USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Millbury > Centennial history of the town of Millbury, Massachusetts, including vital statistics, 1850-1899 > Part 3
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Previous to the spring of 1717 only three families made their homes in the town. The first white child to be born there was Abigail Marsh, who was born Sept. 29, 1718. The first town meeting was held Dec. 3, 1718, at the dwelling house of Mr. John Stockwell. The first church was organized in the fall of the year 1720, and the first minister, the Rev. John McKinstry, was ordained Nov. 9, 1720, and dismissed Sept. 22, 1728. His successor, the Rev. David Hall, was ordained Oct. 15, 1729.
In a few decades the population so grew in numbers that the old meeting-house could not conveniently seat all the people who wished to attend the services and steps were taken, Jan. 18, 1741, preparatory to the erection of a new meeting-house for the accommodation of those living in the Northern part of the town. This was the beginning of that tide of affairs which culminated nearly
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
three-quarters of a century later in the establishment of the separate town of Millbury. The proposition created considerable discussion and, May 25, 1742, the town appointed a committee, consisting of Elisha Putnam, Captain Sibley, Mr. Isaac Barnard, Mr. Obediah Walker, and Mr. Henry King, to consider the matter which had been brought more definitely before the inhabitants by a petition from some of the men living in the northerly and northeasterly parts of the town asking that they be set off as a separate precinct. The report of this committee, presumably, was adverse to the proposed separation for the town voted not to allow them to be set off.
In the same year another petition was presented by persons who lived in the northwest part of the town asking permission to unite with others in adjoining towns for the purpose of forming a new town. Their petition, too, was denied. The town, apparently to remove the argu- ment that the meeting-house was not large enough, voted to build a new one. A committee was, therefore, appoint- ed to build and upon their asking for instructions in regard to the size of the building, the town "Voted that the said Comity should Build the said meeting-house- 55 foots long-45 foots wide and the height be left to the Judgement of the said Committy."
The northern inhabitants of the town were persistent, however, and a vote was passed, apparently to see how much territory was affected, stating that "Capt. John Stockwell, Lieut, Goddard, Dea. Hall, Mr. Benjamin Woodbery, Capt. Carter, Cornelius Putnam, Mr. Solomon Holman be a committee to go and measure three miles and one-half from the north line of the Town, south, and make return to the Town." The committee measured the three miles and one-half, as they were instructed to do, but this took off so much of the town that the mem- bers of the committee were well satisfied that the town would not set off so large a portion so they went back to their three-mile mark and ran a line from Oxford to
WEST MILLBURY, TOWARDS THE NORTH WEST
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
Grafton, parallel to the northerly line. This placed the farms of Francis Kidder, Josiah Allen, Richard Singletary Isaac Barnard, Garshom Waite, Samuel Goodell, and Amos Goodell (taking them in order from west to east) to the north of the proposed line, including these men in the new precinct.
The position of the northerly inhabitants of the town is well set forth in the petition which they presented to the town, Sept. 8, 1742, in which they stated that
"your petitioners, living, sum and the most of us, very Remote from ye place of worship and having, sundry times, petitioned said Town for Releef, and hether to all our petitions have been abortive and unsuccessful yet, notwithstanding our Difficulties being so grate, we cant content our selves to give over seeking, hopeing we shall succeed at last-and, having thought upon a new skeem-which we think will pritty well accomidate us all, we pray that you would not Deny us this Request. (viz.) To set us of (off) three miles and an half wide by a parallel line with the northerly line of said Town. Beginning at oxford and Runing to grafton In order to make a precinct, that so we may have the worship of God set up amongst us, which we think Cant but be a Reasonable Request and what we hope you will not Deny unto us, which as in Duty Bound we heartily pray for. (signed) Timothy Carter, Isaac Manning, Thomas Whittemore, Josiah Bond, Daniell Greenwood, Joseph Sparrowhack, Isaac Gale, Nathan Hiscock, Jabesh Pratt, John Allen, Samuel Buck, Junr., Jabesh Pratt, Junr., Jeremiah Bukman, Johnathan Dwinell, Amos Singletary, Ebenezar Pierce, Thomas Hall, Ebenezar Sibley, Garshom Bige- low, Samuel Boutell, John Allen, Junr., Johnathan Park, Robert Goddard, Francis Kidder, Edmond Barten, Abel Chase, Richard Singletary, William Fiske, Elisha Goddard, Garshom Waite, George March, Johnathan Fuller, Johnathan Waters, Theophilous Kinne, Daniel Buckman, Samuel Buck, Thomas Gould, Edward Lyon, Elisha Barton, Thomas Holman, Jeremiah Buckman, Junr., Solomon Holman, Robert Jeneson."
The town, however, refused to set off the precinct in answer to their petition, whereupon the petitioners ap- plied to the General Court and asked that they be set off as a precinct by special enactment. The town sent a committee to oppose the granting of this request. Nevertheless, the General Court reported favorably for the petitioners and in February, 1743, sent a committee
1146170
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
to visit the town and hear the parties interested. As a result, October 28, 1743, an order was passed establishing precinct No. 2, according to a line drawn three miles south of and parallel to the northerly line of the town. November 11, 1743, an additional provision was made, by vote of the General Court, which compelled the in- habitants in this newly established precinct to pay their proportion of all ministerial charges in the town up to March, 1744.
The following is a copy of the petition for the issue of a warrant for the organization of the second precinct:
Worcester, ss.,
To Richard Moore, Esq., one of his Majs. Justices &c. We the Subscribers, Inhabitants of ye Second Precinct in Sutton in said County hereby signify to you our Desire that a warrant may issue agreeable to Law for calling a Meeting in said Precinct as soon as may be &c. (which was to choose Parish officers.)
Jeremiah Buckman Daniel Buckman
Ebenezer Pierce
Solomon Holman
Thomas Gould Abel Chase
Francis Kidder
The warrant which was issued appointed the first meeting to be held at the house of Richard Singletary on the twenty-sixth day of December, 1743. It was directed to Jeremiah Buckman and it bears the following endorsement:
"Sutton, Dec. 26, 1743. By vertue of this Warrant, to me Directed, I have notified ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants of this ye same at Mr. John Singletary's Mill Doore. By Mr. Jeremiah Buckman one of the Petitioners of S'd Warrant."
Capt. Timothy Carter was chosen moderator and Robert Goddard was precinct clerk of the meeting.
The First Congregational Church within the present town limits (the Second Congregational at the time in Sutton) was formed by covenant, Sept. 10, 1747. The Rev. James Wellman became the first settled minister Oct. 7, 1747, and he was dismissed July 22, 1760. The Rev. Ebenezer Chaplain was settled to succeed him, Nov. 14, 1764.
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
After the establishment of the second precinct, agitation subsided and public matters moved forward without apparent friction.
At a meeting held March 3, 1755, the town voted to choose a committee of five to consider and "treat with ye several ministers in ye town consenting to sell ye min- isterial land in s'd town, ye town having one-half of ye use of ye money and ye ministers ye other half. Voted y't ye land be sold." May 18, 1756, Robert Goddard, Esq., John Hazeltine, Esq., Capt. Henry King, Mr. Samuel Chase, and Mr. John Hicks were chosen a committee "to make sale of ye ministerial land and to treat or agree with ye several ministers concerning ye same."
On June 20, the same committee was instructed and authorized to receive bonds drawing interest and well secured for the land when sold. Either land or substan- tial bondsmen were accepted for security. The bonds were to run to A. B. & Co., trustees, and their successors in said trust. The interest was to be paid annually by the trustees to the selectmen, or such men as the town should select. The following is a copy of the agreement entered into between the town and the ministers.
"We, ye Subscribers, Consent y't ye ministry Land within ye Township of Sutton be converted into a money Fund for ye use of ye ministry in s'd Town for Ever, and where, as now, we have, by way of Lease Ten pounds old Ten'r we consent that ye Remain- der of what ye Lawful Intrest of ye money ye Land shall sell for- Shall amount to, be divided Between ye Town and ministers now Incumbent s'd one half with ye Ten pounds as above To be divided between ye ministers Incombent judged to have Right thereto as Law or Equity or personal agreement according to ye Right they now have to ye use and Improvement of s'd Land shall de- termine; the other half to be ye Town's property during our min- istry, provided we have annually paid us out of ye Town Treasury ye s'd one half and ye Ten pounds old Ten'r.
Sutton, May 19, 1756. (signed) David Hall,
pastor of ye 1st Church of Christ in Sutton. James Wellman,
pastor of ye Second Chh. of Christ, Sutton. Benja. Marsh, Elder of ye Baptist Chh. of Christ in Sutton.
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
And at ye day of ye Date above we ye subscribers ye Town's Comm'tt Express our acquiescence and consent to ye above.
John Hazeltine Robert Goddard
Samuel Chase
Committee. "
Henry King John Hicks
The committee appointed to sell the ministerial land were instructed to give the purchasers deeds in the name of the town and the ministers united in the conveyance by signing the deed.
On March' 12, 1761, at ten minutes past two in the morning, a shock of earthquake was felt lasting nearly two minutes when constant jarring and trembling was felt. On August 6, a record stated that "a parching drought prevails the like of which New England never heard."
A year later, August 8, 1762, the drought was still severely felt and the pastures withered.
On March 7, 1763, the town clerk of Sutton (Benjamin Morse) was instructed to transcribe the births, marriages, and deaths into a bound book provided for that purpose, thus establishing a vital record for the town.
As early as 1770 an effort was made to have a portion of the town meetings held in the Second Parish, for at a town meeting held May 1, during that year, a test vote was taken to see if consent would be given for holding any of the future Town Meetings in the Second Parish of Sutton, but the vote was in the negative. The reason for the effort, no doubt, was that it seemed unfair to require the inhabitants of the Second Parish to perform all the extra travel and that it would be a relief to them to have a portion of the meetings held in their part of the town.
The inhabitants of Millbury early assisted in supporting the poor of the Town for, on May 20, 1771, it was voted to raise eighty pounds to be used in caring for them.
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
On January 11, 1773, a special town meeting was called "to see if the Town will hear the Request of the Town of Boston." (Concerning the alleged infringement of charter privileges.) Capt. John Sibley, Lieut. Daniel Trask, Deacon Ebenezer Pierce, Messrs. Edward Putnam, Daniel Marsh, Nathan Putnam, and Willis Hall were chosen as a committee to consider the several articles of griev- ances, imposed on this Government by the British Par- liament, as represented in a printed pamphlet from the Town of Boston and to make report at the adjournment of the meeting. They reported as follows:
"We do apprehend that our Charter Privileges are Infringed in many Instances and that there is just Cause of Complaint: There- fore we think it advisable that this Town recommend to Capt. Henry King the Representative of this Town in General Assem- bly, that he use his best Influence with his Brethren, the members of s'd Assembly, that a humble and pungant address be made to his Majesty and Court at home-that we may Obtain redress under such pressing and alarming Grievances. Further, that whereas it has been thought that the Judges of the Superior Court have not had salaries adequate to their Important service that he make due Enquiry into that matter, and if he should find it to be fact, that he use his utmost Endeavours that their Salaries may be enlarged and made Adequate to their Merit and Station."
At a town meeting called, in 1774, to see if the voters would grant money to supply the town with arms and ammunition, it was voted to grant the sum of forty-two pounds, ten shillings.
On Sept. 26, "Edward Putnam was chosen a Delegate to meet and act with the General Congress of the Province; when and where they shall meet." It was recommended that the military companies in the town choose their own officers, as the commissioned officers had proposed to resign.
On January 5, 1775, Capt. Henry King and Elder Amos Singletary were chosen to represent Sutton in the Pro- vincial Congress to be held at Cambridge, Feb. 1, 1775. This meeting was of unusual importance because the action taken plainly represents that the citizens were in
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
On February 3, 1776, twenty-four soldiers, in addition to those previously furnished, were raised and set off for camp.
On March 4, Capt. Moody Morse, deacon Willis Hall, Nathan Putnam, Col. Timothy Sibley, deacon Ebenezer Pierce, David Holman, and Capt. James Greenwood were chosen on the committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, for the year ensuing.
On July 1, 1776, it was voted "that if the honorable Congress should, for the safety of the colonies, declare them independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain the inhabitants of this town will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure."
On July 8, 1776, William King, Tarrant Putnam, Enoch Marble, Ebenezer Pierce and Daniel Greenwood were chosen as a committee to adjust to every person his equal part for service done in the defense of America since April 19, 1775.
On March 3, 1777, Capt. Jonathan Carriel, Capt. Bartholomew Woodbury, Lieut. Enoch Marble, Lieut. March Chase, Mr. Jonas Bond, Lieut. David Holman, and Capt. Elisha Goddard were chosen as the committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety for that year. It was voted that "the sum of twenty-five pounds be paid by the town to every soldier of this town, that has or shall enlist to go into the Continental army, then being raised, until the town's quota for said army be completed, provided he has not received equivalent in some other way." On May 19, 1777, Willis Hall and Amos Single- tary were chosen representatives to the General Court.
On Jan. 5, 1778, the articles of confederation proposed by Congress were read, and a committee, consisting of Capt. King, deacon Pierce, Mr. Nathan Putnam, Col. Holman and Lieut. Asa Waters was chosen to peruse and consider the articles and to make report at an adjourned meeting.
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
It was voted to raise three thousand pounds to diminish the town's proportion of the public debt. On January 9, the committee chosen to consider the Articles of Confed- eration reported that, "In their opinion they should be complied with by this Town." The town voted unani- mously to accept the report of the committee.
Upon the petition of certain inhabitants of Sutton, Wor- cester, Leicester and Oxford that they be incorporated into a separate town, the General Assembly appointed a committee to view the territory and issued a citation to the several towns to confer with this Committee.
On February 2, the town chose deacon Ebenezer Pierce, Capt. Elisha Goddard, Col. Jonathan Holman, as agents to meet this committee and to enter the town's objections maintaining that the proposed town should not be in- corporated a town.
On February 18, the town chose deacon Ebenezer Pierce, Mr. Asa Waters, and Mr. Ebenezer Waters as a standing committee to take action in behalf of the town "to prevent a part of this town at the northwest corner being set off (against its will) according to a line ordered to be run by the Honorable Court's Committee on the fifth Day of February instant."
On March 2, deacon David Harwood, Dr. Benjamin Morse, Mr. Abel Dudley, Mr. Moses Bancroft, and Mr. Josiah Goddard were chosen on the "Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety" for the year. On April 13, Capt. John Sibley, deacon Ebenezer Pierce and Lieut. Asa Waters were chosen as a committee "to report the reason why the town does not accept the new form of government." On May 18, it was voted to grant three hundred fifty-eight pounds, eight shillings to pay for clothing which the selectmen promised for the Con- tinental soldiers.
On March 1, 1779, Ebenezer Waters, John Elliot and Nehemiah Gale were chosen on the "Committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety." On June 21,
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
Lieut. William King, Ensign Nathaniel Carriel, Lieut. Joseph Elliot, Jr., Samuel Waters, deacon Willis Hall, John Harback, Joseph Waters, Dr. James Freeland, James Bond, Nehemiah Gale, and deacon Asa Waters were chosen as a committee "to procure men to serve in the Continental Army."
On July 5, the town chose Dr. Willis Hall and Ebenezer Waters as a committee "to represent the town in the State Convention to be held at Concord on July 14 and to make a report to the town of the proceedings."
On August 2, their report was received and accepted. Deacon Asa Waters and Mr. Ebenezer Waters were chosen to attend a county convention to be held at Worcester the first Tuesday in August, for the purpose of regulating the prices of labor and various articles of necessity.
On August 17, the following named persons were chosen as a committee to act in connection with the committee of Correspondence for the purpose of carrying into effect the resolutions of the state and county conventions, name- ly,-Lieut. Nathaniel Whitmore, Mr. Nathan Putnam, Col. Timothy Sibley, Follansbee Chase, Capt. Moody Morse, Lieut. Caleb Chase, Lieut. James Prentice, Capt. Samuel Trask, Mr. Jonas Bond, Mr. Jona. Kidder, Capt. James Greenwood, and Lieut. Simeon Haywood.
On August 23, Ebenezer Waters was chosen to repre- sent the town at a convention held at Concord in October.
On September 23, the town voted that those persons who appear to be inimical to the cause of America "shall not be employed in any public business in this town" and it was also voted that "if any person shall speak any- thing against the Regulating Acts he shall be called to account by the committee and dealt with according to his crime."
On October 19, Stephen Prince, Dea. Aaron Elliot, Caleb Marsh, Thomas Todd, Jonathan Gould, Abijah Tainter, Capt. James Greenwood, John Waters, Abel Dudley, John Dudley and Benjamin Hicks were chosen
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
to procure twenty-three men to fill the town's quota for three months' service. November 22, it was "voted to raise one thousand pounds for supporting those families whose husbands are in the Continental service for three years or during the war."
It was voted to raise three thousand, five hundred fifty- eight pounds to pay those soldiers who were procured to serve three months in the Continental Army.
It was voted to raise four hundred forty-two pounds to pay the soldiers whom the officers procured in the previous September to go to Rhode Island and serve two months. On March 6, 1780, Maj. Bartholomew Woodbury, Mr. John Dudley, and Mr. Jonathan Gould were chosen as the "committee of Correspondence, Inspection, and Safety."
On April 10, Lieut. William King, Ensign Nathaniel Carriel, Lieut. Joseph Elliot, Jr., Mr. Samuel Waters, deacon Willis Hall, Mr. John Harback, Mr. Joseph Wat- ers, Dr. James Freeland, Mr. Jonas Bond, Nehemiah Gale, and deacon Asa Waters were chosen as a committee to settle with the nine-months men, since their time had nearly expired.
On May 1, Dea. Tarrant Putnam, Lieut. Wm. King, deacon Asa Waters, Capt. March Chase, Col. Jonathan Holman, Col. Timothy Sibley, Elder Jeremiah Barstow, Dr. James Freeland, and Elder Daniel Greenwood were selected as a committee "to consider the Constitution and make a report to the Town of what they do approve of and what they do not approve of." At an adjourned meeting Elder Jeremiah Barstow, deacon Willis Hall, deacon David Harwood, deacon Rice, and Mr. Abel Chase were chosen to consider the third article in the Bill of Rights and to make report to the town. On May 22, it was "voted to grant the sum of nine thousand pounds to pay the Nine months men." On June 12, in answer to a requisition made on the town (Sutton) by the General Court for thirty-six soldiers to serve in the
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
Continental Army, Lieut. Nathaniel Whitmore, Lieut. Bartholomew Hutchinson, Lieut. Nathaniel Putnam, Ensign Samuel Rich, Lieut. John Woodbury, Mr. John Hall, Lieut. David Putnam, Lieut. Ezra Lovell, Mr. John Gould, Sergt. David Chase, and Mr. Moses Hovey were chosen as a committee to procure the men. On June 26, it was "voted to grant the sum of twenty thousand pounds to pay the six months men." It was voted to grant the sum of twelve thousand pounds to procure forty-two men out of the militia to serve three months in the army." On October 9, it was "voted to raise the sum of fifty-three thousand, five hundred pounds to enable the committee to settle with the six months and the three months men now in the Continental service."
On October 16, Capt. March Chase, Mr. Moses Hovey, and Mr. John Hall were chosen as a committee to pro- cure seventeen thousand five hundred twenty pounds of beef for the army, and twenty-five thousand pounds were voted to enable the committee to purchase the beef. (The great depreciation of colonial money accounts for the seemingly high price paid for the meat. The colonial money was as low as two hundred to one when in use and in places it was worthless.)
ยท On December 4, each taxpayer who wished to do so was allowed to pay his rate in grain. The allowance for corn was fixed at twelve pounds per bushel and for rice at eighteen pounds per bushel. The price of the commodity only goes to show the very low value of continental money.
On December 18, the town voted that one-third of all the town meetings, both stated and occasional, be held in the meetinghouse of the Second Parish.
A requisition was made upon Sutton for thirty-three thousand six hundred forty pounds of beef. Capt. March Chase, Mr. John Hall, and Mr. Moses Hovey were chosen as a committee to purchase the amount and fifty thou- sand, four hundred sixty pounds were appropriated to meet the expense. At nearly the same time a call came
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FROM FIRST SETTLEMENT TO INCORPORATION
from the General Court asking the town to furnish thirty- one men to serve for three years in the Continental Army or during the war. Col. Timothy Sibley, Capt. Abijah Burbank, Capt. John Putnam, Capt. Andrew Elliot, Lieut. Solomon Leland, Mr. Abraham Batchellor, Jr., Dr. James Freeland, and Mr. Ebenezer Waters were chosen as a committee "to class out the town into classes in order to procure the thirty-one men for the Continental Army." At an adjourned meeting, the town "voted that if any person in any of the classes refuses to pay his pro- portion as assessed in the class he belongs to he shall be assessed his proportion as he was in said class, and half as much more."
Other demands were made upon Sutton to which the inhabitants responded with commendable alacrity. It had been a fearful struggle in which the resources of the country had become well-nigh exhausted. The dark cloud of war passed away, however, and on the thirteenth of November, 1781, a considerable number of people assembled at the "Sign of the Soldier" to celebrate the day in great rejoicing on account of the capture of Gen. Cornwallis and his army, who had surrendered to the American forces under Gen. Washington at Yorktown on October 19, thus virtually terminating the war for the independence of America. "The Massachusetts Spy", in its account of the proceedings on that day, gives the reader to understand that well-nigh every demonstration of joy within the power of the participants was shown. The following toasts were drunk:
1. "Those Noble Patriots Convened in Congress";
2. "His Excellency, General Washington";
3. "The Most Christian Majesty, Louis XVI";
4. "The Count de Grasse and the Combined Fleets";
5. "General Greene with his Veterans and Heroes";
6. "Peace and Unanimity in the Allied Army";
7. "May All Malicious Pimps of British George and lovers of Tyranny Be Swept Off with the Besom of the Thirteen United States of America";
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HISTORY OF MILLBURY
8. "May the Traitor Arnold and All his Accomplices be Sus- pended between Heaven and Earth, as Unworthy of Either"; 9. "May America Maintain her Independence until Time shall be No More";
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