USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical reminiscences of the early times in Marlborough, Massachusetts : and prominent events from 1860 to 1910, including brief allusions to many individuals and an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 12
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first president and served as trustee until his death. He assisted in pro- curing the charter of the Savings Bank of which he was president and treasurer for ten years. It was through the instrumentality of himself and Lambert Bigelow that the South Acton and Marlborough Branch R. R. was built. The fortune he had acquired by his industry and frugality enabled him to gratify a desire to help the poor and needy. In 1871 he gave $5,000 to various clergymen for distribution among the needy, and in 1874 he presented the town with an equal amount of money as a fund for the industrious poor.
Mark Fay enjoyed a joke even though at his own expense. It was in November 1859 when the ladies of the Charitable Association went to him to solicit coal. " Why, yes, I'll give you all you ladies can draw from the depot to Engine House No. 2." The laugh ended upon him- self, for forty ladies immediately drafted themselves into a company and pluckily tugged up nearly a ton of coal for which they were given receipt. Before he built his last modern house, his home was in the now little hotel on Lincoln street which at that time was fenced in and surrounded by trees whose boughs rested and swayed on the window panes. Seven children were given to Sophia and Mark Fay, among whom should be mentioned Eliza Jane (see Corey article) ; William Fay, whose daughter, Emma Doak, and grandson, William Fay Doak, still reside in Marl- borough ; Charles L. (see Doctor Barnes article) ; Charlotte Amanda who married the late George N. Cate who at her death married Della Glidden of Bucksport, Maine.
At the left of our picture is the homestead fronting Lake Williams which has been known for many years as that of George W. Fay. In 1656 his ancestor, John Fay, embarked at Gravesend for this country on board the ' Speedwell," among whose passengers were Thomas Barnes, aged 20, Shadrack Hapgood, aged 14, Thomas Goodnow, aged 20, Nathaniel Goodnow, aged 16, and John Fay, aged 8 years. Sudbury had then been settled seventeen years and those of the emigrants whose parents or relatives were then in this place went there directly. As John Fay grew to manhood he married Mary, the daughter of Thomas Brigham (Thomas Brigham was the ancestor of the Brigham family and Mary was the first Brigham girl born in New England), and coming to the new plantation incorporated by the name Marlborough, we find his name on the records as early as 1669, when he was made freeman and had a lot assigned him of fifty acres. In 1675 he appears among the proprietors of Worcester, but continued his residence in Marlborough. At this time he was assigned, with several others, to repair to the garrison of William
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Kerley to defend it in case of an attack from the marauding bands of Philip. Like most of the settlers, John left the town soon after and repaired to a place of greater safety. This was Watertown, and while there he buried his first wife and one of his children and married again. At the close of Philip's war he returned to Marlborough and settled in the southerly part of the town on a lot now including Southborough.
John Fay's marriage with Mary Brigham was the first of a series of nearly thirty marriages between the Fays and Brighams. Susanna Shat- tuck had married Joseph Morse and at his death became the second wife of John Fay, whom she survived, and at his death married for her third husband Thomas Brigham, Jr., whose first wife was Mary Rice. And so the story goes on. John Fay had been a man of character and high standing in the community and became a planter of considerable estate, and when he died he bequeathed extensive tracts of land to his heirs. His daughter Mary married Jonathan Brigham, son of Thomas, Jr.
The origin of the word Fay dates back to mythological times. We find the name in an illustrious warrior under Charlemange, and we are most interested in the fact that Rudolph Fay married the daughter of General Lafayette and with him shared the captivity of the father in the prison of Olmutz, Prussia. The family has a genealogical history in which many interesting facts are found. John Fay, the second, married Elizabeth Wellington, and for his second wife he married Levinah Brig- ham. He filled several town offices before the division of the town, and after Westborough was incorporated became one of the most prominent men there. He is said to have been one of the first settlers in that part of the township, and to have built him a cabin on the hillside accessible only on one side, the better to protect himself against Indians. This place was in a manner preserved by his descendants and was called the " Ancestors, Fort " until 1834. He secured his farm about one mile from this " fort," and when there was danger would flee to it. He made an underground room with a trap door as security while farming, especially if the Indians intercepted him from fleeing to the fort, which on one occasion saved him from falling into their hands. Under such circum- stances he cleared up his farm and as time went on became a large land- holder. His son Stephen, born 1715, selling out his " town right," removed to Vermont, then known as the "New Hampshire Grants." Stephen became a man of rank, serving as captain in the French war.
Capt. Fay was a leading spirit and had powerful influence in the long contest with New York over the claims on these "Grants." When he settled in Bennington he erected a public house called the Green
-
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Mountain House or Tavern, and it became the headquarters of those who resisted the claim of New York and spurned her jurisdiction. On the top of the high signpost exhibited by landlord Fay was the stuffed skin of a catamount, with teeth grinning defiance towards New York, hence it came to be called " The Catamount Tavern." During the period of the early settlement of the state this tavern was a great resort for travelers and emigrants and became widely known. It was the home of Ethan Allen for several years from 1770, when he came first to the "N. H. Grants," as Vermont was then called. In this famous tavern sat the " Vermont Council of Safety " in an inner room where in secret they planned, guided and directed the patriotic expedition of the "Green Mountain Boys" to stem the torrent of Burgoyne's invasion ; and here also Stark and Warner, with the aid of the council, planned the famous attack on Baum's entrenchments, where was won the brilliant victory of Bennington, which turned the current of success from the British to the American army, and was followed in a few weeks by the capture of Burgoyne and his army at Saratoga.
In the clash of arms at Bennington, Capt. Fay was represented by his sons, five of whom, John, Elijah, Benjamin, Col. Joseph and David, were in the battle August 16, 1777, John being killed at his post of duty. When his father was informed that he had been unfortunate in respect to one of his sons, he exclaimed : "What ! has he misbehaved?" " No, sir," said the informant, "worse than that-he is among the slain. He fell contending mightily in the cause." "Then I am satisfied," replied the venerable sire, and in his deep grief, bowing his head, he exclaimed : " I thank God that I had a son who was willing to give his life for his country ! "
The British officers who were taken prisoners at the battle Benning- ton were conducted to the house of Capt. Fay. On the day previous to the battle they had tauntingly sent word that they wanted him to prepare a good dinner for them for they would dine with him on the morrow. On their approach, as prisoners of war, he met them at the gate with characteristic humor, and pulling off his "cocked hat," said to them : " Welcome ! Welcome, gentlemen ! The dinner you ordered is prepared for you ! "
Capt. Fay lived to see the dawning of the glorious morn of peace. On the 30th of March 1871, his house which had long been the most notable relic of early times was burned to the ground. The origin of the fire is unknown. It had been built over 100 years, having been erected prior to 1770 by Capt. Fay, and after his death in 1781, it was occupied
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by two of his sons in succession, then by his grandson, Samuel Fay, Esq., a memorable and worthy representative of the olden time who died in the 92d year of his age.
John, of John Fay 2d, married Hannah Child living in that part set off as Marlborough. Among their children was Josiah, born 1731, who married Mary Bent, daughter of Peter Bent of Marlborough. Mary and Josiah lived in Southborough where their son, Josiah, Jr., was born, who as he grew to manhood became selectman, field driver, constable, held the title of captain and was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. He married at Southborough Hepzibah Collins, a descendant of Miles Standish. He was a skilful mechanic and a manufacturer of nails by hand.
In those early days if a man was going to build, he needed to gather his material for months in advance. At that time no cut nails were to be had and wrought nails were manufactured to order by the blacksmiths. When you came to finish nails, the men who could make them were very few throughout the State. Josiah Fay was one of the most skilful of mechanics of this special line of the finish of " brad" nails, and this is where he acquired his name " Brad. " The little red shop in the picture, in which he for so many years manufactured brads, was raised, and the lower story put in for the use of his son, Mark Fay, who had learned cabinet making and who, as we have stated, set up housekeeping above the shop previous to his opening a store on the Edward Smith corner, Mechanic street.
Josiah, Jr., bought, we are told, a homestead in 1799 from a wealthy old sea captain, Winslow Lewis, grandfather of Dr. Winslow Lewis, the famous Boston physician and widely known Freemason. Here his son, George W. (brother to Mark) was born, who at his father's death inherited the place. At George Fay's death, his son, Heman S. Fay, Esq., came into possession and has turned it into one of Marlborough's handsomest residences. Esquire Fay married Miss Ella C. Fontaine. They have one child, Heman Storrs, Jr.
The advice of Peter Fay of Southborough to the young people will be remembered :
"It is not what people eat but what they digest that makes them strong.
It is not what they gain but what they save that makes them rich.
It is not what they read but what they remember that makes them learned.
It is not what they profess but what they practice that makes them good. "
14I
CAPT. WILLIAM GATES' HOUSE.
Capt. William Gates was one of the old time carpenters who handled and hewed white oak house and barn timbers, and who put up frames which will be sound a hundred years hence. His children all married and settled in town, the daughters marrying Capt. Aaron Stevens, Capt. Daniel Brigham, Frank Howe and Edward Rice. William, the son, married Sally Newton. Williams Pond was a famous place for military men in olden times, the neighboring farms being owned by Captains and one of them by a Colonel. Hon. O. W. Albee speaking of Ossommaga and Nashocowa, the two sachems in the vicinity of Marlborough, who in 1648 with four other sachems in other parts of Massachusetts, who came forward and voluntarily submitted to the colonial settlers, putting themselves, lands, and estates under the government of Massachusetts, making a treaty which was ratified with the usual solemnity, exclaimed : "As the pond called Williams Pond, in the west part of the town was probably included in these two sachems' hunting, fishing and bathing grounds, and on account of its euphony, let us give it the name of ' Ossommaga' in respect to the memory of one who so appreciated its beauty." This beautiful and appropriate name it is regretted was never adopted. When the lake was called "Gates Pond," William Gates resided in the above house. He was the brother of Silas Gates and had
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married Jerushy Goodnow, and at her death Elizabeth Howe. William Gates was a leading man in town and Captain of the Militia. He enjoyed the site of his home, and the lake, the hills, and the view nearby of Wachusett, all were dear to him. " Wadtchu " the Indians used to call it - Wadtehu-hill-and-ett-terminal for place - Wachusett. In Eliot's Bible in the "Sermon on the Mount" we read that Jesus sat on " Wadtchu " - a mountain. We in old Massachusetts enjoy this connec- tion with the name of our lovely Wachusett, and no doubt Capt. Gates appreciated as do we in later days -Wadtchuett.
EDWARD HOLYOKE HOMESTEAD.
Edward Holyoke, Sen., was in Lynn in 1630. His son Elizur Holyoke came to Marlborough and married in 1775 Sarah Gates, daugh- ter of Silas and Elizabeth Gates. Elizur marched with Capt. Daniel Barnes to Cambridge on the 19th of April 1775, and later entered the regular service. Among their children was William of the following article, whose son Edward built the above house before he was married and lived here until his death. His wife was Angeline Toombs, of Boyls- ton, and they had five children. By his second wife he had one son, Edward C. Edward was a carpenter, a strong vigorous man, who worked at his trade after he was 80 years of age. ( He died at 86 years.) He always took pride in stating that he never moved but once, and that was only from his father's house next door - at time of his marriage, and
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then he used only a wheelbarrow to cart the goods. His carpenter's shop was just below the house near the now Lincoln street, which was at that time only a lane going up as far as " Ragged Lane " (now Winter street. ) Lincoln street was Mulberry and Broad street was a locality unknown.
HOMESTEAD OF CAPT. WILLIAM HOLYOKE.
Capt. William Holyoke, who married Rebecca Howe of Sudbury, built this house in 1805, and here were born William F. (married Mrs. Lydia Felton), Edward, John, Freeman, Sarah E., Sarah A., and Susan E. Freeman, who succeeded to the place, was a carpenter by trade, and in the market business. He married in 1854 Henrietta, daughter of William Pitt and Lavinia (Baker) Brigham. The couple lived in the above house where were born their children : Charles F., a prominent citizen, treasurer of Marlborough Savings Bank and ex-treasurer of our city ; (see Corey article) and Adaline L. (see Frye sketch. )
Capt. William Holyoke was a carpenter by trade and built this house in our picture to take the place of the small, two-story house which was on the farm when he took possession. An old gentleman used to say that he had good reason to remember this house for he was in it at the time of the great blow, September 1813. "I had been up to the pasture that morning with the cows. On my way home I stopped awhile in the yard to play with the Holyoke children. When the gale came up we were frightened and went into the house for protection. Mrs. Holyoke was as
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frightened as were we. With the two youngest children in her arms, she stood ready to flee to the cellar if the house blew over. Three of us older boys were holding the windows from blowing in. In the mean- time, the tornado was leveling the orchards and forests, and our roof had started and was springing up and down like huge clappers, but it was not blown off, although many houses in other parts of the town lost their caps, and sheds went travelling to the northward." This, he said, " was the most remarkable gale this town has enjoyed (?) from date of settlement to this time." At the Felton place, a shed in which a couple of horses were hitched was blown exactly upside down, and after resting awhile with ridgepole downward, another gust blew the structure into kindling wood.
This "great blow " was the greatest gale known in this town. Deacon Peter Fay in writing about it said : "It lasted from six o'clock in the morning until two o'clock p. m. The wind began blowing from the northeast and veered round to the south. Trees fell from all points of the compass. Within six hours more wood was blown down than is standing in the town (Southborough) today. My father had a lot of 65 acres very hard wood. Twelve hundred cords of it were blown down. It took ten years to cut it up and dispose of it. One could taste salt in the spray that blew from the ocean. Many buildings were overturned and one-half of the apple orchards were laid flat. Truly it looked like desolation. "
Years ago an old lady of 94 years of age said she well remembered one May Training day when a bear came down in the afternoon from Bear Hill, a mile west of the pond, and crossed the road near the Holyoke house, passing on to Williams' Tavern. The captain of the company was notified and the men were marched on the double quick to attack the wild beast. He was soon dispatched, and that was the only time that Marlborough people ever heard of hunting bears with a military com- pany.
Passing on we come to the house of Capt. Aaron Brigham, who married Elizabeth R. Barnes, daughter of Col. Edward Barnes. They had three daughters and one son, Col. Aaron Brigham who married Sally Fay, daughter of Josiah Fay, and sister of Mark. Capt. Aaron was a tanner, the old tan yard being located near where the ice house stood. He was for many years assessor, selectman, and both he and his son were prominent in militia service, the one being captain, the other colonel. Soon after the captain received his commission, one of the good deacons of the West church, which he and his son both attended, met
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and rallying him on his new office : "Well, I didn't know you were qualified for a captain !" "Oh, well, it doesn't take any more to qualify for a captain nowadays, than it does to qualify a man for a Deacon."
An interesting story is told in connection with the peculiarity that is often noticeable in regard to the ice on Williams Pond. One evening- Capt. Brigham with his wife and her sister, Widow Rice, and Mr. and Mrs. Barber, spent the evening visiting their neighbors on the south side of the pond. Late in the evening the party recrossed on the solid ice to their homes. In the morning, looking towards the pond, not a trace of ice could be seen, only the dancing, rippling waves. The secret was that a strong, southwest wind often gets under the ice and sweeps it all over to the east shore in a few hours. Widow Rice was so startled by the apparently narrow escape they had had, that she declared she would never cross the ice again, though she knew it was frozen to the bottom, and she never did. Hon. Charles Hudson had a similar experience while teaching school here in his youthful days.
HOUSE OF LIEUT. EPHRAIM BARBER.
In the bend of the road stands the house of, in olden times, Ephraim Barber, the old brass clock maker. No better eight-day clocks were ever manufactured, and even to-day they stand ticking all over the country. Only a short time ago one of Marlborough's citizens journeying abroad stepped into an old hostelry of England and much to his surprise and
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pleasure saw ticking before him an old grandfather's clock "made by Ephraim Barber, Marlborough, New England."
Ephraim was a gunsmith in the employ of the government for many years, and a most skilful workman. He was a great hunter, always car- rying a rifle of his own manufacture ; also a good pedestrian, making nothing of walking to and from Boston. At one time he was representa- tive to General Court. Eccentric in conversation but most honest and upright. He kept no horse and was one day carried by a friend to a neighboring farmer to buy some rye. "Come, Mr. Barber, come out to the barn to see it measured." "No," was the reply, "rye is measured in Heaven." He once owned a woodlot and arranged with Gilbert Howe, another honest old man, to let the latter cut his fire wood from this lot, and as partial return Mr. Howe was to pasture Mr. Barber's cow. After the various dicker accounts between these two men had run on for years, they met one day upon the street. Mr. Barber said, " How do we stand? " "I don't know," said Mr. Howe, " do you?" "No. Have you had what you want?" "Yes. Have you?" "Yes." "Call it square." "Agreed."
William F. Holyoke, son of Capt. William [his first wife was Lydia, wife of Aaron Felton and daughter of Gershom Bigelow], married for his second wife Elizabeth Howe and bought this place and lived here with their eight children, five of whom are still living. John; Ellen [m. Herbert Proctor ; ch. Lucy, m. Winfield Temple ; Edith, m. Charles French] ; Ida [m. Henry Carter; ch. Harry, prosperous ranchman in Oregon, m. Hattie Graham ; Ethel, m. W. Barnes of N. H .; Ernest] ; Abbie [m. Emory Larrabee ; ch. Vivian, m. A. Horne] ; Clara [m. George Edward Reynolds ; ch. Edwina].
One of the most beautiful locations in Marlborough is around Lake Williams, the northwest side of which settled in early times Ephraim, Moses, Eli, Martin and Eleazer Howe, as well as those of other well known names - the Brighams, Maynards, [Barbers, Feltons, Holyokes, who proved they " knew where to build."
In one of his early books Thoreau has this allusion to Marlborough -" Yonder on that hill is Marlborough, a town which in autumn, at least when I visited it, wears a rich appearance of rustic plenty and com- fort - ample farms, good houses, profuse apple heaps, pumpkin moun- tains in every enclosure, orchards left angathered, and in the Grecian piazzas of the houses, squashes ripening between the columns." Moses Howe was a man who always made farming pay in legitimate agricultural
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THE MARTIN HOWE HOMESTEAD.
pursuits, giving close attention to every detail. Both he and his wife, who was a Temple from the east part of the town, worked hard. His oldest daughter married Winthrop Arnold. He left the farm to his son Eli who was a successful farmer. Capt. Eleazer Howe, born 1662, was youngest son of John Howe, and bought in 1697 the Thomas Rice place near the northwest corner of the lake. Capt. Eleazer married Hannah Howe, daughter of Abraham and Hannah (Ward) Howe, and it was the first marriage where both parties were natives of the town. He was a man of property, and the silver mentioned in his will shows that he abounded in an article not common in his day. In his will he gave sev- eral silver spoons to his children and a silver tankard to his son Ephraim. They speak of him as a large land holder and owner of two or more grist and saw mills. He was a house carpenter and erected the first school house in Marlborough. From the time he was honored with the com- mand of a Company he was known as Captain. The lake in his day, probably the upper part, was named for him, and was called for more than twenty years after he passed away " Howe's Pond." He was uncle to Moses Howe, and for years one barn between the two houses, with a partition to separate, was used for both farms. Among the children of his large family were Lyman and Martin, who taught school for several winters. This was in old times called " school teacher district."
Capt. Aaron Brigham was chosen "school committeeman" in this district ; his oldest danghter Lydia taught in the little school house beyond
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the Felton place, her sister Betsey Brigham also taught here, and again Capt. Brigham's youngest daughter Sally and his only son Aaron Brigham Jr., kept school in the same district. Mr. J. V. Jackman, a successful Instructor and Principal of the Bigelow School, (the oldest teacher in Marlborough in point or service) and Mrs. Jackman who was Sarah Maynard and a teacher, reside today near the house of the latter's father Samuel Maynard. [Their children Alice and Marion, the latter of whom married S. E. Doan, of Cleveland, Ohio.] Lydia Brigham, who mar- ried Windsor Howe and had a large family of children; Nancy Ames, daughter of Deacon Moses Ames and married Esq. Levi Bigelow, a noted school teacher; Lydia Brigham, daughter of Maj. Jedediah Brigham, who married Lyman Morse, eldest brother of the venenable Stephen Morse, Esq., all taught in this district. But it was Lucy Brigham, born June 1779, daughter of Winslow Brigham, Esq., who was the first woman school teacher in town. Here in this district she taught, and while doing so boarded in Peter Rice's family in the same house where she afterwards lived half a century. For Peter's son Eli persuaded her to give up teaching children, at least in this district, and to go to the old Elm house and to him who awaited her.
REWARD OF MERIT.
Certifies, I hat Monster Cyrus Flow
by diligence and good behaviour merits the approbation of !! Friends and Instruct &os
Sold by Lincoln & Edmands No. 53 Cornhill.
LOBrigham
800
July 812 1924
Jacob Felton was a descendant of Lieut. Nathaniel Felton, who came to Salem 1633 and was the one who testified that North River in Salem was called Naumkeag by the Indians. Jacob Felton moved from Salem to Marlborough somewhere near 1738, and built on the above place. Hc
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THE JACOB OR CYRUS FELTON HOMESTEAD.
was cordwainer by trade and was chosen a sealer of leather for more than thirty years. In 1762 he was constable and lieutenant. He had married Sarah Barrett, who died when she was 27 years old, and then he married Hezediah, daughter of Ephraim Howe and granddaughter of Capt. Eleazer Howe, all of Marlborough. Jacob's sister Hannah married Moses Howe of Marlborough and they became the parents of Deacon Samuel Howe. Hannah died two days after her brother Jacob and they were both buried the same day. After Jacob's death his son Stephen, who had married Levinah Stone, resided on his father's home- stead and died here 1827, aged 75 years. Stephen's oldest son Silas mar- ried Lucretia Fay of Marlboro, and he, Silas, became school teacher, assessor, selectman, town clerk, representative, justice of the peace, and first postmaster at Feltonville or the Mills, as that part of Marlborough was then called, and became one of the most popular men in town and his fellow citizens honored him by giving his name to the village which he had zealously labored to build up ; and from that time until its name was changed to Hudson it was known as Feltonville.
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