USA > Massachusetts > Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts, with geographical descriptions > Part 73
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Benjamin Albee built the first grist-mill near where the present mill of Nathan Allen stands, and which was destroyed by the Indians, in 1675. Matthias Puffer erected the second mill in 1681, near where the first one stood. The first saw-mill was built by Serj. Josiah Chapin, and was located upon Muddy brook, some distance above where the present road to Milford crosses it. Joseph and Angell Torrey soon after built a
585
MENDON.
second saw-mill upon School brook, near where the present mill of Obadiah Wood and Lyman Keith stands. Joseph Stevens was the first blacksmith, and James Bick the second, though it seems he did not live up to his agreement, " to do the town's smithe- ry work to their acceptance," for within a year after his settlement the constable was directed "to warn James Bick forthwith to take off his frame and fence from the town's land, and no more to In Comber the same."
From this time the inhabitants of the town seem to have pursued the even tenor of their ways for many years, without any thing remarkable in the history of their pro- ceedings. Mr. Rawson, their minister, and who was a cotemporary and an acquaint- ance of Cotton Mather, died Feb. 6, 1715, aged 56 years, and in the 35th year of his ministry. He was an excellent scholar and an eminent divine. His reputation as a theologian was of such a character that the general court sometimes referred grave and serious questions of ecclesiastical polity to him for his decision.
Mr. Rawson, though he still continued the minister of the town, did not perform his parochial duties for some time before his decease. Feb. 9, 1716, in concurrence with the church, who had chosen Mr. Joseph Dorr for their pastor, the town also chose him to be their minister ; and, on the 24th of the same month, Mr. Dorr was ordained. His salary was £70 for the first year, and £75 per annum afterwards; and for settlement, or "encouragement," £160 was also granted.
In the year 1726, a great sickness prevailed in this town, as appears by the follow- ing official record. "Sept. 16, 1726. In consideration of the great sickness which is now in the town, it passed by a clere vote to lett swine run at large the remainder of the year, being yoked and ringed as the law directs." Tradition reports this sickness to have been a dysentery, and that many died of it.
In 1727, the building of a new meeting-house, being the present old one, near the office of Warren Rawson, Esq., began to be talked about. This subject gave rise to a long and angry contention. At last, after the opposition had become wearied with the further invention of expedients to put off the building of the house; Oct. 22, 1730, " It was voted, that the town provide a Barrell of Rhum towards the raising the meeting- house." After it was raised, however, some one of the opposition, not easily appeased, it seems, undertook to cut off the S. W. corner post, but did not accomplish his object. His mark, it is said, remains to this day. Notice was taken of this act as follows : At a town meeting, Aug. 21, 1731, "Voted whether the Town would chuse a Committee to see if they could find out who hath, by cutting, damnified the meeting-house ; and it passed in the negative."
The Rev. Joseph Dorr died March 9, 1768, aged 79, and in the 52d year of his minis- try. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Willard, who was ordained April 19, 1769. His salary was "60 pounds lawful money, with the interest of the ministry money and the lands belonging to the Precinct."
The Rev. Joseph Willard was dismissed from his ministerial charge, in concurrence with the church, Dec. 3, 1782. Certain pecuniary matters in dispute between Mr. Wil- lard and the parish were referred, for settlement, to an arbitration, composed of Ezra Whitney, Esq., of Douglass, Capt. Samuel Warren, of Milford, and James Haws, Esq. of Westborough.
The Rev. Mr. Willard was succeeded by the Rev. Caleb Alexander, who was install- ed over the first Congregational society in Mendon, March 23, 1786. The society failing to support him, he was dismissed June 13, 1791, for the purpose of being retain- ed by the first parish. The parish contract with Mr. Alexander is dated Feb. 10, 1792. His salary was 90 pounds per annum. Mr. Alexander continued to be the minister of the first parish in Mendon until Dec. 7, 1802, when, in concurrence with the church, he was dismissed.
Rev. Preserved Smith was his successor. He was installed Oct. 2, 1805, over the first and second parishes. His salary was $333 33, one fifth of which was contributed by the second parish. Oct. 10, 1812, Mr. Smith was dismissed, in concurrence with the church.
June 16, 1814, the parish gave a call to the Rev. Luther Bailey to settle with them in the work of the ministry, but Mr. Bailey did not accede to their proposal.
The Rev. Simeon Doggett succeeded in the pastoral office, and was settled Jan. 17, 1815. His salary was $350 per annum. He was dismissed Jan. 18, 1831.
Rev. Adin Ballou, the present. minister of the first parish, was installed May 3, 1832, with a salary of $400 per annum. The installation sermon was preached by the Rev. Bernard Whitman, of Waltham. April 1, 1837, Mr. Ballou's salary was raised to $500 per annum.
The town of Mendon parted with portions of her territory upon the incroporation of every one of the towns lying upon her borders, and our Rhode Island neighbors are
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586
MILLBURY.
endeavoring, still further, to curtail us of our fair proportions. The towns of Belling- ham, Milford, Upton, Northbridge, and Uxbridge each came in for their share of our territory when they were erected into separate towns.
The following table shows "the condition and products of cer- tain branches of industry" in' the town of Mendon, for the year ending April 1, 1837. It is copied from an official document.
" Cotton mills, 8; cotton spindles, 13,914; cotton consumed, 474,000 lbs .; cotton goods manufactured, 3,003,000 yards ; value of same, $251,410 ; males employed, 207; females, 205; capital invested, $323,400. Woollen mills, 4; sets of woollen machine- ry, 12; wool consumed, 330,000 lbs,; cloth manufactured, 305,000 yards; value of same, $324,000; males employed, 71; females, 62 ; capital invested, $113,000 ; sperm oil used by manufacturers, 4,775 gallons. Common sheep, 142. Boots manufactured, 22,225 pairs ; shoes, 150 pairs; value of boots and shoes, $39,800 ; males employed, 61; females, 6. Air and cupola furnace, 1; iron castings made, 4 tons ; value of same, $480 ; capital invested, $250. Scythe manufactories, 2 ; scythes manufactured, 1,860 ; value of scythes, $1,400 ; hands employed, 5; capital invested, $7,000. Plough manu- factory, 1 ; ploughs manufactured, 25; value of same, $175; employing 1 person. Straw bonnets manufactured, 1,500 ; value of same, $4,000. Palm-leaf hats manufac- tured, 50 ; value of same, $16 50. Value of machinery manufactured, $6,000 ; hands employed, 23; capital invested, $5,000. Value of wagons and harnesses manufac- tured, $2,000 ; hands employed, 4; capital invested, $2,000."
MILLBURY.
MILLBURY, formerly a part of Sutton, was incorporated a town in 1813. It was incorporated as a parish in 1742, and called the second parish in Sutton. The first meeting-house was built in 1743, but the church was not embodied till 1747. Rev. James Wellman, the first pastor, was ordained in 1747; Rev. Ebenezer Chaplin, his successor, was ordained in 1764. Rev. Joseph Goffe, the next pastor, was ordained in 1794. Rev. Osgood Herrick suc- ceeded Mr. Goffe in 1830. The next minister, Rev. Samuel G. Buckingham, was settled in 1837. Rev. George W. Campbell was installed the first pastor of the second church in 1830; he was succeeded, in 1834, by Rev. William A. Learned.
The following is a north-western view of Millbury, as seen from the Worcester road, near the Blackstone canal. The village con- sists of two parts. The western, which contains about 70 houses, is called the Armory village; the other is called the Goodale village, and is about one fourth its size. About 20 years since the follow- ing persons, it is believed, with their families, were the only in- habitants in the village; they were located as follows : Asa Waters and Luke Harrington lived in the west part; Asa Andrewe and Elisha Jacobs lived in a house now standing nearly opposite the Millbury Bank; Simon Farnsworth kept the tavern where the present one now stands; widow Lydia Waters, Jonathan Grout, 'Tyrus and Nathaniel March, were located in the northern part of the village; in the southern part were located William Barrows and Zadock Sibley, who lived in one house, Captain Charles Hale and Gardner Wright; on the east side of the river were Samuel. Brown, Joel Fuller, Colonel Prentiss, Cushing, and Jotham Hale. There are 5 churches, 3 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist.
587
MILFORD.
North-western vien in Millbury.
Population, 2,153. Distance, 6 miles from Worcester, and 42 from Boston. In 1837, there were 6 woollen mills; 18 sets of machine- ry ; 166,000 yards of cloth were manufactured ; value, $348,000; males employed, 148; females, 128; one cotton mill; 1,848 cotton spindles ; 350,000 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; value, $25,000; males employed, 20; females, 20. One musket manu- factory ; 2,500 muskets manufactured; value, $25,000; hands employed, 30; one scythe manufactory ; 14,400 scythes manufac- tured; valuc, $9,600; there were 9,800 pairs of boots and 80,500 pairs of shoes manufactured; value, $93,175; males employed, 150; females, 63; one paper-mill ; value of paper, $15,000.
MILFORD.
THIS town was formerly the north-easterly part of Mendon. It was set off as a separate parish in 1741, and was commonly known by the name of Mill River. It was incorporated as a town in 1780. The church was formed here in 1741, of 26 male mem- bers; over which Rev. Amariah Frost was settled in 1743. Some time after the settlement of Mr. Frost, a separation took place, and a Mr. Hovey preached to the disaffected, and was ordained among them. He remained with them, however, but a few years. Mr. Frost continued pastor of the first society till his death, in 1792; he was succeeded by Rev. David Long, in 1801.
The following is a north-eastern view of the central part of Mil- ford, as seen from the road on the castern side of a branch of Charles river, a mill stream passing through the village. In the engraving, the Universalist church is seen on the right; the spires of the Con- gregational church and town-house are seen towards the central part. An academy was established in this place in 1830. Popu- lation, 1,637. Distance, 18 miles from Worcester, and 28 from
588
NEW BRAINTREE.
-
--
-
-
North-east view of Milford.
Boston. In 1837, there were 128,000 pairs of boots manufactured; value, $212,200 ; males employed, 305; females, 37; there were 4,000 straw bonnets manufactured; value, $12,000; one cotton mill, 1,200 spindles ; 80,000 yards of cotton goods were manufac- tured ; value, $5,000.
Though the surface of this town is not very hilly, the land rises in some places, espe- cially towards the north. From the highest elevations in this part of the town there is a wide and variegated prospect. This northern part was a purchase from the Indians by the first proprietors of Mendon, and was called the "North Purchase." There are two rivers in this town : Charles river, which passes through the east part, and Mill river, which passes through the western. The last-mentioned river is the outlet of a large pond, of a mile in length, partly in Milford, but principally in Hopkinton and Up- ton, called North Pond. There are good meadows and interval lands upon the borders of both of these rivers. The town is well watered with springs, rivulets and brooks in all parts. Agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. The town produces annually for market, considerable quantities of butter, cheese, pork, beef, &c., perhaps equal to any in the country.
Gen. Alexander Scammel was a native of this town. He graduated at Harvard Uni- versity, 1769, and was appointed a surveyor of timber in Massachusetts and province of Maine, under the British government. In 1775, he was a brigade-major in the American army ; in 1777, a colonel at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne, and adjutant-gene- ral of the army at Yorktown, where he was unfortunately wounded in reconnoitering, Sept. 30, 1781, just before the surrender of Cornwallis, of which wound he soon after died.
NEW BRAINTREE.
THE general court having granted 6,000 acres of land to certain persons of the ancient town of Braintree, in the county of Suffolk, for services rendered to the public, it was called and known by the name of Braintree Farms. This tract, together with a part of Brookfield and a part of Hardwick, was incorporated in 1751, and named New Braintree. The church was embodied here in 1754, and Rev. Benjamin Ruggles was ordained their first pastor. Rev. Daniel Foster was ordained a colleague with Mr. Ruggles in 1778. Mr. Ruggles died suddenly in 1782, in the 82d year of his age, and
589
NORTHBOROUGH.
62d of his ministry. Rev. John Fiske, the successor of Mr. Foster, was ordained in 1796.
The surface of this town is uneven, with moderate hills and val- leys; the soil is generally good, but better adapted to grazing than tillage. The town is celebrated for good farmers, and the abundance of excellent beef, butter, and cheese produced. The township is finely watered by brooks, rivulets and springs. Ware river passes its western border. In the west part of the town is Me-min-i-mis- set brook, formed entirely by springs from the adjacent hills, which, running north, empties into Ware river. On this brook is an ex- tensive and luxuriant meadow of several hundreds of acres, called Meminimisset, the name given to it by the Indians, when a hideous swamp. This was the head-quarters and chief place of rendezvous of the savages at the time when Brookfield was destroyed ; and near which place 8 brave men were killed, and three mortally wounded, by the Indians, Aug. 22, 1675. And hither Mrs. Row- landson was brought a captive, who was taken by the enemy at Lancaster, on the 10th of February, 1676; and here she buried her murdered child on the 18th of that month. Population, 780. Dis- tance, 18 miles from Worcester, and 58 from Boston. In 1837, there were 18,000 palm-leaf hats manufactured; value, $4,000.
NORTHBOROUGH.
THIS was the north part of the town of Westborough, the main part whereof was set off from Marlborough in 1717. It was made the second precinct, or parish, of Westborough in 1744, and incor- porated a town in 1766. There were settlers in this part of Marl- borough before there were any in what is now Westborough. As early as 1700, or rather before, a few families had fixed down here. The following is a list of persons who were heads of fami- lies in this place before it became a separate parish :
John Brigham, Nathaniel Oakes, Oliver Ward, Joseph Wheeler,
Samuel Goodenow,
Simeon Howard, Sen., Dea. Isaac Tomblin, Simon Rice,
Sam. Goodenow, Jr., Gershom Fay, Sen.,
Hezekiah Tomblin, Daniel Bartlett.
David Goodenow, Thomas Ward,
Ephraim Beeman,
The Congregational church was gathered in this place on the 21st of May, 1746, and on the same day the Rev. John Martin, a native of Boston and graduate of Harvard College in 1724, was ordained their first pastor. He died April 30, 1767, aged 61, and was succeeded by the Rev. Peter Whitney, a native of Petersham and graduate of Harvard, in 1762, (where he also pursued his theological studies, ) who was ordained Nov. 4, 1767. He was the author of the History of Worcester County, a work highly valuable for the facts it records, many of which would probably have been lost, had they not with great pains and fidelity been collected in this work. He died in 1816, aged 72. Rev. Joseph Allen, his successor, was ordained the same year. Rev. Samuel Austin Fay was ordained pastor of the 2d church in 1832; he was succeeded by Rev. Daniel H. Emerson, in 1836.
590
NORTHBOROUGH.
During the first years of the settlement of the town, a garrison was kept at a house on the lower side of the township, toward Marlborough, near the brook now known by the name of Stirrup brook. On the 18th of August, 1707, as Mary Goodenow and Mrs. Mary Fay, wife of Gershom Fay, were gathering herbs in the adjoining meadow, a party of Indians, 24 in number, all stout warriors, were seen issuing from the woods and making towards them. Mrs. Fay succeeded in making her escape. She was closely pursued by a party of the enemy, but, before they came up, had time to enter the gar- rison and fasten the gate of the enclosure. There fortunately happened to be one man then within, the rest of the men belonging to the fort being in the fields at work. Their savage invaders attempted in vain to break through the enclosure. These heroic de- fenders by great exertions maintained the unequal conflict, till a party of friends, alarm- ed by the report of the muskets, came to their relief, when the enemy betook themselves to flight. Mrs. Fay discovered great presence of mind during the assault, being con- stantly employed in loading and reloading the muskets belonging to the garrison, and handing them to her companion, who by this means was able to keep up a constant fire on the invaders. The unfortunate young woman, Miss Goodenow, being retarded in her flight by lameness, was seized by her merciless pursuers and dragged over the brook into the edge of Marlborough, and there, a little south of the road and nigh to Sandy hill, she was killed and scalped. On the following day the enemy were pursued by a company of about 30 men from Marlborough and Lancaster, and overtaken in what is now Sterling, where a hard conflict ensued, in which 9 of their number and 2 of our men were slain. In one of their packs was found the scalp of the unfortunate Miss Goodenow, which was the first intimation that was obtained of her melancholy fate. Upon the return of the English they sought for and found her body, and there buried it; and her grave is yet visible.
The town of Northborough lies in a kind of valley between the highlands of Marlborough on the east, and those of Shrewsbury and Boylston on the west. There are 3 churches, 2 Congrega- tional and 1 Baptist. Population, 1,224. Distance, 10 miles from Worcester, and 32 from Boston. In 1837, there were 2 cotton mills; 1,820 spindles; 220,000 yards of cotton goods were manu- factured; value $30,400. There were 7,255 pairs of boots and 20,800 pairs of shoes manufactured; value, $30,720; males em- ployed, 50; females, 25. The following notice of Mr. Monis, who died in Northborough, is taken from Whitney's History of Worces- ter County.
"Mr. Monis, as I suppose, the first Hebrew instructor in our university at Cam- bridge, was born in Italy. When he came into America I am not able to say. He married a Miss Marrett, of Cambridge, who died in the year 1761; whereupon he resigned his office, and retired to Northborough, and spent the residue of his days in the family of the late Rev. John Martyn. Mrs. Monis and Mrs. Martyn were sisters. He left something very honorable and generous to the church in Northborough. He bequeathed forty-six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence, to be equally divided among seven of the ministers then living in the vicinity. Also, he left about an hun- dred and twenty-six pounds as a fund, the interest whereof was to be distributed among widows of ministers who were in indigent circumstances ; and the remainder of his estate, which was considerable, he gave to the Martyn family. The following is the inscription on his grave-stone:
" Here lie buried the remains of Rabbi Judah Monis, M. A., Late Hebrew Instructor At Harvard College in Cambridge ; In which office he continued 40 years. He was by birth and religion a Jew, But embraced the Christian faith, And was publickly bap- tized At Cambridge, A. D. 1722, And departed this life April 25th, 1764, Aged eighty- one years, two months and twenty-one days.
Isai. 66. 8. Psalm 110. 3. John, 5. 28, 29. Of the reviving sap partook.
" A native branch of Jacob sce, Which once from off its olive broke;
From teeming Zion's fertile womb, As dewy drops in early mom,
Regrafted from the living tree, Rom. 11. 17, 24. | Or rising bodies from the tomb,
At once be Israel's nation born." Isai. 66. 8.
591
NORTH BROOKFIELD.
NORTHBRIDGE.
THIS town was chiefly taken from Uxbridge, and derived its name from its situation and bearing relative to that town. It was incorporated a distinct town in 1772. The first church was or- ganized in 1782, and the next year Rev. John Crane, D. D., was ordained their pastor ; his successor was Rev. Samuel H. Fletcher, who was settled in 1832; Rev. Charles Furbush, the next pastor, was settled in 1834. Rev. Michael Burditt was installed pastor over the second village church in 1835.
The surface of this town is somewhat rocky and rough, but the soil in general is rich, strong, and good. It is finely watered by springs, streams, and rivers. Of these Blackstone and Mumford rivers are the largest. On these rivers are tracts of good interval land. Blackstone canal passes through this town, on the west bank of Blackstone river. There are 4 churches, 2 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 for Friends. Population, 1,409. Distance, 12 miles from Worcester and 35 from Boston. In 1837, there were 4 cotton mills ; cotton spindles, 9,000; cotton goods manufactured, 1,450,000 yards; value, $136,750 ; males employed, 90; females, 107; one woollen mill, 3 sets of machinery ; 100,000 yards of sati- net were manufactured ; value, $70,000; males employed, 40; females, 20. There were 600 pairs of boots and 53,500 pairs of shoes manufactured ; value, $50,000; males employed, 75; fe- males, 20; value of cotton machinery manufactured, $25,000.
NORTH BROOKFIELD.
THIS town was originally the second parish in the town of Brookfield; it was incorporated as such in 1750. It was incorpo- rated as a town in 1812. The first meeting-house in this town was raised in 1749, and completed after a few years. This house was occupied for public worship till January, 1824, when a new one, situated about half a mile north of the old one, was completed. The church in this town was gathered in 1752, and Rev. Eli Fobes, D. D., was ordained their minister the same year. Dr. Fobes was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Appleton, in 1776. The next minister was Rev. Thomas Snell, D. D., who was ordained in 179S.
The following is a southern view of the central part of North Brookfield, showing part of the Congregational church on the right, and part of the town-house on the left. 'The village, which has mostly been built up in the course of about ten years since, consists of about 30 dwelling-houses, and 2 churches, 1 Congregational and 1 Methodist. Deacon Tyler and Mr. Ezra Bacheler were, it is believed, the first settlers in the village. The shoe business was first begun in this place by Mr. Oliver Ward. Population, 1,509. Distance, 18 miles from Worcester, 4 from Brookfield, 30 from Springfield, and 58 from Boston. In 1837 there were manufac- tured in this town 24,170 pairs of boots, and 559,900 pairs of shoes,
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OAKHAM.
Southern view of North Brookfield.
the value of which was $470,316; males employed, 550; females, 300. There was 1 woollen mill, which manufactured 9,195 yards of cloth, valued at $10,758 15.
The following inscriptions are copied from the village grave- yard :
In memory of the Rev. Joseph Appleton of Brookfield, who died July 25, 1795, in the 44th year of his age, and 19th of his ministry. He was solemn and fervent in prayer, pathetic and instructive in his preaching, an example of meekness, patience, and resignation under trials. In life and at death he enjoyed the comfort of that reli- gion which he preached and practised.
Erected in memory of Doct'r Jacob Kitteredge, who died July 28th, 1813, aged 63.
" Beneath the sacred honors of the tomb, In awful silence and majestic gloom, The man of mercy here conceals his head, Amidst the awful mansions of the dead.
No more his liberal hand shall help the poor, Relieve distress, and scatter joy no more. While he from death did others seek to save,
Death threw a dart and plung'd him in the grave."
OAKHAM.
THIS town was formerly a part of Rutland, and after the incor- poration of that town was called "Rutland West Wing," until 1762, when it was incorporated a town by the name of Oakham. The church in this place was embodied in 1767, in the Presbyte- rian form, and the next year Rev. John Strickland was ordained pastor. He was dismissed in 1773, and the church was dissolved. Shortly after, in the same year, a church on the Congregational plan was organized, but had no settled pastor till 1786, when Rev. Daniel Tomlinson was ordained. Rev. Asa Hixon, jr. was settled colleague pastor in 1829. Rev. James Kimball, the next minister, was installed in 1832. The general surface of this town is hilly and stony. The soil is better adapted to grazing than ploughing. Five Mile river, a branch of the Chicopee, is a stream of conside- rable size, and Ware river runs across the north angle of the town. Population, 1,109. Distance, 16 miles from Worcester, and 56
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