USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > History of Spencer, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year 1860: including a brief sketch of Leicester, to the year 1753 > Part 1
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Go 974.402 Sp34d 746809
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 8510
074.4 D79 AUG 1 1951 746809 4-1-52
ML
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Kels.
1 . Wayne Medical Laboratory B. W. RHAMY, M. D. 902 CALHOUN CT. COR. WAYNE FORT WAYNE, IND. 1911
Mary &. Srouty.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofspencer00drap_0
ON
WATERS SON
RS
yours truly
James Draken
HISTORY OF SPENCER,
MASSACHUSETTS,
FROM ITS
EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR 1860 :
INCLUDING A
BRIEF SKETCH OF LEICESTER,
TO THE YEAR 1753.
BY JAMES DRAPER.
SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED AND IMPROVED .
" We wish to rescue the past from being forgotten, and to give honor to whom honor is due."
1
WORCESTER : PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, 212 Main Street.
1
-
4
746809 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
It cannot be expected in the history of a town situated in the interior, like Spencer, that many facts or incidents would have happened, connected with its earliest settlement, and but few events in the succeeding stages of its existence, would excite much interest in the general reader ; and much less could this be expected of any thing relative to the present state of the town or its inhabitants. It may, however, lay some claim to antiquity, by being once a component part of Leicester, but the annals of its earliest period can exhibit no details of bloody conflicts with the Indian, nor can it boast of having produced any great and illus- trious characters, either in peace or war. No exciting or inter- esting details of this kind, will form any part of this history.
These pages are the humble effort of a native citizen of Spencer, and have been especially prepared for the benefit and gratification of his fellow citizens of the town. The writer of these sheets makes no pretension to the character of an accom- plished writer, and indeed, the execution of such a work does not require much talent, or literary acquirements. All that is neces- sary, and all that may be expected, is a faithful detail of names, dates, facts, incidents and events, such as have occurred with little variation, in most of the towns of New England. The brief
iv
PREFACE.
notices and genealogies of families, will undoubtedly be dull and even tedious to the general reader, while others, and perhaps most of the native inhabitants, will esteem this the most inter- esting part of the work. However satisfactory or acceptable this may prove, or however it may be esteemed, it has cost a great deal of time and labor, indeed so much, that had it been known and realized at the commencement, it would have been abandoned before it was undertaken. The writer has aimed at the truth, and every statement and fact of any importance, may be strictly relied upon. For materials, access has been had to the County Records 'of Suffolk, Middlesex and Worcester; to the Council and Legislative Records of Massachusetts ; to histories of other towns; to the town, church, and proprietors records of Leicester and Spencer ; to Magazines, files of Newspapers, and occasional sermons ; to ancient manuscripts, deeds, and other authentic documents ; to the memories of aged people ; and even the tomb- stones have furnished sources of information from which some- thing has been gleaned. In the hope that it may be of some benefit, and acceptable to the parents and children of his native town, the author cheerfully submits it to their candor and intelli- gence.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The former edition of this work, written some twenty years since, has long been out of print, but three hundred copies hav- ing been published. This little publication having been received with more favor than was expected, many calls have been made for copies, and as none could be supplied, at the urgent solicita- tion of many of his friends, the author has been induced to re- write the book with additions and improvements. It will still, undoubtedly, be found to contain imperfections, and probably some errors, though none it is hoped of much importance. In addition to other sources for materials in the compilation of this work, it is with pleasure I hereby acknowledge the assistance I have from received Gov. Washburn's valuable history of Leicester, lately published. The genealogical department contains the list of more than five hundred families, including the names of some who had no children, and some, the names of whose children could not be obtained, and including, also, some adult single persons, who died unmarried. In many instances, the marriages of the children are given with the lists of their births under the parental head, and again, when they were actually married and became the heads of families themselves. This repetition will facilitate, rather than embarrass those who are seeking for this particular information. Without further apology or explanation, the compiler again cheerfully submits it to the candor and intelli- gence of his fellow citizens.
INDEX.
As but few biographical notices are given in this work, the names of persons, generally, will be found in alphabetical order, in the genealogical department.
Associates, names of, 15. Agriculture, products of, 124.
A. Assessors, 148.
Boundaries of Leicester and Spen- cer, 24. Bunker Hill, battle of, 50.
Census, 44. Cornwallis capitulated, 59.
Celebration of Mrs. Pope's 100th
birthday, 97.
Crosby, Rev. Stephen, 104.
Catholics, 114.
D.
Dodd, Rev. Stephen G., 107.
Dark Day, 133.
Division of lots in Spencer, 1st, 22. Delegates relating to the Constitu-
2d, 23. tion, 146.
De Warrville's description, 70.
Deaths of aged persons, 153.
Ecclesiastical, Leicester, 79.
Spencer, 88.
Eaton, Rev. Joshua, 90.
E. Epidemic Diseases, 128. Earthquakes, 133. Eclipse, Solar, 134. G.
Grant, Original, of Leicester and Goddard, Rev. David, 87. Spencer, 9.
Gale, Henry, 66.
Graduates of Colleges, 143.
Genealogies, 159.
H.
House lots located in Leicester, 19. High Winds, 134.
I.
Indians, petition respecting them, 30. Independence Declared, 50.
Incorporation of Spencer, 40. Industry, products of, 122, 123. J.
Justices of the Peace, 144.
B. Burgoyne, surrender of, 53. Buildings in the centre village, 73. Baptists, 111. C. Cemeteries, 125. Contagious Diseases, 127.
Cold Winter, 133. Cold Summers, 135. Committee of Correspondence, 136. Casualties, 156.
Deed, Indian, 10. Dudley, Joseph, 18.
viii
INDEX.
Lands allotted, 22, 23.
L. Localities, 118.
Livermore, Abijah, rash conduct of, 66.
Lawyers, 141.
M.
Manners &c. of the people, 67. Morals, 76.
Methodists, 113. Minerals, 124.
Meeting houses built, 29, 79, 89, Money, depreciation of, 56. 111 -- 114.
N. 0.
Names of officers and soldiers, 273. Old tenor, 89.
P.
Proprietors of Leicester and Spen- cer, notices of, 15.
Population, 44.
Prices of Commodities, 51.
Parsons, Rev. David, 79.
Pope, Rev. Joseph, 94.
Packard, Rev. Levi, 105.
Roads located in Spencer, 36. Roads, description of, 114. Revolution, 45,
Settlement of Leicester and Spen- cer, 28.
Shays' Insurrection, 60.
Seventy-five years ago, 74.
Sports of the people, 75.
Senators, 146.
Selectmen, 146.
T.
Town Meeting in Leicester, first, 28. Town House, 121. Tenor, old, 89.
Town Clerks, 149.
Town officers, first chosen, list of, 42. Town Treasurers, 150.
Universalists, 112.
U.
Valuation for taxes, 52.
V. Votes for Governor, 150. W. Washington, 135.
War closed, 59. Wind High, 134.
R.
Remarkable Phenomena, 132. Representatives, 145. Revolutionary Pensioners, 155.
S.
Streams, 120. Soil and productions, 124. Snow Storm, 132. Slavery, 130.
Schools and School Houses, 76. Singing, 108.
Ponds, 119. Post Offices, 121.
Products of Industry and Agricul- ture, 122-4. Property of our ancestors, 137. Physicians, 139.
Oakham
.31
Rutland
10
11
32
18
3.9
11
12
10
42
13
9
بيع
11
00
34
15
37
44
43
16
43
6
17
45
30
VI
21
23
46
4
School Lot
47
26
3
24
2
48
20
22
35
19
1
6.9
68
70
28
36
71
77
27
17
49
55
76
12
53
Leicester
58
75
25
52
65
64
59
74
51
67
66
79
73
60
50
72
63
62
61
78
80
71
Charlton
ANCIENT PLAN OF SPENCER.
North Brookfield
38
Paxton
Scale 400 rods per Inch.
56
. 29
47-69
54
57
Brookfield
POND
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
THE town of Spencer is situated eleven miles a little to the south of west from Worcester, and about fifty miles in the same direction by the nearest road from Boston, though ten miles further by the Western Railroad. It is bounded east, by the towns of Leicester and Paxton ; north, by Pax- ton (formerly a part of Rutland), and Oakham ; west, by the towns of North Brookfield and Brookfield, and south by the town of Charlton.
As Spencer was once a component part of Leicester, it will be proper to give a sketch of Leicester, while it included Spencer, until the latter became an organized town itself, in 1753.
ORIGINAL GRANT.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century, and the beginning of the eighteenth, certain wealthy and respectable gentlemen belonging to Boston and vicinity, were in the habit of purchasing large tracts of unsettled lands in the interior of the State, containing a certain number of square miles, with loose and indefinite boundaries, and then apply- ing to the governor and council for a confirmation of their title, in order to settle a " plantation " thereon. Their ap- plications to the State authorities were generally successful,
2
10
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
and always upon the same conditions, viz: to settle a cer- tain number of families within a certain number of years, reserving a portion for the support of the ministry, and for schools, then of course, the remainder would be theirs, to dispose of to the best advantage to settlers. Leicester, Rut- land, Hardwick and other towns were thus purchased, and then disposed of.
One example may suffice to illustrate the operation of these speculations. On the 22d of December, 1686, they purchased of Joseph Trask, alias Puagastion, and other In- dians, a tract of land twelve miles square, for twenty-three pounds, which was confirmed to them by the General Court, on condition that within seven years there then be 60 fami- lies settled thereon, and sufficient lands reserved for the use of a gospel ministry and schools. The town to be called Rutland, &c.
In order to comply with the requisition of the General Court, and to settle 60 families on the territory, they set apart six miles square on the south-east part for that pur- pose, which is now Rutland proper, except a part since being set off, to help form the town of Paxton. When all this was done, they had left for their own disposal, about seventy thousand acres, since forming the large towns of Barre and Hubbardston, the town of Oakham, and the most part of Princeton.
These gentlemen, or a part of them, purchased of the Indians, in the same manner, the town of Leicester. The following is a copy of the Indian deed.
" Know all men by these Presents, that we, the heirs of Oraskaso, Sachem of a place called Toutaid, situate and lying near the new town of the English called Worcester, with all others which may under them belong unto the same place aforesaid. These heirs being two women with their husbands newly married, which being by name called Phillip Tray with his wife Momokhue, and John Wampscon and
11
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
Waiwaynom his wife, for divers good causes and considera- tions us thereunto moving, and more especially for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds current money of New England, to us in hand paid by Joshua Lamb, Nathaniel Page, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin Gamlin, Benjamin Tucker, John Curtice, Richard Draper and Samuel Ruggles, with Ralf Bradhurst, of Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk in New England ; the receipt of which we do fully acknow]- edge ourselves to be fully satisfied and paid, have given, granted, bargained, sold, alienated, infeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents do fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, sell, alienate, infeoff and confirm, unto the said Lamb, Page, Gardner, Gamlin, Tucker, Curtice, Draper, Rug- gles and Bradhurst, their heirs and assigns, a certain tract of land containing eight miles square, lying and being near Worcester aforesaid, abutting on the lands of Joseph Dud- ley, Esq., lately purchased of the Indians, and westerly, the most southernmost corner upon a little pond called Paupok- quamcok, then to a hill called Mossonachuds, and unto great hill, called Aspomsok, and so easterly upon a line until it comes against Worcester bounds, and joins unto these bounds, or howsoever otherwise butted and bounded, together with all and singular the rights, commodities, liberties, privileges and appurtenances whatever to the same belonging, or how- ever otherwise appertaining, to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land, situating, containing and bounding as aforesaid, to the said Lamb, &c., their heirs and assigns, in common tenancy, to their only proper use, sake of and ben- efit forever. And the said Phillip Tray and Momokhue and John Wampscon and Waiwaynom their wives, with all others under them as aforesaid, do covenant, promise and grant for themselves, their heirs, executors and administra- tors, to and with the said Joshua Lamb, &c., their heirs and assigns, that they will the above granted and bargained lands, and every part and parcel thereof, with their and
12
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
every of their appurtenances, warrant and defend from all and every person and persons whatever, claiming any right or title thereunto, or interest therein, from, by or under us.
In witness whereof, the said Phillip Tray and Momokhue and John Wampscon with Waiwaynom their wives, hereunto set their hands and seals this twenty-seventh day of Janu- ary, Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and eighty-six. Signed, sealed and delivered \ Phillip Tray O his mark (seal)
in presence of us, Momokhue Tray | her mark (seal)
Tom Tray O his mark. John Wamscon. (seal)
Nonawano . his mark. Waiwaynom Wamscon f mark (sea!)
Capt. Moogus his mark. Wand woamag @ the deacon his mark (seal)
Andrew 8 Pitteme his mark. Jonas his O wives mark (seal)
Phillip Tray, Momokhue his wife, Waiwaynom and Wan- dwoamag, all personally appearing before me the under- written, one of his Majesty's Council of his territory and Dominions of New England, June 1, 1687, did acknowledge this instrument to be their act and deed.
William Stoughton.
Recorded, March 8th, 1713-14.
Pr. John Chandler, Town Clerk."
The lands of Joseph Dudley, Esq., referred to in the above deed as one of its boundaries, is a gore about one mile wide, lying south of Leicester and Spencer. So much of this gore as lay south of Spencer, was one or two years taxed to Spen- cer, and when Charlton was incorporated, became a part of that town. The eastern end of it, was in 1778 made a part of Ward, now Auburn, and the remainder, in 1838, was an- nexed to Oxford. The hill as another of its boundaries, called " Aspomsok," is probably what is called " Bumskit," and lies in the south-east part of Paxton, on the line between that town and Holden, and called in some ancient documents by the name of " Hasnebumskit " or " Asnebumskit," and is the highest land in the county of Worcester, excepting
13
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
Wachusett in Princeton. 3 The date of the deed, January 27, 1686, to conform to the new style, should be Feb. 8, 1687, that is, twelve days later. The acknowledgment of the deed being dated March 8, 1713-14, is double dated, and should be March 20, 1714.º
Nothing further is heard of this tract of land for more than twenty-six years. The towns earlier settled, suffered so much from the barbarous incursions of the Indians, that instead of going forward in prosperity, their settlements were broken up, themselves and families murdered, captured or driven away, and their fields and improvements deserted, exhibiting a scene of ruin and desolation.
Lancaster, the first settled town in the county, was in 1676 invaded in the night by King Philip at the head of 1500 savage warriors, and every inhabitant murdered, taken cap- tive or obliged to flee for their lives. Every house but two, out of more than 50, burnt, and the town lay entirely des- olate, without an inhabitant, for more than three years. Again, in King William's war, and Queen Anne's which fol- lowed soon after, Lancaster was again invaded by the sava- ges, many of the inhabitants murdered, and improvements
" There are many instances of double dating in ancient records previous to 1752, between January Ist, and March 25th. Before that date, the year commenced on the 25th day of March, and is called old style,-since the year commenced on the 1st of January, and is called new style. Without going into a more particular explanation, suffice it to say, that by adding one day to February, every fourth year, called leap year, was found to be a fraction over the exact time of the earth's revolution round the sun, and that in about 1600 years, this fraction of time amounted to eleven days, and conse- quently carried that number of days of spring, into the summer months. In order to correct this error of the calendar, and bring it so as to corres- pond with the time of Julius Caesar, a period about 50 years before the Christian Era, Pope Gregory XIII, in 1582, ordered 11 days to be stricken from September, making the third day of that month the fourteenth. This correction was not adopted in England or the American colonies, until 1752, when it took place by an act of Parliament. In 1800, another day was omitted, making 12 days, so that to bring old style in new, 12 days must be added.
2*
14
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
greatly impeded or destroyed. Brookfield, in 1675, shared the same fate, many of the inhabitants murdered, every house burnt, and the town lay desolate, without an inhabit- ant, for several years. Worcester, in 1675, there were six or seven log houses, but when King Philip's war broke out, the inhabitants all deserted. After they returned, and con- siderable improvements had been made, in 1701 the town was again entirely depopulated. Mendon, in 1675, July 14, was attacked, and five persons killed ; the remainder through fear abandoned the town, and Mendon, also, was without an inhabitant for some time. Sutton was much retarded in its settlement by the movements of the Indians ; and Oxford, settled in 1686 by the French Huguenots, were in a few years wholly dispersed, and none ever returned, and this town also, lay without an inhabitant until about 1714 or 1715.
During all this time, Leicester was an entire wilderness, without a single white inhabitant, so that at the conclusion of peace in 1713, she was ready to start an almost even race with her earlier sisters, and was soon on an equality with them in population, physical resources, and refinement.
At the close of the war, the proprietors, after waiting so long, presented to the General Court a petition, praying a " confirmation of the said tract to them and their associates ; that they may be encouraged to proceed to settle the same with inhabitants, under such directions and reservations as may be thought meet." Accordingly, on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1713-4, it was " ordered that the prayer of the pe- titioners be granted ; provided that within seven years time, fifty families settle themselves in as defensible and regular way as the circumstances of the place will allow, on part of said land ; and that a sufficient quantity thereof be reserved for the use of a Gospel ministry there, and a school. Pro- vided, also, that this interfere with no former grant, and this grant shall not exceed the quantity of eight miles square. The town to be called Leicester, and to belong to the county of Middlesex."
15
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
On the 23d of the same month of February, the original grantees admitted thirteen other gentlemen as associates and proprietors of the said township. The following are the names of all the proprietors at this time, viz : Joshua Lamb, Samuel Ruggles, Benjamin Gamlin, Benjamin Tucker, Jonathan Curtice, Ralf Bradhurst, Richard Draper, Thomas Gardner, Nathaniel Page, Jeremiah Dummer, Paul Dudley, John Clark, Addington Davenport, Thomas Hutchinson, John White, William Hutchinson, Francis Wainwright, John Chandler and Thomas Howe as one, and Daniel Allen and Samuel Sewall as one, and William Dudley, making twenty- two proprietors for twenty shares.
These proprietors were gentlemen of wealth and respect- ability, and many of them of high standing in the commu- nity, and whose public transactions have found a place in history.
JOSHUA LAMB, belonged to Roxbury, was Colonel of one of the Suffolk regiments, a magistrate and a great land- holder; was one of the proprietors of the town of Hard- wick, and for whom the town, before its incorporation, was called Lambstown. He is said to be the ancestor of all of the name of Lamb, who first settled, or are now living in Spencer.
SAMUEL RUGGLES, also belonged to Roxbury. He was the grand-father of the celebrated brigadier Timothy Ruggles, of Hardwick. Samuel Ruggles died 1716.
BENJAMIN GAMLIN, was also from Roxbury, and was the grand-father of the first wife of the late Stephen Rogers of this town. Mr. John A. Barclay is one of the sixth gener- ation from Mr. Gamlin, and now inherits the estate.
BENJAMIN TUCKER, from Roxbury also. He died in 1728. Samuel Tucker, one of his sons, lived and died in this town, where Mr. Amos Bemis now lives. The wife of Mr. Bemis is one of his grand-daughters.
JONATHAN CURTICE, (the name now written Curtis,) was also
16
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
from Roxbury. Two of his sons, John and Jonathan, came to Leicester or Spencer. John died in Spencer, and a notice of him will be found in this work.
RALF BRADHURST, also belonged to Roxbury. Nothing in particular is known of him. This name was afterwards written Bradish.
RICHARD DRAPER, was a merchant of Boston. He was from Boston in England. He sold all his right in the purchase to the Rev. Joseph Parsons of Boston, in 1714 or 1715, be- fore the shares were surveyed and allotted to the proprietors. He died without leaving any posterity.
THOMAS GARDNER, son of Andrew Gardner, one of the original grantees from the Indians, was from Brookline. He died 1757. One of the name of Andrew Gardner, was minister of Worcester, and he afterwards, or one of the name, was minister of Lunenburg.
NATHANIEL PAGE, belonged to Billerica. He was one of the proprietors of Hardwick, where many of his posterity still remain.
JEREMIAH DUMMER, was born in Boston, and educated at Harvard College. He was agent for Massachusetts, from 1710 to 1721, and was also judge of the Supreme Court. He was distinguished for talents and learning, being an author of reputation. He was called in history " a great man." He died in 1739.
PAUL DUDLEY, was son of Gov. Joseph Dudley, and grad- uated 1690, at the head of his class, as was, also, Jeremiah Dummer. At this period, students at college were not placed in alphabetical order as at present, nor according to their literary attainments, but according to their rank in society. The highest in dignity placed at the head of the class. But there was an aristocracy in those days, while connected with Great Britain, which in these days of liberty and equality, would be obliged to hide its head in obscurity, although the Hon. Paul Dudley was a worthy gentleman.
17
HISTORY OF SPENCER.
He was appointed by Queen Anne, Attorney General of Massachusetts in 1702, and also, Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court. He died in 1751, aged 78.
JOHN CLARK, was graduated at Harvard College in 1687, was a representative to the General Court from Boston, and chosen Speaker in 1721. He died December, 1728, aged 61. His son of the same name, an eminent physician in Boston, inherited his father's estate in Spencer.
ADDINGTON DAVENPORT, was of Boston ; was one of the Judges of the Supreme Court ; elected one of the Council. Was graduated at Harvard College in 1689. Died 1736, aged 66.
THOMAS HUTCHINSON, was a distinguished merchant of Boston, Colonel of a regiment, many years a Counsellor, and father of the late Governor Hutchinson. He was the man who personally seized the notorious privateer, Capt. Robert Kidd, when he offered violence to all who approached him. He died 1739, aged 65.
JOHN WHITE, was for many years clerk of the House of Representatives. He died of the small pox, 1721.
WILLIAM HUTCHINSON, was a man of large fortune, was a Representative from Boston to the General Court. He died about 1721.
FRANCIS WAINWRIGHT, was a merchant of Boston. He sold his share to Samuel Bannister, a merchant of Boston, March 10, 1717.
JOHN CHANDLER, belonged to Woodstock, Conn., then con- sidered as belonging to Massachusetts. He was one of the Council, one of the proprietors of Oxford, Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, of the first Court established at Worcester, also, first Judge of Probate for said County, and Colonel of a regiment. He died 1743.
THOMAS HOWE, was a gentleman of Marlborough, and a leading man of that town, and ancestor of the numerous families of that name in that town and vicinity.
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