USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections, Vol. I > Part 37
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He at once entered upon the practice of his profession in his native town, and there continued until his death, December 25, 1835. The same year he had been elected a member of the Massachusetts senate. His character was high-toned as a gentleman, extremely conscientions in his acts ; was several years connected with the government of Nichols academy, and active in his efforts for the welfare of that institution, and the cause of education, generally.
As a lawyer, he stood well with his associates at the bar ; and his death was not only a source of regret to that frater- nity, but generally, and although he was cut off at a prema- ture age, yet his actions were characterized with all the con- sideration and wisdom of long practical experience.
Mr. Tufts married, October 2, 1822, Aznbah Boyden Fales, daughter of David Fales, of Wrentham. She was born, Octo- ber, 1796 ; died, November 27, 1835.
Their only daughter, Sarah, was born, Jannary 31, 1825, and married, April 26, 1853, to Hon. Francis H. Dewey, of Worcester, known more generally as Judge Dewey. They have five children now living.
HON. PETER CHILD BACON.
Peter Child Bacon was the son of Jepthah Bacon, Esq., of Dudley ; born there, November 11, 1804. He graduated at Brown university, in the class of 1827 ; read law at the New Haven law school; also in the office of Davis & Allen, of Worcester ; Ira M. Barton, of Oxford ; and George A. Tufts, of Dudley. He was admitted to the bar in Worcester, in
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September, 1830, and commenced the practice of law in Dudley, but soon removed to Oxford, where he continued his profession twelve years, and then removed to Wor- cester, January 1, 1844, and has been constantly practic- ing there since. Mr. Bacon was elected a member of the house of representatives, to represent the city of Worcester in the General Court, the first year of its organization as a city, in the year 1848 ; was elected mayor of the city in 1851 and 1852.
The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Brown University, in 1857.
For more than forty years past, Mr. Bacon has been con- stantly engaged in the practice of the law in this county, as the printed reports of the State and county will show.
His father, Jepthah, was son of Jonathan Bacon, and Martha, his wife ; born at Uxbridge, March 31, 1770. His mother, Joanna Child, was daughter of Peter Child, and Susan, his wife ; born at Woodstock, June 15, 1765. Jepthah Bacon, of Dudley, and Joanna Child, of Woodstock, were married the 26th of February, 1801, at Woodstock, by the Rev. Wmn. Graves.
The late Colonel Chester Child, a well-known and promi nent citizen of Woodstock, was a brother of Mrs. Joanna Child Bacon. Their father resided in the north parish of that town, and was known as an intelligent farmer.
The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Deacon Jonathan Bacon, known for his piety and benevo- lenee. On both sides the grandparents were what is usually styled independent farmers ; both of the old Puritan stock of the orthodox faith in their religion.
Jepthah Bacon, Esq., the father, was noted for his general intelligence. Although not bred to the law, he was better versed in its general principles than many lawyers ; and this knowledge, with his sound practical ideas, brought his time
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largely into demand in public and general business, and in this respect, as a correct draftsmen of deeds, agreements, and legal instruments, and as a safe counselor, he was scarcely equaled by any man in the south part of the county. His time for many years was chiefly employed by the community around him in the transaction of business of a legal character.
He was a justice of the peace, and noted as a trial justice, and often in the employ of the town, to attend to all matters requiring legal knowledge. In politics he was a Federalist of the pure stamp, and was the representative from Dudley to the General Court when the question was brought forward and a vote taken favoring the holding the Hartford conven- tion, and he was the only Federalist that voted against hold- ing that convention.
In giving his reason for this vote, he stated, that the regu- larly constituted anthorities of his country had declared war, and he thought it the duty now of all parties to unite in pre- senting a firm and unbroken front in sustaining the govern- ment, and to do nothing that should tend to give aid or com- fort to the enemy. This was but a sample of the natural hon- esty and tendency of his mind. Although a Federalist, there was no man more patriotically devoted to sustaining the cause of the country in that war than Jepthah Bacon. Like many of the old Democratic party during the late Rebellion, they believed in the general principles that were the common bond of the party, as a political party ; but when their brethren of the South conspired to sever the Union, they were no longer of their brotherhood, but regarded them as enemies of their country, and united as heartily in putting down the Rebellion as the most determined of the members of the Republican party.
Mr. Bacon, whose character and history this is designed briefly to portray, is in his devotion to his country all that his father before him was ; and in matters of law as a safe coun-
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selor and an advocate before a jury, or upon questions of law before the court, his extensive legal knowledge, great expe- rience, and known ability, is so generally acknowledged, that this writer could add nothing to his just renown by any further remarks upon that point, but can not refrain from adding, that his kindness of heart to the young students of law, or practi- tioners, has given them always a ready friend and adviser.
His large experience and inexhaustible store-house of legal knowledge and readiness to aid the less informed and skilled in the law, will long keep him in remembrance by a numer- ons elass, as the source of their best ideas and most sound and practical points in their legal knowledge.
As a counselor, this writer can state from experience in many instances, running through a period of thirty years, that in preparing his cases he is remarkable for the discovery of all the weak points of the question ; the good points he never troubles his client about ; but his main and constant effort is to raise all possible points against the case, which leads the client almost to believe him an actual opponent. By this method he prepares and fortifies himself to meet the opposing counsel ; having discussed and well considered the weak points, and prepared his answers before the case comes before the court for trial. No man in the county of Worcester is more generally and highly respected for his uprightness, kindness of heart, or honesty of purpose, than the subject of this article.
NAMES OF INHABITANTS.
Those known to be among the first settlers in this town are ' the following :
Adams, Bacon, Chamberlain, Conant, Corbin, Davis, Ed- monds, Healy, Newell, Robinson, Sabin, Wakefield, Putney, Carter, Lillie, and probably some others who were known to be inhabitants here in 1732, when this town was first organ-
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ized. These first settlers, who came from Roxbury, Newton, and about Salem, were like those who founded both Oxford and Woodstock.
All this tract of land remained wild and unsettled until after the death of Governor Joseph Dudley, who, as has been stated in another place, deceased in the year 1720, when his sons, Paul and William Dudley, to whom most of the land here, and 6,000 acres adjoining in the south-west corner of Oxford, came by inheritance, when they began to sell them. Thus, not till after 1720, do we find any conveyances; but then the sales became quite general, and the decds of all original purchases will be found to be from the Dudleys as grantors. To Cap- tain Peter Papillon was sold the Oxford lands, and it is believed that Mr. Healy was the first purchaser here; then Sabin, Newell, Corbin, etc. Soon after will be found the following settlers: Balley, Baker, Cheney, Child, Courtis, Dodge, Elwell, Gore, Jewell, Marcy, Mixer, Morris, Taylor, Upham, and Vinton, who came before 1750. Then follow others, who are found here before 1800 : Ballard, Barues, Blood, Brown, Cady, Carpenter, Clark, Eddy, Foster, Han- cock, Haven, Haskell, Hovey, May, Learned, Johnson, Marsh, Nichols, Perry, Pratt, Sayles, Taft, Waldron, Webster, Wil- liams, Wood ; also, Ammidown, Day, and Keith. While there have been no very conspicuous names among either the found- ers of this town, or their descendants, they have generally been people of respectability-industrions and practical-sustaining good social relations, and exhibiting a constant moral and religious standing in the community around them.
Perhaps the names of Learned, Davis, Bacon, Marcy, Healy, Hancock, Nichols, and Tufts, have been the most dis- tingnished of this place.
OR
LIE Ny ARY
74-34 by | r. Pit h.1
Jament Stater
WEBSTER.
SECTION V.
CHAPTER I.
rTHIS town was formed by taking a part of the territory of each of the towns of Oxford and Dudley, in the year 1832.
Quite a large portion of this territory was a tract of land known for many years as "Oxford South Gore;" and another traet belonging to the Pegan Indians (a remnant of the ancient Nipmucks), which was a concession made to these Indians by the town of Dudley for their relinquishment of certain rights to land located on Dudley hill, which was part of the land known formerly as " Black James & Co.'s Grant," surveyed to them in 1684, as referred to in another part of this work. it being a reservation equal to about five miles square, made by the ancestors of these Indians in their deed procured by Hon. William Stoughton and Joseph Dudley, agents of the colony, by the order of the General Court in 1681. In parting with the larger portion of their lands, which fell into the hands of Chief-Justice Paul Dudley and his brother, the Hon. William Dudley, they reserved 400 acres on Dudley hill, bounded north by Newell's brook, which is north of the present center village of Dudley, and extending south, inchid- ing part of Davis hill, which tract they exchanged with the town of Dudley for the one that bordered on Chabanakong-
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komun pond, which became a part of this town, with other lands of Dudley east of the French river.
These natives for many years had been known and recog- nized by the Colonial Legislature, and more recently by the State Legislature of Massachusetts, as the Dudley Indians, and were under the care and protection of both the Colonial and State governments, which annually appointed agents, whose duty it was to exercise a guardianship over them, taking care that their rights were respected. Colonel Moses Marcy, of Sturbridge, filled this office many years.
But, like the native race generally, when subjected to or sur- rounded by the white-degenerate by the loss of their native freedom, and habits of dissipation-they have, it is believed, nearly or entirely disappeared, having long since parted with these lands.
Samuel Slater, styled "The Father of the Cotton Manufac- ture of the United States," may very properly be regarded as the founder of Webster, as through the introduction of both the cotton and woolen manufacture here, its chief prosperity and population has been introduced.
As it may be a matter of interest to the curious in historical matters to know by what means Mr. Slater became acquainted with the water-power at this place, which at the time was the extreme corners of the towns of Oxford and Dudley, in Mas- sachusetts, and of the town of Thompson, in Connecticut, the following relation of facts and circumstances is given :
Mr. James Tiffany, of South Brimfield (now Wales), in Massachusetts, who for a number of years had been in the habit of visiting Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, doing some marketing business and purchasing family supplies, had, in the course of his operations, formed an acquaintance with Samuel Slater and his cotton manufacture at the latter place.
In the course of this acquaintance he often spoke to Mr. Slater of his sons, whom he referred to as smart boys, well-
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educated and industrious, and importuned him to take them to learn to be manufacturers ; finally, Mr. Slater consented that one of the boys should be sent down on trial. Soon after the eldest, Lyman, made his appearance at Pawtucket, and proving himself very apt and useful, he soon became quite a favorite in Mr. Slater's family; particularly with Mrs. Slater. Not long after another of the boys came down ; this was Bela, who was also engaged in the business, and proved himself capable and quite satisfactory in the performance of the trusts confided to his care.
At this time Mr. Slater was only a manufacturer of yarn; it being about the years 1808 to 1810, the manufacture of yarn into cloth was then only done by families upon the hand- loom, and in such quantities as domestic necessity required. But as business advanced, and yarns accumulated, it became a necessity with him to convert his surplus yarn into cloth, for a more ready sale ; and as the mode of weaving yarn into cloth by water-power had not at this time been discovered, his resource was to the hand-loom process; and the families who best understood this business were those of farmers in the country, who, by reason of limited means for procuring articles of clothing, had been compelled to raise flax for the purpose of summer use and bedding, and to keep sheep for the pro- duct of wool for winter clothing; this flax and wool was spun into yarn and woven into cloth by the wives and daughters of these interior farmers, who by necessity had become skilled in the use of the hand-wheel and the hand-loom.
To effect this object most economically, it was deemed best to ereet his mills for the manufacture of yarn in the country, in the midst of a farming population, and with this plan in view he instituted inquiry as to some suitable location, when he was informed by his friend Tiffany of the valuable water- power afforded by the ontlet of Chabanakongkomun pond.
Mr. Tiffany, in his journeyings to and from Pawtucket and
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Providence, passed and repassed this outlet, which at that time was the principal way of travel ; the more direct roads having since been built.
With the recommendation of this water-power by the elder Tiffany, he dispatched Bela, then in his employ, in May, 1811, who, having examined the premises, writes Mr. Slater as follows :
"FRANKLIN, May 27, 1811. "MR. SAMUEL SLATER :
" Dear Sir -- 1 was very much disappointed when I arrived at Mr. Rud's, in Uxbridge, for I had no information of the cause why you were not there. True the letter came Friday night, but through mistake, being brought after I had retired, was put into the post-office, and when I re- turned on Sunday morning (having been up to the pond), it was taken out of the office, and fortunately I found it; but I thought it best to pur- sue the intended journey, by which Icould in some measure satisfy myself. which is as follows : Buildings-Large two-story house unfinished inside, built for two families; grist-mill with two run of stones, tolerably good ; a very good saw-mill; and a trip-hammer shop, in good repair, with about 13 or 14 acres of land, one half of which is swamp of very little value, and the rest not very good. With regard to water and fall. there is no doubt enough to answer any purpose we should want, and so situated that a mill may be erected with as little expense as in any place I have seen ; it is convenient to the road, and I believe quite secure from inunda- tion.
"The principal objection, in my opinion, is, that it is the most benighted part of the globe-4 miles from Oxford, 3 from Dudley, and 63 from Thompson, where the corners of the three towns intersect each other.
" Terms are as follow : Four thousand dollars is the lowest terms: one thousand dollars down, in two years one thousand more, and then one thousand yearly until balance is paid ; or if, at the expiration of one year. the residue is paid-that is, the three thousand dollars-a deduction of one hundred will be made, which I consider no object. I have the re- fusal at the above stipulations until the 20th of June, but he said it would oblige him if we could determine soon, as two men were expected to look at the place the 29th instant, who had seen it before, and so- licited him to join them and erect a mill ; but he said he preferred to sell right out, as a farm life would be most agreeable to himself and family ; and says that if I will sell my farm he will look at it, and did it suit him, give a fair price, which will be some advantage to me, because it will about pay him for the privilege.
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"There is a farm adjoining the mill site of about 220 acres of land, a dwelling-house and barn. for sale, for about $3, 000. which, if it should be wanted, may be had, and which may be worth very near that money. If you feel desirous to have the place, you will please write me, for I told him he should hear from me within that time, one way or the other.
" Your obedient servant,
"BELA TIFFANY."
It appears that Mr. Slater approved of the idea of purchas- ing this water-power and some adjoining lands, but the deeds were not taken until after the beginning of the following year.
Mr. Bela Tiffany, who had examined this water-power and adjacent lands, and reported his views to Mr. Slater by the foregoing letter, was intrusted with the duty of securing the same by deeds.
The original deeds were taken in his individual name, although designed principally for Mr. Slater. It appears to have been Mr. Slater's mode of operation, when he had decided to make any large purchase where it would require time to effeet the desired result, to keep his name in the background, and not excite public curiosity and notoriety, that might lead to an advance in the demands for the property he designed to acquire.
These first purchases which were made by Mr. Tiffany in his individual name were as follows: Bought of three different parties-the first of Elijah Pratt, 93 acres in two parcels, for the consideration of $3,700.
One of these parcels of four acres contained a dwelling- house and barn, grist-mill and saw-mill, a trip-hammer shop, coal-house, and an old building formerly a grist-mill. The date of this first deed is " January 6, 1812," and, as expressed in this deed, the land was located partly in each, Oxford and Dudley.
The next was a lot of 203 acres, bonght of Asa and Samuel Robinson, for the consideration of $3,500, with the buildings
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thereon, be the same more or less, being all the land owned by these parties in the aforesaid towns of Oxford and Dudley; by deed dated " January 28, 1812."
A third lot was bought of Josiah Kingsbury, of 56 acres, with a dwelling-house and clothing-mill thereon, for the con- sideration of $1,800, by deed dated "May 4, 1812." The three purchases containing 2683 acres of land, with the aforesaid buildings and mills, giving the entire control of the outlet and water-power connected with the large pond before named, were secured, for the total sum of $9,000.
As appears by the records of deeds at Worcester, Mr. Bela Tiffany sold to Samuel Slater five sixths of all this property at the precise cost to him, $7,500, making a joint interest to be held in common and undivided, he reserving one sixth for himself.
This deed is dated the "11th of December, 1812;" and wit- nessed by Samnel A. Hitchcock and Loring Tiffany, who were then acting in the capacity of clerks for Slater & Tiffany ; the title by which these parties were known for several years after these purchases were made, and under this name they at once proceeded to occupy this power for the purpose of the cotton mannfacture.
The cotton factory, known as the "Green Mill," was erected during the year 1812, and the manufacture of cotton into yarn was first began here in the following year, 1813. It appears that the dye and bleaching buildings were built at the same time, and placed under the care of Mr. John Tyson, a man skilled in that line of work ; and who, it appears, held a joint interest in the business.
The buildings for the dye-house were in a state of forward- ness early in 1813, as appears by a letter from Mr. Tif- fany to Mr. Slater, dated at Oxford, the 26th of January of that year, in which he advises Mr. Slater, then at Pawtucket, to bring up Mr. Tyson, as they were ready for him to arrange
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the dye-works, as the machinery was about ready to start. By other letters it appears that Mr. Tyson was here engaged in the dye-works early in March ; thus it is reasonable to suppose that he came to this place in February, 1813. The yarns from the old mill at Pawtucket were sent here to be dyed by Tyson, as well as the yarns spun in the new mill here.
Mr. Tyson continued connected with the dye-house business from seven to eight years, and proved himself a very capable and industrious man, but by hard labor and exposure in the dampness connected with his labors, he injured his health, and after one or more voyages to Bermuda for relief, he died of consumption the 2d of Angust, 1821. It further appears by a letter from A. W. Porter, then engaged in Mr. Slater's business here, dated "September 9, 1821," that an account of stock was taken to ascertain Mr. Tyson's interest, in which he says: "We took the account of stock in dye-house yesterday, the 8th, and shall commence again work there on your account to-morrow, the 10th, that is, of September, 1821."
Mr. John Tyson was a worthy man, and had by his industry, it is understood, accumulated an estate of about twenty thou- sand dollars.
In returning to the operations of Messrs. Slater & Tiffany, it may be said, that besides the management of the cotton mannfacture and dyeing and bleaching business, a store was added, and that further purchases of real estate continued, as follows :
January 5, 1814, from Stephen Holmes and Alanson Bates, 53 acres ; paid $1,100. Recorded, b. 189, p. 276.
February 17, 1814, from Sylvanus Pratt, 3 acres, 36 rods; paid $36. Recorded, b. 189, p. 381.
July 24, 1814, from Jonathan Day and John Bates, 15} aeres, 9 rods ; paid $280. Recorded, b. 193, p. 226.
March 15, 1815, from Ebenezer Foster, half of 15 acres ; paid $100. Re- corded, b. 199, p. 423.
Bela Tiffany sells to Samuel Slater his interest in all the
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above lands and buildings, and the business which Slater and Tiffany had organized and conducted at this place, including his interest with Samnel Slater and John Tyson in the Oxford dye-honse company ; the price paid by Mr. Slater was $8,400. Date of deed "November, 27, 1816;" recorded. book 203, ยท page 188.
It is understood that the canse which induced Mr. Tiffany to leave this business with Mr. Slater was the great depres- sion in the cotton manufacture which followed the close of the war between Great Britain and the United States, December, 1814, consequent upon the large importation of English mann- factures. There was no disagreement ; but, on the whole, Mr. Slater was pleased with the active management of Mr. Tiffany in the inanguration of this business.
Mr. Slater, as sole owner, now continued this cotton man- ufacture. But it appears that besides this business as con- ducted by Slater and Tiffany, and the dye-house in connection with John Tyson, as has been shown by the foregoing, he be- gan the woolen manufacture here as early as about 1814. At this time was commenced the making of broad-cloths, under the charge of that remarkable person, Edward Howard, who was a Yorkshire man; and in accordance with Mr. Slater's well-known kindness to his native countrymen, by the applica- tion of Mr. Howard, who had been trained to the mannfacture of wool, he was induced to give him employment in this line. Thus it may be said that Edward Howard was the originator of the wool business in this place, and it is believed was among the first-if not exclusively so-to introduce the manufacture of American broad-cloth. More will be said on the subject of the wool manufacture in this town in another place. Like most Englishmen, it seems to have been the penchant of Mr. Slater to accumulate land, and thus we find a continuation of purchases, as follows :
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October 2, 1817, from Samuel Crane, 30 acres and 140 rods ; paid $300. Recorded. b. 208, p. 420.
November 15, 1811, from Rufus More, half of 26 acres and 140 rods; paid $313.50. Recorded, b. 208, p. 464.
September 20, 181%, from Jonathan Harris, 16 acres, paid $104. Recorded, b. 210, p. 22.
January 26, 1818, from Thomas Keith, 14 acres and 12 rods; paid $200. Recorded, b. 210, p. 261.
March 15, 1818, from Jolin Rodman, 50 acres ; paid $400. Recorded, b. 210, p. 265.
June 12, 1819, from Jedediah Corbin. 38} acres, paid $385. Recorded, b. 214, p. 582.
November 1, 1819, from Philip and Warren Brown, flowage; paid $175. Recorded, b. 219, p. 105.
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