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Gc 974.402 W89r 1241112
M. B
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01101 3254
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/worcesterbookdia1657rice
C.F.JEWETT=CO.
OLD SOUTH MEETING HOUSE AS IT APPEARED IN 1763.
THE
WORCESTER BOOK :
A Diary of
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS in Worcester, Massachusetts,
From 1657 to 1883.
BY FRANKLIN P. RICE, Member of The Worcester Society of Antiquity.
Worcester : PUTNAM, DAVIS AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1884.
THREE HUNDRED COPIES PRINTED.
MENS
MANUS
C
GITAT
SER
Copyright, 1884. By F. P. Rice.
1241112
PREFACE.
N the preparation of this volume my purpose has been to pro- vide a Reference Book of Dates for Worcester events, which would readily afford often desired information as to the exact time of any noteworthy local occurrence. With this end in view, a large number of items have been gathered, including not only, the more important matters which are familiar in print, but also many of a kind not usually noticed in town histories. Among the latter may be mentioned the visits of literary, theatrical and musical celebri- ties ; political conventions, meetings and disturbances ; exhibitions, fairs, lectures and entertainments ; riots, accidents and calamities ; natural phenomena ; and many things uncommon and singular. Notes, explanatory, historical, biographical or anecdotal, have been added ; and a complete index will be found at the end.
In the compilation of the matter I have drawn freely from the many printed works relating to the history of Worcester, both gen -. eral and special ; from the files of the Worcester papers, (which I have been kindly allowed to consult at my convenience at the li- brary of the American Antiquarian Society) ; from the publications of The Worcester Society of Antiquity, which have supplied many original items ; and from other sources too numerous to mention. I am also indebted to many persons for facts and statements in- cluded in the book, some of which appear in print for the first time.
Goodspeed
$ 3.00
4
PREFACE.
I have endeavored to make the statements as to time, correct ; but where so much miscellaneous matter has been brought togeth- er, it would be unreasonable to assume that no errors will be found. The displayed dates have been carefully verified by the best author- ities, and, as a whole, I think they can be relied upon. The list is by no means complete : a second gleaning-which I leave to some zealous antiquary of the future-would disclose many facts not noticed in this collection.
F. P. R. Worcester, March 26, 1884.
ERRATA.
No. 102. Supply the year "1874."
394. Second line. For Thomas read Foster.
" 484. The death of Mr. Maccarty was inadvertently printed un- der July 10th. He died July 20th.
508. For 25th read 21st.
624. For Dickinson read Turner.
A few omissions from the text have been supplied in the index.
Dates before 1752 may be considered old style.
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
January I.
I
I792. Second Meeting House dedicated.
It was located on Summer street, near Lincoln square, and is now used as a school-house.
2 1834. First issue of the Worcester Palladium.
This paper was published 44 years. The last number was dated Feb. 12, 1876. It was at first anti-Masonic, then Democratic, and finally Republican. J. S. C. Knowlton was the founder.
3 1848. Friends' Meeting House, Oxford street, opened.
Previous to erection of this building, the meetings of the Friends were held in Boyden's Block, Main street, south of Walnut.
4 1859. Engine House, Pleasant street, demolished by Gas Explosion.
The building and contents were totally destroyed; and the school-house and adjacent dwellings badly shattered. The cause was a leak in a gas-pipe.
5 1866. First appearance, in Worcester, of Parepa.
Euphrosyne Parepa was born in Edinburgh in 1836, and died in 1874. She was the daughter of Georgiades de Boyescu, a Wallachian noble- man, and Elizabeth Seguin. Parepa visited the United States in 1865 and 1869. She was married to Carl Rosa in 1867.
January 2.
6 1867. Rev. Royal B. Stratton installed pastor of the Old South Church.
He was dismissed April 25, 1872; and died January 24, 1875.
8
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
January 3.
7
1845. Execution of Thomas Barrett for murder. The first private execution in the county.
8 1864. Great Meeting in Mechanics Hall on Sunday Eve- ning, to further enlistments.
Judge Allen presided. Addresses were made by Maj. McCafferty and John B. Gough. 50 enlistments followed the next day.
9 1868. Gen. Abner Doubleday visits Worcester.
Gen. Doubleday was one of the gallant defenders of Fort Sumter during the memorable siege of April, 1861; and fired the first gun in defense of the Union. He subsequently attained the rank of Maj. Gen.
January 4.
IO I793. Weaver's Shop of Cornelius and Peter Stowell burned.
This shop was located on what is now the east corner of Park and Orange streets. More than 2000 yards of cloth and stock for 700 yds more were consumed. Loss £300. This fire led to the formation of the Worcester Fire Society.
The Stowells manufactured the first carpets used in the present State House at Boston. They also carried on calico printing and fancy dyeing.
January 6.
II 1844. First issue of the Christian Citizen.
This paper was established by Elihu Burritt, and was devoted to re- ligion, peace, anti-slavery, etc. It was published seven years.
I2 1856. [Sunday] Third (now the Main Street) Baptist Church dedicated.
I3 1859. Lecture by George D. Prentice, Editor of the Louisville Journal.
Subject : " Present Aspect of American Politics."
I4 1874. Charles Bradlaugh lectured on "The Republican Movement in Europe."
One of the most powerful and eloquent lectures ever given in Worces- ter
·
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
9
January 7.
I5 1800. First issue of the Independent Gazetteer.
A weekly paper published by Nahum Mower and Daniel Greenleaf. It was discontinued after two years.
I6 1846. Skeleton of a Mastodon exhibited at hall in Central Hotel.
It was discovered in Newburg, Orange Co., N. Y. Length 20 feet. Weight of bones 2002 lbs.
I7
1857. Thalberg's First Concert in Worcester.
He was assisted by Madame De Wilhorst and Signor Morelli. Price of admission. $1. Thalberg gave another concert at Brinley Hall, Mar. 27th, and his farewell performance at Mechanics Hall, April 3d. At one of these Madame D'Angri and her daughter assisted.
Sigismund Thalberg, one of the most eminent pianists the world has known, was born at Geneva in 1812. and died in 1871. He was a pu- pil of Hummel. " In graceful and brilliant execution, and in manual dexterity on the piano, he had hardly a rival."
January 8.
18
1861. Lecture by Professor Ormsby M. Mitchel, the dis- tinguished astronomer.
The first of three lectures on astronomy. Prof. Mitchel entered the military service in defence of the Union, and became a major general. He died October 30th, 1862.
January 9.
19
1837. A man run over by engine and ten cars.
The accident occurred just below the deep cut on the Boston & Wor- cester R. R. It appears that the man, somewhat in liquor, was return- ing after nightfall to his home in Grafton, and at Washington Square, turned down the railroad by mistake. His horse was killed and the sleigh demolished; but the man escaped with slight injuries.
January 10.
20
1863. Concert in Mechanics Hall by Madame Anna Bishop, Mlle Marietta Erba, Herr Zochler, M. Arbuckle and Henry Suck. P. S. Gillmore, Conductor.
IO
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
January 12.
2I 1778. "Voted unanimously that the Confederation agreed upon by the United States in General Congress assembled, is agreeable to the minds of the people of this town."-Wor- cester Town Records.
22 1814. Nine British Officers, prisoners of war, escape from jail.
They were in Worcester on parole, and were committed to jail Dec. 3, 1813, in retaliation for similar measures of the enemy. They over- powered the attendant and secured the keys; five of them were recap- tured within 24 hours. A reward was offered for their detention; and the advertisement insinuated that they had been assisted in their es- cape by some of the Federalists of Worcester.
January 13.
23 1806. General William Eaton, "The Hero who travelled over the Lybian Desart with his little undisciplined army ; conquered Derne, and made the whole nation of Tripolitan Barbarians tremble at his presence, passed through this town on Monday last, on his way to Boston."-Spy, Wednesday, Fan. 15, 1806.
January 15.
24
1857. Disunion Convention.
T. W. Higginson called the convention to order. President, F. W. Bird of Walpole; vice-presidents, Thomas Earle of Worcester, William Lloyd Garrison of Boston, David Mann of Sterling, William Ashby of Newburyport, Alvin Ward of Ashburnham, and Charles Brigham of Marlborough; secretaries. James M. W. Yerrington of Boston, S. D. Tourtelott of Worcester.
This convention was called "to consider the practicability, prob- ability. and expediency of a separation between the free and slave states."
Last resolution : "Resolved, that the sooner the separation takes place, the more peaceful it will be; but that peace or war is a secondary consideration, in view of our present perils : slavery must be conquered; peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must."
Speeches were made by Wm. Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips.
-
II
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
25 1863. Concert, Washburn Hall : Teresa Carreno, the wonderful Child Pianist.
She is now the wife of Gaetano Sauret.
January 16.
26 1772. "In memory of Capt. Thomas Sterne, he died Jan'y the 16th 1772, in the 76 year of his age."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
.
Thomas Stearns was son of John Stearns of Watertown, and grandson of Charles, the emigrant. Thomas was a housewright by trade; and came to Worcester with his brother John, who was a blacksmith. The latter was captain of the volunteers raised in Worcester in 1748 for defense against the Indians. Thomas married Mary, daughter of Judge Wm. Jennison. He was the first sexton of the town; selectman in 1748; and kept the public house known as the "King's Arms," which stood near- ly on the site of Lincoln House block. It was continued by his widow. In this tavern the tories frequently met; and their famous protest of 1774 was prepared and signed here. Two conventions of Committees of Correspondence of the County were also held in this house. Mrs. Stearns died July 19, 1784. aged 77.
"On the first celebration of the adoption of the Declaration of Inde- pendence in Worcester, July 22, 1776, 'a select company of the sons of freedom' repaired to the tavern, and demanded that the sign on which was emblazoned the royal arms, should be taken down and burned in the street, all of which was cheerfully complied with by the innkeeper."
27 1882. Rafael Joseffy, the eminent pianist and composer, assisted by Miss Belini, gave a Grand Concert in Mechanics Hall.
Before the Mechanics' Association. Joseffy was coldy received by the large audience that filled the hall, and his fine performances were lis- tened to with stolid indifference.
January 17.
28
1757. Lord Loudon passed through Worcester on his way to Boston.
John Campbell, Lord Loudon, was born 1705; died 1782. He arrived in Virginia in July, 1756, with a commission as commander-in-chief of
12
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
the British forces in America; but proving incompetent he returned to England the next year. He subsequently rose to the rank of General.
29 1778. Baron Steuben and his attendants passed through Worcester on their way to Congress.
Frederick William Augustus, Baron Steuben, was born at Madgeburg, Prussia, Nov. 15. 1730. He served in the wars of Frederick the Great. Sacrificing a large income, he offered his services to the Americans, and landed at Portsmouth, N. H., in November, 1777. Congress gave him the commission of Inspector General, and he performed valuable service in raising the discipline of the army. After the war he retired to a tract of land in Oneida county granted him by the legislature of New York, and lived the remainder of his life upon a government an- nuity of $2.500. He died November 28, 1794. He was a man of large heart, ever ready to relieve poverty and suffering.
30 I861. Bayard Taylor delivered his lecture on Humboldt.
31 1882. Death of Hon. Alexander H. Bullock.
He was born in Royalston, March 2, 1816; graduated at Amherst Col- lege 1836; member of both branches of the legislature; and Governor of Massachusetts 1866-69. He was Mayor of Worcester in 1859. Mr. Bullock was a finished orator. A volume of his addresses has recently been published.
January 18.
32
1838. Lecture by James G. Birney, the noted anti-slavery advocate.
James G. Birney was born in Kentucky in 1792. He was for some years a slave owner; but in 1834 he emancipated his servants, and en- tered with great enthusiasm into the anti-slavery cause. He was the candidate of the Liberty party in 1844. He died in 1857.
33 1850. Fanny Kemble read Richard II. at Flagg's Hall.
Frances Anne Kemble is a niece of the celebrated Mrs. Siddons. She was born in London, 1811, and at an early age performed leading parts in tragedy and comedy. She came to the United States in 1832, and soon after married Pierce Butler of Georgia, from whom she separated in 1845. In 1848 she began to give Shakspearian readings with great success. She appeared in Worcester in 1850, 1857 and 1867. She is the author of a number of volumes.
I3
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
January 19.
34 1777. [Sunday] Twelve Tory prisoners broke Gaol and made their escape.
They had been sent to Worcester from New York; and were confined for treasonable practices. They were soon apprehended and brought back.
35 1833. First Patient received at the State Lunatic Hospital.
36 1865. Funeral honors to Edward Everett.
The bells were tolled by order of the Mayor.
January 20.
37 1822. "In Memory of Capt. EBENEZER WISWELL, who died Jan. 20, 1822. aged 67.
A member of Timothy Bigelow's company of minute men which left Worcester on the alarm at Lexington, April 19, 1775. A private in a company under the command of Capt. Jonas Hubbard in service near Boston the same year. Corporal in Capt. Wm. Gates's company in Col. Jonathan Holman's regiment in the Continental Army. He married Sally Mahan of Boylston, Dec. 25. 1792."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
38 1877. Charles Albert Fechter as Monte Christo, at the Worcester Theatre.
Fechter was born in London, Oct. 23, 1824; and died at Rockland Center, Pennsylvania. Aug. 5, 1879.
January 21.
39
1793. Worcester Fire Society organized.
This society was formed "for the more effectual assistance of each other and of their townsmen, in times of danger from fire"; and the imme- diate incentive to its organization was the burning of Stowells' shop, Jan. 4, 1793. (See No. 10.) The names of the original members were, Joseph Allen. John Nazro, Leonard Worcester, Nathaniel Paine, Sam- uel Chandler, Ezra Waldo Weld, Dr. John Green, Samuel Brazer, Thomas Payson, Edward Bangs, Dr. Elijah Dix, William Sever, The- ophilus Wheeler, Dr. Oliver Fiske, John Paine, Samuel Allen, Stephen Salisbury, Charles Chandler, John Stanton, Dr. Abraham Lincoln, Dan-
C
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
iel Waldo, Jr., and Isaiah Thomas. The members subsequently elect- ed included some of the most prominent citizens of Worcester. The Hon. Stephen Salisbury, elected in 1824, is the oldest living member.
Previous to 1822, when the Mutual Fire Society was formed, (see under date July II.) the Worcester Fire Society was the only organiza- tion relied upon by the town for aid in extinguishing fires. Since the establishment of the Fire Department in 1835. the society has been maintained as a social body. Reminiscences of its members have been published.
40 1857. Hon. Thomas H. Benton lectured in the City Hall on The Preservation of the Federal Union.
4I 1861. American House Block burned.
January 22.
42 1776. "Voted to make choice of two persons to serve as civil officers (viz as Justices of the Peace) ."-Worcester Town Records.
43 1787. Gen. Lincoln and his troops reached Worcester to suppress Shays's Rebellion.
The army commanded by Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, which numbered 4400. left Roxbury on the 2Ist. On their arrival at Worcester the troops were quartered on the inhabitants, and remained three days. They departed for Springfield on the 25th.
44 1858. Death of Judge Kinnicutt.
The Hon. Thomas Kinnicutt served the town as Selectman and Repre- sentative; was Senator and Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Legislature; and Judge of Probate at the time of his death. His age was 58.
January 23.
1840. Trial of Kidnappers.
Dickenson Shearer and Elias M. Turner were tried for kidnapping in Worcester a negro boy named Sidney O. Francis. The boy was taken to Virginia and offered for sale, but was reclaimed. The trial lasted three days, and resulted in a verdict of guilty against both. Shearer was sentenced to seven years in the state prison. See under date Sep- tember 12.
45
15
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
46 1853. Alpheus Merrifield died, aged 73.
He was Deacon of the Unitarian Church for many years; Secretary of Overseers of the Poor; and a prominent citizen.
January 24.
47 1784. "Erected in memory of Capt. Samuel Mower who departed this life Janry 24th 1784, in the 64th year of his age. Capt. Samuel Mower, Jr., married Comfort Learned of Oxford. daugh- ter of Gen. Ebenezer Learned of revolutionary fame. He was a Se- lectman in 1765. A Royalist Protester of 1774. In May, 1775, he with others was given opportunity. by the local Committee of Corres- pondence. to join the American troops. or find another in his stead, or be considered unworthy the confidence of his fellow countrymen."- Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
48
1875. The Worcester Society of Antiquity instituted.
The Worcester Society of Antiquity was formed to foster "a love and admiration for antiquarian research and archaeological science, and to rescue from oblivion such historical matter as would otherwise be lost." It was re-organized under the laws of the Commonwealth, Mar. 6, 1877. Five volumes of Collections have been published aggregating 2248 pages. They comprise the Proceedings of the Meetings, with many valuable papers; Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds; the . Proprietary and Town Records; Records of the County Court of Ses- sions, etc. Its valuable library and cabinet are constantly increasing. The Society occupies rooms in Bank Block, Foster street.
49 1882. 16 to 20 degrees below zero. Lowest temperature recorded in Worcester.
January 25.
50 1782. Protest against Excise on Liquor. See Worcester Town Records.
January 26.
5I 1786. House of Samuel Flagg burned.
At what is now the corner of Main and Park streets. It was formerly the residence of Hon. James Putnam, the refugee.
I6
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
January 27.
52 1805. "Erected in memory of Lieut. William McFarland who departed this life Jan. 27, 1805, Æt. 83.
He was Lieutenant in the company of minute men under Capt. Benja- min Flagg, that marched on the alarm at Lexington. Selectman, 1781- 82."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
53 1832. "Cold Friday." 10 to 16 degrees below zero.
January 28.
54 1830. Rev. John S. C. Abbott ordained Pastor of the Cal- vinist (now the Central) Church.
He was dismissed in 1835. Mr. Abbott was a writer of marked ability, and his productions had a wide circulation. "The Mother at Home," written at Worcester, passed through many editions, and was translated into nearly all the European languages. It was printed in Greek at Athens, and published in Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope. Joseph Boyden, the jeweller, a bachelor with peculiar notions in regard to the duties of women, on seeing this book, exclaimed : "The Mother at Home! The amount on't is, she's never at home !"
Mr. Abbott died at Fair Haven, Conn., June 17, 1877, aged 71.
55 1863. Gen. George B. McClellan passed through Wor- cester.
56 1867. New Post Office, on Pearl street, opened.
January 29.
57
1723. "At a meeting of the Selectmen of worcester, Janu". 29 : 1722-3. agreed with Leit Henry Lee to Beiuld a sufficiant pound for reclaiming of onruly beasts, sd pound to be Thirty three feet Square and Seven feet high : of good white oake posts of Eight Inches deep & 6 inches thik : and good oake Rails of 2 inches thik & 6 inches broad at ye Least. all to be Don workman Like at or before ye first Day of March next Ensuing ye Date hearof : Sª pound to be Erected near ye meeting house whear ye Selectmen Shall apoint : for which ye Sª Lee is to Recive of ye Town of worcester Six pounds money." -Early Records of Worcester.
1. 7
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
58 1854. Flagg's Block burned.
On the site of the present building of that name. The fire broke out at midnight, when the temperature was below zero. Loss, $50,000. In the upper stories was Flagg Hall, which was used as a theatre. The building was erected by Elisha Flagg, who died in 1853.
January 30.
59 1826. "In Memory of Col. MOSES N. CHILDS, who died Jan. '30, 1826, aged 51 years, 9 m & 24 days.
Was one of the founders of the Calvinist (Central) Church, and one of eight persons who, on the 8th of Feb .. 1822, bound themselves to de- fray, out of their private resources, the expenses of public worship for five years, after deducting such sums as might be voluntarily contrib- uted by others."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
February I.
60 1786. Rev. Aaron Bancroft ordained Pastor of the Second (Unitarian) Church.
61 1839. Elliot Cresson, the distinguished Quaker philan- thropist, lectured in the Unitarian Church on Colonization.
62 1855. George William Curtis lectured.
63
1871. Death of the Rev. Alonzo Hill, D. D.
He was born in Harvard, Mass., June 20. 1800; graduated at Harvard College in 1822; and was ordained Pastor of the Second (Unitarian) Church, Worcester, in 1827.
February 2.
64 1845. First separate meeting to form Church of the Unity.
February 3.
65 1836. Union Church formed.
66 1853. Rev Horace James installed Pastor of the Old South Church.
He resigned in the fall of 1861, and became Chaplain of the 25th Mass. Volunteers. Subsequently he was connected with the Freedmen's De- partment in North Carolina. After the war he preached in Lowell. He died at Boylston, June 9, 1875.
18
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
67 1855. Mission Chapel, Summer street, dedicated.
February 5.
68 1842. Mechanics' Association formed.
At a meeting held Nov. 21, 1841, action was taken to form an associa- tion of the Mechanics of Worcester. The names of those prominent in the movement were : Anthony Chase, Putnam W. Taft, William Leggate,. Henry W. Miller, William M. Bickford, Levi A. Dowley, Ru- fus D. Dunbar, John P. Kettell, James S. Woodworth, Hiram Gorham, Joseph Pratt, Henry Goulding and Edward B. Rice. The first officers were : President, William A. Wheeler; Vice-President, Ichabod Wash- burn; Secretary, Albert Tolman; Treasurer, Elbridge G. Partridge.
The Association was incorporated March 9, 1850.
February 6.
69
1801. "In Memory of Lieut Jacob Hemenway who died Febr 6th 1801, in the 78th year of his age.
Was lieutenant in a company of 43 men under command of Capt. Aaron Rice of Rutland, who served in the campaign of 1756. He succeeded Capt. Rice on the death of the latter in camp. Was one of the build- ing committee of the Old South Church in 1763, his associates being John Chandler, Jr., Joshua Bigelow. Josiah Brewer, John Curtis, James Putnam, Daniel Boyden, James Goodwin, David Bigelow, Samuel Moore and Elisha Smith. Selectman 1764. One of the original mem- bers of the American Political Society. He lived on what is now May street, on or near the farm of the late W. W. Patch."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
70 1842. "Charles Dickens (Boz) the celebrated author, with his wife, arrived in town on the evening of the 5th, and left for Hartford, via Springfield, on the morning of the 7th. While here, many of our inhabitants called on them at the mansion of Gov. Davis, where they staid during their tarry in town."-Spy, Feb. 9, 1842.
7I 1874. Wilkie Collins read the "Dream Woman." Mechan- ics Hall.
February 7.
72
1821. "Major Jedediah Healy, Died February 7, 1821,
·
19
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
aged 63 years. Sally his wife died Feb. 1, 1821, aged 65 years.
He was matross in Capt. David Henshaw's company of Col. Thomas Craft's regiment of artillery. A cabinet-maker by trade. He lived on the east side of Main street, where the low wooden buildings now are, just north of the American House Block."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
Healy was a noted wag, famous for his wit. "Who's dead?" inquired one of his neighbors. as he was driving the hearse to a funeral. "Peter Smith." "What's the complaint?" Haven't heard any complaint," replied Healy. "I think it gives very general satisfaction !" Isaiah Thomas erected a large stone tomb in the Mechanic street ground, and on its completion, contemplated the imposing structure with some pride. He remarked to Healy that it had cost a large sum, who replied: "I hope you won't lie long out of the interest of your money !"
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