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THE STORY OF WORCESTER
Gc 974.402 W890 1378328
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Hin &. Bommar
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 01115 3985 HMER Christmas 1910 MASS.
from her freund Tand a Oliver
The Story of Worcester
ISAIAH THOMAS
Frontispiece. See page 78
THE STORY OF WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS
THOMAS F. O'FLYNN, B. S. Principal of the Ledge Street School, Worcester, Mass.
T
E
TOWN
JUNE
EBY.29.1848
11 17 22
A
BOSTON LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 1910
-
Copyright, 1910, BY LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY.
All rights reserved
Published September, 1910
Electrotyped and Printed by THE COLONIAL PRESS C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, U. S. A.
5.00 10-26-66
4
Cancer
1378328
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
PAGE
The First and Second Settlements
I
CHAPTER II
Third and Permanent Settlement - Incorporation of the Town
21
CHAPTER III
Growth of the Town - Acadian Exiles - British Spies - Minute Men - Timothy Bigelow -
Worcester in the Revolution . 26
CHAPTER IV
Shays's Rebellion - Washington and Lafayette visit Worcester
33
CHAPTER V
Worcester in the War of 1812 and the Mexican War
·
41
CHAPTER VI
Early Church History
43
vi
Contents
CHAPTER VII
PAGE
The Public Schools - Free Public Library - Histori- cal Societies - Worcester Academy, Davis Hall - The Oread Collegiate Institute - Holy Cross College - Highland Military Academy - Worces- ter Polytechnical Institute - The State Normal School - Clark College and University. 51
CHAPTER VIII
Worcester of 1830
74
CHAPTER IX
Biographies: Timothy Bigelow, Isaiah Thomas, Levi Lincoln, John Davis, Eli Thayer, George Bancroft, Charles Devens, George F. Hoar, Governors of Massachusetts 79
CHAPTER X
Monuments
93
CHAPTER XI
Worcester in the Civil War
.
105
CHAPTER XII
Worcester in the Spanish-American War .
IIO
CHAPTER XIII
The Blackstone Canal - Railroads, Water and Sewerage
. . 115
Contents
vii
CHAPTER XIV
Parks
PAGE
120
CHAPTER XV
Industries
128
CHAPTER XVI
The City Government
132
CHAPTER XVII
Old Time Taverns - Interesting Houses
135
CHAPTER XVIII
History and Derivation of Names of Streets
·
148
CHAPTER XIX
Interesting Facts
.
.
154
ILLUSTRATIONS
ISAIAH THOMAS
PAGE Frontis piece
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
II
THE SECOND SETTLEMENT
I2
.
MAP OF MAIN STREET
22
·
OLD CITY HALL AND OLD SOUTH CHURCH
·
43
THE ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL
56
THE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
.
57
WORCESTER IN 1829
60
WORCESTER IN 1830
74
THE COMMON IN 1849
80
THE HOAR AND DEVENS STATUES
(Photograph by
Shaljian)
95 and 97
ARMORY SQUARE
.
104
MAIN STREET IN 1865
105
ELM PARK (Photograph by Wohlbrück)
I2I
INSTITUTE PARK (Photograph by Wohlbrück)
I2I
GREEN HILL PARK (Photograph by Wohlbrück)
122
UNIVERSITY PARK (Photograph by Wohlbrück) .
122
LAKE QUINSIGAMOND
·
124
The Story of Worcester
CHAPTER I
THE FIRST AND SECOND SETTLEMENTS
T HE first settlers of Massachusetts began early to move inward from the coast, and the beautiful coun- try around Lake Quinsigamond attracted their attention.
There was a settlement at Springfield and the General Court wished to have a place midway between Springfield and Boston, where travellers could spend the night and rest their horses. A committee, consisting of Daniel Gookin, Edward Johnson, Joshua Fisher and Thomas Noyes, was appointed in 1665, to make a survey of the land around Lake Quin- sigamond and determine if there be a " meet place for a plantation." Thomas Noyes died shortly afterwards. Nothing
2
The Story of Worcester
was done until 1667, when a new commit- tee, consisting of Daniel Gookin, Edward Johnson, Samuel Andrew and Andrew Belcher, was appointed “ to take an exact view and make true report, whether the place be capable to make a village."
A report was made October 20, 1668, wherein it was stated that the committee " viewed the place mentioned, and find it about twelve miles westward from Marl- boro, near to the road to Springfield." They found a beautiful lake, a large quan- tity of chestnut trees and broad meadows; enough, according to their estimate, with proper industry, to support sixty families. It was recommended, that the Court "re- serve it for a town."
The report was accepted, and Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hench- man and Richard Beers were appointed a committee to carry its recommendation into effect.
From 1657 to 1664 the Court had made grants of this land to the church in Mal- den, to Mr. Increase Nowell of Charles- town, and to Mr. Thomas Noyes of Sud- bury. The heirs of Thomas Noyes sold
3
First and Second Settlements
their land to Ephraim Curtis of Sudbury, and he came here and settled on land between Adams Square and the City Farm.
Curtis may be called the first white set- tler in Worcester. A committee, of which Daniel Gookin was chairman, had, pre- vious to Curtis's coming, built a house in the vicinity, but this house was intended merely as a shelter for the committee, and not in any sense as a settlement. The honor, therefore, of the first settlement of Worcester, belongs to Curtis. He was the only white man between Marlborough and Brookfield. It is recorded that, after his hard day's toil, he would sit down, and, looking towards Sudbury, shed tears.
The committee of the General Court pe- titioned that the grants to the town of Mal- den and Ensign Noyes, and by Noyes sold to Ephraim Curtis, be declared void. They gave the following reasons for this request : -
The grant of one thousand acres to the ministry of the town of Malden was made May 7, 1662, on condition that it be im- proved within three years after the grant.
4
The Story of Worcester
Six years had now elapsed and no improve- ment had been made.
The grant to Thomas Noyes of 250 acres of choice land lay in the heart of the set- tlement. The committee requested the Court to make void this grant because it was not laid out regularly for " quantity or quality." They offered to give him land in another place, bordering upon the town.
The first meeting of the committee was held in Cambridge, July 6, 1669, and a plan was formed for the projected planta- tion. In 1673, thirty-two persons were granted lots.
The Court decided that Ephraim Cur- tis, who had purchased the Noyes grant, should retain but 50 acres of land in the north part of the town, and allowed him 250 acres outside of the bounds of Worces- ter, in the part called "The Gore Coun- try," now Auburn. This was a tract of land which intervened between Worcester and the town of Grafton, and it was con- sidered to be beyond the jurisdiction of either place.
Ephraim sold to his brother John, a grant of 250 acres in the north part of the
5
First and Second Settlements
town. When John came to Worcester, the committee drove him off and would not allow him to settle. He brought suit against Ephraim and was awarded £40 damages.
As will be seen on the map, seventeen of these grants were on the Country Road, from the head of Lake Quinsigamond to the Lancaster Road. Only fourteen of the thirty-two persons perfected their titles by paying to the committee their share of expense. Of these fourteen, but five or six built houses.
It was thought necessary at this time to satisfy any claim that the Indians might have to the land. A deed was executed by Woonashockusag, called Solomon, Saga- more of Tataessit, and Honnawannonit, called John, Sagamore of Pakachoge. This deed was given in consideration of " twelve pounds of lawful money of New England " and called for land eight miles square.
The Indians of this section were of the Nipmuck, or Nipnet tribe. They were Christian converts, and lived in the villages of Grafton, Oxford, Dudley, Worcester,
6
The Story of Worcester
Woodstock, Uxbridge, Sterling and Brook- field. The principal settlement was in Worcester, on Packachoag Hill, and is thus described by Gookin: -
" This village consists of about twenty families and hath about one hundred souls therein. This town is situated upon a fer- tile hill and is denominated from a delicate spring of water that is there."
The Tatnuck or Tataessit Hills were occupied by similar hamlets. Wigwam Hill at Lake Quinsigamond was peopled by Indians who were fond of fishing and hunting.
In September, 1674, the Indians on Packachoag Hill were visited by the dis- tinguished Indian apostle, John Eliot, in company with his historian, Captain Dan- iel Gookin. The General Court appointed Captain Gookin superintendent of meas- ures for the civilization and government of the Indians.
Gookin says of this visit: "We repaired to the Sagamore's house, called John, who kindly entertained us. There is another Sagamore belonging to this place, of kin- dred to the former, whose name is Solo-
7
First and Second Settlements
mon. This man was also present, who courteously welcomed us. As soon as the people could be got together, Mr. Eliot preached to them, and they attended rev- erently. After a short respite, a court was kept among them. The principal mat- ter that was done at this court, was, first to constitute John and Solomon to be rulers of this people, and co-ordinate in power, clothed with the authority of the English Government, which they accepted. The exercises were concluded with singing a psalm and offering prayer, and they re- tired to rest."
In 1675, war broke out in Plymouth County between the settlers and Philip of Mount Hope. His influence extended to the neighboring tribes and in a short time the frontier settlements were abandoned by the whites. Many of these Indians who had joined Philip foresaw the result of the war, and, at the first opportunity, deserted him. Philip was driven from place to place, and took refuge early among the Nipmuck Indians.
Worcester, situated far from other settle- ments, was in a dangerous position. Marl-
8
The Story of Worcester
borough was the nearest town on the east, Lancaster on the north, Brookfield on the west and Mendon on the south. The people abandoned their homes and fled to the larger towns near Boston.
In July, 1675, King Philip, accompanied by Sagamore John, visited the Indians on Packachoag Hill and induced them to join him. Sagamore John, who surrendered at Boston a year later, " affirmed that he never intended any mischief to the English at Brookfield, but that Philip, coming over night among them, he was forced, for fear of his own life, to join with them against the English."
Ephraim Curtis, considered the first set- tler of Worcester, distinguished himself by unusual bravery, in the attacks on Brook- field. He had been commissioned lieu- tenant in recognition of his ability in mili- tary affairs.
Messages were repeatedly sent to the Nipmuck chiefs, urging them to remain friendly with the whites. Curtis held con- ference with four of their chiefs and was assured that the intentions of the Indians were peaceful.
-
9
First and Second Settlements
On July 28, 1675, Captain Edward Hutchinson and Captain Thomas Wheeler with a force of twenty men left Cambridge to negotiate a treaty. They arrived near Brookfield, August 2nd. The Indians, sug- gesting one meeting-place after another, led the whites into a narrow defile between a steep hill and a deep swamp. Two or three hundred Indians rose suddenly from the ambuscade, and firing upon the unfor- tunate soldiers, killed eight men and wounded five, including Captains Hutch- inson and Wheeler. The survivors fled to the town and fortified one of the largest houses.
Hutchinson and Wheeler immediately sent Ephraim Curtis and Henry Young to Boston to inform the authorities of their condition.
Wheeler in his narrative says: "When they " (meaning Curtis and Young) " came to the further end of the town, they saw the enemy rifling houses, which the inhab- itants had forsaken. Curtis and Young fired upon them and immediately returned to us again. They discerned no safety in going forward and were desirous to inform
10
The Story of Worcester
us of the enemies' actings, so that we might the more prepare for a sudden assault by them.
" This assault followed with great vio- lence, but was bravely resisted. During the night the attack continued, and the Indians attempted to fire the house with combus- tibles. Being desirous to hasten intelli- gence to the honored council of our present great distress, we being so remote from any succor, it being between 60 and 70 miles from us to Boston, where the Court useth to sit, and fearing our ammunition would not last long to withstand them if they continued to assault us, I spake to Eph- raim Curtis to adventure forth again on that service, and to attempt it on foot, as the way wherein there was most hope of getting away undiscovered. He readily assented, and accordingly went out. There were so many Indians everywhere there- abouts that he could not pass without ap- parent hazard of life, and he came back again.
" Towards morning, Ephraim adventured forth the third time, and was fain to creep on his hands and knees for some space of
This drawing is designed to illustrate the relative positions of home-lots. The number on the map corresponding with the one set against the name below will indicate the location occupied by that person.
16 Maj .- Gen. Daniel Gookin.
N
17-24
Thomas Hall.
2 Samuel Brigham.
18 Thomas Grover.
3 John Provender.
19 John Paul.
W
John Shaw.
21 .Joseph Beamis.
6 John Fay.
22 Joshua Bigelow.
23 Michael Fleg.
8 Dr. Leonard Hoarr.
9 Capt. Daniel Henchman.
10 Ephraim Curtis.
26
Capt. Thomas Prentice.
11 Thomas Brown.
28 Phinehas Upham.
13
Richard Dana.
29 Philip Atwood.
14 Symon Meylin.
30 Trial Newberry.
31 Minister's lot.
S. W. by W. 1920 Rods
Labraster Road
13
20
فـ
18
TATAES'S
Connecticut Roads
Country Road
or
24
River
Mill Brook
1920 Rods
Po
W. & W.
Lin
S.
South
Pr
PLAN OF WORCESTER 1673 TO 1675.
Drawn by E. B. Crane.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT
The village of Quinsigamond (subsequently named Worcester), destroyed by the Indians in 1675.
Page II
4 Joseph Waight.
20 Joel Jenkins.
7 John Curtis.
25
Benjamin Crane.
27 Benjamin Web.
12 Jacob Dana.
S
15 Samuel Gookin.
Di Winter Hill
Mill Bbnok
pun
Quinsigamond Fond
N. Wy W. Westerly
Halfway
Now
Part of Auburn
ent
1 Gershom Eams.
வுபயன்
11
First and Second Settlements
ground, that he might not be discovered by the enemy, who waited to prevent our sending, if they could have hindered it. But, through God's mercy, he escaped their hands and got safely to Marlborough, though very much spent, by reason of want of sleep before he went from us, and his sore travel, night and day, in that hot sea- son, till he got thither, from whence he went to Boston."
Before Curtis had reached Marlbor- ough, a body of soldiers had marched to the relief of the little band surrounded by more than three hundred Indians.
On Dec. 2, 1675, the Indians destroyed the little village of Quinsigamond which then consisted of five or six deserted houses.
In 1682, the General Court notified the committee that unless immediate steps were taken to form a plantation the grants would be considered forfeited. It was not until 1684, that Captain Henchman and his associates induced some of the first settlers to return, and encouraged others to accom- pany them.
The committee planned to provide for
12
The Story of Worcester
the safety of the new settlement and, to that end, erected a citadel.1 This was located on land extending from the sum- mit of Fairmount or Messinger Hill, to and including Captain Wing's corn and saw mills on the south. These mills were situated a few rods south of the southerly end of the railroad freight house near Lin- coln Square. This citadel covered terri- tory one half mile square. On the map this is shown, being enclosed by lines - beginning at a point opposite the junction of the Country and Lancaster Roads and ending at the figure five, which is Captain Wing's mill.
It was stipulated that " land for a cita- del should be laid out, on the Fort River,2 about a half mile square, for house lots, for those who should, at their first settling, build and dwell thereon, and make it their certain place of abode for their families ; to the end the inhabitants may settle in a way of defence, as enjoined by law and
1 Citadel - a fortified place in or near a city, com- manding the city and intended as a final point in defence.
2 Fort River - named from the ancient fortress which had been thrown up on its bank - later called Mill Brook, from the mills moved by its waters.
This drawing is designed to illustrate the relative positions of home-lots. The number on the map corresponding with the one set against the name below will indicate the location occupied by that person.
1 Ephraim Curtis. 11} Bridget Usher.
2 Thomas Brown.
12 Ephraim Curtis beirs.
22 Peter Goulding.
3 Daniel Turell.
: 13 Daniel Henchman. 23 James Butler.
A Samuel Daniel.
14 Daniel Gookin.
24 Thomas Allerton.
25 Isaac George.
26 William Weeks ..
27 Isaac Buli.
8 Adam Winthrop. 18 William Paine.
9 Mr. Peirpoint.
19 James Holmes.
10 Hezekiah Usher. 20 Alexander Bogell.
21 Thomas Hall.
N
W
-E
S
S. W. 6, W. 1920 Rods
Lancaster Road
Brook
2
Road
Country
Citadel
ESS
30
7.
10.
or Connecticut Roa
19
ak HAL
Country Road
GOMSTON
River
Mill Brook
25
27
26
28
Now a
Part of Auburn
29.
1920 Rods
S. W.
South Live
Present
PLAN OF WORCESTER 1683 TO 1685.
Drawn by E. B. Crane.
THE SECOND SETTLEMENT
Plan showing the Citadel and locations of the settlers, only two lots being held by the original pioneers.
Page 12
Quins. Semond Pond
N. by W.
bsc of Hill. RA
24
Westerly
TATA
-
Winter. Hill"
28 George Rosbury.
30 Jobn Wing's Mills.
5-29 Jobn Wing. 15 Digory Serjent.
6 George Danson.
16 Charles Williams.
7. Samuel Simpson.
17 George Ripley.
13
First and Second Settlements
formerly ordered by the committee for divers reasons, and each one so doing, to have a house lot there, at least six rods square." It was further required that there should be " two fire-rooms in the citadel to shelter such as shall come to settle, and travellers."
Of the previous settlers, four only re- turned, and of these but two took up the original grants :- Thomas Brown on the Country Road, and Thomas Hall between Oak Hill and Lake Quinsigamond.
The heirs of Ephraim Curtis took up his land on Lincoln Street.
Local historians state that Lieut. Eph- raim Curtis was married and that he re- turned at the time of the second settlement. As a matter of fact, Ephraim never mar- ried and he was dead at the time of the second settlement.
Hon. Ellery B. Crane, the librarian of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, made an exhaustive research in this matter. By consulting the records of the Probate Court of Cambridge, he found that Ephraim, Esq., was the son of Joseph, the youngest brother of Lieut. Ephraim Curtis. Eph-
14
The Story of Worcester
raim, Esq., deeded to Captain John, his son, "a certain parcel of upland and swamp ground." This John Curtis ap- pears to have been the first of the Curtis family to become a permanent settler in Worcester. His daughter Sarah married " Tory " Jones, who kept the tavern on the present site of the Sargent Building, Franklin Square.
Daniel Gookin, who had land on the Country Road, took up a new grant on the easterly slope of Packachoag Hill, and Daniel Henchman changed to a place in- side the citadel grounds.
In September, 1684, Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, and Daniel Henchman petitioned the General Court, "that their plantation at Quinsigamond be called Worcester." This request was granted. No special reason has been given for the choice of name.
There is in England a city called Worcester. It is noted in history as the place where Charles II was defeated by Cromwell. The word Worcester means " war-castle." In the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society for Feb-
15
First and Second Settlements
ruary 11, 1873, Mr. Whitmore, in his essay on names of towns, says that there is a tra- dition that the name was given by the com- mittee to commemorate the battle of Wor- cester, England. In this battle Cromwell shattered the force of Charles II "as a crowning mercy and as a defiance to the Stuarts."
From 1686 to 1713 the records of the town do not show anything of importance, except that the Indians caused a second desertion of the place. In 1696 a band of hostile Indians penetrated as far as Worces- ter, but did not inflict any damage upon the inhabitants except the kidnapping of Samuel Leonard, or as Barber in his His- torical Collections calls him, Leonardson, a boy of fourteen. He was held captive until after the massacre at Haverhill. On March 15, 1697, the Indians surrounded the town of Haverhill, killed twenty-seven of the inhabitants, and carried away thir- teen captives. Thomas Dustin was work- ing in his field when he noticed the ap- proach of the Indians; seizing his gun, he mounted his horse, and drove his seven children before him. They escaped. In
16
The Story of Worcester
the meantime, the Indians at the house had seized Mrs. Hannah Dustin, her infant child, and Mary Neff, who was caring for Mrs. Dustin. They killed the baby and drove the two women before them into the wilderness. For fifteen days they marched through the forest, a distance of seventy- five miles.
The band divided into two parts. One company with Mrs. Dustin, Mary Neff and Samuel Leonard crossed over to an island at the junction of the Merrimac and Contoocook Rivers. The captives secretly took council together, and resolved to at- tempt flight. The boy, Samuel, inquired of one of the tribe, " Bambico," as to where he would strike, if he would kill a man instantly, and how he would take off the scalp. The Indian, bringing his finger against his temple, made answer, “Strike him there!" and he proceeded to tell him how to take off the scalp.
On that night, March 30, 1697, the camp fires in front of the wigwams blazed pleas- antly. The tribe, burdened with the fa- tigue of a restless journey, slept soundly. The captives awaited the midnight hour
17
First and Second Settlements
and then noiselessly, obtaining the toma- hawks and moving together, they struck the deadly blows. One old squaw and an Indian boy were all that escaped. Ten Indians were killed and scalped by the cap- tives. They scuttled all the canoes but one, and in this they floated down the Mer- rimac River as far as they could, and thence along its left bank until they ar- rived at Haverhill.
In April, 1697, they visited Boston, ta- king with them the scalps and an Indian gun and tomahawk as evidence of their achievement. The General Court awarded to Mrs. Dustin a gift of £25, to Mary Neff and Samuel Leonard £12 IOS. each. The Governor of Maryland, upon hearing of the affair, sent complimentary presents to them.
Samuel Leonard had about forty acres of land, which extended from the lake back over the ridge upon which Lake Tower stands.
The location of his house is described by Hon. Ellery B. Crane as the knoll upon which the tower stands. Th following letter is interesting: -
18
The Story of Worcester
WORCESTER, July 24, 1885.
E. W. LINCOLN, EsQ.,
MY DEAR SIR: - I am quite sure that within the bounds of the new park at the Lake once stood the house of Samuel Leonard of Bridgewater. And it was from that house that his son Samuel was stolen by the Indians in the year 1696. Investigation thus far points to the spot on the hill, where the old cellar hole is found, as being the site, or near the site, where the old log house of Samuel Leonard stood. It would seem the best natural location for his house, on that beautiful rise of ground.
About one year after the capture of Samuel Leonard, or Leonardson, his master took part in the descent on the town of Haverhill, Mass., and succeeded in capturing Mrs. Dustin and Mrs. Neff. The story of their capture and escape, by killing the Indians, will be found on page 185 of Barber's Historical Collections of Massachusetts, and forms an interesting item to the history of Worcester and her new park; for I am quite sure that it was from that territory that the Leonard boy was taken.
Yours, with great respect,
E. B. CRANE.
When Queen Anne's War broke out in 1702, the settlers abandoned their homes and fled. Diggory Sergent, who had settled upon Sagatabscot Hill, refused to leave his home, despite the pleadings of the com- mittee. The people of Marlborough be- came alarmed and advised him to remove to a safe place. Their advice was not
19
First and Second Settlements
heeded. Finally, the committee sent Cap- tain Howe with twelve armed men to oblige him to leave. Night coming on, and a snow storm threatening, the soldiers were forced to take shelter in the garrison house near Lincoln Square. Hidden away in the cellar was a party of six Indians, who had sought cover from the storm.
The soldiers resumed their march in the morning, and after travelling about a mile, came to Sergent's house. They were too late: " They found the door broken down, the owner stretched in blood, and the dwelling desolate." After burying Sergent at the foot of one of his oak trees, the sol- diers pursued the Indians, but were un- able to overtake them. The mother was slain in the march and the children were taken to Canada. The eldest daughter, Martha, returned and married Daniel Shattuck of Marlborough. They moved to Worcester and occupied the eighty-acre farm upon which her father had settled.
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