USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Groton historical series. A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts, Vol III > Part 11
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The third missionary in the list is the Reverend George Ford, who passed his boyhood at Groton, but who is a native of Boston. He pursued his preparatory studies at Groton Academy, and graduated at Harvard College in the Class of 1842. Three years later he graduated at the Theological Seminary, Andover, and was ordained as a missionary, on October 7, 1846. The following notice of the services on that occasion is found in " The Boston Recorder," October 22, 1846: -
Ordination. - Ordained at Groton, on the 7th inst., as a mis- sionary to Southern India, Mr. GEORGE FORD. Invocation and reading of the scriptures by Rev. Mr. Sheldon of Townsend ; prayer by Rev. Mr. Luce of Westford ; sermon by Rev. David Greene, one of the secretaries of the American Board ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Fisher of Harvard ; charge to the candidate by Rev. Mr. Phelps of Groton; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Storrs of Brookline ; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Andrews of Pepperell. Mr. Ford expects to embark, in company with four other mission- aries, about the middle of next month.
On October 25, 1846, Mr. Ford was married to Ann Jean- nette, daughter of Deacon James Tooker, of Patchogue, Long Island, New York, who was born at Brookhaven, Long Island, on June 23, 18244. They embarked at Boston, on November 18, 1846, in the ship " Flavio," for Madras, where they ar- rived on March 15 of the following spring. He was stationed first at Beriacolum, and in 1851 at Tirumungalum. Two years later he returned to the United States, and, on March 11, 1856, was released by the American Board from further service. After coming home Mr. Ford was settled for six
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FOREIGN MISSIONARIES FROM GROTON.
years ((856-1862) over a church at East Falmouth, and for six years ( 1863-1869) over one at Tolland. In May, 1869, he took charge of a station in the Seneca Mission, at Lower Cat- taraugus, New York. He afterward was preaching at Elk Point, Dakota Territory, where his wife died on March 21, 1882 ; and still later at Elmwood, Illinois, though his present address is Du Page in that State. The following letter, re- ceived at the beginning of last year, is full of interest, and gives a sketch of his labors : -
De PACE, INois, January 10, 1890.
MY DEAR DR. GREEN,
Yours of December 30th has been received. You are right in your conjecture that I am the Ford who lived at Groton during my youthful years. I well remember you as attending the old Acad- emy, when Mr. Herrick, I think, was preceptor. I remember with high esteem your father and mother, who resided in that town so many years honored and respected by all.
You inquire about my mission in India and my subsequent life. My wife and I embarked in company with several missionaries at Boston in a vessel bound for Madras, November 18, 1846. The voyage then occupied four months, which can now be made in steamships, by way of the Suez Canal, in three or four weeks. The journey from Madras to our destination, - which was the Madura Collectorate, or district, distant about three hundred miles, - was made in palankeens, as railroads had not then been introduced.
My first employment was the study of the Tamil language, which is spoken by about ten millions of people in Southern India, while at the same time I had the care of several schools and congrega- tions. Near the end of the first year I began to preach in that language. During my residence in India I may say, briefly, that my time was fully occupied in superintending the little churches, - which had been gathered, -and the Mission schools, instructing the native helpers and teachers under my care in the principles of the Gospel. itinerating on horseback or in an ox-cart among the villages, preaching and gathering congregations of worshippers. Interspersed among these labors were attending to the building of mission houses and to other secular matters necessarily arising un- der such circumstances. I had the great pleasure of seeing, as the result of the united labors of my missionary associates and myself, a considerable number of Christian congregations gathered, and sev-
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FOREIGN MISSIONARIES FROM GROTON.
eral hundreds of converts united with the church. The foundations were then being laid ; and accessions since that time have been in an ever increasing ratio. The Mission, called the Madura Mission, has been a continued success.
In 1853, my wife's health having failed, I was obliged reluctantly to return to America. I had hoped that, after a two-years' resi- dence in this country, her health would permit us to go back to our chosen employment ; but in this I was disappointed. For twelve years I was pastor of two churches in New England, and afterward for several years I had charge of some Mission churches among the Seneca Indians in Western New York. Since my wife's death, which occurred between seven and eight years ago, I have boarded with my second son, and have preached only occasionally.
The place of my birth is Boston, Massachusetts, and the date, February 27, 1819. From 1827 to 1839 my home was in Groton, and indeed longer, for I considered that my home during my col- lege and seminary courses, until 1846.
With great respect, yours cordially,
GEORGE FORD.
Akin to the subject of this paper, it may be proper to note that the Reverend Edward Leeds Gulick, Pastor of the Union Congregational Church in this town, and his wife Mrs. Har- riet Maria (Farnsworth) Gulick, were both children of foreign missionaries, and that they were born in foreign lands. Mr. Gulick is a son of the Reverend Luther Halsey and Louisa (Lewis) Gulick, and was born in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, on March 21, 1862 ; and his wife is a daughter of the Rever- end Wilson Amos and Caroline Elizabeth (Palmer) Farns- worth, and was born at Casarca, Asia Minor, in 1864. IIc was ordained at Groton, on December 23, 1889.
George Barrett Nutting, a native of Randolph, Vermont, has passed many years as a missionary in foreign lands, though he is now a resident of Northfield, Minnesota. He is of Groton stock, and a graduate of Dartmouth College in the Class of 1847. His father was a son of William and Susanna (French) Nutting, and born at Groton, on October 30, 1779; and his parents were married by the Reverend Dr. Daniel Chaplin, on October 5, 1809.
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FOREIGN MISSIONARIES FROM GROTON.
For an account of Walter Dickson and his family, who went many years ago from Groton to Palestine as independent mis- sionaries, see the second volume (pages 238-240, 329-334) of this Historical Series.
The Reverend Edward Griffin Porter, of Lexington, has re- cently returned from a trip around the world which lasted more than two years. During this time he visited many of the missionary stations in foreign lands, and saw much of the men and women engaged in missionary work. At my request he has kindly written the following note, which has a bearing on the subject of this article : -
LEXINGTON, October 1, ISO1.
MY DEAR DR. GREEN, - I have read with much interest your latest contribution to the history of Groton. I thought you had previously exhausted every possible subject connected with that famous town, - so dear to you and to many others, -but your unwearied researches are again rewarded by this incidental and honorable record of Groton's quota to the foreign missionary service.
Having recently traversed the fields of Turkey, India, and Siam, where these representatives of your town were called to labor, I am happy to testify that although their individual period of service was not long, the work with which they were identified, and for which some of them offered up their lives, has gone steadily forward under their successors, who have illustrated the same spirit of con- secration which animated those whom Groton sent forth with fond hopes and earnest prayers.
I might mention another name, entitled to a place in your list, Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., whose mother, if I mistake not, was a Nutting of Groton. Dr. Chamberlain is widely known as a member of the Arcot mission in the Madras Presidency, a field founded and largely maintained by the numerous Scudder family of missionaries, with whom he has long labored with the greatest success. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his associates at their annual meeting at Vellore ; and a more devoted and harmonious band of Christian workers I never met. Ilis popular writings upon the Bible and upon the habits and wants of the Hindus have had a wide circulation in this country.
AAs you and I are both on the Board of Trustees of Lawrence Academy, and much interested in tracing the streams of influence
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SOME OLD FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
that have flowed from that venerable fountain of learning, I might appropriately mention another fact. Joseph Neesima, the foremost educator of Japan, told me when I last saw him at Kyoto not long before his death, that he was led to embrace Christianity chiefly through the personal friendship and counsel of the late Ephraim Flint, - then a student of theology at .Andover, but previously one of our Academy boys at Groton. You are thus at liberty, it seems to me, to connect your early alma mater with the Doshisha which Necsima founded and presided over with such remarkable sagacity, and which is now recognized as the first Christian University of Japan.
I am yours faithfully, EDWARD G. PORTER.
SOME OLD FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
IN the carly days of our colonial history burials were con- ducted with severe simplicity. A body was taken from the house to the grave, and interred without ceremony ; and no prayer was made or other religious service held. Our pious forefathers were opposed to all ecclesiastical rites, and any custom that reminded them of the English church met with their stern disapproval. And, furthermore, prayers over a corpse were very suggestive of those offered up for the dead by the Roman church ; and to their minds such ceremonies savored strongly of heresy and superstition. Funeral prayers in New England were first made in the smaller towns before they were in the larger places. Their introduction into Boston was of so uncommon occurrence that it caused some com- ment in a newspaper, as the following extract from " The Boston Weekly News. Letter," December 31, 1730, will show : -
Yesterday were Buried here the Remains of that truly honourable & devout Gentlewoman, Mrs. SARAH BYFIELD, amidst the affectionale Respects & Lamentations of a numerous Concourse. - Before carrying out the Corpse, a Funeral Prayer was made, by one of the Pastors of the Old Church, to whose Communion she be-
12.4
SOME OLD FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
long'd : Which, tho' a Custom in the Country-Towns, is a singular Instance in this place, but it's wish'd may prove a leading Example to the general Practice of so christian & decent a Custom.
At a funeral the coffin was carried upon a bier to the place of interment by pall-bearers, who were from time to time relieved by others walking at their side. The bearers usually were kins- folk or intimate friends of the deceased ; and they were fol- lowed by the mourners and neighbors, who walked two by two. After the burial the bier was left standing over the grave ready for use when occasion should again require. Hearses were first introduced into Boston about 1796, and into Groton a few years later. In the warrant for the Groton town-meeting on April 4, 1803, Article No. 7 was " To see if the town will provide a herse for the town's use, and give such directions about the same as they shall think fit." In the Proceedings of that meeting, after Article No. 7, it is recorded : -
Voted that the town will provide a herse for the Town's use.
Voted and chose James Brazer, Esq: Jacob L. Parker, and Joseph Sawtell 34 a Committee and directed them to provide a decent herse at the Town's expence.
In the warrant for the town-meeting on May 4, 1808, Ar- ticle No. 6 was " To see what measures the [ town ] will take to secure the Herse." In the Proceedings of that meeting, after Article No. 6, it is recorded : -
Voted that the Comm" chosen under Art. 4" [James Prescott, Esq., Major Samson Woods and Aaron Brown, Esq. ] be directed to provide a shelter for the Herse, either in the building to be erected for a Gun- House or such other place as may be deemed by them to be convenient & economical.
From these entries it is evident that a hearse was bought under the vote of April 4, 1803, but there was then no shelter provided for it ; and that five years later steps were taken for its proper housing. During this interval it may have been kept in some private barn or shed. In my boyhood the hearse was sheltered at one end of the Gun-house, situated
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A FREE READING ROOM.
on the north-east corner of the Burying-ground. Presumably this hearse was made in Groton, and it lasted nearly forty years. At the town-meeting held on April 4, 1842, it was " voted to direct the Selectmen to procure a new Hearse and harness with discretionary power as to form and cost." Agree- ably to this vote the carriage was duly bought, and, according to my recollection, first used at the funeral of the Reverend George W. Wells, who died on March 17, 1843. In places along High Street, where Mr. Wells lived, the snow drifts had to be dug away in order to make the road passable for wheeled vehicles. This hearse remained in use until the summer of 1870, when another was provided, under the authority of a vote, passed on March 2, 1868, " that the Select- men be instructed to procure a suitable Hearse for the centre of the Town." The new one was bought of Albert Tolman and Company, of Worcester, at a cost of four hundred and twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($427.50) ; and the freight for the same by railroad was seven dollars ($7.00). See " Receipts and Expenditures of the Town of Groton, for the year ending Feb. 28th, 1871" (page 23).
The present hearse-house stands near the Chaplin School, in close proximity to the Old Burying-ground.
A FREE READING ROOM.
IN this Historical Series ( II. 352) a reference was made to a Free Reading Room, which had then just been opened to the public, on January 17, 1887, under the auspices of the Young Women's Christian Temperance Union. It was kept in successful operation for four years, when it was given up for lack of means. At the time of its discontinuance, on De- cember 30, ISgo, a series of resolutions was passed by the Committee who had the matter in charge, deploring the neces- sity of their action, which may be found in " The Groton Landmark," January 3, 1891.
T
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A FATED FAMILY.
THE following story of a Groton family appeared originally in the " Boston Daily Traveller," March 8, 1890. It was written by Mr. Stephen Olin Sherman, a well-known journalist of Boston, who has been connected with that newspaper for nearly twenty years. Mr. Sherman is a son of the Reverend Dr. David and Catherine Bardwell (Moody) Sherman, and was born at Blandford in this State, on April 29, 1849. He entered Wesleyan University. Middletown, Connecticut, in 1868, but left college during his Sophomore year.
A FATED FAMILY.
A True Story of Provincial Life in New England.
[Written for the Traveller. ]
The Indian troubles which are known in our early history as " Queen Anne's War " broke out in 1702, when England resumed hostilities with France and Spain, and continued up to the time of the Peace of Utrecht, which was signed in 1713. For many years prior to that time the Indians all along the northern border of New England had been trading with the French settlers in Canada, and with the Dutch in northern New York, neither of whom were friendly to the little English colonies, and the savages in many in- stances acting under the direction of the French, and always with their active sympathy and co-operation, made frequent incursions upon the frontier, where even the utmost vigilance did not always insure the lives and property of the inhabitants.
There were at that time eight frontier towns in Massachusetts, as we are credibly informed by the veracious historians, who, however, somewhat singularly fail to tell us what those towns were. It is, however, known that Lancaster, Chelmsford, Sudbury and Groton were among the number, and these as well as several other towns, notably Medway, suffered severely from the incursions of the Indians. The people of Groton had heard the rumblings of the distant thunder, occasionally had seen a vivid flash across the hori- zon, and on more than one occasion had met the Indians on their very threshold. A series of fatalities which followed the family of Mrs. John Shattuck of this town, between the year 1692 and 1725, was a most remarkable one, and is interesting because it
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A FATED FAMILY.
Throws a Strong Light
upon a most romantic period of our history as a people, the period when the territory lying west of the State of New York was almost an unknown land to the whites, visited only by the most daring and reckless of that band of pioneers who blazed their way through the trackless forests, and became the avant couriers of civilization. Their wild life, their romantic adventures, their valorous deeds, their years of captivity with the Indians, and their bloody encoun- ters with and hair-breadth escapes from their wily foes, have been the theme of many a thrilling tale of border life, and as presented by such masters of fiction as Fenimore Cooper, have long since passed into the realms of standard literature.
On the 13th of September, 1692, Mrs. Shattuck's father, James Blood, was killed by the Indians, as were also her uncle, William Longley, his wife and five children, while three of the children were carried off into captivity. A relative of Mrs. Shattuck, James Parker, Jr., and his wife, were also killed at the time of the Long- ley massacre, and their children were also taken prisoners, the Indians having learned by that time that if they could bear the hardship and exposure of the march, children had a certain com- mercial value with the French settlers in Canada. Mrs. Shattuck's stepfather, Enoch Lawrence, was wounded in an engagement with the Indians, and was disabled for life. John Shattuck, her hus- band, and John Shattuck, Jr., her son, the latter a young man about 19 years of age, were shot and killed by the Indians while they were returning from the west side of
The Nashua River,
near where the Hollingsworth paper mills now stand. The three Tarbell children, cousins of Mrs. Shattuck, were carried off by the Indians on the 20th of June, 1707. John Ames, who was shot by the Indians at the gate of his own garrison, July 9, 17244, was the father of Jacob, who married Mrs. Shattuck's nicee, Ruth Shattuck, and lastly her son-in-law, Isaac Lakin, the husband of her daughter Elizabeth, was wounded at Lovewell's fight at l'equawket, May S, 1725, all of these casualities occurring in one generation, and to- gether forming a series that was remarkable even in those troublous times. In the whole range of fiction there is nothing more pathetic, more romantic, or more thrilling than the experiences of the Tar- bell children in their captivity. In this case it can indeed be said
1
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A FATED FAMILY.
that truth is stranger than fiction. Zechariah, John and Sarah were children of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Wood ) Tarbell, who, with a large family, lived in Groton.
Surah was at that time nearly 14 years of age, John was a stal- wart lad of 12, and Zechariah was seven. Early in the evening of June 20, 1707, old style, a date that by the new style would be somewhat later in the season, they had returned to the house after a day of rare sport in the meadows. As they were about to enter the house, they thought of the cherries which were then beginning to ripen, and full of anticipations of enjoying the red and luscious fruit, ran to a cherry tree, climbed it, and at once began to eat the cherries. As they were thus engaged they looked down and were horrified to see that the tree
Was Surrounded by Indians,
who made signs for them to come down at once. Too frightened to refuse, and knowing that an outcry would result in instant death with the tomahawks which were threateningly brandished beneath them, they descended and were led off into the woods, the little girl never to see her friends or home again, and the boys not un- til they had grown to manhood, so changed that they could recall none of their early associations when the memories of their child- hood's days were obliterated and forgotten, and all of its tender ties forever sundered.
The captives were taken some distance into the woods, where the Indians were joined by others of their party, making some 15 In- dians in all. With the party were several squaws who rode on ponies while on the march, and while in camp prepared the food for the others. At first the Indians viewed the children with sus- picion, and fearful that they would attempt to make their escape, held each child tightly by the wrist while following the trail, and at night kept a strict watch upon them. One of the squaws, however, took a fancy to the little girl and taught her how to cook in the Indian fashion. In this way an intimacy grew up between them which undoubtedly served to save her life, as the squaw on several occasions, when she seemed ready to drop from hunger and fatigue, gave her a seat on horseback. On the night of the capture the children were forced to march some i4 miles, as the Indians were fearful of pursuit, and the little captives were dragged some of the way by their
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A FATED FAMILY.
Heartless and Cruel Captors,
who paid no attention to their tears and cries. On the day follow- ing the capture, the party was forced over a like distance, and was then in the vicinity of Pepperell. Here a small stream was forded, and a circuit was made in the woods in order to avoid the settle- ment. At the close of that day the camp of a tribe of friendly Indians was reached as a great feast was in progress. Here the children had the first real nourishment they had had since leaving home. Early on the following morning the trail was resumed, and by night the party came into the neighborhood of the present loca- tion of Peterboro, N. HI. Another day's march brought them into the vicinity of where Claremont is now, and there a rest of half a day was taken, as the Indians then felt that they were beyond danger of pursuit. The captives were placed in charge of the squaws, and Taxous, the chief, and his warriors at once proceeded to get drunk in celebration of the success of their enterprise. The boys, who were somewhat familiar with Indian customs, were then told that they were to be taken to Coughnawaga, the village of the tribe on the banks of " the great river." They knew that the chil- dren of several of their neighbors had been carried off to Canada, and at once resigned themselves to the same fate, thanking their stars that it was no worse. From this point the line of march was so deflected that the Connecticut river was reached at a point where Windsor, Vt., now stands.
Over Mountains, Through Woods,
along the banks of rivers they continued, subsisting mainly upon berries, roots and acorns, such game as they could shoot or snare, and such fish as could be caught in the streams. Their route lay along by the present location of Woodstock, Pittsford and Orwell, until they reached the foot of Lake Champlain, where canoes were obtained, and they embarked for the upper waters of the lake. Coasting along the shore of the lake to its northern point, they fol- lowed one of its tributaries until they were near Montreal, when a short march brought them to Coughnawaga, the village of the tribe, which was situated on the banks of the St. Lawrence, the " great river " of the Indians, opposite the present location of Lachine, the La Chine of the carly French settlers. As soon as the French people at Lachine learned that the Indians had a young girl who was to be sold as a captive, they flocked to the Indian village, and
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A FATED FAMILY.
as she was a healthy, fine-looking child, became interested in her. Among those who came to see her was Father Dubois, the vener- able priest of the tribe, who interested M. de Lamorandière, a wealthy French official, in her case. After several consultations it was decided that she should be purchased from the Indians. The purchase money was paid, she was delivered to M. de Lamorandière, and was adopted into his family, the event being celebrated by a feast to which many of the French settlers were invited, while the little stranger was the special guest of honor.
Game from the Forest,
and fish from the river formed the principal dishes, and the tables were adorned with puddings and ices, tarts and cakes, for M. de Lamorandiere was famed as an epicure, and brought with him to the new world a love of the gastronomic art that long made his feasts celebrated. Rabbits baked and fricassed and served with tempt- ing gravies, boiled partridge, venison steaks tender and juicy, wild turkey, the luscious Indian corn, and last but not least, a monster salmon, flanked with crisp trout and blackfish, were served to the guests smoking hot, and were washed down with copious libations of the choice wines which were set out only upon great occasions. Father Dubois's interest in the little waif continued, and under his care she soon acquired a fair knowledge of the French language. Soon after reaching Canada, Sarah had learned that her relative, Lydia Longley, who had been carried off by the Indians at the time of the Longley massacre 13 years before, was living with the sisters in charge of the Convent of Notre Dame. Her desire to see Lydia was finally gratified. She was taken to the convent and there saw not the romping child she had expected, but a sedate and most accomplished woman. She learned from Lydia who had taken saered vows, that when she was taken from Groton her little sister Betty had succumbed to the hardships of the march, and had died on the way to Canada; that her brother John who had been living with the Indians had been ransomed by his relatives, and
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