USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 37
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66 James H. Burnham, 66 4 1851. 66 66
66 Phineas Hersey, " 1852. 66 66
66 William Bell, a short time, 1853. 66 66
66
66 Joseph Barbour, began January 1, 1854. Left April 1, 1861.
This society now being reduced in members by emigration from the town, united with their friends in Webster. The minister preached in the morning for one society, and in the afternoon for the other, each day going from one town to the other, maintaining preaching for a half day at each place. In 1867 the society in Dudley, being further reduced in num- bers, sold their meeting-house to Nichols' academy for school purposes.
METHODIST CHURCH, DUDLEY.
There have been, from an early period in the history of this town, several families who in their religious faith adhered per- sistently to Methodism. Through their influence they have had occasional preaching here during all this period ; but their numbers and ability have not been equal to the support of constant supply, nor sufficient to make it a regular station.
For several years (of a more recent period), the parties professing Methodism have joined with those of the faith of Universalism, in a place for holding their meetings; but this mode of conducting their religious affairs did not prove to the satisfaction of either party, and was abandoned.
There was now a determination to organize a permanent society, and sustain regular preaching. Having sold their share of the Union meeting-house to the Universalists, they began preaching as follows:
In 1843, by Nathaniel J. Merrill, 1 year. " 1844, " William B. Olds, 2 66
During this period, in 1845, the church and society were enabled to erect a meeting-house, in which they have since
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assembled. Their next supply was 1846, by Jeremiah L. Hanaford, two years.
In 1848, by David K. Merrill, 1 year. 2 66
" 1849, " David Kilburn
" 1851, " William B. Olds (second term), -
1
66
" 1852, " William R. Stone, 2 66
" 1854, " Nathan A. Soule, -
1
66
66 “ 1855, " Jonathan L. Estey, 1
" 1856, " Erastus B. Morgan, -
6 months. -
" 1856, " Daniel Dorchester, -
" 1858, " Daniel Atkins, - - - 2 -
" 1860, " Thomas J. Abbott, 2 - 66 -
" 1862, " M. Emory Waight, - - 66 2
" 1864, " Moses P. Webster, - - -
1
66
" 1865, " Thomas B. Treadwell, -
2 66 - 6 months. -
" 1867, " Thomas Powers,
" 1867, " Samuel F. Cushman, - 4 66
" 1868, " William B. Lacount, 2
66
-
-
12 years. 66
Warren F. Goodell, a local preacher, resident in this place, has supplied the pulpit in the absence of other preachers.
In 1870 John Noon was their preacher.
Arson Jefte
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHAPTER III.
HON. AARON TUFTS.
M R. TUFTS, known as Dr. Tufts and Judge Tufts, was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, January 30, 1770. His father dying while he was a child, he was left to the sole care of his mother. In 1776 he removed with her to Wood- stock, Connecticut, where he received the rudiments of his education in a common school. Though without the advan- tages of the facilities for education of the present day, yet he made highly respectable attainments in knowledge. He studied medicine with Dr. John Eliot Eaton, of Dudley, in which town the remainder of his life was spent. He practiced medicine about five years, and then engaged ex- tensively in manufacturing business, and acquired a hand- some fortune.
At Dudley, in possession of an elegant residence and good estate, he maintained the hospitality of a gentleman, and gath- ered around him the essentials of a pleasant home.
Few men in his day exerted a more commanding influence in the country. Though not what is called a man of " liberal education," his strong good sense, great sagacity, and broad experience rendered such an education the less necessary, and more than supplied it in the practical business of life, both public and private.
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He for many years represented the town of Dudley in the General Court, and from 1810 to 1825 was a member of the senate.
In 1819 he was appointed a justice of the Court of Sessions, which office he filled several years.
Those who recall the long and difficult struggle, by which anything like a protective tariff was obtained from Congress, will remember how important it was deemed that the wisest, most discreet, and experienced friends of American industry should be employed to present their views before the commit- tees of Congress. Of the men selected for this purpose Judge Tufts was one, and no one who knew him doubted the wisdom of the selection ..
By the opportunities that offered he became widely and very favorably known in the country. He was distinguished for the energy and decision of character manifested in all his undertakings, and he combined with that an urbanity of manner, at once dignified and refined, which rendered him an agreeable companion in social life, and won the confidence of those around him.
He married, May 22, 1790, Sally Barker, daughter of Wil- liam Barker, of Worcester. She died, March 2, 1842. The death of his only son, George Aaron Tufts, in whom his hopes had justly centered, saddened the evening of his days. Judge Tufts survived both son and wife till October 17, 1843, when an honorable and useful career was closed at the age of sev- enty-three years.
HON. GEORGE A. TUFTS.
Mr. Tufts was the only son of Hon. Aaron Tufts, for many years distinguished as a man of wealth and sagacity.
The subject of this sketch was born at Dudley, February 22, 1797. He graduated at Harvard university in 1818, was
Que le Jupts
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one year and a quarter a member of the law school at Cam- bridge, studied law one year in the office of Hon. Josiah J. Fiske, the balance of time, making three years of legal studies, was in the office of Hon. Levi Lincoln, at Worcester, and admitted to the bar in Worcester, December, 1821.
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 conscientious 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, Azubah Boyden Fales, daughter of David Fales, of Wrentham. She was born, Octo- ber, 1796 ; died, November 27, 1835.
Their only daughter, Sarah, was born, January 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. Wm. 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- lence. 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 authorities 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- ous class, 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 traet 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 deeds 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, Barnes, 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-industrious 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- tinguished of this place.
Enge by .. H. itchie
Samuel Stater
WEBSTER.
SECTION V.
CHAPTER I.
T HIS 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 tract 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, includ- 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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WEBSTER.
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 erect 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 outlet 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-I 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 I could 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 6} 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 effect 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, 9} 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, bought 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 268} 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.
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