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 13
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Silas Felton's brother Aaron was a well known teamster from Boston to Marlborough before the days of the railroads. He married Lydia Bigelow, daughter of Gershom (she married second William F. Holyoke) and they had a large family, among whom was Aaron, Jr., who married Martha Baker, daughter of old Dr. John Baker. Aaron Felton, Jr., the
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eldest son, before he married, took his sire's place and drove a team to Boston for many years, besides carrying on his father's farm which he took after the latter's death. At one time he took of the Boston Water Co. the largest contract of teaming ever taken in this vicinity. One mil- lion of bricks were drawn by him from Mr. Goodrich's yard in North- borough to the line of work between Framingham and Boston.
Stephen, Jr., brother to Aaron, Sr., married Sally Weeks, daughter of John. She kept school in District No. 4 after she married Stephen, Jr., who became captain, and they settled in New York State where he kept school many winters. Stephen's brother William married Lois Bartlett of Northborough. The latter lived on the old homestead and were the parents of Cyrus Felton, the noted antiquarian and late resident. Cyrus Felton became the acknowledged authority on facts concerning Marlborough's past and present. He compiled a number of books of remarkable events of this town, and died respected by all in the year 1890, aged 74. He was the intimate friend of Esquire Lyman Howe of Sudbury Inn fame, and chose his old friend Edward Bigelow as executor at time of death. Though eccentric, he was a student of history and loyal and reverential to old time records and customs. The writer of this book is, with many others, indebted to his research.
c. M. Confundir
FELTON, BROWN AND DUNTON HOUSE.
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The preceding gabrel roofed house was known as that of Sam'l Brown, who moved it down from the Cyrus Felton place to make room for the later built new house. Mr. Brown was then the only mason in all the borough towns. He lost his life in Sudbury by falling from the top of a chimney he was building. His custom was to pack his tools in his saddle bags and taking his boy up behind him would drive horseback to his work five or ten miles away. Nearly opposite the Brown place was the old red school house known as the Brown school before it was named the Rice. The school for years was taught by Betsy Brigham, afterwards the wife of Jona Rice. At a later date, Levi Bigelow, Esq. taught school here for many terms. He was the one who always insisted upon the children saluting every stranger on the street with a bow. Two large families of Indians were often met by the scholars of this school where they some- times went in to beg food. They always pitched their wigwams on Wood Hill or Crane Hill. Mrs. Stephen Felton, a sympathetic, motherly soul, always ready to help the needy, had frequent visits from them, and never were they turned away without a bite of bread and a mug of cider, 20 barrels of which were stored away in the Felton cellar every fall and shared freely with friend and visitor.
THE CAPT, JACOB HOLYOKE HOMESTEAD.
This is the interesting old home of Capt. Jacob Holyoke, brother of
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Capt. William Holyoke and son of Elizur Holyoke, who married Silas and Elizabeth Gates' daughter Sarah, and who marched with Capt. Daniel Barnes to Cambridge on the 19th of April 1775, and afterward entered the regular service. Mr. Moses Howe owned this spot and was killed by falling from the building which he was erecting in 1771. His son Deacon Samuel Howe was the next owner. Samuel Howe was Deacon of Spring Hill at the time of separation of churches 1805. Jacob Holyoke who married Lydia, daughter of Jonah Howe and Betty Cranston, bought the place of his heirs and lived there until his death in 1863. Later it was sold to Leonard Barnes. It is the spot where in early times was the old Garrison house.
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GERSHOM RICE HOMESTEAD.
Going down the hill, we come, on the right, to the old Luther Howe Tavern stand. Gershom Rice bought this place in 1802 and built this old Homestead, set to the Points of the Compass, where used to be one of the best farms in town. A fine type of the solid, big timbered, grand old square houses with brick ends. This was built in 1804 by Gershom Rice, great grandfather of Mrs. J. V. Jackman, who has told us that her grandfather Edward Rice, her uncle Edward Rice, and her cousin Edward Rice, occupied this same house successively. Uncle David says "at Gershom's death he left the farm to his son Edward. The widow of
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Edward whose maiden name was Susannah Felton, lived here with her son Edward G, one of the most thrifty farmers, as his herd of 19 cattle, large barn built in 1862, and the well tilled 65 acres testify. Forty rods southeast of this house across the road was a cellar hole that was under a hut occupied by an Indian family. Gershom Rice used frequently to men- tion the fact that the old squaw living here had four children at one birth who were named Remarkable, Wonderful, Strange and True."
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THE NATHAN DRURY; COL. LUKE DRURY: LATER HENRY HOLYOKE HOMESTEAD.
Here lived Jonathan Brigham, so called " Ensign," who was the son of Thomas and Mary (Rice) Brigham. He married his cousin Mary, daughter of John and Mary Fay Brigham. Jonathan settled on a part of the Thomas 2d homestead in Marlborough, and was tythingman in 1704, constable in 1714, moderator and selectman. He was commonly called the " Indian Warrior," who while chopping wood one day discovered a " red skin " preparing to aim at him. Seizing his own gun he stepped for- ward in full view crying "Shoot straight, you dog," firing at the same time with the Indian, who bounded in the air with a wild war whoop and fell dead, his own bullet grazing the ear of Jonathan who remained unhurt. The present house was built by Nathan Drury on the old place and later Henry Holyoke occupied it. Col. Luke Drury always kept his
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chaise out of doors, and they used to say to the boys when anything was left lying about loose, " You will find it in Col. Drury's chaise house." Samuel S. Townsend bought this place of Col. Drury and lived here for a number of years. Mr. Townsend m. Mary Stevens, daughter of Isaac T. and they had William, who m. Grace O. Barker (ch. Stillman, Susan.) Henry, m. 1st Nellie Fay, 2d Nancy Holbrook (ch. William, Irene, Alma.) Edwin, (known as the " Major " who was quite a local writer and became Mayor of a western city) m. 1st Lucretia Kelley, 2d Merinda Brown (ch. Maud.) Catherine m. Frederick B. Gleason (ch. Leslie.) S. S. Townsend m. for 2d wife Charlotte Wood, whose parents were of good old English stock.
THE DAVIS OR ISRAEL GOULDING PLACE.
This was known as the Israel Goulding place. Mrs. Goulding was daughter of Col. Luke Drury. Mr. Goulding and Warren Brigham built a tomb just east of Mr. Goulding's house in 1818. The Ames and Drury families also built a tomb by its side. Hunting up these tombs one found a natural ridge of land partly covered with a grove of pitch pine. The Goulding tomb was closed with a slate stone slab split in two on which are the names of Warren Brigham and Israel Goulding. Beneath the latter name was engraved Masonic emblems, and an old gentleman told of Mr. Goulding saying when building this tomb that when people ride by this place they will say, "There sleeps a good, honest Free- mason. " Half a mile to the north was the old Israel Goulding saw mill,
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and the road leading to it was known as the old Millham road. They tell us that the three Cunningham brothers, Simeon, William and Jona- than, once owned and operated a saw mill here and gave it the name of Millham.
From early records of Marlborough we read that for many years after its incorporation, the town was greatly infested by wolves and rattlesnakes. In a single year, 1683, the town paid a bounty for no fewer than 23 wolves. They voted that year to raise 13 men to go out to kill rattlesnakes-eight to Cold Harbor ward and five to Stony Brook ward to the places thereabout, and they were to have two shillings apiece per day. [Cold Harbor Meadow was so called from the circumstance of a traveller having lost his way and being compelled to remain through a cold winter's night in a stack of hay in that place. On the following morning having made his way through the wilderness to the habitation of man, when asked where he lodged during the night, answered : "To my sorrow, in a cold harbor."]
THE SAMUEL GOODNOW OR BARTLETT HOMESTEAD.
In 1807 the line between Northborough and Marlborough was altered so as to include the farm of Deacon Jonas Bartlett within the limits of Northborough. In the year 1707 on the 18th of August, a most tragical event occurred in Marlborough. At this troubled time for the feeble colonies of New England, garrisons or fortified houses were appointed in Marlborough, among which was that of Samuel Goodnow, situated on the Great Road near the stream known as "Stirrup Brook." This garrison was designed as resort for the families of Goodnow, Nathaniel Oakes,
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Jonathan Forbush and Gershom Fay. [Gershom was youngest son of John Fay and born 1681, he married Mary Brigham, second daughter of John Brigham, the son of Thomas Senior.
On the day above, Mary Goodnow, daughter of Samuel Goodnow and Mrs. Mary Fay, wife of Gershom, were gathering herbs in an adjoin- ing meadow when a party of Indians twenty-four in number, all of whom are said to have been stout warriors, were seen issuing from the woods and making toward them. Mrs. Fay succeeded in effecting her escape. She was closely pursued by a party of the enemy ; but before they came up had time to enter the garrison and to fasten the gate of the enclosure. There fortunately happened to be one man then within, the rest of the men belonging to the garrison being in the field at work. The Indians attempted in vain to break through the enclosure. These heroic defenders by dint of great exertion, maintained the unequal conflict till their friends alarmed by the report of the muskets came to their relief, when the enemy betook themselves to flight. Brave Mary Fay showed great presence of mind during this assault, loading and reloading the muskets belonging to the garrison and handing them to her companion, who by this means was able to keep up a constant fire upon the invaders. She was brave for she had much at stake. She was then the mother of two young children, one four and the other two years old. (Gershom, who became father of Thaddeus Fay, and Mary, who married George Smith.) Her third child Susanna, who was born on the 18th of the fol- lowing November, was subject to constant nervous trembling, caused by the mother's fright at this time. Poor Mary Goodnow being retarded in her flight by lameness, was seized by her merciless pursuers, dragged across the brook to the side of the hill, a little south of the road some 30 rods from the homestead pictured on preceding page, where she was killed and scalped, and where her mangled body was found and buried. Her grave has within a few years been marked by a stone with appropriate inscription.
Once upon a time there was a man named Edmund Rice born 1594 who came from Barkhamstead in the county of Hertfordshire in England and settled in Sudbury, Mass., in 1638. We do not know in what ship he came or at what place he first arrived, but in Sudbury in the southerly part of what is now Wayland, near the border of the extensive meadows through which the Sudbury river flows in a northeasterly course to the Merrimac, did he and his wife Tamazine build the above house where they lived with their family of eight children, all of whom had come over together from the shores of old England. Edmund became a prominent
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FIRST RICE HOMESTEAD IN AMERICA.
man in Sudbury ; a Deacon in the Church, and one of the first Selectmen or townsmen as they were called. And to be a Selectman in those days - to be regarded as one of the "fathers of the town " and a depository of almost unlimited power - was considered no small honor. "Anything and everything, not expressly provided for, fell by custom at least within their jurisdiction ; and when any perplexing question arose in town meet- ing, almost as a matter of course it was handed over to the Selectmen without instructions, as though they were the fountain of power, if not wisdom."
Edmund Rice was honored with several appointments by the General Court, and was denominated therein " Goodman Rice." Being one of the Petitioners for the grant which was given to make the town of Marl- borough ; he moved here, where he gained the confidence of his fellow- citizens as he had done in Sudbury, and Mercy Brigham, widow of Thomas Brigham, pitying and no doubt loving the lonely widower and father of the large family, married him and bore him two daughters. She was Mercy Hurd, of whom tradition says was of high character ; and she and her sister were so "tantalized " in England for their non- conformity, that they resolved on seeking their liberty and fortunes in New England, where they arrived unattended by husbands or lovers. The tradition is direct and no doubt reliable that success rewarded the
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enterprise. We are told that "they were in as quick demand as unmarried teachers in the West ; and if the number of worthy husbands whom a lady marries is the measure of her worth, then Madame Brigham was a most worthy and attractive woman, for she married no less than three, viz, Thomas Brigham of Cambridge, who was ten or fifteen years her senior and the ancestor of the numerous Brighams who settled in Marlborough ; 2d, Edmund Rice, and 3d, William Hunt of Marlborough. She died 1693 after a third widowhood of 26 years. During this period she saw two bloody Indian wars. During the first, Marlborough was burnt, and she with one of her sons is believed to have retreated to their former home, on the rocks in Cambridge, while her other sons went in pursuit of the enemy. Edmund Rice having a house lot of 50 acres granted him by the proprietors of Marlborough, took up his abode with his wife Mercy Brigham and his and her children" as one has said "near the east end of Beach street where Beach and Liberty join South street."
PETER RICE HOMESTEAD.
" Centuries ago, 'neath the elm's grateful shade, Foundations substantial for a dwelling were laid; The lord of the soil was then known to fame, For a captain was he, and Peter his name. His father was Thomas, who had his abode Nearly southward a mile, on the main traveled road ;
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Whose father was Edmund, from old England came, The first of the Rices, styled ' Goodman ' by name. He married Rebekah, whose surname was Howe,
And her he had plighted a connubial vow,
That 'neath the broad shadow of this stately tree,
In view of Wachusett, their homestead should be."
Six generations have successively lived in the above old homestead, known in later days as the Eli Rice, or Otis Russell house.
Peter 1st was a prominent man. He was captain of a train band and one of the committee in 1711 who designated the garrisons of the town, and the families who were to resort to these places of safety in emergency. Benjamin, Peter and Joseph Rice belonged to Ensign Howe's garrison near the present residence of Tileston Brigham where for many years might be seen a cave or underground former place of hiding. What thrilling stories this old hiding place might give to us could the stones speak. How these defenceless inhabitants of our frontier settlements must have suffered. Roused from their midnight slumbers sometimes in the depths of winter, by the deafening warwhoop, by cruel and treacherous savages who applied lighted torches to the dwellings and exulted with fiend-like joy at the shrieks of the half-naked women and children, helpless and frantic with terror while rushing to the garrison, with the bloody tomahawk brandished before their eyes. Mothers, brothers, sisters and children often slain and scalped or led away to lingering torments. Oh, but the men and women of those days were indeed brave, and they were no cowards who left the white man's perse- cution in the old land to brave the wilds and the treachery of the red men in the new country.
The Rices all had the spirit of Daniel and Abraham Rice, who were two of the six men who defended in 1782 Rice's fort on Buffalo Creek, Penn., from 100 picked warriors. The Indians surrounded and fired upon the fort, calling out to the brave little band of defenders: "Give up, give up! Too many Indians ! Indian too big-no kill!" Then the fire was briskly returned and the Rices answered back defiantly : "Come on, you cowards, we are ready for you ! Show us your yellow hides and we will make holes in them for you!" Thus for four long hours of hard fighting did they hold the fort until they drove off the Indians with only one of their men killed. For this great bravery and successful defence of that fort, in which were many women and children, the names of this Spartan band have been enrolled on the list of our early times.
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Eleven children were born to Peter and Rebecca, all of whom settled elsewhere, but Abraham, the youngest, who when his father died suc- ceeded to the old homestead. Abraham married Persis Robinson, and Peter, their son, married Lavinah Howe who gave birth 1777 to Eli Rice whom later Marlborough knew as " Deacon " and magistrate, and a much respected old gentleman. In his youth, Eli had fallen quite in love with the pretty schoolmarm, Lucy Brigham, daughter of Winslow Brigh- ham, the first woman teacher ever allowed by the skool-kommittee men to teach in Marlborough, and in 1799, as we have before stated, he married her and brought her to the old homestead. A good wife and fruitful mate was this same pretty schoolmarm for she bore the Esquire thirteen children. (Apropos there was a Rice born in 1837 who changed his name to Royce, history says, on account of his discovery a number of years ago that the Rice family were becoming very extensive, and he thought if they should continue to increase as they had for a few years, they would soon constitute the greater portion of the United States, therefore he made a variation in the name, although with no intention to change the relationship.)
In due course of time the old Deacon Eli died and Otis and Levinah then returned to the old elm homestead. Many a night have the children sat around the old fireplace telling the tales handed down to them of the past ; of the time when their great ancestral relatives were taken prisoners here by the Indians and carried into Canada where as time went on they had Indian wives and children by them. To one the Indians gave the name "Tookanowras. " Another they named " Oughtsorangoughton" and he became the third of six chiefs of the Cognawaga tribe. In that capacity he addressed a speech to Col. Burgoyne in the French War of 1775 or later. "Oughtsorangoughton" or Timothy returned sometime later with an interpreter-for he had lost his mother tongue-and viewed the place where he was captured, of which he had a clear remembrance, together with the circumstances under which he was taken, as he also had of several persons living then. Nothing said or done could induce him to remain. This was a parallel case of Eunice Williams of Deer- field whose mother was tomahawked on her march, after capture, to Canada. Eunice lived to be ninety and married John De Rogers, an Indian, by whom she had three children.
Among the thirteen children of Eli Rice and Lucy Brigham were Abraham, (he married Abby, daughter of O. W. Albee, and at her death married Emily, daughter of Lambert Bigelow) and Lavina who married
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OTIS RUSSELL HOMESTEAD.
Otis Russell. Otis and Lavina set up housekeeping in the house pictured above, just west of the old Elm tree Homestead on the Millham road, and Lavina, following her mother's example, bore her husband seventeen children, and all save two they tell us were born here.
" In due course of time, when the Deacon had died And successor had gone to the west to reside ; Lavinah and Otis decided to come And spend the remainder of life at the Home."
And thus from the old Peter Rice Homestead the boys and girls passed to their various homes, earthly and heavenly ; and when Otis died the little widow was left blind from old age, but patient and in faith awaiting her summons to join the dear ones gone before. "Sing to me" she said, " Sing to me of the ' Sweet Bye and Bye' " and tender thoughts of the past were intermingled with those of the old song.
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"In the sweet bye and bye, we shall meet on that glorious shore."
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1
THE JOSHUA OR THOMAS RICE HOMESTEAD.
In the writer's possession is the following order to Mr. Joshua Rice, constable or collector of the town of Marlborough :
' Province of Massachusetts Bay.
James Taylor, General Treasurer and Receiver General for His Majesties said Province.
"To Mr. Joshua Rice, Constable or Collector of the Town of Marlborough,
Greeting : " By virtue of an Act of the Great and General Court or Assembly of the said Prov- ince, Made at their Session, Begun and Held at Boston, the Thirty-first Day of May, 1699. And continued by several Prorogations until Wednesday the Thirteenth day of March following, In the Twelfth year of His Magesties Reign, Entituled, An Act for Granting unto his Majesty, a Tax-upon Polls and Estates.
" These are in His Majesties Name, to Will and Require you to Collect all and every the Sums of Money, mentioned in the List of said Tax or Assessment of your Town, made by the Assessors of Selectmen of said Town, and Committed to you to Collect, Amounting to the Sum of Thirteen pounds four Shillings.
"That is to say, Of each person his several proportion set down in said list. so that you duely pay in the whole sum of said list unto, and make up and issue your Accounts thereof with myself His Majesties Treasurer and Receiver General of His Revenue within this Province, my Deputy or Deputies, or Successor in the said office, at or before the last day of June next following, which you are alike Required to do. And all such payments you shall make thereout by my Order under my
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Hand, shall be allowed you on making up your Accounts : you bringing in such Orders with Receipt thereon. And in case any person or persons shall refuse or neglect to pay the several Sum or Sums of Money, whereat he or they are set in the said Assessment, and are to pay towards the same, upon demand made. It shall and may be lawful for you, and you are hereby Authorized and Required for Non payment, to Distrein the person or persons so refusing or neglecting, by his or their Goods or Chattels, and the Distress or Distresses so taken, to keep by the space of Four Days, at the Cost and Charges of the Owner thereof, and if the said Owner do not pay the Sum or Sums of Money so Assessed upon him within the said Four Days, then the said Distress or Distresses to be forthwith openly Sold at an Outcry by you for payment of the said Money, (notice of such Sale being posted in Some Publick place in the same Town, Twenty four hours beforehand) and the Overplus coming by the said Sale (if any be) over and above the Charges of taking and keeping the Distress or Distresses, to be immediately restored to the Owner. And if any person or persons Assessed as aforesaid, shall refuse or neglect to pay the Sum or Sums so assessed, by the space of Twelve days after demand thereof, where no sufficient Distress can or may be found whereby the same may be Levied, in every such case you are to apply yourself unto two or more of the Assessors within your Town, for Warrant to commit such person or persons to the Common Goal, as the Law directs. And where any person or persons shall remove from your Town, not having first paid the respective Sums or proportion set upon him or them in the said Tax or Assessment: You are hereby Authorized and Impowered to Demand the Sum or Sums Assessed upon such person or persons, in what Town or place soever he or they may be found, within the Province; and upon refusal or neglect to pay the same, to Destrein the said person or persons by his or their Goods and Chattels, as aforesaid; and for want of such Distress, to Commit the party to the Common Goal, there to remain until payment be made of the Sum or Sums so set upon him, with all Charges arising by reason of such commitment, and hereof you are not to fail upon the Pains and Penalties as may in such case by Law be inflicted on you.
Given under my Hand and Seal at Boston, the nineteenth Day of May 1700, In the Twelfth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord William the Third, of England, King.
SAM. TAYLOR." [SEAL]
Micah Priest came to Marlborough from New Hampshire in 1829, and working for Abijah Brown as carpenter, he married as time went on the latter's daughter, Esther. It is said nearly all the old houses on Brown's Hill were built by Brown & Priest. Micah later on became first Policeman in Marlborough, and is remembered as a most fearless officer. He bought the preceding home from Brigham Rice, and lived there a number of years with his family of eleven children, three of whom are still living : Micah Augustus, George, and S. Jenny Goss (ch. Gussie Maie m. John J. O. Pope of Boston.)
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