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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 8400
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofr1762casw
COLONEL ISAAC ROYAL
1762
1917
THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF ROYALSTON,
MASSACHUSETTS
1762-1917.
BY LILLEY B. CASWELL
INCLUDING Royalston's Soldier Record Written and Compiled by HON. FRED W. CROSS
Published by the Town of Royalston
1917
1180268 FOREWORD OF THE AUTHOR
The writer of this history of Royalston, in performing the work given him by your Town Committee, feels that in many respects this task might have been assigned to abler and more eloquent writers.
Although not the town of his birth or residence, he has, ever since as a young man he came to this town as a teacher in its schools, had a love and admiration for this good, old town, for its grand and beautiful scenery, the people who have lived among these hills, and the history they have made. It has truly been a typical New England town, where men and wom- en have shown a zeal for religion, a sturdy patriotism, and a desire for educational privileges all through the history of the town.
With the material which has been at our disposal, we have endeavored not to fill the work with too much statistical mat- ter, such as may easily be obtained in the annual town report, but rather have deemed it wise to describe more fully than many town histories, the old families of the town that have made the history of Royalston one to be proud of. In this, we have not attempted to make what would be complete fam- ily genealogies, but have described those branches of the fam- ilies that have been more or less connected with the town, or have attained prominence or distinction in the various com- munities in which they have made their homes, scattered in all parts of the Union and in foreign lands.
Another feature of this work, not common in town histor- ies, is the chapter on " Writers of Royalston Poetry." We be- lieved that such a vivid description of the events of the Civil War as contained in Dr. Frank W. Adams' Epic Poem on the Civil War in America was worthy of a place in this history, while the town that claims Nancy Priest, the gifted author of " Over the River," surely should give her a place in the annals of the town. The Red Letter Days of Royalston History will recall the celebration of important events in the history of the town. The military history has been most carefully written, and ably presented by Hon. Fred W. Cross in the chapter en-
Goodspeed
Bindery 2/14/62
6
IV
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
titled " Royalston's Soldier Record," and is a record that any town should be proud of.
The first chapters of the work treat of the early settlers, incorporation of the town, town government, and of Col. Isaac Royall, who named the town. It seemed appropriate that South Royalston, occupying one corner of the town, should have its families, industries, churches and organizations treated as a village or community, instead of being scattered through the pages of the history, and this has been so ar- ranged.
The early records of the town do not contain many excit- ing and dramatic events, with no Indian traditions, and as Governor Bullock said, " A church without a schism in a cen- tury ; a ministry that never knew how to quarrel and a people that have walked in the paths of unambitious duty," the life and activities of those early generations was so peaceful and regular that the history of those days is comparatively tame to that of many towns.
We have been indebted to the Royalston Memorial, pub- lished in 1865, for much valuable information, which was gathered by your historical committee of half a century ago, at the time of the Centennial Anniversary, one member of which, the late Daniel Davis, assisted us in obtaining material for some of the family histories. We have also been reminded during the years of collecting material, of the fact that each passing year destroys or renders less available historic mat- ter of interest and value, while every year has removed from the scene of life's activities men and women whose memories were treasure houses of historic facts.
In compiling the material contained in this work the writer has received valuable assistance from many sources. The town records and annual reports of the town have kindly been placed at our disposal by Town Clerk Dr. Frank W. Adams, and we have availed ourselves freely of the files of the Athol and Worcester West Chronicle, Athol Transcript, Barre Gazette and Fitchburg Sentinel. The archives and State Library at the State House in Boston have been consulted, while various town histories and family genealogies contained in the libraries of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Worcester Public Library and the Fitchburg and
V
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Athol public libraries have furnished us with much valuable material. Also members of many of the old Royalston families have gladly aided us in the preparation of the family histories which we have presented.
We would like to have given a complete list of the indi- viduals who have aided us in our work, but do not feel at liberty to give the space it would occupy. To all such we ex- tend our sincere thanks. Our relations with the Town Com- mittee, who have charge of this work, have been pleasant all through the years we have been engaged in our labor, and they have rendered us much valuable assistance. The work involved in securing the originals of the portraits and illustra- tions which appear in the history has been great, but we be- lieve they add much to the value of the work. The half-tone plates, from which the portraits and illustrations are printed, are the work of the Howard-Wesson Company of Worcester.
We had hoped at one time that the History would have been ready for the 150th Anniversary, but found that it would be impossible to do so and do justice to the book. This His- tory will therefore contain two Anniversary Celebrations, the Centennial and the Sesqui-Centennial, with much other valu- able material that could not have been included in the book had it been published at that time.
LILLEY B. CASWELL.
REPORT OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE
The celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Town of Royalston with Hon. Alexander H. Bullock - three months later elected Governor of the Commonwealth-as orator of the day was an occasion which inspired our citizens with so much local pride and created such genuine historic interest that there was an immediate popular demand for the publication of a History of the Town.
Accordingly, at a Town Meeting called in the following September, a series of Resolutions were adopted covering this matter, one of which was framed as follows: "Resolved, that the history proposed should be compressed in an octavo volume of from 150 to 200 pages bound in a neat and sub- stantial but not expensive binding, and that the copies printed should not exceed 500."
The volume was hastily edited and promptly issued.
But if the good fathers of that period had taken time for a more extended research in the field there opened up so richly before them and had afforded more abundant space in that volume for the mass of " varied and important matter " which could not possibly be compressed into an "octavo of 200 pages " they would have won additional appreciation from a grateful posterity.
The need of a more complete and accurate History of Royalston has for many years been recognized, and as one after another of our older citizens whose memories were stored with historic facts of value have passed away, the insistence for a new History of the Town became more pronounced.
On March 6, 1911, the Town voted " To raise and appro- priate the sum of five hundred dollars for the purpose of preparing and publishing a History of the Town of Royalston. Chose Dr. Frank W. Adams, Charles H. Brown, William H. Leathe, Fred W. Cross and Colin Mackenzie, Committee to have charge of the work."
The work of compiling and writing the History was given by the Committee to Mr Lilley B. Caswell of Athol, whose acquaintance with Royalston and her people was intimate and
VII
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
who had already achieved a creditable success as Historian of the Town of Athol. The writing of the Military History of the Town, however, was given to Hon. Fred W. Cross, whose researches into the causes and events of the Civil War had been a life work and whose interest in Military History in general had been phenomenal.
On March 2, 1914, as the work seemed nearing completion, the Town voted " To raise five hundred dollars toward print- ing and binding the History of the Town of Royalston, and that permission be hereby granted to any individual or group of individuals to furnish the additional amount required for the purpose, with the distinct understanding that any such volunteer contributors shall be reimbursed from the proceeds of the sales of the book."
There has been some delay in publishing the work, but there is no legal process by which persons in possession of valuable historic information can be made to resign it, and we think, on the other hand, the reader will admit that the history is richer because patience has been allowed to have her perfect work.
FRANK W. ADAMS, CHARLES H. BROWN, WILLIAM H. LEATHE, FRED W. CROSS, COLIN MACKENZIE,
Committee on History of Royalston.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. Early Land Grants - Pierpont's Grant - Joseph Priest's Grant-Hapgood's Grant-Royalston Leg- Area- Proprietors - First Settlers. 1-7
CHAPTER II.
Naming the Town-Hon. Isaac Royall-Old Royall House- Incorporation of the Town.
8-13
CHAPTER III.
Town Meetings-First Town Meeting-Early Town Meet- ings-Roads-Day of Fasting and Prayer-First Town House-New Town Hall-Dedication of Town Hall. 14-21
CHAPTER IV.
Town Government - Selectmen - Sketches of Charles H. Brown-Luke B. Shepardson-Alfred W. Neal-As- sessors - Sketches of Levens G. Forbes - Myron E. Stockwell-Eugene G. Twitchell-Assessors' Reports -Town Clerks-Town Treasurers-Overseers of the Poor -- Sketches of Charles A. Stimson-Colin Mac- kenzie-Franklin A. Brown. 23-39
CHAPTER V.
Scenery of Royalston-Brooks of Royalston-Forbes Falls -Doane's Falls-Old Elm-Minerals-Beryls-Beryl Hill Mine-Wild Animals-Wolves and Bears-Last Bear Hunt. 40-51
CHAPTER VI.
Churches of Royalston - First Congregational Church - Sketches of Pastors-Meeting Houses-Parsonage- The Church Bell-Statuette of the Angel Gabriel- Baptist Church at West Royalston-Sketches of Bap- tist Pastors-Baptist Meeting Houses-Baptist Church at Royalston Centre-Free Donation Society.
52-74
IX
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
CHAPTER VII. Political-Petition to the President of the United States- Representatives-Delegates and Senators- Whigs- Vote for Governor-Vote for President. 75-84
CHAPTER VIII.
Education-First School and School Master-School Dis- tricts-Early School Committees-School Committees from 1845-Sketches of Nellie G. W. Farrar-Charles E. Richardson-Eri S. Stewart-High School Exhibi- tion of 1852-Teachers-School Superintendents- College Graduates-Sketches of College Graduates- Libraries-Trustees of Public Library-Post Office. 85-112
CHAPTER IX.
Medical Profession-The Doctors Bacheller-Sketches of Doctors - The Legal Profession - Sketches of Law- yers. 113-126
CHAPTER X.
Red Letter Days of Royalston History-Centennial Celebra- tion-Rev. E. W. Bullard's Address of Welcome-Hon. Alexander H. Bullock's Address-Great Whig Gather- ing of 1840-Dedication of Phinehas S. Newton Public Library - Royalston's First Old Home Week - Old Home Day of 1904-Old Home Day of 1910-Biennial Reunion of School District No. 7-One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary-Sunday Services-Second Day -Third Day-Parade-Dr. Frank W. Adams' Address of Welcome-Addresses of Speakers at the Dinner- Address of Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge. 127-160
CHAPTER XI.
Old Royalston Families-Metcalf Family-The Brown Fam- ily-Bullock Family-Frye Family-Bliss Family- Woodbury-Walker-Ballou-Shepardson-Nichols- The Estabrooks-Gale Family-Bartlett-Dexter- White Family-Charles W. Bowker Family-Richard- son-Gregory-Goddard-Pierce-Perkins-Newton . - Cutler.
161-282
X
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
CHAPTER XII.
Old Royalston Families-The Peck Family-Gates-The Wood Family-Holman-Raymond-Chase-Bragg- Fisher-Davis-Morse-Leathe-Lyman Stone Family Jacobs - Clement-Estey-Garfield - Shebna Paine Family-Pratt Family-The Chamberlain Family-Al- bion P. Mosman Family-The Blandings-The Greeley Family-Geo. D. Bolton Family-Bemis Family-Tan- dy Family-Bosworth Family-The Doane Family. 283-347
CHAPTER XIII.
Royalston's Writers of Poetry-Dr. Frank W. Adams' Epic Poem - Nancy Priest - Rev. Albert Bryant - Mrs. George Woodbury's Centennial Hymn-Sidney G. Bos- worth's One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary Hymn - Amanda Bemis Smith's Johnstown Flood Poem - Dulcenia M. Russell-Peck's Poem on Universalism- Wm. M. Leathe.
348-372
CHAPTER XIV.
Biographical-Col. George Whitney -- William Fordyce Big- elow-George Fletcher Miller-Herman M. Partridge -J. Milton Partridge-Stephen H. Heywood-Cyrus P. Reed-Wm. D. Ripley-Benjamin Ward Upham- Caleb A. Cook-Rev. Ebenezer Cutler-Rev. Henry Cummings-Solon Bryant-George Edward Miller. 373-383
CHAPTER XV.
Sons of Royalston-Asahel Peck-James Ormond Wilson- Hon. George Carter Richardson-Stephen Holman --- Lieut. - Colonel Charles Cummings - Thomas Norton Hart-George Ellis Whitney-Frederic C. Nichols- Leonard Nichols - Robert Winthrop Adams - Edwin Augustus Fisher-Arthur A. Upham-John V. Hazen -John B. Bowker-Jenner E. Morse. 384-400
CHAPTER XVI.
Royalston's Soldier Record-Our Soldier Stock-The Rev- olution Period-Shay Insurrection-The War of 1812 -The Civil War-List and Records of Royalston Sol- diers-Royalston Men Who Went from Other Towns and States.
401-445
XI
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
CHAPTER XVII. Mercantile and Industrial-Stores on Royalston Common- Early Saw and Grist Mills-Royalston's Manufactures -Plans of Royalston-Population-Income Taxes. 446-453
CHAPTER XVIII.
Organizations - Masonic Fraternity - Royalston Grange, No. 195. 454-456
CHAPTER XIX.
Cemeteries - Grave Yard Under the Hill - Early Grave Yards-New Cemetery-Epidemics. 457-459
CHAPTER XX.
Old Taverns-Stage Coaches.
460-462
CHAPTER XXI. Old Customs and Practices-Warning Out-Tithing Men- Pounds-Perambulation of Town Bounds-Sealer of Weights and Measures. 463-466
CHAPTER XXII.
South Royalston-Descriptive and Industrial. 467-471
CHAPTER XXIII.
Churches of South Royalston - Second Congregational Church-Methodist Church-Catholic Church. 472-480
CHAPTER XXIV.
Sons of South Royalston-William Clark Peckham-Ches- ter Twitchell Stockwell - Hon. Fred Wilder Cross - Frederick Lysander Drury-Geoffrey B. Lehy-Rev. John F. Lehy-William H. Bullard-J. Herbert King- Fred D. Weeks. 481-491
CHAPTER XXV.
Biographical-Edward A. Carpenter-Everard B. Hanson -Ruel Roby Safford-Jesse Edgar Bodett-Nahum Longley-Josephus T. Day-Jonas M. Turner-John King-Silas Hale-Elisha F. Brown-Nathaniel G. Beckwith. 492-502
XII
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
CHAPTER XXVI.
South Royalston Brass Band-South Royalston Forty-Nin- ers-Silas Hale's Famous Green Mountain Morgan- South Royalston Grange-South Royalston Post Office -South Royalston Hotel-South Royalston School As- sociation. 503-512
CHAPTER XXVII.
Cemeteries - Memorial Tablets - The Cross Memorial - The Lehy Memorial. 513-518
CHAPTER XXVIII.
South Royalston Families-Salmon S. Farrar Family-Caleb W. Day Family-Timothy Lewis Family-Luther Harrington Family-The Hale Family-Rich Family- The Bacheller Families-The Silas W. Bachellor Fam- ily-The Sherwin Family-Addison Sherwin Family- Melancthon Sherwin Family-The Whitmore Families -The Jones Family-Luther Bowker Family-Brasier H. French Family-The Stockwells-The Wheeler Families- Paul Wheeler Family-Russell Wheeler Family-The Clark Family-Timothy Clark Family- Charles Howe Brooks-Sylvender B. Forristall-Er- nest F. Porter. 519-558
CHAPTER XXIX.
South Royalston Physicians and Fire Department-South Royalston Physicians-Dr. J. B. Gould-Dr. Henry O. Adams-Dr. Walter H. Adams-The Fire Department -Fire of 1892-Fire of 1904. 559-562
CHAPTER XXX.
Royalston Hall of Fame. 560-566
APPENDIX
Historical Address at the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary by Fred W. Cross-Sketch of Luther E. Stewart-Sketch of Mrs. Mary (Pierce) Turner-Sketch of David P. Foster-Sketch of Myron Walker Sherwood.
INDEX
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Portraits
A
Adams, Robert Winthrop 394
Adams, Dr. Henry O. 498
Adams, Dr. Frank W. 117
Chase, John S. 432
B
Bacheller, Dr. Stephen J. 114
Ballou, Almando 211
Ballou, Luther 211
Ballou, Mrs. Luther 211
Barrus, John W. 422
Barrus, Marshall 422
Barrus, William J.
422
Bartlett, John N. 235
Barton, Willis H.
427
Bigelow, William F.
374
Bliss, Harrison 195
Bodette, Jesse Edgar 496
Bowker, Charles W. 246
Bowker, George W. 437
Bosworth, Sidney G. 360
Bragg, Everett B. 306
Bragg, Everett Eugene 306
Bragg, Dr. Francis A. 306
Bragg, Henry O. 306
Brooks, Charles H.
27
Brown, Col. Benjamin
173
Brown, Benjamin Hammond
175, 424
Brown, Charles H.
27
Brown, Edward A. 439
Brown, Franklin A. 38
Brown, Nancy (Wood)
176
Brown, William O.
439
Bryant, Rev. Albert 360
Bryant, Mrs. Almeda (Dexter)
240
Bullard, William H.
490
Bullock, Hon. Alexander H.
180
Bullock, Barnett
183
Bullock, Barnett Ellis
184
Bullock, Brigham Newton
184
Bullock, Calvin
184
Bullock, Charles S. 184
Bullock, James Frederick 184
Bullock, Hon. Rufus 178
C
Carpenter, Edward A.
492
Chase, Chauncy 300
Chase, Elizabeth Waite 108
Chase, Francis 300
Chase, George 300
Clark, Cortland A. 420
Cook, Caleb A. 379
Cross, Edward W.
431
Cross, Hon. Fred W. 484
Cutler, Major - General Lysan- der 440
Clement, Wm. W. 332
D
Davis, Daniel 313
Day, Caleb W. 523
Day, David W. 432
Day, Josephus T.
498
Day, Nathan S. 428
Day, Uri C.
431
Deavitt, Caroline (Harrington)
529
Dexter, Bela
240
Dexter, Cynthia
238
Dexter, Ezenezer Wheeler 238
Dexter, Moses 240
Drury, Frederick Lysander 486
F
Fairbanks, Rev. Francis J. 59
Fallon, Martin 427
Farrar, Salmon S. 519
Fisher, Augustus J. 308
Fisher, Edwin A. 308
Forbes, Levens G. 38
Frye, Benjamin 188
Frye, Mrs. Benjamin
188
Fry, Benjamin A. 434
Frye, Frank B. and Family 188
Fry, George E. 420
Fry, Capt. John 186
G
Gale, Harlow A. 229
Gale, Samuel C. 229
Garfield, Moses, Jr. 332
Goddard, Franklin H. 267
Greeley, Jonas
428
H
Hanson, Everard B.
496
XIV
HISTORY OF ROYALSION
Harrington, Henry M. 529
Harrington, Dea. Luther 529
Harrington, Sarah (Nourse)
529
Hazen, Rev. Norman 59
Hunt, James N. 442
J
Jones, Dea. Aaron 548
K
King, Clarence E.
434
Knight, Henry E.
428
king, John
498
L
Leathe, William H. 321
Lee, Rev. Joseph 54
Lee, Mrs. Rachel (Dexter) 240
Lehy, Geoffrey B. 488
Lehy, Rev. John F. 489
Lewis, Enoch T. 527
Lewis, Timothy 525
Lewis, Mrs. Timothy
525
Longley, Nahum 496
Lord, Mrs. Delia (Pierce)
269
M
Mackenzie, Colin
38
Mackenzie, Mrs. Emeline
(White) 108
Mellen, Joel B.
444
Metcalf, Eliab Wight
166
Metcalf, Isaac Stevens
166
Metcalf, Jacob 166
Morandi, Sophia (Ballou)
211
Morgan, George W.
431
Moore, Henry C. 431
Moore, John S. 424
Morse, Russell
300
N
Neale, Alfred W. 514
Newton, Charles H. 278
Newton, Edward Elmer 278
Newton, Col. Elmer 277
Newton, Phinehas S.
278
Nichols, Frederic C. 394
Nichols, Joseph T. 224
Nichols, Mrs. Joseph T.
224
Nichols, Leonard 394
Norcross, Chauncy W.
428
P
Partridge, Harlan P. 442
Partridge, Herman M. 424
Peck, Benoni 286
Peck, Hamilton S. 285
Peck, Henry 288
Peck, Lyman 283
Feck, Lovina (Davis) 283
Peck, Sullivan 289
Pierce, George 269
Pierce, George E. 269
Pierce, Horace 267
Fierce, Milo H. 267
Priest, Nancy 355
R
Raymond, Alfred Dwight 297
Raymond, Alfred J. 298
Raymond, Joseph 296
Rich, B. Warren 534
Pich, Benjamin W. 534
Rich, Jeremiah A. 534
Rich, Jeremiah E. 534
Pichardson, Charles E. 96
Richardson, Stephen 332
Richmond, E. J.
514
Royal, Col. Isaac
Facing title page
Rugg, George N.
439
S
Safford, Roby R. 496
Shepardson, Rev. Daniel 219
Shepardson, Eri 221
Shepardson, John 434
Shepardson, Rev. John 221
Shepardson, Luke B. 27
Sherwin, George P. 498
Stewart, Alexander 432
Stewart, Luther E. 96
Smith, James B. 420
Smith, Mrs. Amanda (Bemis)
360
Stimson, Charles A. 38
Stone, Lyman and Family 322
Stockwell, Caleb N. 548
Stockwell, Edwin 548
T
Townsend, James 439
Turner, Dea. Jonas M. 548
Turner, Mrs. Mary (Pierce) 269
U
Upham, Benjamin W. 379
Upham, Charles M. 424
V
Vose, Edwin O. 422
-
W
Walker, Dea. Joseph 59
Wheeler, Ezra L. 434
XV
Wheeler, Lyman S. 420
White, Wellington 243, 444
Wheeler, R. P. B.
444
Whitney, Colonel George 373
Wheeler, Warren L. 432
Whitney, George Ellis 394
White, Adriel C.
243, 442
Wood, George H. 427
White, Asaph M. 243, 437
Wood, Henry S. 444
White, Erastus
243
Wood, John M.
442
White, Philetus D.
243
Woodbury, George 59
White, Rollin N. 437
Woodbury, Mrs. George 360
White, Stephen P. 437
Buildings, Scenery, etc.
Old Bullock Mansion-Summer Home of Donald M. Hill 1
Old Metcalf House " Under the Hill " 171
Old Tavern and Store Build- ings
West Side of Common 447
Map of Original Grant of Roy- alston 10
Town Hall Built in 1867 19
West Side of Common 19
Fitchburg Railroad Station,
South Royalston 467
South Royalston Park 467
Whitney Stone Woolen
Mill,
South Royalston 469
Old Chair Shop, South Royal- stone 469
Chair Shop Hands, 1885 469
Plant of the American Woolen Co. at South Royalston 471 Pioneer Engine Co., South Roy- alston 560
Rescue Engine Co., South Roy- alston 560
View in South Royalston 513 Riverside Cemetery, South Roy- alston 513
Dedication of E. W. Cross Me- morial 514
Isaac Metcalf House, Summer Home of Miss Edith Metcalf 171
Church,
First Congregational Royalston Centre 61
Second Congregational Church, South Royalston 61
Baptist Church, West Royal- ston 61
Statuett of the Angel Gabriel 63
Old Baptist Church, Royalston Centre 73
Phinehas S. Newton Public Li- brary 108
Old Fire Engine 447
Amos Doane's Mill 449
Forbes Falls 43
Doanes Falls 44
Old Elm on Athol Road 45
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Old Royall House and Slave Quarters 9
BIRTHPLACE OF GOV. ALEX. H. BULLOCK OLD BULLOCK MANSION-NOW SUMMER HOME OF DONALD M. HILL
-
---
CHAPTER I
EARLY LAND GRANTS
Not a town in this grand old Commonwealth of historic towns can boast of a better beginning or a more reputable heri- tage of name and blood. The proprietors and early settlers of Royalston were men of character whose influence can be traced throughout the whole structure of our nation, and they laid here on these splendid hills the foundation of a town in which the sterling qualities of the glorious days of old New England have come down through the generations.
The territory comprised in the township of Royalston passed from a public domain to private hands in two ways-by public sales and private grants. It was the last of the entire territory of Worcester County to be disposed of by grants and charters, and in this respect Royalston is the last and youngest of the towns of the County. Twenty-three hundred acres of its area were comprised in four grants, known as Pierpont's, Priests, Hapgood's, and a grant to Benoni Moore, Joseph Petty and Robert Cooper, while 28,357 acres were purchased at public sale by Samuel Watts, Thomas Hubbard, (then speaker of the House) Isaac Freeman, Joseph Richards, Isaac Royal, Caleb Dana, James Otis, Joseph Wilder, Jr., and John Chandler, Jr., the deed being given Dec. 27, 1752, and the price paid £1,348.
At a later date others famous in the annals of New England and National history became proprietors of Royalston soil. Among these were John Hancock, the first governor of Massa- chusetts, and first signer of the Declaration of Independence ; James Bowdoin, the second Governor of the State, while James Otis, one of the original proprietors, was the eloquent orator of the Revolution. The town had also at least one titled land owner, Lady Temple, widow of Sir John Temple, baronet, once owned eight hundred acres of Royalston soil.
The Proprietors held their meetings in Boston "at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern," and at the first meeting it was mo- tioned that the land aforesaid be called Royal-shire, and they
8
2
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
unanimously agreed thereto, whereupon the Hon. Isaac Royal generously gave his word to give the Partners twenty-five pounds sterling towards a meeting house for said town. Here we first find our name which is later called Royalston.
These four grants that we have mentioned were bestowed as bounties for military services rendered, or for loyalty shown in other ways.
Pierpont's Grant was the largest of these and was located in the northeast corner of the present boundaries of the town, but who he was and why he received this land we have not been able to ascertain. This grant covered the territory which in the early part of the nineteenth century included the farms of John Wood, Joel and Daniel Taft, John Holman, Capt. William Chase, Jacob Hale, Joel Howard, Nathan Reed and William Withington.
Joseph Priest's Grant, which consisted of three hundred acres, was given him as a recognition of his loyalty in extending the hospitality of his half-way house near the easterly line of the town, to all those who passed that way to and from the French wars. This was located east of Pierpont's, and the name of Priest still lives in the beautiful little river that bears his name.
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