USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Uxbridge > Address delivered at the Unitarian church, in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1864, with further statements, not made a part of the address, but included in the notes > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 Ux1c . 1786340
M. E.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 4290
ADDRESS
DELIVERED AT THE
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UNITARIAN CHURCH,
IN UXBRIDGE, MASS.,
IN 1864,
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WITH FURTHER STATEMENTS, NOT MADE A PART OF THE ADDRESS, BUT INCLUDED IN THE NOTES.
1
BY
HENRY CHAPIN.
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Worcester : PRESS OF CHARLES HAMILTON, 311 MAIN STREET. 1881.
1786340
F 84493 . 16
Chapin, Henry, 1811-1878.
Address delivered at the Unitarian church, in Uxbridge. Mass., in 1864, with further statements, not made a part of the address, but included in the notes. By Heury Chapin. Worcester, Press of 0. Hamilton, 1881. :. . i. (17. 214 p. front. : port.) 24 .
"Edited with preface, biographical sketch of Judge Chapin, and appendices relating to the history of L'abridie, by Rushton D. Burr."- . p. i.
1. Uxbridge, Mass .- Ilist. 1. Uxbridge. First Congregational soci ty. II. Burr, Kr Aton Dashwood, ed.
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Library of Congress F74.0904
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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/addressdelivered1864chap
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CORRIGENDA.
Page LX, Preface, line 6th from the top of page, for in relating it, read relating to it.
Page 39, line 4th from the bottom of page-Omit t after strange and supply it after ago.
Page 108, note to Appendix. With what is here said of the place of worship used by the Baptist Society, compare what is said of this hall, on page 154, last paragraph but one on the page.
Page 119, line 10th from the bottom of page-After home, place a comma, omitting the semicolon.
Page 146, line 4th from the bottom of page-For employ's read employees.
Page 199, line 5th from the bottom of page, second note -- In place of on the occasion of his having settle, read when he settled.
Page 209, the fourth name from the top, in the first column, should read, Burrill.
Edited, with Preface, Biographical Sketch of Judge Chapin, and Appendices relating to the mis- torp of Uxbridge, by
Rushton D. Burr.
Ayer, Mass., Nob., 1881.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PREFACE
IX
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCII XI
ADDRESS
17
Appendices.
TILE SUCCESSORS OF REV. MR. CLARKE . 101
THE SUCCESSORS OF REV. Mr. JUDSON . 101
THE BAPTIST CHURCHI .
107
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHI
109
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 110
JOSEPH THAYER, ESQ . 112
JAMES WATSON ROBBINS, M. D 116
JONATHAN WHIPPLE .
120
ELINIU BROWN
123
ORSMUS TAFT 124
THE WOOD FAMILY
126
IRONSTONE
129
MANUFACTURING
132
DESCRIPTION OF UXBRIDGE-1832
159
OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE CAPRON FAMILY
165
vi.
CONTENTS.
THE TAFT FAMILY . 170
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS 175
SELECT SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES 189
THE LIBRARIES IN UXBRIDGE .
197
BANKS IN UXBRIDGE 202
THE BURYING-GROUNDS
204
LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE WAR AGAINST THE REBELLION 203
MRS. MARGARET L. BENNETT 213
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PREFACE.
IN the winter of 1863-4, Mr. Chapin was invited to deliver a lecture in Uxbridge, in the course given for the benefit of the First Congregational Church. He selected the carly history of the town, in which he took great interest, for his subject, and collected so much valuable material in relating it, that some of the public- spirited citizens felt it to be very desirable that the information thus obtained should be preserved in a per- manent form, and requested him, some four years since, to give them his manuscript for publication. He consented, but wished to render it more valuable by the addition of various details equally worthy of record, which would have made his lecture too long for delivery, and others that have since come to his knowledge. His illness and subsequent death prevented him from preparing the work for the press ; and in the spring of 1879 it was intrusted to me, and was immediately entered upon as a sacred trust. The address as originally delivered, the notes which Judge Chapin was engaged in preparing, and the title page he had written, are now presented to those specially interested in the matters here spoken of.
I have endeavored, by carefully studying the address, to enter into the spirit in which it was. written, and in this way to complete the notes that were left,-some of them,
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PREFACE.
in the nature of the case, in a very fragmentary state. I have added information about some matters not touched upon by Mr. Chapin, and I wish I could have done much more ; but the knowledge of some things very interesting to the town, as for instance a list of the men from Uxbridge who served in the armies of the Revolution, it was impossible to procure.
Some of the information here given it has been difficult to obtain ; and my acknowledgements are here made to the several gentlemen who have assisted me : but my thanks are especially due to Charles A. Wheelock and Jonathan F. Southwick.
Those who read this address will please remember that it is not a history of the town of Uxbridge they are reading, but memorabilia, and if its history should ever be written, I have no doubt the writer will duly appreciate the labor here expended. Much later information than that here given, and naturally finding a place in a history of the town, is, for obvious reasons, omitted. I recommend that with this address, the address of Judge Alphonso Taft, given at the Taft gathering in Uxbridge, August 12th, 1874, be also read.
Judge Chapin always retained a warm attachment, not only to his native town, Upton, but to the people of Uxbridge, where he began his professional life. His name I know is, and long may it be, a cherished and house- hold word among them.
RUSIITON D. BURR.
May, 1881.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
HENRY CHAPIN was born in Upton, Mass., May 13th, 1811. His parents possessed small means and he had no carly advantages beyond those commonly enjoyed by all the sons of New England. By the sudden death of his father, when he was fourteen years old, he was thrown almost wholly upon his own resources, and decided to learn the carpen- ter's trade, but became convinced after a few months trial, that he had neither the natural aptitude nor the inclination for that avocation. He now determined to apply himself to study and began at once to fit for college. He was grad- uated at Brown University in 1835. He then taught school in his native town, afterwards studied law with the late Emory Washburn and at Cambridge, and on his admission to the bar in 1838 began to practice in Uxbridge. In 1846, he removed to Worcester and became a partner of the late Rejoice Newton. His practice at the bar was large and successful. He was distinguished for industry, faithfulness and accuracy in professional business, and his competent knowledge of the law, with his simple, direct and per- suasive style of address, gave him great success in the trial of causes. In 1858, the courts of Probate and Insolvency, up to that time distinct, were united, and Mr. Chapin was appointed to preside over the new court. His appointment gave great satisfaction at the time and an experience of twenty years only served to confirm its wisdom. During that period, probably, more than half the estates in Worcester
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
County passed under his jurisdiction, in one or the other side of his court, and he was brought into official relations with a larger number of persons in all conditions of life, than any other public officer of the county. ITis patience, fidelity and impartiality have been universally admitted, and his suavity of manner-the natural expression of a kindly heart-gave him a strong hold upon the affection as well as the respect and confidence of the people of the county.
Though his political opinions were strongly held and expressed freely, in public and in private speech, Judge Chapin had little taste for political life. He represented the town of Uxbridge in the General Court of 1845, and was nominated for Congress in 1856 by the republican conven- tion, but declined the honor. He was elected mayor of Worcester in 1849, and again in 1850, declining a third nomination, but accepted the office again in December, 1870, when he was chosen by the council to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mayor Blake, but declined to be a candidate for the full term, and retired after a few months service, as soon as a successor could be provided by a popular election. He was chosen delegate to the constitutional convention in 1853. In 1848, he was appointed by Governor Briggs Commissioner of Insolvency ; and in 1855, by Governor Gardner, commissioner under the "personal liberty law" of Massachusetts, designed for the protection of persons charged with being fugitive slaves. IIe was for many years a member of the State Board of Education and for fifteen years one of the Trustees of the Worcester Lunatie Hospital. His capacity for business caused his services to be required in connection with several institutions of the city. He was for many years president of the People's Fire Insurance Company, a director of the City National Bank, and vice- president of the Worcester County Institution for Savings. He served as a director of the Providence and Worcester railroad about thirty years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHI.
Judge Chapin's active benevolence found scope in many directions. He was always ready to do a kind act, and next to doing good directly, he liked to organize plans and institutions by which the charity of others might be com- bined with his own, and made more effectual through an orderly system of administration. The Old Men's Home of Worcester, recently incorporated, was one of the latest benevolent enterprises that he conceived and aided. In religious belief he was decidedly a conservative Unitarian, and a devoted member of the Church of the Unity in Worcester, being for many years superintendent of its Sunday School. After he resigned the superintendency, he joined the Bible class of the school, and remained a member of it until his failing health prevented him from meeting with it. He was active in the denomination, and for many years took a leading position in it, being twice elected President of the American Unitarian Association, and was for four years a member of the Council of the National Conference of Unitarian Churches.
These numerous and diverse employments illustrate the varied activity of his mind, the kindness of his heart, the trust that he inspired in all who came in contact with him. Another kind of service that was often required of him, and seldom declined, was public speaking on all kinds of occasions. His good nature, wit, and an unfailing store of anecdotes, told with remarkable spirit and humor, made his impromptu speeches always acceptable. During the days of the anti-slavery agitation he spoke frequently and effect- ively in behalf of the free-soil and republican parties ; but after his acceptance of a judicial office he thought it unbecoming to take a conspicuous part in political controversies.
Three years before his death, he received the degree of LL.D., from Brown University, R. I. Judge Chapin's health began to fail in the summer of 1877, but he continued to
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCII.
attend to the duties of his office, and perhaps longer than was prudent. He died Sunday afternoon, October 13th, 1878.
After the services at the house, public services were held in the Church of the Unity, October 16th. The church was filled by the representatives of the various bodies with which Judge Chapin had been associated, and by those who from far and near came to pay his memory their heartfelt respect. The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Blanchard, and Rev. Mr. Shippen, a former pastor, and secretary of the American Unitarian Association.
Mr. Chapin married October 8th, 1839, Sarah, daughter of Joseph Thayer, Esq., of Uxbridge. Mrs. Chapin died April 30th, 1869. Their only child, a son, died at the age of seven years and ten months. In 1871, May 23d, he married Louisa, a sister of his former wife, who, with their daughter, six years of age, survives him.
The limits of this sketch of the life and character of Judge Chapin, necessarily prevent the insertion of the beautiful and honorable tributes paid to him by the City Government of Worcester and the American Antiquarian Society, at meetings held for this purpose, after his death. And for the same reason we are compelled to omit the equally appreciative resolutions passed by the Alumni of Brown University at their annual meeting ; by the Worces- ter County Conference of Unitarian Churches ; by the Boards of various Corporations ; and by the Representa- tives of the Educational and Charitable Institutions in whose behalf Mr. Chapin had so long and so faithfully served, gratifying as it would be to introduce them all ; but it seems specially becoming that as the law was the chosen pursuit of his life, and so dear to him, that the slightest aspersion, cast, even in jest, upon the honor of the profes- sion, was always more indignantly repelled than any personal attack, a place should be found for the resolutions
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHI.
passed October 7th, 1879, by the Worcester County Bar at the first session of the Supreme Court, held after his decease.
Resolved, That in the death of Henry Chapin, the Worces- ter County Bar realizes the loss of one of its members, who while engaged in the practice of his profession brought to its duties the better elements of an exalted professional probity and fidelity. Genial by nature, courteous and considerate in his intercourse with men, earnest in his devotion to the side he espoused, faithful to the interests of his clients, con- scientious in his relations with the courts, at times eloquent in his addresses and always painstaking in the preparation and presentation of his cause, with a mind well balanced and abundant self-control, lie furnished in his professional life the model of an admirable lawyer.
Ilis simple tastes, cordial manners and well cultivated mind enabled him to win a social position of influence and respect which has rarely been surpassed in this community.
In the official relations to which he was called by the voluntary suffrages of a grateful constituency, he carried with him an undivided devotion to the public welfare. He possessed an abiding faith in the people and an especial confidence in the character and stability of the people of Worcester. In his inaugural address as Mayor in 1871, hic said, "Our power is in our men."
IIc graced informal occasions with wit and eloquence, and in public exigencies his face and tongue were a power in promoting the welfare of the people.
Ile was by nature admirably fitted to fill the office and perform the duties as Judge of the Probate Court. His patience was untiring, his sympathy unsimulated, his taste and strong common sense sufficed him in emergencies. The urbanity, courtesy, modesty and simple dignity with which lie conducted the business of his court, won for him universal confidence and respect. His official duties in his relations to the philanthropic and elecmosynary institutions of the Com- monwealth were always scrupulously performed, and by his death they and the State are deprived of a faithful servant and a generous benefactor.
We regard the life of Henry Chapin as one of usefulness, honor and success. Ile was a bright example to youth, a
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
pleasant companion to those of riper years, a useful citizen and a true man in the relations of social, professional and domestic life.
Resolved, That the sympathy of the members of the Bar be extended to our deceased brother's family, and that these resolutions be presented to the Supreme Judicial Court and the Probate Court of said County with the request that they be entered upon the records.
Mr. Justice Morton in receiving the resolutions referred to his association with Judge Chapin, when they were in col- lege together in 1835, speaking of the deceased as a promi- nent member of the literary society, that he then became interested in him and had watched his future life. He said he could with entire cordiality and intelligence endorse every word of the resolutions. Judge Chapin's record as a Judge of Probate extended farther than his own county and his example was felt throughout the State. It is seldom that you see on a bench three such gentlemen as those which the Probate Court of this county can boast. The examples of Barton, Thomas and Chapin will long be remembered. The resolutions were then ordered to be entered upon the records of the Court.
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ADDRESS.
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A FIGURE of speech, often appropriate and express- ive, represents one as being out of his element; and many a man often realizes in his own experience the truth of the expression. In an age, when lecturing has become a kind of profession and men cultivate themselves for it with all the appli- ances which eloquence and literature can furnish, he who rashly enters the field is liable to learn that he had better never have made the attempt, and is apt to retire from it a wiser and perhaps a sadder man.
I do not come before you in the capacity of a lecturer. In answer to invitations, to say the least, pressing, in an unguarded moment, I gave some encouragement to stand the draft, or furnish a substitute. No substitute having been procured, I am here.
It will be impossible to present to you what has been prepared for this occasion, without laying myself spen to the charge of dealing too freely with the personal pronoun of the first person singular. There are times in a man's life, when he has a right
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ADDRESS.
to speak in the first or second person, and about himself or anybody else, as best suits his pleasure, or convenience. For instance, when one is holding sweet converse with parents, brothers, sisters, or friends, the rules of criticism are not apt to be applied very relentlessly, and he is allowed to say pretty much what he pleases, to talk as much and as long as he pleases, and to dress his ideas in the garb which suits them best. With this feeling, I come hither to-night, trusting that you will allow me to present to you the thoughts which have occurred to me upon subjects local in their character and have no special attraction for any person who does not feel a deep interest in the character and history of the town of Uxbridge. It would be far more easy to give you an hour filled with general ideas upon some of the popular and exciting subjects of the day; to talk about this gigantic rebellion, and the best method of putting it down, to discuss some of the questions which fill the hearts of the men and women of this generation, but I shall avoid them all. My apology is this: when I reflect upon the last twenty-five years, and call to mind those with whom it has been my lot to hold pleasant intercourse, it is a source of deep regret that I have not treasured up, and put into some tangible form, many facts of a local and interesting character, now forever buried in the dark ocean of the past. If by the crude and
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ADDRESS.
desultory effort of this evening, I can make any reparation for past neglect, or pay any part of the debt of gratitude I owe to this section of the county, the labor of preparation will not have been spent in vain.
I need not say to you, that this town combines much natural beauty of scenery and was once a fair specimen of a New England farming town. The younger Bezaleel Taft used to say, " I do not place Uxbridge in the first class of farming towns in the county, but it stands among the first of the second class."
The territory now included within the limits of Uxbridge and Northbridge was originally a part of Mendon, and was set off from the parent town June 27th, 1727, under the name of Uxbridge .* This part of Mendon was called by the Indians who early inhabited it Wacantug.t It is said, these Indians had Indian teachers among them to instruct them in the principals of the Christian religion.
The first town meeting of Uxbridge was held July 25th, 1727, one hundred and thirty-six years ago last July. The members of the first board of selectmen were Robert Taft, Ebenezer Read, Wood-
* UxbrAlge received its name from Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge, at the time a member of the King's Privy Council. See William Henry Whittemore's Essay upon the names of Massachusetts towns.
t This name is sometimes spelled Wacuntue and Wacantuck. The true spelling is probably Waeuntug.
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ADDRESS.
land Thompson and Joseph White. The first town clerk was Edmund Rawson. The town remained in the form in which it was originally organized, until Northbridge was set off as a separate town in the year 1772. The fact that these two towns were originally one municipality explains the reason why, until a period comparatively recent, their annual March meetings were held upon different days of the week, one being held on Monday and the other on Wednesday. Those who had been in the habit of meeting together on this occasion, talking politics, swapping oxen, drinking flip, or doing something more useful, by mutual consent made this convenient and satisfactory arrangement, in order to enable them to continue the same, or similar acts of kindness and good neighborhood.
It is interesting to examine the early records of the town, and observe the prevalence of certain names which seem to have come down. like heir- looms from generation to generation. For instance, take the name of Taft. I have had the curiosity to observe casually how often this name appears in the list of town officers. In 1741, 1742 and 1743, it appears six times in the list of town officers for each year, and in the year 1775 it appears sixteen ^ times. One is reminded of the old story of the stranger in Uxbridge, who, meeting a gentleman whom he had never seen before, exclaimed, " How
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ADDRESS.
are you Mr. Taft ?" " How did you know my name was Taft?" was the answer. " Well," said he, " I have spoken to twelve persons since I came into this town; eleven of them answered to the name of Taft, and I concluded it would be safe to address you by that name."
The town clerks of this town have been :-
Edmund Rawson, 1727-1753.
John Sibley, 1753-1757. Moses Taft, 1757-1766. John Sibley, 1766-1773. Simeon Wheelock, Jr., 1773-1777. Seth Read, 1777-1778. Bezaleel Taft, 1778-1782. Josiah Read, 1782-1783. Bezaleel Taft, 1783-1781. Aaron Taft, Jr., 1784-1799. Frederic Taft, 1799-1801.
John Capron, 1804-1821. Daniel Carpenter, 1821-1844. Amariah Taft, 1844-1855.
Wiliam W. Thayer, 1855-1856.
IIenry Capron, 1856-the present time .*
You will observe that generally the town has adopted a wise course in reference to numerous
* Henry Capron held the office of Town Clerk for twenty years, 1856 -1576, and was succeeded by Charles C. Capron, who holds the office at the present the.
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ADDRESS.
and successive elections of the same town clerk, and in this way has secured far more uniformity and accuracy in the town records, than would have resulted from more frequent changes in the record- ing officer of the town.
The people of the town, according to the carly records, had an eye to their own interests and were quite distinct and emphatic in their expressions in regard to them. They had their own views of matters and things, and stated them quite unequivo- cally. Soon after the separation from Mendon, we find their loyalty to the parent town illustrated by the following vote :-
" Voted, About Worcester's being a sheir town, that unless Mendon be made a sheir town as Worcester, to hold half ye county courts at, they had rather remain as now, in the county of Suffolk."
When I first read the record of this vote, I was struck with the statement, implying that Uxbridge was once a part of the county of Suffolk. Upon examination I find, that down to the time of the creation of Worcester county, this territory was embraced within the limits of the county of Suffolk. From the tenor of the vote, we may naturally infer that the question of a new county was discussed as early as 1728, and the people of Uxbridge thought fit to express their opinion in the form already stated.
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ADDRESS.
The whole territory of Massachusetts in 1613 was divided into four counties; Essex being the eastern, Middlesex in the middle, Suffolk in the southern and (Old) Norfolk in the northern part. Hampshire county was created in 1662. Essex county, embracing all of Old Norfolk which had not been set off' to New Hampshire, was created in 1680. Plymouth, Barnstable and Bristol counties were created in 1685. When the islands of Nan- tucket and Martha's Vineyard were transferred from New York to Massachusetts, they constituted Dukes county, from which Nantucket was set off as a separate county in 1695. Worcester county was created in 1730, just two years after the vote referred to. Berkshire in 1761, Hampden in 1811, and Franklin in 1812.
For nearly one hundred years after its organiza- tion, Uxbridge remained simply an agricultural town with the usual amount of such mechanical business as was carried on in the rural towns of New England. When we examine its records and traditions, we find many of the same proceedings which were common in towns of similar character and position during that period. The location of roads, the building of bridges, the care of the schools, the support of the poor, and the thousand- and-one municipal matters, either more or less important, were voted upon and acted upon from
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