Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I > Part 1

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GEORGE F. HOAR

HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS

AND GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS

WORCESTER COUNTY

MASSACHUSETTS

WITH A HISTORY OF

WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY

PREPARED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE $ 1 Librarian of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, and Editor of its Proceedings; Author of "The Rawson Family Memorial," "Crane Family," two vols., Etc.

"Knowledge of kindred and the genealogies of the ancient families deserveth the highest praise. Herein consisteth a part of the knowledge of a man's own self. « It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the work of our lines."-Lord Bacon.

"There is no heroic poem in the world but is at the bottom the life of a man."-Sir Walter Scott.

VOL .: I 4340A,198

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1907

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INTRODUCTORY

WORCESTER COUNTY

The history of Massachusetts-civil, political and military-has been written by various authors and at various times, each succeeding writer adding a new chapter of annals, or treating his subject from a different viewpoint. Such history, however, splendid narrative that it is, is principally concerned with what has been accomplished by the peo- ple in a mass, and takes little note of individuals, except those so pre-eminent as leaders as to come under the full glare of fame.

Hence it follows that genealogical and family memoirs are of peculiar importance, including, as they do, the personal annals of those who make heroes and heroism possible- those who have marched in the ranks of progress, bearing the heat and burden of the day,-portraying the spirit which actuated them, and holding up their effort for an example to those who come afterward. . As was written by Marti- neau, "To have forefathers renowned for honorable deeds, to belong by nature to those who have bravely borne their part in life and refreshed the world with mighty thoughts and healthy admiration. is a privilege which it were mean and self-willed to despise. It is a security given for us of old, which it were false- hearted not to redeem; and in virtues PRESCOTT HOMESTEAD, AT PEPPERELL bred of a noble stock, mellowed as they Tbe bome of Col. William Prescott, second son of Benjamin Prescott, and the grandfather of William H. Prescott. the distin- guished historian. Col. Prescott was born in Groton, and settled on a large tract of land previously owned by bis father. located in what was called the "'Gore," later included in the town of Pepperell. He served as a Lieutenant in the expedition sent in 1755, to remove the French Neutrals from Nova Scotia; and as colonel of the Minute Men enrolled in and about Groton in 1774. At the battle of Bunker Hill. June 17, 1775, be occupied the distinguished position of Commander of the American forces. He died October 13, 1795, aged sixty-nine years, baviog been born February 20, 1726. His widow died October 21. 1821. aged eighty-eight years: both buried at Pepperell. are by reverence, there is often a grace and ripeness wanting to self-made and brand-new excellence. Of like value to a people are heroic national traditions, giving them a determined character to sustain among the tribes of men, making . them familiar with images of great and strenuous life, and kindling them with faith in glorious possibilities."

The county of Worcester affords a peculiarly interesting field for a study of family traits, individual character and personal achievements. It is rich in historical associations, and its soil has been the scene of events of the 'utmost importance to the entire nation. To it came a sturdy people, men and women, too, of brawn and brain and conscience, their hearts fervent in reverence of God and love for religious and political liberty. They came

INTRODUCTORY

up out of great tribulations. They were of that overflow of Pilgrim and Puritan stock which traversed an unbroken wilderness to make homes where were savages, and to con- quer primeval nature. They builded better than they knew.

" For Good is not a shapely mass of stone, Hewn by man's hand, and worked by him alone. It is a seed God suffers him to sow-

Others will reap, and, when the harvests grow,

He giveth increase through all coming years, And lets men reap in joy, seed that was sown in tears."

Simple and clean in their lives, as were these early settlers, the homes which they builded were hum- ble, but they were the seat of all the virtues that consti- tute ideal manhood and womanhood. The courage, fortitude and activity displayed by these hardy pioneers was most remarkable, and, when the struggle for na- tional independence came, the sons and daughters of these illustrious sires were not wanting in patriotism and devotion, freely sacrificing comfort, life and prop- ISAIAH THOMAS, LL. D. Founder of "Massachusetts Spy." and Ameri- can Antiquarian Society, born July 30, 1749, died April 4 1831, in Worcester. erty, that they might bequeath to the generations that should follow them a free liberal government "of the people. by the people, and for the people." They were, from the beginning, prime movers in every patriotic movement, and in all looking to the elevation of humanity. In 1775, in convention assembled, they expressed their abhorrence of human slavery, and that, whenever opportunity should present, they would use their influence toward the emancipation of the negro. From here, their birthplace, marched Captain (later known as Colonel) Timothy Bigelow and Captain Benjamin Flagg-with their companies of minute-men on that memorable 19th of April, 1775, and here, in the city of Worcester, the Declaration of Independence was first read in Massachusetts. Here, too, was the home of General Artemas Ward, the trusted friend and chief lieutenant of the great Washington. In Worces- ter was set up, by Isaiah Thomas,. the first printing press in an inland town in Massachusetts, and the jour- nal which was printed from it was one which was unparalleled in its influ- ence upon the minds of the common people in their ready espousal of the cause of independence from British FARNUM HOUSE, UXBRIDGE tyranny. Here entered upon his illus- tiious career Levi Lincoln. one of the Built by Moses Farnum in 1766, and stands in the southerly part of the town of Uxbridge. giants in those days-a great lawyer, jurist . and statesman. Here lived and labored repre- sentatives of the famous Prescott, Curtis, Allen, Washburn and Devons families and here was born George Bancroft. the historian. Here, too, were heard, at various periods, Web-ter, Sumner, Lincoln, Henry Wilson and Henry Ward Beecher, and, in the yet later

WORCESTER ART MUSEUM. SALISBURY STREET, WORCESTER

INTRODUCTORY

days, the lamented Senator George F. Hoar, all eloquent proclaimers of liberty and plead- ers for humanity. And, in the Civil war, the grandsons of the men of Bunker Hill fought at Gettysburg, and on many another glorious field, that the Union might be preserved.

There were not only patriots among the settlers of Worcester county, but men of special note in various fields of industry. Perhaps no spot of the same area on this conti- nent has produced so many of superior mechanical genius, or those who have given to the world mechanisms of such great utility and advantage to the progress of civilization. Senator Hoar, in a speech made before the United States Senate, on January 6, 1903, said ; " Within twelve miles of the spot where I live, was born Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, who doubled the value of every acre of land in this country on which cotton can grow. Six miles in another direction was born Erastus Bigelow, the inventor of the carpet machine. Six miles in another direction lived Blanchard, the inventor of the machine for turning irreg- ular forms, perhaps' the most important single mechan- ical invention that has been made in the country down to this time. Eight miles another way was born Whitte- more, inventor of the card clothing machine. Twelve miles another way was born and lived Elias Howe, inven- tor of the sewing machine. When the Civil war broke MAJOR GENERAL ARTEMAS WARD out, Mr. Howe enlisted as private. When, in its em- Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. October 27. 1:74; General in the Continental army ; Commander-in-Chief of the Massachu- Setts forces. May 19, 1775. Born in Shrews- bury, Massachusetts, November 26. 1727, son of Nahum and Martha (Howe) Ward. As Major took part in the campaign of 1755 against the French, near Lake Champlain, at- taing the rank of colonel. Member of the Massachusetts Legislature for sixteen years: Speaker of that body 17?5; Member of Congress 1791-95; died in Shrewsbury October 27, 1800. barrassment, in the summer of 1861, the government could not pay its soldiers, this private soldier drew his check for all the arrears due his regiment of a thousand men, for some months. All around me there are homesteads, some bordering my own, owned by invent- ors, foremen and skilled workmen, who have acquired fortunes in this honorable service, so beneficent to mankind and so honorable to this country."

The founders of the olden time, who laid the foundations for the development of the present, left not only a splendid posterity on this their own soil, but they gave a pregnant interpretation to the words of Bishop Berkley: "Westward the course of the empire takes its way," for from them came an overflow which was destined to continue until it reached the far-off Pacific-men and women to carry forth and perpetuate that plain, sturdy, personal character of manhood and womanhood for which the people of Massachusetts have gained a large degree of renown. Wherever they planted their homes, there the church and the school house are found as monuments of their personality. Nor is this all,, they prided themselves in thrift, and the reward that comes as the fruit of honest toil and endeavor ; and, wherever placed, have proved a power for ideal citizenship and good gov- ernment, for that righteousness which exalteth a nation.

In each generation and at every stage of progress, the people of Worcester county have had the service of men of the loftiest character and highest capability-in arms, in the arts of peace, in statesm.inship, in affairs, and in letters. It is to connect the active pro- gressive men of the present generation with their illustrious ancestry, that the present vol- umes were undertaken, in the conviction that

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INTRODUCTORY

" It is indeed a blessing when the virtues Of noble races are hereditary,

And do derive themselves from imitation Of virtuous ancestors."

The honorable ancestry which belongs to the people of Worcester county is a noble heritage, and the story of its achievements is a sacred trust committed to its descendants, upon whom devolves the perpetuation of their record. History is constantly making, and that of yesterday and today is as important in its place as that of the centuries past. Throughout the country are those who are memorialized in its pages, through whose sagacity, determination and philanthropy, states and communities have been benefited in material ways, and in religious, educational and political affairs- in all that stands for progress and improvement.

It was the consensus of opinion of leading men in Worcester county-men well informed and loyal to the memories of the past, who were consulted with refer- ence to the matter-that the editorial supervision of Mr. Ellery Bicknell Crane in the preparation of the work, would insure the best results attainable in these deeply interesting channels. For fifteen years the President of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, and the present GOVERNOR LEVI LINCOLN librarian of that body and the editor of its " Proceed- Continued in the office of Governor for nine successive re-elections, until, declining to be a candidate for re-election, retired from the office on the induction of his successor, in Jan- Dary, 1834. Chosen member of 24th Congress. Both Harvard and Williams college conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. He was born October 25, 1782: died May 28, 1868. ings," he has long been deeply interested in the pursuit of genealogical information in the county of Worcester, and his wide knowledge and the ample material at his command in the library of the above mentioned society have afforded to the local writers upon this work a rich mine of information along the lines prescribed, and through his instrumentality, also, they have had access to the wealth

of historical and genealogical records in the archives of the American Anti- quarian Society, through the courtesy of its librarian, Mr. Edmund M. Bar- ton. Mr. Crane has also contributed to these pages a historical sketch of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, including a brief notice of the Amer- ican Antiquarian Society. The pub- lishers have given all possible care with reference to the family and per- sonal narratives. If, in any case, one should be found incomplete or faulty, the shortcoming is ascribable to the paucity of data furnished by the sub- scriber, or to be obtained from public record, many families being without ex- act records in their family line ; while,

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BANCROFT HOUSE, WORCESTER

The home of Rev. Aaron Bancroft. in Worcester, Massachusetts. Here was born George Bancroft, the Historian, October 3, 1800, son of Rev. Aaron and Lucretia (Chandler , Bancroft.

BUSTO RV PUBLIC LIBRARY

VIEWS OF POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE, WORCESTER

INTRODUCTORY

in c of :

ses, various representatives of a family are at disagreement as to names and dates their forbears. In all cases the sketch has been submitted to the subject or his tive, and upon him, in case of error, must rest the ultimate responsibility.

rep ; believed that the present work will prove a real addition to the mass of litera- tur rning the families of historic old Worcester county, and that, without it, much valuable information contained therein would be inaccessible to the general reader, or irretrievably lost, owing to the passing away of many custodians of family records, and the consequent disappearance of material in their possession.

THE PUBLISHERS.

WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY

On the third day of May, 1775, was issued the first copy of the Massachusetts Spy, printed in Worcester, by Isaiah Thomas, since which date this town (now city), the heart of the Commonwealth, has been a prominent news center.

Worcester has also been a great book publishing center, "The Royal Standard English Dictionary " ( Perry's), the first dict- ionary published in America, was printed here by Mr. Thomas, as was also the first music books printed from types, music having been WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY previously printed from engraved plates. Various editions of dictionaries, lexicons, Bibles, medical works, law books and standard works in history and general literature, were printed and kept on sale here. The Koran was printed here in 1806, a Greek Lexicon in 1808; Plutarch's Lives, in six volumes (1802); Josephus, in six volumes (1794). A folio edition of the Bible published in 1791, illustrated with fifty copper-plate engravings, furnishes a fine specimen of the work of Mr. Thomas. Almanacs, sermons, school books, broadsides and works on nearly every branch of literature of that period, came from the press (or, rather, presses) of Mr. Thomas.

Thus were the people of Worcester early given special opportunity to learn the use and value of books, acquiring more or less an honest desire for them, and to appreciate the benefits of the knowledge to be gained through their use. The addresses and patriotic utterances distributed among the people of New England through the circulation of the Massachusetts Spy, had much to do with stimulating the spirit and feeling of resistance to the arbitrary measures inaugurated by the government of Great Britain. And, after the contest was over, and the independence of the United States secured, the influence of the editor and publisher of that organ was exerted for the establishment of a society that should bring together and preserve the mementoes of that heroic struggle, and also become an institution that should take its place among the prominent historical societies in Eng- land, France and other countries of Europe.

With that object in view, the American Antiquarian Society was formed in the year 1812. Its membership included representative men from the various States in the Union. The printer, and founder of the society, Isaiah Thomas, LL. D., was its first president. The first home or hall of this Society was a brick building, with a main up- right part two stories in height, and a wing extending out on the north and also one on the south side. The main or center portion of this building was dedicated on August 24, 1820, and the two wings added about eleven years later. This home, known as Antiquarian Hall, stood on the easterly side of Summer street, near the corner of Belmont street, and was built at the expense of Mr. Thomas, on a lot of land which he owned and subsequently gave, by will, to the Society. In 1852 it was found necessary to have more commodious quarters to accommodate the needs of the American Antiquarian Society,

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WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY

and land was given by Honorable Stephen Salisbury, father of the late Honorable Stephen Salisbury, as a site for their new building, which now stands at the corner of Highland street and Main street, next north of the Court House, and is the present home of this most popular national institution.

In the year 1820, of the eighty-three names on the membership roll, twenty-four were residents of Massachusetts, ten of whom resided in Worcester, the remainder of the number were scattered throughout twenty-one other states of the Union. In 1880, thirty- nine members were residents of Worcester: forty-four from Massachusetts, outside of Worcester; sixty-two from other states of the Union; and seventeen from foreign countries. At present the membership in America of this (the American Antiquarian Society) is lim- ited to one hundred and forty. In 1893 there were twenty-six from Worcester; forty-three from Massachusetts, at large; sixty-two from other states in the Union, and thirty-two from foreign countries; total membership, one hundred and sixty-three.

Since its organization it has been co nucting a noble and most important work. It came into the field so soon after the birth of our national government that special and most favorable opportunities have been found for the accumulation of books, pamphlets, papers and manuscripts treating of historical events, not alone of America, but of various other nations-a service to which it was early commissioned. Its sphere of labor was, and is, world-wide, special attention being given to the subject of Archaeology, including a study of the antiquities of this American continent, and every measure was to be adopted that should "make the Society appear respectable as a National Institution," and the American Antiquarian Society has not fallen short of accomplishing its mission, and is recognized as one of the leading Societies of its class in the world. Its voluminous library contains a collection of Americana of rare valne, while its stock of original manu- scripts may be counted of much more than ordinary interest. But as the population of Worcester increased, and the good influence of this parent society was felt among the citizens, there sprang up a desire for another organization, that should give opportunity for other citizens of Worcester and vicinity to engage in historical study and research, and also to provide a suitable place for preserving and placing on exhibition relics of the pasť, especially those bearing upon the history of the City and County of Worcester, including their people and institutions, preserving, for he benefit of future generations, such books, pamphlets and documents of every description as would furnish account of and portray the habits, life and character of the people that came to reclaim this wilderness and plant the institutions from whence so many benefits are at present derived, and to foster and encourage an interest in the history of this special locality.

A number of conferences were held in the printing office of Messrs. Tyler and Seagrave, then on Main street, opposite the City Hall. At these preliminary meetings there were present Samuel E. Staples, Franklin P. Rice, John G. Smith, Daniel Seagrave and Albert Tyler. As a result of these deliberations, notices were issued for a meeting to be held at the home of Samuel E. Staples, Number 1, Lincoln Place, January 24, 1875. Besides Mr. Staples, there were present at this meeting John G. Smith, Franklin P. Rice, and Richard O'Flynn. It was here decided to proceed with the formation of a society, and arrangements were made for drafting a constitution, which was submitted at a meeting held January 30th, and, after slight changes, was adopted at the third meeting, held Febru- ary 13th. The first regular meeting held under the constitution came on March 2, 1875, at which time the organization was completed by the election of the following named officers: Samuel E. Staples, president; Henry D. Barber, vice-president; Daniel Seagrave, secre- tary; Henry F. Stedman, treasurer, and John G. Smith, librarian. For more than two

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years meetings were held at the homes of the members, where occasionally a paper was read on some historical subject. But usually the time was passed in sociability and exam- ining the collection of books and relics in the possession of the member with whom the meeting was called.

The infant society soon came into favor and was received by the citizens of Wor- cester with open arms, and grew with such rapidity that it became necessary to clothe it with a charter, that was secured in the month of March, 1877, Honorable Clark Jillson having been chosen by a vote of the Society, at its annual meeting, held January 2d of that year, to secure such an act. The names of the charter members were Samuel E. Staples, Clark Jillson, Ellery B. Crane, Daniel Seagrave, Franklin P. Rice, James A. Smith, Albert A. Lovell and Albert Tyler.

The organization of the corporation took place at the meeting held on March 6, 1877, at the home of Edward I. Cornius, on Wellington street, Worcester, at which time the following officers were elected: President, Samuel E. Staples; vice-presidents, Clark Jillson and Ellery B. Crane; treasurer, James A. Smith; clerk, Daniel Seagrave. These officers constituted the executive committee and Albert A. Lovell, Franklin P. Rice with Charles R. Johnson, were chosen to serve as the committee on nominations. Thus was the organization set in motion and started on its errand of usefulness. Good moral char- acter and an interest in the pursuit of historical studies, with the agreement to contribute five dollars each year, and also pay such other assessments, not exceeding one dollar, levied at any one time, as the society might elect, was the early test of qualification requisite for membership. At the annual meeting January 4, 1876, twelve names constituted the mem- bership roll. The next year saw the number increased to thirty names, and at the meet- ing held January 2, 1877, the librarian reported four bound volumes and four pamphlets as the extent of the Society's library.

The first book given the Society was entitled "Worcester in the Revolution," pre- sented by the author, Albert A. Lovell, at a meeting held September 12, 1876, at the home of Ellery B. Crane. There was no special effort put forth for rapidly increasing the mem- bership. Some care was, however, given to securing workers in the cause that would enable the organization to make a showing sufficient to attract the attention of other persons of similar desires, and, if possible, secure their co-operation, and it is the belief that in this direction the efforts advanced were not futile.

In the year 1878 the Society counted sixty-nine names upon its roll, fifty-two of them classed as active, two as life members and fifteen as honorary members. Among the latter class were men occupying exalted places as literary men and writers of history, all of whom, we regret to note, have now passed away, and gone to their eternal reward. At this writing not one of these fifteen gentlemen is left.

. The monthly reports made by members of their additions to their private collections stimulated the work of collecting, and helped to create interest in all matters of a historical nature, with the result that, when the time came for forming the Society's Collection, there was a generous response from those private sources, making it possible to create a com- mendable showing within a comparatively brief period of time. That the handful of books and pamphlets which by gift had become the property of the Society might receive proper care, and the secretary have a place for his books and papers, some kind of a repository was needed for their safe keeping, and the secretary purchased for one dollar and a half the Society's first book case. For want of a better place it was temporarily set up in the printing office of Messrs. Tyler and Seagrave.

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Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 1

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 824

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824