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Free Public Library Butiana, Mass.
A
HISTORY OF RUTLAND:
WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS,
FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT,
WITH A
BIOGRAPHY OF ITS FIRST SETTLERS.
- BY JONAS REED,
Every child should know the history of its native Town.
WORCESTER : MIRICK & BARTLETT, PRINTERS. , 1836.
WORCESTER: Reprinted from the Edition of 1836, in the style of the original, BY TYLER & SEAGRAVE, 1879. Free Public Library, Rutland, Mass.
2 974.4 R
TC
THE YOUTH OF RUTLAND,
AT HOME OR ABROAD,
IN THE SUNSHINE OF PROSPERITY,
OR IN THE SHADE OF ADVERSITY,
THAT YOU MAY SHUN THE VICES AND CHERISH
THE VIRTUES OF YOUR ANCESTORS,
THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY YOUR AFFECTIONATE FRIEND, ยท THE AUTHOR.
INTRODUCTION.
BELIEVING it to by the indispensable duty of every son and daughter of Adam to be active and useful in the sphere Providence has placed them, I have, being by sickness partially deprived of the use of my limbs, for my own amusement and information, and that my last days might not be wholly useless, spared no reasonable exertions to acquire a knowledge of the first settlers and settlement of Rutland.
Although not born within its limits, yet, having the day after my birth received the seal of baptism in its first meeting-house, and having lived upwards of seventy years at my present residence, I feel interested in its welfare and prosperity, especially in its children and youth. Knowing that many of you have acquired a knowledge of your country and globe, and believing it would be inter- esting and pleasing to you to have the means of becoming better acquainted with the place of your birth; and that by contrasting the dangers, difficulties and deprivations of the first settlers with your own safety, enjoyment and privi- leges, it may inspire you with gratitude to the great Au- thor of all events, and perpetuate a pleasing and grate -.
vi
INTRODUCTION.
ful remembrance of your ancestors ; and relying on the can- dor of your parents and your good will, I have prepared a concise Geographical, Historical and Biographical Sketch of persons, incidents and facts connected with the same, the Revolutionary War, and of the most prominent occur- rences down to the present time, collected from the Pro- prietor's Book, Town and Church Records, Whitney's History of the County of Worcester, Worcester Maga- zine, aged people, and from my own knowledge and ob- servation ; many occurrences are verbatim from the original authors, to all of whom I tender due acknowledgments.
It has been my aim to be impartial in selecting persons, incidents and facts, and to be more particular to such as are of ancient date. Many things worthy to be perpetuat- ed, no doubt, will for want of information and room be omitted, but nothing inserted, that there is any doubt of its authenticity. It is the ardent desire of the compiler that you may shun the errors and vices of your ancestors, and imitate them in all things that are praiseworthy.
If these pages should be of any assistance to the future historian, and their perusal be as pleasing to the reader, as the collection of the facts has been perplexing to the author, his labor has not been useless.
Rutland, May, 1836.
J. R.
CONTENTS.
PAGE. An outline of the Twelve Miles Square-Indian Deed, 9
An outline of the Adjoining Towns, - - - 12 Proprietors' Meeting, - - 15
Six Miles Square-House Lots, 16
Committee of Rutland-Meadows, - 18
House Lots and after divisions confirmed,
-
20
Proprietors' Committee, -
22
Rutland-When Incorporated, - 25
By whom Rutland was peopled, 28
Lands, Waters, &c., 29
Hills, - 34
Vales or Valleys, 37
Localities, - 38
Roads in Rutland, 41
County of Worcester-When Incorporated, - 46
School Districts, 49 -
Schools, 50
Resources of Rutland, 56
Revolutionary War-Stamp Act, - 60
Barracks, 64
Shay's War, 66
Buildings, &c., 67
Sickness, 69
Accidents by Guns-Casualties by Water, - 70
Casualties by Fire,
-
-
71
viii
CONTENTS.
PAGE. Extract from Rev. Mr. Whitney's History of Rutland, 73
Ecclesiastical History, 7 4
Mr. Frink's Answer, 75
Solemn Covenant, 76 79
Mr. Frink's Ordination,
Mr. Sewall's Gift, 80
Rev. Mr. Frink's Dismission, 81
Presbyterians, 82 Mr. Thomas Marsh-Church Meeting-Mr. Buckminster, 83
Town Meeting-Mr. Buckminster's Answer, 84
Rev. Hezekiah Goodrich, 85
Mr. Goodrich's Ordination, - 86
Church Meeting-Mr. Luke Baldwin Foster,
87
Mr. Foster's Answer,
88
Mr. Foster's Ordination. 90
Church Meeting-Rev. Josiah Clark, 91
Ministers of Rutland-When Settled, Dismissed or Died-
Deacons of the Church-When Chosen-Members of the Church at different periods. 93
Baptisms-Marriages, 94
Indians, - 95
Biographical Sketches of College Graduates and other individuals belonging to Rutland, 97
Enterprise, - 164
Pensioners, 168 .
New Boston.
N
Ceofar
20
19
54|55
-
63
33 321
62
2
Saw
31
Mill
16
15
Farm.
1
Mill lot
37
56
34
2
26
36
MHT
27
Province
I4
29
Farm.
- 15
Ino
13
21
II
IO
22
1
23
Pond.
65 |
24
Muschopauge
25-
1
20 1
Capt. Benj. Willard's
660 acres
1
I 7
-
49
Pond.
1000 acres.
Farm.
Sewall's
Judge
591
42
30
1000 acres.
PLAN OF RUTLAND,
AND ITS HOUSE LOTS
This Plan is not intended to be precise as to measurement, and is only intended to give a general idea of localities.
wAmp Iond.
North Part of Paxton.
urkey Hill
57
68
28
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
AN OUTLINE OF THE TWELVE MILES SQUARE.
INDIAN DEED.
ON the 22d of December, 1686, Joseph Trask, alias Puagastion, of Pennicook ; Job, alias Pompamamay, of Natick ; Simon Piticom, alias Wananapan, of Wamassick ; Sassawannow, of Natick, James Wiser, alias Qualipunit, of Natick, (Indians who claimed to be lords of the soil,) gave and executed a Deed to Henry Willard, Joseph Rowlandson, Joseph Foster, Benjamin Willard and Cypri- an Stevens, for 237. of the then currency, of a certain tract of land containing twelve miles square, according to the butts and bounds following, viz. "The name in general being Naquag, the South corner butting upon Musco- pauge Pond, and running North to Quanitick and to Wan- chatopick, and so running upon great Watchusett, which is the North corner ; so running Northwest to Wallaman- umpscook, and so to Quapuanimawick, a little pond, and so to Asnaconcomick Pond, which is the Northwest corner ; and so running South and so to Musshauge a great swamp, and so to Sassakataffick which is the South corner ; and so running East to. Pascatickquage, and so to Ahumpatun-
1
10
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
shauge, a little pond, and so to Sumpauge Pond, and so to Muscopauge, which is the East corner." This Indian Deed, signed and acknowledged by the above named Indi- ans, was received April 14th, 1$14, and entered with the record of deeds. for the county of Middlesex, liber 16, page 511, by Samuel Phips, register.
CONFIRMED BY THE GENERAL COURT.
UPON the petition of the sons and grandsons of Major Simon Willard,* of Lancaster, deceased, and others, for approbation and confirmation of their title to the above tract of land, the General Court, on the 23d of February, 1713, passed this order, "That the lands in the Indian Deed, and according to their butts and hounds, be confirm- ed to the children of the said Simon Willard, deceased, or to their legal representatives, and to the other petitioners, or their legal representatives and associates, provided that within seven years time there then be 60 families settled thereon and sufficient lands reserved for the use of a gospel ministry and schools, except what part thereof the Hon. Samuel Sewall, Esq., hath already purchased, and that this grant shall not encroach upon any former grant or grants, nor exceed the quantity of twelve miles square .- The town to be called Rutland, and to lye to the county of Middlesex."
But this order, resolve or act of Court was not consid- ered as an act of incorporation as will hereafter appear.
This tract of land contained 93,160 acres, including 1000 acres for the Hon. Mr. Sewall ; and was surveyed by
* This was the famous Major Willard who went to relieve Brook- field when beset by the Indians.
11
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
William Ward, in October, 1715. The names of the orig- inal proprietors of Rutland as named in the associate deed, and their shares are, (Joseph Foster had two shares, the rest had one share each.) Cyprian's Steven's wife, Mary Willard's heirs, Joseph Rowlandson's heirs, Simon Wil- lard, John Willard, Benjamin Willard, Joseph Willard, Josiah Willard's heirs, Rev. Samuel Willard's heirs Henry Willard's heirs, Daniel Willard's heirs, Jonathan Willard's heirs, Thomas Brintnal, Nathaniel Howard's heirs, Robert Blood's heirs, Joshua Edmund's heirs, and Col. William Taylor, Penn Townsend, Paul Dudley, Ad- ington Davenport, Col. Adam Winthrop, Capt. Thomas Hutchinson. Major Thomas Fitch, Thomas Howe, John Chandler, Col. William Dudley, Esqrs., Mr. John White, John Farnsworth, Col. Buckley's heirs, Moses Parker, and Jacob Stevens,-in all thirty-three shares.
BOUNDS AND CONTENTS OF THE TWELVE MILES SQUARE.
WITHIN the aforesaid grant is about one eighth part of the County of Worcester, comprising. what now is Rut- land, Oakham, Barre, Hubbardston, the greatest part of Princeton, and about one-half of Paxton ; and was bound- ed as follows, viz .: Southerly and Easterly on Worcester about 8 miles-on Leicester W. 7 degrees, N. 7 1-2 miles-by New Braintree Farms and the Country N. 41 degrees, W. 11 miles-by the Country E. 30 degrees N. 13 miles-and by the Country S. 39 degrees, E. 11 iniles.
12
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
AN OUTLINE OF THE ADJOINING TOWNS.
BARRE.
THIS was the Northwest part of Rutland's original grant ; it was made a district by act of the Legislature in the year 1749, and called Rutland District, until June 14, 1774, when it was made a town, and the name of Barre- was given to it, as a token of respect to a great and worthy friend of America, at that time a member of the British House of Commons. The Church of Christ in this place was gathered July 30th, 1753, and the Rev. Thomas Frink was installed their pastor, on the last Wednesday in Octo- ber following.
HUBBARDSTON.
THIS was called " the Northeast quarter of Rutland," being wholly included in the original grant of that town, and was incorporated on the 12th day of June. 1767, and called Hubbardston, to perpetuate the name and memory of the late Hon. Thomas Hubbard, Esq., of Boston, who had been sometime speaker of the House of Representa- tives ; a member of the corporation of Harvard University, in Cambridge, and a large proprietor of lands in this place. The Congregational Church in Hubbardston was embodied on the 13th of June, 1770, and on the same day the Rev. Nehemiah Parker was ordained their pastor.
PRINCETON.
ON the 20th of October, 1759, the General Court of
13
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
Massachusetts passed an act for incorporating the East Wing, so called, of Rutland, together with sundry farms and some public lands contiguous thereto; and gave the place the name of Princeton, to perpetuate the name and memory of the late Rev. Thomas Prince, colleague pastor of the Old South Church in Boston, and a large proprietor of this tract of land, whose daughter and only surviving child, the Hon. Judge Gill married for his first wife. On the 12th of August, 1764, the Church of Christ was em- bodied in this town. The Rev. Timothy Fuller was or- dained their first pastor on the 9th day of September, 1767. The part of Princeton taken from Rutland was surveyed for the proprietors, and laid out into forty-eight farms of two hundred and thirty-seven acres each, and a strip of two hundred and fifty acres undivided.
OAKHAM.
THE whole of this town was included in that tract of land of twelve miles square, which was purchased of the Indians, confirmed to the petitioners, and called Rutland, in the year 1713.
After the town of Rutland was incorporated, this part was called Rutland West Wing, until the year 1759, when the inhabitants had certain privileges granted them, and the place was called the Precinct of Rutland West Wing, until its incorporation by an act of the Legislature, June 7th, 1762, when the name of Oakham was given to it. The Church of Christ in this place was embodied in presbyterian form August 28th, 1767, and the Rev. John Strictland was ordained their pastor, April 1st, 1768. Oakham was lotted and numbered for the proprietors 1*
14
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
into forty-eight farms of two hundred and fifty acres each, exclusive of several remnants.
HOLDEN.
ALTHOUGH no part of the twelve miles square, it cor- ners within two miles of Rutland meeting-house. The town of Holden was taken wholly from the town of Wor- cester, being included in their original grants. It was in- corporated on the 9th of January, 1740. The Church of Christ in this place was formed on the 22d of December, 1742, and on the same day the Rev. Joseph Davis was ordained' their first pastor. Holden had its name given to it, to perpetuate the name and deeds of the Hon. Samuel Holden, Esq., one of the directors of the Bank of England, and of his lady and their amiable daughters, who had been great and generous benefactors to the literary and religious interests of this country. This worthy, benevolent man transmitted to New England for charitable purposes, in books and bills of exchange, to the amount of 48477., New England currency. After his de- cease, Mrs. Holden and daughters sent over in value 5585l for the same noble and pious uses.
With part of this latter sum, Holden Chapel, in the University of Cambridge, in Massachusetts, was erected in the year 1745.
PAXTON.
THIS was taken from the towns of Leicester and Rut- land, in nearly equal parts; and was incorporated on the 12th of February, 1765, when it received its name from Charles Paxton, a Commissioner of the Customs, &c.
15
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
The Church in Paxton was embodied September 3d, 1767. The Rev. Silas Bigelow was ordained their first minister, October 21st, 1767. The part of Paxton set off from Rutland held their share of town, church, and military officers for about fifty years, united in erecting public buildings, and in the worship of the sanctuary. The fol- lowing persons had pews in the meeting-house erected in 1759. Samuel Brown, Jahazaniah Newton, Hezekiah Newton, Samuel Man, Ephraim Moore, Paul How, Jona- than Knight, Stephen Barret, James McKennan. Pax- ton being set off, the pews became the property of Rut- land, and the money paid for them was refunded. The following were the persons that petitioned to be set off in May, 1763. John Snow, Samuel Brown, Eleazer Ward, Jahazaniah Newton, James Ames, Jacob Sweetser, Abel Brown, Ephraim Moore, Hezekiah Newton, Benjamin Sweetser, James McKenan, James Black, William Allen, James Brown, David Goodenow, Silas Bellows, Phinehas Moore, Aaron Hunt, and David Bent. All of the above- named were set off except David Bent.
The families set off from Rutland to Paxton were worthy, respectable people; some of their descendants are now inhabitants of Rutland of the fifth generation.
PROPRIETORS' MEETING.
THE proprietors, at a meeting at Boston, December 14th, 1715, voted that the contents of six miles square be surveyed, and set off for the settlement of 62 families in order to the performance of the condition of the grant. The six miles square, granted to men who would go on and settle, was that part which is now called Rutland.
And at said meeting, appointed Thomas How, Stephen
16
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
Minot, Thomas Smith, Estes Hatch, Jacob Stevens, Ephraim Wilder, and Samuel Wright, a committee to transact the concerns of the proprietors; and to see that justice and equity was done to the settlers. And also at said meeting, the proprietors for divers considerations, (one of which was to promote a mill,) granted unto Capt. Benjamin Willard one-third part of a thirty-third part of said township, or nine hundred and thirty acres.
SIX MILES SQUARE.
AGREEABLE to the vote of the proprietors, the committee surveyed and set off lands equal to six miles square which was bounded on Worcester, W. 34 degrees, S. 2 miles 191 rods, then S. 12 degrees, E. 3 miles 293 rods ; Leicester, W. 7 degrees, N. 5 miles 50 rods; West Wing N. 11 degrees, W. 6 miles 283 rods; on the country or proprietors, E. 30 degrees, N. 4 miles 183 rods ; East Wing S. 39 degrees, E. 5 miles 114 rods.
This survey includes that part of Paxton set off from Rutland.
HOUSE LOTS.
AFTER the survey of the six miles, the committee sur- veyed and laid out sixty-two house lots for the settlers, in clusters, of an oblong square, containing thirty acres each, in the most eligible and safe part thereof, and so calculated as to have a Fort, fortified House or Garrison, in each cluster to flee to, when invaded by the foe .-- The part set off was called the six miles square or settling part of Rutland until its incorporation. The House Lots being surveyed, numbered, pitched or drawn, the young settlers joined in companies, swung their packs, shoulder-
17
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
ed their guns, with their axes and provisions on their backs,* or on a pack horse, marched through the woods over the hills and valleys to what are now the pleasant hills of Rutland, where beside a large tree or great log, with poles, hemlock bows and birch bark, they built a cabin to deposit their stores, and to sleep in at night.
Then each in his own lot began to fell trees, and clear a spot to raise something for the coming year, and to erect a log hut. Their food was wild game, or such as they carried from home on their backs or on horses,-their drink was from the fountain,-their lodging in their blank- ets,-when weary or hungry, no father's cellar or mother's cupboard to go to,-or smiling wife to take a cup of tea with. After performing their summer's work, they returned to their friends. The next season they resumed the felling of trees, and gathered their grain; some put up huts, and a few wintered in the woody settlement-the others returned to their friends again. The next spring the clearing of the land is resumed,-they have materials for making bread and vegetables of their own raising,- they commence moving their wives and children, and on September 23, 1719, the first male child was born in Rut- land, for which fortunate event he had one hundred acres of land given him. He was son of Moses and Eunice How. So uniform and rapid was the settlement of Rutland that in four years after its commencement, they could number fifty families ; and on June 7th, 1720, selected a place for the meeting-house to stand. Thus in four years from the first clearing of their land in 1716, they had a frame put up to meet in, for the worship of God; and in this and the
*Simon Davis carried a plough on his back several miles.
18
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
succeeding year the house was so far finished as to be a sanctuary for public worship.
COMMITTEE OF RUTLAND.
ON June 7th, 1720, the committee of Rutland met to inquire into the state of the settlers, to see whether they had fulfilled their articles of settlement; said committee were Major Thomas How, Capt. Thomas Smith, Capt. Ephraim Wilder, Capt. Jacob Stevens, and Capt, Samuel Wright. My young friends, June being a pleasant month, I invite you (in imagination,) to accompany the committee through the woods, while they proceeded to go from house to house and lot to lot to view them ; to see how far they had fulfilled their engagements, as they take an account of each house, family, and improvement. This was an im- portant visit to the young settlers, for much depended on the decision of the committee. The father with hat in in his hand, and a long and low bow at a distance,-the mother at the door, with a modest blush and low courtesy, presents her little ones,-some make a rustic bow or court- esy, and some hide their heads under their mothers' aprons. Nearly all the settlers had the gratification of the sanction of the committee, the others their time lengthened.
MEADOWS.
IT being difficult for the settlers to procure sustenance for their cattle, they presented at this meeting of the com- mittee the following petition :
" To the Gent'n the Committee of Rutland :
Humbly sheweth,-THAT whereas your petitioners are by you received on to Settling Lots, on several Conditions and
19
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
Provisions, and the time limited for the performance is not yet expired, and we to continue here by obligation the Term, which will be one whole year more before we can be of age to act as a Town, and are in necessity to keep our cattle here for our Livelihood, and the maintenance of our families. But our Meadows lying undivided, and so unfenced, are Eaten up, so that we see no way to get fodder for our cattle, unless the meadows are Lotted out, that every man may fence his part. We therefore Request you will lay out a Lot of four acres, or as much more as the Committee may think fit and convenient,-and we the Settlers will be at the charge of surveying it,-Each one his proportion according to our respective Rights of mead- ows or swamp, we likewise desire the said Lots of mead- ow or swamp may be Squadroned out, and set out to each Lot by the aforesaid Committee, as they think most Just and Best, or by Lot, which the said Committee may think most proper, and your petitioners will ever pray, &c." Jacob Farrar, Cyprian Wright, Samuel Ball, Eleazer Ball, Ebenezer Davis, Jonathan Waldo, Thomas Read, Eleazer Heywood, John Dakin, John Lecore, Joseph Haynes, Joseph Graves, John Butcher, Henry Yewers, Jonathan Brown, Malcam Hendry, Simon Davis, James Browning, Joseph Harrise, Joseph Stevens, Isaac Gibbs, John Crosby, Moses How, Joseph Wood, Samuel Goode- now, Joseph Goodenow, Nathaniel Galusha, William McCarter, Samuel Davis, Benjamin Fletcher, Robert Mclem, Robert Patrick, William Allen and Co., Jonathan Sewall, John Smith, Peter Cutler, Jonas Clarke, Estes Hatch, Thomas Smith, Thomas How, Jacob Stevens, Henry Franklyn, Thomas Fitch, James Pitts, John Char- nock, John Buttolph, Samuel Sewall."
The above petition, signed June 10, 1720,
was
t .
20
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
granted, and each settler had equal to five acres of clear meadow assigned to him, with the number and meadow it was laid out in.
The lots were laid out, numbered, and squadroned as follows, viz :
1st Squadron. South meadow and some small ones, 5 Lot s
2nd On Long meadow Brook and Plain, 16
3d On Ware River-Centre and Mud- dy Brook, 9
4th
At Pomagussett, (Indian name,) 5
5th
At Ash Swamp, &c., 3
6th
South of Grass Hill, and Cedar Swamp, 5
7th
In Town or Meeting House Meadow, 7
8th
A Swamp above Meeting House,
or Ministry Lot, 6
9th
In various parts of the divisions, &c. 7
These meadows have changed owners, yet some retain their ancient boundaries.
HOUSE LOTS AND AFTER DIVISIONS CON- FIRMED.
AT a meeting of the Committee of Rutland, at the House of Capt. Samuel Wright, on Monday A. M., the 26th of June, 1721,
Voted, " That, that Lot with all its Rights and after Divi- sions, which was formerly Designed for the Ministry Lot in Rutland, next adjoining to the Meeting House plot, No. 61, be now appropriated to and for the first Minister that shall be Ordained at Rutland, and that shall settle at. Rutland, and continue there in the Ministry, for three
D
21
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
years after he is ordained there, (Except prevented by death) to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
" And that Lot No. 62, next adjoining on the Westward to William Blair's Lot, No. 17, be for, and appropriated to the use of the Ministry in the said Town forever.
" And That, that Lot, No. 63, next adjoining to the Minis- try Lot, be appropriated to the use of a School in said Town forever."
And at said meeting on Monday P. M., the 26th of June, 1721,
Whereas the persons hereafter named having performed and fulfilled their agreement and conditions, in order to their having their several Lots and Tracts of lands in the Contents of six miles square, the settling part in Rutland Confirmed to them, &c,
Voted, " That the several 30 acre House Lots, with their after Divisions, and other Tracts of Lands hereafter men- tioned, be confirmed to the Persons, or uses, hereafter mentioned or named as a sure Estate of Inheritance to them, their heirs and assigns forever. And accordingly be so recorded on Rutland Town Book, viz: That to Col. Thomas Fitch, Esq., his heirs and assigns forever, that thirty acre Lot, No. 43, with all its after Rights and Divi- sions .- And to all in the annexed Table in a similar man- f cont Daniel Shepard and John Barker, who had two being the Mill Lot, and Benjamin Willard who Food, ato whole third part of a whole share, or thirty-third nine hundred and thirty acres of land in the afore- ,) contents of six miles square, or settling part of Rut- The above House Lots and after Divisions were Sthlmned and signed by Thomas How, Stephen Minot, Thomas Smith, Estes Hatch, Jacob Stephens and Samuel Wright. 2
r
22
HISTORY OF RUTLAND.
THE PROPRIETORS' COMMITTEE.
AFTER the settlers had performed their conditions, the six miles square was confirmed to them, and incorporated as a town. The Proprietors of the township of Rutland or of the twelve miles square in all future meetings, had nothing to do with said six miles square, which is now the town of Rutland.
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