USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Uxbridge > Address delivered at the Unitarian church, in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1864, with further statements, not made a part of the address, but included in the notes > Part 12
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At the annual March meeting in 1874, there being an article in the warrant for the consideration of the subject, it was voted to appropriate the " Dog Fund," for the purpose
* Attention is called to the letter of Mr. Southwick.
t Among Mr. Chapin's papers, collected with regard to the Libraries in Uxbridge, I find a report that Benjamin Adams made to the Library that he calls, the "First Social Library Society in Uxbridge." This report of Mr. Adams is dated January 11th, 1836, and was made on the occasion of his having settle with Jonathan Gregory, Esq., the former treasurer. This library according to this paper of Mr. Adams, was formed in January. 1928. The whole number, who had beeu members of this library, was 46; and the receipts had been, from all sources, $126.174. EDITOR.
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APPENDIX XIX.
of a Public Library, amounting to two hundred and seventy- five dollars.
A committee, previously appointed, now presented rules for the management of a public library : the report of the committee, and its recommendations, were adopted by the town, and a Board of Trustees was chosen at the same time.
The Uxbridge Free Public Library, thus established, went into operation for the delivery of books, January 20, 1875, and had on its shelves six hundred and eighty- nine volumes; five hundred and fifteen of which were received from the " Uxbridge Library Association " and the " Agricultural Library Association ; " ninety-seven were received as presents from individuals, and seventy-seven volumes were bought by the Trustees.
The library has now been used four years, and the num- ber of books on the catalogue has increased to two thousand one hundred and fifty-four, with many pamphlets and bound volumes, valuable for reference, not on the printed catalogue.
The number of readers has increased annually since the opening of the Library, and the indications are that a large increase in the present year over the past may be expected. The readers come from all classes and from every part of the town.
The annual expenses, met by appropriations made by the town (which includes the "Dog Fund"), have been a little more than four hundred dollars. This includes the sum received for fines for books kept beyond the time allowed by the rules.
In 1877, a former resident of Uxbridge made a communi-
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APPENDIX XIX.
cation to the Trustees, enclosing a check for five hundred dollars, with the request that it should be spent for books for the library. This request was complied with, and the generous giver was heartily thanked for this munificent gift. By this means, an otherwise unlooked-for and most valuable addition was made to the library.
It is well to add, that the library has gained so much in favor with the people of the town, that its future increase and usefulness are rendered certain, unless some great abuses creep into its management.
EDITOR.
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APPENDIX XX.
BANKS IN UXBRIDGE. The Blackstone Bank.
The Blackstone Bank was incorporated August 27th, 1825, with a capital of $ 100,000, divided into one thousand shares. In 1865, the name was changed to Blackstone National Bank ;- the capital remaining the same as before.
The Presidents have been as follows :
John Capron, from August 27th, 1825, to August 17th, 1829.
Bezaleel Taft, Jr., from October 4th, 1830, to October 5th, 1846.
Paul Whitin, from October 5th, 1846, to October 5th, 1865.
In October, 1865, Moses Taft was chosen President and still holds the office.
The Cashiers have been as follows :
Jonathan Gregory, from August 27th, 1825, to October 3d, 1836.
Ebenezer White Hayward, from October 3d, 1836, until his death, May 5th, 1875, a period of nearly forty years. Mr. Hayward deserves something more than this passing notice.
He was born in Braintree, May 22, 1798. In 1831, he became Cashier of the Mendon Bank, and when that Bank
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مطير
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APPENDIX XX.
was discontinued, he was in 1836, chosen Cashier of the Uxbridge Bank, with whose prosperity he ever after most thoroughly identified himself, proving a most diligent, faith- ful and trustworthy officer. He was a true gentleman, an humble christian and the embodiment of integrity in all the relations of life. A pleasanter face and a more cheerful voice one seldom sees or hears. His name is a legacy to all who knew him.
Mr. Hayward married Miss Susan Burbeck in Mendon, February 27th, 1827, who died in 1872. Two sons and two daughters are now living. During the latter years of Mr. Hayward's service, Mr. Charles S. Weston was appointed Assistant-Cashier, and he succeeded to the office on the death of Mr. Hayward, and now holds the office.
On the night of July 12th, 1874, masked men, having first forced their entrance into the house of Mr. Hayward, compelled the Assistant-Cashier to go with them to the Bank, and under threats of death to open the safe. The amount of money taken was about $13,000. The robbers were never discovered ; but some private property, deposited in the Bank, was found in Boston at a place designated by the robbers.
The Uxbridge Savings Bank.
The Uxbridge Savings Bank was incorporated June 3d, 1870.
President, Moses Taft.
Treasurer, Charles A. Taft.
The amount deposited during the first year or two aston- ished even its most sanguine friends.
EDITOR, 1879.
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APPENDIX XXI.
THE BURYING-GROUNDS.
The lot of land, where now stands the Town House, the High School, the Methodist Church, is the lot that Daniel Taft gave the town for a burying-place. The deed is dated March 20th, 1737; and according to the deed, he gave the land " for, and in consideration of the love and affection I bear to ye town of Uxbridge ; " and " for diverse other val- uable considerations me moving hereunto." I find, that previous to the gift, the land had been used for a burying- place.
In 1761, November 13th, the town voted to fence the burying-ground with a stone wall, four and a half feet high. In 1768, the town voted to fence the burying-ground-the money to be raised by subscription.
By a deed, dated April 13th, 1795, and recorded August 26th of the same year, Jonathan Farnum conveyed to the town the land commonly known as the new burying-ground, " in consideration of the sum of 20£ lawful money paid me by the inhabitants of Uxbridge." This lot of land contained one and a half acres. Mr. Farnum reserved to himself and his heirs forever, six square rods of land, where his father, David Farnum, was buried; provided the town would make, and keep in repair, a good fence around said tract.
The first interment in this ground, was the body of
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APPENDIX XXI.
Ebenezer White, August 21st, 1793. This was some four and a half years before the division of the land into lots made by order of the town : for in 1797, September 6th, it was voted to choose a committee to divide the new burying- ground into lots, so as to accommodate families in the most convenient manner, and to take a plan of the same, and lay the same before the town for their approbation. The committee reported a plan February 12th, 1798, which was adopted. But the plan does not appear on the records.
The old burying-ground continued to be used until about 1854. Mr. Scott Seagrave says, the last adult buried in the old ground was a man named Stone, who did not belong here-he was employed as an hostler and was killed by the kick of a horse. The last, belonging to the town, buried here, were Patty Peirce and Mrs. Caleb Farnum.
In 1855, Dea. W. C. Capron opened his land, containing eight acres and fifty-one rods, adjoining the new burying- ground, for a new cemetery, calling it Prospect Hill Ceme- tery. The first body buried here was the wife of Josiah S. Knowlton, in the autumn of 1855. The first deeds were made out May 1st, 1856. The first deed was given to Asa Newell, of Providence, Rhode Island, and conveyed the lot now owned by Ebenezer II. Davis.
At first, Mr. Capron generously spent all the money he received from the sale of lots, in embellishing the grounds, laying out walks and drives, setting out trees, and grading. Afterwards he retained one half of the purchase money.
From the year 1865 to 1875, remains were taken from the old ground and placed in Prospect Hill Cemetery ; and
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APPENDIX XXI.
a record of the bodies, as obtained from the gravestones, may be found on the town records ;- the body of Rev. Nathan Webb, the first settled minister of Uxbridge, being among the number ; but the order of the names on the town records is not the order in which the bodies were removed :- these bodies were interred in lots bought by the town of Deacon Capron for the purpose. Three were purchased in 1869, December 20th, and three more in 1871, September 20th. In March, 1876, in town meeting, the town considered the question " to see if the town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of improving the town's lot in Prospect Hill Cemetery,"-and chose a committee to carry the same into effect. " Voted, to refer it to the selectmen, who shall report at a future meeting." Upon Article 21st, March 12th, 1877, the town voted that Henry Capron, Moses T. Murdock and Henry G. Taft be a committee to carry into effect the suggestions of the former committee, at an expense not exceeding $250. In March, 1879, the town voted to increase its appropriation $150 for repairing and fixing up its lot in the cemetery.
In 1863, a suit was brought against the town for trespass on the old burying-ground. The position taken was, that the land being given by Daniel Taft for a burying-ground " forever," precluded the town from using it for any other purpose, as it was intending to do. It was decided by the Supreme Court, that a grant of land which is to be used for a burying-place " forever," " in consideration of love and affection," and " for diverse other valuable considerations," is not a grant upon conditions, and the town gained the suit.
I am indebted to the research of Friend Jonathan F.
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APPENDIX XXI.
Southwick, for the following facts with regard to the Friend's burying-grounds in the south part of the town.
Ile says, " The oldest burying-ground in Uxbridge, we think, is owned by the heirs of George Southwick. It contains about three-quarters of an aere." The southern part of the town was first settled by the Southwicks, who came from Salem about the year 1700. Daniel, called " Preacher Daniel," is the first of whom we can speak with certainty ; and by him, this place for burial was probably laid out. He and his wife lie here. The first burial of which we have authentic record was in 1746, but many were buried here at an earlier date. Friends in those days did not use marked stones, but would use common flat stones to indicate where a body was placed. The oldest marked stones now visible, bear the date of 1811. The burial-ground owned, and now used, by the Uxbridge meet- ing of Friends, was purchased by them of Moses Farnum in 1800, containing half an acre, and is situated very near the brick meeting-house, built in 1770. The stones, marked 1749, 1759, 1776 and 1780, were removed from other grounds and placed here.
EDITOR.
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APPENDIX XXII.
We give, in the following list, the names-so far as we have been able to procure them, and we have tried to be very accurate in making it up-of the soldiers in the armies in the United States engaged in putting down the rebellion, who enlisted as residents of Uxbridge. The list, therefore, does not include the names of those who stand to the credit of the town, nor do we give the regiments in which these men enlisted, because it scarcely seemed necessary to do so.
Those whose names are marked with a star (*), died, either in the service of the United States, or as prisoners of war.
This whole list, we now and here gratefully and tenderly place on record.
Aldrich, G.
Barnam, W. H.
Aldrich, Gideon
Barrows, Chester
Aldrich, James G.
Barry, J.
Aldrich, John A.
Bennett, James
Aldrich, M. A.
Bent, Ferdinand A.
Aldrich, W. D. F.
Blanchard, W.
Andy, J. Bolster, Andrew J.
Anson, Henry
Bolster, G. W.
Anthony, Sylvanus
Boyce, James
Arnold, Edmond C.
Bradford, C.
Braman, C.
Bacon, James M. Ballou, G.
* Braman, P. E.
Brashaw, J.
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APPENDIX XXII. 209
Brick, Orville
Brown, George
Bryant, Perry * Burril, Abraham Bush, Augustus L.
Farris, Daniel R.
Finchon, T.
Fitch, G. O.
Cadwell, Jerome
Fitch, H. N.
Carpenter, A.
Fitsgerald, W.
Carpenter, J.
Fits-Simmons, A. T.
Chapman, H.
Fuller, Clifford
Chappell, J.
Christy, W. J. * Garside, Andrew J. Clark, Elmore Gibney, Luke P.
Cleveland, Charles
Gibson, H. O.
Cole, George E.
Gifford, Jos. H.
Cole, Granville
Graham, Henry II. Guild, Oliver A.
* Cole, W. J.
* Collar, H. A. Cooney, Andrew
Hall, Chandler
Cosgrove, Lewis
Hall, George
Coyle, Patrick
Hall, John D.
Cummings, Julius
Hall, Stephen
Hamilton, Thomas
Dexter, Jos. W.
Donnell, E. Mc
Duffy, John
Dugan, Michael
Duffce, Owen
* Hayden, Frank * Hayden, Walter Hayward, H. C. * Hiland, T. Hill, Reuben
Hinchcliff, J. Ilollis, A. J.
Eames, A. M. 27
Engley, E. Engley, H. M.
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APPENDIX XXII.
Holroyd, G.
Mahoney, J. F.
Horton, Andrew
Horton, II.
Horton, Jerome
Howard, C. H. Howard, W. C.
Minott, Franklin
Minott, W. HI.
Johnson, Albro Johnson, Stephen C. Johnson, J. H.
Morrisey, John * Mowry, Arnold Mulligan, James
Murdock, Walter
Murphy, J.
Kavanah, James Kecting, Francis
Kemp, David
Kenny, George W.
Olney, Ed. O'Sullivan, James
Kenney, Kenness, J.
Rawson, C. C.
Keinnay, Jas. H.
Rawson, Orrin
Reed, James
Kelley, J. Kingston, Harrison
Reed, Levi
Kinney, George W.
Richardson, Dexter
Kernes, Peter
Russell, James
Ryan, Ed.
Lackey, Eugene
Ryan, W.
Lackey, Samuel W.
Ryder, James
Rugg, Chas. II.
Legge, Geo. W. * Legge, H. H. Lynch, James * Sabin, R. M. Sawyer, Willard W. Scarborough, Elias
Magce, J. A.
McArthur, W. S. McArthur, Walter * Metcalf, A. B. Metcalf, W. H.
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APPENDIX XXII.
Schofield, Ed.
Taft, Henry L.
Seagrave, Chas. S.
Taft, Isaac D.
Scagrave, Frank
Taft, James
Scagrave, James
Thompson, Charles HI.
Seagrave, Geo. L. Thompson, Eli D.
Scagrave, Lawson A.
Thompson, George
Seagrave, A. Mason
Thompson, Samuel C.
Seagrave, W. H.
Toomey, Farrell
Scarles, Andrew J. Sheehen, Napoleon B. Vibberts, G. L.
Sherman, A. A.
Sprague, G. W.
Wilber, Daniel
Smith, Charles M.
Wilber, Jos. II.
Smith, J.
Wilcox, Noah
Smith, J.
Wilson, Charles
Smith, Sam. W. Smith, S.
Wilson, Hiran
Wheeler, Chas. E. L.
White, Addison R.
Whitmore, Hannibal
Taft, Albert Taft, Francis M.
Wood, William
C. A. W. AND EDITOR.
APPENDIX XXIII,
MRS. MARGARET L. BENNETT.
In the Uxbridge Compendium of May 15, 1875, appear- ed the following notice of Margaret L. Bennett, daughter of Hon. Bezaleel Taft, Jr., and Hannah (Spring) Taft, who was born Nov. 14, 1818, and died May 9, 1875. It seems appropriate to give place here to the mention of one whose memory lives in many hearts, and who was closely associ- ated for many years with the best interests of her native town :-
Uxbridge has sustained an irreparable loss in the death of Mrs. Margaret L. Bennett, wife of Dr. A. W. Bennett, whose carthly pilgrimage closed on Sunday, May 9th. Mrs. Bennett was prominently identified with the Sunday School work of the Unitarian Church, and was peculiarly fitted for a teacher and director of the young. She had charge of the infant class for a period of nearly sixteen years.
Mrs. Bennett was a woman of literary tastes, and pos- sessed more than ordinary strength as a writer of Sunday School Books. Among the productions of her pen are : " Early Lessons on the Life of the Saviour," "Every Sunday," and " Many Teachers but One Lesson," which were written especially for the young. Other works of
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hers, adapted for older readers, are entitled : "Day u. Day," and " The Bible Rule of Life," and have been highly spoken of, and widely circulated, both in this country and abroad.
We can add nothing which will more fittingly illustrate the importance of Mrs. Bennett's work, than the following extract from an article written by IIon. Henry Chapin, and published in the Worcester Spy :
" No brief tribute can do justice to Mrs. Bennett's life and character. Many have known her in her Sunday School Books, and in the little volume for every day in the year, entitled : 'Day unto Day,' but those who have known her for so many years, the devoted teacher of a large infant class in the Sunday School, and have met her in the charming intercourse of her daily life, realize more clearly the purity and nobility of her nature. Always busy, yet always at leisure for the exercise of christian hospitality, she blended in herself the qualities of mind and heart which made her a blessing in her home, and a benediction to the whole community. It needed not that she should pass on, to leave a record that all should cherish. She bore with her, day by day, the love and homage of all who knew her.
The true blessing of such a life ceases not with the life of the body. Although her angelic presence is no longer with us, the sanctifying influence of her example shall remain, to hallow and bless the world in which she so thoroughly filled up the measure of christian duty."
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