USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 H69e 1151721
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
(Warces
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 5471
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofholdenm1684este
420-600
albero W. Rice, 12. 60 Bratele ST.
Cambridge.
September 1905.
1
David Foster Estes,
THE
History of Holden
Massachusetts.
1684-1894.
FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY, IND.
OF
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
BY DAVID FOSTER ESTES.
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN.
WORCESTER, MASS. : PRESS OF C. F. LAWRENCE & CO., 112 FRONT STREET.
1894.
COPYRIGHTED, 1894
LOBL MVAWE UND VIFEW CONKLA TUD
LHE LAEFIC TIEEVEN
PREFACE. 1151721
The preparation of this history was undertaken only at the request of the citizens of Holden. After unforeseen delays, some of which are to be expected in connection with every such work, while others have grown out of removal and dis- ( tance, it is now submitted to those at whose invitation it was prepared. In size and scope, it far exceeds the very modest bounds at first intended, and the labor and care required have increased still more beyond expectation.
Even with the present size, it should of course be understood that it has still been necessary to select what has been told, out of more which remains untold. It is also very possible that traditions and information have sometimes been mislead- ing, as they certainly are often conflicting. Whatever omissions and errors shall be found, will be in spite of patient and un- prejudiced painstaking.
The History of Holden, prepared half a century ago, by Samuel C. Damon, D. D., has been incorporated into this work. The narrative portion of that work forms the second chapter of this history, and the helpfulness of the supplemen- tary matter in that book and of his later collections is here gratefully acknowledged.
The American Antiquarian Society, through its Librarian, Mr. E. M. Barton, put all its valuable materials at the service of this work. Thanks are also due to many citizens of Holden, too many to mention by name, for the valuable information freely furnished. In the chapter of personal notices, much of the matter has necessarily been furnished by relatives of those spoken of and by others interested.
1
iv
PREFACE.
The committee of the town on publication, arranged with Mr. Cyrus P. Phelps for the photographs of streets and build- ings, and with Mr. T. W. Marion for the preparation of the photographs from which most of the other illustrations have been reproduced, and with Messrs. A. A. Beal & Co., of Boston, for the making of the plates.
For doing all the work in connection with the illustrations, for their judgment in relation to many points, and for their untiring attention to all the burdensome details connected with publication, especial gratitude from the town, as well as from the author, is due to this committee, Messrs. Waldo E. Austin, Charles E. Parker and Henry W. Warren.
THE AUTHOR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I .- INTRODUCTORY-Location. Boundaries. Surface. Natural Products. Hills. Rivers. Villages. - - - - -
CHAPTER II .- THE DAMON HISTORY, 1667-1800 .- Records of First Meeting. Report of Committee, 1668. Purchase from the Indians. First Settle- ment. Incorporation. Hon. Samuel Holden. First Town Business. Rev. Joseph Davis. First Settlers. French and Indian War. Earthquake. Resolutions. The Revolution. Prices. Effects of Revolutionary War. Events till 1800.
1-1
CHAPTER III. - LATER HISTORY, 1800-1841 .- Changes in Territory. Town House. Care of Poor: Town Funds. Meeting-House. Rev. Jo- seph Avery. Rev. Horatio Bardwell. Town and Church. Manufactures. Fourth of July, 1806. Politics. Temperance. A Murder. A Slave Girl. 42-50
5-41
CHAPTER IV .- THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. -- The Day. Preliminary Arrangements. Invitation. The Program. The Toasts. Addresses by Messrs. Haven and Davis. Publication of the Historical Address. -
51-6
CHAPTER V .- ANOTHER HALF-CENTURY .- Sentiment for Freedom. The Holden Rifles. Departure and Return. Holden's Quotas. Memorial Hall. The Tablets. War Expenses. Railroads. Town Hall. Finances. The Poor Farm Association. Cele- brations. The Cyclone. Changes. - 61-72
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI .- THE SESQUICENTENNIAL. - Preliminary Meetings. Committee of Arrangements. Appro- priation. Invitations. Marshals. Decorations. Music. Salute. The Day. Exercises at the Church. Address of Welcome. Hymn. Poem. Children's Celebration. Dinner. Sentiments. Responses by Messrs. Walker, Harrington, Pinkerton, Forbes, Davis, and others. - 73-87
CHAPTER VII .- HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES. - Con- gregational Church. Baptist Church. St. Mary's Parish. Methodist, Universalist, and Advent Work. Sons and Daughters of the Churches. 88-131
CHAPTER VIII. - SCHOOLS AND LIBRARY. - First Schools and School Houses. Committees and Superintendents. Select Schools. High School. College Graduates. Holden Library Association. Gale Free Library. 132-142
CHAPTER IX .- THE DAMON MEMORIAL .- Tender from Mr. Gale. Description of the Building. Presenta- tion and Dedication. Addresses by Messrs. Learned, Earle, Gale, Parker and Higginson. Ode. - 143-160
CHAPTER X .- MILITARY AFFAIRS .- Colonial Cam- paigns. Revolutionary Soldiers. Militia Officers. The Boys in Blue. Theron E. Hall Post, G. A. R. 161-192
CHAPTER XI .- FACILITIES . OF COMMUNICATION .- Roads. Turnpike. Hotels. Railroads. Telegraph and Telephone. Post-offices and Postmasters. 193-198
CHAPTER NHL .-- BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURIES .- Stores. Brick-making. Mills. Tanneries. Manu- factories. 199-209
TABLE OF CONTENTS. vii
CHAPTER XIII .- PERSONAL NOTICES. - 210-334
CHAPTER XIV .- LIFE AND DEATH .- Healthfulness. Golden Weddings. Physicians. Epidemics. Longevity. Death Rate. Cemeteries.
335-344
CHAPTER XV .- SOCIETIES .- Society for Detecting Thieves. Knights Templar. Temperance Societies. The Nondescript Club. The Holden Grange. Farm- ers' and Mechanics' Club. Theron E. Hall Post, G. A. R. Women's Relief Corps. - 345-355
CHAPTER XVI. - STATISTICS AND OFFICIALS .- Origi- nal Proprietors. Meadows. First Tax List. First Census. Population. Division of Lands. Pro- duction of Grain. Valuations. Clerks. Treas- urers. Selectmen. Representatives. School
Committees. Parties. .
- 356-385
CHAPTER XVII .- THE HOLDEN CALENDAR. - 386-392
CHAPTER XVIII .- THE STORY RE-TOLD. 393-418 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. -
419-421
INDEX OF PERSONS. -
-
+22-446
.
LIST OF VIEWS.
Looking North from the Common,
FACING PAGE
4
Congregational Church and Town Hall, 105
Baptist Church and Parsonage, I2I
St. Mary's Church, 124
School House, Jefferson,
I37
The Damon Memorial,
I43
Looking East from the Common, · 195
The Center as seen from the Avery residence, 4II
LIST OF PORTRAITS.
FACING
PAGE
Samuel Wallace Armington,
213
Israel Manning Ball, 224
Josiah Warren Ball, D. D. S., 229
George Washington Bascom, 232
Ira Broad,
234
Colonel Samuel Damon,
236
Samuel Chenery Damon, D. D.,
239
Rev. Elnathan Davis,
243
Ethan Davis, Senior, 246
Ethan Davis, 250
Major Paul Davis,
255
James Dorr, 256
Rev. David Foster Estes,
Frontispiece
Charles Flagg,
259
Silas Flagg, .
26I
Thomas Hennessey,
265
Church Howe,
268
Levi Hubbard Howe,
270
Silas Howe, 271
William Howe,
272
William Howe, D. D.,
274
Silas M. Hubbard,
278
Cyrus Kingsbury Hubbard,
280
Hon. Martin V. B. Jefferson,
281
Joseph Stanford Ames, M. D.,
210
Waldo E. Austin, 215
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CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
LOCATION. - BOUNDARIES. - SURFACE. - NATURAL PRODUCTS. - HILLS. - RIVERS. - VILLAGES.
HE Town of Holden is situated in Worcester County, Massachusetts, about forty miles from Boston, and immediately adjoining, on the south, Worcester, of which it was originally a part. Its shape is a slightly irregular parallelogram. In view of its form and place on the map, it has been said that " Holden lies like a diamond above the 'Heart of the Commonwealth'." Its four sides were originally straight and nearly equal, but land has been set off from its west side to Paxton and from its east side to West Boylston. Its present bounds are :
Beginning at the north-west angle, at a stake and stones in a swamp, westerly from George C. Bond's house, near present road to Rutland : thence north fifty-six degrees east, eight hundred and ninety-nine rods by Rutland line to a stone post at Princeton corner, near Quinapoxet Pond : thence north fifty- six degrees east, one thousand two hundred and four rods to Sterling line (making a straight line two thousand one hundred and three rods) : thence south twelve and one-half degrees east, six hundred and thirty rods by Sterling to a stone post on West Boylston : thence north seventy-one and one-half degrees west, one hundred and four rods by West Boylston to a stone post : thence south five degrees east, one thousand six hundred and fifty-two rods by West Boyl- ston to a stake and stones on Charles E. Parker's farm at
------
2
HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
Worcester line : thence south fifty-seven degrees west, one thousand five hundred and twenty-one rods by Worcester to a stone post at Paxton : thence by several small angles on the Paxton and Rutland lines to the first mentioned bound.
The total area of the township, according to the State Census of 1885, is nineteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-two acres,1 of which three thousand four hundred and eighty-three and one-half are cultivated, eight thousand and thirty-eight and one-fourth are woodland, seven thousand five hundred and seventeen and one-half are permanent pasture, and nine hun- dred and forty-two and three-fourths are unimproved. 'The soil is varied, in general of a gravelly texture, and not especially strong ; though on many of the hills it is stronger and richer, rather damp and almost stiff in texture. "An area of fifty acres can scarcely be found containing a homogeneous soil or a plain surface."?
The natural forest growth consists of pine, oak, maple, cedar, hemlock, hornbeam, ash, chestnut, walnut, beech, and birch. Wild flowers abound. The May-flower or trailing arbutus and mountain laurel grow in special profusion.
From the only quarry which has been opened, building stone in a great variety of colors has been taken. It is supposed that the seams of the rock have been penetrated by gases of various compositions, so that the stone has been diversely and beautifully colored. Specimens of quartz and traces of gold and silver are also found in the same quarry.
There are at least a dozen hills or marked elevations in Holden. The most conspicuous is "Stone House " Hill, so called from the natural house formed by the projecting rocks. Indian relics have been found here, showing that the Indians observed and profited by the facilities for defence which it affords. It lies in the southern part of the town, overlooking the reservoir of the Worcester water-works, and rises to a height of one thousand one hundred feet. Its sides are rocky
1 According to the Valuation, 1892, Holden contains 21,24422 acres.
2 Damon History of Holden, p. 126.
3
INTRODUCTORY.
and precipitous, incapable of cultivation, so that it was long a resort for rattlesnakes, from which fact is derived the name by which it is often called, " Rattlesnake Hill".1 The hill over- looking Eagleville, sometimes called Davis Hill, because the site of the famous tavern so long kept by landlord Paul Davis, · and the hill near Sterling line, rise to a height of eight hundred feet or more. It so happens, however, that the chief elevations lie on the borders of the town, and that the summits are in other towns. This is the case with Pleasant Hill, bordering on Princeton ; Malden Hill in West Boylston ; Winter Hill in Worcester ; Asknebumskit Hill in Paxton ; Pine Hill, also in Paxton ; and Pound Hill and the elevation opposite, in Rutland.
The principal stream in Holden is the Quinapoxet River, formed by two main branches, one of which rises in Quinapoxet Pond, a body of water lying chiefly in Princeton, and Muscho- pauge Pond in Rutland, and flows past North Woods and Quinapoxet villages ; and the other of which rises in Askne- bumskit Pond, in Paxton, and flows through Eagleville, Jefferson, and Lovellville, uniting with the former branch in the meadow just below the last named village. This stream is also fed by Trout Brook, coming in from the north, and by two brooks from the south, one from Bryantville and the other from Chaffinville. The Quinapoxet River flows into the Nashua River, which in turn empties into the Merrimac. Tatnuck Brook, in the southern part of the town, flows through Worces- ter into the Blackstone. The city of Worcester has erected reservoirs along this stream and controls the valley as a part of its water supply. The waters of a single meadow in the southern part of the town are drained partly into the Merrimac, partly into the Blackstone.
There are several villages in town which have received special designations, in some cases more than one. The name Holden belongs pre-eminently to the old central village, some-
1 .. March 3d, 1745/6. Voted that there be payd for each Rattlesnak that Shall be killed in ye Town at their Dens & also at Stone house hill so called in Holdin Sixpence last Emission bills of Creditt upon ye Taile being produced to ye Town at the Town meeting." Worcester Town Records.
-- --
4
HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
times called the " Center". Jefferson (earlier Jeffersonville) now includes Eagleville, often familiarly called " Brick City " on account of a brick house which was long the only brick building in town. Quinapoxet village and post-office lies at the distance of perhaps half a mile from the railroad station of that name, between, lying the smaller village which bears the names of Lovellville and Centerville. Quinapoxet is often colloquially styled " French Woods", on account of the large tract of woodland in the neighborhood, at one time owned by citizens of France. Unionville lies to the south, and nearer the center the town. The little village in the northern part of the town claims the name of Ruralville, though it is usually spoken of as "North Woods", a name which the railroad station bears. The railroad stations toward Worcester from the Center are Dawsons and Chaffins, Dawsonville and Chaffinville lying a little way respectively to the west and to the east of the track. Bryantville lies close to the east of the Dawsons station.
CENTER, LOOKING NORTH FROM THE COMMON.
-
4
-
-
---
CHAPTER II.
THE DAMON HISTORY, 1667-1800.
RECORDS OF FIRST MEETING. - REPORT OF COMMITTEE, 1668. -PURCHASE FROM THE INDIANS. - FIRST SETTLEMENT. - INCORPORATION. - HON. SAMUEL HOLDEN. - FIRST TOWN BUSINESS. - REV. JOSEPH DAVIS. - FIRST SETTLERS. - FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. - EARTHQUAKE. - RESOLU- TIONS. - THE REVOLUTION. - PRICES. - EFFECTS OF REV- OLUTIONARY WAR. - EVENTS TILL 1800.
HE history of the Town of Holden, down to the year 1800, may best be given in the form which it received from Rev. Samuel C. Damon, D. D., in his Centennial Historical Address, delivered May 4th, 1841, . and published under the title "THE HISTORY OF HOLDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, 1667-1841," which is as follows :'
" This day completes the first century since the town of Holden was organized agreeably to the Provincial Statutes of Massachusetts Bay. The records of that event, which we have assembled to commemorate, have been carefully preserved upon the town books. They read as follows :---
" Att an annueal meetting in Holden on monday ye forth of may Anno 1741
" Mr Simon Davis Chose modderator for sd meetting
' The whole address of Dr. Damon is carefully reprinted, both for its own merit and because of the interest which for fifty years it has had for the people of Holden. In typography it is conformed to the usage of to-day and to the rest of this work, and quotations and references have been scrupu- lously verified. Notes, dates, and other matter, which have been added, are put in brackets.
6
HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
" Simon Davis John Biglo and Cyprian Stevens Chose Seelect men
" Cyprian Stevens Chose Town Clark-Sworn
" Jonathan Lovel Chose Constable for the East end-Sworn
" James Smith Chose Constable for the west end-Sworn
" Samuel Clark Samuel Pairce and Samuel Haywood Chose Asses- ors-Sworn
" William Nickels Chose Town Treasurer-Sworn
" Abraham Neuton Chose Tything man-Sworn
" James Gray Jotham Biglo and David Brown Chose fence vewers -Sworn
" Jotham Biglo Chose Clark of the marckit-Sworn
" James Gray and Samuel Bruse Chose hog Reaffs-Sworn
" Joseph Woolley and Abraham Neuton-Chose field drivers -- Sworn
" Samuel Haywood Chose Sealer of Leather-Sworn
" James Caldwell and John Child Chose dear. Reafs-Sworn
" John Biglo and Joseph Hubbord Chose Suruairs of hyways- Sworn
" Simon Davis Chose Grandiuerryman -"1
" In celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of a day, the records of which have now been read, my fellow citizens, we follow the promptings of principles deeply implanted in our natures. It is fit and proper to exhibit a becoming and grate- ful respect for the memory of that generation of men, who, clearing the forests, made their homes upon the hills and in the valleys of our town.
"The duty devolving upon me, by accepting the invitation from the Committee of Arrangements to prepare an address for this occasion, I shall endeavor to discharge by narrating the history of Holden, from the period when authentic records commence, down to the close of the eighteenth century, concluding with an allusion to a few prominent events in the present century .
"The earliest authentic accounts, on record, which refer to the tract of land now embraced within the limits of the town- ship of Holden, are co-eval with the history of Worcester.
1 Town Records, vol. I, p. 2.
7
THE DAMON HISTORY.
That town originally had its north and south halves. The · General Court of Massachusetts, in May [15th], 1667, ap- pointed a committee ' to take an exact viewe"' of lands lying in the vicinity of Quinsigamond Pond, and being about midway between Boston and Springfield. Daniel Gookin, Edward Johnson, and Andrew Belcher, members of this committee, made the following report.in October [24th], 1668 :
" At a Generall courrt held at Boston the 24th of october 1668 For a plantation at Quansikamud now called worcester
" Wee haue acording to the Courrts orrderr (heirvnto anexed) [viewed the ] place therrin mentioned and find it to bee, about 12 miles from Marrlborrough nearre the Road to Springfeild, and that [it is] a trract of very good Chestnut trree land, a large quantitye but [meadow] we find not so much, beecause a very considerable quantitie of [meadow ] & vpland about five thousand accerrs is laid out to particularr p[ersons] & confirmed by this courrt. .
But a[s] notwithstanding wee conceue therre may bee enough medow forr a [small] plantation orr towne of about thirrty families & if these farmes be anexed to it, it may supply about sixty families, Therrforre wee [deem] it expedient, That the honoured court wilbe pleased to rreserue it fo[r a] towne, being conueniently scituated & wel waterred with ponds & lieing nearre mid way beetwene Boston & Springfeild about one [day's] ioyrny from either, For the setling wherrof wee do offerr vnto [the] court that which followeth
" I : That therre bee a meet proportion of land granted & laid out [for a] towne in the best forrme the place wil bearre about the [area] of eight miles squarre
"3 : That due carre be taken by the said comittee, that a good minister [of] God's word bee placed therre, as soone as may bee, that such people [as may] therre bee planted may not liue like lambs in a large place."1
" This report was approved and accepted by the General Court. Another committee was appointed to carry its recom- mendations into execution. The history of this ' trract of very good Chestnut trree land wel waterred with ponds
[] Records of the Proprietors of Worcester, p. 2.]
8
HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
about eight miles squarre
& laid out in the best forrme the place wil bearre ', I shall endeavor to trace through a period of one hundred and thirty-two years, so far as its history refers to the original proprietorship and settlement of Holden.
"The persons who had obtained a grant of this tract of land from the General Court did not consider their title as valid until, by purchase, it had been secured to them by the Indians, the original proprietors of the soil. On the 13th of July, 1674, John, alias Horrawannonit, or Quiquonassett, Sagamore of Pakachoge, and Solomon, alias Woonaskochu, Sagamore of Tataessit, together with the consent of their kindred and people, conveyed by deed the above mentioned tract of land to Daniel Gookin of Cambridge, Daniel Henchman of Boston, and certain other persons, for and in consideration of £12 of lawful money, of New England currency, or in full value thereof in other specie, to be paid within three months after the date of the deed. The Indians received ' two coats and four yards of trading cloth valewed at twenty- six shillings', as a pledge that the money should be duly paid. Messrs. Gookin, Henchman and others, fully dis- charged their obligation to the Indians before the three months had expired, and came into possession of ' the broken up land and woodlands, woods, trees, rivers, brooks, ponds, swamps, meadows, mineralls, or any other thing or things whatsoever, lying and being within that tract of land, conteyn- ing eight miles square or the contents thereof, to be layd out by ye sd persons or their order in time convenient '.1
" The district of country described in the first Indian deed, from which extracts have been made, embraced the entire townships of Worcester and Holden, before any portions were set off to form the towns of Auburn, Paxton or West Boylston.2
[] Damon History of Holden, Note A, p. 64. ]
2 " The plantation of Quinsigamond, as originally granted, and surveyed, extended nearly twelve miles from north to south, and six miles from east to west. It was designed to include within the boundaries established the same
.
9
THE DAMON HISTORY.
" King Philip's war, commencing A. D. 1675, in connection with other unpropitious events, retarded the rapid settlement of this part of the Massachusetts colony. This circumstance induced the General Court, at their session in October, 1682, to pass a vote rendering forfeit and lost the grant of this tract of land to Gookin and others, unless vigorous exertions were speedily adopted to advance its settlement.1 The gran- tees were now urged to take immediate action to preserve their claims. It was found by estimation that about four hundred and eighty acres of good meadow land were contained within the limits of this grant. An agreement was made, at a meeting of the proprietors, April 24, 1682, to divide the whole township into as many lots as there were acres of meadow land : ' two hundred for planters; eighty for public uses or specific appropriations, and the remaining two hundred to be laid out on the northern extremity, forming a division afterwards known as North Worcester, and subsequently rendered permanent by the incorporation of Holden '.2
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