USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 1
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HISTORY
OF
WORCESTER COUNTY,
MASSACHUSETTS, WITII
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF MANY OF ITS
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN.
COMPILED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
D. HAMILTON HURD.
VOL. I.
ILLUSTRATED.
PHILADELPHIA: J. W. LEWIS & CO. 1889.
Copyright, 1889, BY J. W. LEWIS & CO. All Rights Reserved.
PRESS OF JAS. B. RODGERS PRINTING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA.
PUBLISHERS' PREFACE.
IN presenting the within History to the people of Worcester County the Publishers desire to state that when the preparation of the work had been finally decided upon, an earnest effort was made to secure the leading literary talent of this section of the Commonwealth to prepare the manuscript. The result was a gratifying success. Those most familiar with the historic litera- ture of the County were engaged. whose names appear at the head of their respective chapters. These gentlemen approached the task with a spirit of impartiality and with a determination to prepare a work which should reflect credit alike upon the County, its citizens and themselves, and the Publishers feel that no effort has been spared either by Publishers or writers to faithfully present the history of the territory embodied herein, from its Indian occupancy to the present proud position it occupies among the counties of the Common wealth.
PHILADELPHIA, February 20, 1889.
CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
GENERAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
WORCESTER COUNTY i THE BENCH AND BAR xvii
TOWN HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.
LANCASTER .
The Nashaways and their Home-King's Purchase- The Nashaway Planters-The Town Grant-The Cove- nant-Land Allotments-Death of Showanon.
CHAPTER II.
LANCASTER-(Continued)
The First Minister-Arbitration-Commissioners Alı- pointed to Direct Town Affairs-The First Highways- Noyes' Survey-Disaffection of the Indians-Monoco's Raid-James Quanapang's Fidelity-The Destruction of Lancaster.
CHAPTER III.
LANCASTER-(Continued ) 16
The Resettlement-French and Indian Raids-The Gar- riaoos-New Meeting-House-The Additional Grant- Early Schoolmasters - Lovewell's War - Worcester County Formed-Birth of Harvard, Bolton and Leo- minster-Sieges of Carthagena and Louisbourg -- The Conquest of l'anada.
CHAPTER IV.
LANCASTER-(Continued) 25
The First Census-Organization for Revolution-Lex- ington Alarm-Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston -- War Annals-Separation of Chocksett-Shays' Rebel- lion-Bridge Lotteries.
CHAPTER V.
LANCASTER-(Continued) 31
Hon. John Sprague-Cotton and Woolen-Mills-The Academy-War of 1812-The Whitings-The Brick Meeting-Honse-Lafayette-The Printing Enterprise- Dr. Nathaniel Thayer-New Churches-Clinton Set Off -Bi-Centennial-Schools-Libraries-Cemeteries.
CHAPTER VI.
LANCASTER-(Continued) 40
The Rebellion-The Town's History Printed-The Towo's Poor-Death of Nathaniel Thayer-General Statistics, Etc.
CHAPTER VII.
CLINTON 46
Prescott's Mills-Destruction of the Settlement by In- dians-The First Highways-The Garrison t'ensuis- The First Families.
CHAPTER VIII.
CLINTON-(Continued) 50
The Revolution-The "Six Nations"-Immigration- The Comb-makers-Poignand and Plant-Coming of the Bigelows-The Clinton Company-The Lancaster Quilt Company-The Bigelow Curpet Company-The Lancaster Mills-Clintonville, its Ruilders and its Enter- prises.
CHAPTER IX.
I CLINTON-(Continued) 57
The Incorporation-Favoring Auspices-New Enter- prises and Changes in the Old.
CHAPTER X.
8
CLINTON-(Continued)
61
Clintou in the Rebellion-Soldiers' Ruater.
CHAPTER XI.
CLINTON-(Continued)
67
Horatio Nelson Bigelow-Banks-Town Hall-Bigelow Free Library-Soldiers' Monunient-Annals of Mann- facturing Corporations-The "Wash-out" of 1876- Franklin Forbes-Erastus B. Bigelow.
CHAPTER XII.
CLINTON-(Continued) 74 Schools-Churches - Newspapers-Water Supply-Sta- tistics, Etc. CHAPTER XIII.
CLINTON-(Continued)
82
Masonic History.
CHAPTER XIV.
SOUTHBOROUGH .
92
Location and Incorporation-Soil and Surface-Waters - Productions - Agriculture - Mannfactures and Me- chanical Industries.
CHAPTER XV.
SOUTHBOROUGH-(Continued) 95
CHAPTER XVI.
STURBRIDGE
IO2
TEMPLETON .
CHAPTER XVII.
121
Location - Boundary-Elevation - Streamns - Ponds- Soil - Productions - Population -Valnation-Business Affairs of the Present Time.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TEMPLETON-(Continned) . 124
Grant to the Township-The Proprietors-Early Settle- ments-Old Houses-Incorporation : Templeton, Phil- lipston-County Relations-State Relations-Political Parties. CHAPTER XIX.
TEMPLETON-(Continued) . I29
Military Affairs : The Revolution - The Currency- Second War with England-A Militia Muster-The Civil War-The Sanitary Commission.
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX.
TEMPLETON-(Continued) . . 134
Business _1,ffairs : Mannfactures-Early Mills-At Bald- winville-On Tront Brook-At Partridgeville and East Templeton-At Otter River-Hotels-Stores-Savings Bank-Roads-Railroads.
CHAPTER XXI. TEMPLETON-(Continued) 140
Post-Offices - The Common - Cemeteries -Societies - Warning Out-The Great Load of Wood-Chaises- Bounties on Will Animals.
CHAPTER XXII.
TEMPLETON-(Continued) . 143
Educational Affairs : Schools-Private Schools-Public High Schools-Teachers-Gradnates-Libraries-Buyn- ton Public Library,
CHAPTER XXIII.
TEMPLETON-(Continued) . 147
Ecclesiaateral Affairs: The First Church-The Baptist Church-The Trinitarian Church-The Universalist Church-The Methodist Church-St. Martin's Church -Memorial Church-Ministers.
CHAPTER XXIV.
TEMPLETON-(Continued) . 150
Lawyers-Physicians-Hospitals-Prominent Men.
CHAPTER XXV.
UXBRIDGE
156
CHAPTER XXVI.
UXBRIDGE-(Continued). . 161
CHAPTER XXVII.
UXBRIDGE-(Continued) . .
165
CHAPTER XXVIII.
UXBRIDGE-(Continued) .
169
CHAPTER XXIX.
UXBRIDGE-(Continued) .
I73
CHAPTER XXX.
UXBRIDGE-(Continued ) .
176
CHAPTER XXXI.
AUBURN
IS4
CHAPTER XXXII.
AUBURN -- (Continued) .
186
CHAPTER XXXIII.
AUBURN -(Continued ) .
1SS
CHAPTER XXXIV.
AUBURN-(Continued) .
190
CHAPTER XXXV.
ASHBURNHAM .
193
CHAPTER XXXVI.
FITCHBURG . .
208
Descriptive.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) . .
Early History (1764-1799).
212
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
FITCHBURG-(Continued ) 220
History from 1800 to 1872.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) .
228
History of the City (1873-188%).
CHAPTER XL.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) .
231
History during the War of the Rebellion.
CHAPTER XLI.
FITCHBURG-(Continued)
2.16
Ecclesiastical History,
CHAPTER XLII.
FITCHBURG -- (Continued)
256
Einentional History.
CHAPTER XLIII.
FITCHBURG-(Continued)
269
Manufacturing.
CHAPTER XLIV.
FITCHBURG-(Continned) .
287
Commercial History.
CHAPTER XLV.
FITCHBURG-(Continued)
292
Hotels, Public Buildings and Business Blocks.
CHAPTER XLVI.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) .
293
City Departments.
CHAPTER XLVII.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) .
297
Organizations and Societies.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
FITCHBURG-(Continued) .
300
Professional.
CHAPTER XLIX.
FITCHBURG-(Continued)
304
Literary and Artistic.
CHAPTER L.
FITCHBURG-(Continned)
.
306
Journalism in Fitchburg.
CHAPTER LI.
FITCHBURG-(Continned)
309
Cemeteries.
CIIAPTER LII.
BARRE
330
CHAPTER LIII.
WEBSTER
362
CHAPTER LIV.
MENDON
374
Pioneer Life: Mendoo the Mother of Towns-Compar- ative Antiquity-Number of Towns once a Part of Mendon-The First Movement for a New Plantation- The Deed from the Indians-Division of Laod-Names of Proprietors-The First Map-Incorporation-The 'Town in 1675-The Niptucks' Attack-The Settlers' Return.
vii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LV.
MENDON-(Continued) 377
Territorial and Political Changes: The Town's Poverty after the War-Claims of Rhode Island Territory-The " North Purchase "-Annexation of " The Farms"- Towns Claiming to be "Children of Mendon "-Men- don To-day.
CHAPTER LVI.
MENDON-(Continued) 378
Mannfactures : The First Grist-Mill and Saw-Mill -- The Successive Occupants of the Old Grist-Mill Site-Con- tracts with Millers and Blacksmiths-Torrey and War- field Saw-Mills-Factories, Miscellaneous and Modern.
CHAPTER LVII.
MENDON-(Continued) 379
Military History : Mendon in the French and Indian War --- The Revolution -Shays' Rebellion-War of 1812 -The Rebellion.
CHAPTER LVIII.
MENDON-(Continued) 381
Ecclesiastical History : Ministers and Meeting-Houses, In63 to 1818-The Change to Unitarianism-The Meet- ing-House of 1820-Pastors to 1888-The North: Con- gregational Church and Pastors-The Methodists in Mendon-The Quakers.
CHAPTER LIX.
MENDON-(Continued) 383
Educational History and Closing Remarks : Early Records and Tradition Concerning Schools-Notices of the Earliest Teachers and School-Houses-School-Dames- The District System-The High School-Some Note- worthy Events in Mendon's Recent History and its Pres- ent Status.
CHAPTER LX.
BERLIN.
387
CHAPTER LNI.
IIOPEDALE
406
CHAPTER LNII.
NORTHBRIDGE
424
The Beginnings.
CHAPTER LXIII.
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) . 428
The New Town.
CHAPTER LXIV.
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) .
432
The Later History.
CHAPTER LAV.
1
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) . 434
Religions Societies.
CHAPTER LXVI.
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) .
439
Schools and Library.
CHAPTER LXVII.
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) .
441
Manufactures.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
NORTHBRIDGE-(Continued) . . 447
Individuals. CHAPTER LXIX.
NORTHBOROUGH
453
CHAPTER LXX.
PETERSHAM
465
Locality-Topography-Railway Connections-Histori- cal Resources-Early Settlement-Petitioners and Pro- prietors-Services in the Indian War-First Meeting- Settlers-Relations with the Indians -Alarm-Armed Worshippers.
CHAPTER LXXI.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
467
Incidents of the Revolution.
CHAPTER LXXII.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
470
Shays' Rebellion.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
472
The Churches.
CHAPTER LYXIV.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
476
Schools - Industries - Wealth - Population - College Graduates-Congressmen-State Senators-Representa- tives-Town Officers -Selectmen-Town Clerks-Town Treasurers-School Committee-Officers, 1888.
CHAPTER LXXV.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
479
Biographical Notes.
CHAPTER LAXVI.
PETERSHAM-(Continued) .
484
The Rebellion-Public Spirit.
CHAPTER LXXVII.
STERLING
486
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
BROOKFIELD
510
CHAPTER LAXIX.
BROOKFIELD-(Continued)
518
CHAPTER LXXX.
NORTH BROOKFIELD
540
CHAPTER LXXXI.
WEST BROOKFIELD .
554
CHAPTER LXXXII.
PAXTON
568
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
WEST BOYLSTON
585
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
BLACKSTONE
607
CHAPTER LXXXV.
SPENCER
631
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
NEW BRAINTREE .
667
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
LEICESTER
686
SettlemeQl.
4
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
LEICESTER-(Continued)
French and Revolutionary Wars.
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
LEICESTER-(Continued)
State Constitution-Shays' Insurrection-Fine for Non- Representation in the General Court-Slavery iu Lei- cester-" Instructions"-Jews.
CHAPTER XC.
LEICESTER-(Continued)
Ecclesiastical : The First Church -- Friends' Meeting- Greenville Baptist Church - Second Congregational Church.
CHAPTER XCI.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 709
Schools : First Town Action-Schoolmasters-School- Houses-Town Fines-District System -- Amount Raised for Schools-Districts Abolished-High School-Leices- ter Academy-Fonnding-Buildings-Teachers-Funds Military-Reorganization-Centennial Anniversary.
CHAPTER XCII.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 715
Business: Card Business-Woolen Manufacture-Boot und Shoe Business-Tanning and Currying Business- Leicester National and Savings Banks-Miscellaneous Industries.
CHAPTER XCIII.
LEICESTER-(Continned) 723
The Cirit Wur : Sixth Massachusetts Regiment-War Meetings-Twenty-filth Regiment-Fifteenth, Twenty- first, Thirty-fourth, Forty-second-Action of the Town -Other Soldiers-Expenditures -- Casualties-Close of the War.
CHAPTER XCIV.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 728
Miscellanemrs . Individuals and Residences-Physicians -- Lawyers - Items of Interest-Bmying-Grounds --- Post- Offices-Fire Department-Taverns-Libraries-Cherry Valley Flood -Histories-Celebrations.
CHAPTER XCV. 745
CHARLTON
CHAPTER XCVI.
LUNENBURG
Location -Ponds and Drainage-Original Grants-Set- tlements-Incorporation-Proprietary Affairs-Roads- The Town Divided-Personal Notices.
CHAPTER XCVII.
LUNENBURG-(Continned) . 767
Indian Alurms-The French and Indian Wars-Capture of John Fitch-The Revolution-The War of the Re- bellion.
CHAPTER XCVIII.
LUNENBURG-(Continued) . 774
Ecclesiastical History - Schools - The Cunningham Papers.
CHAPTER NCIX.
SHREWSBURY . 780
Early Land Grants.
CHAPTER C.
SHREWSBURY-(Continned)
The Marlborough Men and When Some of Them Settled.
CHAPTER CI.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 785
Grant of Township-Lay-out of Lots-Incorporation- Origin of the Name of the Town.
CHAPTER CII.
691
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 787
The Meeting-House Lot and the ifonses that were Built Thereon-The Parish Fund - Its Origin and Growth.
699
CHAPTER CIII.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued ) 789
The First Parish and Its Ministers: Cushing, Sumner, Ingersoll, Whipple, George Allen, Averell, Williams, MrGinley, Dyer, Scudder, Frank H. Atlen.
CHAPTER CIV. 701
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) . 793
The Second Parish-The Baptist, Universalist and Methodlist Societies -- The Roman Catholics
CHAPTER CV.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) . 796
The French Wars, the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
CHAPTER CVI.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 798
Showing the Part which Shrewsbury took in the Shays' Rebellion.
CHAPTER CVII.
SHREWSBURY -- (Continued) Soo
The Slaveholders' Rebellion.
CHAPTER CVIII.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 802
Agriculture-The Stage Business - The Tanning und Currying Business,
CHAPTER CIX.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 805
The Medical Profession-Graduates of College 8-Public Education.
CHAPTER CX.
GARDNER SIO
Situation, Topography, Settlement, Incorporation, etc.
CHAPTER CXI.
GARDNER-(Continued) . 820
Town and County Roads-Fifth Massachusetts Turn- pike-Railways.
CHAPTER CXII.
GARDNER-(Continued) . S25
Industrial Interests.
CHAPTER CXIII.
GARDNER-(Continued) .
Education-Schools and Libraries. CHAPTER CXIV. GARDNER-(Continued) . S52
Religion, Houses of Worship, Parishes, etc.
CHAPTER CXV.
GARDNER-(Continued) . 862
Relations to the State and Nation.
CHAPTER CXVI.
GARDNER-(Continued) .
865
Miscellaneous Topics.
760
782
الذكم لسلطة
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
LEICESTER-(Continued)
French and Revolutionary Wars.
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 699
State ('onstitution-Shays' Insurrection-Fine for Non- Representation in the General Court-Slavery in Lei- vester-" Instructions"-Jews.
CHAPTER XC.
LEICESTER-(Continued)
Ecclesiustiend: The First Chuch-Friends' Meeting- Greenville Baptist Church - Second congregational Church.
CHAPTER XCI.
LEICESTER-(Continned) 709
Schools : First Town Action-Schoolmasters-School- Ilouses-Town Fines-District System -- Amount Raised for Schools-Districts Abolished-High School-Leices- ter Academy-Founding-Buildings-Teachers-Funds -Military-Reorganization-Centennial Anniversary.
CHAPTER XCII.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 715
Business: Card Business-Woolen Manufacture-Boot and Shoe Business-Tanning and Currying Business- Leicester National and Savings Banks-Miscellaneous Industries.
CHAPTER XCIII.
LEICESTER-(Continued) 723
The Civil War: Sixth Massachusetts Regiment-War Meetings-Twenty-fifth Regiment-Fifteenth, Twenty- first, Thirty-fourth, Forty-second-Action of the Town -Other Soldiers-Expenditures-Casualties-Close of the War.
CHAPTER XCIV.
LEICESTER-(Continued ) 728
Miscellaneous . Individuals and Residences-Physicians -Lawyers -Items of Interest-Burying rounds-Post- Offices-Fire Department-Taverns-Libraries-Cherry Valley Flood -Ilistories-Celebrations. CHAPTER XCV. 745
CHARLTON
CHAPTER XCVI. 760
Location - Ponds and Drainage-Original Grants-Set- tlements-Incorporation-Proprietary Affairs-Roads- The Town Divided-Personal Notices.
CHAPTER XCVII.
LUNENBURG-(Coutinned) .
Indian Alarms-The French and Indian Wars-Capture of John Fitch-The Revolution-The War of the Re- belllon.
CHAPTER XCVIII.
LUNENBURG-(Continned) . 774
Ecclesiastical History - Schools - The Cunningham Papers.
CHIAPTER XCIX.
SHREWSBURY . 7So
Early Land Grants.
CHAPTER C.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued)
The Marlborough Men and When Some of Them Settled.
CHAPTER CI.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) . 785
Grant of Township-Lay-out of Lots-Iucorporation- Origin of the Name of the Town.
CHAPTER CII.
691
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 787
The Meeting-House Lot and the Houses that were Built Thereon-The Parish Fund -Its Origin and Growth.
CHAPTER CIII. SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 789
The First Parish and Its Ministers: Cushing, Sumner, Ingersoll, Whipple, George Allen, Averell, Williams, MeGinley, byer, Sendder, Frank H. Allen.
CHAPTER CIV. SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 793
1
The Second Parish-The Baptist, Universalist and Methodist Societies-The Roman Catholics.
CHAPTER CV.
SHREWSBURY-( Continued) 796
The French Wars, the Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.
CHAPTER CVI.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 798
Showing the Part which Shrewsbury took in the Shays' Rebellion.
CHAPTER CVII.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) Soo
The Slaveholders' Rebellion.
CHAPTER CVIII.
SHREWSBURY -- (Continued) 802
Agriculture-The Stage Business - The Tanning nud ('nrrying Business,
CHAPTER CIX.
SHREWSBURY-(Continued) 805
The Medical Profession-Graduates of Colleges-Public Education.
CHAPTER CX.
GARDNER SIO
Situation, Topography, Settlement, Incorporation, etc.
CHIAPTER CXI.
GARDNER-(Continued) . 820
Town and Connty Roads-Fifth Massachusetts Turn- pike-Railways.
CHAPTER CXII.
767 | GARDNER -- (Continued) . S25
Industrial Interests.
CHAPTER CXIII.
GARDNER-(Continued) . 848
Education- Schools and Libraries.
CHAPTER CXIV.
GARDNER-(Continued) .
S52
Religion, Houses of Worship, Parishes, etc. CHAPTER CXV.
GARDNER-(Continued) .
S62
Relations to the State and Nation.
CHAPTER CXVI.
GARDNER-(Continued) .
865
Miscellaneous Topics.
782
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HISTORY
OF
WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
GENERAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
WORCESTER COUNTY.
BY WILLIAM T. DAVIS.
IT is not proposed to include iu this sketch any matter which properly belongs to the histories of the towns of which Worcester County is composed. Re- ligiou, education, manufactures and Indian history will all be treated in the sketches of the various towns with whose growth and traditions and present condi- tion they are inseparably connected. It is proposed to confine the sketch strictly to an investigation of the affairs of the county proper, its incorporation, its geographical character, its boundaries, its courts, its officers and such associations as have the county for both the extent and limit of their operations.
Worcester County was incorporated by au act which was passed by the General Court, April 2d, and pub- lished April 5, 1731. The text of the act is as follows:
An Act for erecting, granting and making a County in the Ialand parts of this Province, to be called the County of Worcester, and for es- tablishiog Courts of Justice within the same :
Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor, Council and Representa- tives, in General Coart assembled, and by the anthority of the same :
Sect. 1. Tbat the towns and places hereafter named and expressed ; That is to say, Worcester, Lancaster, Westboro', Shrewsbury, Southboro', Leicester, Rutlaod and Lunenburg, all in the County of Middlesex ; Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton (including Hassanamisco), Uxbridge and the land lately grauted to several petitioners of Medfield, all in the County uf Suffolk ; Brookfield in the County of Hampshire and the South towa laid out to the Narragansett soldiers; and all other lands lying witbio said towoships with the inhabitants thereou, shall from and after the 10th day of July, which will be in the year of our Lord,
A
seventeen hundred and thirty-one, be and remain one intiro and distinct County by the name of Worcester, of which Worcester to be the County or shire towa ; and the said County to have, nsa and enjoy all such powers, privileges and immunities as by law other counties within this Province have and du enjoy.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid :
Sect. 2. That there shall be held and kept within the said County of Worcester, yearly, and in every year at the times and places in this Act hereafter expressed, a Court of General Sessions of the Peace and an Io- ferior Court of Conumnon Pleas, to sit at Worcester on the second Tuesdays of May and Angust, the first Tuesdays of November and February yearly, and in every year natil this Court shall otherwise order, a Supe- rior Court of Judicatore, Court of Assize and General Gaol Delivery, to sit ou the Wednesday immediately preceding the time by law appointed for the holding of the said Court of Judicature, Court of Assize und General Gaol Delivery at Springfield, within and for the County of Hampshire ; and the Justices of the said Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferior Court of Common Pleas, Superior Court of Judicotare, Court of Assize and General Gaol Delivery, respectively, who are or shall be thereunto lawfully commissioned and appointed, shall have, hold, use, exercise and enjoy all and singular the powers which are by law already given and granted vato them within any other counties of the Provinco where a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, Inferior Court of Com- mon Pleas, Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Assiza and General Gaol Delivery are already established. Provided,
Sect. 3. That all writs, suits, plaints, processes, appeals, reviews, re- cognizances or any other matters or things which now are, or at any tinie before the said 10th day of July shall be defending in the law witbia any part of the said County of Worcester ; and also all matters and things which now are, or at any time before the said 10th of July shall be defending before the Judges of Probate within ony part of the said Connty of Worcester, shall be beard, tryed, proceeded upon and de- termined in the Counties of Suffolk, Middlesex and Hampshire respect- ively, where the same are or shall be returoable or defending, and have or shall have, day or days. Provided, also,
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