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Full text of "Western 1741-1834, Warren 1834-1891, Massachusetts. An account of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Warren, September 7, 1891, including the founding and growth of a New-England town"

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REYNOLDS  HISTORICAL 
GENEa\LOGY  CCLLECTiON 


ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01068  8643 


WESTERN    1741-1:^^.        WAKWFN    iB44-'-9'. 


MASi>AC}:iSl:TTS. 


AN  AccoiNr  Or  Tin: 


ONE   HUNDRlD   and    FIFTIETH    ANNIVERSARY 


OF   Till;   IXCOiU  OKATION-    OK   THE 


TOWN   OF   WARREN,  .^ 


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SEnT:.\Bnk  7,  i»9i, 


THE   FOUNDING   AND   GROWTH   OF   A 
NEW- ENGLAND   TOWN, 

By   iloN.  SOLOMON    H.   STEDHIXS 

OF    BOSTON. 


CIIAS.    \V.     EDDY, 

\VA  R  t  .    .M  .\  S  S  . 


ITSGUG 


Stcbbins,  Solcmo-  Bliss.  •'^:^f^- 

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WARREN'S    CELEBRATION. 


A  T  the  Annual  Town  Meeting  held  in  Warren 
^  (Mass.),  April  7,  1890,  Mr.  Harlan  P.  Bliss 
moved  that  '•  the  town  observe  the  one  hundred 
and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  incorporation;  that 
the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  be  raised 
and  appropriated  for  the  expenses  of  the  occasion; 
and  that  the  chair  appoint  a  committee  of  five  to 
carry  into  etfect  the  foregoing  resolves,  and  make 
all  necessarv  arranffements."  This  motion,  havingf 
been  made  under  an  article  inserted  in  the  town 
warrant  by  the  Selectmen  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Bliss,  was  put  to  vote  and  carried  unanimously,  and 
the  chair  appointed  as  a  committee,  Mr.  Harlan  P. 
Bliss,  Rev.  David  ^Moyes,  Mr.  C.  O.  Walker,  Rev. 
Putnam  Webber,  Rev.  O.  I.  Darling. 

The  gentlemen  above  named  met  June  4th,  and 
ororanized  bv  choosing;'  ]Mr.  Bliss  Chairman,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Darling  Secretary.  At  this  meeting  a 
canvass  was  made  for  Orator  of  the  Day,  and  the 
Chairman  and  Secretary  were  authorized  to  confer 
with  Hon.  Solomon  B.  Stebbins  of  Boston  (a 
native   of  Warren). 

On  March  17,  1891,  the  Committee  met  and 
reported  that  Mr.  Stebbins  would-  deliver  the 
address  if  the  celebration  could  be  deferred  to 
Labor    Day    (September    7th).       This    date    was 


I'i  /  r 


agreed  upon,  and  the  tollowing  persons  were  re- 
quested to  serve  on  sub-committees  and  other- 
wise: — 

Toast  Master.  —  Mr.  D.  W.  Shepard.  (Mr.  Shepard 
declining,  his  place  was  filled  bv  Dr.  J.  W.  Hastings.) 

Committee  ox  Music. — Miss  Ella  M.  Wentworth,  Mr. 
Herbert  A.  Messinger,  Mr.  C.  O.  Walker. 

Committee  ox  Decor atioxs. — Mr.  George  L.  Butler, 
Mr.  Henry  S.  Howe,  Mrs.  Maude  N.  Aborn,  Mr.  F.  J. 
DeLuce,  Mr.  William  S.  Tisdale. 

Committee  ox  Relics  axd  Axtiquities.  — Mrs.  Julia  M. 
Hitchcock,  jMr.  Herbert  Carpenter,  ]Mrs.  ]Marv  M.  Richardson, 
Mrs.  Ida  C.  Marsh,  Mr.  J.  E.  Lombard,  jMr.  Chas.  D.  Keyes. 

CoMMiTTfJE  ox  Prixtixg  AXD  IxviTATioxs.  —  Mr.  Daniel 
G.  Hitchcock,  Mrs.  Lottie  E.  Demond,  ]Mr.  George  P.  Aborn. 

Due  preparations  having  been  made  b}'  these 
committees,  an  invitation  in  the  following  form  was 
sent  to  all  natives  and  former  residents  of  the  town 
whose  names  and  addresses  could  be  obtained:  — 

Warkex,  ]NL-\ss.,  August  lo,  1S91. 
The  Committee  on  Invitations  requests  the  presence  of 
natives  of  the  town,  former  residents  and  their  descendants,  at 
the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation 
of  the  Town  of  Warren,  Massachusetts,  September  seventh, 
eighteen  hundred  and  ninetv-one. 

Public  exercises  at  10.30  a.m.  in  the 

Congregational  Church. 

Dinner  at  1.30  p.m.  in  the  Town  Hall. 

Special  invitations  were  also  sent  to  the  Governor 
of  the  Commonwealth.,  to  the  two  L'nited  States 
Senators,  to  our  State  Senator  and   Representatives 


from  this  district,  also  to  the  Chairman  of  Select- 
men of  the  towns  of  Pahiier,  Ware,  Brookfield, 
West  Brookfield,  and  Brimfield,  and  to  ex-Repre- 
sentative George  K.  Tufts,  Esq.,  of  New  Braintree, 
and  Jesse  Allen,  Esq.,  of  Oakham,  who  assisted  in 
passing  the  Act  which  was  found  necessar}-  to 
enable  the  town  to  appropriate  money  for  its 
anniversary.  Senator  Haggerty  was  also  instru- 
mental in  securing  a  reconsideration  of  this  matter 
in  the  Senate  after  it  had  once  been  nesratived. 

The  morning  of  the  anniversary  began  with 
clouds  and  rain,  but  promptly  at  seven  o'clock  the 
day  was  ushered  in  by  the  ringing  of  all  the  bells 
in  the  two  villages  of  Warren  and  West  Warren, 
the  whistle  of  the  Knowles  Steam  Pump  Works 
joining  in  the  salute. 

Across  the  main  street,  between  the  Town  Hall 
and  church  where  the  oration  was  to  be  delivered, 
two  huge  flags  were  suspended,  having  between 
them  a  gauze  banner  inscribed  with  the  names 
''Western"  and  "Warren,''  and  the  dates  of  incor- 
poration and  change  of  name. 

A  park  concert  by  the  Warren  Cornet  Band 
was  given  in  the  Pavilion  at  nine  o'clock,  at  which 
time  the  loan  collection  of  relics  and  antiquities 
at  G.  A.  R.  Hall  was  opened  for  one  hour.  At 
half-past  ten  the  exercises  at  the  Congregational 
Church  were  to  begin;  and,  despite  the'rain  which 
still  continued  to  fall,  though  not  as  heavily  as  at 
first,  the  building  was  crowded  with  an  audience 


•>f.      A^^'      fl     "!'('!' 


/'t.-^l:l     ?;  li^'V 


composed  of  townspeople,  old  residents,  and  dis- 
tinguished guests.  Handsome  souvenir  programmes 
were  distributed  to  all  present,  a  copv  being  given 
below:  — 

pr^GGr^ji?  09  one  D/ry. 

Ringing  of  Town  Bells,  at  7  a.  m. 

Park  Concert  bv  Warren  Cornet  Band,  at  9  a.  m. 

Exercises  in  Congregational  Church,  at  10.30  a.  m. 

—  ■     ——  -^ 

1.  Organ  Prellde,  Coronation  March.  Meyerbeer. 

Herbert  A.  Messinger. 

2.  Festival  Hy.mn  {Buck),  Anniversary  Chorus. 

3.  Scripture  Reading,  Rev.   Putnam  Webber. 

4.  Prayer,  Rev.  D.  Olin  Clark. 

5.  Hail,  Festal  Day  {Rossini),  Anniversary-  Chorus. 

6.  Address  of  Welcome,      Chairman  Anniversary  Committee. 

Harlan  P.  Bliss. 

7.  Address  and  Introduction  of  the  Orator  of  the  Day. 

Rev.  Olney-  I.  Darling. 

S.  Historical  Address,  Hon.   Solomon  B.  Stebbins. 

9.  To  Thee,  O  Country-  {Eichbcrg),  xVnniversary-  Chorus. 

10.  Poem,  Miss  Nellie  M.  Com  ins. 

11.  Anniversary  Hymn  (Original),  Tune,  Duke  Street. 

For  life  and  health  and  dailv  bread. 
The  common  blessinjjs  full  and  free 

Along  our  path  like  sunshine  shed, 
Father,  accept  our  thanks  to  thee. 

And  darker  davs  and  graver  skies 

We  know  conceal  thy  loving  face; 
For  all  thy  gifts  our  songs  ^hall  rise. 

Like  incense,  in  this  sacred  place. 

From  out  the  past  thv  mercies  shine 
To  show  thv  future  blessings  sure; 

Father,  we  know  that  light  divine 
To  endless  ages  shall  endure. 

Let  organ  peal  and  human  voice 

Pour  forth  their  praise  to  Him  abo\e, 

While  Nature  cries,  •■  Rejoice,  rejoice! 
Now  and  forever  God  is  Love." 

12.  Benediction,  Rev.  Harris  G.  Hale. 


:>;.-y:    hh 


■rr^< 


Dinner  at  Town  Hall,  at  1.30  p.  m.,  followed  by  toasts  and 

speeches   by  citizens,  former  residents,  and  distinguished 
guests. 

Music,  Messinger's  Orchestra. 

The    Loan  Collection  of    Relics  and   Antiquities, 

open  to  the  public  at  G.  A.  R.  Hall,  9  to   10  a.  m.,  and 
12.30  to  1.30  and  4  to  6  p.  m. 

Park  Concert  by  West  Warren  Cornet  Band,  at  7  p.m. 
Illumination  and  Fireworks,  at  8  p.  m. 

The  oration  by  Hon.  Solomon  B.  Stebbins  was 
as  follows :  — 

THE   FOUNDhNG   AND   GROWTH    OF   A   NEW- 
ENGLAND   TOMN. 

In  the  history  of  communities,  as  in  the  lives 
of  individuals,  there  come  periods  when  the  sons 
and  daughters  are  invited  home  to  celebrate  some 
golden  anniversary.  Thrice  golden  is  the  event 
which  the  citizens  of  this  town  in  their  corporate 
capacity  have  met  to  commemorate.  With  greet- 
ings royal  we  are  welcomed  home  to  renew  the 
friendships  of  the  olden  da^ys.  With  hearts  made 
tender  by  your  welcome  and  by  the  memories  of 
the  past,  we  join  with  you  in  celebrating  the  one 
hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  a 
New-Eno^land  town. 

A  careful  observer  of  American  forms  of  2:ov- 
ernment,  Alexis  de  Tocqueville,  has  said  of  the 
New-England  township  that  '*  it  was  the  nucleus 
round  which  the  local  interests,  rights,  and  duties 
so  collected   and   clung  that  it  gave   scope  to  the 


8 


activities  of  a  thoroughly  democratic  and  repub- 
lican Hie.  Its  local  assemblies  of  freemen  —  the 
town  meetings  —  were  to  liberty  what  primary 
schools  are  to  science:  they  brought  it  within  the 
people's  reach;  they  taught  men  how  to  use  and 
enjoy  it;  and  even  while  the  American  colonies 
still  recognized  the  supremacy  of  the  mother 
country,  the  republic  was  already  established  in 
every  township.'' 

It  is  the  birthday  of  such  a  township  that  we 
meet  to  celebrate.  Your  committee  of  arrange- 
ments have  honored  me  with  the  grateful  task  of 
gathering  up  for  this  famil\"  reunion  such  facts  of 
interest  as  the  scanty  records  of  the  past  may 
furnish  or  household  traditions  may  have  treasured. 

It  is  not  my  purpose,  however,  in  the  hour  I 
shall  detain  you,  to  attempt  an  elaborate  historical 
review  of  the  events  attending  the  growth  of  the 
town,  but  rather  to  summon  before  you  the  early 
fathers,  and  let  them,  in  the  quaint  language  of 
their  records,  tell  how  they  founded  a  town  to 
secure  local  civil  government  and  religious  wor- 
ship, made  provision  for  education,  and  contributed 
of  their  lives  and  substance  in  the  heroic  period 
which  established  the  independence  of  the  colonies. 

EARLY    HISTORY. 

The  territory  of  the  town  covers  about  six  square 
miles,  and  was  taken  from  the  towns  of  Brookfield 


and  Brimtield,  and  from  a  tract  of  land  known  as 
Kingstield  or  the  Elbows,  which  afterwards  tormed 
the  town  of  Palmer.  It  is  known  that  the  locality, 
from  its  ample  hunting  and  fishing  grounds,  was  a 
favorite  resort  and  dwelling-place  of  the  red  men. 
Interesting  vestiges  of  the  aboriginals  have  been 
discovered  from  time  to  time,  many  of  which  have 
been  preserved,  and,  by  the.  courtesy  of  the  com- 
mittee having  charge  of  the  collection,  will,  with 
other  relics  and  antiquities,  be  exhibited  to-day. 

The  tirst  known  white  settler  within  the  limits 
of  the  town  was  Solomon  Keyes,  in  1731.  Other 
settlers  soon  followed,  bearing  the  names  of  Read, 
Patrick,  Ashley,  Brown,  Blair,  Makepeace,  Jones, 
Combs,  Sheperd,  Putnam,  Beal,  Dwight,  Rice, 
Hayward,  Chadwick,  Parsons,  Bliss,  Davis, 
Gleason,   Cutler,   Lincoln. 

Of  the  descendants  of  these  earlv  settlers,  some 

■J  ? 

still  reside  in  the  town  and  honor  us  by  their 
presence  to-day.  The  population  of  the  district 
had  so  increased  that  in  1740  measures  were  taken 
to  secure  authority  to  form  a  town  government. 

On 'June  12  of  that  year,  Noah  Ashley  and  a 
considerable  number  of  others  presented  a  petition 
to  the  General  Court  setting  forth  their  great 
distance  from  the  places  of  public  worship,  and 
that  they  had  supported  a  minister  among  them 
for  some  time,  and  therefore  praying  that  they 
might  be  set  off  and  erected  into  a  separate 
township. 


lO 

Upon  this  petition  it  was  ordered  "  that  the 
petitioners  serve  a  copy  of  the  petition  upon  the 
towns  interested,  and  for  the  towns  to  show  cause 
why  the  same  should  not  be  granted." 

On  the  25th  of  August  of  the  same  year,  as  it 
appeared  that  the  towns  had  been  served  with 
copies  of  the  petition,  and  that  answer  had  been 
received  from  the  town  of  Brimfield  only,  it  was 
ordered  ''  that  Joseph  Wilder  and  William  Lyon 
be  a  committee  to  repair  to  the  places  mentioned 
and  view  and  report."' 

This  committee  subsequently  reported:  — 

Pursuant  to  an  order  of  the  General  Court,  passed  in 
August  last,  upon  the  Petition  of  Ephraim  Havward  <?/  aL 
Inhabitants  of  the  westerly  part  of  the  Towns  of  Brookfield, 
and  of  Brimfield  and  Kingsfield,  so  called,  we  the  subscribers 
have  attended  the  service  therein  mentioned,  viewed  the  Land 
petitioned  for,  considered  the  circumstances  of  the  Petitioners, 
and  heard  the  Parties  concerned  ;  and  upon  the  ^vhole  are  of 
the  opinion  that  the  Land,  together  with  the  Inhabitants 
thereon,  described  in  a  Plan  herewith  presented,  be  set  off  and 
erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct  township,  to  lie  in  the 
County  of  Worcester.  But  inasmuch  as  the  new  Projected 
Town  comes  to  the  river  in  the  County  Road,  where  there  is  a 
Bridge  called  ^Market  Bridge  o\  er  said  river,  —  That  the  said 
New  Town  shall  make  and  maintain  the  one  half  of  said 
Bridge,  and  the  town  of  Brookfield  the  other  half. 


Consented  to. 

J.  Belcher,  December  16,  1740. 


Joseph  Wilder, 
William  Lvon. 


M'  V 


II 

Following  the  favorable  report  of  the  committee, 
the  General  Court,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Governor,  on  the  i6th  of  January,  1741,  passed  an 
Act  incorporating  the  town  of  Western."^ 

This  action  was  supplemented  on  the  19th  of 
January  by  the  passage  of  an  order  directing  Noah 
Ashley,  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  new 
township,  to  notify  and  warn  the  inhabitants  of  the 
said  township  to  assemble  and  make  choice  of  a 
town  clerk  and  other  town  officers. 

ORGANIZATION    OF    THE    TOWN    GOVERNMENT. 

In  pursuance  of  this  order,  the  first  town  meeting 
was  held  on  ^larch  8,  1741,  when  Noah  Ashley 
was  chosen  moderator,  ^Matthew  Beal  town  clerk, 
and  Solomon  Keyes,  Noah  Ashley,  Peter  Rice,  and 
Nathaniel  Reed  selectmen. 

THE    FIRST    MEETING-HOUSE. 

With  the  town   srovernment  thus   orijanized,  the 
people,    in    accordance    with   the   almost   universal  ' 
practice  of  the  New-England  fathers,  turned   their 
attention  to  the   erection  of  a  meetinsr-house    and 
the  settlement  of  a  minister. 

In   those    early    days    the    affairs    of  the    church 


♦In  consequence  of  delavs  to  letters,  caused  by  the  similarity  of  the 
name  of  the  town  to  that  of  Weston,  an  older  town  in  Middlesex 
County,  the  General  Court,  on  March  13,  1S34,  in  response  to  a  petition 
authorized  by  the  town,  changed  the  name  to '•  Warren,"  although  a 
petition  had  been  presented  the  previous  year,  from  Thomas  Damon 
and  thirty-three  others,  asking  that  the  name  should  be  changed  to 
"  Homer." 


12 


were  managed  in  town  meeting,  and  a  week  after 
the  organization  of  the  town  ijovernment  a  meetinsf 
was  held  "  in  order  to  agree  upon  a  meeting- 
house spot-''  No  definite  conclusion  having  been 
reached,  the  town,  at  a  meeting  held  in  October  of 
the  following  year,  voted  "  some  suitable  place  to 
meet  in  to  hear  preaching."  It  was  also  voted  "  to 
build  a  meeting-house  40  ft.  square  on  Comeys 
Hill." 

It  was  not  until  the  followins^  year  that  the 
meeting-house  site  was  definitely  fixed  upon. 

"  At  a  meeting'  legally  warned  and  held  in  Western  ye  iSth 
day  of  April,  1743,  voted  Lieut.  Solo  Keyes  ^loderator  for  said 
meeting  —  further  voted  ye  sd  meeting  by  adjournment  to  ve 
plcice  called  Corny  hill  and  at  ye  place  above  mentioned  called 
Corny  hill  on  ye  west  side  near  the  place  called  ye  Stadd  .  .  . 
namely  on  a  napp  of  ground  adjoyning  to  Comv  hill  .  .  .  the 
particular  spott  is  known  by  one  chestnut  tree  on  the  west  side 
of  the  napp  and  a  little  east  of  sd  chestnutt  tree  there  is  two 
black  oak  staddles  marked  and  the  same  spott  att  sd  meeting 
by  adjournment  from  ye  Wido  Howards  House  to  this  place 
and  on  this  spott  of  ground  and  at  this  time  voted  this  particular 
spott  is  &  shall  be  the  place  for  the  meeting  house  to  be  built 
upon  &  here  to  remain.'' 

The  locality  of  the  meeting-house  having  been 
determined,  the  more  serious  work  of  its  erection 
was  entered  upon. 

The  town  records  at  this  time  teem  with  votes 
relating  to  the  material  to  be  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  new  place  of  worship. 

"At  a  town  nieeting  held  in  Western  May  ye  second  1743.  . 
Voted  Solo  Keyes  Moderator.  Voted  to  build  a  meeting 
house.   .  Voted  ye  sd  Aleeting  house  should  be  built  45  feet  in 


'I.     -iO  ;■■  ' 


13 

length  &  35  feet  in  breadth  and  20.}  feet  between  the  sill  & 
plate.  And  further  voted  to  rase  three  hundred  pounds  tenor 
money  to  carry  on  said  building.  Further  voted  that  Mr  Noah 
Ashley  Lieut  Solo  Keyes  &  David  Blair  be  a  comitee  to  order 
and  manage  the  aftairs  in  building  the  meeting  house,  to 
provide  timber  and  slittwork  and  framing  and  drawing  all 
ready  to  raise :  Voted  that  ye  Clapboards  should  be  sawed 
quarter  boards.  Voted  Thos  Rich,  Gershom  Makepeace  «S: 
Peter  Rice  be  a  committee  to  2:)rovide  the  clapboards,  Boards, 
Shingles  &  Nails  for  sd  House  &  to  have  them  ready  atl  ve 
spot  heretofore  voted.  Further  voted  ye  Nathan  Reed  with 
the  com  Keyes  Ashley  &  Blair  be  impowered  to  sett  a  price  on 
the  work  done  by  the  dav  by  the  people  in  carrying,  on  the 
building. 

"  Att  a  meeting  in  \Vestern  held  ye  15  day  of  June  1743. 
Voted  Solomon  Keyes  ^Moderator  for  sd  meeting  and  further 
voted  that  Noah  Ashlev  8c  Hezekiah  Marks  provide  20  spike 
polls  in  order  to  raise  the  meeting  house  &  further  voted  that 
Solomon  Keyes  &  Noah  Ashlev  provide  provisions  and  drink 
&  voted  sd  Keyes  and  Ashlev  thirtv  pounds  old  tenor  to  be 
paid  by  a  rate  for  sd  provisions  &  drink  for  raising  of  the 
meeting  house  Sc  voted  to  raise  the  meeting  house  on  the  place 
whare  the  timber  now  lyeth  &:  further  voted  att  sd  meeting  that 
Mr  Noah  Ashley  should  have  the  privilige  of  setting  the  meet- 
ing house  to  face  the  south  drawing  or  moveinfr  the  sills  six 
feet  north  or  west  as  hee  thinks  be^t :  His  allowing  the  town 
eight  pounds  out  of  his  bilding  for  the  raising.  August  ve  26 
day  1743.  Att  a  meeting  held  in  Western.  Voted  Gersham 
Makepeace  ]Moderator  for  said  meeting.  Voted  to  chuse  com- 
ity to  inclose  the  meeting  house  on  the  outside  and  lav  down 
the  under  flore.  A'oted  Lieut  vSolomon  Keves  &  Noah  Ashlev 
&:  Nathl  Reed  to  be  a  comity  to  gitt  sd  work  done  &  also 
winder  frames  and  to  have  sash  glass  sett  in  woods  for  the 
meeting  house." 

Services  were  held  in  the  new  building  in  about 
a  year  after  its  commencement,  although  pulpit  and 
pews  were  not  built  till  two  vears  later,  and  the 
whole  work  was  not  fully  completed  for  many  years. 


.'3l 

0"; 


.14 

The  assignment  of  the  seats  of  the  meeting- 
house, which  took  place  upon  the  completion  of 
the  building,  was  considered  in  those  early  days 
an  important  matter,  requiring  the  services  of  the 
ablest  men  of  the  town  properly  to  "•  dignif}- "  the 
seats  and  pews.  On  May  23,  1748,  in  town  meet- 
ing, it  was 

"  Voted  to  chose  a  comittee  to  seat  the  body  of  seats  and 
Pew  ground.  Voted  Dea  Bliss  to  be  a  comittee  man.  Dea 
Straton  also  in  the  same.  Noah  Ashley,  Solomon  Keyes, 
Peter  Rice,  David  Blair,  Gershom  Makepeace,  James  Whit- 
comb,  Ephraim  Hayward,  Nathll  Reed,  Thomas  Rich.  Voted 
that  the  comittee  observe  these  three  rules  namely  age  of  ^ 
persons,  secondly  the  list  from  the  time  that  the  meeting  house 
was  built  also  the  quallity  of  persons  in  seating  the  pews  and 
body  of  seats  above  said.  Voted  further  that  when  the  co- 
mittee above  sd  have  so  setled  the  pews,  that  the  men  seated  in 
the  pews  have  forever  and  so  entiteled  to  them.  They  there 
doing  there  proportionable  part  of  the  charge  of  finishing  the 
sd  pews  and  sids  of  the  meeting  house  up  to  tlie  girt  also  the 
galary  stairs,  each  mans  pew  to  pay  the  same  equill  charge  of 
the  whole  charge  above  sd  charge.  Voted  to  dismiss'  the 
meeting.     Jershom  Makepeace  Moderator." 

The  singers  of  the  meeting-house  also  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  town  more  than  a  hundred 
yea^-s  ago,  when  in  town  meeting  it  was  solemnly 
"  voted  &  granted  to  the  singers  in  the  town  seats 
to  sing  in,  and  that  it  should  be  the  two  hind  seats 
each  side  of  the  broad  ally  below  in  the  body 
seats  and  that  thev  should  be  made  into  two  lonsf 
pews,  and  it  is  expected  that  they  will  attend  their 
duty  in  that  part  of  worship." 


15 


THE    FIRST    MINISTER. 


With  the  meeting-house  made  sufficiently  ready 
for  occupation,  the  town  sought  anxiously  for  a 
minister,  and  on  July  9,  1744,  a  town  meeting  was 
held,  "  in  order  to  see  whether  the  town  will  agree 
to  keep  a  day  of  fasting  and  pra3'er  to  God  for 
direction  in  calling  a  suitable  person  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry." 

After  a  careful  consideration  of  the  subject,  the 
town  voted  to  observe  Thursday,  July  19th,  as  such 
a  day,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  secure 
the  attendance  of  six  ministers  from  neighboring 
churches  to  assist  the  people  of  the  town  in  the 
solemn  work  before  them.  The  result  of  the 
deliberations  was  expressed  at  a  town  meeting  held 
on  the  following  day:  — 

"At  a  town  meeting  in  Western  on  the  20th  day  of  July 
1744.  To  see  whether  the  town  will  call  Mr  Isaac  Jones  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  in  said  town.  Voted  Capt  Xoah 
Ashley  Moderator  for  said  meeting.  Voted  to  give  Mr  Isaac 
Jones  a  call  to  setel  among  us  in  the  work  of  the  ministiy  in 
the  said-  town.  Voted  to  setel  the  sd  Mr  Isaac  Jones  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  in  the  sd  town  according  to  the  usage 
and  Custom,  respecting  worthy  disslpline  and  instruction  of 
the  established  non  conforming  churches  of  New  England. 
Voted  to  give  Mr  Isaac  Jones  one  hundred  and  twenty  five 
pounds  lawtul  moncv  for  his  setelment,  the  one  half  to  be  paid 
the  said  Mr  Isaac  Jones  in  one  year  after  his  ordination,  and 
the  other  half  in  one  year  after  the  same.  Voted  to  give 
Mr  Isaac  Jones  thirtv  seven  pounds,  ten  shillings  lawful  money 
for  his  Sallery  for  the  lirst  vear  after  his  ordination,  and  to  add 
twentv  five  shillings  lawful  money,  yearly  after  the  first  year 


i6 

till  it  makes  up  fifty  pounds  lawful  money,  as  a  sallery  for  the 
said  Mr  Isaac  Jones.  Voted  Mr  Samuel  Bliss,  Gershom 
Makepeace  and  Thomas  Rich  to  be  a  comitee  to  represent 
the  call  the  town  has  made  to  the  sd  ]Mr  Isaac  Jones.  Noah 
Ashley  Moderator  for  sd  meeting. 

"  Entered  pr  Matthew  Beale  Town  Clerk." 

Mr.  Jones  accepted  the  call  of  the  town  and  was 
ordained  in  January,  1745,  as  the  first  minister  of 
the  first  CongreCTational  church  in  the  new  town, 
and  continued  in  that  relation  until  his  death  in 
1784,  a  period   of  nearly  forty  years. 

That  he  was  a  beloved  pastor,  and  honored 
by  the  people  he  served  so  well,  the  memorial 
stone  erected  in  the  village  burial-ground  bears 
witness:  — 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the 

REV.    IS.-VAC   JONES 

who  was  almost  forty  years  the  faithful  and  affectionate  pastor 
of  Christ's  Flock  in  this  town.  Employing  at  suitable  times 
his  lively  powers  in  useful  studies,  in  fervent  prayer,  in  earnest 
preaching,  in  patlietic  persuasion  and  improving  discourse  for 
the  edification,  comfort  and  salvation  of  his  people.  Supported 
by  the  i-eligion  which  he  had  long  practiced  and  preached  he 
died  in  faith  and  hope  July  31,  17S4." 

The  ordination  on  Thursday  last  in  this  church 
of  the  Rev.  Harris  G.  Hale,  the  fourteenth  suc- 
cessor of  the  first  minister  in  the  town,  and  the 
memorial  exercises  of  to-day,  make  this  beautiful 
September  month  doubly  interesting  to  the  church 
and  society  worshipping  here.  I  am  sure  that  I 
express  the  feelings  of  this   audience   and  of   the 


17 

people  of  this  town,  of  whatever  creed,  when  I 
wish  for  the  new  pastor  and  his  congregation  a 
union  as  long  and  useful  as  that  made  memorable 
in  the  inscription  on  the  tombstone  of  the  first 
pastor  in  the  old  cemetery. 

The  relations  of  the  Congregational  society  and 
town  were  closely  identified  until  1824,  when  the 
town  refused  to  provide  for  the  ministers  salary, 
and  a  few  years  later,  after  controversy,  relinquished 
all  claim  upon  the.  meeting-house.  The  churches 
in  the  town  at  the  present  time  are  :  the  Congre- 
Sfational,  alread\-  described;  the  Universalist,  origan- 
ized  in  1815;  the  Methodist,  organized  in  1852; 
the  Catholic,  organized  in  1872. 

EDUCATION. 

The  early  records  of  the  town  show  that  the 
people  of  the  sparsely  settled  locality  were  not  un- 
mindful of  the  cause  of  education.  On  September 
9,  1743,  the  town  voted  £^40  for  '■' scooling."  On 
February  ii,  1744,  it  was  voted  to  hire  two 
months'  schooling.  On  November  4,  1745,  it  was 
voted  to  "bouild  a  scool  house,  and  voted  that  sd 
house  shall  be  twenty  feet  in  length  and  seventeen 
feet  in  bredth  and  a  dutch  chimney  att  each 
end  of  sd  house.  And  voted  to  hire  three  months 
schooling."  On  P^bruary  12,  1749,  it  was  voted 
to  build  three  schoolhouscs,  and  on  November  9th 
of  the  same  \ear  £80  was  appropriated  for  schools. 


'[') 


Similar  appropriations  followed  in  succeeding 
years.  During  the  later  years  of  the  town's  history, 
the  citi'zens,  realizing  that  a  good  system  ol  public 
education  under  proper  supervision,  with  commo- 
dious and  well-\-entilated  sehool-buildings,  gives 
prestige  to  a  town,  have,  with  wise  and  liberal 
action,  made  ample  provision  for  the  education  ot 
their  children.  The  High-School  building,  erected 
upon  the  site  of  the  Qiiaboag  Seminary,  is  worthy 
of  especial  mention,  —  not  only  for  the  higher 
course  of  education  provided  there,  but  also  lor 
the  architectural  htness  of  the  structure. 

Of  the  351  cities  and  towns  in  the  State,  Warren 
stands  thirty-ninth  in  the  percentage  of  taxable 
property  appropriated  for  the  support  of  public 
schools;  while  of  the  59  cities  and  towns  of  Wor- 
cester County,  Warren  stands  seventh  in  the  like 
percentage,  sixteenth  in  the  average  attendance, 
and  nineteenth  in  the  amount  appropriated  for 
each  scholar. 

Closely  allied  to  the  cause  of  education  is  the 
system  of  free  public  libraries  throughout  the  State. 
The  library  of  this  town,  founded  and  managed  by 
an  association  of  public-spirited  citizens,  affords 
special  priyileges  to  the  children  in  the  public 
schools.  The  library  building,  recently  erected 
and  handsome  in  its  proportions,  bears  over  its 
entrance  the   legend  "  Open  to   All." 


19 


THE    REVOLUTIONARY    PERIOQ. 

The  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
American  colonies  in  the  years  immediately  pre- 
ceding- the  Revolution  stirred  the  people  of 
Massachusetts  to  a  remarkable  degree.  It  was  here 
that  the  claim  of  the  British  Crown  and  Parliament 
of  the  right  to  impose  a  system  of  unjust  taxation 
upon  the  colonies  met  widi  the  most  determined 
opposition.  The  port  of  the  town  of  Boston  had 
been  closed,  the  people  humiliated  and  reduced  to 
want  for  their  resistance  to  the  oppressive  and 
odious   measures   of  Parliament. 

It  was  then  that  the  people,  even  while  profess- 
ino-  lovaltv  to  their  sovereign,  became  so  enkindled 
with  the  love  of  liberty  that  every  encroachment 
upon  their  rights  only  hastened  the  great  struggle 
which  resulted  in  American  independence. 

The  records  of  the  town  during  this  eventful 
period  reflect  the  highest  honor  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants. Among  the  important  votes  passed  was  that 
of  January  17,  1774.    . 

At  a  legal  Town  meetin;^  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Western  the  17th  day  of  January  1774.  The  inhabitants  of 
said  town  takeing  into  consideration  the  plan  or  project  of  intro- 
duceing  tea  into  the  colinies  by  vertue  of  a  late  act  of  the  Brittish 
Parliment  to  be  disposed  of  by  commissioners  appointed  by 
the  East  India  Company  subject  to  tlic  payment  of  a  duty  in 
America,  and  other  acts  of  the  like  nature,  are  of  opinion  that 
tliev  are  a  verv  great  infringement  on  their  rights  and  priviliges 
and  threaten  them  with  bondage  and  Slavery.  Therefore 
resolved  that  the  disposal  of  their  own  property  is  the  inherent 


20 


right  of  freemen  and  cannot  be  taken  from  them  withont  their 
consent. 

2      Resolved  tliat  the  duty   imposed    by    Parliment    on    tea 
landed  in  America,   is  a  tax   on   the  American  without  their 
consent,  tlierefore  unjust  and  unrighteous.     3    Resolved  that  it 
is  their  opinion  that  the  said  Parhment  have  as  just  a  right  to 
tax  their  houses,  lands  &c  as  to  impose  a  duty  on  Tea   payable 
in  America,  and  if  the  duty  on  tea  and  other  things  of  the  same 
nature  should  be  quietly  submitted  into,  we   have  no  reason  to 
expect  but  that  in  a  short  time,  our  houses,  lands,  &c,  will  be 
taxed,  which  will  reduce  us  to  the  greatest  degree  of  bond.ige 
and  slavery.     4   Resolved  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American, 
resolutely  to  oppose  said  plan  and  every  other  artifice  of  the  like 
nature.      5    Resolved  that  we  will  not  knmvingly  encourage  or 
promote  the  consumtion  of  any  such  tea  whatsoever  subject  to  a 
duty  in  America  but  all  persons  who  shall  be  concerned  in  the 
use  of  the   same   shall    be   viewctl   by   us  as  enemies  to  there 
countrv  and  treated  as  such.     6    Loyalty  and  true  allegiance  to 
His  Majestv  King  *George  the  third,  we  heartily  and  sincerely 
profess  and  will   veald  a  chcarfull  and  ready  obedience  t(j  all 
just  laws,  and  a  hearty  friendship  with  our  mother  country  we 
wish   mav  be  continued  till  time  shall  be  no  more  —  but  our 
just  rights  and  priviliges  for  which  our  forefathers  indured  the 
greatest  hardships  and  many  of  them  sacritised  their  lives,  we 
cannot  give  up  and  submit  to  be  Bondmen  and  slaves  :   but  are 
determined  to  defend  with  the  greatest  vigor  &  resolution  which 
is   as  we  apprehend   almost   the    universal    sentiment  of  every 
freeman    in   America.     The   foregoing    resolves   being  several 
times  read  in  town  meeting,  the  same  was  voted  and   accepted 
unanimously.     Also  voted  that  the  above  resolutions  and  pro- 
.ceedings  of  this  town  be  recorded  in  the  town  l.^ook  and  a  copy 
thereof  be  transmitted  by  the  town   clerk   to  the  committee  of 
corrispondence  in  Boston. 

Recorded  pr 

Sim.   Dwigiit  Town   Clerk. 

Diliofent  must  be  the  student  of  history  to  dis- 
cover  anywhere  in  the  annals  of  the  great  struggle 
atjainst  the  tyranny  of  the  English  goyernment 
declarations  more  resolute  or  more  patriotic. 


21 

Mark  how  in  these  resolves  the  early  fathers  of 
this  town  stated  the  underlying  principles  of  the 
Declaration  of  American  Independence.  Pardon 
me  if  I  seem  to  dwell  upon  and  give  importance 
to  this  period  of  the  town's  history.  As  T  have 
read  over  and  over  her  records  during  the  years 
of  the  Revolution,  my  heart  has  been  made  to 
glow  with  love  for  my  native  town,  and  my  mind 
filled  with  wonder  that  these  early  settlers,  few  in 
numbers,  and  struggling  with  difficulties  common 
to  the  growth  of  new  settlements,  were  able  to 
devote  so  much  of  their  all  to  the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  year  1774  was  one  of  great  trial  to  the 
people  of  Massachuse'tts.  The  coercive  enact- 
ments of  Parliament,  intended  for  their  subjugation, 
aroused  a  more  firm  resolution,  in  the  lan2:ua£:e  of 
Warren,  '•*'  to  preserve  their  freedom  or  lose  their 
lives  in  defence  of  it.''  The  members  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  met  in  Concord,  and,  under  the  name 
of  a  Provincial  Congress,  prepared  a  plan  for  the 
defence  of  the  province.  Orders  were  issued  for 
calling  into  service  a  body  of  men  to  be  ready,  at 
a  mi /inters  vjaniing'^  to.  appear  in  arms. 

The  yeomen  of  this  town  had  alreadv  anticipated 
this  important  action  of  the  Provincial  Congress:  — 

At  a  Town  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  West- 
ern, September  19,  1774.  Made  choise  of  Majr  Makepeace, 
Capt  James  Stone,  Dea.  Solo  Rich,  Mr.  John  Patrick  &  Capt 
Putnam  as  a  committee  of  correspondence.  Also  voted  that 
there  be  a  number  of  men  raised  to  be  at  a  minutes  warnins" 


22 


to  goe  on  an\'  extrioitlinaiy  enimergency.     Also  voted  that  if 

said    men    be    called    to    serve   that    tliev   shall   be   paid  three 

shillings  per  dav  for  one  Aveek  they  finding  themselves  if  so 

long  detained  in  service.     Also  voted  that  after  the  first  week 

their  ^\"ages  be  left  to  the   descrition  of  the  town.     Also  voted 

that  Capt  Putnam,  Lieut  Bascom  &  Lieut  Keves  draught  forty 

men    which    will    accept   said   service.     Also    those   men  who 

received  amunition  of  the  town  stock  in  the  late  alarm,   return 

the  same  or  that  quantity. 

Entered  by 

Sim  Dwight  Town  Clerk. 
All  honor  to  the  patriots  of  Warren! 

The  incoming  of  a  new  year  found  the  people 
ready  to  meet  in  town  meeting,  and  with  the  fol- 
lowing good  resolutions  they  observe  the  day:  — 

"  At  a  legal  Town  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Western  on  Monday  the  2nd  day  of  Januarv  A.  D.  1775. 
I  ]Made  choice  of  Simeon  Dwight  Moderator.  2  Voted  to 
allow  Major  Makepeaces  account  of  his  attendance  at  the 
Provincial  Congress  being  seven  pounds  one  shilling.  3  Voted 
to  allow  said  ]\Likepeace  twelve  shillings  for  his  attendance  at 
the  count}-  congress.  4  Granted  ^vfajr  Stone  twelve  shillino-s 
for  his  attentiance  at  the  county  congress.  5  Voted  that  the 
towns  money  which  was  granted  and  assessed  on  the  town  as 
Province  taxes  for  the  years  1773  «!*v:  ye  year  1774  be  paid  to 
Henry  Gardner  Esq,  appointed  Receiver  General  to  be  paid 
to  said  Gardiner  by  the  constables  of  said  town  ^^  the  towns 
conmiittee.  6  Voted  to  indemilie  the  present  Assessors  for 
not  making  a  return  of  the  sums  of  monev  assessed  and  the 
names  of  the  constables  to  whom  it  was  committee  to  collect, 
to  Harrison  Gray,  Esq  former  Treasurer.  7  Voted  to  accept 
and  adhere  to  wdiat  the  Continental  Congress  have  recom- 
mended.    S     Voted  to  conform  and  strictly  adhere  to  what  the 


Provincial  Congress  have  recommended.  9  Voted  that  five 
men  be  chosen  as  a  Committee  of  inspection  to  oversee  our 
present  affairs.  10  !Made  choice  of  Simeon  Dwight  one  of 
said  Committee.  -     ' 

"15  Voted  that  there  be  a  donation  collected  for  the  Poor 
people  of  Boston  &  Charleston.  16  Voted  to  choose  a  com- 
mittee to  receive  said  donations.  !Made  choice  of  Lieut 
Bascom,  Dea  Rich,  Capt  Putnam,  Mr  John  Patrick  &.  Lieut 
Reuben  Read  for  said  committee.  Voted  that  said  committee 
have  liberty  to  dispose  of  what  may  be  given  as  a  donation  if 
they  can  do  it  to  the  advantage  of  said  poor  &.  send  them  the 
effects.  Also  voted  to  adjourn  the  meeting  to  ^Monday  the  16 
day  of  this  instant  at  one  of  the  'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

"  23  ^let  according  to  adjournment.  !Made  choice  of  Simeon 
Dwight  to  represent  the  town  at  the  Provincial  Congi^ess  to  be 
held  at  Cambridge  on  the  first  daV  of  Februarv  next  &c. 

"  24  Voted  to  allow  the  minutemcn  a  reward.  25  Voted  to 
the  minutemen  ninepence  for  each  half  day  three  and  a  half 
hours  to  be  accounted  for  half  a  day,  for  16  half  days  to  be 
spent  in  military  exercises.  26  Voted  to  allow  two  com- 
mission officers  one  sliilling  &  sixpence  for  half  a  day.  Voted 
that  the  number  of  minutemcn  be  thirty  exclusive  of  said 
officers.  26  Voted  that  the  said  16  half  days  be  employed  in 
military  exercises  before  the  first  day  of  ]May  next.  27  Voted 
that  the  said  minutemen  in  order  to  intitle  themselves  to  the 
above  mentioned  reward  equip  themselves  with  armes  and 
amonition  agreeable  to  tlie  recommendation  of  the  late  Provin- 
cial Congress.  2S  Voted  that  they  equip  themselves  in  three 
weeks  and  keep  themselves  so  equipped.  29  Voted  that 
^Major  Keyes,  Lieut  Reuben  Read  and  Lieut  Cyrus  Rich  be  a 
committee  to  inlist  said  minutemen.  30  Voted  that  the  said 
minutemen  sign  an  inlistment  agreeable  to  that  agreed  upon 
by  the  town  of  Northampton  which  is  as  followeth  vi :  We 
the  subscribers,  souldiers  inlisted  from  the  militarv  companv 
within   the   town  of  Western   and   organized   into  a  companv 


24 

called  a  minute  company  do  solemly  covenant  &  engage  that 
we  will  as  soon  as  possible  be  provided  and  equipt  with  an 
efiective  fire  arm  cartouch  box  or  bullet  pouch,  thirty  round 
of  powder  and  ball  &  a  knapback  and  that  we  will  exert  our 
best  abilities  to  acquire  the  art  mililarx  ,  that  we  will  yeild  a 
ready  obedience  to  the  commands  of  our  officers  and  hold 
ourselves  in  readiness  to  march  up  on  the  earliest  notice  from 
our  commanding  officers  and  hazard  our  lives  in  resisting  any 
armed  force  that  shall  attempt  by  force  to  put  into  execution 
the  late  revenue  acts  for  altering  the  Constitution  of  this  Prov- 
ince, should  any  such  attempt  be  made  between  thi-s  time  and 
the  first  day  of  July  next." 

Events  now  rapidly  culminate.  Minute-men  of 
the  town  are  learning  the  art  of  war;  while  others, 
in  the  meeting-house<  the  \illag-e  tavern,  the  stores 
and  shops,  discuss  the  justice  of  their  cause,  and 
await  tidings  from  the'committee  of  correspondence. 

The  winter  passes  away.  The  supreme  moment, 
so  anxiously  waited  for  by  the  great  leaders  of  the 
colonists  in  ^Massachusetts,  is  at  hand.  Will  the 
people  obey  the  call  to  arms?  Will  they  die  in 
defence  of  their  rights? 

On  the  iSth  of  April  there  flashed  from  the 
belfr}-  of  the  old  North  Church  in  the  beleaguered 
town  of  Boston  the  signal  lights  which  gave  warn- 
ing of  the  movement  of  the  British  troops  to  cap- 
ture the  stores  of  the  colonists  at  Concord.  Then 
it  was  that  messengers  were  despatched,  not  onl}' 
to  Concord,  but  throughout  the  colony,  to  alarm 
the  inhabitants,  and  call  out  the  minute-men. 

"  The  fate  of  a   nation  was  riding  that  nioflit." 


The  story  of  the  fig^ht  between  the  farmers  of 
Lexington  and  Concord  and  the  British  troops, 
and  the  rapid  gathering  of  the  minute-men  around 
Boston,  is   a   tamiliar  one. 


"In  the  books  vou  have  read 

How  the   British  regulars  tired  and  fled, 
How  the  farmers  gave  them  ball  for  bjill 
From  behind  each  fence  and  farmyard  wall."' 

The  leaders  of  the  colonists  in  ^Massachusetts 
had  been  answered,  and  the  Revolution  was  begim. 

The  people  of  Warren  welcomed  the  alarm  of 
the  midnight  messenger  -bearing  the  news  of  the 
movement  of  the  British  troops.  From  the  hills 
and  vallevs  of  the  town  the  minute-men  and  many 
of  the  militia  with  their  arms  and  equipments 
srathered  for  a  forced  march  to  Boston.  One  com- 
panv,  of  fortv-three  men,  under  Captain  Reuben 
Read,  left  on  'the  20th;  and  another  company,  of 
twenty-five  men,  under  Captain  Josiah  Putnam, 
left  on  the  following  day.  The  terms  of  service  of 
these  men  varied  from  five  to  twenty-five  days. 
Many  of  them,  however,  re-enlisted  and  formed 
part  of  the  town's  quota  on  subsequent  calls. 

The  union  of  the  colonies  and  the  calling  into 
service  of  an  armed  force  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, in  opposition  to  the  enforcement  of  the 
oppressive  Acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  made 
necessary    some    declaration   to    the    world    by  the 


: j  i  ■ 


26 

American  people  of  their  ultimate  purpose  in  the 
sri'eat  contest  in  which  thev  were  enofaofed. 

Following  the  battle  of  Lexington  and  Concord 
and  that  of  Bunker  Hill,  b}-  various  assemblies  and 
conventions  resolutions  were  considered  looking  to 
the  severance  of  all  allegiance  to  the  British 
Crown. 

Such  action  was  taken  by  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  in  the  following  resolve,  passed  on 
May  lo,  1776:  — 

"  Resolved,  as  the  opinion  of  this  House,  that  the  inhabit- 
ants of  each  town  in  the  Colony  ought,  in  full  meeting  warned 
for  that  purpose,  to  ad^■ise  the  person  or  persons  who  shall  be 
chosen  to  represent  them  in  the  next  General  Court,  whether 
that  if  the  Honorable  Congress  should  fur  the  safety  of  these 
Colonies  declare  them  independent  of  the  kingdom  of  Great 
Britain,  they,  the  said  inhabitants,  will  solemnl}-  engage  with 
their  lives  and  fortunes  to  support  them  in  the  measure." 

This  little  town  of  Warren,  whose  birth  we 
honor  to-day,  was  among  the  first  to  act  upon  this 
important  resolve.  On  ]May  2 2d,  in  town  meeting, 
it  was  "  voted  to  agree  in  what  the  Continental 
Congress  resolves  to  in  declaring  independence 
with  Great  Britain  and  will  risk  our  lives  and  for- 
tunes if  called  to  it  to  defend  our  privilidges  both 
of  sivil   and  religious   nature." 

The  records  of  the  town  during  the  whole 
Revolutionary  period  bear  witness  to  the  fidelity 
and  devotion   of  the   people   in   responding   to  the 


27 

calls  made  for  the  enlistment  of  soldiers  and  the 
furnishing  of  supplies  for  the  Continental  army:  — 

In  1775  there  were  29  enlistments  and  re-enlist- 
ments; in  1777  there  were  46  enlistments  under 
Captain  Jos.  Cutler;  in  1778  there  were  13  enlist- 
ments and  9  drafted  for  nine  months'  service  ;  in  1779 
there  were  4  enlistments,  and  40  joined  Captain 
Jos.  Richardson's  company  for  three  months'  service 
on  the  Hudson;  in  17S0  there  were  20  enlist- 
ments; in  17S1  there  were  8  enlistments,  "and  8 
others  joined  Captain  Cutler's  company  for  six 
months'  service. 

On  November  25,  1777,  the  town  voted  ''that 
the  Standing  Committee  of  Correspondence  look 
up  the  order  of  the  Great  and  General  Court  re- 
specting the  inhabitants  of  each  town  finding  things 
necessary  for  the  Continental  soldiers  wives  at  the 
stated  prices  and  act  agreeable  thereto.'' 

This  vote  was  followed  by  a  report  from  the 
selectmen  and  committee  of  correspondence,  with 
a  schedule  of  prices  established  by  them  as  author- 
ized by  law:  — 

Western  ye  4,  1777.  We  the  subscribers  Selectmen  and 
Committee  of  corrispondence  Sec  of  the  town  of  Western  being 
impowered  and  directed  l>y  a  certain  law  of  this  state  of 
the  Massachusetts  Bay  entitled  an  act  to  prevent  monopolv 
and  oppression,  to  aprise  divers  articles  .ennumerated  in  sd 
law  in  proportion  to  thobe  sett  in  Boston  and  many  others  not 
therein  innumerated  have  done  the  same  in  form  and  manner 
as  followetli  vis.    Farming   labor  from    the    20th   June   to   the 


28 

20th  August  at  3s  pr  day,  and  at  other  seasons  of  the  year  ni 
the    usial    proportion.       Tradsnien    and    mechanecks,    masons 
excepted.     Masons  at  3/Sd  pr  day.     Blacksmith  work  (vis) 
shoeing  a  hors  all   round  with  refined    iron,   steel    corkd  heal 
&  toe   6/s.       Shoeing  as  aforesaid  with    Bloom  '  iron   5 /4d. 
Plain  shoeing  all  round  with   refined  iron4/Sd.      Plain  shoe- 
ing all  round  \\  ith  Bloom   iron  4/.    •   For  setting  a  shoe  4d 
and  other  smith  work  in  the  usial  proportion.     Felt  hats  made    • 
of  good  wool   6/S.     Best   Caster   hatts    20s  well    made,   and 
those  of  a  meaner  sort  in  that  proportion.      Good  merchantable 
wheat  at  6  /  pr  bushel,      do  Indian  corn  or  meal  at  3  /  pr  do. 
do  Barley  or  unground   malt  at  3/6  pr  bushel,     do  Oats  at 
I  /9  pr  "bushel.     Flaxseed  clean  and  good  at  6/    pr  bushel. 
Good    merchantable    Sheeps   wool   at    2  /    pr   pound.       Fresh 
pork  good  and  well  fatted  at  4d  pr  pd.      Salt  pork  middlings 
without  bone  7d  2f  pr  pd.     Best  grass  fed  Beef  at  the  rate  of 
22s  pr  hundred.      Best  stall  fed  Beef  at  3d  2f  pr  pound.      Raw 
hides    at    3d    pr   pd.      Raw    calf  skins    at   6d    pr   pd.      Taned 
Leather  at  i  /3d  pr  pd.*   For  taning  sole  Leather  at  ^d  pr  pd. 
For  curr\  ing  Leather  in  the  usial  proportion.      Good  imported 
Salt  at  1 6s  6d  pr  bushel,      do  manufactured  from  sea  water  at 
iSs  6d  pr  bushel.      Good  west  India   Rum  at  Ss  3d  pr  gallon. 
Good  west  India    Rum   by  the  quart   2S   2d,   and  in  the  usial 
proportion  for  less  quantities.      Good  New  England    Rum  at 
5s  id  pr  gallon,  and  in  the  Ui,ial  proportion  for  less  quantities. 
A  mug  of  flip  or  todde  with   ^e   pt  of  west  India   Rum   iid. 
do  do  with  do  of  New  England  Rum  gd.   ■  West  India  rum 
I  gill  at  taverns  4d.     New  England  rum  i  gill  at  taverns  3d. 
Oats   by  the   2  quarts   or  mess   3d.      A   good    meal   of  boy  led 
victuals  Sd,  and  other  meals  in  that  proportion.      Good  inglish 
hay  in  sumer  is  6d  pr  hundred.     Good  inglish  hay  in  winter 
or 'spring  2s  6d.      For  keeping  a  horse  at  inglish  hay  one  night 
IS  2d.      For  keeping  a  pair  of  oxen  at  inglish  hay  one  night 
IS  Sd.     For  keeping  a  horse  by  grass  good  feed  one  night  or 
24  hours    7d.      For  keeping  a  pair  of  oxen    one    night   or   24 
hours  lod.     Molasses  by  the  gallon  at  4s  jd.     Molasses  in  less 
quantities  in  the  usial  proportion.      Best  mascovado  suger  pr 
pd  Sd  }-2f.      Suger  of  the   inferier  quality  in  the   usial  propor- 
tion.    Chocolat  at  is  Sd  2f  pr  p«^.      Best  cheese  manutactoried 
in  America  pr  pd  6d.     Cheese  of  a  meaner  sort  in  proportion. 
Good  butter  pr  pd  9d.     Good  butter  pr  the  tub  or  firkin  Sd  pr 


29 

pd.  Good  .Pees  pr  bushel  6s  / .  Good  Beans  pr  bushel  6s. 
Pertadoes,  Spanish  so  called  is  pr  bushel  in  the  tall,  do  do  in 
the  spring  is  6d.  Good  turnips  in  the  fall  Sd  pr  bushel.  Best 
varn  Stockings  at  6s  pr  pair.  And  those  inferior  in  that  pro- 
portion. Mens  shoes,  neats  leather,  best  sort  at  7s  6d,  and 
those  of  an  inferior  quality  in  proportion.  For  making  a  pair 
of  shoes,  mens  or  womans  2s  6d.  Price  of  womans  shoes, 
best  6s  pr  pair,  and  those  of  a  meaner  quality  in  the  same 
proportion.  Good  cotton  wool  at  3s  9d  pr  pd.  Good  flax, 
well  dressed  at  is  pr  pd.  Good  cot^ee  at  is  5d"pr  pd.  Good 
clean  trved  taller  at  Sd  pr  pd.  Toe  cloath  yd  wide  2s  3d  pr 
vd.  And  other  toe  cloath  in  that  proportion  accordingly  to 
its  wedgth  and  quality.  And  other  coarse  linings  in  propor- 
tion. Flanel  stripeil  yd  wide  of  a  good  quality  at  3s  6d  and 
other  flanels  of  a  less  wedgth  and  quality  in  that  proportion. 
Best  mutten  Lxxmb  and  Veal  at  2s  2d  pr  pd.  Good  axes 
manufictoried  in  America  midling  for  bigness  Ss.  Good 
Scythes  at  Ss  pr  peace.  And  we  earnestly  reccommend  it  to 
Sadlers,  weavers.  Coopers,  Taylors,  .and  every  tradesmen  not 
before  ennumerated  to  do  their  labour  or  sell  their  -\vares  in  the 
usial  proportion  to  the  prises  which  are  sett  on  other  articles, 
and  we  earnestlv  reccommend  it  to  traders  and  all  other 
persons,  strictly  to  the  afore  mentioned  law  as  they  regard  the 
good  of  their  country  and  would  avoid  the  penalty  of  the  law. 

Sl.MEOX    DWIGIIT, 

Gershum  Makepeace,     Committee  of  Corrispondence 
James  Stoxe,  in  the  town  of  Western. 

Nathaniel  Read, 

JosiAH  Putnam, 

John  Patrick,  Selectmen  of  Western. 

Danforth  Keves, 

Reuben  Read, 

The  foregoing  is  a  true  copy 

Attest  JosiAH  Putnam  Town  Clerk. 

The  condition  of  the  Continental  army  at  Valley 
Forge  during  the  memorable  winter  of  1777-7S 
marks    one    of    the    saddest   periods    in   the    great 


30 

contest.  The  march  ot'  the  armv  in  the  month  of 
December  was  attended  bv  untold  sutfering.  The 
tracks  of  blood  upon  the  snow  and  ice  bore  wit- 
ness to  the  absence  of  coverings  for  the  feet.  The 
soldiers,  tattered  and  half-naked,  were  unfitted  for 
service  by  hunger  and  cold.  The  hospitals  were 
crowded,  and  relieved  only  bv  death.  In  February, 
177S,  four  thousand  of  the  troops  lacked  clothing 
to  enable  them  to  perform  dutv.  It  was  then, 
under  the  shadow  of  the  darkest  hour  of  the  con- 
flict, that  the  people  of  this  town  met  in  town 
meeting,  and,  in  language  pathetic,  on  February 
26,  177S:  — 

"  Voted  to  do  something  for  the  rehef  of  ouv  distrest 
breethering  that  have  gone  into  the  Continantal  army  againts 
our  enemv." 

''  Voted  to  purcliase  a  pair  of  shoes,  a  pair  of  stockings  and 
a  shirt  for  eacli  Continantal  sokher  that  have  gone  from 
amongst  us  which  are  nineteen  in  number  also  two  dollars  in 
monev." 


Colonel  Danforth  Keyes  was  chosen  to  forward 
said   clothing  and   money. 

As  the  ^var  progressed,  the  difficulties  attending 
the  filling  of  the  calls  for  men  became  intensified. 
The  rapid  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency  so 
freely  issued  retarded  the  work  of  enlistment. 
Town  meetings  were  frequent,  bounties  increased, 
and  appeals  urged  that  the  demands  made  upon 
the  town   should  be   honored. 


31 

The  subjoined  action  of  a  nieetin<^-  held  on 
January  29,  17S0,  makes  vivid  the  exertions  put 
forth  to  complv  with  the  requisitions  for  additional 
recruits  for  the  army:  — 

"  Voted  to  give  some  iucoiirreilgnicnt  to  the  solders  that 
we  now  want  to  till  the  armv.  Voted  that  this  town  will  give  . 
to  each  solder  that  will  ingage  for  this  town  as  one  of  our, 
quoto  for  three  ^ears  or  during  war  to  111  our  Continantiel 
army  according  to  the  order  of  Court  tor  the  purpose,  three 
hundred  silver  dollars  or  produce  of  the  laud,  or  stock,  such 
as  cattle,  sheep,  c^c  &c  &c,  or  paper  money  to  the  value  of 
said  silver  dollars  as  thev  pass  now  among  ous.  \"oted  that 
one  hundred  dollars  shall  be  pade  to  each  solder  as  above 
before  he  marches  oft  to  camp,  and  one  other  hundred  dollars 
to  be  pade  in  one  vear  after  and  the  other  hundred  dollars  to 
be  pade  at  the  end  of  three  vears.  Voted  to  ajoin  the  meeting 
to  Landlord  Cutlers  next  ]Mondav  at  twelve  of  the  clock  at 
noon,  and  that  the  wholl  town  training  Bands  and  all  should 
be  warned  to  meet  at  the  aforesaid  time  &:  place.  Tlien  met 
according  to  an  ajoinment  Februarv  ve  ^  17S0.  ^'oted  to 
ajoin  this  meeting  for  half  an  our  to  see  if  the  men  wonte  turn 
out  and  then  meet  at  this  place,  which  accordingly  was  done. 
Then  put  to  vote  wheather  we  would  give  any  more  higher 
than  hac  been  olTered  before  to  the  solders  we  now  want, 
pased  in  the  negative.  Voted  to  rase  one  third  of  the  mony 
that  the  town  has  promised  to  give  the  solders  as  a  higher  that 
we  now  ^vant.  Voted  to  give  the  six  months  men  that  went 
out  last  summer  ninty  dubble.  Then  this  meeting  was 
dismissed." 

The  summons  to  our  early  fathers  has  been 
faithfully  obeyed;  they  have  shown  to  us  the 
record  of  their  earnest  lives,  —  how  thev  oroanized 


I)i0 


32 

a  town,  built  a  meeting-house,  settled  a  minister, 
provided  for  the  education  ot"  the  children,  and, 
above  ail,  with  what  devotion  they  espoused  the 
cause  ot'  liberty. 

The  inestimable  value  to  the  town  and  to  history 
of  these  interesting  records,  which  time  will  not 
permit  me  to  review  further,  prompts  me  to  ven- 
ture the  hope  that  at  no  distant  day  a  small  appro- 
priation will  meet  with  the  unanimous  approval  of 
the  people  in  town  meeting  assembled  to  provide 
for  the  printing  of  the  first  volume  of  the  town 
records. 

The  successful  close  of  the  great  struggle  for 
independence  was  everywhere  greeted  with  rejoic- 
ings by  the  people.  In  ^Massachusetts  the  joy 
was  for  a  time  clouded  by  the  outbreak  of  dis- 
content and  rebellion,  from  which  this  town  was 
not  exempt. 

,  The  grievances  of  the  people  ardse  from  the 
great  burden  of  public  and  private  indebtedness 
growing  out  of  the  protracted  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  the  almost  worthless  paper  currency. 

The  towns  were  in  debt  for  supplies  furnished 
their  soldiers,  while  the  State  had  incurred  a  war 
debt  of  miore  than  six  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars, 
and,  in  addition,  owed  its  officers  and  soldiers  one 
and  a  quarter  millions  of  dollars. 

Conventions  called  to  consider  the  proper  means 
of  relief  from  the  burdens  under  which  the  people 


•J  *         (r 


<    r. 


suffered  gave  an  opportunity  for  demagogues  to 
promote  discontent  and  win  notoriety.  An  armed 
force  of  sixteen  hundred  men,  under  Daniel  Shavs, 
met  with  summary  punishment,  and  the  rebellion 
was  soon  over. 

OTHER    CALLS    TO    ARMS. 

During  the  French  and  Indian  War  the  town 
responded  to  the  calls  made  for  men,  and  Solomon 
Keyes  and  his  son  George  were  killed  on  the  expe- 
dition to  Lake  George  in  1753.  In  the  War  of 
18 1 2  the  town  sent  forward  a  company,  which  was 
returned  by  Governor  Strong,  its  services  not  being 
required. 

The  dedication,  on  the  recent  anniversary  of 
American  -Independence,  of  the  beautiful  granite 
memorial  shaft  on  the  village  green,  to  commemo- 
rate the  valor  and  patriotism  of  the  soldiers  of 
Warren  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  was  made 
noteworthy  bv  the  attendance  of  a  larire  number  of 
the  members  of  Grand  Army  Posts,  and  by  the 
timely  address  of  Colonel  W.  B.  S.  Hopkins  of 
Worcester.  The  monument  will  stand  as  a  part 
of  the  great  contest  for  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union. 
Succeeding  generations  will  read  its  inscriptions 
and  be  filled  with  gratitude  for  the  sacrifices  made 
and  the  glorious  results  achieved.  The  names  of 
those  who  served  in  the  war  will  ever  be  asso- 
ciated with  that  of  the  martyr  President,  Abraham 


i^,^    J 1  .; !.  il:f.^ 


34 

Lincoln;  with  him  they  share  the   unending  fame 

of  the  most  beneticent  act  of  all  ages  —  the  freedom 

of  four  millions  of  slaves. 

•    The  "minute-men"  of  1775   opened  the  way  for 

liberty  and  independence,  while  the  ''boys  in  blue" 

of   1 86 1    won    for   the    American    people    a   nobler 

nationality. 

1791-1S91. 

Our  New-England  town,  typical  in  its  character 
and  people,  has  in  the  first  fifty  years  of  its  exist- 
ence more  than  doubled  its  number  of  inhabitants, 
and  opens  the  century  with  the  people  prosperous 
upon  their  farms  and  in  their  shops. 

The  manufactures  of  the  town  at  this  time  con- 
sist of  two  grist-mills,  one  saw-mill,  one  scythe- 
shop,  one  fulling-mill,  one  forge,  —  using  ore  taken 
from  the  hill  near  at  hand,  —  and  the  making  of 
raw  silk  spun  by  silk-worms  fed  upon  mulberry- 
trees  grown   in   the   town. 

The  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town  are  fairly 
shown  by  its  population  and  valuation  at  difierent 
periods.  At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town  there  were  embraced  within  its  limits  about 
60  houses  and  400  inhabitants. 

In  1763  the  number  had  increased  to  579,  with 
92  houses  and  100  families. 

In  1776  the  population  was  S27;  in  1790,899; 
in   1800,   979;    in    1810,    1,014;    in    1820,    1,112;    in 


1786im 


35 


1830,  1,189;  ^^  1840,  1,290;  in  1S50,  1,777;  ^^ 
i860,  2,107;.  ^^  1S70,  2,625;  in  iSSo,  3,889;  in 
1890,  4,681.  . 

The  valuation  of  the  town  for  the  purposes  of 
taxation  has  been:  In  1790,  $6,938;  in  1840, 
$444,834;   in  1890,  $2,389,038. 

What  a  wonderful  growth  do  these  figures  show, 
from  a  hamlet  of  400  inhabitants  in  1741,  to  a  busy, 
thriving  town  in  1890,  containing  4,681  people,  with 
industries  upon  every  hand,  with  property  bearing  a 
taxable  value  of  $2,389,038! 

Observe  how  during  this  period  the  dependent 
colonies,  with  less  than  three  millions  of  inhabitants, 
have  grown  to  a  great  nation  of  fortv-four  tree  and 
independent  States,  with  a  population  of  sixt\--three 
millions  of  people,  having  a  foreign  export  trade  of 
$884,000,000  and  an  import  trade  of  $845,000,000. 
See  the  country  covered  with  a  network  of  165,000 
miles  of  railway  with  a  capital  of  $9,300,000,000, 
and  earning  annually  $1,070,000,000,  or  greater 
than  the  annual  revenue  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  and  requiring  for  its  operation  no 
less  than  32,000  locomotives,  25,000  passenger  and 
1,100,000  freiorht  cars.  Aijain,  observe  the  o-rowth 
of  the  country  as  shown  by  the  telegraph  system  of 
the  principal  company,  with  700,000  miles  of  wire 
in  operation,  sufficient  to  girdle  the  earth  twent}'- 
eight  times,  and  sending  annually  56,000,000  mes- 
sages and  earning  $22,500,000. 


f\fl  \\<Z>  a  J- 


36 

This  rapid  development  of  the  material  interests 
of  the  nation,  attended  by  the  great  increase  of 
wealth  by  individual  ownership,  is  not  without  its 
dangers  to  the  body  politic.  While  it  is  true  that 
capital  is  entitled  to  a  fair  return  for  its  use,  it  is 
also  true,  in  a  higher  degree  even,  that  it  bestows 
upon  its  possessor  obligations  which  reach  the 
most  vital  interests  of  the  community,  jand  which 
with  safety  cannot  be  ignored.  Other  dangers 
arise  with  the  steady  flow  from  the  crowded  popu- 
lations of  other  lands,  attracted  hither  by  these 
great  activities.  While  a  welcome  is  extended  to 
such  as  join  in  our  citizenship,  and,  relieved  from 
foreign  allegiance,  aid  in  carrying  forward  the 
work  begun  by  the  fouhders  of  the  republic,  the 
wisest  statesmanship  should  be  invoked  to  protect 
our  free  institutions  from  perils  accompanying  the 
presence  of  a  people  alien  in  their  habits  and 
obligations. 

Much  of  interest  has  been  published  from  time 
to  time  illustrating  the  history  and  progress  of  the 
material  interests  of  the  town. 

In  1874  an  interesting  review  of  the  town  was 
published  by  your  fellow-townsman,  Rev.  Olney  I. 
Darling.  The  gazetteers  of  the  State  furnish  valu- 
able information,  as  do  the  histories  of  the  county 
of  Worcester.  The  first  of  these  histories  is  that 
by  Rev.  Peter  W^hitney,  published  in  1790;  this 
was  followed  in  1S79  by  a  more  elaborate  publi- 


37 

cation,  in  which  the  record  of  this  town  was  con- 
tributed by  Mrs.  Eunice  P.  Cutter.  In  1889  a  still 
more  comprehensive  history  of  the  county  was 
published,  which  contained  a  carefully  prepared 
history  of  Warren   by  William  T.  Davis. 

The  meeting-house  built  by  the  fathers  on 
yonder  hill  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  for  holding 
meetings  of  the  town,  has  given  way  to  the  com- 
modious structure  in  which  we  meet  to-day.  Other 
churches,  with  different  creeds,  have  been  organ- 
ized to  aid. the  people  in  their  aspirations  to  nobler 
and  diviner  lives.  Schools  of  a  hisfh  order  take' 
the  place  of  that  kept  in  the  tirst  rude  building, 
with  its  Dutch  chimnev  on  each  end.  The  homes 
of  the  people,  once  so  plain,*  nov/  betoken  culture 
and  prosperity.  ]\Iarks  Mountain  and  Cove's  Hill, 
under  the  same  blue  sky  as  of  yore,  lift  their  heads 
in  beauty  over  the  town,  shedding  the  rainfall 
adown  their  sloping  fields  into  the  river  which 
winds  its  way  so  gracefully  through  the  valley, 
aidinc^  industries  that  line  its  shores  and  brine' 
prosperity  to  the  people.  The  early  fathers  with 
their  minister  sleep  in  the  resting-place  of  the 
dead,  leaving  to  succeeding  generations  examples 
of  piety,  industry,  and  patriotism,  founded  upon  the 
principles  of  the  Christian  faith  and  an  ardent  love 
of  countrv. 

Fellow-citizens,  ever  cherish  the  sacrifices,  pietv, 
and    intense    love   of  liberty   which   animated   the 


38 

founders  of  the  town.  Honor  their  memory  by 
guarding  with  jealous  care  the  civil  government 
they  here  organized.  Keep  alive  their  spirit  of 
devotion  to  public  worship,  founded  on  faith  in 
God.  Provide  well  for  the  public  schools  they 
established,  for  they  are  the  sure  basis  of  all  that 
is  highest  and  best  in  your  civil  and  religious 
liberty. 

Men  and  women  of  Warren,  a  century  and  a 
half  has  passed  over  this  New-England  town.  A 
new  period  filled  with  bright  visions  opens  before 
you.  Guided  by  the  principles  which  animated 
the  founders  of  the  town,  a  higher  prosperity  and 
civilization  await  you, 

•"  Such  as  earth  saw  never, 

Such  as  heaven  stoops  down  to  see." 


The    original     poem,    which    was    read    by    the 
author,  Miss  Nellie  M.  Comins,  follows:  — 

The  tides  of  life  mav  bear  us  away 

From  the  place  of  our  birth,  our  home  and  kin  ; 
Old  ties  may  relax,  new  plans  begin, 

The  distance  widen  every  day  ; 

But  now  and  then  our  thoughts  return 

To  happy  memories  of  the  years 

Before  we  felt  these  later  fears, 
When  life's  great  lessons  were  to  learn. 

So,  of  the  friend  who  to  our  heart 
Was  nearest,  truest,  and  best  known. 
We  think  and  wonder  that  we've  grown 

In  so  few  years  so  far  apart. 


'  ''.K 


39 


And  when  his  birthday  comes,  we  long 
Again  the  well-known  voice  to  hear 
That  once  rang  true  upon  our  ear ; 

We  find  the  old  ties  still  are  strong. 

We  go  to  him,  with  him  recall 

Our  childhood's  davs,  and  all  seem  fair 
As  landscape  in  October  air : 

The  haze  of  time  is  over  all. 

But  when  a  birthday  comes  to  her,  — 
Our  mother-to\vn,  who  years  ago 
Saw  all  our  youth,  knows  all  we  know 

Of  pleasures  past  in  days  that  were,  — 

Her  joy  is  ours  ;  from  near  or  far 
We  come,  to  let  our  presence  show 
We  realize  how  much  we  owe 

To  her  of  all  we  have  and  are. 

Whatever  honor  we  have  gained 
Is  hers,  as  we  are  hers.      We  can 
But  grant  that  from  her  care  began 

Whatever  good  we  have  attained. 

You,  friends,  who  see  it  first  to-day. 

May  praise  the  town  for  many  charms, — 
The  busy  shops  ;    the  prosperous  farms  ; 

The  fields  o'er  which  the  shadows  play  ; 

The  stream  which  runs  with  ceaseless  flow 
In  winding  curves  or  by  the  mills. 
Then,  'neath  the  shadow  of  the  hills. 

Its  waters  onward,  westward,  go. 

The  stranger  who  afar  has  seen 

Famed  views  of  shore  and  frowning  heights 
Savs  he  has  found  no  fairer  sights 

Than  these,  our  hills  and  vallevs  green. 


40 


To  beautify  what  nature  gave, 

Man's  hands  have  worked.     The  buildings  rise 

As  tokens  of  his  enterprise,  — 
His  love  for  learning  —  for  the  brave 

Who  died  for  us  that  we  might  be 
A  nation  pure  and  whole  and  sound. 
Who  never-dying  honor  found. 

Through  death,  to  make  their  brothers  free. 

To  those  who  knew  her  not  of  old 
We  give  the  right  to  criticise 
Or  praise  the  village,  hear  what  lies 

In  future  times  for  her  foretold. 

From  us  no  blame  nor  praise  can  fall, 
No  more  than  in  its  mother's  face 
A  child  its  charms  for  him  can  trace  ; 

She  is  our  mother,  that  is  all. 

Not  all  our  love  goes  out  to  him 

Who  shares  our  joys.     ]More  oft  ^ve  find 
That  friend  is  dearest  to  our  mind 

Who  helped  us  when  our  eyes  were  dim. 

When  loss  was  deepest,  grief  most  new. 
So  this  thought  brings  her  yet  more  near. 
And  makes  our  mother-town  more  dear, 

Because  she  knew  our  sorrow  too. 

For  here  the  grass  grows  gieen  above 
The  graves  of  those  who  hne  us  well, 
Of  whom  our  tender  thoughts  can  tell 

That  still  their  memor}-  holds  our  love. 

Somewhere,  wherever  they  may  be, 

We  feel  they  do  not  love  us  less, 

But  give  an  added  tenderness 
To  us  who  strive  while  they  are  free. 


41 

How  can  we  doubt  that  they  are  neai"?  ; 

If  soul  is  more  than  time  or  space, 

Whv  should  they  not  to  this  dear  place 
Come  back  to-day,  be  with  us  here? 

Here,  too.  to  many  a  heart  has  come 

The  new  birth  and  a  larger  life  ; 

The  power  to  feel  in  every  strife 
The  hand  of  God  still  leading  home. 

While  for  our  lives  the  seasons  roll  — 
While  He  is  ours,  on  to  the  last  — 
This  place  is  hallowed,  where  have  passed 

The  deepest  moments  of  the  soul.  _ 

By  all  these  memories  she  is  ours, 

The  town  we  love.     Oh,  bless  her  still, 
Our  Father's  God  !     The  future  fill 

With  greater  blessings,  broader  powers. 

For  her.     And  in  that  future,  .when 
We  see  thy  face,  may  others  here 
,    Still  serve  thee,  strive  to  bring  more  near 
Thy  heavenly  kingdom  down  to  men. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  at  the  church, 
the  loan  collection  of  relics  and  antiquities  was 
again  opened,  surprising  all  visitors  by  its  richness 
and.  variety,  and  exciting  much  attention  and  com- 
ment outside  of  the  town.  It  was  impossible  to 
catalogue  it,  as  it  was  brought  together  during  two 
days  before  the  celebration,  and  was  only  exhibited 
for  three  days  afterward,  before  the  relics  were 
restored  to  their  owners,  A  strong  wish  has  been 
expressed  for  a  permanent  loan  collection  in  War- 
ren, which,  it  is  hoped,  in  time  may  be  established. 


4^ 

An  approximate  list  of  articles  exhibited  is  included 
in  this  pamphlet,  made  up  from  the  newspaper 
reports  and  replies  from  owners  to  a  request  lor 
further  description. 

The  dinner,  furnished  b}-  Caterer  F.  A.  Keith  in 
the  Town  Hall,  was  entirely  satisfactor}',  and  had 
not  progressed  far  before  the  rain  ceased  to  fall, 
the  clouds  broke  awa}',  and  the  sun  shone  forth  to 
the  satisfaction  of  all,  especialh*  those  who  were 
interested  in  the  concluding  concert  and  fireworks. 
Flowers  graced  the  tables.  The  dinner  was 
enlivened  bv  Messinger's  Orchestra,  and  after  came 
the  feast  of  reason  and  flow  of  soul,  presided  over 
by  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Hastings.  The  toasts  and  per- 
sons responding  are  given  in  the  account  by  "  The 
Worcester  Evening  Gazette,''  which  is  included  in 
this  pamphlet.  TSlany  others  who  were  present, 
including  Mrs.  Eliza  Trask  Hill,  and  her  brother, 
George  Trask,  son  and  daughter  of  Rev.  George 
Trask,  a  former  pastor  of  the  Warren  Congrega- 
tional Church,  would  gladly  have  been  listened  to 
as  they  recalled  the  interesting  reminiscences  of 
the  past,  and  would  have  been  called  upon  by  the 
toastmaster,  but  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  now  nearh' 
approaching  five  o'clock,  made  it  seein  wise  to  end 
a  very  enjoyable  occasion,  and  the  assembly  broke 
up  to  meet  more  informally  with  the  old  friends 
who  were  so  numerous  upon  the  street  and  in  the 
homes  throushout  the  dav. 


1 . 1  .■-. 


43 

At  seven  in  the  evenino^  the  West  Warren 
Cornet  Band  discoursed  sweet  music  at  the  Pavil- 
ion, and  at  eight  o'clock  a  line  display  of  fireworks, 
from  the  laboratory  of  Masten  &  Wells  of  Boston, 
began  on  Holdworth's  Hill,  closing  with  a  piece 
especiall}-  prepared  for  the  occasion,  displa3'ing  the 
name  "Warren"  and  the  dates  "  1741-1S91." 

A  number  of  letters  of  resrret  were  received  from 
friends  unable  to  be  present,  and  these  were  read 
at  a  supplementarv  meeting  afterward  held  at  the 
Town  Hall,  at  which  time  interesting  and  informal 
talks  were  given  upon  old  landmarks,  etc.,  by 
Dr.  J.  C.  Cutter,  Rev.  O.  I.  Darling,  Mr.  U.  K. 
Whipple,  Mr.  Cutler  Moore,  Mr.  Henry  Green, 
Dr.  J.  W.  Hastings,  Mr.  E.  Switzer,  and  others; 
the  histor}-  of  the  churches,  recent  industries,  etc., 
being  spoken  of.  It  was  mentioned  in  the  local 
paper,  "  The  Warren  Herald,''  that  probably  not 
another  town  in  the  State  can  show,  as  Warren 
can,  four  farms  occupied  by  the  descendants  of 
their  original  owners;  viz.,  those  now  occupied  bv 
William  A.  Patrick,  John  T.  Combs,  and  C.  N. 
Shepard,  all  adjoining  in  the  eastern  part  of  tlie 
town,  and  that  of  James  T.  Cutler  on  the  Brimfield 
Road. 

To  this  it  ma}-  be  added  that  the  Captain  Putnam 
Farm  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  town.  A  few  years 
intervening  during  which  it  was  owned  by  others, 
it  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  descendants, 


;    .v*f- .  '-J 


44 

the  seventh  generation  living  on  it  up  to  the 
present  year.  It  joins  the  Keyes  and  Shepard 
farms. 

The  following  facts  regarding  the  early  industries 
of  Warren  are  kindly  furnished  by  Danforth  Keyes, 
Esq.  The  industries  of  the  town  of  Western  may 
be  said  to  have  commenced  about  the  year  1746 
by  a  dam  put  across  the  Quaboag  River  at  its 
present  location  by  S.  Dwight  Makepeace  and 
Keyes;  one  grist-mill,  erected  on  the  present  site; 
and  one  furnace,  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  on 
Wigwam  Brook. 

In  1752  the  furnace  was  sold  to  Lyman  & 
Kelley  by  Holmes,  in  1770  sold  by  Holmes  to 
Flood,  in  17S3  sold  by  Flood  to  Asa  Keyes. 
Daniel  and  David  Batcheller  came  into  possession 
of  the  spot  about  1S03,  and  converted  it  into  a 
scythe  lactory,  and  that  took  up  the  land  where 
the  Town  House  and  Quaboag  Block  now  stand. 
The  Batchellers  did  a  very  large  business  for  those 
days,  taking  into  partnership  one  General  Jack 
Warner,  who  afterward  went  to  Greenwich  and 
started  the  same  business.  Next  the  old  shop  is 
found  in  the  hands  of  Rufus  Bacon,  who  took  it 
down  and  erected  a  satinet  factory,  which  was 
carried  away  by  water  when  the  powder-mill  dam 
gave  way  in  1837.  Then  the  property  came  into 
the  possession  of  Horatio  Nichols,  who  erected  a 
saw-mill;     then     into    the    ownership    of   Jepthah 


-.1 


45 

Bacon,  who  sold  it  to  Asahel  Fairbank,  whose  son, 
Wilson  H.  Fairbank,  now  owns  a  portion  of  the 
land  and  the  block;  Homer  A.  Tidd  the  blacksmith 
and  carriage  shop;  and  the  town  the  remainder  for 
the  present  Town  House.  Mr.  Daniel  Batcheller, 
before-mentioned,  tilled  man}-  town  offices  from 
1805  until  his  death.  May  22,  1829,  aged  fifty-one 
years. 

Two  very  interesting  documents,  owned  by  Mr. 
Keyes,  are  herewith  subjoined.  The  names  which 
appear  upon  this  early  division  of  the  town  into 
school  districts  are  interesting,  as  showing  so  many 
names  ot  oriorinal  settlers. 


To  the  inhabitanc  of  the  Town  of  ^V'estel■n  Gentlemen  we 
the  Subscribers  being  chosen  a  committee  to  devide  said  town 
into  Six  School  Destricts  have  proceded  as  followers 

The  devison  of  the  Town  for  Schooling  in  Six  parts  1779. 


District  No.   i. 


Rev.  Isaac  Jones. 
Lem  Bryant. 
Hozek  Marks. 
Andrew  Alarks. 
Samuel  Bascom. 
Isaac  Meachem. 
Daniel  Willard. 
Joseph  Jones. 
Medad  Kellogg. 
Moses  Bascom. 
Isaac  Patrick. 
Joseph  Cutler. 
Ely  Putnam. 


Samuel  White. 
William  Alarr. 
Joseph  Wheeler. 
Josiah  Chadwick. 
John  Gleason. 
Seth  Lincoln. 
Major  ^Makepeace. 
JohnCrabtree. 
Peter  Rice. 
Marthew  Patrick. 
Widow  D wight. 
Danforth  Keyes. 


46 

District  Xo.   2. 

William  Blair.  Archabel  Lemon. 

John  Blair.  James  Stone. 

John  Patrick.  John  Brooks. 

James  Brown.  Henry  Switcher.- 

James  Brown,  Jr.  Henry  Chadwick. 

Solomon  Blackmer.  John  ]Mills. 

David  Blair.  James  Mills. 

William  Cowel.  Solomon  Chandler, 

Daniel  Wood.  Thomas  Chandler. 

Nicholes  Roach.  Reubin  Bliss. 
Jason  ^Vhite. 

District  No.  3. 

Samuel  Mcalester.  Rheubin  Read. 

Nathan  Foster.  Major  Read. 

Elijah  Lumbard.  Samuel  Bliss. 

Mathews  Gilligan.  Ebenezer  Cutler. 

Henry  Wilbridge.  Pardon  Blackemer. 

Benjiman  Pollard.  Joseph  Chandler. 

John  McSwin.  Joseph  Rude. 

Thomas  Patrick.  Samuel  Willard. 

District  No.  4. 

Solomon  Bliss.  Isaac  Cordin. 

Isaac  Bliss.  Jonothan  Barrows. 

Moses  Bliss.  Jonothan  Day. 

Edward  Bliss.  Peter  Demon. 

Samuel  Tidd.  Aaron  Bliss. 

Isaac  Gleason.  Joshua  Herington. 

John  Damon.  Asahel  Willard. 
Oliver  Cheney. 

District  No.  5. 

Rev.  Stephen  Baxter.  David  Burroughs. 

John  Nevens.  Joseph  Gleason. 

Simeon  Blackemor.  Elijah  Arnold. 

Widow  Brooks.  Thomas  Rich. 

Solomon  Sampson.  Timeth  Goodel. 

John  Davis.  Jeremiah  Harwerd. 

William  Virgen.  Luke  Hitchcock. 

Seth  White.  John  Hitchcock. 

Isaac  Tyler.  Ely  Hitchcock. 

Abner  Tvler.  George  Hodires. 


>.I.  ■■' 


-  47 

District  No.  6. 

Josiah  Putnam.  Jolin  Crofierd. 

Josiah  Putnam,  Jr.  John  Mccombs. 

Robert  Gray.  William  Shepard. 

Deuty  Patrige.  Moses  Shepard. 

Frances  Straton.  Caleb  Brooks. 

Simeon  Rich.  Seth  Lincoln,  Jr. 

John  Brrus.  Solomon  Rich, 

Cyrus  Rich.  Nathen  Chadwick. 

John  Sanford.  Benjiman  Crain. 
Robert  Blair. 

Gersham  Makepeace,         Isaac  Bliss, 
Thomas  Rich,  Joseph  Cutler, 

Nathex  Foster,  John  Patrick, 

Committee  for  said  Town. 

The  withen  School  Destrits  have  been  lade  before  the  Town 
and  excepted  at  jMav  Meeting  17th  1779. 

Daxforth  Keyes  Clcark. 

The  following'  is  a  list  of  Representatives  in  the 
General  Court,  all  from  Warren  :  — 

1780,  17S2,  17S4,  Colonel  James  Stone;  17S6,  Isaac 
Gleason  ;  17S9,  Matthew  Patrick:  1792,  Danforth  Keys; 
1795,  179S,  1799.  Reuben  Read  ;  iSoo,  iSoi,  Joseph 
Field;  1S04,  Danforth  Keys;  1807,  1S09,  1810,  Joseph 
Field;  1811,  Daniel  Hodges;  1812,  Joseph  Field  :  1813, 
Samuel  Blair,  Jr.;  1814,  J^^^siah  Putnam;  1S15,  1816, 
1819,  Hervey  Sessions;  1820,  Samuel  Blair;  1821. 
Oliver  Bliss;  1825,  Harvey  Sessions;  1826,  1827,  Isaac 
Patrick;  1S28,  1829,  Pardon  Keys;  1830,  1S31,  1832, 
Pardon  Allen;  1833,  1834,  Joseph  Field;  1836,  Chester 
Powers  ;  1837,  1S3S,  Pardon  Allen  ;  1839,  John  JNIoore ; 
1840,  Thomas  Damon  ;  1S41,  John  Tyler;  1S42,  Aaron 
Bliss;  1843,  1844,  Daniel  A.  Hathaway;  1S45,  Frank- 
lin Drury  ;  1846,  Sullivan  Cowee  ;  1848,  Lewis  Moore; 
1852,  Levi  INIerritt;   1855,  Joseph  Ramsdell,  Jr.  ;   1S56, 


,  .•.!.,':   ,|.- 


.48 

Samuel  E.  Blair;  1857,  Joseph  B.  Lombard;  1879, 
Joseph  Smith  ;  iSSi,  George  M.  Newton  ;  1881,  Lucien 
M.  Gilbert;  1S84,  Joseph  W.  Hastings;  1886,  Marcus 
Burroughs;   1889,  George  Bliss;   18S9,  John  B.  Gould. 

The  following  were  members  ot"  the  State  Senate  :  — 
1857,  Joseph  F.  Hitchcock;   1868,  Lucius  J.  Knowles. 

And  of  the  State  Executive  Council  :  — 

1865,  1866,  Joseph  F.  Hitchcock. 

Member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  :  — 
1853,  Nathan  Richardson. 

The  following  table  shows  the  recent  increase  in  the 
town's  valuation  :  — 

i855'  $850,284;  1861,  $895,491  ;  1868,  $1,409,971; 
1869,  $1,438,377;  1S70,  $1,447,254;  1871,  $1,427,625; 
1872,  $1,502,914  ;  1874,  $1062,145  ;  1876,  $1,975,419  ; 
1878,  $1,951,957  ;  1S79,  $1,917,457  ;  18S0,  $1,937,529; 
1881,  $2,051,191  ;  1882,  $2,115,203  ;  1883,  $2,226,240; 
1884,  $2,253,235  ;   1885,  $2,221,973  ;   1886,  $2,253,063. 

The  following  shows  the  increase  in  the  population  of 
Warren  :  — 

1776,  827;  1790,  899;  iSoo,  979;  1810,  1,014;  1820, 
1,112;  1830,  1,189;  1S40,  1,290:  1850,  1.777;  i860, 
2,107;   1870,2,625;   1880,3,889;   1890,4,681. 


Errata. — The  following  were  omitted  from  the  list  of 
Representatives  in  the  General  Court : — 

1858,  Samuel  E.  Blair;  1S59,  Nelson  Carpenter;  1862, 
Lucius  J.  Knowles  ;  1865,  Lucius  J.  Knowles;  1866,  Na- 
than Richardson;  1868,  Joseph  B.  Lombard;  1870,  Benja- 
min A.Tripp;  1870,  John  Harvey  Moore;  1873,  Simeon 
H.  Sibley;  1876,  John  Wetherbee. 


49 
LOAN   COLLECTION. 

A  PARTIAL  LIST  OF  ARTICLES  EXHIBITED. 

^NFrs.  E.alma  J.  Fowler. — Work-table  from  Bombay, 
India, TOO  \-ears  old  :  earthen  caster,  painted  tumbler,  cup 
and  saucer,  creamer,  punch-bowl,  knife,  each  170  years 
old  ;  tuo  cups  and  saucers,  two  teaspoons,  each  150  years 
old  ;  tumbler,  100  years  old  ;  sun-fan,  used  before  the 
introduction  of  sun-umbrellas  ;  fan,  loS  years  old  :  carved 
fan  ;  travelling-bai;-.  150  years  old  ;  sampler,  74  years  old  ; 
silk  dress.  So  vears  old  ;  silk  shawl  ;  cape  with  hood  : 
baby's  shoes :  gentlemen's  stocks,  90  years  old  ;  coin, 
1727;  books.  1725-17S9. 

Mrs.  Mary  B.  Carpenter. — Teaspoons,  150 years 
old ;  three  pieces  decorated  china ;  mourning  emblem 
for  the  Princess  Charlotte. 

D.  AV.  Shepard,  Esq^  —  Bible  printed  in  1659;  vase, 
supposed  to  be  4,000  years  old  :  Indian  war-club  :  case  of 
ancient  pistols  ;  sword  used  in  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion ;  letter  written  to  Captain  Seth  Alden  in  1763  ;  ear- 
rings owned  bv  Mrs.  F.  W.  Kimball,  100  vears  old. 

Dr.  W.  II.  Stowe,  Palmer,  Mass. — Pamphlets:  — 

Sermon  preached  at  Crown  Point  at  the  Close  of  the 
Campaign,  1762.      By  Nathaniel  Taylor,  chaplain. 

Self-Love  :  the  hrst  sermon  preached  in  New  Eng- 
land, 162 1.      B}'  Robert  Cushman. 

A  Sermon  preached  in  Springfield  December  13,  1770, 
at  the  Execution  of  William  Shaw,  of  Palmer,  for  mur- 
der.    By  Moses  Baldwin.  A.^NI. 

Account  of  a  Hailstorm  in  Lebanon,  Bozrah,  and 
Franklin.  July  13,  1799.      Bv  Sherman  Dewey. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Execution  of  Moses  Paul, 
an  Indian,  at  New  Haven,  September  2,  1772.  Bv 
Samson  Occum. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  the   Reverend  Convention  or 


50 

Congregational  Pastors  at  Newport,  R.I.,  September 
i8,  1771.      By  Solomon  Townsend. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Warren 
Fay  in  Brimtield,  November  2,  iSoS.  By  Samuel 
Austin,  D.D. 

A  Sermon  preached  to  the  Natives  of  Warwickshire, 
Eng.,  November  20.  1675.      By  Thomas  Willis,  D.D. 

A  Sermon  preached  in  Belchcrtown  July  8,  1S30. 
"  Si^eculative  Freemasonry  a"  Wicked  and  Dangerous 
Combination.""     B\'  David  Pease. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Funeral  of  Rev.  Stephen 
Williams,  D.D.,  of  Springfield,  June  12,  1792.  By 
Robert  Buck,  A.M. 

A  Sermon  delivered   at  North   Haven  December  11, 

1783,  on  Account  of  the  Peace  concluded  with  Great 
Britain.      By  Beniamin  Trumbull. 

A  Sermon  delivered  at  Deerfield  January  i,  1799,  nt 
the  Opening  of  the  xVcademy.  B\'  Rev.  Joseph  Lyman, 
A.M. 

A  Sermon  preached  in  Long-Meadow  at  the  Publick 
Fast,  April  17,  17SS.      By  Charles  Backus,  A.AL 

A  Funeral  Sermon  delivered  in  Lancaster  ]March  31, 
1765,  on  the  Death  of  Mr.  Sebastian  Smith.  By  John 
Mellen.  A.M. 

A  Discourse  preached  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1798- 
By  the  Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.D.,  president  of  Yale 
College. 

A  Sermon  on  the  Religious  Education  of  Children,  in 
the  old  Presbvterian  Church,  New  York,  17SS.  By  John 
Wetherspoon,  D.D.,  president  of  Princeton  College. 

A  Sermon  delivered  at  the  Annual  Association  of 
Baptist  Ministers,    met  at    Notdngham,    Eng.,  June    2, 

1784.  Bv  Andrew  Fuller. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  a  Singing  Lecture  in  Braintree 
May  21,  17SS.     liy  Ezra  Weld,  V.D.^L 


51 

A  Discourse  delivered  on  the  National  Fast,  April  25, 
1799.     B}'  Nathaniel  Emmons,  D.D.,  of  Franklin. 

A  Sermon  preached  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Osgood  in  Springfield,  January  25,  1S09.  By  Thaddeus 
Mason  Harris. 

A  Sermon  delivered  at  Palmer  September  4,  1S14, 
before  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society.  B3'  Rev.- 
Samuel  Ware,  of  Ware. 

A  Sermon  delivered  at  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Ruben 
Moss,  A.M.,  to  the  Church  in  Ware,  June  22,  1792. 

Facts  are  Stubborn  Things  ;  or,  Nine  Plain  Questions 
to  the  People  of  Connecticut.     By  Simon  Holdfast,  1803. 

The  Minister  preaching  his  own  Sermon.  Deerfield, 
Mass.,  1821. 

The  Dawn  of  Day,  etc.,  in  Nine  Letters.      1800. 

Trial  of  James  Lackey  and  others  for  Kidnapping 
Captain  William  Morgan,  1S27. 

An  Address  to  the  Young  People  in  the  Western  Dis- 
trict of  Fairfield  County,  December  11,  1799.  By  Amri 
Lewis. 

Address  to  the  Students  of  Monson  Academy,  October 
4,  1814.      By  Joy  Hamlet  Fairchild. 

A  Reply  to  Mr.  George  Beckwith's  Answer  to  Mr. 
Green's  Sermon  entitled  "  Christian  Baptism."  By  Jacob 
Green,  A.^L,  1776. 

The  ^Massachusetts  Watchman  and  Periodical  Journal, 
No.  I,  June,  1S09,  Palmer.  Published  by  Ezekiel  Terr\'. 
The  first  printing  done  in  Palmer. 

Some  Arguments  against  Worldly-Mindedness.  For 
Zadok,  King  of  Conway,  1791- 

Isaac  BickenstatFs  Almanack,  Springfield,  1784. 

The  same.  1794. 

Nathaniel  Ames's  Almanack.  1761,  Boston. 

Astronomical  Almanack,  1783.  By  N.  S.,  Proff.  in 
Yale  College. 


5^ 

An  Almanack  by  Edward  Holvoke,  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, in  New  England,  171 2. 

The  Farmer's  Almanac.  By  Robert  B.  Thomas. 
No.  I,  1793. 

An  American  Selection  of  Lessons  in  Reading  and 
Speaking,  1796.      By  Noah  Webster,  Jr.,  Esq. 

Neu^  England  Primer.  For  the  letter  K,  instead  of 
"Proud  Korah's  Troop,"  etc.,  this  reads,  "The  British 
King,"  "  Lost  States  Thirteen."' 

The  History  of  the  Hoh'  Jesus  Christ.  For  Children. 
By  a  Lover  of  their  Precious  Souls,  Boston,  1774.  This 
is  all  in  verse,  with  very  quaint  illustrations,  one  being 
a  picture  of  St.  Paul. 

Washington's  Farewell  Address.  Printed  for  the 
Washington  Benevolent  Society,  Springtield,  181 2. 
With  the  badge  worn  by  the  order. 

History  of  Clarissa  Harlow.     Phihadelphia,  1791. 

History  of  America.  By  Peter  Heylin.  With  map. 
London,  1652. 

Coffee  mill  in  use  in  Stafford.  Conn.,  hotel  fifty  years 
ago. 

Sword  broufrht  from  Alo-iers  bv  General  Eaton  of 
Brimfield.  Dated  on  both  sides,  1744.  Has  Moorish 
mark. 

Pewter  mug,  dated  17 16. 

An  earthen  baby's  bath-tub  decorated  in  blue.  From 
H.  H.,  and  very  old. 

A  picture  of  George  Washington,  printed  October  4, 
1791,  at  New  Haven. 

Button  and  two  sizes  of  spoon  moulds. 

Wooden  candlestick  used  by  Humanit}'  Lodge  of 
Masons  in  Brimtiuld,  iSii. 

W^ooden  plate  used  by  Moses  Weld  one  hundred  years 
ago.  He  was  born  in  Sturbridge,  1757,  and  was  great- 
grandfather of  Dr.  W.  H.  Stowe  of  Palmer. 


53 

Spanish  coin,  1717  ;  Spanish  coin,  1738;  pine-tree 
shilling,  1652:   Moorish  coin,  1279. 

Mrs.  E.  p.  Cutter  and  Dr.  J.  C.  Cutter.  —  Eng- 
lish chair,  Qiieen  Anne  style,  16S4 ;  chair,  1768;  tea- 
spoon, Maytlower  pattern,  1638;  teaspoon,  made  from 
crroom's  knee  and  shoe  buckles,  176S  ;  teaspoon,  wed- 
ding  gift,  1S05  ;  bride's  stocking-bag,  embroidered  m 
colored  crewels,  1768  ;  infant's  baptismal  cap,  linen,  1771  ; 
infant's  dress,  1S19  ;  sampler;  deed  of  land  on  the  sum- 
mit of  Cov's  Hill,  1727  :  John  Dearborn's  powder-horn 
used  at  Ticonderoga,  made  in  175S  ;  cannon-ball,  hand- 
made, thrown  by  the  Confederates  at  the  Battle  of 
Roanoke  ;  cannon-ball  made  from  types  of  "  The  Herald 
of  Freedom."  which  was  thrown  into  the  Kansas  River 
in  1855  during  the  sacking  of  Lawrence;  field-glass 
used  bv  Mrs.  Cutter  in  Kansas,  loaned  to  John  Brown, 
and  taken  from  him  at  Harper's  Ferry  (it  was  returned 
by  Colonel  Lewis  Washington  in  exchange  for  the  horse- 
pistols  given  by  Lafayette  to  General  Washington)  ; 
specimen  of  red  clay  from  which  the  Indians  fashion 
their  "  pipes  of  peace  ;  "  pocket-compass  that  guided  the 
escaped  John  Brown's  men  to  the  North. 

'Mrs.   Ira  White.  —  Plate,  150  years  old. 

Miss  Maria  Reed.  —  Platter,  knife,  and  fork. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Carpenter. — Old  coin  found  on  Steerage 
Rock,  Brimfield. 

Miss  Fannie  J.   Bemis. — Sampler. 

Mr.  Russell  Gleason. — Wooden  plate;  wooden 
shovel  and  fork;  wooden  plough;  broad-axe,  150  years 
old  ;  pewter  platter. 

Mrs.  Andrew  Stone.  —  Two  Bibles,  100  years  old  ; 
two' singing-books  ;  work-bag;  razor. 

Mr.  Newell  Gleason.  —  Pewter  platter  ;  pewter  por- 
ringer ;  pitcher  owned  by  his  grandmother. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Freeman.  —  Chair,  150  years  old;  two 
wine-glasses  :   pitcher  ;  decanter,  100  years  old. 


54 

John  Lawrence.  —  Indian  relics  ;  bottle. 

D.  K.  Lincoln,  West  Brookfield.  —  Several  hun 
dred  Indian  arrows,  spears,  and  implements,  from  one  of 
the  tinest  private  collections  in  the  State. 

Mr.  E.  a.  Day. —The  Marsh  family  Bible,  1775; 
the  Putnam  family  Bible,  1795;  cook-book;  spelling- 
book,  Nathan  Day's,  1768;  table  and  two  chairs,  four 
pewter  platters,  and  a  porringer,  belonging  to  the  wed- 
ding outfit  of  Mrs.  Nathan  Day,  1790;  sword  carried  by 
Mr.  Lyman  Day  when  appointed  captain  of  a  company 
of  militia  by  Governor  Levi  Lincoln  in  1S26;  rapier  be- 
longing to  Captain  Josiah  Putnam,  17S0  ;  stockings  from 
flax  raised,  hatchelled,  spun,  and  knit  b}-  members  of 
the  family  ;  canteen  used  in  War  of  1S12  ;  lantern,  1780; 
almanacs,  1793-1S91  ;  silver  tea  service  belonging  to  Mrs. 
Dolly  Howe,  1S14  ;  ancient  glassware,  six  pieces  ;  silver 
spoons  belonging  to  Mrs.  Nathan  Day,  1790;  china 
saucer,  1784;  warming-pan;  two  profiles,  1S23  ;  Indian 
relic. 

Mrs.  a.  L.  Converse.  —  Christening  blanket,  no 
years  old. 

Mrs.  H.  E.  Sylvester. —  Chair  200  years  old, Queen 
Elizabeth  style ;  foot-stove  :  two  pewter  platters ;  two 
pewter  plates  ;  woollen  blanket ;  three  books  ;  sampler.  ' 

Mrs.  E.  a.  Warriner.  —  Pewter  platter  ;  pewter 
plates  ;  pewter  porringer  ;  bed-linen  spun  and  woven  by 
Mrs.  Eunice  Allen,  born  in  1772  ;  Book  of  Psalms,  1757  ; 
Book  of  Martyrs,  1659  ;  bread-tray,  brass  candlesticks, 
each  over  100  years  old  ;  sleeve  buttons  worn  by  Mr. 
Nathan  Day  in  1790;  quart  tumbler,  90  years  old. 

Mr.  a.  a.  Warriner.  —  Canteen  owned  by  Captain 
Josiah  Putnam,  150  years  old  ;  snutlcrs  and  tray,  95  years 
old  ;  foot-stove,  100  years  old  ;  winnowing  sieve,  125  years 
old:  dirk  cane,  212  years  old;  bellows,  80  years  old; 
coins  ;    stockings  worn  with  knee  breeches   b\-  Captain 


55 

Putnam   120  years  ago;    chair,    125    years  old;   watch, 
chain,  key,  and  seal,  75  years  old. 

Mrs.  O.  I.  Darling.  —  Lady's  slippers,  child's  rock- 
ing-chair, each  more  than  100  years  old  ;  andque  waiter. 
Mr.  Danforth  Keyes.  —  Oil  portraits  of  Colonel  and 
Mrs.  Danforth  Keyes,  1770;  belt  worn  by  Indian  Chief 
Paugus,  taken  from  him  by  Captain  Solomon  Keves  at 
Fryeburg,  Me.,  1752  (this  belt  is  woven  of  gold  thread)  ', 
commissions,  letters, -and  various  documents  pertaining 
to  the  early  history  of  the  town  and  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  ;  scales  for  weighing  gold,  brought  from 
England  in  1630  ;  hatchel  for  silk,  made  in  China,  china 
coffee-pot,  each  300  years  old  ;  platters  and  plates  ;  speci- 
mens of  silk  and  linen  prepared  for  weaving  ;  woollen 
bed-spread,  more  than  100  years  old  ;  remnants  of 
Bible  taken  from  Congregational  Church  in  1832  and 
mutilated. 

Mr.  William  Burbank.  —  Flint-lock  musket;  two 
etched  powder-horns  carried  by  his  ancestor,  Ebenezer 
Burbank,  in  1765  :  decorated  plates. 

Mr.  H.  H.  Bennett.  —  Indian  plummet ;  clock-reel; 
quill-wheel  :  poc'ket-book,  over  100  years ;  spinning- 
wheel  ;  calash. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Fosket.  —  Hatchel,  smuggled  over  from 
Scodand  in  1710:  warming-pan;  two  pewter  platters; 
one  pewter  plate  ;  one  wooden  plate  ;  spy-glass  :  tinder- 
box. 

Mr.  W.  G.  Butterworth.  —  Bugle,  used  bv  him  in 
the  first  lull  brass  band  organized  in  Warren  ;  Conti- 
nental coins  :  note,  $S.oo,  1777  ;  coins,  1723,  1774,  1788, 
1809. 

Mr.  C.  V.  Stearns.  —  Flint-lock  pistol;  pewter  por- 
rin<^er  and  spoon  ;  flint-lock  gun. 

Mr.  W.  a.  Stearns. — Spear  point;  tomahawk; 
flesher  ;  pestle  ;  chisel  and  fifteen  arrow  points. 

Mrs.   C.   F.   Keyes.  —  Mirror,  no  vears  old. 


56 

Mr.  E.  L.  Fosket.  —  Flint-lock  gun,  carried  in  1776 
by  Henry  Switzer ;  flint  and  steel:  cooper's  axe,  150 
years  old  :  snow-shoes,  100  years  old. 

Mrs.  E.  F.  Henshaw,  West  Brookfield.  —  Infant's 
cloak,  worn  in  1749;  ^^'^tch,  200  years  old;  sampler, 
wrought  in  1806  ;  towel  made  by  Miss  Anna  Burroughs, 
1757  ;  towel  made  by  Mrs.  Margaret  Burroughs  Gleason, 
iSoo ;  tumbler,  1S09. 

Bert  S.  Clark.  —  "Pepper  Box,"  early  revolver; 
two  Indian  arrow  heads  ;  two  Contederate  bills. 

Miss  E.  S.  and  Mr.  S.  N.  Cutler.  —  Books,  1743, 
1744,  18x3,  1821  ;  five  plates;  two  platters;  two  earthen 
teapots;  two  pitchers.  1691  ;  sampler,  1815. 

Mrs.  Mary  G.  ITitciicock  and  Mr.  D.  G.  Hitch- 
cock.—  Embroidered  picture,  wrought  in  1S03  :  two  oil 
portraits  of  Joseph  Field,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Field,  about 
1770;  embroidered  picture,  bandanna  printed  with  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  and  portraits  of  the  first 
three  Presidents,  each  about  1805  ;  part  of  tea  service, 
teaspoons,  and  sugar-tongs  owned  by  Mrs.  Field  ;  piece 
of  brocaded  silk  dress  worn  by  Mrs.  Field  ;  chair  and 
table  owned  by  Joseph  Field,  Esq.  ;  table  linen,  a  part 
of  .the  wedding  outfit  of  Mary  Marsh  about  80  years  ago  ; 
silk  gloves,  belonging  to  Mary  Marsh  ;  decorated  plate, 
formerly  the  property  of  the  Governor  of  the  Bahamas, 
more  than  100  years  old;  piece  of  child's  belt,  102  years 
old;  white  embroidered  veil. 

Mrs.  Mary  M.  Richardson.  —  Hair  puffs,  bridal 
dress  of  white  brocade  silk,  bridal  veil,  embroidered  lace, 
worn  by  her  mother,  Mrs.  John  IMoore  ;  oil  portraits, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Moore,  about  1770;  child's  linen 
coat,  embroidered  in  colored  crewels  ;  carved  shell  comb  ; 
fan. 

Mrs.  Mary  Gilbert. — White  silk  shawl  witii  colored 
figures  ;  china  plates  ;  sun-bonnet. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Powers.  —  Chair,  150  years  old  ;  paper 


57 


containino-  the  account  of  the  death  of  Washiniiton  ; 
ancient  Bible. 

Mr.  G.  p.  Aborn.  —  Collection  of  coins. 

Mrs.  W.  C.  Gage. — Two  letters  written  from  camp 
during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

Mr.  Lyman  Crosby.  —  Portion  of  sermon  in  his  great- 
grandfather's handwriting  ;   cup  and  saucer. 

Mr.  Giles  Blodgett. — Wallet,  200  years  old. 

Mrs.   Maria  Gilbert.  —  Bellows. 

Mr.  Luciex  Gilbert.  —  Old  doll  and  chair. 

Mrs.  G.  a.  Shumw^N-Y. — Sun  umbrella;  doll;  reti- 
cule; silver  teaspoons,  1774,  iSoo. 

Mrs.  John  Bridges.  —  Old  doll  and  chair. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Hastings.  — Cat-o'-nine-tails  brought  North 
from  a  ne^ro  cabin  durintr  the  late  war  ;  bowie  knife  ; 
documents  pertaining  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Mr.  Charles  Washburn.  — Foot-stove  ;  tin  kitchen  ; 
wheel. 

Miss  Maria  Allen.  —  Antique  china  ;  shell  comb  ; 
public  documents. 

Mr.  C.  S.  Hitchcock. — Ancient  town-meeting  war- 
rant, 1779. 

Mrs.    Haschal  Powers. — Ancient  deed. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Converse. — Tinder-box;  army  accou- 
trements  ;  sampler. 

Mr.  H.  p.  Bliss. — Antique  pitcher;  basket  brought 
from  Sandwich  Islands;  conch  shell,  used  to  call  the 
people  to  church  before  a  bell  was  used  on  the  Islands. 

Dennis  Town.  —  Blanket  and  blouse  ;  ancient  powder 
horn. 

Mr.  William  Combs.  —  Silk  dress.  Colonial  period, 
pale  green  brocade,  lined  with  light  yellow;  satin  dress, 
same  age,  pale  blue,  lined  with  pink  silk  ;  dress  of  brown 
brocade. 


S8 

Miss  S.  C.  Keyes.  —  Coins;  brass  andirons. 

Mrs.  Mercy  Rliss. — Coins. 

Mr.  John  Wetherbee.  —  Coins. 

Miss  Sallie  Tufts,  Brookfield,  Mass.  —  Marriajie 
contract  between  Elisha  Allis  of  Ilatrield  and  Sarah 
Cutler  of  Western,  January,  14,  1765  ;  candelabrum, 
155  years  old  ;   mirror,  126  }"ears  old. 

Mrs.  E.  J.  Buck.  —  Hand-woven  linen  :  ancient  music 
and  school  books:  "Ulster  Countv  Gazette,"  black 
bordered,  containintj  the  death  of  Washinc^ton. 

Mr.  Albert  Rice.  —  Chair,  formerly  owned  bv 
General  Ruggles  of  Hardwick.  who  was  banished  durin"- 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  goods  contiscated. 

Mr.  H.  B.  Smith.  —  Ancient  chair;  link  sleeve-but- 
tons; copy-book. 

Mrs.  M.  a.  Blair. — Embroidered  veil;  portrait  of 
Mr.  Shepard  Blair. 

Mrs.  Olive  M.  Gould.  —  Oil  portrait  of  Rev. 
Stephen  Baxter ;  reel. 

Mr.  Lyman  Powers.  — Belt  and  sword. 
jNIr.    Warriner    Bliss.  —  Bible    and    hymn-book ; 
spectacles,  very  ancient. 

Mrs.  Susan  Cutler. — Portrait  of  "  Uncle  Thomas 
Cutler."' 

Mrs.  Lucy  T.  Gleason,  Boston. — Wedding  dress 
of  ]Mrs.  Stephen  Gleason.  \\  orn  90  years  ago.  This  dress 
is  of  pearl-white  crape,  trimmed  with  narrow  satin  ribbon. 

Mrs.  Cowee,  West  Brookfield.  —  Quart  tumbler 
used  when  General  Washington  dined  there  on  his  way 
to  Boston. 

]Miss  LiDA  Hitchcock. — Two  decorated  plates  ;  papers 
printed  at  the  South  during  the  war ;  war  souvenirs. 

Mr.  Nathan  Moore. — Toasting  iron. 

Mr.  D.  E.  Graves.  —  Ancient  warming-pan,  now 
converted  into  a  clock. 


,  I  .  ,"'•    ! 


APPENDIX. 


1741     -     WARREN.     -     1891 

SESQUI-CENTEXXIAL  CELEBRATION  IN  THE  RAIN.  — THE 
EXERCISES  TO-DAY. —MANY  OUT-OF-TOWN  PEOPLE 
PRESENT.  — THE  POEM  AND  HYMN.  —  INTERESTING 
LOAN    COLLECTION   OF   RELICS. 

\^Froin  "  T/ic  D'orccstcr  Evcuuig-  Gazette  "  Monday^  September  ~,  iSgi.'\ 

TO-DAY  the  town  of  Warren  is  observing,  in  a  varied 
and  appropriate  manner,  although  the  storm  has  pre- 
vented the  carrying  out  of  the  programme  to  the  letter, 
the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  incorpora- 
tion as  a  separate  municipality  of  the  Commonwealth. 
The  territory  within  its  limits  constituted,  before  the  Act 
of  its  incorporation,  }iortions  of  the  town  of  Brookiield 
in  Worcester  County,  and  of  Brimfield  and  Palmer  in 
Hampden  County  ;  but  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  area 
taken  for  the  formation  of  the  new  town  was  from  Brook- 
field,  and  the  traditions  and  associations  of  its  earliest 
times  pertain  and  belong  to  the  history  of  the  last-named 
town.  From  the  date  of  its  incorporation  until  1S34  ^'^^ 
town  was  called  Western,  but  the  similarity  of  the  name 
to  Weston  in  ^Middlesex  County  led  to  a  change  of  name, 
and  by  a  special  Act  of  the  Legislature  in  the  abo\e- 
named  year  it  was  called  Warren,  in  honor  of  General 
Joseph  Warren,  the  Revolutionary  patriot  and  hero  of 
Bunker  Hill. 

The  historv  of  Warren  is  replete  with  notable  and 
interestino;  events.  It  was  fortunate  in  the  character 
and  ability  of  its   pioneer  settlers,   and  these  and  their 


6o 


sons  performed  valiant  service  in  the  French  and  Indian 
wars  and  in  the  Revolutionary  contest.  The  descend- 
ants of  these  in  many  instances  are  now  living  upon  the 
homestead  farms,  and  the  names  of  the  original  signers 
to  the  petition  for  incorporation  are  frequent  and  familiar 
ones  to-dav.  The;'  first  settled  t"arm  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  town  is  still  owned  by  a  direct  descendant, 
Mr.  Danforth  Keyes,  whose  ancestor,  the  original  pioneer 
Solomon  Keyes,  was  with  a  son  killed  at  Lake  George 
in  1755  ^^'liilti  fighting  the  French  and  Indians.  Twenty 
years  before  this  the  senior  Keyes  had  participated  in 
the  battle  between  the  colonists  and  the  combined  French 
and  Indians  where  is  now  Fryeburg,  Me.  In  1759  Lord 
Amherst  \\ith  ten  thousand  men  encamped  within  the 
town  while  on  the  expedition  to  Crown  Point,  and  in 
1798  Washington  and  suite  tarried  for  a  while  there 
when  on  their  journey  to  Boston. 

While  the  interest  in  the  public  observance  of  the  day 
is  not  so  general  or  enthusiastic  as  one  would  naturally 
expect  or  look  for,  still  scores  of  its  absent  sons  and 
daughters  have  returned  to  participate  in  the  pleasure 
incident  to  the  proceedings,  and  people  trom  the  sur- 
rounding towns  are  present  to  share  with  their  neighbors 
the  joys  of  the  celebration.  At  an  early  hour  the  bells 
proclaimed  tlie  dawn  of  the  natal  da\',  and  soon  all  was 
astir  in  holida\'  attire. 

The  preliminary  steps  towards  the  celebration  were 
taken  at  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  town,  and  at  this 
a  general  Committee  of  Arrangements  selected,  with  its 
members  consisting  of  Mr.  Harlan  P.  Bliss,  Rev.  Olnev 
I.  Darling,  Rev.  David  ?^Ioyes,  Rev.  Putnam  Webber, 
and  Mr.  Charles  O.  Walker. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements  perfected  the  organi- 
zation with  the  choice  of  Mr.  Bliss  as  Chairman,  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Darling  as  Secretary.  It  also  appointed  the 
following  sub-committees  :  Music.  Herbert  A.  Messinger, 
Charles  O.  Walker,  Miss  Ella  M.  Wentworth  ;  Printing, 


6i 


Daniel  G.  Hitchcock,  George  P.  Aborn,  Mrs.  Lottie 
Demond  ;  Relics  and  Antiquities,  Mrs.  Julia  M.  Hitcii- 
cock,  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Richardson,  ^Nfrs.  Ida  C.  Marsh, 
Mr.  Herbert  B.  Carpenter,  Mr.  Charles  D.  Keyes, 
Mr.  J.  Edward  L')n-ibard  :  Decorations,  Mr.  Henry  S. 
Howe,  Mr.  G-.-or-e  L.  Butler.  Mr.  William  S.  Ti,-;dale, 
Mrs.  Maude  N.  Abbrn. 

The  committee  selected  Hon.  Sc^lomon  B.  Stebbins, 
a  native  ot*  Warren,  now  of  Ijoston,  where  he  has  lono; 
been  prominent  in  its  affairs,  to  deliver  the  historical 
address,  and  Miss  Nellie  M.  Comins  of  Warren  to  read 
the  anniversarv  poem.  Miss  Comins  is  a  recent  ""raduate 
of  Smith  Colle<ie,  Northampton,  and  has  been  enga<''ed  to 
teach  in  the  High  School  in  Amherst. 

The  programme  printed  for  distribution  is  a  genuine 
work  of  art.  It  is  enclosed  within  a  tolder  on  the  lirst 
page  of  which  are  grouped  six  vignettes.  The  central 
one  of  them  is  the  AVarren  Town  Hall.  Above  this  is 
the  beautiful  Soldiers"  Monument  dedicated  last  Fourth 
of  July.  A  summer  scene  on  the  Quaboag  River  and 
the  Public  Library  building  are  on  tiie  left  of  the  group, 
while  the  High  School  buildino-  and  the  tamous  Wash- 
ington  Elm  are  upon  the  right.  It  was  a  happy  and 
commendable  thought  that  hrst  suo-o-ested  the  idea  of 
these  vignettes,  and  Warren  is  fortunate  in  the  posses- 
sion of  such  subjects  for  the  artist.  The  Public  Librarv 
building  is  beautit'ul  in  its  architecture  imd  pleasing  in 
the  combination  of  the  materials  which  enter  into  its 
construction,  as  it  is  built  of  mottled  pink  granite  with 
brownstone  trimmino-s.  The  Hig-h  School  and  Town 
Hall  buildings  are  of  brick,  and  both  are  models  in 
every  respect.  The  Soldiers'  Monument,  a  granite  and 
bronze  statue  of  a  soldier  at  parade  rest,  is  of  a  chaste 
and  pleasing  design.  The  scene  on  the  Quaboag  rep- 
resents one  of  those  stretches  of  the  stream  typical  of  it 
where  its  waters  run  deep  and  slow  ;  and  in  the  picture 
two   men    in   a  boat    h;ive    anchored,   presumably  to  trv 


62 


their  luck  at  tishino-.  The  tamous  Washino-ton  Elm 
stands  near  the  residence  of  ]Mrs.  Olive  M.  Gould. 
Beneath  its  branches,  so  the  story  goes,  Washington 
halted  while  a  glass  of  water  from  a  near-by  well  was 
broui^ht  to  him,  and  this  circumstance  (rives  the  tree  its 
name. 

The  address  of  lion.  Mr.  Stebbins  was  an  admirable 
one,  and  its  words  were  heard  by  an  appreciative  audi- 
ence. The  singing,  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Herbert 
A.  Messinger,  was  eminently  satisfactory.  Miss  Comins's 
poem  found  a  responsive  chord  in  the  hearts  of  her 
hearers,  and  she  and  her  work  are  unreservedly  com- 
mended. 

The  dinner  in  the  Town  Hall  was  served  by  Caterer 
F.  A.  Keith  of  Warren. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Hastings  was  toastmaster,  and  an  ideal  one 
at  that.    The  toasts  and  the  persons  responding  follow  :  — 

"Our  State,"  Senator  Haggerty.  "Our  Flag,"'  Colonel 
S.  C.  Warriner.  Springfield.  "Old  Landmarks."  Rev. 
O.  I.  Darling.  "Old  Quaboag  Seminary."  Rev.  Dr.  H.J. 
Patrick,  West  Newton,  a  native  of  Warren.  Reminis- 
cences of  Warren,  three  sentiments:  First,  "The  Past," 
Hon.  George  K.  Tufts,  New  Braintree  ;  second,  "The 
Present,"  Charles  H.  Walker.  Warren;  third,  "The 
Future,"  Rev.  Harris  G.  Hale,  Warren.  "Reminis- 
cences," Judge  M.  L.  Gray  of  St.  Louis.  "  The  Ladies," 
Daniel  G.  Hitchcock. 

Among  the  visitors  are,  George  K.  Trask,  commercial 
editor  of  "The  Indianapolis  Journal  :"  and  Mrs.  E.  Trask 
Hill,  editor  of  "  The  Voice,"  Boston  ;  son  and  daughter 
of  Rev.  George  Trask,  the  anti-tobacco  apostle,  once 
pastor  of  a  Warren  church. 

The  floral  decorations  in  the  church  were  not  elaborate, 
yet  artistic  and  in  good  taste.  Wild  flowers  were  used 
almost  exclusivelv. 

By  far  the  most  unique,  novel,  and  conspicuous  feature 
of  the  celebration,  other  than  the  exercises  in  the  church, 


6?, 

is  the  loan  exhibition  ot"  relics  and  antiquities.  The 
number  of  old  families  now  living  upon  the  territory  of 
which  Warren  was  (»nce  a  portion,  makes  such  an  exhi- 
bition possible,  for  the  exhibitors  are  from  portions  of 
West  Brooktield,  Brimtield,  and  Palmer  :  but  the  great 
majority  of  the  articles  are  owned  locally.  Tliat  an 
exhibit  so  extensive,  varied,  and  valuable  could  be  made 
within  so  small  a  territory  is  a  surprise  to  every  one, 
resident  as  well  as  visitor.  The  collection  is  shown  in 
the  hall  of  the  local  Grand  Army  Post,  and  during  the 
hours  of  its  exhibition  the  hall  has  been  crowded  with 
visitors.  The  committee  in  charge  has  yielded  to  the 
public  desire,  and  the  exhibition  will  continue  open  at 
stated  hours  lor  four  days. 

The  collection  o-ives  in  a  manner  an  interestincr  and 
succinct  histor\-  of  the  town  and  the  industrial  and  social 
life  of  the  people  ;  and  it  likewise  tells,  briefly  yet  forci- 
bly, of  the  families  that  have  lived  in  Warren  and  their 
descendants. 

The  collection  includes  many  Indian  relics  found  in 
and  about  Warren,  lor  in  this  section  the  Q^iaboag  tribe 
of  Indians  had  their  headquarters.  Articles  used  in 
Colonial  and  Revolutionary  times  are  also  numerous. 


WARREN'S   ANNIVERSARY. 

\^From  '■'■The  Sfringjield  Union,'''  September  7,  iSgi.'\ 

The  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  the  incorporation  of  the  tow  n  of  Warren  is  an 
event  of  more  than  local  siirnilicance.  The  State  at  larcre 
is  interested  ;  for  each  towiiship  is  a  nucleus  of  govern- 
ment, a  centre  from  which  radiate  the  primary  forces 
that  are  potent  in  our  State  and  National  institutions.     It 


64 

is,  tlierefore,  a  matter  ot"  general  rather  than  local  inter- 
est that  is  to-day  being  celebrated  at  Warren.  The 
town  t'rom  small  beginnings  has  grown  to  large  achieve- 
ments. Its  industries  have  prospered  and  developed. 
Its  institutions  have  kept  pace  with  its  commercial  thrift 
and  enterprise,  and  tlie  people  have  received  the  benefits 
of  school,  librarv,  and  church,  becoming  fitted  thereby 
to  perform  intelligently  the  duties  of  citizenship,  and  to 
fill  creditably  such  positions  in  private  station  or  public 
trust  as  have  been  assigned  to  each. 

It  is  fitting,  then,  that  Warren"'s  anniversary  should  be 
recognized  and  celebrated.  The  etlects  of  such  a  cele- 
bration are  healthful.  A  feeling  of  local  pride  is  excited 
by  the  rehearsal  of  incident  and  history  connected  with 
the  town's  past,  and  the  immediate  results  of  this  pride 
will  doubtless  be  apparent  in  a  new  impetus  to  enter- 
prise, and  in  directing  the  public  attention  to  chances  for 
further  improvement.  Public  spirit  in  a  town  is  a  power 
for  good,  and  in  no  way  can  it  be  more  successfully 
aroused  than  by  such  demonstrations  and  exercises  as 
are  being  held  at  Warren  to-day.  The  event  will  prove 
a  valuable  one  also  for  a  further  reason.  It  has  necessi- 
tated the  careful  study  of  town  records,  and  the  collec- 
tion of  historical  data  that  might  have  been  lost  but  for 
the  attention  called  to  them  by  the  needs  of  this  occasion. 
It  is  important  now  that  all  the  records  and  history  which 
have  been  thus  brought  to  light  should  be  caretully  pre- 
served in  the  archives  of  the  town.  They  will  prove 
increasingly  interesting  on  future  occasions  of  a  similar 
nature,  and  will  be  of  priceless  worth  to  the  coming 
historian. 

*'The  Union"  extends  congratulations  to  the  citizens 
of  Warren,  with  the  expression  of  this  wish,  —  that  the 
town's  future  history  may  be  characterized  by  the  same 
thrift  and  prosperity  that  have  marked  its  past. 


65 


\_Ffom  '■'The  Spriiigfeld  Republicati,''  September  S,  iSgi.'] 

The  town  of  Warren,  which  celebrated  yesterday  so 
successfull}'  the  one  hundred  and  tittieth  anniversary 
of  its  incorporation  as  a  separate  township,  has  ever}' 
reason  to  I'eel  proud  of  its  history  and  of  the  men  who 
made  it.  The  story  of  this  interesting  occasion  is  else- 
where fully  told.  The  founders  of  the  town  were  of 
that  sturdy  class  of  pioneer  farmers  who  all  over  New 
England  laid  the  foundations  of  our  present  prosperity'. 
The  records  of  Warren  show  how  active  a  part  every 
one  of  the  early  settlers  took  in  the  civil  and  religious 
life  of  the  community,  for  then  Church  and  State  were 
one.  Their  record  in  the  early  contests  with  the  Indians, 
and  later  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence,  shows, 
too,  their  readiness  to  fight,  and,  as  man\'  of  Warren's 
best  men  did,  die,  if  need  came,  in  defence  of  their 
homes  and  that  which  was  dearer,  their  rio-hts.  Nor 
should  all  credit  be  yielded  to  the  soldiers  ;  for  the  men 
who.  after  the  early  and  later  years  of  war,  steadily 
labored  on  their  farms  and  in  their  shops  contributed 
quite  as  much  to  make  the  town  one  of  tlie  prosperous 
manufacturing  centres  of  the  State.  A  celebration  such 
as  vesterdav's  does  much  to  awaken  the  feelinfjs  of 
local  pride  and  patriotism  which  are  apt  to  become 
dormant.  Many  an  inhabitant  of  Warren  was  surprised 
to  learn  what  a  history  belonged  to  his  town,  and  every 
one  felt  prouder  than  before  that  he  was  a  citizen  of  the 
place.  Any  thing  which  stimulates  the  people  of  a 
town  to  study  its  history  must  be  beneficial,  for  they  can 
hardly  fail  to  draw  inspiration  trom  the  stor}-  of  the 
lives  of  the  early  settlers  which  will  help  them  to  be 
belter  citizens. 


66 


LETTERS   OF   REGRET   FROM   INVITED 
GUESTS. 


Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 
Boston,  August  31,  1S91. 

Mr.  H.  P.  Bliss,  Warkex,  Mass. 

J/y  Dear  Sir:  —  I  tind,  a  cry  much  to  my  regret,  that  it  is 
quite  impossible  for  me  to  reach  Warren  on  September  7th. 
Two  other  importaut  engagements  were  made  for  me  long 
since  for  that  dav,  —  one  in  the  morning  in  Boston,  and  one  in 
the  afternoon  at  Northampton,  —  both  of  which  will  prevent  my 
attendance.  I  greatlv  regret  this,  as  it  would  have  been  a 
threat  pleasure  to  me  to  come  to  Warren  on  this  anniversary, 
and  to  extend  to  her  the  congratulations  of  the  Commonwealth 
upon  the  successhil,  upright,  and  honorable  life  she  has  led, 
and  her  best  wishes  that  the  future  may  bring  to  her  only 
greater  honor  and  success. 

Kindly  express  to  the  Committee  and  citizens  my  great 
appreciation  of  their  k-indness  in  inviting  me,  and  my  very 
sincere  regrets  that  I  am  uhable  to  be  with  them. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Wm.  E.  RUSSELL. 


Pittsfield,  September  4,  1891. 

Dear  Sir  :  —  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  a  kind  invitation 
to  be  present  as  the  guest  of  the  town  of  Warren  on  the 
occasion  of  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its 
incorporation  on  the  7th  instant.  I  have  delayed  my  reply  till 
the  last  moment,  in  the  hope  that  it  might  be  possible  for  me 
to  enjov  the  rare  pleasure  so  interesting  an  occasion  will  surely 
atibrd,  but  I  regret  to  Hnd  that  engagements  I  must  keep  will 
prevent. 

Permit  me  to  congratulate  the  town  of  Warren  on  the  good 
that  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  self-go\ennnent  has  brought 


6? 

to  her  people,  and  the  share  that  government  has  had  in  main- 
taining the  high  cliaracter  of  the  Commonwealth  of  \vhich  she 
forms  a  part.  The  inestim:rhle  blessings  of  town  government, 
snch  as  New  England  alone  of  all  the  States  enjoys,  can  never 
be  measured  or  over-valued.  That  government,  like  a  never- 
failing  spring  on  the  mountain-side,  fced^  and  refreshes  and 
supports  the  sourccb  of  all  our  growth.  When  the  town  parlia- 
ment shall  die  out,  the  State  will  surely  fail.  I  wish  for  your 
people  that  thev  will  ever  keep  this  home  government  clean 
and  earnest,  with  high  aims  and  noble  purposes,  and  the  best 
attainable  results  will  be  the  legacy  bequeathed  to  those  who 
shall  be  called  upon  in  coming  anniversaries  to  celebrate  the 
glories  of  vour  civil  institutions. 

I  am  truly  vours, 

H.  L.  DAWES. 
D.  G.  Hitchcock,  Esq., 

Chairman,  etc.,   JVarren. 


West  Winsted,  Conx.,  August  24,  1S91. 

D.  E.  Graves,  Warrex,  Mass. 

The  invitation  of  your  Committee  to  the  anniversary  exercises 
to  occur  on  September  7th  next  was  duly  received,  and  is  highly 
appreciated. 

I  have  delayed  replying,  hoping  that  my  mother  would  feel 
able  to  go  and  enjov  with  me  the  festivities  ;  but  she  thinks 
that  she  had  better  not.  She  proutily  claims  to  be  a  native  of, 
and  is  still  loyal  to,  the  good  old  town  of"  Western." 

If  we  are  not  with  you  personally,  we  shall  be  in  spirit,  on 
that  day. 

Praying  for  good  weather,   and   knowing   that   the    citizens 

will  take  care  of  the  rest,  I  wish  you  a  celebration  without  a 

mar. 

Respectfully, 

Wm.  h.  batcheller. 

Committee  of  Invitatiox,  Warrex,  Mass. 

Your  card  of  invitation  to  attend  the  "  one  hundred  and 
fiftieth  annivcrsarv  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Warren, 
Mass.,"  to  be  observed  September  7,  1S91,  is  before  me. 


68 


While  I  regret  to  say  that,  owing  to  other  ckitics,  it  will  be 
impossible  for  me  to  be  present  on  that  interesting  occasion,  I 
do  assure  you  that  my  heart  and  mv  sympathies  will  be  with 
vou  in  all  the  congratulations  of  the  present,  the  anticipations 
for  the  future,  and  the  reminiscences  of  the  past,  which  such 
an  event  must  awaken. 

I  am  well  aware  that,  after  an  absence  of  so  manv  vears  from 
my  native  town,  few  of  the  forms  and  faces  once  familiar  to  me 
will  be  present  at  the  greeting.  Some  are  in  distant  lands, 
engaged  in  the  varied  pursuits  of  life  :  many,  verv  man\-,  have 
passed  over  the  river,  and  there  on  the  other  shore  await  our 
coming.  Jovful  as  such  a  gathering  is  sure  to  be,  it  must  still 
be  tinged  with  sadness.  The  ever-restless  hand  of  Time  has 
been  among  vou,  and  all  is  changed,  —  all  but  the  eternal  rocks 
and  the  everlasting  hills.  One  Inmdred  and  hftv  vears  I  What 
have  they  not  wrought  I  The  triumphs  of  science  are  most 
marvellous  ;  the  triumphs  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  surpass 
the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  tlie  world  ;  and  in  all  this 
march  of  improvement  New  England  has  hekl  a  most  con- 
spicuous and  leading  place. 

And  Massachusetts,  God  bless  her !  the  royal  mother  of 
glorious  New  England,  she  walks  a  queen  among  her  more 
than  twoscore  States.  The  leaven  of  her  civilization,  with  its 
churches  and  schools  and  colleges,  her  free  institutions,  and 
the  patriotism  of  her  sons,  permeates  and  moulds  the  citizenship 
of  our  whole  country.  God  bless  old  WaiTcn,  nestling,  as  she 
does,  amid  her  mountains  and  her  vallevs  and  along  her  wind- 
ing stream  ;  planted,  geographicallv  as  well  as  providentially, 
so  near  the  warm  and  throbbing  heart  of  that  grand  old  Com- 
monwealth we  all  so  proudly  claim  as  our  native  State. 

May  her  sons  and  her  daughters,  sustained  by  the  arm  of 
Omnipotence,  prove  lo\al  to  her  best  interests,  and  true  to  the 
sacred  traditions  of  the  worthy  fathers  and  mothers  whose  ashes 
lie  mingling  with  the  clods  of  the  hillside,  and  the  fruits  of 
whose  labors  we  now  enjoy,  and  whose  virtues  we  hold  in 
deepest  reverence.      With  best  of  wishes, 

I  am  an  absent  son  of  Warren, 

JOHN  H.  COMBS. 
Haines  City,  Florida,  August  24,  1S91. 


69 

West  IIartkokd,  Cu.nx.,  September  2,  1891. 

To  THE  Committee  ox  Iwitations. 

Gentleniefi :  —  I  had  hoped  that  in  response  to  your  kind 
invitation  I  should  be  present  on  the  occurrence  of  the  one 
hundred  anel  fiftieth  anniversary  of  tlie  incorporation  of  the  good 
old  town  of  Warren,  and  thus  testif}'  to  my  interest  in  her  con- 
tinued prosperity,  and  my  pleasant  memories  of  the  years  when 
I  was  a  resident  of  tlie  town  ;  but  it  now  seems  probable  tliat 
circumstances  beyond  my  control  will  necessitate  mv  absence. 

Trusting;  that  the  occasion  will  be  in  everv  way  interestin*'- 
and  gladsome,  even  beyond  my  anticipations,  I  am 

Yours  sincerely, 

"  E.  L.  JAGGAR. 

La  Fayette,  Ind.,  September  4,  1891. 

The  card  bearing  date  August  10,  1S91,  from  Committee  on 
Invitations,  for  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversarv  of  the 
incorporation  of  the  town  of  Warren,  Mass.,  was  dulv  received. 
I  sincerely  regret  that  the  ill-health  incident  to  "  threescore 
years  and  ten  "  will  prevent  me  from  participating  in  exercises 
or  festivities  demanding  so  long  a  journey.  It  would  be  a 
great  pleasure  to  clasp  the  hand  and  reciprocate  the  greetin"-s 
of  the  few  earlv  friq.nds  remaining. 

I  well  remember  that  early  in  the  }ear  1S41,  Rev.  George 
Trask,  then  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Warren, 
tried  to  induce  the  people  to  notice  the  centoiniaL  but  no 
enthusiasm  was  shown  ;  but  the  march  of  improvements  dur- 
ing the  past  five  decades  will  fir  surpass  the  former  century. 
With  sympathy  and  a  hearty  wish  for  its  success, 

Respectfully  yours, 

C.  L.   (Copeland)  HOWARD. 


133  East  29th  Street, 
New  York,  August  31,  1S91. 

Dear    Mr.    Jlitchcock :  —  I     regret    exceedingly    that    my 
duties  in  New  York  are  such  that  it  \\  ill  be  impossible  for  me 


70 

to  accept  the  kind  invitation  of  your  Committee,  and  attend  the 
exercises  of  Warren's  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversarv. 

It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  be  present  and  listen  to 
the  most  excellent  programme  arranged  for  that  memorable 
occasion.  Rest  assured  I  shall  be  with  vou  in  spirit,  and  I 
trust  nothing  will  occur  to  mar  the  joy  of  a  day  so  noteworthy 
in  the  annals  of  the  town. 

I  regard  the  citizens  of  Warren  as  very  fortunate  in  having- 
their  lot  cast  in  so  pleasant  a  place,  possessing  so  many  natural 
advantages  of  soil,  water-power,  and  climate.  More  than  all, 
the  town  is  to  be  congratulated  upon  having  so  large  a  number 
of  public-spirited  citizens,  evidences  of  whose  generosity  are  to 
be  seen  on  every  hand.  To  their  enterprise  is  largely  due  the 
fact,  that,  while  m.any  of  our  New-England  towns  are  deterio- 
rating in  wealth  and  population,  Warren  has  had  a  steady,  pros- 
perous growth,  until  it  is  known  far  and  near  as  one  of  the  most 
flourishing  towns  in  ^Massachusetts. 

There  is  no  need,  however,  that  I  write  of  these  things. 
Your  orator  will  outline  the  growth  and  development  of  his 
native  town  ;  your  poetess  will  sing  in  charming  lays  the 
beauty  of  its  situation  and  the  heroic  deeds  of  bygone  davs  ; 
while  the  dinner  will  doubtless  be  graced  with  the  intelligence, 
wit,  and  beauty  of  your  citizens.  My  wish  for  ^\'arren,  where 
I  spent  seven  of  the  happiest  years  of  mv  life,  is,  that  she  may 
continue  to  go  on  in  the  lines  already  laid  down,  and  be  as  dis- 
tinguished in  the  future  for  the  intelligence,  sobriety,  pati'iotism, 
and  piety  of  her  citizens  as  she  has  been  in  the  past,  and  is  in 
the  present. 

May  the  Lord  ble^s  and  prosper  the  dear  old  town,  is  the 
wish  of  your  friend, 

JESSE  F.  FORBES. 


Worcester,  September  4,  1891. 

D.  G.  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  Warren. 

Dear  Sir :  —  I  regret  very  much  I  shall  be  unable  to  accept 
your  kind  invitation  for  Monday  next,  but  absence  from  this 
part  of  the  country  will  prevent.     I  trust  the  day  will  be  a  joy- 


fill  one  for  voii  all,  and  hope  the   next  century  and  a  half  will 
be  full  of  blcssincrs  for  your  beautiful  town. 

I  have  been  away  for  the  past  few  days,  so  please  pardon  my 
not  answering' your  tavor  before. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

GEO.  F.  BLAKE,  Jr. 

The  Geo.  F.  Blake  Mfg.  Co., 

New  York,  August  27,  1S91. 

D.  G.  Hitchcock;, 

Chairman  of  Co7)U)iittee.,    Warrcti.  JMass. 

Dear  Sir :  —  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  favor  extending  to  me  an 
invitation  to  be  present  at  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Warren 
to  be  held  on  the  7th  of  September.  Owing  to  press  of  busi- 
ness and  odier  previous  engagements,  I  shall  liave  to  decline 
your  kind  invitation,  for  which  please  accept  my  thanks. 

Yours  veiv  truly, 

GEO.  11.  STOVER. 


New  York,  August  26,  1S91. 
D.  G.   Hitchcock,  Esq., 

Chairman  of  Committee^   Warren^  Mass. 

Dear  Sir: — Thanks  for  your  kind  invitation  to  be  present 
at  the  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of 
the  town  of  Warren  on  September  7th  next. 

I  regret  that  other  engagements  will  prevent  my  accepting 

your  kindness. 

Very  truly  yours, 

C.  E.  BIGELOW. 

Knowles  Steam  Pump  Works, 
New  York,  August  26,  1S91. 

D.  G.  Hitchcock,  Esq.,  , 

Chair/nan  of  Coni??iiiiee^  JVarrcn,  Mass. 

Dear  Sir: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  kind  invitation  to  the 
celebration  of  the  one  hundred  and  fiftieth  anniversary  of  the 


72 

incorporation  of  the  town  of  \\'arrcn.  I  am  vcrv  sorry  my 
engagements  will  not  enable  me  to  he  present  on  this  occasion, 
September  j",  iS()i . 

Hoping  voLi  will   have  a  pleasant  clay,  and  every  thing  will 
pass  otl"  successfiilh',  I  am 

Very  truly  vours, 

C.  L.  BROADBEXT. 


Gardner,  Mass.,  August  29.  1S91. 
D.  E.  Gr.wes,  Esq.,  \\'ARiiEx,  ]SIa.ss. 

Dear  Sir:  —  Your  kind  invitation  to  be  present  at  your 
coming  anniversary  is  just  at  hand. 

While  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  be  present,  \et  I  desire 
to  thank  you  aiul  the  good  town  }ou  represent  for  the  courtesy 
of  the  invitation.  Mv  stay  was  not  lonjr  aminiu'  the  Warren 
people,  but  the  Methodist  Church  at  the  west  village  ^yill  attest 
my  love  and  efibrt  to  aid  all  the  good  elements  in  the  town. 

I  remain  very  sincerely, 

SETH  C.  CARY. 

Brief  regrets  at  inability  to  be  present  were  also 
expressed  \>\  Rev.   Alexander  Sessions. 


F   ?Vq^ 


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