USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01065 8174
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofl00marv
ANCIENTME INGHOUSE.
GARRISON HOUSE OF 1700.
Fort Dummer, 1730-50.
FruPrec 1605
BUILDING
HISTORY
OF THE -
TOWN OF LANCASTER,
MASSACHUSETTS:
FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME, 1643-1879.
BY REV. ABIJAH P. MARVIN, ------
-
AUTHOR OF THE "HISTORY OF WINCHENDON," AND THE "HISTORY OF WORCESTER IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION."
The past but lives in words: a thousand ages Were blank, if books had not evoked their ghosts."- BULWER.
LANCASTER: PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN. 1879.
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1879, by SOLON WILDER, FOR THE TOWN, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington,
Printed by J. E. FARWELL & Co., 45 Pearl Street, Boston.
From the Bindery of S. H. SANBORN, 73 Federal Street, Boston.
PREFATORY NOTE
OF THE
COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
1136791
THE definite duty of this committee has been to procure the preparation and publication of a History of the town. As related hereafter, the hope of finding the materials for such a history, gathered by that accomplished annalist, the late Joseph Wil- lard, Esq., in a condition for publication, had been disappoint- ed ; and although there were natives of the town who were com- petent to write its History, yet their engagements would have prevented. Indeed, before the vote, under which the committee were appointed, was passed, " the preparation " had been assigned, by very general consent, to the Reverend Mr. Marvin, lately Min- ister of one of the religious societies of the town, and who, though but for a few years a resident, was accredited with the desired gifts and experience for the work, and was at leisure to undertake it. Aside from the business of " publication," the co-operation of his colleagues with Mr. Marvin has been only advisory ; and to him alone belongs any literary merit which may attach to the book that is now presented to subscribers and to the public. The com- mittee do not hold themselves responsible for any statements of opinion which he has made, nor, either in general or in detail, for the manner in which he has executed his task; but they must not omit to say that, in their judgment, he has discharged his obligations to the town with ability and fidelity ; that their official association with him has been very pleasant and profitable
4
PREFATORY NOTE.
to them ; and that they confidently believe that his readers will. derive in a good degree the satisfaction from his labors which, without doubt, it has been his ambition to deserve. How much time and anxious research such labors involve, is not readily estimated by the inexperienced or superficial observer of the re- sults. The production of this book having been limited to two years, that errors of omission and of commission will be detected in it, the committee and the author take for granted. Notifica- tion to him or to them of any such errors, will be esteemed a favor. Though Mr. Remick has been happy in his sketch, yet the committee would have been glad to give another representation of the great Elm, in a photograph direct from nature, and taken, per- haps, in winter ; but convenience did not serve, and uniformity in the style of the illustrations seemed to be desirable. Acknowl- edgments are due to Mr. J. E. Farwell, a native of Lancaster, for his friendly zeal in carrying the manuscript through his press at prices hardly remunerative to him. It only remains to be said that this address has been written as if Mr. Marvin were not a member of the committee, and to commend the sentiment of one distinguished as historian and poet, in his own words :- " Whatever strengthens our local attachments is favourable both to individual and national character. Show me a man who cares no more for one place than another, and I will show you in that same person one who loves nothing but himself. You have no hold on a human being whose affections are without a taproot."
INTRODUCTION.
AT a town meeting held in the year 1871, Rev. George M. Bar- tol, Mr. Henry Wilder and Rev. A. P. Marvin were chosen as a committee to obtain from the heirs of the late Joseph Willard, Esq., of Boston, a manuscript history of the town of Lancaster. It was supposed at the time, that such a work was in existence, and from the known character of the writer, it was believed that his history of the town would be full and accurate. It was remembered by one of the committee, that Mr. Willard had mentioned the fact of his having the work in such a state of forwardness, that it could be fitted for the press in six months, and would make a volume of four or five hundred octavo pages. The chairman of the committee made application to the sons of Mr. Willard, but they were unable to discover the manuscript. The committee were thus discharged from their duty.
In 1876 the town at its annual meeting, had before it an article " to see what action should be taken in relation to the preparation and publishing of the History of the town." On the eighth of April the subject was referred to a committee of five, to take such action as they might deem advisable. The committee were George M. Bartol, A. P. Marvin, Jonas M. Damon, Charles T. Fletcher and Charles L. Wilder. The committee engaged the subscriber to write the history, but as the town had made no appropriation to pay for preparing or publishing the work, not much was done that year, except by way of collecting information, and settling upon the plan.
At the annual meeting, March 5, 1877, the committee made a re- port, with suggestions, to the effect that the town should raise the sum of $1,500, to pay expenses ; print six hundred and fifty copies ; and give a copy of the book to every family belonging to the town. The copies remaining were to be sold for $4.00, each.
6
INTRODUCTION.
These suggestions were put into the form of a vote, and passed unanimously. The committee were also authorized to illustrate the work with maps, pictures of public buildings, and historic scenes.
From this time the work of research was resumed with vigor, and was carried on until all available sources of information had been examined. I then called upon Joseph Willard, Esq., son of the former gentleman of the same name, in search of an ancient paper, and learned that the missing manuscript had been found. The sheets were bound into a volume of nearly a thousand pages of large letter paper, and nearly eight hundred pages were covered with writing. Here were the materials for a history of Lancas- ter, but not a line had been prepared for the press. I was cour- teously permitted to examine the volume, and spent nearly a day in turning over the pages, when it appeared that I had spent several months in gathering the same information, from the same sources as Mr. Willard had done. There was nothing which I needed but a few extracts from the Records of Middlesex county, which I was kindly permitted to copy. There is, however, considerable matter in the volume pertaining to Lancaster families, which is valuable, and it would be well, if the town could procure the whole collec- tion for permanent possession in the public library.
In arranging the work I have been guided by the wisdom of the committee of publication. And here I may be permitted to say, in relation to my colleagues, that the town made a judicious selec- tion. Mr. Wilder is a descendant of Thomas Wilder, one of the original settlers, who came in 1659, and was immediately em- . ployed in public trusts, as one of the fathers of the town. The ancestor of Mr. Fletcher settled here near the beginning of the last century, or about one hundred and seventy years since. The family of Mr. Damon have been here nearly a century. Besides, and what is of equal importance, they all feel an intelligent in- terest in family and municipal history. From them all many facts of interest have been gathered. The historic tastes and literary judgment of Mr. Bartol justly gave him the first place on the com- mittee. He has been ever at hand, and ready to advise with on all questions of importance. The plan of the work was approved by the whole committee, after mature deliberation.
The sources from which the materials of the following history have been drawn, are various. I begin by cheerfully acknowledg- ing indebtedness to Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, Rev. Timothy Har-
7
INTRODUCTION.
rington and Joseph Willard, Esq. The latter gave much attention to the history of the town, and wrote the historical article in the Worcester Magazine, of 1826, from which succeeding writers have copied. He also delivered the address at the bi-centennial cele- bration in 1853, which contained some additions to the facts related in his earlier publication. If he had lived to complete his intended history of Lancaster, the work would have been done with such fulness and elegance, as to have superseded the need of any other.
But owing to the fact already mentioned, I was compelled to go to original sources of information, and therefore am not really indebted to any great extent, to preceding writers. Mrs. Row- landson's wonderful little book, destined to go down to distant generations, gives the experience of an actual participator in a crisis of the town's history ; but this covered only a brief interval of time. Mr. Harrington conveyed to us the traditional knowledge of his time, which he had gathered from the grandchildren of the first settlers. Mr. Willard gave only what was open to all students in the original records.
To these records I have resorted, and have never relied on ex- tracts made by others. The Records of the town have been well kept, with the exception of the period between 1673 and 1717, which is a blank. It is commonly said that a volume was burned, many years since ; and Mr. Willard says, that the first volume " unaccountably disappeared " more than ninety years since. It would be more correct to say, that in early times the records of the proprietors, the town and the parish were all kept in the same book. The first book, which is still extant, and has also been copied, comes down to 1673, or three years before the massacre of 1676. There is then a total blank to the year 1717, from which time to 1724, the proceedings of proprietors, town and parish are in- termingled. From the last date, the records, of proceedings are generally kept separate as far as the proprietors are concerned. From 1724 the Records of the town are in good preservation, and without any hiatus. The Records of the First church are wanting previous to 1708, but are complete from that date.
I have examined the Records of the Town and the Proprietary ; the Book of Roads, and the Book of Lands ; the Book of Estrays and the Books of the Selectmen. The Records of Births, Mar- riages and Deaths, in the books of the town, and the Records of the Church, have also been consulted. The Records of School
8
INTRODUCTION.
districts, of Library companies and of various associations, have been read with care. The same is true in regard to the Records of churches and societies of comparatively recent origin. Private papers have also been entrusted to my examination.
In proceeding, I have read the warrants for every town meeting on record in the town books. I then looked out the action of the town in regard to every article of general and permanent interest. Sometimes a measure would be before the town for years, by ad- journment, or as a new proposition, before final decision. The action has been traced from meeting to meeting, until a result was reached. The same is true of the Records of the churches. The first volume of the Book of Lands has been studied with nearly equal minuteness, to verify the location of the homes of the first settlers. The results will be seen in one of the maps which accom- pany this volume. The Book of Roads has undergone similar scrutiny.
But the history of an ancient town cannot be made complete from its own records ; especially its military and parochial annals must be filled out from other sources. The Historic-Genealogical Society have a manuscript volume pertaining to King Philip's war, which is invaluable. Their materials for family history are rich and abundant. The Massachusetts Historical Society has two large volumes in relation to the conquest of Louisburg, by Sir William Pepperell, which contain the rolls of the Massachusetts regiments in that expedition ; but unfortunately the roll of the Lan- caster company, and of the whole regiment of Col. Samuel Willard, are wanting. Some items of interest, however, were found, as well as in the files of newspapers printed early in the last century. The courtesy of these associations is gratefully acknowledged.
But for the student of municipal history, the Archives room in the State House is the magazine of facts, which, after local records, must be his main reliance. No one who has not consulted the huge volumes in that room, under the intelligent guidance of Dr. Strong, can have an adequate idea of the treasures of historic facts contained therein. In early times the general court took cogni- zance of many things which are now left to the management of towns, churches, parishes and individuals. By means of letters, petitions, reports, bills, journals, complaints and orders, all of which are pasted into immense scrap books, much of the life, re- ligious and military, as well as civil and educational, of the towns
9
INTRODUCTION.
is preserved. In this mass of material, I found proof of the build- ing of a second meeting-house where the first had stood. Here also was the schedule of losses when the houses and barns were burnt by the Indians on the day when the meeting-house was de- stroyed. Nearly all the facts pertaining to the military history of Lancaster, from 1676 to 1865, were derived from records in the State House. But enough of this. The novice may be appalled at the thought of going through such a mass of papers, written in every conceivable hand, but he ought to be cheered by the fact that the Commonwealth has such vast treasures of historic material for him to explore.
There are readers who will wonder why so much room has been given to the proceedings of town meetings, and in particular, to such long recitals of town action in regard to roads, bridges, schools and parish affairs. The object was twofold. First, because the peculiar use and glory of our towns are herein displayed ; and sec- ond, to preserve a record of everything important in case the Rec- ords should be lost.
There are others who will regret the omission of full genealogical tables, but the committee saw at once, that such an addition to the work would swell it to several large volumes. Besides, all families will, in process of time, have their special book, like those of the Willards, the Wilders, the Lockes, the Fletchers and the Richard- sons. It will be found, however, that there is much information in this volume, in relation to the families of the early settlers.
In regard to Illustrations, the committee decided to exclude por- traits, and pictures of private residences and buildings. This is so different from the usual way, that a reason may be offered. It is found, in part, in the fact that when local histories are examined, wonder is often expressed because the portraits of some people are admitted, while those of others are omitted. It would be im- possible to procure pictures of many who have filled the largest space in our history, in past generations. In their absence, the presence of others would seem out of place, if not impertinent.
With respect to buildings, the committee were positive in their conviction that a town history should not be an advertising medium of any man's real estate or business. Besides, photographs are now so common that there is no danger that our descendants will find any difficulty in learning how the present generation, or their dwellings appeared.
10
INTRODUCTION.
The pictures are heliotypes from sketches in India ink. That of the Indian Camp Pasture was drawn by Mr. Harold Parker. The Survey of the Old Burying Ground was also made by him. The other pictures and the maps were made by Mr. H. E. Remick, of Boston.
The picture of the Great Elm in Lovers' Lane is inserted because the tree is a grand and beautiful object, and is believed to be the largest tree in New England.
The views of the Indian Camp Pasture and of the Site of the Rowlandson Garrison, are given, because both include scenes of historic interest. The first was taken from the spot where the first Trucking House stood on the east side of George hill. The sum- mit rises at the right, and the view extends southerly towards the house of Mr. Parker.
The scene of the garrison was taken from the bridge over Roper's brook where the two figures stand. The garrison was a little to the right of the pine tree, near the encircled view of an ancient garrison. The highest point of the hill is the site of the first two meeting-houses. The garrison-house in the circle is not to be taken as a picture of Mr. Rowlandson's house, but as that of an ancient garrison-house.
The Plan of the Old Burying Ground, which was figured and let- tered by Mr. Remick, is explained in the Chapter on Cemeteries.
The views of an ancient meeting-house and ancient garrisons are given, because they show how a certain style of these build- ings looked, in the eyes of former generations. No. 1 is known to be like the garrison of Rev. Messrs. Whiting and Gardner, in its general shape, and its flanker or sentry box on the cor- ner. No. 2 answers the description of Fort Dummer, which had four houses on the inside, with their rear against the wall of the fort. No. 3 is a copy of a meeting-house built in Haverhill a lit- tle while before the erection of the first meeting-house in this town, and is, without doubt, a very good representation of the house in which the first fathers, with their wives and children, worshipped.
The " Map of Central Lancaster, indicating residences before the massacre," will help the reader to locate each family, as well as the meeting-house, the garrisons and the bridges, before the town was burned in 1676, as is indicated in the third chapter. On this map the present roads are dotted lines, and the old roads are continuous parallel lines.
1
11
INTRODUCTION.
At page 366 is a heliotype copy of the town map, made by order of the general court, in 1795. It has been considerably reduced in size, to bring it within the page.
The " Map showing River Changes" at page 442, gives only a part of the changes of the channel in recent times, for the section between the Atherton bridge and the old crossing by the house of Daniel Bemis. In this map the ancient channel and roads are de- noted by dotted lines.
The "Map of Lancaster" is copied from the map of 1830, made up by James G. Carter from surveys by Major Jacob Fisher, cor- rected by reference to the map of H. Walling, 1857, and the map of F. W. Beers, 1870, and also from personal observation at the present time. Various improvements and additions have been made. The numbers include all the houses outside of the villages, and they refer to names printed on the opposite page. These names have been collected from former maps, from the present list of voters, and from the memory of elderly citizens. Doubtless many names are omitted, as no mortal can tell where every family lived in former generations.
The names of the old post roads and stage routes are retain- ed to gratify curiosity. Suitable characters indicate the site of churches, school-houses and other localities. The discontinued roads are marked by dotted lines.
The Plan of the Old Burying Ground is explained in the proper place. The beauty of the lines, figures and letters will please every eye.
In the Map of " Villages in Lancaster" will be found the num- bers of all the houses, past and present, in each of the four vil- lages. Present roads only are given. Public places are indicated by the characters used in the " Map of Lancaster." The names of residents in each village are placed in separate divisions, and will be easily found.
The picture of Memorial Hall was procured at the expense of the town. The committee offered to all the religious societies the opportunity to insert a picture of their several houses of worship. Two only availed themselves of the offer. These pictures are ex- ecuted in a style which makes them ornamental to the volume.
The history has grown to dimensions far beyond the original plan. The reason is that the town is ancient, and has much material for history. The chapter on Cemeteries is much more full than was
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INTRODUCTION.
designed, and the collection of epitaphs is the result of an after- thought. The chapter on the late war covers more space than was anticipated, and the last chapter is an undesigned addition.
It should be stated, that the town, at the annual meeting, in 1878, voted $500 additional, to pay the expense of publication.
With these explanations, the History of Lancaster is commended to the kindly consideration of the families who compose the town, and those also whose homes are outside of our bounds, but who are interested in the events which have here taken place. In the thousands of names and dates, there are without doubt many er- rors. Nothing short of omniscience could keep such a work as this free from mistakes. My intention has been to treat subjects and events according to their relative importance, and to be absolutely fair and impartial towards parties, churches, societies and indi- viduals. Craving indulgence for all deficiencies, I submit the results of much thought and labor to the present citizens of the town, with whom my relations have always been pleasant, and to the myriads of citizens who in coming generations, will be affected by the so- cial, political and religious life which has been imperfectly depicted in these pages.
LANCASTER, February 1, 1879.
A. P. MARVIN.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. - BOUNDARIES AT DIFFERENT TIMES ; SCENERY. - Purchase by King in 1643; Survey in 1659; Original dimensions; Addition to territory ; New towns ; Outline map ; Hills ; Intervales ; River changes ; Springs, lakes, brooks and rivers; Scenery; Minerals; Animals ; Trees ; Size of the ponds. 17-36
CHAPTER II. - THE PURCHASE AND SETTLEMENT OF LANCASTER. - Date of settlement; Sholan; Indian camp pasture; The pioneers ; First two houses ; Liberty of a township; Division of lots; Covenant of the planters ; Their names and estates; Name of the town; Limited num- ber of settlers ; Suffrage; Wisdom of the fathers. . 37-57
CHAPTER III. - LOCATION OF THE FIRST SETTLERS; AUTONOMY OF THE TOWN. - Names of the first settlers ; First roads; Location of the first houses ; The proprietors; The town not able to govern itself; The committee, and the selectmen; Arbitrators; Major Simon Willard ; Self-government. . 58-88
CHAPTER IV. - CHARACTER OF THE SETTLERS ; THE NATIVES ; THE BURN- ING AND MASSACRE. - Religion ; The minister and his position ; Edu- cation ; Manners and customs; Character of the people ; The Indians seduced by Philip; The burning and massacre; Total ruin of the set- tlement; Captivity of Mrs. Rowlandson; Fate of the Indians. 89-114
CHAPTER V. - REBUILDING ; KING WILLIAM'S WAR. - Return of the settlers ; The Rowlandson locker ; Lost records; Petition to the gen- eral court for aid; The second meeting-house; Ministers; King William's war; Indian raids; Massacre of Mr. Whiting and others. 115-129
CHAPTER VI. - INDIAN WAR ; GARRISONS ; THIRD MEETING-HOUSE; NEW TERRITORY. - Adjusting taxes ; French and Indian attacks; Houses burned on George hill; Sad death of Rev. Mr. Gardner; Meeting- house on the Old Common; Expedition to Port Royal; Garrisons ; Last act of Indian violence in the town; Tahanto's grant. . 130-152
CHAPTER VII. - ANNALS ; EDUCATION ; DELEGATES ; CHURCH COVENANT. -Extent of the town; Annals ; Population; Delegates ; Intelligence. of the people; The minister's house; Settlement of Rev. John Pren- tice; The church covenant; Names of male members. 153-163
14
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII. - NEW FAMILIES ; LANCASTER HEROES. - Governors of the colony; Contest about the new grant; New families; Town meet- ing, 1719; King George's war; Heroes: Fairbanks; Hartwell; The two Willards ; John White; Petition of Eunice White. 164-179
CHAPTER IX. - SWARMING TIME. - Size of townships; Town govern- ment, at first, a duality ; Bridge over the Penacook; Road across the Swans' swamp to Concord; Roads; Schoolmasters Howe and Brough- ton; Enlarging the meeting-house; Seating the meeting-house; Incor- poration of Harvard; County of Worcester ; Roads and schools ; Bolton becomes a town; Leominster set off in 1740; Salary of the minister ; Two mecting-houses; Chocksett a precinct; Shrewsbury Leg; Town officers ; Unstable currency. 180-216
CHAPTER X. - SPANISH AND FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS ; FORT DUMMER. - Walpole opposed to the Spanish war; Lancaster soldiers lost in the West Indies ; The old French and Indian war; Lancaster men at the capture of Louisburg; Col. Samuel Willard; Raid on Lunenburg; Fort Dummer ; Col. Josiah Willard; Soldiers in the service. 217-231
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