130,  135.  145,  150,  153,  158, 
160,  161.  163,  172,  178. 

Leicester,  35,  59,  73,  74,  81,  94,  102, 
n6,  n9.  139,  164,  175,  182. 

Leightle,  Samuel,  53. 

Leland,  James.  77,  \\t^,  130, 160.  162. 

Leonard,  Moses,  113. 


Lesure,  Abigail,  86. 

Libel,  173. 

License  Law,  114. 

Lill^e,  Samuel,  69.  78,  84,  90,  99,  169. 

Linsey,  William,  181. 

Lord's  Day,  violation  of,  see  Sabbath 

breaking. 
Lovett,  Capt.,  \\t^. 

Daniel,  129,  160. 
Lunenburg,  35,  47,  59,  94,  ug,  ug^ 

139^  152,  164,  174. 
Lyon,  Amariah,  173,  174. 

Joseph,  95,   151,   153,   160,   163, 
172,  178. 
Lynds,  John,  102. 

M 


Mackintire,  Daniel,  157. 
Martha,  80,  155,  157. 
Nathan,  175. 
Obediah,  171. 
Thomas,  141. 
Magregorie,  James,  151. 
Marcy,  Moses,  130,  161. 
Mariess,  George,  85. 
Marsh,  Benjamin,  38,  55. 
Marville,  Peter,  91. 
Marvin,  Moses,  131. 
Mattin,  John,  95. 
Matthis,  John,  98. 
May  [?]  John,  179. 
Maynard,  David  69,  78,  84,  90,  99. 
John,  161. 

Simon,  63,    138,    143,    151,    153, 
163,  172. 
McCain,  Robert,  147. 
McCarry,  William,  149. 
McClain,  Andrew,  141. 
McCkire,  Alexander.  140. 
McFarland,  Duncan,  174,  175,  181. 
Mcjerrald.  John,  140. 
McMichel,  Margaret  and  William  71 
McNeal,  John,  ni. 


Ge?teral  Index. 


193 


McTroy.  Daniel  and  Margaret,  92. 

Mencon,  Ebenezer.  113. 

Mendon,  56,  59,  64,  75,  94,  104,  116, 

119.  129,  139,  155,  164.  174. 
Merriam,  Ebenezer  129,  131,  160. 
Miller,  Isaac,  24. 
Misco,  George,   (Indian)   widow  of, 

25,  30. 
Moore,  Elijah,  113,  130,  161. 

Eliza,  104. 

Fairbanks,  129,  132,  162. 

Isaac,  78,  84,  90,  100. 

James,  69.  78.  84,  90,  99,  129. 

Jonathan,  36,  37. 

Joseph,  104. 

Mary.  39. 

Nathaniel,  77. 

Paul,  102. 

Richard,  30,  69,  78,  83.  84,  90. 
99. 

Robert,  104. 
Morris,  Edward,  69,  78,  84,  90. 
Morse.  Jane,  109. 

John,  120. 

Joshua,  131. 

Samuel,  109,  121. 

N 

Negro,  Tom,  87,  88. 
Newell,  Thomas,  98. 
Newhall,  Daniel.  161. 

Thomas,  48,  49. 
Newton,  Abner,  58. 

Abraham,  159,  166,  167,  177. 

David,  133. 

James,  69.  78,  84,  90,  99. 

Josiah.  Joshua,  Joss,  133. 

Jonathan,  52. 

Kesiah,  133. 

Margaret,,  5 1,  62. 

Martha,  133. 

Rachel.  159,  166,  167. 

Sybella,  167. 

Tabitha,  52. 


Nichols,  William,  138,  143. 

Notes  by  the  Editor,  19,  28,  31,  40, 

43,  44,  66,  67,  71,  114,  136. 
Nuting,  James,  John,  Josiah,  65,  80. 


Old,  William,  69.  78,  84,  90,  99. 
Orcutt,  James,  120,  1 21. 
Osgood,  David,  95,  98. 

Hooker,  69,  78,  84,  90,  99. 
Overing,  John,  70,  120. 
Oxford,  59,  94,  119,  123.  139,  166. 


Palmer,  Thomas,  86. 
Parks,  Na.,  95,  98. 
Parsons,  Rev.  David,  29-31,  40,  47, 
49,  52-  57,  82,  86,   102,    119, 
148. 

Joseph,  31. 
Partrick,  John,  138. 
Payson,  Jonathan,  129,  160. 
Payton.  Jonathan,  113. 
Peace,  breach  of,  146,  148. 

General  Commission  for  the.  17. 
Peibles,  Robert,  46. 
Peirce,  Ephraim,  46,  50,  68. 

Martha,  Hetty,  John,  Nicholas, 
82. 

Thomas,  82,  112,  122. 

William,  109. 
Perrim.  John,  76. 
Perry,  Joseph,  79,  102. 
Peters.  Bemsley  and  Hannah,  125. 
Philip,  (a  slave)  183. 
Pocket  picking,  no. 
Pollen,  Jane,  129. 
Pratt,  Josiah,  122. 

Nathaniel,  133. 

Thomas,  138.  143. 
Prentice,  Rev.  John,  10. 
Presentments,  lists  of,  51,  65,  66.  73, 

79.  85. 
Price,  Sarah,  104. 


194 


General  Index. 


Prison  Yard  enlarged,  154. 
Profanity,  see  Swearing. 
Putnam,  Elihu,  179. 


Quakers  exempted  from    ministerial 
tax,  44,  n. 

R 

Rams,  by-laws  regulating,  155. 
Ramsdell,  Benjamin,  155. 
Rawson  Grindal  and  Mrs.,  85. 

William,    56,  75,   77,   113,   129, 
130,  160. 
Read,  Ebenezer,  100,  106,  115,  117, 
124. 
Nathaniel,  130,  i6o,  162. 
Samuel,  113,  130,  1 61. 
Sarah,  42. 
Records,   law   requiring   them   to  be 

kept,  8. 
Register  of  Deeds,  eledlion  of,  21,  26, 

152. 
Representative  System,  origin  of,  8. 
Retailers'  names,  1 13,  129,  1 60- 1 62. 
Rice,  Aaron,  95,  98. 
Asher,  109. 
Charles,  179. 
Edward,  46,  61,  68. 
Gershom,  23,  2,2,,  45-  63,  69,  77- 
79,  84,  85,  90,  99,   105,   115, 
117,  128,  147,   150,  153,  163, 
165.  169. 
Jezeniah.  103. 
Jonas.  30,  77. 
Jotham.  42,  100,  105,   115,    117, 

124,  154,  169. 
Lydia,  103. 

Moses,  102,  113,  129,  160. 
Perez,  30,  72,  113,  130,  161,  169. 
Thomas,  23,  33,  36,  45.  'Si.  ^53^ 

163,  172,  178. 
Tyrus,  77,  179. 
Rich,  John,  148,  156,  179. 


Paul,  80. 
Richardson,  Abigail,  165. 
Isaac,  130. 
Israel.  130,  131.  161. 
Jonathan,  113. 
Josiah,  129. 
Thomas,  46,  48,  61,  65,  68,  73, 

113.  130,  161. 
William,  69,  78,  84,  99.  1 13,  129, 
160. 
Roads,  51,  56,  64,  74-76,  82,  83,  86, 

92,  102,  157. 
Robins,  Ebenezer,  1 13. 
Eleazer,  131,  161. 
Rodes,  Thomas,  104. 
Rug.  Joseph,  121. 
Russell,  John,  98. 
William,  109. 
Rutland.  35.  47,  59.  92,  94-  ii9-  139, 
164,  175. 

S 

Sabbath-Breaking,  penalty,  67;  cases 

65,   71,   74,  80,  85,  91,    100, 

103.  107,  108,  116,  122,  141, 

142.  146.  147.  158,  159,  181. 

Sadler,  John.  76,  77.    113,   129.    131, 

160,  162. 
Salisbury,  John,  149. 
Sanderson,  John,  138. 
Sanger,  David.  183. 
Sanouse,  Joseph,  146. 
Sargent,  John.  131. 

Jonathan,  1 13,  130,  160.  161. 
Sawyer,  Bezaleel,  30,  100,  105,  115, 
117,  124. 
Caleb,  125,  12S.  137,  145.  150. 
Elias,  129,   151,    153,    163,   172, 

178. 
Jonathan.  179. 
Mary  and  Nathaniel,  140. 
Schoolmaster,  neglecfl  to  provide  a, 
penalty,  43;     cases,    35,    81, 
108,  u6,  174,  175,  182. 


General  Index. 


195 


Sessions  Days  appointed,  147. 
Sewell,  Timothy,  8i,  86. 
Sherman,  Nathaniel.  161,  162. 
Shrewsbury,  51,  59,  94,  104,  119,  139, 

164.  165. 
Sibley,  John,  58,  77. 

Joseph,  100,  106,  115,  117.   124. 
Singletary,  John,  169. 
Slarah,  John,  141. 
Slinglee,  Ebenezer,  154. 
Smiley,  David  and  Eliza,  108. 
Smith,  Benjamin,  85. 

Ephraim  and  Harriet,  108. 

James,  161. 

Peter,  30,  161. 
Snow,  John,  177. 
Southborough.  35.  47.   59,  94,    108, 

119,  139,  164. 
Southgate,  Howard,  60. 

Richard,  48,  49. 
Sprague,  Ebenezer,  1 13,  131,  161. 
Stacy,  John,  130,  131,  162. 
Stearns,   John,   125,    128,    145,    150, 
169. 

Thomas,  41,  113,  129,  160,  169. 
Steel,  Thomas,  87,  88. 
Steer,  John,  92. 

Stevens,  Cyprian,  151,  153,  163,  172, 
178. 

Joseph,  23,  33. 
Stocks,  negledl  to  provide,  35,  42,  43 
Stockwell,  John,  125,  128,   137,   145, 
150,  169. 

William,  130,  131,  162. 
Stone,  Simon,  100,  106,  117,  124,  140. 
Stowe.  Daniel  and  Easter,  140. 

Samuel,  174. 
Strong  Drink,   sold  to   Indians,  pen- 
alty, 28;  cases,  25,  30. 

Presented  for  selling,  165. 
Summonses  for  witnesses,  103. 
Sumner,  Joseph,  lOO,  106,  1 15. 
Sutton,  51,  52,  57,  59,  64,  75,  94,  119 
139,  164,  174. 


Sutton  Road,  157,  162,  167-169,  184. 
Swearing,  penalty,  66;  cases,  65,  71, 
93.  181,  184. 


Taft,  Daniel,  17,  19.  20.  23,  33.  45, 
50,  51,  56,  68,  78,  81,  84,  85, 
87,  90,  95,  99.  105,  109,  117, 
128,  145,  178,  182. 

Joseph,  151.  153,  163,  172,   17S. 

Robert,  23,  33,  45. 
Taylor,  Abraham,  177. 

Daniel,  125,  128,  137,   145,   150, 
177,  179. 

James,  46,  50,  61,  68,  120. 

John,  76,  177. 

Margaret,  177. 

Ralph  Kendall,  106. 

Robert,  76. 

Roland,  1 13. 

William,  89,  100,  105,  124. 
Tavern  Keepers'  names,  113,  129. 
Tax,  County,  59,  94,  119,  139,  164. 
Temple,  William,  174-176,  183. 
Terry,  Samuel,  85,  87,  95,  96. 
Thayer,  Isaac,  125,  128,  145,  150. 

Thomas,  69,  78,  84,  90,  99. 
Theft,  loi,  149. 
Thoits,  Mary,  151. 
Thompson,  Mary,  104. 

Woodland,  46,  50.  51.  68. 
Tomlin,  Isaac.  46,  50,  61,  68,   126, 

133-  157- 
Torrey,  William,  87,  95-97. 
Towne,  Jonathan,  72. 
Towns  presented,  35. 
Townsend,  Benjamin,  24.  41,  42. 
Travelling  on  the  Lord's    Day,    see 

Sabbath  Breaking. 
Treasurer,  County,  eledlion  of.  21.  26 

72,  104,  127,  152,  183. 

Trowbridge, ,  80,  88,  130. 

Troy,  Hannah  and  Margaret,  104. 
Turner,  Alexander  and  Mary,  71. 


196 


General  Index. 


Tute.  Amos,  James,  Kesiah,    Mary, 

Thankful,  92. 
Tyler,  Nathan,   151,   153.   163,    172, 

178. 

U 

Upham,  Ezekiel,  loi,  no. 
Upton,  139. 

Uxbridge,  35,  47,  59,  64,  75,  94,  119. 
139,  164. 

V 

Vault  to  the  prison.  154,  179. 
W 

Wadkins,  Josiah,  182. 

Samuel,  81,  86,  161,  162. 
Wait,  Joseph.  126,  133. 

Nathaniel,  86. 

Ruhamah.  126,  133,  157. 

William,  77,  126,  133,  156. 
Waldo,  Jonathan.  74. 

Samuel,  85. 
Walker,  Eb.,  95. 

Joseph, 120. 

Obediah,  98,  113,  130,  161. 
Wallis,  David.  131. 

John,  116. 

Oliver,  102. 
Ward,  Artemas,  20. 

Daniel,  129,  169. 

Eleazer,  179. 

John,  76,  148. 

Nahum,  17,  19,  20,  23.  27.  29, 
45.  50.  57.  61,  63,  68.  73,  78, 
84,  90,  99,  loi,  103.  105,  109. 
no,  113,  n5,  117,  124.  128. 

131,  135.  137.  145.  i5o>  i53> 
161,  163,  172.  178. 

Richard.  30. 

Samuel.  46,  50,  61,  68,  145. 

Thomas,  142.  143.  146. 

William.  17-19,    23.    26.   29,   33, 

45'  50.  52,  57.  61.  68.  72.  78, 


82,  84,  86,  90,  93,  99,   105, 
115,  117.  124,   128,  135,  137, 

145'  150,  153,  163,  172,  178. 
Warden,  Mary,  52. 
Warfield,  Eliphalet,  109. 
Warner.  Elizabeth,  182. 
Warren,  Benjamin,  124. 

Daniel,  100,  105,  115,  n7. 
Weights  and    Measures,    negled    to 

provide,  35. 
Well  for  the  prison,  147. 
Westborough,  59,  94,  119,  139,  164. 
Wheat,  Elizabeth, -182. 

Joshua,  132,  1S2. 
Wheeler,  Benjamin,  38,  159. 
Hannah,  158. 
Hezekiah,  112. 
Jonathan,  36. 
Joss,  158. 
Richard,  43,  79. 
Whipple,  Jacob,  76. 

James,  151.  153.  163,  172.  178. 
White,  Josiah.    100.   105,    115.    117, 

124. 
Whitney,  Benjamin,  37. 
Whittemore,  John.  82,  179. 

Nathaniel,  148. 
Wicker,  George.  62. 
Wilder,  Ebenezer.  23,  45. 
Ephraim.  ^^.  138.  143. 
James,  105.  115,   117,    124,    128, 

150,  153,  163. 
Joseph.  17-19,  23.  26.  29,  ^T,.  37, 
38,  45,  50.  52,  54.  57.  58,  61, 
65,  68,  78,  84,  90,  99,  105.  115, 
117,  124.   128,   133,   135,   137, 
145,  150.  152.   153.   163,   172, 
178.  182. 
Oliver,  106. 
Rachel,  79. 
Wilds,  Richard,   60,    115.    117.    124, 
128,  131,    137.   145,   150,   163, 
172.  1 78. 


General  Index. 


197 


Willard,  Aaron  and  Abigail,  132. 
Benjamin,  17,  19,  20. 
Capt.,  113. 

Joseph,  130,  160,  162. 
Josiah,  17,  19,  23,  zz,  45,  50,  78, 

105,  113.  153,  161,  180. 
Samuel,  99,  105,  113,   115,  128- 
130.  I35i  137,   153.  160,  161, 
178. 
Wilson,  John,  104. 

Mary.  155. 
Wisdom,  Henry,  175,  177. 
Witherbee,  Caleb,  113,  129,  130,  161 

Ephraim.  129,  130,  1 61. 
Wood,   Ezekiel  and  Solomon,     113, 

130,  161. 
Woods,  John,  23,  11,  45. 

Samuel,  76,  81. 
Woodstock,  31,  59,  86,  94,  119,  139, 
164. 


Wooly,  James,  176. 

Worcester,  35,  42,   59,   75,   82,  94, 

104,  119,  139,  164,   166,   178, 

182. 
County,  10-13. 
Worship,  Public,  negleft  to  attend, 

penalty,  44;  cases,  36-39,  79, 

80,  85.  93,  103,  109,  140,  142, 

146,  155,  159,  166,  167,   171, 

174,  175,  181-183. 
Wright,  James,  151,  153,  172,  178. 
Joseph,  23,  105,   113,  115,   117, 

124,  128,  129,   150,   153,   160, 

163. 
Samuel,  17,  19,  20,   23,   26,   29, 

45,48,  50,  61,  68,  78,   82,  90, 

92,  105,  124,  128,  145,  178. 

Y 

Young,  David,  137,  138. 


No.  XIX. 


PROCEEDINGS 


?:iOFTHEg^ 


MorrpxtFP  HoriFtg  of  ^ntiijDitg, 


For  The  Year 


1§§2. 


WOKCKSTEP.,  MASS.  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 

1883. 
U.  S.  A.  CVII. 


PROCEEDINGS 


►^OFTHE(^ 


ttpfFS^FF  Soriptg  of  ^ntiijnitg, 


For  The  Year 


18§2. 


WOUCESTEU,  MASS.  : 

PUBLISHED  15Y  THE  SOCIETY. 

1883. 

U.  S.  A.  CYII. 


WORCESTER  : 

PEE8S  OF  CLARK  JILL80N. 
MDCCCLXXXni. 


OFFICERS  FOR  1883. 


PRESIDENT. 

ELLERY  BICKNELL  CRANE. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS, 

ALBERT  TOLMAN,     GEORGE  SUMNER. 


SECRETARY, 

HENRY  LORISTON  SHUMWAY. 


TREASURER, 


HENRY  FRANCIS  STEDMAN. 


LIBRARIAN, 

THOMAS  A.  DICKINSON. 


Departments  of  Work. 

ARCHAEOLOGY  AND  GENERAL  HISTORY. 
CHARLES  R.  JOHNSON,  Chairman. 


AYilliam  H.  Bartlett, 
Thoma.s  A.  Dickinson, 
John  W,  Ihif^ham, 
Henry  E.  Stedman, 
James  L.  Estey, 
William  L.  Clark, 
Eben  F.  Thompson, 
EUery  B.  Crane, 
John  G,  Brady, 
Everett  C.  Stone, 

LOCAL 


pjdward  B.  Glasgow, 
William  T.  Harlow, 
A.  IL  tJoolidge, 
C.  Otis  Goodwin, 
Francis  T.  Blaekmer, 
Alfred  Waites, 
Charles  F.  \Yashburn, 
Samuel  E.  Staples, 
Franklin  P.  Rice, 


Theodore  C.  Bates, 
Reuben  Colton, 
H.  ^V.Hubburd, 
Thomas  Stanstield, 
F.  E.  Lancaster, 
E.  H.  Thompson, 
Sullivan  Forehand, 
Henry  P.  Upham, 
Henry  King, 


HISTORY  AND  GENEALOGY. 


HENRY  M.  SMITH,  Chairman. 


Alfred  S.  Roe, 
Harvey  B.  Wilder, 
Franklin  P.  Rice, 
Clark  Jillson, 
EUery  B.  Crane, 
Daniel  Seagrave, 
Albert  A.  Lovoll, 
George  A.  Jordan, 
E.  H.  Marshall, 
Ephraim  Tucker, 

ANCIENT   IklANUSCRIPTS,  PUBLICATIONS  AND  ENGRAVINGS. 


Frank  E.  Blake, 
J.  Chauncey  Lyford, 
C.  Otis  Goodwin, 
Ledyard  Bill, 
Samuel  E.  Staples, 
Charles  A.  Chase, 
James  A.  Smith, 
E,  R,  Lawrence, 
Benjamin  J.  Dodge, 


William  T.  Harlow, 
Augustus  B.  R.  Spraguc, 
Nathaniel  I'aine, 
Albert  Tyler, 
Manning  Leonard, 
Henry  P.  Upham, 
Herbert  Wesby, 
Charles  A.  Denny, 
Charles  B.  Knight. 


William  B.  Harding, 
Albert  Tyler, 
Augustus  Coolidge, 
Merrick  Bemis, 
Samuel  E.  Staples, 
Charles  C.  Baldwin, 
Albert  Tolman, 
Edward  I.  Comins, 


CLARK  JILLSON,  Chairman. 

Theodore  S.  Johnson,       John  Cort, 


(ieorge  Sumner, 
Albert  P.  Marble, 
Josiah  Pickett, 
Charles  B.  Whiting, 
Charles  W.  Estabrook, 
Nathaniel  Paine, 
Augustus  E.  Peck, 


Henry  L.  Shumway, 
\Villiam  A.  Smith, 
Reuben  Colton. 
Charles  W.  Fenno, 
Addison  Prentiss, 
Alfred  ^^'aites, 


RELICS,  COINS,  AND  CURIOSITIES. 
SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES.  Chairman. 


Henry  Phelps, 
Richard  O'Flynn, 
William  B.  Howe, 
George  Sumner, 
Franklin  C.  Jillson, 
Olin  L,  Merriam, 
Frederick  G.  Stiles. 


Edwin  Ames, 
Jerome  Wheelock, 
Abram  K.  Gould, 
Henry  King, 
Augustus  Stone, 
Edgar  W.  Warren, 
Norton  L,  Cook, 


Frank  J.  Kinney, 
George  E.  Boydcn, 
Pardon  A.  liCc, 
Albert  G.  Mann, 
Charles  F.  Rugg, 
George  F.  Thompson, 


MILITARY  HISTORY. 

AUGUSTUS  B.  R.  SPRAGUE,  Chairman. 

Josiah  Pickett,  William  T.  Harlow,  Edward  T.  Raynond, 

Alfreb  S,  Roe,  Albert  Wood,  Frederick  (i.  Stiles, 

Augustus  Stone.  Edward  U.  Lawrence,  George  F.  'J'hompson, 

William  H.  Bartlett,  Norton  L.  Cook,  William  B.  Harding. 


COMMITTEES  FOE  1883. 


EX1<:CUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


ELLERY  B.  CRANE,   GEORGE  SUMNER, 
ALBERT  TOLMAN,    HENRY  L.  SHUMWAY, 
HENRY  F.  STEDMAN. 


STANDING   COMMITTEE  ON  NOMINATIONS. 

EDWARD  R.  LAWRENCE,  for  1  year; 
DANIEL  SEAGRAVE,  for  2  years; 
WILLIAM  H.  BARTLETT,  for  3  years. 


committee  ON  biography. 


HENRY  L.  SHUMWAY,  ALBERT  TYLER, 

ALFRED  S.  ROE. 


committee  on  PUBLICATION. 

ELLERY  B.  CRANE,  ALBERT  TOLMAN, 

GEORGE  SUMNER,  HENRY  L.  SHUMWAY, 

HENRY  F.  STEDMAN. 


i^ijT)i<idS¥ioX;0  05^  "j^^t  ^oCiJ^il'Y 


No.  I.  Proceedings,  1875-1877.      (pp.  70.) 

No.  II.  Constitution  and  list  of  officers.      (Comprised  in 

No.  I.) 

No.  III.  Proceedings  for  1877,  with  Inscriptions  from  Old 

Burial  Grounds  in  Worcester,      (pp.  168.) 

No.  IV.  Inscriptions  from  Old  Burial  Grounds  in  Worces- 

ter.     (Comprised  in  No.  III.) 

Proceedings  for  1878.      (pp.  150.) 

Early  Records  of  the  town  of  Worcester,  Book  I., 
1722-1739.      (pp.  142.) 

Proceedings  for  1879.      (pp,  150.) 

Early  Records  of  the  town  of  Worcester,  Book  II., 
1739-1753.      (pp.  145.) 

Nos.  IX.  to  XII.,  inclusive,  Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  AVor- 
cester,  1667  to  1788,  with  300  plans,      (pp.  336.) 

No.  XIII.       Proceedings  for  1880.      (pp.  80.) 

Nos.  XIV.  to  XVI.,  inclusive,  Worcester  Town  Records  from 
1753  to  1783.      (pp.  472.) 

No.  XVII.      Proceedings  for  1881.      (pp.  164.) 

No.  XVIII.  Records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace,  for  the  County  of  Worcester,  1731-1737. 
(pp.  197.) 

No.  XIX.        Proceedings  for  1882.      (pp.  160.) 


No. 

V. 

No. 

VI. 

No. 

VII. 

No. 

VIII. 

1^  Nos.  I.  to  XIX.  are  arranged  to  form  five  volumes  under 
the  name  of  Collections.  A  pamphlet  containing  Title  Pages, 
Indexes  and  directions  for  binding  the  first  three  volumes  will 
be  furnished  by  the  Librarian.  Nos.  XIV.  XV.  &  XVI.,  form 
Volume  IV.     Nos.  XVII.  XVIII.  &  XIX,  form  Volume  V. 


PROCEEDINGS. 


THE  portrait  of  George  Chandler  M.  D.,  of  Worcester, 
which  embellishes  this  number  of  our  Proceedings,  presents 
the  features  of  a  valued  friend, — one  who  by  his  own  researches 
and  labors  in  editing  and  publishing  the  record  of  the  Chandler 
Family,  has  demonstrated  his  right  to  an  honored  place  in  the 
guild  of  antiquaries. — Ed. 


PROCEEDINGS 


For   1882. 


%(?}^i^ 


§Soif  JIE  first  regrular  meeting;   of  The   Worcester 

I  I  I  Society  of  Aiitifjiiity  for  the  year  was  held  on 

isoli  the  evening  of  Jan.  3d,  at   the   rooms   of  the 

Society.     Hon.  Henry  P.  Upham  of  St.  Paul,  Minn., 

a  native  of  Worcester,  Henry  King  Esq.,  of  North 

Brookfield,  Hon.  George  F.  Thompson  and  Mr.   J. 

Chauncey  Lyford  of  Worcester,  were  elected  active 

members  of  the  Society.     President  Crane  addressed 

the  Society  as  follows: — 

ADDRESS. 


By  ELLERY  B.  CRANE. 


Members  of  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiqtdty,  Gentlemen: — 

In  compliance  with  a  custom  established  by  my  predecessors, 
let  me,  as  we  stand  at  the  threshold  of  this  bright  new  year, 
call  your  attention  to  the  progress  made  during  the  last  twelve 
months.     First  of  all,  however,  I  desire  to  express  to  you  my 


10 

grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  honor  you  have  conferred  in 
selecting  me  as  your  presiding  officer  for  this  the  second  time. 
My  earnest  wish  is,  that  I  may  bring  to  the  ollice  that  abund- 
ance of  time  and  talent  which  it  so  well  deserves.  But  let  me 
assure  you  that  whatever  of  these  needful  qualities  I  may  pos- 
sess, they  shall  be  used  to  further  the  best  interests  of  this 
Society  ;  and  I  enter  upon  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the 
office  relj-ing  chiefly  upon  3'our  unfailing  stock  of  charity  which 
has  attended  me  so  constantly  throughout  the  year  that  has 
closed,  trusting  that  the  future  term  may  fail  to  develop  the 
slightest  element  of  discord,  and  that  our  relations  in  the  future 
may  prove  as  pleasant  as  those  in  the  past  have  been. 

To  satisfy  ourselves  that  we  have  made  progress  during  the 
past  year,  we  have  but  to  refer  to  the  flattering  reports  from 
our  Librarian,  Treasurer,  and  the  several  Departments  of  Work. 
While  we  show  a  falling  off"  in  the  accumulation  of  pamplilets, 
there  have  been  added  nearly  double  the  number  of  bound  vol- 
umes to  our  rapidly  increasing  library.  Members  of  Depart- 
ments of  Work  continue  to  display  an  interest  and  zeal  that 
cannot  be  mistaken,  and  the  number  of  our  printed  pages  will 
far  exceed  that  of  any  previous  3ear.  These  include  Vol.  III., 
Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  Worcester,  from  the  year  1GG7  to 
1788,  with  nearly  300  illustrations  describing  the  lots  of  land 
granted  to  the  early  settlers,  and  Vol.  IV.  comprising  Worcester 
Town  Records,  from  1753  to  1783,  which  will  soon  be  ready  for 
distribution.  These  two  volumes  together  with  our  Proceed- 
ings for  the  3'ear  1881,  which  is  soon  to  be  placed  at  3'our  dis- 
posal, are  eflTorts  worth}'  of  this  organization,  and  of  whicli,  as 
the  result  of  our  labor,  we  have  ever}-  reason  to  be  proud. 

But  it  is  entirel}'  unnecessary  for  me  to  particularize  or  hold 
up  to  view  the  many  laudable  accomplishments  of  this  active 
and  prosperous  Societ}-.  Any  person  conversant  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  origin,  growth  and  development,  of  other  societies 
with  objects  kindred  to  our  own  can  draw  his  own  inference, 
and  I  trust  that  the  final  conclusion  will  not  be  detrimental  or 
disparaging  to  the  well  deserved  reputation  of  The  Worcester 
Society  of  Antiquity.  We  have  here  prepared  the  plans  and 
laid  the  foundation  for  a  substantial  and  magnificent  structure, 


11 

one  tliJit  we  hope  nia3'  grow  into  favor  among  tlie  popular  insti- 
tutions of  this  populous  city.  While  we  arc  young  and  full  of 
courage  let  us  in  the  future,  as  we  have  in  the  past,  be  ready 
for  any  emergenc}',  willing  to  respond  to  any  and  all  demands 
for  the  welfare  and  prosperit}'  of  this  organization. 

For  the  present  we  have  ample  space  for  our  Library  as  well 
as  our  collection  of  curiosities,  so  that  there  can  be  no  occasion 
to  increase  our  expenses  bv  the  addition  of  more  room  for  some 
time  to  come.     What  the  Soclet}'  stands  most  in  need  of  at  this 
time  is  a  Publishing  Fund.     We   already   have  numerous  val- 
uable manuscripts  on  our  shelves  which  for  the  want  of  money 
we  are  unable  to  print.     But  if  we  had  a  fund,  say  to  the  amount 
of  i$10,()00,  deposited  in  some  safe  investment  where  we  could 
use  only  the  income  for  the  purpose  of  printing  such  records 
and  documents  as  the  Executive  Committee  might  in  their  wis- 
dom think  best  to  publish,  it  would  assist  in   adding  much  to 
our  stock  of  publications  and  give  us  a  far  greater  advantage 
for  usefulness  than  we  now  enjoy.     With  the  object  of  making 
an  effort  to  obtain  such  a  fund,  or  the  nucleus  for  it,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed,  not  long  since,   with   power  to  act.     After 
several  meetings  for  consultation,   that  committee  authorized 
the  printing  of  a  circular  askiiig  for  contributions  to  a  perma- 
nent fund,  the  income  of  which  should  only   be   used  to   carry 
forward  the  main  objects  for  which  this  Society  was  instituted. 
These  circulars  have  been  mailed  to  certain  individuals  who  it 
was  thought  would  most  likely  be  interested   and  respond  to 
such  an  appeal.     It   is  perhaps,  at  present,  too   early  to  look 
for  returns  from  them,  but  it  is  hoped  that  sooner  or  later  some- 
thing worthy  the  attempt  may  come  from  it.     Such  a  fund  would 
add  vastly  to  the  usefulness  of  our  Society,  and  greatly  encour- 
age the  prosecution  of  preserving  and  perpetuating  matters  of 
historical  interest.     P^very  year,  in  making  up  our  Proceedings, 
the  Committee  on  Publication  has  been  compelled  to  put  aside 
many  interesting  and  valuable  essays  that  have  been  read  before 
the  Society,  through  fear  of  overtaxing  the  generosity  of  our 
members  by  the  expense  of  printing  them.     It  is  hoped   that 
these  papers  may  be  published  at  some  future  time. 


12 

History  at  this  time,  more  than  ever  before,  commands  the 
worthy  attention  of  all  chisses  of  people.  The  circle  of  its  stu- 
dious admirers  has  been  ever  steadily  expanding  with  the  growth 
of  knowledge  until  to-day  there  is  felt  among  the  inhabitants  of 
nearly  every  town,  however  small,  a  pressing  need  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  society  of  some  kind  in  which  they  may  cul- 
tivate and  develop  their  love  for  historical  studies.  Certainlv 
no  large  city  can  well  afford  to  be  without  such  an  institution. 
There  always  will  be  found  many  persons  willing  to  aid  in  sup- 
porting them,  while  from  such  sources  the}'  can  obtain  food  for 
the  mind,  and  experience  pleasure  in  acquiring  knowledge. 

The  study  of  antiquity  has  such  a  unique  fascination  that  as 
time  rolls  on  it  must  draw  the  attention  of  almost  every  con- 
siderate and  thoughtful  reader.  In  truth  man  lives  more  in  the 
past,  or  from  what  he  knows  of  it,  than  he  does  in  the  present. 
We  take  our  daih'  lessons  from  the  records  of  the  achievements 
of  those  who  have  gone  before,  and  if  we  are  wise  we  shall  heed 
and  profit  by  their  experience.  The  history  of  the  past  guides 
and  shapes  the  present  and  encourages  us  to  hope  for  the  future. 
Whenever  men  or  nations  are  unwilling  to  heed  the  teachings  of 
antiquity  they  sooner  or  later  find  themselves  groping  in  the 
dark  or  drifting  without  chart  or  compass,  liable  to  crash  upon 
the  sunken  rocks  of  political  errors  or  founder  in  the  first  storm 
of  political  controvers}-  ;  and  it  should  be  our  pleasure,  as  I  know 
it  is,  as  well  as  our  duty  to  transmit  to  our  successors  what  we 
can  towards  making  up  the  priceless  legacy  of  history  ;  and  how- 
ever small  or  insignificant  it  ma}'  appear  to  ourselves  or  to  those 
around  us,  let  us  perform  our  little  part  in  the  world's  great 
workshop.  Those  who  consciously  or  unconsciously  cast  their 
satire  and  raillery  at  the  antiquarian,  and  accuse  him  of  living  to 
no  purpose,  listlessh'  absorbed  with  the  musty  worm-eaten 
pages  of  ages  that  have  gone,  or  digging  among  dead  men's 
bones,  little  know  or  realize  the  untold  influence  which  the  result 
of  such  researches  has  upon  the  present  and  upon  the  great 
world  about  them.  The  discoveries  of  Bousard,  Rawlinson, 
Lepsius,  Layard,  Mariette  Bey,  Di  Cesnola,  Schliemann  and  oth- 
ers, have  cast  vivid  light  upon  the  life  and  customs  of  ancient 
peoples  of  the  east,  reviving  and  creating  a  new    and    deeper 


-     13 

interest  in  their  scanty  and  unsatisfactory  chronological  history. 

This  new  year  (1S^!2)  (inds  several  changes  in  our  ollicial 
board.  It  is  to  be  expected  in  an  organization  where  all  its 
oflicers  are  subject  to  an  annual  election,  that  such  changes  are 
liable  to  come  with  each  recurring  year.  Thus  far  since  the 
formation  of  this  Society,  March  2d,  1875,  there  have  been 
successively,  three  ditferent  executive  oflicers,  two  Secretaries, 
two  Treasurers,  and  two  Librarians.  Mr.  James  A.  Smith, 
who  has  so  faithfully  and  acceptably  filled  the  oflice  of  Treasurer 
during  the  past  six  years,  felt  compelled,  owing  to  the  pressure 
of  other  urgent  business,  to  decline  his  re-election,  I  regret 
exceedingly  that  the  Society  is  thus  to  be  deprived  of  his  very 
valuable  services,  We  also  regret  that  Mr.  Albert  A.  Lovell, 
w^ho  has  filled  for  the  past  four  years  the  important  oflice  of 
Librarian  so  acceptably  and  displayed  such  signal  skill  and  abili- 
ty for  the  position,  was  also  obliged  under  the  press  of  other 
duties  to  decline  to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

We  sincerely  hope  and  trust  that  we  may  continue  to  receive 
their  hearty  cooperation,  while  we  in  return  extend  to  them  our 
word  of  appreciation  for  their  exceedingly  valuable  and  unself- 
ish services  rendered  during  so  many  of  the  trying  years  of  this 
young  organization. 


Dr.  George  Chandler  of  Worcester  presented  a 
a  pair  of  metallic  "Tractors"  designed  for  the  re- 
moval of  pain  from  any  locality  in  the  human  body, 
by  the  development  of  an  electric  current,  the  inven- 
tion of  Dr.  Elisha  Perkins  of  Plainfield  Conn.,  1741- 
1797,  with  a  brief  sketch  of  the  inventor. 

Hon.  Clark  Jillson  announced  the  death  of  our 
colleague,  Thomas  Melvin  Lamb,  which  occurred 
Dec.  29,  1881,  with  a  touching  and  appreciative 
tribute  to  his  character,  and  resolutions   expressing 


14 

the  appreciation  of  the  character  of  the  deceased  by 
the  Society,  and  its  sympathy  with  his  bereaved 
family.  These  were  seconded  by  Mr.  S.  E.  Staples, 
adopted,  and  by  direction  of  the  Society  a  copy 
thereof  was  forwarded  to  his  family.  Subsequently 
Hon.  Clark  Jillson  was  requested  to  prepare  a  sketch 
of  the  life  and  character  of  the  deceased,  for  publi- 
cation in  these  Proceedings. 

THOMAS  MELVIN  LAMB. 


By  CLAEK  jillson. 


IT  is  not  my  purpose  to  write  an  elaborate  sketch,  nor  is  it 
possible,  even  briefl}',  to  delineate  many  of  the  notable  charac- 
teristics belonging  exclusivel}'  to  one  whose  individuality  was 
more  clearly  defined,  both  in  its  general  scope  and  in  its  minute- 
ness, than  that  of  any  other  person  with  whom  I  have  had  the 
honor  of  an  acquaintance.  lam  also  sensible  of  my  inability  to 
centri>lize  and  impress  upon  the  minds  of  others  a  picture  so 
definitely  outlined  as  to  suggest  the  actual  presence  of  the  origi- 
nal, for  the  reason  that  the  qualities  of  which  I  speak  and  their 
peculiar  combinations  belonged  to  but  one  man. 

Competition,  not  only  in  business  but  in  mental  effort,  is  so 
sharp  and  obtrusive,  so  heedless  of  conscientious  regard  or 
respectful  toleration  that  whoever,  b}'  virtuous  effort,  is  strong- 
enough  to  establish  a  recognized  identity  among  mankind,  de- 
serves to  be  gratefully  remembered.  The  poor  bo}'  who  wins 
in  life's  uncertain  struggle,  being  sole  commander  of  his  own 
mental  and  moral  forces  and  general  commissary  of  subsistence 
at  the  same  time,  may  appropriately  be  classed  among  the 
heroes  of  civil  achievement.  If  he  reaches  the  period  of  middle 
age  without  dishonor,  even  though  he  may  bear  the  scars  of 
many  an  unequal  conflict,  his  title  to  public  approval  is  well 
assured. 


...y^^^^^  ^,^^^^^^ 


15 

Thomas  Mclvin  Lamb  was  born  at  Worcester  Mass.,  on  the 
2Gth  da}' of  June,  1S30,  in  a  small  farm-house  then  standing 
upon  the  southerly  side  of  Jo  Bill  road,  near  the  residence  of 
Hon.  Stephen  Salisbury.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Worcester  County,  in  some  instances  being  original 
proprietors  of  large  tracts  of  land.  He  inherited  from  his  moth- 
er a  delicate  constitution,  a  keen  intellect  and  an  uncompromi- 
sing regard  for  honesty  and  integrity  ;  from  his  father  stability 
of  purpose  and  sound  judgment.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  at  the  district  school,  where  his  attendance  was  some- 
what irregular  on  account  of  ill  health  and  the  frequent  need  of 
his  services  at  home.  It  was  fortunate,  however,  that  he  pos- 
sessed a  mind  so  comprehensive  in  its  grasp,  so  susceptible  to 
the  unseen  influence  of  natural  progression  as  to  render  the 
study  of  books  simply  an  indication  of  something  broader  and 
higlier,  directly  in  the  pathway  of  his  ambition.  What  others 
sought  through  the  channels  of  unremitting  toil,  he  comprehended 
at  a  glance  ;  and  while  they  were  trying  to  make  themselves  fa- 
miliar with  mere  outlines  he  became  master  of  the  whole  subject. 

He  entered  the  High  School  in  May,  1846,  and  the  record 
shows  that  he-was  in  school  four  terms  in  all,  but  not  a  regular 
attendant.  He  studied  the  higher  English  branches,  omitting 
the  languages,  and  never  graduated.  This  was  before  the 
Eucleia  Debating  Society  had  been  organized,  but  the  scholars 
frequently  met  in  debate,  and  it  was  there  that  young  Lamb 
first  exhibited  his  talent  as  a  speaker  of  more  than  ordinary 
merit.  At  that  time  he  was  considered  a  formidable  opponent 
in  debate,  and  his  services  were  alwa3-s  in  demand,  being  fre- 
quently sought  to  aid  both  sides. 

About  this  time  a  number  of  young  gentlemen,  feeling  the 
need  of  better  facilities  for  niiprovement  in  public  speaking, 
organized  the  Young  Men's  Rhetorical  Society,  "for  the  mental 
and  moral  improvement  of  its  members."  Mr.  Lamb  became 
a  member,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  distinguish  himself  as  a 
clear  and  logical  debater.  He  held  that  there  were  two  sides 
to  all  questions,  and  his  voice  was  never  silenced  by  appointing 
him  on  the  wrong  side.  He  conducted  a  paper  published  by  the 
society  wherein  he  first  displayed  his  ability  as  a  writer ;  and 


16 

many  of  his  productions  of  that  earlj'  da}'  clearly  indicated  a 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  English  composition.  December 
31st,  1850,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Society.  As  a  pre- 
siding officer  he  was  calm,  dignified,  and  accurate  in  his  decis- 
ions, winning  favor  on  all  sides  by  his  gentlemanly  bearing,  and 
acute  perception  and  comprehension  of  delicate  points  in  par- 
liamentary practice.  His  administration  brought  success  to  the 
Society,  and  his  own  popularit}'  was  greatly  enhanced  b}-  the 
impartial  manner  in  which  he  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Before  the  close  of  his  school-life  he  began  to  express  a  desire 
for  some  permanent  employment.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
but  that  business  was  not  congenial  to  the  son.  After  full  con- 
sideration he  expressed  a  desire  to  follow  the  occupation  of  a 
watchmaker  and  jeweller,  and  in  due  time  was  permitted  by  his 
parents  to  enter  the  store  of  S.  P.  Champney  for  the  purpose  of 
learning  the  trade.  To  this  business  he  applied  his  time  and 
energy,  with  a  full  determination  to  make  it  a  life-work,  em- 
ploying his  leisure  hours  in  study  instead  of  recreation.  It  was 
customar}'  at  that  time  for  young  men,  after  serving  a  short 
time  as  apprentices,  to  leave  their  employers  and  assume  to 
understand  the  whole  business,  representing  themselves  as  ex- 
perienced workmen.  Mr.  Lamb  was  not  one  of  that  kind.  He 
was  faithful  in  every  particular,  and  when  his  apprenticeship 
closed  Mr.  Champney  was  glad  to  give  him  further  employment. 

On  the  13th  da^-  of  Feb.,  1856,  Mr.  Champney  advertised  his 
business  for  sale  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month  Mr.  Lamb 
called  public  attention  to  his  new  establishment  at  275  Main 
Street,  within  a  few  feet  of  where  he  learned  his  trade,  and 
where  he  continued  in  business  till  the  time  of  his  death.  In 
trade  Mr.  Lamb  was  strikingly  unselfish,  and  his  failure  to  use 
the  ordinar}'  methods  to  mislead  buyers  had  a  tendency  to  retard 
his  financial  success.  If  he  ever  learned  the  lesson  that  most 
people  like  to  be  cheated  and  are  generalh-  willing  to  pay  the 
swindler  for  his  services,  he  was  so  stubborn  in  the  interest  of 
fair  dealing  that  he  never  adopted  the  code  ;  nor  did  he  allow 
any  person  in  his  employ  to  misrepresent  or  take  any  measures 
to  defraud  his  customers.  His  goods  were  oflfered  for  sale  at 
reasonable  rates,  and  buyers  were  allowed  to  select  such  as  thev 


17 

desired,  without  being  urged  to  buy  through  any  of  the  "dainty 
devices"  so  commonly  resorted  to  by  smart  traders.  I  was 
present  on  one  occasion  when  a  lady  selected  a  finger  ring  from 
a  large  stock  as  being  precisely  what  she  desired  to  purchase. 
She  was  looking  for  pure  gold,  and  when  she  made  known  her 
wish  to  obtain  the  object  of  her  deliberate  choice,  Mr.  Lamb 
had  to  use  considerable  ettbrt  to  make  her  believe  that  she  had 
chosen  a  cheap  article,  not  worth  half  what  she  was  willing  to 
pay  for  it ;  but  Mr,  Lamb  would  tolerate  no  deception,  nor  could 
he  be  tempted  or  compelled  to  sell  his  soul  for  gain. 

Mr.  Lamb  was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Laura  A.  Stebbins  of 
Deerfield,  Mass.,  an  accomplished  lady,  a  devoted  wife  and  a 
faithful  mother.  Their  oldest  daughter,  Carrie  S.,  was  born  in 
Worcester,  June  28,  18G2,  and  graduated  at  the  High  School  in 
1881,  an  excellent  scholar  and  a  young  lady  of  rare  promise. 
Alice  B.  was  born  May  10,  1868,  and  died  March  23,  1876.  She 
was  not  physically  strong,  but  her  mind  was  active  and  preco- 
cious, and  she  readily  became  a  favorite  of  all  who  knew  her. 
Her  death  was  keenly  felt  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  outside 
her  own  family. 

Mr.  Lamb  manifested  an  unusual  interest  in  religious  affairs 
at  an  earl}-  age,  becoming  identified  with  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion and  subsequently  joined  the  church,  where  he  was  very  act- 
ive in  the  Sabbath  school.  Later  in  life  he  embraced  a  more 
liberal  faith,  discarding  all  sectarianism  and  ever}^  form  of  wor- 
ship as  unessential  to  the  salvation  of  souls  ;  but  his  trust 
in  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe  was  never  disturbed.  His 
change  in  reliafious  sentiment  and  belief  was  mainlv  due  to  the 
inability  of  his  teachers  to  satisfactorily  answer  his  interrogato- 
ries. Any  theory  or  proposition  that  did  not  commend  itself 
to  his  judgment,  after  full  explanation,  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
meet  all  his  objections,  would  not  be  likely  to  form  any  part  of 
his  creed.  Whenever  a  weak  man  assumes  to  be  a  spiritual 
teacher,  calling  upon  those  of  superior  intellect  and  culture  to 
embrace  a  religious  doctrine,  without  being  able  to  defend 
it,  he  unconsciously  becomes  an  active  propagator  of  infidelity. 
When  the  blind  undertake  to  lead  those  who  can  see,  or  the 
weak  to  control  and  direct  the  strong,  no  time  need  be  wasted 


18 

in  praying  for  success.  If  religion  is  based  upon  reason  and 
conscience,  rather  than  emotion,  Mr.  Lamb  took  no  rasli  or 
unpremeditated  step  when  he  left  the  Baptist  church,  even  if  he 
was  wrong  in  so  doing.  Those  who  knew  him  best  will  certify 
that  he  was  quick  to  embrace  what  his  reason  and  conscience 
clearly  indicated  to  be  the  fittest ;  but  a  failure  to  sustain  by 
intelligent  argument  any  doctrine  new  to  him  was  perhaps  too 
often  construed  as  against  the  theory'  instead  of  against  the  im- 
becile who  tried  to  become  its  advocate.  He  was  conscientious 
to  his  own  pecuniar}'  disadvantage,  never  swerviiig  from  what  he 
knew  to  be  exact  justice.  He  was  never  accused  of  a  dishonest 
act  by  an  honest  person,  and  his  integritj-  was  never  questioned 
in  the  community  where  he  lived. 

He  was  elected  by  his  fellow  citizens  to  offices  of  trust,  and 
his  official  duties  were  discharged  with  rare  fidelity.  His  three 
years'  service  as  a  member  of  the  School  Committee  was  charac- 
terized by  faithfulness  and  energy,  and  his  influence  in  that 
Board  was  felt  long  after  his  term  had  expired.  As  one  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Worcester  County  Mechanics'  Associa- 
tion, he  was  an  active  member  of  the  Libi'ary  Committee  wherein 
he  did  much  to  raise  the  standard  of  excellence  in  that  depart- 
ment, by  retiring  books  of  fiction  and  supplying  standard  works 
relating  to  art,  science  and  literature,  and  from  that  day  to 
this  the  policy'  he  advocated  has  been  respected  b\-  the  Associa- 
tion. His  mind,  when  directed  to  public  atfairs,  was  free  from 
partizan  bias,  and  he  recognized  no  power  strong  enough  to 
turn  his  steps  from  the  path  of  duty.  He  was  a  true  man,  an 
unfaltering  friend,  a  loyal  citizen. 

As  a  member  of  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquit}-,  he  was 
deeply  interested  in  its  work,  and  was  careful  to  preserve  all  its 
Proceedings,  arranging  them  for  the  bindery  but  a  short  time 
before  his  death. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order,  and  for  several  years 
devoted  much  time  to  the  welfare  of  that  ancient  institution. 
He  was  made  a  Master  Mason  in  Morning  Star  Lodge,  at  Wor- 
cester, Nov.  1,  1859,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  lodge  for  several 
3'ears.  He  was  exalted  to  the  august  and  sublime  degree  of  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason  in  Worcester  Chapter,  April  8,  1804  ;  and 


19 

on  the  27th  of  October  of  the  same  year  he  received  the  Cryptic 
degrees  in  liiram  Council  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters.  He  was 
created  and  dubbed  a  Knight  Templar  in  Worcester  County 
Commandery,  Knights  Templars,  at  Worcester,  April  21,  18G5. 
October  31,  18G7,  he  received  the  degrees  of  the  Ancient  and 
Accepted  Scottish  Rite,  from  the  4"  to  the  14°,  in  Worcester 
Lodge  of  Perfection. 

He  received  the  degrees  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  from 
Past  Grand  Patron,  Daniel  Seagrave,  in  September,  1869,  and 
atliliated  with  Stella  Chapter,  No.  3,  at  Worcester,  when  that 
Chapter  was  organized  in  1871.  He  was  elected  Worthy  Pat- 
ron, December  13,  187G,  and  continued  in  office  four  years. 
He  was  elected  Grand  Secretary  of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  the 
Order  of  the  Eastern  Star  for  Massachusetts,  at  its  organiza- 
tion, Dec.  11,  187G,  and  held  the  office  till  May  13,  1879.  He 
was  elected  Grand  Patron,  May  13,  1878,  and  continued  in 
office  two  years.  He  was  elected  Most  Worthy  Grand  Patron 
of  the  General  Grand  Chapter  of  the  order.  May  10,  1878,  and 
held  the  office  till  Aug.  20,  1880.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  arrange  and  publish  the  Ritual  of  the 
Order,  and  that  document  shows  how  well  his  work  was  done. 
He  was  appointed  Secretary  of  Eoreign  Correspondence  by  the 
Grand  Chapter  of  Massachusetts  for  the  year  1879,  and  re-ap- 
pointed May  10,  1.S81.  He  was  elected  a  life  member  of  Stella 
Chapter,  Jan.  26,  1880.  His  correspondence  with  the  various 
masonic  bodies  and  individuals,  relating  to  Masonry  and  mat- 
ters pertaining  thereto,  would  make  a  large  volume  of  useful  and 
interesting  matter,  full  of  original  thought. 

Such  has  been  the  career  of  one  whose  life  and  conduct  may 
well  be  emulated  by  us.  His  courage,  his  ability,  his  sincerity, 
his  incorruptible  moral  nature  and  his  persistent  adherence  to 
the  strictest  rules  of  justice  and  right,  were  prominent  charac- 
teristics of  his  life.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home  in  this  city, 
Dec.  29,  1881,  after  an  illness  of  five  days.  The  community 
was  shocked  at  the  announcement  of  his  death — so  sudden  and 
unexpected— and  the  character  of  the  large  assembly  gathered 
in  the  church  to  observe  his  funeral  rites,  bore  unmistakable 
testimony  to  his  worth  as  citizen. 


20 

It  may  be  said  that  Mr,  Lamb's  life  was  not  satisfactor}'. 
In  a  pecuniary  sense  this  is  true  ;  but  it  must  be  acbnitted  that  he 
achieved  the  most  complete  success  in  living  an  honest  life,  and 
when  death  came  he  was  fully  prepared  to  approach  the  grave, 

"Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

He  was  one  of  the  few  men  who  never  assumed  a  false  posi- 
tion for  gain  ;  nor  could  he  be  pursuaded  by  sophistr}-  or  logic, 
or  compelled  by  any  human  authority,  to  forget  or  surrender 
the  title  Nature  gave  him  to  the  highest  type  of  manhood. 


Mr.  Alfred  Waites  read  the  following  interesting 
paper,  a  copy  of  which  was  requested  for  publication: 

THE  AGE  OF  CHIVALRY. 


By  ALFRED  WAITES. 


I  have  selected  this  subject  because,  as  far  as  my  observation 
goes,  it  is  one  that  is  greatly  misunderstood.  Scarcely  any  one 
ever  speaks  of  this  age  who  does  not  seem  to  be  under  the  influ- 
ence of  false  ideas,  bewildered  as  it  were,  b}-  the  glitter  of 
knights  in  armor,  and  the  shock  of  lances  in  tournament. 
Even  the  terms  which  are  used  to  designate  the  human  beings, 
and  the  qualities  they  posseesed,  are  as  much  misunderstood  as 
the  age  itself.  What  do  3'ou  mean  by  the  word  "villain?"  yet 
the  notion  of  wickedness  and  worthlessuess  which  we  attach  to  it 
is  the  effect  of  aristocratic  pride  and  exclusiveness,  and  not,  as 
Christian  says  in  his  notes  on  Blackstone,  "A  proof  of  the  horror 
in  which  our  fathers  held  all  service  to  feudal  lords."*  "Villain," 
simply  meant  one  attached  to  a  villa,  oi-  farm,  and  a  collection 
of  the  dwellings  of  these  "villains,"  was  a  village.  The  words 
"knightly"  and  "chivalrous,"  I  shall  leave  for  your  considera- 
tion while  we  hurry  forward  to  the  examination  of  these  chival- 

*  Diet,  of  phrase  and  fable,  p.  93G. 


21 


lie  days,  lie  who  endeavors  to  discover  the  origin  and  prog- 
ress of  eliivalr}-,  says  vSismondi,*  meets  witli  dillleulties  of  every 
kind.  He  linds  himself  on  the  borders  of  reality  and  fiction, 
sometimes  deceived  by  poets  and  romancers,  and  sometimes 
misled  by  incapable  chroniclers. 

The  romance  of  chivalry,  in  French  and  in  Latin,  the  fables 
of  Archbishop  Turpin,  the  brilliant  stories  of  the  Court  of  Char- 
lemagne inserted  in  the  Chronicles  of  St.  Denis,  had  become, 
from  the  eleventh  century,  the  habitual  reading  of  those  who 
occupied  themselves  with  arms  and  love  ;  it  was  their  only  in- 
struction, the  only  example  which  they  cared  to  follow  :  and 
the  book  which  was  designed  to  be  the  pastime  of  a  winter  eve- 
ning, became  a  rule  of  conduct.  He  who  wishes  to  disentangle 
fiction  from  reality,  runs  the  risk  of  being  deceived  by  the  po- 
etic sentiment  which  is  within  himself ;  because  he  finds  the 
generous  emotions  of  virtue  and  of  nobility  of  soul  so  little  satis- 
fied by  the  men  of  history,  he  ends  by  adopting  the  heroes  of 
romance.* 

The  Order  of  Chivalry  was  a  religious  and  military  engage- 
ment. The  Chevalier  devoted  himself  "to  God  and  the  ladies." 
The  candidate  had  first  to  take  a  bath,  which  was  to  signify 
that  he  presented  himself  cleansed  from  sin.  He  was  then 
clothed  with  a  white  tunic,  with  a  robe  of  vermillion,  and  a  coat 
of  black.  These  colors  represented  the  purity  of  his  future  life, 
the  blood  which  it  was  his  duty  to  shed  for  the  church,  the  death 
which  he  ought  always  to  have  in  remembrance.  The  sash  was 
to  typify  his  engagement  to  live  from  that  time  forward  in  chas- 
tity. The  spurs  were  gilt,  and  signified  that  he  should  fly  with 
rapidity  wherever  duty  called  him.  He  who  bound  on  the 
sword,  had  recommended  to  him  uprightness  and  loyalty,  the 
defense  of  the  poor  against  the  rich,  and  to  sustain  the  weak 
ai^ainst  the  strons.  In  order  that  the  novice  should  remember 
these  things,  he  was  struck  upon  the  neck  with  a  sword,  or 
given  a  box  on  the  ear.  (colaphus).  In  the  same  way  when  a 
great  lord  accorded  a  charter,  he  gave  a  box  on  the  ear  to 
the  witness,  of  however  high  rank,  so  that  the  memory   of  the 


*  Ilistoire  des  Francais  III.  2. 


22 

transaction  should  not  escape  him.  And  here,  I  may  state,  we 
find  the  origin  of  another  custom,  and  find  oddly  enough,  that 
the  strilving  on  the  neck  or  shoulder,  in  the  ceremony  of  knight- 
hood, and  the  whipping  of  the  boys  in  "beating  the  boundaries," 
as  narrated  by  Henzel,*  Pepys,t  and  others,  are  identical  in 
their  source,  and  the  knight  was  struck  as  the  boy  was  whipped 
that  the  lesson  imparted  might  not  be  forgotten.  Jhe  chevalier 
was  required  by  his  vow  to  remove  from  any  place  in  which 
there  was  treason  or  false  judgment,  if  he  were  not  strong 
enough  to  prevent  it ;  to  aid  with  all  his  power  the  ladies  and 
damsels  ;  to  fast  every  Friday  ;  and  to  make  an  offering  every 
day  at  mass.  Thus  we  see  the  priests  did  not  forget  themselves 
when  the}'  took  part  in  the  institution  of  chivalry.  J 

It  would,  however,  be  unjust  to  think  so  unworthily  of  the 
church  as  to  compare  her  with  this  institution  ;  her  doors  were 
open  to  the  poor  as  well  as  to  the  rich  ;  the  humblest  might 
enter  her  service  and  wield  a  power  greater  than  that  of  any 
earthly  king  ;  might  ascend  the  throne  of  Peter,  assume  the 
triple  crown,  and  swa}'  the  destinies  of  the  world.  But  the 
order  of  chivalry  was  accorded  only  to  men  of  noble  blood. 
An  insurmountable  barrier  was  raised  which  separated  the 
chevalier  from  the  villain,  and  which  the  latter  could  never  hope 
to  cross.  Courage  and  virtue,  as  well  as  happiness  and  liberty, 
were  considered  the  exclusive  prerogative  of  noble  blood  :  the 
great  mass  of  mankind  were  actually  thought  unworthy  of  being 
considered  a  portion  of  the  human  race.  J  The  peasantry  in- 
deed were  placed  upon  a  level  with  vermin,  and  hunted  much 
in  the  same  way.  The  nobles  had  a  saying,  "Stroke  the  clown, 
he  will  pummel  you  ;  pummel  the  clown,  he  will  stroke  you." 

The  vocation  of  the  knights  of  the  fourteenth  century  was  to 
crush  the  weak.  The  D'Aubricicourt  robbed  and  killed  at  ran- 
dom, to  deserve  well  of  his  lad}' ;  for  says  the  chronicler  "He 
was  desperately  in  love."§ 


*  Mensel,  Geschichte  der  Deutschen,  I.  52.    t  Pepys'  Diary  I.  188,  (May 
23,  1G61.)     X  Sismondi,  III.  6.     §  Michelet  Hist.  France,  I.  446. 


0 


3 


The  terror  of  the  peasants  of  France,  at  this  time,  (1358)  was 
so  extreme  that,  says  Michelet,*  they  no  longer  slept ;  they  who 
lived  on  the  banks  of  the  Loire,  passed  whole  nights  on  the  is- 
lands, or  in  boats  moored  iu  the  middle  of  the  stream.  In  Pic- 
ardy  the  atfrighted  inhabitants  dug  hiding  places  for  themselves 
in  the  ground.  Here  families  huddled  together  on  the  approach 
of  an  enemy  ;  and  here  the  women  and  children  wasted  away 
for  whole  weeks  and  months,  while  the  husbands  and  fathers 
timidly  stole  to  the  church  steeple  to  see  if  the  men  of  war  had 
left  the  country.  They  did  not  always  leave  it  soon  enough  for 
the_  poor  inhabitants  to  sow  and  gather  iu  the  harvest.  In  vain 
did  they  hide  themselves  under  ground  ;  famine  reached  them 
there.  In  the  brie  and  the  beauvoisis  above  all,  the  whole  land 
was  left  bare.  Everything  was  spoiled  or  destro^'ed.  Food 
was  to  be  had  in  castles  alone. t  Can  we  wonder  that  some  of 
the  peasants  dared  to  retaliate?  They  did,  with  the  vengeance 
of  despair.  They  even  dared  to  attack  some  of  the  castles,  and 
cut  the  throats  of  the  barons.  Then  the  great  and  noble  were 
aroused  ;  they  had  never  dreamed  of  sucli  a  height  of  daring. 
Charles  the  Bad  flattered  the  leaders  of  the  revolt  till  they  were 
in  his  power,  and  then  treacherously  put  them  to  the  sword. 
The  principal  was  crowned  with  a  red-hot  tripod.  In  all  di- 
rections the  nobles  massacred  the  peasantry,  without  enquiring 
or  carino-  whether  they  had  a  share  in  the  revolt  or  not ;  and, 
says  a  contemporary,  they  wrought  so  much  evil  in  the  country 
there  was  no  need  of  the  English  coming  to  destroy  the  king- 
dom ;  they  never  could  have  done  the  mischief  that  the  barons 
did.  The  chevaliers  hanged  the  poor  wretches  in  troops  to  the 
nearest  trees  ;  the  king  of  Navarre,  in  one  day,  strung  up  three 
thousand.  The  peasants,  informed  that  food  and  treasure  were 
to  be  found  in  the  city  of  Meaux,  flocked  thither  in  crowds, 
many  of  them  unarmed,  and  attempted  to  capture  the  city. 
Then  the  nobles  sallied  forth  cased  in  armor  from  head  to  foot, 
and  thus  equipped,  smote  the  defenseless  rustics  with  complete 
impunity.  They  rushed  upon  them,  cut  them  down,  and  flung 
them  in  great  heaps  into  the  river  ;  in  short,  killed  upwards  of 


*  Hist.  France,  II.  447.     t  Michelet,  I.  447. 


24 

seven  thonsaud  of  them.  Some  escaped  for  a  time;  but  the 
barons  had  not  done  with  them  ;  they  formed  hunting  parties 
and  scoured  the  country  round  to  catch  the  peasants  ;  they 
drove  the  hunted,  frightened  creatures  into  the  town  of  Meaux  ; 
shut  the  gate  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  escape  ;  and  then, 
burned  up  the  city.* 

Edward,  the  "Black  I^rince,"  has  again  and  again  been  lauded 
as  the  mirror  of  knighthood  and  of  chivalr}'.  As  he  was  return- 
ing from  Spain,  where  his  military  prowess  had  been  exerted  to 
the  utmost,  to  replace  Peter  the  cruel  upon  the  throne  of  Castile, 
from  which  the  avengers  of  his  crimes  had  driven  him,  this 
gallant  Edward  was  informed  that  war  had  been  resumed  with 
France,  and  that  his  services  were  needed  there.  He  according- 
ly proceeded  thither,  laid  siege  to  the  town  of  Limoges,  whose 
inhabitants  fought  with  a  bravery  which  should  have  gained  for 
them  the  sympathy  of  a  conqueror  ;  but  in  these  chivalric  days, 
bravery,  except  in  a  brother  knight,  bravery  displayed  b}'  the 
canaille^  was  treated  as  a  crime,  and  the  exhibition  of  valor  on 
the  part  of  the  people  was  invariably  punished  by  the  direst 
cruelty.  The  "Black  Prince"  was  at  this  time  near  his  death. 
He  could  not  ride  on  horseback,  and  was  borne  into  the  town 
in  a  litter,  that  he  might  personally  superintend  the  accomplish-' 
ment  of  the  vengeance  he  meditated.  He  gave  orders  that 
every  inhabitant  of  that  town,  every  man,  woman,  and  child, 
should  be  put  to  death.  In  this  "mirror  of  chivalry,"  tottering 
age,  defenseless  womanhood,  found  no  protector ;  the  people 
rushed  into  his  presence  and  little  children  raised  their  little 
hapds,  knelt  down  before  him,  and  begged  for  mercy  in  the 
agony  of  despair,  but  found  no  touch  of  pit}'  in  that  savage 
breast.  Hour  after  hour  the  slaughter  went  on,  and  onl}-  ceased 
when  the  last  of  the  victims  had  been  butchered. f  The  princes 
and  nobles  delighted  in  these  massacres,  and  acquired  a  strange 
thirst  for  blood.  Children  were  tought  to  dabble  in  it.  Young 
boys  of  fifteen  exulted  in  murder.  MonstreletJ  tells  us  how 
John  of  Ligny,  count  of  Luxembourg,   took   his   little    nephew 


*  Froissart,  CLXXXIV.     f  Froissart,  CCXC.     +  Monstrelet,  I.  623. 


25 

with  him,  pursued  some  fugitive  soldiers,  und  instructed  him 
how  to  kill  several,  in  which  the  child  took  much  delight. 

The  chevMliers  were  the  principal  support  of  the  crusades, 
to  which,  in  virtue  of  the  power  he  iiad  received  as  the  succes- 
sor of  St.  Peter,  the  Pope  exhorted  IheChiistaiu  world.  They 
were  called  ujjou  to  punish  the  enemies  of  the  faith,  who  were 
supposed  to  have  desecrated  the  holy  places  of  Palestine.  Ev- 
ery sinner  was  absolved  from  everj-  sin  ;  even  murder  was  for- 
given him  who  would  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  the  church. 
Hell  was  not  permitted  to  punish  crime,  and  heaven  was  gained 
by  the  assasination  of  a  Saracen.* 

Multitudes  sped  upon  this  pious  errand,  and  flocked  by  thou- 
sands to  tight  beneath  the  consecrated  banner.  Some  Germans 
thought  it  would  be  more  consistent  to  extinguish  the  unbeliev- 
ers in  Europe,  before  undertaking  to  exterminate  the  intidels  of 
Asia  ;  and  in  pursuance  of  this  laudable  purpose,  count  Emicho 
of  Leinigen,  fell  u[)ou  the  Jews  and  murdered  twelve  thousand 
of  them. t  Indeed,  thr(Mighuut  this  age,  the  Jews  were  treated 
with  atrocious  cruelty.  A  jjolitical  disturbance  or  the  visit  of  an 
epidemic,  was  quite  sufficient  excuse  for  a  massacre  of  the  Jews. 
The  king  sometimes  interfered  in  their  favor,  not  from  disinter- 
ested motives,  we  may  be  sure,  but  because  he  considered  them 
his  own  peculiar  property,  and  sometimes  when  he  was  short  of 
money,  he  actually  mortgaged  his  Jews. J  Such  was  the  rage 
for  tighting  in  this  unhappy  time,  that  the  highest  dignitaries  in 
tlie  church  threw  off  tiara,  mitre,  pallium  and  rochet,  and  "clad 
in  complete  steel,"  went  forth,  "'Preachers  who  spake  to  the 
purpose,  steady,  straightforward  and  strong,  with  irresistible 
logic  ;  (H-thodox,  flashing  conviction  right  into  the  hearts  of  the 
heathen. "§ 

Charlemagne  endeavored  repress  this  warlike  spirit  among 
ecclesiastics,  and  forbade  them  to  carry  arms  ;  and  once,  when 
he  saw  a  young  bishop  vault  lightly  into  the  saddle,  he  sternly 
commanded  the  nimble  theologian  to  resign   his  bishopric  and 


*  Hist.  Littrraire  des  Troubadours.  Hallam  Mid.  Ages,  I.  47,  50  Ex. 
Pop.  Del.  65.  t  Menzel.  I.  364,  365.  +  Hume,  II.  136.  ^Rabelais,  II. 
339.     Froissart,  II.  Ch.  132, 


26 

to  enroll  himself  in  the  number  of  his  military  followers.  The 
ordinances  of  Charlemagne*  however,  failed  to  abolish  this  un- 
christain  temper  ;  and,  long  after  his  time,  (111)4)  the  bishop 
of  Beauvais,  in  all  his  martial  accoutrements,  was  captured  in 
battle  by  king  Richard  the  first.  The  Pope,  Celestin  the  third, 
angrily  demanded  that  the  bishop,  the  son  of  the  church,  should 
be  given  up  to  him.  "Return  to  me  my  son,"  he  wrote  to  Rich- 
ard ;  whereupon,  Richard  wrote  to  the  Pope,  at  the  same  time 
sending  the  steel  armor  of  the  bishop,  with  these  words,  taken 
from  the  history  of  Joseph :  "Know  now  whether  this  be  thy 
son's  coat  or  no."t  Religion  was  now  a  mixture  of  superstition 
and  mummery,  a  term,  by  the  way,  which  both  the  French  and 
the  English  derive  from  the  name  of  the  founder  of  the  religion 
of  Islam,  Mahomet,  Mahoom,  Mahoomery.  j  It  was  not  Christ- 
ianity as  we  moderns  understand  it,  but  a  degenerate  heathenism 
which  ruled  the  minds  of  men. 

Had  an  antique  Roman  revisited  the  earth  at  this  period,  he 
would  have  discovered  that  every  ancient  deit}-  had  assumed  a 
Christian  name.  St.  Margaret  in  births,  and  St.  Nicholas  in 
tempests,  were  invoked  with  just  as  much  success  as  Lucina  and 
Neptune.  Diana  and  Bacchus,  Elsculapius  and  Ceres  ;  Miner- 
va and  Priapus,  were  replaced  by  St.  Hubert.  St.  Vincent,  St- 
Cosme,  St.  Gengul,  St.  Catharine,  and  St.  Fiacre  ;  enjoying  the 
the  same  power  over  the  elements,  animals,  maladies  and  infer- 
nal spirits.  The  Romans  had  Vertumnus  the  god  of  the  sea- 
sons, and  Pomona  the  patron  of  orchards  ;  Hygeia  the  goddess 
of  health  ;  Fornax  the  goddess  of  bakers  ;  Occator  the  god  of 
harrowing ;  Runcina  the  goddess  of  weeding ;  Hippona  the 
goddess  of  stables  and  horses  ;  Bubona  the  goddess  of  oxen. 

The  Christians  had  St.  Appolinica  for  curing  toothache  ;  St. 
Blaise  for  sore  throats  ;  St.  Lambert  for  tits.  St  Wendolin  was 
retained  to  take  care  of  the  cows  and  calves,  and  St.  Gertrude 
to  drive  away  rats.  The  most  licentious  practices  appeared 
again  in  the  worship  of  St.  Guignolet,  of  St.  Geurlichon  and  of 
St.  Renand.     But  worse  than  all,  a  poet  dares  to  render  thanks 


*  Menzel,  Gesch.  1. 230.     f  Voltaire,  essai  sur  les  Moeurs,  Chap.  L.     Rog- 
er ofWendover,  II.  148. (note.) 


27 

to  heaven  and  St  Julien  for  his  success  in  outraging  a  woman.* 
When  the  saints  were  thus  honored  it  is  not  surprising  to  find 
that  God  was  entirely  neglected,  In  fact  about  this  time  the 
offerings  at  the  cathedral  of  Canterbury,  were  as  follows  :  upon 
the  altar  of  St.  Thomas  a  Becket  950  pounds  ;  on  the  altar  of 
the  VirgMi  Mary,  four  pounds  ;  upon  the  altar  dedicated  to  God, 
nothing.**  It  was  considered  of  the  greatest  importance  that 
these  kniglits  should  distinguish  themselves  by  some  wild  feat 
or  adventurous  deed  of  arms.  They  were  impatient  for  war| 
as  affording  them  the  best  opportunity  to  prove  their  devotion 
''to  God  and  the  ladies."  Then  were  the  wildest  freaks  enact- 
ed, which  read  like  the  antics  of  a  world  gone  mad.  They 
would  swear  to  keep  one  of  their  ej'es  covered  with  a  piece  of 
black  cloth,  so  that  they  could  not  see  with  it,  until  they  had 
performed  some  deed  of  arms. It  They  would  vow  to  wear 
heavy  chains  upon  the  left  arm  every  Sunday  ;  swear  not  to 
sleep  in  a  bed  ;  to  take  nothing  to  eat  or  drink,  except  three 
sups  of  wine  in  honor  of  the  holy  trinity  ;  not  to  undress  till  a 
city  was  taken  ;  the  Chevaliers  of  the  Star  vowed  not  to  remove 
in  battle  more  than  four  acres  from  the  spot  where  they  last 
combatted,  which  imprudent  vow  caused  the  destruction  of  the 
order  which  swore  it.|  The  most  extraordinary  vows  were 
those  which  were  sworn  upon  a  pheasant,  a  peacock,  or  a  heron. 
There  is  in  the  library  of  Berne,  Switzerland,  J  J  an  old  French 
manuscript  entitled,  ''Le  voeu  du  heron,"  which,  judging  from 
internal  evidence,  was  written  in  the  fourteenth  or  fifteenth 
century.  I  have  ventured  upon  a  translation  of  this  literary 
curiosity,  and  will  read  it  to  jou,  because  it  furnishes  us  with 
a  graphic  representation  of  the  manners  of  the  time  ;  and  be- 
cause concurring  as  it  does  with  historic  facts,  it  has  attained 
a  degree  of  probability  which  amounts  to  certainty. §  Nothing 
appears  more  revolting  than  the  vow  of  the  queen  of  England  ; 
but  the  ancient  manners  were  atrocious,  and  inspired  ideas  and 
sentiments  which  cause  us  to  shudder  at  their  ferocity. §§ 


*  Hist,  litteraire  des  Troubadours,  1. 11.  **  Ludovic  Lalanne,  Curiosities 
des  Traditions,  131.  t  Mem.  Chev.  I.  84.  ff  Froissart,  I.  Chap.  28.  JSis- 
mondi,  7.  21.     JJ  Palaye,  Memories  sur  L'ancienne  Chevalerie,  III.  119. 

§  Ibid.,  III.  20.     §§  ibid.,  III.  18. 


28 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1338,  Edward  the  Third,  king  of 
England,  held  plenary  court,  sitting  in  the  midst  of  barons  ;  his 
features  wore  a  distracted  and  gloomy  air  ;  his  head  was  bowed 
upon  his  breast,  and  the  thoughts  which  occupied  his  spirits 
were  not  those  of  love.  At  the  same  time  Robert  D'Artois, 
banished  from  France  and  a  refugee  in  London,  went  out  to 
enjoy  the  pleasure  of  the  chase.  His  hawk,  which  he  held  on 
his  wrist  perceived  a  heron,  and  darting  upward,  seized  its  prey 
and  bore  it  to  his  master.  Eobert  was  ashamed  of  so  vile  a 
capture  ;  but  having  reflected  a  moment,  he  bethought  himself 
that  he  might  make  it  useful  in  his  projects  of  vengeance.  He 
detached  the  heron  from  the  claws  of  the  bird  and  gave  it  to 
his  cook  to  remove  the  feathers  and  roast  it ;  after  this  was 
done  Robert  placed  it  between  two  silver  dishes,  and  then  bore 
it  to  the  palace  of  Edward,  followed  by  three  minstrels  and  two 
noble  damsels  who  joined  the  accents  of  their  voices  to  the 
symphony  of  the  musicians.  Entering  the  hall,  he  addressed 
the  chevaliers  saying:  "I  come  for  the  purpose  of  inviting  you 
to  make,  on  this  heron,  vows  worthy  of  your  valor.  It  is  as 
you  know,  the  meanest  and  most  fearful  of  birds,  being  fright- 
ened even  at  its  own  shadow.  For  this  reason  it  is  that  I  am 
going  to  offer  it  to  the  most  cowardly-  of  men."  Then  the  count 
turned  toward  Edward  and  presented  the  heron  to  him  as  the 
price  of  his  indiflference  to  the  crown  of  France  which  he  weakly 
abandoned  to  the  power  of  his  rival.  Stung  by  this  reproach, 
the  king  trembled  with  anger  and  protested  that  a  year  should 
not  pass  away  without  Philip  seeing  him  upon  his  lands  in 
France,  with  fire  and  sword  in  his  hands,  to  revenge  the  affront 
which  had  been  put  upon  him  ;  even  though  the  French  opposing 
should  consist  of  an  army  ten  times  more  numerous  than  his 
own.  Robert  dissimulating  his  joy  smiled  maliciously,  and 
congratulated  himself  upon  his  first  success. 

Then  complaining  of  having  been  unjustly  treated  by  Philip, 
after  all  the  services  which  he  had  rendered  him,  he  engaged  to 
enter  Edward's  army  and  thus  revenge  the  injuries  and  wrongs 
which  he  had  suffered.  He  then  took  the  dishes  of  silver  fol- 
lowed by  his  fiddlers,  who  accompanied  with  the  sound  of  their 
instruments  the  voices  of  the  damsels.     The  count  crossed  the 


29 

hall  and  addressed  himself  to  the  earl  of  Salisbury,  who  was 
desperately  in  love  with  the  daughter  of  the  earl  of  Derby,  and 
invited  him  as  the  bravest  and  most  amorous  of  that  assembl}-, 
to  give  an  example  to  the  others,  and  pronounce  his  vow  on  the 
heron.  "With  all  my  heart,"  responded' Salisbury' :  "If  the 
Virgin  Mary  were  here  in  person,  and  if  she  would  consent  to 
despoil  herself  of  her  divinity,  to  dispute  the  prize  of  beauty 
with  her  I  love,  I  know  not  to  whom  I  should  yield  the  prefer- 
ence, and  much  fear  I  should  not  be  willing  to  make  an  ex- 
change ;  but  what  motive  can  more  strongly  induce  me  to  exhibit 
my  valor  to  its  full  extent  than  the  hope  of  obtaining  the  willing 
smiles  of  that  beaut}'  for  wh(»m  I  shall  ever  glory  in  bearing 
arms,  though  impatient  to  obtain  the  boon  which  she  heartlessly 
refuses.  I  demand  from  her  to-day  onl}-  one  favor,  that  she  will 
lend  me  a  finger  of  her  beautiful  hand  ;  and  that  she  will  deign 
to  place  it  on  my  right  eye,  in  such  a  manner  that  it  may  be 
entirely  closed."  The  lady  instead  of  one  finger,  extended  two, 
and  closed  the  e^'e  so  effectuall}-  that  he  was  quite  unable  to  see 
out  of  it.  Then  the  chevalier  swore  never  to  open  that  eye  till 
he  should  have  entered  France,  and  to  uphold  the  rights  of  Ed- 
ward, had  fought  witli  Philip's  army  ranged  in  order  of  battle. 

The  count  of  Artois  then  called  the  daughter  of  the  generous 
Derby,  and  invited  her  to  concur  in  the  vow  made  on  the  heron, 
for  the  defense  of  the  rights  of  the  king  of  England.  The  noble 
maiden  then  promised  to  listen  to  the  pleadings  of  no  other  lord, 
till  the  vow  of  her  lover  should  be  accomplished.  At  these 
words  the  heart  of  the  amorous  chevalier  was  transported  with 
new  courage  and  he  felt  animated  with  J03'. 

Impatient  to  satisfy  his  vengeance,  Robert  then  took  up  the 
heron  again  and  presented  it  to  Walter  de  Manny.  That  brave 
chevalier,  in  order  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  honor  and  to  prove 
himself  worthy  of  the  heroes  who  had  furnished  him  with  such 
brilliant  examples,  promised,  by  the  holy  virgin,  to  reduce  to 
cinders  a  cit}'  surrounded  by  marshes,  defended  by  strong  forti- 
fications, and  of  which  Codemar  de  Fay  had  been  for  a  long 
time  the  governor ;  it  should  be  overthrown  and  the  garrison 
slain.  "I  undertake,"  said  DeMann}-,  "to  return  safe  and 
sound,  without  the  least  wound,  and  will  bring  off*  in  the  same 


30 


manner  the  valiant  warriors  who  enter  with  me."  As  for  the 
rest,  I  throw  m3'self  into  the  hands  of  God,  who  alone  can  give 
me  success  and  enable  me  to  fulfil  this  vow.  Robert  then  called 
upon  the  earl  of  Derby,  and  requested  him  to  swear  as  the  oth- 
ers had  done.  He  acquiesced  and  said  :  "If  the  king  of  Eng- 
land take  us  to  the  realm  of  France,  we  shall  see  there  that 
formidable  count  of  Flanders,  for  I  make  oath  to  seek  him 
especially,  to  advance  near  enough  to  propose  a  joust,  and  if  I 
am  not  able  to  force  him  to  it,  I  will  revenge  myself  by  burning 
before  his  ej'es  the  country  in  which  he  dares  to  show  himself." 

The  count  of  Artois  caused  his  minstrels  to  redouble  their 
energies,  and  the  ladies  began  to  dance  in  order  still  more  to 
excite  the  ardor  of  the  heroes.  Again,  taking  the  heron,  Rob- 
ert called  the  chevalier  Faquemont  and  invited  him  to  swear 
that  he  would  cover  himself  anew  with  glory  in  the  quarrel  be- 
tween the  two  kings.  "To  what  shall  I  engage  myself?  The 
utmost  I.  can  do  to  mark  ni}'  attachment  and  to  prove  myself 
faithful  to  honor,  is  to  promise,  and  I  now  swear  that  if  the 
English  king  enters  France  by  the  wa}'  of  Cambresis,  3-ou  shall 
see  me  first  at  the  head  of  his  vanguard,  fronting  the  enemy, 
bearing  revenge,  arson  and  murder  ;  sparing  neither  pregnant 
women,  nor  infants,  nor  old  men,  nor  churches,  nor  altars."  At 
the  sound  of  these  haughty  words,  the  assembly  was  enthusiastic 
in  the  the  plaudits  which  it  bestowed  upon  him  who  had  shown 
such  zeal  for  the  honor  of  his  master. 

Last  of  all,  Robert  of  Artois  approached  the  queen  and  desi- 
red her  to  give  utterance  to  her  desires.  "Vassal,"  said  she, 
''bound  by  the  sacred  ties  of  marriage,  I  cannot  make  any  en- 
gagement without  the  authoritj'  and  express  commandment  of 
ray  lord,  who  can  confirm  or  annul  it  at  his  pleasure."  "Let 
that  be  no  obstacle,"  said  Edward,  "make  whatever  vow  you 
please,  I  ratify  it  in  advance  ;  and  may  the  mother  of  God  aid 
3-ou."  Then  the  queen  with  a  firm  voice  said  ;  "I  am  pregnant, 
I  cannot  doubt  it,  I  feel  the  infant  within  me  ;  I  swear  then  to 
God,  and  to  the  holy  Virgin,  that  this  precious  fruit  of  our  union 
shall  never  remove  from  my  womb,  until  you  have  conducted 
me  bej'ond  the  sea  for  the  accomplishment  of  your  own  vows  : 
if  there  shall  be  infallible  signs    of  the    near   approach    of  my 


31 

child's  birth,  belbre  tlie  time  I  have  prescribed,  this  dagger  with 
which  1  am  armed,  I  will  plunge  into  my  Hank  and  destroy  at 
one  stroke,  both  my  child  and  my  own  sonl."*  The  king  made 
hasty  preparations  for  departure  and  soon  arrived  at  the  low 
countries,  and  there  the  queen  gave  birth  to  a  male  child,  who 
received  the  name  of ''The  Lion  of  Antwerp." 

Such  were  the  men  and  women,  the  manners  and  customs  of 
this  terrible  time  ;  a  time  iu  which,  for  my  part,  I  can  see  very 
little  to  admire,  but  very  much  to  hate.  It  was  an  age  when  the 
wildest  frenzies  spread  with  all  the  fury  of  a  pestilence  and  with 
consequences  scarcely  less  pernicious  and  deplorable.  Plagues 
revelled  in  the  tilth  of  poverty,  blasted  the  air  of  the  country, 
and  left  the  cities  almost  tenantless.  It  was  an  age  when  thick 
darkness  hung  over  the  world  ;  when  witches  rode  through  the 
air  on  broom-sticks  and  brewed  hurricanes  in  their  infernal  caul- 
drons ;  an  age  of  sorcery  and  succuba  ;  when  devils  were  the 
daily  companions  of  men  ;  when  tyranny  was  a  law,  and  perse- 
cution a  religion. 

Now  and  then  there  was  a  lull  in  the  storm,  a  ray  of  hope 
flashed  for  a  moment  through  the  driving  clouds.  Now  and 
then  a  light  was  borne  aloft  by  some  intrepid  guide  who  boldly 
ventured  out  into  the  darkness  and  tempest  of  that  furious  time 
to  find  a  way  that  should  lead  the  world  to  a  brighter  future. 
But  that  guide  was  generally  confronted  by  the  powers  which 
were  travelling  in  the  exactly  opposite  direction  ;  his  little  light 
was  rudely  snatched  away,  and  only  served  to  ignite  the  faggots 
which  were  gathered  to  consume  him.  Such  was  the  fate  of 
nearly  every  one  who  ventured  to  lighten  the  load  of  life  and 
make  the  burden  of  misery  less  intolerable.  The  work  of  "pious 
combustion"  went  on  from  the  year  of  our  Lord  304,  till  the  close 
of  the  year  17^<l.t  The  people  struggled  again  and  again,  to 
break  the  chains  which  bound  them  to  the  principalities  and 
powers  which  could  see  no  better  use  for  the  best  of  men  than 
to  make  bonfires  of  them,  or  to  qualify  them  for  Procrustes'  bed. 

The  highwaymen  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  Macheaths, 
the  Dnvals,  the  Macleans  and  the  Flemings,    were  the   modern 


*  Memoires  sur  L'ancieniic  Chevalrie.     Tome  III.  1--15.     f  Man.  Dates, 
Alban  was  burned,  304.     A  nun  at  Seville  Nov.  7,  1781.  pp.  103  107. 


32 

representatives  of  chivalry.  These  knights  of  the  road  would 
have  placed  their  pistols  at  your  head  with  a  courteous  apology 
and  have  left  you  purse-less  with  a  gallant  bow.  To  be  chival- 
rous was  not  to  be  honorable,  to  be  knightly  was  not  to  be  good. 
Those  terms  are  never  used  to  express  these  attributes,  except 
by  persojis  who  aim  at  sound  rather  than  sense,  and  who  strive 
to  please  the  ear  and  charm  the  fancy  by  the  jingle  of  the 
brassy  adjectives.  Those  terms  fail  to  signify  the  sterling  qual- 
ities which  constitute  the  gentleman  ;  ''That  grand  old  name, 
defamed  by  every  charlatan,  and  soiled  by  all  ignoble  use." 

It  may  be  urged  that  that  age  was  a  different  one  from  the 
present,  and  that  they  who  lived  in  it  should  be  measured  by  a 
different  standard.  But  when  human  beings  are  held  up  as  fit- 
ting objects  for  our  respect  and  approval,  we  must  estimate 
them  by  the  rule  which  we  possess,  or  the  objects  lose  all  the 
force  of  example.  We  have  a  right  to  protest  against  an  inch 
being  called  a  foot,  and  against  being  told  that  we  ought  to 
to  admire  the  extent  of  anything  measured.  There  must  be 
some  limit  to  appreciation  or  the  word  itself  has  no  significance. 
For  this  reason,  no  eulogist  of  the  past  can  justly  tind  fault  with 
us,  if  we  insist  upon  limiting  our  approbation  to  something  whicli 
shall  be  on  this  side  of  barbarism.  Yet  there  are  persons  who 
are  never  tired  of  saying  that  chivalry  lent  a  charm  to  the  inter- 
course between  the  sexes,  and  shed  a  refining  influence  through- 
out civilization  ;  but  when  men  are  murderers  of  the  defenceless 
and  violators  of  every  principle  of  justice,  it  ill  becomes  any 
one  to  claim  that  such  creatures  taught  the  world  the  tender 
graces  that  adorn  society.  Their  courtesy  is  not  of  the  right 
breed.  Humanity  is  insulted  by  brutality's  compliment.  The 
posession  of  a  certain  degree  of  refinement  actually  increases 
our  detestation.  We  are  as  much  disgusted  at  being  told  that 
these  chevaliers  were  polite,  as  if  we  were  informed  of  cannibals 
who  were  fastidious  about  napkin  and  table-cloth. 


m> 


33 

At  the  regular  meeting,  Feb.  Ttli,  thirty  members 
mid  visitors  were  present.  A  letter  was  read  from 
Hon.  Henry  P.  Upham  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  accepting 
membership  in  this  Society,  and  enclosing  his  check 
for  $100,  to  paj^  his  admission  as  a  life  member,  and 
the  })alance  to  be  applied  for  current  expenses,  print- 
ing, etc.  The  thanks  of  the  Society  was  voted  for 
the  gift. 

Mr.  Addison  Prentiss  read  an  interesting  sketch 
of  tlie  early  history  and  present  condition  of  New- 
foundland. Mr.  S.  E.  Staples  gave  a  sketch  of  per- 
sonal observations  in  libraries,  museums  &c.,  during 
a  recent  visit  to  New  York. 

At  the  meeting  March  7th,  32  members  and  visit- 
ors were  present.  Gen.  Josiah  Picket  and  Major 
Frederick  G.  Stiles,  both  of  Worcester,  were  elected 
to  active  membership.  Charles  R.  Johnson  Esq., 
read  a  carefully  prepared  and  interesting  paper  on 
"Some  Recent  Discoveries  in  Egypt  and  Assyria." 
It  was  followed  by  an  interesting  discussion  on  the 
character,  accuracy  and  value  of  current  archajologi- 
cal  discussions. 

The  April  meeting  was  held  on  the  4th  inst.,  with 
25  members  and  visitors  present.  Herbert  Wesby 
of  Worcester  was  elected  to  active  membership. 
Among  the  accessions  reported  by  the  Librarian, 
was  a  copy  of  Cotton  Mather's  "Magnalia,"  by  Mr. 
David  S.  Messenger,  and  a  copy  of  Miss  Ellen  D. 
Larned's  "History  of  Windham  County,  Conn.,"  by 
the  author,  for  whirli  the  SocictN    voted    its   thanks. 


34 

The  President  alluded  to  the  recent  visit  to  this  city 
of  a  delegation  of  the  Zuni  Indians,  and  interesting 
remarks  upon  their  history  were  made,  by  President 
Crane,  and  Messrs.  Henry  M.  Smith,  Alfred  S.  Roe, 
Nathaniel  Paine,  and  the  Secretary. 

Mr.  Alfred  S.  Roe  read  the  following  sketch  of  the 
life  of  Rev.  Levi  Pillsbury  of  Winchendon,  Mass., 
and  presented  the  Society  with  a  quantity  of  his 
manuscripts,  a  diary,  sermons,  etc. 

REV.  LEVI  PILLSBURY. 


By  ALFRED  S.  ROE. 


There  are  few  manuscripts  that  are  not  worth}-  of  preservation 
and,  especiall}',  if  they  have  escaped  the  hand  of  the  destroyer 
for  more  than  fifty  j^ears,  they  ought  to  pass  into  keeping  where 
the}'  will  probably  be  taken  care  of.  This  was  ray  though  when 
I  rescued  a  bundle  of  old  papers  from  that  insatiable  ma^v,  (at 
an}'  rate  insatiable  as  far  as  literary  matters  are  concerned)  the 
paper  mill. 

LTndoing  the  ancient  green  string  that  confined  the  papers, 
I  found  myself  in  possession  of  a  mass  of  sermons  preached,  at 
the  beginning  of  this  century,  by  the  Rev.  Levi  Pillsbury  at 
"W,"  an  initial  which  1  subsequently  found  stood  for  Winchen- 
don, Mass.  Accompanying  the  bundle,  or  included  in  it,  was 
a  manuscript  journal,  left  by  the  clergynan  when  he  was  a  stu- 
dent in  Dartmouth  college,  whence  he  graduated  in  17!).s.  This 
journal  contains  abstracts  of  many  sermons,  heard  by  him. 
several  essays  and  poems  read  in  class,  a  catalogue  of  books  in 
the  college  library  in  his  day  and  many  pious  reflections,  the 
same  continuing  down  to  nearly  the  date  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1819. 


35    . 

Tlu'  seriiious  are  not  written  out  in  lull  ;  but  are  simply  the 
headings  of  his  discourses  and  give  us  a  verj'  good  idea  of  the 
ability  of  the  preacher.  I  suppose  many  would  call  them  "•skele- 
tons" u[)on  which  the  preacher  lays  the  tiesh  as  he  addresses  his 
hearers.  They  are  eighty-<nu'  in  number,  besides  one  frag- 
ment. 8ome  of  them  seemed  to  be  especial  favorites  of  the 
clergyman,  having  been  preached  many  times,  and  on  one  I  find 
no  less  than  fourteen  dates,  he  having  preached  it  repeatedl}- in 
Winchendon  and  once,  at  least,  in  all  the  surrounding  towns. 
These  abstracts  range  in  years  from  1802  to  1819  on  the  Feb- 
ruary preceding  his  death. 

Having  had  my  curiosity  piqued  to  know  more  of  this  man, 
into  whose  inner  life  I  had  been  looking  as  I  read  the  words  so 
earnestly  expressed  more  than  seventy  years  ago,  I  turned  first 
to  my  Triennial  of  Dartmouth  College.  By  the  way,  the  preach- 
er's name  does  not  occur  in  the  papers  from  beginning  to  end, 
but  on  one  page  he  mentions  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  his 
father  informing  him  of  the  death  of  his  sister,  Hannah  Pillsburj'. 
The  dates  given  along  led  me  to  look  in  the  catalogue  for  a 
Pillsbury,  and  there  I  find  a  Levi  Pillsbury,  in  italics,  conse- 
quently, a  preacher,  who  died  in  1819.  Some  of  the  sermons 
had  l)een  preached  in  Rindge  N.  H.  So  seeking  his  name  in 
the  history  of  Rindge  I  find  that  Rev.  Seth  Payson  of  Rindge 
in  LSI  9  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  the  Rev.  Levi  Pillsbury 
of  Winchendon.  My  subject  was  located.  A  trip  to  the  Anti- 
quarian Hall  was  next  in  order  and  in  Ezra  H3'de's  histor}'  of 
Winchendon  I  find  the  following  in  connection  with  church 
affairs  : 


& 


''After  a  space  of  about  one  year  and  six  months,  Rev.  Levi 
Pillsbury,  educated  at  Dartmouth  College,  took  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  church.  He  w^as  ordained  June  24,  1801.  He  con- 
tinued his  lal)ors  till  the  period  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
April  ;'),  1S]!».  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age,  and  18th  of  his 
minisfjy." 

That  he  was  a  careful  painstaking  pastor  is  evidenced  by  what 
follows  in  the  narrative  which  professes  to  have  been  written 
for  the  edification  of  the  youth  of  Winchendon  and  the  adjoin- 
ing towns  : 


36 

"Mr.  Pillshnry's  lal)ors  were  greatly  blessed  to  this  people; 
and  there  are  iiiaiiy  now  who  hold  his  luune  in  allectionate  re- 
inenil)rance.  During!:  his  ministry  the  church  and  people  enjoy- 
ed a  good  degree  of  prosperity.  There  were  one  or  two  power- 
ful (though  they  cannot,  i)erhaps,  be  considered  extensive  or 
general)  revivals  of  religion,  which  are  now  remenibei-ed  wilh 
lively  interest  b}'  the  older  members  of  the  church.  During 
the  second  year  of  his  ministry,  twenty  or  more  were  added 
to  the  church  by  recommendation  and  original  profession." 

Turning  from  Hyde  to  Marvin,  I  lind  in  the  hitler's  history 
many  items,  from  which  I  cull  the  ibllowing : 

In  town  mei'ting  March  K!,  l«Ol  it  was  "Voted  to  give  Mr. 
Levi  Pillsbury  $100,  for  his  annual  salary,  so  long  as  he  shall 
continue  to  be  our  public  teacher  of  piety,  religion  and  morality, 
the  said  Mr.  Pillslyur^'  relinquishing  all  claims  to  miiiistei-ial 
lands  and  rents  belonging  to  said  t<nvn."  One  hundred  dollars 
was  voted  to  defray  expenses  of  ordination. 

Winchendon  was  strongh'  Federal  in  politics,  sometimes  the 
Federal  candidate  receiving  every  vote  cast  and  always  a  large 
majority.  The  minister  was  Republican  or  a  folh^wer  of  Jeffer- 
son and  his  school.  This  difference  n)ade  pastor  and  peopU- 
pull  in  opposfte  directions,  and  in  ISOT  an  attempt  was  made  to 
sever  their  mutual  relations.  .  On  the  1th  of  May  a  counnittcc 
was  appointed  to  converse  with  the  ministei-  and  cndcMvoi'  to 
bring  about  a  conciliation,  or  in  other  words  to  make  him  change 
his  politics.  Then  it  was  voted  to  endeavor  to  bring  about  a 
separation.  On  the  loth  of  June  Mr.  Pillsbury  sent  in  his  letter. 
which  is  not  on  rec^ord.  On  the  2'.)th  of  June  the  town  \(;ted 
whether  the  services  of  Mr.  Pillsbui-y  slioidd  be  iclained. 

As  I  have  stated,  Marvin  says  that  the  letter  is  not  on  rei-ord  ; 
but  in  these  pajjcrs  I  find  a  half  sheet  closely  written  in  wliicli 
the  preacher  very  clearly  defines  his  position.  Without  quoting- 
much  from  it,  sullice  it  to  say,  that  he  consents  to  give  U[)  his 
position  provided  the  town  will  settle  all  arrearages  of  salary 
and  pay  him  seven  hundred  dollars  for  tiie  laiin  on  which  he 
lives  and  upon  which  he  has  made  many  improvements.  It  i.s 
impossible  to  say  whether  this  ultimatum  of  money  influenced 
the  subsequent  vote  or  not,  but  the  vote  stood  Al  to  44  in  Mr. 
Pilsbury's  favor  and  Federal  Christians  had  to  take  their  reli- 
gion from  Republican  lips. 


37 

111  LSI  1  the  trouhlo  lirokc  fortli  :i<iaiii,  tlic  clerg}  iiiau  warmly 
suppurtiiig  the  ponoral  <2;ovei'nmeiit  in  tlie  war  against  Great 
Britain,  while  tlu'  people  seeondcd  (Ion.  Strong  in  his  opposi- 
tion. In  the  warrant  occiirrod  this  sentence  ;  "'Whether  any 
alteration  ean  he  nia(h'  wiiieh  will  render  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  this  town  more  nseliil."  In  town  meeting  it  was 
voted  that  the  preaching  of  the  gosi)el  in  this  place  can  be  ren- 
dered more  nseful  hy  each  individual  attending  more  strictly  to 
the  duties  it  enjoins,  and  the  minister  was  directed  to  abstain 
from  disseminating  from  the  pulpit  the  principles  which  are  not 
contained  in  the  gospel.  Mr.  Pillsbury  was  strictly  orthodox, 
liut  his  non-gospel  doctrines  were  those  of  Jefferson,  Madison, 
ct  ill.     Thenceforward  the  minister  was  unmolested. 

On  his  sudden  decease  in  1819  the  town  votecl  to  pay  the 
funeral  charges  and  to  purchase  suitable  mourning  articles  for 
his  family.  On  the  lOth  of  INI  ay  the  town  voted  to  pay  the  bill 
presented.  It  inchided  Ix'sides  the  usual  articles  of  flour,  sugar, 
nfeat,  pay  for  horses  and  li(juorp,  such  as  brandy  and  West 
India  rum,  "Hi  nnigs  of  toddy  delivered  to  the  music,  costing 
$4,  and  $3  for  the  committee."  There  was  $30  worth  of  ap- 
parel. The  collin  cost  S4, — above  the  usual  price.  Though 
the  funeral  oceuri'ed  in  April,  the  7th  or  8th,  there  was  paid  to 
men  for  rum  and  sugar  in  shoveling  snow  from  the  road  $1,54  ; 
cigars  $.U). 

The  picture  which  the  al)ove  items  jjresent  is  well  worth  our 
inspection,  the  vn\\\  consumed  liy  the  singers  and  music  com- 
mittee costing  more  than  the  cotlin  in  which  the  dead  divine  was 
lying.  Some  of  our  sighers  for  the  "good  old  times"  ought 
to  be  obliiied  to  i>aze  on  this  scene  <iil  nauseam.  All  honor  to 
that  old  hero*  of  our  city,  in  age  verging  a  lunidred,  who  first 
raised  his  voice  against  such  courses.  Before  we  have  much  more 
to  say  about  the  "wakes"  held  by  a  certain  nationality  let  us  re- 
member that  ire  are  not  fifty  years  away  from  time  when  the  rites 
for  the  dead  were  sometimes  turned  into  bacchanalian  revels. 

The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Seth  Payson 
of  Hind<>-e,  N.  II..  and  we  may  conclude  that  the   weather  as 


*  Rev.  George  Allen. 


38 

well  as  the  drinking  habits  was  decidedly  old  fashioned  as  we 
read  the  item  of  snow  shoveling.  On  the  15th  of  August  follow- 
ing, the  town  voted  $15  to  purchase  tomb-stones  for  its  deceased 
minister.  Four  j-ears  later,  these  having  been  broken,  the  town 
procured  others.  Later  still  his  children  have  set  up  an  elegant 
monument. 

"His  death  bed  was  calm  and  serene,  and  being  asked  what 
directions  he  wished  to  leave  in  relation  to  his  family,  he  rei)lied, 
'Follow  the  leadings  of  Providence.'  His  ministry  came  in 
time  to  save  the  church  from  the  experience  of  many  others  in  the 
Commonwealth  which  lapsed  into  some  form  of  Unitarianism." 

In  1804  he  withdrew  from  the  Westminster  Association  and 
in  1806  joined  that  of  Worcester  which  met  at  Kev,  Samuel 
Austin's  in  Worcester.  This  Association  has  always  been  noted 
for  its  strict  adherance  to  early  Congregational  usages.  1  find 
that  he  was  opposed  to  the  "half  way  covenant"  which  did  so 
much  towards  unsettling  firm  religious  faith  in  New  England. 

An  incident  given  of  his  perseverance  leads  one  to  think  that 
he  must  have  come  from  the  same  stock  as  that  veteran  Aboli- 
tionist, Parker  Pillsbur}'. 

In  1807,  towards  the  last  of  March,  Mr.  Pillsbury  and  Dr. 
Whiton  struggled  through  the  snow  to  the  meeting-house,  some- 
times on  the  top  of  the  wall.  No  one  else  was  there,  and  they 
returned  in  the  same  way.  Then  too  his  attitude,  when  assault- 
ed b}'  the  Federal  party,  partakes  much  of  that  heroic  stubborn- 
ness that  seems  characteristic  of  the  name. 

So  much  as  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  this  man.  Now  let  us  see 
what  his  Journal  contains.  I  turn  over  many  abstracts  of  ser- 
mons and  disquisitions  on  Edwards,  the  will,  and  Hopkins  till 
I  come  to  an  essay  on  education,  read  before  his  college  class 
in  1796.     He  begins, 

"'Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind, 
Just  as  the  twig  is  bent  the  tree's  inclined." 

It  is  realh'  a  sermon  under  the  guise  of  an  essay.  The  man 
was  a  born  preacher,  as  he  shows  in  his  method  of  illustrati<;>u 
and  arrangement.  The  same  subject  has  been  a  stock  theme 
for  ages.     Then  follows  a  quotation  from  Pope's  translation   of 


39 

the  Iliad.  Immediately,  we  stumble  upon  a  form  for  the  bap- 
tism of  children,  and  then  like  Mr.  Wegg  we  drop  into  verse  as 
follows  : 

ON  THE  MIND. 

"Immortal  miud !     How  quick  it  runs 
By  fixed  stars  which  may  be  suns, 
And  in  an  instant  seems  to  trace 
The  vast  expanse  of  empty  space. 

'Tis  not  like  planets  which  do  run 
And  make  their  orbits  'round  the  sun 
More  like  the  comets  which  do  fly 
In  all  directions  through  the  sky. 

The  natural  mind,  in  every  station 
Desires  to  gain  the  whole  creation, 
And  could  it  all  the  world  obtain 
'T  would  still  be  seeking  after  gain." 

This  effusion  was  composed  and  spoken  in  1797.  His  poem 
on  the  "Nature  of  Things"  is  quite  too  didactic  for  quotation 
here,  but  this  of  two  stanzas,  spoken  in  College  Chapel  July  6, 
1797,  we  venture  to  give  : 

"In  every  paper  and  every  book 

I  've  ransacked  well  and  pains  have  took 

To  find  a  piece,  ■which  in  our  age 

Has  not  been  spoken  on  the  stage. 

But  all  in  vain !      My  time  is  lost 
I  've  nothing  found  that  pays  the  cost, 
For  everything  that's  good  or  queer 
Has  first  or  last,  been  spoken  here." 

We  are  next  favored  with  a  long  essay,  read  before  the  Theo- 
logical Society  ;  but  it  is  quite  too  heavy  for  us.  He  gives  his 
notions  of  being  called  to  preach,  believing  that  men  were  as 
much  inspired  by  that  divine  mission  in  his  day  as  in  the  da^'s 
of  Christ.  Next,  he  proves  Hopkinsia)nsm  to  be  Arminianism 
by  metaphysics  ;  he  discourses  on  the  unknowable  and  fore- 
knowledge. He  defines  Democracy  as  supreme  power  lodged 
in  the  people  ;  in  the  hands  of  wise  men,  Aristocracy,  He 
quotes  i.  e.  writes  at  length  from  Rollin,  so  I  may  conclude  that 


40 

in  early  life  he  did  not  possess  the  works  of  the  great  French- 
man, but  copied  when  he  had  a  chance.  He  describes  the  three 
Greek  feasts  of  Athena),  Bacchus  and  Eleusis.  He  transcribes 
an  essay  "Does  the  mind  act  continually?"  read  before  the  class 
in  1797.  In  monosyllabic  distinctness  I  find  the  heading  "Hell" 
"A  place  of  punishment,  wherein  the  wicked  are  to  receive  the 
reward  of  their  evil  deeds  after  this  life."  Mr.  Pillsbury  does 
not  tell  us  what  he  thinks  about  it ;  but  he  does  say  that  Mr. 
Whiston  thinks  that  comets  are  so  many  hells,  and  Mr.  8wiu- 
den  thinks  the  sun  itself  may  be  a  local  hell  because  it  is  con- 
tinually burning.  He  gives  a  long  discourse  on  the  subject  of 
oratory,  mainly  from  lectures  delivered  in  college.  He  adduces 
nothino-  new.  I  will  confess  my  own  inability  to  follow  some  of 
the  theological  reasoning  as  when  he  tries  to  prove  baptize'd 
children  to  be  holy.  A  history  of  the  church  of  Rome  before 
the  Reformation  and  "How  the  Reformation  was  brought  into 
England"  he  compresses  into  less  than  four  pages  of  his  MS. 

He  takes  occasion  to  hit  the  Anabaptists  a  rap,  showing,  as 
he  thinks,  the  inconsistency  of  their  professions.  One  passage 
is  headed  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Bradford's  Church  Covenant,  rer.d 
to  me  Nov.  25,  1798,"  Hereupon  follows  a  most  interesting 
account  of  his  own  spiritual  progress  from  a  condition  of  indif- 
ference to  a  most  complete  reliance  on  the  saving  mercies  of  Je- 
sus Christ.  Were  it  not  for  a  seeming  violation  of  confidence,  1 
would  quote  it  in  full ;  but  words  written  for  other  times  and 
other  men  and,  apparently,  so  thoroughly  sincere,  1  cannot 
bring  myself  to  transcribe.  He  appends  to  this  part  the  date. 
Nov.  2.5,  1798,  and  his  initials  L.  P. 

Here  is  a  poem  made  to  be  spoken  at  the  dedication  of  the 
Rowley  school  house,  Nov.  29,  1798. 

1 

My  fellow  students,  one  and  all 
Rejoice  to  leave  that  smoky  hall, 
The  old  school-house,  I  mean  and  say 
Where  we  have  studied  many  a  day. 

2 
Where  lads  and  lasses  often  met 
And  some  half  froze,  some  in  a  sweat, 


41 

In  such  a  crowd  not  one  to  ten 
Could  read  or  write  or  mend  a  pen. 

3 

But  here's  the  place,  oh  this  is  meet 
Where  every  boy  may  have  a  seat, 
Where  smoke  our  eyes  can  never  spoil 
Oh  this  is  something  worth  the  while. 

4 
Hail  happy  seats  !  what  pretty  things, 
More  pleasing  than  the  court  of  kings, 
And  here  let  girls  and  boys  unite 
In  all  their  studies  and  delight. 

5 

And  if  you  think  it  not  too  nice 
I'll  give  you  some  of  my  advice ; 
Cut  not  your  books  nor  your  seat 
But  always  keep  them  clean  and  neat. 

He  next,  under  thirteen  heads,  draws  a  parallel  between 
physical  and  moral  ailment,  endeavoring  to  show  how  each,  if 
taken  in  time,  may  be  cnred.  Omitting  several  qnotations  from 
Dr.  Rush  and  the  comments  of  a  Mr.  Davis  on  carousals  on 
Christmas  day,  I  find  this  llnal  entry  : 

"Nov.  14,  1815.  Received  a  letter  from  my  Hon.  Father, 
Canaan,  which  brings  the  melanchol}'  tidings  that  my  dear  sis- 
ter, Hannah  Pillsbnry,  is  no  more.  She  married  to  Capt.  Dan- 
iel Pillsburry  and  moved  to  Brownsville  Pennsylvania,  and  died 
in  August,  ISls,  of  a  nervous  fever,  aged  26.  'Surely  all  flesh 
is  grass  and  the  goodness  of  man  as  the  flower  of  the  field  !' 
May  I  have  grace  to  improve  this  event  to  the  glory  of  God." 

Appended  to  this  Journal  is  a  catalogue  of  about  one  half  the 
books  in  Dartmouth  College  Library,  in  the  year  1796.  He 
gives  the  names  of  over  five  hundred  books  and  mentions  as 
many  more  old  books  and  pamphlets.  How  certain  people 
whom  I  know  in  this  Society  would  rejoice  at  a  sight  of  these 
same  old  books  thus  ruthlessly  lumped  olf.  It  is  obvious  that 
in  his  day  there  was  no  printed  catalogue,  else  he  would  not 
have  taken  the  pains  to  write  so  many  names.  A  study  of  the 
titles  is  not  uninteresting,  for  these   books    are   the    ones    that 


42 


Dauiel  Webster  must  have  read,  if  ho  read  any,  while  he  was  in 
college.  AVe  find  Rollin,  Gibbon.  Kobertson  and  the  oWwv 
standard  historians.  Comnientario!?  and  sermons  are  in  great 
abundance.  There  are  some  works  in  Greek  and  Latin  ;  a  very 
little  on  Political  Economy  :  some  on  Botany.  Addison  :nul 
Pope  are  there  ;  Baxter's  Saints'  Everlasting  Rest,  of  eourse. 
In  the  entire  list  I  find  but  one  author  who  can  be  called  a  nov- 
elist, viz.  Fielding.  Me  is  here  in  twelve  volumes.  I  wonder  if 
those  staid  young  men,  provided  our  subject  was  a  fair  example 
of  the  lot,  took  much  pleasure  in  Tom.  Jones  or  the  Adventures 
of  Jonathan  Wild?  John  Wesley  appears  in  '-Original  Sin." 
There  is  very  little  local  history  ;  but  on  the  whole  the  list  is 
what  we  should  very  much  dislike  being  confined  to  unless  the 
<'old  books  and  pamphlets"  turned  out  a  better  lot  than  those 
named.  In  those  days  books  in  order  to  be  ''improving"  umst 
be  of  a  very  select  character  and  their  solidity  was  often  entirely 
lacking  in  elasticity.  Some  of  them  come  down  to  our  day  and 
we  lay  them  up  on  shelves  as  interesting  curiosities  and  wonder 
if  people  ever  really  read  such  queer  things. 

I  have  followed  the  manuscript  of  this  clergyman  from  his 
Alpha  to  his  Omega  and  as  I  have  no  further  use  for  it  and  the 
sermons,  I  take  pleasure  in  presenting  them  to  the  Society. 


43 

A  regular  iiioeting  was  held  May  second,  with  25 
persons  in  attendance.  Thomas  E.  Bartlett  of  Cam- 
bridge, Ma^^s.,  was  elected  a  corresponding  member, 
and  J)r.  C.  Otis  Goodwin  and  Maj.  Edward  T. 
Raymond  of  Worcester  were  elected  to  active  mem- 
bership. Henry  M.  Smith  read  an  interesting  sketch 
of  "Worcester  in  1834,"  which  was  discussed  by 
several  members.  Hon.  Henry  P.  Upham  of  St. 
Panl,  Minn.,  made  a  pleasing  address,  expressing  his 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Society. 

The  meetintr  for  June  was  held  on  the  Gth  inst., 
with  24  persons  present.  Among  the  accessions 
presented  to  the  library  was  a  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  musical  compositions,  by  their  author, 
Mr.  C.  C.  Stearns  of  Worcester,  for  which  the  Society 
voted  its  thanks. 

The  President  was  authorized  and  directed  to 
organize  an  additional  department  in  the  Society,  to 
be  called  ''The  Department  of  Military  History." 

The  Society  voted  to  publish  "The  Records  of  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  for  Worces- 
ter Count v,  from  1731  to  1737,"  to  be  numbered 
X\'III.  of  the  Society's  Publications.  Messrs.  E.  H. 
Thompson,  Franklin  P.  Rice  and  Henry  M.  Smith 
were  appointed  to  arrange  for  the  annual  excursion 
of  the  Societv. 

The  Secretary-,  Henry  L.  Shumway,  read  the  fol- 
lowing paper: — 


AN  OLD-TIME  MINISTER. 


By  henry  L.  SHUMWAY. 


The  men  who  were  influential  in  public  affairs  in  New  England 
in  the  last  quarter  of  the  last  century  are  far  enough  removed 
from  us  to  be  considered  antiquarian.  Science  has  made  such 
rapid  strides  that  their  times  seem  quite  primitive,  and  an  insight 
into  their  thoughts  and  their  everyday  life  is  a  curious  and 
interesting  spectacle.  Of  these  men  none  were  more  influential 
than  the  country  ministers.  They  were  almost  the  only  points 
of  contact  with  literature  and  scholarship,  open  to  the  common 
people,  and  they  had  not  then  lost  their  hold  upon  iniblic 
affairs.  They  were  settled  by  vote  of  the  town,  and  every  man 
of  property  was  taxed  for  their  support ;  and  if  he  staid  away 
from  the  preaching  he  paid  for,  he  was  called  to  a  serious  ac- 
count. If,  being  admonished,  he  persisted  in  his  contumacious 
conduct,  he  was  almost  if  not  quite  ostracized  by  good  society. 
They  were  almost  the  dictators  of  public  opinion,  and  naturally 
grew  to  feel  that  they  possessed  no  little  absolute  authority. 

The  last  quarter  of  the  last  century-  however,  saw  the  begin- 
ning of  a  change  in  the  ministerial  office.  The  people  began  to 
have  olimmerinsfs  of  the  idea  that  there  was  room  in  human 
thought  for  variety  in  religious  opinion,  and  to  think  thjit  reli- 
gion was  not  necessarily  a  matter  to  be  complicated  with  the 
secular  aff'airs  of  every  township.  They  had  not  reached  the 
point  where  thev  denied  the  minister  all  the  rights  he  claimed 
in  his  pulpit  ministrations,  but  they  made  what  were  ultimntely 
successful  objections  to  the  union  of  church  and  town,  whidi  was 
almost  as  burdensome  as  the  union  of  church  and  state  wliich 
their  ancestors  opposed  in  the  Mother  Country.     The  chanoe 


45 

involved  in  the  development  of  these  ideas  "was  not  kindly  re- 
ceived by  the  old-time  ministers.  They  resisted  all  innovations, 
and  fought  a  losing  battle  with  great  pertinacity. 

Among  these  ministers,  many  of  whose  names  are  now  buried 
in  must}*  church-records  and  forgotten,  was  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Chaplin,  minister  of  the  Second  Parish  of  Sutton  in  this  county, 
the  Second  Parish  now  being  the  town  of  Millbury,  and  the 
church  now  being  the  First  Congregational  church,  located  in 
the  village  of  Bramanville.  By  chance  a  mass  of  manuscripts, 
including  a  portion  of  his  diary  during  the  struggle  referred  to 
have  come  under  my  notice  and  excited  my  interest.  Some  of 
his  published  works  have  also  been  preserved,  and  these,  with 
such  brief  biographical  data  as  I  have  been  able  to  gather,  are 
the  basis  of  the  sketch  1  have  to  present  this  evening. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Chaplin  was  ordained  minister  of  the  Second 
Parish  of  Sutton,  Nov  14,  1704,  and  was  dismissed  March  '22, 
1792.  He  removed  to  Hard  wick  about  1803,  and  died  there  Dec. 
13,  1822,  aged  89  years.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in  1763,  and 
received  the  Degree  of  A.  M.  from  his  Alma  Mater  in  1767. 
He  was  delegate  from  Sutton  to  the  convention  which  framed 
the  State  constitution,  and  which  met  at  Cambridge  in  1779. 
Thus  much  written  history  records  of  him.  He  is  also  credited 
with  the  authorship  of  quite  a  list  of  publications,  most  of  which 
are  like  himself  entirely  forgotten. 

Mr.  Chaplin's  largest  work  of  which  any  record  appe:irs  is 
••A  Treatise  on  the  Nature  and  Importance  of  the  Sacraments," 
which  was  printed  by  Daniel  Greenleaf  at  Worcester  in  1802. 
It  is  not  wliat  may  lie  properly  termed  a  rare  book,  but  is  so 
infrequent  that  but  few  even  of  those  who  enjoy  the  dry  theologi- 
cal disquisitions  of  the  last  century  have  ever  seen  it.  Copies 
are  in  the  library  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  and  of 
Harvard  College,  and  I  know  of  two  copies  in  the  libraries  of 
members  of  this  Society.  In  common  with  the  New  England 
orthodoxy  of  his  time,  Mr.  Chaplin  had  what  seems,  to  the  more 
liberal  vision  of  the  present  day.  a  very  severe  prejudice  against 
the  denomination  known  as  the  Baptists,  and  in  the  preface  to 
his  "Treatise"  he  admits  ''the  principal  inducement  to  write 
what  is   here  oti'ered  :  was  findino;  in   several  instances  ;  that 


46 

persons  who,  for  sometime,  had  been  seeking  to  find  the  right 
Way,  as  to  Baptism,  without  satisfaction  ;  were  fully  satisfied 
in  their  minds  ;  on  hearing  me  explain  it."  We  are  not  disap- 
pointed, in  examining  the  volume,  to  find  that  its  larger  portion 
and  its  most  prodigious  argumentation  are  devoted  to  the  de- 
molition of  the  Baptist  doctrines.  The  Treatise  is  a  sizable 
volume  of  nearly  300  pages,  and  it  is  as  dry  as  it  is  possible  for 
such  a  work  to  be,  full  of  detailed  argument  which  will  most 
likely  exhaust  rather  than  interest  and  edify  the  modern  reader. 
As  is  proper  in  a  book  assuming  to  explain  God's  dealings 
with  men,  and  the  causes  which  made  sacraments  a  necessitj-, 
Mr.  Chaplin  begins  at  the  beginning  and  asserts  the  following  : 

"GOD  the  CREATOR  eternally  existed  a  SYSTEM  or  SO- 
CIETY OF  DKITY.  A  Phimlitii  in  Unitu  ;  possessed  of  most 
Perfect,  and  consummate  attributes,  and  Perfections  for  general 
Good.  The  Deity  did  not  exist  in  simple  'persoiiuJity.  For  if 
he  had  ben,  but  a  mere  simple  personality  of  Existence  there 
could  have  been  no  possibilit}',  of  an}*  such  things,  as  are  called 
the  moral  Perfections  of  God.  There  can  be  no  such  thino-  as 
Righteousness,  where  there  is  only,  a  mere  simple  personalit}' 
of  Existence.  For  Rigldeousness  is  a  relative  term  ;  or  a  term 
expressing  the  Relation,  of  rational  Intelligences  to  each  other. 
In  order  for  there  to  be,  any  such  thing  as  liigliteousness ; 
there  must  be  a  subject  and  an  object.  So  also  of  Love,  which 
is  the  foundation  of  all  moral  goodness  ;  there  must  be  a  sub- 
ject and  an  object;  a  person  to  love  and  a  person  to  be  loved. 
We  can  have  no  idea  of  love  when  there  is  a  mere  simplicity  of 
Existence.  *  *  *  *  However  in  all  the  things  we  are  acquainted 
with,  absolute  simplicity  cannot  multiply  or  increase.  Which 
affords  another  very  considerable  argument  that  the  Deity  did 
not  exist  in  simplicity." 

It  is  restful  and  refreshing,  to  one  who  looks  at  the  mysteries 
of  Deity,  creation,  and  existence,  with  reverent  awe,  and  a  wil- 
lingness to  leave  their  complete  solution  until  the  veil  is  lifted, 
to  read  the  positive  declarations  of  our  author  upon  these  topics. 
These  things  are  not  "too  wonderful"  for  him.  Having  dog- 
matically settled  the  constitution  of  Deity,  he  finds  no  difficulty 
with  minor  topics  like  the  creation  of  angels  and  men.  He  de- 
clares the  creation  of  the  angels  at  the  time  of  the  Mosaic  crea- 
tion, although,  to  accommodate  Job's    allusion    to   the   singing 


47 

together  of  the  mornino-  stars.  Job  XXXIII.  7,  supposing  those 
stars  to  be  the  angels,  he  sa}^  : 

'•1  see  nothing  against  their  being  created  in  these  six  days 
of  creation  of  whicli  Moses  speaks.  For  tliey  might  be  created 
the  first  day  ;  about  tlie  time  of  the  first  springing  forth  of  light ; 
and  be  called  moniiiKj  stars  in  allusion  to  that  ;  in  that  view 
they  would  lie  eminently  mornivg  .stars,  rising  the  first  morning 
that  ever  existed.  And  then  they  would  have  all  the  rest  of  the 
week,  five  days  and  a  half  to  sing,  and  rejoice  *  *  *  *  But  what 
thev  could  be'  employed  about,  before  any  other  creation  besides 
themselves  was  progressing,  no  one  can  devise." 

Our  author  evidently  had  reached  the  point  of  mental  poise, 
more  common,  perhaps,  at  this  later  day,  where  he  could  con- 
fidently assume  that  whatever  in  Deity  or  in  creation  was  be- 
yond his  ''devising"  could  not  exist.  He  interprets  man's 
creation,  Gen.  I.  27,  thus: 

"This  is  a  plain  assertion  of  God,  that  he  made  man  in  his 
own  Image,  as  to  PLURALITY  in  UNITY  and  Dominion. 
His  expressing  his  own  Pluralittj  as  a  pattern,  by  which  he 
would  make  the  man  ;  and  making  of  man  in  the  same  terms 
both  plural  and  singular  ;  plainly  shows  that  the  Union  of  Plu- 
ralit>i,  of  the  persons  of  the  Deity  ;  was  the  principal  thing,  in 
the  image  of  which  he  made  man  ;  At  the  s^ime  time  evidences, 
that  he  made  the  whole  system  of  man  ;  all  that  he  should  ever 
multiply  into,  in  that  man  he  then  made." 

He  continues,  not  to  argue,  but  to  confidently  explain  that 
man  as  a  finite  being  was  made  conscious  of  material  things  by 
personal  contact  with  them.  It  was  necessary,  as  God  was 
invisible,  and  intangible  to  human  senses,  that  there  should  be 
some  tangible,  visible  means  of  making  man  conscious  of  his 
relations  to  God.  Therefore  God  forbade  the  eating  of  the 
fruit  of  the  forbidden  tree,  and  the  tree  thus  became  a  Sacra- 
mental Token,  reminding  man  of  the  reality  of  the  Divine  ex- 
istejnce,  and  of  his  relations  and  obligations  to  God. 

He  proceeds,  in  the  same  confident  manner,  to  explain  the 
fall  of  man,  giving  an  insight  into  the  counsels  of  heaven  which 
even  the  angels  "desired  to  look  into"  He  tells  us  that  angels, 
as  created  beings,  being  finite  could  not  comprehend  the  infinite 
God,  and  they  too  needed  a  Sacramental  token,  to  maintain  in 


48 

them  a  proper  sense  of  the  Deity,  and  this  token  was  God  mani- 
fest in  Humanit}", — the  Incarnation.  This  the  angels  were 
appointed  to  contemplate  and  believe.  God's  will  in  this  regard 
being  made  known  to  the  angels,  and  they  being  nnable  to  in- 
vestigate and  comprehend  the  sublime  mysterj-  of  the  Incarna- 
tion, one  of  the  principal  angels  made  a  question  of  it,  whether 
it  could  ever  come  to  pass.  If  he  had  resolved  it  in  the  affirma- 
tive upon  God's  testimony,  he  would  have  kept  his  faith  and 
not  sinned.  But  he  abode  not  in  the  truth  and  suffered  his 
mind  to  fall  into  the  negative.  This  was  the  first  derangement 
in  God's  sj'stem  of  creation,  which  resulted  in  the  rebellion  of 
the  angel  and  his  expulsion  from  heaven.  Having  accepted  the 
negative  and  given  God  the  lie,  he  had  set  himself  to  make  his 
part  good  against  God.  The  quarrel  between  the  Devil  and 
God  began  about  Christ  the  Incarnate  God  and  has  always  so 
continued.  The  Devil's  constant  attempt  to  discredit  the  truth 
that  the  Son  of  God  is  come  in  the  tlesh,  is  a  corroborating 
evidence  that  this  was  the  ground  of  his  original  apostacy.  His 
first  effort  after  expulsion  from  heaven  was  to  attempt  the  se- 
duction of  man  to  sin  ;  supposing  that  if  lie  could  succeed  he 
would  defeat  God  of  ever  being  manifest  in  human  nature,  or  at 
least  bring  God  in'to  a  dilemma,  either  to  abandon  His  purjjose 
or  to  unite  His  Son  to  a  sinful  nature  ;  supposing  in  cither  case 
that  he  would  carry  his  point  against  God.  Mr.  Chaplin  am- 
plifies the  Biblical  account  of  the  fall  of  man  as  follows  : 

"And  here  in  pronouncing  tlie  curse  upon  the  serpent  or 
Devil  in  him,  God  declares  the  humanity  of  Christ ;  as  a  creiitive 
word,  speaking  that  Divine  seed  to  life,  into  this  dead  system  ; 
and  declares  that  he  should  finally  conquer  the  Devil  ;  should 
bruise  his  head,  which  would  be  compleat  conquest.  God  here 
speaks  to  the  Devil  of  that  secrZ  as  something  that  was  known 
of  between  him  and  the  Devil  before.  As  something  the  Devil 
had  begun  a  quarrel  with  him  aiiout,  and  it  sounds  as  if  whnt 
the  Devil  had  been  about  there  with  the  woman  and  the  man. 
was  an  important  thing  in  the  Quarrel." 

He  gives  several  pages  to  a  dogmatic  account  of  what  occurred 
in  the  Garden  of  Eden  between  Adam  and  Eve  and  the  serixMit, 
making  the  latter  run  up  the  tree  to  show  his  dexterity  nnd  to 
further  increase  Eve's  admiration,  and  hoping  that  by   arousing 


49 

her  anxiety  lest  he  fall  off  and  be  killed,  to  distract  her  mind 
and  secure  her  apostacy,  b}'  the  eating  of  the  fruit.  In  this  he 
was  successful,  and  the  account  has  excuses  for  both  Adam  and 
Eve,  that  the^-  were  distracted  and  confused  by  the  antics  and 
spirit  of  the  serpent,  and  sinned  through  inadvertence  rather 
than  by  intent.  Mr.  Chaplin  concludes  his  unveiling  of  the 
events  of  creation  with  the  information  tliat  the  question  of  the 
possibilit}'  of  the  Incarnation  was  vital  amongt  he  angels  until  it 
was  accomplished,  and  that  doubtless  those  who  took  the  nega- 
tive became  devils.  He  suppoes  there  have  been  no  new  devils 
sinc8,  and  that  ever  since  the  Resurrection  the  angels  have 
been  confirmed  in  their  good  estate. 

He  finds  a  third  ante-Christian  Sacramental  Token  in  the  ex- 
pulsion of  Adam  and  Eve  from  the  Garden  of  Eden,  as  it  was 
a  sign  or  token  to  them  that  they  could  only  find  salvation  by 
a  real  transition  of  soul  to  a  new  slate,  and  signifying  the  in- 
visible, moral  or  spiritual  change,  renovation,  or  transformation, 
that  must  be  wrought  by  God  on  the  soul  in  order  to  find  salva- 
tion, but,  he  says,  "this  is  incidental,  and  does  not  supersede 
the  necessity  of  a  perpetual  Sacramental  Token."  His  fourth 
Sacramental  Token  was  the  sacrifice  of  animals  before  the  time 
of  Noah  ;  the  fifth  was  circumcision,  and  the  sixth  was  the  Jew- 
ish passover. 

Having  thus,  in  Part  I.  of  his  essay,  disposed  of  numerous 
questions  which  have  been  considered  perplexing  by  ordinary 
theologians  in  all  ages,  Mr.  Chaplin  devotes  Part  II.  to  the 
religious  meaning  and  design,  the  proper  subjects  of  and  the 
proper  mode  of  Baptism,  in  all  of  which  we  find  him  equally 
confident  of  having  mastered  all  mj'steries.  At  the  outset  he 
quotes  I.  Pet,  III.,  "While  the  Ark  was  preparing,  wherein 
few,  that  is  eight  souls,  were  saved  BY  WATER"  and  sa3-s  : 

"This  being  saved  BY  WATER  has  some  obscuritv  in  it,  be- 
cause  the  Scriptures  have  not  directly  and  expressly  told,  what 
the  water  saved  them  from.  But  the  words  here  are  express, 
that  the  Water  Saved  them  *  *  *  And  I  think  it  cannot  be  a 
departure  from  Scripture,  to  conclude,  that  the  Antediluvians, 
meditated  the  destruction,  of  Noah  and  his  family;  and  were 
preparing  to  effect  it ;  when  the  flood  came  suddenly  and  de- 
stroyed them  all.  *  *  *  *  *  Noah  and  his  famil}'  were  shut  in 


50 

the  Ark.  Nothing  as  we  know  of,  appeared,  but  they  might 
easily  set  lire  to  it,  and  readily  demolish  the  Ark  and  its  eon- 
tents.  The  Scripture  asserting,  that  Noah  and  his  family  were 
saved  BY  WATER  implies,  or  at  least  naturally  suggests,  that 
Fire  was  the  instrument,  or  means,  by  which  they  were  exposed 
to  be  destroyed  ;  since  water  is  the  direct  proper  element  to 
extinguish  Fire." 

Ordinary  preachers  have  found  it  sufficient  to  accept  the  idea 
that  Noah  was  saved  by  water  from  the  destruction  caused  by 
the  flood,  but  Mr.  Chaplin  evidently  felt  it  his  duty  to  dig  deeper 
and  to  find  a  hidden  fountain  of  meaning.  He  spends  much 
space  in  drawing  a  parallel  between  the  salvation  of  Noah  and 
that  of  the  race  through  Christ.  He  tinds  that  Israel  was  saved 
by  water  in  the  cloud,  the  cloud  defending  them  by  day  from 
being  destroyed  by  the  heat.     He  says : — 

"They  were  also  saved  by  water  in  that  cloud,  in  the  night ; 
by  the  particles  of  water,  being  so  arranged  and  composed,  as 
to  collect  and  transmit  the  rays  of  light :  perhaps  something  in 
the  manner  of  our  northern  lights.  It  was  so  that  it  appeared 
a  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  This,  among  other  purposes,  served 
to  guard  them  frombeing  destroyed  by  wild  beasts  of  prey, 
which  infest  that  country  ;  so  that  people  cannot  travel  there, 
in  the  night,  without  carrying  fire  with  them  ;  these  beasts  of 
prey  being  afraid  of  fire." 

In  this  also  our  author  has  gone  deeper  than  the  ordinary 
student  will  care  to  follow  him.  He  recognizes  Christian  bap- 
tism as  the  successor  of  circumcision  in  the  Jewish  church,  and 
defends  infant  baptism  with  the  argument  that  God  baptised 
infants  with  the  rest  of  the  Jewish  nation,  in  the  cloud  and  in 
the  sea,  and  that  infants  were  the  special  subjects  of  circumcision. 

But  it  is  when  he  reaches  the  proper  mode  of  baptism  that  we 
find  him  most  dogmatic  and  vigorous,  and  after  quite  a  long 
discussion  he  declares  : 

"Hence,  althouoh  we  cannot  direetlv  determine,  from  those 
instances  above  considered,  what  the  mode  is,  or  ought  to  be  ; 
yet  we  may,  from  those  Baptisms,  in  some  measure  determine, 
what  it  is  not ;  or  what  cannot  l)e  the  proper  mode.  And  here, 
from  the  above  Baptisms,  performed  l)y  God  himself;  we  nmy 
conclude  that  immersion,  or  plunging,  cannot  be  the  proper 
mode  of  Baptism  ;  for  that  is  rather  a  figure  or  emblem  of  de- 
struction, than  of  salvation.     And  it  was  the  real  mode,  in  which 


51 

God  destroyed  by  wdfer,  those  he  took  away,  to  baptize  those  lie 
saved  by  ivater.  Now  it  would  be  so  incongruous  to  institute  a 
mode,  for  a  figure  or  token  of  ^al ration,  wliich  God  hiniselfhad 
used  in  Baptism  as  a  mode  of  real  destruction  ;  that  we  cannot 
suppose  God  would  do  it.  It  could  never  strike  our  minds  as  a 
Token  of  Salvation.  Therefore  we  must  conclude,  that  immer- 
sion is  not  a  mode  of  Baptism,  that  God  ever  instituted  or  de- 
signed." 

Having  demonstrated  the   impossibility    of  immersion    as    a 
proper  mode  of  baptism,  the  ordinary  writer  would  be  satisfied, 
and    proceed    to   other   topics,   but  not  so  with  Mr.  Chaplin. 
He  would  not  only  defeat,  but  would  pulverize  his   antagonist. 
Therefore  he  says  that  immersions,  to  be  etflcacious  should  be 
of  the  naked  body,  which  would  be  indecent;  he  points  to  the 
'4aver"  in  the  temple  and  triumphantly  declares  that  it  was  too 
small  for  immersion,  and  besides,  standing  on  a  foot  or  pedestal 
it  would  be  upset  by  such  use.     He  alleges  that  John's  baptisms 
were  not  Christaiu  but  Mosaic,  and  that  the  form  used  by  the 
first  Christians  was  copied  from  that  of  the  Jews,   the  formula 
beino-  chano-ed.     He  is  so  confident  that  he  asserts  John's  for- 
mula  to  have  been .-  "I  baptize  thee  unto  repentance,   believe 
thou  on  Him  who  shall  come  after  me."     He  further  annihilates 
immersion  by  showing  it  to  be  impossible  for  John  to  have  im- 
mersed so  many  people.     He  assumes  that  he  baptised   a  mil- 
lion people,  and  says  that  it  would  require  ten  minutes,   on   an 
average,  to  immerse  an  individual ;  therefore  thirty-six  years, 
at  twelve  hours  per  day,  would  be  occupied  in   the   work  ;  then 
there  could  not  have  been  provided    sutlicient   clothing   for   so 
many  to  change,  and  for  the  people  to  change  their  clothes  out 
there  in  the  wilderness  would   be  an   obscene  exhibition.     But 
our  author  settles  the  question  that  John  might  have   baptised 
a  million  t)eople,  in  the  orthodox  form,  in  a  year   and   a  half; 
he  knows  that  he  could  get  through  ten  per  minute,  for  he  has 
made  the  experiment.     He  further  demolishes  immersion   by   a 
classical  disquisition  upon  the  phrases  "in"  "into"  and  "out  of," 
in  the  several  Biblical  narrations  of  baptism.     He  goes  through 
the  first  five  books  of  the  New  Testament,  counting  the  prepo- 
sitions En,  in  ;  Ajw,  out  of;  Eis,  into  ;  and  Ek,  out  of  (plural) 
and  finds  them  2859  times.     His  diary    shows,    under   date   of 


52 

Jan.  29,  1802,  that  he  spent  three  weeks  in  counting  these  pre- 
positions. When  this  was  done,  he  began  to  count  "wash." 
"baptize,"  and  "dip,"  but  1  find  no  record  of  the  result.  A';<  is 
used  103;3  times,  of  which  47  are  adverbs  ;  in  25  cases  the 
sense  is  involved  in  other  w^ords  ;  the  rest,  9G4,  are  rendered  by 
seventeen  different  prepositions  in  English  ;  it  is  rendered  at  53 
times,  by  44  times,  icith  42  times,  among  45  times,  and  on  30 
times.  Ajyo  he  finds  423  times  of  which  40G  are  prepositions, 
rendered  thirteen  different  ways  ;  it  is  rendered //-ojji  235  times, 
o/ 92  times,  o»^  o/ 42  times,, /or  11  times,  and  since  7  times. 
Eis  he  finds  955  times,  of  whicli  902  are  prepositions,  rendered 
seventeen  different  ways,  into  appearing  388  times  and  to  88 
times.  He  finds  Ek  44G  times,  435  being  prepositions,  render- 
ed thirteen  different  ways, — o/TJl  times,  from  102  times,  out 
of  77  times,  on  30  times,  with  17  times,  &e. 

From  all  this  he  argues  that  the  use  of  the  particular  English 
prepositions  do  not  prove  anything  regarding  immersion.  His 
wrand  summary  is  that  there  is  no  more  need  or  sense  in  wet- 
ting  the  person  all  over  for  baptism,  than  in  skinning  him  all 
over  for  circumcision.  Part  HI.  of  the  Treatise  is  devoted  to 
a  labored  discussion  of  "covenants"  in  which  there  is  a  field  for 
study  and  reflection,  equal  to  that  I  have  sketched  from  hi^ 
meditations  relating  to  baptism. 

In  the  preface  to  the  Treatise  Mr.  Chaplin  proposes  to  attack 
no  one,  but  simply  to  state  his  own  conclusions,  and  he  is  care- 
ful to  keep  the  pledge,  but  we  must  not  conclude  that  he  had  no 
disposition  to  personal  combat.  He  is  credited  with  the  autlior- 
ship  of  a  pamphlet  of  which  the  following  is  the  title  : 

"MODERN  PHARASAISM,  illustrated  and  proved— by 
Timothy  Truth  Esq.,  to  which  is  annexed  A  CONCISE  RE- 
VIEW of  Elisha  Andrews'  brief  reply  to  r>ickerstaff's  short. 
Epistle  to  the  Baptists,  by  Christopher  Duntaxat,  LL.  D., 
Sutton,  Printed  by  Sewall  Goodridge,  Feb.,  1811." 

The  book  is  a  curious  study  of  declamation  against  the  Bap- 
tists, whom  I  fear,  Mr.  Chaplin  assailed  quite  as  vigorously  as 
he  did  the  immoralities  of  his  time.  He  declares  that  in  spite 
of  the  multiplication  of  so-called  Christian  sects,  there  is  really 
nothing  new.     The  Universalists  are  only  the  disciples  of  the 


53 

false  prophets  under  the  Jews,  and  are  nearly  the  same  as  the 
Oriiiinistsof  the  first  noes  of  the  Christian  church.  The  Method- 
ists  are  simply  Pelagians,  but  the  Baptists  are  the  lineal  descend- 
ants of  the  ancient  Pharisees,  as  he  proves,  1st,  by  their  name, 
Separatists  ;  id,  by  their  similarly  mysterious  origin  ;  3d,  be- 
cause they  hold  to  the  tradition  of  the  elders,  which  have  no 
faau  Lition  ill  the  Scriptures  ;  4th,  by  their  strong  attachment 
to  outward  rites  and  ceremonies ;  5th,  by  their  ostentation 
in  religion  ;  Gth,  by  their  zeal  and  assiduity  in  making  converts  ; 
7th,  b}' their  contidence  in  their  own  righteousness;  8th,  by 
their  contemptuous  treatment  and  slandering  of  others.  In  the 
"Concise  Review"  he  alleges  that  the  Baptist  people  were  not 
capable  of  writing  five  sentences  of  good  English,  and  so  got 
Andrews  to  answer  Bickerstatf.  In  the  same  vein  he  paints  the 
following  portrait  of  a  Baptist  preacher  : 

''There  are  comparatively  few  of  their  preachments  but  what 
are  interlarded  with  stories  and  relations  of  the  preacher's  own 
experiences  and  feelings.  He  will  tell  how  he  was  first  brought 
to  know  the  truth  :  how  he  was  tried  in  his  mind  about  baptism  ; 
how  he  resisted  his  call  to  preach  ;  how  humble,  vile,  and  self- 
denying  he  is,  and  how  unworthy  to  speak  to  others  on  the  con- 
cerns of  religion.  All  these  things,  delivered  in  an  appropriate 
tone  of  voice,  wonderfully  tend  to  set  ott"  his  own  goodness,  for 
the  admiration  of  the  gaping  but  ignorant  throng.  And  it  is  no 
uncommon  thing  for  the  preacher  to  tell  of  some  extraordinary 
suggestions,  or  supernatural  revelations,  with  which  he  has 
been  favored." 

But  he  did  not  avoid  preaching  directly  at  his  own  people, 
even  when  the  occasion  and  the  theme  led  them  to  expect  that 
some  one  else  was  to  recieve  the  castigation.  One  of  his  print- 
ed sermons  is 

"The  civil  State  Compared  to  Elvers  ;  All  under  God's  Con- 
trol ;  And  what  People  Have  to  Do  when  Administration  is 
Grievous.  Sutton,  2d  Parish;  Printed  by  Request;  Delivered 
Jan.  17,  1773,  the  Day  Before  a  Town  Meeting  to  act  on  the 
Letter  from  Boston.     Prov.  XXI.  2." 

We  can  imagine  the  anticipations  of  the  zealous  patriots, 
chafing  under  the  tyranny  of  the  English  king,  of  a  hearty 
demonstration  of  king-craft  and  a  hurling  of  old  and  new  Testa- 
men    anathemas  at  the  "taxation  without  representation"  party. 


54 

But  we  can  hardly  imagine  the  impression  made  by  the  ser- 
mon. Its  heads  were,  1st,  to  consider  and  show  wherein  the 
king  may  be  compared  to  rivers  of  water  ;  2d,  to  show  that  all 
these  things  are  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord;  ;3d,  that  all  these 
things  are  guided  by  the  will  of  the  Lord.  The  application  was, 
"See  that  the  land  from  which  the  streams  originate  is  pure," 
and  his  peroration  was  as  follows  : 

"Look  at  home  and  see  if  this  be  not  too  much  the  case  with 
us,  one  among  another.  Oi)pressing,  overreaching,  usurious 
contracts,  all  foppery,  living  upon  other  men's  hil)or  and  proi)er- 
ty  ;  when  a  person  goes  beyond  what  he  is  able  to  pay  for  and 
pay  his  other  dues,  whatever  schemes  any  take  to  get  other 
men's  property  witliout  equal  consideration, — all  these  things 
are  the  very  same  things  which  we  are  complaining  of  in  the 
civil  administration  *  *  *  *  So  great  a  work  we  have  to  do  ; 
every  one  to  put  away  the  violence  that  is  in  his  own  hands  ; 
and  "seek  to  God  for  a  new  heart.  'Till  this  is  done  no  one  can 
with  a  good  face  go  to  God  or  ask  of  Him  that  he  would  turn 
the  king,  or  the  civil  power,  to  remove  these  measures  we  think 
are  oppression,  and  contrary  to  our  natural  and  constitutional 
rights,  unless  he  lirst  put  away  everytliing  from  his  own  doings, 
that  is  of  the  same  kind  towards  his  neighbor." 

The  portions  of  Mr.  Chaplin's  manuscrijjt  diary,  or  "A  Scp- 
timanary,"  as  he  is  pleased  to  call  it,  that  have  come  to  my 
knowledge,  are  of  the  dates  included  between  Oct.  18,  1790,  and 
March  19,  1802,  with  occasional  memoranda  to  Jan.  28,  180.5, 
Some  portions  are  fragmentary,  and  cover  only  brief  statements 
of  where  he  went,  the  people  he  met,  and  his  personal  expenses, 
while  other  portions  are  full  of  extended  argument  upon  topics 
affecting  his  mind  at  the  time,  and  occasionally  he  has  made 
entries  which  are  admirable  illustrations  of  his  pastoral  work. 
The  following,  under  date  of  Oct.  20,  1790,  illustrates  the  char- 
acter of  his  pastoral  work,  and  of  the  lay  criticisms  of  which  he 
was  the  subject : 

"Went  to  David  Chase's  but  he  was  so  busy  he  could  not 
attend  to  sit  with  me  at  all.  Went  to  widdow  jNIoses  Chase's, 
talked  with  her  of  her  lonely  state  with  some  religious  apprecia- 
tions. Went  to  Capt.  Small's, — talked  with  him  and  his  wife 
about  professing  religion  ;  they  both  seemed  near  ripe  to  join.* 

*  They  offered  themselves  to  the  church  Oct.  29th,  the  same  year. 


55 

Went  to  lloll)i'ook.s'  :  Uilked  with  him  abcxit  not  coming  to  meet- 
ing :  lie  alleged  as  :i  reason  my  pi'caching  against  folks  getting 
apples  Salihath  Days  in  my  orchard  and  others'  ;  which  things 
he  disa|)pro\ed  of  in  y''  peoi)le.  but  thought  it  wasn't  proper  to 
preach  on  y''  Sabbath.  1  asked  what  I  should  preach,  if  I  must 
not  preach  against  vices  of  the  times?  Christ  preached  so,  also 
the  Angels  and  rrojihets.  and  God  ccjnimnnded  the  Prophet  to 
ciy  aloud.  I  added  that  others  c-omi)laiued  of  i)reaching  against 
errors,  others  of  preaching  against  Frolicks, — queried  what  I 
should  do?  He  said  he  liked  preaching  to  raise  the  Aficctions. 
I  told  him  il'that  was  all,  his  Atlections  were  liable  to  be  moved 
rong  as  right,  unless  his  understanding  was  illuminated  to  Dis- 
cerne  Truth  ;  told  him  that  was  the  case  of  the  stony-ground 
Hearers,  but  the  good  gi'ound.  they  heard  the  word  and  under- 
stood it  and  brought  forth  fruit  &c.  He  complained  about  my 
being  backward  about  preaching  at  Funerals.  I  gave  him  my 
reasons  for  that.  He  tluMi  said  a  reason  of  his  leaving  our  meet- 
ing was  because  they  rated*  him  too  high.  I  told  him  I  thought 
heought  not  to  leave  the  congregation  for  that.  He  then  had 
considerable  to  say  about  minister's  salary  being  too  high,  and 
that  ministers  would  stand  ))y  one  another,  which  ( ndcd  the 
discussion.  1  then  went  to  Sol.  Marble's  ;  he  was  not  at  home. 
I  talked  some  with  his  mother,  whether  she  went  to  meeting, 
and  the  state  of  her  mind,  and  set  with  Sol's  wife  a  little  while  ; 
then  went  to  .Tona.  "\Vatei-s'  and  Home." 

This  day  seems  to  have  been  a  type  of  his  pastoral  labors, 
and  this  autumn  seems  to  have  been  a  busy  one  for  him, — visit- 
\n<x  the  sick,  praying  with  some,  getting  wood  and  walnuts, 
making  eider,  collecting  and  sorting  apples,  getting  his  lame 
ox  -'blooded",  etc.  In  November  of  this  year  he  made  entries 
of  2 2  pastoral  visits,  including  four  to  "widdows." 

While  Mr.  Chaplin  was  thus  ministering  to  his  people  a  cloud 
was  gathering  which  was  soon  to  burst  upon  him  and  the  parish, 
and  cause  their  estrangement  and  separation.  It  was  a  matter 
which  even  now  should  be  mentioned  with  discretion,  and  much 
which  he  wrote  of  it  in  his  diary  ought  not  to  be  reproduced 
here,  but  a  statement  of  the  leading  facts  are  necessary  to  the 
proper  understanding  of  the  most  interesting  period  of  his  his- 
tory. He  had  a  grown-up  daughter,  Mary,  who  had  attracted 
the  attention  and  the  love  of  a  gentleman  of  the  town,  of  whom 

*  Taxed. 


66 

neither  Mr.  Chaplin  nor  his  wife  approved.  The  first  entry  in 
the  diary,  regarding  him  is  Feb.  9,  1791,  when  he  came  and  ask- 
ed for  her  of  her  parents.  Mr.  Chaplin  says  "we  wholly  denied 
him  in  the  most  discisive  and  peremptory  manner."  The  sub- 
ject was  continued  next  day,  when  "I  asserted  that  I  had  a  right 
by  the  Bible  to  negative  any  such  engagement  of  my  child,  and 
to  controul  the  disposal  of  her  in  marriage."  It  was  agreed  to 
take  time  to  consider,  the  lover  meanwhile  agreeing  to  take  no 
steps  in  strengthening  himself  in  Mary's  affections,  which  agree- 
ment he  broke  by  writing  her  a  letter  which  she  showed  her 
father.  This  letter  indicates  that  the  matter  had  already  become 
a  matter  of  gossip,  as  the  lover  says  he  had  talked  with  Dea. 
Waters  who  justified  him  and  would  assist  him,  and  they  would 
call  in  Esq.  Singletary  if  needed.  Mr.  Chaplin  seems  to  have 
seen  the  bearing  of  the  case,  for  he  writes  that  he  told  the  lover 

"That  he  had  not  treated  this  matter  as  a  Love  Aftair  ;  it  now 
appeared  that  it  was  properly  a  hostile  assault ;  he  had  in  the 
first  instance  when  he  first  told  us  of  it  said  that  the  matter  was 
so  strong  that  we  could  not  break  it  up  ;  therefore  we  must 
comply  ;  and  now  he  was  mustering  auxilliaries  to  compel  us  to 
surrendr^'.  *  *  *  *  The  same  day  called    at   Dea.    Jacobs'    on 

business,  found (the  lover)  liad  been  there  and  introduced 

the  matter  to  him,  but  no  great  what  had  been  said  by  him  ; 
however  this  all  evidenced  that  he  was  seeking  to  raise  a  posse 
to  reduce  us  to  a  surrendry." 

The  story  of  the  quarrel  goes  on,  to  the  exclusion  of  nearly 
all  else  from  the  diary.     Feb.  ISth  he  writes  : 

"Went  to  Dea.  Jacobs',  carried  Mrs.   Chaplin  with  me  ;  we 

heard  some  of s  nasty  tricks  in  trading,  and  with  INIrs.  Green 

and  Sally  Jacobs,  and  of  his  declaring  what  was  in  my  daughter's 
letters  ;  and  that  it  was  in  contemplation  to  muster  the  old  un- 
easiness of  last  Fall  and  threaten  me  with  a  dismission,  to  bring 
me  to  a  surrendrj-."   • 

It  was  finally  agreed,  Feb.  22d,  that  the  young  people  should 
break  ofl^  the  engagement  and  return  each  other's  letters  the  next 
day,  but  although  the  lover  came  to  the  house  he  did  not  surren- 
der the  letters,  other  visitors  interrupting  the  "conferance."  As 
an  antidote  the  father  soon  took  the  daughter  to  see  a  woman 
who  knew  something  derogatory  to  her  lover's  character,  which 
the  father  writes  was  "most  scandalously  mean  and  inhumane." 


57 

There  was  an  occasional  gleam  of  sunshine  for  the  girl,  for 
Feb.  24th  "went  to  Worcester  with  Molley  and  Salley,  bought 
their  gownds  at  Dixie's  ;  and  got  their  homespun  gownds  at 
iStowel's."  Whether  the  "gownds"  had  a  subduing  effect  upon 
Molley  or  not  is  uncertain,  but  under  date  of  the  next  day  her 
father  ''talked  with  Molley, — she  signed  a  paper  certifying  that 
she  would  not  marry  clandestinely." 

The  extent  of  the  sympathy  of  the  parish  with  the  youg  peo- 
ple appears  in  an  entry  of  Feb.  27th  : 

Sabbath  evening  I  heard  that  the  Parish  were  generally 
against  us  about  our  daughter  ;  that  Dea.   Waters   and  John 

said  that  I  had  blown  up and  they  hoped  the  Parish  would 

l»low  me  up  ;  that  it  was  talked  of  in  the  Parish  to  take  her  by 
force  and  carr}-  her  away  ;  that  Mr.  Baley  and  his  wife  said  we 
were  too  rigid  in  the  affair  ;  that  David  Bancroft  of  Ward  was 
very  high  against  us,  yet  that  he  was   anxious  about  his  son's 

living  with last  summer,  because was   a  man  of  no 

principle  ;  how  inconsistent ;  how  unchristian  all  this  ;  The  Lord 
judge  between  us  and  them,  and  plead  our  cause  against  those 
that  rise  up  against  us." 

In  a  "conferance"  with the  next  day,  the  diary  says : 

"The  talk  was  of  such  a  desultory-  nature  that  I  can't  recollect 
much  of  it,  saving  that  he  pretended  to  adduce  the  case  of  Samp- 
son and  the  daughter  of  Zelophehad  to  operate  against  my  op- 
posing him  or  controuling  the  matches  of  my  children,  but  I  told 
him  that  of  Sampson  so  far  bore  a  resemblance  of  the  case  as 
that  Sampson  went  to  get  his  wife  where  he  did  to  seek  occasion 

against  her  relations,  and  so  he,  ,  appeared  to  be  seeking 

occasion  against  us." 

On  March  3d  there  is  a  record  that, 

"I  told  Mrs.  Pierce  that  I  knew,  as  certain  as  the  nature  of 
things  admitted  of,  according  to  the  connection   of  cause    and 

effect,  that  if  Molley  had it  would  be  her  undoing,  that  she 

would  be  miserable  in  this  world  and  that  to  come.  Therefore 
I  was  constrained  by  all  the  Bonds  of  a  Parent,  and  I  hoped  I 
felt  some  sense  of  duty  to  God,  to  oppose  their  proceeding  as  I 
must  oppose  it  if  all  the  parish  were  against  me,  and  even  if  all 
the  M'orld  were  against  me." 

He  felt  as  he  expresses  it  March  28th,  that was  "tramp- 
ling upon  me,  and  attempting  to  obtain  her  by  conquest."     On 

April  20  he  "heard  that  the  parish  wanted  to  give a  horse 

and  help  him  take  Molley  by  force  ;  also  proposed  to  arrest  me 


58 

on  a  state  warrant  for  false  imprisonment."  Under  the  date  of 
"Doomsday,  1791,"  he  enters  a  quaint  indication  of  popular  feel- 
ings— "young  Jere.  Richardson,  when  he  see  a  load  of  my  flax 
2:0  alons;  wished  it  afire,  and  that  I  went  oft'  in  the  smoke  ;  his 
father  laughed  very  heartily  at  the  expression."  He  had  con- 
tinued discussions  with  his  parishoners,  explaining  and  defend- 
ing his  conduct,  and  exposing  what  he  was  certain  was  the  bad 
character  of ,  but  to  one  the  painful  controversy  soon  ended. 

An  aged  lady,  born  and  reared  in  the  vicinity,  and  recently 
deceased,  informed  me  that  Molly  married  another  man  but 
soon  after  died.  The  diary  makes  no  mention  of  such  a  mar- 
riage, nor  directly  of  her  death,  but  that  she  died  in  the  summer 
of  1791  is  settled  by  two  entries  in  the  diary:  Aug.  "29,  Dr. 
Jacobs  told  me  of  a  Sturbridge  man  who  said  it  was  the  general 
talk  there  that  we  were  the  cause  of  killing  our  child,"  and  Aug. 
31, — "At  Nathan'l  Stone's,  Nathan  Holman  present,  Holman 
told  that  the  people  had  it  fixed  in  their  minds  that  she  set  by 
him  to  the  last  because  I  refused  him  seeing  her." 

It  is  a  sad,  almost  a  tragic  story,  and  one  can  hardly  read 
these  brown  and  blotted  pages,  with  their  evidences  of  love  for 
his  child,  an  honest  desire  for  her  best  good,  and  his  struggles 
to  defend  himself  from  the  troubles  which  had  grown  up  in  the 
parish,  without  a  deep  S3-mpathy  for  him.  And  at  the  same 
time  the  aft'ection  between  the  young  people  causes  the  reader 
to  regret  the  blight  which  separated  them.  This  episode  in  the 
diary  is  a  quaint  and  interesting  picture  of  domestic  life  and 
discipline  of  a  century-  ago.  But  Molly's  death  seems  not  to 
have  checked  the  troubles  which  were  gathering  about  the 
aflflicted  pastor.  He  writes,  Aug.  27,  1791,  that  ''Dr.  Freeland 
was  warned  by  the  parish  people  because  he  attended  Chaplin's 
family  while  several  members  were  violently  sick."  On  Sept. 
26th  he  enters  a  note  referring  to  a  church  meeting  about  the 
troubles  and  the  calling  of  a  council,  and  he  seems  to  be  prepar- 
ing a  defence,  for  he  writes,  Sept.  30  :  "Mrs.  White  said  Na- 
than Taylor  told  her  that  MoUey  told  his  women-folks  that  she 

had  liked ,  but  she  did  not  now,  and  did  not  want  to   have 

him,"  Also  "Mr.  Bailey's  pec»ple  told  that  Mr.  Fairbanks  (who 
rode  to  Worcester  with  Molley,)  talked  with  her, — she  said  she 


59 

liked  her  lover,  or  she  should  have  been  a  fool  to  let  the  matter 
get  so  far  as  it  had,  but  she  did  not  now  like  him  or  wish  to 
have  him  or  suppose  she  ever  should."  On  Oct.  17th  there  was 
a  second  church  meeting,  with  "manj'  complaints  entered  of  not 
visiiing,  and  my  lack  of  pastoral  duties."  We  can  easily  see,  by 
the  feeling  of  the  parish  above  recorded,  that  pastoral  calls  in 
in  the  second  parish  of  Sutton,  just  at  this  time,  must  have  been 
lacking  in  pleasure  to  either  party.  A  third  church  meeting  is 
mentioned  Oct.  31st.  We  have  seen  that  the  story  of  these 
troubles  had  spread  as  far  west  as  Sturbridge,  and  we  find  under 
date  of  Oct.  24,  that  "Dr.  Freeland  said  Capt.  Lyon  of  Shrews- 
bury said  it  was  reported  there  that  we  locked  Molley  up  till 
she  died,  or  for  a  long  time  together."  That  he  had  suspicions 
of  foul  play  on  the  part  of  the  lover  in  gaining  her  affections  is 
apparent  from  several  entries. 

The  several  church  meetings  culminated  Nov.  17,  1791,  in  a 
visit  from  a  church  committee,  to  whom  he  writes  that  he  re- 
newed his  offer  of  Oct.  31st,  for  a  neutral  council  to  consider 
the  differences  between  himself  and  the  parish.     His  terms  were 
to  agree  on  a  chairman  and  each  party  to    name   one   half  the 
council.     He  writes,  "The  Committee  and  the  church  seem  not 
to  desire  a  mutual  council."     This  is  explained  by  the  fact  that 
the  neighboring  ministers  were  in  sympathy  with  Mr.  Chaplin, 
as  appears  by  frequent  entries.     We  can  not  blame  Mr.  Chaplin 
for  asking  a  mutual  council,  for  common  right  would  give  him 
an  equal  share  in  its  composition,  but  we  get  a  glimpse  of  his 
consciousness  of  innocense  and  his  confidence  in'  his  Christian 
brethren  when  he  writes  under  date  of  Dec.  4th,  that  at  a  church 
meetinii-  he  consented  to  a  council,  all  the   members   of  which 
were  to  be  selected  by  the  church.     With  the  light  thrown  by 
his  diary  upon  the  feeling  in  the  parieh,  we  can   not  see  how 
he  could  have  expected  justice  from  such  a  tribunal.     It  should 
be  here  stated  that  the  church  records  covering  this  period  are 
lost.     We  get  a  glimpse  of  the  excited  state  of  public  feeling, 
and  of  the  extreme  measures  which  marked  the  contest,   in  an 
entry  in  the  diary  of  Dec.  15,  1791,  in  which  he  says,  "Learned 
of  a  most  shocking  conference  last  night.     and  seven  oth- 
ers pecking  on  Dea.  Jacobs  till  he  signed  a  paper  confessing 


60 

to and  promising  not  to  say  anything  more  about  the 

affair  unless  obliged  b}'  law  ; and  friends  attempted  to  en- 
force secrecy  but  two  refused  to  be  bound."  One  da}"  later, 
Dec.  IG,  he  writes,  "Yesterday  morning  Dea.  Jacobs  had  a 
strange  fit,  speechless  for  some  time  and  then  distracted  ;  now 
unwell  and  in  great  trouble  of  mind  about  the  embarrassments 
he  was  put  under  the  night  before  last ;  says  a  certain  person 
brought  him  some  sling  in  a  glass,  saw  him  put  one  hand  over 
the  glass  while  bringing  it ;  felt  strangely  after  drinking  and 
did  not  know  what  he  did." 

After  Mr.  Chaplin  had  decided  to  consent  to  an  exparte  coun- 
cil, he  writes,  on  Nov.  30th,  that  he  "went  to  Mr.  Fish's  ;  called 

at s  ;  he  asked  about  our  affairs  ;  I  told  him  the  church's 

off'er  of  a  Council ;  he  observed  that  they  did  not  use  me  so  well 
as  they  did  old  Thief  Cook  when  he  stole  Nat.  Stockwell's  pock- 
et-book ;  they  allowed  him  to  choose  one  man  and  the  company 
the  other."  He  preached  at  his  own  house  on  the  succeeding 
Sunday  evening,  from  which  it  appears  that  he  was  not  welcome 
at  the  church.  As  an  illustration  of  the  style  of  criticism  to 
which  he  was  at  this  time  subjected,  we  find  on  Monda}'  Dec. 
12th  that  "Dea.  Jacobs  came  here  and  told  how  Phelps  com- 
plained that  I  told  him  how  to  carry  on  his  farm,  and  about 
making  cider,  but  nothing  about  religion."  He  adds, — "most 
inviduous  representation,  I  never  told  him  anything  about  those 
things  unless  he  asked  me."  Further  he  says  "the  Deacon  told 
me  that  John  Waters  had  told  him  where  their  great  strength 
lay,  viz  ;  in  the  Constitution  where  it  speaks  of  their  conscien- 
ciously  attending  public  worship  ;  that  they  intended  to  go  on 
and  vote  the  dismission  and  then  sign  that  thej-  could  not  con- 
scientiously' attend,  and  cite  me  before  the  court  to  show  cause 
if  any  I  have  why  I  should  not  be  dismissed.     A  new  way  !  ! !" 

The  e.vpar?e  council  convened   Dec.  20th  :  on  the   21st  and 

22d  his  entries  are  "Council  on  business  ;"  on  the  23d  "the 

affair  was  called  on  ;"  on  the  21:th  " told  over  his  story  ;" 

25th,  Sabbath.  "Mr.  Sanford  preached  ;  sacrament  administer- 
ed ;"  27th,  "The  Council  by  themselves  ;"  28th,  "Result  read." 

This  council  was  composed  of  Rev.  David  Sanford,  (of  Med- 
way)  Nathaniel  Emmons,   Caleb  Alexander,   Samuel  Austin, 


61 

Timothy  Dickinson,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Nathan  AV heeler,  Aaron 
Phips,  John  Richardson,  Ezra  Forrestal,  Jesse  Haven,  Nathan- 
iel Rawson  and  Ilanan  JNIetcalf. 

He  does  not  record  the  result  of  the  council,  but  Jan.  1,  1792, 
he  recieved  a  visit  from  a  committee  of  the  parish,  composed 
of  Dea.  Waters,  Lieut.  Hazeltine,  Lieut.  Goodell,  Abijah  Tain- 
ter,  Josiah  Stiles  and  Capt.  Elliot.     He  says  : — 

"They  proposed  to  me  that  the}-  were  come  to  treat  with  me 
on  terms  of  separation.  I  told  them  they  had  never  asked  me 
for  a  separation.  The}'  said  they  were  come  for  me  to  make 
proposals.  I  told  them  it  was  for  them  to  make  proposals  and 
not  for  me." 

He  also  demanded  that  all  communication  between  himself 
and  the  parish  should  be  in  writing,  and  as  soon  as  the  com- 
mittee were  gone  he  wrote  out  the  interview  and  had  it  witnessed 
bv  John  Severy  and  James  Greenwood.  Sunday,  Jan.  8th,  he 
"preached  at  home  to  a  tolerable  congregation  for  the  season." 
What  occurred  until  August  11,  1792,  does  not  appear,  as  a 
volume  of  the  diarj'  is  missiug,  but  at~the  latter  date  it  is  appar- 
ent that  the  quarrel  had  taken  the  shape  that  the  parish  claimed 
that  he  had  been  dismissed  in  conformity  to  the  "result"  of  the 
council,  while  he  denied  the  legality  of  their  action.  The  point 
appears  to  have  been  that  the  parish  understood  that  Mr.  Chap- 
lin was  to  ask  a  dismission  at  once,  while  his  view  was  that  the 
parish  was  to  settle  with  him  satisfactorily  in  money  matters, 
before  he  was  to  ask  dismission  ;  he  professes  to  be  ready  to 
ask  the  dismission  when  the  parish  had  performed  its  part. 
Jan.  13th  has  an  entry  about  a  "new  result"  which  indicates 
tliat  a  second  session  of  the  council  had  been  held,  as  it  also 
appears  that  the  parish  claimed,  before  this  council,  £300  dam- 
ages from  him,  and  that  a  conference  had  been  recommended, 
in  which,  as  at  the  first  council  the  parish  demanded  the  privi- 
lege of  naming  all  the  members.  The  diary  says,  quoting  a 
conversation, 

"The}'  have  set  up  that  they  will  dirty  a  minister  all  they  can 
and  then  kick  him  right  out  doors  and  have  it  go  so  ;  and  I  was 
determined  to  do  all  I  could  that  it  should  not ;  that  I  would 
not  give  up  the  point  for  all  Sutton,  nor  for  all  America." 


62 

All  this  time  there  was  correspondence  going  on,  the  parish 
trying,  as  Mr.  Chaplin  puts  it  to  "catch"  him  into  making  the 
first  step  towards  a  dismission,  lie  speaks  of  one  communica- 
tion as  "demanding  a  paragorical  (sic)  answer,  which  is  super- 
scribed antescribed  and  subscribed  to  me,  but  it  does  not  tell 
who  sent  it  or  that  it  was  ever  voted  by  anybody,"  and  also 
speaksof  a  "dismissing  vote"  having  been  passed  by  the  parish, 
but  argues  like  a  lawyer  against  its  legality.  In  an  excess  of 
language  he  writes  : — 

It  appears  that  I  have  made  the  most  fair  and  decided  pro- 
posals to  them,  but  they  never  have  taken  any  notice  of  any- 
thing I  sent  them,  not  so  much  as  to  try  the  minds  of  the  parish  ; 
and  I  have  always  taken  notice  of  and  answered  everything  they 
sent  to  me  ;  and  what  could  i  have  done  moke  than  i  have 

NOT  DONE  ?" 

Although  the  parish  claimed  that  he  had  been  dismissed  and 
were  looking  for  a  new  minister,  Mr.  Chaplin  held  to  his  posi- 
tion, and  called  a  church  meeting  at  his  house,  Aug.  21st,  1792, 
at  which  only  Capt.  Greenwood  and  Dea.  Jacobs  attended. 

Just  at  this  point  in  the  diary  appears  the  real  issue  which 
was  at  stake  in  this  contest.  Mr.  Chaplin  had  been  settled  by 
a  vote  of  the  town,  but  the  dismission  was  by  a  parish  vote. 
It  was  among  the  early  conflicts  in  this  State  which  resulted  in 
the  separation  of  the  Congregational  churches  from  the  towns, 
in  the  administration  of  church  affairs.  He  writes  Aug.  21st, 
that  the  "good  ground"  upon  which  his  opponents  claim  to  stand 
is  the  fact  that  "people  round  about  in  towns  were  looking  and 
hoping  to  have  this  point  established,  that  the  power  shall  be  in 
the  people  to  dismiss  their  ministers  just  when  they  please  ;  that 
therefore  they  would  stand  a  good  chance  with  a  jury."  The 
same  month  he  denied  his  liability  to  be  taxed,  on  the  ground 
that  he  was  a  settled  minister.  All  through  this  year  the  diary 
is  full  of  recorded  conversations  about  the  dispute  in  the  parish, 
what  various  people,  ministers,  law3'ers  and  laymen  said  about 
it,  and  frequent  allusions  to  the  love  affair  which  set  all  the 
trouble  going.  In  October  he  had  a  council,  apparentl}-  called 
by  himself,  of  which  his  only  records  are  "9th,  The  council 
came,  viz  :  all  I  applied  to  ;  10th,  went  into  a  hearing;  11th, 
They  resulted  and  read  it  off;  12th  they  went  home." 


63 

From  this  point  onward  he  apparently  devoted  his  whole  en- 
ergies to  establishing  his  claim  against  the  parish  for  his  salarj^, 
from  the  time  of  the  vote  of  dismission.     He  alludes  frequently 
to  his  ''Narrative"  which  he  was  writing  and  to  various  confer- 
ence? with  his  friends  who  had  much  to   tell   him    of  what   his 
opponents  said  of  him.     lie  also   records   frequent   interviews 
with  his  legal  counsel.     It  appears  that  most  of  the  ministers  in 
the  neighboring  towns  espoused  his    cause,    although    some   of 
them  appear  to  have  had  parishoners  who  opposed  him,  and  the 
clergy  were  not  entirely  without  "the  fear  of  man."    He  records 
having  preached  occasionally  in  the  neighboring  towns,  but  in 
one  case,  in  Leicester,  he  declined  an  invitation,  having  heard 
that  two  or  three  people  had  threatened  to  leave  the  meeting  if 
he  did  so.     The  "Brotherly  Meeting,"  a  circle  of  ministers,  con- 
tinued to  fellowship  with  him,  and  met  occasionally  at  his  house. 
Ilis  diary  has  many  interesting  entries  of  opinions,  in  opposition 
to  each  other.     On  one  day  he  writes  that  Mr.  Lee  of  Royalston 
had  "looked  over  all  the  matters  and  he  said  I  was  dismissed 
and  could  get  nothing  by  law  from  the  people."  The  very  next  day 
he  writes  that  Lieut.  Holman  had  been  to  Providence  and  that 
"it  was  the  universal  voice  that  I  should  recover  of  the  people." 
This  state  of  disturbance   continued  until  March  25,   1794, 
when  he  went  to  Worcester,  dined  with  the  court,  talked   over 
matters  with  his  counsel,  Esq.  Paine,  and  his  writ   against   the 
parish  for  arrears  of  salary  was  served  on  Jedediah  Barton  on 
that  day.     He  seems  to  have  had  a  companion  in  trouble,  Mr. 
Avery  of  Wrentham,  whom  he   assisted   at  a  "general  church 
meeting"  April  21,  1794,  and  he  says  "Col.  Hawes  had  his,  and 
pretended  to  dismiss,  also  the  town,  but  70  protested  against 
their  proceedings."     He  speaks  of  those  who  were    friendly  to 
him  as  "orthodox,"  but  his  opponents   are   called   "Jacobins." 
He  protested,  with  all  his  influence    and   in    a   formal   address 
against  the  proposed  ordination  of  Rev.  Joseph  Goffe  as  his  suc- 
cessor in  the  ministry,  and  attempted  to  gather  quite  a  number 
of  ministers  at  the  time  set  for  that  ceremony,  but  none  of  his 
friends  appeared.     This  ordination  took  place  Sept.  9,  1794. 

He  remained  on  his  place,  carrying  on  his   domestic    affairs, 
farming,  writing  wills,  and  serving  as  general  factotum  for  those 


04 

who  would  employ  him.  Besides  his  home-place  he  seems  to 
to  have  had  another  estate,  as  he  made  frequent  entries  of  going 
"to  tother  place"  to  do  various  farm  work.  There  is  a  break 
in  the  diary  from  Sept.  22,  1794,  to  Sept.  20,  1796.  The  first 
entry  under  the  latter  date  is  of  an  agreement  with  Stiles  for  a 
continuance  of  his  action  in  court.  A  later  date.  May  1797, 
shows  that  the  case  had  been  tried  in  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  and  went  in  favor  of  the  town,  from  which  Mr.  Chaplin 
appealed.     This  continuance  was  to  the  Superior  Court. 

At  some  time  during  the  hiatus  in  the  diary  Mrs.  Chaplin  died, 
for  there  is  an  entry  Nov.  26,  1796,  of  his  paying  Esq.   Barton 
$2  for  her  coffin.     In  March,  1797,  he  was  severely  injured  by 
the  wind  blowing  a  heavy  door  upon  him,  badly  bruising  his  legs. 
He  was  laid  up  for  several  weeks  and    he   records   the    cutting 
away   of  portions   of  flesh  to  prevent   mortification.     In  the 
midst  of  this  trouble  he  enters  the  fact,  March   20,  "This  day 
Robert  Goddard  buried  his  3*^  wife  which  he  has  had  in  4  years." 
During  his  confinement  a  "Minister's  Meeting  was  held   at  his 
house,  at  which  the  questions  discussed  were,  "1.  What  are  we 
to  understand  by  a  propensity  to  sin,  previous  to  sinning?  and 
what  evidence  have  we  that  there  is  such  a  propensity  ?    2.  What 
ought  a  minister  or  a  private  Christian  to  do  on  occasion  of  an 
unfavorable  report  of  the  offensive  conduct  of  a  brother?     3.  Is 
a  belief  of  universal  salvation  a  sufficient  reason  for  excommu- 
nication?"    On  April  10th  of  this  year  five  inches  of  snovv   fell, 
and  people  went  about  in  sleighs  ;  April  19th  another  storm  left 
drifts  three  or  four  feet  deep.     His   case    was   reached   in    the 
Superior  Court  Sept.  19,  1797,  and  occupied  three  days,  result- 
ing in  a  verdict  for  the  parish.     He  devotes  a  separate  volume 
to  a  record  of  the  legal  steps  in  the  case.     The  counsel  for  the 
parish  were  Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  and  Hon.  Edward   Bangs  ;  and 
Hon.  Nathaniel  Paine  and  Hon.  Seth  Hastings  represented  Mr. 
Chaplin.     He  was  taxed  $102,88,  defendant's  costs. 

His  feeling  in  the  case  is  well  ilhistrated  b\'  the  following 
from  an  argument  which  he  prepared  for  the  jury  of  the  Supreme 
Court.     He  accuses  the  parish  as  follows  : 

"But  if  on  the  other  hand  you  give  this  case  in  favor  of  so 
much  unfairness,  breach  of  faith,  cozening,  quibbling,  insiduous 


65 

intrigue,  and  insult,  you  sot  open  the  llood-gates  of  the  most 
licentious  perfidy,  insiduous  (sic)  intrigue,  abuse  and  despotism, 
and  bind  yourselves  and  posterity  down  under  the  Avorst  of 
tyranny  ;  ibr  what  can  be  more  intolerable  tyranny,  than  for 
men  to  intrigue,  insult,  and  pretend  ex  parte  to  dissolve  con- 
tracts, avoid  their  promises,  refuse  to  refer  differences  to  indif- 
ferent men  ;  and  when  they  have  referred  them  to  men  of  their 
own  choosing,  refuse  to  comply  with  their  decision,  and  even 
after  they  have  repeatedly  promised  to  comply  ;  but  go  on  in  a 
series  of  concealing  the  truth,  shufliing,  making  promises  and 
breaking  them,  and  lying  and  cozening." 

In  his  diary  he  notes  the  most  common  events,  side  by  side 
with  allusions  to  the  most   grave    matters:  "I    shook    out   my 

things  ;  paid  i'f  at  the  gate  ;  went  to 's    and   talked    about 

baptism  ;  talked  al)out  Moral  Agency  ;  read  a  newspaper ;  the 
grey  mare  got  out  of  the  pasture,"  and  the  like.  April  13,  1791 , 
he  writes,  "Ordination  at  Oxford  ;  Mr.  P^mmons'  sermon  at  the 
ordination  very  disagreeable."  His  diary  is  quite  full  of  weather 
notes,  and  his  tobacco-box  seems  to  have  been  his  thermometer. 
On  March  <S,  18U2,  he  records,  "my  tobacco  froze  in  my  box 
last  night,"  and  this  entry  occurs  of  five  nights  in  a  single  week. 

About  this  time  he  was  writing  something  which  he  alludes 
to  frequently  as  "My  System,"  probably  a  system  of  theology, 
and  he  enters  its  completion  May  26,  1802.  June  4th  he"agreed 
with  Greenleaf  to  print  my  book, — set  it  at  2'  per  1000,  Strike 
it  off  4'  per  token."  Subsequently  he  decided  to  print  it  at  4'  6*^ 
bound  and  lettered.  It  was  a  volume  of  about  264  pp.  and  sold 
by  subscription.  It  appears  from  various  entries  that  this  book 
was  not  "My  System."  I  infer  that  he  kept  up  his  college 
studies  during  his  ministerial  life  from  his  apparent  familiarity 
with  the  Greek  text  of  the  New  Testament,  and  from  an  entry. 
May  28,  1802, — "I  calculated  on  the  motion  of  the  earth  and 
the  comet."  His  closeness  in  pecuniary  matters  is  illustrated 
by  numerous  entries.  Nov.  13,  1797,  he  "settled  about  a  steer, 
19%  lacking  l  penny  ;"  and  April  25,  1804,  "I  paid  to  Mrs.  Sibley 
3'  for  making  my  coat,  and  one  penny  over,  which  is  to  go  to- 
wards the  breeches."  Accurate  accountants  may  feel  relieved 
to  know  that  he  records  the  re-payment  of  this  "one  penny 
over,"  June  8th  of  the  same  year. 


66 


There  is  abundant  evidence  that  he  was  a  man  of  broad  cul- 
ture for  his  time  and  station  in  life,  but  he  has  left  traces  which 
modern  readers  would  declare  to  be  superstitious.  Thus  under 
date  of  Jan.  5,  1799,  he  writes: 

"Last  night  extreme  cold  ;  I  came  to  Burrage's  ;  the  pump 
got  froze  ;  we  tried  all  da}^  to  thaw  it  out ;  at  night  I  found  the 
spine  lose  from  the  box,  the  lower  pin-hole  clear  the  upper  pin 
and  a  nail  is  in  ;  but  it  can't  be  concieved  how  it  should  be  so : 
but  it  must  be  supernatural." 

Again,  March  9,  1800,  he  was  taken  sick  and  was  ill  until 
June.     He  writes  : 

"The  first  Monday  in  June  I  had  Rev'd  Messrs.  Emerson  of 
Conway,  Stone  of  Douglas,  Mills  of  Sutton  and  Bailey  of  Ward, 
to  spend  a  season  of  devotion  with  me.  Since  this  I  have  uni- 
formly grown  better  with  some  little  checks  by  the  way,  but  I 
think  I  may  justly  consider  it  that  God  has  answered  our  pra3-'rs.'' 

He  found  much  comfort  in  a  dream  of  Mrs.  Joseph  Bond, 
recorded  Jan.  23,  1794  : 

"She  dreamed  of  my  being  in  the  fire-place,  the  chimney,  even 
the  stones  all  on  fire,  and  I  not  in  the  least  burnt." 

It  would  be  eas}'  to  continue  these  sketches  to  an  indefinite 
length,  and  even  to  print  the  entire  mass  of  manuscript  included 
in  his  diary  would  not  be  without  antiquarian  interest,  but  I 
have  given  as  much  of  the  old-time  minister  as  time  will  allow. 
I  have  not  attempted  the  disquisitions  of  the  historian,  nor  the 
inferences  and  arguments  of  the  biographer.  My  work  has  been 
rather  to  compile  from  a  great  mass  of  material  enough  of  the 
words  of  the  old-time  minister  to  present  him,  in  his  own  proper 
person,  to  modern  ears,  with  as  little  else  as  is  possible  in  a 
connected  narrative.  Had  he  lived  with  such  experiences,  in 
modern  times,  his  trials  and  troubles  would  have  found  record 
in  the  dail}^  and  the  religious  press  ;  as  it  is  his  few  printed 
books,  which  are  already  well  nigh  lost  sight  of,  and  the  annals 
of  our  Society  are  likely  to  be  the  only  record  of  his  life. 

The  following  are  the  published  writings  of  Mr.  Chaplin,  so 
far  as  is  known  : — 


67 

"Treatise  on  Churcli  Coveriiiiient,  being  a  Narrative  of  the 
late  Troubles  and  Transactions  in  the  Church  in  Bolton,  Mass. 
Renjarks  on  Mr.  Adams'  8ermon  Aug.  2(j,  177"2,  with(II.)sonie 
Remarks  on  an  Account  in  the  Boston  Ercnhttj  Pont  Dec.  28, 
1772,  of  the  Di-sniiss-ion  of  a  Minister  in  Gratton,  and(lll.)0n 
Councils,  with  an  Essay  on  Ministers  Negativing  the  Votes  of 
the  Church — By  a  Neighbor:  pp.  .'^7  :  Boston  1773. 

A  Second  Treatise  on  Church  Government.     Reply  to  Adams 
Answer,  &c.  12":  Boston,  1773. 

The  Civil  State  Compared  to  Rivers — A  -Discourse  in  the 
Second  Parish  of  Sutton  Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1773,  the  day  prece- 
ding Town  Meeting  to  consider  and  act  upon  the  Letter  from 
Boston,  12":  Boston,  1773.  » 

The  Godly  Fathers  and  a  Defence  of  Their  people — A  ser- 
mon Delivered  April  19,  1772,  at  Uxbridge,  on  the  Death  of 
Rev.  Nathan  Webb:  Boston,  1773. 

Result  of  an  Ecclsiastical  Council ;  1793. 

A  Treatise  on  the  Nature  and  Importane  of  the  Sacrament — 
12°  Worcester:  1802. 

Modern  Pharisaism  Illustrated  and  Proved,  by  Timothy 
Truth  Esq.,  To  which  is  Annexed  A  Concise  Review  of  Elisha 
Andrews'  Brief  Reply  to  Bickerstaff's  Short  Epistle  to  the  Bap- 
tists :  By  Christopher  Duntaxet  LL.  D.  :  Sutton,  1811." 


68 

The  meeting  for  July  falling  on  the  4th,  was  b}^ 
adjournment  held  on  the  5th.  Phinehas  Bates  Jr. 
Esq.  of  Boston  was  elected  a  Corresponding  Member, 
and  Charles  W.  Rice  of  Worcester  was  elected  to 
active  membership. 

The  President  announced  the  names  of  members 
assigned  to  the  new  Department  of  Military  History.* 

Mr  Daniel  Seagrave  exhibited  a  mortar  brought 
over  in  the  Mayflower,  by  Elder  William  Brewster, 
and  now  owned  by  Mr.  Joseph  Brewster  Knox  of 
Worcester.  It  is  deposited  with  the  Society  for  safe 
keeping. 


The  third  annual  excursion  of  the  Worcester  So- 
ciety of  Antiquity  on  Saturday,  July  Sth,  found  a 
happy  selection  in  the  beautiful  historic  town  of  Lei- 
cester, one  of  the  oldest  "Academy  Towns"  of  New 
England  which,  unlike  many  of  the  villages  of  the 
former  period,  retains  its  old  characteristics,  with 
such  infusion  and  increase  from  the  enterprise  of  the 
present  day,  that  it  is  progressive,  well  kept,  with 
all  its  former  prestige  unimpaired. 

The  purpose  of  these  summer  excursions  does  not 
altogether  dismiss  the  idea  of  pleasure  hunting,  but 
when  among  other  delightful  adjuncts  are  found  pre- 

*  See  "Departments  of  Work"  for  1882. 


69 

sented  historic  features  of  interest  situated  in  tbeir 
own  locality  and  from  originals,  the  success  is  sure 
to  be  complete.  This  was  eminently  the  case  with 
the  visit  to  Leicester.  , 

Its  ease  of  access  from  Worcester  met  the  con- 
venience of  many  members,  by  making  it  a  half-day 
programme,  and  at  1  P.  M.  the  fully  loaded  barges 
left  the  Society's  rooms  on  Foster  street  and  in  less 
than  hour  the  party  were  safely  landed  on  Leicester 
Hill  where  an  unexpected  surprise  awaited  them  in 
a  thoroughly  complete  organization  of  the  citizens 
for  their  reception  and  entertainment.  A  commit- 
tee, among  them  Rev.  Messrs.  Coolidge  and  May, 
Messrs.  C.  C.  Denny,  Charles  A.  Denny,  Joseph 
Murdock,  Dr.  H.  P.  Wakefield,  L.  D.  Thurston,  H. 
L.  Watson  and  Parkman  Denny  were  in  attendance, 
with  numerous  ladies,  and  the  Society  found  them- 
selves at  once  at  home  and  among  friends. 

By  an  exercise  of  excellent  skill  and  zeal  there 
had  been  assembled  in  Memorial  Hall  a  very  notably 
excellent  collection  of  antiquities,  household  treas- 
ures and  relics  of  the  past  from  the  old-time  homes, 
or  through  other  ownerships  from  first  possessors, 
which  was  of  exceeding  interest.  The  committee 
cannot  forego  a  brief  recount  of  some  of  these,  the 
following  being  of  especial  interest: 

A  large  oil  painting — a  view  of  Worcester  from 
Denny  Hill,  painted  in  1800  by  Ralph  Earle,  who 
was  born  in  Leicester  in  1751,  and  was  the  grand- 
son of  the  first  Ralph,  one   of  the   original   colony. 


70 

He  was  a  pupil  of  Benjamin  West,  and  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Academy   of  London.      The   picturji   has 
the  spire  of  the  Old  South  Church  and  the  tower  of 
the  Court  House  in  view,  wliile  Shrewsbury  meeting- 
house is  in  the  distant  east.     A  set  of  tiny  silver  tea- 
spoons, made  by  Thomas  Earle   for   Ruth   Sargent, 
who  married   Col.    William   Henshaw   in    1762.     A 
pewter  platter,   belonging  to   Mrs.   John  Taylor  in 
1748,  who    kept   a   tavern    where   Dexter   Knight's 
house  now  stands;  the  tavern  was  burned  in   1767, 
and  this  "piece  of  plate"   was  saved.     David   Hen- 
shaw's  shoes,  and  shoes  worn  by   Mrs.    Buckminster 
of  Rutland,  wife  of  the  parson,  in  1780,  were  curious 
relics.     The  gun  carried  by  Col.   William  Henshaw 
when  he  went  to  Cambridge  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution  was  also  shown.     It  is  related  that  Gen. 
Washington  was  so  much  pleased  with   the   Aveapon 
that  he  wanted  one  like  it,    and   Thomas   Earle   of 
Cherry  Vallej'-  made  one  which  he  carried,  on  foot, 
to  New  York,  to  deliver.      He  was  disappointed   at 
his  reception,  the  General  being  very  busy,  and  only 
hastilv  ulancino-  ut  the  ii;un,  ordered   it   to   be   ])aid 
for.     Later,  on  learning  of  Mr.  Earle's  care  in  mak- 
ing the  gun,  and  his  long  journey  to  deliver  it,  the 
General  wrote  him  a  handsome  letter  of  thanks. 

The  old  lock  of  the  Leicester  Bank,  a  ponderous 
piece  of  machinerj^  and  an  equally  aged  padlock 
with  a  concealed  keyhole,  were  eagerly  .examined. 
Tiles  from  the  house  of  Col.  William  Henshaw,  built 
in  1770,  and  shoes  of  1772  were  shown,  also  a  quan- 


71 

tit y  of  the  iiiaiui scripts  of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Parkmaii, 
first  minister  at  Westborough,  1721,  the  writing  of 
which  is  so  fine  as  to  need  a  ghiss  for  reading  by 
modern  eyes.  His  music  book,  in  manuscript,  was 
also  shown.  It  is  about  l\  bv  3  inches  in  si/e,  and 
is  a  marvel  of  clear  and  distinct  work  with  the  pen. 
The  folloAving  lines,  painted  on  the  first  town  clock, 
are  also  of  interest: 

"I  serve  ve  here  with  all  mv  mioht : 
I  tell  the  hour  by  day  and  night. 
Therefore  warning  take  of  me. 
And  serve  thy  God  as  T  servo  thee  !" 

The  largest  and  most  valuable  portion  of  this  dis- 
play Avas  contributed  by  Miss  H.  E.  Henshaw,  and 
illustrated  the  career  of  her  grandfather,  Col.  \Vm. 
HenshaM',  of  Revolutionary  fame,  who  was  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Massachusetts  forces  under  General 
Ward  for  about  nine  months.  His  grand-daughter, 
Miss  H.  E.  Henshaw,  has  three  volumes  of  his  offi- 
cial records  and  order  books,  including  the  orders 
relative  to  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  One  of  these 
has  been  published  by  the  Mass.  Historical  Society. 
She  also  has  his  journal  of  the  expedition  to  Canada, 
in  the  French  war. 

Several  aged  people  were  present,  and  seemed 
much  interested  in  the  visit  and  in  the  objects  of  the 
Society.  Among  these  was  Mr.  Baldwin  Watts,  83 
years  of  age ;  he  has  a  sister,  ten  years  older,  still 
living  in  the  town. 


72 

Memorial  Hall  and  its  fine  collection  of  books, 
well  kept  and  well  used,  received  the  highest  com- 
mendation, and  greatly  honors  this  excellent  com- 
munity. After  an  hour  of  informal  examination  and 
investigation  Rev.  Mr.  Coolidge  made  an  address  of 
welcome. 

He  said  the  town  is  not  one  of  the  old  towns,  al- 
though it  has  celebrated  its  one  hundred  and  fiftieth 
anniversary.  Other  towns  have  passed  their  two 
hundredth  anniversary,  and  thereby  leave  Leicester 
quite  juvenile.  Here  the  Towtaid  Indians  roamed, 
here  are  many  interesting  relics  of  the  Revolution. 
The  town  held  its  first  meeting  a  year  before  the  first 
was  held  in  Worcester,  and  was  read}-  to  act  when 
the  first  call  to  arms  was  issued.  Here  was  one  of 
the  concealed  depots  of  ammunition  during  the  war. 
Col.  William  Henshaw  of  Leicester  was  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Massachusetts  forces  under  General 
Ward  for  nine  months  after  General  Washington 
took  command  of  the  army.  We  have  here  his  or- 
der-books covering  most  of  the  time ;  also  the  musket 
he  carried  to  Boston,  and  his  diary  kept  during  the 
campaign  to  Caucida  in  the  French,  war  in  1759, 
He  exhibited  Col.  Henshaw's  commission  as  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  French  war;  a  list  of  his  company  who 
marched  with  him  from  Leicester  to  Canada:  also 
the  list  of  members  of  Capt.  Whiting's  detachment 
and  Col.  Ruggles'  battalion  of  the  same  date;  Col. 
Henshaw's  commission  as  Adjutant  of  the  Massachu- 
setts forces  &c.     Mr.    Coolidge    also    exhibited    the 


7»> 


records  of  the  enrly  proprietors  of  the  town  in  sev- 
erjil  thick  volumes;  ;ui  indenture  of  apprenticeship, 
1747;  some  licenses  issued  to  hotel  keej^ers,  with 
the  ticcompanying  oaths  of  allegiance  to  the  state 
and  the  United  states;  a  bill  of  lading  in  the 
schooner  Delight,  bound  to  Antiqua,  Gaudeloupe, 
and  various  other  curious  ancient  matter. 

Ellery  B.  Crane  Esq.,  President  of  the  Society  of 
Antiquity,  responded  in  a  happy  manner,  expressing 
the  Society's  grateful  appreciation  of  the  generisity 
displayed  by  so  many  interested  citizens  of  Leicester. 

Before  the  company  were  seated  in  the  hall  their 
number  was  largely  increased  by  the  arrival  of 
numerous  prominent  Worcester  citizens  and  their 
ladies,  making  the  full  delegation .  from  our  city  a 
notably  large  one.  Among  these  gentlemen  were 
his  Honor,  Mayor  E.  B.  Stoddard,  a  former  pupil  of 
Leicester  Academy,  and  A.  P.  Marble  Esq.  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Worcester  schools,  also  Manning 
Leonard  Esq.  and  B.  A.  Leonard  of  Southbridge. 

Deacon  C.  C.  Denny  of  Leicester  then  read  a  brief 
historical  sketch  of  the  town.  It  was  purchased  by 
nine  gentlemen  of  Roxbury,  whose  records  are  still 
preserved,  and  were  exhibited.  The  first  settle- 
ment was  in  1714.  The  first  burial  place  was  in  the 
rear  of  the  first  meeting  house,  and  the  bottom  of  a 
coffin,  from  this  burial  ground,  was  shown.  In  1765, 
Benj.  Tucker  deeded  a  burial  place  to  a  company  of 
citizens,  which  was  called  "the  old  burial  place." 
Daniel  Denny,  who  came  here  in  1716,   left  money 


74 

for  another  burial  place,  near  the  meetmg  house. 
This  was  the  fifth  public  burial  ground  laid  out  in 
the  town.  In  Leicester,  in  1830,  only  237  people 
were  taxed,  the  valuation  being  $286,000;  in  1880 
there  there  were  505  tax  payers,  and  the  valuation 
was  992,000;  only  17  of  the  owners  of  real  estate 
in  1830,  or  their  descendants,  had  possession  of  it 
fifty  years  after  that  date,  and  only  five  farms  in  the 
town  are  owned  or  occupied  by  the  descendants 
of  those  who  occupied  them  one  hundred  years 
ago.  In  1830  four  persons  only  of  foreign  birth 
were  taxed  for  real  estate;  in  1880  there  were  165. 
Fifty  years  ago  17  families  of  the  name  of  Earle 
were  taxed  here ;  now  there  is  but  one. 

Hon.  E.  B.  Stoddard,  Mayor  of  Worcester  was 
called  out,  and  made  a  pleasant  address,  alluding  to 
his  membership  with  Leicester  Academy  35  years 
ago,  and  spoke  tenderly  of  the  infiuence  of  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Nelson,  upon  the  character  of  the  town.  He 
said  the  relics  exhibited  here  to-day  indicate  how 
much  of  value  and  interest  may  be  saved  by  any 
one,  if  only  pains  are  taken.  Every  one  can  recall 
matters  occurring  in  early  life,  relics  and  records  of 
which  are  already  lost,  because  no  care  was  taken 
to  preserve  them.  Local  societies  like  this  one  are 
very  valuable,  and  he  expressed  satisfaction  in  its 
prosperity,  and  pleasure  at  its  cordial  reception  in 
Leicester.  He  intimated  that  such  an  interesting; 
occasion  would  bear  to  be  repeated. 


75 

Hon.  Clark  Jillson,  ex-Major  of  Worcester,  and 
ex-President  of  the  Society,  spoke  of  his  satisfaction 
in  being  present  on  such  a  delightful  occasion,  and 
alluded  to  the  many  choice  relics  on  exhibition,  and 
to  the  importance  of  their  preservation.  He  also 
alluded  to  the  notable  generosity  of  the  citizens  of 
Leicester,  in  making  such  ample  provision  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  Society. 

During  his  remarks  he  called  attention  to  a  name 
upon  one  of  the  Memorial  Tablets,  erected  by  the 
town  in  memory  of  Leicester's  patriotic  soldiers  who 
died  in  defence  of  a  Nation's  life  during  the  rebellion 
of  186 L  Hiram  Streeter  was  his  schoolmate  and 
friend,  and  when  the  town  was  struggling  to  fill  its 
([uota  he  went  to  Worcester  with  a  determination  to 
enlist  as  a  private  in  the  57th  Regiment.  He  there 
called  upon  his  old  friend  wdio  questioned  the  pro- 
priety of  his  leaving  his  family  and  home  without 
further  consideration.  His  reply  was,  "/  have  deci- 
ded that  it  is  wy  duty  to  defend  my  country  if  I  die  in 
so  doing."  Leicester  is  honored  in  perpetuating  the 
memory  other  soldiers. 

Albert  P.  Marble  Pii.  D.,  Superintendent  of  the 
Worcester  schools,  spoke  of  the  intluence  of  acade- 
mies in  the  scheme  of  public  education,  and  felt  sure 
that  academies  and  high  schools  are  both  needed. 
He  also  congratulated  the  Leicester  people  on  their 
excellent  educational  facilities. 

Mr.  AV.  S.  Wood,  Superintendent  of  schools  in 
Seymour,  Lid.,  was  called  u^Don,  and   expressed  his 


76 

pleasure  in  the  gathering,  which  he  said  was  impos- 
sible in  the  West,  where  a  man  who  has  lived  in  a 
place  five  years  is  considered  an  old  settler. 

Mr.  George  Sumner,  Vice-President  of  the  Society, 
was  introduced  and  made  af)propriate  remarks  upon 
the  object  of  the  meeting  and  its  success. 

Dr.  Wakefield  made  a  very  pleasant  speech  and 
gave  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  topography  of  the 
town,  and  of  the  common  land  in  the  centre,  which 
was  originally  five  acres.  He  also  gave  some  sug- 
gestions in  regard  to  the  earlier  meeting-houses,  and 
school  buildings. 

General  A.  B.  R.  Sprague,  Sheriff  of  Worcester 
County,  made  a  brief  but  interesting  speech,  expres- 
sing his  pleasure  at  the  gathering,  and  his  interest 
in  the  Societ^^  and  its  work.  He  alluded  to  the  later 
history  of  Leicester,  and  to  its  contributions  to  the 
army  of  the  Union,  and  urged  that  all  historical 
material  be  carefully  cherished  and  preserved. 

One  feature  of  greatest  interest  in  the  day  was  the 
Leicester  Academy,  the  structure  being  then  in  a 
well  advanced  and  thorough  stage  of  repairs  and  re- 
fitting for  the  new  era  of  its  existence,  since  success- 
fully entered  upon.  This  work  was  examined  with 
much  interest  by  the  visitors,  and  they  were  highly 
delighted  in  listening  to  a  charming  historical  sketch 
of  the  Academy,  prepared  for  the  occasion,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  May  of  Leicester,  as  follows: 


LEICESTER  ACADEMY. 


By  EEV.  SAMUEL  MAY. 


Leicester  Acadeni}'  may  be  fairl}'  called  "an  ancient  seat  of 
learning," — if  there  can  be  onght  ancient  in  so  young  a  country 
as  ours, — aiad  so  a  proper  subject  for  a  "Society  of  Antiquity" 
to  consider.  In  two  3'ears  from  this  time  it  will  complete  a  cen- 
tury of  existence.  During  that  century  it  has  filled  a  large  place 
in  educating  the  youth  of  the  "Heart  of  the  Commonwealth,"  as 
Worcester  County  has  long  been  called,  and  indeed  a  much 
larger  area.  It  is  the  oldest  Academy  in  the  State  away  from 
the  seaboard.  Only  Dummer  Academy  in  Byfield,  founded  in 
1756,  and  Phillips  Academy  in  Andover,  founded  in  1777,  are 
its  seniors.  Its  educational  position  and  repute  have  always 
compared  favorably  with  those  well  known  seminaries,  and  with 
Phillips  Exeter  Academy  in  New  Hampshire  ;  and  the  work  it 
has  done  has  been  of  a  like  character  with  theirs,  with  the  addi- 
tion that  it  has  from  the  beginning  done  this  work  for  both 
young  men  and  ^oung  women. 

At  the  close  of  onr  revolutionary  war,  the  means  of  popular 
education  in  Massachusetts,  which  had  alwaj-s  been  scant,  had 
become  reduced  to  a  low  point.  To  those  who  thoughtfully 
reflected  on  the  future  of  the  young  country,  which  henceforth 
must  cease  to  look  to  the  "mother  country"  for  professional 
and  educational  guides,  the  prospect  was  dark.  Something 
must  be  done  to  meet  this  radical  deficiency,  and  there  was  no 
time  to  be  lost.  The  new  state  had  indeed  the  best  material  to 
build  upon  and  to  l)uild  with  a  population  for  the  most  part  of 
unmixed  Anglo-Saxon  descent,  moulded  by  the  influences  of  a 
peculiar  religious  training  and  tried  in  the  school  of  stern  con- 
test with  hardships  and  adversit}'.     The  churches  and  pulpits 


78 


had  always  been  powerful  educating  influences.  The  minister, 
who  was  chosen  by  the  town  in  concurrence  with  the  church,  was 
invariably  an  educated  man ,  and  could  always  be  depended  upon 
to  aid  every  impulse  and  effort  towards  good  learning.  But  the 
poverty  of  the  means  and  resourses  for  i'c7iOo/nt,(7  of  any  kind, 
was  appalling.  Harvard  College,  the  only  college  in  the  State, 
gave  a  respectable  preparation  to  a  small  number  of  young  men 
designed  for  the  three  learned  professions  of  the  time  :  two  or 
three  academies  struggled  to  hold  their  own  ;  the  common 
schools  were  few  for  the  need,  kept  for  short  periods,  taught 
by  persons  usually  of  good  native  sense  and  gifts,  but  of  very 
limited  training,  poorly  paid,  and  mostly  compelled  to  resort  to 
other  labors  also  for  a  maintenance.  Such,  as  we  are  obliged 
to  conclude  from  the  recorded  history  of  the  time,  was  the  state 
of  things  in  this  vicinity  at  the  period  spoken  of — the  close  of 
the  war  of  1776-1 7S3  ;  in  spite  of  all  which,  there  existed  a 
prevailing  sturdy  good  sense  and  a  degree  of  intelligence,  which 
must  always  challenge  admiration  and  often  excite  surprise. 

No  school  of  advanced  education  existed  in  Worcester  Coun- 
ty,— unless  Lancaster  may  be  an  exception, — until  Leicester 
Academy  was  founded.  And  its  foundations  were  not  laid  by 
Leicester  hands,  although  Leicester  hands  were  not  backward 
in  the  up-building.  In  the  brief  time  allowed  for  the  sketch,  I 
attempt  little  more  than  an  outline — imperfect  at  that — of  what 
the  late  Governor  Washburn,  a  native  and  a  most  loyal  son  of 
of  this  town,  has  furnished  for  us  in  his  History  of  Leicester 
Academy. 

Colonel  Ebenezer  Crafts  of  Sturbridge, — born  in  Pomfret, 
Conn, — was  tlie  real  founder  of  Leicester  Academy.  Before 
the  war  bi'oke  out,  with  foresight,  he  had  raised  and  organized 
a  company  of  cavalry  ;  with  which,  as  its  captain,  he  joined  the 
army  at  Cambridge  in  177-").  He  continued  in  active  service  near 
Boston,  until  the  place  was  evacuated  by  the  British  army  in 
March,  1776.  When  the  war  closed,  in  1783,  he  turned  his  at- 
tention, with  characteristic  promptness,  to  the  correction  of  the 
evil  of  which  he  had  long  been  avvare,  namely,  the  low  state  of 
education  among  the  people  all  about  him,  which  had  been  made 
worse  by  the  inevitable  effect  of  an  exhausting   war  of  seven 


79 

years'  continuance.  The  purpose  of  establishing  an  Academy 
had  lono;  been  nuilurinii  in  his  mind.  He  enlisted  his  friend, 
Col.  Jacob  Davis  of  Charlton,  in  the  scheme;  and  an  estate 
with  a  good  building  upon  it  in  the  centre  of  Leicester,  being 
then  for  sale,  they  bought  it  in  the  Spring  of  17.S3  at  public 
auction  for  the  sum  of  £ol5  lo";  and,  after  some  delays,  they 
obtained  an  act  of  incorporation,  and  made  a  free  gift  of  the 
estate,  for  the  purposes  of  an  Academy,  to  the  trustees  .named 
in  the  incorporating  act,  who  were  gentlemen  of  Sturbridge, 
Charlton,  Leicester,  Worcester,  Spencer,  Brookfield,  and  Brim-' 
field.     A  portrait  of  Col.  Crafts  hangs  in  the  Academy  Hall. 

The  building  thus  purchased,  and  devoted  thenceforth  to  the 
purposes  of  education,  had  belonged  to  Mr.    Aaron   Lopez,    a 
wealthy  Jew  merchant  of  Newport,  R.  L,  who  had  retreated  with 
his  family  to  Leicester,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and-remain- 
ed  here  until  near  its  close.     He  had  purchased  an  acre  of  land 
of  what  is  now  the  south-easterly  portion  of  our  common,   and 
erected,  close  upon  the  present  main  road,  a  two-story  building 
of  wood,  of  unusual  size  and  appearance,  for  the  two-fold  pur- 
pose of  a  residence  and  a  store.     Gov.  Washburn  describes  the 
building,  partly  from  recollection,  as  about  75  feet  feet  in  length 
on  the  street,  and  as  having  six  rooms  on  the  lower  floor,  three 
in  front,  three   in    the    rear.     Rev.    Dr.    Pierce   of  Brookline, 
(H.  U.  17i):3,  who  died  1849)  a  preceptor  here  1793-1795,   de- 
scribed it  as  ''an  oblong,  barrack-looking  building."     The  cen- 
tre front- room  was  much  the  largest,    and    was   the   Jew   mer- 
chant's store-house.     These  rooms  were  not  over  seven  and  a 
half  feet  high,  and  the  two  corner  ones  were  small.     Neverthe- 
less here,  for  some  twenty  years,  Leicester  Academy  was  kept, 
amidst  inconveniences  and  drawbacks  such  as  would  be  deemed 
intolerable  now.     Here  faithful  instructors  discharged  their  high 
ortice  with  zeal  and  dilligence,  and  here  many  young  men   and 
women  laid  the  foundation  of  future  success  and  honor,  and  in 
many  cases  of  eminence.     Little  or  no  change  was  made  in  the 
building  to  adapt  it  to  school  uses.     The  store,  or  centre  room, 
became  the  ''commons"  or  eating  room,  and  the  place  for  all 
exercises  of  declamation  and  the  like.     The  corner  rooms  were 
the  school  rooms,  the  south-west  being  for  the  classical  depart- 


80 

ment,  the  south-east  for  the  English.  Rev.  Dr.  Pierce,  writing 
his  reminiscences,  says:  "Over  the  Latin  (or  classical)  school 
was  a  chamber,  in  which  the  principal  and  myself  occupied  the 
same  bed,  for  the  two  years  we  were  together.  Not  only  so, 
when  a  college  friend  was  to  pass  the  night  with  us,  we  all 
three  slept  together." 

Before  the  school  could  be  opened,  indeed  before  it  could  get 
its  incorporation,  it  was  made  obligatory  on  its  founders  to  raise 
the  sum  of  One  Thousand  pounds  (about  $3300.),  exclusive  of 
the  real  estate,  for  its  endowment. 

Immediate  appeal  for  the  sum  was  made.  Gov.  Washburn 
says,  "It  found  general  favor  in  the  County,  and  enlisted  the 
zeal  and  active  sympathy  of  man}-  of  its  prominent  citizens." 
"Among  these"  he  saj's  "was  the  late  Isaiah  Thomas  Esq.,  the 
publisher  and  proprietor  of  the  Massachusetts  Spy,  who  rendered 
efficient  aid  by  the  influence  of  that  paper."  The  Spy  of  Nov. 
6,  1783,  announced  that  "there  would  soon  be  opened  at  Leices- 
ter, an  Academy  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  sciences," 
and  an  appeal  was  made  "to  the  people  of  this  large  county  to 
exert  themselves  to  second  the  endeavors  of  those  gentlemen 
who  have  laid  this  generous  and  laudable  plan  for  public  educa- 
tion." It  was  further  stated  that  "this  academy  vvill  be  opened 
in  that  large  and  elegant  house  lately  occupied  by  Mr.  Aaron 
Lopez,  a  situation  particularly  advantageous  for  this  purpose." 
In  a  subsequent  paper,  an  appeal  was  made,  "to  set  on  foot  a 
subscription,  through  the  count}'  at  least,  in  favor  of  our  infant 
academy."  One  minister  of  tlie  County,  Rev.  Joseph  Buck- 
minster  of  Rutland,  preached  upon  the  subject,  and  in  his  dis- 
course, "on  Thanksgiving  day  of  that  year,  addressed  his  con- 
gregation, in  strong  terms,  upon  the  importance  of  lending  their 
aid  to  the  proposed  institution."  His  remarks  were  published 
in  the  Spy.  Was  it  an  accidental  coincidence,  that,  long  years 
after  Mr.  Buckminster  made  this  thoughtful  appeal,  the  largest 
contribution  which  the  Academy  had  ever  received  came  from 
a  native  son  of  Rutland,  (James  Smith  Esq.)  or  was  it  indeed 
another  verification  of  the  promise,  given  to  every  true  and  dis- 
interested worker  that 

"Though  seed  lie  long  in  earth, 
It  shan't  deceive  the  hope  ?" 


81 

To  make  up  the  required  £1000,  the  town  of  Leicester  pledged 
one  half,  on  condition  that  the  Academy  should  not  be  removed 
from  town  ;  and  the  remaining  half  was  contributed  by  individ- 
uals of  different  places;  Lieut.  (Jov.  (Jill  of  Princeton  giving 
£150  ;  Col.  Thos.  Denny  and  Capt.  Thos.  Newhall  of  Leicester, 
£100  each  ;  Jeduthan  Baldwin  of  Brooktield,  £100  ;  Reuben 
Swan  of  Leicester,  £50  :  Dr.  Austin  Flint  of  Leicester,  land  of 
the  value  of  $160;  Joseph  Allen  and  Timothy  Bigelow  of  Wor- 
cester, each  £30  ;  Isaiah  Thon)as  of  Worcester,  £20,  and  others. 

The  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  March  23,  1784,  and  the 
Trustees  met  and  organized  on  the  7th  of  April.  Hon.  Moses 
Gill,  (Lieut.  Gov.,  and  subsequently'  acting  Gov.  of  the  State) 
was  elected  President  of  the  Trustees,  Rev.  Benjamin  Conklin 
of  Leicester,  Vice-President,  Rev.  Joseph  Pope  of  Spencer, 
Secretary,  Joseph  Allen  Esq.  of  Worcester,  Treasurer,  and  Col. 
Ebenezer  Crafts  of  Sturbridge,  Steward  and  Butler.  This  last 
is  rather  to  be  viewed  as  a  compliment  to  him,  as  he  never  re- 
sided in  Leicester,  while  he  always  kept  a  lively  interest  in  the 
Academy's  welfare. 

Benjamin  Stone  was  engaged  as  principal  Preceptor,  and  the 
school  was  opened  on  Monday  June  7,  1784,  with  three  pupils, 
to  wit,  Samuel  C.  Crafts  and  Ephraim  Allen  of  Sturbridge,  and 
Samuel  .Swan  of  Leicester.  Soon  after,  Eli  Whitney  of  West- 
borough,  whose  name  as  an  inventor  has  since  been  so  univer- 
sally known,  joined  the  school,  and  the  number  of  pupils  during 
the  term  rose  to  twenty.  In  the  second,  or  autumn  term,  with 
two  Preceptors — Mr.  Thomas  Parson  being  in  the  English  de- 
partment— the  number  rose  to  between  sevent}'  and  eighty. 

The  first  scholar  fitted  for  college  was  the  aforesaid  Samuel  C. 
Crafts,  son  of  Col.  Ebenezer  Crafts.  He  was  graduated  at 
Cambridge  in  1790,  went  iramediatel}'  with  his  father  to  Ver- 
mont, aided  him  in  founding  the  town  of  Craftsbury,  was  for 
sixteen  years  Judge  and  Chief  Justice  of  one  of  the  courts,  was 
Governor  of  the  State  two  years,  and  a  Representative  and 
Senator  in  Congress,  "commanding  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all."  He  died  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  Being  the 
first  of  nearly  five  thousand  3'oung  persons,  who  have  resorted 
to  Leicester  Academ}-  for  an  education,  this  brief  notice  of  him 
will  doubtless  be  of  interest. 


82 

The  salary  of  the  Principal  was  at  first  £50. — only  $167 — and 
he  was  to  be  "at  the  expense  of  his  own  support."  When  Mr. 
(afterward  Dr.)  Pierce  was  here,  ten  ^ears  later,  his  salary  was 
£60.  ($200)  and  the  second  3'ear  $250.  For  years  the  Academy- 
struggled  for  its  life,  and  at  times  seemed  on  the  point  of  utter 
failure.  But  "help  came,  though  slowl}',"  and  "it  has  never 
failed"  sa^-s  Gov.  AVashburn,  writing  in  1855,  "to  supply  the 
aid  of  a  well-regulated  and  well-diciplined  school,  under  teach- 
ers of  competent  and  often  eminent  qualifications." 

This  paper  allows  no  opportunity-  of  a  detailed  statement  of 
the  course  of  stud}',  which  continued  to  steadily-  advance  with 
the  growth  of  knowledge,  and  as  the  public  needs  became  man- 
ifest. In  1798,  for  the  first  time,  globes,  a  microscope,  an 
electrical  machine,  a  thermometer,  and  a  set  of  surveying  in- 
struments, were  procured.  The  study'  of  Chemistrj',  in  a  small 
wa}',  was  introduced  in  1813.  In  1823,  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
dollars  was  given,  b}-  residents  of  Leicester,  to  procure  philo- 
sophical and  astronomical  apparatus.  Instruction  in  French 
was  given  in  1828, 

Very  earl}'  the  custom  of  an  Annual  Exhibition  was  estab- 
lised,  and  the  scholars  soon  began  to  give  dramatic  performan- 
ces in  connexion  with  the  same.  Thus,  in  17i)(),  we  learn  that 
Addison's  "Cato"  was  acted  entire  ;  and  the  late  Hon.  Abijah 
Bigelow  of  Worcester,  was  one  of  the  boy-performers.  Rev. 
Dr.  Pierce  sa3's,  "Plays  were  acted  in  the  meeting-house,  which 
was  crowded  to  its  full  capacity,"  and  he  gives  an  amusing  ac- 
count of  one  called  "The  Scolding  Wife,"  in  which,  to  quote  his 
own  words,  "the  heroine  acted  her  part  to  universal  admiration." 

From  the  commencement  of  the  school  pupils  were  admitted 
of  both  sexes  ;  and  says  Washburn,  "the  Trustees  and  the  pre- 
ceptors seem  to  have  understood, — what  is  now  so  well  settled — 
that,  in  educational  training,  the  same  intellectual  processes 
were  to  be  pursued  with  one  sex  as  with  the  other  ;  antl  there- 
fore they  adopted  the  same  system  of  text-books  and  instruction 
for  each,"  and  he  emphasizes  the  "success"  which,  he  says,  has 
"always  distinguished  this  S3'stem." 

In  May,  1835,  the  Trustees  voted  to  employ  a  female  teacher 
which  raised  the  number  of  teachers  to  four,  and  this  continued 


83 

many  years.  Miss  Elizabeth  Holmes  was  the  tirst  of  these.  She 
held  the  positiou  from  l<s.'5;>  to  1<S4!S,  thirteen  years,  to  general 
acceptance;  and  her  death,  in  l.s4'J,  was  attended  with  every 
mark  of  regret  and  respect. 

A  brief  list  of  some  of  the  benefactors  of  the  Academy,  sub- 
sequent to  the  original  ones  already  named,  here  follows  : 

In  Ibll,  Capt.  Thomas  Newhall  of  Leicester,  gave  $1,000. 
In  l(S2-i,  Capt.  Israel  Waters  of  Charlton  gave  b}'  will  about 
$<S,OOU.  In  1831,  Isaiah  Thomas  Esq.  of  Worcester,  gave  by 
will  $5,000.  In  1845,  Hon.  Daniel  AValdo  of  Worcester,  gave 
by  will  $(!,yOO.  In  1852,  James  Smith  Esq.  of  Philadelphia, 
gave  $10,000,  and  at  his  death,  by  will,  the  further  sum  of 
15,000  making  his  total  gift  $25,000. 

Portraits  of  Capt.  Waters,  of  Isaiah  Thomas  Esq.,  of  Hon. 
Daniel  Waldo,  and  of  James  Smith  Esq.  are  in  the  principal  hall 
of  the  academy. 

Mr.  Smith,  with  his  tirst  donation,  made  the  condition  that 
$5,000  more  should  be  subscribed  by  the  friends  of  the  Academy. 
This  was  done  :  about  $o,000  of  the  amount  being  contributed 
in  Leicester,  and  the  remainder  from  Worcester,  Spencer,  Ox- 
ford, Princeton,  Dorchester,  Boston,  New  Haven,  and  New 
York.  Of  the  amount  given  in  Leicester,  $1,000  was  from 
the  late  Joseph  Addison  Denny,  of  whom  a  portrait  is  in  the 
Academy  Hall.  Capt.  Waters'  gift  the  first  and  only  one  to 
which  a  theological  condition  was  attached.  He  required  that 
the  instructor  or  instructors,  to  receive  the  benefit,  should  be 
"of  the  Congregational  Calvinistic  order." 

Many  things  of  interest  must  here  be  wholly  passed.  But  the 
fact  that  in  obtaining  funds  in  the  early  da3'S  of  the  Academy's 
existence,  recourse  was  twice  had  to  a,  2iublic  lottery,  hy  leave  of 
the  Legislature,  is  too  curious  to  be  omitted. 

But  the  old  Jew  Merchant's  building  had  become  entirely 
inadequate  to  the  Academ3''s  needs,  and  had  fallen  into  decay 
besides.  The  Trustees  bought  more  land,  in  the  rear  of  their 
estate,  in  1804  ;  and  on  the  15th  day  of  May,  1805,  the  corner 
stone  was  laid  of  a  large,  commodious,  and  handsome  building, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  one  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner  of  Shrews- 
bury, then  President,  conducting  the  services,  which  were  with 


84 

much  ceremony  and  impressiveness.  The  old  building  was  sold 
for  a  trifling  sum,  and  removed.  A  portion  of  it  still  stands  on 
Pleasant  street,  occupied  as  a  dwelling  house  by  Mr.  George 
Hatch.  The  new  building  which  was  of  wood  was  dedicated 
July  4,  1806,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sumner  ofl"ering  the  prayer  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft  of  Worcester  delivering  "An  Oration  upon 
Education."  This  building,  which  had  cost  upwards  of  $9,000, 
equal  perhaps  to  double  the  amount  now,  proved  to  have  been 
unfaithfall}'  built,  and  was  a  constant  source  of  trouble,  in  all 
weathers,  so  that,  in  1832,  when  it  was  but  26  years  old,  it  was 
decided  to  take  it  down  and  erect  another  in  its  place. 

The  present  brick  building  is  the  successor  of  that  dedicated 
in  1806.  It  was  built  in  1832,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000,  and  was 
dedicated  in  1833.  Considerable  sums  have  been  expended 
upon  it,  from  time  to  time.  For  nearl}'  lift}'  3'ears  a  large  and 
flourishing  school  has  been  maintained  in  it,  usualh'  with  four 
regular  teachers  ;  having  also  a  residence  in  it  for  the  principal 
and  his  family,  rooms  for  the  teachers,  man}'  dormitories  for 
scholars,  and  a  boarding-house.  In  the  lapse  of  the  half  cen- 
tury, it  has  come  to  need  extensive  alterations  and  repairs  ;  and 
these  are  now  in  progress,  at  a  cost  of  some  $6,000. 

When  the  present  meeting-house  of  the  Firet  Congregational 
Society  was  built,  in  1866,  the  old  meeting-house  was  sold  to 
the  Trustees  of  the  Academy-,  who  removed  it  to  the  rear  of  the 
Academy,  converting  it  into  dormitories  for  scholars,  and  a 
gymnasium  with  extensive  apparatus.  The  present  funds  for 
the  endowment  of  the  Academy-  amount  to  $50,000. 

The  names  of  some  of  the  leading  persons  in  the  government 
of  the  Academy  are  as  follows: — Hon.  Moses  Gill,  Hon.  Levi 
Lincoln,  Senior,  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Sumner,  Rev.  Di'.  Aaron 
Bancroft,  Gov.  Levi  Lincoln,  Hon.  Seth  Washburn.  Rev.  Benj. 
Conklin,  Rev.  Zephaniah  S.  Moore,  Rev.  John  Nelson,  an  ex- 
cellent likeness  of  whom  is  in  the  Academy  hall  ;  Hon.  Dwight 
Foster,  Rev.  Joseph  Pope,  Hon.  Joseph  Allen,  Hon,  Abijah  Big- 
elow.  Col.  Thomas  Denn}',  Dr.  Austin  Flint,  Hon.  Nath'l  P. 
Denny,  Hon.  Daniel  AYaldo,  Samuel  M.  Burnside  Esq.,  Alfred 
D.  Foster  Esq.,  Rev.  Dr.  Horatio  Bardwell,  Hon.  Emory  Wash- 
burn, Ichabod  Washbui-n  Esq.,  Joseph  A.   Denny   Esq.,   Hon. 


85 


Thos.  Kinuicutt,— all  well  known  citizens  of  Worcester  County. 

Among  the  teachers  not  now  living,  have  been  Ebenezer  Ad- 
ams, afterwards  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philoso- 
phy, in  Dartmouth  College ;  Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift  Moore, 
afterwards  President  of  Williams  College  ;  Hon.  Bradford  Sum- 
ner, John  Richardson,  Rev.  Josiah  Clark,  father  and  son.  Rev. 
Dr.  John  Pierce,  Rev.  Theodore  Dehon,  afterwards  bishop  of 
South  Carolina  ;  Dr.  James  Jackson,  Dr.  John  Dixwell,  Dr. 
George  C-  Shattuck,  Hon.  Timothy  Fuller,  Hon.  AValdo  Flint, 
Hon.  Pernor}-  Washburn,  Charles  S.  Henrj',  Luther  Wright,  Al- 
van  II.  Washburn,  Charles  A.  Wetmore,  and,  if  one  still  living 
ma}-  be  named,  Hon.  William  W,  Rice,  our  present  Representa- 
tive in  Congress. 

Prominent  among  the  pupils  of  the  Academy,  in  addition  to 
Gov.  Crafts  of  Vermont,  and  Eli  Whitney  the  inventor,  were 
Hon.  William  L,  Marcy,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States  ; 
Hon.  William  Upham,  a  Senator  from  Vermont ;  Rev.  Gardi- 
ner Spring,  D.  D.,  Hon.  John  Davis,  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  Hon.  Ebenezer  Lane,  a  Chief  Justice  of  Ohio  ;  Colonel 
Thomas  Aspinwall,  for  many  years  U.  S.  Consul  at  London  ; 
Hon.  David  Henshaw.  Secretary  of  the  Nav}^  of  the  United 
States  ;  Rev.  George  Allen,  Hon.  Charles  Allen,  member  of 
Congress  and  Judge  ;  Hon.  Pliny  Merrick  and  Hon.  Benjamin 
F.  Thomas,  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts  ; 
Dr.  Levi  Hedge,  Professor  of  Logic  and  Philosophy  in  Harvard 
College  ;  to  which  should  be  added,  with  special  honor  for  the 
many  good  works  he  has  done  in  the  Academy's  behalf,  the  Hon. 
Emory  Washburn,  Governor,  Judge,  Law  Professor  in  Harvard 
College,  &c.  "And  if  to  these  I  were  to  add,"  says  Mr.  Wash- 
burn, "the  names  of  those  once  pupils  of  the  Academy,  who 
have  made  their  influence  felt  as  the  graceful,  and  dignified,  and 
gifted  wives  and  mothers  of  the  leading  men  of  their  da}-,  the 
task,  though  a  pleasant  one,  would  require  a  degree  of  time  and 
labor  which  is  not  now  at  my  command." 

The  Centennial  of  Leicester  Academy  approaches  ;  its  friends, 
who  then  shall  be  living,  will  assemble  in  the  spring  of  1884,  to 
celebrate  that  event,  to  recount  its  various  fortunes,  and  to 
speak  of  the  inestimable  services  it  has  rendered,  in  the  cause 


86 

of  good  learning,  to  this  communit}-,  to  the  Commonwealth, 
and  to  a  much  wider  circle,  during  its  first  one  hundred  years. 
It  will  be  a  good  day  for  the  old  and  honored  school ;  for  it  will 
tell  of  a  history  which  began  earlier  than  the  form  of  govern- 
ment under  which  we  are  now  living,  a  history  which  began 
immediately  after  the  war  for  the  independence  of  America  had 
closed  ;  and  it  will  commemorate  the  labors  of  men  sharing 
largely-  the  patriotic  and  unselfish  spirit  which  carried  the  coun- 
tr}-  through  the  long,  weary  years  of  the  war.  It  will  tell  of 
Ebenezer  Crafts  and  of  Jacob  Davis  who,  prompted,  it  is  hardl}' 
too  muchto  say  inspired,  by  the  love  of  country  and  a  high  pur- 
pose to  do  something  to  save  it  from  the  fatal  consequences  of 
ignorance  and  its  allied  evils,  (being  resolved,  in  the  words  of 
the  early  Puritans,  that  "learning  shall  not  be  buried  in  the  gra- 
ves of  our  fathers,")  came  to  this  town,  purchased  building  and 
land,  and  gave  it  a  free  gift  forever,  to  the  cause  of  education  ; 
selecting  this  place,  I  am  sure,  not  whoU}'  from  the  accidental 
circumstance  of  a  suitable  building  being  for  sale,  but  also  be- 
cause of  the  eminent  character  of  leading  citizens  here,  whose 
services  throught  the  Revolution  had  honored  Leicester,  and  had 
placed  the  names  of  Allen,  Ilenshaw,  Washburn,  Green,  Conk- 
lin,  Sargent,  Denny,  Newhall,  Livermore,  Ward,  and  others, 
high  on  the  roll  of  worthies,  both  in  council  and  in  the  field. 
It  will  tell  of  the  liberal  response  which  this  town,  though  crip- 
pled by  the  war,  made  to  the  call  for  aid  to  the  new-born  scJiooi. 
It  will  tell  of  the  generous  donations  of  many  men  and  women. 
It  will  tell  of  the  long  line  of  instructors,  whose  modest  and 
patient  labors  here  proved  a  lasting  blessing  to  a  long  array  of 
pupils  ;  and  of  the  many  men  who  have  gladly  and  freely  given, 
as  Trustees,  invaluable  time  and  service,  to  build  up  the  Acade- 
my, and  to  nourish  its  growth.  It  will  be  an  honorable  story, 
of  which  neither  the  Academy,  nor  the  count},  nor  the  town 
will  need  to  be  ashamed.  The  Acadeni}',  and  its  great  constit- 
uency of  pupils  and  friends,  need  not  hesitate  to  admit  any 
errors  or  defects  which  may  have  attended  its  administration  in 
the  past,  for  such  are  inseparable  from  human  afif'airs  ;  but  they 
can  truly  say  that  these,  if  such  there  were,  were  exceptions  to 


8' 

its  large  mid  beuelicent  career  ;  and  they  can  point,  with  hon- 
orable pride,  to  the  great  company  of  citizens,  useful  and  emi- 
nent in  all  walks  of  life,  men  and  women  of  the  highest  charac- 
ter, who  went  forth  from  Leicester  Acadeni}-,  and  who,  wher- 
ever thev  have  lived,  have  been  of  "the  salt  of  the  earth." 


It  is  easy  to  be  won  from  things  of  the  past  when 
the  present  puts  forward  claims  like  those  of  the  ice- 
cream and  strawberry  collation  furnished  in  Memo- 
rial Hall  by  the  hospitable  people  of  Leicester,  and 
not  to  rend  too  suddenly  and  entirely  the  historic 
associations  of  the  hour  the  graceful  and  pleasant 
young  ladies'  committee,  Misses  Emma  Pierce,  Sara 
Coolido;e,  Marv  Coolidgre,  Belle  Hatch  and  Ruth 
Hatch,  who  ministered  at  the  feast,  were  attired  in 
the  silks  and  brocades  of  their  grandmothers'  days, 
with  high  combs,  powdered  hair  and  face  patches, — 
a  charming  reproduction  of  the  antique. 

After  the  collation  the  party  went  to  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, a  short  mile  from  the  town,  where  a  magnificent 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  was  enjoyed.  They 
also  had  the  pleasure  of  examining  the  house  of  Mr. 
Tarleton,  built  in  1771,  by  Joseph  Henshaw,  a  Bos- 
ton merchant,  as  a  country  seat.  Its  original  wain- 
scots, cornices,  balustrades,  &c.,  were  exanined  with 
much  interest.  This  place  was  once  the  residence 
of  an  eccentric  individual,  Lewis  Allen,  who  came 
from  Shrewsbury.  He  was  a  tory  of  the  rankest  sort 
dui'ing  the  revolution.      It  is  related  of  him  that  in 


88 

accordance  with  his  own  desire  he  was  buried  near 
the  house,  and  close  beside  the  road,  "so  that  he 
could  hear  the  news  from  Boston  as  the  stages  went 
by."  A  brief  visit  was  also  made  to  the  Cemetery 
just  west  of  the  centre,  where  dates  as  far  back  as 
1740  were  found  upon  headstones. 

Returning  to  the  village  the  party  stopped  at  the 
residence  of  Mr.  L.  D.  Thurston,  and  examined  with 
great  interest  a  rare  old  clock,  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Joseph  A.  Denny.  Its  case  is  ornamented  with 
quaint  raised  figures  in  Chinese  designs,  and  its 
metal-dial  tells  the  hour,  the  day  of  the  month  and 
the  age  of  the  moon,  while  at  the  top  is  a  group  of 
sun,  moon  and  stars,  which  move  regularly.  It  was 
brought  from  England  by  Thomas  Prince,  1714- 
1717.  When  the  late  owner,  Mr.  J.  A,  Denny,  was 
in  England,  a  few  years  ago,  he  endeavored  to  de- 
termine the  age  of  the  clock,  and  found  the  descend- 
ants of  its  maker,  Thomas  Wagstafi',  making  just 
such  clocks  in  London,  in  the  location  occupied  by 
the  family  for  centuries.  His  story  of  the  clock 
prompted  them  to  the  examination  of  their  family 
records,  kept  in  rusty  iron  boxes,  and  it  was  found 
that  the  Thomas  Wagstafi' who  made  the  clock  died 
in  1610,  which  settles  its  rank  to  the  title  of  the 
oldest  clock  in  this  vicinity. 

The  party  left  Leicester  at  7:  40,  with  cheers  for 
their  generous  entertainers,  and  reached  the  city  an 
hour  later,  driving  to  the  rooms,  where  a  brief  meet- 
ing was  held,  at  which  President  Crane  thanked  the 


89 

iiieuibers  and  friends  lor  their  attendance  and  co- 
operation ;  and  a  coniniittee,  including  Messrs.  H.  M. 
Smith,  Clark  Jillson,  H.  L.  Slmmway,  F.  P.  Rice  and 
William  H.  Bartlett,  Avere  appointed  to  prepare  and 
transmit  a,  formal  expression  of  the  thanks  of  the 
Society  to  the  people  of  Leicester  for  their  generous 
assistance  in  securing  the  success  of  the  excursion. 
The  committee  repoi-tde  the  following  resolution : — 

'He  sol  red.  That  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity  desires 
to  expresp  to  the  Citizens'  Committee  Jind  residents  of  Leicester, 
their  appreciation  of  the  graceful  hospitalities  and  generous  and 
hearty  co-operation  which  made  the  visit  of  this  Society  to 
Leicester  on  Saturday,  July  8th,  an  occasion  long  to  be  remem- 
bered. Leicester  will  never  fail  to  retain  its  long  honored  place 
as  an  educational  centre,  and  its  delightful  home  associations, 
so  long  as  its  citizens  cherish,  as  at  present,  a  worthy  pride  in 
the  past  of  the  beautiful  town,  and  prove  themselves  worthy  to 
maintain  and  carry  forward  the  work  so  well  begun  in  the  earlj' 
dav. 


The  September  meeting  was  held  on  the  5th  inst. 
seventeen  persons  being  in  attendance.  An  assess- 
ment of  $1,00  per  member  was  voted,  to  defray  the 
expense  of  publishing  the  Proceedings  of  the  Society 
for  the  current  year. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  Sept.  19th,  at  which 
the  death  of  Mr.  William  Howard  Bigelow  of  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  an  active  member  of  the  Society,  was 
announced,  by  President  Crane.  The  biographical 
sketch  of  the  deceased,  furnished  for  the   annals   of 


90 

the  Societ}^  by  himself,  was  read  by  Mr.  Albert  A. 
Lovell,  together  with  a  memorial.  Both  were  or- 
dered printed  in  the  Proceedings. 

SKETCH  OF  WILLIAM  H.  BIGELOW. 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSEUF. 


Win,  Howard  Bigelow  was  born  in  Easton,  Washington  Co. 
N.  Y.,  Dec.  21,  1829.  He  was  in  the  eighth  generation  from 
John  Bigelow  who  immigrated  from  Sutfollv,  England,  about  the 
3'ear  1636,  and  settled  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  where  he  died  July 
14,  1703. 

LINE    OF    ANCESTOR!". 

Through  Joshua  of  Watertown,  son  of  John  ;  born  Nov.  Tn 
1655  ;  died  Feb  21,  1745.  Through  John,  son  of  Joshua,  who 
settled  in  Colchester,  Conn,  between  the  }ears  1706  and  1701)  ; 
born  Dec.  2,  1681  ;  died  March  8,  1770.  Through  David,  son 
of  John,  who  lived  two  miles  south  of  Marlboro  Center,  Conn.  : 
born  1706  ;  died  June  2,  1799.  Through  David,  son  of  David, 
who  lived  about  one  mile  to  the  N.  E.  of  Marlboro  centre,  Ct.  ; 
born  May  7,  1732;  died  Oct.  6,  1820.  Through  Erastus.  son 
of  David,  who  married  Lucy  Root  of  Marlboro.  Conn..  June  1. 
1789,  and  emigrated  to  Easton.  Washington  Co.  N.  Y..  where 
he  cleared  a  farm  in  the  heavy  native  forest,  built  saw-mills. 
and  for  many  years  manufactured  lumber  which  was  rafted  down 
the  Hudson  River  and  marketed  in  Albany:  born  Feb.  11. 
1765;  died  July  15.  1.S55.  Through  Anson,  son  of  Erasmus, 
and  father  of  Wni.  H.  He  married  Eliza  Moors  of  Hudson. 
N,  Y,,  Oct.  23,  1823,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  his  father's 
home.  He  was  Supervisor  of  his  native  town  many  years  and 
member  of  the  N,  Y.  State  Legislature.  The  Inter  years  of  his 
life  he  spent  in  Cambridge,  N.  Y..  having  retired  on  a  comfort- 
able fortune  ;  born  Dec.  20.  1794;  died  Sept.  15.  ].S(;9.  Anson 
and  Eliza,  his  first  wife,  brought  up  four  sons  and  two  daughters. 
It  is  believed  that  these  ancesters  were  all  fdnim-K. 


91 

On  the  I'luni  in  Kaslon  \\  in.  11.  grew  up  to  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, working  sununei's  and  attending  district  school  winters. 
At  the  above  age  he  passed  ont  from  the  influence  of  the  home- 
stead, which  was  one  of  a  strong  moral  and  Christian  character, 
and  prepared  for  college  largely  in  Washington  Academy,  Cam- 
bridge, N.  Y.,  though  attending  one  term  in  Union  Village 
Academy,  N.  Y.,  and  another  term  in  Burr  Seminary,  Vermont. 
In  the  fall  of  184S),  he  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Williams 
College,  Mass.,  and  graduated  in  a  class  of  fifty-one  members, 
in  the  year  l'S")2.  He  did  not  know  enough  to  be  a  farmer,  and 
for  that  reason,  his  father  used  to  say,  he  sent  him  to  college. 
His  studies  went  smoother  to  him  than  farming  ;  he  sustained  a 
respectable  stand  as  a  scholar  and  spoke  on  the  Junior,  Adel- 
phic  Union  and  Commencement  stages. 

He  was  deeply  impressed  with  great  moral  and  Christian  prin- 
ciples, by  the  instructions  and  characters  of  two  of  his  precep- 
tors, Prof.  Albert  Hopkins  and  Pres.  Mark  Hopkins.  In  the 
spring  of  his  Senior  year,  he  resolved  to  lead  a  Christian  life, 
and  from  the  spring  Ibllowing  has  been  a  member  of  some  Chris- 
tian church,  and  for  many  years  a  Superintendent  of  Sunday 
schools.  After  his  graduation,  he  taught  during  the  fall  term 
in  Brattleb(MO,  Vt.  assisting  Rev.  Koswell  Harris,  and  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine,  reciting  to  Dr.  Willard  Arms. 

The  following  winter,  l<S52-o,  he  assisted  the  Rev.  James 
Tutfts  in  .Monson  Academy,  Mass.,  and  after  commencing  the 
spring  term  was  interrupted  in  his  work  with  an  attack  of  hem- 
orhage  of  the  lungs.  Following  the  advice  of  medical  counsel, 
he  terminated  his  connection  with  this  institution  of  learning 
immediately,  and,  intluenced  further  by  the  knowledge  of  the 
hereditary  tendency  to  consumption  which  menaced  him,  aban- 
doned all  literary  and  professional  hopes  and  sought  an  active 
out -door  life  in  the  West.  The  summer  of  1854  he  spent  with 
a  corps  of  Engineers  running  the  preliminary  line  of  the  Iowa 
Central  Air-line  Railroad,  first  carrying  the  chain,  then  the  staff 
and  then  the  compass.  He  turned  his  attention  subsequently 
to  surveying  farms,  selecting  government  lands  and  locating  land 
warrants  in  Iowa,  and  finally  located  in  Sioux  City  Iowa,  having 
oro-anized  the  firm  of  Bigelow  &  White  which  commenced  the 
real  estate  and  banking  business  in  the  spring  of  1856. 


92 

On  the  18th  of  Nov.,  1856,  he  married  Mar}'  Ann  Hayes, 
daughter  of  Dea.  Russell  Hayes  of  West  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  and 
went  to  Sioux  City  for  permanent  residence.  Two  sons  were 
there  born  to  them,  Russel  Anson,  born  June  2,  1859,  and  Wm. 
H.  Jr.,  born  July  22,  18G1.  He  served  one  year  as  Mayor  of 
Sioux  City,  and  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln  in  the 
spring  of  1861  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Sioux  City.  He 
discharged  the  duties  of  this  office  until  the  spring  1864,  when 
he  resigned  and  moved  to  Chicago,  and  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Bigelow  Brothers,  manufacturers  and  dealers  in  lumber. 
This  firm,  as  thus  organized,  consisting  of  three  brothers,  Anson 
A.,  Charles  H.  and  Wm.  H.,  has  continued  the  business  to  the 
present  time  (1881)  with  uniform  and  growing  financial  success. 
From  the  fall  of  1869  Wm.  H.  has  been  a  silent  partner,  being- 
compelled  b}'  the  breaking  down  of  his  nervous  system  to  with- 
draw from  the  active  management  of  the  business  and  give 
himself  up  to  travel  and  recreation  for  the  restoration  of  his 
health.  Accompanied  by  his  family  he  spent  two  winters  in 
Florida,  and  in  1872  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  spent  two  years 
travelling  in  Europe. 

Returning  in  1874,  with  health  somewhat  improved,  he,  with 
his  family,  repaired  to  his  wife's  ancestral  estate  in  West  Brattle- 
boro, Yt.,  which  she  had  inherited,  being  the  only  heir  of  her 
parents,  and  there  settled  down  in  the  old  homestead,  built  in 
1795  by  her  grandfather,  Rutherford  Hayen.  who  was  the  grand- 
father also  of  ex-President  Rutherford  B.  Hayes. 

For  the  purpose  of  educating  his  sons,  a  temporary  home  has 
been  made  in  New  Haven,  Ct.,  where  he  has  resided  much  of 
the  time  for  the  past  four  years.  Interested  in  Genealogical 
studies,  he  became  interested  in  his  own  ancestral  race,  and  in 
1877  published  a  small  volume  which  exhibited  the  result  of  his 
researches.  Feb.  20,  1879,  a  third  son  was  born  to  them,  who 
recieved  the  name  of  Hayes. 

The  close  of  this  brief  biography  leaves  its  subject  in  the  en- 
joyment of  comparative  health,  possessed  nith  enough  of  this 
world's  goods  to  satisfy  a  moderate  ambition,  and  lilest  witli  a 
wife  that  God  lias  spared  to  him,  worthy  of  his  love,  and  three 
sons  who,  he  liopes,  will  be  able  to  do  more  for  the  world  than 
he  has  been  able  to  do  himself. 


MEMORIAL. 


By  albert  a.  LOVELL. 


On  the  22d  day  of  August  last  past,  an  Active  Member  of 
this  Society,  William  Howard  Bigelow,  died  at  his  home  in 
West  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  in  the  53d  3ear  of  his  age.  His  life, 
though  burdensome  b}'  a  constant  warfare  against  the  attacks 
of  hereditary  disease,  well  filled  with  usefulness  and  with  all  that 
makes  life  worth  living,  has  closed,  and  we  stand  as  it  were  by 
a  new  made  grave,  and  think  of  the  lesson  such  a  life  teaches, 
well  worth  a  young  man's  study  and  an  old  man's  reflections. 
A  life,  which  from  its  purity,  its  truth  and  steadfastness  of  pur- 
pose left  the  world  better  than  it  found  it,  and  from  which  went 
out  the  best  and  noblest  influences.  In  the  quiet  and  seclusion 
of  a  farmer's  home  his  early  days  were  spent,  and  guided  by  the 
counsel  and  direction  of  devoted  Christian  parents,  in  him  was 
formed  a  strong  moral  and  Christian  character,  which  ever 
proved  a  sure  and  steadfast  anchor  though  all  the  storms  and 
vicissitudes  of  life.  It  is  not  for  me  to  furnish  any  sketch  of  his 
life,  as  that  has  already  been  supplied  by  his  own  willing  com- 
pliance with  the  request  of  the  Society,  but  rather  let  me  present 
those  traits  and  characteristics  of  mind  and  heart  which  com- 
bined to  make  the  man. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1877  it  became  my  good  fortune  to 
meet  Mr.  Bigelow  in  the  way  of  correspondence,  as  he  was  at 
that  time  engaged  in  preparing  a  "Genealogy  of  one  Branch  of 
the  Bigelow  Family."  He  desired  me  to  consult  the  Town  Rec- 
ords of  Worcester  for  facts  bearing  upon  the  matter.  The  cor- 
respondence thus  begun  led  me,  in  the  summer  of  that  year,  to 
forward  him  a  copy  of  our  first  Societj'  publication,  soon  after 
which  I  received  an  acknowledgment  in  which  he  said  "I  can- 
not state  the  interest  I  feel  in    these    matters   relating   to   our 


94 

ancestors  and  their  deeds.  I  shall  want  to  keep  track  of  the 
doings  of  your  Society  of  Antiquity,  and  the  best  way  to  do  that 
would  be  to  accept  your  kind  invitation  to  join  the  said  Society. 
Should  it  elect  me  a  member,  I  should  try  and  do  for  it  what  its 
interests  demand  of  me." 

On  the  ninth  of  Nov.,  1877,  he  was  admitted  to  membership, 
and  in  his  correspondence  with  us  he  ever  manifested  a  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  Society, and  always  sent  words  of 
encouragement  in  relation  to  the  work  in  which  it  was  engaged. 
Modest  and  unassuming,  he  ever  preferred  that  his  life  should 
make  answer  for  itself,  and  in  sending  the  foregoing  biography 
under  date  of  June  1(3,  1879,  he  writes,  "I  have  just  received  a 
reminder  from  the  Committee  on  Biography,  and  will  say  that 
I  am  willing  to  comply  with  their  request,  although  my  life 
seems  too  empty  to  receive  so  wortliy  a  place  in  the  records  of 
the  Society."  One  who  knew  Mr.  Bigelow  well,  and  who  en- 
joyed an  intimacy  with  him  that  made  his  loss  a  personal  be- 
reavement, has  kindly  favored  me  with  the  impressions  that  a 
constant  intercourse  had  left  upon  him  regarding  the  leading 
traits  of  his  character. 

He  was  a  man  of  warm  affections  leading  him  to  form  strong- 
attachments  to  persons  and  places.  His  attachment  to  the 
home  of  his  later  years  was  remarkable  considering  the  short 
time  he  had  made  it  his  residence,  and  how  comparatively  little 
there  was  to  engage  one  of  his  active  and  enterprising  tempera- 
ment, and  how  large  were  the  opixu'tunities  he  possessed  to 
seek  interests  elsewhere.  He  exhibited  a  tenderness  and  rever- 
ence for  the  aged  which  revealed  a  loving  and  reverent  heart. 
Those  of  his  own  town  were  frequently  in  his  thoughts,  and  the 
year  before  his  death  he  charged  his  friend  to  inform  him  when 
any  were  removed  by  death,  that  if  absent  lie  might  return  to 
pav  his  tribute  of  respect  to  their  memory.  In  the  same  man- 
ner, though  naturally  in  a  less  degree,  he  kept  a  warm  phice  in 
his  memory  for  the  Academy  where  he  taught  in  his  earlier  years, 
and  the  acquaintances  he  formed  there,  though  his  stay  among 
them  was  for  only  a  few  brief  months.  On  one  occasion,  not 
many  months  before  his  death,  being  detained  for  some  hours  at 
a  station  near  bv.  he  invited  his  friend  to   diive  over   with    him 


95 

and  visit  the  place  he  had  not  seen  for  nearly  thirty  years. 
The  whole  scene  of  his  early  years  seemed  to  come  up  vividly 
before  him,  and  he  recalled  with  special  interest  incidents  which 
took  place  durinji'  those  winter  mouths.  To  this  trail  of  warm 
attachment  to  persons  and  places  may  be  owing  to  the  special 
interest  he  took  in  tracing  out  his  family  relationships,  feeling 
as  he  did  a  personal  attachment  to  those  he  had  met  but  rarely 
or  had  never  seen  at  all.  and  by  this  trait  was  he  undoubtedly 
led  to  connect  himself  with  our  Society. 

As  a  friend  he  was  loyal,  steadfast  and  self-sacrificing  to  a 
remarkable  degree.  He  possessed  that  somewhat  rare  qual- 
ity in  a  friend,  of  a  willingness  to  disclose  unwelcome  truths. 
Those  who  knew  him  best  could  discuss  bottom  facts  with  him 
in  perfect  confidence.  He  kept  nothing  back,  and  he  made  no 
disclosures  save  from  the  kindest  and  purest  of  motives.  Nat- 
urally a  trait  of  character  like  this  would  put  some  of  his  friend- 
ly relationships  to  a  severe  trial,  and  yet  no  one  who  knew  him 
well  ever  failed  to  discover  the  thouroughly  unselfish  spirit  which 
pervaded  all  his  intercourse.  His  friendly  offices  and  his  best 
jiulgujent  were  evei-  at  the  command  of  those  in  need,  and  con- 
fidence reposed  in  him  was  always  safe. 

In  public  affairs  and  in  business  he  was  enterprising,  ener- 
getic and  ambitious,  struggling  for  the  largest  measure  of  suc- 
cess. There  may  have  been  times  when  his  friends  have  feared 
that  this  idea  of  success  entered  too  largely  into  his  estimate  of 
men  and  things.  But  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  man  reveal- 
ed the  fact  that  he  had  the  breadth  of  thought  and  the  wisdom 
to  give  the  terra  its  truest  and  best  meaning,  Success  with  him 
did  not  mean  with  confining  limitations,  but  included  all  the 
larger  interests,  spiritual  as  well  as  temporal.  He  felt  it  was  a 
duty  each  man  owed  to  his  ftod  and  to  his  fellow  man  to  make 
the  most  of  himself,  his  talents  and  his  opportunities.  Hence 
there  arose  in  him  a  feeling  of  impatience,  leading  to  expres- 
sions of  reproach  and  chiding  when  he  saw  in  others  what  he 
thought  a  lack  of  (iodly  ambition.  Desiring  always  to  witness 
a  success  he  liked  best  of  all  to  see  his  friends  as  they  were 
qualified  achieving  success. 

As  a  C  hristian  he  was  characterized  by   a  spirit  of  loj'alty. 


96 

quickened  and  warmed  b}'  a  personal  affection  for  a  personal 
Redeemer.  He  thought  and  spoke  of  Christ  as  the  embodiment 
of  all  that  is  good  and  noble  and  inspiring  for  humanit}-. 

Having  well  and  faithfull}'  served  his  daj-  and  generation,  he 
is  gathered  to  his  fathers,  and  we  are  profited  in  contemplating 
his  moral,  social,  and  intellectual  worth. 


At  the  October  meeting,  on  the  od  iiist.  13  mem- 
bers were  present.  Rev.  A.  H.  Coolidge  and  Charles 
A.  Denny  Esq.,  of  Leicester,  Ledyard  Bill  of  Paxton, 
and  Everett  C.  Stone  of  Worcester,  were  elected  to 
active  membership.  Mr.  Alfred  S.  Roe  gave  an  in- 
formal sketch  of  a  recent  visit  to  the  Mammoth  Cave 
in  Kentuckv,  in  which  he  described  the  routes  of 
approach  to  the  cave,  the  chiiracteristics  and  habits 
of  the  people  in  its  vicinity,  the  hotels  and  facilities 
for  transportation,  and  the  cave  itself,  with  much  of 
detail  and  interest.  His  sketcli  also  included  allu- 
sions to  other  similar  natural  curiosities  in  the  same 
section  of  country,  and  was  full  of  historical,  bio- 
graphical, geological  and  social  interest. 

The  November  meeting  was  held  by  adjournment 
on  the  14tli  inst.  ;  twentv-six  members  and  visitors 
were  present.  Dr.  Albert  Wood  of  Worcester  was 
elected  to  active  membership. 

Wm.  B.  Harding  Esq.,  read  the  following  paper: 


ORIGIN  OF  THE  NAINIES  OF  THE  TOWNS 

IN 

WORCESTER  COUNTY. 


By  WILLIAM  B.  HARDING,  Esq. 


Proper  names  are  mere  labels  or  badges,  given  to  distinguish 
between  jiersons  or  places,  without  an}'  more  significance  or 
meaning  than  a  policeman's  badge,  a  soldier'  uniform,  or  a  na- 
tion's flag.  We  name  a  person  Charles  or  Maiy  and  a  town 
Worcester  or  Boston  from  pure  sentimentality',  without  thought 
or  idea  as  to  the  derivation  and  significance  of  the  name.  But 
all  proper  names  originall}'  had  a  significance  and  import,  and 
there  was  once  just  as  good  reason  for  calling  a  person  Charles 
or  Mary,  and  a  town  Worcester  or  Boston,  as  we  to-day  have 
for  designating  certain  places  as  Coes'  Pond,  Jamesville  and 
Barber's  Crossing. 

The  antiquarian  by  research,  and  the  philologist  by  study  of 
the  history  of  languages,  is  at  the  present  time  enabled  to  tell 
us  with  a  reasonable  degree  of  certaint}',  the  derivation  and 
meaning  of  the  greater  portion  of  our  proper  names,  but  the 
manner,  time  and  occasion  of  their  origin  is  involved  to  a  great 
extent  in  the  oblivion  of  the  past.  As  an  illustration,  we  know 
that  the  first  Mason,  Carpenter,  Taylor,  Smith  and  Fuller,  de- 
rived his  name  from  his  trade  or  occupation  ;  but  the  reason 
why  he  was  so  named  and  the  manner  and  occasion  of  his 
christening,  are  pure  matters  of  theory  and  speculation.  In  our 
own  age  new  proper  names  are  being  created,  expressive  of 
some  character  or  idea  at  first,  and  finally  b}'  use  becoming  to 


■    98 

be  a  part  of  our  nomenclature.  Who  knows  but  what  the  anti- 
quarian of  the  future  will  puzzle  his  brains  over  the  meaning  of 
the  word  "greenbacker,"  and  wonder  if  he  had  a  green  back; 
a"stalwart,"  and  wonder  if  he  was  a  strong  man  :  a'^half-breed," 
and  wonder  if  he  was  the  result  of  a  cross  of  Indian  and  white 
blood. 

To  render  the  following  pages  not  entirely  void  of  new  thought 
or  idea,  I  have  attempted  to  go  a  little  beyond  the  local  his- 
torians of  our  towns,  and  not  only  find  the  origin  of  the  names 
of  the  towns,  but  also  the  source  and  signification  of  the  names 
themselves.  In  this  I  have  been  partially  successful,  but  this 
subject  like  ever}'  other  we  attempt  to  investigate,  broadens  and 
deepens  as  we  proceed,  and  I  find  that  each  name  in  itself  fur- 
nishes ample  scope  for  a  dissertation  b}-  an  abler  pen  than  mine. 

The  early  settlers  of  Massachusetts  brought  with  them  the 
associations  and  memories  of  the  old  country,  and  in  selecting 
names  for  their  new  towns,  it  was  natural  for  them  to  select 
names  of  English  towns  and  villages  dear  to  their  recollection 
by  former  associations  ;  hence  we  find  that  from  the  first  land- 
ing, up  to  1724,  it  was  the  general  custom  to  name  towns  after 
places  in  the  old  country.  In  1724,  a  custom  arose  of  compli- 
menting distinguished  Englishmen  who  were  friendly  to  the  colo- 
nies, or  particular  friends  of  the  Provincial  Governors  ;  this  cus- 
tom was  continued  up  to  the  Revolution,  when  an  entire  change 
took  place,  and  American  names  were  used.  From  the  earliest 
days  of  the  Colony  up  to  1732,  it  was  the  custom  fur  the  incorpo- 
rators to  select  the  names  ;  but  after  that  date  nearly  all  the  acts 
of  incorporation  passed  both  houses  of  the  legislature  in  blank, 
and  the  name  which  the  town  was  to  l)ear,  was  inserted  by  the 
Governor,  or  by  his  direction,  when  he  approved  the  act. 

The  acts  of  incorporation  approved  by  Governors  Bernard 
and  Belcher  show  the  names  of  the  towns  written  in  their  own 
handwriting.  Probably  the  inhabitants  at  times  followed  their 
petitions  for  incorporation  to  the  State  House,  and  suggested 
the  name  they  wanted,  which  perhaps  was  sometimes  granted 
and  sometimes  not.  This  custom  accounts  for  so  nuiny  towns 
being  named  in  honor  of  titled  Englishmen  ;  the  Provincial  Gov- 
ernors, some  of  them  Englishmen  by  birth  and   Education,  and 


99 


till  of  tlieui  Euglit^liinen  in  political  and  social  interests,  sought 
this  method  of  conii)linu'ntiiig  their  friends  in  the  mother  coun- 
try, upon  whom  they  were  dependent  for  the  continuance  of 
their  pcditical  power. 

We  will  now  consider  the  origin  of  the  names  of  the  towns  in 
Worcester  Couunty  in  alphabetical  order. 

AsHBUUNHAM : — This  place  was  originally  called  '.'Dorchester 
Canada"  because  the  land  was  granted  to  Thomas  Tileston  and 
other  soldiers  in  Dorchester  for  services  in  the  expedition  to 
Canada  in  KUK).  It  was  incorporated  in  17()5  and  named  by 
Governor  Bernard  in  honor  of  John  Ashburnham,  second  Earl 
of  Ashbnrnham.  This  theory  is  supported  b}-  the  fact  of  the 
custom  then  prevailing  of  naming  towns  in  honor  of  distinguish- 
ed Englishmen  rather  than  from  towns  in  the  old  country.  The 
noble  earls  of  this  surname  and  title  claim  to  have  possessed 
Ashburnham,  count}'  of  Sussex,  from  before  the  Norman  con- 
quest. In  ancient  times,  ''a  burner  of  ore  and  wood  ashes," 
from  which  potash  or  some  similar  article  was  made  was,  called 
an  "Ashburner  ;"  haui  is  the  Saxon  for  our  word  home  or  hamlet. 
So  we  see  the  potash  maker's  home  finality  grew  into  a  settlement 
and  acquired  the  name  of  Ashburnham,  from  the  occupation  of 
its  primitive  inhabitant  or  inhabitants. 

Athol  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  place  was  Paqquage  or  Po- 
quaig.  It  was  incorporated  in  1762,  and  named  Athol  by  Gov. 
Bernard.  It  is  supposed  the  Governor  named  it  in  honor  of 
James  ]\lurray,  the  second  Duke  of  Athol,  Lord  Privy  Seal  of 
Scotland.  There  is  an  Athol  in  Scotland  known  as  the  Prov- 
ince of  Athol,  from  which  the  Duke  derived  his  title.  I  am 
unable  to  determine  how  the  name  originated. 

ArBURN  : — Auburn  was  incorporated  in  1778,  and  named 
Ward  in  honor  of  Gen.  Artemas  Ward.  Upon  petition  of  the 
inhabitants  in  1837,  the  name  was  changed  to  Auburn.  The 
similarity  of  the  word  Ward  to  Ware,  giving  rise  to  postal 
mistakes,  was  the  reason  assigned  for  the  change. 

We  have  in  the  United  States  thirty-seven  towns  and  villages 
bearing  the  name  of  Auburn.  Out  of  a  half  dozen  different 
Gazetteers  I  can  find  only  one  that  makes   any  mention  of  an 


100 

Auburn  in  England.  Worcester's  Universal  Gazette  mentions 
a  small  place  in  P^nglaud  by  that  name  ;  so  if  there  is  an  Auburn 
in  England  it  is  an  obscure  town.  What  is  the  origin  of  the 
name  and  the  reason  it  has  become  so  common  in  this  countr}-  ? 
I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  Goldsmith's  poem,  ""The  Deserted 
Village,"  furnishes  the  answer. 

Sweet  Auburn  !  loveliest  village  of  the  plain. 

Goldsmith  was  ver}-  popular  in  this  country,  an  early  edition 
of  his  works  was  published  here,  and  here  he  found  his  warmest 
admirers.  The  place  Goldsmith  is  supposed  to  have  had  in 
mind  in  picturing  the  deserted  village  was  a  little  village  in  Ire- 
land named  Lissoy,  and  ever  since  the  publication  of  the  poem 
the  little  Irish  hamlet  has  borne  the  name  of  Aulmrn.  It  is  also 
more  than  probable  that  the  village  called  Auburn  in  England 
derived  its  name  from  the  same  source,  for  no  such  name  existed 
there  previous  to  the  publication  of  the  poem.  It  is  therefore 
quite  certain  that  the  name,  Auburn,  was  a  pure  creation  in  Gold- 
smith's mind,  rather  than  a  reality.  The  beauty  and  sweetness 
of  the  word  itself,  and  the  beauty  of  the  simple  poem  furnishes 
sufficient  reason  for  its  frequent  use  in  this  country.  Colonels 
Car}-  and  Drury,  prominent  citizens  of  Auburn  at  that  time,  were 
instrumental  in  obtaining  the  change,  and  state  in  their  petition 
that ''the  name  it  a  pleasant  one  and  agreeable  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Ward."  Aul)urn  in  New  York,  or  Auburn  in  iNIaine. 
probably  furnished  the  suggestion  of  the  name  to  their  minds. 
The  primitive  meaning  of  the  word  denotes  the  color  made  In- 
scorching — reddish  brown. 

Barre  : — This  town  was  incorporated  as  ''Rutrand  District," 
in  1753,  but  had  no  representation  in  the  General  Court.  The 
people  asked  for  an  incorporation  as  a  town  under  the  name  of 
Barre  in  177;J.  The  act  finally  passed  in  June,  1774.  During 
the  interval  between  the  introduction  and  passage  of  the  'act. 
Gage  had  succeeded  Hutchinson  in  office,  and  at  its  passao-e 
procured  the  insertion  of  the  name  of  Hutchinson  in  place  of 
Barre  in  honor  of  his  predecessor.  The  name  of  Hutchinson 
was  odious  in  the  colonies  at  this  time,  and  the  people  naturallv 
desired  a  change,  so  in  177G  the  town  petitioned    for   a   change 


101 


of  name,  iiiid  suggostcd  the  iiiiiiH'  of  Wilkes,  but  through  tlie 
intluence  of  some  one,  now  unknown,  tlie  oiiginal  name  sug- 
gested, Barre,  was  inserted,  and  in  tliat  form  the  act  passed. 

Colonel  Isaac  Barre,  in  whose  lioiior  the  town  was  named,  wub 
a  son  of  a  French  refugee,  and  was  born  in  Dublin,  lie  entered 
the  English  arm}',  rose  to  the  rank  of  Colonel,  was  present  at 
the  seige  of  (Quebec,  witnessed  the  death  of  Wolfe,  himself  being 
wounded,  and  his  portrait  occupies  a  prominent  place  in  Benja- 
min West's  great  painting  of  the  death  of  Wolfe.  In  1761  he 
was  elected  to  Tarliament,  and  when  Grenville  introduced  the 
vStamp  Act,  Barre  opposed  it  in  a  forcible  and  eloquent  speech, 
and  throughout  the  long  contest  of  the  colonies  for  indepen- 
dence, he  was  their  friend  and  advocate.  Barre  was  considered 
bv  some  to  be  the  author  of  the  "Junius"  Letters. 

The  name  being  of  French  origin,  its  meaning  is  "bar,"  "ob- 
struction." This  meaning,  happily,  is  in  unison  with  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man  who  dared  oppose  the  ministry  and  King  in  their 
oppressive  measures  towards  the  colonies. 

Beklin  : — This  town  was  taken  from  Bolton  and  incorporated 
as  the  "District  of  Piolton"  in  17.S4,  and  as  a  town  in  1812. 
I  have  been  unal)le  to  discover  any  reason  why  the  incorporators 
of  this  District  should  ask  for  the  name  of  Berlin.  It  seems 
singular  that  a  District  set  ofi'from  Bolton  (which  originally  was 
a  part  of  Lancaster)  just  at  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
at  a  time  when  there  was  a  profusion  of  patriotic  and  historical 
American  names,  should  be  named  after  a  Prussian  city.  I  can 
think  of  no  other  town  in  all  New  England  bearing  a  Prussian 
or  German  name.*  It  is  true  that  Frederic  The  Great,  then 
King  of  Prussia,  was  somewhat  friendly  to  America,  and  had 
years  before  denounced  the  employment  of  Hessians  by  the 
F'nglish  ;  and  a  year  later,  1785,  presented  Washington  a  sword, 
but  there  seems  to  be  no  connection  between  this  and  the  nam- 
ing of  the  town.  Inquiry  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  and  of  the 
local  historian  fails  to  elicit  an}-  satisfactory  answer  to  the 
question. 

*  It  is  stated  bv  Mr.  Lovell  that  there  is  a  Steuben  in  Maine. 


102 


Blackstone  : — William  Blackstone,  an  Episcopal  minister, 
was  the  first  white  settler  in  Boston,  where  he  built  a  cabin  in 
1625-6,  and  where  he  was  found  by  C4ov.  Winthrop  in  163U. 
Blackstone  afterwards  moved  to  Rhode  Island  and  settled  on 
the  bank  of  the  river  a  few  miles  above  Providence,  at  what  is 
now  called  Cumberland.  The  river  soon  acquired  the  name  of 
the  Blackstone  river.  The  town  of  Blackstone  was  taken  from 
Mendon  and  incorporated  in  1845.  For  some  time  previous  to 
its  incorporation  the  settlement  was  called  Blackstone,  this  name 
being  naturally  suggested  b}'  the  location  of  the  village  on  the 
river  of  that  name.  The  name  itself  naturally'  suggests  its 
meaning,  but  how  it  originated  is  a  matter  of  pure  speculation. 

Bolton  : — Bolton  was  incorporated  in  1738,  and  its  name  was 
given  by  Gov.  Belcher  in  honor  of  Charles  Fowlet,  3d  Duke  of 
Bolton.  Bolton,  the  place  where  the  Duke  and  his  ancestors 
originated,  is  a  town  situated  in  Lancashire,  Englaud.  Bolton 
was  originally  a  part  of  Lancaster  and  this  relatiou  of  Bolton  to 
Lancashire  in  England  possibl}-  had  something  to  do  with  the 
selection  of  the  names  in  this  county. 

The  origin  of  the  name  is  somewhat  obscure.  It  is  probable 
that  the  natural  features  of  the  place,  abrupt,  steep,  l)old,  gave 
rise  to  the  name  of  Bold-tun.  Tun  is  the  Saxon  for  our  word 
village,  and  town,  and  in  time  this  ending  came  to  be  si)elled  ton. 

BoYLSTON  : — This  town  was  incorporated  in  17<S(;,  nnd  was 
named  in  honor  of  the  Boylston  family  in  Boston.  The  par- 
ticular Boylston  its  incorporators  had  in  mind  was  probal>h 
Nicholas  Boylston,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Boston,  who  founded 
the  Boylston  Professorship  at  Harvard  University,  by  a  liequest 
of  £1500.  He  gave  the  town  a  bell  and  Bil)le,  which  is  suflici- 
ent  reason  for  the  belief  that  the  town  intended  to  compliment 
him  in  the  selection  of  the  name.  In  all  probaT)ility  the  name 
was  once  Boyle's-town.  We  find  in  the  history  of  names  re- 
peated instances  of  a  town  taking  the  name  of  a  man  with  the 
addition  of  the  sufllx  tun  or  tou.  and  afterwards  a  man  or  family 
taking  the  name  of  the  town. 

Brookfikli)  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  town  was  Qanl)oa;i,-. 
and  it  was  so  called  by  the  whites  until  its  incorporation. 


103 

There  is  no  doubt  that  its  name  was  suggested  b\-  its  natural 
features.  The  fields  and  meadows  lying  along  the  Quaboag 
suggests  the  fields  by  the  brook.  Probably  the  Quaboag  means 
in  the  Indian  tongue  nearly  the  same  thing.  There  is  a  striking 
similarity  between  the  word  Quaboag  and  our  English  words 
quag  and  bog,  but  this  is  no  argument  that  they  mean  the  same, 
for  the  English  language  and  Indian  dialects  have  not  a  com- 
mon origin. 

Charlton  : — This  town  was  probably  named  from  Sir  Francis 
Charlton,  Bart.,  a  gentleman  of  the  Privy  Chamber  in  1755. 
In  view  of  the  date  of  its  incorporation,  1764,  and  the  fact  that 
Gov.  Bernard  wrote  the  name  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  it  is 
probable  he  gave  the  name  in  honor  of  his  countryman.  Sir 
Francis.  Charleston,  Charlestown,  Charlton  and  Charlesworth 
have  the  same  origin,  Charl,  Saxon,  ceorl,  the  primary  signifi- 
cation of  which  is  "male,"  is  the  word  from  which  we  derive 
Charles.  A  signification  of  harsh,  rude,  rustic,  ill-bred  was 
finally  developed  in  the  use  of  the  word.  Whether  the  name 
was  Charles-ton  originally,  signifying  the  dwelling  place  of 
churlish  people,  or  whether  it  was  Charleston,  a  place  settled 
by  Charles,  is  a  matter  of  doubt.  Probably  the  word  had  de- 
veloped into  the  name  of  Charles  before  the  naming  of  any  town. 

Clinton  : — This  town  was  incorporated  in  1850,  and  was 
named  in  honor  of  De  Witt  Clinton.  The  original  meaning  of 
the  word  is  "little,"  or  "small  town,"  which  seems  quite  appro- 
priate considering  the  geographical  size  of  the  town. 

Dana  : — Dana  was  incorporated  in  1801,  and  was  named  In 
honor  of  the  distinguished  Dana  family  of  Massachusetts,  but 
which  Dana  is  not  absolutely  certain.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
Francis  Dana,  the  jurist  and  patriot,  who  died  in  1811,  and  who 
was  the  most  distingished  Dana  in  America  at  that  time,  took 
some  interest  in  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  the  name  was  given  in  his  honor.  The  origin  and 
meaning  of  the  name  cannot  now  be  told. 

Douglas  : — The  original  settlers  of  this  place  came  almost 
entirely  from  the  town  of  Sherburne.  It  was  called  the  "New 
Sherburne  Grant"  up  to  1746,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  a  Dis- 


104 


trict.  In  1786  it  was  incorporated  as  a  town,  and  named  Dong- 
las  in  lionor  of  Dr.  William  Douglas,  a  Scotchman  by  biilli,  a 
physician  in  Boston,  and  author  of  several  historical  and  u)edi- 
cal  works.  He  was  an  extensive  land  proprietor  in  the  state, 
and  in  consideration  of  the  privilege  of  naming  the  town,  gave 
the  inhabitants  thereof  the  sum  of  $500  as  a  fund  for  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance  of  free  schools,  together  with  a  tract 
of  30  acres  of  land  with  a  dwelling  house  and  barn  thereon. 
It  is  said  that  something  more  than  $900  still  remain  of  the 
fund  in  the  keeping  of  the  town.  The  meaning  of  the  name 
Douglas,  is  Black  loater. 

Dudley: — Dudlej' was  incorporated  in  17ol,  and  it  is  said 
was  named  from  Paul  and  William  Dudley,  who  were  early  pro- 
prietors. The  Indian  name  was  ChargoggagoggmarwhaMc/ga- 
goggagungamaugg . 

FiTCHBURG  : — The  whole  tract  of  land  embraced  in  what  is 
now  Lunenburg  and  Fitchburg  was  called"Turkey  Hill"previous 
to  the  incorporation  of  Lunenburg,  on  account  of  the  large  num- 
ber of  wild  turkey's  found  on  its  hills.  After  the  incorporation 
of  Lunenburg,  1728,  that  part  of  the  town  now  Fitchburg  re- 
tained to  some  extent  the  local  name  of  ''Turkey  Hill."  In  1 7(14 
Fitchburg  was  set  off  from  Lunenburg  and  incorporated  as  a 
town.  John  Fitch  was  chosen  by  the  people  to  procure  its  in- 
corporation, and  his  influence  at  home  and  with  the  Governoi- 
enabled  him  to  procure  the  name  of  Fitchburg.  It  may  be  here 
said  that  hurg  or  borough  originally  meant  a  place  with  a  rep- 
resentative in  the  government,  but  in  later  times  it  has  come  to 
mean  simply  a  town  or  place,  burg,  borough  and  btirj/  meanina- 
the  same  thing.  The  naming  of  Fitchburg  seems  to  form  an 
exception  to  the  general  rule  and  custom  pursued  by  Governor 
Bernard  of  naming  towns  in  honor  of  some  distinguished  Eng- 
lishman. No  doubt  considerable  wire-pulling  and  political  in- 
fluence was  brought  to  bear  to  accomplish  it.  The  word  "Fitch" 
is  a  Norman-French  prefix,  signif3ing  son.  It  is  probably  a 
corruption  of  the  Ijatmjilius.  Fitz  is  also  another  corruption. 
So  Fitzpatrick  was  a  son  of  Patrick. 


105 

Gakdnku  : — Cjardncr  was  incorporated  in  \7Si),  and  perpetu- 
ates the  name  of  Col.  Thomas  Gardner  who  fell  at  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  The  name  originally  signilied  one  who  grafted 
young  trees.  The  primary  sense  of  the  word  is  an  enclosed 
place,  and  this  explains  the  origin  of  our  word  "garden." 

Grafton: — The  territory  embraced  in  what  is  now  Grafton 
and  Sutton  was  called  b}-  the  Indians  Ilassanaviisco,  which 
signifies  "a  place  of  small  stones."  Grafton  was  set  off  from 
Sutton  in  1735,  and  named  b}'  Gov.  Belcher,  in  honor  of  Charles 
FitzKoy,  Duke  of  Grafton,  a  grandson  of  Charles  II.  The 
Duke  when  informed  by  the  King  that  a  numerous  body  of  Ger- 
man troops  was  to  join  the  British  forces  for  the  subjugation  of 
America,  replied  :"Your  majesty  will  find  too  late  that  twice  the 
number  will  only  increase  the  disgrace,  and  never  effect  the 
purpose."  The  Duke  of  Grafton  takes  his  title  from  Grafton 
Begis,  which  originally  signified  the  grafts  or  trees  of  the  King. 

Hardwick  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  place  was  Wombem- 
esisecook.  In  168G  John  Lamb  and  others  purchased  the  land 
of  the  Indians,  and  the  place  was  called  Lambstown.  In  1737 
it  was  incorporated  and  named  by  Gov  Belcher,  Hardwick. 

The  name  probably  was  given  in  honor  of  Phillip  York,  Lord 
Hardwick,  Chief  Justice  of  the  King's  Bench.  The  Latin  name 
is  Hardovmcm,  vicum  meaning  village.  What  the  signification 
of  hanlo  is  and  how  it  came  to  be  the  name  of  a  village  I  am 
unable  to  determine. 

Harvard; — Harvard  was  incorporated  in  1732,  and  named 
Harvard  in  honor  of  Rev.  John  Harvard,  founder  of  Harvard 
Universit}'.  The  names  Harvard,  Howard,  and  Heruvard  were, 
once  the  same  name. 

HoLDEN  : — Holden  originally  was  called  "Worcester  North 
Half,"  or  North  Worcester.  It  was  incorporated  in  1740,  and 
named  bj-  Gov.  Belcher  in  honor,  it  is  supposed,  of  Hon.  Sam- 
uel Holden,  a  Director  in  the  Bank  of  England.  The  name 
originally  was  probably  Holderness,  and  shortened  for  conven- 
ience. Ilolderness  is  an  English  town,  and  its  signification  is 
"a  wooded  promontory." 


106 

HuBBAUDSTON : — Hubbai'dston  was  incorporated  in  17G7,  and 
named  Hubbardston  in  lionor  of  Thomas  Hubbard,  a  merchant 
in  Boston.  Hubbard  agreed  to  give  the  glass  for  the  first  meet- 
ing house  built  in  the  town,  on  condition  that  the  town  should 
bear  his  name.  The  people  made  arrangements  for  an  extra 
amount  of  glass,  but  before  the  house  was  made  ready  for  it, 
Hubbard  died,  leaving  his  estate  insolvent.  The  result  was 
they  had  to  buy  their  glass.  This  meeting  house  still  stands, 
though  it  has  been  remodelled.  Hubbard  was  at  one  time  Treas- 
urer of  Harvard  University,  and  was  a  proprietor  of  lands  in 
Hubbardston,  Royalston,  and  other  places.  Hubbard  is  prob- 
.^Ji^y  the  same  name  as  the  English  name  Hubert,  meaning  "clear 
color." 

Lancaster  : — Lancaster  was  incorporated  in  1653,  and  named 
from  Lancaster,  England.  The  inhabitants  of  Nashaway,  as  it 
was  then  called,  petitioned  that  they  might  be  incorporated  and 
called  Lancaster.  Some  of  its  earhest  settlers  came  from  Lan- 
cashire, England.  Lancaster,  England,  is  the  site  of  one  of  the 
old  Roman  camps  on  the  river  Loire.  There  are  tw^o  descrip- 
tions as  to  the  derivation  of  the  word.  One  authority  claims 
that  it  is  derived  from  the  8axon  word  lang^  meaning  long,  and 
ceaster,  the  Saxon  form  of  the  Latin  word  castra,  meaning 
"camp,"  and  hence  that  it  was  "the  long  camp."  Another 
authority  claims  that  the  prefix  Ian  is  only  the  changed  spelling 
of  the  word  Lune,  and  that  the  name  was  once  Lunecaster,  and 
finally  shortened  to  Lancaster,  meaning  "the  camp  on  the  river 
Lune."  It  would  seem  more  natural  to  designate  the  camp  by 
the  name  of  the  river,  than  by  any  particular  shape  of  the  camp. 
The  river  Lune  was  called  b}'  the  Romans  Adahina,  and  finally 
came  to  be  called  the  Lune.  It  was  probably  so  called  either 
in  consequence  of  its  resemblance  to  the  moon  in  its  silvern- 
whiteness,  or  crescent  shape. 

Leicester  : — The  site  of  this  town  was  purchased  irom  the 
Indians  by  Joshua  Lamb  and  others  in  1687.  It  was  called 
Towtaid  b}^  the  Indians,  and  "Strawberry  Hill"  by  tlie  English. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1713,  and  named  Leicestei*from  old  Lei- 
cester, England.     The  word  Leicester  has  a  similar  origin  to 


107 

that  of  Lancaster.  '  The  town  of  Leicester,  Knglnnd,  is  the  place 
of  an  ancient  Roman  camp,  called  Lajionh  castni,  camp  of  "the 
legion."  By  shortening  and  elimination  the  word  finall}-  be- 
came Leicester. 

Leominster: — Leominster  was  incorporated  in  1740,  and 
named  from  the  ancient  town  of  Leominster,  England.  The 
word  minster  is  derived  from  the  Latin  7nonasterium,  and  means 
"a  church  of  a  monaster}-."  A  church  or  monastery  founded  in 
ancient  times  by  a  Leo,  probably  gave  rise  to  the  name  of  Leo- 
minster. 

Lunenburg  : — As  I  have  before  stated  this  territory  was 
called  Turkey  Hill.  The  town  was  incorporated  in  1728,  and 
named  in  honor  of  George  II.,  one  of  his  titles  being  the  Duke 
of  Lunenburg.  Lunenburg  is  a  city  in  the  old  Kingdom  of 
Hanover.  George  II.  was  of  the  house  of  Hanover  and  derived 
this  title  from  this  Hanoverian  place.  The  origin  of  the  name 
is  obscure,  but  the  accepted  theor}'  is  that  on  the  site  of  this  city 
there  was  once  a  temple  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the  moon. 
The  temple  and  locality  acquired  the  name  of  the  moon,  luna, 
and  finall}^  the  town  or  burg  was  called  Lunenburg. 

Mendon  : — The  Indian  was  Quanslivpmige.  The  town  was 
incorporated  in  1667,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  named 
from  Mendham,  located  on  the  river  Waring,  Suffolk  County, 
P^ngland,  a  place  of  great  antiquit}'.  There  is  no  doubt  that 
the  General  Court  in  its  act  of  incorporation  changed  the  or- 
thography of  the  word  either  accidentally,  ignorantly  or  inteu- 
tionall}-,  for  no  such  town  or  place  as  Mendon  existed  in  Eng- 
land at  that  time.  As  I  have  before  stated  ham  is  the  Saxon 
for  "home"  or  "hamlet ;"  what  the  prefix  mend  means  is  a  mat- 
ter of  speculation. 

MiLLBURY  : — Millbur}-  was  taken  from  Sutton  and  incorpora- 
ted in  1813.  The  mill  on  the  Blackstone  doubtless  suggested 
the  name.  Previous  to  its  incorporation  it  was  known  as  "the 
North  Parish  of  Sutton." 

MiLFOUD  : — This  town  was  set  off"  from  Mendon  as  a  Precinct 
or  Parish  in  1741,  and  was  known  as"Mill  River."  It  was  in- 
corporated as  a  town  in  1780.      It  was  called   by  the   Indians 


108 

Woiyoivage.  Mill  River,  which  takes  its  rise  in  Ilopkinton  and 
flows  through  Milford  in  a  southerly  course,  has  been  called 
Mill  River  ever  since  the  first  white  settlement  on  its  banks. 

In  early  days  a  corn  mill  was  built  on  this  river,  and  was 
destroyed  in  King  Phillip's  war.  Before  any  bridges  were  built, 
there  were  several  fords  familiar  to  the  Indians,  and  used  b}'  the 
whites.  From  these  features  it  can  easily  be  seen  what  sug- 
gested the  name  of  the  town.  It  may  be  here  said  that  there 
are  several  towns  in  England  and  in  this  country  bearing  the 
same  name.  The  mill  b}'  the  ford  or  ford  by  the  mill  is  doubt- 
less the  origin  of  the  name. 

New^  Bkaintree  : — This  township  was  granted  to  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Old  Braintree,  Mass.,  for  services  in  the  Indian  war  of 
1675.  It  was  for  a  long  time  called  "Braintree  Farms"  It  was 
incorporated  in  1751,  and  the  name  New  Braintree  was  a  natural 
suo;o;estion.  The  Indian  name  was  Wenimesset.  Braintree  was 
named  from  old  Braintree,  England.  I  have  been  unable  to 
discover  the  origin  or  meaning  of  the  name. 

NORTHBOROUGH,  SOUTHBOROUGH  AND  WeSTBOROUGH  : Wcst- 

borough,  which  comprised  what  is  now  Westborough  and  North- 
borough,  was  taken  from  old  Marlborough  in  1717,  and  its 
geographical  situation  on  the  west  of  Marlborough  suggested 
its  name.  Before  its  incorporation  it  was  called  "Chauncey 
Village."  Southborough,  taken  from  Marlborough  in  1727,  and 
lying  on  the  south,  was  named  Southborough.  Northborough, 
taken  from  Westborough  in  1766,  and  lying  on  the  north,  was 
called  Northborough. 

NoRTHBRiDGE  : — This  towu  was  taken  from  Uxbridge  in  1 772, 
and  was  doubtless  named  Northbridge  on  account  of  its  geo- 
graphical situation  on  tlie  north  of  the  older  town. 

North  Brookfield  and  West  Brookfield  : — These  names 
naturally  explain  themselves.  North  Brookfield  was  incorpora- 
ted as  the  Second  parish  of  Brookfield  in  1750,  and  as  a  town 
in  1812.  West  Brookfield  was  called  the  West  Parish  of  Brook- 
field, and  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1<S4>>. 


109 

Oakiiaji  : — Oakluim  was  origiiuiUy  culled  "Rutland  West 
Wing."  It  was  taken  from  Rutland  and  incorporated  in  1762. 
Many  of  its  original  settlers  came  from  Oakham,  England,  the 
shire  town  of  Rutlandshire.  These  associations  sufficiently 
account  for  the  name  of  our  Oakham.  II(im  he'mg  the  Saxon 
for  "home"  or  "hamlet,"  and  oak  being  a  certain  tree  or  wood, 
it  is  easy  to  see  the  meaning  of  the  word,  but  as  to  the  origin 
of  it  as  a  name,  it  is  not  so  easy  to  say. 

Oxford  : — Oxford  was  called  bj-  the  Indians  Manrliavg.  It 
was  incorporated  in  1713,  and  named  Oxford  from  old  Oxford, 
England.  In  regard  to  the  origin  of  the  name  the  common 
belief  is,  that  it  was  "the  ford  of  the  ox"  across  the  river,  and 
in  support  of  this  theor}'  the  fact  is  cited  that  the  word  was, 
anciently,  often  spelletl  Oxenford  ;  but  this  theory  is  not  well 
founded.  No  reason  can  be  assigned  for  calling  the  ford  an  ox 
ford,  rather  than  a  horse  ford,  an  ass  ford,  a  sheep  ford,  or  a 
man  ford,  if,  as  we  are  bound  to  believe,  the  ford  was  used  in 
common  by  all  these  animals.  The  better  authority  as  to  its 
origin  is  that  it  was  a  ford  across  the  river  Ock.  Oxford  is  sit- 
uated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Thames  and  Cherwell.  The  river 
Cherwell  once  bore  the  Celtic  name  of  Ock,  and  in  the  course 
of  time  this  prefix  of  the  name  of  the  river  came  to  be  spelled 
and  pronounced  Ox. 

Paxton  : — This  town  was  taken  from  Rutland  and  Leicester, 
and  incorporated  in  1765.  Governor  Bernard  gave  the  town  its 
name  in  honor  of  his  friend  Charles  Paxton,  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners of  Customs  in  Boston.  Paxton,  it  is  said,  promised 
to  give  the  town  a  bell  if  it  was  named  after  him,  which  promise 
he  never  kept.  Paxton  became  odious  to  the  people  by  reason 
of  his  strong  adherence  to  the  royal  cause,  and  his  political  ras- 
calities in  general.  He  left  Boston  at  the  time  of  the  British 
evacuation,  and  proceeded  to  England,  where  he  died.  One  of 
the  earlier  public  acts  of  the  town  was  to  appoint  a  committee 
"to  petition  the  General  Court  for  a  name  more  agreeable  to 
the  inhabitants  and  the  public  than  Paxton,"  but  no  action  was 
ever  taken.  A  portrait  of  Paxton  now  hangs  in  the  halls  of  the 
American  Antiquarian   Society.     The    origin   of  the   name   is 


110 

obscure.  The  signification  of  the  Latin  Pax  is  "peace,"  "con- 
tract" or  "compact."  Perhaps  it  was  a  place  where  a  treaty  of 
peace  of  minor  importance  was  once  entered  into,  or  possibly 
the  place  acquired  its  name  from  the  peaceable  disposition  of  its 
primitive  inhabitants.  The  Paxton  familj'  evidently  derived 
its  name  from  a  town  of  that  name. 

Petersham  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  town  was  Nicheivaug. 
It  was  incorporated  in  1754,  when  Shirley  was  Governor.  The 
name  was  given  after  Petersham,  England,  but  whether  by  re- 
quest of  the  inhabitants  or  by  arbitrary  notion  of  the  Governor 
is  uncertain.  The  meaning  of  the  name  of  course  is  Peter's 
home."  The  place  where  Peter  lived  finally  grew  into  a  hamlet 
and  village,  and  in  time  acquired  the  name  of  Petersham.  Peter 
is  from  the  Greek  meaning  "rock." 

Phillipston  : — The  town  was  incorporated  in  17<SG  undei' the 
name  of  Gerr}-.  In  1814  the  inhabitants  petitioned  the  General 
Court  to  change  the  name  to  Phillipston  on  account  of  their  dis- 
satisfaction with  Gov.  Gerr3^'s  official  and  political  action. 

They  state  in  their  petition  that  they  "never  asked  for  the 
name  of  Gerry,"  and  that  they  "are  under  no  obligation  to  him 
for  any  benefit  conferred."  It  was  named  Phillipston  in  honor 
of  William  Phillips,  then  Lieut.  Governor.  The  query  is  liow 
it  came  to  be  named  Gerry  ?  Probably  it  was  fixed  up  between 
Gerry  himself  and  Gov.  Bowdoin.  Although  by  the  action  of 
the  inhabitants  Gov.  Gerry  failed  to  perpetuate  liis  name  in  a 
township,  he  succeeded  far  better  in  another  way,  ibr  the  word 
"gerrymander"  has  become  incorporated  into  the  English  lan- 
guage, and  is  used  by  people  who  never  heard  of  Gerry,  and 
who  have  not  the  remotest  idea  how  the  word  originated. 

Phillip  is  from  the  Greek,  meaning  "a  lover  of  horses." 

Princeton  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  place  was  Wachusett. 
It  was  incorporated  as  the  "District  of  Prince-town"  in  IToO, 
and  as  a  town  in  1771.  It  was  named  Princeton  in  honor  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Prince,  who  for  forty  years  was  pastor  of  the  Ohl 
South  Church  in  Boston.  Prince  was  an  extensive  owner  of 
land  in  this  vicinity  which  was  sometimes  called  "Rutland  East 
Wing."     He  took  great  interest  in  the  survey  and  settlement  of 


Ill 

the  town,  which  accounts  for  the  selection  ol'the  name.  Prince 
is  a  common  name,  and  is  derived  of  course  IVom  the  Latin, 
princeps,  meaning  "first." 

RovALSTON  : — Col.  Isaac  Royal  and  otliers  obtained  a  grant 
of  the  township  in  1752.  The  proprietors  held  their  first  meet- 
ing in  a  tavern  in  Boston  and  voted  to  call  the  land  Royalshire, 
whereupon  Isaac  Royal  agreed  to  give  £25  towards  building  a 
meeting  house.  This  little  arrangement  was  probably  under- 
stood beforehand,  and  the  £25  was  the  price  this  royal  gentle- 
man was  to  pa}-  for  the  sake  of  having  the  place  bear  his  name. 
It  was  incorporated  is  17(J5,  and  named  Royalston — tcm  being  a 
more  appropriate  sutllx  for  a  town  than  shire.  The  word  "Roy- 
al" explains  its  own  meaning. 

Rutland  : — The  Indian  name  of  this  town  was  Naquag.  It 
was  purchased  of  the  Indians  in  1G86,  and  incorporated  in  1713. 
A  local  historian  claims  that  it  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Duke 
of  Rutland,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  this  claim  is  erro- 
neous. The  incorporators  no  doubt  had  in  mind  the  County  of 
Rutlandshire,  England,  wfiich  in  territory  corresponded  nearly 
in  size  to  the  then  large  township  of  Rutland.  It  was  named  at 
a  time  when  nearly  all  towns  were  named  after  places  in  the  old 
country.  The  incorporators  asked  for  the  name  of  Rutland  in 
their  petition,  and  no  reason  can  be  assigned  why  the}*,  coming 
as  they  did  from  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  should  wish 
to  compliment  the  Duke  of  Rutland.  It  is  possible  that  some 
of  its  earliest  settlers  were  born  in  Rutlandshire,  England,  but 
I  am  not  aware  of  any  authoritj'  for  the  statement.  The  name 
is  derived  from  the  Anglo  Saxon  rud  or  rut.,  meaning  red  and 
land.  The  territory  was  so  called  from  the  redness  of  the  soil ; 
this  was  so  marked  that  it  colored  the  wool  of  the  sheep. 

Shrewsbury: — This  town  was  incorporated  in  1727,  and  one 
authority  states  that  it  was  named  in  honor  of  Charles,  Duke  of 
Shrewsbury.  It  is  possible  that  it  was  named  after  Shrewsbury, 
England.  The  fact  that  at  about  this  time  the  custom  arose 
of  complimenting  distinguished  Englishmen  in  naming  towns,  is 
the  only  reason  we  have  for  beleiving  that  the  Duke  was  meant 
instead  of  the  town.     There  are  two  theories  in  regard  to  the 


112 

origin  of  the  name.  One  authority  states  that  Shrewsbury  de- 
rived its  name  from  Shrew  and  bury,  being  a  place  where  the 
Shrew  or  Shrews  dwelt,  and  this  is  the  common  acceptation. 
But  a  better  authority  denies  this  derivation,  and  claims  that 
the  word  Shrew  is  a  corruption  of  a  Saxon  word  meaning"shrub" 
or  "scrub,"  and  that  the  shrubby  characteristics  of  the  locality 
gave  rise  to  the  name.  Shrewsbury,  England,  is  a  place  of 
great  antiquity,  situated  on  the  Severn. 

SouTHBKiDGE  : — For  somc  reason,  now  unknown,  this  localit}-, 
previous  to  its  incorporation,  was  called  "Honest  Town."  It  was 
taken  from  Sturbridge,  Charlton  and  Dudley,  and  incorporated 
in  1816.  Its  location  on  the  south  of  Sturbridge  furnishes  a 
reason  for  its  name. 

Spencer  : — Spencer  was  taken  from  Leicester  and  incorpora- 
ted as  "Second  Precinct  of  Leicester"  in  1744,  and  as  "Spencer 
District"  in  1753.  Lieut.  Governor  Spencer  Phipps  approved 
the  act  of  incorporation  as  a  District  and  gave  it  his  name.  It  is 
not  likely  the  inhabitants  wanted  the  name,  for  Gov.  Phipps  had 
previously  vetoed  an  act  of  the  General  Court  incorporating  it 
as  a  town,  and  could  not  have  been  very  popular  with  its  people. 
It  never  had  any  other  incorporation,  but  in  1775  sent  a  rep- 
resentative at  the  request  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  there- 
after assumed  the  full  rights  of  a  town.  The  word  Spencer  is  an 
abbreviation  of  the  word  "dispenser."  The  "Spencer"  of  olden 
times  had  an  important  charge,  that  of  the  butter}',  and  place 
where  the  household  stores  were  kept.  The  word  is  from  the 
Latin  cUs  and  pendo^  to  weigh  or  measure  out. 

Sterling  : — This  town  previous  to  its  incorporation  was  "tlie 
Second  Parish  of  Lancaster,"  and  was  commonly  called  by  its 
Indian  name,  Chocksett.  It  was  incorporated  in  17.S1,  and  one 
authorit}'  says  it  was  named  from  Stirling,  the  capitol  of  Stir- 
lingshire, Scotland  ;  but  there  is  reason  to  doubt  this.  Peter 
Whitney  in  his  History  of  Worcester  County  states  that  it  wtis 
named  in  honor  of  Lord  Stirling,  and  there  are  strong  reasons 
for  believing  this  to  be  correct.  William  Alexander,  known  in 
history  only  as  Lord  Stirling,  was  born  in  New  York  in  172r). 
He  claimed  the  Earldom  in  Scotland  and  spent  a  large  fortune 


113 

in  attempting  to  gain  title  to  the  estates  of  vStirling,  hut  was 
unsuccessful.  In  the  French  and  Indian  war  he  was  a  member 
of  Gen.  Shirley's  military  familj'.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
revolutionar}-  war  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  a  regiment,  and 
subsequently  was  created  a  Major  General.  He  fought  with 
Washington  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  Brandywine  and  Ger- 
mantown.  As  a  patriot  he  fills  an  honorable  place  in  American 
histor}-.  Considering  the  date  of  the  naming  of  the  town,  1781, 
it  is  far  more  reasonable  that  the  people  desired  to  compliment 
the  Patriot,  Lord  Stirling,  than  that  the}'  had  in  mind  this  Scotch 
town  of  Stirling.  The  name  was  originally  EasterUng^  and  was 
anciently  given  to  the  money  brought  to  England  b}'  honest 
Holland  merchants,  "Easterling  mone}',"  it  was  called.  The 
word  was  finally  shortened  to  Sterling,  and  in  time  became  the 
name  of  the  P^nglish  money.  In  this -wa}'  the  word  came  to 
meau,  "good," ''money"  &c. 

Sturbridge  : — This  town  was  incorporated  in  1738.  It  was 
originally  granted  to  petitioners  from  Medfield,  and  called  "New 
Medfield."  It  was  named  from  Stourbridge,  Worcestershire, 
England,  from  whence  some  of  its  earliest  settlers  came,  which 
explains  the  selection  of  the  name.  Stourbridge,  England,  is 
situated  on  the  river  Stour,  which  explains  the  origin  of  the 
town's  name.  The  word  Stour  is  Gaelic,  meaning"rough, ""un- 
worn." 

Sutton: — The  territor}- of  this  town,  called  by  the  Indians 
Hassanamisco,  was  purchased  by  its  proprietors  of  John  Wam- 
pus, alias  White,  an  Indian  Sachem,  and  the  grant  was  con- 
firmed in  1704.  The  town  was  incorporated  in  1715.  How  it 
came  to  be  named  Sutton  is  not  quite  certain.  It  may  have 
been  named  in  honor  of  one  of  the  Sutton  family  in  England, 
or,  it  may  have  been  named  from  the  old  town  of  Sutton  in 
England.  There  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  John  Wampus 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  visited  England,  and  while  on  his  re- 
turn voyage,  falling  sick,  he  received  particular  care  and  atten- 
tion from  one  of  his  fellow  passengers,  Dr.  Sutton,  and  from 
gratitude  to  him  for  his  kindness,  suggested  his  name  for  the 
township  when  he  gave  the  deed  conveying  it  to  the  proprietors 


114 


But  it  is  probable,  considering  tlie  date  of  incorporation,  that  it 
was  named  from  the  old  town  of  Sutton.  The  name  originally 
was  "Southtown,"  and  was  contracted  to  Sutton. 

Templeton  : — The  territory  was  originally  granted  to  120 
soldiers  and  their  descendants  who  fought  in  the  Narragansett 
war,  and  it  was  called  "Plantation  of  Narragansett  No.  6."  It 
was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  17G2,  and  named  Temjileton  in 
honor  of  John  Temple,  who  then  represented  the  American 
branch  of  the  family  of  Richard  Grenville,  Earl  Temple.  Ber- 
nard was  Governor  at  the  time,  and  doubtless  gave  the  town 
its  name.  Temple  is  from  the  Latin  Templane,  meaning  "a 
place  of  worship."  How  it  came  to  be  a  proper  name  is  a  mat- 
ter of  speculation. 

Upton  : — Upton  was  taken  from  Mendon,  Sutton  and  Hopkiu- 
ton,  and  incorporated  in  1735.  It  was  probably  named  from 
Upton,  Worcestershire,  England,  a  very  ancient  town  on  the 
river  Severn.  In  early  days  it  was  probably  "Uptown"  in  dis- 
tinction from  "downtown." 

UxBRiDGE  : — Uxbridge  wa  staken  from  Mendon  and  incorpora- 
ted in  1727.  Its  Indian  name  was  Waruntug.  It  was  probably 
named  in  honor  of  Henry  Paget,  Earl  of  Uxbridge,  and  at  that 
time  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council ;  though  it  is  not  certain 
but  what  it  was  named  from  the  town  of  Uxbridge  in  Middlesex 
County,  England.  The  date  of  the  incorporation  is  the  only 
reason  for  supposing  that  the  Earl  was  meant  instead  of  the 
town.  Uxbridge,  England,  is  on  the  river  Colne,  a  Roman 
name  which  superseded  the  Celtic  name  of  Ux.  The  place  of  the 
bridge  across  the  river  Ux  finall}'  came  to  be  Uxbridge. 

Warren  : — This  town  was  incorporated  as  Western  in  1741, 
and  the  name  changed  to  Warren  in  1841.  The  new  name  was 
given  in  honor  of  the  patriot.  Gen.  Joseph  Warren.  The  simi- 
larity of  the  name  Western  to  Weston,  Middlesex  County, 
giving  rise  to  postal  mistakes  was  the  reason  assigned  for  the 
change.  The  name  dates  back  of  the  Norman  conquest.  A 
warren  was  a  privilege  by  the  King  for  keeping  conies,  hares, 
partridges  «fec.  The  ancestor  of  the  Warren  family  was  proba- 
bly a  keeper  of  a  Warren. 


115 

Wehsteu: — Webster  was  taken  from  Dudley  and  Oxford  in 
1832  and  named  Webster  in  honor  of  Daniel  Webster.  Tiie 
word  ''AVebster"  means  "a  weaver,"  being  derived  from  Webbe, 
Webber.     An  old  English  couplet  runs, 

"My  Avife  was  a  webster 

And  woolen  cloth  made." 

In  medi;T3val  English  the  termination  "ster"  was  a  feminine 
one  ;  and  still  survives  with  its  primitive  signification  in  "spin- 
ster." We  see  the  same  ending  in  such  names  as  Baxter, 
originally  '*Bakester,"  "a  female  baker,"  Brewster,"  "a  female 
brewer."  The  female  ancestor  of  the  Websters,  was  without 
doubt,  a  weaver  ;  and  her  descendants  took  her  occupation  for 
a  famil}'  name,  rather  than  the  father's  for  some  reason. 

West  BoYLSTON  : — West  Boy Iston,  taken  in  part  from  Old 
Boylston,  and  lying  on  the  west,  explains  itself. 

Westminster  : — The  territory  was  granted  to  soldiers  who 
served  in  King  Phillip's  war,  and  was  called  "Narragansett 
No.  2."  It  was  incorporated  in  1770  and  named  Westminster 
from  one  of  the  seven  boroughs  of  Lincoln.  The  name  and  place 
is  of  great  antiquit}'.  The  word  Minster  is  derived  from  the 
Latin  Monasterium^  and  means  "a  church  of  a  monastery." 

WiNCiiENDON  : — This  territory  in  1734  was  granted  to  Lieut. 
Abram  Tilton  and  some  sixty  others,  mostl}'  from  Ipswich 
Mass.,  some  of  whom  had  rendered  services  in  the  expedition 
to  Canada  in  1(590,  and  hence  it  was  called  "Ipswich  Canada." 
The  town  was  incorporated  when  Bernard  was  Governor,  1764, 
and  in  naming  it  he  attempted  to  honor  himself.  Gov.  Bernard 
was  the  eventual  heir  of  the  TA'ringhams  of  upper  Winchendon, 
England.  This  explains  the  selection  of  the  name.  The  name 
is  probably  derived  from  the  Saxon  wince! ,  meaning  "corner  or 
turn,"  and  doivns.,  meaning  "low  or  sloping  land."  The  place 
at  the  corner  or  turn  on  the  downs  finall}'  came  to  be  called 
Wincel-don ^  and  from  this  word  Winchendon  was  evolved. 

Worcester  : — The  castle  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jliviccia,  called 
ITwic-ivara-ceaster  has  long  since  crumbled  to  dust,  but  on  the 
site  of  this  ancient  Roman  war-castle,  on  the  banks  of  the  Sev- 
ern, modern  Worcester,  from  which  our  city  was  named,  stands 


116 

to-day.  The  pleasant  sounding  Indian  name,  Quinsigamoncl, 
by  which  this  locaUty  was  once  known,  means  "long  fishing 
place, "the  word  being  compounded  ofquinni  "long"  and  amang^ 
corrupted  into  amoRcZ," fishing  place."  To  whom  are  we  indebt- 
ed for  the  name  of  Worcester,  and  why  was  this  name  selected? 

William  H.  Whitmore,  a  critical  student  of  the  earl}-  histor}' 
of  the  colony  and  the  origin  of  names,  is  authority  for  the  state- 
ment that  there  is  a  tradition  that  the  name  was  chosen  here  as 
a  defiance  of  the  King,  but  he  neither  states  any  facts  nor  uses 
any  argument  in  support  of  its  truth  ;  neither  does  he  express 
an}'  opinion  as  to  who  suggested  the  name.  Does  this  tradition 
rest  upon  any  foundation,  and  if  so,  in  whose  mind  did  the  idea 
originate?  We  find  in  the  colonial  records  of  1684,  the  follow- 
ing record  :  "Vpou  the  motion  &  desire  of  Majo""  Gennll  Goo- 
kin,  Capt  Prentice,  &  Capt  Dan  Hinchman,  the  Court  grants 
their  request,  i.  e.,  that  their  plantation  at  Quansigamond  be 
called  Worcester,  &  y'  Capt  Wing  be  added  &  appointed  one  of 
the  comittee  there,  in  y*^  roome  of  the  deceased,  &  that  their  tonne 
brand  marke  be  -^j-^-"  It  is  well  known  that  Daniel  Gookin  was 
the  most  influential  and  prominent  of  the  little  band  that  plan- 
ted the  seeds  of  civilization  within  the  borders  of  our  city. 

He  was  born  in  Kent,  England,  in  1612,  and  was  called  the 
"Kentish  Soldier."  He  is  supposed  to  have  arrived  in  Boston 
May  20,  1644.  Subsequently  he  was  elected  Major  General,  or 
Commander-in-chief  of  the  colony.  In  1651  he  was  chosen 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies.  For  over  thirty  years  he 
was  superintendent  of  the  Christian  Indians  in  the  colon}-.  He 
wrote  a  history  of  New  England,  which  was  never  printed,  and 
subsequently  lost  by  fire  ;  he  also  wrote  a  history  of  the  Chris- 
tian Indians,  which  is  still  preserved.  Cotton  Mather  in  his 
memoir  of  Thompson,  a  nonconformist  divine  of  Virginia,  lias 
the  following  quaint  allusion  to  Gookin  : 

A  constellation  of  great  converts  there. 
Shone  round  him,  and  his  Heavenhj  giorii  were. 
GooKiNS  was  one  of  these  :  by  Thomjison's  pains, 
Christ  and  New  England  a  dear  Gookins  gains. 

At  the  time  Worcester  was  named,  16«4,  Charles  the  II.  was 
King,  and  by  his  oppressive  measures  and  tyranny,  had  incurred 


117 


the  displeasure,  opposition  and  moral  resistance  oC  the  colony, 
which  resulted  in  the  revocation  of  the  first  Charter  two  years 
later, IG.SG.  Thirty  years  before,  1651,  Charles  the  II.  at  the 
head  of  the  royalists,  fought  at  Worcester  his  great  and  losing 
battle  against  Cromwell,  from  which  he  barely  escaped  with  his 
life.  The  battle  of  Worcester  was  called  "Cromwell's  crowning 
mercy."  Crookiu  visited  England  in  IGoC,  and  remained  there 
two  or  three  3'ears.  He  had  an  interview  with  Cromwell,  and 
obtained  some  advantages  for  a  certain  class  of  emigrants  to 
this  couutr}-.  Gookin,  a  Puritan  himself,  naturally  was  an  ad- 
mirer of  Cromwell ;  a  zealous  nonconformist,  he  naturally  hated 
the  King  who  persecuted  everything  but  royalty  and  the  church. 
What  was  more  natural  than  that  the  recollection  of  the  King's 
crushing  defeat  at  Worcester  should  originate  the  idea  of  giving 
the  new  settlement  the  name  of  the  place  where  he  was  over- 
whelmed ?  These  facts  furnish  at  least  a  respectable  foundation 
for  this  tradition  to  rest  upon,  and  it  seems  to  me  no  visionary 
speculation  to  claim  that  the  idea  of  naming  the  new  settlement, 
Worcester,  as  a  defiance  to  the  King,  originated  in  the  mind  of 
the  "Kentish  Soldier." 


The  animal  meetincr  of  the  Society  was  held  on  the 
evenincr  of  Decem})er  5th.  Hon.  J.  W.  Lawrence, 
of  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  President  of  the  New  Brunswick 
Historical  Societ}-,  was  elected  an  honorary  member. 

The  following  correspondence  was  then  read,  and 
ordered  to  be  printed  in  the  Proceedings  for  1882  : — 

Worcester,  Mass.,  Nov.  8,  1882. 
Rev.  Samuel  May, 

My  dear  sir  : — The  package  containing  this  note  of  explanation 
also  contains  a  complete  set  thus  far  of  the  publications  of  The 
Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity.  And  while  acting  as  a  servant 
of  that  Society  it  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  present  through 


118 

3^ou  to  the  Leicester  Town  Library  these  specimens  of  the  ac- 
tivity and  industry  of  the  members  of  the  Societ}'  I  huniblj^ 
represent.  The  cordial  greeting  and  open-handed  generosit}' 
which  were  so  bountifully  displayed  by  the  good  people  of  Leices- 
ter to  those  of  us  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  visit  your  beautiful 
town  last  summer  have  not  been  forgotten  ;  and  that  trip  will 
ever  be  remembered  as  one  of  our  most  delightful  and  profitable 
excursions.  In  behalf  of  the  Leicester  Town  Library,  please 
accept  this  gift  from  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity. 

Very  repectfully  j-ours, 

E.  B.  CRANE,  President. 

Leicester,  J\lov.  20,  1SS2. 
To  Ellery  B.  Cuane,  Esq.,  President,  &c. 

The  Directors  of  the  Leicester  Public  Librar}'  have  received 
from  The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquit}',  through  your  hands  as 
its  President,  the  four  volumes  of  the  Collections  of  the  Society. 

At  a  full  meeting  held  on  Wednesday-  last,  it  v:a.s  voted  to 
send  a  special  letter  to  your  Societ}',  in  acknowledgement  of  this 
valuable  and  acceptable  gift, and  to  express  the  tlianks  of  the 
Directors  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  Leicester  for  the  great  pains 
the  Society  has  taken  to  make  this  collection  for  us,  and  put  it 
in  a  form  so  well  fitted  for  use  and  preservation,  even  stamping 
each  volume  with  the  title  of  our  Library  ;  and  that  the  letter 
be  signed  by  all  the  Directors.  Our  Library  has  alreadj-  re- 
ceived from  one  of  your  members,  Mr.  T.  A.  Dickinson,  a  copy 
of  your  Society's  pamphlet  for  1881 — whole  No.  17 — so  that  we 
now  possess  a  perfect  set  of  your  publications,  very  mucli  to 
our  satisfaction.  Maj'  we  not  add  a  word  as  to  the  mecliauical, 
yes  and  artistic,  completeness  of  these  volumes?  The  firm  and 
beautiful  paper,  the  clear,  exact,  and  tasteful  typographv,  and 
the  solid  and  elegant  binding  of  these  books  do  great  credit — 
if  we  may  so  say — to  the  taste  and  skill  of  the  Society,  beyond 
whose  membership  3'ou  have  no  need  to  go,  we  believe,  to  ac- 
complish all  this  thorough  and  handsome  work. 

Please  accept  this  letter  as  an  imperfect  expression  of  our 
thanks.  Let  it  also  convey  to  you  an  assurance  of  the  continued 
pleasure  we  have  in  remembering  the  visit  of  your  Society  to 
Leicester  in  Jul}'^  last,  and  the  meeting  it  then  held  here. 

We  are  very  respectfully  yours, 

A.  H.  COOLID(tE, 

T.  E.  woodcock,  )  Directors  of 

DEXTER  KNIGHT,  I  Leicester 

H.  O,  SMITH,  J  Public  Library. 

SAMUEL  MAY. 


119 

The  Annual  Report  of  the  Treasurer,   Henry  F. 
Stedman,  was  presented  and  accepted,  as  follows: — 


TREASURER'S  REPORT. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members  of 

The  Worcester  Society  of  Antiquity. 

Genllemcn: — Agreeable  to  the  requirements  of  the  by-laws 
of  this  Society,  I  herewith  submit  this  Annual  Report,  showing 
the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Society,  from  Jan.  3,  1882, 
to  Dec.  5,  1882,  as  follows : — 


dk^l]  fjedeived. 
1882. 

Assessments,   . 
Admisisons, 
Donations, 
Sale  of  Proceeedings, 
Life  membership, 
Ke^s  sold,  .... 


Br. 

$163,00 

18,00 

194,75 

44,55 

25,00 

,55 


da,s4|  Paid. 

1882.  Qr. 

Rent, $131,25 

Gas, 7,22 

Stationer}'  &  Printing  149,92 


Express  &  Postage, 

Binding, 

Supplies  for  rooms, 

Balance  on  hand. 


18,27 

5,53 

13,75 


$445,85 


$325,94 
119,91 

$445,85 


There  are  accounts  due  the  Treasurer  to  the  amount  of  $540. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

H.  F.  STEDMAN,  Treasurer. 


The  Annual  Report  of  the  Librarian,  Samuel  E. 
Staples,  was  presented  and  accepted.  It  was  accom- 
panied by  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  "Fifth  Day 
Meeting"  of  early  New  England. 


LIBRARIAN'S  REPORT, 


INCLUDING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  THURSDAY  LECTURE  OF  FORMER  TIMES. 


Bt  SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES. 


To  the  President  and  Members  of 

The  Worcester  Society  af  Antiquity. 

OUR  former  Librarian,  Mr.  Albert  A.  Lovell,  having  sig- 
nified his  intention  at  the  last  annual  meeting,  not  to  serve 
in  that  capacity  another  year,  in  m}'  absense  from  the  city,  I  had 
the  honor,  which  I  truly  appreciate,'  to  be  elected  to  that  posi- 
tion, the  duties  of  which  I  have  endeavored  to  perform,  devoting 
such  time  to  the  work  required  as  I  could  spare  from  other  en- 
gagements. I  regret,  however,  that  Mr.  Lovell  found  it  neces- 
sary to  decline  a  re-election  to  a  position  he  is  so  well  qualified 
to  occup}',  and  I  desire  here  to  express  to  him  mj-  personal  obli- 
gations, and  also  the  gratitude  of  the  members  of  this  Societj', 
for  the  great  amount  of  labor  performed  in  arranging  and  cata- 
loguing the  library,  and  the  general  work  accomplished  for  the 
benefit  of  this  Society'. 

We  are  now  approaching  the  close  of  the  eighth  3ear  of  our 
existence  as  a  Society,  having  been  five  years  located  in  these 
rooms,  most  of  our  work  having  been  done  since  we  took  pos- 
session of  these  apartments.  Previous  to  that  time  our  meetings 
were  usuallj'  held  at  the  residences  of  the  members,  and  we  had 
no  library  that  could  be  considered  such,  though  a  few  books 
and  pamphlets  had  been  received,  the  first  donation  being  a 
copy  of  "Worcester  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,"  from  the 
author,  our  former  Librarian,  Mr.  Lovell.  This  was  followed 
by  Mr.  Crane's  "Genealogy  of  the  Rawson  Family,"  from  the 
writer,  several  publications  of  the  late  Hon.  Charles  Hudson, 
contributed  bj'  him,  and  other  contributions  from  Messrs.  Daniel 
Seagrave,  Richard  OTlynn,  Nathaniel  Paine  and  Clark  .lillson. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  Jan.  1,  1878,  theLibrarian  reported 
the  accessions  for  the  year,  3(32  volumes  of  books,   2027   i)am- 


121 

phlets,  1212  newspajjcrs,  159  catalogues,  and  a  large  number 
of  circulars,  programmes,  prints,  views,  engravings  and  por- 
traits. At  the  next  annual  meeting,  Jan.  7,  1879,  there  had 
been  received  during  the  year,  47U  bound  volumes,  125G  pam- 
phlets, 509  magazines,  besides  newspapers,  broadsides,  circulars, 
manuscripts,  prints,  engravings  and  maps.  During  the  year 
1879,  there  were  received  487  bound  volumes,  10G2  pamphlets, 
530  magazines,  numerous  manuscripts,  engravings,  portraits 
and  newspapers.  In  1880,  the  accessions  amounted  to  133 
bound  volumes,  10G7  pamphlets,  15  volumes  magazines,  and 
various  articles  to  our  Cabinet  collections.  At  the  last  annual 
meeting,  the  accessions  reported  were  165  bound  volumes, 
657  pamphlets,  and  26  miscellaneous  articles.  It  will  be  noticed 
that  the  contributions  in  1880  and  1881  were  considerably'  less 
than  in  the  3-ears  immediately  preceding.  This  year,  there  has 
been  a  gain,  both  in  (juality  and  quantity,  and  I  am  gratified  in 
being  able  to  report  that  our  accessions,  since  Jan.  1,  1882,  have 
been  237  bound  volumes,  1004  pamphlets,  242  magazines,  66 
almanacs,  and  686  catalogues.  More  than  600  of  the  latter, 
were  given  by  Mr.  Richard  O'Flynn,  many  of  them  being  cata- 
logues of  valuable  private  libraries,  that  have  been  sold  at  auc- 
tion sales  in  Boston,  and  New  York,  during  a  few  years  past. 

In  summing  up  our  accessions  for  the  last  five  years,  I  find 
that  we  have  received  in  the  aggregate,  1404  bound  volumes, 
and  6978  pamphlets,  of  which,  1998  have  been  received  since  the 
last  report  of  the  Librarian  was  made.  We  have  also  received 
many  interesting  articles  for  our  Cabinet,  a  more  particular  no- 
tice of  which  will  be  made  in  the  Department  reports. 

[Since  this  report  was  submitted,  and  during  the  month  of 
December,  there  were  received  35  bound  volumes,  69  pamphlets 
and  a  number  of  miscellaneous  articles,  including  maps  broad- 
sides and  newspapers.  These  will  make  the  amount  received 
during  the  year  1882,  to  be  572  bound  volumes,  and  2067  pam- 
phlets, and  the  whole  amount  received  since  our  organization, 
1439  bound  volumes  and  7047  pamphlets.] 

I  desire  to  make  special  mention  of  the  gift  to  the  Societj^ 
by  Stephen  Salisbury  Jr.  Esq.,  of  the  North  American  Review, 
as  issued  ;  b}'  our  Secretary,  Mr.  H.  L.  Shumway,  the  Magazine 


122 

of  American  History,  and  various  other  publications,  and  a 
number  of  volumes  of  the  Annual  of  Scientific  Discovery  ;  by 
Miss  Ellen  D,  Larned,  her  History  of  Wintlham  Counu-,  Conn.  ; 
by  Charles  C.  Baldwin,  his  Baldwin  Genealogy  ;  b}-  Daniel  Sea- 
grave  Esq.,  his  Genealogy  of  the  Seagrave  Family  ;  by  George 
F.  Daniels,  his  Huguenots  in  the  Nipmuck  Country  ;  by  Henry 
M.  Smith  Esq.,  his  Memorial  volume  of  Hon.  Charles  Hudson, 
and  also  the  balance  of  the  pamphlet  edition  of  the  same  ;  by 
Mrs.  Henry  Chapin,  the  Address  of  her  deceased  husband,  at 
Uxbridge,  in  18G4  ;  by  Edward  W.  Lincoln  Esq.,  a  volume  of 
his  reports  as  chairman  of  the  Commissioners  of  Public  Grounds  ; 
by  Hon.  John  D.  Baldwin,  his  Record  of  the  Descendants  of 
John  Baldwin  of  Stonington,  Ct.  ;  by  Rev.  Adin  Ballou,  his  His- 
tory of  Milford  and  other  works  of  which  he  is  the  author  ;  by 
Dr.  John  G.  Metcalf,  his  Annals  of  Meudon  ;  by  C.  B.  Tilling- 
hast  Esq.,  State  Librarian,  a  set  of  the  Plymouth  Colon}-  Rec- 
ords, and  by  Holmes  Ammidown  Esq.,  a  valuable  map  of  St. 
Augustine,  Fla.  Valuable  donations  have  been  received  from 
Thomas  Drew  Esq.,  Mr.  Lucien  Prince,  Mr.  A.  S.  Roe,  prin- 
of  the  High  School,  Vice  President  George  Sumner,  and  from 
David  S.  Messinger  Esq.,  a  fine  copy  of  Mather's  Magnalia 
Christi  Americana,  4to,  edition  1702. 

Mr.  C.  C  Stearns  has  favored  the  Society  witli  a  set  of  his 
musical  compositions,  which  we  trust  may  be  followed  by  other 
composers  of  this  city.  From  the  New  England  Historic  Genea- 
logical Societ}',  we  have  received  the  second  volume  of  their 
Memorial  Biographies,  and  the  Genealogical  Register  as  issued. 
The  publishers  of  the  Webster  Times  and  Athol  Transcript  also 
contribute  their  papers  as  issued. 

The  library  work  has  been  continued,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  an  active  member  of  the  Societ}',  the  Card  Catalogue  so  well 
begun  by  my  predecessor,  has  been  nearly  completed. 

We  are  not  unmindful  of  contributions  in  multilld  forms,  by 
the  President  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Crane,  by  Hon.  Clark  .lillson, 
and  the  great  labor  performed  by  these  gentlemen,  and  by  Mr. 
Franklin  P.  Rice,  which  cannot  be  over  estimated.  Vjirions 
other  donations  to  our  library  have  been  received,  wliich  we 
should  like  to  make  special  mention  of,  but  time  forbids. 


123 

By  oxcliangc  with  the  American  Anticniarian  Society,  through 
the  assistance  of  their  courteous  Librarian,  Mr.  Edmund  M. 
Barton,  a  set  of  their  jiroeeedings  has  been  completed,  with  the 
exception  of  two  early  nunil)ers,  now  out  of  print.  Also,  a  set 
of  the  Annual  Beports  of  the  Worcester  County  Mechanics' 
Association,  b}- the  assistance  of  William  A.  Smith  P'.sq.,  the 
efficient  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  institution,  and  a  com- 
plete set  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Worcester  County  Horticul- 
tural Societ}'  through  the  aid  and  courtesy  of  Mr.  Henry  Phelps. 

The  set  of  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  Biography  and  his- 
tory has  also  been  completed.  A  few  volumes  have  been  bound 
through  the  liberality  of  two  of  our  members.  We  are  greatly 
in  need  of  money  for  binding  purposes,  and  the  wish  is  express- 
ed, that  means  may  be  furnished  to  carry  on  this  important  part 
of  our  work.  We  have  many  valuable  publications,  that  ought 
at  once  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  binder,  and  I  hope  that 
much  may  be  done  in  this  direction  during  the  year  1883. 

Our  own  i)ublications  have  become  (piite  numerous  and  val- 
uable, and  a  demand  has  arisen  for  them,  which  we  have  not, 
in  all  cases,  been  able  to  supply.  Seventeen  numbers  have  been 
issued,  making  four  large  octavo  volumes,  containing  a  large 
amount  of  historical  matter,  and  the  fifth  volume  will  be  com- 
pleted during  the  coming  year.  The  receipts  and  expenses  of 
the  Librarian's  office,  appear  in  the  report  of  the  Treasurer. 

The  additions  to  our  Cabinet  will  receive  proper  notice  in  the 
reports  to  be  submitted  on  that  department.  I  cannot  however, 
refrain  from  referring,  with  much  satisfaction,  to  a  gift  from  Mr. 
Alfred  Waites,  of  a  lieautiful  oil  painting,  nicely  framed,  of  Lake 
Quinsigamond,  by  Triscott,  and  a  large  engraving,  the  Authors 
of  the  United  States.  Dr.  George  Chandler  has  also  contribu- 
ted to  this  department,  and  a  valuable  collection  of  relics  of  the 
late  war  has  been  received  from  John  Boyden  P^sq.,  which  in 
due  time  will  receive  proi)er  attention  frorti  the  department  of 
Military  History.  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Knox  has  left  in  our  custody 
the  Brewster  Mortar,  which  descended  to  him  in  a  direct  line 
from  Elder  William  Brewster,  of  Mayflower  fame. 


124 

We  are  under  renewed  obligations  to  our  President,  and  to 
Mr.  William  B.  Howe,  for  new  shelving,  during  the  present  year. 
We  find  ourselves  much  crowded  for  room,  and  shall  soon  find 
it  necessary  for  more  aid  in  the  same  direction.  To  a  number 
of  other  gentlemen  we  are  under  obligations  for  special  favors, 
and  to  whom  we  now  publicly  express  our  thanks. 

Appended  to  this  report  will  be  found  a  full  list  of  donors  and 
donations  for  the  year  1882. 

THE  THURSDAY  LECTURE. 

WHATEVER  tends  to  enlighten  our  minds  concerning 
the  past,  and  increase  our  veneration  for  the  great  and 
good  men  of  former  generations,  will  not,  I  am  sure,  be  con- 
sidered inappropriate  or  altogether  useless  upon  this  occasion. 
Reverence  for  the  great  and  good,  a  desire  to  know  more  of  their 
public  and  private  life,  a  disposition  to  stud}'  their  noble  charac- 
ters, that  we  may  emulate  their  examples,  will  be  productive,  I 
doubt  not,  in  improving  the  disposition  and  habits  of  all  such 
as  ma}'  give  proper  consideration  to  these  examples  of  virtue 
and  knowledge,  and  strive  with  such  ability  as  the\-  possess,  to 
perform  well  and  truly  their  part  in  life,  that  the  virtues  of  the 
fathers  may  be  perpetuated  in  the  children,  unto  the  latest 
generations. 

More  than  two  hundred  and  sixty  years  ago  there  landed  up- 
on these  shores  a  noble  band  of  men  and  women,  driven  from 
home  and  the  cherished  land  of  their  fathers,  by  the  oppression 
of  a  tyrannical  priesthood,  that  they  might  here  find  that  liberty 
and  freedom  of  thought  and  action,  which  was  denied  to  them 
in  the  laud  of  their  birth.  Here  they  would  establish  themselves 
upon  a  virgin  soil,  untrodden  except  by  the  native  red  man, 
with  no  power  to  control  their  consciences  or  deter  them  from 
doing  what  seemed  to  them  right,  and  consequently  best  to  be 
done,  and  where  they  could  found  institutions,  which  in  their 
judgment,  enlightened  by  the  pure  word  of  God,  should  he  the 
foundation  of  a  free  and  prosperous  people,  a  countr}'  in  which 
religious  liberty  should  prevail,  and  where  the  exiled  of  all  na- 
tions might  find  a  peaceful  home. 


125 

The  paramount  thought  in  the  minds  of  these  noble  men  and 
women,  was  to  perpetuate  a  truly  religious  character;  for  upon 
this  fabric  rested  their  hopes  of  all  future  goodness  and  excel- 
lence. Nothing  was  left  undone,  which  to  them  seemed  neces- 
sary to  secure  this  greatest  of  all  blessings.  The  family  was 
the  church — the  unit  of  the  church  universal.*  Here  the  great 
principles  of  virtue  and  all  goodness  were  instilled  into  the 
minds  of  the  young,  and  loving  obedience  was  respected  and 
largely  obtained,  through  the  eftbrts  of  the  godly  fathers  and 
mothers  at  the  fireside-home.  The  seed  there  sown  jielded  an 
abundant  fruitage,  and  characters  were  there  formed  whose 
influence  has  been  felt  in  the  generations  that  have  followed, 
even  unto  the  present  da3\  The  Christain  Sabbath  was  held  in 
great  reverence  by  these  devout  persons,  and  its  observance  was 
strictly  adhered  to  b}-  abstaining  from  all  unnecessary  labor,  and 
.  by  meeting  in  their  houses  of  worship,  that  true  religion  might  be 
fostered,  and  their  Maker  glorified  by  the  loving  adoration  of 
His  saints. t  And  not  on  Sundays,  alone,  did  these  Christain 
people  meet  for  public  worship  ;  but  a  day  in  the  week  was  set 
apart  for  public  religious  service.  And  in  this  connexion  I 
propose  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  Thursday,  or  fifth  daj'' 
lecture,  as  that  meeting  was  termed. 

To  Mr.  John  Cotton,  one  of  the  reverend  pastors  of  the  first 
church  in  Boston,  belongs  the  honor  of  introducing  that  service 


*  The  apostle  Paul,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Romans,  XVI.  3.  5.,  sends  greet- 
ings nnto  the  Church  in  the  house  of  Priscilla  and  Aquila ;  and,  in  his  first 
epistle  to  the  Corinthians,  XVI.  19.  "Aquila  and  Priscilla  salute  you  much 
in  the  Lord,  with  the  Church  that  is  in  their  house."  And,  again,  in  wri- 
ting to  the  Colossians,  IV.  15., "Salute  the  brethren  which  are  in  Laodicea, 
and  Nymphas,  and  the  Church  which  is  in  his  house," 

t  In  a  sermon  preached  by  Dr.  Increase  Mather  in  1721,  he  remarks: — 
"Good  men  have  always  walked  in  that  way  (The  way  everlasting,)  Chosen 
that  Way  of  Truth,  laying  the  Judgments  of  GOD  before  them.  It  is  the 
Way  of  Piety.  They  have  always  like  Samuel  Worshipped  God  and  him 
ONLY ;  and  have  been  careful  not  to  take  the  name  of  GOD  in  vain  ;  and 
have  Sanctified  the  holy  Sabbaths  of  GOD  :  Yea,  Sanctifying  the  Sab- 
bath is  indeed  so  great  a  part  of  Piety  that  it  is  put  for  all  Religion.  (Isai., 
LVIII.  13.) 


126 

upon  these  shores.  Before  coming  to  Boston,  he  had  been  ac- 
customed to  hold  such  a  meeting  in  old  Boston,  England,  from 
whence  he  came,  and  where  under  the  Gothic  arches  of  St.  Bo- 
tolph's  it  was  first  commenced.  John  Cotton  was  settled  in 
Boston,  as  associate  pastor  with  Rev.  John  Wilson,  October  17, 
1633.  Cotton  Mather  says,  *'If  Boston  be  the  chief  seat  of 
New  England,  it  was  Cotton  that  was  the  father  and  glory  of 
Boston."  He  was  held  in  high  esteem  in  England,  being  a  pro- 
found preacher,  and  in  addition  to  his  Sabbath  labors,  it  is  re- 
corded, he  had  a  Lecture  every  Thursday,  at  which  multitudes 
thronged  to  hear  him. 

Here  we  find  the  origin  of  the  Thursday  Lecture,  an  observ- 
ance which  was  continued  many  generations,  and  not  entirely 
abandoned  till  a  time  within  the  memory  of  some  now  present. 
Mr.  Cotton,  himself,  continued  to  oflflciate  at  this  Lecture  until 
his  death,  which  took  place  in  December,  1652,  "ou  the  day, 
yea,  at  the  very  hour  of  his  constant  weekly  labors  in  the  Lec- 
ture, wherein  he  had  been  so  long  serviceable  even  to  all  the 
churches  of  New  England."  The  Lectures  were  continued  by 
Mr.  Norton,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Cotton.  Mr.  Wilson  also 
oflflciated  at  times,  an  instance  of  which  is  related  by  Cotton 
Mather  in  his  life  of  this  divine,  found  in  his  Magnalia,  Book 
III.  p.  46,  where  he  says,  ''The  Great  Lecture  of  Boston,  being 
disappointed  of  him  that  should  have  preached  it,  Mr.  Wilson 
preached  that  Lecture  on  a  Text  occurring  in  the  Chapter  that 
had  been  read  that  morning  in  his  family — Jer.  XXIX.  H — 'Nei- 
ther hearken  to  your  dreams,  which  you  cause  to  be  dreamed  ;' 
from  whence  he  gave  a  seasonable  warning  unto  the  people 
against  the  dreams  wherewith  sundry  sorts  of  opinionists  have 
been  endeavoring  to  seduce  them.  It  was  the  last  Boston  Lec- 
ture that  ever  he  preached,"  November  16,  1665. 

As  tending  somewhat  to  show  the  interest  felt  in  this  fifth 
day  service,  I  quote  the  words  of  Allen,  in  his  biography  of 
Norton,  where  he  says,  "a  good  man  of  Ipswich  used  fre- 
quentl}'  to  walk  to  Boston,  then  a  distance  of  about  thirty  miles, 
to  attend  the  Thursday  Lecture,  and  would  say,  that  it  was 
worth  a  great  journey  to  unite  in  one  of  Mr.  Norton's  prayers." 


127 

Those  Lectures  were  sustained  by  the  pastors  of  the  first 
church,  till  1()7'J,  but  at  this  time  there  were  three  churches  in 
the  town,  and  a  desire  was  expressed  that  the  other  pastors 
should  perforu  a  part  of  this  service.  An  order  was  passed  by 
the  magistrates,  that  "all  the  Elders  of  this  towne  might  joyntly 
carry  on  the  fifth  day  Lecture."  The  order  was  thought  to  be 
an  infringement  upon  religious  liberty,  and  on  the  records  of 
the  Church  stands  the  following  reply  :  "In  answer  to  y*  Hon'"'^ 
Magistrates  about  the  Lecture  ;  Tho  as  an  injunction  wee  can- 
not concur  with  it,  but  doe  humbly  bare  our  wituesse  against 
it,  as  apprehending  it  tending  to  y^  infringement  of  Church  Lib- 
ertie  ;  yett  if  the  Lord  incline  the  hearts  of  the  other  Teaching 
officers,  to  give  y"  assistance  with  those  of  this  Church,  who 
shall  bee  desired  to  carry  on  their  fifth  da}-  lecture,  wee  are 
willing  to  accept  theire  help  therein." 

Important  as  this  week-da^-  service  was  thought  to  be  by  the 
Elders  and  people  for  many  3'ears,  it  was  hardly  to  be  expected 
that  the  same  interest  could  be  continued  for  a  long  period  of 
time,  without  there  being  seasons  when  other  matters  would 
attract  the  attention  of  the  people,  and  to  some  extent  lessen 
in  their  judgnent  the  comparative  importance  of  the  Thursday 
Lecture.  The  leading  men,  however,  were  constant,  to  a  large 
extent,  in  their  adherence  to  this  stated  service.  Chief  Justice 
Sewall  manifested  a  deep  concern  in  this  institution,  and  he  it 
was  who  "sot  the  tune"  in  order  that  the  conuregation  might 
join  in  singing  the  praises  of  God  in  His  sanctuary.  In  April, 
1697,  Cotton  Mather  gave  notice  that  the  Lecture  would  from 
that  time  begin  at  11  o'clock,  instead  of  12,  and  reproved  the 
town's  people  that  the}-  attended  no  better  ;  and  declared  that 
it  would  be  an  omem  of  their  not  enjoying  the  Lecture  long  if 
the}-  did  not  amend. 

On  Thursday  morning,  the  2Gth  of  January,  1715,  the  clouds 
looked  dark  and  threatening,  and  there  followed  a  vehement 
snow  storm  with  the  wind  driving  from  the  northeast.  The 
Chief  Justice  made  his  way  through  drifts  of  snow,  and  when  in 
tlie  old  meeting  house,  he  not  only  set  the  tune,  but  counted  the 
worshipers,  and  he  tells  us  that  "the  number  consisted  of  but 
sixteen  women  and  two  hundred  men."     The  manner  in  which 


128 

he  makes  this  statement  would  seem  to  indicate  that  this  was  a 
small  attendance  ;  but  when  we  remember,  not  only  the  want  of 
comforts  in  the  meeting  house  of  that  day,  but  the  great  inclem- 
ency of  the  season,  the  wonder  is,  not  that  so  few  were  present, 
but  that  any  should  have  been  there  upon  such  an  occasion, 
though  important  the  meeting  was  thought  to  be. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Waterston,  in  a  sermon  delivered  at  a  Thurs- 
day Lecture  in  Boston,  in  1843,  informs  us,  that  for  sixty  years 
after  the  time  referred  to  above,  "the  Lecture  was  constantly 
sustained,  with  the  exception  of  two  months  in  1734,  when  it 
was  omitted  every  other  week,  on  account  of  a  lecture  at  Cam- 
bridge. Thus  did  it  go  on  until  1775,  when,  during  the  siege 
of  the  town,  it  was  for  a  time,  with  reluctance,  suspended." 
He  further  remarks  that  "on  the  Thursday  preceding  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  the  Lecture  was  held  as  usual.  On  the  da}-  pre- 
ceding Dr.  Eliot  preached,  and  on  the  week  following  Dr.  Mather 
preached.  Thus  amid  the  shouts  of  war  did  this  service  speak 
with  its  'still  small  voice,'  Through  five  months  of  painful  trial 
the  Lecture  was  only  omitted  five  times  ;  and  during  that  period 
was  alternately  preached  by  Dr.  Eliot  and  Dr.  Mather.  By  the 
middle  of  November  the  difficulties  became  so  great,  that  on 
the  30th  of  that  month  the  Lecture  was  brought,  for  a  season, 
to  a  close."  The  Lecture  was  resumed  immediately  after  the 
British  evacuated  Boston,  March  17,  1776  ;  the  officers  of  the 
American  army  and  Washington  himself  attended  the  service. 
Dr.  Eliot  preached  an  appropriate  discourse  from  Isa.  XXXHl. 
20:  "Look  upon  Zion,  the  city  of  our  solemnities;  thine  eyes 
shall  see  Jerusalem  a  quiat  habitation,  a  tabernacle  that  shall 
not  be  taken  down." 

The  Thursday  Lecture  afforded  an  opportunity  for  the  minis- 
ters to  discourse  upon  subjects  that  might  have  been  considered 
of  too  secular  a  character  for  the  usual  Sabbath  services.  Ques- 
tions concerning  the  welfare  of  the  people  in  their  political  life 
and  every  day  walk,  were  considered.  J^ven  the  wearing  of 
veils  served  to  call  forth  sermons  for  and  against  the  custom. 

The  suitable  training  of  the  young  was  considered  a  vei-y  im- 
portant matter  by  the  early  New  England  clergy.  In  the  year 
1721,  beginning  Jan.  23d,  a  course  of  eight  sermons  on  Early 


129 

Piet}'  was  delivered  at  the  Thursda}-  Lecture,  b}-  the  leading 
Polders  who  sustained  this  week-day  meeting.  The  first  was  b}'' 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  from  the  text,  I.  Chron,  XXIX.  19  :  ''Give 
unto  Solomon  my  Son  a  Perfect  Heart," — subject.  The  Pious  Pa- 
rent's Wishes.  The  next  discourse  was  upon  "The  Nature  of 
Early  Piety  as  it  respects  God."  This  was  delivered  at  Boston- 
Lecture,  March  30,  1720-1,  by  Benjamin  Wadsworth,  A.  M., 
from  Psalms  XXXIV.  2.,  "-Come  ye  Children,  hearl'en  unto  me: 
I  will  leach  you  the  fear  of  the  Lord;"  and  the  doctrine  set  forth 
was  as  follows  :  ^'■That  Children,  Young  Persons,  should  make 
it  their  chief,  principal  care  and  business  to  Fear  God!,  to  be  Sin- 
cerely and  Practically  Pious."  The  next  Lecture,  April  6,  1 791 , 
was  by  Mr.  Coleman,  upon  "The  Nature  of  Early  Piety  as  it 
respects  Men,"  the  text  being  taken  from  Ephesians  VI.  2  : — 
Honor  thy  Father  and  Mother,  ivhich  is  the  First  Commandment 
loith  Promise. 

These  were  followed  by  Mr,  Sewall,  on  Early  Piety,  as  it  re- 
spects ourselves  ;  by  Mr.  Prince,  on  The  Obligations  to  Early 
Piety  ;  by  Mr.  Webb,  on  The  Advantages  of  Early  Piety  ;  by  Mr. 
Cooper,  on  Objections  Answered  ;  and  on  the  18th  of  May,  1721 , 
by  Mr.  Foxcroft,  giving  Exhortations  and  Directions  to  Young 
People  founded  upon  the  text,  2d  Epistle  to  Timothy,  II.  22. 

"When  the  Eight  Sermons  were  coming  abroad  ;  the  Minis- 
ters who  Preached  them  waited  on  their  Venerable  Father  Dr. 
Increase  Mather,  who  was  then  in  the  Eighty  Third  year  of  his 
age,  with  a  request  that  he  would  permit  some  Discourse  of  His 
on  that  important  subject,  tho'  never  so  short  an  one,  to  be 
ushered  in  by  Theirs  ;  which  he  might  let  fall  as  a  Mantle  to 
us,  now  God  is  quickly  taking  him  awa}-  from  our  stead.  In  an- 
swer to  their  Desire,  he  preached  the  short  sermon,  that  is  now 
to  fasten  the  Nails  that  have  been  in  the  preceding  Essays,  of 
which  the  subjects  are  here  given.  His  text  was  from  1  Sam. 
VIII.  5  :  They  said^  unto  Samuel,  Thy  Sons  walk  not  in  tJiy 
loays."  The  circumstances  mentioned.  Oblige  us  to  conclude, 
(say  the  authors  of  these  eight  sermons,)  Now  these  are  some 
of  the  Last  Words,  to  be  Expected  from  a  Faithful  Servant  of 
GOD,  Finishing  his  Testimony,  to  those  Ways  of  Early  Piety, 
whereof  GOD  has  made  him  an  P^minent  Instance  as  well  as  a 
Renowned  Preacher. 


130 

Upon  the  publication  of  these  discourses,  the  preface  to  the 
volume  was  written  by  the  revered  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  and  is 
dated,  Boston,  July  4,  1721,  in  which  he  says,  "I  am  going  the 
Wa}'  of  all  the  Earth,  and  have  been  many  years  Longing  for  that 
Blessed  Hour,  when  I  shall  {I  have  a  Good  Hope  thro  Grace)  be 
received  into  the  Everlasting  Habitations,  into  that  worlds  tvhich 
no  Sin  and  no  Temptation  to  Sin  in  it,  and  where  CHRIST  is 
to  be  seen  in  His  Wondrous  Glories.  But  Thou,  0  Lord,  Hoio 
Long!  As  Polycarp  going  to  dy,  gave  his  Testimony,  That  he 
had  served  CHRIST  more  than  Four-score  Years,  and  had  al- 
ways found  a  Good  Master  of  Him,  I  tooidd  noiv  also  Dy  bear- 
ing my  Testimony  for  Him,  who  in  my  Early  life  mercifully 
Seized  me  for  Himself,  That  in  all  my  Pilgrimage  I  have  also 
found  a  Good  Master  of  that  Glorious  Lord.  But  ivhcd  a  Good 
Master  I  shall  find  Him,  I  know  not  now,  I  shall  know  Here- 
after. I  shall  not  know  till  He  send  for  me  ! — Which,  O  m^- 
GOD  and  SAVIOR,  I  am  daily  waiting  for: — Why  is  thy 
Chariot  so  long  in  coming?  Why  tarry  the  Wheels  of  thy 
Chariot !" 

The  most  serious  questions  concerning  man's  spiritual  wants 
were  made  prominent  upon  these  lecture  daj-s.  The  most  learn- 
ed men  of  the  times.  Cotton,  Wilson,  Norton,  Chauncey  and 
others,  and  the  leading  men  of  later  periods,  have  helped  to 
magnify  the  importance  of  this  service.  Often  these  days  were 
observed  as  days  of  Thanksgiving  for  special  favors,  and  again, 
as  occasions  of  fasting  and  prayer,  when  God's  judgments  were 
in  the  land. 

Whatever  else  ma}-  be  said  of  our  ancestors,  one  thing  is 
sure,  they  were  a  devout  and  God-fearing  people.  Who  can 
estimate  the  value  of  their  self-sacrificing  spirit,  and  the  week- 
day gatherings  for  public  worship  ?  Here  were  the  people  in- 
structed in  the  duties  of  life,  its  individual  character,  the  duties 
of  parents  and  children  in  the  home  ;  their  obligations  as  citi- 
zens, their  responsibilities  in  all  matters  of  public  concern.  Here 
they  learned  wisdom  to  direct  and  guide  them  in  all  their  affairs, 
and  to  them  are  we  indebted  for  much  that  we  enjoy  to-day. 


131 

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Clarke.  Robert  &  Co.  Cincinnati,  0. — Catalogue  and  circulars. 

Clemence,  Henry  M. — Fireman's  Bucket,  1793,  formerly  belonging  to 
Samuel  Allen  who  was  40  years  County  Treasurer ;  Fireman's  Bag,  1791, 
used  by  Nathaniel  Bemis  ;   1  book. 


132 

Cook,  Norton  L. — Repairing  clock  ;  5  pamphlets,  2  books,  files  of  "The 
Word,""The  Essex  Statesman, ""The  Commoner"  and  the  "Investigator  ;" 
65  miscellaneous  papers  and  a  lot  of  tracts  ;  11  nos.  WoodhuU  &  Clafliu's 
weekly  ;  piece  of  the  Clock  Dial  from  old  meeting  house,  Leicester. 

Crane,  Ellerv  B. — 2  prints,  Cornish  Corporate  Seals  and  Masonic  Arch ; 
lumber  for  shelves,  binding  6  vols,  register,  14  U.  S.  cents — some  rare — 
28  pamphlets,  49  catalogues,  3  books,  7  vols.  "Banker  and  Tradesman." 

Daniels,  Geo.  F.,  Oxford. — His  "Huguenots  in  the  Nipmuck  Country." 

Da-v-enport  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences, Davenport,  Iowa. — Proceedings, 
vol.  III.  part  II. 

Davis,  D.  A. — 1  sheet  of  music, 

Davis,  William. — 1  book,  7  pamphlets. 

Dodge,  Benj.  J. — 7  pamphlets,  7  nos.  Daily  Spy. 

Drew,  Allis  &  Co.— 3  vols.  Worcester  Directory,  1880,  1881,  1882. 

Drew,  Thomas,  Boston. — 65  pamphlets. 

Essex  Institute,  Salem,  Mass. — Essex  Bulletin  as  published. 

Forehand,  Sullivan. — 13  vols.  U.  S.  Public  Documents,  8  directories. 

GoDDARD,  Lucius  P. — Complete  file  of  the  Weely  Bulletin  of  the  Y.  M.  C. 
Association  of  Worcester ;  150  pragrammes,  circulars  cards  and  pamphlets. 

Green,  Samuel  A.  ,  Boston. — 2  pamphlets  relating  to  Groton,  Mass. 

Harding,  William  B. — 1  stone  axe. 

Hall,  J.  Brainard — Annual  Report  of  the  Chief  Signal  Officer  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  for  1879  ;  1  volume  messages  and  documents. 

Harlow,  George  H. — Continental  medal,  1880. 

Harris,  Clarendon. — Tribune  almanac,  2  Farmer's,  do.,  1  American,  do. 

Hastings,  Thomas  J. — 14  pamphlets. 

Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  Mass. — University  Bulletin  as  issued. 

Haven,  Mrs.  S.  F. — Memorial  of  Samuel  Foster  Haven,  LL.  D. 

Hemenway,  Miss  Abby  M. — Clarke  Papers  and  other  selections. 

Henshaw,  Miss  Harriet  E.,  Leicester. — 1  pamphlet,  collection  of  portraits. 

Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania. — Pennsylvania  Magazine  as  issued. 
First  two  vols,  and  No.  13  by  exchange. 

Howard,  Joseph  Jackson  LL.  D,,  London,  Eng. — Miscellania  Geneologica 
et  Heraldica,  as  published, 

Howe,  William  B, — Labor  making  book  shelves, 

Inman,  Wm.  H. — Piece  of  car  sill,  shattered  by  the  Dualin  explosion,  Wor- 
cester June  23,  1870. 

JiLLsoN,  Clark.— Mammoth  shears  used  in  finishing  cloth  ;  16  pamphlets, 
18  books,  3  newspapers  ;  Granite  Monthly  in  continuation  12  nos. :  por- 
traits of  Elihu  Burritt :  an  Indian  skull:  invitation  from  the  Historical 
Society  of  Baltimore:  ancient  specimen  of  pottery,  probably  of  Huguenot 
origin :  maps  of  Newark  and  of  New  York  :  his  "Inklings  of  Song,"  and 
2  copies  of  his  address  on  "New  Hampshire  and  Vermont," 

Johnson,  Chas.  R, — Reports  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange,  1881,  3  pam- 
phlets. 

JosLiN,  Henry  V.  A,,  Providence,  R.  I. — 3  books. 


133 

Kansas  Histouical  Society,  Topeka,  Kansas. — First  and  second  biennial 
reports  from  the  organization,  1875,  to  Jan.  1881. 

Kneedlek,  H.  S,  Iowa  City,  Iowa. — By  exchange,  lleport  of  the  (Jenealog- 
ical  Survey  of  the  state  of  Iowa,  in  two  volunes,  by  James  Hall;  Souv- 
enir and  almanac, 1881-2,  History  of  College  Journalism,  and  7  pamphlets. 

Knowlton,  T.  S.,  West  Erooklield. — 2  pamphlets. 

Knox,  J.  B. — ^lortar,  once  owned  by  Elder  William  Brewster,  on  deposit. 

Larned,  Miss  Ellen  D.,  Thompson,  Ct. — Her  History  of  Windham  County. 

Lawrence,  Edward  R. — 1  Book. 

LxBRAiiY  Committee,  of  Philadelphia.  Bulletin,  nos.  8,  9. 

Lee,  Pardon  A. — Letter  box,  1  drill,  1  broadside,  1  turtle  shell,  1  book,  1 
English  fourpenny,1752,  1  agricultural  report,  1879. 

Leland,  E  .J.,  Grafton,  Mass. — Cut  nails  used  by  Levi  Leland,  1806. 

Lincoln,  Edward  W.- — Transactions  of  the  Horticultural  Society  fori  881 : 
his  annual  report  as  Chairman  of  the  Commission  of  Public  Grounds  :  al- 
so bound  volume  of  his  Report  as  Chairman  of  the  Commission  of  Shade 
Trees  and  Public  Grounds. 

LiTTLEFiELD,  Geo.  E.,  Boston. — 5  catalogues. 

LovELL,  Albert  A. — His  sketch  of  the  life  of  Major  Ezra  Beaman. 

Marble,  Albert  P.— His  address  before  the  Hudson  high  school,  June  30, 

1882 :  7  copies  his  report  of  the  Worcester  schools,  1881  :  1  volume  of  the 

National  Council  of  Education,  3  pamphlets, 
Marshall,  Elijah  II. — 1  floor  brush,  1  basket,  1  Indian  gouge,  3  almanacs, 

12  pamphlets,  1  circular,  3  advertising  cards,  1  book. 

McLellan,  J.  A.,  Toronto,  Canada. — Report  of  the  Minister  of  Education 
for  the  year  1880,  1881. 

Merrifield,  Lucius. — 1  portrait  broadside. 

Merriman,  Rev.  Daniel. — His  "Sober  VicAvs  of  Abstinence." 

Messinger,  David  S. — Magnalia  Christi  Americana,  or  the  History  of  New 
England,  London  edition,  1702. 

Metcalf,  John  G.,  Mendon,  Mass.— -His  Annals  of  the  town  of  Mendon. 

Miller,  Henby  W. —  Machine  used  in  making  paper,  imported  from  Eng- 
land in  1818. 

Narragansett  Historical  Society.,  Hamilton,  R.  I. — Their  Historical 
Magazine  as  issued. 

New  England  Historic  Geneological  Society. — New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Register  as  published;  their  Proceedings  for  1882,  vol. 
11.  Memorial  Biographies. 

O'Flynn,  Richard. — His  History  of  Father  Mathew  Temperance  Society  of 
Worcester, ;  a  collection  of  manuscripts,  G02  sale  catalogues,  2  pamphlets, 
4  books,  4  serial  publications. 

Paine,  Nathaniel.— Paine  Family  Record,  No.  13,  IG  ;  do.  July  1881,  do, 
vol.  II.  No.  (3 ;  New  England  ancestry  of  President  Gartield ;  his  report 
for  the  Council  of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society,  April,  1881  ;  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  American  Antiquarian  Society  at  the  presentation  of  the 
portrait  of  Samuel  Foster  Haven,  LL.  D.  Centennial  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Constitution,  Tithingmen.  by  H.  B.  Adams,  Village  Hymns,  3  nos. 
Our  Continent.,  U.  S.  post-office  laws,  1793,  G  pamphlets. 


134 

Peck,  Augustus. — 5  engravings,  framed  photograph  of  Rev.  Seth  Sweetscr, 
1  portfolio,  2  pieces  wood  from  ship  Sparrowhawk,  9  pamphlets. 

Peirce  Henry  B. — The  Public  Statutes  of  Massachusetts. 

Phelps,  Henry. — 19  pamphlets,  10  almanacs,  189  tracts,  92  nos.  Missionary 
Herald.  A  facsimile  of  the  bullet  Hred  by  Sergeant  Mason,  Sept  11,  18.S1, 
at  Charles  J.  Guiteau.  producing  a  profile  likeness  of  the  assassin  as  it 
struck  the  wall  of  the  prison. 

Phelps,  Mrs.  Henry. — 1  broadside. 

Phillips,  Rev.  Geo.  W. — 1  pamphlet.  The  Battle  of  Groton  Heights ;  his 
Decennial  Sermon,  January  1 ,  1882. 

Pratt,  Sumner. — 1  English  newspaper. 

Prince.  Lucien. — A  horse  shoe,  7x9  inches,  taken  from  a  horse  from  the 
Pineries  of  Northern  Wisconsin.  31  books,  30  pamphlets,  17  copies  Laws 
and  Resolves,  Mass.,  3  autograph  letters. 

Putnam  &  Davis. — 26  catalogues,  44  pamphlets,  60  circulars  and  papers  : 
47  serial  publications,  10  broadsides  and  cards :  2  Church  almanacs,  1 
volume  Publisher's  Trade  List,  portion  of  an  Alligator's  Hide. 

Raymond,  Tilly. — Lock  taken  from  the  old  Court  House  built  in  1801,  at 
the  time  of  its  removal  and  enlargement  in  1857. 

Raymore,  Henry  E. — 3  colored  Lithographs  of  the  Troubadours. 

Rice,  Franklin  P. — 27  pamphlets,  6  books,  14  magazines,  4  catalogues,  2 
almanacs,  6  portrait  broadsides,  file  of  the  Republic:  sample  of  powder 
used  at  the  bombardment  of  Charlcstown,  S.  C.  1864  :  newsjDaper  cuttings, 
binding  Suffolk  Deeds,  his  "Sketches  of  the  Presidents  of  the  United 
States,  from  AVashington  to  Arthur,"  and  a  copy  of  the  story  of  Peter 
Rugg:  a  collection  of  newspapers  and  broadsides. 

Rice,  William  W. — 9  volumes  U.  S.  Public  Documents. 

Rice,  William  W.,  Springfield  Mass, — Volume  Proceedings  of  Connecticut 
Valley  Historical  Society,  1876-1881. 

Roe,  Alfred  S. — 16  magazines,  13  nos,  Massachusetts'  Teacher,  3  news- 
papers, 81  sermons  and  papers  of  Rev.  Levi  Pillsbury,  Avho  graduated  at 
Dartmouth  College  in  1798:  3  Church  Manuals,  framed  Memorial  of 
President  Harrison,  a  collection  of  papers,  the  Nation,  and  Congressional 
Record :  4  catalogues,  1  programme. 

Salisbury,  Stephen  Jr. — 11  nos.  North  American  Review. 

Seagrave,  Daniel. — Piece  of  car  wheel  from  the  Dualin  explosion  in  AVor- 
cester. 

Sheldon,  George,  Deerfield,  Mass. — 1  paper. 

Shumavay  Henry  L, — 85  pamphlets,  7  newspapers  and  newspaper  cutting's, 
5  copies  Miniature  Evening  Gazette,  numerous  circulars,  and  10  numbers 
Magazine  of  American  History. 

Smith,  Henry  M.  43  copies  his  Memorial  of  Hon.  Chas.  Hudson,  12  Pam- 
phlets, 1  book,  1  broadside,  circular  and  paper.  History  of  the  Normal 
School  at  Bridgewater, 

Smith,  James  A. — 1  book  ;  framed  photograph  of  the  old  Guard  House,  Rut- 
land, Mass. 

Smith.  John  G.  Manuscript  of  particular  or  sub-division  of  lands,  lots,  and 
buildings,  within  the  town  of  Boy Iston,  assessment  District  No.  17,  in 
the  7th  Division,  state  of  Mass.,  owned  or  occupied  the  first  day  of  October, 


135 

17!)8.     Miuiuscript  records  of  the  Peace  Society  of  Windham  County,  Conn. 

Smith,  William  A. — (!  copies  reports  Worcester  Co,  Mechanics'  Association. 

Stearns,  Cassius  C. — His  Mass  in  D,  Mass  in  A ;  his  Tautum  Ergo  and  18 
musical  compositions  of  which  he  is  the  composer. 

Staples,  Hamilton  B. — His  Origin  of  the  names  of  the  States  of  the  Union. 

Staples,  Samuel  E. — 3  books,  36  pamphlets,  8  almanacs,  1  broadside,  5 
newspapers,  8  nos.  Boatswain's  Whistle,  proceedings  at  the  inauguration 
of  Liberia  College,  at  Monrovia,  January  23,  18G2. 

State  Historical  Society,  Wisconsin. — 88th  annual  report. 

Stoddard,  Elijah  B. — His  Inaugural  Address  as  Mayor  of  Worcester,  1882. 
1  volume,  report  on  the  pollution  of  Blackstone  River. 

Stone,  Augustus. — 3  magazines,  5  pamphlets,  2  catalogues,  4  papers  ;  stat- 
utes of  the  United  States,  third  session  4(5th  Congress. 

Sullivan  Bros.  &  Liebie. — 7  catalogues. 

Sumner.  George. — 5  bound  volumes,  "Living  Age;"  1  do.  life  of  John  B* 
Gough,  1  do.  Horace  Greeley ;  life  and  labors  of  Elihu  Burritt ;  4  steel 
portraits  of  Presidential  Candidates,  1876,  and  one  Avood  poi  trait  of  Chas. 
Sumner ;  75  pamphlets,  1  manuscript,  1  thanksgiving  proclamation,  10 
broadsides,  3  directories,  6  Garfield  memorial  papers,  a  gimlet- pointed 
screw  used  in  making  a  piece  of  furniture  100  years  old ;  framed  group 
of  portraits  from  Ambrotypes  taken  in  1854  ;  large  collection  of  the  Daily 
Spy  and  Evening  Gazette ;  4  war  maps. 

Thayer  &  Washburn. — Nos.  1  &  2  of  the  Owlet. 

Thompson,  Eben  F. — 1  almanac,  1  pamphlet,  history  of  first  church,  Charles- 
town  ;  centennial  cards  and  souvenirs,  1  newspaper,  3  books,  1  foot  stove, 
collection  of  engravings. 

Thompson,  Edward  H. — 1  no.  Popular  Science  Monthly. 

TiLLiNGHAST,  C.  B.,  Boston. — Plymouth  Colony  Records  in  12  volumes  4to. 

Titus,  Anson  Jr. — His  "Sabin  Family  of  America." 

TowNE,  Enoch  H. — 1  pamphlet,  1  book. 

TowNLEY,  Joseph  B. — 1  mounted  engraving. 

Tucker,  Ephriam. — Muster  Roll  Lieut.  Durgin's  company  (R)  of  the  tenth 
Reigment  Veteran  reserve  corps,  on  duty  at  the  trial  of  the  conspirators 
of  the  Lincoln  assassination  ;  Chinese  Coin, 

Tyler  &  Seagtave, — 2  pamphlets ;  voting  lists,  Worcester,  1867.  Speci- 
mens of  printing;  10  broadsides;  genealogical  papers  relating  to  the 
Batchellor  family:  15  papers,  collection  of  posters  and  circulars. 

Tyler,  Albert. — Files  of  the  Woonsocket  Daily  Patriot,  1  Bickerstaff 
almanac,  1  pewter  spoon  from  the  family  mould  of  Moses  Cooper  of  Provi- 
dence, R.  I.:  his  "Battle  of  Bennington :"  volume  II.  III.  &  IV.  of  the 
Polyanthus  :  miniature  edition  of  the  History  of  tne  Revolution,  4  alma- 
nacs, 1  pampelet  containing  his  report  as  School  Committee  of  Oxford : 
1  pamphlet.  The  Law  of  Kindness,  by  Elihu  Burritt:  invitation  cards,  1 
pamphlet,  24  Robert  B.  Thomas  almanacs. 

Tyler,  Newell. — His  Genealogy  of  the  Tyler,  Taft,  Wood,  Bates  and  Hill 
families,  ancestors  of  Newell  Tyler  and  wife. 

Waites,  Alfred, — Framed  oil  painting  af  Lake  Quinsigamond,  by  Triscott, 
framed  steel  engraving. 

Wall,  Calrb  A. — 1  programme. 


13G 

Wesky,  Herbert. — 1  book.  12  pamphlets,  7  papers  and  circiilars,  1  broadside. 

Weshy,  Edward. — 3  pi\mphkts. 

W'esby,  J.  S.  &  Son. — Catalogue  of  Hyde  Park  Public  library,  list  of  patents 
July  to  Docembor,  1880:  t!l  pimiphlcts,  8  papers,  38  uos.  Christian  Cjnio- 
suro,  2  portlblios  and  2  book  covers. 

Western  Resertk  and  Northern  Ohio  Historical  Society,  Cleveland  O. — 
Proceedings  14th  annual  meeting.  May  7,  1882. 

Whittemoke.  Arigail, — Scott's  Bible,  with  marginal  notes,  live  volumes. 

Wilder,  Hakvey  B. — Two  sermons  delivered  before  the  Ancient  imd  Hon- 
orable Artillery  Company  of  Massachusetts. 

Worcester  Five  Cent  Saaings  Bank. — 1  pamphlet. 

Y.U.E  College. — 5  college  pamphlets. 


Officers  for  the  ensums  vear  were  elected.  Mr, 
Samuel  E.  Staples,  who  was  elected  Librarian,  resig- 
ned at  the  January  meetiuij,  1SS3,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
A.  Dickinson  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The 
officers  for  1S83  are  as  follows: 

President:  Ellerv  B.  Crane.  1st.  Vice  President : 
Albert  Tolman :  2d  Vice  President :  Georire  Sumner. 
Secretary:  Henry  L.  Shumway.  Treasurer:  Henry 
F.  Stedman.  Librarian:  Thomas  A.  Dickinson. 
Committee  on  Nominations  for  three  years:  William 
H.  Bartlett. 

The  Secretary  and  Treasurer  were  sworn  to  the 
proper  discharge  of  their  duties  by  Chirk  Jillson  Esq. 

It  was  yoted  that  the  annual  assessment  for  18S3 
should  be  83,00  per  member. 


DEPARTMENT  REPORTS. 


On  aiiiionncinir  the  names  oftlie  members  assio^n- 
ed  to  the  De[)artment  of  Military  History,  at  the 
reu'uhir  meetintj:  in  Julv,  President  Crane  made  the 
following  appropriate  remarks: 

Members  of  The  V'orcesfer  Soc'iely  of  Anliqidly. 


Gentlemen : — In  accordance  with  the  instructions  given  me 
l)y  a  vote  at  onr  last  reunlar  meeting,  I  hereby  institute  a  new 
department  of  work,  to  be  known  and  styled  ''Military  History." 

On  our  roll  of  membershii)  we  have  the  names  of  man}'  per- 
sons who  were  prominent  and  active  in  the  last  great  struggle 
to  perpetuate  the  life  of  our  National  Government.  It  was  a 
desperate  contlict,  one  ever  to  be  memorable  in  the  annals  of  our 
state  and  nation  ;  and  as  it  is  the  province  of  this  Society  to 
collect  and  perpetuate  all  matters  of  historical  interest,  it  occurs 
to  me  that  one  of  the  most  desirable  and  commendable  things 
we  can  do  is  to  give  a  portion  of  our  time  to  this  special  branch 
of  history,  particularly  as  we  can  now  have  the  help  of  so  man^- 
individuals  who  can  speak  and  write  from  personal  knowledge, 
and  also  for  the  reason  that  while  we  accumulate  records  re- 
lating to  this  conflict,  we  shall  amass  items  of  great  local  interest, 
inasmuch  as  it  will  embrace  an  account  of  some  of  the  deeds 
and  sacrifices  of  citizens  of  the  City  of  Worcester  and  "Worcester 
County. 


138 

REPORT    OK    ARCHEOLOGY    AND    GENERAL    HISTORY. 

THE  past  3'ear  has  witnessed  great  activity  in  the  field  of 
archaeological  research.  If  space  permitted  it  would  be  a 
pleasant  task  to  chronicle  the  results  of  the  labors  of  eminent 
scholars  and  scientists  in  different  parts  of  the  world.  Some- 
thing of  this  sort  has  been  attempted  in  each  of  the  Reports  of 
this  Department  heretofore,  but  never  with  sufficient  complete- 
ness of  detail  to  be  satisfactorj-.  Much  more  would  this  be  true 
of  any  effort  to  condense  into  the  form  of  a  report  the  accumu- 
lated discoveries  of  the  last  twelve  months.  Such  a  work,  how- 
ever briefly  it  might  be  written,  would  exceed  the  limits  of  a 
large  volume.  It  therefore  seems  obvious  that  a  departure  from 
former  custom  is  not  only  expedient  but  necessary. 

If  our  Society  could  offer  any  example  of  actual  work  of  its 
own  in  the  line  of  this  department  the  record  of  that  work  would 
have  an  important  place  in  this  report,  but  unfortunately  such 
is  not  the  case.  There  seems,  however,  to  be  no  good  reason 
for  any  lack  of  this  sort  upon  our  part.  We  have  men  enough 
who  are  interested  in  the  subject,  and  whose  attainments  would 
justify  large  expectations  of  them  ;  we  have  opportunities  for 
investigation  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  and  those  opportunities 
can  be  taken  advantage  of  with  comparatively  little  expense  and 
certainly  with  no  danger.  To  be  sure  we  have  not  the  rich 
fields  of  research  which  exist  in  various  parts  of  the  old  world 
or  which  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  on  this  continent.  We  have 
nothing  like  the  gigantic  monuments  of  Egypt,  the  marbles  of 
Greece  and  Rome,  or  the  huge  edifices  of  Mexico  and  Central 
America,  but  we  have  scattered  broadcast  before  us  the  traces 
of  an  ancient  race,  of  whose  origin  there  is  no  history,  and 
whose  remains  afford  the  best  chance  of  studying  the  character 
of  a  people  in  the  stone  age  of  any  that  exist. 

We  do  not  know  nearly  all  that  is  to  be  known  of  the  Mohe- 
gans,  Narragansetts,  Pequods,  Wampanoags  and  other  New 
England  tribes,  though  our  ancestors  first  made  their  acqunin- 
tance  almost  three  centuries  ago.  A  careful  study  of  Indi.in 
hieroglyphics  might  give  us  the  key  to  the  Dighton  rock  inscrip- 
tions ;  an  exhaustive  investigation  of  aboriginal  traditions  would 


139 

perhaps  solve  the  mystery  of  the  old   Newport  tower.     These 

arc  but  hints  at  the  possibilities  attendant  upon   an   awakened 

interest  in  the  archaeology  of  our  own  country,     It  is  to  be  hoped 

that  the  suosjfcstious  here  oilered  will  not  be  without  ellect  in 

securing  for  the  subject  that  attention  from  our  nienjbers  which 

it  so  justly  merits. 

CHAllLES  R.  JOHNSON,  Chairman. 


REPORT    ON    LOCAL    HISTORY    AND    GENEALOGY. 

THE  average  American  is  so  much  engrossed  in  the  making 
of  history,  that  he  can  not,  or  will  not   take   the    time    to 
place  it  on  record.     While    we    are    engaged    in    our   counting 
rooms,  factories,  stores  or  workshops,  absorbed  with  the  cares, 
anxieties  and  perplexities  that  come  with  each  recurring  day, 
we  little  realize  all  that  is  going  on  outside  in  the  great  onward 
march  of  progress.     The  panorama  of  life  steadily   moves  on, 
while  we  float  listlessly  upon  the  surface  of  the  mighty  current. 
We  heed  not  the  ordinary  changes  that  take  place  ;  not  until 
some  heavy  stroke  falls  at  our  very  feet  do  we  stop  to  look  up, 
and  even  then  it  is  but  for  a  moment.     The  mighty  flood  sweeps 
on,  undermining  and  carrying  away  cherished  and  familiar  land- 
marks that  were  our  delight  in  boyhood  and  our  pride  in  man- 
hood ;  sires  and  grandsires, — they  too  go  down    and    are    soon 
forgotten.     But  lest  all  should  be  lost  in  oblivion  the  fates  have 
permitted  a  certain  class  of  persons  in  the  community,   weak- 
minded  perhaps,  but  as  they  are  largely  in  the  minority  there  is 
no  cause  of  fear  for  the  race,  call  then  by  what  name  you  may, 
newsmongers,  chroniclers,  literary  curiosity  seekers,   historical 
investigators,  garret  rummagers,  antiquarians,  or  historiograph- 
ers, who  are  doing  the  country  noble  service.     Their  hearts  are 
in  their  work,  they  are  not  easily  disturbed  from  following   the 
bent  of  their  minds,  and  their  eflbrts   will  be    more    and   more 
appreciated  as  time  rolls  on.     To  the  class  of  persons  just  re- 
ferred to  we  perhaps  may  claim  relationship,  and  as  a  duty  as 
well  a.s  a  pleasure  let  us  continue  active  in  the  work  before  us. 


140 

The  year  1882  has  been  no  exception  in  the  rapid  growth  and 
prosperity  of  Worcester.  Perhaps  there  has  been  no  season 
when  more  has  been  done  to  add  beauty,  convenience,  and  wealth 
to  our  prosperous  city.  Many  of  the  old  streets  have  been  ex- 
tended, straightened,  widened  and  re-graded  ;  new  shops  have 
been  erected  and  old  ones  enlarged,  while  numerous  dwelling 
houses  have  sprung  into  being  to  accommodate  the  large  increase 
of  population.  But  of  this  we  can  only  speak  in  a  general  way, 
for  we  must  pass  on  to  review  the  long  list  of  laborers  who  in 
their  several  spheres  have  done  what  they  could  to  help  build 
up  and  enrich  our  city  and  her  surroundings. 

The  first  name  on  our  roll  is  that  of  Thomas  Melvin  Lamb, 
who  died  December  29,  1881,  at  the  age  of  51  years.  He  was 
a  native  of  Worcester,  a  jeweller  by  trade,  and  for  more  than 
30  years  occupied  the  same  store  in  Harrington  Block,  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Front  streets.  Mr.  Lamb  was  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  thoroughly  industrious  and  strictl}'  honorable 
in  all  his  dealing.  He  took  considerable  interest  in  the  welfare 
of  this  Society  of  which  he  was  a  member  ;  a  worthy  tribute  of 
respect  to  his  memory  will  be  contributed  by  one  of  our  mem- 
bers, and  receive  a  place  in  our  Proceedings  for  this  year. 

Next  on  the  list  of  deaths  among  the  sous  of  Worcester,  we 
find  the  name  of  Delano  A.  Goddard.  He  was  son  of  Benjamin 
Goddard,  who  came  to  this  town  from  Royalston  in  this  state, 
and  for  a  time  was  associated  with  the  late  Ichabod  Washburn 
in  establishing  and  building  up  the  wire  business.  Mr.  Goddard 
was  born  in  that  part  of  the  town  known  as  Northville,  Aug. 
27,  1832.  Early  displaying  a  fondness  for  studj'  he  fitted  him- 
self for  college  in  the  Worcester  schools.  He  then  spent  a  year 
at  Brown  University,  but  in  1850,  entered  Yale  College  as  a 
sophmore  and  graduated  with  his  class  in  1853.  He  soon  took 
up  journalism  as  a  profession,  being  employed  in  various  posi- 
tions, on  the  Herald  at  Painesville,  Ohio,  the  Chronide  of  Bos- 
ton, and  the  Transcript  of  this  city,  whe?i  in  1859  he  began  his 
connection  with  the  Spy  which  was  continued  for  about  9  years. 
In  18G8  Mr.  Goddard  became  the  editor-in-chief  of  the  Boston 
Daily  Advertiser.  Here  his  experience  and  skill  as  a  writer 
enabled  him  to  maintain  that  paper  in  a  position  fully  up  to  the 


141 

high  standard  of  Journalism  to  which  it  had  previously  been 
accorded.  Mr.  Goddard  was  a  modest  retiring  man,  but  the 
possessor  of  rare  intellectual  gifts  the  cultivation  of  which  to- 
gether with  his  uuscKish  devotion  to  his  profession  carved  for 
himself  a  place  in  the  front  ranks  among  the  Journalists  of  this 
country. 

The  sudden  death  of  a  prominent  citizen  in  any  community 
always  awakens  a  deep  sense  of  grief  in  the  hearts  of  the  people. 
But  seldom  have  the  citizens  of  Worcester  been  called  to  mourn 
a  greater  loss  than  that  which  they  sustained  on  the  17th  of 
Jan.,  LS.S2,  in  the  death  of  Alexander  Hamilton  Bullock.  He 
was  one  of  Worcester's  brightest  jewels,  and  a  man  of  genius. 
Although  not  a  native  of  Worcester  he  had  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  here  and  had  been  identified  in  so  many  ways 
with  the  public  and  private  institutions  of  our  city  that  no  man 
in  it  was  better  known  or  more  respected.  His  scholarly  attain- 
ments, wise  judgments,  power  af  oratory  and  spotless  character, 
amply  fitted  him  to  worthily  fill  any  ofHce  within  the  gift  of  the 
people.  The  many  public  trusts  that  we  reposed  in  him  from 
the  least  to  that  of  chief  magistrate  of  the  Commonwealth,  he 
filled  with  honor  to  himself  and  carried  grace  and  dignity  to  the 
the  office.  It  should  be  a  source  of  pride  to  any  community  to 
have  within  its  circle  such  a  inan,  who  by  his  official  services 
within  his  own  state  had  acquired  a  national  reputation  so  cred- 
itable as  to  make  him  the  choice  of  the  chief  magistrate  of  the 
Nation,  to  fill  the  highest  diplomatic  post  in  Europe.  But  Mr. 
Bullock  was  not  a  seeker  of  public  oflice,  and  with  due  courtesy 
declined  the  proffered  honors,  preferring  his  own  quiet  social 
home-life. 

On  January  18th  occurred  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Ashworth 
of  the  firm  of  Ashworth  and  Jones  of  Valley  Falls.  Mr.  Ash- 
worth was  a  native  of  Milurow  in  Butterworth,  Lancashire, 
England.  In  December,  1848,  at  the  age  of  26  years,  having 
acquired  the  weaver's  trade,  he  came  to  America  and  soon  found 
employment  with  the  Harding  brothers  in  the  town  of  Oxford. 
In  1852  he  went  to  California,  but  after  the  experience  of  a  year 
and  a  half  there,  returned  to  his  old  field  of  labor,  working  in 
the  employ  of  Buffum  and  Thayer  and  the  late  George  Hodges 


142 

at  Oxford,  and  for  a  time  operating  the  Franklin  Mill  in  Holden, 
where  he  was  one  of  the  first  if  not  the  first  in  this  country  to 
manufacture  shoddy,  he  having  imported  a  picker  from  England 
for  the  purpose.  Within  two  years  after  the  formation  of  the 
copartnership  of  Ashworth  &  Jones,  which  occurred  in  1861, 
the  mill  privilege  at  Valley  Falls  was  purchased  and  this  new 
firm  started  out  on  a  business  career  which  has  been  crowned 
with  remarkable  success.  With  but  an  exceedingly  small 
amount  of  capital  to  start  with,  only  the  hard  earned  savings 
from  their  daily  toil  in  the  weaver's  room  after  coming  to  this 
country,  these  men  have  by  their  fidelity  and  through  knowledge 
of  the  business  accumulated  a  handsome  property  and  an  envi- 
able business  reputation. 

Mr.  Philander  Sears  who  for  more  than  half  a  century  had 
been  a  respected  citizen  of  Worcester(a  tiller  of  the  soil) passed 
awaj"-  January  19th,  aged  86  years. 

January  29th  another  of  Worcester's  old-time  business  men 
died  at  his  residence  in  South  Worcester,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  80  years.  Joseph  Boyden  was  born  Sept.,  1801,  on  Paka- 
choag  Hill,  in  the  edge  of  Auburn,  a  descendant  of  Lieut.  John 
Boyden  who  was  living  on  Pakachoag  Hill  in  Worcester  as  early 
as  1742.  This  John's  son  Samuel  married  Sarah  Curtis  and 
had  several  children,  among  them  Joseph,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Mr.  Boyden  when  a  young  man  learned  the  watch- 
maker's trade  of  the  late  Parley  Goddard  in  Shrewsbury,  and 
in  1823  began  business  in  Worcester  in  conipnny  with  the  late 
Wm.  D.  Fenno,  occupying  a  store  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Walnut  streets.  When  the  brick  building  took  the  place  of  the 
wooden  one,  they  took  a  store  in  that,  and  continued  in  trade 
until  1849,  when  Mr.  Boyden  retired,  having  by  his  upright  and 
careful  attention  to  business  accumulated  a  handsome  property. 

Mr.  John  P.  Southgate,  for  more  than  30  j-ears  one  of  our 
active  business  men,  died  Feb.  oth,  in  his  7Sth  year.  He  was 
born  in  Leicester,  son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Waite)  South- 
gate.  In  1834  he  opened  a  shop  on  the  site  where  now  stands 
Horticultural  Hall,  for  the  manufacture  of  l)rushes.  He  was 
afterwards  engaged  with  Mr.  James  H.  Wall  in  the  boot,  slioe 
and  leather  trade,  occupying  a  store  on  the  north  corner  of  Main 


143 

and  Mechanic  streets.  Their  store  being  burned  out  in  1841, 
Mr.  Southgate  started  again  in  a  store  that  stood  where  Piper's 
block  now  stands,  but  in  1844  a  copartnership  was  formed  with 
Mr.  Thos.  M.  Rogers  for  carrying  on  the  leather  and  shoe-find- 
ings trade.  In  18r)0  they  removed  their  business  to  a  store  on 
the  north  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  streets,  and  after  five 
years  of  successful  business  Mr.  Southgate  retired  from  the  firm 
with  a  well-filled  purse  ;  but  through  unfortunate  speculation  in 
real  estate  he  found  in  1858  his  fortune  materially  reduced. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  in  1850  and  1851,  and 
of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in  1855  and  1856,  Since  18G0  he  had 
been  engaged  in  manufacturing  business  in  Auburn. 

Mr.  John  Dean,  a  native  of  Clitheroe,  England,  died  at  his 
residence  in  New  Worcester  Feb.  7th.  Mr.  Dean  came  to  this 
country  when  but  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  his  parents  first  settling 
at  Lowell  Mass.,  afterward  removing  to  Providence  R.  I.  Mr. 
Dean  came  to  Worcester  in  1858,  and  in  company  with  Samuel 
P.  Emerson  established  the  manufacture  of  Daguerrotype  mats. 
Afterward  he  was  associated  with  Mr.  Eneas  Morgan  in  the 
manufacture  of  Photographic  materials  and  japanning. 

Another  link  in  a  long  family  chain  was  broken  by  the  death 
of  Mr.  Sewall  Rice  on  Sunday  Feb.  26th,  in  his  84th  year.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  Jonas  Rice  who  was  the  fir&t  to  begin  the 
settlement  of  Worcester  in  1713.  Mr,  Sewall  Rice  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  for  many  3'ears  resided  on  the  same  spot 
where  his  great  great  grandfather  first  built  his  house. 

Jonathan  Grout,  born  in  Millbury  Sept.  24th,  1815,  died  in 
Worcester  April  4th.  About  40  years  ago  Mr.  Grout  came  to 
Worcester  and  began  the  sale  of  stationery.  Two  years  later 
he,  with  the  late  George  Brown,  established  the  business  which 
in  1876  he  sold  to  Messrs  Putnam  &  Davis,  and  which  has  been 
so  successful!}-  managed  by  them.  Mr.  Grout  was  an  enterpri- 
sing business  man  and  died  leaving  a  handsome  property. 

On  the  morning  of  April  13th  the  people  of  Worcester  were 
astonished  by  the  news  of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  George  W. 
Gill,  which  took  place  at  the  office  of  the  Washburn  Iron  Com- 
pany, whither  he  had  gone  to  attend  to  his  accustomed  duties. 
The  history  of  this  man's  business  life  is  indeed  remarkable  and 


144 

illustrates  what  can  be  accomplished  through  genuine  pluck  unci 
steadfast  determination.  Born  in  the  town  of  West  Uoylston, 
March  31,  1<S19,  he  started  out  upon  life  with  scarcely  any  men- 
tal training,  his  father  and  mother  both  dying  when  he  was  but 
a  lad.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  came  to  Worcester,  and  after 
several  unsuccessful  attempts  at  finding  employment,  finally 
found  an  opportunity  to  learn  the  blacksmith's  trade  with  Levi 
Howe  whose  shop  was  at  the  corner  of  Old  Market  and  Union 
streets.  Before  he  had  completely  learned  the  trade  he  left  Mr. 
Howe  and  began  work  in  the  blacksmith  shop  of  Mr.  Edward  B. 
Rice.  Here  he  remained  until  l-SSD,  when  he  went  to  work  at 
the  car  shop  of  Messrs.  Bradley  &  Rice  on  Grafton  street.  Af- 
ter mastering  his  trade  he  took  contracts  for  furnishing  the  iron 
work  required  in  the  constructin  of  their  cars.  His  energy,  good 
judgment  and  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business  enabled  him 
soon  to  begin  the  accumulation  of  property.  About  the  year 
1857  he  left  the  car  business  to  form  a  copartnership  with  Na- 
than Washburn  for  the  purpose  of  the  manufacture  of  iron  T 
rails  and  car  wheels,  and  during  the  war  they  did  considerable 
in  the  way  of  rolling  out  rifle  barrels  for  the  government.  In 
1864  Mr.  Washburn  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  Mr.  Gill, 
and  the  Washburn  Iron  Co.  was  formed  with  Mr.  Gill  as  Presi- 
dent and  manager.  Success  attended  this  undertaking  as  it  had 
all  other  engagements  in  which  Mr.  Gill  had  put  his  energy  and 
determination,  backed  up  by  sound  judgment  and  good  practical 
common  sense.  No  enterprise  in  which  he  took  an  interest 
failed  ;  he  would  overcome  every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  success  ; 
no  task  seemed  to  overtax  his  physical  strength,  and  his  rare 
good  judgment  was  found  equal  to  any  emergency  in  whatever 
line  of  business  he  applied  himself.  The  manufacture  of  iron 
rails  brought  Mr.  Gill  in  direct  contact  with  different  railroad 
corporations,  and  while  success  attended  his  business  he  invest- 
ed in  railroad  stocks  until  he  was  pecuniarily  interested  in  the 
Norwich  &  Worcester,  Worcester  &  Nashua,  Providence  & 
Worcester,  Rutland  &  Burlington,  Boston  &  Albany,  Eastern, 
Northern,  Fitchburg,  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois,  Evansville  & 
Terre  Haute,  Ind.  roads  In  several  of  the  roads  he  was  a  large 
stockholder  as  well  as  a  director. 


145 

Thus  have  we  very  briclly  follovsred  the  lad  of  sixteen  from 
from  the  poor,  ragged  boy  up  to  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
wealthy  business  men  of  Worcester-  Nor  was  this  all,  he  was 
for  man}'  years  one  of  the  most  active  and  prominent  political 
Democratic  leaders  in  the  state,  having  been  a  delegate  to 
almost  every  National  and  State  convention  of  his  party  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century. 

Hon.  John  C.  Whitin,  born  March  1,  1H07,  died  at  Whitins- 
ville,  April  22-  He  was  the  5th  son  of  Col.  Paul  Whitin,  a 
blacksmith,  who  settled  in  Northbridge  in  1782,  and  as  early  as 
1809  established  what  was  known  as  the  Northbridge  Manufac- 
turing Company  and  put  in  operation  a  mill  for  the  manufacture 
of  cloth.  Here  young  Whitin  was  put  to  work  when  but  nine 
years  of  age.  At  twelve  years  of  age  he  was  placed  in  the  ma- 
chine shop  where  repairs  were  made.  In  1825  a  copartnership 
was  formed  under  the  style  of  Paul  Whitin  &  Sons,  and  a  new 
mill  was  soon  erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  mill,  owned  by  Col. 
Whitin  and  his  father-in-law  Col.  Fletcher.  Mr.  John  C.  Whi- 
tin was  made  general  superintendent  of  machinery  and  repairs. 
In  this  occupation  he  developed  a  talent  for  invention,  and  in 
1832  took  out  a  patent  for  a  picking  machine.  This  machine 
attracted  the  attention  of  manufacturers  throughout  the  country, 
and  in  1834  the  first  one  was  sold.  From  that  time  on  there 
hay  been  a  steady,  growing  demand  for  Mr.  Whitin's  pickers  and 
lappers.  The  manufacturing  capacity  has  increased  from  time 
to  time  until  more  than  five  acres  of  floor  room  is  occupied  for 
making  and  setting  up  machines,  and  700  men  are  emploj^ed  in 
their  construction.  Mr.  Whitin  was  a  man  of  rare  talents  and 
he  used  them  with  good  results,  for  no  man  has  done  more  than 
he  to  build  up  the  manufacturing  and  mechanical  interests  along 
the  line  of  the  Blackstoiie  river  where  the  name  has  become 
famous,  its  fame  spreading  far  beyond  the  valley  of  the  Black- 
stone.  Mr.  Whitin  was  thought  to  be  a  successful  man  and 
enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  of  his  fellow  townsmen,  having 
been  called  to  fill  many  places  of  public  trust.  At  the  time  of 
hia  death  he  was  a  Director  of  the  National  Bank  at  Whitins- 
ville,  and  President  of  the  Savings  bank  there  ;  a  Director  of  the 
Providence  and  Worcester  railroad,  and  had  been  representative 
to  the  General  Court,  and  a  Presidential  P^lector  in  1876. 


146 

On  the  1 1th  day  of  May  Mr.  Klisha  N.  Child  died  at  his  home 
on  West  street.  He  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Maine,  but  went 
to  Boston  when  a  young  man  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  currier. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  located  in  Millbury.  About  30  3'ears 
ao;o  he  established  himself  in  Worcester  in  the  manufacture  of 
boots  and  shoes.  He  soon  gained  a  reputation  for  fair  and 
honorable  dealing,  which  reputation  he  retained  until  his  death. 
He  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  but  one  who  did  much  to  give 
character  and  stability  to  the  busines  interests  of  Worcester. 

Mr.  Harrison  Bliss,  another  of  our  active  and  successful 
business  men,  died  at  his  residence,  corner  of  Main  and  State 
streets,  July  7th.  He  was  born  in  Royalston  in  this  County 
Oct.  9,  1812.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  came  to  Worcester 
and  spent  the  first  year  in  the  employ  of  Dr.  Oliver  Fiske,  who 
then  lived  on  the  same  spot  which  Mr.  Bliss  has  made  his  home- 
stead for  nearly  20  years.  He  was  afterwards  clerk  in  the  Post- 
office  for  two  years  under  James  Wilson  as  Postmaster,  when 
the  Post-offlce  was  in  a  wooden  building  which  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  present  Union  block.  He  also  served  as  clerk  two  years 
under  Jubal  Harrington  as  Postmaster  while  the  office  was  in 
the  old  Exchange  building.  He  then,  in  1835,  started  the  gro- 
cery and  flour  trade  with  Allen  Harris  in  Salisbury's  Block  at 
Lincoln  square.  After  a  few  3'ears  Mr.  Harris  retired  and  was 
succeeded  by  Joseph  E.  Gregory  who  had  been  employed  as 
clerk  and  to  whom  Mr.  Bliss  sold  out  his  interest  in  1850  and 
with  T.  &  J.  Sutton  opened  a  store  on  Mechanic  street  for  the 
sale  of  flour  and  grain  ;  the  style  of  the  firm  was  Bliss,  Sutton 
and  Compan}'.  In  1857  he  sold  his  interest  to  Messrs.  Sutton 
and  turned  his  attention  to  the  banking  and  real  estate  business. 
Mr.  Bliss  was  at  one  time  associated  in  the  flour  and  grain  trade 
with  Hon.  H.  A.  Blood  of  Fitchburg.  He  was  a  large  stock- 
holder in  the  New  Bedford  &  Taunton  Braucli  Railroad,  and 
the  Boston  Clinton  &  Fitchburg  Railroad,  having  been  President 
of  the  former  and  Vice  President  of  the  latter  road.  Mr.  Bliss 
was  one  of  the  most  active  movers  in  organizing  the  Mechanics' 
Bank  in  1848,  filling  the  office  of  President  from  I860  until  his 
death.     The  establishment   of  the  Mechanics'  Savings  P>ank  in 


147 

1851  was  due  largely  to  his  efforts,  he  lieing  its  President  since 
ISGl.  He  WMS  a  heavy  stockholder  in  the  Bay  State  House  and 
Music  Hall  Corporations,  and  President  of  the  latter.  He  was 
a  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  l.Sf);},  member  of  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  for  1861,  1863,  1864,  186;'),  and  1874.  Mr. 
Bliss  has  been  one  of  Worcester's  most  successful  business  men 
and  one  of  her  largest  real  estate  owners. 

June  24th  Charles  Heywood  died  at  his  residence  in  Gardner 
Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Nov.  12,  1831.  His  father,  Levi 
Heywood,  was  the  originator  and  senior  proprietor  of  the  well 
known  firm,  Heywood  Bro's  &  Co.  of  Gardner,  extensive  chair 
manufacturers.  The  late  Mr.  Charles  Heywood  was  a  member 
of  this  firm  and  an  energetic,  public  spirited  business  man.  For 
ten  3-ears  he  was  a  Director  of  the  Boston  Barre  &  Gardner 
Railroad,  afterwards  its  Vice  President,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  was  President  of  that  road,  in  the  prosperity  of  which  he 
took  great  interest.  He  was  President  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Gardner  for  nine  years,  and  President  of  the  Gardner 
Savings  Bank  at  the  time  of  his  decease.  He  was  also  founder 
of  the  paper  known  as  The  Gardner  News. 

The  death  of  Lieut.  Col.  Arthur  A.  Goodell  occurred  in  this 
city  on  Friday  June  30th.  He  was  born  June  30th,  1839,  just 
reaching  his  43d  birth  day.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war 
he  was  acting  teller  in  the  City  Bank  and  at  once  decided  to  take 
his  place  in  the  ranks  to  do  service  for  his  country,  the  bank  offi- 
cials voting  to  keep  his  place  open  for  him  and  pay  his  salary. 
He  joined  the  City  Guards,  was  commissioned  Sergeant  Major 
and  returned  home  in  August,  1861,  after  three  months,  holding 
the  office  of  Adjutant.  In  August,  1862,  he  received  a  Captain's 
commission  in  Companj'  C,  36th  Regiment,  was  made  a  Major 
in  Jan.  1863,  and  Lieut.  Col.  in  July  following.  He  was  dis- 
charged by  reason  of  disability  with  the  rank  of  brevet  Brigadier 
General,  May  5,  1H64,  having  been  severely  wounded  at  Blue 
Springs,  Tenn.,  Oct.  10,  1862,  by  a  piece  of  shell,  which  com- 
pletely disqualified  him  for  active  work  on  the  field.  After  his 
return  home  he  was  Cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  and 
associated  in  business  with  Mr.  A.  H.  Hammond  in  the  manu- 
facture of  organ  reeds,  and  later  with  J.  S.  Rogers  and  F.  W. 
Wellington,  in  the  coal  trade. 


148 

Hon.  Hartley  Williams,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Central  District 
Court,  died  at  his  residence  on  Harvard  street  in  this  city  Aug. 
17th.  Judge  Williams  was  stricken  with  paralysis  on  the  eve- 
ning of  March  30th,  while  presiding  in  Horticultural  Hall  at  a 
meeting  of  the  natives  of  the  State  of  Maine,  he  being  a  native 
of  the  town  of  Somerset  in  that  state.  The  first  attack  was 
so  severe  that  little  hope  of  recovery  was  at  first  entertained  by 
his  friends,  but  with  the  coming  of  more  favorable  symptoms  it 
was  thought  by  some  that  he  might  partially  recover,  but  a  sud- 
den cold  produced  congestion  of  the  lungs  resulting  in  death. 

He  was  born  Aug.  12,  1820,  and  in  1844  came  to  Worcester 
and  entered  the  employ  of  Howe  &  Goddard  as  book-keeper. 
He  remained  about  two  years  when,  in  company  with  Asa  W. 
Nickerson  he  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  the  grocery  business. 
Afterwards  entering  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Francis  H.  Dewc}', 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1850,  and  soon  entered  into 
copartnership  with  Mr.  Dewey,  which  copartnership  continued 
until  Mr.  Dewey's  appointment  as  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court. 
In  1868,  at  the  creation  of  the  Municipal  Court,  Mr.  Williams 
was  appointed  its  Justice  ;  and  when  the  Central  District  Court 
was  established  in  place  of  the  Municipal  Court  he  was  also  ap- 
pointed Justice  for  that  tribunal. 

In  the  death  of  Mr.  Williams  the  citizens  of  Worcester  have 
sustained  a  great  loss,  for  he  was  one  of  the  most  useful  and 
respected  of  her  people,  an  able  lawj'er  and  an  upright  Judge. 
Previous  to  his  appointment  as  Justice  he  was  chosen  Alderman 
in  1854  ;  Commissioner  of  Insolvency  in  1856  ;  state  Senator  in 
1862  and  1863  ;  member  of  the  Executive  Council  in  1864  and 
1865  ;  District- Attorney  in  1866  and  1867,  and  for  several  years 
a  member  of  the  School  Board.  In  all  these  departments  of 
usefulness  he  leaves  an  enviable  record  for  faithfulness  and 
valuable  service. 

A  few  days  less  than  a  month  from  the  date  of  the  death  of 
Charles  Hcywood  of  Gardner,  we  have  to  record  the  demise  of 
his  father,  Levi  Hcywood,  which  occurred  on  the  21st  day  of 
July,  in  that  town,  of  which  he  was  a  native,  born  Dec.  10,  1800. 
He  was  son  of  Benjamin  and  grandson  of  Seth  who  was  son  of 
Phineas  of  Shrewsbury,  who  went  there  from  Concord  about  the 


149 

year  1739.  This  Phinoas  was  grandson  of  John  Ileywood  who 
emigrated  from  England  and  settled  at  Concord  in  this  State 
about  Id;')!).  Daniel  Ileywood,  prominent  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Worcester,  was  a  brother  of  I'hineas  of  Shrewsbury, a  nd 
the  Hon.  Benjamin  Ileywood  who  was  so  prominent  in  the  alfairs 
of  Worcester  and  who  served  his  country  so  well  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution,  was  a  brother  of  Seth  Hey  wood  of  Gardner. 

Saturday  evening  Oct.  7th  closed  the  career  of  one  who  for 
more  than  sixty  years  has  been  numbered  among  the  business 
men  of  Worcester.  Southworth  Allen  Howland  was  born  in 
West  Brookfield  in  this  county,  Sept.  11,  1800,  son  of  South- 
worth  Howland  who  died  in  Worcester  in  1853.  Southworth  A. 
Howland  learned  the  book-binder's  trade  of  Joseph  Avery  in 
Plymouth,  and  in  the  fall  of  1821  came  to  Worcester  and  opened 
a  book  store  and  bindery  in  company  with  the  late  Enos  Dorr, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Dorr  &  Howland,  in  what  is  now  the 
north  end  of  the  Exchange  Hotel  building.  In  1828  they  re- 
moved to  a  store  in  what  was  known  as  "Goddard's  Row,"  where 
Mr.  Lewis  Barnard's  block  of  stores  now  stands.  For  about 
twenty  years  this  firm  carried  on  an  extensive  business  as  book- 
sellers and  publishers,  making  a  specialty  of  school  books. 
Among  their  publications  may  be  found  the  celebrated  School 
Readers  of  Dr.  A.  T.  Lowe  of  Boston,  Pond's  Murray's  Gram- 
mar, Infant  School  Manual,  Barber's  Historical  Collections  of 
Massachusetts,  and  Historical  Collections  of  New  England, 
besides  numerous  Sunday  School  and  other  publications,  several 
of  which  were  compiled  by  Mr.  Howland.  For  about  ten  years 
succeeding  the  year  1842  Mr.  Howland  continued  the  business 
for  himself,  publishing  a  number  of  books,  among  which  was  the 
Economical  Housekeeper,  compiled  by  his  wife.  After  1852 
he  was  engaged  in  the  Insurance  business,  which  he  continued 
until  a  few  years  ago  when  on  account  of  failing  health  he  was 
obliged  to  yield  to  the  infirmities  of  old  age.  Mr.  Howland  was 
always  alive  to  public  interests,  being.an  active  member  of  the 
Mechanics'  Association  from  its  organization,  and  for  several 
years  its  clerk. 

William  E.  Frost,  a  native  of  Worcester,  born  in  1824,  died 
at  Clinton,  Oct.  12th.     For  many  years  he  was  a  resident  of 


150 


Worcester  and  connected  with  her  manufacturing  interests, 
His  inventive  skill  and  extensive  experience  in  manufacturing 
brought  him  in  1860  into  connection  with  the  Washburn  &  Moen 
Manufacturing  Co.,  and  the  manufacture  of  crinoline  wire  was 
then  started  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Frost,  and  to  his  inven- 
tions the  whole  proces  of  preparing  crinoline  wire  with  the  vari- 
ous improvements  therein  owe  their  origin.  In  1873  he,  in 
company  with  Mr.  S.  T.  Howard,  also  of  Worcester,  purchased 
the  old  Lancaster  Quilt  Mill  property  in  Clinton,  and  began  the 
manufacture  of  cotton  yarns,  in  which  business  they  continued 
until  his  death. 

Mr.  Sewall  H.  Bowker  died  at  his  residence,  No.  3  Harvard 
Place,  Oct.  17th.  He  was  born  at  Hayden  Row,  Hopkinton, 
Mass.,  son  of  James  A.  Bowker  of  that  place.  When  a  young 
man  he  learned  the  trade  of  making  straw  hats  and  bonnets  at 
Upton.  In  18.56  he  came  to  Worcester  and  started  the  manu- 
facture of  straw  goods  in  Flagg's  Block.  In  this  he  was  quite 
successful,  and  to  add  still  further  to  his  success  he,  about  the 
year  1860,  invented  a  process  of  striking  out  felt  hats  v>ith  a 
single  blow  on  a  die.  At  one  time  Mr.  Bowker  occupied  the 
entire  upper  floor  of  Flagg's  block  besides  a  large  building  in 
the  rear.  His  rapidly  increasing  business  compelled  him  to  run 
his  works  day  and  night.  But  failing  health  caused  him  to  re- 
linquish a  profitable  business  well  established,  and  for  the  past 
fifteen  years  he  has  been  carrying  on  a  conflict  with  the  disease 
that  has  finally  caused  his  death. 

ELLERY  B.  CRANE,  Chairman. 


REPORT  ON  ANCIENT  MANUSCRIPTS,  PUBLICATIONS  AND  ENGRAVINdS. 

THE  chance  for  obtaining  contributions  to  this  department 
is  so  rare  that  it  becomes  necessary,  and  perhaps  profitable, 
to  notice  some  things  not  in  our  possession,  in  order  that  we  may 
obtain  a  better  knowledge  of  what  was  formerl}'  done  in  the  line 
of  literature  and  art.     The  improvements  of  to-day   are  before 


151 

us,  visible  and  tangible  ;  ])nt  in  our  hurry  to  find  something  new 
and  startling  we  often  overlook  what  is  most  substantial,  or  fail 
to  receive  benefit  in  comparing  what  we  call  new  with  what  was 
well  known  centuries  asfo. 

One  of  the  earliest  prints  now  in  existence  is  that  of  a  Calen- 
dar, a  copy  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  British  Museum, 
bearing  the  date  of  14 (i;').  The  early  production  of  this  work 
indicates  that  the  division  of  time  into  stated  periods  was  of 
sufficient  importance  to  warrant  a  more  liberal  promulgation  of 
the  methods  then  in  use.  From  the  earliest  period  of  civiliza- 
tion the  distribution  and  arrangement  of  time  has  been  a  "vexed 
question  ;"  and  when  we  take  into  account  the  uniform  revolu- 
tions of  the  celestial  bodies,  it  seems  strange  that  so  many  mis- 
takes should  have  been  made,  or  so  much  controversy  arisen  in 
regard  to  measuring  and  dividing  time.  It  is  true  that  the 
division  of  the  day  into  twenty-four  equal  parts,  or  hours,  has 
been  recognized  since  the  earliest  ages,  but  the  })roper  time  to 
commence  the  day  has  alwa^-s  been  in  dispute.  The  solar  day 
and  the  solar  year  were  no  less  marked  2000  3'ears  ago  than 
they  are  at  the  present  time,  but  many  nations  reckoned  time  by 
the  motions  of  the  moon  alone  ;  whereas  the  solar  day,  the  solar 
year,  and  the  lunar  month  were  and  are  the  only  natural  divis- 
ions of  time.  But  when  shall  we  begin  to  count?  Nearly  all 
civilized  nations  now  place  the  commencement  of  the  civil  day 
at  midnight  and  divide  it  into  twelve  morning  hours  and  twelve 
evening  hours.  The  ancient  Chaldeans  and  the  modern  Greeks 
commenced  at  sunrise  ;  the  Italians  and  Bohemians  at  sunset. 
Under  this  arrangement  the  morning  hour  or  beginning  varies 
with  the  seasons,  except  under  the  equator.  In  early  times 
Rome  had  three  divisions,  sunrise,  sunset,  and  mid-day. 

The  week  consists  of  seven  days,  unalterable,  with  no  refer- 
ence to  celestial  motions.  The  origin  of  this  division  of  time 
is  unknown,  though  it  has  been  recognized  in  the  eastern  coun- 
tries ever  since  the  remembrance  of  man.  It  does  not  consti- 
tute the  aliquot  part  of  a  year  or  a  lunar  month,  therefore,  it  has 
been  supposed  h\  some  that  each  hour  of  the  twenty-four  was 
dedicated  to  some  planet,  and  that  the  day  received  the  name 
of  the  planet  which  presided  over  its  first  hour,  the  order  being 


152 

fixed  according  to  Egyptian  astronomy  wherein  was  recognized 
seven  planets,  Saturn,  Jupiter,  Mars,  the  Sun,  Venus,  Mercury 
and  the  Moon.  The  Saxons  followed  the  same  rule,  but  sub- 
stituted the  names  of  their  own  divinities  for  those  of  the  gods 
of  Greece. 

DAYS. 

LATIN.  ENOLIBH.  SAXON. 

Dies  Solis,  Day  of  the  Sun,  Sunday,  Sun's  day. 

Dies  LuncD,  Day  of  the  Moon,  Monday,  Moon's  day. 

Dies  Martis,  Day  of  Mars,  Tuesday,  Tiw's  day. 

Dies  Mercurii,  Day  of  Mercury,  Wednesday,  Woden's  day. 

Dies  Jovis,  Day  of  Jupiter,  Thursday,  Thor's  day. 

Dies  Veneris,  Day  of  Venus,  Friday,  Friga's  day. 

Dies  Saturni,  Day  of  Saturn,  Saturday,  Saterne's  day. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  division  of  time  has  but  little  to  do 
with  astronomical  calculations,  or  any  exact  division  af  time,  but 
is  only  one  method  of  distributing  time  into  convenient  periods 
adapted  to  the  routine  of  civil  life. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  the  division  of  the  year  into  twelve 
months  originated  from  the  fact  that  the  synodic  revolutions  of 
the  moon  are  performed  twelve  times  in  3.54  days,  lacking  but  a 
few  days  of  a  solar  year.  But  this  difference  in  a  few  years  be- 
came so  great  as  to  cause  even  nations  to  disregard  the  moon 
and  appeal  to  the  sun  for  a  true  guide,  though  the  month  has 
not  been  stricken  from  the  calendars  of  any  of  the  nations,  but 
now  generally  represents  so  far  as  practicable  the  twelfth  part 
of  a  solar  year.  The  Egj'ptians,  in  early  times,  considered  30 
days  a  month,  and  added  five  days  at  the  end  to  complete  the 
year.  In  the  absense  of  any  intercalation  one  fourth  of  a  da}' 
was  lost  every  3'ear  and  the  commencement  of  the  year  went 
back  one  day  in  in  four  years,  making  1461  Egyptian  years  equal 
to  1460  years  of  3654  days  each.  The  division  of  time  causing 
the  year  to  consist  of  36.5  days  and  a  fraction,  365  not  being 
divisible  by  12  made  it  impossible  for  each  to  be  of  the  same 
length  and  include  all  the  daj's  of  the  year.  The  fractional  ex- 
cess above  365  days  caused  much  controversy  as  to  what  method 
shouuld  be  adopted  to  dispose  of  the  extra  hours. 

The  various  methods  of  intercalation  have  been  the  subject 
of  criticism  from  the  e.irliest  times.     When  the  Julian  was  first 


153 

proninlj2:atcM],  tlie  equinox  fell  on  the  2r)th  of  March  ;  at  the  time 
of  the  Council  of  Nice,  in  ^25,  on  the  21st;  and  when  the  re- 
formation was  made  in  15S2,  it  had  fallen  back  to  the   11th. 

Under  the  Gregorian  style  every  year  divisible  by  four  with- 
out a  remainder  is  leap  year,  excepting  the  centurial  years, 
which  are  onlj'  leap  years  when  divisible  bj'  four  after  omitting 
the  two  cyphers.  Thus  IGOO  was  a  leap  year,  but  1700,  1800, 
and  1900  are  common  years  ;  2000  will  be  a  leap  year. 

In  1582  Pope  Gregory  XIII.  abolished  the  ancient  calendar, 
substituting  what  is  known  as  the  Gregorian  Calendar  or  New 
Style.  The  vernal  equinox  which  happened  on  the  11th  day  of 
March  was  changed  back  to  the  21st.  From  1582  to  1700  the 
diMerence  between  the  old  and  new  style  was  10  days.-  The 
dilTerence  of  the  stales  during  the  18th  century  was  11  days. 
The  dilJerence  in  the  present  century  is  12  days.  From  1900 
to  2100,  inclusive,  it  will  be  13  days.  These  changes  were 
made  against  considerable  opposition,  and  in  England  the  law 
establishing  the  new  style  was  ver}'^  elaborate  and  would  make 
at  least  ten  pages  like  this.  This  law  was  passed  by  Parliament 
on  the  27th  day  of  January,  1750,  at  which  time  the  Julian  Cal- 
endar was  in  common  use  in  England  and  America.  These 
changes  have  made  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  determine  dates 
about  the  time  the  changes  were  made,  for  the  reason  that  some 
adhered  to  the  old  Calendar  while  others  adopted  the  new. 

The  Calendar  is  still  imperfect,  and  the  undiscovered  move- 
ments of  the  celestial  bodies  are  undoubtedly  such  as  to  work 
important  changes  hereafter,  overthrowing  present  calculations, 
and  making  the  efforts  of  science  of  but  little  value,  when  applied 
to  the  wonderful  mysteries  of  Nature. 

CLARK  JILLSON,  Chairman. 


154 

REPORT    ON    RELICS,    COINS  AND    CURIOSITIES. 

TWENTY-SEVEN  persons  have  made  contributions  to  this 
Department  since  the  last  annual  report  was  presented. 
All  of  these  articles  add  to  the  variety  and  value  of  our  cabinet, 
and  I  hope  that  all  friends  of  our  institution  may  continue  their 
praiseworthy  efforts  in  placing  here  for  preservation,  such  arti- 
cles as  they  may  possess,  suitable  for  a  historic  collection. 
Things  of  to-day,  looked  upon  as  mere  trifles  now,  may,  at  no 
distant  future,  be  regarded  with  great  interest,  and  serve  to 
impress  upon  the  mind  lessons  of  patriotism  and  veneration  for 
the  past,  while  much  may  be  learned  from  these  mementos 
concerning  those  who  have  preceded  us  upon  the  stage  of  life. 
Mr.  Henry  W.  Miller  has  manifested  his  interest  in  this  de- 
partment of  our  work,  by  presenting  the  Society  with  a  mould 
imported  from  England  in  1818,  which  was  used  in  making  paper 
before  the  invention  of  machinery  for  that  purpose.  From  Mr. 
Jillson  we  have  received  a  pair  of  mammoth  shears  that  were 
used  by  woolen  manufacturers  in  shearing  cloth.  They  meas- 
ure four  feet  in  length,  and  the  blades  are  six  inches  wide.  I  am 
unable  to  describe  the  manner  in  which  they  were  thus  used. 
We  have  also  received  from  the  same  source,  an  ancient  speci- 
men of  pottery  and  an  Indian  skull.  A  fine  oil  painting,  nicely 
framed,  of  Lake  Quinsigamond,  by  Triscott,  has  been  received 
from  Mr.  Alfred  Waites,  who  also  contributed  a  large  steel  en- 
graving, "Authors  of  the  United  States."  The  following  have 
also  been  received: — from  Mr.  A.  S.  Roe,  a  framed  memorial 
of  President  Harrison  ;  from  Mr.  Norton  L.  Cook,  a  piece  of 
the  clock  dial,  from  the  old  meeting-house  in  Leicester  ;  from 
Mr.  Pardon  A.  Lee,  a  turtle  shell  and  an  English  fourpcnny 
piece  ;  from  Mr.  George  Sumner,  a  framed  group  of  portraits, 
including  himself  and  a  number  of  personal  friends,  taken  in 
1854  ;  from  Mr.  E.  H.  Marshall,  an  Indian  gouge  ;  from  W"m. 
B.  Harding  Esq.,  a  stone  uxe  ;  from  Mr.  E.  J.  Leland,  a  cut 
nail  used  in  building  the  house  of  Levi  Leland,  of  Grafton,  in 
1806  ;  from  Mr.  F.  P.  Rice,  specimens  of  powder  used  in  the 
bombardment  of  Charleston  S.  C,  1864  ;  from  Mr.  Tilly  Rav- 


155 

mond,  a  lock  from  the  brick  Court  House  built  in  1801,  a  card 
of  wrougiit  nails  used  in  building  said  liousc,  and  a  lead  window 
weight  from  the  same  ;  from  Mr.  Henry  M.  Clemence,  fireman's 
bucket,  17U3,  formerly  belonging  to  vStimuel  Allen  Esq.,  forty 
years  County  Treasurer,  and  a  fireman's  bag  formerly  belonging 
to  Nathaniel  Berais,  1791  :  from  Mr.  F>phraim  Tucker,  muster 
roll  of  Company  K,  Lieut.  Durgin,  Tenth  Regiment,  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps,  on  duty  at  the  trial  of  the  conspirators  against 
President  Lincoln  :  also  a  Chinese  coin  ;  from  Mr.  William  H. 
Inman,  portion  of  shattered  car  sill,  and  from  Mr.  Daniel  Sea- 
grave,  piece  of  car  wheel,  broken  by  the  Dualin  explosion  in 
Worcester  June  23d,  1870  ;  from  Mr.  E.  B.  Crane,  fourteen  U. 
S.  cents,  some  quite  rare  ;  from  Mr.  James  A.  Smith,  a  framed 
photograph  of  the  old  Guard  House,  in  Rutland  ;  fi-om  George 
H.  Harlow  Esq.,  a  medal,  souvenir  of  the  Centennial  fair  ;  from 
Mr.  E.  F.  Thompson,  a  foot  stove  ;  from  Putnam  &  Davis  por- 
tion of  an  aligator's  hide  ;  from  George  Chandler  M.  D.,  three 
buttons  and  two  musket  balls  picked  up  by  himself,  Jul}'  1842, 
at  Fort  Erie,  which  was  captured  July  3,  1814,  by  the  U.  S  army 
under  command  of  Winfield  Scott  and  Gen.  Brewer  ;  from  Mr- 
John  G.  Smith,  a  manuscript  of, "Particulars  of  a  sub-division  of 
all  Lands,  Lots,  Buildings  &c.  being  within  the  Town  of  Boyl- 
ston,  in  the  assessment  district  No.  17,  in  the  7  division,  State 
of  Massachusetts,  owned,  possessed  or  occupied  on  the  first  day 
of  October  1798  ;"  from  Mr.  Lucien  Prince,  a  horse  shoe  7x9, 
worn  by  a  horse  from  the  pineries  of  northern  Wisconsin  ;  from 
Rev.  Albert  Tyler,  an  ancient  pewter  spoon  cast  in  the  family 
spoon  mould  of  Moses  Cooper  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  who  died 
fifty  3'ears  ago,  at  the  age  of  97  ;  he  was  great  grandfather  of 
the  donor  ;  from  John  Boyden  Esq.,  a  valuable  collection  of 
war  relics.  I  refrain  from  inaking  an}'  extended  notice  of  this 
interesting  contribution,  as  the  military  department,  when  or- 
ganized, will  be  much  better  qualified  than  myself  to  properly 
describe  the  various  articles  presented  ;  from  Mr.  A.  E.  Peck, 
a  framed  photograph  of  the  late  Rev.  Seth  Sweetser  D.  D.,  and 
two  pieces  of  wood  from  the  wrecked  ship,  ''Sparrowhawk," 
which  brought  food  to  the  Plymouth  Pilgrims  soon  after  the 
settlement  of  the  Colony. 


156 

Mr,  Joseph  B.  Knox  has  left  in  the  custody  of  the  Society  a 
very  interesting  relic,  being  a  mortar  formerly  owned  by  Elder 
Brewster,  and  brought  to  this  country  by  him  in  the  Mayllower. 
Mr.  Knox  is  a  lineal  descendant  from  Elder  Brewster,  whose 
name  he  bears,  a  record  of  which  we  have  in  our  possession. 

The  most  unique  article  contributed,  is  a  fac  simile  of  the 
bullet  fired  by  Sergeant  Mason,  September  11,  1881,  at  Charles 
Guiteau,  producing  a  profile  likeness  of  the  assassin  as  it  hit  the 
wall  of  the  prison.  This  was  presented  by  Mr.  Henry  Phelps, 
now  in  Washington,  with  the  following  certificate  : — 

warden's  office,  united  states  jail, 

washington,  d.  c,  jan.  24,  1882. 

I  certify  that  the  Bullet  which  was  fired  by  Sergeant  Mason,  on  the  Hth 

of  September  last,  at  Charles  Guiteau  the  assassin,  as  it  hit  the  wall  of  his, 

Guiteau's  cell,  was  flattened  into  a  correct  profile  likeness  of  said  Guiteau : 

and  that  the  castings  made  by  E,.  A.  Whitehand,  of  this  city,  from  a  mould 

made  from  the  original,  are  exact  fac  similes  of  the  original  EuUet  after  it 

was  80  flattened. 

JOHN  S.  CROCKER,  Warden. 

In  closing  this  report  I  desire  to  express  our  thanks  to  all 
those  who  have  favored  us  during  the  last  year  by  their  contri- 
butions, and  to  assure  them  of  our  appreciation  of  their  efforts 
in  our  behalf,  trusting  that  the  future  may  witness  still  greater 
accessions  to  this  interesting  and  instructive  department  of  our 
work. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

SAMUEL  E.  STAPLES,  Chairman. 


157 
Index  to  I'roceediiigs  for  1882. 


Academy  of  Sckiice,  St.  Louis,  i:il 
Allen,  Samuel,  155. 
Allen,  WillardS.,  131. 
American  Antiquarian  Society,  131. 
Amraidown,  Holmes,  122,  131. 
Arcluvological  Inst,  of  America,  131. 
Arnold,  James  N.,  131. 
Ashburnham,  91). 
Ashworth,  Thomas,  Ul. 
Astor  Library,  New  Vork,  131. 
Athol,  9i). 
Auburn,  99. 

B 

Baldwin,CharlcsC..  122,  131. 

I5aldwin,  John  D..  122,  131. 

Ballon,  Adin,  122,  131. 

Barre,  100. 

Bartlett,  Thomas  E.,  43, 

Bartlctt  William  II.,  136. 

Barton,  Edmund  M.,  123. 

Barton,  William  S.,  131. 

Bates,  Phinehas  Jr.,  ()8,  131. 

Bemis.  Nathaniel,  155. 

Berlin,  101. 

Bicknel,  Quincy,  131. 

Bigelow,  William  Howard,  89,90,93. 

Bill,  Ledyard,  9G. 

Blackmer,  Francis  T.,  131. 

Blackstone,  102. 

Blake.  Francis  E.,  131. 

Bliss,  Harrison,  146. 

Bolton,  102. 

Bowker,  Sewall  H.,  150. 

Boyden,  John,  123,  131,  155. 

Boyden,  Joseph,  142. 

Boylston,  102. 

Brewster,  Elder  David,  68,  123,  156 

Brookfield,  102. 


Bullock,  Alexander  II.,  141. 

C 

Chandler,  Dr.  Geo.,  8,13,123,131,155. 
Chapin,  Henry,  122. 
Chapin,  Louisa  T.,  131. 
Chaplin,  llev.  Ebenezer,  45, 
Charlton,  103. 
Child,  Elisha  N.,  146. 
Chivalry,  Age  of,  20. 
City  Messenger,  Boston,  131. 
Clark,  Robert  &  Co.,  131. 
Clemence,  Henry  M.,  131,  155. 
Clinton,  103. 
Committees  for  1883,  5. 
Cook,  Norton  L.,  132,  154. 
Coolidge,  Rev.  A.  H.,  96,  118. 
Cooper,  Moses,  155. 
Court  of  General  Sessions.  43. 
Crane,  EUery  B.,  3,  9,  34,  89, 118,  120, 
122,  124,  132,136,  137,  155. 

D 


Dana,  103. 

Daniels,  George  F.,  122,  132. 

Davenport  la..  Academy  of  Sciences, 

132. 
Davis,  D.  A.,  132. 
Davis,  William.  132. 
Dean.  John,  143. 
Denny,  Charles  A.,  96. 
Departments  of  W^ork,  4. 
Dickinson,  Thomas  A.,  136. 
Dodge,  Benjamin  J.,  132. 
Donations,  List  of,  131. 
Douglas,  103. 
Drew,  Allis  &  Co.,  132. 
Drew,  Thomas,  122,  132. 
Dudley,  104. 
Durgin,  Lieut.,  155. 


158 


E 

Essex  Institute,  li52. 

F 

Fifth  Day  Meeting,  119. 
Fitchburg,  104. 
Forehand,  Sullivan,   132. 
Frost,  William  E.  149. 

G 

Gardner,  105. 

Gill,  George  W.,  143. 

Goddard,  Delano  A.,  140. 

Goddard,  Lucius  P.  132, 

Goodell,  Arthur  A.,  147. 

Goodwin,  C.  Otis,  43. 

Grafton,  105. 

Green,  Samuel  A.,  132. 

Grout,  Jonathan.  143 

H 

Hall,  J.  Brainerd,  132. 

Harding,  Wm.  B.,  96,  97,  132, 154. 

Hardwick,  105. 

Harlow,  George  H.,  132,  155. 

Harris,  Clarendon,  132. 

Harvard,  105. 

Harvard  University,  132. 

Hastings,  Thomas  J.,  132. 

Haven,  Mrs.  S.  F.,  132. 

Henshaw,  Miss  H.  E.,  132. 

Hemenway,  Miss  A.  M.,  132. 

Heywood,  Charles,  147. 

Heywood,  Levi,  148. 

Historical  Society  of  Pa.,  132. 

Holden,  105. 

Howard,  Joseph  Jackson,  132. 

Howe,  William  B.,  124,  132. 

Howland,  S.  A.,  149, 

Hubbardston,  100. 

Hudson,  Hon.  Charles,  120,  122. 


Inman,  William  H.,  132,  155. 


Jillson,  Clark,  13,  14,  120,  122,  132. 

136,  153,  154. 
Johnson,  Charles  R.,  33,  132,  139. 
Joslin,  Henry  V.  A.,  132. 

K 

Kansas  Historical  Society,  133. 

King,  Henry  W.,  10. 

Kneedler,  H.  S.,  133. 

Knight,  Dexter,  118, 

Knowlton,  T.  S.,133. 

Knox,  Joseph  B.,  68,  123,  133, 156. 


Lamb,  Thomas  Melvin,  13,  14,  140. 

Lancaster,  106. 

Lamed,  Miss  Ellen  D.,  33,  122,  133. 

Lawrence,  Edwin  R.,  133. 

Lawrence,  J.  W.,  117. 

Lee,  Pardon  A.,  133,  154. 

Leicester,  106. 

Academy,  77. 

Excursion  to,  68. 

Library,  117. 
Leland,  E.  J.,  133.  154. 
Leland,  Levi,  154. 
Leominster,  107. 

Library  Com.  of  Philadelphia,  133. 
Lincoln,  Edward  W.,  122,  133. 
Littlefield,  George  E.,  133. 
Lovell,  Albert  A.,  93,  120. 
Lunenburg,  107. 
Lyford,  J.  Chauncey,  10. 

M 

Magnalia,  Mather's,  33,  122. 
Mammoth  Cave,  96. 
Manuscripts,  Ancient  &c.,  150. 
Marble,  Albert  P.,  133. 
Marshall,  Elijah  H.,  133,  154. 
Mason,  Sergt.  156. 
May,  Rev.  Samuel,  77,  117,  118. 


159 


Mendon,  107. 

Merritield,  Lucius,  13B. 

Messenger,  David  S.,  33,  122,  133. 

Metcalf,  Dr.  John  G.,  122,  133. 

McLellan,  J.  A.,  133. 

Miltbrd.  107. 

Military  History,  Department  of,  4, 

43,  68,  137. 
Millbury,  107. 
Miller,  Henry  W.,  133,  ir.4. 
Minister,  An  Old  Time,  44. 
Mortar,  The  Brewster,  68,  123. 

N 

Narragansett  Hist.  Society,  133. 

New  Braintree,  108. 

New  Eng.  Hist.  Gen.  Society,  133. 

Northborough,  109. 

Northbridge,  109. 

North  Brookfield,  101). 

O 

Oakham,  109. 

Officers  for  1883,  3. 

O'Flynn,  Richard,  120,  121,  133. 

Oxford,  109. 


Taine,  Nathaniel,  34,  120,  133. 
Paxton,  109. 

Peck,  Augustus  E.,  134,  155. 
Peirce,  Henry  B.,  134. 
Perkins,  Dr.  Elisha,  13. 
Petersham,  110. 
Phelps,  Henry,  123,  134,  15(5. 
Phillips,  Rev.  Geo.  AV.,  134. 
Phillipston,  110. 
Pickett,"  Josiah,  33. 
Pillsbury,  Rev.  Levi,  34. 
Pratt,  Sumner,  134. 
Prentiss,  Addison,  33. 
President's  Address,  9,  137. 
Prince,  I>ucien,  122,  134,  155. 
Princeton,  110. 


Publications  of  the  Society,  6. 
Publishing  Fund,  11. 
Putnam  ;<:  Davis,  134,  155. 

R 

Raymond,  Edward  T.,  43. 

Raymond.  Tilly,  134,  154. 

Raymore,  Henry  E.,  134. 

Relics,  Coins,  &c.,  154. 

Rice,  Charles  W.,  68. 
[  Rice,  Franklin  P.,  43,  122,  134,  154 
I  Rice,  Hon.  W.  W.,  134. 
I  Rice,  Rev.  W.  W.,  134. 

Rice,  Sewall,  143, 

Roe,  Alfred  S.,  34,  96,  122,  134,  1 

Royalston,  111. 

Rutland,  111. 


Salisbury,  Stephen  Jr.,  121,  134. 
Seagrave,  Daniel,  68,  120,   122,   134, 

155. 
Sears  Philander,  142. 
'  Sheldon,  George,  134. 
Shrewsbury,  111. 

ShumAvay,  Henry  L.,  43, 121,134,130. 
Smith,  James  A.,  134,  155. 
Smith,  John  G.,  134,  155. 
Smith,  Henry  M.,  34,  43,  122,  134. 
Smith,  H.  O.,  118. 
Smith,  William  A.,  123,  135. 
Society,  Publications  of,  6. 
Southborough,  108. 
Southbridge,  112. 
Southgate,  John  P.,  142. 

Spencer,  112. 

Staples,  H.  B.,  135. 

Staples,  Samuel  E.,  14,  33,  119,  120, 
136,  150. 

State  Hist.  Society,  Wisconsin,  135. 

Stearns,  C.  C,  43,  122,  135. 

Stedman,  Henry  F.,  119,  136. 

Sterling,  112. 

Stiles,  F.  G.,  33. 


160 


Stoddard,  E.  B.,  135. 

Stone,  Augustus,  13"). 

Stone,  Everett  C,  96. 

Sturbridge,  113. 

Sullivan  Eros.  &  Libbie,  13o. 

Sumner,  George,  122,  135,  13(5,  lo4. 

Sutton,  113. 

Sweetser,  Rev.  S.,  155. 


Templeton,  114. 

Thayer  &  AVashburn,  135. 

Thompson,  Eben  F.,  135,  155. 

Thompson,  Edward  H.,  43,  135. 

Thompson,  George  F.,  10. 

Thursday  Lecture,  124. 

Tillinghast,  C.  B.,  122,  135. 

Titus,  Anson  Jr.,  135. 

Towne,  Enoch  H.,  135. 

Townley,  Joseph  B.,  135. 

Towns  of  Wor.  County,  Name.*  of,  97. 

Tractors,  Metallic,  13. 

Tolman.  Albert,  136. 

Tucker,  Ephraim,  135,  155. 

Tyler,  Albert,  135,  155. 

Tyler,  Newell,  135. 

Tyler  &  Seagrave,  135. 

U 

Upham,  Henry  P.,  10,  33,  43. 
Upton,  114. 
Uxbridge,  114. 


W 

Waites,  Alfred,  20,  123,  135,  154. 

Wall,  Caleb  A.,  135. 

Warren,  114. 

Webster,  114. 

Wesby,  Edward,  136. 

Wesby,  Herbert.  33,  136. 

Wesby,  J.  S.  &  Son,  136. 

West  Boylston,  115. 

Wes  thorough,  108. 

West  Brookfield,  108. 

Western  Reserve  and  Northern  Ohio 

Historical  Society,  136. 
Westminster,  115. 
Whitin,  John  C,  145. 
Whittemore,  Abagail,  136. 
Wilder,  Harvey  B.,  136. 
Williams,  Hartley,  148. 
Winchendon,  115. 
Windham  County,  History  of,  3:5. 
Wisconsin,  State  Hist.  Soc.  of,  135. 
Wood,  Dr.  Albert,  96. 
Woodcock,  T.  E.,  118. 
AVorcester,  115. 

Worcester  Co.,  Names  of  Towns,  97. 
Worcester  Five  Cents  Savings  Bank, 

136. 
Work,  Departments  of,  4. 


Yale  College,  136. 


'>r\3  =  ESS 


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