USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
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HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.
BY
HOLMES AMMIDOWN.
Hohes humidour
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS:
CONTAINING
I. THE REFORMATION IN FRANCE; THE RISE, PROGRESS AND DESTRUCTION OF THE HUGUENOT CHURCH.
II. THE HISTORIES OF SEVEN TOWNS:
SIX OF WHICH ARE IN THE SOUTH PART OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASS., NAMELY:
OXFORD, DUDLEY, WEBSTER,
STURBRIDGE, CHARLTON, SOUTHBRIDGE, AND THE TOWN OF WOODSTOCK, NOW IN CONNECTICUT,
BUT ORIGINALLY GRANTED AND SETTLED BY PEOPLE FROM THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS, AND REGARDED AS BE- LONGING TO HER FOR ABOUT SIXTY YEARS.
BY HOLMES AMMIDOWN, 11 MERCHANT.
SECOND EDITION,
INCLUDING REFERENCE TABLE AND COMPLETE INDEX.
VOL. I.
NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 1877.
F72 1 WARE 1 877
SUPPLEMENT.
This supplement is placed at the end of Volume I., contain- ing :
First. History of the Poll Parish Meeting-House, now South- bridge, and an account of the several ministers who supplied preaching the sixteen years of its existence. (See Vol. I., p. 533).
Second. History of the establishing of the first schools and dis- tricts in the territory, now Southbridge, before the incorpora- tion of the Poll Parish in 1801. Vol. I., p. 554.
Third. The Masonic institutions in the district. composed of Charlton, Dudley, and Sturbridge, and places of meetings. Vol. I., p. 556.
Fourth. Public and family cemeteries in Charlton. Vol. I., p. 560.
Fifth. The Equivalent Lands. Vol. II., p. 581.
Sirth. Errata and Biographical. Vol. II., p. 586.
Complete Index at the end of Vol. II.
CONTENTS OF ORIGINAL WORK.
VOL. I.
First. Reformation in France and dispersion of the Huguenots, page 9.
CONTENTS OF ORIGINAL WORK.
Second. History of the Huguenot Plantation at Oxford Mass., page 105.
Third. History of the English settlement of Oxford, Mass., page 185.
Fourth. History of the town of Woodstock, Cit., p. 257. Fifth. History of the town of Dudley, Mass., p. 405. Sixth. History of the town of Webster, Mass., p. 406.
VOL. II.
First. History of the town of Sturbridge, Mass., p. 5. Second. History of the town of Charlton, Mass., p. 113. Third. History of the Poll Parish, Mass., p. 229. Fourth. History of the town of Southbridge, Mass., p. 268. Fifth. History of churchyards and cemeteries, modern and ancient, p. 345.
Sieth. History of the cotton plant in the United States, p. 386.
PREFACE.
IN presenting these " Historical Collections " to the public, the author is well aware of the many imperfections existing in them, some of which are errors of date and spelling of proper names, which occurred through the negligence of the printer in not properly correcting the proof-sheets as marked by the writer. Such errors have been noted in the errata. As regards grani- matical accuracy and nicely formed sentences, the writer claims nothing, but believes that facts presented are generally correctly stated.
The work, no doubt, by some will be regarded as diffuse, more so than the subject-matters required, but in that respect it has been the design, by such illustrations, to explain in many instances the origin of that which now exists, and in other respects to introduce contemporaneous events, explanatory of results which followed.
The gathering of the scraps of history here presented, has been the result of the employment of leisure time not required for service in a mercantile life of active labor through a period of more than forty years, and nearly all arranged in chrono- logical order, and written out after the writer had passed the bounds of threescore years and ten.
If these Collections shall be the means of preserving from oblivion any considerable amount of the facts therein contained, so as to enable others to use them better, and more interestingly, at some future period, the writer will have satisfied the extent of his aspirations.
iv
PREFACE.
Ile is under many obligations to parties who have kindly granted aid in this behalf, and for other historical matters now in manuscript, of a more general character, which are de- signed for a third volume of equal extent, and which may or may not appear in print hereafter.
It may further be observed, that the bringing forth of these volumes, and the labor and expenditure in aid of establishing the Public Library, Reading-room and Museum in his native town of Southbridge, for the benefit of the inhabitants of that vicinity, are the result of a design contemplated many years since.
However these pages may be regarded by the public, they go forth as a work that has caused much labor and diligent research, and whatever may be their worth or value, they are to his native place and vicinity respectfully inscribed, by
New York, July 4, 1874.
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS TO VOL. I.
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
PAGE
Explanation page,
French Huguenots -Religious faith and condition of Europe at
the era of the Reformation, 10-12
Reformation in Germany, 12-16
John Calvin and reform in France, 17
Account of reformers, 18
Origin of sale of indulgences, 19
Henry VIII a Romanist changed to a Protestan', 29
Charles V-His mistaken course of action,
20)
Francis I governed by policy,
21
Margaret of Valois and Renee de France-Honesty of religious action, 21,22
Persecution at Dauphine by act of Francis I,
24
Death of Francis I .- His son, who married Catherine de Medici, came to throne as Henry II, 26
The Houses of Guise and Conde-Admiral Coligny and Catherine de Medici, their character explained, 26,27
The Society of Jesus or Jesuits, and founder Loyola, 28
Charles V, his abdication and death -- His son. Philip II, and some account of him, 30
Henry II, his character-The Bourbon Princes, why they were Protestants, 31
Jane de Albret, Queen of Navarre-Her religion, 31
Termination of reign of Henry II -- Cause of his death, 32
Ilis son becomes king as Francis II-A crisis in the kingdom,
32
The Calvinistic Churches -- Their Confession of Faith, 33
Marriage of Francis II with Mary Stuart, of Scotland, 34
Rigid persecution of the Protestants, and an attempt for their relief by Admiral Coligny, 35
Account of Admiral Coligny, 36
Death of Francis II and succession by his brother, Charles IX- Catherine de Medici regent, 37
Condition of religious affairs in France under Charles IX-Cause of religious wars, 41
vi
CONTENTS.
4.2
First religious war,
45
Second religious war,
Third religious war, 46
47
Fourth religious war,
48
St. Bartholomew Massacre,
53
Charles IX and his mother, and the Romish Church, mistake the cause and effect of their acts, 55
Death of Charles IX-His brother as Henry III comes to the throne, 56
Henry, Prince of Navarre, King of Navarre, on the death of Jane de Albret, escaped from Court of Charles IX, 50, 51, 54, 55 57
Treaty of pacification,
The Faction of the Three Henries, 58
Desperate condition of France-Henry III causes massacre of the Guises, 59
Union between Henry III and Henry, King of Navarre, and death of Henry III, 61
Henry of Navarre now becomes king, as Henry IV-Published the Edict of Nantes, but to secure peace and his coronation, renounced Protestantism, 61,62
Planting of the first French Colonies in America, 63
Death by assassination of Henry IV, and his character,
64-67
Louis XIII comes to the throne-His marriage with Anne of Austria, 68,69
The Huguenots unwise in their religious acts-Civil war again began-Siege of Rochelle, and its surrender, with loss of their political, military, and naval rights,
70-72
Death of Louis XIII-His son becomes king as Louis XIV, with Anne of Austria as regent, 72,73
The Huguenots as a religious body, were now among the most respected in the kingdom, at home and abroad,
73
The War of the Fronde,
78
Louis XIV of age-Makes his will the law of the kingdom-Plans the destruction of the Huguenot Church and institutions. Madame de Maintenon, an aspiring woman, with Père la Chaise, aids the destruction of French Protestants,
76-78
Louvois, the war minister, lets loose the soldiers to harrass the Huguenots,
78,79
Repeal of the Edict of Nantes, and persecution increased with fanatical zeal,
83, 84
Bishop Burnet's account of persecution,
84
Saurin's account,
87
Bancroft's account,
88
Hume's account,
90
First French Settlements,
91-103
74-76
Plan for St. Bartholomew Massacre,
vii
CONTENTS.
OXFORD-FRENCH COLONY.
The first grant for a town after King Philip's War, 105
Report on Indian Lands, ^ 106
Deeds, by Indians of Nipmuck country, 107, 108
Grant for Oxford, 109
Character of grantees and their associates, 109-119
First survey of Oxford, its contents, and origin of name, 119
Movement for procuring settlers, 119
Extension of time for settling the grant, 120
Thirty families of French Protestants the first colony put on the grant, 122
Gabriel Bernon and Major Robert Thompson procure these set- tlers, 122, 123
The arrival of the French Protestants at Boston, and means for inducing them to plant at Oxford,
124, 125
Mrs. Sigourney's " Legends of Oxford,"
124
Account of Gabriel Bernon, 125
Facts by Dr. Holmes, 126
Curious Deed of Allotments of Land, 127
Names of signers and witnesses to Deed of Allotments of Land, 135
Description of said Deed and how found, 135
Account of the breaking-up of French colony, 137
Daniel Bondet's Letter about selling Rum, and his preaching to the Indians here, 138
Account of the several early societies for propagating the Gos- pel in the English colonies, 139
Rev. Daniel Bondet's Letter to Lord Cornbury, explaining his services, 140
Colonel Heathcote's Statement of his labors and character, 142
Account of Colonel Caleb Heathcote, Trinity Church, N. Y., and Rev. William Vesey, first minister, 143
Account of old forts and Sigourney family, 145
French Church-French River, its name, and Worcester Maga- zine, . 146, 147
Massacre and Dispersion-Names of tbe killed, . 148
Some returned to plantation for a time, 149
Account of Dr. Abial Holmes and Mrs. Sigourney, 152
Mrs. Sigourney's poem, 153
Rev. Peter Daillie and account of French Church at Boston, 154
Death of Rev. Mr. Daillie and place of burial, 156
Account of their meeting-house, and the origin and progress of the Roman Catholics at Boston, 158
Names of French Protestants here, and some account of their noted men, 160
viii
CONTENTS.
Faneuil Hall, its origin and history, 162
General Conway and Colonel Isaac Barre-His memorable speech in Parliament, and account of him, 163
Account of Gabriel Bernon, the factor of this French colony, and of Baron La Hautan, 165
Founding of Trinity Church, Newport, R. I., and some account of Bishop Berkeley-The founding of Redwood Library --- The Ode on the prospect of planting the Arts and Sciences in America, .
169-171
John Smibert, the pioneer painter in Americ 1, . 171
Founding of Huguenot Church at New Rochelle, New York 172 . Huguenots of Ulster County, New Paltz, N. Y., and " The Hugue- not's Farewell," by Mrs. Hemans, 173
Walloons, French Protestants, first settlers in N. Y., and Dutch Governors-Free toleration, 176
Huguenots settle in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Vir- ginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia, by differ- ent names, 178-183
OXFORD-ENGLISHI SETTLEMENT.
Proclamation by Grantees, . 185
Names of English Settlers and First Town-meeting, 187
First Meeting-house and First Ministers, 188, 189
Members of First Church and Second Meeting-house, and Pew Proprietors, 191-193
Schools and Schoolmaster,
197
Proceedings in the War of Revolution,
. 198-200
Soldiers of the Revolution, 201
Organization of State Government,
202-204
Oxford Army, Col. Rice, Commander, .
204
Territory of Oxford and Town Hall, . 205, 206
Town and State Officers,
207-209
Oxford Bank, 209
Manufacturing Companies,
.
210, 211
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Congregational Society, 213-220
Free Toleration in Religion established 1833,
214
Rev. Horatio Bardwell, account of,
217-219
Oxford Parsonage Association,
220
Account of Universalist Society, 221-228
Baptist Society,
228
Methodist Episcopal Society,
232
Protestant Episcopal Society,
233
.
ix
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Rev. John Campbell,
235
Lord Loudon, 235-242
Family of Rev. John Campbell,
240
Other Ministers of Congregational Society,
243
Wolcott Family,
244
LAWYERS.
Sumner Bastow and Samuel Jennison, 247
Erasmus Babbitt and Hon. Ira Moore Barton, 248
Hon. Alex. De Witt, . 250
Learned Family, and others,
254, 255
WOODSTOCK.
Located in the Nipmuck country, and the first meeting for securing the grant, 257
Second and third meeting, and names of petitioners, 258
Grant made by General Court, 259
Action by inhabitants of Roxbury,
259-268
Origin of name of Woodstock,
269
Joint action of Roxbury and Woodstock, 270-274
First political meeting of the town, 275
Division by proprietors for house lots, and their names, 278, 279
Erecting a corn mill, 280
First town meeting for organization, and names of officers, 282
Their first meeting - house-Their attendance upon religious worship, 286, 287
Character of the Puritans, 288
How Woodstock changed its jurisdiction from Massachusetts to Connecticut, 293-297
Parish of West Woodstock granted, 295
First town meeting to effect the change, reasons for joining Connecticut, and action of that colony, 299-303
Part of original grant lost by change of jurisdiction, 303
The part cut off became known as Middlesex Gore-The disposi- tion of said Gore, 304
French War and Revolutionary struggle, 305-312
The celebration of the National birthday, July 4, 1870, 313-319
The Woodstock Agricultural Society, 320
Woodstock Academy, 321-329, 524
Y
CONTENTS.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The First Congregational Church and Society, 331-348
Meeting Houses, 348, 349
Cemetery, 351
Hon. Samuel Dexter-Character, death, and place of burial, 352
The Second Congregational Society, West Parish,
354
The First Baptist Society,
364
The Second Baptist Society,
The Third Congregational Society, Muddy Brook, 365
The Congregational Society, North Woodstock.
367
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Gen. William Eaton, 373
Commodore Charles Morris,
376
Rev. Jedediah Morse, D.D.,
377
Professor S. F. B. Morse,
$80
Rev. Abial Holmes, D.D.,
390
John Marcy,
392
John Chandler and John Chandler, Jr.,
392
Capt. Israel Putnam's company of soldiers in garrison at Fort Edward, Dec. 5, 1755, 395
399
Other distinguished names in Woodstock,
402
DUDLEY.
An act for incorporating a new town in County of Worcester, by the name of Dudley, 405
The condition of its territory at that early period, 406, 407
First town meeting, and names of officers, 408
Doings relating to religious worship, 409
Arrangement and settlement of Rev. Charles Gleason, 410
411
Acts relating to war of Revolution,
411-415
Doing's regulating price of labor and sundry articles,
417
Acts relating to its territory, 419, 420 420
Its population,
Schools,
421
Town Clerks and Selectmen, 422
Nichols Academy, its first building and destruction by fire, .
423, 424
Act of Incorporation and aid for its support, 425-429
Doings for neutralizing its religious character, 430
Col. William Hancock its friend and benefactor, 432
Its officers for its government, and preceptors, 433
Aid by the Town of Dudley, 434
356-364
Henry C. Bowen, account of,
Account of the early Baptists here,
CONTENTS. xi
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
The Merino Wool Factory Company, 435
Tuft's Factory, or the Ram's Horn, 436
The Village Cotton, Wool and Linen Manufacturing Company, . 437
The Dudley Cotton Manufacturing Company, or Nichols Factory, 438
ECCLESIASTICAL.
The Congregational Society,
430
The Baptist Society,
443
The Universalist Society,
449
The Methodist Society,
451
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Hon. Aaron Tufts,
453
Hon. Geo. A. Tufts,
454
Hon. Peter C. Bacon,
455
Names of some of the noted inhabitants,
458
WEBSTER.
Its formation and territory, 461
Origin of Samuel Staler's works here,
462
Bela Tiffany's first visit here, and letter,
464
Operations at East Village,
465-469
Edward Howard, and operations at South Village, Village Factory Sale and purchase of other lands, Edward Howard sells to Samuel Slater and sons, Some account of Mr. Slater's affairs,
472
Character of Edward Howard,
476,477
John Tyson,
466, 467. 477
Bela Tiffany,
464-467, 477
Some account of Mr. Slater, .
479-481, 483
Tariffs of United States,
488-490
Wilkinson Family,
491
Hand-Loom weaving,
493
Power-Loom weaving, .
493
Advancement of cotton manufacture, .
494
Cotton and Cotton Gin,
495
Samuel Slater's family,
495
Samuel Slaters' second marriage,
496,497
Characteristics and change at Webster, and sucoess of the Sla- ters' business, 498-502
Horatio Nelson Slater, . 472, 498-501
Chief source of the prosperity of the town,
497
469
471
472-476
xii
CONTENTS.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Baptist Society,
503
Methodist Episcopal Society,
517
Protestant Episcopal Society,
518
Congregational Society,
522
Remarks,
523
Woodstock Academy, .
524
Its Teachers,
526
Letter from Oliver Wendell Holmes,
532
ERRATA.
VOLUME I.
Page 69, last line and last word, for offices, read officers.
6. 136, 3d line, for 1596, read 1696.
66 145, 16th line, for a massacre, read the massacre.
66 171, 7th line from bottom Note, for died 1728, read 1758.
66 6th line, for 1758, read 1728.
66 221, 13th line, for seventeenth century, read eighteenth.
280, 3d line, for Bramford, read Branford.
6. " 26th line, for Benjamin Lubin, read Benjamin Sabin.
291, 26th line, for future homes, omit future, and read their home.
66 305, 6th line, for their, read for the.
66 314, 13th line, for M. E. Bowen, read H. E. Bowen.
66 403, 12th line, for Rensalier, read Rensselaer.
507, 7th line, for Ballow, read Ballard.
66 512, 29th line, for Mr. Leonard, read Mr. Burbank.
66 530, 10th line, for 21 years, read 71 years.
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
SECTION I.
CHAPTER I.
TN proceeding with this work, the grant for the town of Oxford being the first among the several towns included in these historical sketches, its history will be the first to be given.
It is well known that the first attempt made for settling this grant was by a small colony of thirty families of French Protestants, commonly called " Huguenots," who fled their native country through persecution for adherence to their religious faith.
To excite a deeper interest in this people, and especially this small band who entered a wilderness country in a foreign land to find homes where they might live in peace, enjoy the rights of conscience, and to worship God according to its dic- tates, some account of the causes and sufferings of the Hugue- nots, that drove them to seek this refuge, will be given.
The writer is aware that a noted and able historian,* as. well as others of less notoriety, have written sketches of these
* See Dr. Abial Holmes' Memoirs of French Protestants at Oxford; 3d series Mass. Hist. Collections, vol. II, p. 20-26.
2
10
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
exiles and of their religious persecutions, yet it is deemed best, in a limited degree, to give some account of those troubles in connection with these collections.
To enter generally into this question would involve a his- tory of the Reformation in France, which would require more space and greater research than the limits of this work will permit ; but such is not the design. The Huguenots, like the Pilgrims and Puritans, were driven by the hand of oppression from their native land.
A large portion of the pioneer settlers who founded the English colonies in America, which subsequently united and formed the United States, were friends of the great religious reform in Europe that ultimately divided the Romish church and established Protestantism.
The circumstances, however, which had brought them to this newly-discovered land, differed according to the religious affairs of the country from which they came. The English Pilgrims and Puritans, the Scotch Presbyterians, and the French Huguenots, held substantially the same doctrines of religious faith. While the three first classes were persecuted for a non-conformity to a nominally Protestant church, the latter were persecuted for their refusing the ceremonies of the Papal hierarchy.
The early steps that led the way to the great religious re- form in church matters, it is not the design here to treat of- that runs anterior to a remote period ;- but to glance at some of the occurrences, subsequent to the era when the Reforma- tion became an established fact.
At this culminating point the religious and political affairs of Europe, to a great extent, were under the control of three reigning princes : first, Henry VIII, of England, whose posi- tion had been much strengthened by the judicious acts of his father, Henry VII, who came to the throne by removing, by his marriage, the discordant elements in the aspirations of
11
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
the two Houses of York and Lancaster *- securing the succes- sion in the line of his family. Henry VIII was crowned April 22, 1509, at the age of eighteen, and continued his reign thirty- eight years. By his marriage with Catherine of Aragon, widow of his deceased brother, Arthur, his political interests led him to favor the Romish church against the efforts then being urged to correct many of the abuses practiced by the priesthood of that great religious body. These efforts were designed to sustain a sound moral and religious sentiment, and not to effect a division in the church, as was the result.
Henry VIII strongly manifested his opposition to the Reform party by his writings against the Reformer, Luther, of Germany, for which the Pope, Leo X, in 1521, honored him with the title of "Defender of the Faith," which title has since been continued to the crowned heads of England.
Afterwards, having a desire to be divorced from Catherine, to enable him to contract a marriage with Anne Boleyn, and being refused permission by the Pope, he appealed to his parliament, which body, after some delay, in 1532, passed the act known as the " Anglican Schism," withdrawing the obedience of the King and people of England from the con- trol of the See of Rome. The marriage was then consum- mated, January 25, 1533, and their excommunication by Pope Paul, in 1535, followed; but, in defiance of this mandate of the Holy See of Rome, Henry VIII assumed the title of the head of the English church, placing himself and his people in- dependent of the Pope in both spiritual and political affairs.
The second was Francis I, of France, son of Charles, Count of Angouleme, and cousin of Louis XII, King of France, whose daughter, Claude, he married in 1514; and, as the nearest heir to the throne of that kingdom, he succeeded to the crown on the death of Louis, January 1, 1515. He
* Henry VII descended from the House of Lancaster, and married Elizabeth, of the House of York, daughter of Edward VI.
12
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
adhered rigorously to the cause of the Romish church, and reigned thirty-two years.
The third was Charles V, Emperor of Germany, and King of Spain, under the title of Charles I. He was son of Philip of Burgundy, Archduke of Austria, and Joanna, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. His father was son of the Emperor Maximillian, and Mary, daughter of Charles the Bold and Isabella of Bourbon. By the death of his father, Philip, in 1506, he became heir to the possessions of the House of Hapsburg in Germany, and the Dukedom of Bur- gundy (afterwards the Netherlands) in the right of his grand- mother. Mary. By the death of Ferdinand of Spain, in 1516, he inherited that kingdom as Charles I; also Naples and all the extensive dominion of Spain in America. He was the most powerful monarch at this time on the globe. He reigned as emperor thirty-six years.
When these three crowned heads came to their thrones the cause of reform was already a formidable power in Christen- dom ; many princes and nobles and other great minds among both the laity and priesthood had become pledged to its support. All parties rightly informed of the cause of this opposition to the existing condition of the church, and not influenced by selfish motives of either political or religious interests, favored the cause.
The Emperor of Germany, much of the time in the early part of his reign, was extensively engaged in military affairs in conducting war against the King of France, and was dis- posed to temporize rather than examine into the interest of his people in their religious matters, hoping to keep peace among his subjects by some conciliatory measures, whereby they all would continue under the church. In this decision he was doubtless actuated by the influence of the priesthood and the Pope.
The empire, at this period, had become greatly agitated by
13
REFORMATION IN FRANCE.
factious partizans, and in many instances for selfish objects ; but Luther and his friends of reform were not of this class ; they equally opposed these infractions of order and law, as those of the corruptions of the church and the profligacy of the mendicant friars.
They were consistent and ardent in their efforts to purify society, and to elevate the masses of the people to an intel- ligent understanding of religion.
In this state of society the emperor permitted the assem- bling of the diet at Spires in 1526, over which his brother, Ferdinand, presided.
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