USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 33
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Formerly, the old south village, located on the hill at what lias sometimes been called "South Woodstock," presented to the eye a broad, naked, common ground, descending south- erly, without a tree or shrub to break the general monotony of the place ; while the surrounding dwellings and the meet- ing-house, all painted white, afforded but little contrast to what is generally seen in common-place country villages, that have lost much of the little life and energy that once there prevailed.
The little hotel and store was at the north part of this common ground, and near to it stood the academy structure, erected in 1801 ; and when beheld at the former period here referred to, had the dilapidated appearance of age, like most things and places that betoken the absence of the owner ; but now all this is changed: instead of the broad, naked, common ground, may be seen some beautiful parks, displaying fine cut lawns, with many ornamental shade-trees, and the grounds supplied with nicely-arranged asphaltum walks, with here and there, artistically placed, elegant flowering shrubs and plants ; while the old, dilapidated academy has been rejuvenated,
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being well painted, and at this time showing a good state of prosperity, by the number of about 100 students, with a large new structure in process of erection near to, for academic purposes, of a capacity for 250 or more scholars.
The writer, on visiting this old parish village in the summer of 1872, having last before seen it about thirty years since, was agreeably surprised at the change that had taken place, relieving it from a barren monotony in its general appearance, that bore evidence of decay, and giving the whole landscape in view that of great beauty and thrift.
The natural impulse was to learn what had been the moving cause to produce such a marked change in this staid old place. On the first view, at this time, when coming upon the hill of this village, the thought was that a mistake had been made in taking the road that led here, and that we had rode in another direction, but seeing the old academy, that idea proved ground- less, as it was plainly scen that we had come to the place we designed.
By inquiry, it was ascertained that Mr. Henry C. Bowen, a native, after an absence of many years, and accumulating an ample fortune, returned some years since, and now makes this village his summer residence, and by way of amusement, has occupied his leisure hours here, by expending a portion of his income to give beauty, comfort, and prosperity to the place of his childhood and youth. Many thousands of dollars have been expended for this object. Beautiful parks and thousands of trees are seen as a part of these labors and expen- ditures, while his spacious mansion, finely adjusted grounds, with trees, shrubs, plants, gardens, and lawns, about the same, are evidences of good taste as well as liberality.
The present condition of the old academy, and the erection of the spacious new structure for academic purposes, before referred to, have been principally the result of his capital and influence.
6 Bauer
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HENRY C. BOWEN.
This Mr. Bowen, son of George Bowen, and his wife Lydia Wolcott Eaton, who was a daughter of Dr. John Eliot Eaton, of Dudley, in the line of descent from Rev. John Eliot, the apostle to the Indians, and Henry Wolcott, one of the foun ders of Connecticut, was born at Woodstock, September 11, 1813. His father was a merchant, and many years the postmaster of this town ; justice of the peace, possessing a handsome estate, and enjoyed the confidence and respect of his townsmen, and those of the vicinity generally. The subject of this notice was his oldest son, who, having closed his school days at the age of fifteen years, entered his father's store as clerk, and assist- ant postmaster ; he was soon intrusted with the responsibility of purchasing the supplies for the store, many of which, for the dry goods department, were bought in New York of Arthur Tappan & Co., where young Bowen, from his activity and business qualities, attracted the attention of the head of this noted establishment, who addressed a letter to his father with a request for his son to enter as a clerk in their business, then the most extensive silk and fancy goods importing and job- bing house in the country. This request being granted, Mr. Bowen, at the age of twenty, became installed in the silk department, the most important branch of Mr. Tappan's busi- ness, under a five years' clerkship, at an average salary of $500 per annum. He soon became chief manager of this most important section, and the exclusive buyer in this branch under his charge.
At the close of this clerkship, Mr. Lewis Tappan, a partner in the house, informed Mr. Bowen of the idea he had enter- tained of forming a new house in the same line of business, and proposed to him to join as a partner ; but the general principle which Mr. Tappan desired to incorporate into the new firm-that of giving away for benevolent and other
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objects, annually, a stated per cent. of the profits, being re- garded as objectionable, and furthermore a preference for having a house exclusively under his own control, led him to decline this offer. This rejection of Mr. Lewis Tappan's friendly advance toward him did not cause that friendship to be withdrawn, as Mr. Tappan at once offered to befriend him in arranging for a new house, and introduced Mr. John Ran- kin, a wealthy silk merchant, who had proposed to furnish capital for Tappan and Bowen had that connection been formed. He at once extended the like offer to Mr. Bowen for such a house as he might deem best to form; thus being pro vided with the means for business, he invited a fellow-clerk, Mr. Theodore McNamee, to join, with Mr. Rankin as special partner, under the name of Bowen & McNamee ; when Mr. Lewis Tappan decided to remain in the old house of Arthur Tappan & Co.
This connection was for five years, which proved very pro- fitable, when Mr. Rankin withdrew, receiving his share of the profits, with the money advanced, and Bowen & McNamee continued the business to the year 1857, when this firm was dissolved, and a new firm, styled Bowen, Holmes & Co., was formed, which continued until the beginning of the late Rebellion, when, in consequence of heavy losses, Mr. Bowen decided to withdraw from the dry goods trade. He settled the affairs of the firm, and embarked in the publishing of newspapers, to which a considerable amount of the late firm's funds had been previously engaged. This was in connection with the well-known paper, styled the Independent, which now came under Mr. Bowen's personal management, and, as a profitable enterprise, has been a great success. In 1869 he bought the entire establishment of the Brooklyn Daily Union.
Two sons of Mr. Bowen, then engaged in Wall street, New York, were admitted partners in this new enterprise. Mr. Bowen gives his morning labors to the Brooklyn paper,
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and the afternoon to the Independent, both exhibiting a high degree of prosperity, giving ample evidence of activity and skill in their management.
Mr. Bowen possesses, in a large degree, self-reliance and independence of thought and action, and these may be con- sidered his chief characteristics, united with great activity and industry.
It is not surprising that this independence of thought and action should occasionally cause unkind feeling with some who differ with him in their business, religious, and political sentiments. Previous to the late Rebellion, many of the business men of New York who were largely engaged in the Southern trade, were disposed to yield to pro-slavery ideas ; and, knowing that Mr. Bowen had a large trade in that section, though advocating and supporting the anti-slavery party, remonstrated with him, and endeavored to have him be less severe in his denunciations in that respect, when he made that well-known but characteristic reply, " My goods are for sale, but not my principles."
Mr. Bowen may be regarded as a prominent type of Puri- tanism in his religious sentiments, tempered with modern ideas, being an orthodox Congregationalist, and has done much to sustain that religious denomination. He has the honor of being the first to suggest the idea of church-building associations.
This suggestion was made at a convention of Congregation- alists held at Albany, many years since, when he was a dele- gate to that body, having been selected with a view to bring forward this object at that convention, from the fact of his advocating the church-building question.
At first, the idea was opposed by the committee for regula- ing the business to be acted upon by the convention, as im- practicable ; but, by his persistent and sanguine efforts in its favor, this question was entered among the list of business to be brought forward in this convention for discussion.
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When brought up in the regular course before this body it at first met with a cold reception, but the same unyielding effort was now made before the convention as before the com .. mittee, whom he had induced to enter it upon their list of business.
As a test of his firmness of belief in the utility of this measure, and his boldness in sustaining his views, he proposed at once to contribute $10,000, provided $50,000 should be raised, to be known as the " Church-Building Fund." This step produced the desired effect : the vote was unanimous in its favor ; an amount exceeding the gross sum proposed was soon raised, and the church-building fund system established, which has since become a prominent measure with nearly all religious denominations.
Mr. Bowen's liberality and influence has extended to vari- ous objects. Several banks and insurance companies have been created by his efforts, besides his ardent support of objects of a religious and educational character.
In his native town he has recently appropriated $5,000 for land for a park, and is expending his funds liberally in intro- ducing driveways and paths, besides doing many things for ornamentation.
Some of the other distinguished names here are those of May, Lyon, Child, Payne, Bacon, Corbin, and McClellan. Of the latter, John and James McClellan's families held a high position here many years, and some of their descendants have been persons of distinction in other parts of the country. Dr. George Mcclellan, son of James, of this town, became a very distinguished surgeon in Philadelphia, and his son, H. B. McClellan, now of Boston, is a doctor of medicine of considerable reputation; while his brother, General George B. McClellan, sustains a distinguished position in military science and civil engineering throughout the country.
General Nathaniel Lyon, born at Ashford, who lost his life
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in the battle of Wilson's Creek, in the south-west part of Mis- souri, August 11, 1861, in the beginning of the Rebellion, was a descendant from the Lyon family of Woodstock. His ability as a military officer was of a high order, and his management of military affairs in Missouri exhibited such promptness and sagacity that it was due to him more than any other person that Missouri was prevented from becoming a secession State, and retained on the side of the Union.
Among the name of Child there may be mentioned Colonel Chester Child, Peter Child, Deacon Luther Child, and his son, Rev. Willard Child, D. D., now of Norwich ; also, the late Rensalier Child, noted as surveyor and conveyancer, and his sons, Peleg, the Hon. Asa Child, and Hon. Linus Child. The latter will again be referred to in another place.
In referring again to the village of the south parish it may be added to what has been before remarked, that the sur- rounding landscape, as viewed from the hill, and particularly as seen from what is called " Sunset Hill," is one of great beauty, exhibiting ponds, rivulets, hills, and valleys, with an extensive range of highly-cultivated fields, interspersed with occasional forests, and many farm-houses, besides here and there the spire of a meeting-house, all giving evidence of quietness, good neighborhood, and prosperity. A view of greater or equal beauty it would be difficult to find.
The chief occupation of the inhabitants here is farming ; that of manufacturing and mechanical enterprise is only to a moderate extent; but nowhere can be found a more equal distribution of property, less poverty, or fewer instances of large estates ; where the masses are good livers, prosperous and happy in the condition that has come down to them from past generations, preserving their social status more free from foreign admixture than is found in towns generally in New England.
S.C. Bacon
DUDLEY.
SECTION IV.
CHAPTER I.
A N act for making a new town in the county of Worcester by the name of Dudley :
" Whereas, There are many inhabitants in a tract of land lying be- tween the towns of Woodstock and Oxford, in the county of Worcester, who, together with others lately settled in the south-west part of Oxford, and very remote from any place of public worship of God, are very conveniently situated for a town, and have petitioned this court to be erected into a separate township, accordingly,
" Be it enacted, By his excellency, the Governor, the Council, and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the au- thority of the same, that all the lands lying within the bounds follow- ing, viz., the colony or Patent Line and the town of Woodstock on the south; the grant lately made to Medfield on the west; the land of Mr. Papillon on the north, unto the farm belonging to Paul Dudley ; Esq. ; and by the same partly on the cast, until it comes to Stony Brook ; and by said brook till it comes to the brook coming out of Chabana- konkamon Pond; and by the pond to the said colony or Patent Line, - be and hereby is set off and constituted a distinct and separate town- ship by the name of Dudley. And that the inhabitants of the said township be vested with the powers, privileges, and immunities that the inhabitants of any of the towns of this province by law are or ought to be vested with. "*
Included within the limits of this grant for Dudley was 'a part of the tract of land selected by the descendants of the ancient Nipmuck Indians, which they reserved in their deeds
* December, 1731. See State Library Acts, 1692 to 1740.
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to the agents of the province, dated, "February 10, 1681," as given in another part of this work. Having the right of se- lection from the lands thus deeded, a quantity equal to the contents of "five miles square," they located these lands ex- tending west from the borders of Chabanakongkamon pond.
These lands were surveyed out to these Indians in October, 1684, and extended from said pond some distance west of what has since been known as Dudley Hill, including all that part, now the center village; and, as stated in the histor- ical sketch of the Congregational church, that church and society received from these Indians " four acres of this land for the location of their meeting-house, and other public purposes."
This tract of Indian land was known for many years after the grants for Oxford and Woodstock, as the " Land of Black James and Company." Black James was a distinguished Indian among the people of this tribe. He is mentioned by General Gookin in his description of the several towns of these natives, called Praying Indians, which he, as the Indian agent of the province, refers to in describing his tour among them in the autumn of 1674, when accompanying the Rev. John Eliot on his missionary visits to them.
The greater part of these Indian lands were sold, before the town of Dudley was granted, to the Hon. Joseph Dudley, who was also the chief owner, by grants from the province, of most of the other lands included in the said grant; all of which at the time of Mr. Dudley's decease, April 2, 1720, became the property of his sons.
These sons, Chief-Justice Paul Dudley and the Hon. William Dudley, soon after the decease of their father, opened these lands for sale. Their location between two thriving towns made them desirable for new settlements. The deeds of these early sales, beginning in 1721, are found recorded upon the records of Suffolk county, at Boston.
This tract, also Woodstock, Oxford, and New Medfield,
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which subsequently became Sturbridge, was a part of Suffolk county, till set off to form a part of the county of Worcester, in 1731.
It does not appear that Governor Dudley sold any part of these lands during his life. He and his friend, the Hon. William Stoughton, were the principal owners of all this ter- ritory; and, as there has not been seen on record any deeds from Mr. Stoughton of these lands, it is presumed that, like Mr. Dudley, he never made any sales, but left them to his heirs or for educational purposes, as a part of the lands he left by his will for that object.
Governor Dudley, it has been shown by the historical sketch of Oxford, owned 6,000 acres in that grant, which, as appears by the deed of allotment, was at the south-west eor- ner of the same, adjoining this grant for the town of Dudley, and which, at the time this grant was made, is described as the land of Mr. Papillon, and, by the history of Southbridge, is shown to be a large portion of her territory, covering much of her center village.
The earliest conveyance of land in this grant that has been noticed (which is found recorded in the county of Suffolk records), is a deed from William Dudley, of Roxbury, to John Healy, of the same town, described as lying south of Oxford, date 1721, book 38, page 96 ; and a deed from same party to Jonas Clark the same year. Also, among the names of purchasers about this time are Philip Newell. William Ward, Benjamin Newell, Nathaniel Ramsdell, Samuel Newell, Joseph Putney, Clement Corbin, Benjamin Sabin, Joseph Sabin, Daniel Williams, Joseph and Ebenezer Edmonds, and some others, during the period from 1721 to 1729. After this period the settlers came in more numerously, when, in 1731, a petition was presented to the General Court for a grant for a township.
After the act of incorporation had been granted, an order
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was asked for giving the inhabitants, residents of the grant, authority for organizing the town, which was given as follows:
" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 1, 1732.
" Ordered, That Joseph Edmonds, one of the principal inhabitants of the town of Dudley, be directed to improve, notify, and summon the inhabitants of the town of Dudley, qualified to vote, to assemble and meet together, some time in the present montli of June, for the choice of town officers, to stand until the next annual election, according to law; any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
"J. QUINCY, Speaker.
" Read and concurred, "J. WILLARD, Secretary.
" Consented to, "JONATHAN BELCHER, Governor."
The warrant by Joseph Edmonds, summoned the inhabitants qualified to vote, to meet at the house of William Carter, June 20, 1732, to vote for all the necessary officers for organ- izing the town, as by law is required, when officers were elected, and other business was transacted, as follows :
"NAMES OF OFFICERS ELECTED.
"For Moderator,
66 Selectmen,
Joseph Edmonds. Joseph Edmonds, Ebenezer Edmonds, James Corbin, George Robinson, John Lilly. John Lilly. Joseplı Putney.
" Town Clerk,
" Constable,
". Fence Viewers, John Healy, Clement Corbin.
" Tything-Men,
Jonathan Newell,
/ Benjamin Conant.
". Hlog Reeves, : David Southwick,
/ Joseph Wakefield.
" Treasurer, Jonathan Newell."
The second meeting was held the 29th instant, following. " For Moderator, 1 James Corbin."
It was then voted to have a minister, and to raise the
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money for his support by a tax upon improved lands and stock; and that William Carter's house be the place to meet to hear the Gospel preached.
The selectmen were authorized to procure a minister ; Jonathan Newell was appointed to set the Psalms in the public worship; and that Joseph Payson should be the man to read the Psalms.
In further pursuance of the business of this meeting, it was voted that William Carter's barn-yard be the pound ; and that William Carter be the pound-keeper, provided the selectmen procure him a lock.
It was then decided that the meeting-house be set on the west end of William Carter's land, near the Indians' land.
Then follows a vote, to give Rev. Isaac Richardson, the minister, £150, together with the lot of land of 100 acres, given for the minister, by the Hon. William Dudley. Be- sides this, it was voted that Mr. Richardson have ciglity pounds salary the first year, and to increase this sum five pounds per year, until it be £100.
A vote was now passed, valuing all the land in town at twenty shillings per acre, and to remain at that value seven years; also, a committee was chosen to apply to the Legis- lature to permit a tax on all lands as here voted.
At this time none but improved lands could be taxed, un- less so authorized by the General Court.
The town records show that the selectmen were authorized, on the 26th of February, to agree on terms with the Rev. Isaac Richardson for a settlement, and a sum for his salary.
It was also agreed that the day for his ordination, should be the first Monday in June ensuing. Twenty-five dollars was voted for the expense of the ordination ; and that this service should be performed at the house of Joshua Healy. Mr. Joseph Edmonds was to provide the refreshments at his house.
The following gentlemen were the ministers selected to
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be present and to assist in the service of the ordination : Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Roxbury ; Rev. John Fiske, of Killingly, Connecticut ; Rov. Ebenezer Williams, of Pomfret, Connec- ticut; Rev. Mr. Jackson, of Woburn; Rev. John Campbell, of Oxford; Rev. Amos Throup, of Woodstock; Rev. Martin Cabot. of Thompson, and the Rev. Solomon Prentice, of Has- sanamisco (Grafton).
Notwithstanding all this preparation being made, and the council, as above called, there is no record of the ordination as appointed. It is presumed, for some cause deemed suffi- cient, it did not take place. On the 12th of June, 1735, Rev. Perley Howe was ordained, but was dismissed in 1743. Mr. Howe was probably their first settled minister. A vote appears on the records of the town, of May 17, 1744,
" Appointing Thursday, the 24th next, to be held as a day of solemn fasting and prayer to God for counsel and direction in the great and important affair before us. Voted unanimously to hold a day of fasting and prayer to God for direction in the great and mighty affair of calling and settling a minister. Also voted, that Rev. John Campbell, of Ox- ford, Rev. Abel Stiles, of Woodstock, and Rev. Caleb Rice, of Stur- bridge, be the gentlemen to carry on the work of our fast for us."
The result was that Mr. Charles Gleason, of Brookline, Massachusetts, was selected and ordained as their pastor, October 31, 1744. A settlement of £350 was voted, a salary of £180 the first year, and to add five pounds per year, until it comes to £200. This was stipulated to be "old tenor money," with the addition of twenty cords of wood. It was then voted that silver be the standard of value of the money.
Under the pastoral services of Rev. Charles Gleason (who appears to have been a man of character and good practical influence among his people), the town advanced in its number of inhabitants, and continued in the usual routine of its politi- cal affairs without any remarkable incident to notice, except the French wars and the excitement which culminated in the
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war of the Revolution, till the close of the colonial period. It appears that a Baptist church had been formed here at an early date in the history of this town.
The principal members were Joseph Wakefield, Benjamin Putney, Paul Robinson, Silas Robinson, Jonathan Putney, Francis Courtis, John Courtis, William Wakefield, Jonathan Marsh, and James Coats. Their certificate, in accordance with the law favoring and exempting Anabaptists from taxes for the support of the Standing Order, was presented to the assessors, under date of "May 21, 1744," and entered on the records under date of "September 16, 1746." This certificate was furnished, as provided in the exemption law of 1727, and renewed from time to time, until a new exemption law was enacted in 1757. Under this latter law, in the year 1772, it appears that the town voted to excuse the Baptists from bring. ing in their certificates during the existence of said law, as follows : May 25, 1772,
Voted : "To excuse the persons that belong to the Baptist church from bringing their certificates to the assessors, yearly, so long as the law con- tinues in favor of the Baptists and Quakers."
The preliminary acts of the British government, which excited the English colonists and produced the war of the Revolution, did not have much effect upon the people of Dudley until the year 1774. It appears that the committee at Boston appointed by those opposed to the Tea act (and especially the sale of teas under the direction of revenue offi- cers appointed by the crown), in the year 1773, drafted circu- lars, and sent them to every town in the province, setting forth the unconstitutional character of all acts of the English Par- liament in framing laws for taxing the colonies in America, on the ground of non-representation.
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