USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon, from the grant of the township by the legislature of Massachusetts in 1735, to the present time > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF WINCHENDON
FROM THE
GRANT OF THE TOWNSHIP
BY
THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS
IN 1735,
TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BY EZRA HYDE.
WORCESTER: PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, 199 MAIN STREET.
YHOTBIH
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by EZRA HYDE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.
MATTEROYUN
TO THE YOUTH OF WINCHENDON. 1417476
Having a desire of rescuing from oblivion a series of facts, many of which will be interesting to the inhabitants of Winchendon, when the present generation shall be gone, it is believed, is a sufficient apology for publishing the fol- lowing history.
The editor would rejoice with you, that our happy lot is cast in such a land as this, in which is the knowledge of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, a land of liberty both religious and civil.
Let us, for a moment, take a retrospective view of the time when our forefathers fled from persecution in Eng- land, their native country, and sought an asylum in this then barren wilderness. Here they patiently endured al- most intolerable hardships. But they flourished and grew to a people and a nation.
At length, being oppressed by the mother country, they resisted her unjust encroachments and tyrannical usurpa- tions, and would not submit to her unjust demands. And what was the consequence ? Why, a long, a destructive, a terrible war ensued, in which many lives and much prop- erty were lost. Our fathers fought, they bled, they con- quered ; and obtained for their posterity that invaluable blessing, Independence.
Surely, these considerations cannot do less than excite in us the warmest emotions of gratitude towards the mem- ories of those who, under God, obtained for us our Free- dom and Independence.
1 0
0
IV
TO THE YOUTH OF WINCHENDON.
Beloved youth, you are the hope of your country. But all depends on your improvement of early instruction.
The diligent study of the Bible ought, in the first place, to be most earnestly recommended to you. From that sacred fountain you will learn what you ought to believe, and what is your duty towards your Creator, your neigh- bor, and yourselves. In the Bible are made known the mind and will of God, and our duty, and the way of sal- vation by Jesus Christ.
The care of education is a work of the highest mo- ment; as all the advantages, or miscarriages, of man's life are, in a great measure, dependent on it.
That man cannot be conceived to be absolutely com- plete, whose natural endowments are not assisted and cul- tivated by learning.
No stronger incentive to learning is needed, than to know what a figure a man will make in the world without this great accomplishment ; and how by the labor of a few years' erudition, he stands possessed of advantages, that will stick by him to his latest hour.
By laying in a store of useful knowledge, adorning your minds with elegant literature, improving and establishing your conduct by virtuous principles, you will be a comfort to those friends who have supported you, happy within yourselves, and well received of mankind.
Beloved youth, to you especially is the following history cordially inscribed by
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
The writer has been induced to undertake the present work by the solicitation of many of his friends, and by a desire to save from oblivion, to which they were hastening, some of the events connected with the history of this town. After collecting materials to a considerable extent, he felt ready to abandon the project, wishing that it might be prosecuted by some abler hand. But he has at length come to the decision to prepare the work for the press without further delay. The knowledge of some events treasured up in the memories of a few aged people, must, in the course of nature, soon be inevitably lost, if not pre- served in a connected and tangible form. Though the number of these relics of other days is now small, much information has been derived from them ; and much more might have been obtained, had the enquiries commenced a few years earlier.
The difficulty of preparing a work of this nature, can only be conceived of by one who has attempted it. The mere collecting of the scattered materials is some labor. It is a greater toil to arrange them in proper order when once they are collected. The settling of doubtful and con- tradictory statements is sometimes a perplexing business. And then comes the writing, which the author must ac- complish as he can.
The writer has had free access to the Records of the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, and to the Town Records " of Winchendon. Oral and written information has been furnished with the utmost cheerfulness, by all those pos- sessed of facts worthy of note.
It has not been thought necessary to descend into the particulars of the unhappy difficulties, which this town has experienced in its ecclesiastical affairs. The recital of
VI
PREFACE.
them at the present time, would prove to be rather painful than interesting, and perhaps an impartial account would give satisfaction to neither party. When it is recollected that these divisions commenced about the year 1798, dur- ing the ministry of Rev. Mr. Brown, and continued, with more or less excitement, though with some intervals, till the ordinations of Rev. Messrs. Marvin and Bullard, dur- ing which period difficulty after difficulty arose, and coun- cil after council was called, it will be seen that a strictly impartial account of them would be a task of no small difficulty, and would extend the limits of this work much too far. It will be enough to state, generally, that angry feelings were sometimes indulged to an inexcusable ex- tent. If this excited state of feeling has now passed away, the writer would not incur the hazard of disturbing the calm by galling a tender wound.
To Mr. Webster Whitney, the Town Clerk of Winch- endon, Windsor N. White, Esq., Mr. Ezra Porter, Mr. M. S. Morse, Chairman of the Assessors the present year, Mr. Elisha Murdock, Rev. A. P. Marvin, Rev. Malachi Bullard, and Rev. J. M. Whiton, D. D., of Antrim, N. H. (who is a native of this town-the son of the late lamented Israel Whiton, Esq .- who was our physician, beloved and highly respected for his piety, talents, and usefulness,) this public expression of the thanks of the writer is due for the readiness with which they have afforded him every facility in their power, in the compilation of this work. To other persons, to whom he is more or less indebted for informa- tion, he tenders his grateful acknowledgements.
If the following pages afford satisfaction to the inhabit- ants of the place, and furnish the writers of general his- tory with any facts before unknown, the writer is rewarded for his labor.
E. H.
WINCHENDON, Sept. 28, 1848.
CONTENTS.
Dedication,
. Page 3
Preface,
5
Notes,
67
Grant of Ipswich Canada by the General Court of Massachusetts, 9, 67
Meetings of the Proprietors,
9, 69
Rights entered on-persons' names and places of abode, 70
List of the Proprietors, and of their lots of land, . 80
' Old Tenor' and ' Lawful Money' explained, 85
' Old Style' and 'New Style' explained,
86
First saw mill,
12, 88
First Settlers, ·
13, 91
The first meeting of the Proprietors in the Township,
14
Fortifying the Township,
14, 94
.
The first grist mill, .
.
14, 95
The first meeting house,
. 15, 96
Cemeteries,
15, 97
Incorporation of the Town, .
15, 98
99
Origin of the name,
16
Land set off to Gardner,
16
Wood and timber, .
16
Face of the country,
.
17
Soil and productions,
17
Ponds, springs, rivers and brooks, .
. 18, 100
Town meetings,
. 20, 100
Affairs connected with the American Revolution, · 21, 103
Continental money, .
. 32, 111
State Constitution, .
32
Peace with Great Britain,
32
Winchendon Lottery,
.
33
Facts connected with the Insurrection in Massachusetts, ·
35
Meeting houses,
.
38
Congregational meeting house of the first parish, 38, 113, 119
.
13, 92
Measures taken regarding the preaching of the Gospel, ·
Annexation of Royalsten Leg,
VIII
CONTENTS.
Baptist meeting houses, .
38
Methodist meeting houses, . .
38
North Congregational meeting house,
39
Ecclesiastical History,
40
First Church,
. 40, 120
Baptist Church and Society,
45
Methodists, .
.
45
Universalists and Unitarians,
46
North Congregational Church,
. 46, 126
Early Settlers,
46
Schools,
56
Winchendon Academy,
57
Collegiates, .
59
Seasons of great mortality, sudden deaths, &c.,
. 60, 128
Population, and other statistics,
60
Winchendon Village,
61
Spring Village,
62
Waterville, ·
63
Remarkable events,
64
Memorable winds,
64
Hard winter,
64
Dark day, .
·
64
Total eclipse of the Sun, June 16, 1806,
.
65
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Grant of the Territory of Ipswich Canada.
On the 10th of June, 1735, a grant of land to be equal to six miles square, was made by the Legislature of Massachusetts, to Abraham Tilton and others. Preference was to be given to those who petitioned for the grant, and the descendants of the officers and sol- diers, who served in the expedition to Canada, in the year 1690. This tract was to be laid out into 63 equal shares ; one for the first minister, one for the use of the ministry, and one for a school ; the others for 60 proprietors.1
Meetings of the Proprietors, and their Transactions.
March 27, 1736. Thomas Berry, Esq., of Ipswich, was authorized to assemble the Proprietors and Grant- ees. 2
April 13, 1736. The Committee appointed to lay out the Township met at Ipswich, and admitted a cer- tain number of persons as Grantees of the Town- ship. 3
As all the Proprietors of the Township, excepting eight, belonged to Ipswich, in the county of Essex in
1 See Note A.
2 See Note B.
3 See Note C.
2
12
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Ipswich in 1741 and 1742, for the purpose of adopt- ing measures for erecting a Saw mill, building a meet- ing house and laying out and clearing roads, and to encourage the settlement of the Township.
The First Saw Mill.
In 1742 a Saw mill was erected at the place where Mr. John Poor's Saw mill now stands.
At a meeting of the Proprietors, March 14, 1742, a Committee was chosen to lay out a second division of lots. A Committee was also appointed to build a Corn mill in the most convenient place. A Commit- tee was likewise directed and empowered, to agree with some one to do the Proprietors' blacksmiths' work in the Township.1
After the last named date, there is no record of any meeting of the Proprietors, for more than eight years.
The next meeting of the Proprietors was held at Ipswich, March 29, 1751 ; and was adjourned to meet on the 11th of next April, when a Committee was ap- pointed to run the lines, and renew the bounds be- tween the Township of Ipswich Canada, and the con- tiguous Townships ;2 which Committee made a return, and reported their doings at the next Proprietors' meet- ing. And at the latter meeting, Francis Goodhue was chosen Treasurer, and a Committee was appointed to assist the Clerk in making a report to the General Court. 3
1 See Note N.
2 See Note O.
3 See Note P.
13
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
It appears from the records of the Proprietors and from tradition, that in or about the year 1752, there was a small frame raised for a meeting house, about 100 rods easterly of the present meeting house com- mon, near the burying ground ; but it was never oc- cupied, or even prepared for the purpose.
The First Settlers.
No evidence appears of there being any permanent settlement in the Township, previous to the year 1752. At length the Proprietors offered greater encourage- ment to settlers, and in that year, ten families had fix- ed down here.1
But the settlement of the place was immediately retarded, by what is commonly called the last French War. Most of the settlers left the place. Those who remained were obliged to keep in garrisons.2
Measures regarding the Preaching of the Gospel in the Township.
. The Proprietors, at a meeting in Ipswich, July 3, 1753, took measures to have the gospel preached in Ipswich Canada, and voted they would be at the charge of four days' preaching. And at this and sub- sequent meetings, they agreed to dispose of the meet- ing house frame that was before erected, and to make preparations for, and to build a new one. They also passed votes concerning managing and improving the saw mill, and making and mending roads.3
1 See Note Q. 2 See Note R. 3 See Note S.
14
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
The First Meeting of the Proprietors in the Township.
The first meeting of the Proprietors, held in the Township, was at the dwelling house 1 of Richard Day, 24th Oct. 1753, and was adjourned to the next day, when it was voted that the road to the saw mill be re- paired, and that the first frame erected for a meeting house be granted to Col. Thomas Berry, to enable him to build a suitable and convenient room to meet in for public worship.2
Fortifying the Township.
It appears that previously to the year 1754, some- thing had been done with regard to fortifying the Township, against the incursions of the French and Indians. On the 31st October in that year, further measures were adopted for the purpose, a new Clerk was chosen, and money was granted to pay for preach- ing.3
It may be here stated that the Proprietors sustained the preaching of the gospel for from four Sabbaths to half the Sabbaths annually, for eight or ten years previ- ously to the settlement of the first minister.4
The First Grist Mill.
The first Corn Mill was built on Miller's river, in what is now the North Village, about 1759, by Mr. Bartholomew Parsons.5
I See Note T.
2 See Note U.
3 See Note V.
4 See Note W.
5 See Note X.
15
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Soon after this, a bridge and a long causeway were built over Miller's river and the meadow, on the coun- ty road, near where Mr. Phineas Ball now lives.1
In 1762, a bridge was built over Miller's river, in the North Village, against where the wool factory dye house now stands.2
The First Meeting House.
The Proprietors erected a meeting house in 1762. The Building Committee were Benjamin Goodridge, Abijah Smith and Philip Goodridge. It was located on the south part of the meeting house common. It had side and front galleries. It had pews and many free seats below and above. The outside of the house was clapboarded, but never painted ; the inside was unfinished, never having been either ceiled or plastered.
A Cemetery, or burying place is located about 100 rods easterly from the meeting house.3
Incorporation of the Town.
In 1763 the Proprietors, together with the inhabit- ants, made arrangements releative to applying to the Legislature for an Act of Incorporation.4
On the 14th of June, 1764, Ipswich Canada was incorporated by an act of the General Court, when it was made a town and called Winchendon.3
1 See Note Y . 2 See Note Z. 3 See Note AA. 4 See Note BB.
5 See Note CC.
16
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Annexation of Royalston Leg.
When the township was first located, it was sup- posed to extend northerly to New Hampshire ; but up- on running the line afterwards between the States, it was found that there was a mile in width, the whole length of the town, left to Massachusetts. Upon the granting of Royalston some years afterward, this strip of land was annexed to that town, and called Royal- ston Leg. When a number of families had got seat- ed thereon, at their request, it was, in 1780, set to Winchendon. It contained 3840 acres.
Land Set off to Gardner.
In June 1785, a piece of land of 3680 acres was taken from the the southeasterly part of this town to help form the town of Gardner. Winchendon, how- ever, still remains more than six miles square.
Distance from Boston and Worcester.
This town is 60 miles N. W. by W. from Boston, and 35 N. by N. W. from Worcester.
Wood and Timber.
The general growth of wood on the high lands is red oak, beech, rock maple, interspersed with white pine and hemlock. On the low lands, white pine, hem- lock, hacmatac, ash of all kinds, yellow and white birch, interspersed with red oak and beech. On some of the low lands there is little or nothing but pine, hemlock and hacmatac. In some parts of the town there is
17
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
chestnut, and in other parts pitch pine, but neither of them in plenty.
Face of the Country.
There is somewhat of a diversity in the face of the country in this region. A large proportion of the town is level, consisting of pretty extensive plains ; other parts are diversified by hills and valleys. Some of the most notable elevations are Meeting House hill, N. W. from the meeting house common, inclosed in the farms formerly owned by Rev. Joseph Brown and Mr. Lévi Nichols ; Prentiss hill, on the south side of Miller's river, formerly owned by Dea. Samuel Prentiss ; Hyde hill, on the north side of Miller's River, formerly owned by Mr. Ezra Hyde, sen .; Love- joy hill, now owned by Mr. Oliver Lovejoy ; Poland hill, formerly owned by Mr. William Poland ; Tallow hill, formerly owned by Mr. Peter Joyslin, sen. ; Good- ridge hill, formerly owned by Mr. David Goodridge : Boynton hill, formerly owned by Lieut. Joseph Boyn- ton ; Payson hill, formerly owned by Col. John Boyn- ton ; Barren hills, south of Monomonac pond ; Hale hill, formerly owned by Dea. Moses Hale ; Nineteenth hill, formerly owned by Mr. Dudley Perley and Mr. James Raymond ; Raymond hill, formerly owned by Col. Paul Raymond ; and Birch hill, near. where Otter river empties into Miller's river.
Soil and Productions.
The soil of Winchendon, with some exceptions, has been accounted good. It produces grass, wheat, rye,
18
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
indian corn, barley, oats, potatoes, and many other kinds of vegetables.
Ponds, Springs, Rivers and Brooks.
There is but one pond, which is wholly within the limits of this town ; this was called Denison's1 pond, and is sometimes called New Boston pond. It covers, perhaps, as much as 70 acres. It has an inlet from the north and an outlet towards the south into Miller's river, which runs within 100 rods of the pond. It abounds in fish of various kinds.
There is a spring of the mineral kind, in the north- easterly part of the town. For many years after its discovery, it was called The Yellow Spring. It is of a medicinal nature, and rather seems of a chalybeate quality. It is not so much visited by invalids, as for- merly.
There is one river known by the name of Miller's river, so called by the English, from a man by the name of Miller, who was drowned therein, about 200 years ago, in attempting to pass the river somewhere towards its mouth, in his way to Northfield. But the natives called it Payqueage. From Little Naukheag, which is near the centre of Ashburnham, a rivulet emp- ties into Great Naukheag, whence a stream issues to the west which makes a part of Miller's river. An- other source of Miller's river is a large pond, lying chiefly in Rindge, N. H., a small part only, (where
1 See Note DD.
19
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
the outlet is,) falling within the bounds of Winchen- don. This pond is known by the name of Monome- noc pond. These two branches, together with some other small streams, uniting easterly of Winchendon North Village, form Miller's river, which runs west- erly, southwesterly, northwesterly, and southerly, near- ly half round the town; in no place nearer than one mile of the centre meeting house, and in some places three miles and more from it.
Otter river originates in a small pond in the south part of Templeton ; one of its sources, and, perhaps, the main one, is found in the swamps of Westminster. The Templeton branch flows first in a southeasterly direction into Hubbardston, where it changes its course to the northeast and passes into Gardner, where sever- al streams join it, and runs into Templeton again. It takes a northwesterly course in Templeton, and is joined by Trout brook. It just touches on Winchen- don in the southerly part thereof, and runs nigh the bounds of the town about a mile and a half, and unites itself with the waters of Miller's or Payqueage river, just before it leaves Winchendon. Miller's river leaves the town near the southwest angle thereof.
There are two considerable streams in the westerly part of the town, which take their rise in Fitzwilliam, N. H. One of them joins Miller's River at the Up- per Intervales, towards the northwest part of the town ; this is sometimes called Stuart's Brook, on account of its running through the farm formerly owned by Jere-
20
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
miah Stuart. The other comes from Fitzwilliam into Royalston, and runs a considerable way in the easter- ly part thereof, then turns and enters Winchendon, and after running several miles, joins Miller's river just above Denison's pond. This stream might have been denominated a river from its largeness, had it not ear- ly received the appellation of Priest's brook. This name was given it from the circumstance of its run- ning through a tract of land, now lying in Royalston, formerly granted by the General Court of Massachu- setts to a Joseph Priest, to induce him to set up a house of entertainment, for the benefit of travellers from this State to the Ashuelots, (Keene and Swan- zey,) and to No. 4, (Charlestown,) in the State of New Hampshire. The house of this Priest was call- ed The Halfway House. Trout, pickerel and perch, and various other kinds of fish, are found in the two latter streams, as also in many parts of Miller's river.
Besides the above mentioned streams, there are ma- ny other brooks and rivulets running in every part of the town, whereby it is exceedingly well watered.
1
Town Meetings.
On the 5th day of November, 1764, the first meet- ing, which the town ever held in its corporate capaci- ty, was called, according to the act of incorporation, by virtue of a warrant issued by Edward Hartwell, Esq. of Lunenburg, directed to Richard Day of the town of Winchendon. It was held at the dwelling house of Richard Day. Richard Day was Moderator
21
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
of this meeting, and Abel Wilder was chosen Town Clerk.1
The next town meeting, which was the first annual March meeting, was called by warrant of the Select- men, directed to the Constable, who " warned all the inhabitants of the town, by themselves, or by leaving word at their usual places of abode, to assemble at the time and place therein mentioned ;" which meeting was held at the meeting house, March 11, 1765.2
Affairs Connected with the American Revolution.
It is well known, that for some years following 1760, the disputes between Great Britain and her Colonies were fast approaching a crisis. Soon after the French power in Canada had been crushed in 1759, the Brit- ish Ministry began to turn their thoughts towards rais- ing a revenue in America. Their first step in this pro- ceeding was to direct the collector for the port of Boston to apply to the civil authority for " Writs of As- sistance," to command the aid of all sheriffs and con- stables in breaking open houses, stores, ships and pack- ages of all sorts, to search for articles prohibited by the " Acts of Trade"-a series of acts which had been passed to favor the West India merchants, and which had nearly annihilated the commerce of the Colonies. These acts had been mostly evaded by non-importa- tion and smuggling.
The legality of the " Writs" was doubted, and the
1 See Note EE.
2 See Note FF.
22
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
question came before the Superior Court for decision in February 1761. By the powerful assistance of James Otis, the Writs were defeated. His masterly speech on this occasion, first awakened the Colonists to the real danger of the threatened course of the ministry. They saw, in the pretended right of Par- liament of taxing them to an unlimited extent, the germ of tyranny which would destroy their liberties ; and they wisely resolved to destroy the monster in its shell, before it should acquire sufficient strength to crush them in its folds. They knew that their charter gave them the right to tax themselves, and that every exer- cise of this right on the part of the parliament, was an infringement upon their chartered privileges. They were not actuated by the sordid love of money, but by the nobler love of liberty. They had freely poured forth their treasure and their blood in the preceding wars, and now they claimed the privilege of taxing themselves. They contended that Taxation and Rep- resentation were inseparable ; while Parliament claim- ed the right to " bind the Colonies in all cases what- ever." This was the point on which the dispute turn- ed.
In the years 1763, 4 and 5, the commerce of the Colonies was nearly at a stand, in consequence of the " Sugar Act," and the " Stamp Act." Their opera- tion was defeated by non-importation and smuggling. To the great joy of the Colonists, the Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, and the importation of goods was
23
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
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