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 76
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In the year 1716, three families were seated in the place, and spent the succeeding winter there, which was that of the great snow. This snow fell on some of the last days of February, (O. S.) and came so deep that it wholly covered over the hut in which one of the families lived .. The man being from home, the family would probably have suffered much, had not an Indian, who knew the circumstances, come to their relief. He found the cottage only by the hole which the smoke from the fireplace had made through the snow. In September, 1717, the first child was born in the town, named Abigail Marsh, daughter of Mr. Benjamin Marsh.
Congregational Church, Sutton.
The above is a western view of the Congregational church in Sutton, which is situated on an elevated hill, commanding an ex- tensive prospect in various directions. At present there are but few houses in the immediate vicinity of the church.
This is a pleasant town, and extensively engaged in manufac- turing. It is watered by the Blackstone river, and the Blackstone canal passes on the northern border. 'The township is generally hilly, though of good soil. It contains soap-stone, and excellent granite for building. In the town are 2 Congregational meeting- houses, 2 Baptist, and 1 Episcopal. Population, 2,457. Distance, 10 miles from Worcester, and 44 from Boston. Wilkinsonville, a small manufacturing village, containing an Episcopal church, is on Blackstone river, on the northern border of the town. In 1837 there were in the limits of the town 4 cotton mills, 7.356 spindles; 1,301,727 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; value, $125,572; males employed, 94; females, 100; 2 woollen mills, 4 sets of machinery; 82,000 yards of cloth were manufactured; value, $110,000 ; males employed, 40; females, 24. There were 2,000 dozen of shuttles manufactured; value, $10,000; hands em-
72
610
TEMPLETON.
ployed, 12. Boots manufactured, 9,314 pairs; shoes, 51,968 pairs; value, $55,656; males employed, 103; females, 99. Spindles manufactured, 30,000; value, $5,000. Value of scythes manufac- tured, $3,350.
The first church in Sutton was organized in the fall of 1720, and Rev. John Mckinstry ordained their pastor. He was a native of Scotland, and was there edu- cated. He was dismissed in 1728, and was succeeded the next year by Rev. David Hall, D. D., who, after a life, of usefulness, died 1789. He was succeeded by Rev. Ed- mund Mills, in 1790. The next pastor, Rev. John Maltby, was ordained in 1826. His successor, Rev. Hiram Tracy, was ordained in 1835. The second parish in Sutton was incorporated by the legislature in 1743. Rev. James Wilman was their first pas- tor, ordained in 1747.' The first Baptist society in the town was formed in 1785, and Rev. Benjamin Marsh was ordained their elder. Of the Baptist society in the south- east part of the town, Elder Wm. Bachelder was the first pastor, ordained in 1792.
TEMPLETON.
THIS town was an original grant to certain persons who did ser- vice in King Philip's war, or to their heirs, and was known by the
North view of Templeton, (central part.)
name of Narragansett No. 6 until its incorporation, in 1762, when the name of Templeton was given to it. The first meeting of the proprietors of this tract was held at Concord, in 1733.
Its settlement was greatly retarded through danger from the Indians, but after the close of the French wars inhabitants moved in and the settlement rapidly improved. The first church was gathered here in 1755, and Rev. Daniel Pond was ordained pastor. He was dismissed in 1759, and succeeded by Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk in 1761. The next minister, Rev. Charles Wellington, was ordained in 1807. Rev. Lemuel P. Bates was installed pastor of the second church in 1833. He was succeeded by Rev. Lewis Sabin in 1837.
This is a pleasant town, of uneven surface, but contains much good land. It is watered by branches of Miller's and Chicopee rivers, and has many excellent mill-sites. The engraving above is a north view in the village of Templeton, which consists of 2 churches and about 30 dwelling-houses. The Unitarian church is seen on the right, the Orthodox on the left. Distance, 24 miles from Worcester, 30 from Greenfield, 10 from Royalston, 8 from Athol, and 58 from Boston. Population, 1,690. In 1837 there
611
UPTON.
was 1 woollen mill, 2 sets of machinery ; 30,000 yards of cloth were manufactured ; value, $30,000; males employed, 15; females, 15. There were 8,530 pairs of boots and 9,280 pairs of shoes manufactured; value, $22,327; palm-leaf hats manufactured, 117,304; value, $22,108. There were 9 manufactories for chairs and cabinet ware; value, $12,586; hands employed, 22. There was 1 manufactory for tin ware, 1 for shovels, spades, forks or hoes, and 1 air and cupola furnace. Eleven saw-mills; lumber sawed, 1,986,000 feet ; value, $16,040.
UPTON.
THIS town is not an original grant, but was taken from Mendon, Sutton, and Hopkinton. It was incorporated by the general court in 1735. The first church was formed in this town soon after its
Southern view of the central part of Upion.
incorporation, and Rev. Thomas Weld ordained their pastor. He remained a few years with the people, when he was dismissed, and succeeded by Rev. Elisha Fish, (from Stonington, Conn., ) ordained in 1751. He died in 1795. The next and the present pastor, Rev. Benjamin Wood, was ordained in 1796. The society of Baptists originated about 1750, and the next year Rev. Abraham Bloss was ordained their teaching elder. This town presents a varied surface, changing from smooth to rough, and from hilly to more level ground. The soil is generally good, and is pretty well watered. A small stream, known by the name of West river, passes through the west part of the town, and flows into the Blackstone in the lower part of Uxbridge. The village consists of about 50 dwelling-houses, and a Congregational church, which is represented in the engraving. Population, 1,451. Distance, 14 miles S. E. of Worcester, and 35 from Boston. In 1837 there was 1 woollen mill ; 2 sets of ma- chinery ; 31,200 yards of cloth were manufactured ; valne, $15,600; boots manufactured, 3,500 pairs; shoes, 117,699 pairs; value, $107,796 84; males employed, 156 ; females, 81 ; there were 14,000 straw bonnets manufactured ; value, $35,110.
612
UXBRIDGE.
UXBRIDGE.
THIS town is composed of what was formerly the western part of Mendon. It was set off and incorporated by an act of the gene- ral court in June, 1727, and then received its present name. The Indian name was Wacantuck. It was larger at first than at present, as the north part, in 1772, was set off and made a distinct town, by the name of Northbridge.
E
Southern view of the central part of Uxbridge.
A church was gathered here in 1731, (under the direction of Rev. Joseph Dorr, of Mendon,) of which Rev. Nathan Webb was ordained pastor. He continued with the people 41 years, till his death, in 1772, and was succeeded by Rev. Hezekiah Chapman, ordained in 1774. He was dismissed in 1781, and in 1783 Rev. Josiah Spaulding suc- ceeded, who, continuing but about 4 years, was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Judson, who was ordained in 1792. Rev. Samuel Clarke was installed pastor of the parish church in 1833. Rev. David A. Grosvenor, the pastor of the second church, was settled in 1832. There is a Friends' church in this town.
The above is a southern view of the central part of Uxbridge, taken from the residence of Rev. Mr. Grosvenor. The Unitarian church, a gothic structure, appears in the central part; the other Congregational church is seen on the left. Some of the buildings in Rogerson's village, nearly two miles from the center, are discerned in the extreme distance. Population, 2,246. Distance, 18 miles from Worcester, and 38 from Boston.
This is a very pleasant and flourishing town ; the center is level and has a light soil; the surrounding hills are moist, and better adapted to grazing and orchards. There are in the town a quarry of stone, easily wrought and highly valuable, and an iron mine, from which much ore has been taken. Uxbridge enjoys important advantages in being situated, for nearly its whole length, on the Blackstone river and canal, as well as from the water power of West and Mumford rivers, which here join the Blackstone. In 1837 there were 3 cotton mills; 11,000 spindles; 936,000 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; value, $168,000; males employed, 130; females, 250; five woollen mills; 13 sets of machinery ; 295,000
613
WARREN.
yards of satinet were manufactured ; value, $186,000; males em- ployed, 62; females, 66.
WARREN.
THIS town was taken partly from Brookfield, and partly from Brimfield and Palmer, in Hampden county. It was incorpo- rated in 1741, by the name of Western. In 1834 its name was changed to that of Warren, in memory of Gen. Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill. The Congregational church was formed here in 1743, and the next year Rev. Isaac Jones was ordained their first pastor. He died in 1784, and was succeeded
co
East view of Warren, (central part.)
by Rev. Stephen Baxter, who was ordained in 1791. The suc- ceeding ministers have been Sylvester Burt, settled in 1806; Munson C. Gaylord, in 1816; Oren Catlin, in 1829; Charles Fitch, in 1832; and George Trask, in 1836. Warren is situated at the south-west angle of the county. The land, though rather rough, is productive. The river Quaboag, from Brookfield, enters this town from the north-east, and, passing through it, goes out at the west angle, and falls into the Chicopee river. Coy's hill, in the north part of this town, affords abundance of granite, being here valuable for building stone. At the foot of the hill, near the river, iron ore is found, and a mineral spring has been discovered, which has some visitants. The accompanying view shows the appear- ance of the central part of the town as seen from the schoolhouse, on the Brookfield road. 'The Congregational church is seen on the right; the Universalist is the building seen in the distance with a tower. The railroad from Worcester to Springfield passes a few rods south of the hotel seen on the left of the engraving. There are at present in the town 1 cotton, 2 woollen, and 1 scythe factories. Population, 1,196. Distance, 24 miles westerly from Worcester, and 64 from Boston. In 1837, there were 45,000 palm-leaf hats manufactured; value, $5,850. Value of woollen goods manufac- tured, $51,300; value of cotton goods, $8,000.
614
WESTBOROUGH.
WEBSTER.
THIS town was set off from Dudley and Oxford, and incorpo- rated in 1832. It was named after the Hon. Daniel Webster. The surface of the town is rather rough, and the soil is not as good as that of the adjoining towns. The outlet of Char-gogg-a-gogg- man-chogg-a-gogg, a large pond in this town, three miles in length, affords fine water privileges. The engraving shows a north-east-
North-east view of Webster.
ern view of the central and principal village in Webster, as it is entered upon the Boston road. One of the Slater cotton mills is seen on the left. Mr. Slater, who, it is stated, first introduced the cotton manufacturing business into this country, lived the latter part of his life in this village; his house is seen in the central part of the engraving, having 4 chimneys. . The Methodist church and the center school-house, each with a spire, are seen in the back ground. The Baptist church is still farther westward. Popula- tion, 1,210. Distance, 16 miles from Worcester, and 50 from Bos- ton. In 1837, there were 3 cotton mills ; 6,088 spindles ; 1,155,535 yards of cotton goods were manufactured ; value, $103,427 ; males employed, 62; females, 101. There were 2 woollen mills, 6 sets of machinery; 60,000 yards of cloth were manufactured; value, $180,000; males employed, 50; females, 45. One thread mill; 42,000 lbs. of thread were manufactured; value, $26,000; males employed, 11; females, 19.
WESTBOROUGH.
THIS town was taken from Marlborough, and lying the whole length of that town on the west side at the time of its incorporation, in Nov. 1717, it was called Westborough. This part of Marlbo- rough being a frontier, having no town between it and Brookfield on the west, about 40 miles distant, the settlement did not progress very rapidly. Several families, however, before 1700 were settled near where the Congregational meeting-house stands, of which were Messrs. Thomas and Edmund Rice's. The church was
615
WESTBOROUGH.
Mr. Whitney's House, Westborough.
gathered here in 1724, and Rev. Ebenezer Parkman was ordained their pastor; his successor, Rev. John Robinson, was ordained in 1789. The next minister, Rev. Elisha Rockwood, was ordained in 1808. Rev. Hosea Hildreth was installed pastor of the parish church in 1834; his successors were Rev. Barnabas Phinney, in- stalled in 1836, and Rev. Charles B. Kittredge, in 1837. There is a pleasant and well-built village in the central part of the town, consisting of about 50 dwelling-houses, a Congregational and Bap- tist church. The Boston and Worcester railroad passes through the center. The lands rise about a mile distant on the east, south, and west. The soil is good, and the township is well watered by Concord and Sudbury rivers. Population, 1,612. Distance, 12 miles from Worcester, and 32 from Boston. In 1837, there were manufactured 20,092 pairs of boots and 120,656 pairs of shoes ; value, $148,774 40; males employed, 360; females, 214.
The above is a south-eastern view of the house in which Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin, was born, Dec. S, 1765; it is now occupied by his brother, Mr. Benjamin Whitney, and is about two miles westward of the central village, on a cross road. His mechanical genius discovered itself at an early age. The small building seen standing by the house was his work-shop, where he manufactured various articles. His name is still to be seen cut on the door with his penknife. He graduated at Yale college, and soon after went into the state of Georgia; while here he invented the cotton gin, which is worth millions of dollars an- nually to the southern states.
Before this invention, one person could clean from the seeds but one pound of cotton daily ; with the aid of this machine a single person can in one day clean a thousand pounds with ease. Judge Johnson, of South Carolina, declared that by means of this invention " their lands were trebled in value." For this invention Mr. Whitney obtained a patent, but, like many other benefactors of the public, was plundered of the benefits of his invention. Mr. Whitney, by turning his attention to the manufacture of fire- arms for the United States, was enabled to realize a comfortable independence. The village which he built up two miles from New Haven, Con., for his workmen, is called Whitneyville. Mr. Whitney died in New Haven, Jan. 8, 1825.
616
WEST BOYLSTON.
WEST BOYLSTON.
THIS town was settled as early as 1720, by several families from Marlborough, being then included in the grant of land called Shrewsbury. Among the first settlers were Benjamin Hinds, Isaac Temple, Edward Goodale, William Whitney, John Bixby, and William Holt. The town was incorporated in 1808.
Vale of West Boylston.
In 1796, the present town was incorporated a separate parish. In the same year a Congregational church was gathered, consisting of 32 members. Rev. William Nash, the first minister, was ordained on the 11th of Oct., 1797. His successor, Rev. John Boardman, was ordained in 1821; the next minister was installed in 1834. Rev. Philemon Russell, pastor of the Unitarian society, was ordained in 1834. In 1813, a so- ciety of Baptists was formed in the town. In 1818, they built a meeting-house. The next year the church was organized, of about 50 members, who had been dismissed from the church in Holden. In 1821, they had constant preaching by Rev. Nicholas Branch. The first settlers of the town built a stockade fort, of square logs, for defence, on the land now owned by Mr. John Temple. This fort stood till about 1790; the only inti- mations of any hostilities against it were a few bullets lodged in the timbers. A few traces of the aborigines are sometimes discovered.
In the south part of the town is a beautiful and romantic spot, called Pleasant Valley. At some remote period it was the location of a small pond. The engraving shows the appearance of this spot as it is seen from the north. At this point, immediately north, and separated from the valley by a bar or ridge of land, is a depression of a number of feet lower than the vale, which is, perhaps, 10 or 12 rods in length, and in its formation resembles the bowl of a spoon. This place is about one mile southerly of the principal village of West Boylston. The following notice of this beautiful little spot, with the accompanying lines, are taken from the American Traveller of July 14, 1826 :
" On leaving the road you enter § grove of oaks and maples, between two declivities, and continuing down this avenue that winds along through the shrub oaks, at once opens to the view a plain of 3 or 4 acres, of an oval form, surrounded on every side, except the narrow pass by which you enter, by high and almost per- pendicular banks, whose sides are covered by the birch and shrub-oak, and whose tops are surmounted by trees of the largest size. The plain is more level and smooth than art could make it ; no remains of ancient trees, no stone, not even a stray branch of the neighboring grove near the scene. A fine short grass covers the whole area, and presents to the eye an enchanting fairy green. The stillness of death reigns, undis- turbed by the noise of the world. It is a place for contemplation, where man can turn his thoughts home to his own breast and meditate on the follies of the world, or where he can upturn them to Him the supreme Architect of nature.
617
WINCHENDON.
"Sweet vale of West Boylston ! how calm a retreat
From the sorrows and cares of this cold world of woe ;
With thy thick-covered banks, where the wild flowrets meet, And thy serpentine paths where the evergreens grow.
Oh, here the war trumpet shall never be heard, Here the banners of foemen shall ne'er be unfurl'd;
. At the tramp of the war-horse, thy paths shall be barred, And peace with her wand bid him back to the world.
Thy carpet so green, 'neath the blue sky outspread, Shall never be soil'd by the foot of dishonor-
Here the children of nature by truth shall be led, And fear not the intrusions of care or of sorrow.
Be this the retreat of the votaries of love, For the friends of the heart-be it piety's fane,
Where their vows and their prayers shall ascend-and above Shall be heard, and Heaven grant that they be heard not in vain.
Oh, here have I roam'd with the friend of my heart, When the last rays of sunshine were gilding the spot-
And the thoughts of that hour they shall never depart, And the friends that were there shall ne'er be forgot."
In 1837, there were in this town 7 cotton mills; 8,036 spindles ; 1,502,000 yards of cotton goods were manufactured; value, $151,450; males employed, 89; females, 168. Population, 1,330. Distance, 7 miles from Worcester, and 42 from Boston.
WESTMINSTER.
THIS town, with others, was granted by the general court to the soldiers who did service in the Narragansett or King Philip's war, or to their heirs. It was styled Narragansett No 2. until its incor- poration in 1769, when it was named Westminster. The proprie- tors of this town were chiefly inhabitants of Cambridge, Charles- town, Watertown, Weston, Sudbury, Newton, Medford, Malden, and Reading.
The first person who settled on the grant was Capt. Fairbanks Moor, who moved there with his family in March, 1737. In June following, Dea. Joseph Holden moved his family into the place. These two families contained 15 persons. It being an exposed plantation, settlers moved in but slowly. The proprietors erected a meeting- house in 1739: The Congregational church was formed, and Rev. Elisha Marsh ordained pastor, in 1742. He was dismissed in 1757, and the town had no minister from that time till 1765, when the Rev. Asaph Rice was settled. Previously Mr. Rice had been a missionary among the Indians. The next pastor, Rev. Cyrus Mann, was settled in 1815. This town being exposed to Indian assaults, the general court, in 1743, granted £400 to fortify the place, with which ten forts were erected, and soldiers sta- tioned there for the defence of the plantation. In 1746, some of the people of the place were put under pay as a town scout. But although the people suffered many trials and hardships, it is believed that no person belonging to the town was ever cut off by the enemy.
This town is situated on the range of highlands which separate the waters of the Connecticut and Merrimac. The soil of the township is fertile, containing good grazing lands. There are three churches, 1 Congregational, 1 Universalist, and one Baptist. Population, 1,640. Distance, 26 miles from Worcester, and 50 from Boston. In 1837, there were 14 manufactories of chairs and cabinet ware ; value of articles manufac- tured, $26,350 ; hands employed, 38. There were 8,400 straw bonnets manufactured ; value, $15,675.
WINCHENDON.
THIS town was granted by the general court, in 1735, to 60 per- sons, all of whom, excepting 8, belonged to Ipswich, in Essex
78
618
WORCESTER.
county. It was called "Ipswich Canada" till its incorporation, in 1764, by the name of Winchendon, because most of the grantees were soldiers or the heirs of soldiers who had served in an expedi- tion to Canada in 1690.
By the year 1752, ten families were fixed down here. But the settlement was retard- ed by what is usually called the last French war. Most of the settlers left the place ; those who remained were obliged to keep in garrisons. The proprietors set up the first meeting-house, 45 feet by 35, in the spring of 1762. The church was organized, and Rev. Daniel Stimpson ordained their pastor, in December of the same year. He died in 1768, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Brown, who was ordained in 1769. Rev. Levi Pilsbury, the next pastor, was ordained in 1801 ; he was succeeded by Rev. Eber Clark, who was installed in 1820. Rev. Daniel O. Morton was installed the next pastor in 1836.
This town is rocky and moderately uneven, but the soil is deep and good. Manomo- nack Pond, lying partly in this town and partly in New Hampshire, is the head source of Miller's river. Several branches of the stream meet here, and the town enjoys valu- able water privileges. There are 3 churches, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, and 1 Meth- odist. Population, 1,802. Distance, 33 miles from Worcester, and 60 from Boston. In 1837, there was 1 cotton mill, 4,000 spindles; 1,000,000 yards of cotton goods manu- factured ; males employed, 25 ; females, 125; one woollen mill, 3 sets of machinery ; 55,000 yards of cloth were manufactured; value, $53,000 ; males employed, 25; fe- males, 25.
WORCESTER.
WORCESTER was incorporated in 1684, but in consequence of Indian hostilities the first town meeting was not held till 1722. This part of the country was called by the Indians Quinsigamond, that being the name of a large pond on the eastern border of the town. The central situation of this town both in regard. to the county and state, the fertility of its soil and that of the sur- rounding country, and the industry, intelligence, and wealth of the inhabitants, justly entitle it to the honor of being called the chief town of the " Heart of the Commonwealth."
In October, 1668, a township of land of rather more than eight miles square, bounded easterly by Quinsigamond pond, was granted by the general court to Daniel Gookin, Daniel Henchman, Thomas Prentice, and their associates. On account of the Indian war prevailing about this period, the immediate settlement of the place was prevented. In 1685, the Indians appearing friendly, the persons named above, together with John Wing, George Danson, Peter Goulding, Dickery Sargeant, Isaac Bull, and Jacob Leon- ard, ventured to begin the plantation. It appears, however, that there were six' or seven houses erected here in 1675, but, on account of King Philip's war, which then raged, they were soon deserted.
The natives who inhabited Quinsigamond were of the Nipmuc tribe. The principal settlement of these Indians in Worcester was on a hill in the south part of the town, extending into Ward, called by them Pakachoag, now known as Bogachoag. Wig- wam hill, on the eastern shore of Quinsigamond, was probably a favorite residence for them, on account of the fish and wild game in the vicinity. These Indians were visited by Mr. Elliot, the " Indian apostle," and Mr. Gookin, in 1674 ; at this time they had made considerable advances in civilization, and some of them professed Chris- tianity. In 1675, Pakachoag was visited by King Philip, who by his artifices and threats induced most of the Indians to take up arms against the whites.
After the return of the whites to Worcester in 1685, the settlement of the place went on prosperously till 1701, when the Indians again began to attack the frontier towns, and Worcester was again depopulated. After all the other planters had fled, Dickery Sargeant, with his family, determined to remain and brave the dangers from the Indian foe. He remained unmolested till 1703 or 1704. The following particulars of his death are preserved. When the Indians surrounded his house, Sargeant seized his gun to defend himself; as he was retreating to the stair-way, he was shot down by the savages. Upon this they rushed into the house and completed the work of death by their tomahawks, and tore off his scalp. They seized his wife and five children, and commenced a rapid retreat westward. Mrs. Sargeant, overcome with grief and fatigue,
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