USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical reminiscences of the early times in Marlborough, Massachusetts : and prominent events from 1860 to 1910, including brief allusions to many individuals and an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 1
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KY
HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES OF MARLBOROUGH MASSACHUSETTS
UBI NUNC MERLINI SAPIENTIS OSSA
1910
1660
Gc 974.402 M343b 1295366
M. L.
CENEALOGY COLLECTION
-
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 5893
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalremini1860bige
.
MRS. ELLA A. BIGELOW
HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES
OF
THE EARLY TIMES IN
MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS,
AND
PROMINENT EVENTS FROM 1860 TO 1910,
INCLUDING
BRIEF ALLUSIONS TO MANY INDIVIDUALS
AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE 1 . -
1
CELEBRATION OF THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
BY ELLA A. BIGELOW.
ARL
RO
A
M
1GH
A TOWN 1
TY 1890.
1660.
A CIT'
MARLBOROUGH, MASS. : TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS. I910.
IV.
THE AUTHOR DEDICATES THIS BOOK TO THOSE WHOSE ANCESTORS CAME OVER IN EARLY SHIPS AND PLANTED THE STURDY OLD MARLBOROUGH TREE FROM WHICH INNUMERABLE BRANCHES MAY BE COUNTED NEAR AND FAR, EVEN TO GREAT DISTANCE.
" Thunder our thanks to her - guns, hearts, and lips ! Cheer from the ranks to her, Shout from the banks to her - Mayflower ! Foremost and best of our ships." - John Boyle O'Reilly.
Copyright, 1910, by City of Marlborough.
V
PREFACE. 1295366
W HEN Dean Stanley came over here from England he was asked what he wanted to see, people or institutions or botany or buildings. And he answered : "History .- Show me History. Show me about the Revolution. Show me where the old Elm was, although I know it was blown down. Show me John Eliot's grave." And when Marlborough's children and grandchildren, and great great great grandchildren would entertain their visitors from far away, let them " show history." Let them show where the old Homesteads were builded, even tho' the originals are now no more. Show them the graves of the early pioneers of this prominent frontier settlement, and the places where they lived and suffered and enjoyed.
In offering this work, the author claims no originality other than that of selecting from preserved records and personal interviews with residents. Thanking each and every one who has aided her, Mayor J. J. Shaughnessy ; Ex-Mayor Henry Parsons ; and the Honorable Com- mittees of 1909 and 1910 for their hearty endorsement ; Hon. S. H. Howe, who particularly aided her by his words of kindly encourage- ment ; together with Representative Frank Pope of the Boston Globe ; Miss Sarah Cotting, Librarian; Messrs. P. B. Murphy, City Clerk ; Walter S. Goss, G. A. R. veteran; Thomas E. Campbell, ex-Chief Engineer Fire Department, and Capt. T. E. Jackson, for their inval- uable assistance in her search for data, she now presents to the public the facts which she has gained in regard to our City, and of the old Homesteads, water colors of which were from time to time painted by the late Boston artist, Ellen M. Carpenter, and from which half-tones have been made. If a home, family, individual or interesting or valuable fact has been omitted, it is only from lack of knowledge and from no personal wish.
Faithfully,
ELLA A. BIGELOW.
VI.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Coat of Arms,
Cover
Mrs. Ella A. Bigelow, Frontispiece
High Street and Town Hall, Old Marlborough, England, . AT.
High Street and St. Peter's Church, Old Marlborough, England, XT.
Marlborough College, Old Marlborough, England, ·
xvi.
George's Lane, Old Marlborough, England, xvi. .
The Green, Old Marlborough, England,
xvii.
The Devil's Den, Old Marlborough, England,
.
xvii.
" Saturday Night,"
2
A Sleigh-ride from Sudbury to Marlborough,
Burning of the First Church by the Indians,
5
The Ward, or Bonney Hayden Homestead.
9
The Asa Packard House,
10
Rev. Asa Packard,
12
Marlborough Public Library,
14
Andrew Carnegie,
17
The Deacon Phelps House, .
20
Homestead of Winthrop Arnold,
21
The Rev. Aaron Smith House,
23
Old Williams' Tavern,
25
Duke de la Rouchefoucauld,
27
Historical Table, .
28
Homestead of Ephraim Brigham,
30
The Old Barnes Homestead, 32
Homestead of Samuel, or Addington Brigham,
34
Caleb Witherbee and the Loring Homesteads,
35
The Old Homestead of the Bents and Stevens,
37
The Lewis Ames Homestead,
43
Lake Chauncy,
48
Soldiers' Monument, .
50
G. A. R. Building, ·
55
VII.
PAGE
Marlborough High School,
62
The Old Academy, ·
66
Universalist Church, .
68
Old Town Hall,
.
70
New City Hall,
.
72
House of Major Henry Rice,
73
Spinnet, or First Piano Used in Marlborough,
74
House of the Loyalist, Henry Barnes, .
75
Central Fire and Police Station,
81
No. 2 Engine House,
84
The Village Street, ·
.
87
Rev. S. F. Bucklin, .
88 90
Union Congregational Church,
94
The Grave of Captain Hutchinson,
97
King Philip,
98
Holy Trinity Church, ·
100
Cotting Tavern in Ye Olden Time,
101
Old View, Southeastern Part of Marlborough,
103
Larkin, or Winslow Brigham House, .
106
The Old Boyd, or Bennett House,
108
City Hospital,
109
House of Richard Farwell, or ex-Mayor John O'Connell,
113
The Old Parmenter House, .
117
House of Micah Sherman, or Winslow Barnes, .
118
The Harrington, or William Walker Homestead, ·
121
Ollerton, or Baguley Hall, England, .
·
124
John Bigelow and Mary Warren Dancing at their Wed- ding in Watertown, ·
126
Homestead of the Indian Captive,
·
.
131
House of Willard Morse, or Nevinson Stone, .
·
133
Newton, or Dadmun Homestead, · ·
134
Homestead of Mark and George Fay, ·
·
·
136
House of William Gates, ·
141
Home of Edward Holyoke, . ·
142
Home of Captain William Holyoke,
·
143
Home of Lieutenant Ephraim Barber, . .
145
The Martin 'Howe Homestead,
147
Reward of Merit, . ·
·
148
The Felton Homestead,
·
149
·
·
·
·
Ye Old Country Choir, .
VIII.
PAGE
The Dunton House, .
150
Homestead of Captain Jacob Holyoke,
.
151
Homestead of Gershom Rice,
152
The Nathan Drury, or Henry Holyoke House,
153
The Davis, or Israel Goulding Place, .
154
The Samuel Goodnow, or Bartlett Homestead,
155
First Rice Homestead in America,
157
Homestead of Peter Rice,
·
.
158
Home of Otis Russell,
.
161
The Joshua, or Thomas Rice Homestead,
162
Caleb Brigham Homestead, .
164
Homestead of Jonas Brigham,
166
Sligo, Ireland, .
167
The Samuel Howe Home, . ·
168
House of Deacon Isaac Hayden,
·
171
House of Doctor John Baker,
173
Home of Lambert, or Edward Bigelow,
175
Interior View of Same,
178
House of Deacon Stetson,
179
The Old Chipman, or Hemenway House,
181
Sawin Tavern,
182
Colonial House of the Chipmans, ·
183
General Burgoyne, ·
185
Homestead of Captain Aaron Stevens, .
187
Goodman Howe Homestead,
189
John How and the Indians, . ·
191
Fairview Farm, . ·
.
194
The Simeon Cunningham Homestead, .
·
198
The Major Jedediah Brigham Homestead,
199
Home of William Stowe, or Barnard, .
200
William Barnard, or Parmenter Home,
201
The Daniel Williams Homestead,
202
Peace Peters, or Elijah Dickinson, ·
·
203
Homestead of Samuel Warren,
204
Whitmore, or Theodore Temple Homestead,
206
Homestead of Stephen Morse,
.
209
Homestead of William Hagar,
.
213
·
192
The Farm of Thaddeus Howe,
·
195
Homestead of Deacon Howe,
.
.
·
IX.
PAGE
The Uriah Eager, or Moses Barnes Homestead, (now Sowerby) .
216
Joab Stowe, or Hitchcock Place, .
217
Home of Samuel Howe, .
.
- 218
Francis Weeks Farm, .
.
219
Homestead of Deacon Goodale,
220
Supply Weeks Homestead,
223
Elizabeth Howe, carried away by the Indians,
225
Methodist Church .
228
The Jabez Stowe or Welch Homestead,
229
The Rufus Stowe Homestead,
230
The William Eager Homestead, .
232
The Ephraim Maynard Homestead (now Curtis)
233
The Lewis Hapgood Homestead,
236
The Jabez Huntington Homestead,
238
The Old Arcade, .
239
Father Hamilton, .
240
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Prospect Street,
241
New Parochial School,
242
Pleasant Street in Ye Olden Days, .
244
The Clisbee House, ·
246
Unitarian Church,
252
Home of Lewis T. Frye,
254
Stedman Wheeler House,
255
The Old Stephen Howe Place,
256
The House of Luke Wood, .
257
Ithamer Brigham Homestead,
259
The Moses Brigham Homestead, Crane Meadow,
260
Emerson Howe or Dana Bigelow,
261
St. Mary's Church, Broad Street, ·
263
St. Ann's Academy, ·
264
Boys' College,
265
Eber Howe Homestead
266
William Allen Homestead, .
267
Lieut. Ivory Bigelow Homestead,
270
Gershom Bigelow Homestead,
271
Esquire Levi Bigelow Homestead,
272
The Charles Howe Farm,
274
Baptist Church,
275
Old Time Monument Square,
276
-
Y.
PAGE
Natural History Building,
278
The Old Albee House,
279
Benjamin Franklin,
281
Otis Morse House,
286
The State Armory,
287
Martin or Abel Rice House,
295
The Joseph Howe Farm,
298
The Tayntor Homestead,
301
The Francis Gleason Homestead,
304
Homestead of Solomon Barnes,
307
Ex-Mayor S. Herbert Howe,
333
Ex-Mayor George A. Howe,
.
337
Ex-Mayor William N. Davenport,
339
Ex-Mayor Charles L. Bartlett,
·
343
Ex-Mayor Eugene G. Hoitt,
·
345
Ex-Mayor Edward J. Plunkett,
·
347
Ex-Mayor F. R. S. Mildon,
·
351
Ex-Mayor Edward F. Brown, .
353
Mayor John J. Shaughnessy,
366
City Treasurer Charles F. Robinson,
369
Collector of Taxes William H. Osgood, ·
370
City Auditor Charles S. Thomson,
371
Superintendent of Streets Louis N. Richer,
372
Superintendent of Water Works George A. Stacy, .
373
Executive Committee Marlborough Board of Trade,
392
Chairmen of Committees-Marlborough's 250th Anniversary Celebration,
402-3
Aldermen 1910,
·
Common Councilmen 1910 .
.
426-7
Chief Marshal Anniversary Parade,
.
433
Float, Landing of Columbus ·
.
435
Float, The Village Choir.
.
437
Float, Signing First Deed, .
.
439
Governor Eben S. Draper, .
.
453
·
349
Ex-Mayor Henry Parsons, . .
355
City Solicitor James W. McDonald,
368
City Clerk Peter B. Murphy,
424
430
Float, Peace and Liberty
335
Ex-Mayor John O'Connell, .
341
Ex-Mayor Walter B. Morse,
XI.
PAGE
Lieutenant-Governor Louis A. Frothingham,
454
Miss Martha L. Ames (Poet),
.
.
457
Miss Annie A. Howes (Odist ),
463
Hon. Charles S. Hamlin, Orator of the Day,
465
Chief Marshal and Staff,
·
470
Float, Ye Olde Fashioned Skule,
471
Float, Daughters of the Revolution,
476
Edward L. Bigelow, Chairman Public Library Committee,
477
Fac Simile of Anniversary Envelope, .
480
Float, Indian Village,
.
.
481
XII.
CONTENTS.
Old Marlborough, England, and Saturday Night Customs, 1 Sudbury, and the " Red Horse Tavern," 4
Account of Burning of First Church by the Indians, .
6
Letter from Rev. Cotton Mather to the People of Marl- borough,
7
The Old Ward Garrison and Bonney Hayden House,
9
Stories about Rev. Asa Packard,
.
12
Founding of Public Library, .
14
Gift of Andrew Carnegie to Marlborough,
17
Bequest of Silas and Abraham Gates to Marlborough,
20
Christian Science Society
22
Story about Rev. Aaron Smith,
23
Duke de la Rochefoucauld Visits Old Williams Tavern,
26
Captain Ephraim Brigham's Bequest to Marlborough,
31
Story of Jonathan, John and Mary Barnes,
32
Wit of Caleb Witherbee,
36
Petition of Elizabeth Bent, . ·
39
Thomas Brigham and His Wealth, . .
44
President Chauncy Gives Up His Farm,
49
Dedication of Soldiers' Monument. Names of Soldiers,
50
Post 43 G. A. R., chartered 1868 : G. A. R. Relief Society, 57
60
High School Building Dedicated,
62
High School Principals,
.
.
Evening School, · .
65
Building of the Old Academy, .
67
List of Pastors of Universalist Church,
69
Account of Old Town Hall,
70
Postmasters,
71
Dedication of New City Hall, .
73
Story of Henry Barnes, the Loyalist, .
75
Dedication of Central Fire and Police Station,
81
.
.
64
Commanders of G. A. R., .
PAGE
XIII.
PAGE
Firemen in the Civil War, . Chief Engineers of Fire Department, .
83
Some of Our Principal Fires,
86
Death of Rev. Sylvester F. Bucklin at 200th Anniversary of Marlborough,
88
Deacon John E. Curtis Comes to Town,
91
Names of Old-time Pew Holders in Spring Hill Church, 95
King Philip's War,
98
Holy Trinity Parish,
99
Old Tavern Days, .
101
Journalism in Marlborough, . .
103
An Early Shoe Shop,
108
Incorporation of Marlborough Hospital,
.
110
Tribute to Thomas Corey, .
112
Romance of John O'Connell's Life, ·
113
Maple Street Play-ground, ·
118
John Bigelow, taken prisoner by the Indians,
132
Generosity of Mark Fay, .
137
Origin of Gates Pond,
141
Kindness to the Indians, .
151
Jonathan Brigham, called the Indian Warrior,
153
The Story of Mary Goodnow,
156
Edmund Rice marries Mercy Brigham,
157
Order to Joshua Rice, Constable of Marlborougl.,
162
Cotillion Parties of Olden Time,
165
Description of Sligo, Ireland,
·
167
Wit of Samuel Howe, .
169
Stories of Dr. John Baker, .
173
Lambert Bigelow Builds Historical House,
176
Chipman's Corner, ·
184
General Burgoyne Passes Through Marlborough,
186
First White Inhabitant, .
189
Tribute to William B. Rice,
196
Early Settlers, ·
207
Interesting Story of the Goodales,
222
Elizabeth Howe, Indian Captive, 226 . .
Pastors of Methodist Church, .
229
Location of Block-houses or Forts in Early Times, 234
List of Pastors of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 242
Pew Holders in First West Church,
253
·
.
.
85
XIV.
PAGE
List of Pastors of St. Mary's Church,
264
List of Pastors of Baptist Church,
276
Early School Masters,
280
Tuition Certificate, Gates Academy,
285
Spanish-American War Notes,
287
Spanish-American Volunteers, ·
290
Bill of Sale for Negro Slaves,
299
STATISTICAL :
Civil War Notes, 311
Record of Soldiers and Sailors of Civil War,
316
Tables Showing Polls, Valuation, and Tax Rate, from 1860 to 1909, 328
Representatives to the General Court,
.
329
Senators from Marlborough Since 1860,
.
330
Treasurers of Marlborough, 331
331
Marlborough Becomes a City,
·
332
Brief Sketches of Lives of Ex-Mayors,
357
Sketches of Lives of Heads of City Departments,
366
Topography,
375
Aged People, 1910,
.
376
Clubs and Organizations, .
377
Events of Interest, 1676 to 1910,
380
Industries of the City, .
389
Board of Trade, .
·
391
Banks of Marlborough, . ·
393
250TH ANNIVERSARY :
Inception, .
397
Committees, .
·
.
398
Correspondence,
407
Extracts from Various Church Services, .
.
412
Civic and Military Parade, ·
·
·
429
Afternoon Exercises on High School Common, Firemen's Exercises,
.
466
Sports,
·
·
472
Official Invitation, .
·
.
478
Notes on the Celebration, ·
483
.
.
447
Town Clerks of Marlborough,
XV.
HIGH STREET AND TOWN HALL, OLD MARLBOROUGH, ENGLAND.
SUN HOTEL
HIGH STREET AND ST. PETER'S CHURCH, OLD MARLBOROUGH, ENGLAND.
XVI.
MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE One of the Great Public Schools of England.
FFEH
GEORGE'S LANE. OLD MARLBOROUGH, ENGLAND.
XVII.
THE GREEN, OLD MARLBOROUGH.
THE DEVIL'S DEN, OLD MARLBOROUGH.
CHAPTER I.
They in old Marlborough across the seas cry : " Where now lie the bones of the Wizard Merlin?" We in Marlborough this side of the water, cry : " Where now lie the bones of our forefathers, and where were their old Homesteads located ?"
In mutual honor to the two Marlboroughs, we begin our " Reminiscences " with the interesting Coat of Arms of old Marlborough, England, giving a few views of Merlinsburg, Marleberg or Marlborough, of which place we are namesake. The termination burg or borough had reference to earthen works of some kind either for fortification or sepulture, and the huge discovered tumulus, the nucleus of old Marlborough in England, was attributed to the entombment there of the Ambrosian Merlin, the scene of his wonderful labors. The Latin inscription appeals to the imagination as we return in retrospect to the land of our forefathers, and to the pretty town on the banks of the river Kennet in Wilts County, seventy-five miles from London. As time went on some more prosaically inclined thought the name formerly written Malberg or Malbridge to have been derived from the marl or chalk hills by which it was surrounded. But whatever conception, it was undeniably a town of former considerable notoriety. In the days of King William it possessed a strong castle, and in 1110 Henry I. held his court here. King John constituted the castle the chief depository for his will and important documents. In 1265 King John ordered the constable of Marlborough castle to employ a subject to make cross-bows for stone projectiles, allowing said employe, his wife and son 6d per day. While King John was holding his court there, and in the civil wars during that period, the place was alternately held by the King and the Barons. The assizes were held there from the time of Henry III. to that of Charles I. and in the fifty-second year of Henry III. Parliament assembled there. The town was chartered by Elizabeth. In 1206 the Queen made a visit to Marlborough and the King makes this entry in his cash account : " Credit the constable of Marlborough castle £10 which he laid out in the expense of the Queen." In the quarrels with his Barons about the Great Charter, the stronghold at Marlborough was one of the Kings retreats. In the forests of Marlborough at this early age were hares, badgers, foxes and wild cats. Marlborough, Massachusetts, was incorporated May 31, 1660, (old style), not by an elaborate charter setting forth its boundaries, duties and liabilities, but by the laconic order : "The name of said plantation 'whipsufferage' shall be called Marlborow." It was in this same year 1660 when our Marlborough was
2
incorporated that the old town in England was being rebuilt. In 1653 the latter town was laid in ashes by fire caught in a tannery from over- dried bark. Two hundred and fifty houses were burnt, and at the same time experienced the affliction of the Great Civil War that begun near 1640 and continued to 1690. There is no doubt that we inherited the name of the English Marborough. At that time it was a popular name. A great General born 1650 was called subsequently the Duke of Marlborough ; others called the Earl of Marlborough and Lady of Marlborough. The English called the fort they erected on the Island of Sumatra, Fort Marlborough. The English historians speak of " The transplantation of the name of Marlborough to a score of new sites in the Colonies. " Many of our Puritanical ideas and customs were brought over from Marlborough as for instance, in Elizabeth's reign from the town laws is quoted : " Every Saturday night after a fair, every man shall sweep before his own door." The picture below illustrates the custom, and Saturday night-" This night his weekly moil is at an end-collects his spades, his mattocks and his hoes"-was but the beginning of Sabbath day.
"IF EACH BEFORE HIS OWN DOOR SWEPT, THE VILLAGE WOULD BE CLEAN."
3
In 1657 Cromwell gave old Marlborough, England, a new charter. Among the Aldermen elected was William Barnes, a Marlborough, U. S. name. " This year William Penn preached in Marlborough and was mobbed." And so might countless stories and facts be cited to prove the tie that bound Marlborough to Marlborough each side of the Great Ocean.
AS LYMAN AND HIS SISTER JERUSHY HOWE, THE BELLE OF SUDBURY, CAME RIDING TO MARLBOROUGHI FROM THE " RED HORSE TAVERN".
" As ancient is this hostelry As any in the land may be."
The above interesting picture illustrates an old time sleighride when the intercourse between our mother town, Sudbury, and her offspring, Marlborough, was even more frequent than today. As Howe's "Black Horse" Tavern was frequented in Marlborough in early days, so was favorite the Red Horse Tavern of Ezekiel Howe, son of David How,
4
the builder of said tavern. Ezekiel took this hostelry in Sudbury as early as 1746 when the soldiers and teams to and from the French war on the Lakes made this their halting place.
When Colonel Ezekiel died in 1796, his son, Adam, kept the house for about forty years when it passed into the hands of his son, Lyman, who was the last Howe innkeeper. The Indians were always friendly to the Howes and this is probably the reason that the Inn survived the Indian wars; for although the Howes were suspected of being staunch Tories, whatever their convictions, their policy was ever to conciliate all purties, and thus happily was preserved this fine old place replete with interesting reminiscences to the lover and seeker of ancient landmarks.
When the Puritans first landed in New England, they separated and established themselves in different settlements. The desire for possession of land becoming a passion, and on account of the decree of General Court that no one should remove to any other town without permission of magistrate or selectman of same town until peace was settled, several leading inhabitants of Sudbury-our mother town-petitioned General Court 1656 to make a town " eight miles distant" which petition being granted, formed the Marlborough Plantation. Prior to this, through the efforts of Mr. Eliot, land had been granted to the Indians who had named their Plantation "Ockoocangansett. " This included the hill back of the old Meeting House Common-the present High School grounds. Their Plantation Field consisting of 150 acres more or less cultivated, was near the old site of the Boston & Maine Railroad. The English Plantation was situated to the south and west of the Indian Plantation, and by subsequent grants nearly surrounded it. This Plantation before it was incorporated was known by the name of Whipsufferadge or Whipsuppenicke. In the laying out of Marlborough some have wondered why the higher points or locality was not chosen, but history tells us that meadow lands were at that time for the most part generally sought on account of the supply of grass for their cattle, and to this day are preserved the names of Flag Meadow, Fort Meadow, Stony Brook Meadow, Crane Meadow, Cedar Meadow, Stirrip Meadow and Cold Harbor Meadow.
When the good folks came over from Sudbury town to start a new home in Whipsufferadge or Marlboro, the first thing they did after laying out their homesteads and holding meetings to form some necessary laws was to build a place for general worship. Cotton Mather, at that time the acknowledged spiritual adviser, objected to calling this house a "church" and declared it must be a "Meeting House, " and this was the name
5
these buildings were given for many years. It was the law that the homesteads should cluster around in the meadow land not more than half a mile within each others reach, and that as an outlook, probably in case of danger from the enemy, that the meeting house should be on an elevation. Our High School Common in earliest days was more elevated than at present and this location was chosen on which to build the place of meeting for the " Lord's Day."
INDIANS BURNING FIRST CHURCH.
It was in 1660 that a tax was imposed to pay Rev. William Brims- mead, then laboring with the early settlers of Marlborough as their minister, and to erect a house for him, which they did ; and completing, voted in 1662 to donate it to him and his heirs and assigns forever. This we imagine was in lieu of a regular salary, for during the Colonial period money was scarce. We read of Rev. Francis Higginson, an early clergyman, receiving a salary of 30 pounds a year, house and land, firewood and diet. His contract mentioned specifically that he should have the milk and one-half the calves of two cows. At the end of three years service he was to receive a grant of 100 acres of land and at the end of seven years a grant of 100 acres more. In 1636, Rev. Stephen Bachiler refused an offer of the town of Ipswich of a grant of 30 acres of meadow land and 60 acres of upland. Later he accepted an
6
offer of 300 acres of land from the town of Hampton, New Hampshire, and became pastor of the church there. Dr. John Pratt, who came to Salem in 1629, was to receive a salary of £20 a year and a house and 100 acres of land. Mr. Brimsmead's house was located near the late Mrs. Wright's residence, southwest of the High School. Having pro- vided a house for their minister, they then erected on the hill where · stands the High School building their house for public worship. It was a small, one-storied building with oil paper in the windows for light, and thatched with straw or kind of tall grass taken from the meadow, since called from that circumstance Thatch meadow. People were called to meeting at that time by the beating of the drum. Then flocked the people two by two to the little old church.
" Each man equipped on Sunday morn' With psalm book, shot and powder horn. "
The time of preaching the sermon was about an hour in length, one in the morning and another in the afternoon after short intermission, and was measured by an hour glass placed upon the pulpit. Carriages were unknown and those who rode went horse back with pillion for wife or daughter who dismounted easily by aid of the horse block near the meeting house. No man ever went unarmed in those days, for the dreaded foe might ever come upon him.
One cold March morning in 1676 while preaching his Sunday sermon in this little thatched-roof meeting house, Father Brims- mead was interrupted by the awful cry : " The Indians ! . The Indians are upon us !" Confusion and fright ensued. All made for the neigh- boring garrison (the old Ward house) where miraculously they escaped with a single exception. Brave Moses Newton, stopping to rescue an aged and infirm woman who was unable to move rapidly, brought her at last safely to the garrison, though with a ball in his arm, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. Secure in the garrison all were able to defend themselves, but their property, the parsonage, the meeting house, dwellings, cattle and fruit orchards were totally destroyed by the terrible foe. It is told that one of the tricks of the Indians, who so constantly kept the people in alarm was to hide Sundays in the swamp east of Fairmount, and from there, fire their guns in the direction of the church, which being erected upon their own planting field was no doubt an offense to them. This was the time when discouraged by their losses the inhabitants left Marlborough for a safer neighborhood, until some time in the early part of the following year the settlers returned and on the same location erected a new meeting house, which like the former,
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