USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Millbury > Centennial history of the town of Millbury, Massachusetts, including vital statistics, 1850-1899 > Part 2
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The next map of the town was made in 1795, when the state ordered all the towns to send in maps of their terri- tory to the state house in order that gores and overlapping strips might be rectified. The original of this map is to be found in the state archives. The ponds, streams, roads, meeting-houses and industries are located apparently with painstaking care.
The next map to be ordered made out and returned to the state was surveyed in 1830, at a time when Millbury had become a town by itself. The original of this map is also in the state archives. The surveying was done by Hervey Pierce and the map was carefully drawn out on sheepskin. This map contains essentially the same features as the 1795 map although the industries have changed their work somewhat, new ones have been added, and more roads are shown.
In 1851 (see Annals) H. F. Walling made a map of the town which gives the location of many houses and indus- tries in addition to those previously noted. The popula- tion of the town is given, in 1850, as 3071 and the area as 10,106 acres.
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TOPOGRAPHY
In 1878, a map was made of the town and is still used as a work of present reference.
In 1880, a bird's-eye view of the town was prepared which shows the general lay of the land and the houses and industries of a generation ago.
The United States geological survey map, surveyed in 1886, includes parts of Millbury on the "Webster" and on the "Blackstone" sheets. This gives a graphic pre- sentation of the topographical features of the town.
In relation to the surrounding territory Millbury touches at its most northern point Lake Quinsigamond. Bounding on Worcester the northern boundary runs southwesterly to the Auburn line where it turns much more to the south until it reaches the limits of Oxford. Sutton bounds the town on the south, the line running northeast and southwest parallel to the boundary line between Millbury and Worcester on the north. On the east Grafton, the ancient Hassanamisco, is the adjoining town, the boundary line running a little to the west of north and a little to the east of south.
The limits of the town are between 71 degrees 49 min- utes 55.12 seconds and 71 degrees 43 minutes 26.43 seconds west longitude. In latitude the extremes are 42 degrees 8 minutes 41.69 seconds and 42 degrees 14 minutes 16.88 seconds.
The claim of the town to its rights in the Old Common as public property is derived from the following deed (given in 1740), although a quit-claim deed for this same tract of land was given by a grandson of the grantor herein mentioned October 25, 1848. When given to the town, there is no evidence of the present road leading from the Center to West Millbury through the Old Com- mon. The common extended twenty rods along the present location of this road, thence thirteen rods along the western side of the present common, thence twenty rods nearly parallel with the first line, thence eleven and a half rods to the first bounds:
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
the side of Woodchuck hill on the land of the Waters estate. After reaching the top of the hill the path went generally to the southwest continuing over the land of Mr. Henry W. Carter with a few deviations because of the character of the ground, past the traces of the old Savery house that once faced the path, until it emerged on the road leading from the old common to Worcester, near the house once occupied by Simon Bixby and about a fifth of a mile from the Old Common. A jog in the wall shows the former opening, but it is now closed with stones.
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INDIAN HISTORY
CHAPTER II
INDIAN HISTORY
Prior to the advent of the white man, this region was inhabited by a race of Indians known as the Nipmucks. Some students of. Indian History think that in more remote times the territory was occupied by the Beothuks, or Red Indians, who were so-called on account of their supposed custom of painting themselves and their belong- ings with red ochre. It is believed that the force of Indians which supplanted the Beothuks in New England, was the Algonquin, a great branch of the Indian family that at one time was probably the most numerous of any in North America.
The word "Nipmuck" is derived from Nipamaug and signifies "Fresh water fishing place" and it distinguished them from those living near the seacoast. The early historians, such as Hubbard and Church, have spelled the name in many ways, such as Nipmuck, Nipmet, Nipnet, Nupmet, Nipmug, Nopmat, and Nipnar.
We hear much of the expression, "The Nipmuck Country," though the exact territory occupied by them is unknown. Hubbard states that "the more inland parts of the country were occupied by the Nipmets, " and he further refers to the Nipmets as "A general name for all inland Indians betwixt Massachusetts and the Connec- ticut river." Church defines the Nipmuck region as the "Country about Worcester, Oxford, Grafton, Dudley, etc." The Narragansetts bordered it on the southeast, the Pequot land hemmed it on the south, west lay the Mohawk tribes, ever encroaching eastward, and to the north were the Pigwackets and Coos.
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
Seven sub-tribes made up the Nipmucks, namely, the Hassanamesits (the local tribe) at Grafton; the Naticks at the town of that name; the Pawtuckets at Lowell; the Pennacooks and the Wamesits on the Merrimac; the Pegans at Dudley, near the great lake; and the Quaboags at Brookfield. Some writers have added to this list the Nashuas, but their connection is doubtful. The Narra- gansetts and later the Massachusetts for a time exercised dominion over a portion of the Nipmucks.
Pierce's History of Grafton, Mass., in speaking of the Nipmuck country, states that "No white man, probably, ever set foot on its soil till the autumn of 1635, when it was traversed by a company of English, consisting of sixty persons, who, thinking themselves straightened for land in Massachusetts Bay, had determined thus early to emigrate to the more fertile bank of the Connecticut. What portion of the Nipmuck country they crossed is not known, but as their destined point was at Wethersfield, it is not improbable that they crossed this town, and that here, nearly three hundred years ago, that small company of emigrants, under the broad canopy of Heaven, invoked the blessing of God on their arduous enterprise." On this historic march, in 1636, the Rev. Thomas Hooker, their leader, passed through or near what is now Millbury on his way to Connecticut. Thus, with great energy, he opened a way for the white man and was a pioneer in that migration which meant the entrance of the white man into the inland country.
John Eliot, called the Apostle to the Indians, traversed the Nipmuck country and gathered many of the Indians into villages that they might thus learn the Christian religion in their own language and be taught the pursuits of civilization. One of the companies thus visited was at Hassanamisco (Grafton), about three miles from Mill- bury Center and about three-quarters of a mile from Grafton Center on the road which follows the Quinsiga- mond River from North Grafton to Fisherville. Here
INDIAN RELICS
25
INDIAN HISTORY
can still be seen a group of rude head-stones marking the graves of these aborigines. To Hassanamisco came also the good Major Gookin who was devoted to the welfare of the Indians in secular affairs as John Eliot was in re- ligious matters. Fourteen settlements in all among the Nipmucks were affected by these preachers whose in- fluence restrained many from taking part later in King Philip's War. A few, however, including James Printer who assisted Eliot in producing his Indian Bible, were among the hostiles.
The Nipmucks, together with other Indians, early ·came into the possession of firearms. In 1642, when news came to Boston from Connecticut that a general uprising in New England was feared, the authorities of Massa- chusetts, though not crediting the report, disarmed all the Indians over whom they had control.
About 1675 the Indian population in New England has been estimated to have been about thirty thousand. Philip, son of Massasoit, the first leader of the Indians in their dealings with the whites, entered into the leader- ship enjoyed by his father and was, at first, well-disposed toward the white people. He later became convinced, however, that the white men were surely driving his own people out from the land and he finally plotted the utter annihilation of the English in New England. He was a sachem among the Wampanoags, or "East-landers," as they were called, who inhabited the territory which now includes Bristol, R. I.
A hard feeling was engendered between the whites and the Indians which culminated, in 1675, in King Philip's War. In July of that year some Indians killed several set- tlers at Mendon. On August 3 of the same year a small company of soldiers that had been sent out from Boston under Captain Wheeler and Captain Hutchinson was ambuscaded near Brookfield. Eight were killed outright, both leaders were wounded, and the party took refuge in a house, but Maj. Simon Willard appeared upon the
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
scene with reinforcements, just as the savages were to close in on them in a final assault, and repulsed the treach- erous Nipmucks who set fire to the remaining houses and withdrew. In November, Captain Henchman appeared at Hassanamisco with his troop, about six weeks before the swamp fight at Narragansett.
By its remoteness "The Nipmuck Country," in early times, became the hatching-place of plots against the English. Hither King Philip resorted and, in its wild fastnesses of wood and water, he gathered his followers together for onslaughts on the palefaces. Hither came the Narragansetts and others, until at one time, at or near Worcester, he had a body of a thousand men ready and waiting to pillage and murder. Lieut. Ephraim Curtis, of Worcester, was several times sent among the Nipmucks to prevent them from assisting King Philip in his war on the white settlers. Thus there is little doubt but that the wily savage was well acquainted with our locality and often passed here on his marauding expeditions.
The attitude of the early white settlers and the Indians toward each other is thus expressed by Barry who states that "There were few points of affinity between them, and they had few interests in common. By habits, custom, and inclination their paths lay far apart; and the red man was not so obtuse but that this was one of his earliest discoveries, once his intercourse with the English became fairly grounded." It should be stated, however, that many settlers took a most kindly interest in the wel- fare of the Indians. They depended much upon the In- dians in their trade with them and marked instances occur, such as Winslow's treatment of a sick Indian who said, "Come over and help us," which show a finer spirit that was existent.
In May, 1676, Henchman, Brattle, Prentice, Sill, Cutler, and Holbrook with foot and horse visited Hassa- namisco (Grafton) and engaged in conflict with the Nip- mucks and others, after which the expedition returned to
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INDIAN HISTORY
Medfield. In July of this year, Sagamore John of the Nipmucks surrendered with one hundred and eighty men. The death of Philip soon followed, and the famous war which had for a time threatened the existence of the colony was ended.
In 1686, some of the Huguenots who had fled from France settled at Oxford. For a time the strife between the whites and the Indians seemed to be about ended, but this devoted band of exiles felt the heavy hand of Indian hostility and one of their number, named Johnson, was a martyr-pioneer in the settlement of that region. After ten years of struggle at Oxford, however, amidst hope and discouragement, this people retreated and only their graves were left in the haunts of a savage foe, to- gether with the little church which stood as a witness to the faith that they held and had tried to implant amidst a hostile people.
Locations near the mouths of streams entering our ponds and at the outlets of the latter were chosen working- places for the Indians, where many of the tools which they used and the large rocks which served them for milling-places are found. Also along these streams entering ponds or lakes, and even far back on the hill- sides sloping to the water, fragments of their bowls and cooking utensils, as well as material for their stone-work may be seen, much of it bearing traces of their crude tools.
On the southwestern shore of Singletary Lake an out- cropping of steatite, or soapstone, is found, which was utilized by the Indians for the manufacture of their domestic vessels and some fragments have been found there. In 1885, and again in October, 1886, this place was visited by members of "The Worcester Society of Antiquity." The excavation from which soapstone had been taken was examined and the shore of the lake searched for relics of the Red-men. On Soapstone Hill, in the rear of the home of William E. Horne, at Braman- ville, an opening may be seen where the Indians took
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
from a ledge quantities of steatite for their use. In May, 1895, Prof. F. W. Putnam and Mr. C. C. Willoughby, of the Peabody Museum at Cambridge, inspected this locality. Several students accompanied them and a day was spent in searching for relics. Many broken soap- stone vessels and some stone picks used in the making of these were found. The ledge is said to be well-nigh exhausted. On the farm of Mr. Henry W. Carter soap- stone mortars have been found and at present there are many large pieces of the rock to be seen.
Many kinds of material were utilized in the manufac- ture of arrow and spear-points. A hard yellow stone was commonly used in making their spear heads, though some flint obtained elsewhere was also taken for the purpose. The stone most used by the local Indians for arrow-heads was white quartz, which is in veins among the rocks and ledges near our lakes. Places from which it was apparent- ly chipped by the Indians can be seen to this day. Mor- tars in which to pound corn were as a rule worked out of granite. Picks were made from some hard stone. These were seldom completely formed, but a good point was required. Bowls and small vessels were almost always wrought from soap stone. Nearly all had knobs or handles on them.
The vicinity of Ramshorn Pond has yielded more than one thousand specimens of Indian handicraft in the last fifty years. The specimens have ranged from the small arrow-head to the soapstone bowl. From the shores of Lake Singletary and Dorothy Pond some specimens have been secured, though not so many.
In 1900 and the following years, Mr. Owen W. Mills and Mr. Charles Geer found implements on Soapstone Hill for fashioning Indian dishes, such as bowls and mor- tars, as well as some specimens of Indian handicraft. Several of these were sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and were added to its collection.
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INDIAN HISTORY
The following extracts are taken from the late C. C. Baldwin's manuscript History of Sutton.
"It is said the Hassanamisco Indians were visited by the Narragansetts, and it was a common custom with them to go together to the neighborhood of Wachusett (mountain) in the fall, to hunt." "A battle was fought between the Indians and the English on the southern side of Ramshorn Pond. The In- dians posted themselves on Potter Hill (so-called from the owner) and the English on a small elevation of land, now an island in the pond at the south end, and the battle was fought in the morn- ing. They spent the night in the places before mentioned. Sev- eral Indians were killed and many bullets have been since found on the battle-grounds. Two human skeletons were found, some fifty years ago, a short distance south of the pond and one skull was found on the place where the battle was fought. This tra- dition comes from Anthony Dike's father who had it from one of the soldiers who was in the battle."
King Charles of England, by the charter granted to the Massachusetts Bay Company, conveyed to it territory within certain bounds, but the rights of the Indians to the title of their lands was always recognized by the govern- ment of Massachusetts Bay Colony, so that all lands ac- quired by white men within its bounds were purchased on terms satisfactory to the Indian settlers. For the protection of the latter the laws from an early date for- bade the purchase of land by the white men from the natives unless the terms were adjudged by the General Court to be fair to the Indians, thus in every case the approval of the General Court must precede a change of title.
The visible connecting link between the Indian of the seventeenth century and the Millbury land owner of the twentieth century is the deed given by John Wampus, alias White, the Indian proprietor of all this territory. The deed from Wampus was dated July 28, 1679, and was recorded in the Middlesex County, Massachusetts, regis- try of deeds Nov. 3, 1679, where a copy may be consulted -. see Vol. 7, pages 157-160.
The territory covered by this description was carefully surveyed by John Chandler before 1704 as governor Joseph
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
Dudley confirmed the title to the plot May 15, 1704. Thus this early date has been claimed by the citizens of Sutton as the natal day of the town including, as it did, the present territory of Millbury. June 18, 1715, John Chandler made affidavit that he had made "a true draft and it contained no more than 41560 acres of land as set forth in the Plot" and not until this date did the House of Representatives approve the transfer to the proprietors of Sutton and the Council confirmed this approval three days later.
DEED OF LAND AT QUINSIGAMOND POND, FROM JOHN WAMPUS, NIPMUCK SACHEM, TO EDWARD PRATT.
To all people to whome this prsent writeing shall come I John Wampas als. white of Asanamiscock in the Nipmuck Country in New England Sachem, now residt in the Citty of London do Send greeting, Know yee that I the Said Jnº wampas Alias White, as well for & in consideration of the Sume of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England, to mee in hand at & before the ensealing & deliverie hereof, by Edward Pratt, of the Parish of St. Paul Shad- well, in the Coun of Midd. victualler well & truly payd & sattisfied, the receite whereof and of every part thereof, I do hereby ack- nowledge accordingly & myselfe to be therewith fully Sattisfied & contented, as also in recompence & Sattisfaction of the long labor & Services Performed & done by the Said Edward Pratt unto & on ye account, of mee the Said Jnº Wampas als white & for divers other good & valluable causes and considerations mee hereunto moving. Have given granted, bargained & Sold, alyned, enfeoffed released & confirmed, and by these prsents do fully clearly & absolutely give, grant, bargaine, Sell, Alyen, enfeoffe, release & confirme unto the Said Edward Pratt his heyres & assignes forever All yt quantity or parcell of land & meadow or meadow ground Swamps & wood conteyneing eight usual & accus- tomed miles in length, and eight like miles in breadth, Scittuate, lyng & being neere Quomsuccomake pond within the Nepnonc Country, & neere adjoyneing to the mattachusets Colony in New England aforesaid or by what other name or names the Same Shall or may be called or knowne, and as the Same is now in the possession or occupation of mee the Said John Wampas als white or my assignes, together with all & singular Mooss, Dear ffurs, Skins, ponds, rivers, Swamps, ffowles, fishings, woods, under- woods, Sheds, houses, buildings, wayes, passages, waters, water- courses priviledges, profits traffiques, tradings, comodityes, ad- vantages & appurtenances whatsoever to the Said quantity or parcell of Land ground or meadow belonging or in any wise apper-
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INDIAN HISTORY
teyneing East, west north and South, or whatsoever other like quantity or parcell of land ground & meadow belonging to mee the Said John wamp s als white in New England aforesaid, where- soever the Said Edward Pratt his heyres or assignes shall think fitt to Settle and Plant, and by what other name or names So ever the Same Shall or may be called or knowne with lik priviledges com- odityes advantages & appurtenances as aforesaid, And the rever- sion & reverccions rent & rents and yearly & other profits of all & Singular the Said bargained prmises, and evrie pt thereof, and all the estate right title interest inheritance clayme & demand whatsoever of mee the Said Jnº wompos als white of in and to ye Said land, meadow ground & prmisses & evrie or any pt thereof, To have and to hold the Said quantity or parcell of land ground or meadow conteyneing Eight miles in length, & eight miles in breadth as aforesaid, and all & Singular other the Said hereby given granted and bargained prmises, or meant, mencconed or intended to be hereby givene granted, bargained, & Sold with their and evrie of their appurtenances unto the said Edward Pratt his heyres & assignes, to the only use & behooffe of the Said Edw: Pratt his heyres & assignes from henceforth freely for evermore, And I the Said Jnº Wampas als. white for mee, my heyres, Execu- tors & admstrators, and for every of us do covenant promise & grant to & with the Said Edward Pratt, his heyres & assignes by these prsents, that he the Said Edward Pratt his heyres & assignes shall & may from henceforth and at all times forever hereafter lawfully, peaceably, and quietly, have, hold, use, occupie, possesse & injoy the Said quantity or parcell of land ground or meadow, with the appurtenances & every part thereof, & receive, take, and injoy the rent, profits, comodityes, issues, & advantages thereof, to his & theire owne propper use & behooffe, without any lett, Sate, denyall, keeping out molestaccon, or interruption of or by mee the Said John wampas als white my heyres, executors, adms- trators or assignes, or any other person or persons whatsoever, and that free & cleare, and clearely acquitted & discharged of and from all former & other bargaines, Sales, gifts, grants, titles, troubles, charges & encumbrances whatsoever. And further that I the Said John Wampas als white, my heyres Executors adms- trators, & all other person and persons, claymeing or to clayme by, from, or under mee or them Shall & will from time to time, and at all times hereafter at the request & cost & charges in the Law of the Said Edward Pratt his heyres or assignes, do make, acknowl- edge, Suffer & Execute, or cause to be done & executed all and every Such further and other act & acts, deeds, assurances conveyances or other thing or things in the law whatsoever for the further & better conveying Setling & Suremaking of the Said Eight miles Square of lands, grounds & meadow and all other the Said prmises with the appurtenances unto ye Said Edwr Pratt his heyres & assignes for ever, be it by fine feoffmt, confirmaccon, deed or deeds,
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
inrolled, or not inrolled, the inrolment of these prsents, or by any other wayes or meadows, as by the Said Edward Pratt his heyres or assignes, or his or their Councill learned in ye Law Shall be reasonably advised & required, In witness whereof I the Said Jnº wampas als white, have hereunto Sett my hand & Seale, date at London the Seavententh day of July anno Dom. 1679, and in ye one & thirtyeth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord charles the Second, by the grace of God King of England Scotland ffrannce & Ireland, Defender of the faith &c.
The mark of Jnº wampus als white, & a Seale.
Signed, Sealed, & Delivred, in the prsence of us,
Daniel Wing, George Owen, Jnº Blake-
Daniel Shyling Scr. in the Tower Street.
Received the day & yeare within written of and from the within named Edwr Pratt the Sume of fifty pounds of Lawfull money of England, in full for the consideraccon within Expressed I say-
50£
The mark of Jnº Wompos als White.
Witness, Daniel Wing, George Owen, Jnº Blake Daniel Shyling Scr.
The eight & twentyeth day of July, Anno Dom. 1679: Mem. The day & yeare above written, the within named John wompos als white, personally came before mee, S' George Waterman Kt & Alderman, and one of his Maties Justices of the peace for the City of London, and did then & there further acknowledge, satifie and confirme the within written deed or writeing & the Eight miles Square of land, meadow ground & wood, with the appur- tenances by him given, granted bargained & Sold unto the within named Edward Prat his heyres and assignes forever, according to the purport, & true intent & meaning of the within written deed or writeing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seale caused to be affixed, the day & yeare above written. George Waterman & a Seale
The mark of Jnº Wompos als white.
Entred, 3d of novemb. 1679. By Thomas Danforth, R. [Book 7, pp. 157-160, Middlesex Registry of Deeds.]
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
CHAPTER III FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN
After the test of martial strength between the Indians and the English settlers a period of rest ensued in which the colonists renewed the depleted or abandoned settle- ments such as Brookfield, Lancaster, Mendon, Oxford, and Worcester. After the re-establishment of these places, Sutton was the next among the Worcester county towns to be settled and, May 15, 1704, Joseph Dudley, "Captain General and Governor In Chief In and over her Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England in America," confirmed the purchase that had been made from the Indian, John Wampus, and the white men gained a title to the soil under the usage of the colony. The town was incorporated June 21, 1715.
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